Linked Out, thank you (Thing #10)

Sorry if I'm paranoid, but social networking sites concern me.

I am almost certain I would have done something incredibly stupid if Facebook or anything similar was around when I was in junior high / high school.

On Podcasts (Thing #9)

Podcasts are an interesting extension to RSS ... another example of how open formats can evolve to fit the needs of a changing community (like a community that suddenly is inundated by iPods).

As a geek, it's interesting to note the different methods of "adding" a podcast - iTunes and MY! users both register their selections through service providers. Zune makes it less obvious what is being done, as it apparently registers it's own protocol (zune://).

But in all the methods above, ultimately you're relying on RSS (a type of XML) for the delivery of the playlist.

I did find a podcast of a radio program I like, and frequently recommend - "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!", a game show based on current events, featuring a panel of three comedians. Mo Rocca, Roy Blount Jr., Paula Poundstone are a few of my personal favorite regular guests. The show is on locally on KNOW at 2 pm on Sundays, a time that almost guarantees I'll miss it if I'm not driving ... now I have another option!

On Web 2.0 Technology (Thing #7)

No one can deny that there is a certain "cool factor" to "Web 2.0". Long gone are the days when the internet was only for University Geeks and European Nuclear Physicists!

I remember the cool factor of Java Applets - incredibly cool at first, but as that wore off, people became less and less impressed with waiting 30-60 seconds with a frozen system while the Java applet loaded. And while Sun did first improve, and then eliminate the problem in later releases, too little, too late! Shockwave Flash is on the scene!

Next thing you know, every web site starts with a "jump" page, that serves no purpose but to show off the design skills (or lack thereof) of the site's developers. Okay, I guess it also helped sell Flash, but maybe I'm confusing chicken and egg.

But in my mind, the "Web 2.0" lineage is not from Java or Flash, but like so many things on the web, descends directly from the openness and usability of HTTP, HTML, and it's step-child, XML.

HTTP was made to be an extensible protocol - it's been extended by adding a secure layer (SSL), allowing PUT and DELETE operations (WebDAV, although originally part of HTTP), fully supports proxying (helpful for crossing networks), and essential to SOA / WebServices.

HTML made no attempt to hide itself behind proprietary code and end-user license agreements. It was made open to all, and even attempted to be somewhat understandable to the novice user. A standards body (the W3C) was even formed to allow global participation in developing future standards.

XML takes HTML (or possibly SGML) one more step, and allow developers to develop their own set of tags, and even provide facilities for validating those tags. XML became a hot topic several years before it truly started showing it's potential, but when it did ... look out!

So how do these boring protocols and markup languages relate to the coolness of "Web 2.0"? Because in my mind, the "Coolest" part of "Web 2.0" is the interaction between systems, and the collaboration between people that can develop as a result. Proprietary formats, license requirements for development, put limits on developers AND end users. Both Java and Flash started their life as proprietary formats, each hoping to dominate the "cool thing" market. "Web 2.0" did not develop in the vacuum of an R&D facility, but evolved in the public square.

And the evolution continues! Developers throw their gadgets into the ring; people use the gadgets or they don't; Some people will tell the developer their gadget needs "this", and the developer will agree and add it (or they won't, and maybe someone else will branch it!). People will learn about security risks the hard way (I predict cross-site scripting will lead either to people abandoning embedding video from YouTube and the like, or some new method of authenticating content being developed).

Cool factor gives it it's appeal to the masses, but it's open collaboration that truly has driven "Web 2.0" (2.5, 3.0 ...)

Dotting the "i"s, part one (Things #5 and #6)

Earlier this year, my employer gave the staff an assignment to discover "Web 2.0". Each week, a number of "Web 2.0 Things" were given for us to try out. While I did try out many of the things, there are a few I guess I've left behind.

Thing #5 and #6 both focused on using a specific photo sharing web site, owned by a search engine company that I refuse to give any support or business to, due to their poorly chosen name. I don't mention that name primarily because I don't want to give them any advertising.

The specific reason I avoid this company is in it's name. I was raised where saying "gosh" and "jeeze" was considered offensive, and while I generally do not take offense at words uttered in my presence (I fall victim to "sailor tongue" myself), it doesn't mean I have to approve of a business that uses an old blasphemy in it's name.

