January 2014

Something new in Public Colleges and Universities

January 2, 2014 by Brian Donahue Leave a Comment

If you ask most people: “What do public colleges and universities really do?” the immediate reaction is often, “Teach college kids.”A more informed person might add, “Yes, that’s right, and they also do research.” A few might even throw in, “Oh, they also do ‘public service’.”

If you ask them what does “public service” mean, most usually say, “students help in the community by tutoring kids,” or, “they help with the homeless,” or “they clean-up public places, like the parks or beaches.”

If you told them that there is actually one local public university that creates math and science curriculum for grade school students all over the world; coaches executives in the largest Danish oil company in the world; designs infectious disease prevention programs for county governments; licenses software programs to make nuclear power plants safer, and does brain scans of US Army Iraq veterans to chart PTSD, they might tell you that they don’t understand what you are talking about. And, if you then told them the one university in the Bay Area brought in $1billion in unrestricted funds doing this type of good work around the world…they would likely think you are crazy.

Well, the verifiable fact is that these “Public Service Contracts” are exactly what one Bay Area public university has done and, oh yes, brought in $1 billion dollars in revenue in the process.

How can this be? The traditionalists would say that non-profit universities and colleges “can’t do that,” or, “see.” they’re ‘privitizing’ public colleges,” or, “they’re draining limited resources away from the core purpose of public colleges or universities.”

Enter a new book entitled, The Spirit of Fiat Lux and its accompanying web site, SpiritofFiatLux.net, which prove all of these assumptions to be very, very wrong, by introducing something very new and important, in terms of funding for public colleges and universities. The concepts explained in The Spirit of Fiat Lux will likely challenge the status quo seekers, albeit I imagine most everyone agrees that we must break the status quo in public colleges and universities, if we are to solve funding challenges in higher education.

This story, The Spirit of Fiat Lux is a “portrait of an American university.” The history, growth, obstacles overcome, significant accomplishments and achievements of UC Berkeley have their counterparts in every state. The current fiscal crisis is not unique to California, solutions are needed everywhere.

The New Reality

The “new reality” for the future of public higher education in our nation is stark. State funding for state colleges and universities is in a free fall with no end in sight. Worse yet, tuition has sky-rocketed and continues to cripple generations of students, which will have serious consequences. The long range impact is impossible to calculate. In short, the historic ways of funding public higher education are no longer sustainable.

As a result, universities and colleges have no choice but to find new ways to supplement funding. Starting immediately, public colleges and universities must leverage their existing assets, including tangible assets (equipment, labs, software) and intangible assets (science knowledge, copyrights, trademarks [patents are handled through the traditional research arm of the campus] and most importantly, their human assets (faculty, scientists, staff, students) to become more financially sustainable.
Toward a Better Future

It’s time to implement Public Service Contracts which leverages the vast assets of the university or college to be used for “public service” under the terms of revenue-generating “contracts.” The simple process of Public Service Contracts, enables colleges and universities to become more financially self-sustaining while simply doing good in the world. Providing “public service’ is done without weakening the commitment to teaching and research, or competing with the private sector. Towards finding a national solution, the author, with counsel from the leaders of The Enterprise, is incorporating The Enterprise 501c3 as a California non-profit corporation and an IRS 501(c)(3) Public Benefit Corporation, allowing The Enterprise 501(c)(3) to act as a “fiscal agent” and sponsor other non-profit organizations or projects throughout the country whose mission is to advance public higher education.

Get Involved

This article calls on us to re-ignite the Spirit of Fiat Lux, “Let There Be Light” in our hearts and minds. What can you do to serve and save public higher education? Here is how you can get involved: Go to www.SpiritofFiat Lux.net/Get Involved to see specific steps towards taking action.

If interested in learning more about how you can help, or for sponsorship of your non-profit or project, please contact FiatLux.info@gmail.com. For more details, examples and more, see www.SpiritofFiat Lux.net and click on “Public Service Contracts” at the top of the page.

“Live the Spirit—the Spirit of Fiat Lux”

Brian C. Donohue J.D., M.B.A. (Information Technology) is a licensed California attorney who led the UC Berkeley Business Contracts Office for 15 years and executed approximately 10,000 Public Service Contracts on behalf of the Regents of the University which produced approximately $1 billion dollars in unrestricted revenue for the departments of the campus. He taught Intellectual Property Law at the UC Berkeley Extension for 18 years. Brian and Dellyn live in Concord and have 6 children and 12 grandchildren.

