The Lumberjack Song comes from Mozart's "Don Giovanni"

Listening to "Variations on "La Ci Darem La Mano" Op 2" by Chopin, which is a take on Là ci darem la mano, Don Giovanni's and Zerlina's duet in Act 1, Scene 2, of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera Don Giovanni..

Both have a riff very familiar to fans of Monty Python's The Lumberjack Song. : o )

Prius car care

Washed and dried the car, then applied Armor All to inside & out...finally have some time to stop and maintain it a bit.

FLOOR MATS
http://priuschat.com/threads/opinions-on-mat-color-for-bisque-interior.54378/

SHOP VAC
http://www.amazon.com/ArmorAll-AA255-Utility-Wet-Vacuum/dp/B003M2F7NI/

NAVIGATION UPDATES

The 2005 Toyota Prius contains a Generation 4 DVD navigation system; updates seem to come out yearly as follows:

U20 = 2005 = 5.1
...
U27 = 2012 = 12.1
U28 = 2013 = 13.1

Toyota supplies the same navigation systems across the various models. The navigation system accepts DVD+R DL media.

LICENSE PLATES
I have decided to try the zip tie approach for the front license plate:

BULBS
http://priuschat.com/threads/light-bulb-list-2005.16413/ (scroll down for a more accurate list)

MAINTENANCE
http://priuschat.com/threads/just-got-a-used-prius-first-things-to-look-for.93831/

• Hatch squeaks when opening
• Interior bulbs burned out
• License plates
• Vacuum interior
• Navigation DVD update
• Local mechanic
• Oil change
• Filters - cabin and engine
• Toyota dealership
• Ensure all warranty work done
• Transaxle fluid drain-and-refill
• Hybrid battery blower fan and duct are not clogged

Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Winter Solstice

https://avbc.com/our-beers/winter-solstice-seasonal-ale/

Outstanding : o )

Assassin's Creed

Watched each Assassin's Creed walkthrough or movie this weekend:

1. Assassin's Creed
2. Assassin's Creed II
3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
4. Assassin's Creed: Revelations
5. Assassin's Creed III
6. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

I slept wrong on my neck last Wednesday evening and woke up in no insignificant amount of pain on Thursday/Friday. x_x So spent a lot of time sitting around wanting something mindless to watch. 

I enjoyed watching them--and actually had a chance to say, "Bene, bene" to a food service employee this evening.

Loved the scenery and the climbing. The game takes some liberties with the superhuman strength and dexterity, but it makes for more entertaining gameplay. The first game seemed really repetitive and I thought the interrogation scenes way more violent than necessary (seriously? kill someone just because the main bad guy forced them to make speeches?).

Lucy's death seemed a bit unexpected and forced. 

The ~35 minute movie, Assassin's Creed: Lineage, seemed cool, in the sense that the people in it looked exactly like their in-game counterparts. 

The boat scenes in Black Flag seemed pretty cool.

The part I enjoyed the best: the way the series handles right/wrong, good/bad. It shows compassion for many of the Templar and Assassin actors and shows most actions in the grey area.

Dominick the Donkey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominick_the_Donkey

How to love a candle

From a recent candle purchase:

1. FIND YOUR FAVORITE. There are hundreds of choices.
2. TRIM THE WICK. Keep your wick trimmed to 1/8" at all times.
3. LET THE WAX POOL. Each time you burn your candle, allow the entire top layer to become a fragrant pool of liquid wax and you'll get the biggest, boldest scent possible.
4. BURN IT SAFELY. Always burn your candle on a heat resistant surface, keep it out of drafts and NEVER leave it unattended while lit.
5. KNOW WHEN TO SAY GOODBYE. When only 1/2" of wax remains, it's time to let your candle go.
6. REPEAT STEPS 1 THROUGH 5. Keep going until you've tried them all!

A video on trimming the wick.

Graduate School - Statement of Purpose

An insightful primer on writing a successful Statement of Purpose. It lays out what I suspected...you write to the poor admissions committee staff who have to wade through application after application.

The kernel: "Grad schools require the statement of purpose not only because they want to find about you as an applicant, they want you to really think about why you are taking such a life-changing step — truly and profoundly why."

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE EXAMPLES

• Sample Statement of Purpose (!) Holy shit this is this the best statement of purpose ever
• "One of the best I've ever read" (via)... well, it is good, but, to me, it sounds sort of lifeless in contrast

Running Journal, Saturday, 2013-11-30

Resting heart rate:
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Terrain: mix of rolling hills and flats
Comments: Me after I stopped running about 3.5 miles out: ow, ow, ow, ow. x_x;;  To add insult to injury, my paracord knot popped out just as I was ascending the embankment to cross the Bridge Street bridge. Ugh. So, I walked the last bit back into Fair Oaks village in my socks. This is me after reaching mile six: "hrm, 11 miles to get around Lake Natoma, plus 2.5 miles to get back to the starting point--I'm going for it, that is only 1.5 miles more than my target of 12.0 miles!" I had only planned to go about 12.0 miles today; instead, due to overconfidence and overlooking the first 2.5 miles I had run, I ended up running about 16 miles. : o P And my feet and calf muscles paid the price. On the bright side, my lower back does not hurt at all, and after a few hours of rest, my body feels relatively strong. My joints feel a bit sore, and my feet still feel a bit like tenderized meat, but overall recovery seems OK. The walk of 3.5 miles back, plus the 0.5 miles to the car, represented one of the most humbling, painful experiences I have had, to date. The whole time, I was impatient to get back, sore, and cursing every bump in the bike path which poked into my feet. While running, it represented a relatively normal experience...I went out slow, disciplined myself to stay slow and under control, and felt pretty good. The last few miles, my legs started feeling wiped out. I took a gel shot around mile eight, and another one around mile 11 or 12. Those re-invigorated me, somewhat. I passed that weird biker guy who shouts encouragement and big smiles to everyone he passes--today, he threw me the hang loose hand signs, twice. Dawn and I tried to park at the CSUS Aquatic Center, but an employee at the entrance enforced the parking rules; we checked out the Nimbus Fish Hatchery lot, but it was full. We checked out the Nimbus Dam overlook lot, but that costs money. So, we headed back to Fair Oaks Village. Dawn's ankle started hurting as we began running, so we walked a portion of the first mile, then she turned back. On the last mile of the way back, I ditched the bike path and walked the parallel street back to the parking lot/boat ramp area at Bridge Street Bridge. Many dead salmon in the American River, now. I noticed a Measure A sign for Sacramento County, advertising improvements to the bike paths...hrm. I love the afterglow of running, getting to basically eat whatever I want to replace calories. : o ) I do feel a bit concerned about my calf muscles, especially my right one. It felt sore, today. I am wondering if my running form puts too much stress on them, when I run slowly. : o \
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): ~12.0 miles (~4.0 miles walking), so total: 16.0mi
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Sore calf muscles, tenderized feet
Foods eaten today: pumpkin flax granola w/milk, banana, apple, Hammer Nutrition gel shots - chocolate, raspberry (expired, but I ate anyway...were still ok), broccoli, rice cakes, dark chocolate, hummus & flatbread, mushroom & barley soup w/dark bread, Greek Gods Cinnamon yogurt, hard boiled eggs

Hardware

Freescale Freedom Board (KL25Z)

ARM Cortex M0 microprocessor

TFC shield

Hyperbole and a Half

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

Curtain over door

Saw this at IKEA a while back--they put a curtain over the inside of the door to mask it. Clever?

