see the world the way i want you to see it

Mail call

2009-08-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I hate about establishing a new business relationship, in this case switching my telephone service, is that I usually have to retrain them about my dislike of telemarketing and junk mail. As a routine I tell any new business that I don't want my name/telephone shared or used for marketing and to not put me on any marketing lists. Sometimes that works.
I recently switched my telephone service from a cable provider to a company associated with telephones and a ballpark in San Francisco. I repeated my standard request about not calling me or sending me anything. Keep my phone service going and I pay my bill on time. Deal?
In fact, I explicitly state "I don't want any contact from you except for my monthly bill."
Should be easy enough but you'd think I was the first person to make that request to this company.
Since switching I have received several automated calls asking if I am happy with my service. I wish they had an option that says "push one if you want us to stop bothering you."
Yesterday I got an automated phone call explaining why my recent bill may seem high. In the mail I got a notice about my "rewards plan", which I was not aware that I had done anything to earn. I called and it was explained that this is how I get the $100 check they promised for switching to this company. I told them I was fine with them sending me a check (I do have my price, it turns out) but once they've done that, "please stop sending me things".
I was told that I had to call another number for that request, which I did. You knew I would.
The customer service rep was polite but it does bother me that I have to confirm my account by providing my Social Security number and mother's maiden name "to ensure security", simply to stop getting junk mail. I could see the security procedures if I was requesting a service change but to stop telemarketing? Help, police! Someone stopped sending me junk mail!
I answered the questions and was told the process would take a few weeks to take effect. I grumbled in reluctant agreement.
Then I was told they would send me confirmation.
That's right: a letter confirming my request to not get any more letters.

Back(board) in the game

2009-08-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

My doctor, the one taking care of my broken arm, said it's OK to resume normal activities, including tennis. And I do think I am improving since the last time I played. Today, while hitting the ball against the backboard at a local high school, I only lost one ball. Of course, had I not had a crowbar and a block of wood a second ball would have remained wedged between the backboard and the fence. But you gotta take your victories where you can. Even if that means using a crowbar and a 2 x 4.

Truth in advertising

2009-08-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

For those who want a little more magic in their life, General Mills has managed to improve Lucky Charms. How about a little more nutrition while you're at it?

Technology (beeps)

2009-05-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

Last night, as I was writing the previous post, I heard a beep. It was very out of place, so I walked to the kitchen to see what was going on. There aren't many appliances and the noise sounded identical to my microwave oven's timer, so I checked the microwave. No lights were flashing and there was nothing to indicate what was going on. So, just to be sure, I hit the Stop/Cancel button and went back to blogging.
About 20 minutes later I heard another beep. So I repeated the process, opening and closing the microwave. I also tested the smoke alarm, just to be sure.
Twenty minutes or so go by and I hear the noise again. So I go look at the microwave to get some information. I go to the General Electric website, figuring maybe there are some FAQ's or documents about this. With my dial up connection it takes about 20 minutes to download the user's manual (beep), which I peruse (beep) and find no mention of random beeping.
I'm baffled, but at least the movie I am watching, Diner, is keeping me somewhat distracted.

You know what word (beep) I'm not comfortable with? Nuance. (beep) It's not a real word. Like gesture. Gesture's a real (beep) word. With gesture you (beep) know where you stand.

I decided to reposition the chaise lounge that is my only piece of furniture when I hear a beep and notice it is coming from the opposite side of my living. Right about where ... hey, it's my cell phone that's beeping. I have no idea why my cell phone is beeping. Being a new cell phone I barely know how to make a phone call, but I turn off the phone and the noise stops.

I wonder if hearing aids make a beeping noise when you can't find them?

Check mate

2009-05-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

I wrote a check Monday, which is something that I haven't done in a long time. Buying them is something I've done even less, thanks to on-line bill paying and a work-around that allows me to not have to buy checks. I keep an account (with a very small balance) at a bank that provides temporary checks on request.
The check I wrote was from an order that probably was a decade old. It had, as my address, a place where I hadn't lived in more than three years.
There is something to be said about writing out a check that makes you realize how you are spending your money. The experts say in a cash-less society, where every monetary transaction is done electronically, we spend more than if we were handing over green pieces of paper.
Let's face it, even though I have plastic in my wallet (in the form of a credit and debit card) I do feel a little more wealth with a nice new $20 bill. Or two.

Dear Diary

2009-04-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

In the business of television there is but one Bible. It’s known as The Book. It’s the comparison of your station's programming versus your competitors, as conducted by research companies, most prominently, Neilsen.

The Book tells broadcasters and their advertisers who is watching what at a certain time. Those ratings determine how much money broadcasters can charge their advertisers. Advertising on a popular show = lot of money. Advertising when few are watching = not much money.
Programs are yanked of the air due to a bad Book. Careers are made, or ended, by a bad Book. News reports become special reports to help get a good Book.

When I was in broadcasting we tailored our programming to get a good Book. High on the agenda of staff meetings were discussions of the previous Book or the upcoming Book. While we always tried to attract viewers, we knew the bean counters upstairs depended on a good Book to keep the lights on and the paychecks from bouncing. Hence, a good Book is important to everyone in broadcasting.

When a Book was good, it was due to our excellent planning and execution. When a Book was bad, it was due to incompetent viewers who couldn’t fill out their survey properly. We knew they watched us, so why did they tell the research company they were watching Oprah when they were watching us? How hard could it be to write down the program you are watching, especially when so much is at stake?
I recently found out.

I got a phone call from Neilsen asking me if I wanted to participate. After agreeing, I was sent what is called a diary. It’s a booklet where I list the people in the household and fill out a form for every day of the week, indicating who is watching what. It seems pretty simple and it is, normally.
Nielsen also sends you five one-dollar bills. Yes, $5 for my week's efforts. Research has shown Neilsen (and they would know) that survey participants appreciate five one-dollar bills more than one five-dollar bill. I guess it’s the new math.

The first thing I noticed about the diary was how little space they give you to write the information (call letters, channel number and name of program). Having ample room to write anything is appreciated since my handwriting is lousy most of the time.
Then, a few days before the survey period was to start I broke my arm. Yes, the right arm that I normally write with. So now I was writing using both hands to hold my pen.
Did I mention that I was in pain for much of the time and taking Tylenol 3? One of the side effects of Tylenol 3 is that you don’t care much about writing down what program you are watching, never mind the call letters or the channel number. You really don't care what you are watching. Hence, a lot of entries for The Family Guy.

Plus, the recent digital conversion means awful reception if the wind is blowing. Or not blowing.
It was hard to take my diary duty seriously.
I did enjoy the power of having the diary. Face it, when you are watching tv you always wonder why some programs remain on the air. “Who watches this crap?”, right? Now, I had some input.
When I would flip through the stations and come across a particular local news program that I disliked, I would pause briefly and laugh. “No ratings for you!”, I said to the anchor on the local Fox affiliate. I said that several times while channel surfing. Then I’d go to the station that I felt like watching, or at least one that was more deserving of my time and comments to Nielsen.
I imagined an anchor losing his job because he annoyed me too much and fell one diary short for the week. That’s show biz, I guess.

It was strange to think that years ago, someone with a diary might have said the exact same thing when they saw my face on their television. Heck, I probably would have said it myself!

When the week was up I put my diary in the mail.
I felt sort of bad that I was in such lousy shape to take my obligation seriously. I mean, the comments to the anchors I hated were deserved, at least in my book, but sometimes I know I didn’t pay attention like I should have. Sometimes I dozed off as soon as I made my diary entry.
Sometimes I woke up and forgot what program I had intended to watch. I was grateful that my friends who are still in the business are not in this market. Had they been, I would have been much more attentive. I promise.
While I may not have been happy with my effort, I did realize that maybe I did as well as anyone else would have.
I’m sure we’ve all wondered how some programs stay on the air. Now we know the truth: it’s because someone with a diary in one hand has a bottle of powerful narcotics in the other.

Two-stepping on stage

2009-04-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

I recently re-acquired a greatest hits cd of a band that I enjoyed years ago, Southern Pacific.
The band was popular in the late 1980's. It consisted of two members of The Doobie Brothers, and the music was really country rock but not in The Eagles sort of way.
Perhaps one of the reasons I enjoyed Southern Pacific so much is from the concert I went to in Medford. I think it was about 1989 or so. While Medford rarely got headline acts, it did get some artists that were on the way up or, more commonly, on the way down. Because it is a relatively small town with small venues, the crowds weren't huge and security was less restrictive as bigger arenas. I would say most concerts at the time were more informal than larger cities.

I bought two tickets for the Southern Pacific performance, reserved seating - second row. TS and I got to the arena (and I use the word arena loosely) and found someone in our seats. No big deal, we thought, as the show hadn't started. So we sat in the third row.
As the opening act came on the person whose seats we were in came and wanted to sit down. So we reminded the people in front of us that they were, in fact, in our seats.
That's when the trouble started. Well, not really. But it could have.
I showed the tickets.
They countered that they had been told (by the ticket seller) that it was general admission and the seat numbers didn't mean anything. I pointed out that was ridiculous and they were fools for believing it.
Since we were temporarily homeless I went to get a security guard to straighten things out.
I didn't want to cause a scene but I did want TS and I to sit down, in good seats like I had paid for and be able to enjoy the show.
The security guard came over and assessed the situation.
I whispered something to him, conferred with TS, and then the guard contacted someone on his walkie talkie.
TS and I were then escorted on to the side of the stage, stage right, where two folding chairs were set up for us. Just us.
We sat down and enjoyed the show. Just us and the band, about 15 feet away. No one else on the stage.
The view was great but the sound was awful.
Because we were on a concrete floor (rather than dirt, sawdust and rodeo droppings that the rest of the crowd were on) we were able to dance, especially the two-step which is my favorite. Southern Pacific had some songs that are great two-steppers.
After the concert I went over to the band and removed two set lists, which are the list of songs the band will play that night. A great souvenir. TS and I got to meet the band and I got my setlist autographed. I recall one of the musicians commenting that we were the couple dancing on the stage and he mentioned how much they enjoyed that.
I gave one set list, the one used by drummer Keith Knuden, to a good acquaintance, Dale, who played drums in a local band.
Dale died a decade later and Keith Knudsen died in 2005.
But the memory of that night lives on.

Dailing for Darwin

2009-04-14T16:54:00.001-07:00

In the course of trying to straighten out medical bills and file a claim (see My spring break) I was on the phone for about two hours this morning calling medical offices.
Never did I get straight through to a person, instead I got a voice mail matrix that promised to speed up my access to information. It never did.
Each recording started out by saying "if this is a medical emergency, please hang up and call 9-1-1."
I remember when there was no 9-1-1 system and a massive public education campaign was conducted as 9-1-1 became the standard across the nation. Police cars and fire engines still promote 9-1-1 and I am sure that dialing 9-1-1 is taught in elementary schools.
Each time I heard this recording I tried to imagine a person in the midst of an emergency looking up a phone number in the phone book and dialing the seven (or ten) digits necessary, then hearing a recording saying they should call 9-1-1 instead.
"Shoot. I could have dialed three digits everyone knows instead of looking up the phone number and dialing the doctor's office directly. Darn. What's this? We don't need 9-1-1 anymore because Mommy's neck ran out of blood?"
I was thinking that a child is not likely to be dialing a seven digit number for help. An adult might. But if they don't know enough to call 9-1-1 by now, do we really them to survive?
Evolution exists for a reason, and that's not just to piss off the Bible belt.

Minding my space

2009-03-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Several years ago changes were made in federal laws regarding patient privacy when it comes to healthcare.
The resulting visible changes include signs and velvet ropes at the pharmacy and doctor's office asking you to give the person ahead of you space "to ensure patient privacy".
Personally, I think that's stupid. A dirty look at the person breathing down my neck usually works just as well. But I find the law even more ridiculous after a visit to the local medical office to get my elbow checked (see entry My spring break).
At the reception desk there were signs asking people to stand back and a little mat (that looks like part of a dance lesson) where you stand when you are on deck.
However, once I was called in to see the doctor I didn't wait in a tiny exam room with outdated magazines. No, I was taken to a large room with four exam tables, three of them occupied by other patients.
While waiting for the doctor I overheard his conversation with the teen who broke his wrist snowboarding and will require surgery because he continued to snowboard in a cast. I wanted to comment but hopefully the rolling of my eyes did the same thing. Yes, I also saw the conversation.
While waiting for the doctor I overheard his conversation with the elderly woman who broke her arm when she fell in her kitchen. Fortunately she was healing nicely -- I guess she decided not to snowboard while she was on the mend. From what I could tell her x-ray looked normal.
Maybe the hospital figures if you are in a cast the public knows you've broken a bone. Hence, you give up some privacy just by wearing a cast.
I find it totally ridiculous the hospital has signs so no one will hear me tell the receptionist "I've got a 11:45 appointment with Dr. Johnson" yet there is nothing in place to keep other patients from hearing (or seeing) me talk with Dr. Johnson about my actual condition and medical care. I'm glad I wasn't there for a prostate exam. Maybe they limit that room to only two patients.
As I left the hospital I stopped at the Member Services desk to mention this discrepancy in privacy protection. I was told that "it must be right because that's how we're doing it."
I didn't pursue the matter because I have a follow up appointment and, as they say, you don't complain about the service until after the waiter has brought your food.
I doubt complaining would change anything. But my irritation about the hypocrisy makes me realize that if I'm griping I must be feeling better.
The splint comes off tomorrow.

