Pauley Pavilion

28 December 2009

We returned home yesterday, starting early (9 AM) from Laguna Niguel and arriving late (11 PM) in Oakland after the 425 mile drive. Driving on I-5 through the southern Central Valley after dark is always a bit harrowing. The traffic is too heavy for a 2-lane highway, demanding a high level of concentration for an extended period. Fortunately, the weather was mild and the traffic was not too heavy in our direction. (It was backed up for miles heading into Los Angeles near Magic Mountain and again at the foot of the Grapevine.)



By far, the highlight of the day was the six hours we spent in Westwood. We attended the 1 PM basketball game between the Bruins and Delaware State. (UCLA won handily.) Daniela worked the game as the captain of the yell crew and her duties included leading the opening cheer from the center of the floor.



Alexis made a guest appearance as Joe Bruin and had fun being photographed with fans. (Photo note: getting the exposure right for Joe's dark fur and a fan's light skin is a tricky business that I haven't mastered.)



Before the game, we had an opportunity to wander around campus. Afterward, we had a nice late lunch at Novel's before hitting the road.

Holidays at Huntington Beach

24 December 2009

On Tuesday, we made the familiar drive down I-5 to Southern California for the traditional family Christmas celebrations. We spent two nights at the Hamann's in Huntington Beach before heading down to the Nazaroff's in Laguna Niguel.



Is it true that everywhere in the US images of the holiday season are dominated by scenes wintry weather, a warm hearth and snow?

These signs of a surfing Santa are displayed along Main Street in Huntington Beach every year. But even here in Surf City, alternative images such as these represent a small minority. There are more displays of snow flakes, snow men, and reindeers than of palm trees, gentle breezes and surfers. I suppose this imagery reflects the continuing cultural dominance of the northern European component of our collective heritage.



The traditional Christmas Eve gathering at the Hamann's marked the 40-y anniversary since that family returned to the US from Maracaibo. Five of the siblings -- Ingrid, Eric, Walter, Martin, and Ernie -- were there along with their spouses and children, so in all we were 21. We sang carols in German, Spanish, and English before exchanging gifts.



I shot these photos on 23 December on morning and late afternoon walks to Main Street and the Huntington Beach pier. To me, these scenes don't connect as much emotionally to the winter holidays as would pictures of snow-covered firs in the mountains. But they are a closer rendering of the truth of the setting for our holidays.

Winter solstice in Walnut Creek

20 December 2009

Tomorrow is the winter solstice, the official "first day of winter" for the northern hemisphere and also the shortest day of the year. In San Francisco, the day length is about 9.5 hours, with sunrise at 7:20 AM and sunset at 4:53 PM.



After a brief cold snap a few weeks ago, the past days have been mild. Today, there was considerable low level winter haze in the air, especially east of the East Bay hills. The partly cloudy skies vacillated between the slate gray of a high winter overcast and sharply defined clouds around which the sun could peak out with bright rays.



Winter in northern California features elements that are not well synchronized with expectations. Here, the grasses are brown in September and October. Now, they are not-quite-bright green reflecting the combination of ample water but coolish temperatures and not enough sun for intense photosynthesis.



The deciduous buckeyes have completely lost their leaves. But some of the oaks are still in transition: I can't quite figure out whether the orange cast is the beginning of new life or the end of the old.



The trails are muddy.



These photos were all shot today at the Diablo Foothills Regional Park.

Words, words, words!

18 December 2009

In the news today: President Obama announced a climate-protection agreement with China and a few other countries. Early reports suggest halving of anthropogenic carbon emissions by 2050. That would be a worthy intermediate target on our way to climate sustainability. Will the agreement have teeth? Or will it be just words on a page?



I finished a marathon effort to review and guide revising of two PhD dissertations, signing today my approval only hours before the students' submission deadlines. A concern: I seem to be more bothered than they were when some details were not right. Do all these words matter? Or do we just have "be noticed to be by her eye step and contest worked?"



From where are these words?
(a) The US Post Office in the Elmwood, on College Avenue near Ashby.
(b) The Underhill Field, on College Avenue halfway between Dwight and Bancroft.
(c) The western side of the Boalt Hall Law School building near College and Bancroft.
I pass by all three regularly as I walk or bike between home and campus.

Inverted logic

12 December 2009

Both of these photos are upside down.

Really!

Check out the time on the Campanile in the top photo. If you look at an expanded version of the clock, you can see that the "III" is on the left and the "IX" is on the right of each dial. I shot this one at 4:25 PM.

In the photo below, if you look closely, you can see subtle ripples, especially in the brightly lit building face of Campbell Hall on the right ... which is really on the left!

Ginkgo Gold!

8 December 2009

I'm still crazy busy as the end of the semester approaches. The good news: the end is in sight and (I think) I will finish everything that must be done on time.

In the northeast corner of the UC Berkeley campus, visible from my office window, is a reflecting pool set in the middle of a lawn. On three sides are impressive buildings: Evans Hall to the west, the Hearst Mining Building to the north, and the new Stanley Hall to the east. On the western edge of this open space is an impressive set of 6 moderately mature ginkgo trees. Even though it is already the 2nd week in December, they are just beginning to seriously drop their leaves, which recently turned a dramatic golden hue.



Today, for just a brief interval, these trees were brightly illuminated by the midmorning sun. I grabbed my camera and dashed down to take the first two photos. The third photo, below, is from late this afternoon, as sunset was approaching. It is remarkable how bright the foliage is on these trees, even in the fading light!