Archive for July, 2007
In Memory of Dr. Richard Weltman
Jul 30th
This weekend, a family friend for well over 20 years, Dr. Richard Weltman, died. Shortly after our wedding last July, Rick was diagnosed with a paricularly aggressive kidney cancer and it eventually weakened him too much. He passed away on Friday, 7/27/07 from problems associated with high dose chemotherapy. Although I was distanced from the Weltmans for several years due mainly to geography, I never really lost the special connection I always had with them from my childhood. I was reunited with them when my father had a medical episode last year, and we immediately caught up.
Rick, a gifted hobbiest photographer, took fantastic pictures at our wedding – pictures of people – that served as the perfect complement to our photographers’ photos. Our wedding memories are only complete with the photos from both of them.
Rick was also a talented doctor, and he lovingly and gently treated my grandather up to the weeks before he died. If only for this, I would be forever grateful. His knowledgeable but honest approach led me to have complete confidence in him.
The fact is, Rick was not a part of my everyday life and I knew he was sick, and that is why it is so surprising that I find myself so dismayed by this news. Rick was a great all around guy – a caring person, a good friend, a sympathic ear, serious when it was called for and humorous at all other times. Rick had a contagious smile and big bushy signature eyebrows that couldn’t be missed, and I truly believe that all who knew him liked him.
It says something special about a man’s life when, even if they only realize it after he dies, people recognize the way he touched their lives. The people who assemble to celebrate Rick’s life will do so knowing that they are better for having known him. There will be a hole in the lives of everyone that knew this kind man who was taken from us far too soon.
Zappos.com – An Awesome Shopping Experience
Jul 27th
So, I found a pair of shoes sandals I really liked. They are made by a company called Sanuk, and they are not very common, so they can be hard to find. The ones I wanted were not at my local store, I looked online.
I found many companies who sold the shoes, almost all for $55, and clicked through a few before I found Zappos.com. Zappos.com offered the shoes for $58, but it included free overnight shipping. That seemed reasonable, so I placed my order on Wednesday night. I received the confirmation email within seconds at 9:48 PM Jul 25, 2007. The order was placed at almost 10 PM on Tuesday.
I got another email from Zappos.com at 11:45 PM:
We wanted to let you know that we’ve been working around the clock and that we’ve just finished picking and packing your order:
Order #XXXXXXXX
Sanuk Vagabond – Chocolate – 11/D – MediumSince we are shipping your order with Free Overnight Shipping, your expected delivery date for this order is: thursday, July 26th 2007.
“That can’t be right,” I thought, I just placed the order two hours ago.”
I got my tracking number Wednesday morning and the sandals arrived Wednesday morning as you can see below in the screenshot grabbed from the UPS website. Complete transaction time was just over 12 hours from internet to shipping in Kentucky to receiving in Florida. I am honestly floored, and would definitely order from Zappos.com again. If you’re looking for shoes, I recommend checking them out.
An Ubuntu Experiment, Part 2
Jul 18th
As a follow-up to my previous entry, An Ubuntu Experiment, I wanted to keep you updated on how my neighbors are doing with their new Ubuntu workstation. I caught up with them yesterday to discuss how things are running.
The first report was that things are going great. They’ve got everything figured out and running, they even saw that it had a firewall, but, they asked, it has no antivirus! Do they need antivirus, they wanted to know.
I explained to them that there was antivirus protection programs available, but that right now, due to the nature of Linux, it really wasn’t necessary. I explained that they should be careful of running things with which they are unfamiliar, but that viruses were unlikely to be a problem. It took some convincing.
The mother was hooked on games. They were psyched to have new games besides Freecell and Solitaire, and she enjoyed the abundance of games on the default install.
They were unable to get their video camera to work. They told me the disk that came with it didn’t work. I explained that the driver and software was for Windows, and that the camera probably worked fine. “But,” I asked, “which program were you using it with?” Blank. “Well,” I continued, “what are you trying to do?” Blank. They hadn’t really considered why they needed or wanted the camera. It just was there. We’ll revisit that with them later.
Their internet experience was complete. They got Flash installed. They got MP3s working. They understood Firefox. They were also able to get their digital camera synced.
So far, the experiment is going very well.
Retraction #1: Smashing the Pumpkins
Jul 18th
So apparently, the open letter from Billy Corgan featured on The Stranger was a hoax. I spouted off quite a bit about Billy Corgan as a reaction to the letter, which I bought hook, line, and sinker.
So the question is: since I so readily believed that Billy Corgan would say those things, should I cut my losses and count myself amongst those who used to be a Smashing Pumpkins fan, or do I say “I was wrong,” eat crow, and resume my love for the band? It’s hard to say.
I think this little incident has revealed that I have been growing sick of Billy’s pretentious “I’m an artist” side. You play guitar, dude. Not quite rocket science or curing cancer.
