Barreraicus Maximus

IE 8 Available for Download

antonioG4 — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:08:30 +0000

Just in case you were in expectation of the next bad Windows product update, IE 8 RC1 is out. They tout being faster and easier as they do battle with Firefox. So far, I’ve found one problem with Ex-Libris’ WebVoyage OPAC. If you perform a search, choose a record and attempt to display the print or citation view, it attempts to download the .cgi script. Possibly an Ex-Libris issue, but I want to blame IE8, since this doesn’t happen anywhere else.

code4lib NYC Recap

antonioG4 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:40:52 +0000

The NYC regional code4lib is moving right along, with it’s third meeting occurring January 29th, 2009. If only the darn Metro projector system would work properly. For this meeting there were roughly 20 people in attendance, a few were new faces. Here’s a quick rundown of the planned talks. There was also a short discussion on Omeka.

FreERMS project – Touro College Libraries development of a Electronic Resource Management System – open source.

uses PHP Symfony
jQuery Theme Roller for dynamic Tabs and Accordion style link expansions

CakePHP – PHP Application Framework

Columbia example

Mapping WorldCat Holdings

Using a standard number via the API to find the closest holding library – Google Maps API, WorldCat Registry/Search, xOCLCNUM, SIMILE Exhibit
Using Python – geopy, web.py

Enso Launcher

antonioG4 — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:33:36 +0000

I haven’t written a darn thing here in almost a year. So…I figured it is about time. Funny thing is I managed to keep the software up to date.

I’m presently reading a book Productive Programmer by Neal Ford (Safari Tech). I’ve barely gone through one chapter, since I found it at Princeton Public Library the day my LIS classes were to start. Anyway, it has a lot of tips for doing things faster, so you have more time and are more efficient while programming (or just wastin’ time on the ‘puter). I installed Enzo Launcher (Windows) which can launch apps and open folders for you simply by holding CAPS LOCK and typing a command (either built in or learned). Seems fairly decent so far, but I don’t think as robust as QuickSilver is for the Mac.

A true cowboys fan….

antonioG4 — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 04:57:04 +0000

R.I.P. Netscape Navigator

antonioG4 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:45:35 +0000

Like Richard Pryor, Netscape has been saying “I Ain’t Dead Yet”. But AOL finally pulled the support plug. I almost feel a kinship and certainly a bit of remorse over it’s death. I was introduced initially to the graphical web in 1994 as a freshman at Drexel University. Almost as soon as I started using Mosaic, along came Netscape. Back then everything on the ‘net had table borders, and all 16 colors. A slick interface included an animated mailbox (shame is I still see those!). Really, though Netscape has been dead since 4.x, when Explorer dominated (who cares that there is apparently a version 9 out there). Hard to think that it’s been 13 years, makes me feel old. Anyway, Netscape enjoy the browser afterlife. I’m sure it’s a lonely place and don’t worry, I’m sure there are users out there who will keep your memory alive.

Len Bias Documentary

antonioG4 — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:07:29 +0000

My college roommate, Kali McIver, alerted me to a film he’s been involved with which covers the life and tragic death of Len Bias. BIAS promises to tell the untold, true story of the rise to stardom of a basketball legend. Bias was drafted 2nd overall in the 1986 draft by the NBA Champion Boston Celtics. He was often compared to Michael Jordan and expected to help Boston continue the dynasty led by Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Unfortunately, just two days after the draft, Bias overdosed on cocaine.

The film is expected to be released in April, check out the trailer.

Eagles Need a New Philosophy

antonioG4 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:56:54 +0000

More so than new players and coaches, I think the Eagles are lacking in the philosophy department. The team is basically built to win games in the first quarter. Watch how they play, they come out immediately passing (nearly every game their first play is a play action). They blitz heavily with the thought to turn the ball over, and have a short field to score. Problem is this isn’t working, and primarily hasn’t since the 2004 magical season. The defense while solid, isn’t changing games. They have 9 forced turnovers this year, which is tied for last in the NFC with Arizona and Atlanta. The offense similarly isn’t changing games. The team’s style has been to pass first, take a few shots down field, and rack up the points early. When the team is rolling this has worked well. Unfortunately, Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, aren’t getting open downfield. Ironic thing is the Eagles seem willing to change philosophies…they did down the stretch last year. They changed players on defense and changed the style of attack on offense, by running more and throwing more short routes to receivers and TEs in an effort to increase efficiency. This led to them rattling off a win streak that led to another division title. Unfortunately, the second Donovan McNabb comes back into the lineup, they return to the pass first, deep route style that hasn’t been working. There is a reason they seem to win more with Jeff Garcia and AJ Feeley under center when McNabb is out of the lineup. Reason is they change philosophy. The only time their style worked for long stretches of time, was when Mcnabb, Brian Westbrook and Terrell Owens were in the lineup and healthy.

They won a lot of games between 1999-2003 pre TO. But the key then was the defense was significantly better. From 1999-2003 they forced 34.6 turnovers per season and scored 15 TDs in that stretch. The numbers started to dip as they were down about 6 turnovers a season and 10 defensive TDs in 2004-2006. This year 9 turnovers, no touchdowns. Should this matter that much? Yes, when you don’t have big weapons and you need the defense to set you up or better yet score themselves.

