Here’s something you don’t see every day. Google was giving me intermittent page errors
Errors usually give a little bit of insight into how sites are being ran. It looks like google is using squid for caching.
Google Error
3
Go to Home
The best ideas come from finding something you do all the time, realize you do it, and then automate it.
With me, I discovered that I frequently go to the base domain of a website by going to the URL, highlighting and deleting the junk on the end of the domain name and then pressing enter. I HATE doing it. I also have to do it when websites don’t link to their home page.
So here’s an easy solution. A bookmarklet!
Drag the link below to your bookmarks bar (or in IE, right-click and add to favorites):
Here is the code:
var url = new String(location.href);var re = new RegExp(‘https?://([A-Za-z0-9.-]+)’);var res = url.match(re);location.href=res[0];
Enjoy 
Email Emergency Alert System
This is an open letter to the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
The current Emergency Alert System takes advantage of tv networks to deliver crucial information in the event of an emergency.
As someone who spends much more time online instead of watching tv, I would like to propose a new system that is more in sync with today’s technology.
There should be a national Email Emergency Alert System (EEAS) that people can voluntarily sign up for. E-mailing the list would be reserved only for Emergencies. The user can also optionally give their zip code so that the EEAS could additionally give local emergency information (such as a tornado touching down or a flash flood warning)
The service could also be created in such a way that other departments could initiate an emergency, allowing for a decentralized alert system that can quickly reach the people it needs to reach.
Please seriously consider this enhancement to an archaic system. And please, whatever you do, do not send out test e-mails that test the system. We’ll get them.
Sincerely,
Billy Chasen
billychasen.com
Beating Heart
After many months of work, I finally finished and displayed my “Beating Heart” piece. You can view the video below.
It was shown at the American Heart Association’s 2008 Heart of New York Gala yesterday. Everything (thankfully) went perfect and the responses ranged from disgust to joy.
Dancing is illegal in New York City
Here’s something you may not know about New York City. Bars need a special permit for dancing. The signage for it is still hilarious to see.
I took this in a pub last night.
I wonder what their definition of dancing is. Would they escort me out if I start bobbing my head?
According to this article:
Nightclubs are also restricted in zoning, meaning cabaret licenses are only granted to venues in major commercial centers, industrial or manufacturing districts, effectively making it illegal to dance in any residential area. In 1960 there were 12,000 cabaret licenses in the five boroughs. Now, in 2006, there are less than 200.
The permit process is long, costly and uncertain. Approval is required from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the NYC Planning Commission, the Fire Department, Buildings Departments and local community boards, among others, all of whom work independently of each other.”
Terrorists lack the techology to assemble liquids together
Much has been said about TSA’s silly liquid rules, but now as I am set to leave SXSW in Austin, I realized my deodorant is 4oz. TSA allows you to pack as many containers as you want into a 1 quart ziplock bag (which is 32oz). But none of those internal containers can be bigger than 3oz. Yes, it hurts my head to think about.
Human Acid Test
In response to the browser ACID tests, I’ve created a foolproof human acid test.
Passive Aggressive ways to pay your rent — Part I
I pay a lot for a closet-size space in New York. To make things worse, my building is under construction and I just got a smoking neighbor (smoke constantly seeps under my walls (and there’s no law for that, I checked)). In short, I’m not liking my apartment anymore.
The management company does nothing. I have no power. I’m starting my passive aggressive rent paying. Check back next month for Part II
Newsflash — Don’t install mp3 players in the subway
Here is a great idea in theory, but the execution falls short. There are billboards in the subway that allow you to plug in your headphones and listen to John Legend’s CD. Neat idea, right?
Someone (I swear it wasn’t me) decided to pull off the protective cover and take the contents. I wonder what type of device the thief nabbed. Photos below:
UPDATE: The batteries that were left over are now gone too!
Google uses past searches for adwords
Here’s something that caught me off-guard. I’m selling my PC laptop and first searched for VGN-SZ330P in google. Then after not finding anything, I searched for “laptop pricing”, to see if there was some type of laptop blue book.
In Adwords, I saw an ad for a VGN-SZ330P — my previous search (Screenshot below).
You can replicate the results by going to google
1. Type vgn-sz330p and search
2. Then search for: laptop pricing