Holiday Stress

The holidays can be frantic, stressful and too busy. Is it because we take on too much? Is it because we don't do enough planning? Is it because we cannot live up to an ideal?

Take a breath.

What is important during any holiday when people gather? Ego? Status? Showing off wealth?

It is appreciating the friends and family you have regardless of their faults. It is acknowledging your own faults and either accepting them or making a reasonable plan to deal with them.

The holidays are for taking a breath. Reflecting. Accepting. Planning. Doing.

Take a walk, either an actual lane or down memory lane, with your friends and family this winter season. Don't forget to breathe.

Interactivity Games Milk Shakes...they're better than yours

Do you want the best milk shakes in the city? Then head to Interactivity Board Game cafe. They make ice cream on site and the salted Caramel is awesome. Their Chai tea latte is delicious and different than anywhere in town.

Meat and Bread Restaurant

Meat and Bread is a limited menu eatery on Yates street in Victoria. They also have two locations in Vancouver. I had passed by this place a few times but was not hungry...until recently.

I tried the special, a chicken comfit with mashed pea spread and some fixings and washed it down with a local cider. It was all delicious and filling with plenty of space to sit down and relax. I'd come here again.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 10 Dec 2014

Old Cherokee Story

Reality and imagination flow in different directions in the brain: Interesting article on further hints at how our brains work. Could lead to innovative treatments and possibly a truth detecting machine.

Find your Birth Star: Many magnitudes more scientific than astrology, type your birth year, month and day to find the star whose light started shining on Earth the day you were born. From the Joint Astronolmy center on Hawai'i,

How to make Spice Blends:

Musonius Rufus, an Early Advocate for Philosophy: A comment on having an open mind to discuss ideas and move forward with others. I'm already there but it phrases it mush better than I could.

Reading Literature is Better for our Brains and Social Interaction: An older TIME magazine article but still well said on how reading fiction makes us better people and smarter too.

Prisms used to make Computers Faster: Staford has designed an algorithm to design an object with gaps of glass and air so that it can bend light in different angles and colours of light. The application for computing is extrordinary.

Jam Cafe

My wife has been to the Jam Cafe several times before and has waxed poetic about it. Therefore I was expecting a lot when I went there to share a breakfast experience there with her and her friend. There was a lineup outside that took half an hour to get through, as most breakfast places in Victoria have. The decor is "Canadian Pickers" vintage cool. I had the special, a Chorizo omelet, with goat cheese and flax cranberry toast. It was delicious. I'd go back here again.

Ian Fleming's James Bond Series

Ian Fleming's James Bond book series was one that I wanted to read since I picked up the complete collection, that was printed in the 60's, a decade ago at a used book store. The covers were in ok shape and the stories were not always great but there is something magical about the way Ian Fleming wrote. You believed that the lifestyle of spies was a life for hard men in stressful times. That Bond was the cold-blooded killer of bad people and when he faltered it was only for a moment of snide complaint about the inhuman industry that was the Cold War. It was black and white with a veil of grey.

The entire series is 14 books including two short story collections. Many of the novels have little to do with the films that were made with the same title. I finished the last book, a short story collection, and enjoyed the entire series experience. They are fantastic travel or vacation books for easy escapism. My favorite was the first one, Casino Royale.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 26 November 2014

Why do people sacrifice themselves for Strangers...using the Libyan Conflict as an example: An interesting article on how adverse conditions create powerful bonds between people and the sacrifices they will make to help someone on thier side. It also goes into the divide between those that fought and those that didn't because of a lack of a common shared experience.

Past Horizons Webpage: Very nice website on current discoveries and articles on past civilizations.

History Book List: From Reddit is an interesting list of history books of distinction. I need to pick up a few.

David Dunning AMA: Also from reddit, this fellow has wise and insightful views of how people rate thier expertise, and how people overinflate thier morality. Interesting stuff.

Space Junk: There is a lot of space junk. This image reminds me of a fantastic Japenese Manga and Anime called Planetes.

Science, Scientism, and Anti-Science in the Age of Preposterism: Article by Susan Haack. Very thoughtful words on how motivation and deliberate obfuscation can affect the quest for truth and its impact on how looking for truth is seen in society.

Different Hot Chocolate: I prefer Central American/European drinking chocolate and Mexican hot chocolate but here are many other kinds for the upcoming holiday season.

