- San Jose Mercury News:
* Lawrence
Livermore supercomputer is crowned world's speediest
(Meet El Capitan, which churns through data at 1.742 quintillion calculations per second—
think 1.7 followed by 18 zeros — to simulate the testing needed to evaluate the health
and extend the lifetimes of America's nuclear weapons. That speed record, boggles the mind.
In human terms, every person on Earth would have to do one calculation every second, for
24 hours a day — for eight years. It would take a million iPhones working on same problem
at the same time to equal what El Capitan can do computationally in one second. If stacked,
those phones would reach five miles high. The $600 million behemoth, built by Hewlett Packard
Enterprise using chips from Advanced Micro Devices, is the latest chart-topper in the global race
to build ever-faster computers. El Capitan has 22 times the computing performance of the lab’s
previous most powerful system, named Sierra. Simulations that take weeks or months on Sierra
will be done in just hours or days on El Capitan.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 11-19-2024, A1, A9)
Palo Alto’s famed tree: How its ‘facts’ are totally wrong
(A dive into hidden archives reveals new insights about redwood El Palo Alto,
symbol for both Stanford & Palo Alto, & a California landmark. Palo Alto's Jeff Watt,
electrical engineer & amateur historian holds photo of El Palo Alto, taken by photographer
Carleton Watkins in the mid-1870s, according to Watt, at the base of the tree on 11-4-2024,
in Palo Alto, CA. Watt’s extensive research about the redwood tree El Palo Alto, the redwood
tree El Palo Alto, the city’s namesake, could help the tree gain state historical landmark
status. His findings — based on old newspaper clippings, photos, translated diaries & ephemera
stored in the deep recesses of libraries — detail tree's long-mysterious past, contradicting
the 100-year-old plaque that sits at its trunk, as well as many other historical accounts.
Did Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá and his expedition camp under its boughs in 1769?
The most commonly cited age is 1,067 years, based on an 1880s-era dendrology ring count of
its felled twin. In 1948, a federal study reported it was only 600 years old. In 1963,
UC Berkeley estimated it was between 300 to 500 years old.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 11-18-2024, A1, A5)
BUSINESS:
Magid: Generative AI is getting smarter
(In my more than 40 years covering the technology sector, I've never seen such rapid
advancement as with Generative AI (GAI). It's been about two years since ChatGPT e
merged, and in that time, we've seen not only new competitors but also significant
improvements across GAI systems. ChatGPT didn't know about events after September 2021.
Now, it stays current. When I asked, "What important things happened in today's news?"
it provided a timely update on key news stories. Many of the GAI services now include
two-way voice functionality. Microsoft has integrated its Copilot GAI system in Windows 11.
Apple is integrating what it calls "Apple Intelligence" into iPhone, iPad and Mac.
In other words, Siri is getting a lot smarter. Perplexity.AI is one GAI system
that does provide links to sources.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 11-15-2024, C7-C8)
Quincy
Jones orchestrated the sound for all of America
(I have this book called "The Complete Quincy Jones" from 2008. It's the sort of coffee table
experience so ephemeral loaded that t all but spills out photos and reproductions of letters
& sheet music< & newspaperclippings and report cards.)
(By Westly Morris, NY Times, Mercury News, 11-7-2024, G6)
Music titan Quincy Jones dies at home at age of 91
(Quincy Jones, the multi-talented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing
Michael Jackson's
historic "Thriller" album to writing prize-winning film and television
scores & collaborating with Frank
Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording
artists, has died at 91. Jones kept company with
presidents & foreign leaders, movie
stars & musicians, philanthropists & business leaders. He toured with
Count Basie & Lionel Hampton, arranged records for Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald, composed the
soundtracks
for "Roots" & "In the Heat of the Night," organized President Bill Clinton's
first inaugural celebration &
oversaw the all-star recording of "We Are the World,"
the 1985 charity record for famine relief in Africa.)
(By Hillie Italie, AP, Mercury News, 11-5-2024, A2)
Mary Cassatt's dazzling defiance on display at SF's Legion of Honor
(Mary Cassatt's bold "Little Girl in the Blue Armchair" on display at the
Legion of Honor,
was painted 1877-1878 with assistance by her friend and mentor Edgar Degas)
(By Robert Taylor, Mercury News, 10-24-2024, G1-G2)
From Napa to the coast, here's where to sip and eat along Highway 128
(There's a special feeling about road-tripping California's Highway 128,
heading west until you meet the sea. Visit: 1. Berryessa Gap Vineyards;
2. Turtle Rock Bar & Cafe;
3. Somerston Wineries;
4. Gott's Roadside;
5. Sonoma Wineries;
6. Diavola Pizzeria;
7. Pennyroyal Farm;
8. Anderson Valley Wineries;
9. Boonville Hotel;
10. Gowan's Cider;
11. SCP Mendocino Coast Lodge;
12. Little River Inn.)
(By Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 10-27-2024, F7-F8)
Top
trending vacation destinations for 2025
(1. Sanya, China; 2. Trieste, Italy; 3. Joao Pessoa, Brazil;
4. Tromse, Norway; 5. Willestad, Curacao; 6. Tignes, France;
7. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile; 8. Naha, Okinawa;
9. Villajosa, Spain; 10. Houston, Texas.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 10-27-2024, F7)
SCIENCE:
There's still time to see a spectacular comet, before it's gone, maybe forever
(Look in the early evening on the low western horizon, near Venus, to spot
Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, an ancient celestial traveler. The Comet C/2023 A3
will be directly above Venus by Oct. 21. It will return in 80,000 years.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 10-16-2024 A1, A5)
Historic
Jersey Shore amusement park closes
after generations of family thrills
(The sight of the 140-foot-tall (42-meter) ride let them know they were getting
close to the Jersey Shore
town that calls itself "America's Greatest Family Resort",
with its promise of kid-friendly beaches,
seagulls and sea shells, and a bustling boardwalk
full of pizza, ice cream and cotton candy.)
(By Wayne Parry, Mercury News, 10-15-2024, A2)
Half Moon Bay: 2471-pound pumpkin winner
(Minnesota pumpkin grower Travis Gienger has done it again, winning Half Moon Bay
honors Monday with a gourd that registered 2,471 pounds, three years in a row.)
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 10-15-2024, B1)
Han Kang
wins the Nobel Prize for literature. She’s the first South Korean to do so
(South Korean poet & novelist Han Kang was awarded Nobel Prize in literature for
a poetic & unsettling body of work that Nobel committee said "confronts historical
traumas & exposes the fragility of human life." A slow-burning international literary
star who has won multiple awards in South Korea & Europe, Han is first Asian woman and
the first South Korean writer to win the Nobel literature prize. She was awarded for books,
including "The Vegetarian" & “Human Acts", that explore the pain of being human and the
scars of Korea's turbulent history.)
(By Daniel Niemann, Mike Corder, & Jill Lawlessap, AP, Mercury News, 10-11-2024, A2)
BUSINESS:
Magid: Watch out for election misinformation
(Before you share something you see, take steps to verify that it's true.
Disinformation is deliberate. Misinformation includes false information
that is spread without the intent to deceive. Both can be very dangerous
in certain circumstances.) Start by verifying whether the source is reputable.
For the most part, news organizations, scientific institutions and government
agencies are trustworthy. But there are exceptions. Any organization can make
a mistake, but reputable ones will correct any errors.
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-11-2024, C7-C8)
BASEBALL:
Pete Rose, baseball’s banned hits leader, has died at 83
(Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements
and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, has died. He was 83.
But no milestone approached his 4,256 hits, breaking his hero Ty Cobb’s 4,191 and
signifying his excellence no matter the notoriety which followed. It was a total
so extraordinary that you could average 200 hits for 20 years and still come up short.
Rose’s secret was consistency, and longevity. Over 24 seasons, all but six played entirely
with the Reds, Rose had 200 hits or more 10 times, and more than 180 four other times.
He batted .303 overall.)
(By Hillel Italie, Mercury News, 9-29-2024, C1,C3)
THINGS TO DO: An Autumn watch party
(It's a magical time of year, when birds (including many rare species) arrive from around the continent
to party in the Bay. Here are five great places to see fall bird migration:
1. Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek;
2. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Oakland; 3. Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos;
4. Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland;
5. Coyote Hills, Fremont)
(By Kate Bradshaw, Jason Mastrodonate & John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 9-29-2024, F7-F8)
INDOORS:
Birders are flocking to the board game Wingspan
(Listening to the songs of rare birds, admiring their colorful feathers
and soaking in the peaceful sounds of nature can be an indoor activity, too.
The game — playable on your iPhone, tablet or the good old-fashioned way,
spread out on the dining room table — was made for birders. Featuring hundreds
of majestic bird illustrations by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez, fun bird facts
and an addictive game design, Wingspan can make a birder out of anybody. Some
2 million copies have been sold in 30 languages throughout the world.)
(By Jason Mastrodonate, Mercury News, 9-29-2024, F7-F8)
BASEBALL: Five unforgettable Coliseum moments from A's 57 years in Oakland
[1. The A's have more walk-off victories (485) than any other team during the Oakland era, but only
Scott Hatteberg's ninth-inning pinch-hit homer launched a book, a movie and sealed a then-AL-record
20-game win streak. 2. Oct. 14, 1989 – Battle of the Bay begin. After 22 years sharing the region,
the A's and Giants finally gave Bay Area fans what they long dreamed of — a Bay Bridge World Series.
Dave Stewart, who held the Giants to five hits and struck out six in a 5-0 win.
3. Oct. 3, 2012 – Best week ever? Oakland won 17 AL West titles, but none was more surprising than 2012 crown.
4. May 1, 1991 – Greatest of all time. Rickey Henderson stole a base in his major league debut for the A's
in 1979 and, after swiping more than 100 bases in three of his first five seasons — including a record 130
in 1982 — it figured to be just a matter of time before he broke Lou Brock's all-time record.
5. Oct. 17, 1974 – Three-peat! The early 1970s belonged to the Swingin' A's, punctuated by beating the
Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the 1974 World Series for their third straight title. Only the Yankees
(five in a row from 1949-53 and four
in a row from 1936-39) have won more consecutive World Series titles.)
(By Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 9-26-2024, C1, C4)
THINGS TO DO: Spa— Ahh
(Palm Springs spa offers visitors a place rooted in tradition, healing and tranquility.
Palm Springs has long served as a retreat, gaining popularity in the 1930s as Hollywood stars
flocked to the desert oasis for sunshine, majestic mountain views and poolside play. It's a
tradition that continues today as a buzzy destination for creatives, artists and architecture
aficionados. But the original attraction here has always been the water. Learn: The Agua
Caliente Culture Museum; Eat: Bar Cecil; The Colony ClubTac/Quila;
Stay: La SerenaVilla;
Del Marcos Hotel; The Three-Fifty Hotel))
(By Maggie Downs, MercuryNews, 9-22-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
8 of the nation's greatest places
(1. Maui Cultural Lands, Lahaina, Hawaii. 2. Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo, New York.
3. CPKC Stadium, Kansas City. 4. International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina. 5. The Rabbit hOle Museum,
North Kansas City, Missouri. 6. Aqua Caliente Cultural Plaza, Palm Springs. 7. Montgomery Whitewater, Montgomery, Alabama.
8. Marie Selby Botantical Garedens, Sarasota, Florida.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 9-22-2024, F7)
BUSINESS:
Magid: Conference focuses on regional impact of AI
(Conference co-coordinator Thor Muller, who moved to Ashland, OR; "We have to be practical.
We have to think about these technologies as solving real problems that matter to us. It's not
optimizing advertising or generating better marketing copy." What struck me about the conference
were the down-to-earth AI applications.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 9-20-2024, C7-C8)
BASEBALL: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani makes history in Miami, becomes first 50-50 player
(Shohei Ohtani became the first player in major league history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
in a season when he homered three times & stole two bases to lead Los Angeles Dodgers to a playoff-clinching
20-4 rout of the Miami Marlins on Thursday. Ohtani also became the first player with three homers and two steals
in a game. He doubled twice, had a career-best six hits and set a Dodgers record with 10 RBIs. His 51 homers this
season broke Shawn Green's franchise record of 49, set in 2001.)
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, 9-20-2024, C3)
Unlocking the curiosities of coffee
(Bill Ristenpart at UC Davis researching about java; Coffee course went from 16 students
in 2013 to 2,091 students this past academic year—
it's now the most popular course at UC Davis.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 9-1-2024, E1-E3)
THINGS TO DO:
Carmel-by-the-Sea weekend: Exploring Northern California's most idyllic coastal retreat
(The cosmopolitan charms of Carmel-by-the-Sea are framed by the rugged Pacific coastline and a pristine sandy beach.
Visit: 1. Carmel Bakery;
2. Photography West;
3. Farmers Market;
4. Carmel Beach Hotel;
5. Carmel River State Beach;
6. L'Auberge Carmel;
7. Chez Noir)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 9-1-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The nation's top 10 aquariums include this Monterey Bay gem (of course!)
(1. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey; 2. New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts;
3. Audubon Aquarium, New Orleans; 4. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois;
5. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia; 6. Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, Washington;
7. New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, New York;
8. National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland;
9. Alaska Sealife Center, Seward, Alaska;
10. Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport, Oregon.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 9-1-2024, F7)
Fruits of Labor
(Bureau of Labor Statistics on highest paying occupations by education levels—
Doctoral degree $110K; Master's degree $64K; Bachelor's degree $65K; Associate's degree $50K;
High School diploma $28K;
No educational credential $21K. Anesthesiologist $265,990; Surgeeons $261,890; Airline Pilots $137,390.)
(By Kurt Snibee, Mercury News, 9-1-2024, B15)
* Sunnyvale's
viral teen magician won't reveal his tricks
(17-year-old Satvik the Magician has netted millions of views online;
shows off his burning wallet,
one of the tricks he employs in his business;
He has booked more than 50 gigs, performing at birthday parties, a restaurant
and even a wedding. Satvik's TikTok page— @satvikmagic— where he shares
short tricks like the invisible card gag, boasts more than 1 million likes.)
(By Cameron Duran, Mercury News, 8-27-2024, B1-B2)
THINGS TO DO:
California glamping: 5 fantastic camping options an easy drive from the Bay Area
(From the Mendocino coast to Paso Robles, here's where to camp in style.
Visit:
1. Mendocino Grove;
2. Terra Farm Kitchen;
3. Autocamp;
4. Dawn Ranch;
5. Highlands Resort;
6. Traller Pond;
7. Occidental;
8. Yosemite;
9. Pascadero;
10. Big Sur;
11. Big Sur 2;
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 8-25-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
UNESCO's 24 New Additions to the World Heritage Sites
(Beijing Central Axis, China;
Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu, Romania;
Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake, Russia;
Frontiers of the Roman Empire, Romania;
Hegmataneh, Iran;
Nelson Mandela Legacy sites, South Africa;
Melka Kunture and Balchit, Ethiopia;
Moidams, India;
Phu Phrabat Bat Historical Park, Thailand;
Royal Court of Tiébélé, Burkina Faso;
Sado Island Gold Mines, Japan;
Saint Hilarion Monastery / Tell Umm Amer, Palestine;
Schwerin Residence Ensemble, Germany;
Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex, Malaysia;
Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area, Saudi Arabia;
Pleistocene Occupation Sites, South Africa;
Historic Town & Archeological Site of Gedi, Kenya;
Umm Al-Jimāl, Jordan;
Via Appia, Italy;
Badain Jaran Desert, China;
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil;
Flow Country, UK;
Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno, Bosnia & Herzegovina;
Te Henua Enata, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 8-25-2024, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Renaissance in Martinez
(This historic city on the Carquinez Strait often gets short shrift—
perhaps because of its association with jury duty. Martinez is Contra Costa's
county seat, after all. But waterfront city is undergoing a renaissance, says Adam Hoffert.
While that's what you'd expect the chairman of city's chamber of commerce to say, he's not wrong.
This region has always boasted great hiking trails & outdoor offerings.
But an influx of new, talented entrepreneurs & budding businesses— a market hall,
new eateries & entertainment possibilities— have upped the city's cool factor.
Visit:
1. John Muir National Historic Site;
2. Mountain Grounds;
3. Martinez Farmers Market;
4. Market & Main;
5. Five Suns Brewing;
6. Hillside Taproom & Eatery;
7. Del Cielo Brewing;
8. Lucia's Craft Sandwich;
9. Cobra Experience;
10. Roxx on Main.
(By Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 8-18-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST: California's best, most scenic hiking trails
(1. Cataract Falls Trail, Mount Tam;
2. Half Moon Bay Coastside Trail;
3. Lands End Trail, San Francisco;
4. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea;
5. Rubicon Trail near Lake Tahoe;
6. Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, La Jolla;
7. Yosemite National Park.
(By Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 8-18-2024, F7)
BUSINESS:
Beware of scams when shopping online
(Facebook vets its ads, but quite a few scammers are advertise name brand products
that they can’t possibly deliver at that price. A 2023 post by Fox News’ Cyberguy
pointed to numerous illegitimate Facebook Marketplace ads, including a Canon EOS
Rebel T7 camera with extra telephoto lens for $19.99 that sells on Amazon for $479
without telephoto lens. There's an HP Laptop for $23 if you buy it "Today Only."
Be careful about any offers you get via email, text or a direct message on social
media, especially if you don’t recognize the seller. Go to their website & look for
a physical address, phone number, & email address and consider calling or sending
an email to see if they respond. And remember, if something seems “too good to be
true,” it's probably false.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, August 16, 2024, C7-C8)
BASEBALL:
Dominant Blake Snell tosses 10th no-hitter in SF Giants history to beat Reds
[Striking out 11 batters and walking three over a career-high 114 pitches,
Snell dotted the strike zone with a fastball that touched 98 mph, buckled hitters’
knees with a bendy breaking ball and mixed in a darting changeup to complete the
10th no-hitter in the Giants' San Francisco era and beat the Reds, 3-0.
SF Giants
No-hitters: Blake Snell (2024); Chris Heston (2015); Tim Lincecum (2014);
Tim Lincecum (2013); Matt Cain (2012); Jonathan Sanchez (2009);
Jofn Montefusco (1976); Ed Halicki (1975); Gaylord Perry (1968);
Juan Marichal (1963); NY Giants: Carl Hubell (1929); Jesse Barnes (1922);
Rube Marquard (1915); Jeff Tesreau (1912); Hooks Wiltse (1908);
Christy Mathewson (1905, 1901); Amos Rusie (1891).]
(By Evan WEbeck, Mercury News, 8-3-2024, A1, A3)
OP-ED:
What's behind the AI boom? Exploited humans
(Today we are in the middle of a hype cycle in which companies are racing to
integrate AI tools into products, transforming fields
including logistics, manufacturing and health care.
The global AI market was worth approximately $200 billion in 2023 and is expected
to grow more than 20% each year to nearly $2 trillion
by 2030. There are no exact
numbers of how many workers participate globally in the industry, but the
figure is in the millions. And if trends continue at their current rate, their number
will expand dramatically.)
(By James Muldoon, Mark Graham, Callum Cant, Mercury News, 7-30, 2024, A6)
How to combat
loneliness in the workplace
(People have this desire to be seen and be heard.
Workplace friendships and a sense of belonging
are vital to employees’ happiness—
and companies’ success. Bringing a hospitality mindset to corporate spaces.
Communicate with coworkers about how you can best work together before you dive into a project.
A simple hello, could be the beginning of the end of loneliness.)
(By Melissa Rayworth, Mercury News, 7-29, 2024, C10)
* TECHNOLOGY: Silicon Valley's artificial intelligence frenzy: a bubble full of problems, bound to burst?
(Vast piles of cash are pouring into generative AI, the Bay Area-born technology
that has taken the world by storm, but relentless hype is inflating a bubble experts
say is sure to burst. So far, the bang for the buck has mostly been a whimper, while
serious problems abound. Investors have tossed more than $24 billion at generative AI,
according to consulting giant EY, and tech companies plan to spend $1 trillion on AI
infrastructure in coming years, the bank Goldman Sachs predicts. Many technologists
see enormous promise in the technology that uses patterns and relationships in data
to generate text, imagery and sounds, while others see critical shortcomings.)
(By Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7-28, 2024)
"THINGS TO DO:
Gold Rush charmers
Grass Valley and Nevada City offer beaucoup things to do"
(Visit: 1. Empire Mine State Historic Park;
2. North Star Mining Museum;
3. Holbrooke Hotel;
4. National Hotel;
5. Nevada Theater;
6. Center for the Arts;
7. BrewHaus)
(By Janet Fullwood, Mercury News, 7-28-2024, F7-F8)
"THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 historic
small towns in the U.S. from Arizona to Rhode Island"
(1. Ludington, Michigan;
2. Wickford, Rhode Island;
3. Abilene, Kansas:
4. Ruston, Louisiana;
5. San Elizario, Texas;
6. Winslow, Arizona;
7. Berkeley Springs, West Virginia;
8. Cumberland, Maryland;
9. Jonesborough, Tennessee;
10. Winterset, Iowa.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 7-28-2024, F7)
"Biden Bows Out"
('No one tougher', Vice President Kamala Harris' supporters say as she looks to presidential campaign.
"My intention is to earn and win this nomination," Harris said in a statement Sunday.
She thanked Biden and said she would "do everything" to unite the party & the country.
In a hypothetical national matchup, a CNN poll conducted in early July before
the assassination attempt on Trump, still showed Harris trailing Trump,
45% for Harris to 47% for Trump, but by such a small margin that Harris
could be within striking distance.)
(By Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, A1, A5)
"THINGS TO DO:
This Sonoma County urban hub is well worth a visit"
(Santa Rosa has gained traction in recent years as a destination-worthy place
all on its own,
a city with walkable neighborhoods and plenty of exciting
new restaurants and other stops.
Visit: 1. Flamingo Resort & Spa;
2. Let's Roam;
3. Spinster Sisters;
4. Russian River Brewing;
5. Goblin Bros. Games & Gear;
6. Cast Away Yarn Shop;
7. Grossman's;
8. Marla Bakery;
9. The Goose & Fern.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 7-21-2024, F7-F8)
"THE TRAVEL LIST:
National Seashores are summer's best kept secrets
(1. Canaveral National Seashore, FL;
2. Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA;
3. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, NC:
4. Cape Lookout National Seashore, Outer Banks, NC;
5. Assateague Island National Seashore MD & VA;
6. Cape Cod National Seashore, MA;
7. Fire Island National Seashore, NY;
8. Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL & MS;
9. Padre Island National National Seashore, TX;
10. Point Reyes National Seashore, CA.)
(By Lisa Wells, Mercury News, 7-21-2024, F7)
Chaos and confusion: Tech outage causes disruptions worldwide
(Airlines grounded flights. Operators of 911 lines could not respond to emergencies.
Hospitals canceled surgeries. Retailers closed for day. And actions all traced
back to a batch of bad computer code. The company, CrowdStrike, based in Austin, Texas,
makes software used by multinational corporations, government agencies & scores of other
organizations to protect against hackers & online intruders.
When CrowdStrike sent its update Thursday to customers that run Microsoft Windows, computers crashed.)
(By Adam Satariano, Paul Mozur, Kate Conger & Sheera Frenkel,
NY Times & Mercury News, 7-20-2024, A1, A6)
Scientists have confirmed a cave on the moon that could be used to shelter future explorers
(The cave on the moon, not far from where Neil Armstrong
and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago, and suspect there are hundreds more that
could house future astronauts. It's located at the Sea of Tranquility,
just 250 miles from Apollo 11's landing site. The pit, like more than 200 others
discovered up there, was created by collapse of a lava tube. It's at least 130 feet
wide and tens of yards long, probably more. Permanently shadowed craters
there are believed to hold frozen water that could provide drinking water
& rocket fuel)
(By Marcia Dunn, AP & Mercury News, 7-16-2024, A2)
* Defeated by A.I., a Legend in the Board Game Go Warns: Get Ready for What's Next
(Lee Saedol was beaten by AlphaGo, an A.I. computer program developed by Google's DeepMind unit.
The stunning upset, in 2016, made headlines around the world & looked like a clear sign that
artificial intelligence was entering a new, profoundly unsettling era.
By besting Mr. Lee, an 18-time world champion revered for his intuitive & creative style of play,
AlphaGo had solved one of computer science's greatest challenges: teaching itself
the abstract strategy needed to win at Go, widely considered world's most complex board game.
A.I. has helped chatbots carry on conversations almost indistinguishable from human interaction.
It has solved problems that have confounded scientists for decades like predicting protein shapes.
And it has blurred the lines of creativity: writing music, producing art and generating videos.)
(By Daisuke Wakabayashi & Jin Yu Young, NY Times & Mercury News, 7-15-2024, C7-C8)
A bloodied
Trump is 'safe' after assassination attempt at rally
(A spectator was also killed at the rally in Pennsylvania, the Secret Service said.
Former President Donald J. Trump said in a post online that he had been
"shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part" of his ear.
The neighborhood in Bethel Park where the shooter, identified
by the F.B.I. as Thomas Matthew Crooks.)
(By Lulian E. Barnes, Michael Gold, & Simon J. Levien, NYT, Mercury News, 7-14-2024, A1)
Photos: The scene at rally shooting that left Trump injured, gunman and at least one attendee dead
(The former president & presumptive Republican nominee was showing off a chart of border
crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention when bangs
started ringing through the crowd. Trump could be seen reaching with his right hand toward
his face. Images showed blood on his face as he was rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents.)
(By Bay Area News Group & Nhat V. Meyer, Mercury News, 7-14-2024, A1)
Richard Simmons,
a fitness guru who mixed laughs and sweat, dies at 76
(Richard Simmons, television's hyperactive court jester of physical fitness
who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging
the overweight to exercise and eat better, died Saturday. He turned 76 on Friday.
Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight-loss tips as host
of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show,” author of best-selling books
and the diet plan Deal-A-Meal, as well as opening exercise studios and starring
in millions of exercise videos, including the successful "Sweatin' to the Oldies" line.)
(By Mark Kennedy, AP, Mercury News, 7-14-2024, A2)
Dr. Ruth Westheimer,
America's diminutive and pioneering sex therapist, dies at 96
(Westheimer's giggly, German-accented voice, coupled with her 4-foot-7 frame,
made her an unlikely looking — and sounding — outlet for "sexual literacy."
The contradiction was one of the keys to her success. But it was her extensive
knowledge and training, coupled with her humorous, nonjudgmental manner, that
catapulted her local radio program, "Sexually Speaking", into the national
spotlight in the early 1980s.)
(By Mark Kennedy, AP, Mercury News, 7-14-2024, A2)
BASKETBALL:
Klay Thompson set to join Mavericks, leaving Warriors after 13 years with Golden State
(Thompson, a four-time champion with the Warriors, is leaving for Dallas Mavericks;
Thompson's deal with Dallas, which can't be finalized until July 6, is worth $50 million
over three years with a player option. Signing is part of a sign-and-trade deal,
with the Warriors receiving two second-round picks, per multiple reports.)
(By Danny Emerman, Mercury News, 7-2-2024, C1, C4)
"THINGS TO DO:
The perfect day trip to Yolo County's sunflower paradise"
(Blooming sunflowers fill the fields at several spots in Winters, Yolo County,
where flower-based tourism, restaurants and wine tasting rooms woo visitors
from near and far. Millions of these sunflower, all turning their heads in
unison like some great petaled army. Flowers grown for seed-oil production.
Visit:
1. Park winters;
2. Séka Hills Olive Mill & Tasting Room;
3. Hooby's Farm;
4. L'Apero les Trols;
5, Preserve)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 6-30-2024, F7-F8)
"THE TRAVEL LIST:
Six lavender festivals to enjoy in Northern California and Oregon this summer
(1. Lavender Blue Harvest Days;
2. Helvetia Lavender Festival;
3. Southern Oregon Lavender Trail Festival:
4. Santa Rita Hills Lavender Festival;
5. Willamette Valley Lavender Festival;
6. Matanzas Creek Lavender Fields)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 6-30-2024, F7)
"THINGS TO DO:
From globe trotting
to globe tripping: Why psychedelic vacations are on trend"
[Legal & physical implications of this sort of travel can be murky.
Many tourists turn to psychedelic tourism;
Sia-Luna Estrella, a healer &
Shamanic practitioner, runs sychedelic retreats; Plant medicines used
include wachuma
or mescaline,
peyote,
ayahuasca, psychoactive tea,
5-MeO-DMT & Kambo.
Most familiar substance used in retreats
is psilocybin
(Magic mushrooms),
NY Times warned that psychedelics
"can cause psychosis or long-term mental health issues" (2021)].
(By Ksenia Prints, Food Drink Life, Mercury News, 6-23-2024, F7-F8)
"THE TRAVEL LIST:
Exploring the Caribbean charms of Curacao
(San Rafael's Peggy & Glenn Koorhan have traveled to many Caribbean islands,
but their “new favorite” is island of Curacao.
"It is less traveled than the typical Caribbean islands, but very worth visiting.
"The friendly people of Curacao.
(& neighboring Aruba) speak Dutch, English & Papiamentu.
Tour 19th-century country mansion distillery of Landhuis Chobolobo.
Visit Mikvé-Israel-Emanuel Synagogue.
It was dedicated in 1732 & is oldest operating Jewish institution
of worship in Americas! It's beautiful. Also, make sure to stop by
Serena's Art Factory,
where you can see colorful sculptures & learn about this fascinating artist.”)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 6-23-2024, F7)
* SF Giants legend, MLB Hall of Famer Willie Mays dies at 93 years old
(At 93 years old, Mays was the oldest living Hall of Famer and was set to be honored
this week at MLB's Rickwood Classic. The man deemed by many to be the greatest baseball
player to have ever lived, a player more deeply ingrained in San Francisco Giants history
than any other, died Tuesday.
Willie Mays, the “Say Hey Kid,” passed away peacefully, according to the Giants,
who announced the news in the 5th inning of their game against the Chicago Cubs
at Wrigley Field.)
(By Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 6-19-2024)
THINGS TO DO: The Great Outdoors
(What you need to know before you go to a national park this summer.
Hawaii: Wai'anapanapa State Park & its black sand beach along Road to Hana in Maui;
Īao Valley State Monument, Maui;
Diamond Head State Monument. Oahu;
Ha'ena State Park, Kauai. Texas:
Balmorhea State Park;
Brazos Bend State Park;
Cedar Hill State Park;
Dinosaur Valley State Park;
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area;
Garner State Park;
Inks Lake State Park;
McKinney Falls State Park;
Palo Duro Canyon State Park;
Ray Roberts Lake State Park.)
(By Marla Jo Fisher, Mercury News, 6-16-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST: 10 underrated national parks to visit this summer
(1. Assateague Island National Seashore, MD & VA;
2. Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, KY & TN;
3. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, WI;
4. Isle Royale National Park, MI;
5. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND;
6. Great Basin National Park, NV;
7. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, ID;
8. Capitol Reef National Park, UT;
9. Big Thicket National Preserve, TX;
10. San Juan Island National Historical Park, WA.)
(By Lacey Pfalz, TravelPulse, Mercury News, 6-16-2024, F7)
Virginia
City repeals ban on psychic readings as industry grows
(Ashley Branton lays out tarot cards in the back of her shop, Velvet Witch, in Norfolk, Va.,
Thursday, June 13, 2024. The city of Norfolk recently repealed its 45-year-old ban on
"the practice of palmistry, palm reading, phrenology or clairvoyance, for monetary or other compensation."
The 1979 ordinance was not being enforced, however, & the psychic services industry is growing to $2.3 billion.)
(By Ben Finley, AP, Mercury News, 6-15-2024, A2)
* SCIENCE:
African elephants call each other by unique names, new study shows
(African elephants call each other and respond to individual names—
something that few wild animals do, according to new research published
Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The names are one part of elephants' low rumbles that they can hear over
long distances across the savanna. Scientists believe that animals with
social structures & family groups that separate and then reunite often
may be more likely to use individual names. Researchers tested their results
by playing recordings to individual elephants, who responded more energetically,
ears flapping and trunk lifted, to recordings that contained their names.)
(By Christina Larson, AP, Mercury News, 6-11-2024, A2)
THINGS TO DO:
Sonoma wine country weekend: Exploring Kenwood in the Valley of the Moon
(Wineries, spas, dining, and outdoor adventure await in tiny Kenwood.
Vist— 1. Beltane Ranch;
2. Golden Bear Stationr;
3. Salt & Stones;
4. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park;
5. Morton's Warm Springs;
6. The Kenwood Inn and Spa.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 6-2-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Tripadvisor's summer's hottest up-and-coming vacation spots
International:
1) Maunabo, Puerto Rico.
2) Puerto Rico, Spain.
3) Playa Avellana, Costa Rica.
4) Cusco, Peru.
5) Iru-fushi, Maldives.
6) St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.
7) Aguas Calientes, Peru.
8) Malé, Maldives;
9) Fasmendhoo, Maldives;
10) Andros, Bahamas.
Domestic:
1) Yosemite National Park, California;
2) College Station, Texas;
3) Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
4) Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania;
5) Walmes, Hawaii;
6) Fort Myers Beach, Florida;
7) Taverine Florida;
8) Sandusky, Ohio;
9) Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming;
10) Mackinac Island, Michigan.
(By Brittany Anas, Mercury News, 6-2-2024, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
9 reasons you won't recognize Las Vegas on your next trip
(Vegas has been evolving since the very first pair of dice rolled down
a craps table like desert tumbleweed. And it just keeps changing, so much so that it's
virtually impossible for a Vegas experience to repeat itself.
Vist— 1. The Sphere is an immersive concert arena;
2. Fontainebleau's new 3,800-seat theater;
3. Ole Red. Bruno Mars;
4. Shaq's Fantasy Lab;
5. Mother Wolf, the famed Brooklyn steakhouse;
6. Hong Kong and Boon Tong Kee;
7. Seoul Bird at Proper Eats Food Hall at Aria;
8. Ghost Donkey in the Cosmopolitan's Block;
9. Prince Street Pizza;
10. Fontainebleau's Lapis Spa;
11. The Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars has an Arctic Ice room.
(By Sharyn Jackson, Mercury News, 5-26-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Tripadvisor's hottest summer travel destinations
International:
1) Cancun, Mexico;
2) London, England;
3) Punta Cana, Dominican Republic;
4) Paris, France;
5) Cabo San Lucas, Mexico;
6) Rome, Italy;
7) Bavaro, Dominican Republic;
8) Palm - Eagle, Aruba;
9) Barcelona, Spain;
10) Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
Domestic:
1) Las Vegas, Nevada;
2) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;
3) Orlando, Florida;
4) Honolulu, Hawaii;
5) New York City;
6) Chicago, Illinois;
7) Key West, Florida;
8) Ocean City, Maryland;
9) San Diego, California;
10) Boston, Massachusetts.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 5-26-2024, F7)
BASEBALL:
Cardiac Giants do it again, then barely hang on to beat Mets 8-7
(Before this week, they had never erased deficits of four or more in consecutive
road games but have now done it three days in a row. Patrick Bailey hits
grand slam in 8th inning. With bases loaded in 9th, Matt Chapman makes
bare-hand throw at third to LaMonde Wade Jr.'s acrobatic stretch to end the game.)
(By Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 5-25-2024, C1, C3)
Monterey Bay Aquarium to offer free admission to low-income residents
(More than 1,300 zoos, aquariums and museums now offer free or very low cost
admission. CalFresh enrollees and up to three guests can soon vsit free of charge.)
(By Paul Rogers. Mercury News, May 21, 2024, A1, A5)
Luis Matos enters exclusive company as SF Giants finally win 3 in a row
[With a 3-run home run and another couple RBI knocks, Luis Matos has driven in 11 runs
the past 2 games. He has 11 RBIs in his past two games, matching Jack Clark (1982)
and Bill Terry (1932) for the franchise record by a player of any age.]
(By Evan Webeck. Mercury News, May 19, 2024, C1, C3)
THINGS TO DO:
Head for South Lake Tahoe for beer, brunch and an irresistible laid-back vibe
(The serene lake, the towering evergreens and shaded hiking trails—
there are plenty of reasons to jet off to South Lake Tahoe.
Vist— 1. Artemis Lakefront Café;
2. Heidi's Pancake House;
3. Driftwood Café;
4. Sprouts Natural Café;
5. South Lake Brewing Company.;
6. South of North Brewing Co;
7. Cold Water Brewery and Grill,;
8. The Hanger;
9. Flatstick Pub.
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 5-19-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
7 Coolest Travel Adventures for 2024
1) Go on horseback safari in Kenya;
2) Run an Olympic marathon in Paris;
3) Ski tour UNESCO sites in Georgia;
4) Bear watch in Katmai National Park;
5) Hear legendary live music in Kyoto;
6) Cruise an epic river in Colombia;
7) Road trip Route 66 in New Mexico
(20 total sites at National Geographic's)
(By National Geographic Staff, Mercury News, 5-19-2024, F7)
* "Nobel literature winner Alice Munro dies at 92"
(Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became
one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of
history's most honored short story writers, has died at age 92.
Often ranked with Anton Chekhov, John Cheever & a handful of other
short story writers, Munro achieved stature rare for an art form
traditionally placed beneath the novel. She was the first lifelong
Canadian to win the Nobel & the first recipient cited exclusively for
short fiction. Echoing the judgment of so many before, the Swedish
academy pronounced her a “master of the contemporary short story”
who could "accommodate the entire epic complexity of the novel in
just a few short pages." Sales in North America alone exceeded 1 million
copies for “Dear Life”.
Other popular books included “Too Much Happiness”,
“The View from Castle Rock” and
“The Love of a Good Woman”.)
(By Hillel Italie, AP, Mercury News, 5-14-2024, A2)
"Long-distance swimmer makes history
by completing rugged 29.7-mile journey"
(Endurance athlete Amy Appelhans Gubser, 55, braves sharks & cold water in 17-hours swim.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 5-14-2024, A1, A5)
THINGS TO DO:
What's new at California's theme parks this summer and beyond?
(From ticket deals to splash zones to vampire movies and retro wonders,
California theme parks are rolling out the sparkly welcome this summer,
wooing vacationers and locals alike with flashy roller coasters, glitzy
thrill rides and special events large and small. Here's what's new at
amusement parks across the Golden State this year— 1. Santa Cruz
Beach Boardwalk; 2. Disney summer deals; 3. Retro studio tours;
4. Carousel makeover;
5. Gilroy water feature; 6. Michelin Mickey;
7. Still ahead... Zydeco Disney);
8. And... Hollywood Drift; 9. And far, far ahead...
(By Brady MacDonald, Mercury News, 5-12-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
10 cutest Pixar Fest treats at Disneyland
(Pixar Fest runs April 26 through Aug. 4 at Disney's Anaheim
theme parks with more than 100 themed foods and drinks)
1) Alien Macarooooon inspired by "Toy Story";
2) Eye Scream Cone inspired by "Monsters Inc.";
3) Pixar Fest Cake;
4) The Marigold Bridge inspired by "Coco";
5) There's a Snake on my Funnel Cake inspired by "Toy Story";
6) Mixed Emotions Popcorn inspired by "Inside Out";
7) Junkyard Jamboree
Churro inspired by "Cars";
8) Racing Radial Cake inspired by "Cars";
9) Jack-Jack Shortbread Cookie inspired by "The Incredibles";
10) Forky & Nemo Cake Pops.
(By Brady MacDonald & Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 5-12-2024, F7)
'Star Wars' fans survive 22-hour, nine-movie marathon
[The Force— and a few gallons of caffeinated beverages— were with enthusiasts
of the franchise as they sat through 22 hours of film fun at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in
San Francisco on "May the Fourth Be With You" (an annual Star Wars holiday). My 12-year-old son
Alex & I spent all night Friday and most of Saturday watching the George Lucas' creationon a big
screen with an audience. Breaks between some of the movies were filled with trivia competitions.]
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 5-7-2024, B1, B3)
Billions of cicadas are invading the U.S.
(Over the next few weeks, hundreds of billions, maybe even trillions of cicadas—
grasshopper-like insects— will emerge from underground burrows all across the Midwest
and the South where they have been living for as long as the past 17 years. From Wisconsin
to Mississippi, Virginia to Oklahoma, immense swarms of the somewhat creepy, red-eyed bugs
will carpet trees like little 1-inch extras in a horror movie and generate ear-splitting mating
sounds that have been compared to jackhammers and chainsaws. Some have already begun
to come out in Georgia and other parts of the South, prompting one North Carolina county to
urge the public this week to stop calling 911 asking about the racket. Relax, scientists say.
In a state marked by earthquakes, bomb cyclones, mega-droughts, fire tornadoes and atmospheric
river storms, it turns out that despite having dozens of species of cicadas in the Golden State,
their emergence is usually underwhelming. "We do have cicadas in California. But they are kind
of boring," said Lynn Kimsey, a professor emeritus of entomology at UC Davis. "Our cicadas come
out, but they only come out in little dribbles. So we don't really pay much attention to them.")
(By Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 5-5-2024, A1, A6)
Mexican-American
& Cinco de Mayo
[Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla,
which took place on May 5, 1862. It is not observed as a national holiday in Mexico,
but schools in Puebla, where the battle took place, are closed for the day. Mexico's
Independence Day is Sept. 16. California's only Hispanic Governor was
Romualdo Jose Pacheco
(1871-1875). From 2000 to 2021, the Mexican-origin population increased 79%, growing from
20.9 million to 37.2 million. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo picked up a lot of momentum
in the 1980s when tequila and beer companies began to promote it.]
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, 5-5-2024, B18)
THINGS TO DO:
Secret's Out: Dillon Beach is quick trip that's full of fun
(This expansive stretch of West Marin castline feels like you've stumbled
upon a secret. Take the scenic route, and you can explore the Point Reyes
National Seashore too. Head north along the eastern shore of Tomales Bay,
you'll encounter Marconi State Historic Park where Miwok tribes lived.
Visit: Wild West Ferments; Marconi State Historic Park; Nick's Cove;
Dillon Beach Resort; Route One Bakery & Kitchen;
Tomales General Store.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 5-5-2024, F7-F8)
(Marin Living)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The best coastal small towns in the U.S.
(USA Today)
1. Stuart, Florida;
2. Saugatuck, Michigan;
3. Key West, Florida;
4. Gulf Shores, Alabama;
5. Pismo Beach, California;
6. Newport, Rhode Island;
7. Sandusky, Ohio;
8. Cape May, New Jersey;
9. Washington Island, Wisconsin;
10. Long Beach, Washington.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 5-5-2024, F7)
ANIMALS:
A wild orangutan used a medicinal plant to treat a wound, scientists say
(An orangutan appeared to treat a wound with medicine from a tropical plant—
the latest example of how some animals attempt to soothe their own ills with
remedies found in the wild, scientists reported Thursday. Scientists observed
Rakus pluck and chew up leaves of a medicinal plant used by people throughout
Southeast Asia to treat pain and inflammation. The adult male orangutan then used
his fingers to apply the plant juices to an injury on the right cheek. Afterward,
he pressed the chewed plant to cover the open wound like a makeshift bandage,
according to a new study in Scientific Reports.)
(By Christina Larson, Mercury News, May 3, 2024, A2)
LOCAL:
Hakone Gardens looking to raise $4 million for much-needed koi pond fixes
(Fish at Saratoga tourist attraction are at risk. Shozo Kagoshima, executive director
of the Hakone Foundation, said the repairs have been a long time coming, stretching
back to the organization's efforts in 2014 to create a master plan to help the gardens
"move forward." The plan was finalized in 2017. It includes four phases: repairs to
the pond, restoration repairs to existing buildings in the gardens, the addition of
a new guest services area and work on the parking lot and new maintenance yard.)
(By Isha Trivedi, Mercury News, May 3, 2024, B1, B3)
BUSINESS:
Using AI and other tech to plan your next vacation
(My biggest tip is to use generative AI to help plan. Services like ChatGPT,
Google Gemini, Meta AI, and Microsoft CoPilot can help you find things to do
at your destination & along the way. May even help you find local or
regional transportation such as train or bus routes & companies between
cities or places to stay.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, May 3, 2024, C7-C8)
SCIENCE:
First glow-in-the-dark animals may have been ancient corals
(Fireflies blink on summer evenings. But most animals that light up are found
in the depth of the ocean. Deep-sea corals that lived 540 million years ago
may have been the first animals to glow. Some use light to startle predators,
"like a burglar alarm", and others use it to lure prey, as anglerfish do. Still
other animals use light as a beacon to find mates. Soft coral may look like
waving reeds, skeleton fingers or stalks of bamboo— and glow pik, orange,
white, blue & purple under the researchers' spotlight, Steven Haddock said.)
(By Christina Larson, AP, Mercury News, 4-29-2024, A2)
THINGS TO DO:
"A hidden tour of a Gothic masterpiece"
("Behind-the-scenes" tours of
Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Built in 1862, original structure destroyed in the 1906 earthquake & fire. Current cathedral
built in 1927. Waterfalls of peacock-colored stained glass filter in natural light.
There are 7800 square feet of stained glass in the building, depicting more than
1100 famous figures from Adam & Eve up to Albert Einstein.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4-28-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 U.S. vacation destinations
1. Ouray, CO;
2. Chattanooga, TN;
3. San Luis Obispo, CA;
4. New Orleans, LA;
5. Bend, OR;
6. Boise, ID;
7. Chicago, IL;
8. Sedona, AZ;
9. Washington, D.C.;
10. Portland, Maine.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 4-28-2024, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Shipshape in Alaska
(Alaska is home to more than 30,000 grizzlies, but the state's cruise industry is
experiencing anything but a bear market as momentum of last year's record-breaking
season is expected to continue in 2024.
Cruises:
1. Norwegian Cruise Line;
2. Holland America Line;
3. Travel Juneau;
4. Celebrity Cruise;
5. Silversea Cruises;
6. Seabourn;
7. Carnival Cruise Line;
8. Royal Caribbea:
9. Disney Cruise Line.
(By David Dickerstein, Mercury News, 4-21-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 glaciers, fjords and more in Alaska
1. Fairbanks;
2. Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve;
3. Ketchikan;
4. Kenal Fjords National Park;
5. Denali National Park & Preserve;
6. Kodiak;
7. Skagway;
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve;
9. Seward;
10. Talketna.
(Mercury News, 4-21-2024, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Trinidad, California's Smallest Town, Goes Big on Hospitality and Natural Beauty
(Hidden along California's rugged Northern Coast lies the tiny town of Trinidad
and its stunning coastal & forest landscape, population of just 370. Visit:
1. Eureka Books; 2. Booklegger; 3. Emerald Forest Cabins & RV; 4. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park;
5. Trinindad State Beach; 6. Sue-Meg State Park; 7. Beachcomber Cafe; 8. Seascape Restaurant;
9. Trinidad Lighthouse Grill; 10. Richard's Goat Tavern & Tea Room; 11. Finnish Country Sauna & Tubs;
12. Six Rivers Brewery; 13. Lost Coast Brewery; 14. Humboldt Cider Co: Open; 15. Humboldt Cannabis Tours.
(By Kare Bradshaw, Mercury News, 4-14-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The most spectacular new hotels in California, Hawaii and beyond
1. The Inn at Mattel's Tavern, Los Olivos, CA;
2. Kona Village, Rosewood Resort, Island of Hawaii;
3. The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York City;
4. Ambiente Sedona, Sedona, Arizona;
5. ULUM Moab, Moab, Utah;
6. Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Jalisco, Mexico;
7. Maroma, Belmond Hotel, Rivera Maya, Mexico.
(By Big Boss, Mercury News, 4-14-2024, F7)
BASKETBALL: VanDerveer raised bar; leaves on top
(VanDerveer, the winniest Division 1 college basketball coach of all time,
announced her retirement on Tuesday, ending one of the greatest and most
influential coaching careers in any sport. Not only did she see the world
in the last 38 years, winning a gold medal, 25 conference titles, reaching
14 Final Fours, & claiming the 3 national championships in the process,
but VanDerveer helped make women's basketball the game it is today.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4-11-2024, A1, A5)
* 10,000
Miles Over 352 Days
(UK man runs the length of Africa; 27-year-old Russ Cook set off on April 22, 2023,
from Cape Agulhas in South Africa, across 16 countries to reach Ras Angela in Tunis, Tunisia.)
(By Mehdi El Arem, AP & Mercury News, 4-8-2024, A2)
Eclipse mania in country is sky-high
(In the Bay Area, the Chabot Space and Science Center in the Oakland Hills
will hold a viewing event on its outside deck from 10 am to 1 pm, and
the Exploratorium and Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley also are holding
events. Tickets are required. It will be first totall solar eclipse since 2017,
and there will not be another visible in the lower 48 states until 2044. Since
Bay Area is not in direct path, only a partial eclipse is visible from the ground.)
(By Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, NY Times, Mercury News, 4-8-2024, A1, A6)
THINGS TO DO:
Explore Sacramento's eclectic, historic Midtown district this weekend
(California's state capital offers a quick getaway for Bay Area residents,
eager to escape the day-to-day. Charms of the city's Midtown neighborhood. Visit:
1. Golden 1 Center;
2. Maren Conrad's murals :
3. Farm to Fork Grand Tasting;
4. Mother Restaurant;
5. Midtoen Bakery;
6. Sutter's Fort State Historic Park;
7. Placita MX.
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 4-7-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Tripadvisor's 10 most spectacular castles around the world
1. Schloss Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany;
2. Château de Chambord, Loire Valley, France;
3. Windsor Castle, Berkshire, United Kingdom;
4. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland;
5. Chapultepec Castle, Mexico City, Mexico;
6. Himeji Castle, Hyogo, Japan;
7. Alcázar of Segovia, Segovia, Spain;
8. Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic;
9. Castello di Amorosa, Napa Valley, USA;
10. Osaka Castle, Osaka, Japan.
(By Natalie Ong, Mercury News, 4-7-2024, F7)
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake centered near New York City rattles the Northeast
(An earthquake centered between New York and Philadelphia shook skyscrapers and suburbs.
U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8,
centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, or about 45 miles west of New York City and
50 miles north of Philadelphia. The agency's figures indicated that over 42 million people
might have felt the rumbling. People from Baltimore to Massachusetts-New Hampshire border
reported feeling the ground shake.)
(By Jennifer Peltz & Mike Catalini, AP, Mercury News, 4-5-2024, A1, A5)
ANIMALS: Island overrun by goats offers them free to anyone who can catch them
(The tiny, remote Italian island of Alicudi is home to only around 100 residents and,
ideally, about 100 wild goats. This year, however, the ratio of humans to animals has
become wildly unbalanced. The island has been overrun by six times its desired number
of goat inhabitants. Mayor Riccardo Gullo says "as long as you have a boat to get them
off the island— once you’ve caught them."
(By Barbie Latza Nadeau & Amarachi Orie, CNN, Mercury News, 4-5-2024, A2)
Strongest earthquake in 25 years rocks Taiwan, killing 9 people & stranding 70 workers in quarries
(The 7.4 earthquake is the strongest to hit the island in 25 years;
The quake's epicenter is located
about 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of the city
ofHualien. Tremors were felt across the island;
Hualien County is home to about 300,000 people and close to Taroko Gorge,
a popular tourist
destination. At least 1,011 people were reported injured.)
(By Johnson Lai, AP, Mercury News, 4-4-2024, A1-A5)
*
Gmail revolutionized email 20 years ago. People thought it was Google's April Fools' Day joke
("The original pitch we put together was all about the three 'S's" — storage, search and speed," said former
Google executive Marissa Mayer. Gmail now has an estimated 1.8 billion active accounts—
each one now offering 15 gigabytes of free storage bundled with Google Photos and Google Drive,
that's 15 times more storage than Gmail initially offered.)
(By Michael Liedtke, Mercury News, 4-2-2024, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Hawaii hike: Big Island slopes, sand and incredible sandwiches — and mai tais
(The view from the Pololu lookout, up on the north end of the Big Island of Hawaii,
is a sweeping vista, and every step down its steep trail introduces you to an entire
family of exceptional views. Visit:
1. Pololu Overlook & Beach Trail;
2. Bamboo Restaurant:
3. The Black Sand Beach of Pololu Valley;
4. Keokea Beach Park;
5. Kohala Volcano
(By Tom Bentley, Mercury News, 3-31-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
US News & World Report's 10 most gorgeous islands on the planet
1. Palawan, Philippines;
2. Sardinia, Italy;
3. Zanzibar, Tanzania;
4. Mauritius;
5. Santorini, Greece;
6. Madagascar;
7. Cyprus;
8. Tahiti, French Polynesia;
9. Whitsunday Islands, Australia;
10. Bora Bora, French Polynesia.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 3-31-2024, F7)
INTERVIEW:
The Surprising Ann May Wong
(Like many, author Katie Salisbury was startled to learn of the star, she couldn't stop looking.
Katie Gee Salisbury, from Anna May's hometown of Los Angeles, has captivatingly filled this gap in
Not Your China Doll:
The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong. Another career-changing role in Josef von Sternberg's
Shanghai Express (1932)— filmed entirely on set in California and starring alongside Marlene Dietrich—
would catapult her to another level in Hollywood. She killed Warner Oland, the evil one on the train.
In 2021, U.S. Mint announced Wong would be among first women depicted on the reverse of
the quarter coin as a part of the American Women quarters series. When the quarters with her
depicted on them went into circulation in 2022, Wong became the first Asian American depicted on American coinage.)
(By Liz Ohanesian, Mercury News, March 28, 2024, G4)
THINGS TO DO:
Napa Valley weekend: Wineries, eateries & shopping abound in Yountville
(A quaint stretch of wine country located mostly along a one-mile roadway, Yountville
is home to some of the world's most recognized restaurants, several of Napa Valley's
most distinguished tasting rooms and a couple of surprises that will quickly elevate
your weekend away. Visit:
1. Ciccio;
2. RH Yountville Restaurant:
3. R+D Kitchen;
4. Cornerstone Cellars;
5. JCB Tasting Salon;
6. Handwritten Wines;
7. Priest Ranch Tasting Room;
8. Honor Market;
9. Napa Valley Railway Inn;
10. Napa Valley Aloft:;
11. Yountville Art, Sip & Stroll;
12. Yountville Art Walk;
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 3-24-2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST: Time Out's
The world's 'coolest streets' for 2024
1. High Street, Melbourne;
2. Hollywood Road, Hong Kong;
3. East Eleventh, Austin, Texas;
4. Guatemala Street, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
5. Commerical Drive, Vancouver, Canada;
6. Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
7. Rua da Boavista, Lisbon, Portugal;
8. Arnaldo Quintela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
9. Chazawa-dori, Tokyo, Japan;
10. Consell de Cent, Barcelona, Spain.
(By Francesca Street, CNN, Mercury News, 3-24-2024, F7)
BUSINESS:
How to avoid or recover from a ransomware attack
(One of your most effective weapons is taking the proactive step of backing up your data.
Ransomware is one of numerous online crimes designed to separate people, businesses
and government agencies from their money. The crime typically involves a person or an
organized crime group encrypting your data & demanding a ransom payment to unlock it.
It's like kidnapping for your data. If you get a call or see a popup message telling
you about a virus attack or other security vulnerability, it's almost certainly a scam,
especially if they ask you to click on something that gives them permission to access
your device to "fix" the problem. Find links to reviews of Mac and Windows
anti-malware software at connectsafely.org/securitysoftware.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, March 15, 2024, C7-C8)
Keep your guard up against scammers
(Today's criminals have become brazen in their schemes, impersonating people from the SSA
or other government agencies, like the IRS, in an attempt to obtain personal information or
money. The scammers have upped their game because they sometimes use legitimate names of
government employees, "spoof" official government phone numbers & websites (including local
police departments) and often send official-looking documents as attachments. With AI, they
can impersonate your loved one's voice to send them money.)
(By Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, March 11, 2024, C9-C10)
Spokane in Spring: A Washington getaway offers historic and modern delights, restaurants
(Spokane is less touristy than other Pacific Northwest gems,
and its mix of past and present makes it a delightful destination)
1. The Historic Davenport Hotel:;
2. Numerica SkyRide:
3. Bing Crosby Theater;
4. Lumberbeard Brewing;
5.
No-Li Brewhouse;
6. Barrister Winery;
7. Cochinito;
8. Wooden City;
9. Saranac Commons;
10. Café Coco;
11. Sorella;
12. The Scoop Kendall Yards;
13. Indigenous Eats.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, March 10, 2024, F7-F8)
THE
TRAVEL LIST:
15 least visited national parks in the United States in 2023
1. Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
2. National Park of American Samoa;
3. Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
4. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska;
5. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan;
6. Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
7. North Cascades National Park, Washington;
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
9. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida;
10. Great Basin National Park, Nevada;
11. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota;
12. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas;
13. Congaree National Park, South Carolina;
14. Channel Islands National Park, California;
15. Pinnacles National Park, California.
(By Marnie Hunter, CNN, Mercury News, March 10, 2024, F7)
* TECHNOLOGY:
AI-narrated books are here. Are humans out of a job?
This San Diego startup has a solution.
(Yembo's co-founder wrote and self-published a book about AI, and an actor recorded
the English audiobook last year and got paid for that recording time. Now her AI-cloned
voice is being used to narrate 15 translations of that audiobook. The narrator does not
speak Swedish, Ukrainian and Turkish, but her voice does. “US English is narrated by the
flesh-and-blood Hailey, (the) rest is AI in her likeness,” Hailey refers to Hailey Hansard,
the actor whose voice is being cloned. Through her contract, Hansard will be paid royalties
for audiobooks in her voice, even though she did not narrate the book in any of those languages.
(By Roxana Popescu, Mercury News, March 9, 2024, C7-C8)
TECHNOLOGY:
Gmail offers a number of helpful features
(Tips and tricks to get more out of the service; Gmail's free email service is extremely popular,
but many people don’t take advantage of some of its more powerful features like the ability to
schedule emails into the future, snooze emails you don’t want to deal with right now, filter out
emails from people or companies you don’t want to hear from, put stars on emails from certain people,
ilter and label emails into their own folders and separate your emails into “important” and “everything else.”)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, March 8, 2024, C7-C8)
EDUCATION:
From Oakland gang-member to renowned
California academic, Dr. Victor Rios opens up about childhood
(Some of Dr. Rios childhood friends died before reaching adulthood. Many ended up in prison,
or lost themselves to drug addiction. Few graduated high school. Dr. Victor Rios, 46, survived
rough childhood in West-Oakland gang scene & now serves as a MacArthur Foundation Chair
and Professor of Sociology at UC Santa Barbara. His latest book about his life,
"Street Life: Poverty, Gangs, and a Ph.D.",
documents his stunning life trajectory in gripping detail.)
(By Scooty Nickerson, Mercury News, March 3, 2024, E1, E3)
Dublin Dabblin'
(This quiet-seeming Tri-Valley city has a surprising amount of things to do, plus some morbid history.
1. Cannon Ball Shot;
2. Korean fusion style eggs:
3. Dublin Camp Parks Military History Center;
4. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory;
5.
Dublin Heritage Park & Museums;
6. Amrutha Vilas Thai Dining;
7. Taqueria Azteca: Mexican Foods;
8. Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl;
9. Iron Horse Trail.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, March 3, 2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Visit These 10 Rising Vacation Spots Before They Get Too Popular
1. Adelaide Hills, Australia;
2. Bodrum, Turkey;
3. Cervo, Italy;
4. Niseko, Japan;
5. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico;
6. Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.;
7. The Seychelles;
8. St. Kitts and Nevis;
9. Udaipur, India;
10. Zermatt, Switzerland.
(By Sally French, Mercury News, March 3, 2024, F7)
I
don't need Generative AI to do my writing
(I am pretty bullish on generative AI (GAI). I’ve spent many hours using products like ChatGPT, Google Gemini
and Microsoft Copilot to make travel plans, get product information,
get ideas for meal planning along with recipes and lots more.
I’ve also used DALLE-2, the image generation program. One of my
beefs with most GAI systems is that they often don’t cite the source of the information they create.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, March 1, 2024, C7-C8)
Death
of beloved owl Flaco leaves legions of fans devastated
(Tributes poured in Saturday for Flaco, the beloved Eurasian eagle-owl that became
a feel-good New York story after escaping its Central Park Zoo enclosure and flying free
around Manhattan. Flaco was found dead on a New York City sidewalk Friday night after
apparently flying into a building. It was a heartbreaking end for birders who documented
the owl's daily movements and the legions of admirers who eagerly followed along.
"Everybody feels the same, they’re devastated,' said Nicole Blair, a New York City
artist who devoted much of her feed on the X platform to photos and memes featuring
the celebrity owl with checkerboard black and brown feathers and round sunset-hued eyes.)
(By Carolyn Thompson, AP, Mercury News, Feb. 25, 2024, A3)
"Redding
Renaissance"
[Redding's Sundial Bridge spans the Sacramento River, linking the north and south campuses
of Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Visit: 1. Shasta Living Streets;
2. Redding Market Center;
3. Fall River Brewing;
4. Bantam Kitchen;
5. The Lost Era;
6. Lemurians;
7. Trappist-Cistercian Monks;
8. Evergreen Cafe & Feast Coffee;
9. Theory Coffee Roasters;
10. Raw Sushi Bar;
11. Turtle Bay
Exploration Park;
12. Shasta Dam Visits;
13. Lake Shasta Caverns;
14. The Fly Shop]
(By Janet Fullwood, Mercury News, February 25, 2024, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The nation's top lakes and rivers for fishing
1. St. Lawrence River, New York;
2. Lake St. Clair, Michigan;
3. Lake Erie, Ohio, Pennsylvania, NY,
& Michigan;
4. Red River, North Dakota and Minnesota;
5. Santee Cooper, South Carolina;
6. Lake Guntersville, Alabama;
7. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas;
8. Clear Lake, California;
9. Lake Fork, Texas;
10. Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, February 25, 2024, F7)
NBA:
Steve Kerr will be the highest-paid coach in NBA history, and you can't say he doesn't deserve it
(The real shocker of it all is how much Kerr will be paid over those two seasons: $35 million;
It paid out
in 4 titles, greatest run of modern era, & establishment of the
Warriors— once the league's laughingstock—
as one of the preeminent franchises
in professional sports. Kerr has handled it all with smarts and humility. He understands
people as well as he understands the game. That's a hell of a 1-2 for a coach.)
(By Dieter Kutenbach, Mercury News, Febtuary 25, 2024, C1, C5)
THINGS TO DO:
West Coast cruise in 2024
[Oceania's 180-night, 96-port, 33-country, four-continent journey out of L.A.
may have been sold out for three years, but the new year is filled with other, less lengthy adventures.
If you go—
Crystal— crystal.com;
Cunard— cunard.com;
Disney— disneycruiseline.com;
Holland America— hollandamerica.com;
National Geographic— nationalgeographic.com;
Norwegian— ncl.com;
Oceania— oceaniacruises.com;
Princess— princess.com;
Regent Seven Seas— rssc.com;
Royal Caribbean— royalcaribbean.com;
Seabourn— seabourn.com;
Silversea— silversea.com;
Viking— vikingcruises.com}
(By David Dickstein, Mercury News, February 18, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Best of the Best nature destinations around the world
1. Katmandu, Nepal;;
2. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam;
3. Hurghada, Egypt;
4. Mauritus;
5. Lombok, Indonesia;
6. Kauai;
7. Zanzibar Island, Tanzania;
8. Grand Canyon;
9. Guadeloupe;
10. Kruger National Park, South Africa.
(By Tripadvisor,Mercury News, February 18, 2024, F7)
Two years, 6,800 miles: Woman makes coast-to-coast hiking history
(First solo female hiker to complete the American Discovery Trail;
Briana DeSanctis, 40, set out Jan. 1, 2022 on American Discovery Trail,
traversing more than 6,800 miles across the nation before completing her
trek Saturday, February 10, 2024, on California's Pacific Coast.)
(By Will McCarthy, Mercury News, February 12, 2024, B1, B3)
BAD BEAT:
Chiefs 25, 49ers 22. This 49ers Super Bowl loss—
courtesy of the magician Pat Mahomes— is the most painful yet
(49ers played a Super Bowl-worthy game and came up short to
Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, one of the best QBs of all time.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, February 12, 2024, A1, A6)
A BITTER END:
Super Bowl LVIII: 49ers lose heartbreaker 25-22 to Chiefs in Las Vegas
(Patrick Mahomes pass to Mecole Hardman late in overtime sealed Chiefs’ win over 49ers.
Mahomes ruined the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes for the second time in four years,
this time
saving his game-winning ways for a touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman
with three seconds
remaining in overtime. Hardman slipped past nickel back Logan Ryan
to get wide open, and
as he crossed goal line, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner
tossed his helmet to ground in dismay.)
(By Cam Inman, Mercury News, February 12, 2024, C1-C2)
* NEW YEAR:
Year of the Dragon
(Chinese New Year celebration starts with new moon on the first day of the new year
and ends on the full moon 15 days later. Dragon on flags of Wales, Bhutan and Malta.
Chinese dragons are associated with clouds and life giving rain; original rain divinity
provides for heavenly beneficence & fertility. Mythical Dragon can fly & breathe fire
Born in Dragon Year: John Lennon, Bruce Lee, Ringo Starr, Pele, Vladimir Putin,
Chuck Norris, Al Pacino, Robert Oppenheimer, Billy Martin, Martin Luther King Jr.)
(By Kurt Snibee, Mercury News, February 11, 2024, B18)
THINGS TO DO:
California coast getaway: Oh-wowing in Oceanside, the OG of surf towns
(Oceanside boasts miles of white sand beaches, a palm tree-lined downtown and plenty of history.
Its pop culture claim to fame, the blue Victorian cottage from the first “Top Gun,” is now
an adorable
pie shop called High Pie. And with temperatures in the mid-60s to low 70s
year-round, it's a spot
to catch some sunshine even in the dead of winter. Just grab
a sweater or fleece for evening jaunts
or a traipse out to the end of the breezy pier.
Visit: The Fin Hotel;
High Pie;
California Surf Museum;
The Brine Box;
Tremont Collective;
Freeman Collective)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, February 11, 2024, F7-F8)
THE
TRAVEL LIST:
Time Out's 10 best cities for 2024
1. NYC, USA;
2. Cape Town, South Africa;
3. Berlin, Germany;
4. London, UK;
5. Madrid, Spain;
6. Mexico City, Mexico;
7. Liverpool, UK;
8. Tokyo, Japan;
9. Rome, Italy;
10. Porto, Portugal.
(By CNN, Mercury News, February 11, 2023, F7)
* EDUCATION:
Will chatbots teach your children?
(Sal Khan the CEO of Khan Academy, gave a rousing
TED Talk last spring in which he predicted
that AI chatbots would soon revolutionize education. "We're at the cusp of using AI for probably
the biggest positive transformation that education has ever seen," Videos of Khan's tutoring bot talk
amassed millions of views. Prominent tech executives, including Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO,
began issuing similar education predictions... AI chatbots liberally make stuff up and could feed
students false information. Making the AI tools a mainstay of education could elevate unreliable
sources as classroom authorities... Jerome Pesenti, a former vice president of AI at Meta, recently
founded a tutoring service called Sizzle AI. Jared Grusd, a former chief strategy officer at social
media company Snap, co-founded a writing startup called Ethiqly...
Khan is one of the most visible proponents of tutoring bots.
Khan Academy introduced an AI chatbot named Khanmigo
designed to
help students think through problems in math & other subjects — not do their schoolwork
for them.)
(By Natasha Singer, NY Times, Mercury News, February 5, 2024, C7-C8)
NATURE: The year that Flaco the owl has roamed free
(Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl has spent most of his time in Central Park, although he has wandered
all over Manhattan, peering into apartment
windows with his striking orange eyes; It has a wingspan
of 6 feet, Rat poison is probably the biggest threat as he roams. Because of poison
restrictions in the
park, he is safest there. Eurasian eagle-owls live about 20 years in the wild, and 40+ years in captivity.)
(By Ed Shanahan, NY Times, Mercury News, February 4, 2024, A12
A year later,
Flaco the owl's escape from the Central Park Zoo remains a mystery
(Under cover of darkness a year ago Friday (2/3/2023), someone breached a waist-high fence
& into Central Park Zoo. Once inside, they cut a hole through a steel mesh cage, freeing
a majestic Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco who had arrived at the zoo as a fledgling 13 years
earlier. Immediately, Flaco fled the park, blinking his big orange eyes at pedestrians and
police on 5th Avenue before flying off into the night. In the year since his dramatic escape,
Flaco has become one of the city's most beloved characters. By day he lounges in Manhattan's
courtyards and parks or perches on fire escapes. He spends his nights hooting atop water towers
and preying on the city's abundant rats.)
(By Associated Press, KQED, February 3, 2024)
THINGS TO DO:
Your guide to San Francisco's Chinese New Year 2024 parade, festival
(Year of the Dragon, a symbol of strength & luck in the Chinese zodiac, is upon us.
San Francisco's Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Chinese community will mark the occasion,
as they do every February, by hosting a month-long Chinese New Year Festival & Parade—
a tradition since just after the Gold Rush. Eent reigns as largest such celebration
outside Asia. Feb. 24 parade is one of the few illuminated nighttime parades in the world.
Festivities run now through March 3. FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS; DRAGON SCULPTURES;
PARADE ROUTE; GUESTS OF HONOR; GOOD VANTAGE POINTS; GETTING THERE.)
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, February 4, 2024, F7)
SPACE:
NASA: A look at the new space telescope that should be sending images to Earth soon
(NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is the world's largest and most complex in history
and is expected to send images to Earth this week. James Webb Space Telescope's revolutionary
technology will study every phase of cosmic history — from within our solar system to the most
distant observable galaxies of the early universe. Webb's infrared telescope will explore a wide
range of science questions to help us understand the origins of the universe.
USPS postage stamps
issued Jan. 22, 2024 honoring Webb Space Telescope— "Pillar of Creation" & "Cosmic Cliffs")
(By Kurt Snibee, Mercury News, January 28, 2024, B18)
THINGS TO DO:
5 luxe California hotels have added pickleball to their resort menus
(Offerings at the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, include four new pickleball courts with views
of the crashing waves as you serve. Napa wine and pickleball
; Santa Cruz paddles and views;
San Martin clubs and racquets;
West Hollywood rooftop smash;
San Martin clubs and racquets;
Half Moon Bay ritzy play
(By Amber Tupin, Mercury News, January 28, 2024, F7-F8)
THE
TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 golf resorts in the U.S.
1. Kiawah Island, South Carolina;
2. La Quinta Resort & Spa and PGA West, La Quinta;
3. Pebble Beach Golf Resorts, Pebble Beach;
4. Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida;
5. Legends Golf Resort, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;
6. Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida;
7. Trump National Doral, Miami, Florida;
8. Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, Hilton Head, South Carolina;
9. Reunion Resort, Orlando, Florida;
10. The Lodge at Torrey Pines, San Diego.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, January 28, 2023, F7)
SPORTS: All to Herself— VanDerveer surpasses Coach K as winningest coach in college basketball
(Stanford's Tara VanDerveer becomes the winningest basketball coach in NCCA history with 1203 wins
on Sunday, January 21. Kiki Iriafen scored a career-high 36 points as Stanford topped Oregon State 65-56
at Maples Pavilion. 7000 present including national players of the year Jennifer Azzi & Chiney Ozwumike.)
(By Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, January 22, 2024, C1, C8)
* Idiom, Metaphor and Simile
(Take our visual test of familiar expressions; An idiom is a saying or a phrase that is used
to describe a situation, a metaphor is an indirect comparison to describe something, and
a simile is a direct comparison. Similes are like metaphors but not vice versa. Examples:
A. Cash cow; B. Cook the books; C. A wet blanket; D. Hear it on the grapevine; E. Eat like a horse)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, January 21, 2024, B18)
THINGS TO DO:
The hottest things to do in Emeryville in 2024, using a free shuttle bus
(Hop aboard the Emery Go-Round to visit a new agave bottle shop,
a new public park and a cool chocolate factory.
[1. Huchiun Park;
2. Eastbay Badminton Association;
3. The Zentner Collectionm;
4. Jered's Pottery;
5. Kimono My House;
6. Tipsy Putt East Bay;
7. Flores;
8. Pippal;
9. Prizefighter Bottle Shop;
10. TCHO Chocolate;
11. Emery Go-Round.
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, January 21, 2024, F7-F8)
THE
TRAVEL LIST:
Tripadvisor's top 10 trending destinations include this Wine Country gem
1. Napa;
2. St. Petersburg, Florida;
3. Marathon, Florida;
4. Brooklyn, New York;
5. Provincetown, Massachusetts
6. West Yellowstone, Montana;
7. Homer, Alaska;
8. Eureka Springs, Arkansas;
9. Portland, Oregon;
10. Kanab, Utah.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, January 21, 2023, F7)
* LANDMARKS: California's most iconic roadside attractions
(News last week that Pea Soup Andersen's on the Central Coast had
suddenly closed elicited a wave
of nostalgia among Californians; restaurant's whimsical advertisements along Highway 101, featuring
two cartoon chefs, were dependable road-trip markers for me when I was growing up in Ventura County,
confirming that we had officially made it out of congested Southern California. Other iconic roadside
landmarks across the state— Cabazon Dinosaurs,
world's tallest thermometer,
Winchester Mystery House,
formerly reeking Harris Ranch, Paul Bunyan statue
in Klamath & giant Randy's Donuts sign visible from
the 405 freeway; Disneyland's Matterhorn via I-5;
Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.)
(By Soumya Karlamangia, NY Times, Mercury News, January 20, 2024, B4)
Fears
of Generative AI reminiscent of past moral panics
(It's important to advise the public about risks but not in ways that provoke counterproductive fears.
There has been a lot of ink spilled on doomsday scenarios about Generative AI, including a statement
signed by several computer scientists & entrepreneurs saying, "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI
should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war."
That's pretty scary stuff, but there's nothing new about negative scenarios around new technologies.
Early 19th century Luddites, physically destroyed looms and other labor-saving devices. Telegraph and
telephone fears reminiscent of today's concerns; Y2K or "millennium bug": when calendar switched to 2000,
computers would stop working causing mass chaos; Generative AI & other new technologies have their risks,
but how to manage those risks so that the benefits outweigh any negative consequences.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, January 19, 2024, C1, C9)
THINGS TO DO:
Arizona travel: A dazzling winter getaway to sunny Scottsdale
[1. Friday: Cactus coolers, incredible art (Catle Track);
2. Saturday: Aloft and downtown (Hot-Air Balloon,
Wine Collective);
3. Sunday: Hikes and barbecue (McDowell Sonoran Conservancy,
The Thumb)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, January 14, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The 24 best overlooked and undiscovered places to visit in 2024
1. Sumba, Indonesia;
2. Turkey's Black Sea coast;
3. Tartu, Estonia;
4. Tainan, Taiwan;
5. Northwest Michigan;
6. Trans Dinarica Cycle Route, Balkans;
7. Culebra, Puerto Rico;
8. Angola;
9. Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada;
10. South Korea;
11. Albania;
12. Chile;
13. Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia;
14. Macedonia, Greece;
15. Panama;
16. Galicia, Spain;
17. Singapore's offshore islands;
18. Mérida, Mexico;
19. Morocco;
20. Florida's freshwater springs;
21. Texas Hill Country;
22. Fujairah;
23. Greenland;
24. Uzbekistan.
(By CNN Travel staff, Mercury News, January 14, 2023, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
A Golden State for getaways
[1. A Palm Springs surf spot;
2. An uncrowded Yosemite;
3. New Tahoe digs;
4. New Beach Boardwalk rides;
5. Sequoia AutoCamp;
6. Disneyland's new bayou ride;
7. All things Pixar;
8. Dino-land.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, January 7, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 25 destinations for 2024, according to Afar travel guides
1. Bhutan;
2. Brno, Czech Republic;
3. Fiji;
4. Lamu, Kenya;
5. Los Angeles;
6. Manchester, England;
7. Norway
8. Rome, Italy;
9. St. Kitts;
10. Tangier, Morocco;
11. Hill Country, Texas
12. Toronto, Canada;
13. Maldonado, Uruguay.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, January 7, 2023, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Bay Area outdoors: 10 guided State Park 'First Day' hikes to start off 2024
[1. Angel Island State Park, Tiburon;
2. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Guerneville;
3. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek;
4. Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park, Half Moon Bay;
5. Castle Rock State Park, Saratoga;
6. China Camp State Park, San Rafael;
7. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Scotts Valley;
8. Pigeon Point Light Station Historic Park, Pescadero;
9. Salt Point State Park, Jenner;
10. Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz.
(By Kate Bradshaw & John Metcalfe, Mercury News, December 31, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 favorite small and big cities in the U.S., according to CN Traveler
Top Small Cities in the U.S.:
1. Charleston, South Carolina;
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico;
3. Alexandria, Virginia;
4. Greenville, South Carolina;
5. Savannah, Georgia;
6. Aspen, Colorado;
7. St. Augustine, Florida;
8. Pensacola, Florida;
9. Annapolis, Maryland;
10. Sedona, Arizona.
Top Big Cities in the U.S.:
1. Chicago, Illinois;
2. San Diego, CA;
3. Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
4. New Orleans, Louisiana;
5. San Francisco;
6. Boston, Massachusetts;
7. New York City;
8. Nashville, Tennessee;
9. Washington, D.C.;
10. Miami, Florida.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, December 31, 2023, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
TRAVEL QUIZ— How Worldly Are You? Take This Test
[1. Country consuming most beer per capita (Czech Republic);
2. World's highest altitude hotel (Hotel Tayka del Desierto in Bolivia, 15,091 feet above sea level);
3. Country's current flag is oldest (Denmark, since 1625);
4. Volcano with fastest lava flows (Mount Nyiragongo in Democratic Republic of Congo, 62 mph);
5. Nut with place of origin: Peanut (Peru);
Macadamia nut (Australia); Brazil nut (Amazon region);
Almond (Iran);
6. Sweden's Dagen H commemorates event on Sept. 3, 196 (switch from driving on left side of road — British style — to driving on the right.);
7. Most ethnically diverse area in U.S. (New York City, 47.2% foreign-born);
8. “Big Apple” includes New York has three official "New" names (New Amsterdam, New Orange);
9. Compass on International Space Station, points to (Earth's magnetic North Pole):
10. World's largest religious structure (Angkor Wat's 402-acre Buddhist temple complex);
11. U.S. city with full-scale replica of Parthenon (Nashville's Centennial Park in 1897);
12. Airport's U.S. location: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu, Hawaii);
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas);
Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (Wichita, Kansas);
Muhammad Ali International Airport (Louisville, Kentucky);
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (Springfield, Illinois);
13. Largest U.S. national park outside Alaska (Death Valley National Park, 5,325 square miles);
14. Furthest inland ports for ocean-going ships (Duluth, MN, 2,300 miles away from Atlantic seaboard);
15. Continent with highest average elevation (Antarctica's average elevation is 7,545 feet above sea level);
16. European country with highest average elevation (Andorra's average elevation is 6,550 feet above sea level);
17. Author who said, "Not all who wander are lost."
(J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings");
18. Only U.S. commercial airport inside a national park (Jackson Hole Airport, built in 1930 at Grand Teton National Park);
19. Unusual museum's location:
Museum of Bad Art (Boston, MA):
Phallological Museum (Reykjavik, Iceland):
The National Atomic Testing Museum (Paradise, Nevada);
SPAM Museum (Austin, Minnesota);
Hair Museum of Avanos (Cappadocia, Turkey);
20. City boasting most Michelin-starred restaurants (Tokyo with 173; NYC tops U.S. list with 71).
(By Bob Ecker, Mercury News, December 24, 2023, F7-F8)
"THE TRAVEL LIST:
The world's top 20 destinations""
(Paris has once again been named the world's most attractive city destination,
according to an annual report by global market research company Euromonitor International.
Europe reigned supreme, with seven out of the top 10 cities and 63 countries in the top 100.
Only non-European cities in top 10 were Dubai at No. 2, Tokyo at No. 4 & New York at No. 8.)—
1. Paris; 2. Dubai, UAE; 3. Madrid, Spain;
4. Tokyo; 5. Amsterdam, Netherlands; 6. Berlin, Germany;
7. Rome; 8. New York;
9. Barcelona, Spain;
10. London;
11. Singapore;
12. Munich, Germany;
13. Milan, Italy;
14. Seoul, South Korea; 15. Dublin, Ireland;
16. Osaka, Japan; 17. Hong Kong;
18. Vienna, Austria;
19. Los Angeles; 20. Lisbon, Portugal.
(By Maureen O'Hare, CNN & Mercury News, December 24, 2023, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Merry Bright— Bay Area light displays that shine this season
(Visit: Deacon Dave's world-famous display, Livermore;
Oakland Zoolights "Glowfari";
Historic lights in Woodside:
Lights of Livermore:
;
Widmer World, Plesanton; ;
Willow Glen, San Jose; Crippsas Place, Fremont;
Christmas on a Hill, Morgan Hill;
Christmas in the Park, San Jose/A>;
Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda;
Los Gatos' Fantasy of Lights;
Christmas Tree Lane, Palo Alto;
Lights and music in Redwood City;
Winter Wonderland in Oakley;
Giant Santa in Newark)
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, December 17, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
15 interesting and underrated European museums
(1. Bottle Peter's Museum, Denmark; 2. Fondation Louis Vitton, France; 3. The Sparse Museum, Spain;
4. Museum of Art Fakes, Austria; 5. Borghese Gallery and Museum, Italy; 6. Museum of the Thirties, France;
7. The Vasa Museum, Sweden; 8. Museum of Miniatures, Czech Republic; 9. Museum of Money, France ;
10. Dutch Resistance Museum, The Netherlands;
11. The Museum of Broken Relationships, Croatia;
12. Brera Art Gallery, Italy;
13. The Museum of Hunting and Nature, France; 14. Dalí Theatre-Museum, Spain; 15. Gallerie dell'Accademia, Italy.)
(By Scott Hartbeck, Mercury News, December 17, 2023, F7)
BASEBALL:
It's Sho-ver: Ohtani passes over SF Giants for record-breaking deal with Dodgers
(Shohei Ohtani announced a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on
his Instagram. It eclipsed the previous record held by Mike Trout, whose $426.5 million deal
had been the largest in major-league history. The top priority after Ohtani, though? It might
be another Japanese sensation, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.)
(By Evan Webeck, Mercury News, December 10, 2023, C1, C3)
OBITUARY:
Love Story actor Ryan O'Neal dies at 82
(Ryan O'Neal, the heart-throb actor who went from a TV soap opera to an Oscar-nominated role
in Love Story, has died at 82. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, a decade after
he was first diagnosed with chronic leukaemia. O'Neal was among the biggest movie stars in
the world in the 1970s, who worked with many of the era's most celebrated directors including
Peter Bogdanovich on Paper Moon & Stanley Kubrick on Barry Lyndon. O'Neal was romantically
involved with Farrah Fawcett for nearly 30 years, and they had a son, Redmond, born in 1985.
O'Neal had his own best-actor Oscar nomination for 1970 tear-jerker drama Love Story, co-starring
Ali MacGraw, about a young couple who fall in love, marry & discover she is dying of cancer.)
(By Anthon McCartney, AP, Mercury News, December 9, 2023, A2)
OBITUARY:
Norman Lear, producer of TV's 'All in the Family' & influential liberal advocate, died at 101
(A liberal activist with an eye for mainstream entertainment, Lear fashioned bold and controversial
comedies that were embraced by viewers who had to watch the evening news to find out what was going on
in the world. His shows helped define prime time comedy in the 1970s, launched the careers of Rob Reiner
and Valerie Bertinelli and made middle-aged superstars of Carroll O’Connor, Bea Arthur and Redd Foxx.)
(By Lynn Elber, Mercury News, December 7, 2023, A1, A5)
Taylor Swift is Time's Person of the Year
(Time magazine named Taylor Swift as its person of the year. She beat out eight other finalists,
including King Charles III and Barbie. "Picking one person who represents the 8 billion people
on the planet is no easy task. We picked a choice that represents joy. Someone who's bringing
light to the world," said Sam Jacobs, the magazine's editor-in-chief, "She was like weather,
she was everywhere." Time wrote "Swift's accomplishments as an artist— culturally, critically,
and commercially— are so legion that to recount them seems almost beside the point.")
(By Claire Moses, NY Times, Mercury News, December 7, 2023, A2)
Google updates Bard chatbot with 'Gemini' AI
(Google's CEO Sundar Pichal said Gemini was more powerful than Gogole's previous chatbot
technologies and that it could generate more accurate responses and come closer to mimicking
human reasoning in some situations. Google claimed Gemini's most powerful version outperformed
OpenAI's latest technology GPT-4, in several key areas. It is better at generating computer code than
previous technologies, and it can more accurately summarize news articles & other text documents.)
(By Cade Metz & Nico Grant, NY Times, Mercury News, December 7, 2023, C9-C10)
THINGS TO DO:
Holiday getaway: Cut down your own Christmas tree in Plumas National Forest
(The tree-sourcing experience requires nothing more than a $10 permit from the Plumas
National Forest, a hand saw and a sense of adventure. Visit:
Plumas National Forest;
Nakoma Resort;
Chalet View Lodge;
;
Millie's Ice Cream and Coffee;
The Peak).
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, December 3, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
15 Bay Area Christmas tree farms to check out in 2023
(1. Speer Family Farms, Alameda;
2. Smith Family Farms, Brentwood;
3. Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm;
4. Silveyville Christmas Tree Farm, Dixon;
5. Santa's Tree Farm and Village, Half-Moon Bay;
6. 4 C's Christmas Tree Farm, Half-Moon Bay)
(By Brittany Delay, Mercury News, December 3, 2023, F7)
OBITUARY:
Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman on the Supreme Court, has died at age 93
(Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism
and first woman to serve on the nation's highest court, died Friday. She was 93.
O’Connor died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.
Her nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate
ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. As a child growing up in remote outback
of Arizona, she learned early to ride horses, round up cattle and drive trucks and tractors.
O’Connor balked at letting states outlaw most abortions, refusing in 1989 to join four other
justices who were ready to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that said women
have a constitutional right to abortion. Then, in 1992, she helped forge and lead a five-justice
majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 ruling.)
(By Mark Sherman, AP, Mercury News, December 2, 2023, A1, A6)
OBITUARY:
Henry Kissinger, towering American diplomat under Presidents Nixon & Ford, dies at 100
(Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, diplomat with thick glasses & gravelly
voice who dominated foreign policy as U.S. extricated itself from Vietnam and broke
down barriers with China, died Wednesday. He was 100. With his gruff yet commanding
presence & behind-the-scenes manipulation of power, Kissinger exerted uncommon influence
on global affairs under Presidents Richard Nixon & Gerald Ford, earning both vilification
and the Nobel Peace Prize. Decades later, his name still provoked impassioned debate over
foreign policy landmarks long past. Kissinger was a practitioner of realpolitik— using
diplomacy to achieve practical objectives rather than advance lofty ideals. Supporters said
his pragmatic bent served U.S. interests; critics saw a Machiavellian approach that ran
counter to democratic ideals. He was also a ladies man, dating Jill St. John.)
(By Nancy Benac, AP, Mercury News, November 30, 2023, A1, A5)
TECHNOLOGY:
Shadow of Steve Jobs looms over Open AI
[Steve Jobs, driven by his genius and his gut, invented the iPhone and built Apple into
the world's most valuable company. He was uncompromising, larger than life and irreplaceable.
His life was creating the future, which would be filled with devices controlled by their users.
Sam Altman spent the last year taking on the mantle of Jobs as the Silicon Valley entrepreneur
in charge of tomorrow. As more people worry they will be controlled rather than in control,
the future is fraught with danger. Altman, who on Wednesday was reinstated as CEO of
OpenAI]
after his abrupt firing a week ago, has promised AI would usher in humanity's first golden age.]
(By David Streitfeld, NY Times, Mercury News, November 27, 2023, C7-C8)
OP-ED:
The fight for the soul of AI
[As it evolved, OpenAI turned into a fruitful contradiction: a for-profit company overseen
by a nonprofit board with a corporate culture somewhere in between. Many people at the company
seem simultaneously motivated by the scientist's desire to discover, the capitalist's desire to ship
product & do-gooder's desire to do this all safely. Events of the past week— Sam Altman's
firing, all the drama, his rehiring— revolve around one central question: Is this fruitful
contradiction sustainable? Can one organization, or one person, maintain the brain of a scientist,
drive of a capitalist and cautious heart of a regulatory agency? Or, as Charlie Warzel wrote in
The Atlantic (5-17-2023),
will the money always win out? Will a newly unleashed Altman
preserve the fruitful contradiction, or will he succumb to the pressures of go-go-go?]
(By David Brooks, Mercury News, November 26, 2023, A12)
THINGS TO DO:
Searching for the chicken in Petaluma, the former Egg Basket of the World
(It's no longer the biggest poultry center on earth. But the Sonoma city is still a fine place
for farm stands, frittatas and Southern fried chicken. By 1925, Petaluma was the largest poultry
center in the world with 2 million hens, and by the time World War II rolled around, it had hit
peak production of 612 million eggs a year. Visit: Stellina Pronto;
Petaluma Historical Library & Museum;
Tenfold Farmstand;
Hicks Mountain Hens;
Barber Lee Spirits;
Easy Rider)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, November 26, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
6 best farm tours in the Western US include a Napa Valley entry
(1. Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, Juneau, Alaska;
2. Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga, California;
3. Greenwell Farms, Kealakekua, Hawaii;
4. The Farm, Las Vegas, Nevada;
5. No Regrets Farm, Albany, Oregon;
6. Tulip Town, Mount Vernon, Washington
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, November 26, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Using ChatGPT for holiday gift ideas and cards
[Tech can help narrow down choices when shopping for electronics. This year, I'm getting
a little help from ChatGPT, which is able to recommend gifts, create holiday cards and help
you decide what products to buy. I asked ChatGPT to recommend indoor grills with a timer.
I asked both ChatGPT & Google Bard to give me professional reviews, also retailer with
the cheapest price. Combination Christmas and Hanukkah card created by ChatGPT with text:
"As the candles of Hanukkah brighten the winter nights, and the lights of Christmas sparkle
with joy and delight, may this season bring you warmth, happiness, and peace. A time of love
& laughter, of memories that never cease.” Neither I nor Hallmark could say it any better.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, November 24, 2023, C7-C8)
* MARKETPLACE:
Fake reviews are rampant online. Can a crackdown end them?
[There is a billion-dollar fake review industry, where people and businesses pay marketers
to post fake positive reviews to Google Maps, Amazon, Yelp and other platforms, and deceive
millions of customers each year. Almost all fake reviews are positive endorsements, such as
four-star and five-star reviews, that the businesses write themselves or are created by digital
marketers, whose services can be purchased online for as little as a few dollars per review.
Choosing the wrong doctor, lawyer, or contractor can ruin your life.]
(By Stuart A. Thompson, NY Times, Mercury News, Nov, 20, 2023, C9-C10)
FRENCH AUCTION:
A hat worn by Napoleon sold for $2.1 million
[The signature broad, black hat— one of a handful still in existence that
Napoleon wore
when he ruled 19th-century France and waged war in Europe— was initially valued at 600,000
to 800,000 euros ($650,000-870,000). It was the centerpiece of Sunday's Osenat auction in Fontainebleau
of memorabilia collected by a French industrialist who died last year. Napoleon wore his with the
ends pointing toward his shoulders. The style— known as "en bataille" or in battle— made it
easier for his troops to spot their leader in combat. The hat on sale was first recovered by
Col. Pierre Baillon, a quartermaster under Napoleon, according to the auctioneers. The hat
then passed through many hands before industrialist
Jean-Louis Noisiez acquired it.
The sale came days before release of Ridley Scott's film
"Napoleon" with
Joaquin Phoenix,
which is rekindling interest in the controversial French ruler.]
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, Nov. 20, 2023, A2)
OBITUARY:
Rosalynn Carter, outspoken former first lady, dead at 96
[Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his one term as
U.S. president & their four decades thereafter as global humanitarians, has died at age of 96.
"Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," Carter said in the statement.
"She gave me wise guidance & encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world,
I always knew somebody loved and supported me." The Carters were married for more than 77 years,
forging what they both described as a "full partnership." Unlike many previous first ladies, Rosalynn
sat in on Cabinet meetings, spoke out on controversial issues and represented her husband on foreign
trips. The Carters did not serve hard liquor at public functions, though Rosalynn did permit U.S. wine.
There were fewer evenings of ballroom dancing and more square dancing & picnics. Jimmy Carter
is the longest-lived U.S. president. Rosalynn Carter was the second longest-lived of the nation's
first ladies, trailing only Bess Truman, who died at age 97.]
(By Bill Barrow & Michael Warren, AP, Mercury News, Nov, 20, 2023, A1, A3)
UFOs:
Stanford professor hunts for alien life
[Biotech entrepreneur launches 'Stardust Repository' and Palo Alto foundation to study Unidentified Aerial Phenomena—
what we used to call UFOs. Stanford University immunologist Garry Nolan suggests the object that
fell in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in December 1977 was an UAP (formerly UFO). He has no time
for weirdos or conspiratorial thinkers.
wants to make alien life studies scientific & rigorous.]
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, Nov, 19, 2023, A1, A8)
THINGS TO DO:
Hawaii escapes: Exploring Oahu's North Shore and windward East Side
(The sacred historical site of Waimea Valley on Oahu boasts lush a botanical garden and waterfall, where
you can take a swim. Visit: Jenny's Shrimp Truck,
Turtle Bay Resort,
Kuilima Farm, Waimea Valley,
Climbworks,
Courtyard Oahu North Shore,
Polynesian Cultural Center,
Kualoa Ranch)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, November 19, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
Wanderlust's 10 top islands in the world include some jawdropping spots
(1. Cuba;
2. Taiwan;
3. Tobago;
4. Palawan, Philippines;
5. Tasmania;
6. Mauritius;
7. Langkawi, Malasia;
8. Sri Lanka;
9. Saint Helena;
10. Barbados.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, November 19, 2023, F7)
TECHNOLOGY:
OpenAI's board pushes outfirm's chief executive
(Sam Altman, the high-profile CEO of OpenAI, who became the face of the tech industry's
artificial intelligence boom, has been pushed out of the company by its board of directors,
OpenAI said in a blog post Friday aftrnoon. Mira Murati, who previously served as the
company's chief technology officer, has been named interim CEO, the company said.)
(By Cade Metz, NY Times, Mercury News, Nov, 18, 2023, C8)
OP-ED:
Don't repeat post-9/11 Islamophobia during Israel-Hamas war
[It's critical that political leaders responsibly discuss the conflict, not conflate Hamas
with Arab Americans and Muslims. Hamas' heinous attacks and Israeli government's response—
collective punishment of 2 million people in Gaza— have created one of the most combustible
and escalatory moments in the Middle East in a half-century. With more than 11,000 Palestinians
already dead, according to health ministry in Gaza, and many more injured & countless at risk,
we cannot afford to continue making the same mistakes. We're seeing calls in Florida to ban
pro-Palestinian groups from colleges in fear of terrorism.]
(By Sara Haghdoosti, Mercury News, November 16, 2023, A6)
BUSINESS:
Survey sheds light on parent, teen feelings about Generative AI
[45% of U.S. teens agree that their parents know more than they do about GAI.
Recent study by Kantar on behalf of Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found
that both parents & teens are not only aware of GAI but also mostly optimistic
about its impact. Study included teens (13-17) & their parents completing online
survey with 1,000 participants in U.S., Japan & Germany. Respondents were asked
to rate their top concerns, and both parents & teens picked job loss as No. 1,
followed by spread of false information. Parents picked "loss of critical thinking
skills" as No. 3, while teens were more likely to worry about "AI surpassing humans."
Google Bard, Microsoft Bing and ChatGPT all offer free access to GAI services that
make it easy for anyone to ask questions or create content.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, November 17, 2023, C7-C8)
MOVIES:
Stanford Theatre bringing back a beloved holiday tradition this year
["It's a Wonderful Life" returns for Christmas Eve for the first time since 2019.
The two Dec. 24 screenings— at 4 pm and 7 pm— will cap a month of holiday favorites
(and Deanna Durbin movies) with a lineup that includes "Show Boat" (Nov. 25-26); "It Started With Eve"
(Dec. 2-3); "White Christmas" (Dec. 9-10); “The Bishop's Wife" (Dec. 14-15); "Meet Me in St. Louis"
paired with "Miracle on 34th Street" (Dec. 16-17); and a double-feature of "The Shop Around the Corner"
& "The Wizard of Oz" (Dec. 21-23). "It's a Wonderful Life" had been an annual event at the Stanford since
1989, consistently playing to a sold-out house. But COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to it in 2020 and 2021.]
