Wow, a lot of excellent suggestions there. I'll have to find time to sort through them all. I'm a bit busy in preparation. Thanks.
I have a major problem. Over here I hardly ever drive a car. Three or four times a year I rent one for trips to the forest and such. Just now I can't for the life of me find my driving license! That's going to make things tough and limit any trips to whatever I can do with Uber or whatever public transport there is around. I get the impression there isn't any. Could be I'm stuck to Las Plumas Avenue San Jose
In case anyone is wondering the title of this thread is inspired by the Aki Kaurismaki movie "Leningrad Cowboys Go America":
Prospect Silicon Valley (ProspectSV) is a non-profit urbantech innovation hub focused on solutions for smarter, cleaner cities. We bring government, corporations and academia together with start-ups, product teams and expert staff to accelerate innovations in transportation, energy and the built environment. We provide a full spectrum of commercialization support including market and technical insight, connections to partners and investors, pilot opportunities as well as access to a $12 million, 23,000 sq. ft. Technology Demonstration Center with working and industrial space, lab facilities and specialized equipment. In partnership with state and local governments, we demonstrate and scale leading edge solutions, resulting in the avoidance of nearly 150 million lbs. of CO2 in the coming decade. With projects in over 50 cities, leveraging over $50 million in funding and financing, and with more than 25 corporate sponsors, we are the only organization with the ability to both prove and apply solutions for next generation cities.
I'll try not to be cynical as to their origins and purpose....if you can find a wave to ride, ride it for all you can!!
as for:
[/quote]
I'm not sure we have all the software written yet....
...that's just a technical detail on someone's Power Point presentation!!
Being the old fart that I am I don't understand the language: "...urbantech innovation hub focused on solutions for smarter...", "...accelerate innovations...", "...scale leading edge solutions...", bla, bla, etc.
On the other hand they have a huge lab space for me to play in for a few days. The guys running the place I have been talking too came over as being pretty smart and technically savvy.
Don't talk to me about Power Point presentations...I leave that to the boss. I like to show what we can do for real. Silly me
I'll admit that public transportation in Silicon Valley isn't as comprehensive and coordinated as it is in large European cities. But I've made it between SJ and SF many times on cheap public transportation. (FWIW, I think I have every inch of Hegenberger Rd between Oakland International and the BART Coliseum station memorized, including the dill plants that grow wild.) Once you're on BART, you have a great deal of the Bay Area easily and quickly accessible.
I have been spoiled. It make no sense to own a car around here. There are trams, buses, trains everywhere. In the summer it's the bike to work.
I got so stressed and wasted so many thousands of hours trying to get around London, and England in general, in a car for years I pretty much decided never to drive again.
But then again, the traffic problems here are so minor by comparison.
The real problem with the busses is that when there's not a park-and-ride lot people park in neighborhoods and walk to the pickup points. It's caused some people grief in Los Gatos:
If you smoke ... don't do it in public... and don't do it in your hotel room... that leaves your car.
Don't do it in a rental car!
It all sounds like a joke... but it is actually true. I was at a convention center somewhere in THAT area and I slipped out the back door for a cigarette.
There was a demonstration going on across a park and down the hill from where I was... at least 200 yards away. As I was trying to figure out what all the yelling was all about, a lady of unknown gender walked rapidly toward me. I figured she waited too long to use the facilities, but no. It turns out she had a problem with my smoking. She walked right up to me, tore the cigarette from my lips, through it to the ground and stomped on it. "Don't you know that those people have an allergy to second hand smoke!!!" and walked away. I couldn't believe it... but THAT is California, the worlds fifth largest.
San Jose is actually a very boring place for somebody from most any European city. You really can't smoke anywhere in California, well at least not in public places. You'll need to leave the airport, leave the hotel, stay off of public transit, out of a park, and maybe you can smoke near some dumpsters. Seriously, most employers have a little smoking section somewhere on their grounds where people can take a break.
Heater,
It's probably for the better you didn't find your drivers license. You'd end up driving on the wrong side of the road.
I can't speak for Britain but we have regular public debates here in New Zealand on how to deal with tourists killing themselves and taking others with them just because they pull out from a park or intersection into on-coming highway traffic.
PS: I hope you do find an opportunity to visit Parallax.
No worries. Us English drivers are ambidextrous. If that is the right term for it. What with having to drive in Europe and wherever.
I know from experience in the south of England it's common to see French drivers going the wrong way around the first roundabout they meet after driving off the ferry boat.
