thoughts on technology and culture, politics, and information design
Friday, April 25, 2008
Yahoo Mail subject line fun
I've been a Yahoo mail user for a long time. I'm not sure if this is a new "feature" or what, but Yahoo provides something called the Subject-O-Matique that generates random subject lines. Just click on the word subject when composing a new e-mail and Yahoo does the rest.
I've clicked it ten times to give you a taste:
- Is your coffee table decaff?
- i've arranged a list of exciting things we can do for the next thirty years
- Got change for a $6 bill?
- I swear by Apollo
- Shake it, don't break it, took your mama 9 months to make it.
- My mono isn't getting better...it could turn into stereo
- Boris or Brigitte?
- I am not a chew toy
- These aren't the droids we're looking for
- Zero tolerance for lactose intolerance
Fun stuff!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Give me Battlestar Galactica in HD!
Charter currently doesn't offer the sci-fi channel in HD in my area. Yesterday, I sent an e-mail requesting that Charter add the channel. I quickly received a reply suggesting the engineers are working on it - I'm not so hopeful. :(
My Message
Subject: Other Cable Inquiries
Please add the sci-fi channel in HD!!! Battlestar Galactica is starting soon and I need it in HD!
Charter's Reply
Subject: Other Cable Inquiries (#6579-96873470-5859)
Dear Nathan White,
You have reach the Charter communications, my name is Maria and I am very happy to assist you with your queries.
We appreciate your suggestion. Our engineering department is working on it. We will inform you as soon as we have the information. For further help, please chat with us at www.charter.com or call us at 1-888-438-2427.
If you have additional questions, please let me know.
Thank you for your e-mail! Enjoy your day!
Sincerely,
Maria
Charter E-mail Support Team
Monday, December 03, 2007
Charter DNS
I got home from work today to find my Charter internet connection down ... again.
This time, however, was a little different than several outages I've experienced over the last couple months ... my router was actually being assigned an IP via DHCP. I did a search for an alternate DNS provider on my iPhone, and am now a user of OpenDNS service.
So - next time your internet connection is gone but your computer appears to have an IP - try changing your router DNS servers to the following:
1. 208.67.222.222
2. 208.67.220.220
In the longer term, I wish we'd get something like FIOS here in Minnesota, but as of now there are few low latency, high speed internet choices in town, so I'll be sticking with Charter. At least now I have a simple, free alternative to Charter's flaky DNS service.
Friday, October 19, 2007
I am an uncle!
Lydia
Originally uploaded by natewhite
Lydia was born on October 10 in Boston, MA. I am now an uncle! Isn't she cute?
Monday, March 05, 2007
yahoo news sort of works with macs
For at least a couple years, I've been emailing Yahoo regularly with complaints about the fact that Yahoo news video simply fails on macs.
Finally, it sort of works. Tonight, when trying to view a yahoo highlighted video, I was prompted to download several weird components that seemed related to .wmv files. I complied. Now I see stills but no live video. Sometimes I experience multiple audio streams at once when there should be one. Things are not quite right...but I suppose it is progress.
Why is this so hard for yahoo to get right???
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Wii internet channel links
I bought a Nintendo Wii a few days ago. Now that my entire body is ridiculously sore from too much boxing in Wii Sports, I've been spending some time exploring capabilities of the Wii that require less motion... In particular, there are a number of web sites optimized for use with the Wii beta internet channel, which is powered by a version of the Opera browser. Here are some places I've been exploring.
Finetune - http://finetune.com/wii/
Finetune lets you listen to playlists created by yourself or others. The Wii interface works like a charm. Enter an artist or keyword, and hear a related playlist, instantly - a great way to get exposed to new music.
WiiCade - http://www.wiicade.com/
Lots of games, optimized for the Wii. Not all of them seem well optimized, but the top rated games are a good bet. I particularly enjoyed Missile 3D, a game that was fun on the Wii, and tedious using the trackpad on a macbook pro.
