geek ramblings » Fun http://dougal.gunters.org Random musings of a Southern geek Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:24:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.2-alpha en Commercial Jingles http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/06/20/commercial-jingles http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/06/20/commercial-jingles#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:40:53 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/06/20/commercial-jingles My wife was a Communications major in college. So she often makes observations about how organizations try to get their message out to their audience. One thing she remarked on recently was the decline in the use of musical jingles, as opposed to non-musical slogans, in advertising. [...]

]]> My wife was a Communications major in college. So she often makes observations about how organizations try to get their message out to their audience. One thing she remarked on recently was the decline in the use of musical jingles, as opposed to non-musical slogans, in advertising. Read more in her post, “Ask any mermaid you happen to see…”

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/06/20/commercial-jingles/feed Things I intentionally did not blog about recently http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/04/12/things-i-did-not-blog http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/04/12/things-i-did-not-blog#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:58:17 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/04/12/things-i-did-not-blog Here are some hot topics that I specifically chose not to blog about recently:

  • The “Blogger Code of Conduct”
  • Don Imus’ racial slurs
  • Anna Nicole’s baby-daddy

You’re welcome.

]]> Here are some hot topics that I specifically chose not to blog about recently:

  • The “Blogger Code of Conduct”
  • Don Imus’ racial slurs
  • Anna Nicole’s baby-daddy

You’re welcome.

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/04/12/things-i-did-not-blog/feed Buggy clock http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/02/28/buggy-clock http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/02/28/buggy-clock#comments Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:17:56 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/02/28/buggy-clock I’ve discovered a bug in my clock that’s been causing me all sorts of headaches. It’s really messing with my ability to complete projects when others are expecting them. If I can’t find a fix soon, I’m definitely going to have to get a new clock.

See, the problem is that this clock only counts 24 hours in a day. [...]

]]> I’ve discovered a bug in my clock that’s been causing me all sorts of headaches. It’s really messing with my ability to complete projects when others are expecting them. If I can’t find a fix soon, I’m definitely going to have to get a new clock.

See, the problem is that this clock only counts 24 hours in a day. I think I need to upgrade my clock to a 36 hour model. That would probably give me enough time to do all my work, spend some time with my family, and maybe even get some sleep every once in a while. Yep, a 36 hour clock is what I need. Does anybody know where I can get one of those?

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/02/28/buggy-clock/feed Dougal 4.0 http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/30/dougal-four-point-oh http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/30/dougal-four-point-oh#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 17:20:03 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/30/dougal-four-point-oh Today I turn the big Four-Oh. I’m not sure how I should feel about that. Since I’m a web development geek, how about we consider some possible responses in terms of HTTP 1.1 Status Codes:

I suppose the expected response would be 406 Not Acceptable. [...]

]]> Today I turn the big Four-Oh. I’m not sure how I should feel about that. Since I’m a web development geek, how about we consider some possible responses in terms of HTTP 1.1 Status Codes:

I suppose the expected response would be 406 Not Acceptable. How could I possibly be forty? Where did the years go? Many people’s reaction is 416 Requested Range Not Satisfiable, also known as a “mid-life crisis”. As Adam from Mythbusters would say, “I reject your reality, and substitute my own!”

I don’t really feel any different, though. I feel 304 Not Modified. Today is just a day like any other. But with more cake. Overall, I’m 200 OK. I’ve just 202 Accepted it. After all, it’s better than the alternative to getting older — 410 Gone!

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/30/dougal-four-point-oh/feed Virus Alert http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/29/virus-alert http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/29/virus-alert#comments Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:01:54 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/29/virus-alert I don’t usually do this, but I think this is serious enough that we need to get the word out. . [...]

]]> I don’t usually do this, but I think this is serious enough that we need to get the word out. This virus sounds particularly nasty, so make sure you take every precaution — update your anti-virus software, backup your systems, buy extra bread, milk, and eggs, and keep your kids indoors: Virus Alert - “Bedtime”.

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2007/01/29/virus-alert/feed Your daily dose of dumb http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/11/06/your-daily-dose-of-dumb http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/11/06/your-daily-dose-of-dumb#comments Mon, 06 Nov 2006 18:47:27 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/11/06/your-daily-dose-of-dumb Wherein you get the benefit of the sillier side of my lunchtime browsing…

]]> Wherein you get the benefit of the sillier side of my lunchtime browsing…

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/11/06/your-daily-dose-of-dumb/feed Browsenberg Uncertainty Principle http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/09/29/browsenberg-uncertainty-principle http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/09/29/browsenberg-uncertainty-principle#comments Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:30:57 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/09/29/browsenberg-uncertainty-principle Co-worker Stephen Touset has described what he calls the Browsenberg Uncertainty Principle:

As one increases the layout precision of a section on a webpage, all other sections of the page have their layouts perturbed by a proportional amount.

And its corollary:

The more precisely one specifies positioning and layout for a page in one browser, the less accurately every other browser will render it.

Make sure you follow the link and also read his example of a typical exchange between a customer and a web designer. [...]

