My Notebook features over 500 posts across over twenty years, covering everything from movies to ethics to personal stories to random links. Browse recent Notebook entries below, or use the category buttons or search to go deeper. The “Clip File” category contains my favorite writing.
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Idea factory: Share your TiVo programming hints with other friends
Looking for a pretty easy and usable web project? How about using the TiVo website (where owners can view and schedule TiVo recordings online) and combining it with some kind of easily hackable online TV listings site (neither Yahoo!’s nor TVGuide.com’s had any kind of feed/API that I could find). The result would be a…
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Idea factory: Compare the box office theories with fact
Okay, so some folks are suggesting that summer box office was down because the movies were bad. Bereft of proof until recently, they’re now claiming vindication because box office receipts are now up, in a time when “better” movies are traditionally released (the fall). So…how to find out what’s really happening? There’s no absolute way…
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Somebody is going to regret this
Via The Daily Dorrmatt, I discovered that MLB.com is helping to bury the NY Yankees by selling none other than 2005 NY YANKEES AL EAST CHAMPION TSHIRTS!! Just in case this transgression mysteriously “disappears” from MLB.com, I’ve got a handy screenshot right here. If you want a high-res version to print out and throw darts…
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Hey Audible, take me off your list!
A few months ago I signed up for a free trial of Audible, the online audio books service. After downloading their clunky, propietary audio player (that’s all I need- a sixth media player that only plays one type of media!), I began to browse their site to download me some audio lit. I know they…
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Mobile phone stats
I’ve owned my current mobile phone for just over 1 year. Some stats: Total calls: 3,205 Total talk time: 125 hours, 0 minutes, 13 seconds (or 7,500 minutes, or 5.2 straight days on the phone) Calls per day: 8.7 Minutes per day: An average of 20 minutes per day on the phone
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Technorati pays to be pinged first…so why are the still so sloooowww?
BusinessWeek’s Blogspotting reports that Technorati has struck “exclusive deals” with some blog utilities to be pinged first before any other services (such as weblogs.com or Pingomatic) are notified that your blog has been updated. So what? Is this a big deal? It might not be, except for the fact that despite this alleged advantage, Technorati…
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Network Landscape, version 3
Over last weekend, I spent a good amount of time updating Network Landscape, the TV/DVD/movies weblog I publish. Besides a fresh design, the site got a new RSS feed, enhanced “quick news” section, leaner code, an update to its underlying blog software, and some other tweaks. Over the next few weeks, the site will be…
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Wakeup
Step one: read this article by Ben Stein defending George Bush. Step two: If you are a blogger and you truly, seriously, honestly, blame George Bush for the hurricane, please call me and explain why. Check to make sure you’re sane first, because like most humans on earth I’m often quite busy. Because, see, I’m…
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Web developers: help unite hurricane survivors with their families
Are you a web developer proficient in either PHP/MySQL or Google Maps API/Ajax development? Are you looking for a way to help the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts besides just donating some cash? Then please check out the Katrina Caravan Rescue’s call for web developer volunteers. They need help getting their website & database up to…