Toward Topical Relevancy

OH HAI!

You know how you get when you’re, say, dying of consumption, and you’re on like 85 different pain / cold / fever medications and syrups and lozenges and expectorants and teas because this is your first winter back on the East Coast after living for ten years in the beautiful warm and sunny paradise of Hawaii so your first real winter cold feels like you are slowly being murdered or at the very least tortured in a very non-fun definitely non-sex way by le Marquis de Sade, and your head is so foggy and thick and muddled it feels not unlike it felt that last time you ever smoked up about three years ago and smoked “just a little bit too much” and you basically just sat in a catatonic state for hours while your BFF put together a Lego sculpture of the Millennium Falcon? Or something?

Anyway, this is how I feel right now, and this is also why I have not published anything here recently. (Also I am rather infuriated that my current illness prevented me from making it down to D.C. for the Inauguration tomorrow, as I had covertly planned, but whatever I suppose I was not meant to see “History” in “The Making”.) But I did want to pop in and promise that there is much to be reported from my corner of the internets, and that it will be in due time, and also to address two potentially important programming notes.

1. FeedBurner: FeedBurner accounts are allegedly, finally, being fully migrated to Google. I suppose if I had ever paid more attention to my FeedBurner account / activity / traffic, I would care more about transferring my FeedBurner account to Google, but since I never have, I am just saving myself and hopefully everyone else some grief by reverting to my automatic WordPress feed. So, if you’ve bookmarked or otherwise stored my FeedBurner feed, you should change it accordingly.
2. 9rules: I am exceedingly pleased to proudly announce that Curious Affairs was accepted yesterday into the ranks of 9rules: The best content from the independent web, following the conclusion of their eighth round of submissions for membership. For those readers who’ve no idea what this means, I’ve begun a piece on said topic just this morning, but in the interim before that piece goes live I wanted to remark on the honor and to welcome any new readers who stumble upon Curious Affairs via 9rules. The entire announcement and list of other new members for Round 8 is located in The 9rules Blog.

So if you will please excuse me, I am off to make another cup of tea, blow my nose for the 82,783rd time this afternoon, and attempt to give my aching muscles a back rub by myself.

Send Valium! KAY THX BAI!

Filed under: Blogging, Net Culture, Travel , being servicey, humor, linkage, omgwtfbbq, washington dc

Crowdsourcing My Itineraries

Earlier this year I published an article entitled, “In Praise Of The New End Note And Internet Etiquette: Via,” in which I attempted to communicate my strict adherence to the practice of proper citation and attribution on the web. Inspired by an uncharacteristically angry tweet on Twitter by Jason Kottke, who never fails to properly attribute sources and intermediary “vias” on his link blog, demanding a “via” to your source if you are passing along an internet “find”, I decided to articulate my own similar thoughts on this matter. Of course, as someone who wrote copiously researched comparative literature and philosophy tomes throughout his undergraduate career, I was no stranger to the etiquette of proper citation (MLA Style, no less!). But I hoped that others might find it, read it, learn something, and put it into good practice. It was intended as my small contribution to the largely ignored practice of “netiquette”.

Just before the recent Presidential election, I stumbled across a blog post in a far more “famous” blogger’s blog requesting links to politically-oriented websites that readers depended on for their political information throughout the campaign. The blogger mentioned that the information gathered would be used in an upcoming blog post and webcast, and did not intimate that the requested sites would be used for any other purpose. Always happy to help a fellow blogger (and, admittedly, hoping for a little attribution should my information be used, as discussed above), I dashed off an email to the blogger that listed the many websites I had consulted throughout the campaign season. Of course there were the usual sites that “everyone” visits when they require political information and news, but as I had made it a point to be very politically informed throughout this year, I also included some excellent sites that I had gleaned from political journalists’ blog entries and online articles, sites that gave amazing information but about which the average person removed from political journalism or blogging may not have known. The blogger emailed me in return, thanking me profusely for the information, concluding with the promise that some of my suggestions would definitely be included in both the upcoming blog post and webcast.

