Month: February 2010

No Attacks Overhead, No Worries

No, we’re not going to witness any warfare or attacks in the Oakland Hills this Friday and Saturday.  However, some military aircraft will be operating around Oakland International Airport.

An all-points-bulletin is making the rounds, so that Oaklanders aren’t shocked by the noise.

We understand a T-38A jet aircraft, operated by the United States Air Force, is scheduled to land Friday at noon.  It will depart sometime the next morning.

This is one of those major flying machines piloted for years by our top guns.  It takes off with some intense afterburners that make everyone within earshot jump.

Oakland International will let us complain.  If you want to share “aircraft noise concerns” with them, then call this hotline:  510-563-6463.  But we think this rare T-38A sighting is worth relishing instead.

It Was Late In The Evening, At 8pm

Last night, several of us had gathered in downtown Montclair after work.  We were “doing good” for a local non-profit, and making some decisions about our online tactics.

Then the clock struck 8pm, and our carriage turned into a pumpkin.  All the third-place places on Antioch and Mountain row were closing up – and we were bereft.

Horrors of horrors! We realized there would be no regular drip of WiFi ’til the morning light.  And we headed to the lonely street.

So where do you spread out, grab a coffee, and get down to work?  Without a hotspot from Metro or Peet’s, the only open place nearby was El Agavero.  Luckily they were gracious, even though we rang up a minor tab.

In most cosmopolitan reaches, that 8pm bewitching hour is earlier than suppertime –  but not here.  Welcome to Oakland, the city that gets its sleep.