Sacramento Area Hikes

While at the Davis Co-Op a month or so ago, one of the cashiers recommended the following resources:

http://yolohiker.org/

and the following hikes:

• Redbud Trail
• Judge Davis Trail
• Lynch Canyon Trail

He also recommended Alamere Falls.

Sierra Nevadas - Play at Home

For those of you who do not wake up each day seeing the Sierra Nevada mountains, you can hold up a Sierra Nevada beer and pretend.

Voice Recorder

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-voice-recorder/

Jakelegs

Heard the term for the first time today.

The person using it described a jakeleg as someone who thinks they do a good job but in reality do a substandard job.

Running Journal, Saturday, 2013-11-23 - Around the horn

Resting heart rate:
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: sunny
Temp: pleasant, but cooling quickly after sunset
Time: 2:00-5:15 p.m.
Terrain: mix of rolling hills and flats
Comments: Ran around Lake Natoma today, starting at mile marker 23.0 at the CSUS Aquatic Center, through to Folsom, across the Lake Natoma Crossing, then back to the Nimbus Dam along the north shore. Someone has disabled the water at the mile 27.0 marker, but the water just a bit before that still works. Had hoped to get in 12.0 miles today, but only got in 11.0 miles, due to darkness...the sun set at 4:47 p.m. today...I had forgotten, and I panicked a bit, thinking a ranger might lock our car in at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery lot. : o P I saw a lot of race graffiti on the bike path about Kaia girls. Also, noticed a number of people participating in the "The Spirit of Rock" 50 mile race. As I ran past the embankment going up to the finish line at the Lake Natoma Crossing bridge, one volunteer remarked, "I sure hope he knows where he's going." Lots of acorns on the bike path, blue oak, I think, and they hurt when I step on them--ow, ow, ow.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): 11.0mi
Weight (after run): 80.4
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Sore calf muscles
Foods eaten today: pumpkin flax granola w/milk, banana, banana chips, egg, soup with dark bread and naan bread, hummus and flat bread, ramen and rice from ... Ramen and Rice

Running Journal, Monday, 2013-11-18

Resting heart rate: 65bpm, at the time of posting
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: slight breeze; partly sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: Early afternoon
Terrain: mildly rolling hills and flats
Comments: 45 minutes; maintenance run. Ran from mile 20.0 of the American River Parkway to Sunrise Bar, then across Jim's Bridge and west along the bike path to Bannister Park, then returned to Sunrise Bar and west along the south side of the river on the horse trail to the little picnic area near mile 19.0, then back east along the bikepath to Bridge Street bridge. Map. Wore new Injinji socks and the Xero shoes. Rocks poked my feet. Saw a maintenance crew member driving a truck pulling a bikepath leaf blower. The bikepath to Bannister Park has new asphalt. Lots of salmon remains in the river. This seems like one of the few remaining nice days as we head into the rainy season.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): ~4mi
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?:
Foods eaten today: pumpkin flax granola w/milk, peppermint candy cane chocolate square, mixed veggies, two hardboiled eggs, mashed sweet potatoes, fusili pasta with marinara sauce, mini dill pickles, minestrone soup with dark bread, Greek Gods yogurt, banana chips, Costco fruit medley

Running Journal, Saturday, 2013-11-16

Running Journal, Saturday, 2013-11-16
Resting heart rate: 87bpm, about 75 minutes after finishing
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: slight breeze; sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: About 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Terrain: mostly flat, some rolling hills, with a steep climb up Hazel Avenue bridge
Comments: Ten miles, starting from mile 20.0 at the Fair Oaks Bridge Street bridge, continuing along the bike path to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, up Hazel Avenue bridge to the bike path on the north side of Lake Natoma, then another two miles along the bike path to the mile 25.0 marker. And back. Saw a black tailed deer with antlers, I think maybe 5-10 points. Smelled dill, one of my favorite smells. Noted the spray painted markers next to the electrical transmission towers east of the Nimbus Dam represent the mile and the sequence...e.g., the first tower from the dam is 0/1, the second is 0/2, and so forth. I assume the first tower in the second mile is 1/1, the second is 1/2, and so forth. Ran four minutes, rested for 30s, repeated that about 30 times. The glossy leaves on the trees appeared like millions of litle flags reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Less energy today--a bit short on sleep this week.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): 10mi
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?:
Foods eaten today: pumpkin flax granola w/milk, smoothie from the Happy Nutburger Stand, banana, hummus & flatbread

Running Journal, Monday, 2013-11-11

Resting heart rate:
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: calm; sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Terrain: flat
Comments: Maintenance run. had my head up, focused on the distance. Felt the sponginess of the track on the north side curve. The four massive lights blinded me as I ran toward them. Above, light clouds obscured the moon. Down below, a light haze, partially from wood burning fires and partially from fog. At the end, I noticed I ran faster when I pulled my thigh muscles forward instead of up. Felt smooth running...got lots of rest and hydration the last two days.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running):
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: ankles sore
Foods eaten today: pumpkin pancakes, maple syrup, banana, peppermint chocolate, Trader Joe's Japanese Fried Rice, rice cakes, hummus, flat bread, hard boiled eggs, yerba mate tea, sugar snap peas...wanted a beer but refrained

FTL

Listening to the FTL game soundtrack:

http://benprunty.bandcamp.com/album/ftl

License plate mounts

License plate relocators:

• Skene Design
• US Mill Works
•  

Other:

• FlexyFrame
• Hide The Plate
• Zip ties
• BumperPlugs (for reference only)

My favorite comment, so far: "If your Prius comes with the license plate bracket in the cargo area, take a sip of a good wine or a premium beer and attach it yourself."

