9/27/09
42 to 3?
. . . it's all right, dear
our Ryan Lau emails
Commission Vacancies
Recently, we have had a few District 2 commission slots open up.
If you, or someone you know, are interested in serving on any
of the following commissions or would like more information about
a particular commission, please contact the office.
Commission on Aging
Commission on Labor
Loan Administration Board
Transportation Commission
West Berkeley Project Area Commission
Zero Waste Commissioner
Berkeley Project
· Berkeley Project (BP) is a group of self-organized Cal
students who volunteer annually for a day of service with a multitude
of agencies throughout the City of Berkeley. Last November, over
2000 students volunteered at 80 different project sites.
City projects were sponsored by Neighborhood Services, Public
Works, Parks/Rec & Waterfront, Public Health, Animal Services,
and Planning.
· BP Day 2009 - Saturday, October 10 will expand on the
success of last year's event. This year, 1500 students will disperse
from Memorial Glade at 9am to project sites citywide, with the
bulk of those dedicated solely to projects sponsored by the City
of Berkeley. Projects conclude at 4pm with closing ceremonies
on Memorial Glade at 5pm.
Examples of projects include:
Volunteering at senior residential facilities for a day of activities
including conversation, chess, aerobics, dancing, etc.
Clean Ups, painting, and data collection for repairs/replacement
Graffiti Abatement
Mural repair
Literacy projects
Assisting neighbors with traffic circle plantings
Storm Drain cleaning
Fire prevention - removal of vegetation in the hill
Restorative planting of native flora at various creeks and parks
Shoreline Clean Up and Bay Trail weeding/litter abatement
Distribution of disaster cache supplies
Distribution of food at various shelters
Pedestrian Safety Activities
Distribution of non-smoking info and materials
Sandcombing of tot lots and landscape assistance at various parks
Many many more....
·
For more information, visit the (fantastic) Berkeley Project website
at http://bp.berkeley.edu
Posters and flyers will be delivered to Mayor and Council, departments,
and via email to listservs.
Please contact Shallon with any questions or project referrals
at 7071 or slallen@ci.berkeley.ca.us.
Sincerely,
Ryan Lau
Council Aide
Councilmember Darryl Moore, District 2
"Testing the Waters with Open-Access Funds
(University of California at Berkeley and the University of Calgary)" is a report at resourceshelf.com.
"In a move to encourage
researchers to make their work open to the public, the University
of California at Berkeley and the University of Calgary established
funds that faculty and graduate students could use cover publication
charges for open-access journals. Berkeley and Calgary are two
of several funds established in recent years, including the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Wisconsin
Madison, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the University
of Oregon, and other sites in the U.K."
"Two young UC Berkeley faculty members
receive MacArthur 'genius' award" by Robert Sanders & Sarah Yang at berkeley.edu.
"A 35-year-old molecular
biologist and a 37-year-old computer scientist from the University
of California, Berkeley, are among 24 new MacArthur "genius"
Fellows announced Tuesday, Sept. 22, by The John D. and Catherine
T. MacArthur Foundation."
"California Unemployment Highest in 70
Years" reports jobjournal.com.
"Although payroll job
losses slowed significantly, the state unemployment rate continued
to climb in August, rising three-tenths to 12.2 percent, its highest
level since 1940's record 14.7 percent. From a survey of 5500
households, the state Employment Development Dept reported that
14 California counties now have jobless rates of 15 percent or
more, and nearly 30 percent of the state's unemployed workers
have been jobless for over six months. However, EDD's employer
payroll survey showed substantial improvement, with 12,300 jobs
lost in August, compared to 38,900 in July and an average of 73,700
for the previous six months."
"Don't bank on your home as an ATM" is opinion at latimes.com.
"The coming decades
won't repeat the dramatic rise in real estate values that previous
generations experienced, economists say. It may be time to return
to viewing the home simply as a place to live."
"A Life of Its Own. Where will synthetic
biology lead us?"
asks Michael Specter at newyorker.com
9/28/09
dusk, birds, the French School
nature, schmature
this is creepy
"Shattuck Hotel Officially Opens in Downtown
Berkeley" reports
Riya Bhattacharjee in the Planet.
"The Shattuck Hotel has been born again. The 100-year-old
six-story landmark, Berkeley's oldest hotel, officially reopened
Wednesday with much fanfare after a two-year, multi-million-dollar
remodeling effort."
"Another not-for-profit news project set
for launch in the States"
is opinion at guardian.co.uk.
I wrote a couple of days
ago about the lack of British news start-ups as the crisis of
local and regional journalism deepens. We cannot seem to grasp
that commercial press ownership has had its day.
