Force Gmail to Connect Using HTTPS

From the Official Gmail Blog:

We've added an option to Settings to always use https. If you don't regularly log in via unencrypted wireless connections at coffee shops or airports or college dorms, then you might not need this additional layer of security. But if you want to always use https, then this setting makes it super easy. Whenever you forget to type https://mail.google.com, we'll add the https for you. If you already have the https URL bookmarked, using this setting will ensure you access your account via https even when you don't use your bookmark. Any http link to Gmail (for example, the one at the top of Google.com) will be automatically redirected to https."

Home Economics

Jamie Lee Curtis:

"I am glad that I was given these skills as part of a basic, public school education. I want that for all children. So that whether they end up a political leader, scientist, teacher, artist or homemaker they all are given the best education possible so that they can develop their God given talents and abilities and flourish and thrive as adults."

I love to cook and I believe that sharing good food is an absolutely vital aspect of the human experience. It's a travesty that so many children in this country are being raised by parents who couldn't even put together a good casserole if their life depended on it.

Read the original article (The Huffington Post).

iPhone Game Delisted Due To Security Concerns

"...because it's pretty much unfeasible to test each application to make sure they're not sending out your private data."

How exactly is it unfeasible for a company like apple to test the functionality of software written for their proprietary device in a proprietary development environment? They control the horizontal and they control the vertical. They chose to make themselves responsible when they decided to make the app store the only way to legitimately ship iPhone software and they screwed up letting this slip through.

Read the original article on Gizmodo.

Honest Music Consumers Get Screwed Again (and Again)

And the RIAA wonders why people steal music. From the YAHOO! email:

After September 30, 2008, you will not be able to transfer songs to unauthorized computers or re-license these songs after changing operating systems. Please note that your purchased tracks will generally continue to play on your existing authorized computers unless there is a change to the computer's operating system.

(Via Read Write Web)

Older Than Dirt

So I turned thirty last week. Not exactly an event I wanted to announce from the rooftops (so instead I write about it on the internet?), but it beats the alternative. A few friends came out to celebrate and it was quite nice even though I caught a massive amount of flak for drinking Patrón on the rocks (with fresh lime of course — it's so good when it hits your lips). I do have a tendency to "dish it out" more than I "take it" so it was probably justified.

Oh, and the wedding went well. Not quite as planned, though I received nary a death threat and even a few compliments on the service so it must not have been too painful for those who attended. Even after years of performing both in small-time garage bands and in the theater, it was definitely the most nerve-racking experience of my life. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. McKinney (I did my best)!

I Now Pronounce You...

At one o'clock today I'm officiating my friends Ian and Heather's wedding. I've got my little speech written and I'm pretty sure all our paperwork is in order. Should be fun and it is definitely going to be interesting!

Tell Me How You Really Feel About The New Google Favicon

Isaac Schlueter of Foo Hack has devised a strategy for reinstating the original Google favicon using a local apache proxy server. Personally I think visual identity has always been a weak spot for Google and the new icon really doesn't bother me much anyway (I tend to look at tab titles mostly and Safari doesn't even show favicons on tabs). Still, I have to admire him for doing something proactive and not just whining about it.