tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82345578904136607912024-03-06T19:48:57.648-08:00Birth of the Cool"Birth of the Cool" is an album that collects the twelve sides recorded by the Miles Davis nonet (featuring Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz and others) for Capitol Records in 1949 and 1950. The music is considered seminal. This blog is dedicated to that spirit -- keeping things "cool" by blog birthing. If you've got somethin' cool to share, blow on.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.comBlogger835125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-59385277746504840302017-09-25T10:46:00.001-07:002017-09-25T10:46:29.706-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cx-TxiBi43c/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cx-TxiBi43c?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
A welcome tip from Michael Lally...AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-7407189613935987692017-09-25T10:28:00.002-07:002017-09-25T10:28:44.963-07:00"Muse" RocksOh to be 17 again and in this crowd in Rome<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCUZSS54drI/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XCUZSS54drI?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-72593792881547905782017-05-25T08:22:00.001-07:002017-05-25T08:22:59.283-07:00Taking a hiatus...I've decided to take a break from posting to this blog. I'm not sure if anyone is even reading my posts, and I seem to have run out of gas and inspiration. I'm making an entry on my calendar for September 1st make a status post to let you know whether I will resume posting. In the meantime, I'm going to try to post more on Facebook where there seems to be a more active and consistent readership. <br />
<br />
See you on September 1st ....AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-51163011763400802132017-05-14T16:05:00.000-07:002017-05-14T16:05:07.186-07:00Off to Stinson Beach tomorrowToday is Eileen's birthday. Tomorrow we depart for four nights at the rental house, which is literally right on the beach. It's the same place we rented last year for Eileen's birthday ... (Pictures below.) Can't wait to watch the whales pass by on their annual migration, as well as just relaxing and hanging out. Back on Friday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2TX9zBncW02cCDf7IPSuu-JqkwQ8B6mnYzmyvG66x90CqIS5r5rBNGhLWdi6hNDUNnWdyCnUhjQW_RE4w76RcdryBCWjpmxl9Dkkeoau3-deGeSXLK_XbZvs88_D5t8yNVzUrfpxgjJ6/s1600/DSC00508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2TX9zBncW02cCDf7IPSuu-JqkwQ8B6mnYzmyvG66x90CqIS5r5rBNGhLWdi6hNDUNnWdyCnUhjQW_RE4w76RcdryBCWjpmxl9Dkkeoau3-deGeSXLK_XbZvs88_D5t8yNVzUrfpxgjJ6/s320/DSC00508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There are three units in this building: A large unit on the ground floor with two upper units. Look for the two windows on the upper right. Those are the main windows of our unit where you can stand and see the whales pass by, or the people on the beach. Last year I forgot my binoculars, which I am definitely not going to forget this time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaDZlmfrEYjkP25IpjvfOSKNw7GOaA92aR6p_BTbwIJ__PePGoZlEn05e5c_luCKRgkWTCv9pMmwHmFf77ykRB_w4p45XslVtVt6Oqe1o7lNJtk9Q7rD5lQVQ6Ye_ynW8_LRvcZGEI8GF/s1600/DSC00506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaDZlmfrEYjkP25IpjvfOSKNw7GOaA92aR6p_BTbwIJ__PePGoZlEn05e5c_luCKRgkWTCv9pMmwHmFf77ykRB_w4p45XslVtVt6Oqe1o7lNJtk9Q7rD5lQVQ6Ye_ynW8_LRvcZGEI8GF/s320/DSC00506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
From the parking spaces in the rear. Up those stairs to the front door to our unit.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-35835406933584162032017-04-30T11:33:00.003-07:002017-04-30T11:33:54.153-07:00In defense of grammar While my previous post was interesting, I must admit that some of it was disheartening to me. I'll admit it, I am an "old school" guy when it comes to the role grammar and punctuation should play in written content. Thus it was a bit ironic that I should run across <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-b-bradshaw/why-grammar-is-important_b_4128521.html">this blog entry</a> by the author of a book about grammar. His points are well-taken.