Following London, Sarah and I went on a strict detox diet to recover from three days of strong meat pies and weak British beers. Sadly, it lasted but a few days, because by Thursday night we were embarking on a four day drinking event the likes of which are unrivaled in my short time on this planet. From one of Holland’s first pubs to carry international beers, to the outlandishly wide-ranging wine tasting, and with stop to a Trappist Brewery in between, it was truly the days of beer and wine. Read more…
probonogeek Travel
Our last day in London meant accounting for travel back to Holland, and while we were taking one of the last flights out of Gatwick, we still had to leave the city around 3pm. Thus, with a shortened day we targeted our sightseeing on what some might call the Crown Jewels of London: The British Museum. Bet you thought I was going to say the actual Crown Jewels…but those are kept in the Tower of London which we had already visited. After the museum we did a bit of light touring and shopping and said our final goodbyes to the city. Read more…
probonogeek Travel
Our second day in London was entirely “in-country”. We woke up in Britain, we went to bed in Britain, and through out the day did thoroughly British things. Today’s main objective was to see St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Greenwich Observatory, and enjoy a nice romantic dinner in Parson’s Green. Our journey threw more than its fair share of curve balls along the way, but we managed to hit all of the major destinations and scored a major piece of swag. Read more…
probonogeek Travel
In an effort to make these travel posts more bite size, I am going to post about our three day trip to London in single day posts. Hopefully this makes it easier to write and more enjoyable to read. Our first day had us arrive in Gatwick, check in at our hotel, ride the London Eye, walk through White Hall, visit Sarah’s alma mater, see Buckingham Palace, eat delicious Indian food, observe Soho nightlife, and ride the Tube back to our hotel. Read on to hear about these adventures, and more, along with pretty photos. Read more…
probonogeek Travel
Some months ago the FCC — now with a majority of Democratic commissioners — implemented network neutrality rules using it’s “ancillary” regulatory powers. I’m on record as a proponent of network neutrality, taking the general position that the internet should be treated like a common carrier and/or utility, and that the only thing providers should be in the business of is delivering reliable and fast service. The moment providers become content filters is the moment their interests stop being aligned with the general good. Think of it like a road builder who also sold cars… don’t you think you’d build your roads to benefit your cars? After a failed effort to enact a network neutrality statute in Congress, the FCC stepped in, however a Federal Court has struck down the regulation taking us back at square one. But don’t worry, that’s a good thing. Read more…
probonogeek Politics, Technology
Today marks the end of my first week of travel abroad, and while I had hoped to post a bit more frequently, you’re all just gonna have to survive with a weekly summary here and hope that I do better in the future. Sadly, I have nothing in the way of photos to share, so sit back and enjoy a bunch of poorly strung together prose. Read more…
probonogeek Travel
For the first time in my life I am participating in a NCAA Championship Bracket “pool”. First, an honest disclosure… I have never once seen a complete NBA, college, or high school basketball game. I think the one basketball game I watched from beginning to end was a community league game with a team from Microsoft way back when I was, like, ten. Basketball has just never been my game, and when you’re not all that into sports to begin with, these things have a way of totally falling off your radar. Yet, since I have joined this bracket thing, I have become obsessed… but I still haven’t watched a single game of basketball. Read more…
probonogeek Personal
It was mentioned to me yesterday that my blog is tragically stale… and not just that I haven’t posted since November. It’s time to liven things up with some fresh content and, perhaps, some fresh means of communication. I’d like to get my Twitter feed up and my Yelp reviews posted. Something to give the place that lived in feel even when I’m not posting as regularly as I like. But, before the redecoration, let me get to the first important topic of 2010… it is both timely and pressing. Read more…
probonogeek Personal
Last night the path to 216 votes became more clear to the Democratic leadership trying to get a health care insurance reform bill passed through the House of Representatives. In order to address the concerns of the anti-choice membership of the Democratic caucus, a vote on a controversial amendment has been scheduled and is expected to garner majority support, after which those anti-choice supporters will be able to vote for the bill itself. But I’m increasingly convinced that that the House leadership has no intention of allowing this to stand when all is said and done. Read more…
probonogeek Politics
After three weeks in my new apartment I decided it was time to have people over for a proper dinner. Trouble is, my closest friends in the city are both vegetarians and most of what I know how to cook well involves tasty, delicious meat. Thus, I had to step out of my comfort zone to find a dish to inaugurate the dining room. After talking it over with Sarah, I decided to make mushroom risotto out of Jamie Oliver’s cookbook. Why, exactly, I allowed Sarah to convince me to make a risotto I will never know, as this is not a dish for the uninitiated. Here lies the tail of how I attempted, and partially succeeded, at preparing mushroom risotto. Read more…
probonogeek Food
