Monday, January 31, 2005
SFGate finally offers RSS feeds
I noticed a link to this page at the bottom of an SFGate article today. They're finally providing RSS feeds! I like this so much more than email newsletters.
Many thanks to whomever at SFGate got this going.
Many thanks to whomever at SFGate got this going.
Friday, January 28, 2005
I'm not dead yet! I feel happy!
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Error Message Generator
Note that the "Stupid Windows error message of the day" below was not created with the Error Message Generator. Those are much more clever.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Mac OS X for new Mini owners
We haven't picked up a Mac mini yet. Yet. But when we do, I'll read Ars Technica's mini-guide to Mac OS X for new Mini owners as a quick refresher for me--used to work on old PowerMacs, you know--and as an intro for Jen, for whom the mini will be primarily intended.
September ends?
El Reg reports AOL ditches newsgroups:
No offense to those two or three AOLers I know who didn't actually pollute the Internet.
AOL is pulling the plug on servers hosting newsgroups. AOL subscribers will no longer be able to access such groups directly but will have to go through Google.Now they pull newsgroups? Now, after polluting the Internet for eleven years?
No offense to those two or three AOLers I know who didn't actually pollute the Internet.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Where's my helicopter?
This article from July 1961 is astonishingly accurate in its predictions of life in the 21st century.
It looks as if everything will be so easy that people will probably die from sheer boredom.
You will be whisked around in monorail vehicles at 200 miles an hour and you will think nothing of taking a fortnight's holiday in outer space.
Your house will probably have air walls, and a floating roof, adjustable to the angle of the sun.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Stupid Windows error message of the day
In patching/updating a co-worker's machine, Windows Update produced 
this message.
I answered Yes.
this message.I answered Yes.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Not outsourced to India
In my continuing effort to do something interesting with my life--other than work at a continuous series of dead-end corporate desk jobs--I'm getting serious about starting my PC service business. This will be an onsite visit where I diagnose and fix problems with Windows PCs, home networks, DSL/cable modems, etc. Services will include cleaning spyware/adware and viruses off computers, installing software, configuring networking, and the like. I don't know yet what kind of rates I'm going to charge for these services; I'm considering hourly, by visit, or by job (e.g. de-gunking a PC is $150, setting up a WiFi network is $300). We're going to come up with some flyers and post them on various public bulletin boards around the area, and I'm thinking about taking out an ad in the Palo Alto Daily News.
My initial goal will be to replace my Barnes & Noble income. Then, I'll aim to make it a full-time gig.
Meanwhile, and somewhat relatedly, the Design-a-Logo Contest is still going on and I've received a couple of good entries. Keep sending them in! Now with the additional cachet of knowing your design will be used in an actual money-making business!
My initial goal will be to replace my Barnes & Noble income. Then, I'll aim to make it a full-time gig.
Meanwhile, and somewhat relatedly, the Design-a-Logo Contest is still going on and I've received a couple of good entries. Keep sending them in! Now with the additional cachet of knowing your design will be used in an actual money-making business!
Friday, January 14, 2005
Photo not available
Naked Jogger Zapped -- SFGate/AP
For months, officers have been getting reports about a man making late-night runs in the buff. On Monday, police said they think they got their mystery jogger.
Fate Patterson, 39, of West Memphis, was arrested after he ran past a police car and failed to stop when he was ordered to do so by officers. Police chased him and were able to rein him in by using a Taser.
Get out of town, kitty
Palo Alto police are on alert after two local mountain lion sightings in residential areas.
The last time this happened, PAPD killed the lion, who was sleeping peacefully in a tree, giving a story about how a tranquilizer "might not have worked". I can only hope that PAPD has developed new procedures which do not involve murdering beautiful animals.
City Naturalist Deborah Bartens said there have been more than 25 reports of cougars being spotted in Palo Alto in the past year, including open space areas. Nearly a dozen have come in the more populated parts of the city.
The last time this happened, PAPD killed the lion, who was sleeping peacefully in a tree, giving a story about how a tranquilizer "might not have worked". I can only hope that PAPD has developed new procedures which do not involve murdering beautiful animals.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
God Does Not Cause Tsunamis
As usual, Mark Morford says what I'm thinking only better:
Don't ask why God let this happen. Maybe ask, instead, why the vibration of the world and our treatment of the environment is so low and ugly and un-God-like right now that these things seem more inevitable than ever. Maybe there's a hint in there somewhere. Earth as living organism. Earth as dynamic barometer of our progress and awareness. Earth shuddering at our mad lurches toward war and overdevelopment and overpopulation. You think?