Shame on The Stranger for publishing this schlock. It’s irresponsible to publish something like this, even as satire, without any indication that it’s fake. Some might argue that the best satire is that which we mistake for reality, and in that respect, this is brilliance. But I say no; this was poor taste, plain and simple.
Back on track here, there’s no questioning Billy Corgan and TSP’s contributions to rock. But there is plenty of question as to whether or not they are relevant anymore. So I take back what I say in reaction to his alleged words, but I’m treading cautiously into Zeitgeist.
How To Blog Like Robert Scoble
Jul 17th
“Robert Scoble is media. I am media as well.”
Robert Scoble, you may know, is a very prominent blogger with a whole hell of a lot of readers. Scoble is someone who I’ve kept up with over the last few years. He worked for Microsoft doing blogging and videos for Channel 9 then recently moved to Podtech to do video blogging. Scoble is a nice guy, he writes fairly well, and has a lot to say. But lately, reading his stuff has been putting me to sleep.
Scoble has zeroed in on a few keys things and has not been able to stop talking about them. So, while his blog has always been a reflection of his life, it was much more interesting when he did Channel 9 and visited the Live Mail team or the Windows Mail team and we learned about new things.
Lately, Scoble’s passions have centered around just a few things. First, and most notably (or most annoyingly), Facebook. Having friended Scoble on Facebook early on, it was interesting to be connected to so many people. Now it’s lame: Scoble’s headlines fill my “mini feed” page, even after I set it to specifically limit Scoble news. He boasts about how linking to him is like being linked to everyone of value in the tech world. But frankly, I find Facebook to be worthless to link to someone I don’t know who doesn’t use it as anything but a friend collector and an app demonstration ground. Facebook is for keeping up with people you know, not just a worthless MySpace clone where the goal is to amass the highest number of friends. Scoble treats Facebook like a contest and then tells us every detail of his experience. He’s made a few worthwhile observations (such as the question of whether Facebook is a viable advertising platform given it’s demographic) and lots and lots and lots of really boring ones.
Scoble is very proud of his iPhone, and hasn’t stopped talking about it. Seriously… like… at all.
Also, Scoble is a social network sucker junkie, and has carried on about Pownce, Jaiku, and Twitter for weeks. We get it. I tried Pownce. I don’t see what the hell I’m supposed to do with it that I can’t do elsewhere or in an easier manner. But reading scobleizer.com, you’d think it makes you breakfast or shines your shoes for you.
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So, how does one blog like Scoble? All you need to do is go to Digg, find a cool buzzword or website likely to interest the bleeding edge technology people, and blog about it 5-7 times a day. Do not relent, just keep your stream coming. Join endless social networks and add as many friends as possible, whether you know them or not. Make provocative statements and then link to prominent people’s blogs; try to get them to blog about you, good or bad. Make sure you mention people like Dave Winer and Matt Cutts. Lastly, be certain to pimp targetted buzz apps like Google Reader and Adobe AIR at least twice a week.
In all seriousness, I really do enjoy Scoble’s blog. If you don’t already read it, you should really check out his feed, once he moves past his love affair with Facebook and the iPhone.
Smashing the Pumpkins
Jul 16th
There’s something claiming to be “An Open Letter from Billy Corgan” posted on The Stranger. Can it possibly be real? I think it is, based on the fact that I cannot imagine them posting this otherwise.
I was a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan. I got Gish the month it was released. I looked forward to Siamese Dream before “Today” took the charts by storm. I was a fan before they got artsy and become The Smashing Pumpkins. I remember Billy when he and D’arcy were suicidal and he had hair. I was there when it all began to work. And I stuck with the band through Adore and Machina, when everyone else thought it was over. I stayed there for a very long time, waiting patiently for for this moment in time, when Zwan and TheFutureEmbrace were just a memory and a new Smashing Pumpkins was upon us.
But then Billy releases this “open letter,” this ridiculous, ego-inflated collection of delusions. Billy’s been a bit of a weirdo for some time now: he had this weird thing with Courtney Love, and he went through an “I’m an important poet, nay, the voice of a generation!” phase. Billy really thinks he’s something remarkable. And he might have been, had he not tossed humility out the door. Now he’s going to expose himself. Let’s deconstruct what is going on in Billy Corgan’s mind, shall we?
Corgan starts with “Today is the greatest day you’ve ever known.” Yes, because the release of your underwhelming new CD, pimped by too many in the blogosphere, ranks up there as “the greatest day I’ve ever known.” Pshaw.
Further down is this gem: “We were once the most important band in the world, and everyone–me, you, Courtney Love–knew it.” Eh… exsqueeze me? Ah…baking powder? I was a very serious Pumpkins fan. I do not ever recall thinking of them as the most important band in the world. Courtney Love… for whatever reason…. might have thought that. But I doubt many others did.
He continues, “I brought back original Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain –recovered and reverent of yours truly, he’s the epitome of a new leaf turned over — plus another chick bassist and some new guitar guy.” Oy. Where to begin? So you’re admitting up front that it’s essentially another solo record, but Jimmy is back? Because your last solo record was so good?