My Action Plan for the Coming Year

January 2, 2014 by Michael Copeland Leave a Comment

It’s a new year! We all have a clean slate, a fresh start, a new lease on life. This is our chance to really accomplish something in the coming year. Every year at this time I have such good and true intentions. However, I’ve come to realize that resolutions are virtually impossible to keep and/or execute so I’m inclined to come up with another form of goal setting. This year, I’m trying the “Year at a Glance Calendar Action Plan.” Over the past few weeks, I have been visualizing, strategizing, prophesizing, brainstorming, designing and chronicling my plan for the next twelve months. Needless to say, I’m charged up and ready to hit the ground running on January 2^nd. Yes, the second. January 1st is my day to recover from very likely being over served on New Year’s Eve.

January – After New Year’s Day, January is kind of a drag. The holidays are over, the weather is cold and miserable and if the Forty-Niners aren’t in the playoffs I might just take up hibernation. Depression is common amongst people tasked with taking down the Christmas ornaments so that’s why I always make my wife and kids do it. In January, I plan to rest and regain the strength that I lost during the holidays. Maybe I’ll do a few sit-ups and some jumping jacks just to get the blood pumping.

February– Who wants to be my Valentine? A Father can always count on his precious daughters…..if he has gift cards. I like the month of Feb. because it’s short. It’s like an abbreviated month and that’s why I call it “Feb.” As far as month’s go, how much can one accomplish in just 28 days? Rehab maybe? That’s it, I’ll start rehabbing from the holidays by giving up alcohol in Feb. Oh snap, the Superbowl is in Feb. Forget that idea. Instead I’ll start really getting into shape. I hope I don’t pull a groin muscle.

March – March is known as the windy month, but wind won’t bother me when I’m hunkered down in a sports bar watching all 65 NCAA college basketball games, more commonly known as, “March Madness.” Come on Villanova. It’s called March Madness because a lot of people get mad this time of year. My wife gets really mad at me because I sit around the house watching too much basketball. I get mad at “braketbusters,” meaning I can never pick a team that gets into the Sweet 16. The only person not mad is the person who wins all my bracket money. I get mad again when people gloat after winning all of my bracket money. I’m getting mad right now just thinking of it. I think I’ll try shooting some hoops during the month of March as a form of physical and mental stress relief. I do look awfully good in my long Georgetown basketball shorts, a Michigan State tank top and a pair of Air Jordans.

April– Easter, the religious holiday celebrating the resurrection of chocolate. After about seventeen or eighteen See’s candy caramel filled chocolate eggs, a six pack of Ghirardelli chocolate bunnies and a pound of jelly beans, I’m usually ready to check myself into a nutritional rehab center for the rest of the month. I do enjoy spring in full bloom until the day my sinus cavity explodes from all the pollen in the air. It’s hard to ride a bike or fly a kite when your eyes are dripping water and your nose is bleeding from binge sneezing.

May – My Margaritas con Miguel are muy bueno on Cinco de Mayo. I can totally get behind a national holiday (even if it’s for a neighboring nation) that celebrates their independence with tequila and nachos. Granted, I’ve been known to enjoy tequila and nachos in December, but I’ve also been known to drink eggnog in May. Eggnog margaritas rock! Spring wouldn’t be spring, without enjoying a sizzling platter of fajitas and a few ice cold Corona cervezas on the back patio. I even plan to work on my Spanish speaking skills during the month. Donde esta el bano, por favor?

June – Life in our house gets considerably less stressful in June. As we roll into the start of summer, the kids and my wife just naturally relax knowing there are just a few more days left of the school year and ten weeks of vacation awaits them. The days are long, the weather is warm and I can sleep in just my underwear again. What, too much information? Baseball games, BBQs and the backyard waterpark slip and slide are all on my “must do” list for June.

July– My birthday is in July. When I was a kid, birthdays were the greatest day of the year. Even better than Christmas, because in additional to getting presents, you turned a year older. Now, birthdays are a sad reminder of how old we are and how little time we have left. Thankfully, we celebrate the birthday of our nation every 4^th of July. I love the Fourth of July with the red, white and blue picnics, fun runs, pool parties and fireworks. I wish we did all that cool stuff on my birthday. The highlight of my birthday now is the annual midnight run around the block in my birthday suit. It’s an invigorating way to stare down the day you commemorate being a year older. Who’s with me…………………….?

