There are probably a lot of B'gamers who just got a refund check from PG&E to compensate for the storm-driven power outage(s) in January.  I was out for 50 hours in January after I jinxed myself.  You have to laugh though when you get a $25.22 check because it probably cost them more than $25 to cut and mail the check.  Why  wouldn't they just credit it on my bill?  My solar batteries went in last week and I still have the portable generator so I should be all set.  Wait, did I just jinx myself again ..read more

Just because it rained a lot last season doesn't mean we are out of the woods on water scarcity.  Apparently, Sacramento put in some rules five years ago that are just kicking in.  Per today's Merc piece Dozens of California cities could be required to impose permanent water conservation measures starting in about a year — and keep them in place even when the state is not in a drought — under proposed new rules from state water regulators.  The landmark rules are required by two laws that former Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2018 after a severe five-year drought. Under th ..read more

A friend turned me onto an app that has brought a lot of enjoyment lately.  Cornell Lab's Merlin uses your phone's microphone to record bird calls and references their database to identify the bird.  Thus far, in my very bird-friendly yard it has identified: Dark-eyed Junco        Chestnut-backed Chickadee Oak Titmouse            Nuttall's Woodpecker Bewick's Wren            Lesser Goldfinch Canadian Goose         House Finch Steller's Jay  ..read more

“Information is power and I understand the emotion around it, I expected it, but I want people to understand housing the homeless is the responsibility of everyone,”                     San Mateo County manager Mike Callagy That is a quote from the Daily Journal's article titled Mayhem in Millbrae about the proposed purchase by the County of La Quinta Inn to convert it to a homeless project.  One has to wonder where these people in positions of authority come up with these look-down-their-noses ideas of what is and isn ..read more

The 2023 rendition of Burlingame on the Avenue appeared to be quite a success.  I went for part of both days and it was crowded--especially around the main stage.  It wasn't crowded there because of all the people, but rather because of the decision to turn the stage 90 degrees from its usual orientation.  Plenty of people noted that left only about 10-12 yards of space between the front of the stage and the construction fence for the Post Office project.  It only fit a couple of chairs, one umbrella and the cross traffic to the food trucks cut right through the dance floor ..read more

B'gamers who have been here for twenty years or more will remember Burlingame was the center of the doping scandal that rocked many professional sports back in 2003.  After getting its start in Millbrae and then San Carlos, BALCO moved to 1520 Gilbreth Rd.-- about a block from the It's It shop across the freeway.  The company principal, Victor Conte, and personal trainer/distributor Greg Anderson were fixtures around town.  They especially loved breakfast at Alana's.  Now Netflix has revived interest in the story with a just-released documentary film "Untold: Hall of Shame ..read more

With the winter storm damage to Mills Canyon being repaired per this DJ article, perhaps it's time to look at that open space's suitability for satisfying some of our RHNA housing requirements. The winding trails of Mills Canyon in Burlingame took a hit from harsh winter storms with the popular lower route washed out from tree failures, but work is almost done to complete a reroute. City Arborist Rich Holtz said the city is aiming to have the trail completed and opened sometime in the coming weeks. Damage from the January storms caused a landslide on the lower portion of the Ed Taylor Loop Tra ..read more

News reporters like to report on campaign donations and prominent donors.  It's pretty easy to do given the required filings and it's a lot easier than digging into the issues a couple of layers and comparing candidate responses.  That is especially true when we are early in the race.  Emily Mibach at the Daily Post did just that with the race to replace Dave Pine's seat as a SM County Supervisor representing the district from San Bruno south to B'game.  It's funny in a way since you can only find the Post in about five places in B'game and nowhere north of here.  But ..read more

Continuing my fascination with all things electricity-related, PG&E's announcement that they will substitute quick, tenth-of-second shut-offs when changes in flow occur.  From today's WSJ: The California utility company PG&E spent about $2.5 billion on a yearslong effort aimed at reducing wildfire risk by cutting or clearing more than a million trees growing alongside power lines.  It now says that work was largely ineffective and is eliminating the program, according to an internal analysis reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and interviews with utility executives.  The ..read more

I find the forced march to an all-electric future interesting on a number of fronts as you can read in the Climate and Power categories.  Some days reading the general business news seems like a session of high school chemistry or geography class.  What flavor of lithium will be the most plentiful and cost effective, where is it mined and where refined?  Answer:  China refines the huge majority today.  What U.S. projects are stalled?  An Idaho cobalt project is 30+ years old and still has not produced an ounce of cobalt.  China also dominates the cobalt proce ..read more