Paul Graham: Why Nerds are Unpopular

There was something else I wanted more: to be smart. Not simply to do well in school, though that counted for something, but to design beautiful rockets, or to write well, or to understand how to program computers. In general, to make great things.

Hat tip: Doc Searls.

The power keeps cutting in and out because of the thunderstorm that’s passing by. The computers, of course, have no UPSes. That’s a special privilege reserved for the servers. So every couple of minutes I lose whatever I haven’t saved yet. Then I have to fumble around in the dark, because they built our basement without any windows. And then, when the power comes back on, I have to wait for a reboot. I think that’s my cue to head home.

Of course, looking at how bright these lightning flashes are, I might just want to stay indoors until it passes. I like not having grey streaks in my hair, thank you.

As a follow-up to yesterday’s mini-review of AOL Journals, I’ve started writing a three-part article offering a somewhat in-depth look at the new AOL service. Part One is now online. It covers the blog setup routine, and points out a few of the nice, and not-so-nice, features. Give it a read! It has pretty pictures!