Bottom line, the Eagles need to return to a time when they run more than pass, seek efficiency rather than big plays. Treat McNabb like Feeley or Garcia, simplify the offense and don’t rely on his big arm and former athletic ability. Stick to 30 plays that work, and the Eagles can execute to perfection. And find defensive playmakers. All season we’ve heard that this defense has played well, but what are the results? Certainly not wins.

Oh, one more thing, the Skins, Giants and especially the Cowboys suck.

15 Minute Install of Dreamweaver CS3

antonioG4 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:21:19 +0000

The wonders of mergers, how could Adobe screw up acquiring Macromedia’s catalog of quality software. Well, by making it like Adobe Reader. I love Photoshop, great application. I’ve never had a problem with Acrobat, Illustrator etc (in my limited use of them). But Adobe Reader on the other hand is annoyingly slow loading, and often has crashed, especially when in use from a browser. I’ve switched to Foxit Reader, on my Vista, XP, Mac Laptop and Windows Mobile Phone.

Additionally, one of the hot trends among software developers is auto updates. I HATE THEM. They have become an unnecessary evil. Problem with these packages is they prompt you to download and install upon launching the software. So picture yourself on a deadline, and you pop open Photoshop and it prompts you if you’d like to install an update for Illustrator. Sure you tell the software, remind me later, and it will remind you. Isn’t that sweet. Firefox does a decent job of updates, although the quick string of 2.0.7 to 2.0.8 to 2.0.9 was a bit annoying, but at least it is fast. CS3 often needs to download large packages, as does Apple’s QuickTime/ITunes. I just want to listen to some music, not download a 70 mb updater. Another trend is services. Apple has Bonjour, which they now have partnered with Adobe to use as a communication tool with Version Cue. Great….if I used Version Cue. So hence I have a running service, which apparently I cannot stop. Oh, Apple, I do love you…but I don’t have an iPod, iPhone, iTouch, iAnything, but you insist on my having the iPod service. Thanks. Services have been a notorious cause of slow running computers, and because many of these now come from “established” companies, tools like Windows Defender, Adaware etc, don’t really care about them.

Ok, so how does all this relate to the 15 minute Dreamweaver CS3 install? I just timed a simple install of the software, and it took 15 minutes on your average 2 yearish old PC running XP. The same machine installed DW 8 in about 3 minutes. Of course, it must relate to all the new software upgrades Adobe added, Spry, integration with Photoshop, CSS Layouts and Device Central. Oh, wait I haven’t used any of those tools in the about 3-4 months since I installed CS3. Better yet, the software included Adobe Bridge CS3. Great, if I the computer actually had any other Adobe products installed to “bridge to. Nonetheless, the installer is now on a DVD, so it must be stock full of free images, or video tutorials, right. Wrong. The disk only uses about 380 megs on the DVD, as opposed to the 250ish megs on the DW 8 CD. Tutorials are on disk 2 which is still in the case. The DVD must contain both windows and mac versions right? Wrong again. Basically, it takes 12 minutes longer to install the same basic software, with a couple of new features. Smooth Adobe. Screw up the first thing a user experiences with your software, the installer. I often have to install Dreamweaver for our users, and basically I don’t see the point of upgrading them to CS3, and will likely avoid it until we use Vista. And only then because version 8 crashes often on Vista.

Dallas Week….

antonioG4 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:10:53 +0000

The Dallas Cowboys are on the Philadelphia Eagles schedule twice per season, and each time the team’s records could be thrown out. From a Philly fans’ perspective this is nearly as big a game as a playoff game. All the bad feelings about the team early in the season, would suddenly disappear if the Eagles win. Hating the Cowboys is deep rooted. I was just a toddler during their late 70s early 80s great years. But I knew even before they became a dynasty in the 90s that I hated the Cowboys. In the 1989 Thanksgiving day game, forever known as the “Bounty Bowl”, Eagles linebacker Jessie Small concussed Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas. The Cowboys claimed there was a bounties on hard hits causing injuries in the game. Today, this couldn’t happen. The league is certainly too mindful of it’s reputation to allow this to happen. These were the kind of things that happened in the rivalry. Sad thing for me as an Eagles fan is that the Cowboys fans don’t see it that way. It is almost just another NFC East rival to them. For an Eagles fan though, this is it. And if most of them had their way, Tony Romo, Terrell Owens et. al would have bounties on them. The Cowboys typify the in crowd, the popular, attractive, wealthy, smart kids from the top high school. The Eagles on the other hand, are the outsiders, the kids who go to the run down high school, who fight for everything they ever have, and for the most part they don’t have much.

Well hopefully for one week, the city will be happy and have some hope. If not it will be back to misery.

Code4Lib 2007 Journal Article

antonioG4 — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:30:34 +0000

My colleagues at Princeton and I collaborated on a conference report for Code4Lib 2007 for Library Hi Tech News (vol 24, issue 6). Actually for the most part they wrote it and I compiled their work.

Here’s the link: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/07419050710823247

Thanks to Parmit Chilana, Kevin Clarke and Mike Giarlo for working on this.