JULY 2005

 

Hunk of the Year

Gary Williams

 

 

 

7/4/05

 

Declaration of Independence

"WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great- Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World."

 

 

The Bill of Rights

Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

 

 

 

 

7/5/05

Camille owns magnet, 2508 san pablo ave

510.848.1966

www.magnetboutique.com

 

 

 

 

7/6/05

Potter Creek's instrument finisher, Janine Johnson, is giving three recitals of Bach's Goldberg Variations this month. The dates are Saturday, July 23 at 10:30 AM (a "coffee concert" with cookies), Saturday July 30th, also at 10:30 AM with goodies, and Sunday, July 31st, at 3:00 PM (more normal reception fare). The concerts are at her house and are $10.00, unless you feel like giving more. She'll also have CDs for sale, as usual. For more information email her.

 

"Kids" broke "a lot of" windows in the 700 block of Heinz last week--they "ran off" before the police arrived.

The remaining garden-bench was stolen from behind the locked gate of the property on Pardee and 9th.

A couple of weeks ago on a Sunday night, as I was working on my truck in the drive, a loud whooshing sound came from behind the roll-up at next-door Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass. Lasting a few seconds, I was only a little concerned, though my friend more than just a little alarmed, came out of our warehouse saying the noise was coming from behund our common-wall where Adams and Chittenden store hydrogen, oxygen and other gases. It didn't whoosh again and though uncomfortable, I forgot about it until this week-end, when a half-dozen times, and now lasting for from ten-to-fifteen seconds, the whooshing reoccured. Could this be hydrogen or oxygen escaping from Adam and Chittenden's containers? Whoa!

 

IKEA has a small wall-clock on sale for $0.99. It's all-black, about 3" in diameter and has a large suction-cup back to hold it on the wall. It's a SKROLLA.

Local tomatoes are in season now--buy some at your farmer's market.

 

Lipofsky is thinking of organizing Berkeley's edlerly to make sure the Potter Creek Berkeley Bowl opens before we all die.

What are these wonderful children and this beautiful woman doing with this Ol' Fart? Seems they love'im

 

Meredith May continues her series on Burning Man with"The heart of burning man: Volunteer carpenters craft festival's namesake totem for its moment in the moon."

 

I was going to mention Daily Planet stories, but today I just can't deal with "how everything's all fucked-up."

Instead, here's a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem from a Colmex' grad student. This is reader, Isabel's favorite poem in English.

God's Grandeur

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs --
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast & with ah! bright wings.

 

5/7/05

After seeing a bicyclist blow a stop light on Ashby and San Pablo during rush-hour, talking on a cell while riding no hands, I called Pete to ask if he knew if the City of Berkeley has a bicycle safety class--he's done a KALX public service announcement about bike safety. "Don't interfere" he quipped "Let Darwin's natural selection run its course."

Chris, the Professor of Cars does it again! With a lot of thought and persistence, and absolutely no help from the factory manual, he solved my 25 year old truck's electrical problem. Christopher's Auto Repair is on 9th and Carleton.

There's a great story about some of our trees in the Daily Planet. Read Ron Sullivan's"Copper Beeches Grace Berkeley Streetscape."

And Brenneman's"Campus Bay Toxics Advisory Panel To Cover Field Station, Other Sites" is also worth checking out.

And, of course, read Zelda B.

 

 

From my log

7/2/05 7:15 AM irritation in front room, light-headed, burning lips, eyes, etc

7/6/05 7:15 AM irritation in front room, light-headed, burning lips, eyes, etc

7/6/05 4:45 PM serious irritation, light-headed, burning lips, eyes, etc, over-rides HEPA filters, use mask.

 

A reader from Vermont emails "Thanks for the Declaration of Independence! Have you blown up yet?"

 

sea salt is a new sea food restaurant on San Pablo just south of the Caffé Trieste.

Another '60s moment as Cameron--knowing nothing about what I was doing-- emailed me sea salt's URL just as I was formating their menu. Their URL is http://www.seasaltrestaurant.com/

 

7/8/05

Berkeley PD Daily Bulletins can be read here.

