Blogs

I'm a dedicated reader of the online magazine A List Apart, which is one of the greatest resources out there for those engaged in web design and development. Today, they've published Walking the Line When You Work from Home, a great article that really hits home for those of us, especially those of us with children at home, who either telecommute or run a small business from the home. It's really worth a read, especially since it's applicable to anyone who tries to work out of the home, not just those in the new media or design profession.

I don't remember whether I've mentioned this website here before (and I'm too lazy right now to look it up), but I thought I'd give a shout out to MarinNostalgia.org, a great resource for those of us who grew up in Marin, or anyone who's curious about what life in our county was like in decades past. It's an online time machine of sorts run by San Rafael Realtor Jason Lewis, and includes features on people and places from Marin's recent past, as well as a discussion forum.
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For those of us who like to set things on fire... and then cook something over the flames, I stumbled across a nifty new product this past weekend: the Lazzari Baja Firepack! We were planning on making use of the BBQ grills out at a picnic area in Point Reyes, and I wasn't really hot on packing up a big chimney starter and bag of charcoal, nor was I thrilled with the prospect of using one of those "matchlight" bags that's chock full of nasty petrochemicals. So, understandably, I was thrilled to find the nifty little Baja Firepack on sale at Harvest Market in Novato.

Today was quite possibly in the running for Best Day Ever. We headed over the Richmond Bridge to Berkeley to check out the family concert by Piffaro, the Renaissance Band, part of the 2008 Berkeley Festival and Exhibition, a biennial festival of early music. We ended up getting to Hertz Hall in the nick of time, and were pleasantly surprised at will call to find that we got great seats: third row center stage. The performances were wonderful--full of toe tapping rhythms and performed on unusual instruments like shawms, dulcians, crumhorns, and sackbuts.

Dear Trader Joe's Produce Buyer,

First off, let me tell you how much a love your store. Inexpensive but good wine and beer, quality prepared foods for when you just don't feel like cooking, cheese, coffee, baked goods, and more. We must spend 90% of our grocery budget there. However, your produce offerings concern me. Yes, I buy your fruits and vegetables, but sometimes reluctantly, as much of it's over-packaged or in odd quantities (although I do love your cherry tomatoes and Persian cucumbers—keep 'em coming).

Writer James Lileks is at Disney World again! Read his dispatches from the Other Happiest Place on Earth (the first one being California's own Disneyland, right?) here: The Bleat: Disneyworld '08. Some really funny stuff here, like in his series of blog posts about last year's trip.

If you're not familiar with Lileks, then check out his site. He's got some hilarious stuff there, especially in the Institute of Official Cheer (Check out the Gallery of Regrettable Food).

All hail WD-40, the Miracle Wonder Substance! Not only does it stop those hinges from squeaking and help free up rusted-on nuts and bolts, but I just discovered that WD-40 handily removes crayon marks from furniture. Cool! I also love the smell of the stuff, although it's probably terribly carcinogenic. I wonder what else it can clean around here? I've heard of some guys who use it to glean their barbeque grills, and some swear it makes the food taste better, although I'm not going that far.

San Rafael plans to overhaul Northgate mall praised - Housing advocates, bicycle proponents and enthusiastic mall supporters turned out for a city hearing Tuesday to cheer on plans to reinvent the Mall at Northgate in [Marin News from the Marin IJ]