The fact that it's a common blasphemy, and one most people don't recognize only makes it more insidious to me.

I'm a goofball, I know. But I have the right to chose where I give my business.

The List - a special Earth Day edition

Over a week ago, I ordered a set of bread pans from King Arthur Flour. Like so many online retailers, they wanted my e-mail address in order to do business with them. I specifically unchecked the little box that said "I want to receive special announcements and specials".

The e-mail confirming my order was accompanied by a second e-mail: spam. I sent an e-mail to their customer service, requesting that they remove me from the list. The next day, more spam from King Arthur. This is actual spam, by the way, not merely order confirmation, or shipping information. This is completely unrelated "come buy more stuff" e-mails, which I explicitly (by un-checking a checkbox that is checked by default) told them I did not want.

The $8 shipping also said it would take five days. Today, day nine, the pans arrived. In a big box.

Happy Earth Day!

Today just so happens to be Earth Day. I might have actually forgotten, but Kitty went to Valley Natural Foods this morning, and was nearly trampled by an unruly mob waiting for free Earth Day totes (interestingly, the "tramplers" didn't stay to shop in our nice little co-op).

Then this afternoon, I get a big box from a certain retailer.

As you can see, it took not only a huge box, but an awful lot of paper to make sure that my metal bread pans arrived safe and sound. Especially appropriate for Earth Day!

That's it. KAF, you just made The List!!!

... and I need to pound the pavement, and find a local bakery supply store!

On Google Earth (Thing #14)

This week, we're also looking at Google Earth, and app I've played with from time-to-time (mostly depending on how well their current software works with linux). It's a pretty cool app, and is great eye candy.

The question I always struggle with when it comes to some of these tools is just how much of myself do I want to make available online? It's cool to zoom to my house, and I've navigated my way to work, to friends, and to vacation spots using Google Earth, but I don't know if I want to make any of that information available to the general public. For example, I'd

I did decide that despite my privacy concerns, I could share photos and the location of one of my favorite fishing trips. If you scroll towards the bottom left of the album, there is a link to view the photos using either Google Maps or Google Earth (or you can use this direct link).

On RSS Feeds (Thing #11)

It's Alive!!!

I had abandoned RSS for dead maybe about five or six years ago, and now it's back!

I had first played with RSS (or "RDF", as it's cousin was once known) using a java application server library called "Jetspeed", and later built my own RSS reader in PHP. At the time, it seemed like such a good way to share information that I thought we should jump on board. And since the home page stories were dynamically generated, it was relatively easy at first to create an RSS (actually RDF) feed for the city's home page stories.

Back then, I envisioned a time when all government sites provided RSS feeds. I even bought the domain "govchannels.org", thinking users could enter their zip code, and be provided the latest news from all their government agencies. But of course, it was too early - there were limited tools for the consumer, so there was little push for governments to provide RSS with their web sites.

What a difference a few years make!

Now, I have a home page that shows about eight different feeds - NBA, NFL, weather, slashdot, BBC News, etc. Of the feeds I subscribe to (ignoring the owner of the BBC), only one feed actually comes from a government site - US-CERT for security updates. There's still virtually nothing from my local government.

The city's RSS feed, by the way, was never really used, and ultimately abandoned when they changed the way home page stories were generated.

Ultimately, I believe RSS was given new life by the iPod, and their choice to use an extended form of RSS for podcasting. But it's still nothing like what I envisioned. It's a lot more fun.

YouTube (Thing #8)

As part of the "Web2.0" initiative, we've been asked to look at YouTube, and find a favorite video. I have been using YouTube for quite some time for all kinds of things - finding concert videos for favorite musicians, finding old Muppet Show routines, as well as other old T.V. shows.

But I think for my favorite, I have to go with the Hammer Juggler. While I initially was e-mailed this video, I was able to find it on YouTube, and thus I could send it to others without the bandwidth overhead. Each time I watch this video, I try to see if I can find any scars on this guy's face from previous practice sessions. Do not attempt at home.

One of the interesting things about YouTube is that it seemed to prompt the whole online "video on demand" concept that lead to studios releasing their own videos, and subsequently, the writer's strike. While it would be unfair to blame the writer's strike directly on YouTube, you can see how these events fall into sequence. In the future, you may see more creativity from common citizens using YouTube, and networks left to unscripted entertainment, like news, true crime and sports.

