by John Macdonald | Aug 17, 2025 | The250
Four tines on a fork is the most common and widely considered the best balance of function and form. Two tines don’t hold enough. Three don’t provide the same balance. More than four, and well, that’s just overkill. Four tines. Strong. Balanced. Versatile. Large... by John Macdonald | Aug 16, 2025 | The250
On a network, if you want to know if something is alive and reachable, you ping it. Ping is a computer command that sends a simple message to your intended target. A successful reply gives you some basic but useful information: I’m alive Here’s my address Here’s how... by John Macdonald | Aug 15, 2025 | AI, The250
For the last couple of years, I’ve referred to AI (mostly ChatGPT) as a “greenhorn intern.” It’s a smart kid who knows a lot of stuff but doesn’t really know how to work in the world. It requires a lot of hand-holding, micromanagement, oversight, and, quite frankly,... by John Macdonald | Aug 14, 2025 | The250
Life rides on the curve. The mean is everywhere. Everything is average. Everyone is in the middle. Statistically, anyway. But if you can find a way to get ahead of the curve, for just a little while, with at least one thing, you can win. It could be early... by John Macdonald | Aug 13, 2025 | The250
I packed the bags and slung them around my shoulders a while ago and set off down the road. Actually, it’s not just the tidy bags with shoulder straps. I’m also juggling the stragglers that wouldn’t fit in the bags. The two shirts still on hangers, a fan with its cord... by John Macdonald | Aug 12, 2025 | AI, The250
The phone book. The school yearbook. The college course catalog. The glossy, colorful map of downtown with the buildings numbered. The map at the entrance to the mall. All directories from an earlier time. Directories you hold in your hand or touch with your fingers....