Musafir's Musings

The Morning After Pill - 2007 and Now

2013-06-14T19:43:00.001-07:00

Back in 2007, it survived opposition from hypocritical politicians and Bible thumpers.

The Bush Administration was unable to stop it. Recently, President Obama failed to restrict over the counter sale of the drug to teens 17 and over.

A federal judge (Edward Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York) approved Wednesday the Obama administration’s plan to drop its lawsuit over the “morning after pill” and offer a form of emergency contraception over-the-counter without any age restrictions, winding down a controversy that has lasted for a decade.

Good for women of America.

*****

"(Before sex) "Dennis: Look, even if you did get pregnant, I'd marry you.

Odette: Do you believe in centralized government or states' rights ?

Dennis: What? Odette: I just want to know the kind of guy I'm marrying.
Dennis: I'm starting to get the distinct impression you don't want to do this anymore."
---From Sarah Kernochan's 1998 film "Strike"(also released as "All I Wanna Do")

Personal History - The World of Shipping, and "Mogi" Mogensen

2013-06-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

An article about Lee Kuan Yew, the grand old man of Singapore, in the New York Times reminded me of the mid-1980's when I visited Singapore many times and came to admire what Lee Kuan Yew achieved even though there was a feeling of "Big Brother" keeping a watchful eye over the inhabitants of Singapore.

Ocean transportation -- the most economical means of moving large volumes of cargo from one country to another -- continues its role in international trade. The industry embraced modernization by adopting cargo containers in the late 1960's. Then more functions were computerized and the interaction between shippers and carriers slowly ceased to be an important part of the business I knew and enjoyed being a part of for many years.

My career began in Calcutta, India, and ended in the San Francisco Bay Area. In those days offices of steamship lines and freight brokers were located in or around California Street, San Francisco. No longer so. Nowadays, modern communication systems have made it possible to run a steamship company far away from ports of call. A few employees handle operations and sales instead of large offices bustling with staff.

Popular among steamship company employees, Tadich Grill is still there, but Paolis on Commercial Street and Doro's on Jackson Square are gone. Neckties for men were de rigueur at Don Dianda's Doro's. Historical Merchants Exchange Building, which was home of Commercial Club -- another gathering place for the shipping fraternity -- changed ownership in 1995 and went through extensive renovation. The staid World Trade Club, located in the Ferry Building, served mediocre food but offered a great view of the Bay. It went bankrupt in 2006.

The late Herb Caen wrote in one of his columns: "San Francisco has the charms of Sydney, the style of London, and the rascality of Paris." A great city. On a clear day it offers breathtaking views.

It was while working for a Danish shipping company in San Francisco that I heard of JHM, known as "Mogi" Mogensen who was talked about as "Our Man in Bangkok". As the country manager of the company in Thailand for almost a decade, Mogi was legendary. Years later, employed with a different company I met him in Singapore when he came to pick me up from the airport on my first trip to that city. Subsequently, he moved to California and we worked together for a few years. A tall, courtly man, Mogi followed some old world customs. For one thing, he always put his jacket on before meeting a visitor. He returned to Copenhagen in 2006 but continued to be active in the chartering business. We remained in touch, with meetings during his periodic visits to the United States. He had been suffering from melanoma for some years. The condition gradually worsened. Mogi died on Feb 16, 2011. His last message read:

Tks yr phone call & your concern. A very belated Happy Thanksgiving!

I was hospitalized witn an infection and could not write you but back home

today - I am still under chemo-therapy treatment which to continue until

2nd half january, I think. Wish I could get out jogging again!

Brgds/Mogi

Seamus Heaney, in "Human Chain"

The Baler

All day the clunk of a baler

Ongoing, cardiac-dull,

So taken for granted

It was evening before I came to

To what I was hearing

And missing: summer’s richest hours

As they had been to begin with,

Fork-lifted, sweated-through

And nearly rewarded enough

By the giddied-up race of a tractor

At the end of the day

Last-lapping a hayfield.

But what I also remembered

As woodpigeons sued at the edge

Of thirty gleaned acres

And I stood inhaling the cool

In a dusk Eldorado

Of mighty cylindrical bales

Was Derek Hill’s saying,

The last time he sat at our table,

He could bear no longer to watch

The sun going down

And asking please to be put

With his back to the window.

*****

Mailbox for Wile E. Coyote, Cañada Road, Woodside, California

2013-04-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Cañada Road, A Haven for Bicyclists, Runners, and Walkers

The seven-mile stretch of Cañada Road, between Highway 92 on the north and Woodside Road on the south, is always pleasant for runners, hikers, and bicyclists. Scenic and popular. On Sundays, the road is closed to vehicular traffic and streams of bicyclists enjoy it without worrying about cars. It offers great views of Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir, and the hiking trail, which is parallel to the road, leads to Huddart County Park and Phleger Estate. Once you are in Huddart Park there are other trails to explore. Recommend hiking up to Skyline via Miramontes or Raymundo trail accessible from Phleger Estate.

In summer months, rattle snakes like the trails. Watch for them; keep your distance.

Wile E. Coyote Mailbox

@ Musafir

The Wile E. Coyote mailbox opposite the gate to SF Water District Rangers' Quarters never fails to make me chuckle. Easy to miss if you are driving by. Must have been there for years. The box is built to last but there is no mail delivery for Wile E. Coyote. Whoever put that up had a sense of humor. Thank you.

View of Upper Crystal Springs Reservoire across from the mailbox

@ Musafir

Although Huddart Park is part of the San Mateo County park system, Phleger Estate is under GGNRA (Golden Gate National Recreation Area). So, maps for Huddart Park do not show details of that segment.

Between Highway 92 and the T-Junction of Cañada Road/Edgewood Road, approximately halfway to the Woodside end, there are other points of interest. Filoli requires admission fee.

Starting at the northern end, Pulgas Water Temple would be on your right, about 1 mile from Highway 92. Half a mile further, on the left, is a small gate to Sheep Camp Trail (no bicyclists permitted). Sheep Camp Trail leads to the Cross Country Course. One can exit the trail by going past the gate, crossing St James Road and continuing on to Water Dog Lake or, at the foot of the trail, turning left on Hallmark Drive to access Ralston Road. Go left on Ralston for about half a mile and take bike path next to the commuter parking lot to return to Cañada Road.

