All the Pages Are My Days

I've been immersed in my new OS X based Macworld for the better part of the past 10 days, and it doesn't look like there's any going back.

Email & More

My daily email and web needs are amply met using the Mac. While I gave the Apple supplied mail client and web browser a good workout for over a week, today I switched back to Mozilla for both reading email and surfing the web. The mail app is simply not a mature imap client, which is what I need. Safari on the other hand is quite nice, and I may switch back when a new version is released. For instant messaging I found the jabber compatible PSI client to work pretty well.

Tools

For accessing unix systems, a terminal emulator is a terminal emulator ... for accessing windows systems remotely the cross-platform, open source Rdesktop solution works quite well. Of course, vnc client and server work as expected, no small thanks to Fink for the additional X windows, etc setup. Of course, there's access to the full power of unix a shell window away!

RSS

I had mixed feelings after trying NetNewsWire, thinking that perhaps I really preferred NewsMonster as my RSS client. Well, the mac version of newsmonster isn't quite ready so for now I'm happily using NNW.

One of the features I like about NM is the ability to open a site right in the browser (duh, NM is browser based). Setting NNW up right beside safari allows me to double click a site and have it open in a new tab in safari, which suits me fine. (it opened a new window using moz; most unacceptable).

It seems I mostly use RSS aggregators as a means to tell when sites I'm interested in have been updated. I'm not quite there in terms of reading (all) sites with RSS clients; I like the creativity and individuality of personal blog sites. That may be the differentiator: I may end up reading news sites right in the aggregator and visiting personal sites via the browser ... time will tell.

Pixel Pushing

For image manipulation there's nothing like Adobe Photoshop. My needs in the image management area far exceed iPhoto's capabilities and so I've not really decided how to manage my image collection. I think I want a mysql/php backend with a fast, usable, cross-platform front end!

I received a free copy of Cut Express in exchange for an old copy of Premiere but haven't used it yet.

Audio Alchemy
I've looked at one area of audio processing so far; converting CDs into MP3s to listen to in my iPod. Well, to make a long story short, there are no tools capable of reliable audio extraction for the mac; at least none in the league of Exact Audio Copy. So, for now I'm ripping my VBR, 256-320K, mp3 files using EAC and CDex. By the time I get an Apple G5 tower I'm sure adequate tools will be available; based on limited testing ripping is a good way to make a hot powerbook quite a bit hotter!

Real has a client available so I can get my KPIG fix.

Kung-tunes is useful for automatically posting details of the current iTunes song up to my blog.

Small Goodies
The native Sherlock info source (I use the dictionary quite a bit) and screen grabber (used to grab sections of windows) work easily and well.

Then there's the little things like menubar tools. Not officially supported, these apps provide handy access to info ranging from the local weather conditions to local system status(including load, uptime and memory usage). They're quite handy!

To the Future!

Combining real unix (Mac OS X is freebsd based), with arguably one of the best user interfaces around Apple has synthesized an unbeatable combination of power and grace! I think large numbers of unix loving folks who just don't feel linux is quite ready for the desktop are going to find the marriage of form and function embodied by OS X to be irresistable. I know I sure have!

Posted by mike 8:20 PM | Comments/Permalink (1)
Categories: MacStuff | Tags: | top of page

It's not the most important issue in the world, but the fact is, the historical record has been altered, and not for the better, by the distributor of a minor comedy from the early 80s.

Yes, it seems that WKRP, well known for playing a wide variety of popular music, has been completely eviscerated! Currently syndicated versions have been edited and virtually all of the original music has been replaced with generic instrumental music from a music library, or by sound-alike "fake" songs.

Though undeniably a travesty, the whole story behind these edits is not as simple as one might guess. The site also has a detailed list changes that were made to specific episodes of the show.

Posted by mike 11:32 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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"The wicked leader is one who the people despise. The good leader is one who the people revere. The great leader is the one of whom the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'" -Lao-Tzu

Posted by mike 8:30 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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Posted by mike 11:55 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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After spending a few hours yesterday figuring out how to use ssh tunneling, (possibly the topic of a separate post), I turned to things more mundane today.

I decided to see if there were any drivers for my logitech keyboard. I was having trouble using it with a belkin kvm (couldn't option-select) and thought that new drivers, if available, couldn't hurt.

I should have known better. While I like the logitech hardware(cordless itouch keyboard), their software has not always impressed me. This was to be reinforced, strongly, after I installed their newest drivers today.

