The ongoing conversation
I came across a SQL function I was not familiar with: decode. I looked it up and immediately replaced it with a CASE statement (in addition to other code cleanup). I’m afraid I don’t understand the existence of Oracle SQL’s decode() function: decode(expression, search, result [, search , result]… [, default] ) seems functionally equivalent […]
Just a quick plug here for my son’s electronic music output as “The Official Insomniac”. Go check him out on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/the-official-insomniac. October 1, 2026, update: His electronic music presence is no longer there. Nothing to see here, move along. —jhunterj
January is no time to make resolutions. Yes, there’s the promise of a new year (unless you’re on the Chinese calendar. Or Hindu calendar. Or Jewish calendar. Or etc.), and you’re likely to be filled with optimism and ready to commit. But it’s an awfully distracting time of year too, and that optimism may lead […]
I’m decidedly “meh” on The Hobbit (which I saw last night). I enjoyed the first third or so and liked some of the changes, but the battle set-pieces did not engage me, and I was just waiting for the end from about the troll scene on. I might even skip the next two in the […]
I always knew I’d end up blogging about grammar and style here. I wasn’t planning to get there right away, but one of my favorite sites, Lifehacker.com, just ran an article titled “The Most Common Grammar Gaffes Writers Make (and How To Avoid Them)”. Now, in the fine tradition of such lists everywhere, they broke […]
Sunday Meme Day again: Have you ever: Q: Kissed someone on your friends list? Five or six of them… Q: Been arrested? No Q: Do you like someone? You kids get offa my lawn! Q: Held a snake? Yes Q: Been suspended from school? No Q: Sung karaoke? Yes Q: Done something you told yourself […]
That is, you can hear me shout “Puking” and say other words and phrases coined by the Bard if you go the the multimedia exhibition “Meme: Culture in Transmission”, guest curated by Susan Byrnes. The exhibition is in the Herndon Gallery in South Hall at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Back in October, Chris […]
So I’m trying to get going with AdSense, but I’m circling the drain with this pair of messages. If I try to get started with AdSense, it says: Step 1: Select your Google Account You are currently signed into the Google Account <my Google account>, which is already in use with AdSense. We only support […]
In awesome news, there’s a Kickstarter for the classic Avalon Hill squad leader card game Up Front. Go check it out! In and amongst many other additions and improvements, I believe the new version will include several of my own scenarios from my previous website as well as some weather rules, which may or may not reflect […]
I like credit unions, I really do. I’m a customer of both banks and credit unions, and my credit union handles more of my money than my bank does. But: My credit union, and perhaps many credit unions, have offered me an “opportunity” this holiday: I can skip my next loan payment, either December or […]