All Things Cahill

Blog

  • New Project – Afternic.com

    As of Monday, I’m now working as Senior Software Engineer for Afternic.com (to be clear, one of the senior software engineers).

    It’s probably the right time for a change, I’ve basically been working full time on Splitcoaststampers.com now for 14 months and after our server migration project, it had become more of a maintenance project.  The good news was that we had a site that was falling over several times a week and we got it stable to the point that it has not failed in the last couple months.

    The new bit of work will be more hard core development than I usually do, but that’s cool.  I need a challenge.  Those of you that have worked with me in the past know that…

    When moving projects, it’s often the people we miss most.  I’ve come to respect all the members of both our Premiums team, as well as the fine folks on Splitcoast, Daven, Scott, Jenn, Lori and Beate.

  • Control Panel Issue

    A couple weeks ago I was trying to get access to a site that Karl Susman had set up in his hosting account for a new website.  He created a new user for me to access that specific directory on the server.  Somehow we got permissions or the password messed up and he then deleted the ftp user account so that he could recreate it.

    The files were also deleted…all of them.

    Four hours later, when talking with the hosting company’s support crew, we were told that this is a default behavior in Control Panel, which many of us use to do minor admin tasks like adding ftp users, setting up databases, etc. via the web.  They noted that they see this problem a lot, so much so that they had a procedure set up to recover files from the last nightly backup.  Luckily, we didn’t need that, as the only thing in that folder had been a basic WordPress install.  Still, that behavior is just plain dumb.  Before deleting files, at least warn the user!

  • Lenovo Beats Apple to Tablet Nirvana

    Jim Louderback of Revision3 and all around great guy has a Tekzilla review of the new Lenovo U-1 hybrid tablet/laptop that David Churbuck from Lenovo (and one of the founders of  Reel-Time.com) has been hinting about for some time.

    Jim says it’s the best new tech he’s seen at CES and although I’m not there, it is the best of the products I’ve heard about yet.

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5DYuVN6nuY[/youtube]

  • Your World is About to Change – Google and Augmentative Computing

    The past two have been very interesting if you follow the technical goings on at Google.  In no particular order, they have released, at least in beta format:

    • Google Chromium OS – the Google operating system which offers about all the functionality most folks would require to surf the web, get email, write basic docs, etc.
    • Google Goggles – a system that allows your Android based phone *(Android is their mobile phone os) to use it’s camera to identify via search people, places and things.  All you do is open the Goggle app, point your camera at something and it can tell you what it is.  Think facial recognition for your phone, but that is only the tip of the iceberg.  You might also use this as the start of a query, such as point at a product and then request “nearest vendor”.
    • Google Translation and YouTube Closed Captioning working together – in essence they have the technology to do to do a similar presentation as Goggles that would act as a real time live translator via the camera phone.
    • They have enhanced the predictive results produced by Google Suggest when you start typing in to the Google search box.
    • They have enhanced the command line capabilities of the Google search box – try entering an airline flight number or weather new york and see what happens.
    • Establishment of the Data Liberation Front within Google to ensure all data contained in Google applications is easily portable.

    There’s been a lot off hot air generated on each of these topics, along with prognostications that Google is getting ready to take on Microsoft, particularly when it comes to the browser.  I don’t believe this is the case.  I think Google isn’t looking to compete head on head with anyone, it is my supposition that they are in fact trying to make a quantum leap ahead of everyone.

    What I see is a company that is:

    • Carefully pre-positioning themselves against anti-trust legislation, both in the US and in the EU by avoiding the traps MS fell into in the past.  Hence Data Liberation and their development of apps vs. including some of their developments as features in their OS.
    • Attempting to keep their system interfaces as stripped down and command line like as possible.
    • Producing real time use type applications.

    To my mind, they are setting themselves up to enable voice based OS navigation.  If it’s command line interaction, the technology exists to allow that interaction to happen via voice.  Then throw in vision based search, such as Goggles, or tie in on the fly translation via the phones microphone, and you’ve reached a new level of computing. Think augmentative computation, where your actually getting real time data from that little computer in your pocket.

