Toward an Interactive Urban Environment

2010-05-23T21:54:00.001-07:00

Father Greg Boyle was on Fresh Air with Terry Gross recently. You can check out the interview here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127010471

Tofu and Pho Vinam

2009-12-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

There is this Vietnamese place called Pho Vinam on University Ave (in Riverside) that recently came out with this tofu dish that I have found myself eating about once a week over the past month.

I am a bit picky about how I like my tofu. I often experience tofu dishes to be rather bland in texture (even though it may have absorbed the surrounding flavors). I suppose this might make more sense if I had specific samples to feed you with. Anyway, this tofu dish makes the short list of best tofu dishes I have ever had. It is very flavorful, the vegetables go well with it... and really I have no further analysis other than to quote a friend of mine, "this dish is good enough for meat eaters".

Also, the best tofu I have ever had in my entire life is the tofu in their vegetable pho.

2009-12-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

I saw this lady in a pretty skirt walking passed Pershing Square the other day.

2009-12-24T13:57:00.000-08:00

My coworker brought everybody a pumpkin cheesecake. I returned the knife and said thank you.

Color by Compound

2009-09-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

A co-worker's abstract creations on litmus paper.

2009-09-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

My favorite thing to eat on Main St:

Chimichurri steak and salad at The Nickel.

2009-09-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

What is better than a dog eating your homework? Being attacked by ninjas and bleeding on your homework en route to turning it in.

Recycling?

2009-09-06T15:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Residents of The Historic Core,

On the corner of Spring and 4th St.

What do you do to recycle cans, plastic bottles, etc? I notice people often leave their recyclables next to a public trash can. Are there people that actually come by to pick up the recyclables? Or do they just get thrown out with the regular trash?

-Urban Memo

Visit from an Old Friend

2009-09-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

2009-09-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated this thing since May!?!?

Pfff time flies. I guess I have been spending my procrastination time on Facebook. Alrighty I'm back for a little bit.

Stella does a Coat Fitting

2009-05-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

I love her designs.

I was at a local clinic yesterday and I overheard the following

2009-04-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

"I ate a burger from McDonalds for lunch yesterday. A Mexican made my food and I think I might have the swine flu."

-A white girl in tears

There is this feel in the air about Mexicans as carriers of disease that is making me feel a little paranoid.

Incomplete Butterfly

2009-04-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

2009-03-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

Internet Meme I

2009-03-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

If...

IF you saw me in a police car, what would you think I got arrested for? Answer here, then post to your own blog if you want and see how many crimes you get accused of.

Sita Sings the Blues

2009-03-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful movies I have seen. Watch it here for free.

Here is the wikipedia entry.

Art Creates Life

2009-03-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

The American Hotel

2009-03-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

What advantages are there in riding a bike like this?

Andre on Andre on Main St

2009-03-26T00:34:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago...

2009-03-17T00:26:00.000-07:00

On the way to the Pantages via the red line to see RENT:

Court, DMV, and Grassy Fields

2009-03-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

I had to go to court the other day in Moreno Valley to take care of a speeding ticket. The court was in a strip mall/office park. I have never seen the likes and it felt like beurocratic hell having to stand in this massive line in the rain. wonder what court houses will look like a few decades from now. Perhaps they will in Walmart were we can shop while we wait to be dealt with.

The next day I went to the DMV and saw this guy wearing the best shirt ever. Afterwards, I was so happy to have been done with all of this madness that I went to go frolick around in some grassy fields by the box spring mountains in Riverside.

Stella on bike

2009-03-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

Pho!

2009-03-10T17:08:00.000-07:00

I ate some of the best tofu pho I have ever had in my whole entire life. It was at this vietnamese place (I forgot the name) at the University Village by UCR.

2009-03-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

The view outside my window at work:

Somebody I see around the historic core a lot

2009-03-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

Gargoyle Josh

2009-03-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

I'm watching the person who is watching students take their organic chemistry exams.

