Obsidian is an excellent tool for capturing and organizing your notes in markdown format. Here are some tips for using Obsidian.md/
https://github.com/obsidian-tasks-group/obsidian-tasks alongside checklists. The Tasks plugin is nice for many reasons. One being that it prompts you with some values to help you set due dates and also automatically records when you complete a task. You can turn off the default stamping of completion dates but I find it handy.
I was trying to figure out if I could have Obsidian Tasks community pluginIn my mind, a checklist doesn't really need a date completed. Let's take a Packing List as an example. If I mark the "Shirts" item as done that merely indicates to me that the item is in my bag I have no reason to have a date on there.
The solution to this is custom statuses in Obsidian Tasks.
In Obsidian Tasks settings you can set all kinds of custom statuses. Here I have set 2 of them. What this allows is for me to create a note and put in the markdown something like:
- [?] Shirts - [?] Socks - [?] Jeans
When I click on one of the list entries, it fills the check box with 'o'. In other words, lets say I've packed my Shirts and Socks, the list would look like:
- [o] Shirts - [o] Socks - [?] Jeans
The advantage here is that the way I have these states set up in the settings, neither one is a 'DONE' state to the Tasks Plugin. Thus, we don't get the date stamp. Exactly what I want for this purpose.
Here's the non-markdown view of the above:
Happy list making in Obsidian! Obsidian Notes
These are bookmarklets. You can click on the link and drag it into your browser bookmark bar. When you use these bookmarklets, they open a dialog box you can copy and paste from. I chose that method because it should work in most browsers and operating systems.
Copy link and highlights This bookmarklet will grab the title of the current web page, the URL to the page and anything you highilight on the page. It then opens a dialog box in your browser that you can copy out of and paste anywhere you like.
Bookmarklet: Grab link to this page
The code:
javascript:(function() {var currentUrl = window.location.href;var strippedUrl = currentUrl.split('?%27)[0]; void(prompt("Copy the text below and paste where ever you want to save your link:", " "+document.title+" %27"+window.getSelection().toString()+"%27"))})();
Indieweb: PESOS syndication link PESOS - IndieWeb 'PESOS is an acronym for Publish Elsewhere, Syndicate (to your) Own Site. It's a syndication model where publishing starts by posting to a 3rd party service, then using infrastructure (e.g. feeds, Micropub, webhooks) to create an archive copy on your site.' This bookmarklet is part of that infrastructure. Highlight the text of the page your are on, click the bookmarklet and it will format a syndication link that you can then copy and paste into a page on your site. Bookmarklet: PESOS
javascript:void(prompt("To make an Indieweb PESOS link of this post\ncopy the code below and paste it to a new entry on your site:", " '"+window.getSelection().toString()+"'"))
nano /etc/dhcpcd.conf interface wlan0 static_routers=192.168.1.1 static domain_name_servers=1.1.1.1 inform ip_address=192.168.1.225/24
Did you know your mobile phone has an email address? Just send an email to your phone number@your provider.
Example: you are on T-Mobile with a phone number of 213-555-1212 you send to 2135551212@tmomail.net
Here are the common carrier email addresses. Also, some carriers like Mint Mobile use the major carriers services. in this case, I know Mint uses T-Mobile.
