i will finally see feist in concert. over the past couple years, she's passed through sf several times and each time something prevented me from attending. once, i was traveling for work, another, i was moving back to sf. there was one other time too, though i can't recall the reason i missed out then.
however, i have a ticket for the sold out tuesday show and nothing, short of familial tragedy, could cause me to miss out.
which got me to thinking, how much would someone have to pay me to take my ticket (provided selling meant i would miss her performance)?
face value was $30. not a chance. double would be $60, and you'd still have to cause severe physical damage before prying them away for that price. $100, still wouldn't get it done. at $200, i'd feel like an idiot for not taking the money, but would walk into the fillmore with a clear conscience.
so i guess the number stands at about $250, maybe $300. but despite being somewhat richer for making the deal, i'm certain i'd spend the rest of that night, and likely the next two or three as well, sitting in the dark, berating myself for opting for the cash.
btw, on craigslist you could definitely pick up a pair for < $100.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
cutting back on drinking days, not drinks
turning 30 -- as i'm about to do -- is the crossroads age for young people and thus a good time for some self-reflection. and so i'm happy to report that i have discovered something about myself that will drive up my productivity.
though other people my age have probably reduced their alcohol consumption in favor of more socially-acceptable pursuits -- like getting married and raising a family -- i've gone the opposite direction. the past month has been among the wettest of my 359, including a three-day stint in montreal that involved roughly 50 libations.
obviously, after drink number 14, it's not as if i rushed home, flipped open my laptop and devised a proof for a formerly intractable math problem or found the cure for a rampant flesh-eating disease in africa. no, i was lucky to spend those evenings in a bed as opposed to slumped over a toilet bowl in a public restroom. but those nights are the ones where adventure happens, friends are made, or converted into more valuable friends, strangers are consummated with etc...who in their right mind would want to excise those from their lives?
no, it's those other days that i must cut back on. those days where i have one glass of wine at happy hour. or two amstels at a pub and call it. those are the real bane. for it's those nights where i've added nothing historical to my life, yet i know that i'll be about as productive as a seal sunning itself on a clear day.
perhaps, there are those individuals who can do the one-drink and then be productive, whether that be study, work, etc. that's just not me. that one might well have been a dozen, because though sober, i'm unmotivated. a real success at that point would constitute checking my email or reading the nyt. shit, watching a movie might be the midpoint of productivity.
so my new motto for a new decade: one and done, no more.
that needs a little work. lucky i still have 29 days.
though other people my age have probably reduced their alcohol consumption in favor of more socially-acceptable pursuits -- like getting married and raising a family -- i've gone the opposite direction. the past month has been among the wettest of my 359, including a three-day stint in montreal that involved roughly 50 libations.
obviously, after drink number 14, it's not as if i rushed home, flipped open my laptop and devised a proof for a formerly intractable math problem or found the cure for a rampant flesh-eating disease in africa. no, i was lucky to spend those evenings in a bed as opposed to slumped over a toilet bowl in a public restroom. but those nights are the ones where adventure happens, friends are made, or converted into more valuable friends, strangers are consummated with etc...who in their right mind would want to excise those from their lives?
no, it's those other days that i must cut back on. those days where i have one glass of wine at happy hour. or two amstels at a pub and call it. those are the real bane. for it's those nights where i've added nothing historical to my life, yet i know that i'll be about as productive as a seal sunning itself on a clear day.
perhaps, there are those individuals who can do the one-drink and then be productive, whether that be study, work, etc. that's just not me. that one might well have been a dozen, because though sober, i'm unmotivated. a real success at that point would constitute checking my email or reading the nyt. shit, watching a movie might be the midpoint of productivity.
so my new motto for a new decade: one and done, no more.
that needs a little work. lucky i still have 29 days.
keep three strikes in baseball
it's hard to muster much sympathy for a dude who makes a habit of getting off (pun intended)on masturbating in public. but on the other hand, does it really warrant a life sentence? according to the letter of the law, that's exactly the punishment called for -- thanks to the brilliant lawmakers who pushed through the three-strikes policy.
look, i imagine it's off-putting for a woman (or man) to be casually driving around only to lock eyes with someone with his pants draped around his ankles whacking off (when, not consensual). but as creepy as it must be, a million dudes lined up side-by-side on the sidewalk jacking off, isn't half as bad as one rape -- where the sentence would be far less severe -- or murder.
i wonder if this incident would even get any notice if it wasn't a former-nba player. but regardless of his past, he'd probably get a lot more out of therapy than a cell. and it's not as if we don't have enough people in jail already.
look, i imagine it's off-putting for a woman (or man) to be casually driving around only to lock eyes with someone with his pants draped around his ankles whacking off (when, not consensual). but as creepy as it must be, a million dudes lined up side-by-side on the sidewalk jacking off, isn't half as bad as one rape -- where the sentence would be far less severe -- or murder.
i wonder if this incident would even get any notice if it wasn't a former-nba player. but regardless of his past, he'd probably get a lot more out of therapy than a cell. and it's not as if we don't have enough people in jail already.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
this caption sucks
Stephen Coburn, right, and Lise Gagné, left, take photographs in their studios
that they will try to sell on the Web.
i'm nitpicking but what logical reason is there for not rewording the subject of the caption so that it reads "Lise Gagne, left, and Stephen Coburn, right,..."? (note: rhetorical question) after all this is english, we read left to right. why not capitalize on this time-tested tradition?
that they will try to sell on the Web.
i'm nitpicking but what logical reason is there for not rewording the subject of the caption so that it reads "Lise Gagne, left, and Stephen Coburn, right,..."? (note: rhetorical question) after all this is english, we read left to right. why not capitalize on this time-tested tradition?
