My reaction takes about a second in the two and a half minute segment, but it is me on TV, so I gotta point to it (hi Mom):

CBS5 San Francisco: Group Looks to Ban Hot Dogs in California Schools

My longer, more thoughtful reaction would be that getting quality food into school cafeterias is a hard problem, because there’s a lot of political issues in play, including funding, contracts, and so on. But the discussion is not helped by the radical vegetarian group PETA, who is hiding behind the scary “cancer” word, and a scientific study they helped sponsor but which does not reveal their affiliation.

I think lunch today will be a nice chili dog at Rosamunde!

Although individual applications are mostly $10 or less, buying a bunch of them adds up. Since everything is so new, there’s not a lot of reviews, so I thought I’d share some thoughts on some of the applications I like.

I’ve downloaded and tested the following applications:

Games

• Bejeweled 2 — What a terrific game. Stands head-and-shoulders above the (free) web-based version I’ve been playing for the last year, in game play, sound effects, graphics quality. Well worth the $10. My only complaint: it takes over sound output, so I can’t play when listening to my own audio. So I still play the web-based version when I’m listening to audiobooks. I’d love a mute option, so I could stick with the native version at all times.
• Morocco — Reversi / Othello, and free. Nicely done, and you can’t beat the price.
• Muddled — This is a neat word game, and for $2 a great deal. You can think of it as speed training for Scrabble or Boggle, but it’s a good game in and of itself. A few interface quirks, where moving the letter tiles can be awkward or get stuck, but this is minor, and probably easily fixed in an update.
• Quordy — Kind of a Boggle clone, but it makes outstanding use of the touchscreen, to make selecting a word incredibly simple. Great use of the iPhone’s features, and $3 is a nice price.
• Scrabble — I consider Scrabble an all-time classic game, and having it in my pocket was a no-brainer, especially for only $10. I managed to beat the computer my first game, but just barely. Nicely implemented on the small touch screen. I look forward to testing multi-person play.
• Solebon Solitaire — Smallware has been making challenging solitaire games for the Mac and Palm for many years, and their attention to detail is spectacular. This is not a flashy game, with lot of custom card designs, flashy animations, etc. The focus is on highly readable cards, interesting games, and graceful game play. If you want a mindless card game, this is not it. The solitaire variations available are “hard,” which means that you don’t have to get lucky with the shuffle of the cards; with thought you can win most games. Challenging, interesting, deep. I chose this game because I love one of Smallware’s other solitaire games, Solavant for Mac. There are a lot of solitaire options in the App Store; I don’t know about the others, but this one is worth the $10.
• Texas Hold’em — For the production value, this may be the best deal in a game in the App Store. Apple has clearly set the price low ($5) with the expectation that they’ll make their money on volume. It’s a very well made game, with great graphics, video of opponents with lots of variations, and thoughtful interface touches for the iPhone touchscreen, like double-tapping to check, flicking your cards to the dealer to fold, and flicking your chips to go all in.

There seem to be a couple of games with lots of competing versions on the App Store. As noted, solitaire is one of them, and since there are no trial versions available, I’ve only tried Solebon. That was an easy decision, since I knew I could count on Smallware’s quality and game play.

There are a bunch of casino-style games, like blackjack and video poker, in which I have no interest. Lots of Sudoku, again no interest. And there are a bunch of Mahjong versions, in which I am interested; I’m looking forward to a review of the options, since trying them all would be a bit pricey.

