Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Last night I started using geni.com. It's really an incredible website for geneology. It provides a very simple but powerful interface which enables you to create and organize your family tree information. I was surprised at how polished it feels—not only did everything function correctly but it also looked visually perfect. The Flash interface provides some usability problems because, for example, scrollbars and scrolling don't behave like regular scrollbars and scrolling, but it's a small price to pay for what you get back in return. Chatted with Tina and Patrick. Usual oatmeal breakfast. Resuming my work with BurnAgain FS from yesterday, I copy the new files I want to add to the DVD to the temporary folder. I erase the DVD using Disk Utility. I burn the contents of the temporary folder to the DVD using BurnAgain FS 1.0.1. Result: "BurnAgain FS: Error during burn! The DVD burn aborted with an error. (OK)" Okay, fine. BurnAgain FS beta 1.0.1 is not yet stable. I thought I would erase the disk with Disk Utility and reburn it the old-fashioned way (without BurnAgain FS), but when I try, I receive the following error message: "Optical Erase failed. Erase of optical media did not complete or completed with an error. See the DiscRecording log file, ~/Library/Logs/DiscRecording.log, for additional information." I look at the log file and it says, "Erase error: 0x80020040 One of the volumes on the media is still in use." I could find no other applications using it. I attempt to eject the disc, and I receive the following error message: "The disk, 'external' is in use and could not be ejected. Try quitting applications and try again. (OK)" Waited until I could restart the computer and hold the mouse button while it starts so that the disc is ejected. Logged back in, successfully erased using Disk Utility, then successfully burned using Burn. Sent Cindy's poster project to DMM. They turned around a "proof" very quickly, and I approved. It's in the queue. Listserv management: tweaked so that Sue A can post to our unit's mailing list. Wiki review and followup for Reviewed Flickr RSS feeds that Eric D created. Telephone conference with Rob, Susie, and Eric. Scanned photos of recent graduate JB for Sue. Faxed authorizations for cardkey door locks to be installed to our computer lab and student lounge this summer. Eric, Susie, and I learned today that when we order a rush check from accounting that means 3+ weeks before it reaches the vendor. Who knew? Supplies ordering. Staff lunch in the work room: Cindy decided on an assortment of party platters from La Mediterranee, and they were very delicious. Lucia handled the ordering. Met with Cindy 1-on-1. FileZilla doesn't seem to work properly when run under a limited user account. When doing so, server settings you save disappear the next time you start FileZilla. Indexing is broken in Entourage, and I can't find anything! Grrr! I want to be able to say (in Darth Vader's voice), "Spotlight, you have failed me for the last time!" but I know it's not true. Dinner at Le Charm (415-546-6128, 315 Fifth Street, San Francisco, California, USA) with Jenny S, Jeremy, Tina, Nate, Chris, Patrick. Le Charm was very satisfying, and both food and service were excellent.