Davis, CA

Lake Solano Trip - Creepers, Lizards, Woodpeckers and More

2009-10-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Had a lab outing to Lake Solano last week. Saw some nice creatures there - pictures below.

What a waste in #Davis - a whole election & associated material for one vote

2009-10-21T19:58:00.001-07:00

Well, however you feel about the Wildhorse Ranch vote in Davis, this whole election just seems absurd. A whole election just to vote on this one thing? And do they really need a multi-page color sample ballot? So if I could, I would vote to require these "special" elections about rezoning to only happen if there already was another important election going on. Even if the pro-Ranch crown pays for the election, it just seems like a waste ...

Walkscore - software for walkability of communities goes open source

2009-10-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Just got this email (see below) from WalkScore that I thought might be of interest to Davisites. Walk Score is one of several types of "software for civic life" from Frontseat. This systems allows one to evaluate the walkability of a community or address. And now they are looking to release the software for WalkScore at Walkscore.Org as an open source development. And they are trying to get more people involved in this - including asking for what new developments they should make. I have suggested previously that they should incorporate bikability. And if you agree, you should vote for it here.

Dear Jonathan,

You deserve a break. Take a sec to:

Cast your vote on how to improve the Walk Score algorithm.
Friend us on Facebook so we can claim the Walk Score URL.

Also, we're thrilled to announce our Rockefeller Foundation grant (see below).

— The Front Seat Team

Vote on Walk Score improvements

We just launched WalkScore.org — a new website where you can vote on Walk Score improvements. We're also releasing open source code for Walk Score on this site.

Friends with benefits

Can you help us get to 100 fans on Facebook so we can claim a URL for our Facebook page?

Let's create a Facebook group of people who support walkable neighborhoods.

Rockefeller Foundation grant

We're using our new grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to improve Walk Score and make it open source. Sign up on WalkScore.org to get notified when the code is available.

East Quad Farmers Market

2009-09-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

Another nice thing for the fall and spring on Campus at UC Davis - Wednesday from 10-2 or so there is a Farmer's Market in the quad. It is not huge, but if you want some fresh/local produce - this is a good place to get something. See here for more detail: East Quad Farmers Market

Some #UCDavis students running 'Operation DeGeneres' trying to bring @TheEllenShow to town

2009-09-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Strange, funny, and true. Some UC Davis students are working to bring Ellen Degeneres to town.

From their site:

Operation DeGeneres was founded by UC Davis students and is an effort to have Ellen DeGeneres grace us with her presence at UC Davis--in either a speech to the campus or as keynote speaker at the 2010 graduation ceremony. She's funny, she's inspirational, and she probably has many words of wisdom.

For more information see:
Operation DeGeneres - Home

I note- my kids (4.5 and 2.5 yrs old) would like this - as Ellen is one of the voices in Finding Nemo ...

More on #UCDavis Prof. Emeritus Bernie Alder's National Medal of Science

2009-09-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

More information on UC Davis professor emeritus Bernie Alder's National Medal of Science Award can be found here: UC Davis News & Information :: Prestigious National Medal of Science goes to physicist

Among his many achievements was pioneering work in the field of Molecular Dynamics. He also was one of the founders of the UC Davis Department of Applied Science. Oh, and my wife is good friends with his daughter Janet --- and Alder and his whole family are simply amazing.

#UCDavis expands programs to support alternative modes of commuting

2009-09-26T00:58:00.000-07:00

UC Davis has started an enhanced program to encourage people to not drive to work. It is called "goClub" and includes programs for walkers, bikers, carpoolers, etc. For bikers, like me, see goBike
for more information.

Petition to Support the Redesign of Fifth Street in #Davis CA

2009-08-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Make Davis even more bicycle friendly. Sign the petition regarding 5th street redesign. See

Petition to Support the Redesign of Fifth Street Petition : [ powered by iPetitions.com ]

Of Davis Interest: Video on New Urbanism

2009-08-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

David Byrne on Bicycling and Davis in the New York Times

2009-06-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are obsessed with bicycling (like me), and live in bicycling heaven Davis, CA, and occasionally look at the New York Times, you may have noticed this already. But for others who have not I want to call your attention to a book review in the New York Times this past Sunday by David Byrne Book Review - 'Pedaling Revolution - How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities,' by Jeff Mapes - Review - NYTimes.com.

Amazingly this is indeed the same David Byrne of them Talking Heads. It turns out he has a book coming out in the fall called "Bicycle Diaries." Anyway he reviews this book on the effect of bicyclists on American Cities and right there in the review are some props for my town, Davis, CA. The article is worth checking out and I will both be buying this book and awaiting Byrne's. Maybe we can have a reading here in Davis when the Bicycling Hall of Fame opens its doors.

Tour of California moving to May for 2010

2009-05-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Tour of California has announced it will be held May 16-23 next year (see e.g., Velonews - Amgen Tour of California May 16-23 ). Good and bad news in this. The good news is the weather will likely be a lot better than the February time slot. Bad news is this competes with the Giro and it is unclear what riders/teams will come.

