Firefox 3 was just released today. It is a fantastic piece of software, with some significant improvements over the already-great Firefox 2.
It is amazingly quick, has some really intuitive features like tagging, dragging text, searching page histories, etc.
Firefox can be download at http://www.firefox.com. You won't regret it.
June 17, 2008
June 13, 2008
Of Ants and Men
One of the reasons that I am so fascinated by ants is their ability to do complex things with their exceptionally limited intelligence. Given a changing environment, with various and varying inputs, ants are able to go on scouting missions, collect food, care for young, etc.
Weaver ants, for example, build nests by pulling leaves together into a sphere, and "sewing" the leaves together with larval silk. Producing something like this takes teamwork and coordination by hundreds of ants. It seems like this sort of project would require central planning, and someone (or some ant) who understands the aim and eventual outcome of the work. I think it is very fair to assume, however, that no one ant, nor the entire group of ants, understands what they are doing. Their biology has programmed to react a certain way, given a certain set of conditions, and the result is the completion of a complex project, beyond the comprehension of any of the participants.
I wonder if certain human institutions are of this same nature. Are there things that we create without understanding what we are doing? Are we working toward goals that are beyond human comprehension, without any of us understanding our role in the process?
Weaver ants, for example, build nests by pulling leaves together into a sphere, and "sewing" the leaves together with larval silk. Producing something like this takes teamwork and coordination by hundreds of ants. It seems like this sort of project would require central planning, and someone (or some ant) who understands the aim and eventual outcome of the work. I think it is very fair to assume, however, that no one ant, nor the entire group of ants, understands what they are doing. Their biology has programmed to react a certain way, given a certain set of conditions, and the result is the completion of a complex project, beyond the comprehension of any of the participants.
I wonder if certain human institutions are of this same nature. Are there things that we create without understanding what we are doing? Are we working toward goals that are beyond human comprehension, without any of us understanding our role in the process?
March 3, 2007
LDS Loans on Prosper.com
So, I have been using Prosper.com for a few months now, and I just wanted to report on my experience.
I graduated from university in December, and just got a job a few weeks ago, so finances have been tight, to say the least. I decided to invest $100 in October, and then I added $50 in January. So, I am funding three loans. The way I see it, Prosper is a way for borrowers whose credit scores are an unfair reflection to have another chance. So, I have tried to find borrowers who were cosigners with a poor credit risk, for example, and have had their own score unfairly hurt.
All of my borrowers are D grade or lower, so I am definitely taking some risks. So far, all three of my borrowers are current in repaying their loans, and have been right on time every month.
This success has made me think more about the other possibilities on Prosper.com. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and our church teaches a lot about the importance of wisely managing finances.
I think that Prosper.com can be used as an important tool to escaping financial mistakes, and regaining good credit. I recently created a group on Prosper.com called "Stormin' Mormons" in an attempt to show people how to use Prosper.com responsibly, and to create a community of LDS borrowers who are committed not only for selfish reasons, but because of spiritual reasons.
All borrowers in my group must follow the entire program of the Church's "Peace in Your Hearts" system of financial management from a gospel perspective, and commit to continue to pay tithing and use their loans only for debt consolidation and necessities.
For more information, check out my group page at
http://www.prosper.com/public/groups/group_home.aspx?group_short_name=Mormons
I graduated from university in December, and just got a job a few weeks ago, so finances have been tight, to say the least. I decided to invest $100 in October, and then I added $50 in January. So, I am funding three loans. The way I see it, Prosper is a way for borrowers whose credit scores are an unfair reflection to have another chance. So, I have tried to find borrowers who were cosigners with a poor credit risk, for example, and have had their own score unfairly hurt.
All of my borrowers are D grade or lower, so I am definitely taking some risks. So far, all three of my borrowers are current in repaying their loans, and have been right on time every month.
This success has made me think more about the other possibilities on Prosper.com. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and our church teaches a lot about the importance of wisely managing finances.
I think that Prosper.com can be used as an important tool to escaping financial mistakes, and regaining good credit. I recently created a group on Prosper.com called "Stormin' Mormons" in an attempt to show people how to use Prosper.com responsibly, and to create a community of LDS borrowers who are committed not only for selfish reasons, but because of spiritual reasons.
All borrowers in my group must follow the entire program of the Church's "Peace in Your Hearts" system of financial management from a gospel perspective, and commit to continue to pay tithing and use their loans only for debt consolidation and necessities.
For more information, check out my group page at
http://www.prosper.com/public/groups/group_home.aspx?group_short_name=Mormons
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