2009-03-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

I have always been too shy of taking photos of people in public spaces for the simple reason of wanting to minimize the odds of getting my ass kicked.

I have recently figured out that I can be stealthy in my photo taking when I use my iphone. It just looks as though I am doing something with it instead of stealing people's souls.

2009-03-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

I was walking by the Silverlake Junction when I saw this woman sitting down with her dogs. I asked if I could take a photo and she said yes.

Stella on Main

2009-02-28T15:46:00.000-08:00

Stella Dottir.

5th St.

2009-02-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

Across the street from Bert Green Fine Art.

The Wedding of Stariel Dahlmons

2009-02-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

I recently went to one of the most amazing weddings I have ever been to. It was a weekend of exploring the city (Palm Springs), good conversation, tacos, and a celebration of Stacie and Levi's relationship.

Levi (left) and Stacie (right).

The wedding guests took over this small mid-century modern resort. Friday night was the wedding rehearsal dinner. Saturday people enjoyed all corners and heights of the city, whether it was hiking the local trails or frolicking in the snow up at the San Jacinto mountains. Saturday night we were fed tacos from a taco truck and lounged around the pool area. Shortly after we went to this bar called Oasis(?) where the manager gave the bride a phallic straw as a gift (photo not shown).

Sunday morning hung over guests showed up to an 8 am catered breakfast. The exchange of nuptials happened shortly after by our old classmate Marco.

The happy couple recently moved to Seoul, Korea.

2009-02-02T04:48:00.000-08:00

Mural of Pope John Paul in MacArthur Park

I haven't seen any imagery of the new Pope around the town.

Uploaded - 12\16\08

2008-12-16T16:16:00.001-08:00

From the third floor of the science library.

2008-10-27T01:21:00.000-07:00

I saw this guy walking by the chemistry dept. the other day. Reminds me of this one blog post on tattoos with chemistry themes I came across a while back.

How much is that doggy on the window?

2008-10-24T01:08:00.000-07:00

Wonton, chill'n.

I checked out the new neighborhood art supply store, Raw Materials on Main St. the other day. Their prices are much cheaper than you would assume from a small business. Go check them out.

2008-10-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

I saw this guy walking past the Science Library the other day.

2008-10-15T01:22:00.000-07:00

I walked around Mac Arthur Park the other day (the neighborhood, not the park). Here are some photos.

The longest column ever

2008-10-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

An analytical lab on the floor below me was showing me their long ass column that they use to separate heparin. Most columns I have seen (and use) are about a foot long. Nevermind ten feet.

Me: How do you guys wash this when you are done?
Some dude: Very carefully.

Collards

2008-10-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

I am really into eating collard greens these days. I read somewhere that early humans used to eat a lot of raw collard greens. I do not know where I came across that, so do not quote me on that. I like to eat them raw, and I like to eat them lightly boiled and then sauteed with salt, garlic and black pepper. I have been told that my collard greens come out too bitter to be edible. I love the taste that way.

Collard greens. Good for the immune system.

2008-10-09T00:56:00.001-07:00

Valerie is back from France. Actually, she's been back for the past two months. I just haven't updated this damn thing in a while.

Salamanca

2008-08-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Salamanca of the recent past:

Salamanca of the present:

La Puente Romana II

2008-08-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Salamanca of the extreme past and present: A 1st or 2nd century bridge. A 12th century cathedral. And 21st century commentary.

La Puente Romana I

2008-08-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

A 1st or 2nd century bridge in the 21st century. Salamanca of the extreme past and present.

Next: La Puenta Romana II

Los Gatos Salamantinos del Rio Tormes

2008-08-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

Along the River are a community of cats that live in the abandoned church, the abandoned mill next to the abandoned church, and the abandoned horse stable next to the mill. They are all either black and white, or black. I think they are all related.

