Woke Up.

I woke up from a very stupid dream after about 3 hours sleep. Now I'm having trouble falling back asleep, so I'm puttering around on the Intarweb for a bit, hoping it is the soporific.

Urine Powered Cellphones.

Scientists have now developed a urine-powered battery. Won't that make our cellphones easier to recharge?

Awoked.

Just got up. I hadn't even had coffee yet when I got IMed by kyotto, to whom I tried to type without appearing drunk or stoned. I suspect I failed. Sadly all I was was sleepy but recent studies say that just waking up is worse than being drunk when it comes to ability to do things. Luckily, folks recover faster.

Lost Article.

Sometime in the last year I read an article online that I would love to find again, but I have no idea where to look. It was an analysis of the value of Open Source software using the same techniques as are commonly used to analyze the component values of stocks and bonds.

There is a type of value analysis (whose name I forget) which allows you to separate out the value of a stock due to dividend rate from its base value. This has allowed folks to sell derivative instruments which (for example) don't pay dividends, but sell much cheaper.

In a similar way, the article analyzes the cost of commercial software, decomposing its value into components due to its 'free' support, its upgrade policy, and its inherent base value. It turns out that most of the value of commercial software is in the first two items, and that Open Source software can be seen to be competing on a level playing field by not offering them (at least, not in the same form).

Ring any bells for anyone? I would love to re-find that URL.

Inexplicably Happy.

Sitting here feeling happy, for no discernable reason. Second time in the last few days that this has happened. Since my journal has been full of far more gloom than I like this last year, I felt compelled to share my happiness as well.