tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124905042011-04-21T15:28:13.764-07:00Promoting fermentation and freedom in Lawrence, Kansas.Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.comBlogger1901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1172084659039859702007-02-21T11:02:00.000-08:002007-02-21T11:04:19.103-08:00

Why doesn't the ATM know the cardholder is an English speaker, if English has been the chosen language for every transaction for 5 freakin' years?

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1171903389107622612007-02-19T08:39:00.000-08:002007-02-19T08:43:09.173-08:00

Note to online businesses and form designers:When you require irrelevant information in a web form, don't be surprised if people deliberately fill out the form incorrectly.For instance, I now have a magazine subscription being sent to me at:Mrs. OverlordOverlord Industries, IncLawrence Kansas.Harbor Freight delivers a catalog to me addressed to "Rumplestiltskin".

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1171299887487915432007-02-12T09:01:00.000-08:002007-02-12T09:32:15.313-08:00

I use a T-mobile To Go prepaid cell phone because I don't use my cell phone much. It doesn't work at my house, and I find most cellular conversation barely tolerable.To refill your plan online, you have to register for a "My T-Mobile" account. Just to add minutes to your plan. They want you to register to give them money.Why is this so convoluted since I can "Buy minutes for another T-mobile

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1171040105193062622007-02-09T06:06:00.000-08:002007-02-09T08:55:05.283-08:00

If you want a good selection of wines to take to any dinner but you don't know what people like, here are three bottles that should be quite acceptable to a broad spectrum of wine drinkers. They are also widely available.This is based on availability in Kansas, so I have offered substitutes in all cases or in case your store doesn't carry the first choice.The best part of this list is these

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1170867276775101832007-02-07T08:45:00.000-08:002007-02-07T08:54:36.820-08:00

Walmart.com, you've been Site-ed. A copy of this Site-ation could not be sent via their "Contact Us" page, because - surprise:SITE-ATIONYour website has been cited for usability problems. Your violations are checked below. Please correct these problems. You may have had good intentions in your design decisions, but they are just making visitors confused and mad.FORMS(X) Lists countries (usually

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1170449989281378762007-02-02T11:37:00.000-08:002007-02-05T12:23:32.626-08:00

Everyone's got a "War on" phrase, so I decided to have one as well.I made a late new year's resolution. This is the year I order people to fix their crappy broken websites. Here's my first draft at the "traffic ticket" style feedback for crappy websites. I am no longer just "putting up" with dumb design decisions.I am contemplating a t-shirt for this as well.SITE-ATIONYour website has been

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1170442385525818842007-02-02T10:51:00.000-08:002007-02-02T10:53:05.590-08:00

Read this when you aren't around anything you can break.Personally I think $25,000 is off by at least one order of magnitude.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1168375611042883572007-01-09T12:35:00.000-08:002007-01-12T08:03:22.113-08:00

Apple announced the most revolutionary cell phone/media player ever today.Then they proceeded to take a huge crap on it by tying the cell phone to a specific cellular service. Even worse, they tied it to Cingular. This is like Ferrari insisting all their auto service be done by Jiffy Lube.This is going to be a(nother) customer service nightmare for Cingular, as their own techs don't even know

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1166113820309638532006-12-14T06:09:00.000-08:002006-12-14T09:36:07.323-08:00

I love a well-written persuasive letter or paper. There is a certain type of persuasive writing that just makes me cringe: the poorly written letter to the editor.It's not poor grammar or bad ideas that make a letter bad, it's the same mistakes other people have been making for years: overused cliches and lame topics.So I bring you the Top Ten Letter to the Editor Cliches (aka "Don't Pick Up the

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1165447918736251812006-12-06T17:45:00.000-08:002006-12-06T15:31:58.813-08:00

I remember when the AT&T ads first came out and they were accused greatly of over-promising. Now that AT&T has retaken their name (so everyone will now think of the old monolithic long distance company -- good one guys), it's probably time to look back at these ads.Andrew Sullivan contends that this predicts the future "shockingly well". I beg to differ. It's not that the technologies haven't

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1163690276278390632006-11-16T05:15:00.000-08:002006-11-16T07:17:56.293-08:00

http://www.freelunchproject.com/I am going to short out my keyboard from the tears of laughter.via Cato-at-Liberty