Provider | Domain |
---|---|
Alltel | @message.alltel.com |
Amp'd | @vtext.com |
Boost | @myboostmobile.com |
AT&T | @txt.att.net |
Metrocall | @page.metrocall.com |
Nextel | @messaging.nextel.com |
Sprint | @messaging.sprintpcs.com |
T-Mobile | @tmomail.net |
US Cellular | @mms.uscc.net |
Verizon | @vtext.com |
Virgin (USA) | @vmobl.com |
Windstream | @windstream.net |
Old School
This example code will remove a string called "mysting" from all the files in C:\Users\thisuser\Downloads
@echo off SetLocal ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION set codepath=%~dp0 cd "%codepath%" ::Set the folder that you want to loop through set foldertocheck=C:\Users\thisuser\Downloads ::Set the string you want ot remove from the file names set stringtoremove=mystring FOR %%G IN ("%foldertocheck%\*.*") DO ( set filename="%%~nG%%~xG" set filename=!filename:%stringtoremove%=! REM Rename only if there is a difference between new filename and old filename in %%G IF NOT !filename! == "%%~nG%%~xG" ren "%%~G" !filename! )
@echo off echo Clearing caches... For /R "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OfficeFileCache" %%i IN (*.*) do ( del "%%i" ) %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset timeout 3 start %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe echo onedrive has been reset pause
Windows Batch File Examples <% tp.file.cursor(1) %>
del /q /s /ah Thumbs.db
Windows Batch File Examples <% tp.file.cursor(1) %>
Insta360 X3 The BEST Settings - YouTube
When exporting, choose highest resolution and bitrate
flowchart TD; id1([Start with Manual Mode])-->id2(Set ISO 100 ); id2-->id3{Is camera in motion?}; id3--NO-->id4(Set shuter speed 2xFPS); id3--MODERATE-->id5(Set shuter speed 4xFPS); id3--EXTREME-->id6(Set shuter speed 8xFPS); id4-->id7([Base settings]); id5-->id7; id6-->id7; id7-->id8{Is video too bright?}; id8--YES-->id9(Increase shutter speed 1 step); id9-->id8; id8--NO-->id10{Is video too dark?}; id10--NO-->id13([Perfect! Go take some video]); id10--YES-->id11{Is ISO set to 400?}; id11--YES-->id14([Too dark to film]); id11--NO-->id12(Increase ISO 1 step); id12-->id8;
ISO
Lower = darker; less noise
Higher = brighter; more noise
Shutter Speed
Lower = brighter more motion blur
Highere = darker less motion blur
If you have the Dataview Plugin installed in your Obsidian Vault, you can use this snippet of code to list all the fields and their value that dataview can see. This helps in programming Dataview queries because it helps you understand the structure of the page.
Put the following in a dataviewjs block
$= dv.span(dv.current())
Here is an example of the result of that code:
tags: Obsidian
I use the Templater plugin for my daily notes because I like to have it laid out in a certain structure every day. This is the code I use at the top of the template that template.
prev: [[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", -1, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>]] next: [[<% tp.date.now("YYYY-MM-DD", 1, tp.file.title, "YYYY-MM-DD") %>]]
Here is the result of that code:
YYYY-MM-DD is how I name all my daily notes. It's simple. I date every note i make and include a link back to the daily note with a simple link were I only have to know today's date. For example, today I'd just do [[2024-01-06]]
tag: Obsidian
tags: Photography and Video
Youtube- The Perfect Photography Workflow
Notes from the video
tags: Photography and Video
I may use others keys but this is the script I start with:
#NoEnv ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases. SendMode Input ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability. SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir% ; Ensures a consistent starting directory. ; #t:: Winset, Alwaysontop, , A ; WindowsKey + t will toggle the window to always stay on top or not ; ; typing the letters td and a space inserts todays date in the proper sortable format like 2024-02-01 ::td:: SendInput %A_YYYY%-%A_MM%-%A_DD%{Space} return ; ; typing tdt and a space inserts todays date and time in the proper sortable format like 2024-02-01T1738 ::tdt:: SendInput %A_YYYY%-%A_MM%-%A_DD%T%A_Hour%%A_Min%{Space} return ; ; typing doo and as space inserts the proper ToDo Syntax for Obsidian ::doo:: SendInput -{Space}[{Space}]{Space} return
tags: Windows Utilities
Notes and links that relate to 11ty: Eleventy, a simpler static site generator
How to get started with 11ty: https://www.11ty.dev/docs/getting-started/
A Complete Guide to Building a Blog with Eleventy https://cfjedimaster.github.io/eleventy-blog-guide/guide.html
Has a nice series that was very helpful for me to get me started with 11ty. YouTube: Eleventy Crash Course #1 - Setting up a new 11ty project, creating Layouts, using Nunjucks templates - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzM5lETc6Sg&list=PLtLXFsdHI8JTwScHvB924dY3PNwNJjjuW
YouTube: Build an 11ty Site in 3 Minutes - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKdQEXqfFA0
Formatting dates nicely in 11ty with Luxon | Al Power https://www.alpower.com/blog/formatting-dates-in-eleventy
node Node.js — Download ''
Run the following commands. This installs 11ty, the luxon date formatter and the rss plugin
npm init -y npm install --save-dev @11ty/eleventy npm install luxon --save-dev npm install @11ty/eleventy-plugin-rss --save-dev
Create these folders
md src md src\assets md src\css md src\_includes md src\_includes\components md src\_includes\layouts md _site
Create an .eleventy.js file and add the following
module.exports = function(eleventyConfig) { eleventyConfig.addPassthroughCopy("src/assets"); eleventyConfig.addPassthroughCopy("src/css/"); eleventyConfig.addWatchTarget("src/css/"); return { dir: { input: 'src', includes: '_includes', output: '_site', }, templateFormats: ['md','njk','html'], markdownTemplateEngine: 'njk', htmlTmeplateEngine: 'njk', dataTemplateEngine: 'njk', }; }
If you are dreaming of exploring the beautiful sights and cultures of Europe, you may need to take an extra step before booking your flight. Starting in 2024, American passport holders will need to apply for an online authorization form called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) to visit 30 European countries.
