brad rhine's personal weblog
Knowing that the successor to Frequency needs a name, and understanding that no matter how this vote turns out, Brad will still call it whatever he wants to in the end, I feel that the successor to Frequency should be called…
I really want to know what people think of each of these names, so after voting, please comment on what you voted for and why, as well why you didn’t vote for the other choices. Thanks for your help, everyone. This is fun!
I am grateful for your suggestions thus far. Let’s refine the process a bit.
1) Nothing with “Frequency” in the name.
2) Nothing with “Blog” (or any variant thereof) in the name.
3) Something completely related to its task would be cool.
3a) Something complete unrelated to its task would be cool.
4) Names that make a logo pop into my head get bonus points.
So far, Bill is leading in terms of sheer quantity. Josh wins for creativity with “Jesus Freq” – very nice, Josh. Dave gets a nod for suggesting at least three names that are already used for existing software, one of which is a blogging system. Dirk gets the “Wha?” award for his comment: “Frequency Space. Isn’t that kind of obvious? :-)” Um, I guess not, because I have no idea what that means. But I’m not that bright. Nicole gets the Tech Theater award for working in movie titles. And Mike… well, we love Mike.
Keep those suggestions coming, folks!
According to the Play Count totals in iTunes, here are my top bands and artists:
1. Jars of Clay (no big surprise here; I’ve been a Jars junkie since “Flood”)
2. Jadon Lavik (Drum Machine Sessions from Saddleback Church; good stuff)
3. Rainchildren (ah, those were the days)
4. Seven Day Jesus (great sound, great lyrics, great attitude)
5. Michael Penn (the voice of McCartney and the wit of Lennon)
6. Ben Folds (punk for sissies)
7. Chris Tomlin (best worship leader around today)
8. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians (I yam what I yam)
9. Elvis Presley (doesn’t quite fit, I know; but Gracie loves “Hound Dog” and we play it a lot)
10. Barenaked Ladies (Canada’s leading export)
11. Beck (’nuff said)
12. Edie Brickell (solo)
13. Weezer (“wee-oooh, I look just like Buddy Holly”)
14. Love and Rockets (I was surprised these guys were in the top twenty)
15. Paul Westerberg (formerly of the Replacements)
I’m working on the successor to Frequency (yes, even as I continue to develop Frequency). Maybe successor isn’t the right word.
Let me explain.
Frequency, of course, is client software. That is, it works by connecting to a server somewhere and talking to it, telling it what you want to say. The server responds by posting your content for the world to see.
This works great most of the time. Except for when the server’s down. Or when the server’s just acting funky and not being cooperative. Hey, I work in IT; I know all about Zen computing. Sometimes systems don’t work simply because they don’t want to.
Anyway, the concept I’m working on is a self-contained weblogging system. The database and all of your content will live on your computer. You publish it to your webspace when and how you see fit.
So I need a name. I’ve always liked the name Frequency for my current app, because of the double entendre, one meaning suggesting more frequent updates to your weblog, the other going unmentioned for now.
Up until now I’ve been referring to its successor as Frequency Pro, but the more I think about it, the more lame I think that name is. Please suggest a name, either in the comments or via email. If I pick the name you suggest, you’ll get credit in the about box, a free license, and the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped me avoid paying a real product naming consultant.
Ah, finally, some weather that will let me try out the VUE’s all wheel drive. Off I go, into the snow…
UPDATE (9:02 AM EST): Made it, no problem. Still not sure how the VUE handles in the snow. Not much snow to speak of yet. But maybe later today…
Woohoo!
This whole Atom/Echo/Pie thing is getting annoying. I don’t honestly know if a final, usable spec is going to materialize out of this. I’m starting to feel like the whole thing is an attempt to marginalize Dave Winer, who admittedly can be very abrasive, but whose contributions in this area should not be overlooked.
Diego weighs in: I know that many have said that Atom sacrificed backward compatibility for the sake of more flexibility in the future, but looking at the current spec I can’t see clearly where is this additional flexibility obtained. I’d like to see an example of a feature that can be done with Atom but not with RSS 2.0. This would go a long way to make me (and I’m sure, others) understand more clearly why we should revise our position.
This nails it for me. Show me what Atom will do for me. Don’t wax poetic, or political. Just tell me what benefit I can provide for my users by supporting Atom.
