I was walking around Palo Alto tonight after work. As I passed the fancy houses, I was struck by what I saw. I saw people’s private lives and household activities all out in the open for everyone to see. I saw people eating dinner, talking, playing, something that looked like tutoring, at least five households… Continue reading Street Art Made By Opening Curtains
False Trails and Squamish Special: A Guide to Getting Lost in the Woods
We had been looking for Squamish Special for over an hour. We climbed over a bunch of talus then dropped down from a big boulder where you could tell everyone’s jumped down before because there was a bald spot at the bottom. I jump down, look up, and say, “fuuucckk.” As soon as you jump… Continue reading False Trails and Squamish Special: A Guide to Getting Lost in the Woods
I hate Innovation
Like Christianity or Communism, the idea of innovation started off so pure, like love thy neighbor, and everyone should be treated the same. Then “innovation” became a tool for evil people to carry out selfish desires. Yet to say I hate it makes me sound like the anti-Christ. What do you think of when you… Continue reading I hate Innovation
Parking Lot Oceans Swallow Me Up
Find parking spot. Pull in. Stop the car. Unbuckle the seat belt. Gather belongings. Open the door. Left foot first. Then… SPLASH!!! You’re in the parking lot ocean. Do you know how to swim? I do. I watch for cars pulling in and backing out of spaces whose drivers might or might not see me.… Continue reading Parking Lot Oceans Swallow Me Up
Remake that Fairy Tale
Is it just me or has there been a large influx of edgy remakes of fairy tales and/or Disney movies? First there was Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland featuring Johnny Depp. I was so excited, maybe too excited; it sounded awesome but it did not quite meet my expectations. Then there was Red Riding Hood… Continue reading Remake that Fairy Tale
Knife Rack Death Trap (Fear of Tools)
In general, I have fear. I’ve always been a pretty cautious person, thinking ahead, aware of my surroundings. My feet tingle when I’m near a cliff, I picture myself falling over. I use an x-acto knife, I picture myself slicing off my thumb. And I hate our knife rack. In our old apartment it hung… Continue reading Knife Rack Death Trap (Fear of Tools)
Keep Calm and Carry On Tree
I was just riding my bike down the Bike Boulevard in Palo Alto. Right at Lowell and Bryant I came across a pair of trees flanking the road. Each was decorated with playing cards, and on the back of the cards read “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Just below the cards were signs declaring, “2012:… Continue reading Keep Calm and Carry On Tree
Airport bathrooms at the dinner table
We’re having dinner with the family over the holidays. After a couple bottles of wine, the conversation quickly devolves into potty talk – literally a discussion about toilets. We got into public toilets, and then more concretely, we really dug into toilets at the airport. Not only did I learn that I have been placing… Continue reading Airport bathrooms at the dinner table
This town ain’t big enough for the both of us
Design trends come and go whether in graphic design, fashion, and even fine art. One that has popped up recently is this old western wanted poster aesthetic. It became really obvious when I first saw the “True Grit” movie poster. I thought it was so ingenious to use a completely typographical solution for a movie… Continue reading This town ain’t big enough for the both of us
Tarof is not a French word
If you are offered dessert in an Iranian household it is customary to initially refuse the cake, cookie, fruit or whatever it is the first time you are offered it, no matter how much you want it. You insist that you are full, that you couldn’t possibly. The host gently pushes back, saying that the… Continue reading Tarof is not a French word