Conservative Musings

Browsing with Chrome

A few minutes ago I installed Google's new browser, Chrome.  After all the hoopla about it, I thought I'd try it out.

So far (a VERY short time), it does look interesting as I ran some linked political videos from blog sites.  In typing in this post, I note the text around the edges of the "box" (along top and along left) seem to sit closer to the edge than I'm used to.  The toolbox allowing me to change text colors does not appear, so I've had to re-edit it in Firefox to change my "Colonel Steve" signature below to green. Also, like Firefox, Netflix instant watching won't work.  Minor to moderate stuff, I know.  But how things look and work is what browsing is all about.

We'll see in the coming days how well it works.  For this Firefox fan, it'll have to far outweigh my Firefox experience for me to totally switch.  For now, with the color issue mentioned above, I won't be switching.

-Colonel Steve

Guessing Your Gender

Based on my browser history, there's a 95% chance I'm male.  I'm sure Lady Colonel is glad to hear that.

(Via Instapundit and Megan McArdle)

-Colonel Steve

Down For Me Only?

A website know as downforeveryoneorjustme.com has been up since March.  Answers the question "Is it down for everyone, or just me?"  As noted by the story about the site, it has gotten a lot of use lately as big sites like Amazon and Twitter have had big outages.

I did get a false negative on it today.  I tried out amazon.com just a few minutes ago.  It's not down for me, but seems to be for the website.  Hmmm.

-Colonel Steve

Netflix Listens!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how Netflix was dropping it's profile queues.  I sent a message to them and closed it by saying, "I am deeply disappointed in you."

I received the following note from Netflix today:

You spoke, and we listened. We are keeping Profiles. Thank you for all the calls and emails telling us how important Profiles are.

We are sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused. We hope the next time you hear from us we will delight, and not disappoint, you.

Let's hear it for a business that listens to its customers!

--Red

Just Shut All Research Down

We've been hearing that we shouldn't drill for more oil because of how long it would take to come online.  They say we should be depending on developing alternate fuels (even if that would take just as long to come online).

Now comes the news that some solar energy projects are being halted over....get this....environmental concerns (via Instapundit).  Great!  So NO power is good power.

I think they'll even complain about the possible use of kudzu for ethanol (HT: 21st Century Paladin).  Not like we're using it for anything else.

-Colonel Steve

Newpaper's Continued Slide

Hugh Hewitt today comments on the continuing fall of the Los Angeles Times and the fall of the New York Times.  There is so much they could do to stabilize their fall, or maybe even turn themselves around (as noted in Hugh's comments on the LA Times).  But sadly, these guys are in their own little niche, only listening to others in their industry.

Reminds me of Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.  These guys fit that definition, if they think doing the same thing they've been doing for years will eventually get them in the black financially, again.  Times have changed.  These 2 "Times" need to change as well.

-Colonel Steve

Netflix Dropping Profile Queues

I received the following message from Netflix this evening:

We wanted to let you know we will be eliminating Profiles, the feature that allowed you to set up separate DVD Queues under one account, effective September 1, 2008.

Each additional Profile Queue will be unavailable after September 1, 2008. Before then, we recommend you consolidate any of your Profile Queues to your main account Queue or print them out.

While it may be disappointing to see Profiles go away, this change will help us continue to improve the Netflix website for all our customers.

I don't know why they're doing this, but I fail to see how it will "improve the Netflix website." 

We use two queues, one for family and children's shows, and the other for my tastes in science fiction and westerns.  Managing that with one queue will be a nightmare.  I expect we'll be reducing our level of Netflix service, if we keep it at all.

It wouldn't surprise me if this was the beginning of the end for Netflix.

--Red

 

Firefox Download Day

The folks who make the Firefox browser have now come out officially with Firefox 3.0.  I've already downloaded my copy, and am writing this post as my first one in 3.0.

They are attempting to set a record for downloads in one day.  To be part of that, download 3.0 from this link prior to 1700 GMT tomorrow.  That's 1300 Eastern (or 1pm for those non-military types).

So far, so good.  I haven't tried all the bells and whistles yet, but I do like it's looks.  A couple of plug-ins didn't convert over well, but they were little used ones.

When I downloaded it, the speed was great.  I think they are REALLY getting hit now, because the load times are unbearable SLOW!

-Colonel Steve

Oil-making Bacteria

We've had for years been using oil-eating bacteria in cleaning up oil spills.  Now there is testing in place to create oil-making bacteria.  There is discussion that the oil produced would run like US$50 a barrel.  Compare that to the roughly US$130 we're paying now.

Cool idea.

-Colonel Steve

Google's Latest Celebration

On the 64th anniversary of D-day (June 6th, 2008), Google decided to celebrate something else.  It was the 409th birthday of the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez.

As nice as Spanish history is, I think I'll stick with honoring those who both lived thru and died on the French shores on D-Day, June 6th, 1944.  Their bravery may have been forgotten by Google, but not by me.

Anyone interested in D-Day history can yahoo that info here.

-Colonel Steve