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-64532028612167683752017-04-26T08:58:00.000-07:002017-04-26T08:58:08.194-07:00English language in constant fluxCheck out <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/93482/7-signs-language-still-evolving">this interesting article</a> on how the English language is evolving. AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-58446298608610296142017-04-20T10:00:00.000-07:002017-04-20T10:00:38.084-07:00A promising new series on CNNCheck out the new CNN docuseries that explores how music and history harmonize -- "Soundtracks:Songs that Defined History." It premiers tonight at 10:00 pm. The first episode is on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Nina Simone is among those featured. AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-79187245814648266062017-04-01T15:08:00.000-07:002017-04-01T15:08:16.076-07:00Butch Walker shines with Daryl HallA couple of weeks ago I checked out the episode of Live From Daryl's house featuring <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Walker">Butch Walker</a> as the guest artist. The show took place in late 2012. The chemistry between Butch and Daryl is great throughout and the band feeds off both of them. Of all the tunes they play, the one I keep coming back to for another listen is "Say It Isn't So." It's up on YouTube these days so you can check it out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92WoPrrwbzA">right here</a>. Great rendition of a great Hall and Oates classic. Enjoy and don't hesitate to comment.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-44673401385158384132017-03-30T09:12:00.000-07:002017-03-30T09:12:05.991-07:0010 amazing pictures ...Check out <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/surreal-digital-art-huseyin-sahin">these pictures</a>. Truly unique.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-40667810961068186952017-03-12T15:12:00.000-07:002017-03-28T14:10:50.885-07:00Daryl Hall & Grace Sewell<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq51Df3EwihpuAw-hcvE5NR9Pk04xjXF9vAsPl5YpAOJXm8BRBOSCeOy7NzWXkWImbWBSOdxsgAdgCuFXl_xZsr3T8syx8_9MbNs7XOUDLpsCU3rysPL4row5dv7_YycJXwID2cwdXJr2K/s1600/grace_sewell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq51Df3EwihpuAw-hcvE5NR9Pk04xjXF9vAsPl5YpAOJXm8BRBOSCeOy7NzWXkWImbWBSOdxsgAdgCuFXl_xZsr3T8syx8_9MbNs7XOUDLpsCU3rysPL4row5dv7_YycJXwID2cwdXJr2K/s1600/grace_sewell.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This season of Live From Daryl's house wrapped up a few weeks back, but until recently the last few episodes were not available on the web site. Now they are all there, along with a lot of episodes from past seasons. This season had a lot of great moments (more on that in posts to come) but my favorite was Grace Sewell's appearance. This 19 year old Aussie is the real deal. What I particularly enjoy about this episode is how Grace and Daryl and the band become more and more into the mood and music as they go along, until at the end it is clear that a genuine, and perhaps unexpected respect for each other has blossomed. You can check out the show in very high quality video <a href="http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/currentep.html?ep_id=96">right here</a>. If you have time, play the entire show, but you can play individual songs if you like. I particularly like "Hell of a Girl" and "You Don't Own Me," but "Your Imagination" really rocks as well. <br />
<br />
Enjoy...AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-34443172043350633222017-03-11T15:10:00.000-08:002017-03-11T15:10:53.743-08:00Ah, the good old days...You've probably noticed that I haven't posted anything lately. Mainly, it was because I fell into the trap of watching too much news and getting more and more angry and depressed about what these evil, greedy, heartless bastards are doing to my country. It is even worse that I thought it would be, and it's apparently going to keep getting worse. It's all bad, but what they are doing to the EPA is unforgivable. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, I decided I had to crawl out of my hole and at least make an appearance on my own blog. So, as long as I am out here in the open, I will at least leave you with something from much happier days. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM41zh7Hf04QZToGJaaf5qkEan_k-OB7gg1IKQqjzdb-F_o6lBKcINGZdhae6yuNl3zor0cJiDp5hMihM3RdH1pmCYYY1-319dDfh58EcHQOkZ8pALcRVnrr4wmEE4GkJkBbHJrJzdg-AF/s1600/Barack+and+Bob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM41zh7Hf04QZToGJaaf5qkEan_k-OB7gg1IKQqjzdb-F_o6lBKcINGZdhae6yuNl3zor0cJiDp5hMihM3RdH1pmCYYY1-319dDfh58EcHQOkZ8pALcRVnrr4wmEE4GkJkBbHJrJzdg-AF/s320/Barack+and+Bob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-72141093873277962992017-02-26T09:06:00.000-08:002017-02-26T09:06:14.821-08:00Quote for todayWise original quote from Tom Stienstra, the long-time outdoor writer for the San Francisco Chronicle:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The odds of being born, according to one legend, are the same as if you were to throw a life ring on the open ocean, and at that exact moment, a blind sea tortoise poked its head through the ring. The odds of dying, on the other hand, are 100 percent. For each day in between, since it's a miracle you're alive in the first place, you'd best treat today as a blessing."</blockquote>
AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-13910283553898006752017-02-19T13:16:00.002-08:002017-02-19T13:16:21.401-08:00Back from Tahoe/DonnerWe were up at the Tahoe/Donner house for a week. There was already a ton of snow there when we arrived and it snowed more during several days of our stay. I was going to go snowshoeing on the watershed land up above our place, but the plowed snow was do deep and high that I literally could not find a way out of our seven-unit compound to get up to the watershed land. And, at some point it had rained and then froze, making the snow walls so hard that I could not even shovel an entry point! So, I just hung out and did some binge watching, enjoying the Showtime offerings of "Narcos" and "Jessica Jones," and the Amazon production of "Mozart in the Jungle." Good stuff.<br />
<br />
Here are some photos that I took during our stay:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAQkZd6jUpUacaFeFEpLgNA8U6x9c3oZzzCsf96KxCINjRpf77TnOmXUOTxdgIU4KbflsICpHTNfgS2NukITBL4IU4c-aVo54MhjXVDpjINWTW43sF-JfWfU0FO5XJt-qLdavQvgu1ihd/s1600/DSC00531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAQkZd6jUpUacaFeFEpLgNA8U6x9c3oZzzCsf96KxCINjRpf77TnOmXUOTxdgIU4KbflsICpHTNfgS2NukITBL4IU4c-aVo54MhjXVDpjINWTW43sF-JfWfU0FO5XJt-qLdavQvgu1ihd/s320/DSC00531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That's our unit on the right. You can barely see the front door.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DPnnrp7Eur8VMZXXOQ5HqT9cqw-hXE8iSLCCURSFbqhBhMolcIyrFHN6uXiVG6ChckrVdOQXY0Xm-uilOIP218gaEySWi6BDca8-EyMz7LIle90wQKb539ORs8QyLiEr1irz-I317vXV/s1600/DSC00535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DPnnrp7Eur8VMZXXOQ5HqT9cqw-hXE8iSLCCURSFbqhBhMolcIyrFHN6uXiVG6ChckrVdOQXY0Xm-uilOIP218gaEySWi6BDca8-EyMz7LIle90wQKb539ORs8QyLiEr1irz-I317vXV/s320/DSC00535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Our place from another angle. The driveway is plowed and clear at the time of this shot, but the next day we got another 14 or 15 inches of snow, which had to be plowed. The plow guys are running out of places to put the additional snow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAtzBn0m6cChEnGt_hH4WZCFwv1FlAJ_deVylr6UxE3iTfAd6nx38iTlujuDB1nBucU9gU_4yyaorhehgZU_DC9tqcyOLqZL5xD8zfQ0ceNdgXMoxNL07PoLWu8DR3xLDr7RfbACbimBu/s1600/DSC00537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAtzBn0m6cChEnGt_hH4WZCFwv1FlAJ_deVylr6UxE3iTfAd6nx38iTlujuDB1nBucU9gU_4yyaorhehgZU_DC9tqcyOLqZL5xD8zfQ0ceNdgXMoxNL07PoLWu8DR3xLDr7RfbACbimBu/s320/DSC00537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We are a bit worried about the snow load on the roof. The forecast is for another foot or so of snow in the next few days, but we're cautiously confident that the roof will survive it. These places were constructed to stand up against severe winter weather.