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May 26, 2005
RSS Readers
Tech savvy readers and fellow bloggers will find this post to be common knowledge, but for some, you'll find a major moment of "a-HA" ahead.
Blogs are everywhere. There are private blogs like this one, and there are large blogging websites like Xanga, Blogger, LiveJournal, even Hi5 and Friendster. Blogs are essentially news sources - small bits of new information are released periodically. They come from anyone from idiots to experts.
At some point, people realized that they had many news sources they wanted to monitor, but they had to go all over the web to check them. RSS was invented to solve this problem. RSS is "Really Simple Syndication", and it's a way for your computer to 1. Track what news items or blog posts you've haven't seen yet and 2. "Aggregate" or combine everything new into one simple place.
Why use RSS? If you normally try to keep updated on what is happening on say 10 or 15 different websites, RSS can help. If all these web pages are RSS enabled, then you can put all 15 RSS feeds into your RSS news-reader, and see all the new things going on in one place.
SharpReader - Outlook-ish format and my favorite rss reader
http://www.bloglines.com/ (web based)
Feeds you can aggregate:
- All the blogs you care about. Friends, many politicians, many subject experts for you hobbies (cooking, music, etc), and some university departments keep blogs.
CNN, WSJ, NYT
Wired, Slashdot, CNet, Google Blog, Gizmodo
Deal sites: Bens Bargains, Slickdeals, Woot
When I get a chance to gush about this in person, I urge people to start using RSS/Atom feeds now. It's one of those thing that's likely to be integrated into a major program (Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook) soon, and although it may seem foreign now, some day the concept of syndicated content feeds will become as common as word processing or web browsing.
Posted by Jeff at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2005
Apple iPod copy protection hacked
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,67593,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
“Apple Computer did not respond to several requests for comment. To prevent iPod users from easily copying vast libraries of songs from computer to computer, Apple forbids tracks from being moved off the iPod -- songs can only be put onto the iPod. In addition, each iPod is associated with a single copy of iTunes. The association can be changed, but only if all songs on the iPod are erased."
Tool for unprotecting iTunes music files (AAC / .mp4)
Posted by Jeff at 10:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 23, 2005
Chris and Maria Visit
Chris and I DJ'd at The Box. Forgive the artwork behind us, I didn't paint it.
Chris and Maria saw Tikal...
Lago Atitlan...
Antigua...
Pacaya Volcano...
Pretty much the standard Jeff & Rebecca all-you-can-see tour.
Posted by Jeff at 03:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bryan's Backflip
Long Anticipated, Long overdue
This is a video clip of my cousin Bryan throwing huge air in Vail on the terrain park. Great audio from the chairlift spectators and ski patrol asking for a copy of this video via email. Also chronicles how we all thought he was really messed up.
The full quality video is 20MB, email me if you want it.
Posted by Jeff at 11:37 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 04, 2005
Consular Warning
Irony: Why are these Embassy warnings always released within days of when we have visitors? The last one came out right before Tyler and Malena's visit. Today Chris and Maria are arriving for a week.
There are thousands of Americans here in Guatemala, and we get by just fine - it's just not that dangerous if you live smart. I guess what you're about to read is just more of a warning for tourists. When you read this, it seems frightening. When we read this, we feel like this is propaganda aimed at striking fear into non-Guatemalans, and not entirely representative.
Guatemala Public Announcement
US Embassy in Guatemala
May 03, 2005
This Public Announcement is being issued to remind U.S. citizens of the continuing serious security situation in Guatemala. This Public Announcement expires on November 3, 2005.
U.S. citizens are urged to be especially aware of safety and security concerns when traveling in Guatemala. Although the majority of travelers visit Guatemala without mishap, violent criminal activity on the highways in Guatemala continues, and the number of armed robberies on city streets and in private homes is increasing. Crimes against foreigners have included murder, rape, and armed robbery. Criminals in Guatemala are extremely opportunistic; all travelers should remain vigilant and take appropriate measures to limit risk and losses. Assailants often respond violently if they perceive resistance from their victims.
(the balance of this scaretext is in the extended entry)
Robberies in homes occur when criminals impersonate delivery personnel or repairmen, or forcibly accompany guests or family members through an open gate to gain entry to a home. Urban bandits operate freely on city streets, including major hotel and restaurant districts, and use a variety of weapons to steal briefcases, laptop computers, purses, and backpacks.
