Utah's 3-Day Weekend

Back in July of 2008, Utah changed the schedules of about 17,000 government employees to a 4-day work week for a year long trial. They were hoping to cut some costs, lower their carbon footprint, and improve customer service. I can see how a 4-day work week achieves the first two, but the last goal doesn't seem to compute with fewer days in the office. Oh well, that's not important:-/

Here's one of the 2008 articles: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-30-four-day_N.htm
Halfway Marker: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29393522/

One year later, the results are in! The state saved $1.8 billion, CO2 emissions were decreased by 6,000 metric tons, and 82% of the employees want to keep the schedule. I'd call that a success. One of the drawbacks of a 10 hour day, however, is a larger propensity of people eating fast food.

Present Day Article: http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/environmentandenergy/archive/2009/07/27/the-case-for-a-four-day-workweek.aspx

I think it’s a great idea! Other states claim to be considering the same route to help out in their own budget issues. My prediction: the next study they will conduct will be on the difference in productivity b/t 8hr and 10hr days. Then we’ll see if it’ll become a nationwide trend.

Maybe we should invest in vending machines and fast food chains.

Visitors... (Pt. 2)

My last post highlighted the touristy stuff I've done with guests in Sacramento. Now it's time for downtown San Francisco!

Here's my immediate short-list of things to do in San Francisco followed of some pics:

• The Palace of Fine Arts
• Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach, and Lands End (Views Galore)
• Golden Gate Park (LOTS of cool stuff to do in there)
• AT&T Park, where the San Francisco Giants play
• Fisherman's Wharf is the 2nd most visited spot in CA, next to Disneyland, according to a tourguide we had last year. Feel free to debunk this fun fact. My favorite spot here: Ghirardelli Square
• Alcatraz Island - The self-guided tour using headphones is great! I suggest watching Escape from Alcatraz (1979), with Clint Eastwood, before doing the tour.
• Chinatown (The biggest one outside of China... take that NYC!)
• Cable Cars
• Union Square, if you fancy fancy things
• Twin Peaks, good for photos and sunsets
• Alamo Square, where the Full House house is located! Better known by some as one of the Seven Sisters.
• Haight Ashbury Neighborhood, not many hippies remain in their traditional garb, but much culture remains.
• Touch the Pacific Ocean

OK, I'm stopping now before this turns into some sort of comprehensive list... these places are what come to mind when I think of visiting SanFran. All fun stuff, but there's much more out there for us all!

Now for some of my favorite pics from the city:

The Golden Gate Bridge!


Kari on the bridge:


Thinking of what this is called... at the Legion of Honor:


A guardian at the Legion of Honor:


The Palace of Fine Arts:


Me!


Looking up inside of the Palace of Fine Arts:


Your favorite couple at Alamo Square:


Chinatown:


Chinatown Lantern:

Now my lunch break is over... back to work!

Visitors... (Pt. 1)

...and I'm not talking about little green guys. People actually want to visit me, no tricks involved!

Last weekend, my dad flew in early for some meetings and spent the weekend toting around with me, and this weekend, my little sister arrived and dealt with my ramblings as we rambled around Nor Cal. Despite being me, I think I did a good job playing host and chauffeur for my guests and was able to show off my new native land pretty well.

So if you're ever thinking of visiting us out the West Coast, here's a quick list of things to do in Sacramento (other cities will follow in later posts):

• California State Capitol & Lawn
• Old Sacramento
• Raley Field: River Cats Minor League Baseball Team
• Sutter's Fort
• The California Museum
• Midtown Sacramento
• American River Pkwy
• Sacramento Zoo
• K Street "Mall"
• California State Railroad Museum

My little sister was kind enough to share her photos before she left, so I've got those and a few other shots from my time here in the City of Trees. Enjoy!

My sister in front of the capitol. It was about 100 degrees that day:


In the State Capitol Park:


California Firefighters Memorial in the Capitol Park:


Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the Capitol Park:


Sutter's Fort:


The self guided tour of the fort involved looking through open doors/windows around the whole complex. This is what you typically see:


This is in Old Sacramento, looking towards the riverfront. The Delta King is a boat with a restaurant and theater in it. I've never seen it leave the dock, but it doesn't seem to need to. Behind it is Sacramento's own Ziggurat. Gods don't dwell in this one, as it is an office building. Looks good, though!