Whenever this would would walk away from its spot, it would always come back. It was very territorial about this spot. As if I was going to sit there and never ever move from that spot ever.

Whenever I would try to pet that Territorial Cat, it would walk over to this other spot, where it would hang out there for a while until I got too close and it would go back to its original spot. We played this game of I-want-to-pet-you-no-fuck-off-arrogant-human-and-your-silly-feelings-of-entitlement-to-pet-us for a good 45 minutes.

Here is this solitary siamese cat with intense blue eyes, as if they were lasers, that I saw hanging out by the abandoned mill. The cat was quietly watching the river flow when it heard my foot steps to look at me.

I don't know what relationship it has with the other cats. Two rival gangs sharing the same turf? Estranged relatives? Distant cousins?

These two guys passed by and gave the cat a sandwich. The very relaxed cat became very excited and interested in the food.

The cat was uncomfortable with me watching it trying to eat its food, so I let it be.

La Iglesia Abandonada

2008-08-22T23:41:00.000-07:00

Along el Rio Tormes, nearby the abandoned mill is this abandoned church with a forrest of dead yet lively trees.

Also, blogging it Bert Green Style.... city of the present and future:

Next: Los gatos Salamantinos del rio Tormes.

El Molino Abandonado

2008-08-22T17:27:00.000-07:00

The river passes between those two buildings. I suppose that is where the actual mill is. If you look closely in the picture, you can see a cat by the wall. More on that cat, and other cats later.

Next: La iglesia abandonada.

Introducing Salamanca, el puente Romana y el rio Tormes

2008-08-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

My (maternal) grandparents were from Salamanca. They left to Mexico before the Spanish Civil War and settled in Sonora, Mexico (where my Mother and all of her siblings are from). My grandparents died long before I was born, so I never got to meet them. They have been a great source of mystery my whole entire life. I spent the majority of my time in Spain here. I had some unresolved business to take care of.

Salamanca is a city located in the western part of Spain, sharing part of the border with Portugal. Here is a copy and paste of Wikipedia's paragraph on Salamanca's history:

The city was founded in the pre-Ancient Rome period by the Vacceos, a Celtic tribe, as one of a pair of forts to defend their territory near the Duero river. In the third century BC, Hannibal laid siege to the city. With the fall of the Carthaginians to the Romans, the city began to take more importance as a commercial hub. At this time it was called Helmantica or Salmantica.

Salamanca surrendered to the Moors in the year 712AD. The defensive city wall was strengthened, with the Mozarab population being relegated outside of it. It was, however, a time of constant fighting with the Astur-Leonese kingdoms, and the city was trapped on the line between Christian North and Muslim South, with the city becoming a no-man's land between the two sides. It was reconquered from the Moors in the twelfth century by Ramón de Borgoa, son-in-law of Alfonso VI of Castile.

One of the most important moments in Salamanca's history was the year 1218, when Alfonso IX created the University of Salamanca. Soon it became one of the most significant and prestigious academic centres in Europe.

In the Peninsular War of the Napoleonic campaigns, the Battle of Salamanca, fought July 22, 1812, was a serious setback for the French, and a mighty setback for Salamanca, whose western quarter was seriously damaged. The battle which raged that day is famous as a defining moment in military history; many thousands of men were slaughtered by cannon fire in the space of only a few short hours.

Salamanca has this bridge that was built by the Romans that crosses over El Rio Tormes.

But before there were Romans there were Visigoths that were obsessed with doing sculptures of wild bohrs. These original and super old sculptures are found scattered around the city.

When crossing the Roman bridge one often finds families hanging out, picnicking, and sometimes fishing (the river is hiding behind the tree leaves of this photo).

More about Salamanca and what is along El Rio Tormes soon to come.

Hola de Espana...

2008-08-17T03:41:00.001-07:00

...where all the women are well dressed, all the men have serious staring problems and everybody speaks with a lisp.

I have been here for two weeks. One more week to go. I have been to Madrid (1 week), Toledo (a day trip from Madrid) and Salamanca (1 week). Tuesday's stop is Barcelona until I go home.

Hey Long Time No Post

2008-07-20T22:40:00.001-07:00

So.. what have I been up to over the past month or two?

Various stuff. Trying to make bent allenes with various substituents to study their respective stabilities. Hillel stuff. Taking picture of stuff. Some roaming around. Riding my bike to and from my Riverside residence to school/work. Quite busy really.

I was at Banquette not too long ago when I was sitting next to these two friendly chaps. They were talking about Chicano art so of course I butted in their conversation.

The guy on the left is from Highland Park, and the guy on the right is a tortilla conspiracy theorist from San Francisco. I hope to interrupt their conversations again. They were cool.

**

I ate some of the best green beans recently at Boba Cafe on University Ave. The fried tofu is terrible though. Its too greasy and awkwardly spiced.

**

I went to the Getty the other day. I haven't been there in ages and the weather was just perfect. Not too hot. Not too cold.

There was a lot of people laying around on the grass relaxing and enjoying their surroundings. It almost felt like a utopia of some sort with all the beautiful vegetation and happy people.

The most violent thing I saw was a little boy hitting his older brother with a cardboard tube.

**

Anyway. So I have been working long ass hours, and have lost my blogging momentum. So I think I'll get back at it again.

My neighbor is doing the following event:

2008-07-10T01:08:00.000-07:00

w i l l i a m f l e m i n g

e s t a t e s a l e s p r e s e n t s

509 N. Alpine Drive
B E V E R L Y H I L L S
with
E S S E N C E O F F R A N C E

The formal estate sale is now over, but we still have some wonderful items to be liquidated at bargain prices this weekend. We invite you to visit us at this lovely home right in the heart of Beverly Hills. The remaining contents of this home, as well as inventory from our former Pasadena shop, Essence of France, must be sold.

Please stop by this weekend to view the fabulous vintage French style furniture items from the 1950's and 1960's throughout the home, interspersed with rare antiques and fine art from Essence of France. Everything must go!

Some of the remaining items for sale, including the vintage Robert Coburn Hollywood photos and the Clark Gable photo collection are shown on our website:

www.loftydeals.com/estate/estatesale.html

You may call for an appointment or just stop by 509 N. Alpine Drive in Beverly Hills on Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13, from 10:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Bill Fleming
Former Proprietor of Essence of France in Pasadena and Jazz on La Brea
Phone: 213 453 1306

2008-06-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

Grilled artichoke from Kate Mantilini's

2008-06-19T00:38:00.000-07:00

Harlem Alley.

Fluffy Gray Fur

2008-06-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

La Paletera

2008-06-17T05:40:00.000-07:00

The Destroyer

2008-06-17T00:46:00.000-07:00

What I've Been Eating Lately

2008-06-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Some apple pastry from Banquette.

Watching the Watcher

2008-06-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

The Hallway underneath a parking lot between Spring St and Broadway.

Bourns Hall -UCR's Engineering Building

2008-06-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

People and Their Shirts III

2008-06-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

Spotted exiting the engineering building.

People and Their Shirts II

2008-06-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

2008-06-11T20:33:00.001-07:00

I don't remember where exactly I saw these the other day, but they were around the Beverly Blvd and La Brea area. Anybody know if they are legitimate Banksys?

2008-06-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

Vote for Don Garza for Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Director.

2008-06-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

I am very behind in uploading my photos.

Been extremely busy.

Bye.

Barbed Wire and Pink Flowers

2008-05-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

2008-05-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

Some random shots of downtown Riverside.

Bouquet at Banquette IX

2008-05-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

This was over a month ago.

Chemical Sciences, UCR

2008-05-27T03:53:00.000-07:00

2008-05-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

Found at The American Hotel.

Pink Series & People and Their Shirts I

2008-05-24T03:32:00.000-07:00

I was riding my bike down University Ave and I passed by this guy. I asked him if I can take a picture of him and he said yes. That is a real fig leaf.

Joe's Guns

2008-05-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

On the patio of Old Bank DVD.

2008-05-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

My neighbor Judith has three yorkshire terriers. I have taken care of them every now and then when she is out of town. I usually just keep them at my place because my cats generally get along with them. Well, C-FU will hang out with them. Where as Cassie and Hermes will watch them from a distance and hide until they get used to them. Give them more time and I am almost sure they can be one big cat'n dog happy family.

Recently, the yorkshire terriers had their hair cut, and my cats have been more responsive to them. Particularly Hermes, who has never tried to initiate contact wit them before. Here he is trying to carefully sniff Nicky's butt.

2008-05-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

Found on Traction Ave.

It is supposed to be 90 F yesterday.

2008-05-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

I was walking out of the Rite Aid on Broadway and 5th yesterday and I saw some melted pink icream on the sidewalk.

What I've Been Eating Recently XVI

2008-05-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

Strawberries at Banquette.

Where do I go to... buy a bike.

2008-05-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

I.
Bought.
a.
BIKE!!!

A warm thank you to Neighbor Joe for telling me about Chubby's Cruisers. I found a bicycle that was right for me. I got a "hybrid", that is, it is a hybrid between a mountain bike and a cruiser.

The owner, Nicole, on my new bike.

My bike, with a basket.

More bikes. I just bought one though.

I asked the owner how she got into selling bikes. She said that she started off fixing and selling bikes from her backyard and then decided to open up a store.

Nice staff. Nice owner. Good selection of bikes. Any bike that you buy from them they will do check ups and fix anything that needs to be fixed as long as you have the bike. There are certain limitations to that though. They won't fix your bike if you intentionally break it, or something like that. Anyway, its a great place to get a bike. I highly recommend them.

Chubby's Cruisers
2047 La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310.202.0005

My friend Andre

2008-05-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Organic Chemistry Lab

2008-05-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

My students. Trying to convert an alcohol into an ester.

Patriotic Flag Waving Riverside

2008-05-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

2008-05-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

I spy outside my window...Neighbor Joe, sans gym bag and The Rubster. Will I catch him picking is nose? Is he wearing a white tank top underneath?

2008-05-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

Murals by Chase in Venice Beach. Same building. Different wall.

2008-05-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

I did not know about this event. Had I known, I would have publicized it.

Found on the front door of Bloom's general store.

Police Bicycles

2008-05-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

On Central Ave in Little Tokyo.

Yellow Mona Lisa

2008-05-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

The other day I was walking around the Arts district and saw this dude painting an image of the Mona Lisa on a wall that I have never noticed before:

I asked him if I could take his picture. He looked up and said "yes". I didn't catch his name. Beyond that I didn't want to disrupt his momentum.

Chair

2008-05-05T23:55:00.000-07:00

I was standing by the stairwell of the building where I work the other day while chatting on the phone. I noticed this mysterious solitary chair in the middle of the lawn.

I mean, who would put this chairin the middle of the lawn and just leave it?

Santa Cruz Inn

2008-05-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

Where do I go to.... stay in Riverside if I want to stay in a hotel?

Why, the Santa Cruz Inn on Market Ave! Thats Where! The Press Enterprise, Riverside's local news paper recently wrote a rather over the top description of the place, which you can read about here.

That article made the place sound way more shady than it really is. I stayed there for several weeks (until I found a place), and during that time, I have never come across any customers roaming around with feces on their clothing, or soiled chonies laying around. The only thing I saw that shocked my sensibilities was one guy who wandered in angerly ranting to the universe where he can "find his bitches". Oh, and the occasional smell of pot. And the occasional yelling outside of my window, but that can generally (but not always) be attributed to crazy Riverside, not crazy Santa Cruzz Inn. Other than that, I had an OK stay at that hotel and the on site managers were really nice and responsible. I even asked the cleaning services people if they have ever seen any ghosts roaming around the old hotel and they said "no" in a way that was dismissive of my alleged pre-modern world view. (But really, I don't believe or disbelieve in ghosts... I just love hearing ghost stories).

