Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Plesiosauria Columba domestica: “The Monster of Monterey”

Dawn and I saw this artwork, on Monday:
Plesiosauria Columba domestica
“The Monster of Monterey” is inspired by the history, places and myths of Monterey Bay. Its humorous construction is taken from the 20th century stories of sea monsters found washed ashore. Its body is a larger than life pigeon skeleton combined with the tail, flippers and skull of a Plesiosaur suspended from the long boom of a luffing crane common to docks and ports. The sculpture is a hybrid built from disparate pieces just as myths are constructed from memories of everyday and unexplained experiences, fishing stories, and tall tales.
The Monster is currently installed in Santa Cruz, CA at the intersection of Pacific Ave. and Front St.
http://arnoldmartin.com/art-works/construct/the-monster-of-monterey-bay-santa-cruz-ca/

It's between Lulu Carpenter's and the post office.

Hair: Fashion and Fantasy by Laurent Philippon

Hair: Fashion and Fantasy
by Laurent Philippon

http://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/hair-fashion-and-fantasy-softcover

Coffee table book I read, while waiting for Dawn's Sunday morning hair blowout, at salon Ginger Stylebar.

Monday, July 11, 2016

South Korea

PHONE


UCSC
  • TODO:
    • Before travel:
      • Complete form "Payee Setup 204"
      • Request CruzID Gold, if not yet obtained (for Connexxus access, and so forth)
      • Travel Advance Request (?): Complete for conference fees, etc.
      • Get Departmental Pre-Approval for Your Trip
      • Make Sure Your Payment Information is Up to Date
      • Pick a Way to Pay for Your Trip
      • Book Your Travel Through Connexxus or Another Means
        • Prepare an airfare cost analysis, comparing the cost of direct travel to the business destination, to the cost of mixed personal and business travel (an example, via Mixing Business with Pleasure? > Example of a Cost Comparison, and/or Getting "There" > How to Prepare a Cost Comparison)
          • Generally, airfare from point A to B (and B to A for return) is used as the baseline reimbursement for most business travel. Alternate modes of transportation will be compared to the cost of a round trip flight and its associated costs (e.g. shuttle, airport parking). You will be reimbursed the lesser of the two costs. 
          • Details:
            • Using Connexxus or another internet booking tool, print an estimate of a round trip coach flight to your business location using the business travel dates. Include cost of transportation to and from the airport--from your home or headquarters, whichever is closer
            • Attach the printed estimate to your Travel Advance Request, or Post Travel Expense form
            • In the form you submit, record the lesser of the two costs and include a comment that you elected to take an alternate mode of transportation that was more expensive
          • Basics:
            • Direct Travel Route to the Business Destination
            • Actual Travel Route to the Business Destination
      • Before Booking: 
      • Review the travel package with the appropriate travel expense approver or departmental/divisional office to determine which costs will be reimbursed.
      • Confirm with the package vendor that the receipt for the package will contain an itemized breakdown of component costs, including airfare, car rental, hotel, meals, etc.
    • Travel Processhttps://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Travel_Process.aspx
    • Travel "Keys"https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Travel_Keys.aspx
    • Travel Formshttps://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Travel_Forms.aspx
    • Travel Training
    • FAST/AP Team Member
      • For assistance, locate your team from the listings below. If your unit / division is not listed, contact any FAST/AP Team Supervisor or call the FAST Help line at 459-4488.
      • Ostermeier, Karen - CE (Computer Engineering)
      • kloster@ucsc.edu
      • 459-1094
    • Travel Guide (that is, all the details):
      •  https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/travel_guide.aspx
      • Before you start:
        • before receiving a UCSC non-payroll payment.
      • Allowable expenses:
        • Baggage, checking and storage fees
        • Business office expenses:
          • Equipment rentals
          • Purchase of materials and supplies
          • Laundering, cleaning, or pressing of clothing if a trip is longer than six days
        • Meals and incidentals:
        • Travel is less than 30 days in one location: Reimbursement is based on US Department of State Federal Maximum Travel Per Diem Allowance for Foreign Areas
          • Direct links:
            • Above links to Taejon, an alias for Daejeon
            • Per Diem Rates, effective 2016-09-01:
              • Maximum Lodging Rate: $USD 124
              • M & IE Rate: $USD 82
              • Maximum Per Diem Rate: $USD 206
            • Breakdown of Meals/Incidentals Meal & Incidental Expenses (M&IE):
              • Get Per Diem rate, via above link
              • Calculate M&IE breakdown, by table
              • M & IE rate of 82 = 
                • Breakfast: $USD 12
                • Lunch: $USD 21
                • Dinner: $USD 33
                • Incidentals: $USD 16
        • Rail or bus travel: Rail or bus transportation may be used when required by the destination or by business necessity.
        • Special fees for foreign travel: passport photographs
        • Obtaining a passport, visa, tourist card, and necessary photographs
          • Certificates of birth, health, identity, and related affidavits
          • Currency conversion and check cashing fees
          • Traveler’s checks
          • Hiring guides, translators, and local labor
        • Telephone calls
          • Local and long distance telephone business calls are reimbursable
          • In addition, one reasonably brief, non-emergency, personal call home per day is reimbursable
      • Ways to Process
        • Overview
          • International travel:
            • International trip booking is available through Connexxus providers BCD or UC Travel Center, accessible through Connexxus' Premier Gateway website
            • Option 1: Search for the best deal and reserve the itinerary for 24 hours. Call BCD or UC Travel Center for an agent to book the reserved itinerary.
            • Option 2: Have an agent search for the best deal. Search fee: $0 (BCD & UC Travel) Agent calls BCD or UC Travel Center Agency booking fees are contingent on the airline and complexity of the itinerary
          • Travel insurance:
            • Connexxus users: Travelers are automatically signed up for UC Risk Insurance for intra U.S. travel and International travel through BCD and UC Travel
            • Non-Connexxus users: If you are traveling to an out-of-state or foreign destination, it is required that you register for UC-provided travel insurance through the UC Risk Services website to ensure coverage protection
        • Types of Travel
          • Mixed Business and Personal Travel
            • should be approved in advance
          • Spouse / Domestic Partner of Traveler: not allowable, as I'm not contributing significantly to the business events
        • Direct Billing Process and Direct Billable Vendors
          • Using Connexxus to direct bill your department for airfare can be completed by selecting "Book Now" located next to BCD Travel
          • Airport shuttles
        • Group travel: ???
        • Air travel
          • Connexxus is the preferred choice when booking air travel
          • “bundled” airfare and lodging packages obtained through an Internet travel agency will only be reimbursed if the agency provides a detailed receipt or invoice that separately identifies the costs of airfare, hotel, and incidentals
          • book coach or economy class airfare
          • Airport parking: For travel exceeding 24 hours, lower-cost, longer-term parking options should be used
        • Airport Shuttle Service
          • Discounted prices are only available to UCSC employee business travelers
          • See Group Travel
        • Receipt and Documentation Requirements
          • Note: Photocopies of receipts are not an acceptable substitute for original receipts.
          • Electronic receipts are acceptable as long as the detail provided is sufficient to substantiate the expense
      • Ways to Pay
        • Overview
          • Paying expenses for another traveler is not allowed unless it is for a shared hotel room
          • Airfare Op​​tions
            • ​​​Direct Billing - Select BCD in Connexxus: No
            • ​​Pay out of pocket: Yes
            • Pay With UC Travel Card Via Connexxus: No
          • Conference Registration
            • ​​​Pay Directly By UCSC:  Yes
            • ​​Pay out of pocket: Yes
            • Pay With UC Travel Card​​: No
          • ​​​Shuttle Service Options
            • ​​Direct Bill UCSC Via Specific Providers: Yes
            • ​Pay Out of Pocket: Yes
            • Pay With UC Travel Card​​: No
          • Hotel Options
            • Book Via Connexxus - Out of Pocket: No
            • Book Via Connexxus - Use UC Travel Card: No
            • Cash Advance for Hotel Costs​​: Yes
            • ​Pay Out of Pocket: Yes
          • Rental Car Options
            • ​Book Via Connexxus - Out of Pocket: No
            • Book Via Connexxus - Use UC Travel Card​​: No
            • Cash Advance for Rental Car Costs: No
            • Fleet Services Reservations: No
            • ​Pay Out of Pocket​: Yes
          • Non-employees
            • Post Travel Expense: Obtain reimbursement after travel concludes by completing and submitting a Post_Travel_Expense form within 45 days of trip completion.
            • Travel Advance Request: For incoming travelers, payment may be made directly for lodging by submitting a Travel Advance Request form.
        • Authorization​​ and Approvals
          • UC Travel Center Booking: Obtain a trip number by completing a Travel Advance Request prior to purchasing airfare from UC Travel Center
          • Travel Advance Request: Submit a Travel Advance Request if requesting a travel cash advance or prepayment of an expense
          • Post Travel Requirements: Report expenses after travel concludes using the Post_Travel_Expense within 45 days of trip completion.
        • Post Travel Expense Report Form
          • Original itemized receipts for each of the following types of expenses must accompany the Post_Travel_Expense to substantiate each expense’s necessity, appropriateness, and reasonableness
          • Divisional Funding Authorizer
            • responsible for reviewing and approving the report
            • supervisor, department chair, or senior campus official, who has been officially delegated authority to approve the funding for the payment of your travel expenses
          • Avoid these common Post Travel Expense oversights
            • Not including a written business purpose for travel
            • Forgetting to submit original, itemized receipts supporting each travel expense requiring substantiation
            • Forgetting to forward the Post_Travel_Expense to the Divisional Funding Authorizer for review and approval
            • Forgetting to reference trip number, if applicable.
            • Forgetting to provide departmental account code (FOAPAL) information
            • A non-resident alien forgetting to submit visa documentation, including a copy of the traveler’s visa, a Form I-94 Arrival Departure Record, or a Certification of Academic Activity Form.
            • Forgetting to sign the forms
            • First-time traveler forgetting to submit a Payee_Setup_204
  • Other:
travel.state.gov > Passports & International Travel > Country Information > Korea, South
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/korea-south.html

