Category - Ask Jordon

That's what she said!

Let's see. This weekend, my sister and I went to our grandparents' house, and we met our parents and our cousins there. Grocery shopping was done today. It's easy to get carried away when you need food and you haven't been in a proper grocery store in weeks.

Backtracking to last week, I had an astounding three tests. On Tuesday, I had a Social Geography test, on which I scored 32 out of 33 (which is pretty good because that's a third of my grade). On Thursday, I had a calculus test, and though the results have yet to come in, I'm feeling good about it. On Friday night (yes, Friday night), I had a chemistry test. I don't have chemistry (or any class) on Friday night, but there are so many people in the class (it's a basic chemistry course) that I guess that's the only time they could have it. Nevertheless, the test delayed my aforementioned weekend plans. But right after the test, I found out that the answer key was posted online. Since I hadn't yet thrown away my scratch work, I was able to determine that I aced the test. That's a quarter of my grade in the bag.

Apparently all these tests aren't so bad. You just have to take them one at a time.

It's time for another exciting edition of Ask Jordon!

Olivia: What're you on about?

Er... dunno. I'm a right raving nutter, I s'pose.

Ivan Karamazov: Why do some believe Ron Paul will follow up on his promises of the One True reading of the Constitution? Do they realize it will mean cuts? Who IS he?

Well, brother, they say that if you Google Ron Paul, you'll find out about him. Me, I don't believe a word of it. As for his kind, I think they're a dying breed. Nobody wants cuts. Well, people do, but the dudes and the ladies that run the two-party system haven't really invited them to participate in our democracy. Oops! (Okay, I'm a hypocrite. I've joined the Democratic Party, much to the chagrin of the growing number of people who think that if you're not an independent, you're a narrow-minded hypocrite. Wait...)

Ever wonder how valuable coins change hands? Here's the story about a $1.9 million dime.

How to Predict the Weather Without a Forecast.

I've never used Skype much. Although I've long believed it's a cool idea for a program, I rarely need to use it. After switching to Linux, I had some qualms about using the Linux version of Skype because it's not free software (free as in freedom, not necessarily as in price). Nonetheless, I downloaded it anyway, only to confirm that it sucks. Skype has spent almost all of its resources developing the Windows version of its software, leaving the Mac and (especially) the Linux versions in the proverbial dust. However, I continued to use Skype as often as before (that is, hardly ever).

Then, recently, I found out that Skype for Linux reads your password and Firefox profile. It apparently took a while to be noticed because Skype is not free software as per the definition linked to above. Only the Skype developers have access to the source code, so only they can know what the program is programmed to do. If Skype were free software, this breach of privacy would have been uncovered very quickly and fixed by members of the community. And with that, I got rid of Skype and searched for a free (as in freedom) alternative.

I came across WengoPhone, which, unlike Skype, uses the open protocol known as SIP. A WengoPhone user can talk to people using other SIP clients. (Skype users, on the other hand, can only talk to other Skype users due to Skype's use of its own proprietary protocol.) What I like about WengoPhone as opposed to Ekiga (which I already had on my computer) is that the interface is similar to Skype's. The program is a little rough around the edges in the way of bugs (I can't hear the sound that's supposed to play when you get a call), but overall, it seems like a pretty good alternative to Skype. The sound quality, from what I've been able to tell, is worse than Skype's but a little better than your phone's. As for calling real phones, Wengo's rates for the US and Canada are less than half of Skype's (€0.008/minute vs. €0.017/minute).

One problem I had with Skype is that I really didn't have anyone to talk to. Let's make this less of a problem for SIP. WengoPhone is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux (and it should be in the repositories for your Linux distribution). And here's a list of moreSIP clients. Once you have it set up, give me a call at sip:jordonk27@voip.wengo.fr. I think you should be able to leave me a message if I'm not available.

I'm think my friend Luke is right. Proprietary software really is a crime.

On the Ask Jordon front, we're picking up from last time.

Clairecrowww: Well, I have to do my assignment today. Its a talky-type thing, so I don't think you could help much... Unless you came to Australia?

Maybe next time we can use SIP!

Clairecrowww: And also: My friend would like to know if the West Coast Eagles will win the grand final. (Its AFL, if you didn't know)

Reply hazy, try again later.

Also on the privacy front: I've reported about the phenomenon of color printers printing Seeing Yellow is a site that has more information about the phenomenon.

