raoli.com

Recently, it seems like I’ve been either too busy or too tired to write much of anything. Thanks to the wonder that is the Two-Day Work Week, I’m starting to work through the backlog.

During my down time, Raena posted a great piece on switchable style sheets. She covers the PMP code to switch styles and store the selected style as a cookie as well as the HTML code necessary to call the switcher and specify different style sheets.

I’m thinking about redesigning this site, since I’m just using a modified version of a stock Moveable Type template, and this is one technique I’d like to try. If I can come up with something decent, it’ll go into the pile of cool things you can do without Flash.

Gizmodo:

An industrial robot might turn out to be the Next Big Thing at amusement parks. The Robocoaster is essentially a massive robotic arm with a rollercoaster-type harness attached to the end of it:

It runs on Windows.

The jokes write themselves.

Gives a whole new meaning to Blue Screen of Death.

Apparently, Microsoft’s iLoo was an April Fool’s joke… announced in May. Just goes to show that Microsoft really can’t make any ship date.

May 14th: …or not…

Now, Microsoft’s saying the iLoo was a real project. MS was so embarrassed by the public reaction to the announcement that the folks in the MSN group tried to find a way to cover their asses. From the article:

But Microsoft switched its story Tuesday and said that the iLoo had been a legitimate project by its British MSN Internet service that was terminated after the initial announcement prompted controversy, ridicule and disgust.

At first, I was trying to figure out what sort of twisted individual would think this was a good idea. Then it dawned on me that this was a natural pairing. After all, any potty-trained youngster can tell you that crap belongs in the toilet.

It’s a few days after the fact, but Bill Bumgarner has found a new home. The blogroll has been updated accordingly.

Oh yeah — Bill, on the off chance you’re reading this, glad you’re not going off the air.

So I add Bill Bumgarner to my blog roll and now it looks like he might not be around much longer. Blech.

Nuts. On top of everything else, I just received email notification from Radio Userland that my serial number will expire in 15 days. I didn’t even know that the damned thing expired in the first place.
So, this ‘blog may go “off the air” in about 15 days as I can’t currently justify the $40 to renew the license.
Anyone know of a decent Python based blogging system? …and a good place to host?

Honestly, I don’t know of any Python based blogging systems (not that I’ve looked). Nor can I guess at Bill’s hosting requirement — somehow, I think he get slightly more visitors than I. It would be ashame if Bill’s web site went dark, though, so if you have any thoughts, drop him a note.

Alright, I’m jumping on the band wagon — I’m now on BlogShares.

Hell, it’s gotta be safer than playing the real stock market.

When I heard about this, I though of a stock market-type game I played in high school where you traded in pop-culture figures: athletes, musicians, actors, etc. I can’t remember the name of that site, but it’s probably the same thing Erik’s remembering. Fortunately, my Internet connection is much better than is was in high school, so it won’t take 5 minutes to get a price quote.

Update: Has anybody manages to access BlogShares with Safari? I get the SBOD whenever I try.

It’s nice to see somebody at Apple still has a sense of humor:

…or at least a really warped sense of reality…

Check Crazy Apple Rumors for the full story.

On the topic of cell phones, I’ve been visiting MoibleTracker over the past week or so to see what’s coming down the track for cell phones.

Verizon hasn’t really had any compelling phones in a while now — the Kyocera lists the QCP 6035 as a “Classic Phone” and the Audiovox Thera is only a dual band phone. That’s why I bought a used 2135 instead of a new phone after laundering my 2235.

Looking at Jon’s web site, I keep hoping that he’ll post something about a line of phones for Verizon — and those new Sony Ericsson look very cool.

Normally I wouldn’t blog my own birthday, but I’m amused that it’s such a crowded day:

• Happy Birthday Uncle Steve — you got your present when I was born 24 years ago.
• It’s Doc Searls Mom’s 90th birthday.
• And there’s Steven Frank’s Dad.

Also, my cousin Alex was born 2 days too soon to take part in the festivities, but what the heck — happy belated birthday, kid.

Anybody else out there? Pop into the comments and say hi!

Eric Albert:

Brian Tiemann discovers Iraqi Explorer. It’s quite good.

I never thought I’d enjoy seeing any version of that particular page, but Anthony Cox pulls it off.