That's no moon…but it is one of my favorite places to visit in Davis
Some may know it as the UC Davis Social Sciences and Humanities Building, but for me it will always be the Death Star. It's an amazing building…well technically it is a collection of many interconncted buildings, all packed with awkward, imposing angles. It is very easy to get lost in the innards and courtyards of this building, and this (intentional) design feature is part of the charm.
No two corners (or windows) appear to be the same and there are many steps that lead you to dark nooks and crannies. Perfect spots for plotting the destruction of those Rebel scum.
If you have never visited the Death Star, then you should give yourself to the Dark Side (at least once!). Here are some black and white photos that depict the Death Star in all of its raw and powerful beauty.
Click on the pictures to enlarge…
Bad restaurant marketing in Davis: a sign of the times?
There is a relatively new Japanese restaurant in Davis. Like all restaurants, and most places of business, it has signage that displays the name of the restaurant. Here is how that sign looks when looking at it directly from about 20 feet away:
If you were driving past this establishment, you'd be another 20 feet or so away from the sign. I suspect that many of you might not be able to clearly read the first word. Here's a close up:
The shadows that you can see hint at the problem that I'm about to raise. This signage is 3-dimensional, with the letters being raised several inches from the wall. So what happens when you have such a sign and you try looking at it from anything other than directly head on?
Doesn't seem great from a marketing perspective if the name of your business can only be read when looking at your sign from one particular angle! It's a little better at night as the white backing to the letters is illuminated. Here is a close up that more clearly shows the 3-dimensional nature of the sign:
Did no-one check this at any point and ask the simple question "Wait, can you actually read those words?"
Sketches of Science: a must-see exhibition in Davis
This weekend we managed to catch the Sketches of Science exhibition at the Mondavi Center (also see the official website). I thoroughly recommend that people catch this free exhibition before it finishes on 28th January.
Photographer Volker Steger has met with many Nobel prize winners and asked them to make a poster (using crayons) that represents their nobel-prize-winning science. He then photographs them with their poster and some of the posters are also accompanied by audio interviews.
There is a lot of humor, beauty, and fun that emerges from this experience. Some scientists go for a simple representation of their work, others pack a lot into the poster (including a poem in one instance). Well worth seeing if you get a chance. I believe that this is the only place in the USA where this exhibit is being shown at the moment.
Martie Chalfie, one of many folks to win the nobel prize for their work on Caenorhabditis elegans
Bob Horvitz, another C. elegans researcher to feature in the exhibition
A quiz about Davis
Reposted from my older blog that is about to disappear.
The following is a quiz about Davis that I made for a party where we said goodbye to some close friends who are leaving Davis after living here for the last six years. I think 12 was the highest score out of 20. If you use the internet, then you are cheating! Answers are included at the bottom of the post.
Scroll down to see the answers.
The Answers
All answers were taken from http://daviswiki.org so I make no claims as to their actual veracity (c) Andy Jones
2) Which of these roads does not exist on campus:
4) Prior to prohibition, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Davis tried banning the sale of alcohol within a 3 mile radius of campus. This was to prevent the ‘corruption’ of young farming students. They succeeded in getting the state legislature to enact this ban in 1911. When was this ban finally lifted:
5) In 1994 a woman was found guilty of violating Davis’ infamous noise ordinance. What activity was she doing that caused her neighbor resort to calling the police?
6) The name ‘Davis’ wasn’t the first name for our town. It became known as Davis in 1907…what was it known as before that?
8) In 2007, a customer was accidentally overcharged for the Pita that they had bought at Pita Pit. How much was the customers credit card charged with?
9) On 21st July this year, a woman robbed a bank in Davis. However, she then ran into a problem when she tried making her getaway. What happened?
10) In 1984 the Davis City Council declared the city to be a what?
11) After the toad tunnel was built what problem affected the toads that tried using it?
12) The Davis Police Department produce and distribute trading cards featuring what?
13) Picture round. What is the name of this sculpture which can be found on the UC Davis campus
14) Every March 1st, Davis Farmer’s market observes what important day?
15) What is the Social Sciences and Humanities Building on the UC Davis campus better known as?
16) David Pyles, is a post-doc in the UC Davis Biometeorology program but how is he better known?
17) In 1870, what was the approximate population of Davis?
18) In July 2003 what was found in a dumpster at Slatter’s Court Mobile Home Park on Olive Drive?
19) Which country keeps it’s diplomatic mission to the California State Government of California based in Davis?
20) In 2006, someone erected an April Fool’s Day sign in Davis that proclaimed that *what* was coming to Davis soon?