On the embedded player: I see the embedded player for YouTube turn up quite a few places. It's a cool little widget, but any secured web browser would not allow it to run, since it uses the same technique as a common cross-site scripting attack. A cool widget is not worth the security risk.

A favorite pic (Thing #5)

At my workplace, they've asked the entire technology group to look at "web 2.0", and try some of the features that are being built into web sites and web browsers. This week's lesson was to find a favorite pic.

After looking at my favorite spot for photos - Wikimedia Commons - I decided to choose one of the ones I took instead. I was just too overwhelmed with great pics!

The picture above is of a hidden lake north of Bemidjigamog (or just "Bemidji") in the State Park. There was a trail that lead from the campground through a "bog walk" - a boardwalk allowing visitors to walk into the bog without destroying it. Through the bog, and through thick woods, you come out at this small hidden lake - perfectly quiet and tranquil.

Pitcher Plants in the bog!

Attend the Tale ...

For my birthday this year, Kitty purchased tickets to the Broadway revival of "Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street". As a teenager, I stumbled upon the very end of Sweeney Todd on PBS (probably waiting for Doctor Who to come on), and thought "That looked really interesting". I soon rented the video from that performance, and became a big fan.

The week prior to seeing the show, I heard a story on MPR that this revival used a minimal set, and had a minimal cast, with the actors also playing instruments (no orchestra!). This did worry me a bit, knowing that there is one version of the musical that is not acted out, but merely sung while standing in place.

The production was incredibly brave, with the actors constantly acting their part, playing their instruments or moving set pieces. The music was wonderful, and amazing to watch the actors deftly handle their increased musical responsibilities. But sometimes the additional work of the actors became a distraction from the story itself; other times, the instruments and staging interfered with natural, direct interaction between the characters, leaving the audience wondering who is supposed to be a talking with who.

Also, by having the complete cast on stage at all times, it was not always clear when a scene transitioned from place to place, or even who was actually in the scene. Especially the opening scene in Act II, it's hard to tell that the pie shop is now crowded, as it is filled with as many people as before.

Sadly, one of the most important "characters" was missing from this production - Sweeney's barber chair. This prop was important enough that you can hear it in use on the Original Broadway Cast recording. I think some of the black comedy was lost without the chair. Not only did it change the timing with the way each murder was symbolically staged, but I think the quick exit of the body in the original staging made it easier to laugh at the situation. Maybe it's not as polite to laugh at a murder victim if they're still in the room (and playing an instrument).

That being said, I fully understand how the chair would be a logistical nightmare for a ten-person ensemble.

Again, it was a very brave production, and incredibly well performed by the cast. I would gladly see it again if it were to come back through town.

Now, if only they'd do "A Little Night Music" ...

Redux!

Seems kinda familiar, huh?

I think as of last night, I lost all interest in Football until late August. Good luck getting your ring, Randy - but I can't stand to watch another Gnats football game.

Football's over, Basketball may as well be over ... must be time for fishing again!

Maybe next season

The week after my last post, Vikings running back "All Day" Peterson drew the national spotlight back on the Vikings following a record-setting day. Suddenly, the mediocre Vikings are looking at a potential play-off spot ... I decided I better not jinx anything with another post!

But we struggled with Oakland! We only beat the Chargers because they paid no heed to our "unstoppable" running back ... but then, the next three games we struggled to do anything on offense - our one-trick pony had met it's match. We barely beat a struggling Chicago team (what a great day for Urlacher, though!), and that was pretty much all she wrote for any post season hopes.

Two things kill us - penalties on the defense, and a lack of coordination on the offense. While I would have preferred starting the season with a veteran QB, Jackson is showing signs of improvement - at this stage, I think it would be a huge mistake to back away from Jackson. He's there, he's capable - let's start building a solid offense around him. Wade and Ferguson seem pretty solid. Allison might not be bad, but why is he in number 84?!? That number is WAY to big for him! And speaking of numbers, what happened to #40 this year? I know Childress has his own game plans on offense, but hey - Kleinsasser gets yards and points! Granted, he's a good blocker, especially when running the ball, but he needs to have the ball in his hands more often.