August – My kids might be dreading going back to school, but I would be more than happy to take their place if they feel like earning a living and supporting me for a change. Virtually ever adult will admit that we didn’t fully appreciate the carefree days of being a student. Granted, there were classes, homework, projects, papers and tests, but we didn’t have a mortgage, health/auto/life and medical insurance, teenage children, an expanding waistline and a receding hairline. August means the end of a ten-week summer vacation and back to the 8:00 am – 3:00 pm school day. At my work, summer vacations are usually one week in late July and a couple long weekends. The typical workday starts around 7:30 am and, thanks to my cell phone, usually wraps up around bedtime. Being a student again would be the life. Is anyone up for a game of ultimate Frisbee or starting a hacky-sack circle?

September– With the immense popularity of the NFL and the NFL season kicking off in September, September might just change its name to Footballtember. Don’t think that hasn’t been discussed at the NFL headquarters. Not wanting to take anything away from high school and college football, because America’s love affair with everything gridiron knows no bounds, but the NFL has a cult following like no other. As fall descends on our country, the warm “Indian Summer” days allow us to host and attend backyard tailgate parties virtually every weekend of this glorious smash-mouth, D-Fence, ground-pound, protect this house, month of the pigskin.

October– I don’t really do the whole Halloween costume thing since I lost my diaper at the neighborhood “Rugrats” themed party a few years ago. I loved seeing my daughters dressed up in adorable costumes every year, but now as teenagers the costumes can boarder on inappropriate and highly distressing to a father. On the other hand, the children who come to the house each year to “Trick or Treat” still possess an uncorrupted innocence that shines through their scary outfits. I do love my Halloween candy which is why I buy enough to satisfy 300-400 door bell ringers when our neighborhood has never generated more than about 25 visitors on the night of All-Hallows. Note to self, load up on Kit Kat bars.

November– My anniversary is in November. We’ll be married twenty years on November 6^th. My Bother-In-Law set the over/under at four years. I think someone owes me some money. Twenty years is a long time. I should probably let my wife plan something special, maybe a trip somewhere romantic. I hope she invites me. Between Halloween, my anniversary and Thanksgiving, I better be careful that I don’t put on too much weight otherwise there might not be a 21^st wedding anniversary. My wife is already starting to wonder what happened to the underwear model she married. It might be a good idea to get to the gym for a few Pilates classes or some water-aerobics during the holidays.

December– I can’t believe its December already. Where did the year go? I just wasted eleven months and now the holiday’s are upon us and another New Year looms. My first task of December is to get the Christmas lights up. Stringing the lights, decorating the tree, hanging the stockings, sending photo cards are all great ways to get into the holiday spirit. Putting the holiday stuff up is aheck of a lot better than taking all that stuff down in January. It’s always an instant holiday spirit jolt once you watch the first animated holiday special on television. Oh wait, the Christmas specials started in October. Regardless, December is about all things magical and holiday-ish, just remember to hire someone to put up the house lights this year. I don’t need another broken arm from falling off a ladder like in 2013.

Well, that’s my year in preview. I’ve got to admit, I’m quite pleased with my Year at a Glance Action Plan. It’s inspiring, motivating, dare I say, illuminating? I challenge all to you to create your own Year at a Glance Action Plan. It’s better than making a list of stale resolutions that will blow up faster than the President’s health care website.

Sadly, despite the best of intentions, no one actually accomplishes all of their resolutions, goals or action items because it’s human nature to abandon the plan when presented with a more enticing alternative. Even though I will, in all likelihood, eventually stray from my month-by-month action plan, for just a moment in time I want to believe I’ll follow through on my list of tasks and challenges. As Robin Williams said in the movie, Dead Poets Society, “Carpe Diem,” –but first, plan your diems.

Stamp in My Passport: Macedonia

January 2, 2014 by Harry Hubinger Leave a Comment

Eating makes no difference where you are or who you are. You’ve got to eat. There are probably favorite foods and maybe favorite places. Most bakeries make my mouth water, no matter where I travel. Pizza seems to have won over the world for there are “Pizza” signs in every corner of the globe. Vegetarians are happier in the Asian countries and in the Far East. When sausage is mentioned, one immediately thinks of Germany and a stein of beer.

