Category: Uncategorized

OK, this on is not exactly found, but I got a kick out of this post on this post today on boingboing…

The simple mould of SOFA BRICK enables manufacture from various materials. For example, cork grains will offer a soft, comfortable brick.

It doesn’t compare with how creative we were when I first left school in my first job: my first apartment was furnished with pieces we’d constructed from milk crates, bailing wire and foam, covered in remnants. What it lacked in style it provided in places to sit and lounge. And now, that’s considered an art form:

Milk Crate Club Lounge – Furniture: Aug 5, 2005

More WORKSHOPPED ’05.
Designer Stefan Lie pays homage to the “great Australian milk crate” and uses discarded and recycled materials in the process. Made of 20 milk crates, themselves made of recycled plastic, and held together with twist ties, it’s all covered with discarded advertising billboard vinyl upholstery. It’s the art installation feel of the piece that grabbed me.  workshopped.com.au

Club Lounge? I had a couch, tables and much more.

Tags: Friday Link, humor.

And I thought summer was supposed to be a slow time around Redmond… not.

Following the success of the Partner Conference this week in Redmond, folks are getting ready for the annual Microsoft Global Exchange, a.k.a. MGX (previously known as MGB).

So, why is this important?

It’s an opportunity for many employees to get together, talk and exchange ideas on how to best meet our customer’s and partner’s needs with current and upcoming product and services. People take the time out of their summer holidays to not only attend but contribute to and present at a number of sessions. I’m sure that a number of employees will blog about the event on line as they have in past years.

Interesting factoid: not only will it be hot and humid, the Microsoft event overlaps with a major gathering of Shriners.

I’ll dust off my fez with great respect. (Disclaimer: I support the Shriners Hospitals for Children… they do super work.)

Tags: Microsoft, MGX.

I received an IM today with details on a new Canadian television series…

Now, stick with me for a moment before clicking away. As I said, Canadian TV is much more than Bob & Doug McKenzie and Johnny Canuck Cinema.

“11 Cameras” is a half-hour series on Canada’s CBC TV which imitates life via webcam. I was interested in the teaser on the program’s website which also has links to the first few episodes (‘though they are blocked for viewing outside Canada). The show offers a voyeuristic look at the one on one conversations between the actors as they connect via webcam. Our local provider includes CBC so we’re recording the program.

I was thinking as I watched the first episode how difficult it was a few years ago when webcams and ISDN videoconferencing for consumers first came out. I remember working in Europe for weeks on end and trying to keep in touch with my family via a POTS and then via dual channel ISDN using an all-in-one video teleconferencing camera and a PC with a slow web cam. I was lucky if I could make out family members from pieces of furniture on the poor quality video displayed at a whopping 1 or 2 frames per second… or worse.

Now with broadband connections and products like the LifeCam, these types of  high frame rate, rich picture personal communications are possible.

Not that anything I was communicating about was nearly as interesting as some of the plot lines on this show.

Tags: Canucks, TV, iptv, webcams, 11 Cameras.

You gotta love it when some April Fool’s pranks just won’t go away.

Like the iLoo (on CNET News’ “Seven of Microsoft’s hardware hits and misses”)

Tags: Friday Link, humor.

Earlier I blogged that support for Windows 98 was coming to an end.

Last week the Washington Post reported that this would affect “more than 70 million Windows users” who would “no longer be eligible for software security updates.” Although some people differ with the estimate, let’s just assume it’s still a lot of people: I know several people with computers running Windows 98SE and they’re quite happy with the set up: there was no compelling reason to upgrade to Windows XP.

That was, until I sat down with one person (over the phone today during lunch) and ran through the Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade Center with them. This is a site where you can check your PC to see if it’s ready for Windows XP, how to qualify for an Upgrade and ensure that your hardware and software are compatible.

In one short visit, they found that their PC would run Windows XP Home Edition without a problem (‘though I recommended adding more RAM). They already have a large-enough hard drive (from a recent upgrade a year or so ago) but are now considering adding a second drive in the empty slot for files, photos and music.

Total bill for their upgrade? After doing a quick search on the web, they ordered the upgrade for less than $100.

And all in under 35 minutes.