Public Lecture on Population Genomics at Davis Today

2009-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Once each year the Davis Division of the Academic Senate selects a Faculty Research Lecturer, who gives a public lecture under the auspices of the Chancellor and the Chair of the Davis Division. The lecturer is singled out for the distinction of their scholarly research, chiefly for efforts carried out while a member of the Davis faculty.

The Faculty Research Lectureship is the highest honor the Davis Division of the Academic Senate accords its members.

Please join us this evening as the campus honors our distinguished colleague

Charles “Chuck” Langley

Distinguished Professor

2009 Faculty Research Lecturer

Wednesday May 6, 2009

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

A reception sponsored by Ken Burtis, Dean of the College of Biological Sciences, and

Maureen Stanton, Chair of the Department of Evolution and Ecology will follow the lecture.

Activities & Recreation Center (ARC) Ballroom

Events Coordinator Office of the Dean

202 Life Science Davis, CA 95616

phone 530.752.2358 fax 530.752.2604

Worst new omics award: ethomics

2009-05-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Oops - posted this to the wrong blogspot blog. Please go to my Tree of Life blog to see this post here.

Oops. Seems like Davis, CA does not have the swine flu, yet.

2009-05-04T01:23:00.000-07:00

See :
Probable swine flu cases in Yolo County found to be human flu - Daily Democrat Online
and News 10 and KCRA

More on Swine Flu in Davis from the Davis Enterprise.

2009-05-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

There is a mini update on the swine flu incidence(s) in Davis at the Davis Enterprise.

Basically it appears the city of Davis is backing off some of the extreme quarantine type measures that were reported yesterday.

GIS mapping of bike accidents in Davis

2009-05-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

A PhD student in my lab has generated a nice GIS mapping of auto and bike accidents in Davis, CA. Worth browsing ...

Swine Flu Hits Davis?

2009-05-01T20:49:00.000-07:00

Seems like Swine Flu (aka H1N1) has hit Davis. See here.

Davis Picnic Day Parade 2009

2009-04-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the Picnic Day Parade today

Davis is new home of Bicycling Hall of Fame

2009-04-11T00:53:00.000-07:00

Good news for Davis. It was announced today that Davis is the new home of the Bicycling Hall of Fame. Yay. See stories here

Yet Another Reason Davis Should Be Selected for the Bicycling Hall of Fame

2009-04-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Davis is just an incredible bike town. There is good reason it is one of two finalists for being the host city of the Bicycling Hall of Fame. And here is one example of why it should win --- the bike paths and bike lanes around town make this city great for commuting on ones bike. Here are some pictures I took yesterday of my favorite bike ride to work. It is a little bit out of the way but it is worth it. About 7 or so miles total each way and it only has ~ 4 road crossings and one short stretch of a few hundred yards on a bike lane - and the rest is on off road bike paths.

Darwin in Davis

2009-02-24T08:02:00.001-08:00

Since this is kind of a Davis thing too I am cross posting it from my work blog.

Well, this has been a good week for me in Davis in terms of things in which I am interested. First, the Tour of California started in Davis and then tonight we had a Darwin celebration (with cake and talks) in a movie theater in downtown. The three talks were by Rick Grosberg, who gave a good background on Darwin the person, Mau Stanton who talked about Evolution and Society and me, who talked about Uses of Evolution. The shindig was sponsored by the Center for Population Biology and funded by the Storer Endowment. And it was organized by Angus Chandler and Dena Grossenbacher and possibly some others. And the theater was packed to the gills. Food. Folks. And Fun. And I owe some thanks to folks who responded to my FriendFeed posting asking about other examples of Uses of Evolution.

Here are some pics ...

Also see

Some pics from the Tour in Davis

2009-02-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

Well, it was really really really wet out there but tons of people were out in Davis nevertheless. I got some pics -- although my phone cam was not working great in the pouring rain. Anyway - here they are, including one of Floyd Landis ..

Tour of California before the start in Davis

2009-02-15T14:20:00.000-08:00

Here comes the tour (of California) --- Davis is going big ---

2009-02-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

Very excited that the Tour of California is starting in Davis this year (for Stage 1 on Sunday). It should be a good stage --- from Davis to Santa Rosa.

And there are many many big names in the tour this year - even more than last year. In particular of course is Lance Armstrong. I have been a big fan of Lance for many many years -- since I encountered him in Palo Alto when I was a grad. student. He had just won the World Championship and was in town to sing autographs and hang out at Wheelsmith, the best bike shop in the area. I was just getting into cycling and was going to Wheelsmith for some other reason and there was Lance. I got him to sign a few things and then thought, what would be coolest would be if he signed my favorite T-shirt (which I am wearing in the picture here). And he made my day by saying "Cool shirt" and asking where I got it.

Anyway --- it is going to be a big big day in Davis tomorrow with Lance Armstrong, and a whole gaggle of big time cyclists here in the best biking town in the country.

And here are some links related to the race ...

Lance's Twitter RSS feed (pretty entertaining stuff)
Livestrong
City of Davis information about the tour
Davis Bike Club
Bicycle Friendly Community - Davis

Pictures from Yolo Basin - Bitterns, Night Herons, Owl

2009-02-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Yolo Basin