The Third Antarctic Journeys

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

2010-09-08T06:44:03Z

Labor Day pretty much crashed my exercise, eating, and every other routine I have. Joy.

Bled Hard

2010-09-05T07:26:42Z

Here are the links to the downtown vision plan, , including the specific plans at their current stage.

I realize that those of you who don’t live in Menlo Park and aren’t getting advanced degrees in Urban Planning probably don’t give a crap about this. But you’ll have to just imagine that it’s your current town that’s undergoing a similar revision. And if you’re in New York City or something, then I’m so, so sorry.

Karmanaut

2010-09-03T21:52:37Z

Here Comes Bevmo

2010-09-01T08:14:25Z

Previously, on LOCAL BLOG COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD…

Step 1 involved parking. Step 2 involves “local business-itis,” in which the town’s characteristics, demographics, and economics turn into a bias against a healthy dose of capitalism. Or is it a defense of Menlo Park’s character against corporate domination?

Exhibit A is the abandoned Chili’s on El Camino Real, one block south of the mouth of Santa Cruz Ave. and downtown. Chili’s resided at the profitable corner of a complex, which houses a Big 5 Sporting Goods, a Staples, an optometry office, a Verizon store, and a revolving door of take-out shops. The complex, though, is seated along this highly-trafficked juncture backwards. The side facing El Camino Real, the busiest street in the mid peninsula, has no visible entrances to the complex. Only a single tunnel cuts through the middle, and the homeless tend to shelter here from the weather. The rear side, where all the entrances are, faces a parking lot and the train tracks, although the actual station is a few blocks north. The entire complex looks as though the building twisted during construction to look behind its back but got stuck in place. Only Chili’s had a identifiable storefront; the rest of the stores had, at best, a neon sign and a display window and, at worst, a plastic banner nailed to the two-story brick facade. To call it a strip mall would be generous.

The Chili’s on the corner simply chose not to renew its rent. I spoke to the manager during the last week of service (as one of the few reasonably priced restaurants in Menlo Park, we gave them some business over the years). The manager said that business was not bad, but not good. They got a lot of family business, and those who could not afford to eat at Marche with their three kids and the rest of the Little League team found refuge at Chili’s. The reason they left was the rent. For such an odd location, the rent was exorbitant. There was little opportunity for growth, and it was a simple decision of cost. This decision is made by the renting residents of Menlo Park, Atherton, Palo Alto, and surrounding areas. Rent in this area is outrageous. Here the real estate market chokes the life out of the middle-class, and those that stay find their checking accounts punished. Chili’s simply decided not to take any further punishment.

After Chili’s left, a banner proclaiming “For Rent!” appeared where the trademark red pepper once hung. The banner stayed up for several months, until it became clear that no one wanted the spot. The only effect of the banner was to make the rest of the complex appear abandoned. When a suitor, BevMo, finally came, the were allowed to move into the vacant spot by the narrowest of margins. The corner spot stood vacant for more than four hundred generating not a single cent of revenue for anyone. By the time BevMo is built, people are hired, and tens of thousands of tax dollars begin rolling in, this spot at the intersection of a vital artery and the downtown area will have likely been empty for two years.

The arrogance of some residents, as well as their planning commissioners and representatives, became clear during BevMo’s struggle to gain entrance. The Almanac gives a clear account of the battle:

Commissioners Kirsten Keith and Katie Ferrick voted against the permit on grounds that Menlo Park didn’t need another liquor store, and the city should protect independent local businesses. Vice Chair Vincent Bressler also opposed the action, suggesting that denying the use permit could force the building’s owner to remodel the strip mall.

“For heaven’s sake, what was in there was Chilis. If anything, BevMo is a step up,” responded Commissioner Henry Riggs, who described the vacant space as “a peculiar building in a peculiar situation.”

The local businesses mentioned here are several upscale grocery stores and wine markets. These stores jealously guard their supremacy over the yuppie vino market of Menlo Park. A recent combatant, GC’s, had the misfortune of entering the fray in 2008 in the midst of a recession; they lasted less than two years. Yet BevMo provides a different challenge. The infrastructure and buying power of BevMo certainly dwarfs Draeger’s or Beltramos. According to BevMo, 1,600 residents are BevMo card carriers. While the local stores can certainly claim that the shadow of a corporate Goliath looms above, it is difficult to sympathize when David is selling gourmet tomatoes flown in from Italy. The local merchants are powerful figures in this small town, and their influence on the council is manifest in the margin of the vote. The Almanac article’s comments reflects the divisiveness.

