Faraway, so close

Merry Christmas to me (with my boy!)

2011-12-29T21:20:00.001-06:00

Rock and Roll Tourism: U2's Dublin

2011-01-08T10:53:00.004-06:00

The wife and I spent four days in Dublin last month. She slept in one day while I stumbled upon Tony, the best cab driver in Dublin, and he drove me around to several U2 sites. Here are some photos:

The raised platform in the car park where U2 played their first gig (the Principal of Mt. Temple was amazingly accommodating!)

The now-famous board where Larry posted his call for band members

Mt. Temple's "Next U2" The Kapitals!

All Saints Church where Bono and Ali were married in 1982 - A beautiful building.

Another view of All Saints Church

My smiling wife

Until the End of The World

2011-01-07T07:14:00.007-06:00

The good people at @U2.com have a fun feature called Like a Song where their staff writers share what various U2 songs mean to them. This inspired me to write down my thoughts about Until the End of the World.

My two year old daughter surprised me recently by pointing to a poster hanging on my bedroom wall showing Bono and Edge reaching out to each other from the catwalk of the U2 360 stage. “Edge is reaching out to Bono,” she said. It seems my wife has been training her well. This is surprising because my wife would prefer we leave our teenage years behind and not cover our walls with rock and roll images. Perhaps she has come to accept that this reach image, from the Until the End of the World (UTEOTW) portion of the set, has a profoundly deep meaning for me.

It is very satisfying to gradually discover additional sonic and poetic layers of U2 music. I remember talking to a friend about Achtung Baby! not long after the album was released. “Did you know that UTEOTW is an imagined conversation between Jesus and Judas in the hereafter?” Yes, I had heard that. But it took me 18 years to grasp the message of the song: that Love, capital “L” Love, aka compassion, has the ability to reconcile and heal. At least that’s what I get out of it now.

I can trace my UTEOTW awakening to the U2 Conference in North Carolina in October 2009. As I entered the building, I walked by the table of books for sale and I promised myself I would not buy any. I had read enough books about U2, Thank you very much. I especially was NOT going to buy that book about Achtung Baby! by Stephen Cantanzarite. I wasn’t about to let someone else tell me how I should think about that album, thinking I had already figured it out.

By the end of the weekend, I had purchased no less than five U2 books. I even bought Stephen’s Achtung Baby! book. After speaking with him in the hallway for a few minutes, I realized what a bright guy he is. I sensed that he might actually be able to enhance my understanding about the album, and perhaps about other things.

So I bought the book and I read it in one sitting on a cross country flight from Philadelphia to Los Angeles a few weeks later. I listened to the album as I read. Song by song. Over and over. I dove deep into the connected narrative of songs I had previously experienced in siloed isolation. The story had me follow a couple through a decaying relationship, corroded by an unwillingness to truly communicate with each other. This was heavy stuff.

The chapter that really got me was the one focused on UTEOTW. The narrative augments the post mortal Jesus-Judas exchange told by the song, juxtaposing Judas’s glib tone with Jesus’s soft, persistant focus on Love. I found myself in tears as I pondered this concept of forgiveness. It isn’t at all rare for a U2 parable/song to bring me to an emotional state, but this was something else. A rock and roll-inspired religious experience at 30,000 feet.

I have been a spiritual, religious person my whole life, devoted to the same belief system that I was raised on. But in the months leading up to October 2009, I was beginning to wonder if there wasn’t something more out there that could better inspire me. I wasn’t losing my religion, but I was bored with it.

The congregation I was attending at the time met in the Philadelphia suburbs and I found our worship services to be painfully repetitive. I remember sitting in church one Sunday reflecting on the fact that there we were, listening again from soft, padded pews to a sermon on living a Christ-centered life.

My mind wandered to my comfortable life. My comfortable car, my comfortable house, my comfortable job and my comfortable wife. My comfortable service to the youth of the church who lived in comfort with their comfortable parents and attended safe schools. Comfort is great. Everything I’d always worked for.

The mental wandering continued. Not five miles away, tens of thousands lived in poverty and not much comfort. Southwest Philadelphia feels otherworldly compared to the suburbs. Despite taking the train through that part of town nearly every day, I had never met or served anyone from that community. I never said hello or tried to get to know them. The disparity of my comfortable life relative to the third world conditions of Southwest Philadelphia seemed painfully hypocritical given my beliefs on brotherly love.

And then everything changed.

In November 2009 I was asked by my church leaders to attend services with a congregation in the city and be part of a team of three who look after the physical and spiritual needs of the congregation. This congregation is comprised largely of refugees from Liberia’s civil war. It was as if my bluff was being called. “You think compassionate thoughts,” the universe was saying. “Can you BE compassionate?” I knew right away that this was what I needed.

I initially fell into the common trap of thinking that this was a case of the needy being served by the more materially stable. I was quickly humbled. I came to know the reciprocal nature of service and love. I immediately had scores of new friends from Southwest Philadelphia and the more I tried to serve, the more I was served in return. The more I Loved, the more I was Loved in return.

This Love that I feel from fellow members of my congregation has caused me to reflect many times on the “Love Love Love” section of UTEOTW. This is the only part of the song where we hear Christ’s point of view. And what does Bono have him say? “Love Love Love...” To me this is an expression of unconditional love. An acceptance that transcends actions or external requirements. This resonates strongly with me because I need that kind of acceptance. I am a flawed human being. I am broken and I need to know that I can be fixed. And that’s why I find this song to be so beautiful. It stands as a reminder that we can be forgiven. That Love can conquer all. That, regardless our religious affiliation, or absence of affiliation, things can get better. Stay optimistic. Talk to each other. Love one another.

Behind the accusation “You, you said you would wait” is the implied response, “I did wait. I’m right here.” And so we can be right there for those we would Love and serve. As we learn in another song from Achtung Baby!, we get to carry each other. Not have to, we GET TO. For as we serve, as we wait on each other, as we Love one another, we are Loved in return. A risky proposition, to be sure and Pop religion though it may be, I have found it to be true.

Back to the poster in my room. There’s one thing I’m still trying to figure out. In the U2 360 performances of the song, at the very end, Bono and Edge, representing Judas and Jesus come ever so close to reconciliation as they reach out to each other from opposing catwalks. But just as they are about to make contact, the catwalks draw apart. Is U2 implying that in the case of Jesus and Judas, Love does not conquer all? Are they making a theological statement about whether or not what Judas did is beyond forgiveness? Or are they pointing out that too often we fail to come together in reconciliation. In my mental vision of the performance, they are able to bridge the gap. This brings hope to my ability to bridge gaps in relationships, both earthly and divine.

The poster hangs in my bedroom because my wife made me remove it from the living room where I hung it after bringing it home from the frame shop. While it might have deep spiritual meaning to me, to her it is nothing more than a rock poster. “How long will I have to wait until you see that this image has a place in our living room?” I recently asked. “Until the End of the World,” she replied.

Thank heaven for Love, Love, Love!

See you in two months Snowbird!

2011-01-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Loved this little video about the guys and gals who work Snow Patrol at Snowbird. Made me want to go skiing. Today. I'll be there in early March. Can't wait. Need to start working out. My knees feel a bit soft.

Never tell me the odds...Start-up edition

2010-11-04T14:39:00.003-05:00

After reading this article about red flags that spook investors, I got an idea for a new company. It would focus on developing a proprietary integrated circuit platform that would revolutionize debt-collection for the food service industry in Somolia using a rag-tag team of newly minted undergrads. Provide the undergrads with the next Facebook, tailored specifically for this emerging $10MM/yr market.