In the United States these days you can find a take-out for almost everything. Or, if you just want to fill a need quickly, there are tons of fast food shops on every other corner.

But wait a minute! I venture to say that each of you has a “favorite place” – a spot where you go on special occasions or even when you just feel the need to sit, relax, and fill your tummy. That’s what this story is about.

A month or so ago, Barbara and I found ourselves in Skopje, Macedonia. Admittedly, this is not a high-profile visitors’ country, but nonetheless it should be on your “bucket list.” The urge that brought us here was “we knew somebody.” The granddaughter of one of our best friends had married a young man from here and was now making a life far from the United States. I will elaborate in a later story on this pleasant country with such a rich, but unexplored history – after all Alexander the Great started here. But today, I want to tell you about eating a meal in Macedonia.

The lead-in to my two hosts was, “Where does a local go to eat and what do they order?” There were plenty of restaurants around, but I wanted something that was directed at the local population, and believe me I got it.

We wound around a series of short one-way roads littered with parked cars abandoned in a most casual way. There are plenty of cars here, but parking is in short supply. The sign advertising a place to eat was small and painted with no hype whatsoever reading MEAHA-KEPNHY. My friends told me this series of letters is pronounced care-peach. So we ate at the Care-Peach Restaurant.

We entered by going down a set of five to seven stairs and past an outside covered eating area populated by two folk who were sipping beers and smoking cigarettes.

The inside, no more than four meters wide, had a central aisle with five or six booths on either side. The walls were lined with history. Pictures of buildings long gone, or now renovated. People who shaped the Macedonian nation looked down on us visiting diners.

But proudest of all the collections were the ones of the soccer team, excuse me, football team. At the base of this “shrine” was an old un-inflated leather soccer ball and a pair of spiked running shoes once worn in the Balkan Soccer Tournament. The Rabotnicki of Skopje won ten titles between 1952 and 1980, using the Macedonian name – all of this while there was still no separate country of Macedonia. More on this in a later story.

The menu which was completely indecipherable to us was a gourmet map of delights to our hosts. They ordered meshana daska, something akin to “mixed board” he exclaimed. But first came the aivar. Now I’m getting a little over my head here because in reality this appetizer was quite extensive. We were served toasted buttered bread on which to spread this mixture of tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. There were other dips of various colors, and a bounty of fresh veggies on the tray. And we ate these hors d’oeuvres with relish, dipping everything into the sauces. A meal unto itself!

The meshana daska arrived with two to three slabs of grilled cheeses, grilled veggies, and grilled meats. I’m not quite sure what each of them actually was, but I cut a portion and down it went. One thing I can vouch for – this country’s eaters love peppers. There was no shortage here. In fact, my mouth felt like it was on fire. In addition each of us received a plate of meat (I had sausage as it was advertised as being homemade by the restaurant,) and a pile of grilled sliced potatoes covered with some local cheese. These local cheeses do not come in packages similar to those found at Trader Joe’s. They have a unique taste and are delicious. It took a while and a great deal of confidence to work our way through this gigantic platter of food. My host told me what I was eating because all was not recognizable. If I lived here I would weigh twice my current weight. It was all delectable, but wow – the quantity!! I’m still a little unsure of what I actually ate, though.

We skipped dessert, waddled off to our hotel, and amazingly no heartburn.

One final note. The currency here is the denar. There are about sixty denars to the Euro, and about seven tenths of a Euro to the US dollar. The bill for the four of us came to 1,280 denars. I’ll leave the calculation to the math majors to figure out what we ended up paying.

Well, bon appétit!

“The Butler Did It!”

January 2, 2014 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

“The butler did it!” How many times have we heard this while watching a mystery of some kind, but it is almost never the butler. Most of us never had the luxury of being attended to by a butler, but we know of quite a few. Let’s test our memories about “gentlemen’s gentlemen”.

1. He is probably the most famous Butler in local sports history and played center field for the Giants against the A’s in the 1989 World Series. Who was he?

2. The most famous manservant in literary history was Jeeves, the British butler for playboy Bertie Wooster in the 20s and 30s. Who wrote the books?