All the hubbub raises an interesting question: how far does a city go, how much does it sacrifice, to maintain “character?” Draeger’s and the like are institutions that have contributed immensely to Menlo Park. To what extent does that entitle them to be shielded from competition, even at the cost of another empty storefront? Stretching south of the strip mall is half a mile of abandoned car dealerships and broken gravel punctuated by an unassailable Tesla dealership. Much sentiment against threats on local institutions come from long-term residents. They rail against change as a threat to the heritage of Menlo Park. Those that invite reform seek to keep the city economically viable. The latter position is complicated by the largely silent bloc of students and young professionals living in Menlo Park. As John has pointed out, young people come but do not stay. One commenter in the Almanac suggested (perhaps only half-jokingly) that Menlo Park construct an all-you-can-eat buffet on an abandoned car lot to feed all these young adults.

In all seriousness, there is a plan in place to radically alter the downtown area. With the audacity of the plan comes much hand-wringing, and much consternation over the concern of town character, legacy, and heritage. The coming confrontation over the Visioning of Menlo Park reveals much of the town’s history and determines much of the town’s fate.

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The Trimming Of Lot Nine

2010-08-31T07:43:15Z

Ah Menlo Park. Downtown parking is usually plentiful but is time-limited by law to just two hours. Heavens forbid you want to eat dinner andget dessert. People complain about having to re-park their cars to spend money (and hence gain the city sales tax income). Or, people just don’t go to downtown because the whole thing shuts down at 4:30PM Saturdays. Half the stores aren’t open on Sunday, and the stores are poorly positioned to take advantage of half of the community demographics (imagine a downtown of upscale boutiques, Persian rug stores, coffee/bagel-houses, and expensive dining).

So, what is the solution? Step 1: spend more than $50,000 to reduce the parking time in many spots to 1 hour so that no one in their right mind will ever visit your stupid downtown and spend money in your city ever again.

http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=7244

I’ll discuss the other steps in the coming days.

Notes From A Medic

2010-08-30T06:17:07Z

If I post enough pictures, no one will notice there is no text.

From the top: Alice, three shots of a “lake” in Thornewood, and the Napali Coast from helicopter.

Lake Disappointment

2010-08-29T07:17:17Z

Well… now what?

The Shaken World

2010-08-27T06:25:48Z

Politics Is What Happens When Mosquitos Learn To Talk

2010-08-26T07:11:07Z

Look. I like this picture a lot. It’s clever and whatnot and something but right now I’m too hot to think of anything blahblah k’bye.

Two Man Bags Walk Into A Blog

2010-08-25T06:54:12Z

At Justin’s suggestion (cough, where is your picture, cough), I’ve posted my daily messenger bag’s horrific contents. Bob has done the same. His contents were:

Bag
Keys
Fly Reel, w/ bag
Nikon D40 magazine
Infopedia ads
Pens (5)
Checkbook with stack of bills
Buisness cards from people
MTA MetroCard from 2008
Arc Mouse, Power cable
Laptop

My bag, the hardy Timbuk2 messenger, contains:

Laptop and sleeve
Powercord
Extra carabiner
Clip
Shopping bag
Reflective band
Composition notebook
3 pens
Bicycle tire wedge
Spoon
Emergency contact card
3 zantac
2 pieces of chalk
A pair of earplugs
Moist towelette
Emergency coffee
$20
Headphones
Salt & pepper packets
Phone charger
Mouse
2 zip ties
Hand sanitizer
Zyrtec & ibuprofen
Alcohol wipe
Bicycle patch kit
Floss
Tylenol

And now you know a little too much about our lives.

Bros, Brass, And Birds

2010-08-22T22:53:53Z

Hooray! A new challenge. Tomorrow I’ll throw up a picture of my bag and all the crap I carry inside it. It’s practically a violation of the 100 rules in and of itself! Thanks Justin.

