0xDECAFBAD accumulator by l.m.orchard

About This and Me

Hi there, thanks for stopping by. This is an accumulator of things I've left lying around across the web. As you can see, I play with a lot of different services and sites, and I generate a lot of stuff. So, in order to tame things a bit, I'm pooling it all here.

Everything you find here is something I've either written, created, marked as favorite, or otherwise caused to be recorded as activity somewhere. It's almost, but not quite, totally unlike a Gelernterian lifestream.

Who am I? My name is Leslie Michael Orchard. I'm also findable as l.m.orchard in many search indexes, and most friends just call me Les. I'm a serial enthusiast playing with a variety of web technologies and social software. I've written a couple of books, and I hope to write more — in fact, if you like what I do around here, you might like to buy them and bring the magic home.

Click the "Hide Options" link above to hide this introduction for the next time you visit. It might reappear from time to time when this message changes. Now, hopefully you'll find something interesting to click on below with which to make your escape.

Display Preferences

There's a lot of stuff here, and you might only care about a little bit of it. So, here are some options you can use to narrow down the display. These preferences are saved in a browser cookie and should be retained for your next visit.

Exclude Sources

  • twitterfaves
  • skein
  • opml
  • trac
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • ficlets
  • bucket
  • delicious
  • recaffeinated
  • flickr
  • decafbad
  • flickrfaves
  • digg

Exclude Tags

  • code
  • elsewhere
  • links
  • tumblelog
  • bucket
  • asides
  • fiction
  • blog
  • video
  • decafbad-com
  • images

And, yeah, this feature - like this site - is experimental. I'm still working on the style to handle the missing entries - it breaks a bit sometimes.

How the Sausage is Made

I've made the source code of this thing available here:

Someday, this section might describe how this thing is made. But, I'm lazy. So, here's a quick list of things I've used so far:

  • Planet Venus - an awesome 'river of news' feed reader.
  • YUI - an awesome JS framework from Yahoo!

  1. 2008 JAN 15

  2. 05:59 flickr

    google bike to work day

    deusx posted a photo:

    google bike to work day

    big ass bike, but I have no idea what the lil sign on it says. They're obviously having fun, though.

  3. 05:58 flickr

    google bike to work day

    deusx posted a photo:

    google bike to work day

  4. 05:58 flickr

    google dino

    deusx posted a photo:

    google dino

  5. 05:57 flickr

    kids under umbrella riding alligator

    deusx posted a photo:

    kids under umbrella riding alligator

    I have no idea. It's in Mountain View. what the hell is up with that?

  6. 05:57 flickr

    weird 3d controller

    deusx posted a photo:

    weird 3d controller

    the articulated arms let you move the lil sphere thing in many directions

    Apparently this:

    home.novint.com/products/novint_falcon.php

  7. 05:57 flickr

    funky 3d controller

    deusx posted a photo:

    funky 3d controller

    Apparently, this:

    home.novint.com/products/novint_falcon.php

  8. 01:01 decafbad

    Go Midwest, Young Man!

    Reminiscent of this time almost two years ago, it’s been a busy period so far. I’ve been working on another book, entitled Professional JavaScript Frameworks, and have changed jobs twice since leaving Yahoo! in early April.

    I think I’m done bouncing around now, though: As you may or may not already know, I’ve started working for the Mozilla Corporation—I’ve got a username and everything! I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment by changes and drinking from a new firehose, so my enthusiasm may not yet be readily apparent. But, remember that I’m a complete web geek—and it’s hard to get closer to web geekery than this.

    But, one of the nicest things about this new Mozilla gig is that I’m going to start telecommuting. And the reason that’s nice is because—and here’s the next big thing—my wife and I have bought a beautiful house in Livonia, Michigan, and we’re moving back to the Midwest in a month and some change.

    Why? Because, after almost two years out here in the valley, we’ve discovered that being away from family and old friends while trying to make new friends and adjust to a very different locale was a lot harder than first imagined. And, well, it would’ve been much longer than we’d've liked before we could have afforded a house at all—let alone something anything like what we’ll be enjoying back in Michigan.