I worked with Mike Hogan in the 1970s at Helen and Sandy Schneider's Record City. Mike left Record City and '70's Berkeley for what became a life-long career in the Marines. After decades, we just hooked up again through his discovery of my site. He emails "Your articles . . . have opened up a flood of memories. . . . I recall going over to your house on one occasion and enjoying your playing of selections from the Bach cello suites. Every bit as much, I enjoyed your model airplane collection. . . . I particularly remember a beautifully crafted French Morane fighter. As a former model airplane builder myself, I was appreciative of your superb work and also recall my surprise that there was even a model of such an obscure aircraft. . . . A few words about myself. I'm married to a Korean lady. We have a son and a daughter. My son is in Marine bootcamp at Parris Island and my daughter is a Marine Lieutenant undergoing her initial training in Quantico, Va. We're both very proud of our kids but, naturally, with a war on we're apprehensive."

 

From Mexico City, Isa and friend

 

 

5/10/05

Meredith May continues her Burning Man series with "Impossible Dream: Pick the nose on a 23-foot head. It was a disgusting idea that seemed so simple--but so far these artists are stumped."

And, she receives another award.

"Who should pay for off-campus costs" asks the Chronicle's Charles Burress and Tanya Schevitz in "California colleges battle local cities, counties in court."

From my log

7/8/05 8:50 AM irritant in front room, leave. 5:45 PM irritant in front room, leave.

7/9/05 3:30 PM very serious irritant in front room, over rides HEPA filters, nose, lips, eyes burn, eyes water, light-headed, very disoriented, severe nausea.

 

All the several small wall-clocks that I bought for 99 cents on sale at IKEA, and recommended, don't stick to the surface to which they're applied--bummer! The clock's a SKROLLA, all-black, about 3" in diameter and has a large suction-cup back to "hold" it on the wall.

 

5/11/05

In keeping with the Berkeley tradition of "What if we had a war and nobody showed up?" What if we had a Berkeley Bowl meeting and nobody reported it?"

It's the beginning of stoned fruit season. Get some at your farmer's market. (That would be stone fruit.)

From my log

7/10/05 5:20 PM, irritant in front room.

7/11/05, 8:36 irritant in front room.

 

Our Land Use Planning Division West Berkeley Bowl meeting

On Wednesday, July 13 at 7:00 PM at the North Berkeley Senior Center, the City of Berkeley Land Use Planning Division will hold a meeting about the "Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report . . . for the West Berkeley Bowl Project." This meeting is for the purpose of "soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties." It is proposed that the following topics be analyzed in detail in the Environmental Impact Report: air quality, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, transportation and traffic. A more detailed description can be found at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/planning/landuse/eirs.html#IS

 

 

7/12/05

"Berkeley is Once Again a Progressive Leader" offers our Mayor, Tom Bates in a Daily Planet commentary. Good stuff Boss. But a progressive leader? Get a grip. We're living in the past. "The times, they are a changin'."

 

 

7/13/05

Potter Creek's Acme Bread ties for second in best baguettes tasting. Read more at cctimes.com

And then read about our Seabreeze Market and fish and chips.

And the Boss ain't the only one legally involved with CAL. "Students sue UC over plan for jump in fees. Professional schools' tuition would go up thousands of dollars" reports the Chronicle's Tanya Schevitz at sfgate.com

 

 

7/14/05

Photo by Time's photographer Hermann Bustamante

"Propane tank explodes in Antioch" reports Sarah Krupp of the West County Times. "[Contra Costa County Fire Battalion Chief] McCullah said the propane tank likely began to vent because it was overfilled, forcing the gases expanding in the heat to release. The spewing gas caught fire on the kettle flame and traveled into the tank, ripping apart the metal cylinder. The final investigation is not complete. The outside air temperature was more than 100 degrees at the time of the explosion." Read more here.