Murashige

2010-08-21T08:33:11Z

Shelter

Boomsma

2010-08-20T08:13:15Z

And now, to infuriate Justin, a whole week of nothing but photo-essays and triptychs and whatnot! Ackbar 2012!!!!

Manhasset

2010-08-19T06:14:12Z

When I look back through this blog 50 years from now, searching for the exact point in which I lost complete and utter hope in the American political system, I will find this exact point in time.

Ragnarok-And-Roll

2010-08-18T07:10:19Z

If that camera had decent viewing angles, this triptych would have been much better, no?

100 Things: Part III

2010-08-17T00:51:09Z

belt
boots
dress pants
dress shirt
dress shoes
jacket
jeans
khakis
sandals
shorts
sneakers
socks
socks
socks
socks
suit
tie
t-shirt
t-shirt
undershirt
undershirt
underwear
underwear
underwear
underwear
underwear
18-55mm lens
40mm lens
battery charger
bike
bike helmet
bike lock
camera
cellphone
credit card
driver’s license
family photo
hard drive
keys
laptop
messenger bag
nail clippers
passport
printer
rear-view mirror
scanner
suitcase
sunglasses
toothbrush
watch
wedding photo
wedding ring
bed
bedside table
blu-ray
broom
bucket
chair
comforter
desk
drawer
fan
futon
garbage can
lamp
lamp
pillow
router
sheet
sponge
table
towel
towel
TV
tv-stand/shelf
wifi
xbox
14-inch pan
big wok
bowl
bowl
can opener
chef’s knife
coffee press
cutting board
kitchen towel
microwave
mug
oven/stove
paring knife
plate
plate
refrigerator
spork
spork
thermos

100 Things: Part II

2010-08-14T23:10:13Z

So far, 6 people have submitted lists of 100 (not too late! more data = better). Thanks to everyone who played along, despite any frustrations.

Overall, people listed 96.5 (2.88) items [standard deviations in parentheses]. This was already interesting; 3.5 items were left out. You could have had 3 more pairs of socks, and possibly a lone sock as well!

I categorized the items broadly into clothing, personal, household, and kitchen. This was completely unscientific and only done to get roughly even categories. Tada.

This will be the only gender comparison chart because the sample size is pathetic (2 men). However, the number of additional clothing items for women is roughly 10, which is what one of my co-instructors estimated. None of those 10 items involved make-up.

This is the average number of class items for a few common things. Cutlery, as you’ll note from the error bars, was the biggest source of disagreement. I stuck 2 sporks/knife thingies on my list. Others laid out four settings of forks, knives, and spoons.

Other interesting tidbits:
–Everyone put jeans. Not everyone put a belt.
–Only one person put a clothing iron. Only one person put a vacuum.
–People added more shoes than socks (although shoes included flip-flops, sandals, and other sock-less foot accoutrements).
–Only one person put a TV, but everyone put a laptop and a cell phone on the list.
–Only one person put a book on their list.

That’s it for today; back to lab. For next time: how much do sibling lists overlap? What about couple lists? Does one really need pants?

100 Things: Part Ib

2010-08-14T01:47:54Z

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Gold stars for Christina, John, Jiffy, Lindsey, and Mariana! Sad stars for Farah, Daniella, Justin, Bob, and every other cyberspace individual who has not sent me anything. Your lack of sending me lists is making me cry a little on the inside, and I’m counting each tear as an item. Just kidding. No pressure or nothin’.

Tomorrow, I’ll start posting some fun stats! Comment or email me if you want to know something in particular. I’m starting with “unique items,” which only one individual lists, as well as “common items,” which everyone lists. I’ll also look into breakdowns of categories (how many clothing items indeed!), as well as demographic splits.

Feel free to comment also with any hypotheses. This is a tiny, skewed, biased, unscientific sample, but I’ll take a look.

100 Things: Part Ia

2010-08-12T23:27:30Z

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Seriously people, email me your lists. For bonus fun, make a significant other do the list too. I’ll crosscheck the lists for hilarity’s sake.

Tomorrow: My list, Christina’s list.

