SEPTEMBER 2008

after 9/6 here after 9/11 here after 9/17 here

ah, late Summer in Potter Creek and just a hint of old-painted-wood smoke in the air

 

 

 

9/2/08

"Surge of robberies in the Bay Area and beyond" reports Erin McCormick of the Chronicle.
     

"A drug-crazed man runs up behind a woman in San Francisco's Marina district and pulls her to the street as he tries to wrestle her purse away.

A group of young men surrounds a commuter on a Muni bus at Fifth and Market streets; they point a gun at him and demand his iPod.

A hooded man yells at customers in a pizzeria in Oakland's Oakmont neighborhood to put their wallets on their tables, as his partner waves a revolver.

More than 40 robberies occur every day in the Bay Area - and they are happening far more often than just a few years ago.

While recent high-profile restaurant robberies have citizens calling for police to crack down on commercial holdups, the total number of robberies in the nine-county region was up nearly 40 percent in 2007 compared with 2004, according to the FBI's most recent figures."

 

our Jarad emails

For anyone interested in knowing more about crime stats in Berkeley, the following link from the SF Chronicle provides numbers from an FBI database. It shows a spike in crime starting in 2006 (current year numbers not available yet).
 
http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/robberies/?appSession=60525740302397

 

"How Many Millionaires in Your ZIP?" Find out here.

 

'Job picture is bleak for U.S. workers" is a report by David Louie of Channel 7 ABC NEWS.
 
"As we observe Labor Day, economists at UC Berkeley say workers are having a difficult time riding out high fuel and food prices. A look at why the economic turbulence is not going away soon."

 

A version of the Berkeley police blotter is the Berkeley Voice.

 

 

"Leaked letter predicts crime rise" reports BBC NEWS.

"The Tories have obtained a leaked letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith which anticipates rising crime levels as a result of the economic downturn.

The draft letter to Downing Street says rising crime figures and increased hostility to migrants are likely.
It also forecasts more smuggling of fuel, alcohol and tobacco." 

 

 

The Left continues to eat-its-own in "Tensions high at KPFA after volunteer arrested," a report by Leslie Fulbright of the Chronicle.

"Unrest is brewing at Berkeley-based KPFA radio after a dispute between management and a volunteer ended in the staffer, who is pregnant, being forcibly removed by police.

Nadra Foster, an unpaid producer at KPFA, was injured by Berkeley police officers after refusing to leave the station on Aug. 20. Police say that at least six officers used force on Foster in order to arrest and remove her."

 



Kubik emails from Barcelona

We are having a great time being tourists, eating well, walking a lot.  Life is good.

 

Jarad and Eva email

This beautiful cat has been a non-aggressive playmate for our cats for several months now. It looks skinnier than in the Spring of this year. We are wondering if anyone has info on a possible owner for the cat.
 
It comes by to visit multiple times a day at 2335 10th Street and has even invited itself indoors when we are home with the back door open.
 
If it is an abandoned stray (very friendly, but cautious), we'll need to try and find a home for it before the weather turns.

 The cat is very tall, sleek, elegant looking that reminds us of an Egyptian statue. If you have any info, please let us know.
 Jarad & Eva

 

 

 

la bola en la calle

Izzy, a six month old Bulldog is in town. Argh, . . . she's really cute.

And Max, a Collie mix, is in Potter Creek for good.

Natalie's Eighth Birthday was celebrated Saturday.

Don Y is vacationing in St Petersburg, Russia.

Reporters for Bay Area dailies have received threats after their Oak Grove stories.

 

 

 

"New kids get by" writes Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer.

"Best, Riley fill stat sheet as upstart Bears take season opener. If it were up to sophomore tailback Jahvid Best, he'd still be Cal's punt-coverage specialist.

Since coaches won't allow their feature back to take that kind of injury risk, Best found a variety of other ways to contribute to Saturday night's 38-31 win over Michigan State in front of 62,956 fans in Strawberry Canyon.'

 

 

'Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan" reports the AP.

"T. Boone Pickens, the Texas oilman turned clean-energy crusader, knows how to grab the spotlight.

He did it last week at the Democratic National Convention, where he pushed his proposal to spread high-tech windmills across the Great Plains and fuel many of America's trucks and cars with natural gas. He plans a repeat performance this week at the Republican National Convention, corralling any party officials and journalists willing to listen."

 

 

cough, hack ,spit, time to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/4/08

"Hendrix's burnt guitar at auction" reports BBC NEWS.

"The first guitar torched on stage by Jimi Hendrix is to go on sale at an auction of rock memorabilia in London.
It is thought the instrument could sell for as much as £500,000." 

 

 

Ron,
One of our construction trailers was burglarized over the labor day weekend in spite of being in a locked fenced yard with our alarm system working and the police responding. Computers were stolen.
Dave Kruse, LEED AP
President
L J Kruse Co
(510) 644-0260
dave@ljkruse.com

 

 

"Shooting at Sacramento Street Barbershop Leaves Man Wounded" reports Kristin McFarland in the Planet.

"One person was injured today (Tuesday) in a shooting at Johnson's House of Style at 2914 Sacramento St."

