I got "naked"

My copy of Naked Conversations Came
I had preordered Naked Conversation's [Link] awhile back using a link Scoble (it seems funny to call him by his last name, but that is what folks do) recommended I follow. I pre-ordered it from Amazon and it finally came. Wow, it looks great. Sue said it doesn't look all Geeky at all. That is a compliment! Robert, [Link] you did good!

Ken Wong

Ken Wong, a good and loyal friend
I have been spending some time looking back on pictures of old friends from years gone by at SJSU. It is amazing to look at these pictures and think about the context of who they were when you knew them when and where their lives have taken them since then. Like the others, this picture was taken 15 years ago. Ken worked for me in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications for a number of years. But, he was more than an employee. Ken was a friend. I used to say I never met a Ken I didn't like and that was one of the reasons my youngest son is named Kenneth.

Ken was there for me and helped a lot during a very hard time in my life. He was always a good friend.

My vault a pig sty?
You may get the idea from looking at this and other pictures that my old office in the vault in the now torn down Whalquist Library North was a pig sty. Yes, it is true. But it was also cool in a funky way and became a popular hang out place. I rode out the Loma Prieta Earthquake in the doorway of that vault. The walls were a foot of heavily reinforced concrete and the door was nine inches of armored steel plate. It was pretty secure!

Lynn Benson Johnson

Lynn Benson Johnson: Friend, Photographer, Writer, Mother, Blogger
I cannot say enough about this wonderful and dear friend. I have known her for years. She was a Photojournalism student at SJSU fifteen years ago when these photos were taken. Even though she was about 20 at the time, she was always and always will be, smart beyond her years. She and I took country western dance lessons together, how that went is one of the funniest stories of those years [Link] and we spent a lot of time together both at the university and off. She and her husband Brian are friends of Sue and I. We don't see them near enough.

Lynn and Brian have a beautiful baby boy that neither Sue nor I have yet seen. But, I feel like I know him already because his mother chronicles his life so well...

Lynn's blog is one of those not yet discovered secrets of the Internet!
Lynn is not only super smart, she is whitty and an amazingly talented writer. She is one of those writers who is both a craftsman and very creative. At San Jose State she followed up her Photojournalism degree with a Master's in English. Her style is both documentary and emotive.

Read her blog
Read her blog [Link] and she will show you how this medium can be used to give a voice to a great talent. Read her blog [Link] and see how wonderful it is to be alive and a mother raising a baby who changes every day, as we all do. Read her blog [Link] and you will see how wonderful life is and how life is an ongoing story and how every day we live is an adventure. Read her blog [Link] and you will see what Dan Millman meant when he said "there are no ordinary moments." Read her blog [Link] and you will see how lucky anybody is who can call Lynn a friend. But, no matter what you do, remember I was one of those people who said folks should read Scoble when he had 18 readers. For very different and equally valid reasons I am now telling you about Lynn and saying, read her blog [Link].

Young Scoble at SJSU

Young Scoble
Fifteen years ago, when Robert Scoble was at San Jose State University and we used to hang out and chew the shit in my old office (which was a vault) in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at SJSU.

Marie's birthday

Today is Marie's Birthday
Marie is my oldest friend. I have known her for over 31 years. Last Thanksgiving, as you may know, Marie lost her sister [Link] in an awful car accident. Recently I was in Sacramento and got to see both Marie and her husband Kirk Roby. They are some of the nicest people you could possible know.

Technorati Tags: Marie Roby, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Spring semester has begun at SJSU

I shot this photo with my cell phone while walking to my desk this morning.

We went to Ikea

Today Susie and I went to Ikea after work and looked at furniture. We are going to get book cases for the den where we currently have boxes of books. I took this photo with my cell phone.

Technorati Tags: Susan Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Crazy times at the help desk

It was a very busy day at the Help Desk where I work. Here is how I spent today [Link].

I bought my first thing on Ebay

It was a train, of course. An ALCO also. I got a great rating for my fast pay and am excited to get it. It is an engine I have wanted for a long time, a Spokane International RS1. My long term Ebay goals are to sell on Ebay, but I figured buying is an important and safe first step to starting to build a reputation. On Ebay, reputation is everything.

From steward training

I am in steward training in san jose. This is new steward training, for new stewards. It is a great opportunity to meet new activists and see thier enthusiasm.

Nicole's birthday yesterday

Yesterday was Nicole, Jeff's wife's, birthday. If you haven't met Nicole she is a really nice and sweet woman. She is a good wife for Jeff and a great mom to Madison.

Susie, the purrfect evening

Susie with her babies. A perfect way to spend a rainy winter day.

Technorati Tags: Susan Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Today is Robert Scoble's birthday

I just looked at my calendar and that is what it said. As I remember he is 41 today. I admit, I have not yet checked his blog and the information is likely there. He has been a good friend and a source of information and inspiration over the years. His wife Maryam is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, as well. I should dig out some of the old SJSU pictures of Robert and post them to my blogs. That would be fun.

Having the flu stinks

This has a been a rough few weeks. First Sue got sick, then I got sick,
then I got sick again. I am feeling better now and am back to work. The first blossoms of Spring have been seen in the last couple of days. That is great. Winter in this area is short and Spring comes early. I like it that way!