Monday, June 11, 2007
the office, season 3
after finishing viewing the dvds for the second season of the office, i did a quick search for the release date of the third season. the first search result -- TV.com's forum -- provided a quick answer.
but it was the second posting that actually caught my eye.
but it was the second posting that actually caught my eye.
great I can't wait, I have all the episodes on VHS but I love the commentary so yay for September 11, 2007it's a harmless comment but the words "yay for September 11" are just plain wrong.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
why doesn't a strong bullpen translate to a good record in close games?
statistical analysis in baseball has cast doubt on many of baseball's longstanding truisms, clutch hitting being a prime example.
but, perhaps there is no idea that is more sacred than the notion that good bullpens are the key to winning those pressure-filled, one-run games. baseball traditionalists say point to a team with a bad-record in one-run games, and they'll point to a bullpen who can't finish games.
on its face, this makes complete sense. it makes so much sense, in fact, that despite reams of statistical research that show otherwise, its hard to convince yourself there's any other explanation.
even casual fans can recall games where a reliever is brought in to protect a one-run lead only to give up a two-run homer and lose the game. and there you have it -- empirical evidence that bad bullpens lead to bad records in one-run games. had the team possessed a stronger relief corps, the opposing batters would have been set down in orderly fashion, preserving the one-run win.
this reasoning seems perfectly logical, and i suspect it largely accounts for why the idea persists that bad bullpens lead to poor records in one-run games.
however, other scenarios, and are often overlooked, lead to one-run games as well. say a team with a bad bullpen removes their starting pitcher with a three run lead. the relievers, not suprisingly, struggle and surrender two runs before finishing the game. here, the team with the bad bullpen picks up a win in a one-run game that a team with a good bullpen -- whose relievers would normally give up no runs -- would not.
then look at the corollary to the situation. say a team with a good bullpen removes their starter in a game where they trail by one run. the pen does their job and holds the other team scoreless. unfortunately, the team's offense puts up zeroes the rest of the way too and they lose the game by one run. now, having a good bullpen has actually hurt their record in one-run games by doing their job. conversely, a bad bullpen would be much more likely to turn that one-run deficit into a blowout, thereby avoiding the loss in the one-run game.
essentially, scenarios exist where having a bad bullpen has a negative effect on a team's win-loss record in one-run games. but scenarios also exist where having a bad bullpen has a positive effect on a team's win-loss record in one-run games. the same can be true for good bullpens. and eventually the law of large numbers says these even out.
but, perhaps there is no idea that is more sacred than the notion that good bullpens are the key to winning those pressure-filled, one-run games. baseball traditionalists say point to a team with a bad-record in one-run games, and they'll point to a bullpen who can't finish games.
on its face, this makes complete sense. it makes so much sense, in fact, that despite reams of statistical research that show otherwise, its hard to convince yourself there's any other explanation.
even casual fans can recall games where a reliever is brought in to protect a one-run lead only to give up a two-run homer and lose the game. and there you have it -- empirical evidence that bad bullpens lead to bad records in one-run games. had the team possessed a stronger relief corps, the opposing batters would have been set down in orderly fashion, preserving the one-run win.
this reasoning seems perfectly logical, and i suspect it largely accounts for why the idea persists that bad bullpens lead to poor records in one-run games.
however, other scenarios, and are often overlooked, lead to one-run games as well. say a team with a bad bullpen removes their starting pitcher with a three run lead. the relievers, not suprisingly, struggle and surrender two runs before finishing the game. here, the team with the bad bullpen picks up a win in a one-run game that a team with a good bullpen -- whose relievers would normally give up no runs -- would not.
then look at the corollary to the situation. say a team with a good bullpen removes their starter in a game where they trail by one run. the pen does their job and holds the other team scoreless. unfortunately, the team's offense puts up zeroes the rest of the way too and they lose the game by one run. now, having a good bullpen has actually hurt their record in one-run games by doing their job. conversely, a bad bullpen would be much more likely to turn that one-run deficit into a blowout, thereby avoiding the loss in the one-run game.
essentially, scenarios exist where having a bad bullpen has a negative effect on a team's win-loss record in one-run games. but scenarios also exist where having a bad bullpen has a positive effect on a team's win-loss record in one-run games. the same can be true for good bullpens. and eventually the law of large numbers says these even out.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
blogger is buggy
somehow, blogger has decided that the month names should be presented in either castillan or valenciano. not quite sure, so i guess it could be italian or portuguese as well...of course now that i've saved this entry it's reverted back to english names. i swear it was doing it though, otherwise how else as a monoglot would i know that gener = january and maig = may.