Running Journal, Saturday, 2013-11-09: Running on a space rock

Resting heart rate:76 bpm, around two hours after running
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: calm; sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: ~1:30-3:00 p.m.
Terrain: flat with a few rolling hills
Comments: Dawn and I parked at the CSUS Aquatic Center and split up (she got a snack and visited the Nimbus Fish Hatchery). Perfect afternoon weather. Wore my Xero flats. At the beginning of the run, my mind sparked all sorts of thoughts. On the way back, it quieted down. I noticed my left foot does not chafe as much if I run on the outside of the flat...after a while it seems like my legs figure it out and they operate independently. I smelled creosote again as I crossed the mile 24 bridge made of railroad ties. I ran on beds of pine needles and gazed up at the cones on the pine trees. Lake Natoma reflectetd the fall colors like a mirror. A few buckeye trees had large nuts hanging from their branches. I saw some new (to me) race graffiti on the asphalt: "Go Aleana + Holly" : o P . Wished I had brought lip balm and water. The blue oak leaves looked in the middle of turning copper. I noted the silence as I ran, then a cyclist with a radio rode past. Around mile three I started feeling thirsty. I saw towering spirals of thousands of gulls to the southeast...brilliant. They had flown so high they looked like a cloud of mosquitoes. Waves of gulls flew past in a V-formation. Noted a number of energy wrapper waste left along the side of the path--a pet peeve of mine. At the split, I recorded a time of 15:03. I forgot my start time. I felt tired, thirsty, and hot. On the return, I watched the wake from a passing canoe. Two female wild turkeys crossed the bike path within ten feet of me. I watched a man dressed in athletic pants and jacket amble by...I wondered if he felt too warm. A woman ran by with an olive tank top and I remembered how good the color looks on Dawn. Feeling warm, I scrambled down a bank of placer rocks to the shore, hearing them clack loudly as I stepped on them. I drenched my shirt in the water of Lake Natoma, feeling a shock of cold as I put it back on. It had the intended effect! I felt immediately relief from the heat. I listened to the squeak of the bridge from my steps near Willow Creek. I heard the yell of children swimming, a croaking duck, and a strange noise I had not heard before--until I saw someone using a bike pump to inflate their bicycle tire. At Willow Creek, I noticed California Canoe and Kayak had two portable storage containers they used for rental equipment...but a sign stated the rental season had ended. I listened to the soft roar of the vehicles passing on Highway 50. My mind had quieted...all my attention focused on breathing, pace, efficiency, moving forward. As I passed a meadow with a horse hitching post overlooking Lake Natoma, I found myself running smoothly. I wondered if I had ran too far, and I wanted to get back to Dawn in good time. I started to imagine myself having a one thousand yard stare. I finally found a source of water at the park opposite the CSUS Aquatic Center. I ended my run around 16:00. The scenery right now looks beautiful: tree leaves dying and turning red, gold, copper. Two men walked by carrying two salmon each...one man dragging the back fins of his salmon catch on the ground, the other had his in a net...I wondered at the legality of their catch. The parking lot seems to have very interested photovoltaic cells wrapped around their light posts, which illuminate LED's at night. I arrived a minute or two before Dawn came back. We talked and headed home. In reflection: I had only intended to run around 6 miles today, but ran ~8. My leggings need replacing, as the crotch has begun wearing out. My legs feel sore but not too bad. A nice first long run for not having run any meaningful distance in nearly 2.5 years : o )
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): ~8 miles
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: calf muscles moderately sore
Foods eaten today: pumpkin flax granola cereal with milk, banana, apple sauce, butternut squash ravioli with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese, deli Greek pasta salad, raspberries, peppermint chocolate

Do not cross lights flash 11 times

Not sure where to record this, but walking to my vehicle on 15th street, the do not cross lights flash 11 times before the light turns yellow.

This is in line with other things that do not cross:

• The proton streams, from Ghostbusters
• Kris Kross

Yargle bargle - Domain open

Noting

Running Journal, Monday, 2013-11-04: Aviary Feast

Running Journal, Monday, 2013-11-04
Resting heart rate:
Body Mass Index (BMI):
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: windy; sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: 1:30-2:15 p.m.
Terrain: flat with a few mildly rolling hills
Comments: On Saturday, I decided to just "go for it" and took off for a 45 minute run around the American River College campus with my Xero shoe flats. To mitigate any chafing issues with the paracord between my toes, I wore Injinji toe socks. This worked great: no chafing, and only minimal discomfort from the paracord. On Saturday, I ran around and around in the new parking structure. Today, I drove to the American River Parkway, near Fair Oaks village, and ran from the Bridge Street bridge to near the Nimbus Fish Hatchery, which began operating the fish ladder today, according to local radio. I saw salmon swimming upstream at the small side channel near marker 20.5--a sight which I had not seen for many years. Flocks of gulls and cranes and other birds opportunistically stood in the shoals, waiting for the inevitable salmon who do not make it. I pondered running all the way to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery to watch the fish ladder, but (wisely, I think) decided to head back, due to recovery from illness and also wanting to take it easy as I adjust to the new running flats. Speaking of the flats, they seem to work--my right foot is perfect, while my left foot still needs to be dialed in a bit more, as the paracord still chafes between my big toe and the next toe...not sure if I can remedy it by adjusting the knots. The combination of toe socks and flats seems to work though--I'm really happy to see if this minimizes injury. I am definitely feeling stiffness as my leg muscles realize what I'm up to, especially in my lower calf muscles. At one point during the run, I raced a squirrel as it ran toward a tree. I also saw a dust tornado--it was quite windy, which felt great but added a bit of resistance to the run back. I heard what sounded like an Acorn Woodpecker. I noticed the restaurant La Boheme, which I first noticed in 2006, has closed, replaced by restaurant The Mighty Tavern. I noticed a sign on the Bridge Street bridge which says, "Weight Limit 5 Tons", which likely explains why the compact car I watched cross it in 2006 did not burst through. As I crossed back, I carried a black walnut and three oak seeds, passing by a woman getting her picture taken by two slavic-speaking assistants. Lots of love in the air--passed by multiple couples as I walked back up Bridge Street. I forget my watch today, but have run this maintenance run enough times to know approximately how far 45 minute round trip gets me. Really an outstanding day, the wind added an electricity to things, lots of things to see, and I felt pretty good. When I came home, I realized I did not have a gmap-pedometer account...it has been a few years, so either it got deleted or I never created one.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running):
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: leg muscles stiff
Foods eaten today: sugar snap peas, pumpkin flax granola cereal with milk, banana, apple, mixed vegetables with two hardboiled eggs, spiced apple cider, chocolate, rice cakes, Woodstock's pizza, root beer

Release Management

Github
https://github.com/blog/1241-deploying-at-github

Django Deployment Best Practices.pptx - Meetup
Release Engineering:

• Identifiability: Being able to identify all of the source, tools, environment, and other components that make up a particular release.
• Reproducibility: The ability to integrate source, third party components, data, and deployment externals of a software system in order to guarantee operational stability.
• Consistency: The mission to provide a stable framework for development, deployment, audit and accountability for software components.
• Agility: The ongoing research into what are the repercussions of modern software engineering practices on the productivity in the software cycle, i.e., continuous integration and push on green initiatives.
• Tasks of release engineering:
• Software build (compilation) automation
• Automated test integrationr
• Results reporting

Software configuration management

Release management

Amazon EC2 Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Remote Desktop via NoMachine 4

http://cloud.ubuntu.com/ami/

This was the link which assisted me with getting everything working, using Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and NoMachine 4:
http://www.crouse.cc/blog/of-on-ec2.html

Then:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CitrixICAClientHowTo#Citrix_ICA_Client_12_on_Ubuntu_12.04_64-bit

Fixing wcamgr:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1913988

Using rdesktop:
http://dcook.org/gobet/using_amazon_ec2.html

Some other links:

• http://activeintelligence.org/blog/archive/remote-graphical-linux-desktop-on-ec2/
• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FreeNX

Notes

• I tried 13.x Ubuntu images but failed to get them working 
• Added user ec2usr as admin to the image
• 
  

SFTP large files with resume until successful

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/granth/archive/2010/05/10/how-to-copy-very-large-files-across-a-slow-or-unreliable-network.aspx

http://winscp.net/eng/docs/resume#automatic

http://www.coreftp.com/docs/web1/Command_Line_FTP.htm

http://www.coreftp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1330&highlight=retry

http://www.thecriticalanalysis.com/2012/03/secret-core-ftp-command-line-switches.html

What if My Car is Damaged While Shipping It?

http://www.pirgostrans.com/what-if-my-car-is-damaged-while-shipping-it

Curious minds preparing....

Google

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDfIw35VN7k

Lawyers.com

Trapezius muscle

This is what feels sore so often. : o \

Investigating ways to relieve the tension.

Uli Mana Chocolate

My neighbor recommended I try some:

http://www.ulimana.com/

Get Off Your F@#$'ing Phone You Idiot!

Walking back from work, I heard a horn: "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep," followed by an angry man yelling out his open car window at the driver of the car in front of him, "Get Off Your F@#$'ing Phone You Idiot!" I did not see what had happened, but they had both stopped at a stoplight. The driver in front of the angered driver said nothing in reply.