Note: During Fall when competitive events are scheduled, the Cross Country Course of Sheep Camp is restricted to participants. Hikers and runners can still use the trail from Cañada Road to St James Road.

*****

"Amour", the movie. An Act of Love

2013-01-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

Amour,the new film by Michael Haneke, is an Oscar contender in two categories – best film, best director.

Haneke succeeded in depicting the loving relationship that existed between a husband and wife. A relationship that physical and mental degradation which often results from old age and lingering illness, failed to destroy.

Most of the reviewers gave “Amour” high rating. Yet, many of them did so with warnings about the grimness and depressing effects. The film deals with a subject that many of us avoid thinking about. All of us know that age takes its toll. If we live long enough, we’ll lose the ability to enjoy most of the things that give us pleasure. Eventually, there will come a stage when not only there will be no joy in living but pain and discomfort will overcome all else. We’ll end up in bed, sustained by medication and fed tasteless food. And, for some, that could mean a long time in the twilight zone. But death will come to all of us. It was famed San Francisco advertising executive Howard Gossage who said: “Dying is regarded as bad taste in this society inspite of the fact that 10 out of 10 people do it.”

In “Amour”, Haneke brought us the final days of an elderly couple trying to cope with death....face it with dignity.

I happened to watch the film at a theater in Menlo Park, CA. Reaction of the mostly elderly, and female, audience was somber but appreciative. That could be due to the locale. A film like “Amour” is not likely to be found in theaters in small towns in the mid-west or south. Those who believe that life and death are in the hands of someone up in the sky would shun films like “Amour”. It is a film for those who believe that being alive means more than being “clinically alive”.

*****

Samosas, Singaras - Mecheda, West Bengal, And a Small Town in Pakistan

2013-01-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

***

Train Journeys Between Kolkata and Jamshedpur

The New Yorker never fails to give pleasure. During my subscription of more than thirty years, it has gone through a number of changes in format and in management.The stable of writers and contributors continue to produce interesting, thought-provoking articles, short stories, poems, and photographs.

Tina Brown's tenure as editor was not noteworthy. She went on to do other things. Good riddance.

Reading Sameer And The Samosas by Daniyal Mueenuddin in the December 3rd issue took me back to the days when I rode the train between Jamshedpur, known as the Steel Town, and Calcutta. The train stations were Tatanagar and Howrah. In those days, Jamshedpur belonged to the state of Bihar. In 2000, it became part of the newly designated Jharkhand State.

Mueenuddin wrote about his return from America to Pakistan to run the family farm that belonged to his father. The link above is for an abstract, not the complete article. Always enjoy reading his short stories. It was his description of samosas (singaras, to Bengalis) that triggered a trip to memory lane.

From "Sameer and the Samosas" by Daniyal Mueenuddin - The New Yorker 12/3/2012.

“At the farm, I lived more and more according to routines, because only that way could I escape the paralyzing dread that sometimes came over me, the sense that I could trust no one, and that soon I would be driven away, to do God only knows what, to leave Pakistan a failure and work in America. Fezoo brought tea out to me, as he did each evening, in the center of the lawn, and then, returning into the house, came out with a platter covered with a white embroidered handkerchief.

“What’s this? “I asked, sniffing the scent of fried food. I had decided while living at the farm, to keep to a strict diet: no booze, protein for breakfast and lunch, fruit for dinner, no snacks. At afternoon tea, Fezoo was to give me exactly three biscuits, in the evening, none. Thought I drank endless cups of tea and glasses of lemonade, I lived with a little, gnawing hunger, a mortification.

“Chaudhry Sameer Sahib sent this from his own kitchen, made by his wife,”Fezoo answered. “Samosas.”

“I’ll take just one, “I said, lifting the white cloth which was dabbed here and there with the oil that had soaked through.

The samosas were smaller than they usually are, two bites, very crisp, and fragrant, but with a minty fragrance. Lifted one of the carefully folded delicacies, looked at it, and then crunched into it. Delicious! Hot beef minced with spices crumbled onto my tongue. Fezoo had put the dish on the table, next to the tea things, and now I waved him away.

“That’s fine, that’s fine,” I said.

Six more samosas, like browned pats of butter, sat on the dish. The layered crusts flaked off onto the plate, which had an oily sheen. Sameer’s wife had even taken the trouble to heat the platter, to keep the treats warm. I washed my palette with the milky tea, then lifted by its corner another of the dainty triangular morsels. Fabulous! This one had a different filling, little bits of potato, almost crunchy, and so spicy that my eyes watered. Another bite and it was gone. I must stop

Pouring myself more tea, adding milk and sugar, I eyed the platter, still charged with five delicate samosas. Each one seemed particular, unique, itself. I laughed. “For fuck’s sake,” I said to myself “Don’t be such a fucking prune.” My stomach growled with eagerness. I took a sip of the newly poured tea, too hot, almost burning my tongue, then reached for another samosa. Different again! This one had a tomato and chicken filling, sweetish but generously peppered. I worked my way through all the food on the platter, all the samosas, then finally, completely abandoning myself, licked the platter itself, and even that had a complex nutty Flavor, the flakes of crust melting in my mouth. ”

Mouth watering!

The samosas (singaras) commonly available at Indian and Pakistani stores and restaurants in America are big, lumpy, with heavy, greasy crust, and filled with overspiced mashed potato. A far cry from the delicate mouthfuls described by Daniyal Mueenuddin. Hard to believe that good samosas have become extinct. Surely they exist in small, neighborhood tea shops in Kolkata that have not yet given in to the "bigger is better" concept.

