SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

57º | Mostly sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:06 p.m.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a... puzzle?

The wheels of the Semaphore moving in a GIF.

The wheels move every 7.2 seconds. | GIF by SJtoday staff

Have you ever looked up at Adobe’s Almaden Tower in downtown and wondered what’s the point of those giant, orange spinning wheels?

Well, it’s actually a Semaphore — or optical telegraph. And guess what? Adobe is challenging the public to crack its newest code — the first in five years.

🟠 A Sema-short history

This type of communication device was created in 1790 by Claude Chappe and used to deliver orders and receive information during the French Revolution. Only, instead of digitized circles, they used a system of handheld flags to do the work — a little exhausting and tedious, huh?

In 2001, Adobe teamed up with the San Jose Public Art Program to put its own spin on the optical telegraph with the mission to incorporate art and innovation into its downtown campus. New media artist Ben Rubin was tasked with designing the art + creating the code, and it has been running since 2006.

🟠 Who’s smart enough to solve that?

Actually, Ben’s codes have been cracked twice since its creation:

Bob Mayo + Mark Snesrud — In the summer of 2007, the two visiting scientists revealed the semaphore to be broadcasting the entire text of Thomas Pynchon’s 1966 novel, “The Crying of Lot 49.” They even wrote a whole scientific paper on it.
Jimmy Waters — Nearly 10 years later, the Tennessee high school math teacher determined the message was Neil Armstrong’s famous quote, “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

🟠 What do you win?

The winner of the challenge will receive a 2-year subscription to Adobe’s Creative Cloud software, which is valued at ~$575. Ready to become the next champ? These tools may come in handy:

Ben’s solution essay for puzzle No. 1
Jimmy Waters’ process for puzzle No. 2
Adobe’s submission rules

Events

Monday, May 15

Trivia Night | Monday, May 15 | 6:30 p.m. | Park Station Hashery, 1701 Park Ave., San Jose | Free | Grab a team of up to six at this weekly event hosted by local comedians.
The Laughing Grapes | Monday, May 15 | 8 p.m. | Goodtime Bar, 30 Fountain Alley, Ste. 160, San Jose | $10 | Enjoy a night of jokes and laughs from Bay Area comedians while enjoying a selection of natural wines from across the globe.
Off Nite - Variety Talk Show | Monday, May 15 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Tabard Theatre, 29 N. San Pedro St., Ste. 200, San Jose | Free | Put a little weekend into your Mondays with hosts Ato Walker and Mighty Mike McGee.

Tuesday, May 16

Pow Wow Song & Dance Classes | Tuesday, May 16 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose | Free | The Indian Health Center hosts lessons to inspire cultural pride and connection.
Santana Row Run Club | Tuesday, May 16 | 6-7:15 p.m. | lululemon, 334 Santana Row, Ste. 2100, San Jose | Free | All paces, ages, and skill levels are welcome.
Truesdays Storytelling Open Mic | Tuesday, May 16 | 6:30 p.m. | True Brew Taphouse & Kitchen, 787 The Alameda, Ste. 10, San Jose | Free | Performers, comics, poets, and storytellers of all types are welcome to take the stand.
1776 | Tuesday, May 16-Wednesday, May 17 | 7:30 p.m. | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose | $38-$103 | John Adams attempts to persuade his fellow Continental Congress members to break free from British tyranny and sign the Declaration of Independence.
Deadpool Trivia Night | Tuesday, May 16 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expy., San Jose | $8-$24 | Grab your table, assemble your team, and make a superhero landing to prove you’re the ultimate Deadpool fan.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Development

A mixed-use development near the Berryessa BART station may add 850 homes + a 455,000-sqft commercial complex to its original plans. The complex could be a medical office or assisted living center, and a percentage of the units would be affordable housing. A construction timeline has not been announced. (SiliconValley.com)

Community

After Title 42 expired on Thursday, May 11, San Jose’s Office of Racial Equity is planning a Welcoming Migrant Response Plan to help incoming families find asylum in the South Bay. Amigos de Guadalupe has already begun helping 2-3 families daily to find temporary shelters, food, water, and medical coverage. (US Dept. of Homeland Security/CBS News)
The city is inviting residents to participate in its Five Wounds Historic Resource Survey — a study aimed at gathering information on historical people, events, and buildings in four neighborhoods between 1900 and1980. Hear more about the project at its kickoff meeting tonight, May 15, 6 p.m., at the Mexican Heritage Plaza.

Arts

The “Queer Threads” exhibit, featuring the work of 37 Bay Area queer artists, is now on display at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles through Sunday, Aug. 20. The exhibit explores violence against transgender women, the impact of HIV/AIDS on Black and Brown men, and the LGBTQ+ community’s local history. (Bay Area Reporter)

Ranked

Santa Clara County has clinched the country’s top spot for the fastest hiring pace of recent college graduates — where monthly employment averaged 9.6% over the past year. The South Bay also was found to offer the highest starting salary, $102,800, but when factoring the cost of living, it’s ~$57,600. (SiliconValley.com)
Let’s talk big bucks. The SJSU Lucas College and Graduate School of Business continues to thrive at the top, recently ranking No. 2 among public universities for salaries for marketing graduates. According to the Wall Street Journal, the university’s marketing grads earn over $22,000 more than the median graduate’s annual salary. (SJSU News Center)

Plan Ahead

Do you have a city issue you’d like to take up with the big boss? Mayor Matt Mahan will join District 3 representative Omar Torres at Rosarios Tacos (889 S. Almaden Ave.) this Friday, May 19, 12 p.m., as part of his next “Snack with Matt Town Hall.” RSVP is encouraged.

Featured Deal

Wish Upon A Stay this summer with this vacation package at the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, from just $169/night. Make your dreams come true with free parking, free Dream Machine shuttle to + from Disneyland® Resort, a free keepsake, dining discounts, and more. Snag the deal on or before Friday, June 30.*

Biz

Keep your group chats buzzing. This free newsletter offers insight into everything trending in biz (from the evolving AI landscape to soaring rent prices). Subscribe to become a conversation starter.*

Trivia

Name that local...

Who is this San Josean? | Graphic by SJtoday staff, photo via Wikimedia Commons

We’re introducing a new trivia series called, “Guess the San Josean,” where we give you 3-4 hints about influential leaders, business owners, artists, and other local movers and shakers in our community.

Before we get into it, we’d like to note that the term “San Josean” doesn’t just apply to people born and raised here. Any individual who has made an impact in our beloved city or has contributed to the diverse, amazing spectacle that is the great 408, we consider them a San Josean.

Are you ready? Get set. Guess.

Clues:

A South Bay native who attended De Anza College and San Jose State University
Became the first Asian American reporter at KNTV Channel 11
Is currently a reporter for NBC Bay Area and host of a weekly talk show highlighting local Asian American communities

Think you’ve got it? Make your guess down below — if you guess correctly, you could be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Who's that San Josean?

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alyson

From the editor

I’m really glad you enjoyed our roundup of San Jose’s oldest family-owned businesses — keep the tips coming. One of my favorite parts of this job is learning about the rich history of our city, there’s so much to know. So, let us know what other tidbits of San Jose’s past that you’d like us to explore in the newsletter.

Missed our last newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

* This content is paid advertising, or contains links to our Six & Main marketplace, or affiliate partners which we may receive a commission from. ^ This content is created by our content studio.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | SHOP