Archive for September, 2009
September 29th, 2009 | 
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Oh, my kittens, we have a problem on our hands. I know that I do not usually…
Oh, my kittens, we have a problem on our hands. I know that I do not usually call you “my kittens,” because so many of you are not actual kittens, but I have once again fallen under the spell of Tom and Lorenzo, the Project Rungay guys. Project Rungay is one…
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‘In the Falling Snow,’ by Caryl Phillips
In the Falling Snow By Caryl Phillips (Alfred A. Knopf; 308 pages; $25.95) “In the Falling Snow” is a calm and serious novel of middle-age meltdown set in an exceedingly grim contemporary England. Caryl Phillips is an accomplished writer in several genres,…
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Beetle misidentification means call someone else
Q: We recently had a termite inspection and the inspector said we have powder-post beetles in the joists under our house. He quoted quite a bit to treat for them. Could we have powder-post beetles under our house? I thought only termites could damage the…
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From the Netherlands, a new consulate
The Dutch consulate, which covers 13 Western states, is moving from Los Angeles to San Francisco in January. “The decision was made,” said press and cultural officer Jennifer Katell, “because we have an office in San Mateo that we’ll be merging with. With so…
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Some of you may recall when KQED radio tried to replace the wonderful Science…
Some of you may recall when KQED radio tried to replace the wonderful Science Friday with some soft news “Morning Edition” in the afternoon show out of Los Angeles. I made a large stink about it, because I luv Science Friday very much, and eventually the odd…
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What to check when paint won’t stick to stucco
Q: In 2005, we painted our 1959 stucco house in the Washington Manor area of San Leandro with elastomeric paint. I was home and over the course of the week, I watched the contractor power wash, scrape, then prime and roll on the new paint. Within six months,…
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Golden retrievers happy together
When Walnut Creek resident Carolyn Arnold got divorced after 32 years of marriage, her financial situation forced her to sell her home and move to a small apartment. She was also forced to give up her three golden retrievers, which, she says, was almost…
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Basic items to keep in pet emergency kit
Q: What standard items should I keep in a pet emergency kit at home and in the car? I have the usual elastic bandages and gauze, tweezers, tic pickers and blanket; and in my car, a spare leash and a small vacuum-sealed pack of treats (to lure a dog away from…
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Home decor gets a Pop Art punch
Texan collector and decorator Andrea Reed grew up in a home filled with Pop Art, but it was the film “Tommy” that really made a lasting impression. In particular, a scene where Tommy’s mother (played by Ann-Margret) sings “in an all-white room with a white…
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