InBerkeley

Last time InBerkeley looked, Google Maps had a bizarre error in the center of Berkeley. Berkeley High School was called Armstrong University.

Yesterday Google announced that it was using a new dataset for its maps, and whatever other benefits it may have, it looks as though it corrected this one major error for downtown Berkeley (hat tip: @jmccyoung). There still, however, is the oddity of placing Armstrong University just east of BHS, on Harold Way. That was the last location of Armstrong University, but it has been a vacant building for a number of years.

Berkeley High School, Internet

Looking to build a blazing Ethernet network that will exclusively support science research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is receiving $62 million to develop what it calls the world’s fastest computer network.

Specifically, the lab will utilize the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) to build a prototype 100Gbps Ethernet network to connect Department of Energy supercomputer centers at speeds 10 times faster than current ESnet. ESnet serves an estimated 50,000 to100,000 DOE users, as well as more than 18,000 non-DOE researchers from universities, government agencies, and private industry.

via Network World.

Internet, Lawrence Berkeley Lab

There are 47 veterinarians in Berkeley, 59 landscape architects, but only 1 funeral parlor. There are 3 medical marijuana dispensaries, 85 places with liquor licenses, 10 private schools, and 9 garment manufacturers. Last year, there were 995 car thefts.

In Oakland, there are 80 veterinarians, 72 landscape architects, and 19 funeral parlors. There are 5 medical marijuana dispensaries, 327 places with liquor licenses, 38 private schools, and 41 garment manufacturers.  Last year, there were 9,968 car thefts in Oakland.

These statistics come out of a fabulous new initiative called CityLab put together by the UC Berkeley Journalism School. Professor Susan Rasky, web designer Josh Williams,  and graduate student Kim Geiger created an easy-to-read, easy-to-use database that lets people see demographic, political and lifestyle data on 65 Northern California cities. All of the statistics are sourced. CityLab also makes it easy compare one city to another.

Rasky is hoping that journalism outlets use the data to write interesting news stories, according to an announcement she posted on the site. There is already one story up at the site about property taxes in Antioch, and others may soon follow.

There is also a “Did You Know?” box on the site with rotating data, such as the news that San Leandro has 2 gun ranges, Berkeley has the highest poverty rate in the Bay Area, and 53% of Daly City’s population is foreign-born. Did you know that?

Business, Crime, Internet, UC Berkeley

Today marks the grand opening of Local 123 Cafe at 2049 San Pablo in Berkeley (between University and Addison, on the east side of the street). I’m often on that block on foot and have watched the progress of the construction with interest and I went to check it out this morning and take some photos.

The storefront is not very eye-catching from the street, but there’s a wooden sign hanging over the sidewalk.

Local 123 Cafe from the median strip of San Pablo, looking north

From the sidewalk the sign is more prominent.

Local 123 from the sidewalk

The ambiance is spare but inviting and the prices are reasonable.

Front counter and drinks board

Out of sight until you’re almost upon it is a little nook in the back with couches and a door to a small but sunny (at least this morning) patio.

Cozy nook and back patio

I’m by no means an expert, but I very much enjoyed my cappuccino and pain au chocolat. They’ve got a good selection of coffee drinks, teas, pastries (including vegan donuts), and sandwiches.

Events, Food, General, Green, Internet, Retail Local 123, West Berkeley

This is the first post in what will likely be a series as I try Sonic.net’s new Internet services for Berkeley. I may or may not become a customer, but I’m going to share what I learn, as I go.

First the background..

I currently use AT&T DSL service. It was my backup — I was using Comcast as my primary service until they fired me as a customer. I do software development and had an app working with high resolution pictures and RSS, it was running on several machines. I didn’t realize how much it was downloading, and figured that the ISP would just regulate my use to an acceptable limit. It’s a long story that I detailed on my blog. It’s one of the top hits on Google when you search for hate Comcast.

Comcast’s service really is a marvel if you don’t get them angry. I was getting 20 Mbs down on a regular basis, often much more. That’s not a typo. Really amazing. But I can’t have it, sad to say.

I just ran a speed test on my line and got 5315 Kbps down and 637 Kbps up.

Not bad, but I’m hoping to get a better deal from Sonic.net.

Yesterday I spoke with Dane Jasper, the CEO of the company, for about an hour. He told me the story of their dealings with AT&T, and gave me a rough idea of the kind of DSL service they offer.

At breakfast today Tom Hunt told me about a higher-end service they offer. I’m going to look into that.

Internet