They were. But they were not attributed, to myself nor to any other reader whom I imagine responded. But that is not the only reason why this blogger had requested this information. The referenced blog entry was eventually published, along with a preface that the blogger had been asked to participate in an interview regarding the campaign season and approaching election by a rather high profile media outlet, and the blogger listed verbatim each interview question and each of “their” responses. The final question was, of course, “Which websites have you depended on to give you your information throughout this historic campaign season?”

I was livid. Not only had the information been requested, used, and not attributed to the thinking individuals who had proffered it, but it was used by the blogger in direct response to an interview question that clearly requested the blogger’s own information and expertise. The blogger had essentially crowdsourced that piece of the interview from their audience. Furthermore, the blogger had prefaced both the interview and the webcast with, “As I have been sooooo politically involved this campaign season, here is what I have used to form my opinions and stay informed.”

Um. ORLY?!

It enraged me because the blogger perpetrated two acts of what I consider to be the lowest form of online “journalism”: lack of attribution, and crowdsourcing ideas from their audience for no pay, no recognition, and clearly no “full disclosure” regarding their intentions for the material.

Needless to say, I will not be proffering any information to that blogger ever again.

But this entry is not about that blogger. It is about me. And my own imminent act of crowdsourcing my audience! Yes, it is true: I am about to embark on the very same road for which I just rather snarkily criticized a blogging “peer”. However, whatever information I receive will definitely be explored, and if I do happen to use it when the events occur, I promise sincerely to link the hell out of said source’s blog or website. And you know that this is a big deal because “Curious Affairs” gets like 85,000 hits a day and therefore said sources will also doubtlessly experience mad traffic spikes.

Anyway, one of the things I have decided to do more of for myself throughout the alarmingly rapidly approaching new year (and if anyone leaves a comment informing me of how many days are left before Christmas / Chanukah / etc., I will hunt them down and hurt them) is travel. Over the past several months I have made plans to travel to a variety of new cities for both professional and personal reasons, and since most of them are unfamiliar to me, I thought I would list each proposed excursion and city here, and ask readers to comment with any fun things to do in each city while I am in each one. Of course the “fun things” may be “the usual” for referenced city, but as I am an adventurous risk-taker who likes to experience each city he visits as a local would, the “road less traveled” “fun things” are always far more interesting and exciting to me. (Also, as I am a total foodie, please reply with any culinary recommendations you may have, as well. Also also, I list currently anticipated lodging, so feel free to critique these, offer alternatives that may be more interesting / enjoyable, etc.)

Shall we?

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First of all, I positively adore Dopplr, consider it one of my favorite Web 2.0 websites, and always attempt to make full use of it, so if any of my readers happen to be fellow travel aficionados like myself and would care to add me and track my travels on it, definitely feel free to do so; follow Atherton Bartelby. (Also, obvs, I do not think that I could live without Tablet Hotels: Hotels For Global Nomads; an awesome site with fabulous property listings.)

AUSTIN – TEXAS – UNITED STATES
I am booked to attend all three of the SXSW Festivals in Austin, from 13-22 March. I have never before attended SXSW and am über-excited for these events, and I have also never visited Austin before (or Texas, for that matter, because really, why would I, aside from layovers?), but I have it on good authority that the city is awesome and not to be missed. I am especially interested in the city’s music scene and, as always, good photo ops. Granted, my schedule will already be rather packed prior to my arrival, but I want to lap up all that this city has to offer.
Lodging: InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel [Not my choice; I would rather be lodging at Hotel San Jose. Any arguments for or against either will be deeply appreciated.]