Delicious, small samosas were available at Mecheda rail station. In the sixties, when I traveled between Jamshedpur and Howrah, the night train made a brief stop at Mecheda in the early morning. Mecheda, approx. 35 miles past the major rail junction Kharagpur, well known for being the home of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Vendors walked the platform carrying baskets of freshly made samosas and pots of tea poured into earthen containers. Nothing fancy, like minced beef, or chicken and tomato filled samosas, just diced potatoes. When winter vegetables were in season there would be tiny florets of cauliflower mixed with the potato. They were great. I hope they have not disappeared, become a victim of progress.

After the morning tea, accompanied by samosas, we prepared to disembark at Howrah and face the hustle bustle of the big city.

*****

India - Violence Against Women

2012-12-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

The Louts Call It "Eve teasing"

The young woman victim of the gang rape in Delhi died. Sad. And maddening. Civilized nation? Not.

The 23-year-old – who was severely beaten, raped and thrown out of a moving bus in Delhi – died on Friday in the Singapore hospital where she was being treated.

The unprecedented public protests might force the government to take some meaningful action to curb despicable behavior, long condoned. But it will take more than government action to see a change in the boorish behavior of Indians -- especially, North Indian males. There has to be broad changes in the attitude of a society dominated by men whose mindset is decades behind.

*****

India Gang Rape Boors

The Political Circus - Republicans' Almost Prurient Obsession With Sexual Lives of Americans

2012-09-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

But Do They Practise What They Preach?

The clock is ticking. 38 days before November 6th. The first debate between the incumbent, Barack Obama, and Republican candidate Mitt Romeny is scheduled to be held October 3rd at Denver.

With all the problems facing our country, a large percentage of Republicans are still fixated on "non-issues". Among them, the sexual habits of consenting adults -- pre-marital sex, contraception, sodomy, homosexuality. What gives? One wonders whether Republican men stay away from erectile dysfunction medication. Not too long ago, former presidential candidate Robert Dole was a spokesman for Viagra. Yet, when it comes to contraception rights for women, the same group goes ballistic. Imagine a prayer before; then the missionary position; a prayer after. Or, probably more like "slam, bam, turn around and snore". No wonder they have Neanderthals like Todd Akin representing them. Mysoginistic is the right description. Polls show women voters moving away from the Republican platform. Rightly so.

Hypocrisy of Republicans about sex is puzzling. Ryan is a true believer. Whether or not Mitt Romney agrees with the ultra conservative wing of the Republican Party, he has to toe the party line. Let's hope the Republican ticket gets buried on November 6th.

“How did sex come to be thought of as dirty in the first place? God must have been a Republican.”

---Will Durst

*****

Sex Republicans Contraception Sodomy Homosexuality

Four Days in Emigrant Wilderness

2012-09-25T16:04:00.001-07:00

Backpack trip from Crabtree Camp to Deer Lake

In the first week of August, joined a group of friends (two Silicon Valley residents and one from Tifton, GA) for a backpack trip.

The trip was planned by Sarbajit Ghosal, who did the research about trails, distance, and the logistics involved.

Topo map

We arrived at Crabtree Camp trail head in the late afternoon of August 1. Parked and took off for Bear Lake, apprx. 3.8 miles, for first night's stop. Camp Lake (2.8 miles from Crab Tree) is nicer but has limited options for camp sites. Darkness was setting in by the time we arrived at Bear Lake. Camp sites near the lake were occupied and we ended up in a rocky area.

On Day 2, we broke camp and began hiking to Piute Lake. Except for missing a turn (see below) after the descent from Camp Lake and losing an hour it was uneventful. The trail meandered through meadows and rocky switchbacks. The segment between Piute Meadow and Piute Lake is demanding because of the gain in elevation.

Arrived at Piute Lake about 5 PM and scouted for a good place to set up tents. Decided on base of the ridge looking down on the lake. An inconsiderate group of horseback riders camped across the lake and, disregarding rules, had their mounts tethered near the water. Next afternoon, the same group engaged in target practice with hand guns! Forest Service rangers do a great job, but it is not possible for them to closely monitor illegal activities.

Day 3: We decided on a day trip to Gem Lake and beyond. Jewelry Lake and Deer Lake follow Gem Lake, all within easy hiking distance of Piute Lake. The lakes are scenic and worth the hike. Fishing at Deer Lake was unrewarding. Two backpackers returning from Buck Lake, about 2.5 miles further, said fishing was good there.

After our return to Piute Lake it felt as though it might rain; the clouds looked threatening. That would have caused problem with fixing dinner. However, the clouds moved and we were able to light the stove. It was after dinner that we found that battery of the SteriPen water filter had gone dead. We used it a lot during the three days. And then the tube of the backup Katadyn filtration system broke. Taking stock of the filtered water, we made the decision to head back to trail head instead of spending the 4th night in tents as originally planned.

On the 4th morning (Saturday) we found that camera batteries worked in the SteriPen. However, we decided against spending the night at Camp Lake or Bear Lake, and began the trek back to Crab Tree. After the ascent to Camp Lake, we took a long, relaxing break at the lake. Bret went for a swim. We cooled our feet in the bracingly cold water.

Then on to Crab Tree Camp and the drive home to Bay area. Bret had a flight to catch on Sunday; others had to prepare to face a work week. All good things come to an end.

We were fortunate in having mild weather; temperature remained in the 80's during the days; and the nights were in the high 50's.

Miwok Ranger Station where we filed wilderness permit application

At Crab Tree Camp Trail Head

Camp Lake

Bret starting a fire at Bear Lake camp site

Ready to hit the trail after Bear Lake

That was where we proceeded ahead alongside the stream instead of crossing the stream and taking the trail on the left. SG's handheld DeLorme GPS device was helpful in getting us back on track.

Day 2, on the trail to Piute Lake

Piute Meadow

Camp ground at Piute Lake

Bret's tent overlooking Piute Lake

Day 3 - On the trail to Gem Lake. Checking topo map

Corn Lily

Gem Lake (8,230 ft)

Jewelry Lake I

Jewelry Lake II

SG casting for trout at Deer Lake

Mariposa Lily

Mountain Heather

Orange Lily

Campers doing target practice -- illegal

Before Camp Lake, Day 4

Reviving tired legs at Camp Lake

“….short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination of all useful and beautiful wild things……”

--Theodore Roosevelt

*****

Emigrant Wilderness Crab Tree Camp Backpacking

The Conventions are Over But Political Circus Continues

2012-09-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Lies, Halftruths, Distortions

With 59 days before November 6th, the polls show that Barack Obama has a good chance of being re-elected.

