Friday, July 29, 2011

How to Change the Appearance of iCal in OS X Lion



I installed Lion, and I'm generally happy with it. But I might replace my mouse with a trackpad so as to take advantage of the shortcuts that the multi-touch gestures provide.

One thing I definitely don't like about Lion is the appearance of the GUI for iCal. It now reminds me of the calendars office workers used on their desks after they switched from ink blotters and fountain pens to ballpoints and Biros. It doesn't interfere with the functionality of the calendar app. It just looks bad. And it could well indicate the future graphic design direction for OS X.


Categories:Gadgets Design

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Hunky Dory

Photo: BBC

Last night I started watching the British time-travel-cop drama "Ashes to Ashes". Just like on "Life on Mars" it uses David Bowie music and glam-rock.

DCI Hunt and two of his mates are back! And the first words out of his filthy sewer are "my friend, your diary entry will read: took a prozzie hostage and was shot by three armed bastards"!

The prozzie he mentioned is DI Alex Drake. She replaces DI Sam Tyler (deceased). And this time we're in 1982 and Hunt has replaced the Mk3 Ford Cortina with an Audi Quattro. The Ur-Quattro was a very quick car, but I don't think a 2 door car will be an effective plot device, given that DCI Hunt often travels with two other cops. I would have given him a 4 door Ford Sierra 2.0. He has enough attitude to make any car cool.

Anyway, Ashes is now in its 3rd series, and I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing great cars and music from my youth.


Update July 29th, 2011:
I just watched the second episode. They've got it all wrong!: The main character DI Drake is played as a basket case. She's flakey in a bad way (Sam Tyler was too). Breaks down, cries, changes her mind, gets drunk, falls apart. People (police) don't behave this way. She needs help, and so do the writer and director. They need to watch some "Law and Order". The show needs a strong female lead.

The other thing is the way she's dressed: Like a prostitute. I'd be surprised if woman detectives dressed like this in 1982. I think it's supposed to be appealing to male viewers. No. Is she really going to wear heels and makeup in every episode?

Anyway, I'll have Ashes playing in the background while I do other things. I'll miss the witty dialogue when it happens, but I'll hear the music and see the cars.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Use the iPhone as a Wireless Webcam


I've been experimenting with an iPhone application called PhoneCam ($3 in the Apple apps store). It automatically takes a photo every x seconds, and uploads the image to your server. There are plenty of settings and adjustments, and the whole thing works well.


Wednesday, July 15, 2009

How to Tether an iPhone


I've been using my iPhone 3GS as a modem for my MacBook. This causes me great joy!

CNET's Brian Tong has the instructions in his 6/26/09 podcast of "The Apple Byte":

Launch the Safari browser on your iPhone running 3.0 (and 3.0 only) and go to help.benm.at/help.php
Under "Tethering & Internet Settings" click "download" next to mobileconfigs and follow the directions. It just takes a moment.
Now Internet Tethering will be an option in your iPhone's network settings. Connect your phone to your laptop with the USB cable, then turn on Internet tethering on the iPhone and select "USB Only". Magic!

Categories:Gadgets

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Keyring Key by Scott Amron


The proof of concept Split Ring Key Blank (for KW1 or SC1 keyways) by Scott Amron is a key and keyring in one. Carry your other keys on the key.
Thanks TrendHunter
Categories:Gadgets

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Ron Arad Design 'Rover' Chairs For Sale


Two Ron Arad design 'Rover' Chairs have come up for sale in the San Francisco Bay Area! This is the same limited edition chair used by Jeremy Clarkson on the BBC's Top Gear car show. The beautiful pleated leather seats are taken from 1963-1977 Rover P6's.

From the seller: "I have two of them, not in mint condition, and would like to sell them. I was wondering if you knew of any potential buyers here in the Bay Area."

"I really do not know what the price should be. The only time I have seen them sold was in 2002 when they fetched $1900 each in auction. They were in good condition and my upholstery is not."

Categories:Furniture Cars

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Presidio Spire by Andy Goldsworthy




This spire showed up last year on the Presidio with no explanation. Now there is an explanation: The Spire was made by Goldsworthy from trees felled from the 300 acre Presidio forest. (Trees planted by the army between 1886 and 1900 are being replaced 3 acres at a time to create an unevenly aged forest that will be easier to maintain)


"...as new young trees grow up to meet the sculpture, it will disappear into the forest."

Saturday, May 23, 2009

The International Language of Hucksterism

This MINI advertisement is for Dutch consumption. It seems that American English is the international language of hucksterism.


Categories:Hucksterism

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Harry Allen Branch Table


Steal this idea, but make the top opaque.
Or pay $500 retail.

Categories:Furniture