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1163616125567789272006-11-15T10:36:00.000-08:002006-11-15T10:42:05.586-08:00

I used Google Checkout for the first time today (some awesome deals to be had with $10 off $30 at buy.com) and they did almost everything absolutely right:credit card number is one big text box, and it auto formats the numberphone number is one big text boxCC dates are in two text boxes, as they are printed on the card.form is short and simple.Then I got to the last page of the checkout, and the

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1163541150371189922006-11-14T06:48:00.000-08:002006-11-14T13:52:30.440-08:00

Well, ok, it doesn't really. But I suspect someone's not far off from claiming that it is.If you listen to Sam Brownback say that abortion has caused the social security troubles, you wouldn't be surprised when a Republican-led panel of the Missouri House of reps blames abortion for immigration problems as well.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1163541880453544852006-11-14T06:43:00.000-08:002006-11-14T14:04:40.453-08:00

The new 5.5mm-machine-gun-toting robot sentry announced by Samsung bears a remarkable resemblance to...ED-209!

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1162567851293822782006-11-03T07:11:00.000-08:002006-11-04T12:18:58.323-08:00

Since the state Libertarian party doesn't have a voter guide, I am publishing one. (Their chair says "it's a good idea". Sigh)House of Rep. 2nd District: Nancy Boyda (D)There is no Libertarian Candidate on the ballot, and anything that helps unseat the Republican majority in Congress is in our best interests.Gov/Lt. Gov: Kramer/Hebron (L)I believe Sebelius has this race locked in being the

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1161378790631983302006-10-20T07:05:00.000-07:002006-10-20T14:27:12.283-07:00

The Cato Institute recently gave Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius a grade of "D" for her fiscal policy in 2006.On KPR News this morning, a spokeswoman for the office was quoted as saying the Governor is "fine with the rating, considering the source."It must be nice to pick and choose which grades you will accept after the teacher has handed them out. If the Governor's office believed she was

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1160421347912416212006-10-09T05:13:00.000-07:002006-10-09T12:15:47.930-07:00

In light of the great t-shirts that say "I am not a terrorist" in Arabic, I am thinking of having shirts printed that say "I am not a geologist".Here's why.(via Consumerist)

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1160149820167305242006-10-06T06:46:00.000-07:002006-10-06T08:50:20.180-07:00

Yesterday in Lawrence, while the city attorney was arguing against Fourth Amendment rights in Federal court, Leonard Pitts was giving a talk to a packed house at the Lied Center about erosion of civil rights.I was there, he quoted the Fourth Amendment.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1157641514918711532006-09-07T05:03:00.000-07:002006-09-07T08:05:14.936-07:00

A while back I wrote about how Onesuite boneheadedly put their web form reset buttons in the wrong place.I noticed today it's fixed. Good job guys.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1157146731323210072006-09-01T05:33:00.000-07:002006-09-01T14:38:51.796-07:00

I drink almost exclusively diet drinks (er, except beer) and I've dropped most sodas by now.I recently tried Crystal Light Classic Orange drink mix and found it very good for an artificial drink mix. I've had most of them -- sugar free Koolaid, store brands of Crystal Light knockoffs, and the other versions of Crystal Light. This flavor sets itself apart.Most importantly, it is not thin and

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1157052026791597252006-08-31T12:06:00.000-07:002006-08-31T12:20:26.830-07:00

This unnamed company that sells pet treats wants to charge customers $3 for the privilege of picking up your order instead of having it shipped.Yeaaaaah.....riiiiiggght.This says to me "beware of other hidden costs".I didn't even bother to calculate actually shipping costs. They lost a customer forever based on this stupid business practice alone.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1156961616841064842006-08-29T22:55:00.000-07:002006-08-30T11:14:06.060-07:00

I got a box from IBM today in the mail. In it was a rock. This isn't a setup or pun. It was a rock.It was a "worry stone" with their slogans engraved in it. I don't use their products, but now if I do I have something to throw at their servers when they don't work.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1154357947138079052006-07-31T04:55:00.000-07:002006-07-31T07:59:07.166-07:00

And keeping in the spirit of civil liberties as well...Did you know that a dog is considered property for Fourth Amendment purposes?See Lesher v. Reed

