April 25, 2005

Texas

Just got back in to DC last night and the first thing I thought was, "This place is cold." Compared to Texas, the statement couldn't be truer. I'm not one for generalizations, but it's pretty hard to deny the chill factor between the one climate and the other. The weather hovered around 70 and 75 degrees and the skies were blue, marked only by the ocassional white cloud. Josh and Jess couldn't have picked a more perfect weekend to get married on, especially since both the rehearsal dinner and the reception were outside.

But I guess I'm not just talking about the climate. Texans were a pretty friendly bunch. At least the little slice of the population that we got. I'm going to leave that observation at that. Take it however you want.

The travel bug has stirred in me once again, so I'm going to repeat things I've said many times before. The thing I love about traveling is the way it shatters my little bubble of reality--no matter how temporary or fleeting that may be. I'm reminded that there is so much more out there than Arlington and Alexandria, DC and the darkshores of Maryland. There are places that just feel different, where people think differently, and where they challenge me to think about my own life. I'm not talking about some kind of brainwashing, some kind of evangelistic mumbo-jumbo, but a purer challenging of self.

Anyway, so there you have it. Texas. Bigger. Warmer. Flatter. And different. I had a lot of fun. Thanks Jess and Josh. Have fun being all married and stuff.

Pictures to follow (I hope).

Posted by kenji at 10:53 AM | Comments (5)

April 21, 2005

Story of a Phone

Kyocera SE47 Slider, you are a tank. A real tank. Here's a quick story:

Last week, either on the way from my car to the hockey rink or from the hockey rink to my car, my beloved phone fell from my gym bag to the merciless asphalt surface of Barcroft's parking lot. Later that evening (or maybe the next day), I went to look for it and couldn't find it. Thinking that I'd merely misplaced it somewhere in my house (as I'm known to do), I didn't worry too much about it. A quick trip back to the sports complex revealed that someone had turned it into lost & found. The lady handed it to me with a quiet smirk on her face. "Someone found it in the parking lot. Please sign here."

Apparently, while it lay in the parking lot, it had been run over by a car (see visual aid below).

The screen was smashed to bits. The back looked like it had been chewed by a wild animal. Broken, right? The phone's glory days had come and gone, right? I thought so, too. And then it rang.

Suddenly, the year is 1999 and I can't check to see who's calling before I answer (we didn't have Caller ID until I moved out of the house). Each call is a surprise. And if I miss a call, you know what? I won't know. That's right, primitive, huh?

Now I'm not saying that I don't have a problem that (probably) needs a quick fix, but my situation isn't as dire as I'd thought. The real question is how long can I wait before I break down and by a phone with a serviceable screen. Can I wait until this comes out? Suddenly I have a valid excuse to start shopping for a cool new gadget. In the meantime, thanks Kyocera for making a product that can be ground into the pavement by the wheel of a car and still remain functional.

Posted by kenji at 03:46 PM | Comments (4)

April 19, 2005

Adobe buys Macromedia!

This one certainly caught me a little off-guard. Viewing this from a purely print desktop publishing perspective, I suppose a little bit more integration is good, especially across the Flash-Photoshop spectrum. Fireworks and Freehand, so long guys, I hardly knew ya. My real question surrounds Dreamweaver and what Adobe is planning on doing with this very popular page builder. Are they planning on discontinuing the line in favor of GoLive? I've used both of these programs (granted an older version of GoLive) and I'm not sure how easy this one sits with me.

Again, since my specialty is in print design, the immediate impact of this merger won't be as noticeable as it will for you web developers. Still seems pretty profound.

(More information: press release.)

Posted by kenji at 10:56 AM | Comments (2)

April 14, 2005

Updates

Haven't updated in a while. Here are a few things that have been rattling around in my brain:


  • I'm looking forward to the lazy Saturday afternoon when I decide to wander over to RFK and take in a home game with my friends.
  • I still really enjoy poker. I still try to play every other week or so. And I still really appreciate those chips, guys. Thanks.
  • This photo intrigues me and I don't know why. I don't think I want to learn to tango. Maybe I should go see this film. Maybe I should go to Buenos Aires.
    4-14-05.tangosalon.gif
  • Team Ramrod is still undefeated (5-0). Probably has something to do with the winning, but this has been the most fun season of Barcroft floor hockey yet.
  • I'm starting to get excited about cutlery, dishes, and silverware. God help me.
  • I hit level 56 last night.
  • Yes, I'm nervous. Yes, there's lots to do and prepare. Yes, still exhilerated.

Posted by kenji at 09:01 AM | Comments (4)

April 04, 2005

THECHAT

Rob Corddry is a funny man.

Posted by kenji at 11:53 AM