This comic actually happened to me several years ago. The only difference was that my coworkers and I never solved the problem. Instead of applying the empirical approach, we used web-enabled devices, phoned friends that had net connectivity, and tapped our somewhat rusty recollections of physics — all to no avail.

Sometimes it’s the fancy pants technology that keeps us from finding the simple answers. Technology can hide as much as it reveals and a lot of hidden assumptions lurk in those bits and bytes. The network now surrounds us, redefines what is known and what is knowable. When we search we feel like we are connecting with so much data, that an empty search means that perhaps the subject itself is null. Conversely, a search returning a rich result set is probably important, and the first few hits are the very most important. These are just a few of the assumptions that underlie our new world of knowledge. But let’s take another look –

HCI? We Got It. UCD? We Got It. T-shirts on Usability? Yeah, We Got it. After surprising recent demand, the HCI? UCD? T-shirt is back. If the shirt seems a little bit of a non-sequitor, maybe you should check our HCI tribute rap song first and remember to turn up the bass. Laptop speakers won’t cut it. The other two shirt designs are also still available though our stocks are limited in each size. Make sure you order soon to get them in time for those HCI friends in the holidays!

Although you probably heard from 100 other places, Firefox 1.0 is finally out. It’s like a huge fiery fox that eats our blue, blue world. If you load it up with some extensions it’s like pretty cool.

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