Posted By RichC on December 30, 2005
Take a look at this interesting new webpage building tool. It is ideal for people on the go wanting to put together a ‘dynamic’ homepage or ‘communications’ page … or pages … with only a browser. Protopage unleashes AJAX better than about any other web based tool. I sense we’ll be seeing many more ‘web-software’ tools similar to Protopage.
I’ve been semi-paying attention to what creative web software programs are creating using AJAX which has been explained as as a “web development technique” that assists in interactive internet applications. Companies like 37signals and Protopage are pushing server based programming as are other AJAXy programmers.
Protopage is currently a free service and easy to use. It doesn’t require registration unless you desire a personal ‘url.’ Information ‘sticky notes’ can be dragged around the screen and currently come in four ‘note’ options: 1)RSS reader, 2)sticky note, 3) link panel and 4)a search box. According to one of the founders their will continue to offer the product free and are working on improvements like adding photos. (no built in option to do that at the moment … although I was able to tweak a ‘sticky-note’ with some html code and a photo. See www.protopage.com/richc.us) The background, the stickies, title bars, and text are customizable as far as color, bold, italic, size and links. (similar to blog tools) As your content grows, you can add additional pages, make certain pages private or public and invite friends using a built in ‘marketing’ (I suspect) feature.
From building a personal homepage with personal links and info, to sharing a password with a group and building a ‘space’ together, I’m sure people will fine a multitude of uses for the Protopage concept. After tinkering with it for about and hour I was able to easily create a few pages and run through most of the selectable options. It is easy to modify content on the fly … even from cell phone connected laptops. (works great and seems fast) One major missing option for most of us is the lack of photo and graphics support. A photo uploading and display option and an appointment calendar would complete the current ‘to-do’ list feature. Add an import/export database and contact manager and this would make a great commercial CRM product as well! Protopage is a great environment in which to assemble news, links, and notes although a few more features are needed before it is ready for primetime. Its worth a look!
Category: Misc |
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Posted By RichC on December 29, 2005
My wonderful daughter gave me a detailed biography for Christmas that I’ve just started. It is quite long so may take me some time to read and review, although I will eventually post my thoughts in the book catagory of my blog. The preface was a very interesting section from a son, and there is quite a bit of detail about this famous American that I (nor very many others) have known. So far, it is a very facinating biography. I’m purposely not mentioning the person’s real name, instead choosing to stimulate a little intellectual game with readers.
“First” clue: the person in the biography once used an alias: “Max Peck.” Any guesses? (I’ll post a second clue in a few days if this is not enough)
EDIT: Since this “Max Peck” post is still generating traffic a decade after I posted it, I’ll add a link of interest and the photo of Neil Armstrong for posterity.
Category: Books, Space |
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Tags: astronaut, Books, max peck, neil armstrong
Posted By RichC on December 28, 2005
First my apologies for my lack of Christmas blogging for those who might occasionally read my desultory posts … although I can’t imagine why one would miss them.
Here is a VW oriented post to bring in the new year with $50 in VW parts: “Get a Volkswagen Platinum Visa® Card with low introductory rate on balance transfers and purchases for the first six months. And, get points toward free rewards** …like Volkswagen gear, dealer services, even your next Volkswagen. The rewards begin with $50 back to you to use toward Volkswagen Parts or Dealer Services. Just apply online and, upon approval, activate your card within 60 days. See offer here.”
Category: Uncategorized |
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Posted By RichC on December 21, 2005
On one of the forums I visit, this painful lesson was captured on video. We all need to remember where to attach the tow hook and why not to ‘jerk’ the car out of a snow pile. This kind of mistake could be costly as well as dangerous. (always stand clear)
Thanks to Randy, a VW TDI owner in Columbus for forwarding this short WMV Video Clip. (right click/save as)
Category: Uncategorized |
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Posted By RichC on December 20, 2005
Originally MyArchive.us was a place to archive documents, photos, etc but eventually became a much more public (yet personal) blog (richc.myarchive.us and finally MyDesultoryBlog.com). As the daily public shares grew, it became difficult to decide what to share and what to exclude. As our family grew older, it became easier to include them in “family” oriented posts and now I’m finding myself updating the archiving bit by bit to include items. Perhaps its the advent of social networking or finding that I’d rather have a few things saved her than go missing. So … I’m archiving two previous, 2005 and 2004, Corbett Christmas Letters.
| Corbett Christmas Letter 2005 | | Corbett Christmas Letter 2004 |
Category: Archive, Holiday, Personal |
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Tags: archive, brenda, Corbett Christmas Letter, family, katelyn, pdf, rich, taylor
Posted By RichC on December 19, 2005
Category: Archive, Holiday, Personal |
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Tags: archive, brenda, Corbett Christmas Letter, family, katelyn, pdf, rich, taylor
Posted By RichC on December 13, 2005
I’ll make this post brief and point to the Audi R10 link, but this 650 HP 12 cylinder diesel is really impressive. Don’t miss a few of the video clips (live unedited capture) as besides a good look at the car, there are some nice panoramas of Paris, France. If you only have time for a short MP3 clip of the ‘turbine’ whine … play this short audio clip.
