Firefox 1.1 Delayed

[H]ard|OCP - Firefox 1.1 Delayed

The alternative browser FireFox, after losing a large chunk of their lead programmer's time to Google, has now announced that the version 1.1 of FireFox will be delayed from the March '05 anticipated release.

While no solid date for a 1.1 release has been announced, Goodger did offer details on how to expect the next version of Firefox. An non-public alpha of 1.1 will be released followed by a public preview version, then several release candidates, and the final version of the browser.

Hail the WDT -- We are not worthy!

Hail the WDT -- We are not worthy! - SitePoint Design Blog: "As fast and secure and cool as the Firefox web browser is, if I had to name my number one reason for using Firefox as my primary browser, there's a simple answer -- the Web Developer Toolbar.

Although I dimly remember a time, long ago, when I worked without it, like many other developers, my processes are now so entwined with the WDT that I'd find it hard to work without it."

I agree - good stuff. And if you aren't already using Firefox, click the link to the right and go get it!!!

Fly, Eagles, Fly!

I spent 4 years in the city of brotherly love, and they sure could use a sports boost right about now (particularly in the absence of their beloved Flyers hockey).

Yahoo! News - Eagles Gain First Super Bowl in 24 Years

"Yo, Philly. Lose those jitters and relax. Your Eagles made it to the Super Bowl. Donovan McNabb & Co. ignored the burden of three straight losses in the NFC championship game and warmed a frozen city's heart, stuffing Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons (news) 27-10 on Sunday.

Philadelphia moves on to its first Super Bowl in 24 years — the only acceptable outcome for the Eagles and their rabid fans after so many close calls. They will meet defending champion New England in Jacksonville, Fla., on Feb. 6. [more]"

Hockey fan slams lockout in own obit

I hope they're happy with themselves... depriving a poor old man of his one true joy in the final days of his life...

AP Wire | 01/21/2005 | Hockey fan slams lockout in own obit: "An ardent hockey fan who died this week used his obituary to denounce the NHL lockout.

Archie Bennitz, 84, instructed his son to criticize NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and union leader Bob Goodenow in his death notice.

Bennitz called Bettman and Goodenow 'skunks for denying him the pleasure of watching the NHL on TV this year,' the obituary in the Ottawa Citizen read. Bennitz also urged Bettman to step aside in favor of Wayne Gretzky.

David Bennitz said his father had become increasingly angry during his last month in the hospital as the lockout dragged on. Hockey was the only thing he watched on TV.

Bennitz, who was born in Nova Scotia and grew up just north of Toronto, was a dedicated Maple Leafs fan. He developed a soft spot for the Ottawa Senators, however, after he moved to Ottawa about three years ago to be closer to his family."

Duchovny Says X-Files Sequel in Works

Slashdot | Duchovny Says X-Files Sequel in Works: "'According to The Sun Newspaper Online's exclusive interview with David Duchovny, 'he and the shows creator Chris Carter are planning on making a sequel to their 1998 movie.' and 'Were hoping to get together just under a year from now and make another X Files movie.'. Chris Carter, the creater of 'The X Files' is working with Frank Spotnitz who wrote for the series. They say that they would like the movie to be released summer 2006.'"

Sweeeeet!!!

Trust No One.

TiVo Faces Threat As Options Multiply

I would never trade my TiVo for a crappy knock-off DVR. This article fails to mention that TiVo is less than 5 bucks a month if you're using it with DirecTV service (another thing I would trade for crappy digital cable).

Yahoo! News - TiVo Faces Threat As Options Multiply: "TiVo (news - web sites) has been synonymous with digital video recording since it pioneered the industry five years ago, controlling an estimated one-third of the market in 2004. That lofty perch is now beginning to crumble.

Competition in the growing and lucrative industry is intensifying as cable providers, satellite operators and consumer electronics companies push ahead with models of their own, giving consumers more choices while threatening to significantly blunt TiVo Inc.'s edge.

'They're facing a very, very difficult year this year. It'll be increasingly difficult for them to sign up new subscribers,' said Josh Bernoff, an analyst at Forrester Research. 'Why do you need a TiVo when there's a cable DVR (digital video recorder) for free?'

Many agree that TiVo's service remains the best of breed, with its easy navigational controls and advanced search and record functions.

Its subscribers, who tend to be an evangelistic bunch, account for one in three of the estimated 6.5 million U.S. households with digital video recorders. [more]"

Yahoo! News - Man Finds Nail in Skull Six Days Later

Yahoo! News - Man Finds Nail in Skull Six Days Later: "A dentist found the source of the toothache Patrick Lawler was complaining about on the roof of his mouth: a four-inch nail the construction worker had unknowingly embedded in his skull six days earlier. [more]"

WOW. A lucky man. What I don't get was, how did he not notice any bleeding where the nail went in??

Courtney Love Regains Custody of Daughter

How do kids ever grow up normal these days? So F'd up.

Yahoo! News - Courtney Love Regains Custody of Daughter: "Singer Courtney Love has regained full custody of her 11-year-old daughter, her attorney said. Love, 40, lost custody of Frances Bean Cobain, her daughter with late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, in 2003 after she overdosed on painkillers in front of the girl."

