Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # The Digital Tavern For The Sake of Clarity”¦There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't met ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.digitaltavern.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Paso Robles Wine & The Casa de las Vistas](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/paso-robles-wine-the-casa-de-las-vistas) - On a recent trip to the central California coast, I visited my good friends Curt and Martha. Before a day of decadent tasting of the great Rhone varietal wines of Paso Robles' west side, we stopped at the Templeton Farmers Market. Though we were committed to a dinner of roast beef, root vegetables, and a - [The Wonders of Skiing, Skies, San Diego, and Sun.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-wonders-of-skiing-skies-san-diego-and-sun) - I just returned from a four-day journey to Jackson, Wyoming, where I connected with an old college friend for a few days of skiing at Jackson Hole. The last time I saw Andy was some ten years ago. Before we chatted in early January, it had been five years or more since we spoke. Before - [How To Get More From Your HomePod & HomePod Mini](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/how-to-get-more-from-your-homepod) - 14 Tricks Apple’s Smart Hi-Fi Speaker Does You Didn’t Know This pigeon-hole categorization of HomePod put it square in the crosshairs of the Amazon Echo product line and its Alexa virtual assistant. No wonder critics panned the pricey $299 HomePod for being a “dumb speaker,” referring to the SIRI performance gaffs. But Apple designers, engineers, - [The Wacky World of Product Pricing—A Soap Opera](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/wacky-world-product-pricing-soap-opera) - Nobody wants to overpay for anything—especially knowing so. Sure, often convenience might dictate a willingness to pay a bit more for something and thereby one might justify the behavior as a "convenience cost." There is perhaps no product more commoditized than laundry soap—detergent. I would argue that nobody would knowingly pay too much—over pay—for basic - [Live A More Rewarding, Successful And Happy Life](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/stay-curiouslive-a-more-rewarding-life) - What does it take to live a more rewarding life. Follow these seven simple rules and you will be on your way to success, happiness and a more rewarding life - [Ethiopian-Inspired and Infused Chicken Lentil Soup](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/ethiopian-inspired-infused-lentil-soup-with-chicken) - Though I've prepared this soup in the heart of winter here in Southern California, my east-coast and northern US friends and readers will be quick to point out that the winter I'm experiencing here is barely comparable to the winter experienced elsewhere in the USA, Canada and the rest of the world. Nonetheless, we are - [Try The Beets! ](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/try-the-beets) - Why Being More Open Will Improve Your Life I'm not a fan of arguments. Sure, I enjoy healthy debate, but when discussions devolve into arguments where opinions interfere with facts and closed minds get in the way of honest curiosity, I want to throw up my arms and surrender. No. I'm not a quitter. Most of the - [Isn't Time We Wine?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/isnt-time-we-wine) - I haven't blogged about wine in a helluva long time. And tonight as I work on a client project, catching up on blogs and relaxing before catching a dose of Olympics I think it's important to note that I'm enjoying an excellent glass of wine. Within days of returning from China, in May I took - [Watch Out For This Pitfall In Online Banking & BillPay.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/watch-out-for-this-pitfall-in-online-banking-billpay) - Though I'm not sure the era of the truly paperless office, or personal life will ever come to fruition in my lifetime, I am committed to making it a reality in my life. Though I still hold an emotional attachment to traditional printed newspapers, magazines and newsletters, when it comes to invoices, bills, annual reports, - [Heads Up: Starbucks Stars & Rewards Fail](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/heads-starbucks-stars-rewards-fail) - Do you have a Starbucks gift card? Have you reached the "Gold" level? Are you using the Starbucks App on your iPhone to find Starbucks stores, pay for your drinks and collect rewards—Stars? I do all of the above. Yeah, I know many friends and acquaintances who like to get on the anti-Starbucks bandwagon touting - [Getting Hacked And Ripped Off By Airlines & Rewards Points](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/getting-hacked-airlines-airline-rewards-points) - There's No Such Thing As A Free Ride Travel hacking. Maybe it should be #travelhacking. Google it. There are more websites penned by would-be travelers aimed at gaming the system. That is, gaming the travel rewards, perks, mileage, points, upgrades—well, you get the idea. Supposed free stuff. Do you remember when you truly could get - [FORKS Book Tour '14 — The Beginning.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/forks-book-tour-14-beginning) - Though it seems I started just a few days ago, I am amazed that I've been on the East Coast for 10 days. To be sure, I feel a bit stressed that I haven't updated the blog and folks who've helped me in countless ways to get this ad-hoc and grass-roots tour off the ground. - [Wandering, Wondering, and Wallowing](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/wandering) - What happens to a blog when one wanders? Without a little attention, like a plant that needs water, a blog withers slowly. Yet unlike those less resilient plants, it still lives, albeit sedentary. Sadly, this blog—The Digital Tavern—has been on life support with less than a half-dozen posts over the past two years. I make no - [Exploring San Diego's Burgeoning Brewery Scene In Style](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/exploring-san-diegos-burgeoning-brewery-scene-in-style) - Since migrating south of my former stomping grounds in Orange County to North County San Diego, I have slowly been discovering the wonders of San Diego's culinary opportunities and more recently its exciting local and craft brewery scene. Taking the concept of designating a capable driver to a higher level, I was quick to agree - [Chardonnay & Gatorade](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/chardonnay-gatorade) - I think Halley Suitt is great. The real thing. Great blend of witty writing, personal insight, humor, some sarcasm and a lot of openess. If you haven't read her Alpha Male how-to guide and expose, get on with it. Today I find that while Halley admits that she doesn't often imbibe in the fruits of - [The Most Precious Gift](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/precious-gift-2) - Those who know me well have heard me say this time and time and again. The most precious gift you can give anyone is your time. Likewise, time is the most precious thing someone can give you. Simple, right? Yet sometimes the idea and value of giving and receiving time is forgotten or unrecognized. Think - [My Love+Hate Relationship with Apple Photos](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/lovehate-relationship-apple-photos-app) - You can call me a sore loser. That's right, a year or so ago I lost Apple's venerable, but often controversial photo management app Aperture. I felt abandoned, alone, and yet hanging on in desperation that a white knight would come rescue Aperture and along with it bring new life into the forgone and lonely - [Everything Must Change--> 20 Reasons Why Change Is Good.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/everything-must-change-20-reasons-why-change-is-good) - Why is it that so many of us have difficulty in dealing with change? Change comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and flavors. Whether your job has been eliminated, a competitor just outflanked you with a new product, you've had a personal loss or rules have evolved as have the way you do things, - [Not My Typical Blog Post.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/not-my-typical-blog-post) - Ok. So this is one of those blog postings I typically avoid. If you're a first timer to The Digital Tavern please peruse by scrolling down or clicking categories. You'll get a better flavor of my writing and what I write about. But for now, I gotta give an update. Why? Given the lack of - [Top 5 Mac Productivity Apps: Smarter & More Efficient Computing (OSX)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/top-5-mac-apps-smarter-productive-computing-osx) - Longtime readers of The Digital Tavern undoubtedly know that I've been an Apple Macintosh user for more than 20 years. Over the more than ten years I've been blogging, I've written a number of posts on Macs, iOS devices and other technology related reviews and observations. For my close friends and family, I'm typically the - [Web Apps, Apple Magic Mouse and Safari Gestures: A Bad Combo](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/web-apps-apple-magic-mouse-and-safari-gestures-a-bad-combo) - Mac Users using Lion may have issues with Safari and web apps when using the Magic Mouse, as its sensitivity may cause accidental swiping off the page resulting in lost data. This is particularly frustrated in web developing and using WordPress - [John Hiatt - Solo Acoustic - Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, California](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/john-hiatt-solo-acoustic-coach-house-san-juan-capistrano-california) - Another gig at the infamous Coach House in San Juan. The Coach House is one of those love/hate venues for me. I love the fact that they attract top artists such as Hiatt, Al Stewart, Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp, JJ Cale, Bruce Cockburn, Robben Ford, David Lindley, Norah Jones and many more. But the venue has - [Quote him](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/502) - Peter De Vries. "My father hated radio and could not wait for television to be invented so he could hate that too." [Quotes of the Day] - [Morning Ride.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/492) - Mornings Made Better. What a great thing to do. Take the 15 mile bike ride around Newport Beach's back bay. It refreshes your mind, gets your blood pumping the the scenery is phenomenal. - [Biking & Blogging: Introducing My Sometimes Daily Anablog](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/biking-blogging-iintroducing-my-sometimes-daily-anablogi) - Here's a story I wrote today that documents the feeling and the fun of taking an early morning bike ride through Newport Beach's back bay nature preserve. Some quick digital snaps, too. I think you'll enjoy it! - [Let Me Test You!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/480) - I Test. Therefore I Am. Every take one of these silly online personality disorder tests? Well I did. And here is my diagnosis. Well, the disclaimer assures me that only a professional can diagnose me or anyone. You too can take the test. Follow the link at the end of my proifle. Ha! Disorder Rating - [Write Your Novel By November 30th!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/write-your-novel-by-november-30th) - In case you haven't heard, November is National Novel Writing Month. The goal? Write a 50,000 word novel by midnight November 30th. Everyone at one time in life has dreamed for a brief moment or longer about writing a novel. Hey. I realize we're just about mid-month here. But the site gives tips, tricks and - [Those Santa Ana Winds Blowing Again](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/those-santa-ana-winds-blowing-again) - Geez. What is it many people talk about when they don't have anything to say? The weather. Ok. Ok. Cut me some slack here. Much to say. But let's take a breather. You know. The 'smell the roses' cliche kinda breather. Just for a short post. OK? They get me every time. It's not that - [Marin County Women Pose Nude For P-E-A-C-E](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/marin-county-women-pose-nude-for-p-e-a-c-e) - And they did it in the rain. I'm not sure what happened here. But this photo from this "southern belle's" blog is a lot different than the version posted on the Pt. Reyes Light newspaper's website. And it appears Ms. Sugarfused is getting a lot of hits from nude peace searchers on google and other - [Smell The Air. Feel Alive.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/smell-the-air-feel-alive) - I still have my old "hot rod" that I used to drive in High School. It's an old Detroit muscle car. But most important, it's a convertible. To some it's the quintessential California car. A Pontiac GTO convertible. The GTO takes us back to different times. Fun in the sun. California Girls. Beach Boys. Testosterone - [Southeast Asia Dreaming & Reflection](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/southeast-asia-dreaming-reflection) - I've been sporadically following Dervala Hanley's escapades through Southeast Asia since Liz pointed me to her blog a couple weeks ago. I was sad to hear of her motorbike accident where she broke her hand in three places. But I'm addicted to her great story telling, the occasional political jab and colorful word pictures she - [Discovery. The Fountain of Youth.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/discovery-the-fountain-of-youth) - I've spent a few days at our local shopping centre here in Newport Beach. It's called Fashion Island. Though I hear that those of a jaded persuasion refer to it as fascist island. It's not really an Island in the true sense. It is an outdoor marketplace mall that is circled by Newport Center Drive. - [Going To The Movies This Year? Seek Adaptation.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/going-to-the-movies-this-year-seek-adaptation) - Just Saw Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze's new film Adaptation. Starring Nicolas Cage, who plays two roles as twin brothers. A story focused on a screenwriter's attempt to write a film (true to life and integritous to the original work) from New Yorker writer Susan Orlean's book, The Orchid Thief. This is just one of - [The PowerPoint Pain. Victimless Crime?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/the-powerpoint-pain-victimless-crime) - Thank you Aaron Swartz for giving me the thrill of laughing out loud. When something strikes you as funny a number of things can happen. You can smile. Smirk. Chuckle. Even a breathy snicker. But when something strikes an emotional chord and triggers responses from both your synapses and (uh) ventricles, it's a whole body - [Flix. Flicks. Movies. Film. Cinema. Moving Pictures.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/entertainment/flix-flicks-movies-film-cinema-moving-pictures) - More thoughts on movies. I guess I figure this year is going to get crazy so I'm packing all my flick going in January. And I only want to see the good stuff. So if you haven't read my brief commentary on Adaptation and Gangs of New York check it out now. My most anxiously - [If God Watched TV, Would He Zap Commercials?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/if-god-watched-tv-would-he-zap-commercials) - Right on the heels of my post about Michael Davies' new variety show which promises to do away with commercials and instead blend sponsor messages into the programming content, FCC Chairman Michael Powell glowing from the pleasure of his favorite holiday gift, a TiVO personal video recorder, calls this digital device "God's Machine". [...]Powell said - [What Ever Happened To Great Radio?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/what-ever-happened-to-great-radio-2) - Earlier this year my brother Jonathan and I chatted at length about the poor state of commercial radio today. We reminded each other of our childhood dreams and passions. How years ago we dreamed and hoped that one day we would own a radio station. Passionate about music, writing, sharing and communicating ideas. And if - [Living In The Kingdom Of Fear Inside Hunter S. Thompson's Head](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/living-in-the-kingdom-of-fear-inside-hunter-s-thompsons-head) - Remember Hunter S. Thompson? Remember when Rolling Stone was a magazine that mattered? Remember the last time, or was the last time, or was it the time before, this country went to war? There was a young writer who captured a the sociopolitical, the counter cultural, the escapists, the fun, free and loving spirit of - [Monkey Spanking Happening, Only In SFO](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/monkey-spanking-happening-only-in-sfo) - Now I have seen everything. For the city with more parades and "cultural events" than nearly any other in the US - perhaps the world, this has to rank as one of the most curious since the S&M parade. [...] "This is an effort to counter centuries of censure, to make masturbation more fun and - [Maybe It's Time I Bought A Television (and other euphemistic tales)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/maybe-its-time-i-bought-a-television-and-other-euphemistic-tales) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern on April 7, 2003 - Ok. Today the price of admission just lowered for me. To be sure, I'm not talking about total "dollars" as cost. Instead, I refer to technology integration. It may be common knowledge, but in case you don't know -- I don't own a - [Greatest All Time Quotes?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/greatest-all-time-quotes) - This is, if you're into quoting dictators. And a few others thrown in for color. Thanks to Brownbelly for some excellent research, wisdom and inspiration in pulling together our Saturday collection. Light the fire under their feet. All that can be said of modern man is that he fornicated and read newspapers. Camus (from memory) - [Making Morning Coffee](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/making-morning-coffee) - Technology is a great thing. Even aging technology. Take coffee makers, for example. Perhaps these days we should call them brewers. Nonetheless, I've opted in recent years for the type of equipment that "brews" the coffee into a thermal container. We've moved way pass the glass bowels of Mr. Coffee, Bunn, Krups and the like. - [Looking For The Summer.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/looking-for-the-summer) - It's raining in Newport Beach. It's July. According to my best calculations, summer started about 2 weeks ago after a miserable spring and horribly gloomy May and June. At the car wash the other day a gentlemen was ranting about how our weather (read lack of summer and gray skies) is going to last for - [Fourth of July - Washington, DC & SuperNova](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/fourth-of-july-washington-dc-supernova) - In a few days I'll be ready to head to Washington DC for the coming festive and quintessential patriotic holIday. I also look forward to attending SuperNova and meeting many of my fellow friends from the blogosphere face-to-face for the first time. If you're in the DC area or will be attending the conference or - [The Wisdom Of Dentistry And Extraction.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/the-wisdom-of-dentisty-and-extraction) - Visited my passionate dentist Dr. Wally today at 4:30pm. He's been excited to remove my wisdom teeth. Keep in mind I've had these teeth for my entire life. There part of my body. They came in straight. And they've served me quite fine over the years. But Dr. Wally says I don't need 32 teeth. - [Driving Through San Joaquin Valley. And Starbucks.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/driving-through-san-joaquin-valley-and-starbucks) - Taking a quick excursion to Northern California for a few business meetings and a little relaxation. Decided to drive the infamous (5) five freeway. After laboring through the relentless stop and go of LA traffic, I finally broke loose just north of Valencia near Tejon Ranch. About 100 miles later and I'm beginning to feel - [Speed & The Porsche Personality](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/speed-the-porsche-personality) - For years I've held true to my conviction that I'd never own a Porsche. It's not that I don't find them suitable examples of German automotive engineering. I know Porsche as earned a certain status, if not an enigma among its small yet loyal customer base. And I'm all too aware of its rise in - [Back in California](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/back-in-california) - After a glorious two weeks in Wyoming and then a few days cruising through the amazingly scenic mountains and deserts of Southern Utah I'm back home in Southern California. Kodachrome Basin National Park, Utah. Some of the highlights of my trip include the intense, diverse and abrupt changes in weather in Wyoming. In Utah, I - [Wyoming & Montana. The Post Labor Day Retreat](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/wyoming-montana-the-post-labor-day-retreat) - Tomorrow morning I'm heading out of town. Again. So much of this country and this world to see. So I'm heading to Jackson tomorrow morning. While there, I'll embark on a couple day or two-day trips on a dual-sport motorcycle and tour the fantastic mountains, scenery and roads of Montana. Big Sky country. I'll endeavor - [The Seduction of Mars.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/the-seduction-of-mars) - Are men from mars? Then what's with mother earth? Stupid book titles? All wrong. But tonight we sit under the Southern Californian sky with Mars glowing and showing all she's got in her optimal viewing position from earth [~] at least for th next several thousand years. I'd like to say it's her. Not him. - [Samsara. Van Gogh's Prison & Great Works of Art.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/samsara-van-goghs-prison-great-works-of-art) - I spent most of the day in LA today at the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art where two exhibits were winding down their final days in Los Angeles. The first was a sampling of Old Masters, Impressionists and Modern art of French Masterworks from The Pushkin Museum of Fine Art in Moscow. Among the - [Motorcycling and Movies.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldrider/motorcycling-and-movies) - I finished producing a short (20 minute) montage of music, stills, and clips from both still camera's in movie mode and some MiniDV footage. They've been burned to DVD and I've got a web ready file but it's still 40MB. I've got to run it through Cleaner and then post it. But the reality is, - [The Joy of . . .](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-joy-of) - . . . photography. My dad gave me my first Canon 35mm camera for my 12th birthday. In my seventh grade ubiquitous adolescent-tasked paper, that my mom still has in archives, "What do I want to be when I grow up I fancied myself a photographer. Since those free and innocent days of my - [Up Against The Wall.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/up-against-the-wall) - Very proud of my friend Brian who never ceases to amaze me with his ideas, creativity, writing and business sense. I never knew he would let those pesky plastic wall anchors that come with just about every home or office accessory that need to be mounted on a wall get the best of him. But - [Twitter Terrorists](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/twitter-terrorists) - Well, they just couldn't leave well enough alone. This from Fox News: The U.S. Army is flagging the popular blogging service Twitter as a potential terrorist tool, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported Sunday. A recently released report by the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion contains a chapter entitled "Potential for Terrorist Use of Twitter," which - [YouTube On The Prowl](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/youtube-on-the-prowl) - I've got a few video composites from my motorcycle trip around the world posted on my WorldRider account on YouTube. About a week ago I received a notification from YouTube, ironically the message was in Portuguese, that my "Riding Bolivia" piece included copyrighted material and that it had been blocked from further playback: Prezado(a) worldrider, - [The Tavern's Back - Update: Look, Feel & Platform](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blog-update-look-feel-platform) - Remember "The Digital Tavern"? This is the blog I started in 2002 before anyone knew blogs or blogging. There are seven years of my ramblings on music, wine, marketing, macintosh and of course my favorite, travelogs. But I couldn't keep up two blogs while riding a motorcycle around the world. So The Digital Tavern was - [The Joy of Photography.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/photography/the-joy-of-photography) - As many of you know, one of my lifelong passions is photography. Primarily using "still" cameras, though I do like to wade in the tepid waters of digital video. I was a very early adopter of one of the first photo-sharing social network-ish sites, Flickr. Then I played with Shutterfly,the original Ofoto (now owned by - [Aging California Wine & Friday the 13th.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/aging-california-wine-friday-the-13th) - Some historians peg the superstition to the thirteen people who attended the Last Supper (neither Jesus nor Judas came out of that one OK), but ancient Babylon's Code of Hammurabi omits the number 13 in its list of law [...] ... Wall Street's superstitions about Friday the 13th continued through 1925, when the New York Times noted that people "would no more buy or sell a share of stock today than they would walk under a ladder or kick a black cat out of their path." - [Eisele Syrah](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/eisele-syrah) - Mobile Blogging from here.[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone] - [Rugby, San Diego & The Price of Beer.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/rugby-san-diego-the-price-of-beer) - I was grateful that my long-time Kiwi friend and Rugby aficionado Stefano invited me to attend the IRB World Series USA Sevens - the largest Rugby even in North America. I joined him several years ago at what then was my first even Rugby event. As live team spors goes, Rugby garners about as much - [Soothsayers: Ides of March....Days of Doom...or ?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/soothsayers-days-of-doom-or) - "The Ides of March are come," Julius Caesar tells the soothsayer who warned him to heed the pending doom on 15 March 44BC. "Aye," the soothsayer said as he glared into Caesar's triumphant eyes, "but they are not gone." It was later that day that Caesar, in the shadows of the theater at Pompeii was - [Taking MacJournal For A Spin As A Blog Client/Front End](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/taking-macjournal-for-a-spin-as-a-blog-clientfront-end) - While it’s been long since I’ve posted to The Digital Tavern, today someone suggested I explore using MacJournal. So this is my first test blog. ”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹ Here I insert an image.... but I wonder how I can tell MacJournal where to put the file when uploading? ”‹ After my test, I find that I can - [Things Classic. Heritage. And What's New Anyway?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/things-classic-heritage-and-whats-new-anyway) - I guess I've been out of it. Well, at least out of this country. For three years. Wandering the byways of distant locales in search of some truth I already believed but needed to prove to myself, dodging erudite donkeys while avoiding potholes and pitfalls of solo adventure travel, lots has changed around here - - [Yet Another Reflection - 9/11](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/yet-another-reflection-911) - I'll never forget. You won't. They won't. And in the rare case of memory lapse, the media won't let you. Today's long list of errands forced me to burn fossil fuel by driving around. I opted to listen to the radio, rather than my iPod. There's plenty of talk about remembering what happened eight years - [Reds. Photography. And Blogs.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/reds-photography-and-blogs-2) - And those behind many of such tea parties efforts to make the current administrations efforts to move the economy, improve healthcare and fight the war on terror appear like "Bolshevik Plots," might take a few hours of their day and take a trip back in time and reflect. ... My upgrade is on the way and I'm confident that once and for all this will put those still hanging on to Adobe's LightRoom effort will ultimately give in and recognize the superior tools, advanced features and ease of use that has been the case as Aperture has matured over the last three years. - [The Old Trick Bag. The Plastic Version.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-old-trick-bag-the-plastic-version) - I've been on a personal mission for quite a while. Actually, I've probably been on a number of personal missions, and probably for my whole life. The thing that strikes me today is my disgust of plastic shopping bags and my mission to avoid them at all cost. And it's cost that I think is - [A Spoonful of Sugar, Not HFCS, Makes The Medicine Go Down](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/a-spoonful-of-sugar-not-hfcs-makes-the-medicine-go-down) - Backlash Against High Fructose Corn Syrup Grows I don't claim to be a nutritionist, yet I prefer to eat healthy. Though, I am a foodie, in my own unique way. I love to cook, experiment with recipes and explore different cuisines. That's why I'm writing a cookbook. It's an exciting concept. I'm focusing on around - [HDR Photo Examples Using iPhone 4G](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/hdr-photo-examples-using-iphone-4g) - I continued to be impressed with the camera and its capabilities on Apple's iPhone 4 or 4G, however you wish to refer to it. Yesterday afternoon while roaming around Orange County and Newport Beach I was stunned by the dramatic sky and clarity as ominous clouds hung over the coastline and the rugged terrain of - [Sunrise to Sunset - California Winter](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/sunrise-to-sunset-california-winter) - I'm hardly a creature of habit, but there are those things I often revisit that serve as a reminder to me that perhaps I should make a habit of paying more attention. Simple things, like grapefruits and sunsets. I remember many years ago as a towheaded New Englander those days my grandparents returned from their - [Around The World Alone -- On A Bicycle.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/around-the-world-alone-on-a-bicycle) - Ok. So you know I traveled around the world for three years alone—on a motorcycle. And I really didn't see everything. There are still plenty of places waiting for my visit. Or at least I'd like to think so. Truth is, there are a lot of places I'm waiting to visit. But that's besides the - [Social Media Faux Pas - Direct Message New Twitter Followers](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/direct-message-twitter-faux-pas) - When you send an impersonal Direct Message (DM) from your Twitter Account to New Followers You Are Violating a basic tenet of social media - [iPhone 4S Camera & Sample Photos / Images](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/iphone-4s-camera-sample-photos-images) - Check out the sample photos from the new iPhone 4S camera. The sample photos from the iPhone 4S camera here are pretty amazing considering they were shot on a grey and dull day in southern california - [iPhone 4S Siri - Meet Your Digital Assistant](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/iphone-4s-siri-digital-assistant) - Meet Siri the iPhone 4S Siri Digital Personal assistant. This demo shows her power and command of normal language. She's requires no special commands nor training. But she does learn, if you let her. - [The Baseball That I Remember](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/the-baseball-that-i-remember) - St. Louis Cardinals David Freese and The 2011 World Series momentarily brought back the passion and reason why I loved baseball as a child. - [Sample photos from new New iPad 3: teaser of what's next](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/sample-photos-from-new-new-ipad-3teaser-of-whats-next) - Spring Flowers Come Alive With New iPad Camera & Retina Display I've had my new iPad with its amazing retina display for a scant 12 hours. I'm working on a review complete with sample photos, video and content generated, edited and created on the iPad (read: no accessories or apps). But this will consume most - [How Pink Slime Caught This Company On The Wrong Side of Social Media.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/how-pink-slime-caught-this-company-on-the-wrong-side-of-social-media) - Jaime Oliver and ABC News have been on the attack toward pink slime maker Beef Products Inc., the company could have used social media to counter the attack and take charge of the conversation. - [Is FEAR replacing FREE as the most powerful motivator in advertising & marketing?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/is-fear-replacing-free-as-the-most-powerful-motivator-in-advertising-marketing) - Retailers are preying on people's fear of disaster. Why fear is the biggest blocker and inhibitor to personal and business success. Flush fear, succeed by failing and free yourself of your comfort zone. - [Recipe testers needed for exciting new global cookbook. Interested?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/recipe-testers-needed) - WorldRider Cookbook””unique blend of cookbook, travelog and photo book””features recipes, stories & photos from my motorcycle journey around the world. Recipe testers needed for global recipes. - [A Gentle Nudge: Time To Write & Post An Update](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/a-gentle-nudge-time-to-write-post-an-update) - I posted this also on my WorldRider site, so if you're reading both blogs, just a heads up! I thought I'd keep readers who've been Digital Tavern fans and not necessarily the motorcyele adventure fans an update too. Because like my WorldRider site, I've been negligent in writing new content here on the Digital Tavern. - [Let Your Dog Piss At San Diego Airport. Freely.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/let-your-dog-piss-at-san-diego-airport-freely) - If Your Dog Needs To Pee When You Are At The Airport, What Do You Do? Full disclosure here. I don't have a dog. I love dogs. I love cats a bit more. But I love all animals. No discrimination. Though I always find it funny when I see dog owners sporting a warm bag - [Publishing countdown and pondering Egypt.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldrider/publishing-countdown-and-pondering-egypt) - I've been working more than three years on my new book. It's been a much bigger project than I imagined. You see it's much more than writing. Because I've decided to break the barriers and move past the borders of traditional publishing categories, producing the book has pushed me beyond my limits. Not so much - [FORKS On Tour: Looking for Help & A Sprinter Van](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/forks-tour-looking-help-sprinter-van) - With the bulk of the Kickstarter books shipped and the looming official release/publication date of FORKS (June 2, 2014) just around the corner, my focus is on a cross-country book tour. This would include book signings, readings and special events surrounding travel, food and motorcycles. Planning and coordinating such a tour is a lot of - [FORKS on Tour 2014—Near You?