My spring break

2009-03-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

"Taking a trip" took on a double meaning recently, thanks to what you see in the photograph on the left. I encountered it on a recent visit to California. The chrome rod was used to give the photo some perspective; it was not there when I fell and landed on my hands and knees.
The result is what a doctors call a radial crown fracture of my right arm -- and I am right handed. The good news is that I should have to wear a splint for only two weeks and the doctors say there doesn't appear to be any major damage. The bad news is that it still hurts, I can't use my right arm and that I was also told there's no major damage when I broke a finger years ago and ended up having surgery and a cast/splint for about four months. So I am a bit worried.
I've hiked countless miles in forests without any serious injuries and I break my arm on pavement.

Another problem are the questions my immobility brings. Face it, saying that I tripped on an uneven crack in the street makes me sound like a klutz. And that brings more questions and guffaws. I mean, it was the middle of the day and alcohol was not involved. How much more boring can a story get? Maybe I ought to wear a t-shirt with an explanation???

It also bothers me because I like to write and I try to write correctly as much as possible. With the splint I can not write with a pen at all and my typing leaves much to be desired because I can only use one hand. It is frustrating for me to not be able to write like I had. Not that I really feel like writing it but writing is important. I can't even write a grocery list or write down phone numbers. Nor can I sign my name.

I guess that's the breaks.

Read this: Ernest Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises

2009-03-22T17:21:00.000-07:00

This review is posted a bit late in part because I forgot that I read the book.
Why this book is such a classic is beyond me. Maybe 1926 wasn't a very good year for writing? This is a semi-autobiographical tale of a group of expatriate writers who drink their way through Paris Spain. The running of the bulls and the bullfights in Pamplona being the highlights.
While the detail of the events and the atmosphere is well-captured, the characters all seem very similar to one another (maybe because they’re usually drinking or looking for a place to drink).

Read this: John Steinbeck’s Wayward Bus

2009-03-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is considered by some to be a better Steinbeck story than Cannery Row and I think it's a pretty close second.
Wayward Bus is about a couple that runs small cafe and bus service on the south central California coast. Part of the story takes place at the cafe, when a group of passengers is stranded when the bus breaks down. The second half takes place once the bus has been repaired and is one the road. Given the title you know something will happen on the trip, it's only a matter of time and context.
Along the way we learn the secrets the various passengers are carrying to their destinations. The story's climax takes place very late on the voyage (and in the book), making it almost an afterthought. Hence, any redemption the characters encounter feels somewhat contrived. We learn which characters survive the journey intact, and we learn that the journey may have changed the lives of others. We never learn if any changes are long-term or just for a few minutes. But I guess that's why the story isn't called After the Wayward Bus.
While such a story arc could feel disjointed, Steinbeck's manner of writing, along with the cast of characters he's created, keeps the ride enjoyable.

Read this: John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row

2009-03-03T19:58:00.000-08:00

Steinbeck calls Cannery Row “a stink” but his novel, set along the fish packing houses of Monterey Bay, is anything but.
I’ve visited Cannery Row countless times over the years but was never impressed with its current lack of character and surplus of kitsch. It sounds like the place has gone downhill since Steinbeck first made it famous.
The novel is a series of short stories about the misadventures of characters who may have actually lived and worked along Cannery Row during the Depression. The merchant, the biologist, the madam and the transients all share equal billing. They all seem to get along (mostly) and respect one another.
One of the interesting things about the stories is that none of the characters change much -- nor do they seem to want to. The vagabonds want a meal and a roof, but they don’t seem to mind their lifestyle. Yes, there are minor crimes, shipwrecks and even deaths, but as long as the occupants have a pint of “Old Tennis Shoes” life is good. Cannery Row truly seems like a content place.
This is a great book if you are looking for an easy and fun read, and don’t want to spend an hour to get through a chapter.
In his Cannery Row, Steinbeck will take you back and take you away.

Gratuitous eye candy

2009-02-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

This is a picture I recently took of Lookout Point Lake, near Eugene, OR. Need I say more?

Close encounters of the Bruce kind

2009-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

With the release of a new cd, his first ever Super Bowl half-time show and a tour starting in April, this is a good time to be a fan of Bruce. If you have to ask “Bruce who?”, you either don’t know me well or don’t recognize the man in the photo. I’ve been a fan since about 1981, when GM brought over a copy of Born to Run and urged me to listen because “he sounds like Meatloaf”. At the time it was a compliment.
Over the years I’ve spent a lot of time and money enjoying his music, both on album, cd and at concerts. Bruce’s music, that is, not Meatloaf’s.
In addition to just the music, there have been a lot of great memories. Sleeping on the sidewalk at Town & Country Village to be in line when the box office opened was one. I know, it doesn’t sound like much fun but looking back it was one of those crazy “kid” things to do. Concert goers these days have it so easy.
Two memories that stand out occurred with my friend, GJ-R. In 1988, during the Tunnel of Love tour, my reading of previous concert reviews showed that fans were being let into the arenas before the show started, usually in time to hear a few songs of the sound check -- that’s the performance of a few songs prior to the show, presumably to check the sound levels and speakers and whatnot.
GJ-R and I both got some time off from work and her mother got us tickets to the show in Tacoma, close to where GJ-R was from. It was my first trip to Washington so it was all pretty cool.
After spending the night with her folks, we made plans to get to the Tacoma Dome early. Waiting for the show to begin, we were able to press our ears to the doors to listen to some of the music, which was pretty neat itself. Then, the doors opened. Baby, we were born to run!
After showing our tickets (I don’t think there was much in the way of security in those days), GJ-R and I ran into the Dome, making our way down to the arena floor and then to the stage.
We were actually at the foot of the stage, looking up to the E Street Band playing a couple of Chuck Berry tunes. The house lights were on and the band members were wearing sweat suits -- generally looking like they had just gotten out of bed.
On a notepad I had (to write down the song list) I hastily scribbled something like “can you play Backstreets for my friend, attending her first Bruce concert?” I wanted to try to hand it to Bruce when they left the stage but for some reason (maybe the big man in the shirt that said SECURITY) I couldn’t/didn’t. Much to our surprise, that song was played a couple of hours later. It was a great show and getting in early was really a treat.
About eight years later GJ-R and I decided to attend two concerts of Bruce’s solo tour. I’d heard he was coming out after the show to meet with fans, so we figured we might have the chance to actually talk to him or something. This time, the logistics were a bit more complicated since GJ-R was now living near Tacoma and Bruce’s concert was in San Jose.
If my memory is correct, I drove down to San Jose while GJ-R flew down. The show was fun but no opportunities to meet the man himself. The next day GJ-R flew back to her home and I drove north to mine. I believe Bruce was playing a benefit in LA that day.
The following day I drove north to Portland and GJ-R drove south to Portland, rendezvousing in the City of Roses -- the site of that night’s concert.
That show was very good, our seats were closer than the previous concert and the sound seemed to be better inside the much smaller venue.
Afterward we went outside and waited (along with a couple of other fans) by the stage door. Yea, just like in the movies.
Some time had gone by when a van pulled up, presumably so Bruce could make a quick getaway. But after he came outside he didn’t get into the van -- he got on top of the van -- and started signing autographs and talking with the growing crowd.
I gave GJ-R the only scrap of paper I had (my ticket stub) and ran a few blocks to the car to get the camera out of the glove box. I returned a few minutes later and got some shots. I do recall shouting out “hey Bruce, how about a nice smile for the camera?” and he looked up, making a cheesy grin as I snapped the picture. I can’t recall how long he signed autographs, but we stayed as long as he did.
Afterward, we drove back to the motel and then walked to a nearby 7-Eleven for some snacks and a chance to soak in what had happened.
I saw Bruce perform again in 1999, going to concerts with TS, MB and GJ-R. GJ-R again came south for the show, and TS and I got stuck in snow on the way back north. TS and I saw two shows and both were very good, but putting up with the crowds and obnoxious people for the chance to watch video monitors from the upper deck just didn’t compare to my previous experiences. That was the last time I went to any of his concerts, not just because the experience has changed but because I’ve changed. I keep thinking to myself “it’s just not worth the hassle”.
Listening to music is a big part of living, I think. But it’s not just the notes and lyrics. It’s the experiences you have, sharing it with friends.
I can never hear The Knack’s My Sharona without thinking of standing with GM on the bouncing floor of Stanford’s Maples Pavilion. California Girls brings back memories of my first karaoke venture with my former roommate and good friend, Tim S. There is no way I can hear Southern Pacific’s A Thing About You without thinking of dancing with TS on the side of the stage at the Expo.
Good music + good friends = good times

I've been converted

2009-02-16T23:16:00.000-08:00

I've been skeptical ever since the federal government announced the switch from analog television signals to digital. I've wondered how it will improve my life, aside from a clearer television picture for programs that I don't care for anyway. I vowed not to spend a dime on the conversion.
After ordering my $40 coupon, I finally found a store selling the converters for $40 (the same place I bought the Pee Chee folder from the previous post). So my cost: nothing. Which is exactly the maximum amount of money and effort I plan to put into "the switch".
I hooked up the box and a few minutes later saw some broadcast channels I couldn't receive with my rabbit ears. (Yawn.) I tried to set the box so I could scan the channels (and skip the religious channel) but that was very difficult to do as the instructions seemed to be in every language but English. No way to hook up my VCR without buying additional cables and splitters, but that's not something I care to address: my effort meter had run out. I'll get a dose of religion whenever I graze.
I know the conversion is supposed to be good for me and make the US more like other industrialized nations which have had digital broadcasting for years. The feds sell the old analog spectrum to generate money. I am not sure how the money will be used, but it will probably be wasted. Supposedly, the old analog channels will be used by telecommunications companies and public agencies, so maybe improved communications for public agencies is the only benefit. The feds spent a lot of taxpayer money to subsidize the switch (including to pay for my converter box), so that's a waste. There may be some jobs created in the conversion, but my box (and probably most of them) was made in China.
If it wasn't for a generous friend (BG) giving me her old set, I probably wouldn't own a TV at all.
I'll try to enjoy the improved (image) quality of the programming, but it sure seems like a big waste to me.

Not so Pee Chee

2009-02-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

While looking for envelopes at a local department store, a familiar yellowish folder caught my eye -- a Pee Chee folder. For decades, these folders were everywhere -- with the ubiquitous athletes on the covers, usually modified with doodles created during boring lectures. The Useful Information on the inside pockets made them the place to turn when we had a question about converting time, mass or distance (this was before Google and the Internet, mind you). How did we manage to multiply 12 x 12 without our Pee Chee?
For nostalgia's sake I bought one (79 cents), figuring it might make an interesting (?) blog entry. Who knows? I might even use it someday.
Once I got home I realized that I had seen a Pee Chee folder more recently: right in my cardboard box full of papers and folders. I guess I am officially a packrat (and forgetful).
I compared the two (the older one is on the left) and noticed that, aside from changes in the drawings (and a UPC bar code on the newer version), they haven't changed much since my high school days when a Pee Chee was 2 for 25 cents. The Useful Information is identical, although it seems to be harder to read than it used to be.
Wikipedia says the Pee Chee is no longer made. Ebay shows that they haven't become collector's items -- yet.
Oh well, at least I now have another place to keep my homework. And should I ever need to know how many pints in a quart, I'll know just where to turn.

The horror of HR

2009-02-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned previously my efforts at career advancement, particularly the expense. I have not tracked the amount of time namely because there is no point. I am not getting paid for the time and I am sure knowing the amount of time wasted (i.e., no offer) would not help my mental state.
Yes, it has been time wasted. At this point I think I've got my game down. I've read books, had coaching and very rarely gotten feedback from those I have met with. So going through the process for the experience is not productive, although I do try to keep an open mind and always appreciate feedback.
In previous years I have had some HR encounters that were downright injust. In about 2005, I drove five hours for an interview with a public agency. I arrived in plenty of time and was kept waiting about 20 minutes past my appointment time. When I was brought to the panel I was informed they were running behind and would have to cut my meeting short. So I had about ten minutes to answer some pre-selected questions. Twenty minutes later I was back on the road, facing another five hour drive back home. I didn't get that job.
A few years later I had another interview at the same agency. This time my drive was about 15 minutes. On the panel was a former coworker, who later told me they already had a candidate in mind and they were "going through the motions" because they had to. Well, at least my drive was short and there was some honesty. The former coworker told me I did very well and my research had been great, but she told me there was no way I was going to get the job. So maybe I did learn something: never again apply to that agency.
This week I had another usual encounter with an application process for a government agency.
I submitted my information on-line and then checked the status of my application. It said I was not qualified. I was shocked so I made a few calls.
What I found was that there is a glitch in the system that deleted my college degree -- the same degree that is part of the minimum requirements. Oh, the degree shows up on my profile but when I look at the printout the HR staff sees, it is simply not there. As Bluto said "seven years of college down the drain." Or in this case, four years of college omitted by computer error.
Had I not checked my status I would never have known why I was disqualified.
It makes me wonder how many times that has happened to other applicants. But more important, it makes me wonder how many times it has happened to me.

I hate to be paranoid about a process that I currently have to be a part of. I hate to feel like my complaints are just a case of sour grapes. But given the lousy treatment by some places, like no notification whatsoever or the feeling that I am causing people to do their jobs, it is clear that some departments just don't care about fairness or competency -- no matter how much those two qualities matter to me.

Read this: Mel Brooks' It's Good to be the King

2009-01-25T23:11:00.000-08:00

Had I been more than a casual fan of director/writer/actor Mel Brooks, I would have really enjoyed this book. As it is, I thought the book was just OK. The most interesting parts (to me) where those about the movies I had seen, like Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. I was surprised to hear the Gene Wilder role in Blazing Saddles was offered to Johnny Carson.

