If you read japanese, you can check out the new USB gloves which when plugged in to the USB port on your computer will heat up keeping your hands toasty warm while you type in the wintery outdoors. Or a cold office or apartment.

There was definitely a couple of days in January 2004 (remember — the cold month) when I resorted to typing with gloves on. It wasn't easy because they were thick winter gloves, but fortunately, these particular gloves don't have any finger tips and have a "mitten flap" (for lack of a better term) that can keep you fingers warm when you are resting.

A few people have asked me at various times for some good (cheap/free) software for the Mac as they are embarking on a more enlightened computing experience. I think I've listed some before, but recently I discovered Open Source Mac which is a site that show cases some of the best open source programs for the Mac in various categories. I personally don't use all of them, but I do use some. Most are really good, but sometimes you get what you pay for. A couple of programs I have purchased (Transmit, NetNewsWire and OmniGraffle come to mind) for the Mac I find better than any open or free alternative, but I'll let you be the judge.

Turns out I'm published. I knew that this paper was submitted at a couple of places, but I didn't know that it was accepted. If you are a Dalhousie student you can get the Full Text for free. I'm not sure what the protocol would be for me to mirror the full PDF, given that I am one of the authors. Something that I'll look into.

Does anyone else feel like moving menus on websites are somehow invading your personal space?

I don't mind menus that use a position: fixed declaration — IE users, don't worry about it, you can't see fixed content anyway — or even (God help us) frames, but I'm not a fan of the floating javascript propelled menus. (example)

Creepy almost. Like they are stalking you.