The Atom camp started as a genial group of people wanting to improve things. But it has turned ugly. Some of its defenders at the moment are resorting to anonymous comments that say that a) RSS is dead and b) you’re either on the Atom bandwagon or you will be left behind in your little poor RSS world. Regardless of the truth of those statements, I find it worrying that constructive criticism or a clear-minded defense of a belief in a certain direction has given way to (anonymous) aggression. Instead of supporting inclusion for people like me, anyone who doesn’t agree is attacked.
This development is, indeed, unsettling. And disappointing. Revisiting some more of Robert Scoble’s essay from yesterday:
Hey, since we’re gonna have to do two formats, why shouldn’t Microsoft invent a third? Yes, that’s a loaded question. Answer carefully. Like I said, all the stakeholders will read your responses.
A loaded question, to be sure, but a fair one. What’s to stop Microsoft from writing their own syndication format and their own API? Why shouldn’t they, at this point?
And finally, Don lays out his solution and sums it up thusly: The best part of this solution is that everyone will feel like they got screwed. Nicely put, Don. Am I still a Knight of the Order of Selfish Pigs?
PS: Wiki sucks.
During our Tech Council meeting this afternoon, I had to leave to answer a “higher calling” for a moment. (Tech Council is a group of faculty and staff members who get together to (ostensibly) steer the direction of technology in our school district. On paper, anyway.) The closest facility was the one in the high school administrative offices. This is used only by adults. When I walked in, I noticed a hand-written sign hanging on the wall that I’d not noticed before: DO NOT PUT PAPER TOWELS IN THE TOILET.
This concerned me on two levels. First, who doesn’t know that? I mean, really? Besides, there’s a trash can right there, so why would you need to? But second, and perhaps more important, you know they wouldn’t put that sign up if someone hadn’t done it. So this leaves me wondering which administrator or administrative assistant brought about the need for the sign.
When I arrived home, I shared this information with Jen and Gracie. After dinner, Jen excused herself to use the facilities, and Gracie shouted, “Mom! No paper towels in the toilet, or we’ll put a sign up!” I burst out laughing. Gracie looked at me and said, “Dad, I’m just kidding.”
Then we candled Jen’s ears. Ear candling is a process I’ve learned of only recently. In fact, as recently as about a week and a half ago, when I came home from work and Jen told me that she had candled her ear with her Mom’s help. Now, I must admit that what I pictured was not what ear candling is really like. I pictured a real candle, with wax and a wick and everything, and I honestly wondered how that would help open up one’s ears. But I was wrong.
An ear candle (we used Wally’s) is like a beeswax tortilla rolled up tight. You stick one end in your ear and light the other end on fire. Sound dangerous? Not to worry! The instructions say to wrap a wet towel around your head first. Fire safety at its best, folks. And these things really flame up, too. Gracie was panic stricken through the entire candling process, and she’s even seen it before. We did two candles in each of Jen’s ears. Apparently, the warm smoke is “guided” into your ear where it softens, um, crud and stuff. Jen’s ears have been blocked lately. Although, according to the instructions, some people do it just for fun or something.
The things we do for love. Jen offered one or two of the ear candles to me, but I declined. My ears are quite fine without being set on fire, thanks. Jen’s always willing to try things like that, but there’s no problem I have that can’t be fixed with Ibuprofen, some allergy medicine, and/or a nap. We had a similar conversation years ago when her family tried to convince me to go to the chiropractor. I told them I wasn’t willing to pay someone to crack my back when I have friends who will do it for free. They persisted, and I told them that unless the chiropractor’s adjustments could make me taller, make me thinner, or bring back some of my hair, I wasn’t interested.
Oh, speaking of ear candling, I need to go put the batteries back in the smoke detector.
Almost Famous is the best movie I’ve seen in a while. Yes, it’s a couple years old, but I don’t watch as many movies as I would like. I rented it to watch with Jen, and we loved it. It then became our Tech Theatre movie of the week.
First of all, some great lines.
Lester Bangs: What, are you like the star of your school?
William Miller: They hate me.
Lester Bangs: You’ll meet them all again on their long journey to the middle.
Elaine Miller: Keep the small bills on the outside and call me if anyone gets drunk.
William Miller: I will call you if anyone anywhere gets drunk.
Lester Bangs: Oh man, you made friends with ’em. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong.
William Miller: Well, it was fun.
