Updating This Page:

Look for the changes that occured in my Life since I have updated this page.

Windows 8 rhymes with Hate

This past week has been a very challenging time for me. I had to re-install Windows 8.

Google Image

Artist Unknown

For those who have never done this. I would NOT recommend this to anyone unless you have the following 3 items:

1. A current backup- I use Carbonite
2. The original 'master' Windows 8 disk from Microsoft.
3. Patient -  Which I don't have !

IRS Scam/Fraud

Today I received a phone call from someone claiming to be an IRS Agent.  He wanted to warn me that this IRS Investigation unit is going back 7 years and looking at the back taxes.  This guy would NOT stop talking. He spoke very fast, with a heavy foreign accent. When I told him he was speaking too fast for me to understand his heavy accent.  The he HUNG-UP on me.

 Photo Credit-Google Images

Artist-Unknown

I went to IRS.gov, and sure enough there was a "warning" about people who posing as IRS agents. 

Now I can have 'peace-of-mind'.  Should I be concerned that my tax records are out there ?

Safety First ?

Google Image

Artist Bennett 

I have always questioned this as a "Safety" phrase.  So what is second, if Safety is "First" ? (Maybe production ?) What pays for safety ? 

I always have said, that SAFETY has a cost.

This image was found on Google Images, but I also noticed that it is copy-righted.

Happy Tax Day -April 15,2015

Happy Tacks Day

Photo from the GREAT Pete Collins

I really enjoy, and admire the talented, artist, and cartoonist Pete Collins. He can be found on KelbyOne, Photoshop Users, The Grid, and many other videos. His strongest, and best videos are when he used the Wacom products.

Mindless Eating

The 200 Daily Food Decisions We Overlook Environment and Behavior

Wansink B. Sobal

Published 2007

Vol 39 (1) 106

Journal of Mindless Eating.

In my ever changing efforts to control weight. This article came to my attention from my local Weight Watcher's Center.  (In case you are wondering, I am close to loosing 40 pounds. Thank you Weight Watchers !)

The research shows that bartenders with 6 or more years of tending bar. They 'over-poured' alcohol a "shot" (1.5 oz, or 44.3 cc) more than 20% of the time.  This is even after 60 minutes of practicing the technique of a consistent pour.  

So the next time you order a 'bartender' drink, just remember that your estimates of the calories you are 'drinking' may be UNDER estimated.

 Photo from Google Images

Photographer-unknown

Learning to Solder

Here is a cute 5 minute video on a Sales/Marketing Vice President learning to solder.  

For those of you who have NOT soldered a PCB by hand this is a REAL art and it takes some skill.

http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/workshop/MyStory/greg-solders.html?sp_rid=MTgyNDYxMTQ1NTIS1&sp_mid=8622489&spMailingID=8622489&spUserID=MTgyNDYxMTQ1NTIS1&spJobID=244386974&spReportId=MjQ0Mzg2OTc0S0

Solder Practice Kit $ 11.00 USD from Jameco

Check out the soldering instructions this guy was given.

http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/Products/ProdDS/2161617.pdf

Treasure Island, Ca

Grace Cathedral San Francisco 2014

This is a sample of the photos that I took at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

These are the multicolored ribbons that were hung from the ceiling of this church.  Each ribbon was 40 to 50 feet long, and the various colors were from the stained glass windows.  The prayer labyrinth is also famous at this church..  A prayer labyrinth is to represent the circuitous route that life sends us around.  When viewed from the top, this maze leads you into a single path. Starting point is the perimeter of the circle 50 feet diameter ending in the center of the circle.

There was a group of Japanese Women Tourist who 'walked' the entire Prayer Labyrinth, but you could tell that they did not understand the religious meaning. They even "high-fived" each other when they reached the center. (Sigh...)

Bay Bridge Lights

Bay Bridge LED Light Show

Last week I visited the San Francisco Exploratorium's special event called "Wearable Technologies".  This event had over 1,000 people in the Galleries, and Studios.

For those of you who are NOT familiar with the Exploratorium, this is the "Science" museum, where visitors are encouraged to "touch" the exhibits. YES!  This special event was put on my the "After Dark"group where Wearable Technologies are best seen in a "dimly" lighted room.

CDC Report on Very High Lead Levels

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia issued a report on Very High Lead Level still found in the Occupational exposure to LEAD (Pb).  This is a heavy metal that is absorbed through a variety of routes, inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption and even oral exposure.  This most recent study measured blood lead levels in a variety of industries, like manufacturing, construction, mining, and even non-occupational exposure, such as sport target shooting. (A sport I have participated in !) Another interesting fact is that Home Remodeling, Renovations, Painting, and using "Alternative Medicines" containing Pb were the most common non-occupational exposure to Pb. (ie, Ayurvedic medicines)

For the link to this report please see the following link:

CDC Reports Very High Blood Lead Levels

Ex- Industrial Indemnity Loss Control Reunion

On a much more lighter subject. This past week was the Reunion of some Northern California Industrial Indemnity Loss Control Managers and Representatives.  The most "senior"  was Len Kruwell, Loss Control Manager in San Francisco,  Dave Wilcox, Loss Control Manager in Stockton.  The others attending were John McCullough Loss Control Walnut Creek, Chorliss Heildback (Schaffer) Loss Control Stockton and the yours truly.  

