The short-form week of 26 Sep–2 Oct 2011

03 Oct 2011

The week in review, 140 characters at a time. This week, 62 messages in 69 conversations. (With 7 favorites.)

This document was created automatically from my archive of my Twitter stream. Due to limitations in the Twitter API and occasional glitches in my archiving system, it may not be 100% complete.

Monday at 07:48am

XML Summer School 2011 Group Photo: http://t.co/fyA9Mojv #xmlsummerschool #xmlss #xmlss11—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Monday at 08:44am

@shelleypowers Web devs and browser vendors as “the constituencies that give it credibility”. This is a humor, right? http://t.co/vaXRAMOK—@ndw

@ndw I laughed, didn't you laugh?—@shelleypowers

@shelleypowers Almost to the point of having coffee come out through my nose.—@ndw

@ndw Better than coming out your brains, which is what seems to have happened to some folk...—@shelleypowers

Monday at 10:44am

This, Beckett apparently finds comfortable. http://t.co/eqvaX9H5—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Monday at 01:22pm

Not having played these games is worse than not having played Portal. http://t.co/mL45eEUc—@siracusa

@siracusa yeah, but I'd have to buy a PS3—@timbray

@timbray Worth it. (Plus, it's not a bad Netflix streamer and blu-ray player. Fan's a bit loud, though.)—@siracusa

@siracusa @timbray “Fan’s a bit loud” is, alas, a bit of an understatement.—@ndw

Monday at 01:54pm

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - JFK, 1962. (Context: http://t.co/XP5u0snaa)—@simonstl

Monday at 03:50pm

Yeah. RT @simonstl "We have lost the war on terrorism. The terrorists are now in control." - http://t.co/UKWJmvaA—@ndw

Monday at 03:53pm

RT @ndw Yeah. RT @simonstl "We have lost the war on terrorism. The terrorists are now in control." - http://t.co/9X3q8GVf—@brashley46

Monday at 03:54pm

@ndw did anyone ever really expect otherwise? this 'war' was precisely the sort of thing that triggers terrorism—@marjoleink

In a conversation that started on Monday at 04:03pm

I have the same effect on hardware as a theoretical physicist on an experiment. There's something...off about my server. Working on it.—@ndw

@ndw: If you're making your server go faster than the speed of light, I wouldn't complain if I was you.—@MenteaXML

Tuesday at 02:36am

The ᐸinnovimax/ᐳ Daily is out! http://t.co/bvdKr8lh ▸ Top stories today via @chaals @johnlsheridan @ppeccatte @webfoundation @ndw—@dominiquepere

In a conversation that started on Tuesday at 11:33am

@ndw Is there any documentation on cx:zip apart from Zip.java? Example usage?—@RobbertAtWork

@RobbertAtWork Apparently not. I’ll put it on my list.—@ndw

@RobbertAtWork You could look at http://t.co/364HN5AZ Not really doc, but there are example between there.. cc: @ndw—@grtjn

In a conversation that started on Tuesday at 11:55am

Cool! (for us Web geeks) HTML5 in 5 Minutes - A Presentation By Addy Osmani http://t.co/1PAZFPVZ—@webfoundation

@webfoundation We all find it amusing that that’s a Flash presentation, right?—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Tuesday at 03:17pm

Can I get two windows talking to each other with cross-document messaging? Is it hard, or am I overlooking the obvious?—@ndw

@ndw I'd use window.postMessage, supported on IE8+ and other browsers. If you need IE7 support, see this jQuery plugin: http://t.co/4c62fJhi—@avernet

@avernet I’m trying to use windows.PM. Easy to get comm one way. Harder to work out how to get second window to know about first.—@ndw

@ndw isn't that the goal of WebSockets?—@abdelazer

@ndw Entirely separate windows? No. You can do evil stuff with sessionStorage if their same-origin, though, to make it work.—@gsnedders

@ndw Webpages?—@libbymiller

@ndw what language ? .net?—@pmvallone

@pmvallone No, JavaScript+HTML. Want comm. synced btw two windows. Can get comm one way, but not the other. Not easily, anyway.—@ndw

@ndw google session variables without cookies. Might be helpful—@pmvallone

In a conversation that started on Tuesday at 04:07pm

[Surely, no] @laurendw: “why does firefox expect me to install an update that disables https everywhere?”—@timbray

@timbray @laurendw Yeah. I clicked “sure, upgrade, what could possibly go wrong” but then aborted when I saw that.—@ndw

