Category: Cool

SanDisk USB Keys Are Awesome

I was looking all over for my SanDisk 256 MB USB key yesterday (yes, I know it’s small in the grand scheme of things, especially considering they sell a 4 GB version), as I didn’t want to have to use my external hard drive to move data between my old laptop and my new laptop — the USB key is so much more convenient. So I was a bit miffed when I couldn’t find it.

So I’m taking some clothes out of the dryer today, and lo and behold, there’s my USB key, after having just gone through a full wash and dry cycle. I thought the thing was hosed, but plugged into my computer, every bit of data is still on there and works like a charrm.

So if anybody’s looking for a durable USB key, I highly recommend the SanDisk.

Now I just need to get a bigger one for moving larger collections of files so I don’t have to use an external hard drive.

On a related note, I moved data from my old laptop to my new one with an old 20 GB laptop hard drive that I stuck in one of these enclosures (don’t let the cheap price fool you — these things are great). The problem is that moving about 12 GBs of data (all the stuff inthe “My Documents” folder) over a USB 1.1 connection (old laptop) is a slow experience. But it is very handy to have a 20 GB external hard drive at my disposal — but USB keys are still far handier.

January 27, 2006

Wish I Could Do This With The Mini Van

It’s make dealing with some of the rain-filled puddles we get much more entertaining. Thanks Greg for the link.

January 26, 2006

Finally Up And Running

OK, so it was more than just the day of being offline, but after getting all my data and information transferred to my new toy, I’m finally up and running and good to go. I still need to install a couple more applications, but for the most part, all my data, applications, documents, etc… are all moved over on to this thing so I can clean up my old laptop and give it back to the company.

This thing is far faster than my previous one, that’s for sure. Loading up documents in Photoshop is a ton faster than it was before (and I can actually work in other programs while working in Photoshop). I’m still not quite use to the high resolution on this small of a screen (1920×1200 on a 15.4″ wide-screen makes for small icons), but it is really nice having that much real estate in my various desktop publishing and development programs. And being able to have a few programs open at once and be able to see all those windows is very nice.

Now I’ve gotta catch up on all the email I missed the last 24 hours, finish up installing the few things I just realized I’m still missing (Homesite, a few typefaces, Quickbooks, Metapad, and Pagemaker, for some of my older designs that Indesign just can’t open properly).

January 26, 2006

I Wish I Was In The Sixth Grade

Back when I was in the sixth grade over at Cascade Junior High School (back when it was still called a “Junior High”), I had a teacher who was a raving Seattle Seahawks fan. Every time they won a game, the class would get cookies. The problem was that this was 1989 and they only won seven games, so we didn’t get cookies as often as, say, a 49ers fan. This year, we would’ve gotten cookies 15 times (and counting). I know this same teacher still works in the school district, now teaching elementary school at Westside Village, and I hope her kids are getting cookies, too.

While I actually like both of the teams in this year’s Super Bowl (which is a first), I’m rooting geographically and hope the Seahawks win it all. Go Hawks!

January 24, 2006

Can’t Name The Song Stuck In Your Head?

If you can tap out the rhythm on your space bar, then this site can probably guess the song. It guessed the song I threw at it (American Pie by Don McLean), from its list of nearly 4000 songs.

January 15, 2006

Sweet Cargo Van For Sale

If you’re in the need of a cargo van to haul around your stuff, I don’t think you can get any better than the one Simone has for sale. The quick specs:

Model: 4×4 Ford E250 Cargo Van (four-wheel drive conversion done by Quigley Motor Company)

Year: 1997

Miles: 118,000

Color: White

Engine: Triton V-8, 5.4 liter

Transmission: Automatic w. Overdrive

Freebies: 4 Thule roof racks, worth $400, and a set of nice American Racing Aluminum Alloy 17″ rims that fit the van.

Price: $15,000 $14,000 obo

The thing is in great shape, and well worth the price for a workhorse. E-mail Simone for more information, or check out the pictures on her site.

(And if you do e-mail her, tell her you saw the ad on this site, so she knows I sent her the traffic, as I’m trying to help her unload the van.)

January 14, 2006

Raffle To Win 2006 Red Porsche Boxster for a Great Cause

Central Oregon Battering And Rape Alliance (COBRA) is an (unfortunately) vital organization that does much-needed work for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the tri-county Central Oregon area and they need your support. They’re holding a raffle to win a brand new, 2006 Porsche Boxster from Carrera Motors here in Bend.

Tickets are $45 and they’re only selling 2000 tickets, so you’ve got a pretty good chance of winning. The drawing will be held on February 14th at 5:00 pm at Carrera Motors (who is helping us sponsor the raffle). You do not need to be present to win, you do not need to live in Oregon to win, but you must be 18 years or older to purchase a ticket.

For more information, contact COBRA at (541) 382-9227.

Thanks Cheryl for the information!

Editor’s Note: If anybody reading this wins, they have to drive me to work in the thing a couple times, just for fun. I think that notice in the official rules somewhere, right?

January 11, 2006

Two-Inch Square Computer

It’s not a super powerful system, and you’d (I’m assuming, as it’s in Japanese) have to boot it off a CompactFlash card, but if this thing had another LAN port, I could picture this thing being a portable firewall.

January 11, 2006

Google Maps With PHP and No Javascript

Mostly booking marking this for my own use, but it might be handy for somebody else. Basically, on the printable listings for the homes at Sunray’s site, I’d like to include a simple map on printed listings. I tried Phoogle Maps and it never seemed to work right and I didn’t like having all that Javascript on the page (though I haven’t tried the new version 2.0), but I figured I’d throw these out there in case anybody else is looking for a solution as well.

January 9, 2006

PHP Easter Egg

OK, this is pretty silly and stupid, but add “?=PHPE9568F36-D428-11d2-A769-00AA001ACF42” to the end of any URL that’s a PHP page, and you’ll get a funny little picture of a dog. Try it here. There’s apparently a different dog/animal/creature depending on your version: See here, here or here). Of course, you can disable this in php.ini if you’re on the paranoid side, but it’s still kind of fun (and yes, I know it’s been around for years, but it’s the first I’ve seen it). Link via digg.

January 8, 2006