It's All Right

2D is Better Than 3D

2006-03-20T11:05:00.000-05:00

Usability expert Jakob Nielsen wrote 8 years ago about the uselessness of 3D effects in web design, and I think its still true today:

"Note that 3D works for games because the user does not want to accomplish any goals beyond being entertained. It would be trivial to design a better interface than DOOM if the goal was to kill the bad guys as quickly as possible: give me a 2D map of the area with icons for enemy troops and let me drop bombs on them by clicking the icons. Presto: game over in a few seconds and the good guys win every time. That's the design you want if you are the Pentagon, but it makes for a boring game."

2D is Better Than 3D (Alertbox Nov. 1998)

Categories: technology

Birthday dinner

2006-03-19T13:13:00.000-05:00

Saturday night we had dinner at Macaroni's grill for gina's 14th birthday. A good time was had by all; Gina, Bob & Max, Marina, Millie & Seymour, and Bob & Linda. Gina was serenaded italian opera-style, and Marina entertained with japanese translations on the placemat.

Categories: family news

9-ft Shark off Sunglow Pier 3/10

2006-03-17T05:32:00.000-05:00

OutdoorsBest Forums: 9-ft Shark landed off Sunglow Pier This is in Daytona Beach. The writer says it took about 30-minutes to land and 9 people to bring up on the dock with 2 gaffs. The surfers nearby were nonplussed.

2.0 Culture

2006-03-16T19:38:00.000-05:00

Naked IT » Blog Archive » 2.0 Culture: "simplicity combined with big fonts, shiny shaders and very, very strange brand names."

I'm usually the standard-bearer for 'content above everything', but this is a great analysis of the new look and feel of Web 2.0 design and cultural standards as they have emerged.

Web 2.0 is fundamentally a new technological approach to web-based applications and open standards-based architecture. But the design: we're talking pastel colors, rounded shapes, sans serif fonts. Our recent http://p-adl.ucf.edu/ site is smack in the cross hairs here. (However, I was into rounded corners and sans serif waaay back in 2002, see http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~rgreed/ )

The design recommendations go a little deeper than appearance, and touch on some technology guidelines, like no java applets, no animation or flash, and always use descriptive html. An interesting read.

Categories: technology

snubster - beta

2006-03-15T09:26:00.000-05:00

OK, you've got to understand the phenomenal trend of social networking on the web these days, but there's a backlash begining. Instead of friendster or myspace.com, we've got snubster!

See one of jason's snubster lists here. The only thing I don't get is why the 'e'? Wouldn't it be oh so much more cutting edge to spell it snubstr ???

Categories: technolgy

Categories: humor

Trace Adkins

2006-03-13T08:48:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Linda and I escorted visiting students Marina and Sachiko to the Strawberry festival in Plant City (near Tampa.) I thought we had been to this big event way back when we moved to Florida in the 80's, but Linda corrected me. This was our first time. The draw for us was a 4pm outdoor concert by Nashville star Trace Adkins, and he put on quite a show in front of at least 10,000 fans. Most of the crowd, including us, were seated in bleachers, and I really really missed the binoculars -- we left them in the car which was parked a long ways away. However, we charged down front during the encore to get a close up look at the singer, and he's pretty damn impressive; about 6'6" with arms the size of my thighs.

It was a good show. Adkins current hit is the boundary-stretching rap-influenced Honky Tonk Badonkadonk, and he got the entire crowd to sing along with the irreverent refrain "well shut my mouth and smack my grandma!".

Most of these snapshots came from Sachiko's camera. The thumb in the one picture is mine. Larger copies and a few more pictures are available at http://www.presby-book.net/rgsr/strawberry

The festival itself was shoulder to shoulder packed. We gorged on strawberry shortcake, and greasy carnival food. In ambiance and crowd profile, it was probably most like an extremely crowded day at Flea World.

Categories: music and song

YouTube - Real Life Simpsons Intro

2006-03-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

This is too funny.

Categories: humor

Washington DC

2006-03-10T08:17:00.001-05:00

Daughter Gina departed on a school trip to Washington DC, by bus. She called us from somewhere in Georgia last night, and it was clearly pretty chaotic and loud on the bus. Thank goodness they rounded up sufficient chaperones. I can only imagine.