Today's experience literally had me wondering if I had gone crazy (shh).

Having gone some hours between when the driver installed and I allowed it to reboot the system, and having done a number of other tasks in the interim, I didn't make the connection at first as to why my system was misbehaving so severely.

It seems that the vendor decided it was in my best interest to switch the "windows" and "alt" keys, with the result that where I had been "win-tab" switching all day, all of a sudden I had to "alt-tab" to navigate between apps.

Well, I suppose they were trying to make it easier for folks making the switch (like me). BUT, they didn't tell me; they didn't give me a choice to revert to prior behaviour and they ignored the fact that I was already used to the keys being where they were. (Turns out there is an indirect way to switch the keys; it still shouldn't have happened without warning, and it should have been an accessible option in the keyboard's control panel.)

It's a very unsettling feeling (enhanced by the lack of sleep from the night before) when all of a sudden keystrokes you've been using all day cease working. Who would expect a driver to silently remap a keyboard? Bad driver! Oh, and the kvm? Still doesn't work.

Posted by mike 8:06 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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Since one of the things I like to do is post images it seemed a good idea to try this common activity using my new powerbook. I decided to create and post an image to see how it compared to doing the same on my XP machine.

* First, I did a Cmd-Shft-3 screen capture. By now I knew to look on the desktop for the capture image (and, yes it was nice not to have to deal w/where to store the image).

* Next, I dragged the image onto the Adobe Elements icon on my dock, which launched elements. I will probably be using elements instead of photoshop, and this was to be my first real exposure to the program.

* Then I then did an image->resize, which worked pretty much as expected, and since this was a screen capture and not an image from a digital camera I eschewed other processing, such as unsharp mask, etc.

* After that I finished the image processing by saving for web, which has the same interface as in photoshop.

* A quick ftp of the new image file to my isp and I was almost done!

* Finishing up, I created this blog entry, much as I would have for any other entry that also included an image.

All in all, effectively zero cost of switching, at least in terms of this simple task. In fact, it took longer to write this up than to do the actual image creation.

Posted by mike 11:59 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: MacStuff | Tags: | top of page

I've added a new category named MacStuff in anticipation of a flurry of Mac-related posts. I'm having a real blast getting to know OS X, but all is not perfect, and as I find answers to things that frustrated me, I'll try and share them here. Of course, that's not the real point of MacStuff; I'm excited because there's so much good stuff to share about the Mac!

We'll start off with a fun story of how I recreated the "Recent Tunes" section of my blog using Kung-Tunes. Until recently I had been using BlogAmp, which worked in conjunction with Winamp.

Well, that's the story, really. I downloaded, installed and configured kung-tunes. Along the way learned a bit about .dmg files, desktop clutter, and other such nonsense. After confirming that kung-tunes was working with iTunes and was properly ftp'ing the code snippets up to my server, I then edited my blog's movabletype templates, commenting out the old blogamp entry, and pasting in the slightly modified code from the kung-fu site. The modifications were very simple, related to the format of the displayed songs.

Quite simple really, and though not a big deal, I like this feature! Now, once I've re-ripped my cd collection, using tools that capture all relevant info, the listings will become much more useful. Seems only about 1/3 of my collection was done using proper technique (luckily I've only ripped about 1/3 of my total collection). The choice of tools, and whether to continue using CDEx on the PC or something else on the Mac is the subject of another post (I don't know the answer yet, but am presuming a suitable Mac program exists for this task).

Posted by mike 5:19 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: Blogging | MacStuff | Tags: | top of page

A new 15" G4 PowerBook plus an iPod equals not much time to blog tonight, but it is worth noting that almost 20 years after the Mac came out I'm finally making the switch.

As a unix user/admin for much of the past 20 years (though I mainly use windows and ssh over to my ux boxes these days), OS X is like coming home again (but without the very ugly Motif look from days gone by). OS X is quite functional and has very nice form.

I'm so excited about the number of programs such as NetNewsWire, Safari, etc., that I can finally experience for myself and not just through the reports of other obviously satisfied users. So, back to it! :-)

Posted by mike 11:23 PM | Comments/Permalink (1)
Categories: MacStuff | Personal | Tags: | top of page

Here's an interesting web site, Word Pirates, a grassroots effort to take back words whose original meaning have been shamelessly misappropriated by politicians and advertisers and other of their ilk.