Although fewer highway robberies have been reported recently, violent criminal activity on the highways in Guatemala continues and tourists, among others, have been targeted. Buses of all categories, tour vans and private vehicles have been stopped, with drivers and passengers robbed, sometimes violently. Armed robbers have intercepted vehicles on main roads in broad daylight. Highway bandits have committed rape in the commission of robberies.
The most common highway robberies involve pickup trucks pulling up next to the victims' moving vehicle with occupants brandishing weapons, or impromptu blockades on isolated roads forcing vehicles to stop. Travel on secondary roads increases the risk of encountering a criminal roadblock; robbers have used mountain roads advantageously to stop buses, vans and cars in a variety of ways. The roads around Lake Atitlán that connect the neighboring towns have little security and visitors have been stopped and robbed.
Gangs are a growing concern, both in Guatemala City and in rural Guatemala. Gang members are often well-armed and prone to unprovoked violence. Gangs are believed to be responsible for a substantial increase in violent robberies on inter- and intra-city buses; U.S. Mission personnel are not permitted to travel on these buses. Mission personnel continue to observe heightened security precautions in Guatemala City and on the roads outside the capital city.
There is little evidence of effective investigation of these crimes or arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. The police suffer from corruption, inexperience and lack of funds, and the judicial system is weak, overworked, and inefficient. Criminals, at times armed with an impressive array of weapons, know there is little chance they will be caught and punished. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles, indicating some elements of the police might be involved.
Large demonstrations occur throughout Guatemala, often with little or no notice. Most demonstrations are peaceful. However, even if the police are present, crowd control can be haphazard or spotty. Because demonstrations can become violent without warning, travelers should avoid large crowds and public gatherings that lack sufficient security. Blocking of highways and seizure of public facilities, occasionally including the international airport, is a common tactic, and demonstrators may keep tourists caught behind blockades from leaving.
U.S. citizens who are victims of crime are urged to contact the Consular Section of the Embassy for advice and assistance. U.S. citizens should update their registration and contact information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_1186.html or at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City. The Embassy is located at Ave. la Reforma 7-01, Zona 10. The Consular Section telephone number is (502) 2326-4405, the fax for the office of American Citizen Services is (502) 2332-4353, the Embassy website is http://usembassy.state.gov/guatemala/, and the e-mail address is: AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov. The Embassy telephone number for after-hours emergency assistance is (502) 2331-2354.
More information about tourist security is available from the Tourist Protection Office of INGUAT (the Guatemalan Tourist Board) at 7a Avenida 1-17, Zona 4 Centro Cívico, Ciudad de Guatemala or on the INGUAT webpage: www.visitguatemala.com. The direct telephone line for tourist assistance is (502) 2-421-2810 or 2421-2800, extensions 1300, 1301, 1305 or 1306. The general INGUAT office telephone number is (502) 2-421-2879, and the fax is (502) 2-421-2891. The e-mail address is asistur@inguat.gob.gt. For emergencies, INGUAT may be reached 24 hours, seven days a week at (502) 2421-2810 or (502) 5578-9836. The INGUAT office may also be reached toll free from within Guatemala at 1-(801) 464-8281, or toll free from the United States at 1-(888) 464-8281.
Tourist groups may request security assistance from INGUAT, Attention: Coordinator of the National Tourist Assistance Program. The request should be submitted by fax, e-mail, or special messenger service and should arrive at INGUAT at least three business days in advance of the proposed travel, giving the itinerary, names of travelers, and model and color of vehicle in which they will be traveling. Travelers should be aware that INGUAT has very limited personnel and resources.
Updated information on travel and security for Guatemala may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the U.S., or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens should consult the Consular Information Sheet for Guatemala, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, and the travel publication A Safe Trip Abroad, all of which are available on the State Department's Internet site at http://travel.state.gov.
Posted by Jeff at 10:04 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 03, 2005
Chess Clock
Today I went searching online for a chess clock. What I found was a market opportunity. Not that I'm going to do anything about it.
Postulate 1: Serious chess players tend to not be concerned with appearances.
Axiom 1: People who make chess clocks are chess players.
Ergo: All chess clocks are ugly.
Now there are 1001 beautiful chess sets, in any style you want. Modern or classic elegance, marble, glass, aluminum, cherry wood, you can even get the pieces in any shape imaginable. You can probably find one where the pawns are a bust of John C. Riley.
But nobody makes a chess clock with a LED or gas discharge display. Just ugly LCDs like an oversize $5 Kmart wristwatch. Yes, the device has 24 chess timing modes and can compute Mars explorer trajectories or whatever, but it's U G L Y.
Posted by Jeff at 12:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack