Confidence boost from Linksys

I recently upgraded the firmware on my Linksys WRT54G router to this version. I include the preview because I love this icon. So sleek and mysterious.


Well actually, first I downloaded the prominently displayed firmware upgrade. It turned out to be for a later version of the router, so I got this excellent message. It's more than an error message. It's a slap in the face. It's a raging, hopeless slogan for scrawling above the door of a bombed out hospital, perhaps. Continue.


No problem, really. It isn't as dire as it sounds. "Please check the bottom of your router to make sure you have the correct version," says the guide. Just dig a little bit on the Cisco site and find the firmware for your router version. It's in Home >> Support >> Technical Support >> Downloads.

Ah, that's better! Your reward is this sunny fanfare for the credulous.

Sleep soundly. Cisco is looking after the details.

Using "Create Event" action in Gmail

I am a fan of the integration of Gmail and Google Calendar, but one thing that isn't clearly explained is that you need to put event details in the subject line of your email. Even then the results can be unexpected. I did some light testing of various date strings. Here are some results.

Today is Sunday the 16th of November 2008. You have just learned of a screening of the film "Foo" in the evening and want to forward it to Eddy. Here are a few Subject: lines and their results.

Success
Subject: Foo Screening at 7pm
Subject: Foo Screening: Sunday Nov. 16 - 7pm
A Week Late
Foo Screening: Sunday at 7pm

Month Long Event
Foo Screening - Sunday, November 16 - 7:00pm
Watch out for hyphens in your date. In this case they indicate a date range. Google Calendar appears to have a default of one month for an unfinished date range. The end date is set to December 15 2008.


No Event Detected
Subject: Foo Screening - Sunday, November 16 - 7:00

Improvised Entertainment Device

Celebrate the kid's birthday in style. Get an old broom handle. Write I.E.D. on it with a magic marker. Blindfold the kid and let him unleash his explosive energy underneath this U.S. Army Humvee with troops inside. Is it an up-armoured model? There is only one way to find out.



I hate boing-boing.net because they beat me to it. They already made fun of this a year ago.

Wedding Badminton

Katie and Joel got married at an old farm near St. Andrew's NB. Afterward the guests enjoyed games in the yard. Pete and Amy took on a rotating squad of Nancy, Barb and Cara at badminton. I took photos as quickly as my camera could write them to memory.

Proportional Rep. in Ontario: The Podcast

TVO's Big Ideas has this audio of a panel discussion on the Ontario referendum on changing the electoral system to proportional representation (called MMP).

• The good thing about this podcast is that the particpants know what they are talking about and bring up points I had not heard before. Almost everyone I know is planning to vote in favour of MMP, so it was good to hear cogent contrary views.
• The bad thing is that there is a lot of discussion about MMP and it's implications for democracy in Ontario. It is pretty nerdy.
• The worse thing is that I rewound about six times while listening to make sure I understood what the speakers were saying.

Licensed to score

I am pretty happy with my latest purchase. Some intimidating dart flights for the next tourney. I don't think anybody will mess with me when they see the logo for the IPOA. If you don't know, the sleeping lion represents the trade organization for mercenary companies. Oops, I mean the peace operations industry.

A steal at £10.

Illegal substitution

This screen shot is from the Rogers Sportsnet coverage of a match between Canada and Costa Rica in June 2007. Early in the second half Costa Rica decided to change strategies. For the first 50 minutes they were content to play a containment game. At this point the coach decided to go for regime change and pulled President Bush Sr. out of the game, in favour of more shooting prowess.



As every footie fan knows Bush wears 43 in honour of his son, the 43rd President of the United States. Or perhaps he lost a bet and is forced to wear it.