Month: June 2007

Sunday, 17 June 2007

Save for Later Because

by Garrick van Buren 2 Comments on Save for Later Because

I think albums of music and podcasts are very similar and I see both them very different from radio. Unlike Dave, I don’t want my podcasts automatically deleted, I would like the ‘Save’ or ‘Delete’ option just as I do on Tivo.

The iPod/iTunes assumes everything is precious (it’s not), automatically deleting assumes nothing is valuable (it is). Both assume a scarcity. Either a scarcity of storage space or a scarcity of access. 10 minutes from now, we’ll have neither. Any podcast I’ve downloaded over the past 3 year is more than likely in 1 of 2 places: my iTunes library or the Internet. Somewhere.

The scarcity we need to solve is context – a way to gesture why I saved something and kept it close.

The Real Need to Disintermediate “Friendship”

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on The Real Need to Disintermediate “Friendship”

“Okay, Twitter is funny; I really don’t want to type in @garrickvanburen when Garrick knows who he is, but ‘at Garrick’ gets coded wrong. :(” – Eric Larson

“I would love to see the distributed infrastructure of the web, blogs and RSS reach the level of adoption and usefulness that Facebook has, I’m quite certain we’re not there yet.” – Avi Bryant

“Closed systems are fine in the early stages of a new technology. They’re the training wheels for a new layer of users and uses. But, as we always see, the training wheels eventually come off, explosively…” – Dave Winer

“The Web is ‘The’ social network. That’s all we need. Now we just need an easy way to create and share personal social-space that we can easily publish to any server we want.” – Arnie

Friday, 15 June 2007

Netflix Defines a 3-Star Movie for Me

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Netflix Defines a 3-Star Movie for Me

This week our Netflix queue hasn’t been very good to us. While Prison Break started off engaging and interesting, it falls apart quickly halfway through Season 1 Disc 2. Where the less MacGyver-inspired supporting stories unfold.

Netflix’s Suggested Rating: 3-stars

Last night, Idiocracy. After watching more than 15 minutes of the film, I’m not surprised at the lack of marketing and both postponed and limited theatrical release. It’s simply not a very good use of 84 minutes. In-appropriate or offensive corporate jokes are beside that point. When it finally ended, I rushed to Netflix.com all primed to rate the movie poorly.

Netflix: “We think you’ll rate it 3-stars”.

Garrick: “Oh. Yeah. That’s actually pretty accurate. Thanks”.

Tonight, I finally caught Startup.com II, er, 10mph. This film is gorgeous. Fantastic photography, great shots of our country, fairly interesting story, full-on branded trailers and t-shirts, horrible narration with equal parts arrogance and naivete. Thankfully, 20 minutes in, the narrator moved to the backseat of the Jeep and let us see Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas.

When it clicks.

Our country isn’t about the mind-numbing cubicle job. It’s about the sneaking through a barbed-wire fence while squatting on your battery-powered scooter.

Around Ohio, the whole endeavor starts to go south, I start wondering if Alon has given the Segway’s replacement batteries names and if so, does he have favorites (no spoilers).

Netflix’s Suggested Rating: 3.5-stars

5-star rating systems have bugged me for a while now. So many independent attributes to rank, all rolled into a single number. I knew what 1-star meant (don’t rent it), I knew what 5-stars meant (you were in it). This week, Netflix taught me what 3-stars means (it not good, but you’ll sit through it).

Thursday, 14 June 2007

Which Car Should I Buy?

by Garrick van Buren 8 Comments on Which Car Should I Buy?

Repairs on the ’98 Neon are approaching it’s value and I can’t rely on it the way I was once able to. It’s been a great car, but I can see the day when it won’t serve us anymore. With that in mind, I’m starting the search for a new vehicle to replace it.

From exploring the car sites, their aren’t many cars that seem like a worthwhile replacement. So, I’m in no hurry and happy to wait until the right car comes along – even if that means another 75k on the Neon.

Things I Care About – in Order

  1. Distinctive exterior.
    Something that demands a love it or hate it reaction. A beige Toyota Camry – um no. I think you need to go to extreme sizes for this – super big or super small. I’m going super small.
  2. Gas mileage greater than 30mpg city.
  3. I can fit comfortably and can see out the windshield.
    In many cars – convertibles, those with sunroofs, anything from Jeep –
  4. Easy to get a car seat in and out of backseat.
    Yes, as of next year, we’ll be back to the bucket car seat.
  5. Reliability
    It’s not uncommon for my car to sit un-driven outside for a week or two in the depth of winter or height of summer. I don’t care. I expect it to start when I turn the key.
  6. Minijack & iPod connectivity
    I actually prefer to not having AM/FM/CD/Satellite capabilities.
  7. Bluetooth phone connectivity.
    Having the phone integrated into the car’s audio system sounds very convenient.
  8. Carbon neutrality.
    Not just the usage, but I’d like the carbon imprint of manufacturing and delivery offset as well.
  9. I could fit a bicycle inside.
    Outside of my laptop gear, and a car seat, a bike is the most likely other thing I’ll be hauling.
  10. In 15 years a new driver might want to drive it.
    Barring a dramatic change fuel infrastructure, the idea of keeping a car that long for the kid to practice driving with is pretty attractive to me.
  11. Built-in garage door opener
    Again, a nice convenience. Makes it far more likely I’ll put the car in the garage.
  12. The fuel it runs on.
    Today, alternative fuels are at the point where using less regular unleaded gas is still more effective.

