Today at work I received an e-mail from out IT department warning us about the confiker virus. It didn't really give any good solutions, it just warned the staff about how it is slated to be activated tomorrow (April 1).
I have a few problems with that. Mainly that it is their job to make this a non-issue, how would a client respond if I were to tell them "that system I designed for you, it won't work at all" and walk off?
It seems the the number of "warnings" I get about viruses is second only to stupid jokes when it comes to stupid mass e-mails. Most give dire warning about how it will melt my hard drive, steal my credit card number and kidnap my children, so I should send this e-mail to everyone I know. I find them funny, as it highlights the computer illiterate around me.
So make sure you don't have this evil virus, I hear that it will steal your kidneys in your sleep and eat your dog.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
IC's drinking problem (part 2)
After writing yesterday's post, I ended up having a long conversation about the scope and the root of the drinking culture in Iowa City. In addition we discussed possible solutions and the possible unintended consequences of those solutions.
I know my audience base isn't very large (in fact I feel the majority of my readers were included in the discussion yesterday) however I am interested in turning this into a larger conversation.
I know my audience base isn't very large (in fact I feel the majority of my readers were included in the discussion yesterday) however I am interested in turning this into a larger conversation.
- What are possible ways to reduce the amount of alcohol imbibed in Iowa City (in the next year or two)?
- What are possible ways to reduce the issues caused by the drinking culture in Iowa City?
- What should bar owners/operators be responsible for? What shouldn't they be held responsible for?
- What state/national regulations would prevent taxing served drinks in Iowa City?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
IC's drinking problem
I recently came across this article and was taken by this quote, "Most assaults occur at night and often involve people who have been drinking."
My response in one word, "Duh." The relationship between Iowa City and the drinking establishments is an interesting one. Having grown up in Iowa City I am well aware of this. There were bars that would serve me and my friends drinks when we were sixteen (and don't claim they thought we were older, we were sixteen.) Furthermore, there are several bars that I frequented up until I turned 21, once I had reached that age, I suddenly felt like I was the oldest person in the bar.
But while Iowa City wants to appear to be taking on under age, and binge drinking, they can't crack down on it too much, as I'm sure that the availability of alcohol has a very positive effect on undergrad enrollment at the University of Iowa. I would be interested in hearing if more people enrolled at the University because they had a football team, or because they got really drunk (or saw really drunk people) on a college visit.
The price to the city is obvious, increased crime rates, mainly assaults, but more frequently something stranger, causes a need for more police. This price is currently paid by the home owners in the city who, in turn, blame the University. As the previous article shows, it's not always university students, the bars in Iowa City have become such a draw that it is often people from out of town who show up to enjoy a night of sin in the city.
One solution I would be interested in seeing the City Council look at would be a taxation on all alcoholic drinks served in a bar or restaurant. While I'm sure there are state laws preventing this (which were probably pushed by the alcohol distributors,) many cities have high taxes on hotel rooms and rental cars, the only difference is those cities have convention centers, Iowa City has bars.
By taxing served drinks, the city would not only raise money directly from the thing that causes them to spend it, but it might actually encourage people to drink less. Unfortunately, as we saw with the previous 21 and over ballot initiative, serving alcohol is a lucrative business, and the bar owners in Iowa City realize where their money comes from and are willing to spend handsomely to prevent the city from taking action to try and curb some of the problems it cause.
Even though I no longer live in Iowa City, it's still my home town, and every time I read an article about stupid drunk people doing stupid drunk things, I'm reminded of something my brother said, "I shouldn't be afraid to take my three year old daughter downtown at two in the afternoon, just because it's a game day." And therein lies the question, what does downtown Iowa City exist for? The people who live in the city, or the bar owners?
My response in one word, "Duh." The relationship between Iowa City and the drinking establishments is an interesting one. Having grown up in Iowa City I am well aware of this. There were bars that would serve me and my friends drinks when we were sixteen (and don't claim they thought we were older, we were sixteen.) Furthermore, there are several bars that I frequented up until I turned 21, once I had reached that age, I suddenly felt like I was the oldest person in the bar.
