Nica's Blog

Go Ferraro...go away

Nica — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:09:00 +0000

Geraldine Ferraro has created unease by saying Barack Obama would not have gotten where he is today had he been white. The defense to her statement is that it is true. I say she is not so much correct, but she is not even wrong.

Let's say someone were to tell Dick Cheney that he wouldn't be where he is today if he were black. Someone might tell Bob Dylan that had he been a woman, he career wouldn't have been what it has been. I would daresay that there might be some truth to the statements, but it is an empty truth. We are all the product of many things. We are where we are because our family, friends, race, strengths, weeknesses. Saying "You are here because of 'X'" confuses the issue.

Nuff said.

Emperor's Club

Nica — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:38:00 +0000

This whole 'to do' about Spitzer and the 'high-class' prostitute's club does make me sad. Of course, I'm not annoyed by the sexual immorality of it. He is not my husband, and if he were, I might just take the attitude that as long as we have a nice cedar shake roof over our heads, and enought left over for the occasional nice frock, what the hell. Every man needs his hobbies, and such little mishaps are just the things we can laugh about years later. The fact that Elliot Spitzer was apparently a holier-than-thou-bitch between whoring sessions is a little off-putting, but I haven't really followed the details of his political career, so I will refrain from judgement.

In truth, I feel sorry for Spitzer. It's a sorrow I feel for 98% of the world's population. I think he was most surely ripped off by the Emperor's Club. This is not to slight Ms Dupre. She seems like a fine, and indeed "very pretty" girl. I wish her well. My ire is saved for the marketing department of the Emperor's Club. Shame on you. It's bad enough that everything from fruit to software to homes are pushed onto the public with the tricks of marketing, but to actually sell sex itself using cheesy 'high-class' packaging sickens me. You guys somehow convinced Spitzer that he was getting some sort of high-class sex that he wasn't getting at home. In fact I'm sure he was probably getting more-or-less the same vanilla sex for $1000.00/hr that he was getting at home with his wife or cleaning lady.

We are sold high-class cars, which are really only superifically better than economy cars. We are mortgaging ourselves to death for high-class homes with more space than we need. We fill the empty spaces in our high-class homes with sophisticated books which we don't read, but need to be stored in our tasteful bookcases which were chosen to go well with our subtely rich furniture. All this extra expense for good living doesn't go anything to make us any smarter or more comfortable.

I want people to return their Omega watches to the stores and explain that they have noticed that their fine watch isn't keeping time better than their little daughter's Beauty and the Beast watch. Do those high thread count sheets really feel better than the bargin sheets -- you paid extra for them! And explain to that nice young man that you purchased the high tech running shoes, but now you realize that you are lazy and will never use them. And please remember wine labels are not there to educate you, they are there to sell the wine. If you really must be a wine/beer/food conoissor, just memorize a few sentences like, "It's so hard to find properly aged goat cheese" or "German wines really are unappreciated." You can pretend to be smart, and your friends can pretend to care. And feel free to try the occasional high-class prostitute, but ask yourself mid-coitus, does this vagina feel any more 'high-class' than normal? Such thinking my save you thousands of dollars.

Honest Abe

Nica — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:48:00 +0000

Saturday Night Live did a skit something like this many years ago, but these guys have updated the gags nicely. There is something just so fun and naughty about violating the sanctity of Abe Lincoln.

Crumb

Nica — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:10:00 +0000

Most of the time when someone describes an art exhibit as "interesting", I usually assume they are using a euphemism for "not interesting". If something is truly interesting, the viewer will not generically describe the scene, but talk about very particular details of the art and the feelings they have about the art. But maybe I've been misinterpreting the i-word. I caught myself describing R. Crumb's exhibit at the Frye Art Museum. His work has a distinctive style, but his subject matter is surprisingly varied. Primarily a pen and ink artist, he also has a dramatic sculpture of "Devil Girl". The subject matter is sometimes utterly revolting. For the first time I have heard a museum staff member giving a tour using the expression "ass sucking". Crumb has himself many revolting characteristics, both physically and psychically, and he shows these flaws off on paper. He likes drawing himself as a child, or as a spindely child-like adult, always sweating, always with an erection bulging his pants. He seems to long for a meaty woman with huge jutting breats, minimal personality, and heavy legs, a mother surrogate with a lobotomy.