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Bush Administration Outrage of the Week: Requiring DC to use Homeland Security funds for Presidential Inaguration
U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Inaugural Expenses -- Washington Post/Yahoo News
A Republican Congressman, Thomas M. Davis of Virginia, called the administration's position "simply not acceptable". To put it in perspective, FDR limited his fourth inauguration to a simple speech--because the nation was at war. He felt there were better uses for public money than inaugural pomp and circumstance, and that it would be inappropriate to celebrate at the time.
How much body armor would $11.9 million buy?
D.C. officials said yesterday that the Bush administration is refusing to reimburse the District for most of the costs associated with next week's inauguration, breaking with precedent and forcing the city to divert $11.9 million from homeland security projects.
Federal officials have told the District that it should cover the expenses by using some of the $240 million in federal homeland security grants it has received in the past three years -- money awarded to the city because it is among the places at highest risk of a terrorist attack.
A Republican Congressman, Thomas M. Davis of Virginia, called the administration's position "simply not acceptable". To put it in perspective, FDR limited his fourth inauguration to a simple speech--because the nation was at war. He felt there were better uses for public money than inaugural pomp and circumstance, and that it would be inappropriate to celebrate at the time.
How much body armor would $11.9 million buy?
Monday, January 10, 2005
Car update, in case you cared
The cause of the trouble light I posted about last week turned out to be a faulty seal on the gas cap. That is, the cap was not tightly fastened or had somehow come loose since I last filled up. This caused a vacuum leak (a misnomer if ever there was one--vacuum is not leaking out, air is leaking in!) in the vapor return line, which is apparently serious enough that the "get ye to the dealership" light comes on.
So I feel slightly foolish. On the other hand, it was time for 3,000 mile service as well as 85K service, so we took care of that at the same time.
So I feel slightly foolish. On the other hand, it was time for 3,000 mile service as well as 85K service, so we took care of that at the same time.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Design-a-Logo contest!
I'm pleased to announce the opening of the Project Insomnia Design-a-Logo contest! Yes, now you can have the chance to see your artwork exhibited here on this hugely popular, trend-setting, fashionable Web site as well as countless logo products from Cafe Press.
How to enter: Simply let me know you want to enter. I'll provide an upload location.
The prize: Well, the winning entry (to be solely chosen by me) will appear at the top of every page on this site, and will also likely be plastered on t-shirts, mousepads, baseball hats, and whatever other junk I can sell through Cafe Press. I'll also provide one of these logo items to the winning artist.
Fine print: Your art is copyrighted to you as soon as you create it. However, by submitting it to the contest, you grant me an irrevocable non-exclusive license to use it in whatever manner I may see fit.
Ladies and Gentlemen, start your Photoshopping!
How to enter: Simply let me know you want to enter. I'll provide an upload location.
The prize: Well, the winning entry (to be solely chosen by me) will appear at the top of every page on this site, and will also likely be plastered on t-shirts, mousepads, baseball hats, and whatever other junk I can sell through Cafe Press. I'll also provide one of these logo items to the winning artist.
Fine print: Your art is copyrighted to you as soon as you create it. However, by submitting it to the contest, you grant me an irrevocable non-exclusive license to use it in whatever manner I may see fit.
Ladies and Gentlemen, start your Photoshopping!
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Jon Stewart wins, CNN cancels Crossfire
Ars Technica is the first source I've seen on this story: Jon Stewart wins, CNN cancels Crossfire
If you haven't read (or listened to) America: The Book yet, you really need to.
Today CNN announced that they are nixing Crossfire, and dropping their relationship with one of the show's "commentators" (I use that word lightly), Tucker Carlson (who claims that he actually quit months ago). CNN's new President, Jonathan Klein, said that he agreed with much of Stewart's indictments against the media.The source article from the New York Times is here, but you may need to register to see it.
If you haven't read (or listened to) America: The Book yet, you really need to.
Oops: Blue Screen Of Death Interrupts Gates' CES Show
TechWeb reports that Bill Gates' CES presentation was interrupted by a BSoD. The only problem with this article is that the presentation was apparently on an Xbox. Xboxes don't BSoD, they "GSoD"--the error screen is green, not blue. I don't know if the unnamed reporter got the details of the presentation wrong or is reporting second-hand news, but something is not right about this.
Six years ago, at another tech conference, a Windows 98 demontration also conducted by Gates crashed with a BSoD. The linked article includes a QuickTime clip of the crashed demo; note the audience hooting when it happens.
Edit to add: There were at least three gaffes during the Conan O'Brien/Bill Gates keynote, one of which was during an Xbox demo. The BSoD seems to have occured during a Nikon camera demo.
Six years ago, at another tech conference, a Windows 98 demontration also conducted by Gates crashed with a BSoD. The linked article includes a QuickTime clip of the crashed demo; note the audience hooting when it happens.