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1153165312340041092006-07-17T04:41:00.000-07:002006-07-17T12:41:52.386-07:00

I've created a Zazzle store. Drop by and grab a t-shirt.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1153152672112421382006-07-17T04:08:00.000-07:002006-07-17T09:11:12.130-07:00

In coordination with a paper about the overuse of SWAT tactics and botched police raids, the Cato Institute has a google map of the US showing the location of these events.Backlink to me saying this is an epidemic.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1152805585006306222006-07-13T05:41:00.000-07:002006-07-13T08:46:40.873-07:00

Kansas won't be getting any more Venezuelan gasoline.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1152548620668905412006-07-10T05:17:00.000-07:002006-07-10T09:23:40.686-07:00

My favorite quote:"Topics for discussion included property rights and freedom of assembly."Link to Kansas.com story. Watch out for the popups. Yeesh!49abcnews coverage as well, beware there is some big ass ugly video on this page (since I don't install quicktime and the video is unlabeled I don't know what the video is.)

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1152292924359696582006-07-07T04:08:00.000-07:002006-07-07T10:22:04.373-07:00

For the record, I created this this answering machine message well over 10 years ago on my Macintosh IIsi, sticking a microphone up to my Betamax recordings of Star Trek:TNG and editing the file in Soundedit.It now seems to be floating around the net in various places, though someone cut out the "shut up Wesley" part I had in there. Somewhere around here there is Star Trek:TOS version as well.I

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1151424524755540342006-06-27T04:07:00.000-07:002006-06-27T09:08:44.770-07:00

"Republicans should move to Massachusetts and marry the flag already. They've been fucking it for years."via To the People

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1151346510523915232006-06-26T04:24:00.000-07:002006-06-26T11:30:08.830-07:00

I could quote Radley Balko all day long, but this gem is a great followup to these recent events.This is in response to the recent SCOTUS Hudson case, where Scalia said [pdf] that police are more professional and better trained now."They're better trained at treating civilians like enemy combatants, not at treating them as citizens wih constitutional rights."Right on.[Update -- this is what I

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1150833798959778832006-06-20T04:02:00.000-07:002006-06-20T13:03:18.976-07:00

Someone setup this new blog to track issues stemming from the Wakarusa Festival 2006.They quote my letter to the editor.Link.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1150742740587177572006-06-19T04:37:00.000-07:002006-06-19T11:45:40.640-07:00

Link.Ooo, someone agrees with me, by name.Link.Apologies for the Waybacks reference in the title.topic whiplash:Perhaps I should have used the False Identity Generator. That's a great idea, but judging from his My Ideal Mate page, I am not sure the Great Lord would approve.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1149191589806824612006-06-01T12:39:00.000-07:002006-06-01T12:53:09.826-07:00

Is is really necessary to advertise what your company does before letting someone contact you?I've been spending a lot of time on the phone lately. A lot of voicemail. I read some voicemail advice linked from Lifehacker a couple of months back that more people need to follow. Specifically,When you have to leave a voicemail, give your name, number, and reason at the beginning of the message, to

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1148656646891372612006-05-26T08:13:00.000-07:002006-05-26T08:17:26.906-07:00

What sort of an online store has a boneheaded order limit of 8 items?CircuitCity.com.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1147978680909721072006-05-18T06:45:00.000-07:002006-05-18T12:23:38.726-07:00

A manufacturer of permanent markers has placed a guy outside my office for the last two days touting the new "mini" version of their flagship marker product.How is he promoting the smaller version? With a massive black H2 Hummer.Normally I couldn't care less about how companies want to spend their money on advertising and how it relates to the environment, but in this case -- since the

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1146680584578179432006-05-03T11:19:00.000-07:002006-05-03T11:23:04.593-07:00

I received an online "customer satisfaction" survey done for a business by a third party.I don't mind filling these out, but in this case I couldn't figure out how to fill out the survey.See if can easily figure out how you are supposed to fill out this form.What's even worse is the interface for asking these same styles of questions has been around on pen and paper for decades.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1145993079129142002006-04-25T12:19:00.000-07:002006-04-25T12:24:49.653-07:00

