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Jun. 2nd, 2009 @ 07:52 pm
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So we were poking around getting read to head out, and checked everything in the gecko tank to make sure everything was ok. Lo and behold, one of the eggs hatched.
( We have a baby gecko! )
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Okay .. so today wasn't that long of a day ... but it was tiring for me ... people ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalidor/sets/72157618302145427
Cars looked great!
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Last two days have been spent fighting with Flickr, figuring out how to get the FC back in the garage without bottom out (until they repave the driveway) and running back and forth to High Park for the Cherry Blossoms.
So while short ... without further ado ...the set http://bit.ly/1852OJ
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Apr. 1st, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
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JD & Ryan are pissin me off, and I feel bad for Baya and Sarah. I can see why Katelynn got along with the people she got along with. :/ *prods Katelynn* I hope everyone is doing pretty good at this point? |
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Okay, I feel the need to clear up a bunch of rumors regarding the Sony Reader, and put it into a more proper light . General reports are that the Kindle is the beats the Sony on a several points. So I wanted to address each point based on my experiences of having a Kindle to play with, owning a Sony reader prs-500 and prs-505 in the house, and both kindle 2 and prs-700 to poke.
( Read more... )
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So one of my two Grand Central Accounts have been updated.
So far here are the points I have found
( + is Positive; - is negative; = is meh ; ? is questions)
( GV : Google Voice / GC : Grand Central )
+Vmail is transcribed and can be sent via email (possibly only to non gmail accounts)
+ Overseas calls can now be made. Rates are pretty good http://bit.ly/XRmFQ
+ SMS's out and in. Free going out, not sure going in
+ Billing is well documented
+ Add funds 10 bucks at a time. Thats 500-1000 minutes the way I use it.
+ Custom schedule settings on phones now available. (Canadian numbers can't be changed; Grandfathered)
+ Vmail pin setting is per phone setting.
+ Call log menu is much more intuitive
+ Contact import is back. CSV only
+ Custom Groups
+ Reporting of spam calls (I've not ever gotten any on GC but it is a nice feature)
+ sms routing
+conferencing now available for incoming calls. Up to four numbers.
+Inegrated G411
= Mobile versions allow temp numbers. Since I only have one upgraded yet, I can't tell if they overlap.
= More professional look, but often its at the sacrifice of intuitiveness and effeciency.
= History provides full overview.
=Canadian Numbers are not supported, but grandfathered numbers work.
- Country code 1 (US /Canada) is no longer treated as national. 1 cent per minute to Canada.
- OGM messages are gone both in GC and GV; have to be recorded.
- Add funds 10 bucks at a time. Thats 500-1000 minutes the way I use it.
- Mobile and rich version auto switch based on user strings. This is bad cause I used to be able to keep GC mobile in a Firefox sidebar.
- My Japanese ring is gone.
- Groups settings menu is sparser, much more confusing by comparrison.
- Phones settings menu is a bit confusing, but powerful
- Mapping of phone numbers is gone (wasn't always accurate anyway)
- Contacts don't get imported.
- Calls with voicemail are neither recieved or missed. What?!?!
- Still no fax
? Phone number overlap on accounts : temp & perm numbers
? Time out for voicetags on callerid? GC didn't have this and people who didn't get it made bad choices.
AS far as difficulties:
1) People need to stop diffrentiating between US +1 and Canada +1. We all know that there is no extra cost in the routing of the exchanges. It's been working up to now, so why be jackasses about it?
2) Google seems to be using some sort of funky round-robining array. They don't behave to spec and are buggered by greylisting. Luckily you can add multiple emails to the account and choose where notifications go. So I created a keyed whitelist email tag in my milter and used that for the address GV sends too.
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Early this morning an blog was made known to me regarding a certain troubleshooting tool for Norton Antivirus known as the Profile Information Framework Troubleshooter (PIFTS). The controversy is a series of allegations that the author is using to suggest that Symantec, the company that produces Norton Antivirus (NAV), is involved in a conspiracy to sell personal information and change your system without your knowledge. His proof is his own analysis and a professional analysis of the executable, indication changes to registry and the scraping of temporary internet files. Additionally, the author cites odd behavior on Symantec's forum site.
