|
I've lived a fair old time on this oblate spheroid and over the years I've read many books that have contributed to me becoming the person I am today. I thought it might be interesting to have a semi-regular update to give a shout out to the books (both good and bad) that have made me the person I am today. Hopefully this will give people a glimpse of some books they might not have considered, or a reminder of books they've read in the past. It won't all be technical books that I link to, but there will be a fair few of those.
To that end, I'd like to start off with Writing High-Performance .NET Code eBook: Ben Watson: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store[^]. As someone who likes to obsess about what goes on under the hood of things, this book was one of those I decided would be a must-read. It's possibly a bit too technical if you just want to learn the framework, but if you really want to know what makes it tick and what you can do to avoid common performance pitfalls, this book is superb. It's written from the perspective of someone who has gone through the pain of performance tuning a large scale application but it doesn't dwell on platform specific features (I'm talking about things like WPF or ASP.NET). Instead, it offers a fascinating insight into how the framework is written and how that affects the code you write for it.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely. If you're serious about developing performant applications in .NET, this is one of those books you really should read.
This space for rent
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks. Maybe you could make a list of these on your profile???
Decrease the belief in God, and you increase the numbers of those who wish to play at being God by being “society’s supervisors,” who deny the existence of divine standards, but are very serious about imposing their own standards on society.-Neal A. Maxwell
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
|
|
|
|
|
Good idea - 'tis done.
This space for rent
|
|
|
|
|
I like your idea! This book I already own (and partially read it) but I'm curious which others you'll recommend.
Seconding Oz' suggestion of putting the list on your profile.
If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. — Lyall Watson
|
|
|
|
|
PROLOGUE: During my lunchtime I was searching the various appliances vendors, as I'm looking for a coffee machine taht uses capsules. Most of those pesky capsules are proprietary and while their machines are affordable, the capsules themselves cost an arm and an eye. I found a economic kind of capsule which is compatible with a decent number of machines.
The capsule model is named Espresso Point... but in each and every search I did I typed Espresso pint. Several searches spanning half an hour! I guess it was what I was really searching after all, a pint of espresso 
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
If a coffee bean is between the Earth and the Sun, is it a Java Eclipse? -- Sascha Lefèvre
/xml>
|
|
|
|
|
You have to ask yourself what the economic capsule coffee tastes like... 
Me? I have a cafetiere and use real beans...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
|
|
|
|
|
They cloned the business model of the inkjet printer manufacturers.
A friend of mine is a sales man for Illy (an Italian coffee company for those who did not know them). He always has to ensure that he has the matching capsules and machines in his car when on tour because even that single company has multiple types of capsules.
|
|
|
|
|
Who copied their business from Gilette.
|
|
|
|
|
Really - these capsule/pouch/etc. machines are not only overpriced sources of coffee but absolute environmental disasters.
Take, for example, Keurig: every little cup of coffee leaves behind that little plastic container filled with coffee grounds and a foil lid. They did everything they could to make it non-recycleable.
Sure - you could get the little reusable loader - but it's not only a hassle but begs the question: why not just get a single-cup ground-bean using device? Cheaper, environmentally sound, and makes coffee to your spec and not theirs.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Go on bring logic and common sense to a rant!
We have a Jira but their consumables, filter and cleaner, are not reusable!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
|
|
|
|
|
I still use a plain old italian coffee machine, and I'm quite happy with it.
With all these modern machines and their capsules, big firms managed to multiply coffee prices by three or four; given the amount of coffee I like to have a day, I'm not OK with that.
I never finish anyth
|
|
|
|
|
@OriginalGrifff @User-2223753 @Balboos @User-890501: A single big answer, way better than repeating the same things 
OG Me? I have a cafetiere and use real beans...
Phi.lo I still use a plain old italian coffee machine, and I'm quite happy with it.
Yes me too, and I plan to keep on using my moka for a long time as my primary mean to make coffee.
I need something to have a coffee in less than a minute or so... Usually I make the coffee in the evening and in the morning I heat it in the microwave. Consider that I tuned my alarm clock so that I have 17 minutes from "eyes opened" to "if I'm not out of the farking house then I'm in a farking deep pile of sunshine", and at 7:20 AM I don't feel any difference between tastes - either I just finished washing my teeth or I haven't already.
I plan on consuming 2-3 capsules per moth maximum, so it really doesn't matter.
OG You have to ask yourself what the economic capsule coffee tastes like...
I know it, I often buy the loose version. It's not bad and there it stops. Also with the planned consumption it isn't a big hit on my life quality, way better than driving without any coffee in the morning.