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, November 16, 2023, B1-B2)
BUSINESS:
Google Sues Scammers Over Fake Bard AI Chatbot That Downloads Malware
(Fraudsters tricked users into installing malware onto devices; Google does not know identities
of the scammers, who are behind Facebook profiles called
"Google AI", "AIGoogle", "AiGoogle", "AIGoogle.Plus", "AIGoogle Bard FB",
& "AIGoogle-Bard". Scammers used Google's logo to promote
their scheme. Fraudsters set up dozens of Google acoounts & used them to submit thousands of false copyright claims against
their competitors. Two individuals created over 65 Google accounts to submit thousands of
fraulent notices of copyright infringements against more than 117,000 websites.)
(By Emily Birnbaum, Bloomberg, Mercury News, November 14, 2023, C7)
NATURE:
Spider season: Here are a few things you may not know about them
(The world is home to about 50,000 species of spiders.
Almost all are venomous but only a few can harm you. Only 25 have venom that can cause harm to humans.
So just 1/20 of 1% of spiders are dangerous to humans. About half the species catch prey with silky webs,
while the others use it to make nests, cocoons
or egg sacs. Many spiders replace their entire web every day.
Spiders' webs are stronger than steel and if human-size, would be tough enough to snag a jetliner.)
(By Kurt Snibee, Mercury News, November 12, 2023, B16)
THINGS TO DO:
Snow time 2023: Get ready for another epic season at Tahoe and beyond
(8 million-plus skier visits during the 275-day, 2022-2023 season. Plus a massive
723 inches of snow that buried houses at Tahoe, created 20-foot drifts on the sides
of the roads closing highways & resort operations.
Tahoe Resorts: Boreal/Woodward Tahoe;
Diamond Peak; http://www.donnerskiranch.com/Donner Ski Ranch;
Granlibakken Tahoe; Homewood Mountain Resort;
Palisades Tahoe; Mammoth Mountain;
; Sierra-at-Tahoe;
Sugar Bowl; Soda Springs;
Tahoe Donner; Vail Resorts;
Ski California; Tahoe Adventure.)
(By Janet Fullwood, Mercury News, November 12, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
Lonely Planet's top places to go in 2024
(1. Mongolia;
2. India;
3. Morocco;
4. Chile;
5. Benin;
6. Mexico;
7. Uzbekistan;
8. Pakistan;
9. Croatia;
10. St. Lucia.
(By Maureen O'Hare, CNN, Mercury News, November 12, 2023, F7)
MOVIES:
Siskel & Ebert changed the way we talked about movies. A new book shows how
(Matt Singer's new book, ‘Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever,
reveals how Chicago film reviewers became a phenomenon.) Siskel died of brain cancer in 1999
at the age of 53. Ebert kept the show's spirit alive, but in 2013, he too succumbed to cancer at
age of 70. What ultimately made them so successful for so long, is the authenticity of their
relationship. The unique Siskel & Ebert chemistry never wavered. Siskel gave sci-fi movies
a thumbs-down. Ebert loved sci-fi. Gene didn’t share Roger's love for dog pictures.)
(By Patrick Sauer, Mercury News, November 9, 2023)
ENGINEERING:
Here are a few things that might surprise you about the Golden Gate Bridge
[Suspension span: 6400 feet (1.2 miles); Width of bridge is 90 feet; Anchorage took
1 million tons of concrete to make; January 1933 to May 1935, San Francisco anchorage;
Completed in 1937; Cable composed of 27,572 wires; Main cable is 7650 feet long;
Primary Engineer: Joseph B. Strauss spent $27 million to build the bridge, paid $1 million
with free lifetime pass. CMYK colors: Cyan 0%, Magenta 695, Yellow 100%, Black 6%)
(By Kurt Snibee, Mercury News, November 5, 2023, B15)
THINGS TO DO:
Explore limestone caves at Mitchell Caverns, a hidden gem in the Mojave Desert
[A tour group walks along Cave Trail to the entrance of Mitchell Caverns.
You must have a guide to enter the caves, but the cave trail is open to all visitors.
The name Mitchell Caverns pays tribute to Jack & Ida Mitchell, prospectors
who bought claims to the land in the early 1930s. Two main caves are on view:
El Pakiva (the Devil's House) & Tecopa (named for a Shoshone chief. Budget time
to explore some nearby trails. The Mary Beal Nature Trail is an easy, half-mile
trek on a self-guided loop that showcases the remarkable high-desert flora.
The Niña Mora Trail is a more moderate half-mile loop, which offers
sweeping vistas. For nearby camping, aim for Hole-in-the-Wall Campground,
about 15 miles from the caverns. Mitchell Caverns is located in the
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area in the eastern Mojave Desert.]
(By Maggie Downs, Mercury News, November 5, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
7 must-see spots in Southern California's deserts
(1. Joshua Tree National Park;
2. Fortynine Palms and Oasis Trail at Joshua Tree;
3. Death Valley National Park;
4. Mitchell Caverns;
5. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway;
6. Indian Canyons, Palm Springs;
7. Coachella Valley Preserve
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, November 5, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Beware of ‘smishing’ scams on your cell phone
[Wrong number text messages are one of several examples of "smishing" scams.
The name is derived by combining "SMS" (short message system) with "phishing."
I rarely got them until a couple of years ago, but now I’m getting at least a few
each week. Another common "smish" seemingly comes from the post office,
UPS, Amazon or some other delivery service. I recently got one from "US Postal",
saying "your package is on hold for an invalid recipient address. Fill in the
correct address info by this link." I didn't click on that link because I'm quite
sure it was a scam site. I also get a lot of text messages that appear to come
from Netflix or other companies informing me that my account has expired,
or I need to update my password or payment information. There is a link to click
on or perhaps a phone number to call. The scam is designed to get you to provide
information that can help the criminals gain access to one or more of your online
accounts as a way to steal your money and/or your identity or expose you to malicious
code (malware). One way to prevent fraud is to disconnect completely, but a better
solution is to stay connected and remain cautious.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, November 3, 2023, C7-C8)
CRIME:
Motorhome recovered, suspect arrested in Palo Alto carjacking
(The vehicle was spotted driving Wednesday near Ravenswood Shopping Center in East Palo Alto;
A 27-year-old East Palo Alto man was arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of carjacking a motorhome
in Palo Alto at 12:35 am, on Oct. 20 in 400 block of Matadero Ave. Motorhome was returned to victim.)
(By Jason Green, Mercury News, October 26, 2023)
BUSINESS: age1's Alex Colville says longevity field isn't just for "rich old billionaires
trying to live forever"
(Alex Colville had just completed his PhD in genetics at Stanford when he met
Laura Deming,
the wunderkind who dropped out of MIT at 16 & launched The Longevity Fund. Now, Colville, 30,
and Deming, 29, are teaming up to try to push the technology even closer to reality, launching
The Longevity Fund's next generation: a new venture fund called
age1.
One of our favorite
portfolio companies is a company called Loyal, which is working on dog aging, and they're
in essence developing drug interventions to be able to extend the health span.)
(By Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, October 15, 2023, E1, E3)
THINGS TO DO:
Mammoth Lake's rustic alpine hideaways are perfect for fall
(Cabins at Mammoth Lakes: Alpenhof's Lodge;
Mammoth Mountain Chalets;
Tamarack Lodge;
Crystal Crag Lodge
Wildyrie Lodge;
Lake George's Woods Lodge;
Sierra Meadows Ranch;
Convict Lake's Cabins;
Mammoth Brewing Co.;
Dos Alas Café)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, October 15, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 U.S. destinations for fall getaways
(1. The Poconos, Pennsylvania;
2. Acadia, Maine;
3. Eastern Shore, Maryland;
4. Woodstock, Vermont;
5. Sedona, Arizona;
6. Yosemite, California;
7. Aspen, Colorado;
8. Napa Valley, California;
9. North Fork, Long Island;
10. Grand Canyon, Arizona.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, October 15, 2023, F7)
* PHOTOS:
Annular eclipse peaks through clouds in parts of the Bay Area
(While viewers in the Bay Area saw a crescent sun during eclipse, those viewing
along the route of "totality" were able to witness a spectacular "ring of fire".
The sun's edges glow red past the smaller moon. The annular eclipse begins behind
Hoover Tower at Stanford University. Annular eclipse peaks through on overcast sky
above Walnut Creek, CA. Moon moves in front of sun during an annular solar eclipse,
or ring of fire, in San Antonio, TX. Moon crosses in front of Sun over Albuquerque, NM.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, October 14, 2023, A1, A8)
* SCIENCE:
Where to watch the partial “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse on Saturday
(California's best view of the 'annular eclipse" is in the far northeast;
"The sun will look like a crescent. We'll see a giant bite taken out of the sun's
surface", said astronomer Andrew Fraknoi. Look east to find the sunrise; Eclipse
on Saturday between 8:05 am and 10:42 am, peaking at 9:20 am. At its peak in the
Bay Area, 83% of the sun will be covered by the moon. Remaining 17% of the sun
is still blazingly bright. Special protective "eclipse glasses" free at libraries.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, October 13, 2023, A1, A5)
PHOTOS:
Pumpkin sets world record (2,749 pounds!) at Half Moon Bay weigh-off
(Grower wins $30,000 for knocking Italy's heavyweight out of the record books.
Travis Gienger of Anoka, MN, won the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off,
with pumpkin nicknamed "Michael Jordan". Minnesota grower & horticulture teacher
won last year's contest with a 2,560-pounder.)
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, October 10, 2023, B1)
THINGS TO DO:
Gold Country Weekend: Getaway to charming Amador City
(Visit: Imperial Hotel;
Small Town Food & Wine;
Keystone Mine;
Meyer's Antiques & Victorian Closet;
Dreamy Whites;
Break Even Beermakers;
Amador Gold;
End of Nowhere.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, October 8, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
World's Best Hotels for 2023.
(1. Passalacqua, Moltrasio, Italy;
2. , Hong Kong;
3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River;
4. The Upper House, Hong Kong;
5. Aman Tokyo<>/A>;
6. La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco;
7. Soneva Fushi, Maldives;
8. One&Only Mandarina, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico;
9. Four Seasons Firenze, Florence, Italy;
10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Thailand.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, October 8, 2023, F7)
OP-ED:
An oncologist's thoughts on what death cannot take away
(Even as all of us are fading forever away, yet sometimes a veil flutters and we sense that
a deeper reality endures. Told my 6-year-old son as leaves fall to the ground "That beauty
never lasts— that even the things we love the most will die away." If our own molecules
were lately the stuff of the stars, then we should hardly be surprised that we both inherit
and create that ineffable essence that lends meaning to eternity.)
(By Tyler Johnson, MD, Mercury News, October 4, 2023, A6)
* TECHNOLOGY:
The Secret Ingredient of ChatGPT Is Human Advice
(Companies like OpenAI hone their bots using hand-tailored examples from well-educated workers.
But is this always for the best? Nazneen Rajani, a researcher with the artificial intelligence lab
Hugging Face, is among the scientists working to sharpen chatbots using hand-tailored examples
from well-educated workers. Yann LeCun, chief A.I. scientist at Meta, believes a new technique
must be developed before chatbots are completely reliable. Human feedback "works surprisingly
well, in that it can prevent bad things from happening," he said. "But it cannot be perfect.")
(By Cade Metz, NY Times, Mercury News, Oct. 2, 2023, C9-C10)
THINGS TO DO:
Halloween Horror Nights delivers big scares, Chucky, 'Last of Us' and more
("The Last of Us" awaits fright fans at Universal Studios Hollywood; This year's
Halloween Horror lineup is one of the best yet. Topping the marquee is a haunted
house dedicated to "The Last of Us", the post-pandemic PlayStation game turned hit
HBO series. Right up there with "Last of Us" is "Stranger Things 4", which transports
folks to the fourth season of the smash Netflix series. Other haunted hangs include
"The Exorcist: Believer", "Universal Monsters: Unmasked", "Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count",
"Evil Dead Rise", "Holidayz in Hell", and "Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America".)
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, October 1, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
The top 10 spookiest spots in the U.S.
(1. New Orleans, Louisiana;
2. Pawley's Island, South Carolina;
3. Chicago, Illinois;
4. Pine Barrens, New Jersey;
5. Savannah, Georgia;
6. RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California;
7. St. Augustine, Florida;
8. Shoshone Ice Caves, Idaho;
9. Portland, Oregon;
10. The Stanley Hotel, Colorado.
Links to Top 20 Spookiest Spots
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, October 1, 2023, F7)
Dianne Feinstein: 1933-2023—
California Trailblazer Was"A PoliticalGiant'
(Dianne Feinstein, California's longest-serving U.S. senator who led San Francisco through
its darkest and most violent days as mayor in the 1970s and later authored a federal ban
on assault weapons that lasted a decade, died Thursday night at her home in Washington, D.C.
At 90, she was oldest member of Congress & longest-serving female in the chamber's history.
Governor Newsom said "She was a political giant, whose tenacity was matched by her grace.
She broke down barriers and glass ceilings, but never lost her belief in the spirit of political
cooperation.” In the shocking assassinations of Mayor Moscone & Supervisor Harvey Milk
at San Francisco City Hall in 1978, it was Feinstein's brief videotaped news conference
and its aftermath that launched her national political career.)
(By Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, Sept. 30, 2023, A1, A5-7)
BASEBALL: Axe Falls on Kapler
[Just weeks after earning the endorsement of the club's chairman, Gabe Kapler was fired
by the Giants on Friday, the result of a spectacular September collapse that saw his club,
in words of top baseball boss Farhan Zaidi, "play our worst baseball when it mattered most."
In four seasons under Kapler, the Giants went 295-248, a .543 winning percentage, but their
107-win 2021 season remains the only time under Kapler or in five years under Zaidi that
they have made the postseason or finished with a winning record. The Giants have gone 8-17
this September, similar to late-season struggles (20-36 in two seasons) that led to Kapler's
ouster in Philadelphia. Former coach Ron Wotus & 3rd-base coach Mark Hallberg ae candidates.)
(By Evan Webeck, Mercury News, Sept. 30, 2023, C1, C3)
TECHNOLOGY: Supergroup forming to create AI device
(Since founding OpenAI in 2015, Sam Altman has spent many days thinking that the company's
generative AI products need a new kind of device to succeed. Since leaving Apple in 2019,
Jony Ive, designer behind the iPhone, iPod & MacBook Air, has been considering what the
next great computing device could be. Now, the two men & their companies are teaming up
to develop a device that would succeed the smartphone and deliver the benefits of A.I.
in a new form factor, unconstrained by the rectangular screen; $1 billion funding from
SoftBank, the Japanese technology investor led by Masayoshi Son and
Arm Holdings.)
(By Tripp Mickle & Cade Metz, NY Times, Mercury News, Sept. 29, 2023, C7-C8)
BUSINESS: Meta brings chatbots, imageediting to social media apps
(Meta Platforms Inc. is introducing artificial intelligence features to its apps that will
give the company's 3 billion users an experience akin to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Customized sticker
creation, image editing & a slew of celebrity-faced chatbot characters— all infused with
generative AI— are coming to Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, the company said at its
annual Connect developers conference. CEO Mark Zuckerberg: "Our view is that people are going
to want to interact with a bunch of different AIs for the different things that you want to do.")
(By Alex Barinka, Bloomberg, Mercury News, Sept. 28, 2023, C9-C10)
Amazon Takes a Big Stake in the A.I. Start-Up Anthropic
(With its investment of up to $4 billion, Amazon is seeking a bigger footprint in
A.I. development, one already established by rivals like Microsoft and Google.
Anthropic is one of the most promising of th AI start-ups. AI has the power to
potentially transform the way people work and live. Anthropic's partnership with
Amazon is also another example of a new kind of circular business arrangement
that can be mutually beneficial to both cloud computing companies & AI startups.)
(By Adam Satariano & Cade Metz, NY Times, Mercury News, Sept. 26, 2023, C7-C8)
With roots in Silicon Valley, this century-old fruit business has ties to your cereal bowl
(This fourth-generation dried fruit business supplies Raisin Bran's raisins and has a street named
after it, Mariani Avenue at Apple headquarters. Mariani Packing Company president George Sousa Jr.
at company's facility in Vacaville, CA. In Cupertino until 1982, then moved to San Jose until 2001,
and then to Vacaville. Biggest product is now cranberries. Have a facility in Wisconsin, that's
completely vertically integrated. After that would be raisins, prunes, mangoes, then apricots.)
(By Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, Sept. 24, 2023, E1, E3)
THINGS TO DO:
Bay Area adventures: 4 day trips via a San Francisco Bay Ferry
(Ferry fare ranges from $4.60 to $9.30 one way, & kids under five are free;
1. Arriving in Mare Island;
2. Savage & Cooke s;
3. Alameda Point Antiques Faire;
4. USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum;
5. Arriving in Downtown San Francisco;
6. Tsar Nicoulai Caviar;
7. Arriving in Oakland;
8. Volcano Noodles;
9. Matty's Burgers)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, September 24, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 sailing destinations around the world
(1. The Grenadines;
2. Catalina Island, California;
3. Croatia;
4. Galapagos Island, Ecuador;
5. French Polynesia;
6. Newport, Rhode Island;
7. Port Townsend, Washington;
8. Zanzibar;
9. Fort Lauderdale, Florida;
10. French Riviera.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, September 24, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Artificial Intelligence incubator hub eyed
(Busy developer hopes A.I. hub can help spur downtown economy in San Jose;
Gary Dillabough said "We are talking with a potential partner to bring 40 or 50
AI startups to downtown San Jose. Get Mountain View's Y Combinator involved.")
(By George Avalos, Mercury News, September 23, 2023, B1-B2)
BUSINESS:
Visual artists fight back against AI companies for repurposing their work
[Kelly McKernan is an artist and one of three plaintiffs
(Karla Ortiz & Sarah Andersen)
in a lawsuit against Artificial Intelligence companies they allege have infringed on their
copyright. Suit against Stability AI, the London-based maker of text-to-image generator
Stable Diffusion.
Complaint also named another popular image-generator, Midjourney,
& online gallery DeviantArt. Much of the sudden proliferation of image-generators can be
traced to a single, enormous research database, known as Large-scale Artificial Intelligence
Open Network, or LAION, run by schoolteacher
Christoph Schuhmann, in Hamburg, Germany.]
(By Jocelyn Noveck & Matt O'Brien, AP, Mercury News, September 18, 2023, C9-C10)
THINGS TO DO:
Hawaii post-fire: 9 great reasons to visit Maui now
1. Maui for foodies;
2. Haleakala hiking;
3. Heavenly Hana;
4. Upcountry explorations;
5. Maui-made craft sips;
6. Discover Grand Wailea's art bonanza;
7. Maui's sensational spas;
8. Find a secret cove or a grand strand;
9. Take a sunset stroll.
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, September 17, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL LIST:
Maui fire relief fundraisers
1. Oakland pop-up;
2. Roy's Luau;
3. Hoppy Hawaiian Shirt;
4. San Jose brunch;
5. Save Mart, Lucky and FoodMaxx;
6. Spam Musubi;
7. Hawaiian Mac
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, September 17, 2023, F7)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
7 best Oktoberfests in the U.S.A. from Leavenworth to Stowe
1. Leavenworth, Washington;
2. Denver, Colorado;
3. La Crosse, Wisconsin;
4. Fredericksburg, Texas;
5. Cincinnati, Ohio;
6. Helen, Georgia;
7. Stowe, Vermont
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, September 17, 2023, F6)
OP-ED:
San Jose tech titan Adobe seeks 'creativity for all' with AI launch
(Adobe melds art with artificial intelligence in new cloud-based consumer product.
David Wadhwani, president of Adobe's Digital Media Business, said "With over
2 billion images generated during the Firefly beta, Generative AI is ushering in
a new era of creative expression." Adobe trained its Firefly AI machines solely
on content licensed by Adobe or content in the public domain that was no longer
protected by copyrights.)
(By George Avalos, Mercury News, September 15, 2023, C7-C8)
OP-ED:
Writers deserve more for contribution to OpenAI's success
(How much should AI companies owe to the creators whose work informs their chatbots?
OpenAI— the company behind generative AI chatbot
ChatGPT— was on track to make
$1 billion in revenue this year from user subscriptions & by licensing its technology to
other companies. While technological progress is a matter to celebrate, we need to ensure
that this technology is created with guardrails to protect both its users and the creators
of the content that the AI was trained on.)
(By Diya Sabharwal, Mercury News, September 14, 2023, A7)
THINGS TO DO:
Isleton, the 'Little Paris of the Delta,' gears up for its comeback
(The city of Isleton is making a resurgence as a travel destination, due to some new cafes,
restaurants
and art galleries that have opened up in this small town that exists along Sacramento River.
If you go—
1. Mei Wah Beer Room;
2. The McBoodery;
3. Isleton Coffee Company;
4. Manny's Barzzeria;
5. Java Jack's 160;
6. Peter's Steakhouse;
7. Isleton Museum;
8. 40 Main Art Gallery;
9. Rivers Edge)
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, September 10, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The most beautiful cities in the world
Luxury Travel Expert—
1. Cape Town, South Africa;
2. Vancouver, British Columbia;
3. New York City;
4. Rome, Italy;
5. San Francisco;
6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
7. Paris, France;
8. Hong Kong;
9. Prague, Czech Republic;
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, September 10, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Cleaning up your internet browser
(If you experience glitches or are concerned about privacy, it's time to take some proactive steps.
The browser cache can also store web images, videos, fonts used on web pages and the computer code
the web page needs to function. The page could function without the cache, but there would be a delay
since it would have to re-load all that data each time you visit. That delay could be close to zero
or a few seconds depending on your internet speed, the amount of data the page needs to send you
and the performance of the site's server.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, September 8, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Bay Area outdoors: A day trip or weekend nature jaunt is just what the doctor ordered
(Dr. Laurie Bostick Cammon says "Even if you can’t do a lot of adventuring or hiking, going for a walk
or even just sitting in nature is good for your health.”
1. East Bay parks;
2. Del Valle Park Regional Park;
3. East Bay Regional Parks;
4. Veggielution;
5. Mt. Madonna County Park;
6. Land of Medicine Buddha;
7. Audrey Edna Cabin;
8. Sam McDonald State Park;
9. Pescadero's Costanoa eco-adventure resort)
(By Sarah McDonald, Mercury News, September 3, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Campspot's top camping spots in North America include 6 California sites
Voted best 2023 awards—
1. Sun Outdoors Paso Robles, Paso Robles, California;
2. Bonelli Bluffs RV Resort & Campground, San Dimas, California;
3. Casini Ranch Family Campground, Duncans Mills, California;
4. Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort, Mt. Shasta City, California;
5. Lake Hemet Campground, Mountain Center, California;
6. Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District, Julian, California)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, September 3, 2023, F7)
PHOTO:
California landmarks glow under August's Super Blue Moon
(The Super Blue Moon shines high above the California State Capitol in Sacramento, CA,
on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. The last super blue moon appeared on Jan. 31, 2018.
According to NASA the next super blue moon won't appear until January 31, 2037.
Why super? Any time a full Moon coincides with the Moon's closest approach to Earth
in its 27-day orbit, that Moon is referred to as a perigean or Super Moon. The Moon
at its perigee, or closest point of orbit, is 226,000 miles from Earth, according
to NASA. Last Super Moon was earlier this month on August 2. Why blue? Because it's
the second full Moon in August and the third full moon this summer, a season that
spans four full Moons, according to Space.com.)
(By Jose Carlos Fajardo, Mercury News, September 1, 2023, B4)
BUSINESS:
Livermore makes list of hottest ZIP codes in U.S. for home buyers— but Bakersfield has it beat
(Livermore ranked 44th on list of the 50 hottest ZIP codes in the country. Bakersfield in Kern County,
north of Los Angeles, came in at No. 24. What's the hottest ZIP code in the country? It's 43230,
perhaps better known as Gahanna, Ohio, in the Columbus metropolitan area. The median listing price
on the real estate website
for a home there in June was $351,000. Livermore— with a median listing
price of $1.4 million— was the highest-priced ZIP code on the top 50 list. 14850: Ithaca, New York
ranked #30, with home listing at $585,000. How come 94303: Palo Alto
with home listing $958,800
is not on the list?)
(By Andre Byik, Mercury News, August 29, 2023, B1-B2)
THINGS TO DO:
Reno adventures, spas and craft breweries to explore
(Nevada's "Biggest Little City" may be known for its vibrant gambling scene,
but Reno is becoming a more popular destination for its exciting outdoor activities,
diverse wellness offerings & thriving craft breweries. If you go:
Whitney Peak Hotel;
Atlantis Casino Resort Spa;
Refuge Spa
at Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa;
Silver Legacy at The Row;
Peppermill Resort Casino;
;
Great Basin Brewing Co.;
Death & Taxes;
Rum Sugar Lime;
The Eddy;
Reno Food Tours;
La Strada at Eldorado at The Row;
Great Full Gardens Cafe & Eatery)
(By Sharael Kolberg, Mercury News, August 27, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
8 of the world's best new theme parks
1. Katmandu Park, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic;
2. Super Nintendo World, California;
3. Ghibli Park, Japan;
4. Legoland Korea Resort, South Korea;
5. Columbia Pictures Aquaverse, Thailand;
6. Lotte World Adventure Busan, South Korea;
7. Peppa Pig Theme Park, Florida;
8. Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park, Malaysia
(By The-CNN-Wire, Mercury News, August 27, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Google simplifies controlling information about you
(You might be surprised what people can find out about in a search. Google now has a tool that
makes that much easier and also helps you request to have results that contain content information
removed from Google Search. You can start your search for personal information at goo.gle/resultsaboutyou.
You'll be asked to enter your email address, name, address and phone number. It may take several hours for
Google to locate the information and, once it's found, it shows up in a "results to review" tab. You can
request to remove results that include your contact information by clicking on "Remove result" next to
any results. Removing a result from Google search doesn't remove it from the internet. Subscribe to service
like Norton Privacy Monitor that scans data broker or people-search sites & requests removal for you.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, August 25, 2023, C7-C8)
MOVIES:
Cinema Day returns Aug. 27 with $4 movie tickets nationwide
(Theater owners announced Monday that second annual National Cinema Day will be held
Sunday, Aug. 27. For one day, all movies— in all formats and at all showtimes— will be $4
at participating theaters. More than 3,000 theaters are participating, which accounts for most
of cinemas in the U.S., including leading chains AMC & Regal. An estimated 8.1 million moviegoers
bought $3 tickets on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Average ticket in 2022, according to NATO, cost $10.53.)
(By Jake Coyle, Mercury News, August 23, 2023, A2)
THINGS TO DO:
See Monterey's sea-otter paradise with a ride on a unique, electric catamaran
(Embark on a tour of the Elkhorn Slough, a biodiverse tidal estuary on Monterey Bay.
The slough is home to pupping harbor seals, endangered birds and the world's densest
concentration of southern sea otters. Also seen fat sea lions, cormorants, brown pelicans)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, August 20, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
10 best cheap vacation destinations in the U.S.
1. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming;
2. Moab, Utah;
3. Glacier National Park, Montana;
4. Cannon Beach, Oregon;
5. Sequoia & King's Canyon National Park;
6. Bar Harbor, Maine;
7. Olympic National Park, Washington;
8. Destin, Florida;
9. St. Augustine, Florida;
10. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, August 20, 2023, F7)
* MUSIC:
A New Look at 'The Comeback'
("Singer Presents...Elvis" commonly called "The '68 Comeback Special", an hour that changed
not just the way wo looked at Elvis Presley but also the way he looked at himself. The hour
fulfills its metaphorical premise, that of a man going forward by going back, reclaiming his
roots and his artistry, Director Steve Binder, 90,
shows Elvis Presley revive his career thanks
to an 1968 NBC TV Special. Binder made these video 55 years ago, and they seem still fresh.)
(By Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, Mercury News, August 17, 2023, G7)
*
Paper exams, chatbot bans: Colleges seek to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments
(Educators say they want to embrace the technology's potential to teach and
learn in new ways, but when it comes to assessing students, they see a need to
"ChatGPT-proof" test questions and assignments. Practically overnight, ChatGPT
and other artificial intelligence chatbots have become the go-to source for cheating
in college. CEO Dan Rosensweig warned ChatGPT was hurting Chegg's growth.
He said students who normally pay for Chegg's service were now using ChatGPT's
AI platform for free instead. Chegg shares tumble nearly 50% in a single day in May.)
(By Jocelyn Gecker, Mercury News, August 14, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
An Endless Summer on the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz
(Summer's never over at the Sant Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Events
in August, September, October—
National Roller Coaster Day (Aug. 13);
Fiesta en la Playa (Sept. 9);
Beach Blitz: Christian Overnight
(Sept. 15-16);
Fall Campout (Sept. 29-30);
Fright Flicks (Oct. 4-25);
Santa Cruz Band Review (Oct. 21);
Boardwalk Chill Cook-Off (Oct. 28)
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, August 13, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
5 things you probably don't know about Santa Cruz's history
1. Boardwalk's origin;
2. Public schools;
3. Lumber and limestone;
4. Racism against Chinese;
5. Organic farming.
(By Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, August 13, 2023, F7)
* TECHNOLOGY: Aided by AI language models, Google's robots getting smarter
(Project has given the power to problem solve. Robots weren't able to reliably manipulate objects
they had never seen before, and they certainly weren't capable of making the logical leap from
"extinct animal" to "plastic dinosaur". Google has recently begun plugging state-of-the-art language
models into its RT-2 robots, giving them the equivalent of artificial brains. The secretive project
has made the robots far smarter and given them new powers of understanding and problem-solving.)
(By Kevin Roose, NY Times, Mercury News, August 7, 2023, C7-C8)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Tech rushes to provide AI to businesses
(Many companies giving customers programs to help streamline work. To meet this new demand,
tech companies are racing to introduce products for businesses that incorporate generative AI.
Over the past three months, Amazon, Box, and Cisco have unveiled plans for generative AI-
powered products that produce code, analyze documents and summarize meetings. AT&T tried a
product from Microsoft called Azure OpenAI Services that lets businesses build their own
artificial-intelligence-powered chatbots. AT&T used it to create a proprietary AI assistant,
AskAT&T, which helps its developers automate their coding process.)
(By Yiwen Liu, NY Times, Mercury News, August 7, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Historic Seattle
(It's a rare weekend getaway that combines subterranean sidewalks, conflagrations and a Polar Bar,
complete with glacier ice. Also walruses. A little Jules Verne. And the founder of Nordstrom.
If you go: 1. The Arctic Club Hotel;
2. Cherry Street Coffee House;
3. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park;
4. Damn the Weather;
5. Beneath the Streets)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, August 6, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
San Jose winery tops USA Today's best new vineyard experiences list
1 .Alamitos Vineyards, San Jose, California;
2. Anacréon Winery, Newberg, Oregon;
3. Los Milics Vineyards, Elgin, Arizona;
4. Bledsoe McDaniels, Walla Walla, Washington;
5. The Ordinary Fellow, Palisade, Colorado;
6. Abbott Claim, Carlton, Oregon;
7. Sauvage Spectrum, Palisade, Colorado;
8. Nicolas-Jay, Newberg, Oregon;
9. Hillick & Hobbs, Burdett, New York;
10. Newby Vineyard, Rome, Georgia.
(By Laura Ness, Mercury News, August 6, 2023, F7)
* Dollversity: Barbie Dolls
(1959: Barbie is born March 9, 1959, $3 doll now worth $27,000;
1961: Barbie's boyfriend Ken;
1965: Astronaut Barbie; 1968: Black Barbie; 1992: Presidential Barbie;
1997: Wheelchair Barbie;
2009; Sugar Daddy Ken; 2010: Video Girl Barbie;
2016: Curvy Barbie; 2023: Down's syndrome Barbie)
(By Jeff Goertzen, Mercury News, July 30, 2023, B13)
THINGS TO DO:
Five hikes to catch the last of the Bay Area's glorious winter waterfalls
(Crashing, booming and throwing out mist clouds full of rainbows and even moonbows—
waterfalls remain an impressive reminder of the historic precipitation that thumped California this winter.
Places to Visit: Coal Creek Waterfall, Coal Creek Open Space Preserve;
Seasonal waterfall at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Sonoma County;
Hidden waterfall, Berkeley;
Cascade Falls, Mill Valley;
Uvas Canyon Creek County Park, Morgan Hill;
Hiked at Uvas 9-25-2011 with Connie)
(By Kate Bradshaw & John Metcalfe, Mercury News, July 30, 2023, F7-f8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
America's best small towns and cities
1. Gloucester, Massachusetts;
2. Saranac Lake, New York;
3. New Bern, North Carolina;
4. Beaufort, South Carolina;
5. Metropolis, Illinois;
6. Mackinac Island Village, Michigan;
7. Eureka Springs, Arkansas;
8. Marfa, Texas;
9. Taos, New Mexico;
10. Whitefish, Montana;
11. Moab, Utah;
12. Friday Harbor, Washington;
13. Julian, California;
14. Volcano, Hawaii;
15. McCarthy, Alaska.
(By Joe Yogerst, CNN, Mercury News, July 30, 2023, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Seabrook: Modern town on the Washington coast exudes that old-school beach town vibes
(They're right across the Golden Gate Bridge but feel like a wild frontier.—:
Places to visit:
Joie Des Livres: The Joy of Books;
The Salty Dog;
PONDR;
Magnolias Boutique;
Olympic National Park;
Vista Bakeshop;
Rising Tide Tavern;
Koko's Restaurant & Tequila Bar;
Fontager's Pizza Co. & Social;
The Stowaway Wine Bar;
Fresh Foods;
The Arcade;
The Sweet Life; )
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, July 23, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The nation's most spectacular reaorts
1. Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts, Park City, Utah;
2. Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts, Napa;
3. Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts, Aspen, Colorado;
4. Quisisana Resort, Lovell, Maine;
5. Hotel Walloon, Walloon Lake, Michigan;
6. Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts, Telluride, Colorado;
7. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe, California;
8. Wylder Windham, Windham, New York;
9. Triple Creek Ranch, Darby, Montana;
10. The Wauwinet, Nantucket, Massachusetts;
11. Candleberry Inn, Brewster, Massachusetts;
12. Pickering House Inn, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire;
13. The Madrona, Healdsburg, California;
14. Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, California;
15. San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara, California.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, July 23, 2023, F7)
* MUSIC:
Tony Bennett, beloved singer who 'left my heart in San Francisco', dies at 96
(He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys— all but
two of which came after he reached his 60s. Bennett and his son and manager, Danny,
found creative ways to market the singer to the MTV Generation.
In 2014, at age 88,
Bennett broke his own record as the oldest living performer with
a No. 1 album on the
Billboard 200 chart for "Cheek to Cheek", his duets project with Lady Gaga.
A statue
of the singer was erected at the Fairmont Hotel in honor of Bennett's 90th birthday.
In 2001 "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" was ranked 23rd on an RIAA/NEA list
of the most historically significant Songs of the 20th Century.)
(By Charles J. Gans, AP, Mercury News, 7-22-2023, A1, A6)
MOVIES:
Was the Bay Area's Jean Tatlock Oppenheimer's 'truest love'
or the first casualty of his ambition to build the atomic bomb?
[Before and after graduating from Vassar in 1935, she became involved
in protesting capitalism, and became a "dues-paying member" of the
Community Party & wrote for Western Worker, the party's Pacific Coast outlet.
Oppenheimer arrived at Berkeley in 1929, a graduate of Harvard, Cambridge
and University of Göttingen. When he and
Tatlock met in 1936, at a party
hosted by his landlady in the Berkeley hills, he was 32 and a star in the
world of science. She was 22 and about to start medical school at Stanford.
For his part, Oppenheimer seemed to accept that she was despondent enough
to take her own life (Jan. 1994) and was stricken by grief and guilt that he failed her.
He imagined her believing that he put his ambition ahead of
his love for her,
in a sense making her "the first casualty" of his directorship of Los Alamos,
according to "American Prometheus". Eighteen months later, he oversaw the
detonation of the first atomic bomb
in the New Mexico desert. He called
the test "Trinity",
with film showing that he named it for a sonnet
by John Donne that she loved, "Batter my heart, three-person'd God".]
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7-19-2023, A1, A5)
* BUSINESS:
Meta Unveils a More Powerful A.I. and Isn't Fretting Who Uses It
(The company said it would give outside programmers access to the latest version of its
core artificial intelligence technology. Mark Zuckerberg is doubling down on a different tack:
He's giving it away to developers and software enthusiasts around the world free of charge.
Researchers argue that someone could deploy Meta's A.I. without safeguards that tech giants
like Google & Microsoft often use to suppress toxic content. Newly created open-source models
could be used, to flood the internet with even more spam, financial scams & disinformation.)
(By Mike Isaac & Cade Metz, NY Times, Mercury News, 7-19-2023, C7-C8)
HEALTH CARE:
AI Revolution Is Coming. But Who's Taking Its Pulse?
(Stanford among sites examining the good and bad that comes with more doses of high-tech.
Fei-Fei Li: "It's very obvious health and medicine is one of the key areas that AI can make
a huge contribution to." Dean Lloyd Minor says AI is already being used to help in health care,
with medications, radiology, & cardiology. However, data collected from clinical trials that
the FDA uses to approve drugs, the participants of which have "typically been Whites of
European descents" instead of from Black patients.)
(By Harriet Blair Rowan, Mercury News, 7-18-2023, A1, A5)
Environment:
Creature found in a Los Angeles area park has 486 legs
(A previously unknown species has been discovered lurking in the parks of Los Angeles
& Orange counties. The animal boasts 486 legs and a toothy, Predator-style head.
It has the greenish translucence of a glow-in-the-dark toy in daylight, & weaves through
the soil as elegantly as an embroiderer's needle. The millipede was spotted for first time
in April 2018 at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, near Lake Forest, by naturalists Cedric Lee
& James Bailey, Millipedes do the unsexy yet essential work of keeping the forests from drowning
in their dead. They are detritovores, breaking down dead plant matter for food and excreting
nutrients that seed the soil for future growth.)
(By Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, Mercury News, 7-18-2023, B4)
* BUSINESS:
Inside the White-Hot Center of A.I. Doomerism at Anthropic
(Anthropic, a safety-focused A.I. start-up, is trying
to compete with ChatGPT while preventing
an A.I. apocalypse. It's been a little stressful. Despite its small size— just 160 employees— and its
low profile, Anthropic is one of the world's leading A.I. research labs, and a formidable rival to giants
like Google & Meta. It has raised more than $1 billion from investors including Google & Salesforce,
Claude uses a messaging interface where users can submit questions or requests & receive highly detailed
and relevant responses. Claude has 52 billion parameters. Many of them believe that A.I. models are rapidly
approaching a level where they might be considered artificial general intelligence, or "A.G.I.", the industry
term for human-level machine intelligence. They fear that if they're not carefully controlled, these systems
could take over and destroy us. I came to find Anthropic's anxiety reassuring, even if it means that Claude—
which you can try for yourself— can be a little neurotic. A.I. is already kind of scary, and it's going
to get scarier. A little more fear today might spare us a lot of pain tomorrow.)
(By Kevin Roose, NY Times, Mercury News, 7-17-2023, C7-C8)
World Orca Week:
A look at the ocean's largest predator
(Orcas, often referred to as killer whales, are a toothed whale but are technically the largest member
of the dolphin family. There are three main types of killer whales in the North Pacific: Resident,
transient and offshore. There are 10 different types around the world. Orcas have from 40 to 56
interlocking teeth— each one around 3 inches long. The're used for ripping and tearing, but
not for chewing. Orcas eat their food in chunks or entirely whole. Orca can eat 500 pounds of food
a day. They usually hunt in groups and use echolocation to find prey. They have excellent eyesight
but no sense of smell. They have a maximum diving depth from 846 feet to 1483 feet. Adult male killer
whales can grow to a length of 27 feet 9size of a school bus), wheras female grow to an average length
of 23 feet. Adult males can weigh almst twice as much as females, up to 13,300 pounds. Average life
expectancy of orcas in the wild is estimated at about 30 years for males and 50 years for females.
Some females are believed to reach 90. Killer whales are among the fastest swimming marine mammals
& can reach speeds over 30 mph for short distances. Fastest human on land, Usain Bolt's 100-meter dash,
was about 27 mph. As of Jan. 9, there were 55 orcas in captivity worldwide, 29 of which were captive-born.)
(By Kurt Snibbee, Mercury News, 7-16-2023, B18)
* Can AI invent?
(As generative artificial intelligence seems on the brink of invading
another uniquely human endeavor, legal experts are pressing patent agencies, courts
& policymakers to address the question: can AI invent? Generative AI, the technology
engine powering the popular ChatGPT chatbot, seems to have a limitless bag of tricks.
It can produce on command everything from recipes and vacation plans to computer code
and molecules for new drugs. Patent arbiters generally agree on one thing: An inventor
has to be human, at least under current standards.)
(By Steve Lohr, NY Times, Mercury News, 7-16-2023, A4)
* OP-ED:
AI brings fears that 'human beings are soon going to be eclipsed'
(ChatGPT is 'jumping through hoops I would never have imagined it could. It's just
scaring the daylights out of me.' Douglas Hofstadter's 2018 essay
"The Shallowness
of Google Translate" (The Atlantic, January 2018), suggested that he's a
limitationist too, and reinforced my sense that this view is right. Hofstadter now asks:
If AI cogently solves intellectual problems, then who are you to say it's not thinking?
As Hofstadter points out, these artificial brains are not constrained by the factors that
limit human brains— like having to fit inside a skull. And, he emphasizes, they are
improving at an astounding rate, while human intelligence isn't.)
(By David Brooks, Mercury News, 7-16-2023, A13)
THINGS TO DO:
Trip to the Marin Headlands, from hikes & art exhibits to sea lions and toddies
(They're right across the Golden Gate Bridge but feel like a wild frontier.—:
Places to visit:
Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito;
The Marine Mammal Center;
Tennessee Point Labyrinth;
Farley at Cavallo Point Lodge)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, July 16, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Dr. Beach's 2023 list of the best U.S. beaches
1. St. George Island State Park, Florida;
2. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii;
3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York;
4. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida;
5. Lighthouse Beach, Buxton, Outer Banks of North Carolina;
6. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California;
7. Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii;
8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina;
9. Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii;
10. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
(By Amanda Mactas, Mercury News, July 16, 2023, F7)
* Bay Area Outdoors: 4 shady cool hikes for hot weather
(1. Castle Rock, Walnut Creek;
2. Pichetti Ranch, Cupertino;
3. Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt
Redwood Regional Park, Oakland Hills;
4. Troop 80 Trail, Mount Tamalpais, Mill Valley)
(By Jim Harrington, Martha Ross, & Randy McMullen, Mercury News, July 11, 2023, Melt, pp. 66-70)
Overdue book returned
to Massachusetts library 119 years later
(On Feb. 14, 1904, someone curious about the emerging possibilities of a key force of nature
checked out James Clerk Maxwell's "An Elementary Treatise on Electricity" from New Bedford
Free Public Library. It would take 119 years and the sharp eyes of a librarian in West Virginia
before the scientific text finally found its way back to the Massachusetts library.
Stewart Plein,
curator of rare books at West Virginia University Libraries, was sorting
through a recent donation
of books. He found the 1881 Maxwell treatise in extremely good condition, and noticed it was
from the New Bedford library and, had not been stamped "Withdrawn", and sent the book back.
The New Bedford library has a 5-cent-per-day late fee. At that rate, someone returning
a book
overdue by 119 years would face a hefty fee of more than $2,100. The good news
is the library's
late fee limit maxes out at $2.)
(By Steve LeBlanc, AP, Mercury News, July 10, 2023, A2)
BASEBALL:
Is baseball's Shohei Ohtani worth a $701 million contract?
(Ohtani, who's making $30 million in 2023, will be a free agent when the season ends.
He'll be available for hire by any of Major League Baseball's 30 teams to pursue.
Guessing starts at a half-billion bucks for his next decade of work— topping
Angels teammate Mike Trout's $426 million, 12-year deal signed in 2019.)
(By Jonathan Lansner, Mercury News, July 9, 2023, E1-E2)
THINGS TO DO:
A Central California road trip winds through Cambria, Cayucos and more
(The Big Sur coastline is one of the planet's most spectacular, but while a section of Highway One&#!%!:
near Limekiln State Park— remains off limits, a bit of creative re-routing presents an often overlooked region to explore. Approaching Big Sur from the south brings plenty of wildlife sightings, great food stops and plenty of fun to be had.
Pass through Paso;
Explore Cambria;
Hearst Castle;
Ramble through Cayucos)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, July 9, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 U.S. destinations and adventures
1. Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa Tour, Honolulu, HI;
2. Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Juneau, AK;
3. History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour, Salem, MA;
4. Party Bike in Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ;
5. Niagara Falls American-Side Tour with Maid of the Mist Boat Ride, Niagara Falls, NY;
6. Xtreme Parasail in Honolulu, Oahu, HI;
7. Deluxe USS Arizona Memorial and Historical City Tour, Honolulu, HI;
8. Swim with Manatees, Crystal River, FL;
9. Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure from North Pole, North Pole, AK;
10. The Official Hollywood Sign Walking Tour, Los Angeles, CA.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, July 9, 2023, F7)
* BUSINESS: Looking back on 40 years of writing tech columns
(This week marks my 40th anniversary as a newspaper columnist. My first tech column
called "The Computer File" ran in Los Angeles Times starting July 3, 1983. I wrote for
LA Times for next 20 years & later New York Times, and since around 1994,
the Mercury News where I write a weekly tech column. In 1983, after defining what
RAM (random access memory) stood for, I pointed out that computers could have as little
as 4K of RAM and 80K of storage. My current PC's 1-terabyte drive holds 13 million times
more data than an 80K diskette. An Apple Watch has 400,000 times as much storage. In 1993,
wrote about the Internet between 15 million and 20 million users. Today there are more than
five billion internet users, according to Stastica. New buzzwords include Generative AI,
Metaverse, Web 3.0, augmented reality, quantum computing, cloud computing, big data,
big tech, extended reality (XR), blockchain, chatbots, crypto, Internet of Things (IoT),
machine learning, natural language model and much more.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, July 7, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Turning it up: 4 great, music-filled road trips for Bay Area fans
[There are several awesome venues within a relatively short drive from pretty much anywhere
in the Bay Area. Here's a look at 4 such music spots, any of which would make a fantastic day trip
or weekend jaunt this summer&3151; and all four have some terrific shows on the calendar.
Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions;
Summer at the Green (Sonoma State University);
HopMonk Novato;
Oxbow Riverstage (Napa)]
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, July 2, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Tripadvisor's top 10 experiences around the world
1. Grand Circle Island and Haleiwa Tour, Honolulu, Hawaii;
2. Thai Cooking Course, Chiang Mai, Thailand;
3. Ubud Tour— Best of Ubud, Ubud, Bali;
4. Red Dunes ATV, Sandsurf, Camels, Stargazing & 5* BBQ, Dubai, UAE;
5. Best DMZ 3rd Infiltration Tunnel Tour from Seoul, Seoul, South Korea;
6. Reykjavik Food Walk— Local Foodie Adventure, Reykjavik, Iceland;
7. Amsterdam Luxury Guided Sightseeing Canal Cruise, Amsterdam, Netherlands;
8. Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour, Siem Reap, Cambodia;
9. San Juan
Guided Snorkel Tour, San Juan, Puerto Rico;
10. Hanoi Jeep Tours, Hanoi, Vietnam.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, July 2, 2023, F7)
COMMENTARY: Route 66,
The 13 things inside the Winchester Mystery House time capsule
(Centennial celebration includes messages to be unsealed in 2123.
When the house first opened in 1923, it was surrounded by orchards and fields
with a dirt road — but nobody can seem to find any photos of the house from
that first year.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, June 30, 2023, A1, A5)
BASEBALL:
Yankees' Domingo Germán throws perfect game against A's, the 24th in MLB history
(New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo Germán (0) celebrates his perfect game in their 11-0 win
over the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, CA, on Wednesday. He joined Don Larsen
(1956), David Wells (1998)
and David Cone (1999) as Yankees pitchers to throw perfect games.
Larsen's gem came in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series
against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Germán's gem
was the third perfect game ever thrown at the Oakland Coliseum and the
first since A's Dallas Braden
was perfect against Tampa Bay in a 4-0 win on Mother's Day in 2010. Hall of Famer
Catfish Hunter
had the first perfect game in Oakland A's history, blanking Minnesota 4-0 on May 8, 1968.)
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, June 28, 2023)
HEALTH CARE:
Doctors Are Using Chatbots In An Unexpected Way
(Artificial intelligence offered a perhaps too tempting shortcut to finding diagnoses
and medical information that may be incorrect or even fabricated, a frightening prospect
in a field like medicine. Doctors were asking ChatGPT to help them communicate with patients
in a more compassionate way. Dr. Gregory Moore, who specialized in diagnostic radiology and
neurology when he was a practicing physician, was stunned. "I wish I would have had this when
I was in training," he said. "I have never seen or had a coach like this." He became an evangelist,
telling his doctor friends what had occurred. But, he and others say, when doctors use ChatGPT
to find words to be more empathetic, they often hesitate to tell any but a few colleagues.)
(By Gina Kolata, NY Times, Mercury News, June 26, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO: Route 66,
America's 'Mother Road', readies for its centennial
(By the 1950s, the 2,400-mile highway lured travelers with the post-World War II promise
of adventure on the open road. As era of interstate highway driving dawned,
Route 66 began to reflect a yearning for a time when a journey was about more than the destination.
Now 8 states traversed by America's defining highway are getting it ready for its 100th anniversary, in 2026.
Iconic highway has always been "the ultimate symbol of a restless nation on the move," writes Michael Wallis
in "Route 66: The Mother Road", the 1990 book.)
(By Erika Bolstad, Mercury News, June 25, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 must-sees along Route 66
1. The Wigwam Motel, San Bernardino, California, and Holbrook, Arizona;
2. Painted Desert, Arizona;
3. Mr. D's Route 66 Diner, Kingman, Arizona;
4. Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas;
5. Roy's Motel and Cafe, Amboy, California;
6. Historic Seligman Sundries, Arizona;
7. Grand Canyon, Arizona;
8. Meteor Crater
and
Barringer Space Museum, Winslow, Arizona;
9. Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California;
10. Standin' on the Corner Park, Winslow, Arizona.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, June 25, 2023, F7)
* MOVIES:
Stanford Theatre reopening in July with Hitchcock, Cary Grant
[Stanford Theatre is set to reopen— again— in July with a summer festival featuring
the movies of director Alfred Hitchcock and suave movie star Cary Grant. Double features start
with Grant ("Bringing Up Baby" July 1-2, "His Girl Friday" July 8-9 and "Topper" July 15-16,
"Gunga Din" July 20-21). Hitchcock starts July 22-23 with Grant, 1941's "Suspicion" and 1946's
"Notorious". "To Catch a Thief" Aug. 12-13 and "North by Northwest" Aug. 19-20. Wraps up
Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-3 with Hitchcock thrillers: "Psycho" & "The Birds".
Full Schedule.]
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, June 23, 2023, B1-B2)
* Technology:
Silicon Valley nears its 'Singularity' milestone
(The frenzy over artificial intelligence may be ushering in the long-awaited moment when human and
machine would unite & create "singularity". Google CEO Sundar Pichar calls AI
"more profound than
fire or electricity or anything we have done in the past". Sam Altman, CEO at OpenAI,
is the biggest champion of the new technology, but also says it comes with risks. What happens after the tipping point
is met is anyone's guess. A self-aware
superhuman machine could design its own improvements faster
than any group of scientists, setting off an explosion in intelligence.)
(By David Streitfeld, NY Times, Mercury News, June 19, 2023, C7-C8)
Technology:
New A.I. Chatbot Tutors Could Upend Student Learning
(Proponents see the tools as a way to automatically customize academic support. They could also
make children test subjects for A.I. experiments. Sixth graders at Khan Lab School in Palo Alto, CA.,
recently began using Khanmigo, a new tutoring bot. A chatbox in their math software lets them converse
with the bot. Khan Academy began developing chatbot tutoring software last fall with the aim of assessing
A.I.'s potential to improve learning. The system uses GPT-4, a large language model created by OpenAI,
the research lab behind ChatGPT.)
(By Natasha Singer, NY Times, Mercury News, June 19, 2023, C7-C8)
* Technology:
The AI Vacuum
(New artificial intelligence: Will Silicon Valley ride again to riches on other people's products?
Much of bots' fodder is copyrighted property. Google, valued at $1.5 trillion, has gone all in with
its Bard chatbot after rival Microsoft, valued at $2.4 trillion, invested billions in San Francisco's
generative AI pioneer OpenAI. Meta, valued at $680 billion, plans to add chatbots to its apps.
Venture capitalists are pouring billions of dollars into generative AI startups. Santa Clara University
law school professor Eric Goldman: "We are all free to take pieces of precedent works. What
generative AI does is accelerate that process, but it's the same process. It's all part of an evolution
of our society's storehouse of knowledge.")
(By Ethan Baron, Mercury News, June 18, 2023, A1, A6)
THINGS TO DO:
Inn-Escapable— La Pensione in San Diego's Little Italy
(Little Italy may be 6,000 miles from Rome, but when you're staying in San Diego's Italian quarter,
it only seems fitting to stay in a hotel with a European name— like
La Pensione; If you go, visit
Maritime Museum of San Diego;
James Coffee;
Frost Me Cafe & Bakery:
Ironside Fish & Oyster.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, June 18, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
The nation's best zoo rankings are topped by a California treasure
1. San Diego Zoo, California;
2. Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, Nebraska;
3. Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri;
4. Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C.;
5. Bronx Zoo, New York City;
6. Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma;
7. Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio (Tie);
7. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, Illinois (Tie);
9. Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, June 18, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Using AI and apps for summer travel plans
(I can't overstate how helpful these services can be with travel planning. You can't use them
to make reservations, but you can ask questions like "who flies nonstop between SFO and Paris"
or "what's the best way to get from JFK airport to mid-town Manhattan" or "fun things for
10-year-olds to do at Yosemite"; Used ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Bing to plan our route
and find interesting stops along the way. While all three AI systems give you good information,
ChatGPT seems to be the most thorough; however, its database was last updated in Sept, 2021.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, June 16, 2023, C7-C8)
* MUSIC:
The Beatles are releasing their 'last' record. AI helped make it possible
(Artificial intelligence has been used to extract John Lennon's voice from an old demo to create
"the last Beatles record", decades after the band broke up, Paul McCartney said. Peter Jackson
was "able to extricate John's voice from a ropey little bit of cassette and a piano," McCartney told
BBC radio. "He could separate them with AI, he'd tell the machine 'That's a voice, this is a guitar,
lose the guitar'." McCartney described AI technology as "kind of scary but exciting," adding:
"We will just have to see where that leads.")
(By Sylvia Hui & Maria Sherman, AP, Mercury News, June 15, 2023, A2)
BUSINESS: Hey, Alexa, what should students learn about AI?
(Rohit Prasad, a senior Amazon executive, had an urgent message for 9th & 10th graders at Dearborn STEM
Academy, a public school in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. He came to observe an Amazon-sponsored
lesson in artificial intelligence that teaches students how to program simple tasks for Alexa, Amazon's
voice-activated virtual assistant. He assured Dearborn students there would be millions of new jobs in AI.
A few miles away, Sally Kornbluth, president of MIT was delivering a more sobering message about AI to
students from local schools who had gathered at Boston's Kennedy Library complex for a workshop on AI
risks & regulation. "Because AI is such a powerful new technology, in order for it to work well in society,
it really needs some rules," Dr. Kornbluth said. "We have to make sure that what it doesn't do is cause harm."
The same-day events— one encouraging work in artificial intelligence and the other cautioning against
deploying the technology too hastily— mirrored the larger debate currently raging in the United States
over the promise and potential peril of A.I.)
(By Natasha Singer, NY Times, Mercury News, June 12, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Oregon Travels: 12 awesome things to do in Bend, from museums to brewery hopping
(Bend is about an 8-hour drive from the Bay Area. Highlights to See: Tower Theatre;
Midtown Ballroom; Hayden Homes Amphitheater;
Unofficial Logging; Downtown and the Old Mill District;
High Desert Museum; Museum at Warm Springs;
Wild Rose; http://scphotel.com/redmond/terraTerra Kitchen; Bend Cider;
Old St. Francis School; The Bite;
Midtown Yacht Club; Worthy Beer)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, June 12, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
TimeOut.com's Most underrated destinations around the world
1. Mongolia;
2. Lake Bacalar, Mexico;
3. Cuenca, Ecuador;
4. Srebrenik, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
5. Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico;
6. Gippsland, Australia;
7. Plymouth, England;
8. Burlington, Vermont;
9. Turku Finland;
10. Karpathos, Greece.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, June 11, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Safeway bamboozled nearly a million California shoppers with deceptive deals: lawsuit
(Grocery giant accused of breaking state laws in pricing; At its 243 California stores,
including dozens in the Bay Area, Safeway illegally jacks up prices on food sold in the "BOGO"
and "Buy One, Get Two Free" promotions; Between March and May, Safeway also allegedly
raised prices on BOGO deals. A package of Gorton's frozen fish went from $8.99 to $11.99.)
(By Ethan Baron, Mercury News, June 10, 2023, A1, A6)
BUSINESS:
Energy Drinks Are Surging. So Are Their Caffeine Levels
(More than 25 years since Red Bull hit the market & introduced caffeinated energy drinks
to the U.S. Energy drink market grows rapidly, attract health-conscious customers with
a wave of no-sugar, low-calorie drinks that claim to boost energy as well as replenish
fluids with electrolytes; Last year, PepsiCo paid $550 million for an 8.5% stake in Celsius.
In May, Celsius said revenues were $260 million this year's first quarter, double what they
were a year earlier. Shares of Celsius have shot up to $144 a share from $69 a year ago.
Likewise, stock of beverage company Monster Energy has increased 31% the past year.
But the eye-popping cans pack a serious punch. A 12-ounce can of Prime Energy contains
200 milligrams of caffeine. That's roughly equivalent to two Red Bulls, two cups of coffee
or six cans of Coca-Cola. Adults are recommended to have no more than 400 milligrams of
caffeine per day. Pediatricians recommend youths ages 12 to 18 should not consume more than
100 milligrams of caffeine per day & children younger than 12 should avoid caffeine completely.)
(By Julie Creswell, NY Times, Mercury News, June 10, 2023, C7-C8)
MOVIES:
Stick a Fork in It? Time for some film franchises to go away
[List of movie sequels: Transformers (7); Indiana Jones (4); Saw (9); James Bond (27);
Mission: Impossible (7); Toy Story (4); Star Trek (12); The Fast and the Furious (7);
Star Wars (11); John Wick (4); Guardians of the Galaxy (3); Avengers (4); Spider-Man (4)]
(By Randy Myers, Mercury News, June 8, 2023, G1-G2)
COMMENTARY:
What it looks like when jobs disappear in the shadow of AI
(CNET quietly started publishing AI-written stories in November, BuzzFeed and Insider
have announced that they're trying out different forms of AI-generated content too.
At the same time, all three companies have also been experimenting with laying off
their staff. CNET fired 10% of its newsroom in March, and Insider followed suit in April.
BuzzFeed shut down its entire Pulitzer Prize-winning news division, which was home to
60 journalists, and laid off 15% of employees companywide. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna,
estimated AI would replace around 8,000 of the firm's jobs in coming years. In the end,
we're still getting more AI and fewer humans— even if the AI is not doing the humans'
job, exactly. There's no jobs apocalypse coming; there's just a series of managers
making the calls they think will best benefit their bottom line, and serve their boards.
Just like they're supposed to— AI or no.)
(By Brian Merchant, Los Angeles Times, Mercury News, June 5, 2023, C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Yosemite waterfall adventures for families, grandkids and nature lovers
(Here's where to go to see the spectacle later this summer or fall: Hiking Hetch Hetchy;
Biking the Valley; Yosemite National Park; Bike rentals; Rush Creek Lodge and Spa)
(By Christine Junge, Mercury News, June 4, 2023, F7-F8)
BUSINESS:
AI makes mistakes but could it destroy us?
(Steven A. Schwartz, a veteran attorney, used ChatGPT for his legal research, which resulted
in citations to cases that never existed. Schwartz later told the court that it was the first time
he used ChatGPT and "therefore was unaware of the possibility that its content could be false."
When it comes to generative AI, we need warning signs, traffic lights, traffic cops, driver's
education and many other safeguards. AI can make the world a better and safer place. It can
power incredible medical breakthroughs, can help vastly reduce traffic deaths and empower
creative people to be even more creative. But like other technologies, including fire, cars,
kitchen knives & pharmaceuticals, it can also do harm if it misused. Realist in me tells me that
AI is here to stay & that there will be downsides to it. Optimist in me draws on decades of dealing
with risks and the confidence that things will be OK, as long as we make the right decisions.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, June 2, 2023, C7-C8)
MEMORIAL DAY:
A look at our National Cemetery as its amphitheater turns 150 years old
(The amphitheater is named in honor of James R. Tanner. Tanner was a corporal in the 87th New York
Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, who suffered a gruesome wound from Confederate cannon fire
at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862. It resulted in the loss of both legs below the knees.
He learned to walk on artificial limbs and after the war, Tanner became a stenographer and was present
both at Abraham Lincoln's deathbed and during the trial of the Lincoln conspirators. He was an advocate
for veterans' rights and served for a time as the Commissioner of Pensions, and later became the commander
in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. Tanner is now buried a few yards from the structure that bears
his name. Public may view ceremony & observance program live at: www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32025.
It's scheduled from 10:50 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT May 29, 2023.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, May 28, 2023, B18)
WINE:
Is ChatGPT a sommelier in the making?
(Are wine professionals intimidated by ChatGPT, that upstart chatbot that recently passed three Master
Sommelier theory exams? Chatbots are software designed to interact conversationally with humans.
Think of the customer service pop-ups you see when you log onto your cell phone account. Launched
in November 2022, ChatGPT is trained to respond to questions with a detailed answer or offer a solution.
ChatGPT showed its chops in March when it scored 92% on introductory Court of Master Sommelier test,
86% on certified Sommelier exam & 77% on Advanced Sommelier exam, according to drinksbusiness.com.
So far, ChatGPT cannot fully pass without acing the tasting section.)
(By Peg Melnik, Mercury News, May 28, 2023, F6)
THINGS TO DO:
Oceania stays current
(Oceania's first new ship Vista since the Riviera debuted in 2012 arrives at San Pedro's World Cruise Center
this fall. Guests will be able to enjoy two of De Laurentiis' recipes in its Italian specialty restaurant during
a 16-night Panama Canal cruise that embarks on Nov. 3 and includes stops in Mexico, Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia & Cayman Islands before pulling up to Miami. Then how about
January 2025, when Vista returns to L.A. for a near-identical cruise to Miami through Panama Canal?)
(By David Dickstein, Mercury News, May 28, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Time magazine's 50 greatest places in the world include a California wonder
1. Dominica;
2. Barcelona, Spain;
3. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile;
4. Ladakh, India;
5. Churchill, Manitoba;
6. Aarhus, Denmark;
7. Roatan, Honduras;
8. Aqaba, Jordan;
9. Kyoto, Japan;
10. Musanze, Rwanda.
Time's Full List of 50
(Yosemite National Park is California wonder)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, May 28, 2023, F7)
OBITUARY:
Music legend Tina Turner dies at 83; singer rocked charts for decades
[Tina Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner
for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and '70s and survived her horrifying
marriage to triumph in middle age with chart-topping "What's Love Got to Do With It", has died at 83.
Turner died May 24, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, according
to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago. Physically battered, emotionally devastated and
financially ruined by her 20-year relationship with Ike Turner, she became a superstar on her own in her 40s,
at a time when most of her peers were on their way down, and remained a top concert draw for years after.
Her trademarks were her growling contralto, her bold smile and strong cheekbones, her palette of wigs and
the muscular, quick-stepping legs she did not shy from showing off. She sold more than 150 million records,
won 12 Grammys, was voted along with Ike into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 (& on her own in 2021)
and was honored at Kennedy Center in 2005, with Beyoncé & Oprah Winfrey among those praising her.]
(By Hillel Italie, Mercury News, May 25, 2023, A2)
OP-ED:
AI photoshopping is becoming very easy; maybe far too easy
("Being able to prove what's true is going to be essential for governments, for news agencies
and for regular people", Dana Rao, Adobe's chief trust officer said. Adobe, that makes Photoshop,
has considered the dangers and has been working on a plan to address the widespread dissemination
of digitally manipulated pics. The company has created what it describes as a "nutrition label"
that can be embedded in image files to document how a picture was altered, including if it has
elements generated by artificial intelligence.)
(By Farhad Manjoo, Mercury News, May 25, 2023, A6)
BUSINESS:
Levi's jeans: How they started, how they're made and how they've changed
(On May 20, 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received their patent for riveted pants.
This month marks the 165th year since the San Francisco clothing company first made them.
They were awarded the patent in 1873 and blue jeans were born. Originally called “waist overalls',
they sold for $3 a pair in 1873 ($58 today). Sales soared to miners in the California gold rush.
Patent #139,121: Jacob Davis "My invention relates to a fastening for pocket opening, whereby
the sewed seams are prevented from ripping or starting from frequent pressure or strain thereon;
and it consists in the employment of a metal rivet, or eyelet at each edge of the pocket-opening,
to prevent the ripping of the seam at those points.")
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, May 21, 2023, B19)
THINGS TO DO:
'Try slow' on the North Shore of Kauai, where regenerative tourism is the way
(At Kauai's Limahuli Garden and Preserve— Never have I experienced so many shades
and forms of the color green, all in one place. This 1,000-acre valley teams with precious
flora and fauna that include plants and birds on the verge of extinction. At the northwestern
tip of the island lies Ha'ena State National Park and Mount Makana, a legendary place for those
who claim Hawaiian ancestry, where tradition tells of gods delivering the art of hula to mortals.
Being a horse owner and lifelong equestrian, visited Princeville Ranch for a horse ride.)
(By Samantha Dunn, Mercury News, May 21, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
America's top 100 secret beaches include 8 California gems
1. Awahua Beach, Molokai;
2. Shell Key Preserve, Florida;
3. Lanikai Beach, Oahu;
4. Kauapea Beach, Kauai;
5. Sedge Island, New Jersey;
6. Lovers Key State Park, Florida;
7. Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point;
8. Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore;
9. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida;
10. Boneyard Beach, Florida.
Full List of 100
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, May 21, 2023, F7)
FOOTBALL:
Jim Brown dies at 87; NFL legend was prominent civil rights activist in 1960s
[Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the unstoppable running back who retired at the peak
of his brilliant career to become an actor as well as a prominent civil rights advocate
during the 1960s, has died at 87. One of the greatest players in football history and
one of the game's first superstars, Brown was chosen the NFL's Most Valuable Player
in 1965 and shattered the league's record books in a short career spanning 1957-65.
He retired in his prime after the '65 season to become an actor. He appeared in more
than 30 films, including "Any Given Sunday" and "The Dirty Dozen". When Brown walked
away from the game at age 30, he held the league's records for yards (12,312) and
touchdowns (126). He led the NFL in rushing eight times, gaining a career-best 1,863 yards
in 1963. He averaged 104 yards per game, scored 106 rushing touchdowns and averaged
an astonishing 5.2 yards per carry. A dangerous receiver as well, Brown finished
with 262 catches for 2,499 yards and another 20 TDs.]
(By Tom Withers, AP, Mercury News, May 20, 2023, C1, C5)
BUSINESS:
AI has risks but can also make us safer
(We're hearing a lot about the dangers of generative AI like ChatGPT, the new Microsoft Bing
and Google Bard. For example, Geoffrey Hinton, who is often referred to as the "godfather of AI",
recently quit his job
at Google so he could speak freely about the risks of AI being developed
by Google and other companies. When it comes to security, ChatGPT correctly pointed out that
"Generative AI can identify vulnerabilities, strengthen passwords, and develop countermeasures
against cyber threats, thereby improving the overall security of networks & systems."
AI can, & already is, being used to analyze patterns & behaviors to identify "anomalies,
such as unusual transactions to identify potential fraud." It can help predict and recover
from natural disasters, can be used in health care to monitor patients, make personalized
health recommendations, and analyze images and other health tests to better diagnose conditions
and recommend treatment. As we venture forward into the next paradigm shift in computing
and the acquisition of knowledge, we need to be cautious, but we also need to avoid moral panics.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, May 19, 2023, C7-C8)
ART:
Iconic Ansel Adams photos get new and old look in SF exhibit
["Ansel Adams in Our Time", title of the new exhibit (to July 23) at de Young Museum in San Francisco,
suggests that his outdoor photographs, with ionic images of Yosemite, speak to us in some
new way. Adams (1902-1984) was a champion of national parks and wilderness preservation,
and his photographs could be persuasive. The new exhibit, which originated at the Museum
of Fine Arts in Boston five years ago, is naturally dominated by Adams' prints, more than 100 of them.
Adams' famous, & still breathtaking, images of Yosemite are here. Among them are the majestic
"Monolith— the Face of El Capitan" (1927); the misty "Clearing Winter Storm" (circa 1937);
"Rain, Yosemite Valley" (1940) with El Capitan on the left; and Bridalveil Falls on the right;
and the mystical "Moon and Half Dome" (1960).]
(By Robert Taylor, Mercury News, May 18, 2023, G1-G2)
TECHNOLOGY:
What Exactly Are the Dangers Posed by AI?
(In late March, more than 1,000 technology leaders,
researchers and other pundits working in and around
artificial intelligence signed an open letter warning
that A.I. technologies present "profound risks to society and humanity."
The group, which included Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO and the owner
of Twitter, urged AI labs to halt development of their most
powerful systems for six months so that they could better
understand the dangers behind the technology... Experts are
worried that the new AI could be job killers.)
(By Cade Metz, NY Times, Mercury News, May 15, 2023, C8)
* "Say It with Flowers for Mother's Day"
(Red Rose: I Love You; White Rose: Purity;
Pink Rose: Happiness; Yellow Rose: Jealousy;
Magnolia: Nobility; Blue Hyacinth: Constancy;
Daisy: Innocence; Daffodil: Springtime; Sunflower: Longevity.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, May 14, 2023, B18)
THINGS TO DO:
Island travel: Explore an uninhabited California island for one day or 10
(There's a chain of uninhabited islands— Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara
and San Miguel— just off the coast of California, all easily reachable for a day's jaunt,
The five islands of Channel Island National Park are accessible only by boat, with ferries from
Ventura Harbor Village available to transport the 100,000 or so guests who visit each year. Each
island has campsites where you can pitch your pop-up tent or sleep under the stars)
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, May 14, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Three more national park free days
1. Cabrillo National Monument;
2. Death Valley National Park;
3. Joshua Tree National Park;
4. Lassen Volcanic National Park;
5. Lava Beds National Monument;
6. Muir Woods National Monument;
7. Pinnacles National Park;
8. SF Maritime National Historical Park;
9. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks;
10. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area;
11. Yosemite National Park.
(By Staff, Mercury News, May 14, 2023, F7)
BASEBALL:
Vida Blue, former Oakland A's, SF Giants star, dies at 73
(Once the toast of baseball in the early 1970s, Blue helped Oakland win
three straight World Series titles. He was a three-time champion, an MVP,
6-time All-Star, Cy Young Award winner, & Oakland A's Hall of Famer.
In 1971, as a 21-year-old with 10 major league starts under his belt, Blue
went 24-8 with a whopping 301 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA to help the A's
reach the postseason for the first time in 40 years.)
(By Jon Becker, Mercury News, May 8, 2023, A1, A7)
BASKETBALL:
Steph Curry, not LeBron James, is the G.O.A.T of today's NBA
(Both James & Curry in hot pursuit of their fifth NBA championship. Two main reasons
I believe Steph should go down as a greater player than LeBron, and first one is because
LeBron chased his four championships while Steph let the championships come to him.
Curry is the greatest shooter we have ever seen and his 3-point acumen has changed the
face of basketball from the youth level up to the NBA.)
(By Mike Bianchi, Mercury News, May 7, 2023, C1-C2)
SCIENCE:
Star swallows planet in one gulp— a preview of Earth's fate, astronomers say
(For the first time, scientists have caught a star in the act of swallowing a planet—
not just a nibble or bite, but one big gulp. It's a gloomy preview of what will happen to
Earth when our sun morphs into a red giant and gobbles the four inner planets in about
5 billion years. This galactic feast happened between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago near
the Aquila constellation when the star was around 10 billion years old. In 2010 Haswell
used Hubble Space Telescope to identify star WASP-12 in the process of eating its planet.)
(By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press, Mercury News, May 4, 2023, A2)
OP-ED:
For teachers, revolution promised by ChatGPT isn't new
(AI is only the latest technology in the continuous push to de-skill teaching and
deprofessionalize teachers. Shannon Ahern, a high school math and science teacher,
recently made the case that educators should embrace ChatGPT because its automating
functions make the job easier. Using the chatbot to develop lesson plans, create
worksheets and devise quiz questions saves tons of time and energy, Ahern writes.)
(By Scott Jarvie & Erica Eva Colmenares, Mercury News, May 3, 2023, A6)
BUSINESS:
AI Chatbots Have Been Used to Create Dozens of News Content Farms
(A new report documents 49 new websites populated by AI tools like ChatGPT and posing
as news outlets. Some are dressed up as breaking news sites with generic-sounding names
like News Live 79 and Daily Business Post, while others share lifestyle tips, celebrity
news or publish sponsored content. But none disclose they're populated using AI chatbots
such as OpenAI Inc.'s ChatGPT and potentially Alphabet Inc.'s Google Bard. Giansiracusa,
the Bentley professor, said it was worrying how cheap the scheme has become, with no
human cost to the perpetrators of the fraud.)
(By Davey Alba, Bloomberg, Mercury News, May 2, 2023, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Here's everything you need to plan a road trip through the beautiful Southwest
(Places in the "Wild West" you have to see, all so close to California—
1. Nevada: Ghosts, gold and Red Rock; 2. Utah: Hoodoos, arches and more;
3. Arizona: Sunrise, sunset and a flyover at the Big Hole;
If you go:
Red Rock Canyon;
National Parks;
Monument Valley)
(By Jenny Peters, Mercury News, April 30, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
10 fascinating theme parks that have closed forever
1. Berliner Spreepark (Germany);
2. Mimaland (Malaysia);
3. Camelot Theme Park (England);
4. Six Flags New Orleans (Louisiana);
5. Nara Dreamland (Japan);
6. Jardin de Tivoli (France);
7. Pripyat Amusement Park (Ukraine);
8. Yongma Land (South Korea);
9. Cypress Gardens (Florida);
10. Ho Thuy Tien (Vietnam).
(By Joe Yogerst, CNN, Mercury News, April 30, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
How I nearly fell for a frightening 'virtual kidnapping' scam
(When emotions get the best of you, it's easy to miss some signs. I was impacted by a scam phone
call this week that didn't cost me money or expose my data, but took an enormous emotional
toll, including 20 minutes of terror. Writing this column a day later, I'm still anxious, and frankly,
a little embarrassed that I believed the scammer when he said he had kidnapped my wife.
My wife drove to San Francisco to visit a friend; At 12:37 pm, my cell phone rang with a caller
ID that, at first glance, looked like it was my wife. What I heard was a crying, upset woman.
Caller said he was member of a drug cartel and that he had my wife with him in San Francisco.
He told me that she will be OK as long as I bring $5,000 to a Walmart parking lot in San Jose.
I put him on speaker and dialed 911 from my desk phone. I didn't say anything to the 911 operator,
but knew that they would hang on and listen to the call. with police listening to ransom call;
Spoke to kidnapper for just over 11 minutes, and he finally hung up on me, probably because he
realized I was not going to comply. Phoned my wife, she was fine and never in danger. Did research
on virtual kidnapping and found an FBI website that described nearly identical tactics used on me.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, April 28, 2023, C7-C8)
MOVIES:
Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer with a "rebel heart", dies at 96
(Harry Belafonte, the dashing singer, actor and activist who became an indispensable supporter
of the civil rights movement, has died at 96 of congestive heart failure. He found a mentor and
friend in Paul Robeson, calling him his "moral compass". He was friend of Martin Luther King, Jr.
He told young Black students: "What I've always been looking for: Where resides the rebel heart?
Without the rebellious heart, without people who understand that there's no sacrifice we can make
that is too great to retrieve that which we’ve lost, we will forever be
distracted with possessions
and trinkets and title.")
(By CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, April 25, 2023)
* TECHNOLOGY:
In A.I. Race, Microsoft and Google Choose Speed Over Caution
(In March, two Google employees, whose jobs are to review the company's artificial intelligence
products, tried to stop Google from launching an AI chatbot. They believed it generated inaccurate
and dangerous statements. Ten months earlier, similar concerns were raised at Microsoft by ethicists
and other employees. They wrote in several documents that AI technology behind a planned chatbot
could flood Facebook groups with disinformation, degrade critical thinking and erode the factual
foundation of modern society. The companies released their chatbots anyway. Microsoft was first,
with a splashy event in February to reveal an AI chatbot woven into its Bing search engine. Google
followed about six weeks later with its own chatbot, Bard. That competition took on a frantic tone
in November when OpenAI, a San Francisco startup working with Microsoft, released ChatGPT, a chatbot
that has captured public imagination & now has an estimated 100 million monthly users. Satya Nadella
asked the chatbot to translate Persian poet Rumi into Urdu and then English. "It worked like a charm,"
he said in a February interview. “Then I said, 'God, this thing.'”)
(By Nico Grant & Karen Weise, NY Times, Mercury News, April 24, 2023, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Cascade Mountain High: Exploring Oregon's Crater Lake National Park
(Nestled high in Oregon's Cascade Range, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in North America—
1,943 feet— and is famous for its intensely blue waters. It formed 7,700 years ago when
Mount Mazama, a 12,000-foot-tall volcano, experienced the largest eruption in North America
in the past 640,000 years and subsequently collapsed, forming a volcanic caldera, which then
began to fill with rainfall and snowmelt. It holds a whopping 4.9 trillion gallons of water.
Crater Lake National Park;
Crater Lake Lodge;
Crater Lake Trolley;
Ride the Rim.)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, April 23, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
America's top 10 national park lodges in the West
(New book, "Lodge: An Indoorsy Tour of America's National Parks"
by Max Humphrey & Kathryn O'Shea-Evans; 5-Stars reviews at Amazon.com)
1. Ahwahnee, Yosemite;
2. Crater Lake Lodge, Crater Lake, OR;
3. Curry Village, Yosemite;
4. El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon, AZ;
5. Lake McDonald Lodge, Glacier, MT;
6. Lake Quinault Lodge, Olympic National Park, WA;
7. Inn at Death Valley, Death Valley, CA;
8. Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone, WY;
9. Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier, WA;
10. Zion Lodge, Zion, UT.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, April 23, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Teens can now use Meta Horizon Worlds
(Risks remain, but guide can help parents help their children navigate the virtual space.
In 2014 the company then called Facebook acquired Oculus, the leading provider of virtual
reality headsets. A year later, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was already talking about
integrating social networking into VR at Facebook's annual developers' conference where
I witnessed a demonstration of people in different locations not only having social
interactions, but remotely playing games— like ping-pong— using their headsets and
handheld controllers to play almost as if they were in the same location. To help reduce risks,
my nonprofit, ConnectSafely, has been working with Meta on recommending safeguards and
on a Parent & Guardian Guide to Meta Horizon Worlds and a companion 2-page Quick-Guide
for Parents and Caregivers along with a video interview with one of Meta Horizon Worlds
safety experts. You can find all of these resources at
connectsafely.org/horizon/.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, April 21, 2023, C7-C8)
* EDUCATION:
This Palo Alto college counselor has a story to tell
[In Irena Smith's memoir about working on the front lines of America's college admissions mania,
the Palo Alto-based independent college admissions counselor recalls how she made a ninth-grader
cry. Smith told the boy and his mother that he shouldn't count on getting into Stanford, despite his
good grades and vow to do whatever he could to be accepted. As Smith writes in
"The Golden Ticket",
she worked in Stanford's admissions office for four years and knew that the staff read most applications
with "an eye to turning students down." Indeed, data reported in February shows Stanford's acceptance
rate for its class of 2026 was a record low 3.7%. "HYPS" schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford)
are the ones students want to get in. Teen suicides from 2009 to 2015 that ended lives of 10 Palo Alto
Unified School District students. From November to March, she and colleagues pored through tens of
thousands of essays to find around 2,000 students to make up Stanford University's next class.]
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, April 18, 2023)
* TECHNOLOGY:
With ChatGPT, some are wondering: Will this take my job
[Newest edition of ChatGPT, a "large language model" that mines the internet to answer
questions & perform tasks on command, had just been released. Its abilities were astonishing—
and squarely in the bailiwick of people who generate content, such as advertising copy & blog posts,
for a living. Writers could use ChatGPT to complete assignments more quickly, and move into higher-level
roles in content planning & search-engine optimization. MIT economist David Autor: "Before, computers
were powerful, but they simply & robotically did what people programmed them to do." Generative AI,
on the other hand, is "adaptive, it learns and is capable of flexible problem solving."]
(By Lydia Depillis & Steve Lohr, NY Times, Mercury News, April 17, 2023, C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Best hikes in the Bay Area you can get to using only public transit
[Evan Tschuy has you covered with Hiking by Transit, a new
website
of fantastic Bay Area hikes you can access using buses, trains and ferries—
In Fremont, "Mission Peak is a popular hike; if you've had the misfortune to be
on dating apps in last decade in the region, you'll recognize the viewing pipes
at the top from everyone's photos standing on them". And near Clayton and Danville:
"Mount Diablo State Park is the crown jewel of the East Bay. On a clear day, from
the summit, 40 of California's 58 counties can be seen, from the Golden Gate Bridge
to the Sentinel Dome of Yosemite Valley (provided you have good binoculars).]
(by John Metcalfe, Mercury News, April 16, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
From Red Rock to the Bellagio,
the top 10 Las Vegas attractions offer an eclectic array
(High Roller Observation Wheel at Las Vegas' LINQ Promenade frequently
makes "best of" lists for its spectacular views. 10 Best poll by USA Today—
1. The Mob Museum;
2. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area;
3. High Roller;
4. Fountains of Bellagio;
5. Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens;
6. Streetmosphere
at the Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes;
7. Fremont Street Experience;
8. Eiffel Tower
Viewing Deck;
9. Hoover Dam;
10. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, April 16, 2023, F7)
BASKETBALL:
Klay Thompson's revival: Fiery competitive nature ignited by doubters
(Thompson started season poorly but rounded into form and carried Warriors for months
with Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins injured. Coach Steve Kerr singled Thompson out for
eclipsing 300 3-pointers this season, something that has only been done by two other
players in NBA history. For Green, there isn't a particular moment— such as Thompson's
54-point game in January or either of two February games in which he made a dozen 3-pointers—
to pinpoint his career resurgence. It was "mind-boggling" to Thompson at the beginning of the
season that he, Curry, Green and Andre Iguodala had the chance to join the five-ring club.)
(By Madeleine Kenney, Mercury News, April 15, 2023, A1, A6)
OP-ED:
How United States can avoid a war with China
(We're again too complacent about the risks of conflict ahead.
A reminder of the risks came on Monday when China responded to
the warm welcome given in the United States to Taiwan's president
by sending a record number of military aircraft near Taiwan.
The single biggest step the United States could take would simply
be to tackle American dysfunction— from addiction to child
poverty and our failed foster care system— and to invest
in our education system so as to produce stronger citizens and
a more robust nation. That, not prickly nationalism, is lesson
we should take from China— and is the best way for us to meet the China challenge.)
(By Nicholas Kristof, Mercury News, April 14, 2023, A9)
BUSINESS:
I asked ChatGPT to help me write an AI safety guide
[I was impressed with the results, but it felt dishonest to pass the work off as my own.
"Generative artificial intelligence" (GAI) can create new content, including text, images,
music & even computer code, is relatively new. In the past few months, some impressive early
models include ChatGPT from OpenAI, Google Bard & new Microsoft Bing. Each of these relies
on what is called a "large language model" that accesses & analyzes vast amounts of data that it
finds online & uses it to generate new content. My main concern with these services is that they
don't always cite their sources, & they do make mistakes. ChatGPT had me winning an Emmy,
which, sadly, never happened, it still erroneously thinks I used to write for Wall Street Journal.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, April 14, 2023, C7-C8)
OP-ED:
An AI moratorium is not the answer to the technology's threats
(Hundreds of technology leaders and researchers, including Steve Wozniak
and Elon Musk, recently released a letter calling for a moratorium on artificial
intelligence development, citing the risk to human society. There are legitimate
concerns about AI impact on humanity, but a moratorium is unrealistic, especially
while there is a reasonable alternative. AI could be used in fraud and other crimes.
AI could manipulate the political discourse causing social instability. AI could be
used in autonomous weapons on and off the battlefield. And worst of all, AI might
develop an intelligence or consciousness that would enable it to actively eliminate
humans and other life forms. Stopping AI would ask our descendants to live lives
similar to ours when much better may be possible.)
(By Jerry McNerney, Mercury News, April 9, 2023, A8)
RELIGION: CHRISTIAN HISTORY—
It's Easter Sunday,
so here's a look at the largest religion in the world
(About 31.2% of the world's population is considered to be Christian. There are more
than 45,000 Christian denominations globally and more than 200 in the U.S. The % of
world's Muslim will rise from 23.2% in 2010 to 29.7% in 2050, and % of Christians
will stay same at 31.5%. History: 4 BC: Birth of Jesus; 27 AD: Jesus begins ministry;
30 AD: Jesus Christ crucified; 60 AD: New Testament Gospel made; 67-68 AD:
Apostles Peter & Paul martyred; 313 AD: Edict of Milan by Constantine; 325 Nicene Creed;
597: St. Augustine 1st Archbishop of Cantebury; 1054 Great Schism: Eastern Orthodox &
Western Catholic churches separate; 1099: Crusaders conquer Jerusalem; 1266-73: Thomas
Aquinas wrote Summa Theologiae; 1455: Gutenberg prints Bible; 1611 King James Version
Bible published; 1830: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints founded; 1950: Mother
Theresa founds Missionaries of Charity; 2013: Pope Francis is first pope from the Americas.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, April 9, 2023, B13)
THINGS TO DO:
5 Places to See the Bay Area's Superbloom
(Depending on the park, visitors may see colorful California poppies, sand verbena, desert sunflowers,
evening primrose, popcorn flowers or desert lilies.
1. Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin;
2. Diablo Range, East and South Bays;
3. Calero County Park, San Jose:
4. Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont;
5. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,
San Mateo & Santa Clara counties)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, April 9, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL— THE LIST:
The top 10 most visited US National Park sites in 2022
(1. Blue Ridge Parkway, 15.71 million;
2. Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 15.64 million;
3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 12.94 million;
4. Gateway National Recreation Area, 8.73 million;
5. Lincoln Memorial, 7.83 million;
6. George Washington Memorial Parkway, 7.4 million;
7. Natchez Trace Parkway, 6.54 million;
8. Gulf Islands National Seashore, 5.69 million;
9. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 5.58 million;
10. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 4.89 million. Another List:
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 12.94 million;
2. Grand Canyon National Park, 4.73 million;
3. Zion National Park, 4.69 million;
4. Rocky Mountain National Park, 4.30 million;
5. Acadia National Park, 3.97 million;
6. Yosemite National Park, 3.67 million;
7. Yellowstone National Park, 3.29 million;
8. Joshua Tree National Park, 3.06 million;
9. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 2.913 million;
10. Glacier National Park, 2.908 million
(By Forrest Brown, CNN, Mercury News, April 9, 2023, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
California Getaway: Wildflowers, condors and gorgeous Cuyama Valley
(California's "Hidden Valley of Enchantment"— an hour east of Santa Maria is the unpopulated,
quiet magnitude of the natural landscape; visit to this area, especially during a spring wildflower
season that's expected to be a super bloom this year. No crowds, no rush hour bustle— just serenity
and delightful surprises. Stop by these spots—
Cuyama Buckhorn;
Carrizo Plain National Monument;
Santa Barbara Pistachio Co.;
Condor's Hope;
Blue Sky Center)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, April 2, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL— THE LIST:
The 10 best beaches in the world
(1. Baía do Sanchoí Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2. Eagle Beach— Aruba, Caribbean
3. Cable Beach— Broome, Australia
4. Reynisfjara Beach— Vik, Iceland
5. Grace Bay Beach— Turks and Caicos, Caribbean
6. Praía da Falésia— Olhos de Agua, Portugal
7. Radhanagar Beach— Havelock Island, India
8. Spiaggia dei Conigli— Sicily, Italy
9. Varadero Beach— Cuba, Caribbean
10. Ka'anapali Beach— Maui, Hawaii;
Top 10 beaches in the US for 2023, according to Tripadvisor—:
1. Ka'anapali Beach— Maui, Hawaii
2. Siesta Beach— Siesta Key, Florida
3. Driftwood Beach— Jekyll Island, Georgia
4. Hanalei Beach— Kauai, Hawaii
5. Ho'okipa Beach Park— Maui, Hawaii
6. Henderson Beach State Park— Destin, Florida
7. Cannon Beach— Cannon Beach, Oregon
8. Coronado Beach— Coronado, California
9. Ogunquit Beach— Ogunquit, Maine
10. La Jolla Cove— La Jolla, California.
(By Marnie Hunter, CNN, Mercury News, April 2, 2023, F7)
* "INNOVATORS:
March is Women's History Month, so here are
a few amazing women who had a great impact on the world"
[PAPER BAG: Margaret E. Knight was 30 (1868) when she built a machine that folded and glued paper
to create a flat-bottomed paper bag. She founded the Eastern Paper Bag Company in 1870. Knight invented
more than 100 different machines and patented 20 of them. BARBIE'S EMPIRE:
Ruth Handler was one of
the founders of Mattel and invented the Barbie doll. The Handlers took their two teenagers— Barbara and
Ken— to Europe in 1956. There they saw a doll that looked like an adult woman. Three years later,
Mattel's version, Barbie, would debut, at American Toy Fair in NYC on March 9, 1959, Barbie was an instant success.
Girls clamored for the doll, & Mattel sold 351,000 dolls in their first year. It has sold over 1 billion dolls.
POLARIZATION CONTROL: Kristina M. Johnson
is widely recognized as a pioneer in optoelectronic processing systems, 3D imaging, and color management systems.
At the University of Colorado (CU) and Duke, she produced work that has formed the basis for 3D films,
rear projection systems for televisions, digital mammograms, faster screening of pap smears for cervical cancer,
and foundational work that has resulted in near-to-the-eye displays. KEVLAR:
Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont chemical company was
searching for a synthetic material that could withstand extreme conditions, and discovered Kevlar in 1965.
Kevlar is a material that is light, does not rust, and is 5x stronger than steel. She was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1994.
COLLAPSIBLE PARASOL: Hanna Israel of Banta patented in 1879. FREQUENCY HOPPING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM:
Actress Hedy Lamarr invented a frequency hopping technique
that is referenced as an important development in the field of wireless communication.
She received the patent in 1942.
STEP PEDAL TRASH CAN: Lillian Gilbreth
while working for General Electric, invented step trash can in the 1930s. First woman elected to the National Academy of Engineering.
WINDSHIELD WIPER: Mary Anderson noticed drivers
keep their windows open in bad weather to see. She patented a hand-cranked device to wipe the window clean in 1903.
LIQUID PAPER: Bette Nesmith Graham, a typist, made batches of white water-based tempera paint in her garage in the 1950s.
She changed
the name "Mistake Out" to "Liquid Paper" in 1956. She sold her company to Gillette Corp. in 1979 for more than $45 million.
Her only son, musician Michael Nesmith (best known as a member of The Monkees), inherited half of his mother's estate of over $50 million.
CIRCULAR SAW: Tabitha Babbit was a member of the Harvard Shaker
community in Massachusetts. She is credited with inventing the first circular saw for use in a saw mill in 1813. MONOPOLY:
Elisabeth Magie invented a game called"The Landlord's Game" in 1904.
Magie's patent for her game was purchased by Parker Brothers, where it was overhauled and became one of the best-selling board games ever.
LETTER BOX: Ada Van Pelt of Oakland patented a house letter box in 1892.
AUTORADIOGRAPH METHOD: Barbara Askins worked as a chemist
at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. She discovered how to use radiation in an emulsion process with satellite images in 1978.
The advancement made what appeared invisible in space visible. The invention also was applied to
X-ray to improve images
of bones & tissues and with less radiation exposure to patients.]
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, March 26, 2023, B15)
* "OP-ED:
AI will take us to terrifying and beautiful places. Are we ready?"
(At our own peril we fail to see that artificial intelligence could make us redefine the concepts of truth
and reality. AI has already weaponized the news and made us question everything we see or hear from
the media. Marshall McLuhan said the medium is the message. Today the "fake news" is the real news.
Douglas Engelebart, was the father of trivial things such as the mouse and the teleconference. He was
Silicon Valley's own prophet without honor. Laws are based on our collective values, and the legal
world is piteously behind on setting boundaries for AI, which does not have any ethics of its own.
Now it exists outside the law.)
(By David Plotnikoff, Mercury News, March 25, 2023, A12)
"OP-ED:
The Cold War with China is changing everything"
(Governing during this era will require extraordinary levels of experienced statesmanship.
We're in a new cold war. Rumblings of war over Taiwan. Xi Jinping vows to dominate the century.
What will this cold war look like? Will this one transform American society the way the last
one did? A chief focus of the conflict so far has been microchips, the little gizmos that not
only make your car and phone work, but also guide missiles and are necessary to train artificial
intelligence systems. Whoever dominates chip manufacturing dominates the market as well as
the battlefield. More than 90% of the most advanced chips are made by one company in Taiwan.
One Dutch company makes all the lithography machines that are required to build cutting-edge
chips. Last year Congress passed the CHIPs Act, with $52 billions in grants, tax credits and other
subsidies to encourage American chip production. If the West can block off China's access to cutting-
edge technology, then it can block off China. Then an invasion of Taiwan may be more imminent.)
(By David Brooks, NY Times, Mercury News, March 25, 2023, A13)
THINGS TO DO:
Warner Bros: Celebrate 100 years of movie magic by touring the studio
[Founded in 1923 by four brothers— Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner—
the studio moved
a few years later to this Burbank location, which was originally
constructed by First National
Pictures in 1926. Over the decades that followed,
Warner Bros. released such classic films as
"My Fair Lady", "The Goonies",
"42nd Street" & "The Dark Knight", as well as some of TV's
biggest hits, including "Friends" & "The Big Bang Theory". (Tour is $69). Massive Stage 16—
film scene of the "chicken run" drag race in James Dean's "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955).]
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, March 26, 2023, F7-F8)
TRAVEL— THE LIST:
Go behind the scenes with 3 more movie studio tours
(1. Universal Studios Hollywood ($109 Tours)— See massive wreckage of
Boeing 747 used for Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" (2015) to screaming
in joy as trams rock & roll in wonderfully intense King Kong 360 3-D< experience.
2. Sony Pictures Studios (Tours $50)— Original home of MGM (1924-1986),
birthplace of golden oldies as "Ben-Hur" (1959), "Mutiny
on the Bounty" (1962),
"Singin' in the Rain" (1952) & "Wizard of Oz" (1939).
3. Paramount Pictures Studios ($63 Tours)— Highlights from "Sunset Boulevard"
(1950) & "The Godfather" (1972) to last year's "Top Gun: Maverick".
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, March 26, 2023, F7-F8)
OBITUARY:
Gordon Moore, Silicon Valley legend and Intel co-founder, dies at 94
(Famed Silicon Valley pioneer known for 'Moore's Law' devoted his later years
to philanthropy. Moore and seven co-workers— now widely referred to as the Traitorous Eight —
quit Shockley's silicon transistors, to form Palo Alto chip maker Fairchild Semiconductor, a division of
Fairchild Camera and Instrument. Robert Noyce, co-invented the microchip. With an investment of less
than $3 million and a single-page business plan, the pair started NM Electronics in Mountain View,
renamed Intel that year and later headquartered in Santa Clara. As Intel grew to dominate the chip industry,
Moore became astonishingly rich from his stock in
Intel. He estimated he was worth $26 billion by 2000.)
(By Steve Johnson & Mack Lundstrom, Mercury News, March 25, 2023, A1, A6)
EDUCATION:
California colleges rush to get more students on food assistance before pandemic rule ends
(Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 127,000 California college students received CalFresh,
even though anywhere from 416,471 to 689,233 students were likely eligible. Starting June 10,
students whose families could not contribute a dollar to their education or who are approved for
federal or state work-study programs will no longer be automatically eligible for CalFresh, program
formerly known as food stamps. Instead, students will have to seek those benefits through a stricter
set of eligibility rules that limit how many low-income people enrolled in college can receive food aid.)
(By Jeane Kuang & Mikhail Zinshteyn, Mercury News, March 25, 2023, B1-B2)
BUSINESS:
Is artificial intelligence the next search engine?
(We need to use our critical-thinking skills as we consume AI-generated information.