The situation is better in
the States, where there are scores of attempts to create a new
form of digital journalism on a non-profit basis. Experimental
local news organisations are springing up in many US cities.
The latest example is a joint
venture between the University of California's Berkeley journalism
school and the public radio station KQED. They are planning to
launch a not-for-profit news outlet, called the Bay area news
project."
"Hardly
Strictly Bluegrass evolves into world-class musical festival"
is a story by Jim Harrington, Oakland Tribune.
"Right
back to earth:6th-ranked Cal gets hard lesson in winning from
unranked Ducks"
observes Ron Kroichick, Chronicle Staff Writer.
"It took barely three
hours on a gorgeous day in the Pacific Northwest for the entire
conversation about Cal football to change. Set aside all the chatter
about Pac-10 favorites and Heisman Trophy contention, all those
grand visions bubbling in Berkeley.
Now, suddenly and shockingly,
the most relevant question goes more like this: Are the Bears
really any good?"
"College radicalism redux:Students are
protesting again. This time the issue isn't war or civil rights.
It's the cost of a decent education, and students have little
time to spend on it"
is opinion at latimes.com.
postsfrom
the past
9/28/07
The Westside
Bar? I'm told that the Westside Cafe is applying for a liquor
license. I'm also told I should try their oat-bran muffins.
Consolidated
is printing election ballots right now. They also print for Nolo
Press.
I've noticed
an increased presence of Wareham Security in the neighborhood
recently. Kubik says "They're all over, even up on 10th."
Also seems there are more Bayer/Wareham shuttles these days.
Gerard has
taken his '66 Chevy pickup to half-dozen garages for repair and
maintenance, with little success. But he's finally found a reliable
and competent repair shop for his old truck right here in Potter
Creek. It's Laurie Bright's D&L Engines--Auto Repair, 2626
San Pablo. Laurie's phone is (510) 843-5797.
The City
of Berkeley's asphalt patching truck has been at work in Potter
Creek this week.
Cal plays
Oregon at Oregon tomorrow--it's on Channel 7 at 12:30.
9/29/09
Bob and Carol
had their new neighbors--they bought Steve Dunn's old place--
over for dinner on the weekend. "They're good people"
Bob said.
Ben and friend
were playing ball on the playground Sunday and occasionally Ben
came over and to watch the Niner's game. "There's alwas hope"
he said in the last minutes of the last quarter.
Merryll emailed
Sunday evening
Hi Ron,
The Baulines Guild
is having a display at Berkeley Mills. They're thrilled
and I may bring a piece there as well. Good for both I think.
Anyhow, [my Smithsonian interview]. It is part of the oral
history program in the Archives of American Art. Not just
the oral history and interview but all papers, letters, business
receipts and so on are part of it as well.
See ya,
Merryll
"At Long Last, the Sports Mortgage" reports the Wall Street Journal.
"For the price of a
three-bedroom home with a pool in a leafy suburb, you can now
buy something really and truly invaluable. Your own stadium seat.
"
I'm sure I'm missing something
here. I mean . . . RP
"Surviving the University Crisis In California" is a report by Lynn O'Shaughnessy at cbsmoneywatch.com
"Yesterday my sister
Jane contacted me in a panic. She's terrified that her son, who
is a senior at an excellent public high school in the San Francisco
Bay area, might get shut out of every state university on his
list.
And no, my sister isn't paranoid.
Over the weekend, her son's adviser called to share this grim
news. Normally, my nephew, who is a solid 'B' student, would be
a shoo-in for many of the public universities in California. That,
however, was before a Code Red was declared for the state's struggling
universities."
"The New Sputnik" opines Tom Friedman at nytimes.com.
"Most people would assume
that 20 years from now when historians look back at 2008-09, they
will conclude that the most important thing to happen in this
period was the Great Recession. I'd hold off on that. If we can
continue stumbling out of this economic crisis, I believe future
historians may well conclude that the most important thing to
happen in the last 18 months was that Red China decided to become
Green China."
"UC Berkeley: Clean energy bill could create
up to 1.9M jobs"
is a report at sanjose.bizjournal.com.
"Biotech Babies Cultivated in Mission Bay
Garage" is a story
by Anrica Deb at sfgate.com.
"Across the street from
dormant landfill and ratty fennel plants, in line sight of the
bay, UC San Francisco's new campus is growing. Nestled among the
other sparkling and massive developments of Mission Bay, the California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences building - part of an initiative
that also has sites on the UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley campuses
- provides 96,000 square feet of research facilities to scientists."
