History of programming languages

History of programming languages is interesting. I recommend clicking the link to read about it. They say you can trace the history of programming languages back to 1801, when the Jacquard loom punched holes in cards to represent sewing loom arm movements in order to make decorative patterns automatically.

I love the word loom.

It's so soft.


This is a photo of two books about the C programming language.
Photo: mrbill via Flickr (CC)

Passive cooling

Passive cooling is technology that cools buildings without using power. It generally means the building doesn't use pumps or fans. Instead, other techniques are used to keep sun heat out and cold air in. Like orientating a building to take advantage of winter sun and avoid direct sunlight in the summer.

I am closer to a nerd than cool, but there are certain moments when I could be considered cool by some people. And I never use pumps or fans.


Passively cool.
Photo: salparadise666 via Flickr (CC)

Filename

Filename is a computer programming term. A filename is a string used to identify a file on a computer.

My filename is Adam.


Old-timey files.
Photo: Tim Morgan via Flickr (CC)

Violet wand

Violet wand is a device used in electrotherapy, S&M sex, and by hairdressers to stimulate the scalp.

A violet wand uses a Tesla coil to administer a low current, high voltage, high-frequency electrical current to whatever it touches. A violet wand is also known as a violet ray.

Be careful: violet wands can ignite flammable materials and melt pantyhose.


You may violet wand him.
Photo: Chuckumentary via Flickr (CC)

6LoWPAN

6LoWPAN is an acronym that stands for IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks. It also looks like blowpan.

Blowpan is not a word, but if it were I think it would mean a pan that has small blowers which circulate air through it to create a well-oxygenated meat. It could also be used as an insult, as in, "That guy's a real blowpan."

Unfortunately the world is full of these kinds of blowpans. These people who can't help but be mean to those who are smaller and poorer and not as formally trained at karate. Of course, the real reason these blowpans act as they do is because they are insecure. They are frustrated that Elisabeth Shue doesn't want to be with them even though their parents are friends and they go to the same events at the country club. But that doesn't condone their behavior. Luckily, these kinds of blowpans usually see the errors of their ways in the final round of the big karate tournament.


Vehicles can be blowpans too.
Photo: djwudi via Flickr (CC)

Sun Industry Standards Source License

Sun Industry Standards Source License was a free and open source license. I don't really know what that means.

A lot of people called it SISSL. SISSL was authored by Sun Microsystems and was retired in 2005. Both Sun Microsystems and SISSL itself were named after the Sun, our nearest star and source of life. When you say SISSL out loud, it sounds like sizzle, which makes me hungry. I'm gonna go make some bacon.


The sun will retire in five billion years.
Photo: blueforce4116 via Flickr (CC)

CleveMed

CleveMed is a company that makes medical devices. The company is based in Cleveland, home to one of my favorite baseball teams.

CleveMed specializes in technology to monitor sleep disorders and movement disorders. We spend almost all our lives either sleeping or moving. I salute CleveMed for their efforts.


Sleeping and moving at the same time.
Photo: zhushmanson via Flickr (CC)

Voice chat

Voice chat. This is a technological advance from the 21st century that allows people separated by long distances to talk to each other using their voices. In this way, it is very similar to the telephone. Voice chat is better than the telephone because it's usually free of charge. Unless you don't like talking to people. Then it's worse than the telephone.

According to Wikipedia, voice chat became especially popular among video gamers, who used the technology to taunt each other across long distances while competing in games like "Metroid Prime Hunters" and "Pokemon Diamond and Pearl." My grandmother's name was Pearl. She passed away in 1995, which means she never had the opportunity to use voice chat.


Voice chat has rendered Native American switchboard operators obsolete.
Photo: bobster855 via Flickr (CC)