Seems the water-filtered smoke of a hookah isn't safe. "Hookah smoke contains significant quantities of the same chemicals that make cigarette smoke harmful" writes West County Times reporter Peggy Spear. Read more here.

 

From my log

7/11/05 1:00 PM irritation in front room, also off-and-on all during day.

7/12/05 11:45 AM "high end" odor in warehouse front.

7/13/05 9:00 AM entire warehouse filled with mild irritant, dry lips, eyes, etc.

 

 

 

Beyond "penny wise pound foolish" toward the criminal.

"Berkeley fire station stays open during study of closure mix-up" reports Martin Snapp of the West County Times. Any cut back in our fire services is beyond short-sighted! Lose a couple of million-dollar-plus homes in the hills and the lives of our upper-middle class hill-citizens, and that point will be brought home with excruciatingly painful clarity.

 

 

7/15/05

Channel 7 NEWS reports that a recent study testing the blood of ten new-borns found over 200 contaminants in each infant's blood. Done by an environmental group and with a small sample, it is not really scientific. But certainly more thorough testing should be done.

From my log

7/14/05 6:45 AM irritant in front room. 12:25 PM irritant in front room. 6:25 PM strong irritant in warehouse front and front of warehouse, as well as ambient high-end smell and "glass making" smell.

 

A KQED ad offers "When you lose your Middle-class you lose your democracy."

Meredith May writes about awards in addition to receiving them. Read her little "BERKELEY:
Teen wins award for creative writing."

 

7/16/05

Here's some great stuff about our chocolate factory.

"It's something of a minor miracle that anyone working at Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker still fits in their pants. The rich scent of ground cacao beans fills the place, a sweets-filled store is only a short walk from any corner, and chocolate samples abound" writes James Temple in his "Scharffenberger's chocolate factory."

Seems the Boss has been networking at the Sundance Summit on Global Warming. (Personally, I do most of my networking in North Oakland.) Check out the Berkeley Voice's "Mayor Bates talks up Berkeley at summit."

But Boss, that green ooze is still coming up from the crack in Ashby Ave.

 

And here's one of the reasons he suddenly left Sundance.

"A turf war has broken out between two of the city's most powerful commissions" writes Martin Snapp in the Berkeley Voice. Read more here.

 

"Plans to demolish a West Berkeley landmark and replace it with a manufacturing plant came to an abrupt halt Wednesday morning after the building's owner intervened" reports our Planet's Richard Brenneman.

 

Potter Creek's Ashby Lofts project is finally going to receive funding. Read "BAY AREA - Low-income housing gets $100 million boost - Proposition 46 money helps fund current projects" at sfgate.com

 

On May 30 I posted "Olivia is a new dinner-restaurant on Dwight just west of Sacramento. Nathan, the owner, was formerly a chef at Bay Wolf. Check it out!"

Bob Kubik emailed today "Carol and I just had a great dinner at 'Olivia' - on Dwight near Sacramento. Sally had recommended the place and there she was again with Richard as we walked in. Nathan, the chef and owner, formerly worked at Bay Wolf and the food was great, the service good, and the dining room cozy and fun. Kenya was our waitress and treated us well--appetizers $7, entrees $19, desserts $6. Phone 548-2333. An asset to our neighborhood!

Their website is http://www.oliviaeats.com/ It has their menu and reviews that have been published."

 

Early this morning three people died in a fiery cash on I-80 just east of Ashby. Read more at sfgate.com

 

From my log

4:00 PM, irritant in front of warehouse, dry eyes, burning lips, cough.

 

 

7/17/05

The West County Times' Jessica Yadegaran reports about"The serious business of chocolate." And our Scharffen Berger is certainly serious.

"Outgrown shoes find new feet: Berkeley mom collecting footwear for kids in need" reports Janine DeFao of the Chronicle.

