tips, tricks and wizards
Lots to say and not a lot of time, so here goes.
First, the recent image from my textamerica moblog that you see to the right is now hosted on my web server. I got tired of the slow response time from textamerica and wrote a php script that grabs the image from their server and moves it to mine. I have nothing against textamerica. I give them all the credit in the world for providing a free site like they do. I just think this script will help me while reducing load on their servers. I'll post instructions in a couple of weeks after I get permission from them. For now, email me if you want details.
Next, I'm working on a simple wizard that generates the php or asp needed to create a slideshow of images using only one file (plus the images).
Finally, I've updated my pseudo-stream tutorial and plan on devoting a section of this site to sharing tips and tricks.
Approved
I posted a message on the textamerica forums last night asking for permission to use the script I created to retrieve my most recent moblog image. To say that I was thrilled with their response is an understatement. I was actually nervous that they would be upset and cancel my account.
Here it is:
"I don't know what else to say! That's awesome. I know our 'solution' was quickly developed and never revisited. It will work much better once our server upgrades are in place, but what you have done is fantastic. I can't think of a better example of how we would love to see people 'hack' our system! :-)"
With that, I will begin working on a tutorial.
call of duty
Just stumbled across this interview with Steve Jobs. Not much new here, but if you still haven't gotten excited about iTunes, then this is a must read.
On a related note, I bought my first audio book with iTunes this weekend. I purchased the unabridged reading of 21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com. It's hilarious, well written and well read by the author.
Other than that, I've been going out of my mind trying to get some papers done to finish up the semester and playing Call of Duty to "help me focus."
please hold
I'm still working to get papers done so I can put this semester behind me. Until then, a lot is on hold.
ta
Textamerica has changed their look and is changing servers. Looks like there are some problems with my moblog. The word on the street is that all will be fine after their move is complete.
personal robot
I hope to live long enough to have my own personal robot.
the big meetup
Tonight I finally met Meghan (irish-girl) and Jeremy (Kingdom of Squirrels). This was the first time I've met another blogger "offline", not to mention TWO of them at once! They were both as funny, interesting and in love as I imagined they would be.
It all happened because Meghan flattered me with a request for one of my photos. I'm still coming to terms with the fact that someone else will look at one of my photographs on a daily basis.
The Online NES Emulator
Warning: Sounds may disrupt your co-workers roommates.
i am chris elliott
I posted my digital shots from my Florida trip. These are some of the last shots taken with my Olympus C-3000. I know, I need to start posting shots taken with my new Digital Rebel.
Nothing much else to report at the moment. However, my Windows XP Pro machine crashed for the first time ever tonight. I tried to copy a bunch of my bookmarks from the favorites menu and paste them into Word to see what would happen, hoping I'd get a list of links to attach to a report. Not so lucky. My system immediately shut down as if ctrl+v was a secret power down command.
iTrip
I'm in need of an iTrip for my 3G iPod. If anyone knows where I can get one in the Minneapolis area, email me at itrip at neongreen dot com.
I found one and it's on "super top secret hold" for me. I'll be getting it after work.
mad props
I LOVE the new iTrip. I'm totally surprised with how well it works. I never expected quality anywhere near that of a cd and it's actually pretty darn close. I think it may be my favorite purchase of the month!
tooth king
I went to the dentist today for the first time in three years. No cavities! Wait, there's bad news. The pain I felt while eating last week was a tooth being broken. Ouch. I have to get a crown in a couple weeks.
snowflake
If you have kids, know kids or are a kid, check this out:
Norad Tracks Santa.
If you are so excited that you can't sleep tonight, try making your own snowflake.
Merry Christmas.
archives!
If you end up reading everything on this page you'll notice that I put the archives back at the bottom. Comments are available in the archives now too.
Previously I'd have to create a new folder and page from scratch each month. Thanks to the magic of PHP and some free time the last two nights it's now automated. Yeah!
snoopedes
My future sister in-law (FSI) spent most of this year in Morocco. During that time my brother visited twice and came back with many incredible photos. When the FSI came back she had some amazing photos as well. It seemed that everything about Morocco was made to be photographed.
For some reason, there is one photo that stood out to me. I saw it for the first time over 2 months ago and I think of it every day.
Apparently, most taxi cabs are older model Mercedes and it's common to place a compact disc under the Mercedes emblem. I can't get this image out of my mind.
cyberwar
This PBS special on cyber-warfare is one of the most frightening things I've seen. Perhaps the production added to the fear factor, but it's scary nonetheless. I might have to sleep with the lights on tonight.
leo in la
Leo Laporte mentioned on TechTV last week that he was going to be doing a radio show in Los Angeles. I've discovered it at KFI AM 640. You can listen from 12-3pm LA time.
In unrelated news, I'm almost done with my research paper for school. I am getting excited.
I've also been frequenting the SitePoint forums. It's a great place to help and be helped.
japanese blowtorch
Last night I had my first dream about a website...sort of. I dreamed that I read a post on a blog that linked to a Japanese tv commercial for some sort of window de-icer that involved a blowtorch.
I remember thinking that the commercial looked just like the scene in Jeremy's Arctic movie where the snow plow is coming toward the camera...except there was a Japanese man standing in the street wearing a fireproof suit and holding a blowtorch.
I think I need to slow down on the frantic web surfing before I go to bed.
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