Hacker Shopping Cart
My shopping cart..
- Energy drinks.
- Energy bars.
- Energy backups.
Guess what I do for a living. 
Tags: costco, food, hacker, openrain, shop, ups
Switching To Dvorak: Seven Months Later
Today marks exactly seven months from the day I switched to the Dvorak keyboard layout.
Key Observations
- 72, 81 and 77 words per minute, clocked with three different one-minute tests on TypingTest.com.
- In home-row-only tests I took several months ago, I was already consistently over 100 WPM. The many common home-row-only words (those spelled with A, O, E, U, I, D, H, T, N and S) are remarkably comfortable and fast to type.
- It’s all about muscle memory. I can type my thoughts just as well as the next guy without looking at the keyboard, but can’t recite you the upper or lower row keys by memory. Interesting, huh?
- The pain in my left-hand little finger tendon is gone! More of this is likely due, however, to also switching my Command and Caps Lock keys in software.
Other Conclusions
- I’m much, much better at hunt-and pecking in Dvorak–that is, staring at a QWERTY keyboard set to Dvorak in software and “sensing” where the right key are with my pointer finger alone. (Useful when typing a few words on someone else’s box.) This is hard because of #3 above, but learnable.
- I can now hunt-and-peck suitably on my iPhone (QWERTY only) keyboard.
- Typing QWERTY on a Dvorak keyboard is a lost cause. I have to stare at a secondary QWERTY keyboard to do so, because my muscles and mind have totally forgotten. (Again, see #3.)
- Typing on a laptop keyboard feels better on your finger tendons, but just as uncomfortable on your wrists.
- Sharing windows machines with others is awkward and frustrating. Let me know if you have a good system tray applet for quick-switching the whole system to Dvorak, because team-admining a windows machine requires a hellish amount of clicks to set the system-wide keyboard layout.
- Apple is absolutely horrid at designing with ergonomics in mind. (In their defense, they obviously aren’t trying.)
- I haven’t discovered the mental gymnastics that allows you to type in QWERTY when necessary. I can type my name and common passwords in QWERTY, but that’s about it, sorry. No hablo QWERTY.
- Stuff that now sucks because they are built for a QWERTY layout: emacs, vi, <your_favorite_editor>, Aperture, some Java apps. All games now require new key bindings off-the-bat too.
Tags: apple, dvorak, typing, windows
Pictures: Cape Cod
I was over in the Boston/Cape Cod area earlier this month. Only got to site see for a couple hours but still thought I’d share the few shots I have. What I learned while visiting..- My grandma once used Jackie O’s toilet.
- I’m about 2 megadollars short of being able to live there.
- Every photo you take would be perfect for a viagra ad.
Tags: boston, cape cod, hdr, massachusetts, picture, travel
Dear TSA, Check Out The 4th Amendment. Thanks.
Just a little food for thought for your next airplane ride. The 4th amendment of the U.S. constitution reads..
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Sounds reasonable to me. And now, the little note from the TSA left in my checked bag, neatly tucked between my clean, folded boxer shorts..
The full text follows below the line..
Transportation
Security
Administration
NOTICE OF
BAGGAGE INSPECTION
Security
Administration
NOTICE OF
BAGGAGE INSPECTION
To protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law* to inspect all checked baggage. As part of the process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection.
During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.
If the TSA security officer was unable to open your bag for inspection because it was locked, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution.
For packing tips and suggestions on how to secure your baggage during your next trip, please visit:
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact the TSA Contact Center:
Phone:866.289.9673 (toll free)
Email:TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
Email:TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov
*Section 110(b) of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001,
49 U.S.C. 44901(c)-(e)
49 U.S.C. 44901(c)-(e)
Rev. 8-1-2004
Smart Security Saves Time
Tags: opinion, politics, rights, tsa, united states
. 03 May 08 | Personal | Comment (1)
Back To Business School
I started MBA 590 tonight; the next stepping stone to my next degree, which I should complete at University of Phoenix early next year. Considering I couldn’t even start on the coursework until 9PM, it’s going to be a busy year. 
. 08 Jan 08 | Personal | Comments (0)