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Pacifica Libraries Event Calendar, May 2013

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Florey's Book Co. Event Calendar, May 2013

Hiking Trail from Linda Mar to Devil's Slide Hits a Snag

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Stephen Johnson Photography: Workshops and Trips, May 2013

Newsletter

May 25 Celebration of Life for Cedric Collett: Pacifica Environmentalist, Firefighter, Friend

We mourn the death of our friend Cedric Collett, 66, environmentalist and retired Pacifica firefighter. The Celebration of Life honoring Cedric is on Saturday, May 25 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Pedro Point Firehouse.

Cedric's friend Deirdre Finnegan writes: "It is with heavy heart that I share the sad news of the passing of a dear, dear friend of both yours and mine. Our good friend Cedric Collett passed from this life while abalone diving in Sonoma County.

Cedric was a loyal friend and member of the Pacifica Beach Coalition and the Pedro Point Headlands group. He was a firefighter in Pacifica and was devoted to the community in more ways than we can count. Our friend Cedric was dedicated to the preservation of our coastal habitat through his immeasurable daily actions in Pacifica.

Cedric was a constant fixture at my monthly beach cleanups at Sharp Park at 9 a.m. He came sometimes with a bag already filled from his walk from Mori Point and always with a smile on his face and a story to share about things that he found or areas for concern.

Cedric was full of so many great ideas about ways in which we could help keep Pacifica beautiful. Cedric and I became friends through the Pacifica Beach Coalition. He knew everything about California and the environment and the ocean. He was such a wealth of knowledge and a friendly spirit always willing to share his wisdom with those around him.

I was also lucky enough to have a friendship with Cedric outside of the PBC. Such a fascinating man, he and my dad also became close friends. Cedric introduced us to bay swimming at the Dolphin Club in SF at Aquatic Park! More often my dad and Cedric would swim together at Aquatic Park or Jean Brink Pool or hike or just have lunch. 

Cedric showed us the Dipsea Trail in Marin, which was his backyard and cross-country course growing up.  One time he took me and my dad to hike a “Double Dipsea” – out and back – it took us 5 hours. He showed us the secret spring and the best view to sit and eat our lunch on the hike. We were so blessed to have shared these experiences with Cedric. My dad called him Saturday night to see if he wanted to hike a section of the Dipsea, which is when his wife shared the sad news of his passing. We were devastated.

I am comforted by memories of his hearty deep laugh, his sheepish smile, his sparkling eyes, and his ever present spirit in Pacifica. Cedric made a wonderful mark on our mother earth, and his spirit will live on forever in Pacifica through his years of daily dedication to our community and environment. The world has lost a precious soul, but I am gladdened knowing that he passed doing something he loved, in nature, making his mark. Peace, love, and laughter to all."

Please send donations in Cedric's memory to his wife Maggie Collett, 275 Angelita Avenue, Pacifica, CA  94044.

What's Your Style? Blunt Honesty or Little White Lies?

In an often in-your-face, uncensored social world, should people feel free to voice or do whatever they want? Is policing one’s words and actions social etiquette or lying? In its latest research to understand the benefits of self-monitoring, these are the questions that pioneer in online personality tests, Queendom.com, attempted to answer.
 
There’s something joyfully painful about watching period dramas set in the early 1900s. People never really came out and said what they really wanted to say, and when they did, it was still done with the utmost tact possible. By comparison, peruse Twitter posts these days, and the drawing of social lines in the sand has become a thing of the past. How has this affected everyday social interaction? Are people who say whatever they want glorified for their bold honesty? Not quite, according to Queendom.com’s latest research.
 
Assessing data from 1,665 people, Queendom’s statistics reveal that people who do not self-monitor (purposely regulate their words or actions in social situations) are slightly less popular among their social group than those who do (65 vs. 68). They are also less sensitive to social cues (68 vs. 74), have more difficulty understanding body language (59 vs. 71), and have much more trouble controlling their anger (54 vs. 77).
 
Queendom’s statistics also revealed that:
 
·        69% of low self-monitors take their anger or frustration out on others (compared to 26% of high self-monitors).
·        73% of low self-monitors do not think before they speak (compared to 2% of high self-monitors).
·        80% of low self-monitors act impulsively (compared to 3% of high self-monitors).
·        64% of low self-monitors admit that they often say things that they later regret (compared to 4% of high self-monitors).
·        66% of low self-monitors have embarrassed their family or friends in social situations (compared to 7% of high self-monitors).
·        62% of low self-monitors have been called “insensitive” (compared to 3% of high self-monitors).
·        When very angry, the top response for low self-monitors (44%) was to let their anger out (arguing, yelling) without holding anything back. The top answer for high self-monitors (53%) was to step away from the situation or person that is upsetting them, and try to put it in perspective.
·        If the situation calls for it, 94% of high self-monitors said that they would be able to be friendly with someone they dislike; only 13% of low self-monitors said they would be able to do this.

“On one side, we have a group of people who believe in telling it like it is, no holds barred, no mincing of words,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “On the other side we have a group of people who carefully regulate what they say and how they say it, and who show more restraint in their behavior.”
 
So is one group being honest and the other being fake? The answer lies in the data. “People generally feel that being tactful in social situations is still the way to go,” points out Dr. Jerabek. “It’s not a matter of being fake but rather, making it a point to adapt to the social context – to empathize, to make others feel comfortable, and to create harmonious interactions. Low self-monitors are not able -- or not willing -- to do this.”
 