BOSTON – MASSACHUSETTS – UNITED STATES
I am also planning on attending An Event Apart: For People Who Make Websites in Boston, from 22-23 June. I have never before attended An Event Apart conference, either, and am ecstatically excited about it, but I have visited Boston before, although not for a very long time, when my friends and I would motor it down from prep school in New Hampshire for extended weekends spent loitering elegantly, etc., around Copley Place and its environs. Consequently, should anyone have any suggestions for more mature arts or technology related activities with which to entertain myself, please do let me know!
Lodging: XV Beacon

TORONTO – ONTARIO – CANADA
This vacation is one of my few pleasure trips of 2009: a vacation to a city I have never before visited but always wanted to, just for me, as a birthday present to myself. Way back in my youth, when I was seriously considering applying to Ph.D. programs in Comparative Literature, I was a member of the Modern Language Association, and so looked forward to attending my first annual MLA conference, which that year was held in Toronto. But I did not attend, for largely personal reasons. So I would like to revisit that attempt, and explore the city, experience the arts scene, and possibly participate in a few “Creative Tweet-Ups” with some fabulous design / art professionals I have “met” recently on Twitter. I am looking for any and all suggestions with this one, people: the sky is the limit! (Except for, you know, the obvious; that is already on my list. Duh.)
Lodging: Hotel Le Germain Toronto

MEMPHIS – TENNESSEE – UNITED STATES
Yes, you read that correctly: Memphis. As in, Tennessee. Never fear, I have not lost all of my senses, for this trip is again of a professional nature and not a pleasure excursion. I shall be attending the American Institute Of Graphic Arts‘ annual Design Conference, from 7-13 October, and, again, my schedule will likely be packed prior to my arrival. However, should you be far more familiar with Memphis than am I (and really, you likely are; my experiences south of the Mason-Dixon have been confined to summers on my mother’s family’s horse farm outside of Lexington, Kentucky), please, for the love of G-d, give me anything to do that does not involve spontaneous retinal detachments due to seeing the hideous interior design of Graceland. (Um. Again. Once was more than enough!) Thanks.
Lodging: The Madison

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So, do reply in a comment with any suggestions you may have, and I will totally pimp you out in any photoblogs and / or travelogues that result from your wise advice.

Unlike, you know, my journalistic-integrity-disinclined blogging “peer” referenced earlier.

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Author’s Note: Also, if you happen to actually live in any of these cities, or will be visiting them / attending the same events, definitely let me know if you would like to meet up at any point! Use the form on my contact page to send me your email, or leave it with your comment to this post.

Finally, all images are courtesy of Getty Images.

Because *I* give good via following my crowdsourcing.

Filed under: Blogging, Design, Net Culture, Photography, Politics, Technology, Travel, Web Design , austin, being servicey, boston, conferences, humor, linkage, lists, lonely planet, memphis, netiquette, questions, toronto, urban appreciation

Not Unpleasant To A Sinner

My inaugural photo essay went up this afternoon over on JPG Magazine. “Not Unpleasant To A Sinner” (“An extended weekend spent exploring Hawaii’s Big Island inspires one photographer to acknowledge that there is a God…and She is on the move.”) features some legacy copy taken from two “Curious Affairs” entries written about my time on the Big Island, but the accompanying images are (largely) never-before-published.

Comments and [constructive] critique are, as usual, exceedingly welcome.

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Her teeth are sharp; they left lasting impressions.

If it wasn’t karmic law that delivered an instant payback to me for mentally chastising a fellow ‘haole’ tourist for wearing shorts while hiking the lava flow this weekend (she fell, she bled) only seconds before I took my own plunge onto the rocks, then surely it was Pele’s chastisement of my own self-created superiority.

“And you think you’re invincible?” I could almost hear Her whisper, as I slipped on the glassy surface of the cooled lava, saw the rocks rush up to meet my face, caught them with my hands to break my fall, embraced the great mounds of fine, glassy rock.

Thick ribbons of red flowed down the white appendages of my flesh, created flows of their own to the glistening ebony below. Surely She doesn’t mind that I took indescribably small pieces of Her Earth with me, away from Her, embedded in my skin, since I left so much of my flesh, my blood, my self for Her to guard, to consume, to make new.