A shot in Old Sacramento:


Raley Field, where the River Cats play. My recommendation is to always get tickets on the third base/left field side. You get a great view of the Sacramento Skyline and the sun is behind you for evening games:


Another Angle:

The Pilgrim's Progress of the 21st Century

As some would call it, The American's Progress From Our Current State Of Affairs To That Which Is To Come. I read an article today about a lady from near Sacramento who's chosen to use a horse and buggy for her grocery runs.

Whether it be a choice to make a statement, to branch off and do her own thing, or simply to make the best of a tough situation(from the economy, and of caring for a rescue-horse), Ms. Nylander has the folks of Northern California talking. Well, writing at least. Folks have said she's doing the world an ecological service, others rant about her being a bit nutty, but I just enjoy the concept and this picture:


The article: http://www.sacbee.com/roseville/story/2048612.html

You don't see this too often when so far from Lancaster, PA. Hopefully it isn't a serious measure of the economy's state. If it is, you should read up on John Bunyan's allegory and try to apply it to today's politics. Then enjoy the irony... unless I'm reaching too far.

Info on the book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim%27s_Progress

Supersized TV

For the month of July, my girlfriend is back in WI visiting friends and family, living it up on a hard-earned vacation. That has left me 'bachin' it, trying to entertain myself. Work, work, and little-to-no play makes cBenigni desperate for things to do with myself.

Fortunately, the internet is full of free options! One of which is hulu.com. It's packed full of TV Shows and movies that could eat up months of my life, kind of like TiVo but online and they decide the content. I just need to kill my evenings for the next couple of weeks before I have company once again.

Last night, I ended up watching Super Size Me b/c somebody told me that I was the last person on earth that hadn't seen it. Typical. Behind the times again, but I make up for it in other ways. Right? The movie is interesting; notably biased, but still full of valuable stuff. I was surprised by footage of a gastric bypass surgery and there was actually a commercial for Chili's Bar & Grill. Too funny! Check it out for free if you haven't seen it yet!

When I was working in the field, visiting customers in their homes, I would stop by a fast food joint at least twice a week for a snack. On top of that, I had a slight addiction to Snickers and Mountain Dew. Throughout that year-and-a-half out in the field, I gained over 10 pounds. That's nothing compared to what the guy in Super Size Me did to himself. Luckily, the effects are reversible and I'm back to where I started!

I'm hungry.

The California Dollar

It’s an interesting time to be changing my residency to the Golden State. California is now known worldwide as a budgetary nightmare. I know it, you know it, the TVs know it. So my question is this: are we going to learn from Cali’s mistakes? (this post is more of an inquisition than a statement)

So far, state workers are getting furloughed along with their benefits cut back, social programs are being slashed, taxes will be increased even more, and the govt. is handing out friggin IOUs! Haven’t heard of the so called crisis? Check out these stories:
http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12837694
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE56E49D20090715
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/us/16calif.html?_r=1&hp

If a state’s bonds can be rated as worth ‘next to nothing’ who is to say that our country’s won’t follow shortly? The solutions that are being implemented aren't bad, they seem to be common sense. Buy why are they all reactive instead of showing we had been proactive with the budget in the past? Perhaps I've been looking in the wrong area for change, but when the nation’s spending continues to increase so much, I can't smile too much. Who are we kidding?

On a lighter note, Californians are trying really hard to fix things:

American River Bike Trail

It seems like I only hear about habits when folks are trying to break them. Anything from nail-biting to smoking, I always hear the grumbles of friends saying that habits are bad... but what about good habits?

Ever since I started to work @ home, I have focused more and more on forming habits (mostly the good kind). Daily routines are a must, and my hardest one so far has been waking up early. On the other hand, my favorite one has been exercising on a regular basis. Time has been preventing this for the past year-and-a-half. Now, as the Rolling Stones say, "time is on my side," and my lunch break is spent in a fitness center or on the American River Bike Trail.

The American River goes right through Sacramento and the locals have done a pretty good job keeping it maintained. The American River Parkway starts at Folsom Lake (NW of downtown) and goes 23 miles to Old Sac, creating a stage for a system of small parks the whole way through. Fortunately, bike trails keep on going all the way through the Greenhaven/Pocket neighborhood.

Right now, I've been doing 15 miles/day for lunch but I hope to get that to 20-30 miles in the near future. My butt needs time to adjust to frequent bike mileage... woe is me. The tunes for today's ride: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.

