Bay Area Businesses -- Day 5 - Cisco

Cisco, the world's largest router manufacturer is in Santa Clara.

Bay Area Businesses -- Day 4 - Yahoo!

The original gigantic search engine, Yahoo! is located in Sunnyvale just east of Moffett Field (where the giant blimp hangers are). Strangely enough, Yahoo!, which has a reputation of being a pretty modern and up-to-date company, was the only place I visited which limited my access to their parking. There was a very small visitors' lot, and access beyond that was blocked by a guard tower (which was empty) and retractable arms.

More views of Yahoo!

Bay Area Businesses -- Day 3 -- Sees Candies

Everyone loves Sees Candy, don't they? Sees is just down the street from where I live in South San Francisco. I often go to the store at the factory to get their world-famous lollypops. Of course, their chocolate is pretty darn good too!!

Bay Area Businesses -- Day 2 -- EBay

EBay is in San Jose. The campus is named the Whitman campus, and the buildings are named after the various things found on the site. Here are a couple of other views:

Bay Area Businesses -- Day 1 -- Apple

I'm doing a week of Bay Area businesses that are household names. Today starts with Apple.

Apple's campus is in Cupertino, and the main portion of the buildings are on the interestingly named "Infinite Loop".

Here's a couple of other pics

Blatant political plug (that I can't even vote for)...

The city of San Francisco will be voting a week from Tuesday on, among a few other things, Proposition V. Prop V is attempt to show support for the continuation of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC).

My experience with JRTOC is that both my son and Caryn's son went through the program. It taught them a new degree of respect and leadership. It gave them a sense of belonging and engaged them in service projects. It did not turn them into bloodthirsty fiends.

The SFUSD board has voted to end JROTC for two primary reasons.

First, JROTC, being connected to the military, represents a target to protest against "Don't ask, don't tell".

Second, JROTC serves as a vehicle for recruiting our students directly from high schools.

The problem with ending JROTC is that, while it serves to ameliorate the second issue, it actually harms any efforts to end "Don't ask, don't tell". Follow my logic:

San Francisco represents a unique environment. A nearly progressive utopia, San Franciscans grow up in an arena of tolerance and respect. People who go through the San Francisco USD spend their school careers learning that the person next to them, who happens to be gay, does not represent a threat to you.

JROTC is, among many other things, a recruiting tool, just as the board members fear. I would suggest that this is not altogether a bad thing. JROTC represents a path to leadership in the military, and that, combined with the previous aspect becomes important.

The deal is this: "Don't ask, don't tell", and the attitude that made it happen will continue as long as the leadership of the military is populated with a lot of folks who honestly feel that "gay soldier" = "dangerous pervert". Attitudes don't easily change, and it is pretty clear that nothing will change until the leadership does.

Now, the question is, do you want that leadership to be made of people who grow up in an environment where people like Sally "the gay agenda is worse than terrorism" Kern are looked up to?

Basically, removal of JROTC from the SFUSD will be a factor in condemning another generation to intolerance and fear.

Of course, V is a non-binding proposal, but these SFUSD board members are wanna-be real politicians, and they aren't completely stupid. While it is not assured, if V passes, there may, just may be a chance that they will rethink their decision and let JROTC stand.

Moffett Field Dish

This dish is visible from Mathilda road in Sunnyvale as you pass Moffett Field on your way to Highway 101.

Late Post (pretend it's still Friday) -- SPLASH

Taken in Pacifica. The waves were REALLY angry -- it looked like it does when we get those incredible winter storms.

This one is late because I worked until 4:00am this morning (special project at work). Hope no one was worried.

Yard sign in the window

I'm not usually a "political sign" kinda guy.

But this one is kinda important.

To me, it boils down to discrimination against an insular minority. It also boils down to contaminating the Constitution of the State of California.

Forty years ago, the same groups used the same rhetoric to try to stop interracial marriages. It was wrong then, and it is wrong now.

Hate is hate, and a blessing by a guy in a hat, be it from Salt Lake City, or Rome, or Mecca, doesn't make it acceptable.

White on black

Silly? yes
Artistic? eh... maybe
Simple? you betcha!