ETIAS is not a visa, but rather a security check that will allow you to stay in Europe for up to 90 days within any 180-day period23. It will cost you 7 euros (about $8) and will be valid for three years or until your passport expires.
The ETIAS system is similar to the ESTA program that the U.S. implemented in 2008 for travelers from certain countries. It is designed to enhance border security and prevent terrorism and irregular migration.
To apply for ETIAS, you will need to fill out a form online or on your mobile phone, providing personal information, passport details and answers to some questions about your health and criminal history. You should apply at least a month before your trip, as the approval process may take up to 30 days in some cases.
You can check the full list of countries that require ETIAS here(PDF) ''. Some of the popular destinations include France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Greece.
So don’t let this new requirement stop you from planning your next European adventure. Just make sure you have your ETIAS approval ready before you board your plane, train, bus or cruise ship. Happy travels! 😊
Stay up to date on the current information by visiting the official ETIAS website: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
Trying out QuiteRSS https://quiterss.org/en/about 'QuiteRSS is a open-source cross-platform RSS/Atom news feeds reader'
Here are the settings I'm using to make it look better to my eyes on Windows.
Now Following:
@gruber@mastodon.social @GreatDismal@mastodon.social @JeriLRyan@mastodon.world @film_girl@mastodon.social @rklau@sfba.social @drewharwell@mastodon.social @feliciaday@mastodon.social @nasa@social.beachcom.org
Now Following:
@anildash@me.dm @georgetakei@universeodon.com @timbray@cosocial.ca @neilhimself@mastodon.social @mmasnick@mastodon.social @dangillmor@mastodon.social @chrismessina@mastodon.xyz @themarkup@mastodon.themarkup.org @molly0xfff@hachyderm.io @clive@saturation.social
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014) - IMDb IMDB 'The Kadam family leaves India for France where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory's Michelin-starred eatery.' Warning: Spoilers
If you've ever seen this movie you'll know the "Hundred-Foot Journey" is the distance between these establishments and the lives of the people involved. I thought it might be interesting to track every time the "Journey" is made.
Madam Mallory -> Maison Mumbai when they are looking at buying it
Madam -> Maison Mumbai when they are renovating and they show her the menu
Hassan -> Le Saule Pleureur to deliver pigeon meal
Madam -> Maison Mumbai to photograph chicken
Madam -> Maison Mumbai to wash off the painted wall
Hassan -> Le Saule Pleureur to make the omelet
Papa halfway (middle of the street) to Le Saule Pleureur to argue about Hassan's training
Madam -> Maison Mumbai to wait for Hassan
Hassan -> Le Saule Pleureur to join as an apprentice
Hassan -> Maison Mumbai to get the Indian spices
Papa and 2 youngest kids -> Le Saule Pleureur to sample Hassan's cooking
Madam -> Maison Mumbai to take a special surprise - Bastille Day
Papa -> Le Saule Pleureur to wait for the call re: Michelin Star
Hassan -> Le Saule Pleureur to meet Marguerite for word re: Michelin Star
Madam -> Maison Mumbai for wine with Papa - Bastille Day
Papa -> Le Saule Pleureur to dance with Madam
All from Maison Mumbai -> Le Saule Pleureur to eat dinner
Everyone -> Maison Mumbai for the actual meal
To make sure you are seeing all the interesting post on a particular hashtag on Mastodon, you can easily follow them when logged into Mastodon. But wouldn't it be cool to have these posts delivered straight to your RSS reader? The good news is, its easy. You just need the right URL. To do that you need: the server address of your Mastodon instance and the hashtag you want to follow. Then you form it like this:
https://[your_mastodon_server]/tags/[yourhashtag].rss
For example, if you are on mastodon.social and you want to follow the hashtag #sandiego you would use: https://mastodon.social/tags/sandiego.rss
Click the above link and you'll see the RSS!