3. Jeeves was a successful BBC series in the 90s. It starred Steven Fry as Jeeves. The actor who played Bertie Wooster went on to star in a medical series in the US for eight seasons very successfully. Who is he?

4. On “Seinfeld,” George Costanzo, while thinking he is a TV writer, concocts a situation where a judge orders a defendant to serve as a butler for not being able to pay for damages. What had this defendant done?

5. This year, “Lee Daniels The Butler” was a box office hit depicting the career of a White House manservant serving famous US Presidents of the latter part of the 1900s. Who played Dwight Eisenhower in the movie?

6. The most famous Butler of them all was Rhett Butler, who loved Scarlett O’Hara for most of the novel “Gone With The Wind.” However, until it was too late, Scarlett loved the Southern dandy down the road. Who was he?

Lemonade in the Year of the Horse

January 2, 2014 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

In the Chinese calendar and astrological tables, 2014 is the Year of the Horse. According to those who believe in such things, all people have specific predilections and tendencies towards greater or lesser degrees of luck, as the outcome of events is, to a large degree, determined by when and under which astrological sign, a person is born.

While I would guess that ninety-eight percent of people, if asked, would say that they make important decisions and choices based on logic or thoughtful analysis, I would also say that most also believe in luck. If that’s not the case, then how is it that California collects nearly $2 billion per year from its citizens by selling lottery tickets? Why are Indian gaming casinos—which seem to be popping up all over the state—more popular than ever?

Do you believe in luck? Do you have a lucky number, or a superstitious tradition or ritual that you employ (or perhaps just think about) before you make an important decision or choice? Be honest. If you’re familiar with the Budweiser beer commercial that ends with the line: “It’s only weird if it doesn’t work,” you can believe what marketing research has discovered—that the same 98% that profess to employ logic when it comes to important decisions, also “knock on wood” before they make them.

Of course, some people make their own luck, as they are the ones who define it as: “The intersection, where and when opportunity and preparedness meet.”

Liz Hendrix, is just such a person, and in this issue of ALIVE (see Robin Fahr’s interview on page 24 ) you will learn about how this United States Dressage Federation (USDF) gold medalist, 4^th level certified instructor, and internationally known horse trainer and seller, was at the top of her career when she was suddenly and unexpectedly struck with a life-altering disease that made it uncomfortable to be outdoors. That’s quite a restriction when your entire career revolves around horses, but with the discipline of a champion, Hendrix got back on a horse of a different color, to write and illustrate a wonderful children’s book; Angel and Evie: Catching a Unicorn.

So, go ahead and believe in luck, but be sure to remember to focus on making your own when it comes to things that matter most. Like Liz, you’ll then be one of those people who really do make lemonade out of lemons… who then sell that lemonade to the same people buying the lottery tickets!

Weight Loss 2014: Are You Ready to Leave “Magical Thinking” & Procrastination in the Dust?

January 2, 2014 by Trina Swerdlow Leave a Comment

Ever hear yourself saying, “I know I shouldn’t eat all these salty chips right now…but tomorrow I’ll eat light”? Or this one, “I’m too tired to exercise today…but I’ll walk an extra half-mile tomorrow.” Or this tried-and-true excuse: “I worked hard today and deserve to relax in front of the TV and eat this ice cream with a few cookies—after all, tomorrow is another day.”

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

I don’t know about you, but in my world, tomorrow is never today. Unfortunately, procrastinating and wishing we were thinner won’t lead us to lose any excess weight. If it did, we’d all be walking around at our healthiest weights. Wishing without creating a solid strategy is often referred to as magical thinking.

When magical thinking is combined with cravings for the wrong foods, unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise, it’s a surefire recipe to stay stuck and continue adding inches and pounds each year. Yikes!

The good news is, facing reality and getting on track TODAY is a great way to leave magical thinking and procrastination in the dust. And, having effective “tools in hand,” with a willingness to use them, is what propels us toward reaching our weight loss goals.

