Good day thus far.

I've signed up successfully for Yuletide. I've offered 35 fandoms with any pairings, because I'm feeling flown on endorphins. We'll see how I feel when I get my assignment. I may need to go back to the gym. Because I got up early and worked out, which felt good and flying. And I only used the machines I really like. Not the ones that are good for all the muscle groups and bone density. Because today there will be no vegetables. Although, I've had two glasses of milk and a donut.

Well, there might be vegetables, because I'm going to a wine and food event and who knows what fabulous thing they'll do.

There are lots of thoughts whirling around right now, but I need to get ready to go, go, go.

So, in closing a link to last weekends fun.

For those who have purchased tickets already, don't forget tonight is Le Bal de Vampyrs at the Alameda Elks Lodge!

Look for me hamming it up during the Theatre of the Vampires. Rampant silliness WILL ensue, I promise.

Cheers!
(and now, off to Dickens Fair Workshops!)

http://ammy.fury.com/2009/11/science-news.php

Okay, the coolest news story I read all week was about an HIV virus being defanged and used for gene therapy. Take two kids who are definitely going to die as a result of their genetic disease, infect them with a specially engineered HIV virus, and use the body's lack of defenses against that kind of virus to cure their fatal illness. This is so completely awesome.

In other bizarre news, babies are born with an accent. Baby cries match the same tonal qualities of their mother's language. I saw reports on this in several different articles, but I think this article is the best because it has an audio version that gives you a sample of a French versus a German baby cry.

And in the "tell me something I didn't know" category, women are more likely than men to read the manual before asking someone else for help. (Judging by how many female tech writers I know, women are probably also more likely to write the manual as well, and no, we don't do it because it's fun and we like the way it looks on the shelf. RTFM!!!)

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/42eLmngns3g/google-apps-highlights-1162009.html

This is part of a regular series of Google Apps updates that we post every couple of weeks. Look for the label "Google Apps highlights" and subscribe to the series. - Ed.

Individuals, businesses and schools are switching to Google Apps to communicate more efficiently from anywhere, collaborate without the hassle of attachments, save money, and get continuous innovation. Because you use Google Apps in your browser, improvements like new features in Google forms show up automatically. Starting today, we'll post a recap every couple of weeks highlighting significant improvements we've made in Google Apps, and major milestones in this area, similar to our weekly series on Search. We hope this helps you experience what's new for yourself!

More interface consistency across Google Docs
We heard your feedback about design inconsistencies in the user interfaces for documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and we agree; having a more consistent user interface is a better experience. Last week we rolled out a batch of changes making the links, title area, menus, menu terminology and toolbar more uniform. We think this will make it easier to find commonly used functions, speed up your experience with Google Docs and make you more productive in these browser-based applications.


Customizable options for Gmail offline
Gmail offline lets you work with your email from the browser even when you don't have an internet connection, but until now, you couldn't specify how much old mail you wanted to cache for offline access. On Wednesday we launched new options for Gmail offline, and now you can configure how much of your old email is available when you don't have a connection. Once you enable Offline Gmail from the Labs tab in Settings, go to the Offline settings tab to customize which labels are synchronized, how far back messages are included, and which attachments you'll be able to access offline in your browser.

Google Docs bulk export
We firmly believe it should be easy to move files saved on your computer into the cloud, and that you should be able to move your data out of Google Apps whenever you want. After all, it's your data, and you should be able to do what you want with it. In the spirit of Data Liberation, last week we made it even easier for you to pull your documents, spreadsheets, forms, presentations and PDFs out of Google Docs with "Convert, Zip and Download". Just select the files in Google Docs that you want to save, go to 'More Actions' > 'Export', then choose your preferred output file formats. Your items will be saved to your computer in a tidy zip file.

Visual indicators for edited and all-new items in Google Docs
The shared items in your Google Docs account evolve as the people you collaborate with make edits and share new items with you. This is fundamentally different from how it works with files saved on your computer. Last week we started showing visual indicators in Google Docs to make it easier to spot what's changed and what's been newly shared with you. The names of files that have been edited since you lasted opened them are in bold, and shared files that you haven't opened yet have a red 'New!' tag.

Administrator controls for Chat
Companies and schools using Google Apps sometimes want to limit how their users communicate with Google Talk and Gmail Chat. For example, some K12 schools don't want outsiders instant messaging with their students. To meet this need, we now let IT administrators select if their users should only be able to chat with each other, and not with external users. This new option is found in the Chat service settings area of the Premier and Education Edition control panels.

Over two million businesses have gone Google
Companies around the world are moving to the cloud with Google Apps, and we just crossed the two million customers milestone. To hear how Google Apps is bringing faster innovation to employees, eliminating major hassles for IT managers and saving companies big bucks, read some of their quotes or visit out our YouTube customer channel.

We hope these updates help you get even more from Google Apps. For details and the latest news in this area, check out the Google Apps Blog.

Posted by Bradley Horowitz, VP of Product Management and Dave Girouard, President of Google Enterprise

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pvponline/~3/JrBOcVtgTdk/

http://www.pvponline.com/?p=5132

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/sS0Kck6BIO4/this-week-in-search-11609.html

This week we brought out some new search tools for the phone and for the web. We also enhanced our universal search with a better interface for product results.

Multiple pictures of products in Universal Search
We've added multiple images to product results in Universal Search. On broader queries, this helps you get a sense of the range of products available to you for the query. Here's what it looks like:


Example searches: digital cameras, pin nailer, glider, bouncy house, outdoor dining set

Search Options panel now has page previews and is live in more languages
We have added a new tool to the Search Options panel called page previews, currently available in English, Japanese and Korean. Page previews allow you to see additional text as well as an image preview of the page. This is a new way to summarize web pages that show up in the search results list. In the interest of keeping the Search Options panel interface simple, we've combined page previews with the earlier tool for longer snippets — both serve a very similar purpose and, we feel, work well together. Here you can see a screenshot of the new feature at work:


The Search Options panel is also now available in 11 new languages: Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Turkish.