The quarter-century-old Google search engine is looking pretty anemic compared with
ChatGPT from OpenAI and the "new Bing" from Microsoft, which uses technology from OpenAI.
But Google isn't sitting still. It's launching its own AI chatbot, called Bard. These chatbots
work by analyzing very large language models from online books, articles, social media posts,
blogs and pretty much anything they can find on the internet. With that vast amount of data at
their disposal, they can answer questions or even carry out tasks, such as writing computer code or,
soon, drawing pictures based on what the user asks for. I used ChatGPT to help me write a script for
one of my weekly ConnectSafely segments for CBS News Radio, and advice it gave was basic but spot on.
Some educators worry about it being used by their students, and there's been a lot of discussion
and consternation about it, including bans in some school districts.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, March 24, 2023, C7-C8)
BASEBALL:
Ohtani's out-of-this-world skills put WBC into orbit
(Shohei Ohtani celebrates with teammates after Japan beats U.S. 3-2
for 5th World Baseball Classics; After batting 4 times, he came to
pitch in relief in 9th; Walked Batting Champ Jeff McNeil; Mookie Betts
grounds out in double play; Struck out Mike Trout; Ohtani batted .435,
.606 On-Base %; .739 Slugging %; Pitched 9-2/3 innings striking out 11
with 1.86 ERA; Won MVP for WBC honors.)
(By Tyler Kepner, Mercury News, March 23, 2023, C1-C2)
* OP-ED:
AI is about to transform childhood in a big way. Are we ready?
(Every middle-class kid will grow up with a personalized AI assistant;
With introduction of GPT-4 & Claude, AI has taken another big step forward.
GPT-4 is human-level or better at many hard tasks; Your child will learn to read
and write much faster & better, and will do better in school. Teenagers can speak
with AI therapists. AI might be the 21st century version of television.)
(By Tyler Cowen, Mercury News, March 21, 2023, A6)
THINGS TO DO:
Your 2023 Bay Area guide to cherry blossom festivals and peak flowering
(Just gazing at cherry blossoms in urban parks for a few minutes each day,
according to 2019 research, is enough to lower blood pressure & relieve anxiety.
1. "Hanami" night viewings at Hakone, Saratoga;
2. Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco;
3. Blossom Festival, Saratoga;
4. UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley;
5. Cupertino Cherry
Blossom Festival;
6. Filoli Historic House & Garden, Woodside.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, March 19, 2023, F7-F8)
THE TRAVEL LIST:
Top 10 places to see cherry blossoms around the world
(Sure, tulips are lovely, and roses sublime. But the pale pink
froth of sakura— or cherry— blossoms is extraordinary.
1. Tokyo, Japan; 2. Kyoto, Japan;
3. Washington, D.C.; 4. Paris, France;
5. Taipei, Taiwan;
6. Stockholm, Sweden;
7. Brooklyn, New York; 8. Seoul, South Korea;
9. Curitiba, Brazil;
10. Vancouver, Canada.
Tripadvisor lists 3 more with photos for all 13 sites & links—
11. Amsterdam, Netherlands; 12. São Paulo, Brazil;
13. Portland, Oregon.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, March 19, 2023, F7)
BUSINESS:
Scammers get trickier in pursuit of your money
(Check and recheck before clicking on links, text messages or even search findings.
Text message from Amazon and Venmo, telling me that my account was locked;
Lock-out or security issue are very often scams. Be wary of calls from the IRS,
Social Security, Medicare, Microsoft, Apple to freeze your accounts or fix your
computer. FBI has a page listing other types of Common Scams and Crimes including
adoption fraud, business investment scams, charity and disaster fraud and many more.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, March 17, 2023, C7-C8)
* BUSINESS:
The chatbots are here, and the internet industry is in a tizzy
(CEO of Box Aaron Levie's reaction to ChatGPT was typical of the anxiety— and excitement—
over Silicon Valley's new new thing. Chatbots have ignited a scramble to determine whether their
technology could upend the economics of the internet, turn today's powerhouses into has-beens or
create the industry's next giants. Not since the iPhone has the belief that a new technology could
change the industry run so deep." Lawyer Bradley J. Hulbert: "The world is facing a new technology
and the law is groping to find ways od dealing with it.")
(By Tripp Mickle, Cade Metz, & Nico Grant, NY Times, Mercury News, March 13, 2023, C9-C10)
* AI
Could End Some Online Businesses, But It's a Boon to Those Who Figure Out How to Work With It
(When I started playing with OpenAI's ChatGPT in the middle of January it was an immediate feeling
of this is amazing, this is going to impact my company in a big way— potentially in a negative way,
and we need to act now to figure out how to leverage GPT in a way that serves our publishing lawyers
and organizations. Today, like many other companies, LexBlog has a large customer base using a web
based SaaS solution. We have the ability to pivot, using OpenAI's API.)
(By Kevin O'Keefe, LexBlog CEO & Founder, AI in Publishing, March 8, 2023)
THINGS TO DO:
It's spring, time to visit a Marin creamery and hold baby lambs
(At Toluma Farms, a supplier to Michelin-starred restaurants,
you can sample three-day-old chèvre and cradle a 3-day-old lamb
Bay Area Creamery & Farm Tours:
1. Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery;
2. Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company;
3. Bohemian Creamery;
4. Pennyroyal Farm;
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, March 12, 2023, F7-F8)
BUSINESS:
Investing according to Warren Buffett
(Why should we pay attention to nonagenarians, 92-year-old Warren Buffet &
99-year-old Charlie Munger.
The impressive track record that they have racked up:
from 1965-2022, Berkshire Hathaway has grown at
an annualized rate of 19.8%, versus 9.9% for the S&P 500's total return.
Buffett: "Put 10% of the cash in short-term government bonds and 90% in a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund.")
(By Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, March 6, 2023, C7-C8)
* OP-ED:
The power of art in a political age
(A piece of art has quieted the self-conscious ego voice that is normally yapping away within.
A piece of art has served as a portal to a deeper realm of the mind. It has opened up that hidden,
semiconscious kingdom within us from which emotions emerge, where our moral sentiments
are found. Beauty impels us to pay a certain kind of attention. It startles you and prompts you
to cast off the self-centered tendency to always be imposing your opinions on things. It prompts
you to stop in your tracks, take a breath and open yourself up so that you can receive what it is
offering, often with a kind of childlike awe and reverence.)
(By David Brooks, Mercury News, March 5, 2023, A13)
INSIGHTS & INDICATORS:
Why Californians are shelling out for eggs
(This is a time of radical challenges in the poultry business. The cost of a dozen large eggs
in California has soared, averaging about $4.50, up from $2.35 at this time last year. And the
prices for any food that uses eggs as an ingredient, such as mayonnaise & baked goods, are also
climbing. Eggs and 'broiler chickens' are now major commodities, providing the most popula
and cheapest animal protein in the nation. Avian influenza lost around 50 million egg-producing
hens. That's 50 million eggs— almost a day. Cage-free eggs have increaded cost; California
used to be the number one egg-producing state in the nation. Now it's around the 10th.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, March 5, 2023, E1, E3)
THINGS TO DO:
Concord's Vibrant Todos Santos Plaza
(From the spring beer festival to great food & history tours, city's main square has plenty to offer.
1. Galindo Home and Gardens;
2. Creative Concord's Murals;
3. Sidegate Brewery & Beer Garden;
4. The Hop Grenade;
5. Aung Burma;
6. Lima;
7. Concord Historical Society;
8. Happiest City in U.S.;
9. Todos Santos Plaza;
10. Dave Brubeck Memorial.
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, March 5, 2023, F7-F8)
THE LIST:
Ten Best Biking Cities
(1. Antwerp, Belgium;
2. Bern, Switzerland;
3. Copenhagen, Denmark;
4. Leipzig, Germany;
5. Melbourne, Australia;
6. Montreal, Canada;
7. San Francisco, California;
8. Strasbourg, France;
9. Tel Aviv, Israel;
10. Utrecht, Netherlands)
(By CNN, Mercury News, March 5, 2023, F7)
CALFRESH AID:
'It's going to be devastating': End of emergency food benefits expected to impact millions of Californians
(Nearly 3 million receive CalFresh benefits each month. Emergency aid of $281/month has come to an end,
and eligible households will lose at least $95 a month in benefits, with some seeing their benefits dip
to as low as $23 a month. Benefits are determined by income and household size.)
(By Grace Hase, Mercury News, March 4, 2023, A1, A6)
THINGS TO DO:
Unlock Hidden Las Vegas
[The Underground, a speakeasy at Las Vegas' Mob Museum, pays homage to Prohibition era. see exhibits
and interactive experiences teach visitors about mob bosses, organized crime
and law enforcement. Then head down to the basement for a drink. Across the street from the
famous El Cortez Hotel, you'll find The Laundry Room tucked inside what is now the Commonwealth Bar.
The Cosmopolitan's Superfrico— the "Italian American psychedelic" dining venue from Spiegelworld,
which opened in 2021— will send your senses into overdrive as performers dance their way among
the tables at random intervals. Here Here Kitty and Jalisco Underground:
Find both hidden bars at Resorts World Las Vegas;
The Cabinet of Curiositie:
Love day's cocktails;
Meow Wolf's Omega Mart, is an interactive, mind-bending immersive art experience.]
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, February 19, 2023, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
The List: Five more things to do on the Las Vegas Strip
(1. Take a ride: The Ling Promenade's High Roller is 550-foot-tall observation wheel that
you can see the glittering lights of Las Vegas unfurl below; 2. Dip a toe: The Strp is famous
for its pool scene. Check hotels for details; 3. Find a bargain: Resorts World has established
brands & online entities; Miracle Mile Shops have brave new digital world; 4. Catch a game:
NHL's Golden Knights play at T-Mobil Arena, as well as college basketball & professional
bull riding; 5. See a show: Bruno Mars, Garth Brooks, and some woman named Adele.)
(By Paul Pearson, Mercury News, February 19, 2023, F7)
OBITUARY:
Actor Stella Stevens dies at 84; played Jerry Lewis' love interest in 'The Nutty Professor'
[The head of publicity at Paramount basically made me a worldwide sex symbol. In
"The Nutty Professor"
(1963) she played Jerry Lewis' student, Stella Purdy, who he is infatuated with. In 2017,
she'd say that her favorite director that she worked with was Vincente Minnelli on
"The Courtship of Eddie's Father" (1963).]
(By Lindsey Bahr, Associated Press, Mercury News, February 17, 2023)
BUSINESS:
YouTube CEO steps down, severing longtime ties to Google
(Susan Wojcicki leaves after 9-year run. Neil Mohan, who has worked closely with Wojcicki
for years, will replace her. In 2006, Google bought Wojcicki's home to serve as a monument
to the roots of a company now valued at $1.2 trillion. During Wojcicki's career at Google,
Brin became her brother-in-law when he married her sister, Anne, in 2007. Besides becoming
a cultural phenomenon that attracts billions of viewers, YouTube also has become a financial
success with ad revenue totaling $29 billion last year.)
(By Michael Liedtke, Mercury News, February 17, 2023, C7-C8)
* TECHNOLOGY:
OpenAI creates flawed tool to detect cheating using AI
(OpenAI identifies AI-written text accurately only 25% of the time— & gives
a false positive for nearly 1 in 10 submissions. Even a different detection
tool created by a Princeton college student works slightly better. Detection is
particularly poor with text shorter than 1000 characters. Still OpenAI said its
text classifier is more accurate than other tools trying to analyze text.)
(By Elissa Miolene, Mercury News, February 13, 2023, A1, A6)
* MUSIC:
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel to leave LA Phil for New York Philharmonic
(Dudamel, 42, joined Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2009. The five-year contract he signed
with the New York Philharmonic does not start until the 2026-27 season.
The charismatic
conductor, known for his broad smile & floppy curls, announced
the move on social media
with words from the Spanish poet, Federico Garcia Lorca,
"Every step we take on earth
leads us to a better world." He's honored to be added
"to a legacy that includes great
masters Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini and Leonard Bernstein.")
(By Peter Larsen, Los Angeles Daily News, Februay 7, 2023)
* TECHNOLOGY:
Google answers ChatGPT with its own chatbot
(Google said Monday it will soon release an experimental chatbot called
Bard as it races
to respond to ChatGPT, which has wowed millions of people since it was unveiled at the end
of November. Bard— so named because it is a storyteller, the company said— is based on
experimental technology called LaMDA, short for Language Model for Dialogue Applications,
that Google has been testing inside the company. Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, also said
the company's search engine will soon have AI features that offer summaries of complex
information. Google said Bard would be a "lighter weight" version of LaMDA that would
allow the company to serve up the technology at a lower cost.)
(By Cade Metz & Nico Grant, NY Times, Mercury News, February 7, 2023, C7-C8)
* OP-ED:
In the age of artificial intelligence, major in being human
(This is what many of us notice about art or prose generated by AI.
It's often bland and vague. It's missing a humanistic core. It's missing
an individual person's passion, pain, longings and a life of deeply felt
personal experiences. It does not spring from a person's imagination, bursts
of insight, anxiety & joy that underlie any profound work of human creativity.
And that's my hope for the age of AI— that it forces us to more clearly
distinguish the knowledge that is useful information from the humanistic
knowledge that leaves people wiser and transformed.)
(By David Brooks, Mercury News, February 5, 2023, A9)
SEATTLE TRAVELS:
Pike Place Market lets you sample Emerald City's iconic food, brews & more
[Le Panier Bakery; Jack's Fish Spot;
Shama (Morocco Cuisine);
Ernesto Ybarra Paintings;
Eighth Generation;
Tenzing Momo (herbal apothecary);
Ugly Baby;
Can Can (cabaret dance);
Lowell's Market;
Athenian Seafood;
Old Stove Brewery;
Pike Fish Bar]
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, February 5, 2023, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
TripAdvisor's top trending destinations for 2023 include several close to home
[World: 1) Cuba;
2) Hoi An, Vietnam;
3) Mauritius;
4) Siem Reap, Cambodia;
5) Chiang Mai, Thailand;
6) Grand Cayman, Caribbean;
7) Fes, Morocco;
8) Baku, Azerbaijan;
9) Kathmandu, Nepal;
10) Krakow, Poland.
U.S.: 1) Juneau, Alaska;
2) Page, AZ;
3) Salem, MA;
4) Sonoma, CA;
5) Tierra Verde, FL;
6) Philadelphia, PA;
7) San Juan Island, WA;
8) Camden, ME;
9) Galena, IL;
10) Whitefish, MT]
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, February 5, 2023, F7)
* TECHNOLOGY:
ChatGPT maker releases AI detection tool
(The maker of ChatGPT is trying to curb its reputation as a freewheeling cheating machine
with a new tool that can help teachers detect if a student or artificial intelligence
wrote that homework. New York City, Los Angeles and other big public school districts
began to block its use in classrooms and on school devices.)
(By Matt O'Brien & Joscelyn Gecker, Mercury News, Februay 2, 2023, C10)
THINGS TO DO:
Exploring sunny Sunnyvale, from brunch stop to hiking trails
[Pedestrian-friendly Murphy Ave in Historic District is appealing with its global restaurant
offerings (don't miss Meyhouse for Turkish food), Irish pubs, boba spots and great Saturday
farmers market. Delve a little deeper, you can find even more to do, see, eat & drink
in unexpected Sunnyvale. 1) Madras Cafe;
2) Baylands Park;
3) Tetra Hotel]
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, January 29, 2023, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Best islands in Europe for getting away from almost everyone
[1) Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands; 2) Heimaey, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland;
3) Flores Island, Azores,
Portugal; 4) Naustholmen, Norway;
5) Isle of Tiree, Scotland; 6) Berlengas archipelago, Portugal;
7) Alicudi, Sicily, Italy; 8) Skyros, Greece;
9) Rathlin Is., Northern Ireland; 10) Fasta Aland, Finland.]
(By Terry Ward, Mercury News, January 29, 2023, F7)
* “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
'Shock to the education system': This AI
chatbot is already writing school essays and could rewrite the future of learning”
(Why Bay Area students are raving and teachers ranting about ChatGPT
Write a 1,000-word paper on the rise and fall of Genghis Khan? Finished
in one minute, 45 seconds. Find the derivative of a quadratic polynomial?
Less than 30 seconds, with step-by-step explanations marking the process.
'It's like when people switched over from the abacus to the calculator,
and they thought it was going to make people not good at math anymore,'
said Lepre. "But they realized that the calculator was just a great tool.
I think that ChatGPT can be used as a great tool too— you just have
to reframe how you see it.")
(By Elissa Miolene, Mercury News, January 28, 2023, A1, A6)
* LUNAR NEW YEAR:
A look at the year of the rabbit
(Lunar New Year begins Sunday, Jan. 22, ushering in the year of the water rabbit.
The lunar calendar, used in both Chinese and Vietnamese cultures, is divided into
12 segments, with each assigned an animal sign. The Chinese New Year celebration
starts with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon
15 days later. In 2023, there will be 13 full moons, with two occurring in August.
The second full moon in one month is known as a blue moon, like the phrase
"once in a blue moon". There is a blue moon about every 2.5 years.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, January 22, 2023, B15)
ART:
You can experience the Sistine Chapel at a San Jose mall
("Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition" is at Westfield Oakridge through April.
The 34 fabric panels in the exhibition, including some full-size replicas, are detailed
enough to see the brush strokes in God's robe, facial expressions on cherubs and the
musculature on Adam & Eve. Tickets are $29.50 for adults, with discounts for seniors &
kids 12 & under. Organizer Eric J. Leong, says he's never been to Rome to see the original.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, January 22, 2023, B1, B3)
THINGS TO DO:
California snow play: Tahoe's Northstar offers off-the-slope fun too
(A 9,000 square-foot ice skating rink sits at the center of the village at Northstar,
surrounded by cabanas, fire pits and plenty of winter cheer. Northstar skiers and
snowboarders can frolic in the powder of Lookout Mountain. Grab Highlands Gondola
to the resort, which sits at a 6,941-foot elevation, and offers food and drink options.)
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, January 22, 2023, F7-F8)
BOOKISH:
The John Steinbeck you don't know— and the book you've never heard of
[While living in a house that he and first wife Carol Henning had built in Los Gatos
(now part of Monte Sereno) in 1936, he completed "Of Mice and Men" and wrote much
of "The Grapes of Wrath". In the summer of 1938, seeking more solitude, they settled
in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Moody Gulch, where he finished his epic about the
Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s. He typically wrote his journals and manuscripts in
long hand, cramming as many as 50 or 100 lines on each ledger sheet to save paper.
At Stanford, he bet a roommate that he could get 500 words on the back of a postcard.
He won. His interest in King Arthur can be seen in "Tortilla Flats" & "Sweet Thursday".
"The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights" was published posthumously in 1976.]
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, January 19, 2023, Bookish, pp. 54-59)
BOOKISH:
The fascinating world of book arts: 3 Bay Area makers share their stories
(A book artist is someone who elevates bookmaking to an art form using little more
than ink, paper and a wildly creative imagination. Bryan Kring's best-seller is the art book
"Peephole". Paloma Lucas makes teeny micro books at her studio at Cubberley Community
Center in Palo Alto. Nanette Wylde, an educator for 26 years, says "Digital doesn't have the
same richness as something that's handbound". Wylde's
"Redacted Babar: ABC Free" (2021),
is based on an altered board book: "B is for Babar: An alphabet book" by Laurent de Brunhoff.
With her artist-husband Kent Manske, they created
"You Are the Tree",
the 7-foot diameter
replica of an old growth, coast redwood stump, on display at the glass-encased Redwood City
Art Kiosk on Broadway. It celebrates the community's cultural diversity and labor force.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, Mercury News, January 16, 2023, Bookish, pp. 62-67)
TECHNOLOGY
USB flash drives long lasting, but still have a backup
(A quality flash drive will last more than 10 years or 10,000 usage cycles if stored
properly; in a dry place away from temperature extremes. Back up your data in several
places just in case something happens to that flash drive. While cloud services like
Apple iCloud and Google Drive are convenient, it is still a good idea to have important
files and photos in your possession & not just in cyberspace. Store photos on iCloud.com
on Apple iPhone or photos.google.com on Android phone with Google account.)
(By Don Liindich, Mercury News, January 18, 2023, C8)
* OP-ED
AI can't reproduce the wonders of original human creativity
[Having an original idea, expression or epiphany is a deeply human act and also
impossible for AI. Computer code can write itself, chatbots can generate academic
papers, and, with a few keystrokes, a website can produce an image worthy to be
framed on any wall. Everywhere we turn, AI is outputting text and images that mimic
(and often surpass) humans' abilities. While an AI-generated poem, story or painting
might reorder existing information in new, believable & compelling ways, it is using
preexisting building blocks drawn from its data set.]
(By Chris White, Mercury News, January 18, 2023, A7)
TECHNOLOGY:
Microsoft Bets Big on the Creator of ChatGPT in Race to Dominate A.I.
(When a chatbot called ChatGPT hit the internet late last year, executives at
a number of Silicon Valley companies worried they were suddenly dealing with
new AI technology that could disrupt their businesses. In 2019, Microsoft invested
$1 billion in OpenAI, the tiny SF company that designed ChatGPT. And in the years
since, it has quietly invested another $2 billion. ChatGPT answers questions,
writes poetry and riffs on almost any topic tossed its way.)
(By Cade Meta & Karen Weiss, NY Times, Mercury News, January 17, 2023, C7-C8)
TRAVEL:
From pineapples to billionaires: Discovering modern-day Lanai
(Lanai lies just a ferry ride across the channel from Lahaina, Maui. A decade ago, Oracle founder
and chairman Larry Ellison— the planet's 7th-richest human— bought 98% of it from a corporate
offshoot of pineapple giant Dole. Hulopo'e Beach, on the island's southern shore near Four Seasons
Resort Lanai, deserves its reputation as the island's best. The waves are gentle, the bottom's sandy.)
(By Peter Delevett, Mercury News, January 15, 2023, F7-F8)
* LIVERMORE:
Shine a light: The East Bay bulb that's been burning for 122 years
(Celebrating its 122nd anniversary, the Centennial Bulb in Livermore is the world's longest burning light bulb.
The bulb is located at Fire Station #6 on 4550 East Ave. The bulb, a hand-blown bulb with carbon filament,
was created by Shelby Electric Company in 1900. It was donated to Livermore Fire Department
by Dennis Bernal, owner of the Livermore Power and Water Company, in 1901. The bulb's wattage began
at 60 watts and it currently burns at about four watts.)
(By Martha Brennan, Mercury News, January 11, 2023, B1-B2)
* OP-ED:
ChatGPT will not change what we teach to writers
(The process of writing allows us to think, feel, dream, inspire. This is something AI will never learn.
Why would, or should, one write if a machine can do it better, faster and easier? This perception holds
that technology can effectively replace writing. I beg to differ. AI creates a product. Writing an essay,
however, is so much more than a product; it is a process.)
(By Linda Hora, Mercury News, January 10, 2023, A6)
THINGS TO DO:
California national parks: The most spectacular photos from 2022
(1. "View of Bullfrog Lake" (Yongsung Kim);
2. "Black Bear" (Uddhava Das);
3. "Summit of Mount Gardiner" (Chris Czaplicki);
4. "Dew on Mustang Clover" (Dawn Day);
5. "Grant Grove After Snowstorm" (I-Ting Chiang);
6. "Reflection on Soldier Lake at Sunset" (Nathan Pearsey);
7. "Milky Way Over Burned Landscape" (Ivan Mendoza);
8. "Water in Kings River" (Uddhava Das);
9. "Sequoia on the Congress Trail" (Brian Long);
10. "Sequoia on the Congress Trail" (Brian Long).
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, January 8, 2023, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Manhattan Bridge beats Golden Gate Bridge for Google's 'Top Scenic Spots' in 2022
(1. Dumbo: Manhattan Bridge View, Brooklyn, NY:
2. Golden Gate View Point, Mill Valley, CA;
3. Bellagio Fountain, Las Vegas, NV:
4. Statue of Liberty View Point, New York;
5. Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ;
6. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Bryson City, NC;
7. Gatlinburg SkyBridge, Gatlinburg, TN;
8. PA Grand Canyon, Wellsboro, PA;
9. Beverly Hills Sign, Beverly Hills, CA;
10. Glacier Point, Yosemite, Valley, CA)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, January 8, 2023, F7)
What's behind the Metformin craze?
(Can this diabetes drug really slow aging, curb weight gain, reduce dementia?
Effective against diabetes, the drug's popularity is growing among the young & healthy.
Metformin, or dimethylbiguanide, traces its history back to a traditional herbal medicine
in Europe called Galega officinalis, or goat's rue. While it can cause side effects
in people with kidney problems, it improves blood-sugar control by improving insulin
sensitivity, reducing the amount of sugar released by the liver into the blood & increasing
glucose absorption. It is now the fourth most widely prescribed medication in the nation.
About 20 million Americans were prescribed the drug in 2020.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, January 3, 2023, A1, A5)
OBITUARY:
Barbara Walters, television news trailblazer, dies at 93
(During nearly four decades at ABC, and before that at NBC, Walters' exclusive interviews
with rulers, royalty and entertainers brought her celebrity status that ranked with theirs.
Walters made headlines in 1976 as the first female network news anchor, with an
unprecedented $1 million annual salary that drew gasps and criticism.)
(By Frazier Moore, Mercury News, December 31, 2022, A4)
* OBITUARY:
Original G.O.A.T.— Pelé, Brazil's mighty king of 'beautiful game', has died at 82
(Pelé won a record three World Cups and became one of the most commanding sports figures
of the last century. He played 114 matches with Brazil, scoring a record 95 goals, including 77
in official matches. He led the NY Cosmos to the 1977 league title, scoring 64 goals in 3 seasons.)
(By Tales Azzoni & Mauricio Savarese, Mercury News, December 30, 2022, C1, C3)
TREES:
The Hardy Tree, a Beloved Fixture of a London Cemetery, Topples Over
(A small group of onlookers gathered in a little church graveyard in central London on Tuesday,
in the pouring rain, taking in the sight of an old ash tree. The so-called Hardy Tree was named
for the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. He was hired in the 1860s to exhume human remains from
the cemetery to make way for a new railway line. Hardy excavated more than 1000 graves according
to the St. Pancras Old Church. More than a century, the tree's roots grew around & over headstones.)
(By Jenny Gross, NY Times, Mercury News, December 29, 2022, A8)
Washington's Crossing the Delaware
(A look at Gen. George Washington's Christmas crossing of the Delaware River and the art
by a German artist, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, done in 1849, that it inspired. On Dec. 25, 1776
by 6 pm, Washington had 2,400 troops crossing the icy river. The weather forced the men to fight
their way through sleet & a blinding snowstorm. They defeated the Hessian troops in Trenton, NJ.
The painting hangs at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
& a copy in the White House.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, December 25, 2022, B11)
THINGS TO DO:
Discover Cultural & Culinary Gems in Oakland's Urban Center
(Start with the sparkling Oaklandish Tree sculpture that welcomes visitors to uptown Oakland;
Visit: 1. The Crown, 2523 Broadway;
2. Johansson Projects, 2300 Telegraph Ave;
3. Rock Paper
Scissors Collective; 4. Two Pitchers Brewing Company 2344 Webster St.;
5. The New Parish,
1743 San Pablo Ave; 6. Steph Curry mural
on the 2300 Broadway block across from The Hive.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, December 25, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Travel + Leisure's top destinations for 'big-city thrills' in 2023
(1 Copenhagen, Denmark;
2 Houston, Texas;
3 Madrid, Spain;
4 Nashville, Tennessee;
5 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
6 San Francisco;
7 Seoul, South Korea)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, December 25, 2022, F7)
* OP-ED:
The intersection of oncology and a biblical Christmas story
[In the face of evil (cancer) within our own genetic code, what relevance is a baby in a manger born
more than 20 centuries ago? To care for people who have cancer— and seeing their bone-deep
kindness, grace, forgiveness, wonder and love— is to recognize that beyond the cells and DNA
lies a deeper truth: We cannot be reduced only to cells and atoms. Life means something more.]
(By Tyler Johnson, Mercury News, December 23, 2022, A6)
6.4
earthquake shocks Humboldt County coast
(The powerful quake, which injured several people and resulted in at least two deaths,
sheared houses from their foundations and left thousands of people without power across
a broad swath of Humboldt County. More than 71,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers lost
power, and 59,000 of them remained without electricity Tuesday afternoon.)
(By Jokob Rodgers, Shomik Mukherjee, Ethan Baron, Mercury News, December 21, 2022, A1, A5)
* OP-ED:
An old-school English teacher encounters ChatGPT
(Most of all, ChatGPT's prose is soulless. It doesn't have that ineffable sense of voice
or will or agency that only a real human being can render in prose. At least so far. One thing is
clear: For good or ill, something monumental happened to writing instruction in December 2022;
it's unlikely to ever be the same. Can college students use ChatGPT to cheat in writing classes?)
(By John M. Crisp, Mercury News, December 21, 2022, A7)
* THINGS TO DO:
On the search for giant trees in Humboldt's mighty forests
(Avenue of the Giants, is a 32-mile scenic stretch that weaves through big trees and enclaves
in southern Humboldt County. The 370-foot tall Dyerville Giant was felled by a storm in 1991.
Heather Pierce brought me to 380-foot Hyperion, the world’s tallest tree. It felt sacred among the trees
scattered throughout Bull Creek Flats. The world’s leading redwood authorities balanced spirituality
with science as they named and cataloged the leathery-barked beast estimated to be 1,700 years old.)
(By Elliot Almond, Mercury News, December 18, 2022, F7-F8)
* THINGS TO DO:
4 hidden redwood groves in the Bay Area worth discovering
(1. Woodbridge Metcalf Grove, Berkeley;
2. LandPaths Grove of Old Trees, Occidental;
3. Blake Garden, Kensington;
4. Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, Los Altos.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, December 18, 2022, F7)
LOCAL:
Stanford Theatre cancels "It's a Wonderful Life" for third year
(Palo Alto's classic movie house is replacing its HVAC system and expects to reopen
in early 2023. While the 2020 & 2021 screenings were scrapped because of COVID-19,
the culprit this year is the classic Palo Alto movie theater's HVAC system. Frank Capra-
directed 1946 holiday classic, had been an annual event at the Stanford Theatre since
its reopening in 1989, consistently playing to a sold-out house on December 24.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, December 16, 2022, B1-B2)
TECHNOLOGY:
Speaking about VR safety, in VR
(I'm new to AltSpace, but I had to learn it in order to give a keynote address during
Metaverse Safety Week, sponsored by the X Reality Safety Initiative, or XRSI, a nonprofit,
founded in 2019 to promote "privacy, safety, security, and ethics in immersive environments."
My most satisfying experiences, so far, have been work oriented. In preparation for my talk
at XRSI, I was given a tour of AltSpace VR by XRSI founder
Kavya Pearlman, who met
me in the auditorium where I spoke. Forgot I was in VR speaking with Pearlman's avatar.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, December 16, 2022, C1, C8)
MLB:
SF Giants sign their superstar: Carlos Correa reportedly agrees to huge contract
[Correa's face will be plastered outside Oracle Park for the next decade and beyond
after agreeing to 13-year, $350M contract. Giants will pay Correa an average of $26.9
million per year through his age-40 season. Only Judge ($360M), Mike Trout ($426.5M)
and Mookie Betts ($365M) have ever been guaranteed more.]
(By Evan Webeck, Mercury News, December 14, 2022)
How Livermore scientists produced fusion breakthrough by recreating the power of the sun
(Lawrence Livermore National Lab had achieved a historic breakthrough in its fusion research—
creating a brief reaction that generated more energy than it consumed. Long-elusive achievement,
called "ignition", brings the world one step closer to the goal of harnessing the same process that
powers the sun to create safe, cheap, carbon-free electricity on Earth— although that's still decades
away. At lab's $3.5 billion National Ignition Facility, size of three football fields, scientists produce
powerful reactions by smashing together, or fusing, hydrogen atoms into helium, using lasers.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, December 14, 2022, A1, A5)
* OP-ED:
I'll bet you didn't write that— artificial inelligence robot did
(In less than a week, more than 1 million people have tried a new AI program that composes
everything from emails to essays. High school & college students are celebrating the prospect
of delegating future homework assignments to this magical chatbot. Venture capitalists expect
billion-dollar companies will be built on this technology. ChatGPT, from OpenAI, is simple:
Type in a request, get back a human-like response.)
(By Glenn Kramon, Mercury News, December 13, 2022, A7)
'Stomp'
to close in New York in January
("Stomp", the long-running show that re-purposed mundane items like brooms
and metal garbage can lids to create a gritty percussion stage spectacle will
close in New York on Jan. 9. When "Stomp" closes, it will have played
13 previews and 11,472 regular performances.)
(By Nicole Herzington, NY Times, Mercury News, December 7, 2022, A2)
THINGS TO DO:
Time to Refuel
(After skiing, visit these sites: 1. Vulcania in Mammoth; 2. Desolation in South Lake Tahoe;
3. Maggie's Restaurant & Bar; 4. Lakeview Social; 5. Tremigo Mexican Kitchen & Teqila Bar at Palisades Tahoe.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, November 27, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Fodor's 2023 Go List: The top American destinations include a California gem
(1. Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Louisiana;
2. Halifax, Nova Scotia;
3. Iowa City, Iowa;
4. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California;
5. Saskatchewan, Canada;
6. Wilmington, NC
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, November 27, 2022, F7)
TECHNOLOGY: Ensuring safe holiday shopping
(Consumers face new challenges as we emerge from the pandemic. Be very suspicious if seller
asks you to pay by cash, wired funds, gift cards or any other untraceable payment method.
Shop from reputable online merchants. Look for "https" in the browser's address bar.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 11-25-2022, C7-C8)
THINGS TO DO:
Road tripping to Marin's portals to the past
[Coast Miwok greeted region's first foreign visitors, Sir Francis Drake
and his crew, when they parked Golden Hind off the Marin coast in 1579
for repairs. They greeted Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala when he
sailed the San Carlos into San Francisco Bay in 1775. Sausalito has Marinship display
at US Army Corps of Engineers' Bay Model on WW II. Tiburon's 1866 China Cabin
and Old St. Hilary's (1888), a beautiful Carpenter Gothic church. In Marin Headlands,
a Nike missile site. Rodeo Beach has a massive 16-inch gun from USS Missouri on display.
These guns were capable of shooting a 2,100-pound projectile 25 miles out to sea.]
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, November 20, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Frommer's best places to travel in 2023
(1. The Virgin Islands;
2. San Sebastián and Bilbao, Spain;
3. Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico;
4. Karnataka, India;
5. Athens, Greece;
6. Oahu, Hawaii;
7. Maratea, Italy;
8. Vilnius, Lithuania)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, November 20, 2022, F7)
NEW SURVEY:
What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur?
[Character traits that matter: Creativity, Intelligence, Confidence, Motivation.
Modern entrepreneurs: Bill Gates (Microsft founder); Jeff Bezos (Amazon);
Steve Jobs (Apple); Elon Musk (Tesla & SpaceX); Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook); Opray Winfrey (Oprah Magazine, O);
Sam Walton (Walmart); Larry Page (Google);
Melinda Gates (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation); Ted Turner (CNN)]
(By Brand Point, Mercury News, November 20, 2022, E8)
THINGS TO DO:
Whales are swarming off of San Francisco— here's where to see them
(1. Mendocino Whale Festival: March 4, 11, 18, 25; 2. Whalefest Monterey: March 18 and 19;
3. Whale and Jazz Festival Series: late April to early May)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, November 13, 2022, F7)
TECHNOLOGY:
How to speed up home internet
(One of the most common complaints I get from readers and friends is that their home internet
is slow or unreliable. Like a chain, your internet connection is only as strong as its weakest
link and there are several links to explore. The cheapest is usually to buy an extender like
the $34 TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Extender. You put the extender between your router/gateway
and the device so that it picks up, amplifies and re-broadcasts the signal.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 11-11-2022, C7-C8)
MUSIC:
Louis Armstrong gets the last laugh
(The film Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues"
explores Armstrong's multifaceted experience
as a Black American musician who came of age right along with the 20th century,
enduring the worst and somehow embodying the best. Armstrong faced blowback in
1957 for speaking against discrimination, and donated to the Civil Rights movement.)
(By Alan Scherstuhl, NY Times, Mercury News, November 6, 2022, A2
THINGS TO DO:
Deck the Halls on Deck
(Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line,
Holland American Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Carribean Internationa)
(By David Dickerstein, Mercury News, November 6, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
New San Francisco park makes National Geographic's list
(Switzerland: for its family friendly rail system;
Colombia: for its unique bird watching;
San Francisco: for
17-mile Crosstown Trail & Tunnel Tops Park;
Manchester, UK:
for its culture and football;
Trinidad and Tobago: for its sea-turtle tourism)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, November 6, 2022, F7)
* BASEBALL:
Javier, Astros pitch 2nd no-hitter in World Series history
(Cristian Javier & Houston's bullpen combined on just the second no-hitter in World Series history,
silencing a booming lineup and boisterous fans as the Astros blanked the Phillies 5-0 Wednesday
night to even the matchup at two games each. Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero & Ryan Pressly each
followed with a hitless inning, ensuring this year's championship will be decided this weekend
back at Minute Maid Park. The only previous no-hitter in the World Series was a perfect game
by Don Larsen of the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956.)
(By Ben Walker, AP, Mercury News, November 2, 2022)
* THINGS TO DO:
Reach for the Stars
(Stargazers flock to Death Valley National Park, where the lack of light pollution makes for dark skies
dramatically dotted with spectacular constellations, star clusters and more.
Park to Park in the Dark, an astrotourism route made
Nevada's Dark Sky Designation Program official in 2021. The route connects
two International Dark Sky Parks—
Death Valley National Park and
Great Basin National Park.
Death
Valley is best visited between November and early April, when temperatures
are mellow. That's when
Great Basin is at its chilliest, though, so pack a puffer
jacket, if you're stargazing during the winter.)
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, October 30, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
America's 10 best National Parks include a California icon
(1. Yosemite, California;
2. Bryce Canyon, Utah;
3. Canyonlands, Utah;
4. Glacier, Montana;
5. Yellowstone, Wyoming;
6. Zion, Utah;
7. Redwood, California;
8. Grand Canyon, Arizona;
9. Saguaro, Arizona;
10. Arches, Utah.
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, October 30, 2022, F7)
OBITUARY:
Rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis dies at 87; 'Great Balls of Fire'
singer also had scandalous personal life
("Great Balls of Fire", a sexualized take on Biblical imagery that Lewis initially
refused to record, & "Whole Lotta Shakin'" were his most enduring songs & performance
pieces. In 1986, along with Elvis, Chuck Berry and others, he made the inaugural class
of inductees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and joined Country Hall of Fame this year.)
(By Hillel Italie, AP, Mercury News, October 29, 2022, A3)
MOVIES:
Dwayne Johnson waited, and waited, for shot to play 'Black Adam'
(Hayward native says he loved DC Comics character who 'had brown skin like
mine. That immediately intrigued me'. DC's Justice League: Batman, Superman,
Wonder Woma, Flash, Aquaman, wondered if Black Adam was good or evil.)
(By Dave Itzkoff, Mercury News, October 27, 2022, G6)
OP-ED:
Look who just clobbered China's chip industry
(Biden's sanctions prohibit China from buying the best American chips and the machines to build
them. Semiconductors are one of the few sectors for which China still depends on the rest of
the world; the country spends more money importing microchips each year than it does oil.)
(By Farhad Manjoo, Mercury News, October 23, 2022, A13)
THINGS TO DO:
Perfect day trip to Emeryville, from restaurants to murals and Pixar
(Classic cars, Pixar, windswept views and new public art make a 2022 visit lovely.
Visit: Fantasy Junction;
Sea Walls murals;
Compound Gallery;
36th Annual Emeryville
Art Exhibition;
The Public Market;
Honor Kitchen;
Townhouse;
Trader Vic's.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, October 23, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
The world's coolest neighborhoods for 2022
(1. Colonia Americana, Guadalajara, Mexico;
2. Cals de Sodrè, Lisbon, Portugal;
3. Wat Bo Village, SlamReap, Cambodia;
4. Ridgewood, NYC;
5. Mile End, Montreal, Canada;
6. Bardo Logan, San Diego;
7. Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, Japan;
8. Cliftonville, Margate, U.K.;
9. Barrio Yungay, Santiago, Chile;
10. Cours Julien, Marseille, France)
(Mercury News, October 23, 2022, F7)
MOVIES:
Dwayne Johnson is a natural in predictable 'Black Adam'
(Why he hasn't had a starring role in a DC or Marvel superhero flick until now is astonishing.
Black Adam is more than a match for all of them combined. He can fly, move as fast as The Flash,
catch rockets, deflect bullets & harness his own bluish electricity. Other superheroes in DC pantheon
aren't sure about the new guy, released from his 5,000-year-long tomb, to avenge evil.)
(By Mark Kennedy, Mercury News, October 21, 2022)
FOOD:
Bay Area sushi trend: Vegan, vegetarian rolls taking over restaurant menus
(At Kiku Sushi & Vegetarian, a hidden gem in Lafayette where the restaurant's whiteboard
showcases fresh, seasonal fish flown in directly from Japan, there is a growing list of
plant-based sushi rolls impressing pescatarians, vegans and vegetarians alike. Chef-owner
Sophia Batsaikhan's tasty creations— a dragon roll made with sweet potato tempura,
avocado and eggplant instead of eel; and make plant-based eaters feel welcome.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, Mercury News, October 16, 2022, F1-F3)
THINGS TO DO:
Corn mazes? Nah, for this Halloween try a Bay Area hay maze
(Get stalked by a Minotaur and test military-grade fruit cannons. Visit:
Mickelson Pumpkin Patch;
San Francisco Zoo;
G&M Farms;
Arata's Pumpkin Farm;
Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, October 16, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Halloween Celebrations Around the Bay Area
(List of all the spooky events happening in the Bay this Halloween Visit:
Sandbox VR— Deadwood Valley;
Squid Game Immersive Experience;
Terror Vault— The Summoning;
Tricks & Treats at California's Great America;
Winchester Unhinged;
Spooky Halloween Science;
Mockingbird Lane— A Halloween Market.)
(By Brittany Delay, Mercury News, October 16, 2022, F7-F8)
OBITUARY:
Robbie Coltrane, Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' Films, Dies at 72
(Robbie Coltrane, the veteran Scottish actor who played the beloved half-giant Rubeus Hagrid
in the "Harry Potter" films and starred in the cult British crime series "Cracker" died Friday
in Larbert, Scotland. Coltrane embodied the 8-foot-6 half-giant in all eight "Harry Potter"
films. Daniel Radcliffe, said "Coltrane used to keep us laughing constantly as kids.")
(By Amanda Holpuch & Alex Marshall, NY Times, Mercury News, October 15, 2022, A2)
BASEBALL:
Pitcher Bruce Sutter dies at 69; Hall of Famer played for Cubs, Cardinals & Braves
(The six-time All-Star, who had more than 300 saves, was one of the first pitchers
to throw a split-finger fastball. Sutter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
in 2006. Won the Cy Young with Cubs in 1979 in a season where he had 37 saves,
2.22 ERA and 110 strikeouts. Won a World Series with St. Louis Cardinals in 1982,)
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, October 15, 2022, C3)
TECHNOLOGY:
The Metaverse is getting real, but it has a ways to go
[Late last year, the company formerly known as Facebook changed its name to Meta.
It was a signal that the world's largest social media company is fully embracing the
"metaverse," which allows people
to interact in virtual worlds— usually while
wearing a headset— as avatars who can play games together, watch concerts, comedy
acts and other events, hangout and engage in business meetings without being in close
physical proximity. Time will tell how popular VR & AR
(augmented reality) will become.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-14-2022, C7-C8)
SPORTS:
How Kevon Looney became Warriors' moral compass in Draymond Green crisis
(Draymond Green's pending return to the Warriors comes with plenty of questions.
Has he mended the trust he broke when he punched Jordan Poole last week in practice?
Can Green find a balance between competitive fire and anger? Are his Warriors
teammates OK with his return? "Looney is incredible," Kerr said. "This guy has
so much wisdom. He's so quiet that if you don't pay attention, you may not realize
he's become the moral compass of our team. A special human being. Special. And he
was a key instrument in everything we have done the last week to try to get things
back on track. I'll ride with Loon forever. This is a special man.")
(By Shayna Rubin, Mercury News, October 13, 2022, C1, C3)
OBITUARY: Angela Lansbury, star of film, stage and 'Murder She Wrote' dies at 96
(Lansbury was winner of 5 Tony Awards for her starring performances on New York stage,
from "Mame" in 1966 to "Blithe Spirit" in 2009, when she was 83. Nominated for Best
Supporting Actress in the thriller "Gaslight" (1944) at age 18, and as a dance hall girl
in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1946). Lansbury would capture the biggest audience of
her career in 1984, when she was cast as mystery writer & amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher
on 12-years CBS series "Murder, She Wrote."
Show was huge hit with 30 million viewers.)
(By Daniel Lewis, NY Times, Mercury News, October 12, 2022, A3)
ECONOMICS:
Former Fed chair Ben Bernanke shares Nobel Prize in economics for research on banks
(Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, who put his academic expertise on the
Great Depression to work reviving the American economy after the 2007-2008 financial crisis,
won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences along with two other U.S.-based economists,
Douglas W. Diamond & Philip H. Dybvig. for their research into fallout from bank failures.)
(By David Keyton, Frank Jordans, & Paul Wiseman, AP, Mercury News, October 10, 2022)
DRAMA:
Suzan-Lori Parks is all over the place
(Suzan-Lori Parks is drawn to archways. She lived above a McDonald's on 6th Avenue—
the Golden Arches. Then she moved out by Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza, with its triumphal
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch. Now she lives in an apartment overlooking the marble
monument honoring the nation's first president at the entrance to Washington Square Park.
It's very symbolic", Parks said. "I'm always orienting myself to arches." Arches are
gateways, portals between one world and another, and Parks is endlessly thinking about
other worlds. In 2002, she became the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer
Prize in drama. Her plays "Topdog/Underdog", "Sally & Tom", "Plays for the Plague Year",
can be seen now, with "The Harder They Come" staged early next year. "She occupies pretty
hallowed air: She's the one who walks among us", said playwright Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins,
who teaches playwriting and performance studies at Yale. "She's the reigning empress of
the Black and weird in theater", he said, "And she really is the most successful dramatist
of the avant-garde working today.")
(By Michael Paulson, NY Times, Mercury News, October 9, 2022, A2)
* TRAVEL:
Head for Area 51 and a jaunt along Nevada's Extraterrestrial Highway
(Stop by these places: The Mizpah Hotel,
The Clown Motel,
Best Western Hi-Desert Inn,
Little A'Le'Inn,
Alien Research Center,
E.T. Fresh Jerky;
Not Allowed: Area 51)
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, October 9, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: 10 most haunted places in Western U.S. includes a Bay Area gem
(1. Bodie, California;
2. Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii;
3. Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, Arizona;
4. Mizpah Hotel, Tonopah, Nevada;
5. Pittock Mansion, Portland, Oregon;
6. Red Onion Saloon, Skagway, Alaska;
7. RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach;
8. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado;
9. Whaley House, San Diego;
10. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, October 9, 2022, F7)
SCIENCE:
How a Stanford chemist nabbed the Nobel
(Stanford University's Carolyn Bertozzi
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022
for her development of click chemistry and
bioorthogonal chemistry. She shares $1 million
prize with K. Barry Sharpless of Scripps Research in La Jolla, who earned his Ph.D. in
chemistry from Stanford, & Danish scientist Morten Meldal at University of Copenhagen.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, October 6, 2022, A1, A5)
SCIENCE:
This Bay Area physicist and pioneer in quantum physics just won a Nobel Prize
(John Clauser of Walnut Creek
proved that nature can send signals faster than
the speed of light. Clauser of UC-Berkeley won a
Nobel Prize in physics with
Alain Aspect of France, and
Anton Zeilinger of Austria,
for their work on
quantum information science. The scientists were cited for discovering the way
that particles known as photons can be linked with each other even when they
are separated by large distances. Quantum teleportation.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, October 5, 2022, A1, A5)
OBITUARY:
Loretta Lynn, coal miner's daughter and country queen, dies at 90
(Loretta Lynn, the Kentucky coal miner's daughter whose frank songs about life
and love as a woman in Appalachia pulled her out of poverty and made her a pillar
of country music, has died. She was 90. Academy of Country Music chose her as
the artist of the decade for the 1970s, and she was elected to the Country Music Hall
of Fame in 1988. She won four Grammy Awards, was inducted into the Songwriters
Hall of Fame in 2008, was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
"Coal Miner's Daughter" also
the title of her 1976 book, was made into a 1980 movie of same name.
Sissy Spacek's
portrayal of Lynn won her an Oscar & the film was also nominated for best picture.)
(By Kristin M. Hall, AP, Mercury News, October 5, 2022, A8)
SCIENCE:
Bay Area space scientists build world's largest digital camera
(The SLAC camera is so powerful it could spot a golf ball from 15 miles away.
The camera can spot objects 100 million times dimmer than those visible to the
naked eye— a sensitivity letting it see a candle from thousands of miles away.
A smartphone camera has about 20 million pixels. This camera has 3.2 billion.
Unlike the new James Webb Space Telescope, now drifting in space at a location
beyond the moon, this camera will live here on Earth, gazing out from the clear,
dry skies of Chile's high Atacama Desert.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, October 3, 2022, A1, A6)
* TECHNOLOGY:
For Gen Z, TikTok Is the New Search Engine
(Need to find a restaurant or figure out how to do something? Young people are turning to
TikTok to search for answers. Google has noticed. More and more young people are using
TikTok's powerful algorithm— which personalizes the videos shown to them based on
their interactions with content— to find information uncannily catered to their tastes.)
(By Kalley Huang, NY Times, Mercury News, October 3, 2022, C9-C10)
THINGS TO DO: Top 10 immersive art experiences in the U.S.
(1. Wonderspaces, Scottsdale, Arizona;
2. Seismique, Houston, Texas;
3. Superblue Miami, Miami, Florida;
4. WNDR Museum, Chicago, Illinois;
5. Factory Obscura, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
6. House of Eternal Return, Santa Fe, New Mexico;
7. ARTECHOUSE, New York City;
8. City Museum, St. Louis, Missouri;
9. Otherworld, Columbus, Ohio;
10. Flutter, Los Angeles.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, October 2, 2022, F7)
OBITUARY:
David Gottesman, a Wall Street power and a Warren Buffet partner, dies at 96
(Although Gottesman creditd Buffett with making him a Wall Street billionaire,
he could have scarcely been more different from that world-famous investor.
He did not appear on TV, and presided over his privately held First Manhattan Co.
with no advertising, no commentary, and no touting of favorite stocks. The company
manages more than $20 billion for its clients. He met Buffett in 1963 & became friends.)
(By Robert D. Hershey, Jr. & Alex Traub, NY Times, Mercury News, October 1, 2022, B4)
THINGS TO DO:
A walking tour of San Francisco's Barbary Coast Trail, from the man who designed it
(From shanghaiing dens to a hidden renegade park, this unique trail is a delight for history lovers;
Barbary Coast Trail features 180 bronze sidewalk medallions installed in a 3.8 mile-long journey;
North America's oldest Chinatown gives Waverly Place the name "Street of the Painted Balconies."
Daniel Bacon offers on his website, maps of
Sidewalk Safari,
AllTrails and
Roving Vails).
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, September 25, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: 22 of the USA's most underrated destinations
(1. Central MA;
2. Block Island, RI;
3. Buffalo, NY;
4. Pennsylvania Wilds;
5. West Virginia;
6. Durham, NC;
7. Cumberland Island National Seashore, GA;
8. Florida's Forgotten Coast;
9. Ouachita Mountains, AR;
10. Oklahoma;
11. Kansas City, MO;
12. Southern Illinois;
13. Lake Superior;
14. North Park, CO;
15. White Sands National Park, NM;
16. West Texas;
17. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, UT;
18. Tacoma, WA;
19. Channel Islands National Park, CA;
20. San Luis Obispo, CA;
21. Ka'u District, HI;
22. Matanuska Valley, AK.
(By Joe Yogerst, CNN, Mercury News, September 25, 2022, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
Secret Muir Woods: There's a hidden back door to this popular park
(Muir Woods is one of California's most popular National Parks, but there's
a back door in on the Canopy View Trail that lets you enjoy majesty of the
redwoods without the crowds. Hiking the Canopy View trail from Mount Tam
is sort of an Alice in Wonderland experience. The Lost Trail makes a steep
descent into Fern Creek Canyon and the upper reaches of Muir Woods.
Redwood Creek splashes its way among the redwoods at Muir Woods.)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, September 18, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: The top 7 new museums on the planet include a California pick
(1. The Fellini Museum, Rimini, Italy;
2. M+, Hong Kong;
3. MoMu, Antwerp, Belgium;
4. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Atchugarry, Uruguay;
5. Murakami Library, Tokyo;
6. Munch Museum, Oslo;
7. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles;
8. Denver Art Museum.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, September 18, 2022, F7)
OP-ED:
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles kept their cool on California trip
(Queen Elizabeth II was one monarch most Americans respected & admired. She had grace
& grit— lifelong characteristics that were brightly displayed on a venturous trip to California
in 1983. Her son & successor, King Charles III, shared his mother's attribute of staying calm
and cool. And the then-prince showed it while being hosted by "era of limits" Gov. Jerry Brown
at the state Capitol in 1977. After lunch, Brown gave the prince a bag of bean sprouts sandwich.)
(By George Skelton, Mercury News, September 13, 2022, A6)
Remembering
Sept. 11-24, 2001: A look at the attack and the aftermath
(Observation Deck was 107 stories up on top of Tower 2; At 1377 feet, the South Tower
was world's highest at the time; Elevator ride went a quarter mile in 58 seconds;
2 restaurants & 60 retail establishments; 1.8 million visitors per year, 4900 a day;
American Flight 11 crashed into WTC North Tower; United Flight 175 crashed
WTC South Tower; American Flight 77 crashed into Pentagon; United Flight 93
crashed near Shanksville, PA; 9/11 Quilt with 3024 victims & 70,000 artifacts.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, September 11, 2022, B15)
OP-ED:
The revolutionary monarchy of Queen Elizabeth II
(The queen pulled off a remarkable trick in preserving a monarchy that was simultaneously majestic
and apolitical. Walter Bagehot replaced the individual with the family at the heart of his drama.
But Elizabeth II had to abandon Bagehot's handbook and invent a new one all of her own.)
(By Adrian Wooldridge, Mercury News, September 11, 2022, A9)
THINGS TO DO:
Kauai— Tour, taste through one of America's only working chocolate farms
(Harvest at Lydgate Farms brings volunteer helping hands from across Kauai to pull cacao
from the 3,000 trees planted on the orchard. The sweet-sour pulp turned into refreshing
popsicles, perfect to consume after hiking across the farm, and the shells from the roasted
cacao beans are turned into tea and brewing chocolate.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, Mercury News, September 11, 2022, F7-F8)
* OBITUARY:
Queen Elizabeth II dead at 96 after 70 years on the throne
(Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a symbol of stability
in a turbulent era that saw decline of British empire and embarrassing dysfunction
in her own family, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. Her 73-year-old
son Prince Charles became king and will be known as King Charles III.)
(By Danica Kirka, Jill Lawless, & Sylvia Hui, Mercury News, September 8, 2022)
HIGH TEMPERATURES:
Another Sizzler
(Livermore on back-to-back days experienced hottest temperature in the Bay Area's
recorded history, hitting 116 degrees on Labor Day & Tuesday; San Jose 109o;
Gilroy 113o; Oakland 102o; Concord 112o; Napa 114o.)
(By Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, September 7, 2022, A1, A5)
MOVIES:
Spidey tops box office while Cinema Day draws millions
(The first "National Cinema Day" nationwide promotion became highest-attended day of
the year, drawing 8.1 million moviegoers on Saturday 9/3; "Spider-Man: No Way Home"
which recaptured the No. 1 box office spot for the weekend, brought in $6 million;
"Top Gun: Maverick" followed with $5.5 million, "Super Pets" garnered $5.45 million,
"Bullet Train" pulled in $5.4 million, & "The Invitation" grossed $4.7 million in 5th place.)
(By Jonathan Landrum Jr., Associated Press, Mercury News, September 5, 2022, A2)
LOCAL NEWS:
Saratoga— Tea Ceremony Is Treasured Ritual
(Christina Wong accepts a tea cup from a guest during a traditional tea ceremony for
guests at Hakone Estate & Gardens in Saratoga;
Deil Goleta delivers a tea cup to a guest.)
(Photos By Nhat V. Meyer, Mercury News, September 5, 2022, B1)
THINGS TO DO:
Stroll the haunted streets of Carson City on an eerie and theatrical ghost walk
(Ghost Walk is a family-friendly, flashlight tour, and everyone— even four-legged
friends— is welcome to join the 90-minute jaunt that starts at McFadden Square and
loops through Carson City's historic neighborhoods. Skittish visitors may experience a
few goosebumps, but even the creepiest tales are not overly gory.)
(By Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, September 4, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: The 15 least-visited national parks in the United States
(1. Gates of Arctic National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
2. National Park of American Samoa;
3. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska;
4. North Cascades National Park, Washington;
5. Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
6. Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
7. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan;
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
9. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida;
10. Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
11. Great Basin National Park, Nevada;
12. Congaree National Park, South Carolina;
13. Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska;
14. Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota;
15. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas.)
(By Marnie Hunter, Mercury News, September 2, 2022, F7)
* MANTRA MEDITATION:
New technology added to prayer wheel in Santa Cruz Mountains
[Venerable Jyatso, a Buddhist monk, spent many hours wrapping mantra-inscribed microfilm
around the prayer wheel soon to be in use at the Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom & Culture
in the forest north of Boulder Creek. The wheel, designed to hold 18 pounds of weight—
will contain 1,500 rolls of nano film and a total more than 3 quadrillion (that's 3,000 trillion)
mini Mantras of Great Compassion;
Tom Waggoner, "old hippie", co-founder of Institute.]
(By Jessica York, Mercury News, September 3, 2022, B1, B3)
THINGS TO DO:
Water park at Manteca's Great Wolf Lodge cools off Bay Area families
(At 95,000 square feet, Great Wolf's water park is the biggest in Northern California.
Inside, where the temp is always 84 degrees, a massive pond creates waves that reach up
to three feet in height. Cackle-inducing Sequoia Splash, provide a variety of twists for
every type of slider. Four-story fort drops 1,000 gallons of water every four minutes.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, Mercury News, August 28, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: World's 20 most beautiful lakes include a California favorite
(1. Laguna Verde, Bolivia;
2. Dead Sea, Jordan;
3. Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada;
4. Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand;
5. Lake Pehoé, Chile;
6. Moraine Lake, Canada;
7. Lake Bled,
Slovenia;
8. Hutt Lagoon, Australia;
9. Lac de Sainte-Croix, France;
10. Loch Awe, Scotland)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, August 28, 2022, F7)
TECHNOLOGY:
Google finds 'inoculating' people against misinformation helps blunt its powe
(Researchers at Google, University of Cambridge and University of Bristol tested
a different approach that tries to undermine misinformation before people see it.
They call it "pre-bunking". Lewandowsky said “We need to teach people to recognize
the misinformation playbook, so they understand when they are being misled.â€)
(By Nico Grant & Tiffany Hsu, NY Times, Mercury News, 8-25-2022, C9-C10)
THINGS TO DO:
California mountain adventures: Mammoth Lakes summer vacation
(Main Street to Lake Mary Road & glacier-carved Mammoth Lakes basin; Passed pristine Twin Lakes,
Tamarack Lodge & St. Mary's Lake; Devils Postpile National Monument; Bleu Market & Kitchen;
Warming Hut; The Stove; Distant Brewing; Looney Bean: Stellar Brew; Snowcreek Resort)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, August 21, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: National Parks: Top 10 extraordinary hotels and lodges
(1. Amangiri, Utah;
2. Amangani, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming;
3. Spirit, Zion National Park, Utah;
4. Ultima Thule Lodge, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska;
5. Blackberry Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee;
6. Jenny Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming;
7. Inn at Death Valley, Death Valley National Park, California;
8. The Ahwahnee, Yosemite National Park;
9. El Tovar, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona;
10. Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park, Montana)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, August 21, 2022, F7)
THINGS TO DO:
SONOMA: Side Trippin'
(Guerneville is wonderful. It's also quite small. So after you've splashed,
hiked and noshed at all the tasty restaurants, consider expanding your
Russian River adventures with a side trip to the coast, a foray to a winery,
some music or other creative exploration. Here's a little day trip inspiration;
Jenner Headlands Preserve; Porter-Bass Vineyard and Winery; Korbel Winery;
Stumptown Brewery; Rio Theater; Rio Nido Roadhouse; Fulton Crossing Artisan Center;
Mike's Truck Garden)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, August 14, 2022, F6-F7)
THINGS TO DO: Time Magazine's World's 50 Greatest Places of 2022
(1. Tofino, British Columbia;
2. Toronto, Ontario;
3. Illuissat, Greenland;
4. Salta, Argentina;
5. Portree, Scottish Isle of Skye;
6. Thessaloniki, Greece;
7. Kerala, India;
8. Doha, Qatar;
9. Kigali, Rwanda;
10. Franschhoek, South Africa)
(By Maureen O'Hare, Mercury News, August 14, 2022, F6)
*
WORLD NEWS: Golden Gateway for Supermoon
(Sturgeon supermoon, last supermoon of the year, rises behind the Golden Gate Bridge
and the San Francisco skyline as seen from Sausalito on August 11, 2022; More photos from
Shard, London; Oakland Airport; Anthoupolis, Cyprus; Washington Monument; Istanbul, Turkey;
Windmill in Oostzaan, Netherlands; Lisbon & Tagus River; Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Calif.)
(By Jose Carlos Fajardo & Ray Chavez, Mercury News, 8-13-2022, A1)
TECHNOLOGY:
Tools to help keep kids safe online
(Parent guides & other safety resources for Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Discourse and
other apps at ConnectSafely.org; Instagram's
supervision tool and Snapchat's Family
Center tool help parents guide young teenagers surfing the web.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 8-12-2022, C7-C8)
* MOVIES:
"Grease" star Olivia Newton-John dies at age 73
(Australian singer won four Grammy Awards and sold more than 100 million albums.
Hits include "Physical" and "You're the One That I Want"; She was everyone's favorite
Sandy in blockbuster film "Grease"; Granddaughter of 1954 Physics Nobelist
Max Born.)
(By Hillel Italie, Mercury News, 8-9-2022, A8)
PETS & ANIMALS:
It's a donkey baby boom at Mendocino County sanctuary
(Ron King & his small crew at the rescue & rehome non-profit, Oscar's Place, have
delivered 14 foals with three more coming. In last two years, they welcomed 140 donkeys
and found new homes for 51. Adoption fees are $1,000 for one donkey, $1,800 for a pair.)
(By Joan Morris, Mercury News, 8-8-2022, B1, B3)
* FOCUS HEALTH:
Elusive Slumber
(76% of Americans say their daily life has been interrupted by a lack of sleep; 10 Sleep Tips:
1. Go to sleep at same time each night & get up at the same time each morning; 2. Don't take naps
after 3 p.m. and don't nap longer than 20 minutes;
6. Don't eat a heavy meal late in the day. A light
snack before bedtime is OK;
9. Turn off the TV and other screens at least an hour before bedtime.)
(By Jeff Goertzen, Mercury News, 8-7-2022, B15)
* BASEBALL:
Bay Area's broadcasting greats salute Vin Scully, their idol
(Influence of Vin Scully as a broadcaster & as a man is felt by SF Giants, Oakland A's broadcasters.
"He called the Dwight Clark-Joe Montana touchdown', Giants announcer Duane Kuiper said.)
(By Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 8-3-2022, C1, C5)
WORLD NEWS:
Pelosi Begins Visit to Taiwan
(Republican Newt Gingrich traveled to Taiwan in 1997 to meet then President
Lee Teng-hui 25 years ago. Pelosi said supporting Taiwan "is more important
than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.")
(By Stephanie Yang & David Pierson, Mercury News, 8-3-2022, A1, A5)
SCIENCE:
Rare corpse flower blooms at UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
(The 5-foot-tall, stinky corpse flower, drew hundreds to the arboretum Tuesday morning 8/2.
Visitors packed tightly around the plant as they snapped photos and tried to catch a whiff
of its acrid smell. Native to Indonesia, Sumatra & Borneo, one of world's largest flowers.)
(By Aric Sleeper, Mercury News, August 3, 2022 & Aug. 9, 2022, B1)
* SPORTS:
The Bay's greatest champion, Bill Russell leaves an indelible legacy
(Bill Russell dies at 88: Oakland is called The City of Champions for a reason.
He was greatest Oaklander champion of them all. Won 11 NBA titles with Boston Celtics.
The Dons won 60 consecutive games over that two-year span, becoming first undefeated
championship team in Division 1 men's basketball history in the process.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 8-1-2022, A1, A6)
*
NBA great Bill Russell, Celtics legend, University of San Francisco star & Oakland's own, dies at 88
(Russell went to high school in Oakland & led University of San Francisco Dons to NCAA championships
in 1955 & 1956. A Hall of Famer, 5-time MVP & 12-time All-Star, Russell in 1980 was voted greatest
player in NBA history by basketball writers. Russell's No. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1972.)
(By Jimmy Golen, AP, Mercury News, 8-1-2022, C1, C5)
THINGS TO DO:
Best things to do around San Francisco's gorgeous Tunnel Tops park
(Unveiling of city's newest green space, the Presidio Tunnel Tops. Sited atop a
freeway & designed by the firm that did New York's High Line, the 14-acre park
features sprawling lawns— with this stuff drought-struck Californians should
know is "grass"— 100,000 plants and a nature museum where visitors literally
drink the local flora. A Yoda statue guards Lucasfilm in San Francisco's Presidio.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, July 31, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: Travel + Leisure's top California resorts include 3 Bay Area gems
(1. San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara;
2. Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito;
3. Sparrows Lodge, Palm Springs;
4. MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa, Sonoma;
5. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe;
6. L'Auberge Del Mar;
7. Brewery Gulch Inn, Mendocino;
8. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort-Club, Dana Point;
9. Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection, Napa;
10. The Ranch at Laguna Beach.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, July 31, 2022, F7)
LOTTERY:
Mega Millions: Why are so many hopefuls headed to this San Jose liquor store?
(Top prize for Friday night's drawing has reached $1.1 billion, fifth largest lottery jackpot ever;
Ernie's Liquors on South White Road, San Jose, which in 2018 sold one of three Mega Millions
winning tickets in the record $1.5 billion jackpot to a pool of Wells Fargo coworkers.)
(By Tammer Bagdasarian, Mercury News, 7-29-2022, A1, A5)
BUSINESS:
Free up storage, save money with Gmail, Google Photos
(Tools can help you clear the clutter and avoid spending on extra space. After the first free three 15 gigabytes,
Google charges $29.99/year for up to 200 GB, $99.99/year for up to 2 TB & $249.99/year for up to 5 TB.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 7-29-2022, C7-C8)
ART:
Diego Rivera's American Vision in big new SFMOMA exhibit
[San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art has been celebrating Diego Rivera, who was considered
the greatest Mexican painter of the 20th century, since the day it opened in 1935.
Now the museum's
collection includes 70 Rivera artworks. Plus, on view currently,
the restored 1,628-square-foot mural
"Pan American Unity" that Rivera and his
assistants created in 1940 at the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island.
Exhibit runs to Jan. 2, covers Rivera's career (1920s to mid-1940s,)]
(By Robert Taylor, Mercury News, July 21, 2022, G1-G2)
SCREENS & STREAMING:
The hunt for D.B. Cooper marches on in new series
(50-year hunt for the man who parachuted out of a plane with $200,000 in cash
'speaks to something in the American soul', author Geoffrey Gray says in new Netflix series,
TV producer Tom Colbert believes it was Robert Rackstraw,
Vietnam vet & former pilot from
Santa Cruz area, who also may have worked for CIA.)
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, July 21, 2022, G4)
THINGS TO DO:
Explore a dazzling experimental garden hidden in the Berkeley Hills
(1. The 100-year-old Blake Garden has spectacular views and is nestled next to a monastery
of non-speaking nuns. 10,000 types of plants from every continent; 2. Filoli Historic House & Garden:
walled garden, rose garden, reflecting pool, sunken garden; 3. San Francisco Botantical Garden:
55-acre botanical garden in Golden Gate Park, Garden of Fragrances to Mesoamerican Cloud Forest;
4. UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanical Garden:
135 acres of meadow overlooking Pacific Ocean
and displays hundreds of plants thriving in Mediterranean climates.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, July 24, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: Tripadvisor's top U.S. attractions for 2022
(1. Empire State Building, New York;
2. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado;
3. Central Park, New York;
4. Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii;
5. Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina;
6. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York;
7. Arches National Park, Moab, Utah;
8. National WWII Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana;
9. Taliesin Preservation, Inc., Spring Green, Wisconsin;
10. Stetson Mansion, DeLand, Florida)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, July 24, 2022, F7)
SCIENCE:
The mystery blooms of smelly 'Corpse Flowers'
(Rare plants are unleashing their blossoms this week in San Jose and Santa Cruz;
Titan arum takes seven to ten years to mature enough to blossom—
and then it only blooms briefly, once every three to five years.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, July 23, 2022, A1, A6)
* OBITUARY:
Judith Schiff, 84, historian organized Yale's vast archive
(Schiff worked at Yale for more than 60 years; worked with Charles Lindbergh on
his archive; explored the papers of Emily Dickinson's editor Millicent Todd Bingham.)
(By Neil Genzlinger, NY Times, Mercury News, July 23, 2022, B5)
THINGS TO DO:
3 lovely Bay Area hikes that end with a splash
(1. Tennessee Valley Trail: in Mill Valley is an easy 3.5 mile in-and-out hike along a wide path popular
with families; 2. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: San Lorenzo River feeds Garden of Eden swimming
hole here; in a 0.8-mile loop is the "Giant" 1,500 years old & 25 stories tall; 3. Trione-Annadel
State Park:
in Santa Rosa has Lake Ilsanjo, a wonderful swimming lake for cooling down.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, July 17, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: Top 10 landmarks & attractions in the world
(1. Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain;
2. Colosseum, Rome, Italy;
3. Empire State Building, New York;
4. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates;
5. Gallerie Degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy;
6. Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain;
7. Iguazu Falls, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil;
8. The Roman Baths, Bath, United Kingdom;
9. Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado
10. Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, July 17, 2022, F7)
COSMOLOGY:
Pictures Worth A Thousand Worlds
(Scientists and engineers celebrate at Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto,
watch as NASA reveals the first images of the James Webb Space Telescope. Edge of a nearby,
young star-forming region, NGC 3324, in the Carina Nebular.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, July 13, 2022, A1, A5)
POLITICS:
The debate over 'All men are created equal'
("Those words say to me, 'Do better, America'.And what I mean by that is we have never
been a country where people were truly equal," Kevin Jennings says. "It's an aspiration
to continue to work towards, and we're not there yet.")
(By Hillel Italia, AP, Mercury News, July 4, 2022, A3)
MASSACHUSETTS:
Long-missing Hamilton letter put on public display
(A letter written by Alexander Hamilton in 1780 to Lafayette and stolen decades ago
from the Massachusetts state archives is going back on display. Letter was stolen
during World War II by a state archive worker, then sold privately.)
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, July 4, 2022, A3)
ECONOMY:
Back with a BANG!
(After weathering pandemic, family-owned Pyro Spectaculars is fired up for 400 fireworks
shows. CEO Jim Souza oversees San Francisco's official Fourth of July fireworks display
over the waterfront. "The sky is our canvas— and fireworks are our paint" he says.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, July 3, 2022, E1, E3)
MOVIES:
Elvis was complicated; so is new biopic
(Baz Luhrmann wants to shock Elvis back to life, to imagine who he was in his own time
& what he might mean in ours. Austin Butler stars as King of Rock & Roll and Tom Hanks
plays his devious manager Colonel Tom Parker. Voice of Elvis can't be imitated, and
the movie wisely doesn't try, remixing actual Elvis recordings rather than trying to
replicate them; Film is unsure if it wants to be a lavish pop fable or a tragic melodrama.)
(By A.O. Scott, NY Times, Mercury News, June 30, 2022, G7)
SPORTS:
Where does Steve Kerr stand among the Bay Area's best coaches ever?
[Readers will help choose the Mount Rushmore of pro coaches in the Bay Area: Al Attles (Warriors);
Dusty Baker (Giants); Bruce Bochy (Giants); Tom Flores (Raiders);
Steve Kerr (Warriors); Tony La Russa (A's); John Madden (Raiders);
Bob Melvin (A's); Don Nelson (Warriors); George Seifert (49ers);
Bill Walsh (49ers); Dick Williams (A's).]
(By Jon Becker, Mercury News, June 28, 2022, C1, C4)
THINGS TO DO: Mendocino shipwrecks, lighthouses and the ultimate fish and chip
(Places to Visit: Point Arena Lighthouse; Point Cabrillo Lighthouse; Noyo Fish Company;
Gallery Bookshop and Bookwinkle's;
Mendocino Jams & Preserves; Out of This World;
The Brickery; Mendocino Headlands State Park; Luna Trattoria.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 6-26-2022, F7-F8)
BUSINESS:
Instagram testing age verification technology
(Meta has started to test new ways to verify age, including Face-Based-Age-Prediction (FBAP)
technology that can anonymously determine a person's approximate age, based on a video selfie,
along with "social vouching". Instagram requires users to be 13 or older and offers some
features and content that are available only for those who are over 18.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 6-24-2022, C7-C8)
MOVIES:
Stanford Theatre roaring back to life after 2 years in July
(Fred Astaire double feature "The Gay Divorcee" & "Top Hat" will open Palo Alto's
classic movie house on July 9; "Casablanca" which is celebrating its 80th anniversary
this year, is slated for July 16-17. A double feature starring the late Sidney Poitier—
"To Sir, With Love" and "In the Heat of the Night"— plays July 23-24.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, June 23, 2022, B1, B4)
SPORTS:
Where does Steph Curry rank on the Bay Area 'Mount Clutchmore' for postseason performance?
(1. Madison Bumgarner, Giants, 2014; 2. Rickey Henderson, Athletics, 1989; 3. Stephen Curry, Warriors, 2022;
4. Joe Montana, 49ers, 1989; 5. Steve Young, 49ers, 1994; 6. Gene Tenace, Athletics, 1972.)
(By Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, June 22, 2022, C1, C3)
Dubs
Hit the Streets of San Francisco
(Fans break through barriers as Klay Thompson's bus makes its way down Market Street with
crowd of 800,000; Thompson celebrated with fans assembled in front of the Ferry Building
along the Embarcadero before start of the parade. Draymond Green stopped for ice cream.)
(By John Metcalfe, et. al., Mercury News, June 21, 2022, A1, A8)
BUSINESS:
How to make Google search safer or more precise
(Google offers lots of search options, including "SafeSearch", which filters out links
to explicit content as well as the ability to use "operators" to fine tune your search;
Refine your search to either news, videos, images, books & other options (maps, shopping,
flights and finance) by selecting from the menu that appears above your search results.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 6-17-2022, C7-C8)
Take
a trip to live-jazz paradise at Half Moon Bay's 'Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society'
(The haunt of Art Blakey and Etta James was named when a local yahoo blew up explosives
on the beach. Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, an all-female Afro-Cuban band, played in May 2022.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, June 19, 2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: Top 10 summer travel destinations for 2022
(1. Venice, Italy;
2. Nassau, The Bahamas;
3. Capri, Italy;
4. Puerto Escondido, Mexico;
5. Tamarindo, Costa Rica;
6. Quepos, Costa Rica;
7. Florence, Italy;
8. Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic;
9. La Paz, Mexico;
10. Méida, Mexico.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 6-19-2022, F7)
Kerr's coaching masterpiece
[Steve Kerr now has 9 NBA championship rings— five as a player (2 Chicago Bulls
& 3 San Antonio Spurs) and four as a head coach (Warriors); Kerr's adjustments throughout these NBA Finals were critical
for the Dubs in claiming the series and a fourth title under his reign. Starting in Game 4, with the Warriors down 2-1 in the series,
Kerr comprehensively out-adjusted Boston's first-year head coach Ime Udoka. He worked over the rookie coach, and it resulted in three straight wins and a fourth NBA title in eight years.]
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6-18-2022, A1, A6)
Steph Curry's
NBA Finals MVP was more than a decade in the making
(There was no other worthy choice for the award after Curry delivered
one of the finest performances in his career to lead Warriors to beat Celtics in 6 games.
Curry was named the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after leading Warriors to their 4th title in 8 years
Thursday night in Boston. The vote was, again, unanimous.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6-18-2022, C1, C4)
Warriors are champions again after 21-0 first-half run, NBA Finals MVP Curry's 34
(The Warriors further cemented the team's dynasty and built upon Curry's legacy as one
of the NBA's all-time greatest players as Golden State reclaimed its spot atop of the league,
beating the Boston Celtics 103-90 to win their fourth title in eight years.)
(By Madeline Kenney, Mercury News, 6-17-2022, C1)
Steph Curry's brilliant Game 4 should silence his critics forever
(Golden State Warriors NBA Finals: Steph Curry's 43-point Game 4 performance saved
the Warriors season, put Golden State in a position to win the title and ended any
debate about his greatness. Playing on a sprained left foot, he got 10 rebounds.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6-12-2022, A1, A8)
Steph Curry's brilliant Game 4 should silence his critics forever
(Golden State Warriors NBA Finals: Steph Curry's 43-point Game 4 performance saved
the Warriors season, put Golden State in a position to win the title and ended any
debate about his greatness. Playing on a sprained left foot, he got 10 rebounds.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6-12-2022, A1, A8)
THINGS TO DO: Top 10 historical landmarks in the U.S. include two California sites
(1. Yellowstone, Wyoming;
2. Harriet Tubman National Historic Park, NY;
3. Brooklyn Bridge, NY;
4. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA;
5. Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia;
6. Grand Canyon, Arizona;
7. Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California;
8. Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana;
9. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado;
10. Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 6-12-2022, F7)
Joy, sadness in Normandy at the D-Day commemorations
(Several thousand people attended a ceremony at American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach
in the French town of Colleville-sur-Mer. They applauded more than 20 WWII veterans who were
present at the commemoration. On D-Day, Allied troops landed on the beaches code-named Omaha,
Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold, carried by 7,000 boats. On that single day, 4,414 Allied soldiers
lost their lives, 2,501 of them Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded.)
(By Sylvia Corbet & Jeff Schaeffer, Mercury News, 6-7-2022, A1, A5)
Steph Curry leads another electric 3rd quarter run, Warriors best Celtics to tie NBA Finals at 1-1
(Curry scored 14 of his 29 points in the third, helping Warriors outscore the Celtics 35-14
to take a 23-point lead heading into the final 12 minutes. Jordan Poole hits two 3-pointers,
including a highlight worthy pull-up shot from 39-feet to beat the buzzer.)
(By Madeline Kenney, Mercury News, 6-6-2022, C1)
Mystery solved: UK Queen shares secret with Paddington
(Crowd watch a film of Queen Elizabeth II having tea with Paddington Bear on a big screen
at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, to celebrate her
70 years of service. Bear told Elizabeth how he always had a reserve supply of marmalade
sandwiches with him, lifting up his red hat to reveal his favorite treat. "So do I," the queen
responded before opening her bag and declaring: "I keep mine in here.")
(By Danica Kirks & Sylvia Hui, AP, Mercury News, 6-5-2022, A3)
THINGS TO DO: World's top 10 most beautiful national parks includes a California gem
(1. Torres del Paine National Park, Chile;
2. Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia;
3. Glacier
National Park, Montana and Canada;
4. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania;
5. Yosemite, California;
6. Fiordland National Park, New Zealand;
7. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming;
8. Corcovado
National Park, Costa Rica;
9. Kakadu National Park, Australia;
10. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 6-5-2022, F7)
THINGS TO DO—
Liquid Aloha: Hawaii's 14 best lobby lounges and bars
(1. Maui: Birdcage Bar, Hotel Wailea; 2. Lobby Lounge, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea;
3. Maui: Kai Bar, AC Hotel Wailea; 4. Botero Lounge, Grand Wailea Hotel & Spa;
5. Sandbar, Sheraton Maui; 6. Kauai: Stevenson’s Library & Seaview Terrace, Grand Hyatt Kauai;
7. Island of Hawaii: Luana Lounge, Fairmont Orchid; 8. Copper Bar, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel:
9. Oahu: Kani Ka Pila Grille, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach; 10. Lewers Lounge, Halekulani Hotel;
11. Veranda, Kahala Hotel & Resort; 12. O'Bar, 'Alohilani Resort; 13. Oahu: Off The Lip, Turtle Bay Resort)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 5-29-2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: Tripadvisor's hottest new U.S. hotels include a Bay Area marvel
(Tripadvisor's 2022 Traveler's Choice awards continued their rollout with top 25 hottest new hotels
from coast to coast— a list that includes the Bay Area's own Ameswell Hotel at No. 6.
1. Lyle Washington DC;
2. Pendry Manhattan West in New York City;
3. Belvada Hotel in Tonopah, Nevada;
4. Bottleworks Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana;
5. Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase in Big Water, Utah;
6. Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View;
7. Pendry West Hollywood;
8. Blossom Hotel Houston, Texas;
9. Colton House Hotel in Austin, Texas;
10. Arlo Midtown in New York City)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 5-29-2022, F7)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Stanford students, offers condolences after Texas
mass shooting ("Every day we have to not just put a question to ourselves, but find the answer to it:
who matters most? and why?" Zelensky said. "This is the most important question to me.")
(By Aldo Toledo, Mercury News, 5-28-2022, B1, B4)
BUSINESS:
How to delete what Google knows about you
[Google have a page (myactivity.google.com/myactivity) that will report and let you delete
your Google activity. Google Chrome keeps a history of sites you've visited. Clicking History
from 3-dot menu in upper right & delete; Uncheck Cookies and Other Site Data.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 5-26-2022, C7-C8)
Biden vows to defend Taiwan
(U.S. would militarily intervene if China were to invade island. Taipei cheered Biden's remarks,
with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Joanne Ou expressing "sincere welcome & gratitude.")
(By Josh Boak, Aamer Madhaani & Zeke Miller, Mercury News, 5-24-2022, A1, A5)
Andrew Wiggins' insane dunk on Luka Doncic will forever change his reputation
(Andrew Wiggins' highlight dunk over Luka Doncic was just one play, but it shows
how far he has come as a player and how close the Warriors are to another title.
Wiggins' 27 points performance in a 109-100 victory over Dallas Mavericks.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5-24-2022, C1, C4)
*
Levi's jeans: How they started, how they're made and how they've changed
(On May 20, 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received their patent for riveted pants.
This month marks the 165th year since the San Francisco clothing company first made them.
Jacob Davis received Patent #139,121; The name 501 is first used in 1890; Denim pants
are called "jeans" because many fabrics were made in Genoa, Italy, and hence the name.)
(By Kurt Snibee, Mercury News, 5-22-2022, B17)
Bay Area Hikes:
Biking to the Rosie the Riveter museum is the perfect Bay Area day trip
(Have a "riveting" time at this WWII fixture in Richmond, then enjoy fresh seafood
and cocktails. The iconic poster of a bandana-clad woman flexing her muscles while
hollering "We Can Do It!" was likely based on a photograph of a real person,
Naomi Parker Fraley, who worked near here at old Naval Air Station in Alameda.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 5-22-2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO: 9 Bay Area military museums, submarines and Liberty ships to explore
(1. USS Hornet, Alameda; 2. Red Oak Victory Ship, Richmond; 3. Rosie the Riveter WWII
Home Front, Richmond; 4. Fort Point, San Francisco; 5. National Cemetery, San Francisco;
6. USS Pampanito, San Francisco; 7. SS Jeremiah O'Brien, San Francisco;
8. Pacific Coast Air Museum, Santa Rosa; 9. Nike Missile Site, Marin Headlands.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 5-22-2022, F7)
Sprouts Farmers Market closing Fremont, Mountain View stores permanently
(The grocer said it will permanently close both its Fremont store at 3900 Mowry Ave.
in the Fremont Plaza Shopping Center & its Mountain View store at 630 San Antonio Rd.
in the World Savings Plaza. The company did not cite a specific reason for the closures,
though rising rents & competition from other nearby grocery stores triggered the decision.)
(By Joseph Geha, Mercury News, 5-19-2022, B1, B3)
THINGS TO DO: Santa Cruz Boardwalk 2022: Beach movies, concerts; Looff Carousel
(After two seasons off, the free movies and concerts are returning. At 9 p.m. Fridays from June 17
through Aug. 12, movies will be the attraction on the Main Beach in front of the Colonnade.
Free concerts set for 8:30 to 10 pm. Thursdays, June 16-Aug. 11, on Boardwalk's Colonnade Stage.)
(By Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 5-15-2022, F7-8)
THINGS TO DO: Where to see Santa Cruz's 19 'Sea Walls' murals
(19 colorful, whimsical sea-inspired murals— include "Beyond Boundaries," a mural by Oregon's
David Rice that highlights the decimation of the shark population. "The Last Salmon,"
by North Carolina artist Brian "Jeks" Lewis, warns of overfishing and rising sea levels.
And Jimbo Phillips' eye-popping "Protect Our Oceans" on plastic pollution— and a heroic squid.)
(By Jackie Burell, Mercury News, 5-15-2022, F3)
THINGS TO DO: Top 10 roller coasters in the U.S. offer death-defying thrills
(1. Mako, SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, FL;
2. Phantom's Revenge, Kennywood in West Mifflin, PA;
3. Phoenix— Knoebels in Elysburg, PA:
4. Fury 325, Carowinds in Charlotte, NC;
5. Lightning Rod, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN;
6. Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH:
7. Montu, Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa, FL;
8. The Voyage, Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN;
9. Millennium Force,
Cedar Point, OH;
10. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Universal's Islands of
Adventure in Orlando, FL)
(By Jackie Burell, Mercury News, 5-15-2022, F7)
* Warhol's
Marilyn at $195 Million, Shatters Auction Record for an American Artist
(By Robin Pogrebin, NY Times, 5-9-2022);
(Mercury News, 5-11-2022, A2)
The 40-inch-by-40-inch painting, a trophy given its vibrant colors
and glamorous subject matter,
eclipsed the previous high price of
$110.5 million for a Basquiat skull painting
at Sotheby's in
2017 as well as Warhol's auction high for
a car crash painting that sold for $105.4 million in 2013.
Bay Area Hikes:
The history of explosives at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
(One of the most peaceful parks in the Bay Area turns out to be responsible for
some of humanity's loudest booms. Head to Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
in Richmond for fantastic views of the water, a cliffside walk dotted with
wildflowers and a history lesson in explosives manufacturing and urban ruin.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 5-8-2022, F7-F8)
An awesome afternoon in Palo Alto
(Sculpture "OY" by artist Deborah Kass at Stanford Cantor Art Center; California Avenue
farmers market, Izzy's Bagels; Sushi at the Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, Hamilton Avenue)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 5-8-2022, F7)
Library of Congress Acquires Neil Simon Papers
(7700 of the playwright's manuscripts and papers, including dozen notebooks of his drawings)
(By Sarah Bahr, NY Times, Mercury News, 4-26-2022, A2) (E-Edition, 4-26-2022, A2)
Patrick
Carlin, brother and collaborator of comedian George Carlin, dead at 90
("He was my dad's hero," said Kelly Carlin, daughter of George Carlin. "A lot of his thinking
in the last 25 years of George's career were fed by and connected to Pat." Patrick Carlin wrote
for "The George Carlin Show," a sitcom that aired for two seasons during the mid-1990s, after
working years earlier for late-night talk program "Thicke of the Night," starring Alan Thicke.)
(By Peter Sblendorio, NY Daily News, Mercury News, 4-19-2022, B6)
THINGS TO DO: 13 awesome things to do along Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to San Francisco
(1. Seymour Marine Discovery Center;
2. Venus Spirits;
3. Beauregard Vineyards;
4. American Abalone
Farms;
5. Año Nuevo State Park;
6. Pie Ranch;
7. Arcangeli Grocery;
8. Downtown Local, Pescadero;
9. Harley Farms Goat Dairy;
10. Dad's Luncheonette, Half Moon Bay;
11. 337 Mirada ART;
12. Wyatt Earp's grave;
13. Sutro Baths, San Francisco)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4-17-2022, F7-F8)
THINGS TO DO:
Where can you see earthquake faults in the Bay Area?
(Best way to see California's earthquake faults is to go to HBO Max and stream
"San Andreas",
a 2015 action movie starring the Rock and Paul Giamatti that holds up surprisingly well.
UC Berkeley's stadium
runs right over the Hayward Fault.
Hike at Los Trancos Open Space
Preserve and nearby Monte Bello Preserve, you'll encounter another unique water feature—
"sag ponds" depressions caused when two sides of a fault move.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4-3-2022, F8)
SCIENCE:
Hubble Space Telescope Spots Earliest and Farthest Star Known
(Its light twinkled some 900 million years after the Big Bang, astronomers say.
Dot of light that shone 12.9 billion years ago is nicknamed Earendel—
Old English for "morning star". It is some 50 times the mass of our sun.)
(By Kenneth Chang, NY Times, Mercury News, 3-31-2022, A2)
TRAVEL:
7 Gilded Age mansions worthy of an Astor— or Bertha Russell
(1. The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina;
2. The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island;
3. Nemours Estate, Wilmington, Delaware;
4. The Mount, Lenox, Massachusetts;
5. Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida;
6. Lockwood-Mathews Mansion, Norwalk, Connecticut;
7. Westbury House, Old Westbury, New York.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 3-27-2022, F7)
*
THINGS TO DO: The intriguing history behind San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden
[History behind Golden Gate Park's most sublime attraction (and birthplace of the fortune cookie?).
Around every corner something new amazes: historic gates tower over stone walkways, hummingbirds
sip from waterfalls, cherry trees explode in blossoms like frozen fireworks.]
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 3-23-2022)
TRAVEL:
World's top 10 best beaches for 2022, according to Tripadvisor;
(1. Grace Bay Beach:
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos;
2. Varadero Beach: Varadero, Cuba;
3. Turquoise Bay: Exmouth,
Australia;
4. Quarta Praia: Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil;
5. Eagle Beach: Palm â€" Eagle Beach, Aruba;
6. Radhanagar Beach: Havelock Island, India;
7. Baia do Sancho: Fernando de Noronha, Brazil;
8. Trunk Bay Beach: Virgin Islands National Park, US Virgin Islands;
9. BaÃa dos Golfinhos:
Praia da Pipa, Brazil;
10. Spiaggia dei Conigli: Lampedusa, Italy)
(By Forrest Brown, CNN, Mercury News, 3-13-2022, F7)
OP-ED:
The week that woke the world
(Things will likely get more brutal for Ukrainians. But the moral flame they fueled may still
burn strong. Ukrainians have shown us how the right kind of patriotism is ennobling, a source
of meaning and a reason to risk life. They've shown us that the love of a particular place, their
own land and people, warts and all, can be part and parcel of a love for universal ideals, like
democracy, liberalism and freedom. But this week we saw that foreign affairs, like life, is a
moral enterprise, and moral rightness is a source of social power and fighting morale.)
(By David Brooks, NY Times, Mercury News, 3-6-2022, A13)
Ukraine
digital army brews cyberattacks, intel and infowar
("We are really a swarm. A self-organizing swarm," said Roman Zakharov, a 37-year-old
IT executive at the center of Ukraine's bootstrap digital army. The movement is global,
drawing on IT professionals in the Ukrainian diaspora whose handiwork includes web defacements
with antiwar messaging and graphic images of death and destruction in the hopes of mobilizing
Russians against the invasion. A tool called "Liberator" lets anyone in the world with a digital
device become part of a DDoS attack network, or botnet. The tool's programmers code in new targets
as priorities change. Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced the
creation of an volunteer cyber army. IT Army of Ukraine now counts 290,000 followers on Telegram.)
(By Frank Bajak, Associated Press, Mercury News, 3-6-2022, A9)
Bay Area hikes:
Exploring the hidden lakes of Mt. Tamalpais
(The serene waters of Lagunitas, Bon Tempe and Alpine lakes frame classic views of Mount Tamalpais
and forested Bolinas Ridge. Shoreline fishing for trout and bass is popular. And Mount Tam is heaven
for birdwatchers. In just under two hours of trail walking along Bon Tempe lake, we saw colorful waterfowl,
mergansers, great egret, great blue heron, red-tailed hawks, acorn and pileated woodpeckers.)
(By Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 3-6-2022, F7-F8)
* Photos:
Immersed in nature at Walnut Creek's Shell Ridge Open Space
(This is nature— the birds in the air, the frogs croaking in the growing darkness,
the tarantulas hustling in a straight line in search of love, even the taciturn California
poppies that brighten the meadows. Shell Ridge belongs to the wild things that live there
and allow humans to share the wonder. 25 wonderful photos on the trails.)
(By Joan Morris, Photos: Jose Carlos Fajardo, Mercury News, 3-6-2022, F8)
BUSINESS:
Russian cyberattacks are possible. Be prepared but not panicked.
(Even though Russia isn't likely to attack your personal devices and accounts, there are plenty
of cybercriminals attacking who are constantly attempting to separate people from their money
through cyberattacks. Don't use passwords in common dictionary; Use an authenticator app such as
Authy, Google Authenticator, or Microsoft Authenticator or LastPass Authenticator to be safer;
Check Quick-Guide on fake news at ConnectSafely.org/MediaLiteracy.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 3-4-2022, C7-C8
TRAVEL:
10 most spectacular hikes in the U.S. from Hawaii to Maine
(1. Lost Coast Trail, California;
2. Tonto Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ;
3. Trans-Catalina Trail, CA;
4. Mount Katahdin, ME;
5. Kalalau Trail, Kauai, HI;
6. The Wave, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, AZ;
7. Cracker Lake, Glacier National Park, MT;
8. Mauna Loa Summit, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI;
9. Long’s Peak, CO;
10. The Narrows, Zion National Park, UT)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 2-27-2022, F7)
BUSINESS:
Real-time location sharing can enhance, jeopardize safety
(Snapchat is latest app to add real-time location sharing, which means you can use it
to inform friends & family of your exact location even if the app is closed. Google Maps
for both iOS and Android, Apple's Find My app and Glympse are among many apps that
enable you to share where you are. Location sharing could be dangerous if it reveals
where you are to people whom you might not want to share that with.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 2-25-2022, C7-C8)
TRAVEL:
3 Bay Area day trips: Spend a day exploring Woodside, Fairfield or the Presidio
(Visit historic Woodside Store, head for Huddart Park to hike and picnic among the groves and
glades. Trip to Thomas Fogarty Winery for vineyard tours & wine tasting. Golden Gate Bridge
looms behind several of the Presidio's buildings at the Main Post in San Francisco.)
(By Amber Turpin, Mercury News, 2-20-2022, F7-F8)
TRAVEL:
Top 10 best new attractions across the U.S. include a very Van Gogh entry
(1. SkyFly: Soar America, Pigeon Forge, TN;
2. Van Gogh Exhibition: The Immersive Experience, multiple cities;
3. Allegiant Stadium Tours, Paradise, NV;
4. The Friends Experience, multiple cities;
5. Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, New Orleans, LA;
6. Lauridsen Skatepark, Des Moines, IA;
7. Greenwood Rising, Tulsa, OK;
8. The Cloud Ladder at Kent Mountain Adventure Center, Estes Park, CO;
9. Water Works Park and Pavilion, Minneapolis, MN;
10 Roots 101 African-American Museum, Louisville, KY.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 2-20-2022, F7)
*
'Mega-rare turtle dove in Palo Alto has birders flocking from far and wide
(Native to Siberia and Japan, the bird is so rare a sight in the U.S. that
it's been designated a Code 4 "mega-rarity" by the American Birding Association.
Until now, it's only been spotted in California twice. Dotty Robbins, booked
flight from Gainesville, Florida, to see this rare bird, that flew across the
Pacific and land in biologist Andrew Bradshaw's backyard in Palo Alto.)
(By Zach Savitsky, Mercury News, 2-12-2022, A1, A5)
OP-ED:
Khanna offers vision for making tech work for 'all of us'
(Rep. Ro Khanna's new book, "Dignity
in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us",
offers a path for how the innovation economy can create opportunities and enrich the lives
of workers across the country. Cites Intel's decision to build largest silicon manufacturing
location in New Albany, Ohio, for $20 billion, to spread the wealth across the country.)
(By Ed Clendaniel, Mercury News, 2-9-2022, A6)
* Four
spectacular Bay Area waterfall hike
(These 4 Bay Area hikes visit seasonal cascades & waterfalls in Oakland, Walnut Creek,
Morgan Hill and Los Altos Hills with ideas for warm-your-heart bites nearby—.