100 Things: Part I

2010-08-11T07:59:34Z

Today, I read a very interesting article in the NY Times. The story of the woman in the article really resonated with me, especially since I recently expressed my own frustration with clutter. Since my blog post, I’ve totally cleaned my work desk so that on the large table-top there is only my monitor and a mug for coffee. Before, it held dozens of books to boost the monitor to standing-eye level (I stopped standing), as well as papers, a place to write with a dry-erase marker, food, a bowl, a fork, lots of crap, etc. I cleaned up the bookshelves around my desk too, and the results were quite pleasing. This evening when I got home, I cleaned up my side of the office, which made me feel better too. I stuffed some old shoes (goodbye sneakers!) into a donation bag and that was that.

The woman in the NY Times article has basically done what I’ve done, except much, much more thoroughly. While I merely wiped rubbish of my desks, she reduced her entire life to 100 items. One hundred, which perhaps seems like a lot until you consider that each item of clothing, each lamp you use for light, each fork you use to eat all count towards that total. Today, while my class took their final exam, I chatted with my co-instructors and we decided to reproduce the woman’s results, if only in a thought experiment.

Reader, I challenge you to repeat this thought experiment. Email me the results, or post them as a comment, and I will post them along with my list of 100 items. Feel free to add commentary, strategies, or your thought process at arriving at your 100 items. Here are my rules (which may differ from other rules, but hey, this is my thought experiment):
1) You are limited to 100 items in your life. Things that are bolted to your home do not count, but this does not exclude heavy objects. For instance, I would not count my shower or toilet as an item, but I would count my fridge.
2) Things that are a “consumable” do not count, but things that are a “wear-out-able” do count. So I would not count that tube of toothpaste, but I would count the toothbrush. Food does not count. Clothing does.
3) “Siamese twins,” such as socks or gloves, count as one item, but forks, knives, or other “set” items count as individual objects. For instance, if I kept my camera, I would have to add a lens as a separate item. I counted “keys” as one item, same as “computer + power cord.” Mouse and keyboard were separate, though.
4) Assume you are trying to live your life as you are now. You must stay in your present location, work your present job, etc. If you are living with someone, imagine they went on vacation (you can’t use a spouse to offload shared items).
5) Be realistic. If you only put two pairs of underwear on your list, ask yourself if you could do laundry every other day. If you don’t put any light sources, ask yourself if you’d really sit in the dark after sunset. If you could, that’s fine; be honest with yourself.

If you find yourself stuck, try the following exercise: mentally walk through your day, and write items down as you use them throughout the day. For example, I wake up in a bed (1) with my pillow (2), pillowcase (3), and sheets (4). I brush my teeth with a toothbrush (5) and cup (6), then shower and towel (7). I head to the kitchen, where I make coffee (consumable) in a press (6) and drink it from a mug (7). You get the idea. It sounds time-consuming, but you might be surprised at how quickly it goes.

I look forward to seeing your 100.

Cooking Dangerously V

2010-08-11T07:21:12Z

Amuse Bouche: Poached quail egg with smoked salmon on a potato crisp.

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First Course: Crawfish boulette on microgreens with cucumber tartar sauce and sungold tomatoes.

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Second Course: Rainbow fig salad with lemon vinaigrette, burrata, and thyme ciabatta bread.

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Third Course: Chicken-tomato-basil sausage ravioli with basil cream and slow-roasted tomatoes.

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Main Course: Pulled pork on hoecake with pickled onions, pickled fennel, and nectarines.

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Intermezzo: Four-melon sorbet with black pepper syrup and candied lime peel, with a lime zest sugar cookie.

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Dessert: Wild blackberry and peach pie-in-a-jar with cardamom crème anglaise.

Deer Steals Wife

2010-08-06T06:56:22Z

In Hanalei, we stumbled upon the filming of a feature film. Without immediate internet consulting, any guesses on A) what the film was and B) who the major star was? Hint, star was a not-young male.

Shrimp Boy’s Thumb

2010-08-05T07:13:02Z

The End Of Standing

2010-08-04T07:29:05Z

That’s it. I’m sitting down.

Slinky the Dachshund

2010-08-03T07:05:08Z

Today I was standing in Ace Hardware, waiting for someone to retrieve two cases of half-pint canning jars, when I felt a sudden wet sensation on my right ankle. I jumped at the quarter-sized sensation, and I nearly kicked the cute little dachshund that had ambled up to lick my foot. Startled, the little dog scampered behind a counter where it hid from me the rest of the time I was in the store.