From Facebook Wall to Surface Web, 27 December–2 January 2009.

▴ …found another reason to be on a low-carbohydrate diet: Bread is scary. —2 January (HoldTheToast Press) { , }

▴ My pictures of my birthday dinner at Ichi Umi 一海, Murray Hill, Manhattan, and “Daddy” at Vlada, Midtown/Hell’s Kitchen. —1 January {}

▴ …wonders if you can find the picture of him in this article. —1 January (Jeffrey Tastes) { , }

▴ —1 January (The Thinking Atheist on YouTube) { }

▴ …is curious whether you say “twenty ten” or “two thousand ten.” —1 January { }

▴ Imani, the final Kwanzaa principle, comes from Arabic إيمان iman (faith), from the same root as Hebrew אמונה emuna (faith) and אמן amen. —1 January { }

▴ Happy Gregorian New Year from the vantage point of the North American Eastern Time Zone! —1 January { }

▴ The name of the Karamu feast on the sixth day of Kwanzaa comes from Arabic كرم karam (generosity), also the source of the name كريم Karim. —31 December { }

▴ The Kwanzaa principle of Nia (purpose) derives from the Arabic نية niyya (intent). Maybe Hebrew פניה peniyya and כונה kawwana are related? —30 December { }

▴ —29 December (morn1415 on YouTube via Unreasonable Faith) { }

▴ The Kwanzaa kinara not only resembles the Ḥanukka menora {מנורה}, they have the same Semitic root as Hebrew נר nēr (lamp), Arabic نور nûr (light). —29 December { }

▴ …is yet another atheist who appreciates minarets {منائر‎}. —29 December (Friendly Atheist) { , }

▴ I was recently talking to a friend about the “rock’n’roll en español” to which I used to listen in the 1990s. “Ay Tenochtitlán” is a good example. —28 December (seguridadsocialrock on YouTube) { }

▴ …bought half-price Christmas chocolate at Walgreen’s on his weekly carbohydrate day. —28 December { }

▴ The Kwanzaa principles of Ujima (collective work) and Ujamaa (cooperative economics) both come from Arabic جمع jamaʻa (gather together). —28 December { }

▴ The seven principles of Kwanzaa are “nguzo saba” in Swahili, from Arabic سبعة sabʻa (seven), the same root as Hebrew שבעה šibʻâ (seven). —27 December { }

• A version of this article is reproduced at webcitation.org/5mi7bMS3Y.
• Additional comments on this article may be available on FriendFeed.

From Facebook Wall to Surface Web, 20–26 December 2009.

▴ Pictures of my Flushing adventure to 중국집 Chinese House Restaurant, 한양마트 HanYang Mart, 旺角 Corner 28 and Golden Mall. —26 December { }

▴ My pictures of the 2009 North American blizzard in western Queens. —25 December {}

▴ …feels this guy is sexy but not much of a singer. Merry Christmas only to those from Catholic or Protestant families. —24 December (The Kai Chronicles on YouTube) { , }

▴ Qazax (Kazak) tənbur/qopuz/lute soloist with a pretty video. —24 December (larealitegothique on YouTube) { }

▴ Nate “Blunty” Burr discusses his Australian pronunciation and inadvertently mentions Mountain Jews. —24 December (Nate “Blunty” Burr on YouTube) { }

▴ …no longer allows any Facebook friend to see photos in which he is tagged if the privilege isn’t reciprocated. Those affected feel relieved. —23 December { }

▴ …wishes all his friends a happy HumanLight. —23 December (Wikipedia) { , }

▴ …had a meal yesterday that could not have been as delicious as the friends who joined him. (Not to imply he ate the friends, as he did not.) —22 December { }

▴ …received so many birthday notes on his Facebook wall that he must click “Older Posts” thrice to see them all. He thanks all the authors. ♡ —20 December { }

• A version of this article is reproduced at webcitation.org/5mfQa3SrJ.
• Additional comments on this article may be available on FriendFeed.

More of the Acne Lions Truck.

While seeking pictures of other things on Flickr, I uncovered three more pictures of the “Acne Lions” truck, all by the same prolific photographer, ddc95.

Photograph by ddc95.Roosevelt Avenue and 63rd Street, Woodside, 26 April 2007. ────────

Photograph by ddc95.Roosevelt Avenue and 70th Street, Woodside, 16 June 2007. ────────

Photograph by ddc95.37th Avenue and 73rd Street, Jackson Heights, 27 July 2007. ────────

Previously: “The Acne Lions Truck,” 17 January 2009.

• A version of this article is reproduced at webcitation.org/5mcbV956r.
• Additional comments on this article may be available on FriendFeed, Facebook (and FriendFeed), and Jaiku (and FriendFeed).

From Facebook Wall to Surface Web, 13–19 December.