In my private practice, I offer solid strategies for people who are ready to trade in magical thinking for research-based weight loss tools. So, before we declare that we are simply unmotivated, “weak-willed dreamers,” let’s consider the fact that there may be some complex issues unconsciously driving our overeating impulses. Often, clients are surprised by what they learn about themselves in our sessions. In addition to focusing on releasing excess weight, we often explore how to:

• Stop using food in an attempt to manage emotions

• Track and celebrate progress toward small goals

• Uncover negative core beliefs

Early in my work with weight loss clients, I often ask, “Do you have any limiting core beliefs?” A core belief is a positive or negative perception you have about yourself. For example, a positive core belief would be that you feel attractive or competent. A negative core belief would be that you feel unattractive or incompetent.

Often, people struggling with negative core beliefs don’t believe that they deserve their successes—at a core level they feel like a failure. For this reason, deflecting compliments is a common response from people who carry a lot of negative core beliefs about themselves. Sadly, there’s simply no “intake port” to receive the positive information.

Unfortunately, negative core beliefs can keep us stuck in overeating cycles. These self-destructive cycles can perpetuate retaining extra weight and create a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. Eventually, unless interrupted, our limiting core beliefs can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Uncovering negative core beliefs can be a way to address our “unconscious self-sabotage.”

What I love about offering hypnotherapy is that, through deep relaxation, my clients have an opportunity to explore underlying issues that often sabotage their efforts in achieving goals. Exploring under the surface of a challenging issue and addressing the roots can be extremely productive. As illustrated by many of my clients’ successes, unhealthy habits often lose their power when unconscious issues are brought into the light where conscious understanding and integration can take place.

Finally, why not step onto a path of action TODAY—rather than tomorrow? Call me if you’d like leading-edge tools and a “power partner” for your exciting journey toward reaching your weight loss goals. After all, isn’t it time to leave “magical thinking” and procrastination in the dust…and claim the healthiest mind-body possible in 2014?

Join Trina and attend her upcoming Walnut Creek workshop for women and men: Managing Emotional and Compulsive Eating—John Muir Women’s Health Center: Tuesday, February 18, 6:30-8:30 pm. Cost: $40 (Includes Weight Loss: 2-CD set). Seats are limited—register today for this inspiring workshop: (925) 941-7900 option 3. For more info, go to www.TrinaSwerdlow.com & click on “Private Sessions & Workshops.”

Trina Swerdlow, BFA, CCHT, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an artist, and the author and illustrator of Stress Reduction Journal: Meditate and Journal Your Way to Better Health. Trina has a private practice in downtown Danville. You can reach her at: (925) 285.5759, or info@TrinaSwerdlow.com.

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy services in California can be alternative or complementary to licensed healing arts, such as psychotherapy.

Redecorating for the New Year

January 2, 2014 by Stephanie Yeraka Leave a Comment

I have had a few people recently tell me they decorated their home over ten years ago and it is time for an update. In most cases an update means replacing a few pieces in the room to bring in a fresh look. Materials fade and wear out, wood finishes look used and muted, drapery styles go out of fashion. The start of the New Year is the perfect time to think about redecorating.

The Living Room is usually the room everyone sees first but it sometimes doesn’t get used very often. Introducing a more current pop of color to your more neutral style furniture by updating throw pillows and accessories can do the trick. Another great place to start in the refreshing process is floral arrangements, as they are one of the first things to fade and look tired. Next up is the Family Room, one of the rooms that is used the most. The sofa or sectional probably needs some TLC in the form of re-fluffing cushions, if the fabrics are still in good shape, or re-upholstery. If you are considering re-upholstery it can cut down on the cost of buying new if you select a well-priced fabric; something durable that can last another ten years. Purchasing new is a great option if the sofa is no longer comfortable, has seen better days and looks like it belongs in a college student’s first apartment! Investing in furniture is important and finding the right sofa is a key consideration.

Window treatments that have come loose from their drapery hooks or look dingy and faded from sunlight also need some updating. Sometimes the hardware can be saved if budget is a factor. Rods can be cut and repositioned for a new look and design. Thinking outside the box, using a fun patterned fabric in a neutral room, and having fun with your redesign is what I want to see for 2014! When in doubt, ask a designer to create a design for you to get ideas flowing. We are familiar with all styles and can suggest the perfect application for your project.

Danville Market

January 2, 2014 by Toby Tullis Leave a Comment

I am so excited! Wait, really though…like tippy-toe-dancing-in-place with wavy-flappy hands excited!

