THEY FORCE ME DO THEIR WORK, BUT DON'T TRUST ME

If I'm doing your job, then let me do it . . .

Barbara has been under the weather and not eaten solid food for two days. At her request, I ran to the store for 4 cups of Noosa vanilla bean yogurt. Only two regular cashier lines were open and they were backed up with people with full baskets. Under time constraints, I went to the self checkout zone, a place I would have otherwise avoided. Even there I had to wait in a short line.

 

To save time, I used one of the containers in my left hand and scanned it several times, using my right hand to toss another one directly into the sack with each scanner beep. At that point, the normal screen was replaced by a large box that said “WAIT FOR ATTENDANT!“

 

When the attendant arrived, I explained that I was scanning my four yogurts when the system interrupted me with the message. She said I was putting things into the sack without scanning them, so the system flagged me in the middle of the checkout.

 

She then used her badge and called up a video on the screen that was from a camera vertically above me, showing me scanning one cup multiple times while tossing each directly into the sack from the basket. When she returned to the normal screen, it confirmed that I had scanned the barcode for all the items, but somehow I still felt as if I had done something wrong. I told her I’d seen the regular, human check out people do this themselves with no problem. She said it’s OK for them to do it, but not for me, a self check out customer.

 

I asked her to replay the video so I could take a picture of it with my camera, but she declined. She also would not tell me if the cameras were monitored by a human or by software. 

 

It was all interesting, but left me feeling a little uncomfortable.

Live and Learn . . .

 

 Self-service checkout I had to use by forced inconvenience

 

 

 Four identical yoghurts, my only purchase.

 

"Big Brother" in the ceiling over the self-checkout lanes

 

It's Hot!

🔥 Rising Temperatures and Extreme Heat

The story - 

We recently returned from an extended absence and opened the house up. Always at the top of our list after returning from a trip is donning our pith helmets and setting out in search of scorpions who might have evaded our defenses and taken up residence in the relative cool of our house. Barbara, she of sharp eyes, bagged only one tiny specimen, and he was long dead.

I reset the A/C and turned the water main back on, and we crawled into bed after a long day's flying. We slept well and enjoyed morning showers.

Lying awake during the second night, I realized I had not plugged in the hot water recirculating pump, nor had I turned the water heater control from 'pilot' to 'on'.  Nevertheless, there was hot water for our showers that first morning back. Had I forgotten to turn the hot water heater to 'Pilot' when we had left for Oregon?

At sunrise, I nervously walked barefoot into the garage, closely inspecting each dark spot before setting my foot down. I was at first confused. The water heater had indeed been turned to 'Pilot' and still remained there. How was it that, with the water heater only on 'pilot', we were able to enjoy hot water showers the previous morning? 

Here's the way I figure it.

The water heater is in the garage, against the southern wall. Though I left the house A/C set for 80 degrees while we were gone, the garage was still an oven, heated by the sun and the ambient high of 100+ degrees. Even though the water heater was off, the water temperature was perfect for showering. I assume had it been a long, soaking shower the warm water in the tank would have eventually run out, and the water turn cold.

That anecdote leads us to a more serious discussion . . .

Southern Arizona, known for its iconic saguaro cacti and sweeping desert vistas, is facing a climate reckoning. As global temperatures rise, this region is experiencing some of the most dramatic and dangerous shifts in the United States. From intensifying heat waves to dwindling water supplies, climate change is reshaping life in the Sonoran Desert.

And it's getting hotter - faster. Phoenix has shattered heat records in recent years with temperatures above 110 degrees F for weeks at a time, and only after midnight does it fall to comfortable levels. Elderly, children, and those without access to A/C are vulnerable and suffer. I suppose there are those so adapted as to survive comfortably in the shade with a breeze or a fan. I'm not there yet.

For the time being, at our Sellwood home we are slightly better off. Phoenix is at 1,086 ft, Tuscon is at 2,344 ft, and our home in Saddlebrook is at 3,325 ft. We are usually 5-10 degrees cooler than Phoenix (but still very hot in the summer.) 