WiiFii - http://www.wiifii.net/
WiiFii presents an interface like the Wii main screen. It has links to a few cool games, including Duck Hunt, Ball Trap, as well as the previously mentioned Missle 3D. I noticed that the site behaved a bit differently on my Wii as compared to Firefox. Back buttons sometimes resulted in a gray screen, and I couldn't get 3D Logic to load, but worth a look.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
MacFUSE Tech Demos from Amit Singh's Macworld 2007 Talk
| This video contains MacFUSE tech demos from Amit Singh's Macworld 2007 talk titled "Taming Mac OS X File Systems". For details on MacFUSE, please go to http://code.google.com/p/macfuse/. As Amit noted during his talk, these are *internal* tech demos that were created to demonstrate the capabilities of MacFUSE. | |
Monday, September 11, 2006
make_clickable function
I found a useful PHP snippet for making http:// and mailto:// plain text links into clickable urls. I've tested it in a variety of cases and it seems to work well.
http://rasher.dk/source/strings/makeclickable.php
Hope this is useful to somebody else.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Ursula
I just finished reading Ursula K. Le Guin's book - The Dispossessed.
It is a phenomenal novel about an anarchist society. The characters are compelling, and powerfully self-realized. To the reader, the vision of a functional, anarchist society - exiled from Earth - is accessible.
Ursula has not been shy about defending her franchise of books, or ideas.
Her famous Earthsea books were critical to my childhood, and apparently the subject of a recent TV mini-series. Her critique of the television portrayal makes me sad, and it also makes me want to read more Ursula K. Le Guin books.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Oregon Death with Dignity Act vs. Ashcroft
I was pleased to see today that Ashcroft's assault on Oregon's Death with Dignity Act was stopped. As a former Oregonian, watching Ashcroft spend so much time and effort fighting the will of Oregonians for a state measure, twice approved, was discouraging. I'd like to see an adminstration fighting for consumers, or the poor, or enforcing civil rights, as opposed to fighting a state. If Ashcroft had, for instance, decided to sue credit card companies for extending unrealistic amounts of credit to college kids, that might be a worthy battle. Or perhaps addressing the issue of how an increasing number of businesses feel that cancelling pension plans is a realistic means to financial viability.
In any case, today's Supreme Court decision is a victory for Oregonians, and a victory for states that are experimenting in controversial areas in line with the majority will of their populace. Congrats Oregon! Less than 200 people have exercised their rights under the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, and regardless of my or your beliefs on physician-assisted suicide, the act is about personal choice and doesn't compel anyone who disagrees with the premise of the Act to do anything. In my opinion, Ashcroft's campaign against the people of Oregon was an unfortunate waste of time that could have been much better spent... I'm not a big Ashcroft fan, so it's good to get some vindication from the Supreme Court.
As Anthony Kennedy wrote in the decision, the "authority claimed by the attorney general is both beyond his expertise and incongruous with the statutory purposes and design."
Indeed.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Digital Music Dream Week and more
Since the MacWorld expo is tomorrow, I thought I would post some thoughts and predictions about what is next. This topic has already been well covered by the mainstream media and bloggers, but as an Apple investor I might as well get my thoughts out there.
I was pleasantly surprised to read that online music sales in the period between Christmas and New Years were up 300% from a year ago. 20 million some tracks were sold. While it is speculated some of the surge is related to gift cards, gift cards were available last year as well and did not cause such a stir. The rise of digital music sales isn't all that surprising to me, and is reflective of the fact that the world has many new digital media player owners since December 25 than before.
What I'm really curious about is how many music videos and TV shows are being sold through iTunes and other sources. I would expect some info on this, along with new content deals tomorrow at the MacWorld expo. I believe this market is going to be huge as it becomes easier to download a show and watch it on a TV, computer, or digital video player. If you have some extra money, buy some Apple stock because at least in the short-term Apple will be a leader in online video distribution.
As someone who only watches a few TV shows, I hate having to pay for a huge bundle of cable content for only a couple shows I view as gems. DVDs of shows from NetFlix could address the mess of content, but I don't want to wait either. Apple is further along in putting the pieces together for a true ala-carte system than anyone else, and I don't think it'll be too long until I can cancel cable, purchase only those shows I want (when they come out), and watch them on my computer, TV, or on that video iPod I don't have yet.
