John's visiting

Sue's brother John is visiting California and staying with their mom in Campbell. We are getting ready to meet him for lunch.

Technorati Tags: Sue Graziano Sloan, Sloan Family, ssloansjca

Great Depression 2.0?

Closed, not to open again
This recession is getting deeper. Are we headed for Great Depression 2.0? More and more local businesses are closing and many more businesses are laying off. I spoke with a local business owner who she does not know if they will survive. They have been laying off their staff and liquidating their inventory. Only time will tell if this is GD 2.0. But, things are getting worse.

Students happy returns

February B&BB Newsletter

Here is the February 2009 issue of the Black and Blue Bottom, the Almaden Cycle Touring Club newsletter. These are in PDF format:

• Normal version for viewing.
• Special "two page up" version for printer.

Kiosk by Art Building at SJSU

Winter Light at SJSU

Ruchi's birthday

Ruchi Binjola's birthday was a cause of celebration at our help desk. We have a great staff almost all of whom are thousands of miles from home. So, we try to create a small bit of home here at the help desk.

Ruchi is an important person on our staff.

What I love most about Macworld

Adobe was not at this years MacWorld and Apple will not be at the next. If MacWorld survives the loss of these anchors the best part will hopefully remain. My favorite part of MacWorld are the displays around the edge and in the obscure corners of MacWorld. That is where you find passionate developers like Jessie Youngblood and Steven Abbagnaro of Tooble. These are the folks who have the new ideas and the fresh products the ones you don't read about on the A-list blogs or in the trades. Tooble is a cool product and will meet a need I have to use YouTube Videos in classroom presentations.

Walk in the hills

The hills and open spaces near where we live are wonderful and this time of the year there are not very many people up there. On Sunday Susie and I went for a walk down the trail near Loma Almaden and Hicks roads. We had a great walk and talk.

Technorati Tags: Sue Graziano Sloan, Sloan Family, ssloansjca

Sloan Christmas 2008

[Click here to see more photos]

"What is your favorite part of Christmas?" "Presents!" Madison did not hesitate to answer. Four-year-olds are absolutely candid. She was having a blast. There will be plenty of time later to learn the deeper meanings of Christmas.

For now...

When asked is it was okay that she got more presents than anybody else Madison enthusiastically replied, "Oh My, Yes!"

Technorati Tags: Sue Graziano Sloan, Jeff Sloan, Nicole Sloan, Madison Sloan, Jacob Sloan, Sloan Family, ssloansjca

Remembering my mom

I have always been envious of friends in their 30's, 40's, 50's and older who have their parents in their lives. Both mine died when I was in my 20's. I miss them every day of my life. Yesterday was my mom's birthday and I thought of her a lot.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, ssloansjca

Day after Christmas

It is just like having a wicked hangover. We are recovering from two days of entertaining. It's the first relaxing day in weeks.

Warm Holiday Wish

Granddaughter is a star

Last Sunday we went to son Jeff and Nicole's church to see Madison perform in a Christmas program. Of course, I thought she was the star of the show. It was really cute. They sang several Christmas songs.

Technorati Tags: Madison Sloan, Sloan Family, ssloansjca

Help Desk Fall '08 Grads

Gnanaprakash Pitchika "Prakash" Venkateswarlu and Dhiwakar Mani are two of the help desk staffers who graduated this Fall. Saturday I went to the College of Engineering graduation to celebrate with the graduates. We are loosing 12 of 24 student staff members.

Cold in San Jose

The weather outside is frightful. We have been having ice on the ground and on our windshield. I have been having to scrape my windshield to get to work.

Sloan cats are smart and helpful

Cats need to earn their kibble by helping out around the house. It helps them learn to appreciate things.

Technorati Tags: Pixel Sloan, Sloan Family, Cats, Pets, ssloansjca

Local hotspot for the birds

I have been sick off and on for the last two weeks. When I was my sickest the only thing I could do was hang out on the couch. Outside the window of our living room is a bird feeder and it provided hours of entertainment. There is so much bird action there I buy bird food in 20 pound bags from a local wild bird food store. I guess it is the gourmet stuff because we are very popular with the local flying population.

January B&BB Newsletter

Here is the January 2009 issue of the Black and Blue Bottom, the Almaden Cycle Touring Club newsletter. These are in PDF format:

• Normal version for viewing.
• Special "two page up" version for printer.
  

Film's unique eye

[Click here to see more photos]

Film responds to light differently than a digital sensor. That analog palette carries over even when the film is later scanned.