Bush announced today that his administration "will not tolerate manipulation" of gas prices, and then promptly turned around and manipulated the oil market by stopping deposits into the strategic reserves -- "leaving a little more oil on the market" -- and easing regulation on oil industries.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1145652277944306522006-04-21T13:35:00.000-07:002006-04-21T15:29:36.950-07:00

The Christian Science Monitor has an article up about office etiquette and the use of technology.The article gets everything backwards, which is not surprising considering their site has popup windows. It doesn't address the root causes of most of the annoying behaviors, which are typically bad management and business philosophies. If someone is breaking office etiquette, it's probably because

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1144250468190947082006-04-05T08:05:00.000-07:002006-04-05T08:21:08.226-07:00

It's a start, but it's not as big as the Mac blogs are making it out to be: XP on Intel MacsWhen Apple can offer an entry level Intel Mac for $399, I'll pay more attention. This isn't going to make much of a dent in business PC sales because Apple clearing doesn't care about the Enterprise, so they won't invest the structure like Dell and others have done in support and breadth of product

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1144092324645275882006-04-03T06:22:00.000-07:002006-04-03T12:27:50.740-07:00

Ex Lawrencian and Mac programmer John Calhoun (author of the great Mac game Glider) was featured last week in the MAKE blog for his Media Mac.Update: His MAME cabinets made it to MAKE as well.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1144093446124114522006-04-03T05:42:00.000-07:002006-04-03T12:44:06.153-07:00

Shamelessly ripped from Reason Hit and Run

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1143756712572329272006-03-30T06:09:00.000-08:002006-03-30T14:11:52.596-08:00

OS X is good but far from perfect. Better that Windows XP? Maybe. Definitely faster. It is not without its share of annoyances. To Windows XP's credit, most annoyances can be fixed with tweaks, power tools, and registry settings.So, inspired by these lists of 10 Things (actually 20) to Hate about OS X, here's mine.If you see something here that can be fixed, let me know.10. Dragging

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1143651211171535802006-03-29T05:50:00.000-08:002006-03-29T08:53:31.206-08:00

And this is even from a Senator"The reality is that it is easier to buy low-grade radioactive material for a dirty bomb than it is to buy cold medicine"tip: To the People(Must also reference summary of article on border security:Old man on tricycle [with pot]? Busted.Undercover agents with dirty-bomb material? Welcome to the U.S.A.)

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1143499013511080122006-03-27T04:33:00.000-08:002006-03-27T14:51:34.553-08:00

Robert Greenwald, author of "Walmart: The High Cost of Low Prices" is pleading for help to prepare for his interview with Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report this week.There are about 100 pages of suggestions on his blog, so I will offer mine here instead.Make sure you have your facts straight.(thanks consumerist)

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142618315549664812006-03-17T06:51:00.000-08:002006-03-17T09:58:35.573-08:00

I use onesuite.com for my long distance. It's a pre-paid card. Dirt cheap for the whole 10 mins of long distance I spend each year.They clearly don't want me to recharge my card, because their multi-page online payment form has a Reset button on every page of the form located where the OK/Submit button should be.It should come as no surprise that I have accidentally cleared this form while

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142561633558849892006-03-16T18:11:00.000-08:002006-03-17T08:51:30.706-08:00

The Bush administration doesn't want to to have trials for detainees because they are too incompetent to convict them.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142562495149168472006-03-16T06:26:00.000-08:002006-03-17T08:50:23.696-08:00

Libertarian author, design pundit, all-around hottie and former Reason Editor-in-Chief donated a kidney to a friend this month.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142561382071330322006-03-16T06:05:00.000-08:002006-03-17T08:51:00.683-08:00

Will say this on the back, ripped verbatim from To The People but empasis will be mine."The incompetence of the US government has been nothing less than shocking in the past few years. The bungling of the Iraq War, the inept preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina and the Keystone Kops implementation of the Medicare drug benefit have combined to make the US government, which sucks $1.5

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142538729148643992006-03-16T05:21:00.000-08:002006-03-16T11:54:43.510-08:00

Tom Monaghan, founder of Dominos Pizza, is planning a catholic university and town that sounds like living hell.the highlights of "Ave Maria":no porncable controlled by, er, the church? Tom himself?no condoms or contraceptives at pharmaciesall commercial real estate is controlledOn one hand I applaud Monaghan for doing this the right way -- privately building a (walkable!) community from scratch

