Nobody Knows Anything

Welcome to Diane Patterson's eclectic blog about what strikes her fancy

Chatting away

Posted on Written by

Via John Scalzi, I have discovered Google Talk, which is Google’s latest foray into Taking Over The World. (All I can say is: Google Coffee? It’s coming. Seriously, Starbucks’s days are numbered.) Google Talk is an online-chatting service that uses the Jabber protocol.

Mac users can’t download the Google Talk client, since it’s currently Windows-only, but we can use iChat (which is wonderful, because who wants to use a whole different app anyhow?). Turns out—oh, the things I learn during random moments—that I can use iChat for MSN and Yahoo Chat too. It’s one-stop shopping for online chatting!

I was having trouble setting up Jabber in iChat, until I found Google’s helpful page on setting up Google Talk in iChat. (Hot new food? Arugula-Google-a. Hot new car? The Hybrid Google 3000. I’m telling you: it’s one-stop shopping for Evil Overlords!) I tried to add Scalzi to my list, so as to test this out. At the moment, all it says is, “Waiting for Authorization.” No idea what that means. Do you have to approve people adding you to their lists? And if Scalzi doesn’t approve, what does that mean? For my ego, I mean. Not for Google Talk or Jabber or iChat or whatever.

Anyhow, if you’re trying out Google Talk, I’m D i a n e . P a t t e r s o n >at

I need a bag

Posted on Written by

I have a lot of bags. I have several rolling briefcases for my powerbook (ain’t toting around no computer with my back, no sirree); I have rolling suitcases; I have a diaper backpack (that’s transitioning to an all-kids-stuff bag); I have a little sport sac type bag that serves as my purse, because it’s easy to carry on its own or stick into aforementioned diaper bag; I have a really nice Coach purse that I bought shortly before having kids and that has more or less sat there forlorn ever since, because I just haven’t had a lifestyle (did I just say that sans irony?) that allows me a big ol’ purse.

And yet: I need another bag.

I realize I need a bag to tote around my stuff that isn’t my powerbook. My drawing equipment (10″ by 7″ watercolor book, paints, water brushes, pens). My Alphasmart Neo, which is a great little device but I haven’t gotten to use it much yet because I never remember to take it with me. (it weighs a pound, my iBook weighs…7 pounds? No contest.) Maybe my Moleskine journal, maybe a paperback.

So, not a huge bag, but one big enough to carry these things around. Stylish is good. Lightweight even better. I have some bags that I’ve used, but they’re cheap and poorly designed to the point where I can’t find anything in them.

Pooks (an admitted bag-aholic*) has already suggested these manufacturers:

Have any recommendations? Cautions? Testimonials?

———————-

* Hey Pooks, I could have used “bag lady.”