Improv'ing at the UCBT

Having a blast in my Improv 101 class at UCBT, taught by Zach Woods. I've been seeing shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade for 5+ years and without fail have always been enthralled by the performance. My clever and thoughtful wife bought me classes at the UCB as my 2-year anniversary gift. Just what we need in our relationship after 2 years — someone with formal training to 'turn up' the drama (?)

I feel the pressure being the only one in the class without formal acting training or aspirations to pursue a professional acting career. But a few classmates have assured me that they appreciate my deadpan delivery and the fact that I don't "over-act".

My classmate's comment may come as a surprise to my wife, seeing that on numerous occasions she's accused me of "over-acting" at home. But with my new training, I'm almost certain more drama at home will ensue.

FreshDirect: Dinner at our Doorstep

I can't say enough good things about FreshDirect! Prepared dinners are exquisitely arranged, produce is remarkably fresh and they offer a healthy selection of organic foods. All of this wholesome goodness brought right to our door by a friendly delivery guy!

My one major gripe is their website — more than just a moot point, since it's the way you place an order. FreshDirect's product categorization leaves a bit to be desired as well as the navigation being quite clumsy and non-intuitive. Photos and descriptions are decent, however there must be more enticing ways to feature product.

Competitive prices with our local supermarket and a generous choice of delivery times have made this a service we can't live without. After a consultation with our usability team, there just may be hope for their site.

My Letter to Business 2.0

The following is a copy of my letter I sent to the Business 2.0 (magazine) editor. I was prompted to write in, after struggling through page-by-page with their recent issue of the redesigned pub. Does anyone else share in my opinion? I surely cannot be alone...

Dear Mr. Quittner & Co.,

I have been a long time subscriber and satisfied reader of your magazine. I am also a subscriber to similar publications such as FastCompany, BusinessWeek, WIRED, etc.

I am writing today to express my dissatisfaction with your new design and layout you recently rolled out. The look and feel suddenly feels cheap and amateurish. While I understand you are making efforts to cater to a new audience with much shorter attention spans thanks to the birth of new interactive media, the results are lackluster.

While your content is still attractive to me, as a result of the poor redesign, you have lost me as a reader. I will look to my other sources for pertinent business and technology news. Please write to me should you reconsider your magazine's new look. I will be easily persuaded to return as a faithful reader.

Itty Bitty Kitchen, Part II

While our "itty bitty" kitchen offers a delightful array of modern appliances, beautiful flooring and ample cabinet space—it entirely lacks direct sunlight.

Amazingly, it seems that a small town in Italy shares our grief. The mayor of Viganella, Italy, has deployed a giant steel mirror that tracks the sun’s movements. And what's incredible is that the huge mirror is controlled by a laptop!

Mum's the word if my wife's cosmetic mirror "mysteriously" goes missing...

Age-O-Matic

Sure, you say that your job gives you grey hair. And those fluorescent lights? ...they wreak havoc on your complexion. But did you ever think this weathering on your face could happen in real-time?

Career Builder has put together a simulator called the Age-O-Matic that allows you to upload your own photo and age yourself according to what you predict the damage your job will cause.

Classic Radio Programs

I found this great resource for Old Time Radio (OTR) programs. The OTR.Network Library is a free service with thousands of classic shows from the 30's and 40's. As The Morning News explains, otr.net is: "more authentic old-time radio than you can spin a dial at."

Our 2-Year Wedding Anniversary

I'm thrilled to share that tomorrow marks our second wedding anniversary. Jennifer and I will rejoice with a nice dinner in Chelsea, delighting in some time off from work the following day to relish in the past year's accomplishments as bride and groom. Such marks include our successful move into this charming new neighborhood, accelerating in our careers (1, 2), and most of all, developing as a healthy, newly married couple.

New Years 2007 @ Brasserie NYC

Avoided the crowds, enjoyed incredible food, dined among friends... a great way to bring in the new year.

Kudos to Brasserie for putting together an exquisite affair.