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…

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!

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!

Today I am planning to hit up the passport office for some long-overdue renewal action. I look back at my photo from 10 years ago, and hardly recognize the boy smiling back at me. Yet, thinking back over the last 10 years, few things come to mind as warnings I would’ve given my younger self, which I suppose speaks volumes to how I live my life. Nevertheless, as terrible as I am at going through the process of updating and renewing my civil duties (car registration has been accidentally expired for a month now too)… it is a good time for reflection.

This snapshot was taken in the Cowell Theatre in Fort Mason Center. There is this terribly long procession as you walk down the old military dock building to get to the theater at the end, and along the way are old posters, signs, and this beautiful monstrosity. Every time I walk that hallway, I am inclined to snap a shot of this thing… something just so majestic about it’s massiveness.

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December looks to be a busy month, and while I can’t promise daily photo updates, I can promise many cool projects that you fine readers will enjoy in the new year and beyond. Not going to say much more about it in this forum, but stay tuned and I am sure you will be pleased.

Been waiting for a good reason to post this photo… but none ever comes, so I am just going to do it. Little on the late side today, but I have given up on posting every day at a set time anyhow. I think it looses a little bit of spontaneity if I am constrained to post within set guidelines. So you either get it regular and boring… or random/quality.

At present I am trying to convince myself to go pay $20 to see a band who is in town on tour from Sweden. I just found out about them yesterday, but have listened to nothing else since. So on one hand… they are really good; but on the other TWENTY dollars on a weeknight. Whatever, it’s only money… right? (And for goodness sake, they travelled 6,447 miles to get here just to play for me.)

Anyhow, the band is called Little Dragon and they are really, really good. Sounds a bit soulfull at times, a bit electronicky in others. And old/new sound—like an lost 80’s album, if it were made by Motown with Erica Badu on vocals? or not. Not sure if the albums are available in your local record shops (except maybe in the import sections), but you ever hear of this little thing called the internet? Go get it now. Your ears will thank you. Also, I will write up a review of the show for LEGENDmag tomorrow, so you can stay tuned for that. (see here)

As for this snapshot… what can I say? Its rusting metal, attached to weathered wood and concrete. Can’t get much more fucking awesome than that. So hey, lookie there… it DOES fit! Today’s post, is about things that are awesome!

See, my brain has a plan and I didn’t even know it. Trust your shit people. Trust your shit.

This is a snapshot looking directly up at the Seattle Public Library. The building is designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, and definately worth stopping by when you head up to the Pacific Northwest (a seemingly rare architectural wonder, where the insides are as spectacular as the outside).

Koolhaas sees the new library as a custodian of the book, a showcase for new information, a place for thought, discussion and reflection—a dynamic presence. —arcspace

I am choosing to believe this tag says scissor. I know I see an “e” in there and most certainly a “j” exisits; but as it is a word, slicing through two windows (and given that this is my blog)… I can believe what I want to. So carrying on in the theme of windowed items, I present to you this week’s Graffiti Friday post.

This shot was taken near the corner of Laguna and Oak Street on a particularly busy day last February. Took a few shots to get the right angle, which in this case was holding my camera over my head and pushing the tiny little button. *click*

Today marks the worldwide release of Windows 7, and frankly I am glad… Vista is such a turd. I am looking forward to what Microsoft can do as a replacement, and I have heard good things from beta users. Granted it won’t affect me much, since I prefer Macintosh systems for my daily workflow… but since a good portion of the world still relies on Windows, improvements are never a bad thing.

The perceived “war” between Apple and Miscrosoft has been raging for years now (*rolls eyes*). Granted it is difficult to compare the passive-aggressive nerd battles to any major world war, yet there are definitely huge corporate powers backing each side; with many spoils of war to be had. But oddly enough, Microsoft already “won” a long time ago. It continues to hold a major market share of all computer systems, and it has it’s grubby fingers on just about every part of technology it can. (Basically, if there is money to be made in technological gadgetry, the powers in Redmond have their hands in it.) Which makes the fight that much more comical—and Apple’s underdog status that much more real.

As for me? I started off with fancy little Commodore 64. That was my passion, and the boxy, beige PCs in our house were reserved for business stuff. I ran a BBS from my bedroom fueled by my own phone line and lot of Mt. Dew. As I grew out of 8-bit graphics and teenage angst, I dropped the C64 and started building PCs (gone to the dark side). It was actually fun to open up a box and see all those cables and cords and fans and chips. Unfortunately, the operating system never latched on, and I graduated to bigger-and-better. Design school changed everything for me, as I was introduced to my first Macintosh! And as nerdy as this sounds… it was love at first sight.

Since then, I have had the pleasure of working on both Mac and Win systems—at home and at work—and I can honestly say that both systems are quite comparable. I do prefer the Apple method of thinking surrounding hardware and software design, but nobody is perfect (although most everything is better than Vista). Working in both systems you really get a clear understanding of this—just pick the one that is easiest for you to work in.

Which brings us back to today, the release of Windows 7, and the end of this snapshot post… Good luck, Microsofties! Let’s hope you brought some great new ideas to the table, err window.

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Update: News and opinions are coming in from the tech illuminati, and world-at-large… and sadly, Microsoft is not off to a very original start. Which is not surprising since they have such a bad reputation for blatantly stealing ideas.

Two twin cats: Franky and Sid Vicious. This is Frank… he’s the troublemaker (don’t let those innocent eyes fool you). And since we live on the second floor (which, in our house makes us three stories above the ground due to the garage) this unfortunately means, the little section of slanted roof serves as the cats’ only opportunity to go outside. Granted otherwise a great little apartment, surrounded by quiet, trees, and kind neighbors. But the cats do get a little restless.

Had some good friends over to the house recently, and was reminded of this photo. So I figured it was high time I dropped it in, as I found myself in our conversation referencing the photo that had not yet been published. Equally funny that with schedules and appointments and work, how rare it is to have time to reconnect with our people. Nevertheless, I am always glad to get a small moment to welcome them into our place.

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Been listening to a police scanner for San Francisco as the POTUS stops into our fine city; and watching the internet news feeds about the balloon-boy who cried wolf today. Amazing how something as simple as a news stream feeding directly to the office and an IM account can connect us with the world and peers so definitely. So great when we get stuck into the daily grind to be able to at least have the semblance of connection with those we love.

And lastly, speaking of connection, my dear faithful readers… you are always welcome (in fact encouraged) to comment on these posts and photography! I love hearing your thoughts, comments, constructive criticisms, and suggestions!

Just throwing that out there.. [grin]