"Woman Slain In Berkeley: Police search for suspect after victim, friends fired upon near UC campus early Sunday morning. . . . Police are looking for a man who shot and killed a 19-year-old Berkeley woman early this morning near the University of California, Berkeley campus."Story at sfgate.com

"According to the CHP, a 39-year-old San Francisco man died on westbound Interstate Highway 80 just west of Ashby Avenue around 2:15 a.m. after being run over by a car. " Read more at sfgate.com

 

7/19/05

On eating our young

One of the first things I wrote three years ago in Scrambled Eggs was that it didn't seem Berkeley was very happy and smart-ass suggested we should see a shrink or spiritual advisor of our choice. Or --more seriously--just make love more often. Over the past three years, and in light of the weekend tragedy, it's clear that Our Town is seriously fucked-up--there's something deep-down wrong here.

"Promising life ends in blaze of gunfire, Ivy League student, 19, slain in Berkeley" and "BERKELEY
Mourners call her 'incredible woman', Slain student's life touches hearts of friends in Berkeley" write Meredith May and others.

 

7/20/05

From my log

7/18/05 3:20 PM "melting plastic" smell in warehouse front.

 

7/19/05 9:35 AM serious irritant in front room, dry eyes, burning lips, etc, overrides HEPA filters, use mask.

12:00 Noon "glass making" odor in front of door, "laquer-like" odor fills air on corner of 9th and Grayson.

2:00 PM entire warehouse filled with irritant, use mask, Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass "manufacturing process" venting at warehouse back.

6:45 PM serious irritant in entire warehouse, burning eyes, lips, etc, leave.

 

Penelope Huston emails "Friday July 22 at at 9:30 PM at the Starry Plough 3101 Shattuck, Berkeley, CA. I'll be playing songs from The Pale Green Girl and 4 new songs with the full band and The Moore Brothers will play tunes from their newly recorded album "Murdered by..." and Willow Willow will have you swooning with their lovely harmonies.

Penelope Houston with Pat Johnson and Lout with special guests The Moore Brothers and Willow Willow

21+ over, $7, 9:30 PM"

 

"Heinz Avenue Landmark Building Owner Abandons Her Fight to Halt Demolition" reports Richard Brenneman of our Daily Planet.

 

 

7/21/05

"Berkeley police have arrested one man in the slaying of a popular Berkeley High School graduate this week, but the man suspected of pulling the trigger remains at large" reports Martin Snapp of the West County Times.

"Friend arrested in fatal shooting" reports Demian Bulwa at sfgate.com

 

A while back I asked, rhetorically, what WEBAIC (West Berkeley Association of Industrial Companies) was doing now that they seem temporarily to be inactive--or at least not vocal. Are they sponsoring scholarships, training apprentices, or even just planting trees around their sites?

It is my understanding that as long as Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass have been in business they have actively encouraged others to enter glass crafting, whether through demonstrations, informal classes or actual training.

From my log

7/20/05 6:30 PM irritant in entire warehouse.

7/20/05 8:00 PM serious irritant in entire warehouse.

8:00 AM serious irritant, coughing, dry eyes, leave.

"Emissions hurt East Bay sites, report says" writes Tom Locher of the West County Times.

 

A little woo, woo but still, "It couldn' hurt."

"Activists start working on liberal spirituality: Conference seeks to morph energy into political clout" reports Joe Garofoli of the Chronicle.

 

 

7/22/05

Our Land Use Planning Division West Berkeley Bowl meeting

On Wednesday, July 27 at 7:00 PM at the North Berkeley Senior Center, the City of Berkeley Land Use Planning Division will hold a meeting about the "Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report . . . for the West Berkeley Bowl Project." This meeting is for the purpose of "soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties." It is proposed that the following topics be analyzed in detail in the Environmental Impact Report: air quality, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, transportation and traffic. A more detailed description can be found at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/planning/landuse/eirs.html#IS

Cost Plus in Oakland has 20% off Mezzetta peppers, olives, Peperoncini, etc.

 

This car was vandalized Wednesday-night/Thursday-morning in the 2700 block of 8th--steering wheel hides trashed stereo

 

 

"Close-knit friendship, mysterious tragedy--Questions abound over circumstances in Berkeley slaying" reports Damien Bulwa of the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

 

"Berkeley: Tokyo Fish Market an institution about to grow" writes the Chronicle's Annie Nakao.

