Travel

Two and a half years ago, I came away from Kinference 2023 disappointed that more of my peers weren’t as put off as I was by the current state of tech’s dominant preoccupations. My experience wasn’t much different this time, except that in the intervening years, Web3 enthusiasm has fashionably given way to AI enthusiasm. This isn’t to say all the speakers were doing PR for LLMs, and among those intermittently expressing guarded misgivings, Frank… See more →

As I mentioned in my 2022 year in review, I’ve developed a new habit over the past year as part of my creative practice—something I call a “field day.” Ideally at least twice a month or so, I’ll get out of the house for the day and absorb things in the outside world. It most often takes the form of visiting museums, galleries, and cinemas, but virtually any activity qualifies, as long as I’m out… See more →

I’m supposed to be en route to @OIAF_Animation right now, but had to cancel my trip last-minute. I’ve been sulking about it all day, but reading about draftees fleeing Russia really puts my stuck-at-home troubles in perspective. nytimes.com/2022/09/22/wor…

commercial air travel is safe and yet every time i’m like who do we think we are taking to the skies

No biggie, just hangin’ with Hot Mess, your 2022 @usairguitar champion!

Hey, Portland! Please join me on Saturday at @DantesLive where I will be judging the 2022 @usairguitar National Finals. I have a free ticket for the first person who hits me up! ticketweb.com/event/us-air-g…

I’m beyond honored to take 2nd place to the unstoppable @flying_finn, who finally clinched a well-deserved @usairguitar title after 15 years in the game!

Chicago! I am getting on a plane for the first time since 2019 to play air guitar for you on Saturday. Come say hi! ticketweb.com/event/us-air-g…

I made my annual voyage north this past weekend for the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Forsaking any notion of downtime, I made it to 12 screenings in the space of 48 hours this year. Below are my notes on each of the 56 films in the short film competition, as well as four of the features in competition, and a handful of other screenings. Links are provided to films and trailers when available, with embeds… See more →

Dude on my flight last night celebrated International Women’s Day by mansplaining air travel to another man.

Spent the afternoon listening to @JesseSykes while driving across the desert. 😌

Tonight I add another chapter to my very entertaining book of @BoltBus misadventures.

I hadn’t planned to publish this post since I failed to document this fest as thoroughly as the previous one, but I decided not to waste the bits I did document, so here they are.

Short Film Competition

The first short film competition screening was probably the least kid-friendly screening at the festival, and sure enough, a family with kids was front and center in the theater. Saturday morning cartoons, right? Literally two seconds in,… See more →

If you’re at an internet conference and your hotel room number is 404, do you make a sound?

Leah and I recently returned from a great week in Brighton, England. The impetus for the trip was Ampersand, a one-day typography conference, but since neither Leah nor I had been to the UK before, it made sense to tack on another several days for a vacation.

We rented a decent Airbnb close to the beach near the indistinct border between Brighton and Hove. The first thing I did upon arriving at around 2 a.m.… See more →

I should give seminars on how to get sick while you’re on vacation.

I’m in England (for the first time!) where I’ve just attended Clearleft’s outstanding Ampersand conference in Brighton. I was a little concerned that the combination of jet lag and the (otherwise excellent) venue’s warm temperature would make it hard for me to focus, but the lineup of speakers was more than engaging enough to overcome those obstacles. The most discussed topic of the day was, unsurprisingly, variable fonts, support for which has begun… See more →

👋🏻 Hello again, Chicago!

Trying to take a last-minute trip somewhere quiet next week. Cheap flights will decide where. Anyone have advice on finding them?

I’ve just returned from my ninth Ottawa International Animation Festival since 1998, and my first since 2010. I only got a weekend pass this time, rather than doing the full five days, but I still managed to cram in 10 screenings. This is also the first time I’ve attended the fest by myself, which enabled me to document it in greater detail than I have in the past. What follows are my notes on nearly… See more →

I have found the bar in Ottawa that plays Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” over and over again, and I wish I hadn’t.

Livin’ right with two days in a row of my man Sol Lewitt, at @DiaArtFndn and @MASS_MoCA.

With great bitterness, and apologies to the proletariat, I have succumbed to the security theater extortion machine known as TSA Pre✓®.

One of the many things I love about New Orleans is that none of its shutters are merely decorative.

@chambermonster meets her hero.

Current status: 😍

Three days of perfect weather, fantastic food, great music, old friends, and new friends, all in one of my favorite cities on the planet. 💕

Wheels down at MDW. Did you miss me, Chicago? I missed you!

I’ve often wondered if I’d bite if this ever happened. Now I have my answer. See you soon, Chicago. twitter.com/pitchfork/stat…

Waiting for the bats.

Upon opening today, @gourdough was missing ingredients that prevented them from making roughly ¾ of their menu. 😕

Nothing says “Important work is being done here” like Cooper Black.

Looks like you can’t bring guns into the Texas Capitol. #ComeAndTakeIt

@chambermonster is good at making friends.

Getting started in Austin by seeing a Richard Linklater movie at the Alamo Drafthouse seems appropriate.

On the train to the plane to SFO to @SND.

I shrug off most @BoltBus snafus (you get what you pay for), but selling me a ticket for a Xmas Eve bus that doesn’t exist? Fucking COME ON.