After they had driven off without further incident, I thought about the encounter and whether any communication had really occurred which might lead to a change in behavior. Hrm.

Dawn's ring size

Somewhere between a 6 and a 7

CalPERS Health Plans for 2014

Reviewing....

Health Plan Chooser
Note: Quick Compare, then "See All Information at Once"
https://calpers2014.chooser2.pbgh.org/

Human Resources - Employer Health and Consolidated Benefits (CoBen) Contributions
http://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/pages/health.aspx

Current premium: $1,155.04
Current state co-pay: $1064.36
Current payment: $163.04 (health)
Current payment: $24.12 (dental)

Temperature cycles annually

Thinking to myself the last week or so how it would be cool to see hourly temperatures plotted over the course of the year, like a daily heartbeat or pulse, and see how the highs and lows shift over the course of the year.

Sort of like this graph, which smooshes together 365 days into one segment:

The daily low (blue) and high (red) temperature during the last 12 months with the area between them shaded gray and superimposed over the corresponding averages (thick lines), and with percentile bands (inner band from 25th to 75th percentile, outer band from 10th to 90th percentile). The bar at the top of the graph is red where both the daily high and low are above average, blue where they are both below average, and white otherwise.

Or this one, from the same page, which shows the temperature at points of the day across the year 2012-2013:

The full year of hourly temperature reports with the days of the year on the horizontal and the hours of the day on the vertical. The hourly temperature measurement is color coded into meaningful temperature bands: frigid is purple (below 15°F), freezing is blue (15°F to 32°F), cold is dark green (32°F to 50°F), cool is light green (50°F to 65°F), comfortable is yellow (65°F to 75°F), warm is light red (75°F to 85°F), hot is medium red (85°F to 100°F), sweltering is dark red (above 100°F), and missing data is pink.

The latter image shows noon to 6:00 p.m. as warm to hot to sweltering between mid-April and early October, with cool temperatures from noon to 6:00 p.m. during November to late February.

Compare this to where I grew up : o \

 The full year of hourly temperature reports with the days of the year on the horizontal and the hours of the day on the vertical. The hourly temperature measurement is color coded into meaningful temperature bands: frigid is purple (below 15°F), freezing is blue (15°F to 32°F), cold is dark green (32°F to 50°F), cool is light green (50°F to 65°F), comfortable is yellow (65°F to 75°F), warm is light red (75°F to 85°F), hot is medium red (85°F to 100°F), sweltering is dark red (above 100°F), and missing data is pink.

You can tell at a glance it's a different latitude: 38.6 degrees versus 46.6 degrees makes a significant difference.

Pizza and beer at La Trattoria Bohemia

Tried La Trattoria Bohemia's medium margherita pizza with additional topping of artichoke hearts.

Verdict: tons of cheese; lots of toppings; very filling. Crust is soft.

Tried a pint each of two dark beers:

1. Krušovice Royal Dark (Czech Republic): "Dark lager is the traditional product of the Royal Brewery of Krušovice and for more than 100 years the production of this beer has not stopped. It has a full, sweet caramel taste and a light hoppy flavor."
2. Primátor Premium Dark, Dark Lager, Czech Republic: "A unique combination of four different malts; rich garnet color; creamy caramel flavor. 4,8% alcohol. 2009 World Beer Championships: Gold Medal; Rating: 93 points (Exceptional); 2008 World Beer Awards: World's Best Dark Lager."

Verdict on the beers: both delicious; would drink again.

15th and R Street Construction

Watching construction crews dismantling the existing building at 15th and R Street, Sacramento.

Turns out the Cordano family has purchased the property and plans to partition the former state office building into four retail spaces: http://rstreet.info/uncategorized/projects-move-forward-on-r-street/

Favorite Smells

Compiling a list:

• Wood chips, plywood, construction framing, and so forth (Yankee Candle has a 2x4 candle)
• Dryer vent (laundry vent)
• Dryer sheets
• Smell of vegetation after a rain (petrichor)
• Curing concrete (?) from interstate construction; also, concrete dust (?)
• Dill
• Groves of sequoia trees after a rain...or anytime
• Autumn leaves (after/during raking, etc.)
• Wet leaves
• Glossy-coated paper (e.g., Yearbox calendars) reminds me of certain booksellers, comic books, and trading cards
• Soap after activating in hot water
• Bookstores: (1) smell of glossy paperbacks; and (2) smell of pulp paper
• Libraries: smell of books 
• Sea smells: brine, seaweed (note: a discussion, including artificial attempts to replicate)
• Cooking bacon in the cool morning air: memories of camping
• 4-H county fair food vendor shack
• Chlorinated water (for example, water fountains, pools)
• Grass clippings
• Lawns
• Tall grasses (e.g., from fields)--these smell somewhat different and remind me of rural road shoulders or rows of alfalfa
  
• Freshly mown hay
  
• Shoe stores (leather)
• Basil
• Screen door mesh when wet
• Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis; smells like dill)
• Muddy earthy smells of banks of rivers/lakes
• Crayons - especially after opening a new pack
  

Non-favorite, but memories triggering :

• Stale cigarettes remind me of arcade game cabinets in bars and other such places

Previously

Death Star

Was thinking the other day that the IT analysts successfully identified the Death Star's vulnerability and sent it up the chain of command to the high command...who ignored it. All hands lost, including the IT analysts.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Moradmin_Bast (admiral...he relayed the message)

Job description win

While I'm not applying, this job description stands out to me:

• Teamwork - Able to facilitate and maintain cooperative working relationships; work toward accomplishment of group goals; must value and encourage the input and expertise of others; foster commitment, team spirit, pride, and trust
• Self-Motivation, Optimism, Sustained Commitment, Perseverance and Patience - Demonstrate a bias toward optimism and maintain a sense of humor; possess stamina to bounce back from setbacks; view mistakes as opportunities for growth/positive learning experiences.
• Technical Credibility - Understand and appropriately apply procedures, requirements, policies, and regulations related to specialized expertise; integrate technology into the work to improve program effectiveness; possess up-to-date knowledge in the profession and industry and access other expert resources when appropriate; translate concepts and ideas into strategies and action steps.
• Flexibility/Adaptability - Ability to integrate changes midstream into work processes and outputs; demonstrate openness to new organizational structures, procedures, and technology; ability to shift gears comfortably.

Bombfell purchases

Two things I've purchased from Bombfell in the previous year.

Original Penguin Cotton Ribbed V-Neck Sweater (link)

Original Penguin LS Button-Down Collar Oxford (link)

• Original Penguin LS Button-Down Collar Oxford Estate Blue
• Penguin tag number #1BBW0456OP
• 414 Estate Blue

Prius Gen 2 Rear Spoiler Removal

Notes on removing the rear spoiler:

Touring B-Type Rear Spoiler Installation (link)
How to remove/replace spoiler (link)

Junkyard Prii

Apparently not so many at local Pick-n-pull locations : o \

http://www.picknpull.com/check_inventory.aspx

Vectra flea control for cats

Noting so I don't forget...our vet said they use this now instead of Frontline.

http://www.vectrapet.com

Volvo 244 GL Clock Repair

http://www.brickboard.com/ARCHIVES/1998AUG/20008992.shtml

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1387329&show_all=1

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1510272&show_all=1

Apparently the stock 16 volt, 100 microfarads capacitors on the clock don't like going below ~50 F : o \

Replacing them fixes the clock.

