ZuckerBlog

And now for something completely creepy

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:17:25 GMT

There was an interesting piece on InventorSpot today: a website from Japan that allows you to pose with a virtual toupee. Even though I'm completely comfortable with my own hair loss, I love the idea of getting all costumed-up, even virtually. And to be honest, I always wondered how I would look with a bunch of different Japanese hair styles.

I also had a spare image to use. So I uploaded it to this simulator. It's in Japanese, so there's a little guesswork involved, but the learning curve is nice and easy.

There's a button on the simulator, which allows you to choose either a flat image, or a 3D image, and I was curious about how it would try to render my image in 3D, or even if it could. The results sent me down into the uncanny valley, on a broken wagon with no brakes.

First of all, it not only renders in 3D, but it instills some artificial life to the image, as if it were a weird version of me in a webcam, with a nervous twitch, looking around for the Off button. Also ... I have Japanese eyes. They've got a bluish tint to the whites, and they keep looking around nervously, following the cursor, as if I'm going to poke myself in the virtual face.

And, while it's a fascinating piece of technology, which allows me to try on several different hairpieces and glasses, it's really quite creepy.

My cats want me dead, apparently

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:12:50 GMT

And here I thought they loved me...

100 Drinks to Drink

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:12:29 GMT

There's an interesting meme from artofdrink.com, in which bloggers (drinking bloggers) reprint a list of 100 different concoctions, showing in bold, the ones they've personally consumed. The list is certainly not by any means a complete list of drinks, though it does cover a variety of drinks from around the world, and tries to be a list of drinks one must try at some point in their life. In some cases, the list is quite cryptic, since it lists drinks, such as Cerveza, which are simply common drinks described with panache. Why is Cerveza listed? Is it intending to suggest you go to Mexico, or Columbia, or Spain to try a beer? If so, simply say that instead.

Here's my list, with a slight modification: Drinks in bold I have tried, and drinks marked in italics are ones I can try this weekend, if need be. They are available at the local LCBO or other sources, and are within my means to obtain and imbibe. Others, such as Two Buck Chuck, are simply hard to find around here, while others, such as Château Margaux, are simply too expensive to just go out and buy for the sake of trying.

1. Manhattan Cocktail
2. Kopi Luwak (Weasle Coffee)
3. French / Swiss Absinthe
4. Rootbeer
5. Gin Martini
6. Sauternes
7. Whole Milk
8. Tequila (100% Agave)
9. XO Cognac
10. Espresso
11. Spring Water (directly from the spring)
12. Gin & Tonic
13. Mead
14. Westvleteren 12 (Yellow Cap) Trappist Ale
15. Chateau d'Yquem
16. Budwieser
17. Maraschino Liqueur
18. Mojito
19. Orgeat
20. Grand Marnier
21. Mai Tai (original)
22. Ice Wine (Canadian)
23. Red Bull
24. Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
25. Bubble Tea
26. Tokaj
27. Chicory
28. Islay Scotch
29. Pusser's Navy Rum
30. Fernet Branca
31. Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
32. Bourbon
33. Australian Shiraz
34. Buckley's Cough Syrup
35. Orange Bitters
36. Margarita (classic recipe)
37. Molasses & Milk
38. Chimay Blue
39. Wine of Pines
40. Green Tea
41. Daiginjo Sake
42. Chai Tea
43. Vodka (chilled, straight)
44. Coca-Cola
45. Zombie (Beachcomber recipe)
46. Barley Wine
47. Brewed Choclate (Xocolatl)
48. Pisco Sour
49. Lemonade
50. Speyside Single Malt
51. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
52. Champagne (Vintage)
53. Rosé (French)
54. Bellini
55. Caipirinha
56. White Zinfandel (Blush)
57. Coconut Water
58. Cerveza
59. Cafe au Lait
60. Ice Tea
61. Pedro Ximenez Sherry
62. Vintage Port
63. Hot Chocolate
64. German Riesling
65. Pina Colada
66. El Dorado 15 Year Rum
67. Chartreuse
68. Greek Wine
69. Negroni
70. Jägermeister
71. Chicha
72. Guiness
73. Rhum Agricole
74. Palm Wine
75. Soju
76. Ceylon Tea (High Grown)
77. Belgian Lambic
78. Mongolian Airag
79. Doogh, Lassi or Ayran
80. Sugarcane Juice
81. Ramos Gin Fizz
82. Singapore Sling
83. Mint Julep
84. Old Fashioned
85. Perique
86. Jenever (Holland Gin)
87. Chocolate Milkshake
88. Traditional Italian Barolo
89. Pulque
90. Natural Sparkling Water
91. Cuban Rum
92. Asti Spumante
93. Irish Whiskey
94. Château Margaux
95. Two Buck Chuck
96. Screech
97. Akvavit
98. Rye Whisky
99. German Weissbier
100. Daiquiri (classic)

