http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com ideas, family, fun Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:03:32 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Apple is held up as user friendly and simple. In many ways it is. However even Apple fails the test when it comes to abstracting technological underpinnings from the user. I love my iPhone, but frequently am unable to take photos with it. It tells me "There is not enough room ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/07/even-apple-fails-the-test/ Technology still sucks a lot.  This is probably obvious to everyone, but as a technologist, I know exactly where the failings are and get more frustrated than the average person.  Sure, you get annoyed when your wireless network doesn't just work, but I actually know why it doesn't work, see the ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/06/technology-has-far-to-go/ Where do you stand on Ninjas vs. Pirates?   Isaiah knows ninjas have the upper hand, and has already started practicing.  He was running around outside in his pajamas, picked up a stick, and I snapped these shots with my iPhone.  I had to make a comic - he looked like ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/06/ninja-baby/ Catching up with untagged photos. Check out these silly photos from Photo Booth.  Isaiah was so small!  Crazy.  Links: photo album, slideshow. http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/06/old-isaiah-photos/ Isaiah is very proud of having his own laptop. (I picked up an OLPC for him off a fellow Googler who was done playing with it).  Tonight he sat in my lap while I helped him open it up.  He turned it on, and smiled when it chimed.  He then ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/06/new-isaiah-photos/ Check out this collage of Isaiah. It contains all Isaiah photos we have taken to date (about 1,000).  It's generated using the Shape Collage software I recently stumbled upon.  This goes into my suite of cool photo tools (which also includes Rasterbator for hugified posters).  Click through to see the ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/05/isaiah-collage/ Have you drawn yourself as a teen? This is an internet meme I couldn't pass up, though I'm a bit late to the party.  (I read about this originally on the Flight Comics blog).  I felt I needed to do three versions: the 15-17 year old Abe, the 18 ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/05/draw-yourself-as-a-teen-meme/ Sharing another personal success: my second launch at Google - real estate search!  This has been one of my main focuses, and is great to get out there.  Both Google Operating System and Lifehacker picked this up fairly quickly, though they both incorrectly come to the conclusion that data is ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/05/my-second-launch-at-google/ Just thought I'd share a personal success: my first launch at Google - mapped web pages!  I am only a minor piece of the overall chain, but it has been fun to see it through.  Even cooler is the fact that Google Operating System picked it up fairly quickly, with ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/04/my-first-launch-at-google/ One year ago we welcomed Isaiah into the world. Crazy.  Francesca and I have been parents for a year.  What a wonderful year!  Isaiah is walking, climbing, talking (a little), inquisitive, sensitive, overall a joy.  Franny and I have grown together as partners, parents, friends.  Sometimes stressful, always wonderful. One year ... http://abe.rocketmonkeys.com/2008/04/happy-birthday-isa/