But why does it want to? #FF #https QT @ndw: @timbray @laurendw Yeah. I clicked “sure, upgrade, what could possibly go wrong”—@docum3nt

@timbray @laurendw http://t.co/G3gxAhKt—@jreschke

@jreschke thanks for the link!—@laurendw

Tuesday at 08:44pm

via @avernet @ndw I'd use window.postMessage, supported on IE8+ and other browsers. If you need IE7 support, see this jQuery plugin:...—@jQueryBot

In a conversation that started on Tuesday at 11:15pm

real geeks code at night—@gklst

@gklst real geeks code all the damn time.—@kev_nz

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 09:39am

localStorage and a “storage modified” event hook turned out to be the answer to my “inter-window comm.” question.—@ndw

@ndw If your talking "X Windows" or "Win32 Windows" you can send cross-process events directly.—@DALDEI

@DALDEI No, I’m talking two different browser windows.—@ndw

@ndw you got the storage modified hook to work? That's great. (It didn't do so well for me a year ago.)—@simonstl

@ndw localStorage + modified events = shared memory ftw! So 1990s C Inter-process communication.—@DaveO

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 10:44am

So: Amazon Silk is all about getting between us and our web content, so Amazon can do better profiling and targeting of product offers to us—@adamburmister

@adamburmister That sounds about right. Sigh.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 12:09pm

Everytime the benefits rep says AD&D, I'm momentarily distracted.—@ndw

@ndw roll for initiative?—@mdubinko

@ndw Keep waiting for them to get out the D20s and start calculating THAC0—@gcarothers

@ndw Accidental Dragon Dismemberment FTW!—@distobj

@ndw does it include accidental vorpal sword damage?—@CorbasLtd

@ndw just rediscovered our Dungeon Masters Guide in my parents' basement. I don't think it mentions benefits reps.—@simonstl

@simonstl @ndw Check your old Fiend Folio under "Iron COBRA".—@kiphampton

Wednesday at 12:15pm

RT @ndw: Everytime the benefits rep says AD&D, I'm momentarily distracted.—@kiphampton

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 12:18pm

@ndw I'm distracted... what's 'AD&D'?—@marjoleink

@marjoleink Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance in the benefits context.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 12:51pm

As a Web geek, Silk is compelling. As a user, it's downright scary #privacy—@distobj

@distobj Nah. As a user, it’s something about which you’ll be completely oblivious.—@ndw

@ndw @distobj until something creepy happens... (like logging out and still being tracked across the Web ;)—@frumioj

Wednesday at 01:00pm

The person who did this wins the Internet: http://t.co/L3soQfAr—@bsletten

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 01:21pm

@kevingranade @jasonriedy but I'm still distracted: what did @ndw's 'benefits rep' actually refer to? (what's a 'benefits rep'?)—@marjoleink

@marjoleink 'benefits rep" would be an agent of a company providing benifits (one of which is insurance) for @ndw's employer.—@Azmodean

Wednesday at 02:28pm

The 2.6.38-11-generic kernel was very unstable on my (Ubuntu) server. Backed down to 2.6.38-10 for the time being #FYI #YMMV—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 02:36pm

Geeks! new code: RECURSIVE link: http://t.co/UavALHoi (50 more...)—@gklst

@gklst The chimp with the handgun is kind of amusing, but I don’t think [object Object] was what you intended to return to me :-)—@ndw

@ndw haha sorry :( either iPad or twitter app... we are fixing :)—@gklst

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 03:14pm

People are making all my #semtech arguments now, so -- mercifully! -- I can shut up!—@kendall

@kendall Merciful for you, or merciful for us? <ducks/>—@ndw

@ndw Both, clearly... But what are you kvetching about: you don't listen to me about semweb! ;)—@kendall

@kendall Au contraire, I listen. I don't always understand, but I listen.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 08:37pm

Ha! Presentation in one browser window, speaker notes in another. Navigation b/w slides in either view keeps the other in sync! Sweet!—@ndw

@ndw What software does that?—@mdubinko

@mdubinko Just a modern web browser and a little API magic.—@ndw

@ndw ok, I want a copy of that...—@laurendw

@laurendw I'll build it into the #xmlss templates—@ndw

@ndw thanks!—@laurendw

In a conversation that started on Wednesday at 09:33pm

"In the most favorable circumstances, achievements cannot exceed the square root of expectations."—@ndw

