Archive for October, 2008
Late night web tinkering…
On October 03, 2008 in Announcements, JapanLabs, Nerd Rant
(nerd post)
I wrote this after staying up way too late (something I very rarely do), so it’s not Shakespeare.
I exported the files from the old Official Nipponster Blog (blogger) to a new wordpress I am working on.
The new wordpress installation is for a new Nipponster Laboratory. This one will give me a place to showcase new experiments and will link to the Nipponster group on JapanLabs.org (more info) to allow users to discuss the experiments.
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Exporting the blog from blogger.com to wordpress was not easy but I managed. But then I noticed that some of the videos and other media didn’t export… 
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The labs site’s theme is very minimalist. That was on purpose. I like simple (like Craigslist). I might customise it a bit later. But I need to create a better logo for Nipponster first.
Youtube videos! In honor of the technically-challenged and the tireless techies who support them
On October 03, 2008 in Nerd Rant
This may be my first completely non-Japan-related post ever. It was prompted by a youtube video that was just like an experience I had once at work.
I’ve worked with many less technically inclined people over the years and have had to help them with their websites, computers, and equipment. If you’ve ever done something similar the following might be familiar.
Pattern 1:
It never fails that something goes wrong due to something stupid they have done (and they will never admit any guilt) and yet they get upset with you about it.
You are mesmerised by their amazing level of ignorance and simultaneously furious about the stupid thing they’ve just done. Then you step in and save the day.
Pattern 2 (the Dilbert Effect):
Your boss/client, who can figure out how to turn on his computer on a good day, comes to you with some sort of suggestion that is completely stupid. Maybe even beyond stupid. It goes contrary to anything that could possibly be useful, efficient, or effective. That’s right, it would take a massive amount of time, energy, and resources to complete and be totally useless once completed. But that is the boss’s suggestion.
I’m no managerial genius but it seems to me that asking the person, who understands how the technical things work, whether or not something is a good idea might be a good idea!!
So then, you as the techie, have two choices. One, explain to the boss (who probably won’t understand unless you draw it in crayon) that he is an idiot and his suggestion is the stupidest thing you have ever heard. Or two, do the stupid idea, watch it fail miserably, watch the boss deny responsibility and shift it to you, then go and fix it the way it should have been done (or just quit).
Anyway, enough rant. Here are the videos!.
(sadly, I had to teach someone to do the same thing just last week. 
j/k)
(the part where he talks to Beth is hilarious)
Busy, busy, busy
On October 02, 2008 in On the J-web
I’ve been off catching up with conversations here and there, on other blogs and JapanSoc. So just a quick post today.
As some already know, JapanBlogger.net had technical problems and is down
I hope Billy will be able to rebuild it soon
JLPT not worth it? Rather likely. And All Japanese All The Time
On October 01, 2008 in Interviews we'd like to do, On the J-web, Resources
As a hater of standardised testing this post on AllJapaneseAllTheTime about the JLPT makes a lot sense.
Khatzu is another amazing writer (like yesterday’s firefly). I’ve always liked Khatzu’s blog but haven’t spent as much time on it as I probably should (I wish I had 48hrs in a day. Of course, I’d only give you 24 
), so I thought I’d make up for that with a little post.
My favourite part of the post is that is a really cool rant (which I’m also known for. ok, maybe mine aren’t as cool) and at the same time very informative.
Khatzu, if you are reading, keep up the great work!
