Rare Birds, by Dan Bessie

I like books that are about a particular small topic yet tell very large stories. I especially like these holographic books when they are historical, because I never tire of meeting people who lived long ago who are so much like people who I know right now. More...

More Crappy Public Art

Here's the art we got at Depot Park. They are supposed to be "reeds" as "tule." I know we don't have much money for the nice things, but we so deserve better. More...

Another Dog Being Totally Cute

I can't resist showing everyone another cute picture of our terrier. More...

Food Bin History

The Food Bin has a poster up behind the register now that tells the history of the Food Bin and Herb Room. It's not on-line, so you'll just have to go in and read it yourself. In the meantime, here's the marquee from last week: More...

Another Cowell Ranch Building Lost

Yesterday, an accident destroyed one of the "historic Cowell Ranch Buildings" at the entrance of the UCSC campus. More...

Tent University: Some Reports and a Video

Tent University at UCSC promised much, but through really poor planning and poor judgement by many people, it's a mess now. I don't even want to write about what I think of it. Here's a student's blog, and some video that is terrible to watch. Indymedia Santa Cruz is also posting stories and photos. Here's a convenient link to the google/news.

Successful Strike

Here's what we sent to members of my union tonight: More...

This is What Fascism Looks Like

A friend sent a link to a Common Dreams article published last summer, when it still seemed possible that Bush would not be re-elected. It returns us to a simpler time, 1944, when Henry Wallace, the U.S. Vice President, published an article answering the questions about fascism put to him by the New York Times: "What is a fascist? How many fascists have we? How dangerous are they?" More...

News Flash: Politicians are Hypocrites

...via Susie Bright, I head about one of the most pitiful organizations ever: CREW: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington targets government officials who sacrifice the common good to special interests. We will help Americans use litigation to shine a light on those who betray the public trust." You can read more about them, too. What incredible work, and how hard it is. More...

Museum Fantasies

One of my favorite books of my childhood was From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler about a twelve-year-old girl who runs away from home (with her brother) and figures out that the best place to live is the museum. I loved many run-away-from-home books, but this was the best. I can't do that now, but I can go to the On-line Museum of Museums.

Happy Birthday to Dar Williams

Today is Dar Williams's birthday. Her music is of the "singer-songwriter" variety, and oh, how I love it. Each song, lyrics and music, are better and better each time I hear it. Her live album, which is sort of a "greatest hits," is even better. If you haven't heard her before, buy any of her records right now, and a gift to her and a present to yourself. Here are some links to lyrics, but the songs are the thing: More...

Irises

The iris is the only flower I am able to grow. And it has such a unique and charming scent. It is so Spring around here. More...

Separated by a Common Language

Today I was pointed at the best, funniest, and most complete English<->American Dictionary I've ever seen. Hours of great reading.

Media Annotation of Googlemaps

A friend of mine sent me a link to this how-to: Annotating Googlemaps with multimedia with the subject heading "More Fun Stuff for Your Free Time." I would probably have more free time for these computer-intesive projects if I had a different kind of job. I sure don't feel like learning new computer skills at the end of the day, I tell you what. But, dang, it should would be fun. It is exactly what I need for my local history project.

Something Fishy

The Wal-Mart corporation announced this week that "in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the company intends to buy, or protect by easement, at least 1 acre of wildlife habitat for every acre nationwide covered by Wal-Mart stores, parking lots and distribution centers." Can this be a good thing? Gale Norton favors it. More...

Lady's Music

I've purchased music from the Ladyslipper Catalog for years, naturally. I keep forgetting that they have a great internet radio station as well. Imagine: all genres of music, all by women. There's nothing else like it, anywhere. Tonight they were playing an especially nice mix.

Altered Humor

I just discovered the humor section of the Erowid Vaults. I thought this one was pretty funny: More...

I See Gay People

Everyone in my circle of work friends has watched this "Schoolhouse Rock" video explaining a new storage technology. I know this is just how I look at the world, but I kept substituting the word "homosexual" for "perpendicular."

Finally, a Use for Spam Subject Lines

via cronaca: spamusement, "Poorly-drawn cartoons inspired by actual spam subject lines!"