nothing against female singers
but they sure have a tendency to suck -- at least in those groups where they share lead vocals with a male counterpart. now based on previous posts, one might assume i think women suck at everything (such as humor) and that i am simply disguising my chauvinism as a critique.
but that would be erroneous. in fact, my favorite rock group of the moment, the long blondes, features a female lead singer. and though i wouldn't quite call her a rocker, feist -- very much a female -- possesses my favorite voice in all of music. and there are others too; i enjoy magneta lane, though they fall short of greatness. and though i'm not a die-hard of the yeah, yeah, yeahs, karen o posseses a terrific voice/scream.
but as i enjoy the arcade fire's latest cd, i'm reminded that shared singing duties between a man and a woman seem to be cursed for failure. when the arcade fire falters, it always seems to coincide with regine chassagne taking the mic. same with the white stripes and meg white. and doubly so with the von bondies.
even when i took in the autolux show at coachella a few years back, the one song where they brought their female drummer up to sing was a disaster. perhaps they were doing it for novelty's sake, becuase it sure wasn't for quality's.
other than the new pornographers -- which is sort of cheating since they're more of an indie supergroup -- does this male/female arrangement ever work?
but that would be erroneous. in fact, my favorite rock group of the moment, the long blondes, features a female lead singer. and though i wouldn't quite call her a rocker, feist -- very much a female -- possesses my favorite voice in all of music. and there are others too; i enjoy magneta lane, though they fall short of greatness. and though i'm not a die-hard of the yeah, yeah, yeahs, karen o posseses a terrific voice/scream.
but as i enjoy the arcade fire's latest cd, i'm reminded that shared singing duties between a man and a woman seem to be cursed for failure. when the arcade fire falters, it always seems to coincide with regine chassagne taking the mic. same with the white stripes and meg white. and doubly so with the von bondies.
even when i took in the autolux show at coachella a few years back, the one song where they brought their female drummer up to sing was a disaster. perhaps they were doing it for novelty's sake, becuase it sure wasn't for quality's.
other than the new pornographers -- which is sort of cheating since they're more of an indie supergroup -- does this male/female arrangement ever work?
Monday, May 21, 2007
oscar v. spirit
with each year that passes, i lose more and more faith in the oscars. while the public cares about the academy awards 10x more than all the other awards shows combined, i'm of the opinion that the academy membership has shown a penchant for doing is choosing the wrong movie. i suspect their track record with actors is probably better, but let's not exaggerate their competence in this regard either. julia roberts, best actress for erin brockovich. unbelievably, that is no joke.
so with that in mind, i've decided to test whether the oscars even deserve the label best movie award, let alone best award overall (not that there's much competition outside of film, the grammys, are you fucking with me?). i'd say the last 11 years of best pictures should provide a rough indicator of recent performance.
by my count, that makes the score 5-2, spirits. i suppose the oscars could sweep the four undecided and earn the narrow victory, but the academy needs to be worried. after all, titanic would have been an all-time flub as a nominee, let alone a winner, and chicago wasn't exactly an inspired selection either. losing either of those matchups clinches the academy's loss.
the projected tally looks to end up 7-4 spirits. ouch, that's a drubbing.
so with that in mind, i've decided to test whether the oscars even deserve the label best movie award, let alone best award overall (not that there's much competition outside of film, the grammys, are you fucking with me?). i'd say the last 11 years of best pictures should provide a rough indicator of recent performance.
| Year | Oscars | ISPs | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Departed | Little Miss Sunshine | Oscars |
| 2006 | Crash | Brokeback Mountain | Spirits |
| 2005 | Million Dollar Baby | Sideways | Spirits |
| 2004 | LOTR: The Return of the King | Lost in Translation | Spirits |
| 2003 | Chicago | Far from Heaven | TBD |
| 2002 | A Beautiful Mind | Memento | Spirits |
| 2001 | Gladiator | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon | Spirits |
| 2000 | American Beauty | Election | Oscars |
| 1999 | Shakespeare in Love | Gods and Monsters | TBD |
| 1998 | Titanic | The Apostle | TBD |
| 1997 | The English Patient | Fargo | TBD |
by my count, that makes the score 5-2, spirits. i suppose the oscars could sweep the four undecided and earn the narrow victory, but the academy needs to be worried. after all, titanic would have been an all-time flub as a nominee, let alone a winner, and chicago wasn't exactly an inspired selection either. losing either of those matchups clinches the academy's loss.
the projected tally looks to end up 7-4 spirits. ouch, that's a drubbing.
on sequels
that sequels suck is one of those immutable rules of thumb for film, and though music doesn't adhere to the tenet quite as closely, it is by no means exempt.
just this year, a couple cases illustrate this point nicely:
bloc party: silent alarm (excellent), a weekend in the city (basura)
clap your hands, self-titled debut (among the best albums of the year), some loud thunder (three listens and i have no use for it now or anytime in the future).
on the other hand, the most worshipped indie band of its time -- the arcade fire -- has escpaed the sophomore jinx. in fact, i would venture, though many fans would likely find the statement sacreligious, that neon bible outshines their much glorified debut lp, funeral.
i'll admit i didn't love their first album, at least not the way everybody else did. but i do agree wholeheartedly that the uniqueness of its sound clearly distinguished it from its brethren. i don't think this album matches its predecessor in that way. what neon bible does have going for it is that it's infinitely more listen-able. it's bigger, brighter, and while not bolder, it is more energetic.