I am not saying it is better. That is just something I would hate to loose.

Here are some photos in downtown San Jose taken with my Nikon F5 with Fuji Superia film on December 11-12, 2008.

November Bike Rides

[Click here to see more photos]

Last Month's AA Mount Diablo WnD Ride

It was intended that my nephew Alex from Portland and Sue’s cousin Adam from Paso Robles would be here on the same date, November 28, 2008. Adam and Alex are both awesome cyclists and have both done ACTC rides when they have visited. Since they were both going to be here we had this is special AA ride! Alex got sick so he was unable to do the ride.

The ride started in Danville at Camino Tassajara & Blackhawk Roads. Luckily Alison Chaiken went on the ride, so it was still a AA ride!

John Morgan also came on the ride. It was a lot of fun. It was too cold for beer after, so we had coffee and bagels instead!

Hot Grizzly Tamale Ride: November 23, 2008

[See Photos Here]

This great Grizzly ride led by Sandy Lorber and Karin Crosby met in the Walgreens parking lot on the corner of 17th Street and E. Santa Clara Street.

We rode to the Rose Garden before heading through town toward Alum Rock Park. Then, we climbed a short hill on before heading to Inspiration Point in Alum Rock Park.

We then climbed a short hill on Miguelita then down through the park again. We finished and met for lunch at Casa Vicky’s on the corner of 17th Street and Julian Street.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, ssloansjca

My Mumbai Podcast

SJSU Indian Student, Faculty and Alumnus Discuss Mumbai Attacks
Edupodder Podcast Episode 32, Length 39:30
A campus perspective from San Jose State University
On December 3, 2008 San Jose State University student Ruchi Binjola, SJSU History Lecturer Rajiv Khanna and SJSU graduate Kamlesh Kudchadkar discuss the recent bombings in Mumbai, India with SJSU Journalism Lecturer Steve Sloan. Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is India's financial capital.

The conversation begins with Binjola and Kudchadkar and continues when Khanna joins the conversation. This "open mic" podcast conveys the feelings and thoughts of members of the SJSU community. One of the speakers lost a friend to terrorism in Mumbai. The thoughts and emotions expressed here are just as they occurred in the conversation.

Celebrating Sue

[Click here to see more photos]

Great celebrations of Sue's Birthday, Today!

When you have something special, celebrate it! Sue's birthday is more than a day this year, it is a procession of fun events. Among the ways we have been celebrating:

• On Sunday Nov. 30, 2008; Sue's mom Fran, sons Kenneth and Jeff, daughter-in-law Nicole, and grandkids Madison and Jacob as well as the cats joined together to celebrate Sue's birthday.
• Yesterday we went to dinner at a very pleasant dinner, just she and I, at a nice restaurant in Los Gatos.
• This evening we are joining the entire city of San Jose in celebrating her birthday. Gordon Biersch chose today, Sue's Birthday, to have their WinterBock party. According to one of my former students who works there, "I love the band that plays our tapping parties (Jazz Unlimited) so I always skip working it and just sit and enjoy. They're GREAT, they tend to do Sinatra songs and etc. And the lead singer is Martin, he used to be one of our bartenders, he's wonderful."
  

Yes, we are celebrating in style!

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

Welcoming Baby Jack

[Click Here to See More Photos]

On Saturday November 29, 2008 my niece Sophie and Shane Johnson had the family baby shower for their adopted baby Jack Elliott.

Sophie and Shane are going South Korea to bring home Jack in early 2009.

The shower was a very nice event. It occurred in a clubhouse in Rossmore Walnut Creek where my sister Iris and her husband Stan live.

I went with Jeff and Madison. Sue was not feeling well. My brother Jerry's family was there as were many members of Shane's family as well as many friends of the family.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Yale Family, ssloansjca

Thanksgiving

[Click here to see more photos]

Our 2008 Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving at our house. Youngest son Kenneth was over along with Sue's cousins Adam and Eric. Sue's mom Frances was also there.

Tupper, our oldest cat, decided to spend a few rare moments in my lap. She was rewarded with the turkey giblets.

I baked the turkey following our friend Maria's old recipe. It came out yummy. Kenneth carved the bird, his first time!

We opened some of our best wine and had a splendid evening together.

Today Adam, bike friends John and Alison and I rode our bikes up Mt. Diablo. That was quite a ride!

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

Brandon

Thinking of Brandon

Today's rain for some reason mad me think of Deb's son Brandon. Just last week we attended his funeral. He was 27 when he died. As I was driving in I heard David Gate's song, Suite: Clouds and Rain. The lyrics melted into what I was feeling for Brandon and his recent untimely death.