NotAPriusTouringCar.com

Seriously Prius owners/sellers: look at the wheels - Touring Prii have seven spokes, fog lamps, and Toyota only manufactured them for 2007-2009...plus all the stuff at the following link:

http://priuschat.com/threads/prius-base-vs-touring-edition-the-dirty-little-secret.66143/

Used a Craigslist search tool this evening to search for Prius Touring cars for sale in my area and sellers had mislabeled nearly every one...greedy and/or ignorant--Blue Book lists them as quite a bit more than not. Though, in some cases, I think people assume they have a Touring car when they really have some high-end package (e.g., leather seats, navigation).

Anyway, /vent. ; o )

Toyota Prius versus VW TDI

Reading a bit on performance of the Toyota Prius versus the VW TDI (Jetta, Golf).

Why did Mel Brooks Name his Movie, "Spaceballs"?

It seems Spaceballs represents the name of the race of people living on planet Spaceball...and they seem to wear helmets shaped like balls.

Motion-Activated Playing of Music

I imagine it would get old after a while, but it would be fun to have the chorus from Rule Brittania play when I open the door in the morning. ; o )

Helloooooooo! : o )

Craigslist Searches

http://www.craigslist.org/about/help/search

VIN 3FASP11J0TR126323

I purchased 3FASP11J0TR126323 in 1998, the 2nd owner, and drove it for 15 years and 188,000 miles.

Hoping the next owner sees this, if it eventually gets repaired and sold.

Corfu

The Axis powers shot down my neighbor's father's bomber, which crashed on or near the island of Corfu, Greece, during World War 2.

They hid him and his surviving crew for some time, until he successfully returned to the United States.

Auto dealer interactions

Compiling a list of auto dealers I've interacted with:

CLOVIS AUTO MART
Clovis, CA

After contacting via web form with what seemed to me like a reasonable offer, I received the following e-mail: "Hello my name is J.R and I am the internet Mang. here at Clovis Auto Mart we are located in Clovis ca. on Barstow ave. 1048 Barstow ave. Clovis Ca, 93612 and you can reach me at 559-323-8100 between the hours of 9-6pm monday thru saturday.. love to hear from you soon, thank you for your time. J.R ( it is better to call for i am a one man show.lol ) thank you again.."

• Mang? I guess that means manager, but my first thought was Cheech and Chong : o \
• lol?
• Poor writing skills

Attempted to reply to this e-mail with the same content as what I sent via the web contact form, to give them one last chance: "I'm interested in this car: http://www.clovisautomart.com/2005_Toyota_Toyota_Clovis_CA_188783836.veh . KBB seems to list a 2005 Prius, in Good condition, with 86K miles, at $7.7K; I'll offer $8.0K...no way I'm paying $12.0K, so no use calling unless you are willing and able to reduce the price.Thank you for your time."

Attempted to reply by e-mail but received 554 delivery error trying to reach clovisautomart@y....com.

I'm giving up...I wouldn't give any money to this sales rep.

Marketing

I is learning:

Rhetoric 104:

There are three kinds of audiences:

1. Friendly: it's a waste of time to build the case and try to change their mood or their mind; you're pushing an open door. This type of speech or oped should focus on getting them to actually do something.
2. Neutral: it's great if you changed their mind and maybe inspired a few of them to act
3. Hostile: it's a victory to simply change their mood

There's also three steps to persuasion:

1. Changing their mood
2. Changing their mind 
3. Getting them to act

Journal of Advertising Research, 19770600/P

"Should you advertise to hostile audiences? Yes, says Chevron's director of communications research, because advertising can keep them from growing more hostile."

From the book, "Marketing," by Roger Kerin, 10th edition, chapter 19, "Types of Advertising"

Product advertisements

1. Pioneering
2. Competitive
3. Reminder

Institutional Advertisements 

"The objective of institutional advertisements is to build goodwill or an image for an organization rather than promote a specific good or service." 

Four types 

1.  Advocacy advertisements state the position of a company on an issue.
2. Pioneering institutional advertisements, like the pioneering ads for products discussed earlier, are used for announcements about what a company is, what it can do, or where it is located.
3. Competitive institutional advertisements promote the advantages of one product class over another and are used in markets where different product classes compete for the same buyers.
4. Reminder institutional advertisements, like the product form, simply bring the company’s name to the attention of the target market again.

How to Persuade Different Types of People

Persuasion Starts With Credibility

1. Trust
1. How long we have known a person.
2. A person's reputation.
3. Experiences with a person in the past.
4. Information about a person obtained from other people.
5. Any ulterior motives a person may have. 
6. How to build trust:
1. Get someone to act on your behalf
2. Act like you are not trying to persuade
3. Turn a negative into a positive
4. Be reliable. Do what you promise and publicise your achievements.
5. Be rational. It’s much easier to trust someone who makes decisions based on reason rather than emotion. Simon Cowell is a good example.
6. Be Receptive. It’s much easier to trust someone who is receptive to our needs and concerns.
7. Don't oversell or exaggerate. Underpromise and overdeliver. People will not trust you if your words do not match up with your actions.
2.  Expertise  

Sacramento Greek Festival 2013

Attended the 50th annual Sacramento Greek Festival on Sunday.

We had $2 discount coupons, so $6 for both of us to enter. We passed many costumed attendees of SacAnime as we entered the Sacramento Convention Center...and, since the Sacramento Greek Festival granted free admission to SacAnime attendees, we saw many of them wandering about the Sacramento Greek Festival area. : o )  Quite a melting pot, listening to the Annunciation Choir while Master Chief and a Predator walked by.

I sampled:

• Vegetarian dolmathes: Grape leaves stuffed with riceand seasonings - $3
• The Old Spaghetti Factory’s Spaghetti: with browned butter and mizithra cheese. - $7
• Pilafi: Rice flavored with butter and lemon juice - free (shared by Lanna)
• Retsina - free (shared by Lanna)
• Kourambiethes: Melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies,dusted with powdered sugar! (free - shared by Paul)
• Kataifi: Shredded phyllo infused with walnut filling and a touch of cinnamon. (free - shared by Dawn)
• Saganaki: Flamed kefalograviera cheese with a hint of lemon and brandy. (free - sample)
• Fotine's Simply Greek Cafe owner Fotine Halikaskopriva demoed how to make their signature tzatziki.... yum! (free)

Previously

Yosemite Lakes Campground Burned

What it looks like, with the fire burn overlay:

About 7-8 weeks ago, we camped at the southern tip of that little circle, on the right side of the above image. : o \

Not sure how much got burned...will remain interested in seeing post-fire pictures. Fearing the worst.

From the Yosemite Lakes web site:

Due to the Rim Fire, Yosemite Lakes remains closed and we are not accepting reservations at this time. Anyone having an upcoming reservation through September 3, 2013 is asked to please contact us at (877) 570-2267 so that we can assist with making other arrangements. We will continue to provide updates as we receive additional information.  (Posted 8/23/13)

Delegation

I am learning it.

12 Rules of Delegation

Coffeeee

Learning to appreciate aspects of coffee...but still would prefer caffeine pills so not staining my teeth. : o \

What's the most powerful/inspirational quote you've ever heard?

http://www.quora.com/Quotations/Whats-the-most-powerful-inspirational-quote-youve-ever-heard

Running again

Dawn and I have ran at the ARC track three times in the last week or so.

