Meteor

This streak of upper atmosphere light represents a metor:
https://twitter.com/BadAstronomer/status/1075615141947858944

Photo taken as I left Sacramento, near the Yolo causeway.

Car Sticker

I smiled: the sticker read, "Inflammatory white words on a red background", and it was as described.

Willow and Sage Magazine

Saw this in my optometrist's office; it's like Make magazine, but for home health products:
https://stampington.com/willow-and-sage?page=2

Kevin Voted (By Mail) Today

Statewide Contests

Governor: Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor: Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of State: Alex Padilla
Controller: Betty T. Yee
Treasurer: No vote
Attorney General: Xavier Becerra
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara

Federal Contests

United States Representative: Jimmy Panetta
United States Senator: Kevin De Leon

State Ballot Measures

1. Y: Issues $4 billion in bonds for housing programs and veterans' home loans
2. Y: Authorizes state to use revenue from millionaire's tax for $2 billion in bonds for homelessness prevention housing
3. N: Issues $8.877 billion in bonds for water-related infrastructure and environmental projects
4. Y: Issues $1.5 billion in bonds for children's hospitals
5. N: Revises process for homebuyers who are age 55 or older or severely disabled to transfer their tax assessments
6. N: Repeals 2017's fuel tax and vehicle fee increases and requires public vote on future increases
7. Y: Authorizes legislature to provide for permanent daylight saving time if federal government allows
8. Y: Requires dialysis clinics to issue refunds for revenue above a certain amount
9. -
10. Y: Allows local governments to regulate rent on any type of housing
11. N: Allow ambulance providers to require workers to remain on call during breaks paid
12. Y: Bans sale of meat from animals confined in spaces below specific sizes

District Contests
Member, State Board of Equalization, 2nd District: Malia Cohen
Member of the State Assembly, 29th District: Mark Stone
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony K. Thurmond

Judicial
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Carol A. Corrigan
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Leondra R. Kruger

Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, 6th District: Mary J. Greenwood

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, 6th District: Allison Marston Danner

Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, 6th District: Nathan D. Mihara

County
Y: Measure G
Y: Measure H

Santa Cruz City School District
Governing Board Member, Area 1 (Inside City): Deb Tracy-Proulx
Governing Board Member, Area 3 (At Large): Cindy Ranii

City
Member of City Council:

1. Justin Cummings
2. Cynthia Hawthorne
3. Drew Glover

Y: Measure M

RESOURCES

https://www.jwz.org/blog/2018/10/lyft-drops-100k-against-sf-tax-to-fund-housing-for-homeless/
https://brokeassstuart.com/2018/10/09/the-november-2018-bas-voter-guide/
City on a Hill Press
Good Times newspaper

California Vacation 2018 - Day 6

TIMELINE

• 8:30 a.m. Wake up
• 10:00 a.m. Breakfast at Starbucks #25941
• 10:15 a.m. Depart for La Quinta hotel
• 11:00 a.m. Arrive at correct La Quinta LAX hotel
• Noon Depart for Santa Cruz
• 2:00 p.m. Snack at Petro #327, Grapevine (Lebec)
• 6:30 p.m. Arrive Santa Cruz, get cats
• 6:45 p.m. Home

NOTES

• 
  

California Vacation 2018 - Day 5

TIMELINE

• 8:00 a.m. Wake up
• 9:30 a.m. Breakfast at Starbucks #25941
• 10:30 a.m. Depart for Santa Monica Pier
• 4:00 p.m. Arrive Hollywood Walk of Fame
• 7:30 p.m. Dinner at the Sizzler
• 10:00 p.m. Arrive La Quinta hotel
• Midnight Back at our hotel

NOTES

• Pallisades
• Route 66 terminus sign
• Lost iPhone
• Playing on the beach, building with wet sand
• Shaved ice (rainbow)
• Movies: It's a Mad Mad World, Rio Bravo (Brad's favorite)
• Buck Owens and the Bakersfield sound
• Playdoh
• Bunny (Ruby)
• Saying hello to Violet and Jenny via video chat
• Modern (Georgia) vs. Traditional (Brad) Australian: Mate, stubbie (beer), 
• Beer:
• Regional where Brad lives: Pint, Middy, pony, shot
• Other: Pint, half-pint, 
• Stubbie vs. long neck
• MYass (McDonalds logo + town of Yass)
• Homing pigeons nearby pooping all over their solar panels, etc.