Google search by voice for Nokia S60 phones in English and Mandarin Chinese
On Monday we announced that Google search by voice is available for Nokia S60 phones in English and Mandarin Chinese. The new version of Google Mobile App places a shortcut to Google search on your Nokia phone's home screen, allowing you to search using your voice or by typing. You can search for anything — from "movie times" to "fish 'n chips" to "masala dosa." And Google Mobile App shows search results in the application, so you don't have to wait for a web browser to launch to get an answer. This feature is available in both English and Mandarin Chinese.

Sesame Street doodle
In honor of Sesame Street's 40th anniversary on November 10th, the Google homepage has had a daily sequence of doodles created in partnership with Sesame Street around the favorite characters on the show — starting, of course, with Big Bird.

Hope you enjoyed this week's new features. Stay tuned for next week!

Posted by Ben Gomes, Distinguished Engineer

If you are looking to purchase a beginner's beading loom, one that comes with its own beads, steer clear of American Indian Bead Loom, made by Darice, Incorporated. Sure, the loom itself is workable, but the beads supplied do not fit - which is to say, many of the beads could not pass over the eye of the needle, and of those that did, can't take a second pass.

Also, I do not have steady hands right now, so that is compounding the problem.

But at least I have a pattern for when I finally CAN start beading this mofo.

Oh well.

EDIT: It would appear that the needle supplied is to blame. Very nice.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/oQ11Ur5dH1g/even-more-music-for-you-to-find-with.html

Last week, we launched a new music search feature, which helps you search and discover millions of songs with a simple Google search. When you search for an artist, song, album or even a few lyrics, you'll find links to our partner sites — putting you just one click away from listening to and purchasing the music you're looking for.

To celebrate our launch, MySpace and Lala are hosting exclusive, never-before-heard tracks from a variety of artists — and we're helping people to find those tracks through a simple Google search. So if you're a Lady Gaga fan looking for a new remix, in love with the Arctic Monkeys and looking for something extra or hunting for a new acoustic track from YouTube sensation Zee Avi, just search for it. You'll find links to these tracks right in your regular search results. And when you click the links, you'll be able to hear the songs directly from MySpace and Lala.

We know how much you care about music, and we're excited to partner with Lala and MySpace to help you discover more music from artists you love, using Google. To see the full list of tracks and read more, check out the blogposts on Lala and MySpace. We hope you enjoy the music.

Posted by R.J. Pittman, Director, Product Management

http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1530

Woo latest comic ever. Next week should be less tardy, schedule-wise. See you then!

http://feeds.penny-arcade.com/~r/pa-mainsite/~3/ONSwXKyBKR8/

New Comic: A Truly Fascinating Phenomenon

http://ammy.fury.com/2009/11/thinnest-excuse-for-single-post-ever.php

So Kevin is the luckiest guy I know. Turns out, luck can be a learned skill. Even still, I don't know how it's possible to get an A in a class where you get an extension from the professor who says "No extensions, because I'm leaving the country," then miss that new deadline and turn it in later. That's a freaking miracle, or a whole heck of a lot of generosity on the part of a professor, not learned luck. Still, I see the point of the article.

Meanwhile, Kevin was lucky enough to marry his wife Rachel who just posted a fabulous set of photos from Halloween. Yaaarrrrrrr!!!

http://ammy.fury.com/2009/11/taun-taun-sleeping-bag.php

Okay, I just can't contain my geek-girl squee. The taun-taun sleeping bags are coming! You can order now! Squeeeeeee! It's a April Fool's Day fantasy come to life!

P.S. The promo video is adorable.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pvponline/~3/RZqiUY3BHDM/

http://www.pvponline.com/?p=5130

http://feeds.penny-arcade.com/~r/pa-mainsite/~3/t3kmg99gZ0U/

New Comic: A Truly Fascinating Phenomenon

WHEN I HEARD AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY by Walt Whitman

When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv'd
with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for
me that follow'd,
And else when I carous'd, or when my plans were accomplish'd, still
I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health,
refresh'd, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the
morning light,
When I wander'd alone over the beach, and undressing bathed,
laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way
coming, O then I was happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food
nourish'd me more, and the beautiful day pass'd well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came
my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly
continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me
whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in
the cool night,
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast--and that night I was happy.

JWZ took some absolutely fantastic photos of me at the DNA All Hallow's Eve show.

I am Over The Moon(tm) about them.

You can find them starting here.

Just click the "next" link. :)

FWIW, this is probably the first aerials act where I really put all of my talents to use in the making.
I researched and found the music, and cut it myself.
I designed and built the costume.
I choreographed the routine, and of course, then I performed it.

It's not that I haven't done all those things in the past for other types of performance, but this was for circus, so it represents a new step for me... and gee gosh golly the results look nice!

So, as a gift, my mom wants me to make an old-school beaded belt, a la these. I've got a beading loom, and I've beaded stuff before. The only problem I foresee is that my loom is only 7 inches or so long from end to usable end. That is not long enough for a belt.

Dilemma!

(1) I figure out a way to connect multiple beaded strips in such a fashion that no one can see the breaks, or

(2) I make/get a new, larger loom. I am not a huge fan of buying something, but on the other hand, I don't feel up to the challenge of making one myself (though I could probably do it).

Suggestions?

Still haven't downloaded my pictures, but Rachel is on the job:

Haunted Fox Hollow description and pics