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July 30, 2000
Everyone knows that parking in
Everyone knows that parking in San Francisco is a pain, but I never knew just how bad it was until I came across some data in this article:
"Competing for the 308,000 on-street parking spaces are the 453,905 vehicles registered by the city's 801,400 residents, the 200,000 other people who stream into San Francisco every day to work or shop, and an unknown number of tourists and sightseers who drive in for the day."
Ouch.
Posted by 12:13 PM | TrackBack
July 29, 2000
I sure hope George W.
I sure hope George W. Bush doesn't get elected president, because he obviously isn't a man of the people. Shit like this: 1) alienates all non-christians, 2) crosses the "separation of church and state" line, and 3) is a farce in and of itself (there already is a "Jesus Day" wackjob, it's called xmas).
Posted by 03:09 AM | TrackBack
July 27, 2000
There's some great pics from
There's some great pics from webzine2000 at supersnail. Stuff like this makes me want to get a fish-eye lens for my digital camera.
Posted by 01:09 AM | TrackBack
July 26, 2000
(close up on the face,
(close up on the face, with a sudden pull back)
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Napster has rekindled my love of music, and coincidentally, my buying of many new CDs of artists I would have never known existed if it wasn't for mp3 trading. This is all about control. The record industry is making more money now, but they're basically losing their distribution control. So of course, they have to get it back.
This is just so wrong....
Posted by 05:41 AM | TrackBack
July 25, 2000
And I'm...spent. Finally finished the
And I'm...spent. Finally finished the new discussion forum at blogger with pb, derek and jack. It's got some pretty cool behind-the-scenes tech too, all XML transformed on the fly with XSL, spitting out the final html.
Posted by 05:23 AM | TrackBack
July 24, 2000
Napster never ceases to amaze
Napster never ceases to amaze me. After hearing about the Bif Naked cover of the Twisted Sister classic described here, I fired up napster and about a minute later, I had the file and was listening to it. Then I went on a cover song rampage. I ended up also getting Incubus doing TLC's "No Scrubs," House of Pain's "Jump Around," and New Order's "Blue Monday." Then I found that Orgy did "Blue Monday" too, then I spotted Frente doing New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle," REM doing "California Dreaming," Ween doing Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher," and Goldfinger doing Duran Duran's "Rio." And since I limited all my searches to cable modems and above (under the advanced search options), I had everything in just a couple of minutes.
I hope Napster makes it through all their legal battles, they've got an amazing service that I'd be happy to pay for.
Posted by 09:11 AM | TrackBack
July 23, 2000
I'm not dead - I'm
I'm not dead - I'm still moving, unpacking, and getting settled into my new apartment. I went to webzine2000 last night and saw a lot of eye opening things; people using the web to fight the good fight, and it made me think about world-changing ideas again. Once I get my modem (another week or so until I'm back on DSL) set up, I'll write more. It's something I've been thinking about recently and webzine was the perfect catalyst for new ideas.
Posted by 12:22 PM | TrackBack
July 19, 2000
I just got a Coinstar
I just got a Coinstar envelope in the mail with two gold Sacagawea dollars, one pictured below. Someone must have sent them to me, but who was it? The new coins are cool, no serrated edge like a quarter, heavier than a quarter, and a different color. So, whoever it was, thanks!
Posted by 01:14 AM | TrackBack
July 18, 2000
I used to have a
I used to have a perfectly stable, useful workstation for getting things done at work. Then I installed Internet Explorer 5.5, and so far today, it has crashed 5 times. Yesterday it crashed 3 times. Last week, the day I installed it, it crashed 3 times. IE 5.01 never crashed on me once in the four months I've been using this computer.
I knew they sent IE 5.5 too quickly to market.
Posted by 02:33 AM | TrackBack
Nude sunbathing is under
Nude sunbathing is under attack, and I know it sounds like I'm a follower of The Man Show if I say I support nude sunbathing, but this quote is what cinches my position:
"There are topless bars and porn videos around everywhere and our argument is that it would be much healthier for people not to see women's bodies in this sexualised way"
I couldn't agree more.
I'm constantly reminded (in conversations, reading the news, watching american tv) that America was settled by people with strong puritan beliefs, and even three to four hundred years later, it shines through. Europeans seem to have such a healthier view of sexuality, when compared to America. Compared to Europe, the US seems like the immature fifteen year old punks in the back of the room giggling when someone says "boobie." Someday we'll get over it (I hope).