See the clouds adrift so far below
Ever changing as they come and go
Makes me wonder why I'm up so high
When really I am down so low

As we age we lose more and more people we know, sweet people, people we love. The first loss is a shock. It is like a grim myth has come to life and taught us that what we have been told is true; we all are indeed mortal. Even good sweet people die.

Of all the wonders I was one allowed
I think that I would always choose a cloud
Always brings my feelings right out loud
Whether I'm ashamed or proud

It all seems so unfair because it is. Death comes to the young, the sweet, the most precious and full of promise of us, people like Brandon.

See the clouds they're giving life below
In colors that the canvas cannot show
Keeping secrets no one else could know
For I'm the one who told them so

We try to seek meaning in it all; at least I do. I choose to believe in something bigger that this world. There is no risk in doing so and it holds out hope in some reason for what appears to be without reason. Also, it holds out hope for reunion.

Rainfall don't bother me at all
You see the world reflected in the highway
Come on rainbow-I can't let you go
Before I reach the end of you someway

I did not know Brandon well, but every memory I have of Brandon is good. Most of what I know of Brandon I know through his mom. Years ago we used to be bike riding buddies. We would often go on long bike rides and quite often would talk about our children. I knew Deb well then and I know Brandon enough to see that all that's best of Deb is in him.

Also, I know that Brandon continues to live on this earth in all of us who knew and loved him. Beyond that; I choose to believe that somewhere, someday, Deb will hold her son again.

Technorati Tags: ACTC, ssloansjca

A test roll of film

Nov. 2008, SJSU and Downtown San Jose

[Click here to see pictures]

In mid-November 2008 I went picture taking around San Jose, California and San Jose State University. I chose days with different kinds of lighting.

These photos were all taken on a film camera using Kodak's new (yes, I said new) film Ektar 100.

Last Day in Portland

My Boston of the Pacific

[Click here to see photos from our trip]

They say Boston and San Francisco have a lot in common. To me Portland is more like Boston than San Francisco. Yes, it is smaller, but it has more classic architecture and it felt closer to me.

November 11 was our last day in Portland and the photos from that day are here as well as fhose from the rest of the trip. It was a great trip!

Technorati Tags: Portland, ssloansjca

Modesto Train Chasing Day

[Click here to see more train photos]

The historic locomotives from Modesto

Built between 1947 and 1955 the Modesto and Empire Traction 70-tonners are some of the oldest locomotives in revenue service in California. Recently the railroad ordered new locomotives to replace them so they are running their final miles.

November 21 was a great day and the canneries were still in operation so I took a day of vacation to go shoot these beasts before they are history.

I was very lucky. Nine of the locomotives were used this day. Here are just a few of my photos of them.

[All my train photos on Flickr]

Technorati Tags: modesto, Trains, railroading, ssloansjca

Another day in Portland

[Click Here to See Photos]

Nov. 10, 2008; Portland Photowalking #2

November 10, 2008 was our last full day in Portland. We spent this day on foot and streetcar.

We went to the Pearl District, Chinese Gardens and walked back to our hotel via Voodoo Doughnuts.

These are just photographic impressions of the city.

Technorati Tags: Portland, ssloansjca

Wine Tasting Oregon Style, November 9, 2008

[More Photos Here]

Fall in the Dundee Hills

After our Portland family breakfast we took a drive in our Mitsubishi Eclipse rental car to one of my favorite wine growing regions, the Dundee Hills appellation in the Willamette Valley.

Some of my favorite Pinot Noir wine comes from this region. Pinot Noir is a grape that is associated with the Burgundy region of France, where it is called Red Burgundy. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. Pinot Noir varies a lot depending on the soil and climate of a region.

We have a lot of Dundee Hills Pinot. But, it was not Dundee Hills Pinot I was seeking, but it's white cousin Chardonnay. Dundee Hills Chardonnay is different than California Chardonnay because it comes from French Dijon clones. California Chardonnay comes from clones developed mostly at UC Davis. Dundee Hills Chardonnay is more like white Burgundy in my opinion for that reason.

Being eclipsed by California wine, Dundee Hills Chardonnay is very hard to find in California. Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is easy to find here in California if you know where to look.

The Fall colors were abundant and our first stop was the Leeds certifies winery, Stoller where Tasting Room Supervisor Mich Nelson gave us a great tour and sold us some yummy Dundee Hills Chardonnay. Mich also gave us some great winery recommendations.