So how do people self-monitor without feeling like they’re being fake? “A little bit of civility and diplomacy never killed anyone, and they make social interactions so much smoother,” says Dr. Jerabek. “You can still get your message across. You can deliver criticism. You can disagree with someone’s opinion. But you can do it without offending. The bonus is that this way, others don’t get defensive because they feel respected, and that makes a whole world of difference.”
 
Here’s what the researchers at Queendom.com advise:
 
·        Use the phrase, "I understand.” This phrase will support your goals if the tension is high and you need to find common ground to form compromises or agreements with others. You can disagree with them, and still appreciate their point of view. This is one of the tenants of good negotiation skills – show them you know where they are coming from, show them that you understand their point of view. Point out what you have in common before pressing on with your viewpoint or demands. Chances are that antagonism will be replaced with a spirit of collaboration.
·        Own your feelings. Consider the difference between “You always do things without thinking about how I will feel” vs. “I feel like my opinion doesn’t matter.” “You” phrases put the other person on the defensive. “I” phrases allow them to see things from your point of view.
·        Take a time-out. It's important to cool down emotionally when circumstances make you feel angry, even if it’s just going outside for a few minutes of fresh air. You will be able to be more objective about the issue once you’ve calmed down and cleared your head. By taking a time-out (just like we do with children), you will avoid succumbing to the impulse to snap or lash out at others.
·        Observe human behavior. Invest a conscious effort to "read" and understand others. Pay attention to how others are reacting and what they are communicating with you. Putting in that extra effort to really listen and observe can teach you a lot about human interaction and emotions. Sensitivity to situational cues is a key element of self-monitoring. The more attentive you are to people around you, the more information you have at your disposal to guide your expressive self-presentation.
·        Consider others. In today’s world, the ability to get beyond black-and-white thinking, to be open-minded with others, to change one's way of looking at events, and to focus on the best solution for a given situation is essential for success. Without flexibility and a willingness to consider the perspectives and feelings of others, you are creating additional, unnecessary obstacles for yourself.  To build a more flexible mindset, try doing the following:
o   Put aside your own preoccupations to consider what might be going through other people's minds in different situations. Ask yourself how you would feel in similar circumstances. In every situation, there are several perspectives. Try to identify at least 2 or 3 different ways to look at it.
o   Put empathy in action. Get involved in helping people in some way, like volunteering. The closer you get to a situation emotionally, the more you realize the difficulties others might be facing.
 
Take the Self-Control Test Here

Queendom.com is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc. Queendom.com is a site that creates an interactive venue for self-exploration with a healthy dose of fun. The site offers a full range of professional-quality, scientifically validated psychological assessments that empower people to grow and reach their real potential through insightful feedback and detailed, custom-tailored analysis.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the Internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts. The company’s research division, Plumeus Inc., is supported in part by the Research and Development Tax Credit awarded by Industry Canada.
 
Contact:
Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D.
President of PsychTests AIM Inc.
9001 Boul. De L’Acadie, Suite 802
Montreal, Quebec, H4N 3H5
ilona@psychtests.com
tel: 514-745-3189, ext. 112

Orient Express Visits Sweden

Daydreaming of snow and riding the rails in some exotic foreign place, your Pacifica Riptide editor posts train porn while waiting for his next big scoop. Sorry, folks, it's a slow news day here in P-Town. All aboard!

John Maybury, Editor & Publisher

Second Harvest Food Bank: Help Feed a Hungry Kid

Highway Hijinks: What Is Caltrans Up To?

By Todd Bray, Riptide Correspondent

I received a letter from Caltrans dated 2009, written by R.A. Macpherson, Deputy District Director for Caltrans District 4 (which includes Pacifica), explaining the promise made to the property owner of 55 acres north of the Lutheran church, Mr. David Thomas of Walnut Creek, to provide the owner with highway access post-widening project, a growth-inducing impact of the proposed widening that was not included in the project’s draft environmental impact report (DEIR).

But the promise was made in 1972 to a Mr. Robert A. Tarver and was attached to a freeway project (presumably the 380 extension from San Bruno), not the current widening-project proposal. Caltrans was unable to produce any documentation supporting its 1972 claim of allowing the property access to the highway. 

The letter’s author, R.A. Macpherson, also mentions a set of plans provided to Caltrans by the property's owner in 2009, Mr. David Thomas of Walnut Creek. The plans provided to Caltrans by Mr. Thomas were prepared by Aliquot Associates Inc. and were cataloged as Job number 208009.0. titled ENTRY ROAD PLAN.

According to Mr. Macpherson of Caltrans, the plans were reviewed by Caltrans staff, and he added that "... we do believe that we would be favorably disposed conceptually to that design concept." I've asked Caltrans through a standard public records act (PRA) request to see the ENTRY ROAD PLAN but was informed that Caltrans has no documentation supporting Mr. Macpherson’s statement about such plans. 

That got me thinking: If the original 1972 Caltrans promise was attached to a freeway extension, not a widening proposal, and if Caltrans has no documentation to support the 1972 promise to then-property owner Mr. Tarver, is there any legal record to support that promise to the property owner now, in 2013? There is only the assertion of a Caltrans employee in a letter dated 2009 to a Walnut Creek resident that such a promise exists. 

Boy, if only I were a lawyer! I think I could have oodles of fun at Caltrans’ expense.