California Vacation 2018 - Day 4

TIMELINE

• 7:30 a.m. Wake up
• 8:15 a.m. Breakfast at Friendship Motor Inn
• 10:30 a.m. Small Mang keychain plush at Line Friends Popup, Hollywood
• 10:45 a.m. Gift at Ghirardelli on Hollywood Boulevard
• 1:15 p.m. Lunch at Bibigo, Westfield Culver City mall
• 2:00 p.m. Check-in to Crystal Inn & Suites
• 5:30 p.m. Edward Vincent Jr Park
• 6:45 p.m. Dinner at Sizzler
• 9:15 p.m. Back at hotel

NOTES

• Hollywood stars:
• Dr Suess
• Mister Rogers
• Spike Jones
• Weird Al Yankovic
• Toshiro Mifune
• Groucho Marx
• Learned about Line Friends
• Had lunch and dinner with Dawn's friend Jill and her family: Brad, Georgia, and Ruby

California Vacation 2018 - Day 3

TIMELINE

• 9:00 a.m. Wake up
• 9:30 a.m. Breakfast at Friendship Motor Inn
• 10:15 a.m. Arrive La Brea Tar Pits / Page Museum
• 11:00 a.m. "Titans of the Ice Age 3D"
• 1:00 p.m. Excavators Tour (Page Museum)
• 3:45 p.m. Arrive Griffith Observatory
• 4:00 p.m. Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater film: "The Once and Future Griffith Observatory"
• 4:30 p.m. Lunch at Cafe at the End of the Universe
• 5:15 p.m. Planetarium show: "Light of the Valkyries - Our 75th anniversary show reveals the wonders of the northern lights."
• 6:45 p.m. Leave for hotel

NOTES

• Thunder and lightning started on way home
• Listened to classical music on radio KUSC FM 91.5
• La Brea Tar Pits / Page Museum
• Tar pull interactive exhibit clearly demonstrates how less than 6 inches of sticky asphalt would doom nearly anything
• Learned difference between asphalt (natufal) and tar (result of human processing)
• Asphalt bubbling to the surface on the grounds and marked with green traffic cones
• We briefly walked around the outside of the LACMA--very nice and worth a future visit
• Some animatronics 
• Griffith Observatory
• Tesla coil
• Food very good but very expensive
• Beautiful sunset and view
• As we exited, listened to warm up at the Greek Theater ("5 Seconds of Summer with The Aces")
• Learned about radiocarbon dating--it's a dating web site for radioactive C14 looking for the right Oxygen partner to make radioactive CO2

California Vacation 2018 - Day 2

TIMELINE

• 6:00 a.m. Awake
• 7:15 a.m. Breakfast
• 8:00 a.m. Checkout
• 10:45 a.m. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf #130 in Santa Barbara, for coffee
• 11:55 a.m. Missy's Cupcake Creations in Oxnard
• 2:00 p.m. Early check-in at Friendship Inn
• 5:30 p.m. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
• 5:45 p.m. Back at hotel

NOTES

• Gus's:
• Dawn: 2 Piece White, Mac 'n Cheese and beans, Firestone 805 beer
• Kevin: 1/2 chicken, Mac 'n Cheese and beans, greens, unsweetened ice tea
• Dessert: Chocolate chess pie with ice cream
• Missy's:
• Chocolate Chocolate Thunder
• German Chocolate
• Watched Teen Titans and NASA X review of the Soyuz failure

California Vacation 2018 - Day 1

TIMELINE

• 6:00 a.m. Awake
• 7:15 a.m. Drop off cats at VCA Pet Hospital
• 7:45 a.m. Peet's Coffee downtown for coffee and snacks
• 8:15 a.m. Home to retrieve forgotten Anker PowerCore charger
• 9:47 a.m. Rest break at Big Sur River Inn: coffee, snacks
• 12:30 p.m. Arrive Hearst Castle
• 4:30 p.m. Depart Hearst Castle
• 5:30 p.m. Arrive hotel
• 6:15 p.m. Dinner at Rosa's Italian Restaurant: split sjde of broccoli and Pasta California - $16.95 artichoke hearts, shitake mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes in a light cream sauce, penne pasta
• 7:15 p.m. Hot Topic at Pismo Beach Premium Outlets (13th Doctor accessories for Dawn)
• 8:15 p.m. Back at hotel

NOTES

• Landslide at Mud Creek mostly repaired; minor delay
• Weather partly sunny with spots of light mist
• First time for both of us south of Big Sur on Highway 1
• Cambria Scarecrows
• Hearst Castle Neptune Pool filled just four weeks earlier, after repairs lasting for some time

Flannel

The Company Store

• Winter Animal bedding
• 5 oz. Solid Flannel Bedding (Portuguese flannel)
• Currant
• Teal

Garnet Hill

• Paintbrush Flannel Bedding (German flannel)
• Turquoise
• Topiary Green
• Celestial blue
• Flowerpot Orange
• Garnet

Mix and match sheets:

• Summer: 
• Linen duvet cover and/or sheet
• Percale pillow cases and fitted sheet
• Spring/Fall: Sateen
• Winter
• Flannel duvet cover and/or sheet
• Sateen pillow cases and fitted sheet

Cello

Looking at cellos again.

