August 2, 2023
Portico Darwin: Branding Can Hurt
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 3 Minute Read Let's call this Worst Wednesday. Because today is about the two worst branding decisions I have personally witnessed. And I'm almost 60, FFS! Disclaimer: I am no branding, or even marketing, expert. But by now, you must know there's no correlation between my expertise and my popping off on a given subjec...
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July 31, 2023
Portico Darwin: 1970s SoCal
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <1 Minute Read + Great External Stuff Happy Monday. Today's post is short, so at least there's that. I love to write, and I remain amazed by its inspiration. Like today. As you may have heard, a founding member of The Eagles, Randy Meisner, passed on. And there you are - a blog. Meisner's death, and one of my favorite...
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July 28, 2023
Portico Darwin: The One Where I Complained The Most
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <4 Minute Read Happy Friday. Julie and I live in one of the nicest neighborhoods in SF. And with all due modesty, that also (still) implies the world. This is down the street one block. Sorry, but it's true. Which begs the question: how on Earth can a man talk about Xanadu and paradise and winning lotteries and gratit...
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July 26, 2023
Portico Darwin: You are in Section 230
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <3 Minute Read A hump day in the middle of summer? What better time for a dry policy discussion! And on the topic of Section 230 to boot! Try to calm your excitement and pay attention, because the adjustments I propose (really, stole, from Scott Galloway) below to this regulation could largely clean up social media. O...
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July 24, 2023
Portico Darwin: Depart Mendocino (Xanadu)
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 2 Minute Read + a 13 minute (!) song Actually, this is probably more appropriately entitled "My Most OCD Blog Post Yet". Why? Because our destinations this weekend, Mendocino and personal Happy Place Anderson Valley, are not unlike paradise, and are a big muse. I have visual evidence. We depart in a couple of hours to...
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July 21, 2023
Portico Darwin: Depart SF + Why I Hate Cars
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <3 Minute Read + Links Happy Friday. Tomorrow, we leave for a minibreak to the magic of Mendocino, and we're going with Ol' Purple Label and her hubby, K. Helmsley Garfinkel. A visit to the Portico Darwin Happy Place Anderson Valley is a given, so I'm already getting jacked. Indeed, I like the region so much, there's ...
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July 19, 2023
Portico Darwin: RIP, Anchor Brewing?
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 3 Minute Read Not many here saw this coming. Anchor Brewing, an SF institution forever and the makers of our beloved Steam beer, looks like it is going away. Its corporate parent since 2017, the Japanese brewing giant Sapporo, announced last week they are closing it down. I have a couple of personal notes, and then I'...
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July 17, 2023
Portico Darwin: Introducing Catherine Carats
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 4 Minute Read In case you haven't noticed (and given that I rarely shut up about it, how could you not?), I have been on a personal quest of sorts since retiring. A part of it has been to develop more patience and also to temper my volatility when things aren't as I wish. Please: laughing doesn't help. But for your en...
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July 14, 2023
Portico Darwin: US National Parks, My Way
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <2 Minute Read As you may have noticed, I was recently in Houston. And I was thinking: what is the opposite kind of place, in terms of just about everything? A US National Park. So now, as a service (and for a reason to show fun photos) to my readers, I bring you some great information about what Ken Burns rightly dee...
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July 12, 2023
Portico Darwin: Depart Houston + Someone Needed a Refresher
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <1 Minute Read + More at Link I had a typically pithy piece teed up for today about National Parks, and how they remind me of Houston (!). I leave in a few hours after a very successful trip, at least in terms of the installation. You can count on a future article where I sing the praises of the bonkers Monitor Audio ...
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July 10, 2023
Portico Darwin: For Going Outdoors
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <2 Minute Read Happy Monday. Let's put it this way: where I am and what I am doing is the polar opposite of going outdoors to a picnic or festival. Because you can't really go outside: I'm in Houston and it's July 10. I'm staying at the rapidly-emptying Murphy Villa, yet spending a lot of time at the new-to-Shelly and...
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July 7, 2023
Portico Darwin: Arrive Houston + Why I Say We Can Do Better
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <4 Minute Read In a couple of short hours, I'll be ensconced up front on a nonstop to balmy Houston. Dr. Shelly Murphy has beckoned: it's time to install the tech in her swank, freshly-remodeled and ginormous - shocker - condo. So how about a Friday free of my drivel, as I jet off to a land of big hats and bigger bugs...
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July 5, 2023
Portico Darwin: The Front Desk at Hotel SOPTOC
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <3 Minute Read Phew. Time to towel off from that shower I'm sure you needed after Monday's post. The navel gazing ends (for now) and I return to envisioning a better world, no matter how far-fetched the ideas. Because today, I would like to add to my thoughts about being Soft on People and Tough on Crime, as a general...
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July 3, 2023
Portico Darwin: Lottery Winner, The Electrifying Conclusion
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS >6 Minute Read Hello, and happy Monday on an Independence Day holiday weekend. If you've been paying attention, you know I recounted the luckiest moments in my life last Monday and Wednesday. Today is different - very different. But hopefully no less entertaining, and maybe even helpful, if you ever must confront what...
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June 30, 2023
Portico Darwin: Let's Play Smart? Corrupt? Both? Neither?
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <2 Minute Read FFS, even I need a break from that lottery thing! So in honor of America and its 247th birthday Tuesday, let's look at some recent presidents, in an admittedly narrow light. In relative terms, were they smart and/or corrupt? Or none of the above? Full disclosure: I stole this concept nearly in its entir...