Not to be confused with the 10 amazing Earth facts I posted recently, here are 101 Amazing Earth Facts.

Just before midnight last night, as I was going to sleep, the fire alarm went off. Unsure of whether it was a drill, and remembering that you shouldn't take your stuff with you in the event of a fire, I got out of bed, put on some shoes, and went outside. It was strange standing across the street from my dorm watching the blinking lights inside along with a bunch of other people. I forgot my keys and my cell phone, both of which would probably have been handy to bring. Luckily, I was able to borrow my roommate's keys so I wouldn't be locked out when (or if) I went back.

So there I was. The night was cold (in the sense that it wasn't as warm as it should have been), I was wearing socks with sandals, and I had no phone to tell anyone that my dorm was -- possibly -- on fire. A police car came, and then a fire truck. Some firefighters walked into the building. For a while I stood nervously, but I didn't want to do anything else. Mark, who lives in the dorm next door, came around. He mentioned that it would be a good opportunity to go out for a midnight breakfast, but I declined. I wanted to make sure everything would be okay.

Another fire truck came. After about 20 minutes, they exited the building, and we were allowed to go back inside. The door to my room had been unlocked, so I didn't need my roommate's keys. I'm not sure whether there was a fire at all; if there was, it must have been minor. A few minutes later, my roommate, Adam, came back into the room. He must have left again, because he said he came back at 4:30 in the morning, and he says that I said to him, "It's 4:30 in the morning." I don't remember that at all.

Since Adam stays up later, he sleeps in later, so when I woke up this morning, I ate breakfast quietly and didn't do much. I went out for lunch to find that, instead of the usual oppressive heat, it was wet and overcast. Also, there were people picnicking with their cars on the lawn next to the dorm. It took me a moment to realize that oh yes, it was game day -- football, of course. Since the game was only on pay-per-view, I listened to it on the radio (thanks to the cable company broadcasting the university's sports radio station on TV). Florida beat Troy 59-31, so now they're 2-0 for the season. Next week's game, against Tennessee, will be at 3:30 on CBS.

This Ask Jordon is brought to you by The World of Stuff.

Peter: What's the sound of one hand clapping? Bonus points if you know why I asked this question. It's important.

One hand can't clap. Take that, Zen dudes with meaningless questions. I really don't know what would be so important about you asking this question. Maybe you could enlighten me? Ha ha.

Clairecrowww: Could you change the name of your blog to "Bliggity-Blog"? Please? Just for a while.

You mean change the word "Blog" that I put on the home page to replace "The World of Stuff," which I had considered redundant since the World of Stuff banner is already there? If I did that, then I'd have to change it to "Blob" and "Blag," and before you know it, I'd be obliged to refer to the Internet as the Intarwubbernettersphereoblogoblagotubes. You don't want that to happen, do you?

Clairecrowww: Could you do my religeon assignment for me?

What's it about? Can I create my own religion and then write about it? I would totally do that.

Thanks to reader Luke for this organ-donor-related link: Questions and Answers About Transplantation and Donation.

Mark Malkoff bought (and consumed) food or a drink from all 171 Starbucks outlets in Manhattan in less than 24 hours, and he has the video to prove it.

For the Labor Day weekend, my sister and I have come home. It sure is different from my dorm at UF's Hume Hall, but I'm getting used to college life pretty nicely. In fact, I'm surprised at how used I am to it already. Maybe college really will be the time of my life.

Even then, it's nice to be back home, if only for a few days. Here I have no worries or cares, and my mom can cook for me and do my laundry. What's not to love? Plus, my friend Nick had a barbecue at his house this afternoon. It was pretty much an indoor barbecue, but we did swim in his pool, which was nice. Later, we went to the beach... at night. It seems that I've been to the beach at night more often than during the day. It's probably true, in fact.

I got here yesterday afternoon, and after a short day (today), I have to leave tomorrow morning. I'm pretty mad about that. I'm also mad because I'm tired, but I don't want to believe that myself.

Let's cut to the Ask Jordon.

ALISON : R U HAPPY?

Overall, yes. I'm glad that college isn't so bad, and I'm seeing it as an exciting time to make new friendships and learn valuable life lessons. Next.

ARianna: you have made a "minor scale chart thing" and I was hopeing you had a "major scale chart thing somwhere as well. DO you?

