Slides that simply regurgitate an authors notes are anathema to me, so they may not make a lot of sense out of context. However, my presentation should be available shortly on YUI Theatre.

There is no off-season: NFL.com’s move to YUI

For its dev team, the NFL season is a breakneck-paced stream of new features, last-minute sponsorships and custom UIs. Developer Ryan Cannon describes the NFL’s transition from Prototype to YUI 3, and demonstrates how YUI’s JavaScript infrastructure has improved site performance, reduced development time and improved collaboration.

The Internet is changing, and I find it fascinating how all of these services interrelate. Some observations:

• The iPhone’s push notifications have replaced e-mail for pretty much all of these apps and I love it. Increasingly the only e-mail I get is spam and bills that need paying.
• I use Yelp a lot to find places, but they don’t let you actually post reviews to your iPhone, just drafts that you have to visit their website to finalize. I can’t be bothered.
• I’ve done checkins on Yelp, Gowalla and Facebook too, but foursquare is the one that stuck.
• LinkedIn and MySpace are intentionally absent, if you’re looking for me on there you’re looking in the wrong place.
• Posting Flickr -> Tumblr -> Facebook looks nicer the direct Flickr -> Facebook.
• API apps could really improve by letting you resolve dupes, e.g. “Post all of my tweet to Facebook unless they come from the Tumblr app.”

Facebook

Despite capturing pretty much everything I post to the Internet, I don’t actually use Facebook all that much. I sign on to see what my friends have posted, but that’s about it. I have over fifty acquaintances, friends that have grown apart and random strangers in my friend request queue. None of the other services have that problem. Perhaps Facebook is just too big. Perhaps it’s too cluttered or I’m just getting old. It feels like this generation’s AOL: replacing the Internet for the unwashed masses. I prefer to limit my exposure.

RIP RyanCannon.com?

It’s a bit sad that this website has sunk into disuse. The reality is that these other services serve my need to share stuff I find interesting with others better. I think there’s still room for the personal home page, but I’m not sure what it is. Think I could put it to a better use? Let me know in the comments (or, more likely, via one of the myriad services to which this blog will be syndicated).

The Need Vs. Greed Interface

Some players get huffy if you need on the wrong item, but these guidelines trace out the basic etiquette. Players have four options:

1. Need
2. Greed
3. Disenchant
4. Pass

Need: I need this because it’s better

Choose need when something is an upgrade to the gear you already have. The easiest way to find out if it’s better is to hold shift and hover over the item, which will compare it to what you already have equipped.

I guess it’s not an upgrade.

The more green stats the better. However, you also have to make sure the stats you are gaining are the ones you need.

There are some stats everybody needs: Mastery, Critical Strike Rating, and Haste, but they usually come in combination with other stats. Essentially, if you can use something and it’s got the stats you want, then roll need to get it. This gets a little more complicated as you increase in level. At level 50 you’ll get armor specialization, which will give you serious benefits to making sure you’re wearing all armor of one type. Otherwise need on upgrades. Don’t feel guilty if everything that drops is for you–it’s just the luck of the draw.

Needing for your unused spec is the leading cause of most fights in PUGs once dual talent specialization becomes available. Players that can use an item right now get precedence over players that would have to switch spec to use it. The best policy is to ask, and never roll for your unused (or off-) spec gear against someone who needs for their current (or main) spec.

Greed: I want this because I can sell it

Greed is the option to choose if something is not an upgrade, or if it’s not for your spec. There’s no actually “greedy” connotation to the choice: it’s what players should choose 90% of the time.

Disenchant: melt it down for its magic

If your group includes an enchanter, you will have this option as well. Disenchant is essentially the same as choosing greed, except your enchanter will automatically turn the item into a reagent that can be used to improve your gear. Disenchanted items also take up less bag space and can often be sold on the Auction House for more than the original items’ vendor price.

Pass: my bags are full

The only time you should ever choose pass is if your bags or full or if it actually makes your life worse by gaining the item. I sometimes pass on lockboxes because I can’t be bothered to find a rogue to open them.

Non-gear items

Some creatures drop rare items that are not gear: Chaos Orbs, holiday items, and gems for crafting. In general, if you can make use of it, need it. Greed is the safe option if you’re not sure.

1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. Livonia, MI
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. Long Beach, CA
5. Austin, TX
6. Pentwater, MI
7. Cambria, CA
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Sonoma, CA
10. Pickford, MI

Happy new year!

My resolution: blog more, write more and lose weight. What’s yours?

Finally caught up to the real date!

It’s something I never understood about cities, and something I miss terribly about home.

Apologies for gloating, but Detroit is having a huge blizzard right now. Me, a heatwave.

Last year, the fires terrified me. Now I realize it’s just the way things are in Southern California.

I never said I was a purist!