Thoughts

Want to see the inside of a SanDisk Cruzer 1.0GB USB flash drive?

Yes, you read correctly. That is a Google-compliant post title. It may give away the entire post, but I can be sure it’ll get indexed properly now…

Now for the raison d’etre, or the why, as we say in these here parts. My friend Peter is the owner of the USB flash drive in question. Actually, he has two of them, and one stopped working. Ever curious, he wanted to see what was inside, so he took it apart. One of the fringe benefits of having a geeky friend and being a geek yourself (and I mean that in the nicest way, honest) is that you get to share such delightful experiences. So when Ligia and I visited them, Peter showed me the parts, and suggested I post the photos to my site. Well, he didn’t have to ask twice! He had me when he pulled out the broken drive! I mean, what self-respecting geek would say no when presented with the chance to:

  1. Have a look at mini circuit boards,
  2. Take macro photos with his new digital camera,
  3. Post said photos online,
  4. Write a blog entry about it

So, without further ado, here are the photos, starting with the external components and progressing to the internal ones.

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

SanDisk Cruzer flash drive

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Reviews

Google Apps for Your Domain gets going

In what I think is an astonishing twist, Google has turned their “private label” Gmail service offered about 6 months ago to companies and schools interested in the idea into Google Apps for Your Domain, an all-in-one solution that offers Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar and Google Pages for whatever domain you’d like. In typical Google fashion, they’ve also made it free! Now no one can complain that they can’t get their site going or email set up. All anyone needs is an internet connection and a domain name, and they’re set. Granted, the functionality of Google Pages isn’t quite full featured, but it’s plenty for the needs of most people.

All I can say is Wow, because I’m floored. It’ll take some time for this to sink in. Private label IM, free! Private label Gmail, free! Private label web calendaring, free! Wow!

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Events

The Croc Hunter dies

Steve Irwin, the offbeat Australian [insert own characterization here] died, of a stingray barb through the heart, as he was filming a documentary today. He was apparently swimming on top of the stingray, when it swung its tail up, piercing his chest with the barb. Although crew members tried to save him, there was nothing to be done, and he was pronounced DOA at a nearby Low Isles hospital. Here’s to an individual that managed to amaze and freak me out at the same time. His love for animals was evident, although I’d also say he was obsessed with them, and sometimes got so manic around them that he probably freaked them out, too. In the end, he died doing what he loved.

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Reviews

Build your own web site the right way, using HTML & CSS by Ian Lloyd

This Sitepoint release, written by Ian Lloyd, proves to be a worthwhile addition to the library of a budding web designer or even that of a complete novice who’d like to build his own site. Ian takes the reader through a complete tour of HTML and CSS, plus a few goodies, and leaves no stone unturned in making sure they can build a good, solid foundation of knowledge.

For those of you not in the know, Ian is a member of the Web Standards Project, and is a self-confessed addict for web standards, accessibility and usability. That means that any reader that picks up this book and follows it will end up with a lot of very useful knowledge on that subject, and that’s good nowadays, when web standards are the norm, not the exception.

As is the case with most computer books, book follows the development of a fictional website, this time for a UK diving group called Bubble Under – and when I say it starts at the bottom, I mean it: the first chapter deals with browsers! But that’s what’s great about it. It’s thorough, from cover to cover! And the emphasis on CSS is very welcome! I remember the HTML books of my day… and of course there was no such thing as CSS back then. Well, this book is modern and up to date, and thankfully so! CSS-based page designs are emphasized, and the reader is taken through a natural transition from pure HTML to CSS integration. Along the way, standards are plugged in, also naturally, and the more advanced elements like images and forms are also nicely presented.

Another indication of the book’s relevance is the chapter on blogs, which talks about the various solutions on the market, and then focuses on how to set up a Blogger account and integrate it into a website’s existing design. Other goodies are stats, search, blogrolls, and discussion forums. The book ends nicely with a good discussion of XHTML, and an XHTML glossary is included to boot.

What more can I say? If you’re in the market for a good book that will help you get started with designing your own site, get this book. It’ll be perfect for you!

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How To

Turn your doberman into a poodle

Hey, are you sick of tired of dirty looks from your neighbors, just because you have a doberman? Then you need the Poodle Disguise Kit for Dobermans!

The Poodle Disguise Kit for Dobermans

I kid you not. This site called attackchi put it together. It’s tongue-in-cheek, I’m sure, but it’s also in protest at what they say is the unjustified treatment of breeds like the dobermans, mastiffs, rotweillers, etc. – which have acquired a reputation for biting when in truth, all dogs can bite.

So, you want to see the fantastic kit in action? Here it is:

What the heck have you done to me?

Want to hazard what the poor dog’s thinking? I think it’s: “What the heck have you done to me? You think this is funny?!”

How about this lovely pic?

Mark my word: your day is coming soon!

I think it’s saying: “Mark my word: your day is coming soon!” And people wonder why dobermans turn vicious…

(Pics courtesy of attackchi)

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