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEs4jReLba-_-7cVUpjQuy045l42DzRODERghEUUOfvwZ6tO5ak_kTP1jiQUGSpX8C7ITGnPYDxrXvKh2h3yMPaFpNoPM7sFZvKlDWp72nVY-idA7YHX7LWmfgOyfI_OR579LSAhyphenhyphenQCEJt/s1600/DSC00544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEs4jReLba-_-7cVUpjQuy045l42DzRODERghEUUOfvwZ6tO5ak_kTP1jiQUGSpX8C7ITGnPYDxrXvKh2h3yMPaFpNoPM7sFZvKlDWp72nVY-idA7YHX7LWmfgOyfI_OR579LSAhyphenhyphenQCEJt/s320/DSC00544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This shot was taken from out the window of the second story guest bedroom at about 3:00 pm. It looks like a black & white photo, but it turns out that there was literally no color to be seen, even with the naked eye. Pretty amazing. You can see all the way down to the main road, and you can see the snow-covered power lines. (Be sure to click on this one to blow it up)AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-24511198688018414892017-02-02T11:14:00.001-08:002017-02-02T11:14:59.013-08:00The classics seem appropriate these daysI'm pretty cynical about how this whole Trump nightmare is going to play out, so I, (like many of my friends and acquaintances) am purposely avoiding too much exposure to bad, aggravating news. It just ain't worth the old blood pressure ticking up a notch or two. So I have been looking for mellow input that will give me some joy to balance out the woes. To that end, I have been watching more classic movies than is my usual wont. While there may be better "classic" web sites that I have yet to discover, one that is elegant and very informative is "Classic Movie Favorites." Check it out <a href="http://www.classicmoviefavorites.com/">right here</a>. Enjoy. <br />
<br />
<br />AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-4234106983175051042017-01-25T08:54:00.000-08:002017-01-25T08:55:20.696-08:00Carl Sagan had a crystal ball!<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 636px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; word-break: break-word;">
The passage comes from Sagan’s book <a data-amazonasin="0345409469" data-amazonsubtag="[p|1791502520[a|0345409469[au|489539437[b|gizmodo" data-amazontag="gizmodoamzn-20" href="https://www.amazon.com/Demon-Haunted-World-Science-Candle-Dark/dp/0345409469?tag=gizmodoamzn-20&ascsubtag=e968367601c4bc58a2717b0c5cd87ccf8b9fd098&rawdata=%5Br%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fgizmodo.com%2Fhow-to-unearth-embarrassing-tweets-by-your-enemies-1791518729%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1791502520%5Ba%7C0345409469%5Bau%7C489539437%5Bb%7Cgizmodo" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #28ade6; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark</em></a><em style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">,</em> first published in 1995:</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: whitesmoke; border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-radius: 3px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: ElizabethSerif, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 32px; margin: 0px auto 1.25rem; max-width: 636px; overflow: visible; padding: 1.125rem;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 32px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 636px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; word-break: break-word;">
Science is more than a body of knowledge; it is a way of thinking. I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time—when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.</div>
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sound familiar? </span>AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-52103502322249047752017-01-18T18:43:00.000-08:002017-01-18T18:43:05.884-08:00Still hereI just realized that I have not posted since we returned from Tahoe. I don't really have anything to say, except that the reality of Trump being sworn in in a couple of days is bumming me out. Oh well, I do have the Warriors basketball team to cheer me up. Don't give up on me. I'll try to post more often.