The nicest things start with a kiss

One of the favorite relaxing things Susie and I do is watch Desperate Housewives on Sunday evenings. The theme of the January 8 episode was kissing, and the different types of kisses. At the end of every episode is the Mary Alice voice over, which is the voice of her speaking to us from the great beyond. In this episode she was talking about kissing while showing scenes of different people on Whisteria Lane kissing. Here is what she said:

The act itself never varies. But each kiss carries with it a meaning all its own. It can convey a husband's eternal devotion. Or a wife's enormous regret. It can symbolize a mother's growing concern. Or a lover's growing passion. But whatever its meaning, each kiss reflects a basic human need. The need to connect to another human being.

Susie and I started our lives together with a kiss. It's a kiss we will never forget.

Technorati Tags: Susan Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

One hard working Susie

Susie has been working so hard on deadline, I feel sorry for her. It is almost midnight and she is still working. She was sick all day on Christmas Day, too. What a lady Susie is. I love, appreciate and admire her very much.

Technorati Tags: Susan Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Rainy Day Saturday

Today I have been busy working on the February bike club newsletter. Usually this would be one of my favorite things to do on a rainy Saturday like today, but I am feeling pretty crummy. I have had this terrible sore throat since last Wednesday and I guess I am not going to be able to ignore it anymore.

On Wednesday I ignored it because I wanted to go to MacWorld. Thursday I had training for my student assistants, so I had to go in. Friday I wanted to go to the union meeting in Sacramento, so I went. Then I wanted to see Marie and Kirk. I have been thinking about Marie a lot since her sister was killed in that awful car accident last Thanksgiving [Link].

It was great seeing Marie and her family yesterday. Anthony, her oldest grandson, is 12 and is almost as tall as Marie is. Since she is only 5'2" that is not really very tall. Jessie, her oldest son, who was born just a few days before Candy and I got married, is now 30. Kirk is a great guy. It was good seeing Heather and Jessie and all of the other grandkids. But, it was pretty late by the time I got home.

Today I have been on deadline with the newsletter. The cold has settled into my head now and my sinuses are running. Eric Pettis, who is in Nicole (Jeff's wife's) family has an electrical business. He and an associate came over and did a bit of wiring. It was work getting ready for them and the must and fungus from under the house has gotten into the house. But, it is great having the work done. I now have a 20 amp circuit going into the den, just for my computers. That is way cool. Plus, the hot tub is wired again. That will be great after I recover.

Technorati Tags: Marie Roby, Kirk Roby, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Lynn and Brian's baby is growing

This is just in from Lynn Benson Johnson

Hi All,

Seems like only eight weeks and a few days ago I was doing something that didn't revolve around baby care. Or maybe not. I can't remember. Anyway, here's Darling Baby Alexander at eight weeks old today, in an outfit given to him by Robert and Jocelyne Dieu of Bordeaux, France. Yes, our baby is transcontinental (as well as incontinent :). He's been smiling for a month now and seems to speak fluent Hawaiian. We're very proud.

Love love love,
Team Johnson

Technorati Tags: Alexander Johnson, Lynn Benson Johnson, Steve Sloan, SJSU JMC Alumnus, ssloansjca

From a union meeting

I am in sacramento at a union meeting. I am on the union's communication committee. When I woke up i had a wicked sore throat and no voice.

I almost did not come and I left home late. But, now I am glad to be here

MacWorld 2006, not what it used to be

Not the good old days
A decade ago MacWorld was a happening place. Apple had licensed the platform and companies like Power Computing [Link to wikipedia] circled Moscone with Humvees, made some pretty wicked computers, wickeder posters [Link], and had some very clever marketing that really made MacWorld zing. Both halls of Moscone were full. The place was wild, exciting and very, very fun. You could go to MacWorld and bump into folks like Guy Kawasaki walking around the exhibit floor and talk to them. Those were the days. Today the north hall is empty and the only thing I saw circling Moscone in the name of MacWorld was a short string of motor scooters. You remember scooters, like they use in third world countries.

Blogging from my phone

I have been wanting to blog from my phone. I am.

MacWorld 2006

Live from MacWorld
It is a good show. I have met some authors I have wanted to meet and seen some very cool products. I am convinced the future is in for some very big changes. The new Mactels are very cool. Great cameras that have built in wifi. Super new tools for podcasting. I have bought some books and a upgraded video card for my Mac G4. This is really good stuff. I would write more, but I am burning daylight!

This is our university

Winter break
It is winter break at San Jose State University and the campus is quiet. Winter break is a short pause between semesters. It is marked by alternating days of rain and days of crisp cold clarity. For a few weeks in January the faculty and students are gone and the campus belongs to the staff. The campus is quiet. Footsteps echo in the corridors. Even though we still have to work, it is now our place. This is our university.

Great place to ride

Yesterday and today I rode my bike
It has been crisp, cold and clear the last couple of days. The tender green shoots are coming up and yesterday I saw a herd of deer on my ride. This is such a great place to ride a bicycle, I love it here! California Spring is only about a month away in the bay area and already I can see the buds starting to appear on the trees. Soon, those buds will be blossoms!

