Paypal Security Key

Paypal are now introducing a new service, where you have a physical security key and enter the code after login. Similar to RSA's secure login approach, this Paypal service is currently starting testing and will cost $5 for your key, with no subscription fee.

I think this is a great idea, and is an effective way of combating Phishing.

More information: http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/cps/securitycenter/general/PPSecurityKey-outside

Exam Grading

This guy suggests how exams should be graded, but in my opinion doesn't look at how students can improve their grading.

Hint:


Source: via Digg

Office Chair Rowing

Ctrl+Alt+Del hates Mac too!

And the Ctrl+Alt+Del Comic is anti mac too!
http://ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20060513

I Hate Macs

Hooray, about time! Somebody supports me with the I hate Macs opinion. And those sleazy, inaccurate (or at least dubious) new Mac vs PC adverts are really annoying.

Here's an excerpt:
"PCs are the ramshackle computers of the people. You can build your own from scratch, then customise it into oblivion. Sometimes you have to slap it to make it work properly, just like the Tardis (Doctor Who, incidentally, would definitely use a PC). PCs have charm; Macs ooze pretension. When I sit down to use a Mac, the first thing I think is, "I hate Macs", and then I think, "Why has this rubbish aspirational ornament only got one mouse button?""

Read the rest, I urge you: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2006031,00.html

The Complicator's Gloves

[Zippy: This is about Bicycle Improvements!]

"There are some so deeply embedded within The Complicators, that they've acquired a sort of sixth-sense: the ability to find meta-problems ("a problem with the process of creating a solution for the actual problem") in virtually any solution."

Now that I've grabbed your attention, you can now read this rather amusing article. I hasten to add not all programmers are this barmy, most are more sensible too...

Article

Programmers don't like to code

This is an article about Programmers. In my opinion, its got it dead right - "Programmers don’t like coding, they like problem solving".

If you don't want to read the whole article, try this paragraph:
"From an outsider’s vantage, I can see why they’d think we like coding. We solve problems by coding, and we’re all happy and enthused while typing away or talking code. But they’re confusing the action and the intention. It’s not pulling the trigger that makes me happy, it’s hitting the target."

What I love: Solving the problem
What I hate: Debugging

Read the whole article, I think its a great read:
Programmers don't like to Code - rentzsch.com

Thanks to jongens for this article (via second comment on Digg for "Top 50 Occupations").