Now just copy that link into your favorite RSS reader and you'll never miss a post on your favorite topics.
Following @DanielSuarez@mastodon.social
I was having an issue where Microsoft edge was not resolving www.amazon.com. My router is set to ensure all clients use the DNS servers I want them to use. I think this was what was causing the issue. To fix this, I went into Edge's DNS settings by going to this URL:
edge://settings/?search=dns
Then turn on "Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites" and select "Use current service provider" see screenshot below.
Doing this fixed the issue and Amazon.com resolves as expected.
If you're like me, you probably hate the Twitter algorithm. You know, the one that decides what tweets you see on your timeline based on some mysterious criteria. The one that shows you tweets from people you don't follow, or tweets that are hours or days old. The one that buries the tweets from your favorite accounts or topics under a pile of irrelevant noise.
Well, I have a solution for you: Twitter Lists. Twitter Lists are a way to create your own custom timelines based on the accounts or topics you choose. You can make as many lists as you want, and they will only show you the tweets from the accounts you add to them. No more algorithm messing with your feed!
Here's how to set up a Twitter List on mobile:
On your computer you can add people to Twitter lists on a web browser by following these steps:
To add people you are following to your list I find it easiest to the following:
Not going to lie, it's very tedious and time-consuming. You have to do this for every single person you want to add. Why can't there be a faster and easier way to do this? Like a drag-and-drop feature or a bulk selection option. At this point in the tire fire that is Twitter, this isn't likely to improve. I used the opportunity to go through my Following list and unfollow accounts that don't tweet much or lately and the ones I've lost interest in. Then I added to my new List the ones I really don't want to miss. Then, slowly when I have some slack time, I add more.
The plus side of all this tediousness is that, looking at the posts on my new List, I'm seeing posts from accounts I've forgotten about and didn't even know they are still tweeting! That, my friends, is why the algorithm sucks.
That's it! You can now access your list by going back to the Lists tab and tapping on it. You can also pin your list to your home screen for easy access by tapping on the pin icon next to it.
You can create as many lists as you want, and edit or delete them anytime. You can also make your lists public or private, and follow other people's lists if they are public.
Twitter Lists are a great way to customize your Twitter experience and avoid the annoying algorithm. Give them a try and let me know what you think!
If you're looking for a pair of wireless earbuds that can deliver high-quality sound, block out unwanted noise, and last for hours on a single charge, you might want to check out the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds. These are the latest noise cancelling earbuds from soundcore, a brand known for its innovative audio products.
The Soundcore Space A40 earbuds have several features that make them stand out from the crowd. First of all, they have adaptive noise cancelling technology that automatically adjusts to your environment. Whether you're in a quiet office, a busy street, or a noisy airplane, the earbuds will reduce noise by up to 98% and let you enjoy your personal space.
Secondly, they have soundcore's pioneering double-layer diaphragm drivers that deliver sound with strong bass, clear mids, and bright treble. The earbuds also support LDAC technology for high-resolution sound and have a HearID Sound 2.0 feature that lets you customize your sound profile according to your hearing preferences.
Thirdly, they have an impressive battery life of up to 50 hours with the charging case. You can listen for up to 10 hours on a single charge and get an extra 4 full charges from the case. The earbuds also support wireless charging and fast charging for convenience.
Lastly, they have a comfortable and lightweight design that fits snugly in your ears. The earbuds come with 5 sizes of flexible silicone ear tips to ensure a stable and noise-blocking fit. They also have 6 microphones and an AI algorithm for clear calls and a transparency mode for hearing your surroundings when needed.
One of my favorite features that they go into pairing mode as soon as the case is opened. This way, once paired, they are ready to go by the time you put them into your ears. Also, they can be used in mono mode in either ear. Even with hear-through modes with the app I like to use a single earbud when walking to keep alert to traffic or other people.
The Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are a great choice for anyone who wants to enjoy high-quality sound and noise cancellation in any situation. They are available in white or black colors and come with a USB-C cable and a user manual. You can buy them from soundcore's official website or from Amazon for $99.99.
Reply on MastadonI'm not going to go on about the whys and wherefores surrounding getting started with Mastodon. I'll include some links at the end of this that go over all that.