when and if arcade fire takes their place in the annals of music, i think funeral will be what they are exemplified by. but my concern is not their place in history, it's simply what i like. and i prefer the immediacy of neon bible to their harder-shelled debut.
just this year, a couple cases illustrate this point nicely:
bloc party: silent alarm (excellent), a weekend in the city (basura)
clap your hands, self-titled debut (among the best albums of the year), some loud thunder (three listens and i have no use for it now or anytime in the future).
on the other hand, the most worshipped indie band of its time -- the arcade fire -- has escpaed the sophomore jinx. in fact, i would venture, though many fans would likely find the statement sacreligious, that neon bible outshines their much glorified debut lp, funeral.
i'll admit i didn't love their first album, at least not the way everybody else did. but i do agree wholeheartedly that the uniqueness of its sound clearly distinguished it from its brethren. i don't think this album matches its predecessor in that way. what neon bible does have going for it is that it's infinitely more listen-able. it's bigger, brighter, and while not bolder, it is more energetic.
when and if arcade fire takes their place in the annals of music, i think funeral will be what they are exemplified by. but my concern is not their place in history, it's simply what i like. and i prefer the immediacy of neon bible to their harder-shelled debut.
Friday, May 18, 2007
my new yorker "subscription"
upon my return to sf, i took over the apartment of friends who upgraded in space to accommodate them living together as a couple. i wouldn't call my place luxurious, and certainly not commodius, but it's cute, and i have no real complaints (except the bathroom sucks -- i can barely sit straight on the toilet without my knees hitting the bathtub. and it holds moisture like a ziploc bag, meaning i have to keep the window propped open, which makes for naked, chilly moments each morning as i wait for shower steam to fill the room).
but the best thing about my place has nothing to do with the structure itself. the day i took the keys, a copy of the new yorker awaited me. i confess i let a month go by before telling my friend that her subscription was still being delivered to her old address, but when i finally came clean, i discovered she was receiving copies too.
after a couple months though, the honeymoon ended. i approached the front door each evening imagining that the mailman had slipped the newest edition through the mail slot, but as i opened the door all i found were catalogs and credit card offers. each morning as i rode the streetcar to work and each evening as i rode it home, i scanned the car with green eyes looking for fellow passengers enjoying the magazine by which all magazines are measured.
misery ensued over those next weeks so with my mental health in mind, i decided to purchase my own subscription. but as fate would have it, an issue showed up the next morning. and the following week, the next issue appeared as well. i spoke to my friend and she confirmed all was still well with her subscription.
elation returned. the commute emerged as the highlight of my day. 30 minutes to and for where i could stand, read, learn, and listen to music.
but on a return ride one evening, something happened. i stood without reading material as i'd finished every article of the current issue on the trip to work. so without occupation, my eyes wandered coming to a pause at a young lady's magazine: the new yorker, one with a cover i'd not yet seen. i stealthily checked the date and indeed it was the next issue.
i scurried home from the train stop eager to pick up the newest issue only to be confronted by coupon books and paper copies of bank statements. sure i was dismayed, but i could wait one more day for it to arrive. but one more day turned into a week and still no magazine showed up. and the same the following week. and such has been the pattern since. a new yorker arrives, then a hiatus where nothing shows up for the next week or two.
and so i'm stuck. missing issues of what i love to read more than anything else, yet feeling like the freeness of my partial subscription is just enough to justify me assuming the full yearly cost.
oh, what to do?
but the best thing about my place has nothing to do with the structure itself. the day i took the keys, a copy of the new yorker awaited me. i confess i let a month go by before telling my friend that her subscription was still being delivered to her old address, but when i finally came clean, i discovered she was receiving copies too.
after a couple months though, the honeymoon ended. i approached the front door each evening imagining that the mailman had slipped the newest edition through the mail slot, but as i opened the door all i found were catalogs and credit card offers. each morning as i rode the streetcar to work and each evening as i rode it home, i scanned the car with green eyes looking for fellow passengers enjoying the magazine by which all magazines are measured.
misery ensued over those next weeks so with my mental health in mind, i decided to purchase my own subscription. but as fate would have it, an issue showed up the next morning. and the following week, the next issue appeared as well. i spoke to my friend and she confirmed all was still well with her subscription.
elation returned. the commute emerged as the highlight of my day. 30 minutes to and for where i could stand, read, learn, and listen to music.
but on a return ride one evening, something happened. i stood without reading material as i'd finished every article of the current issue on the trip to work. so without occupation, my eyes wandered coming to a pause at a young lady's magazine: the new yorker, one with a cover i'd not yet seen. i stealthily checked the date and indeed it was the next issue.
i scurried home from the train stop eager to pick up the newest issue only to be confronted by coupon books and paper copies of bank statements. sure i was dismayed, but i could wait one more day for it to arrive. but one more day turned into a week and still no magazine showed up. and the same the following week. and such has been the pattern since. a new yorker arrives, then a hiatus where nothing shows up for the next week or two.
and so i'm stuck. missing issues of what i love to read more than anything else, yet feeling like the freeness of my partial subscription is just enough to justify me assuming the full yearly cost.
oh, what to do?
