Wall-Mounted Computer

written on January 19th, 2010 with Comments Off

This is something I could see going to mass market in the future. I was cooking last night while basketball was on in the other room. I have a sling box but didn’t want to bring my laptop in the kitchen because it would only get in the way. What if I had a Sling app on my wall-mounted computer? Would have been easy to do that, and then check email, and double check a recipe etc.

[Lifehacker]

The 31 Places to go in 2010

written on January 11th, 2010 with Comments Off

The New York Times published a list of 31 can’t miss travel destinations today. Sadly I have been to none of these 31 places..not even Vegas! Unfortunately my one travel destination planned for the year, Cancun, is not listed. Now that my life is somewhat settled hopefully I can start traveling a little more before kids come along. (yikes?)

[New York Times]

JibJab’s 2009 in Review

written on December 27th, 2009 with Comments Off

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

There is NO shame in using the family lane

written on November 24th, 2009 with Comments Off

Family-Lane-Picture-714828 So here I am at Midway for what is maybe the 12th time this year.

One thing I’ve learned as an expert traveler. DON’T use the expert traveler lane at Midway!You see, in some airports, the TSA has set up lanes to alleviate the frustration. You’ve got the black diamond lane, where the road warrior business travelers (are supposed to) go. Then there’s the casual lane where the weekenders going to see the grandkids or the couple headed to the beach are supposed to queue up. Then there’s the green circle lane, families and those with medication. The assumption being that they’ll need more time.

Everyone likes to think they are an expert. What with their elaborate strap tie shoes, four carry on items, laptop and bag of liquids and gels.

Meanwhile the family lane is treated like it’s a line for H1N1 injections. People are just too proud to head to that lane. I’m an expert! What’s hilarious is that they use shape and color similar to ski slopes. So you’ve got got people way above their experience level sliding down the lane they have no business being in.

So what did I do?

I roll up and stand in a 5 person ID line and then on my way to the metal detectors I find myself whisked away to the Airline employee lane as they only pull people from the left two lanes…both family lanes. Total time in security? About 10 minutes.

Were it not a holiday I’d be cool with sitting on the couch tonight but it’s kind of cool knowing you’re an expert traveler chilling in the family lane

Newspapers and the Subscription Model

written on November 24th, 2009 with Comments Off

So this morning one of my favorite blogs, D Magazine’s Frontburner took up the (seemingly for the millionth time) debate surrounding subscriptions to newspaper Web sites as a way to combat falling print revenues. AH Belo, the parent company of Dallas’ paper of record, the Dallas Morning News, is hinting that they’ll toss up pay walls in the near future on one of its online properties. I weighed in on the comments, but I wanted to share it here as well.

Continue reading this entry »

Ok, I think I’ve found it

written on November 23rd, 2009 with Comments Off

For whatever reason, I always seem to get hung up on the stupid design when it comes to this blog. As pointed out, content is no longer king, therefore I need to focus solely on the look to have a good blog. Right? Right? Oh, um. Right. So here goes a blogging adventure…again.

Hated it. Hated, hated, hated that look.

written on November 19th, 2009 with Comments Off

One of these days I will get serious and actually think about a blog them that I want.

Continue reading this entry »

Switched to a blog style layout

written on November 18th, 2009 with Comments Off

Obviously this will force me to update this page more regularly now, right?

The world waking up

written on July 25th, 2009 with Comments Off

I’m sitting in a park down the street from my apartment in Evanston listening to the world wake up. It’s not unlike an episode of sunrise earth. When i sat down there was a single mother and child on the swing set some 50 feet to my right. The clock has counted off 30 minutes and in that time the park and surrounding neighborhood have opened it’s eyes and stretched to a beautiful July morning.

The mother and child have been joined by a host of other families. A man is exercising his dog by running him from one end of the park to the other, stopping only to take in a new scent after the 100 yard sprint. The metra train has buzzed by three times, providing a familiar, but definite roar.

Even overhead the inbound flight path to O’Hare airport has seen an increase in traffic. All the while my reading spot, a new composite plastic bench damp with last night’s rain has warmed and dried as the sun rises and begins to pour light down on Chicago instead across it’s Lake Michigan shore.

It is a beautiful moment and one that I should aim to recreate more frequently.