Caffeine

Take caffeine pills instead of coffee:

http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?ID=549

The researchers gave dosages of 0.3mg per kg of subject body weight each hour. For me, that comes out to about 25mg of caffeine per hour:

"They took the pills upon waking and then once every hour. The goal of the steady dosing was to progressively build up caffeine levels in a way that would coincide with—and ultimately, counteract—the progressive push of the homeostatic system, which grows stronger the longer a subject stays awake."

Caffeine affects the homeostatic rather than circadian system; thus, the researchers suggest, "shift workers, medical residents, truck drivers, and others who need to stay alert consider taking frequent low doses of caffeine."

Unless you like the taste of coffee...I've never gotten used to it. : o \

Also: using caffeine pill to sleep better

Frustrating...the only way to get 25mg seems to either split a 50mg pill (which I've only found through Pro-Plus in the UK) or do it via powder...which seems way too much effort.. : o \

Low Dosage Caffeine

• Jolt gum?
• ~95mg caffeine per cup of coffee
• 8-10 Cool Caffeine mints = 1 cup of coffee...so about 9.5-12 mg caffeine per mint (two mints per hour? : o \ )
• Power Bar Gel = 25mg caffeine...but...not going to eat one of these per hour
• No-Doz comes in 100mg ... split into quarters? But, seems expensive.
• Jet Alert comes in 100mg...split into quarters? Only $5 for 120

Notable Schultz's Throughout History

My initial list:

Dwight Schultz - Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock from the 1980s action series The A-Team
Charles M. Schulz - the comic strip Peanuts
George P. Shultz - former US Secretary of State
Lists:

Wikipedia - Schultz
Wikipedia - Schulz
Wikipedia - Schultze
Wikipedia - Schulze

How do you eat an elephant?

Answer: one bite at a time.

I had never heard this quote before today; Dawn says her professor says it like this: "One byte at a time."

2,650

The Pacific Crest Trail seems actually 2,663 miles in length, but a bumper sticker advertising "2,650" on it tickled me this morning. : o )

Well played!

Japanese Restaurant Etiquette

What employees say when you enter a Japanese restaurant:

Irasshaimase (audio)

New Pizza Recommendations

Some recommendations:

Roma's Pizzeria

Pasquale's Italian Pizzeria

Rico's Italian Pizza

Project Management 101

Reading up on project management:

• New to Project Management? Pro-Tips for Success (link)
• F. John Reh's, "How to Manage a Project"
• Scott Berkun's, "The Art of Project Management: How to Make Things Happen" (++)
• A large percentage of my time as a PM was spent making ordered lists...having clear priorities was the backbone of progress.
• What slows progress and wastes the most time on projects is confusion about what the goals are or which things should come before which other things.
• If there is an ordered list posted up on the wall clarifying for everyone which things have been agreed to be more important than which other things, these arguments end quickly or never even start.
• So, if ever things on the team were not going well and people were having trouble focusing on the important things, I knew it was my fault: 
• either I hadn't ordered things properly, 
• hadn't effectively communicated those priorities, or 
• had failed to execute and deliver on the order that we had.
• For most projects, the three most important and most formal ordered lists are used to prioritize
• Project goals (vision), 
• Features, and 
• Work items
• and so forth...the whole thing seems very good
• Marian Haus' "7 Essential Project Planning Documents" (link)
• John Troyer's "Three Keys to Getting Your Projects Under Control, Part 2" (link)
• What is the payoff of completing the project?
• Example "why" statement
• Microsoft Solutions Framework's "Is Your Project Out of Control?" (DOC; via the SLAC)
• “reality distortion field.” This phenomenon occurs when a team, engrossed in its own magnificence, convinces itself that impossible dates can be met, that enormously complex technical problems are nothing to worry about, and that naysayers just aren’t committed to shipping on time.
• The one success factor most experts agree on is the need for a project team to have a clear vision for its project.   The breakdown—if there is one—may have occurred because the project 
• does not have a crisp vision, 
• the vision has not been well communicated to the team, or 
• the team does not agree with or believe in the vision. 
• Whatever the cause, however, the lack of a shared vision is a fundamental flaw that will prove fatal to the project.
• Without a vision for the project, the team  
• will be unable to make difficult feature or bug tradeoffs, 
• will be frustrated by communication problems among members of the team, and 
• will inevitably make decisions that are misdirected because they have no foundation.
• The most important part of working with groups that you are dependent on, or who are dependent on you, is communication.
• The only three variables are time, resources, and product. You cannot restrict all three variables of the equation.

Project artifacts

• 15 Tools (via)

Prius Shopping

Our car's engine siezed up last Sunday (dropped valve seat).

So, on the advice of our mechanic, we're shopping for a new car...a Toyota Prius.

Previously.

NOTES

• PriusChat glossary
• Getting rid of the previous car
• Donate Your Car to KDFC
• JunkMyCar--instant quotes
• California DMV: How to Change Vehicle Ownership
• "In most states you should remove the license plates once the tower arrives and return them to the DMV. However, in the following states the license plates need to remain on the car: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisianna, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington.In the states of California and Arizona you must also turn in a release of liability as well." (via)
• Research
• Sellers
• Top 10 Best Places to Find Used Cars (via; recommends AutoTempest)
• Craigslist
• "People who sell cars on craigslist generally sell lower end or salvaged cars because the people who look there are looking for that type of junk...." (via) 
• "...it's also a place where really smart people buy and sell quality cars without any additional costs that cars.com and other dealers would add to the sale." (via)
• Options
• 3M Paint Protection Film seems like a good investment, but only on new cars
• Solar roof available on 2012+ models
• Toyota options, by year
• More, plus video outlining Gen 3 changes
• Colors
• Prius colors through the years
• Salsa Red Pearl (2004, 2005)
• Navigation
• "...have heard the nav. is not what it is cracked up to be plus a Garmin is cheaper and able to go in different cars." (via)
• Touring differences (2007-2009)
• Shipping 
• From AR to CA costs about $1,100 (via)
• More discussion
• What's the best way to ship a car? (link)
• Buying a car in Deleware (link)
• Tips for a long cross-country drive (link)
• Electric cars
• DIY Electric Car
• EvalBum - compare electric conversions
• List of electric cars eligible for California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project refund
• Third party inspections
• 
  
• Test drives
• Things to look for
• Checklist
• Prius Maintenance
• Video: Second-generation Toyota Prius still reliable, efficient after 200,000 miles
• DIY maintenance 
• Scheduled maintenance guides
• Toyota's Owners Site lists all service history and recalls
• Fluids
• Transaxle oil
• "...that goes at 100,000 miles give or take and costs another $3,000...." (via)
• Transmission 
• "...transaxle fluid change, so I had that done at the dealer for $100." (via)
• "At 3 years, some will change their transaxle fluid (you can diy or my dealer charged $144 for it but that's cheap) despite Toyota's claims of it being a 100,000 mile product. There are oil analyses indicating that's a really good idea." (via)
• Analysis of replacements
• Catalytic converter
• 
  