@ndw Ah, that's Walsh's Law, is it?—@SheltieJim

@SheltieJim No, I can’t take credit. It’s from Absolute Zero Gravity, a wonderful little book of geeky humor, http://t.co/LcvbZcB1—@ndw

Wednesday at 11:36pm

@ndw, that's something I'm often guilty of forgetting.—@johnlsheridan

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 12:16am

wolverine in xmen first class = best. cameo. ever.—@peteaven

@peteaven agreed on the Wolverine cameo. It was the perfect line. :)—@jasoncbooth

@peteaven Yeah. Saw it on the plane back from LHR. Possibly best scene in the movie.—@ndw

@ndw @peteaven My favorite XMen-1st Class scene was Erik confronting the Nazis in hiding in the South American bar. He was a badass!—@jasoncbooth

@jasoncbooth my parents didn't have a name, it was taken from them by pig farmers... and tailors...—@peteaven

@peteaven that guy owned that movie. Such a strong performance. Oscar-worthy, IMO.—@jasoncbooth

@ndw @jasoncbooth the movie is epic! wolverine pwnz!—@peteaven

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 12:35am

Did Skype really have to come down to showing ads? Years ago, before Skype, I used YIM; and I stopped using it when it started showing ads.—@avernet

@avernet Yeah, and when Twitter starts doing it, I’ll probably stop using it too.—@ndw

Thursday at 03:37am

The command line is a powerful tool; with power comes responsibility; I am responsible for deleting my websites with an ill-judged command.—@MenteaXML

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 06:42am

Hey, norm, how far behind are you on weblog postings? I'm so far behind, I haven't yet posted travel pics from our vacation in May. Sigh.—@ndw

@ndw I thought I was bad on the July set—@laurendw

@laurendw Here’s hoping I don’t make y’all wait so long for the September set from #xmlss11 :-)—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 06:45am

Does the world want to see your travel pics, norm? Shut up.—@ndw

@ndw some of us like your travel pics—@laurendw

@laurendw @ndw +1—@JamieXML

@ndw Ha! I almost made a snarky but humorous comment to that effect but wasn't sure it would read right. Yes, we want pics.—@bsletten

Thursday at 08:28am

Thanks to all the new followers. "Metadata is a love note to the future" is mine, not a quote from somewhere, and I believe it. And live it!—@textfiles

Thursday at 09:04am

RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@ndw

Thursday at 09:09am

RT @ndw: RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@RepoRat

Thursday at 09:10am

Aw ;) #metadatalove RT @RepoRat: RT @ndw: RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@CriticalSteph

Thursday at 09:11am

RT @reporat: RT @ndw: RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@stefarchivist

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 09:23am

Disk Repair on a 1TB disk attached via USB. Will it finish before the heat death of the universe?—@ndw

@ndw I'm finding USB3 to be a worthwhile upgrade—@svgeesus

@svgeesus I sure hope my next laptop has it. ("svgeesus" LOL!) (See you at #tpac11?)—@ndw

@ndw my new desktop has it. And yes, see you there.—@svgeesus

Thursday at 09:24am

RT @ndw: Disk Repair on a 1TB disk attached via USB. Will it finish before the heat death of the universe? [answer: no]—@jeffsonstein

Thursday at 09:33am

RT @RepoRat: RT @ndw: RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@dykeslibrary

Thursday at 09:33am

RT @RepoRat: RT @ndw: RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@jastirn

Thursday at 10:00am

Slim Zitoun, le Journal nouvelle édition http://t.co/JXdCAISP ▸ Aujourd'hui à la UNE: @ndw @design_trend @cssfeednet @kreestal @jitendravyas—@Slim_Zitoun

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 10:04am

Oh, come on! If your primary business involves shipping PDF forms around, for the love of $#%@! allow me to fill them in electronically!—@ndw

@ndw I remember that issue and them only working in 1 vendor app, and on windows. I think I printed a screenshot and signed it—@dajobe

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 01:14pm

You know you're in for a world of expense report pain when sitting on the floor to sort all the receipts seems like a good place to start.—@ndw

@ndw soon norm soon!!—@dscape

@ndw We know the feeling!—@BEWInteractive

Thursday at 01:21pm

@ndw that sounds painfully familiar - but luckily for me, in the past ;)—@marjoleink

Thursday at 02:45pm

Banned books week 2011, http://t.co/ITCmOhb6 Two. Thousand. Eleven. That's the 21st century, in case you missed the memo. Get your heads...—@ndw

Thursday at 02:57pm

True dat. RT @hcayless Let me tell you a Truth: your (meta)data is *way* more messed up than you think it is.—@ndw