I predict Apple stock will reach 100 before the summer on increasingly positive news around video...as to tomorrow's expo, here is what I expect:
Intel based iBook - going to happen and it would probably be my next laptop except I'm waiting for the powerbook
Intel based MacMini - very likely to be announced, and it will be suitable as both a box hooked up to a TV or a stand-alone computer
Video streaming device - an airport express type device to watch video on a TV will be announced
Major content deals - the video store is going to have a LOT more content announced
iPod Shuffle - revamped shuffle will be released...no new video iPod yet
The new iBook, mac mini, and video streaming device will support the new 802.11n standard - the combination will make it possible to download and view videos on TV easily, quickly, and effectively, and right now (provided you purchase the new stuff). I hope the resolution of videos is improved so the quality issues are effectively addressed.
Lets hope my predictions are accurate. Apple stock often drops on the day of the expo but will start moving towards 100 swiftly.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Fun with Flash
A co-worker shared with me this cool and versatile fun little flash piece.
It does contain sound (nothing offensive but might be obnoxious in a quiet environment) so turn the volume down if you don't want to be heard.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
groomsmen
Just returned from my great friend Brian's wedding. It was in Grand Teton National Park, and a phenomenal time. Congratulations Brian!
Friday, May 06, 2005
view from dog mountain
I went hiking with my parents today, at a place called Dog Mountain. It was the first time I went hiking with my dog, and he was totally amazing. He was energetic, focused, and wouldn't let anyone carry him...I thought he'd be tired out before we went a mile. The hike was great fun, and the wildflowers and vistas in the gorge are beautiful. This is one of the reasons I love living in Oregon.
Monday, April 18, 2005
NIN Single in Garageband format
On Tax Day Nine Inch Nails released their single "The Hand that Feeds" as a garageband download.
It requires Garageband 2, which I don't have yet, but I'm looking forward to playing around with this file when I do. This is a great way to give fans a new and creative way to experience NIN music. Thanks Trent.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Protest
Received the following e-mail from my friend Kurt...displayed with permission. I hadn't been thinking about the two-year anniversary of Iraq. Maybe because it wasn't discussed by the mainstream media?
Hola comrades,
Just got back from a large Hollywood protest on the two-year anniversary of Iraq. Wasn't as big as 2003, but still, the city had to shut down about a dozen blocks in downtown Hollywood - more than they did for the Oscars.
The organizers estimated 20,000 in L.A. today, at least as many in NY. Apparently there's a human blockade in front of the prime NYC military recruitment center as I write this. And a large number of soliders' mothers are in North Carolina protesting at a military base.
It's not just a U.S. thing, either. The Guardian UK's top headline is:
Protesters mark Iraq invasion
Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters mark the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq with demonstrations across Europe.
So you'd expect at least a mention of these events in the U.S. press, right? Well, here are the top AP stories right now:That's right, unlocking corn's genetic code is more important than a worldwide peace rally attended by tens, if not hundreds, of thousands.
- Congress reaches deal on Terri Schiavo case
- Bomb at Qatar theater injures more than 50
- Pope may be in the audience Palm Sunday
- Policy OKs preemptive strike to protect U.S.
- World Bank hails rapid growth in Russia
- Researchers unlocking corns genetic code
- Univ. of Michigan to build Arthur Miller theater
- NCAA Tournament - Scoreboard - Bracket
CNN has a protest-related news story, but it's about the 30 people (actual number) outside Terri Schiavo's hospital in FL (she's that comatose woman who has been on and off life support). Even the NY Times, that so-called bastion of liberalism, doesn't have a drop.
There's not even a mention of the two-year anniversary in any of the major outlets. It's a sad reminder of the disproportionately scant coverage of the Feb. 2003 protests - the largest in human history.
It's difficult to see how there can be change in this country without media coverage. If most of the U.S. isn't reminded of how many people (57%, according to the latest CNN numbers) disapprove of this thing, how can there be momentum?
Would Vietnam have ended if the mainstream press hadn't covered the protests? And would we have any recollection of them if we didn't have camera footage and other documentation by mainstream outlets?
In the meantime, stay tuned for the latest on steriods in baseball, celebrity trials and - lest we forget - corn.