So, if my counting is correct, I'm looking at a mere 73/100. Oh well, it doesn't really mean anything. I can go shopping tonight and up that number to 83 without really breaking a sweat. The rest is simply a matter of finding a place that sells sugar cane juice, or finding $1000 for a bottle of Château Margaux.

The list is here: Imbibers One Hundred

Kabuki buki buki

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:30:39 GMT

Staying at my favourite hotel in San Francisco -- the Hotel Kabuki. Tonight, I'm on the club floor, which requires card access before the elevator will even move. Yeah, it's pretty cool, but it all costs money. I inadvertently found out I get a continental breakfast too. That's pretty good, no?

The honour bar is pretty pricey, but there's a grocery store right across the street that sells sake. And in the long run, that's what's important, no? Nearby, there's a place (Isobune) that does the sushi boat thing (but that was super busy tonight), and there's even a place (Juban) that does Wagyu beef (but that was $38 for an entree). So I ended up at the O Izakaya Lounge. To be honest, the place is better for drinking than eating. The kimchi (spelled kimchee in the menu) was slightly better than the saba sashimi (which ran about $12 for 6 pieces), but they had Sapporo on draft, and that pretty much made my dinner.

It wasn't really enough for me, but I bought some rice crackers and sat in my room, drinking sake and watching Maverick on TBS. OK, I'll admit, it was a pretty funny film. Graham Greene was the best part of the film.

Great Googleplex

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:33:47 GMT

A friend of mine got a job at Google in Waterloo, and some time this year, got a transfer to the Googleplex near San Jose. So, I paid him a little visit at work. The place is like a geek heaven: movie nights; free shuttle bus; bicycles you can just grab and ride to your building; boxes of umbrellas, in case it ever rains here; and the most decadent, a veritable mall food court of free food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There were so many options for food that I finally settled on making a deli sandwich on focaccia, with turkey, genoa salami, bacon and provolone. I even put it on an available panini press, and made a hot sandwich out of it.

There was a really neat virtual Earth, which showed individual Google searches, sorted by language, and geographical source point. There were many other things as well, but unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to photograph anything inside any of the Google buildings. So these were the only photographs I could get.

I really want to work for these guys.

Winchester House

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:34:47 GMT

So, I've always been fascinated by the Winchester House -- that house that the Winchester widow kept building for 83 years on advice of a psychic. Little did I know it's here in San Jose, and was only about 4 mi. from the hotel. So we ran over to the house and got the economy tour (which only lets you see 110 of the 160+ rooms).

If that wasn't exciting enough, there's this enormous BevMo liquor store just down the street! It was like walking into a boozy heaven!

