A new approach for a new year

I’m spending the holiday period with my family in Montreal (Québec, not Missouri) and, as usual, the computers and network here need some tinkering with. Along with the computer, my father also needs some clarification on how to use the computers. Somehow, because I use matlab in my everyday life (ok, I do more than that, . . . → Read More: A new approach for a new year

Physics is fun

I always like to play (a bit too much) those online games. One of my favorites was the blueprint game, where you have to place different objects to guide an object, which obeys the standard physical laws. Half-pipes, springs, blocks, etc. I really like it and if you have a thesis to write, it’s the perfect . . . → Read More: Physics is fun

Conference at George Washington University

If anyone wants to go to Washington on monday, there’s a half-day meeting on “Copyright and the University: An . . . → Read More: Conference at George Washington University

To actually be coded soon: An overview

Ok, so I keep going about how I have this great idea that could improve the way scientists communicate. I also keep rambling on about what scientific communication is (or at least what I think it is), what it should be, what it will have to be. Finally, as promised, here is the overview of what my brand new system will be…once it’s actually coded up that is.

I’m probably a little stupid for writing this as it isn’t done yet, so I’m basically levelling the playing field between myself and all the people who could actually get this done but didn’t have the idea in the first place. Part of my naiveté is probably due to the fact that I believe

  • nobody reads this blog (a bad assumption if I’m going to keep writing on it);
  • nobody but me thinks this idea is going to work (also a bad assumption if I’m going to try and attract users);
  • nobody but me thinks there’s money to be done with this (also a bad assumption as I’ve already said this is going to be ad-supported)
  • somehow, having had this idea first will allow me to get it running faster (a bad idea since I’m not that good a programmer and I’m going to need someone to help me get it done)
  • I’ll be able to keep the really juicy bits for myself so that I still have an edge (I’ll try).

Without further due, here it is.

Continue reading To actually be coded soon: An overview

Wikipedia licensing will be compatible with creative commons

[I know I'd promised this post would be about the great idea I have and which I've been dangling around without really being descriptive, but as far as I can see, this has just come out and I need to talk about it.]

So the wikimedia foundation just announced a deal was accepted by everyone that would make the GFDL (the gnu free documentation license) compatible with the creative commons license. Wow, ok, so what does that mean? Two short points.

Continue reading Wikipedia licensing will be compatible with creative commons