You would think that by now we would have a good technical solution to the question "when can you fit me in?". For my coworkers Exchange and Outlook work like a charm. Outlook even has the ability to post my free/busy data to the 'net via ftp, webdav, or locally. However only Outlook understands that file (even though it is part of the iCalendar standard).

I did find a few people at the fringes who deal with this sort of stuff. The most helpful was iFreeBusy.com, but they seem to have a good system for letting my Outlook know if someone who uses iCal is busy, and not for publishing my free/busy data to the web.

One guy who works for a church rolled his own solution, which is downloadable, but requires perl, which I didn't feel like messing with. Not to mention that it doesn't really detail what version of perl, or what modules are required.

Frustrated, I turned to the only possible solution left: hacking. Witness the newest page to davidkearns.com: free/busy. I simply set my outlook to publish my free/busy data to my website, and then load that file, parse it out, build the object, and render it all purty. Add a calendar to select which day, and voila. I spent less time on the solution than all the research that determined I needed to build it myself. Oh well, I now know quite a bit about standard calendar formats...

Update: iFreeBusy.com is already on top of a solution. Try subscribing to my calendar in Sunbird, or another Mozilla type jobby with the calendar add-on. (Though since Outlook can only publish automatically to one place, my homepage wins out and this data will get old).

Washington Post must read my page:

Crepes -- slender pancakes stuffed with fillings savory or sweet -- seemed perfect for a brunch. I could devise a menu that catered to different tastes, and my event would highlight the best aspect of the Gallic specialty: making and filling them.

[ Savory and Sweet Crepes ]

The Post also has some fine recipes, for those so inclined. The print edition also had a list of local places to savor tasty crepes:

• Cafe Bonaparte - 1522 Wisconsin Ave. NW - (202)333-8830
• La Creperie - 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington - (703)415-0560
• L'Enfant - 2000 18th St. NW - (202)319-1800
• Original Pancake House - who cares? skip this one...
• Le Chat Noir - 4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW - (202)244-2044
• Couscous Cafe - 1195 20th St. NW - (202)689-1233

And the Couscous Cafe looks walkable from Doceus...

Earth Day just isn't what it used to be. Has someone come up with a 2nd Earth so that we can continue to trash this one? I think not.

The 35th anniversary of Earth Day is a sobering occasion. On previous anniversaries we have hailed this "new awakening" as millions around the world suddenly rose up and pledged their support for a new campaign to save the natural environment.

[ EARTH DAY ANNIVERSARY 2005 — A WAKE UP CALL ]

Perhaps if we all cared just a bit more, and we checked up on our representatives, and voted out the dead beats, we'd all have a better world to live in.

I've just checked, and in Virginia this coming Friday is Arbor day. I think I'll make an effort to plant a tree. Though I can't plant one in my apartment...

Of all of the culture shocks that one must deal with when traveling, the biggest one that still continues to shock me is what people eat for breakfast. Of course I don't mean shock like I'm appalled, but shock like you just can't believe it. When I travel internationally, though, I'm a big café breakfast kind of guy. I like anything that smacks of a French influence, it's where I gravitate for my first meal of the day.

Little did I know that all of America was squarely headed toward the coffee and something else quick for breakfast when we were all manipulated into changing our habits:

Bernays used his Uncle Sigmund Freud's ideas to help convince the public, among other things, that bacon and eggs was the true all-American breakfast.

[ NPR : Freud's Nephew and the Origins of Public Relations ]

Absolutely fascinating story. I love food. I love history that all relates to each other. I love the fact that Freud's nephew's name sounds like Bearnaise. Maybe I should think of going back to school to become a Nutritional Anthropologist (but I hate homework).

I love Manhattan, but now I have yet another reason to love it:

Nintendo of America has announced the Nintendo World store, located in the heart of New York City’s Rockefeller Center, will open on May 14, 2005. Nintendo World will celebrate with a grand opening block party outside the store in Rockefeller Plaza.

[ News : Article ]

So, Nate, what are you doing the weekend of May 14th, hmmmm?

The Nintendo World store will feature exclusive Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo GameCube and Pokémon merchandise not found at any other store in the world.

So I will have to go to New York? No on line sales? No expansion stores to Tyson's Corner? If not, I hope Yaty doesn't mind a short trip to Manhattan on each trip we take to anywhere in the tri-state area.

