The Sharks will begin their quest to make it past the second round of the playoffs. Last season everyone and their puppy said the Sharks would be Stanley Cup champions. That assumption, I believe, was based on the outcome of a video game. This season the so-called experts have them dueling it out in the Pacific with Anaheim and Dallas.

But wait, do not despair. The Sharks have added three new defensemen to help improve on last season’s suspect defense. Dan Boyle, Brad Lukowich, and Rob Blake are the new additions. You remember the L.A. Kings’ Rob Blake; he is the guy you booed every time he stepped out on the ice.

If Marleau plays as he did last season after the trade deadline, Cheechoo finally gets off to an early start scoring, and Joe is, well Joe, then there is an excellent chance to see some exciting hockey. No, I was not going to say they would make it to the finals. I no longer hold my breath in anticipation.

Jeremy Roenick is back! Kyle McLaren is gone.

We will once again be mesmerized by the outstanding saves by Evgeni Nabokov.

We will cheer for Ron Wilson and Vesa Toskala in Toronto.

With the current economic situation, some of you may need to watch the pocket book and stay home. At least you can listen to Randy Hahn, Drew Remenda (TV) and Dan Rusanowsky (radio).

For the real story about the Sharks visit the Sharks’ website, Broadcaster Blog, and our friends at Sharkspage.

We are talking about a cool new Gmail feature from Gmail Labs called Mail Goggles.

Late at night when you are a bit too sleepy or maybe had one too many adult beverages Mail Goggles steps in to make sure you really want to send that email, the one that next morning you may very much regret having sent.

How does Mail Goggles check that you are coherent? It gives you a math quiz! Yikes!

Good news is that you can set the level of difficulty to those math problems. Even if I were to set the difficulty level to remedial, my email probably never would be sent.

Enable Mail Goggles under Labs under Settings when logged into Gmail.

By default, Mail Goggles is only active late night on the weekend; however, you can adjust days and times in the General settings.

A few other features under Labs include Custom keyboard shortcuts; Mark as Read Button; and one that I definitely need, Forgotten Attachment Detector.

Bottom line, your email will not be sent if you had too much to drink or you are inept at math.

If you are planning to vote in the November 4 Presidential General Election and you have never registered before or you need to re-register you must do so by October 20.

You will need to re-register if you have moved, changed your name or wish to change the political party from your previous registration.

You can download and print a form from the Registrar of Voters Website here. Look for the Register to Vote link on the left.

You can also pick up the registration forms at post offices, libraries, and most local government offices and at the registrar’s office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose.

Mailed registration forms that are postmarked no later than October 20 will be accepted. Voters may also return the forms to the registrar’s office no later than October 20.

If you are uncertain that you are registered to vote, check here.

More voter information on the Secretary of State Website here.

Registrar of Voter’s Office: 408-299-8683

nasa.gov

This Wednesday physicist Leonard Susskind of Stanford University will give a non-technical, illustrated talk on The Black Hole Wars: My Battle with Stephen Hawking. No background in science will be required for this talk or having seen Disney’s The Black Hole.

For two decades, physicist Susskind battled cosmologist Stephen Hawking over the behavior of black holes.

Hawking’s theory is that when information falls into a black hole it is permanently lost to the outside; also, that black holes evaporate. It happens very slowly but the black hole does emit particles, and eventually disappears.

Susskind’s theory is that the horizon of a black hole (a two dimensional surface like a film) somehow stores all the information that ever fell into the hole. He also theorizes the photons and other particles carry away every bit of information during evaporation of the black hole.

Stephen Hawking now agrees that the information is not lost when a black hole evaporates.

This is a non-technical talk but how can you not be excited about particle physics, event horizons, quantum mechanics, and holographic principles?

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early to locate parking.
Parking lots 1, 7 and 8 provide stair and no-stair access to the Smithwick theatre.

Smithwick Theater, Foothill College
12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills

Wednesday, October 1
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Admission: Free
Parking: $2.00

650-949-7888

This is a world premier and exclusive U.S. showing at the Tech Museum beginning this Saturday September 27 and running through January 4, 2009.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was an astronomer, sculptor, geologist, mathematician, botanist, animal behaviorist, inventor, engineer, architect, musician, and painter. Leonardo is probably best known as the painter of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Leonardo’s formal training in the anatomy of the human body and skill as an artist allowed him to make more than 200 drawings of the human body, visible anatomical features as well as internal organs. As an engineer, he drew plans for the submarine, helicopter, parachute, human powered flying machine, toothed wheels, pulleys and pulley blocks, crankshafts, flywheels, springs, shock absorbers, scissors, and the list goes on.

The exhibition, covering 30,000-square-feet in Parkside Hall, has a plethora of exhibits including art, sculptures, drawings, architectural projects, machines and mechanisms, anatomy, and aviation.

The life-sized and scale working models are based on conceptual drawings and designs by Leonardo, Francesco di Giorgio, Mariano di Iacopo (Taccola), and others. These models recreated using tools and materials common in Leonardo’s time. Most of Leonardo’s machines were never built in his lifetime, as many could not have been built due to the lack of suitable parts.

