BBC Slams BA
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
The BBC's Fast Track has a good segment on how absolutely miserable British Airways' Avios frequent flyer program is.
Brexit Prize
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Thursday, November 12, 2015.
The Institute of Economic Affairs has announced the 'Brexit Prize', a competition for the best blueprint for a UK exit from the European Union. First prize is 100,000 Euros, so it's worth a shot.
My plan: Beat Puerto Rico to becoming the 51st state.
I was just about to send this in when I read the instructions:
"At both stages, potential entrants should ask Amelia Abplanalp on [email protected] – for an entry number, preferably at least seven days before the closing date. Entrants should create two pdfs. One of those documents should only have the entry number as an identifier. The other document should have the entry number, name and contact details of the entrant on the cover page..."
It goes on like this and sounds like some EU directive relating to banana curvature. And don't you contact someone at an email address rather than on one? Must be an early April Fools' joke...
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Brexit Prize #politics #eu #brexit My (strangely losing) entry for the Brexit Prize, make the UK the 51st state! )
The Economics of Digital Rights Management
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Thursday, November 12, 2015.
Cory Doctorow wrote an article criticizing SiDiM in Publishers Weekly last week:
"But the fact that the basis behind this security measure was countered 25 years ago by employing a simple tool that’s getting into its 40s is not the silliest part of this supposed new DRM breakthrough."
This misses the point about how DRM really works.
Most people are fundamentally honest but reading a book or watching a TV show or installing one more copy of a software program doesn't feel like you're doing anything wrong. If you throw up a small roadblock then this is generally enough to gently remind people that they need to cough up.
If I can install another copy of Photoshop from the shared drive to get my job done then I will. If it asks for a license I'm going to ask my boss for one rather than hunting down a cracked copy. DRM works even if it doesn't do very much.
In fact it works best when it doesn't do much. A more sophisticated DRM is more likely to go wrong and is harder to operate. Highly effective DRM starts to hurt you with support and maintenance costs. When it fails to work or to be fair it can backfire spectacularly and cause a consumer backlash.
I spent a lot of time earlier in my career developing and selling DRM and copy protection. Deals were won on security but successful relationships were built from helping publishers balance the technical possibilities with ensuring that legitimate customers had a good experience.
"The idea that copyright owners might convince a judge, or, worse, a jury that because they found a copy of an e-book on the Pirate Bay originally sold to me they can then hold me responsible or civilly liable is almost certainly wrong, as a matter of law."
This doesn't sound right either. We've had enough experience of the record labels and movie studios suing individual copyright infringers, most of whom can't afford to risk a court case even if they have a plausible 'left my laptop unlocked' defense. This wasn't a smart move before, but it doesn't mean that book publishers can't deploy the same flawed strategy.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: The Economics of Digital Rights Management #etc #drm The utility (or not) of Digital Rights Management has very little to do with the level of security provided. )
Book reviews for June 2013
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Friday, February 24, 2017.
Letters by Kurt Vonnegut
4/5
Engrossing collection of letters, helpfully sprinkled with context.
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How to get SEO credit for Facebook Comments (the missing manual)
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Sunday, September 30, 2018.
I've been using the Facebook Comments Box on this blog since I parted ways with Disqus. One issue with the Facebook system is that you won't get SEO credit for comments displayed in an iframe. They have an API to retrieve comments but the documentation is pretty light and so here are three critical tips to get it working.
The first thing to know is that comments can be nested. Once you've got a list of comments to enumerate through you need to check each comment to see if it has it's own list of comments and so on. This is pretty easy to handle.
The second thing is that the first page of JSON returned from the API is totally different from the other pages. This is crazy and can bite you if you don't test it thoroughly. For https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/comments/ the first page is https://graph.facebook.com/comments/?ids=https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/comments/. The second page is embedded at the bottom of the first page and is currently https://graph.facebook.com/10150360250580608/comments?limit=25&offset=25&__after_id=10150360250580608_28167854 (if that link is broken check the first page for a new one). The path to the comment list is "https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/comments/" -> "comments" -> "data" on the first page and just "data" on the second. So you need to handle both formats as well as the URL being included as the root object on the first page. Don't know why this would be the case, just need to handle it.
Last but not least you want to include the comments in a way that can be indexed by search engines but not visible to regular site visitors. I've found that including the SEO list in the tag does the trick, i.e.
I've included the source code for an ASP.NET user control below - this is the code I'm using on the blog. You can see an example of the output on any page with Facebook comments. The code uses Json.net.
FacebookComments.ascx:
FacebookComments.ascx.cs
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(Published to the Fediverse as: How to get SEO credit for Facebook Comments (the missing manual) #etc #facebook #seo #comments Optimize Facebook comments for SEO by using the API to add comment text before loading the comment box via JavaScript (C# implementation but principle will work anywhere). )
Skype for Android 4 - Better but Useless
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Skype just released a completely rewritten version of their Android client.
It's a nice streamlined UI and for the first time on Android it actually loads the 15,422 chats I'm required to participate in work and is usable and responsive. I've used it for a few days and really want to like it.
But.
Even though it's faster and prettier it still destroys battery life. Imo.im ad Plus.im manage to handle multiple networks all day without putting a noticeable dent int the battery. With Skype up and running my phone is dead by the early evening. It's useless.
