Buried Waters - Midterm Brainstorming

I'm still not quite sure what direction I will be going in for the midterm project. I've been finding the Wiggle very interesting, which led me to think about bike paths in Glen Park. But I'm not a bicyclist, and was actually drawn to the Wiggle more because I live on it. So, it doesn't really make sense for me to take a bike focus. This led me to think that maybe I could just explore something with movement and pathways through the space. I'm very interested in the mapping and definitely want to do something in that direction. I was also interested when Paula mentioned the garbage angle.

I'm still formulating it all and have still not been able to actually get to the park. I will be doing this this week and will continue to let my ideas solidify.

After today's lecture I would like to focus more on Human Geography, so still unsure what path that will take.

Buried Waters - GPS Points Plotted from Panhandle to the Mission

GPS Points plotted by Elsie Tozier, Eduardo Ribeiro and Alisa Highfill:

Divisadero btw Page & Oak
005 N 37 46 21.2
W 122 26 14.4

We met for a drink at the Page:


Fell & Broderick
007 N 37 46 25.6
W 122 26 22.2

Then walked up to the panhandle:


Fell & Baker
008 N 37 46 24.6
W 122 26 27.8

Then walked to Elsie's house:

Baker & Hayes Elsie's House
009 N 37 46 27.7
W 122 26 25.7

Scott & Oak
010 N 37 46 23.8
W 122 26 09.4

Then to my house:

Pierce & Waller Alisa's House
011 N 37 46 14.3
W 122 26 01.4


Then the long walk to Eduardo's house:

Duboce Park
013 N 37 46 10.6
W 122 25 59.0

Market/ 14th/ Church at Safeway
014 N 37 46 03.3
W 122 25 44.5

Dolores & 15th
015 N 37 45 58.2
W 122 25 36.3


16th in front of the Roxy
016 N 37 45 53.3
W 122 25 20.6


Valencia & 16th
017 N 37 45 53.0
W 122 25 19.7

Mission and 16th
018 N 37 45 54.1
W 122 25 11.4

Capp & 17th Uptown
019 N 37 45 48.9
W 122 25 05.8

S. Van Ness & 18th Whiz Burger
020 N 37 45 43
W 122 25 03.2

Folsom & 19th Fire fighter
021 N 37 45 37.6
W 122 25 54.1


Bryant &19th on the new development
022 N 37 45 37.7
W 122 25 35.5


Hampshire & 19th Eduardo's House
023 N 37 45 37.6
W 122 25 28.8

Buried Waters - The Wiggle and the Combined Water Treatment Facility

I was so interested to learn recently that the wiggle, a bike route in San Francisco that only uses streets with minimal incline, is actually the location of an underground creek. This makes sense, as water always finds the path of least resistance to make its way through the landscape. This valley was actually flattened by the run of the stream.

Since I live on the wiggle, I'm fascinated by the culture of this famous bike path. I've seen every type of person imaginable ride by my house - young, old, naked, costumed, rich, poor, you name it. Lots of naked people! Lots of bikes that haul a little trailer for a huge sound system.


The wiggle takes the route of the paved over Sans Souci creek. This valley has been used as a transportation path since at least the mid-1800s. Joel Pomeranz states, "In the historic photos that I got from Greg Gaar, in 1856, farm fences went in a wiggle shape along a creek, separating the land that way. The easiest way to get from Mission Dolores to the Presidio (the earliest European outposts here) was right through there, the flattest way."


"A friend at the SF Bike Coalition clued me in to a secret tribute to the vanished waterway, hidden in the mural behind the supermarket. I studied it for about ten minutes before I discovered the words hidden, appropriately, in the brushstrokes of a stream."
- The Bold Italic, Watershed Moment by Matt Baume, June 7, 2010

I was also interested to learn a little more about the pros of cons of the combined water treatment facility. It definitely seems wasteful to put the storm water through the same cleansing process as our sewer water, since the storm water is not as contaminated. At the same time, however, other cities are now thinking about doing the same thing, as storm waters are becoming more and more contaminated with oil runoff and other chemicals.

There does not, at this time, seem to be any clear answer to the issue of combined vs. separate water treatment facilities. Most cities migrated away from combined treatment facilities, but San Francisco opted to not take on the expense or the inconvenience of opening every street in the city.