  • Vaccinations: None
  • Passport pages: one page per entry stamp
  • Tourist visa: None required for stays under 90 days or less

Embasssy of the United States > Seoul, Korea > U.S. Citizen Services >
Travel Announcements and Security
http://seoul.usembassy.gov/acs_american_citizen_services.html

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
https://step.state.gov/step/

Prescription drugs:

Pet boarding:
  • Bed & Biscuits Cat Boarding: http://www.bedandbiscuits.com/cat-boarding/
  • Peace of Mind Pet Sitting: http://peaceofmindpet.com/PetSittingservices.html
    • Includes mail pick-up, water plants, etc.
    • Rates for Vacation Visits for homes with Cats, Birds, or Pocket Pets *Only*: 
      • 20 Minute Visit - $20.00 & up per visit
      • 30 Minute Visit - $25.00 & up per visit
    • Keys:
      • We do collect 2 keys at the Free Consultation, one for sitter use and one for back-up. 
      • We do not allow keys to be left under mats, in mail boxes or anywhere else unsecured. We want your home and pets safe
      • Key Pick up - $10 If you need us to pick up your key for scheduled services and not at the Free Consultation. We will schedule a sitter to meet you at your convenience. 
      • Key Drop off - $10 If you would like your key back, we will schedule a sitter to meet you at your convenience. We do not mail keys as keys have gotten lost that way. 
      • Lock box - $20 This is a lock box that is secured to your front door and is yours to keep, you can leave your key in there and will never leave your property. We can give this to you at the Free Consultation or Deliver one at a time good for you.
    • Contact
      • Phone: 831.392.8020
      •  Other: ???
Passports:
  • 2016-07-11 Passport applications submitted: 
    • Kevin in person, at the Santa Cruz County Clerk's Office (more than 15 years since last issuance)
    • Dawn mailed, via USPS (less than 15 years since last issuance)
  • ???
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TRAVEL CHECKLIST

  • Carry-on:
    • Eye-mask
    • Travel-sized toiletries:
      • Hair brush
      • Toothbrush
      • Toothpaste
      • Mini deodorant
      • Dry shampoo (recommended: Oscar Blandi)
    • Linen face blotters
    • Refreshing face spray
    • Electronics:
      • Laptop
      • Laptop Charger
      • International power adapters
      • Mini power strip
      • Cell phone
      • Cell phone charger
      • Flashdrive
      • Dongles which use regularly
      • Any adapters needed to connect your computer to a projector
      • Extra:
        • Kindle
        • Noise-canceling headphones
  • Traveling
    • Printouts 
      • Condense to one page; keep in wallet/passport bag:
        • Flight information
        • Hotel reservation (with address)
        • Maps
        • Location of the conference center
      • Travel reason proof, for border crossing:
        • Conference registration
        • Talk/poster acceptance letter
    • Water bottle
    • Guides
      • TripAdvisor
      • US Department of State
    • Identification
      • Passport bag around neck
        • Passport
        • Printed copy of passport
        • Boarding passes
  • Conference essentials
    • Business cards
    • Color copies of poster (if presenting one)
    • Note-taking:
      • Writing utensils
      • Notebook (for example, Moleskin)
    • Water bottle
    • Reusable travel mug
    • Umbrella
    • Small purse or bag (note: so don't have to lug laptop bag to dinner)
    • Snacks (granola bars, fruit, nuts)
    • Travel baby wipes, hand sanitizer (note: when bathroom essentials lacking)
    • List of people to introduce yourself to (note: search the program online in advance, workshop, lunch, or field trip)
  • Packing
    • Outfits for each day, plus backup (in case of wardrobe malfunction)
      • Underwear
      • Socks
      • Accessories: belts/leggings, jewelry
    • Outdoor wear
      • Coat
      • Jacket
      • Raincoat
      • Umbrella
      • Hat
      • Mittens
    • Shoes: comfortable, weather appropriate
    • Toiletries:
      • Toothbrush
      • Toothpaste
      • Deodorant
      • Soap
      • Shampoo/conditioner
      • Hair products/hair dryer
      • Nail clippers
      • Shaving needs
      • contact lenses/solution
      • feminine hygiene products
      • bite splints/retainers
      • makeup
      • medication
    • ID:
      • Passport
      • Travel visa (if needed)
      • Wallet
      • Debit/credit cards
    • Talk:
      • Backup (!)
      • Poster (with print-outs, in a poster tube with your contact info)
    • Good to have:
      • Mini sewing kit (for lost buttons, etc.)
      • Travel laundry bag (these are great)
      • Books, papers, or files you need to work while you travel (or finish your talk)
    • Location of lodging, conference center, flight information, transportation itineraries, etc.
  • Before you leave:
    • Notify credit card companies of where and when will travel

  • Resources:
    • https://contemplativemammoth.com/2011/07/21/inqua-2011-part-1-packing-for-a-conference/
    • http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/travel-guide/
    • http://www.onebag.com/



Resources

Saturday, July 09, 2016

Have you ever seen the rain?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_You_Ever_Seen_the_Rain%3F

Heard this Creedence Clearwater Revival song, from from 1970 album "Pendulum", on the Fantasy label, in two different formats, simultaneously, last weekend:

  1. Album version, playing over speakers, at Marini’s Westside, 332 Ingalls St., Santa Cruz
  2. Acoustic guitarist, playing an amplified cover version, on the outdoor patio of MJA Vineyards Westside Tasting Room & Cellar, 328-A Ingalls Street Santa Cruz
Coincidence : ) Different tempo, key, and so forth.

