Project Insomnia

It seems to have worked. However, I didn't see a way to specify the post title (it defaulted to "A Picture Share!") and somehow the hyphen in "close-up" and apostrophe in "I've" were mangled in transit. A qualified success.

If you can see this extreme close-up of Linus, it means I've got mobile photo posting to work.

My company-provided office chair was doing horrible things to my back and posterior, so we went to IKEA's 20th birthday sale (why would a 20th birthday sale be 15% off?) and among other goodies, picked up an ALLAK swivel chair. I put it together this morning and it is comfy.

Done:

• move archive list into a SELECT element (thanks to Rita J. for the code)

Still to do:

• when viewing archives, auto-select the list item now being viewed


• sidebar sections (stuff I use, people, favorites, etc)


• switch from Haloscan to Blogger comments


• Cafe Shops, which means I need a logo!


• set up for mobile photo uploading done

King's passing creates domino effect for A's -- Steve Kroner, SF Chronicle

As profoundly as Bill King's death last week affected the Bay Area sports community emotionally, it also made for another major broadcasting issue for the A's, who have more than their share of them this offseason.

To wit, what will the A's radio team be next season?

Steve lays out several interesting questions and possible answers for the A's radio and TV teams, one very important component being: what radio station will carry the games?

Exxon Mobil, Shell Post Record Profits -- SFGate/AP

High prices for oil and natural gas propelled Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC to their best quarterly results ever on Thursday, with Exxon becoming the first U.S. company ever to ring up quarterly sales of $100 billion.

To put Exxon's performance into perspective, its third quarter revenue was greater than the annual gross domestic product of some of the largest oil producing nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The world's largest publicly traded oil company also set a profit record for U.S. companies by posting net income of almost $10 billion, according to Standard & Poor's equity market analyst Howard Silverblatt.

Gas prices are only now dipping back below $3 for regular; the premium required by the OMNIMVR is still around $3.10 or so. By the way, the OMNIMVR turned 100,000 yesterday.

Getting used to SBC Park? Just wait, AT&T name is coming -- SFGate

After having just two seasons to get used to calling the Giants' home 'SBC Park,' baseball fans soon will be asked to refer to the ballpark on the bay by a name that includes 'AT&T.'

SBC Communications Inc. said today that it would adopt the name AT&T Inc. after it acquires the company, a $16 billion deal expected to be official by the end of the year. The name will spread to all of SBC's properties.

Pacific Bell paid $53 million in 1996 for naming rights to the ballpark through 2019, and for four seasons after the stadium opened in 2000 it was called 'Pacific Bell Park.' The naming rights were transferred to SBC, based in San Antonio, Texas, when it bought the local phone company.

It's unclear whether the park could be renamed in time for the 2006 season.

I still call it Pac Bell, but it really needs a nickname now; "AT&T Park" is even more ungainly than "SBC Park".

U.S. casualties -- SFGate/AP

As of Tuesday, at least 2,000 members of the U.S. military had died in Iraq since March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Okay, it's been fun, but I really think we should go now.

Woman Says Cat Saved Her From Fire -- SFGate/AP

Linda Froning's cat may have shared one of its nine lives. Froning said she was asleep on a couch last Thursday morning when her cat jumped on her, waking her up to a house full of smoke.

Watson, Linus, and sometimes Rita (but mostly Watson) wake us up bright and early every Saturday morning, apparently confused because we're still asleep at 8:00.

Thanks to C|Net News.com's Esoterica blog for linking to this "Damn cool illusion". It worked for me just as the text on the page described, which surprised me because similar illusions (notably those "Magic Eye" images) don't work for me at all.

With great thanks to noipo.org for their freely downloadable Blogger templates, I've made great progress (as you can see) in fixing and revamping Project Insomnia. I still need to restore all the sidebar stuff--including AdSense, which is another project all by itself--and make some changes to the way the archives are listed, but all in all I'm pretty pleased.

We finished a pretty major release and deployment for a new partner, so there was a party this afternoon. At this party, the CEO passed out one of these to each of the 30 or so employees. The concept of eating your own dogfood was stressed, and that makes sense to me. What I don't get, and have quietly asked for clarification, is how a startup can afford 30 x $300 for these things so everyone can have one. Giving expensive gifts like this brings back the specter of the dot-com bubble of the late '90s.

