scrmbld711c.html

7/22/11

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS

"Rita Moreno Will Dance Her Way Through Life Without Makeup; Creatives Announced" by Kenneth Jones at playbill.com.

"The creative team of the California world premiere of Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, a music-filled biographical show created specifically for the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner, will include Broadway scenic designer Anna Louizos, music director Cesar Cancino and choreographer Lee Martino.

At Berkeley Repertory Theater, the show written by artistic director Tony Taccone and staged by David Galligan, will also include two dancers to perform with Moreno - Ray Garcia and Salvatore Vassallo.

Moreno famously won the Academy Award for playing Anita in the film 'West Side Story.'

Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup will play Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre Sept. 2-Oct. 30 in Berkeley, CA. Opening is Sept. 7."

Comedian George Wallace is on Tavis Smiley's show

"The comedian discusses his Las Vegas show and explains the changes he'll make when he becomes America's second Black president.

Among his fellow comedians, George Wallace is known as 'the guy who can roll the room over if it's dead.' Early on, he knew he wanted to be a comic. After college graduation, he became a successful businessman, but never lost his interest in a comedy career. He began doing stand-up in NY and, with a natural ability to make people laugh, used every day, simple moments of life for his social commentary. Wallace starred in his own HBO special and has made regular appearances on TV and radio. He's also appeared in several films and is a Las Vegas staple."

"Photographer Richard Misrach donates Oakland fire photos to 2 East Bay museums" at mercurynews.com.

"Famed Bay Area photographer Richard Misrach has donated collections of pictures taken after the 1991 Oakland and Berkeley Hills fire to two East Bay museums.

The Oakland Museum of California and UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive each will exhibit more than 30 of Misrach's photos to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the devastating fire that killed 25 people, injured 150 others and destroyed nearly 3,000 houses and 1,520 acres. Misrach has not previously displayed the photos publicly out of respect for victims of the fire."

END

7/23/11

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS

"Richmond Residents Welcome Berkeley Lab" at alamedapatch.com.

"An information session in Richmond on Thursday about Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's process of deciding where to build a second campus brought out hundreds of supporters.An enthusiastic Richmond audience, which included Richmond's mayor, chief of police, fire chief, Chamber of Commerce president and 300 to 400 others, greeted Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory officials Thursday at City Hall as they described their hopes for a second campus."

"Silicon Valley sees strong job growth in June" by Pete Carey, mercurynews.com.

"The South Bay added thousands of jobs across the board in June, as more people found work in everything from Internet companies and computer makers to restaurants and builders, a state employment report said Friday.

Construction, one of the hardest hit areas in the recession, saw hiring in the San Jose metro area return to near normal as developers revived projects put on hold during the downturn. Meanwhile, as tech employers added more workers, their new spending power helped create jobs in other parts of the economy.

The biggest tech gains were in the information sector, a reflection of the growing economic clout of Internet and social media companies."

Kubik emails

Descartes is sitting in a bar, having a drink. The bartender asks him
if he would like another. "I think not," he says and vanishes in a
puff of logic.

"Pot Republic" preview at pbs.org.

"PBS Frontline primetime monthly newsmagazine returns with three new stories, leading with a timely report from the frontlines of marijuana legalization in California. The bulk of the marijuana consumed in the United States used to come across the border from Mexico, Canada and elsewhere. Now, more than half of it is believed to be home grown in California, where an enormous black market has emerged under the cover of the state's medical marijuana law. With more than a third of all states now experimenting with some form of legalization and decriminalization -- and several California counties attempting to openly regulate pot production -- Frontline and the Center for Investigative Reporting team up to investigate the country's oldest, largest and most wide-open marijuana market. Is the federal government now moving to shut it down?"

END

7/24/11

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS

"Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen is the place to go for gumbo, crawfish and other Cajun dishes in Berkeley" at wsj.com.

"The restaurant started serendipitously enough: The founder saw a man on the street wearing chef's pants and struck up a conversation. That chef, Brandon Dubea, happened to be from Baton Rouge, La., and he has run the kitchen at Angeline's since it opened in 2006."

street fronts

of Potter Creek

"Video Reports from South Korea and America" at journalism.berkeley.edu.

"These stories were produced by reporters trained in the 'Digital TV and the World' special project and the 'Reporting on Korea' class at the Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley. Lee Sangho, an MBC television investigative reporter joined this year's project and taught the background class. According to veteran foreign correspondent and project director Todd Carrel, the digital journalists travel the world to 'find interesting stories that help reveal the fabric of a community.' "

"Who Could Have Guessed: 3D Hurts Your Eyes" Jordan Crook, techcrunch.com.

