2006 April

Tonight on The Chris Pirillo Show, we’re joined by author, Eric Sink, talking about his new book, Eric Sink on the Business of Software. Eric led the team at Spyglass that developed the original version of the browser now know as Internet Explorer and went on to found SourceGear. We’re giving away three copies of the book, so be sure to tune in. Later on the show we’ll hear from Rob Hyndman and Stuart MacDonald…

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Tonight on The Chris Pirillo Show, we’re joined by author, Eric Sink, talking about his new book, Eric Sink on the Business of Software. Eric led the team at Spyglass that developed the original version of the browser now know as Internet Explorer and went on to found SourceGear. We’re giving away three copies of the book, so be sure to tune in. Later on the show we’ll hear from Rob Hyndman and Stuart MacDonald about the upcoming mesh conference as well as their take on the role blogs play in influencing politics and society.

Read more on The Business of Software, Blogs and the Political Machine…

Just got 'em today. I have three full Sticker sets (with two full Initials sets and one full Magnet set) from two boxes. Will be eBay'ing / selling these dupe sets soon, so if you have a silent bid to pass along… I can be bribed with B3, B4, B5, B10, B11, or any new ANS5 bonus cards. Seriously, I'm looking for those Garbage Pail Kids Bonus Cards to complete my collection. Don't ask me why I didn't score 'em before now, but… at least I have a couple of sets to sell to other collectors. Assuming, of course, that I'm not the only GPK freak in the blogosphere. Ponzi says she thinks the Wacky Packages are “cooler,” so I scored a few complete ANS sets from eBay, too. I need a bigger binder now. I'm a CHRIS Mess – a CHRIS Hiss, if you will.
I posted the full set (minus the collector's items) to Flickr a few hours ago, too. I wish the image wasn't so muddy, but using the flash on the “shiny coated” stickers wasn't the best idea – even after editing. Then again, perhaps it's best that I don't have higher quality scans of the Garbage Pail Kids – otherwise, bootleggers would go nuts. Personally, I'd much rather own the originals. Obsessions are natural. Obsessions are natural. Obsessions are natural.

Read more on Chopper-Chopped Chris…

Picking a mobile data carrier these days is a lot like picking your nose: disgusting. I was paying Verizon up to $80 per month for unlimited data, and it wasn't a very fast connection (at that). I learned that they were offering a $50/month “all you can eat” plan to new subscribers, but when I asked Verizon if they'd extend me the same price – they pretty much told me to bugger off. That's when I pretty much told them that I was taking my business elsewhere.
My general purpose mobile phone is with Cingular now, and I only pay $20 a month for a (even slower) data connection, but for as much as I use it – it's fine. There are times, however, that I wish I had a fatter pipe on the road. Yeah, I could buy one of those PCMCIA cards again – but I just can't justify spending more on a mobile plan than I do for my home ISP. If coverage were more pervasive, they'd have a stronger argument. As it stands, speed ubiquity is still spotty and unpredictable.
I was accepted into the Sprint Ambassador program a few months back, not knowing what I'd do with it. They gave us unlimited data access for six months on the Sprint network. For free, it's perfect – but the service has certainly proven itself worthy of a monthly payment. I needed Sprint when I was in Iowa, as nobody in my family has anything faster than a 56k connection to the Internet. The Samsung phone put me online via a USB cable (though it didn't charge the unit simultaneously). We continued to use it when we weren't in our hotel room in North Carolina, too.
At the end of the day, whoever can give me the fastest speed for the cheapest rate will win. Mobile brand loyalty is as foreign to me as Swahili. I'm thankful that Sprint is letting me dip my toes into their world, but we'll see how their rates compare when my one-year contract with Cingular is up. At least they didn't require me to buy a separate card to get semi-broadband access to the Internet.

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No, it's not spam – it's the Made In Express Contest: “There are two phases to this Contest, the Idea Phase and the Project Phase. During the Idea Phase, entrants must describe the Project he or she would build if selected as a Finalist and why they should be selected as a Finalist. At the conclusion of the Idea Phase, twelve (12) entrants will be selected as Finalists by a panel of qualified judges and will build the Project (the 'Project Phase') he or she described in the original entry for consideration for the Grand Prize.”
It's all about seeing what folks can do with Microsoft's Express software. I'm not eligible because I'm one of the judges. I judge things all the time, Ponzi says – mostly, from my armchair (but who doesn't). If you didn't know, Gada.be is being recoded in .NET and is about 99% finished. How's that for cool?

Read more on I Could've Won $10,000…

I'm checking in as Captain 153 today, with a ten pound countdown in full swing. Remember, my initial weight was 175lbs – with a goal of 145 by Gnomedex. That's 20+ pounds lost since I revealed the problem a couple of months ago. Despite being away from my regular activities for two full weeks (including no exercise), I was able to shed 3 pounds. I'll be happiest in between 140 and 145, so I've got eight more pounds to lose to hit that prime weight. According to my scale, I've got a BMI of ~22 – which is considered “normal” for males. 8 pounds and goal!