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/forks-tour-2014-near) - A quick update regarding my new book FORKS—A Quest for Culture, Cuisine, and Connection. Three Years. Five Continents. One Motorcycle. As a small (let's say tiny) independent publisher with no staff, but fortunate to have an amazing group of friends, volunteers, and others interested in helping me get FORKS on to more tables and more - [Nearly Flashed & Crashed Into The New Year - Canon 430EX II](https://www.digitaltavern.com/photography/nearly-flashed-crashed-new-year-canon-430ex-ii) - Proof Of The Incredibly Indestructible & Durable Canon Speedlite 430EX II I didn't want to start the new year disappointed and forced to open my wallet to buy a new flash for my camera bag. Though, I thought I would. First, the events that unfold in this story happened hours before the ball dropped (in - [Around-the-world-motorcycle adventure comes to life in FORKS, the new book by WorldRider, Allan Karl--now on Kickstarter](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldrider/around-the-world-motorcycle-adventure-comes-to-life-in-forks-the-new-book-by-worldrider-allan-karl-now-on-kickstarter) - Culture. Cuisine. Connection. Karl turns to crowdfunding to help realize his vision for this book, which lets readers experience the world through fascinating stories, stunning photography, and tasty food from 35 different countries. Rather than compromise his vision by using traditional publishers, who wanted to simplify his book, author Allan Karl decided to turn to - [Who’s Collecting Janis, Stamps and Vinyl?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/janis-joplin-usps-collector-stamps-45-rpm-vinyl) - I like stamps. Especially postage stamps from foreign countries. It's kinda like currency. It tells a story, or at least begs one to understand the meaning of the stamp artwork. I don't like digital stamps, those barcoded adhesives that can be purchased at self-serve USPS mailing machines—or those that the postal clerk will stick on - [Portuguese Language and Hospitality](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/portuguese-language-and-hospitality) - Eduardo worked as a server in a local restaurant/bar. About 40 yeas old he was born in Portugal but moved to Angola in Africa as a boy. A Portuguese colony until Portugal granted in full independence in 1975, Angola has struggled with political and economical uncertainty since its independence. With a small frame, salt and - [Misty, Moody & Medieval Marvao](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/misty-moody-medieval-marvao) - Situated almost on the Spanish border Marvao with its serpentined walled fortress rests among other medieval hilltop towns in the eastern part of Portugal's Alentejo. Perhaps the least populated region of Portugal, Alentejo means land beyond the Rio Tejo (Tagus River) and stretches from the Atlantic coast to Spain. Rich in agriculture and peppered with - [Snowshoe, West Virginia — FORKS Book 'Tour — RoadRUNNER Touring Weekend](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/snowshoe-west-virginia-forks-book-tour-roadrunner-touring-weekend) - Leaving my new friends in Columbus I headed to Snowshoe, West Virginia, home of the popular Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort and summer mountain biking, motocross and a plethora of other outdoor activities—and this year site of the 9th annual RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel Magazine's Touring Weekend. I was honored to be asked to come - [Virginia Wine Country: Early Mountain Vineyards](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/early-mountain-vineyards-virginia) - The Best of Virginia Wine — Virginia Wine Country Keeps Getting Better Earlier this month my brother Jonathan and I had an opportunity to visit Early Mountain Vineyards in northwestern Virginia, a couple of hours from Washington, DC. Just a few years ago Jon introduced me to the burgeoning Virginia winemaking scene when we visited - [There's Alcohol In That Wine You're Tasting. How much? Reviewers now drink & tell!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/theres-alcohol-in-that-wine-youre-tasting-how-much-reviewers-now-drink-tell) - It hit me some years ago when while tasting and reading a bottle of Turley Zinfandel. I nearly dropped the bottle when I realized the alcohol level recorded on the label indicated 17%. That's nearly port, I thought. Since then the alcohol levels of wines beyond zinfandel have been steadily climbing. So much so that - [Mother of All Lobbies, Please Stand Up: The Mother Lobby](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/mother-of-all-lobbies-please-stand-up-the-mother-lobby) - Our Children Don't Deserve To Die By The Wheels Of A Car Or The Bullets Of A Gun There was a time not long ago where in most parts of our country it was openly accepted and commonplace to drink and drive—that is, it was not uncommon to find someone with an open container such - [Twitter Tip: Focus On Who You Follow, Not Who Follows You. Avoid TrueTwit.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/why-worry-twitter-followers-or-follows) - The Stupidity of @TrueTwit Validation Service & Other Secrets To Responsible & Rewarding Social Media Interaction Why You Should Focus On Who You Follow, Rather Than Who Follows You. If you are an active or moderate Twitter user, you likely understand that for many the objective of your Twitter involvement is to share valuable content - [Invigorated. Alive. Wow.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/invigorated-alive-wow) - As many of you know, as a professional keynote speaker my job when speaking from the platform is to inspire, motivate and encourage my audience to step outside their comfort zone, accept change, try something new and to not be afraid of anything—failure, rejection danger, traveling somewhere strange — you get the idea. By the - [Watching Syria's War With Tears In My Eyes](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/watching-syrias-war-with-tears-in-my-eyes) - exploring back roads, medieval towns, historic mosques and of meeting people who went out of their way to introduce me to their country and smile - [How To Ruin Your AdWords Campaign](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/how-to-ruin-your-adwords-campaign) - There's no question that for many businesses a Google AdWords campaign can be an effective component of a marketing or advertising campaign. With powerful targeting tools, incredible metrics and insight and when finely tuned, Google AdWords can be very cost-effective and provide significant ROI. So when I stumble on an advertiser that ignores some of - [The Effortless Way To Improve Your Appearance, Your Success & Your Health](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/smile-improves-appearance-success-health) - When we smile we reduce stress and improve appearance. Smile to lower blood pressure, make those around us feel better & live happy and successful lives. - [The Wild World of Restaurant Wine Corkage Policies](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/restaurant-wine-corkage-policy-corkage-fee) - Should a restaurant wine corkage fee and wine corkage policy be more open, innovative and focused on selling wine, some of these restaurants are expanding wine corkage terms - [Apple Slammed With Lawsuits & Apple Slamming Lawsuits On Copycats](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-slammed-with-lawsuites-apple-slamming-lawsuits-on-copycats) - I don't expect that most readers are as interested in the ongoing patent wars that involve Apple, Google, Motorola, S - [Five Keys To Building A Social Media Plan & Strategy](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/five-keys-to-building-a-social-media-plan-strategy) - Most Social Media Experts Don't Know The Difference Between Tactics & Strategy Very few businesses get it. More and more so-called social media experts don't get it. Participation in social networks and the occasional social media contribution doesn't make for making business social nor is it a substitute for understanding social business or the emerging - [Blood Spilled Over New iPad - iPad 3](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/blood-spilled-over-new-ipad-ipad-3) - I never planned to do another silly YouTube unboxing video. However, as I was waiting at the end of my driveway for the airport shuttle to pick up my friend Michael Yacavone, who visited from the East Coast for a few days, the UPS driver pulled up. As Tony, my UPS, driver headed into the - [“Social Media Is A Waste of Time.” ](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/social-media-is-a-waste-of-time) - Is Social Media Worth The Time, Resources & Money Invested? If I had a buck for every time a client, associate, friend or passing stranger revealed to me their sentiment and belief that time spent on social media is wasted and counter productive, I'd be able to comp or buy everyone in the early morning - [The More That Things Change. The More They Stay The Same.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/ten-years-social-media-tips) - Plus A Blogging Tip For WordPress Bloggers - Timing and Scheduling Blog Posts I've been writing about blogs and blogging for ten years. Before "social media" evolved to its current status as an overused and mostly misunderstand "word or phrase du jour", I was espousing the benefits of using blogs as a business or corporate - [When Corporate Blogging Is Done Right. Everyone Benefits.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/when-corporate-blogging-is-done-right-everyone-benefits) - A couple weeks ago I wrote It's Time For Marketing To Embrace Weblog Concepts & Technologies. The post created a bit of stir and a number of bloggers commented. Some gave positive nods. While others shook their heads as a sign of disapproval. And since then there has been a lot of discussion on the - [After Ten Years - Time To Change - New Design Coming](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/new-design-coming) - This year The Digital Tavern - For The Sake of Clarity - celebrates its 10th birthday. It's fun to look back at the old posts still archived here. Nobody knew what a blog was back when I started this exercise. Today, some might argue that blogs provide more accurate news and commentary than the old - [Going to South America](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/going-to-south-america) - This is a quick update that I am doing via my iPhone using Siri. For some of the words may not exactly get translated. But I'm sitting here at Dallas Fort Worth international airport awaiting for a flight to Argentina. I will be joining my friend Rob Rill and going to Argentina, Chile and Peru. - [When Price Is All You Can Sell, Your Value Will Spiral Down the Deep Abyss](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/when-price-is-all-you-can-sell-your-value-will-spiral-down-the-deep-abyss) - Last night over a good glass of wine, food and a dose of marketing and sales brainstorming with a client and friend the conversation headed down the road of fees, costs and pricing. My client has been battling a sales force already battered down by a sluggish economy that wants to make deals or downward - [Can Social Media Be A Bridge To True Connections & Real Relationships?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/can-social-media-relationships-bridge-real-relationships-connections) - The more we use technology & social media to try to foster & maintain relationships, the more we yearn to fill the hole and emptiness caused by social media. We need to fulfill the very human need to connect with other people. We can use technology and social media as a bridge to stronger relationships. - [Corks. Love 'em. Hate 'em. You?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/corks-corked-wine-quality) - What do you do with your old corks? Does the romance of a traditional cork prevent you from buying wines with screw caps or composite corks? - [Wake Up & Smell The Coffee Beans](https://www.digitaltavern.com/inspire/wake-up-smell-the-coffee-beans) - Starbucks recommends two tablespoons ground coffee beans per six ounces of water. For a french press is this excessive? - [Mac OS X Lion. 10 Important Impressions After One Week.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/lion-impressions-after-one-week) - I jumped in head first. I bought the latest update to Apple's OS X operating system the day it was released. Though this can be a risky move because OS X 10.7 (aka Lion) is a major upgrade and, as such, incorporates a number of dramatic changes to the code as well as the staple - [Digital Tavern Subscribers: Bloglet Back? Time to Move Off Radio Userland?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/digital-tavern-subscribers-bloglet-back-brtime-to-move-off-radio-userland) - It appears that the Bloglet Digital Tavern updates are working again. You should've received an update in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I'm not sure why the service has been so sporadic and buggy. But while most you subscribers weren't getting notices, as author of this blog I received a notice for each of - [On Speaking and Speakers](https://www.digitaltavern.com/entrepreneurship/speaking-speakers/on-speaking-and-speakers) - Last month I had an opportunity to attend the annual National Speakers Assocation (NSA) annual convention. This year the event was held at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida in the shadows of the "house of the mouse." I decided to attend just days before and new to this business of speaking, I had - [Vintage Steve Jobs](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/vintage-steve-jobs) - I was happy to find that Gizmodo reprinted (posted) an interview from Playboy Magazine with Steve Jobs from sometime in the mid-1980 's. I guess there is some controversy as to the actual date of the interview. Suffice to say this interview took place just before Steve Jobs turned 30 years old. It won't take - [The Ethics of PR, Freelancers and The Media](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/the-ethic-of-pr-freelancers-and-the-media) - Ever read David Pogue? You know, the New York Times leading techno-geek. Yeah, the guy who reviews all the cool gadgets that you'd like to toy with if you like toys and are equally geeky, or the gadgets you will run backwards away from holding your index fingers in a cross as if you're warding - [Dave Alvin Pleases and Delivers on his 11th Solo Release](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/dave-alvin-pleases-and-delivers-on-his-11th-solo-release) - I can't remember how I was turned onto the music of Dave Alvin. I liked the rockabilly and catchy music of the Blasters, the band he and and his brother Phil founded while growing up in the eastern Los Angeles community of Downey. I never saw nor bought any of the roots music recorded by - [Going Mobile. Going Social. What's It All Mean?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/going-mobile-going-social-whats-it-all-mean) - But the experience of being away from home with my 7th grade friends was certainly a study in social behavior--even if I wasn't familiar with the lexicon, I certainly had my social skills tested that long weekend. ... To be sure, it's critical for business to develop a social strategy, social user guide for employees and well thought out objectives on how social technology will impact both relevance and reputation. - [Social Sites Surpass Email Usage](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/social-sites-surpass-email-usage) - Social networking and blogging have become more popular than sending email, according to a new report from Nielsen. More than two-thirds (67%) of the global online population now goes online to visit social networks and blogs. "Social networking has become a fundamental part of the global online experience," says John Burbank, CEO of Nielsen Online. - [Making History. A Wine Industry First: Bedrock Wine Company.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/making-history-a-wine-industry-first-bedrock-wine-company) - A vey passionate winemaker whose wines are some of the best I've discovered in recent years just announced that he will be issuing a refund to anyone who bought one of his most recent releases. Why? Because he doesn't feel the quality is up to the standards he strives for and is committed to making. - [How Does Apple Grab So Much Attention? Always.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/how-does-apple-grab-so-much-attention-always) - Unless you've been sleeping or simply unaware or uninterested in the world of technology or Apple, you know that gadget website Gizmodo somehow managed to get its hands on what is likely the next (4G) generation of the Apple iPhone. With Apple's trademark, if not Gestapo-style secrecy it's hard to imagine someone so careless to - [Five iPhone Apps Every Successful Person Needs to Use & Master](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/five-iphone-apps-every-successful-person-needs-to-use-master) - It's no secret I love my iPhone. My friends, clients and associates will all attest for my relentless efforts to help them take advantage of this powerful tool and help them be more productive—and successful. However, most iPhone users who purchase and download apps rarely use them the day after they bought them. In fact, - [Wild Card From The Cellar - 1992 Ferrari-Carano Tresor](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/wild-card-from-the-cellar-1992-ferrari-carano-tresor) - 1992 Ferrari-Carano Reserve Tresor surprises me for a19 year-old Sonoma Cab This bottle has been kicking around my cellar for more than ten years. I must admit, I wasn't excited about opening this wine. But as the adage goes, it's not going to get any younger, so with apprehension and low expectations I pulled - [Solana Beach, Farmers Market and Winter Beaches](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/solana-beach-farmers-market-and-winter-beaches) - Sunday afternoon is an excellent day to stroll along Cedros Street in Sonana Beach's design district where local farmers, chefs and street vendors set up shop for one of the nicer farmer's markets in North County San Diego. Open from 1-5pm the small market meanders up a narrow pathway on the east side of the - [What's With The iPhone?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/whats-with-the-iphone) - I've had my iPhone for about five months. I love it. Has it changed my life? No. Has it made somethings easier? Yes. Has it saved me time? Not really. It actually costs me more time. Yeah. I'm addicted to it. I say that with caveats. And sometime in the future, I'll present a more - [Baja California. History. Water. Endangered. And Great Photography.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/baja-california-history-water-endangered-and-great-photography) - Imagine California more than 150 years ago. Until Spain recognized Mexico's sovereignty in 1821, California was a Spanish colony. This colony was separted by two missionary factions. In the North, Alta California was governed by the Franciscan missions and to the south Baja California was under Frandiscon mission rule. But the young sovereign Mexico soon - [Catching Up With The iPad, Al Stewart and Oregon Pinot Noir.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/catching-up-2) - Time for a quick update on the Digital Tavern. Pardon the diversion, but this post will focus on some personal and business items that I hope you'll find interesting or at least somewhat amused. First, it's all the hype and there's no doubt you've seen it on the news, heard strangers talking about it in - [Treating Wanderlust With Live Music](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/treating-wanderlust-with-live-music) - Seems that the only traveling I find myself doing these days is either up and down the California coast. While my return to trip to Israel in December was an exception, I discovered this week that low mileage traveling combined with stellar live music can be quite satisfying to this nomadic wanderer. I got lucky. - [Riding That Train, Italian Wine & Late Night Jazz: The Streets of LA](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/riding-that-train-italian-wine-late-night-jazz-the-streets-of-la) - Living in Southern California certainly has its benefits. The weather is perhaps the best in the country, there's great live music, entertainment and most of the airports, even the smaller regional hubs are well served by the airlines. So when one needs to flee southern California, there are always many options. Another benefit of Southern - [iOS4 | iPhone 4 | Release Day Apple Store](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/ios4-iphone-4-release-day-apple-store) - I didn't really need an excuse to convince myself to buy a new iPhone. Yet putting it through the complete wash cycle in the automatic washer clinched the deal. Returning from a recent motorcycle and camping journey through the Sierra Nevada mountains (if you're not following my WorldRider blog, you might want to now) I - [The President of the World: In Tanzania](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-president-of-the-world-in-tanzania) - Here in Tanzania, I ran into something completely unexpected: a welcome party for President George W. Bush. Elsewhere he may be one of the most unpopular political leaders in the world, but in Tanzania, George Bush has been welcomed as "the president of the world."I've spent most of the past two years riding around the - [Paper or Plastic? When lazy leads to waste.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/paper-or-plastic-when-lazy-leads-to-waste) - Time to blog. So rather than rant, lament or comment on those things that are certainly more important than my random muses here tonight (Tsunami, Iraqi elections, my brother's birthday today, etc.) I'd rather just blaze into the tavern this evening with a simple comment. I bought a few miscellaneous items at the local grocery - [Back to Sudan? Almost. The Almighty Temple of Abu Simbel](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/back-to-sudan-almost-the-almighty-temle-of-abu-simbel) - Egypt is the land of Pharaohs. Home to some of the oldest and most well preserved archaeological sites in the world. And it's no wonder. Wit the massive Sahara desert to the west and the Red Sea to the east, Mediterranean to the north, it was very in accessible in ancient times. So while the - [Blogtime. Reward or Curse?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogtime-reward-or-curse) - In response to my "why blog?" I've received plenty of insight and comments. Thanks all of you. My good friend and ex-Wirestone creative director (might I add musician extrodinaire) is getting into blogs. But he's concerned and writes me: [...] problem is, if I spent all my time following blog links. I'd be following blog - [One Week & Nothing New?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/one-week-nothing-new) - Memorial Weekend. If you've been wondering why blogging has been void this week, you should know that I got a vacation. That is, after one year of blogging the good people here at The Digital Tavern granted me my ubiquitous one week vacation. Thanks for your patience. Back later tonight. - [Happy Birthday. Happy Anniversary. The Power of Four.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/happy-birthday-happy-anniversary-the-power-of-four) - I almost forgot and let the week go by without thinking about it. It's an important milestone for me. Actually this week marks two anniversaries of sorts. First it was 4 months ago this week that I broke my leg in Bolivia and had to be Medivad'd back to the states for surgery. More on - [Why Blog?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/why-blog) - Grumpy Girl and Ant are at it again. We've watched them diablog about the definition of a blog, today they're asking bigger questions such as Why Blog? Funny, I've had many people ask me this as I passionately preach the benefits of blogging. After all, this is a commitment. And most of the community of - [Blogging Artistry](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogging-artistry) - Stuart notes that Blogging Artistry yields nothing when googled. Though I see a comment on Noah Grey's old blog mentions the artistry of blogging. Not sure if I'd categorize Noah's new site as a blog. But who says a blog must contain words? Wood S Lot today pays homage to Rabindranath Tagore's birthday (today) and - [It's That Time.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/its-that-time) - There's something about going back the wrenches my mind and my gastrointestinal system. I'd be foolish to think that all that was required was to simple show up in Bolivia, hop on my bike and continue the journey. It's not that easy. And the mind plays tricks. First, 9 long months have passed. Sure, my - [Searching in Sweet Sucre for Energy](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/searching-in-sweet-sucre-for-energy) - After my nap we went shopping for a new battery for my bike. After nine months of non-operation I was sure the battery was dead. But this task turned out to be more than a challenge than I expected. Motorcycle travelers in South America told me there'd be no problem finding a battery. In fact - [Tikal. The Grandest Mayan City.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/tikal-the-grandest-mayan-city) - Our guide led us through small dirt paths through the overgrown jungle. As we trekked toward, rustling sounds and deep throated roars stopped us in our tracks. Craning my neck to the thick canopy of the rainforest a group of 4 or 5 howler monkeys swung from branch to branch. The foliage did a good - [Rio.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/rio) - The beaches. The music. The fahvelas. The food. The friendly people. The shoeshine boys on the beach walks. The bikinis. The spirit. Rio is gearing up for the Pan American Games. And Al Gore's concert for awareness of global warming. I settle in to experience some of the usual sites, the architecture and culture, the - [Belem, Brazil: A Final Photo Essay](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/belem-brazil-a-final-photo-essay) - With my bike safely crated and cleared from Brazilian customs, I got to spend a few more days riding a light enduro Yamaha through the narrow streets lined with colorful colonial buildings of Belém. Alex and Marden provided the continuing entertainment and Belém experiences: wandering the maze of vendors that make up the kinetic and - [Xhosa, The Transkei and Coffee Bay.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/xhosa-the-transkei-and-coffee-bay) - Tucked in cozy nook in the Amathole Mountains, Hogsback and the surrounding old growth forest, waterfalls and the canopy and odd shaped twists, turns and hanging strands of foliage and tree branches apparently was the inspiration for South African-born J.R. Tolkien and his wildly popular series of Fantasy books including The Hobbit and the Lord - [Exotic Game in Sossusvlei](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/exotic-game-in-sossusvlei) - Perhaps the trademark or signature image of Namibia comes from the glorious orange colored dunes of of the Namib Desert -- perhaps most famously are those of Sossusvlei. Tucked into the central Namib surrounded by vast arid plains dotted with acacia and quiver trees and various desert shrubs such as sage or some sort of - [Quest For Water In Kaokoland. Back In Time With The Himba](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/quest-for-water-in-kaokoland-back-in-time-with-the-himba) - The small settlement of Opuwo sits just south of the Angola border in Namibia's Kaokoland. Due to its harsh terrain including bush, desert and mountains, this part of Namibia is more rural and seems somewhat trapped in a time warp, largely due to the presence of the semi-nomadic Himba people. In what might seem movie - [Ngepi Camp: Caprivi? Botswana?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/ngepi-camp-caprivi-botswana) - The Ngepi Camp sits at the beginning of the Panhandle of the Kavango River which flowing from Angola dumps into the vast swamp known as the Okavango Delta - a vast wildlife reserve of wetlands and bush, and the largest Most of the delta sits in Botswana but here at Ngepi camp we spent a - [Getting Close To Wildlife, Or Wildlife Getting Too Close to Allan?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/getting-close-to-wildlife-or-wildlife-getting-too-close-to-allan) - There's no question that visiting Tanzania's world-renowned national parks is an expensive proposition. While budget travelers like me can camp and cook our own food, there's no escaping the high cost of park fees. At fifty dollars for each twenty-four hour period or faction thereof, it's easy to rack up a couple hundred dollars in - [Indian Food & Genocide, An Unlikely Mix.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/indian-food-genocide-an-unlikely-mix) - He was very formal, personal and service oriented if not a slightly meek. When he brought me a bottle of the local beer in a 330ml bottle, I admitted my surprise. Most beer in Africa is served in 500- 1.0L bottles. Rarely does one find what we are accustomed to in the US: the equivalent - [Ripped Off in Kenya & The Amazing Return](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/ripped-off-in-kenya-the-amazing-return) - What was supposed to be an early start for the Ethiopian border crossing now was looking to be a mid-afternoon departure. First things first. I had to get the bike unloaded from the lorry. My preference was to unload it somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of this Kenya border town. Getting both the - [The Donkey Did It.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-donkey-did-it) - Southern plains of Ethiopia. Below a new traditional home under construction. As I moved to make time to get to Awasa I noticed groups of women carrying large round ceramic containers colored brown and with a narrow top and ringlet handles tied to their backs. The rounded belly shape seemed awkward and uncomfortable, but hundreds - [Sudan: When It Comes To Desert, I think of Sudan.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/sudan-when-it-comes-to-desert-i-think-of-suday) - Once you cross the Nile River and head north out of Khartoum things turn desolate. Come to think of it riding into Khartoum from the south things were pretty desolate. But strategically located at the confluence of the Blue and While Nile rivers, Khartoum is capital to the largest (in size) country in Africa. And - [Belem: My Home In The Amazon](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/belem-my-home-in-the-amazon) - The Portuguese landed in Belem at the mouth of the Amazon River yet still 120km from the Atlantic Ocean in 1616. Interestingly enough the voyage from Lisbon to Belem, due to prevailing winds and strong currents, took longer than the trip from Belem to Salvador. Today, with nearly 1.5 million people Belem is the economic - [One Year Later: Santiago, Chile](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/one-year-later-santiago-chile) - I wonder what the weather is like in central Bolivia today. I'll bet that road from Potosí to Uyuni is washed out and muddy. For it was one year ago today I took my fateful plunge into the mud of Tica Tica - a tiny Altiplano village in Central Bolivia. So today I remember and - [To The Highest City In The World: Potosi, Bolivia.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldrider/to-the-highest-city-in-the-world-potos-bolivia-9) - Pouring over maps, weather forecasts and intelligence culled from other travelers, internet sites and local people Jeremiah and I decide to make a break for the Salar de Uyuni, the highest and largest salt flat in the world. By taking this route we'll have a chance to spend a day or two in Potosí, the - [1977 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/1977-trefethen-cabernet-sauvignon) - Last weekend I was surprised by a visit of my good friend, mountain climber, travel companion and legend Mr. Tim Amos. For the 16 hours he spent in Southern California, we tried to take advantage of our time together. First stop was a visit to my wine cellar (storage facility) in Irvine. Culling from the - [Speaking Spanish.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/speaking-spanish) - I did it. Made a promise to myself many moons ago that I'd tighten up my Spanish proficiency. After all, it's likely that more than 50% of the Southern California population speak Spanish. I can get by. But I really want to dig in and become fluent. Conversational. Did what? I signed up for a - [Rome: History. Mussolini & Vatican Censors.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/rome-history-mussolini-vatican-censors) - Rome is all history. Ok. So some may go for the food, others for shopping, but most go to take in the history. Ancient Rome, Old Rome and latter day Rome. Arguably, perhaps the two most visited areas are Ancient Rome including Ceaser's Forum and The Coliseum as well as Vatican City in all its - [...](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/136) - Update from Panera. I just moved to a comfy leather chair with a built-in cup holder, an floor lamp and a pivotable and moveable table extention attached to the chair. This place has it going on. Could be my new office. Still raining so now I'm plugged in and maybe I'll grab a cup of - [Don't Call Me. I'll Call You. (National Do Not Call List Squabble)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/dont-call-me-ill-call-you-national-do-not-call-list-squabble-2) - Over the past week I've passed on a number of exciting deals offered to me over the phone. I wasn't interested in reviewing "a copy of my credit report for accuracy" free for 30 days. I passed on The Los Angeles Times for just over a $1 a week. Said no thanks to three days - ["Two Buck Chuck" - Charles Shaw Wine Fans Brace For Round II](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/two-buck-chuck-charles-shaw-wine-fans-brace-for-round-ii) - Trader Joe's bled it for what it was worth. The $1.99 wine that the airlines supposedly sent back because it couldn't bring corkscrews on board. It was a hoax. Much like that Nigerian national looking for a domestic US banking account. Or the e-mail that will destroy everything on your hard drive if you open - [What's In A Name? Should You Change Yours?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/whats-in-a-name-should-you-change-yours) - Did you see that Dell is changing its name to better reflect its brand image? True. As a marketing strategist specializing in brand development and reinforcement I was eager to learn from this mega-successful giant's latest move. The new name? Dell, Inc. This is fascinating. Changing the name "represents Dell's evolution from strictly a computer - [It's Time For Marketing To Embrace Weblog Concepts & Technologies](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/its-time-for-marketing-to-embrace-weblog-concepts-technologies) - When I first started my advertising agency in the late 80's I had an opportunity to develop a number of corporate publications for emerging technology companies, among others. Some were true custom magazines, others were traditional newsletters. My team and I worked hard to forge a strategic approach to this extremely tactical vehicle. Whereas our - [Floydian Slip & DSM IV](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/floydian-slip-dsm-iv) - Oh my god. You know I pulled Christopher Locke off my blogroll months ago. I admit I was taken back by his whimsical and fearless writing, no nonsense sensibility of marketing concepts and ideals and his wacky sense of timing. But he dropped off the scene for awhile, never returned any of my more than - [Dina & SYD](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/dina-syd) - Ok. I'm going out on a limb now. But Dina. Yeah, you know. The infamous gal behind the "Conversations with Dina" is not only a marketing magnate, but she's a legend with great musical taste (IMHO). Well in many ways. It would be unfair to isolate a particular or singular legendary post. Though I have - [It'ss A Great Ad. But It's Not Content](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/its-a-great-ad-but-its-not-content) - Unless you've been sleeping, away from email or wandering the Nazca Plain aimlessly you've probably come across the classic Honda television commercial titled "Cog". You can see all of it in its full 120 seconds of synchronistic glory here or here. This ad has been slashdotted, metafiltered, blogged about and certainly attained legendary status by - [Clarity & Focus. What's Your Elevator Pitch?