Sizzling Tandoor

We stopped by Sizzling Tandoor, this past Thanksgiving on the way back from the mainland, in Uptown centre because Noodle Box was closed. We were super impressed by the food.

The butter chicken, okra masala and naan bread were delicious and had a great range in depth of flavours.

We would go here again.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 12 November 2014

Kevin Scharp Philosophy Timeline: Excellently done and informative.

Fireworks picture looks like an Alien Invasion


Algae in Lakes causing Loss of Cognitive Functions: Bizarre and scary.

Five Ways to Lie with Charts: A great article on how others can deceive using various charts, depending on the viewpoint they want to present.

Google and Amazon want to Store your Genome...For Science: Very cool use of databases and reasearch to achieve benificial ends.

Desktop Movie Stills: Why not use classic cinematophric stills as your desktop background?

Calvin and Hobbes Dancing: Brings a smile to my face.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 05 November 2014

Good Travel Advice

Yasuke, the African Samurai: Yasuke, who was an African slave to Jesuit priest was named by the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga, who was astonished by his size and skin colour. He was considered for a post as a Daimyo but was instead granted status as a samurai. Full story at the link.

Ebola vs other Problems in Africa

Helium Filled Wind Turbines: What a great idea! Handy for disasters, remote areas and mountainous terrain. Made by MIT's Altaeros Energies.

Cool GIF of a CD in the Microwave. Don't try this at home.

Sweden is getting Power from other Countries Garbage: A concept that is happening in dribs and drabs around the world is being done in force in Sweden.

Free Digital Books...from the Vatican: Yup, they've digitized many volumes for free viewing online. Looks cool.

Macchiato Cafe and Panninoteca

Macchiato Cafe and Panninoteca is a great cafe and coffee house in downtown Victoria. At least I think the coffee is good because I had the Bernard Callebaut hot chocolate and it was delicious, especially on a rainy day. I also had the brie, pesto and tomato croissant and it too was delicious. A refreshing change from chain coffee places and cool decor too.

Give it a try for something excellent and different.

Vikings Exibit at the Royal BC Museum

The Royal BC Museum exhibit on Vikings was very impressive. I, my wife and a friend all enjoyed the comprehensive look at the peoples who through a similar culture and religion became known as vikings (even though it means to travel or go somewhere). Although I had a strong basic knowledge of this culture I still learned more and was pleased.

The exhibit leaves Victoria on the 12th of November 2014. Go or be left behind.

Vigil at the BC Legislature Memorial

A grassroots organized vigil across Canada's cenotaphs and memorials happened yesterday. This was to honour the sacrifice of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who died at the Ottawa tomb of the unknown soldier, and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who died near the Canadian Forces recruit school in St Jean Quebec.

There were people of all ages. People who are or did serve in the Canadian Forces and those who were not. There was a sense of why these men died and why they were targeted by mentally disturbed Canadian citizens. All who came wanted to do something to show they didn't like what happened and for the hope it never happens again.

What we and the officials that represent us do in the coming days ahead will shape us as a country for the future.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 22 Oct 2014

Life Exists in Space: Iso-Propyl Cyanide, a life giving molecule, has been found in a nebula nearby. Vinyl alcohol and ethyl formate have also been detected in space but this larger molecule gives more weight to the argument that life can exist outside of Earth.

WW1 Week by Week: An ambitious project with a an under 10 minute video for each week of WW1.

Cheap Hydrogen Fuel from Common Materiels and Sunlight: Using perovskite and common materials, EPFL laboratories have made a much cheaper solar cell.

Solar cell Coupled with a Battery: From Ohio state university, comes another solar stride forward in solar technology. Since the battery and solar panel are so tied to one another there is a lot less energy loss. A very novel way of using the sun, with titanium "grass".

Atlas Obscura: Very cool and quirky website of odd and interesting things and places.

Hybrid Solar Materiels using Inorganic and Organic Substances: This University of Cambridge development could mean that there may be a revolution in solar technology using the methods they have researched.

New Bone Grafting Methods extremely decrease Recovery Time:The use of PTCy combined with IV Bu/Flu myeloablative conditioning (no idea what these are but the effect is what is cool), reduces recovery time and reduces rejection of the graft.

Thanksgiving in Okanagan...with Moose

My wife and I went to the Okanagan to spend it with her parents. The drive up was pleasant and light on traffic. Probably because we both took Friday off of work.