The Electric Cello Buying Guide -- 7 Key Shopping Considerations (published 2016-01-11):

• Entry level for quality solid body electric cellos starts at about $900 and run to $1500+
• Pro-level cellos are available for between $2,000 - $3,500
• Custom built or hi-spec models cost more than $4,000

Previously

Stern Grove Festival - San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Returned to the Stern Grove Festival to hear the SF Symphony Orchestra. We arrived after the intermission, snagging better-than-decent seats with clear views of the orchestra. They played Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 in D major, Opus 43. We had binoculars so had a good view. The male performers wore a mix of consistent cream-colored suits (we thought maybe these represented the official roster) and white suits (we thought maybe these represented the stand-in). The female performers wore varied tops in white. We noticed the monitors which had grills and looked like space heaters. The brass section looked really bored when they weren't playing, as did a few of the strings. The performers seemed to scan the audience when not playing. Dawn seemed to know one of the principle bass players, from university, but did not see him performing. Arriving late, we walked in on the west meadow. We donated $10 and got two stickers and heard the barker talk about his 38 years of attending and supporting the Festival and some backstory of the volunteers, how a food guy quit, and stoners sitting up in the hillside.

After the show, we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. We parked up on the hill for free and walked down to the Sausalito Ferry Company and bought matching bobble head lucky cats for our cars, as well as a tee for my mom.

We drove back to SF and briefly waited in line on Lombard Street but decided to skip due to the loooong line of cars, ending up parked on Hyde on a steep hill along the cable car line. We had a dessert supper at Ghirardelli (Lands End Sea Salt Caramel Brownie Sundae). We walked around the shops and bought a Squishables Puppycat plush.

Drove back along the cable car lines and home along 101 to 85 to 280, listening to KFOG.

Running Journal, Thursday, 2018-07-14

Black-tailed deer, east fork of Jordan Gulch 

Resting heart rate: 81 bpm around 1:45 minutes after running and a cup of coffee
Body Mass Index (BMI): 24.4
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: sunny
Temp: 21.1 C (70 F) 9 mph WSW
Time: 1:30-2:15 p.m. (45 minutes)
Terrain: Hilly
Comments: Sunblock used. Listened to an audiobook, which helped pass the time. Ran same route to the Village, but instead of going up the stairs to OPERS, I ran along the bottom of Jordan Gulch. Saw two groups of deer. One group fled partially up the hill, the other, a young buck, stood his ground and watched me. Unbeknownst to me, three forks of Jordan Gulch exist, and I took the east fork, emerging near the bookstore. Just before this, I found a small redwood grove enclosed with makeshift stick fencing, with a few chairs inside. Disappointingly, it had no small amount of trash. I then followed the path north, taking a large culvert tunnel under what turned out to be McLaughlin Drive. I then followed that road to Graduate Student Housing and from there back through Kresge/Porter to FSH. Calf muscles feel exercised and I felt a bit winded afterward. Started a bit later than I wished but had to swap the headlamp bulbs in our car while still relatively cool. If I do the Jordan Gulch bottom trail again, I'll try to take a different fork, perhaps one leading to McHenry Library.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): ~3.1 miles
Weight (after run): n/a (185?)
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Left shoulder muscle group feels sore, but been an issue for a few days
Foods eaten today: Through mid-afternoon--PB&J, two cups of coffee, Caesar salad with chicken, banana

Prius 2006 Headlamp Bulb Replacement

Old bulb (top) with detached low-beam coil; new bulb (bottom) in box with both coils

Successfully replaced both headlamp bulbs, this time on a 2006 Prius with the standard halogen 9003 bulbs (the 2005 Prius had HID bulbs).

Still a PITA. However, it seemed a bit easier than the 2005 Prius. The 2006 model seems to have different clips (just one clasp?) and cover assembly, which makes it a bit easier.

Both existing bulbs failed within a few days of the other. The first the day of, or the day after, getting my oil changed at Oil Can Henry's in Soquel. The second failed within the next few days.

Bulbs used:
Philips 9003B1 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb

Tools used:

• Flat-head screwdriver (remove cowl)
• Philips-head screwdriver (remove cowl screw)
• Mechanics gloves
• Overalls
• Flashlight (mobile device)
• Nitrile gloves (to handle bulbs)

Found a shady spot near Rachel Carson college parking lot. Figured neighbors didn't want to hear me cursing.

