Apparently the intrepid souls at Customs and Border Patrol CBP, think that they've the right to

1. confiscate my laptop
2. copy it's contents, if they don't just keep it.
3. take my phone and or it's contents

without cause. Or rather without warrent. Saw this on MacObserver. It's being debated right now, or rather was being debated, yesterday. The 9th Circuit Court already said our rights don't amount to much when we come back from over seas. the EFF, and others are working to fight such lameness.

I totally get that some exec or developer or whomever could load their laptop up with secrets and scoot on over to China, and sell 'em. I get that. And if they make it all the way to China without one of our many snoopy agencies catching them, well shit, good on ya brutha. I mean really. the Telcos gave us all up to the NSA already, so phone calls are being listened to, records surrendered. Echelon is still running as far as I know so they're definately keeping an eye on us. Plus, by the time that bad guy is returning, he'd damn well better have erased evidence of his bad guy-ness. And I doubt we're buying illegal secrets FROM China, it's no secret how to mistreat your citizens, pollute your air, built low quality iPod knock offs, etc.

I know we live in strange times, and security nuts in our government agencies are still power grabbing 7 years after 9/11, but really! Confiscating our laptops and phones? copying the data to be rifled through later? Oh and if I'm innocent, what then? whatever secrets I did have, legal or otherwise are now yours. I'm not the paranoid type in many cases, but when it comes to my data. You'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands. I might have to install a cleaner on my machines now.... F you CBP how about you work on the illegal aliens strutting across the border problem, or work on keeping the Canadians out of Palm Springs. Work on that!

Nicole and I were in CA this past weekend. We were in Big Sur for a wedding, and on the way to the airport we swung by Carmel to do the famous 17 mile drive. One of the stops was a famous Cypress, the "Lone Cypress". It was quite beautiful. It was copyrighted.

WHAT THE FUCK!?

The text didn't come out in the pic, but that plaque essentially says that the lone Cypress is copywrighted by the Pebble Beach Company, and any use of the image of it is prohibited. Personal use was ok, but that was it.

To which I say, that the hell!? Can i copyright the Sun as my logo? Can I demand a usage fee from everyone on earth when they wake up and make use of the suns light? Did the Pebble Beach Company plant the lone Cypress?  Can I use the Rockies as my logo? Not the Coors Rockies, but the real ones? Can I then charge skiers for every photo they take? Can I charge the resorts that take action shots on the slopes?

Our copyright office must be a bunch of complete idiots. Copyright "A" Cypress tree, sure. But a real life Cypress tree? that exists and is a work of natures wonder? That's just crap!

Now that I'm back home, my thoughts on Tokyo.

My boy Ben came and met Tim and I on Friday night after work. He's expat living in Yokohama teaching english. He was our tour guide Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we hit up Akihabara, which is THE place for electronics (components and gear) as well as all sorts of anime toys, DVDs, outfits (eek), etc. Some very cool stuff. I could easily have spent all the money there, and still not been satisfied. As it was we didn't buy anything since we were being sorta tight with our money, in case we needed it.

Ben showed us all around the area, which was very cool.

Sunday was Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku (twice). We got to see crazy Japanese kids dressed as lil' bo'peep, some sort of vampires and I guess a famous j-Rock band. In any case, as Ben called 'em, "freaks" lived up to the name.

I realized that the lack of wireless internet was due to the seemingly 100% penetration of mobile phones, each of which has the internet. I only saw about two or three (in the entire trip) laptops, so wifi simply isn't needed. Sucks to be me.

The only downside of the trip was the complete lack of connected-ness. Even in Italy hotels had Wifi or hard wired internet for free. The hotel internet wasn't really expensive, but spending the money on internet wasn't a priority, though in the end we had enough. But even when the laptop isn't connected, I'm used to my phone having some sort of connection, even GPRS, or GSM. Something. It was completely useless in Japan, which really sucked. Tri band, I now know, isn't sufficient if I'm going to continue to travel. Quad all the way, good to know.

Over all, it's a very cool place to visit, you can (at least in many places) get by with English, and pointing at pictures. Most chain type joints have an english menu on the other side of the japanese one (ie Micky Dees, and such).

Another thing, don't fly with the Dominican Republic girls volleyball team. Their coach's are rude seat kickers, who have to bitch slap the touch screen controls, rather than lightly TOUCH them. Weak sauce!

Oh, and American Airlines, you really need to work on your "new" multimedia on demand system. It's not on demand if for every movie (only one even remotely recent release) and TV show, you have "wait another 30 minutes for the next running", or "Watch the one that started 9 minutes ago" options. WEAK SAUCE!! Send an spy over to fly internationally with Delta, they have it right. Each seat's system should operate like a PVR. Get it?

Well I'm in Japan. I don't remember if I mentioned it, but my pal Tim won a contest and the prize was a trip for two to Tokyo.