Monday, May 14, 2007
out of red ribbons
some strange things happen when you work in the world of online gaming (the kind that involves money, not mages). especially with proprietors who partake in their product (apparently they haven't listened to big's ten crack commandments "never get high on your own supply").
in my experience of the normal corporate world, when things go pear-shaped, they examine how their business operates (good) and look down for peons they can point to as not pulling their weight (not necessarily good). but with gambling types, their thought processes don't quite meet the smell test when it comes to rationality. instead of delving into their books or their processes, they look to karma, luck, energy, and whatever else a gambler might depend on to beat the house at their own game.
in our case, they looked to feng shui. and when that didn't work, the answer was once again, feng shui. after all, if business is slow, what better way to attract more customers than rearranging the desks and throwing a bonzai tree on a few desks.
so one monday, i arrived in the office to find cream-colored gourds hanging from the water pipes running along the celings. apparently business remained sour though, because a few weeks later, we had another feng shui expert do the walk-through.
no, no, no. gourds were all wrong for this place. we need to hang red ribbons. oh, and here's the check for $3600. i'll send over that crimson tape as soon as i get that payment.
but this past evening, as the last to leave for the day from my floor, while walking around shutting off the lights, i noticed something pecuilar. we still had gourds, while all the offices had ribbons.
where's my positive energy? don't we get some too?
in my experience of the normal corporate world, when things go pear-shaped, they examine how their business operates (good) and look down for peons they can point to as not pulling their weight (not necessarily good). but with gambling types, their thought processes don't quite meet the smell test when it comes to rationality. instead of delving into their books or their processes, they look to karma, luck, energy, and whatever else a gambler might depend on to beat the house at their own game.
in our case, they looked to feng shui. and when that didn't work, the answer was once again, feng shui. after all, if business is slow, what better way to attract more customers than rearranging the desks and throwing a bonzai tree on a few desks.
so one monday, i arrived in the office to find cream-colored gourds hanging from the water pipes running along the celings. apparently business remained sour though, because a few weeks later, we had another feng shui expert do the walk-through.
no, no, no. gourds were all wrong for this place. we need to hang red ribbons. oh, and here's the check for $3600. i'll send over that crimson tape as soon as i get that payment.
but this past evening, as the last to leave for the day from my floor, while walking around shutting off the lights, i noticed something pecuilar. we still had gourds, while all the offices had ribbons.
where's my positive energy? don't we get some too?
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
i've seen god...he's called adam gopnik
in the world of magazine journalism, there's the new yorker and everything else. simply to appear in the magazine indicates a mastery of the writing craft. but even among this distinguished company, adam gopnik emerges as special. everything you wish you could have observed, he observes for you. no point goes unaddressed, no angle unexplored and the eloquence with which he spells these ideas out, unmatched.
there's an old story which gets repeated at the beginning of every journalism class across the country. during an interview for a lofty editorial position, the managing editor of a revered journalism organziation asks the interviewee about his qualifications. the interviewee boasts that he can walk into the newsroom and without exchanging a single word with the writers pick out the finest of the bunch.
sure enough, the two of them step out of the office, the writer takes a sweeping glance of the room, and picks out the star wordsmiths. dumbfounded, the ME asks how he did it. simple, the writer says, just look for those whose lips move as they write.
great writing engages your senses. though letters are just curved marks on paper (or computer screen) they somehow become much more in the hands of a skilled practitioner. entire scenes are painted in one's mind, each sentence another brush stroke bringing the picture one step closer to completion. yet simultaneously, each word seems whispered in your ear, as intimate as that first great conversation with a future partner.
it's the rhythm of the words that really captivates me. the picture is great, but without the audio seeems hollow. and here adam gopnik excels. for anyone who doubts that, they simply need to read the opening paragraph of his latest contribution, shootings. the topic is familar: the virginia tech massacre. but to not hear, or more accurately, be haunted by his words, you'd need to be dead yourself.
there's an old story which gets repeated at the beginning of every journalism class across the country. during an interview for a lofty editorial position, the managing editor of a revered journalism organziation asks the interviewee about his qualifications. the interviewee boasts that he can walk into the newsroom and without exchanging a single word with the writers pick out the finest of the bunch.
sure enough, the two of them step out of the office, the writer takes a sweeping glance of the room, and picks out the star wordsmiths. dumbfounded, the ME asks how he did it. simple, the writer says, just look for those whose lips move as they write.
great writing engages your senses. though letters are just curved marks on paper (or computer screen) they somehow become much more in the hands of a skilled practitioner. entire scenes are painted in one's mind, each sentence another brush stroke bringing the picture one step closer to completion. yet simultaneously, each word seems whispered in your ear, as intimate as that first great conversation with a future partner.
it's the rhythm of the words that really captivates me. the picture is great, but without the audio seeems hollow. and here adam gopnik excels. for anyone who doubts that, they simply need to read the opening paragraph of his latest contribution, shootings. the topic is familar: the virginia tech massacre. but to not hear, or more accurately, be haunted by his words, you'd need to be dead yourself.