A lot can happen before November 6th to change the picture. In the meantime, millions of dollars are being spent on advertisements that are full of half-truths, distortions, and downright lies. Nothing new; we go through this in every presidential election cycle. But the Internet and instant dissemination of charges and counter-charges by the candidates are enough to make one dizzy.

It cannot be denied that, from the war in Afghanistan to reform of Wall Street, Barack Obama retreated from his position and failed to deliver what he promised his supporters in 2008. But the messages from Mitt Romney and his VP pick, Paul Ryan, are far from clear or reassuring for the vast majority of voters. On the economic front, their top priority is to make the fat cats fatter by targeted tax cuts. It is hard to understand their Bible-thumping rhetoric. The Republican platform is a throwback to earlier times, especially where women's issues are concerned. Their obsession with sexual lives of citizens is puzzling. Example of hypocrisy at its worst.

*****

Obama Romney Ryan Republicans Democrats Tax cuts Sexuality Bible

The Invisible, Impenetrable Todd Akin Pregnancy Protection Shield

2012-08-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

Another bigot.

There they go again. Issue statements that are completely off the wall, and then retreat to the old standby -- "misspoke".

As misstatements go, what the six-time Republican Congressman Todd Akin of Missouri

said, was a doozy. One wonders what was he thinking. Of course, he said what he belived.

The retreat and wiggling to put a spin on it resulted from the firestorm that followed his

monumentally stupid comment, on live TV no less.

Akin, a six-term congressman running against incumbent Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill, was asked in an interview on St. Louis television station KTVI if he would support abortions for women who have been raped. "It seems to me first of all from what I understand from doctors that's really rare,"

Akin said. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin said of a rape victim's chances of becoming pregnant.

Too early to tell how the congressman would emerge from this. If he cannot survive the outrage he created, he can consider returning to his earlier, no doubt deeply held position about women and rape, and go on the speech circuit to promote it.

Hard to believe, but many women still support Republicans. Perhaps some of them will buy his spiel and try to learn the secret of how to unlock the built-in resistance against pregnancy from rape. Congressman Akin could end up rich. Think of Bristol Palin giving speeches about protecting virginity!

*****

Todd Akin Rape Pregnancy Republicans Missouri

A July 4th Walk at Point Lobos SNR, California

2012-07-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

LADY DIVER

Lady diver
Is diving under the sea
And is discovering the sea world
Lady diver
Knows that there is a lot to see
Under the sea

--Aldo Kraas (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lady-diver/)

It was a spur of the moment decision that turned out to be very rewarding. We were en route to Big Sur to hike along the coast on July 4th when a friend suggested hiking at Point Lobos instead.

Point Lobos, about 3 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, is one of the crown jewels of the California State Park System. It was typical coastal weather on July 4th when we arrived at 11:00 AM. Overcast sky, temperature in the 60's. That didn't deter many other visitors from enjoying the park and the trails. There were many scuba divers, donning their gear to explore the undersea world. Wild flowers were in abundance

We did the perimeter trail, stopping at various points to admire the view and take pictures. Took us Just over 4 hours, including a break for lunch. Picnics are permitted only at a few designated areas. The perimeter trail also offers views of the Monastery of Carmelite Sisters. Despite driving past the location numerous times, the monastery had never caught my attention.

We made a slight detour to visit the Carmel Mission before heading home. A great day and, to top it off, traffic was surprisingly light on the 80-mile drive back to Santa Clara Valley.

A few pictures taken on July 4, 2012 with a Canon Powershot S3IS.

At the foot of the perimeter trail

Indian Paintbrush

A view of the shoreline at Point Lobos

A Monterey Cypress

Distant view of Carmelite Monastery

Wild flowers, I

Wild flowers, II

Morning Glory

A gathering of Cormorants

A Mule Deer

One of the coves viewed from the Perimeter Trail

Carmel Mission

A Mission Bell on the street opposite the Carmel Mission

*******

Point Lobos Carmel California Carmel Mission Carmelite Monastery

If they are in Palo Alto, CA, then no place is safe

2012-06-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

My first reaction was "Oh, no, not in Palo Alto!" But Joan Acocella's review of Professor Tanya Luhrman's

"When God talks back: understanding the American evangelical relationship with prayer" in The New Yorker leaves no doubt that the evangelicals do have a presence in Palo Alto. Depressing.

This casualness carries over to conversations with God. The Vineyarders asked him “for admission to specific colleges, for the healing of specific illness—even, it is true, for specific red convertible cars.” Some Vineyard women had a regular “date night” with Jesus. They would serve a special dinner, set a place for him at the table, chat with him. He guided the Vineyarders every minute of the day. Sarah told Luhrmann how, one day, after a lunch at a restaurant with fellow-parishioners, she was feeling good about herself, whereupon, as she was crossing the parking lot, a bird shat on her blouse. God, she explained to Luhrmann, was giving her a little slap on the wrist for her self-satisfaction. Sarah accepted the chastisement, but others don’t. They may get furious with God. And, according to some evangelicals, he feels bad when this happens. In “Disappointment with God” (1988), the religious writer Philip Yancey claims that God can’t bear for us to turn away from him. He longs for us to like him. It is hard to understand how evangelicals, most of whom are regular Bible readers, could come to this conclusion about the God of Abraham and Job.

Ya, Habibi.

*****

Evangelicals Vineyard Christian Fellowship Palo Alto CA

The Political Circus - Campaign 2012

2012-05-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

183 days before November 6th.

"To dream of one government ending doesn't mean you’ll want the one that comes in its place."
---Nathan Englander, The Ministry of Special Cases

Republicans went through their act to nominate a candidate to challenge the incumbent president. While formal announcement remains, barring an unforeseen development Mitt Romney is going to be the challenger. Compared to some of the weird characters that went through roadshows to win the nomination (think Michele Bachman, Herman Cain among others) Romney is sane.

