Goodbye Radio CommentsThe constant delay in loading my weblog front page was driving me crazy. So many times (especially recently) either my page would refuse to load, it would load without the comments, or it would hang for 30-60 seconds until it was able to load the comment code.Enough!!Now, if you click on my comment link, you'll be taken to the Radio email form. I'd like to build my own comment system, but these days, time is priceless.
Personal Contact Managers – Feedback RequestedI have been struggling with this dilemma for almost two years. I am looking for the ultimate Mac contact management setup. I use Apple Mail because it has decent filters and mainly because I prefer it's layout to Eudora. (if Eudora had a 3-paned display and a half-decent address book, I'd switch tomorrow)For contacts, I use Apple's Address Book simply because it integrates with Mail. The biggest issue is my calendar. I have tried iCal, but honestly, it's too darn slow and the adding/editing interface is crap. Palm Desktop is nice, but there is zero integration with other apps and I'm sure Palm won't be adding any new features anytime soon. Now-Up-To-Date and Now-Contact both seem solid, but again, no integration with Mail. I have also toyed with Daylite from Marketcircle. Being a version 1 program, it is AWESOME as a total CRM solution, but the calendar doesn't sync with the Palm and the address book syncing is done by first syncing with Apple's Address Book and then syncing with the palm. (too many steps guys, write a conduit)Sooooo – this leads me to my question. If you're a Mac user and rely on an accurate and sync'd palm-like device, what programs do you use and why?
News AggregatorsIf you are reading this through a news aggregator, please email me a screenshot of what it looks like. I'm curious how my feed appears in your aggregator vs. what I see in mine. PDF, TIFF, BMP, JPG, GIF, etc. are all fine. Thanks! -Andy
Quote“The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.” — Author Unknown
I think that Ben has truly lost his mind, but his comments are flattering, nonetheless.
(Editor's Note: Ben knows more Andy's than just me, but I'd like to think I inspired at least #5)
In honor of all the Andy's in my life:
Top 3 (or so) Ways the World Would Be Different if Everyone Was Named Andy
5. Famous movie line would be, “My name is Bond. Andy Bond.”
4. Hit Fox reality show: Andy Millionaire.
3. Nametags would all be pre-printed with “Hi, my name is Andy.”
2. US Military prepares to topple murderous dictator Andy Hussein.
1. The book of Genesis would teach us that God created Andy in his own image.
Humor: Two RabbitsDid you hear about the two rabbits that escaped from the zoo? So far they have only recaptured 116 of them? — Slashdot
One Year Anniversary
Yesterday marked the one-year annivesary of my layoff from my former employer. I didn't spend any time celebrating, but a few days ago, when I realized it had been a year, I did take a few moments to reflect on the events of the past year.
Employment
Immediately after the grand event, I re-focused a lot of my energy on a young company that a friend and I started in August of 2001. Since times were still tough, I also began consulting for other business and technology projects. I'm happy to report that a year later, both companies are doing fine and well on their way.
Finance
It has been a very tough year in many ways, but especially financially. My wife was laid off from Nortel Networks a few months prior to me. We quickly started making cuts to our conservative, but comfy lifestyle. My wife took a contract job with Dell and is now contracting at Apple. Her continued sacrifice has allowed me the opportunity to keep working with Sprysoft and doing my consulting. While there have been many times where we were down to a couple hundred dollars in the bank, something we haven't been used to seeing since we were first married, somehow we always seemed to pull it off and keep our bills paid. Family and friends have also been a real blessing to us. They often go out of their way to help us and provide for us. They think they are being sneaky, but we notice and do appreciate their candid assistance.
Outlook
In many ways, I see 2003 as a new start. So many people are grateful that 2002 is over. It seems comforting to be able to put something behind you, when for the most part, 2002 was a horrid year for thousands and thousands of people. While winter is still here in many parts of the country, Austin, at least the past few days, is taking on a bit of a spring climate. This bodes well for new attitudes and fresh starts. Lots of new businesses are opening up and spending is increasing. The weeds in the yard are reminding me of the many outdoor projects still on my list. Some day soon, the grass will start growing again and choke back some of those milkweeds. In the meantime, I'll keep ripping them out and dreaming about my landscaped back yard. This year, debts will be paid, incomes will be secured, lives will be restored.
I am glad that life gave me a little push in the direction I'm headed. While most of it has been spent climbing up hill, mentally I'm in better shape and the view from up here is fantastic.
“Look closely — you may find “empty warheads” in the White House, too.”
Scott makes a few excellent points. The media continues to do a great job of offering distorted, yet factual points of data. The truth is in the interpretation.
Although I'm a huge Bush fan, he has still yet to convince me that we NEED to go to war with Iraq. If it must be done, I'm behind it, but I'm not there yet.
I'm a patriotic American, but I'll never truly understand the full impact of politics and their twist on the decisions our governing leaders make each day.
Life in the ED
David has done an outstanding job of re-capping a job that I'm SO GRATEFUL isn't mine.
If I had to go through what he goes through each day, I'd be a wreck. I have great respect for folks like David who have the knowledge, patience, skill, aptitude, and huevos to get the job done, and go back for more.
Read all about it here.