For folks with a tablet or other kind of e-reader, the public library is a bit different. For one thing, it’s mainly in cyberspace and browsing the virtual shelves takes more than a little getting used to. On the plus side, it’s open 24/7 and if a title is available for lending, you can be perusing it within moments of making your selection.

I’ll admit that the virtual library has other differences from the public library – for instance, most of the titles have a shorter loan period and if you place an item on hold, it is extremely likely that it will be made available to you when you simply have no time for it. But browsing the shelves is a bit easier as you can use the tools of cyberspace to narrow your search to exactly what you want. I managed to download and read 4 books in a week’s time.

So if you have a tablet or similar device, I suggest you go online and discover your library again. After all, that’s what it’s there for.

Based on a true story. Yes, sometimes it’s hard to decide when there’s so many good choices. But there seems to be something that some people always aren’t fond of. Go fig.

In other news, I’m getting a bit fed up with Word Press. Anybody have good suggestions for a dynamic web comic solution, please let me know. Thanks!

The mere mention of the word “walk” will get the attention of most dogs. Our dog will barely be able to contain herself at the merest suggestion that there might be a “walk” in the future. Unfortunately, that energy quickly evaporates and the animal that I could barely keep up with moments before has changed into some sort of apathetic creature that I have to constantly engage to keep her moving.

Am I alone in this? Is it because we are both getting older? I have no idea.

Let me first state that this cartoon in no way reflects where I work now or the people I work with.

That being said, in the past, I’ve found myself in the position of trying to explain to folks that making a computer game is a bit more difficult than it seems.

It involves math. Lots of math. Geometry, trigonometry, that kind of stuff.

Because it’s all about writing formulas that predict where things need to be based on where they are. And sometimes the numbers just don’t add up (computers can be very picky sometimes – you need to be very precise in your instructions).

But invariably someone would see a hit game and think “that looks easy” and assume that the programming behind it must be easy as well. They don’t take into account the level design, the testing, the creation of new powers to keep the game interesting and so on. It is just assumed that someone else has already done all of the hard work so all that’s left to do is just “look” at the example and the game is made! Easy peasy.

Would that it was actually that easy. See you next week.

Yes, we all have problems with our hardware and cannot resist “venting” from time to time. But is all of the higher blood pressure and noise pollution really worth it? And if not, what can someone hope to do about it? What do you think?

When you’re trying to concentrate, the last thing you need are all of the bells and whistles associated with “important” messages that come flooding in. Particularly since most of them seem to be related to what I’m already doing. So yes, I sometimes “silence” the noise. Sometimes even more drastic measures are required. I think you know what I mean.

See you next week.

I guess this is no surprise to any of you to discover that sometimes (okay, frequently) computers can be vexing and might even cause one to lose one’s cool.

When they perform the way we expect them to, everything is fine and dandy but when circumstances cause them to veer from the correct path (sometimes wildly so) then we get frustrated.

So I guess it’s a good thing that I do not have the powers of the Incredible Hulk or I may find myself with a large pile of computer bits just about every other day.

Douglas Adams once said, “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they go by.” Speaking of which, I noticed that for some reason, last week’s cartoon was not posted automatically as it should have been. That error has been corrected.

I’m guessing that since no one thought to bring it up, that no one’s reading these things anyway. Maybe I’ll take a month off and see if anybody says anything.

Folks, this is a pet peeve of mine. I know that most local news personalities engage in inane chatter with each other, especially about the weather. The thing I cannot stand is that no matter what the current weather is, they want something different. If it’s raining, they want sun. If it’s sunny, they want rain. If there’s hail, I’m guessing they want lava (I’m not sure, but I’m not willing to put it to the test).  Can they stop moaning about the current conditions and find something else to talk about? Maybe about the forecaster’s performance: “You spoke very well today, Ed.” “Thanks, Anita.”

And that’s the way it is.

Somewhere we have to draw the line. When does the simulation of something you could actually be doing become fun?

Oh, and I’m having some technical difficulties with my hardware. Please bear with me.