"Head of Hells Angels in S.F. is shot to death" reports Jaxon Van Derbeken in the Chronicle.

"The president of the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was shot and killed Tuesday night after he lost a fight for his life with a rival on a Mission District street, police said Wednesday.

Mark 'Papa' Guardado, 45, was shot at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday near 24th Street and Treat Avenue, about a mile from the group's clubhouse where he lived. He died at San Francisco General Hospital.

Witnesses told investigators that Guardado and the gunman struggled before the shooting.

'They had a wrestling match first,' said Lt. Mike Stasko of the San Francisco police homicide detail. Then 'the guy shot him, and he got on his motorcycle and left.' "

 

"Oakland police say takeover robbery suspects are in custody" reports Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer.

"Three people arrested moments after they allegedly robbed an East Oakland nail salon have been implicated in three takeover robberies at restaurants and a bar in the city and are being investigated in other holdups, police said today.

Leon Luster, 22, Rashaan Lamonthe, 30, and Shante Bostic, 20, all of Oakland, were arrested shortly after they robbed K and T Nails and Spa at 10814 Bancroft Ave. about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Investigators said Luster and Lamonthe, both of whom are on parole, and Bostic are suspected of holding up the Kerry House bar on Piedmont Avenue on Aug. 4, the Nomad Cafe on Shattuck Avenue in North Oakland on Aug. 22 and the Full Moon Seafood House on MacArthur Boulevard in the city's Dimond district Aug. 24, during which an employee was pistol-whipped.

Alameda County prosecutors are expected to file charges against the three on Thursday."

 

"Local Police Work to Curb Students'Alcohol Use" report Skyler Reid and Daily Cal staff.
   
"Sometimes it's in the way they smile. Other times, it's the distance between their eyes, the shape of their ears, or their inability to remember the zip code of a Texas town whose streets they've never walked.

As plainclothes police officers examined suspicious IDs in a hallway at Kip's Restaurant & Bar in Southside Berkeley Saturday night, Alcohol Beverage Control Investigator Lori Ajax turned around, shrugged and smirked.

'I ran out,' he said, prompting another officer to retrieve more citations for fraudulent IDs."

 

"UC helps veterans march to a new beat" writes Matt Krupnick in the Times.

"In this peace-loving city that tried to oust the Marines, the troops have arrived at the university.

Nearly 80 known veterans are among the 6,300 new undergraduates at UC Berkeley this semester. The number doesn't seem particularly high until one considers that the campus as a whole had 151 known veterans among its 35,000 or so students last year."

 

 

Hi Jarad,

I believe Angela and Officer DeLaluna have spoken to you about Nortenos in Berkeley, so I won't go into that.  Code enforcement is on the job as it pertains to the apartment buildings that have been tagged and will be issuing Notices of Violation.  Neighborhood Services has been working with the property owner on Channing and 10th, 1019 Channing, to make the property a bit less attractive for people congregating.  We will also give him a call to try and convince him to have BPD walk him through a "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" survey to implement some environmental features to discourage people from loitering on the corner.  On a more positive note, the Youth At Hope project will be up and running soon, diverting taggers toward more productive activities, ie. public art/murals.  Also, Berkeley Project Day is coming up where the UC Campus mobilizes hundreds of volunteers for different community projects around Berkeley.  If you and the neighbors have any particular projects that you think might liven up the area, you can have some Cal volunteers at your disposal.  Let me know if you have a project or two in mind. 
Sincerely,
Ryan Lau
Council Aide
Councilmember Darryl Moore

 

 

"Rich cry poor: US housing crisis goes upmarket" reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The US housing crisis arrived on July 14 at Stonebrook Court, the 26,000-square-foot Tudor-style home of California venture capitalist Kelly Porter. On that day, four months after putting the house on the market, he cut the price by $US7 million ($8.4 million).

It's still for sale.

The mansion sits on 7.5 acres in Los Altos Hills, a Silicon Valley town where Yahoo! Inc. co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jerry Yang also lives. It boasts a wine cellar, Venetian- inspired ballroom, Italian statuary and swimming pool. At the reduced price of $US38 million, the property is a bargain, the owner says.
`It's worth every bit of $US45 million, and I reduced it reluctantly,' said Porter, 45, a partner at Woodside Capital Partners LLC in Palo Alto, in an interview. 'We touched up every square inch.'

The pain of the worst housing slump in a quarter century is reaching the highest end of the market as owners of luxury homes from California to Florida, New York and Connecticut slash list prices by millions. In the broader market, home sales plunged to a 10-year low in the second quarter and median house prices fell 7.6%, according to the National Association of Realtors."

 

"How Many Millionaires in Your ZIP?" Find out here.

 

 

"Plexxikon starts early clinical trial of pain drug" reports the East Bay Business Times.

"Plexxikon Inc. started early clinical testing of a drug that could be useful in treating both pain and kidney cysts.

The company, based beside the Aquatic Park lagoon in West Berkeley, plans to develop the drug, PLX5568, for both pain and for polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder in which cysts grow in and ruin the kidneys. About 600,000 people in the United States and some 12 million worldwide suffer from the kidney disorder."

 

 

"Budget Brown Bag: Packing a week's worth of lunches for $20" writes Stacy Finz in the Chronicle.

"School is back in session, and parents are once again contemplating the age old-old question: What to pack for lunch? With food prices soaring and the economy on the skids, it's not easy coming up with meals that are inexpensive, yet nutritious and delicious. Because kids consume 35 to 50 percent of their daily calories at school, says Juliet Sims of Prevention Institute, a nonprofit Oakland group dedicated to preserving community health, it's important to make good choices."

 

"Berkeley Rep Offers Gormet Tastings Before Select Performances in 2008-09 Season" reports broadwayworld.com.

"Berkeley is the birthplace of California cuisine, and now Berkeley Repertory Theatre tempts theatregoers to arrive early for its shows with a series of gourmet tastings. On select Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, audience members can whet their palates for the play with free samples from local culinary artisans who bring the same handcrafted care to their products that Berkeley Rep brings to everything seen on its stage."

 

 

 

"Why brain's ability to process information diminishes with age" is a report in dailyindia.com.

"Scientists have found how brain's ability to process information diminishes with age and have also shown that this break down is responsible for the decreased ability to form memories linked with normal aging.
    
The finding will enable the researchers to explore strategies for enhancing brain function in the healthy aging population, through mental training exercises and pharmaceutical treatments.

Conducted by University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley scientists, the research is based on the team's seminal 2005 discovery that the brain's capacity to ignore irrelevant information diminishes with age."

Interesting if true. I've given a lot of thought to the upcoming elections, particularly the presidential one. Specially Sarah Palin's candidacy. What did I do with those socks and shorts?

 

 

"Palin being greeted with sexism, many say" by John F. Harris and Beth Frerking in the
Twin City Times.

"Sarah Palin found some unlikely allies Wednesday as leading academics and even former top aides to Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed the Republican charge that John McCain's running mate has been subject to a sexist double standard by the news media and Democrats." 

 

"While political conventioneers work themselves into a frenzy over who will occupy the White House for the next four years, a new photo exhibit at the University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism is taking a different tack by looking at the presidencies of the past" reports media newswire.

'The American President' shows off more than two dozen 16-by-20-inch images taken by Associated Press photographers of the men in the Oval Office, primarily since World War II. The exhibit at North Gate Hall on campus is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Inauguration Day ( Jan. 20, 2009 ).
The exhibit photos capture images of the United States' commanders in chief from the Civil War to today's 'War on Terror' while they travel the campaign trail, in their attempts to shape international relations, as they navigate tumultuous governmental crises and personal scandals, and occasionally in repose."

 

Saltwater fishing report from our Times.

Berkeley/Emeryville: Halibut fishing is very good when tides are strong, like this coming weekend. The Berkeley Flats have been productive. Rock cod trips get limits when boats can reach the islands. Local trips produce well. (510) 237-3474, (510) 654-6040, (510) 223-5388

 

 

la bola en la calle

Coach is back, as are the kids and other staff at the French school.

The childcare playground at Fantasy is coming along. Quite a facility.

Ricardo is looking for a book of aphorisms in Spanish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/5/08

Jarad emails info about west-Berkeley gangs

1. the guy they suspect is behind the [gang] graffiti is in 
jail on other unrelated charges.
2. the Norteno group was ID'd as young men that 
were up and coming in the gang and were responsible for increasing 
acts of violence, specifically muggings / strong arm robberies, so 
seriously watch yourselves out there when you see these people and 
always call BPD to report suspicious activity or trespassing, even if 
it isn't your property.
3. one of the Nortenos here in W. Berkeley was responsible for a 
shooting earlier this summer up on Russell in S. Berkeley. 
4. we've got one of these Nortenos residing on 10th Street, so 
be aware of that.
5. there is some sort of diversion program that is getting started 
this week or next that focuses on the kids doing the tagging. I don't 
have any hope that it will make a difference, but at least there is 
some effort to look for solutions at the root of the problem.

 

 

 

"Tigard [Oregon] police say 'fake' security guards held in California" is a report in the Portland Tribune.

"Two men conned local businesses into giving up money meant for night deposit box

The uniforms, handcuffs and fake sign used by suspects in the Aug. 15 Washington Square Wells Fargo bank scam were found during an arrest in Alameda County, Calif. Two men held in California might be linked to the Tigard case.

Two men are being held in a California jail who Tigard police say could be the fake bank security guards who fooled a couple of business people into giving up their night deposits.

The men, whose names were not released by Tigard police, face unrelated burglary charges in Alameda County, Calif. One is 19 and the other is 20. They were considered transients, not UC Berkeley students.

They were arrested about a week ago by University of California at Berkeley campus police in connection with a string of dormitory burglaries. During the investigation, campus police detectives discovered several odd items, such as fake security guard uniforms, security badges, ID cards, a pair of handcuffs and a blue sign instructing people that the night deposit box was broken and to give their deposits to the guards.

Tigard police discovered the arrests when California law enforcement officials sent a message about the case to Corvallis police, said Jim Wolf, Tigard Police Department spokesman. The message was forwarded to Tigard, which jumped on the case and obtained evidence photos and mug shots from Alameda County law enforcement."

