This one counts as an epiphany — I was in Las Vegas for a few days, and felt on the edge of some kind of deep insight into America, but it hasn’t cleared up yet — but I’m in a traditional Italian cafe, watching a performance by a Chinese singer and a black guitarist, while another patron watches youtube videos on his laptop. The multiple levels of meaning are true in fact and true in metaphor at the same time: this place is like some ultimate bricolage. Genetic heritage is subject to cultural and personal values: technology intertwines with emotional and social needs.

This is what San Francisco means on some level — to both its residents and outsiders. This is the freedom of cultural movement that makes this city compelling.

I feel like a big chunk of my understanding of this city has snapped into place. A long and winding chat with another customer here, Michele, also helped a lot. Many thanks, if you’re reading this 🙂

I’ll be putting up some notes on WWDC in the next few days, now that the dust has settled. I’ve been too busy doing things to write about them, but I feel like it’s a good time to pull the threads together at the moment. Maybe that’s the caffeine speaking. We shall see!