tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:05:59 +0000nonsense for the webhttp://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/noreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)Blogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-2095430631855921918Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:16:00 +00002008-09-16T21:16:33.938-07:00One of the reasons I love San Francisco is people like this guy.http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/09/amazing-piano-bike.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-5752604959978858294Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:54:00 +00002008-09-03T22:54:41.255-07:00I don't know what it is about warm warm water and waves that makes me feel so so ... happy, maybeor more satiated perhapsfull full and utterly unconcernedhttp://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/09/waves.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-7149163271324211626Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:18:00 +00002008-09-02T22:32:38.862-07:00book review paintingI very much enjoyed Arturo Perez-Reverte's A Painter of Battles. It is a slow meditation on the observation of war: a former war photographer turned painter tries to paint the painting to end all paintings. Trying to create the picture that he could never take with his camera. Into the frame steps one of his former photographic subjects, a Croatian whose life is ruined (even further) because of http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/09/painter-of-battles.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-2633378682500924000Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:46:00 +00002008-07-16T22:20:35.779-07:00ipod reviewFirst of all, I should just say flat out that the iPod Touch (an by extension the iPhone) is an amazing device. The physical interface works exceedingly well, partially as (for the most part) the software is so well designed. I was a little miffed I had to spend an extra 10 last week to upgrade to the latest software (as it -- amongst other things -- allows me to download more applications that http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/07/i-touch-my-ipod-touch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-5080586867102167193Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:58:00 +00002008-07-04T11:06:21.446-07:00itouch reviewjust seeing what it might be like to post from my new itouch. Its a nice little tool I have to say typing this is pretty good it self corrects a lot of the mistakes you kind of have to just trust. The worst though is typing names and passwords-you have to be more careful. Don't think I'll be ever doing this too much, despite liz's teasing. She did not feel I deeserved it when I had bot http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/07/i-touch-itouch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-8973920117603700243Sat, 31 May 2008 21:17:00 +00002008-06-02T18:28:55.683-07:00book movie reviewWhat's this movie/book mean? What is the point, as my high school teachers might ask. William Butler Yeats starts a poem, "Sailing to Byzantium" with the title of it: THAT is no country for old men. The young In one another's arms, birds in the trees - Those dying generations - at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/05/no-country-for-old-men-redux-spoilers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-3688378116872701331Wed, 21 May 2008 06:17:00 +00002008-05-31T14:13:12.658-07:00book movie reviewI just finished the book No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. Even if I'm a little disappointed by the Coen Brothers doing a book adaptation, it is a perfect book for a movie, with stripped dialog and minimum stream of consciousness narrative -- showing what lies on the surface of the characters rather than their interior thoughts. I'm in fact having a hard time deciding which is better. http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/05/no-country-for-old-men-spoiler-alert.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-4690427643750477915Sat, 10 May 2008 01:53:00 +00002008-05-09T19:13:41.316-07:00salmonweatherpdoIt's been a cool San Francisco spring, wind heavy with warm days seemingly few and far between. My search for an explanation, even a mention came up with nothing, but then I came across the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Apparently, we are coming into a cool cycle of this oscillation (this is disputed) which was discovered not long ago by scientists (Steve Hare, Nathan Mantua, Yuan Zhang, http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/05/cool-cool-san-francisco.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-47241293799275466Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:41:00 +00002008-04-03T22:41:19.868-07:00A shout out to the bicyclists of New Orleans whose ride I went on Easter Eve - Chris, Austin, and the folks from Bicycle Michael's. I may have wished for the ride to be longer, and the stop for drinks a little shorter, but it was all good -- an amusing little addendum to my own personal bike ramble of New Orleans.http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/04/midnight-mass.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-8637083824357075418Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:46:00 +00002008-04-01T22:46:58.620-07:00I was in New Orleans for a conference a short while ago, and took the opportunity to wander the city. I found a bike rental place, and set out. I had a vague thought I could bike to a bayou state park. But the ferry terminal I aimed for was not in service. I roamed the city far and wide instead. A sobering trail but not without signs of hope.http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/04/bicycle-resting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-663122556007717719Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:01:00 +00002008-03-17T01:01:48.828-07:00I have to admit I've not been paying much attention to China's dealings with Tibet for a long time. But the news of late caught my attention because of the name of town, Xiahe. A place I visited in 1995.It's a town with a large Tibetan temple: Labrangsi. I visited there with a Flemish friend who I'd met in Taiwan, ran into someone who I had travelled with Liz, met the usual cast of foreigners, http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/03/xiahe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-3343519886212555898Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:45:00 +00002008-03-12T21:01:23.887-07:00ramblingwalkingI had a great walk to work this morning, beautiful light. A fine scone and expresso from Delissio. Running in to a friend pulling up on her bike as she came to work. An amusing sign, "yes, SHe can" on a lawyers window. A man, asian, slightly plump, dressed in pastel golf wear: chinos, polo shirt, light jacket, but overlaid with a buddhist rosary, and some other medallions, leaning on a trash can,http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/03/fallen-fallen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-5654994994333653809Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:44:00 +00002008-02-07T22:54:05.613-08:00javascript websiteSo I've launched a new website, huzzah. There are annoying things with IE6, and maybe you hate the front page, but they'll get fixed or perhaps even IE6 will go away, its all a fun little experiment for me. What this site was always intended to be and hopefully I can keep it up. The front page Javascript was a discovery while doing something else. I'm sure someone has thought of it before, but