No. Maybe I'll make one sometime, but I only made the minor one because I couldn't find a very good one on the web. Finding a major scale chart was easier.

Ashley McGee: Gilligan's Island was cancelled right before the 4th season was to start. Would the castways have made it off if they knew it was the final show?

I don't think so. They had all that time to make radios out of coconuts and everything, and there were always exciting visitors who would come for a day or two and then get picked up from the island or something. I think our favorite castaways just wanted to stay on the island to protect their staid, secure selves from the sociopolitical upheaval that was occurring in the United States from 1964-1967. It's the only explanation that makes sense.

If you eat really fast like me, you might want to check out 5 Powerful Reasons to Eat Slower.

The Change Contest is still going on. You could win a guest post here at The World of Stuff! Just make sure to include your e-mail address with your guess; otherwise, I might not be able to contact you.

I have been cleaning my room. This, I believe, is an event worthy of first billing in a post (not including nags to enter contests). The area of focus here is my closet, which I don't believe I've ever actually cleaned -- and it shows. So, why this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence? Because I feel like it! No, not really. Because my days at home are numbered, and I'll never be living here again. Our home is for sale, and there's going to be an open house the weekend I leave for college. I already frustrated the real estate agent by not having a spotless room that he could take a picture of, so in spite of my best efforts to the contrary, I have to make it look presentable inside and out.

Going through one side of my closet, I'm finding that a lot of things I'm throwing (or, more often, giving) away I have absolutely no emotional attachment to. And I have found all kinds of things, including things I didn't even know I had. But the things I knew I had I didn't really mind getting rid of. This is a change from the past, when I wouldn't throw anything away because I had some sentimental reason to keep it. Am I losing my sentimentality? Am I getting old? Are the rigors of life setting in? Am I paranoid? Does that mean they're not after me? Am I asking too many questions? Oh well. At least I'll have a closet that's pretty empty. Well, not quite yet. I still have to clean up the other half of the closet: the messy half. (Yes, I might actually have to throw away those Teenie Beanie Babies.) And then: the desk. Oh, the desk.

And now, an informational edition of Ask Jordon.

Genna Ruffin: Hi Jordan: I've been reading all the posts about installing the "hide bulletins" thingie for myspace and can't figure out WHERE to paste the code?

MySpace Ignore Bulletins is a Greasemonkey user script, which means you need to be running the Greasemonkey extension for Firefox in order to use it. You seem to be using Firefox, so all you have to do is install Greasemonkey, and, after being prompted to restart your browser, go back to the script's page and click "Install this script" on the right.

The November 2008 presidential election is just around the corner! Do you know who to support yet? If you're like me, you'll probably need a little help. You're probably not like me, but here's a presidential candidate selector -- a quiz to determine which presidential candidate is most in line with your views. Here are my results. I've never heard of some of these people.

1. Dennis Kucinich (88%)
2. Barack Obama (83%)
3. Joseph Biden (75%)
4. Christopher Dodd (73%)
5. Hillary Clinton (72%)
6. Mike Gravel (69%)
7. John Edwards (68%)
8. Bill Richardson (60%)
9. Ron Paul (50%)
10. Elaine Brown (47%)
11. Mike Huckabee (26%)
12. Rudolph Giuliani (25%)
13. Tommy Thompson (24%)
14. John McCain (21%)
15. Mitt Romney (17%)
16. Sam Brownback (10%)
17. Duncan Hunter (8%)
18. Tom Tancredo (8%)

That's not including people who've dropped out of the race or haven't announced their candidacy yet.

Wikipedia has a list of first occurrences.

Have you entered the Change Contest yet?

An update on eMusic: I have been trying it out. The trial period is 30 days, and you get 50 free downloads. So far I've downloaded Paul McCartney's new album and a few other random tracks. The sound quality is pretty decent, although I'd prefer if they ditched MP3 in favor of Ogg Vorbis, for ideological reasons, y'understand. (Not only that, but the sound quality could be better, and they wouldn't have to pay licensing fees, so they could pass the savings on to their users.) I've also created an account at Last.fm; I figure it'll be a good way to discover new artists. I listen to too much dumb stuff. Hopefully these sites will fix that.

You should try Asking Jordon once in a while. It's fun! See, my friend Justin likes it.

Justin: Is the answer to this question "no"?

Mu.

Justin: Should I be up this late at night?

