Belinda Darby, Homeless Computer Science Ph.D.

PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune

At work, I keep a copy of IKEA's "America At Home" on my desk; while thumbing through it on April 15, I found a picture of homeless woman Belinda Darby.

It turns out Ms. Darby holds a doctorate in Computer Science. :o|

http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/print-article-2864-print.html

Born in Decatur, Ill., Darby, her four siblings and her parents moved to Chula Vista in 1968, when she was 8. She graduated from Bonita Vista High School, went to college and eventually got a job in computers, working for IBM in National City. She met her husband and moved to Oram, Utah, where he died suddenly at his desk in 1990, from a massive heart attack. Devastated, Darby took her daughter to live near her sister in Florida, where she stayed until 2002, when her parents became ill. She spent four years taking care of them until, in 2006, her father died. 

Four years out of the workforce and heartbroken, Darby had a nervous breakdown. She couldn’t work, she couldn’t eat, she couldn’t sleep. She eventually had to be hospitalized. When she got out of the hospital, she was out of cash and out of ideas. So she took to the streets.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080511/news_1h11athome2.html

The second photo depicts Anthony Robinson and Belinda Darby, homeless on the streets of San Diego. Robinson, in a sweat shirt watching a DVD, was a poor kid from South Carolina who had trouble with the law. Darby has a Ph.D. in computer science.

“They found each other on the street,” Peattie wrote. “Each night Robinson sets out their blankets and erects a shaky wooden table. And while Darby sleeps, Robinson gathers partially full cans from local Dumpsters to keep them fed.” 

Months after the photo shoot, Peattie said she receives text messages from the couple asking if she's having a good day. 

“America at Home” is available in local bookstores (Running Press, Philadelphia, $40) and can be ordered online with a custom-made dust jacket with a photo of your own. Information: MyAmericaAtHome.com

2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Vendor Links

Vendors

Zombie Art, by Appley (http://appleyrotten.tumblr.com)

Cako Bakery (http://cakobakery.com)

Bok Choy Apparel (http://www.bokchoyapparel.com)

Piximix (http://www.piximix.com ; http://twitter.com/piximix ; http://myspace.com/piximix ; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Piximix/52177058958)

Chair For a Standing Desk - Search Notes

Standing desk height roughly the same as my elbow height: 44 inches.

To temporarily sit at that height (for me), a chair would need a seat height of approximately 36 inches.

Notes


Hacker News discussion about various types of seating possibilities: lab stools, ironing chairs, bar stools, drafting chairs.

Barstools 4 U - great articles about what to look for. Also, too.

36 inch stools are also known as "spectator height stools".


Seating Possibilities


Office Star Ergo Drafting Chair (seat height 36 inches)

Premier Barstools (seat heights 34-36 inches)

Kallie Air Lift Adjustable Bar Stool in Natural Finish - Set of 2 (seat heights 33-36 inches)
Kallie Air Lift Adjustable Bar Stool in Cappuccino Finish - Set of 2 (seat heights 33-36 inches)

StandUpDesks stool (custom)

Adjustable Lab Stool with Square Hardboard Seat and Backrest (seat heights 31-39 inches)

Great American Barstools - 36SQV-O - 36" Oak Square Vinyl Cushion Barstool (seat height 36" but review claimed cushion brings to maybe 38")

Modify a saddle seat stool kit?

Make my own? On second thought...no. :o| Looks like way too much time and energy. But, there it is.

http://www.craftedbytim.com/?p=233http://www.craftedbytim.com/?p=237http://www.craftedbytim.com/?p=241

Glasses

Picked up two pairs of glasses, one for work and one for home. Wore glasses originally from 1985-2003 (18 years). Had LASIK in 2003, a dramatic improvement in overall quality of life. So, here I am about eight years later, with a minor vision correction. Will use them primarily when working, as staring at text all day strains when vision needs correction, even if minor.

Frames: República Denver (brown), 51/18/138; Costco, #531870, $60.

