(at least) one cool thing

Ok, this is brilliant

2008-04-01T15:30:00.001-07:00

If you have been to YouTube today and clicked on a recommended video, you have the context and should see why this is nice twist on a joke that became too popular. If that's confusing, check this out.

(thanks to valleywag for making me laugh)

the anniversary issue

2008-02-09T23:49:00.000-08:00

The New Yorker is a frequent topic and I enjoy sharing noteworthy issues and articles. The newest edition, instantly recognizable as the Anniversary Issue from the reference to Eustace Tilley on the cover, is an example of the magazine at its finest.

Several excellent articles are available online. These include Seymour Hersh's A Strike in the Dark, which poses a number of a questions surrounding Israel's September attack against a mysterious target in Syria, and James Stewart's Wall Street’s unloved Midas, which profiles Blackstone Group founder (and billionaire) Stephen Schwarzman. In addition, there is an Alice Monro short story, “Free Radicals”.

However, the best content is only available in print. In ANNALS OF INVENTION Susan Orlean provides insight into the inventive mind of Steve Hollinger in "Thinking in the Rain: How to build a better umbrella." And, In LETTER FROM POLAND, David Grann delves into the mind of a killer in "True Crime: A postmodern murder mystery." Either is reason enough to venture to your local newstand.

Still left for me to read: John Updike on The novels of Flann O’Brien and Rebecca Mead on "Nico Muhly, Generation Y maestro."

Bonus links: Jeffrey Toobin: The high price of trying to save an infamous killer’s life and Evan Osnos: In the sport that Mao banned, China’s hopes rest on one man from the Feb 4 issue.

98 billion, not including flickr

2008-02-07T22:47:00.000-08:00

Our old friend Shpigler is back with a little advice for Jerry Yang. Enjoy.

Si, Se Puede

2008-02-04T23:44:00.000-08:00

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

I first saw this Saturday night, shortly after I finished reading a New Yorker profile on Newark's mayor Cory Booker. The original speech is brilliant in its simple message, and its remix, by will.i.am and Jesse Dylan adds power and emotion. If have seen it yet, watch. If you have, perhaps you should watch again.

Bonus link: a NYT profile of the campaign's head speechwriter
Bonus link 2: the New Hampshire victory speech on which the above is based

having the vibe

2007-07-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is just too funny not to post. I’m sure that even my venture capitalist friends will agree. If you are interested in start-ups, technology and the process of securing venture funding, this presentation from Shpigler on raising money from VCs is must-watch. Just remember, if you find yourself presenting before a partnership, use acronyms and always project the vibe.

Btw, the Smart Player technology is very cool as well. Click the button to access a broad menu of choices. Slow down, widescreen, story board and alternate language subtitles are among the options. Very well done!

(a hat tip to techcunch for discovering this)

draggable driving directions

2007-07-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Google Maps is the best, true ‘dat double true. In fact, the pace at which they have been introducing new features over the last two years has been enviable. First, hybrid view, combining their Google Earth satellite imager with standard web maps. More recently, street view, the impressive ability to take a 360 degree look around many street corners in the US. Sure, A9 was first with the idea many years ago but the scale and integration of Google’s effort makes it much more useful. Now, draggable driving directions.

Don’t like your suggested route? Need to take a detour? Looking for a lunch stop along the way? Google has you covered. Jess and Evan have the details in the above video and even provide some travel tips should you ever decide to drive from the Bay Area to Kirkland, WA.

For tips, tricks and Google Maps mashups, like mapping your Picasa photo album, check out the Google Maps Mania blog. And, for a in-depth discussion of the impact of Google Maps, check out this month’s Wired.

introducing simplify media

2007-06-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Paul’s note: 18 months ago I started a company with some of the smartest people I know. In secret we have been working on technology to transform how digital media is used by small, trusted groups of friends and family, and today we are ready to unveil our first product and our company: Simplify Media. Obviously this is not an impartial review, but I do hope you find it to be a helpful introduction.

Simplify Media lets you access your home music over the internet and connect with friends and family, all within iTunes. Designed for the PC and the Mac, it's simple to install, safe to operate, and free of charge. There are a number of existing products that assist you with remote access to your digital content. However, Simplify Media offers several key advantages. (Learn More)

First, when you use Simplify Media shared libraries appear right within iTunes without any additional configuration. You don’t have to port-forward or set up a VPN to access music right in iTunes. Libraries appear as if they were on your local network, and you can sort, search and play. For your own account you can even access your iTunes-purchased, DRM-protected songs.