Who's in?

The trek home from Ikea begins

2010-10-16T16:01:00.000-05:00

Scary face at Ikea

2010-10-16T15:22:00.000-05:00

The kid, not the mom.

Ten suggestions for a fun-filled Omniture Summit (from a former Salt Lake City local)

2010-02-28T11:15:00.007-06:00

I spent the bulk of my teenage years dreaming about how wonderful life must be outside Utah. Having left 13 years ago, I’m now facing a case of absence making the heart grow fonder. Salt Lake City has much to offer in the way of natural beauty, historical significance and social entertainment. Here are a few suggestions of things to do during the 2010 Omniture Summit from a former local’s perspective.

Radio Gaga: Tune your radio to FM 90.9 KRCL, The Mighty 91, The Lion of Zion. I have lived in Tokyo, Portland, Los Angeles, Austin and now Philly and I can honestly say that along with Santa Monica’s KCRW, this is one of the most eclectic, anti-Clear Channel stations around. What about your NPR addiction? Try 90.1 KUER.
Eat Here, Get Gas: Red Iguana is great for Mexican food, but the crowds are intense. Hint: they recently opened a second location about two blocks* away from their North Temple location. Crowds MIGHT not be as bad there. And don’t worry about the gas part. You’ll be fine. (*Caution: If you’re going to walk from the North Temple location to the South Temple location, go in a group. It isn't extremely dangerous, just a precaution.)
Angelic Hosts Proclaim: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (aka The Mo-Tab) gives public rehearsals in the Tabernacle on Temple Square most Thursday evenings at 8:00 and 9:30. Call the Temple Square visitor’s center (1-801-240-4872) to make sure the shows are on. Speaking of which…
Eyes Heavenward: You’ve probably seen pictures of the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka The Mormons), but it’s understandably more impressive in person. Completed in 1893, it took 40 years to construct. The local stone mason’s union maintains they could have finished the job in 38 years (I made that part up.) While you’re there, don’t miss the Tabernacle, another 19^th century architectural wonder, and the Church History Museum (just across the street to the west.)
First Kiss: I’ll never forget smooching Jenny Ashe under a tree on the grounds of the State Capital building. Highly Recommended. The tree has since been uprooted and Jenny probably isn’t available, but you’re already there, so you might as well peek inside Utah’s…
Seat of Power: The best State Capital in the entire State of Utah. Yeah, it’s a pretty impressive structure. Site of my Senior Prom where I was First Attendant (what is that all about?) with Marcy Sonntag. The girl I took to prom? Janean McMurray. I ended up marrying her six years later. But I digress.
Burn the Fat: The weather in SLC should be pretty good during the 2010 Summit. Burn off (or preempt the accumulation of) that conference food spare tire with a run up Memory Grove and City Creek Canyon. What about all those stories of abductions and violence in Memory Grove after dark? Yeah, they’re probably true. Best to go after sunrise or in a group. 5.3 miles, out and back.
Back-room deals: Once reserved for railroad and mining tycoons (non-Mormon males only, thank you) the Alta Club has transformed itself into a discussion chamber for new-economy wizards and politicos, all gender, race and religious persuasions welcome. Any chance of you getting in while you’re here for Summit? Omniture is more likely to change “Unique Visitors” to “Unique Cookies.”
Quiet Workspace: Get out of your hotel room and head two blocks east to the Salt Lake City Public Library. This beautiful architectural edifice offers ample desks, stunning views and free internet (thanks to Pete Ashdown.)
Alpine Tranquility: This one is part of the official Summit Agenda, although in my three years, I have yet to see Josh James or Brett Error on the slopes. They’re too pooped after all the after parties and the after-after parties. You don’t party as hard as they do, so you should get onto the bus and head up Little Cottonwood Canyon for some of the most stunning views around. My parents had a timeshare at Snowbird when I was a kid and this is where I learned to ski, so I’m more sentimental than most about its slopes. That said, even non-skiers would be advised to make the trek up the canyon. In addition to some amazing slopes, there are several restaurants and a bustling patio, perfect for basking in the sun, weather permitting. Take a few minutes to absorb nature’s inspiration as you figure out how you’re going to transform all the great ideas you had at Summit into action. This trip wasn’t cheap and you’re going to have to start justifying next year’s participation as soon as you get back to the office on Monday.

A word of caution: Salt Lake is relatively safe, but don’t go exploring dark alleys on your own. Use common sense. Travel in groups if walking at night. Just to be safe.

There you go. Have a great Summit. Don’t eat too much. Meet new people, and get out of the hotel for a few minutes. Enjoy the beauties that Salt Lake has to offer. I hope to see you there!

Can you wave?

2010-01-20T04:58:00.001-06:00

My four year old photographer daugher's portfolio

2009-12-12T10:22:00.009-06:00

Science! (She blinded me with)

2009-12-05T13:10:00.002-06:00

We had a science birthday party for the boy today. Janean made an truly awesome cake.

The Boy's First Piano Recital

2009-11-20T17:58:00.001-06:00

I continue to be amazed by this kid!

The Future of Humanity...

2009-09-20T08:55:00.006-05:00

...as envisioned by sci-fi cinema

I have an unhealthy fascination with the movie Idiocracy. The main character, a man of average intelligence by our standards, finds himself 500 years into the future by way of a failed army experiment. Society has become increasingly stupid with each generation and this everyman is revealed to be, by far, the smartest man in the future world. A warning: tender ears will be offended by the language and some themes. The "mastermind" behind the film is none other than Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butthead*. The premise, however, is infectious.

I often find myself processing the news of our day through an Idiocracy filter. Octomom, Jon and Kate, Britney idolization, and reality TV all fit well with this "idiot dystopia." Death panel fear mongering, US soldier misconduct at Abu Ghraib and reports of Heart of Darkness-style outpost orgies at our embassy in Afghanistan, denial in Katrina-era New Orleans, lack of big-picture thinking and extreme selfishness on Wall Street and our ability to deal with it a year later also make me feel like we're inching (racing?) down a path to a vastly less intelligent future. Oh, and what about the breakdown in partisan discourse and an inability to address big issues like health care, social security and climate change? I often feel eerily close to the future predicted by this movie.

That's pretty pessimistic, isn't it? Is it that bad? Isn't there hope that we might possibly make some hard, unpopular choices that will be for the common long-term good? If Idiocracy is the future I don't want, what movie might offer a glimmer of hope? I've landed on Star Trek. Sure, they're at war, but not with each other. The Borg or the Cardassians or whoever. I have to admit, I'm not into Trek like I once was, but they seem to have figured out how to live peacefully amongst themselves and they've gotten pretty smart in the process.

So we have here two points on a continuum; Idiocracy on one hand, Star Trek on the other. And then I remembered a conversation with Dave Moody a few years ago where he admitted that he doesn't really get into the future dystopia genre. That's why I love talking to Moody. He always makes me consider the world differently. I hadn't even considered the tone of these kinds of movies as a genre. I left the classification at sci-fi and called it a day. But if you think of "future dystopia" as a genre and you then consider that there is a continuum, you can have all sorts of fun plotting where on that continuum any number of these films lie.

