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March 29, 2005
EVDB launches
Brian Dear writes:
Thanks for your interest in the early beta preview of the EVDB service. We're going live this evening!
I have been way excited about something like this for a long time. EVDB's main message, "find out what you've been missing," is spot-on. With so many public events and performances happening, it happens quite often to any consumer of culture that an event that would've been great to attend just somehow slips under the radar.
Now that EVDB is in beta, I have tried it out, and I must say I was hoping for so much more. EVDB does not let me create a single calendar for all the events and venues I would ever care about. If it has any recommendation engine-driven aspects, I do not see them, nor do I see any integration with other public data sources such as Audioscrobbler or Flickr. Entering events is difficult and does not sufficiently encourage entry. It has odd interactions, like choosing to delete a smart calendar before you see a list of them.
Ross Mayfield says, "IMHO, Next year's Flickr and icon of obsession." That is my honest hope as well, but I think EVDB has a long way to go.
Posted by bengel at 07:16 PM | Comments (2)
March 16, 2005
Yahoo! 360
CNET reports that Yahoo 360 takes spin through blogosphere.
Yahoo! 360 is only available in a limited beta. And here is a review of it. Knock knock, who will let me in?
Posted by bengel at 01:56 PM | Comments (2)
March 15, 2005
Google X
Google's latest: Google X says, "Roses are red. Violets are blue. OS X rocks. Homage to you."
As always, well-executed and elegant interaction. A pretty good way to put more properties on the bar above the search box.
Although this seems to be more of a joke than a serious concept for next-gen Google, I think with just a few tweaks it could be a viable interface.
The icons could indicate state like OS X does, and like the current Google home page does. In Google's case, unlike OS X, they could theoretically leave the active icon in the large state to indicate status, unlike the somewhat obtrusive arrow in the OS X taskbar.
All in all, bravo Google.
Update (March 18): Google X is gone.
Posted by bengel at 06:03 PM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2005
Now without headache!
Yesterday was the Day of the Headache. I wasn't sure if it was due to sheer exhaustion, or due to the altitude. Either way, I didn't like it. I took a nap (siesta!) for a few hours and went back unto the world with a slightly worse headache.
I went to SAS to try to book my trip on the Inca Trail, but they didn't have openings until the 11th. So I tried to use my book about the Inca Trail to find another agency. This activity showed the very soft underbelly of the horrible information design of this book.
The map of Cuzco is spread across two pages, so it is nearly impossible to determine how streets continue. Not all the streets are indicated on the map. And my task of walking around to visit the various agencies was next to impossible, as the listing of agencies were at the end of the book, requiring the reader to hold two pages open, and the agencies were not numbered so they could be referenced on the map. And many of the phone numbers were wrong.
I guess all these things are artifacts of the culture with a high uncertainty avoidance factor.
I had dinner at a place called Ccoyllor, which my book recommended. I have been somewhat shamefully abandoning my vegetarian policies in favor of trying local fare. This meal was somewhat bizarre, but still tasty: "Chinese" rice, what seemed to be a Wienerschnitzel (they called it "suprema," a frayed hotdog, and french fries. All that for s/10 (about US$3).
I totally crashed after dinner, which was about 8:30. I slept until 7 o'clock, when breakfast was waiting for me. It was served upstairs in the hotel, where there was a fantastic view of the city. The woman working this morning was charming and served me two normal breadrolls (softer than Brötchen) and one soft slice of cake-like bread. The coffee was amazing -- she said it was a mixture of two different beans, but I didn't catch the name. I also had maté and the most amazing fresh-squeezed orange juice known to man.
Feeling refreshed, and mostly headache-free, I set about finding a way to Machu Picchu. I was propocitioned by a few guys on the street, who dragged me into their agency and proudly showed me the licenses hanging on their wall. Maybe the hard-sell doesn't indicate anything about the credibility of the service, but in my mind it did, so I did not take their offer.
I then went just down the street to InterContinental, where the woman was kind and obviously wanted to help me find a way to get my tour in before I leave on Saturday. Apparently this is very a tight deadline, as they must register you at least two days in advance.
The lady made a few phone calls and was able to arrange for me a trip leaving on Wednesday with a guide. On the third day, which is the day when you usually see the most ruins, I will press on with a porter, but without the tour guide, who is mostly just there to talk about the ruins. I realized this was the best offer I will get, so I took it for a discouted US$160. Based on my rough calculations, that is worth probably about US$500 back in the US. I have decided that I will ask my porter to lead me to a few of the ruins that we would otherwise miss, but not all. I just want a few shots.
Then the rain came. And this was no normal rain: it was torrential. And it hailed. It was hilarious to watch everyone flee the rain. It was clear that it was a somewhat frequent occurence, so everyone was in good spirits. The taxis clogged the roadways and honked more than ever, sloshing the water about that was careening down the edges of the streets.
When I thought it was over, I continued down Avenida del Sol, where it just started to pour again. I took cover for another 20 minutes and continued on.
I just bought my Boleto Turístico, a ticket that is valid for sixteen sites throughout the city. I went to the Museo Histórico Regional, which was okay, but mostly had Spanish art. I found this less interesting than the Peruvian pots and arrowheads. I am looking forward to visiting those tomorrow.
