dietsch ::

Breaking out

Monday, 29 April. 4 am. I just finished a paper for my strategic intelligence class. It's not what I'd like it to be by a long shot, but it's better than I thought it would be. "Strategic Surprise in Conventional and Asymmetric Warfare" is its handle. Yep. I just e-mailed my Python final to my instructor. I surprised myself by how utterly incapable I was to answer the first question on the final. I finally cobbled together a hack that works, but only because I cheated and didn't implement full functionality. I'll get partial credit. I don't like doing that, but it was really the only way to turn the thing in on time. Sigh.... Luckily, the second question was easy to do and it works the way it should, so I'm hoping I'll get full credit for that one. I have one more assignment, due Tuesday at 5. I don't expect it'll be difficult to finish. So, with my paper due in my professor's mailbox by nine, I'm debating whether to sleep for four hours, turn it in, and come home and nap, or just stay up, turn it in, and come home and nap. I doubt it matters. I am so ready to leave this town it's hardly funny anymore.

Sunblock

The insanely talented Andi Watson has a new online comic available, thanks to our friends at Artbomb.net. It's beautiful, funny, and charming, just like all Watson's work. Go see it, even if you're not a comics fan. You'll like it; trust me.

Post-CFPin'

I am back in Bloomington, exhausted, happy, missing San Francisco already, and digging in for a long week of final projects and other work. It might take a while to get pictures online, because I'll be so very busy for the next eight or nine days. Look for them the first week of May. Maybe.

CFPin'

With a funny and insightful speech from writer Bruce Sterling, CFP2002 drew to a close this afternoon. I know I've had little to say thus far about the conference, but I greatly enjoyed it, I learned a lot, and I have much to think about--many things that I never really considered before. I'll give a full update somewhere on my site when I return. Despite having had little to say thus far about CFP, I've been mentioned on a couple CFP-related Web logs, to my surprise. I'm mentioned at cfp2002.blogspot.com and also on David Singer's blog. I chatted at some length this morning with Mr. Singer. He has a list of CFP-related blogs that you should see if you wanna know more. I've skimmed some of these, and they look great. Those of you who've talked to me about attending next year should read all these Web logs, to a feel for the CFP culture--and believe me, there's a definite CFP culture. This evening, I'm off to James Sime's Tiki party, somewhere in Oakland. James runs Comics and Da-Kind and he's hosting a party associated with Wonder Con. Tomorrow evening is Comic Relief's 15th Anniversary party. Unless it rains, I probably won't be at Wonder Con itself. There's simply too much cool stuff in San Francisco to warrant spending all day inside. I need to figure out where the hell this Tiki party is, get directions, and suss out how to get to Oakland on BART. Otherwise, I'm feeling wistful already about my time in SF winding down. I leave Sunday morning and I'm already beginning to miss it here. Le sigh.... We have one functional Internet kiosk now in the hostel, so this'll probably be my last Blog entry before I leave. I probably won't have much email access either.

CFPin'

My conference started yesterday and I suspect it'll keep me pretty busy the rest of the week, so expect less frequent updates. And, really, expect less interesting updates, assuming the updates have been interesting at all to this point. The conference has been fascinating, learning about Constitutional law, the PATRIOT act, and biometric identification techniques--so far. Tonight was the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Awards, given annually to those who've helped shaped the Internet, computer technology, or freedom and privacy issues. Among this year's winners were the Norwegian teens who cracked encryption on DVDs and created DeCSS to play DVDs on Linux. John Perry Barlow, who co-founded EFF and who also wrote lyrics for the Grateful Dead, was in attendance. Dude entered like a rockstar, with rockstar wife and rockstar clothes. We heard today from California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, a genuinely warm and witty man who's support for privacy issues is commendable. Very cool speech on his part. More later.