The natural outcome, of course, was a drawing on the whiteboard in my office, an exercise that quickly roused the interest of several passers by - one of the nice things about having glass instead of walls on one's office. We ended up with a matrix. Warmongering / Peaceful on the X-axis and Smarter / Dumber on the Y-axis. Like this:

How could we enhance this further? In addition to considering where other movies would fall on the chart**, I'm thinking it would be interesting to create a framework for processing news and pop culture events and assessing whether that news places us closer to Idiocracy or closer to Star Trek. Kanye disses Taylor Swift? Does that indicate we're on the path to Idiocracy or Fifth Element or something else? Joe Wilson calls Obama a lier on the floor of the House? Where does that baby-step toward incivility lead? The House then devotes cycles to reprimanding Wilson. Wilson and his opponent both bring in bags of cash from the publicity. Jay Leno makes Kanye cry. The President calls Kanye a jackass. Perez Hilton. Problem here is that most news, the kind that "sells papers" (read: creates clickable impressions) trends toward Idiocracy. Boy scout uses iPhone to tweet help for kitten stuck in tree may trend toward a Star Trek future, but it just doesn't gather eyeballs.

Anyway, we could create a Sci-Fi Future of Humanity Index. Kanye decides to take a break and go serve in the Peace Corps? That's a (5,5) on the chart. Octomom decides to do a reality show? That gets a (0,-5). Something like that.

Maybe another use for the model could be to encourage the collection of more positive stories.

Let me know what you think.

* I must admit, just thinking the words "Beavis and Butthead" brings a smile to my face and makes me chuckle. Could it be that I already more closely resemble the idiot future foretold in Idiocracy than the intellectually superior critic/observer I fancy myself? Don't answer that.

** Don't suggest Star Wars. Astute readers will recall that it takes place "A long time ago." We're talking about the future.

Spin Workout - Yahata

2009-07-03T21:46:00.004-05:00

When I was a missionary in Japan, I came to know the Yahata family. They were about the nicest people you'd ever meet. Their little boy was a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. So naturally, when MJ gave up the ghost last week, my thoughts turned to the Yahata family. Young Yahata is now probably about 24 years old. Crazy talk.

Anyway, I named my spin mix this week "Yahata" in their honor. No, there is no MJ. He's not really spin worthy. Here's what is in the mix:

I Love to Move In Here (Style of Eye Piano Remix) -- Moby
Beat Goes On (feat. Kanye West) -- Madonna
Drown In the Now (feat. Matisyahu) -- The Crystal Method
Isaac -- Madonna
Learning to Fly -- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Bamboo Banga -- M.I.A.
Piku -- The Chemical Brothers
Gum -- Cornelius
Pink Houses -- John Mellencamp
A Seated Night -- Moby

Some days the music is ok. This week it was really good. Transcendentally good.

Today's Ride / MapMyRide

2009-07-03T21:28:00.003-05:00

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/bryn-mawr/548124663680537861"&amp;gt;iMapMyRide Jul 3, 2009 11:59 AM&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/united-states/pa/bryn-mawr"&amp;gt;Find more Bike Rides in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;
Thanks to Janean, I had a great ride this morning. I didn't go as far as I had originally planned, but it was much more hilly than expected. The high point, both figuratively and literally, was the Inner Defense Line Road at Valley Forge. They just repaved this road so the surface is smooth and the flora rather calming. And there's a great descent as well.

I recorded the ride via iMapMyRide on the iPhone. This is a pretty cool app that I'm enjoying a lot. Especially the elevation option.

Have you lived your fantasy life/tour?

2009-07-03T21:18:00.004-05:00

The Tour de France starts tomorrow and it is shaping up to be more interesting than last year. I just picked my preliminary Fantasy Tour roster at Versus.com. I especially like the view below of all the heads of my team. Cyclists are a pretty sorry looking bunch. They may not look like much, but these boys are cycling gold!

Have a wonderful tour! Here's to hoping the drug scandals can be kept to a minimum.

The Look

2009-06-30T21:46:00.009-05:00

My eldest daughter conquered her first "hill" climb today. She alternated standing/seated to pick up the momentum when necessary. She even turned around to give Jan Ulrich "the look." Havertown today, Ventoux tomorrow!

Dig Deep!

The Look

Push it!

That's my girl -- riding into Paris in triumph!

I'm sad because I'm selling my Passat

2009-06-23T21:44:00.004-05:00

It has been a fantabulous car. Great pep from the turbo. Wonderful cornering.

Go check out my posting on Vehix.

(No, that isn't our house in the background)

The Wanderer

2009-05-31T09:14:00.002-05:00

When I was in college, they called me "The Wanderer." I suppose I treasure alone time more than many and would occasionally be found off on my own during group activities. I like to remember it as being equally comfortable whether in a group or on my own. I'm not sure which mode is my default.

The other day, someone asked how many movies I had seen by myself in the theater. I had to admit that I have no idea. Too many to take note. What's wrong with that? I think the last movie I saw by myself was Slumdog Millionaire, while on a trip to Seattle.

With this as background, you can now likely better appreciate why I was so drawn to a passage that appeared in The Atlantic in 2003 called "Caring for Your Introvert." Jason Kottke recently reposted a link to the article and I'm glad he did. Introverts are an undeserved segment of the population. Don't mess with us. If you do, we're likely to go off to a quite place and write about our feelings.

Oh, and here's a photo of the kids.

Opposites Attract

2009-03-25T20:54:00.005-05:00

I've been spending a lot of time on Twitter lately. I find the stream-of-consciousness-ness fascinating. Like a direct line to someone's brain. Some of it is drivel, but much is fun or thought provoking. (It could happen.)

I read somewhere that some know-it-all was declaring Twitter is an indication of our inability to concentrate and our need for instant gratification. I beg to differ. Tweeting can force one to be brief, more haiku than leftover brain waste. I also disagree on the grounds that I started to use Twitter while reading the most densely packed novels around; Wallace's Infinite Jest. I've referred to it here.

I finished IJ yesterday and feel a mild sense of loss at no longer having it to keep me company. The storylines are dark and the conclusions initially unsatisfying. But I'm convinced there is deeper meaning there for me if I take the time to ponder. I couldn't sleep at 3:00 this moring and thought that thinking about IJ would put me back to sleep. It did not. Quite the contrary -- it kept me up until it was time to go to work.

The book was written some 13 years ago and it predicts our day with unsettling accuracy. I suppose it wasn't too hard to see our present coming. I can by no means do a real review of this book, but I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I suspect that most people who read this (assuming that most of my readers are members of my family) will not be able to tolerate some of the darker themes of this book. So I'm not recommending it, but if you do read it, treat the footnotes like part of the plot. Don't skip them. Don't skip anything in fact. Some passages start out with abundant tedium, but the journey is well described and often nicely concluded. Don't expect the final conclusion to tie off loose ends. Be persistent and enjoy DFW's mastery of the craft of writing.

If you have read it, please let me know. I'd love to get your thoughts on Don Gately, the P.G.O.A.T., the cause of Hal's condition, and more.

Oh, and lastly, two thoughts from IJ that I hope will stick with me for a long time: 1) Building a wall around the day, and 2) You're not competing with the other guy. You're competing within the constraints of the game and your own ability to master yourself in the face of those constraints. The other guy is your partner in that pursuit.

That is all.

New Toy: Flip Video Mino HD

2009-03-15T14:33:00.004-05:00

Bought this at B&L, err, I mean Costco yesterday. I'm impressed so far. Great picture for such a small device and the sound is good too. I'm out of inputs on my TV though, so I can't plug it in directly and watch without some effort. Have to load video onto my iMac (also inconvenient given that I'm out of USB ports and am keeping the hub under the desk.) After downloading clips to the iMac, I can send them to the TV via AppleTV. Kind of round about/lame. But I'm bullish on the Flip Video Mino HD.

