There she goes, my beautiful world
It was foolish to tackle a seven-mile course for what was pretty much my first run of the year, but it was great to get out and run. I took lots of walkbreakssomething I wouldn’t ever have done a few years ago. But a few years ago I wasn’t over 200 pounds and a few years ago was before I broke my foot. At this point, just getting out there is a victory.
That is itself a strong argument that … Read the rest
Making my way through the neighborhood streets between home and my studio today I passed a woman starting her motorcycle. She lives in the neighborhood and I’ve seen her and her bike a few times. She’s a heavyset woman and she rides what might best be described as a European café racer. Her shape and the shape of her bike are comically incongruent, something I’ve noticed the other times I’ve encountered her. This morning was no exception. I saw her … Read the rest
It’s something I’m almost afraid to admit in this fast-paced modern world, but one of the things I simply cannot do is multitask. The ability to work on multiple things at the same time seems to be a very valuable skill in today’s job market, and many résumés for technology and information workers boast the ability to juggle tasks.
In 1993 I bought my first computer with a multitasking operating system. In the nine years from ages fourteen to twenty-three I … Read the rest
Well, this one’s gonna be a grudgematch, isn’t it? Apple and Nokia both make smartphones, and there the similarities end. Nokia and Apple fans flood the Internet with debate, each thinking the other has missed something critical. The conflict goes deep, rooted in the philosophies of the respective companies and how they try to meet demand for products.
Apple has been criticized by its detractors for making substandard but pretty products. They cite a lack of features or a lack … Read the rest
This is exactly the sort of thing the Internet needs fewer of, but I’m going to go ahead and pollute the Web with my comparitive experience with the two leading open-source CMSs available.
(I’m not counting WordPress as a «leading» CMS even though it is more popular than either Drupal or Joomla and clearly falls under the definition of «content management system». In my opinion, WordPress is too limited to be considered in the same class as Drupal or Joomla. … Read the rest
Tonight I spent a few hours making test prints to follow up on my November 1 post Pondering Paper. My last round of tests gave me a lot of information to go on, but under the drawing table lights none of the prints were of satisfactory quality. I had to learn whether this was the fault of the paper, the printer, or the quality of the scan from which I was working.
After careful examination of the test prints, … Read the rest
I don’t know why it means so much to me that the guy who broke into my laundry room apologized as he was being taken to the police car by the SFPD, but that moment keeps replaying itself in my mind. I don’t know if he meant it, but he said it like he meant it. If he was trying to con me, it was a subtle play. He didn’t say, «I’m sorry. Please don’t press charges.» It was a … Read the rest
It started with the rattle of a chainlink fence as I was getting ready to take a shower. My neighbors keep a very nice yard, but I’ve never seen them out doing yardwork in the rain. The sound was followed by the thud of the door downstairs slamming shut. I knew it was the laundry room door; I’d have heard my front door more clearly.
I looked out the kitchen window and saw no one in the yard, so I … Read the rest
A few months ago I purchased sample packs of printmaking paper for giclée (French for «inkjet») printing, intending to test the papers out with the printer a client of mine has given me permission to use. I have been getting the prints of my pen & ink work done at Photoworks here in San Francisco, and they generally do good work. Nevertheless, I would like more control over the process. A couple of times miscommunications have led to frustrating delays … Read the rest