 

 

"Arsenal Found in Adeline St. Apartment" reports Richard Brenneman of our Daily Planet. "Federal agents seized a major arms cache that included explosives, machine guns, assault rifles, and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition discovered as Berkeley firefighters battled a blaze in a 3027 Adeline St. liquor store early Wednesday." Read more here.

Damn, Mercury's retrograde again.

"Council Debates Land Use, Affordable Housing" reports Matthew Artz. He continues "Bates later told Spring to be careful about her language." More is at berkeleydailyplanet.com

I always figured the neighborhood kid's got there trash-talk from the Street--seems now they could go to our city council meetings for some. Really bad-art council girls and guys. Well, at least there haven't been any references to one's mama . . . yet.

"They don't seem to play well with each other" remarked Kimar.

 

For years now, I've heard in justification of our often-not-common-sense-behavior "Well, it's Berkeley." It reminds me of what my Aunt Hattie, a grade school teacher, used to say when I was a kid "But, it's kindergarten."

 

Some time ago I had an "exchange" with some Potter Creek kids. The day after, one sought me out and apologized with, among other things, "We meant no disrespect."

 

Kava's units in one of the 2700 blocks of 8th are now for rent. Call (925)-383-9954.

 

From my log

8:35 AM irritant in front room, leave.

10:00 AM irritant in entire warehouse, leave.

 

 

7/23/05

"BERKELEY: A time for remembering; Hundreds gather to honor slain Ivy League student" reports Janine DeFao at sfgate.com

From my log

2:00 PM warehouse fills with irritant, dry lips, light headed, nausea.

 

 

7/24/05

At about 9:25 AM, a 30-45 second hissing noise was audible from my side of the foot-thick concrete wall with Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass. Based on previous experience, I believe noise to be the result of venting gas. Venting of gas in an enclosed space is disturbing, especially in an unattended manufacturing facility. More so, because in the past the faciity has used computer-controlled annealing ovens with no one present. (Gas venting in an open area is disturbing enough that when popping sounds came from Kruse Plumbing's outdoor gas-storage area on a hot weekend afternoon, I called Dave at home. Dave immediately came down to investigate.)

 

7/25/05

There was a Latin band at IKEA yesterday morning--they filled the check-out area with great sounds. Marsha Wacko says they also play in the City, weekdays during lunch. Check them out!

Oh, we went there for lunch Sunday. Four hot dogs, a bottomless drink, more people than you could possibly check out, and a Latin band--three dollars and change.

 

4:45 PM SERIOUS irritant in entire warehouse and front room, dry eyes, lips, etc, over-rides HEPA filter, use mask.

7:30 PM irritant in front room.

Irregularly, but often, an odor similar to that in the air on Spare the Air Days penetrates the front of the warehouse

 

 

7/26/05

 

"Hershey to buy Scharffen Berger" writes James Temple of the West County Times "The Hershey Co. has agreed to acquire Berkeley's rapidly expanding artisan chocolatier Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker Inc. The value of the deal was not disclosed." Read more here.

 

Probably the best thing about Sea Salt is their sea salt. My $18.00 steamed lobster sandwich was filled with buttery but rubbery lobster, the cold-slaw was best described as thinly grated raw cabbage and the thin butterfly chips were perfect but precious. Kimar's $12.00 Po Boy was packed with freshly fried breaded-oysters but in a barely discernible sauce. And the torpedo rolls of each didn't at all compliment their fillings. (I owe her another Birthday lunch.) The waiter was friendly and efficient, but the high-ceiling room noisy. The place was packed--a testament to Berkeley's uniformed taste?

Sea Salt, 2512 San Pablo

 

From a reader in Hong Kong.

A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says "A beer please and one for the road."

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other "Does this taste funny to you."

A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

 

Site stats July 1-24, 2004 compared to July 1-24, 2005

Visits and hits have almost doubled from 2004 to 2005 and time spent browsing has increased a whopping 300%. The pages most often visited are the monthly Scrambled Eggs and Lox, Almost Daily Posts.