    When that happens, everything in our lives will change.

  • The Real Currency of Social Media

    “It’s people. Soylent Green is made out of people. They’re making our food out of people. Next thing they’ll be breeding us like cattle for food. You’ve gotta tell them. You’ve gotta tell them!” Soylent Green – 1973

    So what is the real commodity of social media?  It’s people.  You and me, and all our friends.  Period.

    Over the past few weeks, this as really started to steam roller.  Let’s take a look at a few examples:

    Read all the links then think about it.  Basically the fine folks at Facebook, Google, etc. are selling us, and not even to the highest bidder.  They’re selling us to any bidder that comes down the pike.

    For the record, if you use ANY Facebook Apps, like Farmville or do Facebook quizzes, I consider it mandatory for you to take the ACLU quiz.

    I’ve made the decision a few years ago to leave somewhat transparently on the web, but most of you actually believe you have some level of privacy.  That level of privacy is, unfortunately, illusory.

    Expect this to become a huge fight in the coming year.  It won’t go away,  and I suspect few of you will accept such cavalier attitudes towards your privacy.

  • Friday Music Video – Jamaaladeen Tacuma

    The Great Bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma live at the West Oak Lane Jazz festival in Philadelphia. Featured are Calvin Weston (Drums), Aram Bajakian (guitar), and Daud EL-Bakara (trumpet).

    Jamming on the jeff Bck tune “Freeway Jam.”

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9otCY7LIGNk[/youtube]

  • Death of Newspapers – RIP Editor and Publisher

    When I worked in the Atex marketing department, we lived and died by what we could get published in Editor and Publisher.  The once vaunted trade journal was the place you wanted to get mentioned, the measure of your having “made it” in the print world.  Those days are now gone – from E&P themselves:

    Editor & Publisher, the bible of the newspaper industry and a journalism institution that traces its origins back to 1884, is ceasing publication.

    An announcement, made by parent company The Nielsen Co., was made Thursday morning as staffers were informed that E&P, in both print and online, was shutting down.

    The expressions of surprise and outpouring of strong support for E&P that has followed across the Web — Editor & Publisher has even hit No. 4 as a Twitter trending topic — raises the notion that the publication might yet continue in some form.

    Its sad to see an industry that was once so much a part of my life now unable to even sustain a trade journal.  In my youth, it was impossible to imagine a world without newspapers.  Increasingly, it is becoming hard to visualize a future with them…

    I could ruminate for hours on the subject, but I think the point is already made.  Even the journal of the print publication industry can’t make print work and is looking for a way “continue in some form.”

  • Weight Loss and Quandry

    I’m a fat bastard.

    I’ve never really made any great efforts to hide that little fact, even if it were possible to hide.  Which it is not.  But there it is, right out there for all to see.

    Over the past two months I’ve come the the general conclusion that I always knew deep down: I have to do something about it if I’d like to live to see my daughters get married and if I want to have a decent quality of life going forward.

    Over the past couple weeks, I began to investigate getting a Lapband from the UMass Weight Clinic.  The jury is still out (and will remain out) for some time as to exactly what will happen, but I’m at least trying to begin the process.

    As any good blogger might, I immediately thought “oh yeah, I’ll blog this…” After all, it’s an excellent chance to share information, and honestly, it ought to make pretty good copy.  But after looking into things further, on the subject of blogging my journey, I’m rather ambivalent.  You see, this ain’t about you (sorry!), it’s about me.  Even more importantly, it’s not a joking matter.  I will undoubtedly learn a whole lot about this process as I proceed, but the truth is, sharing that information might actually be a disservice to readers or others afflicted with obesity.

    I’m not an expert, and although I may become one over time, I fear that my writings might dissuade others from a course that might benefit them.  I don’t want that on my conscience.  A decision I make for myself is just that, not something I want others to adopt as their own.

    For now, I think I’m going to avoid blogging on the issue. Perhaps I’ll give  you some infrequent updates as to what’s going on, but the truth is this: if you’re looking for a diet blog, or diet advice, you’re probably at the wrong place.

