Quake

Last night, there was a 5.6 quake on the Calveras Fault, NW of San Jose, which counts as the biggest quake I've felt in since living in earthquake territory. It rattled the house, set the hanging coffee cups swinging and made us realize we don't have the shelves in the house bolted. It rumbled long enough for my housemates and I to look at each other and say, oh, it IS an earthquake, not just a truck driving by. But, the power stayed on and everything was quiet afterwards.

WWWD?

My friend Malea, who has been diligently politically active for as long as I've known her (and is now her career), sent many of us current and former Minnesotans a wonderful piece written in honor of the late Paul Wellstone, on the 5th anniversary of his death. I just wanted to pass it along, as we head into primary season, because the piece expresses a very timely sentiment. I remember the day I heard about the plane crash. I heard the voicemail from Mom telling me the news as I walked into the house and at the same time, heard Seth and Joel (two other Minnesota to Seattle transplants) asking me if I'd heard. I felt a long ways from home just then and had trouble explaining to people at work why it seemed like such a loss. So, I'm happy to share another person's much more eloquent synthesis of Wellstone's unique and effective take on the role of a politician.

As long as I'm on the political departure, I read an interesting study recently, forwarded by my advisor, on the role that fear plays, mostly subconsciously, in our voting habits. Very intriguing and quite frightening, but it puts a lot in perspective with regards to the last two elections. I can't post it, but if you're interested, let me know and I'll send you the pdf.

Never fear however, the blog will be returning with the usual fare of entertaining field stories after the weekend. We have our first 3-day field trip to the big mapping area, New Idria, and any time you go on a trip that requires caravaning with porta-potties in tow, there are bound to be some good stories.

An auspicious number

Sora pointed out the other day that this is a milestone you reach approximately 27 years and 5 months into life... Excel helped us figure out that, for me, that day is today.

And those other awards...

And of course, they also announced this year's Ig nobel awards. I was most intrigued by the study cataloging the many critters that live in our beds, but have opted not to read it before bed in case of psychosomatic itching. The study into the adverse effects of sword swallowing is not bad either. Not quite as good as some of my past favorites: one study that shows our inability to notice a woman in a gorillas suit when we're focused on other things (2004 winner), and a cure for the hiccups that makes me grateful I have other tricks up my sleeve (2006 winner).
I also like the woodpecker study (2006 winner), though I learned of this first through Calla and didn't know it won an Ig nobel award. It turns out that woodpeckers have interesting muscular and skeletal adaptations that protect them from brain damage. AND, at least in the case of the pileated woodpecker, it turns out that they hammer their heads into trees, not to feed, but as a form of communication or territorial display. Calla's take on this was she no longer feels about telling it to shush when one wakes her up at 6:00 AM. And who says science isn't fun?

Go Al!

Just a quick (albeit late) post to congratulate Big Al and of course the hard-working IPCC climate scientists and politicos on their Nobel Peace Prize. I'm glad the folks on the Nobel committee have insight enough to see the connection between climate and peace. Given the thread of editorials (even here in liberal coastal California), it is clear not everyone has made that leap yet.

Summer's last hurrah

Ok, I feel like I can let go of summer, now that I had one last gorgeous weekend outside. I'm TA'ing for the field geology class this fall and we had our first field trip Saturday, to the exotic locality known as the "campus meadow." We wandered all over campus, and our brave students learned how to accurately locate themselves on a map while avoiding common field hazards. These included the meat cleaver, the random exercise equipment from the weight room, the temptation of the harvest festival at the campus farm and disgruntled cows. You know, the usual fare.

Geidy picking up some mad orientation skills Trying to get a little extra respect through sheer intimidation (ie, the cleaver in action)
I spent Sunday in San Francisco, where I caught one day of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. I can't say enough about this show; every year, Warren Hellman (of mayonnaise fame) spends a bunch of money and puts on 3-day bluegrass festival in the middle of Golden Gate Park, with some incredible acts, entirely free to the public. We planted ourselves in front of the Banjo stage and enjoyed Hazel Dickens, David Grisman, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and of course, Emmy Lou to finish out the day. It was sunny, we had cold beer and free music.

Kena, Hwakong and I are hardly strictly happy! When you find two empty PBR cans and a free CD waiting on your windshield, you know you had a good day.
Just in time; we had the first real rain Tuesday and they're calling for more.....

Fall quarter in full swing

So, the quarter is in full swing (we're in the midst of our first full week) and I'm slowly getting back in the swing of having a scheduled life again. But, it's been nice to be home, though not much to write home about. I've caught a couple of nice sunsets on the commute home.

It has also been the week of eating. My advisor's mom is in town and they cooked up an amazing Italian food fest the other night, and Sora's mom is in town and is cooking up a Korean food fest tomorrow night. There was also a large orb weaver spider that built its web across the front porch, and was feasting on a large bee. My photo of this did NOT turn out; I think I'm grateful for that.

(the view from the top of the bike path on campus, looking south across Monterey Bay to the Monterey Penisula)