Life & Research Notes

Via Nivi and The Technium.

Jeevan sent me a TajTune today! Listen (mp3). The internet is so strange and wonderful.

Indeed, that’s my home. Makes me nostalgic. Thanks Mariko.

It’s not uncommon to hear the Mission compared to Brooklyn. Following that comparison, I evidently live in the equivalent of Williamsburg. The New York Times is right. Despite being only a short stretch, there is definitely some extra action hipsterness around here.

I feel like lately I have been acutely aware of the new breed of hipster yuppies that now seem so endemic to my neighborhood. And, to be fair, I sadly seem to fit in this category myself. What is the life cycle of a neighborhood like this stretch of Valencia? How did this particular type of semi-culture arise, and how long will this phase last?

It’s 3 on a Thursday, and I am drinking an Anchor Steam at work, kindly purchased by my patriotic CEO. And last night Noah and I enjoyed fireworks amid the fog after the Giants game at the ballpark. I love it when America is actually awesome.

the old saying about life throwing curveballs… well it happened to me this week, and it happened when i was already out of my element here in florence. it totally rearranged my perspective. it is striking how one minute i can be excited and happy, and the next woozy with my heart racing. a little new information can change everything.

but i am here, and trying to make the most of italy. switching into backpacker mode again, which i know so well. here in a sketchy ass internet cafe with the keyboard all backwards. why is the damn ‘@’ so hard to do? the familiarity of the weird. it is good. plus today i was hiking, in my zone, on one of the most beautiful coastlines of the world. got me back in my zone. it’s how i’ve balanced myself out before. again, the familiarity helps.

so, back to florence. tomorrow some cruising around with dave, then after that i think rome, then naples, then pompei and hopefully some hikes on the amalfi coast south of there. then venice, where i hope to wander aimlessly as i’ve been advised by many friends i trust. maybe some other stuff in between. if i move fast enough i’ll be more tired when i get home than when i left, which isn’t exactly the vacation i was planning, but is perhaps exactly what i need right now.

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I leave the actual number to my 1.5 stalkers to figure out. Or you can just ask me.