So what is the war on terrorism really about?

The White House has approved a classified new strategy, dubbed Muslim World Outreach, that for the first time states that the United States has a national security interest in influencing what happens within Islam. Because America is, as one official put it, "radioactive" in the Islamic world, the plan calls for working through third parties--moderate Muslim nations, foundations, and reform groups--to promote shared values of democracy, women's rights, and tolerance.

[ USNews.com (4/25/05) ]

What I can't figure out is should I be happy? Sad? Indifferent? As an American shouldn't I be upset with state sponsored religion of any type? As a Muslim shouldn't I be upset with the US meddling?

Though, perhaps it's not the US using moderate Islam, but God using the US to fund Islam...

I'm rather curious to hear the opinions of my readership (small as it may be).

Live at the Hollywood Bowl:

A live concert event featuring full orchestra and choir performing music from the greatest video games, plus laser and light sequences, video clips, live characters, and a special segment dedicated to retro arcade classics!

[ Hollywood Bowl - Program Details ]

Think the LA Philharmonic will take this on the road? Or at least release a box set on CD?

Props to /., a site with some good news for geeks (according to Nar).

I'm in the process of a movie freeze to build up a good list of movies when I eventually re-sign-up for NetFlix. There are a few exceptions to this, movies so good I've just got to see them in the theater, though I've even missed a couple of them due to poor scheduling (i.e. by the time I get around to it, everyone else has seen it).

I'm expecting that Yaty has seen Kung Fu Hustle (Gong Fu) so I won't feel guilty seeing it without her. It looks darn good, and I should have no problems seeing it, as long as I can find someone to go with (I rather dislike seeing movies by myself).

Anyone else expecting to see this? And want to clue me in? And not mind my company?

Even better, scheduled in advance with a meal to follow, preferably Chinese, with a lively discussion of the movie. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I certainly didn't expect this one:

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Macromedia (Nasdaq: MACR) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.4 billion.

[ Adobe ]

I have no idea if this is good or bad. And I wonder what becomes of the competing products? And does this mean I won't have to choose between Adobe's Creative Suite and Macromedia's Studio MX? I could buy one suite and get Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, and ColdFusion?

Until Henri can convince his Mom to make crepes for the whole company, I continue my quest for crepes, real crepes, and ones that are close enough to actually get to taste. Today's creperie is in Baltimore, which means I'll have to wait until my next trip to the aquarium, but so far it gets great ratings from everyone who's been there:

Blink and you'll miss Sofi's Crepes, wedged between the two entertainment venues on North Charles Street. It's a carryout by default; the place is only big enough to house a small counter ordering area about the size of the front seat of a Chevette.

[ AOL CityGuide: Baltimore - Restaurants, Dining, Pizza, Burgers & Chinese - Sofi's Crepes - Overview ]

I don't watch much TV, contrary to popular belief, however I do like to take a break to watch Avatar when I stumble across it:

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Only the Avatar was the master of all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless Fire Nation from conquering the world. But when the world needed him most, he disappeared. Until now...

[ TV Shows on Nick.com ]

American made, Anime inspired, great story, original material, catch it if you can.

Peter Rojas seems to lament this break with tradition:

It sounds like your worst Gen Y marketing nightmare: rather than wait until E3 to launch the Xbox 2/Xbox 360, Microsoft is going to break with game industry tradition (at least as much as the industry even has a tradition) and take the wraps off their next-gen console via a half-hour MTV special airing on May 12th that’ll be hosted by Elijah Woods and feature a performance by the Killers as well as plenty of cameos by the usual round of athletes and celebs. Hardcore gamers might not like it (no one likes to feel like they’re falling trap to some lame teen marketing machine), but Microsoft obviously believes that this next console is too big to be launched at a trade show event—they want to start building buzz on a global level from day one.

[ Microsoft unveiling the Xbox 360 on May 12th…on MTV - Gaming - gaming.engadget.com. ]

I think Sony and Nintendo should take note. Microsoft clearly sees that the consumer, and not the industry, is king, and will make the difference in which console rules the next generation release. And I tend to agree.

Of course Microsoft better bring more games, I still haven't had the need to pick one up (though Jade Empire may change that...)