This question was sent at... 4:09 A.M.? No, you should not be up that late, young man. Go to bed this instant.

Justin: I have one more. If you could describe the modern age in one word, what would it be and why?

Wow. This is an interesting one. Throughout the 20th century, we've developed such a capacity to do good by advancing technology and changing our attitudes toward one another. We have the capacity, but we haven't put it into place. People are succumbing to horrible diseases and being massacred, and we haven't done nearly enough to stop it. I would say: unfulfilled.

I've previously noted that the contiguous 48 states will not see a total solar eclipse until Monday, August 21, 2017. According to predictions, the eclipse will be greatest at 37°N, 87.7°W, near Bainbridge, Christian County, Kentucky. I'm all for booking a room in a hotel close to this point to ensure that I'll see the eclipse at its fullest. I'm also all for booking it 10 years in advance. Who's with me?

Find out how to memorize anything. I'll have to see if it works.

Over the past few centuries, it was common to make a mask of someone's face when they died. Other people had masks made while they were still alive. In either case, these are often the best likenesses we have of historical figures. Here's a collection of life and death masks.

I'm on vacay till Saturday. Here's a post I've prepared in advance.

In my ongoing quest for self-betterment, I declared my sophomore year of high school to be The Year, during which I would try to be an all-around cooler guy. Maybe you don't remember last year, when I said:

I didn't remember it either until the days leading up till May 25, 2007. Then I forgot, and the date passed. But then I remembered again last week, and I opened the letter. It was from the me of then to the me of now. I asked myself how I was doing with the things I hadn't been doing so well on: the job thing and the girlfriend thing and the driving thing. Actually, shortly afterward. I got my learner's permit, and then I got my old job back. It was also around that time that I met Natasha, and although she's not my girlfriend, we're good friends who might like each other a little more than regular friends do... maybe?

Okay, so I don't have everything figured out, but who does? The point is, The Year II (my senior year) was a lot of fun, and during it, I did a lot of things that made me become a better and maybe even cooler person. Is it sad that I care so much about what other people think of me? Maybe. But having a job is important to me because it brings me moola. Being in love is important to me because it's something I've always wanted but have never gotten. Being able to drive isn't that important, but it will be once I get tired of riding my bike and taking the bus.

A wise man once said, "I don't know, go Ask Jordon."

Đä еdε: Do you plan to expand your 'Ultimate Cool Characters' page?

As for adding new characters, no, nothing is in the works relating to that. But I do plan to make the page a bit more organized and including info about how to obtain special characters on non-Windows platforms. It's amazing how switching operating systems can affect your worldview.

Bob: Have you seen Waking Life and do you know that it is not only awesome but it is about lucid dreaming? Also did you check out that guitar tab for me?

Well, Luke, I've never heard of that movie, but it's worth checking out. And if you mean the Bob Dylan song we were talking about, I did check out that tab. (Luke and I are going to play a song somewhere sometime, I think. Details to come... maybe.)

Jennifer Landry: I just wanted to tell you that you wrote a great speech and delivered it finely. Oh and you had the most applause out of all of the speeches. ;)

Thanks, Jen. I appreciate it. Lots of people have been complimenting me on the speech I gave at graduation, which is nice. I did work hard on it, and I'm pretty proud of it.

Here are some possibly true anecdotes involving air travel. They're Just Plane Weird.

Here are 11 Great Color Legends: answers to questions like "Why is the sky blue?" and "Why is the US dollar green?"

That's right, it's senior week here at Pompano Beach High School. We've been here for four years, and this is what we've all been waiting for: to have a week named after us. This week, each day has a sort of theme, and the thing is that only the seniors participate. Well, yesterday was an exception to the rule because each class was supposed to wear its color for a "Spirit Day." The senior class's color is traditionally gold, which is pretty lame because nobody has gold (or yellow) clothes. Well, there's a senior class t-shirt that's gold, but I didn't buy one because when they listed the seniors' names on the back, they grossly misspelled my name. Seriously, it was ineffably and unforgivably misspelled. I'd like to have a word with the genius who was responsible for that one.

Today was College Day, where the seniors were supposed to "rep" their future colleges, as it were. I reluctantly wore the subtler of my two UF shirts. As I've said in the past, I don't like participating in any unnecessary us-and-them type activities that only create hostility between people. Specifically, I don't like being divisive by bragging about what college I'm going to give lots and lots of money to. (Note: this opinion will change, possibly soon. I just know it.)

