Monday, February 29, 2016

Silicon Valley International Auto Show


I went to the Silicon Valley International Auto Show in January and forgot to blog about it.  I guess with all the Super Bowl stuff and all. Here it is (I didn't take notes):















And the car that I really want to get for myself:


The Silicon Valley Auto Show was cool, I really enjoyed it.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

Having a Great Tme Out


I got to see my favorite NBA team play in early January and that is the Golden St Warriors. I have been a Warriors fan since I was a little kid and remember their Championship 40 years ago. After many wretched years, they won the Championship last season and are on a historic season in 2016:

Most of the shots I got were during the pre-game shootaround:


The floor or Oracle Arena


Klay Thompson (in blue)

Klay Thompson

Pre-game shoot around
Steph Curry
Then it was time to head my cheap seats (which aren't that cheap):


Klay Thompson shooting a jumper
Draymond Green calling for the ball
Steph Curry making a three
And they have the banner which I thought I would never see up:

In the middle is last year's championship banner

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Braille Writers Through the Years


I always like learning about things. Recently, I got to see a little history of braille writers. Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision. Teachers, parents, and others who are not visually impaired ordinarily read braille with their eyes. Braille is not a language. Rather, it is a code by which many languages—such as English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and dozens of others—may be written and read. Braille is used by thousands of people all over the world in their native languages, and provides a means of literacy for all. It was invented by Louis Braille. Braille is also produced by a machine known as a braille writer. Unlike a typewriter which has more than fifty keys, the braille writer has only six keys, a space bar, a line spacer, and a backspace. The six main keys are numbered to correspond with the six dots of a braille cell. Because most braille symbols contain more than a single dot, combinations of the braille writer keys can be pushed at the same time. Braille writers are losing steam with the advent of software for computers that speak to the blind and visually impaired. But the braille writer is hear to stay:


Hall Braille Writer-1892

APB New Hall- 1940-1972
Foundation Braille Writer 1933-1947
Atkinson Portable 1945
Royal National Institute for the Blind Shorthand Machine
Anderson and Sorensen writer-1950
Blistu Braillewriter-1960
Lavender Writer-1962
And still the standard:




Standard Perkins Braille Writer-since 1951


  Braille has become not only an effective means of communication, but also an essential avenue for achieving and enhancing literacy for people who are blind or have significant vision loss. Hope you enjoyed the little history of braille writers.


  

Monday, February 22, 2016

Things I See in My Travels


I take a bunch of pics because I like to. No rhyme or reason and sometimes I get enough for a blog. I guess this is just things I see in my travels:

Outside of City Hall in Santa Clara

The Golden Gate Bridge
Statue of former U.S. Congressman Philip Burton at the Presidio in San Francisco

Lights bouncing off the Westin in Union Square
The Bay Bridge

And I have found two of those huge "Heroes and Hearts" that I love:



Just simple things I see in my travels.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Music Monday: The Motown Sound

On this Music Monday, we are going to try sweet tunes of Motown:







Hope you enjoyed a little Motown Sound.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Jack's Cannery Bar


I was down at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco and was looking for a simple place for lunch that didn't cost an arm and leg. I found the place. It was Jack's Cannery Bat. It is a simple Bar and Grill that has good food, good beer/cider, great prices and a wonderful style:











and lunch is served:

Jack's Cannery Bar is a great place to get some lunch.