Categories: family news

"Smiling Bob" Not Smiling Anymore

2006-03-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

"Smiling Bob may have been happy, but many customers were not," said California Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

"The defendants violated consumer protection laws that rest on a simple principle: businesses must deal with people fairly and honestly. This settlement will prevent further violations and compensate consumers harmed by the defendants' practices."

article at consumeraffairs.com

Categories: humor

1986

2006-03-06T21:20:00.000-05:00

Shortly after we moved to Orlando...

1996 and 2006

2006-03-05T17:42:00.000-05:00

1996, Sanbina Street

2006, Little John road

choreo-juggling?

2006-03-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

This one's for Rick... be sure and turn your sound up. It's pretty pointless without the soundtrack.

(requires Flash plugin, thanks Nick.)
http://marketplace.espeakers.com/movie.php?sid=5290&aid=10558

Internet Explorer 7 ?

2006-03-01T15:55:00.000-05:00

Check out this link: http://www.ie7.com/

cute.

Categories: technology

Google Desktop

2006-02-28T08:31:00.000-05:00

This free software is popping up frequently, and I pass on this cautionary note circulated at my employment:

Submitted for: UCF Computer Services Network Operations Center Security Team
Subject: Google Desktop Search-Do Not Use

Google, maker of the popular search engine, has developed a search tool for use on personal computers. The latest version of this tool--Google Desktop version 3-contains a feature that allows individual users to store a virtual copy of files from their hard drives on Googles servers so they can search the data from a second computer. While useful, the feature can compromise the security of individual users or the university.

Many national security firms, as well as UCFs Network Security Team, are warning users of the significant security risks this creates. Because there is no limit to the files that might be copied to Googles servers by this tool, such files could include sensitive personal data, data protected by FERPA or other laws, or confidential research data. Further, once on Googles servers, users files would be subject to disclosure
through subpoena.

Because of these risks, the UCF Network Security Team is advising that The Google Desktop Search application should not be downloaded or installed on any university personal computer. Thank you for your cooperation.

Network Security Team
University of Central Florida
www.security.noc.ucf.edu

Categories: work related

Categories: technology

Marina

2006-02-28T07:07:00.000-05:00

Student Marina (mah-REEN-ah) Hayashi from Nagoya College, Honshu, Japan is here. She's a charming young woman and arrived bearing gifts for us all. She likes Cocoa Krispies, and she'll be here for 4 weeks.

Categories: family news

8th Grade school photo

2006-02-25T14:30:00.000-05:00

:-)

click for larger.

Categories: family news

The Office

2006-02-22T20:39:00.001-05:00

Currently my favorite show, and Gina doesn't miss an episode with me. Linda won't be in the same room when its on.

I was a fan of the BBC original -- and it was far more painful to watch. The NBC version retains the no-laugh-track situation-awkward comedy (sitawk?), but has developed the characters and made them more accessible to our american tastes.

BTW, character Dwight S. writes his own blog. Its hilarious.

Entertainment Weekly article.

retreat

2006-02-22T19:35:00.000-05:00

2/18/06 This is a travel weekend for the Solash Reeds; Gina left early friday morning for a 4 day trip to a ski resort in Maggie Valley, NC with a friend's family, and Linda and I are at a church retreat in Silver Springs, FL just outside Ocala. This retreat is at a somewhat primitive conference center, very much like a summer camp. There's about 100 of our fellow congregants here with us. We'll be back sunday to join Max and Bob for Bob Sr.'s birthday dinner at Park Plaza Gardens.

Its the first time skiing for Gina; I hope to get some ski picture from her trip and share them here!

2/22 Update: Gina returned with a memory card full of pictures, unfortunately, almost all are goofing around pictures of girls in the bathroom mirror, girls in car, and the inevitable up the nostril shots.
But there were a couple of snow shots, one of Tracy, Gina and Alexa included here. (800 pixel version here)

Categories: family news

Categories: recreation

big boot things

2006-02-22T12:12:00.000-05:00

Here's a nifty photo I found on nephew Austen's flickr site. Must be at LL Bean, highly recommended by sister Deri. Austen is the author of netsua.com, and the co-creator and co-host of the teentechbuzz.com podcast.

In related content, following is a photo of Linda from Key Largo from last summer.

Categories: family news

Weekend

2006-02-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

Its a big weekend coming up; 1st, Makeshift will do two sets at Austin Coffee and Film on saturday night, 2/25. We're psyched and ready. We've got some new material, and hope to feature some special guest appearances by Mezzo Theresa Segers and long-time-absent Tenor Drew Abel. First set is about 8:30pm.
Then on Sunday, we pickup and meet our exchange student Marina Hayashi from Nagoya College, Honshu, Japan. She'll be staying with us for 4 weeks.

