I’m still not happy with the actual app list that comes back; it’s still showing a few system apps but I wanted to get it out there.  I’m also very bad at graphic design, so for now it just has a cheezy icon.  If anyone wants to make me a nicer icon, let me know!  The app is called ShareMyApps; you can search for it or scan the enclosed QR code.

Update (v 0.8): I’ve already released an update; I found the magic flag I was looking for to filter out any apps that came on the original system image, so now it should only display apps that you have installed yourself.

Very quick background for non unix nerds- finger is a command to find out who is logged into a machine, to get their contact info, and to read their ‘Plan’, which is like a user’s status.  It was handy when working in the CS labs during college to see who was in the labs.

Anyway, I found a newsgroup post from the creator of finger talking about how and why he created it;  it’s an iteresting article in general, but what stuck out for me was the following:

Some people asked for the Plan file feature so that they could explain their absence or how they could be
reached at odd times, so I added it.  I found it interesting that this feature evolved into a forum for social commentary and amusing observations.

So, it turns out people were updating their status way back in the ’70s, and we’re now seeing the same sort of evolution (or devolution depending on who you ask) of away messages, statuses, and tweets.  Of course, status updates and tweets today are severely lacking in ascii art.

     _    ___  ____ ____
 ___ |\/\ |  \ |_ _\|_ _\
|___\|   \| . \  ||   ||
     |/v\/|/\_/  |/   |/
 ___________________          _-_
 \==============_=_/ ____.---'---`---.____
             \_ \    \----._________.----/
               \ \   /  /    `-_-'
           __,--`.`-'..'-_
          /____          ||
               `--.____,-'

The decision making process used when deciding whether to dress for warm or cool weather during Spring and Autumn in Rochester, New York due to the swings in temperature during those seasons.

Usage Example:

Person 1: “Why are you wearing shorts and a t-shirt?  It’s only 45° outiside?”
Person 2: “I played Rochester roulette this morning and lost.”

View Larger Map

If you zoom in, you’ll see that the times when I was indoors for long periods of time it gets really jumpy; all things considered, I think it’s working pretty well.  Maybe in the future I’ll post more interesting/useful maps

Starbucks goes (RED).

Join us for World AIDS Day. On Dec 1, buy any hand-crafted beverage and we’ll give 5¢ to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa.

5¢ is better than nothing; but really, this campaign will help Starbucks more than it will help AIDS research-  maybe a better campaign would be the following:

On Dec 1, skip Starbucks, and give the $5 you would spend there to the Global Fund to help save lives in Africa

Here’s the link where you can donate: http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/donate/

The good news is, you can donate right here- plus, many employers will match gifts made to non profits (West does this, contact me or check out thePoint if you want to know how).