Second, Simplify Media does not require you to upload files to a website. When you connect with another user or another one of your own computers, files are available in minutes. More importantly for the privacy concerned, you have complete control over what you share and with whom. And, all computer-to-computer communication in Simplify Media is encrypted.

Third, Simplify Media is designed for small groups. Simplify Media provides a hassle-free way to view all of your music wherever you are and browse your friends’ libraries as if you were in their living room. In private testing, we have learned that this fun way to find new music and rediscover old favorites. Frankly, we have been shocked by the large percentage of our friends with ABBA albums.

You might be wondering, what does it mean to “share” music within Simplify Media. Within the small set of users you designate, “share” means stream. We are cross-format (mp3, wma, aac) as well as cross-platform (PC and Mac), but we do not transfer copies of files, let you download songs to your iPod or permit you to burn them to CDs. We want you to explore, and when you find things you want to own, we encourage you to buy them using the links we provide. That way you can continue to enjoy those songs even when your friends are offline. (FAQ)

With a name like Simplify Media, you’d expect us to be easy to install, and getting started is much faster than you would expect.

1) Download the appropriate version. Note that we are still in “beta” and do not yet support Windows Vista.
2) Create an account. This is faster than on a website as the only information we require is your screen name and password.
3) Install on a second machine and sign in with your existing account for an instant connection or invite other users.
4) Open iTunes and enjoy.

norah jones

2007-06-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

I just came home from the Norah Jones concert at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. I had high expectations: Norah’s laid back, sultry voice is a perfect match for a warm summer evening and the Handsome Band is a perfect match for their lead singer. But, I was blown away by how good this concert really was.

M Ward opened receiving an assist from a jeans-clad Norah for the first four songs. As they would later prove on Creepin’ In during Norah’s set (for which she changed to a very cute dress), their very different vocal styles are wonderful together. M Ward is a great young talent, and highlights from the opener included re-interpretations of Roy Orbison’s Blue Bayou, Willie Nelson’s Permanently Lonely and David Bowie’s Let’s Dance. M Ward’s own Eyes on the Prize fit right in.

Norah has been generous with her celebrity, lending vocal support to recordings by friends like Jessie Harris, Jim Campilongo, Jools Holland and my favorite, Richard Julian. She is also always game for side projects like: guitarist Adam Levy’s solo album; The Little Willies with Jim, Richard, bassist Lee Alexander and drummer Dan Rieser; and, El Madmo with the delightful Daru Oda. Apparently Norah can’t whistle but she loves to sing, and she showed it all night long.

Inspired by a wonderful evening of music and empowered by clips of questionable legality on YouTube, I thought I would recreate some of the magic here for you. Buy her albums, support her friends and make sure you see her next time she returns to the Mountain Winery.

Norah opened with the title track from her first album, Come Away With Me. Reworked for the 2007 tour, it featured her guitar and her smooth, effortless voice.

She followed this with Those Sweet Words, a favorite from her second album Feels Like Home.

Then, she played cuts from the newest album: Not Too Late. Released in January, I had lukewarm impressions on first listen, but I have come to appreciate its artistry more and more.

In concert, the songs sounded even better than the well-engineered album. The sound was pristine, and I enjoyed the very slow rendition of Rosie’s Lullaby. Also noteworthy: the spunky Little Room, played as a duet with the mutli-instrumental Daru. Throughout the evening Daru provided well-blended backup vocals and played base, piano, flute, harmonium and some square metal things.

Norah would play almost every song on Not Too Late. A nice example is Until the End.

However, the setlist was well-balanced. I thought that Hank Williams’ Cold, Cold Heart (from Come Away With Me) was a standout, showcasing that bewitching voice and Lee on upright.

Another amazing moment came near the end of the show when she covered Townes Van Zandt’s For the Sake of the Song (Norah, please record this!) followed shortly by Willie Nelson’s Hands on the Wheel. Willie would have been proud.

These were hard to top but the three song encore did just that. Starting with a nice rendition of Don’t Know Why (from Come Away With Me).

shifting to a soulful What Am I to You (from Feels Like Home) and ending with Tom Waits’ Long Way Home (from Not Too Late)

Bonus links: more Norah performances you might enjoy:
That’s The Way The World Goes Round (with Richard Julian)
One Flight Down (from Come Away With Me)
Sunrise (from Feels Like Home)
Humble Me (from Feels Like Home)
Wurlitzer Prize (with Willie Nelson)
Drown in My Own Tears (a tribute to Ray Charles)
Easy as the Rain (as The Little Willies)

More bonus links: concert DVDs
Live in 2004 and Live in New Orleans

air-conditioned golf carts

2007-06-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the magnanimous Warren, I was in Vegas again this weekend. Warren was playing poker with the stars (Hollywood and financial) and I was golfing with friends, like me, happy to have a seat on Air Warren.