 

 

"US drug use shows little change in 2007" writes the AP's Kevin Freking.

"Cocaine and methamphetamine use among young adults declined significantly last year as supplies dried up, leading to higher prices and reduced purity, the government reports. Overall use of illicit drugs showed little change."

 

 

"Construction Can Begin at UC Berkeley Stadium" reports Will Kane, Daily Cal Staff Writer.
 
 "A California Appellate court in San Francisco said today that it will not issue an injunction banning construction at the site of proposed development near UC Berkeley's Memorial Stadium.
 
The decision by the three-judge panel allows the campus to begin the construction they have been seeking to begin since December 2006. Plaintiffs say they will ask for an emergency injunction from the California Supreme Court tomorrow." 
 

 

"Zoning Board, Westside Artists Want Scaled-Down Wareham Project" writes Riya Bhattacharjee
in our Planet.

"The Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board recently asked San Raphael-based Wareham Developers to scale back the size of its 100,000-square-foot project at 740 Heinz St. The applicant proposes demolishing the landmarked Copra Warehouse and building a state-of-the-art biotechnology research center in its place.

Wareham, which leases the Heinz Street building from Garr Land Resources and Management Company, is scheduled to return to the zoning board with an official application at a later date.

Board Chair Rick Judd told Chris Barlow, a partner at Wareham, that although the board was not against the project, the proposed height of approximately 89 feet defied the neighborhood's zoning ordinance.

Barlow contended that the city should allow Wareham to proceed with the project on the grounds that it would provide a major economic boost to the city and create 300 well-paying jobs." 

 

Quote of the Week

by Sarah Palin

"I guess that a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organiser', except that you have actual responsibilities."

 

la bola en la calle

Michael Golden has put his west-Berkeley loft-home on the market.

900 GRAYSON should open four nights a week for dinner, later-than-sooner.

 

 

"Grand opening of five fields at Gilman Street" is a report in our Times by Kristin Bender

"Let the games begin.

Five years ago, a handful of East Bay cities and the East Bay Regional Park District came together with a pledge to build five new sports fields at the foot of Gilman Street in Berkeley.

On Saturday, the leaders of those cities and other politicians will cut the ribbon at the new $7 million sports complex that will host 17,000 soccer, rugby, lacrosse, baseball and softball players each year." 

 

And Ms Bender writes "Ground broken on nation's first transit hub for disabled.
.
When politicians, disability activists and disabled people came together Thursday to mark the start of construction of the Ed Roberts Campus, one thing was clear: They picked the right man to name the one-stop service and transportation center after.

The center will open in 18 months at BART's Ashby station in Berkeley and is expected to serve roughly 30,000 people annually in the Bay Area.

Roberts, who had polio and spent much of his time in an iron lung, was a force who launched the independent living movement in Berkeley. He was a man who refused to take no for an answer and sued when denied admission to UC Berkeley, ultimately paving the way for disabled student services at Cal." 

 

 

 

"S.F. gathering celebrates Saroyan's centennial" is a report by Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer.

"The admirers of William Saroyan, a writer who was bigger than life, are throwing a birthday party in San Francisco tonight [Thursday] to celebrate the centennial of his birth.

Saroyan was born and died in Fresno, the place closest to his heart. He also lived in Paris, New York and Malibu, but did some of his best work in San Francisco.

He wrote short stories and plays, dashing them off effortlessly as if he were blowing bubbles. Saroyan also learned to draw and to paint.

His paintings were a lesser known part of his creative drive. Tonight's sold-out party will showcase 125 Saroyan paintings and drawings never seen in public before.

Though his roots were in Fresno, his talents boiled up like a cauldron in San Francisco, especially in the grim years of the Depression."

Oona O'Neill and William Saroyan

a Mary Morris photo

More Mary Morris photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

 

 

"Muslim women's law firm breaks down stereotypes" writes Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah of the Chicago Tribune.

"In what may be the nation's only law firm composed solely of Muslim women, the attorneys represent the ethnic and religious diversity within the Islamic faith: Some cover their hair, some don't. Some are Sunni; others are Shiite; and at least one is secular.

The six women hope that by founding Amal Law Group, they are helping to dispel common stereotypes about Muslim women." 

 

 

 

Janine emails the complete program notes for her Saturday Bach recital--part I

The Fantasias:  We have three pieces on the program with this title.  The musical form "Fantasia" is probalby one of the most varied in the literature, as it is a bit of a catch-all.  Our idea of a Fantasia being a freely improvisatory work is only one manifestation, though it is the one most of us likely expect.

In the case of the Telemann Fantasias, these pieces could easily be called Sonatas or Sonatinas.  It is perhaps the fact that they contain dances as the final movements, that prompted Telemann to call them Fantasias, as these are  a bit like hybrids of the Sonata and Suite forms.  Each movement is a minature.  The Fantasia VII in Eb is a four movemnt piece, with the first two movements in ABA form, a connecting Largo and a Presto, which is a rustic dance.  

