My girlfriend recently got herself a new laptop. This is a vast improvement over the Flintstone's era thing she was using. I've seen abacuses (abaci?) with more processing power than the computer she just got rid of. Fortunately for her, this new one actually runs software.
With that in mind, for her benefit and your own edification, today I will be describing (and linking) several programs I find particularly useful. Each should offer a nice little way to improve your computing experience. Now, I don't have Vista yet, so I don't know how these programs actually interact with that system (or even if it makes some of their functionality obsolete), but they all do fine for XP. If you can make your computer do these tricks without downloading anything additional, so much the better for you. If not, well here they are. Added bonus: they're all free.
Without further ado, the programs:
EULAlyzer
This one analyzes End User License Agreements, flagging any particularly alarming clauses. It beats trying to read through those things on your own, and it certainly beats not reading them at all. I'm putting it first, since some of the programs that follow might have EULAs that you might want to test it out on.
Adblocker
It does just what it claims to do, blocks ads. It even prevents banner ads and those irritating pop-up ads that expand on the webpage to get in your way. I'm pleased with it, if only for the reason that I haven't seen a dancing silhouette in a long time.
Autocopy
This firefox addon is pretty clever. It operates on the principle that the only conceivable reason you would select text on a webpage is so you can copy it. This cuts out the Ctrl-C aspect of the operation. Just highlight text in your browser and it's automatically copied to the clipboard. It's not all that dramatic, but it is a nice feature.
Panorama
Dave Click first showed me this program in 1997 and I've been using it ever since. It rotates your computer background through a set of images you select. You have control over just how often and in what order they change, among other options.
del.icio.us addon for Firefox
This is one of my favorite new addons. I mentioned del.icio.us once before. Well, this addon increases its usefulness dramatically.
For starters, del.icio.us is a means of storing and tagging links online. The tagging system is more versatile than the folder system and having it on the web means you can access your links from multiple computers. It also has a public/private option so you can share useful inks with other people and hide those you don't want them to know about.
This addon allows you to access your links through the firefox toolbar. It has completely replaced my bookmarks toolbar. The whole system permits me to manage far more bookmarks as well. It's currently tracking over 200 links and with the addon I have no problem getting quickly to the one I want. I also installed the addon in my profile at school, so now I have a synchronized list of bookmarks that's identical on all computers I use.
The addon, upon setup, will automatically import your current bookmarks if you like (they all start off set to private). So that part won't take any effort. However, if you're new to del.icio.us arranging your tags will take some time, but I promise it will be worth the hassle.
If nothing else, check out my collected links. You might find something useful or amusing.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Freezing Time
It is time for another entry. Actually it is time for bed, but fie on that. I shall instead stay up to compose something specifically for your entertainment. What better way to procrastinate than by addressing something that has already been procrastinated.
So, I’ll put off sleep in favor of putting something down in writing. Smart? No, not really. I have to be at school a good deal earlier than usual tomorrow for work. We’re setting up an exhibition for the Common First Year class of work done by previous Common First Year students so this particular batch can get a look at what they’re in for. Set the bar, establish expectations, also maybe give them something to look forward to. Some will see the display and be frustrated by it: “You expect me to be able to do that?” Others, those less inclined towards pessimism, will hopefully be more impressed: “I’ll be able to produce that?” It’s a subtle but important distinction.
So, yes, school has started. Last week was the first week of the new year. New classes, new teachers, a newly revised studio, some cool new people… It’s going to be a good year. It is also, as was the last, going to be a very full year. I have been preparing. Not unlike some small mammals and certain species of insect, I have been storing food for the coming winter. While the principle is the same, my process is somewhat more sophisticated than the smaller mammals and the insects. For example I am using a freezer, something most of them do not have access to.
By using my time to cook now and freezing some of the leftovers, I am essentially storing time for later use. Technically, yes, I’m storing the food, but symbolically that food represents time. Unlike the small mammals and the insects I do not expect a shortage of materials as the cold weather moves in, I expect an abundance of assignments, which will in turn eat into that other resource: time. My girlfriend was exceptionally good to me last year and in several instances substituted her time for mine, going so far as to package individual leftover meals for me to reheat at school. I appreciate this immensely, but at the same time, recognize that it is something of an imposition. So now, before the school season has quite ramped up (and it’s ramping up quickly), I am packaging some of my own time so I do not have to depend quite as much on hers.
So far I have managed to set aside shrimp creole, honey-mustard pork chops, mashed potatoes, and quite a quantity of tomato sauce (perhaps the most important, or at least prevalent, staple of my diet). This is all something of an experiment. I’ll be curious to learn the answers to the following questions: How much longer can I find the time to cook enough to put away? How much longer after that will it be before I find myself starting to rely upon the stored foods? How long then will those foods last? Perhaps most importantly: which of the foods that I choose to store will actually emerge from the freezing process in a palatable state? And yes, I will know they at least start that way. My cooking is not that daring, but it is effective and usually enjoyable.
Great, now I’m hungry. And tired. For now I’ll focus on addressing the tired, and procrastinate the hungry until tomorrow morning. Here's hoping my winter-storage efforts mean I don't have to trade food for sleep later in the year.