1. Leona Heights Park, Oakland (4444 Mountain Blvd);
2. Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill (8515 Croy Road);
3. Diablo Foothills Regional Park, Walnut Creek (1700 Castle Rock Road);
4. Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hill (26870 Moody Road).
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercury News, 2-6-2022, F7-F8)
Tripadvisor's
10 hottest World destinations in 2022
(1. Majorca, Spain;
2. Cairo, Egypt;
3. Rhodes, Greece;
4. Tulum, Mexico;
5. Dubrovnik, Croatia;
6. Ibiza, Spain;
7. Natal, Brazil;
8. Arusha, Tanzania;
9. Goreme, Turkey;
10. Santorini, Greece)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 2-6-2022, F7)
* OP-ED:
The great truth doctoring has taught me about death
(Doctors face one of their biggest challenges when they must
tell a patient that they are dying.
This is a moment for stillness and silence.
And yet, there is need for shared presence— really
being there with and for each other— at a moment
of loss can sanctify sorrow. Some alchemy
can wring from
the stone of shared suffering something like love.)
(By Tyler Johnson, Mercury News, 2-3-2022, A6)
Celebrate
Lunar New Year with a tour of Chinatown's murals
(San Francisco neighborhood's public art tells stories about identity, history & healing.
1. Grant Avenue & Sacramento: mural of pagodas, firecrackers & lion dancers;
2. Mural of San Francisco native Bruce Lee adorns a wall on Commercial Street;
3. Clay Street: colorful mural of dragon & phoenix attacking Statue of Liberty;
4. Commercial & Grant: tiger-dragon chimera sailing over a bed of lotus flowers;
5. Zodiac mural on Jack Kerouac Alley: made up of hundreds of Chinese red envelopes;
6. Dragons Gate mural looms over a pedestrian walking on Trenton Street;
7. Ping Yuen mural on Stockton Street in San Francisco's Chinatown.)
(By John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 1-30-2022, F7-F8)
NY Times'
52 places to go in 2022 include two in Bay Area
(The two California destinations are: Great Highway in San Francisco &
Santa Cruz County's
Big Basin & Henry Cowell state parks whose redwood
forests survived wildfires of 2020;
The other U.S. destinations are:
1. Hoonah, Alaska;
2. Saguaro National Park, Arizona;
3. Estes Park, Colorado;
4. Sarasota, Florida;
5. Humboldt, Kansas;
6. Little Calumet River,
Chicago, Illinois;
7. Cobscook Shores, Maine;
8. Queens, New York;
9. Cleveland, Ohio;
10. Bronzeville, Milwaukee, WI;
Times' 2021 list had one CA destination, Santa Rosa.)
(By Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 1-30-2022, F7)
Willow Biden is latest pet at White House
(President Joe Biden added a green-eyed tabby from Pennsylvania to the White House,
first feline tenant since President George W. Bush's controversially named cat India.
William H. Taft had two prize cows: Mooly Wooly and Pauline. They grazed on
the White House lawn and provided the home's milk and butter.)
(By Leanne Italie, AP, Mercury News, 1-29-2022, A2)
Palo Alto's
much-loved Barron Park Donkeys have a new benefactor
(Palo Alto Humane Society has taken over the fiscal responsibility for the donkeys Perry & Buddy;
Donkeys' history goes back to the 1930s— Mickey, Perry, Niner, Jenny, Buddy.
Barron Park Donkeys.)
(By Joan Morris, Mercury News, 1-27-2022, B1-B2)
SCIENCE:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab hits milestone on long road to fusion power
[With 192 lasers and temperatures (100 million degrees) more than three times hotter than the
center of the sun, scientists hit— at least for a fraction of a second— a key milestone
on the long road toward nearly pollution-free fusion energy. Ultimate goal, still years away,
is to generate power the way the sun generates heat, by smooshing hydrogen atoms so close to
each other that they combine into helium, which releases torrents of energy.]
(By Seth Borenstein, AP, Mercury News, 1-27-2022, C9-C10)
Meat Loaf, '
Bat Out Of Hell' singer, has died at 74
(The singer's real name is Marvin Lee Aday, was born in Dallas. Meat Loaf appeared in several TV shows
and films, including cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Fight Club" and "Wayne's World.")
(By CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 1-21-2022)
BUSINESS:
What is the Metaverse and how do you get there?
(The company formerly known as Facebook is so committed to the idea, that it's renamed itself
"Meta" to symbolize its deep dive into this new online world. Term dates back to 1992 science
fiction novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, which, among other things, featured virtual
real estate. Metaverse stands for virtual and augmented reality. Since 2003, Second Life has allowed
users to create avatars to play games, conduct business, and even buy and sell virtual real estate.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 1-21-2022, C7-C8)
BAY AREA: Like a Big Pizza Pie (Wolf Moon)
(A waxing gibbous moon is high in the sky as a child walks down
a flight of stairs while visiting Fort Baker on Saturday in Sausalito.)
(Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo, Mercury News, 1-17-2022, B1)
Don't
miss the wolf moon light up the sky this week
(Full Moon will peak at 6:51 p.m. ET or 11:51 p.m. GMT. To catch a glimpse of the moon,
look above the horizon in the east-northeastern direction. Bright star near the full moon
is Pollux, a star that's part of Gemini constellation. Farmers' Almanac Full Moons)
(By Megan Marples & Ashley Strickland, CNN, Mercury News, 1-17-2022)
* Catch
the annual Monarch butterfly migration in Pacific Grove right now
(This year, Monarch butterfly count found 200,000 butterflies, up from just 30,000
last year, a record low. Monarch Grove Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, where some 13,000
butterflies spend the winter, huddling together on pine, cypress and eucalyptus trees.)
(By Karen D'Souza, Mercury News, 1-16-2022, F7-F8)
* 6
top spots to see butterflies in the U.S.
(1. Monarch Sanctuary, Pacific Grove;
2. Butterfly Pavilion, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.;
3. Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia;
4. Tropical
Butterfly House, Pacific Science Center, Seattle, Washington;
5. National Butterfly Center,
Mission, Texas;
6. Magic Wings Butterfly House, Museum of Life & Science, Durham, NC.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 1-16-2022, F7)
Crows
everywhere, and Sunnyvale's going to do something about it
(Humane Society recommends lasers, pyrotechnics and hanging effigies of dead crows;
Worker will point a $20 handheld laser at the crows, hoping to scare them away.)
(By Grace Hase, Mercury News, 1-12-2022, A1, A5)
Why
Warriors fans love Klay Thompson (and why his return will bring tears)
(Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson will play for the first time since June, 2019
on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers; On Jan. 23, 2015, en route to a career-best
52 points, Thompson delivered the greatest quarter of basketball in NBA history, scoring
37 points by hitting all 13 of his shots including nine in a row from beyond the 3-point arc.)
(By Kerry Crowley, Mercury News, 1-9-2022, A1, A8)
World's
10 most beautiful places to watch the sunrise or sunset
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 1-9-2022, F7);
Luxury Travel Expert—
1. Mount Bromo, Java, Indonesia;
2. Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia;
3. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii;
4. Santorini, Greece;
5. Cape Town, South Africa;
6. Machu Picchu, Peru;
7. Grand Canyon
National Park, Arizona;
8. Angkor Wat;
9. The Maldives;
10. Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
Christian
world marks Epiphany with series of celebrations
(Pilgrims jump to catch the cross during a water blessing ceremony marking
the Epiphany celebrations at Piraeus port, near Athens, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022.)
(By Frances D'Emilio & Mehmet Guzel, AP, Mercury News, 1-7-2022, A2)
Director Peter Bogdanovich dies at 82; made 'Last Picture Show', 'Paper Moon'
[Considered part of a generation of young "New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich
was heralded as an auteur from the start, with the chilling lone shooter film "Targets"
and soon after "The Last Picture Show", from 1971, his evocative portrait of a small,
dying town that earned 8 Oscar nominations, won two (for Ben Johnson and
Cloris Leachman) and catapulted him to stardom at the age of 32.]
(By Lindsey Bahr & Jake Coyle, AP, Mercury News, 1-7-2022, A2)
Jan. 6
insurrection a dress rehearsal for something far worse
(Gangsters of democracy love braying of the fascist, reasoning of the mob and the justice
of fists and force; They don't love America. They love an America that does not exist.)
(By Leonard Pitts, Mercury News, 1-6-2022, A7)
7
new California attractions to visit in 2022
(Presidio Tunnel Tops, Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Monterey Bay Aquarium;
Comic-Con Museum, San Diego; Comic-Con Museum, San Diego; Sesame Place, San Diego;
Ferrari Build, LEGOLAND California Resort; Redwood SkyWalk, Eureka)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 1-2-2022, F7-F8)
Insider's
top U.S. destinations for 2022 include four California hot spots
(1. Orlando, Florida;
2. Las Vegas, Nevada;
3. San Diego;
4. Nashville, Tennessee;
5. Houston, Texas;
6. New Orleans, Louisiana;
7. Maui, Hawaii;
8. NYC;
9. Los Angeles;
10. Charleston, South Carolina)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 1-2-2022, F7)
Amy Schneider,
Oakland 'Jeopardy' champion, breaking records and winning hearts
(With her 23rd straight victory on Friday, the Ohio native has earned $855,600,
the fourth-highest total garnered during the show's regular-season play. She ranks
behind only Ken Jennings, Matt Amodio & James Holzhauer for the longest winning
streaks in the show's history. But Schneider, 42, is winning fans for many more
reasons, from her active, engaging Twitter feed to being a transgender woman.)
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, 1-1-2022, A1, A6)
A
final farewell: Notable Bay Area residents who died in 2021
(Don Sutton 75, George Schulz 100, Lawrence Ferlinghetti 101,
Mort Sahl 94, Joan Didion 85, Wayne Thiebaud 101, John Madden 85.)
(By Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 1-1-2022, B1-B2)
* OP-ED:
The genesis of New Year's Eve countdowns might surprise you
(It was not until seconds before the arrival of 1979 that a Times Square crowd counted down to
the new year; Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which debuted in 1970s to welcome, featured
confected countdowns staged on its dance party set; In 1957,
Ben Grauer countdown on radio.)
(By Alexis McCrossen, Mercury News, 12-29-2021, A6)
John Madden,
Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster, dies at 85
(Known for his comic-book lexicon— Boom! Whap! Doink!— Madden parlayed his success as
Raiders coach into a distinguished broadcasting career & became face of the biggest-selling sports
video game "Madden NFL Football" of all time; Won 1977 Super Bowl XI & 16 TV Emmy Awards.)
(By Daniel Brown, Mercury News, 12-29-2021, A1, A5)
John Madden
meant so much to football, his family, and me
(John Madden's death Tuesday at age 85 hits so close to home for so many who loved his passion
for football and life. He oozed common sense more than anyone I've ever met. A Pro Football
Hall of Fame inductee. A Super Bowl-winning coach with the Raiders. A family patriarch who
left his award-filled broadcasting career to spend more time with his grandchildren.)
(By Cam Inman, Mercury News, 12-29-2021, C1, C3)
John Madden's
death draws outpouring of love and memories from sports world
("Few approached life with the joy of legendary football coach & broadcaster John Madden.
A colleague at CBS, he was a gentleman with a boisterous sense of humor. On the sidelines
& in the booth, this voluble mountain of energy was a trailblazer. A golden era ends with
his passing." —Dan Rather, former CBS colleague. "A coaching and broadcasting legend and
loved by all. You will be missed. RIP John Madden" —Jerry Rice, Pro Football Hall of Fame
wide receiver and former 49ers' and Raiders' star.)
(By Cam Inman & Jerry McDonald Mercury News, 12-29-2021, C1, C3)
* Desmond Tutu,
South Africa's moral conscience, dies at 90
(South Africa's 1984 Nobel Peace Prize-winning icon, an uncompromising foe of apartheid
and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights, died Sunday at 90. Enjoyed
Video on Oct. 16 "Mission Joy" of Archbishop Tutu friendship with the Dalai Lama.)
(By Andrew Meldrum, Associated Press, Mercury News, 12-27-2021, A4)
4
Bay Area hikes for the New Year— with pre-hike bagel options
(Berkeley Rose Garden and Staircase Hike, Berkeley Hills;
Flag Hill-Indian Joe Creek Loop, Sunol;
Mayfair Ranch-Longwall Canyon Loop, Morgan Hill;
Los Trancos Loop, Los Altos Hills)
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercury News, 12-26-2021, F7-F8)
World's
50 best winter road trips include two California treasures
(1. Icefields Parkway, Canada;
2. Parke County, Indiana Covered Bridge Tour, USA;
3. Great Smoky National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee;
4. Bow Valley Parkway, Canada;
5. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia;
6. Yosemite National Park, California;
7. Taos Scenic Byway, New Mexico;
8. The Grand Loop Road, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming;
9. Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada;
10. Highway 240, South Dakota;
11. Route 100, Vermont;
12. Arches National Park, Utah;
All 50 Road Trips)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 12-26-2021, F8)
* Northern
California native Joan Didion, peerless prose stylist, dies at 87
(Along with Tom Wolfe, Nora Ephron and Gay Talese, Didion reigned in the pantheon of
"New Journalists" who emerged in the 1960s and wedded literary style to nonfiction reporting.)
(By Colleen Long, Associated Press, Mercury News, 12-24-2021, A5)
Steph Curry
is the new 3-point king: His trainer explains how he's getting stronger at age 33
(Brandon Payne worked with Curry since 2011, his rookie season, says Warriors star Curry worked
this offseason on precision in shooting and has focused on becoming more physically powerful.)
(By Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 12-17-2021, C1, C3)
Those
Cute Cats Online? They Help Spread Misinformation.
(A mainstay of the internet is regularly used to build audiences for people and organizations pushing
false and misleading information. Epoch Media, parent company of The Epoch Times. published
videos of cute animals in 12,062 posts on its 103 Facebook pages in the past year,
racked up nearly
four billion views. Facebook took down several hundred Epoch Media-affiliated accounts last year.)
(By Davey Alba, NY Times, Mercury News, 12-13-2021, C10)
Lowe's
CEO addresses race, inflation and vaccine mandates
(At 55, Ellison stands out as one of only three Black Fortune 500 CEOs. He personally knows about
racism. He grew up in segregated rural Tennessee. His father was a sharecropper-turned-insurance
salesman and his mother was one of the first in their family to graduate from high school.)
(By Anne D'innocenzio, Mercury News, 12-13-2021, C10)
The cost of 'Freedom'
(A 1964 ballot proposition backed by realtors made freedom a conservative catch-all.
Gene Slater's 5-stars book "Freedom
to Discriminate: How Realtors Conspired to Segregate Housing
and Divide America"
explains that realtors discriminated agains black, Asian and Hispanic families.)
(By Louis Hansen, Mercury News, 12-12-2021, E1, E3)
Ali grandson to box as fights back at Madison Square Garden
[Ali Walsh (2-0, 2 KOs) fights against Reyes Sanchez (6-0) during the first big boxing card back
at Madison Square Garden. It is headlined by Vasiliy Lomachenko's
lightweight bout against Richard Comm. He won.]
(By Brian Mahoney, Mercury News, 12-11-2021, C5)
New Movies:
Steven Spielberg's new "West Side Story" mostly gets it right
[Spielberg & screenwriter Tony Kushner's grittier take on Sondheim/Bernstein/Laurents/Robbins
original soars to incredible heights. His staging of Justin Peck's dance numbers are breathtaking
and flawless. And a the magical cast delivers the razzle-dazzle— and then some— particularly
the ethereal Rachel Zegler as angelic Maria, the sassy Ariana DeBose as feisty Anita and David
Alvarez as hot-tempered Bernardo, foe of Tony (Ansel Elgort). The sunburst costumes are divine.]
(By Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12-9-2021, G6)
BASEBALL:
O'Neil, Miñoso, Hodges, Kaat, Oliva, Fowler get baseball HOF
(Gil Hodges became latest Brooklyn Dodgers star from pennant-winning "Boys of Summer"
to reach the Hall, joining Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella and Pee Wee Reese.
An eight-time All-Star with 370 home runs and a three-time Gold Glover at first base,
Hodges enhanced his legacy when he managed 1969 "Miracle Mets" to the World Series
championship, a startling five-game win over heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.)
(By Ben Walker, AP, Mercury News, 12-6-2021, C2)
* "14 best & brightest Bay Area displays"
1. Deacon Dave's world-famous display (Livermore);
2. Christmas in Park, San Jose (194 South Market St)
3. Alex Dourov's Knottingham Circle (67 Knottingham Circle, Livermore);
4. Oakland Zoolights "Glowfari" (9777 Golf Links Rd);
5. Historic estate lights in Woodside (86 Cañada Road);
6. Picardy Drive's Storybook Christmas
(off Seminary Ave near Mills College);
7. Crippsmas Place (Nicolet Avenue, Cripps Place, Fremont);
8. Lights in the Cacti in Walnut Creek (1552 Bancroft Rd);
9. History Park's Heritage Holiday Light Show;
(south end of Kelley Park, San Jose);
10. J.R. Mattos's new, amazing home show
(17271 James Lex Lane, Morgan Hill);
11. Widmer World, Pleasanton (3671 Chelsea Court);
12. Los Gatos Fantasy of Lights
(Vasona Lake County Park);
13. Christmas Tree Lane, Alameda (3200 Thomson Ave);
14. Friday "Nights of Lights" Half Moon Bay (Main Street)
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12-5-2021, F7-F8)
"Fodor's GO list for 2022 includes three California destinations"
Here are the West Coast finds— in alphabetical order.
Check out the full GO list at www.fodors.com/go-list/2022
1. Bend, Oregon;
2. Big Sky, Montana;
3. Burning Man,
Black Rock City, Nevada;
4. Craters of the Moon, Idaho;
5. Crested Butte, Colorado;
6. Estes Park, Colorado;
7. Leavenworth, Washington;
8. Long Beach, California;
9. Mono Lake, California;
10. New Cuyama, California;
11. Walla Walla, Washington.
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 12-5-2020, F7)
Sheriff's
Office warns: 'Tis the season... for mail theft
(Crooks want to know your information. Want to open up credit card accounts
in your name. Go on a free shopping spree at your expense.†The trend involves
using a master key to open clusters of boxes at multi-unit complexes.)
(By Megan V. Winslow, Los Altos Town Crier, 11-30-2021)
Bay
Area Outdoors: Four great Bay Trail hikes for birdwatching
(Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline;
Hayward Regional Shoreline;
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge;
Shoreline at Mountain View)
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercury News, 11-28-2021, F7-F8)
* Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim dies at 91
(Famed composer and lyricist was best known for work on the musicals 'Sweeney Todd',
'West Side Story' and 'Into the Woods'. Six of Sondheim's musicals won Tony Awards for
best score, and he also received a Pulitzer Prize ("Sunday in the Park"), an Academy Award
(for the song "Sooner or Later" from the film "Dick Tracy"), five Olivier Awards and the 2015
Presidential Medal of Honor. In 2008, he received a Tony Award for lifetime achievement.)
(By Bruce Weber, NY Times, Mercury News, 11-27-2021, A1, A6)
Bay
Area Outdoors: A Point Reyes day trip blends beach time, delicious fare
(Point Reyes delivered, as this gorgeous stretch of coastline always does, its roads winding
through the rugged landscape, the sea glinting in the distance. A walk through the Cypress Tunnel
at National Seashore takes you from the main road to a historic maritime radio station built in 1929.)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 11-21-2021, F7-F8)
* Fodor's
USA Bucket List: 12 must-see natural wonders
(Oregon's magnificent 1,943-foot-deep Crater Lake is included on the list of top
natural attractions, along with Tall Trees Grove at Redwood National Park
in Northern California & Kilauea on Hawaii's Big Island.)
1. Crater lake, Oregon;
2. Niagara Falls, New York & Canada;
3. Black Hills, South Dakota;
4. Natural Bridge, Virginia;
5. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky;
6. Hells Canyon, Oregon & Idaho;
7. Tall Trees Grove, Redwood National Park, California;
8. Kilauea, Hawaii;
9. Denali, Alaska;
10. Bagley Icefield, Alaska;
11. White Sands, New Mexico;
12. The Everglades, Florida)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercuty News, 11-21-2021, F7)
Is the remote work revolution here to stay in the Bay Area?.
[Workers say the major benefits of working remotely are less commuting (80%), safety from
the virus (63%), more flexibility in choosing when to work (59%), and the overall comfort
of staying home (55%). Nearly half said they are more productive away from the office.]
(By Louis Hansen, Mercury News, 11-14-2021, A7)
OP-ED:
The awesome importance of imagination in today's world
(Society isn't good at cultivating the faculty that we may need the most. This is van Gogh
painting starry nights and Einstein imagining himself riding alongside a light beam.)
(By David Brooks, Mercury News, 11-14-2021, A19)
BUSINESS:
Computing almost back to amainframe model
(Even though I'm accessing it from my home PC, the actual processing and data storage is taking
place somewhere else. Like that terminal I used back in the late '70s, my PC is functioning as
an input/output device. The processing and data storage is taking place somewhere else.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 11-12-2021, C7-C8)
Dean Stockwell dies; actor in 'Quantum Leap', 'Blue Velvet'
(Recall seeing Stockwell in 1960 film "Sons and Lovers" based on D.H. Lawrence's
novel.)
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, 11-10-2021, A7)
OP-ED: What 'structural racism' really means in America
(Reread Oliver Cromwell Cox's 1948 book "Caste, Class, and Race:
A Study in Social Dynamics";
Racism survives because it is inscribed and reinscribed by the relationships and dynamics that
structure our society, from segregation and exclusion to inequality and degradation of labor.)
(By Jamelle Bouie, NY Times, Mercury News, 11-10-2021, A9)
SPORTS: 28 things about SF Giants' Buster Posey
(Looking at Buster Posey's SF Giants career from the number on his back.
14: Number of shutouts he caught in the playoffs, a MLB record that might
never be broken. No. 2 on the list is the Cardinals' Yadier Molina with 8.)
(By Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 11-7-2021, C2)
How
one Gilroy artist expanded his business and helped his community during the pandemic
(Nacho Moya's virtual painting classes connected people amid the isolation of COVID-19;
I teach kids with positive words "Relax, don't stress. Do your best." They see me happy.)
(By Emily DeRuy, Mercury News, 11-7-2021, E1, E3)
Experience Serengeti charms at Santa Rosa's Safari West
(400 acres filled with 90 species of wild animals from cheetahs to wildebeest.
Feeding acacia leaves to giraffes is a pure delight)
(By Karen D'Souza, Mercury News, 11-7-2021, F7-F8)
* National Parks: The 10 oldest parks in the U.S. are nearly all in the West
(World Atlas:
Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone's northern entrance, and you'll see
the original proclamation: "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.")
1. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (1872);
2. Sequoia National Park, CA (1890);
3. Yosemite National Park, CA (1890);
4. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington (1899);
5. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (1902);
6. Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota (1903);
7. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (1906);
8. Glacier National Park, Montana (1910);
9. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (1915);
10. Haleakala National Park, Hawaii (1916)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercuty News, 11-7-2021, F7)
Buster Posey is a Hall of Famer— there's no question about it
(Buster Posey had 1500 hits. He caught 1093 games with career OPS-plus of 129,
only catchers matching that were Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, & Mike Piazza.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11-6-2021, C1, C3)
Buster Posey: A True Giant of the Game
(Buster Posey's retirement speech was all class. Welcomed Muslim Farhan Zaidi from Dodgers as his boss.
Posey was the best of the best. Not only was he a great player, he led off the diamond as well.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11-5-2021, A1, A6)
Buster Posey was magic and the SF Giants and their fans can't thank him enough
(Buster Posey retirement: SF Giants' catcher was a true talisman and turned a nice organization into
a magical juggernaut. He led Giants to 3 world titles; Career .304 batting, 1500 hits, 158 homers, 729 RBI)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 11-4-2021, A1, A5)
* Monarchs flourish in rare Bay Area butterfly breeding boom
(For the first time, breeding monarchs found at Google and Peninsula neighborhoods;
so far about 10,000 hibernating butterflies have been counted on the coast,
a five-fold increase over last year's Thanksgiving count, with more on the way.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 11-1-2021)
Into
the realm of the super-rich: Oakland author reports from the gilded edge
(Writer Michael Mechanic's book "Jackpot" on wealth inequality, and how to fix it.)
(By Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 10-31-2021, E1, E3)
* Shrine to Cinema
(10 cool things you'll see at the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles—
Dorothy's ruby slippers, Rosebud sled, Shark from "Jaws", E.T., C-3PO & R2-D2 from "Star Wars".)
(By Richard Guzman, Mercury News, 10-31-2021, F7-F8)
* CN Traveler's 10 best big cities in the world
(Conde Nast Traveler released its 2021 Readers Choice Awards, bestowing kudos on cities, countries,
islands, resorts and hotels (Carmel Valley's Bernardus Lodge! Menlo Park's Rosewood Sand Hill!).
Awards are based on an annual reader survey, with more than 800,000 readers weighing in.
Top 10)
1. Tokyo, Japan;
2. Osaka, Japan;
3. Kyoto, Japan;
4. Singapore;
5. Istanbul, Turkey;
6. Mérida, Mexico;
7. Marrakech, Morocco;
8. Porto, Portugal;
9. Bangkok, Thailand;
10. Seoul, South Korea
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercuty News, 10-31-2021, F7)
Don't make plans to visit the Stanford Theatre anytime soon
(The Stanford Theatre, which has been the go-to place for classic films for decades,
has been closed since March 2020 and is not expected to reopen until summer 2022
due to major renovaion to ventilation system & seismic upgrades to the building.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 10-29-2021, B1-B2)
SOCIAL MEDIA:
People or profit? Facebook Papers show deep conflict within
(Thousands of pages of internal documents provided to Congress depict an internally conflicted
company where data on the harms it causes is abundant, but the will to act on them, are halting.
Young kids see Facebook as a place for old people, and going to TikTok and Snapchat.)
(By Barbaa Ortutay, Associated Press, Mercury News, 10-26-2021, A3)
SPORTS:
There's nothing in sports like a Steph Curry flurry
(He went 9-of-9 from the floor, 5-of-5 from distance, 25 points, and a plus-17 in the
opening frame. Curry ended the game with 115-113 win over Clippers &
45 points.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 10-23-2021, C1, C3)
BUSINESS:
Avoiding 'Zoom fatigue'
(One of the advantages to working at home is that you can take breaks throughout the day;
Jeremy Bailenson: "Zoom fatigue can result from excessive amounts of close-up eye gaze,
cognitive load, increased self-evaluation from staring at video of oneself, & constraints
on physical mobility." Observe "20-20-20 rule" taking a 20 second break every 20 minutes
by focusing on an object 20 feet away. Use smartphone to have Zoom outdoors in fresh air.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-22-2021, C7-C8)
* 5
Ways to Get Back to Nature
(The Bay Area's parks and nature preserves make exploring the outdoors moe tempting
than ever. Here are five possibilities to get you started—
1. Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto;
2. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, Oakland;
3. Big Break Regional Shoreline, Oakley;
4. Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley;
5. Ulistac Natural Area, Santa Clara.)
(By Joan Morris, Mercuty News, 10-17-2021, F7-F8)
*
Fodor's ranked the nation's top river walks, including this California hot spot
(Fodor's 10 top picks ranged from the sleek skyscraper-lined Chicago Riverwalk to Reno's Riverwalk
District. And Napa's Riverfront (No. 14), where you can sip a Napa cab, watch for egrets and imagine
you've been transported to Italy, Venetian gondolas and all.—
1. Breckenridge's Riverwalk, Colorado;
2. Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Oregon;
3. Chicago Riverwalk, Illinois;
4. San Antonio River Walk, Texas;
5. Riverwalk District, Reno, Nevada;
6. Tennessee Riverwalk, Chattanooga, Tennessee;
7. Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa Bay, Florida;
8. Riverfront Wilmington, Delaware;
9. Greenville's Riverwalk, South Carolina;
10. Detroit Riverwalk, Michigan;
14. Napa's Riverfront, Napa)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercuty News, 10-17-2021, F7)
NASA's asteroid hunter Lucy soars into sky with diamonds
[A NASA spacecraft named Lucy rocketed into the sky with diamonds 10/16 on a 12-year quest to explore
8 asteroids. Lucy is named after the 3.2 million-year-old skeletal remains of a human ancestor found in
Ethiopia in 1974. The 1967 Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (LSD?)
prompted NASA
to send the spacecraft soaring with band members' lyrics and a disc made of lab-grown diamonds for
one of its science instruments. Despite their use of LSD, Paul McCartney says "It's not an acid song."
Lucy's $981 million mission is the first to aim for Jupiter's Trojan entourage: thousands of asteroids.]
(By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press, Mercury News, 10-17-2021, A15)
OP-ED:
Is America becoming Rome versus Byzantium?
(In A.D. 286 Roman emperor Diocletian split in half the huge Roman Empire under control of two emperors.
A Western empire included much of modern-day Western Europe & northwest Africa. Eastern half controlled
Eastern Europe, parts of Asia & northeastern Africa. By 330 Emperor Constantine moved empire's capital
from Rome to Constantinople, founded on site of old Greek polis of Byzantium. Western empire collapsed
into chaos by late 5th century A.D. Yet the Roman eastern half survived for nearly 1,000 years. It was soon
known as the Byzantine Empire. Much talk of a new American red state/blue state split— and even wild
threats of another Civil War. Foreigners see blue coastal Americans as more vibrant culture, with wealth
on technology, finance, media. They see the red interior— with same population as blue America but
with vastly greater area— is the more pragmatic, and home to food, fuels, ores and material production.
But as in the past, it is far more likely that one state model will prove unsustainable and collapse than
it is that either region would ever start a civil war.)
(By Victor Davis Hanson, Mercury News, 10-15-2021, A7)
Social
media risks and solutions can be nuanced
(We need to put context around these issues and always consider the bigger picture. Trump removed
from Twitter & Facebook for alleged dangerous speech promoting Jan. 6 violence at Capitol Building.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-15-2021, C7-C8)
* Lonely Planet's top 20 U.S. sights include 4 California landmarks
(Four of the top 20 destinations are in our own backyard, with Yosemite National Park
clocking in at No. 2 and Joshua Tree National Park at No. 11. The Bay Area is represented
by the iconic Golden Gate Bridge at No. 14 and Muir Woods at No. 16.
1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona;
2. Yosemite National Park, California;
3. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming;
4. The MET, New York;
5. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah;
6. Ellis Island, New York;
7. Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii;
8. National Museum of African American History & Culture, Washington DC;
9. Denali National Park, Alaska;
10. Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Hawaii;
11. Joshua Tree National Park, California;
12. Civil Rights Museum, Tennessee;
13. Central Park, New York;
14. Golden Gate Bridge, California;
15. White Sands National Park, New Mexico;
16. Muir Woods, California;
17. Crater Lake, Oregon;
18. Freedom Trail, Massachusetts;
19. Glacier National Park, Montana;
20. 9/11 Memorial & Museum, New York)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercuty News, 10-10-2021, F7)
We're
Smarter About Facebook Now
(Frances Haugen's caution about Facebook's harm is like Jeff Wigand's warning about tobacco.)
(By Shira Ovide, NY Times, Mercury News, 10-8-2021, C7-C8)
New
law will make it easier to cancel online subscriptions
(Tricking people into paying for something they don't want shouldn't be a business model.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-8-2021, C7-C8)
MOVIES:
Daniel Craig gets worthy send-off in 'No Time to Die'
(Daniel Craig's fifth and final mission as Ian Fleming's super suave/sexy 007 is one of the actor's
best in the series: Pressed back into service, he deals with global & personal threats in this film.)
(By Randy Myers, Mercury News, 10-7-2021, G6)
MOVIES:
'No Time to Die' rewards diehard 007 fans with Easter eggs galore
(Daniel Craig's last James Bond film is packed with Easter eggs for eagle-eyed 007 fans;
Famous gun-barrel sequence that traditionally opens Bond films makes a welcome reappearance.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 10-7-2021, G7)
Lee Quarnstrom,
Mercury News columnist, Merry Prankster, dies at 81
(Colorful newspaperman, friend of Ken Kesey, Hunter S. Thompson, chronicled 1950s Chicago to
Santa Cruz earthquake; becoming friends with Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady and the Grateful Dead
as the Beat Generation gave way to the psychedelic age.)
(By Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 10-4-2021, B1-B2)
Like
fictional killer robots, even well-intentioned algorithms can do harm
(Robots with artificial-intelligence-driven algorithms become monsters that unleash horrors not fully
intended by the humans who programmed them. Algorithms are a big part of the problem, but unlike
fictitious killer robots, they remain under control of humans who must be held accountable for their impact.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-1-2021, C7-C8)
How
SF Giants' stars Belt, Crawford and Posey rewrote records, beat odds and led stunning revival
(SF Giants stars Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are trying to win their third
World Series as teammates. Belt's 29 home runs; Crawford's 24 homers; Posey's 18 homers)
(By Kerry Crowley, Mercury News, 10-1-2021, A1, A5)
* "Descending into the depths and brightness of
van Gogh"
("Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience"
relay anything but darkness. San Jose show
more satisfying than its SF counterpart,
in making a priority to put the artist's work in perspective.)
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9-29-2021, A1, A5)
* 4 epic
coastal hikes mix sea views, tasty bites
(Old Cove Landing Loop, Wilder Ranch State Park;
Lands End and Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park;
Franklin Point, Año Nuevo State Park;
Pillar Point to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Pillar Point Bluff)
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercuty News, 9-26-2021, F7-8)
* 10
most beautiful and eccentric gardens around the world
(1. Las Pozas, Xilitla, Mexico;
2. Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai;
3. Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland;
4. Torre Guinigi, Lucca, Italy;
5. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand;
6. Salesforce Rooftop Park, San Francisco;
7. Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall, England;
8. Pinocchio Park, Collodi, Italy;
9. Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno, CA;
10. Butterfly Garden,
Changi, Singapore)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercuty News, 9-26-2021, F7)
The Battle for Digital Privacy Is Reshaping the Internet
(As Apple and Google enact privacy changes, businesses are grappling with the fallout,
Madison Avenue is fighting back and Facebook has cried foul. Google outlined plans
to disable a tracking technology in its Chrome web browser.)
(By Brian X. Chen, NY Times, Mercury News, 9-17-2021, C7-C8)
Protecting mental health on Instagram
(Wall Street Journal article
revealed internal Facebook documents proclaiming
that "Instagram is toxic for teen girls." Online interactions can take an emotional toll—
especially if you fall into the habit of negatively comparing yourself with others.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 9-17-2021, C7-C8)
4 spectacular Bay Area public gardens to explore close to home
(1. Four-block long Salesforce Rooftop Park in San Francisco;
2. Gamble Garden in Palo Alto;
3. Flower Piano at Golden Gate Park;
4. Botanical garden in the Berkeley hills)
(By Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 9-12-2021, F7-F8)
ENERGY: Startup seeks breakthrough in power from nuclear fusion
(Researchers at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center and engineers at the company,
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, have begun testing an extremely powerful magnet
that is needed to generate immense heat that can then be converted to electricity.
It would open the gates toward what they believe could eventually be a fusion reactor.)
(By John Markoff, NY Times, Mercury News, 9-6-2021, C7-C8)
Oakland podcast startup aims to stay atop field after pandemic boost
(Rockwell Felder, SquadCast founder saw revenues grow tenfold over pandemic)
(By John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 9-5-2021, E1-E2)
Seniors flocking to TikTok
(ConnectSafely.org/Seniors; Teens make up about a quarter of TikTok's estimated
100 million active users in the U.S., 64% are between 20-55 and 11% are over 50.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 9-2-2021, C7-C8)
Appreciation:
Michael Morgan redefined what a 'classical' concert is all about
(Popular Oakland conductor brought new styles to orchestra concerts; One eclectic Morgan
program featured music by Stravinsky & Ravel, with encores by Stevie Wonder & Prince.)
(By Georgia Rowe, Mercury News, 8-26-2021, G8)
MUSIC:
Don Everly of early rock 'n' roll Everly Brothers dies at 84
(In the late 1950s and 1960s, the duo of Don & Phil drew upon their rural roots
with their strummed guitars and high, yearning harmonies. Their 19 top 40 hits
included "Bye Bye Love", "Let It Be Me", "All I Have to Do Is Dream", and
"Wake Up Little Susie", influenced the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel.)
(By Kristin M. Hall, Mercury News, 8-22-2021)
* 7 Waterfalls
(Hawaii's Rainbow Falls, Pe'epe'e Falls, Wal'ale Falls,
Onamea & Boulder Creek Falls, 'Akaka Falls, Bridge Falls.)
(By Tom Bentley, Mercury News, 8-22-2021, F7-F8)
Sprouts Farmers Market debuts new look
(When shrinking makes sound sense in 20-store expansion.)
(By Samanta Gowen, Mercury News, 8-22-2021, E1, E3)
A Passion to Win
(White Sox manager Tony La Russa, at age 76, is back with the same old fire.
Career wins: 1. Connie Mack 3731, 2. Tony LaRussa 2796, 3. John McGraw 2763.)
(By Mark Gonzales, Mercury News, 8-16-2021, C1, C5)
How happy is America?
(Social media use is well known to correlate with symptoms of depression. Those paid
to turn off Facebook, they spent more time with humans in real life, became happier.)
(By Noah Smith, Bloomberg Opinion, Mercury News, 8-15-2021, E4)
*
MUSIC: Tony Bennett, 95, a Bay Arrea favorite, retires
(Famed crooner is a New Yorker— born Aug. 3, 1926, in Queens—
but he's also a honorary citizen of Northern California, thanks in large
part to his legendary signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco".)
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 8-14-2021, A1, A6)
*
How comic book culture's biggest day was born in the Bay Area
(Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, CA, started "Free Comic Book Day"
on May 4, 2002. It draws 1.5 million attendees each year to stores in 60 countries,
has generated millions of dollars in revenue for independent comic book stores.)
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 8-13-2021, A1, A5)
50 years
later, these are the most influential albums of 1971
(1. "What's Going On" Marvin Gaye; 2. "Blue" Joni Mitchell; 3. "Led Zeppelin IV" Led Zeppelin;
4. "Tapestry" Carole King; 5. "Hunky Dory" David Bowie; 6. "Sticky Fingers" Rolling Stones; 7. "Coat
of Many Colors" Dolly Parton; 8. "Imagine" John Lennon; 9. "There's a Riot Goin' On" Sly & the Family
Stone; 10. "Fragile" Yes; 11. "At Fillmore East" Allman Brothers Band; 12. "John Prine" John Prine.)
(By Peter Larsen, Mercury News, 8-19-2021, G1-G2)
Bay Area Outdoors: 4 gorgeous redwoods hikes to soothe the soul
(1. UC Berkeley Botanical Garden; 2. Shoup Park to Redwood Grove Nature Preserve, Los Altos;
3. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland; 4. Mt. Madonna County Park, Watsonville)
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercury News, 8-1-2021, F7-F8)
TECHNOLOGY: Why it is essential to keep your operating systems up to date
("Kernel privileges" means that the hacker has the keys to your entire device,
including the basic hardware. It's like unlocking your iPhone and handing it
to hackers to do whatever they want with it and the information on it.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 7-30-2021, C9-C10)
TV pitchman Popeil dies at 86
(Ron Popeil, the quintessential TV pitchman and inventor known to generations
of viewers for hawking products including the Veg-O-Matic, the Pocket Fisherman,
Mr. Microphone and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ, has died.)
(By Andrew Dalton & Ted Anthony, AP, Mercury News, 7-30-2021, B6)
BOOKS INTERVIEW: School's In for Joyce Maynard
("Count the Ways" author
Joyce Maynard, now 67, discusses
new novel, her return to Yale and her time with J.D. Salinger.)
(By Allen Pierleoni, Mercury News, 7-29-2021, G4)
BOOKS INTERVIEW: Joyce Carol Oates talks Marilyn Monroe clones
and more in 'Night, Neon' story collection
(Iconic author will be appearing on SCNG's free virtual event Bookish
Friday, July 16 at 5 pm;
I am reading Edith Wharton's Ghosts. I am more
interested in the backgrounds in Wharton
than in the "ghosts" themselves.)
(By Samantha Dunn, Mercury News, 7-22-2021, G4)
COLLECTIBLES: Pokémon card frenzy is making many rich
(Millennials discover old collection and sell cards at online retailers.
Trading card sales rose to a record 142% on eBay in 2020, faster than sports cards.)
(By Lizette Chapman, Mercury News, 7-12-2021, C7-C8)
Alleged mail thieves arrested in Aptos
(Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office recovered stolen mail, more than 70 California
ID cards, a shaved master mailbox key, credit cards, blank credit cards, a credit
card embosser, a card skimmer and an imitation firearm.)
(By Jessica A.York, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 7-9-2021)
Heat wave bakes the Bay Area as triple-digit temperatures spread
(Hottest day of year in region, with more than 6 cities setting new records— Concord 107,
Livermore 107, Gilroy 106, Santa Rosa 104, Redwood City 103, San Jose 95, Oakland 90)
(By Paul Rogers & Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 6-18-2021, A1, A7)
San Jose: $10,000 reward offered in mail theft case
(Footage of the theft, first aired by NBC Bay Area, showed a man and a woman taking
several packages from the mail truck and placing them in a white four-door car.)
(By Jason Green, Mercury News, 6-15-2021)
Video Shows Thieves Ransacking Mail Truck in San Jose
(Surveillance camera captured someone clearing out a postal truck near Evergreen community.)
(By Damian Trujillo, NBC Bay Area, 6-15-2021)
With 'In the Heights', Jon M. Chu is changing Hollywood— again
(Bay Area native Jon M. Chu may do for musicals what 'Crazy Rich Asians' did for rom-coms;
Lin-Manuel Miranda's 2008 Broadway Latinx musical hitting big screen after a year delay.)
(By Randy Myers, Mercury News, Weekender, 6-10-2021, G1-G2)
Bay Area Hikes: 5 epic staircase hikes in San Jose, Berkeley, Mill Valley and more
(San Jose's Communications Hill was named for the 114-foot communication tower at its summit;
SF's Hidden Garden Steps has 148 steps like a waterfall; Mill Valley's 7.5-mile Dipsea
has more
than 650 steps; SF Fort Point to Historic Batteries; Berkeley Rose Garden &
Stairways Hike,
with 100 numbered paths.)
(By Melissa Ozbek, Mercury News, 5-10-2021, F7-F8)
Amy Tan explores her triumphs and trials in new PBS film
(Bay Area author the focus of director James Redford's final documentary.
The son of Robert Redford succumbed to liver cancer last October at age 58.
Amy and her mom routinely clashed, as she was uncooperative and suicidal.)
(By Chuck Barney, Mercury News, 5-2-2021, B1, B3)
OP-ED: Bay Area must stand in solidarity against racism
(In San Jose alone, where our population is nearly 40% Latino, 35% Asian and nearly 5% Black,
we appreciate the rich cultural and ethnic diversity that is the bedrock of our society.
In a "#StopAsianHate" rally in Saratoga on March 27, hundreds attended the gathering in
support of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders communities.)
(By Carl Guardino, Mercury News, 4-30-2021)
Inside the making of 'Steph 2.0': How Warriors star Curry has become better than his MVP self
(Five years after his unanimous NBA MVP season, Steph Curry is putting up best numbers of his career.
His 31.2 points per game average leads NBA and includes a recent streak in which he broke 30 points
in 11 consecutive games. His six games with 10 or more 3-pointers are more than rest of the league's
players combined and more than any player has had in a career. In the first 10 games of April, Curry
averaged 40.8 points per game, the most he's scored over such a span in his career. With 47 points in
Boston and 49 in Philadelphia, Curry became first player his age to post back-to-back 45-point games
since Michael Jordan 20 years ago.)
(By Wes Goldberg, Mercury News, 4-25-2021, A1, A8)
Hip-hop icon Gregory 'Shock G' Jacobs dies at 57
(Bay Area-based legend led Digital Underground band, mentored Tupac Shakur)
(By George Kelly, Mercury News, 4-24-2021, B1, B3)
HOCKEY: Patrick Marleau passes Gordie Howe, becomes NHL's games played leader
(San Jose Sharks forward played his 1,768th career NHL game Monday night vs. Vegas
Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena; his passing Gordie Howe's 1767 career games played)
(By Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 4-20-2021, C5)
'Utter amazement': Steph Curry scores 49 in win over 76ers and the Warriors have found their swagger
(Golden State Warriors beat 76ers 107-96. Curry's eighth 40-point game of the season; his 11th straight
game with 30-plus points snaps Kobe Bryant's record for a player 33 years old or older; his 46 3-pointers
over the last five games is a new NBA record; and he became the first player in league history to make
10 or more 3-pointers four times in a five-game span.)
(By Wes Goldberg, Mercury News, 4-19-2021, C1)
OP-ED: Wisdom isn't what most people think it is
(Morrie Schwartz was a Brandeis sociology professor who died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
in 1995. While he was dying, he had a couple of conversations with Ted Koppel on "Nightline"
and a bunch with his former student Mitch Albom, who wrote a book, "Tuesdays With Morrie",
which sold more than 15 million copies. Wise people don't tell us what to do,
they start by witnessing our story.)
(By David Brooks, Mercury News, 4-18-2021, A13)
Adobe co-founder Charles Geschke dies at 81
(Founded Adobe in 1982 with a colleague from Xerox, John Warnock, and
served in several high-profile roles until his retirement in 2000. The duo is
credited with developing the Portable Document Format technology, or PDFs.)
(By Fiona Kelliher, Mercury News, 4-18-2021, B1, B4)
TECHNOLOGY: Tips for preventing 'ransomware' attack
(Her husband responded to a "ransomware" demand that he pay $3,000 to unlock data
on his computer that was encrypted by the hacker. Told to pay in gift cards and he
complied. Then told to provide access to his machine to the hacker so that they
could go in and give him back access. Once a hacker gets inside your PC, there is
no telling what malicious software they might have planted that could result in
further ransomware attacks or their getting access to your personal information.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 4-16-2021, C7-C8)
Almost perfect: Rodón settles for no-hitter after HBP in 9th
(Left-hander threw the second no-hitter of the young baseball season Wednesday night,
losing his bid for a perfect game on a hit batter with one out in the ninth inning,
and the Chicago White Sox cruised to an 8-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.)
(By Jay Cohen, Mercury News, 4-15-2021, C3)
Steph Curry gets the record, passes Wilt Chamberlain, with 53-point performance
(Stephen Curry has surpassed Wilt Chamberlain as Golden State Warriors' all-time leading scorer.
Chamberlain, who last played for Warriors in 1965, finished his six-year stint with 17,783 points
and has been the franchise leader in career points scored for 56 years.)
(By Wes Golberg, Mercury News, 4-13-2021, C1, C4)
Steep decline in giant sea turtles seen off West Coast
(Leatherback sea turtles migrate 7,000 miles across Pacific Ocean to cold waters off
U.S. West Coast, where they gorged on jellyfish before swimming back. Population has
plummeted 80%; weigh half as much as a compact car and have 4-foot-long flippers)
(By Gillian Flaccus & Haven Daley, AP, Mercury News, 4-12-2021, B1-B2)
Catching No-Nos: Padres' Caratini an MLB 1st with 2nd in row
(When Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter for San Diego Padres in their franchise history,
Caratini became the first MLB catcher to be behind the plate for consecutive no-hitters in
the league for different teams. Caratini was on the receiving end last Sept. 13 when Alec Mills
threw one for the Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee. He was traded to the Padres in off-season.)
(By Stephen Hawkins, AP, Mercury News, 4-11-2021, C3)
Philip, defined by role of husband to British queen, dies at 99
(Known for his occasionally deeply offensive remarks— and for gamely fulfilling
more than 20,000 royal engagements to boost British interests at home and abroad.)
(By Jill Lawless & Gregory Katz, AP, Mercury News, 4-10-2021, A3)
'Calder-Picasso' exhibit enlivens reopened SF de Young Museum
["Calder-Picasso" on view through May 23, was conceived by grandsons
of the American (Calder) and Spanish (Picasso) artists. Picasso's 1942
"Bull's Head" fron bicycle seat;
Calder's "Josephine Baker" (1930)]
(By Robert Taylor, Mercury News, 4-8-2021, G1-G2)
Here's a look at egg production in the U.S. and other egg facts
(States with most hens: Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas; Each
laying hen produced 296 eggs per year; Eggs from Ostrich 48 oz $540/dozen,
Goose 5 oz $12/dozen, Chicken 2 oz $2.18/dozen, Quail 0.5 oz $7/dozen)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, 4-4-2021, B15)
How a family-owned bookstore in Palo Alto has stayed open through the pandemic
(Faith Bell, owner of iconic Bell's Books in Palo Alto, 300,000 volumes to the ceiling.)
(By Aldo Toledo, Mercury News, 3-28-2021, E1, E3)
A Trump branded social network is a bad idea
(Site has potential to become a lovefest for the ex-president and not much else.
Moderators will do everything they can to keep conversation as pro-Trump as possible.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 3-26-2021, C1, C8)
Condors to return to Redwood National Park for first time in a century
(They reached a low of just 22 nationwide by the early 1980s; Today there are 504 California
condors, with 329 in the wild; Wingspans stretch 9 feet & carry them 150 miles or more a day.)
(By Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3-25-2021, A1, A5)
Elgin Baylor, the Lakers' 11-time NBA All-Star, died at 86
(Baylor was the first NBA player to surpass 70 points with a 71-point game Dec. 11, 1960,
against New York. He had uncanny ability to hang in mid-air indefinitely, inventing shots
along the way. Averaged 27.4 points & 13.5 rebounds in 14-year career, scoring 23,149 points.)
(By Associated Press, Mercury News, 3-23-2021, C4)
Lisa Troutner
(Tomato growing taken to an art form at Carmel Bella Farm)
(By Jessica Tadegaran, Bloom Magazine, Mercury News, 3-21-2021, pp. 26-27);
"Spotlight on Organic Gardener" (By Deepak Mehla)
FOCUS MONEY: Crypto Craze
(In just the past year, cryptocurrency's total value has skyrocketed by nearly 500%. And Bitcoin,
which was worth less than a penny when it launched, hit a high of $61,683 per coin last week.)
(By Jeff Goertzen, Mercury News, 3-21-2021, B22)
Aleksander Doba, Who Kayaked Across the Atlantic, Dies at 74
(A Polish adventurer, Doba kayaked alone across Atlantic at age 70, while subsisting on his wife's
fortifying plum jam. Died Feb. 22 on the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.)
(By Alex Vadukul, NY Times, Mercury News, 3-20-2021, B3)
Lou Ottens, Father of Countless Mixtapes, Is Dead at 94
("Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape" is a romanticized view of the cassette tape; playing music in
a portable fashion; Soon record labels began releasing entire albums on cassettes and automakers
were installing cassette players on dashboards; 100 billion cassettes sold worldwide;
Lou Ottens)
(By Neil Genzlinger, NY Times, Mercury News, 3-20-2021, B4)
Popular 'Immersive Van Gogh' exhibit opens in San Francisco
("Immersive van Gogh" is a digitally projected show that animates paintings
by artist Vincent Van Gogh in a surroundscape experience. The show runs from
March 18th through September 6th and will be one of the first in-person art
experiences in San Francisco since lockdown one year ago due to the pandemic.)
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 3-18-2021, D1-D2)
Meet Harry and Meghan's Stanford collaborator on the world-changing power of compassion
(Neurosurgeon and author Dr. James Doty runs Stanford Medicine’s Center for Compassion
and Altruism Research & Education.
Archewell said it was partnering with experts like Doty
because the Sussexes regard compassion as "the defining force of the 21st century.")
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, 3-15-2021, B1-B2)
Digital art by Beeple sells for $69.4 million amid NFT boom
(Digital collage titled "Everydays:
The First 5,000 Days" by
Beeple,
real name Mike Winkelmann; Beeple's Opus;
Beeple's Website)
(By Kelvin Chan, AP, Mercury News, 3-12-2021, C7-C8)
OP-ED:
Google puts lid on cookie jar and ends an internet era
(Google, the internet search giant, said that it's done tracking us as we skate
around the web. Will eliminate its use of third-party cookies over the next year,
it won't adopt replacements that essentially do the same thing. Google and Facebook
jointly inhaled nearly three-quarters of $300 billion spent on web advertising in 2020.)
(By Timothy L. O'Brien, Mercury News, 3-9-2021, A6)
Carla Wallenda, member of famed high-wire act, dies at 85
(She was last surviving child of the famed troupe's founder,
Karl Wallenda.
Joined high-wire act after doing headstand on top of family's 7-person pyramid.)
(By Terry Spencer, AP, Mercury News, 3-7-2021, B5)
Drones vs hungry moths: Dutch use hi-tech to protect crops
(The drones instantly kill the moths by flying into them, destroying them in midair.
Don't want to kill ladybugs, bumblebees, and good bugs. Technology needs refinements.)
(By Mike Corder, AP, Mercury News, 3-7-2021, C1)
Take steps to protect against identity theft
(Things you can do to reduce the chances of being a victim, and if you are a victim,
there are things you can do to recover. 650,572 identity theft reports in 2019 by FTC.)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 3-5-2021, C1, C8)
20 Brilliant Cooking Hacks from the Pros
(Favorite ways to make cooking simpler, faster or more successful.
Hacks hail from chef & cookbook author interviews over the years.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran & Jackie Burrell, Mercury News, 2-28-2021, F2-F3)
*
Stanford research: Why Zoom meetings can wipe you out
(Jeremy Bailenson describes the psychological impact of spending hours every day on Zoom,
Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime, or other video-calling interfaces. On Zoom calls, everyone
is staring at everyone, all the time. And our faces can appear too large. When so many faces
are so close to ours, we're in a hyper-aroused state, it's taxing on us. It's stressful.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 2-24-2021, B1-B2)
*
EDUCATION: What's wrong with online learning? We asked Sal Khan, the world's most prolific tutor
(With its free lessons in math, science and humanities in 46 languages, Khan Academy
is used in more
than 190 countries and has more than 118 million registered users, nearly 20 million learners per month.
"My style is very conversational.
I'm not afraid to share my thought processes as I'm thinking it through.")
(By John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 2-7-2021, E1, E3)
Christopher Plummer, actor famed for role in Sound of Music, dies at 91
(The Oscar-winning performer flourished in a succession of meaty roles after age 70.
He claimed a long-awaited Academy Award at age 82 (2012) for his supporting performance in
"Beginners" as an elderly man who comes out of the closet as gay after his wife's death.)
(By Will Dunham, Reuters, Mercury News, 2-5-2021, A6)
OP-ED: How we can tame the Wild West of Big Tech media
(Facebook, Google, Twitter platforms' lack of human editors has resulted in a gushing
firehose of mis- and disinformation where scandals & conspiracies replaced real news.)
(By Steven Hill, Mercury News, 1-27-2021, A6)
MOVIES:
Love burns: the films of Wong Kar-wai get Bay Area showcase
[Hong Kong director known for sensual flourishes:
"Chungking Express" (1994);
"The Hand" (2004);
"In the Mood for Love" (2000);
"Days of Being Wild" (2000);
"Happy Together" (1997);
Wong's Films]
(By Randy Myers, Mercury News, 1-7-2021, E6)
Steph Curry answers critics, pours in career-high 62 points in Warriors' win over Trail Blazers
[Curry's final stat line of 62 points on 18-for-31 shooting (8-for-16 from 3-point range
and 18-of-19 from the free-throw line), five rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes.]
(By Wes Goldberg, Mercury News, 1-5-2021, C1, C4)
Klay marvels at Steph Curry's 62-point night and Damian Lillard shows respect
(Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade and others pay respect to Steph Curry after his career night
in Warriors' win over Trail Blazers; By scoring 31 points in each half, Curry became the
first player since New Orleans' Pete Maravich in 1977 to score more than 30 in each half,)
(By Jon Becker, Mercury News, 1-5-2021, C1, C4)
*
7 Bay Area hikes to find beauty and renew the soul after a tough 2020
[(1 & 2) Old Tree & Peters Creek Loop, Portola Redwoods State Park; (3) Tomales Point Trail,
Marin County; (4) Eagle Peak, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness; (5) Albany to Richmond Bay Trail;
(6) Bay Ridge Trail, Presidio, San Francisco, (7) Sequoia Audubon Trail, Pescadero Marsh Preserve ]
(By Martha Ross, Mercury News, 11-24-2020, Chill, pp. 54-59)
MOVIES:
Sean Connery, the 'original' James Bond, dies at 90
(In Jan. 23, 1987 photo, actor Sean Connery holds a rose in his hand as he talks about
his new movie "The Name of the Rose" at a news conference in London. Scottish actor
Sean Connery, considered by many to have been the best James Bond, has died aged 90,)
(By Jill Lawless, Associated Press, Mercury News, 11-1-2020, A4)
Nobel Prize:
UC Berkeley, UCLA black hole hunters win physics prize
(Reinhard Genzel, astrophysicist at Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics;
Andrea Ghez, professor of physics & astronomy at UCLA, and Roger Penrose, of University
of Oxford, shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for advancing our understanding of black holes.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 10-7-2020, B1-B2)
BUSINESS:
Social media can lead to political extremism
[Algorithms designed to present us with content we find compelling, along with advertising
that's likely to interest us, fill our newsfeed with posts that appeal to our political leanings,
world views, susceptibility to various theories and points of view, including conspiracy theories
Facebook (tinyurl.com/fbinterests) & Twitter (tinyurl.com/twitterinterests) track your interests.]
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 10-2-2020, B17)
National Parks: The Giant Sequoia
(Diameter at base: Coast Redwood 25 ft; Giant Sequoia: 36.5 ft; General Sherman Sequoia:
275 ft high, 2000 years old; List of National Parks, Yellowstone 1872, Pinnacles 2013)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, 9-20-2020, B17)
'It's kind of like nuclear winter': Unprecedented smoke
layer darkens Bay Area skies as West Coast burns
(Temperatures fall, but smoke blotting out the sun; With 28 major fires
burning in California alone, forecasters don't know when it will end.)
(By Nico Savidge & Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 9-10-2020, A1, A5)
MUSIC— Wynton Marsalis:
'Continue to fight for the world you envision'
(His latest album "The Ever Fonky Lowdown" uses satire, a Greek-style chorus,
narration from celebrated actor Wendell Pierce, and a mix of jazz, funk
and other styles to address corruption, racism, greed and more.)
(By Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9-10-2020, Eye, pp. 2-5)
MOVIE REVIEW:
Live-action 'Mulan' is gorgeous but short on magic
(Director Niki Caro's "Mulan" is without a doubt one of the best of the remakes.
The film falters on the story level, however, feeling both rushed, overlong and
oddly light on character development. We barely even get to know Mulan the person.)
(By Lindsay Bahr, AP, Mercury News, 9-10-2020, Eye, p. 10)
Tom Seaver,
Hall of Fame pitcher and New York Mets icon, dies at 75
(Nicknamed Tom Terrific, Seaver was a five-time 20-game winner and 1967 NL Rookie
of the Year. For his career, from 1967-86, he had a 311-205 record with a 2.86 ERA,
3,640 strikeouts and 61 shutouts. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 with 98.84%.)
(By Ronald Blum, AP, Mercury News, 9-2-2020, C3)
John
Thompson, 78, known as a great coach and mentor
(Thompson took over a moribund Georgetown program in the 1970s and
molded it in his unique style into a perennial contender, culminating with
a national championship team anchored by center Patrick Ewing in 1984.)
(By Joseph White, AP, Mercury News, 9-1-2020, B4)
Stanford
closing most of its campus to the public as a coronavirus precaution
(Starting Sept. 1, the university will bar the public from entering the campus;
Public barred from the Oval, Main Quad, Cantor Arts Center, Rodin Sculpture Garden.)
(By Joan Morris, Mercury News, 8-31-2020, B1, B3)
California Fires:
Bolts and Blazes
(Earlier this month an estimated 11,000 lightning strikes in California ignited 370 fires, with
23 becoming major fires; In-cloud lightning, cloud-to-cloud lightning, cloud-to-ground
lightning, spider lightning; 15 California Fires; Odds being hit by lightning: 1 in 1.2 million)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, 8-30-2020, B11)
Race
to protect Big Basin's Mother, Father of the Forest, other ancient redwood trees after inferno
(Cherished Mother and "Father of the Forest" survived the blaze, but there are many big
redwoods whose bases were burned to the heart, and which could be toppled by a falling fir,
huge numbers of which were severely damaged because the species fares poorly in flames.)
(By Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8-30-2020, B1, B4)
Fire
destroys Little Basin Campground, a beloved part of Silicon Valley history
(Retreat in Santa Cruz Mountains was purchased by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in 1960s;
Bill and Dave served steaks and hamburgers off the grill for all the HP employees.)
(By Paul Rogers & Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8-28-2020, A1, A6)
Obituary:
Writer Gail Sheehy, Author of Passages Dies at 83
(Sheehy, widow of New York magazine founder Clay Felker, died from pneumonia;
Helped millions navigate their lives from early adulthood to middle age and beyond.)
(By Hillel Italie, AP, Mercury News, 8-26-2020, A8)
California fires:
Burned redwoods at Big Basin, other parks will recover soon, experts say
(Redwoods are resilient. Anything with a diameter more than 3 inches survived. Only 25% of
Douglas fir trees survived. Most of the scorched black trees will begin sprouting green leaves
again by this winter. Redwood's ability to stand tall in face of floods, fires & other calamities
is how they live to be up to 2,000 years old. Sequoia Sempervirens = "ever-living Sequoia".)
(By Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 8-25-2020, A1, A5)
BASEBALL:
At 30 years old, Mike Yastrzemski is the Giants' best player.
These two women made it possible.
(Mike's mom Anne Marie & wife Paige Cahill encouraged him on; Mike's Dad died at 43;
His grandfather Carl Yastrzemski won the 1967 Triple Crown with Boston Red Sox.)
(By Kerry Crowley, Mercury News, 8-23-2020, C1, C4)
OUTDOORS:
7 hidden gems on the Stanford University grounds
(1. Papua New Guinea Garde, 2. California Native Garden, 3. Centennial Garden,
4. Oregon Courtyard, Memorial Church Garden, Memorial Court, rizona Garden., 51 slides.)
(By Joan Morris, Mercury News, 8-23-2020, F7-F8)
Wildfire
destroys historic buildings at Big Basin State Park, some redwoods have fallen
(Big Basin Redwoods State Park Headquarters & Visitor Center is burned to the ground
during a blaze on 8-20-2020, with 300 feet tall & 2000 year-old redwoods toppled.)
(By Paul Rogers & Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8-21-2020, A1, A6)
Historic
Lick Observatory saved from encroaching wildfire— for now
(On 8/19, Firefighters were able to stop flames from reaching Lick Observatory
on Mt. Hamilton, but Wildfire continues to burn near 132-year-old observatory.)
(By John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 8-21-2020, B1, B4)
The
time Olivia de Havilland returned to Los Gatos High School
(Oscar-winning actress returned to her alma mater in 1988 to celebrate the high school's centennial.
At 72, Olivia was as careful in preparing for a speech to 450 seniors as she had been for any movies
she made in her 20s. Her speech was witnessed by more than 7,000 people.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 7-29-2020, B1-B2)
Comet
Neowise Comes By Once in a Blue Moon
(Comet Neowise is photographed grom Geysers Road in Geyserville on Friday, July 17.
The comet is making its way into the inner solar system for the first time in 6,800 years.
It is the brightest objects of its kind seen in the sky since Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997.)
(By Jose Carlos Fajardoo, Mercury News, 7-20-2020, B1)
California History:
Relics of El Camino Real
(On July 11, a blaze at San Gabriel Mission destroyed much of the nearly 250-year-old church.
Here are the historic 21 missions & road connecting them known as "Kings Highway".)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, 7-19-2020, B15)
On This Date:
Giants' Tim Lincecum pitches no-hitter in 9-0 win at Petco Park
(Two-time Cy Young Award winner strikes out 13 while no-hitting Padres with 148-pitches.)
(By Alex Pavlovic, Mercury News, 7-13-2020, C4)
Independence Test
(75.9% named "Declaration of Independence" the most influential document in American history;
Benjamin Franklin, 70, was oldest Continental Congress member; Edward Rutledge, 26, youngest.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, Mercury News, 7-5-2020, B13)
Why is COVID-19 so deadly to elders?
(Aging immune systems more vulnerable to viruses; Our thymus, which produces infection-fighting
T cells, reaches its peak size at puberty and then steadily shrinks; By the age of 50, our T cell
production is less than 10% of its peak; Harder for older person to clear the virus from the blood.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 7-5-2020, C3)
On
this date, 1963: Marichal outduels Spahn in 16-inning showdown
(Giants' star Juan Marichal throws 16-inning shutout 1-0 to beat Warren Spahn,
Milwaukee Braves on Willie Mays' homer; Marichal threw 227 pitches; Spahn threw 201.)
(By Daniel Brown, Mercury News, 7-2-2020, C3)
On this date, 2014:
Giants' Tim Lincecum throws another no-hitter
(Giants' freakish star Tim Lincecum gets his 2nd career no-hitter against San Diego;
Lincecum needed only 113 pitches to complete his masterpiece on June 25, 2014.)
(By Mark Purdy, Mercury News, 6-25-2020, C1, C3)
By
the book: Alcatraz captivates audiences decades later
(Since the one-time home of "Machine Gun" Kelly and Al Capone was turned over
to the National Park Service in 1972, Alcatraz has been a hot tourist attraction,
seeing about 1.3 million visitors a year. Movies like "Birdman of Alcatraz" with
Burt Lancaster & Clint Eastwood's "Escape from Alcatraz" made prison more popular.)
(By Angela Hill, Mercury News, 5-21-2020)
Newbery-honored
Gennifer Choldenko talks 'Al Capone' and elephants
(Her new book Orphan Eleven follows the adventures of four orphans
who find work and new friends in a traveling circus with elephants.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, Mercury News, 5-19-2020)
In the Footsteps of a Literary Giant
(Robert Louis Stevenson's Northern California hangouts; He came here in 1879
to marry Fanny Osbourne; His Treasure Island inspired by Point Lobos.)
(By Peter Magnani, Mercury News, 5-18-2020)
Turning
a page on Big Sur and the rugged journey into writers' imaginations
(Robinson Jeffers built the Tor House at then-isolated Carmel Point;
Helmuth Deetjen's Big Sur Inn has Henry Miller's Library.)
(By Elliot Almond, Mercury News, 5-18-2020)
Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley" revisited
(Steinbeck's book on his 38-state odyssey in 1960 inspired Starchman to embark
on a 50-state quest of his own earlier this year. COVID-19 cancelled his trip.)
(By Tom Bentley, Mercury News, 5-17-2020)
Californa's lush and lean landscapes loom large in some classic works of lit
(Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club in SF's Chinatown; John Steinbeck's Cannery Row in Monterey;
Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep in LA; Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose in Santa Cruz;
John Fante's Ask the Dust in LA; Nathnael West's Day of the Locust; Tommy Orange's There, There
in Oakland; Joan Didion's Where I Was From in LA: Susan Orlean's The Library Book in LA.)
(By Tom Bentley, Mercury News, 5-17-2020)
12
Bay Area bookstores pick the best 50+ books for all ages
(Alibi Books, Vallejo; Hicklebee's, San Jose; Mrs. Dalloway's, Berkeley; Kepler's Books, Menlo Park;
Bookshop Santa Cruz; Books Inc, Palo Alto; Flashlight Books, Walnut Creek, Rakestraw, Danville;
East Bay Booksellers, Oakland; Orinda Books, Orinda; Contra Costa County Librarians)
(By Linda Zavoral, Joan Morris, Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5-17-2020)
Adam
Hochschild talks books, Cinderella dreams and the Gilded Age
(Rebel Cinderella: From Rags to Riches, the Epic Journey of Rose Pastor Stokes;
She became a gifted orator, labor organizer & fearless champion of social justice causes.)
(By Sue Gilmore, Mercury News, 5-17-2020)
If
it was good enough for Charles Schulz, it's good enough for me
(Cartoonist Lisa Brown's Long Story Short: 100 Classic Books in 3 Panels; Visual Cliff Notes
for Don Quixote, Jane Eyre, Bhagavad Gita, Madame Bovary, Beloved, Twilight.)
(By Angela Hill, Mercury News, 5-17-2020)
Dashiell
Hammett: Following the footsteps of SF's king of noir
(Don Herron spent 43 years following Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade
and his haunting grounds in San Francisco.
Herron's Site on Film Noir)
(By Angela Hill, Mercury News, 5-14-2020)
On this date, 1987: Magic, Kareem and Showtime Lakers are no match for Sleepy Floyd
(Golden State Warriors' Eric "Sleepy" Floyd (21) drives to the basket during their playoff
game against Lakers at Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA, on May 10, 1987. Floyd scored
an NBA playoff record-setting 29 points in the fourth quarter, 12 field goals in the same
quarter and 39 points in the half, to lead the Warriors to a 129-121 victory over Lakers.)
(By Mark Purdy, Mercury News, 5-10-2020, C1, C3)
YouTube: 1987 Playoff
Kirk Douglas, 103, was influential movie star
(Nominated for best actor in Champion, The Bad and the Beautiful, & Lust for Life, but didn't win;
In 1996, he was awarded an honorary Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.)
(By Hillel Italie, AP, Mercury News, 2-6-2020, A3)
Chiefs 31, 49ers 20:
What the #!*% Happened?— Super Start, Sour Ending
(Blown 10-point lead in 4th quarter leaves 49ers "hurting' as MVP Mahomes lead Chiefs to title)
(By Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2-3-2020, C3)
GUT PUNCH:
Epic collapse: 49ers blow 4th-quarter lead as Chiefs win title
(San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's conservative approach and
fourth-quarter play calling a massive part of the Niners' Super Bowl LIV loss)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2-3-2020, A1, A6)
Chef Chu
reflects on his Los Altos restaurant's 50 incredible years
(The secret to his success? 'Give back to your community,' he says.)
(By Linda Zavoralr, Mercury News, 2-2-2020, A1, A8)
Bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark dead at age 92
(The tireless and long-reigning
"Queen of Suspense" whose tales of women beating the odds
made her one of the world's most popular writers; Each of her 51 books was a bestseller.)
(By Hillel Italie, AP, Mercury News, 2-2-2020, A12)
Fred Silverman, TV executive at 3 major networks, dies at 82
(Only TV executive who steered programming for each of the Big Three broadcast networks
and who brought "All in the Family", "Roots", "Hawaii Five-O" and other hit series
and miniseries to television during his more than three-decade career, died at 82)
(By Lynn Elber, AP, Mercury News, 2-2-2020, A13)
The day
Joe met Steve: Montana vs. Young looms large in history of 49ers vs. Chiefs
(Joe Montana, after winning four Super Bowls with the 49ers, lost his starting position and
OK'd a trade to the Chiefs; On 9-11-1994,
Montana's KC Chief beat Young's 49ers 24-17)
(By Gary Peterson, Mercury News, 1-31-2020, A1, A8)
Kobe Bryant, daughter killed in copter crash, 7 others dead
(NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter
crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on Sunday, his sudden death
at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.)
(By Stefanie Dazio, AP, Mercury News, 1-27-2020, A1, A5)
New insights
into monarch butterflies' mysterious migrations
(Contrary to conventional wisdom, the butterfly's east and west populations are linked.)
(By Lisa Krieger, Mercury News, 1-22-2020, A1, A6)
San Mateo County
cliff crash video mystery: Real or deepfake?
(Investigators, Bay Area experts reassure skeptical public that crash was not a hoax;
Shamir Allibha, CEO of Amber: "Imagine a world where deepfakes are prevalent.
That will allow anyone to deny and dispute anything that they don't like.")
(By Dylan Bouscher, Mercury News, 1-14-2020, A1, A5)
New
light on the sun: NASA finds birthplace of winds
(What we're seeing is the large-magnetic structure of the sun, and on top of that are
impulsive magnetic events that we think are originating far below us in the corona—
probably responsible for heating the solar wind itself.)
(By Lisa Krieger, Mercury News, 12-5-2019, A1, A8)
Why
you won't find Stanford's secret sapling of the famed Newton gravity tree
(A descendant of Newton's famous apple tree lives a private life, its location unknown;
Stanford's "Newton Tree" is young, just 6 inches in diameter & standing barely 7 feet tall.)
(By Lisa Krieger, Mercury News, 12-1-2019, A1, A10)
Innovating a new era of architecture
(Design historian Barry Katz
notes that Silicon Valley's tech giants "have the resources
to make a significant investment in architectural forms that will last for decades.")
(By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News, 11-17-2019, E1-E2)
Who owns Silicon Valley?
(Stanford University $19.7 billion; Apple $9.0 billion; Google $7.5 billion; Irvine Co. $5.9 billion;
Jay Paul Co. $3.5 billion; Cisco Systems $3.4 billion; Essex Property Trust $3.1 billion; Intel Corp.
$2.5 billion; Sobrato Organization $2.5 billion; Prometheus Real Estate $2.0 billion; However the
largest landowner in Santa Clara County is San Francisco Public Utility who owns 14,001 acres
or 21.9 square miles and delivers water to 2.7 million residents in the Bay Area.)
(By Leonardo Castanedar, Mercury News, 11-3-2019, A1, A12-A14)
Finding purpose in every cup
(Numi Organic Tea CEO Ahmed Rahim & sister Reem Rahim celebrate 20th anniversary
of their Oakland company, building a business steeped in environmental awareness.)
(By Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 10-27-2019, E1-E2)
How fast? Google touts quantum computing
(Company says processor completed 10,000-year calculation in mere minutes.)
(By Rachel Lerman & Matt O'Brien, Mercury News, 10-24-2019, A1, A8)
Santa
Clara County libraries close as rolling strikes enter 10th day
(Leblanc said in a Saturday interview that library service resumes tomorrow)
(By Leonardo Castaneda, Mercury News, 10-20-2019, B9)
Income
inequality is on the rise in California. In some counties, the disparities are extreme
(Top 5% of households, income grew by 18.6%, from $426,851 in 2006 to $506,421 in 2018, while
those in bottom 20% saw average income fall by 5.3%, from $16,441 in 2006 to $15,562 in 2018.)
(By Erica Hellerstein, Mercury News, 10-7-2019, A1, A6)
Every Day
Feels Like a Home Run Derby
(14 clubs with homer records in 2019; 6778 homers in 2019, 6105 in 2017, 5693 in 2000)
(By Elliot Almond, Mercury News, 10-5-2019, A1, A6)
Apple CEO Tim Cook calls for accountability in Silicon Valley
(Cook addressed 5200 graduates at Stanford 128th commencement
"If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility.)
(By Thy Vo, SJ Mercury News, 6-17-2019, B1-B2)
Warriors'
injuries became too much to overcome in Finals loss to Toronto
(Warriors labored in NBA Finals loss 114-110 with injuries to Kevin Durant & Klay Thompson)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 6-14-2019, C1, C5)
Inside the Warriors' emotional night processing Kevin Durant's injury
(Warriors beat Toronto Raptors 106-105 after Durant injured in first quarter.)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 6-11-2019, C1, C5)
Success Story— Q&A:
Kerr on his reading habits, social media, Dubs' dynasty
(Kerr: I like reading Malcolm Gladwell's stuff; David Epstein's
Why
Generalists Triumph
in a Specialized World; Invited Money Ball author
Michael Lewis to speak to Warriors)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 5-26-2019, C1, C3)
Curry lifts
Durant-less Warriors over Rockets, 118-113
(After going scoreless in the first half on five missed shots, Curry finished with 33 points.)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 5-11-2019, C1, C5)
Historian's book shines light on Chinese workers in California
(Stanford Professor Gordon H. Chang's Ghosts of Gold Mountain
tells the story of thousands of
Chinese immigrants who built the Western half of the Transcontinental Railroad from 1863-1869.)
(By Erin Baldassari, SJ Mercury News, 5-6-2019, B1-B2)
Transcontinental Railroad sesquicentennial celebrations
(The 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad will be marked with
re-enactment ceremonies and plenty of hoopla at the Golden Spike National Historic Site.)
(By Angela Hill, SJ Mercury News, 4-28-2019, F7-F8)
Railroad: How many ceremonial Golden Spikes were there?
(Placing the famed Golden Spike, last spike completing America's first Transcontinental Railroad
at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869, symbolized a new era for the country; Spike made
of solid 17.6-karat gold, gently tapped in place by Leland Stanford,
one of the "Big Four" railroad
tycoons of the West & founder of Stanford University;
Now kept in Cantor Arts Center at Stanford.)
(By Angela Hill, SJ Mercury News, 4-28-2019, F7-F8)
OP-ED: AI (artificial intelligence) still needs HI (human intelligence)
(Humans help when the chatbot gets stuck & can't answer at
[24]7.ai in Bangalore, India)
(By Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 2-28-2019, A7)
San Jose
Light Tower documentary sheds light on landmark's history
(Gustave Eiffel paid a visit to San Jose in the 1880s and was inspired by the city's
downtown 237-feet light tower to create the
famous structure in Paris that bears his name.)
(By Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 2-24-2019, B1, B10)
Newcombe's clout reached many stars
(David Stewart recalls Don Newcombe mentoring him in the mid-1970s)
(By Benjamin Hoffman, Mercury News, 2-24-2019, C6)
Lee Radziwill, society grande dame and sister of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, dies at 85
(She worked as an assistant to longtime Harper's Bazaar editor Diana Vreeland,
ran the American fashion pavilion at the 1958 World's Fair and inspired designers
such as Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs. Writer Truman Capote said she outshined
her more-famous sister. "She's all the things people give Jackie credit for," he told
People magazine in 1976. "All the looks, style, taste— Jackie never had
them at all, and yet it was Lee who lived in the shadow.")
(By John Otis, Washington Post, Mercury News, 2-18-2019, A6)
AI
as human companion, not overlord
(IBM Research's Project Debater prepared arguments much like a human does)
(By Larry Magid, Mercury News, 2-17-2019, E1-2)
South Bay
residents arrested in slew of Mountain View mail thefts
(Six face felony charges after police say they used counterfeit master keys to open mailboxes)
(By Jason Green, Mercury News, 1-14-2019)
Seven
arrested in Mountain View mail theft operation
(Used counterfeit USPS master keys to steal mail from Mountain View apartment complexes)
(By Allison Levitsky, Daily Post, 1-14-2019)
The Yoga Craze Strikes New Pose
(Yoga participants concentrate on Warrior II pose during a vinyasa yoga class led by Ekat Petrova
during Brain & Body NightLife event at California Academy of Sciences in San Francisc)
(By Angela Hill, SJ Mercury News, 12-26-2018, A1, A5)
Redwood 'Titans" get a rescue plan
(Grove of Titans, in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, gets too much love from
visitors in search of selfies; $3.5 million aid to restore vegetation & protect majestic trees.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, 12-26-2018, A1, A5)
Brian Wilson delivers a rare Christmas gift to Beach Boys fans
(Brian Wilson, performed "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album" in front of a highly appreciative
crowd on Dec. 22 at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa.)
(By Jim Harrington, SJ Mercury News 12-24-2018, B3)
COMICS:
Before Superman, there was a Major who fueled the DC Comics machine
(Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson tells about her grandfather, Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson,
founder of National Allied Publications, which later became National Comics Publication,
which morphed into DC Comics.)
(By Randy Myers, SJ Mervury News, 12-23-2018, B3)
TECHNOLOGY:
Start a post, then delete it? Many websites save it anyway
(LiveAgent, offers a "real-time typing view" of everything a customer writes before hitting
"Send message". Facebook
keeps your photos & texts even you delete them.)
(By Drew Harwell, SJ Mercury News, 12-23-2018, E1, E3)
Sting uses fake
Amazon boxes, GPS to catch would-be thieves
(Explosion in online shopping has led to porch pirates swiping holiday packages from
unsuspecting residents; Police in Jersey City, planted dummy boxes & caught porch thefts.)
(By David Porter, SJ Mercury News, 12-13-2018, C7-C8)
Bain Capital Ventures VC on investing a fresh $1 billion
(Ajay Agarwal: Artificial Intelligence, the Cloud, Machine Learning, are treansforming the economy;
FourKites has GPS to track trucks; Kiva replaces human in monotonous chores)
(By Levi Sumagaysay, SJ Mercury News, 12-9-2018, E1-E2)
Esa-Pekka Salonen to be San Francisco Symphony's next music director
(Michael Tilson Thomas, retiring after 25 years with the orchestra;
Salonen,
Finnish composer
& conductor, was former music director of Los Angeles Philharmonic
& current principal conductor
of London's Philharmonia Orchestra)
(By Georgia Rowe, SJ Mercury News, 12-6-2018, A1, A7)
Steer too beefy to become burgers
keeps on growing
(7-year-old Knickers stands a mighty 6'4", two inches taller than Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He weighs roughly 2,800 pounds.)
(By Jason Bittel, SJ Mercury News, 11-28-2018, A4)
YouTube
SCIENCE: First gene-edited babies claimed in China
(He Jiankui of Shenzhen, altered embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments,
with one pregnancy resulting thus far. Tried to bestow a trait that few people naturally have—
ability to resist possible future infection with HIV, the AIDS virus.)
(By Marilyn Marchone, SJ Mercury News, 11-26-2018)
OP-ED: Did 1968 Win the Culture War?
(50 years ago this year, the '60s revolution sought to overturn American customs, traditions,
ideology, and politics. But maybe the '60s, not the silent majority, won out after all. The world
a half-century later looks a lot more like 1968 and what followed than what preceded it.)
(By Victor Davis Hanson, SJ Mercury News, 11-25-2018, A15)
Jean Olmsted Dies at 93
(Jean Walls Morosco Olmsted, 93, died at home with her children at her side. Graduated from
Stanford in 1947; Married Franklin Olmsted in 1955; Moved to Palo Alto in 1972; Preserved
a coast redwood designated Palo Alto's
Heritage Tree No. 2.)
(SJ Mercury News Obituaries, 11-24-2018, B6)
Rolling Stones
to rock Levi's Stadium
(Stones to bring the "No Filter" tour to 13 U.S. stadiums in 2019,
with appearance at Levi's Stadium on May 18; Tickets on sale 11-30)
(By Jim Harrington, SJ Mercury News, 11-20-2018, B7)
Stan Lee, creator of
superheroes, dies at 95
(Lee created Marvel Comics superheroes with feet of clay
and personal problems, unlike the DC Comics Superman)
(By Alexander F. Remington & Michael Cavna, SJ Mercury News, 11-13-2018, A1, A3)
Joan Baez: Poignant farewell for music legend
(Following in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, she is the rare
artist who is known as much for her beliefs and activism as for her music.)
(By Jim Harrington, SJ Mercury News, 11-13-2018, B7)
Meet Sierra: Livermore's Powerful New Supercomputer
(Sierra can perform 125 quadrillion calculations per second,
that's 125 followed by 15 zeroes, and will guard our nation's nuclear stockpile.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 10-27-2018)
Next genetics frontier: Bay Area startup Color will help decode genomes of 1 million Americans
(Color CEO Othman Laraki, among 3 genome centers, awarded $28.6 million
by NIH to sequence 1 million genomes in its All of Us program.)
(By Levi Sumagaysay, SJ Mercury News, 10-21-2018, E1-E2)
Even tech execs fret about their kids' smartphone addictions
(Urban Airship product & engineering executive Mike Herrick makes online tools enticing kids
but is worried seeing his daughter & friends texting each other instead of talking.)
(By Michael Liedtke, SJ Mercury News, 10-21-2018, E1-E2)
From
abandoned farmworker boy to pediatrician: how one Central Valley man beat the odds
(Dr. Ramon Resa, now 65, has worked as a pediatrician for three decades, treating the children
of migrant farm workers in the Central Valley where he grew up as a crop-picker. He is the
keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Parent Conference 2018 in Gilroy to inspire students.)
(By Tatiana Sanchez, SJ Mercury News, 10-14-2018, B1, B16)
Wildlife:
America's fattest bear has been crowned in Alaska
(A female brown bear known as 409 Beadnose swelled over three months of devouring salmon
in Katmai National Park and Preserve. She has won the park's Fat Bear Week contest.)
(By Karin Brulliard, SJ Mercury News, 10-13-2018, A2)
Business:
U.S. markets drop sharply as investors are spooked by rising rates
(Dow dropped more than 800 points in one of the worst sell-offs since February as investors worried
that sharply rising interest rates would constrain the nation's historic economic expansion.)
(By Taylor Telford, SJ Mercury News, 10-11-2018, A1, A6)
Privacy:
Google kept data bug a secret for 6 months
(Discovered a bug in March that put at risk personal data of hundreds of thousands of Google+ users;
It was at the same month when Cambridge Analytica collected data on 87 million Facebook users.
Google will discontinue Google+, its failing social media offering, limiting it to only business.)
(By Craig Timberg & Renae Merle, SJ Mercury News, 10-9-2018, C7-C8)
HOME TECH:
Facebook has a new Portal into your home
(Facebook wants to provide a portal for people to easily make video calls with each other. 10-inch
screen costs $199, can zoom in on a person during a call and follow him or her around a room;
can stream music from Pandora & Spotify so callers can listen to same song during a call.)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 10-9-2018, C7-C8)
Comic Riffs:
Banksy painting sold at auction for $1.4 million— then automatically shredded itself
(Anonymous British graffiti artist Banksy has pulled off another stunt that seized the attention
of the art world— this time at the expense of his own work. His painting
"Girl with Red Balloon"
sold for $1.4 million; The painting's canvas began scrolling downward, seeming to pass through its
elaborate gilded frame— and reappearing below in neat, vertical strips. Sotheby's would explain
that a shredder was hidden inside the frame. Painting "self-destructed" before crowd's very eyes.)
(By Amy B. Wang, SJ Mercury News, 10-7-2018, A18)
FEMME FATALE:
The most dangerous celebrity online is revealed
(Cybersecurity firm McAfee crowned Ruby Rose the most dangerous celebrity on the internet.
Reality TV star, Kristin Cavallari finished behind Rose at No. 2, followed by actress Marion Cotillard
(No. 3), the original "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter (No. 4), actress Rose Byrne (No. 5), Debra Messing
(No. 6), reality
TV star Kourtney Kardashian (No. 7), actress Amber Heard (No. 8), morning TV show
host Kelly Ripa (No. 9),
and actor Brad William Henke as No 10.)
(By Mark Kennedy, SJ Mercury News, 10-3-2018, C1, C8)
Google unveils big shifts in way web search works
(1. Pinterest for search, but with an activity card that helps people pick up where they left of;
2. Surfaces articles, videos and other content tailored to users' interests, a la Facebook;
3. Click Google Lens in Google Images
yields a plethora of related images and content.)
(By Levi Sumagaysay, SJ Mercury News, 9-25, 2018, C7-C8)
HEALTH:
Joan Baez's secrets to staying fit enough to tour at 77
(At 77, folk music icon is promoting her new album "Whistle Down The Wind" & has extended her
final concert tour, "Fare Thee Well Tour", into 2019.
Practices Gokhale Method that soothes her neck,
shoulders & back. She also does yoga, Pilates & meditation. Good genes: Her mother lived to be 100.)
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 9-23-2018, B3)
HEALTH:
At the cutting edge of sickle cell treatment
(UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Vallejo family work as team for 11-year-old boy's
treatment; Hospital treats 250 children & 250 adults a year with sickle cell disease;
They used
a new gene-editing technique to fix the mutation that causes sickle cell disease,
considered a
breakthrough for a possible cure for deadly immune system disease. Irregular shape
of sickle cells
cause them to become stuck in blood vessels, blocking flow of blood & oxygen delivery.)
"β aggregation in Hemoglobin"
(By Jon Kawamoto, SJ Mercury News, 9-18-2018, B1, B6)
OP-ED:
How media, its consumers surrendered truth and facts
(They'll blame Fox "News" for feeding the fearful a steady diet of hogwash designed to make them
feel beset, encircled and put upon; They'll blame Alex Jones for spinning webs of bizarre conspiracy;
They'll blame schools for failing to teach students to think critically. They'll blame us for surrendering
to a boneless "both-sideism" that simulates professional impartiality at cost of clarity and fact.)
(By Leonard Pitts, SJ Mercury News, 9-13-2018, A9)
Fortinet
CEO on fending off cyber attacks in the new generation
(Ken Xie, CEO of Fortinet, deals with Network security. Intrusions. Viruses. Malware. Data is stored
in mobile phones & the cloud, and no longer inside a company's firewall, so more risk for protection.)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 9-9-2018, E1-E2)
Obituary:
Burt Reynolds, star of film, TV and tabloids, dies after heart attack
(Burt Reynolds, the handsome film and TV star known for his acclaimed performances in Deliverance
and Boogie Nights, commercial hits such as Smokey and the Bandit & for an active off-screen love life
which included relationships with Loni Anderson, Dinah Shore, and Sally Field, has died at age 82.)
(By John Rogers, SJ Mercury News, 9-7-2018, A5)
John McCain Memorial:
Meghan McCain rebukes Trump: 'America was always great'
(John McCain's grieving daughter transformed a tribute to her demanding father into a thunderclap
denunciation of President Trump. Barack Obama & George W. Bush also honored John McCain.)
(By Paul Kane, Gabriel Pogrund & Colby Itkowitz, SJ Mercury News, 9-2-2018, A6)
Q & A: Interview with Looker CEO Frank Bien—
A look at the transformative power of Big Data
(His 400-person company has 1500 customers; They focus on boring stuff that works; Big Data
gave us cheap, analytic databases. We are a SaaS (software as a service) company. Host majority
of our customers in our cloud;
Deal with trillions of rows of data, & it's hard to move all of that around.)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 9-2-2018, E1-E2)
OP-ED:
Stanford says it will no longer publicize admission rates
(Stanford University, bucking years of hype, says it no longer will publicize its admissions rate— a
first step at de-emphasizing a demoralizing competition that has overtaken college admissions process.
2017 admission rates: Stanford 4.3%, Harvard 4.6%, Princeton 5.5%, Columbia 5.5%, Yale 6.3%)
(By Julia Prodis Sulek & Anna-Sofis Lesiv, SJ Mercury News, 8-31-2018, A1, A6)
OP-ED:
Not all Asians are "Crazy Rich"
(Earnings of higher-income Asians— those at the 90th percentile— nearly doubled from 1970 to 2016,
rising 96%, while income of Asians at the 10th percentile increased only 11% over the same period.)
(By Esther J. Cepeda, SJ Mercury News, 8-29-2018, A9)
OBITUARIES:
War hero and presidential candidate John McCain has died
(Sen. McCain, 81, died Aug. 25 at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona; The senator was diagnosed
last July with a brain tumor, and his family said that he was discontinuing medical treatment.
He lost Republican nomination for Presidency to George W. Bush in 2000; and the Presidential
election to Barack Obama in 2008; Word "maverick" practically became a part of his name.)
(By Karen Tumulty, SJ Mercury News, 8-26-2018, A1, A13)
Cybersecurity:
Don't be in a rush to click on links to fake sites possibly from Russia
(Microsoft discovered and disabled fake websites apparently designed to trick people into
giving up sensitive information, it pays to carefully scrutinize URLs for warning signs.)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, 8-26-2018, E1-E2)
OP-ED:
How journalists can win back the trust of Americans
(62% adults believe news is biased; Donald Trump's presidency is an aberration in many ways.
But journalists cannot let it distract them from the impeccable reporting that ultimately
will prove that mainstream media are serving the country well.)
(By Jerry Ceppod et. al., SJ Mercury News, 8-24-2018, A6)
HEALTH:
Hoping to save limbs and toes, California moves to curtail diabetes
(More than 12,000 Californians lost limbs or toes to diabetes in 2016, state data show.
More than 2.5 million people in the state have been diagnosed with adult diabetes, or Type 2,
and risk a similar fate if it goes unchecked. Rate of diabetes in California grew from 8.7%
of the population in 2010 to 10.2% in 2016, while amputations increased by almost a third.)
(By David Gorn, SJ Mercury News, 8-24-2018, B1-B2)
Christmas
in Park:
Orchard Supply Hardware closing, big problem for beloved San Jose tradition
(Orchard Supply supports the 550-plus trees that fill Plaza de Cesar Chavez every year.
Who will be the $25,000 sponsor? Bank of the West, did not renew its sponsorship this year.)
(By Sal Pizarro, SJ Mercury News, 8-24-2018, B1-B2)
MOVIES:
Searching might be the best thriller of 2018 so far
(The Hitchcockian thriller is framed entirely on electronic screens— laptops, cell phones, even
security cameras. That this ploy works so seamlessly and never grows tiresome is a credit to
the inspired storytelling and tech savviness of the filmmakers and writers. Searching delivers on
all counts, and that, not the gimmick, is what makes it one of the best thrillers of the year so far.)
(By Randy Myers, SJ Mercury News, 8-23-2018, p. 20)
OBITUARY:
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Dies at Age 80
(Kofi Annan, a charismatic global diplomat & first black African to become UN secretary-general
who led the world body through one of its most turbulent periods, died on August 18 at age 80.
His two terms (Jan. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2006) capped nearly midway when he & the U.N. were jointly
awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. Bill Gates called him "one of the great peacemakers of our time.")
(By Francis Kokutse & John Heilprin, SJ Mercury News, 8-19-2018, A6)
EDUCATION:
San Jose State University President Mary Papazian:
SJSU has an edge as Silicon Valley talent pipeline
(Papazian, a scholar in 17th century English Renaissance writers such as
John Milton & John Donne, believes her academic expertise has prepared her to lead San Jose State
in the 21st century. Poetry of Milton & Donne shows shift from medieval period to Renaissance;
Innovation and creativity is happening in our modern times— especially here in Silicon Valley.)
(By Seung Lee, SJ Mercury News, 8-19-2018, E1-E2)
ART:
Bay Area software developer becomes unlikely art dealer
(Software developer Bill Chamberlain is not a trained art expert, found himself on an unexpected
18-year odyssey to verify that an old painting was indeed a lost masterpiece. Authenticated French painter
Émile Bernard's "The Passion of Jesus Christ" done in the 1930s. It resides in a storage unit in Paris.)
(By Alison Berg, SJ Mercury News, 8-19-2018, B3)
MUSIC:
Legendary singer Aretha Franklin, the 'Queen of Soul', dead at 76
(Simply put, Franklin must be ranked among the greatest vocalists of all time; She could
express rage, sass, defiance, love, heartbreak, strength, vulnerability & spiritual awakening
with equal clarity. It was this ability that made landmark recordings such as "Respect"
and "Chain of Fools" timeless anthems of female empowerment or civil rights.)
(By Jim Harrington, SJ Mercury News, 8-17-2018, A1, A7)
LIFESTYLE: Getting Married on 8-18-18? Lucky You!
(30,000 couples getting married on palindrome 8-18-18 since "18" in Chinese sounds
like "certain prosperity"; Hebrew word for "life" (chai)
has a numerical value of 18.
However the lucky date falls on Shabbat, day of rest, so Jews won't marry that day.)
(By Anna-Sofia Lesiv, SJ Mercury News, 8-16-2018, A1, A6)
TECHNOLOGY:
Google tracks your movements, like it or not
(Many Google services on Android devices and iPhones store your location data even
if you've used a privacy setting that says it will prevent Google from doing so.)
(By Ryan Nakashima, SJ Mercury News, 8-14-2018, A2)
SUMMER BURN:
California is home to about one-third of the fires burning in the West
(The Mendocino complex became the largest fire in California history. It is one of nine active fires
of more than 100,000 acres this summer. As of Aug. 5, 4723 fires & 749,770 acres have burned on
Cal Fire & U.S. Forest Service land. Mendcino complex accoounted for nearly half of burned acreage.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, SJ Mercury News, 8-12-2018, B15)
Advocates
condemn psychological techniques used to keep kids online
(Techniques encouraging behavior that isn't in users' best interest)
(By Lindsey Tanner & Matt O'Brien, SJ Mercury News, 8-12-2018, E1, E3)
BUSINESS:
Where is the birthplace of Silicon Valley? Event aims to put the question to rest
(Celebration to mark origin site as 391 San Antonio Road where Shockley Laboratory opened in 1956
takes place Aug. 15; William Shockley left Bell Labs in New Jersey in 1956, the same year he was
a co-recipient of a Nobel Prize in Physics for creating the transistor; Robert Noyce & Gordon Moore,
later co-founders of Intel Corp., and six others left Shockley to form Fairchild Semiconductor,
& manufactured its first transistor on Sept. 19, 1957, at 844 East Charleston Road in Palo Alto.)
(By Kevin Kelly, SJ Mercury News, 8-11-2018, B1, B4)
TECHNOLOGY:
"The Russians are coming" (back) online
[Ability to influence who leads our country may be more powerful than ability to blow things up;
IRA (Russia's Internet Research Agency) had Facebook accounts with fake news just removed.]