Oh, blog - I didn't even realize I missed you!

I've recently been inspired to get back to blogging, however sporadic it is. I was reading a friends' blog and remembered how fun it is to hash things out in writing. I've been journaling more over the last couple years, but my journal is for private thoughts. Why stop there when there are so many thoughts that can be shared?

In general, I'm feeling pretty amazing right now and have so much goodness going on!

• Back in school (two summer sessions)
• Burning Man in August
• Just went to Yosemite w/my housemates
• Had an amazing Sacramento weekend last weekend (Mom's 60th, Baca family reunion, RT peeps, friends)
• Quit smoking
• Doing lots of yoga w/Steph

= Feeling strong, confident, bright and shiny!

On that note, my friend Dalano recently shared this quote with me, so I will leave you with it:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Marianne Williamson, "A Return to Love"


Wow - that is the Truth! Feel it!

my speech - MeccaOne - OneVoice '09 Seminar/Conference

Salaam alaykum…

I am so honored to be here with all of you… to hear the amazing speakers here tonight, not the least of which two of my favorite Imams, Imam Zaid Shakir and Imam Suhaib Webb. And to be here in a room full of people who live their beliefs every day… It truly is an honor...

I came to study Islam through unusual circumstances. I grew up in a small town where there were no Muslims that I knew of. I made it until I was in my 30’s before I even had one Muslim friend. The only things I knew in my life about Islam were the little bits that I got from the media, which I never quite believed, but whether they were true or not was just never in the forefront of my mind. It didn’t concern me personally, at least not until I began to hear people in close proximity to me express the same views of Islam that I’d heard in the media. Always an advocate, I began to see the need for Islam to have another voice combating the views fed to us by the mainstream media.

In the media we are only shown the most extreme facets of the Arab/Muslim world. I knew there had to be more to this story, but had no idea how to find the truth, no idea of even where to begin my search. When I came to SF State I saw an opportunity and decided to take some classes in the MEIS department, which is Mid-East Islamic Studies. Through my studies I can see clearly now that the glimpses into the Islam that the Western world sees are not representative of the true Islam. The media shows an Islam that is dangerous and frightening, oppressive of women, prone to suicide bombings and terrorist attacks. But this side of Islam is not the topic of my talk tonight.

For now I want to continue on with what I found Islam to be and what ideas were revealed to the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him. Everything I learned of the true Islam sparkled with beauty. It is such a humble and modest religion in so many ways, encompassing a movement full of true humanitarians. Muslims, at the root of their teachings, put others before themselves and are concerned primarily with doing right for themselves and others. This concept is beautiful to me, as it should be to any person.

I found through my studies that the Prophet was one of the first to give women true equal rights – giving them the rights of divorce and property 1300 years before women in the states were given these same rights. I also found that to dismiss Palestinians as terrorists shows not only a basic lack of understanding for the situation they’re in, but also a true lack of empathy. Any person would fight back in their situation, and fight for freedom considering the extent of the oppression they face every day.

Through my program I made many Muslim friends and was encouraged to observe Ramadan. I had no idea what Ramadan meant, but I could see the light in my Muslim friends’ eyes when they spoke of this time. I happily entered into the time of Ramadan, and though I was not perfect, I followed the rules closely. It was during this time that I discovered MeccaOne, again through friends. The piece on Ramadan – I’m sure you all remember it – The Fast of Ramadan and the Furious Shaitan – helped me so much to understand what this time was all about, and I’ve never forgotten it. Between Omair, Imam Shakir and Imam Webb, the meaning of Ramadan blossomed before me and I truly understood what it meant to observe this time.

To experience Ramadan first-hand brought feelings that I’d never felt before – such as the feeling of community I experienced during Iftar at my local mosque, and the feeling of peace and true spirituality that steps into our bodies, minds and spirits when we turn off our physical desires. I’ll never forget these feelings and, insha’Allah, I will have an even truer and purer Ramadan this year.

Since that moment, I have followed MeccaOne, listening as often as I can. Through this show I’ve experience so much of the beauty of Islam. MeccaOne highlights the best and brightest of Islam and showcases the positive works being done by Muslims all over the world and of all different ethnic backgrounds.