And is anyone going to miss Newt Gingrich and his wife with the strange hairdo?

As to Barack Obama, the incumbent, he has begun his campaign. Again, the themes are "Hope and Change". And "Fear". Well, we have gone through "Hope and Change". Nothing happened. Or not much happened that was different from the eight-year presidency of G.W. Bush.

But "Fear" is something to think about. We have reason to be fearful of what a Republican victory would mean. Things would get much worse. Another vacancy in SCOTUS would give a Republican administration the opportunity to destroy the balance in the highly politicized court and empower it to re-write the book about government. One can rest assured that it is not going to be government "for the people" that Abe Lincoln spoke about.

I'll vote for Barack Obama, not because I like him; not because I think he will do the right thing. Simply because the other will be much worse.

*****

Campaign 2012 Republicans Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Michelle Bachman Herman Cain Barack Obama SCOTUS

The Seasons: Signs of Spring

2012-03-10T12:25:00.004-08:00

San Mateo, California * And A Bumper Sticker

Spring equinox is less than two weeks away, on March 20th. Lack of rains is worrisome. Getting late in the season to make up for the shortfall. Temperature continues to be cool. A walk through the neighborhood shows that except for the birch trees plants are putting up the usual display of colors. And the silver birch trees,too, have something attractive about them -- standing leafless, waiting for the sprouting of leaves.

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.

~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

The pictures below were taken during walks in February and early March.

Silver Birch tree on a cloudy morning

Daffodils

Apple Blossoms, Parrott Drive

Maple Tree beginning to show off

Front garden statue, Parrott Drive

Photographs taken during walks through local preserves.

Wild Flower, name unknown. Tenderfoot Trail, Laurelwood Park, Belmont, CA

Bumper sticker seen on car at Trader Joe's parking lot: "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping". No doubt obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol and such thoughts are far from their minds. On the positive side they spend money to keep the economy churning. Someone has to do it.

*****

Spring 2012 San Mateo Parrot Ave Laurelwood Park Sugarloaf Mountain

The Political Circus - 273 Days Before November 6th

2012-02-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Promises, Promises

Obama in the lead! That is what the latest ABC News-Washington Post Poll shows -- that among registered voters Obama has a 51-45% lead over Mitt Romney. Gingrich is promising the moon. However, one gets the feeling that Gingrich's negatives -- past baggage -- cannot be covered up. Republican power brokers feel uneasy about Gingrich. Much can happen between now and November 6th. But this not going to make Obama-haters happy.

What about the Democrats? Well, Obama has disappointed many of us. Deep down, he is not much different than the hypocrites running against him. His recent Bible-thumping speech was sickening. A blatant appeal to Conservative Christian voters. It would be interesting to watch how the President deals with the reaction about the directive in respect to contraceptives and sterilization in employee health-care plans of Catholic affiliated institutions. Based on previous records, he is likely to beat a quick retreat; he is adept in doing that.

Even the small difference makes him preferable over the Republican candidates. What choice do we have -- sit it out or vote for the incumbent. I'll hold my nose and vote for the incumbent. It was a buffoon, Sarah Palin, who mocked Obama "How's the hopey changey thing working out for ya". True, it didn't take long for Obama to back away from things he spoke about. For many of us there will be no rejoicing if he is re-elected, but there would be a sigh of relief.

*****

Election 2012 Barack Obama Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich Sarah Palin Democrats Republicans

Passages: December 2011

2011-12-18T13:36:00.000-08:00

Sleepless In San Mateo * Last Days of Autumn* Wild Mushrooms

There are many people who, for some reason or other, lie awake at night -- unable to go to sleep at all or cannot go back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night.

The nights can be long and depressing, especially for those who live alone. Chronic insomnia requires professional help. This is about people who periodically suffer from it as I do. There are times when the 'cause' can be identified -- health-related issues, anxiety, depression -- it does not take much to trigger bad nights. The holiday season could induce it in some. The cold weather; dark, sunless sky, rains; they can all exacerbate the problem.

Cannot say that I cope with it well. Have tried turning the light on to read. Does not do any good. If the book is interesting I can keep on reading through the night without feeling drowsy. And, in my case, the day's routine -- exercise, food, wine at dinner -- has no bearing at all; my routine rarely varies. While strenuous exercise during the day does not help me to sleep at night, it certainly helps to avoid the feeling of being in a deep, dark hole.

The only sure relief is from pills (sleep aid). Half a tablet of an OTC product usually ensures

a decent night. Does not leave me feeling groggy the next morning. But even then I don't make a habit of it. I have an aversion about taking pills.

Winter Solstice

"On a withered bough

a crow has stopped to perch

and autumn darkens."

--- Basho

A look at the calendar tells me that in four more days autumn will end. The winter solstice is on December 22nd. Piles of fallen leaves under the trees getting smaller. Some trees still display colorful autumn leaves, but not for long.

Birch Tree

Have not had much rain. But the rains might arrive with a vengeance and make us pine for sunny sky. The seasons have their place. There was a time when I found rainy days depressing. Perhaps it is the wisdom that comes from age, but they have ceased to affect me.

This season, foraging for wild mushrooms has not been very rewarding. Found some oyster mushrooms, few puffballs and butter boletes. The rains might make the chanterelles emerge. A cluster of lion's mane was past its prime.

Warning: Do not use these pictures as guide to pick mushrooms for consumption. Wild mushrooms require thorough investigation.

Butter Boletes ( Boletus appendiculatus)

© Musafir - Canon S710

Lion's Mane - Past its prime

© Musafir - Canon S710

Puffball Mushroom

Sulphur Shelf ( Laetiporus sulphureus)

Cluster of Oyster Mushrooms

*****

San Mateo Insomnia Autumn Winter Solstice Wild Mushrooms

Thanksgiving Day 2011

2011-11-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

And Images From Thanksgiving Past * Fall Colors in San Mateo, California

Excerpt below is from Jon Carroll's column in The San Francisco Chronicle. Every year, I look forward to reading it and he never disappoints.

