As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Calculator

photo of my TI-85 calculator
I wrote many programs on this old calculator. I wrote a chess program, and a race-car game. I wrote a maze game that used data compression to fit many levels in the small memory, and another that made infinite random but still solvable mazes. For chemistry class, I wrote a program that could "roll" virtual dice, instead of the real ones, for an experiment on nuclear decay. After seeing a tv show about the enigma code the Germans used in World War Two, I wrote an encryption program that was based on it, but more powerful (many decades of technology made it much easier for me to do than it would have been for them).

On my way to visit my then girlfriend in Europe, I wrote a game program for her that had a hidden, and encrypted, love note built into it. I put the program on her calculator and later, an ocean away, I surprised her with how to get it to ask her for the secret code and to read it. A few of my math grades may have reflected the attention I gave this device, instead of my school work. But I had a lot of fun, and still use much of what it taught me.

My First Cell Phone

image of Ericsson T28 World phone
It was small, this is it with the battery installed and all, but it was mighty. Had a small keyboard that could plug into the bottom, got great reception and could email, txt and make phone calls. Kind of miss using it.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

nom nom

P56

There once was a man from Nantucket

Image

Who kept all his gold in a bucket.
But his daughter, named Nan,
Ran away with a man
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

(Princeton Tiger, 1902)

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan

1930 newsreel footage showing how Helen Keller, unable to see or hear, learned to talk.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Ad: Drive Safely

Sponsored post:
Maybe you stole some schnapps and went for a drive, or maybe you wrapped your car around a tree after a few beers. Either way you'll maybe need a DUI Lawyer Orange County to help you sort things out (even though they don't have the preposition "in" in their ads). Driving is often pretty important to get to work and do the things you do in your life, so it might be a good idea to not drink and drive in the first place. Also, because you could kill someone. But if you do, and get caught, having a lawyer only makes sense. Drive safely.
The Law Office of Gabriel Dorman
10940 Wilshire Boulevard #1600
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 666-4252
criminaldefenseduilawyer.com