No Longer Facing You

Spoon Fed and Cornbread

It’s a little past seven on a Sunday night, and I am uncharacteristically not at home doing laundry and preparing myself for the work week. It is ridiculously hot out for an April night. I do believe the weatherman said it was going to hit around 94, which for me is like walking on the sun, though the sporadic westerly breeze is pleasant. Where might I be? Well, I’m in downtown Lancaster, of course, waiting in line with my gf to get into the Chameleon Club to see a band called Spoon. A band which I had recently enjoyed through Pandora and has been licensed out quite a bit through commercials, movies and other outlets.

As I walked in, I went through the common pleasantries that any venue has these days in the wake of 9-11 and I guess maybe the era of knife fights and handguns. But the security is cordial enough and unfortunately to my dismay no pat down. We make our way up the winding staircase and into the over 21 area, which I seemed to have no choice in, given the flow of traffic. At this point we are looking for some friends, who we luckily find almost instantaneously, no back and forth on cell phones trying to get exact coordinates;

- Where are you!?!
- I’m next to some girl with an ironic t-shirt on
- Which one!?!
- The one that says ‘I’m a virgin but this is an old t-shirt’
- I see you… man that shirt is old, it’s barely covering her muffin top and stretch marks!

We hunker down for an enjoyable evening of music… an hour later still waiting in a sauna of sweaty people, oh look the opening band’s about to play! High fives all around, not literally, more telepathically, cause telepathy is awesomeness! I always feel bad for the opening act, they tend to lack the talent of the headliner and the crowd tends to be unfairly critical and usually rightfully uninterested. On this occasion, the band (the white rabbits, I think named after the holiday celebrating jesus’ crucifixion), where pretty frikin good! I enjoyed them more than Spoon, which I was lukewarm to before the show, as well as after.

As the music washed over the crowd something amazing happened, the whole room came to life. One by one the eclectic collection of college kids and over forties started to bounce and sway and even one gentleman seemed to be having some sort of religious experience, bouncing and clapping. I mean it was either that or he was having a light sensitivity seizure.

It was glorious, but there was one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb… These people had no rhythm! None what so ever! It was crazy how out of sync they were. For the rest of the night I was just taking in the spectacle that surrounded me, and the music just became this amazing soundtrack. I looked to my left, and up to the balcony, it was an epidemic of left footedness! Behind me I turned and found a woman who was at least in her seventies girating in such a way that I felt violated that she had been only inches away from me this whole time. It was the Best/Worst/Best experience at a show I have ever had.

So that was my Sunday night, and after an hour plus drive home I went to sleep content and exhausted.

PSA: simplified (Updated: save the honey bees)

In life I’ve been a big proponent of simplifying, whether it be through organization, design, really just all around if possible. Though I never thought that this would relate to one of my most favorite vices of all time. Yes, that’s right Ice Cream! I love me some ice cream… DQ Blizzards, Ben and Jerry’s, Coldstone and my all time favorite was Capagiro Gelati… yummy yummy in my tummy. But the other day I went to my local grocer to pick up some desserts for the rents’ birthdays and as I was strolling through the frozen foods area I came across an anomaly. A newish product by Häagen-Dazs called five, consisting of only five ingredients; milk, cream, eggs, sugar and, in my case, mint.

Now, I have to say that usually I go for the crazy flavors with tons of random, but tasty, ingredients, but this intrigued me and I am so glad that it did, because I can honestly say that this was the most amazing ice cream I have ever experienced. I can describe it in two words light and refreshing. Unlike other ice creams it satiated my ice cream craving but didn’t leave me with that awful heavy feeling.

Wow, um, this really sounds like some sort of infomercial. I’m sorry about that, but it’s soooo good! Well in the words of Vince the ShamWow/Slap Chop guy, “you’re gonna love my nuts”

Update 1: While I was looking for more info on Five, I found this cute little flash site on saving honey bees

Update 2: Here is some info on colony collapse disorder …craziness! We need to save these tiny guys so I can have my ice cream! Save Honey Bees = Save Ice Cream!

A Glimpse at the Future?

Dealing with user interface design you are always trying to look to the future and how people will interact with devices. The video below gave me chills at the possibilities ahead of us. I know what they are showing is mostly, if not all, conceptual, but, my god, what we could do with these technologies if they ever came to fruition. Just look at the leaps we’ve taken in the past 5 years that have totally reshaped communication and how we experience media, and to think of where we will be 5 years from today… All I can say is that I am excited to have some part in developing and visualizing the future, as well as having some fun along the way with all of these amazing gadgets.

Late to the Party…

The iPhone was announced January 9th, 2007, to much fanfare and I have to admit that I was very much excited for it’s arrival, even going as far as to hug another co-worker in joy. Though that excitement started to wain when I saw the price tag, the fact that it wasn’t 3G, and that my carrier was unfortunately not the exclusive service provider.

In the past two years many imitators have arrived on the scene, and though I am not an Apple diehard I can honestly say that nothing has surpassed or matched it. So it is with great pleasure that I am stating my intent to buy an iPhone, though I am waiting till after June because all signs point to the possibility of new models being announced around this time.

Anyway I am giddy with excitement, and June is a few months away, but I just needed to release some of my overwhelming emotions and what better place ;)