I'm going to think about how each of the people at the table came into my life, and what I remember about that moment, and how we decided to become friends instead of simply people who met each other once a long time ago. And I'm going to remember the kindness that each person has shown me, and I'm also going to remember my kindnesses, because I'm grateful for the times I behaved well.

And because not all the people I'm grateful for are in the room today, I'm going to think about them, and send them good thoughts across the miles. I don't believe in the transmission of thoughts, but I believe in trying. It's like a flashy vehicle for mindfulness, and mindfulness is hard when the talk is loud and the carbohydrates are disappearing at alarming rates.

And as I walk across the floor from one room to the other, I'm going to notice how solid the floor feels beneath my feet today. I know how fragile it is, but it doesn't matter. Today, right now, this Thanksgiving, it feels like the oldest rock in the world, and I stand on it and rejoice.

Maybe at the end of the evening, when the dirty dishes are piled high in the sink and the air is heavy with rich smells, take a moment to thank someone for something.

If today you are gratitude impaired (been there), here are a few new ways of looking at things.

May you grow up to be righteous, may you grow up to be true, may you always know the truth and see the lights surrounding you. May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong; may you stay forever jcarroll@sfchronicle.com

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/23/DDPR1LTVNJ.DTL#ixzz1ednU56Ad

For me, the venue has changed. After celebrating Thanksgiving at a friend's house in Palo Alto for the past 19 years, the gathering will take Place at Menlo Park.

Palo Alto, CA. 2010

III

VII

VIII

Fall Colors, San Mateo, CA.

Not New England, but the colors are gorgeous.

Sunrise through my window, Nov 22, 2011

Harvard Drive I

Harvard Drive II

Parrott Drive I

Parrott Drive II

Tournament Drive I

Tournament Drive II

*******

Thanksgiving 2011 Palo Alto Menlo Park San Mateo Fall Colors

Another Summer Rushing Past

2011-08-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

*
Naked Ladies aka Belladonna Lady (Amaryllis belladonna)

If Clarkias are called 'Farewell to Spring' then Naked Ladies deserve to be described as 'Farewell to Summer'. Here in the San Francisco Bay area they begin to be noticeable in August and are gone in September. For a brief period the tall, slender stalks with lovely pink blooms catch our eyes and make us think. Of what? Well, that depends on who you are. For me, the thoughts are about summers past; walks on the beach at Pajaro Dunes; graduation parties; hikes on trails in the foothills and in the Sierras; alfresco lunches under Oak trees; dry, brown landscape and autumn rains soon to follow. Bitter-sweet.

Naked Ladies I, Parrott Drive, San Mateo, CA

Naked Ladies II, Parrott Drive, San Mateo, CA.

Naked Ladies III, Parrott Drive, San Mateo, CA.

During recent walks on Parrott Drive, San Mateo, saw Naked Ladies in a number of front yards. It is hard to appreciate them driving past in cars. A clear sign that another summer will soon be behind us; the Autumn equinox is less than a month away, on September 23rd. Schools are open; Labor Day weekend is around the corner. After the picnics and barbecues are over, the 'end of summer' feeling will sink in if it has not already done so.

Here is the late Philip Hamburger's superb description of end of summer which appeared in The New Yorker some years back.

A piercing blue sky, gentle ocean breeze, low humidity, clean air. But what Seamus Heaney has called "the ache of summer" is increasingly palpable. Darkness will clamp down earlier and more suddenly this evening--one moment a rich, haunting Maxfield Parrish blue, the next pitch-black and night. Hard to face, but wouldn't you know, summer is ending and it is time for memories...Night is falling. There is a chill in the air. Winter will come. And go.

Philip Hamburger © The New Yorker

*****

Naked Ladies Amaryllis Belladonna Summer 2011 Autumn Equinox Philip Hamburger

Canyon Creek In The Trinity Alps

2011-08-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Backpack Trip up Canyon Creek Trail

The trail head to Canyon Creek, about 14 miles from Junction City, is a long drive from the Bay area. Recently, SG and I made the trip. Ripstein Campground, where we spent the first night, was just over 350 miles It was worth it.

Trinity Alps look different than the Sierras....more green. And the trail to the lakes never far from the stream. Wild flowers were abundant.

Refer to "Hiking California's Trinity Alps Wilderness" by Dennis Lewon

We left on August 4th; stopped at Weaverville Ranger Station for Wilderness and Fire Permits. Drop Box outside the Ranger Station can be used at all times for permit applications. Then continued on Hwy 299 to Junction City and drove for about 14 miles on Canyon Creek Road to Ripstein Campground. The campground is undeveloped, with vault toilet, no running water, but free, scenic, and only a mile from the trail head parking lot.

Began our walk up the trail on the morning of August 5th. Our plan was to go to Upper Lake but we changed our minds and decided to set up camp near the Middle Canyon Creek Falls, just under 6 miles from the trail head,with a view of the water roaring down. The unusually high snow pack has resulted in rarely seen force of the water falls and streams.

Our pace was slow and we made frequent stops. Took us more than six hours to reach the Middle Canyon Creek Falls. There were many backpackers, including women of all ages. And dogs, with their own packs. Many were repeat visitors from Shasta/Redding areas. We talked to backpackers who had come from Oregon. There was a couple from Salem, OR, who had come to celebrate their weddding anniversary after being there 40 years ago.

Trail markers were notably absent. Not a major problem. Our timing was just right. The weather was surprisingly mild. Day-time temp not not much different than the South Bay; the nights were not uncomfortably cold, in the high 60's. See Forest Service Weather Report updated on Thursdays.

We carried a bear canister but could have done without it.

Next day, August 6th, we left our camp site and hiked up to the Lower and Upper Canyon Creek Lakes with just water bottles, some trail mix, power bars, and fishing gear. The lakes are very pretty, located in rocky area with 8,886 ft Sawtooth Mountain towering over the landscape. There were many backpackers camped near the lakes. We tried fishing at the Lower Canyon Creek Lake -- no luck, and didn't see anyone else catching fish -- before carrying on to the Upper Canyon Creek Lake, less than a mile away.

