If AT&T Ran The Highway System...

I thought it was a funny comparison.

If AT&T Ran The Highway System...
Posted on informationweek.com

Google My Maps + Tennis?

I located most of the tennis courts I've played on logged them into Google Maps.

I found out the system they have for linking to maps only allows you to link to one map at a time. I will post links to the tennis map and to my personal recommendations for food and entertainment.

About the tennis maps, I was thinking it would be a good idea to come up with a website that would allow people to submit their own knowledge of tennis courts across the country. Then have some way to moderate the additions and just run it like a free service to traveling tennis fans. Then wherever you are you could pull up a map to free courts around the nation and get info about them. Sounds time consuming, but it might be a valid idea. If anyone has comments about it I'd be happy to hear them.

Take a look at this map. It would be very useful if I decide to populate it. The real challenge is figuring out how to allow users to submit their court info.
Tennis Courts

I'll add this link to the right and update the old "My Maps" link as well.

Firefox Tweaks

I found a tweak guide on Digg, made the mods to firefox and I see remarkable gains in speed. Give this a try. Save many seconds of life : )

FireFox Speed Tweaks

My Maps on Google Maps

This is an excellent feature that allows you to keep track of new places and to share them with others.

I will post restaurant and venue recommendations.

Check out my maps

Keith Olberman Says -Bush Broke Nation's Trust

I can't wait for the Bush presidency to be over. Hopefully there will be numerous books detailing the corruption and boneheaded actions. Hopefully the word comes out and people actually take notice.

Olberman would love to see Bush leave now, and I've been thinking that for some time. Watch the video and listen to his rant, it's worth 10 minutes.

http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/03/256978.aspx>

I Found an Apartment

Where: Astoria, near the Broadway stop on the N line

It's a 3 bedroom 2 bath. There is a couple in the master bed. Me and another guy share the other bathroom. The bedroom has a manhattan view. There is a roof deck, a balcony, and a spacious back patio. Best of all, I get a gated parking spot.

We Can Read and Write

What is it like to live without TV? For a tennis fan during Wimbledon it is slightly annoying. But that is the extent of my problem. Other than that it is refreshing –O.K. I miss the Daily Show and Colbert Report too. I live in NY now, so I think I'll go see them both live.

It might just be circumstance, but people in New York seem more informed than people in other regions where I’ve lived. I can’t help but think it is because they read. I’ve been fortunate to meet a friendly group of people since arriving, and they all have bookcases full of books they have actually read. When I walk down any Brooklyn street on the weekend I see stoop sales, where you can pick up a new book for next to nothing. It’s a little book marketplace, and if I had a stoop I would participate. It seems like a good way to meet the neighbors as well.

This city is a hub for ideas. And people stay informed through good ole word-of-mouth and the printed word (you need something to do if you’re sacrificing hours per day riding the subways). It feels good to be here. Once again I’m back in a city with worldwide influence, and I can feel its pulse –or at least read about it.

Ali G interview with Posh and Beckham

This is an old video, but worth a watch if you haven't seen it yet. With Borat making such a commotion, people need to look at Sacha Cohen's other characters. My personal favorite is Ali-G.

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/13695/detail/
(Just right click and view in full screen. The audio and video were poorly synchronized on all the Youtube posts)

I was Ali G for Halloween. See....

First 2 weeks completed, better weeks ahead

Well the first two weeks are finally over. Those two work weeks were spent coding VB.net, of which I have very little interest.

My day looked like this:
Wake up at 5:30, Commute 2 hrs to work, write lines of code, enjoy co-workers company because they are experiencing the same thing, commute 2 hrs home, look at one apartment to rent, go to sleep.

Next up: Training for two weeks outside Chicago! I can't wait, this is supposed to be the fun one. We get to meet people from all over the world.

Other than work my new life in NY has been great, look at the photo evidence (The "My Photos" link is to the right).

I still have no apt, I'm hoping I get lucky tomorrow.

Take care!

My Photos

Just in case anyone is interested.

The link to my pictures is: http://picasaweb.google.com/benperet


I will put that in the links section on the right.

What are they reading!?

Ever look around the subway and try to catch a glimpse of what your fellow riders are reading? Of course you do.

Something interesting. I have recently met a few people involved in publishing and editing and sometimes they just have to read what the man says. So next time you see them reading a Vampire Romance novel, give them a break. As they give you their sheepish smile when noticed, just smile back, don't switch seats.

My Man Zakaria Writes High Profile Article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19001200/site/newsweek/

Read it to understand something more about US foreign policy. It's nice and simple and fun filled with logic. Something that many people lack at times.

Jane Fonda Had to Get Her Some Colbert

I don't know why, but I thought this was just extra funny.

Fonda actually makes Stephen a bit nervous. Well done.

If you want the whole context you should watch this one first. The Ice Cream 3-Way

Then this is the one I'm talking about:
A Personal Interview

Latest Music Recommendation

Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

This CD just keeps getting better. My air guitar skills have gone up ten fold and I can't seem to turn the volume down... (Try out "Dream at Tempo 119").

To Better Know a Country: #1 France

Welcome to the first in a new series of what I'll call, "To Better Know a Country." The First one, France.

Today the French will elect a new leader to power and the country seems a bit divided. The polls suggest that Nicolas Sarkozy is most likely to win. He faces, the first would be woman President in France, Segolene Royal. She is the socialist candidate, concentrating on a new direction and a recall to more socialist policies. Sarkozy promises equally new amounts of change, but in the other direction. He claims to be able to pull the economy out of the doldrums and fix the current unemployment hanging around 8%.

Some main concerns that have arisen along the way; both candidates seem to love to discuss their feelings and themselves and not so much their qualifications and policies. This is especially true for Mrs. Royal who has been nicknamed Egolene... (comme Egoist). Sarkozy is not far behind in that camp, but he seems to pull it off with a more authoritative demeanor. During the last debates he was attacked by Mrs. Royal and managed to come of as the more level headed and prudent candidate. Wrapping up our brief critique of Royal is the well reported notion that she has absolutely no foreign affairs experience or direction. In this age of Globalization and increasing free trade, foreign affairs are more important than ever. This may indeed be her downfall.

Speaking of open borders, Sarkozy has faced a great deal of criticism from the French over his immigration policies. He holds a very hardline stance on immigration, promoting closed borders and a return to a more pure French state. During the car-burning rioting escapades of last year his tough stance on juveniles and immigrants disturbed many in the country and helped proliferate a rift between the French and their increasingly alienated immigrant population. Closed borders and rifts with a large portion of the population just won't do Mr. Sarkozy. Ultimately though the French will probably get behind this man because he does appear to be the more qualified candidate, and he promises more economic security. At the end of the day people still worry about their well-being, which is very influenced by the bottom line.

Something to consider though. France will be France, and despite all the tough talk of change France has proven remarkably resistant to change. And why not, the majority of their population enjoys a rich cultural lifestyle seeped in tradition. Craig Smith at the NYT says it well with Forget Who'll Win in France. Change Is a Loser.

Update: Sarkozy takes the Presidency (You can read about it anywhere)
Here is a good video

Next Series, Turkey...