Read this: American Spy by E. Howard Hunt

2009-01-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

A fascinating read about the covert world of Watergate burglar E. Howard Hunt, who seems to have been involved in nearly every one of this country's secrets since about the 1940's.
Though the bulk of the material is about the Watergate break-ins (there were actually two burglaries), he also writes about his involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion, various coups and coup attempts and the Vietnam war. He was not involved in the JFK assassination (so he says).
While the book is insightful into the work of a spy/burglar/hired thug, it comes across too much as Hunt whining about things that went wrong and blaming others for his problems. Is the reader supposed to feel sympathy when a man with seemingly no conscious loses his wife in a plane crash? Why should we be surprised one of his children doesn't talk to him, when he asked that same child to hide evidence about his guilt in Watergate? Why is it the judge's fault that Hunt got a sentence he feels was too harsh?
I also have trouble following the exploits of a man who can rationalize criminal acts in the supposed interest of national security. How much of what was written is true, and how much is Hunt's own bravado?
If you can get past your dislike for truly unlikeable person, you may enjoy this book.

See this: Gran Torino

2009-01-19T16:53:00.000-08:00

A nice, albeit somewhat predictable movie by, and starring, Clint Eastwood.
Eastwood plays a widower living next to an extended Hmong family, befriending the young daughter and her brother and eventually trying to keep him out of trouble. While teaching the boy about household chores Eastwood learns about life. About Schmidt meets Karate Kid, perhaps.
Along the way are numerous racial insults, misunderstandings and a few poignant moments about living and dying. Eastwood is great, of course -- in the opening scenes you can see his hatred of life. And, of course, some great lines. Who else can turn a phrase like "get off my lawn" into one of the best in a film?
In fact, all of the major characters were very strong. I especially liked Father Janovich (played by Christopher Carley) whose appearances in key scenes help to guide Eastwood's character, the movie's plot and its message.
I think the movie was very entertaining, perhaps Oscar worthy, although I've liked some of Eastwood's other recent projects slightly better.

Read this: The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster

2009-01-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

I like nonfiction and reference books because you can usually learn something. Sometimes you learn things about the past and sometimes you learn things you can use in the future.
Samatha Ettus' The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster seemed like one of the former. It's more than three hundred pages of what it says: how do to things faster and/or better.
It includes three-page instructions on tasks like finding lost objects, finding a parking spot or baking a cake, all submitted by people who could be considered experts, like the former CBS Early Show anchor writing about being organized in the morning.
While some of the subjects might be remotely useful, too much of it seems to be plain common sense (to me, any way). Step one of raking leaves is to "decide if you really need to pick up your leaves". I did find the item on teaching your dog to sit without a leash and without touching it to be interesting, although the usefulness is diminished because I don't have a dog. To think poor Goober suffered by my pressing down on his hips!
The book might be a good bathroom reader -- something to keep a captive audience entertained. But a trivia book can do the same thing and give you something to talk about. If you tried to talk about this book you'd just come off as an attempted know-it-all.
After reading this book I realized the best way to find more time to do things would have been by not taking the time to read this book.

Ricardo, we hardly knew ye

2009-01-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ricardo Montalban died yesterday at the age of 88.
He was known to most as Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island and as the voice of the Chrysler Cordoba. Apparently GM had trouble finding a rock song that incorporated a line about soft Corinthian leather.
My Ricardo recollection comes from a broadcasting class I had back in the early 1980's. Our teacher treated us to a videotape of outtakes from various television productions. It was, and still is, fun to see what doesn't make it on the air. It shows that even professionals make mistakes.
One of these outtakes was Montalban, taping a commercial for a brand of European-inspired flavored instant coffee.
Sitting in a high backed chair Montalban recites the attributes of the product, smiles and takes a sip.
Then, in an extremely inelegant way he spits it out and screams "it's too f---ing hot!"
I can't recall a single Fantasy Island episode. I didn't know he was in Star Trek. A Lifetime Achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild? That's news to me.
No, my Montalban memory was created by a cafe au lait outtake.
So the next time I am sitting on a sidewalk in Europe having a cup of instant espresso, I will drink a toast to the Emmy award-winning actor. But first, I'll check the temperature of the water.

This post is disgusting

2009-01-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

If you're reading this you know my current job status.
In 2008 I started keeping better track of my related expenses.
The final tally: $6,290.21 spent in fuel, lodging, food, plane and bus fare. I had approximately 32 meetings throughout the year. I say approximate because a phone contact is still a contact even no expense was required. I was pretty disappointed in my first glance back at my 2008 calendar and didn't want to reread it, hence I will go with the estimation.
I've read books, taken classes and talked to counselors to increase success and I do think I've improved. But in this game there is only one measure of success and, to this point, I have not met that goal. I think it has taken a toll on my health. I feel it has given me a different perspective on life, for better or worse.
I am not the type of person who likes to do things. I like to be finished with things so I can get on to the next project or goal -- this comes from previous jobs that have had deadlines and other demands. I am a goal-oriented person. I have achieved many of the goals I've set out to do, like climbing Half Dome and working in television. So I know I can set goals and reach them. I would like to be able to set some new goals (besides resolving this issue) but this issue is so huge that it does affect all other aspects of my life. I feel, at this point, this goal is paramount.
I am hoping 2009 is better than 2008 in many ways. I want to resolve this issue so I can make some new goals and plans, and maybe even know where I will live and what I will do. I want my life back.

Read this: Roger Moore's My Word is My Bond

2009-01-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

fun, although sometimes plodding memoir by the actor I first associated with the role of Bond. James Bond.
In addition to the behind the scenes stories about the thrilling stunts and exotic location shoots of the 007 franchise, Sir Roger talks about his many other projects on and off the screen and stage -- including observations recently as a spokesperson for UNICEF that have left him shaken, not stirred, in Third World countries. I enjoyed his stories as a contract player in Hollywood, while there seemed to be too much detail about growing up in England.
Even though there is no Moore in Bond any more, there has always been a lot of Bond in Moore: the worldwide travel, prestige and pretty women have played starring roles in both his reel life and his real life.
While he plays up his hypochondria and minimizes his own failings, the actor who was The Saint is extremely candid about one thing: he's enjoyed being the man with the golden life.

If a tree falls in the woods ...

2009-01-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

One of the most enjoyable things about hiking is the chance to see or hear things that you can't experience anyplace else.
Several years ago I spent Christmas Day hiking at Russian Gulch State Park, near Mendocino. My goal was a 35' waterfall at the end of a 2 1/2 mile trail along a small stream.
What makes this hike memorable isn't just that it was raining very hard that day. I had on my rain poncho and boots and carried an umbrella. (I don't use the umbrella while hiking, I only use it once my tripod is set up to take some pictures.) In addition to the rain it was windy, as demonstrated by the limbs of the trees towering above me. Hiking through this narrow canyon, the nearby cliffs and redwoods sheltered me somewhat from the wind.
The hike required traveling through a 15' portion of the trail that had been covered in a mudslide. I waded through, getting muddy up to my hips from slogging and slopping through the debris field. I figured I would be so soaked from the rain on the way back to the car that my pants would come clean(er), and I was right. It was one of those mudslides that wouldn't require rebuilding the trail in the spring, but it would require some shovels and lumber to reinforce the hillside.
On the return trip I heard a thunderous crack. It was probably the loudest sound I've ever heard, especially since the only other sound was the raindrops falling on the brim of my hat. I stopped and turned around to face the direction of the sound. I was puzzled at first, then quickly recognized the sound from the times I had stepped on small branches to crack them in two. It was the sound of a tree falling in the woods. A very large tree, probably one of the numerous redwoods in the park.
It seemed a second or two had passed when I heard a loud and painful groan, reminiscent of a rusty hinge but many times louder, that seemed to last several more seconds. My immediate thought was to start sprinting away from the noise, but since the trail was mostly mud and my boots were mostly water, I knew any attempt to run would probably result in slipping and falling on my butt. Come to think of it, my feet may have been paralyzed in awe.
I looked above me for signs of any trees moving but I didn't see any. I thought if I did see some movement and needed a quick exit, I could slip down off the trail towards the creek. That way, I wouldn't be the tallest thing in the fall zone. I know that's helpful in a lightning storm.
The groaning came to an end with a very loud thud that echoed through the canyon that I was hiking out of. I didn't see any dust, nor do I know if I would have had it not been raining.
Because I never saw any movement I can only assume the tree was some distance away. The acoustics of the canyon must have amplified the noise, making it seem as if it was playing out right before my ears.
Once I realized that I was not in danger of being squished by a 250' tall redwood, I sort of wanted to give myself a high five. Not that I had done anything noteworthy to avoid danger, but because of my dumb luck to be in the right place at the right time. My only regret was that I was hiking alone and had no one to share the experience with.
I made it back to the car, changed out of my soggy clothes, turned the heater on full blast and headed back home. I hope I have similar luck again someday. And maybe that time someone will be there to share the experience.

Read this: What Happened by Scott McClellan

2009-01-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

Depending on your politics, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan is either a hero or a villain. In What Happened, McClellan focuses on the White House during (as he calls it) the marketing of the Iraq war and the investigation into the leaking of the name of a CIA agent to the media. The peek behind the curtain of White House operations and well-known incidents, like the Hurricane Katrina response, is quite interesting -- as any book by a White House insider should be.
What bothered me most about this book is the timing. McClellan stood in front of the media and helped articulate positions that he felt were wrong and made statements defending those who he felt had lied. Helping spread deception does not make you part of the solution, it makes you part of the problem.
McClellan criticizes the tactics, statements and philosophies of Cheney, Rove, Rice and many others, yet he never holds accountable the man who hired (and could fire) them. He criticizes the very same loyalty he displayed, calling loyalty which shields presidents from accountability "a disservice to the American people".
While reading this book I often had the same feeling I had while reading If I Did It, the book O.J. Simpson wrote about the murder of his ex-wife. The insights were interesting, even if the author and his motives are questionable.
Had McClellan stepped away from the White House podium five years ago and told us this story, he would have been a hero.
Now, we already know much of what he's telling us.

Read this: Stiff

2008-12-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

This is one strange, but funny, book. About cadavers.
Mary Roach has researched just about everything you would want to know about the human body after its owner has no further use for it. Transplants. Medical research. Cannibalism. Vehicle safety tests, airplane crash investigations and ancient cures that used body parts (and fluids). It's science, anatomy and anthropology, all told with a respectful smirk.
On embalming she writes:
Blanchard's textbook describes opening up an artery, flushing the blood out with water and pumping in alcohol. I've been to frat parties like that.
It's not a subject for everyone, but if you like science and aren't too squeamish, this is an entertaining read.

French bread memories

2008-12-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

It's funny how food brings back memories. From time to time, it's nice to have some French bread, lightly toasted, with butter and garlic salt. I never slice the bread the way a loaf of bread is normally sliced. Instead I cut a few inches off the loaf and then slice that piece in two length-wise -- so each slice has a crust side.
The method, and the memory, comes from French bread sold during "brunch" at my junior high school. For ten cents you could get two small slices that were mighty tasty -- especially if you skipped breakfast.

Read this: Comedy at the Edge

2008-12-20T15:25:00.000-08:00

I've always enjoyed stand-up comedy so Richard Zoglin's Comedy at the Edge stood out amongst the other new books on library shelf.
The subtitle of the book is How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America and Zoglin makes a strong argument that comedians like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Richard Pryor and even The Smother's Brothers changed comedy and changed America, giving us permission to laugh at formerly taboo subjects.
The book is also a peek off-stage into the world of comedy, from trying to get a slot at The Improv to getting a shot (and appearing) on the World Series of stand-up, The Tonight Show.
Zoglin tells the stories of stand-up through profiles of comics that he considers influential. In addition to those named above, he talks of Albert Brooks, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, Joan Rivers, Elaine Boosler, Sam Kinison and Jay Leno. Credit to the stand-up evolution is also given to those who never made it big and lived a life of sitting in the perimeter of Hollywood Squares. It really is a Who's Who of comedy, stand-up, comedic actors and writers. Some of the stories are fantastic while other stories are tragic, talking about labor issues, suicide and of course, bombing on stage when agents are in the audience.
The book is a fun read and even the notes in the bibliography are entertaining. If you like stand up and grew up in the 1970's, this book will be hard for you to put down.

Snow storm

2008-12-20T15:09:00.001-08:00

It's snowing again for the third time in twice as many days. I'm not a fan of snow, nor have I ever been. That comes from working in it and driving in it.
When I went outside I noticed how quiet it is. I live on a busy street but there is very little traffic because the pavement is covered with several inches of snow and ice. When I walked I noticed how snow tends to squeak when you step on it. Today was the loudest noise I heard.
The absence of noise makes me think the phrase "snow storm" needs to be replaced. I always associate storms with wind and noise, sometimes thunder. In my world, storms are not quiet. But that is not the case, not in my world and not right now.

See this: Food Matters

2008-12-11T23:23:00.001-08:00

A nice documentary (shown as part of a local "alternative film" series) which will have you re-examining what you put into your mouth. The film, through interviews with scientists, doctors and natural food promoters, makes a few very strong points:
- Nutrition is not given serious thought by the medical profession, in part because eating right doesn't make as much profit as selling medicine.
- Access to health care isn't what needs to be fixed in this country; it is health care in general that needs to be fixed.
- If Americans ate better they would live longer and not suffer serious and chronic problems like they do now. That would reduce medical costs, both per person and for the country as a whole.
- Some serious diseases, including cancers and coronary disease, could be cured by repairing one's diet or through megadoses of vitamins that allow the body to heal itself, rather than through surgery or medicine.

Some of the claims in this movie seem hard to swallow but who can argue with eating towards an eye on health. I did notice that many of the deceased scientists quoted in the movie lived longer than the average American.
(And no, popcorn was not sold at this movie.)

See this: Bill Maher's 'Religulous'

2008-12-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

What can you say about Bill Maher? He doesn't just touch a nerve, he pokes it. Then he sticks that nerve with a dull, rusty needle. I say that with all due respect towards a man with whom I sometimes disagree but usually think he's close to the mark. Many people think he is uncomfortably close to the mark.

