Monthly Archive for September, 2005

San Francisco bike riding.

Published
by
Benjy
on Thursday September 29, 2005
in Biking, CalTrain and San Francisco
. 3 Comments

When I first contemplated the idea of riding a bike in San Francisco a couple of years ago, it was pretty terrifying. Of course, this was when I still lived in Berkeley and was kind of scared of going to (much less even driving in) San Francisco, and I hadn't ridden a bike since high school. "It's like a video game," Tyler tried to convince me.

The thought of riding a bike in the city was a little less scary a year ago, but only because I had gotten over my fear of the city itself, and was now just dealing with the idea of riding a bike in it. The idea of having to ride over those hills didn't help much, though.

But I finally bought a bike and I've been riding to CalTrain a couple of days a week, and y'know what? It's not so bad. In fact, it is like a video game, what with dodging buses and the stuff the kids in the western addition like to throw at me. Heck, there's even a time limit in the morning, and if I lose I miss my train.

But then Mark had to go and point out that the only problem is you only get one life in this game. Point taken.

Caltrain “Reinvention” Adds 10 Trains, Faster Trips

Published
by
Benjy
on Thursday September 29, 2005
in Advertising, Asides and CalTrain
. 1 Comment

Caltrain "Reinvention" Adds 10 Trains, Faster Trips - This is a couple of months old, but now that I think about it, "Caltrain Reloaded" obviously would have been a much better advertising campaign, because the main thing they did was add more Baby Bullets to their service.

Virtual plague spreading like wildfire in World of Warcraft

Published
by
Benjy
on Wednesday September 21, 2005
in Asides and Games
. 2 Comments

Virtual plague spreading like wildfire in World of Warcraft. Huh, that's neat. I wonder if Second Life's scripting engine is flexible enough to create a disease?

Image: “Clean up efforts for Hurricane Katrina have already begun in some areas.”

Published
by
Benjy
on Friday September 9, 2005
in Asides, Games and Hurricane Katrina
. 2 Comments

Image: "Clean up efforts for Hurricane Katrina have already begun in some areas." This is pretty great, and is especially timely given that We Love Katamari comes out next week.

The Million Dollar Homepage

Published
by
Benjy
on Friday September 9, 2005
in Asides
. 15 Comments

The Million Dollar Homepage I like this idea. He's selling 1,000,000 pixels on this site in blocks of 100. The only problem is it looks like it's just going to end up with a lot of poker ads on it. As of right now, he's sold 5,600 pixels and there are still 994,400 available. [via kottke]

Assembly OKs Gay Marriage

Published
by
Benjy
on Wednesday September 7, 2005
in California
. 2 Comments

Gay marriage up to governor now / Landmark legislation clears Assembly by narrowest of margins on second try - Wow, awesome. And now it would be time to call or write Arnie.

Update: VETO = Sad, but it's not over yet. Mail Arnold anyway if you haven't already.

OK in OK.

Published
by
Benjy
on Monday September 5, 2005
in Family and Hurricane Katrina
. Closed

So here's what will hopefully be the final update on my sister, this time directly from her (though I added paragraph breaks to make it easier to read):

We are fine. [Saturday] morning we tried, once again, to cross the bridge on foot, and were told we could do so by an Army Sergent, but were, once again, turned away by the officers on the bridge. Beth and Jim were able to get a ride into Algiers where her father lives. There wasn't room for four, so I, very tearfully (for first time, real tears pouring rather than moist being held back) gave her Gwen.

We ended up at the Convention Center at about 8:30am. Neal and I got in what seemed like it should have been a line but mobbed the further along it went toward the military copters flying people out. Just as we were at the begining of the line, many buses rolled in and we were directed to them (this was at about noon).

We were told we were going to Baton Rouge, but it turned out we were in for more than a ten hour drive to Fort Smith, AR. I cried about being separated from Gwen for about an hour; regarding getting our lives back to gether, I've never been too worried because we're smart, willing to work, and have the best network of family and friends anyone could ask for.

We stopped once at about 10:30pm; I managed to get to the pay phone to call my mom collect to let her know what was going on, as nobody had been at the apartment we had been at since early that morning.

Our bus driver tried to let us off just outside of Baton Rouge since we had money and people who could come get us, but the State Trooper very assertively stopped that plan in its tracks. After we got to the Army base at Fort Smith (3:15am), we were told to stay on the buses so we could be processed. After about five more hours, the drivers ignored that and let us off to stretch our legs, have a smoke (Neal was very appreciative of that), &c.

Eventually, maybe at about 10am, food was made available, but the lines were too long; our driver had some MRE packs, so Neal and I split a Thai Chicken meal. ! I talked with a police officer on the base about our situation and capability of taking care of ourselves because we had funds and friends able to help us; he quietly said we would not be stopped from leaving the base. Neal and I verified it with an MP, then let our bus driver and a family we had been helping since early that morning know we were leaving.

Some MPs gave us a lift to the front gate, a lady from town was going to take us to the bus station, but first took us to her apartment so we could shower and have coffee (Neal got his first cup since Sunday morning at the base).

I called my mother, she got me in touch with her friend, Eva, who lives in Tulsa, OK. Barbara, the kind AR lady drove us most of the way, Eva and her husband picked us up, took us to Wal- Mart to buy some clothes (our suitcase is in Texas, Austin (with Karn's sister, I think). Eva talked with Beth, who is on her way to Dallas; Gwen is fine. We will try to get her to meet us half way so I can have my kitty back. I'm hoping our next stop will be Las Vegas to see Trish, Chris, and Siggy, and then to Bakersfield.

“In New York, no one can hear you scream.”

Published
by
Benjy
on Monday September 5, 2005
in Asides
. Closed

Alien Loves Predator: In New York, no one can hear you scream. [comic] Heh, This could just as easily be San Francisco's financial district.

I thought they solved this problem awhile ago.

Published
by
Benjy
on Saturday September 3, 2005
in Advertising and Hurricane Katrina
. Closed

I was reading my feeds this morning, and a few of the ads actually caught my attention for once:

Turned back by the National Guard.

Published
by
Benjy
on Thursday September 1, 2005
in Family and Hurricane Katrina
. 1 Comment

The latest update on my sister (Kristi) is that they weren't able to leave today. Here are some details from the last person to talk to her:

I just got off the phone with Kristi. They tried to leave on foot today and were turned back by the National Guard. They are not letting any pedestrians out, even though the NO mayor said they would.

Kristi wanted me to assure you that they have plenty of food (fruit, bagels, bread and other stuff) drinking water and other non-alcoholic beverages. They're in a security building with secured entrances, they have access to all the apartments in the building, (they broke in a stole the super's master keys, those clever kids!) and they feel safe where they are.

People are aware of where they are holed up and that they're trying to get out, including some of the National Guard and the Sheriff's department. It seems they are now on a waiting list. The land line they can be reached at is (504) xyz. They can receive some calls in, but can't call out from what I understand, and I'm sure they're hoping for calls telling them it's okay to evacuate.

Kristi seemed in good spirits and says they're safe as they can be right now, except there are 2 people there with them who have medication needs. She mentioned trying to get to Houstin, and then possibly taking a bus or train from there if someone can arrange for the tickets/money when it's time. Alternately, Chris and I will drive to Texas and pick them up. Either way, they won't be stuck if they can just out of NOLA.

More as I know more.

update: So apparently one of the cars wouldn't start and half the band was left behind, so that's when my sister and her husband (and maybe others? that was unclear...) tried to decide to walk out and the national guard turned them back.