The dance movements in these Fantasias  are all dervied from folk music, especially that of Poland.  Telemann was in the service of Count Erdman von Promnitz from 1705-08, at which time, during travels with the count, he heard much Polish, Moravian and Hanakian folk music, of which he became quite enamored.  It is very likely these Fantasias date from that time or soon thereafter.
BWV 904 (ca. 1725) exhibits yet another form of Fantasia.  This is a freely contrapuntal work, though it is built within a fixed framework. It is in Rondo form, with the main A section recurring four times  in the tonic, dominant, subdominant, and again tonic.  The "couplets" as they  might be called are spun out from fragments of the main subject, becoming more complex each time.  The final "couplet" is built primarily of arpeggiated chords, which do not appear in the A section, but instead are used as a counter subject to the first fragment from the first "couplet".  Ultimately it breaks down into progressively more energetic motion reaching a dramatic climax before the final statement of A. The fantastic qualities would be in the nature of the free material, the lack of concern for number of voice parts (3-6), and to some extent the more vertical writing at the expense of voice leading.

The Fugue (four voices) which follows the Fantasia is most certainly a double fugue, if not a triple.  The first third of the work is devoted to the primary fugue subject, which is fully developed, cadencing in the tonic, at which time subject #2 appears. This is a slow chromatic line which does not follow the usual exposition form, as the second statement of the subject enters before the first is finished (in stretto).  These two voices then continue immediately into what could be considered the third subject, or counter subject, also introduced in stretto. This energetic and leapy third subject conforms even less to the proscribed forms required of it to be pigeonholed as a definite subject, as the exposition unfolds.  However, a strong case can be made, considering how thoroughly it is developed throughout the rest of the of the piece, and that it persists to the very end.  Roughly two thirds of the way through the Fugue, the original subject returns in the bass and all three subjects are heard together simultaneously, in different pairings, in stretto etc. leading to a dramatic climax.

My own Fantasia follows the freer idea of this form. Originally written for Elizabeth in 1998, it was conceived for violin and fortepiano.  True to Baroque performance practices, we are using the instrument in hand, hence the harpsichord.  As is often true of the transitional music in the late 18th century, music written for fortepiano seems to transfers well to the harpsichord, and this is no exception. The piece begins with an expressive and lyrical melody which recurs, even in the Fugue.  This alternates with more animated sections, which also contain the seeds for the Fugue subject and much of the episodic material found in that movement. The Fugue is relatively straightforward, in three voices, though there are the episodes which hearken back to the Fantasia. The pair contains Eastern European, jazz, and Baroque influences.

The six Sonatas for Harpsichord and solo Violin  BWV 1014-1019 were written toward the end of Bach's stay at Cöthen (1717-23), these Sonatas represent a departure from the norm where harpsichord is in a subservient role to a solo instrument, acting as continuo accompaniment only. In the case of these Sonatas, the keyboard part is fully written out (with only occasional bits of continuo) and is treated as an equal to the violin.  

It is intriguing to see how Bach uses the two instruments together.  Often they have the same melodic material, behaving as true equals, but just as often he separates them into distinct roles as accompanist and soloist, (sometimes trading roles during a single movement) and creates further divisions between the two hands at the harpsichord as well. It is quite wonderful to experience the interplay between the two quite dissimilar instruments and the mastery with which Bach brings them together.

These works are also quite interesting in how Bach treats the key relations within and between the movements. In none of the six Sonatas are all the movements in the same key, and often he will begin in one key and end in another, giving the listener a sense of anticipation or uncertainty.  In the Sonatas we are playing tonight, all four have the third movement in a key other than the tonic.  In 1, 2, and 3, they are in the relative Major or minor keys. In  2 and  3  their final cadences are in the dominants of those keys. In the 5th Sonata, this third movement is in the dominant of the home key, but it is in minor rather than Major.  This movement cadences on the 6th degree of its scale, in Ab Major, which is the relative Major to the home key.  The fifth Sonata also cadences in the dominant in the first movement.  For those interested in such things, the 6th Sonata is the most interesting, with three of the five movemnts in a key other than the tonic.

Another idea which seem to recur in these Sonatas is a sense of inevitability which he achieves through a relentless  and inescapable bass line or accompanying figure.  Perhaps Bach's stay in Cöthen, which was a Calvinist court (believing in pre-destiny), influenced his music. In the case of his darker works, there is an often fatalistic cast to some of his most passionate and heart rending music. often underscored by the key shifts mentioned above.  

Pure counterpoint is of course evident everywhere, and many of the movements are in the form of fugues.
The Sonata #5 in f minor has two of these fugues as the fast movements #2 and #4.  The second movement is a straightforward three voice fugue in binary form (each half is repeated).  All three voices are of equal importance.  The final fugue, also in three voices, is highly chromatic and is almost a double fugue, as it has a very well developed counter subject.  The fact that this counter subject never finds its way into the bass part, but instead enters again in the violin at the expected third time in its exposition (an octave higher than at the start) nixes it from this form. Considering how Bach creates various illusions with these two instruments, one can only wonder how he himself perceived this.  In modern times we tend to pigeonhole things, perhaps to a fault  It is most certainly a very daring and startling work, with it's chromaticism and dissonance, particularly as he builds to a climax at the end. 

 

 

"Nordic Windpower Selected as a GoingGreen Top 100 Winner" reports PRNewswire.