Here's a clip I took last night:

Beautiful Day!

2009-03-05T21:48:00.004-06:00

Here I am standing on U2 Way in New York City earlier today. The show was awesome! We were somehow directed to front row seats, probably due to my wife being a visage of beauty. The emotional intensity during the two songs U2 played was off the charts. They played Beautiful Day for the show and then Vertigo after the taping concluded. It was great. We were standing right in front of The Edge. I wish we could have taken pictures in the theater because it was truly amazing how close we were.

The rest of the show was really fun as well. Jon Stewart was great fun, and that Letterman kid is no slouch. Paul Schaffer and the CBS Orchestra kept things going during the break and they're really tight, especially during the transition where they were bringing U2's gear onstage. Paul and his band played an extended version of Angel of Harlem that just rocked. Unrelenting energy.

The whole day was just great. Magnificent!

Oh, and we had lunch at the Hello Deli. Rupert even smiled for us, though not for the camera.

Bono signing autographs

2009-03-05T13:43:00.000-06:00

U2 (& David Letterman) Tonight!!!

2009-03-05T12:45:00.000-06:00

U2: The Letterman Residency

2009-02-28T06:28:00.003-06:00

Can you guess who's going to be on Letterman next week?
Can you guess who's going to see it live?
I love living a stone's throw from NYC!
(Image courtesy CBS, Worldwide Pants, Inc.)

Infinate Jest should not be made into a movie

2009-02-15T10:42:00.001-06:00

It should be made into a serialized TV show. But in cinematic quality.
A series of semi-connected vignettes.

Spin Workout - Izanami

2009-02-01T15:43:00.012-06:00

Here's another recent spin workout. Three sets of four one-minute sprints. 90% max effort, 90 second recovery, repeated four times. Then take a three minute break and start the next set. Stole this from a recent Chris Carmichael column in Bicycling Magazine.

Sunday (Moby) - Warm up
Forever Yellow Skies (The Cranberries) - Nice fast tune. I guess they all are with this playlist
Gum (Cornelius) - Biting rhythm guitar with portions of nonsensical syllabary. Cornelius is a Japanese genius. Long live Cornelius. Lots of experimental work.
Ooh La La (Goldfrapp) - Reminds me of Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW
Womanizer (Britney Spears) - Most of my class members are women. Just because I choose the song, doesn't mean I'm a womanizer. It's just a song. Deal with it.
Get On Your Boots (U2) - Nice tune for a high-cadence workout
My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson) - Very pop-ish. Very. Wouldn't normally own this, but it's a good tune for spinning.
What You Waiting For? (Gwen Stefani) - Also pop-ish, but I've always liked it for its 日本語 snippets and 原宿 references
All The Small Things (Blink 182) - Golden Oldie. Reminds me of editing the Anderson Days video with Yoko Nakao and Howard Ouyang in April of 2001. Good times!
She (Green Day) - Not my favorite Green Day tune, but good for a workout.
Barracuda (Moby) - From his rave days. I don't play too much techno in my spin classes. Staying a healthy distance from the cliche, but this one is too good to pass up.
One Fine Day (David Byrne and Brian Eno) - Refreshing cool down. The message of this song always reminds me of Jeff. It's my responsibility to find wonder and beauty in the mundane. Every day is a gift.

I didn't do a very good job of matching the songs to the sets and the recovery, but it works if you pedal through the breaks and accept a fast pace during a recovery period. Next up, Inari -- a sprint workout where you go 85% - 90% for two minutes and then one minute at 95% - 100%. Then back to 85%. Repeat three times for one set. Three sets. Stay tuned for the music.

Grateful

2009-01-20T11:44:00.003-06:00

To be part of the Community of the United States of America.

Grateful - and optimistic!

Get On Your Boots -- New U2 Single

2009-01-19T06:46:00.004-06:00

Bono stated a few months ago that they were delaying the release of the new album (now due March 3rd) because the band had hit "a rich songwriting vein" and they wanted to continue to mine it for aural nuggets. (Ok, he didn't say "aural nuggets." That lame phrase is all mine.) Seemed like an excuse born in a PR session to me, but based on a few listens of the new single, perhaps he was right. Not bad boys. This one's going on a spin playlist. Now bring on the tour.

BTW, listen to it LOUD!

BTW II -- I love iTunes on shuffle mode. Once the aformentioned U2 song concluded, the next track randomly selected was a 10-second SNL clip of Phil Hartman saying "I just stepped in a big pile of sassy!" Forgot I had that. Puts a smile on my face.

Spin Workout - Amaterasu

2009-01-17T20:24:00.003-06:00

If you happen to be a member of the Comcast Fitness Center, get out of bed early on Wednesday mornings and come to my spin class. We start at 7a sharp. Here's a recent workout (three circuits of a spint/climb/recovery):

Intro/Warmup: Red Sun by Anoushka Shankar
Sprint #1: Elevation (Influx remix) by U2
Climb #1: Give It 2 Me (Oakenfold edit) by Madonna

Sprint #2a: O Saya by AR Rahman & MIA
Sprint #2b: Voodoo Child by Moby
Climb #2a: Starry Eyed Surprise by Paul Oakenfold
Climb #2b: Diesel Power by The Prodigy

Sprint #3: Men's Needs by The Cribs
Climb #3a: Halfway Home by TV On the Radio
Climb #3b: How High by Tricky
Recovery & Cool down: Love Rescue Me by U2

Video playing in background: Stage 13 of the 2003 TdF (the one where Lance took a tumble and went on to win the stage.)

45 minutes of spinning goodness. Let me know if you have music suggestions for future classes. High bpm tunes are best, for obvious reasons.

Faster, faster! Up a half turn! Out of the saddle!

See you Wednesday morning.

Eschaton

2009-01-09T07:23:00.009-06:00

Another Infinite Jest post.
In the middle of the "Eschaton" section. Page 320-something through 340-something. I expected this section to be harder to read than Isaiah, but once again, I'm surprised at DFW's ability to make an otherwise tedious passage so engaging. SACPOP, AMNAT, SOVWAR, IRLIBSYR, INDDIR, SUFDIR, INDPAK, REDCHI - acronymns become meaningful shorthand in telling a larger story. As exciting as playing Risk for the first time. And the game narative feels like an alegory for the cluelessness of nations over-weighting self-interest. Not done with the section yet. Just saying.

(Image courtsey Seamus Carmichael)

Happy Y.D.A.U. !

2009-01-01T10:08:00.000-06:00

Go ahead. Google it.

Closing thoughts on holiday shopping

2008-12-02T17:57:00.001-06:00

Several of you have asked what I was doing at Wal-Mart at 5a on Friday. Well, I'll tell you. My brother-in-law Ted is a deal hound and he was headed out bright and early -- 4:30. It just so happened that I flew to SLC from PHL the day before so I was still on east coast time. 4:30 MT = 6:30 ET. No problem. I was also curious to see what all the fuss was about. And lastly, I was secretly hoping to find some DEALS DEALS DEALS!!!

So in answer to Ryan's questions, I started as observer, but was not able to maintain a professional journalistic distance. Largely because I am neither professional, nor a journalist. I was sucked into the excitement of the chase. Though, thankfully, not as much as the lady in the photo above. She was really into it. I think she bought 30 LCD photo frames. Crazy lady. I bought one. I even picked up a Nintendo DS (Red) that I'll probably take back because I really don't want the boy to have a Nintendo DS. Ted and I also went to Target, Kohl's and Smith's Marketplace. Don't let the word get out too far, but Smith's Marketplace is where "it" is at. Abundant product, good deals, light crowds and free doughnut holes and hot chocolate.