And we know what happened then.

I may very well be over-reacting. It just makes me uncomfortable.

Step aside, Ashlee, Kelly and all you clones. Gwen Stefani has something to show you. -- Chronicle Datebook

We don't deserve Gwen Stefani. While we were off listening to a cluster of unemployed math tutors like the Arcade Fire clang pots and science-room skeletons together, the part-time No Doubt singer was conspiring with a secret commission of today's leading pop producers (Linda Perry, Dr. Dre, the Neptunes, Andre 3000, Dallas Austin) to change the face of music as we know it.

No, really. Take 'If I Were a Rich Man' from 'Fiddler on the Roof,' reverse the genre and strap it to a rowdy hip-hop beat? Voila, 'Rich Girl!' Reconfigure a standard cheerleading call with a bunch of cussing and mentions of phallic fruit? Hello, 'Hollaback Girl' -- the most downloaded single ever! Write a song about how you can't write a song, then sing the melody of Weezer's 'Hash Pipe' over it? Ridiculously genius No. 1 single, 'What Are You Waiting For.'

This review is so ironic and snarky that I can't tell if the reviewer actually liked the show or not. Despite the relatively short set, only one encore and no classic stuff, aforementioned sound mix issues and blah blah blah, we really did have a great time at the show--it was a surprise to Jen--and that's all that counts. Will we go back in December?

Maybe.

MercuryNews.com | 10/20/2005 | Solo Stefani more flash than substance -- Marian Liu, Mercury News

Performance-wise, Stefani made me miss No Doubt. As with many big pop singers in concert, she's become more visually exciting than musically appealing -- full of eye candy, changing costumes, bouncing this way and that. Her music seemed mechanical, and even her timing on the hit ``Hollaback Girl'' was off and her vocals were flat. For much of her set, which lasted a little more than an hour, the audience was listless.

As one of the biggest female pop icons, Stefani needed to give us more. I wanted to see the impromptu quirky star that I fell in love with in 1995's ``Tragic Kingdom,'' the spunky, unpredictable singer who would suddenly do push-ups, then break into some yoga during a concert. I wanted to see that strong female role model I was proud to be a fan of.

Instead, I saw someone who was more flash than substance. Stefani was flanked by her sidekicks, the Harajuku girls, as well as break-dancers and a constantly changing screen of images from ocean waves to scantily clad Japanese girls.

Jen and I had a great time at the show, but I have to agree with much of what the Mercury News columnist writes -- especially regarding the sound mixing. I was also hoping for a couple of No Doubt songs and was a bit disappointed. At the end, though, Gwen & Co. were clearly having a great time up on stage and it showed. Unfortunately, it looks like none of my pics came out; I'll take a look this weekend to see if any of them can be salvaged, but it doesn't seem likely. The linked article does include a couple of photos.

And if you ever wanted to know what "Hollaback Girl" is really about, here you go courtesy of the OC Weekly.

Does it seem like every other post here comes from the SF Chronicle? That's because the Chron offers several RSS feeds of which I am subscribed to seven. I also get feeds from the Mercury News, Ars Technica, The Register, and a number of others. Gone are the days of poking around several news sites every day looking for stories of interest; gone also are daily email newsletters filling up my inbox and confusing my spam filters. The wonderful Opera browser includes an integrated RSS client so everything comes together in a single interface.

OpenOffice.org 2.0 released -- Ars Technica
If you're not using OOo, please give it a try. It's a totally free--speech and beer--office suite comparable to Microsoft Office, and supports the new OpenDocument format.

A slice of Swiss tradition / Raclette cheese ritual binds aficionados -- Janet Fletcher, SF Chronicle

'Who's next?' shouted Walter Munz, the club president and raclette master, to the diners lined up at the grill. The next hungry customer held out a plate already outfitted with boiled potatoes, gherkins and cocktail onions -- raclette's traditional companions -- as Munz or one of his co-chefs lifted a wheel from the fire and carefully scraped a lava-like flow of cheese onto the waiting plate.

We've tried raclette exactly once, a number of years ago, and never since. I'd love to do it again and soon.

