Project Insomnia

We've watched the new Four Seasons Silicon Valley luxury hotel slowly being built over the past three years. Now, as of yesterday, it's finally open:

East Palo Alto never has been what travel agents call a destination spot. For years, the Peninsula town didn't even have a hotel. Not that anyone was looking for rooms in a place once known more as the nation's murder capital than for its hospitality.

But as of Monday, East Palo Alto is home to some of the Bay Area's priciest hotel rooms.

The swanky Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto -- where standard rooms start at $325 a night -- opened its doors for business, giving the town a taste of the gilded prosperity that enriched its wealthier Silicon Valley neighbors during the Internet boom.

We drove through the plaza and porte-cochère on Sunday just to see what was going on and saw that the place was already staffed up. At $325/night for a standard room, I don't know that we'll be staying there any time soon, but we'll likely check out the restaurant (and review it, of course).

As of today, we are disconnecting our landline phone and using our wireless phones exclusively. If you don't have my or Jen's wireless number, you probably don't need it, but go ahead and ask me for it anyway. As always, the best way to get in touch with me is by email or IM.

So I've had the lovely new OMNIMVR Mk. II (no license plates yet) for 23 days.

In that time, I've noted a few things that bother me about it. These are not horrible awful defects or anything actually wrong, they are just observations and are mostly in comparison to the Pontiac.

1. The side mirrors are small, so small that in order to get a good view to my left I have to lean forward and back while looking through the mirror. The Grand Prix had big mirrors.


2. The nose is low, low enough that when parking it tends to scrape on the concrete wheel stop. The Grand Prix had this problem as well, but the G35's nose seems to be lower.


3. There is a noticeable lack of integration between the various systems, made more evident when such integration does reveal itself. For example, though the car is equipped with both a DVD navigation system--featuring "Points of Interest" including phonebook-style listings for restaurants, shops, etc.--and Bluetooth connectivity for my phone, selecting a listing on the navigation system does not dial the phone. It seems obvious to me that these two systems should work together.
   Another example: when using the Bluetooth handsfree system to make or receive a call, the stereo is muted. This is good. What's missing is a manual "mute" mode for the stereo.


4. Finally, I really do miss the Grand Prix's HUD. I am presently looking into whether one can be fitted into the G35.

Of course, the car has a much larger number of good points: beautiful lines, loaded with tech-y goodness, lots of power.

I think my most favorite little feature is Infiniti's "Intelligent Key" system: the usual remote-unlock keyfobs are upgraded with RFID to identify the holder. This means I don't have to use the remote to unlock the car, just walk up and press the button on the door handle... with the keyfob still in my pocket. It only unlocks if the Intelligent Key is within a few feet. The trunk works the same way. Not only that, but there are two Intelligent Keys and they are uniquely coded, so that when Jen drives the car... if she ever does... her Key will unlock the door and move the seat and steering wheel to her preset. They then move back to my preset when I unlock the door with my Key. And the best part: the ignition also recognizes the presence of the Intelligent Key fobs--only when actually inside the cabin--so no key is necessary to start the car; I just turn the switch.

So far the longest drive we've taken is to Walnut Creek, when we visited my grandmother two weeks ago. We'll be driving to SoCal next weekend, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the car performs on the long straightaways of I-5 through the Central Valley.

From BBSpot, a "Top 11" list of reasons the American government is spying on you.

#11: Accidentally searched for "how to build a nuclear weapon and blow up the Super Bowl".

Yesterday, Monday, January 23, was National Pie Day according to the American Pie Council and reported on SFGate Culture Blog:

Yes, it's National Pie Day, all day, until midnight, as proclaimed by the American Pie Council, 'the only national organization devoted to eating, making, selling, promoting and enjoying pie.'

I like pie.

This Washington Post/SFGate story reports on a study which shows that biologically, 7 a.m. is just too early for high school students:

Carskadon, who teaches human behavior and is director of sleep research at E.P. Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island, led a team of researchers who helped prove that -- biologically speaking -- teenagers really are out of it early in the morning.

The researchers measured the presence of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin in teenagers' saliva at different times of the day. They learned that the melatonin levels rise later at night than they do in children and adults -- and remain at a higher level later in the morning.

