clock — watching time, the only true currency

A journal from John B. Roberts

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Entries from September 2004

radioShark arrives: “TiVo for radio” works as expected

September 28th, 2004 · Comments Off

So, nine and one-half months later, my radioShark arrives from Griffin Technology. That time period… ring any bells?
Anyway, my original order was just before Christmas last year. It was a pre-order, with a “shipping soon” promise. In January, at Macworld, the promise was “end of February” delivery. I let it go for a while, but [...]

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Tags: Tech

The curtain

September 26th, 2004 · No Comments

It’s up to Business 2.0 to decide if they want to put stories behind registration or subscription. However, the Time Inc. webmaster who has the sense of humor (?) to call their subscription server curtain.timeinc.net should be admonished. Perhaps he or she thought it would soften the “blow” to call a wall a curtain, but [...]

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Tags: Tech

Movie: Winged Migration

September 25th, 2004 · No Comments

Yes, like everyone else who has seen (or will see) Winged Migration, I found myself wondering time and again how they shot this film of real birds. Fortunately, with the DVD’s special features, some of the details are available. Just incredible visual scenery, without effects. With all the possibilities for simulation and creation, recording the [...]

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Tags: Movies

Movie: In & Out

September 25th, 2004 · No Comments

Kevin Kline is a school teacher in the Midwest, outed by a former student (Matt Dillon) at the Oscars only days before his wedding (to Joan Cusack’s character). Denial, and then acceptance, all very light-hearted. The movie is In & Out. Short, funny… would be good on an airplane, and was good at the end [...]

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Tags: Movies

Book: Small Pieces Loosely Joined

September 25th, 2004 · No Comments

David Weinberger published Small Pieces Loosely Joined: A unified theory of the web in 2002. I just got to the book a few weeks ago, after finding a hardcover copy lying about the office during a move. Like The Tipping Point, Small Pieces is one of those books I’ve heard about and lived (in some [...]

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Tags: Books

I’m glad someone caught it

September 21st, 2004 · No Comments

Thanks to Jeff Veen for catching the most outrageous line of tonight’s Online News Association meeting. I could barely believe my ears. Just how much wine was consumed prior to this one?
Separately, Jeff voiced a telling comparison: Orkut and LinkedIn are like high-school yearbooks. You get everyone to sign it, and then you put it [...]

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Tags: Everything

When I finally break down and get a modern cellphone, here’s one reason: content

September 21st, 2004 · 1 Comment

I use a boring cellphone. That’s OK, but I am interested in a few features of more modern phones, specifically a camera and a web browser. My biggest fear, though, is the service plan which will be required to keep the data charges economical: it’s almost certain to be out of whack with what I [...]

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Tags: Tech

Maybe this will help me get over the favicon hump

September 20th, 2004 · No Comments

Or not. But this free favicon generator seems like the real deal. I’ve played around with a pixel-level graphics program in attempt to create a clock favicon, but then I needed a converter. Hmmm… Anyway, found this tool via MpP Favicon Gallery, which was linked to by Dan as a QuickBit. Thanks!
I have a list [...]

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Tags: Everything

Dan Gillmor notices CNET News.com Extra

September 20th, 2004 · No Comments

Always nice to see that continued effort is being noticed. CNET News.com Extra was mentioned by Dan Gillmor on Saturday on his blog. Quiet words, but that’s high praise from someone who gets it. Always more to do, of course, and a few interesting comments that I had to respond to, as well. What’s your [...]

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Tags: Tech

Historic topographical maps of New England and New York

September 20th, 2004 · No Comments

Via The Map Room, a link for old maps from the University of New Hampshire library. My favorite? Northeast corner of the St. Regis quadrangle (warning: 1.8MB image)

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Tags: Maps