Technorati Tags: Steve Sloan, Cycling, ACTC, ssloansjca

Kenneth's birthday a good day

Today was Kenneth's 19th birthday. We had a good day. We met Jeff and Madison, went to Frans, and then to Stack's [link] where we all had breakfast. After that we went to the Tails and No Tales Cat Show [Link.]

Madison's mom Nicole was away for the day and despite her mommy being gone Madison did great and was very well behaved at the cat show. We all had a great time. We saw lots of cats and people showing their cats. Later in the evening we had Chinese food and cake and celebrated Kenneth's birthday together. We even opened a bottle of really good wine.

Technorati Tags: Kenneth Sloan, Jeff Sloan, Madison Sloan, Pixel Sloan, ssloansjca

True Grit

This is a repeat posting of an entry made in my old blog two years ago:

One of the definitions of "Grit" in Webster's dictionary applies to people. It is, "firmness of mind or spirit, unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger." "Grit" was the nickname of Frank Graziano, Sue's father, my father-in-law. He got that nickname the best way, he earned it. To me Grit is the role model of what a good man should be. Today is the anniversary of his passing from among us. I am proud to have known him. I am proud my sons got to know him.

He did not live or die wealthy in terms of money. But he was overflowing in abundance of the things that really matter in life: integrity, humor, honesty, determination, reliability, responsibility, dependability and more. Grit was down to Earth. You always could depend on him to be fair even when it meant his own self-sacrifice. He would not yield his principles, even when being steadfast allowed him to be taken advantage of. He had true grit and was widely admired. We miss him.

After he passed away on this day in 1998. Sue wrote these words that were read at his memorial. The photo shown here, is a scan of the photo Fran takes with her wherever she stays. It shows Grit in a typical position in their kitchen. Grit lives on in so many hearts

---

Eulogy to Dad

We would like to honor our father and friend to us all with some words and feelings we hold. He was a truly devoted family man and a husband of 49 plus years. He helped create a loving home and family with his equally devoted wife. His children and family received the riches of his love and understanding. He loved us unconditionally with his beautiful, open, giving nature. A child could not ask for a better father.

His friends had the good fortune of his genuineness, warmth and good humor. He brought so much laughter and happiness into the lives he touched. He always looked out for others and often put their needs before his own. He had a rare quality that drew people to him and allowed him to find the goodness in others. There was never any pretension or prejudice about his feelings toward anyone. His love and friendship were very real.

He considered all the people that helped him and his family in his struggle against cancer with the utmost gratitude, appreciation and trust. Even as he bravely battled this disease, he never lost his outstanding sense of humor. His courage, spirit and will during this difficult time were indomitable.

He was an exceptionally honest, trustworthy man and a true gentleman. Men this good are missed terribly when they leave us, but we can all keep the memories we hold dearly alive in our hearts. We deeply admire his fine qualities and are so proud that this gem of a man was our father.

We can be sure he will continue to watch over us.

---

We love you Dad.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Sue Graziano Sloan, Frank Graziano , Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

A little boy at camp

Just a little over a decade ago Kenneth was a little 8-year-old. One of our favorite things to do was to go camping at a place called "camp." This is a place where his first mom went since she was a little girl. After she died, this is where we buried her ashes. I hope we can go back there this year.

Technorati Tags: Kenneth Sloan, ssloansjca

Just yesterday, so long ago

As Kenneth's birthday has been approaching I have been thinking a lot about it. It seems like he was just a little boy. Now, in 12 months he will be 20. Days go by so fast their passing seems trivial. But, each day is unique and never to be repeated again. And kids, they grow up so fast.

Technorati Tags: Kenneth Sloan, Jeff Sloan, ssloansjca

More on Borello at Bascom

VTA light rail and the Union Pacific railroad run parallel in this location. One of the things I did not mention in my previous blog entries is there is a sign at the intersection saying the "train" (I do not know if that applies to both the Union Pacific railroad and the VTA light rail) does not blow its horn at the railroad crossing. Coming eastbound from Borello (note some maps show this as Quail Hollow Drive, it is posted as both) an eastbound VTA train will be at about a 160 degree rear angle, to the far right rear, of an eastbound vehicle. This is commonly called the drivers "blind spot." According to a friend I spoke to who works for VTA, the light rail is going 45 mph as it approaches this intersection. Lacking a train horn warning, the first warning drivers who are looking to their left, over their left shoulder, to merge into oncoming traffic may get that a train is coming at them at 45 mph from the driver's blind spot, on the far right, is the gates coming down on top of, or behind, their car. There is a lot of traffic coming from two very different and difficult angles here. Remember, this is the main exit from a senor citizen mobile home park!

There is a stop sign on Borello, before the crossing gate but I believe there is a fence next to the tracks obstructing the view of any approaching VTA train. The line of site for cars merging onto southbound Bascom from eastbound Borello is such that you cannot see approaching southbound traffic on Bascom from Borello until you are on the tracks themselves, so you often are forced to stop on the tracks, potentially in the path of an oncoming train. A train, traveling at that rate of speed, with an electric motor and with steel wheels on steel rails runs very quiet and has a much longer stopping distance than even a bus which has rubber wheels on concrete.

Link to map with more details [Link.]