I started to collect information to write this post and came across this excellent post: 10 quick Mastodon tips. It is a great overview and includes some nice graphics to explain things. I highly recommend reading it to familiarize yourself with how Mastodon works.
These tips and tricks are for once you've set up your account and now need to know what to get things done. They are a bit redundant if you read the link above but I'll leave them here anyway. I plan to add to this page as I find other useful tips.
[https://](https:)[server.name]/@[username].rss
How to follow a hashtag on Mastodon with RSS
More Mastodon tips and tricks ""
Be sure OneDrive is set to use Office Applications by going to OneDrive settings, Office tab and be sure "Use Office applications to sync Office files that I open" is checked Be sure all Office applications are **closed**
Copy the text below and save it as a batch file onedrivefix.bat:
@echo off echo Clearing caches... For /R "%localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\OfficeFileCache" %%i IN (*.*) do ( del "%%i" ) %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset timeout 3 start %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe echo onedrive has been reset pause
Then run the batch file and OneDrive will reset.
It is possible that OneDrive.exe isn't in the folder above so if this doesn't start Onedrive, you might need to figure out where OneDrive.exe is. Most likely C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe. Then you'll have to modify the script with the correct location.
Find the location of the onedrive
Search Start for OneDrive –> open file location.
right click onedrive shortcut –> open file location
In a diversion from the usual tech tips and news….
My wife and I were watching the movie Waitress and we decided to write down all the creative pie names and ingredients. I know everyone needs this information so here is the list 🙂
All the Pies of Waitress (2007)
Pie #1: Blue Plate Special I DON’T WANT EARL’S BABY PIE or BAD BABY PIE – Quiche with egg and brie cheese with a smoked ham center (later referred to as BAD BABY QUICHE PIE by old Joe)
Pie #2: KICK IN THE PANTS PIE – Cinnamon spice custard (Today’s Special)
Pie #3: I HATE MY HUSBAND PIE – “You make it with bittersweet chocolate and don’t sweeten it. You make it into a pudding and drown it in caramel …”
Pie #4: SPAGHETTI PIE – has at home with husband
Pie #5: MARSHMELLOW MERMAID PIE – From when she was in her mermaid stage. Pie made for Dr. Mueller and given later in the appointment to Dr. Pomatter. “Biblically good!”
Pie #6: FALLIN’ IN LOVE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE – made for Dawn
Pie #7: BABY SCREAMING IT’S HEAD OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND RUINING MY LIFE PIE – New York-style cheesecake, brandy brushed and topped with pecans and nutmeg
Pie #8: PEACHY KEEN TARTS – made for Dr. Pomatter
Pie #9: EARL MURDERS ME BECAUSE I’M HAVING AN AFFAIR PIE – “You smash blackberries and raspberries into a chocolate crust.”
Pie #10: I CAN’T HAVE NO AFFAIR BECAUSE IT’S WRONG AND I DON’T WANT EARL TO KILL ME PIE – “Vanilla custard with banana. Hold the banana …”
Pie #11: SPANISH DANCER PIE WITH POTATO CRUST – Joe orders at the Diner
Pie #12: NAUGHTY PUMPKIN PIE – brought to appointment for Dr. Pomatter, but unexpectedly with Dr. Mueller. Dr. Pomatter unexpectedly out of town with wife
Pie #13: STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE OASIS PIE – After Joe orders this one and Jenna tells him that it’s just a pie: “Just a pie! It’s downright expert. A thing’a beauty … how each flavor opens itself, one by one, like a chapter in a book. First, the flavor of an exotic spice hits ya … Just a hint of it … and then you get flooded with chocolate, dark and bittersweet like an old love affair …” – Joe
Pie #14: PREGNANT MISERABLE SELF-PITYING LOSER PIE – “Lumpy oatmeal with fruitcake mashed in. Flambéed of course …”
Pie #15: LONELY CHICAGO PIE – Teaches Dr. Pomatter how to make this one
Pies #16 & #17: CAR RADIO PIE and JENNA’S FIRST KISS PIE – These are pies Jenna’s mom used to make that she fondly remembers.
Pie #18: OLD JOE’S HORNY PAST PIE – Jenna states she is going to invent after a saucy story from Old Joe.
Note: This was originally posted in 2008. Moving it here since my old WordPress site is gone.