Alcatraz

Couple days since an update, but that's okay. I think only two people are out there anyway. Courtney, Anne: hidey-ho! (Not THAT kind of ho.) I got up to Alcatraz yesterday. I was actually rather surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The prison itself was interesting, but I really loved two things about the experience: the ranger-led tour and the island itself. The National Parks ranger who led the tour was funny and knowledgeable about the island and its history. I haven't enjoyed a guided tour this much since seeing the Tower of London back in December. The other big surprise was just how beautiful the grounds of Alcatraz Island are! The Parks Service is letting the grounds go wild, and the range of flowers, trees, and other vegetation was stunning. You'd expect the Rock to be gray, not arrayed in many colors and shapes and scents. Don't be turned off by Alcatraz. The island gets a lot of tourists, yes, but if you book an early tour, it's not so bad, and it's well worth seeing. I continued my busman's holiday, as Rory Root phrases it, with a trip to Comics and Da-Kind on Noriega Street. I walked in, browed a bit, and finally introduced myself to the proprieters, James Sime and his girlfriend Kristen. James grinned widely, stood up, offered his hand, and said, "Michael! I heard you were in town! It's nice to finally meet you!" Goddamn. I feel like a rockstar. James has a very cool shop, with overstuffed sofas for lounging, beautifully displayed Silver Age comics on the walls, a diverse and wide-ranging selection of comics from every genre, and even a stocked bar for the parties he throws his customers. Avengers artist Kieron Dwyer is among his customers and brings in finished art from the book for James to show off. And show it off James did. I was able to see pencilled and inked pages for an issue of Avengers that won't be on sale for a couple months yet. Very cool. James gave me a pass to yesterday evening's free showing of a new 3D IMAX film, shot aboard the International Space Station. Altthough the line to get in was long, the wait was worth it. The movie is beautifully filmed and the 3D effects are used fabulously. Seeing the ISS in orbit over the Earth was stunning, especially in 3D. Also, highly recommended, if you have a chance to check it out.

Still walkin'

Another full day, but a little quieter, which is nice. Colder, too, which is not so nice. Up to now, the weather here's been in the lower 70s, which I hear is balmy for SF at this time of year. Today, however, it was a good 10 - 15 degrees cooler and VERY windy. Still, though, with the sun shining and the sky cloudless, you won't hear me complain. In fact, this entire paragraph is me bragging about the weather up to now. I cable-carred up to Fisherman's Wharf this morning to reserve a ticket for Alcatraz tomorrow. I got to ride on the side again, which always makes me feel like a little kid. It's amazing that in a world that's so safety-oriented, you can still hang off the side of a San Francisco cable car as it climbs a steep hill. Next, I headed over to Columbus Street in North Beach, selected a charming little cafe, and sat outside with a scone and a double latte and read for about two hours. That was very relaxing, and with all the people about on a Sunday morning, it was quite enjoyable as well. Overall, I'm really charmed by how friendly people here tend to be. Next, I walked. And walked. And walked. I first hiked up to Telegraph Hill and photographed the surroundings. That might be one of the few places in San Francisco where you can look in one direction and see the Bay Bridge and look in the other and see Golden Gate. Gorgeous views. I was a little annoyed at all the people who drove up the hill instead of climbing it and I was even MORE annoyed at the couple who were all smoochy-smoochy over in the corner. As much fun as it is to travel, I get depressed sometimes that I spend so much of every day alone. Next, I hiked down Telegraph Hill, over to Lombard Street, and up to the curvy road you see in everyone's SF pictures. Don't be surprised: You'll see it in mine, too. Then, more walking. From Lombard, I strolled down to Market Street. I dunno how long that is, but it took me about an hour, so probably three miles at my pace. To my surprise and delight, the Farmers Market was happening today, so I grabbed a nice little picnic lunch. From there, I found the Cartoon Art Museum. Today was the last day of the Calvin and Hobbes Sunday comics display, a presentation for which Bill Watterson hand-picked Sunday strips. I was fascinated to see his original art, having been such a huge fan of his work for so long. In some cases you could still see his pencils under the inks. You could also see where he'd whited-out and redrawn certain things. For someone increasingly interested in how comics are created, to look so closely at the work of a proven master was fascinating and one of the highlights of my trip. Next, I headed out to the Castro and Mission Districts. Very cool. I loved all the great little shops in each and I really wish I had more time to really explore. I'm reminded again, though, of what a depressing monoculture Indiana really is. I had an early and wonderful dinner at Bagdad Cafe in the Castro. What a charming place. I took a window seat and was so mesmerized by people-watching that when the server brought my meal, I was startled. And I have to say, that place has the best French fries I've ever eaten. I'm not joking. They were perfectly crisp, a lovely golden-brown, and they tasted so good. Most French fries, to my taste, are bland. Not these. There was such a deep, rich, and complex earthy flavor to these, like a really fine roasted potato. I can't explain, but I was very happy. It's been a quiet day: sipping latte and reading this morning, visiting Telegraph Hill and the twisty Lombard Street, browsing the galleries at the Cartoon Art Museum, and exploring Mission and Castro. I'm back earlier than normal, so I'm going to write for a bit and then read. I've had such a satisfying day.