Technorati Tags: Borello at Bascom, Susan Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Accident at Borello and Bascom

Last month Susie sent this article [Link] to Gary Richards. Richards is The San Jose Mercury News's "Mister Roadshow." He writes a daily traffic article that runs on the second page of the newspaper every day. So far Susie's story has not run and the hazard continues. I noticed when I drove through there last week that there was sulfur waste from the burning of highway flares there. Last night when I went over to Fran's (to put a license plate sticker on her car) I saw a SUV near the intersection laying on its side on Bascom. Bascom was closed in the northbound direction and lots of emergency vehicles were on the scene. This is a terrible intersection with roads, light rail tracks, freight railroad tracks, lots of traffic and all converging at one place and with tight angles. This needs to be fixed!

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Sue Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, San Jose, ssloansjca

Ken and Nicole's birthdays coming

The kid is growing up
Saturday is Kenneth's birthday. He will be 19 (his last teenage year.) We are planning to go to breakfast that morning, then go to a cat show that afternoon and finally celebrate that evening. Then, on the 19th, is Nicole's birthday. That is the the last of the events in our holiday season, that is until Jeff's birthday in August.

Technorati Tags: Kenneth Sloan, Nicole Sloan, Shadow Sloan, ssloansjca

My Food & Wine Reviews Here

I have posted a restaurant and a wine review on my opinion blog [Link].

Wild windy new year

Wild New Year's Day
It was one of the most extreme wind storms I ever remember here (our redwood trees were dancing.) It was followed by a long black out. But, despite the loss of power, we got together with Fran, Kenneth and the Chauncys and had a great time celebrating Christmas on New Year's Day.  After being sick, it feels like we lost a week.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Chauncy Family, Sue Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

John Morgan turned 50

John Morgan turned fifty
Last night Susie and I went to John Morgan's 50th birthday celebration. It was a great party at Almaden Feed and Fuel [Link] put on by Rosa Swenson. Because of our tender stomachs neither Sue nor I could eat or drink there. But, we enjoyed the party, seeing John into elderhood and visiting with good friends. It is weird knowing someone who is younger than I am who turned 50.

We still have not finished with Christmas
Sue and I finally were well enough to exchange gifts between each other but we have not had the opportunity to exchange gifts with Sue's mom nor Kenneth with mom. Also, we have not yet gotten together with the Chauncys. So, we hope to finish Christmas on new years.

Family Movie
The family movie that we did over Christmas came out great. I want to convert it to DVD.

Whine and Dine Rides
We are now half way between the end of the 2005 whine and dine season and the start of the 2006 season. Whine and Dine Rides are only about 90 days away.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Sue Graziano Sloan, John Morgan, Rosa Swenson, Steve Sloan, Whine and Dine Rides, ssloansjca

Catching up

Great Daughters
One of the greatest things this holiday offered was the opportunity to spend time with my great new "daughters." My sons married well and both of their wives are very nice women. What a change, after all the time it was just us guys, and was very male.

Then, first with Sue (who was very out numbered), later with Nicole and Luci and now with a wonderful granddaughter, the family has taken on a much more balanced gender nature. It is a change for the better.

My Mom's birthday
Yesterday was my mom's birthday. She still lives in my heart and I think of her often.

Bad Flu
First Sue got sick, then it was my turn. This was a bad flu. I am still recovering. I puked for the first time in 35 years. My no puke record is broken.

Steve and Luci Update
Steve and Luci made it safely back to Washington after a drive that included the California coast and snow over the Siskiyous.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Sue Graziano Sloan, Nicole Sloan, Luci Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Quiet day on Canna Lane

The day after Christmas and the house is very quiet
It is the day after Christmas and the house is very quiet and I am trying to keep it that way. Sue is still sick. Steve and Luci drove to Redding today via Santa Cruz, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and Vallejo. According to a text message they had a good scenic drive. I am tired and am doing laundry and keeping up the house while Sue sleeps. I had a run in with the neighbor when he started a fire in the back yard and smoke from it started filling up our house. "Do you have a fire in your back yard?" I asked over the fence. "Yes," he said, "I have a fire pit." "Well, the smoke stack from it is five feet from our roof and you are not supposed to be doing back yard burning," I said. "It's not back yard burning, it is a fire pit," he said. He said he would put it out. I moved Sue into another room. I remember my parents had one of those, but in those days it was called an incinerator, until they were banned.

Wine Posts
I am starting to post about the wines we drank over the holidays over on my opinion blog [Link.] More is coming there. Perhaps I will write some more there about fire pits and neighbors too.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Sue Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

New and old memories

The best part of Christmas was before Christmas
Except for one unexpected event, this was the best Christmas I have had in a long time, that is up until the early hours of Christmas morning. So I guess you can say Christmas Eve was the best Christmas I've had in a long time. Steve and his new wife Luci arrived on the 23rd and Sue and I took the family out to dinner. On Christmas Eve we went to Jeff and Nicole's house.

The star of the show
Little granddaughter Madison was the star of the show on Christmas Eve. She was as cute as a button and kept everybody entertained. It is so exciting seeing her walking and expressing herself so well. How wonderful it is having such a darling granddaughter. She is such a happy child and she has a wonderful laugh and smile. It was truly great having the whole family together for Christmas for the first time in so many years.

