What's it all about, Alfie?

I was reading today that the Google App Engine now is allowing an 'Early Look' at Java. This is really interesting based on the work I've been doing with servlets and the Google Visualization API. Interesting, to be sure. I took a little time today and read up on what they are offering. It's interesting. There's an Eclipse plug-in that can do it all, you just need to write the code. It's got a test framework built-in... not bad. I'm sure the Python version is as nice or nicer, but it's a big advantage to me to be in Java for all the Java tools I already know about.

So, it's something to consider. At this point, I can't see myself using it without a really good reason. It's putting yourself at non-trivial risk, and the lack of cost isn't that big a deal right now, but it's got the Google 'cloud' behind it, and that's nice.

SOmething to consider.

This morning I was checking and it turns out that DrawIt 3.7.5 is out. The Sparkle notes say only:

Big improvements to the vector tool; better mouse-over effects, consistency and working at high zoom factors

so that means good things to me. I'll have to check it out soon and see what the differences are. I can already tell, there are some interesting UI changes so it's shaping up to be something interesting.

Good enough.

After a significant chunk of time, Dropbox released an update to it's multi-platform client: 0.6.507. The release notes say that there are a few issues fixed with Mac OS X, but I haven't run into any yet, and I've used it to keep three machines in sync. It's really quite simple, and at the same time, quite impressive. It's the way software should function - do something well and stay out of the way.

If you want to keep a folder in sync across multiple machines and platforms, give this a try, it's really quite amazing.

Well, I got one thing figured out - the bottom 'graph' on the Google AnnotatedTimeLine is a graph of what? Well... it appears that it's a graph of the final column in the dataset. Odd, but I guess that's one way to look at it. I might have liked it to be the first, but that's only because I have the total in the first column (after the date/time). Interesting.

I suppose that now I could move the total to the last column, but that would take a bit of effort, and based on the discussion I started on the Google Groups, it looks like I'm not the only one that's interested in this being a little more flexible. Here's to hoping that they respond with some flexibility in this.

[4/16] UPDATE: the last message in this thread was from VizGuy at Google:

1. Its the last data series.
2. Its a logarithmic manipulation of this data.
3. We have an open feature request to let the users control this data.
4. For now, you can hide this part of the chart (displayRangeSelector:
   false). I know its not perfect, but for those who get crazy, it might be
   better than leaving it as is... 🙂

From this, it's clear that I'm not alone in my confusion and the solution wasn't at all clear. Saying it's a logarithmic manipulation of the last column is really not at all clear. But it's on their list of things to do, and that's going to have to be enough. If I really wanted it to mean something, I'd move the totals data to the last column.

This morning VelaClock 2.1.12 was out and I picked it up - not that I need it as much as I used to, but it's still nice to be able to know for certainty what time it is in the other time zones. Back in my days at O'Connor, I needed to know London and Hong Kong without fail, but now it's not that big an issue. Still, if I need to know DST rules for Gaza, it's in there now.

OK, a little silly, but nice to have.

Got out and voted and I have to say I'm more than a little disappointed in the quality of the polling staff these days. The name is spelled B-E-A-T-Y, and it's on the voter registration card right there, yet still, I had to point out Liza's sheet in the rolls, and mine as well. Amazing.

But I have to say, it's great to strike a blow against what appears to be 'old time' Chicago politics in Bolingbrook. This article points out the incredible unfairness built into the system in this town. But I'm sure, if you look at any one of the rules, it is there for a reason - don't want to have cheating, do we? But the upshot of these rules enforced by a corrupt system is nothing less than... well... corrupt.

So I wrote in BONNIE ALICEA for mayor and I'm hoping she gets enough other folks as well. But even if she didn't, it's the process that's essential, and next time, maybe she'll be on the ballot for sure.

Today was a good day for my little project. I have been waiting for a few folks to do somethings for me - get data back to me, set up servers, install a little software - nothing that they can't do, but stuff that normally just takes time. It's a little frustrating, but that's just the way it is working with folks. Gotta take time for these things.

I will say that I'm glad to be working with a good QA Team. These folks are actually doing tests on my stuff that I hadn't thought of. Memory profiling as a function of time is a great little thing because my Google AnnotatedTimeLine is not very memory efficient and can crash IE 6 and 7 if you have it up for a while, and while Firefox 3 works, it's the exception on Windows. But these folks are willing (and interested) in doing the tests to make sure that it's reasonably stable. That's great news.

So today was time to put in new features and get things cleaned up while I wait.

This morning iTunes 8.1.1 hit Software Update with the somewhat lame description:

iTunes 8.1.1 adds support for renting HD movies and provides a number of bug fixes, including addressing issues with VoiceOver and syncing with iPhone or iPod touch.

and while I don't think we need to get a novelist to write the release notes, I think this is a little skimpy for even Apple.

But hey... it's an update, and there's got to be a reason to have it. So I got it.

This morning I saw that OsiriX, the medical image viewer, released a new version, so I had to go get it. There's nothing quite like getting your images (x-rays, MRI, etc) and being able to look at them at home. Not that we're doctors and can read them, but it's fun to look at your guts and wonder Hey, is that a tumor?

If you have medical images, give it a try.

This evening the episode of House, M.D. had one of the main characters commit suicide. In their trying to understand the reasons, the remaining characters searched for a reason that he'd do this. Point was, there was no reason. None at all. And while I appreciate showing that suicide is not glamorous as some might want it to appear, I have to wonder why do it to this particular character? Why have it make no sense whatsoever.

In the show, this character wasn't depressed. He thought life was worth living. Looked on the bright side of things. In general, he was the "hopeful" one in the crowd. The others are cynics. One with a genetic disease and less than a decade to live. All morose. So why pick this one happy person to kill himself? Clearly, it would be completely unexpected.

But that's possible in fiction. Portray a person as happy, full of life, enjoying life, and then have him be a closet mass murderer. It's possible. Totally illogical, but possible. If he'd been killing people and stuffing them in his fridge, I'm guessing there are a few tell-tale signs that people he worked with 60+ hours a week with would have spotted. Like a grim sense of humor, or signs of multiple personalities. Something.

So this wonderful character that my family has come to really like is gone. And what does this show my kids? Well... that the can't depend on TV for justice. Thanks, TV, but I think the real world will teach them that. Next? Oh... it shows them that even their best friends can be suicide cases. Thanks, TV, but my kids don't need to wonder if their friends are going to off themselves, they have enough of a tough time just being kids these days.

In the end, I'm disappointed in the writers. They could have done this to a patient on the show. A member of family of one character. Something. They didn't have to do it to the one person that never would have killed themselves in real life.

It's some literary vehicle, I'm sure. Someone new is coming on the show, or the actor wanted off to pursue movies, etc. But it's not anything close to a lesson learned. This was the writer's idea of a sucker punch. Nothing more.

UPDATE: there have been a few articles indicating that this was handled badly. But the reason: Kal Penn, the actor, wanted to work in the Obama administration, so he wanted out. Out he is. I'm now a little disappointed in him, as well. Finish the season, make a commitment and stick to it. Alas, this is not the case, it seems.