There's a good example of rolling an example modal web server (formerly known as continuations based web server). I was easily able to follow this article, but i'm not sure if that means anything as this is possibly the first time i've tried again after really getting continuations. (I think Lisp in small pieces and the mini scheme interpreter built in PIAP are what finally completed my understanding, although a page about call/cc helped seed the more practical side of understanding.

Thought provoking short story: The Algorithms for Love.

I friend convinced me to buy the new Paul Graham book, Hackers & Painters: big ideas from the computer age, even though a lot of his essays are up on his webpage. This has to be the most (technically) inspirational book i've read in a long time! Paul Graham's essays were what lead me to rethink learning LISP. He was also the one who put Bayes based spam filters on the map. The new essays in the book (not up on his webpage) are more specifics on his startup, ViaWeb, which he's alluded to in the past, but not fully described. Overall the essays are making me realize why i'm so frustrated working for a big company, and make me think that i would be much more productive (and satisfied) doing contracting again or working on a startup.

Interesting nostalgic read about Feynman's time at Thinking Machines: Richard Feynman and the connection machine.

While trying to access other material, i ran across a most fascinating and candid book, All dressed up and no place to go, by Pat Darnell. For some reason her account didn't make it into the Missionary hall of fame series that they showed us kids at church on the old Ducane projectors.

More seriously, her book conveys many horribly painful years married to an Adventist preacher. It leaves one with a lot to chew on: about religion (and religion based on Ellen White and Seventh Day Adventism), but also about life in general. While the story she tells may be an extreme example, it is never-the-less not atypical of what i've seen and the little that i've been privy too.

While the book is very matter of fact, almost journalish in nature (and also contains a number of minor typos), i had a most difficult time putting it down. It is a highly suggested read.