Con fuerza,
Kurt
Thursday, March 17, 2005
A few questions
Why are lawmakers approving drilling into the Alaska wildlife refuge instead of examining incentives to reduce dependence on foreign AND domestic oil?
Why is the bankrupcy bill on the verge on being passed? A recent study from Harvard suggests that 1/2 of personal bankruptcies are the result of unexpected medical expenses. The bill just passed by the senate will have an adverse effect on low income and middle class families. Why is this a priority right now? Why is economic opporutnity for the poor and stability for the middle class a threat? Why do people adversely affected by the policies of the Bush administration give him the benefit of the vote?
Why are we spending so much money on military activities, instead of confronting the core disparities that result in hate and terrorism? If the amount of money spend on the war in Iraq was allocated towards combating global poverty, what outcomes might result? What are the root causes of terrorism and hate and what actions are being taken by the United States to address these causes?
I hope that politicians can begin to suggest long-term solutions to the emerging problems facing the United States and the world. Some of these solutions may involve confronting the pharmaceutical and credit card industry, investing in non-military foreign policy activities, and pursuing economic justice for poor people domestically and abroad. Are these such horrible things? I would suggest they are essential for the long term sustainability of this world.
Where are our priorities?
Sunday, March 13, 2005
green meteorite sighting
I saw a green meteor streak across the sky last night on the way to the Bob Dylan show at the University of Portland. I only caught a glimpse, but was certain I had seen a distinct green flash. I switched the radio to the news but it didn't seem like anyone else was alarmed. Today on the news I find I am not the only one to see this. This is now the second time I've seen a green meteorite...the first was in Gooseberry State Park in Minnesota overlooking the shores of Lake Superior when I was a kid. I wish I had gotten a better glimpse at this one but it was behind a building and I only saw a very quick flash.
Here is another article about the meteorite.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
viking
It is warm again in Portland, but Viking is not quite so small.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
coming soon - search television by content
Generally, when something is done for "accessibility" reasons, the benefits end up being wide-reaching. In the physical world, automatic door openers are certainly helpful for someone using a wheelchair, but also useful for people carrying groceries. Curb cuts are great for someone pushing a stroller or riding a skateboard.
In the world of information technology, similar examples are often seen. Web sites with ALT tags are more effectively indexed by search engines. Multimedia files that include captions, either embedded (quicktime) or in an associated XML file (SMIL or SAMI) can be indexed, and captions associated with a specific time-code in a video file.
Google now has a beta site that lets you search a host of recently aired television shows by content. Content has been archived since December, 2004, and includes a sampling of broadcasts from ABC, PBS, C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, NBC, and FOX News. Hopefully additional stations will be added. It is conceivable that basically all televised content subject to FCC regulations will be searchable as soon as indexed within the next few years, since FCC regulations require the captioning of virtually all "new content" by January 1, 2006. Online multimedia may come along more slowly, though captioning software such as MagPIE (free) and Hi-Caption (commercial) is available now.
From playing around with the beta, it looks like Google would like to be able to show video snippets associated with the captions. I imagine that the licensing issues are not simple for Google to work out, but I look forward to seeing this beta expand.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
music rental?
Napster today announced an alternative model for the use of digital music. Rental.
For $14.95 a month, you can download and listen to an unlimited amount of music, on a variety of devices (but not the market leading iPod). I support efforts towards giving consumers more ways to use digital music, and think this model will be useful to some, but will fail to attract a huge following. Here are some reasons why:
By not supporting the iPod, the majority of consumers who listen to music on a portable digital player are required to purchase a new device...not a small investment.
Users are required to have Windows 2000 or XP and use Windows Media Player. I have both a mac and a PC, but use my Macintosh to purchase music and sync with my iPod.
I think that only "hardcore" music listeners are going to be willing to pay a repeating monthly fee in order to access a music collection. I probably spent 40 or 50 dollars on iTunes music purchases in 2004. Based upon my pattern of "music consumption," a rental model with a monthly fee is too expensive for me.
I have bought several albums on iTunes, and have burned all of them to CD to listen to in the car and on my home stereo. Much of the utility of owning a song lies in flexible use, which the rental model does not provide.