Monday, July 04, 2016

Dawn dress colors

We purchased this candle:
Pacifica Tibetan Mountain Temple Soy Candle

The packaging has these colors, which Dawn would like in a dress:

Orange:
#fc7600
RGB: 250, 117, 0
Hue/Saturation/Lightness: 28, 100, 98

Light blue:
#bce0e0
RGB: 186, 222, 222
HSL: 180, 16, 87

Blue-grey:
#dce3e1
RGB: 220, 227, 225
HSL: 163, 3, 89

Yellow:
#fae370
RGB: 250, 227, 112
HSL: 50, 55, 98

Pink:
#fcab9d
RGB: 250, 170, 157
HSL: 8, 37, 98

Red:
#b8311f
RGB: 184, 49, 31
HSL: 7, 83, 72

Gold:
#a17822
RGB: 161, 119, 35
HSL: 40, 78, 63



Saturday, July 02, 2016

San Francisco Opera: Opera at the Ballpark: Bizet’s "Carmen":

San Francisco Opera: Opera at the Ballpark presents Bizet’s "Carmen":
Where: AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza,
              San Francisco, CA 94107 
When: Saturday, July 2 at 7:30pm
Details:
http://sfopera.com/discover-opera/free-events/san-francisco-opera-at-att-park/

Parking spot:
Spothero, 120 Hawthorne St. - Lot

What we consumed:
  • Colossal Dog with sauerkraut
  • Root beer
  • Bavarian Jumbo Pretzel, salted
  • Blue Moon beer
  • Regular fries
  • Guinness beer
We purchased a SF Opera fleece blanket. It helped, but we ended up leaving during the intermission, due to cool weather and wind.

Thoughts, for next time:
  • Windy, so bundle up even more so
  • Blanket
  • Food
We last saw Verdi's "Rigoletto", on Saturday, September 15, 2012. At that time, we had brats and beer, sitting in the bleachers. We parked and walked to the event, but took the shuttle back, I think. After the performance, we walked around the infield a bit.


Thursday, June 30, 2016

Stanford University's R. Buckminster Fuller Digital Collection:

Stanford University Library's R. Buckminster Fuller Digital Collection:
https://collections.stanford.edu/bucky/bin/page?forward=home
The R. Buckminster Fuller Digital Collection consists of audio and video materials culled and digitally reformatted from the R. Buckminster Fuller Collection at Stanford. This project is supported in part by a grant from the federal Save America's Treasures Program, a joint program of the National Parks Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Free registration required.

Monday, June 27, 2016

KDFC Coming to Monterey Bay

Excited--KDFC coming to the Monterey Bay:

Predicted Coverage Area for 103.9 FM, Seaside, CA
https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/106846/mount-wilson-divests-two-monterey-signals-to-usc/
http://universityofsoutherncalifornia.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/j/6F2BE3A1CE91F93F/4FD4882CCFD369A6A10BC276F201ED4B

USC Radio Group, which operates KDFC, gets the 95.9FM and 103.9FM frequency spectrum, which they will get new call numbers for.

Saul Levine represents the current owner of the two stations, via Mt. Wilson Broadcasters, Inc., of Los Angeles. It seems he supports classical music and this may represent his way of passing the torch. Saul will retain the existing call numbers and convert them to non-commercial status.
Predicted Coverage Area for KMZT 95.9 FM, Big Sur, CA
We occasionally listen to KMZT 95.9FM, at our Santa Cruz apartment, which comes through, but a bit fuzzily. This may give us a clearer signal. : )

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Pogonip hike

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6894506

Sights:
The San Lorenzo River Trail Run - 50 Km Marathon 30 Km Half Marathon 10 Km
Mass of One stickers...seems like their web site no longer exists (?) for example
GetAround.com - car sharing...the car we saw drove away with a drink on the top, which promptly fell off : (



Cat weight loss

Cat weight loss:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/03/03/weight-loss-for-fat-cats.aspx

Hill's Prescription Diet
t/d Feline
Dry 3498 kcal/kg (268 kcal/cup†)

c/d Multicare Feline Stress
Dry 3871 kcal/kg (351 kcal/cup†)

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Wear Navy

I disagree:
"Why you should wear black"
http://om.co/2016/06/15/why-you-should-wear-black/
My pale skin looks like a ghost, in black, but, for different people, it looks amazing. On the other hand, navy works, for me.

Also, too: the dress is blue and gold.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Radio Songs

Heard on 94.1 FM KPFA out of Berkeley, California:

Brazil-native Teresa Cristina's "Pranto de Poeta", from her 2016 album "Canta Cartola (Ao Vivo)", on the Uns Produções e Filmes label. Audio.

Maravilha!

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Myopia, Astigmatism - 2016

Results of my Saturday test, from the CostCo Santa Cruz Optomotrist:

Eyeglass Prescription
O.D. (Oculus Dexter, my right eye):

  • SPH: plano (no refractive error)
  • CYL: -1.00
  • AXIS: 070
  • PRISM/BASE: n/a
  • ADD: n/a
O.S. (Oculus Sinister, my left eye):
  • SPH: -1.00
  • CYL: -0.75
  • AXIS: 089
  • PRISM/BASE: n/a
  • ADD: n/a

RESULTS, TRENDS OVER EIGHT YEARS

First eye exam, in about five years--well overdue...surprised how fast time has gone by.

Overall, my new optometrist did not seem concerned. After obtaining my current prescription (by measuring my current eyeglasses), she noted my left eye had a small astigmatism increase, but remains low.

Nearsightedness seems flat, to me, since 2011. Each eye has changed astigmatism direction, by ten degrees, in opposite directions.
Refractive Power - Nearsightedness (Myopia), 2008-2016
Astigmatism - Amount, 2008-2016

Astigmatism - Direction, 2008-2016

BACKGROUND

All measurements represented in units of dioptres, a unit that represents focusing power. More dioptres mean more focusing power--so if the numbers get big, that means you need a "stronger" prescription to see clearly.

SPH means sphere--a positive number represents farsightedness and a negative number represents nearsightedness. Why? In a farsighted eye, the curve of the cornea is flatter than the curve of a normal cornea, so the correction involves "adding" to the farsighted eye to get it back to normal. In a nearsighted eye, the curve of the cornea extends farther than the curve of the normal cornea, so the correction involves "subtracting" from that curve to bring it back to a normal curvature. The point being to get the cornea back to focusing light on the retina like a normally curved cornea does. The larger the number (positive or negative) the larger the deviation from the normal curvature of the cornea, and the blurrier the vision.