Maher takes on religion with a similar style in Religulous. The title is a morphing of the words religion and ridiculous. He's traveled the world asking people about their religion and questioning their faith. Some of his subjects are ok with the questions, others clearly offended by the fact that their faith is being questioned. Maher doesn't take any sides, believing only in the religion of doubt.

I thought the movie was both funny and thought-provoking, in a way similar to Michael Moore's recent films.

Common since

2008-12-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

Longevity is a good thing, particularly if you own a business. It shows you are doing something right year after year. As a kid I was always impressed when I saw a business advertising that it had been around "since 1948".

But as I get older I am less impressed. Particularly if I have been around longer than that business. If I see a business boasting that it's served "great food since 1982" I tend to laugh. 1982? I remember that year. To me it doesn't seem that long ago.

I write this after reading an ad for a photographic exhibit that spans the "photographer's entire professional career (from 1991 to this year)".
1991? I've been taking pictures (for free) since before that time. I guess it might be impressive to someone who's under 18. But then, someone under 18 might be amazed that they even had cameras in 1991.

I know running a business is tough. Most small businesses fail, which is a shame. I applaud those who have tried.
I wonder if there is some sort of scale to measure the length a business has been around vs. the difficulty of running that business.
We've come to measure a dog's life in this way, comparing it to our own life span.
Maybe we need to come up with the business equivalent of dog years?

Read this: Butch Cassidy, My Brother

2008-12-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

Lula Parker Betenson attempts to set the record straight about her brother, Robert, who went on to fame/infamy as Butch Cassidy.It's a short book and a good read, with a lot of details and anecdotes about western life in the last 19th century.
Betenson does a good job of trying to explain how her brother ended up on the wrong side of the law. She is protective of her brother while making few excuses.
As to Cassidy's demise, Betenson says he died 17 years after the Southern American shootout which supposedly took his life.

I hate Christmas

2008-12-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

There. I've said it. If you know me it's probably not much of a surprise. It's not just that I don't like Christmas, it is that I would vote NO if it were put to a vote. People say that's not right and think I'm some sort of freak. But back to the topic of this post. I believe everyone should celebrate what they want and I try not to impose my beliefs on others. If I had young children I might hold my nose and try to look for the "teachable moments" but I don't, so I won't. I can't, so I rant.

I can't recall when I started hating Christmas.

For a few years, when I first lived on my own, I sent custom-made holiday photo greeting cards which have since become collector's items. The final year, the cards had a groundhog and simply said Bah Humbug. Over the years it's become more of an irritant and less joy to my world. I still hope my friends enjoy their Christmas or whatever they want to celebrate. I hope my friends enjoy every day because each day is just as important as the other.
So children, grab a mug of hot chocolate and sit by the fire while I tell you why I hate Christmas:
1) The religion thing. I'm not religious so why would I celebrate a religious holiday? They don't celebrate Independence Day in England, and we don't celebrate Boxing Day. I find it hypocritical to celebrate the birth of a person I don't believe in.
2) The hype. Even if you are not religious, there is an expectation to celebrate the holy day/holiday. Why? Your family does. Your neighbors do. The stores do. The media does. Everyone around you (for the most part) does. So I'm going to quote my mom: if everyone jumped in a lake, would you jump, too? No I would not. Peer pressure is stupid, unless everyone you know is running towards a lifeboat. Sure, I'll take holiday pay but I have also volunteered to work so others could enjoy the day off.
3) The cost. I know Christmas is a cash cow to retailers. Fine. I'm not a retailer. So to me, it's an expense.
4) The hassle. Putting up with the crowds, the traffic, etc., is a big pain in the butt. I really dislike having to wait in line to buy a much needed pair of socks, even more so if the six shopping carts ahead of me are filled with imported toys and wrapping paper that is not recyclable.
5) The environment. Take a picture of your dumpster or trash can the week before Christmas, then take a photo in the days after Christmas. How can anyone say that's a good thing? More cars on the road. More junk mail. More noise. Sorry, but that's the (inconvenient) truth.
6) The stress. more people drinking. More families together, so greater chances of family arguments. Trying to buy what people want and the expectations. More suicides.
7) The greed. We tell our children to share and not to talk to strangers. But after Thanksgiving we put them on Santa's lap so they can recite their list of demands.

I know people who feel as I do but due to circumstances they have to play the part. I understand and respect their point of view, and I hope they do the same for me.

When I was a kid, I was just like any other kid. I made a list. I counted the days. I sat on Santa's lap. With my father's help, I put out cookies and beer for Santa. It was fun while it lasted. But then, so was fourth grade.

Indirect mail

2008-11-22T17:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of unsolicited mail for several reasons.
Today I got another reason why.
It was a large postcard to apply for a Shell credit card, along with two coupons to save $2 when I filled up.
Since there are two Shell stations within one mile from my house (and right next to each other, I might add) I thought it would be a coupon I could actually use.
Then I noticed that this mail, and the coupons, were advertisements for my "neighborhood Shell station".
A mapquest search shows this "neighborhood" Shell is 112 miles from my house, and in a direction that I've driven only once in 20 years. I guess if I drove that far out of my way I would need to buy some gasoline.

Getting to the bottom of this

2008-11-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

While driving through northern California recently I decided to stop at Lake Shasta, which is at a record low level because of the recent drought. While that's not a good thing for anyone, it does allow one to see what's usually underneath several hundred feet of water.
The opportunity for barren "moonscape" shots was plentiful, but I liked this vantage of the Sacramento River. The Sacramento is one of three major rivers impounded to create the reservoir. The tree line and the discolored soil shows the typical water level at this location. The low water level has also revealed many man-made objects that were inundated by the reservoir, including some old bridges and tunnels. Unfortunately I didn't have time to check out those sights. I guess I'll have to wait until the next drought year.

Feel lucky, pun(k)?

2008-11-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry you may not get this post.

After watching Dirty Harry on television, I got a call from a friend, GM.
As often happens we will try to out-pun each other. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't

I don't recall who started it, but our Dirty Harry-related sequence went something like this.
"Yea, it was a good movie."
"I can't recall ... did he make three sequels? Or was it four?"
"I'm not sure. In all of the excitement I kind of lost track myself."

Read this: Papa: An Intimate Biography of Mark Twain

2008-11-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

If you're expecting to learn more about Mark Twain, the writer, forget this book.
Papa: An Intimate Biography of Mark Twain, was written by Twain's 13-year old daughter, Susy Clemens. The book clearly shows her adoration and admiration, and at times her frustration. Susy felt her father, known for his humor, should be taken more seriously.
This particular edition had notation by Twain, as well as the book's editor. Picture a diary written by three people, in which two of them are editorializing about the third.
I'm still on the search for a more comprehensive book and will let you know when I've found it.

Read this: Roughing It

2008-11-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

Another Mark Twain classic*, this semi-autobiographical tale covers his travels west (to Nevada, San Francisco and Hawaii) as well as his attempts to make a living by prospecting, writing and dealing real estate.

While not nearly as well known as Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer, the story is just as good -- perhaps more so if you've spent any time in the places of which he writes.
This book is written in two segments, so the overall length is more than six hundred pages. There are a few slow spots but, like Twain's journey's, the good times more than make up for it.

* Twain's definition of classic: a book which people praise but don't read.

Special delivery

2008-10-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

It's Election Day in my house. My ballot came in the mail and, soon, it will be in the outgoing mail.
I live in a state where all elections are vote-by-mail. It's been this way for more than a decade and I really don't miss going to the local elementary school, waiting in line and then punching a chad.
Voting by mail has increased turnout and there have been virtually no cases of voter fraud, both of which are very important.
The way it works is that my ballot arrives with two envelopes. I mark my choices, then put my ballot in what is labeled a Secrecy Envelope. I seal that and then put the Secrecy Envelope inside the mailing envelope. There is a place where I sign that mailing envelope and I have to put on a stamp. I'll gladly invest 41 cents in democracy. I can also drop my ballot off at various locations throughout town, like the library or courthouse, where there are locked boxes.
Once my ballot arrives at the County Clerk's office, my signature is compared with the signature on my voter registration card. A bar code is scanned so the County Clerk knows that I've voted -- and that I've only voted once. If there are any discrepancies, the voter gets a call from the County Clerk to clarify why something is amiss.
That envelope is opened and put aside. The secrecy envelope (with my ballot) is put in a pile and safely guarded until Election Day, when it's counted. So there is secrecy and a paper trail.
Although I appreciate the convenience, I find it disturbing that in the 21st century, the most reliable way of voting and counting ballots involves using paper and a number 2 pencil.
Shouldn't we be better than that?

Read this: Steve Martin's Born Standing Up

2008-10-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

I've enjoyed much of the work of Steve Martin, so I thought I would also enjoy his autobiography. I was right.
Born Standing Up chronicles his childhood through his first movie, with the focus on getting into, and out of, stand-up comedy. From an empty house at Knott's Berry Farm to New York in front of a crowd of 45 thousand, Martin takes you onto the stage and into his mind. It's not all happy feet and getting small.
Martin has a very easy style to read -- this would be a great book on tape -- I was able to get through the book's 204 pages in one evening.

Read this: Adventures of Tom Sawyer

2008-09-14T19:41:00.001-07:00

It's just one of many American classics that I never had to read in school. I'm sure that if it was an assignment I would not have enjoyed it as much.
It's nice to finally "get" all of the pop culture references to Tom, Huck and Becky. And I can't help but think of Tom Sawyer's Island at Disneyland. My only caution is that some of the narration and dialog requires rereading, given the dialects and words/phrases used in that time period.
I am currently reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which could be considered a sequel but with a slightly different character. Similar location and very similar adventures.
I have previously read another of Mark Twain's famous stories, the Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Given my appreciation of the Gold Rush era, I really enjoyed this.
All highly recommended.

PainPal

2008-09-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am not much of a user of ebay or paypal, but when I do use them I don't want it to be an ordeal. I will admit neither of these companies (actually just one company that owns the other) are high on my radar and I realize policies and fees change from one use to another. My previous paypal use was nearly a year ago.
I'd recently sold an item on ebay and the buyer used a credit card, sending payment to an unverified address. Verifying the address was a problem since my email program flagged the confirmation email as spam, so I had to address that.
Then I had to upgrade my paypal account (i.e. agree to pay more than I had previously) to receive the payment.
Not only did I net about $17 on a $25 auction (considering the cost of postage), but it also took quite a bit of time. All of this took several nights (I have a dial-up connection), several emails to and from tech support (and I use that term very loosely) and several phone calls to people who, I'm confident, were wearing nametags that said In Training. And then there were the language barriers.
I know there is going to be trouble when emails from tech support have both my first and last name wrong, even though I spelled them correctly in my request. And each reply was (allegedly) sent by a different person.

I also want to mention that the paypal tech support phone number is not toll-free. So in addition to paying the commission I also used some of my phone minutes.
I was astute enough to ask for a toll free number, which I am more than happy to share:
1-888-221-1161.
Feel free to mention my name. I am sure they won't recognize it.

It cracks me up to hear politicians mention the CEO of ebay, and her company being responsible for creating millions of small businesses. Given the way statistics are kept and the way politicians exaggerate, I am probably one of those "small businesses". Very small.
If I divide my profit by my time, I can see it would have been more profitable to hold a sign by a freeway off-ramp. Or maybe even a freeway on-ramp.

Shore is pretty

2008-08-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

The Oregon coast, just like most coastline, is quite scenic. Along the central Oregon coast is a state park, Shore Acres. Shore Acres is the former estate of a lumber baron named Louis Simpson. The park has a large garden, stunning vistas and some hiking trails -- including one that leads to this small secluded area called Simpson Beach.

The scene of the crime

2008-08-07T22:50:00.000-07:00

I've always been fascinated by visiting historic places, especially places of prominence in American history.
One of my more interesting treks was to the sixth floor of the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Yes, that was the location of the Democratic National Committee in 1972, the target of a burglary which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon two years later. You know that story, now let me tell you mine:
I was visiting D.C in the summer of 1981 with a friend, Kevin. We had a tentative agenda, planning to hit the usual landmarks, including a pre-arranged tour of the Capitol.
One afternoon we decided to head towards the Watergate Complex, a massive campus of hotels, offices and condos. Inside the hotel we struck up a brief conversation with a guard. I asked if we could go see the break-in room which, in 1972, was the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. I told the guard we were students working on a research paper about the Watergate scandal, and that visiting the office would give us some insight into the scandal. I have to admit there was no part of that story which was true.
He told us to come back in a few hours -- and he warned us that we couldn't take any pictures inside.

We left and went across the street to Howard Johnson's, which is where some of the Watergate burglars stayed during their operation and where look-outs had kept a watch while the burglars were doing the break-in. I had clam chowder for dinner. Funny how one remembers those details.

We returned to the Watergate and checked in with the guard, who was true to his word.
It was a very ordinary office building, with a very ordinary office that happened to be the scene of such an extraordinary event.
I recall that, to the right side of the door on the inside, there was a plaque that mentioned the significance of the room. We stood inside the office, which was vacant at the time, and just sort of looked around. I am not sure what we expected to see but it has to have been the most non-descript historical site in America.

I don't remember what we did after leaving. I was disappointed I couldn't take any pictures, which would have been a great souvenir. It's ironic that the Watergate burglars went into that room specifically to take pictures of political documents.

Although I don't recall spending much time watching the Watergate hearings on television, that visit 9 years after the fact fueled my interest in the Watergate scandal and investigative journalism.

We all know how the Watergate story came to an end: Nixon announced his resignation on August 8th -- a date that will always be in my memory.

I like the action in this class action

2008-07-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I dislike telemarketing. Nothing personal against the people who have that job, I just disagree with the concept of calling me, on a telephone which I am paying for, to try to get me to buy things that I don't need or want. I am also a big fan of a person's right to privacy.