    As always, I’m interested in your comments on this, particularly as it relates to blogging in general.

  • Sutton Chain of Lights – Dec. 5

    sutton-chain-of-lights-055One of the great things about living in a small New England town is having seasonal festivals like the Chain of Lights my town, Sutton, MA puts on every year.  It’s not only a celebration of the season, it’s also a great time to get out and find out what’s going on at the many small businesses throughout town.

    Many will remember that last year I live tweeted the event as a case study in micro-blogging photo journalism.  I will again be live tweeting using a #SuttonChainofLights hash tag, and posting pix from the various venues I visit.

    Some of the highlights of places I intend to visit:

    1. Vaillancourt Folk Art – the world renown chalkware artisans will be working all day and providing tours.  A uniquely Manchaug experience I suggest everyone put at the top of their list.
    2. Sleighbell Farms Hay Ride – they’re right next door to my house, and it’s only open a couple days a year.
    3. National Gallery – an incredible gift shop.  They usually offer free crafting for the kids and tremendous specials on their collectibles.  (Disclosure: I did their website for them a year or two ago. )
    4. St. Anne’s Parish – a good old fashion church social with food and games. My family are all parish members, so this is a no brainer, but I will say the other church’s all hold similar events.
    5. Adelie Studios – While not an official Chain of Lights event, I’m looking forward to checking out Leah Guerin’s ceramic studio.

    If your out and about, hit me up on Twitter at mncahill or just check out the hashtag #SuttonChainofLights.  Photos from the event will be posted here tomorrow.

  • It’s Time to Rethink the Permalink

    The permalink – nothing could be more core to the concept of blogging, and indeed, content management.  In it’s early inception, it was the one link to rule all others.  The problem is that with the advent of microblogging systems like Twitter, the permalink has been devalued and now faces possible extinction.

    From Wikipedia:

    A permalink, or permanent link, is a URL that points to a specific blog or forum entry after it has passed from the front page to the archives. Because a permalink remains unchanged indefinitely, it is less susceptible to link rot. Most modern weblogging and content-syndication software systems support such links. Other types of websites use the term permanent links, but the term permalink is most common within the blogosphere. Permalink is a portmanteau word made from permanent link. Permalinks are often simply stated so as to be human-readable.

    Here’s the problem: while the permalink once was the one true way to identify our content, it’s now going more or less unused, as people instead link to shortened urls, using services like Bit.ly or others which provide character economy in the links that are used around the web.  Hence, with shortened urls in use, it becomes much harder, if not impossible to find mentions and, in fact, discussions, surrounding our content.

    I’ve decried over the past year the ongoing diaspora of blog comments.  The discussion continues, but for many bloggers, its moving out of the confines of their blog, into the realm of Twitter, Google Sidewiki, and in the semi-walled garden of Facebook.

    It was one thing when there were reliable Trackbacks, but the spammers have all but killed that for us.  Hence the discussion continues, but it often continues without us, the folks that wrote the content in the first place.

    So here’s the thought: perhaps it’s time we rethought permalinks.  Instead of existing as a single link, there probably ought to be both a long form (the old permalink) and a short form (shortened url) with the shortened url using the service of the bloggers choice.  Hence the blog software would have knowledge of both the long form (which would be used mostly internally) and the short form, that which would allow us to actually track where our content goes online.  This would further enable us to pull the discussions surrounding our content back into our pages where it ought to be…

    Hence a blog which currently might have comments and trackbacks separately identified, might actually list the origin of a comment, such as “Via Twitter” or “Via Facebook” and actually thread the follow ups, and potentially direct replies from our blog to those comments back to the platform they came from as well.

    The key concept here is that the blogger must control the initial shortened url, because the url shortening service becomes utterly key to our solution.  That service, like so many today, could provide us with an aggregated comment feed via rss, analytics data about where our shortened url was used, by who and also combine the data with the usage of our long form permalink.

    What are your thoughts?