What's the most economical living situation? Subletting your rent-controlled apartment and never having to pay rent. Renters who are allowed to sublease their low-rent apartments can profit from the high cost of housing in the San Francisco area. Some earn extra sums of money, but the woman profiled in the article says she only rents out at her cost (leaving herself rent free). And the best part is that she uses the freedom this odd combination of capitalism + government control gives her to do good for the world as an environmental educator. I like that.
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The new dueling game systems are also dueling on the traveling demo scene. The Xbox contingent is traveling to 33 cities with two 53-foot semi's and a "humongous inflated dome". Nintendo's GameCube is playing up an exclusive elite angle with their Cube Clubs. GameCube launch: November 18th. Xbox: November 15th. I think I'll go find something that plays Pong. Just Pong.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2001

Ahhhh, 600 toy balloons filled with helium take a man 11,000 feet up. But, I wonder, where are the balloons now?
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The NY Times has an update on the relocation of TV broadcast antennas since the collapse of the twin towers. Some stations had already installed expensive digital TV equipment at the WTC, which is, of course, now gone. And audience share is being lost, especially at WNET, the city's public television station. They have halted on-the-air fundraising since one-third of their audience can no longer receive their signal. Stations have formed a coalition to find alternatives. The best solution would be to build a new standalone antenna tower and locations are being discussed. Empire State Building executives are working quickly to give broadcasters an alternative. Meanwhile, my parents are getting used to their limited choice of CBS or CPTV.
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Inspired by Iron Chef? Try out some Reverse-Engineered Iron Chef recipes (via Backup Brain)
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Monday, October 29, 2001

Microsoft's store in Sony's San Francisco Metreon complex is closing and will be replaced by a non-Microsoft-centric tech emporium. One article says the reason for the closure was lack of business, with both companies deciding it wasn't worthwhile continuing the endeavor. Another hints that Microsoft's upcoming release of the Xbox entertainment console, a direct competitor to Sony's Playstation line, had a lot to do with the agreement that the store "sort of became not-a-fit anymore."
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Panasonic's new line of PianoDesk pianos have some interesting gimmicks: a slide-out keyboard which saves space, the ability to record to popular music file formats, a USB port, and "give an e-mail recital" (which appears to be marketing-speak for "send the recorded files to your friends and family"). I've seriously considered getting a Yamaha Silent Violin so that I can practice without disturbing anyone (actually it's less disturbing to me when I know no one is listening!). I don't have room for even a space saving piano, though.
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Saturday, October 27, 2001

Interesting music news: the NY Times is reporting that James Levine will be taking over the Boston Symphony Orchestra after Seiji Ozawa steps down. Levine is familiar to most from his very visible post as artistic director of the Metropolitan Opera. He is going to have a very busy schedule as he will continue in all his Met duties and take on the BSO and summers at Tanglewood. But it looks like he won't have to travel abroad as much to get those other prestigious conducting opportunities.
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Friday, October 26, 2001

Thanks everyone who sent me pointers to pop-up ad elimination software. I try to keep my browser "clean" since the product I work on runs in one and I don't want conflicts, but I will take a look at whether some can operate unobtrusively.
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Researchers at Boston University created an interesting study that proved that subconscious learning is possible. Subjects performed a letter-naming task with seemingly random moving dots in the background. One in twenty dots were actually going in the same direction. These subjects were then given the task of identifying dots moving in a pattern or recognizing if two were traveling in the same direction. Those who had unconsciously observed a specific direction during the letter-naming task were better at picking out dots moving in that direction. The conclusion is that attention is not absolutely necessary in order to learn things. But I think everyone can agree that concentration makes for much more effective learning. It was also noted that advertisers would be pleased to hear about the study. Sometimes I get the feeling that advertisers are behind the funding for much of the psychological research taking place these days.
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The San Jose Symphony, which I have actually donated money to in the past few years, suspended operations this past week and is planning to restructure in order to survive. The musicians will be paid up to October 19th, and I wish I could have my donation back to give to the musician's emergency relief fund instead. Living in this area on a musician's salary, even supplemented by teaching and other gigs, has got to be difficult enough without losing your symphony wages.
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Thursday, October 25, 2001