CYL means cylinder, and represents the amount of power needed to correct a cornea with astigmatism (a cornea that's oval-shaped, which causes blurring (see the picture at the top), as opposed to a normal cornea that's symmetrically round like a basketball)--DS means no astigmatism.

AXIS, for astigmatic eyes, represents a line passing through the middle of the oval-shaped cornea--in my case through the longer side. In my right eye, I need minus-one dioptre of correction along the axis specified (see the Wikipedia article for an explanation of why it's not "078" like the prescription says). I believe reducing the focusing power of the longer part of the oval-shaped cornea helps the cornea focus in a more spherical manner.

20/20 vision means the ability to read a character 8.84 mm high at a distance of 20 feet.

Lanna's suggestions on glasses frame colors: navy, light blue, plum.

Pupillary Distance:
I don't think this changes, over time: In 2011, CostCo staff measured my PD for me: 32.5 for each eye, for a total of 65.

Previously:


Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Books

Yellowbill Cafe and Bakery, 1425 14th St, Sacramento, displays two books:

First, a paperback book, from 2007, titled, "7th Letters First", detailing mural artwork by The Seventh Letter collective. From the LA Weekly:
"The seventh letter is, of course, G, which in this case stands for “Gods of Graffiti” and represents what may be the most ambitious, racially diverse and prolific crew ever assembled. With more than 100 members operating under the Seventh Letter banner, names like Revok, Retna, Saber, Push, Rime and Zes are just a few to watch as they fast become L.A.’s modern muralists."
http://www.laweekly.com/arts/the-rise-of-the-seventh-letter-2149613
The book seems out of print, now, and may have represented a promotional tool for a film

More:
http://knowngallery.com/
http://store.theseventhletter.com/
https://www.royalelastics.com/
http://theseventhletter.com/blog/tsl-films/
http://gallery.theseventhletter.com/

Second, a book about coffee, "Hiroshi's Latte Art and Barista Style" (2012)
ISBN-13: 978-4862561091

Capitalism in the Web of Life

Heard this author on 94.1 KPFA FM, out of Berkeley, California:
http://www.jasonwmoore.com/Weboflife.html
Finance. Climate. Food. Work. How are the crises of the 21st century connected? In Capitalism in the Web of Life, Jason W. Moore argues that today’s global turbulence has a common source: capitalism as a way of organizing nature, including human nature. Drawing on environmentalist, feminist, and Marxist thought, Moore offers a groundbreaking new synthesis: capitalism as a “world-ecology” of wealth, power, and nature. Capitalism’s greatest strength – and the source of its crisis today – has been its capacity to create Cheap Natures: labor, food, energy, and raw materials. That capacity is now in question. Rethinking capitalism through the pulsing and renewing dialectic of humanity-in-nature, Moore takes readers on a journey from the rise of capitalism to the crisis today.  The limits to capitalism are real enough. But they cannot be reduced to “natural limits” or “economic crisis.”  They are both – and they are more than their social and environmental dimensions. Capitalism in the Web of Life shows how the critique of capitalism-in-nature – rather than capitalism and nature – is key to understanding the crisis today, and to pursuing the politics of liberation in the century ahead. 
Noting only for reference, later.

Radio Songs

Heard on 94.1 KPFA FM, out of Berkeley, California:

Oakland, California-based Los Rakas' "Abrazame", featuring Faviola (link?), produced by Uproot Andy, a 2011 single. Lyrics. Video; Making of the video. [Note: This seems to represent a cover of Jamaican-native Gyptian's "Hold You", from his 2010 album "Hold You", on the VP and Columbia labels. Video.]

Saturday, May 07, 2016

Dental Plaque Disclosing Tablets

Had never heard of them, until today:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disclosing_tablets


Sacramento <> Ocean City, Maryland Highway Signs

Motorists traveling on 50 East in Sacramento may be familiar with this perfectly normal-looking mileage sign — on first glance, it’s like every other mileage sign along California highways listing the cities you’ll be passing with the number of miles to go.

But on second glance, this sign gives pause — Placerville is about an hour away, and South Lake Tahoe double that, depending on traffic. But why does far-off Ocean City, Maryland merit a mention?

The simple fact is that US 50 paves 3,000-plus miles from Ocean City, Maryland to Sacramento, California, but there’s more to the story.

In the 1980s John R. Cropper, Jr. worked as the head of statewide highway maintenance for Caltrans. Cropper, now 92, was the man who instigated the sign listing Ocean City, MD as 3073 down the road.

“Years ago, I was back in Ocean City, and they had a sign that said, ‘Sacramento California so many thousand miles’ so I thought, ‘well, that’s a pretty good idea, we should reciprocate,’ so we did," Cropper says.

And that was that. Cropper says he didn’t have to get approval from anyone; he had the clout to make it happen, but he was met with some resistance.

“I can remember I got a lot of static from Caltrans people because I had been conducting a campaign to get rid of unnecessary signs — and this really was an unnecessary sign,” says Cropper with a wink. “It didn’t mean anything to anybody except people who had some connection — anyway, it’s still there as far as I know.”

The original sign Caltrans put up indicating the terminus of Highway 50. Wikimedia / Creative Commons
Cropper knew that sign maintenance was expensive. This sign ended up costing the state quite a bit of money because it kept getting stolen.

According to a 2002 article in the Sacramento Bee, the sign was stolen twice, once in 1999 and then again two years later. Caltrans redesigned the sign to include the distances to Placerville and South Lake Tahoe, making it bigger and harder to throw in the back of a truck. But when the new sign went up there was a problem with the mileage. Instead of 3,073 miles to Ocean City, the sign incorrectly read 3,037. Caltrans noticed the error and placed a cover over the last two numbers correcting the mistake.

The Bee article reported that it would have taken two to three months and more than $1,000 to replace the whole sign; the patch solution cost $10.

But let’s go back to Cropper’s original motivation for sign on US 50. Where did the “Sacramento, California” sign in Ocean City, Maryland come from?

On the other side of the continent, we found David Buck, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Highway Administration. Buck’s father, Ed Buck, was a Maryland highway engineer in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. It was his idea to mark the eastern end of Highway 50 in Ocean City.

The terminus of Highway 50 in Ocean City Maryland. Wikimedia / Creative Commons
“Highway signs obviously are very regulated, in terms of what you can put up there. So when you put something up that’s a little different, or a little unusual like this, people take notice,” says the younger Buck.

One of the people who took notice turned out to be the right person who could approve a reciprocal sign in Sacramento. David says Maryland officials did reach out to Sacramento about doing a sign of their own, but it never went anywhere — until Cropper saw the Sacramento sign himself.

“I think it’s neat that my father was part of something that lasted that long," Buck says. "It’s interesting and unique — it’s not standard.”

Link:
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/05/06/two-coasts,-two-cities,-two-signs-the-story-behind-the-ocean-city-md-3073-sign/

Rainy Saturday

Balcony, rain, cats, post-coffee Saturday; if I crane my neck I can see the Pacific Ocean. This is all right.

Banner-towing fixed-wing airplane sign:
HUGE SALE AT ARROW SURF SHOP NOW ! !
http://www.arrowsurfshop.com/

We passed this surf shop earlier, as we went to Jamba Juice, to buy a small Pomegranate Paradise, to soothe Dawn's throat.


Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Grateful Dead - Notes of a first-time listener of the live shows

Listening to Grateful Dead, live, for the first time, really, via the amazing Archive.org resource.

Today, 1989 concerts, from Rich Stadium and Greek Amphitheater.

Live at Rich Stadium on 1989-07-04
https://archive.org/details/gd89-07-04.aud.wiley.9045.sbeok.shnf
"No our love will not fade away" -- a chant to bring the band back, for an encore.

1989-08-19: Greek Theatre, U. Of California
https://archive.org/details/gd89-08-19.sbd.5213.sbeok.shnf

Can't say I'm a big fan, but am finding the rambling live music infectious. Will try to record thoughts as they seem noteworthy.

Sunday, May 01, 2016

Sundown

Second floor, University of California, Santa Cruz McHenry Library, watching the sun set, streaming through redwood tree branches and through multi-story library windows, listening to Grateful Dead, Live at Winterland Arena, on 1977-06-09.

65 F, 29.91 in pressure, clear sky, dew point 49 F, humidity 55%, wind from NNW at 4.2mph, sunset at 7:57 p.m. PDT.

Shoe Shopping, Sockshop and Shoe Company, Santa Cruz:

Shoes seen, at the Sockshop and Shoe Company, Santa Cruz:

Bernie Birdie

A friend placed this Bernie Birdie sticker, in their window.

Noh Masks, at California State University, Sacramento University Library Gallery

The California State University, Sacramento University Library Gallery currently features an exhibit, "Traditions Transfigured Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi", February 11, 2016 - May 21, 2016.

http://www.al.csus.edu/sota/ulg/

"The human face and its expressive potential have inspired artists around the world for millennia. Arguably, Japan’s Noh theater provides an unparalleled domain for exploring emotion and representing the human countenance. Today, Noh continues to inspire a dynamic dialogue between artists from Asia and the west. Expanding on this rich vein, Traditions Transfigured features contemporary works by Bidou Yamaguchi (b. 1970, Fukuoka, Japan). These masks apply the forms, techniques, transformative spirit, and mysterious elegance of Noh masks to iconic female portraits from the European art historical canon, and to Kabuki actor prints by Sharaku, Japan’s enigmatic 18th century portrait master. 
Like a human face, the work of Bidou Yamaguchi opens itself to many angles of interpretation. The product of a Noh mask carver who also creates modern sculpture in the form of masks, Bidou’s art speaks to issues such as cultural identity, gender, portraiture, performance, representation, and appropriation, as well as the roles of beauty and craft in contemporary art. 
Our fundamental premise is that Bidou’s art is informed by the world of Noh, and, in turn, offers insight into this diversely creative realm of theater and image making. We stress the productive links between Bidou’s roles as a “traditional” artisan who works to reproduce old masks and a contemporary artist who makes new objects. We treat these fresh creations as “masks,” although they were not commissioned for use in Noh plays. In fact, the oblique orientation of the eyes in most of these portraits differentiates them from Noh masks. Despite these differences, our approach imagines these works as potential characters in future dramas. 
In the world of Noh, Bidou’s work challenges the conventions of Noh masks and, by extension, might stimulate new types of Noh plays. More expansively, Bidou’s art suggests ways of deploying the aesthetic strategies and ontological assumptions of Noh. This is not simply another strategy for “modernizing within tradition” in Japan, or a new manifestation of Japanese cultural uniqueness with universal application. Bidou’s work is not aimed at any totalizing theory about contemporary art practice, and certainly the artist has produced no manifesto to such an end. 
Instead, his art seems focused on a particular task. Bidou’s masks are a kind of intercession on behalf of half-human, half-artistic spirits. His works are transfigurations that bring about reincarnations into a transformed body (keshin) that is the true body (hontai) for figures like Lisa Gherardini who have become so well known as images (the Mona Lisa) that they all but cease to exist as humans. This act is analogous to the procedure of intercession or recuperation in the texts of Noh plays. However, unlike Noh plays, where this literary rebirth recuperates the socially unacceptable acts and desires of women and other marginalized figures, Bidou gives a new body—literally, a face with the potential of speaking—to persons who have been turned into “ghosts” by mechanical reproduction, popular appropriation, and, perhaps, a deeper unwillingness to comprehend the humanity of people removed from us in time and place. 
Bidou’s art constructs a three-dimensional face for these rhetorical ghosts, and thus brings about an altered understanding of these persons who have become so familiar as images they are almost invisible as the vestiges of souls. Although his art is rooted in a Buddhist worldview, it resonates with the Christian idea of transfiguration as a change in form or appearance that parallels a spiritual change, and it signals the exultant moment when the human meets the divine so that the temporal becomes the eternal. 
By transfiguring both European and Japanese artistic traditions, Bidou Yamaguchi’s work merges past and present. More importantly, it allows contemporary audiences to uncover deeper dimensions of their own humanity. By imagining ourselves wearing different faces, we can forge deeper spiritual connections with each other. 
Kendall H. Brown, PhD
Guest Curator

Dawn's Purse

Noting, for future shopping:
http://www.haikubags.com/

Donaldson Torit, at University of California, Santa Cruz

Saw a Donaldson Torit product, at University of California, Santa Cruz, near the E2 building, of the School of Engineering.

Looked like a collector, of some sort.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Integrated Control Corp. Kitchen Minder Series Quality Grade Display

Saw an Integrated Control Corp. "Kitchen Minder Series" Quality Grade display, at the CSUS Burger King:

At the time, it read, "D+". Curious about what that reflects...service response time (?)
http://www.goicc.com/kmhelp.html

Radio Songs

Listened to KPFA 94.1 FM, out of Berkeley, California, who featured University of Wisconsin, Madison professor Ramzi Fawaz:

"How has the figure of the comic book superhero played into left-wing political projects and aspirations? In his new book, Ramzi Fawaz argues that the reinvention of the American superhero was a response to, and a factor in, the rise of radical political sensibilities and movements in the 1960s and beyond."
Link: https://kpfa.org/episode/against-the-grain-april-25-2016/

Listened to the first part while driving through the Bay Area, then switched to online streaming, for the remainder.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

UC Santa Cruz McHenry Library - 2nd Floor Touch Screen Display

The UC Santa Cruz McHenry Library has a large touch display on the 2nd floor, near the main entrance.

It appears they partnered with vendor Four Winds Interactive, to provide the display hardware and software:
http://www.fourwindsinteractive.com/

Staff write:
"The FourWinds system was installed in the spring of 2012. The screens are 46" NEC / Canvys V462's w/3M Dispersive Signal Technology (DST) Touch Screen overlays. Screen content is driven by Medius FWP61-BSW microcomputers running Windows 7. The interface is proprietary software owned by FourWinds."
Links:



The Science of Making Friends

An article about making friends, as adults:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-science-of-making-friends-1460992572

Monday, April 18, 2016

Superfeet Copper

Replacing stock insoles with size E, of the following:

https://www.superfeet.com/en-us/copper

Tried on just about every style, at REI. They all felt similar, but these have a memory foam top layer, so giving it a try.

Robert L. Canson - First African-American Police Officer, City of Sacramento

Sign reads:

In Memory Of
Robert L. Canson
1918 - 2001

Beloved Peace Officer and Friend
First African-American Police Officer
City of Sacramento

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Radio Songs - Instrumental Surf Music

Kevin has identified Surf Music, specifically, instrumental surf. So good!