Chicago Moves to Linux

Large Enterprise Business: Technology News: "Using HP servers running the Red Hat Linux operating system, Chicago's new system will issue more than one million vehicle stickers annually, replacing an aging mainframe application. The move may be the first of many instances where open-source solutions replace the city's expensive to- maintain proprietary systems.

Chicago CIO Chris O'Brien said the city is exploring open-source solutions to squeeze cost from its IT infrastructure. [more]"

Good to hear. Speaking of, my vehicle sticker renewal is due.... yikes!

Oh how I miss the old TSS

The Laporte Report: "Kevin Rose, Patrick Norton, his wife Mrs. Norton, David Prager, Roger Chang and I repaired to the 21st Ammendment after the MacWorld Expo to reflect on what we had seen."

Oh how I miss the old TSS (The Screen Savers, formerly of TechTV). Nice to see that the old cast is still well and good and hangin'.

Hello to Web Page Students at PSC!

Hellloooooooooooooooooooooo there!

Advice for Computer Science College Students

Good stuff, and good advice for the aspiring geeks amongst us. I teach web programming at a local college, and one of the areas with highest resistance amongst geeks is learning how to write. Who needs that crap, right? WRONG - it might be the most important thing on Joel's list (below). You need to be able to write to clearly document your code, particularly when working with a programming team (which is likely the case in a professional programming job). You need to be able to write to submit proposals and write contracts if you are a freelance programmer. Joel mentions a bunch of other reasons as well.

Check out his article for his reasons behind each item on the list. A worthy read.

Joel on Software - Advice for Computer Science College Students: "Seven Pieces of Free Advice for Computer Science College Students (worth what you paid for them):

1. Learn how to write before graduating.
2. Learn C before graduating.
3. Learn microeconomics before graduating.
4. Don't blow off non-CS classes just because they're boring.
5. Take programming-intensive courses.
6. Stop worrying about all the jobs going to India.
7. No matter what you do, get a good summer internship."

NHL: Canadian Fans Still Support Owners

... And so do I!

NHLCBANEWS.com: "An Ipsos-Reid poll done for TSN showed that 59 per cent of Canadians believe the owners are more reasonable (versus 16 per cent who side with the players), and that half of them will blame the players if the season is cancelled (versus 21 per cent who will blame the owners). The numbers are nearly identical to those from September.

The Ipsos-Reid survey of 1,000 Canadians from Dec. 17 to Dec. 20 was conducted after the League's counterproposal was turned down by the NHLPA on December 14. The company says the results are considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points.

59% Think the owners are being 'more fair and reasonable.'
16% Support the players
50% Of Canadians would blame the players more if there were no season.
21% Would blame the owners for a lost season"

In True Rock-Star Fashion

Long live the Crue!

Yahoo! News - Rocker Lets F-Word Slip on 'Tonight Show': "NBC hasn't received any calls about the F-word that Motley Crue rocker Vince Neil (news) dropped during the live New Year's Eve broadcast of 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.'

'Happy f---ing New Year, Tommy!' Neil said to bandmate Tommy Lee (news) shortly after midnight Friday.

The remark was carried to viewers on the East Coast but was edited out before it was broadcast in the West, according to the entertainment trade paper Variety, which reported the incident on its Web site Monday night.

Leno normally tapes his show for broadcast later in the evening but does a live version for New Year's Eve. He had never a problem with profanities before, although the word has slipped out from time to time on other programs.

'The network has not received any calls regarding the incident,' an NBC official, who asked not be identified, said Monday.

U2 lead singer Bono used the F-word at last year's Golden Globe Awards (news - web sites), which was also broadcast live by NBC. The network has said it will put this year's broadcast on a 10-second delay."

TiVo to Go

Man, does this make me want to buy a Series 2 TiVo!! (I have an old Series 1 currently).

TiVo.com | TiVo Desktop: "TiVo Desktop is an easy-to-use application that lets you publish and share digital music, photos and TiVo recordings between your networked TiVo Series2 DVR and your computer. Digital Music & Photos and the TiVoToGo feature come included with your regular paid subscription to the TiVo service."

Thunderbird 1.0 review by PC Magazine

Thunderbird 1.0 review by PC Magazine: "Thunderbird is a feature-rich, fully customizable e-mail client with a very clean interface. Available as a free download, it's worth a try if you use POP3 or IMAP4 for e-mail."

They dig on Thunderbird, giving it 4/5 stars. I agree! :) Go check out the full review.

Dan Huard: Life as a TechTV/G4 Employee

Remember "The Screen Savers" on TechTV? Fans of the show know of the G4 merger, and how the show has changed formats since moving to LA. Dan the intern sheds some light on what has really gone down with G4 TechTV. None of it is really surprising, as they've already alienated most of their core "geek" audience, but it is definitely an interesting read. TSS went from being one of my favorite shows ever, to a completely ridiculous, manufactured waste of time. They even fabricated questions and callers for the "live calls" on the show. Read to the end of Dan's post for details. It's a shame - some great people have worked on TSS, and sadly others are stuck in contracts on a show that just sucks.

Dan Huard: Life as a TechTV/G4 Employee

"A lot of people ask, “what was it like to work at TechTV and ultimately at G4?” I have to say, for the most part, the experiences were amazing at both places. They each had their positives and negatives. So, I’ve decided to shed a little light on what exactly I did at TechTV and G4. Basically, this post will explain what my typical work day was like."