Things I learned or am looking at...
* Black walnuts (there is a black walnut street tree on our our side of the avenue closer to N. Lombard) are toxic to humans. Squirrels seeem to like them, though, and crack them on the sidewalk or our driveway, leaving a black stain that takes a few rain showers to erase. I find the shells buried in the ground by the squirrels. Too bad they are toxic to humans. Wonder if a regular walnut tree (non-toxic) would do well here?
* The Purple Catalpa has lost all of its leaves. The other Catalpa at House70 still has a few leaves. Most trees have lost at least some leaves, but the weed tree is only now starting to show a color change. It drops its leaves later than most of the deciduous trees in our neighborhood. Meanwhile I go around picking up leaves on our walkway and then depositing them under the Purple Catalpa tree as mulch. Year round I find plant remains to deposit there, so under that cover of small branches, grass clippings and leaves is probably some very good soil.
* A school bus stopped with its red flashing lights commands that vehicles stop in all lanes on a four lane highway (two lanes in each direction). The exception is if the two lanes are separated from the other two lanes by an island or separator of some sort, but painted lines do not count. I saw this happen on U.S. Highway 30 between Sauvie Island and Burlington last week and thought drivers were over-reacting. However, they were actually doing the right thing!
* Target carries low-sodium Amys which we can't get at Freddies: a Paneer and the cheddar bowl. I had the cheddar bowl last night and it was great!
* The general in Village of the Damned is played by the same actor as the controlling fellow in The Shroud of the Mummy. In both I noticed his pecular eyes, one eye opened more than the other, but it was pronounced as he aged. I find this interesting myself because the muscles or skin around the right eye tend to droop more then the muscles/skin around the left eye. Marisa says she doesn't notice it.
* The film Get Out which Marisa and I watched last night (she had already seen it at least once) is not easily forgotten after it ends. You think about all the little things said and what they add up to. When they are said, they are strange or off-putting. Then, after you know the turn of events, you realize the meaning behind what was said. Not just what people say, but also what they do...like when the main character goes outside in the night and the gardener is running very fast and almost runs into the main character. So I am running through all these things and connecting them. Very fascinating. Don't find this film as a rewrite of another film, but it reminds us of other films like The Stepford Wives and The Brotherhood of Satan. At the core of the movie it also makes you think a bit about how its possible to let stereotypes drive your behavior rather than being only a guide in absence of other information.
* The ability to get almond milk creamer in general is difficult these days. Alot of companies do almond milk mixed with coconut milk which is not good (the coconut milk makes it taste sour). The best has been almond milk with hazelnut flavor and one brand is the best-selling (Almond Silk I think), yet the stores around us: Freddies, Grocery Outlet and New Seasons can't keep it in stock or have gived up trying to do so. There are other less tasty creamers made with almond milk: maple, vanilla, caramel to which we can switch, but I am only pleased by the hazelnut. A soy milk with hazelnut might be good, too...so that is an alternative. Marisa found that Target carried an almond milk (different brand than the best-selling) with hazelnut, so we got it there yesterday: only two bottles left and we bought both as well as some other flavors for back-up.
* Titles in the movie Cowboy with Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon were by Saul Bass, which Marisa and I both noticed even before we saw the credit. We wonder if the sequence influenced the titles for Wild Wild West. Certainly it seems that way to me.
* The mushroom family growing by the north walkway started as bright orange caps a couple of weeks ago, then wide pale caps last week and now dark and collapsing pieces. I saw an large interesting mushroom when I parked at work this week. It is a time for mushrooms!
* If we every go to the UK it would be cool to see a hill just outside the village of Compton Chamberlayne, in Wiltshire. I found out about this thanks to an article on the BBC news website.
One-hundred years ago a map of Australia was put into the hillside with white chalk so it could easily seen from below. This is similar to what some communities do in Oregon and Washington, creating a large letter on a hill overlooking the town representing the high school usually. The high school students keep it up as a matter of pride. There is one in Roseburg, for instance.
The map was placed there to rally the Australian Imperial Force which was stationed at Hurdott Camp in the fields below. No matter where the soldiers were in camp they could always look up and be reminded of their country even while helping out England during World War I. While they were the there the soliders took care of the map: their creation, their country. However the camp closed after the war, and the map, while not purposely removed, was disappearing due to vegetation growth and the weather. By the 21st century only hints of it could be found.
A woman named Helen decided to restore it in 2018 as a reminder of some of the soldiers who fought the war.
* I really enjoyed both our vacations during my sabbatical and some recent trips to Eugene, Oregon: they are driving many activities and will do so over the coming months and years! One thing about the trip to Eastern Oregon: I now feel I have a better grasp of Eastern Oregon as a result. Oregon as a whole is now better understood by me, but there are areas I still need to visit:
> Eastern Oregon interior--Heppner, Lexington, Prineville
> Deeper into the Wallowas--Enterprise, Joseph, Imanha.
> Southwest coast
> Other parts of the coast
> Junction City, Albany, Monmouth, Independence, McMinnville (between the I-5 cooridor and the coastal range, basically).