No weblog entries today. I'm running into too many popup ads and the one for Microsoft XP with Madonna singing "Ray of Light" pushed me over the edge. I think I need a web surfing break.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2001

The J.W. Westcott II sank on Tuesday, losing two crew members. The tugboat was a U.S. marine post office that traveled the Great Lakes delivering mail. It had its very own zip code, 48222.
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Usually, I steal links from Yahoo's Daily Picks. But today, they got one from me (the Berkeley Breathed site). You may think I am just blowing smoke, but I have friends in high places. OK, just one very well-placed friend. Thank you, you know who you are. I am pleased to have given something back to the Picks.
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When I was a kid and got bored on long car trips, I thought that a way to contact people in other cars using their license plates would be useful and exciting. Now that I am a driver and have experienced both sides of road rage (mild cases, thank goodness), I'm not so sure I would sign up for DriverSMS if it were available where I live.
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Tuesday, October 23, 2001

GirlHacker's Random Log is honored to be among the many fine sites in The September 11 Web Archive. (Even if I never get a book published, at least I can say I was archived by the Library of Congress.)
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Amongst the Low Fashion galleries is a set of ads which "speak of the unbelievable lameness of generic modern American life". This cigarette ad was the scariest one for me. I recognize a lot of these from when my mom got Better Homes & Gardens about 15-20 years ago. (via the happy return of Pop Culture Junkmail)
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After I stopped my regular checking to see if it was finally up, Berkeley Breathed launched his own website, accessible via bloomcounty.com and berkeleybreathed.com. His selection of favorite strips includes my all-time fave: pear pimples for hairy fishnuts.
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Monday, October 22, 2001

"Microsoft's biggest underlying fear is that it will become like IBM—a company that still has a strong business but no longer sets computing standards." The Economist does a nice analysis of Microsoft's upcoming Windows XP launch and proprietary strategies. With Xbox they are staking a claim into controlling the platform of home entertainment. No slouches in looking forward since the Internet nearly wrestled the web from them (remember when everyone used Netscape?), Microsoft is poised to control it all with .NET. It's doubtful that Apple's mysterious Tuesday announcement will take any wind out of Bill's sales, errr I mean sails.
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I just discovered New Scientist's Q&A section which included a description of the similarity between tapping the top of a soda can and burping babies (only they called it "winding babies" 'cause I guess that's Brit-speak... I was stuck for a minute with the mental image of someone winding a baby up with a large key).
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Saturday, October 20, 2001

I bring you news from the mall: The Holiday Shopping Season has begun. Even the carols on the sound system. But don't despair, there's still plenty of Halloween stuff left for those of you who blinked and missed it.
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Friday, October 19, 2001

FindSounds.com is a search engine for sound effects and sample sound files on the web. You can even do a "sounds like" search. What possibilities! (via Kestrel's Nest)
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From my favorite feature at not martha, "i troll martha stewart so you don't have to", here is the amazing, do-it-yourself Cat Hammock. It's made out of a carpet sample. But you know what, I just don't have anywhere to hang a cat hammock, so my kitty will just have to make do with all her other many many many many MANY resting places.
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Employees of American and United Airlines are running a flag from Boston to Los Angeles, representing the original flight path of American Flight 11 and United Flight 175. It departed from Logan Airport on October 11 and is scheduled to arrive at LAX on November 11.
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The server is still flaky. My email was down all Thursday. Sorry if you got bouncies.
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Thursday, October 18, 2001

