Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu

Just click over to the following

http://www.chubbyhubby.net/2006/12/osaka-part-1-of-2.html

and scroll down for the elegance of a "kappo" restaurant in Osaka. Mmm, mmm, good.

El Algore!

Funny weather this winter. So, we're going to miss seeing my sister-in-law because the Albuquerque airport was closed, and my nephew because Interstate 40 was closed. And their friends, too. Oh well.

Happy New Year anyway. 2007 might be good for all, I am predicting.

Construction 2006

Engineering News Record (afftectionately known as "ENR" in the building industry) has published their list of the best construction pix that have run on their pages this year.

Shown above is one of these, a shot at sunrise of the new Eastern span of the Bay Bridge under construction. Old bridge on the right, new one on the left.

Somehow, the new "Blogger" won't let me link, so here's the URL:

http://enr.construction.com/photoContest/2006/archives/2006-1.asp

Celebrate, And Contemplate

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SOLSTICE!

I'm curious to see how close to 4:22 p.m. I posted this thing.

Anyway, congratulations! It only get more daylighty from here.

Fat Man Swimming

A neat confluence of photography and imagination.


I like that.

(H.T. rickleephotos)

Italy. In December

Ms. Camic is at it again, traipsing all over Eastern and Southern Europe. (School in Madison must be out for Christmas.) Nina started in her home country of Poland. It's winter there, as you can see above.

So, she and boyfriend head for the boot of Italy.

And there they (re) discover the infallible and undeniable charms of Italy. Nina writes very well, and uses her camera appropriately. It's long, but it's colorful, so I recommend that you click on

The Other Side of the Ocean

When The Time Comes. . .

I hope it's worth it!





I shall let you know.

Southpaws Of The World. . .

UNITE! We're quicker and brighter, at least in the Southern Hemisphere.



That's according to this report from Michelle Malkin.

Enjoy

Cool Picture Time

Today's test: Which is the canteloupe (h.t.rickleephotos), and which the bicycle drive (h.t.littlegreenfootballs)?

Where Google Stores All That GMail. . .

H.T. www.geekculture.com/

Speaking of American Art. . .

Try these two. Both from early-20th century USA. Hopper and Sheeler. Good stuff.

There's Always Coffee Shop Food

I've always loved Edward Hopper's views of middle America in the 1920's and 30's.

Bistro Jeanty - French in Napa Valley.

Okay, enough of Berkeley. For contrast, let's try Yountville, home of the infamous French Laundry with its eponimous clothes pin napkin holders.

BUT, don't stop at the Laundry (too $$$), rather go downtown (sic!) to the Bistro Jeanty on the Main Drag. Absolutely wonderful food! Check out the menu!

I had the tomato(e) soup and steak tartare...need I say more?

Hey, it's Berkeley!

Okay, this one is difficult. Interesting restaurant, pan-asian (whatever that means)food. Plusses and minuses (talk to me about spelling later.)

Unicorn is located on Telegraph, just below Dwight. The neighborhood is variously described as "authentic Berkeley" and as "seedy." Whatever. The night we were there, police cars were all over the place, and three sleeping bums were on the sidewalk as we left for home.

I'm stretching, but "adolescent master" is how I would describe the chef and the menu. The food is very good, delightfully presented, and well priced. No complaints at all. But, what is this? American or Singaporean? Do I use Tobasco or Tonkatsu?

But, this is "pan-asian" to the extreme! Ox-tail and spring rolls? That's a winner? Fresh crab/lemon grass salad and lamb chops? Where did that come from? Individually, good! Together, whoa!

I was confused, but you may enjoy it! The wine is good, the service is thoughtful, and the decor is attractive. Please go, and let me know what you think.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Yes, I did grow up on the East Coast, and attended Cornell in Ithaca NY for a few years.

And yes, I often did look out the bedroom window onto views like this.

California is better, thank you.

Genius!

May God bless ingenuity. You all have probably heard a Staples ad on radio pushing refills for ink-jet cartridges, and adding to the enticement by promising US$3 for every old cartridge you return to them.

Today, I learned why, when I went to Staples to buy new ink cartridges.

Hoo-Lah! There, on the rack, right next to the genuine HP cartridges, were prominently-displaced STAPLES remanufactured ink cartridges, 15% cheaper! They are making lots of money on these things, even after giving me $3 for my old cartridge and refilling it with 15 cents worth of new ink.

Ain't life wonderful?

More Thanksgiving (for vegetarians)

Starting at the left, garlic, apricot, . . .

Thanksgiving's Four Freedoms

Of Speech

From Fear

From Want

Of Worship


(H.T. Norman Rockwell via mullings.com )

The Mighty Global Hawk

Somewhere out there, close to the Bay Area, lies Beale Air Force Base, about 10 miles East of Marysville (You can find it here. ), whence flies the Northrup Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk. This UAV bird is about the size of a Boeing 737, and it flies at 65,000 feet. The flights are directed by the 9th Reconnaisance Wing at Beale, from on-site console stations (think video games) and the UAVs are flying over Iraq and Afghanistan!

