Archives for: October 2006
Computer maintenance ergonomics
Apple's industrial design has always impressed me. A few years ago, probably in 1997 or so, when I was fiddling around with a PPC desktop Mac, I was stunned at the way they'd designed the case so that mounting backets were balanced and would swivel;… more »
Remote Desktop on the Mac
Having used VNC extensively at work in the past, we've mostly migrated to using Microsoft's Remote Desktop where possible due to better performance and a far more reliable screen refresh. There's also the bit that all versions of Windows from 2000… more »
It's not "new age", but what is it?
Over the last number of years, a new stylistic movement of music has come of age. It's rock influenced, but not rock. It tends towards being instrumental, but not exclusively. It has aspects of worldbeat, but it's not part of that either. It's sometimes… more »
A car programme for those who don't like car programmes
When I lived in the UK, "Top Gear" was a very traditional motoring show. They reviewed new cars, discussed their mechanical systems, looked at motorsports, and ended up being extremely boring. Take, for example, this review of the Sierra Cosworth from… more »
Tauren Plushie
For a homemade toy, this tauren shammy plushie is quite amazing. I've not been into stuffed animals for years and even I want one! more »
Work-space
I don't really have much to add to this entry by "Rands" except "Yup" to all points raised. If you work with computers for a living, go read. more »
The web is forever... (kinda)
A few years ago -- 2003 to be precise -- I wrote up an article on ripping DRM'd CDs to MP3 and stuck it on my website. I updated it a bit last year and then forgot about it. Today, the feedback mechanism on the site produced this:
Just wanted to say… more »
Referrer searches
The Nimblebrain blog logs referrer details, including the search string used to get here. Usually they're pretty mundane ("nimblebrain", "ritchie blog") but sometimes they're just odd. Some examples, in no particular order or importance:
alternative… more »
The birth of the iPod
Leander Kahney over at Wired News has put up a great article on the development of the iPod. What stood out at me is how much of the original design was licensed or purchased from third parties. This isn't a slam on Apple; I'm always impressed when… more »
The Cognoscenti Attack
Having recently moved to the Macintosh from a long sojurn on Windows after the Amiga imploded, I've been following Mac-related weblogs. Generally I find personal computer blogs a good way of tracking down tip and tricks to make the systems more… more »
Odd disclaimers
While looking at upcoming game releases on the Future Shop website, I took a look at "Alan Wake" and happened to notice the disclaimer at the bottom. It reads:
*Please Note: System Requirements Not Available. Future Shop is not liable for soiled… more »
Another Need For Speed
Oh, look, another version of Need For Speed. Prettier graphics for sure, but I wonder if they've made the multi-player part of it worthwhile yet.
I doubt it. more »
Album cover wars
This decidedly untame animation pits record album covers against each other. Sounds wierd? Well, yes, but it's quite funny. Enjoy a new internet fad in the making! more »
Moisture Farmers on Tatooine
Own up; you thought exactly the same when you read that news story too. more »
Extended Warranties
I don't really have an awful lot to add to the Washington Post commentary on extended warranties, other than highlighting the interesting sidenote that they're not always offered by the point-of-sale but by a third party.
Personal experience is that if… more »
Entertaining concert riders
The Smoking Gun, repository of bizarre documentation and mugshots, has a rather amusing concert rider from Iggy And The Stooges. I'd hate to have received it.
Concert riders are notorious for having idiosyncratic, if not downright bizarre,… more »
Yukon political pass-the-parcel
This one completely passed me by until just now. Up in the Yukon territorial politics are incredibly fluid with sitting MPs changing party affiliations seemingly at a moment's notice. The CBC backgrounder makes for a fascinating read, particularly when… more »
Contemporary hidden rooms
I am in severe envy. Do I need a hidden room in my house? Absolutely not. Would I love one? Oh, yeah... more »
The strange story of Gizmondo
Wired Online has an excellent article on the very strange and circuitous rise and fall of the Gizmondo handheld. Fascinating reading. more »
Recovering from a bad demo
One of the things that stands out about Steve Jobs' ability to sell his product is his ability to recover well when things screw up during a demo. The link above is to a compilation of keynote screwups where Job's ability to roll with the flow is made… more »