I think the thing I’ve been most impressed by is the devotion to learning that has defined Islam since its inception. Through the interviews with amazingly learned individuals on MeccaOne, through my Muslim friends, through all the online lectures I’ve been blessed to hear by such scholars as the Imams I’ve mentioned and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, I have been awed by this commitment to learning. What’s more, it never ceases to amaze me that almost every question I’ve asked of Islam has been answered with a truth and clarity that can be felt all the way to the heart.

I went into my studies with an open mind, excited about the prospect of having stereotypes shattered – both ones I knew I held subconsciously and ones I had no idea that were even a part of me. I have decided to minor in MEIS and look forward to many more classes in which I will learn more about the rich and varied history and practices of Islam, insha’Allah.

This learning has been amazing for me and has truly enriched my soul. I thank everyone who has helped me on this journey and I thank all of you for honoring me with a moment of your time tonight.

MeccaOne Radio Show

me with sarah, omair's wife, and another speaker who listens to MeccaOne from england! ;)

The Israel/Palestinian Peace Plan that my Mid-East Poly-Sci class came up with ;)

* Please note that this document was part of a class simulation and does not necessarily reflect the views of all class members, instructor, or institution.

2009 Israel- Palestinian Peace Conference

Approved by a majority vote of PLSI 410 Spring 2009
Final Agreement

Territory/ Borders: Two-state solution. Israel must leave all current occupied territories. The Palestinian state will look like the following: extension of Gaza as well as the West Bank, but not to exceed the armistice lines “green line” in the 1949 agreement. Palestinians living within the new state of Israel can leave or they will become Israeli citizens and must obey Israeli law. Israelis living in the new Palestinian state have the option to leave, or if they choose to stay will become Palestinian citizens and subsequently will have to obey Palestinian law.

Water Rights: redistribute 50-50 water rights between Israel- Palestine with a joint water committee overseen by international organizations for five years.

Refugees/ Right of Return: Palestinians will have their own state (with full rights to establish a military) and not have a Right to Return to Israel. Palestinians choosing to not return to the state of Palestine will receive reparations on an individual basis. The Palestinian government will receive and distribute the reparations from those Palestinians who do chose to return to Palestine.

Jerusalem: city-state, free access to all. Dual citizenship either: Jerusalemites and either Palestinian or Israeli citizenship. Has its own two-house parliament overseen by a Tri-Judgeship representing the three dominant religions: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. There is to be a committee to organize interfaith events to bridge dialogue between the religions and cultures; this includes an educational exchange program for Palestinians and Israelis living outside of Jerusalem.

Security: Abolish all walls between the two states as well as internal check points. Five year border control committee established which is equally made up (50-50) between Israeli and Palestinians. The committee will also regulate airspace between the two nations (there will be no crossing of airspace). A railway linking Gaza and the West Bank, and a visa passport program implemented within both Israel and Palestine.

25! that's crazy!!

1. i may be a bit delusional in this, but i feel super san francisco!

2. i love it when stereotypes that i didn't even know i had get shattered.

3. i love it when i make a true attempt to see something from all sides, not just the side i'm emotionally attached to.

4. i have a bleeding heart.

5. i believe in reincarnation.

6. i have something that comes close to true love for almost every religion i encounter.

7. i truly feel that my close friends are my family.

8. i was born with 4 great-parents and 4 grandparents and had most of them through my teenage years.

9. my first word was "light."

10. i have a serious addiction to ice cream.

11. i was clearly a chain-smoker in a past life. me and cigarettes are like fish to water.

12. thanks to suzi, i am a weaver.

13. i feel really very lucky that i grew up in galt.

14. i talk to quinlan on the phone probably between 8-12 hours per week.

15. i would love to fully potentialize my soul, though i doubt that will happen in this lifetime.

16. i'm horrible at time-management.

17. i love vodka and everything that can be done with it.

18. i'm glad to be web designing again, after taking a year and a half off.

19. i've had one energy reading in my life and the truth of it made me cry.

20. i am generally drawn to the paranormal and metaphysical.

21. i am so very lucky to live in this beautiful house with 6 amazing and inspiring roommates, and all 6 of their significant others who float in and out of the house as well.

22. i have a really hard time saying the word "boyfriend."

23. i love keith olbermann, rachel maddow and amy goodman.

24. my biggest priority in life is travel.

25. i have only felt like the minority one time in my life, and that was last night at the poleng lounge.