So when I first started homebrewing I never thought that I would have a dedicated fridge just for that task. I am living in Taipei, Taiwan and the average temperature is way too high during most months to homebrew.
To make a long story short, we got a larger refrigerator for the house and I decided to use the smaller refrigerator for brewing. The only problem was that, even on the high setting, the refrigerator was too cold. I tracked down a thermostat that basically kills the power to the refrigerator when the temperature inside the refrigerator hits a specified temperature.
I wired it all up and now I have a refrigerator dedicated specifically for brewing. I basically just took an old extension cord and spliced in the thermostat. I didn’t want to cut the cord that was attached to the refrigerator in case I wanted to sell it later.
I am well aware that this little hobby is getting out of hand, but I’m okay with that.
When I was learning to drive my dad told me that I need to always, always, ALWAYS check my mirrors, as well as, make a shoulder check when changing lanes. As my dad put it, this is just “common sense”.
Fast forward a decade, almost two, and I have been in Taipei for slightly more than half a decade. Here the standard practise while driving is to worry about what is in front of you and hope the vehicles behind you do the same. This irritates me to no end. Isn’t it just “common sense” to check before you change lanes or make a turn?
So, as we all know, the basic meaning of the term “common sense” is a way of thinking that is shared by everyone around us. Therefore, if everyone is doing something a certain way but you do it differently then you do not share in the “common sense”. So as a foreigner that checks my mirrors before cutting someone off, I basically do not have any “common sense”.
I still find it very frustrating reacting to drivers on the roads in Taipei doing things that, in my mind, go against “common sense”. However, since I am now aware of this way of Taiwanese driving, I no longer swear at other drivers on the road as much as I used to. Well, out loud anyways.
I can’t really code to save my life so that kind of prevents me from developing applications of any type. Although, I do have a pretty cool Apple Script that will tell me the weather. As someone who is constantly discovering, or being sent, videos on a regular basis I would like a better way of remembering those videos so that I could watch them later.
Inspiration for this came from something called Instapaper. With Instapaper you drag a bookmarklet to your bookmarks toolbar. Then, whenever you come across something you want to read later you click the bookmarklet and it is added to your list of items to read later.
Before I go on and explain this hair brained idea that I have cooked up I should preface it by admitting that I don’t really know if it is possible to create something like this. I understand that there are API limits and not all video distribution platforms allow their APIs full control over their content.
Following along with the bookmarklet idea similar to Instapaper the first step would be a bookmarklet that would allow you to add a video to a playlist for watching later. As an example, someone passes you a link to a video on YouTube but you don’t have time to watch it. You simply click your watch later bookmarklet and continue on with what you are doing. Ideally this solution would not only work with YouTube but also with other services such as Vimeo, Blip.tv or numerous other services out there. Service agnostic, if you will.
At a later time, when you decide that you want to practise the ancient art of procrastination, you can go to your “watch later” page. On your page will be a built in player with all the videos you have saved with your bookmarklet. A playlist will have been created giving you the ability to just click the play button then sit back and watch. Of course since these are the days of web 2.0 you would be able to rearrange your play list with some slick AJAX interface. I would be foolish if I didn’t mention that there would be an opportunity to get in on some social network action. Maybe a one click button to tweet out the link and video title to the source video or a ‘post on Facebook’ button.
Now, this is where I am sure that my idea violates most EULA’s or TOS’s. In a dream world I would also be able to click a link which would then subscribe to my playlist as a podcast. This would allow me to have something, such as iTunes, download all these videos so that I could have them with me on the go.
I have looked for something like this in the past but have not been able to find it. If something like this does exist, then please let me in on it. If it doesn’t exist, then let me know when you genius coders out there have completed it. I will even beta (or is alpha the new beta?) test it for you. This is gold I tell you! Gold!
Given the small number of tech journalists and rumour sites out there I thought that I should add to the mix. This is my first crack at it.
Apple to release fission powered touch screen tablet.
Unnamed sources have overheard that Apple is considering releasing a fission powered touch screen tablet as early as next week. These sources, that shall remain nameless and unsubstantiated, have also said that this will be as revolutionary as the iPhone. The guy on the bus next to me that claimed to work for a large computer component company, yet oddly smelling of booze at eight in the morning, also confirmed these rumours. Other sources have also claimed that these rumours are complete bullshit but these sources have failed to provide sources for their source. I guess we will all have to wait and see what Apple may, or may not, announce in the coming weeks.
This tech reporting isn’t so hard after all. Maybe next I will try weather reporting. There is a fifty percent chance that I will do that.
(or more appropriately: Snide answers to questions I am sick of answering so stop asking!)
Q: When are you moving back to Canada?
A: Never! I am never moving back to Canada! I usually keep a calendar of everything that I am going to do in life and at the exact time and date that I am planing to do it. Oddly enough, this is a small detail that I have failed to schedule. A donation of a million dollars, preferably in Canadian funds, will help to speed up the process.
Q: I know you got married but you live so far away and I couldn’t attend. What should I get you?
A: A million dollars, preferably in Canadian funds. Alternatively, you could come up with a gift idea on your own, cash is also accepted.
Q: Now that you are married when are you going to have children?
A: When are you going to have children? Is this really anyone’s business but mine and my wife’s. However, a donation of a million dollars, preferably in Canadian funds, will speed up the process.
Q: I never get to see you anymore? When are you going to come back to Canada to visit?
A: Right after you come to Taipei and visit me. If you are unable to visit me then a donation of a million dollars, preferably in Canadian funds, will enable me to visit you.
Q: Blah blah blah blah?
A: Just send me a million dollars, preferably in Canadian funds. Email me directly and I will give you the banking information that you will need in order to make the transfer.
The above is meant to be sarcastic and humorous. It is not intended to offend anyone.
