Digital Wanderer

We live as long as we fly

Nut Allergy

About a year ago, something like this started happening to me: my gums would hurt whenever I ate a nut. And just now I put a peanut on my tongue that I had pulled out of some gourmet bread. It immediately started stinging, like citric acid, and there was tingling and burning all across the lower part of my face.
So does that mean it’s an allergy?

If anyone knows anything about this, I’d be interested to hear.

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GUID as a Primary Key

Can I write some gibberish that none of my friends except Huygens will understand?
I realized why we use GUIDs as primary keys in all our databases. Because ADO.NET has a disconnected architecture—you can't just create a unique primary key on the client; only a GUID can save the day. Alas, this is actually a textbook fact. It's surprising I didn't remember it sooner.

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Smartphones

A smartphone is a cross between a phone and a PDA, leaning towards the phone. Usually, without a full-size keyboard. And a communicator leans towards the PDA, and comes with that kind of keyboard.

I've been eyeing a device for a long time that would let me make calls, read books, and listen to music all at the same time. But until now, finding such devices, especially ones that actually meet my requirements, has been tough.
The requirements are as follows (apart from it working fine as a phone):


  • mini-USB connection to a PC, ideally seeing the memory as a drive (UMS)

  • Standard 3.5 mm audio jack (2.5 is okay, but not ideal) and tolerable sound quality (I'm no audiophile - the main thing is no static)
  • convenient music playback controls, the ability to listen while reading, and the song not resetting after a call
  • a decent book-reading app, or the ability to install one
  • a decent, large-sized screen
  • memory cards from the micro/mini SD or MMC family (Sony MS is undesirable)
  • no need for a camera, but if it's 2-3 megapixels - then it's acceptable

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