Heard on KDVS 90.3 FM out of Davis, CA on Friday, April 15:

  • Show Sub Zero, "Exploring classic and modern instrumental surf music and other styles. The music is so cool it's sub zero."
Note: this answers a question, for me, about what style of music this represents, first recognized while watching The Red Elvises, which Wikipedia repots as performing, "funk rock, surf, rockabilly, reggae, folk rock, disco and traditional Russian styles of music...Their music filled the soundtrack of Lance Mungia's independent film released in 1998, Six-String Samurai, a film in which they also had small roles and screen credits."

Can't wait to learn more/listen more.

FasTrak First Use: Antioch Bridge

Used it first during a north-bound crossing of Antioch Bridge, on Monday, April 4, at noon. Worked great.

Note: had planned to use it while crossing the Benicia–Martinez Bridge, but missed my turn and ended up crossing at the Antioch Bridge.

Cliff Swallows Have Returned To Santa Cruz

Note: not sure if this represents the species we see here, in Santa Cruz, or not 
Wikipedia:
"Petrochelidon is a genus of birds known as cliff-nesting swallows. The genus includes all of the five species of birds commonly called cliff swallow...."
Noticed them this weekend, for the first time this year. They speedily swoop by, circle, dive, ascend. Maybe 12-24 in sight, at any one time? They seem to individually fly, not flock. One web site describes their song: "guttural grating sounds and squeaks" which sounds unpleasant, but seems just fine, to me. Our cats seem to find it all very entertaining.

The birds return annually to nest, then return to South America, to over-winter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochelidon
http://www.nativeanimalrescue.org/the-amazing-swallow/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Santa_Cruz_County,_California

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Banana Slug Sighting - University of California, Santa Cruz

Saw my first banana slug today, on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. Then, 30 seconds later, I saw my second. Both seemed to have spotted citrus fruit peelings.
Banana slug, top center, slowly moving toward citrus peel, bottom center
Weather: 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity 88%. Overcast clouds at 700 feet. 2.2mph wind, from the SSW. Pressure 29.94 inches. Dew point 53 degress Fahrenheit. Slight drizzle. Had rained the previous day. Everything wet and humid and cool and misty and overcast, with tall redwoods all around.

-- UCSC McHenry Library, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Sunday, April 03, 2016

My Golden Days - Film

Heard Subject on the radio in the last week or two; want to see it.

UC Santa Cruz Hike

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6834016
  • Baskin School of Engineering
  • McHenry Library
    • Global Village Cafe
      • Bauru: Ham, tomatoes, melted mozzarella cheese & oregano (we chose the whole wheat baguette)
      • Acerola smoothie: Amazon cherry, banana, strawberries & OJ
      • Now operated by Amazon Juices UCSC
      • Features pastries by Kelly's French Bakery
    • Noticed the newspaper displays had gone dark
    • Liked the regional topographic maps
  • Walked through the UCSC Department of Music building, to view the practice rooms:
    • Older, but well-maintained equipment
    • Several practice rooms occupied, but many free
    • Yamaha Clavinova CLP-122S Digital Piano
      • Year of manufacture: 1992
      • Features: 
        • Master volume slider
        • Reverb
          • OFF ............When no reverb effect is selected (no REVERB indicator is lit), a special natural damper effect is applied to the piano voices. This simulates the natural resonance of an acoustic piano’s strings and sound board when the damper pedal is pressed.
          • ROOM ........This setting add a continuous reverb effect to the sound that is similar to the type of acoustic reverberation you would hear in a medium-size room
          • HALL 1 ......For a “bigger” reverb sound, use the HALL 1 setting. This effect simulates the natural reverberation of a medium-size concert hall
          • HALL 2 ......For a really spacious reverb sound, use the HALL 2 setting. This effect simulates the natural reverberation of a large concert hall
          • COSMIC ....The COSMIC reverb effect produces an echo-plus-reverb sound that can add life and animation to your music
        • MIDI/Transpose: Allows access to the Clavinova’s Transpose function (to shift the pitch of the entire keyboard up or down), keyboard touch sensitivity adjustment, and MIDI functions
        • Voice Selectors: 
          • Piano 1
          • Piano 2
          • Clavinova tone
          • E. piano
          • Harpsichord
          • Organ
        • Pedals:
          • Soft/Sostenuto (Left) Pedal
          • Damper (Right) Pedal
        • Playing the Demonstration Tunes
          • Press the C7 key (right-most) while holding the [MIDI/TRANSPOSE] button
          • Press a selector to start playback of the corresponding tune, featuring the voice normally selected by that voice selector button
          • Tunes:
            • [PIANO 1] .................. “Grande valse brillante” by F. F. Chopin
            • [PIANO 2] .................. “Lake Louise” by Yuhki Kuramoto
            • [CLAVINOVA TONE] “Rêverie” by Debussy
            • [HARPSICHORD] ..... “Invention 3” by J. S. Bach
            • [ORGAN] ................... “Symphonie pour orgue No.5” by Widor
        • Dual Mode: allows selecting and configuring two voices at once
          • Touch sensitivity configuration: Hard/Medium/Soft
          • Transposition:  
            • Shift the pitch of the entire keyboard up or down in semitone intervals up to a maximum of six semitones
            • “Transposing” the pitch of the Clavinova keyboard facilitates playing in difficult key signatures, and you can easily match the pitch of the keyboard to the range of a singer or other instrumentalist
          • Pitch control: Pitch control makes it possible to tune the Clavinova over a ±50-cent range in approximately 1.2-cent intervals
      • Yamaha Upright Acoustical Piano
        • Serial Number 1213490
        • Indicates Hamamatsu, Japan, as the manufacture location, in 1971-1972 (?)
        • Found arrangement, in the piano bench, of Étude Op. 25, No. 7 (Chopin), "alternatively known as the "Cello" due to the prominent melody played in the left hand"
    • Great Meadow Bike Path
    • Passed the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)
    • Service road: had a number of 40 yard dumpster containers, for various materials: plastics, carpets, metals
    • Arboretum, through the back gate, walked into the gift shop
    • Smelled rich foliage smells, reminding me of the ravine near my childhood home
    • Up the hill, to Oakes College
    • Passed a number of signs: Collective Museum, the campus-wide art project by Portland-based artist group Public Doors and Windows (PDW); we sat at Ken's Bench
    • Koi fish
    • Porter Slug Grill and Cafe: open, but we overheard someone asking about something unrelated, and we though it was closed...not a big deal, since we needed cash and the ATM seemed down
    • Walked through Kresge College, to Owl's Nest, but closed
    • Back to McHenry BSOE
    • Drove to Marini's, on Swift, for ice cream--noticed the Ferris Wheel model working, but the marbles kept falling off


    Sunday, March 13, 2016

    How to Care for a Sad Person


    Done:
    1. Lay blanket out
    2. Pick up sad person
    3. Lay sad person in blanket 
    4. Roll them like a sushi
    5. Place sad roll on bed/couch/comfy place
    6. Hug roll close
    7. Put on rolls favorite movies 
    8. Feed roll snacks
    9. Make sure roll is well hydrated. Tears make roll dehydrated 
    10. Happy lil’ sushi roll
    My Neighbor Totoro, chocolate, wine, sparkling water.

    Saturday, March 12, 2016

    McLaren 12C

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_12C

    Seen in a parking spot, at our apartment complex. o_O

    Parked between two SUVs. Used models retail for close to USD$200,000.