"After experimenting on 24 adults, a research team at the University of California, Berkeley has determined that viewing content on a stereo 3D display hurts your eyes and your brain."

END

POSTS FROM THE PAST

8/5/07

Yesterday afternoon there was a birthday party for our Carol of Bob and Carol

These Potter Creek kids were there

Young Ben and friends were shooting hoops at the École Bilingue playground yesterday afternoon.

Well, Ok then.

At another party yesterday, Rick Auerbach, WEBAIC lobbyist/activist, and some other Potter Creek neighbors circulated a petition opposing the Community Benefits District. If you'd like to sign this petition you might contact Rick. Make your request specific though as Rick is also a nature photographer, a community activist and currently, a contractor for the City, taking a survey of west-Berkeley arts/crafts use.

END

"Career changing teachers are in high demand" Lyanne Melendez, abcnews.com.

"In this tough economy, there's one group of teachers in great demand -- those who specialize in math and science. As baby boomers retire, California will need more than 30,000 teachers in those two fields over the next 10 years.

Helen Chen has worked in retail and at a consulting firm. Now she hopes her financial background will help her become a good math teacher."

"Harvard training college teachers on black history" wsj.com.

"Every semester, Cheryl Carpenter tries to think of new ways to introduce Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' to her college students.

An English instructor at Alabama A&M, a historically black college in Normal, Ala., Carpenter said students sometimes are confused about the setting and context of the 1937 novel about an independent black woman's quest for identity."

7/25/11

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS

"Data show increasing safety on city streets" at dailycal.org.

"Over the past few years, Berkeley streets have become increasingly safe to walk on during the summer.

Since 2009, Part I crimes - which include both violent crimes such as homicide, rape and aggravated assault and property crimes - in Berkeley have had an overall decreasing trend in the summer months of May and June, according to information provided by Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss. Data for the rest of this summer have yet to be determined."

At the end of last week one of the three large east facing Berkeley Bowl restaurant windows were smashed-out. Do we stll lead the state in property crime?

street front

of Potter Creek

our Councilman Darryl Moore emails

(excerpts)

The proposed Second Campus for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is an effort to consolidate laboratory programs currently in leased spaces spread throughout the Bay Area, provide room for future Lab growth, and provide long-term cost savings as the Laboratory pursues its scientific research mission.

Of the six potential sites selected by the Lab, three are all or partially in Berkeley: Berkeley Aquatic Park West, Golden Gate Fields, and an Emeryville/West Berkeley site already home to some LBNL offices.

Public meetings have been scheduled for each of the six sites. The meetings will include presentations about Berkeley Lab, information on potential site development, and comments from local officials.

Councilmembers Capitelli, Wengraf, Wozniak and I are trying to get feedback from Berkeley residents on how they feel aboutLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) locating its second campus at one of three potential sites in West Berkeley? There are some obvious pros and cons to having a second LBNL campus in our city limits and we want to find out from you whether you think that the benefits outweigh the impacts. While the City Council has no formal role in the Lab's decision, we would still like to know where our citizentry stands on the issue. Please take the time to go to Open Town Hall and give us your feedback, http://www.opentownhall.com/749. Registration only takes a few seconds and your information is never shared with anyone without your permission

(full email here)

will not link on some computers

Councilmember Gordon Wozniak emails {excerpt)

LBNL Second Campus
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is running out of space on its hill campus above UC Berkeley. To consolidate existing off-site programs and to obtain some space to grow, LBNL is conducting a site selection process. Six sites have been identified in the East Bay. Three of the sites are located all or partially in Berkeley, two of which are partnerships with Albany & Emeryville.

A recent information session in Richmond on last Thursday, brought hundreds of supportors of locating the 2nd campus in Richmond. Last week in Alameda five hundred people attended a similar meeting. LBNL Director Paul Alivisatos has indicated that public enthusiasm may play a role in the final choice.

(full email here)

"Richmond Residents Welcome Berkeley Lab" at alamedapatch.com.

"Berkeley Lab Shares Development Details with Advisory Group" by Emilie Raguso at alamedapatch.com.

"Berkeley Lab officials fielded questions about its proposed second campus at a community group meeting in Berkeley on July 14, after a packed and positive meeting in Alameda.

Berkeley Lab Chief Operating Officer Jim Krupnick spoke to the lab's Community Advisory Group to give an overview of the second campus project and answer questions. . . .