The loquacious Rick and I had a 36-hole match with Bammer and Sherri, and we started at The Badlands. The conditions Friday afternoon fit the course name perfectly. 107 degrees, 25 mph sirocco, brutal rocks blanketing all but the tiny green targets on the 7200+ yard monster, and no other golfers in sight. Fortunately, we had a powerful weapon to help us tame the beast: air-conditioned golf carts.

Developed by Coolwell, an Arizona-based company, the G2 is one of the greatest inventions of all time. The system consists of a cooler-sized container, blocks of ice and a fan that forces air over the ice and out a tube. The G2 can chill air to 50 degrees below ambient temperature and with the tube aimed at the back of your neck, even the warmest conditions seem pleasant. A pressure activated seat switch ensures that the cold air is put to good use (it shuts off when you aren’t sitting down) and the system is shockingly energy efficient.

If you’re a player headed to the desert, ask about the Coolwell when planning your next trip. And, if you are course manager, get in touch with the manufacturer. Leasing rates are a surpsingly low $8.25 a month, and fleet discounts are available. The only significant expense is the infrastructure for block ice production.

A final note: thanks to the Badlands/Troon Golf staff for creating a premiere experience. And, for the curious, Rick and I lost on hole 35.

the police

2007-06-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

After a 24 year absence from the road The Police are touring again, selling our arenas even faster than they did for the record-setting 1983-84 concerts. Through the generosity and foresight of my friend and old roommate Warren, I was about 15 rows back dead center for last night’s show in Oakland.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. Stadiums tend to have bad sound – and Stewart, Andy and Sting are getting old. Fortunately, my fears of an over-hyped performance were completely unfounded. Although guitarist Andy Summers might have been a tad rusty, Stewart Copeland anchored the trio with precision percussion and Sting was incredible. His vocals on the challenging Roxanne and So Lonely were spot on, and his energy fed the crowd all night long

The show was a hit-packed 2 hours. Wikipedia has all the details, including the set list. As critics have noted, the intros of most of the songs were reworked to keep the fans guessing, and many were nicely updated. However, the changes didn’t stop all 46,500 in attendance from signing along to hits which have proven timeless. The tour moves East hitting all the major cities before starting the European leg in Sweden August 29.

Bonus link 1: a great SmugMug gallery
Bonus link 2: Stewart’s drum set-up

channel islands

2007-06-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

Don is a great photographer and he loves the outdoors. Last weekend he visited the Channel Islands off the Central California coast, and he was kind enough to send a trip report. In his third contribution to (at least) one cool thing, Don writes:

Channel Islands National Park is the least visited in the National Park system with only about 250,000 visitors a year - and the majority of the visits logged are to the visitor's center on the mainland. Far fewer people venture out to the islands themselves, making them a great place to get away. Two of the islands, Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands are readily accessible from harbors in Ventura and Oxnard. Having previously visited Anacapa Island, I elected this time to make the journey to Santa Cruz Island. The skies were gray and overcast and my plans to photograph the seascapes by moonlight were dashed, but the trip still exceeded my expectations with some thrilling encounters with rare wildlife.

Although not formally part of the park, a channel crossing by boat is mandatory, and is often as interesting as the island visit itself. The Channel Islands are located near a confluence of warm and cold currents and are near a steep undersea cliff which results in an upwelling of nutrient-rich waters - perfect for plankton blooms upon which complex food chains can be built. In addition to the normal dolphin and seals, the morning trip to the island included an electrifying encounter with what we believe was a large basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus swimming slowly along the surface. These slow moving animals can be up to 30 feet long and are surpassed only by the more famous whale sharks in size. They are an extremely rare sight in the Channel - our boat's captain had never seen one before after many years of crossings. I also was lucky enough to see a giant ocean sunfish swimming at the surface.

Once at Santa Cruz Island itself, I disembarked with the rest of the passengers and went on a short hike led by Claire, a park ranger and naturalist, who pointed out various species that exist on the Channel Islands and nowhere else. There are over 140 of these plant and animal species that have survived extinction or evolved away from their mainland progenitors in the isolation of the island ecosystems (some people think the Channels are the "North American Galapagos" for this reason). Among them, I was keen to see the endangered island fox (a miniature fox about the size of a house cat) and the island scrub jay (an example of island gigantism, a species that has evolved to be much larger than its mainland counterpart).