Monday, May 07, 2007
if i could do it again
every vacation i've ever taken out of the country (my last trip to puerto rico counts) has left me with at least one memory i'll take with me forever. which is not to say every trip's been perfect.
but unlike most places i've visited, i could get puerto rico dead right the next time around.
arrive in san juan on friday night and blast off that jet lag with a long night of drinking and carousing with the locals. get a decent night's rest (4-5 hours), recharge with a cafe con leche, and wander around old san juan for the day. clean up, watch the cockfights, clean up, and use your winnings from picking the winning chicken to have a nice dinner on calle fortaleza. then repeat friday night with one difference: don't stop till the sun's fuly risen, head straight to the airport and catch a puddle jumper to one of the islands (vieques or culebra).
wash off in the salty ocean and pass out on the beach. alternate the following for the next three days: swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sunbathing, drinking, eating, kayaking, the biobay, sport fishing, and sleeping (preferably outdoors, after applying strong bug repellant). mix activities when possible. catch the charter plane back to san juan and for tuesday night's galleria.
if you have another day or two go walk through the rain forest.
if not, go home and revel in a great trip.
but unlike most places i've visited, i could get puerto rico dead right the next time around.
arrive in san juan on friday night and blast off that jet lag with a long night of drinking and carousing with the locals. get a decent night's rest (4-5 hours), recharge with a cafe con leche, and wander around old san juan for the day. clean up, watch the cockfights, clean up, and use your winnings from picking the winning chicken to have a nice dinner on calle fortaleza. then repeat friday night with one difference: don't stop till the sun's fuly risen, head straight to the airport and catch a puddle jumper to one of the islands (vieques or culebra).
wash off in the salty ocean and pass out on the beach. alternate the following for the next three days: swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sunbathing, drinking, eating, kayaking, the biobay, sport fishing, and sleeping (preferably outdoors, after applying strong bug repellant). mix activities when possible. catch the charter plane back to san juan and for tuesday night's galleria.
if you have another day or two go walk through the rain forest.
if not, go home and revel in a great trip.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
congratulations leslie
sure, other distinctions exist, but do any really outweigh being the first artist listed on my audible list twice? i reckon nay.
last night as i surfed the internet, i decided to steal her new album (temporarily, i'll buy it when it comes out). technically, it's not even released and won't be until may 1 stateside. but that has no bearing on it being available on various p2p sites, my preferred one being soulseek. and just as i suspected, a slew of individuals had already posted it on the network.
so this morning as i sauntered down to the muni station, i took a listen. my first thought was negative: god damn it, these stupid white earbuds that come with ipods suck. they perfectly reproduce what the music would sound like if your studio were a tunnel on a winter day in chicago.
but as soon as i got over that fact, her songs absorbed me. unlike her previous (and also great) album let it die, these songs all come from feist herself -- with the exception of one nina simone cover. and she displays true variety, varying the pace from the bright and danceable i feel it all to the sultry and bass-laden my moon my man all the way down to the melancholy and contemplative the water. mix this with the sexiest voice in the biz and, well, there's not much else to say except that feist has about three weeks left before achieving international pop stardom.
oh, and that first listen has turned into half a dozen going on seven.
last night as i surfed the internet, i decided to steal her new album (temporarily, i'll buy it when it comes out). technically, it's not even released and won't be until may 1 stateside. but that has no bearing on it being available on various p2p sites, my preferred one being soulseek. and just as i suspected, a slew of individuals had already posted it on the network.
so this morning as i sauntered down to the muni station, i took a listen. my first thought was negative: god damn it, these stupid white earbuds that come with ipods suck. they perfectly reproduce what the music would sound like if your studio were a tunnel on a winter day in chicago.
but as soon as i got over that fact, her songs absorbed me. unlike her previous (and also great) album let it die, these songs all come from feist herself -- with the exception of one nina simone cover. and she displays true variety, varying the pace from the bright and danceable i feel it all to the sultry and bass-laden my moon my man all the way down to the melancholy and contemplative the water. mix this with the sexiest voice in the biz and, well, there's not much else to say except that feist has about three weeks left before achieving international pop stardom.
oh, and that first listen has turned into half a dozen going on seven.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
you're short? better work hard
i don't think it's much of a secret that women prefer taller men. but now it's been quantified just how much they prefer them. and the news isn't so good for me.
apparently, the average annual income for a man in the united states is $62,500. i make more than that, but not $150,000 more, which is what i'd have to do to offset my disadvantage versus an identically-qualified six-foot version of myself according to a study done on the preferences of men and women using matchmaking services. read about it in john tierney's article in the nyt.
fortunately, i have my sterling good looks, incisive wit, and impeccable taste to fall back on. that's got to be worth, oh let's say two inches. now where am i going to find the other $50,000? hehe.
apparently, the average annual income for a man in the united states is $62,500. i make more than that, but not $150,000 more, which is what i'd have to do to offset my disadvantage versus an identically-qualified six-foot version of myself according to a study done on the preferences of men and women using matchmaking services. read about it in john tierney's article in the nyt.
fortunately, i have my sterling good looks, incisive wit, and impeccable taste to fall back on. that's got to be worth, oh let's say two inches. now where am i going to find the other $50,000? hehe.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
my three month checkup
here's what i pledged to do for 2007. let's see how i'm doing.