( Click here to continue reading... )
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Will post pictures of the geckos later. Appearently being in their new home has afforded them the prefect opportunity to shed, making them none too excited or cooperative. Kinda wish I could use my new cannon to make the photos but that won't arrive in my grubby little hands till after the ides of march. (spoooky)
Will have pics soon enough tho.
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Feb. 26th, 2009 @ 02:40 pm
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Off the pick up house geckos. |
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Up until this morning I stayed neutral on the whole Natali del Conte issue. I had nothing negative to say, but nothing positive. As of today's show I reasses and that's beyond just the prissy atitude of wanting everything new first, and the only person to have it.Also beyond her primping her nipple petals on the pre show.
My problem is her journalistic integrity. Part of my definition of journalistic integrity is doing your own bloody research. In Buzz Out Loud today she mentioned doing a review comparing the New Kindle with the Sony reader. Neither in the review or on BOL did she say which Sony Reader. Looking up the vide I gather she used the PRS-700. I am upset because on the show she said the Sony reader needed the pc program to get content on. That's utterly wrong. In the video it was simply no wireless downloading with out the software. More true, but imprecise and stretching it.
Some facts: PRS-505 and PRS-700 mount as standard usb memory devices. So content can simply be copied in any OS that suports thumb drives. People may point out the difference about being download from the stores, which frankly is irrelevent. The Kindle has to come from the store due to DRM. The sony reader suportsmultiple open formats in addition to LRF (libre reader format) which was inherited from their old readers the libre release in japan early this decade. As the format is that old, there are plenty of converters allowing you to buy prc or lit books as well, and convert them. As a result I don't see cataogues as an isue more of an annoyance. Inaly touching on the wireless download. For the last and final time (I hope) Verizons technology is a deadend and was given up in most parts of the world. As a result the kindle is a very regional solution at best.
This kind of journalistic one side man ships shows either a lack of neutrality, or of research, both of which really make it difficult for me to se her as any different from several reporter flakes that making their living by maing beatoff material for zealots.
Finally I missed people in the other IRC channel I announced due to headaches from this experience, and for that I am mifed and sorry.
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Today Buzz Out Loud, in episode 914, asked the question is The Pirate Bay (TPB) more like Google the search engine, or YouTube (Google) content provider.
I made the quip that TPB doesn't host content, while YouTube does.
I wanted to expound on that a bit more. Or better yet take it to it's simplest level.
What does Google's search engine actually do? When you make a search it turns your search into basically a vector, it then searches it's database and returns links pages that have been indexed and have a similar vector. Therefor, what is stored on Google's servers? In the most simplest view, just a mathematical identification that points to content. [DISCLAIMER: I am ignoring caching here, because in that manner Google does actually store content and is open to DMCA action for that subsection of it's operation]
What does TPB's search engine do? Using much simpler keyword based searches, it links you to files that they store called torrents. Torrents are a hash that can be used to bittorrent clients to find other bittorrent clients that have the file which the hash describes. Which is to say, its a mathematical identification which can be used to find content.
So, mathematically speaking, both parties store and make available mathematical identifiers to allow people to find content they wish to find.
Current Mood:  dorky |
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Feb. 16th, 2009 @ 09:58 pm
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Avatars Going Dark. Both for NZ (http://bit.ly/h5sPz) and Spectrial (http://bit.ly/Xbw4) #blackout #spectrial |
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Feb. 8th, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
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Not that I expect Tifa (Val, Nyami) whichever read this anymore. But happy bday! |
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Feb. 8th, 2009 @ 08:47 pm
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Cleared a bunch of people off my clists today. Generally people I haven't talked to in a while either cause they didn't wanna, were straight out told not to, or manipulated not to. I can't deal with their drama anymore. |
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Feb. 3rd, 2009 @ 09:16 pm
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I'm having urges that involve a select group of southerners, kneecaps, and a certain amount of lye. |
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I hate drawing hands. Hands are so versitile. Be they elegant or burly I can never sem to bring out the quality I want. It's always so much fail.Current Mood:  blah |
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Jan. 30th, 2009 @ 04:07 am
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Woah .. Partycon was nearly a decade ago ...
... I can still smell the bootleg people! |
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Jan. 26th, 2009 @ 08:38 pm
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Yanked from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) polarbee
Bold shows that you've watched regularly.
Italicize those that you've seen at least once.
