Blog Master G

After submitting my blog to the Google Web Directory quite some time ago (weeks? months?), my blog is finally listed. It’s currently number 11 in its category based on PageRank. Not too shabby.

Online Writing > Journals > Personal > A” href=”http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Online_Writing/Journals/Personal/A/?il=1″>Google Directory – Arts > Online Writing > Journals > Personal > A

The other cool thing that I noticed in my referrers this week is that a Google search for gabe now displays my blog at the bottom of the first page of results. That’s big. Even bigger than when I became the number one result for a Gabe search.

Of course, the more popular my site and blog become, the less anonymity I have. Potentially anyone I meet — and of course old friends, coworkers, exes — can easily track me down and learn a whole lot about me. But I think that’s pretty cool. I just have to be aware of that and use discretion in what I write and post to my site.

I know I’m not anonymous. Anyone who publishes on the Web takes the risk of losing anonymity. In other words, if you don’t want the world reading about your life, don’t post in a public forum. Despite what some people may think, a personal Web site will only remain private if you password-protect it, don’t tell anyone about it, keep it in a directory that’s not a top-level domain (and thus cannot be picked up by search engines) and do not link to it from anywhere else (you or others), or don’t host with a free service that will list your site in its directory.

I’m reminded of this little situation that transpired shortly after launching Vassar Blogs.

French Fries Get New Name in Congress

This is so ridiculous I’ve categorized it as comedy. It’s like a 4th-grader saying, “Oh yeah, well my Daddy makes more money than your Daddy.” Can’t you just picture these Stupid White Men sitting on Capitol Hill saying, “I know: We’ll rename French fries and French toast. That’ll teach the French to mess with us and not do what we tell them to do!”

While they’re at it, why don’t they drop the name “hamburger,” too? I mean, come on, guys. Let’s be fair. Schroeder wants a peaceful solution, too.

(Thanks, Shannon, for the link.)

My post last week about the father and son who were arrested in Albany, NY generated a lot of discussion. Continuing with the topic, here is indisputable proof that Upstate New York is a different animal than its city counterpart:

“No War” Shirt? No problem

Here’s my favorite part of this excellent commentary and social experiment:

To get arrested in New York City, I’d need to wear a T-shirt depicting President Bush and Osama bin Laden engaging in a sexual act particularly well-suited to four-legged animals. Unfortunately, all those shirts were sold out. Like I said, it’s New York.

I think the same holds true in San Francisco — about that shirt’s being sold out. You wouldn’t get arrested for wearing said shirt here, though.

Of course, New York City and San Francisco are both very blue on the U.S. political map, and Albany is bright red. I wonder if there’s a correlation between red and a lack of freedom of expression these days.

Albeit there’s only one blue man, Howard Dean, who actually stands up against the red team and has the balls to speak out against Bush and his drive toward war.

In searching the Web for It’s It (the original San Francisco oatmeal cookie and ice cream delight since 1928), I stumbled across a quality site with tons of great content, photos, and writing about our precious city, MisterSF.com.

So in looking for something to link to about the chocolate It’s It I ate tonight — the first I’d had in years (I used to eat them nearly every day in junior high and high school) — I stumbled across another savory treat.

Wedding planning has moved into high gear as Jen and I spent the weekend working on the registry Friday and Saturday, and picking what we thought was going to be our final invitation design Sunday night. We had already been to Just for Fun Scribble Doodles in Noe Valley a handful of times and knew it was the place from which we would eventually buy the invitations, since it has, by far, the biggest selection we’ve seen anywhere. We had even settled on what we thought was going to be the final design. Until the proof arrived via fax today. And we stopped feeling it.

So we headed back to Just for Fun yet again tonight — and are now regulars at the joint. We had the wording. We had the plan for all the components involved in selecting wedding invitations: the invites, the inner envelopes, the outer envelopes, the reception cards, the RSVP cards, and the thank you cards. But we were back to Square 1 on the design front. We had been through every book dozens of times. There was nothing that jumped out at us.

But finally we found The One. It’s simple, yet classy (at least we think so). It’s not the most exciting wedding invitation ever, but it’s ours. And it will go down in our wedding history as being The One.

Moral of this story: Picking wedding invitations is a huge pain in the ass. Men beware: If you’ve never done this before, fasten your seatbelts. You’re in for a crazy ride.

I wonder if Vassar has a clause against wild animals being present in the Chapel? If not, perhaps Jen and I should consider something like this for our wedding:

The Sacramento Bee — sacbee.com — Tigers serve as best man, maid of honor at Indiana wedding

(Thanks, Dad, for the link.)

Dave Winer, whose claim to fame is one of the earliest blogs on the Web, soon begins his fellowship at Harvard:

`Blog’ expert sets sights on Harvard: Postings could break barriers

What a gig: Paid to blog and to research blogging. Gotta love it.

My old, new QBert Watch arrived this past week and I wore it out for the first time tonight over to Ben and Jess’ house to watch the second episode of the third season of Six Feet Under, the best show on television. The watch proved to be good entertainment on the N Judah. It’s just how I remember it, only I’m not as good as I once was. It will take a bit of practice, but it’s sure good to have the old past time back in action.

A year ago today the Earth lost one of its most amazing, caring, and loving humans: Ruth Cory Pritchard, my Nana. Along with my parents, she played a large role in raising me and my brother. She was my role model and an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She gave her love and support unconditionally to her family and her extended family — everyone who knew her. I learned so much from her and I miss her dearly. The world will never forget you, Nana.

Jen and I are reminiscing now about some of the great times we had with Nana: visiting the old governor’s mansion in Sacramento during Christmas 2001; hanging out on the rocks of Treasure Island in October 2000 to watch the Blue Angels; Nana’s coming to watch the Blue Angels with Jen in October 1999 when I went to Vassar for a weekend leadership training summit (she knew Jen would appreciate the company); her coming to Enoch’s New Year’s Eve party 2001.

Below is an excerpt I’d like to share from my remarks at Nana’s memorial service on March 16, 2002:

The morning Nana passed, my mom and I were in her hospital room talking about what an amazing life she had lived — and how many lives she had touched. It suddenly all made sense: Her dedication to children, her passion for education. She really got it. And it all clicked for mes. In that moment, it was OK that she was gone. A chill went through my body. I finally understood. She had taught the youth — the next generation. She had prepared the future for what was ahead. And she knew it. She always emphasized the importance of education. Every young person she ever knew will never forget her and the example she was for all of us. “Finish school. Get that degree!” she would say. She made sure I got through college. One of the last things she said was that I’d better make sure my brother Peter makes it through his final year of college, too. (Aside: I’m watching you, Pete, and Nana is, too!)

You’re always in my heart, Nana.

(In Nana’s honor, my entire site is pink #b54a8d with MT’s stormy template today, since pink was her favorite color. At first, I had turned the whole site black, but then Jen pointed out that Nana wasn’t mopey like that and wouldn’t have wanted it that way. So this pink’s for you, Nana!)

Any guesses what Jen and I did tonight? Taking the cue from Dan’s photo contest, I think I will turn this posting into a caption contest, too. This picture cracks me up and I’m sure there are some great captions just waiting to happen. Submit your caption now!