the alpha newswire

Although using a server to sync pictures from Flickr to Facebook is by far easier to program, it is rather unwieldy when you want to actually use said tool. Even though I was the one who did the programming, getting it set up and running on the server was no fun at all. I thought this would be a fun excuse to play around with Shoes. (It also seemed an appropriate choice, as the previous Flickbook used Camping. Doing a native app using Obj-C and Cocoa also crossed my mind, but I didn’t want to spend much time on the project, and decided to stick with my main language.)

Well, without further ado, here’s Flickbook v2.

Some interesting bits:

• Flickbook: 115 LOC.
• Flickr API: 48 LOC.
• Facebook API: 73 LOC.

The interface is pedestrian, to say the least, but it does its job. Eventually, I’ll have to figure out an elegant way to separate web authentication from desktop authentication in the two API libraries, but that’s a job for another day.

I love walking barefoot, and have always wanted to get some footwear that feels closer to the experience. From what I’ve seen online, the three most popular brands for such are Vivo Barefoot, Nike Free, and Vibram FiveFingers. The Vibrams were out, since I wanted something that looked reasonably normal. I decided against the Vivos, due to a combination of their price, availability only on Terra Plana, and worries about sizing. So I turned to the Nike Free. I originally picked up a pair of the training shoes from Zappos, but returned them, since I wasn’t entirely happy with them. (Side note: Zappos has possibly the best return policy I’ve ever seen. Very easy to use, and no hassle at all. Loved it.) Eventually noticed that the Nike Free 5.0 was available from Zappos, so I got those a few weeks back.

I took out the included insoles, as they just added more material between my foot and the ground. The shoes also came with a guide on how best to prepare your body for wearing them, but I ignored it without any problems. (That being said, I also walk around barefoot quite frequently, so perhaps that was a mitigating factor.) This weekend, I finally took them out for some running, and it felt great. The difference between the Frees and normal sneakers is subtle, but I think the Frees are way more comfortable to run in. They held up well on the trails I ran on, which varied from dirt to mud to asphalt, depending on the section.

Overall, I’m very happy with them, and they’re great for both walking around and running. Well worth the price, if a bit hard to find. (Again, highly recommend Zappos as a supplier.) I’ll probably pick up another pair once this one bites the dust, but it seems pretty sturdy so far.