Lastly, there were a lot of comments from the announcers about Jackson "telegraphing the ball". I saw that too - but can that be fully blamed on Jackson, or the less-than-accurate receiving staff? You can read where he's looking - but I swear you can read his eyes, too: "Are you going to catch this damn ball, or make me look foolish again?!?".

Missing Professional Football in Minnesota

Inviting Trouble

Last Saturday, Kitty & I went to the Humane Society to look at a cockatiel they had listed on their web site. He was very reserved and quiet (he'd only been at the shelter one day). Behind us, however, was a very social, very noisy young cockatiel ... and right now he's in my living room going through his different sound effects and whistles.

Meet "Phready McLovin". (I just call him "bud", like all small animals).

Harry Plopper?

Finally made it to The Simpsons Movie. Very, very funny - and I never saw the end coming! But what happened to Spider-Pig, aka Harry Plopper? I JUST NEED CLOSURE!!!

Yeah, Lisa - me too!

Yeah, it was a bit colder near Tofte than in S.C. (which should explain the slippers and sweat pants), but it was a good day for pictures of feet all around. (see my sister's blog ...)

A sad day

Today, our cockatiel "Elvis" was euthanized. This loud, pesky, inquisitive, daring, fool-hardy member of our family finally engaged in one risky behavior too many, and all the warnings in the past finally landed home. It's funny how such a small creature can have such a big effect on our lives. It will be too quiet around here without him.

A matter of perspective

Just over a week ago, I totaled my car. I was driving though an intersection when someone ran a red light making a right turn, putting them directly in my path. That would have been no problem for me to avoid, but as soon as they were in my path, they hit their brakes and came to a complete stop. Part of their bumper cracked & broke off, and the whole front end of my car was smashed in (as well as both air bags going off). The other driver was a foreign adult, and told both the police officer and my insurance agent that they did not know you had to stop on red when making a right turn.

I was relieved to find that my insurance would not hold the accident against me, however, the car now totaled has one major problem: it's owned by a bank. How much of it is owned by the bank versus myself is an interesting question, because it depends on whether the car is running or not. Long and short of it is, since the bank is on the title, they get to keep however much of the money they so choose. All of it, of course.

So, the accident's not my fault, my car's totaled ... and I'm just out a vehicle with no compensation. The bank, which I am choosing not to name, gets several extra thousands of dollars. Their consolation to me is that they would give me another auto loan. Ha!

I'll never trust another bank again. In fact, you know their job is to make every cent they possibly can ... and if that means taking it from you, they can and will. And then they'll ask to bleed you some more, and too often, we're desperate to let them do it! I told Kitty if we take out another auto loan, that car should sit safely in the garage until it's paid off!

But there's good news. From the accident, I jammed my thumb pretty good, but otherwise no ill effects. Our truck, which had been failing to start during the cold snap, started up immediately when I got home after the accident, and has been running fine since. We now have no car loans, and our insurance has significantly dropped, which will make it a lot easier to save up for a replacement vehicle. Also, because I've been in the habit of taking the bus to work, the loss of a vehicle is not nearly as insurmountable as it would be for many. Unfortunately, "public" transportation in the suburbs requires driving to meet the bus, but I've been able to work around Met Council's shortcomings, thanks to the help of my family & a flexible schedule.

Some people struggle through life every day. My life is generally pretty easy, with the occasional WHOMP!!! that can momentarily make things seem hopeless. It's just a matter of keeping that clear perspective ...

Living Christ - MLK

One of the most impressive things about MLK to me was how in his public life, he lived Christ. To return violence with violence is the norm, and certainly feels a natural reaction. Throughout the history of Man, the oppressed stand up and fight back with violence, and that violence is eventually repaid. But Christ shows us a different way - a way that very few public leaders seem to understand. It is a shame that men who live Christ seem to come to such a violent end (Ghandi is another example, although a Buddhist, certainly followed from Christ's example). Perhaps that is just the way of this broken world. MLK reminds us with his life, and his example, the importance of following Christ, no matter what this world may do to us.

Oh yeah, I have a blog!

Actually, it's not that I forgot it was here ... it's just ... well, many excuses why I haven't posted a blog since May 2005 ....

I actually told myself that I'd start blogging again with the new year. Not quite two weeks behind schedule, I guess. So many things to talk about, I've started many blogs in the 20 months since my last post. But each time, I've later "abandoned my post" as it were.

NOT THIS TIME!!!