And here I am.

We landed yesterday, which is to say, May 22nd. I left Denver the 21st. We didn't do much that day, got through customs, etc, got to the hotel, blah blah

The hotel upgraded us to a really kick ass suite with a living and dining room, 2 bathrooms, a bedroom, rather nice! Pics later.

Today (the 23rd) we hit up Disney Sea. Which is The tokyo Disney's California Adventure, minus the gay craptasticness of California Adventure. They even have beer like CA. he he.

It was rather exhausting since Disney Sea, looks like it's about the same size as Tokyo Disney (which we didn't do) and has terrain, vs CA being more or less completely flat. I got a bit too much sun, that's a bummer. I had a hat, shoulda wore it.

The weather here is CRAP. It starts out humid as hell and hot and overcast. So I'm sweating buckets, the moment I step out the door, then the clouds burn off, and it's blazing in the sun. Then the clouds roll back in and it's back to being a bit sticky. No fun at all there. When Nicole and I some time come back, I'll have to find a less humid time of year. It's killin' me!

 Oh yeah and internet, not so hot. it's about 16 bucks for 24 hours at the hotel. Not terrible but not what I was expecting. TOmorrow we'll see about scoping so free hot spot action. I mean hello we're in the land of crazy electronics and such, I kinda expected more wifi than i could shake a stick at, and free internet for hotel guests. I might have been projecting I guess, but still.

Well you eeked out a victory in PA. w00t!! you go girl, maybe you can trick a few more states into thinking that your brand of politics like we've always had them, is exactly what we need more of.

PA, sorry you guys, you're a bunch of chumps. You had the opportunity to show Hilary the door and allow her to gracefully bow out, and save a little face. Not to mention saving us all a few weeks of crappy campaigning and sleazy tactics, ahem, Hilary.

Oh well. On to the next state. Good luck Obama!

I forgot to mention previously, but it's really interesting just how much our politics bleed into the world. I can understand once we have a president, but all through out Italy, one of the things that came up time and again from people... "What's up with your politics? Who do you want to win?"

I was in Italy twice in as many months, saw the posters and can only remember the name of one of the 3 dozen (it seemed) candidates for their presidential elections. Yet they're almost anxiously waiting to see what mess America makes in November.

Oh and the folks I was talking to, don't like Hilary. "It might be time for a woman, but not Hilary." Too funny.

If you want crazy detailed “blow by blow” accounts of our travels, go read Nicole’s blog. This will be more of my general thoughts on traveling in Europe, Italy specifically, things we saw while traveling, and in general my impressions.

We started our trip in Milan, with 360|Flex Europe. For a first time event, it went about as expected. Money wise, we lost money, community wise, we kicked ass. The European community is great, with only a few notable exceptions.

After 360|Flex, we had a day to cruise around and see some sights. We also had a few days before hand, so by the time we boarded our train, we had seen what we wanted to see.

So to start, traveling in Europe.

The train is your friend. 1st Class all the way!! 2nd class is ok for the short hop trips, but if you’re going any distance, go 1st class. “1st class” is not really a standard, but on the EuroStar trains, it’s nice. Even power plugs for each seat.

TrenItalia is a bit less, “1st Class” with larger 6 person “rooms” that a sorta cramped. The EuroStar trains are 4 person sections on one side, with a 2 seat section on the other. A bit nicer. Our train from Venice to Florence even had a little beverage service, with little cookies, free!.

I’m writing this right now on the train from Florence to Rome (Our last stop). This train is a bit older I’m thinking, it’s got power, but older looking appointments, who knows though.

Dressing like an American

‘they’ say it’s not advised, I call bullshit.
 Italians don’t seem to mind dressing like us, some of them

• They seem to fit into two categories.
• “Normal” dressing. ie fairly non descript clothes, lacking (mostly) logos
• “Ultra stereotypical” dressing. ie leather, buckles, boots, tight fitting, and in some cases, a logo on every possible square inch that isn’t covered by a rip or tear. Italians in this group seem to think they’re all racing for Pirelli.
• The 80’s called and said Italy needs to stop biting the style. I’m by no means a fashionista, but really!? Floppy boots that come up past the ankle? bangly everything, bracelets, belts, wastebands, you name it.
• Nike apparently doesn’t fit into the “no logo” thing. If it has a Nike swoosh, Italians will wear it.
  

Kids are whack

No matter what country or continent they hail from, they suck. In Venice I saw some french kids tossing trash all around St. Mark’s Square. Done with Gilato, toss your napkin, why not. In Florence, it was loud, obnoxious Italian children screaming from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Sorry France, you suck

The French have seriously earned every image that exists about them. I firmly believe stereotypes are usually pretty accurate, unflattering, but accurate. In the case of the French, WAY accurate. Rude, inconsiderate, self absorbed, yeah more or less. Sorta sad. I'm sure you're all that in your own world, but a little common courtesy to fellow sidewalk walkers, crosswalk crossers, and fellow gawking tourists. You ain't all that! Get over yourself.

