Comments for Night Apes Dream

Comment on Rethink Everything by Owen Hodda

Owen Hodda — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:03:13 +0000

@Chris
Saw those whilst there, think they are awesome. I know a few people have suggested those for traffic as well, but all I can think is that drivers would always be jumping forward before it actually turned green (especially in Melbourne, where orange seem to mean “speed up”)
What is funny about the button mashing here is the lack of feedback we get. No light, no sound, and the button doesn’t even seem to have any resistance. At least the old ones had a light on them

Comment on Rethink Everything by Chris

Chris — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:56:03 +0000

Another interesting design feature of the Japanese crossings - and this is probably the result of being buttonless - is a counter showing just how long you have to wait until it turns green next. It’s only present in Tokyo really, and even then on the bigger intersections, but it’s an interesting and very logical feedback system.

The Australian equivalent of it? Pressing the button 15 times, thinking we’re telling it to “hurry up”. No button + no time indicator could possibly lead to a confused and seemingly powerless pedestrian… at least we get the satisfaction of button mashing here

Comment on Rethink Everything by Tweets that mention Rethink Everything | Night Apes Dream -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Rethink Everything | Night Apes Dream -- Topsy.com — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:28:22 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jussi Pasanen, Owen Hodda. Owen Hodda said: Rethink everything http://tinyurl.com/27lxl32 [...]

Comment on Rethink Everything by Owen Hodda

Owen Hodda — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:24:04 +0000

@Kai,
Yes, I had thought the same thing when trying to come up with a better solution, and agree that consistency is definately better rather than having Australians waiting forever at some intersections and wandering into traffic at others.
As an aside; some crossings in Japan do have buttons, but I couldn’t’ work out what for. Thankfully my my girlfriend (who had been there before) pointed out that they are for elderly pedestrians, and will make the walk signal remain on for longer. So cool.

Comment on Rethink Everything by Kai

Kai — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:19:16 +0000

Hey Owen,

your observation is interesting in re to the buttons. I had the opposite experience when I came to Australia. Where I come from (Germany) only those traffic lights with the sole purpose of allowing pedestrians to cross the street (i.e. not the standard lights you find at an intersection) have buttons. It’s true that the later don’t require buttons as the cars will have to stop anyway to give way to the traffic coming from crossing streets. However, when you expect to not have to press a button to cross the street (Europe) you easily oversee that action is required when you do and you find yourself standing there waiting like an idiot for the traffic to stop.
In that sense, the buttons in Australia are - even sometimes unnecessary - designed for consistency as they make people familiar with the fact that they always have to press a button to cross the street. Apart from that, most of them do have an effect on how lights change - especially at night when they run on a different frequency.

So from a usability point of view there are definitely pros and cons.

Comment on Hario Coffee Syphon (new favourite toy) by Owen Hodda

Owen Hodda — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:04:33 +0000

Hi Patrick, thanks for the comment.
I came to the same conclusion as you that the water needs to stabilise before adding the grind. Massive improvement.
Mobile syphon bar sounds sweet. I recently came back from Japan where I saw quite a few of the balance syphons. Had I not been luggage restricted I would have brought some home; they’re awesome.

Comment on Hario Coffee Syphon (new favourite toy) by Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:42:31 +0000

Hello,

Just came across this post as I was looking for stands for TCA-2/3 syphons. I have owned a TCA-2 for just under a year, but before that I had a Cona. The Hario is far superior, IME. I encourage you to try the barismo method if you do not already. http://barismo.com/2008/09/barismo-syphon-coffee-primer.html

I used to add the grounds before the water came up, but now I check the temp of the water, and let it stabilize. The difference is most definitely noticeable. Also, a butane burner is much quicker and more precise than the stock one that uses denatured alcohol.

I love syphon coffee and will be running a mobile syphon bar in the States this summer, predominantly in the NorthEast.
I should be getting a couple of these sweet burners from Sorrentina Coffee
(sorrentinacoffee.myshopify.com/collections/vacuum-siphon-syphon-coffee-makers)

Cheers

Comment on Foursquare. Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile by Sam Perversi-Brooks

Sam Perversi-Brooks — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:40:42 +0000

Hey mate - your quite the local hipster celebrity!
Just reading today’s Epicure…good work Mr Mayor!

Comment on Foursquare. Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile by Owen Hodda

Owen Hodda — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:26:40 +0000

Hi Ben, you can add comments and extra details to a Foursquare checkin if you want. People don’t seem to much, but it’s something I think I will try to do more often to give a bit more value to the checkins. Haven’t really looked at Gowalla much.

Comment on Foursquare. Just because you don’t get it doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile by Ben Smithett

Ben Smithett — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:48:19 +0000

Not sure about the auto updates to Twitter. I like the tweets I get from Gowalla users when they check in somewhere - a custom message saying what they’re actually doing, and a link to the Gowalla page for the venue. I haven’t played with Foursquare+Twitter much, can you do that?