Ok, so.. it’s like beating a dead horse.. but here’s a great video that describes what RSS is and how to use it.. RSS in Plain English. A fascinating clip that I think anyone who is confused about what RSS is should check out.
Enjoy.
Archive for the ‘Technology’ category
Yes, RSS
June 7th, 2007Pulling Back The Curtain
June 1st, 2007One of the best NPR segments that I’ve ever heard aired a few years back. I recall driving back from Hoboken to Boston, sitting in the passenger seat with Cool Jesus at the wheel. As a matter of fact, it was this specific segment that got me interested in WNYC’s On The Media.
My podcast friends Bob & Brooke opted to re-air this segment as part of last week’s episode, which was a treat. The segment that I speak of is called “Pulling Back The Curtain“.
The segment takes a behind the scenes look at most popular NPR shows and how they are edited and created. From Morning Edition to Car Talk, reporter John Solomon reveals the secrets behind the NPR’s investigative reports and ability to make everyone sound intelligent.
You can read the transcript at the link above, though I encourage you to take a five or ten minutes and listen to the magic. It’s a must for any NPR listener.
Retired
March 14th, 2007At 8:47 AM Pacific Time this morning, I laid my 500mhz Graphite iMac to rest. It was donated to the San Francisco Street Tech Organization aimed to offer low-cost computer training to those in disadvantaged San Francisco Communities.
It had seen many great times and hours invested in The Sims & Diablo II. Not to mention countless Internet sites and assisted in 4 different job changes. This guy was purchased on eBay back in 2001 when I was living on Huntington Ave with Rachel. It survived many upgrades & performance enhancements, but it was finally time to step into the next generation with an Intel Core Mac Processor.
Thanks Graphite iMac. You will be missed.
Lookin’ for somethin’ to read?
March 12th, 2007Then look no further. The 2007 Weblog Award Winners (aka. The Bloggies) have been announced and The Diatribe is nowhere in sight. That’s ok, though, a number of other great sites including Gizmodo and Lifehacker did win.
If you’ve got a minute, check out some of the winners and you may find a new feed or two to tack onto your Google Personalized Homepage.
Tags: Bloggies
My Camera is Back!
January 4th, 2007
It feels like it’s been forever, but I have to give Canon a hand. This past June, just after Bonnaroo, I managed to drop my Canon PowerShot SD400 and break the LCD screen. It was digitally cracked (read: didn’t work and looked like I dropped it).
After waiting for the best time I take it in for repairs, I contacted Canon earlier this month and they said that I can send it in and have it repaired if it’s still under warranty as long as it was not caused by being dropped or immersion in water. It took about 2 weeks, but they repaired it free of charge and I just got it back today. I have to applaud their customer service, warranty repair and overall product.
Not only do I have a digital camera again, but I’ve got one that is fully functional and clean. It’s been six months since I’ve been able to view the pictures on my LCD screen. But now that I’ve got it back, I’m very happy. This was the first photo I took.
One neat little app
November 21st, 2006Sometime over this past weekend, I stumbled upon a pretty cool little application that allows you to write blog posts offline. I’ve found a number of these products ands services over the years, but Ecto best – hands down.
The application is fully-customizable, allowing you to update any number of blogging systems including WordPress, Movable Type, Blogger, etc. But it includes everything from built-in Amazon referral link templates to Flickr and image options. It allows to you to create posts using a Microsoft Word-like interface, save them for later, spell check, and several other great features.
When I first read about this application, the reviewer said something like “I couldn’t imagine writing a blog post without Ecto anymore..” And to be honest, I have to say that I’d probably agree. The software is available for both Windows or Mac, so there’s no excuse not to get started!
Smart Keys
October 29th, 2006One of the more innovative features of the Toyota Prius is the “Smart Key” feature. It looks like a typical electronic key unit and has the standard “Open, lock, panic” buttons (as well as a secret retractable key) but you actually don’t need to use any of these features in order to operate the vehicle — you simply need to carry the key unit with you.
If you need to unlock the car, for instance, all you need to do is reach for the door handle, and the Prius automatically recognizes that you have the key and will unlock and open the door. To start the car, you just need to have a key and push the “Power” button for the car to power up. No need to put it in the ignition or anything. Lastly, to close and lock the car, you just need to press a button on the car’s door handle that locks the car (assuming you have the key on you). If the key is still inside the car, it’s impossible to lock the door — clever, huh?
After having the car for only a few days, both MP and I have both agreed that we would like to see more “Smart Keys.” Having to dig and fetch out our house keys to open the front door, is such a let down after using the neat features of the Prius. In time, I guess we’ll see this technology become more prevalent.
