Bear Flag Blog

I have sensitive hearing - I can sleep in a room with the lights on without issue, but any regular source of noise and no luck. The same goes for concentrating in general. So today I am working at home, troubleshooting a lab, when I hear a high-pitch… more »

"10 Car Train" would be an excellent band name, especially for a group from the Bay Area. I waffle on whether the numeric or alphabetic form would be better. I like the numeric a touch more, but "Ten Car Train" is easily abbreviated to "TCT", which s… more »

I must say, after reading her editorial in the Times, my opinion of J.K. Rowling has gone way up. The fact remains that the first time I ever met my recently retired accountant, he put it to me point-blank: would I organise my money around my life,… more »

So apparently 7Up was originally (1929) called "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda," because it contained lithium as its selling ingredient. This became "7Up Lithiated Lemon Soda," and then in 1936, simply "7Up." The inventor, C.L. Grigg, never reve… more »

I like Christmas decorations. I try to make time every year to drive around in the evening and enjoy people's Christmas lights. I enjoy public trees, and storefront signs, and faux reindeer antlers on cars. So it would normally be a good thing that t… more »