Other

• Evernote — Evernote is an interesting service that I am still trying to figure out how to integrate into my information collection and management practices. But one thing about it leapt out at me: the application is free, and takes voice recordings. Most of the other recorder applications cost money. That makes ought to make Evernote a no-brainer. Update: Other reports of Evernote are less kind, and it does seem problematic at the moment. Hopefully updates will fix the issues.
• Mobile News Network — Their web-based version was a great example of how to make a great iPhone web application. This native version, also free, is even better. Currently the best general news reading application for the iPhone, IMHO.
• Things — An early version of a promising tasks manager. The developer is offering a steep discount (50% or so) right now, in recognition that some critical features, like desktop syncing, are not yet there. Those will come in a free update, when they are completed. If you have faith in the vendor and don’t mind waiting for missing features, $10 is probably the lowest price this app will ever see.
• Twitterific — I’m currently using the free version, since I have yet to really “get” Twitter. I think it will evolve into something really interesting, but right now it interrupts me more than it helps or entertains me.

iPhone 3G Thoughts

While the vast majority of the improvements in the iPhone come through the software, and thus work on my original iPhone, I’m planning on getting an iPhone 3G for a couple reasons. One, I have definitely found the speed of data access on the EDGE (2G) network to be limiting, especially with Maps. And looking up who-starred-in-what-movie to settle drinking discussions takes way too long. The faster data rate of 3G will get used.

Two, I want the location services of GPS. The simulated GPS in the original iPhone works pretty well, but adding true GPS makes it better, more accurate and in more places. A lot of the third-party iPhone applications already take advantage of knowing your location, but this is only getting started. Location-based services are going to be huge.

Finally, I learned today that phone calls go directly to voicemail if you’re using the EDGE data network, i.e., surfing the web, checking email, etc. This would explain a lot of the voicemails that appear on my phone, when the phone never rang. The 3G network does away with this limitation.

Want crime reports for your neighborhood? Got ‘em. Want restaurant inspection reports? Got ‘em. Want reviews of local establishments on Yelp? Got ‘em. They compile standard news outlets, public records, other local sites, and even geo-tagged Flickr photos.

Go to the site, type in your street address, and then spend the next hour (or more) browsing the different pieces of information available. This is seriously interesting. I think in the long run it’ll be as influential as craigslist.

(I have no affiliation with EveryBlock, I just figure that everyone has an interest in what’s happening in their neighborhood, and this looks like a compelling way to find out.)

I spent a bit of time creating a flyer to advertise them, and packed up a kit with stapler, tape, marker, etc., so that I could put them up in good places. Then I drove 45 minutes to the Computer History Museum, where the festival was taking place.

The second person who saw the flyer said, “OK, I’ll take them.” I hadn’t even posted it yet! After 10 minutes of transferring from my car to his truck, the BeBoxes had a new home, and better prospects for being refurbished and restored to their former, if not glory, at least functionality.

Rochelle hasn’t stopped smiling since I got back with an empty car. And I have to admit, with the CRAP efforts we’ve made in the last two months, it seems like we might recover the use of our third bedroom before the end of the year. That will make us both smile!

“I haven’t seen you in class recently, given up the gym?”

“Yes. Vodka is the new Spinning.”

(Spinning is a form of exercise, usually very high intensity.)

A couple weeks ago a comment defending Thunderbird came in on the post. I started to respond in another comment, but because the attitude expressed by the commentor is so prevalent in software, I wanted to respond more publicly.

Here’s the meat of the comment (or read in full):

The problem with virus checking in Thunderbird is actually not Thunderbird. It the strategy you are using to scan for email viruses. […] If your antivirus program doesn’t have a function to scan email as it’s downloaded and prior to hitting your inbox, get a real antivirus solution that does. Let’s not be bad mouthing Thunderbird for something you are not doing appropriately in the situation you have.

Well, at the simplest level, this is correct, it’s really just a matter of configuration. But on other levels this philosophy — that the features are there to solve the problem, the user just needs to find and configure them — is not a very customer-friendly one. You could argue that it’s the opposite. There are very few people out there looking to buy “anti-virus software with an email proxy or plug-in to scan incoming emails.” They just want “safe, virus-free email.” By itself, Thunderbird still does not provide this.

