SupaKewl

First, before I start with the main topic of this post, do yourself a favor (by following these simple steps):

1. Use Firefox exclusively as your web browser (if you weren't already, and if so, why not?).
2. Install the Sage RSS reader extension.
3. In sage, add the following as a live bookmark: http://lifehacker.com/index.xml

Seriously, do this and you will benefit greatly. I often talk about new sites that are my favorites, but Lifehacker is far and away the best I have found in a long time. My last favorite, uneasysilence, I figured out appealed to my old, college, borderline-legal, hacker self. Lifehacker instead appeals to the current me who is always looking to simplify, make technology work for me rather than hinder me, and who likes well-designed and straightforward sites.

Using Firefox and Sage to view the site are just my way of prodding you to help yourself.

Okay, on to the story. Lifehacker had an article up today about messing with MSN messenger. I didn't think much of it at first, as almost everyone I care to IM with has switched to Google Talk. However, this site kicks tail. I really liked MSN messenger, other than the bloat and unneeded features it presented. Much like every cell phone introduced in the last 5 years. Thanks to this site, my MSN messenger window looks as follows: (sorry, no users are shown to protect the uninnocents)

I know what you're thinking. "Oh, that has to be 'shopped" or "He just downloaded an older version". Nope, this is the latest and greatest 7.5. Oh, it gets better when you see the message window (Again, user IDs have been removed):


Notice the lack of those stupid nudge, wink, and pack icons? Sweet.

If you want to trim it down even further, that is possible too. I just trimmed it to the point where I liked it. Now, I have a dilemma. Do I stick with Google Talk or switch back to MSN? It's nice to have the choice now at least.

If you are interested in trying this, click on the link I provided. The site is very messy, but all you really care about is the little download box on the top left. Download the latest MSN messenger, and the corresponding patch. Install Messenger, close it, and then run the patch. Happy trails.

Software sucks, it never works right 100% of the time

Okay, so this inflammatory title is aimed at those who think software is a completely rogue field of work. They argue that there are no standardized practices, no accrediting bodies, no unions and such. Basically all of the stuff that is in place for industries that are far beyond innovation, and are now simply jobs to be done, not created. They say that because of this software is completely unreliable, unlike other industries and products.

While I disagree with most of this and want to strangle those that say so, I do agree with some of their points. However, that alone would not interest me enough to write a blog post. What this is about, is that place where the average person spends 2.7 years of their life, the bathroom. Specifically, the place where you find yourself 20 minutes after eating Taco Bell.

The toilet has been around for centuries. Even the flushable toilet has been around longer than I care to imagine (I was too lazy to google for it after finding that 2.7 year factoid). So, if it has been around for so darn long, why aren't toilets perfect and foolproof? Who hasn't had to fix a broken flush lever, or something else in the tank? Is there anyone who hasn't had to do the old "jiggle the handle" routine to quiet a toilet that won't stop running? Why isn't every flush perfectly calculated, using the minimum amount of water to completely clear the bowl? Why don't I have sharks with fricking laser beams on their heads?

Moral: the next time you hear someone poke at software, tell them that they are full of crap.

"But each and every year we bust Christmas Carols"

I like free music. Who doesn't?

I was grabbing the latest free songs off iTunes today, and there happened to be a little hip-hop Christmas ditty, "All I Want for Christmas" by Dirty Boyz. Besides making me go listen to some classic Christmas hip-hop by Run, it reminded me of some other good, free Christmas music I found earlier.

That beautiful form of radio known as XM has been playing this awesome version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. I was going to search a bit online to find where to buy it. In doing so, I found the CD that it is from, and it was just made this year. It also just so happened that the site I found it on featured 2 songs from the CD for free download. Yep, the one I wanted is one of them.

I might actually buy the whole album I think, but for now I was just happy to have that song for free. Very cool.

Cheney is a Dick

I normally stay away from politics here. Not because I can't take the heat, but because I find it generally disheartening and futile. This is a perfect example. The headline is essentially stolen from Uneasy Silence, where I saw this.

What more could the current administration do to make us respect them less?

Your Email is Trash

This was an idea we had a while ago, and I thought someone should make a Firefox extension to solve it. It turns out that Gmail had it solved all along, and I even knew about it.

Gmail has this slick feature where you can append "+" and anything else you want between your user name and the "@" sign. For example, floydpink+coolpeoplefrommyblog@gmail.com. This would go to my usual email address, but the TO: field would be exactly as above. This enables you to use labels to filter these messages wherever.

Now, I had used this in the past to send myself notes. It never dawned on me that it could be used to create disposable email addresses. With Gmail invites being so plentiful, I was trying to use multiple accounts to create disposable addresses. This is much better, as everything funnels to your primary account, yet you have virtually unlimited addresses. Now, when I am on a new site that wants me to register, and for some reason I don't just use BugMeNot, I can create a new email address such as floydpink+youlovespam.com@gmail.com. Then, I create a filter and/or label. From that point, I can see just how much Spam and email is generated by that one site.

Here is a link to the lifehacker post that enlightened me.

Dig This Groove

I finally got a new CD the other day that I had been eying for a while, and the only real surprise is why it took so long to get. Anyone paying attention to this blog out there has seen me discuss Gorillaz before. They should have also seen at least once a mention of Del The Funky Homosapien. His song "Mistadobalina" has been a favorite of mine for years, and I love his work with Gorillaz as well.

Well, after seeing rave reviews for one of Del's other albums, Deltron 3030, I finally picked it up. Fantastic sums it up. Anyone who digs the trip-hop sound of Gorillaz or just likes old school, intelligent rap should appreciate this CD.

Unfortunately, iTunes does not carry this. If it did, I would have recommended that if you only sample a few songs, make sure to grab "Madness" and Turbulence". Here is an iTunes link at least to Del's greatest hits prior to his work with Deltron (hopefully it works, unlike Ryan I have a very difficult time obtaining iTunes links).

Here is the Amazon link to Deltron 3030:

Right Here, Right Now

Ryan just updated his "five of the now", so I thought I would as well. I was lazier than him, and didn't try to find iTunes links for any of them. I did add some Amazon links.

1. Imani Coppola - Legend of a Cowgirl
2. Joaquin Phoenix - I Walk the Line
3. Cherry Bikini - Just F**k Me (Night Train to Paris Remix)
4. Rev Run - Mind on the Road
5. Primus - My Name is Mud

The first is a track I remember from early college and it still holds up well. I may have to find some more from her. As I said in a recent post, the movie "Walk the Line" was incredible, and the soundtrack is as well. I just purchased it and have enjoyed the entire thing. Both Joaquin and Reese did a fantastic job of capturing the sound of their characters.
Number three is a track I had for years, but had never actually heard. It is a bit offbeat, but hell, so am I.
The entire Distortion CD by Rev Run is nothing short spectacular. If I had been properly motivated I was going to write a CD review for it the day it came out. This track was the first single, and is still probably the best. The Joan Jett, "I Love Rock and Roll" sample fits perfectly with the energy of the song.
Finally, I went back to my high school, Beavis and Butthead loving days for the last track. I remember this from freshman year of high school, and it still is good for a laugh.

Update: Ryan informed me that once again, iTunes is the bomb. Here is a link to Cherry Bikini on iTMS.

Let's Get Pasted

I found a pretty cool site tonight. I find this guy's blog fairly interesting to read, but check out his paste page for a pretty cool idea.

Basically, it is a place to post code snippets, since some forums and lists frown upon actually including code inline in the post. This page handles it all pretty slick.