Spazsquatch.com

• Web Design Inspiration - a photoset on Flickr
  A Flickr set of great website designs
  (tags: webdesign design)

• Baby massage
  Illustrated guide to some baby massage techniques.
  (tags: massage baby)

• Musings from Mars » Ajax/DHTML Library Scorecard:How Cross Platform Are They?
  The best side-by-side-by-side comparison of all the AJAX toolkits that exist, updated frequently.
  (tags: development ajax javascript reviews)
• The Money Mammals - Share and Save and Spend Smart Too!
  Signing and dancing puppets teach your kids about money.
  (tags: kidstuff)

This afternoon Michael pointed out Apple’s replacement plan for their “exploding” batteries.

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Apple to arrange for a replacement battery, free of charge. After removing the recalled battery from their iBook or PowerBook, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.

[via http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06245.html]

WTF?!?

Apple’s solution for their customers is to keep their laptops plugged in until Apple gets around to sending a replacement battery. What an incredible load of horse pucky. The source of my frustration of course is that both Shelley’s and my own iBook have batteries with serial numbers in the “grenade” range.

I’m flabbergasted that this would be considered an acceptable solution by Apple. If I didn’t need/want portability in my computer, I would not have paid the premium for a portable computer. Why would anyone think customers of portable computers would find it acceptable (or even possible) to land lock their computers for the next couple of weeks.

I’m hoping that Apple will see the error behind this policy and come up with a more customer friendly solution in the next week. Then again as of tonight there does not seem to be much in the way of complaints about the recall on Technorati.

** UPDATE ** As Mike pointed out almost immediately in an email, it is possible to have a battery sent to you before sending Apple yours. Granted the “Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries immediately” line isn’t the most comforting thing, but at least it’s possible.

https://support.apple.com/ibook_powerbook/batteryexchange/

It seems there is a conflicting message on the page. While it says “After removing the recalled battery from the iBook or PowerBook, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.” the FAQ says “A. No, Apple will send you the replacement battery first and then you will send Apple the recalled battery. “. So it seems you can do a cross ship if you ask.

• Ricky’s Web Review » Blog Archive » Windows XP Multiuser Remote Desktop
  A hack to allow two remote users on Remote Desktop.
  (tags: windows hacks)

• Rapid Application Development with Mozilla
  First chapter and some additional links to “Rapid Application Development with Mozilla!”
  (tags: xul books reference)

An email from a friend.

Ok this is kind of silly. A friend and I entered this tshirt design contest, and one of our entries was selected as a finalist. The winner is based on votes by readers, so if you have a second, please cast a vote for me.

here are the entries - not sure why but they really pixellated my entry - oh well
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/treehugger_tshi_7.php

here’s where you vote
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/treehugger_tshi_6.php#perma

Now I’m not suggesting you just blindly go and vote for her design, that would be unethical. Look over the designs and if your favorite design happens to be Jenney’s then give her a vote. If not, close you browser and move along.

Jealous Animals is a microsite put up by the Toronto Zoo that I just happened upon when I was drawn in by the banner below.

Which reminded me of the classic Detroit Zoo ad that aired back in the 80’s.

• Mizuno’s Super Airbrush PP Tutorial! (56K Warning) - Canon Digital Photography Forums
  Tutorial on cleaning up skin tones for glamor pics.
  (tags: photography photoshop art)
• How-To: Wiring VoIP to your phone jacks - Engadget
  Wire your home phone jacks to use your VOIP connection.
  (tags: tutorial reference hacks)

• Planet Tutorial
  A nifty little tutorial for all those times when you’ve said, “Could you add a little more planet to that design.”
  (tags: design art tutorial)