Lastly, I'm still trying to process what it means that a Wal-Mart employee was killed by overzealous shoppers. As exciting as the experience was, the people I observed were very kind and civil. I don't like to think that I am part of a system (a remote, distant part) that placed selfishness above human life. Very sad. Do you think anything will change next year? Will we remember what we did on Black Friday 2008?

Cutest. Baby. Ever.

2008-11-29T22:48:00.001-06:00

Practice for the future barter economy

2008-11-28T06:13:00.001-06:00

We must turn this economy around, else this is our future.

Live Blogging American Mob Consumerism

2008-11-28T05:57:00.001-06:00

Wal-Mart @ 5am
We're not far from a bazaar barter system here. People are making
small talk, but they'll walk all over you for a deal.

@Sixers/Jazz game

2008-11-11T20:03:00.000-06:00

Go Jazz!
No, wait...
Go Sixers!
I'm confused.

David Byrne live at The Tower

2008-11-08T19:18:00.001-06:00

Right now!

Beautiful Day

2008-11-02T19:43:00.006-06:00

Saturday was just wonderful. I've got the pictures to prove it.

Oh, and the kids deserve a hearty congratulations for making it 10 weeks without a TV. We missed the Olympics and the World Series, but I couldn't bear the thought of being without a TV on election night. Of course, the last time I bought a TV for a specific event, things didn't turn out as I had hoped. If McCain wins, I'm taking the TV back to Costco and moving to Canada.

Phan-tastic Phillies!

2008-10-31T11:46:00.000-05:00

Crystal Ball

2008-10-25T21:28:00.004-05:00

Went to the boy's soccer game today. He likes soccer, but doesn't LOVE it. He'll get a decent kick in from time to time, but is rarely aggressive enough to keep control of the ball for long. I was thinking about this as I watched him today and was wondering if he would want to play again next year. Just then, the quarter ended and he came over for a drink of water. Before I could ask him about the game, he said, "Dad, did you know that seven plus five equals twelve?" I said that I did know that and I asked why he brought it up. "I was just thinking that it's kind of like six plus six, but you take one away from one number and add it to the other number," he said.

So I guess that explains some of why he isn't very aggressive on the field. He's busy doing math.

Barack in West Philly

2008-10-11T13:39:00.000-05:00

It was "Take it daughter to see the next President" day!

Go Phils!

2008-10-11T06:09:00.001-05:00

Dear My Friends- 上松秀実

2008-10-11T04:56:00.000-05:00

My friend Naoji is promoting a new act in Japan. Not bad, eh?

Hey, there's a new Lego store opening today...

2008-10-04T13:18:00.004-05:00

Let's go check it out

Oh my goodness, look at that line...
We'll have to come back another day.

Embedable TV from Fancast!

2008-09-28T19:58:00.003-05:00

Our TV is still broken. Move a couch into the office and watch full length episodes on Fancast on the 24" iMac. Problem solved.

McBride for President

2008-09-18T20:12:00.001-05:00

iPhone は日本語ができます！

2008-09-18T19:55:00.001-05:00

以上

Chanticleer Gardens

2008-09-14T13:23:00.000-05:00

A Star is Born

2008-09-09T14:43:00.000-05:00

2:56 pm
6 lbs 15 oz

Face it dad, I'm a first grader now (and more)

2008-09-02T20:55:00.010-05:00

I home from his first day of full-day school!

E praying or sleeping? You decide.

GOP Convention. Is that Abe Lincoln on the left?

Television, the drug of the nation

2008-08-14T11:57:00.004-05:00

The Dell W3201c was a good TV. Too bad it only lasted two years. Too bad I have to admit that I was on the team that brought this TV to market. Too bad that when I bought the TV, I didn't choose to buy the extended warranty that I myself marketed. Too bad. Looks like I'm not the only one.

My four year old did not greet me with her usual hug yesterday. She was quite somber and quickly told me, "you need to call Dell." Well, I called Dell and, as expected, the only option is an out of warranty repair that will cost $300. Good money after bad? Time for a new TV? Or maybe it's time for no TV at all. How would that be? I work at Comcast and get free cable, but don't have a TV? My four year old is not amused. "But you like to watch Sound of Music," she quipped. (Let the record show that while I do enjoy Sound of Music as much as the next guy, I haven't watched it in at least a year.)

Janean isn't convinced either, especially with a new baby coming (new babies love TV.) But she is willing to try.

I just wish the TV had waited until after the Olympics to die on me.

Radiohead Rocks Philadelphia!

2008-08-12T21:06:00.000-05:00

The last of the rock stars

2008-08-12T13:23:00.007-05:00

The Guardian reports that a recent poll discovered 20% of British workers would prefer being a rock star to their current career.

What? Only 20%? I like my job, but would I rather be wealthy for being able to express myself musically? Of course I would!

Bands most interested in joining: U2 (of course), Radiohead, Beck
Bands least interested in joining: Menudo, Poison, Kiss, WASP, GWAR, Musical Youth, Milli Vanilli

How about YOU?

That's what she said...

2008-08-06T17:40:00.005-05:00

As a manager, one of my primary goals is to have as few Michael Scott moments as possible. I'm so oblivious to the reality around me that eliminating them entirely remains on the distant horizon. But I came across some inspiring words today from a piece in the Times-Union of Albany, NY. What do you think? Who has been your best manager? Your worst? Did s/he follow the model outlined in the article? I'll include my favorite bits:

"Managers hold the key to improving performance. That's because the strongest driver of employee engagement is the relationship with one's supervisor. Having a strong rapport with a manager who communicates effectively, provides feedback on personal performance, and matches skills to tasks builds an employee's trust and heightens job engagement.

Employees want recognition and appreciation for good work and innovation. Using clear, reliable standards to measure performance assures employees that productivity and effectiveness will be rewarded.

Employees want to use their talents and grow through increased responsibility. This is especially true for the younger generation of employees entering the work force.

Offering opportunities for employees to build skills, take on new projects, or advance in the organization encourages motivation and commitment."

I try to do this for my team, but often fall short. If anyone on my team leaves comments to this post that are an inch short of praise-worthy, you're fired. (Just kidding.)

Stream of Bono-Consciousness

2008-08-04T08:22:00.003-05:00

Rolling Stone's David Fricke had some nice things to say about U2's recent reissue of their first three albums, Boy, October and War. So nice, it seems, that Bono saw fit to write a lengthly reply. True to Bono's typical style, it's rather 'stream of consciousness' in its delivery. I liked this bit toward the end:

"You can have everything the songs, the production, the face, the attitude but still not have “IT”…U2 had nothing really, nothing but ‘IT’… For us music was a sacrament …an even more demanding and sometimes more demeaning thing than music as ART, we wanted to make a music to take you in and out of your body, out of your comfort zone, out of your self, as well as your bedroom, a music that finds you looking under your bed for God to protect your innocence…"

Ben visits Comcast!

2008-07-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

Avalon, NJ

2008-06-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

Best. Mashup. Ever.

2008-06-18T08:14:00.000-05:00

Koolaid?

2008-06-15T21:46:00.002-05:00

Am I too subjectively immersed in this campaign? I just read the speech Obama gave today on the need for fathers to be more present in the lives of their children. He singled out black fathers, but I think the message is universal.