What's in store for the rest of the week? Tomorrow is Opposite Day... NOT! Actually, it is. Tomorrow is Opposite Day, when you're encouraged to wear the opposite of the usual style. I think I'm actually going to do this one. I expect that a lot of people aren't, though, because why would you have clothes in a style opposite of what you always wear? Most people would have to borrow clothes, which is what I'm doing. Then there are a few people who frequently wear a number of different styles. Those are people for whom Opposite Day doesn't seem to apply.

Finally, on Thursday, you're supposed to dress up like a cartoon character. No thanks.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot what senior week is all about. It leads up to Grad Bash at Universal Studios. And guess who actually decided to go? That's right: me. It's the kind of thing that a lot of my friends don't care about, but fortunately, some of them do, or else I'd have no one to hang out with. It should be fun. We Floridians shouldn't take the proximity of world-class theme parks for granted. I can't imagine a school from, say, the Midwest, taking a bus ride to Universal. Well, I guess they have theme parks up there, so they probably go to those. Yeah.

If in doubt, Ask Jordon.

Peter: Can you tell me what my first comment was? And while you're at it, what is my first Ask Jordon question? I'm curious.

Your first comment was on July 30, 2005. Your first Ask Jordon question was answered on January 13, 2006: "How did you get the code for http://www.theworldofstuff.com/blah? Is it a PHP version of Wpoison?"

Kayley: why cant people get along, especially GIRLS???

I tend to get along with almost everybody, and I'd say it's because I'm pretty laid back and quiet, so I don't really have much of a chance to disagree fiercely with anyone on anything. If I think someone's annoying, I won't tell them so, but I'll just try to avoid them. I'd imagine that girls are more social than guys in general, so when something happens, they don't try to work around it or stay cool, but they get confrontational trying to defend themselves. This is all speculation, of course. I could be wrong.

Tux: What do you plan on doing on April 19th?

Oh, I'll tell you, anonymous 64-bit Linux user. Since I switched from Windows to Ubuntu Linux two months ago, I've been anticipating the upcoming release of Ubuntu 7.04, codenamed "Feisty Fawn," which is due out on Thursday, April 19.

Among the new features in Feisty are better support for wireless networking (which will undoubtedly make my future Ubuntu laptop experiences easier), easy installation of proprietary codecs like MP3 (which should be handy if I come across some of the lesser-used media formats), and a few advanced desktop effects. The effects are from a program called Compiz, which basically allows you use your graphics card to its fullest potential by introducing realistic 3D effects to your desktop. I understand it's not easy for n00bs like me to install, which is why I've shied away from it. (That, and this computer is kind of slow.) With Feisty, I'll be able to try out a few of the effects just by clicking a checkbox, and if I don't like them or they break my computer, I can turn them off easily too.

Upgrading to Feisty will be easy. It will appear as a software update, just like the other updates I get once in a while. I think all I'll have to do is click to install it. Try upgrading to Vista that simply.

A photo gallery from Wired: The Evolution of the Computer Mouse.

While I've been on vacation, it's an all-Ask Jordon post coming your way.

Person! ^.^: What is the air speed velocity of an un-laiden swallow?

What do you mean, an African or a European swallow?

billybob jo: what are some other names for tornados

Cyclones. Tornadoes (with an "e"). Whirlwinds. Waterspouts, if they're over water. And... gosh. Oh, twisters, like another movie that I never saw. That's all I can think of without having to cheat and look up answers somewhere else. (And if "cyclone" is debatable, blame it on my old school, whose sports teams were called the Cyclones and whose actual mascot resembled a tornado.)

Peter: Question 1/2: How do you track visitors/hits nowadays?

AWStats, a log file analyzer. My web host provides it readily, so there was no complicated setup. It has its advantages and disadvantages compared to eXTReMe Tracking, which I used to use. The main difference is that the former tracks statistics related to your whole site, while the latter keeps tabs on individual pages. In any case, it's nice to see your log files broken down and explained meaningfully.

Peter: Question 2/2: What do you think of lernu (en.lernu.net)

I never used lernu! much for learning Esperanto, but I still have it in the Esperanto folder of my bookmarks. I'm not really sure how good it is, although I believe it has a number of texts you can read, and you can get a definition of any word just by clicking on it. If I recall, it even breaks down words into their roots and affixes, which is quite awesome. I've heard some good things about the site in general, but I can't say much about it myself.

