Sunday, August 27, 2006

Spur Of The Moment Excursion

On Sunday afternoon, I found myself bored and restless. I climbed in my car and took a drive up to Coloma to visit Sutter's Mill, the location of the first gold discovery in California. Here I am driving on Highway 49. Highway 49 is the main artery through the foothills of California, and is named after the year of 1849, when mass migration to California began. Please forgive my singing. If you have animals or small children, please cover their ears, for it could cause permanent damage. You have been warned. ( I have tried to upload my video, but for some reason the site is not responding. )



James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848, yes 1848, on the South Fork of the American River in the valley the Nisenan Indians knew as Cullumah. This event led to the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere and was the spark that ignited the spectacular growth of the west during the ensuing decades. The gold discovery site, located in the still visible tailrace of Sutter's sawmill, in present day Coloma California, is one of the most significant historic sites in the nation.



Thursday, August 24, 2006

Sitting In San Francisco Traffic



Here is a short video of my reaction to a stupid sound Jen made. We are easily entertained. San Francisco traffic can make anybody a little crazy!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Snakes On A... AT&T Park

Vince, Jen, Vince’s Dad, and I took the day off and ventured to San Francisco to see the Giants take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Though I am a National League fan, I have never ever liked the SF Giants. I have only gone to Giants games in the past to see my favorite teams, the Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres. This was my first time to the new AT&T Park, and I must admit I was in awe of this great stadium.




Vince received four tickets from a client. The seats were awesome, third row from the 1st base dugout! They were extremely close. We sat on the Diamondbacks side, and boy wasIi happy. Our Tickets provided us with luxury access to the Field Club. Here were dined on delicious items and beer that were severely over priced. Oh well, the tickets were free. Beer at high noon is such a refreshing treat.





Thankfully this game full of strikeouts, walks, runs, and homeruns. Unfortunately, in the end, the wrong team won. The Giants pulled ahead in the 7th inning, with a score of 7-6. The Diamondbacks came up short at the top of the eighth and ninth innings. The only consolation prize for the way this game ended was that Vince caught a ball thrown into the crowd by a Diamondback player while entering the dugout after the retirement of an inning.




The first baseman for the AZ Diamondbacks was extremely hot. His name is Conor Jackson. Though he has two first names, I am willing to give him my last name. Here are some pictures. The first two pictures were taken from my close vantage point. He has a nice rear!







Friday, August 18, 2006

Great Read



I just finished reading Matt Garcia's, A World of its Own: Race, Labor and Citrus in the Making of Greater Los Angeles, 1900-1970. It was a fancinating read that traces the history of intercultural struggle and cooperation in the citrus belt of Greater Los Angeles. Matt Garcia explores the social and cultural forces that helped make the city the expansive and diverse metropolis that it is today.

As the citrus-growing regions of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in eastern Los Angeles County expanded during the early twentieth century, the agricultural industry there developed along segregated lines, primarily between white landowners and Mexican and Asian laborers. Initially, these communities were sharply divided. But Los Angeles, unlike other agricultural regions, saw important opportunities for intercultural exchange develop around the arts and within multiethnic community groups. Whether fostered in such informal settings as dance halls and theaters or in such formal organizations as the Intercultural Council of Claremont or the Southern California Unity Leagues, these interethnic encounters formed the basis for political cooperation to address labor discrimination and solve problems of residential and educational segregation. Though intercultural collaborations were not always successful, Garcia argues that they constitute an important chapter not only in Southern California's social and cultural development but also in the larger history of American race relations.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Tuesday Hotness - Hugh Jackman





Oh, the dirty ideas I have running through my head at this moment. I need to take a cold shower STAT!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

More Jake Gyllenhaal




I just came across these black and white photographs of Jake. All I can say is WOW. I swear, I wouldn't mind letting him rock me all night! Thanks to Kenneth for these fantastic photos.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Tuesday Hotness - Jake Gyllenhaal






He is one fine man. It's okay Toothy, come on out!