* Strongly feel the need to consolidate all my research and create books, so trying to learn how to format my text, insert pictures and prepare for publication.
* Would like to focus on the Hydro Northwest concept and also a look at the Bureau of Reclamation, so trying to get image sources which I can own or, if that is not possible, get permissions to use. The Owyhee Project fits into both very well. I did a little writing/research yesterday. I need to go back to Owyhee in the spring during snowmelt time to catch the emptying of the reservoir through the "glory-hole." When I caught the over-sized drain the reservoir level was below it...so nothing to drain!
I will note that some research to-day regarding the Snake River High Dam shows that any Hydro Northwest book needs to be narrowly defined. There is an entire book (a couple of a hundred pages) about how the Feds decided the Bureau of Reclamation's proposed "High" Hell's Canyon dam should not be built. Also, the map of dams in the Pacific Northwest is quite amazing. I did not count, but there appears to be at least one-hundred, maybe even two-hundred dams. What I have started on is a mere tip of the iceberg (if I can mix my water metaphors). Of course, I can focus on the little pictures and then draw the larger picture. My current foci are: Detroit Dam, Gold Ray Dam, BPA dams starting with Bonneville but should also include The Dalles, John Day and McNary; the 3 Snake River Dams and Owyhee Dam.
The fact is that the one book I mentioned is written by an attorney and has a legal/political bent. I simultaneously enjoy the discussions, but also the science, the technology and the wildlife concerns...with energy policy, power company development, public interfaces...it just goes on. I want to present an easy to read, graphically impressive book that sets highlights, perhaps, yet groundwork for further research and reading. In the end the question is--how should we responsibly develop water resources so that energy and water needs are met for people, yet wildlife, scenic values, recreational opportunities and ecology are preserved.
* Also want to turn my attention to designing a microprocessor-driven sensor network for our basement. I have added an email bin for this and starting to look at what I should buy.
* I probably need to go to a piano store one of these days. I don't know if we could reshape the furniture placement in our dining room to accommodate a baby grand piano. I would like to know for sure and to do so would engage their expertise. Certainly the futon and leather chair would have to go, but may move the bookcase, cds, etc. Marisa's cabinet may also have to move. The other possibility: enlarge the living room to the south side of the front door. This would leave a small porch to the north side. However, that would be pricey. It has always been a dream of mine to have a piano I can play: electronic pianos do not give me the tactile feedback I need. I like the style of a grand piano, but am willing to accept an upright grand if our house can't accomodate one. I really want to pursue music again and create soundtracks for my video projects. The piano is key, but also interested in other odd instruments like my marimba, squeezebox, bongos, ukelele, guitar.
* In general I want to stop accumulating "software" and focus on taking what I have, making it accessible, storing it properly and incorporating it into my creative projects...or simply watching or listening.
* The Purple Catalpa has lost all of its leaves. The other Catalpa at House70 still has a few leaves. Most trees have lost at least some leaves, but the weed tree is only now starting to show a color change. It drops its leaves later than most of the deciduous trees in our neighborhood. Meanwhile I go around picking up leaves on our walkway and then depositing them under the Purple Catalpa tree as mulch. Year round I find plant remains to deposit there, so under that cover of small branches, grass clippings and leaves is probably some very good soil.
* A school bus stopped with its red flashing lights commands that vehicles stop in all lanes on a four lane highway (two lanes in each direction). The exception is if the two lanes are separated from the other two lanes by an island or separator of some sort, but painted lines do not count. I saw this happen on U.S. Highway 30 between Sauvie Island and Burlington last week and thought drivers were over-reacting. However, they were actually doing the right thing!
* Target carries low-sodium Amys which we can't get at Freddies: a Paneer and the cheddar bowl. I had the cheddar bowl last night and it was great!
* The general in Village of the Damned is played by the same actor as the controlling fellow in The Shroud of the Mummy. In both I noticed his pecular eyes, one eye opened more than the other, but it was pronounced as he aged. I find this interesting myself because the muscles or skin around the right eye tend to droop more then the muscles/skin around the left eye. Marisa says she doesn't notice it.
* The film Get Out which Marisa and I watched last night (she had already seen it at least once) is not easily forgotten after it ends. You think about all the little things said and what they add up to. When they are said, they are strange or off-putting. Then, after you know the turn of events, you realize the meaning behind what was said. Not just what people say, but also what they do...like when the main character goes outside in the night and the gardener is running very fast and almost runs into the main character. So I am running through all these things and connecting them. Very fascinating. Don't find this film as a rewrite of another film, but it reminds us of other films like The Stepford Wives and The Brotherhood of Satan. At the core of the movie it also makes you think a bit about how its possible to let stereotypes drive your behavior rather than being only a guide in absence of other information.
* The ability to get almond milk creamer in general is difficult these days. Alot of companies do almond milk mixed with coconut milk which is not good (the coconut milk makes it taste sour). The best has been almond milk with hazelnut flavor and one brand is the best-selling (Almond Silk I think), yet the stores around us: Freddies, Grocery Outlet and New Seasons can't keep it in stock or have gived up trying to do so. There are other less tasty creamers made with almond milk: maple, vanilla, caramel to which we can switch, but I am only pleased by the hazelnut. A soy milk with hazelnut might be good, too...so that is an alternative. Marisa found that Target carried an almond milk (different brand than the best-selling) with hazelnut, so we got it there yesterday: only two bottles left and we bought both as well as some other flavors for back-up.