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/clarity-focus-whats-your-elevator-pitch) - Who are you? What exactly do you do? Why is this important? And why should I care? No. I'm not necessarily talking about you as a person. Rather simply inquiring about your company. Many of us who work for complex technology companies generally find it difficult to explain exactly what your company or product is - [It's All About Cash](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/its-all-about-cash) - Several years ago during the dawn of the internet I was asked to speak at a conference in Prague for the European Journalism Network. At the time my brother Jon was a working journalist in New York City. I was asked to speak about technology as it related to delivery of journalistic content while my - [Observations](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/observations) - Thought I'd share with you just some simple observations of mine that stuck in my mind over the last few days: Screaming teenagers driving a BMW X5 SUV (new) through a Newport Beach shopping center parking lot while hanging half way out of the car waving signs and gleefully requesting "Vote For Arnold" Sav-On Drug - [Wine. Wine Wine.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/wine-wine-wine) - Many regular visitors to the Tavern have asked for more wine notes. And I've got to agree. It's not that I haven't been embibing in and falling prey to the sensual seduction of the fermented grape, I just haven't transcribed my notes and experience. No worries. I'll be sure to share my wine tasting experiences - [Going To Italy](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/going-to-italy) - Been trying to tie all loose ends and catch up on work, phone calls, email and blogging. But it's no use. I'm still behind. If you've called, sent an email or otherwise haven't heard from me, I hope you'll understand that getting ready to depart the country for an extended time tends to weigh one - [Rome Red Eye](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/529) - The flight from Orange County to Newark was uneventful save the fact that I had barely two hours sleep the night before. Out of a restless sleep I popped up vertical like a jack in the box the second the obnoxious alarm pierced the silence of the room. On the plane the passenger sitting next - [Roman Cabs And California Fascination.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/roman-cabs-and-california-fascination) - Within minutes of passing through the exit doors at Leonardo Da Vinci airport we were making our way to the city centre in the back of a Roman cab. Our cab driver, young, slightly nervous and exhibiting what I can only describe as some sort of strain of turrets's syndrome. Uncontrollably he'd make rapid and - [There's A New Cat In The House: Panther](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/theres-a-new-cat-in-the-house-panther) - I just received an email from Apple announcing that its next major release of OS X operating system software will be available to the public on October 24, 2003. This is almost exactly 14 months since Jaguar was released. The new version, called Panther, offers a host of new features. Perhaps most important is a - [Two-Wheeled Roaming.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/two-wheeled-roaming) - The streets of Rome are narrow, busy, noisy and fast. There are so many different modes of transportation that we never see in the United States. Much like any crowded metropolitan city, whether Europe, Asia or South America, the objective is to move fast to and from your destination no matter the danger. In Rome - [Embassy Rocks In Rocks In Rome.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/embassy-rocks-in-rocks-in-rome) - Last night someone was rocking down the house at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. True story. As Tim and I rounded the corner and headed down the block toward our hotel we heard loud thumping music. Thinking maybe that Jackie O's was letting it out a bit more than usual we realized that the party - [Who Needs A Name In Tuscany.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/who-needs-a-name-in-tuscany) - Montelpulciano is a quiet small medieval town about 3 hours north of Rome. Famous for its grand wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano the cobble stone streets are steep, narrow and lined with traditional cafes, butcher shops, enotecas and a handful of tourist oriented shops. Arriving mid-evening last night I drove the "hot" Fiat Punto through - [Tuscany: The Ultimate Wine Preparation & Presentation](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/tuscany-the-ultimate-wine-preparation-presentation) - It's about the wine. And it's about the food. Welcome to Tuscany. For most people when they think of Italy and wine, images of Chianti wrapped in wicker bottles perhaps come to mind. Or maybe the simple but excellent Pinot Grigio. But if you're passionate about wine Italy conjures images of rolling Tuscan hills and - [Pienza & Pecorino](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/pienza-pecorino) - A short drive from Montepulciano took us to the medieval town of Pienza. While those showing perhaps more favor to the church rather than the land will relish telling you Pienza was home and birthplace (1405) of Pope Pius II (elected in 1458), others with mouth watering affinity to formaggio will gladly explain that Pienza - [Climbing Cortona.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/climbing-cortona) - Took a little excursion to the town of Cortona which is just east of Montepulciano. East of the "highway" A1, Cortona offers stunning views of Tuscany looking west. Originally settled by the Etruscans somewhere around the 8th century BC, and later became a Roman town. Like many of these towns we're cruising through there are - [Montalcino Moments.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/montalcino-moments) - We headed north from Montepulciano to the medieval hilltop town of Montalcino. Like most of the towns and villages that dot the picturesque Tuscan landscape, Montalcino is a town made up of steep narrow travertine lined streets lined with stone buildings dating from the 14th century and many enoteca's (wine bars). In Montalcino this is - [Bloglet Tips For Digital Tavern Subscribers](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/bloglet-tips-for-digital-tavern-subscribers) - If the link to a post doesn't work from your bloglet update email, simply go directly to the DT homepage. I've received a few notes from subscribers over the past few weeks about bad links in the bloglet subscriber updates. For some reason my weblog software (Radio) doesn't create or changes the permalink (a link - [Italy: A Passion For Brunello di Montalcino](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/italy-a-passion-for-brunello-di-montalcino) - He's a sturdy and tall man with large hands. Tufts of grey hair flapped in the wind as he talked to us about his vineyards and the improvements and expansion he's made in the last two years to his cellar and winemaking facilities. Half of his shirt was untucked and peeking out from under his - [Images Now Display.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/images-now-display) - I've had a bit of problem getting images from this trip to upstream. But I think I've solved the problem. If you found bad links in the past posts you've read, scroll down and the images should display correctly now. Sorry for the inconvenience. Just what goes with the territory when away from DSL and - [Brunello di Montalcino VIP Style](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/brunello-di-montalcino-vip-style) - For me, the true benefits of traveling transcend the history, geography, scenic beauty, the sense of freedom of being "away" and the comeraderie shared with those traveling. Instead, it's the people I meet. And while I've probably not done justice to the dozens of people I've met and shared experiences with on this trip, I - [The Holy Grail of Wining & Dining in Tuscany?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/the-holy-grail-of-wining-dining-in-tuscany) - That last thing you really want to read about is the food and wine Tim and I experienced in Tuscany. But perhaps you'd want a hot tip? You know, for your upcoming trip to Italy? There's no question you need to visit Montepulciano. And when in Montepulciano pull out all the stops and have perhaps - [What's With Vin Santo?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/whats-with-vin-santo) - Altesino has been a familiar name in Brunello di Montalcino since the early 70's. Their Brunello designated Montosoli Vineyard is consistently highly related, delicious, hard to get and expensive. But worth it. Last year the previous owners sold the vineyard and brand to a woman who resides in Rome and who owns another vineyard in - [Siena in the Rain. Ricolma in the House. Vin Santo Redux.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/siena-in-the-rain-brricolma-in-the-housebrvin-santo-redux) - We arrived after hanging with the Ciacci family. It was dark in Siena. The main Piazza empty. But the signature clock tower loomed high and proud above. The next day, the skies starting welling up and then cried. We walked the walled city of Siena and reminisced about the fight for control and struggle for - [There's more to Italy.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/theres-more-to-italy) - Well of course. There's much to see in Italy. And our trip was simply focused on Rome and Tuscany. We'll be back. And I'll be back on the Digital Tavern with more experiences from Siena, Chianti and Florence. But I've run out of time. It's off to Mexico. For an adventure. More later. - [Back From Italy, but... On The Road Again.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/back-from-italy-butbron-the-road-again) - It's a whirlwind. I'm now sitting safely, so to speak, in Orange County. Home from Rome, Tuscany, Italy & Newark. But not for too long. The apocalyptic skies drenching silvery streams of ash. Kinda looks like snow here. My throat more than tickles from the foreign object in gestation. Wildfire. It's sad. It's a bit - [Digital Tavern Road Trip Update](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/digital-tavern-road-trip-update) - I received a few e-mails asking about Mexico and why am I thrusting myself from one culture (Italian) to another (Mexican) so quickly. So rather than write a long essay on this I urge you to check out the beauty of Mexico's Copper Canyon. Border crossing into mainland Mexico is interesting. Especially with a motorcycle. - [Monday. Making For The Border.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/monday-making-for-the-border) - The morning pack bike ritual was interrupted momentaily when the owner of a huge red pickup outfitted with the ubiquitous spare tire in the bed and string of Hella spotlights on the roll bar. When I asked if he'd pre-fun the Baja course he climbed in the cab and sneered , "Yeah three times. Now - [Sunday. Doing The Baja 1,000](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/sunday-doing-the-baja-1000) - It was barely 7 am when Chuck from Chatsworth started up his portable compressor and air gun as he torqued the tire bolts of his off-road monster. Ok. Maybe his name wasn't Chuck nor from Chatsworth, but he was a passionately committed man playing with his tools and toys at 7am. A bit early? Perhaps. - [Saturday. Doing Time In San Quintin.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/saturday-doing-time-in-san-quintin) - Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I absorbed the sunrise over the Sea of Cortez this morning. Radiant orange and brilliant red framing a tranquil silhouette of both Isla Angel de la Guarda and Isla Coronado and several others that provide the intrigue and wonder of Bahia de los Angeles. I shuffled my feet and - [Friday. The Road To Bahia de los Angeles.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/friday-the-road-to-bahia-de-los-angeles) - I forgot to mention San Ignacio, where I had lunch before continuing to Bahia de Los Angeles. It's a quaint small village a few miles off the crazy Mex Route 1. Though smack in the middle of Baja I felt the tropic vibe as I rode through nearly 2,000 date palms and by a lagoon. - [Mexico Madness](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/mexico-madness) - Sitting in an internet cafe in Creel, entry to the canyon system that spans 6 times larger than the Grand Canyon. A great motorcycle ride from Newport to Sonoito in Sonora on my first day. About 400 miles. Crossed the border at Tecate. Painless once you figure out how to obtain a tourist pass, temporary - [Guaymas. Why Mas?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/guaymas-why-mas) - After making my way from the cascada grande at Baseachi on Monday morning to the port town of Guaymas, we rolled into this fishing town about 4pm Monday. The ferry to Santa Rosalia was to depart at 8pm. Apparantly the captain was a bit freaked out about the winds and word from Baja was nasty - [Santa Rosalia, Baja Sur, Mexico](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/santa-rosalia-baja-sur-mexico) - The ferry finally pulled out of Guaymas yesterday about 10:30am. My original travel companion, Mark, decided to make his journey back to San Francisco the day before. So then there are five: Sean and Michael from Colorado and the young bicyclists, Megan and Nick, from New Mexico. Our bikes shared the auto cargo area with - [Racing The Sun. -- Downtime in Bahia de Los Angeles.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/racing-the-sunbrdowntime-in-bahia-de-los-angeles) - Woke up tangled in my sleeping bag under a palapa just south of Mulagé with the rising sun painting fire in the sky. The mosquitoes flanked our palapa and hopping little insects annoyed my travel companions so much that in the middle of the night they erected their tents and fell for shelter from the - [Birthdays & Anniversaries. Mom & Prohibition.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/birthdays-anniversaries-mom-prohibition) - Happy Birthday Mom. And thank god we can celebrate the 70th anniversary of the repeal of the 18th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You know. The one that in 1919 made sales and distribution of alcohol illegal. Except for sacrament, of course. That is, for the church.My mom was born years after the repeal of - [Words Worth More Than 1,000's of Pictures?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/words-worth-more-than-1000s-of-pictures) - Interesting. After a couple image/picture-free medium length posts here on the Digital Tavern I've received a few email and comments regarding the lack of photography. While away in Mexico, Italy and a trip through Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, I posted medium and longer length posts enhanced with photographs of other graphical devices. The comments were - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/554) - James Douglas Karl July 17, 1932 - September 1, 2004my memorial to Uncle Doug moved here. - [James Douglas Karl](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/553) - James Douglas Karl July 17, 1932 - September 1, 2004 My uncle Doug passed away last week. He was 72 years old and had been struggling with heart disease for many years. He died in his home in Connecticut I understand peacefully. My dad's brother, I hadn't talked to or seen Doug in nearly two - [Numb to the Num Lock](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/86) - I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure what kind of alien virus screwed with my PowerBook. Punching keys causes random acts of screen pop ups or disappearing windows. Phantom web pages load in Safari when using a normal key combination. And iTunes. Won't respond. Ahhhh. What has happened? What have I done? Ok, - [China.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/555) - Traveling to China. If you're interested in more great travel stories as I make my way from Hong Kong to China don't miss the following posts. Some difficulty in upoloading my blog entries in mainland China so Bloglet subscription updates won't go out because these are dated from a few days ago. Take a moment - [Insignia Day.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/517) - I anxiously await my short drive from El Dorado Hills (near Sacramento) to Napa Valley. Tomorrow is the 4th annual Insignia Day put on by the good people at Joseph Phelps Vineyards. They will be pouring the recently released 1999 Insignia, older vintages and barrel samples from the 2000. The event is surely to be - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/515) - Sitting here with Jim Young discussing the probability that E.J. Gallo can produce a decent merlot for seven bucks. - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/511) - Wednesday night opened the 1999 Blancaneaux from Francis Ford Coppola. The sister wine to the Rubicon, it is a blend of Marsanne, Rousanne, Viognier with a bit of chardonnay thrown in. He makes 300 cases of this wine. Upon opening it I found it immediately a bit tight and closed down. A fair amount of - [1996 Vintage](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/509) - 1996. The Vintage. Well. Sitting here with CNN star and brother Jon drinking some of the best from California's "hot" 1996 vintage. Tonight we're drinking the Abreu and the Maiden, Harlen's second label. Overall both wines are worth. They've both got deep complexity with dark fruit and a touch of earthiness. While the Abreu squeeks - [Will We Ever Understand French Wine?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/506) - For The Fear of Complexity. Will We Ever Understand French Wine? To truly understand the bizarre nature of French wine labeling and categorizing, you'd be better off with a law degree than a diploma in oenology from the University of Bourgogne in Dijon, France. Unlike the United States, what the French can "name" a wine - [Israeli Wine](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/503) - Israel: Golan Heights Hires Top Woman Winemaker. Israel's world-class Golan Heights Winery has hired one of California's most celebrated women winemakers as a special consultant..... [TiZ WineBiZ] - [Oregon Wine](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/501) - Oregon Wine. Pinot Noir and Next Economy Thinking. The following excerpt is from a longer article I uncovered at MSNBC/Newsweek that is worth reading. It discusses how innovative thinking is required to build solid companies that will endure the next economy. This excerpt focuses on a tech guy's dream to build a winery and world - [1999 Merlot](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/498) - As I started to lose interest in the world series, I looked to open a bottle of wine to have with my baseball pizza. Soon the TV was changed to watch Gone Withe The Wind and I opened a bottle of 1999 Robert Mondavi Carneros District Merlot. What a disappointment! Granted the cooler gowing region - [Mondavi. Profit?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/497) - Robert Mondavi swings to profit from loss. Winemaker Robert Mondavi Corp. on Thursday posted a quarterly profit compared with a loss a year ago, when wine sales were hit by the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and it took charges to write-down inventory and restructure a theme park venture. [TiZ WineBiZ] - [Viognier](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/496) - Tainted Viognier. Viognier is more susceptible to taint from cork than almost any other grape variety, according to Louisa Rose, winemaker at Yalumba with special responsibility for Viognier.... [TiZ WineBiZ] - [Syrah.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/495) - I love Syrah.. More and more people are drinking it. Tonight I'll open a bottle of Novy. Look for notes on that later. While my cellar is stacked with cabernet and bordeaux style wines, these are slowly getting replaced with the great wines of the Rhone Valley in France, big Shiraz bombs from Australia and - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/493) - "J" La Jota. Howell Mountain. 13th Anniversary Release.Thirteen is lucky. For Bill & Joan Smith who sold the La Jota brand to the owners of Markham just about two years ago, this 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon speaks to me about why I fell in love with cabernet in the first place. The dark, inky, almost purple - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/491) - 1997 White Rock Vineyards Claret, Napa Valley I received this wine as a gift some time ago. I don't know much of the history or the story of this Napa Valley producer. This is the first time I've tasted this producer's wine. The wine is obviously a blend of Bordeaux varietals and on the nose - [Cooking.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/486) - Cooking with wine: Risotto with Portobello Mushrooms and Red Wine. Seattle Times Oct 30 2002 9:24AM ET [Moreover - Wine news] - [Cobloggeration.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/485) - First Known Cobloggeration. Making Music Over Blogs.Frank Sinatra did it. Natalie Cole did it with her dad (from archived recordings) and now Scott Andrew LePera and Shannon Cambell have created their own "Duet" (thank you doc) for what might be the first collaborative long-distance music effort inspired by Blogs. I'm calling this cobloggaration. Sure we - [Speaking about Speeches.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/484) - Hansell B. Duckett. "What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to." [Quotes of the Day] - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/483) - Even Wine Can Be Scary at Halloween. Yakima Herald Republic Oct 30 2002 7:08PM ET [Moreover - Wine news] - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/482) - More professionals point to revamping French Age-Old Wine Laws.. The French Government must accept the radical overhaul to its wine laws proposed in a report by the CAP 2010 group of leading industry figures (set up following the Berthomeau report) if it is to survive in the UK, according to Jean-Marie Chadronnier, managing director of - [Getting Screwed](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/481) - Screw tops for every bottle of wine under $15? Frederic Koeppel reports on VinExpo the Internatinal Wine Exposition held for the first time in the United States. Where? Jacob Javitz Center in New York City. - [Pinot & Condrieu](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/479) - 1999 Siduri Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Pisoni Vineyard (California) The Pisoni Vineyard is home to some of the finest Pinot Noir grapes in California. Producers from Ojai, Testarossa, Arcadian and many others make Pinot Noir from these grapes. The Sidure is perhaps the best I've ever had. Initially the nose was crammed of rasberry, - [Good Ole Doc](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/477) - Doc discusses the issues surrounding North Santa Barbara, Gaviota Coast and Santa Ynez vincinity. I really find myself wanting to move and buy property here. Close enough to LA, but far enough away to experience open space. At least for now. Close enough to great wine. - [Forget the old OS, Rick!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/393) - I don't want to wait this long. And Rick! Why would anyone want to boot up in OS 9? I can't take your advice, cause it just doesn't make sense. - [New Year's Debacle.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/391) - A lot of email and calls to my office about whether my cell phone is back in service. My New Years debacle and according post details the loss. No fear. I'm back. Same number. Same, but new, phone. I'm working on the replacement for the camera. - [RIAA?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/387) - I'm not sure this is the best way to fight, disagree, unleash anger or resent the RIAA. - [On Safari.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/386) - Safari is a great browser, but I find it's having problems with displaying inline images in my blog. Causing some very funky breaks, text on top of images. It looks fine in Newscape and Explorer. I'm guessing an issue of beta. Anyone else having similar problems? - [Good Juice.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/361) - Another great Austalian wine. Read my review in Good Juice. - [Back In Newport](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/533) - Sunrise 6:09am (10 minutes ago) Back Bay Newport Beach, California. Ahhhhhh. Good to be alive and awake. - [What's Next for iPod & Music](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/341) - Associated Press has more on Apple's, as of yet unannounced and unconfirmed, foray into an online pay-for-music venture that would integrate with Apple's iPod and iTunes products. The LA Times broke the story earlier this week. Here's my original post. - [SoHo Summer](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/305) - I'm planning on attending the Steve Jobs/Apple Computer press announcement and "event" at the SoHo Apple Store later today. I'll try blogging from the event. More later. - [Slow to Blog](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/285) - Slow to blog. Working on a bunch of deadlines and recovering from midnight riding I did this weekend. Ended up playing basketball in the blazing Northern California sunday sun. A bit of lobster head. No hat. No sunscreen. Makes for a ripe couple days. I'm working on a post about innovation. Will be posted later - [Converting Those Ancient CDs](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/264) - If you've been following, I'm currently converting my massive CD collection into digital format. It's been going on for days, almost weeks. But anyway, I'm currently at 11,477 songs which according to iTunes yields me 34.5 days of non-stop, unrepeated music while consuming a mere 66.2 gigibytes of hard disk space. I think I've got - [Delta Celebrates Our Troops](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/247) - I sit on a Delta Airlines flight that I connected with from Orange County in Salt Lake City. Flying over the salt flats of Utah and the barren desert below, Delta is showing an extended version of a new television commercial that celebrates the "men and women of our armed forced that served our country - [What About The Pig?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/530) - Years ago I saw Pink Floyd play live at Madison Square Garden. The real Pink Floyd, that is. The band that contained all members -- especially the brain child of the band, Roger Waters. I was a teenager naive, excited and alone in the Big Apple. Sitting in excellent seats while the band performed the - [E-Mail Notices](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/166) - Digital Tavern E-Mail Notices. Did You Miss This? For some reason email notifications didn't go out for the tail end of my Mexico adventure trip. So if you've got a minute and want to be entertained from trails on the two-wheeled road check out the recent posts from Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Fun. - [Warblogs](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/527) - "Warblogs, you've jumped the shark. Next." - Jason Kottke - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/47) - I'm up much earlier today than yesterday, but I'm going to spend time this morning gathering those loose items I through into my top box and stuffed into pockets and cavities on my or the bike before leaving John's yesterday. Today's plan is simple. Get to Crater Lake and then move toward's Bend, Oregon where - [Nostalgia & PodCasting](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/nostalgia-podcasting) - I just got off the phone with my good friend Johnee Bee. I first met Johnee in 1987 just months after I opened the door of my advertising agency PRISCOMM. My then partner ironically sported the nickname Johnny A and together we responded to a small classified ad that Johnee Bee ran in the local - [Welcome Back To The Digital Tavern](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/welcome-back-to-the-digital-tavern) - It's like coming back to your hometown and running into an old friend. While times has passed, the conversation, familiarity and common ground makes it seem like yesterday. That is time apart has been scrunched up and the difference between now and then is irrelevant. I'm talking about The Digital Tavern: For The Sake of - [From Admitting To Surgery In Four Easy Screws.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/from-admitting-to-surgery-in-four-easy-screws) - Glorious ocean view private room and the sunset taken from my hospital bed. Hoag Hospital sits on the bluffs in Newport Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In the north end of this Southern California playground that has captured the country's attention through the silly TV program "The O.C.", the hospital is the tallest structure around. - [Goodbye Bolivia (for now) Three Flights Back To Los Angeles.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/goodbye-bolivia-for-now-three-flights-back-to-los-angeles) - When I woke up from the anesthesia I was back in my hospital room with my roommates. A crowd of visitors had gathered by the elderly man in the corner diagonally from me. Last night my moans of pain didn't bother him as he muttered and spoke in his sleep. But he didn't speak Spanish. - [From Tica Tica To Potosi. Waiting For Help.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/from-tica-tica-to-potosi-waiting-for-help) - In a state somewhere between awake and sleep three hours had passed. The rain, thunder and lightning added dramatic effect to my sprawled body with my left leg in a cardboard box splint as I laid in the Tica Tica medical clinic. Still no ambulance. In a town with one telephone, one restaurant and no - [Waiting & Waiting For The Bolivian Operating Room.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/waiting-waiting-for-the-bolivian-operating-room) - I wake up to the sound of water splashing on the floor of my hospital room. A squatty lady in a smock holding a bucket of water hanging on her arm flicks water over the floor with her other hand. She leaves and quickly returns with a mop which she pushes through the room, under - [The Ride of the Trip & The Unexpected Change of Course.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-ride-of-the-trip-the-unexpected-change-of-course) - What can you say about the unexpected? Sometimes such events bring joy. Other times pain. The unexpected. Whether good or bad, smart or stupid, ugly or beautiful or even happy or sad, unexpected events evoke undeniable emotion. Today, little did I know that after embarking on a early start under blue skies and bidding Potisi - [Mining & Minting In Potosi.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/mining-minting-in-potosi) - I'm getting tired of the rain. I know just a days ride away is perhaps the driest place on the planet - the Atacama Desert in Chile. Though I imagine the scenery will be much like northern Peru - flat, uninteresting and fast. But to the south volcanoes, salt flats, flamingoes, hot springs await for - [John Hiatt - Humphrey's By The Bay, Shelter Island - May 22, 2006](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/john-hiatt-humphreys-by-the-bay-shelter-island-may-22-2006) - It was an idyllic southern California night complete with a burning orange and red sunset, gentle breeze swaying postcard palm trees and John Hiatt with North Mississippi Allstars (NMAS) tearing up the stage at Humphrey's By The Bay in San Diego. Toward the end of his 90-minute set Hiatt said "the weathermen said it was - [Demme's Masterful Portrait of Neil Young in Concert](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/demmes-masterful-portrait-of-neil-young-in-concert) - Demme's Masterful Portrait of Neil Young in Concert It took a few years until I appreciated the music and genius of Neil Young. My high-school girlfriends all loved Neil Young, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and all the other derivations. His music didn't fit into the profile of my young teenage angst. I was geared - [Leaving The Arctic Ocean - The Deadly Dalton Redux](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/leaving-the-arctic-ocean-the-deadly-dalton-redux) - Bad things could have happened today. But thankfully the wind had blown the smoke away for the first couple hundred miles revealing the scenery I had missed yesterday. The arctic desert, tons of Caribou and somewhere out there Dall sheep and grizzlies. The first 20 miles leaving Deadhorse today were the most nerve racking and - [Vallegrande At Last](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/vallegrande-at-last) - Jeremiah rolling into Vallegrade with a grand Cristo welcome. The road to Vallegrande was actually much better. Not as much dust and recent rainfall had settled what little dust we might have contended with. We climbed mountains and descended into pretty valleys with tiny adobe outbacks passing men on horses, cattle crossing the road and - [Where's My Battery: The Final Solution](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/wheres-my-battery-the-final-solution) - Sucre Bolivia Panorama. On Monday, Batteryweb.com had promised Jonathan they'd get the battery to DHL that evening. On Tuesday October 24, 2006 they told Jon the battery didn't make it. But no worries. It would go out that day. Both he and I made several attempts over email and telephone to secure a tracking number. - [Doc Rides Again](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/doc-rides-again) - I had forgotten just how high my F650GS Dakar (Doc) sits, especially sans luggage. Dhery held the garage door open while the butterflies in my stomach metamorphosed into fear and doubt, I inched doc on my "tip toes" closer to the cobbled stone street. Already warmed up Doc started on command when I pushed the - [Untitled](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/546) - 1996. The Vintage. Well. Sitting here with CNN star and brother Jon drinking some of the best from California's "hot" 1996 vintage. Tonight we're drinking the Abreu and the Maiden, Harlen's second label. Overall both wines are worth. They've both got deep complexity with dark fruit and a touch of earthiness. While the Abreu squeeks - [Getting Down and Things Done in Cape Town](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/getting-down-and-things-done-in-cape-town) - With a population of more than 3 million people, Cape Town is the economic and tourist center of western South Africa, and it serves as the legislative capital of the country. Like most of South Africa there is quite diversity and clearly visible contrasts on every street corner. Standing at the BMW Pavillion near Cape - [Welcome To Africa!