"California recycling measure may mean
higher deposits and better returns" is a report at latimes.com.
"A bill awaiting the
governor's signature would impose or increase deposits on billions
of containers. Rising redemptions and raiding to balance the budget
have left the state fund facing bankruptcy. . . .
Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner
(D-Berkeley), who shepherded the legislation, said it is necessary
"'to make the program whole and make sure that recycling
continues.'"
posts from the past
10/1/08
Acme Bread, Ken's 1987 Porche
911
Ken's 911 was just resprayed
by Potter Creek's Baron
von Frier.
"Timeworks" is
a recommendation of a Potter Creek business by Sally Socolich
of the Chron.
"If you have trouble keeping time, maybe you need a few more
clocks around the house. Timeworks in Berkeley is having its first
warehouse sale in years, and prices will range from $15 to $75
- well below its retail price range of $60 to $200.
The story: Timeworks is known in the trade for its line of historically
authentic clocks, which are both affordable and functional. The
clocks are made individually, by hand, with solid, hand-antiqued
brass for cases and pendulums, die-cut steel hands with time-worn
patinas and beautifully finished frames.
The selection of sale clocks
include first-quality decorative wall and table clocks, from modest
in size to extra large (31 inches and bigger), perfect for large
spaces and high-ceilinged rooms. Check the company's Web site
for the scope of its collections.
Timeworks warehouse sale: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Sat. 2929 Fifth
St., Berkeley (Ashby exit off Interstate 80). (510) 883-0234,
www.timeworksclocks.com."
after speaking with Morgan,
Merryll reported last Saturday
At 3 AM Saturday morning,
after hearing voices and movement around their house, Morgan called
911. The responding officers "caught" prowlers around
Pete and Geralyn's, after being alerted to their presence by Rick.
Morgan confirms that he called
911 at 2:45 AM. Berkeley PD arrived 4-5 minutes later. Rick saw
men run into Pete and Geralyn's drive activating their light.
Berkeley PD officers detained and questioned two men around the
corner of 9th and Grayson.
a bola en la calle
Sunday during the 45 min
from 12:15 to 1:00, nine bicyclists and one car passed the warehouse.
9/30/09
The amended 1998 version
of the West Berkeley Plan states in the Planning Director's Message,
essentially the Introduction, "While [professional planners
played a role] in facilitating the outcome, the work was
done primarily in the community by an informal committee
that included artists, laborers and representatives of organized
labor. residents and environmentalists, manufactures, retailers,
office developers, church groups and community service organizations."
I'm reminded of a 1930s Mickey
Rooney/Judy
Garland movie where the kids, often played by 20-year-olds,
exclaim something like "Let's make a musical in the backyard."
What follows, "produced by these amateurs" is a classy,
professional Hollywood song-and-dance film.
But that only happens in
the movies. In real life amateurs don't make professional productions,
whether in film or in urban planning.
Eric, a chef at 900 GRAYSON,
recommends dinner and drinks at the Missouri Lounge on San Pablo.
Go through the bar out back to the grill and check out the menu.
Eric recommended the Fatti Melt, two "grilled cheese half-sandwiches,"
pesto suace with either barbecued chicken or steak in the middle
and chips or potato salad on the side; the Thai Burger on a Dutch
crunch roll, a burger with Thai spices; or the Hot Links sandwich
also on a Dutch crunch--both with a side of chips or potato salad.
I'm told the Heartwood woodworking
collective is losing members in these hard times.
Doug Herst stopped by on
his way back from lunch with his friend Nathaniel
Kahn. Nathaniel produced two movies with which Doug was involved,
My Architect
about Nathaniel's father Louis I Kahn and the Oscar nominated
Two Hands
about pianist Leon Fleisher.
"Neiman Marcus taps Berkeley firm Scientific
Conservation for energy savings" is a story at San Francisco Business Times.
"Scientific Conservation
Inc. has landed a deal with Neiman Marcus to supply its energy
efficiency software."
"PG&E launching high school cleantech
program" by Lindsay
Riddell, San Francisco Business Times.
"PG&E Co. and the
California Department of Education tomorrow will announce a 'green
energy' academy pilot program to train high school students in
green energy technologies."
Da Boz and Mz Boz are involved.
RP
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 new Area
Coordinator is Officer Karen Buckheit, Berkeley PD - 981-5774
kbuckheit@ci.berkeley.ca.us
Angela Gallegos-Castillo,
City Mgr Off - 981-2491 agallegos-castillo@ci.berkeley.ca.us
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.