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142561268866665612006-03-16T04:05:00.000-08:002006-03-16T18:07:48.883-08:00

Will say this on the back, ripped verbatim from To The People but empasis will be mine."The incompetence of the US government has been nothing less than shocking in the past few years. The bungling of the Iraq War, the inept preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina and the Keystone Kops implementation of the Medicare drug benefit have combined to make the US government, which sucks $1.5

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142434219132063882006-03-15T06:46:00.000-08:002006-03-15T06:50:19.153-08:00

Having solved all crime, police in Texas started pulling people over for doing nothing wrong.They rewarded them for courteous and good driving behavior.Unless of course they happened to spot something in the car, or the driver had an invalid license, etc..We'll use cameras to mail people tickets for driving infractions, but we use real police to give them baseball tickets. That's a good use of

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1142361203696388712006-03-14T04:31:00.000-08:002006-03-14T10:33:23.723-08:00

Holy flying cows.What is the Douglas County Emergency Management Department doing? Evidently they aren't preparing to manage emergencies. Are the expectations so low after Katrina that we find it acceptable they couldn't even keep their generator and sirens running?This wasn't an equipment failure, as Director Phillips was quoted as saying in the paper, this was a failure of emergency

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1141942713856831522006-03-09T06:15:00.000-08:002006-03-09T14:18:33.873-08:00

Aaahhh!!!! Am I in The Matrix now? I've already been downloaded. No wait, this is a question.From the app Streamdown. I would have kept it anonymous if the software was free.If you want money for your software, you're fair game.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1141849903419225272006-03-08T06:28:00.000-08:002006-03-08T12:31:43.433-08:00

If having the DHS do drug and porn raids wasn't enough, Bush signed an executive order creating the Department of Homeland Security with Respect to Faith-Based and Community InitiativesI had to double-check that this wasn't a joke. I wish it was.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1141316856074643332006-03-02T04:23:00.000-08:002006-03-02T08:37:12.976-08:00

Because today I am sure to set off all the secret Drug War alarms by buying up all the stock I can find of the current formulation of Nyquil. You know, the formulation that actually works.You see, Procter & Gamble is removing pseudoephedrine from it's 'Quil products because they can be used to make people feel better methamphetamine. Pretty soon the hardware stores will restrict toilet parts to

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1141234640523773322006-03-01T05:34:00.000-08:002006-03-01T09:37:20.543-08:00

Here's the menu for the home page of a particular company's web site.Perhaps a little less focus on "techie futuristic look" and a little more focus on "don't make my eyes bleed to read this" would be appropriate.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1141069042083879532006-02-27T11:25:00.000-08:002006-02-27T11:37:22.106-08:00

Jesus H. Christ, this thing rocked!

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140724141887374152006-02-23T19:46:00.000-08:002006-02-23T14:23:26.090-08:00

My neighbors have plutonium in their barn.Never mind.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140737057521824072006-02-23T15:17:00.000-08:002006-02-23T15:24:17.546-08:00

When it's Robocopy GUI.I was a running some experiments with the uber-useful Robocopy windows robust copy command, and I found a GUI front end for it.Or so I thought.If you are going to build a GUI for a command line utility, a crapload of checkboxes for the command line switches accomplishes absolutely nothing. Spell out the options for chrissakes.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140650688197993662006-02-22T04:22:00.000-08:002006-02-22T15:41:23.926-08:00

That's it.We're are living 1984.It's one thing to actually be in a perpetual state of war to justify stomping on civil liberties, expansion of power and excessive spending etc.But to be in a self-acknowledged war with no end in sight and give a new Proper Noun Name to the war makes me wonder if the Bush administration isn't actually using 1984 for their playbook.I am not the only one picking up

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140218117925421362006-02-17T04:13:00.000-08:002006-02-17T15:15:17.940-08:00

at the law firm of Gonzales, Watchu, and Howe.(flash animation)

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140105508640415552006-02-16T06:54:00.000-08:002006-02-16T08:01:05.590-08:00

