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I'm thinking <i>Cluetrain</i> should be required reading for the Authors Guild
Note to self: do not join the clueless Authors Guild. I echo Gruber's sentiments regarding the decision of the Authors Guild to sue Google over Google Print. For one, an author can choose to exclude his work in a fairly simple process. Second, as an aspiring author, were I to publish a book, I would love to see it read by as many people as possible. If Google Print helped me accomplish that, so much the better.
Promotion
Congratulations to Michael Hyatt, who is going to have to change the graphic on his blog after his promotion yesterday. (What Mr. Hyatt doesn't know, is that when I finally get around to writing my Christian-worldview technothriller, I will relentlessly harass him to publish it. So keep that between us, okay?) Seriously, though, Mr. Hyatt has big shoes to fill, and we wish him the best and will keep him in our prayers. Sure, all businesses exist to make money, but my view is that Christian businesses, and notably in this case, a publishing house, exist for a higher purpose as well.
Gtalk
Jon reports that Google Talk has gone live. The IM product builds on Gmail accounts and the open-source Jabber IM service. I'm already up and running on it with AdiumX, so I guess iChat will be taking a hike, and my fun balloons won't be used in the future. (Can anyone point me to a reasonable substitute for Adium?) If you want to jaw via Jabber courtesy of Google, use my site name at gmail dot com, but you have to have a Gmail account to play along. Let me know if you'd like an invitation via the e-mail address noted in the previous sentence.
In search of a good web whacker
That's web whacker, not weed whacker. The latter is taken care of by our Black & Decker Grass Hog. A friend is looking for a Mac- or Java-based web whacker/sucker program for a project. According to what he's tried so far: + Web Dumper doesn't work + PageSucker stops working while in use + Site Orbiter doesn't save files for browsing offline properly + Safari's Web Archive feature isn't cutting the mustard, either The project in question is taking a dynamically-generated web site (which does not output HTML files), whacking/sucking it to a local machine in HTML format, then moving it offsite to another web server. Please leave suggestions in the comments. Thanks!
Strongspace™
Secure online storage and file sharing. Eight bucks a month gets you 4 gigs. No bandwidth charges, no contract. Nifty. [Via Todd Dominey.]
Buy your books like you buy your music
At least that's what VitalSource is hoping you'll do: buy eBooks from them in the same way people buy music from the iTunes Music Store. James Duncan Davidson just finished the new version of their client application, which looks pretty nice. I, for one, cannot get in to the whole eBook thing. I have a few PDF-based books that I use for reference material, and I've read Cory Doctorow's books in electronic format, but the latter is really because I'm unemployed and have to do what I can on the cheap. I much prefer the dead-tree edition of literature still.
GoogleRumors
Not content to rest on his laurels, Jon's decided to start GoogleRumors.com. I also can not believe there wasn't a site like this already.
Gmail on Mailsmith
I finally attempted, once again, to set up POP access to my Gmail account in Mailsmith. I used all of the settings found on the Configuring other mail clients page, made sure to check "Leave Mail on Server", and like any good technology, it all just works.
Magic Pot of Jobs
Tiffany has a new project. If I could only get a recruiter as good as her here in DFW...
Too many miles
Have more frequent-flyer miles than you know what to do with? Well, transfer some to me! I've got to get back to the islands! Seriously, if you have more miles than you think you're going to use any time soon, here are some web sites that might be able to help: MileDonor.com: up to 80 charities accepting point donations from 17 different airline programs Points.com: trade in your miles, buy yourself an Iced Mocha Frappicino Grande. Or a new jacket. Mileage Plus: 10,000 United miles = 100 downloads from Sony's music service. Someone ping me when it works with iTMS. [Via the 29 July 2005 edition of The Week, which got it from Real Simple.]
Technorati Mobile
For those among us who are Technorati fiends, they have announced a mobile verison. I love the succinct URI.
Jeff is bored
People from time zones west of here should iChat me immediately. Especially if they’re twentysomething women who like to tell weirdo Internet writers how great they are all the time.
Middle-aged men pretending to be twentysomething women are okay too, as long as it’s convincing. You let it slip just once that you’re actually a forty-seven year old tire salesman who’s sitting in his enormous store-brand boxers with a Gateway on his lap, and the whole fucking thing is just ruined. At least I can go to sleep tonight with something truly funny rolling around in my head. Come on, people, tip the man.
XHTML templates to jump start design
Kevin Hale of Particletree offers up some XHTML + CSS templates so you can get your next web design project quickly off the ground. Already in my bookmarks, and will definitely be a starting point for me in the future. [With a wave of the fin to Jon.]
Eric rocks
I have been lamenting the fact that I did not go with a Flickr Pro account a few months back, instead opting for another service. At the time, it was probably the reasonable decision, as the Flickr Pro accounts didn't have all of the amenities they do now. So I had actually been considering anteing up for the Flickr Pro account, because I realized I would use it more than the other service. Tonight, out of the blue, during an IM conversation, Eric offers me a free-for-a-year Flickr Pro account he was given as a in-beta Flickr Pro account holder. "Problem" solved! However, even though I am filled with gratitude for Eric's generosity, he doesn't want word getting out. He's trying for that curmudgeon rep, and if he appears all nice and everything, that will never happen. So make sure you don't link to this post any where. Maybe you shouldn't even be reading it. Maybe I shouldn't be writing it. Maybe I should delete it...
Reverse DNS Lookup
Not sure where I found this, as it was jotted on a card in my Hipster. A free service, you can perform reverse DNS lookups. If you don't know what DNS is, don't bother clicking.
The 100-post barrier
I happened to look at my archives page a moment ago, and noticed that in any given month, I have never cracked triple digits with the number of monthly posts. The closest I have come was 94 posts in February 2003. I just found this interesting, and thought I would share.
Browsing this site
I echo Jeff's sentiments. In Windows-world, I recommend Firefox; for the Mac, Safari or Camino.
TypeKey changes
Six Apart announced an update to the TypeKey service, one of which is that you can now choose to remain logged in to TypeKey for up to 2 weeks. For those of you who may have held off registering with TypeKey because you hated having to log in every couple of hours to comment on someone's blog, now you no longer have that excuse. I use TypeKey registration for my blogs, though it is not required. Should you choose to comment without signing in via TypeKey, your comment will simply remain in limbo until I approve it. TypeKey registration is simple, fast, and free.