But while Iowa City wants to appear to be taking on under age, and binge drinking, they can't crack down on it too much, as I'm sure that the availability of alcohol has a very positive effect on undergrad enrollment at the University of Iowa. I would be interested in hearing if more people enrolled at the University because they had a football team, or because they got really drunk (or saw really drunk people) on a college visit.
The price to the city is obvious, increased crime rates, mainly assaults, but more frequently something stranger, causes a need for more police. This price is currently paid by the home owners in the city who, in turn, blame the University. As the previous article shows, it's not always university students, the bars in Iowa City have become such a draw that it is often people from out of town who show up to enjoy a night of sin in the city.
One solution I would be interested in seeing the City Council look at would be a taxation on all alcoholic drinks served in a bar or restaurant. While I'm sure there are state laws preventing this (which were probably pushed by the alcohol distributors,) many cities have high taxes on hotel rooms and rental cars, the only difference is those cities have convention centers, Iowa City has bars.
By taxing served drinks, the city would not only raise money directly from the thing that causes them to spend it, but it might actually encourage people to drink less. Unfortunately, as we saw with the previous 21 and over ballot initiative, serving alcohol is a lucrative business, and the bar owners in Iowa City realize where their money comes from and are willing to spend handsomely to prevent the city from taking action to try and curb some of the problems it cause.
Even though I no longer live in Iowa City, it's still my home town, and every time I read an article about stupid drunk people doing stupid drunk things, I'm reminded of something my brother said, "I shouldn't be afraid to take my three year old daughter downtown at two in the afternoon, just because it's a game day." And therein lies the question, what does downtown Iowa City exist for? The people who live in the city, or the bar owners?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The blind LEEDing the more blind
I recently started the documentation portion of my first project which is going for LEED certification (it's going for silver, but time will tell). My first impression is exactly what I have always assumed about LEED, it takes a lot of extra time and money to get a fancy plaque in the lobby of the building.
Did I say money, oh yes, it takes a lot of cash. The current estimates are that going for a LEED certification will add 5 to 10 percent of cost onto a project. And that's just for the project, take a look at the this link and click on "brochure" to realize that the USGBC (the organization behind LEED) is charging people 75 cents for a brochure about why their system is so great. They're charging you for a sales tool to try and convince your customers to give the USGBC more money, so that they can "earn" the right to buy a plaque (that's right, even after paying thousands of dollars to register and submit all of the documents you still have to pay for the plaque) and have their building listed on the USGBC website.
I'm all for sustainable design, lessening our environmental impact, being environmentally conscious as well as the myriad of terms people like to gloss over by saying "green." However, if the only reason you want to do those things is so you can brag about it, you seem to have missed the point.
Did I say money, oh yes, it takes a lot of cash. The current estimates are that going for a LEED certification will add 5 to 10 percent of cost onto a project. And that's just for the project, take a look at the this link and click on "brochure" to realize that the USGBC (the organization behind LEED) is charging people 75 cents for a brochure about why their system is so great. They're charging you for a sales tool to try and convince your customers to give the USGBC more money, so that they can "earn" the right to buy a plaque (that's right, even after paying thousands of dollars to register and submit all of the documents you still have to pay for the plaque) and have their building listed on the USGBC website.
I'm all for sustainable design, lessening our environmental impact, being environmentally conscious as well as the myriad of terms people like to gloss over by saying "green." However, if the only reason you want to do those things is so you can brag about it, you seem to have missed the point.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
St. Patrick's Day
Every year for St. Patrick's Day, I am confused by it. I understand that there were a lot of Irish immigrants to this country, they worked hard in crumby jobs and laid the groundwork for many of the luxuries we now have, and they entered this country enough time ago that we have forgotten that being a drunk Irishman used to be an ethnic stereotype and not a basis for cute t-shirt slogans.