Things I Don’t Care About – in Order

  1. Color
  2. Engine size
  3. Upholstry and floor mats
  4. Chrome and trim
  5. Wheel sizes and locks
  6. Transmission type

All the ‘build your car’ sites care more about the second list than the first.

Cars I’ve been looking at thus far – Ordered by interest

  1. Scion xD
    Looks like a direct response to the Fit, but with better AV options.
  2. VW Rabbit TDI
    In the comments, Nathan suggested I look into it, so far, I like what I see.
  3. Honda Fit
    I sat in a Fit earlier this week, it feels pretty comfortable. I can see out the windows and the put the seat almost exactly where I want it.
  4. Toyota Yaris Sedan
  5. Nissan Versa
  6. Honda Civic
    It’s a good reliable, reputable car. That doesn’t feel as comfortable as the Fit.
  7. Honda Civic Hybrid
    Trading mileage for trunk space.
  8. Mazda 3 5-Door
    It’s been a very long time since I’ve looked at Ford. Kinda surprised this one is here.
  9. Toyota Prius
    It’s got the distinctive look and the tech gear, but seems kinda boring otherwise.
  10. Cooper Mini
    Trading the inconvenience of a 2-door for still being really cool in 15 years.

Am I missing something from this list?

Note to Chrysler: Despite my long history of Chrysler vehicles and that I feel more comfortable buying a Chrysler than a Ford or GM, you don’t have anything interesting that I haven’t already purchased.

Elsewhere:
Andy Atkinson is also in the market for a new ride, and ran the insurance and mileage numbers for his candidates.

Update 1 Sept 2010
So, I bought a Dodge Grand Caravan

Tuesday, 12 June 2007

Moderation

by Garrick van Buren 4 Comments on Moderation

In Dave Slusher’s Dog Daze Clambake, Dave digs into his financial strategy. While I appreciate where Dave’s coming from (don’t buy stuff you don’t need) and our savings rate is also in the double digits, he makes a couple of assumptions I completely disagree with:

  1. Retirement, as sold to our grandparents, will exist a decade from now – and later.
    Unlike previous generations, Dave and I make our living from our brains – not our backs. While 40+ years on the factory floor makes a back lamer, the same isn’t true of brains. I’m betting on my brain will be a valuable member of society 40+ years from now in a similar way it is today. Perhaps my perspective will change in a couple decades, but today – I see myself doing something revenue generating when I’m in my 70s not because I have to, but because I want to.This is where Dave and I disagree.Dave and I are talking about the same elephant.
  2. Sacrifice today inherently creates opportunity tomorrow.
    No, I don’t have a video game console or subscribe to cable television. Nor do I have a high quality portable podcast recorder or a dog. I do have a bunch of other gear that makes my life easier, work more enjoyable, and offers me opportunity and experience I wouldn’t have without the gear. Here’s my assumption: having lunch with a colleague is more likely to lead to a new business opportunity than not.

Monday, 11 June 2007

Safari 3.0b Quick Review

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Safari 3.0b Quick Review

Some nice improvements in the Public Beta of the new Safari. A mix of must-haves and nice-to-haves. I’m quite pleased by the following:

  1. Resizeable textareas
  2. Spotlight/Firefox-esque in-page Find
  3. Submit buttons now support CSS
by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Gizmo Project now supports AIM and MSN ‘…

Gizmo Project now supports AIM and MSN ‘buddies’. But not both at the same time. If they did, I’d drop Adium. But they don’t so I still don’t have a reason to use Gizmo over my current Skype/Adium combo.

Tolls, Feast, and Central Street

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Tolls, Feast, and Central Street

This past weekend was the second scheduled Chicago trip for this summer. Like previous trips, all my frustrations and annoyances with the city back. Immediately. As we sat for 20-minute in a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam behind the 85 cent toll booth at O’Hare.

What a horrible way to introduce visitors to the city. I strongly encourage the State of Illinois Dept of Tourism to sell $20 weekend Illinois Tollway I-Passes on the border. Hell, I strongly encourage the State of Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, and Iowa Depts. of Tourism to sell them. Illinois is damaging their tourist reputation by not making the program visitor-friendly ($50 & “Allow 7 to 10 days for processing and delivery” = not helping).

Sunday, we grabbed a pretty good brunch at Feast with Jon, Carolyn, Tesia, and Erin. As expected, the conversation, Feast’s outside seating, and the breakfast potatoes were delightful. While both the garbage omelet and service showed promise, they were awkwardly hesitant.

On the way out of town, we stopped by our old neighborhood on Evanston’s Central street. All our frustration melted away as we walked the sidewalk in and out of the storefronts. In front of the new independent coffee shop, we bumped in to Larry Maday, manager at the Video Adventure. One of the reason I’m disappointed on Netflix and Amazon recommendations is because of Larry’s ability to know exactly what we’re in the mood for. We chatted a little. Just like we did when we lived 2 block down.

Like we never left.

Wednesday, 6 June 2007