    The thing is, though, I’ve still got a lot of love for the Bay Area and its goings on—I’ve been pining for this place since at least the age of eight, after all. And, we have made a few good friends out here, despite the difficulties we’ve experienced.

    So luckily, this Mozilla gig looks like the ideal thing. I’m hoping it will ensure regular return visits to enjoy SuperHappyDevHouses, the scent of star jasmine in the summer, and amazing cloudless skies lasting for days.

    But, on the other hand—although I’m certainly not relishing the thought of readjusting to cold, clouds, and snow in a few months—I’m getting excited about the prospects of being back in southeastern Michigan. Our house will be pretty close to both Ann Arbor and Detroit, and it seems like some interesting things have started warming up since we left. Also, I suspect (and hope) we’ll discover a lot of friends and like-minded associates in short order upon our return.

    Lots of change. Very busy. Not a little exciting. But, I’m hopeful that things are going to get a lot better very soon.

  9. 00:53 twitter

    lmorchard: Oh noes. The web twitter is down.

    lmorchard: Oh noes. The web twitter is down.

  10. 2008 JAN 14

  11. 22:00 twitter

    lmorchard: @osunick Take not your anger out on the Mighty Mouse

    lmorchard: @osunick Take not your anger out on the Mighty Mouse
  12. 21:55 twitterfaves

    sparklebunny: Yes! The jig is up, we're moving to Michigan and into our adorable house: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missadroit/2493000246/

  13. 21:34 twitter

    lmorchard: @ebellis Yup, working for Mozilla, hoping to work partly from the home and partly from random places in Ann Arbor

    lmorchard: @ebellis Yup, working for Mozilla, hoping to work partly from the home and partly from random places in Ann Arbor
  14. 21:17 twitter

    lmorchard: Yes indeedy, moving back to Michigan in about 5 weeks. Been quiet about the plan for a bit, but now all the pieces are in place.

    lmorchard: Yes indeedy, moving back to Michigan in about 5 weeks. Been quiet about the plan for a bit, but now all the pieces are in place.
  15. 21:09 twitter

    lmorchard: So, like, we bought a house in Michigan: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missadroit/2493000246/

    lmorchard: So, like, we bought a house in Michigan: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missadroit/2493000246/
  16. 20:51 twitter

    lmorchard: @jchutchins But seriously, give a shout out if you need help with code for that :)

    lmorchard: @jchutchins But seriously, give a shout out if you need help with code for that :)
  17. 20:29 twitter

    lmorchard: thanks @textism - "holy snapping arseholes" is my favorite phrase for the day

    lmorchard: thanks @textism - "holy snapping arseholes" is my favorite phrase for the day
  18. 18:42 twitter

    lmorchard: @rstevens TIE CUPCAKE TO HEAD. (sounds like something I'd do in Zork)

    lmorchard: @rstevens TIE CUPCAKE TO HEAD. (sounds like something I'd do in Zork)
  19. 18:09 skein

    story pitch: “to reach the farthest star”

    So, I haven’t posted here in a long while, and what small bits of fiction I have written of late have appeared at Ficlets. But, I’m hoping to get more active here in the coming months.

    To kick that off a bit, I’ve got an idea for an episodic serial story that I’d like to eventually podcast—here’s a quick pitch:

    Working title: “To Reach the Farthest Star”

    Jack Arden is an internet billionaire who’s been in the right places at the right times as a software architect and entrepreneur. He’s had a hand in some of the most brilliant rising stars and flamboyant failures of the last 20 years of the web.

    But, today, Jack turns 35 and plans to retire from that life to pursue his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut.

    Unlike most children who’ve had that same dream, Jack has spent the last decade training and conditioning himself while quietly funding and directing research to make his fantasy of private spaceflight a reality.

    And finally, as Jack prepares to step away from some of the most lucrative terrestrial opportunities of his charmed life, a way to the stars opens before him.

    As these things usually go, however, neither his training nor his lifelong obsession with science fiction have left him fully prepared for this journey and its strange destination.