Tomorrow I'm planning on taking a horseback ride to Saqsaywaman (pronounced almost like "sexy woman"), and at 6 o'clock I have to be at the information session for my trip to Machu Picchu.
My headache is nearly a forgotten memory. I think by tomorrow I will be fully aclimatized. See you then.
Posted by bengel at 02:41 PM | Comments (1)
March 06, 2005
Perú, Perú
No life transition is complete without a soul-searching vacation. I have chosen to take mine in Cuzco, Perú to see the famous Incan ruins of Machu Picchu!
In my true last minute way, I booked my ticket on Wednesday to leave on Saturday, and paid the premium for my lateness. I was debating whether Cancun, Key West, or Perú would be the place for me, but I quickly remembered how I like to vacation: adventurously. It turns out it's even more adventuresome than I bargained for, as it turns out that Perú is having its wet season now. Grrrreat. So I got all the equipment one could ever need for a full-fledged trek through the selva in torrential downpours.
Leaving San Francisco was relatively unmomentous. I was late by my standards, but got to the airport in plenty of time. I tried to identify people who may be continuing on to Cuzco, but the only people I could identify were two girls wearing North Face jackets, and I haven't seen them since. Guess my vacationdar is off.
The airport in Lima was very attractively done with pleasant yellow signage and gray marble floors. I didn't expect anything different, but it was more European than I had expected.
Arriving in Cuzco brought my first misfortune, albeit a small one. The sternum strap on my brand new Gregory pack was complete in Lima, but only 50% of it arrived in Cuzco. Makes it pretty difficult to trek without full support, as I learned throughout the fitting process. I feel good that this has been the worst of my misfortune -- thus far.
I pored over the tourist books I bought in the plane, and circled several hostels I would stay at. The first one I visited -- Teqsiqocha Hostal -- asked for US$30, although my book says their price is US$15 for a single. I showed the kid at the desk my book and he feigned stupid. He agreed to the $15 and showed me the room, which was actually a double, looked downright dusty and musty, and boasted a team of flies. He offered US$10 and I jetted.
I continued up the hill away from the Plaza de Armas to Hostal Q'aHuarina, which the book claims to be modern, efficient, and to offer only six rooms. My kind of place, I thought, and that it was. The woman was sweet and kind, and asked for US$15, less than the US$18 the book said I should expect to pay.
My room has an attached bathroom, is painted in nice colors, has a few windows, and a decent bed. There is "agua caliente" in my room, but I would soon call it lukewarm at best. The shower was still welcomed.
While I was unpacking, I continually heard some kind of brass band, which I then set off to locate. I thought it must be a church, seeing as how it was Sunday morning, but in fact there was a massive event going on in the square (Plaza de Armas). I made my way back down and took pictures with some discretion, as indigineous Peruvians are that famed culture that thinks that taking a photograph is to steal their soul. But once I saw many others taking photos, I adjusted my policy.
The event was way over the top, complete with sponsorship from the Cuzco beer, Cusqueño; a stand for what seemed like it may have been the mayor; parades of various organizations who carried felt banners; and herds of military men marching in synch. I was able to wander freely about the whole place unscathed. Clearly no one cared where I was. I was even able to go behind the person at the podium without difficulty. It was a pretty amazing environment to be in, where people can be so celebratory and even carefree.
I then went to Trotamundos for a bite to eat, and to continue to watch the procession from the balcony. Turns out at least one of the purposes of the event was the Día de la Mujer (Day of the Woman), which is actually tomorrow, March 8. This all made sense until I saw a float with a sign that read, "Unete a la proteccíon del patrimonio" (unify for the protection of the patrimony). Maybe there was something going on I just didn't catch.
Otherwise, my Spanish is serving me brilliantly. I was able to converse with the taxi driver nearly fluently on our way into the city, and he complimented me profusely on my pronunciation.
And while I sat in the square writing in my paper (!) journal, little kids continually came up to me proffering their goods. I always made an effort to engage in a conversation with them, and in one instance, even gave a geography lesson to a girl and sang her "Wenn ich mal ungedultig werd'." Que spannend!
Plan so far is to hang here until Tuesday and set out on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu on Tuesday. I am counting the hours.
Posted by bengel at 11:28 AM | Comments (1)
Change is in the air
As of Friday, March 5, 2005, I am no longer an employee of Avenue A | Razorfish. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have made in my lifetime, but I hope it will be one of the most fruitful ones also.
I am leaving to join Moonstorm Mobile with Preston and his business partner, Brent. I feel these guys have hit on an idea that could change the world of mobile. That kind of responsibility is exactly what I was looking for, so I was jazzed to accept their offer.
Let me rephrase that: I was beside myself with joy to accept their offer! It took me a day to scream, but I got there. :)
Of course, there is a downside to every change, and that downside is that I will essentially be disappearing from my previously diverse and rich social scene. Ten- to twelve-hour days, plus a 1-hour (or more) commute each way are going to swallow it all whole. But I think it's all going to be worth it to work on such a cool project, and to work directly with a close friend.
I am being tight-lipped about all of this on purpose, as Moonstorm is still in stealth mode. But stay tuned to this space for updates on when I will be announcing to the world the great thing we have been working on six days a week to get done.
And to all my Avenue A | Razorfish friends out there, previous and current, I miss you all.
Posted by bengel at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)