I awoke tonight after a long nap, and it occurred to me I could be headed for a number of unpleasant surprises. They would be caused by foolish decision-making and ensuing circumstances that I could not foresee. I'm looking at possible threats to my survival. And this is because it wasn't good enough for me, in my way of thinking, to be the same as some others with a psychiatric disability, and accept what is being offered, and simply live poor. -more-

The recent article in today's New York Times, titled "Cleaning Latrines by Hand: ‘How Could Any Human Do That?’," sheds light on the dire conditions faced by individuals subjected to such dehumanizing tasks. -more-

Congress has been frantically trying to negotiate a border deal. Without a border deal, Republicans will not approve further Ukraine and Israel funding. -more-

Honoring the Ancestors Before Our Ancestors
Phoebe Anne Thomas Sorgen, a California delegate to the Green Party US National Committee, thoughtfully includes a nod to the Bay Area's Indigenous people attached to each piece of email. Based on the City's official code of recognition, Sorgen's version reads:
"The beautiful land I am grateful to inhabit was the territory of xučyun (Huchiun [Hooch-yoon]), ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo [Cho-chen-yo]-speaking Ohlone [Oh-low-nee] people, ancestors and descendants of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. This land is of great importance to Ohlone people. We who care may pay a tax-deductible Shuumi Land Tax. -more-

It is clear from his comportment that the Mayor has lost his ethical way. He pockets his rules, yet doesn’t see that he leaves himself with nothing. He doesn’t know how to escape this; he feels those binds, those hoods that others put over him, but without knowing that they are playing him. He can’t see them betting against him while telling him they are on his side. -more-

Happy New Year! Today I have three mystery/thriller novels for your consideration.

(A) First Lie Wins -- Ashley Elston (five stars)

A superb con-artist thriller set, primarily, in Louisiana.

“Evie Porter” is a successful con-artist with two problems. First, she’s fallen in love with her mark, Ryan Sumner. Second, her very evil boss, Mr. Smith, doesn’t trust her anymore and has destroyed her actual identity. Will “Evie” escape from Smith? -more-

On February 1-3, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra celebrated the rise of coffee house concerts in Europe, most notably in Leipzig, where Zimmerman’s cafe on Catherinenstrasse would host concerts led by composers Georg Telemann and, later, Johann Sebastian Bach. (As we know, Bach was so taken by the popularity of coffee that he wrote his famous Coffee Cantata in praise of this caffeinated drink.) On Saturday, February 2, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra gave two concerts, an afternoon one at 2:30, which I attended, and an evening one at 7:30, both at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. Given that most of the music performed involved two harpsichords, these concerts were billed as Double Espresso. -more-

Worth Noting:

The February 13 City Council 4 pm special meeting on the Ashby BART Transit Oriented Development is not posted yet. The February 13 Council 6 pm agenda is posted and available for comment with the merger of the Peace and Justice Commission and the Human Welfare and Community Action Commission merger as item 16 under action. Both the Peace and Justice Commission and the Human Welfare and Community Action Commissions meet this coming week.

• Monday:
  • At 3 pm the Council meets in closed session in the hybrid format.
  • At 7 pm the Personnel Board meets in person.
  • At 7 pm the Peace and Justice Commission meets in person.
• Wednesday:
  • At 3 pm the HAC CDBG subcommittee meets online.
  • At 6 pm the Planning Commission meets in person with a hearing on “Middle” Housing.
  • At 6:30 pm the Board of Library Trustees meets in person.
  • At 6:30 pm the Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets in person.
  • At 6:30 pm the PAB meets in the hybrid format.
  • From 12 – 3 pm appointments are offered to assist with the completion of Displacement Certificate Applications.
• Thursday: At 7 pm the ZAB meets in the hybrid format.
• Friday: At 9 am the Elmwood BID meets in person.
• Saturday: At 10 am the Berkeley Neighborhoods Council (BNC) meets online. On January 13 Berkeleyans for Better Planning presented their ballot initiative for fixing city streets and sidewalks. The alternate ballot initiative presentation on city streets is scheduled for February 10.