The "pilots" arrive at Beale for 8-hour shifts, 4 hours as co-pilot/observer, then 4 hours as pilot. 24/7. Pilots, through their Hawks can see down at night and through dust and rain storms. The Hawks are guided by Beale in response to requests from the military on the ground in the Middle East.

Wow!

Day 5 - The Boxwood Cafe in Knightsbridge

Nina Camic's last evening in England, close by Heathrow for an early flight back to the States. An interesting dinner here complete with a long talk with the chef.

More Food!

Neat photo by Rick Lee here. There are great photographs all around us, if only we can see them.

Day 4 in Yorkshire

We're almost home. Lots of scenery, free hotel meals, and finger-chewing scheduling as Nina makes her way back to London here.

Day 3

More travelogue from Sheffield, this time with more scenery and a bit less food. Just click here and here.

Camic In England - Day 2

Hey, this is getting to be fun! Today, Nina Camic is in Pickering, or Sheffield, or Yorkshire, whatever. More food, and some nice countryside photos at The Other Side of the Ocean

Fine Dining In London UK

Nina Camic is a law professor at UW-Madison. She travels and blogs and, I have to assume, teaches in her free time.

Anyway, now she is in London and she found a fine restaurant. Her description and photos are mouth watering.

Please enjoy The Other Side of the Ocean

Murphys CA 95247

Attractive place, especially in early crisp November. It's interesting that the town has preserved itself so well, for its own economic welfare. Hokey, but fun!

7 November 2006

For Miniature Golfers Only!

Please enjoy the following while you await breathlessly the results of Tuesday's elections:

http://www.ibogleif.dk/spil/flashspil/minigolf/minigolf.swf


(HT to Jonah Goldberg of The Corner)

Hubble Images

Save this for your quiet evening brousing:

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/top100/

And, then, you shall thank me.

No Words Needed (Update On Halloween Night)

(Sorry for the pun)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN SEASON!

UPDATE It's 31 October, Halloween night, 5:55 PM and no one has shown up for the free candies! Wifey is getting nervous.

6:20 PM 13 arrived. Wifey is encouraged!

6:30 PM 5 more!

6:32 PM 3

6:35 PM 5

6:37 PM 5

6:48 PM 4

7:04 PM 13

7:40 PM 3

7:49 PM 3

8:11 PM 2

8:24 PM 4

Whew! That's 60 beggars/spooks/costumers. Not bad for a chilly late-October eve.

Viva Panama!

The citizens of Panama have apparently voted 80% - 20% to rebuild the Canal for the 21st Century. This is good news.

Colors

Yes, I do realize, annually, that Northern California is different from Back East, but the photo above from New Haven CT (is that the zip abbrev. for Connecticut?) reminds me to pull out the digital 7.1 and try for some jCalifornia shots this week.

Stand by.

It's Autumn Again

Ooops! I have switched to IE 7.0, and it doesn't seem to work with Blogger. Please go to http://rickleephoto.blogspot.com to see some really neat pictures from a very talented photographer.

Update: Blogger image uploader works again. Please see the photos above for examples, and, indeed, check the URL for many more examples, including kitchen veggies. Good photography!

Shaking My Head In Disbelief!

"In Brownsville, he witnessed half a dozen men swim under one of the international bridges “with complete immunity” which in turn prompted him to take the immigration issue to the next level.

Bhakta decided to see if he could get an elephant accompanied by a six-piece mariachi band across the river.

According to his Web site, he is in favor of “sensible immigration reform” and supports a border fence, local law enforcement assistance with immigration laws and the use of the National Guard troops to help the U.S. Border Patrol.

“To my surprise, the band played on, the elephants splashed away, and nobody showed up,” Bhakta said of the stunt. “I’m astounded.” . . . “If I can get an elephant led by a mariachi band into this country, I think Osama bin Laden could get across with all the weapons of mass destruction he could get into this country,” Bhakta said."


You really can't make this stuff up. HatTip to www.instapundit.com/

Law School Next?

Nina Camic teaches law at University of Wisconsin/Madison, where my Grandparents lived, and she blogs at http://ninacamic.blogspot.com/. She also enjoys photography and food, as witnessed above.

I'm thinking that maybe I should go back to school. :-)

Sweep!

It was a wonderful day for baseball this afternoon at the Coliseum! Cloudy, cold, windy, and a sold-out stadium!

That's Milton Bradley with his batting coach just after he hit a home run to help the A's send the Twins back to Minnesota with their deep-fried heads between their deep-fried knees. And it took only three games in the best-of-five American League Division series.

Starting next Tuesday, we'll be playing either Detroit or some expensive team from new york city for the American League Championship.

Go A's!

Two Kinds of Mushrooms

Just for fun: