robmello.com

Google Hack - Find File Folders

You'll notice that when you link to the Lily videos, it's simply a directory (folder) of files.  There is no sophisticated front-end web page.

All kinds of people and departments keep such simple web folders for convenience (not necessarily for public consumption) - and guess what - Google will help you find them!

The following is an example query you can use in Google.  Simply put the type of file you're looking for (either the extension or filename) after this search and you will get back a list of directories accessible over the web:

intitle:index.of name "last modified" 

For example, to find a list of directories containing .jpg images of San Francisco:

intitle:index.of name "last modified"  San Francisco jpg

You'll get thousands of photos dumped from people's digital cameras and forgotton.  These can be far more interesting than Google's standard image search!

(Note that savvy webmasters can spoof such directories.  They build a web page that looks like a file-listing, but with links that suck you into their site, so don't be too surprised when you see a page that looks like a directory listing but links to a commercial site instead of that compromising celebrity photo you’re searching for!)

Female Literacy in the Arab World

According to the CIA fact-book, the literacy rate for females is higher than males in the Arab countries of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates:  85% to 81.4% and 81.7 to 76.1% respectively.

The large number of foreign illiterate male workers may account for this, but to put this into perspective, for Saudi Arabia the rate is male: 84.7% female: 70.8% and for Yemen it is male: 70.5%  female: 30%.

The Way Back Machine

No, this isn't a post about John Wasdin...  One of the biggest time-wasters for me on the net is the "Way Back Machine" at http://www.archive.org.  They've been archiving web-sites since 1996.  Some sites you can visit:

First commercial web-page I authored from November 1996
First version of robmello.com from August 1999
What my Nomar.net fan site looked like
Boston.com when it was only a year old in 1996
If you miss your old bank...
See What's New in Microsoft Publisher 97!!

I find it fascinating.  I just wish I could find my old CompuServe home-site.  Now THAT was a neat site!  It basically had few poorly-scanned photos of Marylyn Monroe and some New Bedford links.

10 Years on the NET

March 13th marks a geek anniversary for me.  It's been 10 years since my first internet posting.  I have to give these guys at miffed.com credit for keeping the site up and keeping the faith!  If you’re into speed-metal, I highly recommend their records.

(When the link stops working, click here for the version from the Google cache.)

I bumped into Tink in a CompuServe music forum and actually met him in person once when he came to the Boston area to visit his state-side girlfriend.  He was instrumental (no pun indented) in turning me on to the web and web technology.  My original CompuServe ID was 76102.572.  (This will be a great trivia question when I’m famous someday.)

I Like Legos But...

I enjoyed Legos a lot when I was a kid, but nothing holds a 14-day open-top sanctuary candle to this project.  The notes on the web-page have me convinced that this person isn't crazy. 

Pulling Mussels Lyrics

There are only 78 web sites that post the lyrics to Pulling Mussels by Squeeze (or "Pulling Muscles" as some might search for it.)  I thought there should be at least 79, so here they are.

The 45 image was shamelessly swiped from this site.  (I don't always give credit, but these guys worked hard to post some interesting images.)

Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)   
(Difford/Tilbrook)   
 
They do it down on camber sands   
They do it at Waikiki   
Lazing about the beach all day,   
At night the crickets creepy   
Squinting faces at the sky   
A Harold Robbins paperback   
Surfers drop their boards and dry   
And everybody wants a hat   
But behind the Chalet   
My holiday's complete   
And I feel like William Tell   
Maid Marian on her tiptoed feet   
Pulling mussels from a shell   

Shrinking in the sea so cold   
Topless ladies look away   
A he-man in a sudden shower   
Shelters from the rain   
You wish you had a motor boat   
To pose around the harbour bar   
And when the sun goes off to bed   
You hook it up behind the car   

Two fat ladies window shop   
Something for the mantelpiece   
In for bingo all the nines   
A panda for sweet little niece   
The coach drivers stand about   
Looking at a local map   
About the boy he's gone away   
Down to next door's caravan

Brüel & Kjær Microphones

Brüel & Kjær has spun-off its pro-audio division - and thank God they did.  The new company is named Danish Pro Audio or 'DPA' which we Americans can actually pronounce.  We had a hell of a time with Brüel & Kjær (normally just saying 'B & K'). 

Because Brüel & Kjær pro audio microphones are still out there, I thought I would post the correct pronunciation.   

Brüel & Kjær is pronounced "Brrye-L et Kia-R"

And so that those looking with Google can find the answer easily, here it is again without the non-English characters:

Bruel & Kjaer is pronounced "Brrye-L et Kia-R".

Why am I posting this?

My mind is incessantly occupied with questions due to my curious nature.  These questions are almost always trivial in nature, but I’m posting answers that were difficult to find here once I discover them.

Best Picture Software (Yes, it's from Google)

Google has done it again.   This free software is amazing for organizing and tweaking digital pictures.  While it's got a ton of features, my favorites are the "I'm feeling lucky" button which automatically color corrects your photos - usually with pleasing results.  The other that I absolutely love is the EXPORT function - which allows you to batch copy and resize (for e-mailing or posting) in one command.

Click here to check it out.   (Did I mention it's free?)

Provincetown Photos

Photos taken in Provincetown by my friend Erin can be found by clicking here.