50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City
45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek - TOS
42. Only Food Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers
40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python's Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted
35. Alias
34. Frasier
33. CSI
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood
30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf
25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office
22. The Shield
21. Angel
20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who
15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica (both series)
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld
10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24
05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons
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Jan. 21st, 2009 @ 05:56 pm
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Lifted from purplemer3
1. Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
2. Turn to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post that sentence along with these instructions in your LiveJournal.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.
"Even if you have a mind to rescue a man who has fallen into an abyss, if you have no hands, you will not be able to do so."
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Jan. 19th, 2009 @ 07:47 am
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Most definatly sick .. feh |
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Jan. 18th, 2009 @ 05:21 pm
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Wondering if this means I should remove finalwaltz and violet iris stuff from my server... |
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Jan. 15th, 2009 @ 06:43 pm
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It's amazing at how easily a worried comment to someone else can become a back handed slap in the face... |
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... I should be getting two slighty psychotic asian chick sidekicks....
where are my slightly psychotic asian sidekicks?
I want my slightly psychotic asian sidekicks!
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Jan. 14th, 2009 @ 09:38 pm
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I am amused that every other time I walk by Church St I seem to hear a disucssion with the word Katelynn. I am going to assume that spelling because I am fairly certain that is the Katelynn they are talking about. |
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Jan. 12th, 2009 @ 05:20 pm
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- Wondering how many more of my friends have gotten around to getting ps3's at this point ... |
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Ok .. so I've gotten enough information that while I can call MS's tags interesting they are a failure in my book.
So Microsoft has released it's own bar coding system that among other things uses high color contrasts to make the various codes different. I was wondering to myself how this is different from QRCodes, and what I was told (indirectly) that they are more accurate and smaller. I cannot attest currently to the accuracy issue. I've been using QRCodes for over a year now and have had much luck. As for the size I call this FUD based on the picture I've seen in the resource. The picture Microsoft is showing shows a rather small Microsoft tag beside two very large Data Matrix and QRCode tags. I'd say that based on the data examples the Microsoft tag is <10 bytes of data. I cannot speak to the DataMatrix but the QRCode is 4 times the physical size, and based on the encoding markers it could hold up to 1 k of data. Big difference. In personal experience I've managed to put a 18byte message into the same size. (Actually, when it comes to size the MS Tag is bigger; .625" vs .5" for QRcode V2)
Another issue I take is that the MS Tag works through a centralized approach access MS servers to translate the code into a URL, that you then link to get the information. I see several issues here, namely being control and inability to use the feature offline.
QRCode
Pros
+Up to 70% of the code can be damaged and the information recovered with normal error correction methods
+The spec allows the size to grow with data
+The spec allows for a micro QR code under 35 characters that is the same size as the MS Tag (bit.ly anyone)
+Doesn't need color, therefore simple printer and stamps work with this process
+Non centralized
+Can store data in any form
+Can retrieve data offline if it's encoded in the code
+Free (technically patented but owner refuses to exercise patent such that people will actually use it)
+Already in major use for parts labeling
+Software and embedded hardware for decoding/encoding is already widely available
Cons
- Not wide spread outside of Asia for consumer use
- There is a possibility that some phones cannot read the codes (I can't verify this as even my cheapest phone works fine)
-Black and White can have contrast issues
MS TAG
Pros
+ Color could be used to condense information
+Color may make it easier for phone scans
+ All Tags are smaller than many QRcodes. (Size restriction due to bit.ly style url redirect)
Cons
- Centralized
- Hints that the system to create the tags will become pay only eventually
- Incapable of working offline
Questions
* What kind of error correction (if any) does it use?
* Will money become a factor?
* Will Microsoft be able to force consumer adoption any more than QRcodes have?
Bottom Line:
I don't foresee adoption on a wide scale, and even if it is, it will be another US centric technology. QR Code is superior in most respects including existing deployment but US consumers still don't get it; and probably never will. MS Tags will go the way of the CueCat.
