Goodbye Global Warming, Hello Global Cooling

Just kidding, it's really not getting warmer

What is really ironic, is that this trend is not something that happened in the past year, two years, or even 7 years, but 10 years it's been not getting warmer.

I think it just really demenstrates how complex the environment is, and we really can't control it, or understand it.

It doesn't mean that we should be irresponsible though, I think it's smart for us to treat our resources and environment very delicately as we do not understand the impacts even small changes would have on our environment.

Microsofts BING

Ok, I admit it. I'm big enough to recognize that I REALLY like products from Apple. Both hardware and software, with just a few exceptions. On the other 'side' there's Microsoft, which I use to make a living because of its pervasiveness. There are a few Microsoft products and software programs that I like, but there is a big disparity between the amount of Microsoft products I purchase and the amount of Apple products I purchase.


That's on the software/hardware side, as for the cloud I'm definitely hooked on Google for GMail, Reader, Calendar and starting to really enjoy Picasa and of course the 800 pound gorilla of Google Search.....

Until last week.....

Now at first when Bing was announced, I looked at it with a LOT of skepticism. I mean I LOVE Google search, and Bing looks so..... MSN'sh. I gave it two searches, and compared it to Google and declared that it sucked. "Move on, nothing to see here....", but then that dang little voice in my head spoke up. "Now was that really a fair test of a search engine? TWO searches and you are ready to throw it under the bus?", ummmmm, well.... yeah, I guess you have a point there....

So, thus begin the 'trial' of Bing for a full week. I resolved to not use Google at all, no matter how bad I wanted too, but stick with Bing and watch it fail miserably. Then I could go back to Google with a clear conscience.

Weelllll, it's been a week, maybe a little more. And holy cow, Microsoft may have actually nailed this one. I've found myself using usually the first or second link in the results almost always, and I LOVE the image search. I don't know who was behind the search algorithms in Bing, but he deserves a HUGE bonus. I've really been hooked and I've actually been more productive in being able to find answers to issues at work.

So far so good Microsoft, the question is will it last?

More on Blogs

I talked some more with the user, and we did notice something peculiar about this issue.

If you add the blog account in Word 2007 before the picture library is deleted in Sharepoint, even after the library is deleted you can access the blog posts.

If you add the photo library back, you have to delete the account and re-add it before you’ll be able to post.

Of Blogs, Moss 2007 and Word 2007

I had a help desk ticket this morning that was very interesting.

A user has been having trouble with editing their posts on a Sharepoint 2007 blog using the Office integration with Word 2007. We looked at all the permissions on all the various lists and libraries and this user had full access. We tried clearing out the local cache, accessing other blogs which worked fine, tried it with my account, and still got the same issue. You could see all the posts in the selection dialog, but when you clicked ‘Open’ nothing would happen.

I noticed that the blog didn’t have a picture library, so I tried changing the account registration for this blog to indicate that there was no picture library.

Still didn’t work.

So instead of trying to turn it off, I looked at another blog site and re-created the ‘Photos’ library in the blog and VIOLA, everything started working.

Apparently there is an issue with the Office integration and the account registration such that even if you tell Office that there is no picture library, it’s still trying to find one and is not happy if it can’t.

Thoughts on new hardware from Apple

I got to thinking about what might be coming from Apple at the WWDC, and wanted to throw my thoughts up and see what people think (hopefully someone will read it).

Now I've heard all about everyone's idea's about a netbook, and that there's a new iPhone coming out with a camera with a higher resolution in the front that's capable of video conferncing, OS X Snow Leopard with graphics processor support and then an article from a while back combined and POW!!!

There's no doubt about the new iPhone coming with enhanced wireless, improved camera that faces the user, and larger storage along with some other features. I don't see Apple making a traditional netbook because of the price factor, it just really seem like they can make something 'Applish' at a price that can be competitive.

But what if.....

Apple is going to make a device that's the size of a netbook, that only has a graphics processor, screen, keyboard and a battery that you then would plug in your iPhone too? The iPhone would slide into the top lid in the center where the camera is on current MacBooks. The device would basically provide the iPhone with a larger screen, enhanced battery, and a graphics chip to both generate the graphics, and with Snow Leopard provide a little extra processing power.

The price of this device would be less than a full fledged (if there is such a thing) netbook because it would rely on the iPhone to provide the 'brains' without having to re-invent the wheel.

A couple of other benefits:

1. The netbook would be able to use the iPhones Wi-Fi and 3G to access the internet (this would tie in with the rumored tethering functionality).

2. It would also be able to use the iPhones camera just like the built in cam on a MacBook.

3. Those of us with iPhones would LOVE this device as it gives us a little more umph without having to buy a whole complete device, it's more of an extension of the iPhone.

4. It drives sales of the iPhone and Touch.

5. They have already patented this type of functionality a while back.

6. This is a perfect use of the graphics co-processing of Snow Leopard.

7. It would be SOOOO wicked cool.

I've gotten myself all worked up, and probably totally blind to the flaw in this whole idea, which is why I wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone can figure out what I'm missing in this.

Kindle Thoughts

On the eve of the new version of Amazons updated e-reader, I was looking at whether or not I might be interested in getting one.

Two things are important to me in regards to an e-reader.

1. The books I like to read have to be available.
2. Overall it needs to be cheaper than the way I'm currently buying books.

As for the first point, even though it has gotten better, a large proportion of the books I read are still not available for the Kindle.

And even if they are available, the cost of a Kindle version of a book is generally MORE expensive than the paperback version which I usually buy. Even the hardcovers are only 10% more than the Kindle. It should be the other way around.

Right now the Kindle books are too few and too expensive by far.

Just some random thoughts on America and the state we're in

Was just reading the latest articles about Obama's economic stimulus plan, and the manuevering that's going on in Washington right now.

It got me thinking about how many people got involved and interested in what's going on with America during the election, and I'm really hoping that people will continue to stay motivated and involved in Government now that Obama is in office. I mean isn't that the purpose of our Government, 'For the People?'.

I think we have become too focused on what our immediate needs are, we are to 'short-term' in our thinking and planning. I'm basing this on myself, I generally don't make many long term or long range plans or goals. I am trying to change that, after reading about the 'Getting Things Done' method.

I'm really trying to make this a permanent change, and not just a temporary one that in 6 months I won't even remember. That's what got me thinking about the most recent election. How much of what was said and promised during the election will be remembered acurately 1 year from now?

I think it's my responsibility as an American to hold my elected representatives responsible for what I want from Government and America.

I'm definitely going to try, that's for sure. Even though I didn't vote for Obama or most of the representatives that were elected, that's who we have now, and I need to make sure they know what I want and how I feel.

That's how democracy is supposed to work right?

Awesome news

I thought this was really great news. The Monty Python crew have reported a HUGE increase in sales after making high quality versions of favorite clips available for free on YouTube.

Imagine that, people saw the free clips, liked them so much that they paid for the full DVD's.

I think the Music industry could really learn something from this :)