 

 

 

7/27/05

Our Land Use Planning Division West Berkeley Bowl meeting

Today, July 27 at 7:30 PM at the North Berkeley Senior Center, the City of Berkeley Land Use Planning Division will hold a meeting about the "Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report . . . for the West Berkeley Bowl Project." This meeting is for the purpose of "soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties." It is proposed that the following topics be analyzed in detail in the Environmental Impact Report: air quality, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, transportation and traffic. A more detailed description can be found at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/planning/landuse/eirs.html#IS

 

Sunday afternoon I was treated to a delicious Shepard's pie, hand-made by Milo's Dad. Filled with garden vegetables and with a butter-rich, literally-melt-in-your-mouth crust, it was the best I've ever had. Now working toward an advanced degree, Milo's Dad used to be a baker.

 

I understand that there are art-loving landlords in west-Berkeley. One owns a 20,000 square foot building that will soon be vacant. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were divided into affordable spaces for artists?

 

The official company position from Jan at Scharffen Berger

Ron

We value your comments and want to reassure you that the products you love
will not change. Our goal remains the same as it was the day the company was
founded: We are committed to producing the world's best chocolate using only
the highest-quality ingredients.

In fact, Scharffen Berger will continue to operate out of our Berkeley
location using the same processes performed by the same employees, thereby
preserving the distinct style and personality of our company. Hershey has a
deep respect for Scharffen Berger, its employees, its heritage and its
quality chocolate ­ and that won't change.

Instead, Hershey will bring access to more resources and an extensive
distribution system to bring our chocolate to a wider range of consumers
across the country ­ introducing more people to the chocolate that you love.

We hope
that we can count on your continued support in the future as we continue to
produce our unsurpassed chocolate.

Thank you for your interest in Scharffen Berger, and I remain at your
disposal for any further questions you may have.

Regards,

Jan Leign

A little fluffy but "Interesting if true." My experience, however, is that "The guy who pays the bills calls the tune."

 

"Seeking the grail of chocolate shakes
  Fentons Creamery: 4226 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; 510-658-7000. The Olde San Francisco Creamery Co.: 1370 Locust St., Walnut Creek; 925-926-0228. Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers: 5819 College Ave., Oakland; 510-601-0444." More at cctimes.com

 

I'm told the Potter Creek Billy goats are back.

 

"Looking out for Car buyers: 'Bill of rights' pledges sales transparency" reports James Temple of the West County Times. "A law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday will give California the nation's most stringent set of car buyer protections, a step cautiously embraced by both consumer groups and automobile dealers."

Meredith May continues her Burning Man series with "OAKLAND - Sneak preview of artwork at Burning Man festival - Creations include dangling boulders, virtual helicopter."

 

From my log

7/26/05 4:45 PM serious irritant in warehouse, dry eyes, lips, nose, roughness in mouth, throat, etc.

7/26/05 7:00 PM irritant in warehouse, dry eyes, lips, etc, accompanied by "high-end" odor.

 

 

7/28/05

I've always admired the City of Albany and their new Target's traffic solution. The most convenient and efficient access to the Albany Target is by the Freeway and the Frontage Road. In fact, it is not possible to get to the store through small, back-city-streets, and though you can reach the store by Buchanan, I've always found the freeway faster, even during commute time.

Make Ashby as wide as possible, make it easy to get into the Potter Bowl through Ashby from the freeway and thereby keep traffic out of Potter Creek? And, restrict traffic to and from the Bowl on Potter Creek city streets?

 

7/29/05

A Potter Creek reader emails "I have been reading your web pages for quite some time. We've lived and worked in the area for 20 years so it is great to get some inside scoop on what the 'real people' in our neighborhood are up to. I often walk my Berkeley Humane Society adopted dog in your area."