Confusing thing here is they don't use the 24 hour clock. Took me a while to realize that 629P on my boarding pass meant 18.29.
Not bored yet. It's a whole new world! Everybody I have met so far has been wonderful. From the taxi drivers to the chap, next to me on the flight, from NASA.
Ha. So far I have not had to climb into a dumpster to support my bad habit.
Are you coming up to Rocklin to meet with Chip?
Oh boy. Of course I would love to. Not sure if I have the time or the wherewithal.
And....It might mean finally revealing the true identity of Heater.
Hey, but I was just amazed passing by a place making T-shirts. Still open and working on a Sunday night. Might have to get them to make a heater Tee-shirt.
I've never smoked, always hated the smell of it, but I do feel the approach adopted in recent years has been way over the top.
There has been a doco, titled "Why Am I?", recently made about a long running study that found the biggest factor in measuring of successful people is of self-control. And what's more, it's mostly a learned skill. Funnily the advertising industry is primary focused on creating desire - ie: Preying on the lack of self-control. ... Not the greatest of mixes.
The advertising industry is as detrimental to the welfare of people as smoking ever was. Also the wall to wall, everywhere you look, every minute of everyday, advertising we have now is far more annoying that a bit of smoke ever was.
On the other hand, the advertising industry did a good job of promoting tobacco abuse when it was allowed to.
I wish those antismoking campaigners would get onto the advertising case. Sorry no, you can't have that billboard here. No, no, you can't have that video screen in a public place, etc, etc.
Heater is landing in San Jose for a visit next week.
If before Tuesday, just in time for the California primary! Whoo! Hoo! Perhaps you can witness, firsthand, our crazy politics by attending a Clinton, Sanders, or Trump rally!
Heater, there's a way to come to Red Bluff, if you have maybe 1.5 days to spare. I could get you on a Greyhound bus. It stops right up the street from me. I'll pay for the ticket and a hotel room for you. Just PM me.
I wish those antismoking campaigners would get onto the advertising case. Sorry no, you can't have that billboard here. No, no, you can't have that video screen in a public place, etc, etc.
To a degree, they have. A long time ago, as you approached virtually any US city by car, you were met with a sea of billboards. Then a law was passed that any advertising sign has to be on property owned by the advertiser. It has led to some interesting contractual gymnastics but it has greatly cut down on the clutter, at least on US Highways.
Heater, there's a way to come to Red Bluff, if you have maybe 1.5 days to spare. I could get you on a Greyhound bus. It stops right up the street from me. I'll pay for the ticket and a hotel room for you. Just PM me.
It's a trick. Hotel California style. You will get to Red Bluff, but you will never leave.
You really should try to get together with Chip somehow. The two of you have a one significant thing in common: Chip has lived in Finland, as do you. I think you'd enjoy each other's company!
Comments
I have a major problem. Over here I hardly ever drive a car. Three or four times a year I rent one for trips to the forest and such. Just now I can't for the life of me find my driving license! That's going to make things tough and limit any trips to whatever I can do with Uber or whatever public transport there is around. I get the impression there isn't any. Could be I'm stuck to Las Plumas Avenue San Jose
In case anyone is wondering the title of this thread is inspired by the Aki Kaurismaki movie "Leningrad Cowboys Go America":
Highly recommended.
Anyways I can confirm public transport in this area is not so great. But Uber & Lyft are still operating here unlike in Austin.
I just have my instructions to get over there. Organize some hardware installation and get some software configured and working.
I'm trusting it's a bit interesting, people like CISCO are doing things there.
I'm not sure we have all the software written yet....
I'll try not to be cynical as to their origins and purpose....if you can find a wave to ride, ride it for all you can!!
as for:
[/quote]
I'm not sure we have all the software written yet....
Be cynical. I am all the time.
Being the old fart that I am I don't understand the language: "...urbantech innovation hub focused on solutions for smarter...", "...accelerate innovations...", "...scale leading edge solutions...", bla, bla, etc.
On the other hand they have a huge lab space for me to play in for a few days. The guys running the place I have been talking too came over as being pretty smart and technically savvy.
Don't talk to me about Power Point presentations...I leave that to the boss. I like to show what we can do for real. Silly me
I got so stressed and wasted so many thousands of hours trying to get around London, and England in general, in a car for years I pretty much decided never to drive again.
But then again, the traffic problems here are so minor by comparison.
All sounds very weird and socially divisive.