Then Billy predicts my reaction: “As for the music, the critics won’t get it. They never have. My old fans–the ones whose lives were changed by Gish and Siamese Dream–won’t get it. They will complain that the sound is too dense, too severe, too, yes, overbearing.” Well, the “don’t get it” sentiment is there, but it’s a reaction to your retarded letter, Billy, not your music.
Corgan actually believes “the New Generation is the one I’m speaking to, the one that needs to know that My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco couldn’t exist without me. Whether they want to know doesn’t matter. This Zeitgeist is not consensual–it’s here, whether you understand it or not.” So he believes he is the founder of the new generation. Undoubtedly, he influenced several of these acts. But is that anything to be proud of? First off, they kinda suck. And secondly, he’s hardly the one big thing that laid the pipework for these bands to exist. Nay, that was Nirvana and Pearl Jam, whether Billy likes it or not.
Corgan carries on for some time about his commentary about the US, which we neither asked for nor care about, and some other sputters about guitars and a rock revolution (or something) before concluding with this fantastic delusion: “Here is what you must understand: Nothing has changed since 1999, except my budget. And Pro Tools. I am still the same alt-rock messiah I was. You are still my teenage flock.” Whoa. Heavy. Billy claims to be a rock messiah and we are the sheep, the pawns, the fools who gulp up that with which he graces us. Because of this, I am probably not going to buy Zeitgeist.
Add to this a few recent things that have happened: Zeitgeist features photos of Paris Hilton in the liner notes. Billy said he’s friends with her. He decided to invite Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris to the shoot to make a snarky statement about pop culture. Way to go, Bill. Way to use your “friend.”
Also, Billy decided to release FOUR editions of the CD. Target, Best Buy, iTunes, and other stores will all have an edition featuring a different bonus track. So the only legal way to get all four is to buy the album thrice then download at least one song.
The Pumpkins may once have been an important road stop in the rock landscape, but now it seems like Billy is a deluded, self-aggrandizing, loquacious, ego-maniacal sell-out.
Update: The “open letter” mentioned above was a hoax. I’ve published an update here.
Words and Phrases That Annoy Me
Jul 16th
People regularly mangle the English language. I have some affectations that I misuse/abuse too, such as “kinda” and “gonna” that I often feel are conversational and add a casual touch to my writing. Some abuses are simply unforgiveable. Here are 5 of the top offenders in my book.
Loose
I see this everywhere. Why does no one understand that lose does NOT have two Os? I understand typos, really, I do. In fact, there has never been a spelling error on my website, just typos (at least, that’s what I tell myself). When I see “loose” for lose, however, I shut off.
Administrate
If you submit a resume to me and tell me you administrated a network, prepare to be filed directly in the trash. Despite the fact that “administrate” is actually a real word, the proper word in this case is “administer.” I maintain that one does not administrate networks. Administrate, as I interpret it, is a form of “administration” that is more akin to clerical work than managerial. Either way, when I see it on a resume, I just assume it was ignorance.
Orientate
Again, it is a real word, but most of the time, what people mean to say is “orient,” and if not, it would certainly suffice.
Myself
This is the worst offender by far. “Myself” includes the word “self,” which means the verb must be reflexive. You must be doing the action to yourself. You can hurt yourself, pinch yourself, feed yourself. No one else can do something to “yourself.” You should never say “Ask Bob or myself.” Don’t be afraid to use the word “me.” Most people are afraid of it, but then, most people speak like idjits.
Between you and I
It’s between you and me. Seriously. Don’t say between you and I, because it’s wrong, and, between you and me, you look dumb saying it. Like “myself,” this one probably stems from hypercorrection.
Bonus!
You get an extra one for free today. Let’s talk about the words “less” and “fewer.” Fewer means a lesser number. Less is a comparitive term, as in “less than x.” Even YouTube says “More Options” and “Less Options.” But it’s actually “Fewer Options.” The confusion comes from this: the opposite of less is more. The opposite of fewer is… more.
Meta: New Feature
Jul 14th
I’ve added a little detection script to the comments that records your user agent and tries to put nice little icons next to your name. The icons should depict your browser and operating system. Hovering over the browser icon will show the entire user agent. This detection script is at a very early stage, so I’m still reviewing user agents to best make it work, and only a few comments on the site even have the info properly stored thus far. If you want to test it, please use this thread.
Funny: Flickr Parse Error
Jul 13th
Everyone makes mistakes, even the good people at Yahoo!/Flickr. I’ve done this on OSNews – it’s broken for 20 seconds, but you still get emails and IMs from users. Many PHP functions take two arguments — a string an an array — and it’s tough to remember which comes first, because sometimes it’s the array, and sometimes it’s the string. So functions like array_keys() can be tricky without using php.net.
click image for full picture