City Comforts, the blog

I like this rumor

Apple to do eBooks?

Rumors that

Apple's not satisfied merely vending Audible's books-on-digital-audio solution. With the iRex iLiad and Sony PRS-500 Portable Reader both right around the corner, is it possible the next iPod might catch the eBook bug?

I blogged on the "iPod Reader" in January, 2005: What will Steve Jobs announce at Macworld?.

Are things changing?

Here's a good little article about what is, in the big scheme of things, a very minor neighborhood battle: New Queen Anne QFC Plan. What strikes me most, however, is the tone and intelligence of the comments, which are largely anti-NIMBY and in general support of this in-city redevelopment. Is the younger generation more inclined to city living and understands the trade-offs?

Television you must see

All Seattleites should take the time to watch the Seattle City Council discussion of July 10, 2006 on the Alaskan Way Viaduct. The direct link to the show is here. It's sobering to listen to City Councilmembers asking basic questions about utility replacement. And I think that the Councilmembers were sobered and even stunned by some of the response given by the staff.

I agree...but...

An upcoming Seattle pundit stakes his turf.

That is why despite the inherent inadequacy of political labels, I continue to proudly identify myself as a “liberal.”

I sorta and grudgingly agree, but mostly because the alternative is not plausible.

My only problem is that while the pundit also sees that there "...is certainly a legitimate debate to be had over the proper size and scope of government..." that debate, so far as property rights are concerned, never, ever happens within the confines of "liberalism," understood broadly as the Democratic Party. To acknowledge a legitimate debate is great rhetoric but nothing more. Liberals leave the debate about property rights, for example, to the know-nothings of the left and right. I never hear, either at the grassroots or among elected liberal officials, any discussions of the appropriate limits of government when it comes to property. That issue is left totally, and to the detriment of both the nation as well as the Democratic  Party, in the hands of the Republicans. So far as liberals are concerned, government knows best — government certainly knows better than you — what to do with your property. Such a bland endorsement of government could only come from a person with little or no experience of the land use regulatory process.

And I'm disappointed he is disappointed

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Update.

Did the AP get the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi cost figures wrong? Anthony Calnek, the Guggenheim's deputy director for communications and publishing, writes me following: I happen to have seen preliminary estimates, and although I can't tell you the right number, I can tell you the AP got it wrong, both in terms of what the museum will cost and what the collection will cost. I'm really disappointed that you would use your blog to in this ridiculously irresponsible way.

Inspiring

Sophia Loren makes the grade as a Pirelli pin-up at age of 71.

Why no image?

The Seattle Times has an an article which is entirely about a water tower design. But the article contains no image nor a link to one. Odd and poor reporting.

Starbucks history

Interesting podcast here.

(Scroll down to the middle of the page and listen to the show under the title of Backstory: Starbucks.

Great non sequiturs

Meet the Malthusians manipulating the fear of terror.

There is very little to distinguish between the claims and dire warnings made by various different doom-mongers, whether they are left or right, green or business-oriented. So environmentalist groups are quite happy to harness the security concerns of the Pentagon in order to advance their cause. Greenpeace International has embraced a report written for the Pentagon, which predicts that ‘future wars will be fought over the issue of survival rather than religion, ideology or national honour’ (8).

There are many errors of logic, fact and commonsense in this passage. Can you suggest two?

Local guy does good

But Gitmo win likely cost Navy lawyer his career.