I started reading “Clean Coder” the same day it arrived at my desk. Contrary to “Clean Code”, Uncle Bob’s previous book, it was supposed to about coding /practices/ rather than code. As such it should be about the the /behavior/ of engineers who strive to write clean code.

Clean Coder by Robert C. Martin

So, I for a few days I read chapter by chapter while commuting to and from work. It was a similar experience to reading “Clean Code”, very often I would think “Exactly! That’s it, nicely put.” because Uncle Bob’s believes and convictions are very much in line with my own. However, the longer I read the less interested I became. Finally, the book has been siting unfinished and untouched in my backpack for well over a month.

Why? Much more than in “Clean Code” Uncle Bob keeps repeating himself and if you’ve read some of his previous publications you know what to expect. Besides, there are way too many personal stories from his past that seem irrelevant (to me) for the purpose of the book.

If you have only little time, or little patience, I recommend you read at least the first chapter titled “professionalism”. In many ways it’s like a summary of the book.

Unfortunately, the documentary doesn’t seem to be available anywhere online but for an 11-part copy in rather bad quality at YouTube:

1. Part 1
2. Part 2
3. Part 3
4. Part 4
5. Part 5
6. Part 6
7. Part 7
8. Part 8
9. Part 9
10. Part 10
11. Part 10+ aka part 11 aka the end

A report with very similar stories was published in 2009 by National Geographic. The Durihana Christian organization and its leader, pastor Chun, featured in both the documentary and the NG article, have their own Wikipedia page.

A biker's perfect day

Well, what can I say…the story speaks for itself, doesn’t it? It is certainly told from a male perspective. But hey, so what? My wife actually noticed the ad first and she thought it very cool, too.

However, it’s obvious that the ad isn’t directed at the extremely sportive and competitive bikers. Why so? Well, there are several indications:

1. The guy gets up after sun rise.
2. He takes the easy tour and rides downhill.
3. Then he doesn’t ride around the lake of Zurich but takes the shortcut across the lake instead (FHM -> Fähre Horgen-Meilen?).
4. Instead of stretching his muscles he goes girl-hunting while on the ferry.
5. Then instead of going to bed early in the evening to be well-rested for the next day he gets laid.

Fine with me. Wouldn’t we (men) all like to be the guy in the story? See…

Disclaimer: I ride a PRICE bike myself.

“A quarter of mortgage borrowers owe more than their houses are worth.”

<swallowing hard>..my dear…

• I watched The Cove, 2010 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, a movie about the annual killing of dolphins in a National Park at Taji, Wakayama, in Japan
• I stumbled upon online petitions against killing whales and dolphins on the Faroe Islands as a ritual to prove adult hood

Both left me somewhat shocked. Learning about how so called human beings slaughter animals without real need for food makes me want to puke! I hardly find words to describe my rage.

Some links concerning the Faroe Island killings:

• The facts: http://www.wdcs.org/stop/killing_trade/story_details.php?select=496
• The pictures: http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu/think2/post/950_whales_and_dolphins_killed-_ok_in_the_denish_traditions/
• http://getsatisfaction.com/wwf/topics/how_to_report_animal_abuse_to_wwf_i_have_received_email_from_friend_where_there_are_bulk_of_dolphins_been
• http://www.politicalarticles.net/blog/2009/10/11/denmarks-gruesome-festival-mass-killing-of-whales-and-dolphins-to-prove-adulthood/

• Samurai
  If you judge a Japanese restaurants by the number of Japanese who frequent the place this was the clear favorite a few years ago. Samurai was considered an in-sider tip back then. Located next to a striptease club in one of the red-light areas it wasn’t mainstream yet. Since then the number of Japanese guests in the restaurant has declined since the word has spread that you get reasonably price truly authentic sushi and sashimi – most guests are Europeans nowadays.
  My wife and I think that the quality of the food and the care with which the components are arranged on the plates have slightly decreased over the years. However, we can still highly recommend it.
  Reservation almost required for dinner, the place is always full.
• Sala of Tokyo
  The food is good and if you manage to get a table in the quite back room (ask for it if you make a reservation) the atmosphere is nice. It’s a little on the pricy side but it’s justified for many dishes. We wouldn’t recommend paying the extra surcharge to have wagyū meat instead of the regular beef. It’s not worth it.
  We didn’t like many of the rich snobbish other guests. The Swiss owner lacked Japanese hospitality.
• Fujiya
  Next on our list.
• Yooji’s
  Certainly not the most authentic place in Zurich but the sushi is ok. If you go with a group of four we’d recommend to get the big sushi plate for all to share. Friendly staff.
• ISHI
  Too stylish and modern to be authentic. Since they don’t even have Japanese staff we never bothered trying. Heard some horrible stories from friends.
• oKara
• isakaYa
• Ginger
• Takano
  Open-air sukiyaki on the  terrace apparently -> we have to try in summer.
• Ooki
  Ramen shop close to Stauffacher. Tiny restaurant – have dinner early or make a reservation. The place has its own charm, definitely worth a try. The menu is small but the food is really delicious. A few types of ramen and gyoza (must have), that’s all.
• Blue Note
  No website (domain parking)
  Stockerstrasse 45
  8002 Zürich
  Tel: +41 44 202 17 17
• Satori Sushi House

Some owners of recalled Toyotas are now saying they are afraid to drive them. “I live only a half mile from the office and I drive there,” said Elaine Byrnes, a Camry owner in Los Angeles. “If I had to go farther, I wouldn’t consider it.”

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=544543&f=19

I lived in California for a year. So, I know what sort of attitude Americans have towards their cars but this was too much – definitely too much.

The story unfolded like this in my mind:

Some owners of recalled Toyotas are now saying they are afraid to drive them.

“Yes, that’s understandable. Toyota really has a problem. But what do you do? You depend on your cars, don’t you.”

“I live only a half mile from the office…”

“Ohh, well, then there’s no problem, is there? You could walk or take the bike.”
I even did the math quickly: an average adult walks about 5km (3.1 miles) in an hour. Hence, a half mile takes you a little over 10 minutes.

“…and I drive there,” said Elaine Byrnes, a Camry owner in Los Angeles.

“Seriously? What a waste!”

“If I had to go farther, I wouldn’t consider it.”

“What? That reasoning makes no sense at all. That most certainly qualifies for being one of the dumbest justifications for someones actions I’ve heard in a long while.”

As much as I love America, stories like this make me wonder if this planet has a future.

“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have.”

A quick Internet investigation lead me to a page that claims that the above quote isn’t by Thomas Jefferson but from Gerald Ford.