Shoe Tree

Shoe Tree, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

This is what I saw once I turned over on my back. Catching my breath for a while, you understand. Eventually, I got up, assessed the damage. The bike's front wheel had a ding, the rear derailleur was a little screwed up (2nd gear was 1st, 1st was between the big cog and the spokes) and the handlebars were about 10 degrees out of plumb. The bike had been knocked cockeyed.

Me too! Pretty thoroughly bruised, but still. I was glad to be able to walk, and eventually ride away from there.

I finished my errands, got a haircut, and took my bike to Bay Area Bikes. They'll fix it up nice, $100. Could have been worse all around.

Today, two days out, I'm still looking forward to my next ibuprophen, but I'm able to get around. Capable of pretty much everything, except (as Mary pointed out) housework.

Bricks at City Center Plaza

Bricks at City Center Plaza, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Just as I was forming the thought:

"Gee, that bag is swinging pretty close to the front wheel; I'd hate for it to get hung..."

...the bag got hung up in the front wheel, jamming it. The bike stopped, I went over the handlebars and hit the paving bricks.

These are not soft bricks. Knocked the wind out of me for a bit.

The GAP, Oakland City Center

The GAP, Oakland City Center, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

On Thursday after Christmas, I went to the Gap to redeem my gift card. Thanks, Ramona & Jack! Got some groovy jeans and six pair of socks. They came in a green bag with a GAP logo & drawstrings. I took the bag and hung it from my handlebars and rode off.

Ceci n'est pas un pâté en croûte de noix de pécan

Ceci n'est pas un pecan pie, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

It's a chess pie. Obviously.

Apple cranberry crisp

Apple cranberry crisp, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

...from the bottom. Mary & Cathy baked up a storm here on Xmas Eve.

Star

Star, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

cardboard & acryllic. State #1

Tom's casette player control labels

Tom's casette player control labels, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Tom's an engineer. So he doesn't understand that the reason he can't read the labels on his casette player is that they were designed by an engineer. I made him these labels so that he can see what the buttons do.

Night of the Tree

Night of the Tree, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Social Security Administration Oakland

Social Security Administration Oakland, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Social Security Administration Oakland
"Masterfile"

Social Security Administration Oakland

Social Security Administration Oakland, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Social Security Administration Oakland
"Masterfile"

Social Security Administration Oakland

Social Security Administration Oakland, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Social Security Administration Oakland
"Masterfile"

AC Transit Driver

AC Transit Driver, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

On the rockin' 88 line.

I was pointing my camera, setting my white balance for a series of photos of the Social Security Administration building on 11th St in Oakland when this guy pulls up in his bus and poses for me.

Is that a punim?

Yawning Cat

Yawning Cat, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Ray's intelligent look.

Bottled Curry Powder

Bottled Curry Powder, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

29 bottles. I was shooting for 30. Pretty good stuff!

Curry Prep

Curry Prep, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Heated spices in pan; turmeric & ground corriander in bowl.

Curry Powder in Pan (heated portion)

Curry Powder in Pan, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Cumin, cardamom, rai seed, white peppercorns, fenugreek seeds, powdered chiles, star anise, cinnamon, fennel seeds, red lentils

Excessive Packaging

Excessive Packaging, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

For a couple laptop computers.

Cathy's Fastpass

Cathy's Fastpass, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Thanks! I'm going to town right now! Hope things are going moderately well in Bismarck (the Riviera of the Northern Steppes)

Shelved

Shelved, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Masterfile Central, where the recons wait. Maybe they'd let me go in there, see if I could get a few of those cases off the shelf. I mean, how high could that shelf be? I could bring a step ladder, if that would help.

Pixie-Bean

Pixie-Bean, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Dagmar & Silka's new stray. What a cutie!

Roonie

Roonie, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

That leash isn't fooling him. We're not gonna leave for at least 45 minutes, and he knows it.

Cats in 'T' Formation

Cats in 'T' Formation, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Now it's off to Silka's for the football game. Hi, Cathy

Before the Xmas parade

Watch the video

Some of the most professional and affectless parade costumes I have ever laid eyes on.

His License Plate

His License Plate, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

This is his license plate.

Oakland Cop

Oakland Cop, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

This is the car of the Oakland cop who followed my bike up onto the sidewalk today. Assault, but not battery. There was a big dumb parade happening on Broadway, everybody was a little bit on edge. Legba's been pissed all day long.

