Plaidophile

I really hate the term "microgravity." It is supposed to convey that people in orbit around the Earth are only subject to a small, immeasurable amount of gravity, but that simply isn't the case. They're actually subject to a rather large amount, it's just that their "ground" is also subject to it and is falling just as fast as they are. There are subtly immeasurable variations in the local gravity field due to the spaceship itself, but there is nothing "micro" about the total gravitational force, aside from how it would be measured without a known external reference (like the big honking planet right outside the window, which I think qualifies).

Personally, I prefer the term "freefall," since it explains exactly what's going on and follows every implication perfectly (relativistic effects included). What do other people think?

I will not spoil this movie, so much as just say the following:

• Yes, the trailer hints at certain aspects of the story, but it goes in a very unexpected direction
• What you think will be the villain is not the villain
• It is refreshingly ambiguous and open-ended
• The soundtrack could be better (I think Clint Mansell was just phoning it in this time around, which is unfortunate since I loved his work on π) but it still led to a very nice atmosphere
• I was able to look past the many minor science gaffes which were probably made just in the name of making it easier to film (in the case of the live action ones) and looking more "realistic" (in the case of the CG ones), because really who the hell cares that there wouldn't be clouds of dust kicked up in a vacuum? Total nerds, that's who.

While flying over Seattle, I couldn't help but notice how after living there for two years I recognized dozens of landmarks around the city which had various special meanings to me — places friends and I had lived, worked, and hung out, bridges I'd gone over, and so on. I thought about how it's strange how after the same amount of time in San Francisco I still didn't really know San Francisco very well and felt no such attachment to the city, after a week of talking about how much I missed Seattle and thinking of ways I could end up moving back there eventually. I felt intensely homesick and even considered "accidentally" missing my connecting flight.

But then I got back to San Francisco, and the smell was familiar and comforting, and I got on BART and the smell was familiar and (oddly) comforting. While on BART home from the airport, a woman was having trouble reading her tourist map and figuring out which BART station to get off at for her hotel. I asked where it was and she pointed to a station on her street map (which didn't label the stations), and I immediately told her, "Oh, yeah, that's Powell. I'm pretty familiar with that part of town."

Then I realized that this place is somewhere I know after all.

I'd post a detailed writeup but having just seen the video recording, I have to say that it's followed basically the same arc as my Austin set, with different songs and a different cast of characters.

We are streaming the show live on the Internet. The show starts at 6 PM PDT tonight. My set is scheduled to start at 9:30 PM (the headliner!) but you should watch the whole show, especially since I'll be drumming for Naked Philosophy (the opening act) and singing in John Benjamin's chorus at 8:30ish.

I'll also be in a few of tomorrow's sets (Jon Eric and Octothorpe and maybe others?) but we don't have a lineup scheduled just yet. I also forget when the show itself starts.

If you like kinda-difficult abstract-art shooter games with blippy music, you might like to know that I did the music and sound design for Broken Garden. Enjoy!

9:15 Thinking about getting a massage here. Seattle airport massages still cheaper than San Francisco non-airport massages.

9:30 Finally justified in going to a Starbucks to use this gift card, and they don't take gift cards. Typical.

9:40 iPhone isn't getting a data connection even w full EDGE signal. Probably collusion between the airport WiFi provider and AT&T.

9:42 oh did I mention I only got 2 hours of sleep last night? freaking tired. got an iced tea at mini-uwajimaya (mm oolong)

9:43 where did my iced tea go? did I lose it already?

9:43 oh there it is

9:46 Can't think of any decent lyrics for the live fight title (They Meet). maybe time to just play my PSP some more.

9:47 all the beans I had for dinner last night are doing a good job of maximizing other peoples' airport agony. I please to aim.

9:55 laptop can see attwifi network, iPhone can't. laptop would cost $8 to authenticate, iPhone would be free. typical.

9:58 meh, just half an hour before I board. I can handle this.

I forgot to mention it over here on my increasingly-neglected blog but I am going to Song Fight! Live this year. I am leaving the loop pedal at home and am going to try my darndest to get a good accompaniment from people on actual instruments. So if you happen to be in the Spokane area on the 17th and 18th I would appreciate an audience!

Apparently there will be a (small) cover charge (club sound guys cost money) but I have no idea what it is. Probably $5ish.

A phone works a lot better if it lets you, you know, ANSWER. Sometimes a call will come in and the touch screen will be completely unresponsive while it keeps on ringing away. Sometimes I'll manage to accept the call right before it goes to voicemail. Usually I don't.

This seems like it's the most basic function of a telephone, and the primary reason for a cellphone in particular.

Things I meant to do after my checkup but got distracted:

1. Make an appointment with the referred neurologist to get another nerve conductivity test
2. Make an appointment with the referred orthopedic surgeon to get treatment options, including (hopefully) reputable massage therapists

Not wrist-related but other action items resulting from the checkup,

1. Get the labwork done (fortunately that's a walk-in and I can do it before work on Monday)
2. Make an appointment with the referred dermatologist for the skin cancer screening (my idea since I've been a bit concerned about a couple of moles lately)
3. Also wasn't Walgreen's supposed to call me about my Albuterol prescription when it was ready? It's been well over an hour. I guess I can head over there now (grumble).

This seems like a really bad time to be famous. RIP Mrs. Slocombe and Karl Malden. At least they (along with Ed McMahon) had a good run, unlike certain pop stars and hucksters I could name.

Who's next, Bruce Campbell?

(NOTE: If Bruce Campbell dies within the next month I sincerely apologize for predicting it, because he is certainly not someone I would like to die right now, or ever.)