NorthStarNerd.Org

Tracks Web Site Changes

Every wish you could easily track changes on a web site that does NOT have RSS? How often do you bookmark web sites which you like, but then rarely revisit? What if you could be automatically informed when new content appeared? The option to track changes now exists via Google Reader. Thus, using the same tool where one tracks RSS feeds, you may now track web page changes. The process is simple ... just copy the url of the page you wish to track, and then click "add a subscription". (read the official Google Reader service announcement). (see my screenshot examples)

I did find it difficult to track individual pages on sites where a RSS feed already exists. After posting a question of the Google Forum, I was referred to the Change Detection Service.

I'm already using the new capability to track changes on the following web sites ... none of which have RSS:

• Academic Earth (engineering courses)
• Berkeley Wireless Research
• SkinnySki.Com (Nordic Skiing!)
• Stanford Seminars
• Siemens Control Products
• UC San Diego Wireless
• Virginia Tech Wireless

Here is an example from my Google Reader account. Click to view full sized.

Birkie Tour

Yesterday Molly and I had the privilege of being "founding skiers" of the first Birkie Tour. The idea is simple ... The American Birkebeiner folks sponsor a relaxed day of touring on the course with aide stations, and food at the Fish Hatchery near Hayward. Yesterday's event was shortened to 44 km due to the impending rain. My wife told me the skating conditions were great, but classic was ugly! I had fun, but six attempts at rewaxing out on the trail never achieved the ultimate combination of hard  purple, yellow and klister to combat the icy tracks which had all kinds of pine needles and other debris. However, I didn't talk to any other classic skiers who had better luck. Anyhow, here are some photos and Garmin data from the Birkie Tour. The photos were taken with my GoPro wide angle lens camera (head mount). To see additional "ski cam man" photos link to MinnSki section!

Click upon the Garmin data to view full sized.

The Mamma Mia Factor!

The New York Times has published some great research (interactive chart) which let's one compare different slices of America ... and I've looked into the Mamma Mia Factor! You see ... using the NY Times interactive web tool, I was able to examine and view which zip codes areas / neighborhoods watched the movie Mama Mia ... and how they ranked in term's of that film's rental demand! Thus I give you the Mama Mia factor for:

• Google
• Harlem
• Microsoft
• the Northstar Nerd's neighborhood (me!)
• the White House
• Wayzata (upscale Minneapolis suburb)

Here is the NY Time's review of Mama Mia. I chose this movie as it has no heavy message ... just fun! Click upon any image to view it full sized.

Quote from NY Time's Review of Mama Mia:

"Even those of us who habitually favor serious, austere, aesthetically correct drinks — single-malt Scotch, green tea, pomegranate juice, whatever — may occasionally indulge in a frivolous cocktail bedecked with fruit and umbrellas and served in a bulbous, sugar-rimmed glass. The next morning’s headache seems a small price to pay for the rush of cheap liquor and uninhibited conviviality. As long as you don’t operate heavy machinery or wake up in the wrong bed, or operate heavy machinery in the wrong bed, what’s the harm?"

Thus, what could be more interesting that to compare how the neighborhoods around the White House, Google, Microsoft, my own neighborhood (inner ring suburb) and a ritzy suburb (Wayzata) compared via the Mamma Mia Factor?!

I'll let you examine the Mamma Mia Factor results and ask your own heavy questions, but consider ... why does Mamma Mia rank 18th in Google's neighborhood, and not ever show up in the White House's top 100?! Please note that when using the NY Times tool, one may examine by zip code any of the top one hundred videos rated via Netflix.

A low score indicates high popularity. Click upon any image to view full sized.

Google - Mamma Mia score: 18

 

Harlem - Mamma Mia score: 34

Microsoft - Mamma Mia score: 21

Northstar Nerd (New Hope, Minnesota) - Mamma Mia score: 33

Wayzata, Minnesota (swank Minneapolis suburb) - Mamma Mia score: 21

the White House - Mamma Mia score: null

Skiing Outside the Tracks .. The Birkie and O'Reilly Ignite

It's hard to imagine what the American Birkebeiner and the O'Reilly Ignite Conference could have in common. On the surface ...

• The Birkie is America's premier cross-country skiing marathon
• O'Reilly Ignite is a conference that sets the tone for innovation

The similarity rests with the Northstar Nerd. I'm working with some folks in Minnesota to host a local version of Global Ignite Week in early March. Even if your geographic area does not hold a local conference, you need to learn about Ignite. We always challenge people to "think outside the box". Consider for a moment the number of boring presentations you've watched in your life. Ignite requires that no presentation last more than 5 minutes, and each slide MUST advance every 15 seconds. Thus, the probability of Death by Powerpoint is significantly reduced. At the end of five minutes a presentation is over. Presenters are yanked off the stage!

If a message can not be delivered in five minutes, is the message really understandable? Do your corporate presentations really need 10 point font bullets? Would you be willing to hold an internal meeting based upon this premise (5 minutes | 15 seconds per slide)? These are intriguing questions. I've attended many unconferences. There is no reason corporate presentations could not follow some of the innovations found via Ignite and Barcamps.

Okay, if you're wondering how the American Birkebeiner relates to Ignite, I decided to create my own Ignite style of presentation. For better or worse, I give you Skiing Outside the Tracks (YouTube Link). Innovation in the guise of the Birkie Tour. Given the fact that most Nordic skiers will never actually win a race, the Birkebeiner has created a new kind of "marathon", the Birkie Tour. The idea seems simple; innovation often is!

If you like the concept of Ignite, and can't attend .. you may wish to watch past presentations via Ignite's YouTube Channel. The upcoming event in March will also be webcast.  You may even learn how to be a better Scrabble player!

The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery

One of the RSS feeds to which I subscribe is eScience from Microsoft. Although many posts have intrigued me, today I hit pay dirt! Microsoft Research has published a new book (free download), The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery. Why my excitement? Read this description from the Microsoft web site:

"The speed at which any given scientific discipline advances will depend on how well its researchers collaborate with one another, and with technologists, in areas of eScience such as databases, workflow management, visualization, and cloud computing technologies."

As many of you know, I manage internal collaboration projects for my company. My download is in progress right now ... I have my reading cut out for me!

You will also find a link on the Microsoft Research site to their technical collaboration projects.