* stop biting my nails
a rousing success, though one slightly marred by the replacement of one bad habit with another questionable one. kind of like people who quit smoking and get fat, i've quit biting my nails and have started filing them with a four-surface emory board (though i only use two, no buffing for me!)
* dinner party once a month (starting february)
only failure to report. i began the year at zero, and remain there.
* cook one real meal per week (multiple pots and courses)
a mixed bag. i've cooked several real meals, but nothing that i would consider impressive. i continue to disappoint myself by the way i cook. still, my goal here was partly economic, and i've probably saved something.
* one month cycle
failure!
* stay with the gym (add ten pounds of muscle and lose five pounds of fat)
i'm pretty sure i've added ten pounds. unfortunately, it's not all muscle. just reupped at the gym though. of course paying's the easy part, now i have to start going.
* 20k invested
i've modified this goal to having 50k across all my investment vehicles. that includes two 401k accounts from old jobs, a brokerage account, and an online savings account. with the $4000 of excelsior funds i just purchased, that brings me to ~ $30k. since i started the year with around 20k, that puts me roughly on schedule.
* 2 international trips
well i'm still at zero, but i think there's a reasonable chance i could get to four if i include work trips. ireland for my birthday, southern europe for new year's, and then montreal and manila for work.
* remember how much i like my friends (keeping in touch, visiting, gifts)
i've found it offputting to give gifts to friends. so far i've purchased two of them, and delivered one after a long deliberation. this may just be me being me, but there's always something to feel weird about. if she is single -- or even worse if she's not -- will she misinterpret it as a play? if the friend is a he, well, guys exchanging gifts is just weird, right? i have a gift sitting at my house and am actually waiting for a reason to give it. of course, this kinda defeats the purpose of random gift-giving, which is what i set out to do.
* keep chin high (six days so far)
haven't been able to sustain this, and have tried to replace it by keeping myself busy. i've taken freelance assignments so that i wouldn't have to sit and think about things i shouldn't be thinking about. and when there have been other free moments, i'll play cards. hell, if you're not going to be happy now, at least set aside something for the future when you might. well at least that's my thought process.
honestly, it's been a tough year, and nothing close to what i had envisioned at the beginning. i feel like i've done some good things, but it still feels like i'm coming up short. i guess the silver lining's that i still have nine months to correct that.
* stop biting my nails
a rousing success, though one slightly marred by the replacement of one bad habit with another questionable one. kind of like people who quit smoking and get fat, i've quit biting my nails and have started filing them with a four-surface emory board (though i only use two, no buffing for me!)
* dinner party once a month (starting february)
only failure to report. i began the year at zero, and remain there.
* cook one real meal per week (multiple pots and courses)
a mixed bag. i've cooked several real meals, but nothing that i would consider impressive. i continue to disappoint myself by the way i cook. still, my goal here was partly economic, and i've probably saved something.
* one month cycle
failure!
* stay with the gym (add ten pounds of muscle and lose five pounds of fat)
i'm pretty sure i've added ten pounds. unfortunately, it's not all muscle. just reupped at the gym though. of course paying's the easy part, now i have to start going.
* 20k invested
i've modified this goal to having 50k across all my investment vehicles. that includes two 401k accounts from old jobs, a brokerage account, and an online savings account. with the $4000 of excelsior funds i just purchased, that brings me to ~ $30k. since i started the year with around 20k, that puts me roughly on schedule.
* 2 international trips
well i'm still at zero, but i think there's a reasonable chance i could get to four if i include work trips. ireland for my birthday, southern europe for new year's, and then montreal and manila for work.
* remember how much i like my friends (keeping in touch, visiting, gifts)
i've found it offputting to give gifts to friends. so far i've purchased two of them, and delivered one after a long deliberation. this may just be me being me, but there's always something to feel weird about. if she is single -- or even worse if she's not -- will she misinterpret it as a play? if the friend is a he, well, guys exchanging gifts is just weird, right? i have a gift sitting at my house and am actually waiting for a reason to give it. of course, this kinda defeats the purpose of random gift-giving, which is what i set out to do.
* keep chin high (six days so far)
haven't been able to sustain this, and have tried to replace it by keeping myself busy. i've taken freelance assignments so that i wouldn't have to sit and think about things i shouldn't be thinking about. and when there have been other free moments, i'll play cards. hell, if you're not going to be happy now, at least set aside something for the future when you might. well at least that's my thought process.
honestly, it's been a tough year, and nothing close to what i had envisioned at the beginning. i feel like i've done some good things, but it still feels like i'm coming up short. i guess the silver lining's that i still have nine months to correct that.