Here's one example from the site:

For instance, the word "pirate" itself has been taken over by the Big Content companies. They mean "anyone who shares files." Real pirates murdered, raped and stole. They didn't share music, rightly or wrongly.

Someone who may have been me submitted the following:

Patriots love their country and work to defend the constitution. Evil-doers wearing the cloak of the flag do their best to dismantle the constitution under the guise of the Patriot Act.

I'm sure you can think of a few words that have had their original meaning twisted; here's your chance to offer up corrections!

Posted by mike 10:56 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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Antipixel made an observation about how he crops digital images much more often than he does film based photos. I tend to crop more since I've gone digital; I had ascribed it to my improving ability to see the "true" picture, but perhaps it just has more to do with the medium than anything else.

In any case, I remember one time when my daughter proclaimed, "hey, I don't have *that* picture!" ... yes, it was a tight crop of a much larger image that she did have a copy of.

Posted by mike 12:01 AM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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In recent years the word has been getting out that certain species of fish are being over-harvested and as such should be avoided by the dining and fish buying public.

In the words of the Steinhart Aquarium:

" Only from the sea do we still regularly capture our fare from nature. But two or three decades ago, we rapidly began to exceed the endowment income of this resource and are now consuming the precious capital. More than 70 percent of the world’s fish stocks are overfished, depleted, or worse—extinct—as a food resource."

Click on the image below for a wallet-sized, printable card (PDF format) that you can carry with you as an aid to making informed dining choices. There's also an in-depth article that surveys this complex topic, including a look at how "farm fish" aren't the panacea once hoped. The report also includes a detailed look at what kinds of fish are "good" to eat and which ones are "bad", complete with the reasons for each classification.

Posted by mike 10:09 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: Food Drink | General | Tags: | top of page

Funny thing is, when I stop and think about when and where I grew up, I must have heard Johnny Cash before even the Beatles! He is certainly one of the few musicians that I both recall from my childhood and whom I enjoy listening to even today.

R.I.P. Johnny Cash, 1932-2003

Posted by mike 11:01 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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I think this is a day every patriotic American holds sacred to some degree. A solemn day, recalling the events of two years ago and also a bit of a fearful day, wondering if there might be an anniversary attack. One might also consider the deeper implications of what happened that fateful day ...

Unlike Rummy, who apparently never met a constitution he liked, true American patriots understand that the reason the first amendment came first is that it is the cornerstone of a free society. If one cannot speak out and provide counsel when the ship of state is listing dangerously, then this is no longer the America I was born into in the middle of the last century, and the terrorists have already won. I reject that notion; I still believe in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

It is out of honor and respect for my forebears, including my uncle who lost his leg during WWII, in acknowledgement of all the trials and suffering their whole generation went through to protect us from true evil, that I find I must speak out against the threats to our country, despicably proclaimed to be undertaken for our own good.

Pay attention!

"Eternal vigilence is the price of liberty." --Wendell Phillips

Posted by mike 7:09 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: Personal | Politics | Tags: | top of page

[Washington] The surprise resignation of the forty-third President of the United States, George W. Bush, on the second anniversary of the terrorist attack on America, was hailed by chiefs of state throughout the world. Mr. Bush announced that after, "two years of bloodshed, economic devastation, and spreading fear in America and abroad," he saw no choice but to accept that, "I have held a title which I did not win, and for which I have proven unqualified."

Oh wait, someone must have been dreaming when they wrote the best speech the shrub never gave.

A couple more gems:

When I arrived, the last guy left me $4 trillion and said, "Be careful with all that cash in this neighborhood." Well, I have to level with you, America: it's all gone. The cupboard's bare and this year alone we blew half a trillion more dollars than we have in our bank account. Man, I can't believe I went through all that dough stone sober.

And what did we get for it? A Fatherland Security Department that's trying to read the labels on everyone's underpants. Think about it, all this Total Information Awareness KGB stuff: two years ago Americans were the victims - but my government has made Americans the suspects. I don't know about you, but this guy Ashcroft scares the bejeezus out of me.

Posted by mike 6:49 PM | Comments/Permalink (2)
Categories: Humor | Politics | Tags: | top of page

Organizations move slower than snails, but relentlessly like glaciers.

Jamie Dinkelacker, student of organizational behaviour

Posted by mike 12:56 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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But it's not necessarily coming from the obvious sources. Read this chilling article for an in-depth review of how the constitution is under continuous attack; all under the guise of "fighting terrorism".

To that end, it is absolutely crucial that America’s campaign to protect our security be overseen by an attorney general who can both stand up to terrorism and stand up for the Constitution.