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, 8-5-2018, E1, E3)
CALIFORNIA NEWS:
Wells Fargo Bank workers hit $543 million lottery jackpot
(Ernies Liquors in San Jose receives $1 million for selling winning ticket; The 11 workers
will take lump sum $320.5 million, amounting to $29,140,281 for each before federal taxes.)
(By Anna-Sofia Lesiv, SJ Mercury News, 8-4-2018, A1, A6)
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook to be the focus of a 'Frontline' investigation on PBS
("The Facebook Dilemma" is a two-part documentary that, will delve into recent scandals and
privacy issues that have "exposed the darker side" of Facebook, while pondering whether Facebook
"creates more harm than good"; They were blind on Russian meddling with our 2016 elections.]
(By Chuck Barney, SJ Mercury News, 8-2-2018, B1-B2)
CYBERSECURITY:
Facebook uncovers disinformation operation ahead of midterm elections
(They discovered a sophisticated coordinated disinformation operation on its platform involving
32 false pages and profiles engaging in divisive messaging ahead of the U.S. midterm elections;
similar to previous Russian disinformation campaign, led by the Internet Research Agency.)
(Elizabeth Dwoskin and Tony Romm, SJ Mercury News, 8-1-2018, A1, A6)
EDUCATION:
Foothill to start tech training program for women
(Foothill College Makerspace UniDiVersity program costs $75 and is open to female residents of
California, especially women of color & minority identities to learn 3D printing & laser cuttings.)
(By Kristin Lam, SJ Mercury News, 7-27-2018, B1-B2)
Q & A:
Interview with Author Adam Fisher— Sex, Drugs and Moments of Genius
(Writing an oral history was "ten hundred times harder" than writing a regular book. He had to do
the legwork to get the more than 200 interviews. Most interesting was Jim Clark, because he literally
did do everything. He hung out at Xerox PARC at the same time as Jobs. Clark looked at the (Xerox)
Alto & thought he could do better. Created graphics processing unit (GPU), created Silicon Graphics
International, whose technology was then used by Pixar. Then he ended up co-creating Netscape.
Now what's the GPU doing? It's underlying all our artificial intelligence.
Valley of Genius book.)
(By Levi Sumagaysay, SJ Mercury News, 7-22-2018, E1-E2)
OBITUARIES:
Nobel Prize-winning Stanford physicist Burton Richter dies at 87
(Winner of the 1976 Nobel Prize in physics with MIT's Samuel Ting for discovery
of the "J/psi subatomic particle" that led to the confirmation of "charm quark".)
(By Angela Ruggiero, SJ Mercury News, 7-21-2018, B1, B4)
Q & A:
Rick Bergman Interview—In Touch with Technology'
("The first interaction you usually have with a smart device is through touch, whether it's on a
notebook PC, on a touchpad, or on a smartphone, you're doing touch" says Bergman; His company
Synaptics' annual sales have gone from $500 million, to $1.7 billion, in its 2017 fiscal year.)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 7-8-2018, E1-E2)
Q & A:
Richard Walker Interview— The 'Dark Side of Prosperity'
(Geographer's book Pictures of a Gone City begins
quoting Lawrence Ferlinghetti's 1955 poem
"The world is a beautiful place";
discussing the winners & losers of the latest tech boom along
with themes of racial and economic segregation,
displacement, urban sprawl, the foreclosure crisis
& today's housing crisis. Book is about how important & dynamic and amazing this urban area is.)
(By Kate Murphy, SJ Mercury News, 7-1-2018, E1-E2)
NEWS:
Silicon Valley distrusts social media with personal data, poll finds
(86% of Bay Area voters are concerned about security of their online personal & financial information;
67% have had their data compromised; 51% said government should do more to regulate how companies
use consumers' data.)
(By John Woolfolk, SJ Mercury News, 6-24-2018, A1, A9)
OP-ED:
The Charles Krauthammer (March 13, 1950-June 21, 2018) I knew
(Paralyzed from the neck down in swimming pool accident in 1972 at Harvard, he completed medical
school,
became not a jewel in the crown of the medical profession, which he would have been,
but one of America's
foremost public intellectuals. Nothing against doctors, but the nation
needed Charles more as a diagnostician
of our public discontents. Wrote speeches for Walter Mondale in 1980.)
(By George Will, SJ Mercury News, 6-24-2018, A15)
EDUCATION:
Actor Sterling K. Brown tells Stanford grads to shine a light
(Emmy winner for NBC's "This is Us" enthralls crowds with a heartfelt commencement address;
"Class of 2018— it is your time now. Do me a favor, will ya? Take your light & show us the way.")
(By Joan Morris, SJ Mercury News, 6-18-2018, B1-B2)
NBA Finals 4:
Champs again: Warriors rout Cavs to complete sweepe
(Warriors with 108-85 victory over Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of NBA Finals; Curry had
a team-leading 37 points while shooting 7 of 15 from 3-point range; Durant won his second
consecutive Finals MVP, with his 1st playoff triple-double: 20 points, 12 rebounds & 10 assists.)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 6-9-2018, C2)
NBA Finals 3:
Warriors outlast Cavs in Game 3, one win away from 2nd straight title
(Kevin Durant was the story of Game 3, scoring 43 points on 15-of-23 shooting. Curry & Thompson
had only a combined 21 points on combined 7-of-27 shooting & a 3-of-15 mark from 3-point range)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 6-7-2018, C2)
DANCE:
A medical career called, but dance came first
(Anuradha Nag arrived in San Jose from Calcutta in 1992 & has made herself a preeminent proponent
of the Northern Indian dance form know as kathak. Her Tarangini School of Kathak Dance celebrates
on June 8 the 80th birthday of her guru, Pandit Birju Maharaj, known as "Parampara".)
(By Andrew Gilbert, SJ Mercury News, 6-7-2018, p. 10)
NBA Finals 2:
Curry breaks record, Warriors blast Cavs
(Warriors beat Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103 in Game 2 of NBA Finals; Curry had 33 points,
with a postseason career-high 9-of-17 from 3-point range along with eight assists. Curry
eclipsed former NBA sharpshooter Ray Allen for most 3-pointers in an NBA Finals game.)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 6-3-2018, C2)
NBA Finals 1:
Warriors escape with victory in wild Game 1
(Warriors finished with a 124-114 Game 1 overtime victory over the Cavaliers
on Thursday at Oracle Arena after exchanging 17 ties and 15 lead changes.)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 6-1-2018, C2)
NBA:
All LeBron James has to do in these NBA Finals is something no one has ever done before
(James, who scored 51 points, deserved better. He became the sixth player to ever
score 50 points in an NBA Finals game and the only one to lose that contest.)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, SJ Mercury News, 6-1-2018, A1)
NBA playoffs:
Stephen Curry-Kevin Durant dynamic plays out in Warriors' favor in Game 7 win over
Rockets
(Rockets led 48-33 with 4:54 to play in half, missed 27 consecutive shots from 3-point range)
(By Mark Medina, SJ Mercury News, 5-29-2018, C1-C4)
NBA playoffs:
Game 7 was a perfect homage to this bizarre Warriors season
(Curry's 27 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds & Durant's 34 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds— key to victory)
(By Dieter Kurtenbach, SJ Mercury News, 5-29-2018, C1-C4)
BUSINESS:
Palo Alto Networks CEO Mark McLaughlin: Security "is a software fight"
(Yahoo. Target. Equifax. Even Intel's chips. It seems like no company,
and no technology, is immune to security breaches and hacks.)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 5-6-2018, E1-E2)
CYBERSECURITY:
They're on the lookout for malware that can kill
(Dragos built a software product to help industrial companies detect cyber threats
to their networks and respond to them. Its clients include energy, manufacturing and
petrochemical factories. Hackers disrupt safety systems that protect human life.)
(By Ellen Nakashima & Aaron Gregg, SJ Mercury News, 5-6-2018, E1-E2)
ONLINE DATING:
People are more honest on Tinder than you may think, study says
(Can you really trust someone you've met through a screen?)
(By Nicoletta Lanese, SJ Mercury News, 5-5-2018, A1-A6)
BUSINESS:
YouTube releases number of, reasons for video removals for first time
(YouTube removed more than 8 million videos in last three months of 2017 & that most of it
was spam (26.4%) or sexual content (30.1%). Nearly 16% of removed videos fell in the hateful
or abusive category (15.6%), 13.5% were considered violent or repulsive, 7.6% involved
harmful or dangerous acts, 5.2% involved child abuse, and 1.6% promoted terrorism.)
(By Levi Sumagaysay, SJ Mercury News, 4-25-2018, C11-C12)
SPORTS:
Sean Manaea receives special honor for no-hitter against Red Sox
(No-hitter came against a Red Sox offense that entered game leading MLB in runs, doubles, homers,
and team batting average. He's 12th A's pitcher to throw no-hitter & 7th in Oakland history.)
(By Marin Gallegos, SJ Mercury News, 4-23-2018)
TECHNOLOGY:
Has speed jeopardized data privacy? Cybersecurity researcher Paul Kocher thinks so
(Two hardware bug Spectre & Meltdown, impact virtually all smartphones, computers and cloud
servers built since 1995; Due to an architecture flaw in most existing microprocessors, hackers are
able to gain access to private data; Kocher believes security is more important than computer speed.)
(By Seung Lee, SJ Mercury News, 4-20-2018, E1-E2)
OP-ED: Our
need to share too much created monster called Facebook
(We made Zuckerberg rich and powerful. All because of our insatiable need to share stuff and
show off our "perfect" relationships, vacations, children and cuisine. How much of it is real?
They ought to call it "Falsebook". People like to know they're having an effect on other people.)
(By Ruben Navarrette, SJ Mercury News, 4-13-2018, A8)
Facebook: Most users may have had public data 'scraped'
(Facebook's acknowledgement that most of its 2.2 billion members have had their personal data
scraped by "malicious actors" is latest example of the social network's failure to protect its users' data.)
(By Barbara Ortutay, SJ Mercury News, 4-6-2018, B6)
BUSINESS:
Cinemark bans large bags from its movie theaters
(Starting February 22, 2018, Century Theatres, CineArts, Tinseltown & Rave Cinema will ban
any bags or packages measuring larger than 12 x 12 x 6 inches from their theaters)
(By Annie Sciacca, SJ Mercury News, 2-22-2018, B6)
Dogs owned by U.S. Presidents
(Trump has no pets; Last petless president was James K. Polk, who served 1845-1849.)
(By Kurt Snibbe, SJ Mercury News, 2-18-2018, B17)
BUSINESS:
Dow falls almost 1,200 points as market slump continues
(Stock market drop of 1175 points was largest single-day point loss in 122-year history of the Dow.
The 4.6% loss to 24,345.75 included loss by Apple -2.5%, Alphabet -5.0%, and Wells Fargo -9.0%)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 2-6-2018, A1, A8)
HIPPOCAMPUS:
'Anxiety cells' are identified by scientists
(Neuroscientists found inside brains, they light up like sparklers when meek mice are frightened.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 2-1-2018, A1, A6)
Lunar showstopper: Super blue blood moon awes and wows
(First time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse,
or blood moon because of its red hue. That combination won't happen again until 2037.)
(By Marcia Dunn, AP, SJ Mercury News, 2-1-2018, A5)
SCIENCE:
Super blue moon eclipse: Will you be able to see it?
(When a full moon occurs twice in a month, it's called a
"Blue Moon"; it has nothing to do with
the moon's color; Lunar Eclipse on January 31, begins 3:48 am, totality 4:52 am, ends 6:08 am.)
(By Jennifer Leman, SJ Mercury News, 1-29-2018, A1, A6)
COMMUNITY NEWS:
Sunnyvale named safest city in the U.S. for the third year
(Sunnyvale has pulled off a three-peat, winning SmartAsset.com's title of safest city in America
for 3rd straight year.
It had 7th lowest violent crime rate of 200 cities and 10th lowest property crime rate.)
(By Victoria Kezra, SJ Mercury News, 1-28-2018, B9)
BUSINESS:
Google proposes big Sunnyvale project where thousands could work
(One of the new Google office complexes would be a five-story building totaling 505,000 sq. ft
with address of 200 W. Caribbean Drive. The other would would total nearly 538,000 sq. ft &
located at 100 W. Caribbean Drive.
They'll be large enough to accommodate 4,500 Google workers.)
(By George Avalos, SJ Mercury News, 12-21-2017, C1, C10)
ANIMALS:
Esther the Wonder Pig, darling of the internet
(650-pound Esther the Wonder Pig received $440,000 in crowdfunding to buy farm for her to roam.)
(By Allison Klein, SJ Mercury News, 12-17-2017, A2)
EDUCATION:
Stanford: Sexual misconduct revelation exposes storied professor's secret
(For Professor Jay Fliegelman, the transgression was but a blip in a storied career
of a tenured professor who died at 58 in 2007. His victim, Seo-Young "Jennie" Chu,
now an English professor at New York's Queens College, detailed her traumatic experience
in a gut-wrenching piece
for the online magazine Entropy in early November.)
(By Emily DeRuy, SJ Mercury News, 12-3-2017, A1, A15)
HEALTH:
Beware! This is your brain on sleep deprivation
(UCLA researchers point out that the changes in cognitive performance that come with sleep
deprivation is quite similar to the decline that comes from drinking alcohol. Yet no legal or medical
standards exist for identifying overtired drivers on the road the same way we target drunk drivers.)
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 11-13-2017, B1, B3)
FILM REVIEW:
Murder on the Orient Express bores the little gray cells to death
[Kenneth Branagh's lavish adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic is dressed to the nines,
from the stunning period costumes to the spectacular scenery of the snow-capped Alps.
But the true failing in this movie is the utter lack of pacing and suspense.]
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 11-10-2017, E1, E6)
Berkeley Students: Browser
launched to check fake news
(Ash Bhat & Rohan Phadte have created a bot-detecting Chrome extension that can detect
if a twitter account is run by a person or an automated bot focused on propaganda.)
(By Emily DeRuy, SJ Mercury News, 11-9-2017, A1, A8)
MOVIES:
Taika Waititi opens up about Thor's evolution in 'Ragnarok'
[Campy villain, Cate Blanchett's Goddess of Death Hela (resentful half-sister to Chris Hemsworth's
Thor and Tom Hiddleston's Loki) was brought in to take over the space gods' home world of Asgard.]
(By Bob Strauss, SJ Mercury News, 11-9-2017, N4, N7)
TECHNOLOGY:
Make way for these 'Ghostbusters' when hackers breach networks
(Jason Tan, CEO of Sift Science, provides fraud detection solutions for online businesses; Company
says more than 6,000 companies use Sift Science to fight fraud and improper hacking on their sites.)
(By Rex Crum, SJ Mercury News, 11-5-2017, E1, E3)
BUSINESS:
Tech companies need to up their game on fake news and bogus ads
(29 million Facebook posts from Russian operatives reaching as many as 146 million Americans.)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, 11-5-2017, E1, E3)
FILM REVIEW:
Is Thor the new god of the Marvel Universe?
[From the epic Hulk vs Thor smack down to Cate Blanchett's slithery vamping as the villain Hela,
"Thor" brings equal parts thunder and hilarity. There's more texture in Thor's rivalry with the
mischievous Loki (always deft Tom Hiddleston) and his almost flirtation with the formidable
beer-chugging and butt-kicking Valkyrie (a fierce Tessa Thompson)]
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 11-1-2017)
SPORTS:
Y.A. Tittle, ex-49ers quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer, dies at 90
(Tittle played in San Francisco (1951-60) & for 3 seasons was part of the "Million Dollar Backfield"
that featured fellow Hall of Fame enshrinees Joe Perry, Hugh McElhenny and John Henry Johnson.)
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, 10-9-2017) (29 slides show)
MOVIES:
Mark Hamill talks about Luke Skywalker's return to screen
(In "The Last Jedi" which Disney will release Dec. 15, Hamill plays a much larger role in "Star Wars".
Carrie Fisher was irreplaceable. There can never be a proper reunion anymore. It's tragic.)
(By Jake Coyle, SJ Mercury News, 9-7-2017, N4, N7)
Twitter hashtag turns 10— ut;s sparked
social movements, marked revolutons
(The hashtag is used not only on Twitter (an average of 125 million times a day),
but on Facebook and Instagram— and spoken out loud, in everyday conversations.)
(By Levi Sumagaysay, SJ Mercury News, 8-24-2017)
FILM REVIEW:
A freewheeling childhood, in The Glass Castle, is both dream and nightmare
(Movie begins in 1989, with Jeannette Walls working as a gossip columnist for New York Magazine;
Her taxi passes a woman rummaging through garbage cans & a man yelling; these are her parents.)
(By Stephanie Merry, SJ Mercury News, 8-11-2017, E1, E6)
ANIMALS:
Cockroaches can live how long without their heads? 9 weird animal facts
(Praying Mantis eat little birds; Raccoons smarter than cats; Cat's 24 whiskers as curb feelers.)
(By Joan Morris, SJ Mercury News, 8-6-2017, D1-D2)
PARENTING:
Parents' social media habits are teaching children the wrong lessons
(Parents post embarassing children photos on Facebook, now their kids do likewise to friends.)
(By Stacey Steinberg, SJ Mercury News, 8-6-2017, D1, D3)
TRAVEL:
Top 10 places to travel in August
(1. The Amazon, 2. Hallstatt,
Austria, 3. Botswana, 4. Brazil, 5. British Columbia, 6. Angkor Wat,
7. Riviera Maya, Mexico, 8. Costa Rica,
9. Great Barrier Reef, Australia,
10. Jackson Hole, Wyoming.)
(By Jackie Burrell, SJ Mercury News, 8-6-2017, F8)
TRAVEL:
Feeding giraffes? Close encounters with cheetahs? Yes, right here in the Bay Area!
(Safari West is a 400-acre nature preserve tucked amid the golden hills of Santa Rosa, with
900 species of animals; 3-hours tours $45-$115; Overnights in tents with breakfast $250-$425.)
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 8-6-2017, F8-F9)
SCIENCE:
Weird weather: 'Monsoonal moisture'
(High pressure system has parked itself further west, over Arizona. As it spins, carrying gulf waters,
it travels over a hot landscape & then hits the steep Sierra, Diablo, San Gabriel & other mountain ranges—
which force it
to rise, cool and then suddenly condense, delivering rain; Temperatures spiked
to 95o around midnight in the Vacaville area.
In the Oakland hills, it jumped 12o in just one hour—
from 73o at 4:30 a.m. to 85 degrees at 5:30 a.m., by 6:30 a.m., Oakland was back down to 67o.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 8-5-2017, A1, A6)
SAN FRANCISCO BAY:
Golden Gate humpback whales tagged in research effort
[Water under Golden Gate Bridge is as deep at 360 feet; While they can dive hundreds of feet,
the humpbacks were only going down 100 feet or less as they chased anchovies; Whales weigh
as much 40 tons (80,000 lbs), and newborns weigh about a ton. They measure up to 60 feet long,
live about 50 years; 1,400 humpbacks feed along California coast, eating 3,000 lbs of food per day.]
(By Mark Prado, SJ Mercury News, 8-5-2017, B1, B4)
HEALTH:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is NOT all in your head!
(New Stanford study led by Dr. Jose Montoya, biomarkers for chronic fatigue syndrome, which affects
836,000 to 2.5 million Americans; Varying concentrations of 17 immune-system signaling proteins,
or cytokines, in blood correlate with disease's severity, offering a measurable sign of a medical state.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 8-1-2017, A1, A6)
OP-ED:
Tired of trash along roads? Get Santa Clara County inmate crews to clean it up
(Our streets are filthy. I cannot recall a time when there has been so much trash on our road.
Proposal to use the approximately 3,000 county jail inmates to clean public areas year round.)
(By Pierluigi Oliverio, SJ Mercury News, 8-1-2017, A7)
TRAILBLAZER:
Professor who studied Einstein's brain dies
(Dr. Marian Diamond was first female student to graduate from UC Berkeley's anatomy department;
Died on July 25 at age 90; Found Einstein's brain had more "support cells" than average in 1984)
(By Emily DeRuy, SJ Mercury News, 8-1-2017, B6)
San Jose
needs a landmark: Why not a breathtaking new light tower?
(San Jose had a 237-feet electric light tower between 1881 and 1915.
San Jose's History Park has a 115-foot replica, half the size of the original.)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, 7-31-2017)
LIFESTYLE:
Are indoor malls dying, even in the Bay Area? Yes and no
(While Sunvalley and Westfield Valley Fair thrive, Hilltop and Vallco struggle; These days, teens flirt
and socialize online, and Vallco is an empty hulk but for movie theater, ice rink & Chinese restaurant;
Retail analysts expect 1 out of 4 indoor malls in U.S. could close by 2022, dubbed "retail apocalypse".)
(By Angela Hill, SJ Mercury News, 7-30-2017, D1-D2)
FOOD:
California farms produce a lot of food— but what and how much might surprise you
(California's 77,500 farms produce more than 400 commodities, and 2/3 of the nation's fruits & nuts;
1. Milk & cream, 2. Almonds, 3. Grapes, 4. Cattle & Calves, 5. Lettuce, 6. Strawberries, 7. Tomatoes,
8. Flowers & Foliage, 9. Walnuts, 10. Hay, 11. Broilers & Chicken, 12. Broccoli, 13. Rice, 14. Oranges)
(By Kurt Snibbee, SJ Mercury News, 7-30-2017, D8)
OP-ED:
Stop with the selfies and experience wonder— especially at the observatory
(At the Montgomery Hill Observatory of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose,
50 "stargazers" spent more time taking selfies than looking at Saturn;
In the presence
of the sublime and the transcendent,
self-expression through selfies, rather than engaging
through the senses, can be foolish & short-sighted.
It is like ignoring the eternal for the ephemeral.)
(By Hasan Zillur Rahim, SJ Mercury News, 7-25-2017, A7)
TECHNOLOGY: Is the ground beneath the Stanford campus listening?
(What does privacy even mean when every place you go your individual gait is trackable
or the specific weight of your car is trackable?
Fiber optic cables will be able to tell models
of cars & how many people are riding in them;
Even buildings can be used as sensors in
the same way to pick up slight vibrations.)
(By Yasemin Saplakoglu, SJ Mercury News, 7-24-2017, A1, A3)
LIFESTYLE: Esalen's survival story: A tale of transformation
(Past Esalen speakers: Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts, Fritz Perls, Abraham Maslow, Joan Baez,
Joseph Campbell, Susan Sontag, Buckminster Fuller and Henry Miller; Esalen will still offer
classes in breathing, yoga, chanting, tantric sex and meditation. But it will also hold workshops like
"Greater Good" moving from the "I" to the "We"; $10 million in recent renovations from storm damages.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 7-21-2017, A1, A3)
WEATHER: Records set as heat goes up
(Sunday was the hottest day. 97 degrees in San Jose, making it the hottest July 16 since 1925;
In Oakland, the new 87-degree record broke the previous high of 86 degrees, set in 1949;
102o in Gilroy & Livermore; 108o in Brentwood; 106o in Concord, 105o in Walnut Creek)
(By Rick Hurd, SJ Mercury News, 7-17-2017, B1, B6)
TECHNOLOGY: Solar eclipse apps help people prepare for celestial extravaganza
(At least 15 free apps that focus on the eclipse are available for Android phones, iPhones, or both.
The app EclipseFlite provides the most ideal airport locations to view the event on Aug. 21.)
(By George Avalos, SJ Mercury News, 7-16-2017, E1-E2)
SAFETY: San Jose library remodels to stop suicides
(Library spends $2.6 million for glass suicide barrier around atrium after 36-year-old
San Jose photographer jumped from 7th-floor railing to his death on Feb. 1, 2017.)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, 7-16-2017, B1, B14)
LIFESTYLE: Is picking edible weeds
off the streets the next foodie trend?
(Philip Stark's Berkeley Open Source Food recommends wild edible weeds: chickweed, nettle,
thumbelina carrots, nasturtium, chamomile flowers, wild fennel, oregano, dandelion greens.)
(By Devika G. Bansal, SJ Mercury News, 7-16-2017, B1, B4)
SPORTS | Purdy: My five most magical moments
(Witnessing most famous hockey game ever, US defeats Russia 1980 Olympics;
Mike Tyson biting off
Evan Holyfield's ear in 1997 boxing match;
most painful A's loss in history as Kirk Gibson homers in
1988 World Series off
Dennis Eckersley in 9th to win 5-4; Joe Montana to John Taylor wins 20-16
in 1989 Super Bowl XXIII;
1989 earthquake that could have canceled the
World Series but didn't.)
(By Mark Purdy, SJ Mercury News, 7-16-2017, C1, C6)
SPORTS | Purdy: My five most memorable interviews
(Mark Purdy, has been sports columnist for Mercury News since 1984, will retire in August 2017.
His 5 most memorable interviews: Pete Rose, Muhammad Ali, Al Sims, Tiger Woods, Bill Walsh.)
(By Mark Purdy, SJ Mercury News, 7-9-2017, C1, C8)
A fake killing in World War II Palo Alto
(The fake gangland killing outside the Stanford Theater revealed the creativity of a cadre of
Palo Alto High students and the public fascination with organized crime in September 1943.)
(By Emily DeRuy, SJ Mercury News, 7-9-2017, B1, B8)
HISTORY:
Newly discovered photo suggests Amelia Earhart survived crash
(Earhart landed on Marshall Islands; Photo shows woman resembling Earhart and her navigator,
Fred Noonan, on a dock; Photo also shows a Japanese ship, Koshu, towing Earhart's plane.)
(By Martha Ross, SJ Mercury News, 7-6-2017, A1, A5)
WILDLIFE:
Baby falcon flies off Berkeley's Campanile for first time
(The fledgling, Fiat, flew awkwardly off the tower and, losing ground rapidly, landed a short time
later on a nearby tree. The other baby, Lux, has so far seemed less inclined to test her wings.)
(By Emily DeRuy, SJ Mercury News, 7-6-2017, B1-B2)
HEALTH:
For girls in juvenile hall, 'trauma-informed' yoga is a saving grace
(Rocsana Enriquez is using "trauma-informed yoga" as a way to help young girls in the juvenile
justice system rehabilitate and reclaim their lives; Palo Alto's Art of Yoga serves 700 girls each year.)
(By Tatiana Sanchez, SJ Mercury News, 7-5-2017, A1, A8)
TECHNOLOGY:
Latest cyber attack is a reminder to practice 'safer computing'
(A new and highly virulent outbreak of malicious data-scrambling software appears to be causing mass
disruption across Europe,
hitting Ukraine especially hard; Back up all your files; Use cloud-based service
like Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive,
Idrive, Box, Google Drive, SugarSync or, for Mac and iPhone/iPad users,
Apple's iCloud. Another option is to buy
a backup drive such as Seagate's $55 1TB Portable External USB
drive or $79 2 TB drive; For smaller files buy
$18 SanDisk 64GB thumb drive)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, 7-2-2017, E3)
OBITUARY:
Bay Area TV news legend Fred Van Amburg has died at 86
(KGO-TV anchor was considered to be the Bay Area's Walter Cronkite in the 1970s & early 1980s;
Covered Patty Hearst kidnapping, rise of Black Panthers, Jonestown massacre and assassinations of
San Francisco Mayor George Moscone & Supervisor Harvey Milk; He put KGO-TV on the map.)
(By Chuck Barney, SJ Mercury News, 7-1-2017, A1, A10)
Sunnyvale
man sets records, wows locals with his Chinese art
(Yuejin Wang's Guinness World Record for his art. Wang has written over 5,000 Chinese characters
in calligraphy in one unbroken stroke, contained on a roughly 70-foot scroll, completed it in 27 hours;
Also cut over 3,000 paper snowflakes with English & Mandarin characters hidden in their designs.)
(By Victoria Kezra, SJ Mercury News, 7-1-2017, B1, B6)
SPORTS:
Are 2017 Warriors best team in Bay Area history?
(1. 1989 49ers 14-2 , Playoffs: 3-0; 2. 2017 Warriors 67-15, Playoffs 16-1; 3. 1984 49ers 15-1,
Playoffs 3-0; 4. 1989 A's 99-63, Playoffs 8-1; 5. 2014-2015 Warriors 67-15, Playoffs 16-5.)
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, 6-25-2017, C1, C7)
ENTERTAINMENT:
Ahead of Transformers 5, we're wondering why the toys never made it
to the National Toy Hall of Fame
(Rochester's National Toy Hall of Fame has 62 Hall of Famers
including Duncan yoyo,
Lego, Little green army men, The stick; Hasbro began in 1923; Doctor
& Nurse Kits in 1940s;
Mr. Potato Head 1952; G.I. Joe 1964; Buys Milton Bradley, maker of
Monopoly in 1984;
Buys Tonka & Parker Bros 1990s; First Transformer Toys 1984;
Blockbuster Transformer movie 2007)
(By Kurt Snibbe, SJ Mercury News, 6-25-2017, D8)
TRAVEL & PLAY:
Glamping in Guerneville: An Airstream, the Russian River & Wine Country Eats
("Glamping" is glamorous camping— this luxurious trend has spread up and down the coast,
with amenities that range from sleek Airstreams outfitted with Casper beds & luxurious loos.)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, SJ Mercury News, 6-25-2017, F1-F3)
SCIENCE vs. FAITH:
When does Ramadan end? Traditionalists, scientists are split
(Popular computational method for predicting visibility of lunar crescent is based on the
"Yallop algorithm" created by British astronomer Bernard D. Yallop. It predicts when and
where the thin sliver of crescent can first be seen in the sky; Ramadan moon on May 26, 2017,
9:03 pm PT; First signted at 8:28 pm by 7 adult Muslim witnesses in San Rafael.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 6-24-2017, A1, A6)
COMMUNITY:
One of Silicon Valley's last apricot orchards continues family farming tradition
(Charlie Olson has been in the business for over 70 years, bringing Blenheim apricots to Sunnyvale
residents; Olson, now 82, still operates Orchard Heritage Park with 800 trees to prune, pick, and take
care of; Daughter Deborah runs Olson Cherries on El Camino Real & Mathilda Ave in Sunnyvale.)
(By Gillian Brassil, SJ Mercury News, 6-22-2017, B1, B6)
SCIENCE:
All-American eclipse has Californians stirring with excitement
(Total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, viewable from Oregon to South Carolina; First time in 40 years
that the moon will cover the sun entirely when viewed from the continental United States; Bay Area:
Eclipse begins 9:01 am Pacific time, Monday, Aug. 21; 76% sun covered 10:15 am;
Ends: 11:37 am)
(By Yasemin Saplakoglu, SJ Mercury News, 6-21-2017, A1, A6)
Big Sur's lonely redwoods are key to saving the species threatened by climate change
(Wendy Baxter & Anthony Ambrose, tree ecologists from UC Berkeley, climb redwoods
at Landels-Hill
Big Creek Reserve, to understand how thousands-year-old 300-feet forest giants retain water.)
(By Aylin Y. Woodward, SJ Mercury News, 6-20-2017, A1, A6)
BOOKS BY THE BAY:
Robert Sapolsky's Behave offers hope for human nature
(MacArthur Fellow Robert Sapolsky, Stanford professor of biology & neurology explores human
behavior with passion, insight and wide-ranging vision; He examines the connection between emotion,
aggression & empathy, considers power of symbols and explains what childhood adversity does to our
DNA, why nature & nurture are inseparable and how our brains divide the world into Us and Them.)
(By Georgia Rowe, SJ Mercury News, 6-18-2017, D5)
EDUCATION:
U.S. poet laureate to Santa Clara grads: "Fight for justice, freedom"
(U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera bid farewell to 1200 students of Santa Clara University's
class of 2017 with "Today is a New Day" poem: "You are that new day. You are that hope,
that wild-born vista of new horizons. Today, este dia, change comes to you, to your doors.")
(By Tatiana Sanchez, SJ Mercury News, 6-18-2017, B1, B7)
ENVIRONMENT:
Bald Eagle numbers fully restored in central California
(At least 30 breeding pairs of eagles have been counted this spring in central coastal California,
from Marin to Santa Barbara County; Nest built on tree tops at Curtner Elementary School.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 6-18-2017, B1, B6)
SPORTS:
How Warriors are like the old 49ers: Let us count the ways
(Warriors 16-1 playoff run en route to the 2007 NBA title is a déjà vu of 49ers 1989 17-2 SuperBowl season;
Great similarity between Joe Montana & Steph Curry as well as Bill Walsh & Steve Kerr.)
(By Carl Steward, SJ Mercury News, 6-18-2017, C1, C5)
TECHNOLOGY:
Virtual reality can help alleviate pain
(Researchers are focusing on psychosomatic pain, but virtual reality has already been shown
to distract patients from physical pain, such as when cleaning burn wounds to prevent infection.)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, 6-18-2017, E3)
NBA:
Warriors not the greatest of all time, or even No. 2
[1. 1996 Chicago Bulls (54 points, 8 first-place votes; 2. 1985 LA Lakers (33 points, 1 first-place);
3. 2017 Warriors (28 points, 2 first-place; 4. 1963 Boston Celtics (22 points, 1 first-place); 5. 1986
Boston Celtics (14 points) polled from 12 panelists; Purdy: Jordan's Bulls were the most comple team]
(By Carl Steward & Jon Wilner, SJ Mercury News, 6-14-2017, B1, B4)
BUSINESS:
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer resigns, cites achievements by fallen firm as Verizon deal closes
(Yahoo's stock price had fallen below $20 when Mayer came in and now it's over $50.
Mayer said "we oversaw creation of $43 billion in market capitalization & shareholder value.")
(By Ethan Baron, SJ Mercury News, 6-14-2017, C7-C8)
BUSINESS:
Yahoo— Fall of a giant, end of an era
(Had market capitalization of $209 billion in 2000; Sold to Verizon for $4.5 billion.
Google & Facebook dominated digital advertising market globally as Yahoo lost ground.)
(By Ethan Baron, SJ Mercury News, 6-13-2017, A1, A8)
NBA Finals:
Warriors win NBA title 129-120, Kevin Durant claims Finals MVP
(Durant made 14 of 20 shots, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc in the clincher. For the series,
he shot 56% from the field. Scored at least 30 in every game. Led the team in rebounds and blocks.)
(By Anthony Slater, SJ Mercury News, 6-13-2017, C2)
NBA Finals:
Warriors deliver the title that was expected, demanded... and promised
(They outlasted LeBron James, the man who beat them last year; they exorcised
the demons after blowing a 3-1 series lead to Cavaliers last year; and they fulfilled
the manifest destiny of what they put together when they landed Durant last July.)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, 6-13-2017, A1, A6)
NBA Finals:
Andre Iguodala's spectacular slam, big night changed Game 5 course for Warriors
(He scored 20 points, hitting 9 of 14 shots. He had three rebounds, three assists.
Cavaliers surged out to a 41-33 lead in the 2nd quarter. Then Iguodala delivered
the clarion call— a dramatic, high-flying, age-defying dunk down the middle of
the key that completely turned the game on its ear. It touched off a 21-2 Warriors run
that flipped the lead, a lead the Warriors would not relinquish the rest of the way,)
(By Carl Steward, SJ Mercury News, 6-13-2017, C3)
NBA Finals:
Stephen Curry, the Warriors' cornerstone, finds the redemption he sought
(In the clincher, Curry had 34 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, enough moments to silence
his loudest critics. He led the way to a 129-120 win over the Cavaliers, clinching Warriors'
second title in three years, completing their vengeance from last year's epic collapse.)
(By Marcus Thompson II, SJ Mercury News, 6-13-2017, C3)
MOVIES:
Why Wonder Woman fight scenes are bringing women to tears
(Tears stream down women's faces when Amazonian princess Diana started kicking ass.)
(By Martha Ross, SJ Mercury News, 6-11-2017, D1-D2)
NBA Finals:
Poor defense at the root of Warriors' Game 4 loss 137-116
[Cavaliers put up a playoff-best 136.1 points per 100 possessions. They set a Finals record
for points in a quarter (49) and 3s in a game (24). Kyrie Irving scores 40; LeBron 31-10-10.]
(By Anthony Slater, SJ Mercury News, 6-11-2017, C1, C8)
NBA Finals:
Draymond Green is center of all heat and edginess again in NBA Finals
(Green's 3-pointers in 2017 playoffs: Portlan 55%, Utah 47.6%, San Antonio 33%, Cleveland 25%;
The Warriors have heard a year's worth of taunts for blowing the 3-1 lead last year, and Game 5 is
their best and first opportunity to shut all of that down. Will Green, Durant, Curry come through?)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, 6-11-2017, C1, C8)
SCIENCE:
Oldest Homo sapiens fossils discovered in Morocco
(Bones found in a cave in Morocco add 100,000 years to history of modern human fossils.
Oldest Homo sapiens bones date to 200,000 years ago, these bones are 300,000 years old.)
(By Ben Guarino, Washington Post & SJ Mercury News, 6-8-2017, A3)
NBA Finals:
Warriors stun Cavs in Game 3, put themselves on doorstep of title and perfection
(LeBron James scored 39 points, Kyrie Irving scored 38; Curry had 26 points, 13 rebounds,
Klay Thompson scored 30, Kevin Durant scored 31 including 3-pointer to give Warriors
a 114-113 lead with 45 seconds left. Warriors won 118-113, one win from playoffs perfection.)
(By Anthony Slater, SJ Mercury News, 6-8-2017, C2)
NBA Finals:
The Five who started this Warriors greatness, and finished the Cavs
(Cleveland's J.R. Smith made a wide-open three to make it 113-107 with over two minutes left.
But the Cavaliers never scored another point. And Warriors scored 11. Sweep seems inevitable.)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, 6-8-2017, C3)
NBA Finals:
Improved Cavaliers still no match for Warriors
(Cleveland scored 22 more points than in Game 1. Had success in the paint with 60 points.
Forced Warriors into 20 turnovers— 5x as many as they committed in the series opener.
And still the Warriors breezed to a 132-113 victory Sunday to seize a 2-0 series lead.)
(By Jeff Faraudo, SJ Mercury News, 6-6-2017, C5)
NBA Finals:
Five reasons Warriors won't collapse like they did a year ago
(1. Kevin Durant is a monster; 2. Stephen Curry is healthy; 3. Tristan Thompson is in check;
4. Draymond Green is under control; 5. They can withstand LeBron's greatness.)
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, 6-6-2017, C1, C5)
SCIENCE:
3-D rendering reveals secrets of bird flight
(Marc Deetjen, Stanford doctoral student conducts the first high-speed automated testing
on birds. Airplanes' wings angle up very slightly— only 6-10 degrees as they take off,
But the Pacific parrotlet Gary's angle of attack ranges from 50-60 degrees.)
(By Sukee Bennett, SJ Mercury News, 6-3-2017, B1, B3)
NBA Finals:
Warriors ride their two MVPs to Game 1 rout of the Cavaliers
[In Game 1 of NBA Finals, Warriors blast Cavaliers 113-91; Warriors had more second
chance points (18 to 13) and won the turnover battle by an astounding 20-4 margin.]
(By Anthony Slater, SJ Mercury News, 6-2-2017, C2)
NBA Finals:
Durant has virtuso performance in upstaging LeBron
(Durant, who scored on James and also, maybe most importantly, stood his ground
while defending James and essentially stymied everything Cleveland wanted to do.)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, 6-2-2017, C3)
Movie Review:
A "Wonder Woman" worthy of worship
(The mother/daughter scenes are some of the film's most moving. In a pantheon often dominated
by machismo and swagger, the matriarchal culture of the Amazons shines brightly indeed.)
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 6-2-2017, E1, E3)
LIFESTYLE:
Neuroscience explains our growing attraction to spiritual retreats
(Revenue for spiritual retreats, increased by 14%, from $494.1 billion in 2013 to $563.2 billion
in 2015; March 22, 2017 paper in Religion, Brain & Behavior
showed brain scans of 7-day attendees
had major decreases in dopamine & serotonin transporter binding associated with positive emotions.)
(By Cindy Lamothe, Washington Post & Mercury News, 5-28-2017, D1-D2)
Roger Moore dies at 89 (yes, older than Sean Connery)
(Made 7 James Bond movies after Connery. Moore: "What kind of serious spy is recognized
everywhere he goes? It's outrageous. So you have to treat the humor outrageously as well.")
(By Robert Barr & Jill Lawless, Associated Press & Mercury News, 5-24-2017, A7)
Watch: California's amazing wildflower explosion— from space
(Thanks to our now-record-breaking rainfall season, California is enjoying a wildflower extravaganza
in its southern desertlands, it's so prolific that you can see it from outer space— fields of poppies,
lupine, brittlebush, purple desert lavender, flaming-red ocotillo and much much more.)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, 4-15-2017, B1, B4)
Take a Hike:
Traversing Santa Clara County's 'Magnificent 7'
(Tony Loo Trail, Stevens Creek; Lookout Point, Villa Montalvo;
John Nicholas Trail, Sanborn;
Hotel/Snell Trail, Joseph D. Grant; Longwall/Little Llagas Trail, Calero; Merry-Go-Round Trail,
Mt. Madonna; Mummy Mountain Trail, Coyote Lake)
(By Sal Pizarro, SJ Mercury News, 4-5-2017, B1, B4)
Mount Umunhum:
Closed for decades, park south of Los Gatos opening Sept. 16-17
(5 miles of new trails on 3486-foot peak will offer dramatic views to hikers, bikers & equestrians.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 4-4-2017, B1, B5)
Big
wildflower bloom expected in Bay Area parks as spring sunshine arrives
(Wet winter not only ended the drought, it will bring rainbow of wildflowers to Bay Area trails.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, 4-3-2017, A1, A6)
Koko
the gorilla calls man 'stupid'!
(45-year-old Koko learned 2000 words & sign language to communicate.)
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, 3-26-2017, D1-D2)
Hurry
to see these Southern California wildflower blooms before they're gone!
(Visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, & Mojave National Parks)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, 4-1-2017)
Insider's Guide
to Crater Lake: The best hikes, sunset spots and more
(Whether you're hiking its trails, gazing from an overlook or viewing from the water, Crater Lake
looks more like a painting or Hollywood set than result of a catastrophic volcanic eruption & collapse.)
(By Mary Orlin, SJ Mercury News, 3-19-2017, F7-F8)
San Jose couple postpone wedding, spend thousands to find lost dog
(Feb. 13 when Theo— a scruffy black and tan, 1-year-old
Brussels griffon owned by Trendee King
& her fiance, James Galley— darted out the front door of his dog-sitter's home near Blossom Hill and
Almaden roads toward Westfield Oakridge Mall; Couple offers $3500 reward for return of their pet.)
(By Julia Baum, SJ Mercury News, 3-13-2017, B3)
* Aptos: Landmark old-growth Advocate Tree felled by storms
(The Advocate Tree, a 1,000-year-old landmark redwood tree in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park,
was toppled by last week's storms.
It was 263 feet tall with a circumference of 45 feet.)
(By Ryan Masters, SJ Mercury News, 1-21-2017, B1, B4)
Elders who use tech tools feel less lonely, more physically fit, Stanford study finds
(Use of computers and cell phones is linked to higher levels of mental and physical well-being among
those over age 80; Stanford Center on Longevity in Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, 11-29-2016, A1, A10)
At Nom, telling stories through food is on the menu
(Vijay Karunamurthy, CEO & co-founder of Nom, a social network where foodies post live videos &
photos; not interested in ads for revenue now; want to focus on user experience on eating & cooking.)
(By Queenie Wong, SJ Mercury News, 11-28-2016, C11-C12)
Foothill's
physics show puts the sizzle in science
(Foothill College's 75-minute physics show teaches concepts as temperature, atmospheric pressure,
inertia and electricity to school children through entertaining and accessible science experiments.)
(By Khalida Sarwari, SJ Mercury News, 11-27-2016, B5)
Supermoon spectacular coming Monday
(Moon closest to Earth since 1948, and will appear 14% larger than normal full moon & 30% brighter.)
(By Tatiana Sanchez, SJ Mercury News, 11-13-2016, B1, B9)
BASEBALL:
Giants bullpen turns out to be the curse
(Giants blow a 5-2 lead in the blink of an eye and lose game, 6-5. Five relief pitchers failed to get
an out, one after another— Derek Law, Javy Lopez, Sergio Romo, Will Smith, Hunter Strickland.)
(By Mark Purdy, SJ Mercury News, October 12, 2016, A1, A8)
SPORTS:
Giants bullpen proves fatal, Cubs mount four-run comeback in ninth to advance
(The Giants were three outs away from their 11th consecutive elimination victory, and forcing
a decisive Game 5 in their NL Division Series at Wrigley Field. The ninth inning has been their
liquefaction zone for months now. And the ground shuddered again in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs.)
(By Andrew Baggarly, SJ Mercury News, October 12, 2016, A1, A5)
SPORTS:
The Giants' blown season, blown Game 4, blown opportunity...
everything about 2016 just got blown away
[This was 32 blown saves
all rolled into one ninth inning of hell. Actually,
this was: Blown (Giants season).
Romo: "We're just more in shock with how it happened, the way it happened."]
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, October 12, 2016, A1, A5)
SPORTS:
Giants in 13: Epic night for underdogs
(Joe Panik doubled to score Brandon Crawford as Giants win 6-5 in 13th inning of 5-hours game.)
(By Andrew Baggarly, SJ Mercury News, October 11, 2016, A1, A5)
SPORTS:
The Giants fight, survive, blow it, survive, rally back, win a playoff all-timer and live to do it
all again
(Gillaspie tripled in 8th for 4-3 lead; Crawford & Panik doubled to win 6-5 in 13th inning.)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, October 11, 2016, A1, A5)
Breaking up with Yahoo was harder than I thought
(Switched from Yahoo Mail to Gmail as personal information of 500 million Yahoo users had been
compromised by hackers made me uneasy, and that Yahoo had played footsie with government
snoops by scanning all incoming email traffic, that was the last straw.)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, October 11, 2016, B1-B2)
Half Moon Bay: 1,910 pound winner in annual pumpkin weigh-off
(Cindy Tobeck, third-grade teacher from Olympia, Washington, won giant pumpkin weigh-off with
1,910-pound gourd; At $6/lb, she won $11,460; Russ Pingrey was second with 1,723-pound squash.)
(By Aaron Kinney, SJ Mercury News, October 11, 2016, B1-B2)
GLOBAL WARMING:
Protecting the Big Sur redwoods: How is climate change a threat
(Climate change threatens extent of coastal fog that quenches Redwoods' summer thirst.)
(By Sukee Bennett, SJ Mercury News, October 10, 2016, B1, B5)
Science
of raising happy kids starts with enchanted garden
(UC Berkeley psychologist recommends parents try to 'grow' not 'build' their kids
in her new parenting model book The
Gardener and the Carpenter)
(By Martha Ross, SJ Mercury News, October 9, 2016, D1, D5)
LIFESTYLE:
Secrets of great parents: 8 best practices
(Oakland psychologist and parent educator Erica Reischer book What
Great Parents Do:
75 Simple Strategies for Raising Kids Who Thrive;
Do what they say they are going to do,
don't make rules they can't enforce and keep their commitments.)
(By Martha Ross, SJ Mercury News, October 9, 2016, D1, D5)
BASEBALL:
Giants undone by one swing (and one swing that might not have been a swing)
(Cueto pitches 3-hitter & strikes out 10, but on 108th pitch gives homer to Baez
as Cubs Lester wins 1-0 in first game of NLDS; Hernandez' checked swing ruled strikeout.)
(By Mark Purdy, SJ Mercury News, October 8, 2016, A1, A10)
BASEBALL:
This Giants team must win a different way for another World Series run
(The Giants' rolling-momentum 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday finished off
a series sweep that allowed Bochy's team to leave behind a summer of near-collapse and clinch
one of the two wild-card spots available in the National League playoffs; Need runs early to win.)
(By Mark Purdy, SJ Mercury News, October 3, 2016, A1, A6)
BUSINESS:
From Pets.com's sock puppet to lightly worn Prada, CEO makes a comeback
(Julie Wainwright is back with a successful luxury consignment company The RealReal, leveraging
the experience and publicity of her Pets.com failure to bring attention to her latest endeavor.)
(By Michelle Quinn, SJ Mercury News, October 3, 2016, A1, A3)
BUSINESS:
What happens when the cash finally runs out?
(Between 70 & 75% of venture-backed startups don't return money to investors— and of those, more
than half return nothing. CB Insights tracked 1,000 startups that raised seed rounds in 2009-2010,
and less than half secured a second round of funding by 2015; Just 22% achieved a sale or IPO,
and only 1% reached a value of $1 billion.)
(By Marisa Kendall, SJ Mercury News, October 2, 2016, A1, A11)
BUSINESS:
On-demand style services for seniors
(Americans 50 & older spent $7.6 trillion last year, and number of people in that age group will double
from 1.6 billion to 3.2 billion by 2050; Seniorly, 2-year-old San Francisco-based startup provides free
online platform to make navigating confusing world of assisted living facilities as easy as booking an
Airbnb. San Bruno-based CareLinx & San Francisco-based Honor, let users summon caregivers
on-demand via online platforms or mobile apps, paying caregivers set rate for hours or months care.)
(By Marisa Kendall, SJ Mercury News, October 2, 2016, E1, E3)
BAY AREA WORKPLACES:
9 qualities recruiters want to see in every single candidate
(Ambition, Curiosity, Grit, Humility, Hustle, Learning Agility, Positivity, Reliability, Transparency.)
(By Dominique Rodgers, Monster.com, SJ Mercury News, October 2, 2016, E12, E7)
BUSINESS:
Zume Pizza— Made by robots, baked in delivery truck
(Pizza-making robots programmed for applying pizza sauce and sliding pies into the oven;
a delivery truck loaded with smart ovens that bake pies while they're en route to customers.)
(By Marisa Kendall, SJ Mercury News, September 29, 2016, C12-C11)
BASEBALL:
Behind the scenes with Vin Scully: Giants broadcasters share favorite memories
(Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Jon Miller and Dave Flemming— eager to savor their private audience
with greatest storyteller baseball has ever known; After Aaron's record 715th home run in 1974, he
followed with several minutes of silence & let the ambiance in the ballpark wash over his audience.)
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, September 29, 2016, C1, C6)
EDUCATION:
New college at Onizuka Station pays homage to the 'Blue Cube'
(On Sept. 26, Foothill Sunnyvale College Center is scheduled to open to more than 1,600 students;
Station was built in 1960 as the Air Force Satellite Test Center; in 1994 was named after astronaut
Ellison Onizuka, who died in the Challenger space shuttle disaster. Campus building is two stories
tall and houses 23 classrooms, a small library, admissions services, counseling and tutoring.)
(By Victoria Kezra, SJ Mercury News, September 28, 2016, B1-B2)
China
begins operating world's largest radio telescope
(Measuring 500 meters in diameter, the radio telescope is nestled in a natural basin within a stunning
landscape of lush green karst formations in southern Guizhou province. Took 5 years & $180 million
to complete & surpasses that of Puerto Rico's 300-meter Arecibo Observatory, research dish on stars.)
(By Gilliam Wong, SJ Mercury News, September 26, 2016, A4)
BUSINESS:
Who are the Silicon Valley CEOs in the $1-a-year salary club?
($1 Club included Facebook's Zuckerberg; Larry Page, Alphabet's CEO, Google's parent company;
Mark Pincus, then Zynga's CEO; Lyndon Rive, SolarCity's CEO; & Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp's CEO.)
(By Michelle Quinn, SJ Mercury News, September 25, 2016, E1-E2)
TECHNOLOGY:
Sharing Spotify and Apple Music when your teens hate your tunes
(Music streaming services have same pricing $15/month:
Apple Music,
Spotify, Google Play Music.)
(By Michelle Quinn, SJ Mercury News, September 25, 2016, E1-E2)
BUSINESS:
Yahoo hit with hack affecting at least 500 million user accounts, FBI investigating
(State-sponsored theft occurred in 2014 when thieves hacked into Sunnyvale tech firm's data centers.)
(By Patrick May & Ethan Baron, SJ Mercury News, September 23, 2016, A1, A8)
SCIENCE:
Pioneering California physicist dies at 102; built important tool
(Edward Joseph Lofgren led the development, construction and operation of the Bevatron,
an early particle accelerator at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
(By Kristin J. Bender, SJ Mercury News, September 23, 2016, B6)
Toxic
algae troubles many California lakes and waterways
(Blue-green algae or cyanobaccteria has infected 40+ California lakes and waterways;
it has spread during five years of drought & not abated despite wetter winter.)
(By Denis Cuff, SJ Mercury News, September 21, 2016, A1, A12)
Hillary Clinton's
'evil twin' once roamed the East Bay
(Although side-by-side the resemblance between Teresa Barnwell & Hillary Clinton is uncanny,
Barnwell assured everyone that she had never served as Clinton's body double and was in Los Angeles
all day this Sept. 11, and not in New York; In 1993 she began impersonating Hillary as a profession.)
(By Angela Ruggiero, SJ Mercury News, September 21, 2016, B3)
California
sea otter population reaches record high number
(1977 Endangered Species Act made 1800 sea otters in 1990 expand to 3272 population in 2016.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, September 20, 2016, A1, A6)
Albino redwoods: Mystery of 'ghosts of the forest' may be solved
(There are roughly 400 in California, about 10 feet tall, with high levels of the toxic heavy metals
nickel, copper and cadmium; albinos act like a sponge, getting bad stuff out of the soil and plants.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, September 11, 2016, A1, A12)
BUSINESS: Wells Fargo fined $185 million for opening bogus accounts
(Bank terminated roughly 5,300 workers for illegal sales practice; It has 40 million retail customers.)
(By George Avalos, SJ Mercury News, September 8, 2016, A1)
TechShop San Jose move stalled by $1 million funding gap
(Move from TechShop's current location at 300 S. Second Street to the old Zanotto's grocery store—
a 20,000 square-foot space at 38 S. Second St.— has run into unforeseen construction issues, leaving
TechShop with a $1 million funding gap it can't close on its own, said spokesman Michael Catterli.)
(By Sal Pizarro, SJ Mercury News, September 4, 2016, B3)
Maureen O'Hara,
spirited movie star, dies at 95
(She came to Hollywood to star in the 1939 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
and became known as the
Queen of Technicolor;
Also played little Natalie Wood's skeptical mother in 1947 Miracle on 34th Street
where they were charmed by Edmund Gwenn as a man who believed he was Santa Claus.)
(By Robert Jablon, SJ Mercury News, October 25, 2015, A14)
Steve Kerr turns Warriors into NBA's best
(Warriors are one of 10 teams in NBA to win at least 67 games in a season. Their average margin
of victory was 10.1 points per game, 8th-highest point differential ever. Chief reason was coach
Steve Kerr. 5 moves he made: 1) Hired Alvin Gentry as offense guru & Ron Adams as defensive
wizard who made team #1 in offense & defense; 2) Made Draymond Green starter to energize team;
3) Move Andre Iguodala to bench as 6th man; 4) Reduced turnovers; 5) Incorporated 7-ft center
Andrew Bogut in defense & offense.)
(Marcus Thompson II, Mercury News, April 18, 2015, A1, A6)
New Jersey teen takes shot, scores friendship with Warriors star Steph Curry
(Stephen Curry visited young fan Jeff Lorenz of Pennington, N.J. in March 2012 who challenged him
to make a shot from his balcony, which he did after 9 tries; 30 high school students showed up to see
Curry & had pizza with him; On April 14, Curry hit 77 straight 3-pointers
in practice & 94 out of 100.)
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, April 17, 2015, A1, A11)
In Search of Ultimate Energy
(UC Santa Cruz physicists Howard Haber &
Abraham Seiden at CERN's Large Hadron Collider;
Atlas detector to find particles after proton collisions making up dark matter)
(By James Urban, SJ Mercury News, April 13, 2015, B1, B3)
Sand man
leaves giant labyrinth-like circles on Santa Cruz beaches
(Brandon Anderton carves giant mandalas on the sand on Año Nuevo Bay near Santa Cruz;
His geometric designs cover the size of a football field looking like alien crop circles.)
(By Bruce Newman, SJ Mercury News, April 12, 2015, A1, A17)
LIFESTYLE:
Babies' listening to Mozart great but probably won't make them smarter
(Mozart effect first appeared in a 1993 Nature article by physicist Gordon Shaw
& psychologist/musician Frances Rauscher. College students did slightly better in tests
after listening to Mozart sonata than ten minutes
of relaxation exercise music, or silence;
However later researchers
debunked original studies.)
(By Armin Brott, SJ Mercury News, February 22, 2015, D2)
MEDICAL TECH: 3D printers to make human body parts? It's happening
The arm for 6-year-old Alex Pring was created by University of Central Florida engineering
students for a cost of around $350 using off-the-shelf electrical servo motors & custom machined
components created on a 3D printer. A similar conventional prosthetic arm would cost $40,000.)
(By Steve Johnson, SJ Mercury News, January 29, 2015, A1, A8)
NBA: Klay Thompson and his wondrous night
(Klay Thompson scored 37 points in 3rd quarter, an NBA record, en route to 52 points in Warriors)
126-101 victory over Sacramento Kings; He made all 13 field goals, nine 3-pointers, two free throws.)
(By Diamond Leung, SJ Mercury News, January 25, 2015, C1, C3) Video,
Video2
Zuckerberg brings a national book club to the Internet
(Facebook CEO plans to read two books a month and have followers join him. His first pick:
Moises Naim's The End
of Power: From Boardrooms to Battlefields and Churches to States,
Why Being In Charge Isn't What It Used To Be)
(By Michelle Quinn, SJ Mercury News, January 8, 2015, B9-B10)
Immigrant brothers go from Watsonville to Ivy League
(Brothers Edgar & Cesar Garcia Lopez are first in their family to attend college; sons of immigrant
Mexican parents, graduated from Watsonville High School; Cesar, 17, is freshman at Yale, majoring
in ecology & evolutionary biology; Edgar, 20, is junior at Brown University studying bioengineering.)
(By Donna Jones, SJ Mercury News, January 7, 2015, B1-B2)
Yahoo prodigy Nick D'Aloisio ponders his future
(Nick was 15 when he created iPhone app Summly; 17 when Yahoo bought the news summarization
technology for $30 million; now 19, he's part-time Yahoo product manager & Oxford student,
studying philosophy & computer science; debating ideas of David Hume, Jeremy Bentham, and Kant.)
(By Matt O'Brien, SJ Mercury News, December 29, 2014, A1, A10)
Tackling Problem of Hoarding:
10 steps help declutter, let go and live better
(Learn what's necessary to let go. Things aren't useful if you can't find them. Ask questions. As you
sort, ask yourself: Do I love it? Do I need it? Do I use it? Does it fit with where I want my life to go?)
(By Marni Jameson, SJ Mercury News, December 13, 2014, E1, E4)
"Saratoga: John Pugh creates 'Tree of Life' for Alameda Family Funeral and Cremation"
("Tree of Life" is a large oak tree with leaves that symbolize the different seasons.
The tree is surrounded by a pond with a swan swimming downstream.) Trompe l'Oeil art
(By Khalida Sarwari, SJ Mercury News, December 4, 2014, B4)
Meditation, mindfulness gaining popularity in Silicon Valley
(Jon Kabat-Zinn founded Center for Mindfulness in 1979 at UMass Medical Center with oldest
website in 1998; Renée Burgard;
Dada Nabhaniilananda; Free websites:
Mindfulnesshealth.com
& Mindfulnesshealth-psychotherapy.com;
Headspace Meditation: $12.95/month after 10 free lessons.)
(By Pete Carey, SJ Mercury News, October 6, 2014)
Oakland: Lake Merritt's bonsai curator defied odds
to become a master
(Kathy Shaner is first non-Japanese to be given title of "Bonsai Master".)
(By Nate Gatrell, SJ Mercury News, October 1, 2014, B1, B5)
UC Berkeley celebrates free speech movement's 50th anniversary
(Free speech leader Mario Savio sounds off at UC Berkeley on Nov. 9, 1964.)
(By Katy Murphy, SJ Mercury News, September 30, 2014, A1, A8)
BUSINESS: Excuse me, but is that really you?
(Developers need to give Siri and her ilk more smarts so they can tell if it s really you.)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, September 30, 2014)
BUSINESS: Google's diva of digital trend-spotting goes live on-air
(Roya Soleimani, a communication manager for Google, discusses the weekly top search trends
with KLIV 1590 AM news anchor Matt Burrows on the phone, giving listeners that weekly pulse.)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, September 28, 2014, A1, A14)
Tech responds
to growing calls for Internet anonymity
(BitTorrent is the leader in anonymous Internet movement; new products such as NSA-proof phone calls,
and they are also working on an email system that will be untraceable to Internet spies.)
(By Heather Somerville, SJ Mercury News, September 28, 2014, A1, A15)
True
inspiration: While going blind and deaf, she helps others cope with life's challenges
(Rebecca Alexander, Berkeley raised psychotherapist was born with a rare genetic mutation called
Usher Syndrome type III that allows her to see only about 10o instead of 180o in front of her;
she also lost most of her hearing; Will read her book Not Fade Away:
A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found.)
(By Martha Ross, SJ Mercury News, September 28, 2014, D1-D2)
Let's try a little education in Ferguson
(Schools should require— age-appropriate cross-cultural studies that would, in effect, introduce us to us—
the forces that have made us— inner-city black, Appalachian white, barrio Mexican, whatever.)
(By Leonard Pitts Jr., SJ Mercury News, August 21, 2014)
Farewell to Candlestick: Paul McCartney delivers touching goodbye concert to famed venue
(50,000 fans listen to 40 songs: "Eight Days a Week", "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Lovely Rita",
"Live & Let Die", "Hey Jude"; Beatles Last Concert at Candlestick on August 29, 1966.)
(By Jim Harrington, SJ Mercury News, August 16, 2014)
Anger in Ferguson did not spring from nowhere
(Silence imposed on pain cannot indefinitely endure.
People who are hurting will always, eventually, make themselves heard.)
(By Leonard Pitts Jr., SJ Mercury News, August 15, 2014)
Particles might illuminate star dust mystery
(Seven samples of "original stuff" captured near Mars by Stardust Spacecraft
that NASA launched in 1999 to sample the dust in a comet's wake.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, August 15, 2014)
Apple, Google, VCs invest in health technology
(Health technology is hot in Silicon Valley, where some of the biggest tech companies
and a swarm of startups are working on everything from doctor-recommendation apps
and video diagnostic services to data-crunching analytics and cutting-edge DNA sequencing.)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, August 14, 2014)
Robin Williams: Bay Area made him feel normal
(Residents who had encountered Williams recalled a comedian who didn't always
try to be funny but never failed to be gracious.)
(By Ellen Knickmeyer, SJ Mercury News, August 14, 2014)
Robin Williams' daughter deletes Twitter and Instagram accounts over online bullying
(25-year-old Zelda Williams said negative messages about her dad
and judgment about her photos have been "cruel and unnecessary.")
(By Tony Hicks, SJ Mercury News, August 13, 2014)
Robin Williams' death makes public the usually private agony of suicide
(Extraordinary talent & ability to bring us joy proved no match for his depression;
Comic's death casts light on illness too few are willing to discuss.)
(By Mark Emmons, SJ Mercury News, August 13, 2014)
PayPal co-founder Max Levchin on a quest to outdo his own success
(From PayPal to Affirm and Glow, Max Levchin, 39, has set a high bar
by trying to top PayPal which he co-founded.)
(By Heather Somerville, SJ Mercury News, August 12, 2014)
Appreciation: Robin Williams, not a faster brain on the planet
(Riffing on words and ideas, leaping with lightning speed from thought
to idea to rant to epiphany, there wasn't a faster brain on the planet.)
(By Tony Hicks, SJ Mercury News, August 11, 2014)
After 54 Years: The 'Stick Last Hurrah
(Venue that hosted the Beatles' final 1966 concert welcomes Paul McCartney
back for farewell event at Candlestick Park; 50,000 tickets sold out for Aug. 14.)
(By Jim Harrington, SJ Mercury News, August 11, 2014)
Massive data breach shows skills of Russian hackers
(Gang acquired databases of stolen credentials from fellow hackers on the black market,
and then used that data "to attack email providers, social media and other websites
to distribute spam to victims and install malicious redirections on legitimate systems.")
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, August 8, 2014)
A closer look at Intel's high trinity
(Gordon Moore, Bob Noyce, Andy Grove left Fairchild Semiconductors and founded Intel
in Michael S. Malone's The Intel Trinity.)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, August 7, 2014)
Recordbreaking data breach highlights widespread security sflaws
(Russian gang reportedly has stolen 1.2 billion user names and passwords
and more than 500 million email addresses from 420,000 websites.)
(By Steve Johnson, SJ Mercury News, August 6, 2014)
Physicists, others using science to help art of film animation
(Ron Henderson uses Newton's equations as building blocks for constructing a 3D bubble-like sphere.)
(By Richard Verrier, SJ Mercury News, August 1, 2014)
Economist
who predicted busted housing bubble says another recession is coming
(Economist David Levy of Levy Forecast,
newsletter since 1949, says the United States is likely to fall
into a recession next year triggered by downturns in other countries, the first time in modern history.)
(By Bernard Condon, SJ Mercury News, 7-23-2014)
Bald eagle pair fledges first Santa Cruz County chick in decades
(A bald eagle pair has successfully raised a chick at the edge of a slough west of Watsonville.)
(By Donna Jones, SJ Mercury News, 7-22-2014) (Photo: Bald Eagles & Chick)
Port Chicago
disaster exposed racism in military; helped launch civil rights movement
(300 die in Bay Area Naval munition base double explosions)
(Disaster,
Port Chicago,
Explosion)
(By Lisa P. White, SJ Mercury News, 7-17-2014)
Drought creates headaches for California recreation
(Memorial County Park campground closed for the first time in 90 years due to low water levels.)
(By Denis Cuff, SJ Mercury News, 7-14-2014)
49ers legends top All-Stars 45-40
(Joe Montana throws 2-yard winning touchdown pass to former 49ers owner Eddie Deartolo.) Photos
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, 7-13-2014)
Tanks for the memories:
Historic collection of military might auctioned for more than $10 million
(Jacques Littlefield's collection of tanks sold for $10.24 million.)
(By Bruce Newman, SJ Mercury News, 7-13-2014)
Portola Valley tank collection rumbles to the auction block
(Collection of some 80 tanks expected to fetch million-dollar bids during auction.)
(By Bruce Newman, SJ Mercury News, 7-9-2014)
BUSINESS—
Q&A: Lenovo CTO Peter Hortensius on innovation, wearables and the PC market
(Unlike other PC makers, Lenovo is a major player in smartphones, and its Yoga tablet.)
(By Troy Wolverton, SJ Mercury News, 7-12-2014)
London firm creates mind-controlled commands for Google Glass
(This Place developed a software MindRDR allowing Google Glass to connect with Neurosky
MindWave Mobile EEG biosensor, a head-mounted device that detects a person's brain waves.)
(By Salvador Rodriguez, SJ Mercury News, 7-12-2014)
Morgan Hill teen wins $36,000 award for combating bullying
(18-year old Joshua Toch, born with cerebral palsy, founded Mind Before Mouth, to stop bullying.)
(By Sharon Noguchi, SJ Mercury News, 7-12-2014)
In reality, Silicon Valley is not spic-and-span
(Google exec Forrest Timothy Hayes died from heroin overdose on his boat
while prostitute finished her wine by his side & other Silicon Valley crimes.)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, 7-11-2014)
Effort under way to protect egrets at Google
(Mountain View's Shorebird Way has 24 great egret nests and half a dozen snowy egret nests.)
(By Jason Green, SJ Mercury News, 7-3-2014)
(Patrick Tehan Photo: Great Egret chicks)
ONLINE RESEARCH: 'Lab rats' voice their outrage at Facebook
(Facebook tweaked the contents of nearly 700,000 users' news feeds— without their knowledge—
to test their emotional response to seeing more positive or negative news from friends.)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, July 1, 2014)
TECHNOLOGY: A look at how far Google has come
(Beside searching for information on the Web, Google has reached into every corner of our lives
from our PCs, to our phones, to our living rooms, to our cars and, now— to our bodies.)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, June 30, 2014)
Yosemite turns 150 years old, as major park renovation begins
(Inspired by early photographs of Carleton Watkins & paintings by Albert Bierstadt, President Lincoln
signed bill on June 30, 1864 setting aside Yosemite Valley for public use, resort, and recreation.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, June 28, 2014)
SF Giants' Hector Sanchez (29)
sits in dugout before playing Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park
(Tattoes on Sanchez's hand: HOPE on both fingers, Rose petal, Eye in Triangle)
(By Jose Carlos Fajardo, SJ Mercury News, 6-28-2014)
BASEBALL: Is Tim Lincecum on Hall of Fame path?
(Pitchers with multiple no-hitters/Cy Young awards/World Series wins— Lincecum & Sandy Koufax)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, June 26, 2014)
BASEBALL: Tim Lincecum: master of reinventing himself
(Lincecum is 1st pitcher with multiple hits in no-hitter since Rick Wise homered 2x in 1971 no-hitter.)
(By Alex Pavlovic, SJ Mercury News, June 26, 2014)
BASEBALL: Tim Lincecum throws no-hitter, makes history
[No-hitter was the 16th by a Giants pitcher. Only Lincecum and Hall-of-Famer Christy Mathewson
(1901, 1905) have thrown more than one. Lincecum threw both no-hitters against San Diego Padres.]
(By Alex Pavlovic, SJ Mercury News, June 26, 2014) (Video Discussion: 1,
2)
Back to the future with education
(Aspen Institute Task Force on Learning calls for a radical rethinking of how we approach education.)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, June 23, 2014)
Baby finches disappear from nests
(Young birds are in danger of other birds, rats, cats, raccoons, snakes, opossums, skunks and foxes.)
(By Joan Morris, SJ Mercury News, June 23, 2014)
(Bob Canchola: Fox photo)
Poet Maya Angelou remembered at memorial service
(Clinton compared Angelou to a firefly, who would light up at the most unexpected time.)
(By Emery P. Dalesio, SJ Mercury News, June 8, 2014)
California Chrome falls short in bid for Triple Crown
(Lost Belmont Stakes to long shot Tonalist, finishing fourth, and leaving owner Steve Coburn
to complain others took "coward's way out" by skipping first two legs of the Triple Crown.)
(By Beth Harris, SJ Mercury News, June 7, 2014)
California Chrome goes for racing history
(Jockey Victor Espinoza, who saw his bid for a Triple Crown aboard War Emblem end in defeat
at the 2002 Belmont, will ride California Chrome, hoping to end 36 years Triple Crown drought.)
(By Beth Harris, SJ Mercury News, June 6, 2014)
California Chrome trainer Art Sherman's Bay Area roots
(California Chrome's lineage has a distant link to Swaps, & Sherman thinks there's some karma in that.
He even visited Swaps'
grave before the Kentucky Derby win as a subtle way of saying thanks.)
(By Carl Steward, SJ Mercury News, June 5, 2014)
San Jose's 43rd Annual Greek Food and Cultural Festival
(Arhondia dancers perform on June 1, 2014, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church)
(By Karl Mondon, SJ Mercury News, June 2, 2014)
May 31 Readers' letters: Maya Angelou
(Maya Angelou gave woman a lesson in dignity.)
(By Catherine Townsend Horner, SJ Mercury News, May 31, 2014)
Cyberbaiting is new class problem
(Cyberbating is when students goad, irritate or 'bait' teachers into verbal outbursts
while other students video the results of the harassment and post the footage online.)
(By Margaret Lavin, SJ Mercury News, May 21, 2014)
Earthquake cluster likely to strike Bay Area, scientists say
(Six earthquakes 6.3-7.7 rattled Bay Area 1690-1776; 63% chance of major earthquakes before 2036)
(By Becky Bach, SJ Mercury News, May 20, 2014)
BIG WOW CONVENTION: Digital destiny foreseen at comic book festival
(Comics in same sinkhole with newspapers, magazines & books— printed media fighting for survival
against the Internet; Hundreds came to San Jose festival to meet artists & buy vintage comic books.)
(By Joe Rodriguez, SJ Mercury News, May 19, 2014)
PHOTOS: Big Wow Comic Festival in San Jose
(Hannah Paquiz, 5, in her Princess Leia outfit is not intimidated by He-Man played by Matt Helm
of San Jose at the Big Wow Comic Festival at San Jose Convention Center, Sunday, May 18, 2014)
(By Karl Mondon, SJ Mercury News, May 19, 2014)
Barbara Walters: Why I failed to make her cry
(I had to ask her about her penchant for turning her interviews into sob fests.)
(By Chuck Barney, SJ Mercury News, May 13, 2014)
Barbara Walters recalled as feminist idol, dogged journalist
(Retiring TV journalist described as a 'legend', 'icon', and 'rock star'. She researches
her subjects like crazy and tries to find one thing about that person no one knows.)
(By Chuck Barney, SJ Mercury News, May 12, 2014)
New book attacks historical image of California's missions
(Elias Castillo's A Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California's Indians by the Spanish Missions
revealed 62,000 Native Americans died within California's 21 missions from 1769-1883; Letter written
by Father Junipero Serra in 1775 at Stanford's Green Library to whip troublemakers and shackle them.)
(By Terri Morgan, SJ Mercury News, May 12, 2014)
China's Alibaba files for IPO that could be tech industry's biggest ever
(With its entry into the U.S. stock market, Alibaba— often described as a combination
of eBay, Amazon and Google— will have a valuation estimated at $150 billion to upward
of $200 billion, giving it an immediate market value greater than Facebook and Amazon.)
(By Heather Somerville & Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, May 7, 2014)
Mountain lion safely captured in Mountain View parking garage
(110-pound mountain lion spotted in an apartment complex at 255 S. Rengstorff Ave)
(By Jason Green, SJ Mercury News, May 7, 2014)
Y Combinator known for picking winners
(Airbnb valued at $10 billion, 11 million people used site to book a room or home rental.
Y Combinator sponsored successful startups Reddit, Dropbox and Instacart to stardom.)
(By Heather Somerville, SJ Mercury News, May 3, 2014)
Q&A: Elastica CTO Zulfikar Ramzan, on Heartbleed and online security
(Companies have employees sharing files through their corporate laptops through Box, Google Drive,
Dropbox or Salesforce that's sensitive, intellectual property. Using computer algorithms, we build
a profile of every single user and monitor what's going on and give the company everyone's activity
in real time. Anomalies can be detected within minutes, if someone is downloading a lot of data.)
(By Dan Nakaso, SJ Mercury News, May 3, 2014)
San Jose officially tops 1 million population— likely for good this time
(Los Angeles 3.9 million; San Diego 1.3 million; San Jose 1,000,536; San Francisco 836,620)
(By Mike Rosenberg, SJ Mercury News, May 1, 2014)
UC admission harder than ever for Californians
(Admission rates at UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego & UC Santa Barbara have plummeted to less
than half of what they were in 1995. 11,183 applicants had no offers from their chosen campuses.)
(By Katy Murphy, SJ Mercury News, May 1, 2014)
High-frequency traders draining profits from mutual funds and pension accounts
(Michael Lewis's "Flash Boys" tells how high-frequency traders are milliseconds ahead of major
institutions, such as mutual funds, and make $22 billion per year and never lose money.)
(By Stephen J. Butler, SJ Mercury News, April 27, 2014)
'Tentacles' exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium will suck you in
(World's largest display of Cephalopods— octopus, squid, cuttlefish, nautilus, that love
to camouflage themselves or hide in tiny crevices; Fishermen call them inkfish.)
(By Nicholas St. Fleur, SJ Mercury News, April 21, 2014)
Bay Area apartment rents set record
(Asking rents averaged $2,043 during the first quarter of this year, 9.9% increase over the same
January-March period of 2013; need to make six figures to have a decent apartment in the Bay Area.)
(By George Avalos & Pete Carey, SJ Mercury News, April 16, 2014)
Maybe Silicon Valley should be more like Amazon
(CEO Jeff Bezos offers employees money to leave. "Pay to Quit" program gives employees annual
cash incentive to leave, starting at $2,000, increasing by $1,000 each year until it reaches $5,000.)
(By Michelle Quinn, SJ Mercury News, April 16, 2014)
Blood Moon arrives late Monday, could spell early end to mission
(Partial eclipse start 10:58 pm; Total eclipse starts 12:07 am; Total eclipse ends 1:25 am;
Partial eclipse ends 2:33 am; Moon won't disappear completely because Earth's atmosphere
bends light with longer wavelengths, like red and orange, which then reflects off the moon.)
(By Becky Bach, SJ Mercury News, April 13, 2014)
'Heartbleed' bug: Experts say change all your passwords
(Zulfikar Ramzan recommends consumers check web site to make sure their
most sensitive web sites have been updated to prevent a Heartbleed-related attack.)
(By Michael Liedtke and Anick Jesdanun, SJ Mercury News, April 10, 2014)
MAGID ON TECH: What to do now that Microsoft has ended XP support
[Another option is to reformat (erase) the hard drive and replace Windows with a version of Linux.]
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, April 9, 2014)
States probing massive data breach of Social Security numbers
(200 million Social Security numbers, bank account data exposed at Experian.)
(By Steve Johnson, SJ Mercury News, April 5, 2014)
BOOKS:
Minimalists to preach burgeoning movement in San Jose
(Josh Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus latest book Everthing
That Remains: "less money, less stuff,
more meaning." They have 11,000 Twitter followers and two million blog followers.)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, April 1, 2014)
SCIENCE:
Big Bang tremors may back physicist's universe-birth theory
(In 1986, Andrei Linde developed the theory of "eternal chaotic inflation,"
which creates a self-reproducing, eternally existing system of many universes.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, March 25, 2014)
TECHNOLOGY:
Don't think an Apple TV service will let you cut ties with Comcast
(68% of nation's broadband customers get their service from just four companies— Comcast,
Time Warner Cable, AT&T and Verizon. With Apple TV, you'll be still paying Comcast.)
(By Troy Wolverton, SJ Mercury News, March 24, 2014)
OP-ED:
Technology is not wisdom
(Smart machines are simply the pumps that deliver knowledge, not knowledge itself.
Speeding up ignorance is not the same as imparting wisdom.)
(By Victor Davis Hanson, SJ Mercury News, March 21, 2014)
SPORTS:
Oakland A's incorporate yoga into their daily routine
(Yoga instructor Katherine Roberts is in her third spring training leading the A's in yoga stretches.)
(By John Hickey, SJ Mercury News, March 21, 2014)
OP-ED:
What does it mean to be cool? (Comment on Yiren Lu's NY Times 3-16 article
"Trouble
in Start-Up Land");
(As much as we all want to be around other smart people, coolest thing in life
is to determine our own path. Turn off Facebook and pick something that will last beyond you.)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, March 20, 2014)
Scientists are calling this dinosaur the "chicken from hell"
(Birdlike 7-foot tall dinosaur Anzu wyliei roamed western North America 68 million years ago)
(By Patrick Hogan, Digital First Media, SJ Mercury News, March 20, 2014)
Jikoji,
founded by Steve Jobs' Zen mentor, offers meditation in the midst of nature
(Joe Hall: "Meditation is not about finding the off switch, it is about developing the skills, focus,
attention to the present moment, and curiosity needed to move fluidly with things as they change.")
(By Aaron Kinney, SJ Mercury News, Feb. 18, 2014)
OP-ED:
Ouch! Silicon Valley suffers a tough case of elitism and arrogance
(It is time for tech entrepreneurs to focus on solving big problems and giving back to the world.)
(By Vivek Wadhwa, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 27, 2014)
VC legend Tom Perkins compares anti-Google protesters to Nazis
(In letter published in Wall Street Journal's weekend edition, Tom Perkins suggests that
the "outraged public reaction to the Google (GOOG) buses carrying technology workers
from the city to the peninsula high-tech companies which employ them" could be a precursor
to the sort of violent attacks the Nazi's waged against Jews on "Kristallnacht'' in November 1938.)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 27, 2014)
Apple's
first Mac was inspirational
(You could copy & paste graphics from MacPaint directly into MacWrite and do desktop publishing.)
(By Larry Magid, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 24, 2014)
Tom Perkins' rant: Is this the best Silicon Valley can do?
(Who are we to judge whether the workers in the big busses are good or bad?
We can't make judgments about how to solve problems if we talk past each other.)
(By Marcela Davison Aviles, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 24, 2014)
Poof! Marissa Mayer's honeymoon period at Yahoo ends
(Yahoo's stock has been on a tear, up more than 150% since Mayer arrived in July 2012.
However, advertising, Yahoo's chief way of making money, is still not growing.)
(By Michelle Quinn, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 23, 2014)
Transformation of North San Jose into urban tech hub under way
(Riverview Apartments on North 1st Street is part of 28,000 new housing units in North
San Jose; 2.7 million square feet of retail and 550 new hotel rooms will be added.)
(By George Avalos, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 23, 2014)
Harbaugh's Hemingway quote, and what it says about defeat
(Oliver asked Harbaugh whether he was "devastated" by the loss. He quoted Hemingway's
The Old Man and the Sea: "A man can be destroyed, but he can't be defeated.")
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 23, 2014)
Khan Academy is revolutionizing education
(Khan Academy is being used in over 200 countries, by 150,000 educators and has 10 million unique
monthly users. Over 1.5 billion problems have been answered— 5 million questions every day.)
(By Margaret Lavin, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 23, 2014)
Rustlers forget about cattle and turn to nuts
(In 2012, California's almond crop was valued at $5 billion, pistachios were over $1 billion and
walnuts were over $1.5 billion; Thieves hauled off $400,000 in walnuts & $100,000 in almonds.)
(By Scott Smith, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 19, 2014)
Biz Break: Merger madness as Yahoo, Google, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks announce acquisitions
(Yahoo is building its audience through mobile, which is expected to produce 2.5 billion computing
devices in 2014;
Pinterest buys image-recognition startup
VisualGraph, and builds technology to
better understand what people are pinning;
Google acquires Swiss appmaker Bitspin.)
(By Jeremy C. Owens, SJ Mercury News, Jan. 7, 2014)
Golden State Warriors find launching pad
(The Warriors came back from a 27-point deficit and went on to beat Toronto Raptors 112-103)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, Dec. 4, 2013)
Warriors' furious rally beats Raptors
(With 9:20 to go in the third quarter against Toronto Raptors, Warriors trailed by 27 points
and were still behind by 18 entering the fourth quarter; In final 12 minutes for Golden State
outscored Toronto 42-15 to win 112-103 for the seventh-largest comeback in NBA history.)
(By Carl Steward, SJ Mercury News, Dec. 4, 2013)
America's Cup and the greatest comeback in sports history
(Oracle Team USA overcame an unprecedented 8-1 deficit to defeat Emirates Team New Zealand)
(By Mark Purdy, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 26, 2013)
Vatican considering Santa Cruz Mountains mystic for sainthood
[Cora Evans (1904-1957) wrote of religious visions experienced in deep states of prayer.]
(By Mark Emmons, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 25, 2013)
John McAfee vows to make Internet 'impossible to hack'
(Anti-virus software pioneer to launch cybersecurity company making Internet safer for everyone.)
(By Dan Nakaso, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 25, 2013)
Apple's Mac team gathers for insanely great Twiggy Mac reunion
(Randy Wigginton led effort on the MacWrite word processor, met with
Steve Wozniak,
Andy Hertzfeld, Daniel Kottke, and others at Computer History Museum.)
(By Mike Cassidy, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 13, 2013)
MUSIC REVIEW: A far out 'One Night With Janis Joplin' at San Jose Rep
[Kacee Clanton channels wild-child fury of Joplin, shaking rafters through a songlist that includes
"Piece of My Heart," "Cry Baby," "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" and "Mercedes-Benz."]
(By Karen D'Souza, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 13, 2013)
Google rushes to improve encryption to keep out government spies
(Aside from U.S. government, hacking efforts emanate from China, Russia, Britain and Israel.)
(By Craig Timberg, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 7, 2013)
Jive CEO Tony Zingale splits time between his passions
(Jive is one of the leading social enterprise services in Silicon Valley with about
850 customers,
including Goldman Sachs, Kaiser, Intel, and McAfee.)
(By Heather Somerville, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 7, 2013)
Google puts pressure on eBay, expands same-day delivery
(Google has 50 delivery cars on the streets. Google Shopping Express is search engine's
answer
to same-day delivery for retail brick-and-mortar merchants trying to survive in
an era where
consumers shop on their desktops and smartphones.)
(By Heather Somerville, SJ Mercury News, August 31, 2013)
Bald eagle chick discovered at Crystal Springs Reservoir
(A fledgling bald eagle is first to learn to fly in county in 98 years.)
(By Aaron Kinney, SJ Mercury News, July 12, 2013)
Moore Foundation: $90 million for research should inspire Silicon Valley funders
(Create circumstances to improve life as we know it. Serendipity is not just a lucky
coincidence, but a reward to the observer who is shrewd enough to link together
seemingly unrelated facts to reach a valuable conclusion. In other words,
to borrow from Louis Pasteur, chance favors an observant mind.)
(By Steve McCormick, SJ Mercury News, July 31, 2013, A10)
Obama honors Giants at White House
(As the Giants toured the White House, with many players Tweeting out photos from historic rooms,
the president and Willie Mays spent some time together. "Where's Tim," President Obama said.)
(By Alex Pavlovic, SJ Mercury News, July 30, 2013, A1, A6)
San Francisco Giants rejoin tradition of White House visits
[In 2011, Giants presented Obama with a No. 44 jersey (in honor of 44th president), a bat signed
by entire team & custom-made glove. 1st World Series champs to visit White House was 1924 Senators.]
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, July 28, 2013, A1, A16)
Flamingo (not plastic kind) seen in San Francisco Bay
(Pink flamingo swimming off the Sunnyvale shoreline near Sunnyvale sewage treatment plant.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, July 28, 2013, A1, A16)
OP-ED: Why technology is the worst thing that ever happened to modern education
(PowerPoint presentation has skull-numbing effect that an endless stream of bullet points & images
has on a listener. Keep slides to a minimum, use as little text on each slide as possible and never, ever,
recite your bullet points verbatim.
Best to hand-illustrate most important concepts on whiteboards.)
(By Esther J. Cepeda, SJ Mercury News, July 28, 2013, A19)
Depressing Side of Instagram
(Impact of service accentuated by focus of images)
(By Jessica Winter, SJ Mercury News, July 28, 2013, D3)
TV seems impervious to Silicon Valley's advances
(Google's Chromecast media device can transfer web content from Android device directly to a TV.
The 2-inch gadget costs $35, sends video from YouTube & Netflix to big screen TV sets at home.)
(By Troy Wolverton, SJ Mercury News, July 27, 2013)
Bitcoin gets big bets from Silicon Valley
(Startups using virtual currency Bitcoin— BitInstant, Bitpay, Coinbase, CoinLab, Lamassu,
OpenCoin, Tradehill; Winklevoss twin brothers plan a Bitcoin investment fund.)
(By Peter Delevett, SJ Mercury News, July 25, 2013)
Pope to Brazil: Resist 'idols' of money, power, pleasure
(Pope Francis says ephemeral idols of materialism lead to 'sense of loneliness' in people.)
(By Nicole Winfield & Jenny Barchfield, SJ Mercury News, July 25, 2013, A7)
Film Review: 'Wolverine' almost gets its claws into hero's soul
[Saddled with a reality he hates & living for dreams in which he meets up with dead paramour
Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Wolverine spends his time stuck between bottom of a bottle & despair.]
(By Randy Myers, SJ Mercury News, July 25, 2013, E1-2)
Tiger hedge fund chief says Google built better culture than Apple
(Google's Android software, which it provides for free to handset makers, now commands
more than 70% of the smartphone market while the iPhone has less than 20%.)
(By Christian Baumgaertel, SJ Mercury News, July 24, 2013)
Report: Economic concerns drive college choices
(Students earned about $6,300 in grants and scholarships to pay for college costs in 2012, taking
the top spot from parents. Parents chipped in $5,727 on average, a decrease of 35% since 2010.)
(By Philip Elliot, SJ Mercury News, July 24, 2013)
Smartwatches are coming, but will there be many buyers?
(Apple, Google, and Samsung all have their own smartwatches in the works; Smartwatches are now
accessories to a smartphone, not stand-alone devices,
and don't have their own Internet connection.)
(By Troy Wolverton, SJ Mercury News, July 22, 2013)
Barbie fights for her life
(Since debuting in 1959, Barbie is still #1 in the doll market, and Mattel franchise has
$1.3 billion
in annual sales. But Barbie's sales have slipped for 4 straight quarters,
while Monster High has
become the #2 doll brand. Monster High dolls
are patterned after offspring of Dracula & Frankenstein.)
(By Mae Anderson, SJ Mercury News, July 19, 2013)
Study: Dead stars colliding forged gold on Earth
(Gold, platinum and other heavy metals could be formed when two neutron stars crash and merge.)
(By Alicia Chang, SJ Mercury News, July 18, 2013)
Memory decline may be earliest sign of dementia
(Self-reported memory changes preceded broader mental decline by about six years.)
(By Marilynn Marchione, SJ Mercury News, July 18, 2013)
As cyber attacks detonate, banks gird for battle
(50 banks and organizations will participate in exercise called "Quantum Dawn 2")
(By Christina Rexrode & Marcy Gordon, SJ Mercury News, July 17, 2013)
President and Michelle Obama give Menlo Park girl the red carpet treatment
(12-year-old Rose Scott's recipe Pork-and-tofu wrap wins first lady's healthy-lunchtime challenge)
(By Bonnie Eslinger, SJ Mercury News, July 14, 2013)
Menlo Park girl's recipe scores a White House win
(Rose Scott's Recipe for Pork and Tofu Lettuce Cups Serves 6)
(By Linda Zavoral, SJ Mercury News, July 12, 2013)
Coursera online education startup gets $43 million from investors
(Since its launch in April 2012, Coursera has teamed with dozens of universities to offer about
400 college-level courses for free with enrollment of more than 4 million students, or "Courserians".)
(By Katy Murphy, SJ Mercury News, July 10, 2013) (Coursera: Wikipedia;
Official Web site)
From Taiwan to Alaska, around the world on a bike
(33-year old Ethan Chang of Taiwan cycling around the world clocking almost 20,000 miles so far)
(By Joe Rodriguez, SJ Mercury News, July 9, 2013) (Ethan's Blog)
Three new shows celebrate Cantor's 'French Season'
("Storied Past" offers four centuries of French drawings,
"Drawn to the Body"
showcases
depictions of the human form
and "Inspired by Temptation" centers on
Odilon Redon's
response to Gustave Flaubert's 1874 book
The Temptation of Saint Anthony;
Alan McGee's
Photography: "A Walk in the Woods— Landscape as Metaphor" at the
Portola Art Gallery)
(Cantor Arts Center)
(By Bonny Zanardi, SJ Mercury News, July 6, 2013)
Douglas Engelbart, tech genius and inventor of the mouse, dies at 88
[He demonstrated teleconferencing on a computer screen. He showed off online collaboration
and real-time text
editing and the use of hypertext links— all incorporated into one computer
system; and all 16 years before
Apple's Macintosh was unleashed. At Engelbart's 85th birthday
dinner, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak
leaned over to Engelbart and said: "If all the leaders
of the world— the presidents of all the countries,
the CEOs of all the companies— were in
this room, you'd be the one I'd gravitate to."]
(By Mike Cassidy, SJ Mercury News, July 3, 2013)
Sweltering heat hammers Bay Area, stressing power grid
(Temperatures soared to 114 degrees at Pinnacles National Park, southeast of San Jose.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, July 2, 2013)
Top 10 things to do with kids in Santa Cruz
(Tide pools at Natural Bridges State Beach; Stroll through
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park)
(By Chrisine Candelaria, SJ Mercury News, June 30, 2013)
Alviso isn't Silicon Valley's ghost town, but it is something else
(Alviso is a hotbed of high-tech campuses: IBM, Polycom, Flextronics, Boston Scientific & TiVo.)
(By Mike Cassidy, SJ Mercury News, June 25, 2013) (Λ Gateway: Alviso Marina County Park)
Silicon Valley billionaire Carl Berg owns a Van Gogh. Or is that a Van Goo?
(Bought Van Gogh's "Sunflowers and Lilacs" on wooden panel for $250,000 but is it real?)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, June 23, 2013)
Lilacs;
Sunflowers
California's biggest dam removal project in history begins in Carmel Valley
(106-foot San Clemente Dam built in 1921, supplied water for growing Monterey Peninsula towns;
Three-year, $84 million project to tear down the hulking landmark beginning June 21, 2013.)
(By Paul Rogers, SJ Mercury News, June 21, 2013)
John Muir's tree may see new life through cloning
(Statuesque 70-foot Sequoia planted by John Muir in 1884 in Martinez, infected by fungus;
Arborist David Milarch has 700 cuttings from tree treated with hormones for cloning.)
(By Lisa M. Krieger, SJ Mercury News, June 20, 2013)
Journey Around the Bay: Follow the broken trail
(Kurt Schwabe photographs a walkway & gate along the Bay Trail in Alviso, Calif. on June 19, 2013,
to focus attention on the resource & to highlight gaps in the trail that still exist;
Λ Gateway photo)
(By Kurt Schwabe, SJ Mercury News, June 20, 2013)
FILM REVIEW: A fun and funny 'Monsters University'
(Clever and good-hearted, it let us peek into world where monsters of our childhood live.)
(By Charlie McCollum, SJ Mercury News, June 18, 2013)
'Fresh Impressions' grace the Portola Art Gallery
(Painter Alice Weil captures a variety of seasons
"View to the Pacific" at
Portola Art Gallery)
(By Bonny Zanardi, SJ Mercury News, June 15, 2013)
Dotcom-era icon Larry Augustin's latest venture: Cloud software
(Founder of VA Linux, Larry Augustin is now CEO of
SugarCRM, a customer relationship
management system,
functionality includes sales-force automation, marketing campaigns,
customer support, Mobile CRM, Social CRM and reporting.
Major competitor is heavyweight Salesforce.com)
(By Peter Delevett, SJ Mercury News, June 15, 2013)
FILM REVIEW: 'Man of Steel' flies but doesn't soar
(Film's first half consists of flashbacks to dying planet Krypton and to Smallville of Clark's youth.)
(By Charlie McCollum, SJ Mercury News, June 14, 2013)
The Secrets Behind Baseball's Walk-up Music
(Walk-up music, and its pitchin' cousin, entrance music, is unofficial soundtrack of a baseball season;
Brandon Crawford switched his walk-up music to Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" and his batting average
jumped 20 points in second half of 2012; Buster Posey music: Brantley Gilbert's "Hell on Wheels";
Hunter Pence music: Justin Moore's "Beer Time; Pablo Sandoval music:
Bauer's "Harlem Shake";
A's Grant Balfour's music: Metallica's "One"; A's Josh Donaldson's music:
Warrem G's "Regulate")
(By Daniel Brown, SJ Mercury News, June 11, 2013)
NSA Prism surveillance program sullies digital relationships
(When the government vacuums our digital lives from Internet servers, it feels more like a violation)
(By Mike Cassidy, SJ Mercury News, June 11, 2013)
WWDC 2013: Apple unveils iOS 7, iTunes Radio, Mavericks
(New Mac Pro is 1/8 volume of previous Mac desktip model; OS X Mavericks will get new version
of Apple's Maps & iBook apps; iTunes Radio in iOS 7 will stream music for free like Pandora)
(By Troy Wolverton, SJ Mercury News, June 11, 2013)
Google buys Waze for crowdsourced traffic updates
(Waze, Israeli startup with crowdsourced navigation app for smartphones, bought for $1 billion.)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, June 11, 2013)
Biz Break:
Google, Facebook seek to release more NSA Prism data, Waze finally finds an owner
(NSA has collected data on millions of phone users and tapped into servers at nine Internet companies)
(By Jeremy C. Owens, SJ Mercury News, June 11, 2013)
Google's Reader is going away, but here are some options to replace it
(Digg,
Feedly,
Flipboard,
My Yahoo,
Pulse,
The Old Reader,
WordPress to fill
Google Reader void)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, June 10, 2013);
Denver Post
TRAVEL:
Pacific Crest Trail finds itself wildly popular this year
(Cheryl Strayed's book
Wild:
From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail inspired more hikers)
(By Barbara Egbert, SJ Mercury News, June 9, 2013)
TRAVEL:
Hike of a lifetime: With her parents, a 10-year-old conquers Pacific Crest Trail
(Mary Chambers completes Pacific Crest Trail hike, 2,658-mile trek from Mexico to Canada)
(By Barbara Egbert, SJ Mercury News, June 6, 2013)
Cupertino
High sophomore develops app that 'clips' articles
(Tanay Tandon's app Clipped analyzes
text grammatically to extract the most important information
from an article to create bullet-point summaries. Works best on iPhone & for articles 1-2 pages long.)
