Kirk's Random Brain Dump http://kirk.vangorkom.org A collection of stuff that interests me. posterous.com Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:31:27 -0700 Homemade sauce and fresh basil—epic spaghetti night http://kirk.vangorkom.org/homemade-sauce-and-fresh-basilepic-spaghetti http://kirk.vangorkom.org/homemade-sauce-and-fresh-basilepic-spaghetti
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Taken at Colorado Springs, CO

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:47:08 -0800 Typophile's dream coffee shop http://kirk.vangorkom.org/typophiles-dream-coffee-shop http://kirk.vangorkom.org/typophiles-dream-coffee-shop
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Taken at Ink Coffee - 16th Street Mall

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:32:21 -0800 No, thanks. #DevSummit http://kirk.vangorkom.org/no-thanks-devsummit http://kirk.vangorkom.org/no-thanks-devsummit

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:23:14 -0800 Mixologist http://kirk.vangorkom.org/mixologist http://kirk.vangorkom.org/mixologist

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Kids can be so gross and so awesome at the same time. Thank me for not taking a picture of the water afterwards.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:38:49 -0800 Open for business (and breakfast) @enclavecoop http://kirk.vangorkom.org/open-for-business-and-breakfast-enclavecoop http://kirk.vangorkom.org/open-for-business-and-breakfast-enclavecoop

Image

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Wed, 29 Dec 2010 07:56:32 -0800 Nice View for a Root Canal http://kirk.vangorkom.org/nice-view-for-a-root-canal http://kirk.vangorkom.org/nice-view-for-a-root-canal I need to get an office on this side of town. That's Pike's Peak shrouded in cloud on the right.

Photo

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:47:28 -0800 Dinner at Ted's watching the snow fall http://kirk.vangorkom.org/dinner-at-teds-watching-the-snow-fall http://kirk.vangorkom.org/dinner-at-teds-watching-the-snow-fall

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First snow of the year, fantastic meal.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:15:00 -0700 When Did @southwestair Stop Caring About Customers? http://kirk.vangorkom.org/when-did-southwestair-stop-caring-about-custo http://kirk.vangorkom.org/when-did-southwestair-stop-caring-about-custo

This is probably TL;DR; so if you're short on time, here's the gist: @southwestair customer service sucks.

My wife and two young kids are flying home from California tomorrow. I wanted to ensure that they'd all be able to sit together comfortably, so I tried to add "Early Bird" check-in to their reservations. Something went wrong with their computers and my wife got a really lousy boarding position (much worse than if I hadn't paid extra to reserve a good spot!)

I called Southwest customer service hoping they would fix it. First they gave me the run-around saying that paying extra for "Early Bird" doesn't guarantee anything. I've completed 20 flights with them this year alone, so they cut out the BS quickly once I called them on it. Then the customer service people went into an infinite loop of "We apologize, but there's nothing we can do about it." and "Call our refunds department tomorrow and get your money back."

I don't want my money back, I want my family to comfortably fly together.

Southwest used to be up there with Amex and Apple for great customer experiences, but that has changed. I'll switch in a heartbeat to any airline with a decent flight schedule out of Denver that can solve problems and care about their customers.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:20:25 -0700 Basil and Raspberry http://kirk.vangorkom.org/basil-and-raspberry http://kirk.vangorkom.org/basil-and-raspberry At Mallards, the absolute best ice cream shop in the world.

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Bellingham, WA

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:02:48 -0700 Scottsdale is weird http://kirk.vangorkom.org/scottsdale-is-weird http://kirk.vangorkom.org/scottsdale-is-weird Excuse me Miss, but there's something on your head.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:48:13 -0700 Please Don't Erupt Right Now (picture) http://kirk.vangorkom.org/please-dont-erupt-right-now-picture http://kirk.vangorkom.org/please-dont-erupt-right-now-picture
Photo

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:04:00 -0700 Get Your Cow Chips Together, Moo.com http://kirk.vangorkom.org/get-your-cow-chips-together-moocom http://kirk.vangorkom.org/get-your-cow-chips-together-moocom

Update: Moo.com reached out to me and offered to print the cards a third time. They explained that the PDF had embedded fonts but hadn't been converted to outlines, and this caused the poor quality. They've converted the text to outlines and are reprinting. I'll post again with the results.

