jump to navigation

"Murphy was an optimist!"

Suggestions? iPhone password/data keeper March 8, 2010 7:30 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Gadgets, Of Interest, Software, Technology , 3comments

When my beloved Motorola v3xx bit the dust, I bought an iPhone with the promise to myself that I would use it as a business tool to facilitate building iPhone apps for my clients. I have not talked about my iPhone experience much but that’s coming. In the meantime, know this: 1) Steve Jobs is a user interface genius! and 2) I love my iPhone!

Over the past few years, I endeaved to eliminate paper from my life using cloud tools such as Google Docs. The iPhone seems to be the missing link and has helped me take the last steps toward cutting the umbilical cord to paper. Meeting notes go straight to my iPhone. Todo lists, via Jott, straight into the iPhone. The iPhone has helped make my already digital world even more digital.

Now I need a secure password/data keeper for the iPhone. I’m considering SplashID, 1Password, and iAccounts. What are your recommendations?

Related: Best password manager programs for your MacBook and iPhone 3G
Review: Secret keeper apps for the iPhone

3comments

Internet Access a Fundamental Right March 8, 2010 5:31 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Communications, Of Interest, Technology , 2comments

In 1988, I was introduced to this thing called the Internet. At the time, I was told there were 25,000 nodes on the Internet. I have since tried to confirm that number and come up with a number more like 66,000. The Internet at the time was somewhat elitist. Today, the BBC published an article suggesting that 4 out of 5 people believe access to the Internet is a fundamental right. Even the UN agrees. This line of thinking places Internet access on par with roads, waste, and water.

It’s fascinating to have witnessed the growth of such a world changing technology. I’m embarrassed to admit that around 1992 when commercialization of the Internet was being discussed that I was among those saying commercialization would destroy the Internet. When the Internet moved from strictly the domains of the universities and military in 1994, I was proven wrong.

2comments

Open letter to the designers of men’s restrooms February 26, 2010 6:35 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Interest , 2comments

Dear designer, If you are going to install a mirror perpendicular to the urinal, that is such that a man clearly sees his side view in the reflection, please do not use a regular mirror. Instead use a carnival mirror that shrinks the size of our stomach and increases the size of other things. Thank you!

2comments

LOST Thought February 2, 2010 7:57 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Lost, Of Interest, TV / Movies , 1 comment so far

For the record, I have thought for a long time that Season 1 was the middle of this story and not the first time that the main characters had been to the island. But there’s holes in that theory.

1 comment so far

Air America is gone January 22, 2010 6:49 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , add a comment

Announced today at AirAmerica.com:

It is with the greatest regret, on behalf of our Board, that we must announce that Air America Media is ceasing its live programming operations as of this afternoon, and that the Company will file soon under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out an orderly winding-down of the business. … Air America Radio launched in April, 2004. [Source, AirAmerica]

add a comment

Protected: Can you read this? January 21, 2010 10:01 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , Enter your password to view comments

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:


Enter your password to view comments

Save a life January 8, 2010 10:57 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , 5comments

Chico was abandoned and needs a home. He is a pure bred chihuahua under a year old. Please let @cathymccaughan know if you or someone you know would like to give this dog a home.

5comments

WordPress 2.9 has arrived December 19, 2009 8:46 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Blog, Of Interest, Publishing, Software, Technology, WordPress , add a comment

WordPress 2.9 includes built-in image editing and now videos can be embedded simply by putting the url of the video on its own line in the post with Oembed support and more. Update your WordPress blog soon.

[Source]

add a comment

Grand Central No More December 11, 2009 10:55 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest , add a comment

I was fortunate to receive an early invite to Grand Central. Unfortunately, this meant when it became Google Voice, I was stuck with my number unless I paid $10 which is fine because by the time I found out about the $10 I’m sure any number I’d want was taken. I also never took advantage of Grand Central for reasons I won’t get into. I am now very comfortable with Google Voice and am being to direct more of my calls through it.

If you used Grand Central, your old messages have remained available but that ends December 31st.

Dear GrandCentral User (djuggler):

We’re writing to let you know that we will be closing down the GrandCentral website as of December 31, 2009. Get your messages while you can (if you want them).

All GrandCentral accounts were upgraded to Google Voice earlier this year, but since that time, you’ve still been able to log-in to your GrandCentral account and listen to old messages there. You will no longer be able to log-in to your GrandCentral account after December 31. Because of this, we strongly suggest downloading any messages or contacts that you want to keep before December 31.

We suggest you take action now to download any information you want to keep.

- The Google Voice Team

add a comment

Vibraplex moving to Knoxville December 11, 2009 6:32 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Interest , add a comment

On January 5th, 2010, Vibraplex will move from Alabama to Knoxville, TN. Very exciting!

add a comment

Dorm Room Flashback December 7, 2009 10:18 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Education, History, Of Interest , 2comments

The in-laws must be cleaning out their garage. The children brought home a huge box of highlighters. So I started thinking, "What could one do with so many highlighters?" Then I remembered Clement Hall room 308 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. That was my room. The walls were the color of an 80s computer that had been used too long. Dingy. Gray. Like a light but wet modeling clay. And the walls were cinder block.

