mum is funny

I'm thinking about getting a dog and was flipping through Flickr images to see what types of pups people had etc. I found this cute white dog:





By Flickr Member: anamaria.



Which gets me thinking that maybe a doggie like this one, similar to Biz's dog, Maggie, would be a good choice. So I bring my mum over, and she says:



"I love westies. They're my favorite. You could get a scottie and a westie. Then you'd be a scotch and whiskey couple!"



Hahahahah. My mom making jokes about drinking liquor!



From: Angelfire.com

tsunami pictures

Before, during and after...









Images from DigitalGlobe's QuickBird satellite of the coast of Sri Lanka at precisely the time the tidal wave hit the beaches. Apparently, it was pure coincidence.

via MetaFilter.

Tsunami

I've been in a slight state of shock w/r/t the Tsunami in SE Asia -- - We have family in Madras (that we think are OK, but haven't heard from) and I've been there on multiple occasions... so this is hitting closer to home for me than i expected. I feel both disengaged -- as if i am an observer -- but connected through past experience and family ties. Below are a few things i've been thinking about:



Images: Everything i've seen has just been crazy. Nature is one hell of a beast.



Communication: I remember the MONTHS of discussions Palo Alto had regarding the alert system for flooding after the small floods we expereinced in 1998. In comparison, many of the people in SE Asia had NO idea that a tsunami was coming. The lack of communication, of any type of warning, is truly alarming.



Blogging: I find that bloggers are my best source of images and on-the-ground analysis of what's happening.



Aid: The US is *stingy* -- the fact that president Bush has taken 3 days to respond is ridiculous. An initial $15 MM in Aid is so small -- given what we can provide as a country -- is just amazing to me. This is the time when we as a -- perhaps the -- world leader need to do the right thing. We should be giving hundreds of millions of dollars and flying our best people to these devasted areas immediately. We should help structure not only immediate relief but plans to rebuild these communities.



Amazon. They created a splash page to donate money to relief efforts. I just checked and they are almost at $1 MM. amazing.

shwinks

I had dinner tonight at La Bodeguita with my friends Alexia, Dulcy & Pat. It was such fun to hang with the girls. We talked about everything from laser hair removal (a must for modern women) to the perils of dating to good shoes and good wine. Nights like these -- deep conversation, laughter at every moment -- are just impossible to replicate and make me miss my friends so much. Friendship is so precious.



This trip has just been chock-full of warm fuzzies. Had a wonderful breakfast this morning with Amit -- we had a good conversation about how to create happiness. Saw JB this afternoon. Talked to Brooke last night and caught up with her and her new life as a mom. Tomorrow I'll get in some time with the boys -- lunch with nico and riyad, dinner with kyle...and then the week continues...



I really am so lucky.

15 is the new 20.

JB and i went to dinner tonight at Osteria. It was a good dinner, nice wine and hearty food -- which we needed to battle the cold, wet california weather. At the end of dinner, we got the bill and discussed the tip. JB decided that we should tip 15%. Lately, like many people, I've been tipping 20% on average.... but after some discussion, we agreed - that 5% hasn't brought an a notably improved level of service and with the price of food increasing, thus the bill increasing, thus the tip in actual $ increasing, there isn't a need to go to 20%. So there, we're decided, 15 is the new 20. I am sure I will be getting flames on this one, Jeeves.



Update: An article on holiday tipping. very useful.

lefties

hmmm.....

"While there is no suggestion that left-handed people are more violent than the right-handed, it looks as though they are more successfully violent. Perhaps that helps to explain the double meaning of the word "sinister"."



From an article in the Economist....

(thanks to Kottke for the tip.)

podcasting

i'm really liking Coverville. sometimes the commentary is a bit wearisome, but the music is fun and it is a nice variety to listen to at work. His voice his melodic enough that you can ignore it.

iPodderX rocks.