Lucky Firefox!

---

Some folks were discussing the application of the "ribbon" to firefox the other day.
More on that here.

One thing that came out was the notion that the ribbon is a tool best suited to document production.

If that's the case, and I am in no position to doubt it, please can UI designers allow us to move it to the side.

The screenshot graphically demonstrates the problem I have on my 11" widescreen laptop. The ribbon eats valuable height for lunch, while two whole football pitches of space exist at the side of my document.

I could probably get more buttons into that space than I would ever need, and I'd get the height back.

---

Stepping down

---

Today I indicated to the Apache James project management committee (PMC) my intention to step down after managing the process of electing a successor.

I'm very proud to be associated with The ASF and the James project, and even more proud still to have served as the project's second chairperson, and wish my successor all the luck in the world.

I also took the opportunity to stand down from the Jakarta PMC, another project I am immeasurably proud to be associated with, which I haven't contributed a meaningful iota to for a couple of years other than to clog up their decision making process a tiny bit.

So it seems like an appropriate moment to pause and reflect nostalgic-ly on the times shared, the problems solved, the achievements and the failures, friends made and lost, arguments lost and won, flame-wars, troll-baiting and so on.

But I can't be bothered with all that! And to be honest I'm looking forward to a refreshing lack of commitment, no more nagging guilt at not making enough time, and above all the chance to pick and choose how and when I contribute in an arbitrary and selfish way once again.

I hope that this means that I can spend what little time I do have poking about in code, (I have long envied those who have time to experiment in the labs), arguing with my peers and not trying too hard to keep up with mailing lists.

---

Load Balancing Apache httpd 2

---

Yes.. hear it here last!
I've been telling everyone I meet about JimJag's stupendous presentation at Apachecon US 08, in which he showed us, in glorious detail, how to use mod_proxy properly and mod_proxy_balancer.

I was impressed, and so have those who've also seen the slides.

Now its your chance, I recommend reading Jim's slides here.

If you have real life experience of using mod_proxy_balancer, let us know if he oversold it, or if it rocks your world. I *still* haven't had time to use it in for real yet.

---

Father Spodo Kommodo

---

Eternal Thanks are due to this site for reproducing the list of names that Mrs Doyle guesses in Father Ted (possibly the best comedy every to have been shown anywhere in the multiverse) , in the episode I have come to know as the "Father Spodo Kommodo" episode!

That List in full then..

Fr. Andy Riley,
Fr. Desmond Coyle,
Fr. George Byrne,
Fr. David Nicholson,
Fr. Declan Lynch,
Fr. Ken Sweeney,
Fr. Neil Hannon,
Fr. Keith Cullen,
Fr. Ciaran Donnelly,
Fr. Mick McEvoy,
Fr. Jack White,
Fr. Henry Bigbigging,
Fr. Hank Tree,
Fr. Hiroshima Twinkie,
Fr. Stick Bubblecart,
Fr. Johnny Hellzapoppin' ,
Fr. Luke Duke,
Fr. Billy Ferry,
Fr. Chewy Louie,
Fr. John Hoop,
Fr. Hairy Cakelinum,
Fr. Ebula Conundrum,
Fr. Peewee Stairmaster,
Fr. Tight Head Lips,
Fr. Jemima Racktouey,
Fr. Jerry Twig,
Fr. Spodo Komodo,
and of course Fr. Canabrana Lammer.

---

Get this thing to market.. NOW please, I'll buy one!

---

In the many years between the Mongolfier brothers and the Wright brothers people speculated about a world with aeroplanes, inventors fell over each other in an effort to make this world a reality. People waited for an invention that, although seemingly impossible and often dismissed as fantasy, they felt was inevitable.

The inventors succeeded, and in the century that has passed their work has indeed transformed the world.

So let me introduce you to the invention I'm waiting for, and I'm sure you are too.

Wireless power transmission.

First I want to clear my home of power cables, but why don't you take some time to imagine what else will be possible.

Its easy to dismiss this idea as impossible, reasoning that anyone who stood between power source and destination would be zapped by all that power, but seemingly not so.

Here are two articles from the BBC, the first[1], from 2006, talks about research into a possible means of transmitting power without wires, the second[2], from earlier this year, demonstrates a working prototype.

Hurry up Witricity the world is a-waiting, and when I get one there'll be an award in it for you.

[1]Physics promises wireless power
[2]Wireless power system shown off

---

Best error message of the [specify timeperiod]

---

I suppose the svn logs would allow us to discover exactly who should get the credit for this, but this morning I was privileged to witness the first application error message ever to offer me any signs of shame or contrition.

Vista had summarily decided to die during the night, which it does now and again and I think is just an excuse for installing the updates that I've *chosen* to not bother with for now, and when I restarted firefox it showed me the error captured below.

By contrast see the second image, which represents the way we are more usually treated.

Mozilla Dude, whoever you are, have an award for expressing your human emotion, and making me feel valued in the teeth of failure. I hope you start a trend.

(this isn't my screenshot I found it here, but its the same screen)



And now the shamless norm..

---