King of description -- SF Chronicle Editorial

PERHAPS the ultimate measure of sportscaster Bill King's virtuosity was the number of fans who would hit the 'mute' button on their televisions in order to hear his calls on the radio.

King, who died at 78 of complications from hip surgery, had a remarkable ability to follow and describe the most frenzied sports action in a rapid-fire delivery laced with vividly original description. He reserved his signature exclamation -- 'Holy Toledo!' -- for the most startling or significant moments in a game. And there were many 'Holy Toledos' in his remarkable career.

Man for every season / Fans, friends, players recall his diverse interests -- Susan Slusser, SF Chronicle

Like many people in the Bay Area, former A's owner Wally Haas was a fan of Bill King from an early age.

"I remember being 9 years old and hiding under the sheets after bedtime and listing to Bill do play-by-play of Cal basketball,'' Haas said Tuesday. "He was always the best announcer I've ever known or heard. I think Bill had as much to do as anyone with my love of sports, because of the way he made me visualize things.''

The man behind the mike -- Ray Ratto, SF Chronicle

There should have been a book about Bill King. A great, thick, fascinating, hilarious, overwhelming book written about the life of a man who lived several of them.

The author should have been Bill King, as told to anybody he wanted. And maybe, because he was a stridently private man when it came to the subject of Bill King, there is a book somewhere, just begging for a publisher.

Saw Gwen Stefani at the HP Pavilion tonight. Opening act was the Black Eyed Peas. Loved Gwen, B.E.P not so much. Had decent seats (floor A row 34), took many pictures, and we'll see if any of them came out.

The Chronicle's David Bush has a very nice write-up of Bill King's life and career.

He was the radio voice of the pro basketball Warriors from their 1962 arrival in the Bay Area through 1983, the pro football Raiders from 1966 through 1992 and the baseball A's from 1981 through this past season. Radio station KNBR, which was King's professional home for a large part of his career, devoted its entire programming Tuesday afternoon to replaying memorable play-by-play calls and interviewing colleagues.

King was almost as renowned for his handlebar mustache and wide-ranging interests as he was for the trademark "Holy Toledo'' exclamation he used to punctuate exciting plays.

"We've lost a unique person, no doubt about that,'' said former broadcaster Lon Simmons, who shared the A's booth with King from 1981 through '95.

Bay Area broadcast legend Bill King dies -- SFGate

Bill King, longtime Bay Area sportscaster who was the radio voice of the Oakland A's since 1981, died Monday night.

King died after complications from surgery.

Known for his trademark beard, his call of 'Holy Toledo,' and his colorful lifestyle, King was behind the mike for some of the most memorable moments in Bay Area sports history.

King had limited his broadcasting of last season's games to home games, with a few relatively light road trips (e.g. Anaheim, Seattle), while recovering from hip surgery, but was looking forward to taking on a full schedule again next season. Having only listened to the A's since we moved to the Bay Area five years ago, it's still somewhat of a shock to think that Bill King will not be calling the games anymore.

A more detailed story is on the A's Web site.

A's rehire Ken Macha as manager -- Susan Slusser, SFGate

In a stunning reversal, the A's will bring back Ken Macha as their manager, officially announcing on Friday that they have reached terms on a three-year contact.

Count me among those glad to have Ken Macha back for next season and apparently two more after that.

Two more restaurant reviews -- we've visited each at least once before -- from this past weekend: Tomatina (Santa Clara) and Uva Bar & Cafe (Anaheim).

This very therapeutic. The physics engine is pretty impressive, too.
(Flash)

Four new restaurant reviews: Uva Bar & Cafe, Pacific Wharf Cafe (both Anaheim), Mexicali Grill (Santa Clara), and Taxi's Hamburgers (Palo Alto).

New 007 licenced tomorrow -- The Register

Daniel Craig is the favourite to be named the new James Bond tomorrow, taking up Pierce Brosnan's Walther PPK* for the 21st 007 outing, Casino Royale, the BBC reports.

Although Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Ewan McGregor and Clive Owen have all been mooted as possible Bonds, the press is backing 37-year-old Craig - star of films such as Road To Perdition and Sylvia. Sony Pictures Entertainment will make the final announcement in London.

This apparently closes the book on Pierce Brosnan, despite his statement last week that he thought he'd be asked back.

