This evening Lisa and I geeked out at Ooh La Latte, the new coffeeshop attached to Untidy Museum. It is the perfect place! Nice space, good people, lots of comfy chairs and free wireless net access. If they served snacks besides baked goods I'd never leave. (I'm not nearly so strict about carbs anymore, but I still don't eat white flour or sugar on a regular basis.)
We both brought our Powerbook laptops, they were so cute together! We were like an ad for Apple. In fact one of the guys who worked there came over and asked us about our computers. He was excited to find out that Lisa's (17", woo hoo) is a refurb and how much less expensive they are.
Lisa brought me her cams and I did a trial run. It was a full-on trial: computer running off battery, net access through the cell phone, uploading cam images once a minute to my website. In terms of equipment it was exactly like parade webcasting. The only difference is that while driving in parades, I'll have power for my computer from the car battery. (Can't power the phone because the data cable and power cable go into the same jack. No problem though, since I have the extra phone battery.)
The cam images were nice and sharp. I posted a typical shot to the photolog. In a nice bit of recursion, you can see the cam image on the screen of my laptop. You can also see what a nifty space Ooh La Latte is. In case anyone is curious, all the cam images from tonight are here.
Lisa also made the excellent suggestion that I get a second battery (we think they're called "chargers") to provide electrical power when the car isn't running. That would be great, because I hate not being able to run the bubble machine (and having a limited time to run the computer) while parked. But I also hate idling the car for long stretches of time just to provide power. I'm going to check Wal-mart and the auto parts store and see if I can find one of those.
Also I forgot to mention that I finally finished my party dress. I posted a couple of pictures in the photolog. The satin belt isn't lying flat, it's got this weird ripple in it. I'll do the belt over if I have time. Or more likely, after I get back.
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(Can't power the phone because the data cable and power cable go into the same jack. No problem though, since I have the extra phone battery.)
What kinda wacky phone is that? I bet there's a combi cable you can dig up somewhere.
Now that I have 2 phone batteries it really isn't a problem. I'll drain the computer battery way sooner than I run out of phone battery.
My previous phone was even better: two jacks, but so close together that you couldn't use them both at the same time. I fixed that by trimming the rubber insulation off one cable with a knife.
ooh! excellent dress! (and you vanquished the technology -- yah you!)
thanks! it's a 1966 evening gown pattern. The pattern included a back drape (an extra panel of fabric attached to the butt) but I didn't have enough of that red fabric for it. oh well, maybe I'll make the dress again someday, with the drape next time!