Old memories, new memories
This was the first Christmas in may years we were all together. At the end of Christmas Eve, we watched a video tape of the last Christmas the boys had when their mom was alive, in 1990. As I mentioned elsewhere in this blog, the day before we had watched the video of the next year, 1991, the first Christmas we guys had together as the Sloan males. I told the boys some day they will be looking back on this Christmas.

Technorati Tags: Madison Sloan, Sue Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

An unexpected Christmas

A unique Christmas
We had a great Christmas Eve, Christmas Day was another story. In the very early hours of Christmas Sue got very ill. We don't know if it was stomach flu or some food allergy, but she was very very ill and spent the day in bed. She and her mom had planned to make dinner that day. Jeff and Nicole spent Christmas Day with Nicole's family. So, Fran, Sue's mom, with help from Steve's wife Luci and I, made the Christmas dinner. The younger Steve, Kenneth and Luci went to see a movie during the day so the house was quiet. Fran and I cooked. After everybody returned from the movie, we waited until after dinner to exchange gifts with the hope Sue would recover enough to join us. She did not. This morning Steve and Luci are headed back. We still managed to have a nice day, but it was not nearly as nice as it would have been with Susie.

Technorati Tags: Frances Graziano, Luci Sloan, Sue Graziano Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Christmas Eve 2005

Everybody got together at Jeff's House
We had a great Christmas Eve.

Great family times

We had a great time yesterday. Steve and Luci arrived at about four. Jeff and Ken came over with Brian Roadie. Then we went to dinner at the Manderin Gourmet, where Nicole met us with Madison. It was great being able to take my family out to dinner. We all sat at a big dinner and had plenty of great conversations and food. After that we came back to our house where we had a couple of bottles of Syrah and more great conversations. Then as everybody settled in we watched old video tapes of the boys when they were younger, including footage of their mother and the boys and I on our cross country trip of 1993. As we viewed old memories new ones were created.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Madison Sloan, Jeff Sloan, Luci Sloan, ssloansjca, Steve Sloan

They are off

Luci sent me a text message at 11:15am. They hit the road then. Est travel time is five hours plus stops. Road conditions are good, cloudy with light rain.

Technorati Tags: Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Family calendar here

A new public facing calendar. Click on this link to find out important dates and check on availability. Note, this is a work in progress! It can also be linked to from my contact and calendar page [Link].

Technorati Tags: Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Day before, day before Christmas

Steve and Luci update
Steve, Luci and the little dogs are staying in Redding, It looks like it is raining there. Light rain is good because it will keep away the tule fog. Once they hit the road they should be here in about 5 hours.

Update from Carol
Hi Fam!
Whew! This has been a crazy week, as pre-Christmas weeks tend to be, and I am just now reading my e-mail backlog.

How are you all? What are you doing for Christmas? Will you get lots of presents? :) (Hopefully, not socks, can openers or ties you don't need.)

We're leaving for Leavenworth, WA on Saturday-- which is a small little German-style tourist town in the middle of the state. The town is high in altitude, and full of little shops and chalets. Sophie, Stan and I are going to meet Alex and Lindsay there, and we'll stay for a few days......playing Monopoly and drinking schnapps :)

Soooooo.... Merry Christmas from us!!!!!!!!! Hope you have a fantastic holiday!!!

Hugs,
The Saint

Technorati Tags: Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

They are about seven hours out

Luci just texted me. They are about 30 miles from Medford. So, they are about seven hours away. If they drive hard they will be here from one to two in in the morning.

Sloans on the road

Steve and Luci are in the traffic pictured above. This is a shot on a web cam on Interstate five through there. According to weather dot com they are going to have rain off and on the whole trip. But, no snow has been forcast through Grants Pass, Oregon or Dunsmuir.

This just in, Late Flash
Luci says they're in Salem and it is raining horrible. Steve Jr. is driving now.

Technorati Tags: Luci Sloan, Steve Sloan, ssloansjca

Steve and Luci almost to Portland from Seattle

It is like following Santa flying south
According to a recent text message, Steve and Luci are almost to Portland. It is raining and Steve is asleep as he worked almost all of last night. I will post updates.

Family and friends

Lunch with Kenneth
Yesterday I had lunch with Kenneth. It has become almost a weekly ritual for us, and one we enjoy. We went to Hawgs, a seafood place near where I work that has a very reasonably priced menu.

Dinner with Bess
Last night I had dinner with Bess. We have been friends for about 14 years, but I have not seen her for awhile. It was fun catching up and commenting about how our conversation had evolved over time from dating to the effects of aging.

Solstice is here!
Today is the shortest day of the year. From now on the days get longer and the sun starts building up to another riding, camping and train chasing season. Hurrah!

Technorati Tags: Bess Obercoe, Steve Sloan, Kenneth Sloan, ssloansjca

Holiday Party Season

You go all year with one or two parties every month or two, then whammo, a party every day. Friday evening Susie and I went for a wine tasting at the wine club here in San Jose. They were pouring some excellent Oregon Pinots.

On Saturday Susie was not feeling well and our friends Peggy and George were having a get together. Pam Downs was going to go with Susie and I to the event anyway, so she ended up being my date. Peggy & George's party is always a lot of fun and a number of our cycling friends come. I missed Susie but it was fun going with Pam, she is a good conversationalist.