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/welcome-to-africa) - There's was a last minute panic in Buenos Aires before the taxi came to take me to EZE airport to board my Malaysian Airline flight bound for Cape Town South Africa. My cellphone rang and there's Silvina speaking with a shortness of breath. Seems that there was one document that the cargo people at Malaysia - [I'll Never Forget You Scott](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/ill-never-forget-you-scott) - I missed Scott Alexander's phone call this afternoon. His voice on the message was somber and monotone. "Big Al," he cracked. "The legend is gone. Scott Muni is dead." Growing up in a small Connecticut suburb of New York City I spent hours and hours listening to Scott Muni on WNEW-FM. The low rumble and - [Going Downhill in Hong Kong!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/going-downhill-in-hong-kong) - Hong Kong is busy. We're staying in Causeway Bay which I've learned is the most congested part of Hong Kong. Funny thing is half of this island is a National Park. And anything is a 30 minute cab ride away. The city rolls with steel and glass high rises from the Hong Kong bay uphill - [April Nineteenth. A Day To Travel.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/april-nineteenth-a-day-to-travel) - It's late. And it's April 19th. Does the date ring a bell. Bells? Anything? Ok. Well it's historic for a number of things. Good and bad. So here goes: 1) Lexington & Concord - The first shots of the revolutionary war were fired. 2) Waco Texas - Fire and more shots fired. 3) Oklahoma City - [The Sunday Streets of Hong Kong](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-sunday-streets-of-hong-kong) - Before I continue with my move from Hong Kong to Mainland China I must share with you the most amazing phenomenon I've ever seen in a big city. It was Sunday late morning and we were moving a bit slowly from several late nights. With so many cars, double decker buses, motorcycles, scooters, taxis and - [To Mainland China via Bus](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/to-mainland-china-via-bus) - Guangzhou By Bus The beauty of being an English-speaking foreigner in Hong Kong is you can always find someone who speaks English. The exciting and certainly curious thing about traveling to Mainland China is there are very few people that speak English especially those involved with the basic services travelers rely on including taxi drivers, - [SARS Fears?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/sars-fears) - Spotted this at a newsstand here in China. In late April a couple new cases were reported in Bejing or Shanghai. We're told there's no worry. But seeing this on the front page of the paper just roughens the edge a bit. - [Glot Language?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/glot-language) - Are you a monoglot? Bilingual? Polyglot? According to this article in The Economist, those who speak more than one language may fare better than those who don't when it comes to mind deterioration due to old age. (Was Ronald Reagan bilingual?) Fascinating. I've always been a proponent of exercising the mind with the same fervor - [Magical and Majestic Spires of Guilin and Li Jiang](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/magical-and-majestic-spires-of-guilin-and-li-jiang) - The landscape and river that surrounds Guilin and flows through Guilin and down through the villages of Yangti, Xing Ping and Yangshou is perhaps the most famous of China depicted through photographs, paintings, silk scrolls and even on Chinese currency. [...] "They were the oddest hills in the world, and the most Chinese, because these - [Guest Blogger: Robert Karl on Holiday Travel](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/guest-blogger-robert-karl-on-holiday-travel) - My nephew Robert has had the amazing opportunity to spend a high school semester in Washington DC. Since the fall he has served Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle as a Senate Page. His lifestyle sure has changed. From a teenager attending a high school where the first period bell rings at about 8am to waking - [The cost of living and a good glass of wine.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/the-cost-of-living-and-a-good-glass-of-wine) - At the end of the day do higher priced goods or services negatively impact your decision to buy? That is, would a higher price on something you desire dissuade you from purchasing it? If current gas prices are an indication of "consumers'" insatiable appetites to imbibe regardless of cost then I'd have to say no. - [A Marvelous Night](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/a-marvelous-night) - So we're going to dance on the moon again. According to the Xinua news network the U.S. space agency NASA in partnership with India's Nasa-equivalent, the Indian Space Research Operation (ISRO), an Indian spacecraft will launch from India sometime in 2008 with a payload of scientific instruments but no astronauts. According to the BBC the - [Wake Up.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/wake-up) - Today I woke up. Was a good start. Day like any other day. Well. In Southern California the last few days we've been hit by badly needed rain. The wind whips up his force, tossing tree branches, blowing whats left of leaves and shaking those long neck palms, hanging traffic lights and ubiquitous BIG green - [The Doors On Jay Leno. TV?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/the-doors-on-jay-leno-tv) - For those that know me well, you can vouch for my distaste and therefore very restrained if never present, television viewing. But somehow I found myself bouncing off the walls of my living room with TV on and the Leno teaser says The Doors. As I previously blogged about this highly unusual reunion or rebirth, - [Blogging Fervor And For The Sake Of Escape (from punditry, that is)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogging-fervor-and-for-the-sake-of-escape-ifrom-punditry-that-isi) - I followed Doc's link to the London Times this morning. And I read John le Carré 's "The United States Has Gone Mad". And for the sake of clarity, I tend to steer away from political punditry here at the Digital Tavern. There's more than enough blogging in that vein here, here and elsewhere. And - [Blogging Fervor And For The Sake Of Escape (from punditry, that is)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogging-fervor-and-for-the-sake-of-escape-ifrom-punditry-that-isi-2) - I followed Doc's link to the London Times this morning. And I read John le Carré 's "The United States Has Gone Mad". And for the sake of clarity, I tend to steer away from political punditry here at the Digital Tavern. There's more than enough blogging in that vein here, here and elsewhere. And - [Freedom of Music.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/freedom-of-music) - Last night I had a lot of fun. Sarah, Felisa and Jim joined me in my little studio for a night of playing guitar, singing songs and keeping rhythm with a plethora of percussion instruments. Mix that up with great wine, laughs and an easiness that I haven't felt in awhile. There's something about music - [RSS Spam? Blogdex & Technorati Redux.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/rss-spam-blogdex-technorati-redux) - Thanks to Bryce for clarifying comments on my earlier post how the Columbia House ad appears at the top of Blogdex. Apparently, there are a number of weblogs hosted at Tripod and this ad appears on these sites. The unfortunate side effect of text advertising, he writes: There's no manipulation in this instance, what happened - [Google. Blogdex. Technorati. And RSS Spam?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/google-blogdex-technorati-and-rss-spam) - Google has become ubiquitous. Some fear the monopoly of Google. And recently Google out-ranked Yahoo, AOL and MSM by claiming the top spot where web surfers go to find e-commerce or shopping sites. Google engineers as well as independent developers have done some interesting things with the Google search technology API. Others, like Dave Sifry - [McDonald's Is On Fire.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/mcdonalds-is-on-fire) - Thanks to my brother Jonathan for pointing me to this exclusive story on Salon.com. If you didn't have a chance to read my earlier blog on the fall of McDonald's, take a moment and do it now. Michelle Goldberg's excellent expose (full story requires subscription and registration) on the state of McDonald's internationally fits in - [Spottswoode Tasting. Pinot Provence.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/spottswoode-tasting-pinot-provence-3) - Attended a great tasting of six vintages of Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon and its 2001 Sauvignon Blanc this week at one of my favorite fine dining establishments in Orange County: Pinot Provence. (L) Pinot Provence, Costa Mesa, California a perfect setting for the Spottswoode Tasting (R) Beth Novak, Owner, Spottswoode Vineyard & Winery and Amar Dhillon, - [Spottswoode Tasting. Pinot Provence, Costa Mesa](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/spottswoode-tasting-pinot-provence-costa-mesa-2) - (R or Bottom) Amar Dhillon, Rosemary Cakebread, Spottswoode Winemaker; Jim Branch, WebTrend Graphics 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon - Bright and not as aromatic as the 1992 but explodes with black cherry and ripe berry on the palate. Nicely balanced yet still showing solid tannins. Great now. Great in the future. 94 points 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon - - [2001 Henry's Drive Shiraz, Padthaway Australia](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/2001-henrys-drive-shiraz-padthaway-australia-2) - Technorati Tags: Allan Karl, DigitalTavern, Australia, Wine - [The Doors On Jay Leno. TV?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/the-doors-on-jay-leno-tv-2) - For those that know me well, you can vouch for my distaste and therefore very restrained if never present, television viewing. But somehow I found myself bouncing off the walls of my living room with TV on and the Leno teaser says The Doors. As I previously blogged about this highly unusual reunion or rebirth, - [RSS Spam? Blogdex & Technorati Redux.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/rss-spam-blogdex-technorati-redux-2) - Thanks to Bryce for clarifying comments on my earlier post how the Columbia House ad appears at the top of Blogdex. Apparently, there are a number of weblogs hosted at Tripod and this ad appears on these sites. The unfortunate side effect of text advertising, he writes: There's no manipulation in this instance, what happened - [Google. Blogdex. Technorati. And RSS Spam?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/google-blogdex-technorati-and-rss-spam-2) - Google has become ubiquitous. Some fear the monopoly of Google. And recently Google out-ranked Yahoo, AOL and MSM by claiming the top spot where web surfers go to find e-commerce or shopping sites. Google engineers as well as independent developers have done some interesting things with the Google search technology API. Others, like Dave Sifry - [McDonald's Is On Fire.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/mcdonalds-is-on-fire-2) - Thanks to my brother Jonathan for pointing me to this exclusive story on Salon.com. If you didn't have a chance to read my earlier blog on the fall of McDonald's, take a moment and do it now. Michelle Goldberg's excellent expose (full story requires subscription and registration) on the state of McDonald's internationally fits in - [Jim Morrison Lives. New Doors.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/jim-morrison-lives-new-doors) - I hear a very gentle sound Very near yet very far Very soft, yeah, very clear Come today, come today What have they done to the earth? What have they done to our fair sister? Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn And - [Tis The Season: Let's Start Counting (catalogs, that is)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/tis-the-season-lets-start-counting-catalogs-that-is) - It's that time of year again, catalog season. I've got nothing against direct marketing and catalog sales per se. But I do have an issue with the amount of waste, unnecessary frequency and overall poor customer profiling and segmentation -- at least when it comes to me. And even though I've written to the DMA - [2000 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/2000-penner-ash-pinot-noir-willamette-valley-oregon) - Lynn Penner-Ash is the former winemaker at Rex Hill also in Willamette Valley. I've always been a big fan of Rex Hill's wines in good vintages. So it was a no brainer to get on the Penner-Ash list. Lynn is passionate about Pinot -- and Syrah. This is what Penner-Ash is concentrating on. The 1999 - [Moon To Bright For Leonid Gazers?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/moon-to-bright-for-leonid-gazers) - More raves about last years Leonid shower. More rants about lack of dynamics for this year. Friend, photographer extraordinaire, associate and one time client Bob Pinkerton suggests taking a camera on these showering nights. An annual Leonid gazer, this photo is one of several Bob shot last year than ended up on Nasa's website. [ - [1990 Bordeaux - St. Emilion & Pomerol](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/1990-bordeaux-st-emilion-pomerol) - Time to see how the right bank Bordeaux are holding up. A great dinner and tasting held in San Rafael with Al, Mark, Peter and friends. Beyond Bordeaux we samples a few other tasty treats. Here are the notes: 1990 Dom Perignon - Champagne What can I say. This wine is drinking fabulous. Nice apple, - [The End of E-Mail As You Know It](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/the-end-of-e-mail-as-you-know-it) - My emotions caught me as I read Keven Werbach's excellent piece on Slate this morning. Spam is killing e-mail [...] Emotional because e-mail is the best way to get ahold of me. It's the best way for me to work with my clients, communicate with friends and frankly, stay in touch with my geographically disparate - [Does Innovation Stifle Standards? Or Do Standards Stifle Innovation?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/does-innovation-stifle-standards-or-do-standards-stifle-innovation) - Excited about his new digital camcorder, my friend Amar invited me over for dinner and some great wine as well to take me up on my offer to get him, his wife and two young daughters up to speed on digital photography. A proud owner of new Sony digital video and still cameras. The goal? - [Be Careful What You Wish For](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/be-careful-what-you-wish-for) - Last week Apple announced new PowerBooks. The appeal for me. Built in DVD writer - aka the Apple SuperDrive. Sure the benefits of 30GB more hard drive, a gig of RAM and of course a 1Ghz processor. Not that there is anything wrong with my existing Titanium PowerBook that I bought last November. But I - [The Beauty of QuickTime. The Guitar Tone of David Gilmour](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/the-beauty-of-quicktime-the-guitar-tone-of-david-gilmour) - David Gilmour released a feature-length DVD (David Gilmour: In Concert) on Thursday memorializing his solo performance with a semi-acoustic band at the Meltdown Festival show held in June 2001 at the Royal Festival Hall in London. You can watch two full songs and a selection of clips here. First, this little QuickTime promo is simply - [Meeting Doc - The 1st Video PodCast](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldrider/meeting-doc-the-1st-video-podcast) - Yeah. Yeah. I know. The last PodCast was a bit long winded. But it had been a long time and there was much to say. But you'll like this movie - guaranteed. As such I suggest no fears, I'm on a mission to produce more content instead of long content. This is the start! Sucre - [WorldSmuggler: Journey of the Illegal Motorcycle](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldsmuggler-journey-of-the-illegal-motorcycle) - The Bolivian government could consider me a smuggler. At least that's what the lawyer at the Aduana (customs) office in Sucre told Ferdy. The owner of the optical shop and proudly of a new Honda Deauville street touring motorcycle, Ferdy seems to know everyone in Sucre -- and in Santa Cruz. Small framed and in - [SmartPhone Anxiety?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/smartphone-anxiety) - Seems Doc is intrigued by the latest Palm Treo SmartPhone announcement. That is until he discovered the new Treo 700 would only be offered on the Verizon and Sprint Networks. Back in the day Verizon and Sprint were the only carriers pushing the CDMA standard -- something I believe San Diego-based Qualcomm developed while the - [Goodbye Bloglet. Hello Feedblitz.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/goodbye-bloglet-hello-feedblitz) - For the few hundred or so subscribers to The Digital Tavern, you've probably noticed that notifications for new posts have been sporadic at best. This is because Monsur of Bloglet seems to have abandoned his service. I can't blame him, for it has been free for so many years. There's no advertising and for the - [Love It. Hate It. BootCamp Can Change Your World.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/love-it-hate-it-bootcamp-can-change-your-world) - Perhaps I'm a bit late on jumping in on this discussion. But now since some of the dust has settled and users have tested and commented, I feel it's time for me to chime in on just some thoughts, wishes and observations. Early last week Apple released a Beta copy of BootCamp, a clever little - [Been To New Orleans Lately?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/been-to-new-orleans-lately) - As you can probably guess, I've been forced into armchair traveling these days. No worries. Soon I'll be strong enough to put one foot in front of the other. Nonetheless, my friend Tim found himself in New Orleans this week and had this to report: You could come from the airport, stay and play around - [Africa Tonight on ABC News & NightLine](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/africa-tonight-on-abc-news-nightline-5) - While I haven't made it to Africa quite yet on my WorldRider Journey, it appears my brother Jonathan beat me to it. A couple weeks ago he wandered around Algeria, Mali, Chad and who knows where else. His mission? Spending some quality time with US Special Forces as they trained anti-terrorist militia groups from various - [A Night At The Movies - Watch This Film.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/a-night-at-the-movies-watch-this-film) - I watched a fantastic film last night. Featuring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, Before Sunset is one of those few movies that can pull off dialogue between two people for practically the entire film. And Hawke and Delpy do it with finesse. If you're looking for action, comedy or suspense don't bother with Before Sunset. - [Checking In On The Blogosphere](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/checking-in-on-the-blogosphere) - While traveling by motorcycle for the last 7 months from Alaska to Bolivia, I spent much of my free "internet" time writing and posting stories from the road. But I'd tune in to the blogosphere and peruse some of my favorite blogs while discovering new bloggers on the travelers' circuit. With a few months of - [Lago de Nicaragua](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/lago-de-nicaragua) - The recommendations for staying on the island of Ometape (Isla de Ometepe) were overwhelming. I originally planned to spend more time in Costa Rica, but with stories of pot-holed ridden roads, higher costs and lots of rain I was easily convinced to take in the majestic beauty of this island sitting gracefully under two volcanoes. - [Welcome To South America: Colombia](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/welcome-to-south-america-colombia) - Hello South America. Happy Birthday, too. The little over an hour flight to Bogota was quick, easy and extremely scenic from my window seat as we flew over the Darien Gap and pristine islands with crescent shaped white sandy beaches. I blast through immigration and customs at the airport and in less than an hour - [Lago de Atilan to Antigual Guatemala: Worlds Apart](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/lago-de-atilan-to-antigual-guatemala-worlds-apart) - Lago de Atilan to Antigual Guatemala: Worlds Apart I started to climb the road out of Pana toward Solola eager to gaze over the lake from the hilltop town and experience the road I missed when riding in the dark a couple nights back. But when I pulled into a lookout Sacha blasted up behind - [Sex Is Good For Your Health](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/sex-is-good-for-your-health) - You don't have to take my word about it. You don't even have to take Halley's. But if Forbes says so, than ain't it so? - [Have You Tuned Into WorldRider?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/have-you-tuned-into-worldrider) - If you haven't been following my round the world tour by motorcycle, please tune into more regular updates on http://www.worldrider.com travelblog... Drop me a note sometime! - [lago de Atilan - Guatemala.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/lago-de-atilan-guatemala) - I'd read about it in the guidebooks. Nearly everyone who'd been to Guatemala raved about it yet arriving in the dark last night I had no idea until I woke the next morning and gazed over this beautiful lake flanked by three ominous volcanoes. For two nights I stayed in Panajachel where I saw more - [The Streets of Zacatecas](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-streets-of-zacatecas) - Seems these last few days in Mexico I've been moving a bit slower than usual. Maybe I've been here too long and the concept of siesta, sitting around or simply lounging as locals do has consumed me. Forget my intentions, but getting up, breakfast, packing and moving on seems to happen and the crack of - [Great Road, Al! What's That Oil Leaking From?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/great-road-al-whats-that-oil-leaking-from) - On the map, the road from San Felipe to Puerto is indicated as dirt and gravel. Though the first 30 miles or so are paved. The night that Al and I poured over maps of Mexico and Guatemala he made special note about this road that cruised along the east coast of Baja along the - [Sea To Sky Highway - British Columbia](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/sea-to-sky-highway-british-columbia) - The sea to sky highway is a small two lane road that winds its way from Horseshoe Bay near Vancouver to the grand ski resorts of Whistler and Black Comb, this scenic byway hugs the cliffs of a magnifiscent glacier carved landscape. With the Howe Sound to my left and the tree-covered Coast Mountains to - [Crossing Borders - International At Last](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/crossing-borders-international-at-last) - As gracious and helpful they could be Jeff, Eric and Carrie at the Apple Store in Lynwood delivered me the bad news. My PowerBook didn't make that morning's DHL delivery. Per the information available from Apple's depot repair facility in Texas, a part for my computer was back ordered. If I wasn't going to let - [Only A Foot](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/only-a-foot) - I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to have dinner at one of Seattle's finest Italian restaurants with a great bottle of wine and a beautiful woman last night. Walking the streets of downtown Seattle through Pikes Market and the cozy tony Belltown Neighborhood. Everything was going right for me when it happened. Riding - [Sun Valley to Monument Valley](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/sun-valley-to-monument-valley) - Stopping in Sun Valley for a quick sandwich and rushing back to the road, I planned for a long day. With nothing much holding my interest between here and Southern Utah I blasted down 93 until I hit Internstate 84 and then finally picking up Interstate 15 north of Salt Lake City. For the first - [Where The Pavement Ends](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/where-the-pavement-ends) - "You must be the bravest man in Oregon," he said to me after pulling off my helmet. "Huh?" I ripped the earplugs from my ears. "You must be the bravest man in Oregon," he repeated as his wife and another elderly couple walked toward me. "Oh really. Why's that?" I asked flattered but confused and - [Crater Lake](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/crater-lake) - When one think of travel perhaps the feeling of letting go, freeing up your mind and the ultimate temporary relief of stress. Unless you travel for business, of course. But I'm talking about vacation. It's vacation time that stirs wanderlust in the minds of most of us. For some this might be umbrella drinks on - [Paradise To Sunrise on Mt. Rainier](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/paradise-to-sunrise-on-mt-rainier) - After the embarrassing and taxing bike drop this morning I decide that before taking the Skyline Trail from the Paradise Inn to the colorful sub alpine meadows of Rainier I'd grab a snack in the lodge. I sit down at a picnic bench of massive cedar with my sandwich, chips and Arnie Palmer. The people - [When The Digital Tavern Turns To WorldRider](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/when-the-digital-tavern-turns-to-worldrider) - Ever dream about taking time off to see the world? Yeah, me too. So have you been wondering what's up with Allan and his pathetic lack of posting on the Digital Tavern for the past several months? Sorry for the lack of content for the last few months, but I've been busy planning the big - [WorldRider Posts From First Week](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/worldrider-posts-from-first-week) - June 30, 2005 The countdown begins. Not that the last two years of planning, reading, dreaming and anticipating haven[base ']t served as a slow burning fuse leading up to d-day. But today I[base ']m homeless. Someone strange has moved into my house. Now this feels real. I stood staring at the few bags and boxes - [Good News For Business. And For Wine Enthusiasts!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/good-news-for-business-and-for-wine-enthusiasts) - Did you hear the news today. I love Supreme Court rulings that I agree with. Doesn't everyone? Today a narrow margin of 5-4 the Supreme Court overturned state liquor laws in New York and Michigan that gave preferential treatment to in-state wineries. Both states permit in-state wineries to ship directly to consumers, bypassing both retailers - [Are you going or traveling?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/are-you-going-or-traveling) - Seems that the Digital Tavern sees most activity (my writing) when I travel. Though I still try to keep up and provide insight and musings on music, wine, macintosh and whatever else inspires me. But it's the traveling the keeps me fresh, opens my eyes and infuses my spirit while stimulating my creativity. There's a - [Back In The House!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/back-in-the-house) - Okay. I'm back from Costa Rica. And unfortunately internet access was sparse in the areas I traveled and my constant quest for monkeys, the elusive Quetzal, tabers and the monarch butterflies kept me in the outdoors and the sun. The glare on the laptop so intrusive and unyielding that my writing was confined to my - [Adventure Starts Here: Costa Rica Pura Vida](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/adventure-starts-here-costa-rica-pura-vida) - Saturday, March 5, 2005 It's addicting. And it's time for anonother fix -- traveling, exploring, learning, immersing, moving and experiencing. Waiting for the midnight shuttle to take me to LAX I run through the motions. Passport. Itinerary. Reference numbers for 4WD auto reservations. Jungle Juice (90% deet). And a host of clothing and accessories that - [Apple iLife '05 Initial Impressions](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-ilife-05-initial-impressions) - A couple random thoughts about my experience with iLife '05 - Apple's update to its digital hub, digital media suite of applications which include iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand. 1) GarageBand - Wow. I'm am so impressed. But perhaps the best find is the integrated instrument tuner. Simply pull this up and tune your guitar - [Wine Storage. SubZero. And Changing Lightbulbs.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/wine-storage-subzero-and-changing-lightbulbs) - So it's nothing new to readers of The Digital Tavern that I have a passion, penchant and a certain proclivity when it comes to wine. Good wine. But this fondness comes with a price. Back in the day it was such a find when one uncovered an amazing value wine for less than $10. These - [iLife '05 and iWork - Initial Impressions.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/ilife-05-and-iwork-initial-impressions) - Well I've installed both iWork and the new iLife '05 and overall I'm mildly excited about the new applications. Why? Well Pages seized up on me after creating a simple layout using one of the Apple templates. When relaunching the program it didn't recover the document like Word does most of the time. Keynote is - [Time To Switch?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/time-to-switch) - Order Your Mac Mini Okay. So you thought I was kidding when in my last post I asked if you'd ordered your new Mac Mini. But no. I'm serious. I saw one the other day. And for those Digital Tavern readers who laboriously struggle through their days reading these and other pages on Windows-based system, - [Early Bird Gets The "eye" stuff](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/early-bird-gets-the-eye-stuff) - In the morning some people roll out of bed and take a shower. Others might turn on the TV for a dose of morning talk. Still others might make a cup of coffee while reading the morning paper. Today, I opened my Mac and tracked a few FedEx packages. You see I bit the bullet - [The Eagle Screamed. Landed. And Laughed.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/the-eagle-screamed-landed-and-laughed) - We started talking about it over a year ago. At first, it was just talk. You know -- big ideas but always with obstacles. People's schedules, availability of key items, location considerations. The whole gamut. But Al and I were committed to make it happen. After several broken dates and lapses of contact we agreed - [A Ten Year Old Merlot & Some Random Thoughts](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/a-ten-year-old-merlot-some-random-thoughts) - Trying to pick up the pace on the Digital Tavern, but I've been focusing on a rather large project that I'll fill you in on sometime in January. Patience and focus. Two of what have become my ubiquitous phrases when offering advice (solicited or not) to clients and friends. So the Dr. tells me I've - [The Hugeness of Blogging by Ballmer](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/the-hugeness-of-blogging-by-ballmer) - Microsoft CEO tells Detroit Press columnist Mike Wendland that "Blogging is huge." And that's why Microsoft hopes to take advantage of its popularity by launching MSN Spaces. Seems Microsoft is always playing catch up, but then again I never accused the Redmond behemoth of being innovative. Microsoft has tried to capture dollars and clicks from - [Scorsese and American Express](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/scorsese-and-american-express) - I read with interest that fabled director Martin Scorsese directed a new American Express television spot that features longtime Scorcese collaborator Robert DeNiro. Apparently, Scorsese, DeNiro and other talent appearing in the new campaign, including Ellen Degeneres, all participated in the creative process. And its interesting the Scorsese would lend his directing hand to such - [The Worst Song of All Time?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/the-worst-song-of-all-time) - BBC reports that a Beatles song from the White Album has been voted as the worst song of all time. I'd have to disagree. Take virtually any song by Foreigner or Journey and it'd score much lower in my book. What's your worst song of all time? - [Border Crossing & Hanging Like Andaluscian Jamon](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/border-crossing-hanging-like-andaluscian-jamon) - We expected some sort of fanfare when crossing the border from Portugal into Spain at Badajoz as the huge sign celebrating the Euro Cup 2004 which was held earlier this year in Portugal waved us goodbye and asked us to return soon. Are we in Spain? Barely a sign and no border control. I find - [Once Half The World, Now You Can Drive It In A Day](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/once-half-the-world-now-you-can-drive-it-in-a-day) - In 1494 just a few years after Ferdinand and Isabella sent Christopher Columbus on a journey to follow his whim and belief that the world was a small sphere and by sailing west he could shortcut his journey to the far East, Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas that split the non-Christian world - [Protectionism or Free Trade? Tasting History in Porto.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/protectionism-or-free-trade-tasting-history-in-porto) - I wonder what Porto would be if it were not for the simple twist of fate caused by a trade disagreement between the French and United Kingdom in the 1500's? Perhaps just another non descript European city surrounded by just yet another wine region. Circumstance, history and good marketing have turned France and Italy into - [No Dozing In Portugal.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/no-dozing-in-portugal) - As I sit waiting in our hotel room for room service to deliver us a bottle of 20 year old tawny port, Tim and I reflect on our first two days in Portugal. Yesterday after leaving Lisbon we ventured North in the direction of Porto. With no map nor the basics of the Portuguese language - [The Long Road to Porto.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-long-road-to-porto) - One of the best ways to counter jet lag and ensure you don't waste the first day of any journey across multiple time zones is to plan to arrive at your destination in the morning. If it's possible and you have the energy to start your day running you'll get the most out of your - [Showers and the Rain. Portugal Bound.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/showers-and-the-rain-portugal-bound) - Groggy and with eyes refusing to focus after a pitiful two and a half hour sleep, I dragged myself into the bathroom and cranked on the show. As the water pounded the tile I realized that the pouring rain outside was louder than the fogging shower I hoped would wake me. John Wayne Airport first - [Time To Move.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/time-to-move) - Tonight I washed my wallet. Not that this was my intention. No. But pulling the garments from the washer and tossing them into the dryer I heard a deadening thud. Hmmmm. I wondered. Wet jeans perhaps? Yeah, must be. Then I re-evaluated. Clawing through the crumpled up wads of clothes I found the black bugger. - [Backing Up.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/backing-up) - I'm thankful the heat has cooled here in Southern California. September 15th. For most an uneventful day. Unless you're required to sign tax returns for a corporation. Yes. The 15th is the last possible deadline for filing a corporate tax return. So a casual meeting with my accountant, glide my pen across some government forms - [Tuesday Night Wine.