By now you must realize I am a Danville native, which in general terms means that for the very longest of times, Danville was all I knew. Couldn’t wait to get out as a youth and couldn’t wait to get back as an adult. My travels took me much further and broader than I could even have dreamed from my bedroom in Sycamore, once I did have the opportunity to go.

My travels took me to Africa, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia and India while I traversed the globe brining affordable healthcare to developing countries. While in each of these places I immersed myself in the culture and I ate the way they ate. Hence my love for pho, nyamachoma, padang, nihari, and biryani. And those loves do not go away. (Side note: this article may/should result in multiple google searches for terminology unknown as to enhance the readers’ experience.)

By and large, the best eating is Middle Eastern. The dishes are clean and bountiful and cater more to the vegetarian but waste none of the animal when used. They are colorful and flavorful and always seem to focus on community sharing or gatherings. I always leave a Middle Eastern table with that “right kind of full,” that I have spoken of in the past—never that greasy-gut, bowling-ball feeling that American food leaves me with.

This love affair with food is wonderful when you find yourself at a back alley hawker stand in faraway worlds, but what am I to do once I return to the fish bowl from which I came. These desires don’t just diminish, and sometimes I NEED dolmas.

Danville Market was the only place within 20 miles that I knew of where I could go to pick up true Middle Easter Groceries in which to make my own versions of classics at home, but the people there were so terribly rude. By now you know me to be a man of substance and while the store had so many things I wanted, I refused to go there on principal based on my third unsuccessful attempt. The owner clearly wasn’t happy to have me as his customer, so I was content to oblige…not happy. Content.

All of a sudden I need Tahini, and I need it now. I’ll just run in, grunt at the man, pay and go.

As I walk in, Malisa Meemari is making fresh coffee and looks up to smile and welcome me. This isn’t the Gargamel I was expecting. Then I hear the sounds of a jovial husband and wife (Morad and Minou) coming from behind the lunch counter. They are loudly welcoming me in with her hands full of fresh vegetation and his with a sword and spiced meat creating true kabob.

This isn’t the market I remember. The items on the shelves are the same. The kitchen looks the same. But there is no little dark cloud. The place is sunny, happy and full of positive energy. The inhabitants are elated to see me! TRULY elated to see me. I quickly ask if the store had changed owners. Why yes, it has!

The Meemaris (formally of the Kabob House in Walnut Creek) gave up 30 years of restaurant success for the quieter (we’ll see) life of grocery and counter. Daughters Malisa and Mahsa have taken their spots amid their busy lives to craft the lunch menu and help launch to day-to-day operations, and I have a place to shop again!

I got my tahini, and six other things I didn’t come in for. Shook all their hands. Was promised a wonderful hand-crafted meal by mom and floated to my car.

My Christmas has come early!

508 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville

925-820-2319

2014 Volkswagen Beetle: Flower Child Rejoice!

January 2, 2014 by Charles Donaldson Leave a Comment

Is round better than flat? How can changing the curve of a roof line change the gender attraction of a vehicle? We will leave that question to the professional market research folks who conduct these studies. Well, the folks at Volkswagen did ask the question, performed the testing and determined that a more conservative roof curvature would help bring more men to purchase the Volkswagen Beetle.

Volkswagen redesigned the Beetle two years ago keeping the spirit alive, and created a more masculine profile noted by the lower roofline and a more upright windshield. The R-Line receives more aggressive bumpers and side sills plus appropriate badges. The overall lines are clean and smooth and flow as you would expect on a Beetle. An optional sunroof drapes blackened glass from the front windshield back over three-quarters of the roof adding a performance flare.

The 2014 Beetle is available in the following line up: 2.5L Coupe ($20,815), TDI Coupe ($25,015), R-Line Coupe($25,615), GSR Coupe ($30,815), 2.5L Convertible ($25,815), TDI Convertible ($29,315), R-Line Convertible ($29,815)

New for 2014 is the arrival of a new and more fuel efficient 1.8-liter turbocharged TSI 4-cylinder engine. This new engine will gradually replace the present 170-horsepower/2.5-liter naturally-aspirated 5-cylinder base engine in the Beetle. The 2.5L comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission and is available with an optional 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic (manual shifting mode). The TDI, R-Line, and GSR are equipped with 6-speed automatic or an optional 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic.

