Finding the Happy Path

Had a whole bunch of students to see me over today. We are setting up our entries for the Imagine Cup, a Microsoft programming competition we've been quite good at in the past. I've had all kinds of ideas pitched to me and seen a whole bunch of people keen to take part. Great stuff. I love this part of my job.

One of the things that is required from entrants is a "Happy Path" program which demonstrates the gist of the idea. This is the system as it would appear with everything working as it should, a kind of technology demo. It was nice to see some of the first year teams, with not a lot of programming experience under their belts going "Oh yes, we're up for that" and setting to designing their applications.

The entries go in next week, then we have to wait and see what the judges think of them.

Three Tin Tea. And an apology

Had a three tin tea tonight. Tinned meat pie, tinned curried baked beans and tinned potatoes. And all opened with the old tin opener. I'm practicing for the new ice age/flood/drought/global warming/nuclear winter thingy which is apparently just around the corner.

And I feel I must apologize to my reader about the low tone of my post yesterday. It has occurred to me that everybody else blows their nose at appropriate times (probably on cute little embroidered handkerchiefs which they then have incinerated so that they always have nice new ones). As opposed to people like me who can never find a tissue when they need to.

Perhaps I have a talent for lowering the tone. We were talking in the tea room about mind control. As one does. Warren said that he had heard "they" (whoever "they" are) now have a machine that they can point at your head and it makes you happy. "That's nothing" I said. "I can make a whole bunch of people happy just by leaving a room". Nobody laughed. Instead they just pointed at the door......

Update: Actually, they did laugh really. But they did point at the door too. Oh well.

Snot Ettiquette

I was sitting in my office this afternoon talking with David when he said something mildly funny. The shock of this made me snort slightly and a huge lump of stuff flew out of my nose and landed on my shirt. I think I may have a bit of a cold coming on. I just continued as if nothing had happened, and hoped that David would not mention it. Which he didn't, being a polite sort.

Now, the question is, what is the correct procedure when this happens? (and I'm sure that it has happened to you all).

The Eternal Question

If you used some paint the colour of faded paint what colour would it go when it faded?

All you can eat in York

Went to York today for a little trip. Took the tiny camera:


This is the York city wall. Built quite a long time ago, but still in good nick.
Here's a tip, if you find yourself peckish in York, head for Jumbos in George Hudson street. It is just over the bridge, near Argos. They do a Chinese all you can eat menu for just under a fiver. The range of dishes is fantastic, as is the quality.