So, I’ll put off sleep in favor of putting something down in writing. Smart? No, not really. I have to be at school a good deal earlier than usual tomorrow for work. We’re setting up an exhibition for the Common First Year class of work done by previous Common First Year students so this particular batch can get a look at what they’re in for. Set the bar, establish expectations, also maybe give them something to look forward to. Some will see the display and be frustrated by it: “You expect me to be able to do that?” Others, those less inclined towards pessimism, will hopefully be more impressed: “I’ll be able to produce that?” It’s a subtle but important distinction.
So, yes, school has started. Last week was the first week of the new year. New classes, new teachers, a newly revised studio, some cool new people… It’s going to be a good year. It is also, as was the last, going to be a very full year. I have been preparing. Not unlike some small mammals and certain species of insect, I have been storing food for the coming winter. While the principle is the same, my process is somewhat more sophisticated than the smaller mammals and the insects. For example I am using a freezer, something most of them do not have access to.
By using my time to cook now and freezing some of the leftovers, I am essentially storing time for later use. Technically, yes, I’m storing the food, but symbolically that food represents time. Unlike the small mammals and the insects I do not expect a shortage of materials as the cold weather moves in, I expect an abundance of assignments, which will in turn eat into that other resource: time. My girlfriend was exceptionally good to me last year and in several instances substituted her time for mine, going so far as to package individual leftover meals for me to reheat at school. I appreciate this immensely, but at the same time, recognize that it is something of an imposition. So now, before the school season has quite ramped up (and it’s ramping up quickly), I am packaging some of my own time so I do not have to depend quite as much on hers.
So far I have managed to set aside shrimp creole, honey-mustard pork chops, mashed potatoes, and quite a quantity of tomato sauce (perhaps the most important, or at least prevalent, staple of my diet). This is all something of an experiment. I’ll be curious to learn the answers to the following questions: How much longer can I find the time to cook enough to put away? How much longer after that will it be before I find myself starting to rely upon the stored foods? How long then will those foods last? Perhaps most importantly: which of the foods that I choose to store will actually emerge from the freezing process in a palatable state? And yes, I will know they at least start that way. My cooking is not that daring, but it is effective and usually enjoyable.
Great, now I’m hungry. And tired. For now I’ll focus on addressing the tired, and procrastinate the hungry until tomorrow morning. Here's hoping my winter-storage efforts mean I don't have to trade food for sleep later in the year.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Wisdom for the Ages
My high school ten year reunion should be happening this year. Odds are good that it won't, but I could be wrong.
In any case, I found myself thinking about high school recently. More specifically, I found myself contemplating the lessons I learned there about the confluence of meetings and pizza. I was reminded of one particular lesson at a recent research meeting and realized that this lesson still applies (and that my boss never learned it himself). Because I happen to have this forum, I think I'll share the wisdom in case some of you didn't have the same opportunity I did to pick it up.
Lesson 1: If you want people to attend your meetings, offer them pizza.
Corollary to Lesson 1: If you want to make sure attendance is limited to those serious about the meeting, don't offer pizza.
In other words, for those meetings where quorum or general numbers are important, you can increase attendance by offering to feed people. However, if you accept a certain cynical (realistic) viewpoint and are not worried about making people do their fair share, you might be better off not offering food (or at least not publicizing it). The slackers won't bother to come, and those who are dedicated to the cause will actually be able to get work done. If you're really cynical, the last group does not exist, so you'd better offer pizza.
Lesson 2: Do not serve the pizza until the general business of the meeting is concluded.
This was an actual rule established (and written down) in one of the organizations in which I served in high school (This is also the rule that was neglected in my recent research meeting.) In high school, we found that once pizza became available, nobody paid any attention any more. Even those trying to pay attention were constantly interrupted as people passed around the boxes, requested napkins, and generally participated in the business of eating. We also found that people were more likely to leave early if food had already been served. So we made the rule. Pizza still arrived at the same time, it just sat in the boxes until we got through the agenda. It's amazing how much faster our meetings became. Then again, fewer people showed up on time. Meh, everything is a trade off.
In any case, I found myself thinking about high school recently. More specifically, I found myself contemplating the lessons I learned there about the confluence of meetings and pizza. I was reminded of one particular lesson at a recent research meeting and realized that this lesson still applies (and that my boss never learned it himself). Because I happen to have this forum, I think I'll share the wisdom in case some of you didn't have the same opportunity I did to pick it up.
Lesson 1: If you want people to attend your meetings, offer them pizza.
Corollary to Lesson 1: If you want to make sure attendance is limited to those serious about the meeting, don't offer pizza.
In other words, for those meetings where quorum or general numbers are important, you can increase attendance by offering to feed people. However, if you accept a certain cynical (realistic) viewpoint and are not worried about making people do their fair share, you might be better off not offering food (or at least not publicizing it). The slackers won't bother to come, and those who are dedicated to the cause will actually be able to get work done. If you're really cynical, the last group does not exist, so you'd better offer pizza.
Lesson 2: Do not serve the pizza until the general business of the meeting is concluded.
This was an actual rule established (and written down) in one of the organizations in which I served in high school (This is also the rule that was neglected in my recent research meeting.) In high school, we found that once pizza became available, nobody paid any attention any more. Even those trying to pay attention were constantly interrupted as people passed around the boxes, requested napkins, and generally participated in the business of eating. We also found that people were more likely to leave early if food had already been served. So we made the rule. Pizza still arrived at the same time, it just sat in the boxes until we got through the agenda. It's amazing how much faster our meetings became. Then again, fewer people showed up on time. Meh, everything is a trade off.
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