Why grandparents like grandkids Jul 17, 2006
I just spent the weekend with several sets of grandparents (not my own) who love spending time with their grandkids.  I developed a few theories about why grandparents love grandkids: 

1.  When parents have kids, they're usually too young and/or too busy to fully enjoy the experience.  A young married couple has to worry about being married, working, paying a mortgage, etc.  Raising kids isn't exactly a textbook experience (from what I've observed), so there's quite a bit of pressure and stress involved.  Grandparents have been married for 10s-100s of years, are retired, and have paid off their house(s).  Essentially, life begins when you're old.  The only thing left for grandparents to do is enjoy it. 

2.  Grandparents are like long-term babysitters.  They come over and play with the kids for a while, but then give them back at the end of the day.  Sometimes the kids will stay overnight with the grandparents, but no matter how long they stay, there's always the thought in the back of everyone's mind that the real parents will eventually come back and take the kids away.  If the kids are cranky or being bad, it's probably pretty comforting to know that a grandparent's job is nowhere near full-time. 

3.  Grandparents don't have to discipline grandkids.  That's a job for the parents.  Some grandparents feel the need to do it, but most will hand the kids over to the parents. 

4.  They're not their kids.  When it comes down to it, grandparents are free from responsibility.  "Your kid threw a football at my face."  It's not my kid, it's my grandkid.  "Ok.  In that case, I'll talk to the parents."  Grandparents don't have to change diapers, clean up puke, feed, or bathe grandchildren.  They can and often do volunteer for some of these services (ok, really just the bathing ... bathtime is lots of fun!), but can rightfully decline without shame or remorse.  "I'm done playing with and spoiling your child; you can take them back now." #psychology
Blog on homepage Jul 17, 2006
Back in September of 2005, I got rid of the "blog" section of my website and moved all its contents to the homepage.  Why?  Because the blog contained the most recent updates, news, and additions.  The homepage was basically just a landing site, pointing the user to the different sections of the site.  It didn't really serve a purpose other than navigation.  And navigation can easily be included in a sidebar or footer, which is what I did.  I personally think the blog should be the front page of every website, unless there's a viable reason why it shouldn't be.  Why have a /blog/ section or a blog.domain.com subdomain?  Actually, some readers don't like the blog on the front page because it means they have to read what the writer is writing, and sometimes they don't care what the writer has to say.  But if you're me (which you're not), you visit websites to read what people write, which means you don't want to have to navigate to a blog that's unnecessarily placed on a part of the site other than the homepage.  If a website offers a service like Meebo or Zooomr, the blog should be on a different page because the service offered by these respective websites is more important than the news surrounding it.  But on personal sites and other sites that have a semi-useless front page?  Put the blog there and stop wasting my time. #technology
Snapple all natural Jul 14, 2006
I was at a little pizza place the other day when I found a new kind of Snapple:  All Natural Green Tea.  It comes in a 17.5 oz bottle and comes in 3 or 4 different flavors.  The stuff is amazing.  It tastes like my mom made it (that's a compliment).  It's very simple and light.  Not much sugar, and no artificial sweeteners.  The list of ingredients is pretty short, and the top three are "Filtered water, sugar, natural green tea extract".  The label talks about the health benefits of green tea, what with all the EGCG that "boosts metabolism".  Aside from the health benefits, this stuff is just really good.  It doesn't taste like other Snapple. 

The weird thing about this stuff is that it's nowhere on the internet.  It's not on the Snapple website; it's not on anybody's website.  There's no news about it.  There are no mentions of it.  It's almost like it doesn't exist.  But it does exist because I'm drinking it right now.  Wendy suggested that it might be part of a test market.  If that's the case, Mr. Snapple:  You've got something good here. 

[But why the 17.5 fl oz bottle?  This is obviously bigger than the normal 16 oz bottles.  This means that you made an incredibly large investment in a new packaging size and shape.  Sure, this is the same size bottle as the also newly introduced White Teas, but it's still different from the original.  The only thing I can think of is that these new bottles (with new labels) are meant to stand out from the normal Snapples.  If that's the case, job well done.] #food
Target="_blank" Jul 14, 2006
A few months ago, someone suggested that I incorporate the target="_blank" attribute into the external links on my site so they would open in new windows instead of surfing away from my site within the same window.  I said I'd rather give the user the choice.  And more and more, I get irritated by websites that open a new window when I click on a link.  I understand that the link goes to a different site.  That's not a big deal.  But if I wanted a new window, I'd open a new window.  Or if I was using Firefox (which I pretty much always am), I'd open a new tab.  Either way, the choice should be mine.  New windows are stupid. 

The only instance where a new window is beneficial is when additional information is required while the user is filling out a form.  For example, if you order something online and fill out all your shipping information but aren't sure about the shipping policy, you might click on a link that tells you about it.  This link should open a new window so that your information isn't erased. #technology
USB Jul 13, 2006
There are two main types of USB:  1.1 and 2.0.  Version 2.0 is about 40 times faster than version 1.1.  It looks the same and uses the same basic external hardware.  It's compatible with the older version, and the older version is compatible with the newer version.  When you're using things like a USB mouse and/or keyboard, the difference is unnoticeable.  But when you're using things like a PDA, memory stick, or other storage device, the difference is painful.  USB 1.1 is extremely slow when transferring large amounts of data.  It's almost unusable.  But USB 2.0 is great for this kind of thing. 

