Monochromatic Outlook

Faster «3G» networking is a nice bonus, but that's not what's getting my attention. What's tipping me toward the iPhone is that, even though Apple is holding the reins tightly, third-party applications are possible and a few of my must-haves are already here. Also, word is the new iPhone has much better sound quality than the original. Reports that the original iPhone was not really a great phone did give me pause.

My high school saved me. I was on a brutal downward spiral in sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and in high school I went to an unconventional school that provided tremendous freedom and responsibility on its students. In many ways it appeared to be an «easier, softer way» but it provided its own form of challenge to the students. We were given enough rope to hang ourselves. The students were treated as peers to the faculty. We were on a first-name basis with our teachers. Our teachers' knowledge and experience stood for itself without appeal to any authority inherent in their position.

Today's run: 5.33 miles in a sluggish 1:09:53. I'm disappointed not so much in the final time, but in how hard I hit the wall while I was out there. The sun was beating down and sure felt hotter than the 70 degrees my weather widget says it is.

I went out and around Mays Field, which was fun because there was a game at the time. I heard Rich Aurelia (I think) hit a home run from the other side of China Basin, out by Mission Rock Street, heard the crowd's roar and watched the water spouts celebrate the homer.

How things have changed since my first reading of The Fountainhead! I haven't read Rand since my very early twenties, possibly my very late teens. I found the central theme of Rand's work in The Fountainhead to run parallel to my maturation in the time between the first reading and today. The older I get, the less I care what other people think.

1.9 miles in 25 minutes, 32 seconds. I suppose that's not too bad for a guy who hasn't run in the 9 months since breaking his foot.

I actually did try running a little over two months ago but started wheezing and could not catch my breath. I ran about a block and a half and walked almost the remainder of the 2.25 miles. I decided to start walking instead of running for the time being, but then on one of my walks I got mugged and haven't been out for a walk or a run since.

I'm a bit chagrinned to admit that having been mired in details I failed to see the obvious.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/19/politics/p06...

Why is it even mildly scandalous that Barack Obama said that he'd take public money and then decided not to? Are there restrictions attached to the Presidential Campaign Fund that he doesn't have to abide? Or is it just that it theoretically looks bad for the other candidate to have his hand in the public cookie jar while he doesn't?

It's morning in El Cerrito---or is it Albany? I've never been certain about the borders here in the East Bay. I stopped at a Shell station to get fuel for the Guzzi and a little caffeine for myself.

Across San Pablo from me is a policeman who has pulled over a bicyclist. The bicyclist has a trailer attached to her bike, and the trailer has a trash barrel on it and some rakes and tools.

It looks like the two of them are flirting. There's casual conversation, laughter.