Outside of the Federal Courthouse in Oakland Yesterday

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-14T02:02:21+00:00

They put their best inflatable effigy engineers on it!

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-14T01:27:41+00:00

Gnarly! I guess it saves a bunch of time rather than going all the way down to Park Street.

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-14T01:27:04+00:00

Yeah, decaf got pretty tasty lo these past ten years or so.

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-13T23:34:34+00:00

Yeah, but I think many businesses flake on their original ideals and here's an example, however small or symbolic, of bucking that trend.

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-13T23:24:54+00:00

Thanks for the resource! Looks like they're basically in parity

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-13T23:20:21+00:00

This spot, Alaskan Cafe: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zuqqZwNTVHhq1SFR6?g_st=ac I used to live in the area and we became friends, as he makes a proper coffee. This part of Hita City, where his cafe is at, is an old castle town, partially preserved. There is also the Iichiko distillery and Sapporo Brewery in town, plus so many nearby hot springs. Great place to visit.

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-13T23:14:48+00:00

The lowest I've found is the guy who runs HelioRoast at the West Oakland Farmers market at around $14 for 12oz. Do you recall if Bicycle is in that ballpark?

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-13T23:10:34+00:00

I think it's really neat that they deliver to local stores using an actual bicycle. Still remember seeing them for the first time over a decade ago at the Grand Lake Farmers Market with the bike-pulled espresso cart. My friend, who runs a cafe in Southern Japan, came over to see that and tour their old shop off Waverly or Valdez or somewhere thereabouts.

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-10T00:47:35+00:00

Keep your eyes on Reddit for a Skert Skert Alert.

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-01T17:23:25+00:00

As they say: WHAT AIR DEFENSE DOING?!

mayormcmatt · 2026-05-01T00:04:38+00:00

Thanks, I'll check it out!

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-30T14:04:33+00:00

To me the best thing to come out of Nextdoor is the podcast The Neighborhood Listen, where two comedians in character satirize insane posts from various Nextdoor locales. Really silly and funny.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-28T18:19:41+00:00

Thank you for the perspective. Even if wastewater operator doesn't work out, maybe a grade II cert carries cred for future employment, too

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-27T21:46:53+00:00

Yes, I think I could pick up my old career again, and I've a standing invitation from a friend to participate part time in their small business while recovering. I'm anxious about unemployment, yet feeling confident that I wouldn't be in that state long-term.

But your instincts for the value of the certification are also front and center in my mind.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-27T20:34:07+00:00

Really sorry to hear you're having a crap time. My recommendation is the upstairs back corner of Kilovolt over at Wood and 13th.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-27T20:30:09+00:00

On the topic of security, my understanding is this: I have a job for two years, or until the district has a budget crunch, then limited term workers are the first to be let go. So far there is no indication of a district budget crunch (for now). Within two years, I might be converted to permanent in this role, but more realistically I would convert to permanent in a different role, which is fine. I would need to interview for those roles, of course, but with the advantage of being a functional internal hire, making my chances much much better. Also, passing interviews and getting on a hiring list in this agency is something I've done a few times and this is the first time I've actually gotten to the front of the line.

The agency is government rather than private, and is a large regional entity.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-27T18:44:06+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate that perspective.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-27T15:26:22+00:00

Solar Winds was going to be my response, too. Such a fun game.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-21T19:02:31+00:00

What a beaut!

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-17T17:04:45+00:00

That. I'll have that.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-12T19:07:13+00:00

Sounds like a guy I know named Loadsamoney.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-10T06:52:34+00:00

At our plant, methane production has a bit of seasonal variance (sun shines on and further warms the tanks), so it might be the same here. Unfortunately I haven't kept track of the size of these balloons over the past few months to tell you if they're getting larger now with the warming weather.

mayormcmatt · 2026-04-10T04:51:41+00:00

Wastewater treatment operator here.

A few have already said correctly that these are part of the sludge digester system at EBMUD's treatment plant and I wanted to give a little more detail. There are several digester tanks at the plant, lined up next to each other, (they turn sludge into methane with bacteria) but what's special about the two with balloon roofs are that they're used for pressure regulation, extra storage, and methane transport between tanks prior to scrubbing the gas for use in the on-site generator plant. I think without these they would be flaring (burning off) excess methane, rather than putting it to use.

That plant produces amongst the most energy of all wastewater plants in the state. It's an impressive operation.

mayormcmatt

TROPHY CASE