Cee-eff-peein'

Wow. I am an idiot. I thought my conference began Monday with tutorials and Tuesday with the formal conference proceedings. I was wrong. Well, it gives me an extra day to play, I suppose. I awoke early again today. Being exhausted by 8:30 usually means calling it a day, heading back to the hostel, doing email and Web log, and then reading for an hour or so before bed. Which then means waking up about 7. Gives me an early start, I guess, so I won't complain. I found a lovely little greasy spoon around the corner and down a block or two from the hostel. Instead of a couple danishes and a posh latte this morning, I had bacon, eggs, huge hotcakes, and bottomless coffee--all for about five bucks. My arteries have filed a restraining order against my stomach. After breakfast, I roamed through Chinatown, looking at kitschy souvenir shops and browing book and video stores. Perusing Chinese softcore is interesting, with titles like Samurai Voyeur. After Chinatown, I made my way to SFMOMA, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which is fabulous. The collection is first-rate and fascinating, and with a student discount, the price was just right. Then, Berkeley. Y'know, as beautiful as IU-Bloomington is, UC-Berkeley is even prettier. The trees are older and larger, for starters. (You'd be amazed how many trees at IU are only a hundred years or so old.) And the women. Oh god. I then stopped at Comic Relief, one of the country's best comic bookstores, two blocks from the Berkeley campus. Rory Root, the owner and proprietor, runs a shop that looks more like a bookstore than any comic shop you've ever seen. He stocks primarily graphic novels, those collections of comics into book form that you can find at any good Borders. Rory and I talked for nearly three hours about comics retailing, Berkeley and the Bay Area, and various other topics. But mostly about comics. Good man, that Rory, and it's cool to have a new friend. Three hours, we talked, and we met for the first time today. Isn't that amazing? Well, that's enough for tonight. It amuses me how many people here look at me like I'm a mutant just because I can touchtype. I see them hunt and peck and then they just stop and stare at my hands as I write.

More walkin'

Thanks to how fully exhausted I was yesterday, I slept beautifully last night. I turned in about 10:30 and dropped immediately into a deep sleep, broken an hour later when my two roommates came in and flipped on a light. I must have said something in my disequilibrium, because they both chuckled. But they laughed even harder after asking me how long I'd been here. "I just got in today from San Francisco," I muttered. After they finished freshening up and getting ready for bed, they switched off the light. I fell back into a deep sleep almost immediately. This morning, I cast about for a local breakfast eatery. Because I'm in a neighborhood filled to the gills with Asian restaurants, the first place I found suitable for breakfast was Starbucks. Lovely. I travel across three-quarters of the country to breakfast at Starbucks. Well, when you're really hungry, what are you gonna do? I bounced onto the cable car after breakfast and, after transferring, was back at Fisherman's Wharf. I left that tourist Gehenna as quickly as my feet would carry me and headed west, along the beach. I followed a scenic trail that led me to Fort Mason and eventually to Golden Gate Bridge. I don't have words to describe how lovely the morning was, so I hope my photos do it something like justice. Walking to the bridge was such a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Everyone seemed so happy, just in general. I received more smiles from pretty women this morning than I did in the previous three months in Bloomington. Perhaps they were squinting into the sun.... I eventually made my way up to the bridge and crossed over and back. By this time, a thick fog had covered the area, so the view wasn't quite what I'd hoped, but I won't complain. I snapped a picture of the San Francisco skyline arising from the mists like some modern Brigadoon, but I don't know how well it'll turn out. I briefly and insanely considered walking back into town, but my feet groaned too much to allow me to do that, so I took a bus back to Fisherman's Wharf. I lunched at a seafood restaurant in Ghirardelli Square, and then had dessert in the soda fountain. I shouldn't admit to a soul how large, decadent, and expensive that sundae was, but damn was it good. I wanted to take a cable car out of the area, but the line to get on the damn thing was literally a hundred or so people long, so I settled for a mundane bus. I meandered over to Golden Gate Park and wandered through there a bit, before heading into Haight Street. I thought Haight was a little disappointing. Sure, there's some great shops there. I browsed through a vinyl fetishists store (ahem--that's LPs and 45s, Amanda, not YOUR vinyl) and went into a wonderful place with zines and comics and Tarot and coolass books. Oh man, the damage I could have done to my bank account.... But overall, the scene wasn't much of a scene. Attire was tame--not as tame as Indiana, of course, but much tamer than I expected. One group of kids did entirely misunderstand me, though, which was funny. I walked past them but in the split second before doing so, noticed a Free Winona shirt in a shop window. As I turned back to look at the shirts more closely, I heard one kid say Oink. I didn't pay any attention and then one sniffed the air and said, "Smells like pork." I turned back and passed them again, and the same kid said, "Oh yeah. Definitely pork." Very odd. I'm sure I don't fit in there, but I hardly think I looked like a cop. Perhaps they were squinting into the sun.... I'm shamefacedly living a cliche here, I must admit. After buying Howl last night, I bought a copy today of Tales from the City. What's next? Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits? I think it's interesting, though, to read the literature of a place before or during a visit. You learn more about the culture and history of a city that way, I think, and it puts you in the mood to explore. That's all for now. I've had an odd evening as well, but I'm not sure how much detail to share with the class. Perhaps this is a story to roll out after a few drinks.

