Prime numbers!

Here is a simple scheme program to generate prime numbers in scheme.
;Written by Fakrudeen Ali Ahmed
;Date 9 January 2007
;primes above a bound
(define (primes-above n count)
(define (loop k count)
(if (= count 0) '()
(if (prime? k) (begin (display k) (newline) (loop (+ k 1) (- count 1))) (loop (+ k 1) count))))
(loop n count)
)

;primes less than n
(define (primes-less-than n)
(define (loop k)
(if (= k n) '()
(begin (if (prime? k) (begin (display k) (newline))) (loop (+ k 1)))))
(loop 2)
)

;whether n is prime?
(define (prime? n)
(cond
((or (= n 2) (= n 3)) true)
((or(= 0 (remainder n 2)) (= 0 (remainder n 3))) false)
(else (let ((limit (expt n (/ 1 2))))
(define (loop k)
(let* ( (j (- (* 6 k) 1) ) (l (+ j 2)) )
(cond
((< limit j) true)
((or(= 0 (remainder n j)) (= 0 (remainder n l))) false)
(else (loop (+ 1 k))))))
(loop 1)))))

Godel's theorem!

Godel proved there are true statements, whichever are unprovable!!
Isn't interesting?
That forever dashes the hope we can prove all mathematical facts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_G%C3%B6del
It also has interesting consequences for what we can calculate algorithmically.

IBM developerworks!

If you are developer this site is a "must" see.
developerWorks : IBM's resource for developers [ http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ ]

They also have a weekly newsletter.

Wikipedia!

I love these folks!
http://wikipedia.org
This is the the first place I search to know about something!

style preview in word

New Microsoft word has a nice live preview of style. Select a block of text and just move the cursor over style boxes on top and see!

Perumazhakkalam (പെരുമഴക്കാലം)

If you like watching good movies in Malayalam, Perumazhakkalam (പെരുമഴക്കാലം) is surely one. Different story. Watch it yourself!

Blank slate!

A very good book about biology/human nature.
It argues that root of most of our behaviours are due to our genes.
Makes you realistic [as opposed to optimist or romantic]!

prefix vs postfix -- operator

I realized if I have a choice I should use prefix -- instead of postfix.

int findLength(const Node* list) {
int count = 0;
for(const Node* current = list; count++ < current =" current-">getNext()) {
}
return count--; //<-------------- bug
}
This is a bug [which compiler doesn't warn either] - what is the point of incrementing a local variable after it is returned!?

--count here works fine and is correct.

C runtime source!

C runtime source is available with visual studio installation. It is very useful say for checking how malloc is implemented.
It also has nice and tested algos. for strncpy etc.

Clippool

It is a cool utility to copy from one computer and paste in another computer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318760

Google earth!

I love it - particularly look at its driving directions!
I just don't want to close this!
[Make sure you have hardware acceleration set to full for display to avoid directx problems]

string comparisons in .NET

This article is very good for understanding ordinal vs invarint vs current cultures in .NET

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dndotnet/html/StringsinNET20.asp

Startup programs

Here is an interesting link I found about [disabling!] startup programs:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm

edge

If you like to reflect [in the metaphysical sense] a bit, this is a nice site to do that:
http://www.edge.org/

Particularly have a look at world question center. It has answers for a "big" question from eminent people at the start of every year.

Thinking in Java!

One of the best books for learning Java is this: Thinking in Java.
What's more, its free from Bruce eckel's site.
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/

Another nice puzzle site

A nice puzzle site:
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/riddles/intro.shtml

ponder this...

If you are interested in great puzzles/mathematical problems here is a great site:
www.research.ibm.com/ponder/

Videos on consciousness!

Here is a great link of videos on consciousness and philosophy:

http://broodsphilosophy.wordpress.com/2006/06/15/online-videos-of-philosophical-lectures

Running 10K

In case you want some sort of crude amateur bench mark for practicing 10K run:

I could run with 2 weeks practice:
6km in 38 minutes at ~10km/hr [6.6 including cooldown in 43 minutes]
7.5 km in 50 minutes at ~9km/hr [8.5 including cooldown in 1 hr]

joel on software

This is one of the sites I like:
http://joelonsoftware.com

Interesting software musings ...

தமிழ் windows

If you want your windows in தமிழ் you can install this software from this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=0DB2E8F9-79C4-4625-A07A-0CC1B341BE7C&displaylang=ta

I have it on my computer.

Road to reality

If you want to learn a lot of physics, 'Road to reality' is the book for you.
It will take a lot of time to complete though. But it is a great book.

Selfish gene

One of the best books I have read - [converted me into an atheist!] - This book is about evolution. This book says we [all animals] are survival machines built by our genes for their survival! Very interesting, a bit depressing for the first time readers.
I think every one should read this.

Great physics courses online

if you are interested in physics and want to actually learn it - this is something you want to look at:

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Physics/8-01Physics-IFall1999/VideoLectures/index.htm

IE7 vs firefox 2.0

If you are confused between upgrading to IE7 and firefox2, Here is one reason to pick IE7:

It installs some nice cleartype font, reading from computer looks so pleasing even for other applications.