    UPDATE: It's crammed between two Honda CR-V SUVs. Disquieting.

    Thursday, March 10, 2016

    Radio Songs

    Heard on KDVS 90.3 FM out of Davis, CA:

    Bart Graft's "I Ain't Waiting", from the self-published album, "Nineteen Eighty-Five". Bandcamp.

    Super Dry - Japan

    Saw someone wearing a coat manufactured by Super Dry - Japan, which seemed pretty cool. No idea what style, but something like a windbreaker (windcheater?):

    http://www.superdry.com/us/mens/windcheaters

    Zydeco Wake Up Music

    Last weekend I listened to a radio program playing zydeco music and it planted the seed of an idea to wake up to zydeco, at some point, in the future. Noting so I do not forget.

    Sunday, March 06, 2016

    Minera Dead Sea Salt

    Suggested by Lanna.

    Superga Shoes

    Saw someone wearing Superga shoes:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superga_(brand)

    Noting, for reference only.

    Inspector Morse

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Morse_(TV_series)

    Costco sells this series--look interesting. He seems Oxford-based.

    Google Express: Sorting High to Low, Less Than $25

    Recently received a $25 gift code, from Google Express and Costco.

    Well, how to find something $25 and under, and sort high to low?

    The interface does not seem to allow it so well. Google customer support chat did not help.

    So, it turns out this works:

    https://www.google.com/express/search?c=60&p_max=25&m=9090995&st=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW&s=0

    Specifically:

    • st=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW
    • p_max=25


    Sunday, February 14, 2016

    Pre-Valentines Day 2016

    We visited Chocolate: The Restaurant on Valentines Day Saturday, February 13, 2016, the day before Valentines Day.

    Food was delicious, staff friendly and accommodating, prices not unreasonable, but, this year, logistics, dripping ceiling water, and web site mis-communications kind of killed our date.

    MEAL
    • "Our Specialty: Chicken Mole: Free-range chicken... braised in our rich chocolate mole sauce, made with bittersweet chocolate and roasted peanuts. Not sweet. Not very spicy. Served with organic baby greens & pepita seeds w/ balsamic vinaigrette, & our gluten-free polenta pie"
    • "Our Own Baked Pasta Rosettes: Fresh Pasta Pinwheels stuffed w/ ricotta & romano cheeses served with Artichoke Pesto Cream Sauce (Half Order w/ Organic Baby Greens)"
    • Dessert orgy, small:
      • Slice, Coconut Cheesecake: "One of our specialties, made with shredded coconut, coconut milk, and white chocolate. Topped with dark chocolate ganache"
      • Slice, Chocolate Ecstacy Cake: "light & bittersweet, dusted with cocoa"
      • Small serving, Gelato: extra rich old-fashioned Ice Cream, chocolate-minte (with mini mint chocolate bar sticking up, from the top)
      • Cream Pies: "Rich custard in a cookie crumb crust with our homemade whipped cream. Dark Chocolate Cream"
      • Chocolate Mousse Truffles: Not sure what flavor we got...to me, it tasted a bit like balsamic vinaigrette, but Dawn is not in agreement...the filling was white; "Mocha, Hazelnut, Coconut, White Amaretto, Rich Milk, White Rose, Salted Caramel Dense Dark French, Mexican Spice, Bittersweet Mousse, Dark Rose, Fresh-Mint"
    • Optional: 
      • Glass, Pinot Noir: 2008 Aiena Vineyards, Monterey Bright and rich with aromas of cherry and ornage peel. An excellent wine.
      • Glass, Pizzolato Spumante: Cantina “Il Pizzolato” Veneto, Italy Dry with complex and pronounced grapefruit flavor in the finish. This sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes has been very popular here at Chocolate for over 14 years.
    DISAPPOINTMENTS

    Underwhelming experience, to say the least, compared with an exceptional 2015 date (note: regarding logistics, not the food or staff--the food, as usual, was delicious!):
    • Web site advertised a Valentines Menu, on both Saturday, February 13, as well as Sunday, February 14 (see image, below)
    • On Saturday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m., we reserved a table, for two, for later that night, at 8:15 p.m., verbally, via telephone (note: we did not confirm, at the time, whether they planned to serve the Valentines Menu...caveat emptor)
    • Arrived on time, at 8:15 p.m., but found our names not recorded, on the hostess' list; graciously, the hostess directed us to an available indoor table (which normally seats 6-8), without missing a beat--kudos, for that
    • However, we soon discovered the air conditioning vent, directly above the table, continually dripped condensation, on one end of the table...we scooted down, and, for the most part, successfully ignored it
    • We attempted to order the Valentines Menu prix fixe meal, per the web site advertisement, but restaurant staff (note: waiter confirmed, with the hostess) informed us the restaurant was serving regular menu items only, and not serving the prix fixe meal 
    Chocolate, the Restaurant's web site, as of Sunday, February 14, 2016, with text "Valentines Menu...Available Saturday & Sunday February 13 & 14."
    • Why did the web site say one thing, but staff say another?
      • We thought this might represent an error with updating web site text, year-over-year, but the Wayback Machine indicates the following web site text, from February 15, 2015--no indication of Saturday & Sunday option: "Valentines Menu: A four-course menu for two to share, with three entree courses to choose from. Discounted bottles of excellent red wine, white wine and spumante will be available. Price includes food for two. Gratuity, tax, and beverages extra."
      • Additionally, the 2015 Valentines Menu image specifically lists only February 14, 2015
      • ???
    So, we made the best of it. Caveat emptor. The meal ended up costing ~$75, including tax, tip, and wine, instead of the ~$75 + $20, for wine, plus tax & tip, for Valentines Day, so...we saved some maybe $20-30.

    Differences, from 2015:
    • Price increase, from $65, to $75 (+$10, or +15%)
    • Baby greens salad lists option, "White truffle & balsamic vinaigrette & romano cheese" (note: may have served the same, in 2015, but menu did not mention)
    • Main entree change: from "Tender Shrimp Crêpes, with saffron cream", to "Chile Verde Pork, with organic basmati rice"
    • Optional wine changes:

    Chocolate, the Restaurant's Valentines Menu 2016 prix fixe menu details
    To conclude: Food was delicious, staff friendly and accommodating, prices not unreasonable, but logistics, dripping ceiling water, and web site mis-communications kind of killed our date.

    Takeaway(s):

    • Make reservations online, as telephone reservations seem sketchy, per this Valentines experience and our Thanksgiving experience, at Hoffman's Downtown
    • Confirm, verbally, special meal reservations
    • Other (?)


    Previously

    Monday, February 08, 2016

    Personality Test, 2016-02-08: ISFJ-A, “The Defender”

    Took another test, this evening:
    Your personality type: “The Defender” (ISFJ-A)
    Strength of individual traits: Introverted: 57%, Observant: 53%, Feeling: 71%, Judging: 74%, Assertive: 67%.
    Role: Sentinel
    Strategy: Confident Individualism
    Link to your profile: http://www.16personalities.com/profiles/56b94907e908b
    This represents the second test to lead with "ISF": Introverted (slightly), observant (slightly), feeling (a lot).

    Previously (ISFP)

    Sunday, February 07, 2016

    Santa Cruz Super Bowl 10k, 3K, & 1K Kids Run

    This morning, sitting on my balcony, drinking coffee, and listening to whoops and hollering of race volunteers, of the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 10k, 3K, & 1K Kids Run, organized by the Santa Cruz Track Club, which occurs just a few blocks distant, at the back entrance to Natural Bridges State Beach, on Deleware Avenue. Lots of energy!