Read more on Ten Pound Countdown…

The update is available for download now. Most notable in this update: “Macromedia® Flash® content can now be displayed in [Internet Browser]. The system supports Macromedia® Flash® Player 6; however, some features are not supported. Audio content from [RSS Channel] can now be saved on Memory Stick Duoâ„¢ media. A new file extension has been added to playable AAC formats.” Flash, better RSS, and AAC format support? The PSP is finally giving the iPod a run for its money.
According to today's PC World article: “Last month, SCEI President Ken Kutaragi outlined plans for the year and said a second update will follow in the “summer” and will add video podcast support and expand the video profile for the UMD (Universal Media Disc) removable media that the PSP uses. A final software update, due in the “winter,” will add the ability to boot games from Memory Stick media and VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) telephony.” Amazing – and we haven't even seen the PSP2 yet!

Read more on PSP Firmware v2.70…

It's official. I've become a YouTube member with my first video upload.

Airplane safety is no laughing matter, especially when you’re sitting next to a passenger who smells like he just got out of a tennis game and forgot to shower. Before taking your assigned seat, you should first look for all emergency exits and restrooms (noting that the closest ones may be behind you, and first class asses are better than your class asses). In the event of a water landing, please hold your breath as long as possible. Note that your seat cushion may be used as a makeshift club to knock out the people standing in front of you waiting to jump out of the flaming wreckage. Our pilot is underpaid, our flight attendents are underpaid, and the ground crew is made up of illegal aliens more people who are underpaid. Thank you for flying Generic Air – where our concern is none of your concern. We know you had no choice in choosing this airline, but thanks anyway.
Please watch this airplane safety instructional video:

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Taking pictures with a camera phone is a snap. Getting your photos from a camera phone to the Web is a little more complicated. You generally need to email them to every service you want to publish to, which becomes a serious hassle and is potentially expensive depending on your cell phone data plan. At CTIA Wireless 2006, Jake talked with Mark Bole, CEO of ShoZu, about how ShoZu both simplifies the process of publishing photos from your phone to services like Flickr, Buzznet and MySpace, as well as how the phone application also adds a feedback mechanism for getting info back after photos are posted. The service is free and you can see the full list of compatible phones on the ShoZu site.

Read more on Mark Bole on ShoZu Media Sharing…

Jake and Bre Pettis take over The Chris Pirillo Show while Chris and Ponzi vacation in Iowa and North Carolina. Jake relays some of the things he’s learned about domain parking and resale at places like Sedo, the process of becoming a domain reseller and a few of the interesting war stories from the world of domain investment and speculation. Bre hacks his brand new Sony HDR-HC1 HD video camera in preparation to go shoot video at the Maker Faire as part of the Make blogging team. Bre provides an update on his first experiences as a robot maker including shooting robot perspective video.

Read more on Bre Pettis and Jake Ludington on Domains and HD Cams…

Last night (this morning, rather – right before I woke up), I was dreaming that my brother Ben, Ponzi, and I were sitting and chatting it up in a grocery store aisle. I looked up at one of the shelves and saw a new series of Garbage Pail Kids. Topps had originally killed the series when I was younger, then relaunched with what's been dubbed as ANS (A New Series), working their way through four more editions. I woke up, ambled over to my laptop, flailed to the official Garbage Pail Kids Web site, and discovered that (indeed) a new Fifth series was to be released this month. I was thrilled and a little freaked out at the same time. The GPKs are calling to me!
I've continued my full collection to date, having been watching the Garbage Pail Kids message boards and announcement lists (although, there aren't many of 'em – and no RSS feeds). I'll be watching eBay for ANS5 – finding those feeds on the Garbage Pail Kids shopping page. I'm sure non-sports card shops will be posting auctions for full / master sets soon, but that won't keep me from hitting every Target and Wal-Mart between here and home. Sorry, it's a childhood obsession that's been with me since the seventh grade. I can't stop now – especially after this morning's dream.
Any other avid GPK collectors out there? I just found out there's a Garbage Pail Kids band! I just ordered the CD from their GPK site. This is awesome. A bit disgusting and juvenile, but awesome. The GPK Underground is a bit difficult to follow, so I watch Wayne's Garbage Pail Kids References Message Board. Here's a 5th series poster and its twin (highlighting snot, puke, and poop). What a hobby!

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One of the biggest space wasters in any geek’s travel bag is battery chargers. You need one for your laptop, your iPod, your cell phone, your PSP, your digital camera, and whatever else you might bring with you. At CTIA Wireless 2006, Jake interviewed the marketing director from Mobility Electronics, makers of iGo power products. The iGo line of products is designed to help eliminate the need for all those extra cords and cables you carry everywhere, simplifying your charging needs with a series of interchangeable power tips.

Read more on Mobility Electronics iGo Power Solutions…