Wet Behind the Years

Mon, 03 Nov 2003 17:06:24 GMT

Thank you and goodnight
It has been nearly two years since I started this blog, and now it's time to bring it to a close. I've learned a lot from Radio Userland, but I'm finding that the features and capabilities of Typepad are more to my liking.
Please join me at my new blog, "Nothing Up My Sleeve" located at: http://gordon.typepad.com
Drive safely, and thanks for coming.

Fri, 10 Oct 2003 00:45:24 GMT

Burning Monkey Mahjong Solitaire Review

Over at my other blog, Nothing Up My Sleeve, (where I am increasingly posting more often than here) I have some thoughts on this new game from Freeverse. It's pretty darn good, and inexpensive, but unfortunately unusable on space-clam style iBook computers.

Tue, 16 Sep 2003 01:09:15 GMT

PowerBook Travel Tip
My favorite trick for airline travel with a Macintosh PowerBook. Shut it down before leaving for the airport. If the security agents want you to turn it on, in order to "prove" it isn't a bomb, press Power then hold down the T key.
This starts up the computer in FireWire Target Mode. It starts up much faster, and turns off instantly (press Power again), which makes for much easier passage through the line.

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 16:40:30 GMT

Business Card
My friend John has told me about VistaPrint a couple of times, but I keep forgetting about the details. It's a place where you can get a small quantity of high-quality, templated, business cards for free. Perfect for cottage industries, conferences, and so on.

Tue, 02 Sep 2003 04:24:26 GMT

Digital Hub Preso
Check out the sneak peek at "A Day in the Life of an Automated Home" at my other weblog. And if you're coming to the O'Reilly OS X Con, be sure to say hello.

Tue, 26 Aug 2003 02:08:45 GMT

Martin Gardner Rocks
One of my favorite authors, Martin Gardner, has just published a new book, bringing his total to over 70, at age 89. I haven't bought it yet, but I have no hesitation in recommending it to you. Read the Boston Sun's review for more detail.

Sat, 23 Aug 2003 23:36:05 GMT

Paul Fredrick
I saw an advert in The Atlantic Monthly offering a good deal on Oxford shirts, for first-time customers, at Paul Fredrick. I took the bait, becoming a first-and-last-time customer in one fell swoop.
The story is short, but a good example of why it's better to shop locally. The shirts I received were well enough made, but the fabric quality was mediocre at best. Worse, and the ultimate deal breaker, one was badly stained! I can't quite figure out what's going on with it -- but I think it is returned merchandise that has been re-pressed and packaged. The stain is clearly visible without removing the shirt from its bag, so who knows what other problems it might have, or what problems the three other shirts have lurking beneath their folds. Apparently Paul Frederick has the time to fold, package, and fulfill an order but is unable to see a blatant problem with their merchandise.
So all of them are going back for a refund. With a new customer, you have exactly one chance to get it right, and Paul Fredrick fumbled badly. Not only am I disappointed, but I'm also out nearly $20 for the combined two-way shipping costs. All it get for my two sawbucks is a bad taste in my mouth and the hassle of doing a return.
But I feel a teensy bit better having told you about it. Thanks for reading.