What's Yours?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/tuesday-night-wine-br-whats-yours) - It's Tuesday night. At home I sit alone. A simple chicken dinner with vegetables and a dinner salad. The dilemma floors me when I open the door to my wine cellar. Wine cellar. Hah. I like that word. It's a temperature controlled unit (one of two in my home) that keeps the delectable fermented bottles - [Where Did The Digital Tavern Go?
Domain Nightmares & Fun!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/where-did-the-digital-tavern-go-brdomain-nightmares-fun) - We're here. Never really went anywhere. If you have tried to visit this site in the past few days you might have imagined something terrible happened to The Digital Tavern. Did it go up in smoke? Hacked by teetotalers? Kidnapped by terrorists? Or abandoned by a wayfaring troubadour more interested in curing his wanderlust than - [Branding: Making The Case For Unique Images & Design](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/branding-making-the-case-for-unique-images-design) - When it comes to image, identity, messaging or branding it's important to understand the essence of a company or product in order to identify and clarify its unique differentiators -- those attributes and characteristics that distinguish a company or product from its competition. As a marketing professional I have a unique process I take companies - [Time To Move To A New Blogging Platform?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/time-to-move-to-a-new-blogging-platform) - Coming off my post yesterday I must vent about my disappointment with my blogging software and host Radio Userland. It seems that for nearly a year I've been riddled with problems related to getting a daily entry effectively posted. However, I barely have a 50% success rate. Let me explain, Radio actually is a desktop - [Sans Stimuli Friday](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/sans-stimuli-friday) - Caught somewhere between the full moon and a half I struggle to find something creative to write - blog. Writers block? Blog burnout? Or frustration over controversy from Olympic gold medals, swift boats or clinical trials of pharmaceuticals? Or maybe it's simply time to take in a Friday night sans stimuli. First, I slide over - [Symbian Pet Peeve.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/symbian-pet-peeve) - I really love my Symbian-based Sony Ericsson P900 SmartPhone. Like a TREO or a Palm-based device, I used a stylus pen to enter text for messages, calendar, contact or simple navigation using the Symbian UIQ v2.1 interface. But unlike the original Graffiti that I used to use with my last SmartPhone that was Palm-based to - [Leave My Foot Alone!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/leave-my-foot-alone) - So I decided to take a walk along the beach the other day. Trying to be careful not to give my ankle to much flex and being careful not to fall to test the titanium plate and scres in my writst even as I precariously teetered on the rocks above the tide pools, I was - [More Airport Express](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/more-airport-express) - If you haven't read my Airport Express experience jump over there now and get up to speed. I've had a number of comments and emails regarding the sporadic "skipping" or cutting in and out of the audio that I experienced. As noted earlier, since I took the Airport Express off WDS and configured a profile - [Let's Talk Sundays & Motorcycle Riding.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/lets-talk-sundays-motorcycle-riding) - That Sunday morning after blogging about my Airport Express implementation I did what I usually do on Sunday mornings: I stayed in bed. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes I eventually sauntered into the kitchen. Grind beans. Boil water. Brew coffee. By the time I was ready to take on the day I reasoned a - [Tomorrow: Why I haven't blogged in 3 weeks.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/tomorrow-why-i-havent-blogged-in-3-weeks) - Ok. I'm alive. And ready to begin blogging again. Tomorrow. And you should stay tuned. There's a good reason why I've been away from the keys of my PowerBook. The full story, details and photos are coming. Tomorrow. See you then. No Need to Click Here - I'm just claiming my feed at Feedster - [Living Wirelessly: Airport Express Update](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/living-wirelessly-airport-express-update) - My new Apple Airport Express arrived earlier this week. Within 45 minutes I had it connected to my wireless network here and streaming music to my home theatre sound system. About the size of a cigarette pack, it compacts a Airport Base Station in a portable device that adds ethernet and USB ports for expanding - [New iPods? Great Article On iPod Ubiquity!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/new-ipods-great-article-on-ipod-ubiquity) - New iPods? Great Article On iPod Ubiquity! Newsweek may have spilled the beans. But details are scant. A great article on the rise of the iPod. My favorite line? [...] Even though Macintosh sales have gone up recently, he knows that the odds are small of anyone's owning a Mac as opposed to the competition. - [15,000 Songs and Counting. I Want To Access & Listen To Them Everywhere!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/15000-songs-and-counting-i-want-to-access-listen-to-them-everywhere) - Using netTunes, Airport Express and AirTunes. Isn't this what the Digital Hub was supposedly to be all about? It was just about a year ago when I completed converting my more than 1,200 CDs into AAC/MP3 format where they now reside on a 2000 vintage G4 Cube. The Mac Cube is my Music Server. And - [Ebay Scam & Identity Theft](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/ebay-scam-identity-theft) - Click here >> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?AccountUpdate?ID=54345622773Per the User Agreement, Section 9, we may immediately issue a warning, temporarily suspend, indefinitely suspend or terminate your membership and refuse to provide our services to you if we believe that your actions may cause financial loss or legal liability for you, our users or us. We may also take these - [All Music Sports A New Face](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/all-music-sports-a-new-face) - I noticed that AllMusic.com quietly updated their site and identity with a complete redesign. If you are a music fan and savour the history, discography, reviews, guest performers and nearly anything you could ever want to know about your favorite artists, then get over to AllMusic and see what you've been missing. For me, the - [Gram Parsons Tribute - Santa Barbara](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/gram-parsons-tribute-santa-barbara) - So the last time I checked in I was off to spend a long weekend in the sunny Southern California community of Santa Barbara. The draw? Good friends, good music and good wine. Left the laptop at home and headed up the coast. Highlight of the amazing weekend was a benefit concert paying tribute to - [Fear of Blogger Burnout?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/fear-of-blogger-burnout) - Ironically enough today Wired Magazine (online) published a story on Blogger Burnout -- a nice follow up to my yesterday's post on dead blogs. [...] bloggers contacted for this story noted that their readers seem to look at their regular, consistent posting patterns as somewhat akin to a sign of physical health. And any break - [When Is A Blog Dead?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/when-is-a-blog-dead) - Catching up on my usual suspects of bloggers and their recent posts I noticed that Joi blogged the fact that Technoroti has tracked it's 3 millionth blog - of course when I read his post headline where he claimed that "Technorati Tracks 3M Blogs" I immediately thought of the once incredibly innovative Minnesota Mining and - [iPods Threaten Corporate & Enterprise Security (oh no!)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/ipods-threaten-corporate-enterprise-security-oh-no) - Ban The iPod On Campus! At Work! Good God. I see it coming. Even the driest of technical or trade publications aren't immune to the lure of hype that supermarket tabloids and Rupert Murdoch are famous for. In this article in the every exciting Enterprise Security Today, Esther points me to the article where the - [Good God Guilin](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/good-god-guilin) - Guilin is a pleasant small Chinese city of about 500,000 people. Famous within China for its amazing scenery. Artists, writers and those who've inscribed everything from cave walls to etchings have touted Guilin as the most beautiful place in the world. Sitting on the western bank of the Li Jiang river Guilin is surrounded by - [Diggin' On The Tavern!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/diggin-on-the-tavern) - Thank you. Wow. I'm a bit overwhelmed. Thanks for the responses to my post yesterday. Those who have commented here in the Tavern and those who've opted to send me an email through this blog. It's going to keep on keeping on. What's that mean? Good god. The blog. While I traipse around this glorious - [Keeping It Up. And Keeping It Fresh. Even Exciting.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/keeping-it-up-and-keeping-it-fresh-even-exciting) - With my insane but exciting travel schedule of late I've had a hard time not only keeping the Digital Tavern (aka my blog) up to date, I've been amiss in reading my favorite blogs. But some downtime today and I gotta thank Doc for pointing me to this New York Times article (read it now - [Looking For Chinese Wine.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/looking-for-chinese-wine) - China. You gotta love this place. The people so industrious yet get out into the countryside and you can see the classic images that have graced the pages of National Geographic and the airwaves of the Discovery Channel and the Travel Channel. Hanging in southwest China we are living the subtropical climate. With it comes - [Chinese Waiting Torture. Welcome to Guilin.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/chinese-waiting-torture-welcome-to-guilin) - Time to get out of the big city. Guangzhou. In Hong Kong we secured airline tickets on China Eastern Airlines to fly from the booming industrial metropolis of Guangzhou to the peaceful retreat of Guilin and the surrounding villages that dot the Li Jiang River and its offshoots and arteries. We had to be at - [Sony Color MP3 Player?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/sony-color-mp3-player) - A rival to the iPod? This is interesting. BTW, more updates from China later today... - [Feel Like A Number](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/feel-like-a-number) - A quick observation as we continue our Chinese adventure: the name badges worn by workers in the hospitality industry in China simply read a number. There's no name. Not in Chinese and not in the Roman alphabet. Sometimes these plaques that are pinned to the uniforms of housekeeping staff, bellmen, front desk and at restaurants - [These Chinese People. Warm, Friendly & Honest.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/these-chinese-people-warm-friendly-honest) - Since my arrival in Mainland China, I've found the people here to be warm, friendly and extremely honest. While Guangzhou certainly sees its share of western travelers, stepping off the main drag and away from the large Western Hotels and restaurants that cater to western businessmen the appearance of a fair skinned westerner brings about - [Why Guangzhou?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/why-guangzhou) - Guangzhou is a busy and therefore booming and bustling. Home to about 8 million Chinese the city is also known as Canton (Kanton). Seems most major cities have a few names attached to it and why not a couple different spelling variations thrown in for color. For the first time since cruising the highway at - [Hawking in Kowloon!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/hawking-in-kowloon) - Then there's Kowloon. Kowloon rests on a small peninsula less than 1km across the bay from Hong Kong Island. Many years ago a Hong Kong rice magnate started a ferry service to usher his workers to and from their homes in the less expensive Kowloon. Over the years as Hong Kong spread and with little - [Old Friends & Bottles of Wine](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/old-friends-bottles-of-wine) - What a treat to be in Hong Kong and discover an old friend is living here. One who I haven't seen in nearly 10 years. After playing phone tag and exchanging text messages over my now Hong Kong phone number equipped Sony Ericsson P900 phone Phoebe guided us up to her pad on Victoria Peak. - [Hong Kong Nights](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/hong-kong-nights) - The good thing about traveling west from California is arriving in the evening with just a few hours of exploring then falling into bed. It's a sure cure of any jet lag issues. So waking up yesterday at 6am was easy and I felt completely refreshed. Last night is another story. As dinner guests with - [Oriental Pearl?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/oriental-pearl) - Arrived in Hong Kong several hours ago. My first time here so getting the lay of the land, transport and the basic geography is taking some time. City is vibrant and electric. Though for the first night we noticed across the street of our hotel a restaurant called Petit Pomerol. Safe to say a bottle - [RealNetworks Pleads With Apple To Go After Microsoft](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/realnetworks-pleads-with-apple-to-go-after-microsoft) - Ok. So maybe my title is a bit on the tabloid side of media hype. But according to an article in tomorrow's New York Times Rob Glaser, Real CEO offered to create a "tactical alliance" with Apple in an e-mail message to Steve Jobs. Apparently there was a bit of "and if you don't" message - [China Bound](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/china-bound) - One week from today I'll be hopping on a big bird and making my treks to Hong Kong and South Western China. It's interesting to note the responses from those who I've shared details about my trip. Typically the trivia rolls off the tongue. 1.3 billion people (about 25% of the world's population) 2.5 million - [Bloggity Blog and How To Find An Old Friend](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/bloggity-blog-and-how-to-find-an-old-friend) - The amazing thing about my blog is the fact that I've been "uncovered" or "found" by a number of friends who I've not spoken to in years. This is kinda an undocumented feature or benefit of blogging. Of course, if you're into alternate realities, pseudonyms or are a graduate from the FBI's School of Protected - [Viral, Sticky, Eyeballs, Decapitation and Other Internet Lexicon From A Bygone Era](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/viral-sticky-eyeballs-decapitation-and-other-internet-lexicon-from-a-bygone-era) - I used to love those client meetings where the VP of Marketing in his self-important, authoritarian and demanding manner would remove his eyeglasses and shake them at our team when he explained he wanted to create a marketing campaign that would drive more eyeballs to his company's website. And the site itself would have to - [Anything But Clear. Poof. Howard Stern's Gone, Gone, Gone.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/anything-but-clear-poof-howard-sterns-gone-gone-gone) - This just in. Clear Channel announced a few hours ago that it would permanently pull The Howard Stern Show from its airways and has been fined $495,000 for indecency stemming from the Stern Show. Clear Channel who last month temporarily pulled the show from its roster of stations after the FCC began its witch hunt - [Crystal Wine Glass Magnate Josef Riedel Dies](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/crystal-wine-glass-magnate-josef-riedel-dies) - The size of a glass, its thickness, the shape of its bell and the diameter of its rim contributed materially to the taste of the wine drunk from it, Mr. Riedel came to believe. The wine's balance, depth, harmony and complexity, he discovered, could and often did change from one glass to another. When told - [Al Stewart - Live](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/al-stewart-live) - It has been a busy week or so since I last was able to put some time into quality blogging. So I'll try to catch up with a number of posts today and tomorrow. Music. I'm going to do a little housekeeping on musical activities of the last couple weeks. Al Stewart - Live at - [Moscow On Fire](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/moscow-on-fire) - I just received an e-mail from my brother Jonathan who's in Moscow covering the elections for ABC News. Armed with camera in hand he just sent me this email and photos. A few minutes after the last polls closed in Russia's presidential election .... a massive fire broke out just outisde the walls of the - [Rebels Use Internet To Tap Into World Pulse](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/rebels-use-internet-to-tap-into-world-pulse) - This weekend when Haiti's rebel's had gained control of virtually the entire island country of 8 million people the only city that remained in control by Aristide's forces was the capital Port-au-Prince. Why hadn't the rebels successfully taken the city? Because the U.S. Government hoped they would slow down or stop their advances. You might - [What's In A Company Name Today?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/whats-in-a-company-name-today) - Notice the date today? A few years ago when I was active in the company I co-founded, Wirestone, we competed in the internet professional services space, as it was called then. The biggest players included Razorfish, iXL, Sapient, Scient, Viant, agency.com, modem media and Organic. Where are these companies today? Maybe 2 or 3 survived. - [Read Your Daily Blogs on Your iPod.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/read-your-daily-blogs-on-your-ipod) - Doug Adams posted this script that will export selected subscriptions in NetNewsWire in vCard format to the contacts folder of the iPod so upon sync you can read your RSS subscriptions on your iPod. Very cool. I'd love to see one that exports NNW subscriptions to my Symbian-OS capable phone. That would rock! I was - [Nothing Like Free.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/nothing-like-free) - The rain is pouring madly outside. The green umbrella wavers in the wind, it's rope flapping wildly. Terracotta stones seem slippery, dangerous. the wifi access is free. The ice tea refills: free. The window seat: free. Free. The most powerful word in advertising. And I've done a lot of advertising. Sometimes even for free. I'm - [Emerging? Devolving? Offline at Etech!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/emerging-devolving-offline-at-etech) - If you've been following any of the technology or social software bloggers you probably have seen quite a few posts about O'Reilly's Emerging Technology (Etech) conference held this week in San Diego at the Westin Horton Plaza. Part of me wanted to attend this conference while another part spoke to me: "you're too travelled and - [Back Home.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/back-home) - Back in California. What an amazing day today. At 3pm the full moon hung high in the deep blue sky. The Los Angeles skyline crystal clear. The rains from last night left the most amazing clear skies. Wow. To be sure, it's good to back. To be truthful, I'd love to be traveling. To my - [Good bye France](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/good-bye-france) - As I sat in Charles de Gaulle airport in France i thought about those travelers who were stuck here when flights to New York and Los Angeles were cancelled during the recent holiday season. Yet I was confident I'd make my flight to Atlanta and then onto Orange County. The airport, at least this terminal, - [South of France Through Renoir's Eyes and Abode.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/south-of-france-through-renoirs-eyes-and-abode) - Some might think this act would be one of heresy. Bryan I thought it was just the right thing to do at the right time. The setting was perfect. The irony abt. And the wine -- excellent. To be sure, later that evening we opened a bottle of Grand Cru Burgundy from Gevrey-Chambertin. But for - [The case of the missing PowerBook. Or the missing PowerBook case.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-case-of-the-missing-powerbook-or-the-missing-powerbook-case) - There's so much to say and write about this trip to France, I'm afraid I'm running and writing out of time. So if I seem to be rushing through the next several posts, please understand I'm trying to share with you the flavor of the trip. I'd be happy to pick up the conversation in - [The Latest Trend in French Wine?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/the-latest-trend-in-french-wine) - So in case you haven't been following The Mollusk, you might have missed the Vin Table Francaîs (French Wine) he sent me to commemorate my safe return from my recent trip to France. Or, perhaps this is just something to keep the wine drinkers happy during the All American of All American sporting brouhaha events - [Guest Blogger: What Happened To The Metric System? And, Why The Euro Is So Damn Smart](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/guest-blogger-what-happened-to-the-metric-system-and-why-the-euro-is-so-damn-smart) - Introducing our latest guest blogger: Bryan Roe From time to time I invite friends, family and associates to contribute a 'guest blog' to The Digital Tavern. After traveling 1,000's kilometers with Bryan during our recent journey through the South of France, Bryan and I engaged in a number of conversations with regard to our experience - [Parking & Keyboards In Provence.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/parking-keyboards-in-provence) - The beauty of traveling virtually anywhere these days is the proliferation of the internet cafe. Whether you're in the middle of Bolivia, the remote towns of Tuscany or tiny villages of the French Riviera, chances are you're glance away from an internet cafe. Most of the time when I'm traveling I bring my Apple PowerBook. - [Suffering In San Tropez. Big Bad Bandol Wines.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/suffering-in-san-tropez-big-bad-bandol-wines) - Saint-Tropez Slide a line down behind a sofa in San Tropez Breaking a stick with a brick on the sand. Riding a wave in the wake of an old sedan. Sleeping alone in the drone of the darkness, Scratched by the sand that fell from my love, Deep in my dreams and I still hear - [Food in French.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/food-in-french) - It's not that I didn't want to order it. Rather I didn't know what it was. There was no translation in my phrase book nor was it in Bryan's French/English dictionary. The one he bought in France. But sitting in the shadow of Saint-Paul de Vence we were hungry and what else would we do - [Digital Tavern Updates & Bloglet](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/digital-tavern-updates-bloglet) - As I noted before there have been some problems getting the bloglet e-mail subscriptions working. I've written a number of new posts since arriving in France yet I've noticed no notifications going out. So if you haven't received a notification, don't worry. I'm working on getting the service working again. Thanks for your patience. Meanwhile - [Medieval Villages](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/medieval-villages) - As many of you know I live in Southern California where real estate development is king. Most of the major new home developers are headquartered there. In fact Bryan, my fellow traveler here in France, recently bought a new home in Northern California build by a developer in Newport Beach. And in Southern California once - [Bread.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/bread) - Bread. It's a staple. Though with the ever increasing population of Atkins-esque loyalists in the United States bread is a shunned food. France? I love waking up and seeing people walking around with baguettes under their arms. The boulangeries are open in the morning and then they closed for the early afternoon only to reopen - [Bloglet Subscription e-mails](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/bloglet-subscription-e-mails) - For some reason my XML-RPC settings were inhibiting my RSS feed from being read by Bloglet. Therefore there haven't been any subscription notices (my blog has been updated emails) in the last several weeks. Sorry for the inconvenience. You might want to scroll down the page a bit to see what new posts I've written - [French Riviera. French Dogs. And French Food!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/french-riviera-french-dogs-and-french-food) - We took a scenic ride down the coast of the Riviera from St. Rafael to Cannes. With blue skies and daytime temperature of 60ish the windy and twisty road through Agay and down to Cannes slipped by before we knew it. Spotting what some might say is the ubiquitous castle in France; we stopped in - [Nationalism and Dining French](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/nationalism-and-dining-french) - A lot of people let jet lag interfere with enjoying the first few days of any trans oceanic flight. Even a transatlantic flight. For me, landing in Nice at noon (3am California time), I committed to myself to resist the temptation of a mid-afternoon South of France nap. So I decided to start my day - [I Wish I Had A Moblog...](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/i-wish-i-had-a-moblog) - I see that Boris and chicgeek helped get Joi a new moblog. I must admit that since Joi got involved with TypePad his site is SO much cleaner and easy to read. Way to go Joi. Maybe he'll share his Moblogging script with me. Though as a Radio Weblogger I may be out of luck. - [Alphabets and Airports.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/alphabets-and-airports) - The flight across the pond amounted to exactly 136 songs on my iPod. That's pulling it out less than an hour after take off and powering down the electronic device just before landing in Paris. One hundred thirty six songs from Atlanta to Paris. That means there's still 2001 songs I've yet to listen to - [Gotta Move. Again.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/gotta-move-again) - Well it just seems when I just get my feet planted back home I get itching and gotta move. Yeah. Another quick trip. Can't stand still. This time I'm off to the south of France. The beaches of the Riviera. Though I'm not sure this is the best time to go from a "beach" point - [MacWorld San Francisco - Live Report](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/macworld-san-francisco-live-report) - iPod iPod Mini Comes in 5 colors! Jobs is talking iPod success. The holiday quarter for the iPod, Apple sold 700,000 + iPods. This means now Apple has sold more than 2 million iPods. Apple is showing the iPod sales curve. Marketshare for Apple in MP3 market: 31% and 55% in revenues. (no December figures - [MacWorld 2004](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/macworld-2004) - It's the 20th Anniversary of the Macintosh and the infamous 1984 Apple Computer SuperBowl spot directed by Ridley Scott. Tomorrow Steve Jobs takes the stage at Moscone Center and addresses the faithful who have made the pilgrimage to Macintosh Mecca. This is only the second time in 18 years I will miss the show and - [Happy New Year!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/happy-new-year) - I'm on a plane heading to Southern California from Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington DC. I was fortunate to spend time with my brother's family and toast the new year at his annual bash. Started the trip in NYC and Tall Timbers, New Jersey making a road trip from NYC to DC. Packed in - [Borrowing A Bit of Broadband Thanks To Open WiFi Networks](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/borrowing-a-bit-of-broadband-thanks-to-open-wifi-networks) - Catching up on my blog reading this evening while I adjust to NYC time, I found an interesting new "cellphone" from Sony thanks to John Robb. But as John suggests such new gadgets could lead to regulation of WiFi networks. So the guy or company who's running an open Linksys access point here at 14th - [Travel Time Redux.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/travelogue/travel-time-redux) - Ok. Ok. Ok. I know. Not only have I been a bit lame in keeping the Digital Tavern fresh over the last couple weeks, now I have to report that I'm on the road again. This time it's New York City. I'll celebrate the season and my birth with friends and family as I remind - [When It Feels Good To Be A Customer.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/when-it-feels-good-to-be-a-customer) - Sometimes the details are just too minute. Reviewing my new business cards this afternoon while grasping for every bit of light to aid my aging retinas in making sense of the tiny type, I noticed peeking out from under a pile of "I'll get to it later" paperwork a DMV notice that I'd neglected since - [Phones. Lawsuits. & Wanderlust Cured (temporarily)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/phones-lawsuits-wanderlust-cured-temporarily) - Good to be back. Though I miss the overall romance of life on the road as a free-spirited wayfaring traveler. Ah. But reality sets in. Stacks of mail. Bills to pay. Voice mail. Unfinished business. New business. Settling in. Back in March I wrote about cell phone number portability which now is approaching reality. And - [Bluetooth Keyboard.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/bluetooth-keyboard) - I've been using the new Apple Bluetooth (wireless) keyboard for a couple weeks now. Running system 10.2.6 on a 1Ghz 17" PowerBook, I can safely say this thing lags quite a bit. I type rather fast and when the keyboard tries to catch up to me it sometimes resorts to beach ball spinning waiting. Many - [More Skype Stuff.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/more-skype-stuff) - So ever since learning how hot Stuart found Skype and the ensing mad rush for the hundreds of thousands minions to reserve their Skype handles. And discovering Dina has been making connections from Pakistan to Patagonia via Skype, I can safely bet VoIP has never seen such a thrust of energy. In the "old days" - [Days The Music Died](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/days-the-music-died) - Wow. I just found out that Robert Palmer died of a heart attack today. So we've seen Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon and now Robert Palmer. Both Zevon and Palmer in their 50's. Ouch. - [Analog Creative Expression. Get Creative !](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/analog-creative-expression-get-creative) - When I worked at PRISCOMM and then Wirestone I had the opportunity to collaborate with a bunch of extremely talented and creative people. It was the people that I worked with the spurred the drive and gave me the energy to work so hard for many years. The great thing about working in a creative - [Satellite Radio? Blogging?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/satellite-radio-blogging) - A few things I found interesting this morning. First, Doc weighs in on his propensity to listening to satellite radio and his preference of Sirius over XM. But more important is his overview of a Times article than reviews radio options which ironically doesn't even mention AM and FM -- the old stalwarts. [...] The - [Can Legislation Solve The Spam Problem?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/can-legislation-solve-the-spam-problem) - Wow. Can't tell whether Davis is posturing to take attention away from the Total Recall campaign and the short lived stall for the October 7th election. Maybe he's trying to make a mark. Some kinda mark. But Davis signed a bill yesterday that calls for a hard no-tolerance stance toward that pesky unsolicited email we - [Bluetooth Is In The Tavern.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/bluetooth-is-in-the-tavern) - Today I bought an new Apple Bluetooth Keyboard. Damn this is nice. A few have asked "Why did you buy a keyboard for your laptop computer?" Reason is simple. First, my laptop (the 17" PowerBook) has built in Bluetooth. I tend to be an early adopter and wanted to try out the new wireless technology - [Every Person Tells A Story.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/every-person-tells-a-story) - Everybody has a story. Everybody is a story. Everybody tells stories. And this is what I love about humanity. Sure. Sometimes the stories are sad, happy, boring, nasty or simply mediocre. But they're stories nonetheless. One of my passions is traveling. But more than the destination and perhaps sometimes more than the journey, I find - [The Name Game. When Your Legacy Drags You Down, Punt.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/the-name-game-when-your-legacy-drags-you-down-punt) - Jaws dropped with mouths wide opened when in January 2000 we all learned that the tiny little internet company Steve Case started bought the largest media company in the country. It was as if Steve Case was saying "the new economy rules" and "the internet will be the driving force for media in the future." - [What's all the hype with Skype?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/whats-all-the-hype-with-skype) - Have you been following Stuart's blog lately. He's on quite the rant about Skype. Frankly, being locked in a cabin in the Wyoming wilderness at night and spinning tires and squirreling around the forest service and fire roads while crossing muddy waters on a motorcycle, I've been a bit out of it. In fact, no - [Covering Lost Ground](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/covering-lost-ground) - Ok. I've got to be fair. I've been feeling a bit guilty by my lack of posts for this past week here at The Digital Tavern. Nonetheless, I'm going to try to make up for some lost ground. So read on. - [More About Positions. And Those Secret Words In Your Diary.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/more-about-positions-and-those-secret-words-in-your-diary) - It's funny. Blogging as we all know is going mainstream. Some of you are probably a bit hurt, pissed and otherwise uncomfortable with the newfound fame "blogging" is experiencing. But as I've noted several times before, blogging is simply the promise of the internet -- the same internet we all bought into in the mid-90's - [What Happened To Bloglet?