Sacramento County's page: http://www.msa2.saccounty.net/parks/Pages/RegionalParksDetails.aspx?pn=American%20River%20Parkway
Yelp's page: http://www.yelp.com/biz/american-river-bike-trail-sacramento

Pics from today's ride:

Codex Sinaiticus

This just in! A really old book has just been published on the internet. Not cool enough for you? OK, well the book is actually the oldest known copy of the Christian Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus. 1600 years old.

Why is this cool? Well, it just might have serious implications in the Christian realms. In the past, Christian theologians, scholars, and religious leaders were only as good as the materials they had available. They fed the masses what was agreed upon as the definitive works, a collection of books selected at the Council of Nicaea long ago (subject to debate).

The Codex Sinaiticus includes those books and a few more. So what is in the new books being introduced to EVERYBODY? Will the information bring age old teachings into question? Will religious leaders accept the data now available to their followers? What of the general understanding of the Christian Bible, could men have cut out entire books throughout history in order to fit their own credence? How does one go about changing a religion, even if it is a very small change?

Besides the modern day debates that may ensue, the history of the actual manuscript is fairly interesting as well. Check out the articles:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/24/online.bible/
http://www.thestar.com/living/religion/article/661728

And the website: http://www.codex-sinaiticus.net/en/ (english translations coming soon...)

On a lighter note, people in California like to moon passenger trains: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124718939724920855.html

Matt & Kim - Grand

I stumbled across a sweet little album this week and feel the need to share. Yes, I listen to music while I work. So what? I don't have to deal with Milton in the next cubicle. The bliss of working at home is still fresh in my mind.

Oh yeah, the album... Grand by Matt & Kim. I heard the song, Daylight, in a Bacardi commercial. Super catchy, but unfortunately (for Bacardi) I didn't succumb to buying any alchie. Sorry guys, my ears were more stimulated by your commercial than anything else.

As I’m sure all of my friends have known about them for years, I simply pride myself on finding this album all by myself. I take what credit I can. Matt & Kim is apparently an indie rock group that seems to be on the verge of hitting it big-time. If you like simple, upbeat tunes and keyboards, check 'em out! My fav tracks are I'll Take Us Home and Daylight.

Their website: http://www.mattandkimmusic.com/

YouTube Video of Daylight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgBeu3FVi60

Old School Cryptography

The Wall Street Journal ran an article this week about a letter written to President Thomas Jefferson from Robert Patterson. The letter contained a cipher that hasn't been cracked in over 200 years! Pretty dang impressive if you ask me! (Yes, I know that we probably could have cracked it years ago if we stuck the intelligence agencies on it, but we didn't so it remains cool)

Check out the article: http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2FSB124648494429082661-email.html&nonsubURI=%2Farticle_email%2FSB124648494429082661-lMyQjAxMDI5NDA2MjQwODI0Wj.html

What I really found humorous was imagining the look on the poor guy's face when he figured out what it said. He probably had weeks of sheer excitement leading up to one climactic moment, all the while thinking of the movie National Treasure, dreaming of the riches that were on the other side of those pages... only to find a joke. Sorry dude.

Here's one of the pages:

My first step to decode this would be relearning how to read "proper" cursive. That must have taken hours to write!

It's Electric!

When I was in the fifth grade, or so, I did a report on photovoltaic cells. I was and am still fascinated with them. How cool is it that we can harness the energy of sunlight!?! Back when I did the report, the going industry standard was that 10% of sunlight's energy could be converted into electricity; the current standard varies from 10% to 31%.

The reason I'm writing would be the latter figure, 31%!!! I just read an article about the use of solar thermal energy, mirrors, and sterling engines to achieve that impressive statistic. Sterling engines were originally built in the 1800's and SES has just brought them to the next level by focusing sunlight on them to provide the needed heat run the thing. Awesome! Each one has 82 mirrors, 1 stirling engine, and produces 25-kilowatts.

The article: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4288743.html?page=1
SES's site: http://www.stirlingenergy.com/about-us.htm
A couple pictures of the beast:
On a sidenote, there' s a pretty cool idea that IST Energy has been marketing to large business locations. The idea: melt your trash and use it as fuel to power a generator. Long term savings seem astronomical! Bonus to boot: it reduces pollution caused by garbage removal/disposal. I'm a fan.
The company's site: http://www.istenergy.com/
An article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10140500-54.html