The t-shirts really put an exclamation point on the fact that this holiday is not about celebrating one's Irish heritage as much of an excuse to wear stupid costumes and drink too much starting much too early in the morning (I would point you towards the bottom of the list, are drink specials at 8 am really necessary?). I would also like to point out at this time, that making excuses to get drunk is a calling card of an alcoholic, how would you respond if a relative/friend started getting drunk at 8 in the morning on any other saint's day?
I must tread carefully on this subject because I am not Irish, and I wouldn't want to be accused of being racist by some drunk idiot who thinks his 1/16th Irishness needs to be defended at all costs. But I do feel that it is reasonable that the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations should include more of this and less of this.
I must tread carefully on this subject because I am not Irish, and I wouldn't want to be accused of being racist by some drunk idiot who thinks his 1/16th Irishness needs to be defended at all costs. But I do feel that it is reasonable that the annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations should include more of this and less of this.
And if your city does not have a group of people so proud of their Irish heritage that they practice Irish dancing, or wear kilts and play bagpipes, maybe we should question that said city's need for a parade.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Oh Crap!
A real blog has linked to my blog. I should really have something worthwhile to read...
When I started this blog, I promised myself I wouldn't write about food. I made this promise for one simple reason, I didn't really expect anyone outside of my family to read it, and if they wanted to read, they could read a food blog written by a real journalist (and the best new food writer). Oh well, it didn't take long for me to break that promise.
For a St. Patrick's Day potluck at work, I made candy potatoes. The recipe sounds easy enough, but that is what candy recipes do, they lull you into a false sense of security with their minimal ingredients, and their short, simple sounds instructions.
Anyone who has tried to make candy realizes that the only reason that the instructions sounds easy is because it either works with a fantastic outcome, or you fail and end up with a pound of burnt sugar cemented into the bottom of your pan. I am about 50/50 on the different outcomes, mainly because I don't try the more difficult candies very often (caramel and toffee, compared to the more difficult fudge).
I tried a test batch on Saturday, it turned out like I thought it would, a mess. It seemed to grain up much too fast resulting in half of the mixture turning to a sugary/sandy concoction, and the other half cemented to the bottom of the pot (not burnt, but cemented none the less).
Tonight I tried my second batch (early enough to initiate plan B,) but it actually turned out. The candy seems to taste alright and there is minimal burnt sugar chunks in it.
I would like to say/warn that the step "Beat syrup until creamy." is the biggest misstatement you can have in a in a recipe. The concoction is neither a syrup nor beatable. It resembles a quickly setting glue or (I have already said it too many times) cement. And while I might not have a problem acting out this instruction if I were Lincoln Hawk in "Over the Top" or if my job comprised of more arm curls and less sitting at a computer. Neither one of these is true so it turned out to be the biggest test of strength since the rope climb in elementary gym class.
Luckily with a few minutes of stirring the candy began to set and I began forming potatoes wildly. Once you roll the things in Cinnamon they actually look like something that resembles a potato. We'll see if I can convince my co-workers they aren't animal turds tomorrow.
When I started this blog, I promised myself I wouldn't write about food. I made this promise for one simple reason, I didn't really expect anyone outside of my family to read it, and if they wanted to read, they could read a food blog written by a real journalist (and the best new food writer). Oh well, it didn't take long for me to break that promise.
For a St. Patrick's Day potluck at work, I made candy potatoes. The recipe sounds easy enough, but that is what candy recipes do, they lull you into a false sense of security with their minimal ingredients, and their short, simple sounds instructions.
Anyone who has tried to make candy realizes that the only reason that the instructions sounds easy is because it either works with a fantastic outcome, or you fail and end up with a pound of burnt sugar cemented into the bottom of your pan. I am about 50/50 on the different outcomes, mainly because I don't try the more difficult candies very often (caramel and toffee, compared to the more difficult fudge).