Posted by 01:01 AM | TrackBack
July 15, 2000
Growing up in Southern California,
Growing up in Southern California, I've always admired cars. Automotive design is one of the things that made me fall in love with art and design at an early age, and I think it's because it was the first real example of design that you're immersed in and can admire every day, for much of your life. It also encompasses different facets of design: mechanical - how parts and technological features influence the look, interface - how the doors, knobs, and handles function and how you interact with them, artistic - design for design's sake, fins, bulges, and the curve and flare of a fender.
When I was young my parents would get a new car every 3-5 years, and it was always fun to watch them pick a car and then interact with the new design. I also paid close attention to all the new models that would come out each September. I can't recall ever hating a car design back then, as there was always something new compared to earlier models, and companies were pushing the bounds.
I went on this thought wander today because I noticed for the first time that I really, really hate some new car designs, and it came as a shock. Am I growing old and not accepting where auto design is heading? Or are they really that hideous?
I think it's the latter, because I just see no redeeming design qualities of the Echo, the Focus, and the Aztek. Good god, that Aztek is an atrocious piece of garbage.
Posted by 10:23 AM | TrackBack
July 14, 2000
Happy birthday MetaFilter! Happy Birthday
Happy birthday MetaFilter! Happy Birthday
monoclonal antibodies! Happy Birthday Gerald Ford!
See how important MetaFilter looks when you group it with other things?
Posted by 02:27 AM | TrackBack
July 13, 2000
A few minutes ago, I
A few minutes ago, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said:
"STOP LIVING LIKE VEAL"
and I stopped what I was doing, stopped what I was thinking, and let out a rebel yell: "yeah!"
A moment passed. Then I continued on my way, paid the $10 to park my gas guzzling car, walked into the office, and sat down to another ten hours of keyboard keying and mouse clicking.
Moo.
Posted by 10:22 AM | TrackBack
I have to find the
Posted by 06:40 AM | TrackBack
July 12, 2000
Last year's fray day was
Last year's fray day was a blast. I know this year's will be even better.
Posted by 11:38 AM | TrackBack
The shameless self-promotion is revealed.
The shameless self-promotion is revealed.
Posted by 10:27 AM | TrackBack
July 11, 2000
What's that? Is it really
What's that? Is it really a limited-edition, collectable, official MetaFilter supersize coffee mug? All will be revealed soon...
Posted by 08:46 AM | TrackBack
After having some Pop Rocks
After having some Pop Rocks today for the first time since I was a wee lad, I remembered why I hated them. Regardless of what this site says, Pop Rocks aren't very fun when you get a big piece blowing up in your mouth.
Posted by 03:59 AM | TrackBack
July 09, 2000
Today I visited someone's site
Today I visited someone's site that utilized Comet Cursors, and without my permission, it loaded the plugin, added a desktop shortcut, and put an app in my taskbar
Not only is that the most annoying thing I've ever seen a site/technology do, it's a tremendous security risk. It also happens to be an application that is considered Spyware.
Friends don't let friends use Comet Cursors.
Posted by 09:57 AM | TrackBack
This is absolutely outrageous.
This is absolutely outrageous. Remind me to never go to Louisiana again.
Posted by 08:30 AM | TrackBack
July 06, 2000
It's always darkest before the
It's always darkest before the dawn. Remember that.
For the past week or two, Kay and I have been chasing down every available apartment ad in San Francisco, we've faxed our life away half a dozen times, sent countless emails, and left messages on probably 50 answering machines in the city. Our expectations were going down significantly with each passing day. What started out as "we want a big, airy 2 bedroom place for all our stuff" morphed into "well, it says it's 500 square feet, and we still have that storage container, maybe we should take it?" After going to showing after showing, we became tired of all the disappointment. Our search was expanding into South San Francisco, then Daly City, then the Peninsula, and we talked about possibly going north of the city. I couldn't understand why no one would return our calls, I mean here we are the near definition of stability - about to get married, me a computer professional in a healthy start-up, she about to become a professor for life - yet the call backs were non-existent.
