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Interesting developments a link dump (some HTML5, some nosql, some Rails, some Agile, some Redis, a touch of Scala, etc., etc.)

I should try and not let these lists get so long. This is some of the stuff I’ve been looking into at work as we prepare for the next set of projects, and to help clean up some of the current work. Looks like it’ll be a fun year on the web.

What the iPad changed

Not that long a go a “workstation” implied an integrated effort. Hardware and Operating System engineered by the same company which ensured a more seamless experience. There have been many companies that have produced these integrated efforts including Sun and Apple.

Certainly the out of box experience of Lisa’s iMac was exceptional The unit was unboxed. The power cord was attached to the back and the wall. The power button was pushed. The computer suggested putting the batteries in to the wireless mouse and keyboard and connected them to the system when that was complete, and a few clicks later Lisa was ready to get to work. One wire. If only Shipstone existed outside of Heinlein books.

That experience, as great as it is diminishes over time. Why? Because after all that is over, it’s still a computer. You have apps to install, files in a file system, bookmarks in multiple browsers etc. Essentially, all the baggage of computing that has accrued over the last 25 years or so.

The iPad is yet another step along the path of washing all that away. Many of us are used to a near continuous connection to the nets. Many of us have storage “in the cloud” that makes our work available where ever, whenever. The IPad hides the OS, it hides the file system, it hides the computer. It make software as much of an appliance as the hardware has become. It seems, while you use it, do only do one thing. As if at that moment it’s nothing more than a email device. Or a “todo” list. Or a spreadsheet.

Once again it’s about simplicity. It’s about making choices as a designer, having an opinion about what’s needed, for whom and when. Will it be all things to all people? Of course, not. But it could well be a device for many people for much of the time. And easier and more convenient to use than a laptop or desktop computer. We’ll see.

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If only…

In late December when Lance Armstrong tweeted: “Epic ride . . . 115 miles, 6.5 hrs, 10k ft climbing, 5300 Kjs. Sunny and 70 most of the day til we finished in the dark.”

To us mere mortals that’s an average of 17.7 mph (28.5 kph) on a mountainous training ride. Ouch.

In part it explains why the story of Joao Correia, who lost 60 lbs. and is riding for Cervelo Test Team is so compelling. Inside of each and every person is a voice that says, if I could only train more, drop the weight, I too, could be a pro. (Hey people, try and remember he was a pro before he gained that weight, *you,* most likely, were not.)

I’ve been fascinated by that voice since I was a little boy. I know the truth now. I’ve played with top notch football players who were going to the NFL combines and not quite making it. I’ve played on fields, and courts, played chess against masters… I love learning my current limits. It just extends my reach.

I’ve also been on bike rides with Cat 1 & 2 racers (who are still not pro level) and as usual, what they do on a bike and what I do on a bike are only similar in the broadest sense. That’s cool. I don’t aspire to be a pro or even race. But there’s always a little voice inside of me that says… if only. That voice makes anything possible.

New FTC Guidelines Governing Blogs Featuring Products

New FTC Guidelines Governing Blogs Featuring Products:

We thought you should know that the Federal Trade Commission just published new guidelines about – among other things – blogs that feature product endorsements.

That sure caught my attention.

The Guides, which have been around since 1980, have been freshened up to “specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service.”

Then I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

See, there’s a seedy underbelly to media where some journalists – crappy, amoral journalists for sure (there are many names for these people: swag hags, freebie queens, whores, shills) – but still journalists, who too enthusiastically accept gifts (like bikes and components), giveaways, expensive meals, all-expenses-paid trips and the like in exchange for editorial coverage. If you’re a keen reader, you can probably already spot this perversion, aptly called “advertorial.” So far it has flown silently under the radar because the FTC has no authority to regulate speech unless it’s specifically commercial speech.

The new guidelines surfaced due to a recent spate of bloggers trumpeting the virtues of a product that they were either given or were paid to endorse.

[Just to be clear… anything I write about is something that either I purchased or a friend purchased and I’ve used. The exception that comes to mind is stuff donated to QuietlyHelping.org but I will include in the context of the piece that it was donated. I’ll happily except stuff for review, as I already do with books, and occasionally other stuff, but if it appears here, you will know when I was given something. Otherwise you can safely assume I hauled out my wallet.]
Source: Speedgoat Blog

Lance Armstrong’s visit to Piermont

Lance Armstrong’s visit to Piermont:

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He also told photographer Seth Harrison that he was surprised by how beautiful and challenging the ride was from the city to Piermont. He said this on Twitter, “Done riding. That out/back is one of the best in America.”

[I wouldn’t have minded discussing it with him. It isn’t often a cycling celebrity drop into my backyard. I tried to reach my friends and did reach the bike shop that is right around the corner. But I suspect that they gave that standard I’m too hip for Lance crap that is part and parcel of workin’ in many bike shops. I agree with David’s sentiments and I couldn’t raise a million dollars in an evening if I sold every possession I own and bunch that I don’t… and my work with his Livestrong Foundation has inspired me to found QuietlyHelping.org. Because people should *not* be scared and alone when we can quietly help.]
Source: Cycling Central

NY Bottle Deposit for ‘water drinks’ Starts On Halloween

Bottle Deposit Starts On Halloween: Starting this coming Saturday, bottled water drinks will be subject to a nickel deposit—and the NY State government will be able to collect millions from the unclaimed deposits. Governor Paterson said, “The expansion of this legislation not only provides our State with much-needed revenue, but will also help us to keep our neighborhoods and parks clean.”

The law was supposed to go into effect in June, but some bottlers had argued that it was going into effect too soon, especially since NY State requires bottles sold here to have a special UPC. Which means some distribution and logistical issues; Environmental Leader points out, "For instance, a distributor can’t simply restock New York shelves with product from a New Jersey warehouse unless it bears the unique code."

The Post-Standard explains, “For consumers, the change is simple enough. Beginning at 12 a.m. Saturday, they will pay a nickel deposit on bottles of water, just as they do for soda and beer. They will get the deposits back when they return the bottles to the store or to a redemption center. Deposits will not be required on water that has sugar added, or on containers of 1 gallon or more.”

Distributors will have to give NY State 80% of all unclaimed deposits.

[This one is simple. Bottled water is bad idea. It always has been. I’ll admit that there a few times when bottled water makes sense. A few very special cases. Most of the time, tap water is fine. If you’re really super finicky, filter that as well. But by far most of the time plain old tap water carried in a reusable and hopefully recyclable or upcyclable container is the way to go. Lately the word is to watch out for BPA and linings made with BPA (metal cans, and some metal water bottles. Anyway… stop pretending that bottled water is worth the environmental impact of shipping this expensive and heavy item anywhere. We’re lucky that in most places in the US water is clean, healthy, and abundant. And save yourself needless tithing to the State. My disclaimer here is that as a hiker I’ve pulled water from sources that would make city folk vomit, although I did carry a filter and stuff (which never improves (ahem) brackish water), but did seem to keep me safe.]
Source: Gothamist