    Sunday, January 24, 2016

    Maytag Stacked Washer / Dryer

    Our apartment has a stacked washer / dryer, a Maytag Neptune Super Stack, model #MLE2000AYW.

    Manual:
    http://www.maytag.com/digitalassets/MLPDF/Use%20and%20Care%20Guide%20-%202202493.pdf

    To clean and freshen the washer interior:


    1. Make a solution of one cup chlorine bleach and two cups warm water. Be careful not to spill or splash the bleach solution.
    2. Wipe the lower portion of gray door seal with bleach solution and soft cloth.
    3. Fill the bleach dispenser with chlorine bleach.
    4. Run the washer through a complete cycle using hot water.
    5. Repeat the wash cycle if necessary


    Tuesday, January 19, 2016

    Meyers Brigs, 2016-01-18: ISFP

    Took a test, this evening.

    RESULT

    ISFP

    Introvert(25%)  Sensing(3%)  Feeling(12%)  Perceiving(6%)
    You have moderate preference of Introversion over Extraversion (25%)
    You have marginal or no preference of Sensing over Intuition (3%)
    You have slight preference of Feeling over Thinking (12%)
    You have slight preference of Perceiving over Judging (6%)

    http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/jtypesresult.aspx?EI=-25&SN=3&TF=-12&JP=-6


    ANSWERS

    1. You are almost never late for your appointments
    uncertain
    2. You like to be engaged in an active and fast-paced job
    yes
    3. You enjoy having a wide circle of acquaintances
    uncertain
    4. You feel involved when watching TV soaps
    uncertain
    5. You are usually the first to react to a sudden event: the telephone ringing or unexpected question
    no
    6. You feel that the world is founded on compassion
    yes
    7. You think that everything in the world is relative
    YES
    8. Strict observance of the established rules is likely to prevent attaining a good outcome
    yes
    9. It is difficult to get you excited
    yes
    10. When making a decision, you rely more on your feelings than on analysis of the situation
    uncertain
    11. You often think about humankind and its destiny
    uncertain
    12. You believe the best decision is one which can be easily changed
    uncertain
    13. You often ponder the root cause of phenomena and things
    uncertain
    14. You prefer to act immediately rather than speculate about various options
    no
    15. You trust reason rather than feelings
    uncertain
    16. You are inclined to rely more on improvisation than on prior planning
    uncertain
    17. You spend your leisure time actively socializing with a group of people, attending parties, shopping, etc.
    NOa
    18. You usually plan your actions in advance
    yes
    19. Your actions are frequently influenced by your emotions
    uncertain
    20. You are a person somewhat reserved and distant in communication
    yes
    21. You know how to put every minute of your time to good purpose
    uncertain
    22. You often contemplate the complexity of life
    uncertain
    23. After prolonged socializing you feel you need to get away and be alone
    uncertain
    24. You often do jobs in a hurry
    uncertain
    25. You easily see the general principle behind specific occurrences
    uncertain
    26. You frequently and easily express your feelings and emotions
    uncertain
    27. You find it difficult to speak loudly
    no
    28. You get bored if you have to read theoretical books
    yes
    29. You tend to sympathize with other people
    YES
    30. You value justice higher than mercy
    uncertain
    31. You rapidly get involved in the social life of a new workplace
    no
    32. The more people you speak to, the better you feel
    uncertain
    33. You tend to rely on your experience rather than on theoretical alternatives
    yes
    34. As a rule, you proceed only when you have a clear and detailed plan
    no
    35. You easily empathize with the concerns of other people
    yes
    36. Often you prefer to read a book than go to a party
    yes
    37. When with a group of people, you enjoy being directly involved and being at the centre of attention
    no
    38. You are more inclined to experiment than to follow familiar approaches
    yes
    39. You are strongly touched by the stories about people's troubles
    uncertain
    40. Deadlines seem to you to be of relative rather than absolute importance
    yes
    41. You prefer to isolate yourself from outside noises
    YES
    42. It is essential for you to try things with your own hands
    uncertain
    43. You think that almost everything can be analyzed
    uncertain
    44. For you, no surprises is better than surprises - bad or good ones
    no
    45. You take pleasure in putting things in order
    YES
    46. You feel at ease in a crowd
    uncertain
    47. You have good control over your desires and temptations
    uncertain
    48. You easily understand new theoretical principles
    uncertain
    49. You usually place yourself nearer to the side than in the center of the room
    uncertain
    50. When solving a problem you would rather follow a familiar approach than seek a new one
    yes
    51. A thirst for adventure is something close to your heart
    uncertain
    52. When considering a situation you pay more attention to the current situation and less to a possible sequence of events
    uncertain
    53. When solving a problem you consider the rational approach to be the best
    uncertain
    54. You find it difficult to talk about your feelings
    uncertain
    55. Your decisions are based more on the feeling of a moment than on the thorough planning
    uncertain
    56. You prefer to spend your leisure time alone or relaxing in a tranquil atmosphere
    yes
    57. You feel more comfortable sticking to conventional ways
    uncertain
    58. You are easily affected by strong emotions
    uncertain
    59. You are always looking for opportunities
    uncertain
    60. As a rule, current preoccupations worry you more than your future plans
    yes
    61. It is easy for you to communicate in social situations
    uncertain
    62. You rarely deviate from your habits
    yes
    63. You willingly involve yourself in matters which engage your sympathies
    yes
    64. You easily perceive various ways in which events could develop
        yes

    Sunday, January 17, 2016

    Air King Exhaust Fan with Light

    http://www.airkinglimited.com/page/energy-star-exhaust-fan-light.html

    Our apartment has an Air King Exhaust Fan with Light, in our bathroom. Noting for future reference, for retrieving the owner manual.

    Sunday, January 10, 2016

    Radio Songs

    Heard on 91.5 FM, KKUP, out of Santa Cruz, visionary music, like space music, on Sunday, January 10, 2016.

    Friday, January 08, 2016

    Snoop Dog

    Had a dream, last night, in which I was Snoop Dog, going across a dusty patch of urban blight, to a small food stand.

    People outside, at some distance, were spray-painting graffiti, first on another building's wall, then just in the air, so the end effect became like a colored signalling smoke grenade.

    I woke up at 3:45 a.m., somewhere in the middle of ordering food.

    Making note to look up dreams of Snoop in a dream interpretive book. Heh.

    Note: I should mention, I did watch Conan O'Brien help train Diana Chang to drive, recently, which hilariously featured Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, along with a random pinata filled with marijuana, and may represent a contributing factor (?) I'm sympathetic, but otherwise rather out of Snoop's target demographic: don't go out of my way to listen to hip hop, don't use recreational drugs, and so forth.

    Thursday, January 07, 2016

    Bouncer records New Years Eve 2014

    Night in the life of a bouncer on NYE - Gatsby New Years 2014
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uurT7yVWkQ

    Filmed at the Gatsby Sound House & Bar, London, Ontario, just over the border from Detroit (map)
    http://gatsbyldn.com/

    The first guy saying "It's my brother's birthday" reminds me of Homestar Runner.

    The video reminds me of *EVERY* house party I ever attended.

    Just very, very loud, disorienting, and rather unpleasant.

    I never thought about staying sober! ; o )

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