A nice article from the New York Times about distractions at work. Several large tech companies have started a non-profit group to help fight the electronic information bludge and email overload. We'll see which company turns this into a revenue stream first.
My desk in the room of distractions.
Despite adding a GPS feature to the iPhone, the new pricing model is pointing the iPhone in the wrong direction.
With the iPhone 2.0 coming out July 11th, it is assuming a more traditional pricing model for cell phones in the United States: carriers like AT&T subsidize the cost of the phone inexchange the customer must signup for a long term contract. Apple gets a fair price for the phone, AT&T gets a two year contract, and the subscriber pays less for the phone. Everyone wins, as long as the subscriber doesn't cancel, right?
For moblie enthusiasts looking for the phone to become the next personal computer this is step in the wrong direction towards an open network. Phones are once again tied to contracts. I wouldn't want Comcast to subsidize my laptop if I agree to have the supply internet for two years.
Until I stop associating my phone with a two year span, it will never become my device that I take care, never travel without, message, text, search, surf the web, and find revenue for all of those internet startups. The mobile phone will never be personal until I can take it with me for network to network just like me number. I'll never give up my "630".
Maybe Android will be the kicker, as Google tries to secure its place in the moblie (advertisement) market.
Early in the evening Monday, after disastrous service at M&S Grill, my friends and I switched locations. We fought the 98 degree heat and made our way through the sun and humidity a few blocks to Brasserie Beck, a French restaurant on K St.
Situated in a modern office building with a simmering glass facade, Beck's large double doors opened up into an expansive restaurant. With high ceilings and an art deco decor, I wondered if I walked into a Parisian train station to grab a quick lunch before my 12:47 to Brussels. The marble-and-walnut bar was lined with colorful and rare taps from Belgium and the space was filled with chatty young professionals enjoying the beer. Any place meant to enjoy beer finds a special place in my heart.
We grabbed a table outside to enjoy the evening as the sun went down and it began to cool. The first thing handed to the table was a beer menu. Listed out by style I carefully perused the menu and descriptions of the eclectic spigots from the bar like I was looking for the right bottle to go with dinner. Half liters of Hoegaarden were the special. Size and price won out; I order a Hoegaarden. Next time I'll be more adventurous but for the warm evening on the patio, a wit beer hit the spot.
Brasserie Beck is worth the trip.
In related news, InBev, has offered 46 Billion dollars to buy Budweisser, which would make it the largest beer company in the world.
I just noticed that Facebook's login does not redirect you an encrypted login page. Does this concern anyone else?
For two years, I've used Bloglines as my news aggregator; everyday the news from around the web filters into my personal page on the web. I'm able to check all of my favorites sites in one place, and stories are marked after I scroll over them. However, many times it throws too much in my direction. If I don't keep up for a day I end up with thousands or articles waiting at my electronic doorstep. Currently I have 2049 articles waiting.
I'm a news junkie, but even that is more than I can handle, and I've begun a search for alternatives.
Brijit publishes 50 - 100 word abstacts of articles from around the web, and the articles are given a rank. The numerical guidance to what's interesting is a nice plus considering the length of many of the New Yorker's articles. A bonus, for those ahead of the curve, if an abstract you submitted is published you can get paid anywhere from $5-8 dollards. Some of the magazines they focus on are The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Wired, Vanity Fair, and Harper's. Currently Brijit is not publishing abstracts since they have run out of funding, but the archive is still available and they are seeking new funding. For more info and possible updates check out their blog.
Addict-o-matic searchs RSS Feed from popular sites based on a user's query or predefined topics. The results are displayed in miniboxes grouped by site similar to the look of iGoogle. Users can move the boxes around or remove them to create their own custom page. The search needs some work to weed out the duds. After poking around a bit with there custom pages I found some new sites.
Unfortunately, I still don't have time to read every article I'd like or my own magazines, but at least I'm getting closer to sorting through the avalanche of information.
I went to Baltimore today. Now can no longer use the line "I haven't been to Baltimore, but I've seen the Wire."
In Washington, DC opinions run deep and irrational when it comes to the Metrorail system.
In training, last August, amidst the flurry of activities we had to take a personality test. 70 questions and 15 minutes, then it shows you 4 letters and an accompanying paragraph for each letter. These four letters are you Myers-Briggs personality.
"INTP," it said.
Fine, so I've seen this before, myself summed up in one phase like when I was described as "crazy awesome."1
Although, this was little different, I had to spend the next hour in an mega-conference room hearing a personality expert elaborate on those four letters and their permutations. I'm pretty adverse to training in these settings - a energized presenter, flanked on both sides by over sized screens that are illuminated by a powerpoint presentation, rhapsodizes to the audience and their reflective glasses about some dry topic.
Naturally, my arms were crossed and my mind wandered as I slouched in my chair. Slides and colors changed, and I sighed. Then we were moving. Feet shuffled, chairs growled, and audible rumble could be heard over the presenter shouting, "'I's on the left. 'E's on the right." In his black turtleneck his arms spun about directing traffic from the glaring stage.
Then that rumble moved. It moved along with the crowded to the right side. There they were chatting away. Asked a few questions to describe the other side of the room. Then, the exercise went on and we tried other letter combinations. As it went on, those four letters began to grow on me. Eventually, I gave up my perceptions and accepted the four letters, INTP, when I realized it's my preference not who I am.
I can act like an Extrovert every once and a while, but prefer to be Introverted. Being an introverted consultant doesn't always quite fit, but understanding that I am helps me work around it when need be at happy hours or other events.
Training pays off sometimes.
1 No citation needed. Common knowledge.
Since I've moved to DC, I've tried and tried to find a coffee house, and the struggle continues; as of now, I've only found coffee shops and cafes.
The brakes have been pulled taut, derailer adjusted, screws tightened, tires inflated, and carbohydrates have been consumed. I'm ready for the ride tomorrow, hopefully the weather stays nice. Here goes nothing.
I took my bicycle to CityBikes today to fix the derailer. If High Fidelity was written about a bike shop this would be that shop. Rows of bikes temporarily strung along the wall at varying heights and opinionated, off-beat, bearded employees' chit-chat fill the compact store. I definitely trust the employees and service department there. My bike is fixed as well as it can be; unfortunately, from the looks of it I'm going to need a new bike or install more aggressive shifting system. I'm going to opt for the new bike. It's the right time. My current bike played its part, got me started riding again, and I can still use it around town.
About three weeks ago, I installed Google Analytics this blog. I installed it just to test out it's features - map overlay, length on site, or referring sources - but the tool has been so impressive that I've found uses for it. The biggest trend that I've noticed is just the obvious - the more I update the blog the more hits I get. I'm surprised by the hits I get; not many (a few a day), but on average that is more than the one or two people I expected.
Friday my profile picture was label by a colleague "Continental Charles" because it was taken shortly after I came back from Budapest. Strangely rather than reminisce about Budapest - which I do miss - it reminded me of my arrival on campus that winter term, and attempt to reclaim my spot as Resident Dancer. I fought my way through the dance-offs; in my tight jeans and Chuck Taylor dance shoes, my feet pounded away in crowded the rooms of Hiett, Trevor, the House, and anywhere else dance-punk played with cans of PBR lining the walls. It's been awhile since I've had a good dance-off.
Posts
All Comments
