Return to Blogspot and Google Reader

Return to Blogspot and Google Reader

I have returned to using blogspot a couple months ago. The primary reason was that I was looking into a good solution to documenting a software project that I was working on which I had decided to use Google Sites instead. That choice is still working very well for me. In the meantime, I figured I try to keep my blogs updated because of some "I don't know"-kind of feeling... maybe even a "Maybe someone will care"-kind of feeling.

Whatever the reasons may be, Blogspot has changed quite a bit since the previous time that I had used blogspot. I like the general feel, but as an engineer, I am slightly unsatisfied with the table functionality because I like grids and numbers.

One of the new features was a Reading List. I tested this by adding Evil HR Lady which I used to follow back when I was working with an software company that hosted an HR SaaS Solution. I still recall her posts being very interesting. Because I still remember her moniker, I suppose it had more of an impact than I thought or the relation to Catbert also made it easy to remember.

Back to the purpose of this blog, I added her to the reading list to see how this feature worked. It looked just like Google Reader, then I realized it was Google Reader. Wow. It has been a long time since I've followed that too. I used it as part of understanding SEO for a previous employment. I'm surprised that was still up since I recall Google Buzz not panning out well. Reader still looks the same too. Then I was surprised again to see all the followed subscriptions that I had from back then. There are way too many posts to catch up now.



PS: I recommend Evil HR Lady to anyone who wants to learn a bit more about general employment, human resource, and/or work life. I read some of the later ones which are somewhat interesting. I liked the much earlier posts more. I'm not sure if that is because she now works for CBS news (which I assume since her posts are now at cbsnews.com). It was a hobby back when I was following a long time ago. It may also be that she has answered so many questions making the newer ones to be more specific in nature and making it less relevant to me (ex polyamorous). Always a big fan of numbers and statistics, I enjoyed some recent posts (eg "How much does it cost companies to lose employees?").

Bored: Fantastical guitar-like instrument

Bored: Fantastical guitar-like instrument

http://www.youtube.com/embed/XlyCLbt3Thk?rel=0

This is a neat video of a fantasy guitar instrumental piece. I remember taking a computer graphics course and mine did not look anything like this. It is amazing the new technologies to 3d animation. I wonder how long it takes to compile the video.

Complaint: Verizon Support

Complaint: Verizon Support

For my personal wireless phone plan, I use Verizon Wireless. I have the Motorola Droid Razr. I also purchased the insurance on the phone. Below is my story about learning that I need a cable that allows data transfer and not all cables has this ability. All the cables charged my phone, but not all cables allowed data transfer.

A few months ago, I had an issue with the USB to Micro USB cable that came with the phone. They replaced this cable with a generic cable that seemed to work for me. Much later, I wanted to transfer files to my computer a realized that my phone no longer connected which worked when I first bought the phone to the same computer. I researched online and found that the most common issue was the cable.

I decided to go back to the store to explain and try to get my cable replaced with the proper cable. They said that it was working by connecting to his blackberry. I tried to explain that I had read online that a different type of cable was needed, but they continued to say that the cable is fine and added that it was the only model they had.

I left without my problem fixed. I returned home and ordered a couple cables from Amazon that specifically had my phone model in the description. Once received, I plugged them all in and they all worked perfectly fine. When you plug in the cable to the computer, I immediately notice that my phone will notify that it is being connected. Finally seeing the options that the Motorola site has been stating.

So this leaves me with a wasted trip to the store, frustration that they did not even recognize my issue, a cable that I have to remember not to use for data transfer, a lot of wasted time online, and me wondering why I am still paying for their phone insurance.

Summary:

Use an Ecomoto cable. Below are the ones that I purchaed:
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LFXBJG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007X6M386/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

Related topics (ie variants of search terms I used in web search):

  Motorola USB cable not working
  PC / Computer not recognizing phone
  USB not connecting to PC
  Motorla Droid RAZR not detecting USB connection to PC

Parable: Two friends are walking through the desert

Two friends are walking through the desert.

Some point during the journey, they had an argument. One friend slapped the other.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:
"Today my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but his friend saved him.

After he recovered from nearly drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life."

The friend, who had slapped and saved his best friend, asked him, "Why after I hurt you, you wrote
in the sand, and now, you write on a stone?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can erase it. When someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone, so no wind can ever erase it."


Learn to write the bad in sand, and to carve the good in stone.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.



有兩個朋友，在沙漠中旅行。

在旅途中的某點，他們吵架了，其中一個打了另外一個一記耳光。

被打的覺得很痛，但一言不語，在沙子上寫下："今天我的好朋友打了我一巴掌。"

他們繼續往前走，發現了一個綠洲，於是他們決定先洗一個澡。被打巴掌的那位陷入流沙差點淹死，幸好被剛才打了他的朋友救起來了。

被救起後，拿了一了：今天我最好把小劍在石頭上刻的朋友救了我一命。

一旁好奇的朋友問說：為什麼我打了你以後，你要寫在沙子上，而現在要刻在石頭上呢 ?

那一個朋友笑笑回答說：“當我們被一個朋友傷害時，要寫在砂，讓諒解的風抹去它;相反的，如果被幫助，我們要把它刻在石頭上，如此任何風都不能抹滅它！”

要學會將你的傷害寫在沙上，而將別人對你的好刻在石頭上 。

有人說花費一分鐘去找一個特別的人，一小時去欣賞他，一天去愛他，但是之後卻要花一輩子的時間才能遺忘他。