Subscribers left with empty glasses in the Tavern.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/what-happened-to-bloglet-brisubscribers-left-with-empty-glasses-in-the-taverni) - For those of you who have subscribed to the Digital Tavern via the service I used, Bloglet, you probably haven't received a Digital Tavern update notification since early August. And to be sure, I haven't been that lax in posting items of interest. It appears that Bloglet has had a serious malfunction. Several e-mails to - [When It Comes To Marketing and Sex, It's All About Your Position](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/when-it-comes-to-marketing-and-sex-its-all-about-your-position) - A couple years ago while flying to Boise, Idaho an airline attendant took interest in me as I started working on the Palm portion of my Kyocera SmartPhone. Within moments she was by my seat with her SmartPhone and exchanging a number of free or shareware Palm OS applications. After several minutes of fun dialog - [The Price of Quality Research](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/the-price-of-quality-research) - Last week I received a telemarketers call who identified herself as a representative from a national market research firm located in new Jersey. She explained that she was working for a large mortgage lender who was conducting a survey of homeowners who recently financed or refinanced their home. After qualifying me as a target she - [Not A Blog. Not Really a News Feed. But Bush Site Goes After Bloggers](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/not-a-blog-not-really-a-news-feed-but-bush-site-goes-after-bloggers) - Have you seen George Bush's new site. Eager to jump on the bandwagon and success of Vermont governor and doctor turned grass roots and very successful presidential candidate Howard Dean, George Bush launched his own site to monitor his 2004 reelection campaign. The site makes not bones about reaching out the blogging community where Dean - [Words. Writing. And Reading.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/words-writing-and-reading) - I love reading. Blogs. Newspapers. Books. Personal letters. And magazines. Writing has the ability to move you, make you smile, laugh out loud and even tear. For me it's all of these things and more. And sometimes I come across a sentence, paragraph or entire piece from somewhere I'd least expect it that simply makes - [The Case of the Moving Icon -- Live Streaming in iChat AV](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/the-case-of-the-moving-icon-live-streaming-in-ichat-av) - The more I play with iChat and my iSight camera, the more amazed I am. Amazed not only for what it's doing now, but my mind wanders and reminds myself that this is BETA software. It's not even ready for prime time. I just got pinged by Joi Ito in japan. He found yet another - [Is It Time We Dropped The Word Blog?
Or, Blog By Another Name.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/is-it-time-we-dropped-the-word-blog-br-or-blog-by-another-name) - It's 11:30pm the night of August 12th. But it's nearly 3am in New York and the delivery trucks are already dropping the Wednesday August 13, 2003 issue of The New York Times on the dirty sidewalks. Open the paper to op-ed page and once again we have Maureen Down writing about blogs. Rather Blah Blah - [Homes For Sale At Wal-Mart & Watching The Circus on TV](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/homes-for-sale-at-wal-mart-watching-the-circus-on-tv) - Philip Greenspun shares his insight on economic ratios today. I find the comparison fascinating. [...]Forty years ago it cost $500 to buy a factory-made TV and $10,000 to have a nice house built from scratch on a plot of land, a ratio of 20:1. Today the TV costs $200 and assembling the local tradespeople and - [Why Flying Isn't Always The Fastest Way To Travel](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/why-flying-isnt-always-the-fastest-way-to-travel) - You may wonder about today's headline. But I swear it makes sense. Read on.... Have you been following Ming the Mechanic? Just over a month ago he pulled his roots out of the Los Angeles soil and traffic and embarked on a journey to a new country and new land. He moved to France. This - [Why Tools Hinder Creativity, Innovation & Originality](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/why-tools-hinder-creativity-innovation-originality) - Forget Tools. Think. Think. And Think Again. I started this post this morning as a comment on Dina's weblog regarding her Creativity Tools post. As I started to get a bit long-winded for a weblog comment, I figured why not just make it a blog post. And if I had yet my TrackBack feature installed - [Countdown to Trackback.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/countdown-to-trackback) - A little blog technology business for a quick post, if you don't mind. I see that Dave, Jake and the crew at UserLand Software have finally implemented trackback into Radio. Radio is the blogging tool/software that I use here on The Digital Tavern. And trackback is a technology originally implemented by Mena and Ben Trott, - [Hijacked By Advertising. Nothing's Sacred.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/hijacked-by-advertising-nothings-sacred) - Jason Kottke didn't take too kindly to concepts outlined by Michael Sippy calling for new features for what could be in a future generation of Apple's iPod. Sippey: [...] imagine similar functionality on the iPod: when you sync your catalog with iTunes, the device uses iSync to fetch new content to insert into the iPod - [Why Microsoft Is So Flattering.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/why-microsoft-is-so-flattering) - Microsoft is considering selling music online through it's Windows Media Player application. Immitation & Flattery. Imitation is, after all, the best form of flattery. Or so the adage goes. Two other adages I hold closer to my heart are The only things you regret in life are those that you don't do; rarely what you - [Love And A Thief. Bob Dylan Live. (sans wireless)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/love-and-a-thief-bob-dylan-live-sans-wireless) - Nothing that I wouldn't do Go to the ends of the earth for you To make you feel my love" - Make You Feel My Love Just saw Bob Dylan perform tonight. By the energy of tonight's show, I'd have to say that Bobby pulls out all the stops to show his love for his - [Amazon.com Embraces Weblog Technnology (RSS)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/amazoncom-embraces-weblog-technnology-rss) - Just discovered this at Brent Simmon's This is exactly what I was talking about when I called for corporate marketing departments to embrace weblog technologies. Keywords here are "weblog technologies". RSS's heritage is weblogs. And Amazon's adoption and trial using RSS is something to watch. [...] Amazon.com is now generating RSS: “Selected categories, subcategories and - [The Politics of Blogging](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/the-politics-of-blogging) - You gotta love Howard Dean. At least his marketing (campaign) team. This guy has leveraged Blogs much like Clinton leveraged the internet during his campaigns. But Dean's different. And while formidable potential presidential candidates may not find it hard to harness ink - offline and online - Dean is differentiating himself through weblogs and social - [Thinkers. Marketers. And Red Wine.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/thinkers-marketers-and-red-wine) - I know you're wondering. What's Allan writing about now? Thinkers and marketers. You probably can get your head around that. But Red Wine? Sure, the cat's been out of the bag that I'm a passionate taster and collector of fine wines and that I'll do most anything to weave a wine story into a blog - [Oklahoma is OK...for frozen pizza or wine?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/oklahoma-is-okfor-frozen-pizza-or-wine) - I stumbled upon this article about farmers trying to stimulate Oklahoma tourism and to leverage its farming heritage. But wine? That's going to be a hard sell. [...] compared the forming of a cooperative of wine growers to the Value Added Products closed cooperative in Alva (Oklahoma) which has helped add value to wheat growers' - [Lessig And The Dean: Blogging The Blogosphere](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/lessig-and-the-dean-blogging-the-blogosphere) - Great follow up article in today's Washington Post about Howard Dean's Internet Candidacy and his role as guest blogger on Larry Lessig's blog [...]"The Internet might soon be the last place where open dialogue occurs," he wrote, using the occasion to bash the Federal Communications Commission's recent decision to allow media companies to own more - [Wi-Fi's Harbingers of Doom And Promoters of Plenty](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/wi-fis-harbingers-of-doom-and-promoters-of-plenty) - Did you see this article in today's New York Times? The title alone will raise the hair on your back; that is if there's any left after the burning siege of anger singes those tiny follicles. "Led by Intel, True Believers in Wi-Fi Say It Will Endure". Fact is, Intel had been bucking the open - [Do What You Love. Love What You Do.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/do-what-you-love-love-what-you-do) - simple concept for complex times.... 1995 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley The wines were phenomenal. Both of them. Though at first the Plumpjack scared us. It had sat out a couple days outside the cool temperature of Jon's cellar. We decanted it and stuck it in the fridge. Half an hour later and after indulging - [Live Blogging At SuperNova - Washington, DC](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/live-blogging-at-supernova-washington-dc) - Afternoon at SuperNova: Lots of activity and multi collaborative and community software experience. Notetaking was done through a collaborative tool called Hydra which operates over rendezvous and TCP/IP to share and participate in live editing and note taking. I'll blog more about this later. Off to the reception then dinner. ---- Industry Perspective Craig Silverstein, - [The Changing Face of Radio & Music Distribution](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/the-changing-face-of-radio-music-distribution) - Catching up and increasing my news dosage after a well deserved time off with family, I just ran into Leander Kahney's article in today's Wired titled "Last.fm - Music To Listeners Ears." For regular readers of the Digital Tavern, it's no secret that I've been blasting the homogenization and sad state of radio today. Perhaps - [CD --> AAC & MP3 Conversion Completed](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/cd-aac-mp3-conversion-completed) - Whew. It took a while. But I've converted perhaps 95% of my entire CD collection (somewhere over 1,200 CDs) to digital format. And while the TiVO system doesn't yet support the AAC codec, I learned today that I can hook my Cube (which is now relegated to work as my Digital Audio/Music Jukebox) to an - [Future Thinking. (this weekend and next week, too)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/future-thinking-ithis-weekend-and-next-week-tooi) - I catch an early flight on Thursday morning from John Wayne Airport to Ronald Reagan International in Washington DC. Gee. Flying from one macho Hollywood star namesake to another. What ever happened to the Jimmy Stewart airport anyway. Looking forward to spending time with family and especially my two nieces Emily and Anna. After some - [Corporate Blogging. Because People Matter. And People Care.
Corporate Weblog Series #4](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/corporate-blogging-because-people-matter-and-people-carebrsmallcorporate-weblog-series-4small) - Have you been following the discussion? I mean if you think blogging is simply the outlet for the frustrated political journalist, unsung critics of art, sport, media, literature and life or sexually frustrated adolescents then pass this post and dig in deep and take an egocentric and self-indulgent stomach turning ride through the blogosphere. Alternatively, - [1992 California Cabernet - Bryant Family Vineyard & Dalla Valle Vineyards](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/1992-california-cabernet-bryant-family-vineyard-dalla-valle-vineyards) - This wine is the first vintage of what has become perhaps a member of the elite first growths of California joining its elders of Ridge Montebello, Joseph Phelps Insignia, Chateau Montelena Estate, Georges de LaTour and arguably a half dozen others. Until the past year the wine was made by winemaker rock star and goddess - [Blogging Business. Is it anyone's business?
Corporate Weblog Series - #3](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogging-business-iis-it-anyones-businessibrsmallcorporate-weblog-series-3small) - The horrible article I blogged about in The New York Times last Sunday (in print and online, btw) has stirred up a number of comments. And I just can't resist going back to it -- passionate as we all can be in these times. Perhaps the most honest and public display of passion and disgust - [Interesting From The Blogosphere](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/interesting-from-the-blogosphere) - Just tracking down current information on bloggers, blogging and the blogosphere and came across these two posts. Worth following the inks. Some good reference material here, too. Journalist Blog List. Jonathan Dube claims to have the most complete directory of professional journalist weblogs. [Scripting News] Five by Five (Weblogging)Five links about the state of weblogging - [Looking For A Good Screw?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/looking-for-a-good-screw) - If you're a cork dork or just like different screws, check out the place you want to go. - [iChat A/V - Live In Japan](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/ichat-av-live-in-japan) - If you haven't followed the Mac news from yesterday, you're missing out on the most amazing new technology I've seen from Apple or anybody in a long time. it's called iChat A/V. And using the AIM IM protocol it enables voice and full duplex audio/video conferencing with plug and play ease. If someone has a - [Are Corporate Weblogs Taking Off? - Corporate Weblog Series #2](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/are-corporate-weblogs-taking-off-corporate-weblog-series-2) - I was happy to find Halley quoted in Thom Weidlich's New York Times article "The Corporate Blog Is Catching On." I'm not so sure I agree with Thom and as a result, I'm disappointed in the overall article. Why? It really didn't address the fundamental benefits of blogging as marketing tool or corporate communications and - [Live Blogging From Apple's WWDC Keynote](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/live-blogging-from-apples-wwdc-keynote) - Live Blogging From Apple's WWDC Keynote For those readers less interested in things Macintosh or technology, I've moved the very long post I blogged live this morning as Steve Job's unveiled Panther, the 10.3 version of OS X, new developer tools and the fastest personal computer in the world running dual 2Ghz G5 processors to - [Live Blogging From Apple's WWDC Keyonte](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/live-blogging-from-apples-wwdc-keyonte) - The following is a long post reporting the action at it happened at Steve Jobs' keynote at the Annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. ---- New pricing on other towers but Apple Store online is closed right now. iSight Cameras available in the stores this week. New Entry Level G4 1.25 Ghz only - [Hibiscus Update.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/hibiscus-update) - Stop and take some cuttings from the flowers. I made two trips down the street in an effort to put a pace to the neighbor who left the nice note in my mailbox. The first time carrying a couple Hibiscus flowers which I left threaded in her wreath of grapes on her front door. The - [Sharing The Blogs.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/sharing-the-blogs) - This week I received three gifts of Blogshares from bloggers who I didn't know and to blogs I've never visited. One of the generous bloggers, Lago, has an interesting perspective on his recent gift giving spree. Lago granted me a number of shares of G33k, Louis Martin gave me shares of Six Different Ways and - [Piracy. Stealing. Copyright & Drunk Driving. Consequences.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/piracy-stealing-copyright-drunk-driving-consequences) - Eric pointed me to the article in Tuesday's Washington Post about Utah Senator Orrin Hatch's testimonial in favor of "new technology to remotely destroy the computers of people who illegally download music from the Internet." Needless to say, this is a classic Hatchism designed to roust the rabble rousers, incite controversy and give the good - [Stop For The Flowers. Meet Your Neighbors.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/stop-for-the-flowers-meet-your-neighbors) - It usually happens around midday. You know. Three-ish. I saunter out to my mailbox and grab the daily does of junk, checks (hopefully), bills and letters (ideally) from the mailbox. It's a ritual. But you know I grab the pile in a neat little fold, cruise back into the house and standing over the trash - [At My Door Step. Final Cut Pro 4.0](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/at-my-door-step-final-cut-pro-40) - I'm so damn excited. Today the UPS man left me a wonderful package on my doorstep. My Final Cut Pro 4.0 upgrade. Wow. This thing takes over a gigabyte of storage. No wonder. It now includes Cinema Tools (used to be a $999 option), LiveType and SoundTrack. Plus, a bunch of SoundTrack loops just to - [More Health Benefits From Drinking The Fermented Grape](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/more-health-benefits-from-drinking-the-fermented-grape) - I know it doesn't sound exciting, but "having a glass or two of wine every day may help reduce the occurrence of bowel polyps". According to this article in The Wine Spectator. [...] Polyps are projecting masses of swollen membrane that are sometimes found in the colon. Usually benign, the growths can be singular or - [She Takes It All Off For Her Thesis](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/she-takes-it-all-off-for-her-thesis) - photo: borrowed from comp image of stock photo library blogs & sites to watch: metrosexual | nerve | kitty - [Massive Audio CD Conversion Project Underway.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/massive-audio-cd-conversion-project-underway) - I've finally done it. Well. Committed to it, anyway. I'm converting all of my 1,200+ music CDs to digital files -- AAC's (at 192k for those who care). My old G4 Cube will become an audio/music server. I'll still keep 800 CDs online in two Sony 400 disc changers. These still can be operated via - [Faces and Places.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/faces-and-places) - [Happy Birthday Dad & Jim](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/happy-birthday-dad-jim) - Happy Birthday Wayne! It's my dad's birthday today. Actually, it's my brother Jim's birthday, too. So happy birthday to both of them. Being 3,000 miles away makes it tough. I'd love to be able to pull a great wine out of my cellar, drive over to their homes and sit down, chat and simply visit. - [Two-Buck Chuck Owner Buys Napa Winery](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/two-buck-chuck-owner-buys-napa-winery) - Back in March I wrote about the phenomena that had thirsty cheap drunks lining up at Trader Joe's store throughout California and elsewhere to pay $23.88 for a case of mass-produced free run glut wine. In my opinion this wine had been manipulated to appeal to the sweet tooth of the casual wine drinking Americans. - [Selling Music Online: Now It Gets Serious.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/selling-music-online-now-it-gets-serious) - The New York Post reports that Amazon and Apple Computer are in discussions regarding offering Apple's iTunes Music Store selections to Amazon customers. This would greatly expand the audience for iTunes Music Store while adding further value and convenience to purchasing music online from Amazon. Reportedly Apple is working on plans to offer its iTunes - [Rock Star or Religious Leader?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/rock-star-or-religious-leader) - Arik Hesseldal writes "Keeping the Faith In Steve Jobs" in the latest issue of Forbes, and compares the near fanatical cult-brand following and aura of Apple Computers venerable leader in to that of rock star or religious leader. Hesseldol tries to find reason why Forbes readers have consistently shown respect for Mr. Jobs by naming - [Why Does Barbie Blog? - Corporate Weblog Series #1](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/why-does-barbie-blog-corporate-weblog-series-1) - Ok. So you blog or you don't blog. But this plastic figurine that represents the best and worst of American marketing, Barbie, has been blogging for some time. What? She's not in your blogroll? I mean no holds barred here. This is fictional blogging. Not some bloggers fantasy or twisted reality. Barbie is - well, - [June Gloom. And Early Summer Reading.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/june-gloom-and-early-summer-reading) - [Life & Death. Real Life Drama From My Window.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/life-death-real-life-drama-from-my-window) - About a month ago when I returned from one of my recent journeys I was happy to hear the sweet droning and cooing sound of a pair of doves out my window. I'd look out and find them perched eloquently as only birds on a wire can be. For me, it was a sure sign - [iTunes Music Store AAC Music Won't Play Over TiVO Home Media](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/itunes-music-store-aac-music-wont-play-over-tivo-home-media) - After an extended period without a television in my home, I'm pleased to finally feel as if I can monitor American pop culture a bit more closely now that I have television. (thanks Amar) Think of all I've missed. The latest Bachelor. Joe Millionaire. Endless episodes of Leno, Conan and Letterman. Even Connie Chung's last - [Innovation Means Much More Than Patents That Lead To Commercial Success](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/innovation-means-much-more-than-patents-that-lead-to-commercial-success) - I read with interest Peter Marsh's story in yesterday's Financial Times titled "In search of the world's hotbeds of innovation". It discusses the methodologies used by CHI Research, a New Jersey-based consultancy that for more than 30 years has tracked technological breakthroughs (patents) and recently has correlated them to commercial success. It's latest figures and - [Sleeping With A Blogger?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/sleeping-with-a-blogger) - Ok. Maybe you're just dating. Friends? How about a business associate? Read on for the latest in mainstream press on blogging. Me? Today blogging from a friend's wireless hot spot her in Northern California. Decided to make a road trip for this Napa excursion. Cruising the infamous 5 freeway yesterday I kept myself entertained with - [The Digital Tavern Turns One](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/the-digital-tavern-turns-one) - For The Sake of Clarity - The Digital Tavern Make A Wish. Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, shared ideas and thoughts. I look forward to another great blogging year. I'm off to Napa Valley for a special event happening tomorrow. Blogging will be a bit light, but I'll check in from the - [In Memoriam: June Carter Cash.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/in-memoriam-june-carter-cash) - Prayers and great memories for June Carter Cash who died today after complications relating to heart surgery earlier this week. Here's Johnny on what she meant to him and their lives together. I'll never forget seeing Johnny play at the old Crazy Horse Saloon in Santa Ana with June and their daughter Roseanne. You could - [RIAA Blunder: Hey, Stop Stealing The Music!](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/riaa-blunder-hey-stop-stealing-the-music) - If you haven't read this story yet, go check out the serious blunder made by the RIAA (Record Industry Association of America). I guess if you pay dues in this organization you are supporting computer development efforts aimed to crawl through internet servers scouring them for music mp3s. [...] Last Thursday, the RIAA sent a - [iTunes Music: AAC vs. MP3](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/itunes-music-aac-vs-mp3) - I've anxiously been testing and reading about the quality, performance and size compromises when switching from MP3 to AAC for encoding CDs. Apple's new iTunes Music Store has set a 128k bit rate standard using AAC. Some reports I've read claim that the music downloaded from the iTunes site seem to have been encoded using - [TiVO Strives For Ubiquity.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/tivo-strives-for-ubiquity) - In what looks like a brilliant move for both TiVO and consumer electronics device manufacturers, TiVO today announced a stripped down version of its service. TiVO is licensing technology that can be embedded into devices such as DVD players, televisions, cable boxes and other devices that connect to televisions. The technology will enable consumers to - [So What. Why Not. Sure. Think Again. And Again.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/so-what-why-not-sure-think-again-and-again) - I've been doing a lot of thinking about my weblog lately. As the first anniversary of writing for the sake of clarity -- The Digital Tavern approaches, I've been reflective. But rather than to communicate my reflections for public view, I've decided to keep them close. Personal and internal rather than external or freely associated. - [Take Your Wiki With You.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/take-your-wiki-with-you) - Wacky Wikis go mobile. I'm thinking of starting a Wiki here in the Digital Tavern. This makes the prospect even more interesting. What's a Wiki? - [Radio. For Better or Worse.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/radio-for-better-or-worse) - Scott Andrew reports on another ClearChannel development: its public statement that it's severing ties with independent "payola" promoters. [...] I don't think this change is going to help indie artists much. ClearChannel stations are not exactly known for diversity of programming, and I suspect that there'll be even more homogenization once the Big Labels and - [Apple Sells Four Songs Every Second.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-sells-four-songs-every-second) - According to this bulletin at Billboard, Apple's iTunes Music Store sold 275,000 songs in its first 18 hours of operation. That's over 250 songs per minute. I can imagine the server horsepower and bandwidth they've got to handle this kind of volume. Looks like Ming's wife, Joi and Denise joined me in contributing to the - [How Much Is A Link Worth?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/how-much-is-a-link-worth) - $36? Ok. So maybe it was the guilt. Or perhaps I just needed to find something new to write about. Or possibly I just was curious to see what happens. I haven't contributed to Tony's car fund, never made a donation on his blog and I didn't buy his inaugural busblog book. Yet I read - [The Trouble With Tony.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/the-trouble-with-tony) - Have you ever been to Tony Pierce's busblog? I've blogrolled him (the links in the left column titled "Read These") for nearly six months. Why? Because Tony is creative. He writes in a conversational nearly stream of consciousness tone. But its not only his writing that's creative, it's his thinking and ideas. Provocative photos. And - [Apple's Music Service, DRM & The Future.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apples-music-service-drm-the-future) - I made my first purchase from iTunes Music last night. A remix version of Bob Dylan's "Everything Is Broken". I tried yesterday in NYC to browse and purchase, but I think everyone had the same idea and Apple's site was slammed. I kept getting errors. No problems last night. The jury is out on the - [New Apple Products (live)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/new-apple-products-live) - This is my live report from the SoHo Apple Store in Manhattan. Standing room only crowd here to watch Steve Jobs introduce new iPods and Apple's new online Music Service. Listen. - new dock that will charge and has line out for home stereo - no longer two versions (boxes) for Windows/Mac - ship in - [Apple Launch Event - SOHO, NYC](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-launch-event-soho-nyc) - Steve discusses 3 million downloads of Safari, iLife and FinalCut Pro. Then he plays the controversial Rip. Mix. Burn ad. Explains that "Rip" doesn't mean "rip off". He goes on to explain that perhaps better words for those "over 3" might be Acquire. Manage. Listen as the alternative. Apple has sold 7 millioin 700,000 iPods - [More ClearChannel Funny Business.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/more-clearchannel-funny-business) - Eric Boehlert writing in Salon his seventh in a series on media consolidation today focuses on the mega-merger between Hispanic media behemoth Univision and ClearChannel owned Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation. Univision is the largest Spanish-language TV, cable and music company, while HBC is the largest owner of spanish-language radio stations. The merger would likely create a - [Flying With A 17" PowerBook.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/flying-with-a-17-powerbook) - I'm sitting on my Continental flight from John Wayne Airport to Newark. I should rephrase that. I'm sitting in coach on this Continental flight. The guy in front of me has his seat fully leaned back. I've got the computer centered on the tray table in front of me. There's barely enough room on either - [Why I Despise Quark.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/why-i-despise-quark) - Today I got a mailer (snail) from Quark with a $299 offer to upgrade Quark Xpress from version 4 to 5 ($399 to go from 3 to 5). And the buyer would then automatically qualify for a free upgrade to version 6. As you may not know, version 5 only runs on Mac OS 9. - [On The Road Again.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/on-the-road-again) - Authoring my first post on the new PowerBook. This thing IS big. Huge lines at baggage check-in and even longer at security caused me to miss my early morning flight today. I'm about to board the only other available flight to New York. This means I miss Ken's bachelor party this evening, but I'll be - [Searching.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/searching) - Anil asks "If Google can index a couple billion pages and return the results in .03 seconds, why does a search of my hard drive take 30 seconds?" And has a good answer. - [One Year Anniversary.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/one-year-anniversary) - I've received a reminder from Userland Software: my Radio subscription expires in 43 days. This means just over a month till my one year blogging anniversary. Let's start the party planning now. I'm already thinking about the wine list. And the menu. Who wants to come? - [Waiting For FedEx.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/waiting-for-fedex) - I can feel it. My PowerBook is getting closer. I thought it might be here on Tuesday. But I've learned oh so well how to manage my expectations. Per FedEx it arrived from indianapolis in Los Angeles at about dinner time Tuesday. So bar the short 40 some mile journey from LAX to the FedEx - [Phones Are Getting Too Small](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/phones-are-getting-too-small) - I love the 'new' Sony Ericsson T68is all in its Bluetooth glory. But the phone is too small. The screen is too small and when holding it up to my ear to speak (that is assuming I haven't plunked down $300 for a BlueTooth headset) I feel like a dainty English woman trying at afternoon - [Nina Simone](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/nina-simone) - What a great spirit. What a great singer. I never saw her live. But she and her music will live forever. Rest in peace. - [Information Managment. Brain Mapping. Idea Capturing. Junk Drawer.