While in California I stopped to get gas at a station in Pleasanton one evening. The temperature had dipped to 50 degrees so a bit chilly - I had a sweatshirt on. While pumping gas (when was the last time you "pumped" gas?) I saw this couple walk by with two dogs. What caught my attention was their dress. They had heavy winter coats on, hoods on their coats over their heads and both wore gloves.
Hazel and I looked at each other thinking "its not that cold...what wimps." I first figured they were California wimps unable to with-stand even cool temperatures. Further reflection has led me to conclude they more likely are recent immigrants to California from someplace like Minnesota.
When you've lived in a seriously cold place like Green Bay or Chicago, you learn to hoard heat. It isn't something to be squandered. Just the idea of getting cold, shivering and shaking, prompts immediate clothing escalation. The cavalier manner in which warm weather citizens greet the cold is culturally shocking.
I remember moving to Pleasanton from Chicago. It was late March and I'd go to work with temperatures in the 40's. The shop would have overhead doors wide open and I hated to leave the office and go out there until later in the morning when the sun had warmed the room to comfortable levels. Its hard to convey the psychological discomfort I experienced but I can understand the heavy coats.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Talk Radio
Something I seriously miss in North Carolina is KGO Talk Radio and especially Ron Owens. It is a pleasure to hear balanced discussion on issues. Sure, there are some extreme views expressed at times but Ron does a good job of keeping the discussion grounded and avoids hysterionics.
Social Driving
As I again get accustomed to driving in the bay area I am struck by the wonderful community we enjoy with frequent social intercourse. For example, "Move it, the lights changed!", "Take one or the other - make up your mind!" or "Same to you buddy!"
Monday, November 23, 2009
Travel to San Francisco - Some Obversations
I like flying out of Wilmington. A small airport is nice - you can park close to the terminal, the cost is low, and the crowd isn't. Passing through security is fast and the people are generally cordial (they might know you socially).
The flight to Atlanta was only about a third full - when did you last experience that? The flight to San Francisco was a totally different story. Delta now charges for bags. They call it an excess baggage fee - I guess they think you should have no bags. Actually that is what many tried to do by taking their luggage on the plane. I understand that if they then had to check their bag they wouldn't have to pay the $20 bag fee. So, we had a line on the gangway checking their bags - they never intended to carry them aboard, and another line trying to get off the plane because all the overhead bins were full. That in turn meant we were supposed to keep our coats and other smaller bags in our laps and theoretically under your seat. Ha!
We arrived around 11am on a flight that was 30 minutes early. I was truck again how clear the air is in the fall. The low humidity makes the air sharp and especially clear, something you rarely see in Carolina.
It took me nearly a half hour to acclimatize to driving in the bay area. There is a totally different feeling that I do not experience in other major metropolitan areas. It is sort of like driving in the Grand Prixe. Motorist know that they really have to be to be reckless and driving WAY over the limit to be nailed. That means people drive to the level of what they feel is reasonable safety - not what is written on a sign. That translates to 70 mph in the slower lanes and 75 to 80 in the faster lanes (65 mph speed limit). I see them traveling at 70+ around Raleigh but those are more likely to be the exceptions or at least the top speeders.
California has a 12% unemployment rate but that dose not seem to be the case in high tech. In fact there may be some signs of hiring in that sector. I thought I saw some suggestion in some of the freeways being a little less clogged but that was not the case at the In-N-Out Burgers - crowded as always.
Speaking of In-N-Out Burgers - they put fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King to shame.
The flight to Atlanta was only about a third full - when did you last experience that? The flight to San Francisco was a totally different story. Delta now charges for bags. They call it an excess baggage fee - I guess they think you should have no bags. Actually that is what many tried to do by taking their luggage on the plane. I understand that if they then had to check their bag they wouldn't have to pay the $20 bag fee. So, we had a line on the gangway checking their bags - they never intended to carry them aboard, and another line trying to get off the plane because all the overhead bins were full. That in turn meant we were supposed to keep our coats and other smaller bags in our laps and theoretically under your seat. Ha!
We arrived around 11am on a flight that was 30 minutes early. I was truck again how clear the air is in the fall. The low humidity makes the air sharp and especially clear, something you rarely see in Carolina.
It took me nearly a half hour to acclimatize to driving in the bay area. There is a totally different feeling that I do not experience in other major metropolitan areas. It is sort of like driving in the Grand Prixe. Motorist know that they really have to be to be reckless and driving WAY over the limit to be nailed. That means people drive to the level of what they feel is reasonable safety - not what is written on a sign. That translates to 70 mph in the slower lanes and 75 to 80 in the faster lanes (65 mph speed limit). I see them traveling at 70+ around Raleigh but those are more likely to be the exceptions or at least the top speeders.
California has a 12% unemployment rate but that dose not seem to be the case in high tech. In fact there may be some signs of hiring in that sector. I thought I saw some suggestion in some of the freeways being a little less clogged but that was not the case at the In-N-Out Burgers - crowded as always.
Speaking of In-N-Out Burgers - they put fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King to shame.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Run with the Greats
I was watching TV news last night and realized I am great. I have something in common with the rich (or used to be) and famous. I'm sure you'll all be impressed that Madoff and I have the same golf ball retriever in our bags. $29.99 at a local golf shop - but think about what we have in common - we both were fishing in waters for our balls. He just chose better waters.