Hiking from our landing at Scorpion Bay to Potato Harbor along the bluffs overlooking the sea, I was fortunate to see one of the small foxes in the grass and snapped some photos. These small canines were on the brink of extinction due to predation by non-native Golden Eagles, which filled an ecological niche vacated by native Bald Eagles that were killed in the 1960's by DDT poisoning. Now that the Island is under control of the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy, their population has rebounded and there may be as many as a couple hundred of these animals on Santa Cruz island, which is somewhat larger than Manhattan. This being a dry year, Claire explained to me that the blue jays were not in their usual haunts and I left without seeing one of them, but I plan to return to the islands soon for another try.

Photos from my trip

Bonus link: Bald Eagle Nest Webcam

city hall falcons

2007-05-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Paul’s note: I’ve just returned from a great trip to Italy that has inspired a half-dozen post ideas. However, today, Scott sent in a report about new residents in San Jose that I think you will enjoy. Scott writes:

I sit in my office and watch a majestic bird, nesting not many miles from my cramped cubicle. It is a simple act, heightened by technology. One that reminds me how innately calming it is to witness nature at work.

She is with her babies now, three peregrine falcon chicks, born Sunday April 29. They sleep while she in turn keeps watch, then nods off. Dad will return soon, a fresh pigeon in his talons. He picks it apart like a hyena takes to a gazelle. It is not a pretty sight – to us – but it is a beautiful thing to his hungry wards. They gobble it up in amazing quantities, given their size. Afterwards they often struggle with the awkwardness of a feather clogged in their little beaks.

The family nests on San Jose City Hall. The webcam is courtesy of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group. Over the weeks, hordes of online viewers have witnessed first the chicks’ birth, then their growth. Their progress has been followed by local papers, and discussed in several forums. My two daughters want to see the cute babies at morning and night, fearful that the littlest isn’t going to make it.

Why is it so fascinating to watch these creatures? Perhaps it is their stately nature. Perhaps it is natural voyeurism. I think it has something to do with the fact that, when you strip away our complexities, you can see a likeness in kind. How do the family dynamics work? Does she sleep on the babies while Dad carouses on the town at night? What are the most basic needs? Food, security, protection from the elements. How are their parenting skills? It certainly seems like little Runty gets half the food of the favorite son.

It is basic drama. It is occasionally boring. It is life. It is a window into a simple world without errands, politics, traffic and deadlines, but – yes – with the wonders of the Internet.

The falcons' official site

wrinkle free packing

2007-05-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

A few readers have asked me about the lack of cool things lately. Laziness accounts for much of the inactivity, but things have been very busy at work and my blogging time has been reduced by planning a trip to Italy. Fortunately, this last endeavor has resulted in new discoveries, like today’s secret for wrinkle-free packing: Pack-It Folders from Eagle Creek.

Stuart is getting married in Lake Como, so that means beautiful vistas, Northern Italian cuisine and the need to pack dress shirts. For suits and shirts, I used to use a garment bag. Unfortunately, it can create unpredictable, deep wrinkles and, more damning for this trip, it lacks wheels.

The 21” and 24” bags that are now travel-standard solve the wheel problem but not the need for ironing on arrival. Enter an ingenious solution from Eagle Creek.

The Pack-It Folder is a giant envelope for your clothing. In the 15” size, the base is 15” x 10” and re-enforced with a plastic board. As part of the kit there is a second plastic board for folding clothes that creates perfect folds in shirts and pants. To use Pack-Its, simply stack your clothes up, place the folding board on top for extra support, and then pull the 4 Velcro-covered sides over the top to create a tidy and sturdy bundle.

You can see the 7 long sleeve shirts, 3 pants and 5 short sleeve shirts I wanted to bring on my trip. Notice the same clothes, compacted in 2 15x10x6 stacks. Finally, the same stacks in a rolling case with plenty of room left over for t-shirts, socks, shoes, etc.

Eagle Creek also makes an 18” size that is good for pants and even more items but, after arrivng it Italy and seeing the results of my efforts, I couldn’t be happier with the 15”. An added bonus for the 15: if you asked for your shirts boxed from the dry cleaner they will come folded 15x10. Pack-It Folders are available from REI and other fine retailers.

buying the war

2007-04-26T23:41:00.000-07:00

Last year, Stephen Colbert was the host for the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. In his speech, he said this to the Washington press corps:

As excited as I am to be here with the president, I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media that is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. Fox News gives you both sides of every story: the president's side, and the vice president's side.

But the rest of you, what are you thinking, reporting on NSA wiretapping or secret prisons in Eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason: they're super-depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished. Over the last five years you people were so good -- over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn't want to know, and you had the courtesy not to try to find out. Those were good times, as far as we knew.

