This week, Apple introduced a tablet computer.

To understand the magnitude of this statement fully, you would have had to pay attention to rumor boards for the last decade. In summary: ever since Steve Jobs killed the Newton upon returning to Apple… there has been a persistent rumor of a tablet announcement. Not one solid rumor throughout the years, but a brand new rumor, every single time Apple hosted a product-launch keynote. It became a complete joke: “Oh boy, here’s the Apple tablet rumor again”. Now, having this much speculation can only mean one thing: overly hyped expectations. And if you are paying attention to the tech blogs this week, you are basically hearing the results of that expectations. (Just understand that.)

I have been skeptical that a tablet would even be released. Who needs one? What would it be used for? I couldn’t think of any good answers. Even as far as two-thrids of the way through the announcement of the actual iPad this week, I remained completely nonplussed. Then it hit me… this is not made for people like me. This is purpose built for our parents, our grandparents, or our kids. It is the computer for people who don’t need a computer.

Which leads me to the snapshot above. A funky angle taken looking over the railing in the Seattle Public Library. Rows and rows of books waiting to be held, browsed, and read. And while I am not stupid enough to predict that tablet computing will end the print industry; looking down at all these beautiful and dusty old books, I do know one thing… this will become a rare museum soon enough. And as technologically forward as I consider myself… that thought just makes me feel nostalgic and old.

With the current “State” of emergency in California, I figured we could all use some photographic assistance from this great machinery snapshot. I noticed it out in front of my buddy Trevor Traynor’s old place after we finished a photo shoot for LEGENDmag Issue 23: “Transparency is the New Democracy” (free PDF), and I just couldn’t pass without a quick iPhone snap.

It has been crazy busy in the last few weeks (which subtly explains the lack of snapshots here). So, I post this plow in honor of all the shoveling of work I have had the privilege to do! Oh, that lovely, silent sound of pushing pixels across my desktop! It remains very exciting that my freelance design business is going so well. And thanks in no small amount, to all the wonderful clients and design firms I get to work with—I am hoping that 2010 brings many new fun projects and opportunities to my table.

And to think… I started out today with the intent to further talk about a comment I posted on Twitter earlier this week:

Why isn’t our city equipped to cope w/ rainfall? Every year at this time, power is lost, roads flood, and we are ill prepared!?

I guess there are better things to discuss than the neglect our country naively imposes on important future-thinking concepts. Hopefully some Long Now ideals will be adopted more radically into the fabric of our country and we as Americans can learn to plan for more than the Superbowl Playoffs and Spring-Break fiestas.

PLOW, Plow, plow…

Tomorrow is my Great-Grandmother’s 100th birthday. We’re flying down to Orange County to celebrate at her daughter’s home and I am quite excited! It will be the first time I have seen most of them in years, and will be a nice gathering of my mother’s side of the family! Let the fun begin!!

I still haven’t fully recovered (or finished sorting through photos) from the trip yet, but promise to have some recent pics up as soon as I do. But you know, it’s always a good idea to go with the flow, and the flow says go.

This is a snap I took up in Seattle a few months back. Looking straight up into the library latticework of steel girders with a little tiny self-portrait in the middle. Love the repetition and mini-surprises cast by the reflected glass.

I am frankly surprised at the difference in temperature between San Francisco and Oaxaca City. Not logically… mind you, but relationally. When we arrived in Mexico, it seemed pleasant and not much different than California. Maybe a little warmer, but I was still comfortable wearing jeans and a t-shirt during the day, with a jacket at night. But now that I am back in the States, I find myself craving the delicious, warm sun. So when I came across this photo of a radiant heater taken on Alcatraz Island last year, it seemed amply appropriate for today.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that there are places in the world so cold that pipes are freezing and entire commerce systems are closed, but in my neck of the woods… cold means I have to actually put on a jacket outside—and that is precisely why I choose to live here.

So enjoy today’s snapshot texture and stay warm out there!

Happy New Year everyone!

I just returned from an epic vacation in Oaxaca, Mexico and thus am still processing all the new imagery taken on the trip. In the meantime, I figured it appropriate to post this snapshot of feathers and fabric to get the ball rolling.

This was covertly taken in the De Young Museum during an exhibition on Asian art. While it looks like there are shadows and lights reflecting in the image, this is actually the pattern on a very elaborate fabric cape. The feathers are real and the entire thing was encased in glass (if you look carefully, you can see subtle reflections of me in my fancy hat at the middle right).

I hope everyone had a spectacular, relaxing winter break, and are well rested for 2010—what I am hoping will be an epic year.

Hello, faithful readers… and welcome to the final hours before winter vacation. You see, I am packing up and shipping out to warmer regions far-flung—a Christmas present to myself of sorts. Going to do a little bit of sight-seeing and a whole lot of nothing. So, in honor of the trip, I am posting this noble giraffe.