If McCain is giving speeches or promoting concepts so core to improving our condition in a manner that is even remotely as convincing as this, please send them my way. I fail to see what others see in McCain and I truly would like to know. But here's the deal - I'll read or watch what you send me, but in exchange, you have to agree to watch or read this talk.

What's the Big Idea?

2008-06-07T06:35:00.004-05:00

Radiohead sponsored a content a few months ago to remix a song from their latest album. Because the song was in the pop-world-rare 6/8 time, it was challenging to weave in other tunes. This person took an entirely different approach. Very cool!

Karate kids for Obama

2008-05-31T09:21:00.001-05:00

Havertown's newest yellow stripe belt

2008-05-31T09:19:00.000-05:00

Go Phillies!

2008-05-28T20:41:00.000-05:00

Buggy ride in Intercourse, PA

2008-05-18T16:07:00.001-05:00

2008-05-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

Shine a Light

2008-05-03T22:01:00.002-05:00

Went to see the new Stones Imax film, Shine a Light, with my dad today. Great flick. Really well done. Check it out!

Watakushi no kioku ga tashika naraba

2008-04-24T05:01:00.002-05:00

...or, If my memory serves me correctly!

Ryori no Tetsujin, the Japanese version of Iron Chef is coming back to the American airwaves. This is most welcome news.

Check it out on Fine Living TV. Don't have FLTV? Me neither.

The Audacity of Hope

2008-04-22T17:23:00.007-05:00

Photo: Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

Hey, that's my train! I ride the elevated train above Barack Obama in this picture every day. He wasn't there to greet me today though.

I went out canvassing this afternoon in a last-ditch GOTV (get out the vote) effort. Most people I spoke with said they had already voted. I had a showdown with a lady who was out on behalf of the Clinton campaign. We were actually having a nice conversation when a raucous crowd started to gather, chanting "fight, fight, fight." So we started to fight. She had the weight advantage, but I was more athletic and had a six-inch reach advantage. Things were about to get ugly when a guy walking by and accused the Obama campaign (proxy: me) of unfairly strong-arming women (proxy: Clinton-lady). That knocked some sense into me and I stood down. Then she sucker-punched me and I went down. Typical Clinton tactics.

Ok, I'm kidding. none of that happened (except the part about me running into a Clinton canvasser and our having a nice conversation.)

The Latest

2008-04-20T20:22:00.005-05:00

Sup? Here's what I've been thinking about:

- Got tickets to the Radiohead show in August. yippee!

- While canvassing for Obama today I was surprised to find several pockets of like-mindedness. If I found an Obama supporter, there would be several Obama supporters nearby. Stumble upon an undecided? There was another right next door. And then there was Hillary Avenue. One house at the entrance to an area had a Hillary sign in their front yard. Everyone that I spoke with on that street was either a Hillary supporter or ambivalent about politics. Very strange. Maybe we're not the independent thinkers we all fancy ourselves to be.

- If you're reading this in Pennsylvania, Primary day is Tuesday, April 22nd. Polling places will be open from 7a to 8p. Don't know where your polling place is? Click here. Choose ye this day who ye will vote for, but as for me and in my house, we will vote for Obama. (Of course I'm not coercing Janean to vote like me. Just a micro-pocket of support, I suppose.)

- Got new glasses.

- Went on a great bike ride last night. Schuylkill River Trail from Conshohocken (Translation: with shohocken) to Phoenixville (almost). Great ride. Form is starting to come back. Slowly but surely.

- Don't forget to vote.

(Artwork by Shepard Fairey)

Girls @ the park

2008-04-16T17:53:00.000-05:00

The Art of the Title Sequence

2008-04-15T05:42:00.005-05:00

I was watching The Incredibles with the kids the other day and was struck by how cool the title sequence at the end of the movie is. "Someone ought to create a website where they collect the coolest title sequences around," I thought. Well, thanks to Jason Kottke, I now know that someone has. The Art of the Title Sequence.

What's your favorite movie title sequence? In addition to The Incredibles, I really like Casino Royale (the 2006 version).

Emancipate yourself from mental slavery...

2008-04-06T16:14:00.006-05:00

Good stories take us to another place. They cause us to forget our reality for a time. Great stories transform, forcing us to reconsider the concept of reality and our place in it. Thanks to his well-honed story telling skills and the touching subject matter of an amazing life, Deepak Chopra's Buddha falls squarely in the camp of transformation.

I had a hard time putting this book down. I found myself looking forward to my 40 minute train ride (each way) to and from work for the reading time it would offer. Chopra takes us through the life of the historical buddha, laying out out a set of events that have their climax in Gautama's attaining enlightenment. Because it aims to tell a story rather than to convert the reader, the narrative is inviting and engaging. But more than simply a story, it facilitates introspection into the mind, into one's personal sense of freedom and into one's attitudes on compassion.

I was about to cite my own myriad experiences with Buddhism and state that this book isn't for everyone, but on further thought, that would not be an accurate statement. There is something in this book for everyone. For some, it might shed light on a mysterious school of thought. For others it could represent an opportunity to consider well-worn ideals from a new, refreshing angle. Still others may determine after finishing the book that they want to learn more about Buddhism. And then there are those who are experts in Buddhism, but have likely not heard the story told from such a personal, approachable viewpoint.

Those who would marginalize Buddhism as a strange Eastern religion for a misguided segment of the world's population are making a mistake. Buddha's teachings on the transient nature of the human condition and on alleviating suffering are a source of inspiration for millions. We owe it to ourselves to seek to better understand each other. This book is an ideal first step on that path. In a similar vein, if anyone is aware of an eloquently told story that serves to bridge the chasm of misunderstanding between the West and Islam, I would appreciate the recommendation.

I didn't mean to write a book report when I got started, but the material is that inspiring. If you have the means, I highly recommend you pick this book up.

All I Need

2008-04-06T14:44:00.005-05:00

Radiohead's In Rainbows is a fantastic album. Two tracks especially stand out for me. All I Need and Videotape. What's especially great about All I Need is that the guitar tab is nice and playable, critically important for a novice like me.

Jumpers

2008-03-30T09:29:00.000-05:00

Conference Room Art

2008-03-29T18:07:00.000-05:00

On the 45th floor of the Comcast Center.

2008-03-29T09:34:00.000-05:00

2008-03-29T09:31:00.000-05:00

Glumps!

2008-03-26T07:29:00.000-05:00

"Work harder" they seem to be saying.

Thank you Easter Bunny!

2008-03-21T22:13:00.003-05:00

Where "Easter Bunny" = Bompa & Grandma
(Hey, portrait mode worked that time. What's up with that?)

Madonna Loves New York

2008-03-21T21:56:00.007-05:00

One more thing about New York. Almost any song is good background music while walking around Manhattan, but one tune that came up randomly on my iPhone really stood out -- Madonna's I Love New York. It started playing just as I was approaching a very busy Penn Station. The wind was blowing quite hard and there was a lot of debris (newspapers) floating around. It seemed mildly apocalyptic, like something out of Cloverfield. Appropriately chaotic. Made me smile.

(Can anyone tell me why blogger insists on rotating my photos taken in portrait mode. Maybe it is an iPhone thing. Trouble in paradise.)

Office Space

2008-03-21T21:54:00.001-05:00

Continuing the office theme (no, not the TV show), here is a photo of the view from my new office. We'll be moving again in a few months, but this is home for now.

Gold Bikinis Never Go Out of Style

2008-03-21T21:00:00.008-05:00

Hi. I had a midday meeting with Omniture in New York City yesterday so I decided to go early and stay late. While camping at Comcast's offices across from Bryant Park, they let me use an amazing office. I had to ask twice to make sure I was in the right place. Here are some photos.