But, listen, let's review the rules. Here's how it works: the president makes decisions. He's the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put 'em through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know - fiction!(complete transcript here)

It was humorous, subversive and, as Bill Moyer’s latest documentary Buying the War: How the mainstream press got it so wrong demonstrates, sadly accurate.

Bill Moyers gained national prominence as Press Secretary for President Johnson and then worked as a television journalist for NBC, CBS and PBS. He has won more than 30 Emmys and almost every other major journalism award. Of late, he has been a vocal critic of national media for their lack of investigative reporting, and in Buying the War he makes a devastating case for his position.

Although there are still some fine national reporters (these Pulitzer Prize winners, for example, as well as Walter Pincus for the Post and a handful of New Yorker authors), the institutions that published the Pentagon Papers and exposed Watergate clearly lost their way. Howard Kurtz on the Post’s coverage:

I went back and did the math. From August 2002 until the war was launched in March of 2003 there were about 140 front page pieces in THE WASHINGTON POST making the administration's case for war.

It was, "The President said yesterday." "The Vice President said yesterday." The Pentagon said yesterday." Well, that's part of our job. Those people want to speak. We have to provide them a platform. I don't have anything wrong with that. But there was only a handful-- a handful of stories that ran on the front page. Some more that ran inside the pages of the paper that made the opposite case. Or, if not making the opposite case, raised questions.

Buying the War aired last night. Watch on-demand or read the transcript

geekdad

2007-04-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

Wired Magazine hosts several blogs that I have included in my news reader. Listening Post covers digital music, Gadget Lab reviews the newest gizmos, and Autotopia discusses the future of cars. To this list, I just added Geekdad.

Geekdad launched in March. It is a group blog focused on kids and technology, and its writers include some dads familiar to readers of (at least) one cool thing. Jim Bumgardner is the creator of the Whitney Music Box, Thomas Hawk takes very pretty pictures, and Warren Packard has written for (at least) one cool thing on memory cards, MAME and (in a precursor to his current position) strollers.

If you are a dad, a mom or just like fun things, check out Geekdad and posts like:

Beginner’s Video Rocketry
Introducing your kids to the machine shop
Novel uses for model rockets
Places to take your kids in Portland
The origins of Lego Mindstorms
Combat gliders

and the Redwood Valley Railway.

reactions to the record

2007-04-18T23:16:00.000-07:00

Jeff of Riding East mentioned an amazing symposium sponsored by the Stanford Music Department. Reactions to the Record starts tomorrow and it features very talented musicians from around the world. Of most interest to me are the 8pm concerts tomorrow and Friday nights, and the Saturday morning class with the gifted and generous St.Lawrence String Quartet. More details below:

STANFORD UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC PRESENTS

REACTIONS TO THE RECORD:

Perspectives on Historic Performance

April 19-21, 2007

The Stanford Department of Music is hosting a three-day symposium to explore the vivid styles of performance heard on the earliest acoustic recordings and player piano rolls, styles that began to vanish with the First World War and were considered almost scandalous after the Second. This will be a forum for experiment and dialogue, and the focus will be practical: what might these traces of vintage styles mean to performers, composers and listeners today.

Symposium Homepage

About the Symposium
Schedule of Events
Reservations & Fees
Performers/Presenters Bios
Contact
Links
Concert Details
Banquet Information

Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet

2007-04-16T23:10:00.000-07:00

Alonzo King is a gifted choreographer. His innovative and sophisticated works are performed by ballet companies internationally, but his passion is LINES, the Bay Area company he founded in 1982. LINES has an extensive touring schedule and a repertoire of groundbreaking work, and this Spring they add to it with a collaboration with the Shaolin Monks of San Francisco.

In Collaboration premiered this Friday at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and performances continue Wednesday April 18 through Sunday April 22 (tickets). I was fortunate to see a preview as part of a fundraiser for LINES and I was stunned by the integration of these very different art forms.

The Shaolin Foundation in San Francisco is the only sanctioned monastery and school outside of China. Its monks study Chan Buddhism and wushu, the martial art developed in the 6th century at the Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain. The San Francisco group is quite extraordinary, and its members include:

Master Shi YongYao, the Temple’s 70 year old Qi Gong master and expert in the “metal finger” technique;

Master Shi GuoSong, a 1998 Gold Medalist in the World Wushu Tournament and a leading practicioner of the non-contact Shaolin Boxing;

Shi ChangQiang (pictured above with Brett Conway), a young and very accomplished student expert in Seven Star Boxing and the Nine Jointed Whip;

Shi ChangJun, a master master of Red Boxing and Spring-Autumn sword. Like Shi ChangeQiang, ChangJun is in his 20s (read interview);

and, the delightful 10 year-old triplets: Shi LongHu, Shi HuHu, and Shi BaoHu.