The Association of Food Journalists has reprinted articles from their 2001 award winners. I discovered an interesting report on the difficulties of booking a table at popular Bay Area restaurants such as the much lauded French Laundry in Napa Valley. Tips on getting a table are included, but it appears that gentle persistence and a speed dial are the only way to go unless you are a friend of someone who works there.
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I had heard that you should not feed babies honey because it may contain botulism. But I wasn't sure if that meant just raw honey or all honey and things made with honey. I found the exact question and answer I needed on WebMD. I love it when I find exactly what I need on the 'net. Of course that means I'm less likely to run into other interesting information as I gather up research, but it does save time. Oh, and if you're short on time: the answer is "no honey at all". Botulism spores grow best without oxygen and can survive high temperatures.
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More colored condiments? I don't think I'll be buying any pink or blue margarine when it comes out no matter how much I like pink. And I really don't think it's a good idea to encourage kids to eat more of those evil trans-fats.
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Wednesday, October 17, 2001

Jon Carroll thinks we should make our cats be more patriotic. He makes his point in a very amusing fashion, so I guess I can forgive him. Plus he claims it is better for our cats to at least appear patriotic since they look so darn suspicious all the time. But he knows as well as all of us that cats have loyalties only to themselves and, very seldom, their humans (sometimes the can opener too, but not often). Even if it were possible to train our cats to stand at attention while we recited the Pledge of Allegiance or shed little kitty tears while yowling accompaniment to Celine's rendition of "God Bless America", well, it just wouldn't be the same. We'd be losing that which makes a cat ... a cat. And isn't that what liberty and freedom is all about?
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Yay for pop-up books! There's an exhibition of pop-up books, also known as movable books, at the Brooklyn Public Library (various branches) going on now through the end of the year. It was curated by The Movable Book Society and there's a companion book with a Maurice Sendak cover. Lothar Meggendorfer was an important innovator in the history of this art some call "paper engineering". Here's another online exhibit about pop-ups. And the Popuplady has special bonus info on her site: how to deodorize a book using kitty litter. Very handy for us used book shoppers.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2001

Ten years after the devastating fire in the Oaklands hills, a SF Chronicle writer returns to assess the myriad of architectural styles that have sprung up. "The hills now are a smorgasbord -- an open textbook for architects." Although there is an abundance of that stucco "neo-Mediterranean" luxury look, there are some interesting structures sitting in the hills. "A cross between a giant sax and a beached ocean liner", "A house wrapped in corrugated steel and shaped like an egg", and something that looks like a spaceship. Considering their previous losses, I suppose the owners deserve the reward of making a solid personal statement.
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A new book, Action This Day (it was only on Amazon UK), includes chapters written by former Bletchley Park codebreakers. It makes the claim that a woman figured out the key wiring of the Enigma box long before others cracked the code. Her theory was dismissed as too simple. We may never know if she would have been taken more seriously if she was male. Royalties from the book will be donated to the Bletchey Park Trust.
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Monday, October 15, 2001

I (well, we actually) did end up making crystallized ginger using the long four day method. It had a couple of nice side products. The sliced lemon added on day 2 also becomes crystallized and very yummy as its own treat. The syrup is wonderful for adding to sparkling water. And of course we have the ginger too. We didn't use young ginger, so it is too fibrous, but this weekend I minced some of it up to make ginger-lime squares and they turned out well. I used a 9" springform pan instead of a 8" square, which was handy because it was easy to get them out (but they weren't all "squares"). And instead of pecans in the crust, I used some macadamia nuts I had leftover from another recipe. Yummy.
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I found this jpeg of a 1955 "Good Wife's Guide" on Larkfarm a little while ago but was going to write a parody of it before I mentioned it. Now I think perhaps a parody just wouldn't be right. It's already a parody by itself. At any rate, it made me laugh incredibly hard. My favorite bit was "Let him talk first -- remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours." Now look, I'm laughing again. Hee hee hee. Yes, I should be appalled and horrified, but I am just too overwhelmed with disbelief, so it's all amusing to me instead. There are some items that would be very nice to do for my husband. I wonder if I would have the energy to do them if I was running after two kids all day instead of developing software.
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Friday, October 12, 2001