We stopped in Hope and our old standby cafe was closed down so we drove around and discovered a super good place called Blue Moose Cafe. Their atmosphere is great and food is very delicious. Their Chai tea latte and rooibus drinks are also delicious but the rooibus is heavy on the honey. Gas was also quite cheap in Hope this weekend. The rest of the drive up was uneventful and with a quick stopoff at Quantum Games in Kelwona we arrived at my wife's parents place in record time.

Over the weekend we talked, watched movies, saw some friends, water-skied (not me as I just watched in the boat) and relaxed.
 

For Thanksgiving dinner Saturday we also had Moose that my father-in-law was involved with hunting it. I had only had moose a few times in my life and this was the best tasting one yet. It was a roast and was cooked perfectly with the meat being so tender we could have used butter knives to cut it. No horseradish needed for this moose!


The drive back was also uneventful and we made such good time that we made record time coming back.

Noodlebox Southeast Asian Noodle Bar

On Friday my wife and I got takeout from an old favorite, Noodlebox. They started with noodle cart in Victoria and have grown into a chain of seven in Victoria, four in Vancouver and two in Calgary. My wife and I have gotten food from them for about a decade.

You order what protein you want (tofu, chicken, beef, pork), your spiceyness level and what stirfry you want. There are lots of extras and I choose extra veggies normally. They also have lots of specials that change often. I normally order the spicey Thai peanut.

Very tasty and friendly staff makes for great filling food.

Postcard of the Interwebs - 01 Oct 2014

Scientists Increasing Efficiency of Plants: Rubisco, the protein that converts CO2 to sugars is very inefficient. Now scientists beleive that they can increase the efficiency and have crops that give more energy which will decrease the amount required by the body. This will greatly benifit third world counties.

40 Pictures of Abandoned Places: Very well taken pictures of old unused places.

On/Off switch for Aging: Vicki Lundblad, senior author of the paper from Salk Institute, has found out the mechanism for continuing regrowth of cells after long life. Generally the telomeres, which rebuilds the cells, deplete over time and the telemerase enzyme rebuilds it. Eventually the telemerase cannot keep up, the telemeres stop, the cells die off, parts of the body stop repairing and the body dies. Her team has discovered not only that turning off the telemerase until it needs to be used could keep the body healthy in old age but also stop the spread of cancer as cancer uses unfettered telemeres to reproduce quickly so the body cannot fight it off.

Do Stomach Bacteria Determine Appetite?: An interesting study that suggest that not only does our gut microbiome influence our immune system to demand certain foods but the opposite can occur by injesting other foods to make the microbiome have to change in order to digest the new food better.

A gif of a dog and a deer racing. Puts a smile on my face.

 

 Beef Cuts and what to do with them: Yum!

Fray Tormenta, the Real Life "Nacho Libre": Very inspiring story overcoming adversity in order to help others. The story is actually more interesting than the Jack Black movie.

 

 

 



Startide Rising and my Top Ten Sci-Fi Books

I've recently finished Startide Rising (spoilers in this link), by David Brin and consider it one of the great sci-fi novels. It also left me wanting more, which is fortunate that its the second book of a six book series, the Uplift Saga. I've already read the first of them.

I also recently finished the supurb The Martian (spoilers), by Andy Weir. I consider it the best sci-fi published in the last few years.

After finishing these books I wondered what would be on my top 10 Sci-fi book list. In no particular order they are:

Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
Player of Games by Ian M Banks (part of a universe of books he wrote, all great)
Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (all his books are great reads)
Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
Aristoi by Walter Jon Williams
Hyperion by Dan Simmonds (part of a duology)
Startide Rising by David Brin (second in a series)
Dune by Frank Herbert (part of a series but don't read the rest)
Reality Disfunction by Peter F. Hamilton (a massive six book series)

Any person wanting to get into sci-fi should probably read them in the order given above and branch off from there. Happy reading!

Thai Green Elephant Restauraunt

We tried out the Thai Green Elephant resterant earlier this week for supper. It took the place of the Great Wall Chinese resteraunt that was there for over 20 years.

We ordered Pad Thai with Shrimp, honey garlic ribs and mixed rice. It was not as good as some Thai places in town but it was decent and very close by. The staff were learning thier trade and there was spelling mistakes on the menu but each added to a hard to pin down charm. Everyone wants this place to work and I think they can. Very reasonable prices too.

Ribfest 2014

My wife and I missed ribfest last year but heard good things about it. Plus it benefits multiple charities for the donation entrance fee.