Well, the Daily Show's got a pretty funny take on Cheney's hunting accident (it would have been funnier if they didn't change "birdshot" to "buckshot")But this is better.Or wait, I think these might be better.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140110151107679432006-02-16T04:12:00.000-08:002006-02-16T09:15:51.170-08:00

Dear Apple,Why must I install iTunes + Quicktime and then remove iTunes to get the quicktime player only?Do you hate me?rob

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140037758696234322006-02-15T13:04:00.000-08:002006-02-15T13:09:18.713-08:00

I was reading the Top Ten Sci-fi Films that Never Existed, and I saw this scary quote."Then again, when I was watching Predator I didn't think two members of its cast would become governors, either."Poor Carl Weathers. He's just the butt-end of jokes on Arrested Development.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1140039111736063312006-02-15T05:30:00.000-08:002006-02-15T13:31:51.773-08:00

Can you find a video of a drag queen playing the banjo and singing Cindy Lauper.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1139501500591022202006-02-09T07:42:00.000-08:002006-02-09T08:11:40.660-08:00

[So long as sites like The Consumerist insist on silly closed comments system, I figure their posts are fair game in my own blog.]Consumerist.com parrots posts some "tips" from Dealhack about buying a Dell. Several of the tips are not good.On average I buy one Dell a week, and I advise people on their private purchases just as often. My own purchases are for work but they have the same

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1139412863966647462006-02-08T07:31:00.000-08:002006-02-08T10:51:49.046-08:00

I read and re-read this article very carefully, and it is fundamentally misusing the word "fresh" in the context of beer."Fresh beer" is beer that is already at its prime and has been handled and stored properly. This is always better than the same beer that's been in the bottle. If for no other reason than most bottled beer has had more exposure to oxygen.With a few notable exceptions, the "

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1139244958878325112006-02-06T07:52:00.000-08:002006-02-06T08:55:58.896-08:00

Pretty much word-for-word from Morning Edition today:"Angry Muslims torched a Danish mission and ransacked a Christian neighborhood in protest over cartoons that depict the Prophet Muhammad as violent."

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1139251846040201212006-02-06T07:46:00.000-08:002006-02-06T10:51:02.053-08:00

I had much better things to do than watch the Superbowl. I do tend to like the commercials though. If the level of creativity shown in the Superbowl commercials appeared in most commmercials, I might not even use a tivo.I go to the google video compilation of Superbowl commercials and the first ones I watch were not show on television.So not only did I not watch the Superbowl, I first watched

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1139238564666918282006-02-06T07:04:00.000-08:002006-02-06T07:15:25.196-08:00

I built my niece a child-sized oak table for Christmas. Didn't turn out half bad.It was made from rough sawn white oak, based on a plan I found in Popular Mechanics (it's not available online). The original inspiration came from a Pottery Barn kids catalog.It's built with mortise and tenon joinery, lightly stained (I believe it's honey pine stain) and finished with a couple of coats of

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1137521654205305132006-01-17T10:13:00.000-08:002006-01-17T10:14:14.233-08:00

Wow, sometimes they do get things right.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1137097825480760412006-01-12T11:59:00.000-08:002006-01-12T12:30:25.496-08:00

"Brokeback Mountain isn't 'controversial'. Movie studios aren't worried about 25 gay cowboys protesting in front of a theater."- Albert Brooks, Daily Show 01-11-06

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1137006949502999442006-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:002006-01-11T11:15:49.516-08:00

And I got it last year when it was announced, and every week after that as well. It's cool (if mostly worthless).It's so 2005. Enough already!

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1135369438016105892005-12-23T06:23:00.000-08:002005-12-23T12:24:44.510-08:00

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1135175522808071872005-12-21T06:31:00.000-08:002005-12-21T06:32:02.823-08:00

"Have a great chanakwanzachristmasnewyearsolstice!"

