News item: University of the Pacific's Burns Tower to be repainted for the first time in 45 years
News item: According to this release from the University of the Pacific, the 242 foot tall Burns Tower will be repainted next month for the first time since it opened in 1964.
Bradford Island in the California Delta: Death and Rebirth
Bradford Island in the California Delta encompasses 2,051 acres and a 7.4 mile circumference (source: California Department of Water Resources) with less than 40 residents on the entire island. Accessible by only car ferry or boat, It's a lush, overgrown habitat with decay and abandonment evident on land and in the bordering Fisherman's Cut, a virtual graveyard of boats and structures dumped in the waterway. Along the northern side of the island, former residences can be seen reclaimed by nature as vines and other vegetation cover the structures.
One area of rebirth, however, is in the restoration project of the USS Lucid, owned by island resident W.W. "Mike" Warren. Warren hopes to restore the 172 foot long Navy minesweeper back to its former glory and have it serve as a future museum on land, complete with dummy mines.
The following photographs are in chronological order, beginning with a trip through Brentwood on the "California Delta Highway" and awaiting the ferry transport to point of departure on Jersey Island. Upon arriving on Bradford Island, I turned right onto the levee road circling the island and arrived back at the ferry dock 3 hours later.
Classic Life Magazine Photos Available for Free to Non-Commercial Bloggers
I was astounded to find out minutes ago that Life.com has made its archive of photographs, including this powerful image from WWII by W. Eugene Smith, available for individuals to post onto their blogs for non-commercial use.
McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt: Did he pay to use the Rolling Stones song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want?"
It's been over a year now since I first saw McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt's 2008 employee webcast and one of my first thoughts - aside from thinking it demonstrated great contempt for the McClatchy employees by ending the message with the Rolling Stones song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - was to wonder if he licensed the song?
If he DID license the song, which probably would've paid the salary for a McClatchy staffer for an entire year, was that a prudent use of shareholder's funds in such "difficult times?" However, if he didn't pay a royalty fee for use of the song, wouldn't that be a copyright infringement (ahem, can you say RIAA?) putting McClatchy at further financial risk?
Either way, it seems to be another reason why Pruitt should either step down or be fired by the board of directors.
A strange man builds a world using holographic tools for the woman he loves.
This award winning short was created by filmmaker Bruce Branit, widely known as the co-creator of '405'. World Builder was shot in a single day followed by about 2 years of post production. Branit is the owner of Branit VFX based in Kansas City.
More info, background and info on future releases can be at facebook.com/pages/World-Builder/73936485659 Become a fan and keep in touch.
Breaking News: Jazz Legend Dave Brubeck Hospitalized
According to a press release from the University of the Pacific, jazz legend Dave Brubeck has been hospitalized days before performing a 50th anniversary concert of his classic "Time Out" album in its entirety at Faye Spanos Concert Hall at the Stockton (CA) university.
Rumors about town: Yosemite Community College District purchasing The Modesto Bee building
I've heard from multiple sources in the Modesto community over the past week that the Yosemite Community College District will be purchasing The Modesto Bee building with facilities for Modesto Junior College. They will then reportedly turn around and rent space back to the Bee. So the Bee might be taking a taxpayer bailout...