On a slightly tangential topic, if you like Bond and spy movies in general, give SomaFM's Secret Agent stream a listen.

So I'm at the store (posting via Treo while standing at the register, btw) ringing up a sale. The guy is on his phone--a spectacularly rude but all-to-common sight here--so I ignore it like I always do. I mean, the customer came to me to buy his books, right? So that's what I'll do.

We're mostly done with the transaction and I'm habding him his receipt--he's still oblivious, completely engrossed in his conversation--and telling him his membership savings.

And he shushed me.

He didn't just go "sh". No, he did the whole glare, index finger to the lips, SHHHH!

I'm happy to say that I didn't miss a beat, placing the receipt in the bag and wishing him a lovely evening. Now there was nothing overt in my voice that he could have possibly complained about, at least not without looking an idiot ("he said 'have a lovely day'!"), but I'm sure he got the message because he told the person on the phone, "I've just been told to have a lovely evening, and that's precisely what I'm going to do."

I related this to the two managers on duty at the time--just to cover myself if he actually does complain--and they both laughed.

Also and on a tangentially related note, this is the longest single text entry I've made so far on the Treo. My thumbs hurt.

Many of you--especially science fiction fans in the greater LA area--have seen the H-Wing: Obi-Shawn's heavily modified Honda Del Sol. Well, over the weekend Shawn was involved in an accident and while he was thankfully uninjured, the H-Wing is in pretty bad shape.

I have known Shawn for going on seventeen years, and I know he'll recover and the H-Wing will be back and better than ever.

Statement by ex-Palestinian minister called absurd by presidential spokesman -- SFGate, 2005-10-08

McCLELLAN: No, that's absurd. He's never made such comments.

Just like McClellan said Karl Rove and Scooter Libby had nothing to do with the Plame leak, except, oops, they did.

You almost have to feel sorry for the guy--it's got to be a tough job, standing up before a White House press corps which seems to be finally waking up from a coma, defending the inane policies and decisions of your bosses--except I don't. He's a smart guy; I'm sure he could find a private sector job.

In addition to Matt Damon, Stephanie Zimbalist, Johnny Ramone, Sigourney Weaver, Chevy Chase, R.L. Stine, Jesse Jackson, Paul Hogan, Rona Barrett, David Carradine, and Frank Herbert, I'd like to wish the happiest of birthdays to my friend ladyclayton.

We have no exciting plans for today, but we will be at Disneyland next weekend for MouseAdventure.

As James Bond producers struggle with casting troubles, ousted Brosnan offers a solution: himself -- SFGate, 2005-10-07

“Casino Royale,” the new James Bond film, is three months away from commencing filming, and after months of wrangling, producers still haven’t found an actor to slip into 007’s shoulder holster.

But the man who was fired from the role, Pierce Brosnan, said Friday that producers could solve their $150 million problem simply by picking up the phone.

“They know where to find me,” Brosnan said. “Would I go back if they asked me back? Sure I’d go back.”

For some reason I'd been under the impression that it was Brosnan that had walked, saying he was tired of the role. I think he's probably the best Bond since Sean Connery and his portrayal is the closest to the rather brutal character in Fleming's books, and would be delighted to see him back for a fifth installment.

Bush said God told him to invade Iraq, Arab leaders say -- SFGate, 2005-10-07

Jerusalem -- President Bush told two high-ranking Palestinian officials that he had been told by God to invade Afghanistan and Iraq and then create a Palestinian state to bring peace to the Middle East, they recall during a documentary on Middle East peace that airs next week in Britain.

'President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God,' ' said Nabil Shaath, who was the Palestinian foreign minister at the time of a top-level meeting with Bush in June 2003. Mahmoud Abbas, then Palestinian prime minister and now the Palestinian Authority president, was also present for the conversation with Bush.

Wouldn't it be nice if the leader of the free world took his instructions from the electorate rather than conversations with his imaginary friend? What's next, Teddy Ruxpin is gonna tell him to nuke North Korea?

It's been four or five months and I haven't fixed the top-post separation problem. I just now took a look at it and can't figure it out.

I also just noticed that AdSense has stopped working.

I don't know if I care, though. About either.

Does anybody still read this?