Linda's Blogspot

​ The WikiExplorers: The Purple Canopy of Berkeley  ​The morning air was crisp and smelled of roasted coffee and jasmine as Ms. Rivers and her three star WikiExplorers — Leo , Sam , and Maya —stepped out of the Bioneers Conference at the Brower Center. The 2026 conference had been a whirlwind of sustainable tech, but today, the curriculum was moving to the pavement of South Berkeley. ​"Alright, Explorers," Ms. Rivers said. "We’ve spent three days talking about the future. Today, we’re going to visit a piece of my past. We’re going 'Culture Crawling' in the flats." ​"No redwoods today, Ms. Rivers?" Leo asked, noting the distinct lack of giant conifers in the downtown skyline. ​"Not down here, Leo," she replied. "Redwoods like the fog and the canyons. Down here in the sun, we have something better. We’re going to Plum Heaven ." ​ The Walk to Willard ​As the group headed south toward Willard Middle School , the Berkeley arc...

To help you revisit these architectural gems, here is a guide to their locations and how to reach them using the Bay Area's public transit systems, primarily BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and AC Transit buses. ​The Grand Victorians of Oakland Preservation Park is a stunning collection of 16 historic homes that serves as a living testament to Oakland's late 19th-century elegance. ​Location: 1233 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, CA 94612. ​Public Transit: Take BART to the 12th St. Oakland City Center station. From there, it is a short 10-minute walk (about 0.5 miles) west along 12th or 13th Street toward Martin Luther King Jr. Way. ​Features: It is a gated, pedestrian-only business park, making it very easy to walk around and photograph the various styles like Queen Anne and Italianate. Camron-Stanford House is the last of the grand mansions that once ringed Lake Merritt, offering a glimpse into the "early settlement" luxury of the area. ​Location: 1418 Lakeside Dr, Oakl...

A Tale of Two Cities: Rediscovering Oakland’s Architectural Time Capsules ​Oakland is a city of layers, where the skyline of tomorrow often stands right next to the ghosts of the 19th century. If you grew up here, your childhood memories might include flashes of "gingerbread" mansions or whimsical, fairytale cottages that felt more like a movie set than a neighborhood. ​As you plan your return to the Bay Area, here is a guide to the two distinct architectural worlds you remember—and where you can still find them today. ​The Rescued Grandeur of West Oakland ​In the late 1800s, West Oakland was the "Brighton of the West." It was the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, and the neighborhood reflected that wealth. Massive Italianate and Queen Anne mansions lined the streets, characterized by soaring turrets, wrap-around porches, and intricate woodwork. ​ What happened to them? During the mid-20th century, West Oakland was hit hard by "urban renewal....

​ The Buyer’s Guide: How to Read a Ginseng Label Without Getting Tricked ​Now that you know why ginseng is the ultimate mitochondrial mechanic, you need to know how to find the "high-performance" stuff. The supplement aisle is full of "ginseng-flavored" products that have almost zero biological activity. ​To ensure you are getting the cellular benefits you're paying for, you need to look for these four specific markers on the back of the bottle. ​1. The "True" Name: Is it Panax ? ​The word "Ginseng" is often used as a catch-all term for any root that gives a slight energy boost. However, only True Ginseng contains the ginsenosides that interact with your mitochondria. ​ The Check: Look for the genus name Panax (specifically Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius ). ​ The Trap: If you see "Siberian Ginseng" (Eleuthero) or "Indian Ginseng" (Ashwagandha), put it back. While these are healthy herbs, they belong to ...

​ The Mitochondrial Secret: Why Western Science is Rethinking Ginseng ​For decades, ginseng was often dismissed by Western medicine as a "placebo" or a vague "tonic" with no clear mechanism. If you walked into a doctor's office in the 90s, they likely told you there was no proof it did anything at all. ​But the tide is shifting. The reason? We started looking at the mitochondria. ​ The "Powerhouse" Problem ​As we age, our mitochondria—the tiny engines inside our cells—start to sputter. They produce less energy (ATP) and more "exhaust" (oxidative stress). This cellular burnout is a primary driver of fatigue, brain fog, and aging. ​While Western science was looking for a single "magic bullet" drug to fix this, it turns out that Ginseng was acting as a high-tech cellular mechanic. How Ginseng "Tunes" Your Cellular Engines ​ Recent molecular biology has identified three specific ways that Ginseng (specifically its active...

The Need for Balance: Gratitude in an Age of Constant Outrage When Outrage Dominates and Gratitude Disappears: America has always been shaped by voices willing to speak against injustice. From the abolition movement to women’s suffrage to civil rights, protest has played a vital role in expanding freedom and accountability. Questioning authority, exposing harm, and demanding better are not signs of a broken society; they are signs of an engaged one. In today’s cultural climate, something feels increasingly out of balance.  Public discourse has become dominated by constant complaining, perpetual outrage, and a fixation on what is wrong. Social media amplifies anger because anger spreads fast. News cycles thrive on conflict because conflict captures attention. Over time, this atmosphere trains people to scan reality primarily for failure.  In the process, gratitude has quietly faded from public life.  This is not because there is nothing to be grateful for. It is because gr...