And there's the water issue. For the immediate future, Tucson is okay . . better off than much of the state.

Is there a bright spot? Yes, the temperate, dry winters are absolutely wonderful!

A PERFECT DAY

 Blue text is supposed to indicate an active link. The link is always there, but on some browser settings might not show up blue? Good luck in any case . . .

Yesterday, B worked in a metalsmithing studio from late morning to mid-afternoon, while I caught up on my reading. Afterwards, we drove a short distance to a performance at Revolution Hall Theater, a Medium-sized performing venue, repurposed from a 100-year-old Portland high school.  

Already Dr Glaucomflecken YouTube fans, we eagerly purchased tickets for “Wife and Death," a stand-up comedy routine by the creator of  Dr. Glaucomflecken (Follow this link or the YouTube link below if you are among the minority who have never seen one of his YouTube videos.) The ‘Glaucomfleckens' live and practice here in Portland. 

To say it was hilarious is an understatement, though to truly appreciate his satire and straight comedy, it is far more entertaining if you are an insider in the healthcare business. The monologue about his experience sperm banking had everyone rolling in the aisles. Their show includes serious elements of health and life-threatening disease.

Though an ophthalmologic surgeon, he nails every specialty in his YouTube videos. Here is the "Farmer pain scale" that, having lived and practiced in Iowa, I can tell you is spot on.

On the building's top floor is a rooftop bar with a great view over eastern Portland with downtown in the distance, but rather than bar food we opted to head back home, to A Cena, an Italian restaurant six blocks from our apartment and one of our long-time favorites. I downed a wild mushroom ravioli special while Barbara enjoyed a lobster based main course. Back home we watched the last two episodes of "Patience," a detective series set in York, England.

It was more or less a perfect day.

The venue and show.

This was an impressive high school theater for 1923! It's a four story building with one very slow elevator. If you were a student here back in the day, you had buns of steel from stair climbing.

The front rows were reserved for his office staff and hospital friends. They were a rowdy bunch!

Great views from the rooftop bar, but more for drinking than eating so we headed back to our place.

Wild Mushroom special at A Cena. (five minute walk from our apartment.)

The Joy of Markets

 The PDX Market scene

Portland, Oregon is a city that thrives on community, sustainability, and a deep appreciation for locally sourced food—and nowhere is this more evident than in its vibrant network of farmers markets. Scattered across the city’s neighborhoods and operating nearly every day of the week, these markets are more than just places to buy produce; they’re cultural hubs that reflect Portland’s values and its diverse population.

 At the heart of the city’s farmers market scene is the Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University (PSU). Operating year-round on Saturdays, this market is the largest and most iconic in the city, featuring over 140 vendors during peak 

Pictures from last month at the PSU Market.

Beyond PSU, Portland hosts a constellation of neighborhood markets, each with its own character and offerings. We have our own community farmers market on Saturday mornings, about 10 blocks walk from us. This past weekend we visited the Milwaukee Sunday Farmer's Market, less than 10 minutes drive south of us.

The Milwaukee market is on the central town square, across from the old city hall (which now hosts coffee shops, brewery tastings, and other businesses.)

Accessibility and inclusivity are key themes across Portland’s farmers markets. Most accept a wide range of payment options, including SNAP benefits, WIC checks, and senior vouchers, ensuring that fresh, healthy food is available to all residents B. Many markets also host educational programs, cooking demonstrations, and live performances, turning a routine grocery trip into a community event.

Seasonality plays a big role in the farmers market experience. Spring brings tender greens and strawberries, summer overflows with peaches and tomatoes, and fall offers apples, squash, and hearty root vegetables. Even in winter, select markets like the Hollywood Farmers Market continue to operate, offering cold-weather produce and artisan goods on the first and third Saturdays of each month B.

 

Portland’s farmers markets are more than just places to shop—they’re reflections of the city’s commitment to sustainability, equity, and local entrepreneurship.