And, in spite of 2½ years passing since I wrote the original post, the software and the web site still do not provide any useful information about how to achieve “safe email.” The only official information about anti-virus protection I found today is the FAQ Is Thunderbird susceptible to e-mail viruses?, which still has the same essentially useless information I noted 2½ years ago. On a very real level, the level at which most people will experience the product, getting “safe email” with Thunderbird is a challenge that most people will not be able to meet.

A person can say “don’t bad mouth Thunderbird,” but what they’re really saying is “people who aren’t smart enough to figure out this Thunderbird + anti-virus stuff for themselves should use something else.” I wonder what the response would be if the Thunderbird project posted those words on their web site, instead of the useless words in the FAQ?

Final note: Rochelle’s solution to the dilemma was to switch to Gmail. Works great, and virus-free.

And there I am, directly beneath the wristwatch on the pouring arm.

This is our third major news article having to do with obsessions with food and drink. Not sure what says about us, except hopefully we’re fun to be around…

Once again we had no breakage or theft, in spite of packing everything in our suitcases (because of the War On Moisture), including two bottles that cost more than $100 each…

In addition to stories and so on, he’s also got recipes and histories of favorite cocktails. While I’d certainly make a different choice for tequila than he does, the recipes all sound interesting, especially the Richmond Gimlet and the Brisa, both his own creations. Recommended reading.

I have written previously, in Tequila 101 and Everything you need to know about ordering tequila, some basic facts about tequila; what follows here is more opinion and personal preference. You can read the prior articles for background, or simply go with this summary: always look for and verify that your tequila says “100% agave” on the label. If it does not say that, it’s not a quality tequila.

Specific Tequila Recommendations

I’ve drunk more than 150 different tequilas at this point, and when I go to Tommy’s I have more than 200 options to choose from. While I enjoy tasting new things, more often than not I fall back on my favorites. When I’m not at Tommy’s, and the selection is much more limited, I can still usually find one of my preferred products, at least if the bar has any selection at all. Note that these are not the only tequilas that I love, they are simply the ones that most often come to mind when I am ordering.

I would drink any of these tequilas neat or in a margarita. Don’t let anyone tell you these are “too good to drink in a margarita;” I’ll have more on this in a future article. These are in no specific order:

• Herradura Silver, Reposado, and Añejo
• Oro Azul Blanco and Añejo
• El Tesoro, everything they make
• Don Julio Reposado and Añejo
• El Charro Reposado and Añejo
• Chinaco Reposado and Añejo
• Regional Reposado and Añejo (you won’t find this outside of Mexico)
• Centinela Reposado
• Arette Reposado, especially the Suave

I also have a few “special occasion” tequilas, which I will only order if I am celebrating something, or feeling especially flush with funds. As you might expect, these are more expensive; a 2 oz. pour of the Chinaco Black Label is more expensive than a bottle of any of the above tequilas. I would only ever drink these tequilas neat, in a nice snifter or glass.

• Chinaco Black Label (very rare, not made anymore)
• San Matias Rey Sol
• Herradura Seleccion Suprema
• Don Julio 1942
• Arette Gran Clase
• Jose Cuervo Reserva de Familia

Rochelle’s preferences are similar, but she also has a few that she likes better than I do, primarily Siete Leguas, of which I am not particularly fond.

We also have a few “workhorse” tequilas, which we happily order in a bar if none of the above are available, and some we also buy in bulk when we’re having a party. These are fine tequilas, but we don’t reach for them in the same way.

• Pura Sangre
• Pueblo Viejo
• Gran Centenario
• Cazadores
• Cabrito

Finally, one last “special purpose” tequila. We personally love the San Matias Carmessi, but we think it’s especially useful for introducing people to fine tequilas. It’s great for people who have never tried tequila, and even people who think they don’t like tequila usually find they enjoy it.

Just Say No

I don’t really want to recommend against specific products, because everyone’s taste is different, and if you like it, drink it. But these are products which I personally don’t care for, or find over-priced or over-rated. You make your own decision.