"Berkeley: A new bistro--Olivia--brings a touch of rural France to Dwight Way" reports Karola Saekel of the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

 

7/30/05

"Shooting victim phoned for armed aid, police say" reports Guy Ashley of the West County Times. "Moments before she was shot to deat 'bring the heat,' an apparent request for a gun, Berkeley police said Friday."

 " Grim words for Bay Area housing" writes George Avalos"Call it a bubble, froth or lather, the Bay Area housing market is a party that has to end, the top boss at mortgage giant Freddie Mac warned Friday. Mortgage borrowers and residential real estate speculators are particularly imperiled as the market peaks, said Eugene McQuade, president of Freddie Mac, officially the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., the company established by Congress to keep mortgage money flowing and stable. " Read more in the cctimes.

"Blogs--the future of journalism" asks C.W. Nevius. His answer is at sfgate.com

Henry K Lee of the San Francisco Chronicle reports "The city of Berkeley ordered a beloved skating rink Friday to remove ammonia from its ice-making equipment by Aug. 22 on the ground that its refrigeration system was a 'distinct hazard to life or property.'" Read more here.

 

From my log

4/29/05

8:35 AM irritant in front room, dry lips, dry eyes, leave.

Return 9:00 AM warehouse filled with irritant, odor, leave.

Return 11:30 AM warehouse filled with irritant. 12 Noon, leave.

Return 3:00PM, warehouse filled with irritant, leave.

5:35PM serious irritant in front room, leave.

 

 

7/30/05

From my log

6:35 PM VERY LOUD whooshing noise from behind pull-up door of Adams and Chittenden Scientific Glass (from past experience I believe it to be venting gas) lasts 60 seconds. Also could be heard through foot-thick common wall at about Adams and Chittenden's gas storage area. (Also see 7/24/05).

6:20 PM front room filled with irritant of throat, eyes, etc.

 

 

7/31/05

There was a Shindig Friday afternoon at the West Berkeley Wells Fargo Business Office. The highlight of which was the 18 lb grilled Salmon caught by Denise, the manager--the grilled hot-chicken sausages were also delicious. And it was good to meet all the hard working employees and trainees as just people. (Denise also caught a 30 pounder, and judging by the quality of food should consider opening a restaurant.)

And, look's like Doc's finished "restoring" his red XK-140 Jaguar roadster--pictures to follow, hopefully.

 

"King of Kite flies around world" writes Shirley Dang of the West County Times. "As the first notes of "Wind Beneath My Wings" boomed out over the coarse grass of the Berkeley Marina, Ray Bethell lifted his sun-cured brown arms. In the sky, a lone kite shot up and wavered in the wind. Two others floated up, swung outward, and then swooped back in toward each other, drawing a heart. With a twinge of his forearm, he executed flick-flacks, swoops and simple dives." The story is here.

The 20th Berkeley Kite Festival continues from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM today at Cesar Chavez Park in the Berkeley Marina. Admission is free. Parking is $5 to $10.

 

 An' here's an event at Fourth Street Cody's from the West County Times. "Current Times Book Club selection: "Crossing California," by Adam Langer (Riverhead, 512 pages, $14). Bookstore discussion: 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at Cody's, 1730 Fourth St., Berkeley. 510-559-9500 ."

 

The Billy goats were here for the third time this week. See more photos of their first visit here.

 

"Factors muffling indie-label sounds" reports Jeff Leedsof the New York Times "Listen to Your Heart," performed by the Belgian duo D.H.T., ranks among the top songs on America's pop music stations this week, a potentially lucrative achievement for Robbins Entertainment, the independent music label that released the recording. ... spearheads a vigorous campaign to expose payola, in which record companies provide." The full story is at cctimes.com

" Sony BMG settles for $10 million" by Erin McClam of the AP "Recording industry titan Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed Monday to pay $10 million and stop bribing radio stations to feature its artists in what a state official called a more sophisticated generation of the payola scandals of decades ago" is also at cctimes.com

 

12:55 PM 35 second hissing noise from other side of Adams and Chittenden, probably venting gas. (See 7/24 and 7/30/05 posts.)

return

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