Berlin Brown and Software Development

This is a short review of about a dozen top TV shows that have appeared in the last decade or so.   I advise you purchase the DVD TV sets and watch them based on your own schedule. These aren't sorted in any particular order but the better shows will normally appear at the top. The Wire (10/10) - (Urban gang land violence) So far the best TV show I have seen.  It was getting predictable and dry towards the end of the series but I don't think there is any better show that feels "real".  It is dark and gritty and highly watchable. Dexter (9.9/10) - (Almost comical look at a serial killer do-gooder) Dexter is the show about the serial killer that also happens to be a blood splatter analyst in the police department.  Normally he finds another bad guy or serial killer and does away with him.  It is also a dark series with lots of gore and sometimes it can be serious.  But I tend to find some of it comical.  The Wire is not comical at all, Dexter ca...

Matplotlib is a popular python library for generating plot graphics.   It works with cygwin win32 but some non-intuitive steps are required. Install cygwin: CYGWIN_NT-5.1 1.7.9(0.237/5/3) 2011-03-29 10:10 i686 Cygwin I am using cygwin with setup 2.7.3 Install python through cygwin: This document describes installing python and matplot with cygwin.  For most windows users and cygwin users, normally you would use the external python executable.  I tend to prefer all of my script oriented applications running through cygwin including python. Python 2.6.5 (r265:79063, Jun 12 2010, 17:07:01) [GCC 4.3.4 20090804 (release) 1] on cygwin In the cygwin setup.exe installer, install: The freetype libs, python-gtk, python-tk, libpng Download matplotlib from sourceforge: I am using the latest version matplotlib-1.1.0 as of 1/2012. Issues with standard python install and cygwin: The typical 'python setup.py install' will not work with cygwin.  You...

After this race is over, I wish a fair politic science group could look at the media's handling of this race. Here are some BIG missteps in how the media handled this race: Sarah Palin, why prop her up at all? Rick Perry enters the race and within two weeks, he is a front runner Herman Cain, once again, why prop him up? And then Newt's rise Look at the criticism against Ron Paul. Someone could just look at the timing and wording of discussion on the candidates. It is obvious they have their favorites. ... CNN and Fox didn't campaign for Ron Paul 24/7 like they did with other candidates. But they did have Ron Paul on their programs. Ron Paul had to defend his own platform. But CNN, Fox did the campaigning for the other candidates. And it is easy to spot, just look at the amount of coverage, wording and discussion.