Unfortunately, BevMo wouldn't allow photography, so here are some pics of the Winchester House:

On making orgeat syrup

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:22:57 GMT

Since ISPCON sucked so bad, I'll talk instead about how I made orgeat syrup last weekend. I've been meaning to try it out since the falernum was so successful (and it's gone already -- time to make another batch). Here's what I did:

Zuckervati's Orgeat Syrup #1

300g blanched whole almonds
400ml water
2 Tbsp rose water
1 Tbsp almond extract
1 Tbsp orange extract
100ml brandy
2:1 sugar syrup to fill 750ml

Mix almonds and water in blender and blend quickly, until the almonds are coarsely chopped (less than 10s of blending). Pour into a large bowl, cover and set aside for a few hours. Stir it occasionally. Strain through cheesecloth (I recommend this vs. coffee filters or strainers because the almonds will retain the liquid quite effectively; you'll need to squeeze the cheesecloth until all the liquid is removed). Once the almond milk is extracted, add the rose water and extracts, and brandy. You should have about 500-550ml at this point. Fill a 750ml bottle with the mix, and top it off with the 2:1 sugar syrup). Cork/seal the bottle and shake it until the syrup mixes in with the almond milk.

Now, I really should have been using orange flower water instead of orange extract, but this was what I had in the spice cupboard. Next time, I'll use orange flower water if I can find any. Also, my rosewater was a little weak, possibly because I've had it for a long time (without really knowing what to do with it until now).

The resulting batch was very mild and delicious, not anything like the commercially -made Lia Orzata syrup I have. No harsh chemical taste, no overwhelming almond sensation coating your tongue.

After a couple of days, the batch separated quite completely into two layers, but a little shake brought it back to its uniform creaminess. I'm guessing that there's not much you can do about this, except to add something to prolong the suspension. I would have probably doubled the quantities of extracts, just to make the mild flavour more evident in mixed drinks. It's excellent on its own, and very subtle.

Go Sharks

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:52:52 GMT

Went to see the Sharks' game last night. Little bit disappointed with their loss, despite 57 shots on goal. Predators just pulled it together at the end, and maybe just wanted it more.

The ISPCON turnout was pathetic. My guess is that this convention is on its last legs, and may need to be combined with the Spring convention, or stopped completely. Blame can be placed on the lagging ISP industry, but more specifically on the lack of marketing this year, and the half-assed attempts to get vendors into the exhibition hall.

Heading out for some breakfast, and may do a little puttering around San Jose. Maybe do a little shopping before heading back into what's left of the convention.

I know the way to San Jose

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:46:42 GMT

I'm alive and in San Jose for ISPCON again. The flight down was unremarkable, except that now Air Canada doesn't even give you peanuts or any small snacks for free. And they tend to run out of everything else before they get to you, if you're seated any farther back than row 25. Luckily, soft drinks and coffee is still free.

The entertainment system was one of those touch screens, connected to a server which could stream a variety of movies, TV shows, and ads directly to your seat. I settled for The Incredible Hulk and the new X-Files movie. Both were kind of disappointing. Hulk was pretty much the exact same film as was done by Ang Lee a few years back, so I wasn't quite sure why it was even made. I mean, can we try to come up with a plot line that doesn't involve a showdown between the Hulk and some other Hulk-esque monster? The X-Files film was even more disappointing, since it was essentially the same as a really, really long X-Files episode that you'd already seen. The only thing I came away from it with was that God apparently exists, and likes to see young boys tortured with illness or molested by priests, and then rewards repentant priests with the gift of vision for finding decapitated women. Oh yeah, and Russians are into some weird Frankenstein shit.

San Jose is chilly -- about 12 degrees, and cloudy. Kind of how Kitchener was last week. Hopefully it will warm up enough to make people jealous of my trip. No, it's not snowing here, but if the temp drops enough, it just might.

The plan this week is to finish up at the conference and then head back into San Francisco for the weekend, to visit my brother's family, and my new niece. I'm at the Hotel Kabuki again. It's going to be fairly awesome being back in Japantown.

Plans include going to a tiki bar (hopefully Trader Vics), and getting some decent sushi.

Andrew Telegdi lost by 17 votes!

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:19:21 GMT

I saw this in The Record the other day -- there was a recount and The Record reporters fought to observe the process.

Andrew Telegdi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The final validated count, showing errors in two polls, confirmed his opponent had won the seat by 17 votes, the smallest margin in the 2008 Federal Election.

17 votes. Now I'm really wondering if maybe 17 people saw my blog and decided to vote for another party. Well, guess it doesn't matter at this point (and I'm pretty sure I don't have that many readers ... sigh).