I remembered suddenly the words I had read in an article published in a local publication the month before: “‘You shouldn’t poke a goddess with a stick, or toss coins at her, or roast marshmallows over her hot, steaming body.’ That’s what a geologist told me and my companion when, after treading over fresh ‘pahoehoe,’ we arrived at the spot where Pele steadily oozed through the Earth’s surface. Some visitors poked, tossed, and roasted away. The geologist frowned at their juvenile, even dangerous, behavior. Me, I didn’t even think about desecrating Pele, and not simply out of deference. I just didn’t need to be any more entertained than I was. The slow-moving, fluorescent-orange light show a few yards from my feet was, is, a one-of-a-kind look at the pulsing Earth. There is a God, I humbly acknowledged, and She is alive…and on the move. The published photos and news video really don’t capture what it’s like to be up-close and personal with Pele. For one, they don’t convey the heat – akin to a thermal blast from a cosmic oven. Or the sound: a soft, crinkly crumpling, like Rice Krispies after the milk’s been poured. Then there’s the smell…acrid sulfur dioxide that seeps from the vents to wrinkle the nose and burn the throat. Mark Twain, who visited Kilauea in 1866, wrote that ‘the smell of sulfur is strong, but not unpleasant to a sinner.’”

Sensory memories of this journey to record: the sight of steaming white waves caressing black shores, of turning back to see the Earth over which you walked in daylight that is now, in twilight, gleaming red; the feeling of rock slicing through flesh, of heat moving through my shoes and into my body; the smell of sulfur, of methane, of Earth; the sound, the frightening and beautiful sound, of Earth being born…the cracking, explosive, unimaginable sound of Earth.

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[Author's Note: Excerpted text from "Face Time with Pele," by Chad Blair, in the 09 April 2003 issue of Honolulu Weekly.]

Filed under: Editorials, Photography, Travel, Writing , big island, defining moments, hawaii, linkage, lonely planet, love each day, pimpage

The AB Remainders: The Loveliest Island Anchored In Any Ocean

Today here at Curious Affairs we are purposefully ignoring the recent unannounced hiatus of “The AB Remainders” and proceeding without comment to announce a slight deviation from the usual content of this featured column to present our list of Oahu’s Top Ten Absolutely Not To Be Missed Sites, Events, And / Or Activities For The Potential Visitor. Think of this as one final, unofficial “Lonely Planet“-esque guide to the island; as gentle suggestions from one who has lived here for ten years, to hopefully make one’s time spent on The Gathering Place infinitely more memorable than a cheesy Polynesian Cultural Center luau would make it; or, as it actually is, a self-imposed penance for not dragging a dear friend to each of these places when she visited several weeks ago.

Wow. That was exhausting. I forgot how annoying I have always found it to write in the first person “Royal We”.

Anyway, yes, without further ado or any more extravagant run-on sentences, what follows are my picks for what no visitor to Oahu should miss during their sojourn on the island. I have purposefully attempted to stay away from the more typical travel guide fare to include those things not usually found there (although obviously I realize this is not the case in all instances); hopefully, I have succeeded.

And should you have additional ideas along the same lines, please definitely leave a comment with your suggestions, so that I and other interested readers may benefit from your wisdom!

Now. Shall we?

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ONE: Flash & Matty Boy’s Legendary Skyline Parties. Honolulu boasts many successful parties, and an equal number of party promoters, but none can compare, in my opinion, to Flash & Matty Boy’s events, particularly the twice-monthly “Skyline”. Set high atop the heart of Waikiki in Sheraton Waikiki’s Hanohano Room, the party provides panoramic views of Waikiki outside, as well as panoramic views of Honolulu’s Beautiful Ones inside. Well-known for its cutting-edge DJs, its guests’ classy attire, and insanely low-priced yet high-end vodka cocktails, “Skyline” is a party you will not want to miss. (Bonus points for you should you happen to stumble into “Skyline” for one of its themed evenings, e.g., The White Party, The Black Party, Heaven And Hell, etc.) Should you want the V.I.P. treatment (and why wouldn’t you?!), Flash & Matty Boy definitely make it available to you, to make an already fabulous soirée that much more fabulous. [Special Note: Ultra-swank dress code generally strictly enforced, even and perhaps especially for those on the V.I.P. list. Photo Credit: F/M Present.]