What I can see doing is paying $14.95 one-time to fill up my portable device with music that expires after 30 days. This would give me a mechanism to explore a variety of new music without a significant investment. I could then choose to buy individuals albums/songs that I liked. I'm not sure how easy it is to subscribe/unsubscribe to the service of if there is any sort of minimum time frame involved with a subscription, but I think these questions may have a bearing on the success of this service.
Friday, December 31, 2004
P-Town Independent Press
Just finished reading Motivation and Toleration, by Ian Avi, the first publication of P-Town Independent Press. Great book...definitely a page turner, and I believe there are only 500 copies or so from the first printing. It is refreshing to read a book from an independent press, and frightening that like 5 (or is it 4 now) media companies control most of the information people access on television. The internet offers more choice, but most people don't look beyond the five (or four) sources that they already "trust." I'm not sure how many major publishing houses tell us what to read, but personally hope to read more from P-Town Independent Press.
Motivation and Toleration starts fast, and becomes increasingly schizonphrenic. But what is insanity other than a disconnect? Can it all be explained? Is it always merely chemical? Ishmael's intentions seem pure, mostly, but the narrative of his life makes it difficult to believe that intention results in fulfillment. The book reminded me of Philip K. Dick books I've read. If you can get your hands on a copy, check it out. Maybe someday you'll be able to order it online.
1/14/2005 update: you can now order the book online
Saturday, December 04, 2004
unity
I have come to terms with the idea that Bush has won re-election. I remain unhappy. The fact of the matter, however, is that most of the country voted differently than me.
I live in a liberal bastion of Oregon...and I know a lot of people who view local and world affairs much like I do. I also know people who don't think like I do, and those people have never presented to me a compelling case for why casting a vote for Bush = "a good idea." Why has George Bush convinced voters with particular religious convictions ,and perhaps more surprisingly, people in constricting economic situations, that he is presidential material, and an appropriate, practical choice for our national leader? I personally do not view Mr. Bush as a "moral" character. I suspect those who do might be projecting a personal opinion, or misplaced allegiance, as opposed to considering the record and alarming pattern of world discord fostered by Mr. Bush.
I am interested in hearing a clear explanation of the postive aspects of a continued Bush presidency.
I want to understand.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
post-election thoughts
All day I have felt shell shocked.
It is difficult for me to understand why the popular and electoral vote are both clearly in favor of President Bush. I have gone through a cycle of emotions. A strong desire to leave the country. Raw fear about the consequences of a continued Bush presidency. A sense of betrayal. Suspicion of voting machines that leave no paper trail.
One apparent surprise in the election was the importance of 'morals'. It is unclear to me how Bush is considered moral, or how it is possible to be pro-life and support pre-emptive war at the same time. There is clearly a major division between this nation on the intersection of religion and politics.
Why, in a time when we are fighting a war - apparently against those whose religious views we consider 'extreme' - is a certain brand of zealotry becoming a political force?
Friday, October 22, 2004
Why I am Voting for John Kerry
Here are a few reasons why my vote will be for Kerry in 2004.
1. I feel that Bush's economic policies disproportionately favor the rich, and are doing little for middle and lower class Americans. I do not believe a return to trickle-down economics is an effective way to create jobs. John Kerry has proposed providing additional tax credits to individuals for education and child care expenses, providing tax incentives to businesses that create jobs in America, and repealing tax breaks for those making over $200,000 a year in order to extend health care benefits to more Americans. I think this plan will help middle class Americans to find jobs, improve education levels, and have more affordable access to health care. I am not in support of Bush policies that continue to increase the gap between the very rich and the very poor.
2. Bush has isolated the United States from much of the rest of the world - I do not believe this is savvy foreign policy, or likely to make the world a safer place. The United States will be safest when the rest of the world regards us with respect and friendship. Trying to improve conditions throughout the world, seeking to understand and empathize with the perspectives of others, and participating in international organizations and forums in a cooperative, meaningful way are essential components of 21st century foreign policy. Bush, through impatience with the United Nations weapons inspection process in Iraq, a stated policy of "pre-emptive war," the denial of reconstruction contracts to those who disagreed with his course in Iraq, and withdrawal from both the Kyoto treaty and the anti-ballistic missle treaty, has negatively influenced the way in which the United States is perceived throughout the world. This is not good foreign policy - I think only a new president can begin the process of changing the way most of the world currently regards the United States.
