Google Maps are Google Cool

Still in beta, Google Maps is still impressive. Spend a bit of time and pop around. Their designers and coders are working well together as is evidenced by the simple, easy-to-use interface. At this point, there’s no Help icons anywhere. And I’m not sure it needs any.

One comment. It would be nice to see the scale as we zoom in and out, but maybe it’s impossible to say 1 centimeter=12 miles due to different screen resolutions. Ok scratch that, two comments. Looking at it now, it doesn’t appear you can search around, find what you’re looking for, then copy and send the URL to someone. It still reads maps.google.com. That might be a deal breaker.

Lileks Must Run

I’m generally dispassionate towards politics, except when they confront the higher law or endanger the homestead, but after hearing that Lileks might run for office, I’m no longer a fence-sitter. Just a bit of googling, I found…

…and I think it’s a most splendid idea.

AUTORAMA! AUTORAMA!

How much do you hate it when commercials yell at you?

“AUTORAMA!! COMING TO YOUR TOWN!!”

I couldn’t reach for the radio fast enough, then I thought, ‘You mean, this isn’t Carl Casper’s Custom Auto Show?!?’ Their brilliant use of alliteration and 20+ years of yelling must have drilled a competitor’s brand into my brain. Then I heard something that must have been a mistake.

“COME SEE THE GENERAL LEE!!”

The Dukes of Hazard? Didn’t that show die when I was, like, six?

I mean, you don’t get sit in the car, much less drive it. Where’s the thrill? Now, if you could do this… then sign me up.

El Sabor Me Conduce Salvaje

I have no doubts that God has blessed the chefs of Mexico above all others.

Tonight I dined at Cantina Laredo. Mere words utterly fail to describe the exquisite delicacies that I just experienced. This was my first visit so now my dilema becomes, the Brisket Tacos again or roll the dice on something new. I’d wager that some choices are never wrong.

[Note: Babel Fish is one of those old-school websites that's quite handy at times.]

Kentucky’s Rondo Steps Up

Players and coaches are always saying this guy or that guy needs to “step up.” Huh? Say what you mean, “That guy needs to play better.” Ok, rant aside. Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo certainly doesn’t hear that from his coach because he’s already playing better than expected.

In Tuesday night’s win over Florida, Kentucky all but assured they’d win another conference title. But what’s new about that? What I really want to show you is this crazy move that Rondo laid on Brewer. Ref called it a walk, but c’mon… that was wicked!

Yo, Dis is Off Da Hook!

My bro, hipped me to dis dope site. Check it. Peace-out.

[Note: Bad language alert.]

Looking for an Excuse to Buy American?

GM Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz, addresses the issue (in his own blog no less) of whether American cars are, in fact, lower quality than the Japanese. Interesting, but I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on initial quality. I want a car that “holds together” after 10 years and 150k. This is something that the auto industry as a whole has made remarkably little progress in the past 40 years.

I’m sure Andrew will have an opinion on the matter. [via Hold the Mayo]

Usability On the Brain

Chad has it bad! You know you work too much when you start thinking of your life in work terms. Someone get this guy a vacation! And I’m a usability advocate.

I also put my keys/wallet in front pockets. That day my wallet was stolen in the crowded video arcade must have left an indelible impression on me.

Gartner Says Fear Automation, Not Outsourcing

In this article, Gartner predicts nearly half of IT jobs will be lost to automation by 2015. The brief does a decent job of summarizing potential process changes but neglects to identify which roles are in danger and which might actually improve. You know, there is always an increased need for specialized expertise when humans are taken out-of-the-loop.

Just Make It Stop!

This thing is freaking me out! I have nothing else to say, but feel free to hate me for posting it. [via Ace of Spades HQ]

Muy Bueno

I’m a huge fan of mexican food. Good, bad, it hardly matters. One time on spring break, some friends and I ate at Taco Viva 11 times in 6 days. Oh yes, I’ve got it bad. So here I am working on #5 and I come across a Taco Bueno. There’s no question I’m stopping.

Once inside I notice the salsa bar and start eyeing the goods. Could it be that I was born with extra umami taste buds?

I order the Taco Platter, beef, so that I could also sample their beans, rice and guac. Then I grabbed both their salsas—mild and only slightly hotter mild. Feeling adventuresome, I selected this year’s vintage Fanta Strawberry. Being a northerner, some of these “new” choices are just too intoxicating to pass up.

While sampling the fare in my car, I came to the conclusion that it tastes great, not necessarily because it is made with quality ingredients or put together in inventive, delightful combinations but because, I’m an addict. And like any addict, I sing along with Martin Gore’s I just can’t get enough.

Understanding Intelligent Design

Despite recent spectacles, the theory of evolution is losing ground to the logical concepts of the theory of intelligent design. Michael J. Behe, a professor of biological sciences at Lehigh University, wrote this piece for the New York Times that gives a quick overview to this theory. I’ve extracted the four points:

1. We can often recognize the effects of design in nature.
2. The physical marks of design are visible in aspects of biology
3. We have no good explanation for the foundation of life that doesn’t involve intelligence.
4. In the absence of any convincing non-design explanation, we are justified in thinking that real intelligent design was involved in life.

As a designer myself, it’s easy to distinguish between objects that were designed and which were merely random. (And those inbetween.) To honestly evaluate the highly complex systems that make up a human being and say they came about by chance, takes much more faith than believing there’s a God somewhere who designed us.

Churchill’s Childish Behavior

What does your little 5-year-old say after you catch him doing something he shouldn’t? “Don’t tell me what to do.” In essence, that’s what Ward Churchill is saying after being widely criticized for a highly offensive essay that compared the victims of 9/11 to “little Eichmanns” while the “combat teams” that struck the towers were “gallant sacrifices.”

He’s in the news today because he’s resigned his post at Colorado University and wanted to give a statement. Get this, he was the chairman of the ethics department. It goes without saying that he’s filing the obligatory lawsuit. Can you guess who’s in his corner? That’s right, our radical friends at the ACLU. Rather than college, he should be back in kindergarten.

All I Want for Christmas

I’ve never wanted something in my life so much. Time to sign up for another credit card!

Judging Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is far from my favorite topic of discussion. But how many among us have pre-judged him guilty simply because he’s strange? (And oh, how strange he is!) After reading this little story, I’ve decided to reserve judgement until all the facts are presented. I’m sincerely hoping all these allegations are false and that Michael is just a child in an adult’s body.