A fun trick for the frequent traveler who stays in hotels a lot is to leave a message on the bathroom mirror using a light application of chap stick or other oil. Done correctly, the message remains invisible until a hot shower steams the mirror.

Highlighters on cinder block painted in that gray color work the same. Draw the highlighter art by turning off the normal lights and turning on black lights. The art in room 308 was quite intricate when my friends and I were done. When the black lights are turned off and the normal lights turned on, the highlighter disappears. Turn the black lights on and feel like you stepped into a Jimmy Hendrix black light poster.

2comments

It snowed in Knoxville today December 5, 2009 4:53 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Interest , add a comment

Calvinized snowman
See more.

add a comment

First Red Balloon Found! DARPA Balloon #6! December 4, 2009 5:34 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 9comments

Okay…first red herring found. How will we deal with similar misinformation tomorrow?

balloon1DARPA has issued a challenge so that it can study study how to solve large scale problems with social networks. All day today people have clamored to create teams in preparation for tomorrow’s red balloon hunt. Tomorrow from 10am eastern time to 4pm local time 10 red weather balloons will be anchored near roads throughout the United States. The person who finds all ten balloons and reports their GPS coordinates will receive $40,000.

Rather than forming a team, I am offering $1000 to the first person who reports the correct coordinates of any of the 10 balloons to me if I am able to win the prize. Read the details here.

Where is red balloon #6?

Okay, the contest doesn’t start until 10am tomorrow. But you can see red balloon #6 here and see the rest in DARPA’s gallery. This post begs an interesting question. How will we distinguish the red herrings? The false information? Each entrant only gets 25 guesses. How many ghost will we chase between now and December 14th?

Get at least $10 from this

I will pay $10 a retweet to each of the first 100 people who retweet the following message on Twitter if I win the challenge. No money rewards will be paid if I am not the first to report all 10 red balloons. Be sure to follow @djuggler.

Help @djuggler win the DARPA challenge. $ rewards for balloons and RTs; http://3.ly/10luftballoons #10luftballoons

9comments

Air America Cruise Round 1 ends December 4, 2009 12:27 pm

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy Subjects , 2comments

If today’s live poll on Air America blog is any indication about the results of the first round of the cruise contest, Digsby jumped from position 20 into the top 5. Joe Jervis moved from position 11 into the top 5. And no one was successful in knocking Mike Lux, Karl Frisch, or Pam Spaulding out of the top 5. I hope I’m misinterpreting this and that Aunt B of Tiny Cat Pants actually made it into the top 5.

Update: Yes, here is the round two page.

2comments

All I want for Christmas is 10 red balloons December 4, 2009 9:03 am

Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Of Interest , 3comments

Update: Winner declared! As expected, the MIT team won.

If I win, I will share $1000 with each person who was first to correctly identify the location of a balloon.

I will pay $10 a retweet to each of the first 100 people who retweet the following message on Twitter if I win the challenge. No money rewards will be paid if I am not the first to report all 10 red balloons. Be sure to follow @djuggler.

Help @djuggler win the DARPA challenge. $ rewards for balloons and RTs; http://3.ly/10luftballoons #10luftballoons

I’ve always been fascinated with the DARPA challenges. I through for sure I could be a contender on the first DARPA automated car challenge but I could not figure out how to devote all my time to development and still feed my family. I guess that’s part of the challenge. There are many other challenges out there like the X-Prize. These are usually gone after by universities and corporations (I think). Now DARPA has one that is right up my alley. Tomorrow, December 5th, 10 red balloons will be launched in the United States. The places are specific. The person who finds all 10 is rewarded with $40,000. DARPA is studying how to solve large scale problems with social networks.

9910 red balloons.
floating in the summerwinter sky.
Panic bells, it’s red alert.
There’s something here from somewhere else.
The warDARPA machine springs to life.
Opens up onemy eager eye.
Focusing it on the skysocial media.
Where 9910 red balloons goTwitter by.
[Source, eighty-eightynine, Lyrics: Nena - 99 Luftballoons (99 Red Balloons); modified by Doug McCaughan]
See the interview with 99 Luftballoons English version author Kevin McAlea.

DARPA Red Balloon ChallengeI believe the large networks of the Internet social media celebrities will get the balloons. However, I’m going to have a shot. I’m registered and soliciting your help If you see a large red balloon with a number on it, please twitter a DM to @djuggler, email juggler@gmail.com, Skype djuggler or call me (865)686-8693 with its location and if possible its GPS coordinates. If I win, I will share $1000 with each person who was first to correctly identify the location of a balloon. A correct location is GPS coordinates with an error of less than 1.0 mile. That means if you are first to correctly tell me where balloon #3 is and I find the other #9 balloons and win, you get $1000 after I receive the prize money. DARPA has pictures of the balloons here.

Related

3comments