The San Diego Zoo is a wonderful place for families. I’ve been going there my whole life and always enjoy seeing the animals and the smiles on the face of kids seeing their favorite animals often for the first time. If you have never been to the Zoo, the first thing you’ll find out rather quickly after you enter the gates is that it is built on a series of hills and valleys. Some of them much steeper than others.
The Zoo does offer solutions to help with getting around. There is the Bus Tour which takes you around the park and a guide points out the animals. There is also a Kangaroo Bus that lets you hop on and off at different points in the park. Another new addition is the Discovery Cart Tour which is a more personal tour than the Bus and might be good if you have a large family. However, these can add to your expenses for the day, and to see things up close, you need to get off the roads that those vehicles travel on.
Most people fail to come up with a good plan, so the hills don’t wear them out too early in the day. All too often I see parents struggling to push their strollers up hills or dealing with fussy young kids who are worn out. It isn’t their fault; nobody tells you about this before you go. Once there, the excitement takes over, you grab a map at the gate and try to come up with a plan. Often, it’s just pick something you want to see and head that way.
That’s why I wrote this guide. I’ve spent lots of time thinking about this and wandering around the Zoo trying out different paths. That said, hills are unavoidable. This guide will show you how to take as many of them as possible going downhill. My goal here is to help people enjoy the Zoo as much as I do. There is no wrong way to walk to the Zoo but it can be made easier.
A couple of points before we start. First, I’m not affiliated with the San Diego Zoo, just a long time Member and fan. Second, this isn’t meant to be a guide to the animals you will see on the routes. Take your time, enjoy the sights and sounds, and refer to this along the way.
I built a companion app to this guide to make it easier when you are at the Zoo. Open this link on your phone or scan the QR code: SD Zoo Ninja
Let’s go!
Front Street
Once you enter the Zoo you’ll be on Front Street. Grab a map or get the Zoo's official app for iOS or Android. You’ll need the map because I’ll be referring to “map locator’ numbers on the map. The biggest problem I have with the map is that it is not to scale. Looking at it makes it very hard to figure out which path to go down. In a couple of confusing spots, an employee is posted to help you out with directions. If you are standing with your back to the entrance, you could head to the left and visit the Reptile House, Reptile Walk, and the Children’s Zoo (currently closed for construction). There are no big hills there so I tend to save this for the end of the day. Because of that, this guide will start you off going into the heart of the zoo.
1️⃣ Find Treetops Way between Map Locator 4 and the ticket booths and follow that to the Orangutan enclosure on the right.
Monkey Trail
2️⃣ Follow the brief Orangutan Trail until it exits back onto Treetops way right near Zoo Brew.
3️⃣ Take Treetops Way left toward the zoo exit and shortly you will see Monkey Trail. on your right.
To Tiger Trail
4️⃣ Follow Monkey Trail down to Tiger Trail. Keep left when you see the sign for Tiger Trail.
5️⃣ Follow Tiger Trail down to the tigers. You will be passing by the lower part of their enclosure and there are 3 opportunities to see them. If they are down by the glass, it is a nice up-close view.
At the end of Tiger Trail, you will see the plaques as reminders of donors that made these exhibits possible. As you pass by them, the trail leads to the left and down to Hippo Trail.
🔅 TIGER TIP: If you missed a good view of the tigers because they were at the top of the enclosure, turn right just past the plaques and before you head down to Hippo Trail. You’ll go up a walk that is a bit steep but it is worth it for the tigers. The walk ends at the door to the aviary. After you view the tigers, head back down to Hippo Trail.
6️⃣ Hippo Trail ends at Map Locator 14.
At that point, go to your right. The middle of the zoo doesn’t have a Locator. It is the elevator up to the Bashor Bridge. The ground floor of the elevator is right near The Pagoda.
7️⃣ Take the elevator (or climb the 116 stairs) up.
At the top of the elevator, you will be by Bashor Bridge.
1️⃣ Head across the bridge toward Map Locator 20 and then go left. Shortly, you’ll see Map Locator 19.
2️⃣ Continue left, enjoying the enclosures on the way to Map Locator 17.
3️⃣ At Map Locator 17, cross the street to Polar Bear Plunge. This area is a loop. be sure to go all the way in to see the reindeer. The loop will take you through the small gift shop and back out onto Park Way.