The three programs the lab will start with when consolidating include one devoted to biofuels, currently in Emeryville; a life sciences lab in west Berkeley; and the Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek. Together, the labs total about 475,000 sq. ft.

The lab is looking for a 'low-vibration environment' that's compatible with surrounding neighborhoods in a 'welcoming community.' Amenities include available public transport, a 'world-class research environment' and proximity to the main site in the hills. . . .

Some advisory group members said they were concerned about the environmental impact the lab could have. . . .

Member Michael Caplan said a facility like the lab would bring in numerous benefits to a community, from payroll dollars to 'people living, working and building a sense of community.'

He also mentioned the benefits of related nearby businesses that would grow up around the lab.

'That's a value to the city that people should consider,' said Caplan, manager of the Department of Economic Development, who represented the city of Berkeley at the meeting."

"UC Berkeley Selects SKS Investments as Richmond Field Station Developer in Competition for Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Proposed Second Campus Project" at businesswire.com.

west-Berkeley

Artworks Foundry tower

"Artist-Industrial enclave in West Berkeley feeling growth pressure" Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer at sfgate.com.

"Thanks to strict zoning laws, West Berkeley is like a bug trapped in amber. The outside world keeps changing, but West Berkeley is encased in a timeless golden bubble.

Potters coexist happily with biotech researchers. Architects and steel workers mingle over the tofu scramble at the Westside Cafe. No one fights over parking, and the bougainvillea is always blooming.

But change is looming, and not even Berkeley's stringent industrial and multi-use zoning laws - which have kept gentrification mostly at bay - can protect a neighborhood forever."

END

7/14/10

POST FROM THE PAST

These folks were at the green market on Saturday

Definitely, check them out.

END

"Amazon sales tax battle centers on jobs" at latimes.com.

"Amazon says California's sales tax law has caused it to sever ties with local affiliates, hurting the state. Chain stores say they provide local jobs that the Internet retailer does

A looming California electoral battle pitting powerful Internet retailer Amazon.com against the nation's largest chain stores is expected to be fought on the issue of jobs - with each side saying its position is better for the state's struggling economy."

7/28/11

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS

our Courtney Bean

at Clearlake with catfish

"Days Gone By: Heading back into Berkeley for a dose of heady nostalgia" by Nilda Reg, insidebayarea.com.

"We hadn't really been to my old hometown of Berkeley in years. Oh, that doesn't mean we didn't drive through it on the way to someplace else or even stopped to have dinner and see a play. Several times, we went to a football game, sitting on some very splinter-prone bleachers.

We never stayed in town for more than a couple of hours and certainly never overnight. But this June, it was different. We actually stayed in that wonderfully weird, mind-boggling place for three days."

LBNL's Jay Keasling explains what LBLN does.

view

here

this is from the LBNL Alameda presentation--starts at 3:15 minute marker

"Can you laugh at yourself? Scientists put humor to the test" Rita Rubin, msn.com.

"You oversleep and have about five minutes to get ready for work. When you get to the office, one of your ever-observant colleagues points out that you're wearing two different shoes.

Do you A) laugh it off or B) turn bright red and hurry out to retrieve a matching shoe, hoping no one else notices?
"Laughing at oneself is really seen as this core component of a sense of humor," says Ursula Beermann, a psychology post-doc at the University of California, Berkeley.

But, wondered Beermann, 'does it really exist?'

As you might imagine, that's a tough question to answer scientifically."

"Circumcision ban to be snipped from ballot" at sfgate.com.

"Opponents of the circumcision ban are all smiles today.

The November ballot just got a few inches shorter.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi today issued a tentative ruling saying the ballot measure to ban circumcision must be withdrawn, calling it 'expressly preempted' by state law."

END

"New marijuana ballot measure starts circulating" by Josh Richman, Oakland Tribune.

"A new marijuana legalization ballot measure was cleared Monday to start seeking petition signatures.
But its proponents aren't affiliated with the Oakland-based backers of last year's Proposition 19, who intend to mount a 2012 initiative of their own.
The state attorney general's official summary says the measure, named by its proponents as 'The Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012,' would decriminalize marijuana sales, distribution, possession, use, cultivation, processing and transportation by people at least 21 years old."

7/29/11

MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS

our Councilman Darryl Moore

at the CEID Graduation

CEID's Cindy Dickeson writes "Here is a photo of our Graduation and End of Year Celebration on July 14th. It was a wonderful celebration of the accomplishments of our students and their families.

