Blink - written by Sideshow Bob

I just finished reading "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell. He also wrote "The Tipping Point" which was, like, a must-read for any silicon valley resident/employee (like, oh-my-gawd, like).

Anyhoo, Blink is also a very interesting, compelling read. I drew many parallels to my experience as a UI Designer at high tech companies in the valley. But that's not very interesting. What is interesting is that the author, Malcolm Gladwell, looks exactly like Sideshow Bob (see pic above.)

I didn't doctor the pic in photoshop. He intentionally grew his hair out as a sort of social experiment (as explained in the Afterword of Blink) with interesting results. He did not mention however, that he now looks like the Kelsey Grammar-voiced Simpsons character. ("The Bart The") You have to believe somebody told him thought. Hafta.

Iron Man

Going back to my roots here. Iron Man is going to be a movie, directed by the same guy that did Elf and wrote Swingers.... hmmmm.

Myth Restaurant (SF)

After reading this blog review of Michael Mina, complete with very nice photos, I commented on a recent trip to Myth Restaurant which I'm reposting here...

Recently went to Myth Restaurant. The chef was an alum of Gary Danko I think. It's more casual than GD - a hip restaurant but full of older people...? Food was quite good but not outstanding. (Absolutely loved GD btw.)

Interior design is very open so you can see across the whole room. We were seated next to a pair of women. I ended up staring at one of them who I thought was strikingly unattractive. Then I realized she was a man. Yep, a man, baby! (Austin p) She was decked out - very convincing wig, full-on makup, nice dress. His date was a (biological) woman who looked just like him. He/she must have been a regular b/c many of the staff, including the chef i think, kept visiting their table to make conversation.

Made me think of that movie with Tom Wilkinson and Jessica Lange...what was it...googlesearchnetflixsearch... found it!

(i use y! movies for cast & crew profiles, better than imdb.)

Narbonic

The above are the main characters from an online comic called Narbonic. This was a daily online strip that ran for about 5 years and never missed a day until it recently concluded its run on December 31, 2006. I've met and hung out with Shaenon Garrity, the creator, several times and she's supercool. I got into the strip in the middle of its run but now that it's over they're re-running the strip from the beginning with "director commentary" written at the bottom.

Quickie

A drawing of Merritt at the computer desk in the basement room.

Monterey was fun and relaxing. We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium every day, getting the full value, and then some, of our membership. The food at their cafe/cafeteria is quite good and impressed us every time we ate there. Their coffee it oustanding. Oh, and the aquarium is great too.