I tried a test batch on Saturday, it turned out like I thought it would, a mess. It seemed to grain up much too fast resulting in half of the mixture turning to a sugary/sandy concoction, and the other half cemented to the bottom of the pot (not burnt, but cemented none the less).
Tonight I tried my second batch (early enough to initiate plan B,) but it actually turned out. The candy seems to taste alright and there is minimal burnt sugar chunks in it.
I would like to say/warn that the step "Beat syrup until creamy." is the biggest misstatement you can have in a in a recipe. The concoction is neither a syrup nor beatable. It resembles a quickly setting glue or (I have already said it too many times) cement. And while I might not have a problem acting out this instruction if I were Lincoln Hawk in "Over the Top" or if my job comprised of more arm curls and less sitting at a computer. Neither one of these is true so it turned out to be the biggest test of strength since the rope climb in elementary gym class.
Luckily with a few minutes of stirring the candy began to set and I began forming potatoes wildly. Once you roll the things in Cinnamon they actually look like something that resembles a potato. We'll see if I can convince my co-workers they aren't animal turds tomorrow.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Stupid people are stupide (and other revelations)
Although I claimed that I wanted to finish my previous post, I have yet to do so. I mostly have been busy with work and Canstruction.
"What is Canstruction?" you might ask.
Most people would tell you that it is an event where design firms compete to build the coolest structure out of cans as a means to compete and raise a lot of food for local food banks. And the photos would lead you to think that was all there was.
I, on the other hand, would tell you canstruction is really about. I would tell you that it is an annual event that causes people to seek control of the group without really wanting to actually be responsible for anything, thus causing a power mobius strip.
Either way, you should come out and see the creations (and ours if our team hasn't fractured by that point). Put it on your calendars;
Saturday, April, 18th
At Sycamore Mall.
Show up at 11 am and vote for the sinking ship!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Life, Death and Marshes
The weather predictions for Saturday turned out to be correct, fog and mist, turning into rain and thunder, so I didn't really want to go for a bicycle ride. I prefer to think of bicycling as something I do for fun, not for the health benefits or competition, and limiting my bicycling to good weather goes very far in keeping it that way.
Although the weathered turned out to not be conducive for bicycling, I have lived in Iowa too long to not take advantage of any day in March where the weather isn't completely inhospitable. So I pulled out my trusty Sportsman's Atlas to weigh the options I had for local nature areas I could go to. I'm fairly familiar with the nature areas in the area, but it never hurts to look at a map, and sometimes you see a destination that you wouldn't have thought about otherwise.
That was the case today, after glancing at my map, I realized that I hadn't been out to Palo Marsh since before the flood. Being a marsh to begin with, I assumed that it had been pretty waterlogged during June of '08, and I was interested in seeing how it had fared.
Being a marsh, it is generally very marshy, and the rain over the last 12 hours didn't really help dry it out much. To make this nature foray even more uplifting, the marsh was decked out in the finest grays and browns an Iowa winter has to offer.
I was first greeted by a set of muddy ruts (actually the second greeting, my first greeting was a sign warning me about the possibility of drunk idiot with shotguns). Luckily it was only the path that was a muddy, boggy, mess. The rest of the area was simply wet and muddy.
(Author's note: I have to apologize to the two readers I have, I put off finishing this article too long and now have lost the train of thought. I am still learning this whole blogging thing, and this is the best lesson yet. Hopefully I will be struck by creativity again soon and actually write a conclusion to this post.)
(Author's second note: Who knew that shotgun shells came in so many colors?)
Although the weathered turned out to not be conducive for bicycling, I have lived in Iowa too long to not take advantage of any day in March where the weather isn't completely inhospitable. So I pulled out my trusty Sportsman's Atlas to weigh the options I had for local nature areas I could go to. I'm fairly familiar with the nature areas in the area, but it never hurts to look at a map, and sometimes you see a destination that you wouldn't have thought about otherwise.
That was the case today, after glancing at my map, I realized that I hadn't been out to Palo Marsh since before the flood. Being a marsh to begin with, I assumed that it had been pretty waterlogged during June of '08, and I was interested in seeing how it had fared.