Instead, the worst fears of constitutional and civil rights advocates raised after John Ashcroft was named as attorney general in December 2000 have come true.

Posted by mike 12:32 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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Don't you just hate it when something like this happens? (click image for details)

Posted by mike 10:09 AM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: General | Tags: | top of page

At first simply a story about a bunch of young folks who need to "get a life!", this feature article from the LA Weekly is actually an interesting read, revealing little known details about Disneyland and its history. And, it goes a bit deeper than that.

While not wanting to be judgemental, I do have to note that there is something bordering on obsession with respect to visiting the Magic Kingdom 300+ times a year, a topic which is discussed in the article. Not earth-shatteringly significant, but harmless in any case. Minimizing the almost religious nature of such dedication, one of the Disneyanas says about Disneyland: “[it's] a very nice place, a wonderful place to go, I enjoy myself while I’m here.”

Posted by mike 12:02 AM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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I recently found this collection of 2004 campaign slogans and just had to share:

Bush/Cheney '04: Putting the "con" in conservatism

Bush/Cheney '04: Apocalypse Now!

Bush/Cheney '04: Get used to it!

Bush/Cheney '04: Thanks for not paying attention.

Vote Bush in '04: "Because every vote counts - for me!"

Bush/Cheney '04: Four More Wars!

Bush/Cheney: Asses of Evil

Bush/Cheney '04: Don't Change Whores in Midstream

Bush/Cheney '04: Assimilate. Resistance is Futile.

Bush/Cheney '04: Because the truth just isn't good enough.

Bush/Cheney '04: Compassionate Colonialism

Bush/Cheney '04: Deja-voodoo all over again!

Bush/Cheney '04: Leave no billionaire behind

Bush/Cheney '04: Less CIA -- More CYA

Bush/Cheney '04: Lies and videotape but no sex!

Bush/Cheney '04: Making the world a better place, one country at a time.

Bush/Cheney '04: Or else.

Bush/Cheney '04: Over a billion Whoppers served.

Bush/Cheney '04: The economy's stupid!

Bush/Cheney '04: The last vote you'll ever have to cast.

Bush/Cheney '04: This time, elect us!

Bush/Cheney '04: We're Gooder!

Don't think. Vote Bush!

George W. Bush: A brainwave away from the presidency

George W. Bush: It takes a village idiot

George W. Bush: Leadership without a doubt

George W. Bush: The buck stops Over There

God Save the King!

Let them eat yellowcake! Vote Bush!

Peace & Prosperity Suck -- Big-Time

Vote Bush in '04: "I Has Incumbentory Advantitude"

Vote Bush in '04: "Because I'm the President, that's why!"

Vote Bush in '04: Because dictatorship is easier

Vote Bush in '04: It's a no-brainer!

Vote for Bush & You Get Dick!

Who would Jesus Bomb?

BU_ _SH_ _!

Posted by mike 8:08 PM | Comments/Permalink (1)
Categories: Humor | Politics | Tags: | top of page

18 years ago, I attended a fine set of concerts by the Grateful Dead at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison Colorado. I was reminded of those shows by a nice writeup of the weekend's events detailed in this google groups archive.

As it turns out, most members of the freshman class entering college this fall were born in 1985. Beloit College has published their annual report which describes the mindset of those now approaching adulthood.

Yes, what a long, strange trip it's been!

Posted by mike 12:26 AM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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I stumbled across two interviews with Jerry. The first one is unattributed and undated, while the second one is apparently from guitar.com and was done in early 1985.

Jerry Garcia Interviews

Posted by mike 10:13 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: Jerry | Music | Tags: | top of page

In what may become an annual tradition, we spent our second Labor Day weekend up at the Seafoam Lodge on the Mendocino coast. As noted last year, Seafoam is a great place to spend a relaxing weekend. And, just in case you missed them the first time, here's a link to the photos we took last year.

Finally, because I like posting images as part of this blog, here are a couple of photos from this year, first showing the lodge and then the sunset as seen from our room:

Posted by mike 12:04 AM | Comments/Permalink (0)
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From esoterically.net comes an updated version of an old quote:

"Remember, if your neighbor is out of work, it's a recession. If you're out of work, it's a depression. When George Bush is out of work, it's a recovery.'' U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

Posted by mike 11:28 PM | Comments/Permalink (0)
Categories: Politics | Quotes | Tags: | top of page