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/information-managment-brain-mapping-idea-capturing-junk-drawer) - It's Time You Met NoteTaker. You've probably read some of my comments and thoughts on NoteTaker in the past. Including my long lost mini-review of the product due to the previously mentioned computer nightmares I've lived with over the last thirty days. No worries. The good folks (read: Matt Neuburg) at TidBITS have posted an - [Swell Images.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/swell-images) - John Robb points me to what looks to be an excellent and simple tool to quickly grab, resize, shape and otherwise copy and post images to websites, documents (I've been enjoying NoteTaker) and even your .Mac iDisk with grace and ease. If you're a Mac user and are tired of launching Photoshop, GraphicConverter or other - [PowerBook Update.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/powerbook-update) - You are not going to believe this. I got an email on Saturday from Apple notifying me that my PowerBook shipped -- from Taiwan: Date/Time Scan Activity 04/21/2003 20:20 Left FedEx Ramp/C.K.S. INTL AIRPORT TW 04/19/2003 23:56 Arrived at FedEx Ramp/TA YUAN HSIANG TW 04/19/2003 21:05 Left FedEx Origin Location/TAOYUAN CITY TW 04/19/2003 20:56 Picked - [Blog is Back.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blog-is-back) - My first task home was to attack the recreation or regeneration of the Digital Tavern. And if you scroll down a bit you'll see that I've succeeded. at least 90%. I've tried to get the comments posted to the correct blog entry. And the older posts that were lost are now back. The only posts - [Dateline: Vero Beach, Florida](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/dateline-vero-beach-florida) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern remotely on April 14, 2003 - Sitting here in Vero Beach Florida. A poor dial up connection and five year old Toshiba laptop. Had an amazing bottle of 1994 Beringer Howell Mountain Bancroft Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon - huge black cherry flavors, very subtle notes of earth with hints - [More Blog Saga. And The Road To Restoration. (travels too)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/more-blog-saga-and-the-road-to-restoration-travels-too) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern on April 11, 2003 - It's been a tough time blogging the last few weeks. Those regular readers who have followed my sage, journey and discovery I trust understand. I keep reminding myself that patience is truly an amazing and underrated human quality or characteristic. I still have - [Is A Man Is Only Good As His Glass? Or, Time To Dispel Myths: Size Matters](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/is-a-man-is-only-good-as-his-glass-or-time-to-dispel-myths-size-matters) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern on April 10, 2003 - I became a believer several years ago. That is that the type of stemware makes a dramatic difference in the taste of good wine. I used to laugh at those folks who would drag a bag of their favorite Riedel glasses into a - [The Saga of Lost Posts](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/the-saga-of-lost-posts) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern on April 9, 2003 - Unfortunately due to the multiple levels of migration I've put myself through and the bad sectors on the old hard drive, I've lost about a dozen or so posts here in the Digital Tavern. And while I have backups of the rendered XML - [Martin the Magyar](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/martin-the-magyar) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern on April 8, 2003 - Well it's about time Martin got his blog up and running. Looks like he's using Moveable Type and running on Enrique's server. Martin's blog borrows its name from his Hungarian heritage "Magyar Blog". He is a musical mandrax of sorts and will open - [Apple & High-End Digital Video Get Better](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-high-end-digital-video-get-better) - - originally posted at The Digital Tavern on April 6, 2003 - At NAB today Apple released amazing updates to Final Cut Pro (4.0) and DVD Studio Pro (2.0) and introduced an updated version of high end video compositing software Shake (3.0). These announcement show that Apple is serious about digital media. I've already pre-ordered - [PowerBooks & Positive Thinking.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/powerbooks-positive-thinking) - Dear Valued Apple Customer, Thank you for placing your Apple Store Order Wxxxxxx. We need your response to continue processing your order. Due to an unexpected supply delay, we are unable to ship the following item(s) by the last date you were quoted: M8793LL/A, PBG4 17.0/1GHZ/512/60G/SD/AP/BT-USA will now ship on or before 04/09/2003. If you - [More Hypocrisy. Where's The Music?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/more-hypocrisy-wheres-the-music) - As bombs blast Baghdad, and the pro-war constituents cheer for the liberation of Iraq, the anti-war vocalists, those musicians who out of one side of their mouths shout anti-war epithets and out of the other provide nothing more than feed the media PR sound bytes that appear to do nothing more than promote theselves through - [Apple Gets New Board Member. Al Gore](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-gets-new-board-member-al-gore) - Apple's Board of Directors elected former Vice President Al Gore to its Board. I'm not sure if this is a good thing. Isn't he a loser? I mean all boards need a little window dressing. But. But. But... - [China Censors Stones. 4 Licks Short of 40](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/china-censors-stones-4-licks-short-of-40) - Maybe you saw them on the North American leg of their 40th (gulp) Anniversary Tour. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of the Stones. Well a month ago EMI China released their Anniversary CD "Forty Licks" and the will be headlining shows in China starting in Shanghai next month. But while in 1967 Ed - [Transitions.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/transitions) - Life is funny. I love life. You'd be hard pressed to find me anytime without a big smile and happy "excellent" expression. It's an icebreaker. In this way, I'm typically warm, open and approachable. And that's the first thing people feel when they meet me. But what about life's transitions? How do you greet them? - [Taste of Hawaii](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/taste-of-hawaii) - I wish I was going to Hawaii on Sunday to attend this event. Just give me an excuse.... - [Every Taste You Take](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/every-taste-you-take) - Legendary British Rocker Sting plans to get into the wine business. According to this article he purchased prime property in Northern Italy and plans to launch a wine under his name. And soon after, we'll have Sting-branded olive oil. 'I have a wager' the brave child spoke The fisherman laughed, though disturbed at the joke. - [WiFi The Mickey Dee Way: Free.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/wifi-the-mickey-dee-way-free) - Do you want internet access with your fries and McNuggets? How's a free wireless hour sound? Today McDonald's announced it would offer WiFi internet access in 300 restaurants in NYC, Chicago and a yet unannounced California municipality. It currently is in the midst of a 3-month pilot program in NYC. You'll get an hour with - [Blog. Wash. Blog. Dry. Another Day.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blog-wash-blog-dry-another-day) - Light blogging today and the last few days. Been cranking on some tight deadlines for projects for my favorite and very important clients. Should be able to pick up with more blog content later this week. Today I had to do what you should only have to do once, maybe twice in one's adult life: - [Dead. But Not Forgotten](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/dead-but-not-forgotten) - My blogless friend and adventure traveler cohort Johnny "A" points me to a cute story about an Alaskan who never heard of Jerry Garcia nor the Grateful Dead. Short but fun read. Check it out. - [NetNewsWire Redux](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/netnewswire-redux) - In December I blogged about my News Aggregator epiphany when I discovered a beta version of the now nearly ubiquitous NetNewsWire Lite. Shortly after, Ranchero Software and Brent Simmons released a "pro" version of the product which includes a Notepad and Weblog Editor among other premium features -- simply called NetNewsWire (NNW). I was excited - [Netscape Founder Admits He Has No Blog](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/netscape-founder-admits-he-has-no-blog) - The SJ Mercury News interview with Marc Andreessen (founder of Netscape) asks if he has a blog. "No," he said. "I have a day job. I don't have the time or ego need." People used to say stuff like that about email, believe it or not. [Scripting News] - [Like, Blogs Are The Rage, You Know](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/like-blogs-are-the-rage-you-know) - If you been following the hot blog topics the past few days no doubt you've read about Dr. Pepper's hot new marketing gimic: A Blog. And it's tied to what's destined to be a hot new drink, Raging Cow. Geeez. What happened to the damn bull? Ok. So FilchyBoy, the inquisitive, deductive and reporting type - [Cell Phone Number Portability - It's Time.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/cell-phone-number-portability-its-time) - Wired reports today that cell phone industry underdogs Verizon and T-Mobile support a plan that would allow cell phone customers to switch carriers without giving up their phone numbers. Bravo. [...] The FCC has mandated that the cell-phone industry let its customers switch carriers without having to give up their phone numbers by Nov. 24. - [Music Industry Endorses New Online Music Service From Apple](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/music-industry-endorses-new-online-music-service-from-apple) - Though this hasn't been confirmed by Apple, the Los Angeles times reports this morning (free registration or username/password: digitaltavern) that Apple will launch an online music service allowing users to purchase music online and download into their iPods or iTunes application on their Mac. [...] Apple offering won over music executives because it makes buying - [Market Share Myths & The Media's Apple Affair](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/market-share-myths-the-medias-apple-affair) - I found Peter Burrows op-ed piece on Apple Computer in Business Week a bit tainted, if not unfair. While reading it I had flashbacks to the mid-90's when Apple was everybody's favorite computer company to bash, pity and hate. Do a word search of the hundreds of articles describing Apple Computer's business issues at this - [Justice Department Seizes Website & Domain: A Harbinger of Enforcement](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/justice-department-seizes-website-domain-a-harbinger-of-enforcement) - The DEA has seized mansions, sports cars, speed boats. The IRS has seized documents, computers and office equipment and now the U.S. Justice Department has seized its first domain name and website -- one that was dedicated to piracy. The site and domain (www.isonews.com) belonged to David Rocci who ran what law enforcement officials say - [The Delta Between Airline Service](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/the-delta-between-airline-service) - My dad just finished building a house in Southern Florida. He's been very forward of late in his invitation to visit. To my brother, too. So when Jon & I finally coordinated schedules, considering his daughters' school vacations, we finally agreed on a date. Turns out the week we're going is the biggest week in - [How To Comment On RSS Feeds?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/how-to-comment-on-rss-feeds) - Joi has gone RSS feed crazy. But he has a very formidable request: Now will someone create a way for people to post comments from the RSS clients? - [New York Times on Google's Acquisition of Pyra (Blogger)](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/new-york-times-on-googles-acquisition-of-pyra-ibloggeri) - A week late, but today New York Times business section report on the Pyra acquisition by Google. First reported by Dan Gillmor and reported here Live From the Blogosphere. There's already been much opined about this acquisition so I won't bore you with more, but I did think the following was worthy of noting. Google's - [Dear Norah,](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/dear-norah) - You rock, sweetheart. Congratulations. At a time when the lines between soulful expressive music and noise, harmonic dissonance, voice and electronics blur the lines of what is music and what is something else, I find it so encouraging the at 23 years old you are writing and playing music that is far from the mainstream. - [Blogging About Blogs. Addicted yet?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogging-about-blogs-addicted-yet) - Ernie's friend uncovers the three stages of Blog-Awareness, while Joi throws caution to the wind and asks Are you addicted to blogging? [...] You are addicted to blogging if you answer "yes" to at least 3 of the following questions: Do you think about everything in terms of whether it will make a good blog - [More On Moblogging](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/more-on-moblogging) - Wired today reports on tools that will make posting to weblogs easier when on the road. [...] Joe Laszlo, a Jupiter Research analyst, believes that of the estimated 500,000 people who maintain a weblog, as many as 25 percent might eventually use moblogging tools to update their sites. He predicts carriers will use moblogging software - [Will TV & Newspapers Go The Way of Clear Channel?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/will-tv-newspapers-go-the-way-of-clear-channel) - Clear Channel seems to be media consolidation's whipping boy. Hard to find anyone who doesn't love to hate Clear Channel. And like the bully in the schoolyard who went a bit too far, Clear Channel is losing its fellow media conglomerate friends. [...] Today, broadcast, cable and newspaper giants like Viacom, Comcast and Gannett want - [Be A Better Lover. And Stay Healthy.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/be-a-better-lover-and-stay-healthy) - More benefits of drinking wine. You'll be healhier than abstainers, according to Duke Universit Study. And, wine drinkers make better lovers. Right now I'm toasting the study with a 1994 Robert Craig, Mt Veeder, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley. - [Virtual PC Now Under Microsoft Control](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/virtual-pc-now-under-microsoft-control) - C|Net reports that Microsoft has acquired "some" assets of Connectix including Virtual PC and an undisclosed and unreleased server product. I'm wondering what this means to the performance of Virtual PC in future releases. I guess we can look forward to more bloatware for the Mac from Microsoft. Time will tell. - [17" PowerBook Sighting](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/17-powerbook-sighting) - I finally was able to see and lay my hands on a 17" PowerBook. The local Apple Store in Newport Beach (Fashion Island) received a single display unit on Monday. It's beautiful. It's big. And the screen is phenomenal. Definitely going to require first or biz class seats to take this on my next trip. - [Ad Dollars. When Should Money Be Left On The Table?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/ad-dollars-when-should-money-be-left-on-the-table) - Advertising dollars. It's the lifeblood of the media industry. Money talks. Large advertisers have more power than you'd think. In some cases these advertisers can influence programming. There have been more than a few times that scenes of television shows, news programs and documentaries have been left on the cutting room floor due to an - [The Future of Salon.com?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/the-future-of-saloncom) - This makes me sad. And mad. Some of the greatest writing and innovative ideas in the online publishing world. I almost want to fly to SFO and try to be superman and save this organization. But that's idealistic, unpractical and silly. But it makes me wonder. Are they suffocating under too much debt? Do they - [1996 Elderton Command Shiraz, Australia.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/1996-elderton-command-shiraz-australia) - Bad boy extreme. Wow. I was treated to this wine blind. It had been a couple years since I tempted my palate with a shiraz from Elderton. I forget about Australia. But prompted by my post on Henry's's Drive last week, my buddy Amar decided to open the Command we purchased on a wine run - [Blogosphere Redux. Check it out.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogosphere-redux-check-it-out) - I just posted a photo essay and photo album of the Live From The Blogosphere event I attended this past Saturday. You'll find more links at the end of this post, too. - [Blogosphere Live - Los Angeles](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogosphere-live-los-angeles) - Long day. Longer evening. Just got back from an evening in LA. Started off with Slippery Shrimp and more tasty Chinese treats and Yang Chow in Chinatown with Doc. Turns out Tony Pierce ate there too. You guessed it: Slippery Shrimp. I thought I was lucky when the parking lot attendant moved the "Lot Full" - [Safari Updated](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/safari-updated) - Apple released a new public beta of Safari its super fast and extremely HOT web browser. Improves compatability with more websites. Maybe cookies and javascript, too? Download it here. - [Exchange For Mac: A Reality.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/exchange-for-mac-a-reality) - Looks like Microsoft finally publicly committed yesterday to deliver an Exchange solution for Macintosh OS X. With Apple's Xserve update earlier this week and Microsoft's movement on Exchange, it's starting to look interesting for those enterprises who've avoided Mac because of investment in Microsoft and Exchange technology. Just hope this Exchange doesn't follow the same - [Rock n' Roll Tape Sales Peak.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/rock-n-roll-tape-sales-peak) - Got your survival supplies? I wonder if U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison is holding any Home Depot stock under an assumed alias? Gotta prepare for emergencies. Like a microphone that just won't stay where it's supposed to? Or mic cables that are too easy to trip over? Or the curtain that just needs to be - [This Sucks.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/this-sucks) - Somebody ripped off Doc's laptop from his car this weekend. Poor guy has had more bad luck the last three months with email problems, camera theft and now this. The guy with the biggest heart doesn't deserve this. Geeez. I'll see Doc Saturday night. Just wish I had a spare to bring him. He's posted - [Want An iPod? Go To The Grammy Awards](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/want-an-ipod-go-to-the-grammy-awards) - Still haven't purchased your new 20GB iPod? No worries. If you're called on to present or perform at this year's Grammy Awards, you'll find one in the gift bag that's handed to each presenter. And at $499 it's not the most expensive goodie you'll find in your gift bag. [thanks to MacMerc for the pointer]. - [Jazz of the Word Kind](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/jazz-of-the-word-kind) - Wow. A new discovery for me. Word Jazz. I guess I've been aware of this art form. But I gotta admit that I've not really given it much attention. I guess lack of exposure. And lack of motivation to search it out. So when I followed Marc's pointer to Ken Nordine's Six Commercials In Search - [Radio Robots Make For Cloudy Channels](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/radio-robots-make-for-cloudy-channels) - There's nothing like a few blog posts on music and radio to elicit some interesting responses from those who've stopped by The Digital Tavern. For those of you tuning in, here is my first radio inspired post and here's the second. While it's no secret that the state of radio is deteriorated over the last - [You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/youve-lost-that-lovin-feeling) - Famed "Wall of Sound" producer, Phil Spector was just arrested for allegedly shooting a twenty something girl to death in his LA area mansion. Spector has already hired O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Shapiro to represent him in this matter. And I guess this isn't the first time Spector has yielded a weaon. In 1980 he - [Brobeck Bites The Dust.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/brobeck-bites-the-dust) - During the hey day of the dot com boom and the IPO frenzy of the late 90's, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison became the most sought after and profitable law firm in California. At one time potential clients had to pitch Brobeck in order to have the "privilege" of representation by the firm. Today, I discovered - [17" PowerBook Order Update](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/17-powerbook-order-update) - Mike asks if I've received my new 17" PowerBook. Not yet. But I got an email yesterday from Apple with a shipping confirmation that my Airport Extreme Base Station (w/modem and antenna jack) shipped yesterday. Kind of exciting. But I've already got two original base stations. And I'm currently tethered to a desktop machine. Hey. - [Is It Too Late To Save Radio? Feingold To The Rescue.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/is-it-too-late-to-save-radio-feingold-to-the-rescue) - Right on the heels of my post last week on the sad state of radio, which was echoed by William Safire, yesterday U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) Senate Commerce Committee introduced the "Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act." Feingold's legislation would help consumers and small and independent radio station owners and promoters by prohibiting - [Paul McCartney Kidnaps Eleanor Rigby.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/paul-mccartney-kidnaps-eleanor-rigby) - The Ballad of Paul and Yoko. The cat fighting continues. Can't they all just get along? - [Chief Moose Sells His Sniper Story. A Creative Commons License Might Send A Stronger Message.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/chief-moose-sells-his-sniper-story-a-creative-commons-license-might-send-a-stronger-message) - Should public officials sell their story to Rolling Stone? Or any other publisher, broadcaster or studio? The tight-lipped yet outspoken Montgomery County police chief has co-written a book with Charles Fleming about his experiences and story that lead to the arrests of two suspects in the string of fatal shootings that terrorized citizens of Maryland, - [Ethernet Guitars. Are We Ready For This?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/ethernet-guitars-are-we-ready-for-this) - This technology thing is getting crazy. Did you hear Gibson will release electric guitars this year that don't have a traditional 1/4" phone jack to connect your instrument cable to your Fender Twin Reverb amplifier? More proof that you can't wax nostalgia for anything. Sure, we've had wireless guitars for years. But you still used - [Poindexter's Information Access Put On Hold, For Now.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/poindexters-information-access-put-on-hold-for-now) - Better late than never. Senators vote to block funding for the Pentagon's Total Informatio Access plan. I blogged about this in November. - [21st Century Commune Won't Last. iCommune To Follow DVD Enabler Fate.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/21st-century-commune-wont-last-icommune-to-follow-dvd-enabler-fate) - You just knew this was going to happen. It's here too. - [Getting More Out Of Your iTunes Library. And Your iPod](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/getting-more-out-of-your-itunes-library-and-your-ipod) - If you are a Mac user, use iTunes and exhibit some of the anal retentive behavior that would open the door to realizing the true potential of iTunes and the iPod, the you should read this twice. Your iTunes library will be thanking you in spades. Simply the best guide to cleaning up your MP3 - [San Francisco Says No To Segway. San Jose?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/san-francisco-says-no-to-segway-san-jose) - This is a bit disturbing. But since I haven't actually had a chance to see yet alone test drive one, I reserve judgement. But one would think with all the hype that congested cities would look to ways to allow transportation alternatives rather than create obstacles (read: laws) for them. [...] In California, Santa Cruz, - [Jack Drama?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/jack-drama) - Best actor? Jack Nicholson. In About Schmidt. Many bloggers panned this flick. Even Jack thought it was a comedy? - [Mickey Mouse Enslaved & Censored. Gives Exclusive Reason Interview.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/mickey-mouse-enslaved-censored-gives-exclusive-reason-interview) - If you've been following some of the blogs in my blogroll and a plethora of others you undoubtedly are aware of the Supreme Court's final ruling on Eldred. Info here, here and here. Like most, I'm disappointed in the decision. Just when you think you're two steps forward, you gotta take ten back. The decision - [Every State Deserves Its 25 Cents. What Will California Look Like?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/every-state-deserves-its-25-cents-what-will-california-look-like) - If you've been looking at your pocket change over the last few years you know that if you have a quarter in your pocket, it could be one of more than a dozen different coins. The difference? Each coin commemorates a different state. Every year the US Mint issues five new states. Soon California will - [Far From Baker Street. This Sherlock Blows Me Away.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/far-from-baker-street-this-sherlock-blows-me-away) - I love Sherlock. Apple's browser-alternative to access internet content. The Sherlock channels included with Jaguar are excellent. I especially like the Yellow Pages and Movies. Today Enrique pointed me to Sherlockers. A comprehensive source for Sherlock info, Channels and info for Sherlock Developers. I've loaded Guitar Tabs, Lyrics and a cool channel for Project Gutenberg. - [Palm. Apple Newton. And The End Of Graffiti.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/palm-apple-newton-and-the-end-of-graffiti) - Do you use a Palm or other device that uses the Palm OS? Then you're all too familiar with Graffiti. According to this article (thanks Slashdot) PalmSource will no longer license Graffiti to Palm and others selling Palm devices. But what's most interesting is the tidbid about Xerox suing Palm for patent infringement. Yet, as - [Finding Free (802.11) Wireless May Get Easier.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/finding-free-80211-wireless-may-get-easier) - I'm so excited about the proliferation of 802.11(g) products and the final adoption of the next Wi-Fi standard. Finding a hot spot (free) is going to get easier if this takes off. As many of you know, I changed my new PowerBook order from the new (superdrive) 15" to the 17". Added to it is - [Funded By A Grant From Somewhere. Blogging Documentary On The Tube.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/funded-by-a-grant-from-somewhere-blogging-documentary-on-the-tube) - Watch public television's take on Blogs, Bloggers and Blogging. If you can. Doc has a run down and a host of links. Here's a sneak preview. real audio required - [Quadraphenia: Townshend Deals With His Past, Sadly.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/quadraphenia-townshend-deals-with-his-past-sadly) - Legendary musician and leader of British supergroup The Who, Pete Townshend says he's not a pedophile. The news and tabloids are having a bit too much fun with this story. Yet Townshend admitted he used a child porn site once while doing research for an autobiography dealing with his own suspected childhood sexual abuse. - [Choices.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/choices) - "This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle: we are given one life and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our mind, or whether to act, and in acting, to live." General Omar Bradley - [Liberty in China? What Do They Expect?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/liberty-in-china-what-do-they-expect) - Shocking, yes. But it doesn't surprise me? Dave Winer reports on the recent blogging ban on all Blogspot.com sites in China. While we're living in the 21st century this statement written in March 1775 (B.G.) before blogging rings as true today. Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. - [TiVO Killer? The Next Ed Sullivan? And Where Television Is Going. Ready or Not.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/tivo-killer-the-next-ed-sullivan-and-where-television-is-going-ready-or-not) - In October I blogged about the efforts of television networks, producers and advertisers to thwart "ad skipping" as practiced by the more than 1 million avid viewers using TiVo or digital video recorders. [...] growing anxiety among many advertisers and network executives about the rise of personal video recorders, like TiVo's , which make it - [Seque. Segway.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/seque-segway) - I want one. Segway Human Transporter - [Another Switcher.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/another-switcher) - I was pleasantly surprised, amused and excited to find that blogger extrodinaire, John Robb, may be the next switcher. After a decade and a half, he's moving to Macintosh. I'd recommend the new 17" Powerbook -- considering he's looking at a 3 year amortization and possession cycle. Now before he makes his other major 2003 - [The Waiting Game. But ohhh so worth it.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/the-waiting-game-but-ohhh-so-worth-it) - Still haven't received my new Powerbook. So I've decided to cancel my order and wait for the next big thing. Watch this and you'll see what I'm waiting for now. Bluetooth 802.11(g) Firewire 800 DDR Memory NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go 17" Screen - [Dark History. Martin Scorcese. And The Rebirth of America.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/dark-history-martin-scorcese-and-the-rebirth-of-america) - Wow. I think I've seen more movies this year than I saw in the last half of 2003. Just saw Scorcese's latest epic, Gangs of New York. Needless to say, a very ambitious project. Visually the film's language is dark, sullen and downright beautiful in its gore. The sad state of our country in the - [Ahh. The Spa Lifestyle. For The Mind?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/culture/ahh-the-spa-lifestyle-for-the-mind) - Need to go to the spa? Halley points me to Dave's request for an Emotional Spa. A great idea. Made me think of what I've been calling for ever since the latest fitness rage. Especially in California, there is a almost fanatical focus on keeping bodies fit, firm and strong. By natural and artificial means. - [Inspiration And The Curse of Pirate Paranoia](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/inspiration-and-the-curse-of-pirate-paranoia) - I read with interest Liz's post on design piracy. Zeldman pointed her to a funny site that illustrates some questionable "pirated site designs". When I was principal and executive VP at an agency and interactive design and technology firm we proudly pounded on our chests when we spoke of our innovative technology, compelling design and - [Apple To Charge For iApps?