I've caught up, and this part is written while hanging in our hotel room for a bit. We did a Vatican tour (skip the tour, get up early, do it yourself), and have dinner plans with a developer colleague from 360|Flex, so we're relaxing a bit.

This has been a truly fn trip, but I'm getting anxious for our own house, bed, the dogs, etc. Europe is nice and all but I miss the US of A.

So I'm at this event in San Francisco. The Adobe industry Leader Summit.

i've seen some weird stuff in my life. Not weird like, two headed turtles, but weird as in, "Don't see that every day"

Tonight might take the cake, at least for now.

Tom and I were waiting for the elevator (his bag was in my room, as he's not staying at the hotel), and two blondes approach.

"Are you two in town for a convention?"

Warning, Danger Wil Robinson Danger!

"Yeah."
"Is it pretty big?" Why girl? you lining up clients for the week?

"No just 20 or so of us."

"Ah. Having fun?"

"Uh, yeah so far so good."

"where are you from?"

Somehow we mentioned we were orginally from SoCal.

"Oh I'm from North Hollywood, well I have a place down there and up here in the city."

Oh yeah not a warning sign at all girl, not one bit. Might as well had a change belt around your waste at this point.

Elevator door opens.

"Have a good night." Us

"uh, yeah you too." Them.

Being the nerds we are, rather than comment on the looks of these two young ladies, we spent the elevator ride arguing whether it's called "Coming on to" when it's a hooker. I'm thinking it's still "coming on" regardless of the fact that money is expected. The flirting is the same, just more dirty. Tom thought it was considered something else.

I fly a lot these days, and without fail, some ass-burgler is in front of me causing trouble.

Whether it's "I'll never fly Delta again!" Douche in ATL bitching because he was 1 lb over the 50lb limit,

or mr. I'm gonna give the ticket checker before you get to Security a hard time, guy.

or my favorite, "My laptop can't be in the bag?" Idiot.

I'm no fan of the TSA, We've been at threat level Orange now for what? a year? Why even have colors if you're never going to change the level? We were at yellow once that I remember. Now apparently we're always at Defcon 2 flight security wise. WEAK!

HOWEVER. since they make the rules, freaking follow them! Wired has an article on ways to breeze through security.It's all very straight forward advice, and for anyone who's flown this decade, retardedly obvious, but for the rest of you! READ IT! commit it to memory. Yes it's a pain in the arse! Yes it's probably over kill, yes it didn't used to be like that, and yes maybe if we get a democrat in office, the government and TSA will stop trying to make it sound like we all like in Beruit. BUT until then, get in line, shut up, take off your shoes, belt, outer shirt! Take your laptop out! Have your shit ready before you get to the bins. Don't fill the bin while it's on the stack, thereby bin blocking the guy (usually me!) behind you!

Figured I'd do a post to wrap up my last few weeks since they've been a bit silent.

February 25-27 was 360|Flex Atlanta, the third event my company has organized. The first to turn a profit, albeit small. w00t!!

Tom (business partner) and I landed Friday, met with our hotel rep, ran some errands, etc. We spent the weekend, stuffing folders, copying files to USB drives, tracking packages, stuffing and alphabetizing badges, buying a PS3, blah blah blah.

Sunday was our free hands on "Flex 101" session all day. It was a huge hit. We planned for 50, and had 80 people show up. It was also early badge pickup, which always helps make Monday morning less  hectic. Word of advice, copying files to a 1gb USB drive, is SLOW, you can't do it on the fly. Lesson learned.

Sunday night we had our Speaker Sponsor dinner ( our way of thanking them), followed by welcome reception for attendees. If you're in the ATL hit Stats up. good food, sweet atmosphere, all around great place!

Monday was keynote one, where Tom and I say hello, thanks for coming, make a few announcements, corrections, etc, then hand off to Adobe to wow the audience. We had the pleasure of being the launch event for Flex 3 and AIR 1, which kicked ass!

Monday night's party was Adobe's and it was good. Tom and I under planned for food (that happens when you have your reg numbers swell over 100% in 30 days) but otherwise it was a good time.

Tuesday, no keynote. Tuesday is our Day of Rest i suppose. it's the only "normal" day at the conference. The party was hosted by two of the bigger Flex shops in the game, both local to Denver, neat! Was a great party, and when the beer budget ran out, both sponsors split the tab and "re-opened" the bar! Gotta love that.

