Month: September 2002

Friedman in Boston

Boston-based megnut correspondent Richard writes in with news that Thomas Friedman will be speaking at the Boston Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. "New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman will talk about his new book, Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After September 11. Booksigning to follow reading. Books will be available for purchase."

There are lots of other really cool events listed on the page, including a conference on Sacco and Vanzetti during the weekend of October 4-5, an Adults' Book Discussion on To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., and films made by a Cambridge-based world traveler named Elmer Hawkes on Cuba and Vietnam (November 20 and 21).

Was it the Romas or the technique?

I made the best batch of red spaghetti sauce I've ever made last night. Perhaps it's because the ingredients are all so perfect right now? Anyway, here's (roughly) what I did:

Quartered a bunch of Roma tomatoes. Put them in a large frying pan with a bunch of torn basil. Cooked over highish heat for approximately 10 minutes, until they had all broken down. While tomatoes were cooking, minced up four large cloves of garlic and diced half a yellow onion. Once tomatoes were done, I passed them through a food mill (medium-holed disc). Heated a good amount of olive oil (1/3 c.? Maybe even 1/2 c.?) in my (rinsed out) frying pan, added garlic and onion. Cooked over low heat until onions were transparent and kitchen smelled yummy. Tore up more basil, added to pan. Added tomato sauce, post-food mill. Add good pinch of salt and several cranks of fresh pepper. Mixed together and let cook down for about 10-15 more minutes while I rolled and cut pasta and cooked it. Result: sweet sauce, nice tang, smooth on tongue. Not just tomato flavor, it was a rich melange of all the ingredients, and perfect on the fresh linguine.

Thomas Friedman in Santa Clara

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman will be giving a free talk on "How globalization is changing our world" on September 25 at Santa Clara University (in Santa Clara, CA). "Friedman will outline his vision of a healthy global society and discuss the balance needed to achieve that dream." Sounds like it could be very informative.

Also, if you're looking for great speakers in the Bay Area, check out the rest of the page. The Commonwealth Club consistently offers fascinating talks by public figures. They recently sponsored Dick Cheney, and September 23 Al Gore is coming. Some very good looking stuff…

Separating Design from Management

Joel on Software has some good comments about the "offshore design" problem, as he calls it. In my experience, the biggest problem with offshore design (hiring cheaper labor to do your work remotely rather than pay higher rates to hire someone local) or any remote project development is the time zone difference. No matter how detailed your spec is, no matter how "signed-off" everyone is on the prototype, inevitably changes and questions arise.

When you have easy access to people to communicate changes, whether through IM, phone, or around the water cooler, it's a lot easier to keep on time and budget. But even an 8-hour time zone difference means one team is mostly working while the other is not, and that's where the trouble lies. Open, continuous channels of communication are essential on development projects. I don't think you need to have everyone in the same office to achieve this. But having teams with large time zone differences can wreak havoc on a project schedule.

Hot SF = Cold Latte

It's been so warm in San Francisco these past few days (even here in my foggy part of town) and today I finally cracked — I made an iced latte for myself this morning rather than my usually "hot" latte (I guess we just call that a latte). Usually I open the curtains to let the sun flood my room and warm my "office" but today I've got them closed to ward off the hot rays.

San Francisco is trying to tempt me, "See how nice it is here? See how sunny and warm? It's summer, in September!" she says. But I won't have any of it. I remember your cold foggy days, lady. Nearly every month you enshrouded me and mine with a fog so thick I felt the mist on my face as I walked outside. The streets were wet — it looked like it had rained. You were especially cruel through July and August as my friends elsewhere frolicked in t-shirts and shorts while I sat bundled in wool sweaters and scarves, drinking hot water for warmth. Nice try, City by the Bay, but you're not fooling me. You're just a tease, and as soon as I decide I like this sunny warmth, you'll shock me with a big misty rolling cloud of fog and send me scurrying back indoors.

Mis-float

I'm aware that my design is messed up because I haven't been posting enough. I never could figure out how to get the green footer bar to float properly. Perhaps a redesign is in order at some point. Or maybe just more posting…

Desert Silence

Vista from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Vista from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Vista from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Vista from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Back from Las Vegas and I have re-affirmed my love of the high desert country. Driving for hours across vast expanses of Joshua trees, through parts of the Mojave and up and over the mountains and past the windfarms of Tehachapi was soothing and almost meditative. Hiking around Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, I experienced the splendor first-hand. And the quiet and stillness of the surroundings encouraged my reflections on everything — life, love, the vast and varied beauty of America — these last few days. I feel like I'm still carrying some desert silence within me.