"For the second year in a row, Nordic Windpower, Ltd., the leading company manufacturing and selling innovative, two-bladed utility-scale turbines based proven Swedish technology, today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the GoingGreen Top 100 Winners. The top 100 award signifies major developments in the creation of new business opportunities in green technology industries. Nordic Windpower was selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team and other industry experts around the globe, based on a set of five criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value, and media buzz.

'The GoingGreen Top 100 winners have excelled in key strategic areas in the global clean energy technology markets,' said Tony Perkins, founder and CEO of AlwaysOn. 'We congratulate them for their success in introducing new tools, services, and systems that are driving the next phase of greentech innovation and transforming the biggest industries on earth.'

'Nordic Windpower is very pleased to win this award for the second year in a row. We appreciate the recognition of our innovative and clean technology, and that of wind energy and other green solutions in fostering environmental sustainability and combating global climate change. Nordic Windpower turbines offer a cost-competitive, low-maintenance, and highly reliable option for large and small developers and community wind projects.' "

 

 

"Pioneer in real-time visibility enabled yard management systems recognized as leading innovator in supply and demand chain solutions" is a report about a Berkeley business at pr-inside.

"PINC Solutions, the leader in cost-effective yard management solutions based on real-time asset visibility technology, has been named by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine among its 2008 top-100 providers of next-wave supply chain services and solutions."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9/6/08

"California prospect Rosen shows interest in NMSU women's basketball team" writes Jason Groves of the Las Cruces Sun-News.

"Recent success for the New Mexico State women's basketball team has attracted more quality players.
Aggies head coach Darin Spence signed three freshmen from California for the upcoming season - forwards Cindy Ekweozer and Tabytha Wampler along with guard Kaitln Soto.

Another California product, Berkeley High School senior Camila Rosen made her first official visit to the Las Cruces campus early this week.

'I think it's a great facility and the support around the campus and the community is great,' said Rosen, a 6-foot guard/forward. 'The coaching staff really cares about the players.'

Rosen said the University of San Francisco has already offered her. She said she has also received interest from Pepperdine, California-State Northridge and Santa Clara."

 

 

"Stopping the School to Jail Pipeline in California" is a report by Barry A. Krisberg, President, National Council on Crime and Delinquency.

"Recent media accounts have reported on the rising rates of school suspensions in California. Clearly, the problem is statewide, but is worse in neighborhoods already stressed by high rates of violence and poverty. We seem to be staring directly down the "school to jail pipeline"-meaning that youth that have behavior issues walk a fine line between school and the corrections system. Before we fall back on the hackneyed and disproven solution of more police (especially officers untrained to handle teens) or more punitive responses, we owe it to our youth to think carefully."

 

 

"Cal gets go-ahead for sports training center" reports Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer.
     

"A state appeals court refused Thursday to block UC Berkeley's plans to build a sports training center next to Memorial Stadium, denying a request from oak tree advocates and a neighborhood group for a new order stopping the project.

The court's action came after an Alameda County judge last week lifted her order preventing the university from beginning construction in a grove of trees occupied by protesters opposed to the campus' plans for the $124 million center.

'As far as we're concerned, we're clear to begin construction,' said campus spokesman Dan Mogulof, who added that he did not know when the university will act. 'The state Court of Appeal ruled quickly and decisively on this, and for us that's extremely significant.'"

 

And Ms Jones reports "Workers begin cutting down trees at UC stadium.

UC Berkeley today began clearing the Memorial Stadium oak grove where tree-sitting protesters have been camped for nearly two years in an attempt to block construction of a sports training facility there.

Arborists wielding saws began thinning a portion of the grove as several dozen protesters shouted from the median on nearby Piedmont Avenue. The action came a day after a state appeals court refused two groups' request to stop the project.

'It's surreal to see the grove finally be cut down, after so much energy and effort and spirit was put into protecting it,' said Daria Garina, a UC Berkeley junior and supporter of the tree-sitters. 'It's tragic and awful. ' "

 

On one of the local TV station's coverage, a young woman student said "This is the saddest thing I've ever seen."

Whoa, not much life experience here.

 

Building a new sports facility right on the Hayward Fault speaks of the same denial that values houses at millions of dollars that are built here right on the fault.

Go figure.

Ah, Alice in Wonderland.

 

 

This week, our Geralyn had a chicken tofu sandwich on ciabatta bread with cheese at TofuYou on 9th and Ashby. She took it to-go and remarked "Very Good!"

 

 

Our Janine emails the complete notes to her Bach concert--Part II

The first movement of this Sonata has a very staid harpsichord part underlying the freely expressive violin.  This is an example of the inevitability mentioned earlier, though the feeling of relentlessness is more a result of the nearly ever-present theme of the right hand harpsichord voices  than in the walking bass line.  The style is reminiscent of a Chorale prelude, and the violin seems to enter on a cantus firmus note, but this is not to be.  Instead, when it starts again, it offers commentary on a seemingly tragic state of affairs, in a beautiful aria. It is not until halfway through the movement that the violin finally picks up the material we have been hearing so much of in the harpsichord, and it is at a moment of harmonic tension just prior to the conclusion of a major section. The violin's only other iteration of this melody is in a moment of real surprise as the harmony takes an unexpected and exquisite turn. Interestingly, the harpsichord never plays the violin's melodies.