On Sunday Susie was feeling better so we were able to go to Valarie and Ralph's party together. I kidded Susie about "two days, two parties, two dates." Valarie and Ralph are really sweet people, also in our bike club [Link.] They have two daughters who were also there, along with their new grand daughter who is also named Madison.

Also over the weekend I put together our bike club's newsletter [Link to newsletter.] The nice finish to the weekend was Sunday evening Kenneth came over and we made cookies together. That was really nice.

Technorati Tags: Sue Graziano Sloan, Kenneth Sloan, Steve Sloan, Pam Downs, San Jose, ssloansjca

Conversation with Kenneth at almost three

Introducing the Sloan Family Podcast

Sloan Family Podcast Number One, 9.9 minutes - Posted December 17, 2005
December 1, 1989: Sloan Family Podcast, A Conversation With Kenneth Sloan
To listen to audio, click here --> MP3 File Here
Conversation with Kenneth Sloan, December 01, 1989 when Kenneth was just a month short of turning three. Kenneth and I are watching TV and discussing the relative merits of things like Birds and Snakes while Jeff and Steve have a conversation of their own in the background. The conversation was caught on audio tape with a small taperecorder, and was since converted to digital audio.

Think of all that old oral family history that is locked away on old audio tapes or maybe even video tapes that people have. You can grab that audio and easily convert it to MP3 files that can be also easily shared with family members all over the world via the Internet and podcasting. And, while you are at it think about using your digital audio recorders to record and share those wonderful stories that are so much a part of the legacy of your family. I know I wish I could have recorded and shared the story of how my parents met. Now that my family is spread all over the country it would be nice to be able to share that with siblings, cousins and my own kids and grand children. Oral history is so human because it is told by the people who lived it. So, what are you waiting for? Start saving, remixing and sharing yours today.

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It's beginning to look like Christmas

The tree is up
Last weekend we go the tree and the decorations down from the attic and today it is going up. Susie and Frances are decorating the tree and the house as I type.

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Cats help with Christmas

Yesterday I made my first batch of Christmas cookies. As I type this Sue and her mom Fran are decorating the tree. The cats decided to try to help with the cookies this year. Shadow even licked the beaters. It was cute. We let him get away with it long enough to take a few photos.

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Pixel is okay

After one trip to the vet, X-rays, blood test, tears and fretting it appears Pixel is okay. He puked out the contents of his stomach and now is running around getting under foot again. The vet says he may have a very, very mild case of pancreaitis. But, if so it is so mild we will never know if that is what made him sick.

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Mom and I

I guess today you would say Pauline Sloan, my mom was vertcally challenged. My mom was 5 foot 2 and Lloyd Sloan, my dad, was 6 foot 4. So, they were one of those funny couples that had a huge height difference. I spent my whole life from the time I was a baby until the time I left home in a small house in suburban Concord, California.

Both of my parents died before I was thirty and my children never got to know them much. My mom was a factory worker. Jobs like hers do not exist in this country any more, long ago they have gone off shore. She was a union activist and a lifetime member of the United Steelworkers Union. Even though she had to drop out of school after the eighth grade to help support her family after her father died, she was very smart and inspires me still.

I found this old picture of her. Her birthday is coming up and so I started thinking about her.

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Sick kitty

One of our sweet kitty babies, Pixel, is sick and has been throwing up, at least a dozen times since last night. Kenneth is taking him to the vet today as Sue and I have to work. Here is a picture of him as a baby.

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From an Email from Marie

Here is a map of where the accident occured [Link Here]

Marie said, "On Thanksgiving Day my sister Martha and her boyfriend Don were killed in a tragic car accident.  They were driving to my mothers (in Sheridan north of Lincoln) for Thanksgiving dinner up hwy 65 when a Ford truck drifted into oncoming traffic, hit head on with a Ford Focus.  The Focus acted as a ramp for the truck and sent it airborne over the Focus and a Camry and landed on top of Don's Honda.  They were killed instantly."

"I actually drove past the wreckage, but could not recognize Don's car.  I've been pretty much a wreck ever since.  I guess you know what this feeling is like.  You've been there enough."

"Needless to say, I'm just not into the holiday spirit this year.  Christmas is next week and I have not bought one gift or put up any decorations.   I am still cleaning out Martha and Don's house, and putting things into storage.  Kirk has helped a lot and Don's sister Debbie, she is and old friend of mine."

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Marie's sister Martha killed in car accident

In a horrible accident Marie's sister and her sister's boyfriend were killed while driving to Marie's mom's to celebrate Thanksgiving. The accident occured on highway 65, a dangerous two lane highway north of Roseville CA, near the town of Lincoln. Here is how the media reported the accident, from various sources:

LINCOLN - Two Sacramentans killed Thursday in a four-vehicle collision on Highway 65 have been identified as Donald Meadows, 51, and Martha Grimes, 53, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The two died when a southbound pickup truck became airborne in a head-on crash with another vehicle and landed on their northbound 1985 Honda Accord, said CHP Officer Kelly Baraga.

It is unknown what caused the pickup truck, driven by Nicholas Manning, 21, of Loomis, to veer into oncoming traffic, Baraga said.

