It was nice to bump into Richard, a former coworker, at Macworld this week. It also gives me an opportunity to mention his "dxp play" iTunes visualizer. If you're into trippy and engaging visual effects, it's worth checking out his homepage at Dixie Unlimited

I'm very pleased with my D-Link Webcam, it's very reliable and easy to setup. I love that it is completely standalone and doesn't require a host computer to publish pictures on the 'net. Now, they've introduced the D-Link DCS-5300W which is very similar to my camera, but includes pan-and-tilt controls. Sweeeeeet.

Thanks to Chuq for the pointer.

As others have noted, there were indeed a disturbingly high number of luggage vendors exhibiting at Macworld Expo 2004. However, I'm delighted to have discovered Crumpler Bags as a result of the show. By the time I hit their booth on Thursday afternoon, many of the sizes were sold out, but I'll definitely be visiting their online store.

So, this post is as much to remind myself, as it is to tell you about it.

I have a soft spot for "the little guy" so when I see someone doing good work I like to point it out. And, if that work is making neat games for Mac OS X, all the better. So, stop by Skunk Studios and see what they have to offer. Their games managed to stand out among all the heavy-hitters at the game pavilion at the Macworld Expo.

MacMinute: Keyspan introduces USB Server at Macworld Expo this week.

This is significant for many home automation enthusiasts, who often have devices that are best located elsewhere in the home. Such as weather stations, for example.

Update
I spoke with a Keyspan rep at Macworld and left the booth disappointed. They're seemingly not very far along with the software that drives this thing as they had nothing to show in this regards. Additionally, when I asked about a release timeframe, I was told that they're considering a release RSN but only to support USB printers. I was told that 99% of the people who came by the booth wanted it for use with a printer, so that's likely where they'll focus, and then "later" make it work with other devices like scanners, media readers, etc. When I asked about generic serial port use, such as coupled with a Keyspan Serial-to-USB adapter, the response was so nonsensical that I can't even being to characterize it here.

Ugh, that doesn't bode well for home automation use. I have to admit it even puzzles me somewhat, because there are plenty of USB printer servers on the market, so if folks need one of those there's no need to wait for Keyspan at all. Also, this is a four port device, and who in the world has 4 USB printers to share? Certainly that market is as equally small as the home automation market.

For the last few years I've had this quote tacked up next to my desk at work. Reflecting on it always gives me strength and energy. so I thought I'd share it with you.

The difficultly lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones that ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds.

It's attributed to the economist John Maynard Keynes.

Paul Graham's essay What You Can't Say is worth reading. In this age of seemingly increasing attentiveness from the thought police, you might ask yourself:

Do you have any opinions that you would be reluctant to express in front of a group of your peers?

If the answer is no, you might want to stop and think about that. If everything you believe is something you're supposed to believe, could that possibly be a coincidence? Odds are it isn't. Odds are you just think whatever you're told.

Thanks to Futurismic for the link!

I'm pleased to see Parliant release software that supports the advanced capabilities of PhoneValet. Their new PhoneValet Message Center sounds very promising, and should give Phlink a run for its money.

Let those who love us, love us.
Let those who do not turn their hearts.
Let those who will not turn their ankles.
So we may know them by their limp.

Source: A needlepoint kit spotted at Solvang, California.

This M.C. Escher Shape Puzzle looks like great fun, as do many of the others in the line. The large foam lizard puzzle is the most enticing, but I'm afraid there's simply no room for it in my home.