4️⃣ Before you cross the street back to Locator 17, go to the right a little way. You’ll see the valley Highway 163 runs through, and you will have a unique view of Balboa Park’s Cabrillo Bridge.
5️⃣ Cross back over the street and continue on downhill to the right (not back toward the bridge). Shortly after the zebras, you will find a wood walkway called Eagle Trail. Follow that wood walkway along past the eagles.
6️⃣ At the end of Eagle Trail, you will see the entrance to the Asian Leopards exhibit.
7️⃣ Go straight ahead and visit the leopards and the red pandas. After the red pandas, you will emerge back onto Park Way not far from The Pagoda and the elevators back up to the Bashor Bridge.
8️⃣ Take the elevator back up..
Back at the top of the elevator, you will be by Bashor Bridge again.
1️⃣ Head across the bridge toward Map Locator 20 and then go right. You’ll see the Elephant Odyssey sign where you will go left and through the tar pits exhibit. The tar pits lead to the elephants.
2️⃣ Keep to the left as you emerge from the tar pits area, and you’ll see the lions.
To Africa Rocks
3️⃣ Follow that path past the elephants all the way around and continue past the Sabretooth Grill. Just after Map Locator 10, the path winds through the Kopje exhibit and on to Map Locator 9. Here, you will be at a kind of crossroad.
4️⃣ Follow the path downhill to the right toward Africa Rocks. Africa Rocks is a long winding path all the way back down to the heart of the zoo. Just past the penguins, you’ll see Hua Mae Cafe.
Across the street from Hua Mae Cafe and to your left as you emerge from the penguin exhibit, you’ll see the entrance to the sun bear forest.
Follow the path to Sun Bear Forest as it takes you through the trees and past the sun bears. The path emerges at Map Locator 11.
7️⃣ Go right here and follow the street back down to the Hua Mae Cafe area.
8️⃣ At Map Locator 13, turn left and head down to the elevator.
9️⃣ Take the elevator back up.
Back at the top of the elevator, we will go a different way this time.
1️⃣ From the elevator go toward Treetops Café. Follow the trail between Treetops Café and Albert’s.
2️⃣ Keep to the right for Monkey Trail and follow Monkey Trail past the Gorillas.
3️⃣ At the Monkey Tales & Forest Tales sign, keep to the left to follow Hippo Trail past the Pigmy Hippos. This portion of Hippo Trail exits back onto Treetops way. There will be restrooms on your left.
4️⃣ Go left here and follow the signs for Aviary Trail on your right.
5️⃣ You will reach Owens Aviary. Go through the doors and continue following the trail through the aviary. Shortly after you exit the doors at the end of the upper portion of Owens Aviary, you will see the doors for the lower portion. Go back inside and visit that portion. Exit the aviary and continue down the trail toward Center Street. The trail ends across Center Street from Map Locator 11.
6️⃣ Cross the street and follow the path up the hill to the right. You will be passing the bears on the left. This is a bit of a hill but take your time and enjoy the bears.
7️⃣ The hill ends with Map Locator 8 on your right and Sydney’s Grill on your left. Continue left around Sydney’s Grill to the Urban Jungle. This area is a loop, keep to the left past the giraffes and follow the trail all the way around. Go into the Outback and visit the koalas. If you walk through to the end of the koala exhibit, go to your right. If you continue straight, you will end up in Africa Rocks. Go right and back toward Sydney’s Grill.
8️⃣ Keep to the left and across from Map Locator 8, follow Koalafornia Boardwalk back toward the Zoo Entrance.
1️⃣ From near the zoo entrance and Map Locator 4, go left to the Reptile House near Map Locator 3.
2️⃣ Go left as you exit the reptile house and down Reptile Walk. The Reptile Mesa is a big loop. Make your way back to Map Locator 4 when you are finished.
I hope this guide helped you enjoy your day at the San Diego Zoo! Tag your Instagram and Twitter posts with #sdzooninja so we can share our adventures! Let me know if the app was useful.
Last month, a week or so before Christmas, I received an email from Lt. Denise Garcia of the U.S. Navy. Now email from the Navy isn’t something that occurs often for me so I opened that one ahead of the others in my in-box that day. That email was like getting an early Christmas present as it contained an invitation to join 7 other bloggers aboard a Los Angeles Class Fast-Attack Nuclear Submarine.
I had to read it a couple of times. Really? Me?
