April 2003 Archives

New to me, and what a chuckle. Stolen from 8bitjoystick

w.bloggar a pretty good "rich" blogging client, spell checking included. It posts via the XML-RPC interface to MovableType that was added in version 1.2, so an upgrade is needed mithrandir.

Finished my first NetFlix, Revolution OS. All in all a good job covering some of the history and personalities around the whole Free Software, GNU, Open Source, etc. There was really only one new piece of information for myself, damm the personalites sure are dorks of the highest degree. I kinda expected it but they sure have done wonders with improving my preception of my own social skills.

Good to rent for the geeks or as an explaination for it all.

I don't really know what it is or how it works but damm the World as a Blog is cool.
[via Sam Ruby: Blog Peeping]

DMartin.org - Forum which is a Blojsom templated up forum style. Probably equally doably in Blosxom as well. Like the idea, rather simple and elegant. On a related note for work I'm working on doing a CRMish thing with Blosxom, or an ASP/ASP.NET clone, and fileshares.

After work I'm heading to Nashville for the weekend to visit the Joe and the Kindolls. It maybe my first ever trip to Nashville, usually I'm just driving through.

Zeldman has Bowing to demand and providing a RSS Feed. Much thanks, now I will remember to read him via my feed reading. Oh, and for the old schoolers out there the feed is hand roled, no fancy backends just typing.

Switched my Phoenix/Firebird default fonts to the Bitstream Vera Fonts and damm what a joyous experience. Dare I say it almost feels Mac like, that certian something is subtelly different in a good way feeling.

Currently What Should I Do With My Life? by Po Bronson all from the Fast Company article. Currently the Every industry has a culture. has really struck my relationship with the tech industry. The idea being, either one works in a culture with a value system close to their own or one should chose the culture with a value system they wish to aquire.

Before the first computer job there were some differences. Maybe some of the readers from back then can attest. But the real question is are the values then more "me" the ones now or something all together different?

Definately something to think about during the drive to Nashville tomorrow.

Dave's theory on why user's want Open Source:

... software development process is an inexorable and never-ending battle against creeping idiocy caused by clueless programmers. It's why users want open source. They're tired of being controlled by programmers who don't care about them.

He gets the creeping idiocy and clueless ness right but puts them to the wrong part of the food chain. Once again it is the practices of abusive corporations, and not just Microsoft the much loved Apple is equally to blaim along with others. The users and purchasers of software have grown used to the "screw you" and realise it feels much better when cash isn't involved, kinda like sex.

Now Griffin Technology has the most freak'n cool iPod accessory, the iTrip which is a FM transmitter add on. Have I recently mentioned how I want an iPos along with my Mac lust?

Martin Castle or as most folks around here call it the "Versailles Castle". Found at Castles of the Unites States which looks to be a pretty good find for castle buffs.

Famous Fonts Free, now say that three times fast, nice collection of free fonts inspired by famous stuff like movies, tv shows, cars, you get the picture.

1. Who is your favorite celebrity? Brad Pitt or Bruce Willis
2. Who is your least favorite? Michael Jackson
3. Have you ever met or seen any celebrities in real life? Yes, Tori Amos after she played at the Singletary Center back in '97. The biggest shocker, other than actually getting to meet her, was how short she is. Even with her massively high heels she still didn't come up to my shoulders.
4. Would you want to be famous? Why or why not? To a point being famous could be fun. Part of the valus of celebrity is the "currency" one can cash in on because of celebritydome. (engel might remember that conversation)
5. If you had to trade places with a celebrity for a day, who would you choose and why? Brad Pitt

the friday five

BitTorrent TV downloads for those that are lacking a Tivo but want to watch TV on your own schedule.
[via decafbad]

Went to see Phone Booth over the weekend. Overall I would give it a thumbs up when matinee priced. The movie does the all in realtime like the tv series 24, which helps to keep the intensity up. Colin Farrell did a good job of taking the audience through Stu's emotions. Phone Booth left me with the impression that it was a movie made for alpha males, staring alpha males, styled for alpha males with message targeted for alpha males.

BTW, the female watching Phone Booth withme didn't find it a successful movie, so your millage may vary.

slashdot brings up the weight loss card and the Stanford researchers review efficacy and safety of low-carbohydrate diets which hits the weight management on the head While these diets are effective in the short term, weight loss results from reduced calories, not carbohydrate restriction. Removing carbs is just one way to remove calories. The study was short term, 90 days or less. I would really like to see something long term on what is really a healthy diet for humans now that we live longer than a handful of decades.

One of the comments had a link to The 5BX Plan For Physical Fitness which was something the wrestling teamin highschool followed.

University president responses to RIAA in a rather rational manner, including the RIAA's failuer to follow the DMCA .

1. What was the first band you saw in concert? Stryper with Warrent as the opener.
2. Who is your favorite artist/band now? Tori Amos
3. What's your favorite song? Masterbation, from the musical Hair
4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Guitar
5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why? Johnny Cash
   

[from the friday five]

Coolness, I'm Beast

In a very nicely done flash questionare.

Gary Hart, you remember the Democratic Presidental hopeful that got caught with a girlfriend on the side, has a blog.

Found another RSS reader for .NET, SharpReader , but this time it actually aggregates by user defined categories. Not sure if it beats my blagg via email but will give it a try.

Found one of those senselessly addicting games that should appeal to the catholics in the crowd, Nunland. Think of the old Moonlander game but with a flying nun.

Damm it sure has been a long time since there was Lisp post, or discussion, so here is Creating Dynamic Websites with Lisp and Apache to help tide one's Lisp needs.
[via decafbad]

Siemens Innovations Paperlike Display now that is the way to do a PDA.

How To Make Sushi on kuro5hin

Mentioned in Wired Pizza Box or IMac? or the iBox Stage #2. Please oh, please, oh please let this happen.

Generated a FOAF with the help of FOAF-a-matic, using the "Protect email addresses from spammers" option. The list if pretty much the Peeps on the sidebar for now. Anyone listed wanna follow suit? In case you are saying what the fsck is FOAF there is Finding friends with XML and RDF on developerWorks.

Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All Time, now is the list a hoax? One of those days that I almost don't want to get out of bed.

IndyJunior Flash Mapping Module, you supply a XML file of the Latitude and Longidude and the flasho does the mapping. Now to dig up cooridinates for my many road trips.

For those of you that will get it, run your browser over to CPAN. Much haliarity ensues for the Perl geeks out there.

I have a screenshot if you missed it live:

Back in November 11, 1999 engel passed along the Death of a ball turret gunner and yesterday some random reader has filled in the unknown as Randall Jarrel. Thanks.

"Death of a ball turret gunner"
From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from the dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Author: Randall Jarrell