On the return trip from the lakes, we bypassed Boulder Creek campground and reached our tent before darkness set in.

We broke camp on Sunday, August 7th, and headed back at 9:30 A.M. Took us about 4 hours to reach the parking lot. Then it was the drive home with a stop at Weaverville for lunch and gas for the car. A good trip. The photographs below will give an idea of the trail, the water falls, and the lakes.

At Ripstein Campground

At trailhead parking lot

The beginning of Canyon Creek Trail

SG wearing netting as protection against flying insects

Distant view of the mountain range

Wild Flowers, look like Indian Paintbrush

We forded quite a few streams, the major one a mile before the Lower Canyon Creek Lake

Lower Canyon Creek Falls

Wild Flower - Name unknown

More Wild Flowers

Our Campsite

SG - near our campsite alongside stream from Middle Canyon Creek Falls

Another view of the stream near our tent

Middle Canyon Creek Falls, close up

On the trail to the upper lakes

Field of Wild Flowers

We had to push through thick vegetation at some parts of the trail

Last stream crossing about a mile before Lower Canyon Creek Lake

The Sawtooth Mountain 8,886 ft

Near Lower Canyon Creek Lake

Lower Canyon Creek Lake

SG fishing. The trouts were elusive

Leaving for Upper Canyon Creek Lake

A boy getting ready to jump into Upper Canyon Creek Lake

Upper Canyon Creek Lake

Another view of Upper Canyon Creek Lake

Still some snow on the peaks

Pink Wild Flowers

Back at the Lower Canyon Creek Lake - still no fish

A Brewer Spruce tree at Lower Canyon Creek Lake

Heading back - all good things come to an end

"The idea of wilderness needs no defense. It only needs more defenders."

---Edward Abbey

*****

Ripstein Campground Canyon Creek Trail Trinity Alps

The Debt Ceiling - Obama and Democratic Senators Sold Us Down The River

2011-07-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

A Confederacy of Hypocrites

They made a deal with Dark Side. They call it "compromise"; they call it "pragmatism".

The bottom line is shameful, utterly abject surrender by Obama and the Democratic leadership to the demands of Republican and Tea Party bullies. According to current news on the Internet, Nancy Pelosi is making some noise about not supporting the deal made by Harry Reid and Democratic senators. Hope she does not capitulate. Not going to make a difference but at least a symbolic gesture that reflects the position of many Democrats.

And America's long-suffering taxpayers, who pay the salaries of the politicians who brought us to the brink of default? How do they come out?

That remains to be seen. The big concern among many was that this crisis would result in significant tax increases. All the big discussions -- the Simpson-Bowles Commission, the Gang of Six in the Senate, the potential Grand Bargain between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner -- included revenue enhancements, the elimination of loopholes, the termination of tax credits. In other words, tax increases on some people. And at time when income tax rates and overall tax receipts as a percentage of GDP are as low as they've been in recent history, the prospect of making a huge dent in the deficit through spending cuts alone seemed politically unviable. And yet, thanks to a combination of Republican intransigence, moderate wishy-washiness, and Democratic lameness, the deal included no revenue enhancements. People worried about higher taxes have dodged a bullet, for now. -Daniel Gros, Yahoo.com

Obama's role is not surprising. A typical, amoral politician, he has steadily shifted to the right after his election. One gets the impression that to win in 2012 he would readily be a 'born-again Christian' and a fervent pro-lifer.

*****

Debt Ceiling Obama Democrats Republicans Harry Reid Nancy Pelosi

Lower Paradise Valley, Kings Canyon, California

2011-07-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

A Walk from Roads End, Kings Canyon, to Lower Paradise Valley

"Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,

A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse, and --Thou

Beside me, singing in the Wilderness --

And Wilderness is Paradise enow."

-- The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, translated by Edward Fitzgerald

Quite different than the wilderness that Persian poet Omar Khyyam wrote of. But the trail from Roads End in Kings Canyon to the Lower Paradise Valley offers great vistas -- from towering cliffs to the awesome force of Woods Creek flowing alongside.

On July 3rd, Sarbajit Ghosal and I hiked the approx. 13-mile out and back trail. It was a good day, cool at 6:oo in the morning when we began. Even at mid day, when it turned warm and we could feel the rocky parts of the trail radiating heat, it was not punishingly hot.

The trail is not very demanding, first two miles mostly flat with a few rocky segments. Many hikers go only as far as Mist Falls, about halfway to Lower Paradise Valley campground. After Mist Falls, the trail becomes rocky. We met backpackers who were returning from doing the Rae Lake Loop, about 46 miles. One group said it took them 3 days -- hardy souls.

A few pictures follow. Encountered three rattle snakes, the first one in the morning soon after we began our walk at Roads End. After I took a picture of the snake, my Canon Powershot S3 stopped working. Error message read "Lens error. Restart camera." Tried restarting but it did not fix the problem. It was SG's Nikon Coolpix P500 that was used for the rest of the trip.

SG at Roads End Trailhead

The first rattle snake, ugh

We forded a number of such gullies soon after Roads End

Morning sun on the cliff face

Lupines alongside the trail

A waterlogged stretch of the trail. We had to detour by clambering on rocks

Near the junction of Bubbs Creek and Woods Creek

Mist Falls. The Gardiner Creek Meets Woods Creek at this point

The Sphinx Peak at distant background

Past and above Mist Falls

SG on the trail beyond Mist Falls

A peak that reminded us of Half Dome

Slogging up the rocky, switchback trail to Lower Paradise Valley

Near Lower Paradise Valley Campground, the flow of the creek noticeably slow

End of the trail. Father and son fishing for trout

This is where we took a lunch break. Quiet and serene.

"Butterfiles are free"

11:15 AM. Time to head back to Roads End

The trail narrows between the rock face and the creek below

A view of Mist Falls on the way down

Looking downstream from the bridge at Bubbs Creek, 2 miles from Roads End

Sarbajit Ghosal (Nikon Coolpix P500)

Felt good to dip sore feet in icy cold Bubbs Creek

Sarbajit Ghosal (Nikon Coolpix P500)

Hiking along the trail I thought of Gary Snyder and his wonderful poems about mountains, rivers, and lakes of California. From his "Bubbs Creek Hair Cut", Mountains and Rivers Without End.

