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Using OpenDNS to Get Around Dead Sites

There seems to have been something wrong with AT&T’s pipes to the Internet today. A number of websites seemed to be down and wouldn’t load for a variety of people. Through all of the discussion I heard many suggestions to use OpenDNS to get around these challenges.

OpenDNS

"DNS" stands for domain name services or system. The service that’s provided is the translation of all of those domain names people register to the IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of the computers/servers that are hosting the files that make-up that website.

The challenge is that many hosting providers use their own DNS translators and if something goes wrong with their own service, anyone accessing the Internet through their pipes isn’t going to get directed to the right website and the site will appear dead.

OpenDNS works on its own your Internet browser or router gets the translation service directly from them. Both avoiding the bottleneck at your own ISP and going to an independent 3rd party insures that you’re not broke-down on the side of the road on the Information Superhighway.

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More Amazing Architectural Video Projection Examples

It’s not the first time I’ve seen this type of video projection work done, but I’m still impressed by it. The transition from what’s "false" onto something that’s very real and massive in your perspective is mesmerizing to me.

[vimeo video=5677104]

555 KUBIK_ extended version from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

I can’t wait until more of this type of thing becomes more mainstream. However, my concern would be that it would either get lost in the noise of it being overdone, or that it would be more of a distraction instead of an appreciation of the design of it all.

What do you think?

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Working with Dual-Monitors Is a Must

I don't really have an office that I work from on a daily basis. I'm normally either working onsite with a client most of the time, or if I'm not onsite I usually prefer to work from my local independent coffee shop or Starbucks if I need an office that's "open late".

 

When I'm working onsite with a client though I'm almost always packing in a Dell 17" LCD monitor with me to setup and work with while there. You see, I've started working with dual-monitors and now I can't hardly stand to work without them. Thus always carrying around a monitor in addition to my leather laptop bag from vintage leather sydney. I do get a few looks from people that either think I'm stealing a monitor. Many of them I'm sure have never worked with dual-monitors though and just don't get it.

The ability to have in my case 32"+ of screen real-estate is extremely valuable to me. I'm not worried about travelling light and mobile with the smallest netbook in my pocket. I'm interested in having as much computing power as I can, including monitor, in as portable a fashion as I can imagine. That doesn't necessarily mean light.  What's more important to me is quick and easy deployment.

I've been working on an idea for a self-standing monitor case that would protect the screen during transport and unfold around it to serve as a stand when you're setup. Of course that is until someone develops me a laptop like this one.

Since I'm unpacking and packing up almost daily, I'm more interested in a monitor where the cables are quick to attach, remove and store. The same goes with other peripherals too, but improving the experience for those of us addicted to working with two monitors would be my priority.