(By Matt Wilson, SJ Mercury News, May 30, 2013)
INTERNET RADIO:
TuneIn grabs $25M in latest funding round
(TuneIn offers online streaming for more than 70,000 broadcast stations from all over the globe)
(By Peter Delevett, SJ Mercury News, May 29, 2013)
Digital learning
complicates girls' social lives
(69% of students use computers during class time; same tools needed to complete school assignments
also provide them with an outlet for socialization and potential distraction from getting work done.)
(By Ana Homayoun, SJ Mercury News, May 28, 2013)
Lick Observatory celebrates 125 years of innovation
(36-inch Giant Refractor telescope & 57-foot long, built in 1888 on top of Mt. Hamilton in East San Jose
is 2nd largest of its kind in the world; 125th anniversary of Lick Observatory's opening 6-1-1888)
(By Elizabeth Devitt, SJ Mercury News, May 25, 2013)
Yahoo joins growing list of bidders for Hulu
(Hulu generated revenues of around $700 million last year, streams TV shows online in similar fashion
to Netflix Inc;
At least five bidders have emerged for the 5-year-old video service with 4 million user)
(By Ronald Grover & Greg Roumeltiotis, SJ Mercury News, May 25, 2013)
Web security:
Inside the secret Symantec building that keeps websites safe
(Internet has more than 670 million websites with URL beginning with http; 2 million sites
are secure with https addresses; "S" means a certificate authority, like Symantec, has verified
their operators' identity and that the information flowing in and out of the sites is encrypted.)
(By Steve Johnson, SJ Mercury News, May 22, 2013)
Silicon Valley
website Piggybackr helps kids use 'crowd funding'
(Andrea Lo's Piggybackr helped kids raise over $325,000 for their projects)
(By Joe Rodriguez, SJ Mercury News, May 22, 2013)
Yahoo
makes bold but risky move in buying Tumblr for $1.1 billion
(Mayer is betting that Tumblr will give Yahoo! a growing audience of young & creative Internet users;
Tumblr's 300 million active users & Yahoo's 700 million users would give them a reach of 1 billion.)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, May 21, 2013)
SiliconBeat:
Why Marissa Mayer's Tumblr Hip Replacement Won't Work
(You don't get cool by buying cool. Yahoo's hip day was long gone after being an Internet pioneer.)
(By Mike Cassidy, SJ Mercury News, May 21, 2013)
Tumblr CEO
cashes in his Web savvy for $1.1 billion
(David Karp's Tumblr is still that little corner of the Internet where the cool kids hang out.)
(By Meghan Barr, SJ Mercury News, May 21, 2013)
SiliconBeat:
Marissa Mayer Getting In The Tumblr Spirit
(Mayer and Karp debated acronyms that have come to be associated with their respective sites)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, May 20, 2013)
Yahoo
board OKs $1.1 billion purchase of Tumblr
(Yahoo! Purchases;
Tumblr;
David Karp)
(Tumblr members create their own blogs, where they can share essays, musings and photos)
(By Brandon Bailey, SJ Mercury News, May 20, 2013)
San Jose
City Hall fledgling falcon dies after hitting wall
(7-week-old fledgling carrying pigeon for lunch slammed into wall and died)
(By Sharon Noguchi, SJ Mercury News, May 20, 2013)
The Cupping Comeback:
Jennifer Aniston does it, but will it work for you?
(Cupping therapy was used in Egypt dating back some 3,500 years & currently in China)
(By Angela Hill, SJ Mercury News, May 19, 2013)
UC
Berkeley commencement: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak gives graduates a happiness equation
[1. Happiness equals S-F (smiles minus frowns). 2. Happiness equals F cubed— food, fun and friends.]
(By Katy Murphy, SJ Mercury News, May 19, 2013)
Mercury News interview: Prasad Kaipa, mentor to CEOs
(Prasad Kaipa quit Apple Computers to mentor young entrepreneurs & Silicon Valley CEOs;
His "From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom" shows
how to be a wise leader)
(By Heather Somerville, SJ Mercury News, May 17, 2013)
Crystal
Springs Reservoir mystery: What happened to the bald eagles?
(Eagles built nest in fir tree, but may not mated this year due to scarcity of food)
(By Aaron Kinney, SJ Mercury News, May 17, 2013)
Laurie
Anderson and Kronos make 'Landfall' at Stanford
(Anderson's dream-poem mesmerizes like sitting inside a 26th century head-womb)
(By Richard Scheinin, SJ Mercury News, April 22, 2013)
Author
& academic Harry Edwards offers his formula for success to African-American students
(The fail-proof shortcut to success that has ever been discovered is hard work) Harry Edwards
(By Joe Rodriguez, SJ Mercury News, April 22, 2013)
Sleepy Floyd
recalls his magical playoff moment with the Warriors
(In 1987 Playoff against the Lakers, Floyd scored 29 of his 51 points in the 4th quarter)
(By Monte Poole, SJ Mercury News, April 12, 2013)
YouTube: 1987 Playoff
Woes of a goose midwife
(Canadian goose gives birth to seven goslings); webcam
(By Joan Morris, SJ Mercury News, April 8, 2013)
San Jose's Trinity Cathedral still standing in downtown after 150 years
(Oldest house of worship at 81 North Second Street in San Jose)
(By Sal Pizarro, SJ Mercury News, April 7, 2013)
San Jose teacher seeks funds to bring Latino astronaut to campus
(First Latino Astronaut José Hernandez inspires first-graders to go for the stars)
(By Sharon Noguchi, SJ Mercury News, March 27, 2013)
Robert Smithwick, one of Foothill-De Anza's founders, dies at 92
(Smithwick was pediatric dentist in Sunnyvale & married for 60 years to his wife Aileen)
(By Bonnie Eslinger, SJ Mercury News, March 27, 2013)
Bay Bridge light sculpture debuts Tuesday night
(Leo Villareal's 25,000 LED lights span Bay Bridge from March 5, 2013 to 2005)
(By Denis Cuff, SJ Mercury News, March 5, 2013)
Silicon Valley ranks second in wealth concentration
(16% of Santa Clara County households make over $191,000 a year)
(By Matt O'Brien, SJ Mercury News, Feb. 12, 2013))
Valentine's Day love: Which TV couple is best all-time?
[Married sweethearts such as Cliff & Clair Huxtable ("Cosby Show"), who were epitome of warmth
& grace. Maddie & David ("Moonlighting"), who burned up small screen with their sexual tension.]
(By Chuck Barney, SJ Mercury News, Feb. 8, 2013)
San Francisco Giants and their fans celebrate second World Series title in three years
(Hundreds of thousands of Giants fans stream into San Francisco to see the players)
(71 Slides Show, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 31, 2012)
The gifts of dyslexia: HBO doc sheds light on learning disability (Famous Dyslexics:
John Lennon, Magic Johnson, John Irving, Charles Schwab, Whoopi Goldberg)
(By Jessica Yadegaran, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 28, 2012)
San Jose ghost hunters converge at supposed paranormal hotspot: Old Spaghetti Factory
(Psychic Irma Slage has been chatting with those who died for over 30 years)
(By Eric Kurl, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 29, 2012)
World Series Game 4: Marco Scutaro caps 'unbelievable' World Series run
(Scutaro drives in Theriot in 10th inning to beat Tiger 4-3 to sweep Series)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 29, 2012, C1, 4)
World Series Game 1: Panda Mauls Tigers!
(Sandoval provides historic moment with 3 home runs as Giants wins Series opener)
(By Mark Purday, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 25, 2012, A1, 13)
World Series Game 1: San Francisco Giants' Barry Zito, Tim Lincecum find redemption
(Zito gave up one run in 5-2/3 innings & Lincecum shutout Detroit for 2-1/3 more.)
(By Tim Kawakami, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 25, 2012, D2)
After six decades, the 'Cats Estate' in Los Gatos is being sold
(Sotheby selling estate for $8.95 million;
Bruce Ogilvie lived here;
Erskine Wood &
Sara Bard Field built Poet's Cottage in their estate)
(By Scott Herhold, SJ Mercury News, Oct. 25, 2012, B1, 5)
Batter up! San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers walk-up music
(As players step up to the plate, their music will walk up with them.)
(By Jim Harrington, Oakland Press, 10-25-2012); (SJ Mercury News, Oct. 24, 2012, A15)
Welcome to Silicon Valley 2.Ommmmmm
(Getting your 'om' on in yoga classes— Stress Reliever: Silicon Valley
people moves to yoga to meditate and unplug from the digital grind.)
(By Patrick May, SJ Mercury News, January 15, 2012)
Counting crows: Number of black birds on the rise in Bay Area
[San Jose count (Milpitas, San Jose, Sunnyvale & Santa Clara): 136 crows in 1981 to 1,662 in 2010.]
(By Aaron Kinney, SJ Mercury News, 1-9-2012, A1, A4)
SPORTS: Home Run Derby— Prime target for the game's top sluggers is... a glove
(Giant steel & fiberglass glove at AT&T Park is 501 feet from home plate;
$1 million bounty on hitting the glove shortly after park opened in 2000.)
(By Andrew Baggarly, SJ Mercury News, July 9, 2007)
*
Ancient Stone Circle: Visiting the Avebury henge
(Avebury's stone circle dates to around 2600 B.C. It may not be as convenient, famous
or spectacular as Stonehenge. It lacks the large crowds, high fences, entrance fees
and "don't touch" restrictions of Stonehenge.)
(By Janelle Stecklein, AP, SJ Mercury News, Sept. 4, 2005, 3TR)
- Yahoo! News:
BASEBALL:
Shohei Ohtani makes MLB history with unprecedented 43-43 season
(With a homer and a stolen base against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, Ohtani became the first player to ever post 43 homers and 43 stolen bases in a single season. Alex Rodriguez was previously the only player to reach 42-42 in a season.)
(By Jack Baer, Yahoo Sports, 8-30-2024)
* Biden
drops out of the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris vows to 'earn and win' nomination
(President Biden's announcement Sunday that he is dropping his bid
for reelection and endorsing
Vice President Kamala Harris
to be the Democratic nominee answered a big question
that had
been swirling around his candidacy since his halting
performance at last month's debate.
"I believe it is in the best
interest of my party and the country for me to stand down,"
Biden said in a statement posted to X. He added that he plans
to address the nation later
this week, but made clear that he
intends to finish out the last three months of his term in office.)
(By Yahoo News Staff, Yahoo News, 7-21-2024)
* Tribes celebrate birth of white buffalo calf in Yellowstone National Park
(Native American tribal members celebrated the birth of a rare white buffalo calf
in Yellowstone National Park. The calf's appearance was both the fulfillment
of a sacred prophesy and a message to take better care of the Earth.
"I never thought this would happen in our generation,"
Chief Arvol Looking Horse, spiritual leader of Lakota, Dakota
& Nakota Oyate, said in an interview. The young buffalo,
which tribal leaders named Wakan Gli, or Sacred Return.)
(By AP, Amy Hanson, Yahoo News, 6-27-2024)
How Mays left lasting, impactful mark on three Giants managers
(Bruce Bochy, Bob Melvin, Dusty Baker, share fond memories of Willie Mays,
who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93. Melvin still vividly recalls Mays
telling hitters about the key to succeeding at Candlestick Park. Most found it
unforgiving, but Mays hit .298 in his home park with 203 home runs. Bruce Bochy
looked up and saw Willie Mays walking into his office. Mays handed Bochy a box
with a dozen autographed baseballs inside. Dusty Baker was introduced to Mays
by Bobby Bonds, as he recalled that first meeting. Baker told Mays that he
liked his kangaroo glove, so Mays gave it to him.)
(By Alex Pavlovic, Yahoo Sports, 6-19-2024)
San Francisco Giants legend Willie Mays dies at 93
(Widely regarded as the best all-around player the game has seen and the man
behind one of the most famous defensive plays in sports history, Known as
"The Say Hey Kid," Mays was a 24-time MLB All-Star and two-time NL MVP who
was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979. He retired with an unparalleled
resume, one that has easily stood the test of time. Mays still ranks sixth
all-time in homers (660), seventh in runs (2,062) and 12th in hits (3,283)
and RBI (1,903). He is one of three men in MLB history with at least 500 homers
and 300 stolen bases, and, along with Roberto Clemente, holds the record for
most Gold Glove Awards (12) won by an outfielder.)
(By Alex Pavlovic, Yahoo Sports, 6-19-2024)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
says a Japanese gardener taught him one of the most
'profound learnings' of his life—
it's why he can be on top of every detail at the $3.2 trillion chip giant
(Billionaire entrepreneur Huang recounted the story on Friday at Caltech's
130th commencement ceremony in Pasadena. Visited Kyoto's Silver Temple and moss garden.
Noticed the lone gardener squatting, carefully picking at the moss with a bamboo tweezer
and putting it in the bamboo basket. "I walked up to him and I said: 'What are you doing?'
He said: "I'm picking dead moss. I'm taking care of my garden." And I said: "But your garden is so big?"
He responded: "I have cared for my garden for 25 years, I have plenty of time."
Huang's company Nvidia, founded in 1993, now has more than 26,000 employees,
and 61-year-old Huang said the sentiment from this lone gardener is what helped him
realize he has the capacity to support them.)
(By Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, Yahoo News, 6-17-2024)
* FUTURISM:
Harvard Scientists Say There May Be an Unknown,
Technologically Advanced Civilization Hiding on Earth
(What if an unknown technological civilization is hiding right here
on Earth, sheltering in bases deep underground and possibly even
emerging with UFOs or disguised as everyday humans?
New paper
by Tim Lomas & Brendan Case of Harvard and Michael Paul Masters of Montana Tech)
(By Victor Tangermann, Yahoo News, 6-12-2024)
BASKETBALL: Social media reacts to death of Bill Walton, 'The Luckiest Guy in the World'
(Bill Walton has passed away at the age of 71.
2x NCAA Champion,
2x NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player,
3x National College Player of the Year,
3x First-Team All American,
1993 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee,
A legend of game forever.
Bill Walton brought joy to seemingly everyone who
crossed his path. That was evident in the way
his life was celebrated on Monday after his death was announced by NBA.)
(By Frank Schwab, Yahoo News, 5-27-2024)
MarketWatch:
The stock market has already chosen a winner in the 2024 presidential election
(The U.S. stock market is one of the best predictors of whether the incumbent party
will win a presidential election. Biden's chances of winning re-election are 58.8%.
Those odds will rise if the stock market gains more between now and Election Day,
and fall if the market declines. James Carville, former President Bill Clinton's
influential strategist during the 1992 election, said, "It's the economy, stupid.")
(By Mark Hulbert, Yahoo News, 5-22-2024)
BUSINESS:
Google Brain cofounder says Big Tech companies are lying about
the risks of AI wiping out humanity because they want to dominate the market
(Andrew Ng told The Australian Financial Review that tech leaders hoped
to trigger strict regulation. Andrew Ng, an adjunct professor at Stanford University
who taught OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, said that the biggest tech companies spread
the "bad idea that AI could make us go extinct.")
(By Beatrice Nolan, Business Insider, Yahoo News, 10-30-2023)
MYSTERY:
A Dazzling Piece of Evidence May Finally End the Mystery of D.B. Cooper's Identity
(Eric Ulis of Michigan is so convinced that he's the man to finally solve the infamous D.B. Cooper
skyjacking of Thanksgiving Eve 1971— the only unsolved commercial airline hijacking in U.S. history—
that he's literally suing the FBI to make it happen. In 2022, Ulis laid out his theory on how the remnants
of an alloy that the FBI reportedly found on Cooper's tossed tie pinpoint the skyjacker's workplace to a
"Midland, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of titanium-antimony." All Ulis needs now, he feels, is the
samples off the tie themselves, which is why he's pursuing litigation to procure them.)
(By Michael Natale, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo News, 10-26-2023)
BUSINESS:
A CEO who replaced 90% of his support staff with an AI chatbot says copy-paste jobs are gone
(Jobs that copy-paste responses are a thing of the past because of AI, says ecommerce company
CEO Suumit Shah
of India-based Duukan. Shah had previously drawn flak for announcing he replaced
90% of his support staff with a chatbot. Though his post sparked backlash, Shah told Insider,
"Over time, everybody will start doing this.")
(By Kai Xiang Teo, Business Insider, Yahoo News, 10-6-2023)
BASEBALL:
Aaron Judge becomes MLB's fastest player to 250 career homers
[Slugger mashed a first-pitch leadoff homer in 5th inning Friday against Houston Astros,
upping his season total to 30 long balls & career total to 250 in his 810th career game.
Former record-holder was Phillies' Ryan Howard, who got to 250 in 855 games.
After Howard, it's Ralph Kiner (871 games), Harmon Killebrew (905 games) and
Albert Pujols (933) to round out the top five.]
(By Jack Baer, Yahoo News, 9-1-2023)
* MEDICINE:
I've studied more than 5,000 near death experiences.
My research has convinced me without a doubt that there's life after death.
(Jeffrey Long is a radiation oncologist in Kentucky. He's also founder of the
Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (1998). Studying near-death experiences
has made him a better cancer doctor. A near-death experience (NDE) as someone who
is either comatose or clinically dead, without a heartbeat, having a lucid experience
where they see, hear, feel emotions, & interact with other beings. About 45% of
people who have an NDE report an out-of-body experience. When this happens,
their consciousness separates from their physical body, hovering above the body.)
(By Kelly Burch, The Insider, Yahoo News, 8-28-2023)
BASKETBALL:
Stephen Curry scores Game 7-record 50 as Warriors eliminate Kings
(Stephen Curry set a Game 7 scoring record with 50 points and the Golden State Warriors kept
their championship-repeat dreams alive with a 120-100 road win over Sacramento Kings on Sunday
afternoon. Curry's 50 points were three more than he'd ever scored in a playoff game, & two more
than the 48 Kevin Durant put up against Milwaukee Bucks in a Brooklyn Nets Game 7 loss in 2021
Eastern semifinals. Curry made 20 of his career-high 38 shots overall & 7-for-18 on 3-point tries.)
(By Field Level Media, Reuters, Yahoo News, 4-30-2023)
SCIENCE:
'Prehistoric river monster' caught by fisherman in kayak
(Robert Murphy had an hour-long battle on the Upper White River to reel in the massive
spoonbill paddlefish. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission officials referred to it as a
"prehistoric river monster". Though it was shy of the 118-pound, 9-ounce state record,
the "remarkable catch" weighed 102 pounds, officials said. He kept the 71.5-inch long
fish and has already tasted its roe, which is often called "poor man's caviar".)
(By Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, Yahoo News, 4-14-2023)
* MUSIC:
From East To West: Remembering The Great Ravi Shankar
[As so often, George Harrison put it most profoundly. "The first person who ever impressed me
in my life was Ravi Shankar", he said, "and he was the only person who didn’t try to impress me."
The master Indian musician, who did more to introduce the music and culture of his home land than
almost any other, was born on April 7, 1920. ("Norwegian Wood").
Ravi mentored his daughter
Anoushka, who emerged as a notable sitar player in her own right,
and they toured together.
Another daughter,
Norah Jones, herself became a world-famous, multi-million-selling success.
Shankar remained active until very end of his life, playing his final concert with Anoushka
in November 2012, just four weeks before he passed away at the age of 92.]
(By Paul Sexton, Yahoo News, 4-7-2023)
SCIENCE:
Rock crystal sat in museum for nearly 2 centuries— then they found it wasn't a rock.
(In 1883, what was believed to be a decorative crystal gemstone was cataloged and placed
in the mineralogy collection at the Natural History Museum in London. Found in central India,
the agate, as it was called, was almost perfectly spherical, around 6 inches across and a
light pink color. Robin Hansen saw that the agate was lined by a thin white layer, likely
an eggshell. The agate has infilled this spherical structure, which turns out to be a
dinosaur egg. Paleontologists believe it's from a titanosaur, Earth's biggest dinosaur.)
(By Irene Wright, Yahoo News, 3-31-2023)
What is the healthiest fruit? This one is high in antioxidants & has cognitive & cardiovascular benefits.
(While all fruits are healthy, registered dietitian nutritionist Danielle Crumble Smith
recommends one nutrient-packed fruit in particular— wild blueberries. Blueberries contain
lots of fiber, which keeps you fuller for longer. They also rank among the fruits & vegetables
with the highest antioxidant content. Antioxidants prevent or delay cell damage.)
(By Clare Mulroy, USA Today, Yahoo News, 3-12-2023)
* SCIENCE:
An Extraordinary Particle Could Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say
(Tachyon particle has an intriguing time travel component.
Scientists like Albert Einstein
have believed a class of particles could travel faster than light.
If these particles existed,
what would it mean for our understanding of time travel?
Physicist Gerald Feinberg termed
this potential particles a "tachyon" in 1967.
If you can travel faster than the speed of light,
you could hypothetically send
messages at speeds exceeding time, which means you can
send a message backward.
Discover story)
(By Tim Newcomb, Yahoo News, 2-21-2023)
Rhino sneaks up on sleeping dog, gives it a scare in hilarious video
(A dog sound asleep on the side of a road nearly came out of its skin
when a rhino strolled up and gently touched it. The dog woke from
a deep sleep, lazily tilted its head back and, in a split second,
recognized what was behind it and immediately ran off barking,
probably trying to tell it to never do that again.)
(By David Strege, Yahoo News, 11-18-2022)
Massive elk herd stampedes across Colorado mountains in stunning video
(Colorado is home to the largest elk population in the world. The video shows
what must be hundreds of the elk stationed on the side of a mountain as they
wait their turn to cross over the highway with their herd mates. As they run
down the slope, snow-capped mountain peaks come into view in the distance.)
(By Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, Yahoo News, 11-17-2022)
* MYTH:
Why Graham Hancock thinks everything we know about human prehistory is wrong
(There was another civilization in the very distant past,
now completely lost. 12,800 years ago.
They were destroyed in a natural cataclysm called
Younger Dryas.
Global temperatures suddenly
plummeted in a brief period of extreme climate change.
Its messengers were remembered as gods or giants—
Prometheus,
Quetzalcoatl.
They left behind Great Sphinx of Giza
or the Cuicuilco pyramid in Mexico.)
(By Sam Kriss, Telegraph, Yahoo News, 11-15-2022)
(Graham Hancock)
LOTTERY: Winning ticket sold in Altadena for record $2.04-billion Powerball jackpot
The winning numbers in the drawing held in Tallahassee, Fla., were 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56.
The red Powerball number was 10. One lucky winner bought the nation's only matching Powerball
ticket worth more than $2 billion at an Altadena gas station, becoming California's first
billionaire-by-lottery, state lottery officials said Tuesday. The winner hasn't yet come
forward, but Joseph Chahayed, owner of the service station on West Woodbury Road, said
he was hopeful the new billionaire would come from the neighborhood. Chahayed will be
receiving a $1-million bonus check for selling the $2.04-billion jackpot-winning ticket.)
(By Grace Toohey & Gregory Yee, LA Times, Yahoo News, 11-8-2022)
LIFE STYLE:
Queen Elizabeth II Reportedly Started a Shocking
& Unexpected Friendship With This A-List Actor Weeks Before Her Death
(Elizabeth grew close with A-list actor Tom Cruise in the final weeks before her death.
Cruise was invited to have a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him.
Afterwards, just the two of them had tea together. She loved seeing him & they really hit it off,
so much so that she invited him back for lunch. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter.)
(By Delilah Gray, Yahoo News, 11-6-2022)
* ASTRONOMY:
James Webb Space Telescope captures a spooky view of the Pillars of Creation
(You can't escape its clutches. Just in time for #Halloween,
the Pillars of Creation reach back out
like a ghostly hand. The eerie landscape, captured this time by Webb's mid-infrared instrument
(MIRI), spotlights ancient curtains of dust in new detail:
https://go.nasa.gov/3DGI2ws)
(By Kris Holt, Yahoo News, 10-28-2022)
*
Pillars of Creation are 'overflowing with stars' in latest image from James Webb Space Telescope
(The Pillars of Creation became famous in 1995 after the Hubble Space Telescope captured images
of the towering clouds of cosmic dust and gas located 6,500 light-years away from Earth in the
Eagle Nebula, or Messier 16. Nearly three decades after those images were shared, the celestial
spectacle has been given new life by the most powerful telescope ever launched into space
Some of the pillars are about five light-years tall, meaning that if a spaceship could travel
at the speed of light, it would take five years to travel the length of the pillars.)
(By Brian Lada, Yahoo News, 10-19-2022)
* RELIGION:
The Mysterious 'Fifth Evangelist' Who Created the Bible as We Know It
[The fifth portrait at Ethiopia's Abba Garima monastery is that of
Eusebius of Caesarea,
the man who taught us how to read the Gospels. A new book,
Eusebius the Evangelist:
Rewriting the Fourfold Gospel in Late Antiquity, by Dr. Jeremiah Coogan, sheds
light on history's lost "fifth evangelist". Eusebius made cross-reference versions of the
same story in other Gospels, making it easier for readers to compare the Four Gospels.
(By Candida Moss, Yahoo News, 10-15-2022)
BASEBALL:
Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez hits walk-off HR in 15th for 1-0 win
(Cleveland Guardians rookie Oscar Gonzalezled off the bottom of the 15th with a walk-off,
series-clinching home run for a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the
American League Wild Card series, the longest scoreless game in MLB postseason history.
Rays struck out 20 times, Guardians SO 19 times; Combined 39 strikeouts is a MLB record.)
(By Mike Gavin, Yahoo News, 10-8-2022)
The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winners are fighting against dictatorial regimes
(2022 Nobel Peace Prize went to one person and two organisations: Human rights
advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus,
Russian human rights organisation Memorial,
and Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties.)
(By Ananya Bhattacharya, Yahoo News, 10-7-2022)
* BASEBALL:
Yankees star Aaron Judge surpasses Roger Maris with
62nd homer, logging greatest MLB power season since steroid era
(On Tuesday night, 10/4, in the second game of a doubleheader in Texas, Judge
jumped on a 1-1 slider from Rangers starter Jesus Tinoco, sending history over
the left field fence. It landed in Section 31 at Globe Life Field, and the fan who
grabbed it was reportedly escorted away by security with a big decision to make.
Historic home run balls in the past have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.)
(By Zach Crizer, Yahoo News, 10-4-2022)
ROYALTY: King Charles III's new cypher revealed—
but do you know what the "R" stands for?
(The cypher, which will gradually appear on government buildings, state documents
and postboxes, features the King's initial "C" interwined with the letter "R" for Rex—
the latin word for King. It also features "III" in the middle and a crown placed above.
Crown is used by his grandfather, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II's cipher, EIIR,
stood for Elizabeth II Regina, the Latin word for queen.)
(By Lisa Joyner, Yahoo News, 9-27-2022)
Watch incredible moment NASA crashes fridge-sized satellite into moving asteroid
[The goal of DART mission, which launched in November 2021, is to hit an asteroid
with a spacecraft to slightly alter its trajectory. Dimorphos posed no threat to Earth:
"IMPACT SUCCESS!" NASA tweeted after its spacecraft collided with the 170-metre
wide (560 ft) asteroid at about 00:20 UK time on Tuesday 9/26.]
(By Rob Waugh, Yahoo News, 9-26-2022)
ASTRONOMY:
James Webb Space Telescope captures Neptune's rings in new images
(Clearest view of Neptune's rings in over 30 years since NASA's Voyager 2
photographically captured the rings during a flyby in 1989; first time we've
seen them in the infrared; Webb also captured seven of Neptune's 14 moons,
with its largest moon Triton, which orbits the planet backward.)
(By Teddy Grant, Yahoo News, 9-21-2022)
'The Moment That Struck My Soul': A TV Reporter's Notes on the Queen's Funeral
(Vladimir Duthiers of CBS had been reporting live on QE II's funeral for 15 hours.
"The moment that really struck me in the pit of my soul was when the Imperial State Crown,
the orb, and the scepter were removed from the coffin by the crown jeweler. That moment
symbolized the first time the Queen was separated from the throne since she ascended.
The congregation began to sing 'God Save the King'. His entire life, King Charles III,
had always heard 'God Save the Queen' as the British National Anthem, and now he was
hearing it with himself as the monarch. I looked at his face, and it looked like he was
on the verge of crying. It was a really beautiful moment. You could see that it finally
struck him, that for the first time it was about a son about to bury his mother.")
(By Sirena He, Esquire, Yahoo News, 9-21-2022)
Prince Andrew 'lobbied hard' to stop Charles
becoming king, claims royal insider
(Princess Diana plotted with Andrew to try to push Prince Charles aside so Prince Andrew
could become Regent to Prince William, who was then a teenager, claims a new book
by Angela Levin
"Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort",
with insights on Camilla,
who warmed her way to the Queen, Prince Philip,
Princes William & Harry.)
(By Angela Levin, The Telegraph, UK, Yahoo News, 9-21-2022)
King Charles III made history as the oldest person to take the British throne
at age 73. Here's the best photo from every year of his royal career (52 photos)
(King Charles III was the longest-serving heir apparent before he became monarch.
Charles, formerly known as the Prince of Wales, waited to be king for 70 years.
He has had many royal career highlights and personal experiences in the public eye.)
(By Tom Murray, Alison Millington, Mikhaila Friel, Yahoo News, 9-20-2022)
Prince William Invited Harry and Meghan to Join Him and Kate Outside Castle in Major Show of Unity
(In a surprise moment on Saturday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined Prince William
and Kate Middleton for a walkaround at Windsor Castle following the death of William
and Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.)
(By Jen Juneau, Yahoo News, 9-10-2022)
* What Queen Elizabeth said when asked 'have you ever met the queen?'
(The story of how Queen Elizabeth handled an encounter with an American hiker
who did not recognise her, recounted by a former bodyguard who was with her that day,
revealed the fun-loving side of her personality that the public rarely saw.)
(By Reuters, Yahoo News, 9-8-2022)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth's meetings with U.S. presidents, from Eisenhower to Biden
(During her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II met in person with nearly every sitting
U.S. president, from Dwight Eisenhower to Joe Biden. Only Lyndon Johnson didn't meet
the Queen, but hosted her sister Princess Margaret, at the White House.)
(By Dylan Stableford & Yahoo News Photo Staff, Yahoo News, 9-8-2022)
OBITUARY:
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has died
(Queen Elizabeth reigned for 70 years and died at her Scotland estate Thursday afternoon,
at age of 96. As the country mourns, Britain is also welcoming a new monarch, her son Charles.)
(By CBS Miami, Yahoo News, 9-8-2022)
BASEBALL:
Paul Goldschmidt, Triple Crown winner?
An unassuming Cardinals hero demands the baseball world's attention
(Batting average: He's leading the NL (and MLB) with an eye-popping .332 mark;
Home runs: He's in second place here, with 33, three behind NL leader Kyle Schwarber's 36;
Runs Batted In: Goldschmidt
is tied for the NL lead with Pete Alonso, with 105.)
(By Zach Crizer, Yahoo News, 9-2-2022)
ASTRONOMY:
New photos show Phantom Galaxy, around 32 million light-years away
(The photos, taken by Hubble Space Telescope & James Webb Space Telescope, provide
different views of Phantom Galaxy, M74,
known for its well-defined spiral formation.
While the Hubble telescope excels in giving insights into ultraviolet and visible
wavelengths, the Webb telescope works best in analyzing infrared wavelengths.)
(By Sarah Polus, Yahoo News, 8-30-2022)
Before Mikhail Gorbachev's death, a close friend said the former USSR president
was 'upset' at the state of Russia and felt his 'life's work' was ruined
(Russian media reported the death of Gorbachev on Tuesday, at the age of 91.
He was suffering from a serious kidney ailment. Gorbachev was the last president
of the Soviet Union before it collapsed. He helped end the Cold War and usher
in a new age of warmer relationships between Moscow and the West.)
(By Ashley Collman, Yahoo News, 8-30-2022)
BASEBALL:
Rare Mickey Mantle card sells for record $12.6 million
(The previous record for a sports card was $7.25 million, set this month by a century-old
'T206' Honus Wagner card
in a private sale by Goldin. Topps 1952 Mantle card was brought
to Heritage by Anthony Giordano, a waste management entrepreneur from New Jersey, who
bought it for $50,000 in 1991.
Card was graded a "Mint+ 9.5" out of 10, with perfect centering
and 4 sharp corners. That this card remained in this condition for 70 years is a true miracle.)
(By Reuters, Yahoo News, 8-28-2022)
ASTRONOMY:
3 Meteor Showers Will Converge This Weekend, Creating a Firework Display
of Shooting Stars
(Delta Aquarids peaks this weekend & intersect with two other meteor showers—
the famous Perseids & the alpha Capricornids. Spot all three celestial events during rest of July &
throughout August. Delta Aquarids peaks on July 29 with 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour. Perseid
meteor shower peaks on August 12-13. Alpha Capricornids shower peaks this weekend July 30-31.)
(By Madeline Buiano, Yahoo News, 7-28-2022)
ASTRONOMY:
Perseid meteor shower 2022: Here's when to look up
(Perseid meteor shower is active between 17th July and 24th August, with the number
of meteors
increasing every night until it reaches its peak on Thursday 11th & Friday 12th August.)
(By Lisa Joyner & Katie Frost, Yahoo News, 7-27-2022)
BASEBALL:
Astros throw combined no-hitter against Yankees after Cristian Javier's dominant start
(Yankees came into Saturday's game 52-19, the best record in baseball. Cristian Javier threw
7 no-hit innings with 115 pitches & 13 strike outs; Hector Neris blanked Yankees in 8th inning,
Ryan Pressly shuts down Yankees in the ninth. Astros won 3-0. Houston's first combined no-hitter
against New York came in 2003. That game marked last time Yankees were no-hit prior to 6/25 contest.)
(By Chris Cwik, Yahoo News, 6-25-2022)
NBA
Finals: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors blitz Boston Celtics to win dynasty's fourth championship
(A 21-0 onslaught that spanned the end of the first quarter and the start of the second
gave Golden State
a lead that was too much for Boston to overcome in a 103-90 final.
Stephen Curry's 34 points,
won his first career Finals MVP award unanimously.)
(By Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo News, 6-16-2022)
BASEBALL:
Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt matches an MLB feat last done by Ty Cobb in 1925
(Paul Goldschmidt is the first MLB player to have
9+ hits,
9+ RBI,
6+ runs scored,
5+ extra-base hits,
4+ home runs,
0 strikeouts,
... over a 2-day span since Ty Cobb did so from May 5-6, 1925.)
(By Pete Grathoff, Yahoo News, 6-15-2022)
BASKETBALL:
On this day: Parish, McHale's pick traded for; Bird, Ainge drafted
(Red Auerbach pulled off one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history in 1980.
Got from Golden State Warriors Robert Parish & draft pick for Kevin McHale.
Forward Larry Bird, who had already been drafted, completed the trio that
win titles together in 1981, 1984 and 1986.)
(By Justin Quinn, Yahoo News, 6-9-2022)
Angler catches rare
'fish of a lifetime' on his last cast of the day in Tennessee
(Angler Victor Siwik catch on May 29, 2022 was a 41-pound, ghost-white carp from near Reelfoot Lake.)
(By Alison Cutler, Yahoo News, 6-8-2022)
Our
galaxy's supermassive black hole has sprung a leak
(The supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy may not be sleeping, after all.
Biggest outburst from the black hole came around two million years ago. However,
new evidence has been found that the outburst could still be active.)
(By Joshua Hawkins, Yahoo News, 12-13-2021)
* Markus Eder completes the 'ultimate' skiing run
(The route took him from deep powder to the Klausberg ski resort snow park,
with tricks and big drops along the way. Eder participated in the freestyle
skiing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he came 15th.)
(By Reuters, Yahoo News, 11-5-2021)
Atlanta Braves defeat Houston Astros to win 2021 World Series
(The Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros 7-0 in Game 6 of the World Series
on Tuesday to capture their first championship— and the city's— since 1995.)
(By Mike Gavin, Yahoo News, 11-2-2021)
* The Aztec Origins of a Mysterious Elizabethan Mirror
(When Elizabeth I's scientific adviser and "philosopher"
John Dee died in 1609
at the age of 81 he left behind his speculum, a hand mirror made of polished obsidian
(volcanic glass), also known as "Devil's Looking-Glass"; It's now in the British Museum and measures about 7.2 inches in diameter
and half an inch thick. Prof. Stuart Campbell found it resembles Aztecs obsidian mirrors,
used for scrying & seeing into the future.)
(By Candida Moss, Yahoo News, 10-10-2021)
Shohei Ohtani just reached a milestone achieved by only one baseball legend ever
(Hitting his sixth triple of the season, the 27-year-old Japanese player became
the second player
with at least 45 home runs, 20 steals and six triples in one season.
Willie Mays, had 24 steals,
51 home runs, and 13 triples at age 24 playing for New York Giants in 1955.)
(By Ryan General, Yahoo News, 9-27-2021)
Prince Harry
and Meghan Markle feature on Time's cover as they make its 100 most influential people list
(The Duke and Duchess of Sussex posed for a magazine cover photo for Time, which shows
Markle in white and Harry in black while they both stare directly into the camera.
It's the first time they have posed together for a magazine cover.)
(By Kelly McLaughlin & Mikhaila Friel, Yahoo News, 9-15-2021)
I went to a flirting class with a dating expert and she taught me her 4 surefire techniques to attract dates
(I took a one-on-one flirting class with a dating expert who specializes in text-based flirting. Amy Nobile
has 40 clients, said leading with curiosity is more important than finding a match who is similar to you.)
(By Julia Naftulin, Yahoo News, 8-28-2021)
* SPORTS:
Chris Sale tied Sandy Koufax's record for most immaculate innings
(MLB record for most immaculate innings in a career is now shared between two southpaws.
Boston Red Sox's Chris Sale threw the third immaculate inning of his career Thursday,
striking out three Minnesota Twins on nine pitches in the third inning.)
(By Jack Baer, Yahoo News, 8-26-2021)
SPORTS: Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera joins exclusive 500-home run club
(He's 28th player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs. It was his 2,955th career
hit as he chases an elite 32-player group that finished careers with 3,000 hits.
Six players in the 3,000/500 club: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Albert Pujols,
Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro.)
(By Cassandra Negley, Yahoo News, 8-22-2021)
Country singer Tom T. Hall dies; wrote "Harper Valley PTA"
(Tom T. Hall, the singer-songwriter who composed “Harper Valley P.T.A." and sang about
life's simple joys as country music's consummate blue collar bard, has died at 85.)
(By Kristin M. Hall, Yahoo News, 8-20-2021)
Honus Wagner
baseball card sells for $6.606 million, shattering record for most expensive sports card ever
[The T206 card sold for $6.606 million on Monday morning, at a 20% buyer's premium.
That number shatters previous record— which was a tie between a LeBron James-Upper Deck
autographed rookie jersey card (set in April) and a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card.]
(By Scott Gleeson, USA Today, Yahoo News, 8-16-2021)
Diamondbacks' Tyler Gilbert
throws no-hitter vs. Padres to break MLB record
(Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Tyler Gilbert threw 8th no-hitter
of the season on 8/14 night in just his first major league start.)
(By Ryan Young, Yahoo News, 8-14-2021)
* The Center of the Milky Way Might Not Be a Black Hole After All
(What if the center of our galaxy isn't a supermassive black hole after all, but instead,
a massive amount of dark matter? That would flip our long-held understanding of the Milky Way,
but in a new study, scientists from Italy, Argentina, and Colombia say the evidence stacks up.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Yahoo News, 6-19-2021)
* Some
Scientists Believe the Universe Is Conscious
(Johannes Kleiner
& Sean Tull
are following Penrose's example, in both his
1989 book
and a 2014 paper where he detailed
his belief that our brains' microprocesses can be used
to model things about the whole
universe. The resulting theory is called integrated information
theory (IIT),
and it's an abstract, "highly mathematical" form of the philosophy we've been reviewing.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Yahoo News, 6-10-2021)
* ART:
Mona Lisa replica set to fetch up to 300,000 Euros at auction
(Said to have been created by a follower of da Vinci in the early 17th Century,
it is widely known as the Mona Lisa Hekking after ex-owner Raymond Hekking.)
(By BBC News, Yahoo News, 6-8-2021)
SPORTS:
NBA's Treatment of Jeremy Lin Has Not Changed Since 2010
(Jeremy Lin brought his A-game to the G League, scoring among the league's
best performers, but still failed to get a shot at an NBA comeback.)
(By Ryan General, Yahoo News, 6-4-2021)
SCIENCE:
'Extinct' giant tortoise found in Galapagos
(Elderly female tortoise discovered during a 2019 expedition has been identified
as a chelonoidis phantasticus, also known as fernandina giant tortoise.
It was believed extinct more than 100 years ago in 1906.)
(By Olivia Rudgard, The Telegraph, Yahoo News, 5-26-2021)
Inventor of Post-it Notes adhesive dies at age 80
(Spencer Silver of 3M, in 1968 discovered a unique adhesive formula,
The adhesive allowed notes to be easily attached to surfaces, removed
and even re-posted elsewhere without leaving residue like other glues.)
(By Associated Press, Yahoo News, 5-14-2021, B9)
* SCIENCE:
The God Equation by Michio Kaku— unifying the universe
(Michio Kaku's
book,
reviews at WSJ)
(By David Bodanis, Financial Times, Yahoo News, 5-12-2021)
* ART:
The child hidden in plain sight: how one painting has upended the Holbein world
(Unknown Augsburg portrait of Hans Holbein the Younger, painted in 1502 when he was
just 5 years old— between Jesus & St. Peter with 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread.)
(By Franny Moyle, The Telegraph, Yahoo News, 4-26-2021)
SPORTS:
Ohtani wins for Angels in 2-way start like none since Ruth
(A day after hitting his 7th homer to tie for MLB lead, Ohtani (1-0) became
the first home run leader to be the starting pitcher for a game since Babe Ruth
for the New York Yankees against Detroit on June 13, 1921.)
(By Stephen Hawkins, Yahoo News, 4-26-2021)
SPORTS:
Curry sets NBA record for 3-pointers in a month with 85
(His April total surpassed James Harden's NBA record of 82 in November 2019.)
(By Janie McCauley, Yahoo News, 4-25-2021)
* SCIENCE:
Warp drives— Physicists give chances of faster-than-light space travel a boost
(The closest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri. It is 4.25 light-years away, or about
25 trillion miles (40 trillion km). Fastest ever spacecraft, the now-in-space Parker Solar
Probe will reach a top speed of 450,000 mph. Just 20 seconds to go from Los Angeles
to New York City at that speed, but it would take the solar probe about 6,633 years to
reach Earth's nearest neighboring solar system. People will need to go faster than light.)
(By Mario Borunda, Physics Professor, Yahoo News, 4-23-2021)
Queen
Elizabeth Left a Sentimental Handwritten Letter for Prince Philip on His Coffin
(The 94-year-old head of the British Monarchy, as she laid her beloved husband
of 73 years to rest, and said goodbye with a touching letter.)
(By Liz Calvario, ET, Yahoo News, 4-17-2021)
Queen
Elizabeth Sits Alone At Prince Philip's Funeral In Heartbreaking Image
(The Duke chose music for the program, which included an adaptation of Psalm 104, the hymn
"Eternal Father, Strong to Save", and a song Philip commissioned himself: "Jubilate in C".)
(By Carly Ledbetter, Huffpost, Yahoo News, 4-17-2021)
Egyptologists
find vast millenia-old 'lost golden city'
(The city is 3,000 years old, dates to the reign of Amenhotep III,
and continued to be used by Tutankhamun and Ay. Find was the "second
most important archeological discovery since the tomb of Tutankhamun".)
(By Agence France-Presse, Yahoo News, 4-8-2021)
'Tantalizing'
results of 2 experiments defy physics rulebook
(Tiny particles called muons aren't quite doing what is expected of them in
experiments at FermiLab & CERN, upsetting the
Standard Model of 50 years.)
(By Seth Borenstein, AP, Yahoo News, 4-7-2021)
* The Universe Might Be One Big Neural Network, Study Finds
(Vitaly Vanchurin, a physics professor at University of Minnesota Duluth, published
his paper "The World as a Neural Network" on the arXiv pre-print server last year.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo News, 3-5-2021)
Missing Matter Found in Our Own Galaxy
(A team of astronomers says it has found evidence for some of this missing regular
(or "baryonic") matter; they say it takes the form of lightless "snow clouds" made
of hydrogen. And the team found the elemental ghosts right here in the Milky Way.)
(By Matthew Hart, Yahoo News, 2-26-2021)
* Baseball cards booming during the pandemic with million-dollar sales
(In 2021, a single pack of 14 Topps baseball cards costs $8, if you can find them.
Most serious collectors buy them by the box, or a case of 12 boxes, about $1,500.)
(By Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, Yahoo News, 2-16-2021)
Science Offers New Origin Story for Comet That Killed the Dinos
(Chicxulub the dinosaur killer was indeed a comet. One that slammed into Earth
at 12 miles per second, allowing it to leave behind a crater 93 miles across.)
(By Matthew Hart, Yahoo News, 2-16-2021)
New postage stamp honors Chien-Shiung Wu, trailblazing nuclear physicist
(In mid-1950s, Wu performed a famous experiment to test law of parity conservation.
As proposed by theoretical physicists Chen Ning Yang and Tsung-Dao Lee, Wu designed
an experiment to see if reality matched the theory. This breakthrough achievement
helped Wu's theoretical colleagues win the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics, but
unfortunately, the Nobel Committee overlooked Wu's experimental contribution)
(By Xuejian Wu, Yahoo News, 2-10-2021)
The search
for dark matter gets a speed boost from quantum technology
(Dark matter constitutes more than 80% of the matter in the universe. In a new paper
in the journal Nature, my colleagues on the HAYSTAC team and I describe how we used
a bit of quantum trickery to double rate at which our detector can search for dark matter.)
(By Benjamin Brubaker, Yahoo News, 2-10-2021)
A
newly discovered space object called 'Farfarout' is the most distant thing in our solar system
(Farfarout is 132 astronomical units (AU) from the sun, meaning it's 132 times farther
from the sun than Earth is, and about four times as far as Pluto. It takes about 1,000 years
for the planetoid to complete one orbit around the sun. It is about 250 miles across,
which would place it on the low end of being a dwarf planet like Pluto.)
(By Morgan McFall-Johnsen, Yahoo News, 2-10-2021)
*
Scientists Are Pretty Sure They Found a Portal to the Fifth Dimension
(Dark matter could be the result of fermions pushed into a warped fifth dimension.
While "warped extra dimension" (WED) is a trademark of a popular physics model first
introduced in 1999, this research, published in
European Physical Journal C, is first to
cohesively use theory to explain long-lasting dark matter problem in particle physics.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Yahoo News, 2-10-2021)
*
Scientists Are Testing a Mind-Blowing Time Theory in a Nuclear Reactor
(Physicist Joan Vaccaro using neutrinos & antineutrinos to measure the passage of time
within a powerful nuclear reactor; time may not be flowing from lower into higher entropy,
or disorder. Vaccaro believes entropy might result from time, not the other way around.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Yahoo News, 2-5-2021)
Stephen Curry passes Reggie Miller for second on NBA's all-time 3-point list
(Ray Allen 2,973; Stephen Curry 2562; Reggie Miller 2560; Kyle Korver 2450, James Harden 2352)
(By Jack Baer, Yahoo News, 1-23-2021)
This 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card just sold for $5.2 million, an all-time record for trading cards
(Rob Gough bought this 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle for $5.2 million,
smashing the previous high for a sports card sale.)
(By Mike Oz, Yahoo News, 1-14-2021)
*
Maybe 'dark matter' doesn't exist after all, new research suggests
(Dark matter makes up about 85% of the universe's matter; Stacy McGaugh says
signs of a faint gravitational tide, known as the "external field effect" or
EFE,
is observed statistically in orbital speeds of stars in more than 150 galaxies,
this cannot be explained by dark matter theories, but by MOND.)
(Tom Metcalfe, Yahoo News, 1-6-2021)
Steph Curry becomes third player in NBA history to make 2,500 career 3-pointers
(With a triple in first quarter against the Bulls, Golden State's point guard became
the third player in NBA history to reach 2,500 made 3-pointers in his career.)
3-pointers: Ray Allen 2973, Reggie Miller 2560, Steph Curry 2504, Kyle Korver 2450)
(By Tommy Call III, Yahoo News, 12-27-2020)
Shooting star: Curry makes 105 straight 3s post-practice
(Stephen Curry made 105 straight 3-pointers from the same baseline spot to
finish practice Saturday leading into Golden State's game Sunday game at Chicago.)
(By Janie McCauley, Yahoo News, 12-26-2020)
Piece of Great Pyramid Found in Scotland May Unlock Major Mystery
(In 2019, when curatorial assistant Abeer Eladany was reviewing objects in storage at
University of Aberdeen museum's Asia Collection, she came across a small, cigar box,
with Egypt's former flag on the box; Inside was a 5-inch piece of cedar broken into
three pieces; it was one of the three 'Dixon relics' lost for the past 70 years.)
(By Candida Moss, Yahoo News, 12-27-2020)
* SCIENCE:
The Universe May Have Actually Started With the Big Bounce— Not a Bang
(In the Big Bounce theory, the universe is expanding and contracting, seesawing back
and forth in a massively big-picture timeline. Some bouncers believe this happened
just once, while others believe a cyclical bouncing is what makes our universe.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo News, 12-14-2020)
* SCIENCE:
New Theory Casually Upends Space and Time
(North Carolina State University's Larry Silverberg & Jeffrey Eischen, suggest that fragments
of energy, rather than waves or particles, may be the fundamental building blocks of the universe.)
(By Tim Childers, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo News, 12-10-2020)
Jerrold Post: The man who analysed the minds of world leaders, died at age 86
(He was a psychological profiler for the CIA, examining the minds of world leaders
such as
Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-il. But in his later years he wrote a
book
"Dangerous Charisma:
The Political Psychology of Donald Trump and His Followers";
Salon interview on Trump as sociopathic.)
(BBC News, Yahoo News, 12-5-2020)
* WILDLIFE:
Gorilla Tends To Injured Bird In Heart-Melting Display Of Kindness
(A gorilla appears to tend to an injured bird and encourage it to fly
at a zoo in New South Wales, Australia, in video posted by Viral Hog.)
(By Ron Dicker, Huffpost, Yahoo News, 11-19-2020)
* ART:
Italian researchers attribute newly discovered sketch of Christ to Leonardo da Vinci
(Chalk drawing depicting Christ is the work by Leonardo da Vinci,
squirreled away for centuries in a private collection in Lombardy.)
(By Nick Squires, The Telegraph, Yahoo News, 11-17-2020)
SCIENCE:
Crows Are Self-Aware and 'Know What They Know', Just Like Humans
(Crows performed in a way that affirms their sensory consciousness, which scientists
say could mean the "neural correlates of consciousness" date back to at least the
last time birds and mammals shared that brain section: 320 million years ago.)
(By Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo News, 9-28-2020)
SPORTS:
23 things to know from Giants' historic 23-5 win over Rockies at Coors
(Alex Dickerson had 3 homers, 2 doubles, 16 total bases, 6 RBI, 5 runs scored.
Giants is first team in MLB history to have 3 players with 6 RBI in same game.)
(By Alex Pavlovic, Yahoo Sports News, 9-2-2020)
First-grade
agarwood can cost $100,000 per kilogram. Why is it so expensive?
(Agarwood known as "The Wood of the Gods"; Aquilaria malaccensis is a tree native to
rainforests of southeast Asia; healthy heartwood is worthless; need to be infected with mold.)
(Business Insider Video, Yahoo News, 8-27-2020)
SPORTS:
Rare Mike Trout rookie card sells for nearly $4 million at auction, an all-time record
(The 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor rookie card, sold at Goldin Auctions,
broke previous record of $3.12 million for 1909 Honus Wagner T-206 card, which sold in 2016.)
(By Mike DiGiovanna, Yahoo News, 8-23-2020)
The #1 Trick to Not Catching COVID-19— Revealed by This Yale Doctor
(Make Your Own "Safe Zone"— Checklist of 8 items.)
(By Sharon Chekijian, MD, Yahoo News, 8-21-2020)
Colossal
tree discovered in rainforests of Indonesia
[A giant medang tree, with an estimated circumference of 14 meters (45.9 feet) and
height of more than 35 meters (114.8 ft), has been found in the jungles of Indonesia.]
(By Adi Prima, Yahoo News, 8-20-2020)
Sports:
What's in the Uncle Jimmy collection? Some of the greatest finds in baseball card history
(When James Micioni passed away at age 97 on March 8, he left his family
his baseball cards collection that will fetch millions at multiple auctions.)
(By John Tomase, Yahoo News, 7-9-2020)
How Many Circles Do You See Here?
(See 20 rectangles & 4 yellow circles;
However there are 12 more faint circles.)
(By Andrew Daniels, Yahoo News, 7-7-2020)
Kobe Bryant discussed his future plans just days before death
(Mark Medina sat down with Kobe Bryant days prior to his tragic death
to discuss the NBA legends' future plans.)
(By Mark Medina, Yahoo Sports, 1-26-2020)
NBA-James passes Bryant for third on career scoring list
[LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant to become the third-highest career points scorer in the NBA;
He now has 36,655 career points, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) & Karl Malone (36,928).]
(By Reuters, 1-25-2020)
LeBron James passes Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for third on NBA's all-time scoring list
(Bryant scored 33,643 points in 1,346 games and 48,637 minutes over 20 seasons. It took James
26,200 field-goal attempts; he did it in 105 fewer games, almost 1,000 fewer minutes and three
fewer seasons, requiring nearly 2,000 fewer field-goal attempts to hit his mark.)
(By Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports, 1-25-2020)
Greatest signed baseball ever sells for record amount
(A baseball featuring 11 signatures from honorees at the first Hall of Fame induction ceremony
n 1939 sold at auction for $623,369 at SCP Auctions.
Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb and
other legends of early baseball signed the ball. Previous records were Babe Ruth single-signed
for $388K followed by Ruth/Gehrig dual-signed for $343K.)
(By Liz Roscher, Yahoo Sports, 8-13-2018)
Cubs
break Nationals' hearts with walk-off win that hasn't been seen in two decades
(Down 3-0. Two outs. Two strikes. Chicago Cubs rookie David Bote hit an ultimate grand slam to
deliver Cubs an astonishing 4-3 win; On 5/17/1996,
Baltimore Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles did
the same thing,
when the O's were down 13-10 to give them a 14-13 win over the Seattle Mariners;
On 6/21/1988,
Alan Trammell's Tigers were down 6-3, when his grand slam beat Yankees 7-6.)
(By Jack Baer Yahoo News, 8-13-2018)
Tom Brady asked Ichiro for advice on stretching, Ichiro had no idea who Brady was
(Ichiro Suzuki is so singularly focused on baseball, he had no idea who Tom Brady even was.)
(By Frank Schwab, Yahoo News, 5-9-2018)
SCIENCE:
Hubble flies through the Milky Way's 'raucous star nursery'
(New fly-through video
by Hubble Space Telescope of Lagoon Nebula, in center of the Milky Way;
"Herschel 36," a star 200,000 times larger than our sun, is 4,000 light years from Earth.)
(By Steve Dent, Yahoo News, 4-24-2018)
SPORTS:
The Red Sox' start 16-2 is ridiculous
(Red Sox outscored Angels 27-3 in their three-game series, striking out Shohei Ohtani
three times, holding Mike Trout to 3-for-11. It's best start for any team since the
1987 Milwaukee Brewers began 17-1, who lost 18 of 20 in May of that year.)
(By Craig Calcaterra, Yahoo News, 4-20-2018)
Singer and actor Vic Damone dies at 89
(Vic Damone, one of the generation of crooners that included
Frank Sinatra, died Sunday in
Miami Beach, FL.; He had 7 gold singles, including 1949 #1 hit "You're Breaking My Heart"
and his 1956 recording of "My Fair Lady" song "On the Street Where You Live.")
(By Andrea Dresdale, Yahoo News, 2-12-2018)
Ancient Egypt:
Mysterious 4400-Year-Old Tomb Reveals Rare Paintings in New Excavation
(Paintings of Hetpet, who was a priestess to Hathor, the goddess of fertility.)
(By Janissa Delzo, Yahoo News, 2-3-2018)
Scientists
May Have Found Planets In Another Galaxy For The First Time
(Astrophysicists found a number of extragalactic planets using
a technique called microlensing.)
(By Yahoo News, 2-3-2018)
Hunting Ghosts: Neutrinos Stopped in Their Tracks Could Reveal Higher Dimensions of Space
[Every second of every day, trillions of near massless neutrino particles from outer space
pass through our bodies. These mystery "ghost particles" are the most abundant in the universe
and are the only thing
that can move through Earth— including its dense core and come out the other side.]
(By Hannah Osborne, Yahoo News, 11-22-2017)
Dark Matter
and Energy Don't Exist: Astronomer Claims to Solve Universe's Greatest Mysteries
With New Model
[Astronomer André Maeder's paper in Astrophysics Journal (submitted 1-14-2017)
focuses on "scale invariance". This is the concept that says a feature of an object will not change
even if its length or energy scales are multiplied by a common factor.]
(By Hannah Osborne, Yahoo News, 11-22-2017)
There's
so much going on in this breathtaking new Hubble photo you could stare at it for years
(NASA Hubble Space Telescope's photo of "a random patch of sky" shows bright blue spiral galaxies,
bold orange clusters of galaxies, warped distant smudges of deep red, and bright white "worms".)
(By Mike Wehner, Yahoo News, 11-3-2017)
Subatomic Event More Powerful Than A Hydrogen Bomb Discovered—
Scaring Scientists
So Much They Almost Hid The Results
(Collision of two bottom charm quarks releases
138 megaelectronvolts of energy;
"quarksplosion" will have eight times more energy
than reactions of hydrogen bombs;
Nature 11-2-2017)
(By Meghan Bartels, Yahoo News, 11-3-2017)
Prospect Heat Check: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is going to be a star just like his dad
(Junior is hitting .327/.422/.500. He has 25 walks against 23 strikeouts.
Only 11 Hall of Famers' sons played in MLB, & the best of them—
Eduardo Perez, Dick Sisler and Dale Berra— were average.)
(By Jeff Passan, Yahoo News, 6-1-2017)
Crab Nebula: 5 telescopes combine to create mesmerising and detailed image of supernova
(5 years to combine data from Very Large Array, Spitzer Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope,
XMM-Newton, and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory was used to create the image of the Crab Nebula.)
(By Agamoni Ghosh, Yahoo News, 5-11-2017)
Jeremy Lin details the racism he dealt with while playing at Harvard
(Brooklyn Nets point guard Jeremy Lin told disturbing stories about racism playing at Harvard.)
(By Scott Phillips, Yahoo News, 5-11-2017)
This
NASA photo of Saturn's moon shows clouds you've never seen on Earth
(Clouds in the Titan photos are made of methane, captured by Cassini spacecraft on May 7, 2017)
(By Mike Wehner, Yahoo News, 5-10-2017)
See
the amazing 'super bloom' in central California
("Super bloom" of desert wildflowers gives landscape a blast of color inside Carrizo Plain
National Monument—
endless expanses of yellows & purples from coreopsis, tidy tips and phacelia.)
(By Joi-Marie McKenzie, Yahoo News, 4-7-2017)
Astronomers
discover 7 potentially habitable exoplanets
(7 planets orbit TRAPPIST-1, a dwarf star that is much younger than our sun and that will continue
to burn for another 10 trillion years; TRAPPIST-1 is 39 light-years, or 235 trillion miles, away from
Earth. It is located in the constellation Aquarius. Three of the seven planets may have water.)
(By Avianne Tan, Yahoo News, 2-22-2017)
Physicists may have just manipulated 'pure nothingness'
(The nothingness that exists on the quantum level is not only something,
but its fluctuations can be grasped, manipulated, and perhaps even observed.)
(By Bryan Nelson, Yahoo News, 1-20-2017)
Our
solar system might have a ninth planet, and researchers have an idea of where it came from
(New Mexico State University undergrad James Vesper & Professor Paul Mason, accept theory
that our solar system has a guest we didn't know about; that the unseen planet may actually
be a rogue world that was grabbed by our solar system as it floated aimlessly in space.)
(By Mike Wehner, Yahoo News, 1-12-2017)
Physicists
plan to test a new theory about the speed of light to explain what Einstein's theory can't
(Imperial College London's João Magueijo asked in 1998 that to solve the "horizon problem"
we might have to challenge the idea that the speed of light is constant.)
(By Akshat Rathia, Yahoo News, 11-27-2016)
David Ortiz fools fans as undercover Lyft driver in Boston
(Ortiz was able to fool some fellow Bostonians recently when he donned an afro wig and dubbed himself
"Donny" while serving as undercover Lyft driver; Ortiz's personality that steals the show.)
(By Mark Townsend, Yahoo! News, 9-29-2016)
Brilliant Venus and Moon Shine Together Tonight: How to See It
(Celestial treat on April 21: Turn to face west about 45 minutes after sunset, during mid-twilight, and
you'll see a beautiful crescent moon and well off to its right is the dazzling evening star: planet Venus.
At lower right of the moon, roughly half the distance separating the moon and Venus. Shining with
a distinct orange color, it's the 1st-magnitude star Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus.
Sky Chart
(By Joe Rao, Yahoo! News, 4-21-2015)
How the Hubble Space Telescope Changed Our View of the Cosmos
("The Hubble Space Telescope at 25: A Photo Anniversary" (Documentary); Since Hubble's launch
on April 24, 1990, 4,000 astronomers have used it to produce more than 12,700 scientific papers.)
(By Nola Taylor Redd, Yahoo! News, 4-21-2015)
Turin Shroud goes back on display for faithful and curious
(In 2010, some 2.5 million people came to see the
Shroud of Turin. Over 1 million
made reservations to see 14-foot cloth free on display April 19-June 24, 2015.)
(By Jessica Orwig, Yahoo! News, 4-18-2015)
BASEBALL:
Mike Trout becomes youngest player to hit 100 home runs, steal 100 bases
(Trout is 23 years and 253 days old surpassing Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, who reached
the 100 Home Runs/100 Stolen Bases club at 23 years old and 309 days old.)
(By Mark Townsends, Yahoo! News, 4-18-2015)
The truth about the mysterious center of the universe
(Earth is not center of the universe. Nor is the sun, the solar system, or even the Milky Way galaxy.
If the universe is infinite, then each person is at the center of their own observable universe.)
(By Jessica Orwig, Yahoo! News, 4-17-2015)
Watch this gorilla crack its glass cage after racing toward the little girl who provoked it
(Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska showed incident of a gorilla cracking the glass.)
(By Jessica Orwig, Yahoo! News, 4-17-2015)
Spectacular Milky Way Maps Show Our Galaxy in New Light
(In the new Milky Way maps from Planck's space satellite, red colors indicate dust,
yellow is gas, green is high energy particles, and blue is the magnetic field.)
(By Calla Cofield, Yahoo! News, 2-7-2015)
X-rays unlock secrets of ancient scrolls buried by volcano
(Hundreds of scrolls retrieved from remains of a lavish villa at Herculaneum, which along with
Pompeii was one of several Roman towns that were destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79.)
(By Frank Jordans, Yahoo! News, 1-20-2015)
Debbie Reynolds Opens Up About Time Elizabeth Taylor Stole Her Husband
(Eddie Fisher divorced Debbie Reynolds in 1959 and married Elizabeth Taylor later that year.)
(By Michael Rothman, Yahoo! News, 1-20-2015)
This close-up
video of molten lava spilling into the ocean is mesmerizing
(Lava entering the ocean on the rugged volcanic coastline on the island of Hawaii)
(By Jacob Siegal, Yahoo! News, 1-15-2015)
Watch An Elephant Demolish a Car in Thailand
(8-year-old elephant stomps on car in Thailand's Khao Yai National Park)
(By Nicole Wakelin, Yahoo! News, 1-14-2015)
This one uberskill will always keep you employed
(The skill is conceptualization: the ability to see how the elements of an abstract whole
fit together and to identify problems that need to be addressed before others do.)
(By Rick Newman, Yahoo! News, 12-10-2014)
Russian scientist spies mountain-sized asteroid heading our way
(Astrophysicist Vladimir Lipunov says newly discovered asteroid could collide with Earth
during its three-year orbital cycle. A giant meteor exploded over a Russian city in 2013)
(By Fred Weir, Yahoo! News, 12-8-2014)
Woman Bites Down On $3,000 Purple Pearl in Clam Shell
(One in 5,000 clams will grow a pearl; found $3000 purple pearl in $15 bag of clams)
(By Rheana Murray, Yahoo! News, 12-2-2014)
Mysterious Roman God Baffles Experts
(1st century B.C. relief, of an enigmatic bearded god rising up out of a flower or plant, was discovered
at the site of a Roman temple on the wall of a medieval Christian monastery near the Syrian border.)
(By Tia Ghose, Yahoo! News, 11-26-2014)
Without Pablo Sandoval, what do the Giants do now?
(Go after Jon Lester; get Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas; sign Chase Headley; trade Brandon Belt)
(By Mike Oz, Yahoo! News, 11-24-2014)
Odell Beckham Jr. makes the greatest NFL catch ever
(Beckham leaps, catches ball with one hand, twists himself sideways, stays in bounds, lands in end zone.
LeBron James: "Man I just witnessed greatest catch ever by Odell Beckham Jr! WOW!!!!")
(By Jay Busbee, Yahoo! News, 11-23-2014)
Historian to donate notes on famous Lincoln photo
(Ronald Rietveld, now 77, was 14 when he discovered photo of Lincoln in open coffin)
(By Don Babwin, Yahoo! News, 10-4-2014)
Galaxy's Huge Black Hole Puts on Spectacular Fireworks Show
(Messier 106, also called NGC 4258, 23 million light-years away with fireworks display.)
(By Kelly Dickerson, Yahoo! News, 8-5-2014)
A Tree In India Is Bigger Than The Average Wal-Mart
(A Giant Banyan tree looks like a forest from far away, but it's actually comprised of a myriad of aerial
roots. It covers 156,000 square feet, larger than the average Wal-Mart just under 105,000 square feet.)
(By Megan Willett, Yahoo! News, 7-24-2014)
Ancient Coins Found Buried in British Cave
(Archaeologists uncovered 26 ancient gold & silver coins from Corieltauvi tribe valued $3,400.)
(By Kelly Dickerson, Yahoo! News, 7-14-2014)
SLIDESHOW: 10 Things You Didn't Know About When Harry Met Sally
(25 years ago on July 12, 1989, meaning of phrase "I'll have what she's having" changed forever.)
(By Jen Chaney, Yahoo! News, 7-10-2014) (Rob Reiner's film;
Video)
FOOD: The Best Detox-y Broccoli Dishes
(Broccoli sprouts have a greater concentration of the active ingredient— glucoraphanin, which when
chewed or swallowed conjures a compound sulforaphane that actives pollutant-fighting enzymes.)
(By Rachel Tepper, Yahoo! News, 6-19-2014)
BASEBALL: Kershaw throws no-hitter, Dodgers rout Rockies 8-0
(Struck out 15 hitters, a career high, in throwing no-hitter, second in 3.5 weeks for Dodgers.)
(By Brett Zongker, Yahoo! News, 6-19-2014)
Heart of Darkness: Strange Gas Stream Blots Out Galaxy's Bright Core (Video)
Galaxy NGC 5548 is 245 million light-years away from Earth in Boötes constellation, the Herdsman.
Gas streamer eclipsed light from galaxy, blocking 90% of X-rays emitted by supermassive black hole.)
(By Charles Q. Choi, SPACE.com, Yahoo! News, 6-19-2014)
Picasso painting reveals hidden man
(Infrared imagery shows hidden portrait of a bow-tied man with his face resting on his hand
underneath Picasso's 1901 masterpiece "The Blue Room"
in Washington's Phillips Collection.)
(By Brett Zongker, Yahoo! News, 6-17-2014)
The FBI Tried To Lure Joe Montana Into A Sting
(FBI agent was under guise of potential investor for Montana's new hotel venture.)
(By Sally Hofmann, Daily Caller, Yahoo! News, 6-16-2014)
Cespedes makes phenomenal throw that would impress Bo Jackson
(Cespedes uncorked astonishing throw, from 310 feet away, reaching the mitt of catcher Derek Norris
on the fly— and just in time for him to put the tag on a stunned Howie Kendrick. Out at the plate!)
(By David Brown, Yahoo! News, 6-11-2014)
Dutch Scientists Just Shattered Our Conception Of How Information Will Travel In The Future
(Dutch physicists teleported information over 10 feet using quantum entanglement.)
(By Dylan Love, Yahoo! News, 5-29-2014)
19 Words That Will Make People Like You More
(Sir, Ma'am, You're welcome, Her'e what's happening, How can I help?, I'll find out, I believe in you.)
(By Bill Murphy, Yahoo! News, 5-19-2014)
BASEBALL: Troy Tulowitzki's amazing 2014 season (Slide Show)
(Troy Tulowitzki's .391 batting average, .497 on-base-%, .750 slugging % leads by wide margins)
(By Jeff Passan, Yahoo! News, 5-15-2014)
Medieval
fortress known as Dracula's castle is for sale (Slide Show)
(You can place a bid on it: Estimates hover in the $80 million to $135 million-plus range.)
(By Miriam Kramer, Yahoo! News, 5-15-2014)
Watch
Two Neutron Stars Merge and Form Black Hole (Video)
(Merger of two neutron stars creates a black hole in a new computer simulation from NASA)
(By Miriam Kramer, Yahoo! News, 5-14-2014)
Watch
as a Mother Elephant Rescues a Calf From the River
(6-month-old calf fell downstream in Kenya's Ewaso Nyiro River & rescued by older elephants)
(By Ralphie Aversa, Yahoo! News, 5-14-2014)
ODD NEWS:
Pet cat saves boy from dog that was attacking him (with video)
(Pet cat Tara chases away dog attacking young boy outside home in Bakersfield, California)
(By Will Lerner, Yahoo! News, 5-14-2014)
Scientists May Have Finally Pinpointed What's Killing All The Honeybees
(Harvard's Chensheng Lu pinpoints collapse of honeybees on pesticides known as neoniotinoids.)
(By Dina Spector, Yahoo! News, 5-13-2014)
Underwater archaeologist thinks he's discovered Christopher Columbus's Santa Maria
(Find of flagship would be 'Mount Everest of shipwrecks for me,' Barry Clifford says.)
(By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News, 5-13-2014)
'Hypervelocity Star' May Reveal Clues About Dark Matter in Milky Way
("Hypervelocity" star is traveling at 1.4 million mph relative to our solar system, about three times
faster than a typical star; it lies 42,400 light-years from Earth, above the disk of the Milky Way,
and is cruising toward the halo of dark matter that surrounds the galaxy.)
(By Mike Wall, Yahoo! News, 5-13-2014)
Tumblr has lost 7 million visitors since December
(Yahoo bought Tumblr around a year ago for $1.1 billion; Tumblr has dropped from a peak
of 49 million visitors in December to only 42 million in March, representing a 15% drop.)
(By Ben Zigterman, Yahoo! News, 5-12-2014)
A Founder Who Is Now A Billionaire Was Once Rejected By Silicon Valley Investors
For Having A Dumb Startup Idea
(Founder of $10 billion Dropbox,
Drew Houston,
was rejected by
Y-Combinator when he applied
in 2005 with an SAT prep startup idea;
they accepted his idea for Dropbox in 2007.)
(By Alyson Shontell, Yahoo! News, 5-5-2014)
Mystery First-Grader's Incredible Poem About Dancing Goes Viral
("We did the soft wind. / We danst slowly. We swrld / Aroned. We danst soft.
We lisin to the mozik. / We danst to the mozik. / We made personal space.")
(By Lilit Marcus, Shine Contributor, Yahoo! News, 5-1-2014)
Could Tiny 'Black Hole Atoms' Be Elusive Dark Matter?
(Russian astrophysicists Vyacheslav Dokuchaev & Yury Eroshenko suggest that dark matter
could be made of microscopic— or quantum—"black hole atoms." Photos)
(By Katia Moskvitch, SPACE.com, Yahoo! News, 5-1-2014)
'Mummy Lake' Used for Ancient Rituals, Not Water Storage
(Colorado's Mesa Verde, a large 1,000-year-old structure used for Puebloan rituals)
(By Joseph Castro, Yahoo! News, 4-29-2014)
Still use Internet Explorer? Don't
(Dept of Homeland Security says a security flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer
browser "could lead to the complete compromise of an affected system".)
(By Priya Anand, Yahoo! News, 4-28-2014)
Best National Park Adventures (Slide show of 16 photos)
(Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Mount Rainier, Great Basin, Zion, Big Bend, Acadia)
(Yahoo! News, 4-26-2014)
Milky Way's Structure Mapped in Unprecedented Detail
(Mark Reid of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics presents the most precise
data on the dynamics and structure of the Milky Way galaxy by measured parallax.)
(By Katia Moskvitch, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-23-2014)
Time-lapse video shows powerful asteroids strike Earth with surprising frequency
(Between 2000 and 2013, B612 Foundation detected 26 explosions on the planet ranging in energy
from 1 to 600 kilotons, all caused by asteroid impacts; Hiroshima A-bomb had 15 kilotons.)
(By Megan Gannon, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-23-2014)
Stunning Hubble Telescope View Reveals Deep View of Universe
(14-hour exposure of Hubble image showing objects 1 billion times fainter than naked eye can see.)
(By Mike Wall, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-22-2014)
The first total lunar eclipse of 2014 (Slide show of 26 photos)
(The 'Blood Moon' rises over the water in Wlliamstown on April 15, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia)
(By Scott Barbour, Yahoo! News, 4-15-2014)
Bad Moon Rising? Preacher Ties Blood Moons to Biblical Prophecies
(Televangelist John Hagee: four lunar eclipses beginning this month "blood moons" are a
sign that biblical prophecies are about to come true; Four Blood Moons;
Failed prophecies)
(By Marc Lallanilla, Yahoo! News, 4-14-2014)
'Double dealing': How Pakistan hid Osama Bin Laden from the U.S. and fueled the war in Afghanistan
(Carlotta Gall, who spent more than a decade covering Afghanistan since 2001, concludes
just that in her new book, The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan, 2001-2014.)
(By Martha Raddatz, Yahoo! News, 4-14-2014)
Dino-Killing Asteroid Impact Dwarfed by Earlier Space Rock Crash
(Stanford's Norman Sleep & Donald Lowe reconstructed mammoth collision 3.26 billion years ago,
asteroid 23-38 miles across created crater 300 miles wide, six times larger than dino-killing rock.)
(By Mike Wall, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-10-2014)
Does The Pope Know The Truth About Aliens?
(Ufologists Cris Putnam & Thomas Horn believe Vatican has known truth about aliens for decades.)
(By Megan Gannon, Yahoo! News, 4-10-2014)
Dazzling Milky Way Rises Over Maine Lighthouse in Stunning Panorama
(Astrophotographer A. Garrett Evans took 9-shot panorama of the Milky Way
rising over Cape Neddick Lighthouse in Maine on March 3, covers nearly 180.)
(By Nina Sen, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-10-2014)
SPORTS: Mike Schmidt proposes MLB use a 'force field' to call balls and strikes instead of umps
(Force field over home plate and if the pitcher throws and the ball touches
the force field a little bell goes off and it's a strike.)
(By Mike Oz, Yahoo! News, 4-10-2014)
Earth's Oldest Living Things Immortalized in Stunning Photos
(Photographer Rachel Sussman new book, Oldest
Living Things in the World showing 5,500-year-old
Antarctic moss, 80,000-year-old aspen colonies, 100,000-year-old underwater meadows of sea grass.)
(By Megan Gannon, Yahoo! News, 4-9-2014)
Celestial Diamond Ring Sparkles in Stunning Telescope Views
(Planetary nebula Abell 33 and the star called HD 83535 sparkles
like a cosmic diamond ring 2,500 light-years from Earth.)
(By Miriam Kramer, Yahoo! News, 4-9-2014)
Galaxy Cluster Doubles as Cosmic Magnifying Glass for Hubble Telescope
(Galaxy cluster MACS J0454.1-0300, is so massive, equivalent of about 180 trillion suns.)
(By Megan Gannon, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-8-2014)
Pretty Much Everyone Got Rejected from Stanford This Year
(Stanford rejected 95% of applicants, an all-time high among competitive schools.)
(By Arit John, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 4-8-2014)
How Steven Spielberg Made Millions Off 'Star Wars' After A 1977 Bet With George Lucas
(Lucas: 'I'll give you 2.5% of Star Wars if you give me 2.5% of Close Encounters.' So I said,
'Sure, I'll gamble with that. Great.' Spielberg's 2.5% could have made him nearly $40 million.)
(By Frank Pallotta, Yahoo! News, 3-18-2014)
Asteroid Found with Rings! First-of-Its-Kind Discovery Stuns Astronomers
(The asteroid's 155-mile diameter [250 kilometers] is dwarfed by the giant gas planets.)
(By Nola Taylor Redd, Yahoo! News, 3-26-2014)
Astronomers ring in startling asteroid find
(Twin rings around a rock called Chariklo, 4.3 & 1.8 miles wide, separated by a 5.4 miles gap.)
(By Mariette Le Roux, Yahoo! News, 3-26-2014)
Our Universe May Exist in a Multiverse, Cosmic Inflation Discovery Suggests
(Theoretical physicist Andrei Linde: "Every experiment that brings better credence to
inflationary theory brings us much closer to hints that the multiverse is real.")
(By Miriam Kramer, Yahoo! News, 3-19-2014)
See the moment physicist learns his life's work on Big Bang theory is valid, pops open Champagne
(Stanford Professor Andrei Linde's 30-years Big Bang theory is proven correct.)
(By Mike Krumboltz, Yahoo! News, 3-18-2014)
Tiny Planet Mercury Is Shrinking Fast
(NASA's space craft shows Mercury's crust has contracted as it cooled by as much as 4.4 miles)
(By Nola Taylor Redd, Yahoo! News, 3-18-2014)
Paradox Solved? How Information Can Escape from a Black Hole
(Carlo Rovelli & Francesca Vidotto: The black hole has a huge remnant, a
Planck star, releasing
the information into space, in the form of extremely bright events called
gamma-ray bursts.)
(By Katia Moskvitch, Yahoo! News, Space.com, 3-14-2014)
Scientists Scanned A Woman's Brain During An Out-Of-Body Experience—
And What They Found Was Amazing
[Andra M. Smith & Claude Messier, Journal Frontiers
of Human Neuroscience
(2-10-14): 24-year old student can voluntarily enter an out-of-body
experience. Her brain functional changes
associated with extra-corporeal experience were
different than those observed in motor imagery.]
(By Jennifer Welsh, Yahoo! News, 3-7-2014)
Runaway Pulsar Unleashes Longest X-Ray Jet in Milky Way Galaxy
(Runaway pulsar IGR J1104-6103 fires off longest X-ray jet in the Milky Way Galaxy. Jet stretches
37 light-years, nearly 10 times longer than the distance between the sun and its nearest neighbor star,)
(By Megan Gannon, Yahoo! News, 3-7-2014)
$10M Gold Coin Hoard Found in Yard May Have Been Stolen From Mint
(California couple who found buried gold coins valued at $10 million may not be so lucky.
The coins may have been stolen from the US Mint in 1900 and is property of the government)
(By Dina Abou Salem & Bill McGuire, Yahoo! News, 3-4-2014)
Mysterious Egyptian Spiral Seen on Google Maps
("Desert Breath" was constructed as two interlocking spirals in the Egyptian desert near
the Red Sea in March 1997 by Danae Stratou, Alexandra Stratou & Stella Constantinides.)
(By Marc Lallanilla, Yahoo! News, 2-25-2014)
How Our Milky Way Galaxy Got Its Spiral Arms
(More finely structured, multi-armed galaxies like Milky Way galaxy & its neighbor
Andromeda appeared much later, when the universe was 8 billion years old.)
(By Katia Moskvitch, Space.com, Yahoo! News, 2-24-2014)
"Hubble Space
Telescope Spies Spin of Nearby Galaxy"
(Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy rotates every 250 million years, the same amount
of time it takes the sun finish a lap around the core of our own Milky Way.)
(By Mike Wall, Yahoo! News, 2-23-2014)
"Source of Stonehenge Bluestone Rocks Identified"
(Stones' rock composition revealed they come from a nearby outcropping, located about
1.8 miles away from the site originally proposed as the source of such rocks.)
(By Tia Ghose, Yahoo! News, 2-23-2014)
Great Pyramid at Giza Vandalized to 'Prove' Conspiracy Theory
(Two Germans believe cartouche of Khufu as creator of Giza Great Pyramid is a fake,
and that pyramids were built thousands of years earlier by people from Atlantis.)
(By Benjamin Radford, Yahoo! News, 2-19-2014)
Jupiter Shines Near the Moon Tonight: How to See It
(Jupiter in Gemini close to waxing gibbous Moon on February 10 at 9:30 pm)
(By Joe Rao, Space.com, Yahoo! News, 2-9-2014)
'Oldest star' found from iron fingerprint
(Australian astronomers found a star 13.6 billion years old, 6,000 light years from Earth.)
(By Richard Ingham, Yahoo! News, 2-9-2014)
Mystery Solved: THIS Is How Salmon Find Their Way Home
(Nathan Putnam: Salmon placed in magnetic fields similar to those found in
the northern end of their habitats tended to swim south, and vice versa.)
(By Rachel Tepper, Yahoo! News, 2-7-2014)
'Pac-Man' Nebula Gobbles Up Space in Stunning Photo
(NGC 281 is an emission nebula in constellation Cassiopeia 9,500 light-years from Earth.)
(By Nina Sen, Yahoo! News, 1-28-2014)
SPACE: Ancient Mars May Have Been Habitable for Hundreds of Millions of Years
(Neutral-pH water flowed on Mars around 4 billion years ago, capable of supporting
microbial life for hundreds of millions of years in the distant past.)
(By Mike Wall, Yahoo! News, 1-23-2014)
Ancient Church Mosaic With Symbol of Jesus Uncovered in Israel
(Archaeologists in Israel uncovered intricate mosaics on floor of a 1,500-year-old
Byzantine church, including one that bears a Christogram surrounded by birds.)
(By Megan Gannon, Yahoo! News, 1-23-2014)
FBI warns retailers to expect more credit card breaches
(FBI has warned U.S. retailers to prepare for more cyber attacks after discovering about
20 hacking cases in past year involving same kind of malicious software used against Target Corp.)
(By Jim Finkle & Mark Hosenball, Yahoo! News, 1-23-2014)
ODD NEWS: Plate valued less than $1K sells for over $1M
[Walker's Fine Arts & Estate Auctions estimated that the glazed pottery featuring three clawed dragon
was between 300-500 years old, and valued the piece at $700-$900 Canadian (over $656-$844 US);
The anonymous winning bidder, purchased the plate for $1.025M Canadian (over $961K US)]
(By Charles Sakoda, Yahoo! News, 12-6-2013)
2 Million More Passwords for Facebook, Google, Twitter, Other Sites Were Stolen & Posted on Net
(25 most popular passwords in hackers' hands reported by BBC News and SpiderLabs: 123456,
123456789, password, admin, 12345678, qwerty, 1234567, 111111, photoshop, 123123,
1234567890, 000000, abc123, 1234, adobe1, macromedia, azerty, iloveyou, aaaaaa, 654321)
(By Julie Bort, Yahoo! News, 12-4-2013)
Clayton Kershaw's Would-Be $300 Million Isn't About Him
(Dodgers do not score when Kershaw pitches, almost always return following day and score a deluge
of runs; Not signing Kershaw to avoid a jinx akin to Babe Ruth with no World Series for 100 years.)
(By Jana Sosnowski, Yahoo! News, 11-4-2013)
Diver's sea creature find is 'discovery of a lifetime'
(Jasmine Santana finds 18-foot oarfish carcass at Catalina Island, Southern California;
bizarre-looking denizens are rarely seen and once spawned tales of sea serpents.)
(By Pete Thomas, Yahoo! News, 10-15-2013)
Jeremy Lin showed out in Rockets preseason win over Pacers in Taiwan (Videos)
(Lin scored 17 points on 6 for 8 shooting, including 3 for 4 from downtown, with four assists, three
steals, two rebounds & that one big block in 35 minutes of play as Houston topped Indiana, 107-98.)
(By Dan Devine, Yahoo! News, 10-14-2013)
Amateur Astronomer Captures Amazing Photo of Iconic 'Pillars Of Creation'
[AstrophotgrapherÊTerry Hancock captured an eye-catching view of "Pillars of Creation
in the Eagle Nebula (Messier 16 or NGC 6611) 6500 light-years away from the Earth.]
(By Nina Sen, Yahoo! News, 10-7-2013)
Here Be Dragons: The Evolution of Sea Monsters on Medieval Maps
[Chet Van Duzer's "Sea Monsters on Medieval & Renaissance Maps" (British Library, 2013)
charts evolution of mythical creatures that adorned atlases from 10th-17th century.]
(By Tanya Lewis, Yahoo! News, 9-7-2013)
10 Actual Facts About The Illuminati
(Dig deeper into the conspiracy theories and watch to find out 10 actual facts about the illuminati.
Music = Apollo Rising by Terry Devine-King; Owl not All-Seeing Eye is Illuminati's Logo.)
(All Time 10s, Yahoo! News, 8-7-2013)
Monogamy may sound sweet, but why it evolved isn't
(Less than 9% of mammal species pair up socially. Among primates, 25% are socially monogamous.
Mammals became monogamous because females had spread out geographically, so males had to stick
close by to fend off competition. Also fathers defend their young against being killed by other males.)
(By Seth Borenstein, Yahoo! News, 7-29-2013)
Kate Middleton
& Prince William's Baby's Name: Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge
(In the past three centuries more kings have been named George than any other name)
(By Elise Solé, Yahoo! News, 7-24-2013)
How humans will survive in a million years
(Annalee Newitz's book Scatter, Adapt, and Remember argues that humans will not be doomed.)
(By Rob Walker, Yahoo! News, 7-16-2013)
Impala eludes two hungry cheetahs by jumping into car full of tourists
(Tourist Samantha Pittendrigh captures incredible video on her mobile phone at Kruger National Park)
(By David Strege, Grindtv.om, Yahoo! News, 7-10-2013)
Gold nears three-year low; set for record quarterly loss
(Spot gold slumped to its lowest since Aug. 2010 at $1,223.54 an ounce; Gold prices have fallen more
than 25% this year and by 22.8% this quarter, biggest quarterly loss since Reuters data began in 1968.)
(By Jan Harvey & Veronica Brown, Yahoo! News, 6-26-2013)
Squirrel takes on snake in backyard rumble
(Squirrel more than holds its own against the gopher snake, going in for repeated bites and swipes.)
(By Mike Krumboltz, Yahoo! News, 6-26-2013)
Supermoon Photos: Year's Biggest Full Moon Wows Stargazers Worldwide
(Supermoon occurs because its orbit around Earth is not circular, so it swings closer at perigee.)
(By Clara Moskowitz, Yahoo! News, 6-24-2013)
TWA Flight 800 crash not due to gas tank explosion, former investigators say
(TWA Flight 800 explosion on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 people, caused by a missile)
(By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News, 6-19-2013)
Zimmer, You Might Not Like the Way This Looks
(George Zimmer, founder & CEO of Men's Wearhouse for 40 years was fired by Board.)
(By Courtney Reagan, Yahoo! News, 6-19-2013)
Woman virtually nobody has heard of, is on verge of becoming most powerful woman in the world
(Federal Reserve Vice Chairwoman Janet Yellen, widely tipped as the frontrunner to replace Bernanke
when his term expires in January; She will become the first woman ever to chair the
Federal Reserve.)
(By Matthew Boesler, Yahoo! News, 6-18-2013)
Second grader in wheelchair set apart from classmates in school photo
(Miles Ambridge with spinal muscular atrophy, visibly segregated from classmates in Grade 2 photo)
(By Jordana Divon, Yahoo! News, 6-18-2013)
Baker's Graduation Cake Mix-Up Ends in Purr-fect Mistake
(Laura Gambrel's mom told baker to put a cap on top of her face in the graduation cake;
Baker misheard mom's instruction and drew a cat on the head; Reddit had 29,000 up votes.)
(By Eliza Murphy, Yahoo! News, 6-18-2013)
'100 to 1 Odds': Man Survives 15-Story Fall in New Zealand
(20-year-old Tom Stilwell fell from Auckland apt building with broken wrist, neck & back fractures)
(By Susan Donaldson James, Yahoo! News, 6-18-2013))
6-year-old boy catches 100-pound tarpon like a pro
(Reed did it all himself, hooking and fighting tarpon; fish was bigger than he)
(By David Strege, Yahoo! News, 6-10-2013)
Valedictorian
Rips Up Preapproved Speech, Recites Prayer Instead
(Roy Costner IV ripped up his valedictorian's speech at Liberty High in Liberty, South Carolina.
He recited Lord's Prayer from Christ's Sermon on the Mount. YouTube viewed 245,000 times so far.)
(By Melissa Knowles, Yahoo! News, 6-6-2013)
Woman Who Let Powerball Winner Go Ahead of Her Has No Regrets
(Mindy Crandell, 34, let Gloria C. Mackenzie, 84, cut in line ahead of her to buy Quickpick Powerball
ticket that won $590.5 million jackpot in Publix store of Zephyrhills, Florida on May 18, 2013)
(By Paula Faris, Yahoo! News, 6-6-2013)
Giant, fluorescent pink slugs found on mountain
(8-inch bright pink slug found on Mount Kaputar in New South Wales, Australia)
(By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News, 5-30-2013)
Crippled Lion is Dachshund's Best Friend
(500-pound lion Bonedigger & 11-pound dog Milo have formed an unlikely friendship in Oklahoma)
(By Mother Nature Network, Yahoo! News, 5-29-2013)
Amazing find inside of used bible
(Marion Shurtleff bought a used Bible and found letter in it she wrote 65 years ago!)
(CBS Los Angeles, Yahoo! News, 5-28-2013)
Silver drops despite steady market tone elsewhere
(Silver down 3.8% to $21.66/ounce, lowest since Sept. 2010; Gold lower 1.6% to $1364/ounce)
(By Pan Pylas, Yahoo! News, 5-20-2013)
The ecosystem inside you
(Michael Fischbach)
(Microbiome is ecosytem in us with 100 trillion benign bacteria keeping us healthy)
(By Editorial Staff, Yahoo! News, 5-11-2013)
Only 150 of 3500 U.S. Colleges Are Worth the Investment
(Former Secretary of Education William Bennett, wrote
Is College Worth It? & ranks
top colleges)
(By Nicole Goodkind, Yahoo! News, 5-7-2013)
The One Skill Every American Needs to Learn
(Working as a programmer or software engineer has become the new rock star job.)
(By Nicole Goodkind, Yahoo! News, 5-3-2013)
Many causes for dramatic bee disappearance
(Bee disappearance since 2006 due to parasitic mite, multiple viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition,
genetics, habitat loss and pesticides. 1/3 of the human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants,
and honeybee is responsible for 80% of that pollination.)
(By Seth Borenstein, Yahoo! News, 5-2-2013)
Why Is Our Solar System Such a Cosmic Weirdo?
(900 exoplanets discovered but are any of them hospitable to life?)
(By Charles Q. Choi, Yahoo! News, 5-2-2013)
Humans Evolved Flexible, Lopsided Brains
(Two halves of the human brain are not symmetrical, more so than chimpanzees)
(By Tanya Lewis, Yahoo! News, 4-23-2013)
The stories of 2 brothers suspected in bombing
(Chechnya brothers Tamerlan Tsarnaev & Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are suspects in Boston bombing)
(By Jeff Donn & Jocelyn Noveck, Yahoo! News, 4-19-2013)
Hubble Telescope Snaps Stunning Nebula Photo for 23rd Birthday
(Dazzling video of the Horsehead Nebula based on Hubble's photos);
NASA
(By Mike Wall, Yahoo! News, 4-19-2013)
Nutella Is Disappearing From Columbia's Dining Halls At An Alarming Rate
(Chocolate-hazelnut spread Nutella costing dining halls $5000 a week to stock)
(By Megan Willett & Megan Durisin, Yahoo! News, 3-7-2013)
Shark-eating seal among rare and stunning scenes documented off South Africa
(Shark eating school of sardines & cape fur seal eating large sharks)
(By Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com, 2-5-2013)
Bone-Chilling Science: The Scariest Experiments Ever
(Earth-swallowing black holes, Zombie dogs, Mind control, Bat bombs)
(By Tia Ghose, LiveScience, Oct. 30, 2012)
Huge Moon-Forming Collision Theory Gets New Spin
(Matija Cuk of SETI: Moon coalesced out of tiny bits of pulverized planet
blasted into space by a catastrophic collision 4.5 billion years ago)
(By Mike Wall, SPACE.com, Oct. 17, 2012)
- Harvard Gazette:
*
Harvard alumna Amanda Gorman delivered a soaring inaugural poem
("When day comes we step out of the shade, /
aflame and unafraid. /
The new dawn blooms as we free it. /
For there is always light, /
if only we're brave enough to see it, /
if only we're brave enough to be it.")
(By Lian Parsons, Harvard Gazette, 1-20-2021)
Steven Pinker Receives Humanist Award
(Humanist Chaplain Greg M. Epstein said, "The goal of maximizing human flourishing— life,
health, happiness, freedom, knowledge, love, richness of experience— may be called humanism."
It's the way Pinker defined the philosophy in his recent book
Enlightenment Now.)
(By Casandra Luca & Ruth Zheng, Harvard Crimson, 3-5-2018)
Turn on, tune in, geek out
(Houghton collection of 120 pieces culled from 50,000 inherited from Julio Mario Santo Domingo Jr.:
a billionaire who was obsessed with the search for transcendence— is sorted into seven themes
for the exhibit: opium, psychedelics, cocaine, marijuana, sex, protest, and underground comics.)
(By Rebecca Coleman, Harvard Gazette, 11-20-2017)
ART & CULTURE: How a curator sees $450M Leonardo
(Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, or Savior of the World, a portrait of Christ dating to about 1500,
fetched a record-smashing $450.3 million at Christie's auction Wednesday in NY, despite concerns
regarding its condition and authenticity; Cassandra Albinson answers questions on this historic sale.)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 11-16-2017)
Beautiful Little Worlds: Harvard's Window into the Dutch Golden Age
(The Dutch tradition & the drawings are especially apt to open up immediately & viscerally this
relationship between the observer and the observed, and opens itself to life, the social order,
and the natural order at precisely a time when Holland was at the forefront of the Enlightenment.)
(By Hillary A. McLauchlin, Harvard Gazette, 11-16-2017)
ART $ CULTURE: The incomparable da Vinci
(In a dazzling new biography, Walter Isaacson plumbs da Vinci's relentlessly curious & creative mind,
poring over the to-do lists that da Vinci maintained to hold himself to his intellectual pursuits.)
(By Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette, 11-7-2017)
D'O: Making a Michelin-Starred Restaurant Affordable
(Chef Davide Oldani's Italian restaurant D'O balances Michelin-star-level
quality with affordable prices; there's an 18-month waiting list to dine there.)
(By Carmen Nobel, Harvard Business School News, 12-16-2013)
Evolution's Fast Track: Eyeless cavefish reveal mechanisms of cryptic genetic variation
[Among other changes, the "cavefish" swiftly (in evolutionary terms,
within just a few thousand years) lost their pigmentation— and their eyes.]
(By Stephanie Dutchen & Matt Fearer, Harvard Medical School News, 12-16-2013)
Why Give? Religious Roots of Charity
(Harvard Divinity School professors on the significance of giving)
(By Gordon Hardy, Harvard Divinity School News, 12-12-2013)
Strength in Diversity
Bacteria show surprising number of genetic paths to survival within each patient)
(By Stephanie Dutchen, Harvard Medical School News, 12-12-2013)
Muting the Mozart effect
(Contrary to popular opinion, research finds no cognitive benefits to musical training)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 12-11-2013)
That thing attached to your hand? It might be doomed
(Professor Woodward Yang on prospects for the smartphone amid fierce innovation)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 12-11-2013)
Journeys through song
(Professor Sugata Bose performs and instructs at Silk Road gathering)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 12-11-2013)
Found in Translation
(Woodberry associate curator brings Chinese poet Li Shangyin's work to widening audience)
(By Sarah Sweeney, Harvard Gazette, 12-10-2013)
Creative, useful, and fun
(Innovative CS50 fair projects include those by students from fields beyond computers)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 12-10-2013)
"As complex as a toy"
(Tadashi Tokieda creates & uses simple mechanisms to explain complex science)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 10-25-2013)
So near, so far, at Harvard
(Harvard's Class of 2017: 1,600 members, more men (52.4) than women,
57 countries & every state except Wyoming represented.)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 9-9-2013)
Destination space: Harvard professor begins training as NASA astronaut
(Jessica Meir selected from more than 6100 applicants among 8 astronauts.)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 9-6-2013)
The Little Old Machine That Could
(Microtome: a solid metal, hand-cranked, precision-machine made in 1931)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 9-5-2013)
Researchers to Sequence Genomes of Newborns
(Randomized trial is first to explore benefits & risks of genome sequencing in newborns)
(By Tom Langford, Harvard Medical School News, 9-5-2013)
Zines were the scene
(Caitlin Ballotta & Nora Garry spent 10 weeks in Widener Library
poring over recent acquisition of 20,000 zines and related material)
(By Colin Manning, Harvard Gazette, 9-4-2013)
Lasering in on tumors
(New tool, which 'sees' diseased cells, may greatly boost accurate brain surgery)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 9-4-2013)
'Let us begin again': President Faust opens academic year with remarks at Morning Prayers
(Reflecting on the Aug. 30 death of Seamus Heaney, iconic Irish poet who had often taught
and lived at Harvard over the past 34 years, Faust recalled his words in "Villanelle for an
Anniversary," a poem he composed in 1986 to commemorate Harvard's 350th anniversary.