After that we stopped for lunch. We went wine tasting again to Argyle, Winderlea which was closed, Erath and lastly Daedalus Cellars where we had some great wine including some unusual Gruner Veltliner. (This is an Austrian Grape.)

The wine at Daedalus Cellars was poured by one of the owners (and wife of the wine maker) Pam Walden. We brought home some Gruner and Chardonnay from there.

We had a wonderful time and brought back some super wine!

Technorati Tags: Wine, Oregon Wine, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, ssloansjca

Amazing Santa Cruz Day

Like summer somewhere else

[Click here to see more photos]

November 15, a Saturday, was like a summer day somewhere else. It is almost never this nice during real summer. It was 82 on the beach near Santa Cruz, CA and there was no fog to be seen. This is at Bonny Doon. It was an awesome day at the beach.

Note: This is my first roll of Kodak's new Ektar 100 film.

Technorati Tags: Beach, Santa Cruz, Ektar 100, ssloansjca

An imagining filled with sorrow

There are some events in life that draw us closer to our God, just in order to get through the day. The death of a child is one of those things. I do not know how you could survive such an event if you did not believe in God. The death of a child is about the worst. Robert Thompson describes the death of a child this way, "the death of a child takes you on a journey like a hawk carries a rabbit through the sky. It eventually drops you either dead or wounded. What you see and do on the journey is up to you. The journey itself is not."

There is a word for a person who has lost a spouse and for a person who has lost a parent but no word for a person who has lost a child. I have heard that is because such an event is too sorrowful to attach a word to.

My heart goes out to our friend Deb over the loss of her sweet son Brandon. As a parent I can only imagine the hurt and pain. It is an imagining filled with sorrow.

Family Breakfast in Portland

[Click here to see more photos]

Photos from family breakfast

The weather from last weekend was amazing and there will be more on that later. For now I am presenting some more photos from our trip to Portland.

On November 9 2008, the day after Alex and Lindsay's wedding, we had a breakfast at the Hyatt with our two families. It was a great opportunity for our families to come together and share many happy memories from Alex and Lindsay's wedding the day before.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Yale Family, Buchele Family, ssloansjca

Beer, Bikes and Burgers

[Click here to see more photos from ride]

Morgan Hill Bike Ride

Penny Carl and Sandy Lorber led a great Burger (and beer) in Morgan Hill ride today. This very social ride had 53 riders. It was perfect weather for this great ride.

For me Penny and Sandy's ride was a great reminder of what I love most about being in ACTC; fun rides with nice people.

The beer was nice too!

Here are some photos. I hope you like them.

Technorati Tags: Bicycling, Cycling, ACTC, ssloansjca

A family wedding

Portland Wedding Photos

Here are some selected photos from nephew Alex and Lindsay's wedding and reception in Portland on November 8, 2008. Starring Alex and Lindsay and co-starring granddaughter Madison (age 4) as The Flower Girl:

[More Wedding photos here]

Before the wedding we went for a walk in downtown Portland. Of course I took photos there too:

[Morning walk photos]

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Yale Family, ssloansjca

Powell's Portland

[Click to see more photos]

Photos from our trip

On November 7, 2008 we flew to Portland to attend my nephew's wedding. Our first stop was Powell's Bookstore on Burnside. We spent the day there! We had lunch at Henry's then went back to Powell's.

What an amazing bookstore!

Technorati Tags: Powells, Portland, Powells Bookstore, Sue Graziano Sloan, ssloansjca

Back from Portland

Back from Portland

Early last night we returned from Portland. Alex and Lindsay's wedding was lovely and we had a nice stay in Portland. We spent some great time together and with family.

Technorati Tags: Sloan Family, Yale Family, ssloansjca

Great day at Powell's

The Best Book Store We Have EVER Been To!

Sue and I are in Portland. We spent all day today at Powell's Books. It is an amazing bookstore. About a half dozen people recommended the Powell's to us and we had a great time. One day there was not enough, not even close. It is said to be the largest new and used bookstore in the world. (With the possible exception of Strand's in New York.)

We are shipping over a dozen books home.

We had a very good meal and some fantastic local beer at Henry's Tavern!

Going on vacation

I am headed out of the area. I will be posting mostly on my Twitter Feed.

Please follow me here:

http://twitter.com/ssloansjca

Yes we did!

[Click here to see video]

Yes we did, change America

It has been a long time since I have felt as proud to be an American as I do today. But, I am reminded by the passage of California's gay marriage ban that despite our election of a black president, bigotry is still alive in our state and our nation!