* Titles in the movie Cowboy with Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon were by Saul Bass, which Marisa and I both noticed even before we saw the credit. We wonder if the sequence influenced the titles for Wild Wild West. Certainly it seems that way to me.
* The mushroom family growing by the north walkway started as bright orange caps a couple of weeks ago, then wide pale caps last week and now dark and collapsing pieces. I saw an large interesting mushroom when I parked at work this week. It is a time for mushrooms!
* If we every go to the UK it would be cool to see a hill just outside the village of Compton Chamberlayne, in Wiltshire. I found out about this thanks to an article on the BBC news website.
One-hundred years ago a map of Australia was put into the hillside with white chalk so it could easily seen from below. This is similar to what some communities do in Oregon and Washington, creating a large letter on a hill overlooking the town representing the high school usually. The high school students keep it up as a matter of pride. There is one in Roseburg, for instance.
The map was placed there to rally the Australian Imperial Force which was stationed at Hurdott Camp in the fields below. No matter where the soldiers were in camp they could always look up and be reminded of their country even while helping out England during World War I. While they were the there the soliders took care of the map: their creation, their country. However the camp closed after the war, and the map, while not purposely removed, was disappearing due to vegetation growth and the weather. By the 21st century only hints of it could be found.
A woman named Helen decided to restore it in 2018 as a reminder of some of the soldiers who fought the war.
* I really enjoyed both our vacations during my sabbatical and some recent trips to Eugene, Oregon: they are driving many activities and will do so over the coming months and years! One thing about the trip to Eastern Oregon: I now feel I have a better grasp of Eastern Oregon as a result. Oregon as a whole is now better understood by me, but there are areas I still need to visit:
> Eastern Oregon interior--Heppner, Lexington, Prineville
> Deeper into the Wallowas--Enterprise, Joseph, Imanha.
> Southwest coast
> Other parts of the coast
> Junction City, Albany, Monmouth, Independence, McMinnville (between the I-5 cooridor and the coastal range, basically).
* Strongly feel the need to consolidate all my research and create books, so trying to learn how to format my text, insert pictures and prepare for publication.
* Would like to focus on the Hydro Northwest concept and also a look at the Bureau of Reclamation, so trying to get image sources which I can own or, if that is not possible, get permissions to use. The Owyhee Project fits into both very well. I did a little writing/research yesterday. I need to go back to Owyhee in the spring during snowmelt time to catch the emptying of the reservoir through the "glory-hole." When I caught the over-sized drain the reservoir level was below it...so nothing to drain!
I will note that some research to-day regarding the Snake River High Dam shows that any Hydro Northwest book needs to be narrowly defined. There is an entire book (a couple of a hundred pages) about how the Feds decided the Bureau of Reclamation's proposed "High" Hell's Canyon dam should not be built. Also, the map of dams in the Pacific Northwest is quite amazing. I did not count, but there appears to be at least one-hundred, maybe even two-hundred dams. What I have started on is a mere tip of the iceberg (if I can mix my water metaphors). Of course, I can focus on the little pictures and then draw the larger picture. My current foci are: Detroit Dam, Gold Ray Dam, BPA dams starting with Bonneville but should also include The Dalles, John Day and McNary; the 3 Snake River Dams and Owyhee Dam.
The fact is that the one book I mentioned is written by an attorney and has a legal/political bent. I simultaneously enjoy the discussions, but also the science, the technology and the wildlife concerns...with energy policy, power company development, public interfaces...it just goes on. I want to present an easy to read, graphically impressive book that sets highlights, perhaps, yet groundwork for further research and reading. In the end the question is--how should we responsibly develop water resources so that energy and water needs are met for people, yet wildlife, scenic values, recreational opportunities and ecology are preserved.
* Also want to turn my attention to designing a microprocessor-driven sensor network for our basement. I have added an email bin for this and starting to look at what I should buy.
* I probably need to go to a piano store one of these days. I don't know if we could reshape the furniture placement in our dining room to accommodate a baby grand piano. I would like to know for sure and to do so would engage their expertise. Certainly the futon and leather chair would have to go, but may move the bookcase, cds, etc. Marisa's cabinet may also have to move. The other possibility: enlarge the living room to the south side of the front door. This would leave a small porch to the north side. However, that would be pricey. It has always been a dream of mine to have a piano I can play: electronic pianos do not give me the tactile feedback I need. I like the style of a grand piano, but am willing to accept an upright grand if our house can't accomodate one. I really want to pursue music again and create soundtracks for my video projects. The piano is key, but also interested in other odd instruments like my marimba, squeezebox, bongos, ukelele, guitar.
* In general I want to stop accumulating "software" and focus on taking what I have, making it accessible, storing it properly and incorporating it into my creative projects...or simply watching or listening.