There is also a thread about the Audi R10 over at the TDI Club forums and VWLivery posted a good write-up as well. The CarBuyersNotebook has a short entry and links to a variety of sites and video.
The heart of the Audi R10 is a completely new V12 TDI engine with a cubic capacity of 5.5 litres – the maximum permitted at Le Mans. Audi ventures into previously unexplored diesel-engine terrain with power exceeding 650 hp and torque of more than 1100 Newton metres from the V12 power plant.
“This engine is the specifically most powerful diesel there is in the world and, up until now, the biggest challenge that Audi Sport has ever faced in its long history,†explains Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Technology at Audi Sport. “There has never been anything remotely comparable. We started development with a clean sheet of paper.â€
The V12 TDI used in the R10 is the first Audi diesel engine with an aluminium crank case. The cylinder-bank angle is 90 degrees. The V12 TDI has, like Audi production car engines, four valves per cylinder and twin overhead camshafts. The fuel induction is made by a modern “Common Rail Systemâ€. The injection pressure easily exceeds the 1600 bar achieved in production cars. The ignition pressures also reach values never previously seen in any Audi engine.
The engine’s power and the high torque are available to the driver practically from idling speed – a speciality of diesel technology, to which the Audi drivers must now become accustomed. The usable power band lies between 3000 and 5000 revs per minute.
Category: Misc |
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Posted By RichC on December 7, 2005
It happened a lifetime ago, but “it is a day that will live in infamy.” December 7, 1941 was the day a surprise attack was made against our country by the empire of Japan. We remember this day but unfortunately did not learn the lesson. Most of us were not alive to remember the heart wrenching shock and sickening feeling when Pearl Harbor was bombed by waves of Japanese carrier planes, but we were for 9/11. Americans could hardly believe it was possible to have suffered such a attack in Hawaii, yet 2,390 men and much of our Pacific fleet layed in ruins. How could it have happened? Didn’t we know of this possible threat?
Fast forward 60 years and September 11th is remembered as a surprise attack too … and by most accounts it was even worse than Pearl Harbor. Not only was 9/11 a surprise attack, but it was an attack using commercial airliners (not military airplanes) against civilians (not targeting warships and sailors). The attack in the Pacific was enough to unite the country against the tyrants of the world; we never gave up and every America saw fighting the enemy as their duty. Are we united today? The enemies of our country are just as real and as motivated to kill Americans as were the Japanese. Todays’ enemies willing to blow themselves up just as some Japanese pilots would kill themselves in order to inflict damage to the US. Whether its the kamikaze suicide pilots of WWII or the Islamic extremist driving truck bombs today, they both targeted killing as many Americans as possible.
Just as we ‘should’ have learned preparedness from Pearl Harbor, we need to learn resolve against the enemy we face today. Both enemies were a threat to our people and way of life; willing terrorist who plot and kill should be a concern on every American’s mind.
We must win.
Our country finished World War II with nothing less than the full and complete surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945 that assured not another American would be killed … in some way we need to finalize this war on terror with an equally complete victory. Americans unite to defeat the enemy we face!
Category: Millitary, Misc |
3 Comments »
Tags: 9/11, national security, pearl harbor, terrorism, war
Posted By RichC on December 6, 2005
There was an interesting segment on Motorweek for those considering ‘big’ diesel pickups. The International CXT may just be the”Ultimate” in working (or show off) pickups. This bad boy boasts a turbo charged 6 cylinder International diesel with 320 HP and a whopping 860 pound feet of torque. I’m not sure if anybody wants to fill the 73 gallon tank, but considering you could drive it on biodiesel, you might opt for making your own fuel? (see “Biodiesel and Trucks!“) For those of you feeling emasculated by soccer moms driving Hummers or neighbors looking down on you from their Dodge, Ford or Chevy 4 x 4 pickup … this would make them all look like they are driving Tonka toys.
If you are still with this Tim Taylor “GRUNTING” type post, I’ve included a segment from Motorweek that will help you visualize just how big is big. Most of us probably would be hard pressed to spend $120 to $135,000 on a pickup, but if you need to pull 40,000 pounds or haul around 12,000 pounds in style … this International will do it. It would be nice to know you could move your house or yatch the next time a hurricane heads your way? Personally, I think even the baby brother, the International’s RXT, is a tad large for my needs.
🙂
Category: Automotive, Biodiesel |
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Posted By RichC on December 2, 2005
Josh Hiebert of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada posted a couple of gruesome photos of his VW Jetta TDI about the time my friend Charles B. mentioned he had picked up a ‘heater’ for his VW TDI. He mention he had found a great deal on them and was looking to install. Weigh your decision carefully.
On Wednesday night November 23 my jetta burned to the ground taking with it our garage and my roommates Grand Prix GTP. The cause of the fire was the block heater patch that VW puts on. It is an aftermarket patch called the Canadian Polar Patch. heres some pics…..grab some tissues….im sure other TDI drivers will get a little misty eyed.
Category: Uncategorized |
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