My high school started at 8:00 AM, though there were some students who took elective classes which did start at 7:00. To this day I have trouble getting up that early--which makes it especially nice to have a job so close to home.

Linked from SFGate's Culture Blog:

Matthew Baldwin at defective yeti recounts George W's presidency in the style of Infocom's classic text adventure game Zork.

It starts in the Oval Office, where Bush examines his desk, tries to pet the presidential seal ('It's not that kind of seal') and goes for a pretzel ('I don't think the pretzel would agree with you').

I was not much of a Zork player, but was strongly addicted to the Hitch-Hiker's Guide text adventure. Perhaps W should have given the sandwich to the little dog after all.

From TVGasm via SFGate: Giada's Disaster

Ever wonder what would happen if one of our favorite Food Network chefs created something they actually didn't like? Well, we were lucky enough to witness such an event when Giada De Laurentiis of Everyday Italian attempted to make some sort of sorbet. She claimed on the air that her facial expressions of disgust and malaise were merely a reaction to the icy treat, but we know better. Behold the Great Giada Disaster of 2006.

From the linked discussion comes an animation (mirrored) of the screen captures. You really need to read that thread, though, to get the captions for each frame.

Two new Restaurant Reviews plus a couple others I hadn't posted about here:

• Stanford's Restaurant & Bar (Walnut Creek, CA)
• Gyros Gryos (Palo Alto, CA)
• MacArthur Park (Palo Alto, CA)
• Oak City Bar & Grill (Menlo Park, CA)

After just under seven years, I have retired the original OMNIMVR. The '99 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP served me so very well, but at 100,000 miles and seven years it was entering that stage of a car's life where it was going to take significant money to keep it running, and I'd rather put that money into a new car. So I donated the Pontiac to Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation--I'll take a roughly $6000 deduction on my 2006 taxes--and have purchased a new 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe.
I've had it for just about two weeks now, and I am absolutely loving it. Jen is handling the DMV/license plate issues, and we're getting a new set of OMNIMVR plates for it--they should be here in a few months, she says. I don't have any great pictures yet (certainly not as good as in the gallery on the Infiniti Web site) but here are two from January 3rd, the day I took delivery.

By further expanding Alaska oil exploration into an area long off limits because of concerns of impact on wildlife,

'We recognize ... the energy needs of this nation,' said Susan Childs, an official with the department's Bureau of Land Management. 'So, hopefully, this will alleviate some of the pressure.'

Government officials say the area of the preserve opened Wednesday has significant potential for oil development. They estimate it contains about 2 billion barrels of oil that is economically recoverable, along with 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The United States consumes more than 20 million barrels of oil per day.

Two billion barrels divided by 20 million barrels per day equals 100 days.

Former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman writes a compelling case for the
Impeachment of George W. Bush:

Upon assuming the presidency, Bush took an oath of office in which he swore to take care that the laws would be faithfully executed. Impeachment cannot be used to remove a President for maladministration, as the debates on ratifying the Constitution show. But President Bush has been guilty of such gross incompetence or reckless indifference to his obligation to execute the laws faithfully as to call into question whether he takes his oath seriously or is capable of doing so.

The whole article, while lengthly, is worth reading and considering. As the political machines gear up for the '06 primaries and Congressional elections, it's important to remember that removing the Republican majority in Congress has got to be the single goal--no time for third-party shenanigans right now.

Jen found this smugmug gallery through a link from CruiseCritic, with 41 pics of the Celebrity Infinity. We'll be on the Infinity in May.

It can't really be a random fluctuation in the market that, on the day Apple unveiled their Intel-based computers, AAPL closed at $80.86? Can it?
Thanks to JeffG on MousePad for the heads-up.

Following links from this Google search, you will see Web cams from all over the world.

No, I haven't yet finished moving Project Insomnia content to MoveableType. My letter to Mercury News' Action Line was published today, though, so I consider myself reminded to get a move on.

Blogger.com has restored your account access, but you indicated that you may move to another blog provider anyway.

I've installed MT on the Project Insomnia Web server, so it's just a matter of ironing out the tricky bits of exporting three years of Blogger.com content.

Yes, this article is a parody:

In a stunning technological breakthrough, Canon has managed to combine their digital SLR cameras with advanced cell phone technology. From now on, you will always have a phone handy, no matter where you are.

But it seems like a good idea to me. Adding small, underpowered cameras to cell phones has been successful but I haven't found it to be very useful; my Treo's camera is there when I need to take a picture, but seldom has the resolution, zoom or light sensitivity to adequately record the subject. A pro-quality camera with cellular capabilities sounds like a natural fit coming from the other direction.

Here is what happens when you go to an administrative hearing to dispute a parking violation in Palo Alto.

Before you can be scheduled for a hearing, you have to request an initial review, which will be denied. As far as I can tell, the initial review never results in a citation being dismissed; it seems to be just a way to discourage people from continuing with the dispute process. When you receive the denial, you can request an administrative hearing by phone, by mail, or in person. I couldn’t see how it could be to my advantage to conduct the hearing by phone or mail. Can’t you just imagine how that would work?

By phone:

Me: [why the citation is invalid and should be dismissed]
Hearing officer: uh-huh, very interesting... ooh, blasted that alien!

By mail:

Me: [why the citation is invalid and should be dismissed]
Hearing officer: [sound of paper crumpling and hitting trash can]

So you request an in-person hearing. This request includes you writing a check for the amount of the citation, to be returned to you if (hah!) the citation is dismissed.

You’ll receive a hearing summons. Meanwhile, you’ll most likely get a scary “Delinquent Parking Violation” postcard, as the clock doesn’t stop while you pursue your dispute. The hearings are held in a city recreation building at 3800 Middlefield Road, in Mitchell Park. You sign in and wait and listen to the previous supplicant explain his position and be shot down by the hearing officer. The previous supplicant walks out dejected, and now it’s your turn.

You will be meeting with the most benightedly unintelligent person it’s been my profound lack of pleasure to have been unable to avoid meeting.^* He’ll read your written statements (your initial review and administrative hearing requests) and ask for your version of what happened.

Then he’ll tell you why you’re wrong, explain how he’s been doing this for years “in front of juries!”, fit in several unrelated anecdotes and pointless analogies, and generally accuse you of being a filthy liar without actually coming out and saying it. He won’t decide the issue right then—or at least he won’t tell you his decision—but instead, he says, you’ll receive something in the mail.

He’ll shake your hand on your way out.

You’ll want to stop as soon as possible to wash your hands.

Your only real consolation is that you’ve cost the city far more in paper-shuffling and man-hours than your citation cost you.

* credit to Douglas Adams for the exquisite turn of phrase.

Air America Radio's Bay Area affiliate, 960 KQKE, has as of yesterday changed their programming schedule and applied a one-hour tape-delay to The Al Franken Show. Following is the letter I'm sending to Bob Agnew, Programming Director at KQKE.

Greetings:

In this age of streaming Internet audio and satellite radio, it is vital for traditional terrestrial broadcast radio to differentiate itself. I acknowledge and applaud your efforts to do so on 960 The Quake. However, I must take issue with your methods; specifically in applying a one-hour tape-delay to “The Al Franken Show”.

“The Al Franken Show” is a topical news/talk program which loses significant impact and relevance when replayed, whether in reruns or by tape-delay. It is meant to be heard live and suffers when not live.

I appreciate the need to provide local programming, to wit, “Keepin' it Real with Will and Willie”. However, by delaying “The Al Franken Show”, 960 The Quake ceases at 9:00 AM to be useful and becomes merely annoying.

I strongly urge you to reconsider this broadcast schedule, and respectfully request that you restore “The Al Franken Show” to live broadcast.

The courtesy of a reply is requested.

Ronald Brownstein of the LA Times compares George W. Bush with James K. Polk:

Polk, when elected president as a Democrat in 1844, had more political experience than Bush (Polk had spent 20 years in elective office, compared with Bush's six). But like Bush (who was 54 in 2000), Polk was young (49) and extremely self-confident when he took office.

Polk may be the only predecessor who matched Bush's determination to drive massive change on a minute margin of victory. Polk won by fewer than 38,000 votes of 2.7 million cast. Over four tumultuous years, he pursued an ambitious, highly partisan agenda that offered little to those who had voted against him. Sound familiar?

This raises the question: Who will be our latter-day Lincoln?
Thanks to Sean 'Yoda' Rouse for the link.