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-65169863273052811142017-01-04T16:59:00.001-08:002017-01-04T16:59:44.608-08:00Plenty of snow Hello from Tahoe/Donner. We got up here on Sunday and it started to snow that evening. Then, it snowed all day Monday, all day Tuesday, and it's still snowing on Wednesday at at 5 pm as I write this. So we're pretty much house bound. Here are a couple of shots that I took at about noon today. One is a view of a neighbor's house up the hill a bit, and the other is a view of our side deck. Supposedly it will be finished snowing by tomorrow morning. The snowshoeing should be excellent.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29hxXvKHswMFcbo6gUY4YWvVTxfBknt_9ChsTW6h-7T5VTlYyfAX8XKnLsjIVuD0vVt0v9koykDsRZnIjvoTaKViq8CTUNwS-GgUxvmTHlrzUpkauztyn7DldkV_Iy0IytovdqE2M5Bwb/s1600/DSC00735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29hxXvKHswMFcbo6gUY4YWvVTxfBknt_9ChsTW6h-7T5VTlYyfAX8XKnLsjIVuD0vVt0v9koykDsRZnIjvoTaKViq8CTUNwS-GgUxvmTHlrzUpkauztyn7DldkV_Iy0IytovdqE2M5Bwb/s320/DSC00735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPe_dEcwoBxJ2x1kjY_vwt684ampPCPsW3EYmnLrtywU0JLhVp75z3mIzVnp9mU1i_bd2cT6Rb4Bthe3xDTE2lBVDKljkpurGXTbdJVdlUJC_Gb197DwJDBJx5uBFP7u0YRTJp9wyrxCts/s1600/DSC00738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPe_dEcwoBxJ2x1kjY_vwt684ampPCPsW3EYmnLrtywU0JLhVp75z3mIzVnp9mU1i_bd2cT6Rb4Bthe3xDTE2lBVDKljkpurGXTbdJVdlUJC_Gb197DwJDBJx5uBFP7u0YRTJp9wyrxCts/s320/DSC00738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-29872884824320878712017-01-02T09:24:00.000-08:002017-01-02T09:24:39.455-08:00Sinatra could dance too!Hey all. We got up here to our Tahoe/Donner place at about noon yesterday. The drive up was uneventful except for a stretch of pretty heavy fog. Then, (per the forecast) it started snowing in the late afternoon and snowed all night. As I look out the window now at around 9 am, I see that it is still snowing fairly hard with no let-up in sight. Looks like some snowshoeing is going to be in order once the storm has passed. I'll post some pictures later.<br />
<br />
On the the main topic: I was surfing the channels and ran across a showing of "That's Entertainment 2" and of course got hooked and ended up watching the entirety of what was left. As part of that, I saw a number with Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly from "Anchors Aweigh" wherein they sang a duet. But what floored me was that about 1:40 into the number, they broke into a serious dance number with Frank coming amazingly close to dancing as expertly as Gene. I never thought of Frank as a dancer, but he was terrific in this number. Fortunately, the whole thing is on YouTube. You gotta <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8lT63AbtxE">check this out.</a> Leave a comment if you enjoyed it.AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-48044814019685823482016-12-29T10:51:00.001-08:002016-12-29T10:51:52.203-08:00Mayans were coolI was stumbling around on the Internet and ran across<a href="https://thenib.com/mayan-codices"> this very interesting illustrated history of the Mayan's written language</a>. It only takes about five minutes to read it, and it's well worth it. <br />
<br />
Heading up to the Tahoe/Donner place on Sunday for a week long stay. I'll post some pictures of the winter wonderland.<br />
<br />
AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-80317124415833312662016-12-17T09:19:00.000-08:002016-12-17T09:19:14.094-08:00A kakistocracy -- indeed!I have been searching for the right term to define the impending Trump government, but nothing seemed quite adequate or accurate. Then I read <a href="http://www.salon.com/2016/12/17/degeneration-nation-it-takes-a-village-of-idiots-to-raise-a-kakistocracy-like-donald-trumps/?source=newsletter">this terrific article</a> by Sophia McClennen. There is no doubt about it: we are going to experience a kakistocracy first-hand. AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-34470319190167709632016-12-13T14:28:00.000-08:002016-12-13T14:28:14.712-08:00Grace at Daryl's HouseA couple of months ago we watched an episode of "Live From Daryrl's House" featuring Grace Sewell, a 19 year old Aussie singer and song writer. I recorded the show on my DVR, but until just recently it was not up on Daryl's site, or on YouTube. The good news is that it is now up on Daryl's site where you can play the entire show or just certain segments. Check it out <a href="http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/currentep.html?ep_id=96">right