Six people were injured in the four-vehicle collision at 12:03 p.m. south of West Wise Road, Baraga said. Manning suffered a possible fractured neck, head trauma and abrasions to his chest and abdomen.

The occupants of two other cars suffered moderate to minor injuries, she said. An investigation is continuing, Baraga said.

---------------------

In the Thanksgiving Day accident, Nicholas Manning, 21, of Loomis was southbound Highway 65 in his 2005 Ford F-150 at approximately 60 mph, according to Baraga. For unknown reasons, Manning's pick-up drifted into the oncoming traffic lane.

Michelle Nunnally, 20, of Roseville was northbound on Highway 65 in her 2001 Ford Focus and collided head-on with the pickup. A 2001 Toyota Camry driven by Robert Nush, 46, of Roseville rear-ended Nunnally's vehicle.

Manning's truck went airborne after colliding with Nunnally's vehicle, Baraga said in a press release. His truck flew over her vehicle and landed atop another northbound vehicle, a 1985 Honda Accord, driven by Meadows. Manning's truck rolled over onto its side trapping him.

Manning was transported by air to Sutter Roseville Medical Center with major injuries including a neck injury, head trauma and abrasions to the chest and abdomen.

Nunnally was transported to Sutter Roseville with moderate injuries, including a fractured foot with abrasions and complaint of pain. Nush and all the passengers in his vehicle, Juli-Ann Nush, 43, Donald Nush, 19, Markie Nush, 13, and Melanie Porter, 15, of Roseville were transported by ambulance with minor injuries and complaint of pain to Sutter Roseville.

It does not appear that alcohol played a role in this collision, Baraga said. All parties were wearing seat belts. The collision remains under investigation.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2005 Last modified: Sunday, November 27, 2005 2:26 AM PST

Victims of fatal crash on Highway 65 identified

The names of two victims killed in a Thanksgiving Day accident on Highway 65 near Lincoln have been identified.

Donald Meadows, 51, and Martha Grimes, 53, both of Sacramento, died Thursday in a multiple-vehicle collision on Highway 65 just south of Wise Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP's Newcastle office responded around noon to the collision. Meadows and Grimes, the driver and passenger of a 1985 Honda Accord, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Officials said that Nicholas Manning, 21, of Loomis, was driving southbound on Highway 65 in his 2005 Ford F-150 truck at about 60 mph when for unknown reasons his truck drifted into the oncoming lane of traffic, hitting head-on a 2001 Ford Focus driven by Michelle Nunnally, 20, of Roseville. Nunnally's vehicle was rear-ended by a 2001 Toyota Camry driven by Robert Nush, 46, of Roseville. Nush and his passengers were transported by ambulance with minor injuries.

Nunnally's vehicle landed on top of the Honda Accord, inflicting fatal injuries to both the driver and passenger.

Manning's truck got airborne after colliding with Nunnally and flew over her vehicle, officials said.

His truck rolled over onto its side, trapping the sole occupant. He was transported by air ambulance to Sutter Roseville Medical Center with major injuries, including a possible fractured neck.

"At this time it doesn't appear that alcohol played a role in the collision," said Kelly Baraga, spokeswoman for the Newcastle CHP office.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

A family weekend

This weekend was a good weekend for family. Saturday morning, of course, we spent with Jeff, Nicole, Madison and Nicole's brother Brian. Then Jeff and I went to look at trucks. Then Saturday night Kenneth and I had the folks from the train club over. (More accurately Kenneth, the cats and I had them over.) Sunday Susie and I went on our hike and then that night we talked to Steve Jr. on the phone. Steve and Luci are driving down from Seattle and it will be quite a trip for them. Steve has been working at Boeing for about a month. So, life is going well and we are looking forward to having all the family together for Christmas. That will be a real treat. Oh, and Madison has a vocabulary of about ten words now. That is very cool!

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Slow walk through Quicksilver

We went for a nice hike
We had a great walk today in Almaden Quicksilver Park. This is such a pretty area and it is right in our back yard. The grass is dead and the leaves of 2005 are on the ground. But, the tender green shoots of 2006 can be seen fighting their way to the sky.

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Fun with other Sloans

Great morning with Jeff, Nicole, Madison and Brian
This morning we went to Jeff and Nicole's for breakfast. It was a great morning. Nicole made some of her famous pancakes [Link to recipe PDF file] and we had a great visit. Madison kept everybody entertained. It was a lot of fun. After the breakfast Jeff and I went out and looked at pickup trucks. Tonight Kenneth is coming over and he and I have a bunch of friends from my model railroad coming over too. A fun day!

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Letter to Mister Roadshow of Mercury News

An accident waiting to happen
What were they thinking? The entrance from Borello Drive onto Bascom Avenue is a poorly designed, dangerous intersection that crosses train tracks where not only freight trains cross but now also the light rail extension. Who was the genius that thought up (or should I say didn’t think AT ALL) this fiasco?