Walkin' San Fran

Busy day. Wasn't sure it would be, given how little sleep I got last night (four hours), but I did a lot today. I started with a big, early dinner in a lovely Thai restaurant near my hostel. Yummy. After acquainting myself with the cable cars, I walked The Embarcadero from the downtown area up to Fisherman's Wharf. That's a long walk, and carrying my heavy backpack made it longer, but it was beautiful. The weather today was so nice. It initially looked like it would be cloudy and drizzly, but that cleared up quickly. It was near 70 and brightly sunny. And because California's not ass-backwards like Indiana, it observes Daylight Savings Time, which meant it was light until almost 8. After such a lovely stroll, the gaudy kitsch that is Fisherman's Wharf seemed even tackier. Tourists everywhere. I shouldn't judge or complain, since I too a member of that nomadic tribe, but still... Chain restaurants, souvenir stands, Gaps and Starbucks. Damn. You want that stuff, stay at home. I made my way to Columbus St, which runs diagonally from downtown up past the Wharf. Columbus is home to many SF landmarks, including the Museum of Tattoo Art ("museum" is grandiose, but it's still very cool) and City Lights bookstore. On the walk down Columbus, I saw a line of people waiting for the evening's Ben Harper concert. Joining the line was a woman who looked uncannily like one of my Bloomington friends--right down to hair and attire. Strangely enough, I actually DID see someone I recognize from Bloomington today, but it's not someone I know well enough to talk to. As some of my friends know, I can't seem to travel anywhere without running into someone I know, someone who has a friend in common with me, or someone who has some other close connection to me. City Lights. Made famous by the Beats, this bookstore is just a quaint and niche-oriented and well-stocked as you probably imagine. I could easily have spent thrice the time and quadruple the money there that I did. My only purchase, and perhaps it's a cliche, was a copy of Allen Ginsburg's poem Howl, collected with several other of his works. By this point, my feet were swollen and achy, it was nearly 8:30, and I was exhausted, so I headed back to the nearest cable car. Along the way, I passed a little restaurant called Cafe Niebaum-Coppola, owned by the director and his wife. The cafe occupies the ground floor in a building that also houses Coppola's production company, American Zoetrope. I was still full from Thai, but the auteur oversees some delicious winemaking, so I'll have to stop in later for at least a glass or four. Time's nearly up on my Internet access, so I'll sign off.

Ha!

Ha! You bastards! I'm in San Francisco! Where are you? Oh, right. Not much to report yet, except to brag that I'm here. And, geek that I am, I checked into the hostel and went immediately to an Internet terminal. Dork = me. We flew in over the Bay, which was probably one of the prettiest sights I've seen. You could see the skyline and the Bay Bridge off in the distance. From the airport, I took a shuttle bus into town. When we rounded a bend and I got my first look at the Golden Gate Bridge, my jaw dropped. I just couldn't believe I was seeing it in person. I'm off. I need to decide what I'm doing with the rest of my day. Probably walk about a bit and get a feel for the neighborhood.

Leavin'

In less than 24 hours, I'll be here:

Patti Smith

I picked up the new Patti Smith release last week. Patti Smith Land (1975 - 2002) is a two-disc set--the first disc compiles her "greatest hits," while the second presents a collection of live recordings, demos, and spoken word pieces. I was with Kelly when I bought it, and his comment on looking at the spine was "Patti Smith Land? Is that a new theme park?" I commented that I'd rather go there than to Dollywood. I mentioned her spoken-word pieces. One such piece, Notes to the Future, is a long poem, recorded in New York City earlier this year. Smith is at her best on here. The poem is a call to compassionate revolution in the wake of the WTC disaster. Her rhythm and cadence are driving and powerful. In a week in which I personally have needed to draw inspiration and encouragement from those I love, from those I admire, Smith's words have moved me deeply. I've listened to this track over and again. I hope that in presenting a transcription of the lyrics (done personally, by the way--I couldn't find them yet elsewhere on the Web), I've communicated in some small way the power of this poem. But, really, you should hear it. Ask me nicely, and I'll play it for you sometime.