
Firefox Custom Keywords
Leaky Tap presents some lists of Custom Keywords that can be used in Firefox and Mozilla, as well as pointers to various other information about setting them up. Once set up, these shortcuts can be typed into the address bar for quick searches. For example, I have a CustomKeyword called write that takes me to the page I use to post to my weblog, as well as one called gnews that will search Google News for a topic.
Free Programming and Computer Science Books
Tech Books for Free maintains a list of free programming and computer science books available online.
Tsunamis and US Media
I was reminded of Jack’s comments about US media coverage of the disaster when I found RatcliffeBlog—Mitch’s Open Notebook: Tsunamis and U.S. media via Anita Rowland.
Hamentaschen
For years, I wanted a recipe for Hamentaschen, type of cookie that I used to buy at a bakery on L Street in Washington, DC. A conversation with a friend reminded me recently, and I remembered to check Google afterward.
Stained Glass Sunrise

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The Wikipedia has an article on the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake including an animation of the tsunami it created. The end of the article includes a table of contact information for aid groups.
Furnace Fixed?
Yesterday afternoon, the furnace repair person made yet another call and the furnace may finally be working as designed. Since Thursday, the central furnace has been working, but only when it could draw air from the house, which means we had to leave the front door to the furnace open, exposing the firebox. We gated it off with a child gate, but it was still unnerving to look down and see the jets. However, the furnace fire box is now shut up again, and drawing its air supply from the outside world. Although the weather is too mild to make much demand, the furnace seems to be turning itself off and on in response to the settings on the thermostat.
We had planned to take a trip to visit family in Santa Fe over the New Year’s weekend, but decided that we didn’t want to leave the house when we still don’t trust the furnace to continue working.
Horsey Humor
I found Horsey Humor What Ralph Lauren Doesn’t Know, an anonymous equestrienne’s response to Ralph Lauren’s glamorous presentation of the equestrian lifestyle, at Horse Laughs via SeaShe. Also on that page is a link to “You Know You are a Horse Person” to which I contributed long ago on rec.equestrian.
Sun Orb

The filter of ice fog made the sun look twice its usual apparent size as it rose yesterday morning.