Pounds and Euros

I took a trip to Europe this Fall and was pleasantly surprised not only by how much I enjoyed myself, but also on just how different day to day life is on the other side of the Atlantic.  While it wasn't my first time abroad in Europe, it was my first time visiting London, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris.  Needless to say,  I look forward to returning to each in the near future.

As an American, I had to admit that very few of the state-side amenities described as being "European" or even "European-like" actually measured up to experiencing the real thing.  From the cafes and coffee to the crepes and croque monsieur sandwiches , things were definitely different and in some cases (like that of mass transit or beer) they're offerings are arguably superior to that which I've grown accustomed (depending in one's taste)...

Big Ben @ London, England, United Kingdom

I Amsterdam @ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mannekin Pis @ Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium

Eiffel Tower @ Paris, France

Arc de Triomphe @ Le Champs Elysees in Paris, France 

That Fateful Day When My MPC Ceased to Function

After four years of continuous use my Akai MPC 2500 recently began showing signs of malfunction and quickly became unusable. The first symptom I noticed was false triggering of certain pads when recording, and then an inability to switch Programs from the MAIN screen. Shortly thereafter, Pads 3 through 8 became erratic and ultimately unresponsive.

After disassembling the unit and taking a guess at what might be failing, I ordered a replacement Sensitronics pressure sensor from mpcstuff.com and hoped for the best.  A couple of days later I was ready to roll the dice on DIY diagnosis and repair.  I installed the new hardware with the help of a friend, powered up the unit, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the device once again functioned as normal.

In an era where "planned obsolescence" is arguably the norm, I was pleased to encounter an OEM demonstrating a respectable level of "design for repairability".  Hats off to Akai and mpcstuff.com... 

Paying It Forward

My best friend and I recently volunteered to do a science demonstration for a group of young students at Fruitvale Elementary School in Oakland and must admit that I had as much fun as, and possibly more than the kids.  We decided to introduce our pupils to some of the basic tenants of physics in a presentation entitled "Water Rocketry".  Using DIY launchers made from PVC pipes and bicycle tire pumps, we managed to wow the children by launching 2-liter soda bottles several yards into the air using air pressure and water alone.

As I've gotten older, I've come to believe that educating our youth is among the best investments that we can make as citizens in future peace (in the way of lower crime rates), prosperity (in the way of increased GDP), passion (by exposing malleable minds to novel information), and progress (should you manage to inspire even one innovator).  I've been relatively fortunate in life and had the benefit of what I considered to be some great role models, and I now feel a moral imperative reinvest my time and energy.  What I call "selective altruism" is not for everyone. That said, I do believe that it has the potential to serve so many productive ends (even selfish ones) in my view, that even on my most libertarian day, I could't refute the economic argument in its favor.  

"Water Rocketry" at Fruitvale Elementary

"Pneumatic Propulsion" at Contra Costa College

"Penny-wise Alchemy" in Oakland

Getting In Touch With Nature To See My Tax Dollars At Work

I'm pleased to have been able to get out of the city to enjoy nature this summer.  With so many one of a kind natural resources in or around the Bay Area, I felt guilty not taking full advantage of everything within reach.  So several tents, campfires, and winding roads later, I can report back to the internet that I too (like any self-respecting yuppie) have seen the beauty.  I sleep better at night knowing that I'm getting my tax dollars worth out of the U.S. National Park Service and California State Park system.  I'm not much of a photographer, but managed to snap a few pictures of my favorites on my smartphone.

 Lassen Volcanic National Park

Sand Dollar Beach (Big Sur)

Clear Lake

I don't always attend church on Sunday, but when I do...

I don't always attend church on Sunday, but when I do, I prefer Glide Memorial Methodist Church...

Just under a year ago I heard a broadcast by KQED's Michael Krasny featuring Cecil Williams that caught my attention.  The expose entitled "First Person," highlighted the work of Rev. Williams and called attention to the active role that the Glide Memorial Methodist Church has taken in its San Francisco community - specifically the Tenderloin neighborhood.  As counterintuitive as it sounds, what I found unique was quite simple:

Fellowship and worship services open to all people regardless of their appearance or lifestyle choices, coupled with impactful social services delivered at-scale, on an ongoing basis in the communities within which they operate. 

My church-going has been shall-we-say "limited," but I recently attended a service with my mom on Mother's Day, and much to my surprise, I did not spontaneously burst into flames upon entering the sanctuary.   The message, the music, the culture, and the people were authentically human in my view...   

After experiencing it for myself and meeting Rev. Williams in-person, my hypothesis is this:

If the famed "Most Interesting Man In The World" were to call any church home, I suspect that it would be very much like Glide...

R.I.P. Compact Disc

A while back I moved all of the CD's that I accumulated in the 90's and 2000's to a Case Logic CD Binder to save space.  After importing each album into my iTunes library, removing the album credits, and disposing of the jewel cases, I found myself reluctant to dispose of the remaning artwork.  I pondered it for a while, and then ultimately opted to make a framed collage out of the leftover rear cover art and track lists.  

The albums listed (from top-left to bottom-right) are as follows: 

Run DMC - Run DMC

Soul Assassins Chapter 1 - Dj Muggs 

The Equinox - Organized Konfusion

E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front - Busta Rhymes

Wu-Tang Forever - Wu-Tang Clan

Crazy Sexy Cool - TLC

MP da Last Don - Master P

Champion Sound - Jaylib

Regulate...  G Funk Era - Warren G

It Was Written - Nas

Barrio Fino - Daddy Yankee

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Black Sheep

Liquid Swords - GZA

Dead Presidents Soundtrack

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. - Tupac

The Great Adventures of Slick Rick - Slick Rick

Ironman - Ghostface Killah

Muddy Waters - Redman

Bobby Digital in Stereo - RZA

Midnight Marauders - A tribe Called Quest

What's the 411? - Mary J. Blidge

ATLiens - Outkast

It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa - Eazy E

Malamarismo - Mala Rodriguez

Trill - Bun B

Only Built for Cuban Linx - Raekwon

One A.M. - Diverse

Dog Food - Tha Dogg Pound

Three Feet High and Rising - De la Soul

Too Bad - Buju Banton

6 Feet Deep - Gravediggaz

Hell hath No Furry - Clipse

No Way Out - Puff Daddy

Uncle Luke - Luke

Ain't a Damn Thing Changed - Nice-n-Smooth

El Niño - Def Squad

Band of Gypsys - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Blunted on Reality - The Fugees

One in a Million- Aaliyah

El Abayarde - Tego Calderon

Donuts - J Dilla

Is the System Working or Isn't It?

It appears that Chrysler was obliged to re-instate the 13 employees who were suspended after their off-duty conduct was called into question by an investigative journalist in this 2010 Fox News expose. 

Having met Scott Garberding (Chrysler's current Vice President of Manufacturing) personally, in addition to having directly supervised some of the employees in question,  I found Chrysler's official statement especially painful to read. 

This incident seems to re-enforce certain stereotypes, and solidify other increasingly potent archetypes about the people and products that collectively represent the United States automotive industry.  I can't help but ask myself whether this was an example of the system working (and if so, for whom?) or is it perhaps a manifestation of something else?