Concepts in the Paradox

For a long time I thought my geekery was simply based in the computer realm, but as it turns out, my geekery works in many different realms.

Normal geekery would be something like getting my Zaurus to boot a Cacko ROM. I have that working, but alas it locks up after I set the date. :(

Expanded geekery includes reading exceptionally dry books on why Free Parking is bad, and enjoying it.

Normal geekery is trying to get the voice activation on my A900 phone to work properly.

Expanded geekery is reading the San Francisco City Code, just because it seemed like something I should read (I’m not done yet).

Does this mean I should get a girlfriend?

I’ve returned to the city from a Thanksgiving with family in Carson City, where most of the family was able to gather for home cooked food, family amusement, and Black Friday shopping.

This time around I decided to take transit the entire way to Reno: The Zephyr. I must say that this is probably the most luxurious, though likely also the slowest, way to travel anywhere. I had a spacious seat, a table, non-obnoxious fellow passengers, and of course a bar. I took that opportunity to indulge in the various food and libations they offered for an expensive but still reasonable sum. Drinking on a train? Sure, I think that’s really what the train is about.

For $83, or $42 during non-holiday months, it took me about 8 hours inclusive (Bart + CC + Zephyr transfers) to get to Reno, then about 40 minutes in a car with the lovely Sarah to Carson City.

The train ride gave me a lot of time to think. I don’t mean the kind of brooding and deciding kind of little mind thinking, but just letting my big mind go about it’s business of thinking about what I should do next in life. At Thanksgiving I discussed and re-iterated my choice to get involved in city government, and after family time I discussed my ideas again over drinks with Tim. I think that I’m on the path to making some really good choices, in the aspiration of doing something amazing for myself and everyone else.

Valencia Gardens officially opened this week. I’d like to take a few moments to talk about why this is a bad thing for San Francisco’s ethnic Mission district.

It’s worth taking a look at a the Chron’s take on VG, as well as their photos. I’ll summarize their article with my own comments.

On Valencia/Gurrerro and 14th/15th street there used to be a block of projects built in 1943. They were torn down for many good reasons, namely poor design (central squares with no purpose), outdated plumbing, electrical, as well as rodent and gang infestation.

In 2005 the project was flattened, as all good government housing should be, and replaced with something only slightly better: suburban housing. $66m later, we have 230 units, complete with modern electrical, backyards, parking, and one way streets. The last two items making this a suburban sprawl in a 5-acre block of the Mission.

Suburb sprawl in the city? Read more »

My upstream provider, United Layer, has struck again, this time causing a 24 times spike in my daily traffic use for no logical reason, which of course I get charged for. Something about broadcast packets or some such. Anyway, I pay the big bucks for people to solve these problems for me.

Things may be up and down with the blogs, webhosts, photo server, and email until this very expensive problem is resolved. As the title says, please excuse the mess.

The past 3 days have been a little depressing being sick. First there is the lack of energy to do much of anything, though as usual I’m forcing myself along. It isn’t healthy, but it is my nature to keep going no matter what.

As usual, when I’m down, life kicks me in the ribs to remind me that no one gets a break. As an example of this, the DC power on my block went out. “DC power?” you ask, “Isn’t that from the 1900’s or something?” Indeed, it powers the elevator. I have a very old elevator. Damn you, PG&E.

I live on the 9th floor, so when the elevator breaks it is extremely annoying. Nine flights isn’t so bad going down, but going up really sucks. I can’t carry much because the passage way is so narrow, and I really don’t have the energy to do much of anything anyhow. In other words, I really need to take the trash out soon (no, it doesn’t smell, yet). Also, I need to do laundry too. Sigh.

My first kitty, who lived with my mom in Carson City for the past 18 years, had to be put down today. She wasn’t eating and had gotten really skinny.

I don’t even have a digital picture of her to post. :(

My mom still has 4 cats, but now she is one kitty less. *sigh*.

2h15m until ZG. I’m gonna need to start drinking before I even head out.

I left my cell phone at home — again. How am I supposed to function? What if I get a text message? What if someone tries to call me?! How will I check bus arrival times?!!

Wait, no one ever calls me. Maybe since I left it at home, I’ll suddenly be popular?

For the first time, I crossed the Golden Gate bridge, and headed into Marin with Jason and Keith for a hike up the Palomarin trail.

Click on the photo for a complete set of images.

The day after the hike, which was about 8 miles, I fell asleep at 6pm and didn’t wake up until 8:30am the next day. I felt refreshed, and spent the day walking around the city with no particular destination in mind.

I must say, I’ve been feeling maybe a four of ten these past few weeks, but today I felt an eight, maybe even a nine right now since I had a glass of red wine.

Will tomorrow be another eight? We shall see.

When I was working at the software store in the mall during the mid-90’s struggle through college, I remember my first impression of what corruption was.

Being a freshman, I hadn’t seen much in my life. I’d dealt with customers in retail, and became confused when they tried to rip the store off, “That’s not very honest”, I’d think.

What really got to me one day was when the store was running a drawing for a lithograph from a Disney cartoon. A bunch of kids would come into the store and put in their entries into the drawing about their favorite Disney cartoon, excited at the chance to get an original piece of art from some cartoon show.

After store close on the day of the drawing, my boss turned to a co-worker of mine and asked, “What did you get you and your girlfriend for her birthday?”

“Nothing yet,” my slightly older counter part replied.

“Well congratulations, you won the drawing.” and proceeded to give him the lithograph, they were buddy buddy, and I was the frosh to kick around.

And with that, I was told to toss the entries into the trash when I took out the garbage.