25 July, 2012

Why the European Date-Notation is Great, but File-naming with yyyy-mm-dd is Better

As posted to FB by me in response to seeing a European date on one of her pictures:

The dd/mm/yyyy is much more logical than our backwards mm/dd/yyyy format, for sure. Littlest unit to biggest. Makes sense.

For my own file-naming needs though, I prefer the YYYY-MM-DD (biggest unit to littlest), because than one can find one's files, based on their assigned name-related dates, versus just their file system dates, which may not jibe with their content. E.g., if one waits months, to transfer pictures from a camera, to one's computer, the file dates might not reflect the pictures' actual taken-on dates, but such a naming convention preserves that information and allows the 'Sort by Filename' option, in one's folder, to effectively show a chronology.

19 July, 2012

Note to WPR's "At Issue With Ben Merens" regarding 2012-07-17 Episode

YOUR_COMMENT: LONG-TIME listener,  re: 7-17-2012 show:

Absolutely fascinating.

I listened to WPR's "At Issue with Ben Merens" and found that I was one of those who had to check my phone, while walking from room to room, or grab it when I heard it chime, or felt it vibrate, to see if I was "missing anything".  I have even experienced "Phantom Vibration Syndrome" (or whatever), when one thinks an itch, coming from the general vicinity of where one stores one's phone, is actually a phone vibration alert.  In just the course of one day I turned this all around via use of the add-on, for the Google Chrome browser, called 'StayFocusd' (That's the correct spelling.)  I now limit my Facebook, G+, and Twitter time to 20 minutes during the work day and an hour on either side.

Once again, your show has inspired me to take a look around...and at myself...and make improvements.

----
Link related my above note:



"At Issue with Ben Merens" episode that prompted me to utilize a tool to force me to limit, meter, and most importantly, be aware of, my online, non-work related time:  http://wpr.org/merens/index.cfm?strDirection=Prev&dteShowDate=2012-07-17%2016%3A00%3A00%2E0

Google Search for 'Stayfocusd' reviews:
http://tinyurl.com/834wr9e

18 July, 2012

Tip for Using Google Search as One's Quick Method of Searching Craigslist or Any Site

When I search Craigslist I prefer to let Google do the work, as shown below.  Typing such search strings directly into the Google Search field -- or into the address bar, on Chrome -- garners one great results.

Example Search String:

honda cruiser -trailer "good condition" site:milwaukee.craigslist.org

Above, we see my general search terms, including my desire for the word 'trailer' to NOT be included in the result set, followed by my desire for the exact phrase, "good condition", followed by the site I wish to search.

Note that I could as easily have typed:

honda site:facebook.com

and Facebook would have been searched.  You can try it for other sites too, E.G.,

windows 7 important updates site:microsoft.com

Or, you can do it all more easily by going to http://www.google.com/advanced_search and typing the domain (site) name into the domain field. 


In either case, you can bookmark your search criteria and click it at will.  For example, if you are watching for a specific product to arise, on your regional Craigslist site, you can simply click the bookmark periodically to see what is available.

[Note: In searching for the original bookmark, related to where I first learned this technique, I'm thinking it was probably here, back in 2009: http://www.pcworld.com/article/162030/10_craigslist_tips_for_power_users.html ]

14 July, 2012

A Break in the Drought...Notice It

Walking to a meeting yesterday afternoon, across campus
Laptop safely tucked away between two Target shopping bags
Warm down-pour
A few minutes early
Stopping on the sidewalk
Face turned upward
Eyes closed
Experience cleansing

06 July, 2012

Frickin' Shrink-Wrap Packaging

I was able to "brush" a bag of marshmallows into our cart last weekend.  I unloaded the cart.  I unpacked that particular bag, upon arriving home.  


The perfect crime.


My wife went to bed.  I heard the door close.  I got under the afghan and queued up the 'Dr. Who' via Netflix.  I partook.  She came down the stairs.

"What are you eating?", she asked.

"What makes you think I'm eating something?", I replied.

"I heard the bag."

Frickin' shrink-wrap bags....

03 July, 2012

Why Men Don't Make New Friends

Why men don't make new friends:

Misunderstood relationships
Friends of banter
Strangers to substance
Mostly isolated nodes
Occasional I/O
So we deal
And find our own paths