And then, we finally got a call back. And it wasn't for that overpriced, sketchy neighborhood, ultra-cozy cottage up in Bernal Heights, no it was that epic place I described from the feeding frenzy a few days back. I'm happy to report we came out on top, in a group of 50 applicants, and are signing the paperwork tomorrow.
The last few days have been especially brutal, but I'm happy to say we got through it and found our dream place.
Posted by 10:44 AM | TrackBack
Oh my lord. Right now
Oh my lord. Right now there's a Simpsons tour going through the UK, and I've heard about Matt Groening doing at least one show in the US this fall. But is it going to be a full blown simpsons US tour or just Matt Groening talking by himself?
If anyone has info on this, could you please let me know?
Posted by 10:21 AM | TrackBack
July 05, 2000
There's an entire fan-run site
There's an entire fan-run site (at its own domain no less) devoted to the interactive Yoda furby. I didn't even know there was a yoda furby, but this guy has chronicled every second of its history.
The web never ceases to amaze me.
Posted by 07:34 AM | TrackBack
July 04, 2000
With the current crop of
With the current crop of future-retro designs in the auto industry, I'm wonder if Honda will ever produce an updated version of the 1959 C100 Super Cub. If they put a bigger engine, nice disc brakes, and other modern additions, I'd buy one.
Posted by 12:40 PM | TrackBack
July 03, 2000
Haughey.com en español. Para los
Haughey.com en español. Para los altavoces españoles en la casa, déjeme saben si es una buena traducción o mala.
(that last bit was translated as well)
Posted by 06:10 AM | TrackBack
Rule #4535 to living
Rule #4535 to living an enjoyable life: never attend an open house apartment showing in San Francisco, always go by appointment.
All the things that make housing in San Francisco terrible (too many renters, rents too high, people going to extreme lengths to get a place) actually disappear when you look at an apartment by appointment with just you and the manager. It feels "normal" as if you're just one person looking at one place and you feel like you can have the apartment if you really wanted it.
But an open house brings out all the worst things. Today I looked at an apartment during the 30 minutes (!!!) of open house time, along with about 20 other people. The place was perfect, except for the fact that it was infested with people that all wanted it too. Some were saying things such as "I can pay six months of the rent up front if you'd like," and everyone's eyes carried the same twinkle mine did. My competition lay all around me, dressed finer, smelling better, and looking more financially stable than I. I could tell all of them wanted the apartment as bad or worse than I, and I realized my chances of getting it are close to nil.
I would have much preferred to see the place by appointment, even if 20 other people did the same. Sometimes, it's better that you don't know what demand is really like.
Posted by 04:54 AM | TrackBack
Note to web authors and
Note to web authors and programmers: A List Apart's article about XHTML is completely useless and should be avoided.
The article talks about all the reasons why one should not use XHTML to code pages. Not using the new language because it requires a change in code technique (to a better and less error-prone way of doing things), or because they're aren't any amazing uses of XHTML today is no excuse for not doing it. I've been coding pages in XHTML for the past few months, and it's the way HTML should have been designed from the start.
And after converting a couple sites from HTML/database backends to XML/XSL/database backends, I got to say the thing that took the most time was rewriting all the crappy HTML into XHTML-compliant code. It basically added hours of debugging time to clean up the old code. If your site is fully compliant XHTML, switching to an XML/XSL backend is a breeze.
(note: this site and metafilter are soon to be fully XHTML compliant)
Posted by 03:27 AM | TrackBack
July 01, 2000
Last night I slept over
Last night I slept over at my parents' house, in my old room, in my old bed. It was the first time I'd done that in over 4 years and it was spooky to say the least.
Everything I surround myself with is about what is now (the present) and what may be (the future). On my desk at home is a computer, the day's mail, and my keys. All around my last apartment you'd find contemporary gadgets. DVD player, newish TV, playstation, multiple cordless and cell phones, X10 lighting system, and a pile of remote controls. Not a thing in sight is over a year old, and I doubt I'll keep my current furniture for more than a couple years hence. New, new, new.
On the other hand, at my parents' house, I'm surrounded with memories of the past. Photographs from high school and early college adorn the wallsl In my closet I found some terrible artwork I did ten years ago, magazines from the 80's, and some shopping receipts from 1993.
It lead me to wonder...when does a person stop amassing contemporary things and start collecting things of the past?