Software typos

Today as I was happily working in Apple's Interface Builder working on some software, an error message came up that made me laugh. You can definitely tell that it never got proofread as it refers to a "header filer" instead of a header file. For your amusement, here's the error:

Training with the Garmin Forerunner 305

It's now been over 4 months since I started using my Garmin Forerunner 305 to train for the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon. I managed to complete the marathon and am now training for a half marathon. At first, the Forerunner was more of a gimmick in helping me train, but now it is integrated into my training. I use the current pace to see where I should be at based on how I feel. By now, I know the distance on most of my runs, so while the total distance initially helped me, it is more now just telling me how much longer until the pain stops! I'm also very interested in my heart rate, so uploading my data to MotionBased allows me to see how I'm doing in trying to bring down my heartrate.

Unlike some others, I've had no problems with the unit and use it 4 days a week. It is an excellent training aid, even for the beginner. I know I'm a geek, but without this gadget, I'm not sure that I would have been able to complete a marathon and I don't think running would be so enjoyable.

Why an alcohol ban?

One of the hot topics in San Diego (at least at the beach according to the media) is the proposed alcohol ban at the beaches. Proponents say that it will cut down on rowdiness and make the beach more family oriented. At first I thought it was a good idea (I don't drink as I don't like the taste of alcohol), so it wouldn't negatively affect me. However, after thinking about it for a bit on my run this morning at the beach, it seems like the wrong thing to do. If the city wanted to clean up the beaches, it should enforce the laws already on the books, such as public intoxication, disorderly conduct, alcohol along the seawall, etc. There seem to be plenty of laws that would already help, but they're a little harder to spot. Alcohol is easy to spot...look for case of beer in someone's hand.

Laws just don't seem to be enforced at the beach such as littering (smoking and then flicking ashes is littering), dogs off leash, dogs on leash during hours they shouldn't be there, failure of cars to yield to pedestrians (not right at the beach, but near the beach), etc. Just what we need, another law that won't be enforced.

You work with computers? Can you help me with my problem?

This is one of the most common phrases I've heard in my career when I tell people that I write software. For awhile, I was going to say that I designed and manufactured toilets it was getting so bad. Why do people think that just because I write software, I know how to fix someone's wacky computer problem? I have enough problems of my own keeping my computers running. To top it off, if I say I write Macintosh software, people are in awe and without fail have a Mac with some obscure problem. If I wanted to fix computers for a living, I would be a consultant and save the day, but I'm not a people person and frankly, I don't like computers all the time.