Now, Madoff kept his ball retriever in a slightly more expensive bag (I'd guess $2000 to $5000) and might have played at courses slightly more expensive then I do but still, you have admit that great minds...
Now, Madoff kept his ball retriever in a slightly more expensive bag (I'd guess $2000 to $5000) and might have played at courses slightly more expensive then I do but still, you have admit that great minds...
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
The families that lost members in the 9/11 attack are divided as to whether Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should receive a trial in New York. I do not believe he should be tried under present laws. I would, instead, want congress to pass terrorist legislation delineating what an act of terrorism is and stipulating that one found guilty of terrorism can receive the death penalty by some means that includes prolonged cruel and unusual torture. If they randomly kill innocents then they should receive extraordinary punishment. They should not receive the same rights to counsel nor guarantees under our Constitution.
Yeah, I know, the argument would be that the subject wasn't really acting as a terrorist, after all, he was misguided or mentally unbalanced because he ate Fruit Loops.
Yeah, I know, the argument would be that the subject wasn't really acting as a terrorist, after all, he was misguided or mentally unbalanced because he ate Fruit Loops.
Web Cams
Aside from our wanting Josh and Pam to get their cam working so we can get a grandparents fix, web cams can show some interesting (exterior) shots such as the WECT web cam on the USS North Carolina in Wilmington. Note I am not discussing porn sites!
I was looking at the cam sponsored by the Ephraim Yacht Club in Wisconsin. I presume it showed a view of Lake Michigan which is nice to just see another part of the country. The only downside on this particular sortie was when I read about the club reminder of the Labor Day closing party. My God, I had forgotten about living in a place where the summer season ends and winter begins on Labor Day! I always got depressed in the fall when living in New York and in Chicago. I was faced with another long dreay winter.
Why did I write this blog? I donno'
I was looking at the cam sponsored by the Ephraim Yacht Club in Wisconsin. I presume it showed a view of Lake Michigan which is nice to just see another part of the country. The only downside on this particular sortie was when I read about the club reminder of the Labor Day closing party. My God, I had forgotten about living in a place where the summer season ends and winter begins on Labor Day! I always got depressed in the fall when living in New York and in Chicago. I was faced with another long dreay winter.
Why did I write this blog? I donno'
Friday, November 13, 2009
Flu Shots
Just caught a brief segment on FOX where one of their medical experts was saying they made too much of the seasonal flu early on when it wouldn't be needed until after the H1N1 vaccine. Well, if that is the case, why can't I find any here? The local hospital, clinic, drug store and county health departments have none!
Forget the swine flu (whoops, probably upset the pig farmers - got to be pc). It ain't here!
Forget the swine flu (whoops, probably upset the pig farmers - got to be pc). It ain't here!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Afghanistan Plan
The US Envoy to Afghanistan has reservations about sending more troops there. Lets hope this guy has more sense then Paul Brenner in disbanding the Iraqi army in 2003. That was a disaster.
I have to wonder about the timing of the Afghanistan envoy's (Eikenberry) caution to the president. I would think that if he had such reservations he would have already expressed them to Obama. Coming this late in the game suggests to me that he has been pressured to take this stand to bolster what Obama will do - send few relatively few troops.
I have to wonder about the timing of the Afghanistan envoy's (Eikenberry) caution to the president. I would think that if he had such reservations he would have already expressed them to Obama. Coming this late in the game suggests to me that he has been pressured to take this stand to bolster what Obama will do - send few relatively few troops.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Special Day
Its raining and I am pleased. I have been working so hard on the house lately that a rainy day is an excuse to relax a little. And, it is rewarding too. Just this morning I took the time to do a little browsing on the computer and I learned the secret to making your dog poop when you want them to.
Friday, November 06, 2009
The Latest Thought
I continue to write this blog. But it never leaves my head. The press of accomplishing a number of projects, completing online studies, and lack of immediate inspiration while at the computer have blocked my writing muse.
Having said that, I was reading an editorial in the Washington Post. It said the recent election results in upstate New York in which the conservative Palin-Limbaugh-Beck candidate Hoffman was defeated reflected a middle of the road rejection of conservative Republicans. That resonates with me, I am tired of the rabble rousing conservative noise but equally dislike the Obama Democrats. I'd be happy to shove the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity into a sealed room with Pelosi, Franks, and Reid. Throw away the key.
I've been and am seriously thinking of changing from Republican to Independent. The theatrics of Washington politics disgust me and I am of the mind to throw all the incumbents out until I see politicians working together for the common good of America.
Having said that, I was reading an editorial in the Washington Post. It said the recent election results in upstate New York in which the conservative Palin-Limbaugh-Beck candidate Hoffman was defeated reflected a middle of the road rejection of conservative Republicans. That resonates with me, I am tired of the rabble rousing conservative noise but equally dislike the Obama Democrats. I'd be happy to shove the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity into a sealed room with Pelosi, Franks, and Reid. Throw away the key.
I've been and am seriously thinking of changing from Republican to Independent. The theatrics of Washington politics disgust me and I am of the mind to throw all the incumbents out until I see politicians working together for the common good of America.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)