Menu

October 2006

Ruby on Rails Innovated on Macs

Didn’t know this, but the company 37signals is credited with creating the Ruby on Rails framework. 37signals also makes the awesome web apps, Basecamp, Campfire, Backpack, Writeboard, and Ta-Da Lists. If you haven’t seen these apps, be sure to check them out to see what web-based apps could and should be.

Back to the point though, the main guys of 37signals used Macs to create Ruby on Rails (which is used in the 37signals apps). Watch the video of their story…

We’re Due…

You know that saying that Hawaii was due for a big earthquake? I don’t like it. Just because there hasn’t been a big earthquake for some time, then it means that we’re due for one? I guess from a probability and statistical standpoint there’s some truth to that, but it seems so gloomy, just waiting for the worst to happen. Does this also mean that since we just had a big one, we don’t have to worry about another earthquake for a long time?

On the topic of gloomy outlooks and being due, I always wondered about a sign posted at the entry way to work. It essentially says that ## number of days has passed since the last fatality. What are you supposed to get from that? If the number of days is high, does that mean that we’re due for a fatality? How morbid. If the count is low, does that mean that people can go out there and be reckless since the “odds” are in their favor?

Chicanery on Dancing with the Stars

,

I just got through praising ABC for their honest approach dealing with the departure of Sara Evans, but on Week 7’s results show, the trickery showed itself. Entertaining Jerry Springer and baldy Joey Lawrence were in the bottom two, but neither were eliminated. Instead, both were allowed to continue on since Sara had already eliminated herself and partner Tony Dovolani. Judges scores and fan votes from this week will be carried over to next week.

So now Jerry needs to learn two dances in one week. Please, oh please, Springer fans, let Jerry ride off in the sunset. A final four of Joey, Monique, Mario, and Emmitt sounds about right.

Technorati Tags: ,

Honesty on Dancing with the Stars

,

As rumored, Sara Evans has left Dancing with the Stars amid her pending divorce. I do like the way ABC is handling the situation – with honesty. No coverups, no gimmicks, just the plain truth. There was no sensationalization of the event, just a candid interview with Sara, her dance partner, and well wishes from the other contestants.

Not sure what this does with the show’s schedule since one less week is needed with one less dancer.

And speaking of Dancing with the Stars, it’s time for Jerry Springer to go. He just can’t compete physically with the others. He even admitted as much during his post dance interview. Please, please let him go. Monique Coleman continues to improve, and she does some real tough moves. But hasn’t she learned that you can’t fool the judges by not doing the proper dance? I don’t know what fan base she has so she’s vulnerable. Mario Lopez continues to wow everyone, especially scoring well as the first dancer. Usually the first dancer is at a scoring disadvantage. But has his chummy relationship with Eva Longoria doomed him? Too much beauty together brings out the haters. Liked the opening of Joey Lawrence’s number. Very dramatic with the lighting. He still can’t beat Mario though. Emmitt Smith is making too many mistakes but is surviving off of his infectious groove. He needs to stop working on other endeavors, focus on dancing for a few weeks, and bring it like the Drew Crew.

Technorati Tags: ,

What’s with KHON2’s New Site?

What’s with KHON2’s new web site? I don’t go there often, but it’s very different from the last time I visited. I don’t like it.


Doesn’t work well in Safari. The search box disappears on me. The big blue Breaking News section is not clickable/linked so it’s a waste of time. That middle column that has the Weather info has nothing else in it (what a waste of space!). Oh wait, on other pages, this white space is filled with Google Ads. Not sure how I feel about Google Ads on a news station web site. Kust doesn’t feel right and what would Google use as keywords to target the ads? I can understand the Dr. Phil and Oprah ads since these shows air on KHON.

Never did like scrolling banners on web sites. Just seems strange. Okay on TV where I sit there and simply watch a TV without interacting with it. But on a computer where I use a mouse and keyboard, it seems strange to sit back and watch the scrolling banner when my learned instincts with web sites is to click on something.

Only good thing I can see is the addition of their own video footage on the site.

Steve Jobs About the iPod

A Newsweek interview with Steve Jobs and the development of the iPod. Very straightforward and easy to understand. Steve gets it and that’s one of the reasons Apple can produce insanely great products.

How the design of the iPod came about:

When you first start off trying to solve a problem, the first solutions you come up with are very complex, and most people stop there. But if you keep going, and live with the problem and peel more layers of the onion off, you can oftentimes arrive at some very elegant and simple solutions. Most people just don’t put in the time or energy to get there. We believe that customers are smart, and want objects which are well thought through.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Rumblings and Ruminations…

Being without power and access to the Net or television during the quake and ensuing blackout made me think a bit. Life wasn’t that bad without these usual resources. Yeah, it made for a slower day but listening to the radio for the latest made up for it. And although the lack of power was an inconvenience, life went on as peaceful as can be. Maybe watching the news and connecting to the Net for the latest wasn’t needed. Lots more time to do other stuff. And blogging… sure takes up time, so the rumblings made me ruminate about stop blogging. Why use up time blogging when there’s lots more to focus on in life?

Who Am I Kidding?

,

Ah heck, who am I kidding? Stop blogging?! Ha! What a crock that is. So here’s my earthquake and blackout story…

Quake woke me up. Thought it was all over and went to watch TV. Saw 5 seconds of some football game then all the stations went out. A few seconds later, the power went and didn’t return until after midnight.

For lunch, family came over (and ignored all the warning to stay off the roads). Managed to find an open Subway and got sodas and chips from Safeway. During a power outage, all diets go out the window and non-perisable junk food is the way to go. Nacho cheese, Twinkies, chips, and other goodies won’t spoil so are ideal.

For entertainment, a bucketful of Potato Heads does the trick. No electricity needed!

Around 4:30pm, it was already getting dark. We headed to the in-laws who had a gas stove and was cooking up dinner for others in their neighborhood. Had hot rice, BBQ ribs and chicken, all by candlelight.


Here are some shots of the gloomy view.

Went home around 9pm and saw lights on the roads and in homes. But as we drove up our street, the street lights weren’t on. The block below had power, but not further up. Here’s a shot from our yard.

Had to use our emergency kit of a portable radio, candles, and flashlight to make it through the night.

Power went on sometime around midnight. Food in our refrigerator was there about 17 hours without power. Still good (I hope)!

Technorati Tags: ,

«‹ 2 3 4 5›»