Wedding Ring

Stopped by Skalet Family Jewelers in Old Sacramento, where we purchased Dawn's ring, and inquired about a rose-gold men's wedding band (pictures for illustrative purpose, only; not final):

• 5mm - $500
  
  
• 8mm - $830
  
  

o_O

Will be saving...still have to see one to get a sense if it actually is something I want.

UPDATE: 2013-04-22: Dawn says, "Of course the Japanese would make something so awesome":

http://invaderxan.tumblr.com/post/46098536089
A search

Maui Jim Kala Sunglasses

Liked the look:



At Costco for $79

Wine: 101-13 (Dawn)
Dark Brown: 101-25 (Kevin)

Appears Maui Jim no longer produces them: http://reviews.mauijim.com/3012/101/reviews.htm

Running Journal, Monday, 2011-04-11: Running in Circles

Running Journal, Monday, 2011-04-11

Resting heart rate: ? bpm (forgot)
Body Mass Index (BMI): n/a (kilograms/(meters^2))

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):  calories
Weather: n/a 

Temp:
Time: 6:45-7:30 p.m.

Terrain: super-flat

Comments: First run after missing six maintenance runs and three long runs, over a course of three weeks, including what was to be my first marathon distance, last Sunday. Ah,  well. After the March 26 long run, I chose to take some downtime to recover from a persistent cough and sickness, and also I felt pain in my lower left back. After three weeks of downtime, the cough is finally gone and the lower back pain had become muted, again. The back pain is a warning sign, though; and so I am attempting to shake things up a bit: (1) minimizing street running, which involves lots of concrete, and instead run maintenance runs at the American River College stadium track and long runs on the American River Parkway; (2) and profit ?.  Not sure what else to try, yet. I read one suggestion about strengthening my core through targeted exercise, to better support the torso while running.  One resource suggests perhaps seeing an orthopedist, an osteopath, or perhaps a chiropractor. Possibilities: (1) muscle strain (the most common cause of back pain for runners); (2) sciatica; (3) uneven pelvis or unequal leg lengths (relatively common); (4) Relatively weak abdominal and lower back muscles; (5) flat feet and over-pronation (i.e., your foot tends to roll inward too much when you run); (6) if your second toe is longer than the big toe (a condition known as Morton's Toe), this could cause a weight imbalance resulting in back pain; or (7) disc degeneration. Well, #2 (sciatica) and #6 (Morton's Toe) seem out. #5 seems out, as local running shop Fleet Feet claims to have experts fit shoes based on pronation, and I have not had a problem with flat feet before. That leaves #1, muscle strain; #3, uneven pelvis/leg--would take a doctor to diagnose, so no immediate answer; #4, relatively weak muscles; and/or #7, disc deterioration, which would be the worst case scenario. So--will be taking it easy, investigating as I have time. Ran in circles this evening at the American River College stadium track, one of the most boring things to ever do. I hate it with a passion, but if it helps, I will do it.

Goal Time: n/a

Distance (running): ~39.0 km (~4.0 miles); 

Weight (after run): n/a

Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: left lower back sore
Foods eaten today: oatmeal + raisins + banana, banana x 2, veggie spring rolls, walnuts, almonds, apple sauce cup, peach yogurt, apple, milk, Amy's bean + cheese burritos x 2, Ben & Jerry's Late Nite Snack ice cream

Radio Songs

Heard on 107.9 FM KDND out of Sacramento, CA:

• Belleville, Ontario, Canada-native Avril Lavigne's "What the Hell" from her 2011 album "Goodbye Lullaby" on the RCA label. Video: the musical exuberance reminds me of summer; the product placement disgusts me.
  

Heard on 90.3 FM KDVS out of Davis, CA:

• Glasgow, Scotland-based Belle & Sebastian's "I Didn't See It Coming", from their 2010 album "Belle and Sebastian Write About Love" on the Rough Trade label. Video. "We're following the right line...."
  

And...special super-spring extra song!

Heard on 91.5 FM KYDS out of Sacramento, CA:

• Los Angeles-based Megadeth's "Five Magics" from their 1990 album "Rust in Peace" on the label. Audio. Blown away by the guitar work!