Randomize

Richard Tallent’s occasional blog

Browser of the Future

Note: this was originally published on 2003-07-02. The predictions came true, but not along the path I expected. Instead, we’ve seen rich JavaScript-based UI frameworks like ExtJS make “native-ish” web application development a snap, and Flash and Silverlight (the latter being closest to my expectations) have become the de facto, though controversial, replacement platforms in the browser. Posted here for posterity. If anyone has a way to easily convert old dasBlog content to WordPress, please let me know… Read more →

This post “originally written” in Objective C. Prove me wrong.

Apple has been getting a lot a grief this week for changing their iPhone / iPad SDK Section 3.3.1 to say the following (emphasis added): 3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e. Read more →

Advice to Models for picking a Wedding Photographer

Reposted from my reply on a modeling forum thread._ This advice is particularly for models, but there are some general principles here too that are important for anyone choosing a wedding photographer. While I admit I’m biased in what I think is important (as a wedding photographer myself), I know most of my blog audience isn’t local and won’t think of this as an advertisement._ My own prices range from about $2k to $5k. Read more →

A VRBO Review

Since the VRBO web site kinda sucks and doesn’t allow property reviews, I’ll post my review here. Maybe some enterprising vacationer with some Google-brains will find it. Property reviewed: http://www.vrbo.com/261334 Beachfront 2-Bedroom/2-Bath Ocean Drive, South Beach, The Strand, Miami Beach We visited South Beach, apparently, during the coldest January on record, so we ended up spending a LOT more time in the condo than we originally intended. Read more →

5 Ways Artists Cheat

A few things bug me about modern art. The biggest thing is that so many artists, rather than actually having something important to say or something beautiful to express, cheat to create something impressive, but in the end, hollow. Make it big. Really big. If you can’t produce something interesting, magnify the scale until it confuses the viewer into thinking there’s something really important about your piece that they are missing. Read more →

On the death penalty

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6899748.html Without reading the judge’s opinion, I can’t decide for myself if he is correct. But that’s why we have an appellate court system, so more experienced jurists can consider new arguments from lower courts and make sure our system is sound. In the remote chance that there is a valid issue, I’m just glad the prisoner wasn’t already executed. Of course, that may be his whole point — you might be able to let a guy out 20 years later if the next DNA-like technology exonerates him, but you can’t un-kill him. Read more →

Regarding term limits

I see both sides of this argument. It is clear that when our representatives stay too long, they lose the ability to govern and only retain the ability to campaign. Hence the lack of leadership, collaboration, and discourse, all of which tend to piss off just enough voters to put them in the 49% of a 49/51 split the next time around. Term limits give us fresh eyes to problems and fresh hearts to their district, and lame ducks can make the tough decisions without worrying about jeopardizing their “career. Read more →

Checklist for Alienbees CyberCommander Use

I’ve had a TON of trouble with the CyberCommander, which is totally unlike my usual experience with Alienbees products. After hours of debugging, I think I’ve finally created a checklist that works to get a multi-light setup working with my AB800s, CSR+ receivers, CST transmitter, and CyberCommander controller. The CSR+ receivers don’t seem to work correctly when the polarity is reversed on the outlet, so check that. They may also be sensitive to an open ground. Read more →

6 Reasons eBooks should be Cheaper than pBooks

Carolyn K. Reidy, chief executive of Simon & Schuster, was recently quoted saying of Amazon’s $10 standard pricing for books on the Kindle: “We do not agree with their pricing strategy. I don’t believe that a new book by an author should ipso facto be less expensive electronically than it is in paper format.” Fortunately for us, the market decides the price of products, not Ms. Reidy. This past week, there have been various other rumblings in the publishing industry, from Macmilan’s dispute with Amazon over pricing to the sky-is-falling predictions at recent publishing conferences, to the fearful reactions to Apple’s impending entry into the market. Read more →

Questions not answered by the iPad

Just in case anyone has been wondering, yes, I still intend to blog occasionally. Watching Jobs et al on stage yesterday, there were a few lingering questions I have that I hope Apple addresses before the release: Camera, pretty please? I’m hoping a front-facing camera is a “one more thing” added at the end. This does seem like a no-brainer, a 2MP camera would add $10 to the cost. No GPS for wifi users? Read more →