Steel White Table

I wrote a timer countdown program 4-5 years ago for Phillip. I recently remembered it because gHacks posted about a tiny timer program.

My Timer program is self-explanatory. I don’t think I’ve ever used it. I doubt Phillip even used it.

I have to update the email address in its About screen.

Downloads:
- Zipped up version of Timer (292k).
- Non-zipped up version of Timer; just the executable (581k).

Some comments about the last batch of movies I saw: Once, a so-called musical that feels more like a documentary; Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, great acting and great direction; Eastern Promises, perhaps David Cronenberg’s best film; Iron Man, the most entertaining comic book super hero movie I’ve seen for a long time; 28 Weeks Later, a zombie movie; and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, proof that I’ll watch just about anything.

Once — A unique film about a singer-songerwriter in Dubln who works at his dad’s vacuum repair shop and spends the rest of his time busking on a street corner with his guitar. He eventually meets a girl and tries to make more of his music, and that’s pretty much the whole story. The film has been described as a musical because whenever the guy sings a song, we hear the whole thing. If you like the music, the full songs will work for you. I’m not going to go out and buy the soundtrack, but I still got into everything about this movie because it looks and feels like a documentary with characters who seem like real people. The plot (if you want to call it that) doesn’t feel contrived. You meet these people, you like them and you want find out what happens to them. It’s a simple equation that works on a nice, quiet, genuine level. It’s not a visually spectacular movie, but it doesn’t need to be. Once — once it gets noticed — is likely to become a favourite of independent singer-songwriters everywhere. (May 3/08)
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I’m playing chess with a guy I work with, but I’m not a very good chess player. If anyone can help me beat him, I’ll send you a copy of my next album. Currently, here’s what the board looks like. I’m black. Can you suggest my next move (and tell me why it’s a good move)? I know this is cheating, but it might be a good way to learn some strategy too. (I suspect the guy I’m playing with is using a computer to help him make his moves. If I find out otherwise, I’ll have to delete this post out of shame.) Thanks.

If this goes anywhere, I’ll update the image — and change the date of this post (so the permalink is garbage) — after each move. If I can’t update the image while I’m at work, my opponent’s moves will be written in the comments.

My wife recently received an order from Victoria’s Secret. Her order came with a free catalog.

Thank you, thank you.

I started playing World of Warcraft in October, 2006. I have friends who’ve been playing since the game was released in November, 2004. I played it for a couple hours last night after taking a three month break, and I didn’t find the playing experience as fun as I once did, which prompted me to create this post while I have that kinda objective opinion about it in my head.
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I ordered a roof rack for my 2004 Toyota Matrix today. My parent’s canoe has been stored in my garage for five years, ever since they moved from a house to an apartment. I have never used the canoe, although I did canoe a lot in my youth - I loved it; but now that the kids are older, I’m feeling compelled to dust the canoe off and start using it.

The roof rack costs $195 (Canadian) plus tax at the dealer. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. although I priced them an other stores a couple months ago and I remember that price being competitive (despite being from a dealer).

The Minimalist’s Guide to Fighting (and Beating) Clutter Entropy:

My household could (should) put those tips to practice: they’re logical and easy. The one tip I like a lot is Designate a home for everything, and be fanatic: every item should have a storage place - bills, books, receipts, manuals… find a place in the house to store different types of crap and ensure the items are placed there.

I’m always looking for ideas on how to simplify and organize my life, although reading about the ideas and then implementing them takes the most discipline.

Breastfeeding Associated With Increased Intelligence, Study Suggests:

I was never breastfed (obvious, I know), but my kids were.

Someone posted a slightly amusing (and expected) comment about it on digg:

A stranger was seated next to a little 5th grade girl on the airplane when the stranger turned to her and said, ‘Let’s talk. I’ve heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.’

The little girl, who had just opened her book, closed it slowly and said to the stranger, ‘What would you like to talk about?’

Oh, I don’t know’, said the stranger. ‘How about nuclear power?’

‘OK’. she said. ‘That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first: ‘A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat grass, the same stuff. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, and a horse produces clumps of dried grass. Why do you suppose that is?’

The stranger thinks about it and says, ‘Hmmm, I have no idea.’

To which the little girl replies: ‘Do you really feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don’t know shit?

(Thanks to Chris)

I have an idea for a Firefox addon that I’m considering developing, despite having a few other projects on the go (eg. specialized ftp client for Steve, website for a client…). In any case, I’m creating this post as a repository of Firefox addon development bookmarks. You’ll be the first to know if I ever get around to developing it.

• Google results for firefox addon development.
• Building an Extension tutorial.
• Your First Firefox Extension
• Firefox Extension Development Tutorial
• Getting started with extension development
• Make Your Own Firefox Extensions

CBC’s Marketplace did a segment last year about What you should know before you call a geek in to fix your computer:

Since I’m the geek in the family, I tend to be called by family, friends, and friends of family and friends to diagnose and repair computer problems. Fellow technophiles know what I mean:

• How do I email my photos? And why are they so big? (Solution: Install Thunderbird and explain how digital photos are stored.)
• How do I open this document? (Solution: Tell person to set their default file type to Office 2003 or earlier, not the Office 2007 format (i.e. .docx))
• This window keeps on popping up when I’m on the internet. (Solution: Install Firefox and hide Internet Explorer)

I DO have a computer repair kit (for hardware and software problems), but I’m aware of my technical limitations; if there’s a problem I can’t figure out, I admit it and provide a recommendation.

I sometimes fix hardware problems. Trouble-shooting is most of the fun, but one has to know one’s limitations, although I’ve never taken a computer to a shop to be repaired. I’ll buy replacement hardware instead.

Related posts:
- Fixing God’s Computer
- Watch A Hard Drive Work
- Cooling A Computer With Oil
- There’s A Bee In My…
- Building A Computer
- How CPUs Work

Our washer died while I was in Newfoundland last week. Water was leaking from it. I had it repaired twice in the past three years, so I told my wife to buy a new one: I didn’t want to invest anymore money into the 15 year old machine that was on its last leg.

So what did she do? She bought a front-loading washer.

Front-loading washers have the reputation of requiring less water and energy to wash clothes, although they tend to be twice as expensive (at least in my neck of the woods). My only incentive for getting that kind was their good energy use; but even so, I wasn’t willing to pay twice as much as a top-loading washer. I also read that they’re less reliable than top-loading.

We’ve always been a top-loading washer family. The appearance of front-loading washers in the past five years appears to be a fad, yet they’ve always out-sold top-loading washers in Europe, according to Wikipedia. And you never see laundromats with top-loading machines, which must be an indication of the reliability of front-loading washers.

I read they also require a special kind of soap, which will probably cost twice as much as regular clothes washing soap. It requires soap that generates less bubbles, I think, I’ll just try using less soap.

The front-loading washer is being delivered to our house today. I know you’re all anxious for my opinion about it, so I’ll post my opinion after I use the washer a few times.

This took me aback: Computers go on sale in Cuba for the first time:

Computers haven’t been publicly available before now?! Silly communists.

I drove out to Cape Spear yesterday and saw a few small icebergs. It was freezing.

The original audio has been removed because it was nothing but wind distortion. I replaced it with some generic stormy wind sounds.