Industrial Indemnity's Loss Control Department

There were funny stories shared, and good times remembered.

Earthquake Where ?

Hint- it is NOT in California !

This is being reported as a 3.5 magnitude earthquake in  Nelsonville, Ohio.

Yes, this is approximately 1 hour outside of Columbus, Ohio.  This is NOT a joke ! I have listed the link below from the US Geological Society (USGS) website.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usb000l2y3#summary

This earthquake in NOT making the local news in either the SF Bay Area, or Hawaii.  The Loma Preta Earthquake that caused part of the SF/Oakland Bay bridge to collapse was a 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake

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City of Foster City Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

I will post photos of this event.  As of 1 hour prior to the event it is currently predicted to rain on this ceremony.

http://www.fostercity.org/pressreleases/pedwayribboncutting.cfm

More photos and information to follow.

Mirrorless Cameras Article

Mirrorless Cameras 

I have had the love of photography since I was shooting my Kodak Brownie.  

Golden Gate Bridge Oct 2013
Photographed by Neil Tsubota

This photograph was taken with my Canon G-9. This can be considered a 12.3 Megapixel Point-and-Shoot digital camera.  

I have been watching the development of Mirrorless Cameras being sold in today's modern society.

This is a very good summary from B&H Photography.

Enticing and Popolar Mirrorless Cameras

More information on Photography and Cameras.

Collision Avoidance Systems

After spending 20 years in the 'insurance industry' as a Safety/Loss Control Engineer. This type of technology would not even be possible if it was not for development of the semiconductor and high speed processors. The other major component is the development of digital sensors that will automatically apply the brakes when these systems are activated.

Please remember that before this technology was developed, in the US it was not unusual for 'insurance safety professionals' to say that it was generally accepted that for a Million hours of driving, there would be One Death. ( This sounds heartless. )

What does the future hold ? 

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/iihs-issues-first-crash-avoidance-ratings-under-new-test-program-7-midsize-vehicles-earn-top-marks-for-front-crash-prevention

Conscious Capitalism  by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia

My 'latest' read !

I have heard so much about this book I decided to check this out of the library.  This is listed as a "NEW" book.  It was published in 2013. From the 'inside cover'....

"...We believe that business is good because it creates value, it is ethical because it is based on voluntary exchange, it is noble because it can elevate our existence, and it is heroic because it lifts people out of poverty and creates prosperity. Free-enterprise capitalism is the most powerful system for social cooperation and human progress ever conceived. It is one of the most compelling ideas we humans have ever had.  But we can aspire to something even greater." -From the Conscious Capitalism Credo

Here is a link to the website:

http://www.consciouscapitalism.org

More information to follow.

10,000 Hours

The title of this comes from the book, titled "Liars & Outliers: Enabling Trust that Society Needs to Thrive".

One of the 'very first' Scout law is that a Scout is "Trustworthy".  Do I think that most boys in America know what being Trustworthy means ?  I think that some Adults don't understand the word, Trust !  

More information on my personal beliefs of the 12 Scout Laws in the future.

I may try to read this book from my local library using Safari Online Book service.  This is NOT the browsing software that Apple Computers use, but it is an online reading service that allows me to read science and technology books from my local library at no charge.

McKinley Elementary School Burlingame, California 100 year Celebration

I was part of the McKinley Elementary School Centennial Celebration.  

This Elementary School is part of the Burlingame School District in San Mateo County.  The students from this elementary school district will attend Burlingame High School, or one of three high schools in San Mateo, California.

I was performing with the  Westbay Community Band.  This is a  'all' volunteer Community Band that is made up of members who enjoy playing symphonic music.  There are currently approximately 66 members of this group.  The sound of a 66 member band is "tremendous" !  

What instrument do I play ? (jokingly I respond by saying that I they let me play the "radio"....)

I really am the timpani, and bass drum player.

 Westbay Community Band Concert

McKinley Elementary School 9/22/13

Typekit

The most important feature of ANY blog or website is the font.  These fonts can make or break what the viewer perceives. 

One of my favorite ways to change the look of photos, is to change the Fonts.

Check this link:

https://typekit.com

Photo

Veteran Rock Truckee, Ca

High Volume Low Pressure-HVLP

High Volume Low Pressure is a term that I learned back in 1970's.  This was first used on a large scale in "industrial ventilation" designs.  They used this basic principle in an effect to save energy. Local Exhaust Ventilation to save energy when gasoline was $ 0.25 per gallon. 

HVLP technology is now used in spray guns used for finishing wood.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/editors-blog/eco-series-hvlp-spray-system

Photo # 1

Lodgepole Pine

Tahoe Donner

 

Fort Myer's Airport Lobby

Fort Myer's Airport Lobby

This was clean, well lit, Airport Lobby.

http://www.slickpic.com/s/yOxOODUMDNGTLM/Sanibel2013/photo?view=5547948#5547948