No longer using WordPress

Just a quick note to say that my professional blog is now found at tomgeller.com, hosted in Drupal. See you there!

My story in Nature: Checkers is solved

You read that right: Computer scientists at the University of Alberta have shown that a perfectly played game of checkers will end in a draw, and thereby created a game database that provably can’t be beaten. Read my story in Nature before it goes into their for-pay archive in a few days.

May I just say how much I love writing for Nature? The assignments are interesting, the format is perfect for a few hours’ work, and they pay well and quickly. Most importantly, my editor (Nicola Jones) is a gem: She’s efficient, insightful, and communicative.

One of Nicola’s queries led me to a fact undiscovered by all other reporters — the one about needing to explore only 1/5,000,000th of the available positions to make the proof. Good stuff.

EDIT: It’s on Slashdot.

Backyard gathering after WordCamp: Sunday, 22 July?

To learn about the WordPress platform and its community, I’m planning to attend WordCamp 2007, which incidentally is being held literally around the corner from my home.

If there’s enough interest, I might have a post-conference gathering for attendees in the backyard on Sunday evening. What do you think?

First post

Ta-da!

I’ve kept a diary since 1983, been online since 1986, had a web site since 1995, and run a (personal) blog since 2002. About time I enter the 21st century with a pro-level journal platform, huh?

This blog will cover the same areas as my writing practice: technology, science, business, and real estate. I’ll post calls for expert commentary and story ideas here… so pay attention, P.R. bunnies!

More to come…