Monday, April 02, 2007
illegible
a couple weeks ago, i added a sidebar to my blog called legible, where i could list all the things i read that truly moved, relaxed, fascinated, uplifted, or inspired me. i am a bit afraid everything is going to come from the new yorker and ny times -- more or less the required reading for anyone who considers themselves informed -- but hopefully that will motivate me to broaden my reading habits.
normally, they make terrific diversions, enriching my time on a crowded streetcar or breaking up a monotonous work day of writing sop documents for our customer support team. but today, the times failed. failed miserably.
starting as i often do in the most emailed box, i clicked on the most written about story, For Girls, It’s Be Yourself, and Be Perfect, Too.
it's long, especially for a newspaper article. it requires you to click six times to reach the end, and the only thing that got me through it was the knowledge that i was going to rail about it on my blog.
basically, it's a woe is me piece about rich girls, who have to balance being rich and the rigors of making sure that they're going to stay that way. yes, the horror of having to take honors and ap classes so they can go to the ivy league school that their parents are alma maters of, all while trying to be pretty.
yes, i understand college is competitive these days. but my sympathy doesn't extend to crying adolescents who didn't make the grade for williams and will have to settle for smith. and call me a snob, but when i read about the huge sigh of relief that came when one student received her acceptance letter from usc (who knew the university of spoiled children had those? i always assumed parents just sent in the first semester's tuition with the "application".), what little credibility that had survived for the first five pages of the story instantly vanished.
so to the "amazing girls" of newton high, i say good luck.
not that you'll need it, since you're rich already.
normally, they make terrific diversions, enriching my time on a crowded streetcar or breaking up a monotonous work day of writing sop documents for our customer support team. but today, the times failed. failed miserably.
starting as i often do in the most emailed box, i clicked on the most written about story, For Girls, It’s Be Yourself, and Be Perfect, Too.
it's long, especially for a newspaper article. it requires you to click six times to reach the end, and the only thing that got me through it was the knowledge that i was going to rail about it on my blog.
basically, it's a woe is me piece about rich girls, who have to balance being rich and the rigors of making sure that they're going to stay that way. yes, the horror of having to take honors and ap classes so they can go to the ivy league school that their parents are alma maters of, all while trying to be pretty.
yes, i understand college is competitive these days. but my sympathy doesn't extend to crying adolescents who didn't make the grade for williams and will have to settle for smith. and call me a snob, but when i read about the huge sigh of relief that came when one student received her acceptance letter from usc (who knew the university of spoiled children had those? i always assumed parents just sent in the first semester's tuition with the "application".), what little credibility that had survived for the first five pages of the story instantly vanished.
so to the "amazing girls" of newton high, i say good luck.
not that you'll need it, since you're rich already.
everybody loves (long) blondes
normally when i travel, i travel to eat. but with a tentative plan to head over to the uk at the beginning of july, i decided to see if my current favorite band happened to be playing somewhere on the island. as it turns out they're on the summer festival circuit with stops at oxegen and t in the park. too bad they're sold out (three months in advance?), which means the only times they'll be within a 5000 mile radius of my location in the foreseeable future will pass me by.
i love the long blondes album, somewhere to drive you home, and basically loop it on my ipod. and to the detriment of my connectedness to the world, their cd has replaced npr as my automobile listening. in fact, i'm so enamored with their music, that i've developed a crush on lead singer kate jackson, despite not finding her remotely attractive physically. kinda like feist (though she's still #1).
i love the long blondes album, somewhere to drive you home, and basically loop it on my ipod. and to the detriment of my connectedness to the world, their cd has replaced npr as my automobile listening. in fact, i'm so enamored with their music, that i've developed a crush on lead singer kate jackson, despite not finding her remotely attractive physically. kinda like feist (though she's still #1).
Friday, March 30, 2007
and the axe fell
today reminded me of those gloomy days at the tail end of the dot-com era, morale dropping to a seemingly impossible low after a few more people said their goodbyes. these days played a significant role in why i left the uncorporate corporate world of the startup.
so it saddened me, though i knew it was happening, that a couple people were asked to stop showing up. one person, i consider a friend, albeit not a close one. not much of a worker, but a pleasant fellow. the office will be a bit more somber in his absence. the other, i have little fondness for. he hasn't taken particularly well to my delegations of responsibility and a sense of resentment emanated from him constantly. still, i don't wish joblessness on him either, especially after hearing that he splits time between his sister's and a friend's couch already.
all that said, the layoffs were deserved, and for that matter, tardy. i'll be taking over their duties, which look to be minimal. and i guess i should feel good that i negotiated them a modest severance package, two weeks paid notice and delayed their dismissal for a week. from what i've heard about the man above, none of those things would have happened normally.
but it still doesn't make me all that much happier. those looks of resignation on their faces as they were called into the one-on-ones, understanding their inevitable fate -- they're difficult to forget.
time to drink it off.
so it saddened me, though i knew it was happening, that a couple people were asked to stop showing up. one person, i consider a friend, albeit not a close one. not much of a worker, but a pleasant fellow. the office will be a bit more somber in his absence. the other, i have little fondness for. he hasn't taken particularly well to my delegations of responsibility and a sense of resentment emanated from him constantly. still, i don't wish joblessness on him either, especially after hearing that he splits time between his sister's and a friend's couch already.
all that said, the layoffs were deserved, and for that matter, tardy. i'll be taking over their duties, which look to be minimal. and i guess i should feel good that i negotiated them a modest severance package, two weeks paid notice and delayed their dismissal for a week. from what i've heard about the man above, none of those things would have happened normally.
but it still doesn't make me all that much happier. those looks of resignation on their faces as they were called into the one-on-ones, understanding their inevitable fate -- they're difficult to forget.
time to drink it off.
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