Alonzo has choreographed a cultural exchange. The monks and the dancers have very different backgrounds but they share an amazing command of physicality and in interest in each other’s disciplines. During In Collaboration, this exchange plays out in fantastic demonstrations of martial arts and modern dance as the monks teach wushu and learn about the West in return.

Adding the appeal of this unique performance is a beautiful score played on traditional Chinese instruments. For the fundraiser, Musical Director Hong Wang enchanted us with stunning melodies on the erhu, the bawu and the ma tou qin. For the full performances, Hong is joined by Sheshen Zhang and Wanpeng Guo.

Photography by Marty Sohl

the inn at spanish bay

2007-04-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

Not only haven’t I been blogging often enough; I haven’t been golfing enough either. To celebrate Stuart’s upcoming nuptials, the guys decided to help me change that. Golf at San Juan Oaks on the way down (a great layout but the back 9 is brutal when the wind is up) and Poppy Hills the next day (phenomenal course, and with green fees under $100, a great value). In between we stayed at the Inn at Spanish Bay.

Spanish Bay was built by the Pebble Beach Company in 1987. They acquired land at the tip on the Monterey Peninsula that had used for a sand mining operation and they meticulously restored the habitat. They also hired Robert Trent Jones, Jr. to design a world-class links course at home with its siblings Spyglass and Pebble, and they opened a 269 room hotel.

For the past 20 years, the Inn at Spanish Bay has been a premier escape. It is not inexpensive, but the consensus opinion is that it is worth it. The rooms are very large and quiet, the service is friendly and efficient, and there is no better place to enjoy an evening beverage than by their outdoor fire pits.

A tip for your visit: book a forest view room. You’ll save some money and will find that most spectacular scenery is available when walking the grounds. If you book directly you may get a better rate and be able to secure a one night stay instead of the usual two on weekends. Oh, and if you dine at Roy’s as we did, order the Kobe beef and crab roll. It is delicious.

lots of links

2007-04-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

Last year I learned that it was easy to develop a blogging routine. Last month I discovered how it easy it was to drop the habit. But, just because I haven’t been writing often doesn’t mean I haven’t been finding interesting things. To catch up, tonight I offer 9 links across 3 categories.

Food and drink

I was back at Evvia. I continue to recommend the Greek salad and the Gigantes, but the braised goat with feta and pearl onions is my new favorite entry. The rack of lamb is also excellent; consider a half order.

I have been enjoying some nice wines. Two value oriented selections from the Russian River Valley are the lively Quivera Sauvignon Blanc and the well-balanced, fruity Crossbarn Pinot Noir. Crossbarn is Paul Hobbs second label.

And, we tried more creations from Sushi Sam’s. Don took detailed pictures, and Joy and Mike provided sake. To their Yuki No Bosha “Cabin in the Snow” Limited Release Junmai Ginjo and Hatsushibori “Pure Snow” Junmai Ginjo I added a bottle of Mu Sake “Nothingness” Junmai Diaginjyo. All three were clean and delicate on the palate, not surprising given their very similar SMV values.

Movies

Jonestown: The Life and Death of the People’s Temple, a 90-minute documentary that premiered tonight on PBS, tells the very disturbing story of Jim Jones through interviews with 8 former followers and extensive footage from the 50s, 60s and 70s. It re-airs this week.

Babel – I wanted to see this in the theater and finally caught it on DVD. I was impressed. Think of it as a better version of Crash with more intense acting.

When it was released, The Illusionist was overshadowed by The Prestige (which I loved), but it is possible that it is the better film. I’m not sure why it didn’t generate more buzz. Edward Norton delivers another outstanding performance, and the story is both romantic and mysterious.

Interesting news

A new species of dinosaur capable of burrowing underground has been discovered.

An excavation on Keros has unearthed new clues about Cycladic civilization.

Finally, an article from the Smithsonian describes how SSRL imaging is used to unlock the mysteries of the palimpsest and expose the lost writing of Archimedes.

Häagen-Dazs Reserve

2007-04-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Super-premium ice cream giant Häagen-Dazs has released 5 new flavors in a line labeled Häagen-Dazs Reserve, a nod to the exotic nature of the main ingredients. From the left, they are: Brazilian Acai Berry Sorbet, Amazon Valley Chocolate, Pomegranate Chip, Hawaiian Lehua Honey & Sweet Cream and toasted Coconet Sesame Brittle. Last night, we tried the Pomegranate Chip and it was quite tasty, rivaling some of the best options from my favorite local ice cream shops. I can’t wait to try the acai berry sorbet next.

