[via Joe. My. God.: Yes, I'm Running For Mayor, But Let's Start With My Original Song About Jeebus]

Screen from a plate reader, similar to the one J uses.

Yesterday was a DAY.

You know what I mean.

Last night, though, was pretty fab. I went on my first ride-along with my buddy J. After more than 10 years living with cops, it’s a little nuts that it took this long for me to get up the balls to do it, and I’m glad I finally did. (I shot a gun for the first time just a few months ago. Big year for me.)

I never went with my ex, partially because it would have been bad news to have an encounter with a syringe exchange or outreach client while riding shotgun in a cruiser, partially because she wasn’t interested in taking me. And partially because I’m a big pansy.

I considered bailing on J, to stay at home and wallow in my DAY, but ultimately decided to suck it up, tell my brain to STFU, and headed out. I was looking forward to hanging out with J a bit, getting to see what it is that Megan does every night, and get onto the other side of that first time.

So let me just say – cruisers are geek-a-licious. There are some pretty fantastic widgets hidden underneath the flashing lights and sirens.

We all know about the police radio – the thing you can buy a scanner and listen to from your perch in your basement. But the whole dispatch system behind it, and all the codes and call-signs, are a pretty well-oiled machines on their own. It’s sort of like listening to programmers talk – unless you’re one of them, or have a outrageously patient translator by your side (as did I), it’s near impossible to figure out what the hell is going on.

The real geekery in the car is the computer. It features a fantastically accurate GPS map with all sorts of fancy flags and moving parts. It can run plates, licenses, and all other sorts of fancy-pants searches.

But J’s car was one of the fanciest of the fancy – the plate reader car.

The thing is COOL. (Google plate reader car for like 500 news reports and everything your geeky little mind ever wanted to know.)

Nicely concealed cameras on the outside of the vehicle feed information (even in the dark) about any plate in the area. Automatically. And the thing is accurate. It picks up and pings for all sorts of things, for cars traveling in both directions (or when stationary).

J had a couple of calls, nothing too outrageous – one, a burglary, involved a CSI. Nothing like TV, but still pretty damn cool, I got to see him play with some of his slightly-less-fancy toys. It totally appeals to the OCD in me – especially the fingerprinting.

All that geeky goodness, along with getting to spend time with someone whose company I truly enjoy, helped tip the DAY scales.

Overall – not bad for a first time. Probably better than if we’d been sent on a DOA, DV or major traffic accident.

As J said, it was like the introduction to a book. I’ll look forward to the first few chapters next time.

[via my pal caligater]

Shepard Fairey Providence Silkscreen Red Colorway Ed. 400

$75.00

18″ x 24″ Screen Print, Numbered & Signed by Shepard Fairey; Red Colorway Edition: 400 + Artist Proofs

This Foo Fest, AS220′s 25th anniversary, launche the “Free Culture Award”, a national honor bestowed every other year on two artists–its honorees: AS220′s own Jukebox creator, Brandon Edens, and contemporary artist, Shepard Fairey. Fairey, an American artist, designer, illustrator & RISD grad (1992) was first recognized through his “Andre the Giant has a Possee” street art campaign. Edens & Fairey will we honored with the Free Culture Awards at Aug. 14th’s Foo Fest.

via Shepard Fairey Providence Silkscreen Red Colorway Ed. 400 – $75.00 : The AS220 Shop, and Woolverine.

We’re building a house in Parker, or, as people who live in Denver like to say, out in Parker. Apparently it’s the end of the earth.

I was talking last night with a friend who lives in Evergreen. Which is sort of like the other end of the earth. At least as far as my Rhode Island-distance trained  brain is concerned.

For the RIers in the crowd: Parker is like Barrington. Evergreen is like Exeter.

Really, they might as well be on different continents.

Deep breath.

Actually, it’s not so bad. I’ve become accustomed to the longer travel for just about everything here in CO. I mean, in RI, you don’t drive an hour to hang out with friends on a school night! Here, no biggie. It’s a strange land, folks.

However, some data mining tells me that it is almost EXACTLY the same distance from our new house in Parker, CO to their house in Evergreen, CO as it was from my house in Providence, RI to Liv’s house in Boston, MA. Crazy, huh?

Providence to Boston - ~42.4 mi (about 51 minutes)

Parker to Evergreen - 41.2 mi (about 52 minutes)

I took a swing by Richmond American’s Design Center on Saturday and learned that the cabinets I want are available in the color I want.

Score.

The final product will be something like this – slab panel doors. Very dark brown, almost black finish. Haven’t decided on the hardware yet.

The counters are linen Corrian. I really wanted oyster (it’s a shade more gray than linen, below) but it was stupid expensive.

I’m somewhat giddy about the cabinets being available in the style I wanted. The last time we were there the only option in the color I wanted had some detailing that I wasn’t in love this.

Combined with our giant pantry and our new kick-ass Delta faucet, it’s the perfect kitchen.

Delta Faucet with Touch20

Corrian - Linen

Facebook has a unique feature where they will memorialize the profile of a deceased account holder. When a profile is memorialized, only current friends will be able to locate it in a search. However, a beautiful feature available is that Facebook will leave the profile wall active so friends can stop by and leave messages on the wall in remembrance.

via What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts When You Die? | Une Belle Vie Cremation Blog.