My one complaint about USB is that the plugs are completely unintuitive.  Who thought of a symmetric plug that can only be plugged in one way?  Instead, they should've made the top wider than the bottom so the user wouldn't have to try to force it in upside down. 

Ok, one more complaint about USB.  The connections are often in hard-to-reach places:  The back of the computer; behind some hidden door on the front.  It's ridiculous, especially if you have your CPU on the ground and you can't see where you're plugging things into.  The smartest place for a USB connector was on the side of a Dell LCD monitor I had a few months ago.  It was easy to find and easy to use.  Its only problem was that it didn't work all the time.  I'm not sure why.  But it was a great idea. #technology
Foreign aid myth Jul 13, 2006
This ABC News article suggests that it's a myth that foreign aid helps end poverty.  Instead, it makes things worse by giving more money and food to corrupt governments.  Interesting.  (via Digg) #entertainment
Boxes Jul 13, 2006
When I was in college, I moved an average of 5 times a year.  There was moving into school in the fall; semi-moving out in the winter (guitars, computer, clothes, etc.); semi-moving back in after winter break; moving out in the spring; sometimes moving into an apartment for a summer job; moving out of the apartment at the end of the summer; repeat.  Through this process I learned how to move and how to pack things extremely efficiently.  It also forced me to live out of boxes.  I had a box for all my electronics, a box for my school/desk/work supplies, a box for my cooking equipment, etc.  At any given time, I could move into or out of a room in 30 minutes or less. 

But now, after I've been out of school for over 2 years, I still have some of these habits.  The amount of "stuff" I own has grown exponentially, so I wouldn't be able to move anywhere anytime soon.  But I still store certain things in boxes.  I still have a box full of electronics that's impossible to sift through.  I still store some things in the boxes they came in, thinking it'll be easier to move them if they're already packed.  Maybe one day I'll settle down and finally unpack everything.  Then I'll probably move again. #psychology
Novelty vehicles (1) Jul 12, 2006
I see a surprisingly/frighteningly large number of novelty cars and trucks on the road.  Vehicles like the Dodge Rumble Bee and the Dale Earnhardt Signature Monte Carlo are really quite laughable.  What kind of person spends $35,000 for a bright yellow pickup truck with a bumble bee logo on the side?  What's the point of having a "sport" truck?  Can you race it against sports cars?  Does it handle like a Porsche?  Apparently, it's some sort of throwback to an old muscle car.  Maybe it's because I'm not a car person, but the whole idea sounds and looks amazingly stupid. 

And what's the deal with all those $25,000 Dale Earnhardt "racing" cars?  Why do only 40-year-old women drive them?  Isn't it kind of weird to purchase a huge object that's endorsed by someone, let alone a NASCAR driver?  It was enough when you got the shirt that matched the hat, but a matching car?  I've seen enough. #travel
Beetle Jul 12, 2006
Check out those antennae! 

#nature
Christian cars (1) Jul 12, 2006
What kinds of cars should Christians drive?  This is the question I ask myself as I drive through my church's parking lot.  I see normal things like sedans, minivans, SUVs, and trucks.  Some are new; some are old.  Some are more expensive than others.  But then there are a few cars that really stand out:  A brand new Infiniti and pretty little blue Porsche. 

Is it acceptable for a Christian to own an Infiniti?  Sure, it's acceptable.  But is it a good idea?  Does it say, "I make enough money to afford nice things, so I drive a semi-luxury car."?  Or does it say, "I make more money than you, and I spend it frivolously on objects like cars."?  What is the owner getting by spending $10,000 to $20,000 more than necessary?  Where's the line between comfort and extravagance?  Is a sunroof extravagant?  Not really.  Is a sports car extravagant?  Not completely.  Is a Porsche extravagant?  I think so.  That's my opinion. 

If we think about the purpose behind owning a car, it's essentially to get us from point A to point B.  Some cars do this with a few more creature comforts than others.  Some are bigger; some are smaller.  Some have more power.  Some have more space.  But at what point does a Christian cross the line?  Christians are supposed to be "stewards of God's money".  We're supposed to be humble.  We're supposed to support the church with our money.  Maybe people with nice cars are supporting the church with their money too.  I believe some of those people are, and that's great.  But I think owning a Porsche sends a slightly different message.  To me, a Porsche says one thing:  Money.  If a person is into nice cars, why don't they get a 70s muscle car or a Camaro?  Porsche makes great cars; no doubt about that.  But does a Porsche emanate humility?  Does it say, "I love you" as it speeds past? 

I think this leaves just one question:  What Would Jesus Drive?  The answer:  He wouldn't drive at all.  He wouldn't be able to afford these ridiculous gas prices. #religion