Häagen-Dazs flavors contain no artificial ingredients or emulsifiers.

what we call the news

2007-03-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

What We Call the News | Send To Friends

A new JibJab video debuted last night at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Annual Dinner. As we have come to expect from the Spiridellis brothers, the lyrics and visuals are both humorous and biting.

There was a time not long ago when each and every day,
At 6 o’clock each evening you knew news was on its way.
From anchors of integrity and three channels to choose,
It’s what we call the news.

Then along came cable, and a ratings race ensued.
Great legends found themselves replaced by blondes with big fake boobs.
Debate replaced with punditry, politically skewed.
It’s what we call the news!

We interrupt this story which is coming from Iraq,
‘Cuz Rosie’s suing Donald, Donald’s suing Rosie back.
We’re cutting from Darfur, we’re in Des Moines with urgent news,
“There’s a finger in my food!”

Guitar strings! Titles! Sound Effects! And graphics everywhere!
Breakin’ news each minute in the rush to get on-air!
With scandals, dramas, tragedies and mindless ballyhoo,
That’s turned our brains to goo!

Now only 3 percent can point to Kabul on a map,
But 96% can claim they’ve seem Brit’s putty-tat… (Meow)
The word’s greatly affected by the stories you choose
To put into the news!

Bronco chases, plane wrecks, shootings, victims on a cruise!
JonBenet, Scott Peterson, and Anna Nicole too!
Celebrities in rehab and a mauling at the zoo!
It’s what we call the news!

Bonus links: President Bush’s remarks

the music videos of michel gondry

2007-03-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

43-year old Michel Gondry is well-known as a writer and director of films like the fantastic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Before directing movies, though, Gondry built his reputation with innovative music videos.

Gondry started his musical career as the drummer for the French group Oui Oui, and he created four of their promo clips including 1989’s Les Cailloux and 1992’s La Ville. However, it was his work with Björk in 1993 for the odd and influential Human Behaviour that brought Gondry wide acclaim.

These 3 videos are among 16 I have selected for your viewing pleasure. They include artists ranging from Beck and Radiohead to Daft Punk and Kanye West. Deserving special mention is the concept for Come Into My World (see how fast you identify it) and the execution on Behind (1 frame per second during 7 days of driving).

Despite his Hollywood success (he won an Academy Award for the screenplay for Eternal Sunshine), Gondry continues to make music videos. As hard as it is to choose among the more than 60 he has created to date, I offer my top 5:

5) Massive Attack – Protection (1995). A gorgeous song and a video filled with detail and shifts in perspective. The set: a building 6 stories flat.

4) The White Stripes – Fell in Love with a Girl (2002). Lego sets and figures built, demolished and rebuilt 5 frames at a time.

3) Jean-François Coen - La Tour de Pise (1993). Gondry sub-titles the song using signs he filmed all over France. I can’t imagine how long this took to produce.

2) Chemical Brothers – Star Guitar (2003). Landscapes as viewed from a train perfectly translated into a musical score. Each visual element matches a sound in the track.

1) Cibo Matto – Sugar Water (1996). Incredible!

YouTube offers a sample of his genius, but to really enjoy his artistry I recommend the 2-DVD The Work of Michel Gondry. It contains 27 videos and shorts and a 75-minute interview that answers many of the “how did he do that” questions you will have as you watch. My thanks to Cathy for introducing me to this wonderful collection.

Bonus clips: Michel has also made visually interesting commercials for clients like Levi’s, Coke, Diet Coke, Nike, The Gap, and, my favorite spot, Air France

super stunt

2007-03-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

April Fools Day is fast approaching and, if you haven’t already, it is time to start planning your jokes. For inspiration, I offer one of the most expensive and intricate pranks of all time: the Super Stunt.

As John Hargrave from Zug explains in the press release:

Just days after the Boston bomb scare, another team of Boston-based pranksters smuggled and distributed 2,350 suspicious light-up devices into the Super Bowl. Due to its attractiveness as a terrorist target, Dolphin Stadium was on a Level One security alert, a level usually reserved for Presidential inaugurations. By posing as media reporters, the pranksters were able to navigate 95 boxes through federal marshals, Homeland Security agents, bomb squads, police dogs, and a five-ton X-ray crane.

During the second quarter of the Super Bowl, the team of pranksters—who call themselves the “Super Six”—quietly distributed thousands of “Prince Party Packs” to an entire section of Dolphin Stadium. Each packet contained a light-up necklace with official-looking instructions. By turning on the necklace lights during the halftime show, Super Bowl fans believed they would be spelling out the word “PRINCE.”