Strike at UC This Week

There's probably going to be a strike at all the University of California campuses on Thursday, all over the state. AFSCME, the union with the largest number of employees, is striking, but CUE, the clerical union, and UPTE, my union of professionals and technical employees, will mostly be not crossing the picket line. The students are holding something they are calling "Tent University" which may or may not amount to something large. Some UCSC students have put together an interesting publication for us to read at SC Indymedia.org.

Chat Applications reviewed

I'm a big fan of chat programs, but among my peer group of 40-something IT folks, I'm like the first person with a fax machine. Lonesome. But with those few people in the know, a chat can be very useful, completely business-related, but sharing sensitive information over AOL or other providers. If you're interested in learning more, try this Mac World article about the top few chat applications. iChat comes out on top.

Yet Another Extremist Religious Group

Jon Carroll reports on the Unitarian Jihad today: "We are Unitarian Jihad. We are everywhere. We have not been born again, nor have we sworn a blood oath. We do not think that God cares what we read, what we eat or whom we sleep with. " More...

Andrea Dworkin Has Died

And there isn't any more for me to write beyond pointing you at what Susie Bright posted yesterday.

Human Activity Preventing the Last Ice Age

The March Scientific American's cover story was "Did Human's Stop an Ice Age?" The article's author, William Ruddiman, writes "As I see it, nature would have cooled the earth's climate, but our ancestors kept it warm by discovering agriculture."There are political implications in a theory that suggests that humans have been warming the earth since we started cutting down forests to grow food. The conclusion of the article resolves--for me, anyway--why we ever started debating the question "Is the earth gettting hotter or cooler?" More...

Fiat Heron

Saturday I saw a heron hunting at the base of campus. More...

WiFi Mind

So, these books I've been reading, about the alternate world where Neanderthal's became conscious instead of humans? There's lots of real science in these novels, as I mentioned when I wrote about these books last week. Coincidently (I'm sure) the books also explore the origins and nature of consciousness, and give novelized, but real, citations to exactly the same type of reading I thought I was taking a break from. More...

Neanderthal Dissatisfaction

As I mentioned before, I took a break from reading books about "mind" and "spirit" and read a science fiction trilogy recommended by a friend. "Read it fast, and don't think about it too much," she said. I liked parts of it, and I'll write about that next, but this post is about the failure of vision in its conception of gender roles that was a big disappointment. More...

Trade Show of Psychological Prosthetics

There's an installation at Porter by a new Assistant Professor. I think I'll go check it out and report back.

“Sculpture is an emotion made tangible,” Hibbert-Jones explained. “I’m exploring the role of the artist as healer by creating a tangible product to soothe a mental health disorder. If someone is having an anxiety attack, I can give them something to hold or wear like a security blanket. I look at ideas like: ‘How do you create an environment that creates an emotional response of safety?’ or ‘What kinds of things help?’”

Neat Feature of Google Maps

You may have seen that google now offers satellite maps. Maybe you haven't noticed this feature: get the map to, say, "Easton California" (a settlement to the south of Fresno) in the search field. Then type in "Fresno" in the search; then type "Clovis." It scrolls. You can scroll around with your mouse too, and take arial trips.

The Star of Love

I think my friend's son Chace is going to start his own religion. He has his own website, and more than just me are considering making him our guru. Start with The Quotable Chace and see what I mean. Don't miss "The Star of Love." This Monkeyduck website also has the original "In My Ass" game which made me laugh until my stomach hurt. It is really silly and I'm sure you'll think less of me after you've read it.

Photos From an Errand Day

Yesterday I had to drive all over town doing errands; here a few snaps of stuff around town. More...

Glimpses of Santa Cruz, Summer of 1968

The organizers of the 1968 Miss California Beauty Pagent-- held in Santa Cruz, as it had been since 1922--distributed a brochure to the contest attendees. Would you like to take a look at it? More...

Where We're Going/Where We Came From

I haven't been posting the the blog very often this month because I've been reading. Reading books instead of websites. I took a break from "Mind and Spirit" type books and turned to science fiction. More...

April 1 Humor

We got an email about a new password policy today: More...