iamcal.com Since May 2000

If i never type the phrase "inherent modularity" again, i'll be a happy man.

"So we're normal again now?". Those words made me so happy.

[Monty](http://www.comics.com/comics/monty/index.html) is a good comic. Go read. The online comics i read religously are [dilbert](http://www.dilbert.com/), [diesel sweeties](http://www.dieselsweeties.com/) and [calvin and hobbes](http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/viewch.htm). You should too.

"Punctuality is the virtue of the bored." - Evelyn Waugh

...but it's still a virtue. I should perhaps point this out to my lecturers.

[RFC 1149](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt) describes send data uses pidgeons. Some insane unix users actually [did it](http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-5825807.html?tag=ch_mh).

There are a number of RFC (request for comments) documents that have been released on april 1st. All worth reading: [748](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc0748.txt), [1097](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1097.txt), [1149](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt), [1217](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1217.txt), [1313](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1313.txt), [1437](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1437.txt), [1438](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1438.txt), [1605](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1605.txt), [1606](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1606.txt), [1607](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1607.txt), [1776](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1776.txt), [1925](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1925.txt), [1926](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1926.txt), [1927](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1927.txt), [2100](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2100.txt), [2321](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2321.txt), [2322](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2322.txt), [2323](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2323.txt), [2324](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2324.txt), [2325](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2325.txt), [2549](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2549.txt), [2550](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2550.txt), [2551](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2551.txt) and [2795](http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2795.txt).

There's no excuse for not checking out [tml](http://www.thismanslife.co.uk). James rocks.

You know the world has gone mad when [a design zine](http://www.clubsandwich.com/links_design.html) links this site before [DesigngraphiK](http://www.designgraphik.com/), [praystation](http://www.praystation.com/), [tpc](http://www.testpilotcollective.com/) and [areiform](http://www.aeriform.co.uk/) in a gallery of 'great design' sites.

If i've never linked to [fulstow.com](http://fulstow.com/weblog/) before, i am a fool.

Learn [all about foo](http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc3092.html).

[This](http://www.tv4.se/lattjo/kojan/bilbanan.asp) is the coolest thing ever. You can make your own scalalectrix. I love it.

Never got a chance to play "the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" on the amiga? Then you can [play it online](http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/infocomjava.html).

[Meg](http://www.megnut.com) is [looking very different](http://judy.hourihan.com/photos/mandjleave.jpg).

Larry Wall releases his [Apocalypse 2](http://www.perl.com/pub/2001/05/03/wall.html) document about the state of Perl 6. Interesting reading.

[Dead people](http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,43741,00.html)! [via suzanne]

A very interesting [dissection](http://www.rjh.org.uk/altair/4k/) of Bill Gate's 4k Altair BASIC.

[The truth...](http://devnull.mine.nu/GirlsEvil.jpg)

noooooo :(

Hi. It's been a while...

[Netbaby world](http://www.netbabyworld.com/) has launched a new game.

[Habbo Hotel](http://www.habbohotel.com/) is finally open.

Swedish hunters are [searching for nessie](http://thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=66496) [via suzanne]

[Webbies nominations](http://www.webbies.com/nominees/index.html) are out (once again, i was not nominated. they must have forgotten).

I want to [buy a submarine](http://www.gadgetmasters.com/cgi-bin/azx/more.pl?ID=16&SID=12&PAGE=PRODUCT) [via sal]

[The greatest](http://www.iamcal.com/ami/index.php?site=prime) am i this site ever?

[The greatest amazon review](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670672238) ever? (read the first review of the book).

I need [this monitor](http://www.panoramtech.com/products.htm).

Sal lives near a [fudge factory](http://calicocottage.com/consultants.htm). I am officially jealous.

To replace geekcode, we now have [Perl Geek Code](http://193.251.11.11/pgc/). Excellent! (grab mine [here](http://www.iamcal.com/about.php)).

The cafe next door to our office has (for no apparent reason) stopped taking cash and will only accept 'charge cards' which can be charged using little machines next to the cafe. So i went in yesterday to buy a coke, armed with my card (as yet uncharged) and some cash to charge it with. It turns out that although the cafe is open all day saturady, the charge machines only operate on week days. So i had to pay in cash and the woman behind the counter had to go upstairs to get me my change. System stupidity factor: 10/10.

The excellent Orion at [Introspect](http://www.introspectsoftware.com/) has created the [eBusCard](http://www.ebuscard.com), a windows business-card application. Grab mine [here](http://www.iamcal.com/files/iamcal.exe)

[IMPS](http://rf.cx/rfc2795.html) is a standard everyone should adhere to.

If you're interested in memetics, and have a few hours/days spare, read the [pinata manifesto](http://www.bethroberts.com/pinata/).

May means no more mo. It's a shame. And i'm going to update soon, really. I'm just sooo busy.

new poll! new poll! new poll!

Settlers 4 wasn't working, so i sent an email to their support service...

I've just installed "Settlers 4" and it wont run.

I'm using windows 2000 server.

And i got this response 8 days later...

Unfortunately, Windows NT and Windows 2000 are not supported Operating Systems for Ubi Soft games. We do state on the box that only Windows 95 and 98 are supported. Windows NT and 2000 use completely different file structures from Windows 95 and 98. These OSes were also designed with security features designed for Business, not for home use. While you may be able to run our games on Windows NT and Windows 2000, we can not provide support for installing or using our software on these Operating Systems. Rainbow Six, however, will not run on Windows 2000. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

So i responded...

I suggest 'Jason' be fired promtly before you get sued. The spine of the "Settlers 4" box reads (and i quote) "Windows 95b, 98, ME, NT4.0 SP5 or 2000". The spine of the "Battle Isle - The Andosia War" box reads "Windows 95b, ME or 2000".

--Cal Henderson

I've been away a long time. I know. I'm bad.

Please don't mistake this for my site!

I found two sites which focus on tech support stories (most of which i'm sure are made up). If i see that one about a customer breaking his 'drink holder' one more time i'll scream.

Jeremy has finally got his site up. Nice.

Like pokemon? Hate them? Then check out this game.

Open source takes on the bigest brand in the world? Surely not.

I need a new poll - i'm now accepting ideas in the forum.

Bridget has got a new design. Now if she'd only reply to my email...

Rebecca had her birthday on friday. Send her mail and tell her she's great.

I'm now a registered diarist. At least iamcal.com is. I'm becoming more like Mo every day (cue the scary music).

Tourette Syndrome Barbie. What can i say. [via peter]

To console myself after the death of Settlers 4 on my PC, i bought another game. From bluebyte again (silly me). Anyway, turns out my display drivers are busted (which may explain the settlers 4 problems) but the updated ones wont install. Woe is me.

This could mark the world's oddest community. I think so.

The wonderfully sexy katie has redesigned. Go look. Go look now.

Sysadmins beware - this could happen to you! [via sal]

A parting quiz question for the easter weekend: What part of the human body enlarges to seven times its original size when stimulated? Answers on a stuck down [email](mailto:cal@iamcal.com?subject=easter quiz question).

Please don't mistake this for my site.

Going to Sainsburys for my lunch today, i got served by ex-classmate Amanda Brown, who recognised me before i recognised her. There must be so many people i used to talk to on a daily basis whom i have completely forgotten about - should i feel bad about this or does everyone forget everything?

Interesting crop circles [via tom]

Order Jesus. Now!

"I woke up this morning and, I swear, it felt like someone had pushed a nail through my eyebrow. Then I realized someone had. I even paid the woman to do it. The things I do to appear hip. I love it." Go read steve.

Robyn finally did 'bemused' for me. Take your time....