here</a>. I recommend playing the entire show if you have the time because you will see how Grace, Daryl, and the band grow more appreciative of each other as the session goes on. By the end of the session the respect on all sides is palpable. This turned out to be one of the very best shows of the current season of LFDH. I hope you enjoy it as much as Eileen and I have. This young lady can really sing up a storm -- nobody owns her, as evidenced by her rendition of "You Don't Own Me."AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-44714152479077689332016-12-03T12:24:00.002-08:002016-12-03T12:24:46.352-08:00A timely quote:“Since the liar is free to fashion his ‘facts’ to fit the profit and pleasure, or even the mere expectations, of his audience, the chances are that he will be more persuasive than the truth teller.”<br />
<br />
~ Hannah Arendt 1967AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-6481068969039824952016-11-24T12:04:00.000-08:002016-11-24T12:04:28.802-08:00Thanksgiving Challa Celebrating Thanksgiving with the in-laws this afternoon and evening. I am the official bread maker for the dinner. I made a loaf of herb-onion bread, which uses fresh minced onion, rosemary, and dill weed. As you can imagine, it makes for awesome day-after turkey sandwiches if there is any left over after dinner. But the high point of tonight's dinner is going to be the awesome challah that I made this morning. Check this thing out. It's well over a foot long.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyetL8r7Nqw5Zj2b-6Hj7eKRkwhad9_WB-L-bNlCIfvQiw6lsUuAqVvrXzaIEinR3c4WNUHG0nlG-_bEaPucP8Qos3q3dxETVPI3K2UVOPaGg0OqfQY0rF9nvNAdjVJFfA_e25K6Rb7lo/s1600/DSC00730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyetL8r7Nqw5Zj2b-6Hj7eKRkwhad9_WB-L-bNlCIfvQiw6lsUuAqVvrXzaIEinR3c4WNUHG0nlG-_bEaPucP8Qos3q3dxETVPI3K2UVOPaGg0OqfQY0rF9nvNAdjVJFfA_e25K6Rb7lo/s320/DSC00730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-67481160886763857982016-11-14T11:46:00.002-08:002016-11-14T11:46:48.161-08:00I was so wrong about who would win the election (electoral votes, not the popular vote), but then I'm certainly not the only one. Welcome to our dystopian reality. Things are not going to be pretty for the foreseeable future, so I'll just leave you with some simple beauty: a photo of one of the blooms on our Bird of Paradise plant that I took on Saturday.<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsTw8t1lZpbaAp2Ovu4LpA3fUSlPKlCVyJyikDEBdW5gq1mNKJDIqbqLpw3KVqVPh_2o0Qv0lkpu_8X3qZl8aheO7H9VWuXRrubAAbZerG9-iX_HkaZ3RApww3sU6wBonLJZA5MGCsb3R/s1600/Bird+of+Paradise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsTw8t1lZpbaAp2Ovu4LpA3fUSlPKlCVyJyikDEBdW5gq1mNKJDIqbqLpw3KVqVPh_2o0Qv0lkpu_8X3qZl8aheO7H9VWuXRrubAAbZerG9-iX_HkaZ3RApww3sU6wBonLJZA5MGCsb3R/s320/Bird+of+Paradise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm gonna try to keep it simple for a while and look for love and beauty wherever and whenever I can find it. </div>
</div>
AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8234557890413660791.post-78846488100999247452016-11-07T16:37:00.001-08:002016-11-07T16:37:27.182-08:00A Final WordWell, here it is, the eve of the election. I will be glued to the tube all day tomorrow. The <a href="http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2016/forecast/president">Huffington Post forecast</a> and the <a href="http://election.princeton.edu/electoral-college-map/">Princeton group forecast</a> both predict a Clinton win in the 98-99 percentile. They both discount Nate Silver's forecast for reasons they explain in detail, but even Silver is forecasting a 65 percent edge for Clinton. My main worry at this point is liberal protest votes for minor or write-in candidates, or liberal protest by way of sitting out the vote entirely. This should not happen for a lot of reasons, all of which are well-put in the <a href="http://www.salon.com/2016/11/07/not-voting-for-hillary-youre-dead-to-me/?source=newsletter">following article</a>. Mary Elizabeth Williams hits it right on the head. So wise up Susan Sarandon!AlamedaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623796440779934437noreply@blogger.com0