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1134945417261713292005-12-18T14:29:00.000-08:002005-12-18T14:44:43.283-08:00

I can't say it any better than this:"They said they just wanted to ban smoking on airplanes because people could not avoid the smoke. Then they said they just wanted to ban smoking in most workplaces, except for bars and restaurants which of course people had a right to smoke in. Then they said, you know what we do want to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. They argued that people could still

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1134597618580870382005-12-14T07:56:00.000-08:002005-12-14T14:00:44.133-08:00

Every once in a while I wonder "why did it take so long to invent that"?The new Dupont self-charging smoke detector is one of those items.The unit plugs into any standard light socket (the bulb can stay in the socket) and charges the smoke alarm battery anytime to the light is turned on.So here's my completely ripped off derivative inspired similar idea -- ceiling fan light kits with the same

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1133969635176184212005-12-07T07:17:00.000-08:002005-12-07T07:33:55.193-08:00

We've got 5-6 inches of snow forecasted here in Lawrence today. I saw a few people already forgot how to drive over night.Remember these simple rules for driving in snow.x) Snow and ice reduce the coefficient of friction for your tires, making you travel easier on the road surface, and therefore faster as well. You won't need as much time to get to where you are going.x) Four wheel drive not

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1133805691545677282005-12-05T09:31:00.000-08:002005-12-05T10:01:31.560-08:00

The brand of detergent called "All" recently released the "small and mighty" bottle that does the same 32 loads as their "regular" (i.e. diluted) detergent.Price for diluted detergent: $4.89Price for less-diluted detergent $4.99Less plastic and less water should be less money. This seems like the same stunt that all the bleach manufacturers pulled with the "ultra" version of the bleach products.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1132243071120983242005-11-17T07:53:00.000-08:002005-11-17T07:58:44.310-08:00

I do a lot of woodworking projects and sometimes they are outside. Pressure-treated lumber has been my friend but the chemical cocktails used to treat them are pretty nasty.Then along comes TimberSIL. This is a cool new sodium silicate and soda ash preserved wood with a non-poisonous preservative.Like most materials meant to last a long time, the truth will only be known many years from now, but

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1131491076570279892005-11-08T15:03:00.000-08:002005-11-08T15:04:36.593-08:00

In the fine tradition of the judicial process as defined by religion.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1131376506229051042005-11-07T06:38:00.000-08:002005-11-07T07:21:38.510-08:00

What's the new pot heroine cocaine crack ?Burger King. (Perhaps this explains the weird dude in their commercials.)NPR ran a story by Jennifer Obakhume on Morning Edition today. Obakhume is a senior at Inglewood High School in Los Angeles.The school has stopped serving fast food, and took out all but one soda machine. Obakhume says that school officials "couldn't have planned for what happened

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1130858562410447602005-11-01T07:12:00.000-08:002005-11-01T07:25:33.350-08:00

There are some really bad electronic forms on the internet. So bad that I wish we could harness "bad form power" and power the planet.Occasionally, a form comes along that is so poorly implemented it's funny.Take a look at this "free razor" form from Supermax (pic of form). They are obviously gathering demographic data, but they won't get accurate data, and I know that for certain.You can see

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1130872331794119622005-11-01T06:55:00.000-08:002005-11-01T11:12:26.703-08:00

When neoprohibitionists and nannystatists create a perfect storm, this is what you get.(CBS4) BELCHERTOWN, MA The state of Connecticut is banning sales of a couple holiday beers with Santa on the label.Link (which explains the butt reference)This is, of course, because the beer might appeal to children.I guess St Pauli Girl isn't sold in Connecticut because the buxom beer gal would appeal to

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1130448711558675022005-10-27T17:29:00.000-07:002005-10-27T19:53:49.780-07:00

I love the tag line for this "4' 4 inch personal massager" and the misspelling makes it funnier.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1130438270915618982005-10-27T07:36:00.000-07:002005-10-27T11:49:43.803-07:00

I purchased a Seagate Hard Drive from Best Buy today (good deal after rebates).It was out of stock online, but available at my local store. Rather than stand in line and search for the product, I decided to use their in-store pickup service. This was the wrong decision.This service is actually more work than going over to the store, getting the item off the shelf, and checking out through the

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1130170660413251522005-10-24T07:13:00.000-07:002005-10-24T09:38:13.496-07:00

This morning the NPR Technology report talked about the conversion to digital television from analog.Dennis Wharton of the National Association of Broadcasters is quoted as saying that people who cannot receive the new digital broadcasts [presumably because they cannot purchase digital equipment] are "disenfranchised from any access to local television service".So people in rural areas who are

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1129733079527802982005-10-19T07:42:00.000-07:002005-10-27T19:49:33.060-07:00