]]> Co-worker Stephen Touset has described what he calls the Browsenberg Uncertainty Principle:

As one increases the layout precision of a section on a webpage, all other sections of the page have their layouts perturbed by a proportional amount.

And its corollary:

The more precisely one specifies positioning and layout for a page in one browser, the less accurately every other browser will render it.

Make sure you follow the link and also read his example of a typical exchange between a customer and a web designer. It’s funny because it’s true.

If only we could get customers to read articles like 12 Lessons for Those Afraid of CSS and Standards. Especially “Lesson No. 2: It’s not going to look exactly the same everywhere unless you’re willing to face some grief… and possibly not even then.”

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/09/29/browsenberg-uncertainty-principle/feed Sesame Street http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/04/20/sesame-street http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/04/20/sesame-street#comments Thu, 20 Apr 2006 14:43:43 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/04/20/sesame-street Over on waxy.org’s links, I found this list of Sesame Street videos on YouTube. Talk about bringing back some memories. [...]

]]> Over on waxy.org’s links, I found this list of Sesame Street videos on YouTube. Talk about bringing back some memories. I’ve always loved Capital I, and Atlanta band Rooke used to do a version of it that was just beautiful.

Other favorites include Mahna Mahna, The Ladybug Picnic, C is for Cookie, I Love Trash, and The Martians (yepyepyep). Claire has been watching some Sesame Street, and I’m sure she would enjoy some of these classics!

Oh, and by the way, if you’d like to be able to download videos from YouTube (or Google Videos, or lots of other services), check out KeepVid. Just pay attention to the instructions, because you generally have to manually name the file (KeepVid will tell you what file extension to use). You might also need to download an FLV Player.

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/04/20/sesame-street/feed Ping-O-Matic Fun http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/13/ping-o-matic-fun http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/13/ping-o-matic-fun#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2006 21:27:25 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/13/ping-o-matic-fun The problem with running a service like Ping-O-Matic is that sometimes you have to send emails like this: 

To: [...deleted...]
Subject: Re: pingomatic

> Hi!
>
> I have tried to ping pingomatic for about 2 days now
> but it will not work for me. [...]
]]> The problem with running a service like Ping-O-Matic is that sometimes you have to send emails like this: 

To: [...deleted...]
Subject: Re: pingomatic

> Hi!
>
> I have tried to ping pingomatic for about 2 days now
> but it will not work for me. My site is
> http://www.[...xxxxxx...].com/
>
> Do you have any idea of why I can not ping your site
> anymore?

Because we don’t want pings from porn sites?

> Have a nice day!

Thanks, you too! :)

–
Dougal Campbell
http://dougal.gunters.org/

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]]> http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/13/ping-o-matic-fun/feed Six Rules for Driving http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/12/six-rules-for-driving http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/12/six-rules-for-driving#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:24:11 +0000 Dougal http://dougal.gunters.org/blog/2006/01/12/six-rules-for-driving If you are going to share the road with me, here are some rules that I expect you to know:

  1. Don’t tailgate me.

    If you tailgate me, I’ll slow down. Unless you try to pass me, in which case, I might speed up. And if we’re in a no-passing zone, I’ll slow down more. [...]

]]> If you are going to share the road with me, here are some rules that I expect you to know:

  1. Don’t tailgate me.

    If you tailgate me, I’ll slow down. Unless you try to pass me, in which case, I might speed up. And if we’re in a no-passing zone, I’ll slow down more. Just. To. Piss. You. Off.

  2. Use your signals.

    It’s a shame that you spent $35K on that Mercedes and the signals don’t even work. You should take it back for a refund. If you are about to make a turn or switch lanes, use your freaking turn signal. That’s what they’re for: to warn the other drivers on the road that you’re about to do something stupid. that they should pay attention to.

  3. Don’t use your signals.

    If the car in front of you is about to turn, don’t use your signals to warn the cars behind you. That’s just dumb. If you aren’t the one making a turn, leave your signal off. If your brake lights work, then we already know that we need to slow down. And by the way, you forgot to turn your signal off five minutes ago, and it’s driving us nuts.

  4. Slow down.

    Have you ever sat down with a calculator and tried to figure out just how much time you save by speeding? I have. Unless you are travelling very far, very fast, it’s not likely to save you more than a couple of minutes. Which is worth more to you: the three minutes you saved by trying to zoom past everybody, or the $2500 in body work on your car when you slam into the yahoo who turned in front of you without signalling?

  5. Merge.

    Just do it. If the other drivers value their cars, they’ll make room for you. Quit sitting at the end of the merge lane waiting for a big opening. Maybe you should turn your signal on, so people will understand that you want to change lanes, eh? You’re making the rest of us late for work, and we’re going to have to speed to make up the difference.

  6. Slower Traffic Keep Right

    Have you ever seen those signs that say “Slower Traffic Keep Right”? Well, just because you don’t see one right this minute doesn’t make it any less true. If you aren’t in the process of passing somebody right now, get out of the way. But use your signal first.

If everyone will just keep these things in mind, I’m sure we’ll all be a lot happier.

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