This year's Ribfest 2014 was an interesting experience but my eyes were bigger than my stomach. We ordered a platter for $24 and shared it but it was too big for both of us to finish! We should have ordered a half or quarter rack from each one and did a taste comparison. It would be more expensive, as the more you order the cheaper per amount of meat it gets, but would have been the better taste experience option. Ah well. Next year. The lemonade was delicious though.

Workplace Sports Day

I've been to many workplace sports days over the years and they are always a good opportunity to get out from behind a desk and the office to interact with everyone in a relaxed atmosphere. The healthy competition is always great too. This year it was held at a place i've been to a few times before, the Juan de Fuca Recreation centre.

I bike to and from work and exercise two to three times a week on top of this so I first participated in golf. I play once or so a year and use my wife's Grandmothers golf clubs. They're good and were used by her when she was a semi-pro back in the day, although the leather in the bag is starting to fall apart. I scored what I usually do, double par, and enjoyed myself.

Since there were other events going on, I brought my travel Bocce ball set purchased at Mountain Equipment Co-Op and got three other coworkers to play. It was great fun.

Then was the long line for burgers and hot dogs but they ran out of hot dogs by the time I got to the front, alas. The potato salad was good though and the burger was a burger. You never come out for the food at these events.

The last event was the inter-department tug of war which my department won.

All throughout the day I chatted with both new and old acquaintances and mostly everyone had a great time. Why not try something like this at your workplace!

Postcard of the Interwebs - 17 Sept 2014

Steam Power from the Sun: A new process, from MIT, converts 85% of the sun's energy into steam, made up of carbon foam with graphine flakes would be useful not only to generate power. Its also for generating clean water or making freash water from the salty kind. Its also cheap!

Giant Viruses may give new Insight into Life: The pandoravirus, a very large virus, has a much larger genome sequence and what makes it different may give clues into how varied life is.

Ancient Mayan City Rediscovered: Like the board game Tikal, there are still excellent archeological sites waiting to be discovered.

Quantum Vibrations in the Brain equate to Consciousness: Imagine if the cells structure can accept vibrations and it is these vibrations that are made by the brain to store information about what makes you...you. Now imagine if these vibrations can be changed to make the injured or bad parts of you better. This is the concept of Orchestrated Objective Reduction. This theory is highly critisised but a discovery of warm temperature microtubules in Japan had added credence to the theory.

Part of Brain for Excersisce Motivation Discovered: What if the area of the brain that makes you happy when you excersise or do activites could be stimulated? A great aid for depression is what this article surmises.

Best and Worst Times to have your Case Reviewed by a Judge: Spoilers...see them after they eat.

Wafer thin metal absorbs Sound to Generate Electricity: This drum shaped membrane flexes and moves as sound is absorbed. Lots of uses at concerts, airports or any facility that has lots of sound.

Pier Bistro Restaurant and Biking to Sydney

My wife and I recently biked from downtown Victoria to Sydney and for lunch stopped here at the Pier Bistro in Sydney.

We shared the seafood chowder, which was hearty and flavourful. I then had the crab cakes and mixed salad greens and my wife had the grilled Cajun halibut with homemade peach salsa. Both were excellently cooked and tasty!

San Francisco - Baseball

We decided to experience a bit of Americana and take in a baseball game while in the San Francisco area. So we went to the only game happening while we were there: the Oakland Athletics versus the Tampa Bay Manta Rays.

What struck me at first was the small size of the field and the humongous size of the stadium. They can cram a lot of people in here! The second thing is how expensive food is! I had flavoured popcorn, a Guinness, and two hot dogs...$29! The heat was also brutal although this was an afternoon game in August.

The Oakland Athletics lost. I had an experience that I feel no need to repeat. Perhaps those that watch baseball would get more out of it than I did.

This is my last post on San Francisco until the next time.

San Francisco - Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

My wife's sister, whom we were staying with in San Mateo, suggested to eat at the Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot restaurant in town. We were there during Tuesday's all you can eat night and it was delicious and a great experience!

We chose the meats, vegetables and pastas and chose the regular and spicy soup broths. Then we had to cook it in the broth; meats first, then vegetables, then noodles. They have several franchises including one nearby in Vancouver. We will try this again.

San Francisco - Comic Art Museum

The Comic Art Museum in San Francisco is a small but ultra cool museum of comic art.

Mike Zeck is  a comic book illustrator who started in 1974 and has worked on many tites over the years.