▴ …tightened the light bulb on the last day of Ḥănukkâ {חנכה} and wishes the audio quality of this last-day video were better. —18 December (cutegal85 on YouTube, Facebook|FriendFeed, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
▴ —18 December (TurkishStylo92 on YouTube, Facebook|FriendFeed)
▴ …thinks God is incredible, and loves wordplay. —18 December (Bigot Blog, Facebook|FriendFeed, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
▴ …is owed thirty cents by Delish…Halal. —18 December (my photograph, Facebook, Jaiku|FriendFeed)

▴ …enjoys nature photography. —17 December (guardian.co.uk, Facebook|FriendFeed|FriendFeed, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
▴ …ate so much salad his jaw aches. —17 December (Facebook, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
▴ My pictures of the Jackson Heights Food Group’s eating Eastern European cuisine at U Dzika {and then donating clothing, Jackson Heights, and subsequent meal, Shangri-La Express, Elmhurst}. —16 December (Facebook, Jaiku|FriendFeed, Jackson Heights Life|FriendFeed)

▴ My further pictures of winter in Jackson Heights. —16 December (Facebook)

▴ …dreamed that, when he investigated the noises he had heard, he saw a chimpanzee climbing the fire escape. —15 December (Facebook, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
☺ Sundown today began my birthday on the Hebrew calendar (28 Kislēw {כסלו}). Yes, I was born during Ḥanukka. —14 December (See Sound Squiggle on YouTube, Facebook|FriendFeed|FriendFeed, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
▴ …didn’t much care for their Europeanized pronunciation until Dudu Zar {דודו זר} started singing. Happy Ḥanukkâ to all! —13 December (dayingale on YouTube, Facebook|FriendFeed|FriendFeed, Jaiku|FriendFeed)
▴ …dreamed he was in what was promoted as a huge store but was essentially a big train car that traveled from one shopping center to another. —13 December (Facebook, Jaiku|FriendFeed)

• A version of this article is reproduced at webcitation.org/5mSYosNVG.
• Additional comments on this article may be available on FriendFeed.

Google Voice automated transcript fun.

Photo: Elyaqim Mosheh Adam.Words do not always come easily. Roosevelt Avenue at 63rd Street, Woodside, 8 December 2008. ────────

Google Voice provides transcription of voice-mail messages, but not always accurately. Here are some of the better errors I received.

☏ “He went and got into a story.”
Actually “I’m heading back into Astoria….” —7 November message from M.J.M.

☏ “This is Tom. After about. Oh calling.”
Actually “This is Tom Approbato calling.” —8 November message from T.A.

☏ “Hey, my kid plan.”
Actually “Hey, Moyşe. It’s Glenn.” —24 November message from G.D.

☏ “…I should be on that by surprise course….”
Actually “I should be going there by subway, of course…”
• “…I’ll just pick it gravitates.”
Actually “…I’ll just take a grab at it.” —28 November message by A.C.

☏ “…I’m actually writing 7 my home station.”
Actually “I’m actually right in front of the Murray Hill station….” —20 December message from S.S.

☏ “…[S]ort of Tuesday.”
Actually “All right, I’ll see you soon.” —21 December message from A.G.V.

☏ “…[R]ecapped now. …I can look for you sitting down off the the The that.”
Actually “We’re in a cab now. … I will look for you sitting down, or I’ll ask at the desk.” —21 December message from A.G.V.

☏ “You know I wanna rewind I can’t get you when….”
Actually “You know I worry when I can’t get you in….” —28 December message from my mother.

☏ “I’m interested in room 2….”
Actually “…and the rest of the group too.” —29 December message from B.P.

☏ “…I am missing you. Happy New Year and help you when it’s slow and hobbies.”
Actually “…I am wishing you a happy new year and a healthy one as well. Okay?”
• “…[W]henever i know why can’t do it on my Sammy and please take a hope to talk to you on the president and next year, depending on my cell.”
Actually “…I’m doing it right now while I can to all my family and friends. Okay? So you take care. Hope to see you and the rest of the gang next year depending on my schedule.” —31 December message from E.B.

Related

• David F. Gallagher, “Pushing the Limits of Google’s Speech Recognition,” Gadgetwise, 29 June 2009.
• Vincent Paquet, “Towards better transcription. Period.,” Google Voice Blog, 7 August 2009.
• Jessica Dolcourt, “What’s your funniest Google Voice transcription flub?,” Crave, 29 October 2009.
• Google Voice Screwups, 31 October 2009 on.

Previously: “Jott’s error: ‘One drink with her to go necked(?)’.”

• A version of this article is reproduced at webcitation.org/5mS84iVvp.
• Additional comments on this article may be available on FriendFeed, Facebook (and FriendFeed), and Jaiku (and FriendFeed).