 

I ordered some cards from Moo.com in February. When they arrived I wasn't happy with the print quality but they were good enough to give out at SXSW so I let it slide. Last week I needed a new batch of business cards so I contacted Moo support, described the problem and asked if I could hope for anything better if I ordered more cards.

The very helpful support person said the issue was that I had used a PNG image file for the back of my cards, albeit a 300dpi PNG, and they would be happy to reprint the cards for free if I would send them a vector image for the card backs.

I did. Moo reprinted the cards. They're still embarrassingly low-quality so I'm taking my business elsewhere.

Here's a close-up picture of what you can expect when sending Moo a high-resolution bitmap or a vector image for the back of your business cards:
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Here's a shot of the PDF I sent them:
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I don't know what the problem is, but I'm no longer recommending Moo.com to friends, and will be finding a quality print shop instead.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:26:10 -0700 The line outside Briargate Apple store. They have 4 left. There will be a lot of sad people here tomorrow. http://kirk.vangorkom.org/the-line-outside-briargate-apple-store-they-h http://kirk.vangorkom.org/the-line-outside-briargate-apple-store-they-h

Image

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Sun, 30 May 2010 21:09:04 -0700 My Dream House Will Have This Sink http://kirk.vangorkom.org/my-dream-house-will-have-this-sink http://kirk.vangorkom.org/my-dream-house-will-have-this-sink
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Surgical scrub stations should be the default in every new home and public restroom.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Sun, 30 May 2010 20:51:58 -0700 iPod Makes the ER More Fun http://kirk.vangorkom.org/ipod-makes-the-er-more-fun http://kirk.vangorkom.org/ipod-makes-the-er-more-fun
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Waiting for the doc to come back and repair his head wound. So thankful we don't need all the other gear in this OR-looking room.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Tue, 11 May 2010 18:20:03 -0700 Dinner at NSCoder COS http://kirk.vangorkom.org/dinner-at-nscoder-cos http://kirk.vangorkom.org/dinner-at-nscoder-cos
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Rabbit food, trying to survive bachelorhood untill the family comes home.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:40:58 -0700 Ready for Syncing - My iTunes Bookshelf http://kirk.vangorkom.org/ready-for-syncing-my-itunes-bookshelf http://kirk.vangorkom.org/ready-for-syncing-my-itunes-bookshelf Can it be tomorrow already?

Bookshelf

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:57:00 -0700 Me and My Analog External Brain Versus the NSZombie http://kirk.vangorkom.org/me-and-my-analog-external-brain-versus-the-ns http://kirk.vangorkom.org/me-and-my-analog-external-brain-versus-the-ns
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Tools: fieldnotesbrand.com and Staedtler 925 25-05 (sadly only available in Japan or via ebay)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:45:50 -0700 DTSAgile DevSummit 2010 Party Photos http://kirk.vangorkom.org/dtsagile-devsummit-2010-party-photos http://kirk.vangorkom.org/dtsagile-devsummit-2010-party-photos
Good food, Colorado beer, and great conversations at the DTSAgile DevSummit Party.

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See the full gallery on Posterous

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:29:00 -0800 Sprint Overdrive Security Vulnerability http://kirk.vangorkom.org/sprint-overdrive-security-vulnerability http://kirk.vangorkom.org/sprint-overdrive-security-vulnerability
I'm a huge fan of my Overdrive mobile router, and will be even more so after all the travel I have planned for the next 2 months. In the process of writing an iPhone app to manage the device, I discovered a critical security vulnerability in all firmware versions prior to 1.07

The previous firmware versions didn't require a login to perform administrative functions at the server level. This means that anyone connected to your wifi network could have total control of the device, up to and including locking the owner out.

I'm happy to say that Sprint and Sierra Wireless' engineers have fixed the problem in firmware version 1.07, so make sure your Overdrive has been updated.

You can do so via the built-in admin interface (usually found at http://192.168.0.1) and the new firmware can be downloaded here.

500x_overdrive

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/487454/headshot.png http://posterous.com/users/gskOh7onw Kirk van Gorkom Kirk Kirk van Gorkom