Then I hooked up with Dave Moody for a quick walk through MoMA and some sauntering through upper midtown. I'm a charter member of the David C. Moody fan club so it was great to spend time with him. Here's a photo of some people who were walking behind us at MoMA. Oh, and there's some art in the background.

After parting ways with Dave, I made my way over to Toys R Us to buy some goodies for the kids and then it was time to head back to Penn Station for the 8:15 Acela to Philadelphia. I was home by 10:00. Good day, eh? BTW, it is nice to know that gold bikinis never go out of style. I was beginning to worry about the long term value of our stash of gold bikinis.

Chinese Free Speech Suppression / Olympic Boycott

2008-03-15T17:39:00.003-05:00

With unrest in Tibet spreading to a second city i n as many days, I'm not surprised to hear the IOC trying to keep countries from bailing on the upcoming Olympic games in Beijing. I understand they want to throw their party, but from my distant (and admittedly under-informed) vantage point, wouldn't a boycott be a way to get the attention of the leadership in Beijing?

When the 2008 games were awarded to Beijing back in 2001, opposition voices cited China's poor record on the environment and on human rights. Seven years later not much seems to have changed.

I'd be interested in your opinion on the matter.

(Photo: Agence France - Presse - Getty Images, via NY Times.com)

2008-03-11T13:04:00.000-05:00

Jermaine & Bret

2008-03-10T05:45:00.000-05:00

Saw Flight of the Conchords at The Depot in Salt Lake City last week.
Part of the Omniture Summit.

Mel was not in attendance. Too bad. I was hoping to get her autograph.

2008-03-07T19:55:00.000-06:00

Beef or chicken, tell me what you want

2008-02-17T20:09:00.005-06:00

The correct answer may be "none of the above."

Janean and I went out last night at the wonderful Indian restaurant Palace at the Ben in Center City. For starters we had the Murg Malai Kabab, a tandoor cooked chicken dish. Janean had a vegetarian curry and I had a lamb curry for the main course. It was phenomenal! I found myself recanting my recent musings on becoming vegetarian. Between meals like last night's and Texas BBQ like Rudy's or County Line, I'm not sure I could keep that commitment.

And now this...143 Million pounds of beef recalled because of a facility in California that was forcing downer cows into the slaughterhouse. There are so many words in that last sentence that just make me sick.

Dream out loud

2008-02-17T18:27:00.012-06:00

Andrew Wyeth. (American, born 1917). Christina's World. 1948. MoMA Collection.

I recently came across a noteworthy Bono quote from an anti-fascism event in Germany in early 1992.

"As much as we need to describe the kind of world we live in, we need to dream up the kind of world we want to live in. In the case of a rock & roll band that is to dream out loud, at high volume, to turn it up to eleven. Because we have fallen asleep in the comfort of our freedom.

Rock & roll is for some of us a kind of alarm clock. It wakes us up to dream! It has stopped me from becoming cynical in cynical times. Surely it is the inherited cynicism of our political and economic thinking that contributes so much to the despair of the 1990s."

I like the image of dreaming out loud. That sentiment found its way into the title track of the album U2 was recording at the time, Zooropa. And rock & roll can be an alarm clock, but can it be a cure for cynicism? I think in U2's music, it often is. There were some moments in U23D that my cynical side wasn't so sure about, but Bono is a sincere optimist -- something I admire. It takes great courage to not be a cynic. It takes a willingness to look like a rube or a simpleton in order to stick to one's principles or ideals. And for those of us who take great pleasure in the comedy of Jon Stewart and The Onion, entertaining the viewpoint of an optimist who is full of sincerity serves a refreshing balancing function.

Knowing it is half the battle

2008-02-16T15:04:00.006-06:00

I live and breathe web analytics at work so I don't know why it took so long for me to think of putting Google Analytics code on Faraway, So Close, but as of yesterday, we're fully tagged! Comcast Interactive is an Omniture shop, but Google Analytics, somewhat simplistic though it may be, is free and oh so easy to set up.

I was surprised at how excited I was to see it working. I remember feeling the same way when we transitioned Comcast.net to Omniture's SiteCatalyst platform last year. It is very gratifying to see these tools tell us about the people who visit our sites.

Since last night, Faraway, So Close has a respectable bounce rate of 50%! I would think that's especially good for a blog. Of course we've only logged three visits and three page views. So much for engagement. Guess I better keep posting fresh content. Got to build that readership so I can kick the monetization strategy into high gear.

One surprise: in terms of referring traffic, 50% of our traffic today has come from organic search. Someone visited the Tom Turkey's Disguise post from a Google search results page. Sure enough, we rank fourth in Google's organic search for the term "Tom Turkey's Disguise."

If you are interested in learning more about how people are responding to your blog, click here. It's as simple as signing up for an account, having their site generate some code and pasting it into your HTML template. Then go back to the GA site, login and start generating reports, analysis and insight! Fun stuff!

Did you ever know that you're my hero?

2008-02-16T14:10:00.007-06:00

Ok, enough of that sap. There's a mild chance I'll get to meet Lance Armstrong at a conference I'll be attending in a few weeks. I'm a big fan of Lance. In fact it is fair to say that he played a big part in why I started cycling in 2004. And in five years of living in Austin, I never had the chance to meet him.

I met Michael Dell at an MBA recruiting event in Austin in 2000. I don't remember what I said, but I do remember thinking after the fact that it was pretty stupid. So in the spirit of tapping the wisdom of crowds (you), I could use some help.

In case I do get to meet Lance, what should I say to him? Some possibilities:

- Uh, do you remember when you beat Jan Ullrich on Alpe d'Huez in 2001? That was awesome!
- Hey Lance, will you autograph a copy of Sheryl Crow's new album for me?
- Lance, did you know that I dressed up as you for Halloween once? How about you dress up as me next year?
- So, Ashley Olsen, eh? What's up with that?

As you can see, I'm in need of some suggestions. Any help you could provide would be very, um, helpful.

Yes We Can

2008-02-04T20:09:00.000-06:00

The boy and I went to see Barack Obama at a rally in Wilmington, DE yesterday. There were 20,000 people there. Very impressive. Senator Obama was impressive as well. The boy asked lots of appropriate questions like, "why does he keep talking about change?" and "why is everyone clapping?"

And as further testament to Obama fever, the following video is making waves. You're probably only going to be inspired by this stuff if you're an Obama supporter. I like the guy, so I find it moving. Check it out.

I like Will.i.am's description of the creation of the song and the video. 48 hours start to finish. Very impressive!

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Faraway, So Close is officially endorsing the candidacy of Barack Obama for President of the United States in 2008. There may not be much distance between Obama and Clinton in terms of policy, but I believe he'll be able to get more done. Both are solid on the "what" but Obama has won me over on the "how." Besides, do we need another chapter in the Bush-Clinton-Bush rotation? End the cycle!

Hmmmmmm...... Big Tomy's

2008-02-02T09:18:00.000-06:00

Favorite breakfast dive in LA. Responsible for at least 15 pound of
weight gain during my two years in LA.

Santa Monica

2008-02-02T09:16:00.001-06:00

Spent a few days in LA this past week. Got Huevos Rancheros at Big
Tomy's and ate breakfast at the beach. Very nice.