“Hiking up Bubbs Creek saw the trail crew tent

In a scraglly grove of creekside lodgepole pine

talked to the guy, he says

‘If you see McCool on the other trail crew over there

tell him Moorehead says to go to hell.’

Late snow that summer. Crossing the scarred bare shed

of Forrester Pass

The winding rock-braced switchbacks

Dive in snowbanks. We climb in where

packtrains have to dig or wait.”

*****

Kings Canyon Lower Paradise Valley Bubbs Creek Woods Creek Gary Snyder Omar Khayyam

EndTimes?

2011-05-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

No, The World Is Not Going to End on Saturday

Some people believe in the Doomsday proponents. They have helped in building an industry that thrives by preaching about the end of the world. The promoters have a cash cow and they are going to keep on milking it.

The current date for the beginning of "the end" is Saturday, May 21st -- that is two days from now! Harold Camping, an evangelical pastor in California is reported to be responsible for the prophecy about this particular date. What mumbojumbo he would come up with on the 22nd? Previously, another group of shysters had declared 12-12-2012 as the day. They have no problem with changing the date.

May 21st will come and go. If some of us are not going to be around it will not be because of the end of the world as we know it.

*****

EndTimes Doomsday May 21,2011 Harold Camping 12-12-2012

Libraries

2011-05-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

Keep Them Open

Headlines about budget cuts and their effects have become regular features. One cannot escape them. Priorities vary greatly; spending public money is a highly politicized issue.

Public libraries in America are among its treasures. Regrettably, they are not immune during the present crunch.

Charles Simic's A Country Without Libraries in The NY Review of Books is a must read for all

who care for libraries. Fight to keep them open.

"How many book lovers among the young has the Internet produced? Far fewer, I suspect, than the millions libraries have turned out over the last hundred years. Their slow disappearance is a tragedy, not just for those impoverished towns and cities, but for everyone everywhere terrified at the thought of a country without libraries."

*****

Libraries Books Charles Simic NYRB

Personal History: A Look Back - Death of a Dog

2011-05-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

*
Nick * Man's Best Friend * James Salter

Nick was more than a good friend, faithful companion who, on dark days made things bearable. Nick died in 1989. After so many years it is not often that I think of him. But a few weeks ago he appeared in a dream.

I looked up some old photographs and remembered Nick. Nick came to be a part of the household because my daughters wanted a dog. So we went to the local pet shop and brought a pup home. It was love at first sight. Named him Nicki but, soon, he became Nick. And, as he grew up and lost the cuddlieness, the girls began to spend less time with him. Nick became my dog and remained my dog until his death 14 years later. It was while taking Nick out for his walks that I started jogging to keep up with him, and that lead to my interest in distance running.

Nick could sense my mood. Never failed to show his joy when I came home after work. Watched my movements with his eyes; sat down next to me when I brooded. As the years went past Nick began to suffer from age-related ailments. Lost his energy. Arthritis restricted him from following me around. Then a time came when sitting up from a lying position became a struggle. I began to think of the day when I would have to face the inevitable. It was then that my work required me to make a long trip.

Talked to my daughters about not letting him suffer, and I took off for Yemen via London; Mumbai for a stay of three weeks; then, Kolkata, Madras, and Singapore before the flight across the Pacific to San Francisco. It was during my stay in Singapore that I received a call from my younger daughter. She said that Nick had to be put away. I knew it was the right thing to do. I expected the news. Yet the pain was almost physical. I went out for a run through downtown Singapore and I wept oblivious of the people on the streets. Usually I kept track of the turns I made on my runs in unfamiliar cities. Not that morning. Lost my bearing but kept on running. I thought of Nick and the good years that we shared; my way of paying tribute.

When I returned from the trip, the house felt different. Nick was not there. His absence left a void.

Recently, while reading James Salter's "Light Years", I came across this passage. And I thought of Nick.

He became intelligent, strong, he knew their voices. He was stoic, he was shrewd. In his dark eye one could see a phylum of creatures--horses, mice, cattle, deer. Frogboy, they called him. He lay on the floor with his legs stretched out behind. He watched them, his face resting on his paws.

*****

Man's Best Friend Nick Light Years James Salter

Spring - at long last, it feels like Spring

2011-04-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

Windy Hill on Easter Sunday * Edgewood Park

Temperatures still unseasonably cool at times but, nearing end of April, it is finally beginning to feel like Spring. Looking at the long-range forecast for the San Francisco Peninsula I see no mention of rains. Last week, hiking at Edgewood Park, saw a snake (not a rattler) alongside the trail, sunning; a clear sign of warm weather. End of hibernation for wild creatures.

Easter Sunday morning looked dismal -- gray and cold. But a group of us decided to stay with the plan to hike up Windy Hill in Portola Valley. Except for some muddy areas it was fine, and the sun came out in the afternoon.

Windy Hill in the mist, Easter Sunday 2011

Hikers negotiating a muddy stretch, Spring Ridge Trail

Looking down at Spring Ridge Trail

Stanford Campus from Spring Ridge Trail

Windy Hill, from Hamms Gulch Trail, Easter Sunday 2011

Pink Trilliums, Hamms Gulch Trail

Checker Mallows. Hamms Gulch Trail

Mountain Ceanothus - Hamms Gulch Trail

A bonus, on returning to the parking lot saw a fully restored red Austin Healey 3000, probably early 1960's model.

Edgewood Park

Tidy Tips and Owls Clover

Bush Lupines

Goldfields (Lasthenia glabrata)

Buttercups

Happiness

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell
     me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of
     thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though
     I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along
     the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with
     their women and children and a keg of beer and an accordion.

--- Carl Sandberg

Easter Sunday 2011 Windy Hill Edgewood Park Wild Flowers Austin Healey Carl Sandburg