Portishead was in Downtown LA and Nobody Told Me About It

2008-04-27T01:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite genres of music is 1990's music from Bristol, England. I am talking about Tricky, Massive Attack, and Portishead (often referred to as "trip hop", but some people do not think it should be called that for reasons that are not clear to me.) After not being active for nearly a decade, I have heard that Portishead is making a come back and is working on a new album. I haven't kept tabs on their activity, but I was skeptical yet hopeful... and then I noticed this post on LAist!! Excerpt:

With the Mayan Theater about half-full and slowly being filled with puffs of pot smoke, Portishead took the stage last night for their super-secret-show, and welcomed the crowd by announcing that it was a rehearsal for Coachella, and that this whole event is just so they can test their instruments.

The crowd was immediately awestruck, as the band started off with two new songs from their album Third, even the security guards.

To think..
Portishead..
was only... a more few blocks away from where I live..
putting on a secret show...
that I did not know about...
(but if I did, I would have dropped everything for two hours and have gone!)

!!Oh the mixture of excitement and dissapointment!!

I will end this post with links to Portishead on you tube:

Portishead, performing "Only You"

The video to "All Mine"

(And a live performance of "All Mine", which has been disabled for embedding.)

People who do not recognize Portishead may have heard their song "Sour Times" via cultural osmosis (of various contexts):

2008-04-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

I was walking home from the gym the other day and decided to walk through Pershing Square. I saw some handsome chaps being photographed by their friend and I decided to take photographs as well.

We talked a little, I then grew self conscious of my post-work out stankyness, and carried on home.

2008-04-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

Ricky the Pirate. At The Reagent Gallery about a month ago. I didn't catch the artist's name.

What I've Been Eating Recently

2008-04-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

When I first started blogging about what I eat, I envisioned documenting eating what I eat at home as well. After looking through all of my "What I've Been Eating Recently" entries, I noticed that I mostly document what I've been eating out.

The Significant Other (TSA) made omelettes with shitake mushrooms and cotswald cheese the other day. Its one of my favorite kind of omelettes to eat. Those are chives sprinkled on top.

I need a Bike

2008-04-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

I want a cruiser bicycle with gears.

I am having a very hard time finding one.

I have gone to about a dozen stores over the past two weeks in Riverside and all over Los Angeles looking for a damn bicycle. I have come close to finding what I wanted a few times but... *sigh* I need a fuck'n bike. I do not have the time to schlep all over southern california for a pinche bike.

I am open to other bikes. Really, I just want a bike that will give me a comfortable ride. I want a big cushy seat. I want to be able to put my hands on the bars without giving my wrists carpel tunnel syndrome. I want gears on my bike because I will be riding it on hilly terrain. I don't want to be hunched over, I prefer to sit upright.

I am not asking for too much in a bike, am I?

Any advice?

Know of any great places where I can get a great bike?

Serious and Personal Update

2008-04-14T19:36:00.001-07:00

Hello.

I've been living out if a suitcase in a chemistry lab or in a pretty and cheap hotel in downtown Riverside for the past three weeks.

It feels like a month.

Alright here is the thing... I am working on a Ph.D in chemistry at UCR. This consists of teaching, preparing for lectures, gradings, attending seminars, meetings, classes, designing experiments, doing them, figuring out what went wrong, adjusting, etc. I love the work, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it.

Very long story short, I need to be closer to UCR.

I'll be in Riverside most of the time, and in the historic core a few days of the week.

Yes I will live in both places.

