California

So work sent me to the Society of Environmental Journalists conference at Stanford last week. I recorded some sessions (both audio and video), and generally it was pretty interesting.

Most of Stanford's north campus looks like this around this time of the year.



Northwest lost my luggage when we flew out, and it took a few days to get that sorted out. I had to go shopping and hit the laundromat.

The crosswalk sign was broken by our hotel in Palo Alto, so it was constantly giving us the horns. That, combined with the fact that there was an All Mac and a Fry's across the street were the only things that made the Super 8 where we stayed better than the Sheraton where everyone else was (we were overflow from the conference).

Stanford's tower was right across the street from one of the buildings we had sessions in.

The CalTrain station in Palo Alto. We rode this a lot.

My first experience with Thai beer. It was okay. And so was the Pad Thai.

The Golden Gate from above and to the west. An early stop on the whirlwind tour of the city some of my friends gave me.

GGP from BB (Baker Beach).

My feet met the Pacific for the first time on Baker Beach.

We found Yoda in the Presidio.

At the end of the night, we went up the Twin Peaks for a beautiful view of the city. I'm told its usually a lot foggier, but not Friday night.

Bear Mountain Picnic @ Mac's Bar

So I've seen Bear Mountain Picnic before, and I'll say this about that show: I was the only one on the floor at Mac's for their set, I was drunk, wearing a Mr Spock t-shirt, and the only one who laughed at a Stillsuit joke made by one of the other bands (JHaJ favorites Great Lakes Myth Society, actually). It was kind of nerdy and sad. I'll also say this: it was awesome.

Unfortunately, this show wasn't quite as good. Not that it was bad, but there seemed to be some guitar problems throughout, and you couldn't hear the vocals very well. This seems to be a problem that has plagued Mac's for years. It was better for a while when they beefed up the PA, but they've since stripped it down a bit more again, and its getting hard to hear anyone singing in there again. Which it too bad, since these are some damn fine lyrics.


To top it off, Sexual Pantalones played next. They're pretty bad - it seems like complicated music for the sake of complexity, and not really listenable. It was enough to make me leave. Again, too bad, since I was looking forward to seeing Don Caballero. Oh well.

However, looking past the problems, Bear Mountain Picnic was still pretty good. They played my favorites like Silent Trade, Your Cousin's Neck (up for download on their MySpace), and they closed with Core which is available on their website.

They actually make a lot of music available for free. On their website they have no less than seven songs available for download. Even better, though, they sell t-shirts at their shows (and for only $5), but the CDs they just give away. Sure, they're burned copies of a 5 song EP, but hey, free music, right? They did that with their first EP The Demo as well.

And since I've gotten home I've listened to Happiness in the Dybosphere like, five times. Its that good.

Now, here's hoping the t-shirt fits. All they had left were smalls.




Bear Mountain Picnic's website
Bear Mountain Picnic on MySpace

Science!

I was walking around Old Town Lansing today, and I couldn't pass up this photo op. I have no idea what was behind that door, either. I couldn't see in the door, and the place wasnt open.

LOL

Trains!

I meant to put these up earlier, but forgot to until I found them on my phone today.

I love trains, and the ride to Chicago on Amtrak is great. I rode Amtrak into Wisconsin to visit my folks over the holiday break, and I snapped these of a freight train passing while waiting on the platform in East Lansing, Michigan.





Union Station is wonderful, but for me there's still something about an outdoor platform at 8 AM.

GOSPEL TIME

I don't get very many TV channels - I pay for basic cable just so that I can get internet cheaper (yes, the two packaged together is cheaper than just the internet) and so I can watch 24 clearly without having to worry about an antenna.

About a week ago I was flipping channels, and this was on the TV. Now, between the 2 public access channels and TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network, or THE BIBLE NETWORK as I call it), I'm used to seeing some weird things on my TV relating to Jesus, or the gospel.

That said, I wasn't prepared for several uninterrupted minutes of silence and the words GOSPEL TIME printed in big red letters across my screen. No joke, it went on for a few minutes, and I'm assuming I came in somewhere in the middle of it. No sound, no change, just those words sitting silent and motionless. I must say it was one of the stranger things I've ever seen on TV.

Roses

I took this in my front yard today. We have a rose bush outside the front window, and this year it bloomed more that it has in the entire time I've been here.



Taken with a Fugi FinePix 2650, near dusk. Minimal exposure adjustment in iPhoto