They also haven't fixed syncing the read state of messages which is the worst deficiency of Skype on both mobile and the desktop. Imo.im did this wonderfully until Skype cut them off at the kneecaps.
Back to Plus.im for now...
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Leafhopper Nymph
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
I spotted this odd looking bug in my porch a few weeks ago. It looks like a wingless fly with a hairy tail that wouldn't look out of place on a fly sized horse.
My Google-fu failed me so I turned to JustAnswer. Random insect identification isn't your typical veterinary question but Rebeccavet came through for me via a taxonomist in Kenya and told me it's a Leafhopper (Cicadellidae) nymph. Given this information Google Images confirmed that this seems like the most likely possibility.
(Full disclosure - I work at JustAnswer.)
The photograph, titled "Leafhopper Nymph," captures the delicate intricacy of a leafhopper nymph resting on a contrasting backdrop. This close-up shot reveals the fine details of the tiny creature; its segmented body and translucent, fairy-like fluff extending from its rear are particularly captivating. The nymph’s pale, earthy hues stand out against the darker, almost glossy surface beneath it, allowing the viewer to appreciate the subtle texture and fragility of this minuscule creature. The play of light and shadow highlights the contours of its body, while small specks of dust around the nymph suggest a raw, natural setting, adding authenticity to the moment captured.
In terms of composition, the photograph employs a tight framing technique that immerses the viewer into the microcosm of the leafhopper nymph. The use of a shallow depth of field effectively blurs the background, bringing the nymph into sharp focus and emphasizing its features. This choice of focus serves to direct attention solely on the subject, making the photograph a study of texture and form. While the photograph successfully highlights the nymph’s intricate structure, the lighting could be enhanced to bring more depth and vibrancy; the current lighting is somewhat flat, missing an opportunity to exploit the potential luminosity of the subject. However, the minimalist background ensures an undistracted view of the creature, which is a notable strength of the image.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Leafhopper Nymph #photo #leafhopper #cicadellidae Photo of a Leafhopper Nymph, looks like a wingless fly with a hairy tail. )
Catfood Earth for Android 1.20
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, May 31, 2021.
I recently upgraded to the HTC One which has a transparent notification bar. This makes it hard to see notification icons when using Catfood Earth as your wallpaper, at least in the summer when it's always light at high latitudes and your white icons are displayed on top of polar ice and clouds.
Catfood Earth for Android 1.20 fixes this with an option to paint black under the notification bar. That's the only update other than the latest Xamarin runtime.
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Pride
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Updated 2013-06-30 19:51:
Updated 2013-06-30 20:37:
Updated 2013-07-01 00:31:
Updated 2013-07-01 08:37:
The photograph titled "Pride" captures the grand architecture of a neoclassical building, likely a city or government hall, enveloped in the gray tranquility of dusk. Its towering pillars are brilliantly adorned with a spectrum of colors, each column painted with vibrant hues from red to violet, reflecting the iconic colors of the Pride rainbow. This rainbow illumination transforms the solemn structure into a beacon of celebration and acceptance. The sky above is a soft, pale blue, hinting at the day's final light, while the rows of trimmed trees provide a natural frame at the base, guiding the viewer's gaze along the horizontal expanse of the illuminated façade.
The composition of the photograph is dynamic, utilizing a low-angle perspective that emphasizes the majesty and height of the structure, drawing the eye upwards and into the scene. This perspective enhances the feeling of grandeur and importance, apt for the building's historical significance. The use of color as a central element plays a dual role, symbolizing inclusivity and diversity while adding an artistic brilliance that breaks the monotony of the stone architecture. However, the angle might lead to a slight distortion, making the far end of the building appear more distant and slightly skewed. This perspective, while dramatic, may detract from the balance of the image. Overall, the photograph successfully captures a moment of cultural significance with a compelling blend of architecture and color.
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Pride #photo #sanfrancisco Various photos from 2013 Pride in San Francisco, California. )
Commute
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
View to Alcatraz from Steiner and Pacific - about to cycle down very fast.
Updated 2016-04-26 21:42:
View from the Ecology Trail in The Presidio of San Francisco.
(Previously: Commute failing to suck this morning...)
This photograph captures a quiet street descending toward a distant view of water and what appears to be mountains or an island silhouette. The time of day seems to be either early morning or late afternoon, as suggested by the long shadows cast by the buildings and trees. On the left stands a sunlit house with warm, yellow walls, while a darker, shadowed building contrasts on the right, accompanied by a majestic tree. The road stretches downhill, flanked by power poles and trees, leading the eye toward the distant horizon. The sky overhead is a clear azure, contributing to the tranquil atmosphere of this urban yet serene scene.
The composition of the photo embraces a classic leading line technique, drawing the viewer’s attention from the foreground road into the distant view. The perspective is positioned at street level, emphasizing the depth and inviting viewers to imagine walking down the lane. The interplay of light and shadow is effective, adding texture and mood to the scene. What stands out is the balance between the left and right sides—the illuminated house and the shadowed tree create a symmetrical visual weight. However, the slight tilt in perspective can be mildly disorienting, though it adds authenticity to the moment captured. The image successfully conveys a sense of anticipation and transition, fitting well with the title "Commute."
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(Published to the Fediverse as: Commute #photo #commute #sanfrancisco Photos from my commute in San Francisco. )