"Seamus urged us to honor our past by looking to our future— 'Begin again' he wrote."
(By Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette, 9-3-2013)
Biases that can blind us
(Professor Mahzarin Banaji: Unconscious preferences can limit choices, stifle growth)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 9-3-2013)
Heaney's death caught 'the heart off guard'
(Noted Irish poet had long and deep ties to Harvard)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 8-30-2013)
Skip the juice, go for whole fruit
(Eating blueberries, grapes, apples lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.)
(By Amy Roeder, Harvard Gazette, 8-29-2013)
Hack Attacks, Explained
(Berkman Center's Zittrain sees lessons in computer assaults on media)
(By Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette, 8-29-2013)
Transparent artificial muscle plays music
(Electrical charges carried by ions, rather than electrons, can be put to meaningful use
in fast-moving, high-voltage devices, in Aug. 30 Science.)
(By Caroline Perry, Harvard Gazette, 8-29-2013)
Food, gender, culture
(Marilyn Morgan taught SWGS S-1155, "Gender, Food & Culture in American History")
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 8-29-2013)
Fueling the entrepreneuraial spirit (Professors Gary King & Eric Mazur)
(At Harvard, efforts grow to bring creative concepts to market)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 8-28-2013)
Atop the Amazon Rainforest
(Harvard scientist, others study how pristine air becomes polluted,
and how that may change climate)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 8-28-2013)
A year set to music:
Real-world accomplishment, in abundance, for Matt Aucoin '12
(Jorie Graham's approach to creation as an effort to get out of the way of something and let it speak.
It's a total effacement of the self in order to let something that is not you pass through you.)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 7-29-2013)
Bypassing Diabetes:
After weight-loss surgery, small intestine reprograms to regulate glucose
(After gastric bypass, the intestine reprograms itself to contain GLUT-1, taking glucose from
circulation and disposing of it, swiftly stabilizing blood glucose levels in the rest of the body.)
(Harvard Medical School News, 7-25-2013)
Bacterial blockade
(Research explains how gut microbes can inactivate cardiac drugs—
Peter Turnbaugh)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 7-23-2013)
The next gold rush: Outer space?
(Earth's gold from colliding dead stars in gamma-ray burst may be as large as 10 moon masses)
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Harvard Gazette, 7-17-2013)
Revolutionary discovery
(Colonists' 1767 petition uncovered in a Harvard library foreshadows the split with Britain)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 7-16-2013)
Three generations of HSPH researchers explore health benefits of exercise
(I-Min Lee research: link physical activity to a longer, healthier life.)
(By Amy Roeder, Harvard School of Public Health News, 7-11-2013)
Every stitch of Hitch
(Harvard Film Archive presents 10 weeks of British director's films, from the silents to the '70s)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 7-10-2013)
The Complete Alfred Hitchcock
(Harvard's Hitchcock Film Festival including new restorations of 9 of Hitchcock's silent features)
(Harvard Film Series, July 11-September 28, 2013; Admission Tickets at Carpenter Center)
Addicted to... Food?
(High-glycemic foods and substance abuse may engage the same brain mechanism)
(By Andrea Mooney, Harvard Medical School News, 7-3-2013)
Right down the middle, explained
(Neil Roach Research: Fast, accurate throwing played key role in evolution)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 6-26-2013) (Evolution of Throwing)
Sandel in Central Park
(Harvard's
Michael Sandel led public debate on "What are we worth?";
15,000 Harvard students took his "Justice" course
(Videos); Books:
What Money Can't Buy;
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 6-19-2013)
Harvard EdCast: 20 Minutes with Noam Chomsky
(Chomsky discusses Paulo Freire's writings and how they affected his thoughts on education
in America, the future of online learning, and the things in the world he doesn't know.)
(By Matt Weber, Harvard Gazette, 6-19-2013)
Gaiman as a guide
(Author Neil Gaiman, designer share details behind
"Make Good Art"—
His May 2012 Philadelphia's University of the Arts
commencement address
on creativity, bravery, & strength.);
2006 Google talk
(By Jennifer Doody, Harvard Gazette, 6-18-2013)
Oprah Winfrey: Failure is just movement
(Winfrey: "There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.")
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
Oprah Winfrey Commencement Speech | Harvard Commencement 2013
(Oprah addresses graduates at Harvard's 362nd Commencement at Tercentenary Theatre.)
(28:58 Video of Oprah Winfrey's address, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
Joy by the Yard
(Scenes from a sun-splashed Commencement, filled with rituals, reflections, memories, and laughter)
(By Alvin Powell, Colleen Walsh, & Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
Triumph against long odds
(Jirka Jelinek '13 grew up poor in Prague, but departs as a Harvard grad, with dreams ahead.)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
Embracing the magic of science
(After car accident left Jennifer Cloutier '13 paralyzed at age 6, her fascination with science bloomed.)
(By Jennifer Doody, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
A fascination with fixing bodies
(Josh Wortzel '13 draws inspiration from stem cell lab work with
Professor Richard T. Lee)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
Chasing the caffeine high
(With Cabot Café, budding entrepreneur Jesse Kaplan found startup success the old-fashioned way)
(By Katie Koch, Harvard Gazette, 5-30-2013)
Harvard's lucky '13s
(375 students from 1913 class fought in WWI; War of 1812 left 1813 class near unscathed, but
deliveries of firewood from Maine & books from England were interrupted; Class of 1713
had wolves roaming at night,
with ghost of Harvard's Puritan president Increase Mather
sponsoring Yard's only book burning.)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 5-29-2013)
"Run toward life"
(President Drew Faust to Class of 2013: "The best kind of learning does not train you to win.
It teaches you to ask what winning might mean. It cultivates curiosity and boldness")
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 5-28-2013)
Poetic justice, of a sort
(223rd Phi Beta Kappa Literary Exercises with poet
August Kleinzahler & reporter
Linda Greenhouse)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 5-28-2013)
Creative bursts from all corners
(Radcliffe workshop on creative breakthrough— Maureen N. McLane: "Poet breakthroughs are about
reframing, about reconnecting with vital sources in the language or in new dimensions of experience";
Alex Ross: "Hypnotic effect of opening bars in Wagner's Tristan & Isolde held audiences spellbound";
Maria Spiropulu: "Physics chases the dream of understanding nature to the core,
and require collaborations across disciplines. Science is seldom born with a single parent.")
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 5-24-2013)
Building on Einstein:
Relativity informs planet-finding method
(Exoplanet discovered using new method that relies on Einstein's special theory of relativity)
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Harvard Gazette, 5-14-2013)
Boldly going to Houghton
(Expanding its pop culture holdings, Houghton library acquires detailed 'Star Trek' writers' guide)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 5-10-2013)
Discovery of new hormone opens doors to new type 2 diabetes treatments
(The study appears in the online May 7, 2013 issue of Cell Metabolism)
(Harvard School of Public Health News, 5-7-2013)
Oh, the humanities!
(American B.A. degrees in humanities declined from 14% in 1966 to 7% in 2010)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 5-2-2013)
Subversive education
(Noam Chomsky elaborates on Paulo Freire's 1968 book Pedagogy of the Oppressed)
(By Chuck Leddy, Harvard Gazette, 5-2-2013)
Robotic insects make first controlled flight
(After a decade's work, RoboBees achieve vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering)
(By Caroline Perry, Harvard Gazette, 5-2-2013)
Mind-body Genomics
(Relaxation response immediately alters gene expression tied to inflammation, metabolism & insulin)
(By Sue McGreevey, Harvard Medical School News, 5-1-2013)
Understanding student weaknesses
(Best science teachers can predict their pupils' misconceptions, study says)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 4-30-2013)
Discovering the path to Harvard
(Student finds mentoring the perfect window of opportunity)
(By Sara Providence, Harvard Gazette, 4-30-2013)
Melding the Web and the tactile
(Harvard, other schools create a virtual classroom that uses museum collections)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 4-29-2013)
In plaza, 'remembrance walls' rise
(First use of revamped campus common space is as Boston Marathon memorial)
(By Lauren Marshall, Harvard Gazette, 4-29-2013)
Potential diabetes breakthrough
(Harvard's Doug Melton &
Peng Yi discover hormone
betatrophin that spurs beta cell production)
(By B. D. Colen, Harvard Gazette, 4-25-2013)
Confronting evil, embracing life
(With Harvard temporarily closed after Boston bombings, two conferences compressed into Saturday:
"Confronting Evil:
Interdisciplinary Perspectives" & "Proust and the Arts";
Gazmend Kapllani:
"The emptiness of Brattle Street
will stay with me for a long time. It was a symbol of the fragility
of good." Proust used 1,200,000 words in seven volumes
to convey a message that can be compressed
into just a few: Slow down, observe, engage, and remember. Love life.
Its moments— fleeting & delicate—
soon belong to the past. Only dreams, or the exquisite pain of memory, can bring them back.)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 4-23-2013)
How the attack affects our lives
(Harvard analysts discuss what's ahead in key ways after the Boston Marathon bombings)
(By Colleen Walsh & Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 4-16-2013)
Borders, books, and the Balkans
(Albanian novelist, Gazmend Kapllani, draws inspiration from Communist Albania's ink-dark past)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 4-12-2013)
Office, Ours
(Photos of Harvard Professors' offices reflecting their work space, books, tastes, and mementos)
(By Stephanie Mitchell, Staff Photographer, Harvard Gazette, 4-11-2013)
Not as evolved as we think
(Adaptation neither stops nor makes value judgments, says
Professor Marlene Zuk)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 4-11-2013)
Jobs, Einstein, and Franklin
(Walter Isaacson explored the genius of three transformative men— Benjamin Franklin, Einstein,
Steve Jobs, unraveling their intellectual brilliance & their common desire to help change the world.)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 4-9-2013)
On spirituality at Harvard
(President Drew Faust & Divinity Dean David N. Hempton discuss role of religious studies & values)
(By Lucia Huntington, Harvard Gazette, 4-5-2013)
Something in a name
(Pope's choice of Francis suggests great concern for have-nots, Divinity School speakers say)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 4-3-2013)
Portraits of vanished Indian life
(Whether candid or staged, rare 19th-century images offer insight into a fading America)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 3-26-2013)
The dark side of chocolate
(West Africa produces 3/4 of world's cacao in chocolates, farmed under harsh human conditions)
(By Jennifer Doody, Harvard Gazette, 3-22-2013)
The power of 'thanks'
(Sidetracked
by Harvard Business School's Francesca Gino outlines ripple effects of gratitude)
(By Chuck Leddy, Harvard Gazette, 3-19-2013)
Poetic greetings
(Visitors to Lamont Library's Woodberry Poetry Room can pick up a retro-looking handset and listen
to renowned poets, Allen Ginsberg, Denise Levertov, Donald Hall, or James Tate recite their works.)
(By Colin Manning, Harvard Gazette, 3-18-2013)
A new face at the Vatican
(Harvard analysts weigh in on Catholic Church's Pope Francis, and its future)
(By Katie Koch & Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 3-13-2013)
Letting religion in
(Speakers at Veritas Forum argue for faiths' role as part of open discussions)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, 3-7-2013)
Dying stars source of life?
(Future evidence for extraterrestrial life might come from dying stars)
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Harvard Gazette, 2-26-2013)
100 years of Harvard University Press
(In 1950, Harvard University acquired extensive collection of Dickinson's manuscripts, which led
to Poems of Emily Dickinson published by HUP,
1st scholarly edition of Dickinson's 1,800 poems.)
(By Colin Manning, Harvard Gazette, 2-26-2013)
Money, marriage, kids
(Stumbling on Happiness)
(To attain happiness, Daniel Gilbert says, consider your mom's recipe)
(By Chuck Leddy, Harvard Gazette, 2-21-2013)
A different take on Tut
(French Egyptologist Marc Gabolde says King Tut's mother was his father's first cousin, Nefertiti.)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 2-11-2013)
Astronomically close
(Center for Astrophysics scientists say Earth-like planets are galactic neighbors)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, 2-6-2013)
A Web browser in the heavens
(Astronomer Alyssa Goodman
used WorldWide Telescope to zoom in on stars at
Harvard Allston Education Portal,
and teach kids a historical overview of 3,500 years of astronomy)
(By Chuck Leddy, Harvard Gazette, 2-4-2013)
26 immortal portals
(Class examines art, history, and significance of Harvard Yard's 26 gates surrounding campus)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 1-31-2013)
Five ideas for better schools:
Askwith panel promotes fresh ways to jump-start effective learning
(Elizabeth City: "We focus too much on schooling and not enough on learning.")
(By Chuck Leddy, Harvard Gazette, 1-30-2013)
When fairness prevails:
Harvard research shows how uncertainty affects behavior
(Better to be fair than selfish; Playing The Ultimatum Game)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 1-30-2013)
An idea that changed the world (100 years ago)
(Jan. 23, 1913: Andrey A. Markov lectured on computational technique now called
Markov chain)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, 1-23-2013)
Inside India's pop-up city (30 million visitors bathe in the Ganges)
(Harvard team maps the Kumbh Mela, world's largest gathering)
(By Katie Koch, Harvard Gazette, 1-21-2013)
New avenue in neurobiology (Paola Arlotta)
(Harvard researchers turn one form of neuron into another in the brain)
(By B.D. Cohen, Harvard Gazette, 1-21-2013)
A hidden genetic code
(PNAS)
(Researchers identify key differences in seemingly synonymous parts of the structure)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, 1-18-2013)
Poetry in the making
(David McCann promotes
Korean sijo poetry)
(By Sarah Sweeney, Harvard Gazette, 11-20-2012)
Does Playing Soccer Change the Brain?
(White matter in brain of 12 soccer players different than those of 8 swimmers)
(By Tim Sullivan, Harvard Medical School News, Nov. 26, 2012)
When jazz was king: Panel examines the music's past, present, and future
(Performing jazz exposes people to genres that they might not even have known they would like)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, Nov. 5, 2012)
How Google sees the race: Search data sheds light on likely voters, Ph.D. student finds
(Used Google Insights for Search, online tool for extracting data from millions of Google searches)
(By Peter Reuell, Harvard Gazette, Nov. 5, 2012)
Probing sleep's drowsy mystery: Researchers stay up nights trying to understand rhythms, effects
(Alex Shier uses laboratory zebrafish to probe genetic basis of sleep)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, Nov. 2, 2012)
So doggone complicated: Geneticist probes dog genome to understand human DNA better
(300 breeds of dogs; Elaine Ostrander has 13,000 DNA samples from registered dogs)
(By Alvin Powell, Harvard Gazette, Oct. 30, 2012)
Peer pressure in politics: It's a force to be reckoned with in voting or campaign funding
(Betsy Sinclair says pressure to conform with a group is the reason
we vote for a favorite candidate, buy Girl Scout cookies or Tupperware.)
(By Edward Mason, Harvard Gazette, Oct. 26, 2012)
Challenging Parkinson's Dogma: Dopamine not only player in neurodegenerative disease
(Bernardo Sabatini found
GABA
in addition to dopamine neurons release in the brain)
(By Elizaabeth Cooney, Harvard Medical School News, Oct. 24, 2012)
Found in translation: French historian charts creation of literary archives
(Roger Chartier's work examines the history of books, publishing, and reading,
with a recent focus on the intersection of written culture and literature.)
(By Colleen Walsh, Harvard Gazette, Oct. 23, 2012)
In 40 films, story of a screen great: Harvard festival covers rise of Paramount Pictures
(Centennial of Paramount Pictures founded by Adolph Zukor in 1912)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, July 12, 2012)
The History at Houghton
(Built in 1942, Houghton Library housed rare books & manuscripts;
It has Emily Dickinson's teacup, Harry Houdini's handcuffs, and pencil made
at factory owned by family of Henry David Thoreau.)
(By Corydon Ireland, Harvard Gazette, Nov. 9, 2011)
Eight weeks to a better brain: Meditation study shows changes associated with awareness, stress
(Meditation found by Sara Lazar
to provide cognitive & psychological benefits)
(By Sue McGreevey, Harvard Gazette, January 21, 2011)
Helen Vendler on Dickinson
(In Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries,
Vendler looks closely at 150 of Dickinson's more
than 1,700 poems; Emily Dickinson's greatest descriptive originality lies in her angle of vision.)
(By Sarah Sweeney, Harvard Gazette, Sept. 2, 2010)
Puzzling through Yeats with Helen Vendler
(Vendler's Our
Secret Discipline: Yeats and Lyric Form, published in 2007;
Analyzed Yeat's
"Vacillation"—
poem's first section closes with the question "What is joy?"
We see all of false answers:
getting a wife, getting gold, religion, salvation. For the poet, creativity is the way
to face death. Show what you've done, then you can come to your tomb in a way that makes life full of joy.)
(By Emily T. Simon, Harvard Gazette, Nov. 6, 2008); Yale Video
- Time Magazine:
* TECHNOLOGY:
Everyone on the web will die. What about their data?
(The Internet is aging. As soon as 2060s, there may be more dead than alive users on Facebook.
Many of the platforms that are now part of society's basic infrastructure face a similar prospect.
What happens when they— and their users— die will be a critical battleground for the
internet's future. We have done virtually zero preparation for it. This poses a serious threat
to an economy based on targeted advertisement (the dead don't click on any ads, but require
server space nevertheless)... Musk owns entirety of tweets that constitute(d) #Metoo movement.
When future historians will seek to understand their past,
it is Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg
who will set the terms... For the archives have always belonged
to the dead. What is new about
the online world is just that the living have moved in with them.
(By Carl Ohman, Time, August 26, 2024, p. 17)
* SOCIETY: The Pursuit of Happiness
(My Week at the Buzzy Meditation Retreat That Promises Bliss on Demand: In 2021, as part of an effort to
investigate whether life could get even better, Nick Cammarata discovered the jhanas.
These 8 advanced meditative states, characterized by deep concentration & blissful absorption, have been
practiced for thousands of years but were long considered domain of mystics & monks with decades of training.
Cammarata, taught himself to enter these states after 1,000 hours of solo meditation practice.
"I was shocked that it was possible to get this thing you turn on in 10 seconds & just get joy for five hours
straight," he says. "Nobody talks about it."). Stephen Zerfas,
32-year-old CEO & co-founder of
Jhourney
with Alex Gruver had 16 retreats since 2022.
The online retreats cost $1,100 & in-person ones start at $1,800,
though a higher-end offering in June cost upward of $5,000.
Jhourney's motto, "Come for the bliss, stay for the personal growth."
(By Naina Bajekal & Applegate, Calif, Time, August 26, 2024, pp. 36-44)
8 Questions for Jill Lepore:
on her latest book "The Deadline" (8-29-2023);
Jill Lepore
is a Harvard historian;
Q: Another essay gets into the history of Barbie. Have you seen the film?
A: I hated the film. Q: Why?
A: I will be unpopular for saying this. To pretend that a story about
peddling plastic Barbie dolls for a giant international corporation
is a story of feminist liberation, it's just almost unbearably sad to me.
It's just a bizarre, creepy love letter to tyranny and capitalism.
(By Oliver B. Waxman, Time, Sept. 4, 2023. p. 64)
* OpenAI
CEO Sam Altman Is Pushing Past Doubts on Artificial Intelligence
(Altman's company, OpenAI, is only 7 years old. It has fewer than 500 employees.
But in the span of 6 months, the company— through its viral product ChatGPT—
has vaulted AI into public consciousness. Few doubt it's at the vanguard of a revolution
that will, for better or worse & probably both, change the world. ChatGPT is almost certainly
the most rapidly adopted product in the history of technology. In two months, ChatGPT had
more than 100 million unique visitors. Instagram took 30 months to reach that level. "Look,
if AGI goes wrong, no bunker's going to help anyone," he says, adding later: "the scary part
is just sort of putting this lever into the world will for sure have unpredictable consequences.")
(By Edward Felsenthal, Time, July 3, 2023. pp. 42-46)
* TIME's Interview With OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
(Q: What will the interface look like as the technology integrates more deeply into our lives?
A: You'll be able to do this with two-way voice, and it'll feel real time. You'll be able
to talk
like two people doing conversations, and that'll be powerful. You can [eventually] imagine
a world where, as you are talking, it's like the Star Trek holodeck.
Q: What's coming in six months, a year?
A: There's a lot of stuff that'll come. We'll get images and audio and video
in there at some
point, and the models will get smarter. But the thing that I think
people are really going to be
happy about is right now if you tried something 10,000 times
and took the best one out of
10,000 responses, it's pretty good for most questions, but
not all the other ones. GPT-4 has
the knowledge most of the time, but you don't always
get its best answer. And how can we
get you the best answer all the time, almost all
the time? If we can figure that out, and that's
like an open research nut to crack, that'll be a big deal.)
(By Edward Felsenthal, Time, June 21, 2023)
Survival of the Fittest
(The evolutionary case that humanity is already on its way to giving up its own dominance.
Selfishness doesn't require malice or even sentience. Whe an AI automates a task and leaves
a human jobless, this is selfish behavior without any intent. If competive pressures continue
to drive AI development, we shouldn't be surprised if they act selfishly too... THe future of
humanity is closely intertwined with progrssion of AI. It is therefore a disturbing realization
that natural selection may have more sway over it than we do. But as of now, we are still in
command. It's time to take this threat seriously. Once we hand over control, we won't get it back.)
(By Dan Hendrycks, Time, June 12, 2023. pp. 38-41)
Don't call it an arms race
(The window of what AI can't do seems to be contracting week by week. Machines can now write
elegant prose and useful code, ace exams, conjure exquisite art, & predict how proteins will fold.
Progress in AI could lead to creation of superhumanly-smart artificial "people" with goals that
conflict with humanity's interests— and the ability to pursue them autonomously. Think of
a species that is to homo sapiens what homo sapiens is to chimps. Yet while many fear that AI
could mean the end of humanity, some worry that if "we”— usually used to mean researchers
in the West, or even researchers in a particular lab or company— don't sprint forward,
someone less responsible will. If a safer lab pauses, our future might be in the hands of a
more reckless lab— for example, one in China that doesn't try to avoid substantial risks.)
(By Katja Grace, Time, June 12, 2023. p. 41)
8 Questions:
Satya Nadella: The man who has helmed Microsft since 2014 talks AI,
jobs, and the case for developing the new technology despite growing concerns
Q: What is one unintended consequence of AI that regulators should watch out for?
A: Bias. One of the key things is to ensure that when you're using these technologies,
that by some unintended way, biased outputs are not causing real-world harm.
Q: What is going to change in the workplace with the adoption of AI?
A: AI is moving from being auto-pilot to being a co-pilot that helps us at our work.
You put the human in the center, and then create this tool around them that empowers them
and takes the drudgery away from work. How much time do we spend just coordinating and
how much time do we spend creating— which is what gives us real joy. If we can tilt that
balance toward more creativity, we will all be better off.
(Video: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on AI, 5-1-2023)
(By Alana Semuels, Time, June 12, 2023. p. 76)
Harry Belafonte:
Trailblazing performer and fierce activist, dies at 96
(By Andrew R. Chow, Time, May 8, 2023, p. 13)
Harry Belafonte, singer, actor & activist who broke one barrier after another
in his tireless fight for equality & civil rights, died on April 25. He was 96 and
died of congestive heart failure. With knockout good looks
& a warm, acrobatic voice,
Belafonte rose to fame as a matinee idol in the 1950s, becoming one of few crossover
Black stars in a segregated nation. His songs, including "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" &
"Jump in the Line", brought calypso music to American audiences & became enduring hits.
But at height
of his mainstream fame, he stepped back from entertainment to
devote bulk of his time to burgeoning
Civil Rights Movement. He became a key
economic engine & behind-the-scenes organizer for many
of the sit-ins, freedom rides
& marches that would sweep the South & propel social and federal change.
7 Questions: Salman Rushdie Is Recovering, Reflecting, and Writing About the Attack
on His Life in August 2022 attack that nearly killed him— Rushdie, who was stabbed more
than 10 times, describes his recovery from the Aug. 12, 2022 attack with the kind of measured
care that has kept him in the land of the living. "Slowly does it", he says. A tinted lens
hides his right eye, which no longer sees. "The knife went quite deep in. The knife went as
far as the optic nerve." He also lost the use, for a time, of his left hand, but that's coming
back. His longtime therapist has helped with "nightmares, and that sort of thing," he says.
(By Karl Vick, Time, May 8, 2023. p. 64)
*
10 Questions: Ada Limón, the New U.S. Poet Laureate, Talks About Poetry's Role
in Recording the Pandemic, Her Favorite Nature Spots & the Last Thing That Made Her Cry
(Ada Limón, author of six books of poetry, started her term as the 24th Poet Laureate
of the U.S. on September 29. As host of the podcast The Slowdown, she focuses on new
ways to make poetry accessible. I write in an unlined journal, in black ink and in cursive.
I will write seeds of poems— ideas. It also includes my to-do list and my dream recordings.
I just cried this morning. A friend wrote, “Stay close”—that was how she ended her email. It made
me tear up because I felt so grateful for friends & those moments where people have your back.
(By Olivia B. Waxman, Time, Oct. 16, 2022)
BUSINESS: Inside the Making of CoComelon, the Children's Entertainment Juggernaut
(CoComelon is the most streamed children's entertainment program in the world. The show
was watched for 33 billion minutes last year, more than the Netflix hits Squid Game
and Bridgerton combined, according to Nielsen. CoComelon had 3.6 billion views on
YouTube in January, according to Tubular, as many as three-quarters of whom were from outside
the U.S. CoComelon was a Top 10 show on Netflix for more than 100 straight days in 2021,
And its music is streamed 1.3 million times a day on Spotify.)
(By Alana Semuels, Time, March 28, 2022, pp. 78-81)
Dr. Seuss Made More Money Than Ever Before After Pulling
Racist Books. Here's How CEO Susan Brandt Did It
(The Seuss brand has since expanded from books to include films, television, stage productions,
digital games, theme parks, exhibitions, licensed products and more. Brandt, a Seuss veteran
who has been with the company for 24 years and most recently served as president, is credited
with spearheading recent savvy ventures with Netflix and Warner Brothers.)
(By Megan McCluskey, Time, March 20, 2022)
The Enduring Hope of Jane Goodall
(She says "I've always loved being by myself". Now at 87, with over 60 years research on chimps.
Reads poem "It Couldn't Be Done" by Edgar Albert Guest:
"Just start in to sing as you tackle the
thing that 'cannot be done', and you'll do it."
She looks up, eyes flashing. "Don't you love that?")
(By Ciara Nugent, Time, October 11, 2021, pp. 36-41)
15 Questions: Jasper Johns
(Jasper Johns, possibly America's most famous living artist and still plying his trade at 91,
launches two retrospectives on Sept. 29; one at Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC
and other at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I do still read poetry, old and new. I read
The Poetry Project's newsletter when time allows. I am lucky for being able to devote
myself to work that remains interesting to me.)
(By Belinda Luscombe, Time, October 11, 2021, p. 112)
Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
(They turn compassion into boots on the ground through their Archewell Foundation.
They give voice to the voiceless through media production. They run toward the struggle.)
(By José Andrés, Time, September 27, 2021, pp. 103-104)
Why Is Everything More Expensive Right Now? Let This Stuffed Giraffe Explain
(Jani, a 4-foot plush giraffe, used to cost $87. Now she's $116; Before the pandemic,
Jani could have gotten from factory to my door in about 81 days; now it takes 106 days.)
(By Alana Semuels, Time, September 12, 2021, pp. 46-51)
Prince Philip Was Queen Elizabeth's 'Strength and Stay'. Marriage Was Also Incredibly Complex
(Married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years, since Nov. 20, 1947.
Rumored affairs of Philip during five-month stag do in 1956.)
(By Olivia B. Waxman, Time, April 9, 2021)
FILM: Antoine Fuqua Remembers the Storytelling Genius of Shinobu Hashimoto
(Saw Seven Samurai as a kid in Pittsburgh that was so beautiful and poetic and powerful
and heartbreaking. It was all about justice, it was all about sacrifice, and it made me want to
be one of those guys. When MGM called me about remaking The
Magnificent Seven based
on Seven Samurai, I couldn't say no, and
remade it in 2016, starring Denzel Washington.)
(By Antoine Fuqua, Time, August 6, 2018, p. 16)
MENTAL HEALTH: Teen Depression and Anxiety: Why the Kids Are Not Alright
(In 2005, 30% of girls & 20% of boys— totaling 6.3 million teens— have had anxiety disorder.)
(By Susanna Schrobsdorff, Time, Nov. 7, 2016, pp. 42-51)
The Lessons from New York's Flooded Subways
(New York City's subways shut down: 660 miles and 468 stations)
(By Jeffrey Kluger, Time, Oct. 30, 2012)
SPACE: Hors d'Oeuvre for the Milky Way
(120,000-light year width and 300 billion stars will not eat more as it used to)
(By Jeffrey Kluger, Time, Oct. 26, 2012)
RELIGION: Beyond the Wardrobe
(95 million Narnia books by
C.S. Lewis have been sold since 1945; His
Mere Christianity
with homey metaphors on his Christian belief is superbly organized and easy to follow)
(By David Van Biema, Time, Oct. 30, 2005)
The 160,000-Year-Old Man
(Tim White of UC Berkeley unearthed the long-sought fossil remains of what
could be the very first true Homo sapiens, dated 160,000 years ago in Ethiopia.)
(By Michael D. Lemonick & Andrea Dorfman, Time, June 16, 2003, 56-58)
- Other News Sources:
* David Bohm, Quantum Mechanics and Enlightenment
(Bohm opposed Bohr's
Copenhagen interpretation
that an electron has no definite
existence apart from our
observation of it. Bohm rejected the claim of physicists such as
Hawking and
Weinberg that physics
can achieve a final “theory of everything” that explains the world. Science is
an infinite, “inexhaustible process,” he said.
The unlimited must include the limited. We have to say, from the unlimited
the limited arises, in a creative process. Friend of Hindu sage
Jiddu Krishnamurti on spirituality & enlightenment.)
(By John Horgan, Scientific American, 7-23-2018)
Human foot found on Everest may hold key to one of mountaineering’s greatest mysteries
(When a National Geographic documentary team discovered a boot & sock sticking out
of a melting glacier on Mount Everest in September, they almost immediately recognized
its significance as a clue to a century-old mystery. A name label still stitched onto the
woollen sock read "A.C. Irvine," revealing that it probably belonged to British climber
Andrew "Sandy" Irvine. Irvine's disappearance on Everest in 1924, alongside his compatriot
George Mallory, is one of mountaineering's biggest mysteries – with a solution that has
the potential to change history.)
(By Issy Ronald, CNN, 10-11-2024)
Family tells of 'relief' after 1924 climber’s foot found on Everest
(Last month, a team of climbers filming a National Geographic documentary stumbled on
a preserved boot, revealed by melting ice on a glacier. This boot was believed to belong
to Andrew Comyn "Sandy" Irvine, who disappeared while attempting to climb Everest in June 1924
with his partner George Mallory. What's more, it could potentially help solve one of mountaineering's
biggest mysteries: whether or not the pair succeeded in becoming the first people to summit Everest,
29 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the top.)
(By Tessa Wong & Flora Drury, BBC News, 10-11-2024)
* Nobel
laureate Geoffrey Hinton is both AI pioneer and front man of alarm
("I wish I had a sort of simple recipe that if you do this, everything’s
going to be okay. But I don’t." Now a professor emeritus at the University
of Toronto, Hinton has made it abundantly clear in the roughly 18 months
since his Google departure that he thinks that AI may escape human control
at any time — and once it does, all hell may break loose.)
(By Noor Al-Sibai, Futurism, 10-9-2024)
Flowers Are Evolving to Have Less Sex
(Every spring, trillions of flowers mate with the help of bees and other animals.
They lure the pollinators to their flowers with flashy colors and nectar. As the animals
travel from flower to flower, they take pollen with them, which can fertilize the seeds
of other plants. As toxic pesticides and vanishing habitats have driven down the populations
of bees and other pollinators, some flowers have evolved to fertilize their own seeds more
often, rather than those of other plants. Ecologist Pierre-Olivier Cheptou at University of
Montpellier in France, surprised at speed of changes, which occurred in just 20 generations.)
(By Carl Zimmer, Society of Enviromental Journalists, 1-4-2024)
NY Times
* Welcome to the public domain, Mickey Mouse
[It's finally happened: after nearly a century, Mickey Mouse has slipped off Disney's copyright leash.
First versions of the iconic cartoon character, seen in Steamboat Willie enter the public domain
in the US on January 1, 2024. (An early version of Minnie Mouse is also fortunately included.) Other losing
copyrights: D.H. Lawrence's scandalous, oft-censored Lady Chatterley's Lover:
J.M. Barrie's play Peter Pan; Original German Threepenny Opera song "Mack the Knife";
A. A. Milne's House at Pooh Corner, introducing the character of Tigger; M.C. Escher's Tower of Babel woodcut.]
(By Adi Robertson, The Verge, Jan. 2, 2024)
Taylor Swift Named Time Magazine's Person Of The Year
(Taylor Swift has been crowned Time Magazine's Person Of The Year for 2023. This achievement closes out
what was a remarkable year for Swift, which saw her earn multiple Grammy nominations and break records.
Her Eras Tour is set to become the biggest in history and the film adaptation of the show is already
the biggest concert movie of all time. Swift also became Spotify's most-streamed artist globally, with
her songs racking up more than 26 billion streams. People Magazine named her "the Most Intriguing Person
of the Year," while Forbes called her "the world's most powerful woman in media." "For building a world
of her own that made a place for so many, for spinning her story into a global legend, for bringing joy
to a society desperately in need of it, Taylor Swift is TIME's 2023 Person of the Year," Sam Jacobs,
editor-in-chief of Time said in a statement.)
(The Mercury, Manhattan, Kansas, Dec. 6, 2023)
OBITUARY:
Henry Kissinger, American diplomat and Nobel winner, dead at 100
(Henry Kissinger, a diplomatic powerhouse whose roles as a national security adviser
and secretary of state under two presidents left an indelible mark on U.S. foreign policy
and earned him a controversial Nobel Peace Prize, died on Wednesday at age 100.
Kissinger died at his home in Connecticut. Kissinger had been active late in life,
attending meetings in the White House, publishing a book on leadership styles. In July 2023
he made a surprise visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the 1970s
in the midst of the Cold War, he had a hand in many of the epoch-changing global events of
the decade while serving as national security adviser and secretary of state under Republican
President Richard Nixon. In an effort to diminish Soviet influence, Kissinger reached out to
its chief communist rival, China, and made two trips there, including a secret one to meet
with Premier Zhou Enlai. The result was Nixon's historic summit in Beijing with Chairman
Mao Zedong and the eventual formalization of relations between the two countries.)
(By Steve Holland & Arshad Mohammed, Reuters, 11-30-2023)
OBITUARY:
Charlie Munger, friend and business partner of Warren Buffett, dies at 99
(Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm where Munger served as vice chairman,
said in a press release that Munger passed "peacefully" on Tuesday morning in
a California hospital. "Charlie" was born on January 1, 1924, in Omaha, Nebraska.
Munger, was worth $2.7 billion, according to Forbes. Munger met Buffett in 1959
at a dinner when Munger was in Omaha for his father's funeral. Munger and Buffett
struck up a fast friendship. “Berkshire Hathaway could not have been built to its
present status without Charlie's inspiration & wisdom,” CEO Warren Buffett said.)
(By Paul R. La Monica & Krystal Hur, CNN, 11-28-2023)
* FALL FOLIAGE:
The best places to see fall colors in the Bay Area right now
(It's been a stunning fall color season across California, and nature's most colorful display
has descended from Sierra Nevada into San Francisco Bay Area just in time for the holidays.
Leaves turn a bright red along the State Street Market area in Los Altos, on Nov. 11, 2023.
Lara Kaylor, editor of California Fall Color, the go-to website to discover latest fall color
conditions. Go to UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, for most spectacular non-native display
of fall colors in the Bay Area. Fall colors are plentiful along Wildcat Creek Trail in Tilden
Regional Park in Berkeley. Fall colors line many streets in Palo Alto.)
(By Douglas Zimmerman, San Francisco Chronicle, 11-22-2023)
UFO:
Goldie Hawn recounts alien encounter
(It was the mid1960s and Hawn, then 20, was working as a dancer in Anaheim. Months later,
Hawn was working another dance job, this time in West Covina. After getting into the car
to sleep, Hawn said, "I got this high-pitched sound in my ear, this high, high frequency."
She opened her eyes to look out the car. "I saw these two or three triangular-shaped heads",
Hawn recalled. "They were silver in color, slash for a mouth, tiny little nose, no ears."
She couldn’t move, like during sleep paralysis. Eventually, the young dancer was able to
shake free. “It was like bursting out of a force field,” She said "Oh, my God. I think I made
contact with outer space." Hawn said "They touched my face, & it felt like the finger of God.
It was the most benevolent, loving feeling. This was powerful. It was filled with light."
(By Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 10-27-2023)
* David Brooks
writes about the art of seeing others in new book 'How to Know a Person'
(The sad thing is, as I have become on a journey to becoming a little more human,
the country has been on a journey of becoming less human. And so we now live in
bitter and divided times. There's just so much social pain. We just have to be really
good at this skill of seeing others, making them feel valid, respected, heard & understood.
I didn't know how to be with a depressed person. Lost friends Mark Shields,
Mike Gerson,
and Pete to suicides. Book
(4.6 out of 5 *);
Library (102 on hold);
YouTube Video (57:20)]
(By Geoff Bennett, PBS, October 25, 2023)
HEALTH & MEDICINE:
Multivitamins Help Prevent Memory Loss, Finds Major Study
(Columbia researchers discover evidence that the supplements may increase brain function
in older adults. Columbia neuropsychologist Adam Brickman found 3,500 people over age of 60
took multivitamin or a placebo every day for three years; Those who took daily multivitamin
performed much better on tests at the end of the first year; Study
replicates findings on
multivitamins in older adults, completed last year by scientists at Harvard & Wake Forest.)
(By David Craig, Columbia Magazine, Fall 2023, pp. 42-43)
BUSINESS:
Olive oil prices surge over 100% to record highs, sparking cooking oil thefts
(Olive oil prices spiked to fresh records as severe droughts in major producing continue
to crimp supplies— driving desperate people to resort to stealing it. Global prices
of olive oil surged to $8,900 per ton in September, driven by "extremely dry weather" in
the Mediterranean. Some 50,000 liters of extra virgin olive oil was stolen from one of Spain's
oil mills in late August. That's more than €420,000, or about $450,000, worth of olive oil.)
(By Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, September 18, 2023)
A
New JFK Assassination Revelation
Could Upend the Long-Held “Lone Gunman” Theory
(In a new book, former Secret Service agent
Paul Landis,
largely silent for 60 years,
says he found a bullet
in Kennedy's limo. A sometime presidential historian explains
why that's so significant, if true.)
(By James David Robenalt, Vanity Fair, September 9, 2023)
Bear Waves To Family Every Morning—
One Day Dad Follows Him And Makes A Shocking Discovery
(Massive black bear waving outside his window 3 days in row;
Luka decides to follow the bear into the wilderness to see what
the bear's urgency; it's her baby cub that's in a garage of his neighbor.)
(Tips & Tricks, 8-29-2023)
BASEBALL:
Giants' Harrison sends social media into frenzy with 11 strikeouts vs. Reds
(Kyle Harrison starred in his Oracle Park debut on Monday night, holding the Cincinnati Reds
scoreless on three hits and two walks through 6 1/3 innings while whiffing a career-high 11 batters.
Kyle Harrison is 4th Giants pitcher since at least 1901 with 10+ strikeouts in a game in his 1st or 2nd
career outing, joining: 7/19/60 Juan Marichal: 12; 4/25/37 Cliff Melton: 13; 4/20/1912 Jeff Tesreau: 10;
Shohei Ohtani is the last MLB pitchers to strike out more than 10 batters in their second career start.)
(By Tom Dierberger, NBC News, 8-28-2023)
BASEBALL:
Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez extends historic hot streak after breaking a 1925 record
(In Saturday's matchup against the Astros (8/19), which Mariners won 10-3, Julio Rodríguez made history
with four hits. A single in the seventh inning gave him 17 hits in four games. According to MLB.com,
this passes Milt Stock of the Brooklyn Robins (now Los Angeles Dodgers), who had 16 hits in as many
games in 1925. It was also the Seattle star's fourth straight game with four hits. On Thursday (8/17),
he went a perfect 5-for-5 with a game-winning three-run home run in the 6-4 victory.)
(By Victoria Hernandez, USA Today, 8-20-2023)
MUSIC:
'Reinventing Elvis' reveals why Presley nearly canceled his '68 Comeback Special live set
[The year was 1968. Political assassinations and racial strife were tearing at the national fabric.
And yet that NBC show— the fabled '68 Comeback Special, officially called "Singer Presents... Elvis,"
after its sewing machine company sponsor— managed to lift collective spirits and revive
the 33-year-old rock icon's career. A new documentary, "Reinventing Elvis: The '68 Comeback",
(streaming now on Paramount+) explores that seminal TV moment with reflections from
Steve Binder, 90, who as a 35-year-old producer befriended Elvis and battled his manager,
Colonel Tom Parker. Binder says Elvis was obsessed with Marlon Brando and his star turn
as a motorcycle gang member in 1953's "The Wild One", complete with a black leather jacket.
Elvis had a picture taken of himself sitting on a Harley-Davidson, imitating Brando.]
(By Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 8-15-2023)
MUSIC:
'Reinventing Elvis: The '68 Comeback' review: A closer look at the King's evolution
(There has been nothing quite as epochal as "Singer Presents... Elvis", commonly called
"The '68 Comeback Special", an hour that changed not just the way we looked at Elvis Presley
but also the way he looked at himself. The hour fulfills its metaphorical premise,
that of a man going forward by going back, reclaiming his roots and his artistry: Elvis redux.)
(By Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8-14-2023)
* TECHNOLOGY:
AI Mimics Human Creativity, But Also Boosts It
(Steve Lohr of NY Times just published a piece on whether AI is ready to invent new things.
What needs to be asked, is along with mimicking human creativity, is how AI can catalyze
greater creativity among its human users.
Nicola Morini Bianzino
outlines three ways AI
will inject greater creativity into workplaces, businesses, & other human endeavors:
1. Freeing up humans' time— and mindspace; 2. Enabling more effective choices;
3. Creating fresh growth.)
(By Joe McKendrick, Forbes, 7-16-2023)
Revolts
break out against harvesting content using AI
(For more than 20 years, Kit Loffstadt has written fan fiction exploring alternate universes
for "Star Wars" heroes and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" villains, sharing her stories free online.
But in May, Loffstadt stopped posting her creations after she learned that a data company had
copied her stories & fed them into the artificial intelligence technology underlying ChatGPT,
a viral chatbot. Dismayed, she hid her writing behind a locked account. Writers & artists are
locking their files to protect their work or are boycotting certain websites that publish
AI-generated content, while companies like Reddit want to charge for access to their data.)
(By Sheera Frenkel & Stuart A. Thompson, NY Times, Buffalo News, 7-16-2023)
BASEBALL:
'Pretty sick': Manning, Foley, Lange spin first combined no-hitter in Tigers' history
(Detroit Tigers defeat Toronto Blue Jays, 2-0, on a combined no-hitter Saturday, July 8, in Detroit.
Matt Manning started & allowed no hits over first 6.2 innings. Jason Foley got last out of the 7th
& pitched a clean 8th, giving way to Alex Lange who retired top of Toronto batting order in 9th.).
(By Chris McCosky, Detroit News, 7-8-2023)
TRAVEL:
Shot at, electrocuted, exhausted, exhilarated:
What it's like to kayak from Tulare Lake to San Francisco Bay
(240 miles journey on kayaks by Los Angeles journalist
Brendan Borrell
& photographer Tom Fowlks from
May 27 to June 5 adventure (10 days & 9 nights).
(By Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 6-10-2023)
BASKETBALL:
LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry: 10 reasons
Lakers-Warriors is most decorated matchup in NBA playoffs history
(LeBron James is the only player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds
and 10,000 assists. In terms of all-around ability, LeBron is one-of-one. Curry broke
the all-time record for three pointers made at age 33. LeBron & Steph are two of seven
oldest players in playoff history to author a 50-point game. It's been a minute, but
LeBron scored 50 in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. Curry, scored 50 on Sunday.
There are over 6,000 hospitals in the United States, and somehow two of the greatest
players in NBA history were born in the same one— Akron General Medical Center.)
(By Douglas Clawson, CBS News, 5-2-2023)
* CULTURE:
New Study Raises Doubts About San Jose State's Famous 'Lock of Beethoven's Hair'
(A paper released today by an international group of researchers in the journal
Current Biology concludes that the San Jose State center's lock of hair was
not Beethoven's, but rather from an Ashkenazi Jewish woman. Lock of hair said
to be Beethoven's was auctioned by Sotheby's for $7,300 bought by Ira F. Brilliant.
It was clipped by Ferdinand Hiller, a 15-year-old composer & ardent acolyte who visited
Beethoven four times before he died. Hiller clipped a lock of his hair. He gave it to
his son decades later as a birthday gift. It was kept in a locket. William Meredith
speculates that the authentic hair from Beethoven was destroyed and replaced with
strands from Sophie Lion, the wife of Ferdinand Hiller's son Paul. She was Jewish.
Five locks with identical DNA were of different provenances and two had impeccable
chains of custody, which gave the researchers confidence that they were hair from
Beethoven. Five people in Belgium whose last name is van Beethoven are not
genetically related to Ludwig van Beethoven.)
(By Gina Kolata, San Jose Inside, 3-23-2023)
* ARTS:
Locks of Beethoven's hair reveal secret family history and health issues
(Before composer Ludwig van Beethoven died on March 27, 1827, it was his wish
that his ailments be studied and shared so "as far as possible at least the world
will be reconciled to me after my death." Now, researchers have taken steps to partially
honor that request by analyzing Beethoven's DNA from preserved locks of his hair and
sequencing the composer's genome for the first time. A study detailing findings published
Wednesday in the journal Current Biology.
In addition to hearing loss, the famed classical
composer had recurring gastrointestinal complaints throughout his life, as well as severe
liver disease. The researchers determined that the Hiller Lock, in San Jose long attributed
to Beethoven, was actually a hair sample from a Jewish woman. Through the combination of
DNA data and archival documents, we were able to observe a discrepancy between Ludwig
van Beethoven's legal and biological genealogy. The researchers think the affair occurred
sometime between the 1572 conception of Hendrik van Beethoven, an ancestor in the paternal
Beethoven line 7 generations removed from composer, & conception of Beethoven in 1770.)
(By Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3-22-2023)
* TECHNOLOGY:
Google Officially Releases Bard, Its ChatGPT Competitor
(Bard
is a lightweight and optimized version of LaMDA, the large language model (LLM)
based on the Transformer neural network architecture that Google first launched back in 2017.
LaMDA itself was trained on a huge corpus of data from the public Internet encompassing
trillions of words, and contains up to 137 billion parameters. "You can use Bard to boost
your productivity, accelerate your ideas, and fuel your curiosity," company officials write
in a blog post today. "You might ask Bard to give you tips to reach your goal of reading more
books this year, explain quantum physics in simple terms, or spark your creativity by outlining
a blog post." Instead of generating one response, Bard will often give users a series of possible
responses. The user is then asked to pick the response that's the best starting point.)
(By Alex Woodie, Datanami, 3-21-2023)
Alligator tears through metal fence in Florida
(Check out this big guy bend the aluminum bars and plow right through it
this week in Placida,' Matt Devitt, Chief Meteorologist for WINK News wrote
on Facebook. "He eventually got through according to the viewer who shot
the video. Only in Florida!.")
(By Pete Thomas, Yahoo News, YouTube, 3-6-2023)
*
Jeremy Lin doc "38 at the Garden" moves Linsanity beyond basketball
(Now streaming on HBO Max, "38 at the Garden" chronicles that special season,
culminating exactly 11 years ago at a Feb. 10, 2012, game against the Lakers
when Lin scored a remarkable 38 points; and when Kobe Bryant stepped on the court
at Madison Square Garden, it was total pandemonium. This film is going to be about
humanity. This is going to be about what's going on right now post-pandemic with
the [anti-]Asian violence that we've been seeing, about minorities and people
who are fearing for their lives in this critical moment in history.) (Trailer)
(By Jevon Phillips, Los Angeles Times, 2-10-2023)
(Jeremy Lin News Stories)
* SCIENCE:
Is There a Particle That Can Travel Back in Time?
(There is a hypothetical particle, called the tachyon, that could travel back in time.
Going faster than light means that you could go faster than causality. Said another way,
going faster than light means going faster than time itself, meaning that faster-than-light
travel automatically allows for time travel into the past. Einstein himself played around
with the idea, calling them "meta-particles", but today we call them tachyons, a word
coined in 1967 by physicist Gerald Feinberg from the Greek word meaning "swift".)
(By Paul M. Sutter, Discover, 2-21-2023)
OBITUARY:
Raquel Welch's last photos: Painful final public sighting
[Actress Raquel Welch visited a Beverly Hills nail salon in July 2022, her final public sighting before dying Wednesday at the age of 82.
The actress burst into Hollywood in her initial roles in 'One Million Years B.C.' and
'Fantastic Voyage'. Her career spanned over 50 years starring in over 30 films and 50 television
series and appearances. The Golden Globe winner, in more recent years, was involved in a very
successful line of wigs. She wore a star-spangled bathing suit for the film
'Myra Breckinridge'.]
(By Brooke Steinberg & Tracy Swartz, NY Post, 2-15-2023)
TECHNOLOGY:
$120 billion wiped off Google after Bard AI chatbot gives wrong answer
(Google Bard offers an incorrect answer to a questions about the James Webb Space Telescope.
In an animated GIF showing how Bard works, a user types in search query “what new discoveries
from the James Webb Space Telescope can I tell my 9 year old about?” One of responses generated
by Bard says: "JWST took the very first pictures of a planet outside of our own solar system."
This is not accurate. First picture ever taken of a planet outside the solar system, an exoplanet,
was captured in 2004 by the Very Large Telescope array in Chile. Exoplanet 2M1207b, is five times
the size of Jupiter and is located about 170 light-years away from Earth. Parent company Alphabet's
share price dropped 8% after Google Bard tool's launch got off to a rocky start following its misleading
response to a question about a NASA telescope. At its lowest point on Wednesday Alphabet was trading
at $98.08, a fall of 8.1% on the previous day's price of $106.77.)
(By Gareth Corfield, The Telegraph, UK, 2-8-2023)
NUTRITION: What Are the Best Fruits for You?
(1. Blueberries; Reduce age-related memory loss. Help fight off cancer. Protect your body's cells.
Boost heart health. 2. Raspberries; 3. Blackberries; 4. Oranges; 5. Apples; 6. Star fruit)
(By Beth Czerwony, Cleveland Clinic, 11-10-2022)
* BASEBALL:
'I'm still going to retire': Albert Pujols making charge at 700 home runs in final days of career
[Pujols, with five home runs in his last five games following his two-homer night, has 692 career home runs.
He's more proud of a number no one ever talks about these days: He has 2,187 career RBI.
The only men in history with more are Aaron (2,297) and Babe Ruth (2,214).]
(By Bob Nightengale, USA Today, 8-20-2022)
Fascinating Stories Behind 15 Classic Elvis Songs
(This month marks 45 years since rock 'n' roll lost its king, Elvis Presley; His songs—
("Heartbreak Hotel" 1956; "Don't Be Cruel" 1956; "Hound Dog" 1956; "Love Me Tender" 1956;
"All Shook Up" 1957; "Jailhouse Rock" 1957; "Hard Headed Woman" 1958; "It's Now or Never" 1960;
"Are You Lonesome Tonight" 1960; "Can't Help Falling in Love" 1961; "Return to Sender" 1962;
"If I Can Dream" 1968; "In the Ghetto" 1969; "Suspicious Minds" 1969; "Burning Love" 1972)
(By Jim Farber, Parade Magazine, 8-14-2022, pp. 9-12)
* Katherine Heigl:
Heal Your Body and Mind
(Heigl Gets Candid About the Mental Health Toll of Hollywood and the Healing Power of Nature;
"Firefly Lane" actress tackles mental health, aging in Hollywood and finding peace in Utah;
"My therapist got me on Zoloft that boosted serotonin & dopamine that made me calm.")
(By Nicole Pajer, Spry Living, 8-14-2022, pp. 6-9)
* BASEBALL:
Wood, Giants beat slumping Padres 1-0 after overturned call
(Catcher Joey Bart made one heck of a pick and tag out Brandon Drury at the plate,
to deny the San Diego Padres what would have been the tying run.
(By Bernie Wilson, AP, Fresno Bee, 8-9-2022) (Video Highlights, 6:20/8:01)
* BASEBALL:
Vin Scully, Dodgers broadcaster for 67 years, dies at 94
(As the longest tenured broadcaster with a single team in pro sports history,
Scully saw it all & called it all. Began in 1950s era of Pee Wee Reese & Jackie Robinson,
on to 1960s with Don Drysdale & Sandy Koufax, into 1970s with Steve Garvey & Don Sutton,
and through 1980s with Orel Hershiser & Fernando Valenzuela. In 1990s, it was Mike Piazza
and Hideo Nomo, followed by Kershaw, Manny Ramirez and Yasiel Puig in the 21st century.)
(By Beth Harris, AP, amny, 8-3-2022)
* BASEBALL:
Dodgers icon Vin Scully dies at 94: Reaction from L.A. and the sports world
(Dodger broadcaster Joe Davis & manager Dave Roberts on Vin Scully;
Voice of our city)
(By Eduardo Gonzalez, msn.com, 8-3-2022)
* BASEBALL:
Vin Scully's top calls from a Hall of Fame career
(Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game at Dodger Stadium on
Sept. 9, 1965. Scully paused
for 38 seconds to allow listeners to soak in the scene.
Kirk Gibson's homer on Oct. 15, 1988
in 1988 World Series, Scully was silent & let the crowd take over.)
(By AP, Wichita Eagle, Kansas, 8-3-2022)
News Analysis:
As Pelosi leaves Taiwan, stability in Asia grows more precarious
(House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met
in Taipei on August 3. China is scheduled to launch an unprecedented four-day
military exercise in waters surrounding Taiwan.)
(By David Pierson & Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 8-3-2022)
* BASEBALL:
Will Clark meets the moment in jersey retirement speech
(Clark's No. 22 now hangs between Monte Irvin's 20 and Willie Mays' 24. It's the 13th number
immortalized by the franchise. Clark homered off Nolan Ryan for his first career hit. He read
Greg Maddux's lips for a grand slam in the 1989 NLCS. His meticulous preparation and
baseball mind endures today, when he mentors young Giants as a special assistant.)
(By Danny Emerman, KNBR Studios, 7-30-2022) (YouTube Highlights)
* In Memoriam:
Judith Ann Schiff, Yale's long-serving chief research archivist
(Yale's and New Haven's historian, died on July 11 at age 84. She helped with
archives of aviator Charles A. Lindbergh and his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Archived papers of Mabel Loomis Todd, editor of Emily Dickinson's poems.)
(By Mike Cummings, Yale News, 7-12-2022)
MOVIES:
"Elvis" biopic shakes, rattles and rolls
(Baz Luhrmann found a perfect star in Austin Butler, who fearlessly embodies the icon
without ever slipping into impersonation. Luhrmann & Butler have created something
gloriously messy— a maximalist opera of contradictions, styles, truths, myths,
memories and headlines. Running time: 159 minutes. 3 stars out of 4.)
(By Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer, U.S. News, 6-22-2022)
* HEALTH:
10-second balance test may predict how long you'll live
(Researchers found that people who couldn't stand on one foot were nearly twice
as likely to die in the next 10 years. Researchers asked 1,702 Brazilians from ages
51 to 75 to stand barefoot on one leg with arms straight at their side; 20% failed the test.)
(By Linda Carroll, NBC News, 6-21-2022)
* HEALTH:
Test of Sitting and Standing Predicts Mortality
[A person's risk of death can be predicted by a simple test that assesses his or her
ability to sit on the floor & then stand up. Study from Brazil involved more than 2,000
people ages 51 to 80. They were asked to sit down on the floor, and then stand up,
without using their hands and knees to help them, if possible. Over the six-year study
(ended October 2011), 159 people died, mostly those with lower tests scores.]
(By Rachael Rettner, Live Science, 12-13-2012)
MOVIES:
It's showtime: Stanford Theatre to reopen on July 9
[Downtown Palo Alto venue's summer lineup includes Judy Garland musicals,
'Casablanca' and silent comedies. Theater reopens July 9-10 with the swanky
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers "Top Hat" and "The Gay Divorcee", followed by
two comedies starring Deanna Durbin, "It Started With Eve" & "100 Men and a Girl"
(July 14-15); Bogart's "Casablanca" & "In a Lonely Place" play on July 16-17.]
(By Heather Zimmerman, Palo Alto Weekly, 6-21-2022)
154th Belmont Stakes 2022:
Mo Donegal won @ 2:28.28 with Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard
(1. Mo Donegal, 2. Nest, 3. Skippylongstocking, 4. We the People,
5. Creative Minister, 6. Rich Strike, 7. Barber Road, 8. Golden Glider.)
(By Mark Inabinett, al.com, 6-11-2022)
252 feet and 7 inches:
Epic paper airplane throw in Asia shatters Guinness World Record
(Used Conqueror CX22 100GSM, one of stiffest & highest quality papers in the world.
Previous record of 226 feet, 10 inches, by Joe Ayoob on Feb. 26, 2012.)
(By Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 5-25-2022)
* BASEBALL:
Pederson hits 3 HRs, drives in 8 as Giants stun Mets 13-12
(Joc Pederson homered three times and drove in a career-high eight runs, including
a tying single with two outs in the ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants
outslugged the New York Mets 13-12 in one of the wildest games imaginable)
(By Michael Wagaman, AP, Galveston Daily News, 5-25-2022)
21 Things You Might Not Know
About E.T. To Celebrate the Movie's 40th Anniversary
[Elliott (Henry Thomas) befriends a wide-eyed
extraterrestrial accidentally stranded on Earth.
Gertie (6-year-old Drew Barrymore) becomes
a star after playing in her second movie.]
(By Mara Reinstein, Parade Magazine, 5-22-2022, pp. 6-7)
ASK MARILYN: Can You Solve This Math Problem?
Say you have one cubic mile of water, and you release it at the rate of 1,000 gallons a minute.
About how long would it take to drain the entire tank: (a) 2 weeks, (b) 20 weeks, (c) 2 years,
(d) 20 years, (e) 200 years, (f) 2,000 years? Answer: (f) It would take more than 2,000 years!
(By Marilyn van Savant, Parade Magazine, 5-22-2022, p. 5)
George Carlin's
comedic journey takes the stage in HBO doc
("The way George Carlin looked at the world and broke it down taught so many of us
how to be comedians," said Judd Apatow. "He injected the software into our brains
about how to think as a comic." The HBO portrait is wonderfully enhanced by the
Carlin archives, which include Post-It notes of joke ideas, scripts, home footage,
letters and TV clips. It also discussed Carlin's wicked coke habit & personal turmoil.)
(By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press, May 20, 2022)
* The Man Who Found the Flow
("What is happiness?" asked psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He found it in a state
of mind beyond results and rewards and called it "the flow". Its characteristics include
joy, deep concentration, emotional buoyancy, a heightened sense of mastery, a lack of
self-consciousness, and self-transcendence. Aristotle's
eudaimonia, a state of being
"well-favored" within oneself and in one's relation to the divine.
Abraham Maslow
regarded peak experience as a kind of epiphany that happens spontaneously.)
(By Andrew Cooper, Lion's Roar, May 7, 2021)
Neil Simon Papers at the Library of Congress
(Mark Horowitz tells about the Neil Simon collection donated to the Library of Congress;
with 110 titles of his plays in handwring plus over a dozen notebooks of his drawings.)
(By Cait Miller, Library of Congress, April 28, 2022)
* "It's
possible she was assassinated": Joyce Carol Oates on Marilyn Monroe
(Today, anything Monroe touched is coveted with a religiosity comparable to the medieval
mania for relics of saints. In 2016, the dress she wore to sing "Happy Birthday, Mr President"
to JFK in 1962 was bought by Ripley's Believe It or Not Museums for $5 million.)
(By Iona McLaren, The Telegraph, UK, April 22, 2022)
SCIENCE:
Why humans can live to around 80 while giraffes die at 24?
(Scientists compare 16 species and find animals with a slower rate of genetic mutations
have longer lifespans; Giraffes, reaching up to 18 ft tall, were found to have mutation
rates of 99/year, and a lifespan of around 24. Meanwhile, naked mole rats, which are much
smaller at just five inches, were found to have very similar mutation rates of 93/year,
and a similar lifespan of around 25)
(By Shivali Best, Daily Mail, UK, April 14, 2022)
BASEBALL:
Steven Kwan Breaks All-Time Major League Record
(Cleveland's rookie outfielder has been unbelievable from the plate to begin his careeer;
Kwan has broken a Major League record by reaching base 15 times in his first four games.)
(By Brendan Gulick, Sports Illustrated, April 11, 2022)
MOVIES:
Man of Mystery! Nicolas Cage Calls Himself the 'American Loch Ness Monster'
(During quarantine, he binged Ingmar Bergman & Akira Kurosawa films as well as
silent classics. He's expecting a child in September, and Cage is ready to spend
his mornings in a rocking chair with his new child. "I find it like a meditation;
you're rocking and you're singing "Three Blind Mice".)
(By Nicole Pajer, Parade, April 10, 2022, pp. 6-8)
* OSCARS:
Garland! Hitchcock! E.T.! The 23 Biggest Films and Stars Snubbed By the Academy
[Hitchcock & Cary Grant never won; Charlie Chaplin & Steven Spielberg snubbed;
Judy Garland's "A Star Is Born" (1954) lost; Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connors ignored
in "Singing in the Rain" (1952); Glenn Close nominated 8 times never won.]
(By Mara Reinsteien, Parade, March 27, 2022, pp. 6-8)
ART: One of Warhol's Marilyn Monroe portraits could fetch a record $200 million
(The 40-square-inch "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn," one of dozens of images Andy Warhol made of Monroe
in the 1960s, will go on sale in New York this May, auction house Christie's announced Monday. Christie's
Chairman Alex Rotter said "Standing alongside Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa
& Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Warhol's Marilyn is categorically one of the greatest paintings of all time." )
(By Oscar Holland, CNN, March 22, 2022)
COLLECTIBLES:
A Rare Copy of Marvel Comics No. 1 Just Sold for a Record $2.4 Million
(The 82-year-old book planted the first seeds for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 68-page booklet
was released in October 1939 back when the publisher was known by its first name, Timely Comics.
Current Marvel Comics record belongs to a 9.6-grade copy of Amazing Fantasy no. 15— the comic
that introduced Spider-Man and his alter-ego Peter Parker to the world— which sold for
$3.6 million
last September. Action Comics #1 Superman comic sells for record $3.25 million.)
(By Bryan Hood, Robb Report, March 22, 2022)
Douglas Trumbull,
the Oscar-winning special effects wizard who called New Marlborough home, has died
(Trumbull died at 79; Designed Stargate sequence of Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey"
using "slit scan photography"; Also did special effects in 1983 film "Brainstorm".)
(By Felix Carroll, The Berkshire Eagle, Feb. 8, 2022)
*
IDEAS: How to Want Less
(The secret to satisfaction has nothing to do with achievement, money, or stuff.
Thomas Aquinas, Buddha (and Mick Jagger) were saying the same thing.
"I can't get no satisfaction".
Satisfaction = what you have ÷ what you want.
The secret to satisfaction is not to increase our haves, but reducing our wants.)
(By Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, Feb. 8, 2022)
All
the rage: Minnie Mouse's pantsuit sparks uproar with some fans
(Her polka dot dress worn since 1928 replaced by blue pantsuit designed
by Stella McCartney, daughter of Paul McCartney. It resembles attire
of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.)
(By Nancy Clanton, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 28, 2022)
*
IDEAS: Can Medieval Sleeping Habits Fix America's Insomnia?
(If the purpose of sleep is mental and physical well-being, "there is very good reason
to believe that uninterrupted sleep at night best achieves that outcome", Roger Ekirch said.)
(By Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, Jan. 27, 2022)
Methuselah:
oldest aquarium fish lives in San Francisco and likes belly rubs
(Biologists believe the Australian lungfish, a primitive species with lungs and gills,
is about 90 years old with no known living peers. It is a 4ft-long 40 lb Australian lungfish
that was brought to San Francisco museum in 1938 from Australia. Prefers fresh seasonal figs.)
(The Guardian, UK, Jan. 26, 2022)
* The Impossible Art?: Peculiar Perils of Literary Translation
(In balancing authenticity with readability, translators tackle a seemingly impossible art—
and rarely receive enough credit; Mark Polizzotti: "When you read a translation it doesn't
mean it's a secondary experience. It doesn't mean you're not reading the author. It means
you are reading the product of two authors: the original author and the translator, who
has to read the text, interpret it, and regenerate it in terms that make linguistic sense.")
(By Paul Hond, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2021-2022, pp. 24-29)
* TRIVIA: Hidden Histories of Columbia
(In 1920, Amelia Earhart perched on the dome's roof of Columbia's Low Library;
In 1921,
Albert Einstein gave his first public lecture in the U.S. on theory of relativity.
The speech,
delivered in German, took place at Horace Mann Auditorium at Columbia Teachers College;
In 1920, Paul Robeson met Eslanda Goode at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, they eloped
& she encouraged him in acting, and in 1936 he starred in the film version of Show Boat,
in which he sang "Ol' Man River", listed by AFI as the 24th Best Song in Film History.
On May 3, 1968, the Grateful Dead played a surprise show outside Ferris Booth Hall.)
(By Gary Shapiro, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2021-2022, pp. 34-39)
The Amazing Gender-Bending Behavior of Hummingbirds
(Columbia scientists discover why female white-necked jacobins often masquerade as males;
Male birds sport bolder, more eye-catching plumage; Females' feathers, in comparison, look
washed-out and drab; Cornell study found one in every six birds that appear to be adult male
Jacobins is actually a female in disguise; females with male-like plumage enjoy better access
to food, as other birds, knowing that males are more aggressive, will cede more space to them.)
(By David J. Craig, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2021-2022, p. 44)
What Do Memories Look Like?
(Columbia neuroscientists led by Attila Losonczy, have figured out how to visually map memory
formation, which could have implications for the treatment of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's;
New memories are consolidated in the hippocampus gradually, over a period of 24r hours or
more, and that periods of physical rest are essential for the brain to complete the job.)
(By David J. Craig, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2021-2022, p. 45)
A Better Way to Fight Workplace Racial Bias
(Diversity training programs may be inadequate, say Columbia sociologists David Stark
& Sheen S. Levine; They found that participants were 25% less likely to imitate the
puzzle-solving methods of their Black-named peers, compared to their white-named
Participants also rated their Black-named peers as less competent afterward,
ones, even though they performed equally well.)
(By David J. Craig, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2021-2022, p. 47)
Book Review: Colm Tóibín's "The Magician"
(By today's standards, Thomas Mann hardly qualifies as a confessional writer. The great
German novelist, who won Literature Nobel Prize in 1929, never wrote a soul-baring
memoir or made himself the main character in a book the way many writers do today.
In Death in Venice he wrote intimately about the homosexual desires concealed
behind his public image as a married father of six children;)
(By Adam Kirsch, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2021-2022, p. 60)
MOVIES NEWS:
Oscars: 2022 Ceremony Will Have a Host
(The most recent Oscars that had a host took place in 2018. Tom Holland, the star
of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the biggest blockbuster of the pandemic,
expressed interest in hosting the Oscar; the Academy did reach out to him.)
(By Scott Feinberg, Hollywood Reporter, Jan. 11, 2022)
Pope
slips out of Vatican to visit record shop, gets CD
(Pope Francis grew up listening to the opera on the radio,
is a fan of Argentine tango
and thinks Mozart "lifts you to God."
Francis had slipped inside Stereosound shop and
stayed for about 12 minutes, chatting with
the owners, who gave him a CD of classical music)
(By Associated Press, ABC News, Jan. 11, 2022)
Wayne Thiebaud,
painter of cakes and San Francisco cityscapes, dies at 101
("Cakes", a 1963 painting by Wayne Thiebaud, at National Gallery of Art, Washington DC)
(The Guardian, UK, Dec. 26, 2021)
Alan Scott,
researcher who pioneered medical uses of Botox, dies at 89
(Botox was officially approved by Food & Drug Administration for cosmetic purposes in 2002
and— to Dr. Scott's enduring amazement— was used by an estimated 11 million people to
temporarily smooth frown lines, crow's feet and other facial furrows that are often the sign
of advancing age. Botox works by blocking release of acetylcholine, a compound that makes
muscles contract. Relaxed state lasts weeks or months at which point another injection is needed.)
(By Emily Langer, Washington Post, Dec. 21, 2021)
Wayne Thiebaud:
1962 to 2017; Milton Avery review— Americana with a cherry on top
(Californian master Wayne Thiebaud, poet of the milkshake, ice-cream cone and cherried sundae,
of the still life with pie and damn fine cup of coffee. Thiebaud, born in 1920, has been
making these radiant paintings for almost seven decades.)
(By Milton Avery, The Guardian, UK, June 4, 2017)
*
See the beautiful, ecologically priceless trees Italy is protecting forever
(Dotted across Italy, 22,000 ancient trees have gained federal protection, making them cornerstones
of cultural history. 750-year-old Pontone beech tree with 7 barks fused together. 600-year-old
Loricate Pines of Pollino. 1,000 years old Plane Tree of Curinga has 60 feet trunk circumference.
2,500-year-old Olive Tree of Villastrada. 800-year-old Cypress Tree of St. Francis of Assisi.)
(By Jonathan Moens, National Geographic, Sept. 8, 2021)
A person or a thing? Inside the fight for animal personhood
(Happy, a 50-year-old Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo, is at the center of a legal battle
over animal rights. Happy drinks up to 60 gallons of water every day, she enjoys digging
in the sand, she gets frequent pedicures from zoo staff. But is Happy happy? Steven Wise
of Nonhuman Rights Project, wants Happy to be moved to an accredited elephant sanctuary
where she'll be with others of her kind in a larger, more natural setting than her present
acre-size enclosure where she lives alone.)
(By Rachel Fobar, National Geographic, August 4, 2021)
Scientists spot a 'space hurricane' for the first time
(Scientists suspected that vortexes could form high in Earth's atmosphere, but this is first time one
has been seen twirling the northern lights like a baton. Lasting for 8 hours, it was more than 620 miles
across & stretched from its base 60 miles above sea level to 500 miles high, reaching into space.)
(By Robin George Andrews, National Geographic, March 23, 2021)
800,000
Americans have died of COVID. Now the U.S. braces for an omicron-fueled spike
(With surges fueled by more transmissible variants of coronavirus, the U.S. hit tragic new record
Tuesday, shortly after surpassing 50 million COVID-19 cases— by far most in the world.)
(By Bill Chappell, NPR, Dec. 14, 2021)
Stephen Curry
Tribute: Ray Allen and Reggie Miller were at MSG to honor the "Chef"
[Ray Allen (2,973 three-pointers), had the mark since 2011, when he took the throne
from Miller (2,560) to form the top three long-distance scorers along with Curry,
who took record away from Allen in the first quarter against the New York Knicks.]
(By Dan Fridman Stalnicovitz, Marca.com, Dec. 15, 2021)
Warriors'
Stephen Curry Passes Ray Allen as NBA's All-Time 3-Point Leader
(Golden State Warriors guard hit his 2,974th career 3-pointer in the first quarter of Tuesday's game
against New York Knicks, passing Ray Allen for the most in league history. Curry entered the game
one three behind Allen, who needed 1,300 regular-season games to get to his mark compared to Curry's 789.)
(By Tyler Conway, Bleacher Report, Dec. 15, 2021)
Rita Moreno Reveals the Biggest Difference in Steven Spielberg's New Version of West Side Story
+ How He Convinced Her to Join the Cast
[Steven Spielberg chose Rita Moreno's character Valentina to sing "Somewhere" in his West Side Story
adaptation: "I can't imagine another person more apt to underscore the need for all of us to keep hoping for,
dreaming of & working toward a better, more just world," he says. Rita won Oscar as Anita in 1961 film.
A day after Spielberg's new film opens on Dec. 10, 2021, Rita Moreno
(born Dec. 11, 1931) turns 90.]
(By Nicole Pajer, Parade, Dec. 5, 2021, pp. 6-10)
12 Christmas
Classics Should Be on Every Holiday Must-Watch Movie List
[Christmas in Connecticut (1945); It's a Wonderful Life (1946); Miracle on 34th Street (1947);
The Bishop's Wife (1947); A Christmas Carol (1951); White Christmas (1954); A Christmas Story (1983);
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989); Home Alone (1990); The Santa Clause (1994);
Elf (2003); Love Actually (2003); Die Hard (1988)]
(By Mara Reinsteien, Parade, Nov. 21, 2021, pp. 6-10)
Paul McCartney:
20 Fun Facts You Might Not Know
(Alluded to in the lyrics to "Let It Be," Mary wasn't as widely thought— ever meant to be
the Virgin Mary or Mary Magdalene. Rather, it was McCartney's own mother, Mary, who
died of cancer when he was 14. He got the idea for the song after having a dream about her.)
(By Jim Farber, Parade, Oct. 24, 2021, pp. 8-12)
80 Years of Famous Faces
(We selected from more than 4,000 Parade covers to showcase some of the most memorable entertainers
in the magazine's history— Beatles 1964;
Elizabeth Taylor 1956;
Lassie 1954;
ElvisPresley 1956.)
(Parade, Oct. 17, 2021, pp. 8-10)
The
Dick Van Dyke Show Turns 60!
(Now 95, the song-and-dance man— who received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor
in 2021— lives in Los Angeles with his wife of nine years, makeup artist Arlene Silver,
and has four children. Why he still loves dancing: "I do a little dancing every day. Any kind
of movement like that will help keep joints and bones moving. And my wife keeps me young!
She has a lot of energy. She's a singer and a dancer, so we do musicals around here all day.")
(By Mara Reinsteien, Parade, Oct. 3, 2021, pp. 8-10)
How to Free Yourself from the 7 Obsessions
(Watch your thoughts, habits, stories, excuses, relapses, dis-eases, vicious cycles;
We meditate to loosen what Buddha called the seven anusayas, which are obsessions
or underlying habitual tendencies. If we really want to break deep-rooted habits,
every one of us needs to become aware of the obsessions of sensual passion,
resistance, views, uncertainty, conceit, ignorance, and the passion of becoming.)
(By Valerie Mason-John, Lion's Roar, Nov. 9, 2021)
Dr Aaron Beck, the father of cognitive behavioural therapy, dies aged 100
(Beck's work revolutionised the diagnosis and treatment of depression and other
psychological disorders and continues to have a resounding influence.)
(The Guardian, UK, Nov. 2, 2021)
Aaron T. Beck developed Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT, died at 100
(Recognized as the father of cognitive therapy, passed away on November 1, 2021)
(Beck Institute, Nov. 1, 2021)
Foothill College president sacked after battle with faculty
(Thuy Nguyen, president of Foothill College for the past five years, has been fired
by her board after faculty revolted against her. She was paid $242,816 in 2020, and
$354,153 with benefits. List of faculty's grievances against Nguyen is 74 pages long.)
(By Braden Cartwright, Daily Post, Oct. 27, 2021, A1, A22)
Board ousts Foothill College president mid-year amid conflict with faculty
(President Thuy Nguyen placed on paid administrative leave, community college
district board votes unanimously not to renew her contract.)
(By Zoe Morgan, Mountain View Voice, Oct. 26, 2021)
Oh God, Make Me Brave for Life
(Whimsical spirit & positive wisdom
of artist & storyteller Ashley Bryan '50GS.)
(At 98, Bryan still bubbles & brims with enthusiasm and delight and believes unshakably that the most
important moment of his life is the one he's living now.
In his nineties alone, he has published seven books.)
(By Paul Hond, Columbia Magazine, Fall 2021, pp. 16-23)
What This Bird Can Teach Us About Memory
(The tufted titmouse, a songbird native to the eastern US, has long amazed ornithologists
with its ability to remember thousands of locations where it has stashed away seeds for future consumption;
Neuroscientist Dmitriy Aronov has discovered the secret
to the bird's
extraordinary powers of recall, finding
that it has a specialized brain region for making
mental maps of its physical surroundings.)
(Columbia Magazine, Fall 2021, p. 44)
ALUMNI: This
Watch Entrepreneur Turns Time into Money
(Benjamin Clymer is founder & executive chairman of
Hodinkee;
Clymer's favorites: OMEGA Speedmaster MK40;
Rolex Daytona;
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1;
Patek Philippe Nautilus, Tiffany-signed).
(By Ian Scheffler, Columbia Magazine, Fall 2021, pp. 52-53)
BOOK REVIEW:
Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch: a Novel by Rivka Galchen
(True story of a witch hunt from the 1610s—
Katharina Kepler accused of witchcraft,
defended by her son Johannes Kepler, astronomer & mathematician)
(By Adam Kirsch, Columbia Magazine, Fall 2021, p. 60)
* ART:
First Cupid, now a wine glass? More revelations emerge from restored Vermeer painting in Dresden
(Vermeer's Girl
reading a Letter at an Open Window (1659) showing base
of the wine glass and a Cupid painting hanging on the back wall.)
(By Martin Bailey, The Art Newspaper, September 9, 2021)
MUSIC:
Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies aged 80
(Dapper and elegant drummer who was the rock-steady heartbeat of the Rolling Stones)
(By Adam Sweeting, The Guardian, UK, August 24, 2021)
Beloved Silicon Valley institution Buck's
of Woodside goes up for auction— as an NFT
(What is the digital replica of the quirky restaurant &
tech meetup mecca worth? The first bidder says $250,000)
(By Sara Hayden, Palo Alto Weekly, August 20, 2021, pp. 26-27)
MUSIC:
Tom T. Hall, 'The Storyteller' of country music, dies at 85
(He joined Kris Kristofferson and Billy Joe Shaver in bringing
a class of storytelling to country music unlike those before them.)
(By Matthew Leimkuehler, Nashville Tennessean, August 20, 2021)
* Milwaukee
Brewers' Corbin Burnes becomes third pitcher in major-league history to strike out 10 in a row
(Burnes became only the third pitcher in major-league history—
yet the second this season— to strike out 10 batters in a row,
keeping the Milwaukee Brewers in command after a seven-run first inning
that propelled them to a 10-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Aaron Nola on 6-25-2021, & Tom Seaver on 4-27-1970 struck out 10 in a row.)
(By Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 11, 2021)
OBITUARY:
Stanford psychology professor Albert Bandura has died at 95
(World-renowned social cognitive psychologist whose Bobo Doll experiments
and theory of social learning transformed the field of psychology, died at 95)
(By Holly Alyssa MacCormick, Stanford News, July 30, 2021)
'A lesson
in loss, humility and absurdity': how rhythmic gymnastics took over my childhood
(When I was six, a chance encounter with rhythmic gymnastics— all ribbons,
sequins and smiles— opened up a sublime, sometimes cruel new world.
By 12, I had quit. What had it all meant?)
(By Rebecca Liu, The Guardian, UK, July 27, 2021)
Good Golly Miss Molly: MDMA Goes Mainstream
(MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or Molly, was first developed in 1912 by German chemist
Anton Kollisch.
Dr. Stanislav Grof
said, "Psychedelics are to the human consciousness
what the microscope is to biology and the telescope is to astronomy.")
(By Jane Vick, Metro, July 21-27, 2021)
* STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY:
Accurate protein structure prediction AI made openly available
[Minkyung Baek at University of Washington & coworkers report results from their neural network,
dubbed RoseTTAFold; it has been available to researchers for over a month as a tool to predict
the three-dimensional folded structure of proteins from their sequences (Science 2021, DOI: 10.1126/science.abj8754)]
(By Laura Howes, C&EN, July 15, 2021)
Classical music:
Pauline who?
(Berlioz called her one of the greatest artists of her age. So why has pianist,
singer and composer Pauline Viardot become a mere musical footnote, asks Erica Jeal)
(By Erica Jeal, The Guardian, UK, Feb. 23, 2006)
* On
anniversary of father's death, Marlins' Pablo López sets an MLB strikeout record
(López needed just 35 pitches to get 9 strikeouts. Five of strikeouts were on 3 pitches.
Previous consecutive strikeouts to start a game: 8, done 3 times: Jim Deshaies on 9-23-1986;
Jacob deGrom on 9-15-2014; and German Marquez on 9-26-2018. Record for consecutive strikeouts
at any point in a game is 10, done twice: Aaron Nola on 6-25-2021, and Tom Seaver on 4-27-1970)
(By Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, July 11, 2021)
López fans first 9, sets MLB record in win
(Right-hander makes history on anniversary of his father's passing)
(By Christina De Nicola, mlb.com, July 11, 2021)
DeSclafani blanks Nats with Tauchman's help
(For the second time this year, Tauchman made a leaping catch at the left-field wall
to rob a home run, pulling back a game-tying shot from Nationals star Juan Soto
in the 7th inning to help preserve a shutout for right-hander Anthony DeSclafani
in a 1-0 win for the Giants on Friday night at Washington Nationals Park.)
(By Maria Guardado, MLB.com, June 11, 2021)
'This Should Be the Biggest Scandal in Sports'
(The inside story of how rampant pitch-doctoring in MLB is pumping pitchers up and
deflating offenses. League-wide batting average plummet to a historically inept .236.)
(By Stephanie Apstein & Alex Prewitt, Sports Illustrated, June 4, 2021)
*
'The God Equation' Review: One String Theory to Rule Them All
(Book dazzles in its account of the unfinished quest for a grand unified theory.)
(By Priyamvada Natarajan, Wall Street Journal, 4-9-2021)
Sharks' Patrick Marleau Passes Gordie Howe for Most Games Played in NHL History
(Against the Vegas Golden Knights was the 1,768th game of his career,
which passed the legendary Gordie Howe's mark of 1,767.)
(By Scott Polacek, Bleacher Report, 4-19-2021)
G. Gordon Liddy,
unrepentant Watergate burglar who became talk show host, dies at 90
(Liddy wore the Watergate crime like a badge of courage, saying he only regretted
that the mission to break into DNC's headquarters had been a failure. He took
villainous TV roles that seemed to trade on his soiled reputation.)
(By Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2021)
France on hunt for centuries-old oaks to rebuild spire of Notre Dame
(Restoring 96-metre spire, destroyed by fire in 2019,
will require up to 1,000 trees between 150 and 200 years old)
(By Kim Willsher, The Guardtan, UK, Feb. 16, 2021)
* Pizza Chef Juggling Dough to Customers' Delight
(A pizza chef shows incredible dough tricks to this restaurant customers,
spinning it as well as throwing it over his shoulders and under his legs.)
(By Jessica Rach, The Daily Mail, UK, Feb. 13, 2021)
* Baseball cards are booming during the pandemic,
with long lines, short supplies and million-dollar sales
(New cards are immediately worth 3 to 10 times the retail price in the secondary market,
if they are sold unopened, which preserves the value and holds the promise of a future
Hall of Famer or a limited edition autographed card.)
(By Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 12, 2021)
* Soul Pursuit
(Love coach & author
Lisa Nicks-Balthasar on importance of self-love, & how to find your soul mate)
(By Maria Grusauskas, Metro, Feb. 10, 2021, pp. 14-17)
Hank Aaron,
baseball great who became force for civil rights, dies at 86
(Aaron broke Ruth's record of 714 home runs in 1974 before retiring two years later with 755,
which remained one of the most hallowed numbers in all of sports for more than 30 years.)
(By Dave Sheinin and Matt Schudel, Washington Post, Jan. 22 2021)
Baseball great
Henry "Hank" Aaron, 86, passes into history
(755 career homers; all-time RBI leader (2,297); racked up most extra-base hits (1,477);
finished in top 3 for at-bats (2nd— 12,364), runs (2nd— 2,174 in tie with Babe Ruth),
games (3rd— 3,298) and hits (3rd— 3,771; averaged only 63 strikeouts per season)
(By Terence Moore, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 22 2021)
Want to Keep Your Brain Sharp?
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Has Your Prescription
(8 tips to prevent memory loss: Take a Hike; Think of one thing; Drink before eating;
Try something new; Be a learner; Find purpose; Make a Phone Call; Eat smart.
Book)
(By Megan O'Neill Melle, Parade, Jan. 10, 2021, p. 4)
'I'm Just Happy to Be Around!'
Neil Diamond on His New Album and Living With Parkinson's
(He has racked up no fewer than 13 Top 10 Billboard singles, from rousing "Sweet Caroline"
to the solemn "Holly Holy"
& No. 1 sing-along "Song Sung Blue".
Classic Diamonds album)
(By Jim Farber, Parade, Jan. 10, 2021, pp. 8-12)
Longtime
Celtics player, coach, and broadcaster Tom Heinsohn dies at 86
(Heinsohn was a six-time NBA All-Star as a player with the Boston Celtics (1956-1965),
winning 8 NBA championships during that span. He coached the team from 1969-1978.
He is one of just four people to be inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame as both
a player and a coach. Since 1981, Heinsohn & Mike Gorman have made up one
of the longest-tenured broadcast duos in sports.)
(By Chad Finn, Boston Globe, Nov. 10, 2020)
The Highest-Paid YouTube Stars of 2019: The Kids Are Killing It
(8-year-old Ryan Kaji, 2019 top YouTube earner with $26 million. Ryan ToysReview debuted in 2015
and now has grown into a children's channel called Ryan's World with 23 million subscribers.)
(By Madeline Berg, Forbes, Dec. 18, 2019)
Six Verbs That Make You Sound Weak (No Matter Your Job Title)
(It's the smallest words & phrases that shape how you're perceived at the office.
Trim these verbs from your vocabulary—
1. "Think", 2. "Need", 3. "Want",
4. "Guess", 5. "Hope", 6. "Suppose".)
(By Judith Humphrey, Fast Company, Oct. 14, 2020)
Archeologists Think They Know What Destroyed The Mayan Empire
(Fall of Mayan Empire may be one of biggest mysteries to emerge from the Yucatan peninsula.
Rampant deforestation and drought brought famine; there were two collapses over time.)
(By Meagan Nantwich, Drivepedia, Sept. 19, 2019)
* Harold
Scheraga, protein chemistry pioneer, dies at 98
(Harold A. Scheraga, the Todd Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, who had a profound impact shaping
the understanding of protein structure, died Aug. 1 in Ithaca. He was 98. Scheraga's career stretched
across seven decades and resulted in more than 1,300 publications.
Scheraga trained & mentored
hundreds of graduate students & postdoctorals, maintaining close ties with many of his former students.)
(By David Nutt, Cornell News, Aug. 6, 2020)
* Harold
Scheraga 1921-2020
(Harold Scheraga, the George W. & Grace L. Todd Professor Emeritus in the chemistry department
at Cornell University passed away August 1, 2020. A biophysicist, he was regarded as a pioneer in
protein biophysics and had been especially influential in the study of protein solvation
and the
hydrophobic effect as it relates to protein folding. He was predeceased in January by his wife
of 76.5 years, Miriam Kurnow.)
(Ithaca Journal, Aug. 3, 2020)
* Lee Teng-hui, Ph.D. '68, former Taiwan president, dies at 97
[Lee Teng-hui, the first popularly elected president of Taiwan, who helped guide the island toward
prosperity &democracy, died July 30 in Taipei.
Earned Cornell doctoral degree in agricultural
economics at age 45 in 1968.
In 1984, was nominated by President Chiang Ching-kuo
(Chiang Kai-shek's eldest son)
as his vice president. When Chiang died in 1988,
Lee succeeded him as president.
In 1995 he was elected outright & served until 2000.
Returned to Cornell &
delivered lecture "Always in my Heart" (6-9-1995). With his wife,
they stopped by their old apartment on State Street for photos and went to Beebe Lake.]
(By Blaine Friedlander, Cornell News, July 31, 2020)
Silicon Alleys: Golden Girl
(Locals remember Olivia de Havilland, Hollywood Golden Age class act. Olivia and Joan Fontaine
lived in the old Saratoga house until the mid-1930s. In 1959, their mother sold it to local architect
Warren Heid. A quaint two-story residence with a large backyard, the house retains most of original
architectural design, workmanship and materials, but is now empty, abandoned and boarded up.)
(By Gary Singh, Metro, Aug. 5, 2020, p. 10)
Ask a Freak
(John Walters tracks down his rise and fall
in Hollywood while offering advice on everthing under
the sun in his new book
Mr. Know-It-All.
His most famous comedy film is Pink Flamingo in 1972.)
(By Steve Palopoli, Metro, Aug. 5, 2020, pp. 11-15)
37
Places You're Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus
(From pumping gas to prayer, experts have ranked every activity
by your risk of coronavirus exposure. Worst: going to a bar.)
(By Leah Groth, EatThis.com, 7-14-2020)
Amorous
giant tortoise from San Diego is saving his species from extinction
(Just call him Casanova: An ex-San Diego Zoo tortoise for 40 years, left in 1977 to a Galapagos
Islands breeding center has does his job well, fathering from 800-1000 tortoises.)
(By Diane Bell, San Diego Union Tribune, 1-13-2020)
This
playboy tortoise had so much sex he saved his entire species. Now he's going home
(A womanizing tortoise whose rampant sex life may have single-handedly saved his entire species
from extinction has retired from his playboy lifestyle; There were just two males and 12 females
of his species alive on Espanola island, and now there are over 2000, he fathering 800 of them.)
(By Rob Picheta, CNN, 1-13-2020)
The Minister's Tree House (Gone)
(Horace Burgess built in Crossville, Tennessee (1993), a tree house soaring 100 feet into the sky,
covering around 10,000 square feet (Guinness World Records). Closed by the state on 8-30-2012
for fire code violations. On the night of 10-22-2019, Minster's Tree House went up in flames.)
(RoadsideAmerica.com, 10-29-2019)
Arnold Schwarzenegger
on His Return as the Terminator, Keeping Fit in His 70s
(James Cameron offered him the chance to star as a cyborg assassin in The Terminator in 1984.
Preparing for Terminator: Dark Fate, the former bodybuilding champ's current regimen involves
bicycling to a Gold's Gym near his L.A. home, where he does 45 minutes of daily strength training.)
(By Nicole Pajer, Parade, 10-27-2019, pp. 8-10, 12)
Google claims breakthrough in blazingly fast computing
(Google said it has achieved a breakthrough in quantum computing, as it has developed
an experimental processor Sycamore that took just minutes to complete a calculation that
would take the world's best supercomputer 10,000 years. IBM said that its IBM-developed
supercomputer, called Summit, could actually do the calculation in 2.5 days.)
(By Rachel Lerman & Matt O'Brien, Washington Post, 10-23-2019)
Louvre
celebrates 500th anniversary of Leonardo Da Vinci's death with new exhibit
(The exhibit through Feb. 24, 2020, brings together some 160 works. They include
Da Vinci masterpieces, dozens of studies and scientific sketches)
(By Claire Parker, Associated Press, USA Today 10-22-2019)
California tribe regains island it calls center of universe
(Indian Island off the coast of Northern California was the site of a 1860 massacre;
It's also the spiritual and physical center of the universe for the small Wiyot Tribe.)
(By Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press, 10-22-2019)
David Boreanaz Talks SEAL Team, Basketball and How His Dog Jump-Started His Career
(At Ithaca College, he graduated with a cinema & photography degree. "I wrote a thesis comparing
and contrasting Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal against Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves.
In 1997, he landed the role of Angel on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.)
(By Nicole Pajer, Parade, 10-20-2019, pp. 8-10, 12)
Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn Make An Unexpected Announcement
(Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have been together for 34 years, but never married;
Kurt said something that Goldie will never forget. "To you, I owe my wonderful life,"
he said. "Simply put Goldie, I cherish you. All of the stars in the sky or the boulevard
don't hold a candle to that. There's no one else I'd rather be next to than Goldie Hawn.")
(By Zara Humphrey, Pens & Patron, 8-2-2019)
Doris Day, actress who honed wholesome image, dies at 97
(With her lilting contralto, fresh-faced beauty and glowing smile, Day was a top box-office draw
and recording artist known for comedies such as Pillow Talk and That Touch of Mink, as well as
songs like "Que Sera, Sera" from the Alfred Hitchcock film
The Man Who Knew Too Much)
(By Julian Rubin, Associated Press, 5-13-2019); Stanford Theatre Festival
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly on Reuniting for Holmes & Watson
("There's something special about alleviating people's suffering with laughter.")
(By Mara Reinstein, Parade, 12-23-2018, pp. 4, 9)
New
report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation's scale & sweep
(Russia used every major social media platform to deliver words, images and videos
tailored to voters' interests to help elect President Trump; Used email accounts
from Yahoo, Microsoft's Hotmail service and Google's Gmail; Posted more than 1,000
YouTube videos for their disinformation campaign, also Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.)
(By Craig Timberg & Tony Romm, Washington Post, 12-17-2018)
Eight
simple tricks to keep hackers from ruining Christmas shopping
(Make sure your phone, computer, WiFi router & other connected gadgets are running
the latest updates available. 1. Don't click on links in emails; 2. Use PayPal, Apple Pay,
Samsung Pay or Android Pay whenever possible; 3. When a site asks you to set a password,
don't reuse an old one; 4. Only interact with Amazon merchants through the Amazon website;
5. Don't put too much faith in Amazon ratings; 6. Turn on alerts for all credit card
transactions; 7. Don't shop on WiFi at the mall, airport, coffee shop or hotel;
8. Look for the lock logo in your Web browser— but don't rely on it.)
(By Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 12-13-2018)
Review: Too much Spider-Man? Not in the Spider-Verse
("Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" is a film that's fantastically fresh, both visually
and narratively, trippy and post-modern at the same time and packed with intriguing
storytelling tools, humor, empathy and action, while also true to its roots.)
(By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press, 12-10-2018)
Shameik Moore slings webs as 1st biracial Spider-Man in film
(Moore plays Miles Morales, a biracial Brooklyn teen who gains an array of superpowers
after being bitten by a radioactive spider. Producers of "Spider-Verse" said they went the
animation route because computer graphic illustrators could mimic comic book movements better.)
(By Jonathan Landrum, Jr., Associated Press, 12-10-2018)
NASA
is about to grab a piece of an asteroid. That's even harder than it sounds
(After a two-year chase, NASA probe reached its target, an Empire State Building-sized asteroid
called Bennu. This diamond-shaped rock is 75 million miles from Earth. OSIRIS-REx probe is
12 miles from Bennu's surface. Will scoop up some rock and bring it home)
(By Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 12-3-2018)
Chargers'
Philip Rivers sets NFL record for consecutive completions in a game over Cardinals
(The Chargers quarterback played his way into the record books Sunday, completion
by pinpoint completion. He connected on his first 25 passes in a 45-10 rout of Arizona
at StubHub Center, the most by a quarterback in a single game in NFL history.)
(By Sam Farmer, LA Times, 11-25-2018)
Nike
Flushed $14 Billion Down The Drain From A Costly Mistake They Made With Steph Curry
(Nike didn't match Under Armour's $4 million offer to Curry who wanted his favorite verse into
the shoe's design. Nike refused. Under Armour said yes to Philippians 4:13—
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
The script, "I can do all things"
is found on the inside of the tongue of
Curry's shoes.
Curry doubled their worth from
$14 billion to $28 billion in a few years.)
(Basketball News, Bleacher Breaker, 10-22-2018)
People
buried at Stonehenge 5,000 years ago came from far away, study finds
(The ground beneath the 25-ton rocks at Stonehenge was a burial place 5000 years ago)
(By Ben Guarino, Washington Poat, 8-2-2018)
Nobel
Prize-winning Stanford physicist Burton Richter dies at 87
(SLAC Director Chi-Chang Kao: "Burt was unique being both a particle physicist & an accelerator
physicist. This rare combination gave him the vision & also the daring to build the SPEAR Storage
Ring to look for new elementary particles, which led to him winning the Nobel Prize in physics for
discovery of the J/psi particle. Burt was an inspiration for us all to be bold in what we aim for.")