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-to-charge-for-iapps) - According to c|net Apple may announce a plan to charge for upgrades to its excellent suite of "free" digital hub applications including iMovie, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and others. Frankly, I've always found it amazing that Apple offered these updates as well as the Apps themselves for free. Yet these applications have truly made it more - [Washington Post Blogs On.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/washington-post-blogs-on) - The Washington Post is really into covering the blog movement. This article discusses how blogging has hit the mainstream, while this one is a follow up to WP readers' favorite bloggers and blogs. Both penned by Cynthia Webb. - [Remote Blogging Failure.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/remote-blogging-failure) - Radio, my blogging tool, offers the capability to post entries to weblogs via email. By simply configuring the tool to check for a unique subject line in emails to any email address you define, it will post the email message to the blog. I had this set up, but my old B/W G3 interim machine - [1995 Harrison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/1995-harrison-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley) - Opened this up a little late tonight. But I had a hankering for a big red. So I pulled a wild card. The Harrison Cabernet. Not sure I why I bought it many years back, but it's the only one in my collection and on a late night, why not open it? I'm impressed. The - [Bloggers Beware. This Isn't Your Diary or Water Cooler Conversation.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/bloggers-beware-this-isnt-your-diary-or-water-cooler-conversation) - Blogs and Bloggers in the news again. This time Jennifer Balderama writing in the Washington Post discusses the delicate issue of free speech as it relates to publishing rants, raves, musings and just about anything else in your personal blog. When describing "What is a Blog", many refer to it as a journal or diary. - [BlogLite.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/bloglite) - BlogLite for the past few days. Been busy with many events, tasks and celebrations of the season. Some interesting stuff I've bookmarked. When I have more than a few moments I'll post some interesting observations and recollections. Stay tuned. - [Apple Moves Jaguar to 10.2.3. Free Update.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/apple-moves-jaguar-to-1023-free-update) - Apple released a free update to its Jaguar OS X system software today. This updates puts the current version at 10.2.3. Run Software Update from your System Preferences to automatically install and update your Mac. - [MP3 Fan? Tough Break For Windows Users. Another Reason to Switch to Mac.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/mp3-fan-tough-break-for-windows-users-another-reason-to-switch-to-mac) - Using your PC to download and listen to MP3s? Glad I have a Mac. I wouldn't want to get one of these. Nasty stuff. I wonder when the conspiracy theorists call foul play at the DMCA promoters. Then again, this is not far off what could happen if copyright legislation is passed. - [The Art of Blogging.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/the-art-of-blogging) - George Siemens does a nice overview of Art of Blogging (Overview, Definitions Uses and Implications) Part I, and (Getting Started, "How To", Tools, Resources) Part II. Check out his eLearning site and his eLearnSpace blog. If you're even considering blogging then this is a great resource (lots of links) and quick read. [first seen on - [Read It In the Sunday Papers. And the Daily Blogs.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/read-it-in-the-sunday-papers-and-the-daily-blogs) - I've had a bit of an epiphany. And maybe I'm behind other OS X users on this one. But wow. What a discovery. It's called a newsreader or a new aggregator. Last night I downloaded a simple little freeware program for Mac OS X called NetNewsWire Lite published by Ranchero Software. It reads RSS feeds - [DVDs or Blogs. Art or Punditry.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/dvds-or-blogs-art-or-punditry) - So I planned to blog about the penetration of DVDs in consumer households (29% according to CEA), and through the course of my research I came across some eye-opening statistics (albeit from May of this year) regarding the growth of this product category and the life it has injected into the consumer electronics market. The - [Third-party Helps PC Users Switch To Macintosh](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/third-party-helps-pc-users-switch-to-macintosh) - Danny Ricci has set up a site the help PC users to "Switch" to Macintosh. Apple's ad campaign has been successfully in creating a new category of Mac users: switchers. This is the first time I've seen a non-Apple sponsored communication designed to help Switchers make the transition. - [Pay Me. And Maybe I'll Let You Spam Me.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/pay-me-and-maybe-ill-let-you-spam-me) - Imagine if you could charge each spammer for violating your email box or interuppting your dinner. An IBM researcher proposes exactly this. Free market baby. Something like this needs to happen. Thanks to John Robb for the pointer. - [SuperNova. Decentralized ThinkTanking?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/supernova-decentralized-thinktanking) - I've been following the massive amount of blogging and trackbacking going on at SuperNova. Joi Ito is there. So is Doc. As I am, Halley and Liz are closely monitoring the blogging from the comfort of our own decentralized blogospace. In retrospect, I wish I'd gone. So many exciting, passionate and intelligent people -- most - [Doors Closed. For Now.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/doors-closed-for-now) - My earlier post on the new Doors? Well, it appears Stew has gone and thrown the whole rebirth into a tailspin. Thanks to Chuck for the link. I didn't really want to go to Vegas for my birthday (12/12) but it was almost appealing. - [Branding? Using Words As Substitute For Understanding.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/branding-using-words-as-substitute-for-understanding) - Branding is the most overused word in marketing. And this coming from a guy who makes his living helping companies, organizations and even personalities define and live up to their "brand". To be sure, I can't define a brand from nothing. Though many have tried. Especially during the dot.com bubble. Who's left? But I'm diverting. - [Congressional Website Is Wine Friendly](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/congressional-website-is-wine-friendly) - Grape power on the Hill - Lawmakers spread the wine gospel. "Wine is bottled poetry." That quote, by Robert Louis Stevenson, is not the type of thing one expects to find on an official Web site of the U.S. Congress. But it headlines the home page of one of the fastest-growing advocacy groups on Capitol - [Holiday Catalog Waste: Week II](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/holiday-catalog-waste-week-ii) - Dateline: December 2, 2002 Catalogs Received: 53 since November 17, 2002 Worst Offender: Williams & Sonoma (5 catalogs) As reported in my earlier post, I am counting down the days and catalogs till Christmas. In this age of mass consumerism, commercialism of Holidays and heavy attention to email spam, I think it's important not forget - [Mac OS X: New Discoveries](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/mac-os-x-new-discoveries) - Not a Mac User? Scroll down a bit to read my other new posts. The thing I really like about working in OS X is discovering new tricks or shortcuts or just the feeling of "wow, I didn't know that." And while these things may be well documented or known to others for sometime, they're - [Categorizing. Retro Blog. For You.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/categorizing-retro-blog-for-you) - I've been getting a lot of email regarding my photo essays-to-music posts of the past. So I'm providing a pointer here to an essay (4.9 MB QuickTime) created this summer at Joseph Phelps Winery in Napa Valley at their exclusive Insignia Day event. Here's the original post. Also, I've recently updated my categories and have - [Aussies Looking to Buy France](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/aussies-looking-to-buy-france) - According to Barron's, Australian beverage giant Fosters is looking to invest or buy French or European wine brands. Foster's just a few years back bought Beringer Wine Estates which includes brands such as Chateau St. Jean, Beringer, Stags Leap Winery, Chateau Sovereign, Meridien and others. They also own Wolf Blass. The combined unit is called - [Have You Switched? Joi Has.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/have-you-switched-joi-has) - Joi Ito joins Yo-Yo Ma and others in kissing windoze goodbye. Joi is the latest blogger to switch from Wintel to Mac OS X. He's also an avid early adopter of technology. Check out his MoBlog. - [Gender Bender. Blog Hogs?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/gender-bender-blog-hogs) - Liz points to an interesting article in The New York Times that addresses both the gender gap and the gender opportunity in Blogdom. Nice follow up read after Halley's girlie power observations blogged last week. Christopher Locke (aka Rageboy) finds the author missed an opportunity to write a watershed piece on the subject. - [Blogging in the Future.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blogging-in-the-future) - Halley has an interesting post that aggregates much of the talk about what's a blog. I've blogged on the topic a bit. What I think is interesting is Halley's comment about the coming age of the audio/video blog: Blogs are embarrassingly textual and visual now, but will soon be audio/video. Don't hold it against them. - [Moblogging. Taking the Blog Mobile](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/moblogging-taking-the-blog-mobile) - Joi Ito points to a fascinating article on The Mobile Internet. Where Justin Hall speculates on the future implications of blogging from a variety of mobile devices. I'm particularly fascinated with his discussion on how P2P technology may be implemented to offer realtime access and filtering to user-specified data. Joi discusses how with "server-based" filtering - [Wednesday Dinner at Sage in Newport Beach - Petite Sirah](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/wednesday-dinner-at-sage-in-newport-beach-petite-sirah) - Sage is a quiet, unassuming and excellent locals restaurant located in the East Bluff area of Newport Beach just north of Fashion Island. Chef owner "Rich" has built a loyal local following primarily by word of mouth. I understand, but haven't confirmed, that Zagat reviewers have given this restaurant in an odd location a boost. - [The Diablog About Blogs](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/the-idiablogi-about-blogs) - Grumpy Girl and Ant are at it again. And it's good. Here's my earlier post. Come on! Jump over there! - [Japanese](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/japanese) - This blows my mind. - [Backup Weekend. And more .Mac stories](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/backup-weekend-and-more-mac-stories) - I'm spending most of my time this weekend backing up all of my files, settings and preferences. Wiping my trusty TiBook clean so I can ship it off to its new owner. I'm still getting 3-5 weeks quoted as ship time for the new PowerBook. Meanwhile, I'm restoring everything to an old trusty Mac B&W - [He Will Know Everything You Do. And He's Not Santa Claus](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/he-will-know-everything-you-do-and-hes-not-santa-claus) - I try not to get political here in The Digital Tavern. Yet, for the sake of clarity I think it's important to pull a few quotes out of William Safire's op-ed piece in today's New York Times. As a marketing dude at heart, I love information. Demographic information. The more I know about the customer, - [Does Jennifer Lopez Make You Stammer or Stumble Over Your Words?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/does-jennifer-lopez-make-you-stammer-or-stumble-over-your-words) - Rob Eccles pointed me to one of the funniest live TV bloopers I've seen in a while. Even if you don't care about Jennifer Lopez's new song or her heritage, just watch this. (requires Windows Media Player) - [Is it a website or is it a blog? Inquiring minds want to know.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/is-it-a-website-or-is-it-a-blog-inquiring-minds-want-to-know) - For those of us who've been blogging for sometime, we tend to wrap ourselves around this community of bloggers. As such we have our own lingo, our own set of characters and even blog "stars", but I know that there are many that are verely observers and not participants in this blog culture. The more - [Red wine may halve risk of senile dementia](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/red-wine-may-halve-risk-of-senile-dementia) - So I guess I'm not going crazy.The reports just keep flying through the news. Isn't it all what we know. Wine is good in moderation. And I always say, moderation in moderation, too! [added later] CNN reports with more info on this new Danish study. - [Microsoft And Open Source Paranoia](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/microsoft-and-open-source-paranoia) - In another case of fear, paranoia and defensive maneuvering, it appears Microsoft just doesn't know what to do about this Linux and open source movement that may or may not be lurking in its shadows and following it every where it goes. What's a bully to do? Have you seen the memo? - [OS X Update (10.2.2) Has Got Me Crawling](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/os-x-update-1022-has-got-me-crawling) - Just downloaded through software update the update to Apple's Jaguar OS X operating system. First comment: why did I do it? These updates are usually no-brainers. But for some reason the improved performance in "mail" and "address book" is just not happening. On re-boot after install, Mail refused to open and continously quit. How? You - [What is McDonald's Thinking?
Marketing: Lose Clarity & Focus And Sell Yourself Short](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/iwhat-is-mcdonalds-thinkingibrmarketing-lose-clarity-focus-and-sell-yourself-shortb) - On Friday, fast food giant McDonald's (MCD) announced it is closing 175 underperforming restaurants. In the same press release it states it's going to emphasize sales growth at existing restaurants. Today, Standard & Poors is threatening to cut its rating on McDonald's because its plan may not be enough. Part of that plan includes a - [Participation. It's Your Community, After All](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/participation-its-your-community-after-all) - Through a wild string of events and blind circumstance, I was invited to attend a Songwriters Guild of America event at 14 Below in Santa Monica. In this cramped club that is haphazardly joined to its alter ego, a sports bar, on a small stage in a deep, narrow and dark room I joined the - [Shipping & Handling. This is too much](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/shipping-handling-this-is-too-much) - My stomach cringed when the driver pulled my backpack out of the back of the van. My Canon DV video camera seemed all too willing to liberate itself through the small crack left by lazy zippering. And from the dark closed quarters of the backpack, it fell crashing to the street. Ouch. I'm amazed at - [Bad Boys: Bad Code. Bad Law. Bad. For Technology & The Internet](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/bad-boys-bad-code-bad-law-bad-for-technology-the-internet) - AOTC (American Open Technology Consortion) "has researched the sponsors of eight bad Internet laws and compiled a list of their most prolific campaign contributors. These laws were written and sponsored by a tiny handful of lawmakers, backed by a tiny handful of wealthy financiers. These bad coders and their backers have done more damage to - [Tether Me No More](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/tether-me-no-more) - I'm encouraged about the future of Bluetooth. I remember just a few short years ago wondering through the "Bluetooth" pavilion at Comdex thinking how much of life would be made simpler if any of the prototype products in the pavilion came to market. News sources are pointing to the potential that next revs of Apple's - [Blogging On The Fly. Adventures In Wireless](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/blogging-on-the-fly-adventures-in-wireless) - Incognito, David Weinberger is only identified as Mr. Laptop in this article by Kat Bulkley in The Guardian on the proliferation of WiFi (802.11b) networks, blogging and of course -- laptops. If she happened to stumble into one of those T*Mobile equipped Starbucks in Orange County she might find Johnee Bee "flashing" instead of blogging - [End of the Line for a 'Free Bird](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/end-of-the-line-for-a-free-bird) - Music producer Tom Dowd, who died on Sunday, achieved prominence for making some of the finest recordings for Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers. But he had a hand in the atom bomb, too. Among his innovations were recording to tape when straight to vinyl was the norm, multitrack recording and - [More Blogging From Doonesbury](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/more-blogging-from-doonesbury) - If you haven't been following the blogging commentary from Gary Trudeau in his internationally syndicated Doonesbury comic strip, check it out here: Thursday and Friday. For the earlier Blog strips jump down here. Amtrak? Did you read about the latest Al Qaeda threat where the US rail system is a likely target? Now you can't - [Merlot. Revisited](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/merlot-revisited) - Ok. So instead of Syrah, I was compelled to open another bottle of 1999 Merlot.. Was I crazy. Could that Carneros $40 bottle of Mondavi merlot be so bad. Did I just not like the terroir from Carneros? So I switched valleys. Over to Sonoma Valley and Chateau St. Jean. This time the 1999 Chateau - [Blog. Bloggers. Blogging. And Doonesbury.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/blog-bloggers-blogging-and-doonesbury) - Thanks to my friend Rob for pointing me to the past three days of Gary Trudueu's classic Doonesbury syndicated comic strip. So rather than rant, flame, rave or otherwise fill the page pontifications that would be certainly worth your quick read, today I'll point you to Trudeau's storyline: Monday. Doonesbury goes blogging. Tuesday. Do bloggers - [InfoWorld Gets Down To Business Exploring Apple And Its Future](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/infoworld-gets-down-to-business-exploring-apple-and-its-future) - Apple Unpeeled. Great overview on Apple technologies, their impact and some great interviews including interesting comments by Ave Tevaniam on digital rights management, bluetooth and Apple in the enterprise. - [AOL. The King of Junk Mail. And How To Help Fight Back](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/aol-the-king-of-junk-mail-and-how-to-help-fight-back) - I've had an AOL account since 1990. At the time, CompuServe was the king of online. Al Gore hadn't taken office and his aspirations of inventing the internet were mere dreams -- or visions. Years later AOL has 35 million or so subscribers, including those they acquired when they bought CompuServe. I've never used my - [When Not To Use Stock--
--Especially Royalty Free Photography.
Microsoft Makes the Switch.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/when-not-to-use-stock-br-especially-royalty-free-photography-br-microsoft-makes-the-switch) - For years I've strongly advised my marketing and consulting clients against the use of stock photography. Advertisers and marketing managers can always find reasons not to shoot new and original photography. Budget. Where's the value? Too expensive. Not enough time. You name it. I've heard the excuse. Always on the lookout for examples where stock - [CNN Anchor Switches. Is This A Trend?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/cnn-anchor-switches-is-this-a-trend) - Toss your PC. Move away from the dark side and see the light. That's part of the message from Apple. And apparantly it's working. The Apple "Switch" campaign has extended beyond the "normal folk" to a pro skateborder, surfers and even DJs. Now, we're finding, through Apple's PR efforts or otherwise, people "coming out of - [Legal Discrimination, Football and the Hungarian Girl](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/legal-discrimination-football-and-the-hungarian-girl) - To be sure, I'm not a football fan. That is, football as defined by the rest of the "free world" other than the United States. Here, we call it soccer. But I couldn't help but get sucked into an article that popped up on my screen today about racist behavior, a near riot and questionable - [Will California Wine Prices Get Real?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/will-california-wine-prices-get-real) - The price of California wine, especially Napa Cabernet, has gone through the rough since dot com mania in 1999. But now you're starting to see many of the hard to get bottles gracing the shelves of local retailers. Silver Oak, previously allocated and usually hidden in the back room of retailers for their special customers - [Music. Brothers In Arms](https://www.digitaltavern.com/music/music-brothers-in-arms) - Old rockers inevitably end up exploring or returning to the roots of music and as such the Americana "movement" continues to grow. On Tuesday Mark Knopfler's third solo effort was released. Titled The Ragpickers Dream, Mark continues to explore songwriting and guitar wizadry inspired by his work with Chet Atkins and The Notting Hillbillies. Brothers.It's - [Andrew Murray Vineyards. 2000 Roasted Slope. Syrah.](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/andrew-murray-vineyards-2000-roasted-slope-syrah) - If not a bit extracted with a tinge of a vegatal characteristic. Not as sensuous as the 1999, but a palate pleaser and a price welcomed. - [Where does all the time go?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/mac-my-day/where-does-all-the-time-go) - And Then There's Multimedia (remember that word) Also, I've been experimenting with iDVD and the DVD burner I purchased from OWC and using the DVD-enabler that apparently Apple asked them to stop selling. After nearly five months I've re-booted my Blog. Thanks for tuning in. Since May much has happened here in Southern California. The - [Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia Day - May 19, 2002](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/joseph-phelps-vineyards-insignia-day-may-19-2002) - Despite the fact that it rained for the entire 4 hours of this event, the 400 or so attendees didnt' seem to mind. The fourth annual event put on for Phelps' wine club (Phelps Preferred) members was held over two days this year, Saturday and Sunday. You can check out my photo essay of the - [Too much wine, not enough time](https://www.digitaltavern.com/good-juice/too-much-wine-not-enough-time) - Yesterday I spent the better part of my afternoon updating my wine invetory and organizing the cellar. What a task. Johnee Bee, fellow Flash animator, illustrator and developer helped me through it all. We tasted a number of good wines, but the 1996 Vine Cliff Merlot was perhaps the most impressive. With it's earth, cedar - [Where Does It All Start. The Digital Tavern.
The Blog.
For The Sake of Clarity](https://www.digitaltavern.com/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging/where-does-it-all-start-the-digital-tavern-brthe-blog-brfor-the-sake-of-clarity) - Well it's 11:59pm PST -- that would be California for those who care. What's this mean? Ah. My weblog started before the stroke of midnight. I look forward to exploring the "Blog" world and sharing my observations, ideas and wonderful discoveries with you and many more! ## Pages - [Home Page](https://www.digitaltavern.com/) - the DIGITAL TAVERN for the sake of clarity - [Contact](https://www.digitaltavern.com/contact) - Don't be shy. Send us a message. Curious about anything? That's good. "Stay Curious," is Allan's mantra which is topped off with "”¦and never stop exploring." So do share. Interested in contributing to The Digital Tavern? We're looking for great thinkers who can write. Drop us a note here! - [No strangers. Only new friends. Subscribe to The Digital Tavern](https://www.digitaltavern.com/no-strangers-new-friends) - [mc4wp_form id="4089"] - [Page with cover image](https://www.digitaltavern.com/page-with-cover-image) - Featured image will be used as a cover image. Optionally you can set first paragraph of a page as this description text. Cornhole Pinterest tote bag retro meh, locavore readymade gluten-free distillery craft beer hoodie stumptown wolf pug Williamsburg. Messenger bag biodiesel fashion axe PBR&B whatever locavore. Synth authentic wayfarers ennui, salvia cred chillwave roof - [Full Width Page](https://www.digitaltavern.com/full-width-page) - This is a page with full width content. You can also have left sidebar, right sidebar, no sidebar for any page. Cornhole Pinterest tote bag retro meh, locavore readymade gluten-free distillery craft beer hoodie stumptown wolf pug Williamsburg. Messenger bag biodiesel fashion axe PBR&B whatever locavore. Synth authentic wayfarers ennui, salvia cred chillwave roof party - [Affiliate Disclosure](https://www.digitaltavern.com/affiliate-disclosure) - This post should explain our use of affiliate links in very simple terms. While reading The Digital Tavern or other website properties produced or managed by WorldRider Productions, you may find that we sometimes use affiliate links. These links help us support the costs of publishing and hosting this site. Nobody is getting rich from - [Contact](https://www.digitaltavern.com/contact-2) - This is an example of a contact page with full support for the Contact Form 7 WordPress plugin. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any pre-sale questions, or even if you only want to share some cool thoughts and ideas. We would love to hear from you! - [Page No Sidebar](https://www.digitaltavern.com/page-no-sidebar) - This is a page with no sidebar. You can also have left sidebar, right sidebar, or full width content for any page. Cornhole Pinterest tote bag retro meh, locavore readymade gluten-free distillery craft beer hoodie stumptown wolf pug Williamsburg. Messenger bag biodiesel fashion axe PBR&B whatever locavore. Synth authentic wayfarers ennui, salvia cred chillwave roof party - [Page Right Sidebar](https://www.digitaltavern.com/page-right-sidebar) - This is a page with left sidebar. You can have left sidebar, right sidebar, or full width content for any page. Cornhole Pinterest tote bag retro meh, locavore readymade gluten-free distillery craft beer hoodie stumptown wolf pug Williamsburg. Messenger bag biodiesel fashion axe PBR&B whatever locavore. Synth authentic wayfarers ennui, salvia cred chillwave roof party - [Page Left Sidebar](https://www.digitaltavern.com/page-left-sidebar) - This is a page with left sidebar. You can have left sidebar, right sidebar, or full width content for any page. Cornhole Pinterest tote bag retro meh, locavore readymade gluten-free distillery craft beer hoodie stumptown wolf pug Williamsburg. Messenger bag biodiesel fashion axe PBR&B whatever locavore. Synth authentic wayfarers ennui, salvia cred chillwave roof party - [Shortcodes](https://www.digitaltavern.com/shortcodes) - Sidewalk comes with full support for our Meks Flexible Shortcodes WordPress plugin. Check out some of the examples of what you can create inside the page/post content with our shortcodes. You can add some columns... Perhaps some progress bars? Awesome font icons? Or some nice buttons? Perhaps some social icons? Dropcaps? xcepteur adipisicing try-hard kale - [Custom widgets](https://www.digitaltavern.com/custom-widgets) - Church-key raw denim put a bird on it incididunt. Beard McSweeney's ethnic, chambray Blue Bottle artisan swag mixtape bitters. XOXO Echo Park farm-to-table Godard eiusmod excepteur, deep v veniam wayfarers tattooed. Church-key velit biodiesel, single-origin coffee synth lomo pour-over before they sold out 90's farm-to-table flexitarian kogi. Labore non tattooed, 8-bit keytar squid polaroid anim - [Styleguide](https://www.digitaltavern.com/typography) - orem ipsum Id tempor laborum in consequat ut in eu id eu incididunt ut sed elit quis veniam sint id sit Duis sunt laborum in consequat tempor laborum in consequat Excepteur consectetur reprehenderit culpa deserunt cillum aute dolor dolor dolor qui. Id tempor laborum in consequat Ut in eu id eu. Shoreditch gastropub whatever. Reprehenderit quis polaroid aben digeth - [What shall I name it?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/what-shall-i-name-it) - Take Our Survey! - [User Profile](https://www.digitaltavern.com/user-profile) - [user-meta type="profile" form="your_form_name"] - [On Set During WorldRider Tasting Adventure Cookbook Photo Shoot](https://www.digitaltavern.com/on-set-during-worldrider-tasting-adventure-cookbook-photo-shoot) - Here are just a sampling of snapshots taking during a few days while tasting and producing some of the shots to be featured in the upcoming worldrider tasting adventure cookbook. Will You Help Us With Recipe Testing & Props? I'm looking for help and here are the details and here's how you can let me - [More Than Just The Digital Tavern](https://www.digitaltavern.com/more-than-just-the-digital-tavern) - I know many of the readers of The Digital Tavern follow me on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Vimeo. And many of you are readers of my other websites and enjoy checking in now and again on the latest, whether it's travel, food, motorcycling, Apple Macs and iIOS devices and more. So I dedicate this page - [Session II Resrouces WordPress](https://www.digitaltavern.com/session-ii-resrouces-wordpress) - WordPress Frameworks - Free 1) Carrington 2) Hybrid 3) Thematic Content & Formatting Shortcode deprived themes: Use J Shortcodes, or WP Short Codes, Styles With Shortcodes (pay) If you feel you want to be a coder and create your own short codes, you can do so here WordPress Frameworks - Pay 1) Thesis 2) Genesis - by StudioPress 3) Catalyst Theme Houses 1) Woo Themes - [Why The Tavern?](https://www.digitaltavern.com/why-the-digital-tavern) - Welcome to The Digital Tavern. Founded in 2002, this site serves as a forum for the discussion of those things in life that are passionate to its authors and readers. Why a Tavern? A Digital version no less? Simple. Tavern comes from the Latin word taberna and the Greek ταβέρνα/taverna, whose original meaning was a - [If You Care](https://www.digitaltavern.com/history-allan-karl-digital-tavern) - Originally Dated November 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------- "To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by - [WorldRider Sample Photography](https://www.digitaltavern.com/worldrider-sample-photography) - [nggallery id=1] ## Categories - [Technology](https://www.digitaltavern.com/category/mac-my-day) - [On Blogs & Blogging](https://www.digitaltavern.com/category/marketing-messages/on-blogs-blogging) - [Travel](https://www.digitaltavern.com/category/travelogue) - [Food & Wine](https://www.digitaltavern.com/category/good-juice) - [Marketing](https://www.digitaltavern.com/category/marketing-messages) - 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