3. Despite the President's words, it is apparent from almost any other source one might consult that things in Iraq are not going well. What reason is there to expect that things are going to get better given our current course? As someone who opposed an "invasion" of Iraq in the first place, I was disappointed that Bush did not give time for the United Nations to finish weapon inspections, and not surprised when it turned out that Iraq never had those weapons that were given as the reason for the war. War is a terrible thing, and must be a last resort. Bush promised Congress and the American people that he would only invade as a last resort, but failed to keep his word.
I truly believe that another 4 years of President Bush's leadership could be disasterous to the country with respect to our domestic issues and our relationship with the rest of the world.
I believe it is time for a change and would encourage you to vote for John Kerry.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
web accessibility toolbar
A colleague suggested taking a look at a web accessibility toolbar for internet explorer that has turned out to be really fantastic. It will dynamically show where structural markup does (or does not) occur. It has tools to reveal missing alt tags or label tags, examine color issues, disabled/enable particular technologies, and much more. Some of my favorite uses for it include turning off javascript and css support to make sure pages still render properly without these technologies. Disabling javascript and/or css can be very difficult depending upon what browser one uses. This open source tool, released under the creative commons license, was developed by a group called National Information and Library Service out of Australia. I wish a powerful tool like this was available for Safari so I could use it on my mac. This tool rates as a must for anyone who does web accessibility assessments or wants to dissect the structural elements within a page for any reason. Check it out.
Monday, September 06, 2004
spam, spyware, contact form
Just realized that most messages from my contact form have been buried as being spam...bottom line is that if you sent me something through my contact form in the last month or so I probably didn't get it. The problem is now fixed. If you use internet explorer, by the way, try firefox. This free application blocks pop-ups, is not vulnerable to nasties that target internet explorer, and provides a smooth, bloat-free browsing interface.
Monday, August 16, 2004
talking chihuahua
I was stopped on the street in Ann Arbor, Michigan yesterday by someone who asked, with an absolutely straight face, if Viking talked. I responded by asking - "what do you mean, talk... are you wondering if he barks?" The woman explained to me that some small dogs can talk. She encouraged me to try to get him to talk, and rode off on her bicycle. Maybe it was all a big joke, maybe she took the old Taco Bell chihuahua ads a little too seriously, or perhaps she simply experiences the world differently than most people. Interestingly, in 2003 two men in Grand Rapids, Michigan were awarded 30 million dollars in a lawsuit that alleged Taco Bell stole their idea for a talking Chihuahua. Coincidence?
Friday, July 30, 2004
natewhite.com newsfeed
Despite what I perceive to be a lack of regular visitors at this time, I now have an active Atom newsfeed for the future throngs. Here is the feed address: http://www.natewhite.com/blog/feed.xml.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
the vern
Played pool with Danen at the vern tonight... quarter tables, nightly microbrew specials, excellent for some random weeknight pool. If you haven't already discovered that used vegetable oil can power a vehicle, visit veggie bus. Visit it even if you are in the know. I saw the veggie bus in portland last week and it really makes you wonder what is going on with US dependence on oil, the war in iraq, global warming, etc... Why is it that not a single politician has mentioned the possibility of an energy industry fueled by recycled vegetable oil?
Monday, April 19, 2004
a few updates
I have added some additional content - some basic information on the accessibility of natewhite.com as well as a functional contact page.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Welcome
I am pleased to welcome the world to the new natewhite.com. Check out the photo portal which is really the most interesting (and basically only) content on the site that is open to the public.
This site will be many things - home to web projects, a place to experiment with technology, and basically a way to more effectively organize my life and work...
If you are a client, I will be developing protected areas where client projects can be viewed/tracked. In addition, I now have the capacity to host client websites and domain names, which in many cases will simply site upkeep and maintenance.
I welcome your comments and ideas about the site - watch for an online contact form soon!