Keeping the eye on the ball

Jasmine

Early in my wedding, my wonderful wife bought me a Takamine Jasmine acoustic guitar. It was an awesome gift, but one that I haven't been able to take advantage of very much.

See, there are a couple of small problems, not the least of which that I have no talent to speak of.

But it is a beautiful guitar, and I do plan on learning how to, at the very least, play "Mary had a little lamb".

Gourds a plenty...

Another shot from our trip to the pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin Patch

Caryn and I visited a pumpkin patch today.

Ortega to the Pacific

The view down Ortega Avenue in the Sunset as it leads to the Pacific Ocean

The Future

We were making our last visit to our local "Dream Dinners" tonight (that particular branch is closing). Just before we left, we caught a glimpse of this darling little girl obviously enrapt in her video contraption.

Our friends, the Discourser and his lovely charming wife, who are both educators, made the comment that we were glimpsing the future. This is who they would be teaching soon. This is representative of who would be in charge in what will seem like a very few years.

They will be a generation linked into technology in a way that exceeds their parents in an exponential manner to the way their parents exceeded their parents. She will be comfortable with computers the way her grandparents where comfortable with screwdrivers. She will likely never crack open a volume of a printed encyclopedia, unless she attends a really backwater school.

She'll never know a time when it was ludicrous to assume a black man or a woman could be president. She'll live in a time when she can be in Paris, or Dubai, or Guangzhou within a day.

It's an interesting future, and she looks like she's getting ready for it.

Our backyard visitor

The dogs were going nuts at the back door, so I looked out and saw this guy.

When we lived in the Presidio, we got all kinds of wildlife in the back yard -- skunks, raccoons, etc. But since we moved out to South City, we've had very few.

I fear that this guy might be sick -- he made no effort to run away when I came out with the camera.

Laurel and Hardy trees

At the northern end of the parade grounds at the Presidio's main post.

Another Main Post Shot

Another view from the Presidio main post. These buildings surround the old parade grounds (which is now a parking lot).

BOB from the Presidio

OK, I'll be the first to admit it -- sometimes I am SO lame...

As you can see, today was an amazingly clear day -- the kind we get VERY rarely in San Francisco.

It was also the last day of Fleet Week. So, why don't you see any Blue Angels in today's picture?

Because, while we went down to the bay this morning for our dog walk, we never made it back for the air show.

See? Lame!!

The Web

Where I stand...

Our ballot is here!

Arnie

This didn't start out to be "doggie" week, but it just seems to be turning out that way.

This time it's our forlorn, but incredibly sweet old foster dog, Arnie.

Arnie was one of the Gabbs dogs -- The story of the Gabbs dogs is a fascinating one, and you can read more about it here

The 3 Amigos

Clementine, the Papillon-Poodle, Ziggy (aka, "The Tongue") the Bischon-Shitzu and Sophie, the Cat.

Ziggy and me

Sitting at work, waiting for Caryn to get back from Clemmy's clicker class, Ziggy and I played around with Photo Booth some.

Ain't he cute?!?!?!

Sharp Park Road

This is Sharp Park road, which travels down from the peak of the coastal range into Pacifica.

Scene at Union Square

We went down to the Curren theater to see "Spring Awakenings", which was GREAT. On the way home, I caught this view and found the juxtaposition of the shadow, the crane, the sign pole, and the photo.

Star Princess Drydock

The Princess Cruises ship "Star Princess" is in drydock at Pier 70 in San Francisco. Last night, we had a dance class at Cheryl Burke Studio (which, by the way, is AWESOME!!), and we could see the ship from as we looked east down the streets leading to the studio. We were early, so we had to drop down to the pier and take this pic.

My new snorkel and mask

Just bought these today -- will be using then on our cruise later this month.

October Theme Day -- Lines

This month's theme is "lines". I chose this picture to express the belief that lines are often synonymous with limits, with boundaries, with fences.

There are 164 blogs participating in this month's theme. Here's a link that will bring up thumbnails to all of them:
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

and here are alinks to each of them:
Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cape Town, South Africa by JSB, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edwardsville (IL), USA by Mdflores, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Franschhoek, South Africa by JSB, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by zoe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, La Antigua, Guatemala by Rudy, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Test City (MA), USA by , Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,