Mentioned previously :)

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

Beautiful day here (Sutro parking lot) as the sun shines down and we let the baby take a nap in the car before getting some dim sum nearby.

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

Photos: Danger's front door, Danger gumball machine, view from lobby, action figures of Danger employees

I had a fantastic time today touring Danger headquarters and meeting many Dangerfolk and seeing some old friends. Everyone at Danger is unique, but they have one thing in common: every person there is working extremely hard to create some extremely cool stuff.

Sorry, no pictures from beyond the lobby for obvious reasons ;)

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

So much has changed and so much remains the same since my last stroll here.

Ended up taking out from Zao last night instead of eating in, but the food was beyond expectation, so that is the important thing.

"The way of the noodle is long and narrow" - I can live with that philosophy :)

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

Wow, it is hard to know where to start!

It seems fitting that the NYT article was published today, since I am travelling and the hiptop is my connection to the online world for a week. Thanks to all for the congratulations, but really it is everyone here that makes the site what it is. So, keep the words and pictures and slices of life coming. (:

Drove down to JFK this morning in the bitter, biting cold and navigated all the security stuff without too much hassle - although I had to take off my boots {which I am stuck with since I forgot to pack my shoes). Many hours later we landed in Oakland to wonderful warm weather.

Thanks to jetBlue for new planes, comfy seats and superior staff. Major thanks as well to the woman sitting in front of us who entertained my daughter and folded her an origami crane.

Got to the hotel after a quick stop at a park near the airport (where I snapped the above photo). Now refreshed and heading to Zao's noodle bar for some tasty dinner.

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

All aboard and ready to depart!

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

Here in NY tonight it is a balmy 7 degrees, vs. Maine's subzero nightime temps. It was -22 F the other night and that is *not* including windchill.

Thursday I am headed to Palo Alto, CA where the weather will be warmer still. While there I will infiltrate the lead-lined offices of a certain technology company you may be familiar with.

More as it happens. Tune in next time, when I will hopefully be reporting from the Jetblue terminal at JFK.

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

...hopefully :) I think I have everyone's pictures fixed up and everything should be back to what passes for normal around here. Sorry for the inconvenience!

// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

By popular request, there is now an RSS (1.0) feed for Hiptop Nation. Plus, you'll find an RSS link for your personal blog on your personal blog page.

And just in case you don't know what I'm talking about, here is an explanation of RSS.



// mikepop via hiptop AIM: drjellyfish

In case you didn't notice, hiptop.com launched this weekend, and it is looking pretty snazzy. Check it out if you haven't already.

Along with news, forums and other goodies, they have a "hiplogs" section which allows you to run a weblog easily from your hiptop. Naturally, this has led some folks to ask what will happen to this site. Let me take this opportunity to lay things out for everyone.

As indicated in the disclaimer on this site, Hiptop Nation continues to not be affiliated with Danger, Inc. And as stated in the hiptop.com welcome message, I am lending a hand with some hiptop.com stuff. However, Hiptop Nation remains its own independent entity.

The key word being "remains" - Hiptop Nation is not going anywhere. There are quite a few differences between the two blogging systems, so there is no reason for Hiptop Nation to retire.

The biggest difference, as I see it, is the communal nature of Hiptop Nation. Yes, you can use it as a personal blogging system via the [°|°] link, but every post is woven into one giant tapestry of experiences from across the country (eventually, around the world). That is what you see when you come to the front page of Hiptop Nation, and I think this communal interaction is the most interesting aspect of Hiptop Nation.

There are other differences, too. The hiptop.com system requires you to use your tmail.com email account. Hiptop Nation doesn't. At hiptop.com you can go back and edit posts. You can't do that here yet.

Another difference some people seem concerned about has to do with the ownership of posts. In the hiptop.com usage agreement, you grant Danger nonexclusive rights to whatever you post. Here, you retain full ownership of whatever you post (if I want to use something posted here, I'll just ask your permission first). I'll add some official language to that effect to the "about" section when I get a chance. I do want to point out that at hiptop.com Danger claims nonexclusive rights - this doesn't mean that Danger "owns" your posts, but rather you also retain rights to your posts and both you and Danger can do whatever you want with that material (I am sure some lawyer in the audience will correct me if I am wrong). This is pretty standard legal boilerplate for most sites with user contributions. Still, it is not an agreement for everyone, so those people can rest easy knowing Hiptop Nation is still here for them and will not attempt to claim any rights on their prose or pictures.

Yet another reason Hiptop Nation is sticking around: I can't post to the hiptop.com hiplogs! Since I only have a beta test device, I don't have an @tmail.com account to use. So unless they change the system, I can't post there and all other beta testers and probably some Danger employees are stuck with Hiptop Nation :)

I'm sure plenty of other differences will emerge over time. Not being a corporate entity, I have a little more freedom to try new and offbeat things here. With an actual paid staff, hiptop.com hiplogs will no doubt come up with some cool features and ideas. Variety, diversity - these are the things that make life interesting.

Best of all, since they are both based on email submissions, it's easy to contribute to both if you just can't decide ;)

e you later,
mikepop