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It's Just this Little Chromium Switch Here

Weblogging and commentary by Chip Rosenthal

I Pity the Fool

Submitted by chip on Sat, 10-Apr-2004 - 11:31 am
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Internet Exploder buttonI edit the monthly newsletter of the Capital Area Central Texas Unix Society (CACTUS). For your dining and dancing pleasure, here is an excerpt from my column in the April newsletter.

Finally, starting with next month's newsletter, we will begin publishing in a "Best Viewed with Internet Explorer" format. We will place a "best viewed" badge on our web pages. Visitors who attempt to access the newsletter archives with a non-preferred browser will be directed to page that urges them to upgrade. We'll be ready to go just as soon as we get the final artwork, currently being developed by Mr. Lirpa Sloof.

Wiki Experiment

Submitted by chip on Thu, 01-Apr-2004 - 3:29 am
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Today, a fascinating experiment is happening over at MetaFilter. As an April Fool's joke, the site has been replaced with a wiki. People are already scribbling all over the home page. The question is by the end of the day will it self-organize into something useful, or will it be a shambles?

As my contribution to the forces for organization, I added a HappyAprilFools page (to collect joke pages people find today) and linked it from the front page. Within about 45 seconds the front page was defaces and my link was removed.

I'm cheering for the forces of organization to win. If I was a betting man, however, I'd lay my money on the forces of chaos.

Blogging for Belarus

Submitted by chip on Tue, 30-Mar-2004 - 5:27 pm
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map of BelarusToday I met with a trade delegation from Belarus. I'm pleased to report I did not create an international incident. In fact, I actually may have been helpful.

The delegation was looking into online journalism. The members ranged from news agency director to chief of an online portal. Today was the second and final day of their visit. They'd already talked with journalists and professors. I think I was recruited to play the "talk to a live blogger" role. Regardless, I tried to lead them towards issues relating to blog community and blog technology.

My New Lawsuit

Submitted by chip on Fri, 26-Mar-2004 - 6:29 pm
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I didn't get to sleep until 5a.m. this morning. Two things I have the most difficulty handling are money problems and conflict. I'm embroiled in a situation that is chock full of both.

When I moved out of my apartment end of December, I hired movers that I couldn't afford. I figured I could spend money set aside for March rent and replenish that when my security deposit was returned.

Unfortunately, it was not returned. Even though Texas landlords are required to return deposits within thirty days, mine didn't.

Birthday Oatmeal

Submitted by chip on Mon, 22-Mar-2004 - 1:19 pm
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photograph of birthday oatmeal

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to meee-eee
Happy birthday to me

SXSW: Lunchtime Roundup

Submitted by chip on Wed, 17-Mar-2004 - 4:09 pm
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Rosenthal's Corollary to Godwin's Law as applied to weblogs: the chance of a blogger posting a "what I had for lunch" entry approaches unity with time. In fact, this blog reached that pinnacle last year, when I provided an anti-recommendation for lunch. I did much better at this year's SXSW. As a service to other Convention Center-goers, here is a roundup of the places I ate.

Copyright and I.P. for Geeks

Submitted by chip on Wed, 17-Mar-2004 - 11:27 am
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Tomorrow evening (March 18, 7:00pm), CACTUS is presenting a talk on copyright and intellectual property. The presentation will be by noted author Siva Vaidhyanathan, so it could be pretty cool. The talk is open to the public. See the CACTUS Newsletter for more information and directions to the event.

SXSW: Wireless Heresy!

Submitted by chip on Tue, 16-Mar-2004 - 6:16 pm
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For the final panel of SXSW I had a choice: "Wireless and Grassroots Innovation" or "Next Generation Broadband." I choose the latter. I'm very glad I did, because it served as a great antidote to the wireless hyperbole that filled the weekend.

SXSW: Paging Greg Bueno

Submitted by chip on Tue, 16-Mar-2004 - 5:51 pm
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Greg Bueno is stalking me.

He isn't even attending SXSW Interactive, but every day I seem to bump into him. Saturday he follows me to Schlotzky's, under the pretense of meeting somebody for lunch. Sunday I forget exactly where I saw him—or what his lame excuse was. Monday he's outside the convention center, telling me, "I'm going to listen to a friend's presentation." Yeah, that's the ticket.

I was starting to get irritated, and then suddenly today, nothing. Haven't seen hide nor hair of him.

I'm a little concerned. I hope he's alright.

My theory is that since his cover is now blown, they've sent in a replacement.

SXSW: Next Generation Broadband (Session Notes)

Submitted by chip on Tue, 16-Mar-2004 - 4:44 pm
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I sat next to a power outlet for the Next Generation Broadband panel, so I was able to record notes for the session. Here they are—without comment or proofreading: