iMind - by Jim Phelps

Thu - November 18, 2004

We are a blue and purple country.

The standard map of the election results, that is shown everywhere, has this broad swath of red through the heartland. This is overly simple and hides the truth that the Bush administration and the far right really didn't win the country over.

Standard Red Blue Map

These images come from an analysis by Gastner et al, "Maps and cartograms of the 2004 US presidential election results" . In their study, Gastner et al plotted the election results on cartograms - maps that vary the area based on population rather than geography.

Thu - November 4, 2004

The Election - sigh...

It is now November 4th and I'm finally thinking about writing something about the election. But what to say... first off to all of Europe and the rest of the World. I'm sorry. Really, all Americans are not like "W". 50 million of us don't agree with him. There is no way to explain Americans to Americans not to mention the world at large.

Sun - October 10, 2004

I really hate ticks!

I just got back from a walk with Lola (I loooove Lola. She is such a sweetie. But I digress). I felt something crawling on my leg. I looked down and saw this:

I really hate ticks. Really really really hate ticks. Now I have the heebie-jeebies. I feel all this little sensations, little tickles all over my body and I have the run and check, "is that a tick?!?".

Fri - October 8, 2004

Finally updated "What I'm Reading"

I finally got around to updating the sidebar for my books. I wish there was an easier way in iBlog to do this. The Layout -> Navigation Editor is a vast improvement over digging through all the templates. I'm grateful for that step forward. I still have to go through and hack HTML to make links to the pictures of the books (on Amazon), links to the stars for ratings (in my Icon directory) and links out to the items in various places.

Fri - October 1, 2004

iBlog 1.4.0 - how's it going out there in upgrade land

I just downloaded iBlog 1.4.0. I've seen some entries on the ibloggers forum where people are loosing entries. How about all you out there - have you upgraded? Was it successful? Did strange things happen?

Sun - August 1, 2004

iBlog 1.3.9 - anyone tried it yet?

I downloaded iBlog 1.39 but haven't installed it yet. After the last upgrade, I'm a bit nervous. Anyone out there running the new 1.3.9?

- jjp

Wed - June 23, 2004

Hand over your destiny - take an airline

I just got back from a business trip. I flew from Madison to Denver and back. I am reminded of a rule-of-thumb for retailers: Quality, Price, Service - you have to have two out of three.

Sun - June 6, 2004

I really WANT to love iBlog

I have spent the past few nights working with iBlog This is the software I use for my old / previous / could be current again blog (http://homepage.mac.com/jimphelps/imind/). The new version of iBlog supports blogging from multiple computers and a bunch of other stuff.

...I like the fact that iBlog publishes to my .Mac account. I like the fact that iBlog puts a complete copy of my blog on my hard drive.

I really really want to like iBlog and to use iBlog and to tell all my friends to use iBlog. But...

Thu - June 3, 2004

What is it about contractors

We are starting another remodeling project. We are renovating the Master Bath and Master Bedroom. I have lined up a tile person to do the shower and floor. I have cabinet maker working on the cabinets. (Our bath is tiny - the way we get plural cabinets is when we count the medicine cabinet too). The plumber has been through and I have his quote. Electrical is lined up. But... BUT... I cannot get my general carpenter - the one who will demo the current shower, install the inline fan and replace all the windows - to call and send his quote. He is always very apologetic when I catch up with him on the phone. We used him once before and did a good job.

Tue - August 12, 3

Closing Tags - they can drive you nuts

OK. I've had this problem for the past two weeks with my blog. It looked terrible under Internet Explorer (when you get to the Category and Entry pages). The font rendering was terrible...

getBlogName(); : getCategoryName("C43500801");