Thursday at 04:00pm

Several hours in, the power fluctuates momentarily. Guess what wasn’t plugged into a UPS. Go on, have a guess. Sigh.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 04:15pm

Someone should have a word with the team about the quality of integration tests. That someone is probably me, several months ago.—@ronhitchens

@ronhitchens Ouch.—@ndw

Thursday at 05:29pm

Paper Camera (Android app) is quite lovely.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 05:30pm

RT @Discovery: Thanks to all 1.86 million viewers who watched @MythBusters last night!—@MythBusters

@MythBusters @Discovery I'm watching tonight, does that count at all? #dvr #commercialswhatcommercials—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 06:12pm

Is there a fee yet to pay for something with cash?!—@kendall

@kendall Not yet.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 07:42pm

RT @ndw: RT @textfiles "Metadata is a love note to the future."—@Brian_Rice

@ndw @textfiles @Brian_Rice and an anchor to the past—@peterhoneyman

In a conversation that started on Thursday at 11:08pm

Early results from the facebook Challenge: http://t.co/0VLy0or9 Have you tried it? http://t.co/dOhjFRgB—@mdubinko

@mdubinko What a clever idea. /etc/hosts updated, let’s see what we collect!—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Friday at 05:40am

I think this village has more cheese varieties than inhabitants: http://t.co/75U8hodx—@robinberjon

@robinberjon Don’t say that like it’s a bad thing, man, just wheel in the cheese cart!—@ndw

@ndw Oh it's not a bad thing at all :-) Except maybe the garlic goat cheese, almost got banned from bed over that one.—@robinberjon

In a conversation that started on Friday at 05:57am

cunning plan: turn a 20 minute talk into a 60 minute talk by speaking at a rate humans can understand (and flapping my hands wildly) #ota11—@psd

@psd are you here now?—@libbymiller

@psd So, “emulating norm’s presentation style” basically?—@ndw

@ndw @psd you call that "style"?—@roessler

@roessler @psd Yes. It may not be, but that’s what I call it.—@ndw

@psd By crikey, that might just work! If I hear that you've opted to hand draw every sodding slide though...—@philhawksworth

@philhawksworth oh, now that's an idea ..—@psd

In a conversation that started on Friday at 07:09am

Anyone else keep seeing random tweets being marked as favourites without having clicked on them?—@iand

@iand Yeah I've seen that for a while....—@libbymiller

@iand It’s a known bug. Something to do with the way the API handles retweets or something. But yeah, I noticed it a while ago too.—@ndw

In a conversation that started on Friday at 08:02am

Anyone know how to undo today's unhelpful Firefox "feature" that doesn't include the http:// in the locationbar? I often copy-paste from it—@doctorow

@doctorow I believe it appears in the copy-paste value even though it doesn’t appear on the bar—@ndw

Friday at 08:43am

RT @docbook DocBook XSLT 2.0.2 Stylesheets released, http://t.co/PM42O71l—@ndw

Friday at 09:36am

The coolest thing you can do with old floppy drives http://t.co/sLG6HrPH How it's done http://t.co/CJQCjLOx—@joshbloch

Friday at 04:05pm

LOL. @big_ben_clock is pretty funny. Too bad it’s several timezones away.—@ndw

Friday at 08:46pm

"@ndw: LOL. @big_ben_clock is pretty funny. Too bad it’s several timezones away." Gave me the giggles.—@lisabos

In a conversation that started on Saturday at 09:24am

Yes, I know I'm coming to the party years late, but I'm quite enjoying Portal.—@ndw

@ndw how odd, I just got Portal 2 ... first game I played in 10 years ... its interesting, I like the sarcy dialogue—@xquery

@xquery @ndw re portal... My son plays and it's the first game I seriously thought ohh ahhh about. Reminds me of 'the cube'?—@DALDEI

In a conversation that started on Sunday at 03:23pm

“Node.js is a cancer” seems a bit, uh, harsh. OTOH, http://t.co/k02QmpO1 /via @Carnage4Life—@ndw

@ndw Some people need anger management classes.—@ebruchez

@ndw title shows total lack of taste. for what it's worth I didn't learn anything by reading either—@dscape

@ndw love the closing comment about putting Rasmus Lerdorf to shame %)—@martin_probst

Sunday at 08:37pm

RT @ndw “Node.js is a cancer” seems a bit, uh, harsh. OTOH, http://t.co/VKipKId3 /via @Carnage4Life—@peteaven