But when I heard about a class action lawsuit against Herbalife, for illegally telemarketing several years ago, I wanted to join in. I had been a victim of its telemarketing during the time span covered.

A class action lawsuit is when a group of plaintiffs join together to sue a defendant. It takes the place of multiple lawsuits and frequently results in an out of court settlement. However, many class action lawsuits only serve to make money for the attorneys. The people harmed usually wind up with very little. Sometimes they just get a coupon for discounts on a future purchase.

Given that background I was skeptical about participating. But since it was a violation of a law that I particularly like, I felt I should sign on. I didn't have many hopes of getting much more than a few cents. But at least there might be some small measure of civil justice.

I had completely forgotten about this lawsuit until yesterday. That's when a legal-looking envelope arrived in my mail, with a check inside for my share of the settlement: $77.45.

I am sure the attorneys made much more but at least Herbalife was held accountable for its actions. And getting a check in the mail is always a nice thing.

When you haven't got a prayer

2008-07-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

While walking along in Coos Bay, Oregon, I saw what I thought was a church. It is actually a prayer chapel, which is something I was not familiar with.
The idea is that if you are walking down the street and feel a strong need to pray or reflect, you just go inside and start praying. While there is a steeple on top and, inside, a cross and stained glass, it is a somewhat non-denominational building. Various religious organizations have pamphlets lying on a raised step inside that seems to act as the altar.
While taking pictures I keep thinking of this as sort of a religious person's telephone booth. I also wondered if the building saw more use since a casino opened down the road.

Read this: My Life by Bill Clinton

2008-07-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

This was an interesting read for two primary reasons:
- it gives a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at politics, especially national politics, during the 1990s.
- it shows a slice-of-life of rural southern America in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bill Clinton admits that he can be long-winded and, at 953 pages, this book is proof. There is a great amount of detail on the efforts for peace in Ireland and the Middle East, which I found to be a bit boring. Important issues, to be sure, but not that interesting to me.
Clinton seems to use this book to acknowledge everyone in his life and their impact on his, professionally and/or personally. We know there are a great many "friends of Bill" but that name dropping made it hard to follow the story.
Another thing I found a bit annoying was the tendency to read too much like a diary. "On April 17 ..." "The next day..." "Later that week..." I know it's an autobiography so going in chronological order makes sense, but the roll call of dates seems to take away from the story telling aspect.
Clinton did not go into detail about his misconduct, which he acknowledged, and at times really seemed to toot his own horn. While the lack of detail about misconduct was fine with me (we all know what happened any way), his self-promotion makes me wonder about the accuracy.
But I guess an autobiography is about one's own life, the way they see it. History will have the final say.

A night sight

2008-06-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

It was dark as I was leaving the Columbia Gorge so I decided to stop at Multnomah Falls for some night time shots. What you see here is a 15 second exposure of the lower falls.

I think the shot is an interesting example of lighting and color temperatures. The color of the lower falls is due to lights on the observation patio, while the upper falls (behind the bridge) were lighted by the night sky, the stars and the moon. I adjusted the brightness slightly with Photoshop. It was so dark that I could not even see the image through my camera's viewfinder --I could only point, shoot and hope. It took a few tries.

This shot is also a good reminder of the amazing abilities of the human eye. While photographers need to be concerned with the different types/temperatures of light, our eyes have the ability to see all types of light without any difference.

I'd like a recount, please

2008-06-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

As this blog indicates, I enjoy hiking to waterfalls. It gets me outdoors and gives me a chance to take some pictures. The hikes also involve water -- sometimes providing a cool place to swim after a long and hot hike. In addition to the hiking and scenery, it's fun to study maps and see what else might be in the vicinity. The flowers and any wildlife along the way are a bonus.

I'm often asked how many waterfalls I've been to. I can only approximate because (and this might be surprising) the definition of a waterfall varies depending on who is doing the defining.

A lot of waterfalls are pretty well-defined, with a name and listing on a map.
Take, for instance, Multnomah Falls. Well known and defined. Underneath the bridge at Multnomah Falls there is another smaller waterfall, Lower Multnomah Falls. So when you take a photo of Multnomah Falls, you are taking a photo of two waterfalls. But most people don't know that and they probably don't care. I can certainly understand that.

Above both falls on Multnomah Creek is a series of three 10'-15' falls. Or is it just one long waterfall? One website lists this feature as one waterfall, Dutchman Falls. Another website lists this stretch of the creek as having three separate falls, Lower, Middle and Upper Dutchman. Which one is right? Further upstream are two nice 50 + foot falls, several hundred yards from each other. They used to be listed as one waterfall, Double Falls, but now each have been given name (Weisendanger and Ecola) by the government agency that manages the area. It is nice when the land management agency puts an end to the discussion.

I've also encountered falls that were not listed on maps but have a size and streamflow that made them as spectacular as falls that are listed on maps. Some authors make up names for these unnamed falls, based on nearby features. But are these really falls worthy of counting?

A couple of criteria to be considered when counting whether a drop in a creek is a waterfall or just a drop in a creek:

Height
Listed on any maps/publications
Named, either officially or by locals
How long of a season it runs

My list of visited falls does include a few unnamed falls but I try to be someone discriminating on what I count and what I don't. This is probably way more information that you care to know but it also makes waterfall visiting somewhat interesting. It's not a problem you're likely to encounter in any other hobby.

# 400

2008-06-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

I recently visited this fall, which is located about a mile above Multnomah Falls. I like this shot because it puts the waterfall in context. This is what you see when you round the bend on the way downstream.

What I didn't like about the waterfall is that it is a little too close to the tourist-filled attraction sought out by millions. Too many people acting more like tourists than hikers: dogs on and off leashes, lack of proper equipment/footwear, hikers carrying backpacks with children on somewhat narrow trails, children without nearby supervision. I was surprised to see two people carrying paper Starbucks-like coffee cups, yet no water.
As one who understands the risks of spending time outdoors, it bothers me when people think all outdoor ventures are a walk in the park. There are things in the wild that can kill you, including the foolish actions by others (like letting your child throw rocks and sticks down from a trail).

Although this is a very scenic area, I'm glad to have this hike in my rear view mirror.

Think, even though it's not what you think

2008-05-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

Recent news reports that the famed Stonehenge may have been an ancient burial site reminded me of my visit to an interesting Stonehenge replica in Maryhill, WA.

The replica, seen here, was created by local land baron, Sam Hill. Wanting a monument to honor soldiers killed in World War I Hill, a Quaker, had the Stonehenge replica created to bring attention to the sacrifices of war -- which he felt were as pointless as those sacrfices thought to have occurred centuries earlier at the original Stonehenge.

Having never been to the original, I have no comparisons. After visiting the replica, I would say Sam Hill's point has been beautifully made.

River roundabout

2008-05-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

I've done a fair amount of hiking along creeks and rivers, but there is one spot along southern Oregon's Rogue River that is unique.

At this spot, near Union Creek, there is a sharp bend in the river . When you are standing on the trail at this location, the Rogue is on your right and on your left.
When I took the accompanying photo there was a similar view right behind me.

On the trail ...

2008-05-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's not every day a former president is in town, and just a few blocks from my house at that. Given the fair weather -- and free admission -- I thought I'd stop by to listen. I got this shot while he was "working the rope line".

Richer for Richmond

2008-05-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

Having some familiarity with the news media, I can't help but shake my head after reading a story in the SF Chronicle about retiring KTVU news anchor Dennis Richmond.
In a business that is consultant driven and caters to the dumbest members of its audience, I was amazed to read that he anchored the news for 32 years! That isn't a lifetime in the tv news business, it's several lifetimes.
His quote at the end of the article, I think, sums up his belief about what the news business should be:
"What I gave you was what was going on in the world at the moment. How you wanted to deal with it was always up to you."

Frog legs bring out the kid in me

2008-05-16T21:23:00.000-07:00

It was a year ago when I took part in the frog jumping contest at the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee.
And while it was my goal to actually participate (by making a frog jump, not by jumping myself) I also wanted to soak up some of the atmosphere.
I took this photo just before competing.
OK, so this all-comers make-a-rented-frog-jump isn't the real deal, it is still a lot of fun. I don't care how old you are: when you're chasing a frog around on a stage, trying to make it jump further, you will feel like a kid.

A passing thought

2008-05-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

File this in the "what're the odds?" department:
The weather was nice and my schedule was flexible, so I decided to walk to an afternoon meeting -- at an office about a mile away. My route had me crossing a train track which was no big deal.
Or it wouldn't have been unless there was a train.
Yep. My 25 minute walk was timed so perfectly (or so poorly) that I had to wait for a train! So I stood there waiting on the sidewalk, next to drivers who were also waiting. I felt like something was missing. Like a ton of steel around me and a car radio or something to fiddle with while the train rolled north.
I bought a lottery ticket the next day.

I shopped, I dropped

2008-04-30T18:43:00.000-07:00

I hate shopping. There is no better way to put it.
Groceries, furniture and especially clothing.
I buy groceries, occassionally, because I have to eat.
I have very little furniture, in part, because that would require shopping for furniture. It's not just the paying for it, it's the driving to the store, walking around, trying to decide what to buy, then paying for it and bringing it home.

Clothes are the absolute worst.
This afternoon I left work a little early to hit the mall, in search of some pants.
On my scale of hating shopping, with buying ice cream from a truck that drives past my house being 1, pants shopping rates an 11. That's because you have to take off your shoes AND the pants you wore in.

I parked. I walked. I visited four stores and tried on ten pairs. I wasted an hour and a half. Sizes are meaningless. Many tags list the color as #27. The only thing that would have made it worse was if someone asked to help me. Any help I need while pants shopping will come from a bartender, not a store clerk.

I know I'm not alone in my hatred of pants shopping. But given the number of naked people I see walking around, I know most simply play the game. You put up with the hassle because you really have no choice.

Postscript: I set out again in search of pants. I had a small lunch before going to the store and visited a men's clothing store chain, where I found a pair that was reasonably priced and fit on the first try. Figuring luck was with me, I then went to a department store and found a fit with the second pair I tried on. Hopefully my pants "issues" are solved for the time being.

A marketing tail

2008-04-30T18:18:00.001-07:00

"My mom says I can get a dog."
"My dog, Lucy, just had puppies."

With that school yard transaction I got my dog, Goober. Goober was a great dog. He was what we called a mutt, a mixture of several breeds. In this case, Cocker Spaniel + poodle + Maltese Terrier. (I know, the word "poodle" should be capitalized.)

I'm not sure what a dog like Goober would be called these days. Mutts, it seems, no longer exist. Instead, what you have are Puggles, which are a cross between a pug and a beagle. Or a

Foodle, which is a Poodle + Toy Fox Terrier.

They're called designer dogs, and they fetch a much better price than a mutt.

I recall the first time I encountered a man walking his Labradoodle, and he told me what it was (besides ugly).
I asked him if he created it in his garage. I don't think I was that far off.

Road rage revenge

2008-04-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

No, this is not what you might think.
It's about a driver who really had some problems and my small act of revenge.

This driver was in a pick up, towing a horse trailer converted into a landscape equipment trailer. In the span of less than a mile, he changed lanes four times!

1-From the lane to my right into my lane
2-From my lane back to the lane to my right
3-Repeat step 1
4-Repeat step 2

Did I mention this was during the 5 o'clock rush hour traffic? And that he was towing a trailer?

He managed to get way ahead of me and I forgot about him as I pulled into a store parking lot.
As I was leaving the parking lot, I saw this guy again -- waiting to pull out of a gas station into my lane of traffic.
I could have let him in.
Yea, I could have.

I don't carry a torch for the Olympics

2008-04-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

As I write this, there is wall-to-wall coverage of the Olympic Torch Relay in San Francisco. I tuned in to see what happens, given the protests that have happened so far.
While watching, I thought of what it would be like to see the Olympic torch pass before me. Then it hit me: I have. It was in Santa Clara on El Camino Real. I can't recall the year or any details. To say it was a thrilling event would be an overstatement.

As a kid I thought the Olympics were kind of neat. I don't know if it's me that's changed or the games themselves. I will never forget the 1972 Munich massacre and wondering if this was "normal". The Miracle on Ice was great. I watched parts of the LA Olympics from my hotel room in Hawaii. I thought it was kind of cool to have met some competitors over the years, including one who was my high school teacher.

I recognize the need for corporate sponsorship but that's turned me off. Seeing the Olympic rings on anything makes me think of CEO's figuring an Olympic sponsorship will boost the sale of Big Macs by 12%. There's also the bribery scandal of the Salt Lake City games. I wasn't surprised. Only surprised that anyone was caught.

And while I've always suspected the other countries of not playing fair by using professional athletes, I am now skeptical of the USA's commitment to that goal. I know we've had pro basketball and baseball players competing, but it seems most of the athletes are not "normal" people in the sense that they take the bus to practice after school.

The Olympics always seemed to me as a place where normal people do extraordinary things. And while I can understand nurturing talent, the emphasis placed on competing (and winning) over having a life makes me shake my head. I won't get into the steroids/doping issues.

I never had dreams of competing but it would be nice to think that I could have, if I had the talent and drive. But how many families can move so their kid is closer to a better ski area? I know neither of my parents could have given up a job so they could drive me to curling practice at 4 am.

Competing in the Olympics is a privilege. And it seems to take privilege as well.

So don't look for my name on any lists of Olympic participants. As for setting my VCR and watching, I won't be playing that game, either.

Tipping the scales of justice

2008-03-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Did you hear about Starbucks being ordered to pay current and former employees millions, because supervisors have been taking a cut of what is dropped in the tip jar?
I am not a fan of the chain, nor the idea of tip jars. I am, however, a fan of following the law.
While Starbucks says sharing the tips promotes a team atmosphere, the reality is, (and the law says) that there are different rules and responsibilities for supervisors. Supervisors are not "part of the team", they are team leaders.
Certainly tip jars work. If I worked in a service industry nowadays, perhaps I would feel different.