http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/02/out-with-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-3866985921754975408Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:40:00 +00002008-02-06T21:59:18.450-08:00book reviewReading is one thing. I'm not sure why, but I really enjoy the reading of battles when it is done well. Two recent reads come to mind. Bernard Cromwell's first book, Sharpe's Eagle (not the first book in the Sharpe series, but the first he wrote), tells the story of Richard Sharpe, a rare enlisted soldier lifted into the ranks of the British Army during the wars against Napolean. The battles are http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/02/war-what-is-it-good-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-8422772309952359301Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:04:00 +00002008-02-06T00:10:54.660-08:00obamacampaigninglaundrySo, I was feeling a little guilty about not doing anything in particular for the Obama primary campaign (other than voting that is). Only I realized the other night that I've been doing a lot of laundry of late in support of my wife who has (amongst other things) did a lot of work for Obama. I blurted out to her, "hey, I did laundry for Barack Obama!" Which really opens up all sorts of new http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/02/i-did-laundry-for-barack-obama.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-1135458514416549291Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:03:00 +00002008-01-23T22:23:34.513-08:00book reviewI've got a new favorite Sci Fi author. Not THE favorite, but A favorite, by the name of Charles Stross. Accelerando was the one I read first, because I was onon a kick of SingularityFi books (a book by Ian McDonald and another by the name of Light). Singularity is one of those ideas, which fascinates me, but is generally pretty damn boring to read about (with the previous exception of Vernor http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/01/techfi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-6954434621701935402Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:28:00 +00002008-01-04T22:39:38.673-08:00stormToday I went to my weekly volunteer gig and then to work in a blustering, wet tempest that sat over San Francisco much of the day. Umbrellas were snapping inside out, people were leaning into the wind, seeking shelter from the drenching rain. The wind was moaning through the wires above, and pushing the rain in every direction. I loved it. Something about a big storm that makes me practically http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2008/01/tempest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-1659426089421692448Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:59:00 +00002007-11-16T00:05:50.936-08:00critical massIt seems Oracle (and by extension the city of SF?) have followed Critical Mass and turned into traffic terrorists. At least judging by the number of honks and yells I've been hearing outside my office window at 2nd and Mission. For a total of 9 days. That's only 3 days shy of the number of days Critical Mass ties up traffic. If you count the hours though, Oracle has got Critical Mass beat!http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/11/oracle-traffic-terrorists.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-5385695823778911465Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:59:00 +00002007-10-15T19:15:18.267-07:00blogactiondayenvironmentAs it's the waning hours of Blog Action Day, I thought I would post on this year's topic, near and dear to my heart: the environment. In particular, I would like to address the question of Al Gore running for president. Some people think its a great idea. I don't. If you're listening Al -- don't do it. Not that you wouldn't make a great president. I'm sure you would -- although my expectations http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/10/dont-run-al-dont-run-blog-action-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-7785239227805635010Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:57:00 +00002007-10-02T23:04:49.448-07:00tshirt Ever wonder which of your friends might be a spambot, or which of those mission hipsters with a fixie might be an email harvesting robot? Its an insidious problem to be sure, but my friends at Crusher are providing the tools to combat it. Buy your captcha tshirt here! Before its too late!http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/10/ever-wonder.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-5525161885675512441Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:34:00 +00002007-09-17T22:34:36.665-07:00It's SF architecture month according to the SF-AIA, so I thought I might take the time to think about what I like and don't like as I ramble across the city.The picture above is of the plaza of the new Federal Building. I've watched the building go up, walking by there once a week or so on my walk to work. I've mixed feelings about its look, I think I generally like it, but this little touch http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/09/architecture-month.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-1866328751626022750Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:15:00 +00002007-09-16T23:13:19.809-07:00movie reviewwesternI was moderately excited about seeing this movie. I like a good western, and given the rave reviews, I was expecting a nice little treat. Ah expectations. Not that this movie is bad by any stretch. It might even be decent to good. But not great it really adds little to the genre, and I wonder what it might have even added to the original. Perhaps Deadwood has ruined me, but 3:10 also has little http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/09/310-to-yuma.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-5109316142953664929Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:55:00 +00002007-08-09T23:59:05.625-07:00public spacesketchingdrawingI had my first "drawing space" event this past week, and though small it was just what I wanted: a grand mellow time hanging out with some like minded folks, chatting and sketching. The next one will be sept 4, just after labor day, and then perhaps once every two weeks. You can sign up for reminders and all that on crusher: the world's finest invitation tool.http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/08/crusher-space.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-6522206016740948496Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:26:00 +00002007-07-24T18:28:55.546-07:00poembicycleI submitted a poem to the 511.org bicycle poetry contest around bike to work day. And I won (a brand $600 new bike)! I was probably one of two people who submitted, but hey! given that I wrote it in all of 10 minutes, not a bad return :-) Some people will recognize the irony that I was in a bike accident several weeks later. And that my helmet (on my head and not on the handlebars) saved my http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/07/right-of-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460720.post-2926959555464272805Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:59:00 +00002007-08-10T00:16:48.281-07:00movie reviewbook reviewI just finished reading P.D. James' Children of Men, and I find myself liking the movie more than the book. This is a rare thing. I can count the number on one hand of movies I've liked more than the books. SPOILERS ALERT One obvious difference is that P.D. James is just a dense writer. The psychology of her character is more important than the plot in many ways, and her books are measured http://www.nonsensical.com/adrian/2007/07/book-vs-movie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Adrian Cotter)