But they didn’t. They spelled a secret message that was broadcast to 93.1 million people.

Read the riveting full story (in six parts) and then watch the video. The obsessed can read this account from another participant and some coverage on Engadget and a Wired blog. What was the real secret message? A good clue is that John has just published a new book: Prank the Monkey.

Bonus pranks: the best of MIT hacks. The police car complete with donuts on the roof of the Great Dome is incredible, although the Changed Inscription rivals it for attention to detail.

apple caramel bread pudding

2007-03-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

Bread pudding is a favorite topic here at (at least) one cool thing. I have featured a tasty recipe before and mentioned variants in numerous restaurant write-ups. On Wednesday, Dmitry was kind enough to bring some to the office from Tartine and that reminded me that I hadn’t discussed the excellent bread pudding Joy made a while back.

Joy followed the recipe in A Passion for Desserts. Chef, author and James Beard Award Winner Emily Luchetti is known for her fantastic creations at Farallon, and although bread budding might not be her most elegant, it is certainly one of the most delicious.

4 golden delicious apples
2 Tablespoons Butter
1/3 Cup apple juice
2 Teaspoons lemon juice
1 Cup Sugar; scant
4 1/2 Cups sweet baguette; cut into ¾ inch cubes
1/2 Cup water
1 1/2 Cup heavy cream
3 Cups milk
4 eggs
5 egg yolks
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat the oven to 350. Peel, core, and slice the apples 1/4 inch thick.

Cook the apple slices, butter, apple and lemon juices, and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a large sauté pan over medium high heat until the apples are soft (about 15 minutes).

Evenly spread the apple slices into the bottom of a 2 1/2 quart ovenproof baking dish. Place the bread pieces on top of the apples.

Stir together 2/3 cup of the sugar and the water in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Increase to high heat and cook, without stirring, until the sugar is amber colored (8-10 minutes). Remove from the heat. Wearing oven mitts, carefully stir about 1/2 cup of the cream into the caramel. Be careful, as the caramel will sputter when the cream is added. If it sputters violently, stop stirring. Let the bubbles subside and then stir again. Carefully stir in the remaining cream. Stir in the milk.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and salt. Whisk a quarter of the caramel cream into the eggs. Add the remaining caramel cream and whisk until incorporated. Pour the caramel cream into the pan over the apples and bread pieces. Using a metal spatula, gently press the bread pieces into the liquid, coating them.

Bake the bread pudding for 35 minutes. While it is baking, stir together the cinnamon, ginger and remaining 1 1/2 T sugar in a small bowl. After 35 minutes, sprinkle the sugar over the top of the bread pudding. Continue baking until the tips of the bread pieces are golden brown and a small knife inserted in the middle comes out coated with thickened custard (about 10 minutes). Let cool 10 minutes before serving. Serve the bread pudding warm. (via Sur La Table)

Read more of Emily’s wonderful recipes here, here and here.

preparing for march madness

2007-03-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

There are two types of people in the world – people who text and people who don’t. I’m in the latter category as are most of my friends. I have figured out T9, but typing anything on a telephone keypad is so much slower for me than email or an actual call that I rarely bother. I’m just not cool enough I guess.

However, there is one text service that is so awesome even I get it: 4info. 4info gives you information on your phone without the hassle of using a mobile web browser.

On my clamshell, getting a game score or a stock quote is a major 10+ step connecting to the internet pain. With 4info, obtaining the same information is much simpler. I just text a message to 4info (44636) and add what I am looking for in the body of the message. For example, warriors or msft. And, 4infro responds back with real-time results.

Their how to page lists the types of searches 4info supports. Examples include very useful services like local weather, flight tracking, package tracking and headlines as well as some more creative ones like jokes, movie times, wifi hotspots by zipcode and pickup lines.

There some advanced features too. In sports, you can get schedules, player stats and standings, but there is more to 4info than search. Web phones can bookmark wap.4info.net for faster queries, and smart phones can run the 4info application. Free. 4info is advertisement supported. No charges, apart from any your carrier may impose for texting, are passed on to you.

The greatest feature, and the reason for this post, is the 4info alert providing customizable, instantaneous updates. And, the most kick-ass alert of all is the one designed for March Madness.

You’ve filled out your brackets, you’ve made plans to watch your favorite teams, but you are not truly prepared for the Tourney unless you have sent “TOURNEY ALERTS" to 44636. In return you will receive scores in a text message immediately after each game. Better still, you will get messages anytime there are upsets in progress.

ps watch out for the PAC-10