jpreardon.com

we don’t need half of what we got.

– Barbara Koricanek in the New York Times

I couldn’t agree more. The Times reports that a trend among Americans seems to value experiences over things. Let’s hope this trend continues.

“What Kind of Dog is That?”

People with dogs must get tired of answering that question all the time. Today’s busy dog owner has better things to do than repeat statements like “It’s a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel” (that’s a mouthful) or “It’s a French Bulldog” to random passers by. But, ignoring them would just be rude.

Enter Dog ID Tees. Put doggy’s details right on your chest so you don’t have to repeat them. Now you can concentrate on that important tweet, text, email, or phone conversation rather than talking to strangers.

The first set of weekly reports are up on www.recovery.gov. These reports are in the form of Excel spreadsheets. No huge surprise there, after all, the world runs on Excel doesn’t it? What is surprising is that they didn’t seem to redact anything. The report submitter’s contact information, including phone number in many cases, is included at the top of each report. This seems just a little too transparent. Isn’t this inviting the general public to call that person with random questions?

Hypothetical Caller: “Hey, yeah, is this Lana? I noticed that you have this $27,460,000,000 appropriation that you haven’t used yet, can you fix the pothole on my street?”

Lana over at the DOT does not have time to field phone calls like this, she has reports to prepare.

via The Takeaway

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

–President Barack Obama
  Inaugural Address
  January 20, 2009

Read the full transcript of President Obama’s inaugural address at The New York Times.

Gary Chang should start a business that remakes small spaces into really functional spaces. His transformation of his own tiny apartment in Hong Kong is downright impressive (slideshow).

Photo by aboutmattlaw on flickr

In case this festive feline isn’t enough to kick off your New Year, here is a special New Year’s greeting (thanks for the link Steve!):

I hope your hangover is nonexistent, or at least not too painful this morning. Happy New Year!

As you know, this Tuesday is election day. You’ve probably made your decision about your presidential vote, but what about the local elections? The National Voter Guide can help. With the help of local newspapers and television stations, they’ve gathered information on local races across the country. Just plug in your address and you’ll get detailed information on what will appear on your ballot this Tuesday. You can even print out a voter guide to take with you to the polls.

via Amazon Web Services Blog

Soma created a new interactive singles map. Its data visualization is so slick, Gawker has already noticed.

It’s been a long while since I lost music in a rental car. In 93, a tape player latched on to a killer mixtape somewhere south of D.C. and wouldn’t let go. Unfortunately, since the tape was stuck, the listening options for the next few-hundred miles were either the killer mixtape or nothing. After a few hours, the “killer” description took on a whole new meaning. I was so sick of that damn tape by the time I returned the car that I didn’t bother trying to retrieve it.

No matter how sick I was of that tape at the end of the trip, it was irreplaceable. The consequences aren’t quite as dire in these digital days and I’m not the least bit upset about my most recent loss. I can recreate the CD with a few clicks and I hope someone else gets some enjoyment from the one I lost. Of course, it might have ended up in the garbage bin at the garage on East 43rd Street, although, I’m pretty sure they don’t clean the cars that thoroughly

If by chance, someone does come across the unlabeled CD I left in that Budget rental car with Wisconsin plates, here’s the track information. Enjoy!

1. Dizzy Gillespie – Manteca (Funky Lowlives Remix)
2. Dar Williams – Beautiful Enemy
3. Alphawezen – Speed of Light
4. The Magic Numbers – Forever Lost
5. Elvis Costello – The Beat
6. The Pixies – Here Comes Your Man
7. Todd Evans – Into the Sun
8. Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady
9. The Blacks – Raincoat
10. Buffalo Tom – Soda Jerk
11. Luna – Sideshow by the Seashore
12. John Wesley Harding – The Triumph Of Trash
13. The New Pornographers – My Rights Versus Yours
14. The Decemberists – July, July!
15. Jump, Little Children – Too High
16. The Cardigans – Live and Learn
17. The Besnard Lakes – On Bedford and Grand
18. Michael Franti And Spearhead – Yell Fire
19. Donald Byrd – Think Twice

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I can’t decide if Hello Kitty bike tires are the ultimate in cycling kitsch or an excellent preventative measure against wheel theft. After all, is the common bike thief going to want to get caught riding around town on white-walled Hello Kitty tires?

Even if the cute factor of these tires is too much for you, check out Nirve’s site for some other excellent treads for your rig.

via Yo Kiddo! :: OhGizmo! :: engadget