Being a marsh, it is generally very marshy, and the rain over the last 12 hours didn't really help dry it out much. To make this nature foray even more uplifting, the marsh was decked out in the finest grays and browns an Iowa winter has to offer.I was first greeted by a set of muddy ruts (actually the second greeting, my first greeting was a sign warning me about the possibility of drunk idiot with shotguns). Luckily it was only the path that was a muddy, boggy, mess. The rest of the area was simply wet and muddy.
(Author's note: I have to apologize to the two readers I have, I put off finishing this article too long and now have lost the train of thought. I am still learning this whole blogging thing, and this is the best lesson yet. Hopefully I will be struck by creativity again soon and actually write a conclusion to this post.)
(Author's second note: Who knew that shotgun shells came in so many colors?)
Friday, March 6, 2009
Font junkies, move over
Recently I have started watching the AMC show Mad Men. I know, I'm only a year or two behind everyone. Having missed a lot of the buzz for this show, all I know is that everyone was amazed by it's historical accuracy.
The characters dress correctly for '62, they act correctly for '61 and most importantly, they smoke the type and quantity of cigarettes correct for '62. In fact, the only historical criticism I can find about the show is the font used for the closing titles.
I only made it a few minutes into the first episode before I was hit by the amazing realization, thousands of font junkies have been focused on what I think is a stupid inaccuracy, while missing a much more glaring one. Every space in the ad agency has been decorated using 2'x2' lay-in acoustical ceiling tiles (ACT). Look at this link again and notice the ceiling through the doorway.
Not only is a 2'x2' ACT system a fairly new design (they used to all be 2'x4', think about your elementary/middle/high school) but the use of ACT ceilings in such a space is questionable. Unfortunately my extensive research (read: googling) turned up nothing about the history of ACTs or their use. But the only buildings from that era I have seen ACT used in were buildings concerned about costs (once again, mainly schools,) and I can't imagine a powerful Madison Avenue ad agency being concerned about the construction costs of their office.
I'm sure if you're a font junkie you'll think that my fascination with the ceiling tiles is as stupid as I feel about your fascination about fonts. But understand, while you spend a lot of time staring at fonts and fussing about fonts, I spend a lot of time staring at ceilings and fussing with ceiling layouts. So really, why could you blame me.
(This is my first post, so I appologize for the many gramatical errors contained within, one of the many reasons for starting a blog was so I could improve my writting. Bare with me and I might eventually produce something interesting and easy to read)
The characters dress correctly for '62, they act correctly for '61 and most importantly, they smoke the type and quantity of cigarettes correct for '62. In fact, the only historical criticism I can find about the show is the font used for the closing titles.
I only made it a few minutes into the first episode before I was hit by the amazing realization, thousands of font junkies have been focused on what I think is a stupid inaccuracy, while missing a much more glaring one. Every space in the ad agency has been decorated using 2'x2' lay-in acoustical ceiling tiles (ACT). Look at this link again and notice the ceiling through the doorway.
Not only is a 2'x2' ACT system a fairly new design (they used to all be 2'x4', think about your elementary/middle/high school) but the use of ACT ceilings in such a space is questionable. Unfortunately my extensive research (read: googling) turned up nothing about the history of ACTs or their use. But the only buildings from that era I have seen ACT used in were buildings concerned about costs (once again, mainly schools,) and I can't imagine a powerful Madison Avenue ad agency being concerned about the construction costs of their office.
I'm sure if you're a font junkie you'll think that my fascination with the ceiling tiles is as stupid as I feel about your fascination about fonts. But understand, while you spend a lot of time staring at fonts and fussing about fonts, I spend a lot of time staring at ceilings and fussing with ceiling layouts. So really, why could you blame me.
(This is my first post, so I appologize for the many gramatical errors contained within, one of the many reasons for starting a blog was so I could improve my writting. Bare with me and I might eventually produce something interesting and easy to read)
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