02 April 2010

lost in translation, or translated much too literally

(A funny exchange with a work friend who's a native Spanish speaker)
In the break room, first thing this morning...
sometimes my co-worker's daughter rides in early with her dad, hangs out in the break room and reads for awhile, and then walks to her school nearby. She's usually already gone by the time I make it to the break room for my first cup of coffee (at work), but as I walked in there this morning, her things are on the table where she'd been studying and her dad is pacing around impatiently. He finally asks a female co-worker to go check on her in the ladies room. As I'm filling up my coffee cup, I make small talk, "is she running late? [for school]"
Without missing a beat, he answers, "No, she's bleeding."
My whole day was instantly filled with way too much information...

31 March 2010

Goodbye to the corner of Burnside, Sandy, and 12th ave


Since my first days in Portland, this intersection has been an unavoidable part of life. Three two-way streets and another one way street all come together in a glorious mess, and have done so in one configuration or another since East Portland was a wee city. I'm kinda sad to see it become so safe and uninteresting, but seriously, this is one nasty intersection that needed fixing 70 years ago. I drive my big ol' box truck through here nearly every day and always stress a little as I squeeze through those narrow lanes.
Soon I'll reminisce about this intersection just like I reminisce about 20th, Hawthorne, & Elliot, and how you used to have to swerve around a utility pole to continue south through this intersection. I will miss the old signage, there's quite a few old-school signs from the '60's that will be going away.
I haven't had a moment to get out and take the photos I want to lately, luckily there's this photographic evidence of the last days of the intersection collected over at the ZehnKatzen Times.

18 February 2010

Where's the Airport?

Back in December while traveling through the new Indy Airport, I hit up google maps just for a refresher on how to get to the new terminal. I noticed that Google maps was still giving directions to the old terminal (and it still does, even now, eight months after the new airport went online). This morning, I get this friendly little email from the Google team.


Hi j,

Your Google Maps problem report has been reviewed, and you were right! We'll update the map soon and email you when you can see the change.

Report history
Problem ID: A7FD-E0BE-1B3D-B302

Your report:
There is a new Indianapolis International Airport. The airport is now accessed via I-70, the official address is 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive Indianapolis, IN 46241 All searches for IND still lead to the old airport.

--
Thanks for your help,
The Google Maps team


What's at the old terminal now anyway? Did they tear it down? Are there signs warning you that you're no longer heading towards the right airport? I keep imagining rolling up in front of the old terminal, grabbing my bag out of the trunk, waving goodbye as my ride drives away and then turning around to realize the airport is completely dark and deserted.
Seriously google maps, the place opened months ago, and we're not talking about a total backwater airport, its the 14th largest city in the country!