Darryl congratulated all the graduates and helped present special certificates of recognition from Nancy Skinner's Office to the students graduating to kindergarten.

Good times."

And just some days after Mr Darryl's 50th Birthday, too.

Kubik's thought for the day

"Procrastination has an immediate benefit"

His Honor Da Boz emails (excerpts)

Thanks to the East Bay Express for recognizing me as the 'Most Regionally Minded Mayor' by the East Bay Express in their annual Best of the East Bay edition.

"Aw jeez, Boz"

Come Downtown this summer to enjoy performances by some amazing performers. Local musicians, composers and writers will bring their vibrant talents for all to hear and see at the top of University Avenue right next to Ace Hardware (2145 Univresity Avenue) until August 15th.

For a schedule of performances and a listing of ongoing events and exhibits, go to the Berkeley Arts Festival website.

Da Boz's full email here.

The two houses immediately to the south of the Urban Farm on 10th were demolished last week.

The definitve scoop on "the pile of dirt behind Seabreeze Market & Deli."

The State Parks Department owns the land as part of Eastshore State Park. State Parks does have an agreement East Bay Regional Parks to manage it. EBRPD leases the land to Knapp Construction. Knapp has been storing soil from a lot of the UC and LBNL construction projects that have been going on for the last few years and use if for fill for new construction projects. For example, Knapp donated a lot of dirt to the Gilman Ballfields which is why the playing fields are so much taller than the parking lot.

The current plan is when the State begins work on the Brickyard area, immediately south of the dirt pile, they will use a lot of the dirt to level that area out. When the Brickyard is finally open they will move the dirt pile over to the North Basin Strip, between the ballfiellds and the Meadow and store the dirt there until the North Basin Strip is developed.

"Oakland lobbies Berkeley lab" by Paul T. Rosynsky, Oakland Tribune.

"With a setting sun over the Oakland Estuary as the backdrop, city leaders made their pitch Wednesday for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to build its new secondary campus adjacent to Jack London Square.

Touting the location's numerous transportation links, its spectacular views and, most importantly, its approval for development, Oakland officials told leaders of the laboratory that their best chance for a successful project is at Brooklyn Basin."

END

POSTS FROM THE PAST

7/1/06

Bob Kubik reports

Tuesday night, I attended a meeting called by the developers of 2720
San Pablo, (ex-YAS automotive site).
Attendance was sparse and I was, I believe, the only
Potter Creek resident there. The owner and architect
for the "Clay People" site were also there scoping
things out.
The developers had a scale model and plans for an 18
residence and two or three commercial condo
development.
The height is slightly less than 2700 San Pablo
will be, density considering the size of the lot, is
about the same.
They seemed to be listening for constructive
comments in order to avoid neighborhood resistance,
but they want the 18 units.
I think it is a better-looking design than 2700
San Pablo. Although they are going after city
approval it may not be built any time soon if the
market for condos takes a dive - which I think is
happening.

Patrick Kennedy emails

Mr. Penndorf:

I enjoy your blog very much and owe a particular debt to you for your tip
about 900 Grayson. I have, however, one question: Why do you put your most
recent listings at the end, rather than the beginning?

Most blogs that I have have seen seem to do it the other way around. I
wondered whether you had a deliberate reason, or whether this is merely the
way you have always done it.

Best regards,

Patrick Kennedy

Acme Bread's Steve Sullivan emails about the welder's yard and his plans

Ron--

I've enjoyed your site since Rick A. directed me to it a few months ago. . . .

It looks like everything is on track for us to take over possession on July 15. Of course we do not know what the future may hold but we know that we didn't buy the property with plans to sell it. We actually were not intending to buy the yard at all. We were happy developing plans to incorporate the building. One element of those plans was a solar array to be installed on the west facing plane of the (eventual new) roof. When we talked to Regan about what a developer would likely do on the adjacent site, he figured that three storey condos from property line to property line would be likely. At the allowable 35-foot height, this would have overshadowed our solar array. Already ugly, the array would have then become useless as well! So we decided to buy the lot. Of course, now we may not be able to afford the solar array until further down the road.

In any event, the only actual ideas that we have entertained for developing the lot involve using about 30% of it for a 30'-wide building that would run from the welding shop to 8th street along the southern edge of the property. Mostly production space if people still want bread or if we decide to expand pastry production, but with a retail shop at the 8th street tip. But that would only happen once we had seen for a couple of years how much empty space we had good use for.