Kids in the Mall

2008-02-02T09:13:00.001-06:00

More from U2 in Utah

2008-01-25T04:35:00.001-06:00

Good interview with Bono and Edge over at USA Today. One quote:

"When the band arrived in Mexico to start the film production on the South American leg of the tour, [Bono] says, "I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't looking the best. I don't think I'm the most vain of rock 'n' roll stars you'll meet, but I had a panic attack at the thought of a 3-D, 40-foot arse. But by the time we got to Buenos Aires, I was back on track. But some of the shots I can see, I can't help thinking, 'You fat bastard …' "

There was a trailer before U23D for an upcoming Rolling Stones IMAX show. Janean commented after the show that compared to the emaciated, heroin-chic Rolling Stones, U2 seemed massive. Maybe they were massive in their own right. No comparisons required.

Is it getting better, or do you feel the same?

2008-01-25T03:23:00.000-06:00

I'm glad to see Dell and Microsoft join together to create a PC for Product(Red). At the same time, I can't help but recall an awakening experience I had in my closing weeks as a Dell employee in late 2006. I was a peripheral member of Dell's product development team and I suggested we get in touch with the Product(Red) organization to explore the concept of producing a PC for them. We were developing several red notebook PCs at this point and it seemed like a natural fit. This was around the time Bono went on Oprah to launch the Product(Red) in the US. The organization had been active in Europe for seven or eight months at this point and I had been following it closely. The product team leads I suggested this to were intrigued by the idea and they brought it up with others, but the idea was shot down because, I was told, Bono was perceived as being too closely aligned with Apple, referring, I suppose, to the U2 edition of the iPod and Apple's use of U2 concert footage in video iPod marcomm.

So I let it rest. Fast forward a few weeks. I was in a product development meeting with the same team leads I suggested the idea to and their manager told the team that Michael Dell was interested in reaching out to the Product(Red) team to see if we could designate an upcoming red laptop as a Product(Red) product. That's a great idea, I remember thinking.

Anyway, the lesson to me that day was to trust my instincts. I may not be the most eloquent chap around, but I have some decent ideas from time to time. No hard feelings. That's part of corporate life. Of course Michael Dell's ideas are going to be easier to act on than an idea from some grunt in the product group. It does remind me of a certain FedEx commercial. Remember the one?

One of the things I was struggling with that very week was whether or not I should accept a job at Comcast Interactive Media. In retrospect it was a no-brainer, but in the moment it was a very difficult decision. There were no guarantees, but my instincts told me that the opportunities for me would be better if I made the move. 14 months on, I can say making the switch was the best career decision I've ever made. More importantly, it has worked out well for my family as well.

Back to the Product(Red) PCs by Dell & Microsoft. It looks like they may be forcing buyers into a higher-margin config and not allowing them to delete down to a more basic config. That may make sense from a branding perspective -- sell it as an aspirational product, but in this day of comparison shopping, it makes Dell and Microsoft appear to be placing profits over the charitable spirit of the Product(Red) campaign. Dell is a very charitable company and I was extremely impressed with the culture of giving back while I was there. They should bring this product into alignment with those principles and allow people to buy the lower end config and still have some of the funds go to Africa. Actually, this looks like a Microsoft issue to me. Dollars to donuts they're marking up the Product(Red) version of Vista and Dell is passing on the cost. For what? A couple of widgets and a screensaver? What's the marginal cost of that? I guess they have to differentiate or else every PC would become a Product(Red) PC and then they'd have to give money to Africa on every PC sold. That could get pricey. One of the principles of Product(Red) is that it is sustainable. It makes sense for everyone. Unfortunately, the side by side pricing comparison makes Dell and Microsoft look they're protecting their profits before supporting the charity.

I don't want to sound too negative. I think it is great that they are doing this. It is tough to get big corporations mobilized for this kind of effort and to align interests, but I think they should find some some additional differentiation points that are valuable to the consumer. Something beyond screenshots and a widget. Err on the side of compassion. Just my two cents.

Give me one more chance, and you'll be satisfied...

2008-01-25T02:59:00.000-06:00

Here it is. By popular demand. My U23D post show analysis.

Janean and I went to see U23D on Wednesday night at the IMAX in King of Prussia and it was a lot of fun. I was struck by the differences between seeing them live and seeing them in 3D in a theater. There is no comparison to actually being there -- not even close. The sights, smells, anticipation and sense of community that come with a live U2 show cannot be rivaled by a passive theatrical experience. I don't think anyone ever expected it to be on par with attending an actual concert, but the press hype made it sound almost as good. I guess those journalists haven't been to an actual show. Watching the band up close in 3D made me long for the actual live experience.

Echoing one of the reviews I read, some of Bono's stagecraft seems out of touch with a theatrical experience (hugging the camera/audience or waving his arms like a bird) but I didn't notice anything that contrived in the live show. It just works live. In the theater it brought some snickers. Which is another thing -- when you've been waiting for hours for a good seat on the floor of a live show, surrounded by people who have done the same, everyone is fully invested in having a phenomenal experience and there is no snickering. Not so in the theater. That was a bit of a buzz-kill.

Am I being too harsh by comparing this movie to their concerts? Maybe. But as immersing as it was, the irony of this show is that by trying to draw me into the moment, it pushed me into a mental state where I was comparing it to other moments. Perhaps I'm quibbling. Oh, one more thing. I wanted to yell and clap and cheer, but I would have been the odd man out in the theater. I bet if I had, a few others would have joined in, but the convention of the theater kept the fans in their shells.

As I watched the film, I remember thinking that I wish the closeup shots of the stage were a bit longer. As a long time U2 fan who has read several books about the band, I'm very interested in the minutiae of what it takes to make these shows happen. The shots of Larry's drum kit were very intriguing. There's so much detail there, so much complexity in setting up the kit just right. He had a half bottle of orange drink sitting by him in a few shots. You could see where he puts his extra drum sticks. Seeing the stage close up was a real treat. In everything I've read, Larry is the anti-Bono. Where Bono is impulsive and loud, Larry is methodical and reserved. But we see so much of Bono and Larry usually waits in the shadows or behind his kit. It was refreshing to see more of him up close. Just one example.

The set list was great and the sound was impressive. This is a fun show and everyone should see it. Best. IMAX. Ever. Just not better than the real thing.

Like a Preacher Stealin' Hearts at a Travellin' Show

2008-01-21T16:43:00.000-06:00

Regular Faraway, So Close readers (hi mom!) will know that I grew up in North Salt Lake, Utah. Extra astute readers will recall that as a young lad my only way to experience U2 was through vinyl and the pages of Rolling Stone. Rarely would Bono and the boys set foot anywhere near the Wasatch Front. So I move away and what happens? They premiere a film at Sundance. I posted recently about my concerns that this would be yet another 3D gimmick. Well the initial reviews are out and apparently THIS FILM TOTALLY ROCKS! And this from a typically jaded and disaffected cadre of music journalists. So I guess it ain't bad. Here are a few links:

In addition to a content commentary, Wired takes a technical angle.

I would have loved to be there for the Q&A.

Bono pays a complement to Salt Lake music & radio & says they'll be back.

Several articles, including this one from The New York Times, commented on people in the real audience joining with the virtual audience in raising their cell phones, probably during "One."

Janean and I bought our tickets for Wednesday night's show at 9:30 on Fandango. Now all we need is a sitter! Since I saw the Vertigo tour three times (once in Dallas and twice in Tokyo) and Janean didn't get to see it at all, I'm excited for her to be able to partake.

Want more details, such as showtimes? Go go U2.com or the U23D website.

(Photo credit goes to Mike Terry, Deseret Morning News)

Liberty Bell Smiles

2008-01-06T09:04:00.000-06:00