Peter: Question 3/2: What do you believe are the major benefits of Ubuntu over Mac OSX or Windows XP?

Now that I've been using Ubuntu for over a month, I've been able to see some advantages and disadvantages when comparing it to Windows XP. (I can't really compare OS X to anything because I have little experience with it.) Of course, it can be frustrating when you're getting to learn a new operating system that does things a bit differently from what you're used to.

But to answer your question, I'd say that the major benefit is the software updates that come frequently. Unlike some operating systems I could mention, you don't wait five years for the next version, which doesn't even turn out to be much better than the last. A new version comes every six months, and besides that, the various packages or components of the operating system and its programs are being updated all the time for stability, security, and of course, killer features. As long as you use the software that's in the repositories, you're pretty much guaranteed to have the latest, greatest versions available... as long as you install the updates, that is.

But with Ubuntu, you don't have to be afraid to install updates, like with a certain other OS I could mention. That's because Ubuntu is freely distributable and free of charge, so there is no licensing key to share illegally. As a result, Ubuntu doesn't use its update mechanism to hound you about using unauthorized (unpaid-for) copies of its software. And as far as I can tell, Ubuntu doesn't bludgeon you over the head by automatically installing the updates you're trying to put off because they serve only to rat you out for copying someone's licensing key.

In other words, I like Ubuntu because it is free (as in speech and also as in beer) and because it has an active developer base that's constantly coming out with better versions of software (usually free also) that are made easily available for you.

Have a look at the stories behind lots of famous logos.

This is a fascinating read: A Brief History of the Calendar.

The Ask Jordon mailbag has been getting heavy over the past few weeks, so let's bust it open and see what we've got. It's time for an Ask Jordon Extravaganza.

Johnathan: Why did britney Spears shave her head bald?

This question arrived a few weeks ago, almost immediately after the big story broke. In fact, I got this e-mail even before my sister, who actually cares about what happens to famous people, found out that Britney Spears had shorn her locks. But, to answer your question, Jonathan, I'd say the answer is either "For attention" or "Who cares?"

Natasha Dean: Will i ever go out with jordan thundow

Another interesting one, considering this site already has a Natasha/Jordon thing going on. Nevertheless, this user comes from the UK, so it's not my friend Natasha in some clever disguise.

Well, other Natasha, I don't know this Jordan Thundow you speak of, so I can't say for sure, but if you want a guy to go out with you, my best advice is to be direct. The reason my best advice sounds really bad and vague is because I have no experience in this field. Anyway, glad I could help. Next.

Wilhelm T. Grate: What can you tell me about paint thinner and thinning paint and whatnot?

Well, my friend Luke, I know very little about thinning paint. I assume you'd want to thin paint in order to chip it off or something, and in order to do that, it would be good to use paint thinner because you can be fairly certain that it is actually for thinning paint. Paint thinner is highly flammable, and it probably smells bad. That's all I can tell you.

Peter: Three questions. Get ready. PS: This is not a question.

Okay.

Peter: Will you continue blogging when you're in college?

As far as I can tell, yes. Just as I blogged to inform and entertain readers about the strange new experiences of high school almost four years ago, I think it'll be fun and interesting to keep it up as I undertake the biggest thing that will ever have happened to me in my whole entire life.

Peter: C^i vi povias korekti la mia mala demando en Esperanto?

Jes, certe. Oni dirus "Ĉu vi povas ĝustigi mian malbonan demandon en Esperanto?" Vidu, ke mi uzis la akuzativon. Estas ofta eraro forlasi ĝin, sed ne forgesu. Fakte, post iom da tempo, vi verŝajne memoros bone, kaj ne plaĉos al vi la sono de ĝia misuzo.

Peter: Can you tell me what the other question I was going to ask you, because I forgot?

No, I don't know what it was. Do you remember it now?

Wilhelm T. Grate: Is the Game of Life an application of fuzzy logic or just regular logic?

Well, Luke, it seems to be smooth rather than fuzzy, so I'd say it's just regular type. Incidentally, Xlife blows my implementation of Life out of the water.

Political interference in science is not a good thing. Here's an A to Z guide of examples of this phenomenon.

One of those cheesy articles that might actually be helpful: 10 Things You Shouldn't Buy New.