vdas

I read comp.lang.lisp from 1998 - 2006. Lot's of interesting technical material. Many of Erik's technical posts are insightful. A few of these quotes make him look like a doofus keyboard warrior, but I could tell after reading his writing for so long that he was a genuine good guy, albeit at times a bit abrasive.

Can't believe that it has been twenty years since I was introduced to common lisp. Think that I will go back to it after I retire.

Bursa Malaysia (the local stock exchange) classifies public listed companies into the following sectors: 1. Basic materials; 2. Consumer cyclicals; 3. Consumer non-cyclicals; 4. Energy; 5. Financials; 6. Healthcare; 7. Industrials; 8. Technology; 9. Telecommunications Services; and 10. Utilities

So, Bursa is largely composed of commodity businesses. It works but shouldn't there be some progress? Is it okay to stick with the status quo?

It's true that there's a potential in these VC schemes for leakage due to self-dealing. But let not the perfect be the enemy of the good. The article mentions several government funds that have been disbursing funding to tech startups for decades, so this is not a totally new thing run by idealists rather than realists.

I understand the skepticism when I read the responses attached. But I've always been confident about Malaysia. Maybe it's just that I'm a patriot.

Jackfruit flesh is firm and juicy. In contrast, durian flesh is creamy -- imagine thick, dense whipped cream around a jackfruit-like seed.

You can't cook with durian seeds like you can with jackfruit seeds (i.e. chakkakuru upperi or chakkakuru mezhukkupuratti)

You would eat the flesh raw and discard the seeds. Some people like to pair durians with mangosteens[0]. Durian burps have a strange aftertaste so most people I know avoid drinking carbonated drinks (i.e. Coke, Pepsi) while eating durian.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangosteen

I live in Malaysia. We are right in the middle of durian season (May to August).

Musang King costs Ringgit Malaysia(RM)48 per kg. That is around USD12/kg or (USD5.45/pound). So a single Musang King durian will cost around RM60 per fruit (USD14.50/fruit). I usually buy slightly lesser quality durian at RM38/kg. The seller will help to choose a fruit that is ripe and creamy but not overripe. You can take home the partially opened fruit or just transfer it to a styrofoam container that you put in the fridge when you get home.

Musang King has smaller seeds and is creamier than what I usually buy. But the less expensive fruit is good enough for me since I buy durian pretty often. If you had a durian orchard why would you grow fruit that does not taste good? If I were a durian farmer I certainly would not. The difference in quality between Musang King and the others is not that noticeable.

My friends from India who visit me just hate the smell because it (sorry to be so graphic!) smells like fruity poo and refuse to taste it or taste it with a cringing expression. I'm sure that other people have the same reaction. But if you do visit Malaysia (or another durian country such as Singapore or Thailand -- both remarkable countries for food as well), you should partake. It is the closest you will come to eating palkova from a tree.