Category: Berkeley

Courtesy Boing Boing, courtesy of the dude’s LJ :

The way this all got started was that my friend and i were sitting around at dinner chatting about what to do for the upcoming room-to-room party. We went through a whole bunch of ideas for room themes. And then Ñ you know how, sometimes when you’re bored, you look up and imagine what it would be like if gravity turned upside down and you got to walk around on the ceiling? (Does everyone have this daydream?) Anyway, we both mentioned it at the same time, and then it dawned on us that we could make it happen. Or a variant, anyway. I think sideways actually works better than upside-down, because then you can integrate real people into the scene in strange ways.

Here’s a nice shot of the ceiling. (Note the sock hanging off the table Ñ a stroke of genius due to my co-conspirator.)

I’ve been terribly alone
and forgotten in Manhattan
I’m going home
to my city by the bay

Good night, California. I will miss you.

See you in 4.5 months.

It was great to see all you guys!

The more I’m here, the more I realize just how much I love Berkeley. From the “Happy Happy” guy, to Intermezzo, to Kingpin, to Berkeley Bowl, to my Grandparents, to my great friends who live here — I just love Berkeley. I really want to come back here.

In a nutshell, Sarmad and I both safely arrived a few days ago, and we’re headed down to sunny SoCal tomorrow.

His first day here, the 22nd, we walked around San Francisco, from Civic Center, down to the Ferry Building and then up to Fisherman’s Wharf, where we perused the Musée Méchanique (one of my favorite SF sites) before catching the ferry back to Oakland. It was a gorgeous day and we took lots of pictures. Free AC Transit transfer from the ferry ticket provided a lift (via the 51) to campus, where we met for lunch at Naan N’ Curry.

The 23rd, we headed up to Murphys, CA to visit my friend Brynna and her family, in the Sierras. We even went to Big Trees.

Yesterday we drove through the city and had lunch on Fillmore, and drove across the Golden Gate. had a small Christmas Eve dinner and went to church. Came back and had cookies and tea. Bed. Fell asleep watching my newly-purchased Season 1 of Star Trek TOS. No verdict yet (I haven’t seen it before.)

Today was probably one of the most relaxed Christmases that I remember in awhile. Maybe it’s because we (the four grandchildren in the family) are getting older now. Martin, the youngest, will be 18 in March. I’m almost 23, and my brother, Alex, and my other cousin, Nena, are both 19. Just gifts, relaxing, cooking a simple turkey dinner, dessert, and hanging out with everyone, plus my other cousin Babak.

Loot included:

A few books from various people, all look good. A cookbook from Reza. Some great Nigerian figurines (c. 1963) from my grandparents. A World Series 2004 BoSox hat from Heidi. An original 1988 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michaelangelo action figure (new-in-box). (And from before, a CD of Fresh Air interviews from Maria and Alex.) Thanks again to everyone!

Some photos from the last few days.

Merry Christmas!

Please pass this along to any current UC Berkeley student who has current football season tickets that you know.

So I just got off the phone with a longtime family friend, Robert Breuer, who lives on the side of Stawberry Canyon, overlooking Memorial Stadium. He has been a lifelong Bear fan and has been waiting for years to take his son Noah, to the Rose Bowl.

He is willing to pay triple (triple!!!) the face value of student tickets to the Rose Bowl — and he wants THREE of them. Got that? Three tickets. He’ll pay triple face value for them.

From the Cal Web site: “Tickets will be available online from Monday through Wednesday, December 6-8, and the priority for student tickets is based on your academic class year. You may only purchase bowl tickets on the available date that corresponds with your class year.”

Monday, Dec. 6 Seniors, Juniors, Grad Students
Tuesday, Dec. 7 Sophomores
Wednesday, Dec. 8 Freshmen

So if you’re a Cal student who doesn’t want to go to the Rose Bowl, or knows a fellow student in the same situation, please email me ASAP.

Measure Q

Shall an ordinance be adopted to: 1) make enforcement of prostitution laws the lowest priority; 2) oppose state laws making prostitution a crime; and 3) require semi-annual reporting of prostitution-related Berkeley Police Department law enforcement activities? Financial Implications: Possible increases in law enforcement costs as a result of potential increase in prostitution-related crime and increased reporting requirements.

I’m voting yes on this.

Go Bears!

Associated Press
Monday, August 16, 2004; 1:11 PM

Haley Cope of Chico, Calif., was eighth and last in 1:01.76.