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!

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.

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.

…

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 hustling on a magazine project this week, and haven’t had much free snapshot time to gather my thoughts (or imagery) outside of the project immersion. So now given a little reprieve I figured I would post another view from Tuesday’s snapshot.

Often when taking photos I try to crop them so objects become unique and are taken out of context. In this shot, I used the roof of the buildingand the irridecnent wall to frame the Space Needle off in the distance. I love the juxtaposition of the entirely massive monument in the background, utterly dwarfed by the blobby metal shapes in the foreground.

Took me about 4 tries to correctly frame this shot before everyone got tired of waiting, and entered the museum—leaving me to look up form the view-screen and hustle over to the door. Luckily, the last one turned out well!

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.

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday.

My typical line goes something like: “well as a graphic designer, I spend every day being ‘creative’, so why would I want to spend all my free time crafting a costume?”

“Because it’s fun,” they respond.

And they are right. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities in this fine city, which allow us to let our inner idiot out. However, after living in San Francisco for a spell, and being fairly active in the nightlife scene… you really get a better picture for the amateur-hour that major holiday’s become.

So this year, I am going to take a break from the usual club scene, and get in touch with my roots. A few small house party with some close friends, a Star Wars-themed afro-beat concert, and the Dia De Los Muertos parade.

This is not to say it will be easy to avoid the chaos… searching the listings I come up with over 100 official, themed events happening in the 7-mile square city limits alone. We will see how the Bay Bridge closure might affect traffic in our dear city, but I doubt it will have much affect—‘witch’ granted, is great for commerce and local businesses… but this resident wants nothing of it.

The above snapshot was taken in the Mission, where some enterprising artist decided to go semi-permanant on his mural—with the help of some vinyl stickers. The skull theme really plays into this weekend, so I figured we could take a departure from our regularly scheduled graffiti Friday, and dress up the site a little.

Har har… Happy Hella’wean!

Took the weekend off from going out or doing just about anything. Felt nice. The one time we made it out was to shop for a bicycle. And a few short trips later, there is a new member of the family sitting in the dining room—which has subsequently got me all hot and bothered about cycles.

So if you know of any good bicycle-related photo sites, or have any good info to share… post it up in the comments and it will be much appreciated!

This snapshot was covertly taken at the De Young in San Francisco, on one of their free Tuesday openings. I picture it as some asphalt artifact from a two wheeled town; beige tire tracks seen from space; a grid of incomplete circles.