    …and that’s it so far. The title’s up in the air, and the premise is a bit melodramatic - but I’m hoping to write something with a bit of a good old junky scifi pulp feel. I’ve got lots of ideas, and I’m idly working on a bible for a dozen or so stories. Let me know what you think of the pitch, oh hypothetical readers. :)

  20. 06:02 twitter

    lmorchard: hey wow - XBMC for OS X with an Apple Remote is pretty keen

    lmorchard: hey wow - XBMC for OS X with an Apple Remote is pretty keen
  21. 05:55 bucket

    bucket for 2008-05-13

      • Someday, I'm going to explain what this bucket is about. Prerequisite to that is figuring out what it's about. A few quick notions, though:

      • I keep thinking I want a Psion PDA. They seem to have nice workable keyboards. I miss my 8086 palmtop with Microsoft Works and a sunlight-viewable greyscale screen.

        • This ties into my persistent Golden Age vision of writing at a picnic table in the sun, which I haven't done since college. That palmtop was my enabler then.

      • Something else I want to do things with:

        • Google App Engine

      • Comments were working in Firefox. Just checked in Safari and found things broken there. Can't be bothered to try MSIE yet.

      • To emphasize the notional units here, I've tried especially styling first-level bullets. I can't remember if MSIE is happy with this particular CSS selector yet. If not, tough.

      • Tagging per bullet or line in this thing would be interesting at some point, too.

        • I'd like to be able to search for and possibly re-aggregate bullets by tag.

      /* vim: set formatoptions=l lbr syntax=mkd columns=94 lines=64: */

  22. 05:54 delicious

    Book and Volume by Nick Montfort

    "On the plus side the growing realization that something odd is definitely going on is well done."

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...
  23. 05:53 twitter

    lmorchard: just finished playing Book and Volume... odd text adventure experience on a phone

    lmorchard: just finished playing Book and Volume... odd text adventure experience on a phone
  24. 00:23 twitter

    lmorchard: walked to dentist office, a lil under a mile. weather getting hot makes me happy. it's like what potpourri wishes it could be.

    lmorchard: walked to dentist office, a lil under a mile. weather getting hot makes me happy. it's like what potpourri wishes it could be.

  25. 2008 JAN 13

  26. 20:54 delicious

    echovar » Blog Archive » A Venezuelan Moment: The Gillmor Gang considers nationalizing Twitter

    "The idea of building competitors to Twitter on the same platform, or redistributing Twitter to multiple players reminds me of the idea that New York City should be rebuilt in Ohio because it would be cheaper."

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...
  27. 20:51 delicious

    ITworld.com - Coping with RSI -- a field report

    "So, here I am typing - yes typing with my fingers! Back in February I wrote about the onset of my RSI. This article is by way of a follow-up."

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...
  28. 20:34 delicious

    an IRC client in 40 lines of shell script

    "Unfortunately, the only programming language I could find is sh, and there don't seem to be any IRC clients."

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...
  29. 19:09 delicious

    Einstein writes of 'childish superstition'

    "The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...
  30. 18:40 twitter

    lmorchard: considering replacing 2 of 3 bus ride legs with a bike on thursday

    lmorchard: considering replacing 2 of 3 bus ride legs with a bike on thursday
  31. 16:37 twitter

    lmorchard: @jchutchins Ah, "7thson" (no space) worked :)

    lmorchard: @jchutchins Ah, "7thson" (no space) worked :)
  32. 16:36 twitter

    lmorchard: @jchutchins I got a message saying "There is no fanlist for artist '7th'. Please try again."

    lmorchard: @jchutchins I got a message saying "There is no fanlist for artist '7th'. Please try again."
  33. 07:42 twitter

    lmorchard: okay, far past time for sleep.

    lmorchard: okay, far past time for sleep.
  34. 07:37 twitter

    lmorchard: finally watched The Golden Compass, the movie. adored the books. great visuals, but the movie just didn't stand a chance cramming it all in.

    lmorchard: finally watched The Golden Compass, the movie. adored the books. great visuals, but the movie just didn't stand a chance cramming it all in.
  35. 05:44 twitterfaves

    joshu: Wow. I just chased a guy down through the GTA version of my old office building in NYC. Awesome.

