Author Archives: Steve

Android app updates – a proposal

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Steve

Android’s app update system drives me around the bend. I guess it’s fine for the people living in the world of fast, uncapped internet; but for us mortals with slower ADSL lines and small caps, the data-hoover that is Android … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Efficiency, Hassles, Idealism, Maintenance problems, Pipe dreams, Programming, Suggestions, Technology, Updates | Leave a comment

Improving call centres

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Steve

Dear call centre designer/implementer/manager. I would like to respectfully suggest that you pay attention to the following to enhance your clients’ experience of the call centre: Eradicate dead-ends from your menu system. To make this easier, always provide “none of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Idealism, Suggestions | Leave a comment

Expanding my vocabulary

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Steve

Some new words and phrases I’ve encountered lately: parlous – meaning perilous or dangerous. Encountered on an article about a dwindling bird population in a parlous state. atavistic – based on the noun atavism, which refers to a reversion to … Continue reading →

Posted in Language | Leave a comment

How not to do customer service…

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Steve

Yesterday, I emailed SANParks with 3 fairly specific queries about renewals for their Wild Card program. This morning (good response time), I got the following reply: Hi Good day the best way wait until they other cards expired then will … Continue reading →

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Flattr – good idea scuppered by TOS

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Steve

Flattr.com seems to be a really cool new service to facilitate internet users rewarding content creators by means of microdonations. With one of the masterminds behind the project being Pirate Bay co-founder Peter Sunde, you’d think they’d be wary of … Continue reading →

Posted in Activism, Computers, Idealism, Legal | Leave a comment

Surely this can’t be legal?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Steve

From the EULA (end-user licence agreement) of a Firefox plugin I was considering installing: Delicious may change this Software License by posting a new version without notice to you. Use of the Delicious Software after such change constitutes acceptance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Legal | Leave a comment

Project Umonya Stellenbosch Python course – thanks!

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Steve

I feel almost like a groom at a traditional Afrikaans wedding: “baie, baie dankie”. But at least I know any chirps will only be coming at the end of what I have to say. This weekend, Stellenbosch University hosted a … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Computers, Programming | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Alternatives to training dragons

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Steve

The other day I was considering the movie title “How to train your dragon” (we were considering what DVD to take out), and the title for the sequel aimed at students and dwarves, “How to drain your flagon” just jumped … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Movies, Word puzzles | Leave a comment

What technology/science can do

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Steve

Here are some of the things that I think technology and science can help us achieve (in no particular order): No more cash, and only one card No more bills to pay No more keys No more crime More effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Health, Idealism, Ideas, Pipe dreams, Science, Technology | 1 Comment

IWOCA and StringMasters 2010

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Steve

The last week of August I was in London for two workshops. The first workshop was the “small conference” type of workshop – the International Workshop on Combinatorial Algorithms (IWOCA). The second was the “break-away groups and problem-solving” type of … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Conferences, Work | Leave a comment