The market is a place to bump into friends and enjoy live music. This band of 'mature' musicians was more than good.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef hunting for rare ingredients, a family shopping for fresh, whole food, or someone just looking for a fun weekend outing, these markets offer a taste of Portland’s spirit in every bite.

 

Trying the TriMet

We have know that we live in a metropolitan city with way above average public transportation. Yesterday, we decided to use that system, not only for the simple experience, but also to test it for use in the future.

We left our apartment in the Sellwood suburb, walked two blocks to the Tacoma/13th bus stop, and five minutes later boarded Bus #40 which was on time to the minute. The Portland TriMet metropolitan transportation network includes PDXBuses, MAX Light Rail, and the Streetcar, fully integrated under one system. Popular routes run every 15 minutes in the day, less frequently in the late evening hours. The bus was spotless, and the ride comfortable.  The people were behaved and mostly friendly. There were dedicated seats for “Honored Citizens” as well as handicapped. 

With our “Honored Citizens” (Portland’s moniker for seniors), the cost for a ride of any distance is $1.40. It’s cheaper for frequent riders. On this first bus the card reader was not working, so our ride was free.

In only 24 minutes we were in downtown. It would have taken 13-14 min by car in normal traffic, but then there would be the time and $$ to find and pay for parking.

At each stop the bus "kneels down" for easy entry/exit. If there is a rider in a wheelchair or using a walker, the driver extends a simple ramp to the surface level so the chair can roll right off onto the platform or sidewalk.

 We walked a block to Pioneer Square in the heart of the retail/business district to begin our otherwise unstructured day, which was as beautiful as it looks. 75F with a light breeze and blue skys.

The Weather Machine is a whimsical, 30-foot tall art installation in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square that forecasts the weather. At noon each day, it performs a two-minute sequence involving a trumpet fanfare, mist, and flashing lights, revealing a metal symbol that predicts the weather for the next 24 hours. The symbols are a sun for clear skies, a blue heron for drizzle, and a dragon for rain

(I had a short movie here originally, but Blogger never finished 'processing' it.)

Everything grows easily and quickly in Portland. (That basket would have looked great on our balcony.)

We wandered into a Japanese store with both old and new things for sale. The robe hanging from the ceiling was georgeous, but the $8K+ price saved it for the next customer.

We moved on to a larger Japanese dry goods store we had visited previously. There was no one at the coffee counter, but this robotic barista taking orders via your phone served virtually any coffee concoction you would desire.

The street car system is a direct descent of the original horse-drawn cars of the late 1800s. They are smaller than the MAX and can make tighter turns onto smaller streets.

The MAX. Bigger cars and somewhat faster. They reach further into the burbs as well.

The Nines Hotel host The Urban Farmer restaurant. We had a dinner here several years ago, and stopped in for lunch this day. We originally were headed for their rooftop Departures Lounge for a snack, but that didn't open until 4pm.

 

Pioneer Place is an urban indoor mall occupying a full city block. Like many other urban retail outlets, customers were sparse. There is a multiscreen movie theater on the top level.

The sidewalks around the US Court of Appeals is lined with sculpture fountains holding all sorts of animals from the Pacific Northwest.

The Tiny Little Cuppa coffee shop is exactly that. Matt took me here for coffee some years ago.

At the end of the day it was time to head home. The meter-reader was working, so we oppened our apple wallet and used our virtual cards (Note the 'Honored Citizen' identification) for the $1.40 ride home.  We had probably saved enough in gas and parking to pay for the desert at the Urban Farmer.

Screen capture of my virtual TriMet card. It was an enjoyable and informative day. 

We had stopped at the huge Apple store during our walk, and I made an appointment to replace the battery in my iPhone. It's likely I'll ride there rather than drive, as I'm retired and can easily adopt my life to the bus schedule.

I originally set up this "Blips in the Cosmos" a couple of decade ago. It seems to still be working. Let me know - JLF