Hi, I'm Abi Jones : Blog

The northernmost end of the train* tells cyclists how many bike...

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:33:00 -0700

The northernmost end of the train* tells cyclists how many bike cars are available. While I stood taking this picture, a guy with a bike stopped and asked me if I knew how many bike cars were on the train. I said “Two” and gestured toward the sign.

His eyes lit briefly, then he shook his head and said “I’ve never noticed those.”

*On newer trains only. The 1986 fleet does not have this indicator.

I bought a new deodorant this week: Dove Ultimate Go Fresh...

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:31:15 -0700

I bought a new deodorant this week: Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Energizing with Grapefruit and Lemongrass.

I know, it sounds like an energy drink.

It is also the most easily advanced deodorant in the world. Take a look at Secret Kuku Cocoa Butter (yes, I choose deodorants with the weirdest names) on the left. See that tiny dial? Do you understand how slippery that thing can be if I forget to put deodorant on until after I’ve moisturized?

On the Dove deodorant, the entire bottom turns. Yeah, it is basically a huge handle. Brilliant for those of us with and without excellent manual dexterity.

Me: Yeah, I'm just a little proud that I made a 99 cent bag of Crunchy Cheetos last 3 days.

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Me: Yeah, I'm just a little proud that I made a 99 cent bag of Crunchy Cheetos last 3 days.
Hranilovich: Amazing on the Cheetos.
Me: The corn inside makes me feel sort of ill. I prefer the tiny ones with a high surface to interior ratio.
Hranilovich: I've never heard a junk snack described so analytically.

"Can’t they invent a cell phone that only causes brain damage in people who use it during movies?"

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:19:14 -0700

““Can’t they invent a cell phone that only causes brain damage in people who use it during movies?””

- Scott, who may or may not work at Hallmark (via)

Mumm Napa uses a descriptive coaster for each champagne in a...

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:03:00 -0700

Mumm Napa uses a descriptive coaster for each champagne in a flight, that way you don’t have to share a wine-stained sheet of paper with 3 other people.

This involves a lot more glassware than most wineries like, but I never wondered what I was tasting. Plus, when I went to buy my own bottles, I already had pictures of the Cuvee M and Brut Prestige labels in hand.

Meat, it's what's for breakfast

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:33:00 -0700

Joanie’s Cafe on Palo Alto’s California Avenue is my go-to breakfast joint. At most restaurants I prefer to sit at the counter for the best service. At Joanie’s you’ll always have a full cup of coffee no matter where you sit.

The 2-egg breakfast specials include the following choices:

Egg Style
Fruit, Hash Browns, or Home Fries
Bread Type
No Meat or Meat Style

The meat option is the only one that costs more, so when my husband orders the two egg, scrambled, fruit, sausage and muffin and I order the two egg, scrambled, wheat toast, the server turns to me and, raises his eyebrows and asks “No meat?” and I respond “No meat,” delighting in his verbal economy.

When I eat at new restaurants (and by new I mean recently opened) I almost never see or hear the sorts of systems that make Joanie’s so well run. I’d love to spend a year immersing myself in a variety of restaurants, seeing how they work, learning their systems, and then become a new sort of usability expert, one that can make restaurants’ websites and systems better.

Me: You know what's great? Someday when we have a family we'll get a tortilla warmer.

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:21:00 -0700

Me: You know what's great? Someday when we have a family we'll get a tortilla warmer.
Husband: What is that? Some sort of gadget for keeping tortillas hot?
Me: No, it isn't a gadget. It is a little box for tortillas.
Husband: Oh, okay.
(eating)
Husband: You know, even if it was a gadget you'd want to get it.
Me: Yeah, if it had cool parts.

"Flaks take note: Yours is a “Bad Pitch” if at any point you include the phrase..."

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

““Flaks take note: Yours is a “Bad Pitch” if at any point you include the phrase “Attached, please find information on the meatballs.””

- Erika Jurney (view original)

This is the registry tool for Macy’s. It uses a stylus....

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

This is the registry tool for Macy’s. It uses a stylus. Before we were allowed to get this awful machine, my husband and I had to tell Macy’s a ton of details about our wedding. At one point, this exact dialogue occured:

Macy’s Lady: How many guests are you inviting?
Me: Next question please.
Macy’s Lady: It won’t let me make an account unless you answer that.
My then-fiancee: 500
Macy’s Lady: ……

The pre-registry Q&A session was so strenuous that we should have left at that point. But then we finally got the scanner. Woo!

Too bad it was so difficult to use that my husband and I tried entering three items, then went back to the wedding office and handed in the machine.

At Crate and Barrel you give the desk an ID, scan bar codes, and then go to a kiosk to enter your account information, which doesn’t include the question “How many guests?”

You’re supposed to pull up for a liquid waste-friendly...

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

You’re supposed to pull up for a liquid waste-friendly flush and push down for a solid waste flush. Except that pushing down is easier than pulling up when you’re using your foot. I wonder if these would have to be redesigned or if they could just install the handle backwards to fix that.

[Seen at the bathroom in PDX]

"Signs I’ve had too much caffeine: I spend 1/2 hour designing and printing envelopes to send..."

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

““Signs I’ve had too much caffeine: I spend 1/2 hour designing and printing envelopes to send rent to my landlord.””

- Kyle Neath (original)

The pizza delivery company wrote the ingredients on the side of...

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The pizza delivery company wrote the ingredients on the side of each box. Thanks pizza company, for making so I didn’t accidentally open a box of olive-based disappointment.

"One of the keys to Apple is that we build products that really turn us on."

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:21:42 -0800

““One of the keys to Apple is that we build products that really turn us on.””

- Steve Jobs (via)

I don’t ever want to be famous. I want the things I make to be famous.

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:24:25 -0800

I don’t ever want to be famous. I want the things I make to be famous.

Uploaded my first iPhone->Flickr photo. Economist Birthday Cake:...

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:07:48 -0800

Uploaded my first iPhone->Flickr photo. Economist Birthday Cake: http://flickr.com/photos/jonesabi/2307805903/

Several lunches and a housewarming gift. Even though I run Heat...

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:31:00 -0800

Several lunches and a housewarming gift. Even though I run Heat Eat Review, I still enjoy ramen. MSG highs are unique in the food world.

There’s something enchanting and ultimately creepy about...

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:29:32 -0800

There’s something enchanting and ultimately creepy about this. Pandas: great for decor!

While snuggling before sleep

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:49:57 -0800

Me: I love you
Him: I love you
Me: Someday . . . . I'm going to build you a website
Him: That is the most romantic thing you've ever said

Am I the only person who sees the irony in moisturizing...

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:43:00 -0800

Am I the only person who sees the irony in moisturizing anti-perspirants?

Wait, I’m supposed to worry about my underarms aging? I’ve got a feeling that there’s no product equivalent in the men’s deodorant aisle.

From now on, all of my avatars will have cleavage. Lots of it: http://www.newsweek.com/id/112825.

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:51:34 -0800

From now on, all of my avatars will have cleavage. Lots of it: http://www.newsweek.com/id/112825.