Ramona Enjoys a Cookie

Ramona Enjoys a Cookie, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Ramona at HAP with a cookie from Ramona in Santa Barbara

New -- Pre-Skidmarked TP!!

New -- Pre-Skidmarked TP!!, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

A little ackie with the belaying on the way home from the store.

Packaged for Travelling

Packaged for Travelling, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

I'm sending this sample of the flies on the hibiscus leaf to the Master Gardener Coordinator at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Alameda. She'll identify the critters, and, if necessary, Alert the Proper Authorities. Stay tuned for exciting results!

Aphids? II

Giant Whiteflies?, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Ik! I don't think the plant's too happy, but the bugs are rockin out.

Jim thinks that they're giant whiteflies, and I think that he's right.

Aphids?

Aphids?, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Underside of a leaf. At times, there's a cloud of white flies flitting about.

Camilia?

Camilia?, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

A bush outside our apartment is heavily infested. Extra credit if you can tell me what kind of plant this is.

Tip o' il capello to Jim, who writes:

It's a Hibiscus, dummy.

crosswalk stunt photo

crosswalk stunt photo, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

I happened upon these people shooting a set of photos on Jackson Street yesterday. They're trying to organize a crosswalk for the intersection where 15th St meets Jackson. The photoshoot was of a faked pedestrian hit, to dramatize the need for a crosswalk.

Totally unbidden, I took some photos as well. Then I took my creepy old self away. Good luck, you guys!

You can find therm here:
East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/downtownlakemerritt

Patches

Patches, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Publicity Still for "Fancypants & Patches", a fictitious trio.

Moon & Star

Moon & Star, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

September 6, 2006

Ray

Ray, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Pearl

Pearl, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

New Prayerwheel

New Prayerwheel, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Motorized

Flea Market Fan

Flea Market Fan, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Picked this up at the Laney Flea Market yesterday for $5.00. The motor draws 0.5A; should do the trick.

Swearing in

Swearing in, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Cathy being sworn in as an Alternate Rent Board Commissioner, SF City Hall, 08/31/06

Spiritual Machine sketch

When I revamped the prayerwheel with prayer flags the other day, it was a big hit. It's like it's wearing a skirt with lots and lots of petticoats. Marilyn Monroe gets alluded to. When you spin the wheel fast, the flags all fly out horizontal and flappy.
Mary thought it was good, but standing up, walking out to the deck and giving the damn thing a spin every time we want to attain some merit was a bit much. Why can't we rig it up to spin even if we're, say, seated on the couch with a remote in our hand?

Spiritual Machine sketch, originally uploaded by dumbeast.

Tentative Etayo Seal of Approval on design specs. Probably not actually solar-powered in this iteration.

I found an appropriate wall-wart power supply for the relay out behind the apartment building last night, 8vDC, 55mA. And the motor on our small oscillating fan is rated at around 0.6A, 120vAC, which the relay is designed to accomodate. And I think that the knob on the fan that holds the blades can be modified into a workable drive wheel. I'm just thinking out loud here.