Author: Brian Enigma

Brian Enigma is a Portlander, manipulator of atoms & bits, minor-league blogger, and all-around great guy. He typically writes about the interesting “maker” projects he's working on, but sometimes veers off into puzzles, software, games, local news, and current events.

On Google Chrome (Mac, Linux, and nightly builds)

On Google Chrome As you may have heard, Google is working on a web browser called Chrome. There have been beta versions out for Windows and Linux for some time. The Mac version is still playing catch-up. Because Firefox, the browser I now use, has appeared to get more slow and clunky over time, I … Continue reading On Google Chrome (Mac, Linux, and nightly builds)

Friends & Foster Burger

I had a great dinner with great friends at Foster Burger tonight. Liam ordered a deep-fried avocado that we all split. The natural fattiness of the avocado plus the deep-frying made a concoction that was hard to eat just one slice of. There were not many main courses to choose from, but I believe our … Continue reading Friends & Foster Burger

iPhone + Meowmania = most expensive cat toy ever

A few months ago at Ignite Portland 7, a few of us on the balcony were comparing silly cat-related iPhone apps. My takeaway from that discussion was Meowmania (iTunes link). Meowmania does one and only one thing. When you touch the screen, a spinning cat head appears and meows. That’s it. No real point. Buuuut… … Continue reading iPhone + Meowmania = most expensive cat toy ever

#10yearsago, a time-lapse glimpse

There is a #10yearsago meme going around Twitter. Because I am unable to fit my response into 140 characters, you get a blog post. I was living in California in the aforementioned cottage house. I was a lot more gothic/industrial back then (at least, on the outside; I think I will always be on the … Continue reading #10yearsago, a time-lapse glimpse

What did Netninja look like in 2009?

This post is a blatant ripoff of Rick Turoczy’s Silicon Florist word cloud, but that’s how memes work, right?  I made two different 2009 word clouds for Netninja: one for just titles and one for full post content.  I’ll get into the “how” after the images. This first image is of just titles.  I guess … Continue reading What did Netninja look like in 2009?

Netninja site changes: Hipster PDA & Code

Background I have talked about my relationship with the Hipster PDA for years.  It is a sort of love/hate thing.  I find that the basics are invaluable.  I really love all the beautiful little templates and forms that people have made for the 3″ x 5″ form factor.  Alas, I find that most — if … Continue reading Netninja site changes: Hipster PDA & Code

Podcast vs Netcast and LG Electronics

A few years ago, Apple started cracking down on companies that used the term “Pod” in their name. This occurred just as podcasting was catching on to the mainstream. Because of this, many podcasters started using the term “netcast” to describe their shows. Off the top of my head, these include shows from the This … Continue reading Podcast vs Netcast and LG Electronics

Putting the “material” in non-materialistic Christmas

This Christmas at the Enigma/Sakkara house was very simple, very understated.  In fact, Christmas vacation really does feel like a vacation (or “staycation” as the hip young’uns say these days).  Since our families are 1,000 miles away, there was no itinerary for hopping around the homes of various parents, grandparents, uncles, or aunts.  There were … Continue reading Putting the “material” in non-materialistic Christmas

5 October 1582

Something that I remember hearing many years ago, either in a history class or reading in Astronomical Algorithms, was that centuries ago — when the concept of the Leap Year was first created in the reformed Gregorian calendar — the powers that be adjusted the calendar by a little over a week to make up … Continue reading 5 October 1582

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