My test model was the R-Line with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation. The interior was gray on gray with touches of silver trim including shiny rings around the air vents and speakers. The interior feels larger than it is and the controls for radio, navigation, and cooling and heating were easy to use. The seats were comfortable and had decent bolstering. The steering wheel allowed you to command the radio, Bluetooth, and cruise control with a touch of your finger. I really appreciate gadgets so I loved the push-button start and keyless entry. The headroom was excellent and the Beetle has usable back seats.

Performance and handling were impressive in the 2014 VW Beetle. The 2.5L 5-cylinder engine delivers 170 hp. The R-Line with its 2.0 turbocharged 4-cylinder ups the horsepower to 210. The TDI carries a 2.0L diesel turbocharged 4-cylinder and generates 140 hp.

Room for improvement:

The seating position is a little too high

Cool Features:

Push-button start
AWD option

Safety on the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle includes airbags, Anti-Locking braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and more. The Beetle includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.

In Summary – The 2014 Volkswagen Beetle with its recent redesign should attract a better mixture of the genders. It is fun to drive especially with the R-Line and its 2.0 turbocharged 4-cylinder. The interior provides a nice driving experience while the suspension grabs the road and adds to the excitement of the drive. Are you ready once again for flower power? Well, it could be a good time to reminisce!

Specifications

2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line w/Sunroof, Sound and Navigation

Base price: $31,095 as driven: $32,030 (including destination)

Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder

Horsepower: 210@ 5300 RPM

Torque: 207 @ 1700 RPM

Transmission: 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic

Drive: Front-wheel Drive

Seating: 4-passenger

Turning circle: 35.4 feet

Cargo space: 15.4 cubic feet

Curb weight: 3,056 pounds

Fuel capacity: 14.5 gallons

EPA mileage: City 24/Hwy 30

Wheel Base: 100 inches

Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles powertrain limited

Also consider: Ford Focus, Fiat 500L, Mazda MAZDA3, Mini Cooper Clubman,
Toyota Prius

Will This (Finally) Be the Year the Stanley Cup Makes it to the Bay Area?

January 2, 2014 by Paul Hirsch Leave a Comment

In hockey circles the Sharks are often referred to as the best team never to win the Stanley Cup. In the past five seasons they’ve won the President’s Trophy for the best record in the league once and been to the conference finals twice without ever advancing to the Stanley Cup finals.

There is reason to believe that this year might be different. An infusion of young talent plus maybe a change in style have the Sharks off to an improved record. A year ago the Sharks were built around older, slower players like Ryan Clowe, and Douglas Murray. Now, they have been replaced by the younger and faster Tomas Hertl, Tommy Wingels, Justin Braun, and Tyler Kennedy.

So we have established that the Sharks are faster and younger, what else has changed? Off the Bench believes that the Sharks are tougher as well. Defenseman Brett Burns has moved to forward. He brings size (6-6, 240) and a defenseman’s toughness up front. Center Joe Pavelski has been dropped to the third line where he faces favorable matchups almost every game. His quickness works in his favor in his new position. Hertl has played at a Calder Trophy level in his role as the third member of the first line with Burns and Joe Thornton. Through December Hertl has played at a Calder Trophy level in his role as the third member of the first line with Burns and Joe Thornton. Through Dec. 31 he has 13 goals and 8 assists. Hertl has also contributed to Thornton leading the NHL in assists with 24.

Expectations were down for the Sharks going into this year. Experts have picked the Los Angeles Kings to win the Pacific Division and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks to win the conference and thereby represent the west in the Stanley Cup finals.Plus, the Sharks core is aging. Dan Boyle is 37, Thornton is 34 and Patrick Marleau is also 34. This makes for a bad play in the national press. So far this year those three have defied father time and have played up to their old levels.

Finally, Anti Niemi is at the top of his game in goal for the Sharks. He is covering both the low shots and the high. His backup, Alex Stalock, is a marked improvement over Thomas Greiss.

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This will be the last Off the Bench, at least as written by me. It has been my pleasure to serve you since Alive began publishing. However, I moved to San Diego in June and I have found it increasingly difficult to maintain my involvement with Bay Area sports, even in the Internet age. I have found there is no substitute for being part of the conversation and participating directly. I hope you understand and share with me the joy I have felt writing for you.

Here’s to you, my readers, without whom there is no point in writing this column.