• Inverter
•  "... the Inverter is another $1,500 to $2,000." (via)
• Batteries
• HV traction battery
• "If you are in the market for an HV battery replacement, outside of warranty, the absolute best use of your money is a brand new unit from Toyota." (via)
• "...main traction battery costs $3,500..." (via)
• "The main traction battery lifespan is about 10 years. Many have exceeded that and others have not. Much is determined by abuse and environment (via) 
• "Traction batteries from wrecks are still plentiful. Saw a couple on car-part.com, each for $700 from a 2008 and a 2009 each with less than 30K miles on them." (via)
• "I have read on PC that if a Salvage Battery has been in the yard awhile the battery is most likely completely depleted which brings on many other issues if you decide to install this in your Prius. It may require a charge from Toyota which is chargeable. This may also not work. Evidently if the battery is not in constant use problems occur. " (via)
• 12V battery
• "The 12V battery...powers the computer and there are many horror stories of bizarre car behavior with a low 12V battery. The battery exchange cost was about $120 at my dealer, but again they're usually more expensive. There are way to check the battery voltage by accessing the car's MFD service menu." (via)
• New 12V battery (expected life of 4 years - 2006 prius would require new one soon) http://priuschat.com/threads/questions-to-ask-when-looking-at-a-used-high-mileage-prius.88426/#ixzz2cyZDPf1v 
• Testing the battery
• Spark plugs
• Serviced at 100K-120K miles (via)
• PCV valve
• Serviced at 100K-120K miles (via)
• Shocks/Struts
• "...probably getting towards end of life [at 100K-120K miles] .. That is probably $1k to replace...." (via)
• Coolant pump
• Ensure recall work done...for 2005 (via)
• Water pumps
• Inverter
• "It failed at 185K miles on my car." (via)
• Engine
• "It failed at 195K miles on my car." (via)
• Filters
• Engine filter
• "Hold the filter up to sunlight. When you can't see light coming through, it's time to change the filter." (via)
• Brake pads
• "...most changed brake pads after 150k...." (via)
• Oil change
• "From my nearly 50 years of changing oil, this is the best method that I discovered."(via)
• Polish/Paint protectant
• Nu-Finish, semi-annually (via)
• Salvage titles:
• "However, if someone tells you why it was totaled for some minor reason, they are almost 100% lying and the car was probably in a horrible accident and badly repaired (but has a new paint job)." (via)
• "Salvage title cars have essentially no warranty (you can confirm it yourself in the warranty book)." (via)
• "it ... sounds like a good deal to me IF you have an inspection done by a body shop as well as the one already done by the dealer." (via)
• "The main test for a Prius is the full-works drive through car wash. If it passes that, then you can be assured that all connectors are water tight and you are very unlikely to have a problem...." (via)
• "You will lose almost all your "savings" when you sell a Salvage title car..." (via)
• AutoBeYours rebuilds Prius, Leaf, and so forth
• The Primo II, the Pruck
• Tips on buying a salvage Prius
• Financing
• Tax, title, tags, and fees calculator (link)
• Handling payment for used car sales (link)
• California DMV Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator (link)
• $15,000, purchased in Placerville, CA (local/one-time fees highlighted):
• $1,200 in Use/Sales Tax
• $195 in fees 
• $1,396 total
• $10,000 car:
• $800 in use/sales tax
• $195 in fees
• $995 total
• $5,000 car
• $400
• $195
• $595 total
• "KBB tends to overvalue, if anything." (via)
• CARB electric car refunds
• LightStream loans
• Residuals of leased cars, from a Toyota dealership employee (link)
• 2012 Prius Plug-in (blue book): ~$25,335 (21K mi)
• 2010 Prius (blue book) $9,304 (110K mi, p#1)
• 2009 Prius (blue book) $18,860 (14K mi; touring); ~$9,095 (100K mi); $12,840 (93K mi, p#6)
• 2008 Prius (blue book) ~$8,300 (132K mi); $9,814 (103K mi); $9,250 (90K mi); $14,614 (76K mi, touring, p#6); $12,714 (63K mi, p#3)
• 2007 Prius (blue book): $8,728 (91K mi); ~$11,400 (53K mi); $8,980 (124K mi; p#6); ~$9,119 (123K mi; touring); ~$7,364 (157K mi); $5,790 (160K mi); $5,621 (173K mi)
• 2006 Prius (blue book): ~$8,494 (99K mi); $7,361 (149K mi); $6,023 (145K mi)
• 2005 Prius (blue book): ~$8,548 (75K mi) ~$7,435 (95K mi); $7,247 (100K mi); $6,186 (133K mi; p#6); $5,100 (164K mi); $4,618 (174K mi; base); $4,583 (179K mi)
• 2004 Prius (blue book):$8,035 (56K mi; p#1); ~$6,359 (100K mi; p#9)
• 2001 Prius (blue book): $4,491 (72K mi)
• "0% APR is a great way to purchase a vehicle if you can get it.....simply put....you're paying cash for the vehicle.....the general rule of thumb is.....for every 10 thousand dollars financed under normal APRs you will pay about 200 to 250 a month......so with no money down and no trade a 30 thousand dollar vehicle would cost about 6-7 hundred a month.....with 0% APR that same vehicle would cost you 500 a month for 60 months.....basically the bank will make no money off of you....and if you have this chance....take it now while it lasts...dealerships usually dont do it for long." (via)
• Insurance
• Looks like financing a 2010 Toyota Prius will add $243.00-$620.53 to my insurance bill each six months : o \
• So, for five years of financing, this will add somewhere between $2430.00-$6205.30
• I currently pay $245 every six months (~$40/month)
• All quotes, below, via Esurance.com 
• Selecting Ownership = Financed seems to trigger some Esurance coverage requirements:
• Comprehensive Coverage & Deductibles
• Collision Coverage & Deductibles
• "THE SPLASH OUT"
• Bodily Injury Limits: 250K/500K
• Property Damage Limit: 100K
• Medical and Funeral Services Payments: I decline
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Limits: 100K/300K
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Limits: I accept
• Comprehensive Coverage & Deductibles: $100
• Collision Coverage & Deductibles: $100
• Towing and Labor: I decline
• Rental Reimbursement: I decline
• Customized Parts and Equipment Coverage Limits: I decline
• Auto Loan/Lease Coverage: I decline
• 2010 Toyota Prius
• If financed: $878.53 (six months, or $146/month)
• If not financed: same as above...this is "the splash out," after all....
• "THE MINIMUM"
• Bodily Injury Limits: 15K/30K
• Property Damage Limit: 5K
• Medical and Funeral Services Payments: I decline
• Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Limits: I decline
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Limits: I decline
• Comprehensive Coverage & Deductibles: No coverage
• Collision Coverage & Deductibles: No coverage
• Towing and Labor: I decline
• Rental Reimbursement: I decline
• Customized Parts and Equipment Coverage Limits: I decline
• Auto Loan/Lease Coverage: I decline
• 2010 Toyota Prius
• If financed: $501.00 (six months, or $83.50/month)
• If not financed: $258.00 (six months, or $43/month)

Thomas Mann

He authored a new book with Norman Ornstein

"It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism" (link)

Happy Documentary

http://www.thehappymovie.com/

Sugar overdose as liver toxin?

Robert Lustig on reducing our consumption of sucrose from 20+ teaspoons of sugar per day (the average American consumption) to 6-9 teaspoons per day.

Also, too, on Science Friday. More.

Radio Songs

Heard on KDRT 95.7 FM out of Davis, CA:

People Like Us and Ergo Phizmiz's "Ghosts Before Breakfast"...one of the more experimental songs I've heard in a while (audio)

Heard on KXPR 88.9 FM out of Sacramento, CA:

Camille Saint-Saens: Fantasie in A major Opus 124 ; Skaila Kanga, harp; Kenneth Sillito, violin; Label: Chandos; Number: 8621  BUY

Anton Heberle: Concerto for recorder and orchestra in G major - Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; Pinchas Zukerman, conductor; Michala Petri, recorder; Label: Philips; Number: 420243 BUY

Also, too:

Kimbra

Vision Insurance Claims

Noting something for my future reference:

Vision Service Plan (VSP) - generally requires claim reimbursements for out-of-network providers within six months.

