That may be true, but apparently so are coffee devices. After a bowl of the yummiest mac & cheese around from Wolfgang Puck Express, we headed over to the Sur La Table to check out some kitcheney stuff. Nestlé has just come out with a new entry to their pod-based espresso machine line, the Nespresso D90:

Nespresso has created a hermetically sealed capsule which contains the precise amount of freshly roasted and ground coffee. All of the coffee aromas are preserved perfectly until the espresso is ready for drinking. Nespresso offers a range of 9 premium coffee blends

[ Nespresso D90 Essenza Metallic Gray Manual Espresso Machine D 90 S ]

As I was hovering around the coffee section, a nice british woman (who just happend to work there) asked if there was anything she could help with. I had to ask if they did taste testing of the Nespresso system. She replied it would be no problem, just let her fetch some pods from the back. Oooo goody, I do love coffee.

Suffice to say the Nespresso system delivers the best coffee I have ever had from any automated coffee system. Their newest machine is only $179 retail, and the pods run about 48 cents a shot. This could truly break me of the Starbucks grip forever. Philips Senseo has dropped me from a 2 Starbucks a day habit to just one, this could drop me to zero.

Metro-city populations are such a fascinating topic. However at the rate the mid-atlatic and northeast US are growing, I think there will soon be a #1 city of Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia-Delaware-Patterson-Newark-New York-Boston area with a population of 41,100,000. And of course it will be known as The Sprawl (eventually extending southward to Atlanta, but I think that will take a while longer...).

This page lists the 101 largest metropolitan areas of the world by population. This is a controversial issue rather difficult to quantify. These figures include suburban areas immediately surrounding a major city and sometimes multiple major cities which may be close enough together to function essentially as one area (e.g. Washington-Baltimore).

[ List of metropolitan areas by population: Information From Answers.com ]

And for me personally the largest metro area in the world that I had never heard of before reading this is Kolkata-Howrah in the Indian state of West Bengal. Apparently the 3 most populous countries that I know very little about are China, India, and Brazil. All of the areas that I'd never heard of reside in these countries. Which also explains how Bengali and Portuguese get so high on the list of spoken languages of the world.

Update: Once I said Kolkata out loud, I realized it is Calcutta. So Tianjin in China is largest city I've never heard of.

Or even better, pay me? Clearly some people have figured out how to do this:

Consumers will be able to purchase the software in the United States for 129 dollars and in Europe for 129 euros.

Jupiter Research analyst Joe Wilcox said Tiger puts Apple ahead of Microsoft in technology for PC operating systems.

[ Apple's "Tiger" aims to take a bite out of Microsoft, "Longhorn" - Yahoo! News ]

Exactly how am I going to run Tiger on my Wintel boxes? Or does Joe think I am ready to sell or dump all of my Windows based infrastructure and buy all apples for everything. This may make Apples increase in sales due to it being a more attractive purchase than previously, but their market share is so tiny that Microsoft won't be worried about Tiger at all.

Linux advocates, however, should be worried...

Certainly I doubt they'll get much retaliation for this:

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

[ Black Eyed Peas Lyrics - Where Is The Love? ]

But you have to wonder if picking a fight with the CIA, Bloods, Crips, and the KKK is the smartest thing to do in an internationally released single.

The strange conversations that Iman and I have in the elevator must amuse our neighbors. Today we've learned the plural of chrysalis:

chrysalis: [ krĭs´ə-lĭs ] n. pl. chrysalises or chrysalides [ krĭ-sǎl´ĭ-dēz' ]

1. A pupa, especially of a moth or butterfly, enclosed in a firm case or cocoon.
2. A protected stage of development.

[Latin chrysallis, from Greek khrusallis, khrusallid-, gold-colored pupa of a butterfly, from khrusos, gold ; see chryso-.]

[ chrysalis - yourDictionary.com - American Heritage Dictionary ]

And reinforced the fact that a chrysalis isn't a cocoon but the stage of development of the critter inside the cocoon.

Before I even read the email telling me to upgrade my Rhapsody, G$ was all over the place telling everyone to upgrade:

Listen to the music you love on-demand, with the #1 rated digital music service, Rhapsody Unlimited. Rhapsody's ever-growing catalog of over 1 million songs comprises one of the largest collections of music anywhere. Play today’s hottest hits, find yesterday’s classics, and discover the new artists you'll love tomorrow. Just find the songs you want and hit 'Play', it's that easy

[ Rhapsody.com - Music Services ]

Why? 'cause it's hot!

That's hot.