On display is a model of Leonardo’s Flying Machine where the wings are driven by back pedals, which the flier operates with alternating leg motions. The effect of this thrust is amplified by the hand-operated crank, which powers a hoisting device. Bring your wide-angle lens.

There is a cool planetary clock designed by Lorenzo della Volpaia. A planetary clock is not to keep time but to show the position of the heavenly bodies relative to the Earth, so that astrological influences could be calculated with precision.

Two Renaissance paintings by Leonardo’s disciples are included in the exhibition - Leda and the Swan and The Virgin and Child with St. Anne.

The curator of the exhibition is Leonardo da Vinci expert, Paolo Galluzzi, Director of the Institute and Museum of the History of Science - Florence, Italy.

Advanced “timed” tickets are required. Allow a minimum of two hours for the exhibition, as there are numerous displays and multimedia presentations.

Advance ticket sales have already exceeded last year’s Body Worlds exhibit.

This is a must see for the entire family.

The Tech Museum of Innovation
September 27, 2008 – January 4, 2009

Tickets and Operating Hours

Directions, Parking and Public Transportation

The 2nd Annual Let the Children Play Music Festival, a benefit concert for Feed the Children and Milagro Foundation is this Saturday.

There will be continuous live entertainment on the main stage, a variety of food, arts & crafts, and numerous activities for the kids including games, activities, interactive booths, and prizes in the Radio Disney area.

Proceeds from this years benefit concert will help in the goal to feed a million meals and more to those in dire need in the Bay Area and in the U.S disaster relief zones.

Heart of Chaos artists will be creating a mural themed Feed the Children and collaborating with Heart of Kids artists on a separate mural themed Let the Children Play. Attending children are encouraged to participate in an open themed community mural. The Heart of Chaos and Heart of Kids murals will be auctioned off during the event. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Feed the Children.

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm — Radio Disney Camp Rock Party
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm — Main Stage: Rose Royce, Con Funk Shun and Bobby Caldwell

Last year the event was free, this year it is $5.00 (children ages 12 and under enter for free).

2nd Annual Let The Children Play Music Festival
Guadalupe River Park, Discovery Meadow
W San Carlos Street and Woz Way, San Jose

Saturday, September 27
11:30 am - 8:00 pm

Admission: $5:00 - free for children ages 12 and under

VTA - Light Rail exit at the Children’s Discovery Museum Station or Bus Lines 23 or 81

Equinox derives from the Latin words meaning “equal night” is either of the two times during the year that the sun crosses the celestial equator and appears directly above the equator that divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. When this occurs, the length of the day and the night are approximately equal at every place on earth. Day and night during the September equinox is not exactly equal length. There is anywhere from six to more than ten minutes additional daylight. The sun appears south of the equator in the time between the September equinox and the March equinox.

At an equinox, neither Earth’s north pole nor its south pole is tilting away from or toward the sun. Both poles are more or less evenly illuminated. The September equinox marks the beginning of northern hemisphere autumn and southern hemisphere spring.

At least we usually have agreeable weather through October. A rainy winter would be nice to help do away with those drought concerns. Then, back to spring and summer!

I did not find any events listed for San Jose nor did I find any information on the VTA site saying what a great day to take public transit. Carfree Day is not mentioned on the San Jose Green Vision site. People asleep at the wheel. You and I knew about World Carfree Day, right?

If Metblogs is a city, hub.metblogs is the playground. We kept hearing from people that one of their favorite parts of Metblogs was meeting and interacting with readers and writers from other parts of the world, as well as getting requests for more ways that readers could be involved besides just posting comments. We thought about this for a while and decided that with a network like this, a giant community area where folks from all over the world could hang out, post photos and videos, talk with each other, form groups, play games, send messages, and do about a million other things was probably a pretty fun idea. The Hub is that.

If you have any tech ideas or suggestions join this group and speak up. See you on hub.metblogs!

San Jose Group

Ongoing throughout the day: Dancing Dogs, Dog Water Park, Free Dog Agility Course, Flyball Canine Relay, Performing Dogs, Grooming, Training Tips and Herding Demonstrations. Yes, Duck Herding Demonstrations!

Special Event Highlights: Dog Costume Contest, 11:00 am, Silly Dog Tricks, 12:00 pm and Pet/Owner Look Alike Contest 1:00 pm.

In addition, 99 cent Rabies Vaccinations, Low Cost Microchipping, Dog Related Vendors. Moreover, what would an event be without Kid’s Activities?

There will be Live Music along with Food and Beverages.

Bark in the Park is the biggest dog festival in the US.

Important: All pets must be on a leash. Pick up after your dog.

Bark in the Park 2008
William Street Park, San Jose
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets

Saturday, September 20
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Admission: Free - $5 donation per dog is encouraged

Parking: Attendees may park in the Naglee Park neighborhood, please do not block the driveways. There will be a drop-off location at the park and directions to nearby parking areas.

408-793-5125