I learned that my friend Jenn Van Grove, who I know from Twitter and several Twitter Meetups, had included my name on a list she gave to Lt. Garcia. Also, ours would be the first group of bloggers that the Navy has invited on a submarine.
Our amazing trip was this past Friday, January 15, 2010.
My fellow honorary submariners are:
The group of us and Denise met Thursday night at Celadon in Hillcrest for dinner and as a kind oficebreakerr. This was something we arranged on our own but I think it really added to the trip. Eachof us knew some of the others but not everyone. Denise was able to answer questions as well as give us some information about what we would be experiencing the next day. Good food, good times and an early evening as we had to be at the submarine base in Pt. Loma at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.
Morning Briefing
At 8:00 things came to a stop as we had Colors and the Star Spangled Banner played. Then it was across a gangway to the sub, into an open hatch, and down a vertical ladder into the sub. It was immediately apparent why the 2 groups. Having all 8 of us in one spot would just clog things up.
We all went to the Wardroom where we were briefed on what we would be doing for the day.
My group was the first to go up to the control room and attack center where I was able to watch the men control the sub. I also got to go into the sonar room where I was given a set of headphones to listen in on what we could hear around us.
There is so much information coming at you on these screens. It was incredible. The screens in the control center aren’t dedicated to a specific task. One minute they could be displaying sonar contacts and the next they could be displaying a live video feed from the periscope. Also, interesting is that these systems are COTS (commercial off the shelf) which keeps costs low and enables them to be easily switched out or upgraded.
Dive!
Around 10:00 we reached our dive point. I was in the control room when the order was given. The Hampton was put at a 5-degree angle down and we started to slip beneath the surface. I was really looking forward to this. It was quick and silent. I was standing by a monitor that was receiving a video feed from periscope 2 and shot this little video of our dive:
Angles and Dangles
When we had reached a certain depth we went through a procedure the men call “Angles and Dangles.” During this procedure, the sub dives deep and then comes back up, both at a steep angle. You need to grab hold of something because at 25 degrees you are really leaning! One of the reasons for going through this procedure is that everything not secure will fall. Falling objects make noise and noise and submarines do not mix. Silence is your friend.
Also demonstrated for us was the crew coming to battle stations. A flurry of activity in very limited space occurs. Orders and acknowledgments fly. The bunch of us press ourselves out of the way as best we can in the tight control room. Everything is like clockwork. Torpedo tubes flooded. The order was given to fire! A quick shift in air pressure occurs that makes your ears pop as the torpedo leaves the tube. Today it was a ‘water slug’ which is basically a flooded torpedo tube with no torpedo in it. Torpedo away, the sub turns and moves. Fast.
Weapons Demonstration
We went down to the torpedo room where the sub has 4 torpedo tubes and
watched a demonstration of a torpedo, this one inert for training purposes, being loaded into the tube. The torpedoes are 19ft long and only slightly less in diameter than the tube. Here is a picture looking down torpedo tube #1. The Pacific Ocean is about 20 feet away on the other side of that door at the end.Loading that torpedo is a precision maneuver with no room for error. Orders are shouted, acknowledgments given fore and aft of the torpedo as it is moved on its hydraulic rails into the tube.
Lunch
After the weapons demonstration we made our way back to the Wardroom where lunch was served. With all the excitement of the morning, I was hungry! The chef on the Hampton did not disappoint.There was a menu at each of our places. From the soup options, I chose tomato and, while you could have had all three deserts I chose the ice cream. There was also fresh bread and pitchers of water, Diet Coke, and juice. Everything was good.
After lunch, the groups switched places. The others went up to the control room and my group went to the places they had been in the morning.
Afternoon
We went back to the torpedo room for a closer look at the controls and the tubes themselves. We also saw the auxiliary diesel engine, crew meeting room, crew mess room, and galley.
Later we went up to the control room again. I believe we were around 60ft below the surface and we had a demonstration of an ‘Emergency Blow’. This is where air is forced into the ballast tanks and the sub rises rapidly to the surface. Felt like a quick elevator ride.
An amazing day
We saw and did so much it is really had to distill it into a blog post. Everyone I encountered was ready to answer questions and proud of their amazing machine. And they should be. I am honored to have been included on this historic first blogger submarine embark.
Thanks to Commodore Genoble, Lt. Garcia, and the men of the USS Hampton for your hospitality and an amazing adventure!
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