Our server has new innards and should be feeling much better and serving much faster from now on. We hope. Cross fingers.
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A Buffy observation (spoilers for the season premiere, but probably won't spoil second episode): Joss Whedon had said in many interviews that when they brought Buffy back from the dead, it wouldn't be easy; they would really have to earn it. So I was taken aback when they merely raised her from the dead. Yes, there were difficulties and some up-front cost, but it wasn't the Big Deal I was expecting and I was left feeling emotionally unfulfilled. Was Joss losing the touch? Well, after the second episode of the season, I am beginning to see that "earning it" has nothing to do with the price to get her back physically from the dead. It has everything to do with getting Buffy back emotionally. And perhaps her friends too. That concentration on the people is what has always made the show what it is. There's more to come and I can still trust Joss. "Numfar, do the dance of joy!"
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Sort of a follow-up to the snow carving: Giant Pumpkin Carving. It goes impressively beyond the jack o' lantern triangular cutouts. (via Yahoo's Daily Picks)
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Looking for that perfect cliché? Try Cliché Finder and ClichéSite.com. There are phrases in there that must be obscure or regional because I haven't heard them enough to think of them as cliché. (via Follow Me Here)
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Thursday, October 11, 2001

Still looking for some fantasy and escapism? Take a stroll through Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale. Nothing affordable here. In fact, I think these rank beyond the "expensive" scale and plow into some stratosphere of "unattainable".
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I forget sometimes what a liberal area I live in, socially anyway. The Houston Chronicle ran the San Jose Mercury News' (my local paper) story about the funeral of Mark Bingham, the man who called his mother from the hijacked flight which subsequently crashed and said he and other passengers were planning to "do something". But, as reported by the Houston Press, references to Bingham being gay were edited from the story. Perhaps it was too long. Perhaps the Chronicle didn't want to intrude on his privacy since it really isn't anyone's business. Perhaps the Chronicle doesn't think its readers should believe a man held up as a hero could be ... different. Whatever the reason, it's good reminder not to take my environment for granted. What is a fact of life for the status quo here may be regarded differently in other places. (via MediaNews)
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Wednesday, October 10, 2001

There is some superb art in these photos of snow sculptures from a yearly competition in Colorado. See what emerges from 20 ton, 12 foot blocks of snow. (via Larkfarm)
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Here's every New Order video ever made. Plus movie bits. I had no idea the video for True Faith was so spectacular. I highly recommend viewing that one if you haven't seen it (unless you don't like New Order, of course). It's by Philippe Decouflé who also did the Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy". You may recognize his style and choreography. (thanks Zannah!)
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Tuesday, October 09, 2001

Gloria Foster, known to many now as the Oracle from The Matrix, has died. She was 64 and died of complications from diabetes. She had reportedly filmed most of her scenes for the sequel but not the third film, and the Oracle was integral to the series. It's more sadness as the production team is already mourning Aaliyah's death. The Oracle taught Neo the phrase "know thyself", perhaps the key lesson to take away from the film.
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The Science Behind the Song Stuck in Your Head is being studied by a marketing teacher (warning: I think this means the results will be used to sell you more things!). He surveyed 1,000 students at four universities and gathered characteristics of the stickiest songs. Excessive repetitiveness, musical simplicity, and incongruity are some of the factors common the songs you can't get out of your head. The article also describes the syndrome of auditory hallucinations which is a rare condition whose sufferers are often elderly and partially deaf. In the student survey, the sticky songs that prevailed were often from childhood. One guy claimed that a tune from a videogame had been playing in his head "since 1986." Sometimes I remember the sound of Pac-Man swallowing dots, but I don't think that's a tune.
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Monday, October 08, 2001

Perhaps you feel the need for escapism and fantasy. Well, the 2001 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is out. Topping the "getting away from it all" fantasy items this year is an eight day trip to a private castle in England. There, you can experience life at three points in time: 1775, 1815, and 1907 with authentic costumes, hot air balloons, music, and, of course, food. To top it all off, the guest who stays in character most accurately will receive a legal title of "Lordship" and be able to pass it on to his eldest male heir. (Does this mean a woman can't win the title? I guess you don't travel into the future on this fantasy.) All this for only $120,000.00. Airfare is not included. Hmph.
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My brother sent me links to information on Nu Shu, a written language developed by women in China back when they were denied an education. The secret language was developed in Jiangyong county, Hunan province, and consists of 700-1000 characters. Examples of the writing on are this page, which also describes some of the social traditions that allowed women to gather together to learn and use this language. A documentary has been produced which focuses on one of the few remaining women who can read and write in Nu Shu. Because there was no longer a need for it, the language has died out. That's a good indication of progress, though it is important to pass on the history.
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Friday, October 05, 2001