I found out today that I passed the BJCP certification and am now a certified beer judge. I didn't score high enough to be Recognized Certified, which is a little bit of a let down, but at least I passed. Someday someone will explain to me how I passed the beer judge certification test, but failed to be Certified.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1129301861267122302005-10-14T07:54:00.000-07:002005-10-14T07:57:41.276-07:00

I like a car with a carburetor. Old, proven technology. Reliable.I fear the next car I buy might have debilitating software flaws.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1128623317923029292005-10-06T06:24:00.000-07:002005-10-06T11:28:37.933-07:00

I am no big fan of George Will, but damn did he write a very lucid and straightforward article about Bush's latest pick for the Supreme Court.Here's the thesis: The President can't be trusted to pick a guardian of the Constitution when he clearly can't be trusted to defend it himself.Ouch.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1126102612715983552005-09-07T07:15:00.000-07:002005-09-07T07:16:52.730-07:00

"While state and federal officials have come under harsh criticism for their handling of the storm's aftermath, Wal-Mart is being held up as a model for logistical efficiency and nimble disaster planning, which have allowed it to quickly deliver staples such as water, fuel and toilet paper to thousands of evacuees. [...] During a tearful interview on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Aaron F.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1125788980818408062005-09-03T17:08:00.000-07:002005-09-07T12:52:29.003-07:00

Not bacon and cholesterol, bone-headed politicians.The American Red Cross has an annual budget of $6-12 billion dollars.In light of this, consider the most recent "highway bill" which has become a huge pork barrel bill, with many earmarked and irrelevant recipients. It totaled $256 billion.How much money could have gone to prevention and rescue rather than this bullshit?The "Bridge to Nowhere",

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1125784807698583462005-09-03T14:58:00.000-07:002005-09-03T15:00:07.713-07:00

Before people realize the Federal Government is completely incapable of protecting itself and its citizens from both foreign aggression and natural disasters?This 18 year old kid did what the Bush Administration did not.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1124981878905520772005-08-25T07:38:00.000-07:002005-08-25T07:57:58.913-07:00

A couple of weeks back I bought a Targus Groove backpack because I was carrying too much crap around on a daily basis. For $17 after rebate it's was a steal. It's a great backpack so far.Last week, Targus sends me a little postcard in the mail stating that my rebate submission was incomplete and that I did not include the original UPC. I did, of course, include the UPC taped to the submission

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1124907858579941192005-08-24T07:22:00.000-07:002005-08-24T11:24:18.586-07:00

So you can protect yourself from bullshit on both the right and the left.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1124480734569733992005-08-19T18:40:00.000-07:002005-08-19T12:45:34.583-07:00

Leave it to Boing Boing to get a good jab in at the "Intelligent" Design folks:"We are willing to pay any individual *$250,000 if they can produce empirical evidence which proves that Jesus is not the son of the Flying Spaghetti Monster."Be sure to read the fine print.And read about the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1124229689734241512005-08-16T14:58:00.000-07:002005-08-16T15:01:29.743-07:00

Wow, I had to break out the paint program to believe it, but yes, they are the same shade.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1124141821964333832005-08-15T17:28:00.000-07:002005-08-15T14:37:01.973-07:00

New Orleans decided that illegal parking meters with unenforceable expiration indicators are now enforceable and legal.They decided that they are legal as of January 1 2005. Prior to that date, they were not legal.They legalized them in August 2005. Back to January 1 2005.Not a single mention of "parking was problem", but instead the city's lost revenue is the sole concern.linkypoo.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1122596962904928432005-07-28T19:16:00.000-07:002005-07-28T17:29:22.910-07:00

And here are two good reasons why.The Lawrence Police Department will ticket you for failing to obeying signs even the City Manager says you can't see.In Lee's Summit, the Police will arrest you and the city will prosecute you for driving while, well, they don't know what but they're going to keep trying until they find something.Enough cash-strapped municipalities monkeys at enough typewriters

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12490504.post-1122478494054621482005-07-27T07:25:00.000-07:002005-07-27T08:41:33.270-07:00

Be warned: if the state you live in doesn't allow you to be married, venue-shopping won't help -- even if you are heterosexual.

Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03722506537976598808noreply@blogger.com0