Lester Bangs: Because they make you feel cool, and hey, I met you. You are not cool.
Anita Miller: Listen to Tommy with a candle burning, and you’ll see your entire future.
Russell Hammond: I am a golden god!
Russell Hammond: I never said I was a golden god… or did I?
Anyway, onto the movie. Great movie. From what I understand, it’s semi-autobiographical for writer/director/producer Cameron Crowe: It was a lot more embarrassing and scary than I anticipated. I guess I could have turned back at a couple of points, but I didn’t. It’s a little different if somebody says about Jerry Maguire, “Oh, I’m not really into sports. I didn’t care for it.” That’s different than, “I’m not really into your life. It bored me.”
Most movies having anything to do with bands appeal to me, for obvious reasons. I liked seeing the personal side of Stillwater. Even though they were a fictional band, they were probably pretty typical in many ways. Being in a band is a lot like being in a marriage. When it’s good, it’s really good, and when it’s not good, it’s terrible. Emotions run high. Things get awkward. But that’s what it’s all about.
Patrick Fugit did a great job as William Miller. I loved the fake adult voice he used on the phone with Rolling Stone. Jason Lee was in his element as the brash, loud, and arrogant Jeff Bebe. And Jimmy Fallon was so good I didn’t recognize the first time I watched the movie.
And of course, the “Tiny Dancer” scene, which made the movie.
Now I have to see about getting my hands on the director’s cut, which is significantly longer.
The Opus Interview: Anyway, I was the only one in that strip with the integrity to talk directly to the audience, even when everybody was screaming at me “Don’t look at the camera!” Besides, my nose looks smaller when it’s not in profile. Ah, Opus. It’s good to have you back. I feel like I’ve reconnected with the long-lost brother I never had.
Anomalies Unlimited: Jackson wore a surgical mask when entering and leaving the courthouse (gee..wonder why?). His former publicist says he routinely wears the mask “to protect his throat from pollution and germs”. Like that reason in itself is a perfectly normal one. You see anyone else walking around with surgical masks on? Perhaps it’s to hide the dead, rotting tip of his putty nose. Just to throw out an idea here. What I think we have here is the New Howard Hughes. No comment.
Michael Jackson Age Progression: If Michael Jackson did not have all his surgery over the years, this is how he might look at the age of 45. Again, no comment.
Sex Is Good: You’re right. It was a hoax. And a mighty successful one. The website that posted the original article received more than 667,000 hits on a single day soon after the story broke.
Fellowship of the Nitpickers: Yeah, we started with the pus and then we got just a bit revolted by it. So we eased back on the pus. We didn’t think Elijah looked very good with pus. Speaking of LOTR, if any of my loyal and faithful friends want to take up a collection to buy me the extended edition of The Two Towers since I can’t go to the marathon, I wouldn’t argue with you. Well, I mean, I’d fake argue, but I wouldn’t mean it.
Citizen’s Self-Arrest Form: A proposition has been announced recently to help reduce the deficit and to “Take A Bite Out Of Crime.” If you witness a crime, it is your civic duty to report the crime to the police. When a crime is committed, you have the right to make a “Citizen’s Arrest”. Thus, if YOU commit a crime, it would be extremely helpful for you to perform a Citizen’s Self-Arrest. Fill out the form, to complete your Citizen’s Self-Arrest. This could catch on. I mean, there are some really stupid criminals out there. Who knows how far this could go?
The Product Placement Bible: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with Brylcream; my Super Big Gulp runneth over. This has got to be evil on like nine different levels.
DVD Demystified: Okay, so here’s the story. There’s this new technology that’s really new, and, if you’re as techno-savvy as I am, maybe you’ve heard about it. It’s called DVD which stands for Digital TV Disk, and it’s as good as being in the theater! Really! It looks just like one of those silver music CD disks, except it has moving pictures on it. How do they fit all those moving pictures on that tiny disk? Well, I’ll tell ya, it’s digital. (Thats the Digital part of DVD.) And by digital, I don’t mean numbers that count up and down when you turn the knob to change the channel, no sir. By digital, I mean not analog. Check out the rest of Big Earl’s site while you’re at it.
Robert Scoble on Atom: What’s better about it? Sell me on it. So far I have not yet been sold on why Atom is better (other than it’s controlled by a different group of people who control RSS). Yeah!