[ Paris Hilton ]

And I agree. Better player, better quality sound, larger library, new free subscription, new to go subscription, now allows your local library and the Rhapsody library to combine, new personalized offering, and just plain cooler. Though I do keep blocking out the fact that they're owned by the evil empire.

I like to check out websites for upcoming games, and games I'm playing. Mostly I go looking for wallpapers to rotate across my desktop (I have dozens of dozens). What I don't understand is when such a good looking game has such a crappy website. If they can't hire a company to build a website to their standards, perhaps they have no standards and their game sucks...

Witness the crap that is:

Dive In

[ Psychonauts ]

Enter

[ Resident Evil 4]

Should I let the sites influence my opinion of the games? Sure I know that the website was probably built by some other company, and I know all the reasons that crappy websites get made, but I still can't stop these sites from making me think twice.

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...)

"What did he do to deserve that?" - Henri after being informed that it was indeed Eisenhower on the dime:

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), American soldier and politician, was the 34th President of the United States (1953–1961) and supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, with the rank of General of the Army.

[ Dwight D. Eisenhower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

Odd that keepting the Nazis from taking over the world just isn't enough, in Henri's eyes...

Finally the Tablet PC is becoming what I envisioned. I have no need for a keyboard that I have to lug around. If I want a keyboard, I should just plug in a USB one, or use a standard bluetooth keyboard. I can have one on my docking station, and if I need one elsewhere, get a compact keyboard or something and lug it. I want my tablet to be as close to a pad of paper as possible, it's just more natural for me that way.

The next generation Tablet PC from HP, the HP Compaq Tablet PC tc1100, is loaded with new features for mobile professionals who are always on the run! Whether you're working in the office or on-site with a customer, the new tablet offers significant enhanced features.

[ HP Compaq Tablet PC tc1100 Product Details ]

Throw a copy of Denim on there, and think of the productivity levels during brain storming sessions...

Props to Dari for remembering Denim...

As the market grows, it provides room for more "winners":

Nintendo has updated their net profit figures. ‘Net income was about 82 billion yen ($760 million) for the year ended March 31, compared with 33.2 billion yen’ last year. Their original forcast [sic] for this year was 70 billion yen, so it looks like they did even better than they were expecting.

[ 4 color rebellion Nintendo Doomed! ]

When people ask me how much longer Nintendo will be able to compete, I am stumped. No one asks how much longer RC Cola will be around, or Burger King. Isn't there room for 3 consoles? And if not, lets get rid of that crappy Sony console, The only thing that anyone seems to like about it is the controllers, and they have stolen technology in them...

Props to G$ for pointing out this clever website:

Musipedia uses the "Melodyhound" melody search engine. You can find and identify a tune even if the melody is all you know. You can whistle or sing it to the computer or directly use the Parsons code. To "name that tune", you don't need to know the key signature, exact rhythm, or intervals.

[ Musipedia: The Open Music Encyclopedia ]

Apparently another idea that struck him at some point, only to find out that people had built it already. If only I had a mic on my work PC to check out the WoSII (whistle or sing it interface).

So your friend sent you a story that you just can't believe, but wait it's 4/1/2005, a quick check of Wikipedia:

April 1, 2005
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[ April 1, 2005 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

And you discover it is in fact not a hoax at all! Or it is, depending, oh just go to the site...

PR about Googles new offering:

Think a DNA scanner embedded in the lip of your bottle reading all 3 gigabytes of your base pair genetic data in a fraction of a second, fine-tuning your individual hormonal cocktail in real time using our patented Auto-Drink™ technology, and slamming a truckload of electrolytic neurotransmitter smart-drug stimulants past the blood-brain barrier to achieve maximum optimization of your soon-to-be-grateful cerebral cortex.

[ Google Gulp ]

If you need a used cap, let me know I've got 3 more left.

Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

Update on the famous sex.com case hit Yahoo! News via USA Today today:

The case has served as a cautionary tale. Cohen, 57, who built a cyberporn empire in the late 1990s based on the Sex.com name, vows to clear his name. Kremen, 41, a boy wonder of e-commerce in the early 1990s, has bankrolled a phalanx of lawyers and private detectives in the hope of hunting down Cohen and collecting his judgment.

[ Yahoo! News - Appeals court upholds Sex.com ruling ]

Interesting that the story focuses more on the personalities than the legal precedent that this sets, but I had to chuckle when I get to the bottom of the story and see the "context sensitive" advertisement:

Oh peoplefinders.com, usa-people-search.com, and findpeopletoday.com; if it were only that easy...