  36. 03:31 twitter

    lmorchard: @peculiaire ugh, that's unfortunate - only been there once, but keep wanting to go back

    lmorchard: @peculiaire ugh, that's unfortunate - only been there once, but keep wanting to go back
  37. 02:22 twitter

    lmorchard: and by living in the future, I mean the future I envisioned when I was 10 and started playing text adventures on a c64

    lmorchard: and by living in the future, I mean the future I envisioned when I was 10 and started playing text adventures on a c64
  38. 02:20 twitter

    lmorchard: downloaded a text adventure (book and volume) to phone on bus and started playing, per @bkerr recommendation. this is living in the future.

    lmorchard: downloaded a text adventure (book and volume) to phone on bus and started playing, per @bkerr recommendation. this is living in the future.
  39. 01:53 digg

    The Cast of Seinfield Playing Dungeons and Dragons [COMIC]

    What happens with the folks from Seinfield play D & D one day...
  40. 00:59 twitter

    lmorchard: new bus commute for moz up to 1.5 hr versus .5 hr to y! yet, i'm not so bothered: more time for podcasts and text adventures on centro

    lmorchard: new bus commute for moz up to 1.5 hr versus .5 hr to y! yet, i'm not so bothered: more time for podcasts and text adventures on centro
  41. 00:46 twitter

    lmorchard: taking the bus back home. for @chetwah - half the ride is in fact on a short bus :)

    lmorchard: taking the bus back home. for @chetwah - half the ride is in fact on a short bus :)
  42. 00:46 twitter

    lmorchard: taking the bus back home. for @chetwah - half the ride is in fact on a short bus :)

    lmorchard: taking the bus back home. for @chetwah - half the ride is in fact on a short bus :)

  43. 2008 JAN 12

  44. 21:18 twitter

    lmorchard: @josephgrossberg Oh, exactly: I've got like 20 folders in order of priority I've accumulated over years. Some days I only hit the top 2-5

    lmorchard: @josephgrossberg Oh, exactly: I've got like 20 folders in order of priority I've accumulated over years. Some days I only hit the top 2-5
  45. 21:13 twitter

    lmorchard: @josephgrossberg Yeah... though if it makes you feel better, I have 15482 unread feed items right now that I'll mark read in about 3 hours.

    lmorchard: @josephgrossberg Yeah... though if it makes you feel better, I have 15482 unread feed items right now that I'll mark read in about 3 hours.
  46. 21:05 twitterfaves

    billmerrill: gaius gĪ-əs verb, To exagerate or lie when confronted or asked to explain. To fabricate a story or explaination. To bluff. (@bkerr, 2008)

  47. 21:02 twitter

    lmorchard: @josephgrossberg Declare feed bankruptcy early and often - if it was important, someone else in the echo chamber will repeat it :)

    lmorchard: @josephgrossberg Declare feed bankruptcy early and often - if it was important, someone else in the echo chamber will repeat it :)
  48. 18:30 delicious

    FoodFeed - What are you eating?

    "Post your updates at the format: @having eggs and bacon"

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...
  49. 18:28 twitter

    lmorchard: rode the bus to work, but I'm drinking pod-based coffee

    lmorchard: rode the bus to work, but I'm drinking pod-based coffee
  50. 18:21 delicious

    Becuase it's just the thing to do when you win a "World of Warcraft" tournament.

  51. 18:12 twitter

    lmorchard: having pushed my bucket to my site, I count more than 7 blogs I've started subsequently neglected. http://decafbad.com/bucket/

    lmorchard: having pushed my bucket to my site, I count more than 7 blogs I've started subsequently neglected. http://decafbad.com/bucket/
  52. 18:09 twitter

    lmorchard: @dreid can you implement that into the framework? eod plz thx

    lmorchard: @dreid can you implement that into the framework? eod plz thx
  53. 18:05 twitterfaves

    blaine: Seriously, people. My post isn't about Twitter. You want news? Follow @jack. :-D

  54. 17:57 delicious

    Arcanum Walkthrough: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

    If only I could get this running with VMWare. Seems to hate my mouse under OS X.

    del.icio.us bookmark this on del.icio.us - posted by deusx to - more about this bookmark...

Wow. You actually made it all the way down to the footer. I guess that means I should really think about putting something worthwhile down here, huh? Got any ideas? What did you expect to see here? Drop me an email!