The Wednesday keynote is my favorite. It's when Tom and I practice what we preach, transparency and conversation. We give a mid level review of expenses and income, showing what food, A/V, hotel, etc all cost, and what we brought in from attendee tickets, and sponsorships. Like I said above, Atlanta turned a profit. Not much, but at least it shows that our model of doing events isn't flawed. We also explained why we gave out 300 copies of the Cluetrain Manifesto. I'm really glad we did, I think it'll open a lot of eyes. We talked about one of our sponsors who couldn't make it for medical reasons, we talked about one of our sponsors who gave his extra sponsor attendee codes to students and those who couldn't afford to attend.

I think I like the Wednesday keynote the most because it's the one people talk about. It's the one people come up to us after and thank us for our openness and transparency. "No other conference gives that info out" get's said a lot on Wednesday. I like that, because I'm hopeful that it leads to change. The conference (tech mainly, but I'm sure it extends to freezer food, and cabbage patch kids too) industry is so corrupt and greedy that it needs change.

So that was up thru the 27th. Week ain't even over! Normally after an event Tom and I return home and enjoy some time not thinking about conferences. Not this time!

Thursday we cleaned up, packaged and sent off boxes of "stuff" to our homes, sent the stand for our big board back to it's home, had breakfast with the hotel reps (great ladies!).

At 5:30 we were on a plane bound for Milan, Italy. Sight of 360|Flex Europe, which was taking place just over a month away. The good thing about the flight to Milan, was that it was only 8 hours, and was through the night. We landed at 10:30 in the morning, slept most of the night, and weren't completely whacked out.

We had exactly 1 and 1/2 days in Milan. After training, then tubing to the hotel we met our hotel rep, Carla, who showed us the venue, talked about catering, etc., then it was nap time, LOL. We went out that night for dinner near the Duomo, which by the way is SWEET!

Saturday was just sightseeing, planning etc. Tom and I talked over plans for the conference, ways to get numbers up, etc. Then we went back to the Duomo for official sightseeing.

Sunday morning we Tubed, then Trained, back the Malpensa Airport and were on our 11 hour and some change, flight back to Atlanta. That flight sucked! Mainly because it was all daylight, we left at 10am(ish) and landed in ATL at 4pm(ish) do and then still had a 3 hour (for me, 6 for Tom) flight home. So all in all Sunday was SUPER LONG.

To wrap it all up, the persistent cough I had when I was in Atlanta, and Milan, turned into a full bore cold moments after walking in the front door to the house.... weak!

So that was my week, last week.

While I'm no fan of the TSA, I gotta say, I applaud their efforts to be more open, and in their words, transparent. The blog went live yesterday and already has hundreds of comments. I run my conference business as transparently as possible, we tell attendees at the end of the event, what we made, or lost, what things cost, etc. If having this blog helps the TSA to better understand their customers, which I believe 100% that they do not at the moment, then rock on fellas!

I can't even count the times, I've left an airport hoping that if there IS a bomb in a pair of Nike's that it goes off only in the TSA zone. I know they're working as hard as they can, I'm sure they're overworked. I'm also sure, the same as nurses, flight attendants, and police officers, they should work on controlling their emotions. They're dealing with stressed out, ofton moronic folks, hell I wanna brain the guy in line in front of me! Taking it out on us, not cool. I hope this helps. I also hope it helps us better understand them, something I sure can't hurt.

Today Nicole and her mom and sister headed to Ikea to do some shopping. I tagged along, since there was a Starbucks in the vicinity, I was hoping to get some work done.

Talk about being thwarted left right and sideways.

We get to Ikea for some $.99 breakfast action. i load up google maps for mobile to get my bearings. I plug in the address for Ikea, then the address for Starbucks. A third of a mile, great, I'll walk. i like to walk, and .3 miles is a bit silly to drive.

Oy.

My first and biggest mistake was in not seeing that Google maps mobile had plotted the position of Ikea and starbucks as being on the opposite side of Potomac Mills.

So I head off in the direction we thought I should. After about a half mile (remember it was .3 from Ikea) I turn around, thinking we've misjudged. Back to Ikea, then over in the opposite direction. I walk about another half mile and see one of the streets that google maps had indicated. Huh. ok must be .3 miles from this street. So I keep walking.

I walk past the next street, where the starbucks should be. huh, nothing. I keep walking. Still nothing. I walk up another street out of the "loop" of the mills. I walk and walk, getting lost almost, head back into the mills loop. Still no starbucks. I finally call....

"Oh, we're inside the Mills, next to the food court." Say wha?

By now, I've walked around this damn mall of malls out and around, and over and under, and the freakin' starbucks is inside!?

So i enter the mills. I walk, and walk, and walk and FINALLY find a starbucks.

I sit down, with my Venti Mocha Frap and start working.... Get the latest code, Errors. errors upon errors. I can't compile.

I spend 30 minutes fixing them... then the app no worky.... GRRR

That was my day... I've got code I need to write by friday, and still no working environment... Maybe tomorrow will be better.