Two contractors working on a roofing job came down to the lot and hopped into a white truck. I overheard one say, "I don't do drugs ... regularly." I wondered at the need to qualify the statement with an adverb.

Previously, previously

Wilder Ranch State Park - Sand Plant Beach Hike

Hiked from the Wilder Ranch State Park parking lot to Sand Plant Beach:

Wilder Ranch State Park - Map of hike to Sand Plant Beach and back

Weather was 81F and humid, windy near the cliffs (~10mph). Flat trail, low exertion. 

Dozens of harbor seals (video by Alessandra Zermini) sunned on an exposed rock near Fern Grotto Beach. Spotted a handful of nesting Brandt’s cormorants close by (video by Alessandra Zermini, on 06/30/2018).

Ate snacks above Sand Plant Beach then walked to the farm buildings and visited with the horses Christian (Chrissy) and ???.

Patio Umbrella

OSH 9 Foot Aluminum Umbrella Frame, with crank tilt

OSH 9 Foot Sunbrella Umbrella Canopy - Astoria Sunset Stripe

OSH Orchard Umbrella Cover Up To 11 Feet

IKEA Lökö base, 88 lb

Pier One LED butterfly lights with timer
Pier One chair cushions - Calliope Spice

Got the frame and canopy 50% off during 4th of July sale. Got the butterfly lights on clearance for 40% off. We already had the patio chairs and side table.

TODO: lookup how to pronounce Lökö. It's like "ur". Sort of. So, "Lur-kur"

Running Journal, Thursday, 2018-07-05

Patio furniture overlooking Monterey Bay, from fire trail along UCSC Great Meadow

Resting heart rate: 69 bpm around 6 hours after running
Body Mass Index (BMI): 24.4
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR):
Weather: sunny
Temp: pleasant
Time: 11:45-12:30 p.m.
Terrain: Hilly
Comments: Lots of stairs and hills. Listened to audiobook while I ran which helped. Found metal patio furniture along the trail--three chairs and a table. Visited the Jordan Gulch quarry and walked among "The Village" buildings for the first time. Noted a trail leading from the quarry base along the ravine, for next time. Campus was largely empty of students. When I felt winded (e.g., after climbing stairs) I walked until I wasn't red-lining anymore. Forgot sunblock. A successful run. Felt good afterward.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): ~3.0 miles
Weight (after run): n/a (185?)
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Left toes feeling a bit sore, but that's been an ongoing issue for a few weeks
Foods eaten today: oatmeal with raspberries and bananas, Caesar salad, hummus and guacamole with naan bread, applesauce, a few ounces of chicken cutlets, grape leafs stuffed with rice, four cups coffee, Trader Joe's Japanese Fried Rice

4th of July

Attended the San Jose Wind Symphony's "Fantastic Fourth!" concert at Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos.

Ate waffle cones with spicy chocolate and pistachio gelato from Lolli and Pops, in Los Gatos.

Watched "Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" at the Nickelodeon in Santa Cruz.

Drove home along West Cliff Drive.

Watched Washington DC fireworks via "A Capitol Fourth" on PBS. 

Kevin Voted Today

Statewide Contests
Governor: Delaine Eastin
Lieutenant Governor: Gayle McLaughlin
Secretary of State: Alex Padilla
Controller: Betty T. Yee
Treasurer: Fiona Ma
Attorney General: Xavier Becerra
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony K. Thurmond
United States Senator: Kevin De Leon

State Ballot Measures
Y: 68 Natural Resources Bond
Y: 69 Transportation Revenue: Restrictions and Limits
N: 70 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Reserve Fund
Y: 71 Ballot Measures: Effective Date
Y: 72 Property Tax: New Construction: Rain-Capture

District Contests
Board of Equalization, District 2: Malia Cohen
United States Representative, 20th District: Jimmy Panetta
Member of the State Assembly, 29th District: Mark Stone

Judicial
Superior Court Judge: Syda K. Cogliati

County 
Superintendent of Schools: Faris Sabbah
Supervisor, 3rd District: Ryan Coonerty
Assessor-Recorder: Sean Saldavia
Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector: Edith Driscoll
Clerk: Gail L. Pellerin
District Attorney-Public Administrator: Jeff Rosell
Sheriff-Coroner: Jim Hart

City
Y: Measure S Santa Cruz Quarter-Cent Sales Tax Measure
Y: Measure T Santa Cruz Repeal of Marijuana Law Enforcement Ordinance
Y: Measure U Santa Cruz Measure to Oppose University of California Development Plan Approved

LINKS
https://www.jwz.org/blog/2018/05/voter-guide/
https://brokeassstuart.com/blog/2018/05/08/the-june-2018-bas-voter-guide/