TWO: The Lanipo Trail Hike. Everyone hikes up Diamond Head Crater. [snores] Boring. All right, perhaps not boring, but would you not rather hike a trail that provided you even more of a challenge and even more stunning vistas to behold? I thought so. This is why you should check out the Lanipo Trail, “a grinding out-and-back ridge hike with more highs and lows than than the Beckhams and Brangelina combined”. The seven-mile hike, which is considered “Intermediate / Advanced”, takes one along the Mau`umae Ridge all the way to, if one follows the trail to its terminus, the summit of the Ko`olau Range. The views of the valleys and mountains, Ka`au Crater, and the entire island of Oahu, really, are well worth the effort that the trail demands. Click the title link above for more information, video, and directions to the trail head at the very top of Maunalani Heights. [Photo Credit: Terenceweis's Flickr.]

THREE: The Byodo-In Buddhist Temple. Located in the back of Oahu’s peaceful “Valley Of The Temples” is the Byodo-In Buddhist Temple, a replica of the 900-year-old Byodo-In in Uji, Japan. The temple grounds are nestled in what in my opinion are the most tranquil surroundings on the island, so it is worth a visit for that alone, but one may also visit the nine-foot Lotus Buddha and five-foot, three-ton brass Peace Bell inside the temple, the smaller Meditation House also on the grounds, or simply feed the koi fish in the two-acre koi pond. [Special Note: This is a religious area; please be respectful and quiet while in the Valley of the Temples. Remove your shoes before entering the temple. Most Awesome HDR Photo Credit: Shayan (USA)'s Flickr.]

FOUR: The Pu`u O Mahuka Heiau (a.k.a., “The Hill Of Escape”). This heiau, or Hawaiian temple, is one of the better preserved heiaus on Oahu, covering over five acres of a North Shore hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was considered a powerful place for the kahuna, and one of two places where wives of the ancient chiefs gave birth; it may also have been used for human sacrifice. I have written about this place in this blog several times, so suffice it to write this time that this is a rather humbling place, with a rather spectacular view of the ocean. [Special Note: Heiaus are sacred to the Hawaiian people and should be treated with the utmost respect. Do not move or remove anything from these sites. Do not climb or walk on the rock walls and platforms. Photo Credit: My Flickr.]

FIVE: Snorkeling / Scuba Diving At Shark’s Cove. One of the most memorable experiences I had on Oahu was during the autumn of 2006, when my roommates kidnapped me for a day of snorkeling at Shark’s Cove on Oahu’s North Shore. Accessible from March through October when the sea is calm, this stunning reef cannot even be seen during the high surf of the winter months. The unusually clear water and the underwater tunnels of the reef are perfect for exploring the lush marine life in the cove’s waters. One may even be lucky enough to spot a turtle. (Or a white-tipped reef shark, but they won’t bother you if you pay them the same respect.) Top off the day with a stop for a huge plate of shrimp from the famous Giovanni’s Aloha Shrimp Truck, and you have a day on the North Shore made in Heaven. (Or Paradise.) [Special Notes: Due to the sharp coral and rock formations, shoes should be worn at all times; the ocean drops off to about 25 feet at the end of the reef; and observe but do not disturb the marine life. Photo Credit: Phil Hilfiker Photography / PhilH's Flickr.]

SIX: The Ka`ena Point Trail Hike. Unfortunately, HawaiiWeb does not profer a very lush description of this hiking trail to the westernmost point of the island of Oahu, which I think is a shame, for it is a beautiful hike that ends in a breathtaking, almost spiritual place. “Ka`ena” may be translated as “the heat”, and this is no joke, as the rather lengthy trail is generally bereft of the trade winds that grace the rest of the island, and the sun is usually merciless. But the scenery and native plants and birds specific to this region of the island are well worth the heat. What’s so spiritual about it? “Some ancient Hawaiian folklore states that Ka`ena Point is the ‘jumping-off’ point for souls leaving this world” (via its Wiki). [Special Note: Bring lots of water; and, although the point may be accessed from either the north side or the south side of the island, the south approach is recommended. Photo Credit: Super-Structure's Flickr.]

