Info Feed WeblogInfo Feed WeblogSnow Crash (by Neal Stephenson)- April 20, 2004 This science-fiction novel combines a scenario of a largely broken near-term future with a religious conspiracy based on ancient theories about information warfare dating back to the Sumerian ages. The protagonist is called Hiro Protagonist (neat, ain't it), and he's a pizza delivery guy for one of the dominating enterprises in that near future: Uncle Enzo's pizza delivery company. But he's not only that: In what is called the MetaVerse, a virtual reality world with 3D characters, Hiro is one...http://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/20/snow_crash_by_neal_stephenson.shtml Built for Use (by Karen Donoghue)- April 20, 2004 This book aims to look at the online user experience from the perspective of a corporate strategist or a marketing manager. It makes the case for a focus on user experience, and it does so very often. Apart from making the case, it didn't do much else for me, which was kind of disappointing because I was already a "convert" looking for a practical book. Continue reading "Built for Use (by Karen Donoghue)" Linkhttp://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/20/built_for_use_by_karen_donoghue.shtml The Tipping Point (by Malcolm Gladwell)- April 7, 2004 I had for years avoided this book because it sounded suspiciously like marketing mumbo-jumbo. Now that I have read it, I know that this was just a prejudice. "The Tipping Point" is actually a very good book about how ideas and memes permeate through social systems. A tipping point in this context is the point at which an idea becomes so pervasive that growth becomes exponential and seemingly surprising adoption happens. Continue reading "The Tipping Point (by Malcolm Gladwell)" Linkhttp://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/07/the_tipping_point_by_malcolm_gladwell.shtml The Blue Nowhere (by Jeffery Deaver)- April 7, 2004 This is a crime novel about two computer wizards going against each other: The one is Phate, who is playing a perverse version of a game, where his goal is to kill random people in the real life just for the challenge of it. For this purpose, he has written a unique program called "Trapdoor" which in Trojan Horse-style resides on the victim's computer and gives Phate all the information that he wants. To catch Phate, the police is using an imprisoned hacker called Wyatt Gillette. That's already.http://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/07/the_blue_nowhere_by_jeffery_deaver.shtml The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (by Douglas Adams)- April 6, 2004 Short review: I have read the book because it is deemed a classic and adored by many people I respect. However, I was rather bored, couldn't laugh as much as was announced by friends beforehand, and I was thrice close to putting it down altogether. I only got through because the book has a good pace and is short. Nevertheless, I guess I just didn't get it, and now I am completely uncool in geek circles. Tough luck. Continue reading "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (by Douglas...http://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/06/the_hitchhikers_guide_to_the_galaxy_by_d.shtml Eric Meyer on CSS: Mastering the Language of Web Design (by Eric A. Meyer)- April 6, 2004 For modern Web design, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is an important technique (d'uh). Yet, as easy as CSS programmatically is, it is not as easy to learn in a structured way than for instance HTML is. I had learned the basics of CSS about one and a half years ago from an online introduction plus many examples and had managed to scrape by without extra knowledge. However, when I wanted to learn professional CSS, it was hard to come by an appropriate online resource that was able to take me where.http://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/06/eric_meyer_on_css_mastering_the_language.shtml Nexus: Small Worlds and the Groundbreaking Science of Networks (by Mark Buchanan)- April 6, 2004 Two books are usually named as an introduction to network theory: "Linked: The New Science of Networks" by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi and "Nexus: Small Worlds and the Groundbreaking Science of Networks" by Mark Buchanan. Whereas the former book seems to sell better, I liked the latter much more. Continue reading "Nexus: Small Worlds and the Groundbreaking Science of Networks (by Mark Buchanan)" Linkhttp://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/06/nexus_small_worlds_and_the_groundbreakin.shtml The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security (by Kevin D. Mitnick & William L. Simon)- April 6, 2004 Kevin Mitnick was often referred to as the most famous or most notorious hacker on Earth. The interesting thing with his hacking however had always been that, a large part of it was based on so-called "social engineering", i.e. the manipulation of people. In his book "The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security", written by Mitnick a couple of years after getting out of prison, he explains how exactly security attacks are being carried out and how humans are being...http://www.smalla.net/infofeed/2004/04/06/the_art_of_deception_controlling_the_hum.shtml |