Many have noticed the Chat with Nick Starr over on the top left corner of the site, I want to first off apologize. The service is run by Google thru Google Talk, which I am on nearly 24/7 now that I am back to carrying a BlackBerry Curve around again. The problem is that it ONLY works when I am on my computer inside of Gmail or using the Google Talk widget (which I never use b/c I am typically in Gmail). If you send me a message and I don’t reply, I am honestly not ignoring you. I am most likely on my BlackBerry where I get a message that someone is trying to chat with me, but to click a link that doesn’t work since there is no Flash on the BlackBerry.

If I don’t answer and you want to get a hold of me, my email address is and always will be: me (at) NickStarr (dot) com. Like I said, I carry my BlackBerry around with me all the time, so I am pretty easy to reach. Also, if you are a BlackBerry user you can PIN message me, my PIN is: 244BB167.

Again, sorry if I don’t reply…Until Google fixes this so it works with any Google Talk client (especially ones they put out, this will continue to be a problem).

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Today Google has a leaping frog in their logo to celebrate leap year (day). The graphic takes you to this search page.

Typically with a Google Doodle, the doodle is clickable and takes you to a search result page about the updated google logo, but today it doesn’t. The only information they give is a MouseOver that says today is the 50th anniversary of the Lego brick, and they are right it is.

I’m sure as kids most everyone had legos at some point growing up. I know people my age and beyond that still collect them and build various lego creations.

Well happy birthday Lego, you have had a place in countless lives over the years.

P.S. The Erector Set has been around since 1911, making it 97 years old this year. 

Today Google released an uploader utility for Google Docs. The utility is not JUST an uploader it also shows all of your docs that are currently on Google, and allows you to double click on them and open them inside of Google Docs. Here’s the cool part, you can right click on a document on your system now and there is an “Upload to Google” item…SWEET!

It is nothing really more then a Windows based app (sorry Mac fans) based on the Google Docs API, but look for more programs like this in the future from Google and other companies.

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Last night Google’s Gmail service announced new colorful labels to help you better organize your inbox. Labels have always been a part of Gmail’s feature list, now they are more visible. Gmail started its email service as a way to “never delete your email” offering 1 gig of online storage, which has now grown to over 5gigs, and you can purchase more if necessary. The label system was put in place my Google to replace the need for standard folders inside of email (some users still don’t get it), but Google has hinted that it is planning “to add some folder-y-ish functionality” soon as well. The new colorful update is only available to IE7 and FF2+ users, so go and make sure you download the latest copy of your favorite browser, and check out the new colors of Gmail.

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First off I just wanted to say Happy Anniversary to my parents, celebrating 26 years of marital bliss. Second off Google has posted a new Halloween doodle ::cough:: even though they haven’t given me IMAP yet. Who knows, maybe that will be their “treat” for me today, although at this pace I doubt it.

P.S. YouTube, a company owned by Google has changed their logo for today as well.