Categories: family news

Categories: music and song

Stunning desktop wallpapers

2006-02-14T15:38:00.000-05:00

Its in chinese, but take a few minutes browsing the images and navigating the numbered pages at the bottom. é«˜åˆ†è¾¨çŽ‡å£�çº¸61

Parental advisory

2006-02-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

From MSNBC.com: "On 'The Daily Show' last night, Jon Stewart, speaking as a 'concerned parent,' urged viewers never to let their children go on hunting trips with the vice president. 'I can't emphasize this enough,' Stewart said. 'I don't care what kind of lucrative contracts they're trying to land, or energy regulation they're trying to get lifted. . . . He'll shoot them in the face.'"

Categories: humor

Categories: current events

We're going to Iowa this summer

2006-02-11T18:23:00.000-05:00

"Two families were having a feud. One family lived on the Minnesota side of the border between Iowa and Minnesota, and the other family lived on the Iowa side. The feud got serious and the Minnesota family started throwing sticks of dynamite across the border into the Iowa farm yard. One day, it put the eye of a cow out. The Iowa family became so incensed that it started lighting the dynamite sticks that the Minnesotans had thrown over, and throwing them back into the Minnesota family's farm yard."

ESPN's Dick Vitale was in Indiana to announce a basketball game when he noticed a red phone near the Hoosier's bench. He asked Coach Bob Knight what it was for.
"It's a hotline to God," said Knight. Vitale asked if he could use it. Knight said, "Sure, but it'll cost you $100." Vitale thought he needed a break picking the games, so he pulled out his wallet and paid the $100. Dick Vitale had a perfect week.
The next week, he was in Arkansas when he noticed the same kind of phone on the Razerback's bench. He asked the Razerback coach about the phone. The coach said, "It's the hotline to to God, and it'll cost you $100 if you want to use it". Vitale paid the money. Again, he had a perfect week.

The next week, Vitale was in Iowa when he noticed the same kind of phone by the Hawkeyes' bench. He asked Tom Davis (Iowa Coach), "Is that the hotline to God?". Davis said, "Yes and if you want to use it, it'll cost 35 cents". Vitale said, "Wait a second,I just paid $100 in Indiana and Arkansas to use the hotline to God. Why does Iowa only charge 35 cents?" Davis smiled at Vitale and replied, "In Iowa, it's a local call."

Q: What do you call a bunch of tractors parked in front of a McDonalds on Friday night in Iowa?
A: Prom.

And brother Rick writes:

Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 14:59:15 -0800
Subject: Re: Okiboji
-----------------
We are excited and set to go . . . only one problem - Where is Iowa? What city has an airport? Only kidding. But really, where does our airplane land?

rick

Categories: humor

Orthodontia

2006-02-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

Gina got her braces off this morning, and both mom and dad had work conflicts. So here is the report from Grandma....photos ~~to follow so check back~~ now available and posted here! Click on them for larger versions.

Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 11:51:07 EST

All is well. Picked her up and got her to the office on time. It took nearly 90 minutes, but she came out radiant! And loaded down with stuff. Had her picture taken for the wall, and she has some messages for you.

She said her mouth feels funny with the retainer, but she'll get used to it. Just before we got to school, she said she was going to take it out for the "first impression" with her friends. I told her I thought that was an excellent idea.

And as she got out of the car, she said, "I can't stop smiling!"

Love, Grandma

Categories: family news

migrating this blog

2006-02-10T14:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, a german-speaking JÃ¼rgen commented on my stale post at wordpress.com and suggested I look again for the import utility:

JÃ¼rgen said: Just go to your dashboard. If youâ€™re logged in to WordPress.com and show your blog, the link to the dashboard is in the top-left corner. Once in the dashboard you find a kind of menu on the top of the site and the most right item is called â€œImportâ€�.Gopod luck.

Sure enoughâ€¦the import button was there and I gave it a shot as you can see if you go visit it. All these blogger posts (100+) imported. It did not honor blogger.com image controlling code, and in fact, it broke many image links. Iâ€™m not going in a repairing all those image references. so Iâ€™ll stick with blogger.com/blogspot.com for now.

Categories: technology