Picture this. You drive up out Borello Drive to make a right turn onto Bascom Avenue - a very heavily traveled, fast-moving traffic thoroughfare. Now that the light rail goes through this intersection, there is a light at your left and a railroad crossing-gate in front of you as you approach Bascom. You have to STOP before the crossing gate, before the train tracks, before you enter Bascom. Well guess what? When you are stopped in that spot on Borello, you cannot see the approaching traffic on Bascom to make an intelligent judgment about proceeding into the quagmire or hanging back and waiting. Hmmm... what other choice do I have? Oh, right. I can proceed onto the tracks so I can see the oncoming traffic --isn’t that where you would want to make your decision about whether to merge onto Bascom - sitting on train tracks? Or I can zoom across the tracks and come to an abrupt stop in that oh so small car length that puts me just barley on the other side of the tracks (and I hope out of harms way) and into the Bascom parking lane just so I can see what my choices are before I proceed.

I’ve seen traffic lights go in at intersections where I could have taken a nap at the wheel and felt safe in comparison to this intersection! And pay close attention to this next bit of information, please. Right off Borello Drive is Quail Hollow - a senior citizen community. These are the people that, among others, are thrown into this nightmarish traffic situation every day! Have they tried to do something about it to make it safer - you bet. Have they gotten any satisfaction, NO. Meetings with VTA officials and city council representatives have resulted in nothing but a lot of political double-talk. My mother lives in that complex and I fear for her life. How long will this nightmare have to go on? Until a train runs into a driver and people die is my hunch. Is this really the best we can do?

Susan Sloan
San Jose

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Hi, I am Steve Sloan, and I use OPML

I have taken the plunge into OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) [Wikipedia definition of OPML]. Alex Barnett created this screencast [Link to screencast] that describes what OPML is and shows us a really cool tool for creating OPML files. Here is a brief definition of of OPML from Wikipedia:

OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) is an XML format for outlines. Originally developed by (Dave Weiner of) Radio UserLand as a native file format for an outliner application, it has since been adopted for other uses, the most common being to exchange lists of RSS feeds between RSS aggregators.

That tool is a web application called OPMLManager [Link to web application.] This is, as Barnett [Link to Barnett's blog] says, "really excellent." In Barnett's screencast he describes how he uses OPMLManager to create OPML lists of RSS Feeds. Well, that's cool, but that is not how I am using it. I am using it to create taxonomy's of information. One of the biggest weaknesses of blogs and other blog-like time based ways of presenting information is that it does not present an easy way of navigating information on subject hierarchy's. Yes, tagging does offer some of this, but tags create ways of grouping information by keywords, tags do not provide the kinds of tree-like constructs that a taxonomy. OPML allows us to organize all of our content, and the content of anything else that can be linked to into hierarchies that make it easy to find information by topic. And, we get to choose the topics and those hierarchies can be linked to, shared and included in other people's OPML trees. This is so cool. So, using OPML I have created my own little Yahoo and other folks can plug into it. I love it, I have only just begun to organize my unorganized virtual universe. Here is what I have created so far:

• Me as an OPML Tree
• The Help Desk at SJSU as an OPML Tree

Emerging Technology, Podcasting & Mass Communications

Edupodder podcast sixteen, 72.1 minutes - Posted December 6, 2005
December 6, 2005: Emerging Technology, A Mass Communications Class
To listen to audio, click here --> 16.5 MB MP3 File Here
This is a class session on recorded December 6, 2005 in the School of Journalism and Communications at San Jose State University. The class is taught by SJSU Professor Cynthia McCune [Link to blog] and I am presenting as an alumnus of the school. In preparation for this class students were asked to read the first few chapters of Dan Gillmor's book We The Media [Link to related site]. The topic is, "Changes in Mass Communications and how students need to prepare for a new mass communications paradigm." A subtopic that emerged in the conversation is related to education and emerging pedagogy. As the session opens the words "The End of Business as Usual" [Link to related site] have been written on the board.

Little Madison walking and talking

Little Madison is walking everywhere. She is also talking more and more. The other day, while I was holding her she put her head on my shoulder and reached her arm around to my back and started patting me. It felt like she was saying, "I love you gramps."

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A podcasting course plan

Edupodder podcast fifteen, 37.31 minutes - December 2, 2005, A conversation with Gwen Dapper.
To listen to audio, click here --> 8.5 MB MP3 File Here
A very fun and candid conversation with Gwen Dapper on December 2, 2005. Gwen is a web developer and an Instructional Technologist from San Jose State University. Gwen has just finished a course description for a proposed class on podcasting at San Jose State University. She and I talk as we look over her course outline. She hopes to teach this course at San Jose State. We discuss her course and the applications of podcasting in education.

Guy and Gal days

Saturday I had a guy day
Saturday was an operating session at the model railroad club. It was a lot of fun and very relaxing. Big trains also go past the train depot in Agnews that houses the California Central Model Railroad Club. So I got to see both big and little trains. I photographed these little trains there Saturday. It was a great guy day.

Susie has a gal day Sunday
Years ago, on December 2nd Susan Graziano was born. In July 1994 she married me, making both her birthday and our anniversary new special holiddays. On Friday Susie and I went to a nice dinner and a movie. Sunday Susie had a nice day with her mom and our dear friend Diane Chauncy. They went to tea and had a tour of the Ainsley House where Sues mom, Fran gives tours. Despite a not so nice close encounter with a big train of their own, the gals had a good time.

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