W Balboos Really - these capsule/pouch/etc. machines are not only overpriced sources
Sure they are, luckily the ones I found are little more expensive than regular coffee,
W Balboos but absolute environmental disasters.
That I care very little about, more so because I don't plan on using it at all except when disaster strikes (AKA I forgot to put on the coffee the eveneing before).
A friend of mine is a sales man for Illy (an Italian coffee company for those who did not know them). And a damn good one I guarantee, but a bit too expensive. I usually buy Lavazza.
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
If a coffee bean is between the Earth and the Sun, is it a Java Eclipse? -- Sascha Lefèvre
/xml>
modified 27-Jan-16 14:49pm.
|
|
|
|
|
Totally an aside:
When I find myself with a can/bag of coffee that's just not right I grind it with anise seed. Makes it smooth and mellow. Just in case you get stuck.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Well then, this goes straight in the house cookbook! I'll try, now I have 4 kg of Lavazza high quality coffee (found a marvellous 40% discount, I stocked on it for the next 6 months) so I don't have to worry but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
If a coffee bean is between the Earth and the Sun, is it a Java Eclipse? -- Sascha Lefèvre
/xml>
|
|
|
|
|
As an aside DON'T DO IT!
I promise1,000 that if you go with grind over capsules you will thank yourself for being so much cleverer than all the people buying easy pods!
The coffee machine can be quite simple, most one shot machines will give you a milk frother as well; something I've not seen on the capsules boxes.
The bean is KING! The bean you choose will affect the taste 862,419 times more than the brand or model of machine. If you can buy beans, keep them frozen for extra freshingness, and invest in a burr grinder. You grind when you need it and not before; once ground the oils in the bean start to evaporate so use the grind as quickly as possible.
From entering the kitchen to Caffeine-a-Go-Go is about 3 minutes for me; the time to heat the boiler.
[disclosure]
I have a KitchenAid Artisan Espresso Machine[^] and a Krups Grinder[^].
veni bibi saltavi
|
|
|
|
|
I know. I drink coffee since 12 years and used several kinds of moka and espresso machines, from the low end to the professional ones. I tried tens of coffee brands and qualities, experimented with many blends...
If you read the answer I gave to everyone you'll see I actually need the fastest solution possible for the least number of uses. That's why I want them cheap: I plan of almost not using them, but found myself in situations where I needed and didn't have it.
Also that machine is completely compatible with high quality Lavazza, Kimbo and Vergnano capsules, getting useful even if I have guests (mostly my D&D party) and want a quick coffee without interrupting the game for the 7-10 minutes necessary to prepare the moka and waiting for the coffee to come out.
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
If a coffee bean is between the Earth and the Sun, is it a Java Eclipse? -- Sascha Lefèvre
/xml>
|
|
|
|
|
An option I use at one of the two offices I work from:
"Israeli Mud Coffee"
You have your beans ground as fine as possible. Add some quantity, depending upon your taste, to a cup and add hot water. As always, the hotter the better.
Because the coffee was just extracted from hot water, an absolutely fresh cup of coffee.Because the coffee was ground to dust, it settles to the bottom and forms a firm cake: no coffee in your mouth.Easily rinse the cup down the drain: no extra cleanupAny cup - any strength - any amount - any time.
(Oh - one more thing: before Mrs. Wife took it over for her DeCaf, when I made a pot of coffee I'd sometimes put a few Whole Star Anise into the bottom of the pot - again for rich flavor mellowing (instead of ground anise seed ground into the coffee). It takes a while so a whole pot that sits all day is perfect. Also, they stars are usable quite a number of times, actually improving after the first use because they're already soaked through)
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
If the Earth is between the Moon and the sun, it's a Lunar eclipse.
If the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, it's a Solar eclipse.
If the Sun is between the Earth and the Moon, is it an Apoceclipse?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
|
|
|
|
|
It wouldn't fit!
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
|
|
|
|
|
I think the sun has fried your mind.
Mongo: Mongo only pawn... in game of life.
|
|
|
|
|
That's prolly it. We all know what the sun does to Wales in January!
Life is too shor
|
|
|
|
|
If a coffee bean is between the Earth and the Sun, is it a Java Eclipse?
If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. — Lyall Watson
|
|
|
|
|
I wonder if I have enough characters left in my signature...
EDIT: apparently I had.
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
"just eat it, eat it"."They're out to mold, better eat while you can" -- HobbyProggy
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. — Lyall Watson
|
|
|
|
|
If a car is between the Earth and the Sun, is it a Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde
Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
