Philip Glass for free!

Orange Mountain Music is a record company devoted to bringing the archives of Philip Glass into the world. They’re giving away a free album on Amazon: The Orange Mountain Music Philip Glass Sampler Vol.I

It’s an excellent variety and perfect for people who are unfamiliar with his music.

You’ll have to download and install the silly “Amazon MP3 downloader” application but it’s an easy operation. It’s not like installing an Adobe app.

Thank you Orange Mountain Music!

My photo at the library

In October 2007 the Eureka Valley branch of the SF Public Library held an event just before closing for renovation. People in the LGBT community were invited to come share their stories and donate photographs to be part of the SF Public Library archives.

About a year later when the branch reopened a selection of photos donated that day were going to be on display all around the library.

The branch reopened in November 2009 and the photos went up on display. The exhibition is titled Snap/Shot: 99 Years of Looking Fabulous.

I was delighted to see that one of my photos was selected. It appears in a display case just as you walk through the door.

The original photo is of three dear friends dancing in a kitchen while making dinner.

The exhibition has an incredible variety of photos donated by folks from all walks of life. They’re on display through February 14, 2010.

Laptop batteries

During my many years of laptop ownership I’ve had mostly reliable and consistent performance with batteries. While technology continues to improve these practices continue to help maintain their lifespan:

While at work: Since my machine is on all day at work I leave it plugged in. If I have a meeting for a few hours and take the laptop, I use the battery and do not bring a power adapter. Afterwards I’ll plug in at my desk.

Coming home from work: I plug in, wake up, let Time Machine do it’s backup, then sleep and unplug afterward. The spirits of Time Machine and Software Update prefer that you’re plugged in.

Evening usage: I typically use it for an hour or two at home, unplugged, then leave it unplugged overnight. In most cases I’m going to have it plugged in at work the next day so there’s no need to charge it up now..

While traveling: This is the only time I deviate from my routine. When traveling I leave my laptop plugged in as much as possible, including overnight, to ensure longest run time at any moment.

Cafes: I never go to cafes. If you do, don’t bring your power adapter. Your laptop battery will tell you when it’s time to leave.

Summary: Don’t leave it plugged in all the time. It’s healthy for a battery to sit in a state of mid-capacity.

My current white MacBook is 3 years old and it’s battery still lasts 3 to 4 hours, sometimes 5. Previous 12-inch PowerBook G4s could go 3 hours, sometimes 4, between full charges.

I’ll close with a collage of Microsoft Office’s vintage clip art from their online archive. Here are images that return with a search for laptop.

Stop rubbing aluminum on your armpits

I didn’t realize that my deodorant/anti-persperant, Mitchum, had aluminum in it. Then I found out most do.

The idea that my body was absorbing any quantity of aluminum on a somewhat regular basis sounded like quite the hazard. There’s no reason to rub aluminum on our armpits.

Now I’ve purchased something that does not contain aluminum, still has virtually no fragrance and works as expected. Though most of the time I skip deodorant anyway.

Check your deodorant!

Music survey

The iTunes Signature Maker will scan your iTunes library and compile tracks based on play count or rating, then output a single file. The result is snippets of all your popular music in your library.

Click to experience my strange taste in music.

Hello new pillows

A few weeks ago my parents came up for brunch and to deliver the new pillows. They were constructed with love by my mom using both old and new fabric.

Center square pattern from Sylvia Barlin Collection, rust colored fabric from Cliff’s Variety Annex in Castro.


Monogramed on the back side. Sylvia, Michael, Jo Anne.

Story of tea from the box of a kettle

Many years ago my mom bought a new kettle. The box featured this story:

Before the British had tea, they had been using fine China, but had never been to China…

And so the Earl of Grey became famous for his Wonderful gift of tea.

…so they sent the Earl of Grey on a journey east from India to discover a passage to China. A year later, he returned with some wonderful Chinese tea as a gift for his wife. “What could be better than to serve this fine China tea in the family’s fine china!” he thought. Upon arriving home, the Earl opened the door of his English cottage, and called for his wife, “Honey, I’m home! And I’ve brought you a gift from China – put the kettle on!” Unfortunately, his wife had never made tea before, and misunderstanding his husband’s directive, proceeded to greet her husband with the kettle tied to her head.

“Oh dear,” sighed the Earl. “I meant for you to put the kettle on to boil, for I’ve brought a special gift from China – tea!”

“For two?” she exclaimed.

“But of course – and only the best for my Darjeeling!”

Summary of tea

Three quotes to summarize the points of tea:

Balance

…of the sixty-some natural sources of caffeine, tea is the only plant in which this alkaloid is combined with other components so that it soothes the human system at the same time it stimulates it.

People

Once a person learns, usually from friends, how Tea is made a daily practice, it becomes more than just a product, but one’s ally in greeting the morn and companion solacing the midnight.

Health

We are what we drink, no less than what we eat, after all, and tea has proven more healthful than anything else doctors know to prescribe as protection from cancer, heart attack, cholesterol, stroke and a myriad of lesser ailments.

From James Norwood Pratt of Tea Society, in his book New Tea Lover’s Treasury. See an interview with him via Samovar.

Voicemail from mom

Received Wednesday July 15, 2009:

Hello my darling, it’s like 5 minutes to 3:00. Dad and I just got home because we were visiting Rosemary and Steve Parker’s little grand-baby in Sunnyvale and I missed your phone call, so call me up again. We’re going to be in and out a little bit because we’re going to buy some bark…oh anyway call and this time I’ll answer. Ok bye.

My parents often embark on obscure home and garden related errands such as the purchase of bark.

Hello new sofa

I have finally purchased a new sofa.

I had been mulling over this purchase for the past year, going to places with friends doing a lot of test-sitting, and finally found one. I feel like such an adult having invested in furniture for the first time.

Venus Condo (72″) from Therapy in the Mission.

I’m pleased to work with my lovely mother on creating pillows for this new feature in my home. She had a few from my grandmother (Sylvia Barlin Collection) which are quite special and wonderfully old.

• Left: Tragedy and comedy, needle point.
• Center: Fish pillow, with a quilted pattern for the fish body. It has faded quite a bit over the years but my mom has fabric to make one new pillow which would be an incredible rust. This pillow has always been a favorite of the Pieracci family. Daniel had it for many years.
• Right: Bargello pattern, needle point.

I’m considering these two patterns from the collection.

A Katherine Hepburn clip, posted by Stephen on The Mid-Century Modernist, was influential in this purchase.