Marvel's Punisher

Marvel's Secret Wars. The iconic black Spider-Man symbiote outfit.

They also had an exibition from the research work done by Trina Robbins, called Pretty in Ink. She is a comic artist as well. The exibition was of women in comics throughout the ages.

One of the standouts is Nell Brinkley, a stylish artist who worked on comics for fourty years.

Her work is artful and moving. I'd love an original.

Another standout was Tarpe Mills and her Miss Fury comic. It was the first costumed female superhero! Very risque art for the 1940's.

Next was the 30th anniversary exibition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, by Eastman and Laird. That was fun reminising and I flipped through my TMNT graphic novels when I got home.

We were here on the first Tuesday of the month which is donation day. You basically pay what you feel is a suitable donation. Even the $8 regular charge would have been perfectly fine.

The gift shop is well stocked with comics and I picked up DC's Identiry Crisis. I read it over the next week and was super impressed.

San Francisco - Chinatown, Red Blossom Tea Company and the City View Restaurant

My wife and I went to San Francisco's Chinatown to show her around, as I have been here before. It has turned more touristy with multiple shops selling the same trinkets, pottery and t-shirts. Its the alleyways and corners of the area that I like the best, always hoping I come into an hidden area where "Big Trouble in Little China" is real.

We stopped in a tea store that was recommended to us, the Red Blossom Tea Company. It was very specialized and the staff really knew her stuff. If we were wealthier we would have gotten some premium tea but in Victoria we have two supurb local tea stores, Silk Road and Special T's, that it would have to be quite the unique and tasty tea. Instead we got some interesting and inexpensive tea.

We asked the lady where she would eat for dim sum and she directed us to the City View Restaurant. It was very tasty, fresh and not greasy. We'd eat here again.

San Francisco - Chez Pannise

My wife has eaten at Chez Panisse before, when wine touring with friends of ours. It is a French resteraunt with a California flair. It is nicely done up inside and is an experience in of itself. It opened in 1971 and offered a fixed menu, which changed each evening. In 1980, they opened the upsatairs cafe with an al a carte menu. They strive for freash and local when making thier menu. We dined there in the cafe for lunch.

To start I had the golden tomato bisque with creme fresh and anise hyssop.

My wife had the halibut tartar with marinated beets, chevril and citrus vinagrette.

Her main was Sonoma duck breast with pickled peaches, escarole, green beans and grilled potatoes.

My main was hand cut noodles with chanterelles, gremolata and pecorino cheese.

For dessert I had a bittersweet chocolate pave with caramel ice cream.

My wife had the creme fresh panna cotta with wood roasted black mission figs.

We would definitly eat here again...and again.

San Francisco - Cookin' Kitchen Store

Nestled just to the West of Haight is the Cookin' Kitchen Store.

Inside is a treasure trove of kitchen appliances and accoutrements all at decent used prices. Beware neat freaks and elitists, the owner is curt and has her own way of doing things. Be patient and you will be rewarded with a great experience.

My wife found a menu, for Pan America airlines in 1960, for their President's buffet meals on board their Asian flights...all inspired by Maxim's of Paris. A cool find. She intends on having it framed with clear glass on each side so the art or the menu can be displayed. We just wish we had more room for other items for the kitchen.

San Francisco - Haight District

Haight street in San Francisco has the distinction of being the centerpoint of hippy culture in the 1960's.

With the beat generation (1950's) going to North Beach the lower rent area of Haight, because of a proposed freeway, attracted the people that would become the centre of the "Summer of Love". Lots of influential rock bands started here.

After the decline of the hippie movement it became a hard drug and crime ridden area from 1968 to the early 70's. It then became the proving grounds for famous comedians then for the punk and dance music scene.

Currently it is a mix of all the above things and is great fun to walk around. For those who like used clothes shopping, there are vintage stores of many eras and stores that sell clothes of fictional vintages, like steampunk. Amoeba records is a premiere place to find music, movies and memorabilia. Here is an article from SFGATE on the Haight area and suggestions.

San Francisco - Street Views

On the streets of San Francisco were great examples of architecture. Take a gander!

San Francisco - Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden, nestled in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, is a delightful oasis in a busy city.

What I noticed were the multiple hues of green that were present.

The water was only disturbed when the large koi fish broke the surface. Even though there was a lot of people in the park, everyone quieted down and enjoyed the surroundings.

I really like the woodwork under this archway.

We would have gone to the tea house, which was priced very reasonably, but we had other places to go.