Mineral Water and Bone Health

Several months (years?) ago, a co-worker noticed I had a glass bottle of mineral water on my desk, and commented that it seems bad for overall bone health.

At work, I ususally refill that bottle with water from the tap, after cleaning it each time. I finally got around to looking into this claim today, however, and, somewhat surprisingly, it seems inconclusive, at best.

P0302

Well, our car engine made a nasty metallic rattling noise this morning.

On Saturday, the dashboard displayed Check Engine Light code P0302...engine misfire cylinder #2.

So, as of right now, will probably need to take some time to figure out what went wrong.

Lake Tahoe Day Trip

Dawn and I visited Vikingsholm today (finally)!

To do so, we had to get through a number of obstacles:

• Dead car engine
• Rental car
• Getting to the rental car

Ugh. But--so wonderful to finally get to see it!

It seems like our last vacation for some time, now that Dawn begins her final push through to graduation this week. Took the 4:00 p.m. tour of the Vikingsholm house, then visited the museum and purchased a Vikingsholm booklet and DVD.

Lots of people enjoying Emerald Bay...stand up and sit-down kayakers, lots of boats, suntanning, picnics, tourists, hikers. Once again remarked how much I love the smell of dried pine needles.

Afterward, we returned to Cake Tahoe for a "Cupcake Split" (just in time, before they closed at 6:00 p.m.) and a growler of the Tahoe Mountain Brewing Company's Local Lager, which received a "Silver Medal 2013 California State Fair". I think I like the Sugar Pine Porter better, but it's a personal preference. We also popped into Cooking Gallery, where I purchased a Dharma "Beautiful Bend" 12mm borosilicate reusable straw and case...they didn't have a cleaner at the store so I purchased one via the Dharma web site.

Left Sacramento around 1:00 p.m.; returned home around 8:00 p.m. 

Previously.

Palo Alto Trip - Monday, July 29, 2013

Dawn and I visited the Stanford Medical Center area today.

We had lunch at the Town & Country Village's Calafia Cafe & Marget A Go-Go. I had the vegan, 9-inch "A Simple Pizza" - mozzarella, tomato sauce & fresh basil (the basil tasted lovely). Dawn also had a 9-inch "Wolfgang’s Pizza" - duck confit, pumpkin-hemp seed pesto, mozzarella, goat cheese. She loved it. We split a side of vegan/gluten-free "Minty English Peas & Crispy Potatoes" - garlic, olive oil, mint, russet potatoes, touch of curry powder...except the waiter told us it would come with green beans instead of peas, "due to change in the seasons." It tasted all right--mostly green beans and just a few bits of potatoes...the green bean ends had not been snipped--my mom would have been not pleased. ; o ) Overall, an expensive lunch (~$40, with tip), but quite tasty. When in Rome....

Above our heads the Cafe had a number of historical photographs of the Stanford campus area. One included the history of Stanford's famous tree "El Palo Alto." Amazing--it has lived over 1,000 years. It had a second tree adjacent to the first, which blew down due to a storm in the 20th century.

We had a medical appointment at the Stanford Medical Center office complex, then headed to Ghirardelli Square for dessert. I tried the new Sea Salt Caramel Banana Shake (not bad--the sea salt adds a nice bite to it) - it is as described; Dawn had the Sea Cliff sundae with dark chocolate fudge (formerly the "Cookie Bottom" sundae) - "Half of a Colossal Ghirardelli® Chocolate Chip Cookie served warm under two scoops of vanilla ice cream, freshly homemade hot fudge and topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds and a cherry."

After this we walked down Embarcadero to Pier 39, where we browsed Na Hoku's super-duper nice but expensive collection. We saw a few California Sea Lions. A man was performing with flaming Devil Sticks. Dawn briefly panicked when she failed to find her phone in her purse, but we found it on the floor of the car. A number of artists had setup: a violinist, a bongo drummer, a steelpan drum band, as well as a number of spray paint artists. We popped into Rosie's Roses--one of my all-time favorite shops. Seriously--the proprietor represents one of the sweetest people I have met, the place smells amazing with all the soap, the music and bubbling water soothes, the small space and the crystals and the flowers all come together in a perfect package. Highly recommended. We like to purchase the Sacred Chocolate Raw Chocolate Heart Bars. Rosie remarked they represented her favorite, and if she had known we were a repeat customer she would have given us a discount! 

We briefly considered going down the real crookedest street in San Francisco, but due to a bit of car trouble, decided to put it off for another day.

Yosemite - 2007 Versus 2013

Dawn and I ... 2007 and 2013, respectively : o )

2007

2013

2007

2013

Pear Festival in Courtland - 2013

Dawn and I attended the 2013 Courtland Pear Fair, the 41st annual.

We arrived around 9:30 a.m. and parked in the field lot.

We checked out the car show briefly, then chatted for a moment with an organic agricultural booth tabler. I spun a wheel and won a free wine tasting card for four at a local winery. As we waited, we watched kids playing on bounce houses and in inflatable bubbles on water. We also saw the ponies waiting to get setup for the pony rides.

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District had a table, and we viewed the numerous mosquito types, a live "mosquito farm" plexiglass container, showing larvae and adults, and a tub filled with nearly 500,000 mosquitoes counted by the Vector Control District in 2012. They handed us packets of mosquito repellent wipes.

The food vendors had already started serving all manner of pear-themed items: I tried a pear tamale. The vendor served it piping hot inside a traditional corn husk. The vendor must have used food coloring, as I found the tamale itself completely dyed green. It tasted like corn, perhaps a bit sweeter. I didn't find much pear within it, though...perhaps it had been mushed. Overall, I would not get it again.

Next, Dawn tried a caramel pear mocha. She notes she used to like mochas a lot, but now finds them a bit too sweet. I found it OK; I'm not a big coffee drinker.

We sat and listened to music while Mynga ate a slice of deep-dish PTA-prepared pear pie. She gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up. Later, we did the same and came to the same conclusion. : o )

Dawn and I walked around looking at vendors for the next hour. We purchased a pear refrigerator magnet and Dawn got a henna tattoo in the form of a turtle. Tasneem welcomed us and did a great job. We briefly viewed the photos of the late Micheal Pieretti, a longtime Delta photo artist. Dawn purchased a pair of knock-off Dolce & Gabbana purple sunglasses--they look great.

The "Stop the Tunnels" campaign organizers had entered two floats in the parade and effectively seemed to have the support of everyone in attendance. An image of the proposed tunnels:

At noon, we listened to the youth duck calling contest, then walked around the auditorium where Fair organizers had erected posters from previous years, a gallery of photographs from the late 1800's and 1900's, and a variety of other historical artifacts. 

At 1:00 p.m., we watched the Pear Fair Parade, a small effort, but no less enthusiastic than a larger parade.

After the parade, Dawn and I split a lemonade and a (non-pear?) sausage from Lockeford Meat & Sausage...we both thought it tasted OK.

After that, we called it a day and drove out the designated back entrance to head back to Sacramento.

OTHER VENDORS

Schumacher Architectural Ceramics (PO Box 129, Clarksburg, CA, 916-744-1062)