Programmers block

It is like a writers block, except it is for programming in particular. It can be described as a mental block against programming for certain projects or a specific programming language, whereas at the same time there may be no sign of a general writers block or even programming block for other programming languages or for programming on other projects.

ZDNet: When programmers can write no more
Slashdot: Overcoming programmers block

Illustration by KeyTrap

Back to work

Back at work, everybody is greeting eachother with a "Happy New Year" and "Best Wishes" (actually "Beste Wensen" cause this is still Holland). Though the spirits seem high enough, most of the people by the coffee table seemed drowsy and quite a few had glassy or bloodshot eyes. Either they all went out this weekend for a final party before starting the new years work, or what I see is just the start of another cold taking its round.

Illustration courtesy: Dennis Mitchell

Comfort eating

I was complaining to Philip (again) about the frustration of not being finished with my current project before christmas. At this point it would be overly optimistic to think that I could leave for the christmas break with a clean table - which is what I always aim for before a holiday. Philip told me that there is a very easy solution: If I don't like to leave for christmas without finishing this project first - just do not leave for christmas. Isn't he fantastic? Philip can solve all the problems in the world without doing anything. :o)

Let me just have a piece of bread with my tea to cheer me up.

PS. Nola, Philip and Joanna were discussing how many times they each are mentioned on my blog. Click their names to find out.

Nerd joke

I don't know where this joke originated from, but I found it so hilarious that I had to share, even without a proper attribution to the artist. Please contact me if you know who made this pic.

Top 10 reasons to become a Statistician

I found these 'Top 10 reasons to become a Statistician' in the R-help mailing list archive:

1. Deviation is considered normal
2. We feel complete and sufficient
3. We are 'mean' lovers
4. Statisticians do it discretely and continuously
5. We are right 95% of the time
6. We can legally comment on someone's posterior distribution
7. We may not be normal, but we are transformable
8. We never have to say we are certain
9. We are honestly significantly different
10. No one wants our jobs

Paper airplanes

There are numerous ways to fold a paper airplane, yet everybody seem to know one version the best, or even one version only. If you are stuck with the same airplane models every time you scrap your bills, your old loveletters or bills that you won't use anyway, get som free inspiration on how to build 10 beautiful paper airplanes.

Illustration courtesy: howtomakepaperairplane.com

Zitzakken at work

Two weeks ago I was at a party arranged by NXP where they had the brilliant idea of using sandbag chairs everywhere. Good quality I thought, so we ordered some of the same type to our department. And then what happens?




I dare to say that if a beanbag chair cannot resist the full weight of a jumping professor, the bean bag is certainly not of academic quality...

Buy your own beanbags at zitzak.org

All work and no play...

Uncyclopedia: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy