Dear future self:
To save some time, make sure the javac and java binaries you run represent the ones you expect to run, when multiple said binaries exist on disk.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
High speed chase
Driving through San Jose on Interstate 880 on Friday evening, when a white car whooshed by at high speed. Shortly there-after, two police vehicles passed by, in pursuit, lights flashing.
As I continued, additional police vehicles continued to intermittently pass me, one by one, lights flashing. By the time I got to Highway 17, about 5-8 vehicles had passed me, in total. Each time, I watched them pass out of sight ahead of me, giving me a clue as to where the initial white car had gone. Knowing how many switchbacks Highway 17 has, I guessed the pursuit might end badly. As I reached a backup of vehicles, I knew the pursuit had resolved itself.
After waiting for several minutes, the line of vehicles began moving. We eventually passed several police vehicles and the white car, at a turnout, the white car now sporting a number of damaged panels from where the police vehicles had likely forced it off the road. I did not see the driver.
After that, smooth sailing to Santa Cruz. I briefly looked for a news report on Saturday, but no success.
As I continued, additional police vehicles continued to intermittently pass me, one by one, lights flashing. By the time I got to Highway 17, about 5-8 vehicles had passed me, in total. Each time, I watched them pass out of sight ahead of me, giving me a clue as to where the initial white car had gone. Knowing how many switchbacks Highway 17 has, I guessed the pursuit might end badly. As I reached a backup of vehicles, I knew the pursuit had resolved itself.
After waiting for several minutes, the line of vehicles began moving. We eventually passed several police vehicles and the white car, at a turnout, the white car now sporting a number of damaged panels from where the police vehicles had likely forced it off the road. I did not see the driver.
After that, smooth sailing to Santa Cruz. I briefly looked for a news report on Saturday, but no success.
Gumnut
Gumnuts represent the "hard woody fruit of trees of the genus Eucalyptus."
Our local eucalyptus tree gumnuts have slots which look like this:
Our local eucalyptus tree gumnuts have slots which look like this:
Which looks like something one might accept a Phillips screwdriver bit.
Clan MacLeod
Family surnames (tongue-in-cheek blog post title comes from the Highlander franchise)
Paternal
Maternal
- Anderson (Swedish)
- Parent (French-Canadian)
- Schultz (German)
- Hagar (Finnish)
- Pentamo (sp?)
- ?
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Radio songs
Heard on radio KDFC, streaming out of San Francisco:
Nakano, Japan-born Joe Hisaishi's "The Rain", performed by Angèle Dubeau (violin) with her all-female string ensemble "La Pieta", on their 2014 album "Blanc", on the Analekta label. Video.
Note: You may recognize Joe Hisaishi's style from his collaborations with various Hayao Miyazaki productions.
Nakano, Japan-born Joe Hisaishi's "The Rain", performed by Angèle Dubeau (violin) with her all-female string ensemble "La Pieta", on their 2014 album "Blanc", on the Analekta label. Video.
Note: You may recognize Joe Hisaishi's style from his collaborations with various Hayao Miyazaki productions.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Who versus Whom
"As a ready check in such sentences, simply substitute the personal pronoun “he/him” or “she/her” for “who/whom.” If he or she would be the correct form, the proper choice is who.” If “him” or “her” would be correct, use “whom.”"
Via: http://web.ku.edu/~edit/whom.html
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Speed of electrons
Unconfirmed: "The actual speed of electrons is about 1.2 inches per minute in a typical, home lighting circuit."
(via)
(via)
Monday, January 19, 2015
Ada, Qt, Rust, Conrad, Builder pattern
Things I am reading about tonight.
C++ Qt overview playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KtOzh0StTc
Conrad, Builder Pattern
http://blog.piston.rs/2014/08/30/conrod-update/
http://blog.piston.rs/2014/09/14/conrod-api-overhaul/
C++ Qt overview playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KtOzh0StTc
Conrad, Builder Pattern
http://blog.piston.rs/2014/08/30/conrod-update/
http://blog.piston.rs/2014/09/14/conrod-api-overhaul/
Example blog bio
Well written bio:
As an American expat living in Cork, Ireland, Liz keeps her patriotism alive with sweet iced tea, country music, and the National Hockey League. Her American family is originally from the Caribbean. She was born and raised in Virginia, which is only kind of southern; and she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Fordham University in the Bronx, which is only kind of dangerous. Despite her multitude of living situations, she is neither very preppy nor very hipster, and she very consciously wears leggings as pants.
She likes switching between a Southern-American, Cork Irish, and Trinidadian accent, and she takes great pride in her innate ability to sing any Disney song in full. She is a classically-trained pianist, a hip-hop dancer, and a ballet teacher. Her favorite books can't be picked but probably include Ella Enchanted and To Kill a Mockingbird. She has a penchant for Yeats, and all should know it is her life goal to play a villain in a Disney animated movie.Via
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Cleo, CLEO, CL|E|O
The Cleo company's history seems to span four decades, multiple acquisitions, and a number of changes in hardware and software strategies.
I think CLEO originally represented an acronym: “CLuster Environment Operator”* . This seems to cross-check with the stylized trademark, below, which has separators between the letters, as “CL|E|O”. The CLEO software seems to have run on TurboDOS and does represent a play on the name Cleopatra.
ORIGINS
From the publication “Kelly/Grimes IBM PC compatible computer directory”, c. 1985 (link):
It’s beautiful....
CLEO advertisement, BYTE magazine’s July 1983 issue (via)
Magic flying floppy diskette carpets (?) (c. 1985, via)
CLEO HISTORY
TRADEMARKS OVER TIME - JUST FOR FUN
Circa 1980’s (Phone 1, Inc)...my favorite
Circa 1996 (ISI)
Circa 2001 (DFI)
Circa 2007 (DFI)
Present (Global Equity Partners)
The end.
* Go to the copyright.gov "Search Records" page, select "Search By" value Keyword, enter "Phone 1" in textbox "Search for", select button "Begin Search"...on the results screen, see result, "Cluster environment operator : Cleo 1.01 : user's guide for TurboDos."
I think CLEO originally represented an acronym: “CLuster Environment Operator”* . This seems to cross-check with the stylized trademark, below, which has separators between the letters, as “CL|E|O”. The CLEO software seems to have run on TurboDOS and does represent a play on the name Cleopatra.
ORIGINS
From the publication “Kelly/Grimes IBM PC compatible computer directory”, c. 1985 (link):
“Phone 1 was incorporated in 1976 to manufacture voice data gathering systems, hence the name, Phone 1, Inc. Over the years a support staff of communications software specialists was assembled and software emerged as the forte. Although successful as a hardware manufacturer, Phone 1 directed its expertise to expanding the quality software programs available and so Phone 1 as a software house evolved.CLEO ADVERTISEMENTS
Today, Phone 1 has risen to the forefront in data communications through its offering of 327X and 3780 emulation programs. Its proprietary software, licensed under the trademark CLEO, has gained the approval of many major OEMs and is offered as a software/hardware package by several OEMs.”
In a nutshell, CLEO products helped personal computers, workstations, and midrange computers to talk to IBM-compatible mainframes.
It’s beautiful....
CLEO advertisement, BYTE magazine’s July 1983 issue (via)
- Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC)
- Binary Synchronous Communication (BSC or Bisync)
- IBM 3270 green-screen terminal
Magic flying floppy diskette carpets (?) (c. 1985, via)
CLEO HISTORY
- Phone 1, Inc. (Phone1), of Rockford, Illinois, forms in1976:
- From the original chairman’s LinkedIn account: “Startup provided communications software solutions to O.E.M.s. After arrival on the PC, Cleo became a software publisher and manufacturer of high-speed modem cards.” (link)
- Some names of prominent employees: Richard E. Newberry, Jeffrey C. Schneider, Gerald Lombardi, Jack G. Adams, and Carol Delheimer (via)
- Interface Systems, Inc. (ISI) – sometime between 1988-1990, this Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company seems to have acquired Phone1 and/or CLEO Software, making it a division of the company
- Tumbleweed Communications, of Scottsdale, Arizona, acquires ISI in 2000, and, as a condition of the acquisition, divests ISI’s Cleo solutions group (note: this divesture saves CLEO Software from Axway’s 2008 acquisition of Tumbleweed Communications)
- DFI Communications – in 2000, this Rockford, Illinois-based company purchases the newly divested Cleo Communications Solutions...Brian Hampton, of DFI Communications, becomes CLEO Communications Solutions CEO & president
- Globe Equity Partners – in 2012, this California private equity investment firm acquires CLEO Communications...chief principals of Globe Equity Partners, Mahesh Rajasekharan and Sumit Garg, take over as CLEO CEO and president, respectively, with Brian Hampton stays on as advisor
TRADEMARKS OVER TIME - JUST FOR FUN
Circa 1980’s (Phone 1, Inc)...my favorite
Circa 1996 (ISI)
Circa 2001 (DFI)
Circa 2007 (DFI)
Present (Global Equity Partners)
The end.
* Go to the copyright.gov "Search Records" page, select "Search By" value Keyword, enter "Phone 1" in textbox "Search for", select button "Begin Search"...on the results screen, see result, "Cluster environment operator : Cleo 1.01 : user's guide for TurboDos."
Sprint acronym
Via:
"Sprint’s moniker dates to the mid-1970s, when it stood for “Southern Pacific Railroad Internal Networking Telephony.”)"
Thursday, January 15, 2015
A very special DragonForce Christmas
Something my wife and I joked around about over the break--will DragonForce ever make a Christmas album? If so, and I hear about it, I will publish it here.
Adaptation
"Stratton wore special glasses which inverted images up and down and left and right for over a week, and discovered that the human brain could adapt to these new conditions."
Hrm--sounds like an interesting experiment.
Via: http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2015/01/14/crazy-helmets-let-you-see-like-an-animal-wearablewednesday/
Hrm--sounds like an interesting experiment.
Via: http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2015/01/14/crazy-helmets-let-you-see-like-an-animal-wearablewednesday/
You Will Be My Son - Film
Watched the 2011 film "You Will Be My Son" (French: Tu seras mon fils) this evening with a friend. Niels Arestrup crackles as Father while Patrick Chesnais plays the increasingly troubled estate steward. Nicolas Bridet plays Chesnais' preternaturally gifted son--over-praised by Arestrup--whose re-appearance sets in motion the movie's central conflict and story arcs of each main character.
Lush, outstanding cinematography of vineyards and estate buildings. My only regret--not having a glass of wine to drink while viewing. Casting seemed spot-perfect for all players.
The contrast between the warm, initial re-uniting of Chesnais and Bridet, at the beginning of the movie, and their later, wounded and hurting meetings, struck me. As observers, we see Arestrup's son, played skillfully by Lorànt Deutsch, peacefully interacting with Chesnais, making educated and insightful assessments of how to step-in and save the harvest, due to Chesnais' absence. Arestrup may have a point in that Deutsch does not have Chesnais' palette or nose; but Arestrup's judgments of his son prevent Arestrup from seeing him as anything but a burden.
The tension builds and builds--it seems a foregone conclusion the denouement will involve violence, but the resolution did come a bit unexpectedly, though the movie telegraphs it pretty clearly, in retrospect. Arestrup tells his story in three parts: first, to Deutsch, he relates how he falsely reported his own father's death as drowning in a local river, due to inebriation, to cover-up the the actual cause of death--drowning in a wine vat after succumbing to carbon dioxide fumes given off by the fermentation process (the false report allowed Arestrup to sell the wine and avoid tarnishing the name of the estate); second, to Bridet, confiding in him Arestrup's father's decision to adopt Arestrup, after observing his skill in maintaining the estate--echoing Arestrup's own fixation on Bridet as a non-biological heir; and third, to Deutsch, near the end of the film, explaining how the birth of a sickly Deutsch transformed Deutsch's mother, in Arestrup's opinion, from joyful to exhausted--revealing the root of Arestrup's animus toward Deutsch and, in effect, guilting Deutsch with her death.
I loved the drawing of the stick-figure on Anne Marivin's belly near the end. She plays a loyal supporting role, throwing elbows when needed to temper Arestrup's caustic barbs, which have beaten down Deutsch, by the start of the film.
Chesnais and Valérie Mairesse, as Chesnais' wife and Bridet's mother, to me, represent an oasis of safety for Deutsch--we see their genuine concern and caring for him, as the viewer might expect, given their long history with the estate and Arestrup. Deutsch confides in them and Chesnais' treats him as a peer, confirming Deutsch's analysis as sound. We can clearly see Chesnais' growing pain as he watches his son Bridet's choices--ignoring the needs of Deutsch to meet Arestrup's needs and his own. The conflict between them resolves with raised voices and a falling out. The last we see of Bridet, he does not have time to talk to Chesnais or attend Chesnais' health appointment...it seems Chesnais, perhaps, sees his son turning into Arestrup. In an attempt to save Bridet from continuing down that path, Chesnais murders Arestrup by asphyxiation from carbon dioxide released from the fermentation--an echoing of Arestrup's own father's death.
This development opens up questions, perhaps, of whether Arestrup's father truly died accidentally...or, teasingly, leaving me wondering if Chesnais' father killed Arestrup's father? And, if so, did Chesnais know, or, like Bridet, did he take on the role in ignorance of his own father's actions?
Other ambiguities: who inherits the estate after Arestrup's death? It seems Deutsch and Marivin will leave to start their family. Did Arestrup formally adopt Bridet before his death, and, in so doing, make Bridet an heir to the estate?
So much to praise about this movie. If it does not make you want a glass of wine, nothing will.
Note: as perhaps the weirdest pairing of all time, we first watched the 2014 animated film The Nut Job. The consensus: it was OK, but forgettable...so much human effort put into the film--at least they made a sizable profit. Never has Psy's Gangnam Style seemed so dated as watching him dance in the ending credits. A catchy tune, but it has not aged well.
Lush, outstanding cinematography of vineyards and estate buildings. My only regret--not having a glass of wine to drink while viewing. Casting seemed spot-perfect for all players.
The contrast between the warm, initial re-uniting of Chesnais and Bridet, at the beginning of the movie, and their later, wounded and hurting meetings, struck me. As observers, we see Arestrup's son, played skillfully by Lorànt Deutsch, peacefully interacting with Chesnais, making educated and insightful assessments of how to step-in and save the harvest, due to Chesnais' absence. Arestrup may have a point in that Deutsch does not have Chesnais' palette or nose; but Arestrup's judgments of his son prevent Arestrup from seeing him as anything but a burden.
The tension builds and builds--it seems a foregone conclusion the denouement will involve violence, but the resolution did come a bit unexpectedly, though the movie telegraphs it pretty clearly, in retrospect. Arestrup tells his story in three parts: first, to Deutsch, he relates how he falsely reported his own father's death as drowning in a local river, due to inebriation, to cover-up the the actual cause of death--drowning in a wine vat after succumbing to carbon dioxide fumes given off by the fermentation process (the false report allowed Arestrup to sell the wine and avoid tarnishing the name of the estate); second, to Bridet, confiding in him Arestrup's father's decision to adopt Arestrup, after observing his skill in maintaining the estate--echoing Arestrup's own fixation on Bridet as a non-biological heir; and third, to Deutsch, near the end of the film, explaining how the birth of a sickly Deutsch transformed Deutsch's mother, in Arestrup's opinion, from joyful to exhausted--revealing the root of Arestrup's animus toward Deutsch and, in effect, guilting Deutsch with her death.
I loved the drawing of the stick-figure on Anne Marivin's belly near the end. She plays a loyal supporting role, throwing elbows when needed to temper Arestrup's caustic barbs, which have beaten down Deutsch, by the start of the film.
Chesnais and Valérie Mairesse, as Chesnais' wife and Bridet's mother, to me, represent an oasis of safety for Deutsch--we see their genuine concern and caring for him, as the viewer might expect, given their long history with the estate and Arestrup. Deutsch confides in them and Chesnais' treats him as a peer, confirming Deutsch's analysis as sound. We can clearly see Chesnais' growing pain as he watches his son Bridet's choices--ignoring the needs of Deutsch to meet Arestrup's needs and his own. The conflict between them resolves with raised voices and a falling out. The last we see of Bridet, he does not have time to talk to Chesnais or attend Chesnais' health appointment...it seems Chesnais, perhaps, sees his son turning into Arestrup. In an attempt to save Bridet from continuing down that path, Chesnais murders Arestrup by asphyxiation from carbon dioxide released from the fermentation--an echoing of Arestrup's own father's death.
This development opens up questions, perhaps, of whether Arestrup's father truly died accidentally...or, teasingly, leaving me wondering if Chesnais' father killed Arestrup's father? And, if so, did Chesnais know, or, like Bridet, did he take on the role in ignorance of his own father's actions?
Other ambiguities: who inherits the estate after Arestrup's death? It seems Deutsch and Marivin will leave to start their family. Did Arestrup formally adopt Bridet before his death, and, in so doing, make Bridet an heir to the estate?
So much to praise about this movie. If it does not make you want a glass of wine, nothing will.
Note: as perhaps the weirdest pairing of all time, we first watched the 2014 animated film The Nut Job. The consensus: it was OK, but forgettable...so much human effort put into the film--at least they made a sizable profit. Never has Psy's Gangnam Style seemed so dated as watching him dance in the ending credits. A catchy tune, but it has not aged well.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Gaming and social justice viewpoints
Via Jeff Vogel's "Storytelling, Critical Nitpickery, and the Dragon Age":
"Dragon Age: Inquisition is pretty much a shopping list of almost every social justice wish list item you could hope for. Female player option? Check. Gay characters and same-sex romances? Check. Trans character? Check. (!) Bechdel Test? Hell, if you roll a female character, you can easily be 20 minutes into the game before you hear a male character say a line. More if you spend a lot of time looking for Elfroot.
And yet, DAL:I as much of a hardcore gamery game as the gameriest gamer could want, and while applause is not unanimous, gamers are giving the thing a fair chance. Which has a message for both sides. For gamers: It is possible to have a big, fun gamer game with a more social justice viewpoint. For activists: Gamers are not evil, mindless orcs. We'll happily play games from all sorts of political points of view as long as they are fun."
Sunday, January 11, 2015
One of *those* guys - anecdote on Richard Stallman
An interesting anecdote from a recent Hacker News discussion, from user gumby:
> You haven't chosen to be the middle ground here. RMS has chosen to make you the middle ground, because that's where he wanted it to be, so he hiked all the way over there to plant his flag in order to move the middle.
I'm sorry: that's a good strategy, but I have known RMS since the late '70s (since back when he still had short hair!) and that is not has strategy. He is earnest, even when it is to his detriment.
Funny anecdote in this regard: I had never really met anyone quite so dogmatic, passionate, principled and resolute as RMS (you can say that whether you agree with him or not -- though roughly, I of course do agree with him). I used to consider him to be a uniquely polarizing figure. Anyway, in the 80s I had a girlfriend who wasn't in computing and had never heard of him. He came out to visit me in California. When she met him, she just commented, "oh, one of those guys."
WTF? Turned out the two of them had grown up in the same neighborhood in the Bronx. She said the 'hood was "full of guys just like him" (although presumably they were obcessed about some other topics). Sadly her family had since moved elsewhere so I never collected empirical confirmation.
kylebrown 23 hours ago | link
I have no idea what your then-girlfriend meant by one of those guys. Or whether the Bronx hood was full of obsessed guys in the '70s?? I am genuinely curious, though.gumby 11 hours ago | link
FWIW I doubt she meant anything judgmental by her remark (approval or disapproval or whatever).
I think she just meant that she saw lots of RMSs growing up: a guy, perhaps a product of his time, who had a certain intensive attitude on a position, a taste for the extremist polemic, strongly held beliefs anchored in moral fervor etc. Also accent, body language, dress, etc. Surely similar people can be found everywhere, but in her case she meant that in the 60s, 70s and 80s Bronx you could get off the train and see bunch of guys that would look to her just like him. She grew up in the same cultural broth, even if it manifested itself differently -- but yes she was and is intense.
I haven't forgotten that simple sentence because it changed something for me: RMS sure can come off as being completely sui generis but really he (like everyone, whether a lowly ant like me or an Issac Newton or Barbara McClintock) is a product not only of self creation but also of his context and upbringing. And realizing that has helped me grow and change (or accept that some things are harder to change than others) over the past few decades.
Previously; Previously; Previously
Smells that comfort
A Quora question listed some.
Wondering again how to communicate smells...have not researched it.
Previously;
Wondering again how to communicate smells...have not researched it.
Previously;
Cupcakes and pizza
Stopped in Davis on the way out of Sacramento on Friday evening and got six cupcakes at Let Them Eat Cake:
- Wake Up Call - Coffee cake with coffee frosting
- Vegan Chocolate - Vegan chocolate cake and frosting
- To Grandmother's House We Go - Gingerbread cake with cream cheese frosting (seasonal, winter)
- Dubliner - Guinness Stout chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream
- Scarlett - Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting
- Down by the Sea - Vanilla cake with salted caramel buttercream
Also, I stopped at the Village Bakery and got two slices of cheese and two slices of veggie.
Collin Street Bakery - Miniature Pecan Cakes
This bakery, from Corsicana, Texas, makes delicious Miniature Pecan Cakes. We have tried two of the four:
- Mini DeLuxe Fruitcake
- Mini Apricot Pecan Cake
They sell them in a set of four, 9 oz. mini cakes (about 5" across), for $55.45.
Note: they also sell Mini Pineapple Pecan Cake and one Mini Apple Cinnamon Pecan Cake.
Citrix Receiver 13.1 for Linux - More Citrix, More Problems
Smiled when I saw Citrix released Citrix Receiver 13.1 for Linux, what seems like a true 64-bit Citrix Receiver client. It seemed to install cleanly to Debian Wheezy--good. It even allowed me to login to my employer's install of Citrix Web Interface 5.? to access XenApp VM hosted apps--promising.
However, selecting a hosted app icon via the Web Interface only seemed to change my mouse cursor from a pointer into a spinning circle for a few seconds, after which it revered to a pointer. Waiting for several minutes, nothing appeared. I tried access in both Mozilla IceWeasel 31.3.0 and Google Chrome 37.0.2062.120. Poking around in /opt/Citrix/ICAClient/, I noted running the binaries seemed to work OK (for example, selfservice)...no core dumps or broken dependencies, it seems.
I also tried installing the Citrix Receiver for HTML5 1.5. This seemed to have similar results as the Citrix Receiver 13.1 for Linux--successful authentication, but no success when selecting hosted app icons.
A WORKAROUND
A brief web search discovered this URL:
http://zo0ok.com/techfindings/archives/1743
which pointed me to /opt/Citrix/ICAClient/wfica.sh . I downloaded the .ICA file after selecting the hosted app icon, then passed the file path to it as a parameter to wfica.sh, as described at the URL. Success.
So, at this point, I know I can run hosted apps manually, which suffices....
Previously; Previously; Previously
However, selecting a hosted app icon via the Web Interface only seemed to change my mouse cursor from a pointer into a spinning circle for a few seconds, after which it revered to a pointer. Waiting for several minutes, nothing appeared. I tried access in both Mozilla IceWeasel 31.3.0 and Google Chrome 37.0.2062.120. Poking around in /opt/Citrix/ICAClient/, I noted running the binaries seemed to work OK (for example, selfservice)...no core dumps or broken dependencies, it seems.
I also tried installing the Citrix Receiver for HTML5 1.5. This seemed to have similar results as the Citrix Receiver 13.1 for Linux--successful authentication, but no success when selecting hosted app icons.
A WORKAROUND
A brief web search discovered this URL:
http://zo0ok.com/techfindings/archives/1743
which pointed me to /opt/Citrix/ICAClient/wfica.sh . I downloaded the .ICA file after selecting the hosted app icon, then passed the file path to it as a parameter to wfica.sh, as described at the URL. Success.
So, at this point, I know I can run hosted apps manually, which suffices....
Previously; Previously; Previously
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Pack of Lies
Listened to a riveting performance of Pack of Lies, the play, on the drive last night. I heard the 2004 or 2005 version produced by L.A. Theatre Works and recorded in front of a live audience.
The performance features Martin Jarvis as Stewart and Rosalind Ayres as Barbara Jackson. In real life, Jarvis and Ayres married each other in 1974.
The performance features Martin Jarvis as Stewart and Rosalind Ayres as Barbara Jackson. In real life, Jarvis and Ayres married each other in 1974.
Description
Actual events during the Cold War inspired this thriller that takes place in a suburb of London during the autumn and winter of 1960-1961. Loyalty, duty, and friendship collide when the Jacksons slowly discover the Krogers, their neighbors and cherished friends, are not what they appear. A gripping play that may leave you wondering exactly what it is those nice people next door are really up to. Starring (in alphabetical order): Megan Austin Oberle as Julie, Sally Rosalind Ayres as Barbara Jackson Roxanne Hart as Helen Kroger Martin Jarvis as Stewart Sione Owen as Thelma Julian Sands as Bob Jackson David Selby as Peter Kroger.
Friday, January 09, 2015
'Meeting d'Aviation Nice', France, 1910
What a view!
"Description
Photolithographic poster, with artwork by Charles Dana Gibson. This poster was produced for an early aviation meeting in Nice, France, held from 10 to 25 April 1910, and shows an airman flying above the coastal town of Nice, scattering flowers from his aeroplane. The prize money offered at Nice totalled 210,000 francs (£9,000), and the speed prize was won by Efimoff at 35 miles an hour. The sport and spectacle of the first meetings were instrumental in the great rise in popularity of aviation in the first two decades of the 20th century.
Artist
Gibson, Charles Dana
Image Ref.
10200845"
Via: http://www.ssplprints.com/image/82420/gibson-charles-dana-meeting-daviation-nice-france-1910
Saturday, January 03, 2015
Blocking receptor in brain’s immune cells counters Alzheimer’s in mice, study finds
A Stanford study:
Blocking receptor in brain’s immune cells counters Alzheimer’s in mice, study finds
Brain cells called microglia chew up toxic substances and cell debris, calm inflammation and make nerve-cell-nurturing substances. New research shows that keeping them on the job may prevent neurodegeneration.
http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2014/12/blocking-receptor-in-brains-immune-cells-counters-alzheimers.htmlKEY TERMS
- microglia: a defense cell which regulates brain health, sort of like an immune cell
- EP2: a receptor on microglia
- PGE2: binds to EP2, causing microglia overstimulation and deterioration, which may ultimately lead to brain inflammation (means: prostaglandin E2)
- Aspirin: provides upstream help by preventing certain enzymes from forming molecules which then get converted into PGE2
- A-beta: microglia control the brain levels of this protein...can form clusters toxic to nerve cells--Alzheimer’s plaques
KEY TAKEAWAY
Brain immune system health (via microglia) seems to decline over time. Researchers have found a rather preliminary (in my opinion), but promising, way to restore microglial fitness by silencing microglia receptor EP2, which, when overstimulated, causes microglia deterioration. Researchers have not fully explored the consequences of doing this, it seems (?)
NOTES
Researchers increased the load of A-beta levels in brain cells with and without EP2 receptors and found several different results:
- Young brain cells did just fine with increased A-beta loads
- Older brain cells struggled with increased A-beta loads...perhaps as a result of less fit microglia
- When researchers silenced receptor EP2 on older brain cells, microglial fitness increased
Friday, January 02, 2015
Donnelly Chocolates
Visited this small shop on Mission the afternoon of New Year's Eve:
https://www.donnellychocolates.com/
Met Henry Donnelly at the cashier. He suggested reports of whale sightings from around 11:00 a.m., down at the beach. We later would check things out, but did not see anything.
Read more about their recent recognition:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/20130213/national-geographic-names-richard-donnelly-fine-chocolates-one-of-10-worlds-best-chocolatiers
Richard Donnelly, incidentally, attended Ripon College in Wisconsin.
The chocolate looks very smooth and consistent in color and dense. We purchased a dark chocolate ice cream bar with sea salt, a bar of dark chocolate dark French roast, a peanut-butter dark chocolate bar, and a dark-chocolate caramel sea salt bar. All delicious.
https://www.donnellychocolates.com/
Met Henry Donnelly at the cashier. He suggested reports of whale sightings from around 11:00 a.m., down at the beach. We later would check things out, but did not see anything.
Read more about their recent recognition:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/20130213/national-geographic-names-richard-donnelly-fine-chocolates-one-of-10-worlds-best-chocolatiers
Richard Donnelly, incidentally, attended Ripon College in Wisconsin.
The chocolate looks very smooth and consistent in color and dense. We purchased a dark chocolate ice cream bar with sea salt, a bar of dark chocolate dark French roast, a peanut-butter dark chocolate bar, and a dark-chocolate caramel sea salt bar. All delicious.
The Theory of Everything
Watched Subject at The Nickelodeon in Santa Cruz, on Lincoln Street. "The Nick" represents a cozy, locally-owned and operated theater, which resides a block away from Pacific Avenue, downtown. This was our first visit. We bought a medium popcorn and a plastic bag of caramel popcorn for later, sitting in theater #3.
The movie does an exceptional job showing the personal side of family life with an ALS member. It only rarely shows an aside of Hawking's later academic life. The parts where he begins struggling with muscle control feel tense; the frustration is real.
The University of Cambridge comes out looking marvelous. Cows grazing, wood paneling, tiny bunked rooms, croquet, rowing, hedges...such an alien world from corporate life. David Thewlis played Hawking's thesis supervisor, Dennis Sciama. In one scene, he brings Hawking to a University of Cambridge laboratory and invokes the name of J.J. Thompson and Rutherford, then leaves him to absorb it all in.
A surprise cameo: Emily Watson as Jane's mother.
A friend mentioned a late scene where Hawking lets Jane go resonated strongly with her--the tears flow freely and the close shots help bring the audience right into the perspective of each of them. The break-up felt a bit flat, however, in the sense that Hawking let her go only after he had securely met his own needs. The artificial conflict of God seems interesting but tacked-on.
I can understand why people tamp down their marks a bit when rating it. It covers a lot of ground. It goes for depth and compassion in a complicated (to put it mildly) relationship. It aims high and ends up a bit flat, though no fault of the lead actors.
The scene introducing Hawking's Equalizer software (I think?) seemed fresh. Four words per minute.
Hawking comes across as someone with raw talent, who finds inspiration in a lecture by Penrose. Wikipedia says Jane's love gave him something to live for, however.
The movie does an exceptional job showing the personal side of family life with an ALS member. It only rarely shows an aside of Hawking's later academic life. The parts where he begins struggling with muscle control feel tense; the frustration is real.
The University of Cambridge comes out looking marvelous. Cows grazing, wood paneling, tiny bunked rooms, croquet, rowing, hedges...such an alien world from corporate life. David Thewlis played Hawking's thesis supervisor, Dennis Sciama. In one scene, he brings Hawking to a University of Cambridge laboratory and invokes the name of J.J. Thompson and Rutherford, then leaves him to absorb it all in.
A surprise cameo: Emily Watson as Jane's mother.
A friend mentioned a late scene where Hawking lets Jane go resonated strongly with her--the tears flow freely and the close shots help bring the audience right into the perspective of each of them. The break-up felt a bit flat, however, in the sense that Hawking let her go only after he had securely met his own needs. The artificial conflict of God seems interesting but tacked-on.
I can understand why people tamp down their marks a bit when rating it. It covers a lot of ground. It goes for depth and compassion in a complicated (to put it mildly) relationship. It aims high and ends up a bit flat, though no fault of the lead actors.
The scene introducing Hawking's Equalizer software (I think?) seemed fresh. Four words per minute.
Hawking comes across as someone with raw talent, who finds inspiration in a lecture by Penrose. Wikipedia says Jane's love gave him something to live for, however.
Thursday, January 01, 2015
Hawaii State Fish
Reef triggerfish, or: Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
HOOMOO HOOMOO NOOKOO NOOKOO AH POO AH AH
HOOMOO HOOMOO NOOKOO NOOKOO AH POO AH AH
It means, "triggerfish with a snout like a pig."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)