R.Crumb closely associated with the 60's counter-culture, did not like the music of the era. He has a love of Jazz, old Jazz on 78 rpm records. That is didn't fit into the alternative tastes of his coterie is, I believe, a good thing. An outcast should be a bit of an oddball even among outcasts.

I can't claim to actually enjoy reading his comics. He is a fine draftsman. He is still active making comics for the New Yorker. Much of his humor disgusts me, or simply goes over my head. But his work is interesting.

Everyone is a Financial Advisor

Nica — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:02:00 +0000

The housing market sucks. Lots of people are now regretting purchasing the home they have. Some of the blame has to be put on the homebuyers themselves, and many are feeling the punishment of their financial errors. Lenders have participated in many shaninigans as well. Some lenders are going to end up hurt by their over-zealous lending, others will make some profit from it. However the people who are mostly to blame will get no punishment, no public disgrace. I am referring to the people who have told every friend and family member not invested in real estate that they must purchase themselves a home because there is no better thing for them to do with their money. How many have been goaded into purchasing homes despite their shaky financial situation by relatives, coworkers, and friends talking endlessly about how real estate is a wonderous and magical money making machine.

Three years years ago I remember talking with an aquaintance, who I will call "L". Our conversation went something like this.

L: Do you own a home?
Me: No.
L: It's a wonderful investment.
Me: I only make $13/hr.
L: But you're wasting money on rent.
Me: I have no business taking out large loans.
L: But having real estate allows you to write off your loan when you pay your taxes.
Me: I can't afford a house.
L: You might be able to get something...maybe in Kent.
Me: So I can have a long commute, lousy neighborhood [no offense to you Kentians] and all the expenses of having a home.
L: But you're wasting money on rent. That's money down the drain.
Me: That's money that pays for shelter, maintenance, property taxes, water, sewer, garbage...
L: But you're not building equity.
Me: How do you know that? People can build equity lots of ways, not just with real estate.
L: Why are you so resistant to owning a home? You must have some sort of phobia about it.

Fortunately I didn't really like L very much and telling her that I was finding her tiresome was easy for me to do. Others have been less lucky and have been overwelmed by parents, coworkers, meddling in-laws, all urging investing in a home. Of couse none of these ignorant investment advisors feel that they are to blame now.

Remember, unless you really know what you are talking about, don't give advice. Keep your mouth shut or you might really hurt someone. Financial advice is not small-talk.

The Golden Compass ... the Movie

Nica — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:26:00 +0000

Today I went to The Golden Compass movie ready to be severely dissappointed. In fact, most of the movie I was only slightly dissappointed, and sometimes I was actually enjoying myself. I am not of the school of thought that movie adaptations should be as exact a recounting of the books content as possible. Altering the plot and details with care makes sense at times when moving the story from the written page to the big screen. The Golden Compass has kept the basic storyline intact, and some of the changes seems thought out well enough, but there are alterations of the storyline which seem capricous. In the beginning of the book it is the Dean of Jordan College who poisons Lord Asriel's wine, not Fra Pavel as shown in the movie. While this makes for simpler exposition, it comes at a huge cost to keeping up the intrigue of the story. The story is inherently confusing in the book, and part of the fun is working your way through the books trying to sort out the mysteries.

The movie ends about seven eights of the way through the book. While I can see this might make a better place for a conventional ending, I worry that audiences will have less reason to see the sequel -- if the sequel is ever made. The book ends with something of a cliffhanger. Actually, it ends with a cliff-fall, sadness, and a mystery. The movie ends with only a vague sense of something to be delivered.

It was an honest effort to make the book into a movie. The acting is good, the special effects are generally effective. The watering-down of the anti-religous message was not as muted as I had expected. The movie rushes through the storyline too quickly, but at least it doesn't drag. Some say the second and third books (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) in the series are not as good as The Golden Compass. I disagree. I really hope to see the sequels made. If they don't make the sequel, all those other world's mentioned in the movie's introduction will never get a chance to CGI'ed by eager computer artists.

Eye-popping, headache inducing 3-D

Nica — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:33:00 +0000

Beowulf, that mead centric tale in old (really old) English has been transformed into a somewhat tacky 3-D film. There is a long history of tawdry films made in 3-D, some OK films, but I have never heard of actual "good" film in 3-D. Some of this is biase I'm sure. Sensationalist entertainment get written off very quickly by the academics who decide what films are worth remembering. Still, it seems 3-D has never joined the ranks of sound and color as completely viable and, in time, mandatory additions to the cinematic arts.

The real world has sound and color, so it makes sense that sound and color should be included in movies. But the sensation of 3-D, the effect of stereo vision is real too, so why does a 3-D movie feel contrived like carnival ride designed to tell a story? Adding a third dimension should make the movie seem more natural than a tradition film.

Of Course part of the problem is the content of the movies themselves. I was getting so many bodies and weapons throw my way during Beowulf that I was starting to get downright annoyed. But there is more to the problem. During one of these moments, with a spear point pointed straight at me, it realized that part of my annoyance was due to my headache. There is something headache inducing about faked 3-D with the current technology. I think my brain -- and I don't think I am unique in this matter -- doesn't like to have things hovering around inches from my face while the entire background is in focus.

A humble request to 3-D cinematographers: let things go out of focus. Do it for our brains.

Finally, there is the sad fact that 3-D films are really not 3-D. They are the pop-up-book version of 3-D. The audience can't lean over and see something hiding behind an object. If we want that we need to either see a play (unacceptable) or develop true holograms. Sadly holography has a long way to go. The holo-displays of science fiction will probably remain as science fiction for some time.

Despite all these problems, the attempt to revive 3-D cinematography is a good sign. Studios are desperate to sustain some reason for people to go out to theatres. Huge screens with high resolutions are becoming commonplace in living rooms. It is good that the studios don't take viewership for granted.

Music: nothing to get riled over

Nica — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:58:00 +0000

When the 21st Century citizen reads about how upset people became when seeing the the works of the Pre-Raphaelites, or the early Impressionists, the reaction is dismay. Just what is so aggrevating about Monet, or Rosetti? Clearly something has changed about our attitude toward painting. These days few people actually say they like abstract art, but it has become the dominent art of our commerical world. Any fancy bank lobby, or waiting room will more than likely have a large abstract painting which acts a little more than what we expect from wallpaper, and easy way to break up the monotony of blank walls. Glass art is the favorite 3-D abstract art in the Seattle area. Most glass art is bulky, heavy, useless, and a bit gaudy, but it does great around here! Then again, much of art's purpose is to take up space without annoying anyone.

Bit-by-bit, and byte-by-byte the musical arts are going the same way. Nobody says, "I like background music. Yes, background music is my favorite kind of music." but that is exactly what the role of music is becoming. In this post-Walkman, age of free music and Ipods people can listen to music constantly. Listening to music that way can't help but make the music background music. The emotional neutrality of much Electronica is what makes it so appropriate to our age, not that fact that it's electronic. It used to be young people would ask one another "What sort of music are you into?" with a keen scrutiny now only reserved to polarizing political opinions. I am glad music leaving the world of controversy and intrigue, and now just fills the quiet when we feel lonely. I really hope the future of music has more to do with The Buddha Machine than anything that gets someboyd all riled up. Just relax.

Covered

Nica — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 04:21:00 +0000

Advertising on buses is becoming a sort of thin cocoon for the entire vehicle. Currently I am in a bus totally wrapped in a Naked Juice ad. While it is nearly impossible to miss the ad from the outside (if you see the bus, you'll see the ad) as a passenger I only see the ad as an annoying mesh obscuring my view. The mesh is capable of cutting down glare, but still I do feel like I am sacrificing my view to sell someone else's juice. And all this makes me wonder how effective a bus is at promoting Naked Juice. Buses do not connote class. A bus doesn't say "upscale juice". Maybe they should pay good-looking people to wear Naked Juice ads. That's right, clothes to sell naked Juice. They will just need to make sure to avoid having ugly people wear the outfits. Take the film off our bus window, and we will look at those pretty folk in Naked Juice garb and think, "I need to get off this bus, and get myself some Naked Juice."

IP and other Dangerous Ideas

Nica — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:14:00 +0000

Intellectual property (IP) is being touted by publishers of media as just like the more physical forms of property. "You wouldn't steal someone's cell phone, so why would you steal copyrighted songs?" the ad campaigns explains. "Why, this is STEALING just like any other form of stealing." This isn't exactly true because the musician (or more likely the music distribution company) still has the song. It is not as if Apple Records suddenly is not able to play Abby Road every time you listen to your illegally downloaded MP3.

"But you are denying the creators reimbursement for their creation." Metallica, or some other blow-hard cries. Whenever you hear this argument for the protection of the struggling artist just trying to get what he earns, why not join the argument. "Oh yes you are so correct. You know what really reams my goat? Those damn libraries. How do they expect authors to make a living when one book might be read by people for free! We need to shut down those libraries because they are systematically stealing from every writer in the library, not to mention all those musicians who have Cd's in libraries." At this point the blow-hard and lover of all creators of art and literature might feel some unease. Don't lose your momentum! You need to explain just how big this problem is. "There are people out there who sell their used compact discs and books, and when they get resold in turn the creators of the works get nothing." Have a look of wide-eyed disgust when you mention this. "Used music and used book shops are worse than libraries; they are making money off artists without reimbursement! Such places must be shut down, or at least cleared of all copyrighted materials." Then explain that you are going to spend your weekend going to small coffee shops with recorded music playing and making sure that the owners have permission from the RIAA to play the music in public. Hopefully the blow-hard will have wandered away from you by this time never to return.

Lately I've heard similiar "stealing from the creators" arguments concernign ad blocking software for browsers. Firefox has a nice extension which does a great job eliminating most advertisments from most web sites. I heard on NPR a representative from CNET saying that using such software is similiar to stealing. The notion is that sites are often supported by ad revenue, but people who use ad blocking software thwart this system. If everyone used such software nobody would pay for ads on web sites. Looking at the ads is how you "pay" for the content of the web sites. Don't get sucked in by this argument. If you feel guilty for blocking ads on your browser, they you might as well feel guilty about turning down the volumen during TV commercials and throwing out those slipperly ads in the center fold of the newspaper. If web based advertising turns out to be something that doesn't work because of the nature of the technology, don't blame the user. It is as stupid as blaming users for not buying what is advertised, after all isn't that the whole point of the advertising revenue system?

The Plot is not the Point

Nica — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 05:49:00 +0000

Some people will say the Transformers movie is idiotic, but like Ego from Ratatouille explained, some "perspective" is needed. Important point: Transformers began as a toy. Toys don't need a complex storyline. Toys just are. The Transformers live action movie doesn't really need a storyline, it just needs the Transformers. The special effects come through nicely with the big robots showing off their heft, agility, and general clanky showmanship. Corny acting is the style of choice, which is a relief after pretentious displays like The Matrix. The characters are forgettable, except for the Transformers themselves, and that not such a bad thing. Like the Muppets, the Transformers are really better than actors, and endearing because they are not human. Frankly, humans can be such a bore.

Starscream and Optimus Prime are my favorite Transformers.

Happy Solstice

Nica — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 16:57:00 +0000

The Fremont Soltice Day Parade is developing, growing, and evolving. There is something resembling organization about it. It might be some sort emergent behavior. Anthills exhibit enormous organization even though even though the little ants don't really have any clerical skills individually. One thing which has helped keep things in order is that they have given up stopping naked people from entering the parade. The first thirty minutes of the parade was mostely naked people on bikes, which is great. I do worry about a few of these individuals however. Please, for my own peace of mind,. if you are ever bicycling nude (or naked) keep off your cell phone. I saw at least three buck naked individuals zipping about the crowded parade route while holding a cell phone to their ear. My suspicion is that most of the conversations they were having were of the form, "Hey, guess what I'm doing right now!" or, "Dude, I'm doing I it for real!" Please, just keep both hands on the handlebars and leave the phone at home.

The 300

Nica — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 06:36:00 +0000

I went to see The 300 with some unease. I like historical dramas, but this didn't seem to be to my tastes. I like stories which emphasize the difficulty of telling good from evil; The 300 seemed like Star Wars, a universe in which you can tell if someone is good or evil by the quality of their skin. In the real world nasty people can look very nice, smell good, and seem wholesome. Still, I've gone to movies before expecting the worst and have been pleasantly surprised. I watch The 300 and it was actually a little worse than I expect. I expected something mediocre (5/10), but this was truly sub-par (4/10). My husband said to me, "It's just movie-adaptation of a comic book" as if this is suppose to excuse bad taste. My problem is not that it was not historically accurate. My problem is that it was stupid and tasteless.

Ancient Spartan culture is something of a mystery since they were something of a secretive society. I don't mind that The 300 depicts the Spartans as resolutely heterosexual, though it is quite unlikely. I do mind awkwardly placed sex scenes and an absurd plot involving the Queen of Sparta having extra-martial sex with an official have an audience with the council.

There are moments when Leonidas' speeches remind me of Christopher Reeves playing Superman and fighting for "truth, justice, and the American way." Sparta is supposedly a bastion of reason and freedom in a world of superstition and perversity. If there was ever a fascist culture it was Sparta. Somehow forcing men to fight, and being free don't conflict in this philosophically confused film.

There is a real conundrum when it comes to the oracle in Sparta. The priests are called inbreed and look like monsters, but it is also mentioned that the oracles themselves are beautiful women because the priests "have the needs of men." So the priests are inbred monsters, but they are having sex with a steady stream of pretty young oracles? It was also implied that the oracles have no real magical abilities, but the oracle is shown floating in the air while in a trance. Well, it was a very pretty way to show off her pretty breasts.

The Persian enemy is made faceless by giving them various masks and scarves to obscure their humanity. Xerxes himself is made ridiculous, and Persian culture is made out like some sort of freakshow. The good guys, the Spartans, were forgettable personalities. I bet 95% of the audience members do not remember the names of and Greek in the story other than Leonidas.

Many watch movies like this for the fight scenes. The fights were reasonably well orchestrated I suppose, but very predictable. Give me a good martial arts film over the spear chucking, shield bashing ways of The 300. For those who like beefcake, this may be your movie. Try not to think and enjoy the well defined abs.

Good News Everybody

Nica — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 04:43:00 +0000

I normally don't use my blog to make comments on the news, but the news has just been so good lately.

They are making progress on the James Webb Space Telescope which was recently in mock up for in my backyard.

An astronaut proves that she is just as nutty as anyone else. When NASA reviews their critia for evaluating the mental stability of astronauts, keep in mind that it is essentially impossible to screen people for that sort of thing.

The trail/mistrial of Ehren Watada show just how worried the millitary is about troop moral. Watada's behavior is clearly very threatening to the Army.

I will forever remember the 2007 Boston Mooninite Scare. It's so inherently funny that I don't feel like I have anything to add. I am proud that Seattle did not overreact. I like this excerpt from the Wikipedia article:

King County Sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart went on to state, "To us, they're so obviously not suspicious ... We don't consider them dangerous. In this day and age, whenever anything remotely suspicious shows up, people get concerned - and that's good. However, people don't need to be concerned about this. These are cartoon characters giving the finger."

Fancy

Nica — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:24:00 +0000

I've found another word to dislike: "upscale". This is a marketing term which has now seeped into general usage. It is used to describe something as appropriate for upper-income people. Actually it probably means more that the product makes people feel like they are sophisticated beyond their income bracket when they purchase the item. It's a polite way of saying something has snob appeal.

The socially self-conscious background is only part of what annoys me about this word. I think the word lacks the panache of similar words like "haughty" "slick" "swank" "spiffy" "posh" and "lush". Upscaling and downscaling are terms occasionally used by scientists usually discussing the resolution of the simulation or device, and the words have a bare clinical feel about them more appropriate for the programmer, or technician than the designer or restaurant clinic.

Finally, I dislike using "upscale" to describe something because it is a lazy way of describing something. A bar can just be described as "upscale" and it really doesn't say a thing in particular about the place. Is it full of rich old men, or young hipsters? Is it a place where lawyers hang out with loosened ties, or where people show off their best shoes? Is their abstract art on the walls, or antique prints, or black and white photos? "Upscale" can be many things, but users of the word seem think it conveys all the nuances of an object or environment.

Two Years is a Long Time

Nica — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:13:00 +0000

Yesterday Apple came out with the iPhone. It's pretty neat. I was even beginning to think of saving up for one. The more information I found about it the more I liked it. Nice design. Very friendly, of course. Then I came across a picture of Steve Jobs in front of a huge projection screen which read "Two Year Contract". Sure enough, you need to get a two year contract with Cingular when you get the phone.

I am no longer interested in getting the iPhone.

Is it so idealistic to believe that you should be able to simply buy a phone, then call up any service provider in your area and say, "Hey, I have this phone. How much would it cost to make a phone call using your company." And then they would say, "We charge $___ per month, or ___cents per call or text message." ? If you become unhappy with a provider you should be free to simply change cell phone companies. We expect this with our land lines, but people put up with two year contracts for cell phones. So they can sell me a five or six hundred dollar phone and if I decide that I don't like Cingular service I'm simply out of luck? That's not user friendly.

James Webb Space Telescope

Nica — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 05:53:00 +0000

Freeway Park is practically my backyard. Currently I have a full sized replica of the James Webb Space Telescope in this park I consider my backyard. You may ask, "Why do you have a full sized replica of the James Webb Space Telescope in your 'backyard'?" It's because there is an astronomy convention going on in the Washington State Trade and Convention Center located in Freeway Park.

Frankly I was confused when they were setting it up. I thought it was just going to be pretentious art. Then I was hoping it was a death ray. Then I was told incorrectly it was a replica of the Hubble Space Telescope. Then I read a banner describing the entity as the James Webb Space Telescope. By the way, this is named after James Edwin Webb who was an administrator to NASA, not the Virginian Senator, or Jim Webb who did the score for The Last Unicorn animated movie.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be launching in 2013. Some of you may not realize that the good old Hubble Space Telescope is considered rather outdated, and the plan was to scrap it by now. The JWST will be far more sensitive and will be located further away from earth than the Hubble. It has sun shields to protect its ultra-sensitive sensors and will hang out at the second Earth-Sun Lagrange point.

I'm just excited to see it in my backyard. I wish Northrop Grumman and everyone else involved good luck on the real thing.

We Feel Fine

Nica — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 03:35:00 +0000

Occasionally I come across a website that is so amazing that I think I must be misunderstanding it, like watching a magic show and not realizing you're just seeing tricks. When I first came across We feel fine I wasn't convinced it was really doing what it said it was doing. Had the creators not been so open in explaining how their website works, I would have left the site thinking it was an interesting proof of concept or demo. I am now convinced that this website parses thousands of blogs to create elegant graphics, animation, and text. It all makes me feel small; I realize just how many people are out there feeling sometimes profound feelings. They may not have good grammar, or spelling, but they feel.

Just say "no" to Poinsettias

Nica — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 00:41:00 +0000

I would like to encourage people who do not plan to keep a poinsettia as a year around houseplant to simple not get poinsettias. About now great piles of the pretty flowering perennials are being tossed into compost piles and landfills. Go into some department stores and high-rise lobbies and you'll see great towers of the red, pink, and white petals (which are actually leaves) in cheesy foiled pots. These are plants doomed to die. The plants are perennials, but it's cheaper to just throw them away than to keep them alive for next year. It's a huge waste, and it has nothing to do with Christmas.

Once I get everyone to stop using poinsettias for holiday decor, I'm going to start making the Christmas tree a ritual of the past.

Rainy Seattle

Nica — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 08:43:00 +0000

Seattle is a moderately rainy city, which makes it fine for me. I don't mind rain, and I usually enjoy it. I see people flinching under the rain like they are caught in a deluge of guano, and I feel sad they don't seem to enjoy rain; they don't even seem to want to enjoy the rain. People will enjoy the sunshine, even if it's making their skin peel and causing melanoma -- dammit they're going to enjoy the sunny days.

Seattle is not a very rainy city. Seattle gets a moderate amount of rain. Consider the average annual rainfalls of some well known cities:

London, 24.2 in
Paris, 24.1
Roma, 31.2
Toronto, 29.1
Seattle, 33.1
Tokyo, 60.0
Cairo, 1.0
Bangkok, 57.8
San Francisco, 19.6
Sydney Australia, 48.1
Baghdad, 6.1
Miami, 59.0
New Orleans, 59.8
Anchorage, 15.3
Grand Rapids, 201
New York City, 46.7

These numbers will vary depending on the source, but I don't think these numbers are skewed one way or the other. I was really surprised by how little I knew about rainfalls in various cities. I had no idea that San Francisco is so dry, and Grand Rapids is so wet. Baghdad is dry, no surprise, but Cairo is extraordinarily lacking in precipitation. No wonder the Nile is so important. All in all Seattle has a very middle-of-the-road sort of climate when it comes to rainfall. I was a little disappointed that London has so much less rain than Seattle. A rainy London has something of a romantic appeal to me.

Orange Pekoe

Nica — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:43:00 +0000

I like tea, that is real tea. I don't like herbal stuff. I find it hard to believe anyone really likes the herbal teas very much unless they are drinking it with tremendous amounts of sugar. Boil lawn clippings and add sugar and my guess is that you can manufacture something halfway palatable. I like green teas. On that topic I can recommend Tazo's China Green Tips which is sold through Starbucks. Oolong teas are good with a nice Chinese meal, but I really can't say I love the stuff. I so like black teas. I like black teas a lot, so when my husband asked me what "Orange Pekoe" is I was at a loss. I wasn't sure if it was a grade of tea, or an actual type of tea?

Wikipedia to the rescue. Any tea lover should read the orange pekeo Wikipedia entry. The best part is toward the bottom when it lists the grades of tea starting with "Orange Pekeo" and ending in "Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe". Given that FTGFOP (Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) is jokingly referred to as "far too good for ordinary people", Super Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekeo must be for the gods. Save teas that good for when your super-fine-tippy-golden-flowery-friends visit.

Izze in Full Motion

Nica — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 04:46:00 +0000

I have made Izze-cam full motion streaming video. Enjoy. You may be able to see Esmeralda and Gregory in the background. For those of you curious, I'm using Tincam as my webcam software. It's pretty cheap, but works OK. The webcam itself is pretty basic Creative Labs Live! usb webcam.

Blogger and trusting in others

Nica — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 22:44:00 +0000

I had a little trouble with my Greymatter blog so I've wimped out and started using Blogger. I managed to corrupt some of the Greymatter files and it began FREAKING OUT. I'm not kidding. I was getting very patient emails from the sys admin saying I was impacting the performance of the web server and I better fix my scripts. A script was getting stuck in some sort of cpu hogging loop. I decided to check out Blogger. It's not perfect, but it is easy, I really didn't feel like re-installing my Greymatter Perl scripts. The only thing that makes me uneasy about Blogger is that it makes be dependent on an online service, but I'm hosting the files myself, so even if Blogger goes away, I still have my posts.

Happy Boxing Day!