Dreams from My Father : A Story of Race and Inheritance

I finished Barack Obama's book, "Dreams from My Father" this morning on the train ride down. It was written years ago, after he graduated from law school, but gives you an idea on who he is and what he may become. The ending includes the text from his Keynote Speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. Books like this always seem to have a couple of sections of pictures...I wish they would have been included. And I agree with the Publishers Weekly review...we are left hanging about what happens to his mother.

I don't think Senator will be the last office that he holds.

Next up...the Dalai Lama's "The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality".

Youtube influencing politics

As my co-worker Jason said this morning, this is probably the first (of many to come) times that Youtube has influenced politics. I wrote about Jason McElwain's game last month.

My desk

In December of 2004, we moved to downtown Palo Alto from Sand Hill Road (our home of 35-odd years). All agreed...a much better location: next to CalTrain, plenty of restaurants/shops nearby and a much bigger (and open) space. We took doors from the old space and I snagged it to use as a desk (see picture). The history of the space is varied...a adult theater in the 70s, the HQ for a microbrewery (I can never remember which one), the HQ for iPix (though they are based in Reston VA, so that may not be true) and right before us, the HQ for Danger (claim to fame...someone hacked into Paris Hilton's Sidekick...made by Danger). At some point, a third floor was added and earthquake retro-fitting meant meant the installation of criss-cross beams (5 rows of them). My desk butts up against one of them. I use it to hang letters from my niece & nephew and the other side has a calendar and a patch from my recent Orange Bowl trip. My desk has a phone, computer and assorted office supplies (I am an information worker), but also includes a pink pig and a Penn State music box/snow globe. Nice and big and holds all that I need. To my left is an atrium (I can look down into it) and then an open space is to my right. In the winter time it gets dark very early. So this time of year is nice, since the days are getting longer.

Wall of money!

A couple of weeks ago, one of my co-workers found a dollar bill on the third floor landing. Being the noble person he is, he put it up on the frig for the rightful owner to later claim it. After it was there for several days, we started to talk about it:

• Who's money is it?
• Should we double the money each day and see how long it would last before someone snagged it?
• What can we do creative here?

So, we started with doubling it (which only lasted one day). Then, a rather large $100 bill was added. At a potluck lunch, I brought in a 500,000,000,000 Dinar note from Yugoslavia (a rather inflationary time there), to show to everyone and put it up there. Then this week, BAM!, more money was added, from Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Monopoly and even a $.04 check from Citifinancial. We are running low on magnets, but I'm sure more will show up, as will more money...

Speciallægepraksisplanlægningsstabiliseringsperiode

At work, we have a Danish intern (Peder) with us for three months. Earlier today, I spotted a word on something that he printed out...a very LONG word. He said, "that's nothing!" and then showed me proof:

Speciallægepraksisplanlægningsstabiliseringsperiode

which means:

Period of stability planning for specialist doctor practice

Of course!!!

Note...spelling bee champions in Denmark probably kick ass...

Oscar night means wine...

When my friends get together for a dinner gathering, it usually means that we are drinking some wine, so...I'm going to attempt to record what we drink.

Tonight's selections:

• Francis Coppola 2003 Diamond Claret
• Pedroncelli 2002 Three Vineyards Cab
• Castoro Cellars 2005 Muscat Canelli
• R. L. Buller & Son Premium Fine Muscat (2)

I had the Muscat a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it enough that I bought 8 bottles of it. W. Wong gave it a 97!

Happies tonight at Lucid!

My friends and I (that was a link to a new sign-up process we are thinking of using) are hosting a happies at Lucid tonight, starting at 6pm, up in the city (Union Square areaish). As of 11:12am, we have 157 "yes" RSVPs. Looks like we are gonna have ourselves a nice little party!

My camera is back from the shop!

It's been 5 weeks, but I finally have my camera back. The lens was damaged over the New Years weekend, but all seems to be okay now. Having it back inspired me to add a AC adapter...thanks eBay! Should get some use out of it this weekend...

IFTF has launched a new blog: Virtual China

Virtual China is an exploration of virtual experiences and environments in and about China. Researcher Lyn Jeffery and former intern Jason Li are the two contributors. The blog is part of a larger effort by IFTF to dive deeper into the future of Asia. Good luck Lyn & Jason!

(They Long to Be) Close to You...

...by The Carpenters was the #1 song in the country when I was born. Find out what yours was here. Thanks for the link Carmen!

Blackout last night

A big storm went through the Bay Area yesterday causing some blackouts. My house was affected, with the power off from 6:30pm(ish) until 12:30am. I was in the city playing vball in my Monday night league so didn't have to spend too much time with candles and flashlights. The most exciting part of the storm (for me) occurred after the vball match when some of my teammates met up at the Hyatt Knuckles bar/restaurant. Around 10pm, there was a huge gust outside the restaurant that ripped the 15' x 5' x 5' awning right off the facade. It...all ~500 pounds of it...just missed landing on some patrons who were enjoying a smoke outside. See how dangerous smoking is!!!!

Tab energy!

My co-worker, Jason, just popped open a can of Tab energy. Fizzy, pink and way sweet...so good that it comes in a 10.5 ounce can and not something larger. After a few sips, the sweetness died away, making it drinkable. The color (of the liquid and the packaging) destine it to be more popular with the ladies out there, but who knows...

The New Yorker is writing about it and there is even an entry for it on Wikipedia. Is a Tab energy revolution just around the corner? Is Red Bull scared? If you start to see it in photos of People, then I think the answer to both is, "YES".

Autistic basketball player

This HAS to be the best basketball story ever! I can't imagine what it would have been like to be a student at that school and witness it first hand.

The slow death of newspapers

While walking back from lunch this afternoon, I saw something odd...attractive models, dressed in black, handing out copies of the San Jose Mercury News for free on University Avenue. Is that what newspapers need to do to compete with Craigslist and other forms of online media that continues to claw away at their margins? If so, I feel very sad for them. One of the models even had one of those flashing MGD buttons...perhaps for her gig come happy hour pushing Miller Genuine Draft to the masses. Sadder still...no one was taking the paper from their hands...just a simple "no thanks" from each passerby.

Now I still get the Chronicle delivered every morning...cause it feels good to have the paper on the morning train to work (even though I glance at sfgate.com when I awake) or in front of me on Sunday morning, but mostly because I only pay $0.30 a week for having it deliverd to my door.

I don't see the younger generation reading them on the train. Books and magazines...but not newspapers. How long before they wither away and die?

Valentine's Day SPAM at work

I receive all the info@___.___ email to my employer. This morning I received the one below.

My two favorite lines:

1. Don t worry, it is not the last of pea-time...
2. Do not kill the clock!

-----Original Message-----
From: Erika Reese [mailto:keith@01342.com]
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 4:00 PM
To: Info
Subject: Fucking St.Valentine

What are you to do if you have bad erection? Especially in the forthcoming Saint Valentines Day???
Don t worry, it is not the last of pea-time...
The most simple way is to visit our site, order the medication and that is all you are to do!

Do not kill the clock!

http://ovideadeal.com/