Once I had (roughly) sketched that arrangement, though, my pencil kept going. I lost control of it as it drew a little box to represent a big brick pizza oven sticking out from the side of the simple rectangle that comprised the retail shop. I stared helpless as it traced a half-dozen or so smaller rectangles that I recognized as picnic benches. The horror continued as the pencil superimposed over the tables an array of wavy lines indicating a wire trellis with greenery and strands of twinkling lights attached. Ragged circles appeared to indicate trees encircling the tables and screening them from the trucks and equipment ranged across the remaining yard space. Aghast, I realized that I had in front of me the schematic layout for a pizzeria and beer garden that would encourage actual interaction between Acme Bread and neighborhood residents.

Could we see a pizzeria back at (or near) the corner of 9th and Pardee? Would anyone but me even want that? I guess we can't say for sure. It depends to a large extent on what happens over the next few years and how complicated the City would make it. But our thinking right now is much more pizza-centric than condo-centric. For what it's worth.

But I wouldn't care to speculate about the greedy spawn 30 years hence.

Best,

Steve S.
Acme Bread

7/13/06

You know that Warren Buffett plays the uke? Charlie Rose had a clip of Buffett doing "Anybody Seen My Gal?"

The times they are a changin'.

Capitalist, Buffett donates billions for "good works," Leftists, Ben & Jerry launch an new "activist flavor."

"Two big scoops of social activism--Ben and Jerry, founders of the ice cream company with the same moniker, emerge to help launch new flavor, old philosophy" reports Ross Sneyd of AP in the West County Times.

"Good Ole Boy" Don of Don's Tire Service replied "I'm sort of what you call an icon" when I asked what the secret of his success was--he's been in business at 820 Gilman for as long as I can remember. In fact, the last four sets of my truck tires I bought from Don. "People come to see me. If I'm not here, they think the place has been sold" he added. Don was giving tire-advice to some "Berkeley Ole Fart" in a vintage Volvo with bicycle-rack as I left.

END

from my log

7/22/11--5:45 AM--SERIOUS irritant in warehouse front and IMMEDIATELY in front of warehouse, headache, light head, watery eyes.

7/23/11--10:27 AM--SERIOUS irritant in warehouse front and IMMEDIATELY in front of warehouse, headache, light head, watery eyes.

7/28/11--Off-and-on all AM--dirty dry air in front room, lights fliker, burning watery eyes, over rides HEPA filters, wear respirator. Afternoon similar.

eternally useful links

Bay Area home prices from sfgate.com

Bay Area foreclosures from sfgate.com

Our City Council update is here.

Our Planning Commision update is here

You can find more information about our current weather conditions than is good for you at www.wunderground.com

Want to see weather coming in, going out, beautiful sunsets, and much, much more? Check out http://sv.berkeley.edu/view/ This very hip site was in an email from reader and contributor, Tony Almeida. Read Tony's Jimi Hendrix story on the only page that routinely gets more hits than Scrambled Eggs.

Best gas prices in 94710, as well as all of US and Canada, are here at gasbuddy.com

Kimar finds Costco routinely has the lowest price.

Richmond Ramblers' motorcycle club member, Cliff Miller emails a very

useful link

If you ever need to get a human being on the phone at a credit card company or bank, etc., this site tells you how to defeat their automated system and get you to a human being within a few seconds.

http://gethuman.com/

Markets is not just a reference for Berkeley-Hills radicals with 1.5 mil homes and considerable portfolios.

Our City of Berkeley Boards and Commissions page is here--redone and friendly.

Berkeley Police reports at insidebay area.com are here.

Our Berkeley PD Site with crime statistics and more is here.

Crime Log for 94710 is here

This site is NOT affiliated with Berkeley PD.
Take time to report crime!

All reports of crime-in-progress should first go to Berkeley PD dispatch--911 or non-emergency, 981-5900. THEN make sure you notify EACH of these City people.

The contacts are below:

Our Area Coordinator is Officer Karen Buckheit, Berkeley PD - 981-5774 kbuckheit@ci.berkeley.ca.us

AND check out BPD feature "Who are these Suspects."

Ryan Lau, aid to Darryl Moore - 981-7120 rlau@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Darryl Moore, City Councilman dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us

More Scrambled Eggs & Lox, here

and

Stories about Berkeley and stories about recorded-music

are at

Journal of Recorded Music 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

ronpenndorf@earthlink.net

The original owner of all posted material retains copyright. The material is used only to illustrate.