Ever since I was an embryo, I have been riding in public transport. All my life, I have either walked, subwayed, or bused to work/school. Where ever you have to go as a pedestrian in LA, it often takes an hour. When I lived in a different part of downtown several years ago, it took me an hour to get to work on the Eastside via public transport, where as it would have been a 5-10 minute drive. When I lived in Hollywood to get to the same place on the Eastside, it would take me 65 minutes via public transport, even though it was a 20-25 minute driving distance. So I am used to spending an hour of my time to get from point A to point B where ever I had to go.

Then I decided to go to UCR, got my very first car to be able to do it (a used red honda civic) ....

Turns out, that it would only take about an hour to drive to UCR via downtown LA, as long as I go against rush hour traffic. -Which is precisely the case in the mornings when I go, and the late afternoons/evenings when I come back.

Don't even suggest taking the train because the whole commute (getting to union station + traveling on the train + getting to UCR and vice versa) would take about 2-2.5 hours each way AND the schedules are extremely inflexible.

I miss my pedestrian ways. I would prefer to be within a five minute walk/bike ride from my lab. I am on a 1.5 year waiting list for such housing.

In the meantime, I found a cheap room in a big house filled with science nerds I haven't met yet. Its not a sure thing yet, my application is still being processed. It is biking/driving distance. But it will do for now.

I have a lot of things to blog about.

Regular blogging shall now resume.

2008-04-07T21:34:00.000-07:00

not enough time to blog, so much to blog about.

working.
hard.
and harder.

will come back soon but not too soon.

Grading Organic Chemistry Exams

2008-03-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

Various creative answers students wrote on their final exams for the second quarter of organic chemistry:

Things to do

2008-03-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

*Today: Worked from home. Hung out at Banquette. Had a lovely conversation with Neighbor Joe.

*Tomorrow: Massive to-do list to get through. Deal with a multitude of disappointed organic chemistry students as I hand them back their final exams. Meetings. Appointments. Writing. Writer's block. Purim shpiel at the Los Angeles Theatre. Eat small pastries the shape of a genocidal antagonist's hat.

*Friday: Work from home. Write write write for that damn-thing-that-is-due-on-Monday.

*Weekend: Family obligations. Writing. Writer's block.

*Monday: Stop writing. Meet 5 pm deadline. Regular blogging resumes. Possibly sooner depending on how strong my desire to procrastinate and how severe my writer's block is. Both are directly proportional.

*Tuesday: What spring break? Get to work, lab monkey!

2008-03-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

This mural is on a parking lot wall somewhere around Broadway and 2nd.

Clitones

2008-03-04T18:28:00.000-08:00

Language is a social construct. And as something that is constantly evolving and invented by humans, every now and then, you may find yourself taking part in history by being in a conversation where a word has been invented that may one day be a part of mainstream lexicon.

The other day, I was hanging out with a local blogger (who can comment to take credit) who used the Spanglish word "clitones". I have never heard of that Spanglish word before, therefore I will make the unsound assumption that its never been used before. Besides, the local blogger who used it made it up on the spot.

Clitones. Pronounced klee-ton-es, with some softness on the o and on the last e. Not pronounced like "tone", as in "the tone of this post is silly", but "clitones" like the word every Angeleno should have come across, or... will eventually, "cabrones".

Context in which it can be used: "Don't fall off that scooter wearing that short skirt, other wise you'll show everybody your clitones".

2008-03-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Bouquette at Banquette VIII

2008-03-02T21:06:00.000-08:00

Is that a carnivorous plant? (First two photos.)

2008-02-29T08:57:00.000-08:00

Timothy Williams.

Now showing at the Continental Gallery.

More info here.

2008-02-26T06:59:00.000-08:00

STUDENT: Is this what my product is supposed to look like?

ME: *takes a look* No. How much sodium carbonate did you add?

STUDENT: A few dr-

ME: OOOOH! Pretty! I love sparkly nail polish with stars on it.

STUDENT: You are the most random teacher I have ever had.

ME: I get distracted by shiny objects. Add a few more drops.