I think Obama is the man for this time and his election sends a powerful message to the world about our capacity for peaceful revolution. But, there are still barriers to overcome. Despite these barriers, in my heart I know, we shall overcome them. We shall overcome.

My sister sent me this poem in reaction to Obama's victory. Thought you might enjoy it, too:

"Sometimes"

Sometimes things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down the frost, green thrives, the crops don't fail,
Sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes will step back from war,
elect an honest man, decide they care
enough, that they can't leave a stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes, our best efforts do not go
amiss. Sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen; may it happen to you.

By Sheenagh Pugh

It is election day

Today is election day. Don't forget to vote...

unless of course you are planning to vote for McCain or for Prop 8.

A train getaway

[Click here to see more train photos]

A train getaway

Some guys go golfing, others fishing, I chase trains. Last weekend I made a fall trip to the Tehachapi mountain pass. Just as a pure luck thing, Amtrak was detouring passenger trains over the pass this weekend. Normally this route is freight only. I saw a lot of trains. In terms of pure train action, it was one of the best trips I have ever had there. My first trip to the Tehachapi mountain pass was with my father around 1970.

Technorati Tags: Tehachapi, Trains, ssloansjca

Next Season

Next season on Dancing With The Stars

Bigots vote yes on 8

[Click to view video]

If I vote yes on Prop 8 am I a bigot?

In my book, yes. Let's be clear about this. The idea that only heterosexual couples should be allowed the right to marry is discrimination. Pure and simple, we are talking civil rights here.

Fifty years ago the majority of voters might have voted against desegregation. But, that does not matter. Sometimes majorities are wrong. It does not matter if the majoritry is for or against the right of gay couples to enjoy the same rights as straight couples. Rights are not, or should not be, subject to votes. That is why we call them rights. If you vote to deny gays their equal rights are you a bigot? You betcha!

[See related story in Mercury News]

Sun and balls in pool

October Reflection

Last Sunday we went to Campbell to get together with cycling friends and go to Oktoberfest. It was a lot of fun. We parked in the parking lot for the Campbell community center. The low sun angle and still air made for a neat reflection in this shallow pool there.

Technorati Tags: Reflections, Campbell, Photowalk, photowalking, ssloansjca

Cameraphone: Evacuation drill SJSU style

Today we are having an evacuation drill. Enjoying the morning sun.

Hey Sarah Palin

[Click here to view video]

Heater Vent Season

It is as it was

[Click Here To View Video]

[Then, Click Here To View Video]

[And Then, Click Here To View Video]

Is This Straight Talk?

[Click here to view video]

That One

[Click here to view video]

McCain vs. McCain

[Click here to view video]

Why I support the rescue plan

We need to flush our system out and return liquidity to our financial markets. The money in these bad loans is essentially gone and we need to face up to that. What do we do about homes that have a value now that is substantially less than their purchase price? No refinancing package will fix that. You cannot repay a loan by selling an asset for a fraction of the balance of the loan. The money is just gone.

IMHO one of the most vexing issues of this whole thing is that it was the voodoo loans that enabled home prices to rise beyond reasonable purchasing ability in the first place. Folks took out loans they could not pay back figuring their houses would appreciate in time for them to build enough equity to pay back the loans. The problem is the appreciation was due to the very type of loans they took out. It was a ponzi scheme. Once it collapsed folks were left with no way out. Home values plummeted. They are not coming back.

Only making loans that folks are going to be able to pay is going to have a long term moderating effect on the housing market, it has to. This will build in a price ceiling. All you have to do is look at the average salary of home buyers in the area. Assuming adequate supply, look at what somebody with that salary can afford and that will be the maximum possible average home price in the area, absent voodoo loans.

The voodoo loans that are out there will likely not be repaid. Their owners will default on them; no matter who owns the paper, even if it is the government. They have to. They cannot afford them. They have no choice. Frankly, I think the best thing to do is to think of this as a major natural disaster, like a major earthquake or New Orleans. Only it was our financial markets that were hit and that need to be rescued. We need to build liquidity back into our system or the cost will be greater. The market crash on Monday cost more in lost wealth than the rescue plan.

$1.5 trillion was lost that day. We all made this mess, Democrats, Republicans; we all built our houses on shaky soil. All this bad debt is toxic waste and all you can do with toxic waste is bury it. We also need to pass laws to keep this from happening again. The problem with unregulated capitalism is it leads to uncontrolled greed and corruption.

~Steve