All posts by Steve Stern

Life without a computer

My computer crashed – every time I start it up, it slowly goes through all the steps of starting, and then…just turns itself off – and Michele – my tech-support – was in Canada so I was left with pretty much doing the same wrong thing over and over again. My plan was to drive over the Sierras to the East Side and do some hiking while Michele was gone, so I thought – which is the act of thinking, so it is definitely not the right word: no actual thinking was going on – I would take a couple of days off and, maybe, when I got back the computer would work. Like it was a sick dog that just needed a little rest.

I get most of my news off of the computer and, of course, use it to process my photos. I stay in touch with email and write this blog – which is a bigger part of my life than it should be – on my computer. All my phone numbers and addresses are on the computer – my calendar, my checking account. Everything! And it was all gone. Twenty five years ago, I'm not sure I would have cared if my computer went down, now it is as important as a car. 

 

If you are like me, you have been wondering why Steve has not posted of late. Turns out his computer is not feeling well so I (Richard) have hacked in from the outside to let you all know to stay tuned! While we wait for Steve's return, here is a link describing our friend Joanne Neft's great new cookbook "Placer County Real Food." Joanne spent a year going to Farmer's markets in Placer County one day and using the local food to cook dinner for 8 the next day. The cookbook presents the menus and the recipes along with pictures that at time rival Steve's.

The Grand Prix of Germany is this weekend so I am posting this picture

Two weeks ago, was the Grand Prix of England and this weekend  is the Grand Prix of Germany. Formula One – which refers to the rules the cars that race in Grand Prix's must conform to – is a team sport. The two leading drivers are both British1 which hasn't happened in a long time.

I've read somewhere that the difference between the best driver on a course and the worse is only about a second a lap, but the difference between the best car and the worse is about four seconds a lap. In the top cars and top drivers, there is almost no difference.

It is very difficult to pass while racing around the track. Much of the race is strategic with the passing done while one car is in the pits having its tires changed. It takes about four seconds – give or take a couple of 10ths – to change all four tires and this picture – of Lewis Hamilton, the current points leader – shows the timing and energy that goes into it. 

 

1 There are 24 drivers in F1 right now. They come from Great Britain; Australia; Austria; Germany; Spain; Brazil; Poland; Italy; Russia; Switzerland; Japan; Finland; and India. Obviously it is very competitive and all the drivers are very good. 

557_L Hamilton Malaysia10 202