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June 28, 2023
Portico Darwin: Lottery Winner, Part II
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 5 Minute Read The reaction to the first post on my life's winning lottery tickets was met with the exuberance I've come to expect. Which is to say, there was basically none. But no matter, here are the rest - except for the last 3, which I'm saving for a special 4th of July post. If you find this all too self-absorbed...
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June 26, 2023
Portico Darwin: Lottery Winner, Part I
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <5 Minute Read Happy Monday. While we certainly had a wonderful time in New Mexico, there is nothing quite like coming back to SF, especially after being away for an extended period. Quite a change from sunny and 100° to foggy and 60°, and while I certainly enjoy my Pool Boy antics, it is nice to feel that clear, cool...
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June 23, 2023
Portico Darwin: Depart Las Cruces + US Health Care
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <3 Minute Read Well, it's been a wonderful 12 nights here on the desert, and I'd be remiss if I didn't thank our hosts, the marvelous, if rather aged, Davis and Melynda Fladgate. These two were kind enough to give us the complete run of their home for almost 2 weeks, whilst also tolerating my endless plays of M83's Fa...
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June 21, 2023
Portico Darwin: The One Hunter Deuce Wrote, Mostly
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <3 Minute Read Today, I am publishing, in its entirety, a reply I received from star reader Hunter Deuce about my post Monday on Identity Politics. “I'm pretty sure no one has ever chased you down an alley with a baseball bat looking to cave your head in because you're straight or white. In a perfect world, we wouldn'...
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June 19, 2023
Portico Darwin: Juneteenth, Identity Politics, and Austin Killips
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <4 Minute Read Happy Monday. We're continuing to ride the Fladgate hospitality train, and I may never get off. But despite the ultra-chill nature of the scene here, I am going to pop-off (again) on race, sexuality and gender. On Juneteenth! You're welcome! Why another third-rail tap dance? Well, there have been a coup...
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June 16, 2023
Portico Darwin: 18 More
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <5 Minute Read Happy Friday. Sure, family is nice, but a highlight of our almost 2 weeks here is Julie's dad's dog, Lucy, who I've mentioned before. I also mentioned bragsnapshots. Can't we have both? Onward to the weekend (!) and as promised, here are the remaining 18 of the 37 Signals, by my management heroes Jason ...
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June 14, 2023
Portico Darwin: Signals
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 5 Minute Read Since I last wrote, we've enjoyed literally all there is of Belen, and had a great visit with Julie's family. Indeed, an event that brings 3 of the 4 Fladgate siblings (Julie, Biff, and G. Robinson - with only the hockey groupie Rhoda missing) together at one table called for the best, and we almost foun...
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June 9, 2023
Portico Darwin: Depart SF + Pool Boy, Triumphant Return Thereof
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 2 Minute Read Speaking of Ukraine and before indulging in a lovely blog: fingers crossed their pushback works and this madness from Russia can end. But let's (awkwardly) transition to something nearly as important as peace in Ukraine: me, and my life. And a bonus: there's nary a mention of a certain former president w...
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June 7, 2023
Portico Darwin: US Pro Golf is a Disgrace
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 2 Minute Read I really thought I had seen it all, in terms of shameless, greedy behavior, with the Saudis. I've certainly written about it here and it always boils down to this: if you have money, why compromise your ethics and credibility to get crazy money (not that Trump has ever had real money or ethics or credibi...
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June 5, 2023
Portico Darwin: How to Prompt ChatGPT
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS <3 Minute Read Happy Monday and let's dive right in with something useful for your week and beyond. As promised, here is a list of 15 pretty darned Killer prompts for getting actual value from ChatGPT (or any other AI text engine). I do wish I could claim credit for these, but I cannot: I grabbed it from LinkedIn, whe...
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June 2, 2023
Portico Darwin: It Could Happen to Anyone
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 1 Minute Read As I've mentioned maybe once or twice, I begin most days when we're home with a 5 mile walk in my beloved Presidio. It keeps both me relatively healthy and sane. Right? Right??? But I digress because this is mostly a serious post, as it begins with a tragic death. This past Wednesday, I was on my walk, s...
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May 31, 2023
Portico Darwin: Never Stop Searching
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS Before getting rolling, I hope you'll spend 3 minutes watching this post-Memorial Day tribute video I made; it also has some nice music. Memorial Day Every Day 2 Minute Read It was with quite a jolt when I learned recently that my Internet search engine of choice, the subscription-only Neeva, is closing its doors, at ...
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May 29, 2023
Portico Darwin: Shows of Strength
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 1 Minute Read + Gallery I am not gay. I have never been gay. But wow did we glorify this phallic weapon stuff, and I have to admit it caught my eye. Oh, and Happy Memorial Day. Yes, that's my snarky (with no disrespect intended) intro to a gallery I am putting together celebrating the 50th Anniversary of my beloved Go...
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May 27, 2023
Portico Darwin: Sonoma Coast Camping Travel Guide
OVERVIEW There have been previous Travel Guides covering trips from one night to 3 weeks in length, in places as near as Carneros and as far as Europe. But none have been quite like this one. First, because it's an itinerary no one will follow: to accommodate the first leg of the journey, you'll either want to or have a reason to visit...
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May 26, 2023
Portico Darwin: Low Ceilings
TODAY'S RAMBLINGS 1 Minute Read Yes, I am back and you can expect a forthcoming Travel Guide full of juicy details of another Textbook getaway. I will say now it began on a fun note at Lauren Ryder's 60th; you'll be able to read about that and a fairly magical camping trip soon. Here's a preview and that's a Fat Head in the popcorn bow...
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