Tipping when one receives ordinary service only encourages ordinary service.

When you sit down in a restaurant, custom says you tip a percentage of the bill. Why, then, do tip jars generate money based on the amount of change one gets back after the purchase?

If I was the judge in this case, I would have ruled in favor of the Starbucks employees. And since judges also provide a service, I would have put a tip jar on the bench. No doubt the plaintiffs' attorneys would have dropped a couple of quarters.

a Progressive response

2008-03-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

I wanted to follow up on the posts regarding junk mail from Progressive insurance. A letter from the company's Privacy Officer says I provided the company with incorrect apartment numbers when I contacted it for quotes in 2006 and 2007. I'm not sure of that.
He says my information (and all addresses) has been removed from the company's mailing lists.
I'm not sure of that, either, but I guess time will tell.

Have you heard of THIS cow?

2008-03-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

On a recent hike I came across a herd of cattle. It's not something that happens a lot, but it's always a surprise. Did I mention this herd was not fenced in?

I'm not an cattle expert (though I've played one on tv), but I think this might be a belted limousine, or beltosine.
The striped pattern is intentional but I can't recall why. Heck, it might even be a bull rather than a cow. Bovines weren't mentioned in my Field Guide.

The reason cattle are sometimes found along trails is because ranchers can lease public lands to graze their cattle. Aside from "stepping in something" and damage to trails, I've always found the cattle to be a minor concern. If I see horns I keep a little more distance.

I've also developed a rule of thumb about hiking: pay attention to the wildlife you see, but also be aware of any animals that might want to eat what you see. Like cougars.

Been there, Dome that

2008-03-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

A recent television special on hiking Half Dome brought to mind my own trek up in 1985. The host said the hike is something "every Californian should do" and I tend to agree. Like walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, being on such an icon is truly memorable.
My hike capped off a multi-day stay in the park where I'd planned a series of hikes: Sentinel Dome, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. I think that was about 25 miles, total.
Having hiked hundreds of miles since, I shudder when I think about the things I did wrong on my Half Dome hike. Maybe "wrong" is the wrong word. Maybe just things I'd do different if I did it again.

I started my hike about 6 am, which is a good time to start on this 17 mile hike. But I was woefully under-prepared. I wore tennis shoes, carried my father's Boy Scout canteen and one granola bar. I was very sore, very hungry and very thirsty when I finished, but I survived. I think my biggest regret was not having enough film! Looking at my folder of Half Dome and its mere 12 photos, I think about the photos I didn't take: no Mist Trail. No Nevada Falls. No Silver Apron.

I hear stories now about how it's not like it used to be, with the infamous cable route as crowded as a mall elevator at Christmas. I look at my two photos showing the cables and see just one other hiker!

I recall coming down and running into a classmate from high school, who was going up to spend the night on the 8,836' dome -- which is now prohibited. And later, him telling me about the snow that started falling at 2 am, and waiting four hours until daylight to descend the ice-covered cables. In Yosemite Valley, it was rain that I had to put up -- nearly the entire way back home. On my Honda 450, with my rain poncho falling apart every mile of the way.

A few years ago, on the weekend before Memorial Day, I started up the Mist Trail planning to take pictures of it and Nevada Falls. I don't know if it was the sheer volume of water on the trail, the crowds, my lousy sense of balance or all of the above, but it wasn't much fun so I abandoned the trip and walked to Mirror Lake instead. I felt a little defeated, but it's hard to feel truly disappointed when your fall-back plan is a hike along Tenaya Creek. We should all have such bad days! Hopefully some day I'll get back up to Nevada Falls. I don't know if I'd want to get back up to the top of Half Dome. I can't imagine it's changed much since I was last there. And if it has changed, it's probably not for the better.

Junk mail that's Progressive-ly bad

2008-03-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

I'd previously written about efforts to get my name off an insurance company's mailing list. Further information reveals I shouldn't have trusted this company, Progressive Insurance.

As you may know, every time I give out my name/address to a business, I specify that my information is not to be used for marketing or shared with anyone. That is a habit I've had for two decades and, for the most part, companies comply. I did this when I became a Progressive customer last year.

But when I contacted Progressive about this matter yesterday, I was told it would take six weeks for my request to be honored. Why would it take six more weeks to honor a request made in 2007? And why, when I was a Progressive customer, didn't I get junk mail?
It's clear that Progressive had my request but stopped honoring it when I stopped being a customer.

A Progressive customer service rep told me "we get the names for our mailing lists from a national database compiled by Epsilon". And how did Epsilon know I was a former Progressive customer? Progressive told them. Yup. Progressive shared my information with a mailing list company after all.

I want to point out that the junk mail I got yesterday had an incorrect apartment number. So if it weren't for a vigilant letter carrier, a neighbor (whom I don't know) would be getting my mail. And this illustrates that, between Progressive and Epsilon, someone got my address wrong. And not just a typo. Two complete randomly-wrong digits. So Progressive is either furnishing incorrect information and/or buying incorrect information. And who knows what other companies Epsilon shares its data with.

I asked the Progressive rep to just go through the database and remove any listing of my name at this street address, so a third neighbor doesn't start getting my mail. I was told that can't be done.

If this was mail from Publisher's Clearing House I would be annoyed. But I would expect an insurance company to be a little better about not sharing the personal information of its customers. I plan to file a complaint with the State Insurance Commissioner's Office. I have never had this problem with State Farm.
This episode makes me glad I didn't have an insurance claim. It also makes me glad that I'm a former Progressive customer.

...and you can quote me on this!

2008-03-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

I canceled an insurance policy a few months ago. However, this company -- which uses customer testimonials in its advertising -- keeps sending me mail, encouraging me to reconsider. And you know I don't like that!
Using its website, I requested removal of my name from its mailing list. But before I hit SEND, I checked the box giving permission to use my comment in its advertising.

So if you see an ad that says "your continued mailings are starting to annoy me", that's mine!
Hopefully my request will be acted upon. And maybe the staff in the marketing department will get a chuckle.

Say buy buy to televion and dvds

2008-02-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

All I keep thinking is "here we go again". Do you remember when you converted your album collection to compact discs? Or when you converted your VHS tapes to dvds?

How much money do consumers spent converting information from one format to another? Eight-track to cassette. Replacing a turntable with a cd player. Beta to VHS.

Now, we're seeing television ads about the conversion of television sets from analog to digital. Some consumers will buy converters, many more will buy new digital tvs.

We're also hearing about how the Blu-Ray format is going to be the standard for dvds, replacing High Definition. I was told (by an appliance salesman so my information is suspect) that my current collection of (7) dvds can't be played on a Blu-Ray machine.

I am grateful for useful technology upgrades. I hate having to haul out my typewriter! But how much waste will be generated for better image and sound quality? How much will consumers spend replacing still-function appliances, so it will be easier to interact with the kids on the latest High School Musical dvd.

If you think all technology upgrades are good for you, consider this: you were never told to Press 1 for English when you had a rotary telephone.

The planned obsolescence of analog tv and High Definition dvds makes me think that I'll be reading more books in the future.

Not seeing the light

2008-02-25T18:26:00.000-08:00

I'm instinctively wary of any product that is overly-hyped, including those compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). Anyone who knows me well also knows that my desire to conserve energy and reduce waste precedes Al Gore's.
The CFLs are touted as a way to save energy and money, as they supposedly last longer than incandescent bulbs. However, the CFLs contain mercury - a toxic substance linked to brain damage. I got a kick out of a local tv station's story on CFLs, and the efforts to recycle them. The station detailed the ten-step process to clean up the toxic waste if one of the bulbs breaks in your house.
I guess consumers have to evaluate the purported cost/energy savings of the bulbs versus the cost/energy use to recycle them -- and their mercury.

According to the California EPA:

Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are generated by a wide variety of people that contain mercury, lead, cadmium, copper and other substances hazardous to human and environmental health. Examples of these wastes are batteries, fluorescent tubes, and some electronic devices. The best way to reduce the harmful effects of the wastes on human health and the environment is to reduce consumption. The next best thing is to make sure you DON’T throw them in the trash!
(http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/UniversalWaste/index.cfm)

I once bought a CFL several years ago, before it was in vogue. The bulb went out after about a week. I also have trouble believing the companies that sell us electricity want us to use less electricity. I hope the incandescent bulbs don't go the way of the 8-track tape and analog television.

Sheer terror

2008-02-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

When allergy issues forced me to use a public restroom recently, I was amazed at the thinness of the toilet paper. I never realized they made tissue in 1/4 ply. I wondered if the tissue was thin enough to read through. I’ll let you be the judge. Do the people who purchase the restroom supplies realize that the thinness forces people to use more?

The messy road to the White House

2008-02-22T12:35:00.000-08:00

The USA is 231 years old. And in that time you'd think we would have figured out how to conduct a presidential election that doesn't more closely resemble a production by Barnum & Bailey.

I'm not going to discuss hanging chads. What really disappoints me is the space and attention devoted to the "he said-she said" trivia. It is promoted by campaign managers who want their candidate's name in the paper. It is perpetuated by media outlets that fear being scooped by the competition. It is consumed by the public, desperate for infotainment now that we've solved the mystery of who fathered Anna Nicole Smith's baby.
A few examples come to mind:

A candidate angry about a cable commentator's remark about the candidates daughter being "pimped" by the campaign. I think that is an accurate description by a commentator on an opinion show. I do not think the comment/word would be appropriate in a news show.
Accusations about a candidate plagarizing remarks by his friend. Who cares? Politicians talk a lot (too much, in some cases) and there are not a lot of original thoughts, so some comments are bound to be repeated.
A candidate blasting the New York Times for an article about his ethics. A read of the article shows his aides were concerned about an inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist, but no one accused him of having an affair. Had this candidate and the media not blown the article out of proportion, I would not have read it and thus, would not have learned more about his past. So thank you, Senator, for calling my attention to the article.

This faux-outrage happens so the candidate can take control of the news cycle, regardless of how trivial the matter. Aren't there more important things to talk about or be angry at?

In my news days, I noticed how many more faxes we received during the campaign season. Most (sent by the incumbent at taxpayer expense) never made the air, nor should they have. But I am sure a campaign season fax was behind the news story about Congressman Doe Supports Rabies Vaccinations. I wanted to track the fax phenomena but never got any support to pursue the matter.

Unfortunately, this relentless pursuit of trivia wastes the time and the increasingly shorter attention span of voters, who then will base their decision on less important criteria -- such as which candidate they would most like to have a beer with.

Presidential campaigns are very childish at times. Perhaps the solution is to give the office to the person who comes out ahead in a game of "one potato, two potato".

Behind the campaign curtain

2008-02-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, when I heard a presidential candidate was coming to town, I took the day off work to attend his campaign rally. It was a lot of fun to see what happens beyond the 1:30 clip you see on the news.

What I noticed most was how the crowd didn’t really matter. We were there as a set piece, an important part of the scene but certainly not the most important part. Or even the second most.

Presidential campaign rallies are made for tv events. And they are staged by the campaign, so whatever can be done to make the candidate appear in a more favorable light will be done. It is pure theater, with lights and sounds and even make-up.

It reminded me of going to a rock concert. To energize the crowd and set the mood, there was music before and after. Souvenirs were sold. And everyone was there for one purpose -- to see and hear the candidate. The only exception is that tickets were free.

We were told to arrive a few hours early as it was general admission. That also ensured everyone could get through security and in place before the candidate arrived. It also meant a captive audience for other speakers, generally local candidates who wouldn’t attract a crowd even if they were handing out $20 bills.

From what I recall, spectators couldn’t bring in signs (security reasons). However, signs were given away inside. That’s why you see so many of the same signs in the tv shots. It’s not that the spectators all shop at the same sign shop! It also ensures that no unapproved signs make it on to the nightly news.

You’ll notice there is usually a crowd of people behind the candidate. Those may be VIPS or even kids from the local schools, since their parents vote. And some may be holding signs. The crowd behind the candidate shows that, yes, there are real people at this event, without the camera having to cut away from the candidate. Once the candidate is elected, they rarely have people behind them. In place of local kids, there will probably be a backdrop with the theme of the day (“Cleaner Air for All”). It is funny because the crowd behind the candidate is tough to control. That means a well-timed smirk or yawn could make it onto the news. I know that I would not have been in the behind-the-candidate crowd when I was a kid!

The candidate I saw came into the arena to a mix tape of rock, rap and selected sound bites of the candidate repeating themes of the campaign. He waved to the crowd and shook a few hands, but generally got onto stage quick. It was well-timed so there was very little of the candidate standing around -- once he got out of his SUV he was onto the stage.

The speech itself consisted of the usual: “Great to be here in Elm Junction.” “I want to thank Representative Smith for those great welcome comments”. Then about 45 minutes of similar phrases I’d already heard on the news. There was some local element (“I know healthcare is important to Americans, especially the hardworking Americans here in Elm Junction!”). I didn’t applaud much. I figured no one would notice and, to this day, no one did.

This particular candidate didn’t use notes from what I could tell and I was impressed that anyone could talk off the cuff for such a long time without having a brain freeze or simply getting bored themselves. I did hear one comment and remembered him saying the same thing about 20 minutes before. The dangers of ad libbing for too long. But after about ten minutes, I was starting to think I’d heard it all before. And, truth be told, I probably had.

The candidate wrapped up his speech with a reminder to “remember the great work of Representative Smith when you go to the voting booth” in November, a thanks to the crowd and bounding off stage as the music kicked back into place and the house lights came up. A few handshakes to the VIPS and local politicians, then they’re off. Remember, if the tv cameras aren’t rolling, there is no reason for the candidate to stick around.

