Re-start

I originally started this blog as list of bookmarks for myself - but in the couple of years since then, I haven't needed any of that info I so carefully saved (life metaphor, anyone?).

More recently, I find myself writing long, ranting emails about a variety of (mostly political) topics. I also find myself wishing I lived in the age of the Traditional Christmas Letter, when it was socially acceptable to write a multi-page "this is my life" document and send it around to everyone you knew. The people I care about are scattered across several US states & several European countries - if I don't do a Traditional Christmas Letter, am I reduced to really, really, repetitive emails?

Sigh. So I'm joining the information age (yes, yes, this is ironic, considering the whole I-live-in-Silicon-Valley thing) & restarting the *?!~* blog.

The greatest bed ever

. . . is in the art collection at the Getty: http://www.getty.edu/art/collections/objects/o6778.html

Moving to the city

Something we've been talking about for a long, long time. This is just a list of resources.

The basics: housing. Links to local real estate companies (probably a better technical term for that somewhere, but I don't know it) include Bpm.com, Murphy Apartments, and

The basics: decor. I love Illico Design, which very conveniently just opened a store in Santana Row. I also love The Apartment. Actually, I don't love what they sell - I love the interiors they show under 'Interiors'. Gorgeous. Inspiration to go and repaint a wall or build myself a desk. El Paso Import Company is great for classic Southwestern type stuff, which one can inappropriately mix with Eames' work if desired. Eames was a modern architectural pioneer - which means that I think he's a mixed grab-bag. Some cool stuff, some uncomfy stuff, some good ideas, and some good ideas that could use updating. Unrelated: I recently bought a slate fountain as a present; these are really gorgeous.

The basics: utilities. A bunch of people have recommended Sonic as a DSL provider. And TheBlueBook.com is recommended as a source for all kinds of building contractors.

Living in the South Bay

Recreation: I keep meaning to try out the San Jose Repertory Theatre, but haven't yet. I do make it to the very cool Stanford Theatre on a pretty regular basis, however. The local discount theater seems to be the Cinema Saver 10 in Milpitas.

Yoga: recently had a great class with Kim of Yoga Center of Palo Alto.

Transport: Caltrain now runs high-speed trains from SF to SJ. In-between stops are Millbrae, Hillsdale, Palo Alto, and Mountain View. Total time SF to Mountain View: 46 minutes. Not bad. There's also the Silicon Valley Light Rail. To take light rail to SJ airport - start at the Mountain View stop, transfer at Baypointe, get off at Metro. Trip would run about an hour, based on leaving Mountain View around 3pm. From the Metro stop, there's another shuttle to the actual airport (yet another thing I haven't tried yet, having found that randomly begging rides from people at work is pretty successful).

Food: Restaurant Reviews from a local blogger whose taste seems to match mine.

Travel

Travel is key.
Useful links include SideStep for plane flights (I don't think it includes JetBlue, but it's great for everything else) and Carrentals.com for car rentals (okay, haven't tried this one myself, but I hear good things).

Specific places:
Newport, RI: Newport is full of B&Bs. Stay Newport is run by a very nice woman named Elizabeth, who found me a place to stay during a weekend in the height of "the season" (aka July). Other places include Brattle House, Admiral Fitzroy, The Chestnut, Fair Street B&B, and Cooney Cottage. For rate ranges, see this page.

Work stuff: what makes a good work environment possible

Great Hackers

Gadgetry

I love gadgetry. I was first taken into hardware stores at an early age by my mother, who treats aisles full of screws and bathroom fixtures the way many women treat the shoe department. So blame her. I still love pliers and paint, but there's all kinds of cool stuff out there which is a bit more up to date:

A USB-powered coffee-cup warmer. Does it get any better? Every tech company in the world should offer these as promotional gadgets.

Space: the final gadget frontier (yes, I know, it's really a bigger deal than that - and that's why this is here.) Courtesy of the Mars rover landing, check out the panoramic view of Mars. Takes a while to load, but definitely worth it. More photo-related stuff: an optical simulation of the way an oak tree looks from various differences. And this is the highest-pixel-count photo currently available, plus miscellaneous info on digital cameras.

A cat translation device may be coming soon to a retail store near you. Funny yet disturbing.

Recycling is good. Close The Loop is very cool in theory, although I don't know when or if I'll actually have a need for playground equipment. More relevant might be Whole House Building Supply & Salvage, which offers all kinds of cool stuff from demolished buildings.