(By Andrew Myers & Glennda Chui, Stanford News, 7-19-2018)
Henry
Morgenthau III, producer who helped shape public television, dies at 101
[His years as a producer at WGBH in Boston (1955-1977), coincided with birth of public television.
He was a son of President FDR's treasury secretary, grandson of U.S. ambassador Ottoman Empire
under President Wilson, older brother of former Manhattan district attorney Robert M. Morgenthau,
& cousin of Pulitzer Prize author Barbara W. Tuchman. His shows won Peabody & Emmy awards.]
(By Tara Bahrampour, Washington Poat, 7-14-2018)
Busboy who held dying Robert F. Kennedy shares senator's last words
(Juan Romero, who was 17 at the time of the 1968 Los Angeles slaying, recalled RFK's last words,
"Is everybody OK?" and he replied "Yes" before cushioning the senator's head with his hands.)
(By Elizabeth Zwirz, Fox News, 6-1-2018)
Hot Summer Reads
(Jane Fonda: The book that transported her— "I was 13 and read
Green Mansions [by W.H. Hudson],
which was later made into a movie with Tony Perkins. It was the first time I became the book;
I entered another world and it was beyond reading.")
(By Melinda Sue Gordon, Parade Magazine, 5-20-2018 p. 16)
Obituaries:
Influential Burning Man festival co-founder dead at 70
(Larry Harvey, whose whimsical decision to erect a giant wooden figure and then burn it to the ground
led to the popular, long-running counterculture celebration known as
"Burning Man" has died at 70.)
(By John Rogers & Janie Har, Washington Post, 4-28-2018)
You Are Here:
Scientists Unveil Precise Map Of More Than A Billion Stars
(A European Space Agency mission called Gaia just released a long-awaited treasure trove of data:
precise measurements of 1.7 billion stars, with new view of our home galaxy, the Milky Way.)
(By Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 4-25-2018)
Influential
Guru Asaram Bapu Given Life Sentence For Raping Teenage Girl
(Indian court has found Asaram Bapu, a spiritual leader who has founded hundreds of ashrams
in India, guilty of raping a 16-year-old teenage girl and sentenced him to life in prison.
His website claims that at the time of his arrest, he had at least 40 million followers.)
(By Bill Chappell, NPR, 4-25-2018)
Renouncing it all: All members of 2 families to take diksha in Gujarat today
(Two Jain families— one from Surat and another from Mumbai— will embrace ascetic life.
"When both our children made up their minds, they inspired us to seek enlightenment.")
(By Bharat Yagnik, Times of India, 4-25-2018)
The World Wants Blueberries All the Time. Chile's Excited
(Chilean grower Hortifrut produced 220 million pounds of blueberies in the current harvest.
1.7 million tons of blueberries were produced last year; U.S. is biggest producer of blueberries,
followed by Canada and Chile. China paid $10.04/kg while price in U.S. was $6.40/kg)
(By Eduardo Thomson, Bloomberg News, 4-18-2018)
Even
if you clear your history, Google has a record of all of your search activity—
here's how to delete it
(DuckDuckGo, which is essentially a Google that doesn't track you online. Open Chrome. Click More.
Click History. Click Clear Browsing Data. Select Beginning of Time to Clear Everything.)
(By Alix Langone, Business Insider, 4-17-2018)
PAKISTAN: Strong parallels exist between eastern Sufi & western Enlightenment thought
(Sufism teaches us to ascend out of our shallow coccons, to overpower our inflated egos.
Sufism promotes love, sacrifice, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
(By Sanjay Mthrani, Daily Times, Lahore, 4-15-2018)
BOOK: Enlightenment Now
(Bill Gates has anointed Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now as his favorite book of all time.
Despite daily diet of misery in the news, evidence shows that the world is a massively better place.)
(By Rebecca Tinsley, Independent Catholic News, ICN, 4-15-2018)
R.I.P. Art Bell 1945-2018
(We are profoundly saddened with the news that creator & original host of Coast to Coast AM,
Art Bell, has passed away at age of 72 at his home in Pahrump, Nevada. Current host George Noory:
"Art was a legend— a radio icon who went against the grain and developed an amazing show...
His impact on my life is beyond words. He will be missed, but I know he is now on another journey.")
(Coast to Coast AM.com, 4-14-2018)
Rest in Peace to Art Bell, the Man who made the paranormal normal
(Whitley Strieber, who took over Dreamland from Bell in 1999, posted this message:
At 10:30 on morning of Friday, April 13, Art Bell died. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.)
(By Drew Millard, Outline.com, 4-14-2018)
Art Bell Dead:
Radio Host Dies, Cause of Death Unclear
(Radio show host, Art Bell died on April 13 at 72 years old in his home in Pahrump Nevada.)
(By Jessica McBride, Heavy.com, 4-14-2018)
Art Bell,
whose 'Coast to Coast AM' radio show reveled in the paranormal, dies at 72
(Bell's fans may pause to mull the significance of his having passed on Friday the 13th, of all days.)
(By Elizabeth Zwirz, Fox News, 4-14-2018)
* Steph Curry explains why he writes Philippians 4:13 on his sneakers
(For Curry, Philippians 4:13 is a verse that pushes him to achieve greatness everyday.)
(By Ananth Pandian, USA Today, 3-12-2018)
Why must
'faith' and 'Enlightenment' be seen as contradictions of each other?
(Harvard's steven Pinker's book Enlightenment Now:
The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism,
and Progress claims that the enlightenment ideals of reason, science and humanism have led to
considerable human progress and that the future of civilization hinges upon continuing this tradition.)
(By Martin E.Marty, The Gazette, Colorado, 2-13-2018)
Creativity is part of being
[Edward O. Wilson's The Origins of Creativity (2017): "The more closely we examine
the properties of metaphors and archetypes, the more it becomes obvious that science
and the humanities can be blended. In the borderland of new disciplines created, it should
also be possible to reinvigorate philosophy and begin a new, more enduring Enlightenment."]
(By Ed Fisher, The Morning Sun, 2-8-2018)
Make
the best of our habits
(If we can go beyond the attachment to the phenomena and let our heart
take the proactive role and be the master, we will become enlightened.)
(By Fiji Times, 2-4-2018)
INSPIRED LIFE:
These men thought they adopted a mini piglet.
She became Esther the Wonder Pig, a 650-pound darling of the Internet.
(650-pound Esther the Wonder Pig received $440,000 in crowdfunding to buy farm for her to roam.
Jenkins said one reason people are drawn to Esther is simply that she makes them smile.)
(By Allison Klein, Washington Post, 12-17-2017, A2)
Brave New Worlds: The Planet Hunters beyond our solar system
(Columbia astronomers are going beyond our solar system to understand exoplanets, find exomoons,
and explore surreal estate. Proxima Centauri b is an exoplanet 4.2 light years away,)
(By Bill Retherford, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2017)
Letter Head: Scrabble prodigy Mack Meller is Columbia freshman
(Meller won Scrabble tournament at age 10, and is ranked 5th on the continent.)
(By Paul Hond, Columbia Magazine, Winter 2017)
SCIENCE: The Most Powerful Magnets in the Universe Are Collapsed Stars
(Magnetars have magnetic fields 1,000 times stronger than neutron stars whose
strong magnetic fields are about 2 trillion times more powerful than Earth's.)
(By Sopjie Weiner, Popular Mechanics, 11-4-2017)
How Russian hackers pried into Clinton campaign emails
(Hackers worked their way around the Clinton campaign's top-of-the-line digital security to steal
chairman John Podesta's emails in March 2016; Hackers turned to the personal Gmail addresses.)
(By Raphael Satter, Jeff Donn, & Chad Day, Taiwan News, 11-4-2017)
Scientists discover mysterious 'void' in Great Pyramid of Giza
(Researchers find evidence of 30-meter-long space hidden within pyramid's walls above
the Queen's chamber using muon detectors;
published in Nature, Nov. 2, 2017)
(By Cassandra Santiago & Sarah El Sirgany, CNN, 11-3-2017)
MUSIC:
Fats Domino dies at 89; gave rock music a New Orleans flavor
(He stood 5-feet-5 and weighed more than 200 pounds, with a wide, boyish smile and a haircut as flat
as an album cover. Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including "Blueberry Hill"
and "Ain't That a Shame". One of his show-stopping stunts was playing the piano while standing,
throwing his body against it with the beat of the music and bumping the grand piano across the stage.)
(By Stacey Plaisance & Janet McConnaughey, SF Chronicle, 10-25-2017)
What your intentions are all about
("Sankalp" is an orientation of the mind or heart; intention, determination, decision, wish,
resolve, and will power. Sankalp is a promise to oneself, embedded in the subconscious mind,
repeated frequently so that it becomes a reality. Sankalp could be to realise materialistic wishes,
and Mahasankalp is meant for achieving Self-knowledge and enlightenment.)
(By Homayun Taba, Times of India, 10-5-2017)
FILM:
How real-life drug smuggling & CIA spy operations inspired Tom Cruise film American Made
(Barry Seal was a bored airline pilot out of Baton Rouge who was delighted to be recruited by the CIA
in the late 1970s to fly clandestine surveillance missions over Central American hot spots.)
(By Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News, 9-27-2017)
This Reality Is All There Is— Nothing More
(We have been made to believe that techniques like yoga, prayers, meditation or mindfulness will
bring us peace of mind. What a con! There is no peace of mind! No wonder we are all neurotic!)
(By Andrea Quintero, Huffington Post, 9-26-2017)
Blazing
saddles dim memory in new dark age of censorship, witch-hunts
(Mel Brooks: in this censorious age, he never could have made 1974 film Blazing Saddles today.)
(By Matt Ridley, The Australian Times, 9-26-2017)
Attain Golf Enlightenment: Meet the Real Guru of Golf
(Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's YouTube videos, 5-minute answers to deep questions, have eclipsed
100 million views. He plays golf & quotes Swami Vivekananda "Kicking a football will take you
closer to the Divine than any amount of prayer.")
(By Max Adler, Golf Digest, 9-26-2017)
The man whose biblical doomsday claim has some nervously eyeing Sept. 23
(Sept. 23 is 33 days since the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse, and David Meade forecasts disaster.)
(By Kristine Phillips, Washington Post, 9-20-2017)
Why It's Unlikely the World Will End on September 23
(No matter how you interpret the latest cosmic signs, history tells us people don't have best track
record at predicting apocalypse. David Meade of Wisconsin, says rogue planet Nibiru will
collide
with Earth on September 23; NASA says Nibiru doesn't exist; Anthony Aveni on Mayan calendar)
(By Michael Greshko, National Geographics, 9-19-2017)
Scientists:
Future of oldest tree species on Earth in peril
(Driven by climate change, a cousin of the tree, limber pine, is leapfrogging up mountainsides, taking
root in warmer, more favorable temperatures & leaving little room for the late-coming bristlecone.)
(By Scott Smith, Chicago Tribune, 9-13-2017)
Who was Eiko Ishioka and what are the designs that made her famous?
(Japanese designer Eiko Ishioka was famous for her outlandish &
surreal designs giving her global
renown. She died in 2012. Google honored her with a commemorative Doodle on its homepage.)
(By George Fuller, The Telegraph, UK, 7-12-2017)
The European musicians at the heart of Enlightenment Edinburgh
(Giusto Ferdinando Tenducci was an 18th century superstar, a rags-to-riches singing sensation,
a seducer, a fugitive, an honorary Scot. Born poor in Siena, he was castrated as a child and went on
to become vocal teacher to Mozart in Vienna. In 1766 he married the 15-year-old Dorothea Maunsell,
one of his students, and because he was a castrato the marriage was technically illegal. Tenducci
escaped imprisonment by fleeing to Edinburgh and making his home in Scotland.)
(By Kate Molleson, The Herald, Scotland, 7-11-2017)
Scientists get religious leaders high on magic mushroom compound
(Researchers at Johns Hopkins University brought together rabbis, Catholic, Orthodox & Presbyterian
priests, and a Zen Buddhist to see if doses of psilocybin might enhance their religious fervor.)
(By Chris Matyszczyk, cnet news, 7-9-2017)
This Is The Key To Mastering Small Talk, According To Harvard Researchers
(People who asked more questions, particularly follow-up questions, were considered more likable.)
(By Brittany Wong, Huffington Post, 6-20-2017)
Vintage Typewriters Gain Fans Amid 'Digital Burnout'
(In the age of smartphones, social media and cyber hacking fears, the vintage typewriter
that once gathered dust in attics and basements is making a comeback; Public "type-ins" popular.)
(By Russell Contreras, Associated Press, US News, 6-14-2017)
OP-ED: "Wonder Woman" is a beautiful reminder of what feminism has to offer women—and men
[The power of Wonder Woman, and one of the things that gives Patty Jenkins's adaptation of the
character such a lift, is Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) doesn't have any idea what women and men are—
or aren't— supposed to do. Allan Heinberg's script has levity, goodness, and sense of discovery.]
(By Alyssa Rosenberg, Washington Post, 6-5-2017)
Google Doodle celebrates legacy of rainbow flag creator
(Gilbert Baker created the iconic flag representing freedom & pride
for the gay community to help replace a symbol of oppression in 1978.)
(By Steven Musil, CNET, 6-2-2017)
Sunday With: Mark Hamill
(Mark Hamill was 25 when he landed the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars which celebrates
its 40th anniversary May 25. He's married to Marilou almost 39 years. Carrie's death was so hard.
When we were filming The Force Awakens, Prince William & Prince Harry came to the set. I said
to them, "My mother was Queen Amidala. My father is Lord Vader. My sister is Princess Leia.
Don't you think that makes me royalty?" William immediately said, "Absolutely." Harry said,
"I'd have to think about it a little more." Carrie was happy they were split [on the vote].)
(By Kathleen McCleary, Parade, 5-14-2017)
* Science:
(A 600-year-old life comes to an end (For some 600 years, the great white oak looked
over the people of Basking Ridge, N.J.; The tree still stands close to 100 feet tall, and its
branches extend more than 130 feet side to side. One limb tipped the scales at 8,000 pounds.)
(By Amy Ellis Nutt, Washington Post, 4-25-2017)
* ART:
On the edge of madness: the terrors and genius of Alberto Giacometti
(He drank with Sartre, mocked Picasso and took silent walks with Beckett—
but his work was going nowhere until a vision on Boulevard Montparnasse left him
trembling. Ahead of a major Tate show, we explore the obsessions of Giacometti.)
(By Lara Feigel, The Guardian, UK, 4-21-2017)
* Scientists
identify parts of brain involved in dreaming
(Francesca Siclari: "Maybe the dreaming brain and the waking brain are much more similar than
one imagined because they partially recruit the same areas for the same type of experiences.")
(By Nicola Davis, The Guardian, UK, 4-10-2017) Nature Neuroscience
Faberge
egg reunited with its missing 'surprise' in Texas
(A Faberge egg and the jeweled elephant designed to fit inside it are being reunited for the first time
in almost a century thanks to a loan from Queen Elizabeth II to Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The elephant, which walks & moves its head when wound, was purchased in 1935 by King George V,
apparently with no knowledge that it was Faberge.)
(By Jamie Stengle, Associated Press, 4-7-2017)
Sleep: You're Doing It Wrong
(Whatever you do, don't try to sleep. "You don't try to be hungry," W. Chris Winter points out
in The Sleep Solution,
"When you take the expectation of sleep away, it tends to come in a hurry.")
(By Paula Spencer Scott, Parade, 3-19-2017)
Inside the Enchanted World of Beauty and the Beast
(Disney brought the 1700s French fairy tale as a sweeping animated movie musical in 1991.
Now Emma Watson & Dan Stevens star in a brand-new Disney version with live actors, real settings,
& eye-popping computer animation. 10 glass chandeliers modeled on chandeliers from Versailles.)
(By Lambeth Hochwald, Parade, 3-12-2017)
The Truth About Reality
(Our reality is not fixed. And if our reality is changeable, it's also not permanent.
Our deepest desire is to feel loved & to share love. Most powerful manifestation of self-love
is self-acceptance. Make Love your number one habit and watch how your life transforms.)
(By Andrea Quintero, Huffington Post, 3-3-2017)
I Am the God
(God is not found outside of us, instead this god is found within each of us. In this new reality if
we pray— we are simply praying to the god within us. We are, individually, the sole creators of
our reality. In essence we are indeed omnipotent, we are holy, we are mighty, we are our own god.)
(By Andrea Quintero, Huffington Post, 3-3-2017)
Edmonia Lewis: Google Doodle salutes pioneering sculptor to kick off Black History Month
(To kick off its celebration of Black History Month, Google turns today to a
19th century artist who burned so bright that her twin gifts of blazing talent and
steely determination could not be denied even in the face of her era's discrimination.)
(By Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 2-1-2017)
HISTORY:
Edmonia Lewis: Why Google celebrates her today
(She was the first female African American sculptor to achieve
international acclaim at a time when slavery was legal.)
(Aljazeera, 2-1-2017)
Google's
Latest Doodle Heralds the Year of the Rooster
(The doodle, which features firecrackers, fried dumplings and traditional Chinese decorations,
marks the turning of Chinese zodiac from monkey to rooster. 2017 is the year of the fire rooster,
which according to lore is "trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility.")
(By Joseph Hincks, Time, 1-27-2017)
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Google celebrates the rooster for Lunar New Year
("Year of the Rooster" is January 28, 2017, festivities begin the day prior and last until February 2.)
(By Brian Fagioli, BetaNews, 1-25-2017)
Beauty
(If Like attracts Like, if Like acknowledges Like— like for example if you recognize beauty—
aren't you also Beauty? We can't know what something feels like, or looks like, without first
having an idea of the concept we are recognizing— mesmerizing sunset; sound of vast ocean.)
(By Andrea Quintero, Huffington Post, 1-16-2017)
* NEWS: 1,000 year old tree falls in Aptos
(The Advocate Tree at Forest of Nisene Marks State Park held its ground for 1000 years,
but recent storms proved too much as it toppled on Sunday, January 16; Kevin Newhouse with
the Aptos History Museum, took the loss personally, touched its bark and cried his eyes out.)
(By Barry Brown, KION News, 1-16-2017)
* Once
They Were Giants in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Aptos, California
(The old-growth redwood trees in the park had lived more than 1,000 years, and were
logged between 1883 and 1923; Fewer than 5% of old growth coast redwood trees existing
in 1850 survive today; The Advocate Tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old and is
one of the few remaining ancient redwood trees in the park. Old Growth Trail is also one
of the shortest hikes with the tree's location about 0.5 miles from the State Park entrance.)
(By Ric Garrido, Loyalty Traveler, 9-15-2013)
The Coast Road
by Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh review: A bilingual feast
(Her translators echo the wit and playfulness of the Irish-language poet's originals)
(By Nuala NÃ Dhomhnaill, Irish Times, 1-14-2017)
See What a NASA Spacecraft Saw When it Landed on Saturn's Moon
[Under the thick orangish clouds that surround Saturn's moon Titan, flowing rivers and
lakes of hydrocarbons (likely liquid methane and ethane) make Titan the only object
in space other than Earth that is known to have stable bodies of surface liquid.]
(By Jay Bennett, Esquire.com, 1-12-2017)
The Queen of Smarts
(Saluting our whip-smart Ask Marilyn columnist, who has been with Parade for 30 years.
She was listed 5 times in Guinness Book of World Records as having highest recordable IQ
for both children and adults. Born in St. Louis, in 1946, she's the wife of Robert Jarvik
(one of the Jarvik artiicial heart developers). Her column exercises the reader's & her brain.
(By Lambeth Hochwald, Parade, 12-25-2016)
SCIENCE: Researchers claim time travel is possible
(Prof. Howard Wiseman of Griffith University's Center for Quantum Dynamics &
Univ. of California's
Dr. Dirk-Andre Deckert claim that
parallel universes would allow for time travellers to visit Earth.)
(By George Harrison, NY Post, 11-27-2016)
Incredible!
Milky Way Shines Through a Midnight-Blue Sky (Photo)
(Astrophotographer Barbara Matthews took this image the first week of August from Donner Summit,
a mountaintop on the northern Sierra Nevada range, now a popular ski and lake resort.)
(By Nina Sen, Space.com, 11-26-2016)
The Unlikely Poet
(2016 Grace Church School graduate, is freshman at Dartmouth; Miss Miller, his technology teacher
saw his coding was shorter and different; Buddy Wakefield's video inspired him to write poetry.)
(By Holden Harris, Huffington Post, 10-28-2016)
The Amazing Stan Lee!
(The real star of the Marvel Comics universe— 93 years young— continues to shine. The brightest star
in the whole Marvel universe— is actually Stan Lee, whose ink and imagination built an empire.
(By Leonard Maltin, Parade, 10-23-2016)
Egypt's
Great Pyramid Might Have a Few More Secrets
(Researchers using non-invasive scanning called muon radiography to map the entire pyramid have
found two previously undiscovered "cavities" inside the ancient 4500-years structure itself.)
(By Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 10-18-2016)
MIT
Breaks a World Record For Nuclear Fusion
(Scientists at MIT's Alcator C-Mod experimental fusion reactor have broken world record for fusion
pressure. They generated two atmospheres of plasma pressure, brought the plasma to a temperature of
35 million degrees Celsius, close to the threshold of 50 million needed for commercial fusion power.)
(By Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 10-18-2016)
Space
is full of gigantic holes that are bigger than we expected
(Since 1981, astronomers found a vacant expanse called the Boötes void, holes of cold, dark,
lonely nothing, a rough sphere about 280 million light years in diameter with few dozen galaxies
inside; By contrast, Virgo Supercluster, that includes the Milky Way, contains over 2000 galaxies.)
(By Joshua Sokol, New Scientist, 10-18-2016)
* Feeling Awe May Be the Secret to Health and Happiness
(Dacher Keltner: "Awe is feeling of being in the presence of something vast or beyond human scale,
that transcends our current understanding of things." Gazing at the Milky Way, seeing Niagara Falls,
Sistine Chapel, Grand Canyon, Stonehenge, Utah's Canyonland National Park will bring sense of awe.
(By Paula Spencer Scott, Parade, 10-9-2016)
Reflections on Emerging Poets for Fall
(Analicia Sotelo's "Ariadne's Guide to Finding a Man"— "First, you must feel that no one could love
you ever. / Let the feeling become a veil of black paper. / Let the paper become papier-mâché."
(By Abriana Jetté, Stay Thirsty Magazine, 10-9-2016)
Poetry
and literature festival in Istanbul
(Poets and writers from 20 countries will be hosted in events in various venues during the Istanbul
Poetry and Literature Festival between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2; Eric Sadin & Jason Goodwin will come.)
(Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey, 9-27-2016)
New Metropolitan Museum Logo Draws Harsh Reviews
(In a blistering assessment on Vulture.com, Pulitzer Prize-winning music & architecture critic
Justin Davidson described the logo as "two short words printed in scarlet letters, stacked & squashed
together. The whole ensemble looks like a red double-decker bus that has stopped short, shoving
passengers into each other's backs." Wolff Olins' new logo replaced classic "M" of Luca Pacioli.)
(By Brenda Cronin, Wall Street Journal, 2-18-2016)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's New Logo Is a Typographic Bus Crash
(New logo will replace existing M, a masterwork of resonant graphics that the Met first used in 1971.
From a distance, old logo couldn't be simpler, just a capital letter emblazoned in a solid-colored
circle. Move in closer, though, and the M sits at the center of a delicately drawn circle-in-a-square,
cut by diagonals and fringed with six smaller circles. The original is from a woodcut by Luca Pacioli,
a collaborator of Leonardo da Vinci's. Logo quivers with references to history of art & architecture.)
(By Justin Davidson, Vulture.com, 2-17-2016)
41 of the trickiest questions Google will ask you in a job interview
(Google has a reputation for asking difficult brainteaser questions that challenge
how you act under pressure. They require you to think quantitatively and broadly,
and test the way you tackle problems on the spot.)
(By Maya Kosoff, Business Insider, 1-20-2016)
"When Grace at the Bliss Café Calls"
(a pain that radiates outward / from palm to fingers that cannot find / the shape of your mechanical pencil, /
a Mont Blanc in the burgundy they / don't make anymore, a gift given / long ago, engraved, and obviously /
too good for you since now you've lost / it,.. phone rings, the read-out saying Bliss /
and it's Grace,
your server at the / vegetarian café by the creek 200 miles /
away where you ate three days ago, /
saying she needs your address so she / can mail your pencil back to you.)
(By Jane Vandenburgh, The New Yorker, 1-8-2016, pp. 56-57)
David Bowie Left Us Eerie Clues About His Death
(Bowie's new secretive album Blackstar was released 2 days earlier on his 69th Birthday January 8th.
The video for the single "Lazarus" was released a day before on January 7th. The very first lyrics
heard are on the song are: "Look up here, I'm in heaven, I've got scars that can't be seen".)
(By Raul, feelnumb.com, 1-11-2016)
The Force Is with Them
(Star Wars fans have fueled a franchise that has earned $28 billion over nearly four decades.
"Princess Leia is the driving force and the glue behind the entire revolution that is Star Wars.")
(By Kathleen McCleary, Parade, 12-13-2015)
See
if you can answer this insanely difficult question Goldman Sachs has asked in job interviews
(When interviewing on Wall Street, job seekers often come up against questions
that could send even the calmest candidate into a tailspin. "If you were shrunk
to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?")
(By Rachel Gillett, Business Insider, 7-25-2015)
Loch Ness monster:
Google Doodle plumbs the depths of our fevered fascination
(On this day in 1934, Col. Robert Wilson released his
hoax photo of a would-be
Loch Ness monster.)
(By Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 4-21-2015)
Supermassive Black Hole Merger Could Finally Solve The 'Final Parsec Problem'
(Binary black holes, are a system composed of two black holes locked in close orbit around each other.
Presence of a binary system is evidence of a galactic merger. PSO J334.2028+01.4075
discovery.)
(By Avaneesh Pandey, International Business Times, 4-21-2015)
This gigantic void is biggest structure we've ever discovered in the universe
(3 billion light years away from Earth, there is a "cold spot", a gigantic void that has surprisingly few
galaxies present. At 1.8 billion light years across, it's the largest structure we've ever discovered.)
(By Joseph Stromberg, Vox.com, 4-21-2015)
Rare Oarfish, Stuff Of Sea Monster Legends, Washes Up In New Zealand, Then Vanishes
(Giant oarfish— also known as the "king of herrings"— can grow up to 36 feet long.)
(By Hilary Hanson, Huffington Post, 4-21-2015)
'Scientific wonderland' expected as spacecraft approaches Pluto
(Launched in 1977, NASA's New Horizons half-ton spacecraft in less than 100 days will have
a 6000 miles flyby of Pluto 3 billion miles away with its moons Charon, Kerbos, Hydra, Styx, Nix.)
(By Pete Spotts, Christian Science Monitor, 4-18-2015)
The Most Spectacular Photo (and GIF!) of Saturn Ever Taken
(NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured this view as it approached Saturn in early 2011.
Cassini's flyby on Aug. 21, 2014 captured Saturn's largest moon Titan & sunglint.)
(By Nicole Ngugen, PopSugar.com, 4-17-2015)
Your
brain's aging and a new report urges ways to stay sharp
(Be physically active. Keep socially and intellectually active. Get enough sleep.)
(By Lauran Neergaard, Washington Post, 4-14-2015)
How Did The Moon Form? Scientists Finally Solve Pesky Problem With Giant Impact Hypothesis
(Moon formed from debris created when a Mars-sized object crashed into Earth 4.5 billion years ago.)
(By Jacqueline Howard, Huffington Post, 4-9-2015)
Does Dark Matter Cause Chaos on Earth Every 30 Million Years?
(Earth passes through mid-plane of Milky Way disc once every 30 million years and
encounter dense clumps of dark matter that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.)
(By Michael Rampino, Gizmoco.com, 4-9-2015)
Clearest view of the surface of Saturn's moon Titan that we've ever seen
(New image-processing technique is bringing Saturn's largest moon, Titan, into clearer view.)
(By Shannon Hall, Space.com, 4-8-2015)
What happens when 2 proton beams collide at nearly the speed of light
(Large Hadron Collider hurled protons around a 17-mile loop explode into hot clouds of exotic
subatomic particles. When beams collide, their combined energy can melt 1,100 pounds of copper.)
(By Kelly Dickerson, Business Insider, 4-8-2015)
NASA Says We're on Verge of Finding Alien Life
(NASA's chief scientist Ellen Stofan predicts that scientists will find signs of alien life by 2025.)
(By Monika Auger, Wall Street Journal, 4-8-2015)
From a medieval text, a weapon against a modern superbug emerges
(1,000-year-old text titled "Bald's Leechbook" shelved in the library
of University of Nottingham's Institute for Medieval Research.)
(By Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 3-31-2015)
* Here's
why the Apple Watch always shows the time as 10:09 in advertisements
(Rolex loves 10:10:31, TAG Heuer prefers 10:10:37, and Bell & Ross always opts for uniformity
with 10:10:10. Timex, one of the few watchmakers who deviate from the 10:10 norm, displays
the time 10:09:36. Displaying at 10:09:00, allow Apple to consider itself "ahead of the times"
with the Apple Watch. At 10:09, the hands would be much closer to symmetrical perfection.)
(By Steven Tweedle, Business Insider, 3-10-2015)
* Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and This Is Why It Matters
(Interview with Dr. Larry Dossey about his new book One Mind— Our mind is not confined to
our brain or body, as we've been taught, but it extends infinitely outside them. Our minds have
no boundaries or limits, so they merge with all other minds to form what I call the One Mind.)
(By Dr. Frank Lipman, Epoch Times, March 5-11, 2015, B8)
Google Doodle celebrates Lunar New Year 2015
(The animation shows a ram head-butting a tree until a bee flies out—
causing firecrackers to go off and a series of fireworks to spell out "Google")
(By Ashitha Nagesh, The Express, UK, 2-19-2015)
Five things you didn't know about Jesus
(Jesus came from little town, didn't know everything, was tough, needed "me time", didn't want to die.)
(By The Rev. James Martin, CNN News, 2-19-2015)
* Aldo Ciccolini obituary
(Pianist famed for his nimble fingerwork and devotion to less familiar music, particularly from France)
(The Guardian, UK, 2-16-2015)
Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Google Doodle of good yarn
(Honored on her 148th birthday with Google Doodle made of wool about Little House on the Prairie.)
(By David Clark Scott, Christian Science Monitor, 2-7-2015)
* Aldo Ciccolini, pianist— dies at 89
(Virtuoso pianist who brought dazzling Mediterranean tints to Satie, Mozart and Mussorgsky)
(Daily Telegraph, UK, 2-3-2015)
* Aldo Ciccolini, An Italian Pianist With A French Soul, Dies At Age 89
(Virtuoso pianist who brought dazzling Mediterranean tints to Satie, Mozart and Mussorgsky)
(By Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 2-2-2015)
Sweet revenge: 'Ship Your Enemies Glitter' sells for $85,000
(22-year old Australian Matthew Carpenter's site ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com received 2000 orders
@ $9.99 AUD or @ $8.11 USD in the first few hours, that he couldn't fulfill orders fast enough;
Sold his one-day business for $85,000 after 345 bids on
Flippa. New owner will fill 10,000 orders.)
(By Todd Wasserman, Mashable.com, 1-22-2015)
Rupi Kaur: The Poet Every Woman Needs to Read
(Rupi Kaur's first book, Milk and Honey with her own sketches, read like the everyday, collective
experiences of today's woman; the kindest words my father said to me / women like you drown oceans)
(By Erin Spencer, Huffington Post, 1-22-2015)
David Sorkin designated the Lucy G. Moses Professor of Judaic Studies
(1996 study: Moses Mendelssohn & The Religious Enlightenment;
Book Review)
(Yale News, 1-22-2015)
Faith Matters: Guarding the tongue
(To Enlightenment mind, right of individuals to unfettered speech & thought was unimpeachable.)
(By Kerry Walters, The Daily Item, 1-22-2015)
Movie Review: Teacher's pet
(A chilly and cerebral Kindergarten Teacher directed by Nadav Lapid
on Tel Aviv teacher Nira obsessed with 5-year old Yoav's poetry talents.)
(By Hannah Brown, The Jerusalem Post, 1-22-2015) (Film Trailer)
Mars
Curiosity Rover's Ancient Cat Statue 'Discovery' Sets Alien Hunters Abuzz
(Ancient cat statue reportedly discovered by Curiosity rover on a particular segment on Mars' surface.)
(Inquisitor.com, 1-20-2015)
Boy who claimed he had been to heaven retracts story, best-selling book is pulled
(6-year-old Alex Malarkey's The Boy
Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels,
and Life Beyond This World, published in 2011 was withdrawn, because his father made him
lie on going to heaven.)
(By Hillel Italie, StarTribune, 1-16-2015) (Amazon Reviews)
Tyndale
House responds to what it deems 'inaccurate statements' concerning Boy-Back-From-Heaven scandal
(Publisher knew Malarkey book was a fraud for two years, but still published to make money.)
(By Phil Johnson, discern.org, 1-16-2015) (June 3, 2014 Letter)
Bigfoot Strolls Through A Russian Forest— At Least That's The Claim [VIDEO]
(Yeti sighting in remote region of southwestern Adygea Republic in foothills of Caucasus Mountains.)
(By Lee Speigel, Huffington Post, 1-15-2015)
One of the Milky Way's arms might encircle the entire galaxy
(Arm known as Scutum-Centaurus emanates from one end of the Milky Way bar,
passes between us and Galactic Center, and extends to the other side of the galaxy.)
(By Matt Williams, Phys.Org News, 1-14-2015)
Green Comet Lovejoy Keeps Wowing Amateur Astronomers (Video, Photos)
(On Jan. 10, 2015, amateur astronomer Steve Siedentop took a series of 100 images
of Comet C/2014 Q2, also known as Comet Lovejoy, as it passed over Grayson, Georgia.)
(By Calla Cofield, Space.com, 1-13-2015)
Why
I still believe (on the 18th birthday of Creative Good)
(I believe in my founding vision of Creative Good. The better that companies treat customers—
as fellow human beings who deserve a good customer experience, as we would want for ourselves—
the better those companies will perform, over the long run.)
(By Mark Hurst, Creative Good, 1-7-2015)
Adam Plunkett on Faithful and Virtuous Night
(Glück is 71, and this is her 12th book of poems. None of
her other books are this ambitious;
It's her most primitive work. The first thing she does as the knight is to
"[enter] the kingdom
of death," the night of annihilation braved by the knight of her dreams.)
(By Adam Plunkett, Los Angeles Review of Books, 1-1-2015)
Researchers
Name a Deep Sea Spiky Shelled Snail A. strummeri after the late, great Joe Strummer
of The Clash (Golf-ball-sized snails rock out near hydrothermal vents 11,500 feet below the ocean.)
(By Lori Dorn, Laughing Squid, 12-15-2014) Santa Cruz Sentinel, 12-23-2014
* Interview with Dr Hew Len
(Dr. Hew Len worked at the Hawaii State hospital in the high security ward for the criminally insane
from 1983 to 1987, where he cured and entire ward of criminally mentally ill patients using the simple
ancient Hawaiian healing method of Ho'oponopono. How can we impact our lives using this method?)
(By Saul Maraney, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2008)
* How Dr. Hew Len healed a ward of mentally ill criminals with Ho'oponopono
(Ho'oponopono, the Hawaiian system that heals oneself— and the world, too.)
(By Rosario Montenegro, HubPages.com, March 27, 2011)
* Christmas Ho'oponopono
(Dr. Hew Len perceived in the inmates was really just an aspect of himself that was coming to his
awareness to be healed. In healing that aspect of himself by prayer, he healed the entire insane ward.)
(By Jillian Jones, WorkMoneyBliss.com Blog, 12-21-2013)
UFO Enthusiast
Says Comet 67P An Alien Spacecraft In Disguise; Claims NASA Received Radio Signals 20 Years Ago
(Email to UFO Sightings Daily that Comet 67P was an alien ship in disguise)
(By Afza Fathima, International Business Times, 12-8-2014)
An Absence Finished: Claudia Emerson's LATE WIFE: POEMS
(Late Wife presents the arc of a failed marriage through letters from the wife to the husband)
(By Gary Anderson, What's Not Wrong? Blog, 12-5-2014)
* SCIENCE: What Happened Before The Big Bang Started The Universe?
(First idea: it all began as a kind of quantum fluctuation that inflated to our present universe.
Second idea: our universe began within a black hole of an older universe 13.8 billion years ago.)
(By Brian Koberlein, BusinessInsider.com, 12-3-2014)
This Is the Largest Stone Block Ever Carved By Human Hands
(Discovered in a stone quarry in Baalbek, Lebanon, by German archaeologists, the perfectly hewn
chunk of stone measures 64 feet by 19.6 feet and is 18 feet tall. It's estimated to weigh 1,650 tons.)
(By Jamie Condliffe, Gizmodo.com, 12-3-2014)
These 3 Images Changed Our Understanding Of The Universe Forever
[1. Hubble Deep Field (1995) collected light from 3,000 objects in this tiny patch of dark sky;
2. Hubble Ultra Deep Field shows objects in universe as they appeared less than one billion years after Big Bang;
3. Hubble eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) contains 5,500 more galaxies than the Hubble Ultra Deep Field.];
(By Jessica Orwig, BusinessInsider.com, 12-3-2014)
Famous Hubble star explosion is expanding, new animation reveals
(Homunculus Nebula getting bigger and bigger between 1995 & 2008: Picture of the Day 12-2-2014)
(By Elizabeth Howell, Phys.org, 12-3-2014)
At Va. Shore eatery, woman bites clam, finds $3K pearl
(Virginia Beach woman found a rare 4.5-carat pearl in a clam purchased at Great Machipongo Clam
Shack in Nassawadox. The man who grew the clam has never seen a pearl in an aquaculture clam.)
(By Carol Vaughn, DelmarVaNow.com, 12-2-2014)
Monterey Bay
researchers capture rare deep-sea anglerfish on video for first time
(Black seadevil (Melanocetus), named for its baleful ugliness. With vicious gape,
females eat fish of a
larger size. To lure her prey, she jerks luminescent orb
dangling from "fishing rod" on her forehead.)
(By Samantha Clark, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 11-20-2014)
Dark matter
could be seen in GPS time glitches
(Kinks or cracks in the quantum fields that permeate the universe could be the culprit
dark matter that makes up 80% of the universe's matter according to
Andrei Derevianko.)
(By Hal Hodson, New Scientist, 11-17-2014)
* Baby elephant survives 14 attacking lions
(Young 1-year-old elephant in Zambia strays from its mother and seems in great peril,
but holds its own and reunites with its herd; 'We've named the little fella Hercules'.)
(By Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com, 11-11-2014)
Hubble Images Show Universe's Secrets
(This telescope, which uses a series of high-resolution cameras to observe
the visible universe, has captured the hearts of the public with its stunning images.)
(By Jessica Orwig, BusinessInsider.com, 11-1-2014)
BASEBALL:
Madison Bumgarner effort was one for the ages
(Cardinals Johnny Keane rode 28-year-old Bob Gibson in 1964 just as strenuously as Giants skipper
Bruce Bochy rode 25-year-old Madison Bumgarner through the 2014 postseason. Afterward, Keane
was asked why he stayed with Gibson. Keane said: "I had a commitment to his heart.")
(By Dan McGrath, Chicago Sun Times, 10-31-2014)
MLB:
Where Madison Bumgarner's stellar World Series ranks all-time
(Mathewson 1905, Lew Burdette 1957, Stan Coveleski 1920, Bob Gibson, 1967, Bumgarner 2014)
(By Cliff Corcoran, Sports Illustrated, 10-30-2014)
BASEBALL:
Bumgarner a Throwback to Pre-Pitch Count Era
(World Series 0.43 ERA for 2014 & 0.25 ERA lifetime compared to Christy Mathewson 1905,
Lew Burdett 1957, Sandy Koufax 1965, Bob Gibson 1967, Micky Lolich 1968, Jack Morris 1991, Randy Johnson 2001);
(By Ronald Blum, ABC News, 10-30-2014)
MLB: The Greatest World Series Pitching Performance Ever?
(Bumgarner threw 21 innings, 17 strike outs, 1 walk, 0.43 ERA is lowest since Dodger's
Sandy Koufax's 0.38 ERA in 1965 World Series with 24 innings and 29 strike outs.)
(By Daniel Barbarisi, Wall Street Journal, 10-30-2014)
BASEBALL:
Giants beat Royals in Game 7 for third World Series title in five years
(Madison Bumgarner pitched 5 shutout innings in relief, Pablo Sandoval had
3 hits and scored two runs as Giants beat Royals 3-2 to win World Series.)
(By Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10-30-2014)
Archeologists Make
Incredible Discoveries In Tunnel Sealed 2,000 Years Ago
(340-foot tunnel sealed 2000 years ago at Teotihuacan yielded thousands of relics.)
(By Associated Press, Huffington Post, 10-30-2014)
BOXING: Rumble in the Jungle: the night Ali became King of the World again
(New book on Muhammad Ali's fight in Kinshasa 40 years when George Foreman was defeated.)
(By Kevin Mitchell, The Guardian, UK, 10-29-2014)
BOOKSHELF: Do What I Mean, Not What I Say
(Ancient philosophers deliberately concealed the meaning of their writings to protect society
from dangerous truths. A review of Arthur M. Melzer's
Philosophy Between the Lines.
There is a surface
message intended for the ordinary or inattentive reader and a deeper meaning often diametrically
opposed to the first, that is addressed to the discerning reader.)
(By James Ceaser, Wall Street Journal, 10-24-2014)
Will Smith Reveals The Real Life
'Limitless Pill' That Doubled His IQ In Minutes
(Widespread amongst young professionals, Neuro3x
reacts to a gene called NRXN3 in the male brain.
Users reported having 'lazer beam focus' and were thinking sharper, improving their memory and
turbo charging their energy levels. Pills also helped men effortlessly attract & seduce beautiful women.)
(By James Rickman, Discover Magazine, 10-15-2014)
Cardinals Hero Matt Adams Saves The Day And Gets The Girl
(Fiancee Carina Struble kisses Matt Adams in locker room before he got doused with booze.)
(By Michael Klopman, Huffington Post, 10-8-2014)
Giants' Hunter Pence
makes sensational leaping catch to rob Nats of extra bases
(Hunter Pence made a leaping catch at the right-field wall to rob Jayson Werth of an extra-base hit
during Game 4 of the NLDS as SF Giants beat Washington Nationals 3-2 & win the NLDS 3-1.)
(By Ted Berg, USA Today, 10-7-2014)
Beardless Jesus Discovered On Early Christian Artifact Unearthed In Spain
(4th century green glass paten shows beardless Jesus with apostles Peter and Paul)
(By Carol Kuruvilla, Huffington Post, 10-7-2014)
SPACE: Total lunar eclipse on Wednesday will have an unusal twist
(On October 8th see a "selenelion"—total eclipse of moon & rising sun simultaneously,
Boston: sunrise 6:49 am, moonset 6:54 am; New York: sunrise 6:59 am, moonset 7:04 am)
(By Joe Rao, cbsnews.com, 10-6-2014)
BASEBALL: Steven Souza Jr. makes miraculous catch for final out of Jordan Zimmermann no-hitter
(Washington rookie left fielder Steven Souza Jr. chased Christian Yelich's flyball to left-center field
gap and caught it to preserve Jordan Zimmermann's 1-0 win & first no-hitter in Nationals history.)
Video;
(By Scott Allen, Washington Post, 9-28-2014)
At CounterPunch Studios, actors' digital doubles come to life
(CounterPunch has built a growing business by creating realistic-looking digital faces of actors,
including some who are deceased: for video games, Bollywood movies, theme parks & TV shows.)
(By Richard Verrier, Los Angeles Times, 9-24-2014)
Poem of the week:
A Work of Fiction by Louise Glück
(Glück's prose-poem combines meditation with anecdote as she remembers the moment of loss after finishing a novel;
"In the dark, the cigarette glowed, like a fire lit by a survivor. But who would
see this light, this small dot among the infinite stars? I stood a while in the
dark, the cigarette glowing and growing small, each breath patiently destroying me. How small it was, how brief. Brief, brief, but inside me now,
which the stars could never be.")
(By Carol Rumens, The Guardian, UK, 8-25-2014)
We'd like to welcome you to 'enlightenment'
(Avatar claims its self-improvement course can fix life's struggles; critics say mumbo jumbo
comes at a cost; nine-day session @$3050, or a two-day ReSurfacing workshop @$402.50.)
(By Russell Blackstock, New Zealand Herald, 8-17-2014)
APPRECIATION: Lauren Bacall's hallmark: a unique mystique
(The voice. If you heard it once, you never forgot. So distinctive was its smoky,
sexual growl, you could pick it out of a lineup. She had an elegant, high-end style
that made her a photographer's favorite. She was just 19 and Humphrey Bogart 44
when they began filming "To Have and Have Not" and married shortly afterwards.)
(By Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times, 8-13-2014)
Movie review | 'The Giver'
(In a seemingly perfect community, without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, a young boy
is chosen to learn from an elderly man about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world.)
(By Roger Moore, Courier-Journal, 8-12-2014)
OP-ED: Americans' optimism is dying
(Gloom goes beyond wealth, gender, race, region, age and ideology
This fractious nation is united by one thing: lost faith in the United States.)
(By Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 8-12-2014)
Robin Williams: Actor, comic unable to cope with real-life demons
(Williams rose to fame as a comedian, but blossomed as a dramatic actor. Obama: "He was one of a
kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien, but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.")
(By Frank C. Girardot, Daily News, 8-11-2014)
SoCal anglers score rare opah trifecta
(Anglers out of San Diego manage to land three of the brightly colored
'moonfish' on one day.)
(By Pete Thomas, GrindTV, 8-4-2014)
Marilyn Monroe— 38 never-before-seen photographs
(Los Angeles-based Limited Runs selling prnts of 38 previously unpublished images of Marilyn)
(By Sarah Eberspacher, The Week, 7-23-2014) (Marilyn & Horse: Cheek to Cheek)
Alien Planet Sets New Record For Having Longest-Known Year On A Transiting World
(Alien planet Kepler-421b takes 704 Earth days to complete one orbit in Lyra constellation.)
(By Mike Wall, Huffington Post, 7-23-2014)
Ukraine
says Malaysian plane shot down; nearly 300 feared dead, among them 80 children
(Malaysian airliner shot down over eastern Ukraine by militants, killing all 300 people aboard.)
(Reuters, The Indian Express, 7-17-2014)
Hubble sees a galaxy with a glowing heart
(NGC 1433 spiral Seyfert galaxy with bright luminous center is 32 million light-years from Earth.)
(By D. Calzetti, Phys.Org News, 7-14-2014)
Hubble telescope spots bizarre 'string of pearls' formation in space
(100,000-light-year-long string of star clusters wrapping around the cores of two merging galaxies.)
(By Mike Wall, Christian Science Monitor, 7-14-2014)
How Meg Ryan
Learned to 'Fake It' for When Harry Met Sally
(Director Rob Reiner shows Meg how to do it at Katz's Deli in New York City.)
(By Lesley Messer, ABC News, 7-13-2014)
Meg Ryan was coached for When Harry Met Sally orgasm scene by a man
(The scene has become one of the most celebrated in Hollywood history.)
(By Daniel Bates, The Telegraph, UK, 7-11-2014)
Warren Buffett Is Betting $1 Billion on This Man
(United States Gypsum Corporation or USG is one of the largest manufacturers of drywall and other various construction materials; Berkshire Hathaway owns 30% of USG versus 6% of IBM.)
(By Patrick Morris, Motley Fool, 7-12-2014)
BASEBALL: Top Plays of the Day
(Barnes;
Craig;
Gomez;
Gose;
Holt;
Revere;
Young;
Zimmerman)
(Must See Catches, MLB, 6-24-2014)
In Nero's Rome, the Disgraced Took to the Bathtub
(Nero was 12 when his mother, Agrippina, hired the Stoic philosopher Seneca to be his tutor.)
(By Manuela Hoelterhoff, Bloomberg News, 6-17-2014)
A DARK ROOM: The Best-Selling Game that No One Can Explain
(Created by Michael Townsend in May 2013, "A Dark Room" was designed to run in Web browsers.
Amir Rajan e-mailed Townsend, for permission to adapt game for iPhones & iPads, now a best-seller.)
(By Michael Thomsen, The New Yorker, 6-12-2014)
Goodbye, Maya Angelou: Teacher, Warrior, Spiritual Leader
(She was one of those wise souls gifted to us to help us all find our way a little bit more easily.
She was a mentor, a surrogate mother, an older sister, and a grandmother to many of us
who battled our way into womanhood with her by our side.)
(By Nur-e Rahman Nichols, Forbes, 6-10-2014)
SCIENCE: Hubble captures the most comprehensive image of the universe yet
(Hubble Space Telescope has taken a long-exposure picture of space in the ultraviolet, revealing newly
formed stars and galaxies; also detected earliest galaxies, formed as early as 13 billion years ago.)
(By Dario Borghino, gizmag.com, 6-9-2014)
Poet Maya Angelou remembered for wisdom, clarity
(Bill Clinton: "She was calling our attention to the things she'd been paying attention to. And she did it
with a clarity and power that will wash over people as long as there is a written and spoken language.")
(By Emery P. Dalesio, WRAL.com, 6-7-2014)
Charles M. Blow offers a tribute to Maya Angelou
(She gave the people I knew— and the person I was— value, and she did so
with a phenomenal power of presence, her words lingering and her voice swelling.)
(By teacherken, Daily Kos, 5-28-2014)
How a text-based RPG got to No. 1 on iOS App Store
(Amir Rajan's Web-based game "A Dark Room" amasses a large audience of 325,000)
(By Hanah Cho, Dallas Morning News, 5-24-2014)
Mary Anning: British palaeontologist celebrated in Google doodle
(Google celebrates 215th birthday of British palaeontologist Mary Anning with a special doodle,
which shows Anning uncovering a dinosaur's fossilised remains. She's called greatest fossilist.)
(By Sophie Curtis, The Telegraph, UK, 5-21-2014)
MLB: Why the Giants are (not) the best in the National League
(If you're looking for absolutes, the 2014 Giants are not the team for you.)
(By Grant Brisbee, SB*Nation, 5-21-2014)
Bear pulls cub to safety from busy highway
(Momma bear rescuing its cub from heavy traffic in British Columbia)
(By David Strege, GrindTV, 5-20-2014)
Helpware: This Password Program Rightfully Nags You
(Dashlane, a free program for Windows, Macs, iPads and iPhones and Android devices
is easy to use, and has powerful encryption to flummox hackers. Price is right, too.)
(By Harold Glicken, Vnews.com, 5-18-2014)
* The triumph of melancholy: 500 years of Dürer's most enigmatic print
(As mathematicians meet in New York to celebrate 500th anniversary of Dürer's print
Melencolia,
Karl Galle asks whether it is a depiction of despairing genius or of scholarly optimism.)
(By Karl Galle, The Guardian, UK, 5-16-2014)
World's oldest sperm discovered. And it's gigantic.
(17-million year old muscle shrimp known as an ostracod found in Australian cave; though
1 millimeter long, its sperm when uncoiled can reach up to ten times its body length.)
(By Terence McCoy, Washington Post, 5-14-2014)
Top-shelf bookcases: Get your pretty books all in a row
(Try a modular, expandable system such as Atlas Industries' AS4. A 32-inch-wide single column
of shelving starts at $2,700 for white oak; Sapien vertical bookcase priced at $198-$298.)
(By Lindsey M. Roberts, Washington Post, 5-14-2014)
Kids Don't Read Books Because Parents Don't Read Books
(People read all day long. Google, Twitter, and Facebook deliver words. People can't peel their eyes
from smartphone: essentially a text distribution mechanism; we prefer magazines & blogs to books.)
(By Jordan Shapiro, Forbes, 5-13-2014)
* Dorothy Hodgkin: The only British woman to win a Nobel science prize gets a doodle
(Her pioneering work helped unravel the structures of proteins, including insulin,
which she studied for more than 30 years; 1964 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry)
(By Guardian Staff, The Guardian, UK, 5-12-2014)
Yahoo is going to track your web use whether you like it or not
(Yahoo won't be honoring "Do Not Track" requests from users anymore.)
(By Chris Smith, BGR, 5-2-2014)
Kentucky Derby | Art Sherman visits Swaps' grave
(Derby favorite California Chrome trainer, Sherman visited Swaps' gravesite at Churchill Downs)
(By Jonathan Lintner, The Courier Journal, 5-1-2014)
Researchers think water helped ancient Egyptians build the pyramids
[Daniel Bonn, Physical Review Letters 112, 175502 (2014) showed as water was added, both the force
needed to pull the sled and the friction coefficient were found to decrease below that of the dry sand."]
(By Emily Price, engadget.com, 5-1-2014)
BASEBALL:
Detroit Tigers' Brad Ausmus has never seen a hitter like Victor Martinez
(Victor Martinez struck out twice in his first 85 plate appearances this season. He's hitting
.286 with 3 doubles & 4 homers in 21 games; Torii Hunter & Ian Kinsler both have 8 strikeouts.
Nick Castellanos had 17 hits and 13 RBIs in his first 18 games this season.)
(By George Sipple, FreePress.com, 4-29-2014)
Ask Alma's Owl: The Spy Who Loved Baseball
[Morris "Moe" Berg (LAW '30), who was known as "the brainiest guy in baseball". He had
a career batting average of .243 and spied for Office of Strategic Services (CIA forerunner)
during WW II in Yugoslavia & Switzerland on Germany's efforts to build an atomic bomb.]
(By Georgette Jasen, Columbia News, 4-23-2014)
EDUCATION: The Dark Chain of Events to Your Kid's Ivy League
(Failure to get into college of their dreams may have less to do with a lack of merit than
admissions procedures adopted by anti-Semitic college administrators almost a century ago.)
(By Stephen Mihm, Bloomberg View, 4-21-2014)
The secret to khushi
(Happiness expert Dr. Aymee Coget suggests, "Focus on controlling your emotional state by choosing
happiness and adopting positive psychology principles, build your resilience, follow your heart and
meditate into the greatest states of bliss." Sophie Keller: Happiness needs to be a "being state".)
(By Teja Lele Desai, Mumbai Mirror, Apr 18, 2014)
The Greatest Graduation Speech Ever Given Is This Bullet-Point List Of 12 Economic Concepts
(Thomas Sargent spoke to 2007 Berkely graduates: "Economics is organized common sense.")
(By Rob Wile, Business Insider, 4-17-2014) Speech
'Jaw-Dropping', 'Apocalypse' Blood Moon Still Making Waves
(Lunar eclipse treated as sign from heaven, or butt of jokes; Acts 2:19-20— "And I will show wonders
in Heaven above and signs in the Earth beneath, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon
into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord." April 15, 2014 is Passover.)
(By Mark Biltz, WND Faith, 4-17-2014)
Pilot Captures Crazy-Surreal Photo Series By Just Sticking His Camera Out The Cockpit
(Alex MacLean sticks his camera out the cockpit of a small Cessna 182, snapping what's below.
More)
(By Suzy Strutner, Huffington Post, 4-11-2014)
Hubble Madness' Picks a Winning Image, and Deep Space Never Looked So Good
(Winning photo is "Mystic Mountain"—
area in Carina Nebula is a pillar of gas, dust, and stars
that measures more than three light-years tall, 7500 light-years from earth.
Other photos)
(By Justin Bachman, Business Week, 4-11-2014)
What Hiring Managers Really Want To Know When They Ask 'What's Your Biggest Weakness?'
(Question is designed to test your mettle and your character. It reveals any weaknesses that may derail
a candidate, it also provides insights into if you are of a mindset of continual improvement.)
(By Jacquelyn Smith, Business Insider, 4-9-2014)
Hank Aaron to enjoy anniversary of No. 715 with friends
(Aaron was more relieved than jubilant after he broke Babe Ruth's home run record April 8, 1974.)
(By Charles Odum, San Francisco Chronicle, 4-7-2014)
3-D printing market projected to grow to $16.2 billion in 2018
(3-D printer sales, materials and associated services, reached $2.5 billion worldwide last year.)
(By Samantha Schaefer, Los Angeles Times, 3-31-2014)
SCIENCE:
NASA's Spitzer telescope completes 360-degree panorama of the Milky Way
(The telescope took over 2 million infrared snapshots of our galaxy over the course of a decade.)
(By Valentina Palladino, The Verge, 3-26-2014)
SCIENCE: Discovery could point to a new planet in our solar system
(Planetoid orbiting the sun that has never been seen before, dubbed VP113, it lies
beyond Neptune and even further past the icy ring known as the Kuiper Belt.)
(By Valentina Palladino, The Verge, 3-26-2014)
How America celebrates Pi Day
(Princeton Public Library awards $314.15 to 7-13-year olds memorizing most digits of π on Pi Day)
(By Elizabeth Landau, CNN Tech, 3-14-2014)
Meet Jonathan, St Helena's 182-year-old giant tortoise
(At 182, Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, may be the oldest living land creature.)
(By Sally Kettle, BBC News, 3-12-2014)
Gold coins not stolen from U.S. Mint
(Buried gold coins worth $10 million were not tied to a 1901 U.S. Mint theft in San Francisco.)
(By Samantha Schaefer, Los Angeles Times, 3-5-2014)
Alternatives to the Big Bang Theory Explained (Infographic)
(Steady-State Universe now debunked, Eternal Inflation Multiverse, Cyclic Oscillating Universe with
alternating Big Bang & Big Crunch, Flat Hologram, Digital Simulation running in a vast computer)
(By Karl Tate, Space.com, 2-21-2014)
Shirley Temple Black: 10 things to know about Curly Top
(From 1969 to 1970, she was a U.S. delegate in the United Nations General Assembly.)
(By Christy Khoshaba, Los Angeles Times, 2-12-2014)
Shirley Temple Black excelled in 2nd career in diplomacy
(She was a symbol of spontaneous goodness, the No. 1 box office star from 1935-1938.)
(By Carla Marinucci, San Francisco Chronicle, 2-12-2014)
Shirley Temple dies at 85
(She was a symbol of spontaneous goodness, the No. 1 box office star from 1935-1938.)
(By Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 2-11-2014)
Shirley Temple Black, iconic child star, dies at 85
(Most popular child movie star of all time, lifting filmgoing nation's spirits during Depression.)
(By Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 2-11-2014)
Shroud Of Turin Formed By An Earthquake? Face Of Jesus Image Caused By Neutron Emissions
(Neutron emissions could have caused chemical reactions in cloth forming the image of a face.)
(Huffington Post, 2-11-2014)
Turin Shroud may have been created by earthquake from time of Jesus
(An earthquake in Jerusalem in AD 33 may have caused an atomic reaction
which created the Turin Shroud and skewed radiocarbon dating results.)
(By Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph, UK, 2-11-2014)
SPACE: Could Black Holes Give Birth to 'Planck Stars'?
(Rovelli & Vidotto looked at Big Crunch and found Planck Stars producing a detectable signal,
of quantum gravitational origin, around the 10-14cm wavelength.)
(By Ian O'Neill, Discovery News, 2-11-2014)
Brain Science: Secrets of the Brain
(New technologies sheds light on biology's greatest unsolved mystery: how brain really works.)
(By Carl Zimmer, National Geographic, February 2014)
Wall Street Journal: Tom Perkins Was Right
(Perkins has been flayed since his letter, now WSJ editorial board said that Perkins was right.)
(By Joe Weisenthal, Business Insider, 1-30-2014)
Eric Lawson, who portrayed Marlboro man, dies at 72
(Portrayed rugged Marlboro man in cigarette ads during late 1970s, died Jan. 10 of respiratory failure.)
(By Associated Press, Washington Post, 1-27-2014)
Former Marlboro Man, 72, becomes 5th actor from iconic cigarette ads to die of lung disease
(Eric Lawson portrayed iconic cigarette-puffing cowboy from 1978 to 1981.)
(By Sophie Jane Evans & Helen Pow, Daily Mail, UK, 1-27-2014)
Tom Perkins:
Billionaire venture capitalist ridiculed after writing letter
comparing the treatment of rich Americans to the Holocaust
(Kristallnacht, Night of Broken Glass, saw a series of attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany
in Nov. 1938. 91 Jews were killed & 30,000 were arrested & incarcerated in concentration camps.)
(By Rob Williams, The Independent, UK, 1-26-2014)
LETTERS: Progressive Kristallnacht Coming?
(I would call attention to the parallels of Nazi Germany to its war on its "one percent,"
namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one percent, namely the "rich.")
(By Tom Perkins, Wall Street Journal, 1-24-2014)
UConn prof delves into spirituality in daily life
(Professor Bradley Wright using www.soulPulse.org & smart phones
to measure people's spirituality as it unfolds over time in natural settings.)
(By John Christoffersen, San Francisco Chronicle, 1-20-2014)
California farms lead the way in almond production
(California produces 82% of the globe's almonds; 70% of state's almonds sold overseas;
Nut's exports worth 2.5 times California wine sold abroad.)
(By David Pierson, LA Times, 1-12-2014)
* Can
Bighorn Sheep Help Us Prevent Concussion
Bighorn sheep and woodpeckers have brains that are well-protected against impacts.
They bash their heads all day yet experience little apparent brain damage.)
(By Allison Eck, PBS, Nova, 1-6-2014)
* Ronald Reagan
and the occultist: The amazing story of the thinker behind his sunny optimism
(Gipper's warm "morning in America" worldview was directly shaped by his reading of occult thinker
Manly P. Hall; cited "Secret
Destiny of America" at 1957 Eureka College commencement address.)
(By Mitch Horowitz, Salon, 1-5-2014)
Lincoln waitress receives the tip of a lifetime
(Abigail Sailors served Cracker Barrel customer with smiles
and received $1000 check for her college tuition.)
(By Peter Salter, Lincoln Journal Star, 1-5-2014)
*
Is the Universe a Hologram?
(Japanese researchers have taken another step toward proving theory that our universe is a hologram.)
(By Tara MacIssac, Epoch Times, 12-11-2013)
*
Is The Universe A Hologram? Physicists Say It's Possible
(Yoshifumi Hyakutake of Japan's Ibaraki University has provided some of the clearest evidence
yet that our Universe could be just one big projection, proving Juan Maldacena's proposal.)
(Huffington Post, 12-11-2013)
Simulations back up theory that Universe is a hologram
(10-dimensional theory of gravity makes same predictions as standard quantum physics in fewer dimensions.)
(By Ron Cowen, Nature, 12-10-2013)
Nelson Mandela in his own words
(60 Minutes revisits a collection of revealing writings by the late
civil rights giant and former South African president Nelson Mandela.)
(By Bob Simon, CBS 60 Minutes, 12-8-2013)
Mystery buyer dishes up $1.2M for rare plate at Ottawa auction
(Chinese glazed plate from Yuan or early Ming Dynasty, about 40 centimetres in diameter
and decorated with a three-clawed dragon estimated at $900 sold for $1.2 million.)
(By Robert Bostelaar, Ottawa Citizen, 12-6-2013)
Malcolm Gladwell: The Power of the Underdog
(David had an advantage over Goliath? Malcolm Gladwell talks with
Anderson Cooper about the link between adversity and innovation)
(Interview with Anderson Cooper, CBS 60 Minutes, 11-24-2013)
Germany: Nazi stolen-art trove may be largest found in private hands
(More than 1,500 pieces of priceless art worth $1.3 billion found in apartment belonging
to Cornelius Gurlitt, the 80-year-old son of a well-known Nazi-era art dealer in early 2011.)
(By Henry Chu, LA Times, 11-4-2013)
Shakuntala Devi: Numerical wizard honored in Google Doodle
[In 1977 Shakuntala Devi (11-4-1929 to 4-21-2013) extracted before an audience the 23rd root
of a 201-digit number in 50 seconds, beating the Univac computer that took 62 seconds.)
(By Erik De Castro, Christian Science Monitor, 11-4-2013)
Philippines earthquake: Did Muslim holiday save lives?
(7.2 earthquake Tuesday struck Cebu and Bohol hardest, killing at least 90 people.)
(By Erik De Castro, Christian Science Monitor, 10-15-2013)
Earthquake in Greece: A 6.4 magnitude quake shakes Crete
(Tremors were felt as far as the Greek capital Athens, some 180 miles away.)
(By Angeliki Koutantou and Karolina Tagaris, Christian Science Monitor, 10-12-2013)
Sandy Koufax
congratulates Kershaw and Dodgers on NLDS win
(From Dodgers' old left-handed ace to its current young southpaw, a smiling Koufax
looked Kershaw in the eyes and bestowed his congratulations with a hug.)
(By Beth Harris, Christian Science Monitor, 10-8-2013)
The Red Hawk Who saved my life flies away
(At Kerhonkson sweat lodge, Charlie's goodness & kindness saved his life 25 years ago.)
(By Mr. Horrible, Daily Kos, 10-8-2014)
It's Complicated: Pioneering network scientist Duncan Watts, PhD '97, tackles the fallacy of common sense
(Everything Is Obvious, Once You Know the Answer. Subtitled How Common Sense Fails Us)
(By Beth Saulnier, Cornell Alumni Magazine, Sept/Oct 2013)
FAQ: All About The New Google "Hummingbird" Algorithm
(PageRank is one of over 200 major "ingredients" that go into the Hummingbird recipe.
Hummingbird looks at PageRank, how important links to a page are deemed to be, along with
other factors like whether Google believes a page is of good quality, & words used on it.)
(By Danny Sullivan, Search Engine Land, 9-26-2013)
"Mr Poetry'' Graham Nunn is facing fresh allegations of plagiarism
(Brisbane-based Speed Poets founder Graham Nunn linked to
8 more examples of alleged plagiarism)
(By Daryl Passmore, Herald Sun, Australia, 9-17-2013)
KING SOLOMON'S SEAL Recreates Fables and Fairytales From Antiquity
(Jascha Kessler writes of hermetic teacher passing on his wisdom, sharing
his tales and stories in the Carpathian Mountains around 1745-1815)
(Books World, BroadwayWorld.com, 9-16-2013)
SPORTS: No matter how you measure it, Mike Trout's home run went a long way
(8th-inning homer, which bounced off the window of a luxury box high above
the center-field wall in the Oakland Coliseum, was 421 feet. ESPN's Home Run
Tracker pegged Trout's shot at 452 feet)
(By Mike DiGiovanna, LA Times, 9-16-2013)
In Each of Us: Enlightenment
(Despite being a Hindu, I regard Buddhism as the highest pedestal of all
other existing religions and philosophies in the world, because Buddha
was always humble even after his 'Enlightenment'.)
(By Sandhya Regmi, Republica, 9-7-2013)
Poets toil to convey the great truths (Seamus Heaney died this week)
Poets urge us to slow down and see and feel and touch and think, knowing it is nearly impossible to grab strands of truth unless we do. Why do poets keep trying to convey truths? The only thing I can conclude is that they do it because they must really love us.)
(By Michael O'Hare, TribLive, 9-5-2013)
How Old Is That Lion? A Guide to Aging Animals
(Lions can be dated by examining their fur and other attributes such as teeth and hair.)
(By Melody Kramer, National Geographic, 7-30-2013)
Cannes Jewel Theft: $53 Million Of Jewelry Taken In Armed Robbery At Carlton Hotel
(Single gunman makes off with $136 million in jewels around noon on July 28. Carlton hotel is one of the major locations in To Catch A Thief, the classic 1955 Hitchcock film about a retired jewel thief.)
(By Alana Horowitz, Huffington Post, 7-28-2013)
Armed robbers steal 40 million Euros of jewels from Cannes hotel
(Exhibition of diamonds owned by Lev Leviev, a Russian-born Israeli billionaire diamond dealer)
(By Harriet Alexander, The Telegraph, UK, 7-28-2013)
'The Wolverine' Review: Hugh Jackman slashes off more than he can chew
(Wolverine takes his place in Japan as a Ronin, a loner, a samurai without a leader or purpose.)
(By Roger Moore, Zap2it, 7-26-2013)
A Chat With Hugh Jackman, of Musicals and 'Berserker' Rages
(Wolverine made his comic-book debut in a 1974 issue of The Incredible Hulk & star of his
own comic book since 1988. He's not the most powerful of mutants. He can't fly. He can't jump.
He doesn't have things coming out of his eyes. His power and strength is rooted in his angst and dysfunction.)
(By Barry Koltnow, Orange County Register, 7-26-2013)
Selfie-Loathing:
Instagram is even more depressing than Facebook. Here's why.
(Instagram is exclusively image-driven, and images will crack your mirror.)
(By Jessica Winter, Slate, 7-23-2013)
Cyber drills like Quantum Dawn 2 vital to security in financial sector
(Mock exercises can help banks identify weaknesses in their incident response capabilities)
(By Jaikumar Vijayan, Computer World, 7-19-2013)
The Man Who Predicted Google Glass Forecasts The Near Future
(In David Brin's 1990 novel,
Earth, characters wore "True-Vu goggles"; Brin wrote on
wearable technology in his 1998 book The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us
to Choose Between Privacy and Freedom?; Gutenberg's printing press & Kodak cameras also encountered opposition.)
(By Elise Hu, npr.org, 7-11-2013)
Woolly mammoth goes on view in Japan
(A 39,000-year-old female Woolly mammoth, which was found frozen in Siberia, with remarkably
preserved soft tissue, orange fur, and signs of human butchering is now on view in Yokohama.)
(By Elizabeth Barber, Christian Science Monitor, 7-10-2013)
Yahoo Shuts Down Long Forgotten, Once Popular AltaVista
(Yahoo Inc. sent AltaVista.com to the Internet graveyard to rest alongside order-almost-anything
venture Kozmo.com & butler from
Ask Jeeves. AltaVista's decline began in early 2000s when it tried
to be a portal like Yahoo instead of sticking solely with search that it was eclipsed by Google, Inc.)
(By Barbara Ortutay, Huffington Post, 7-8-2013)
The Amazing Race
(When terrorism struck the Boston Marathon, physician Kathryn Ackerman '94
was among the first responders who leapt into action— and saved lives.)
(By Beth Saulnier, Cornell Alumni Magazine, July/August 2013)
Beyond the Sea
(Cornell's Blaschka Invertebrate collection of glass marine creatures inspires
David Brown '83, a filmmaker's quest to chronicle their real-life habitats.)
(By Beth Saulnier, Cornell Alumni Magazine, July/August 2013)
Forward into the Past
[Cornell joins edX and will begin to produce massive open online courses (MOOCs), that can reach
thousands of students around the world & allow them to view lectures, carry out projects, & interact
with the professor & each other in a social learning environment. They are "open" and they're free.]
(By Jim Roberts, Cornell Alumni Magazine, July/August 2013)
Death Valley temp may tie June record
(California's Death Valley National Park recorded a high temperature of 129 degrees,
which would tie the all-time June record high for the United States)
(Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, 7-2-2013)
For investors, two sides to ailing gold market
(Gold prices have fallen nearly 20% this year, to $1234 on 6/28 from high of $1910 in 2011)
(By Hannah Cushman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6-30-2013)
Some nonbelievers still find solace in prayer
(Americans who don't believe in God— not all call themselves "atheists"— 12% say they pray.)
(By Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 6-24-2013)
Britain's defense ministry releases its final UFO files
(209 files & 52,000 pages released included reports on strange lights & alien abductions.)
(By Doug Stanglin, USA Today, 6-21-2013)
UFO Britain: 'X Files' show possible UFO in Britain (Video)
(25 files of 4400 pages detail reports of alien abductions, sightings, offers to develop
weapons to shoot UFOs out of the sky; 600 British sightings had been reported in 2009.)
(By Effie Orfanides, Examiner.com, 6-21-2013)
UFO files: Britain's X Files unit defeated... by Chinese lanterns
(Around 2/3 of 643 UFO reports from 2009 could relatively easily be put down to Chinese lanterns.)
(By Jasper Copping, Telegraph, UK, 6-21-2013)
Cryptography and the Money We Use
[Most common encryption, Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), created by
Phil Zimmermann in 1991;
OTR (Off-the-Record Messaging) used in most Web commerce
(SSL);
Cryptocurrency:
Bitcoin,
PPCoin,
Zerocoin;
17 million cases of identity theft each year associated with uses of digital dollar.]
(By Jeffrey Tucker, Laissez Faire Club, 6-18-2013)
* Physics Nobel laureate Kenneth Wilson dies
(Wilson's 1982 Nobel Prize-winning research stemmed from work on phase transitions by
Michael Fisher & Benjamin Widom at Cornell & Leo Kadanoff at University of Illinois.)
(By George Lowery, Cornell Chronicle, 6-18-2013)
Obama
and Xi Jinping pictures censored by Chinese authorities: Take down viral shots comparing ruling pair to Pooh and Tigger;
(Side-by-side comparisons photos popped up on Chinese social media site Weibo. The posts were quickly removed by Chinese Internet censors.)
(By Victoria Taylor, NY Daily News, 6-15-2013)
The Woman Who Changed Millions of Lives
(Nathaniel Branden's book Judgment Day: My Years With Ayn Rand takes you into the living room
where Rand's "Collective" met to discuss philosophy, and into the bedroom where Branden and Rand carried on a torrid affair.
Ayn Rand's powerful effect on innovative entrepreneurs & business leaders: BB&T's
John Allison,
Whole Foods' John Mackey, investor
Doug Casey, Wikipedia's
Jimmy Wales.)
(By Jeffrey Tucker, Laissez Faire Club, 6-15-2013)
But seriously,
Bob Dickerson... English professor retires after 25 years at De Anza
(Essay Writing)
(Professor Michael Mannina on Bob Dickerson: "He could make class more like a community,
having a way of putting students at ease. I have never seen community-building done so fast.")
(By Nadia Banchik, La Voz Weekly, 6-14-2013)
If They Want to Get You, They Will Get You in Time
(NSA has obtained "direct access" to all communications records of every American
by working directly with Verizon, Google, Facebook, and every other major provider.)
(By Jeffrey Tucker, Laissez Faire Club, 6-11-2013)
Why
Duck Duck Go doesn't track its users: Gabriel Weinberg at Gel 2013
(Creator Gabriel Weinberg of
Duck Duck Go, a search engine that doesn't track its users.)
(By Mark Hurst, Creative Good, 6-11-2013)
SCIENCE: Animal invisibility cloak makes cat and fish vanish
(Chinese scientists demonstrate new light-bending technology that could have applications in telecommunications;
"Invisibility cloak" made a pet goldfish & a small cat vanish from plain sight.)
(By Ian Sample, The Guardian, UK, 6-10-2013)
* The Dag Hammarskjöld interview with biographer Roger Lipsey
(Arriving in NY in 1953, he was asked if he liked mountain climbing. Hammarskjöld said:
"This much I know of the sport, that the qualities it requires are just those which I feel we all
need today: perseverance and patience, a firm grip on realities, careful but imaginative planning,
a clear awareness of the dangers but also of the fact that fate is what we make it and that
the safest climber is he who never questions his ability to overcome all difficulties.")
(By David P. Gushee, Read the Spirit, 6-9-2013)
Helicopter Takes to the Skies With the Power of Human Thought
(Minnesota's Professor Bin He had five students controlling four-blade helicopter with their thoughts)
(Video, Science Daily, 6-5-2013)
TECHNOLOGY: The printable life—
3-D production is predicted to mold our tomorrows
(Producible by 3-D printers: sailboats, electric guitars, weapons, prosthetic hands & legs;
Hod Lipson & Melba Kurman's 2013 book Fabricated:
The New World of 3D Printing)
(By Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 6-1-2013)
Some companies looking at retaliating against cyber attackers
(Although hacking back is illegal in the U.S., companies see it as a way to curtail the breaches.)
(By Paresh Dave, Los Angeles Times, 5-31-2013)
Amelia Earhart
Plane Found? Sonar Image Of Possible Wreckage May Suggest Earhart Died On Island (Video);
(Earhart landed on a remote reef, after which her plane washed into the ocean & sank)
(By Meredith Bennett-Smith, Huffington Post, 5-30-2013)
Anatomy of a hack: How crackers ransack passwords like "qeadzcwrsfxv1331"
(For Ars, three crackers have at 16,000+ hashed passcodesÑwith 90 percent success.)
(By Dan Goodin, arstechnica.com, 5-27-2013)
* Cover Story: Literature Humanities Turns 75
(75 years on Columbia's syllabus: Homer, Iliad; Aeschylus, Oresteia; Sophocles, Oedipus the King;
Dante, Inferno were studied by undergraduates every year for three-quarters of a century)
(By Alexis Tonti, Columbia College Today, Spring 2013)
Hang 10 for gnarly waves on Titan's hydrocarbon seas
(As seasons change in Saturn's moon Titan's northern hemisphere, we might see (for the first time)
waves of up to a foot high ripple across the moon's seas of liquid methane and ethane.)
(By Susan Kelley, Cornell Chronicle, 5-22-2013)
POLL: Teens Migrating to Twitter
(Teens complain about too many adults on Facebook and 26% are using Twitter)
(By Jennifer C. Kerr, The Big Story: AP, 5-21-2013)
Florida, nation await $590.5 Million Powerball winner
(Publix supermarket in Tampa suburb sold winning ticket: 10, 13, 14, 22, 52, with Powerball # 11)
(By John Bacon, USA Today, 5-20-2013)
Older
job-seekers fall behind as Peninsula tech market heats up
(Older students have a hard time competing for tech jobs with Stanford grads)
(By Rachel Swan, San Francisco Examiner, 5-20-2013, p. 7)
Why
the stock market rally may continue
(As long as the Fed or any other central bank is printing money, then stocks rally.)
(By Jurrien Timmer, Fidelity Viewpoints, 5-19-2013)
$1 million in jewelry stolen near Cannes film fest
(Thieves ripped a safe from the wall of Novotel hotel near the Cannes Film Festival.)
(By Jamey Keaton, Journal Gazette, 5-17-2013)
Google Minus
(Like Wunsch, I don't think Google is "evil", but their power
is tremendous, and growing, and that makes me nervous.)
(By C. Grayson, blog.storycards.net, 5-17-2013)
The Great Google Goat Rodeo
[Google is becoming malicious as it effectively transforms the World Wide Web itself into one of
its products by controlling (through a natural monopoly) traversal and discovery (Google Search).]
(By Mark Wunsch, blog.markwunsch.com, 5-17-2013)
* Dr. Joyce Brothers '47 dies at age 85
(Joyce Diane Bauer, entered Cornell at 16 and graduated from the College of Home Economics.
Cornell University Library maintains the publicly available Joyce D. Brothers Papers, which includes
463 films, 796 videotapes and 184 audio recordings along with other published materials and papers.)
(By Joe Wilensky, Cornell Chronicle, 5-14-2013)
World War II's Strangest Battle: When Americans and Germans Fought Together
(German Major Josef Gangl joined American Captain Jack Lee to capture Nazi Austrian castle)
(By Andrew Roberts, The Daily Beast, 5-12-2013)
'Sea monster'
mystery spawned after bizarre-looking carcass washes ashore in New Zealand
(After speculation, expert suggests animal corpse is that of a killer whale)
(By Pete Thomas, Grindtv.com, 5-7-2013)
* MIND & MATTER: How the Brain Really Works
(New techniques let researchers look at activity of the whole brain at once)
(By Alison Gopnik, Wall Street Journal, 5-3-2013)
MARKETS: Buffett Investors Arrive in Good Spirits
(37,000 came to Omaha, Nebraska for annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway & CEO Warren Buffett)
(By Anupreeta Das, Wall Street Journal, 5-3-2013)
8 Things Really Successful People Do
(Make materialism irrelevant; Enhance knowledge; Manage relationships; Emotional self-awareness;
Gain clarity about spirituality; Adhere to code of ethics; Time efficiency; Commit to a physical ideal)
(By Kevin Daum, Inc. Magazine, 5-3-2013)
Hummus Is Conquering America
(Tobacco farmers open fields to chickpeas; Bumper crop; Sabra sold $315 million of hummus last year);
(By David Kesmodel & Owen Fletcher, Wall Street Journal, 4-30-2013)
6 Unique Ways to Be Successful and Happy
[Build real relationships. Groom yourself (try different things). Do nothing (be quiet). Work for a
great company (find pros & mentors). Do one thing at a time. Be good to yourself (just being you).]
(By Steve Tobak, Inc. Magazine, 4-30-2013)
4 Surprisingly Effective Things to Say
(Powerful words for boss to build trust & lead: I'm sorry. I was wrong. I need help. I don't know.)
(By Maria Tabaka, Inc. Magazine, 4-29-2013)
FAITH: Rick Warren Makes
Ministry Announcement Following Son's Suicide
(Matthew was just one of about 11.4 million American adults that suffered from severe mental illness)
(By Billy Hallowell, The Blaze, 4-18-2013)
13 Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: Are You Bipolar?
(Most common symptom associated with bipolar disorder is sudden mood swings. People who are
bipolar will experience heightened euphoria & happiness followed by drastic depression & guilt.)
(By Angela Ayles, Activebeat.com, 4-18-2013)
10 Eye-Opening Books Every Entrepreneur Should Read
(Dilbert Principle; Complete yes minister; Poorly made in China; Don't bring it to work; 21 dirty tricks
at work; Crazy bosses; Peter Principle; 4-Hour workweek; No asshole rule; Lie with statistics)
(By Geoffrey James, Inc. Magazine, 4-16-2013)
Logevall wins Pulitzer Prize for 'Embers of War'
(Historian Fredrik Logevall, Cornell Professor's 2012 book
Embers of War: The Fall
of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam begins in 1919 and ends in 1959)
(By George Lowery, Cornell Chronicle, 4-16-2013)
Rick Warren
Responds To 'Haters' After Son Matthew Warren's Suicide
(Warren, whose book The Purpose Driven Life
has sold more than 30 million copies, is one of most
prominent Christian ministers. His 27-year-old son killed himself after years of mental illness.)
(By Jaweed Kaleem, Huffington Post, 4-9-2013)
Chilean poet Pablo Neruda's body to be exhumed over murder claims
(Neruda's driver claims poet was murdered by Pinochet regime)
(By Jonathan Franklin, The Guardian, UK, 4-7-2013)
Prominent film critic Roger Ebert dead at 70
(Ebert was the most famous film reviewer of his time & first to win Pulitzer for film criticism)
(By Caryn Rousseau, Florida Times Union, 4-4-2013)
Why Pope Francis is different, and why a Jesuit pope is rare
(Ignatius of Loyola, founder of Jesuits championed "contemplatives in action")
(By William J. Rewak, S.J., Santa Clara Magazine, 4-3-2013)
Nick D'Aloisio: 'It was a massive gamble but a good one'
(Yahoo! paid £20 million to 17-year-old for his Summly smartphone app that summarized news stories);
(By Sarah Rainey, The Telegraph, UK, 3-26-2013)
* How I became a password cracker
(Cracking passwords is officially a "script kiddie" activity now.)
(By Nate Anderson, arstechinca, 3-24-2013)
Student's research could shake up Wall Street
(Aleksandar Zvorinji '13 creates algorithm outperforming financial analysts in predicting stock market.);
(By Kathy Hovis, Cornell Chronicle, 3-11-2013)
"Art souterrain:
An underground path to enlightenment"
(Barcelona artist Pedro Torres's claustrophobic video "Bifurcation" moves through endless corridors
bathed in yellow light) (By John Pohl, Montreal Gazette, 3-8-2013)
Teju Cole on the "Empathy Gap" and Tweeting Drone Strikes
(Seven short stories, each one a famous novel's opening line rudely interrupted by drones.)
(By Sarah Zhang, Mother Jones, 3-6-2013)
"Jhaqueil Reagan,
Indianapolis Teen Who Walked 10 Miles For Interview, Starts Foundation For Unemployed"
(18-year old walking 10 miles for job interview offered job by restaurant owner)
(By Pamela Engel, Huffington Post, 3-4-2013)
'Six Pretty Good Books' will become a Cornell MOOC
(Taught by Michael Macy, to explore the social sciences through books by prominent authors
including Steven Pinker, Nicholas Christakis, Robert Frank, Duncan Watts & Dan Ariely. After reading the book,
students debate among instructors & authors, who come to the classroom through videoconferencing.)
(By Bill Steele, Cornell Chronicle, 2-28-2013)
"Torture and Taboo: On Elaine Scarry"
(How the work of a literary critic became the proxy for our preoccupation with the horrors of torture.)
(By Samuel Moyn, The Nation, Feb. 25, 2013)
"7 gross-sounding foods that might help you live longer"
(Noxious gas that gives rotten eggs their foul odor could help counter cell-damaging free-radicals)
(By Chris Gayomali, The Week, 2-19-2013)
"Silicon alley No.2 for wealth concentration"
(1-Bridgeport, Connecticut, 2-Silicon Valley, 3-Washington D.C., 4-San Francisco, 4-New York City)
(By Lauren Hepler, Silicon Valley Business Journal, 2-12-2013)
"Wise Beyond Their Years: What Babies Really Know"
(Infant brain is just 25% adult's volume, but they have more synapses that are lost if not used)
(By Sumathi Reddy, Wall Street Journal, Feb. 11, 2013)
Google Fends Off BrightRoll in $7.6 Billion Video Market
(BrightRoll works with 90% of top 50 U.S. advertisers,
has doubled revenue annually for past five years.)
(By Olga Kharif, Bloomberg News, 1-30-2013)
* Enlightenment, one step at a time
(Walking is not only good exercise, but also illumines your mind.)
(By David Hansen, coastlinepilot.com, 1-30-2013)
The Happiness Machine: How Google became such a great place to work.
(Best to hire after 4 interviews; Best managers had more productive workers)
(By Farhad Manjoo, Slate, 1-21-2013)
Galactic surprise: New find overturns theories how our galaxy evolved
(Susan Kassin found Milky Way evolved from chaotic jumble of stars to an orderly disk galaxy)
(By Thomas Sumner, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 1-5-2013)
"Book Review:
The Enlightened Cyclist by Bike Snob NYC"
(Commuter angst, dangerous drivers, and other obstacles on the path to two-wheeled transcendence)
(By Brent Cohrs, chicagonow.com, 12-10-2012)
LIFESTYLE: 12 Days of Christmas Now Cost $107,000
(One of each item costs $24,431; All 364 items costs $107,000, up 6.1% from last year)
(By Jim P. Dunigan, Wall Street Journal, 11-27-2012)
'The 12 Days Of Christmas' Items Will Cost You About $107,000
(2012 Costs: Partridge $15;
Turtledove $63; French Hen $55; Calling Bird $130; Gold Ring $150; Geese $35;
Swan $1000;
Maid Milking $7.25; Lady Dancing $700; Lord Leaping $477; Piper $233; Drummer $231)
(By Alexis Kleinman, Huffington Post, 11-26-2012)
BOOKS: The Hole in America's Soul
("Gangster Rap is racist pornography in blackface.")
(By Benjamin P. Bowser, Cornell Alumni Magazine, November/December 2012)
Elephant mimics Korean with help of his trunk
(Asian elephant Koshik astounds scientists with his Korean language skills)
(By Rebecca Morelle, BBC News, UK, Nov. 1, 2012)
*
From the Bible to the lab: Stanford scholar decodes the near-death experience
(Laura Wittman traces the evolution of near-death experiences in modern culture)
(By Camille Brown, Stanford Report, Oct. 30, 2012)
Can Nanotechnology Create Utopia?
(In 100 years, the replicator from nanotechnology, will create enormous abundance.)
(By Michio Kaku, bigthink.com, Oct. 24, 2012)
We are driven by self-interest, it's necessary to survive
(Need wise self-interest that is generous & co-operative to others.)
(By Dalai Lama, plus.google.com, Oct. 24, 2012)
Explanation: How Brain Training Can Make You Significantly Smarter
(Stanford neuroscientists designed
Lumosity to improve mental sharpness)
(howlifeworks.com, Oct. 23, 2012)
Where Is Amelia Earhart? Three Theories but No Smoking Gun
(Rollin C. Reineck wrote book Amelia Earhart Survived)
(By John Roach & Ker Than, National Geographic News, July 24, 2012)
Living With Voices
(New way to deal with disturbing voices offers hope for those with other forms of psychosis)
(By T.M. Luhrmann, The American Scholar, Summer 2012)
BOOK: Gentle in Manner, Strong in Deed (Jean Edward Smith's Eisenhower in War and Peace)
(Future British prime minister Harold Macmillan called Eisenhower "a jewel of broadmindedness
and wisdom." As Columbia's President, Eisenhower put university back on a solid financial footing.)
(By Christopher Caldwell, Columbia Magazine, Summer 2012)
Go Inside The World's Largest Treehouse, Which Was Inspired By God
(Horace Burgess built the tree house in Crossville, Tennessee, around an 85-foot oak tree.
The 8,000 to 10,000-square-foot treehouse includes 80 rooms & is supported by six trees.)
(By Callie Bost, Business Insider, June 20, 2012)
*
LinkedIn vs. password cracking
(Cracked 50% of passwords using RockYou list, Cain+Able, John-the-Ripper & large dictionaries)
(By Robert Graham, Errata Security, June 6, 2012)
Denzel Washington's 3 Tips For Successg
(1. Preparation Is The Key; 2. The Biggest Fear You Should Have Is The Fear Of Not Trying;
3. Become The Best At What You Do— "If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making
the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.")
(By AD, makemesuccesful.com, May 15, 2012)
BOOKS: Seeing and Believing— Experiences with evangelical congregations
(Review of T.M. Luhrmann's "When God Talks Back"
based on her two years
in Chicago's evangelical church & two years in a Palo Alto's congregation)
(By Joan Acocella, New Yorker, April 2, 2012)
Murnau's 1926 Faust: Cinequest Finale
(Faust is sometimes quaint and sometimes haunting, with its royal wedding attended by a brace
of full-size pantomime elephants, with its flight above the Alps, past pagodas & strange waterfalls,
over which storks as big as pterodactyls fly. Murnau's last film before leaving Germany.)
(By Richard von Busack, Metro, March 7, 2012)
James Karman: Robinson Jeffers Gets His Due
("Robinson Jeffers is the most important poet of the 20th century, but nobody's buying that yet.")
(By Cynthia Haven, The Book Haven, Dec. 8, 2011)
David Karp, the Nonconformist Who Built Tumblr
(Leica M9 camera; Pilot Precise V7 pen; app'ts caustic to creativity; 18% blogs are fashion)
(By Liz Welch, Inc. Magazine, June 2011)
* Video: Beauty as a Call to Justice: Elaine Scarry
(John Rawls view of justice— symmetry & fairness; Beauty as state of bliss;
Scarry's On Beauty and Being Just presses us toward a greater concern for justice.)
(By Elaine Scarry, Harvard Thinks Big2 Video, March 4, 2011)
What caused the flash crash?— One big, bad trade
(SEC & CFTC issued a joint report on the "flash crash" of May 6th, where American share and
futures indices went into a seemingly inexplicable tailspin, falling 10% in a matter of minutes.)
(By Economist Online, October 1, 2010)
Robinson Jeffers: Literary Legacy— An Uncommon Voice
(Jeffers' generation lived through an exceptional moment in human history and passed away
like "the leaves that dies away" spoken by Glaukos on meeting Diomedes in Homer's Iliad.)
(By James Karman, California History, Vol. 87, No. 2, April 2010, 6-11)
* Video: Elaine Scarry: Beauty and Social Justice
(Fair playing field, injury with jury linked to justice; Elaine Scarry: Beauty as opiated adjaceny;
Iris Murdoch: beauty as unselfing; Simone Weil: beauty as decentering; Beauty brings art & poetry;
Wildflower is natural, garden is artifactual; Justice is artifactual, needing human intervention.;
Shiro Kuramata's
"Miss Blanche";
"Glass Chair";
"How High the Moon" armchair)
(By Elaine Scarry, Cambridge University Video, May 21, 2010)
How an Eccentric Right-Wing Pizza Billionaire's Attempt to Build Catholic Law School Ended in Disaster
(Tom Monaghan, Domino's Pizza founder, took advice from God and Antonin Scalia
on the creation of of a Catholic Law school in Florida. It hasn't gone very well.)
(By Mariah Blake, Washington Monthly, Sept. 8, 2009)
*
Preacher Roe, Brooklyn Dodger ace, dies at 93
(In 1951, Roe had one of the greatest seasons ever for a pitcher going 22-3 with a 3.03 ERA;
He retired in 1954 with a 127-84 career record and 3.43 ERA; admitted he threw a spitter.)
(By Bill Madden, Daily News, Nov. 10, 2008)
In the Beginning, Such a Happy Couplet
(Eileen Simpson & husband John Berryman's intense friendships with poets Delmore Schwartz,
R.P. Blackmur, Robert Lowell, Randall Jarrell, Allen Tate, and Theodore Roethke.)
(By Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post, Oct. 16, 2006)
Is the Capacity for Spirituality Determined by Brain Chemistry?
(Geneticist's book The God Gene disputed by scientists, embraced by religious leaders)
(By Bill Broadway, Washington Post, Nov. 13, 2004, B09)
*
Mark Pesce: Meditation on Words (Words have this quality—
it's almost like magic in that they can help you see things that are otherwise invisible.)
(Mark Pesce sent this email on Oct. 29, 2004 at 5:55 am & only one site reposted his insights)
(By Mark Pesce, The Corroboree, Nov. 4, 2004)
Things grow better with Coke
(Indian farmers spray cotton & chilli fields with Coca-Cola instead of pesticides)
(By John Vidal, The Guardian, UK, Nov. 1, 2004)
Morphine Apparently in Your Head
(Meinhart Zenk found human cells grown in a dish synthesized morphine;
George Stefano showed animal neural tissue can synthesize morphine.)
(By Kristen Philipkoski, Wired, Sept. 23, 2004)
Stem Cells May Open Some Eyes
(Robert Lanza found retinal cells derived from embryonic stem cells
could actually give vision to those who are already blind.)
(By Kristen Philipkoski, Wired, Sept. 24, 2004)
Secrets of a Salty Survivor: A microbe that grows in the Dead Sea
is teaching scientists about the art of DNA repair
(Microbe Halobacterium would protect astronauts to Mars from space radiation)
(By Kristen Philipkoski, NASA Science News, Sept. 10, 2004)
The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned
(Before dawn on April 19, 1906, city of San Francisco woke to a series of explosions
and a tremendous rumbling. In less than a minute, the earthquake set in motion the
worst natural disaster the nation has ever experienced. By noon, all of Newspaper Row
was destroyed, including the city's tallest structure, the 22-story Call Building.)
(By Rachel Galvin, Humanities, November/December 2003, pp. 10-13, 50-54)
Dvořák in America
(Composing Symphony #9: New World Symphony (1893),
Antonín Dvořák
was inspired by Native American chants and Negro spirituals melodies.)
(By Scott Ethier, Humanities, November/December 2003, pp. 26-29)
Hitler's Forgotten Library
(101st Airborne Division shipped 3000 books in Hitler's Library near Berchtesgaden
to Munich in 1945 and transferred in January 1952 to the U.S. Library of Congress)
(By Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, May 1, 2003)
*
Total Recall
[Why I'll never again forget a face, a name, or where I put the car keys; Carl Messina,
an ebullient evangelist for "art and science of mnemonics" taught us the FIG system
(File, Image, Glue)— Body list: toes, knee, thigh, hips, lungs, shoulder, collar, face,
top of head, ceilng. Images: squash eggs between your toes, apply hot bacon to your
knees, slather mustard to your thighs, dip your buttocks in tub of milk, inhale a banana
into your lungs, smear peanut butter on your shoulders, stuff lettuce int your collars,
plop tomato sauce on your face, place Cheerios on your head, paint ceiling with black
shoe polish; You'll never forget this list when you go grocery shopping!]
(By Jim Thorton, Modern Maturity, Sept/Oct. 2001, pp. 56-62, 88)
The Great American Pastime Tree
(What do baseball players and foresters have in common? A deep appreciation of the white ash.
Hillerich & Bradsby burned its famous Louisville Slugger trademark into 7 million wood bats in 1971
and sold 200,000 aluminum ones. The production numbers for 1999 were 1.5 million aluminum bats
and only a million turned from ash. Mark McGwire's bats are 34.5 inches long & a light 33 ounces.)
(By Les Line, National Wildlife, April 1, 2000)
*
Does beauty really equal truth?
(Philosopher Elaine Scarry defends beauty from political correct critics & wins over one cynical writer.);
(By David Bowman, Salon, Nov. 9, 1999)
Men, Women, & Computers
(Men earning computer-science degrees outnumber women 3 to 1 and the gap is growing.
Computer games usually involve lots of shooting and dying. Boy stuff.)
(By Barbara Kantrowitz, Newsweek, May 16, 1994)
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