New Chainguard

New Chainguard, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Made of a discarded plastic pet-watering system; 3 pop-rivets.

The old one was becoming problematic.

Jot

Jot, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

At the International Cafe Hootenanny Night, Nov 11, 2006. We were there to hear Gayle's group, Gayle Lynne & the Hired Hands.

Check Jot out here.

Paul

Paul, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

At the International Cafe Hootenanny Night, Nov 11, 2006. We were there to hear (Paul's sister's) Gayle's group, Gayle Lynne & the Hired Hands.

Mary & Bruce

Mary & Bruce, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Old-style metal type from a letterpress. Don't be scale-fooled by tiny corn. Type is ~60pt.

Sourdough Toast

Sourdough Toast, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Bread baked by Bob Ness. It's stand-right-up-and-slap-your-momma good.

General Douglas "Dugout Doug" MacArthur rose from the grave to declaim:

"Somebody give His Holy Modal Bobness one of them Genius Grants, already!"

Cal Benefits Training

Cal Benefits Training, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

I laughed, I cried, I took a lot of notes.

Altar

Altar, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

R.I.P. Miriam

cupcakes

cupcakes, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Cathy brought these to our pre-theater party last night. Delicious.
Tara & Dave came too.

Grafitti

Grafitti, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Market & Fell Street, San Francisco.
Somebody obviously went to a lot of trouble -- get over the fence, rig up some kind of spraycan-on-a-stick apparatus, avoid detection -- to write "HCM". I guess that means something to somebody. Oh well.

"What happened to peace on earth?"

Watch the video

Medea Benjamin (of CODEPINK) interviews Willie Nelson on the war in Iraq, and voting the bastards out.

Give Peace a Vote!

 

HAP's Talent--review copy

Watch the video

HAPs Talent is providing direct client services to San Francisco's neediest.? And squashing cockroaches.

RiffRiders at McGrath's, Oct 14, 2006. "I'll See You in My Dreams," by Gus Kahn

Watch the video

Some cowboy jazzgrass at an intimate wateringhole in Alameda, CA.

http://www.riffriders.com/

http://www.mcgrathspub.com/

RiffRiders at McGrath's, Oct 14, 2006. "St. Thomas"

Watch the video

Some cowboy jazzgrass at an intimate wateringhole in Alameda, CA.

http://www.riffriders.com/

http://www.mcgrathspub.com/

Ray-ray

Ray-ray, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Look into his eyes. Look at them!
You can not look away.

Autumn Sky

Autumn Sky, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Looking West from 17th & Harrison.

Q2 go pop!

Q2 go pop!, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Oh, crap. I'll never get this circuit right.

Squiggle 'Roonie

Squiggle 'Roonie, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

At Silka's yesterday

Ray

Ray, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

At his tub

Pearl

Pearl, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Under her lamp

Ted's Dance (with endtitles)

Watch the video

This is a very early fragment from the HAP talent video that we're building. I just want people to see the tone of what's beiong done. Cast your eyes upon Ted's BRILLIANT interperetative cockroach dance. If two or more people want to turn in like-minded performances, it'll help to round out the sequence.

We're Busy at HAP

Watch the video

Here's an early cut of the opening sequence of the 'busy" portion of the talent video. More HAPsters will be added as I collect more footage over the next week or so. Anybody who wants to be included in this can be, and anybody who wants to opt out is free to do so, too.

Before the Library Opens

Watch the video

From the "before" series.

Mickyhead copy

Mickyhead copy, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Now More Ferocious

Muni Face

Muni Face, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Inscribed into a seat, somehow.

Trimmed Hibiscus

Trimmed Hibiscus, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

||| Giant White-Fly Free |||

I heard back from Jack Schwegman at UCCE and Ronnie at the Alameda County Department of Agriculture. Both of them left me long involved voicemails, and Ronnie sent me an envelope stuffed with printouts of web pages about the giant white-fly and what can be done to control it.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment complex, Joanna and Eddis have been right on top of things, and today cut back the hibiscus bushes to eradicate the pest. Way to go, guys. Way to go, government scientists. Mostly, way to go Jim for being right there with the biological ID. From 5000 miles away, yet.