This particular candidate did “work the rope line”, which is when the candidate goes to the waist-high fence holding back the crowd, to shake hands and kiss babies. It is interesting to note that they don’t really shake hands the way you and I do. Instead, they sort of grab the top of your outstretched hand and shake it. This allows them to increase their “handshakes per hour” rate and let’s them control the handshake -- which is a security measure that decreases the chance that a spectator can grab their hand and pull them away from security.
I once attended a rally where there was no “rope line”. Instead it becomes a bit of a scrum which seems much more dangerous. From a security point-of-view, you want to avoid rugby field maneuvers when protecting a presidential candidate.
The candidate shook hands on the way to the door, a final wave to everyone, then back into the SUV to another stop (or a private party to pick up some campaign checks).

I did not actually see any babies being kissed. I think bringing a baby to a campaign rally should be considered child abuse.

I left the rally feeling a bit more excited about the election and this candidate’s chances, but I also left feeling that I didn’t know any more about the candidate or the issues of which he spoke. I did enjoy the experience and how much more there was to it all. I am sure some people get so energized by the sights and sounds that they can’t wait to vote for the person they’ve just seen -- in much the way going to a concert encourages people to go out and buy the cd.

I don’t know if I’d go to another presidential campaign rally. I guess it depends on what else I had to do that day. Where else can you see a bit of history without having to buy a ticket or pay for parking?

Field trip: American River

2008-02-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken towards the end of a day that included two hikes to waterfalls along the American River, near Auburn.
No Hands Bridge, which spans the river downstream of the confluence of the north and middle forks, is seen in the distance. The bridge once held tracks belonging to the Mt. Quarries Railroad. Today it's used by hikers and equestrians on the Western States Trail.
The bridge's nickname dates to the time before handrails were installed.
An equestrian intentionally dropped her reins while crossing the bridge!

Seize candy

2008-02-09T11:37:00.001-08:00

I would like to ask you, fellow:
Have you have tried a scotchmallow?
Marshmallow and caramel, covered with chocolate.
If you ask me, they hit the spot.
So next time you visit that place called See's,
just smile and say "scotchmallow please".

Just one scotchmallow was harmed in the making of this post.

Read this: Nature Noir

2008-02-08T23:28:00.000-08:00

In his autobiography, former park ranger Jordan Fisher Smith chronicles his work trying to protect the nature of, and the people in, the Auburn State Recreation Area, while dealing with the political realities of government work. If you like the outdoors and/or you like crime stories, you'll have trouble putting this book down. Fisher Smith talks about the frustration of trying to make people care about land that, it seemed, would one day be buried under hundreds of feet of water behind the proposed Auburn Dam.

Field trip: Spenceville Wildlife Area

2008-02-07T20:38:00.001-08:00

Spenceville Wildlife and Recreation Area, east of Marysville, is more than 11 thousand acres of boulder-studded rolling hills, foothill oaks and lazy creeks.
My destination was the pair of waterfalls known collectively as Shingle Falls (or Fairy Falls). While both falls were scenic, the shape and geology of the creek prohibits getting close to the water, the way I like to. I saw many small birds and a few hawks, but not as many other forms of wildlife as I expected, considering the mild temperature of the day. I did see several dozen head of cattle, as parts of Spenceville are used for grazing.
Spenceville is an old mining area, which explains piles of boulders and many fenced areas with large signs saying Keep Out.

Read this: Center of the Storm

2008-02-07T20:05:00.000-08:00

Center of the Storm is the autobiography of John Scopes, the Tennessee man convicted of teaching evolution during the Scope's Monkey Trial of 1925. In addition to hearing his thoughts about his role in what was then referred to as the "trial of the century", the book is also an interesting look into that period of time, both inside and outside the courthouse. Scopes makes no bones about his role, referring to himself as "the body that was needed to sit in the defendant's chair", and he stresses the need for freedom of thought (and freedom from the though police).

The basic freedoms of speech, religion, academic freedom to teach and to think for oneself defended at Dayton are not so distantly removed; each generation, each person must defend these freedoms or risk losing them forever. - John T. Scopes

And the (projected) winner is ...

2008-02-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

Chance are your name wasn't on the ballot. Which is probably a good thing, because then you'd be depressed about having lost an election. Thinking about contests, I started thinking about things I had won in my life. I thought I’d share this list with you, hoping that it will remind you of times when things in your own life have gone the way you wanted. Maybe it will make you laugh/smile/shoot milk out of your nose.

Things I’ve won, and the percentage* of effort they took:

Quart of chocolate milk: I won this in a drawing when I was about five and my sisters held a carnival for Muscular Dystrophy. Imagine a five year old with his own quart of chocolate milk! The milk mustache has faded but not the memory. 0%: No luck, but avoiding having to share with older siblings should bump this up to 100%

Little League trophies: I was on teams that finished 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. While the 3rd place finish was a bit disappointing, it was nice to have contributed to the teams’ efforts and success. The 2nd place trophy came after being on a team that finished 1-17. That’s 17 loses. 100%: I am including the broken nose I got from my first year because it’s my list and I’ll score the way I want to. If you don't like it I'll take my list and go home.

Television set: This is the gift that keeps on giving. At a company function, I won a television set. This was about two weeks after I’d already bought a new television. Luckily, I was able to exchange the tv set for a VCR. The VCR lasted for several years and when it finally broke, I sold the remote control on eBay for $50 -- enough to buy a new VCR. 50%: 0% for winning the tv. 100% for selling the barely- functioning remote control on eBay.

Associated Press award: OK, the category was a bit lame but it was an award that, the year prior, I said “next year I’m going to take home that award”. I was also pleased that my work contributed to another award for a program that my station contributed. I will admit jealousy over a former coworker’s Emmy. But if I’d won an Emmy I’d have to buy a mantel and some polish ... and it’s still kind of cool to say I worked with someone who won an Emmy. 100%: I had to do the research, writing and faxing to AP.

Diamond: From picking the right envelope in a radio station contest. 5%: I had to find the radio station van in the parking lot.

Album: I was the 16th caller. 100%: I had to dial the telephone at just the right speed, and then had to nag my parents to drive 40 miles (and back) to redeem the certificate I was sent in the mail. And I thought they would actually mail me the album!

Parking ticket: For exceeding the time limit in a restricted spot. I did some research and, not only did I win the case but the City changed the restrictions. Kind of cool to think others are getting a break from my work. 95%: 5% to the judge who found me not guilty, the City engineer who approved the work, and the staff from the public works department who had to assemble the sign, dig a hole, fill hole and lean on some shovels. I'd like to thank the Academy ...

$100 on the lottery. Twice: These came as part of group buys, so I only took home about $3.33 each time. Again, the team effort pays off. 10%: collecting the money AND going to the store at just the right time. 90%: pure luck

Small claims lawsuit: I’ll be brief, but my hard work, research and preparation paid off in both winning the suit and collecting. You may have already seen this on Law & Order. 99.9%: I'd like to give the defendant some credit.

* Some of the percentages seemed much harder than 100%, but I don’t want to do the whole “I gave it 110% percent” thing so many athletes do. Besides, O.J. kind of ruined statistics when he said he was “100% not guilty”.

Voter's remorse

2008-02-05T17:06:00.000-08:00

I like voting by mail, but it's sort of strange to have already mailed in my ballot, weeks before Election Day. I filled it out with a blue pen, like the directions said. It bothers me that a candidate I voted for already dropped out of the race. I feel like I should be able to get my ballot back. Next time I may not mail in my ballot until just before the election. Or maybe I'll use a pencil.

If you are wondering why I didn't wait to send it my ballot, it's because I didn't want it to get lost under the pile of paperwork that will be mailed at the very last minute: my income tax forms.

Nothing against the Sooner state, but ...

2008-02-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

While on a trip out of town I went to a lounge where they had karaoke, and I did a duet of the country song You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma. It's a lovely song but, unfortunately, it also reminds me of a joke I heard about 20 years ago:

You're the reason God made Oklahoma.
Is that supposed to be a compliment?

A close shave at the airport

2008-01-31T11:45:00.001-08:00

I recently had to fly for business, which is something I have not done recently.
I bought an 11 ounce can of shaving cream right before leaving.

Unfortunately, I didn't realize that you can't bring that much shaving cream on airplanes these days, so it was confiscated by the gloved TSA employee at the airport. Which meant, upon landing, I had to go to the store and buy a 2.5 ounce can -- which cost more than the 11 ounce can.

As I entered the security line, I saw a poster of a dozen men ("suspected terrorists") to watch out for.
Is there a connection between all of them having beards and the small amount of shaving cream one can bring on an airline?

Too much on my plate

2008-01-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

A federal appeals court ruled that the State of Arizona, and other states, must allow license plates with the message Choose Life.

The appeals court said the message is private speech by both the anti-abortion group that sponsored the message and the owner of the vehicle.

I'm not a legal expert (though I've played on on TV) and I'm sure this argument was (hopefully) brought up, but if the numbers and letters on the plate are assigned/approved by the government, how is that private speech? How is it private speech if the state issues the plates, requires them to be posted on vehicles and can seize them from the vehicles' owners?

Would a point of view 180 degrees ( like Choose Choice) be allowed? How about the literal opposite: Choose Death?

License plate trivia: when California first required registration of vehicles, the State issued the number. Each motorist had to then create their own "plate".

Read this: No Excuses

2008-01-28T18:10:00.000-08:00

No Excuses: Confessions of a Serial Campaigner, by Democratic political consultant/writer Robert Shrum, is a look behind the curtain of presidential politics from McGovern to Kerry. While some of the anecdotes are interesting, there is too much detail and "inside baseball" which bogs down some chapters. It reads like a Who's Who of Washington politics, going into details of people you've never heard of and business relationships you don't care about.

See this: The Big Buy

2008-01-26T22:02:00.000-08:00

The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress documents the investigation of illegal campaign contributions made to helped to ensure a Republican majority in the Texas state legislature. That majority allowed the redrawing of Congressional districts favorable to the GOP. Among companies singled out for breaking Texas law (which prohibits corporate donations in the state) are Sears, Bacardi and Cracker Barrel.
While I applaud documentaries that expose wrongdoing, I can't say I was surprised that crimes were committed.
The only surprise, to me, is that someone got caught.

Let's be Frank about Major Burns

2008-01-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of M*A*S*H for a long time. I enjoy the gallows humor and the jabs at the hypocrisy of war and the government(s) that cause them. I think the TV show was much better than the movie.

Like any fan of the TV program, I can not stand Major Frank Burns. During the course of one of my jobs, I had the chance to meet Larry Linville, who played Burns, when he was in town to speak at a college event. This was after he had left the show and his career consisted of bit parts on The Love Boat and similar shows, where he played Frank Burns-type characters.

I really didn't think I'd like Linville, since I disliked his character so much, but I couldn't help it. Polite, funny and great at ad libbing. Watching him do the media interviews was very entertaining. I wish I could remember more details.

I was very surprised by how much I hated his character yet enjoyed the actor. This, I thought, was a sign of good acting and good character development/writing.

When he died in 2000 (on fellow M*A*S*H actor Harry Morgan's birthday, coincidentally), I called in to a local radio show to talk about meeting Linville. I wanted people to know what the man who played ol' Ferret Face was really like.

I thought I'd also share with you a photo of the M*A*S*H site (Malibu Creek State Park, CA), which I visited 25 years after the show went off the air. The trail in the foreground was the main road leading into the 4077th. The OR and Blake/Potter's offices would be on the right.
To the left of the picnic table (and burned out Jeep) is the little hill used as the chopper landing pad. You may be able to see a faint trail leading up to the landing pad. This is the location of the wooden stairs, featured in the open credits with the close up of boots running up to greet the "incoming".

The land that is now Malibu Creek State Park was once owned by 20th Century Fox and used for filming. Its credits also include Tarzan, Planet of the Apes, Pleasantville and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

See this: Huell Howser's California Gold

2008-01-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

If you live in California, as I've been known to, you may have heard of Huell Howser.
Huell has shows on PBS called California's Gold and California's Golden Parks. As the titles suggest, they feature various points of interest in the Golden State. I've always liked programs that encourage people to experience their surroundings, and to visit Huell's landmarks you don't need shots or a passport. I also appreciate the effort, having worked on a few regional travel-type programs.

The host has a style that is very different. Huell is from Oklahoma and has an accent that is definitely not Californian. Of course, WE know that Californians don't have accents! Huell is also an extremely positive person. I can imagine him on the Titanic: WOW! Will we have something to tell the neighbors!

The programs have very little editing and really make you feel as if you are tagging along. It is not uncommon to hear Huell give directions to the cameraman (get a shot of this, Luis!) or for the camera work to be, occasionally, shaky. But I know how hard his photographers work, carrying a camera while walking isn't as easy as it looks. Certainly it's a different style: sometimes it works well, sometimes it doesn't. It took me awhile to get used to it, too. I should note that less editing gives you a more accurate representation of the experience. Cinema verite and the rest of those Latin video production terms come to mind.

The program is not as slick at some (like Bay Area Backroads or Eye on the Bay) , but they don't make me feel as if I've been suckered into watching a half hour infomercial for Nissan, Toyota or some other deep-pocketed sponsor. This is PBS.

Some of the programs are more interesting than others, depending on the subject matter and people interviewed.

Huell's unique style has also inspired a drinking game (which I would NEVER condone, because you could be drunk during a pledge break. ) The times to take a drink illustrate his style:

Huell gives directions to his photographer.
Huell shakes hands with someone and the grip lasts uncomfortably long. (can we let go now, Huell?)
Huell goes overboard in his enthusiasm: "So ALL of the churches were on Church Street? That's fanTAStic!"
Huell states/asks the obvious: So if someone wanted to hitch up their horse, they'd use this hitching post.