The third movement of this Sonata is quite unusual.  It does not have a melody at all, but instead relies upon its harmonic progressions to compel the listener through its apparent tale of woe. There is again a sense of inevitability engendered by the relentless 32nd notes in the harpsichord and pulsating double stops in the violin.  Tensions build and release as the harmonies change.  This is perhaps the closest to "new age" music one can find in the Baroque repertoire.

Sonata #3 in E major:  The first movement of this Sonata is again one of contrast between the more rigid harpsichord and freely improvisatory violin.  The sense of inevitability and solidity is in this case provided by the firm foundation of the bass part which sounds in octaves at every half bar.  The piece begins over a prolonged E pedal point and moves on from there. The writing for the harpsichord right hand is particularly thick, and though not very idiomatic to the instrument, makes for a grand and full support for the highly ornamented violin part.

The second movement exhibits contrast of a very different nature. It goes from the seriously dignified first movement to the decidedly undignified second, with its impish childlike tunes, which taunt and tease the listener. This is a brilliant piece of three voice counterpoint, and one is left thinking Bach could work magic with just about anything!

The Adagio ma non tanto again uses a repetitive accompanying figure to set off the free treble voices. In this case the harpsichord and violin share the duties as accompanist, though this falls away when the two engage in duet. It is the bass line which anchors the entire movement.

The final Allegro is a masterful piece of illusion, as the violin and harpsichord act as both orchestra and soloists in this Concerto-like movement.  The "tutti" sections are energetic and scintillating, and the "ripieno" sections are nonchalant and fluid.  Bach's "tutti" interruptions during the "solos" are both humorous and dramatic.  In this case much is left to the performers' imaginations as to how to "pull off" the Concerto most effectively, which adds to the fun.

Sonata #1 in b minor:  The Adagio which opens this Sonata is another tragic and dramatic work.  It begins with a harpsichord solo, and indeed this instrument seems to be the most important, but the roles subtly shift as what was originally primary motivic material becomes accompaniment.  The violin takes the upper hand roughly halfway through with powerful double stops in 6ths, using the motives from the beginning.  The balance of power remains in the violin's favor thereafter, though the harpsichord does get the final word.
The second movement is a sprightly three voice fugue, with all parts being equal.  Bach utilizes "violin" figuration in many of the episodic sections which is equally successful on either instrument. This, and the general high energy level, at which both instruments are well suited, make for little contrast between them.

It is as though Bach is bringing the two instruments into as close concord as possible in this Sonata. In the Andante he treats the two treble parts  the same, with the voices interweaving and complementing each other.  The walking bass line in this case lends a sense of serenity to the movement, and it is also most curious how Bach will reiterate the same bar verbatim, two and three times over in succession, but because of the interest in the treble parts it slides by unnoticed. Perhaps this is part of the secret to its reposeful nature?

The final Allegro arrives as a bit of a shock, as it is almost savage in nature.  The rapid figuration, insistent repeated notes and quick turn-like figures in all three parts drive it from beginning to end.  Again, the various motives are equally suited to either instrument. This Sonata as a whole is perhaps the one where the instruments are most like one another.

Like the foregoing, the Dolce of Sonata #2 in A Major, treats the three voices as equals.  Bach even opens the movement with the exact same material presented one after another in all three voices as though the voices are in conversation as peers.This sense of equality continues into the next movement, which begins as a Fugue, but quickly morphs into a Concerto.  There are several features which are unique to this movement.  As in the third movement of Sonata #5, there are long episodes where there is no melody, but all three voices sound like accompaniment. In toto, they create delightful harmonic texture.  This occurs in the "ripieno" sections when the "soloists" hold sway. The main fugue subject appears at the moments one would expect the tutti in a real Concerto, and as players we are following this lead.  There are a few dynamics written into the music, as forte and piano during a section with echo-like effects. This section is again built of little more than accompaniment. After this, the piece enters a long cadenza for both "soloists" over the dominant (E) pedal point.  The harpsichord plays the fugue subject in sequence while the violin arpeggiates (ad lib.). The pattern breaks into runs alternating between the two instruments, building to a half cadence climax before the da Capo.

The Andante un poco is in f# minor, the key associated with absolute despair.  The left hand is nearly relentless, marked "staccato sempre", and is dry and seemingly indifferent to the plight of the treble voices, which are in strict canon throughout the movement.  One can only speculate as to the symbolism behind this, but possibilities abound, such as one of preordained (and thereby inescapable) destiny, a bad set of circumstances being reflected upon, the contemplation of the march of time and death itself, or maybe even reflecting on the death of Bach's first wife in 1720, (or none of the above!)  Regardless of how one interprets this sad and pleading canon over the stark bass line, the result is haunting, especially since the piece leaves one hanging in the dominant key.

Bach was surely an optimist, however, as he lets us off the hook so to speak, with a boisterous Fugato to conclude the Sonata. It is marked Presto, the only movement in the set with such a quick marking.
-JJ

 

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports

"The University of California at Berkeley plans to renovate Cloyne Court, a 1904 student co-op designed by John Galen Howard, the university's longtime architect. The renovation will make the building better able to withstand earthquakes and more accessible to visitors with disabilities."

