Outlook: Publish Free/Busy & Sync with Google Apps or Gmail

Posted on July 31, 2007 in Tech | Leave a Comment

I finally found a way for Outlook to publish free/busy information and sync with Google Apps and Gmail. There’s this free sync application called OggSync that does it for you.

Features include being able to select what you publish, like not publishing private events, sync just free/busy status, and best of all, to sync with multiple google calendars.

I haven’t played around with it yet, but it looks promising. Just check out all the options you have - control is never a bad thing!

Anyone heard of this before, or better yet tried it? How well does it work?

Starbucks Should Offer Recycling

Posted on July 28, 2007 in Save the World | Leave a Comment

For a company based in earthy Seattle, I think Starbucks might be a bit more geared toward recycling. I’m one of those customers that visits about 20-25 times per month, and I find it really annoying that they don’t offer a recycling station to deposit my drink container. I say “drink container” since I sometimes buy something in a can, or plastic/glass bottle.

Many local coffee shops give you the option for in-shop dining, but that’s not offered at Starbucks. At least they could offer a spot to recycle their containers rather than throwing them away.

I end up just hauling the containers back to either my office or house so I can recycle them there.

Free Dog: Gordon Setter Puppy

Posted on July 20, 2007 in Life | 2 Comments

UPDATE: Sunday, this puppy found a good home. He’ll be living with 2 other dogs, a horse, sheep and a large family of kids. It’s almost like the stories your parents told you about Rex going to live at a “farm” where he will be happy, but this is actually true.

Stats:

• Purebred Gordon Setter - has papers that need to be filed to be AKC registered
• 8mos (approx)
• Doesn’t bark - at all. Haven’t heard anything in 2 days anyway.
• Lived outside till now, a little tentative/scared inside the house
• Seems well behaved, can sit and sometimes comes when called - doesn’t
  jump up on people. I doubt he’s had too much training though.
• Not dog or child aggressive
• Very docile. Doesn’t scratch, bite, nibble, etc
• Energetic - not to the point of neurotic, but will need lots of exercise

How to bore your self: Watch Google Reader Video

Posted on July 19, 2007 in Tech, Work | Leave a Comment

I’m just as excited as the next guy in finding ways to improve how I do things, or hear tips from pros, etc. However, 11 1/2 minutes of Google Reader video is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

I got suckered into actually watching the whole thing. I was waiting for some big revelation… and this is 15 minutes I won’t get back in my life - by the time I spend posting about it. Next time, please just give us the advice in the first 30 seconds, then spend the rest of the time chit-chatting on a shaky home-video that makes us dizzy.

Don’t Click It is a Stupid Idea

Posted on July 19, 2007 in Tech | 2 Comments

Contrary to what everyone is used to doing, and what is actually a functional way to use your computer, Don’t Click It is trying a different method to browse the web. Only problem is that it SUCKS.

I am one who always enjoys seeing a fresh view, or someone trying to make change for the better - but this just doesn’t seem to me to be for the better.

Why I think it sucks, from a UI standpoint:

• It goes against the grain: Everything you do on your computer right now, requires some kind of mouse clicking. Open up a program with a click (or two clicks, depending on your OS, prefs, etc) and click around in the program. Can you imagine tyring to re-educate all the elderly users who have barely learned how to click to now not click? Besides, humans as a race have been designed to be able to do things like click things or pick our noses with these little fingery things we have. When animals (barring monkeys) start using the infoweb, then this might be useful. Most of them are more sensitive to movement anyway - see item below.
• It’s a waste of time: All this motion stuff that happens when you’re hovering over menus is distracting. Give the user what they want, and when they want it. No forcing it down their throats first, and no making them wait ages. It’s called instant gratification, and very popular in America.
• It’s error prone: When I put my cursor over text, something happens almost every time. Maybe I didn’t mean to? Now I have to wait for the thing to load/change, and then wait for it to go back to how it was. Also, how am I supposed to know whether it’s clickable has content before I move my cursor to it. Now add this into a site that has scolling, and we’ve got ourselves a mess every time you move that little scrolly wheel on your mouse.

Am I just being an idiot here? What are your guys’ thoughts about Don’t Click It?

Find It