Some of the best shows featured trips to the 5 corners of California, which I though was a very unique idea. These shows were an hour, rather than the usual 30 minutes. At each corner (or as close as possible), Huell temporarily planted a California flag. Take that, Oregon! Get a load of this, Nevada! I've got your flag right here, Arizona! Don't tread on this, Mexico.
Places where the flag was planted include:

Northwest corner, where it was pointed out the some businesses in Oregon were really in California. Apparently the early surveyors had their own drinking games.

Lake Tahoe (the so-called 5th corner). The California flag was floated in the water on this program, which also visited nearby natural areas. No casinos, fortunately.

Southeast corner, where most of the time was actually spent in Yuma, ARIZONA. Yes, that corner of California (which is technically at the bottom of the Colorado River) is desolate. It was interesting to note the border fence that separates the US and Mexico: Huell pointed out a hole under the fence through which a person could easily climb. And since the fence doesn't quite go to the river, a person could merely walk around the fence! It was at this point a group of people walked up to the fence from the Mexico side. Bueno Huell Howser!

Northeast corner, where Alturas was featured. While the "magnificent" historic hotel and "very" friendly people were nice, what stands out to me was that Huell got lost in the search for the exact corner! He and his crew were hiking with a local resident and a geography (or was it geology?) expert. I can't remember why they got lost -- it may have been due to (another) early surveyor's error. They ended up hiking several miles out of their way- over and around huge lava rocks and through rattlesnake territory where no trail existed and no signs pointed the way. Having hiked out of my way at least once, I know getting "off trail" is miserable when the trail is decent and your backpack is light. It must have been awful for this group -- which included a person carrying a video camera. Huell got mildly annoyed (at least from what was shown) and, while they obviously made it back to put the show together, the experience shown made me better appreciate this, and the other efforts.

Hats off to Huell Howser (and crew!)

The government is paying me to write this

2008-01-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

I don’t plan on making a lot of political posts but I can’t help myself. Especially where free money is concerned. There is a lot of talk right now about stimulating the economy by giving people rebates. I know how annoyed I am about having to cut a UPC from a cardboard box, so I'm glad they're not that type of rebate.

As much as I like free money, which I don't get nearly often enough, it’s not really free since us taxpayers are footing the bill. It makes more sense to me, or so my economic-illiterate mind thinks, to lower taxes -- though the tax booklets are already in the mail. There certainly wouldn’t be the cost of printing and mailing checks. But we know that when it comes to free money and shopping, people are not patient.

I am reminded of a plan Jimmy Buffett (not to be confused with Warren Buffett) suggested years ago to improve the U.S. economy while also ending the Cold War: take the money that could buy a B-1 bomber and drop it on the Soviet Union. A week later, drop copies of the Victoria's Secret catalog. The U.S. will have full employment. The Russian government won't know what's going on. And the Russian people will have crotchless underwear until the 21st century.

If I get a rebate and put it in savings, I’m told that I’m not helping the economy. Although saving is good and the money would probably be spent, eventually. No wonder no one saves any money these days. It’s bad for the economy.

If I get a rebate and go out and pay a bill, like my credit card bill, that’s not helping the economy either. At least that’s what the man on the news said. Even though a bill means I owe someone, like VISA, money. So do I help the economy or settle a debt I will have to pay eventually? Isn't paying someone for something I got weeks ago, like gasoline, good for the economy?

If I get a rebate and spend it on something, like a big screen tv, then that's good. Yippee! I’m helping the economy. I’m helping Target or wherever I buy it. I’m also helping the company that makes it -- which is probably not even in this country. But I don't want to get political here.

If I get the rebate and use it to pay something like my insurance premium (nearly $200 a month), isn’t that like a federal subsidy of Kaiser healthcare? Sure, I get the coverage but, unless I actually go to the doctor (chances are that I won't) , it seems like a rebate is helping Kaiser’s bottom line rather than mine.

Which makes me wonder:

Which country’s economy is being helped by these rebates? Or in a so-called global economy, does it even matter.
If the only people in this country that I am helping are retailers, wouldn’t it make more sense for the government to just send smaller rebate checks directly to retailers? Wouldn't we be sending less tax money overseas?

I know nothing pleases people more than free money.
And in an election year, it’s important to please more people than the other guy.

I'll probably use my rebate to pay my ISP bill so I can keep posting this blog. Is it so wrong to use my rebate to continue inflicting pain upon others?

For the birds

2008-01-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

When I moved into my new apartment, I was disappointed that I could no longer have a bird feeder outside my window. The birds have shown me otherwise.

There is a tree outside my window that currently has little red berries growing on it. Today those berries are attracting robins, sparrows and others. That's a cedar waxwing in the photo.

I took this photo through my window. It’s fun to watch the birds hop from branch to branch, nearly losing their balance as they try to reach the berries that seem to be within grasp.

There's nothing like seeing nature, especially when you don’t have to turn on the Discovery Channel.

Does this guy work for the Chamber of Commerce?

2008-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

Seen on craigslist, in a description about a job in Klamath Falls, Oregon:

Living is cheap here, so it's a good place to start if you're young or die if you're old.

Scopes made a monkey of all of us

2008-01-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

Recently I saw a one-man play, Clarence Darrow: The Search for Justice, starring Gary Anderson. The play was interesting and spurred me to do further research on Darrow's most famous case, defending Tennessee teacher John Scopes in 1925 against charges of teaching evolution. I've since read John Scopes' memoirs Center of the Storm.
Given my background in covering criminal trials and in public/media relations, I found this trial and surrounding events interesting. While the trial didn't settle any debates, it did achieve the goal of getting publicity for Dayton, Tennessee.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wanted to test the constitutionality of the Butler Act and advertised for a teacher willing to be arrested. The ACLU wanted a guilty verdict, hoping a higher court would rule that it was illegal to ban the teaching of evolution. In fact, defense attorney Darrow even asked the jury to return a guilty verdict, which it did -- after just nine minutes of deliberation.
The town leaders in Dayton realized the publicity such an "evolution vs. creation" debate could bring. Local businessmen asked John Scopes to teach evolution so he could be arrested. Scopes said he didn't recall teaching evolution, but admitted using a state-approved textbook that discussed evolution.
The media circus included 200 newspaper reporters, telegraph operators and film photographers. It was also the first US trial covered nationally by radio. Adding to the circus atmosphere were banners, lemonade stands and even (reports say) a trained monkey or two. The courthouse crowd numbered in the hundreds. In fact, the trial was moved outdoors, fearing the weight of the crowd inside would cause the building to collapse.
In rejecting the ACLU's appeal of the guilty verdict, the Tennessee Supreme Court called this case bizarre.
The Butler Act was repealed in 1967. One year later, the US Supreme Court did what the ACLU had hoped, and ruled it unconstitutional to ban the teaching of evolution.

The Scope's Trial back story brings one thing to mind:
Was Judge Ito involved?

Heron today, gone tomorrow

2008-01-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

Even though I have trouble identifying the various species, I do enjoy bird watching. The larger birds can be especially interesting. They will stand motionless then suddenly move towards something that catches their eye.
I photographed this bird (I think it's an egret) at a refuge in the Central Valley. I liked the framing provided by the tree limbs and the reflection in the water. I'd give you specific location of this shot but the bird is probably long gone by now.

Read this: Microtrends, by Mark Penn

2007-12-02T23:04:00.000-08:00

In Microtrends, public relations expert Mark Penn looks at the small forces that are making big changes in society.

If you're interested in sociology, marketing, public policy or current events, you'll like this book. Each microtrend is its own brief chapter, making for a very easy and interesting read.

An example of cited in this book would be the microtrend of senior citizens working beyond retirement. Penn mentions how this trend could result in the need for more daycare (no grandparents to watch the kids), fewer Social Security benefits paid out, more (older) drivers on the road and fewer job opportunities for younger workers. Other microtrends covered include the rise in the number of left-handed children, female clergy and older dads.

You may already be familiar with Penn's work. He discovered the microtrend "soccer moms" while working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

My chemist can beat up your chemist

2007-11-24T21:46:00.000-08:00

Before we, as a national, get our jockstraps in a bunch about steroids in professional sports, please consider:

Pro sports are entertainment
Movies/television are entertainment
Movies/television employ actors
Actors go through surgical procedures to improve their job prospects
Surgical procedures are not always safe

Steroids have unknown side effects
What happens if you take the little blue pill when you are pregnant, have high blood pressure or have an erection lasting longer than four hours?

Cigarettes are dangerous
Cigarettes are taxed
Cigarettes are legal
Steroids are dangerous
Steroids are not taxed
Steroids are illegal

I don't know if steroids should be legal. I do think hypocrisy should be illegal.

Griffith's the name, granite's the game

2007-08-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's hard to hike when you're laughing and wondering "what am I doing here?" Here, is the Griffith Quarry, near Roseville, CA. It's a state historical landmark because of its contribution to state historical landmarks -- namely the granite, which was used in the construction of places like the U.S. Mint in San Francisco and the State Capitol in Sacramento.

In its day, the quarry was THE industry in town, complete with its own railroad siding, post office, saloon and Starbucks. Lots of men with hard hats toiled here, mining granite boulders until Mr. Slate signaled it was time to quit. The workers would then slide down the tail of their dinosaurs then head home to Wilma.

The Griffith Quarry is no longer in use, but visitors can take a trail around the pit -- part of which is filled with a pea soup-colored muck. The drier parts of the pit, like that shown here, are open for exploration. Trust me, the mucky parts are best viewed from a distance.

It's an interesting place to explore, from both a natural and cultural standpoint. It also answers the question I've often wondered when visiting other landmarks; namely, where did all of this granite come from? Now you know.

While the rock pit and its contributions are interesting, the owner of the quarry can't go unnoticed. His name? Griffith Griffith.

Fishin' accomplished!

2007-07-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

I took this photo while lounging on the bank of the Rogue River. It's of an osprey hovering over the river, scanning for fish, seconds before diving into the water for a meal.

It's a very interesting and exciting process to see the osprey change the shape of its body to stop in mid-flight, hover and then dive. It's hard to get a good shot of the bird rocketing out of the water with a fish in its talons. In spite of its effort, the osprey is not always successful.

The osprey is well-suited to this behavior, with reversible outer toes (to grab the fish) and nostrils it can close. It can go about a yard under water. Biologists say the osprey will change the angle and speed of its dive, depending on the depth and speed of its intended meal. The hunter will even change the direction of its prey (fish head facing forward) to reduce wind resistance in flight.

So the next time you are at the store complaining about the wait in line to buy some fresh fish, remember the work of the osprey.

Field trip: Sonora Pass

2007-05-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

In May 2007 I took a much anticipated trip through the Sierras. My trip started in Angels Camp at the Calaveras County Fair, where I entered the frog jumping contest. My rental frog jumped 5'1". Not enough for a record but, hey, it's a rental. After spending the night in Sonora, I headed east on Highway 108 over the Sonora Pass.

One of my first stops was at Kennedy Meadows Resort, to hike to a waterfall (shown here) on Kennedy Creek. It was 3 miles round trip, through a meadow, along a tributary of the Stanislaus River and then through a trail blasted out of granite. The waterfall shown, Kennedy Creek Falls, is across a canyon but the distance doesn't diminish the spectacle or the sound. This area, by the way, was used to film the Gary Cooper movie, For Whom the Bell Tolls. In terms of a variety of scenery, the effort and the payoff, this hike was fantastic.

After spending the night in Bridgeport, I woke before dawn to head south, to Mono Lake. Now you know what it looks like as the sun rises. I really like this photo as it looks like a painting. The image has not been manipulated in any way.

My trip continued west, over Tioga Pass, through Yosemite (with a detour to Foresta), then back up Highway 49.

It was a fun trip and one I'd gladly do again. I hope you've enjoyed the results.

Found at Lost Creek Lake

2005-10-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Lost Creek Lake is in Southern Oregon, on the way to Crater Lake. It's man-made, created by a dam on the Rogue River. It's popular with boaters, but this view and the serenity of the water caught my eye on a trek to an area known as Blue Grotto. Doesn't that sound like the name of a restaurant? I composed the image to use this photo to use as my desktop image. The tree on the right and the branches on the left help the various icons to stand out.

Field trip: Burstarse Falls @ Castle Crags State Park

2004-05-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

I was really excited about the hike to Burstarse Falls, because it was a waterfall I had never seen. Not in guide books nor on websites.
While the hike was not overly strenuous, it was long (about 9 miles round trip) and uphill. The worst part was at the very beginning, hiking uphill on a field of rocks the size of footballs. And, of course, that portion was also at the end of the trek, at the end of the day, going downhill -- which was even worse!

The trail passes Popcorn Springs and then crosses Burstarse Creek. If you continue on the trail, hiking uphill, you will come to a cross-canyon view of water flowing off granite, an upper portion of the fall (left photo). Some guidebooks suggest that if you continue on the trail, go straight when you come to a hairpin turn (to the left). I would not recommend that as it seemed very steep and on very loose rock. We choose this spot to have lunch, which is much safer!
There is another small creek in this area, Ugly Creek, which had very little water and resembled its name.

After lunch we went back down the trail and scrambled up Burstarse Creek to see a few of the falls that way. There were some large boulders to scale so we didn't go too far. Not much of a problem crawling up, but going down could be tricky. At each pool there were a few sunbathers, so I didn't spend much time taking photos. It would be nice to go further upstream, to the spot below the drop of the upper falls, but don't know if that is physically possible. It seemed beyond my comfort zone.

These photos were taken in May, which may be the earliest one can hit this trail due to snow. It would be nice to see the upper fall when (or if) there is more water.
The hike was a lot of fun and quite memorable. I've never seen so many lizards or (nonpoisonous) snakes on a trail.