 

 

"Researchers showcase automated bus that uses magnets to steer through city streets" writes Sarah Yang, Media Relations, UC Berkeley News.

"The thought of a bus moving along city streets while its driver has both hands off the wheel is alarming. But a special bus introduced today (Friday, Sept. 5), steered not by a driver, but by a magnetic guidance system developed by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, performed with remarkable precision.

The 60-foot research bus was demonstrated along a one-mile stretch of E. 14th Street in San Leandro that was embedded with a series of magnets. Special sensors and processors on board the bus detected the magnets in the pavement and controlled the steering based upon the information it received. The driver maintained control of braking and acceleration, but the steering was completely automated, allowing the bus to pull into stops to within a lateral accuracy of 1 centimeter, or about the width of an adult pinky finger."

 

 

"California's Laws" is Ken Silverstein of EnergyBiz Insiders opinion of our energy laws.

"California's trend-setting energy and environmental laws are a noble but risky effort. While they are serving to create a new economy, the rules may also be hamstringing some utilities and businesses.

Green energy experiments are not new to California, but this undertaking is more aggressive. The state, which now gets 11 percent of its power from renewable energy, has always taken a progressive posture toward expanding its sustainable base. The problems, though, are that wind and solar resources are limited while the cost of compliance may be too high for some." 
 

 

 

"Jobless rate jumps to 5-year high of 6.1 percent" is a report by Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer.

"The nation's unemployment rate zoomed to a five-year high of 6.1 percent in August as employers slashed 84,000 jobs, dramatic proof of the mounting damage a deeply troubled economy is inflicting on workers and businesses alike.

The Labor Department's report, released Friday, showed the increasing toll the housing, credit and financial crises are taking on the economy."

 

"Home loan troubles break records again" writes Alan Zibel of the AP.

"The source of trouble in the mortgage market has shifted from subprime loans made to borrowers with bad credit to homeowners who had solid credit but took out exotic loans with ballooning monthly payments.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said Friday that more than 4 million American homeowners with a mortgage-a record 9 percent-were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of June."

Call me a muddle-headed optimist but doesn't that leave 91% of mortgages paid on time?

Oops.

"U.S. Rescue Seen at Hand for 2 Mortgage Giants" reports the New York Times.

"Senior officials from the Bush administration and the Federal Reserve on Friday called in top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants, and told them that the government was preparing to place the two companies under federal control, officials and company executives briefed on the discussions said.

The plan, which would place the companies into a conservatorship, was outlined in separate meetings with the chief executives at the office of the companies' new regulator. The executives were told that, under the plan, they and their boards would be replaced and shareholders would be virtually wiped out, but that the companies would be able to continue functioning with the government generally standing behind their debt, people briefed on the discussions said." 

 

 

"Universal flu vaccine tests start" reports BBC NEWS.
"A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual jab is being tested on UK volunteers."

 

 

 

 

 

Eternally useful links

Bay Area home prices from sfgate.com

 

Bay Area foreclosures from sfgate.com

 

Our City Council update is here.

 

Our Planning Commision update is here

 

 

 

 

 

You can find more information about our current weather conditions than is good for you at www.wunderground.com

Want to see weather coming in, going out, beautiful sunsets, and much, much more? Check out http://sv.berkeley.edu/view/ This very hip site was in an email from reader and contributor, Tony Almeida. Read Tony's Jimi Hendrix story on the only page that routinely gets more hits than Scrambled Eggs.

 

Best gas prices in 94710, as well as all of US and Canada, are here at gasbuddy.com

Kimar finds Costco routinely has the lowest price.

 

Richmond Ramblers' motorcycle club member, Cliff Miller emails a very

useful link

If you ever need to get a human being on the phone at a credit card company or bank, etc., this site tells you how to defeat their automated system and get you to a human being within a few seconds.

http://gethuman.com/

 

Markets is not just a reference for Berkeley-Hills radicals with 1.5 mil homes and considerable portfolios.

 

Our City of Berkeley Boards and Commissions page is here--redone and friendly.

 

 

Berkeley Police reports at insidebay area.com are here.

 

Our Berkeley PD Site with crime statistics and more is here.

Crime Log for 94710 is here

This site is NOT affiliated with Berkeley PD.
Take time to report crime!

 

All reports of crime-in-progress should first go to Berkeley PD dispatch--911 or non-emergency, 981-5900. THEN make sure you notify EACH of these City people.

The contacts are below:

Our new Area Coordinator is Officer Karen Buckheit, Berkeley PD - 981-5774 kbuckheit@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Angela Gallegos-Castillo, City Mgr Off - 981-2491 agallegos-castillo@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Ryan Lau, aid to Darryl Moore - 981-7120 rlau@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Darryl Moore, City Councilman dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us

 

More Scrambled Eggs & Lox, here

and

Stories about Berkeley and stories about recorded-music

are at

Journal of Recorded Music 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

 

ronpenndorf@earthlink.net

The original owner of all scanned material retains copyright. The material is used only to illustrate