• Cuervo Especial, Gold, 1800 — I’ll order a beer if these are the only selections
• Sauza — the Tres Generations bottlings are OK, but there is no Sauza product I genuinely like
• Don Eduardo — we gave this up forever the last time we drank it, 2-3 years ago; it’s just not good, and often expensive
• Patrón — actually a decent tequila, but over-priced

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The overall quality of the sessions was very high, among the best of any technical conference I’ve attended. A couple of duds, but some really amazing speakers, too, bringing the average way up. But what I thought was particularly interesting was that, of the top five speakers I listened to, one was the creator of Rails (so set him aside), and the other four are current and former Java luminaries.

Stuart Halloway and Justin Gehtland of Relevance are still doing work for clients in Java, but also in Rails, and were to my mind the best speakers at the event. They speak at a lot of conferences, so if you ever have a chance or choice, choose their sessions. Great energy, great speaking skills, and exceptionally well-designed slides combine for two of the best technical talks I’ve ever seen. As professionals still working in Java, their insights into what makes Rails special were the most clear and well-defended of any at the conference.

Dave Thomas and Mike Clark, by comparison, like to start their talks with “My name is x, and I’ve been Java-free for y months and z days.” Not only did they give great talks during the conference itself, but they also taught the Rails Guidebook the day before RailsConf opened, and are terrific trainers and speakers. They still speak on the Java circuit, not about Java, but rather explaining this new Rails thing to Java developers.

At any rate, there are enough Java luminaries who are leaving Java for Rails that it at least should make any Java developer stop and think about why that might be happening.

Another thing I’ll mention is to repeat something Stuart Halloway said at the end of his talk. RailsConf 2007 will not be like RailsConf 2006, because even though Rails is experiencing strong growth now, it’s going to explode in the second half of this year and first part of next. As steep as the adoption curve is today, it’s going to be more vertical in 6 months.

Which means next year RailsConf will be a lot bigger, and accordingly less tight-knit and informal. This year’s RailsConf sold out the 550 seats in days. Even with a larger venue and 2000 seats, I predict next year sells out in less than two weeks. It’ll feel different. So if you attended this year, spend some time reflecting on the experience. It was special, and may not be repeated.

Last, let me be yet another person who points out how weird it was to be at a non-Mac technical show, and see so many PowerBooks and MacBooks (Accordion Guy covers this nicely).

This could be because Rails strongly imposes the taste of the primary developer of the framework. DHH’s sense of style and design is simple and elegant, and reflects his own personal vision of how things should be done. (I don’t mean to discount the contributions of the Rails Core here, but they are a self-selected group who had to possess similar tastes to join the project started and still guided by DHH’s (strong ;-) opinions.) Who does this remind you of? Is it any wonder that this appeals to Mac people?

Of course, it could simply be a reflection of how much better Ruby and Rails, and the associated software like Apache / lightTPD run on Unix-style operating systems compared to Windows, where they run OK, but not well.

At any rate, let me conclude by admitting that I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid, and my goal is to be doing 100% Rails development work by the end of the year. I doubt that I’ll be giving a talk at next year’s RailsConf, but if I did, I want to be able to start with “My name is Michael Alderete, and I’ve been PHP-free for x months and y days”…

And it comes off tomorrow morning in an hour!

The problem is the wiring. Our house is a 100+ year old Victorian, and all of our phone wiring (except for the actual phone jacks) is on the outside of the house. And it’s old, and it’s been abused, and so on. So with all the rain we’ve been having, apparently water is getting into the wiring.

We’ve had PacBell out, more than once, and about the only thing they’re consistent about is that it’s our problem, not theirs. Even thought it’s on the outside of the house, it’s “inside” wiring because it’s past the junction box, and so our responsibility.

Anyway, it’s sunny and working now, and it looks like we might be done with the rain for a while. In the meantime, I’m calling wiring contractors, because I can’t take it when we don’t have internet access. I must be a junkie…or then again, maybe I need to have internet access to, like, work and earn a living…