Ah well, that's capitalism in action.
http://www.mercurynews.com/michelle-quinn/ci_29955736/quinn-dustup-over-google-buses-heart-silicon-valley
Los Gatos is facing a lot of growing pains right now. (I live close by, but couldn't afford that zip code ;-)
Hopefully people realize that the busses keep a lot of cars off the road. Now those Teslas with solo drivers in the carpool lane...yeah.
Wait till you get to be MY age!
These guys will deliver a bike to you.
https://udcbikerental.com/#_=_
Website says San Francisco... but a review led me here https://tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32653-d1186974-r137476817-UDC_Bike_Rental-Los_Altos_California.html which linked to the above.
This link says Los_Altos but the title is "bike renting in San Jose"... or something
It all sounds like a joke... but it is actually true. I was at a convention center somewhere in THAT area and I slipped out the back door for a cigarette.
There was a demonstration going on across a park and down the hill from where I was... at least 200 yards away. As I was trying to figure out what all the yelling was all about, a lady of unknown gender walked rapidly toward me. I figured she waited too long to use the facilities, but no. It turns out she had a problem with my smoking. She walked right up to me, tore the cigarette from my lips, through it to the ground and stomped on it. "Don't you know that those people have an allergy to second hand smoke!!!" and walked away. I couldn't believe it... but THAT is California, the worlds fifth largest.
Maybe they can install an ashtray on your bike.
No place for a cigarette, no place to get a frikken coffee!
Managed to get through Dallas Fort Worth.
Now I have my fingerprints on file like a criminal. This is disgusting.
But, the Dallas Cowboys Club Bar in the terminal was great.
Are you coming up to Rocklin to meet with Chip?
Ken Gracey
It's probably for the better you didn't find your drivers license. You'd end up driving on the wrong side of the road.
I can't speak for Britain but we have regular public debates here in New Zealand on how to deal with tourists killing themselves and taking others with them just because they pull out from a park or intersection into on-coming highway traffic.
PS: I hope you do find an opportunity to visit Parallax.
No worries. Us English drivers are ambidextrous. If that is the right term for it. What with having to drive in Europe and wherever.
I know from experience in the south of England it's common to see French drivers going the wrong way around the first roundabout they meet after driving off the ferry boat.
Confusing thing here is they don't use the 24 hour clock. Took me a while to realize that 629P on my boarding pass meant 18.29.
Not bored yet. It's a whole new world! Everybody I have met so far has been wonderful. From the taxi drivers to the chap, next to me on the flight, from NASA.
Ha. So far I have not had to climb into a dumpster to support my bad habit.
Oh boy. Of course I would love to. Not sure if I have the time or the wherewithal.
And....It might mean finally revealing the true identity of Heater.
Hey, but I was just amazed passing by a place making T-shirts. Still open and working on a Sunday night. Might have to get them to make a heater Tee-shirt.
Try this - http://s33.postimg.org/4k1mtxwb3/Sanjose_Rocklin.jpg Ha! Nope, that one is resized too. I even had the choice to not resize but it did so anyway.
And next attempt - http://pasteboard.co/1tzjjP06.jpg - This one works but has lots of useless script wrapping it.
We should have the same attitude to smoking in public here in the UK!
There has been a doco, titled "Why Am I?", recently made about a long running study that found the biggest factor in measuring of successful people is of self-control. And what's more, it's mostly a learned skill. Funnily the advertising industry is primary focused on creating desire - ie: Preying on the lack of self-control. ... Not the greatest of mixes.
The advertising industry is as detrimental to the welfare of people as smoking ever was. Also the wall to wall, everywhere you look, every minute of everyday, advertising we have now is far more annoying that a bit of smoke ever was.
On the other hand, the advertising industry did a good job of promoting tobacco abuse when it was allowed to.
I wish those antismoking campaigners would get onto the advertising case. Sorry no, you can't have that billboard here. No, no, you can't have that video screen in a public place, etc, etc.
You can vote, too. Maybe twice.
To a degree, they have. A long time ago, as you approached virtually any US city by car, you were met with a sea of billboards. Then a law was passed that any advertising sign has to be on property owned by the advertiser. It has led to some interesting contractual gymnastics but it has greatly cut down on the clutter, at least on US Highways.
It's a trick. Hotel California style. You will get to Red Bluff, but you will never leave.
The Railroad Museum in Old Town Sacramento is worth a look too.
You really should try to get together with Chip somehow. The two of you have a one significant thing in common: Chip has lived in Finland, as do you. I think you'd enjoy each other's company!
-Phil