Quote from Helvetica

As a type geek took me longer than I’d like to admit to catch Helvetica (the movie), but there was definitely one quote by Lars Müller about the quaint ubiquity of the modern world’s “default” typeface that stuck with me: “What I like is that this very serious typeface tells you the dos and don’ts [...]

Help Veronica and me stay caffeinated, recommend a machine

Usually Veronica and I usually just head to one of the 38 cafés in our neighborhood to get some coffee, but after a while the mediocre baristas just can’t stack up to the Rituals and the Blue Bottles, which are just out of reach for the daily routine. So we’re about this close to picking [...]

H&R Block’s TaxCut is a scam

Did you know that when you pay money for H&R Block’s TaxCut software you’re only able to use it for one filing season, despite its built-in ability to download the latest forms and recognize the latest regulations for federal and state filing laws? I sure didn’t — and H&R Block doesn’t make that clear anywhere [...]

CNET layoffs aren’t foreboding

As you might’ve read, yesterday CNET (internally) announced 120 layoffs across the board, including some well-respected tech writers you may have read. Naturally this is a pretty big bummer (and any CNET eds looking for a gig, feel free to hit me up!), but it’s also important to realize that, strangely enough, CNET isn’t really [...]

Clear through security?

I tend to travel quite a bit, so Veronica got me thinking about enrolling in Clear, a “fast lane” for frequent fliers that supposedly lets the registered and approved breeze through airport security in mere minutes. The Clear security machines are only present at a few airports, and from what I can tell, you’re charged [...]

Rolling resolutions

I’m not really too into the whole new year’s thing, but there are a few rolling resolutions I’ve been after:

Up my number of total vacation days taken. Been getting better about this, but really looking forward to this year.
Travel less. Yes, less. Spend more time in the bay area.
Get that gamerscore up past 5k. Totally [...]

Portal: game of the year. Blocks: protagonist of the century.

As a Block, you’ve no idea the amount of joy it brings me to see the humble cube finally get its comeuppance. Not only does Portal make stars of the simple and six-sided, but now Joystiq has shown its proper appreciation by awarding it Game of the Year. It had some stiff competition from such [...]

Let’s get with the program and abolish HMOs for good

Not that there is any dearth of reasons these days, but the Sarkisyan story makes me ashamed in my country. And the sad thing is people being injured or dying because of HMOs isn’t even that uncommon — and yet we all put up with it because for so many that’s all we know. Even [...]

Good vibes to the Orchant family

Sending good vibes to the Orchant family, who today suffered the loss of former WIN editor Marc. I never really knew Marc, but as a colleague, father, friend, technologist, and all around good person, he’ll be remembered very fondly.
On a somewhat related note, December 6th was the anniversary of James Kim’s death.
I never really have [...]