Edit to add: There were at least three gaffes during the Conan O'Brien/Bill Gates keynote, one of which was during an Xbox demo. The BSoD seems to have occured during a Nikon camera demo.
Satellite TV rates going up
The Chronicle reports Dish Network fee to rise next month; DirecTV to follow.
a) Comcast does not offer VoD in the true sense, which is no set start times; they offer pay-per-view as does DirecTV, and, presumably, DISH. My DirecTV service offers something on the order of 200 PPV choices at any given time.
b) DirecTV offers local HD channels to subscribers with HD-capable DirecTV receivers. This one is particularly annoying because Comcast has hired local KCBS news legend Al Hart to shill their product, and he goes on and on about how "you can't get that with the dish." Sorry, Al, but you can.
The real problem comes later in the article when we get into News Corp's motives for buying DirecTV last year and how they will likely not try to compete on price for much longer. I'm happy with what I'm paying now for what I'm getting--$48/month for everything but the premiums, plus locals, plus TiVo service. I don't know that I'd want to pay much more than that, but I do have the investment in equipment that would be hard from which to turn away.
EchoStar will charge $2 to $4 more per month, starting next month, an increase of about 4.3 percent of the $56 a typical customer spends, according to the Associated Press.It's still less expensive than cable--even with the necessity (for DirecTV) of buying the equipment--and I would prefer anything over a cable company. This quote from Comcast's local VP of operations continues the outright lies typical of cable companies in their efforts to dissuade people from satellite:
DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer would not say how much rates would rise, but said the company would make an announcement sometime in the next three months. "Counting a rate hike that we put in place in March, we've had only four price increases in the 10 years that we've been in business," Mercer said. "That's despite rising programming costs and having made significant investments to improve the quality of our customer care and expand our programming offerings."
We're able to offer video-on-demand and (local) high-definition television channels, which satellite can't.Untrue.
a) Comcast does not offer VoD in the true sense, which is no set start times; they offer pay-per-view as does DirecTV, and, presumably, DISH. My DirecTV service offers something on the order of 200 PPV choices at any given time.
b) DirecTV offers local HD channels to subscribers with HD-capable DirecTV receivers. This one is particularly annoying because Comcast has hired local KCBS news legend Al Hart to shill their product, and he goes on and on about how "you can't get that with the dish." Sorry, Al, but you can.
The real problem comes later in the article when we get into News Corp's motives for buying DirecTV last year and how they will likely not try to compete on price for much longer. I'm happy with what I'm paying now for what I'm getting--$48/month for everything but the premiums, plus locals, plus TiVo service. I don't know that I'd want to pay much more than that, but I do have the investment in equipment that would be hard from which to turn away.
Unexpected but I'm not complaining
The "Service Engine Soon" light came on as I was driving home Tuesday night in my '99 
Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, so I made an appointment for this morning at my local GM dealer to have it checked out. The light stayed on through my commute to and from work yesterday, but was mysteriously dark this morning (and was lit during the normal systems check upon starting the car, so I know the lightbulb is not out). Not knowing what to think, I kept the appointment and dropped the car off this morning. Apparently this can be caused by any number of problems from trivial to major, though there has been absolutely no sign of trouble--the car sounds normal, runs fine, isn't leaking anything, etc. They didn't have (or weren't offering) a free loaner, but did have an Enterprise rental desk in the showroom. I asked for a basic car to get me to and from work while mine is at the shop, and the car rental guy asked me, "As long as you pay the economy price, do you mind what you get?"
I parsed that sentence and didn't see any danger, so I answered in the affirmative. What I got was a
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT. "And this is for the economy rate, right?" I asked, oh-so-casually.
"Yep."
"Okay then."
Wow. I haven't enjoyed driving a car quite this much since I bought the Grand Prix itself six years ago. The weather today precluded lowering the top (and I'm not much for the windblown hair look anyway) but it hardly mattered. And I spotted the CHP car near SFO before he spotted me, so I was lucky there too.
I always wanted a 4-door for passenger and cargo capacity, but now that Jen has her Subaru Forester 2.5XS (4-door, tons of cargo space) I'm thinking something a little sportier might be nice. I don't know that I'd go for the Eclipse itself--I'd really prefer an American-made car--but it is causing me to look in a different direction for my next car.
Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, so I made an appointment for this morning at my local GM dealer to have it checked out. The light stayed on through my commute to and from work yesterday, but was mysteriously dark this morning (and was lit during the normal systems check upon starting the car, so I know the lightbulb is not out). Not knowing what to think, I kept the appointment and dropped the car off this morning. Apparently this can be caused by any number of problems from trivial to major, though there has been absolutely no sign of trouble--the car sounds normal, runs fine, isn't leaking anything, etc. They didn't have (or weren't offering) a free loaner, but did have an Enterprise rental desk in the showroom. I asked for a basic car to get me to and from work while mine is at the shop, and the car rental guy asked me, "As long as you pay the economy price, do you mind what you get?"
I parsed that sentence and didn't see any danger, so I answered in the affirmative. What I got was a
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT. "And this is for the economy rate, right?" I asked, oh-so-casually.
"Yep."
"Okay then."
Wow. I haven't enjoyed driving a car quite this much since I bought the Grand Prix itself six years ago. The weather today precluded lowering the top (and I'm not much for the windblown hair look anyway) but it hardly mattered. And I spotted the CHP car near SFO before he spotted me, so I was lucky there too.
I always wanted a 4-door for passenger and cargo capacity, but now that Jen has her Subaru Forester 2.5XS (4-door, tons of cargo space) I'm thinking something a little sportier might be nice. I don't know that I'd go for the Eclipse itself--I'd really prefer an American-made car--but it is causing me to look in a different direction for my next car.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Blog reading up 58% in U.S.
Plus one, since you're reading this. Slashdot | Blog reading up 58% in U.S.
But that's not why I'm posting. I'm posting to note that my grandfather, Hy Berson, died on December 26th at the age of 86. He had been unable to obtain a flu shot due to the Chiron lab problem, caught the flu, which developed into pneumonia. And apparently pneumonia at age 86 can be fatal.
We heard the news on Sunday the 26th, and the memorial service was scheduled for Wednesday the 29th. We therefore had one day to make travel plans, during the busiest travel week of the year or probably the decade (because of the US Airways and Comair problems over Christmas weekend). We had already planned to be in SoCal for New Year's Eve at Disneyland--drive down Thursday (30th) after work and drive home Sunday (2nd) afternoon. Instead, and this is the result of both Jen and me pounding the travel sites as well as she calling on her travel agent co-workers' expertise, we ended up with this itinerary:
You should not be surprised to know that we were both unfit for work Monday morning despite planning to come in as usual.
It's interesting(?) to note that if we had just done a simple round trip--home to Florida and back--it would have cost more than the seven-airports-in-three-days open-jaw mess we ended up with.
But that's not why I'm posting. I'm posting to note that my grandfather, Hy Berson, died on December 26th at the age of 86. He had been unable to obtain a flu shot due to the Chiron lab problem, caught the flu, which developed into pneumonia. And apparently pneumonia at age 86 can be fatal.
We heard the news on Sunday the 26th, and the memorial service was scheduled for Wednesday the 29th. We therefore had one day to make travel plans, during the busiest travel week of the year or probably the decade (because of the US Airways and Comair problems over Christmas weekend). We had already planned to be in SoCal for New Year's Eve at Disneyland--drive down Thursday (30th) after work and drive home Sunday (2nd) afternoon. Instead, and this is the result of both Jen and me pounding the travel sites as well as she calling on her travel agent co-workers' expertise, we ended up with this itinerary:
- Tuesday: Leave car at Jen's office near Hayward Park Caltrain. Caltrain to Milbrae, connect to BART to SFO. SFO to SLC to FLL (Delta).
- Tuesday night: Hotel near FLL (Wyndham).
- Wednesday morning: Pick up rental car (Hertz) at FLL, drive to service in Lake Worth.
- Wednesday evening: Hotel near PBI (Super 8).
- Thursday: PBI to ATL to LAX (Delta). Taxi from LAX to Jen's grandmother's house in El Segundo. Borrow Jen's grandmother's car, drive to Anaheim, hotel near Disneyland (Castle Inn).
- Friday-Sunday: New Year's Eve & weekend at Disneyland. More on this later.
- Sunday afternoon: return Jen's grandmother's car, Jen's uncle drives us back to LAX. LAX to SJC (Southwest).
- Sunday night: VTA shuttle from SJC to Santa Clara Caltrain. Caltrain to Hayward Park. Drive home.
You should not be surprised to know that we were both unfit for work Monday morning despite planning to come in as usual.
It's interesting(?) to note that if we had just done a simple round trip--home to Florida and back--it would have cost more than the seven-airports-in-three-days open-jaw mess we ended up with.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Dodger Blues -- because it's never to early to start making fun of the Dodgers
The KCBS morning sports report (I want to say it was Steve Bitker, but I'm not sure) mentioned this Web site for all who love to hate the Dodgers. I didn't know until I read it there (and subsequently found more detail) that the Dodgers had unceremoniously dumped radio legend Ross Porter.
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