In Plain Sight

Stanford Hospital

A few images that Priscilla took during my recent visit to Stanford Hospital.

Hospital Visit

A week ago I had an emergency visit to Stanford Hospital and had my gall bladder removed. I'm back home now and doing fine.

Bush welcomes Queen Elizabeth at White House - CNN.com

Link: Bush welcomes Queen Elizabeth at White House - CNN.com.

So, what did we learn? The Queen can kiss ass, just as well as George W. Bush. Man, I feel sick.

MathWorld: The Web's Most Extensive Mathematics Resource

Link: MathWorld: The Web's Most Extensive Mathematics Resource.

If you want to know what is wrong with the web and why I continue to complain about Wikipedia then Mathworld is an example of something that works. The reason it works, I will contend, is that it is moderated and transparent. It has been around for a long time, I have personally used it extensively. It is where I go first when I have an area that I am unfamiliar with and it is the place I recommend my children to go. Mathworld is the antithesis of Wikipedia and my hat is off to Eric Weisstein for his continuous efforts to provide a free online resource with high levels of trust and integrity. This is what we need more of on the net.

We very much need an encyclopedia that follows the same policies as Mathworld but while Jimmy Wales continues to be the darling of the media and trendy hyperbole we are not going to get one.

What has moved me to raise the issue again? To my horror, I and my work have found our way onto Wikipedia. Honestly, I cannot possibly warrant a place in any encyclopedia but, if I did, I would hope that they had their facts straight - which, of course, Wikipedia does not. That I have appeared there as an entry (and so, BTW, has IASE - which is surely premature) only underscores my concern about it.

I continue to believe that Wikipedia places the public in jeopardy. The subtitle of Wikipedia should not read "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit" it should read "don't believe a word of it."

Royal couple arrives in Virginia - CNN.com

Link: Royal couple arrives in Virginia - CNN.com.

What is the matter with America? Why do the majority of Americans not recognize how offensive it is that they pander to a monarch? All this talk of "freedom" and even "democracy," and no real appreciation of what it means ...