Alex Chiang
LightNews LightNews
banner
chizang.net
Alex Chiang
@chizang.net
96 followers 190 following 310 posts
SRE @ Google | SF Yay Area | #bikes #cooking #energysky
Posts Replies Media Videos
chizang.net
Objects in mirror are closer than they seem.
A coyote peeks from behind my car's passenger side mirror.
November 25, 2025 at 7:23 AM
chizang.net
Making the kiddo happy multiple ways this morning.
A receipt for McDonald's that says 67.
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
chizang.net
Ah yes, Chase Bank. Icon of Silicon Valley.

People travel from miles around to ogle at this icon and are honored to pay $3.50 for the privilege of withdrawing cash from the ATM.
A headline that reads, "Six-story development poised to replace iconic Mountain View Chase Bank". A picture of a completely mundane bank.
October 17, 2025 at 11:07 PM
chizang.net
We've reached peak... something.
A can of banana water.
October 17, 2025 at 1:21 AM
chizang.net
It's time for the fall edition of the Palo Alto weekly real estate guide.

We've got median sales prices of $4M in Palo Alto, 12% of homes selling $1M over asking in Los Altos, and minimum income of $548K in Santa Clara county.

Everything is fine!

@nextdoorsv.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
chizang.net
Saw a beautiful mantis today.
A whitish mantis staring at the camera.
September 21, 2025 at 3:07 AM
chizang.net
Palo Alto in one picture.

A Lotus Elise parked next to a line of RVs.

Also this week I learned about a new phrase, "vanlords".
August 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
chizang.net
Getting ready for a #bikepacking weekend adventure with the kiddo. First leg, @caltrain.com!
A cargo bike loaded up with camping gear and a smaller kid's bike.
August 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
chizang.net
I cannot possibly imagine why this would be the case. Literally, I have no theories. A mystery for the ages.

cc @nextdoorsv.bsky.social
This bar chart illustrates the population change by age group in Santa Clara County since 2020, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau: The 65+ age group experienced the most significant growth at 13.41%. The 18-24 age group also saw substantial growth at 7.65%. The 0-17 age group had the largest decline in population at -10.65%. Other age groups showed smaller changes, with declines in 45-54 (-5.89%) and 55-64 (-1.35%), and slight growth in 25-34 (1.19%) and 35-44 (0.44%).
July 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
chizang.net
Who knew, that before Haight-Ashbury, the Grateful Dead got their start in sleepy Menlo Park!
THE GRATEFUL DEAD THIS WAS THE LOCATION OF MAGOO'S PIZZA PARLOR WHERE THE PALO ALTO-BASED WARLOCKS FIRST PUBLICLY PERFORMED ON MAY 5, 1965. RENAMED THE GRATEFUL DEAD, IT BECAME A ROCK BAND WITH A UNIQUE STYLE OF "JAM" MUSIC AND A FAITHFUL FOLLOWING OF DEADHEADS. LORETTA OPENED HERE IN 2024.
July 21, 2025 at 1:15 AM
chizang.net
Californian here, have produced 5.4 MWh so far in 2025.
Time series histogram of solar energy production. The bars form half a bell curve, showing much production in summer months. Duh.
July 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
chizang.net
A leopard resting in a tree branch, because BlueSky limits you to 4 images per post. Meh.
June 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
chizang.net
Hard to believe we got to see all of Africa's Big 5 in one trip.

All shots on a Sony a6000, with the 70-350mm f/4.5-6.3.

#photography #safari #big5
An elephant flares its ears, backlit by the dawn sun. A female white rhino bathed in early morning light. A line of African Buffalo March toward the viewer. The tawny rear of a lioness's head as she lies in the grass.
June 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
chizang.net
Incredibly lucky to watch this cheetah and his brother (unsuccessfully) hunt some zebras today.

#SouthAfrica #photography
A male cheetah walks towards and stares at the camera.
June 16, 2025 at 8:04 PM
chizang.net
This person seems fun.
A tattoo on a man's calf, of an RJ45 connector, that also says "RJ45" (big font) and "bad life decisions" (tiny font).
June 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
chizang.net
Sunset over Hout Bay

#photography
Sunset with an expansive view of Hout Bay.
June 14, 2025 at 11:59 AM
chizang.net
Capetonian sunset

#CapeTown
Sun dropping below the horizon, with a row of palm trees in the foreground.
June 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
chizang.net
As seen on my afternoon run.

#SouthAfrica
A herd of sable, in the golden hour.
June 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
chizang.net
Been coming to Germany regularly for 10 years and did not realize this was only about an hour away.

#Cologne
Exterior of Cologne cathedral against a cloudy sky. Main stained glass window inside the cathedral.
June 8, 2025 at 4:13 PM
chizang.net
A rare glimpse of blue sky.
A bucolic German village nestled in green hills.
June 7, 2025 at 7:44 AM
chizang.net
Golden hour along the Regents Canal.
A peaceful scene with a boat in the foreground and another in the background, greenery, and buildings lit warmly in the evening light.
May 20, 2025 at 3:58 AM
chizang.net
First try making @smittenkitchen.bsky.social cozy chicken and dumpling soup from her Keeper's book.

My hack was to use Costco's prepackaged rotisserie chicken to save a bit of time.

The 7 year old approves.
A bowl of chicken dumpling soup with carrots and celery bits.
May 15, 2025 at 1:33 AM
chizang.net
First grill of the season.
Burgers on a grill. Finished burgers on a tray.
May 4, 2025 at 2:18 AM
chizang.net
Take a moment to appreciate this bonsai zen.
A pine tree bonsai, gently leaning right. Japanese red maple bonsai. Another pine tree bonsai.
April 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
chizang.net
Last one for today.

What is going on in this ad? Are we supposed to be cheering for a buyer who found a deal on a house that's a mere $1615 / sqft (on a $6.7M purchase price)? Or crying that the seller got swindled somehow?

Cc @nextdoorsv.bsky.social
April 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM