MarcFriedenberg.com

Even though it won’t run OS X, I still think that this idea really kicks some ass. One for every middle and high-school student in Massachusetts? Unbelievable.

I’m debating with myself how much of this site I should host myself versus host at other sites that “specialize” in a particular type of content. Currently I’ve got my Schedule posted on LionSchedules, my Wishlist posted on Amazon, a Facebook profile on, well, thefacebook, and Links on del.icio.us. I even host my Photo Gallery with Gallery, rather than a custom tool I created earlier. Last but not least, I’m using WordPress to power this entire site, rather than the handcoding I was doing before.

The benefits of using these other sites/tools are many. First and foremost, I don’t have to create or maintain any homegrown applications. The downside, though, is that I don’t have as much of an opportunity to flex my PHP/mySQL muscle, which is potentially pretty important for what is ultimately an e-portfolio. That being said, it does seem redundant to continually “roll my own” when more complete tools already exist. Perhaps potential employers might even appreciate the fact that I’ve been able to integrate a number of tools and have efficiently created a site in a few weeks that would otherwise have taken months or more.

Still, I have given up a little bit of control, and I never like doing that.

What’s the point of the button mid-way up the forearm on many dress shirts? Is it designed to be opened so that you can dramatically reveal a snake stored up your sleeve?

If you want to apply to law schools using LSDAS, you better have access to a Windows computer. The site requires plug-ins that don’t work on the Mac. Lame.

For many months now I’ve been hearing all sorts of buzz about Flickr, the online photo sharing site, but I’m not sure what the big deal is. From what I can tell, it’s pretty basic. Yeah, it allows you (or the whole world) to add tags to pictures, but I don’t get much of a thrill out of that. If I’m looking for something as a replacement to the Gallery installation I’m currently maintaining, what does Flickr offer me?

Next Tuesday night is the first meeting of the year for the Penn State Mac User Group (PSUMUG). I’ll be humbly presiding over the meeting. I highly encourage all Penn State-based readers of this blog to check it out. Hell, even if you don’t go to Penn State, hop on a bus, train, or plane and enjoy free food while hearing about Mac news, tips and tricks, and the unveiling of a few big initiatives for the year.

When: Tuesday, September 20th, 2005 at 7:30 PM
Where: 109 Willard Building
Apple-related giveaways?: Yes

I’m currently forced to use Microsoft Access for a site I manage. As a Mac user, I’d really love to be able to access the data using a Web frontend, rather than downloading the MDB file on a Windows box, working with it there, and then re-uploading it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to do this?

I hesitate to use the word “blessed,” but lately I’ve come to be really thankful for what I have in life. For all the complaining and stressing out I might do over homework, law school applications, and the like, there’s no disputing how great it is to have been born in America, with my family, my health, Becky, and a limitless future. It’s nice to step back sometimes and really evaluate where I am.

A Hasidic reggae artist.

All but one class has started, and my gut feeling at this point is that it should be a pretty awesome semester. I have a manageable workload, I’m taking classes I’m interested in, and my professors seem like they really know what they’re doing. I’m also continuing at the Solutions Institute, where I feel like a wily veteran. Thesis work is starting ASAP, and the MUG’s first meeting is September 20.