Resources :
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090108/microsoft-tag-microsofts-own-2d-barcode/
http://www.microsoft.com/tag
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code
http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/index-e.htmlCurrent Mood:  amused |
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Jan. 6th, 2009 @ 06:14 pm
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World's Biggest Bookstore had a copy a of Human-Eror Processor! Yay! |
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Jan. 5th, 2009 @ 03:20 pm
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Gonna say this once cause people keep asking my thoughts on Steve Jobs. Don't ask. I don't care nor do I have the energy to waste. |
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Jan. 5th, 2009 @ 02:59 pm
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Feh. XKCD today ... has some major innaccuracies that are more than just comedic license. Failure. |
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Jan. 5th, 2009 @ 12:26 am
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The world is an interesting place. Online doubly so. A new phone can lead to sudden cel-web-lirty status, and that could lead to a new geek on the scene. Real or mundane, only time well tell :) |
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Jan. 2nd, 2009 @ 07:55 pm
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: I am enjoying the on and off snow showers! Yay TO! |
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Dec. 31st, 2008 @ 02:24 am
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Saw Steph change her fb status and realized my copy of jPod is locked in the office. I could be reading that! |
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Dec. 30th, 2008 @ 05:47 pm
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Glad I don't have Rogers (communications) stock, or else I'd be dumping it. Some of their recent actions make me suspect they might be in trouble, or at the very list the empire is dieing. There's hope for the Canadian Tech front yet... |
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Merri Kurisumasu!
Things that I am happy for today are my friends, and a nice warm bed to cuddle into with the cold rain and snow outside.
Too all a good night! |
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Dec. 24th, 2008 @ 07:10 pm
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Thinking it would be awesome if google put up an internet traffic map for people torrenting the Dr Who xmas special tonight ... |
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Ok .. posting a little bit late since I was up late and zombish last night.
Ergo Proxy is on my current list and is making me relatvily happy at watching it. Anime FTW! |
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Dec. 23rd, 2008 @ 05:42 pm
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Ok ... its .. interesting .. to see one of your friends in a commercial ... on tv ... in their undergarments? |
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8 episodes of Ergo Proxy & everyone's cookies are on the way.
Yay for monday.
*drops asleep* |
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Dec. 22nd, 2008 @ 05:41 pm
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Yay .. Tricia-box arrived in mail! |
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Actually today has been a pretty boring day. So I am gonna be boring and steal Trow's answer.
More snow!
Spent the day organising and burning off stuff from the torrent drive. Yep .. that's about it. |
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So actually the act that lead to today happy shiney thing was done yesterday. I re-cleaned my desk. Happiness is a well cleaned desk with ample arm and workspace. (Althought I still need an enlarged office so my desk can grow some and Anndie's desk can grow major. )
I really wish there was someway to buy this apartment and the one next door, and knock out .. say the wall between our dining room and that bedroom. Oh well. Dreams! |
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Well several happyish stuff happened today. DHL managed to mildly fail instead of its usual total failure. (Although I still don't get why they are running if they are supposed to be defunct).
I gots Thinkgeek stuffs.
Trow posted sparkly grad pics.
But I think the fact that a dear friend of mine kept her promise and continued to send more snow my way was shiniest. I think we got at least another 20-25 cm of whitestuff. Picture were taken and all is good. Yay snow!
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Dec. 19th, 2008 @ 08:44 pm
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Got a package from Thinkgeek. Wonder if I should open it and find out who it's from... "under" the tree right now. Also DHL continues to be fail even after they are "exiting the market?" |
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SNOW!
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Dec. 19th, 2008 @ 06:12 pm
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Both cars got rust inhibitor treatments today. This is good. Taking care of my cars makes me happy cause I am generally good at it, and my cards last for hundreds of thousands of miles longer than most peoples. :)
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The first of three storms came in early this morning. Ten centimeters of snow on the city. Crisp clean and fresh. Trow said she'll be sending it up and looks like it worked. Thanks Trow! |
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Dec. 16th, 2008 @ 02:06 pm
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75k full benefits. Definatly some questions cause network admin != dba and I need to see if its a lone position or an actual team position. Should be an intersting set of interviews.... |
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Dec. 15th, 2008 @ 02:36 pm
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so I've been officially laid off. Whether its for three weeks or permanent is unkown at this point, but I am definatly going to be a heck of a lot more serious about the employment inquiries that I've recieved in the last several weeks. |
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Dec. 13th, 2008 @ 08:53 pm
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Just got back from Bowl-a-rama with Brad and Marina. Not sure the tunes were quite Alis friendly but as a note we HAVE to go aver 2000 hours nextime. |
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Dec. 11th, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
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