SEVEN: Kaneaki Heiau. Again, one of Oahu’s best restored heiaus, Kaneaki Heiau is located on the Waianae Coast near Makaha. The temple, built in the 17th century, is in the center of Makaha Valley, and was originally dedicated to Lono, the god of agriculture. Full historically-correct restoration was accomplished by the Bishop Museum, which added two prayer towers, a taboo house, a drum house, an alter, and images of gods. Pili grass from the Big Island and ohia logs were also used. Although situated in the back of a valley instead of perched on a precarious North Shore cliff, The Kaneaki Heiau is every bit as breathtaking as The Pu`u O Mahuka Heiau mentioned earlier. [Special Note: Heiaus are sacred to the Hawaiian people and should be treated with the utmost respect. Do not move or remove anything from these sites. Do not climb or walk on the rock walls and platforms. Photo Credit: Jmcd303's Flickr.]

EIGHT: A Savory Brunch in Chinatown’s Maunakea Marketplace Food Court. Metromix Honolulu’s concise review phrases it perfectly: “Absolutely no pretensions — like the crowded, noisy kitchen in your grandmother’s house just before Christmas or New Year’s.” Pick up a cheap plate or bowl of whichever of a myriad of cuisines you may be craving, and make a stop for a fantastic coffee at the coffee cart just outside on your way to a spot in the courtyard, and you have the makings of a sublime culinary experience in the heart of Downtown’s Chinatown. [Photo Credit: 'Ono Kine Grindz.]

NINE: ARTafterDARK At The Honolulu Academy Of Arts. Should you be lucky enough to have scheduled your visit to Oahu in time for the final Friday of the month, you are virtually required to take in whatever festivities the talented and creative party-throwers of ARTafterDARK have planned for their monthly event that occurs from six to nine in the evening at The Academy. Composed of a dynamic group of young volunteers dedicated to exploring the arts, the group’s evenings are always a vibrant mix of themed music, exhibitions, food, and drinks, and are only $10 for non-members (free, should you happen to be a member). [Photo Credit: Sakara Blackwell.]

TEN: A Beach. Any Beach. At Sunset. At Midnight. With Someone You Love. Or All By Yourself. It will be one of the most wonderful evenings you have ever experienced. I promise. [Photo Credit: My Flickr.]

Filed under: Editorials, Food, Photography, Travel, Writing , defining moments, fitness, hawaii, honolulu, linkage, lists, lonely planet, memories, needful reminders, oahu, photoblogging, pimpage, red carpet situations, remainders, sports, urban appreciation, video

Photoblogging My Honolulu: Fin

Usually when I post a photoblog I like to narrate each image with my words, tell a little story about what the image means, or contains, or conveys. Usually I do this because I am never quite sure that my photographs are powerful enough to stand on their own, that they need my words to prop them up, so that they do not topple over like cardboard walls in a strong wind storm. But it is difficult for me to condense my ten years of experiences in Honolulu, in Hawaii, into short narrations of the images contained in this final island photoblog; there are simply too many memories, too many people, too many emotions, to attach to each capture.

So I shall allow them to speak for themselves. Except I shall borrow a quotation from a previous Island Girl to act as an introduction for this final Hawaii photoblog of the Island Boy.

No one can say you didn’t live Hawaii. You are Hawaii, in a way. You slept pressed against her very flesh. The island and everything you are to one another is forever a part of your two respective soul prints. — AV Flox

I think that sums up my ten years here, and this collection of images, rather succinctly.

Filed under: Architecture, Photography, Travel , alucina, defining moments, hawaii, honolulu, linkage, lonely planet, memories, oahu, photoblogging, pimpage, urban appreciation