If you're feeling spurred on to contribute something good to the world around you, don't forget to check VolunteerMatch. Their list of U.S. regions covered has grown a lot since I first discovered them.
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The NY Times confirms the unfortunate facts for those without cable TV. As I mentioned previously, my parents have only been receiving a couple television stations since the tower came down. Channel 2 (CBS) is on top of the Empire State Building, so at least they are getting one NY station. But the relocation of other stations to a New Jersey antenna probably isn't improving the reception in Connecticut much. There's no room for additional stations at the Empire State and other solutions will be expensive and take many months. But having less TV is not something to fret much over. There are more important issues to consider, though television is one of the unifying features of our nation. Six broadcast engineers were killed in the attacks.
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A new Apple retail store opens in nearby Palo Alto this weekend. I like their hours: until 11 on Fridays and Saturdays (midnight this Saturday). There should be more retail open on that street for post movie or post late-dinner browsing. At Apple headquarters they are displaying a giant American flag in place of their usual rotation of "Think Different" portraits.
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Thursday, October 04, 2001

Zap2it has some video clips of interviews with Buffy cast members and Joss Whedon. There are also scenes from the season premiere, in case you wanted to hear Spike's "cup o' tea, cup o' tea, ..." line again.
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Here's a very cool site, created in Norway: whonamedit.com. It is a collection of medical eponyms. Each medical condition includes biographical information for the associated person(s). And, a big plus in my book, it has a link that lists all the female entries. Alice (in Wonderland) and Cinderella make an appearance there too. (via Yahoo's Daily Picks).
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Wednesday, October 03, 2001

Chelsea Clinton is settling in at Oxford. Her father accompanied her and, it appears, stayed away from the cameras during her photo ops.
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In an interesting sidenote from the World Trade Center rescue operations, New York City officials requested that Metricom turn their Ricochet wireless service back on so that rescue workers have access to email and other online services. Metricom had turned off their service in August. A Metricom employee is monitoring the network from San Jose, and volunteers, including former employees, are helping to keep the network up and running. If Ricochet never does go operational again, I'd say this is a noble way for them to go out.
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Tuesday, October 02, 2001

Oh the terrible food pun. We're making buffalo meatloaf for dinner today and since it's also the season premiere of Buffy, we're calling it a "buffyloaf". OK, I shouldn't say "we". I got a kind of eye-rolling reaction when I made the leap from "buffaloaf" to "buffyloaf". Buffalo meat is lower in cholesterol and fat than chicken, fish, or turkey.
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Search requests for "marshal" have supplanted "girl" as referrers to this website. In fact, my page views have just about tripled, as far as I can tell, only because of my discussions of the air marshals (unless my referral log is missing something -- are you all coming for some other reason?). And here I go sticking even more of those words on this page.
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This history of Braille begins not with Louis Braille but with an earlier Louis, King Louis the Ninth of France. He founded the first institution for the blind which still exists today as an ophthalmologic hospital and residence for the blind. The city named after him, St. Louis, is the home of the Missouri School for the Blind, the first American institution to adopt Braille. (via xBlog)
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Monday, October 01, 2001

How we lost our sense of smell is an essay by A.S. Byatt. She does not shirk from discussing the more vulgar odors but also calls up warm memories of baby scents. As she discusses our artificially scented environment, she calls up literary references to strengthen her argument that we are losing our ability to make truthful use of our sense of smell.
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Pete Townshend's website has a message from him (click on "latest news") confirming that The Who will be performing at the October 20th benefit at Madison Square Garden and giving his thoughts on New York ("my second home") and on standing a little more to the right than he usually does "I don't want to see unjust vengeance, but today I am a hawk rather than a dove."
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