The snapshot was taken at California Academy of Sciences in the main lobby. I was frankly taken aback by how tall this little guy was. At 6′2″ I am not a shorty by any means, but to get this view, I had to hold my camera up as high as I could (no zoom on the iPhone) and push the button. And still, he gazes down on me as if I were but a bug.

I wonder if they ever get afraid of heights?

Nevertheless, that about does it for me today. Gotta get packed and ready to fly. But in the meantime, what are y’all planning to do for the new years? Anything exciting? Leave ‘em in the comments section below!

Ah, the casual street artist. We all know and love you. With your witty slogans, political statements, and crass sensibilities. Some think you are just juvenile and trashy, but we love your hip, edgy commentary on the smaller things in life.

This here is a little ditty on a local salon named “blo”. Which seems like it is more suited for a Castro location, but actually resides in Hayes Valley. I’m not quite sure exactly what riding ponies has to do with a hair dryer, but there is definitely an innuendo in there somewhere. Nevertheless, the shadows are excellent.

Having a difficult time gathering my thoughts this week. It seems what with last week’s 12+ hour days and all the events happening in the next few weeks, my brain is just not negotiating as it should. Fortunately, a relaxing vacation in Oaxaca awaits amidst all the chaos to take my mind off everything.

Which brings me to today’s snapshot: the airport lounge. This was taken before a very early AM flight a year ago in SFO, but I was reminded of the shot when I took a flight to Seattle at the end of November. You don’t need to know what it is to enjoy the texture—and that is what I love most about it. Just a warm toasty orangey-browny-red color and some odd topographical lines.

I clearly prefer a photographic world without the presence of people. There is something about an empty plaza, or a blank hallway or a quiet vista that speaks so loudly to me. It’s not that I don’t like people (quite the contrary infact), but rather that I like the challenge of taking subject-free pictures in places that are otherwise bustling with activity.

Nevertheless, I do have a few choice ‘people’ shots—and today’s snapshot is one of them. The brothers Bradshaw! My younger brother and I lead very different lives, in very different places. We continue to learn from each other’s mistakes and successes, and stay surprisingly close despite the distance. But one thing is for certain… we know how to have a good time when we get together! And this is one of my favorite shots from a recent visit: muggin’ for the camera at the local Funglass Shack (wearing wacky sunglasses with matching expressions)!

It’s been a whirlwind three weeks of work, travel, and cold weather¹. And the impending Christmas crazies are exploding all over. It seems that every time we open a paper, crack a magazine, or power up the boob-tube, someone is talking about the “Holidays”.

In the past, this hasn’t ever really bothered me—but this year it does. And now every time I hear “the holiday shopping season”, a rage grows inside me… Not that I will ever go all Santa-with-a-machinegun at the local mall, but that it serves to illustrate how completely backwards political correctness really is. If you truly mean “Merry Christmas”, then don’t just swap words and keep all the Christmas trees and Santa Clauses on your holiday cards… just say those words. It proves to be a whole lot less offensive. And, while I am completely in favor of inclusivity… this is not accomplished just by replacing words with Happy Holidays.

So, in hopes of fixing the problem… I have fashioned a simple list entitled “3 Steps to Holiday Correctness: Winter Edition” so that we all can work to correct this political incorrectness:

1. Learn — It’s could be as simple as visiting your local Wikipedia page—reading up on some facts about other religions. (For example², this year the minor holiday of Hanukkah begins at sundown on the evening before December 12th. Which means that wishing anyone a Happy Hanukkah after the 18th will result in strange looks³.) Or as involved as going to a different church to learn first hand what makes them unique. The key here is understanding.

2. Improve — Make a conscious effort to include different religious views in your actions. (Yes, this means actually finding out who celebrates what in your circle of friends and workplace, and appropriately tailoring your conversations to specific individuals you are referring to. *gasp* [that was sarcasm]) The key here is growth.

3. Tollerate — If someone does wish you an incorrect holiday greeting (and it will happen), remember that’s hopefully just their way of trying to be friendly… and try not to read too much into it. The key here is compassion.

So my friends… now it is up to you to go out and be kind to each other. Enjoy your winter vacations. Spend time reflecting on the positives in life. And try to keep warm. Oh, and say hello to your mother for me.

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1 — I am referring to San Francisco cold, which is still pretty warm compared to other places. But given that everything shuts down here if it rains, I figured it was worth mentioning.

2 — I was raised as a Christian, so I do realize that the facts mentioned herein are probably biased towards Christmas. However, I do not consider myself a part of any religion now… not anti-religious, just un-religious.

3 — Related to this, there’s a “cranky Jew” rant at Sometime Davey Wins that’s worth a read.

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PS. This snapshot was taken into a window display along Haight Street in San Francisco. I love that the camera doesn’t betray it’s own presence, and that the subject actually becomes this green man, longingly gazing out the window onto the street… hoping for a world without corporate greed and holiday drama. You can see another example like this in my Flickr photostream.