July 03, 2008
Want To Buy Your Entire CD and Downloads Collection All Over Again...On Blu-Ray DVD?
Neil Young isn't very good at being coy.
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Moving, Comments
I'm moving about 90 seconds south of where I currently live. As is my wont, I'll be packing, loading and unloading a pickup truck daily/nightly over the next couple weeks, just to spread out the pain. And when I say "spread out", I mean "prolong," of course. Due to the relocation/siege I may not be updating this thing as often as usual (notwithstanding my continuing obsession with the Big Sur fire).
Also: the amount of comments spam directed at this blog is more alarming than ever. I'm trying to figure out how Movable Type filters approved comments but have met with no success thus far, so I need to approve (or delete) all comments manually. This involves scrolling through hundreds of spam messages regarding Viagra, Vicodin and all manner of pr0n URLs. Good times.
As a result, legit comments from friends are getting caught in spam filter limbo. I apologize. If you submit a comment, you might want to drop a line to my non-blog address (you have it, don't you? Of course you do) asking "what the hell happened to my comment?" and I'll weed through the spam and approve it.
As ever, thank for reading and-- more than ever-- thanks for just being you.
[update 11:41pm: you now have to register with TypeKey to comment. K?]
[update 7/5.08: Movable Type's commenter configuration sux. Don't bother trying (for now); stay tuned...]
Posted by Paul at 11:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Nepenthe Webcam Screen Captures Over the Past 13 Days
The image at left is a screen capture from the Nepenthe Restaurant deck webcam showing a helicopter dropping water as the fire descended the ridge towards the Henry Miller Library on June 25th. Here's a larger, more detailed photo. An update on the situation at the library (and Henry Miller's former residence, nearby) is here.
Compilation of webcam screencaps from KUSP's site
Current Nepenthe webcam image is at lower left. A combination of smoke and marine layer fog has socked in the coast.
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The View South from Carmel Last Night
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July 02, 2008
There's Not Many "After" Photos Yet But...
...here's some Before pictures of the Big Sur wilderness.
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Worst News Yet from Big Sur
SF Gate: "More Big Sur Evacuations After Blaze Jumps Fire Line"
11:30am and 1pm updates from Xasáuan Today: "Looks like the next [fire] break is the Highway."
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Could You Learn To Tie Your Own Shoes (If It Comes To That)?
CNN asks the questions you need answered.
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July 01, 2008
Overexpansion -> Contraction
I learned about this essential law of retail physics during my tenure at Tower Records.
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June 30, 2008
Translation:
I think this means she's having money problems.
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"No Relief In Sight"
CNN story on California wildfires.
The Northern California summary breaks down the needs for major regional fires. The details for the Lightning Complex fire near Shasta Lake state:
Regional power transmission facilities and critical infrastructure operated by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) are now in imminent danger from the SHU Lightning Complex. Three major transmission lines totaling 690 KV(442 megawatts) are powered by the dam. Shasta power generation flows to California ISO and the Western Power Grid. Fire impacts to the transmission lines would potentially cause power outages to local areas, brownouts/blackouts to parts of Northern California, tax other providers to the grid and temporarily force California utilities to purchase additional power from out of state resources.
A thermal inversion layer over this part of the state has lifted, resulting in better air quality in San Francisco and the Pensinula. Some local media outlets are reporting lessening smoke. This seems to be the predominate development that news media are seizing upon. However, I've found only one story that specifically mentions the Shasta situation-- but not possible blackouts, let alone the need to conserve electricity. If the temperature rises at the end of the week and people turn on their air conditioners, Northern and Central California could suffer some significant power problems.
Posted by Paul at 08:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 29, 2008
Big Sur Fire
Not good news. The 9am update for this morning shows the fire extending to the north (click on the map for an englarged view).
Mercury News story.
Northern California status as of 9pm last night.
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June 27, 2008
Big Sur and Mendocino Fires ~ Updates
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June 26, 2008
N. California Fire Summaries
Note frequency of "lack of crew resources" and "unstaffed" and "minimal staffing" remarks, and lists of equipment needs for each area.
http://gacc.nifc.gov/oncc/predictive/intelligence/situation/fireinfosummary.htm
The Basin Complex/Big Sur fire isn't listed because it's in Central California.
Posted by Paul at 08:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 25, 2008
Fires
After a week-long heatwave in California, cool weather finally hit late this weekend. However, the confluence of hot and cold created dry lightning, with 8000 strikes recorded. Close to a thousand fires erupted in the northern part of the state, nearly all in rural/wild areas.
Two large fires above and around Big Sur are about to merge (see map). Evacuations are underway. The Henry Miller Library is linking to the Xasáuan Today blog so worried folks can get more info.
If I'd still lived at my old house in Brisbane, I would have been evacuated Monday night. Luckily the fire in the northeast canyons of San Bruno Mountain was extinguished before it could jump the three canyons towards the small town.
The air up where I presently live (around 2000 feet elevation) is unhealthy. There's a heavy particulate count and the smell of woodsmoke is overwhelming. There's no fires within 40 miles of here but it seems like they're just around the corner.
Keep the firefighters and evacuees in your thoughts this week. It's the worst fire season in California ever.
[UPDATE 10:13am] Received via the Yahoo Kings Mountain mailing list from the chief of the local volunteer department: We are expecting warmer and drier weather this weekend with another small chance of lightning (please see the link). Please continue to have situational awareness of your surroundings. Maintain defensible space around your home. Put away the firearms and fireworks this 4th of July. We will be patrolling this 4th of July with a heavy law enforcement presence (unless we get fog). Have an evacuation plan in place now, and hope you will never have to use it. As Cal Fire resources are stretched, the area we need to cover is increased. Please help us help the community.
Many of you have called 9-1-1, the fire station, and our residences this week. The mountain is currently shrouded in drift smoke from some of the larger fires in the area. I imagine this will continue for some time. Those of you who have lived here a while realize this is a common occurrence. The KMFD is performing regular patrols of the area. Please remain vigilant. If you have a good view of portions of the mountain from your home, look around at regular intervals. Be on the lookout for flames or smoke columns. If you see an actual column or fire call 9-1-1 (not our station or firefighters).
We are fortunate to live in a place where the overall risk of fire is small most of the time. Unfortunately, the weather we experienced early this year has dramatically increased the risk this fire season. Every year someone will tell you that this will be the worst fire season ever. For the first time in my 18 years in the fire service, I am concerned it could be true. All of the cold dry winds from the North combined with lower than average rainfall this winter and spring has dried out the heavier vegetation to levels usually not observed until September.
This past weekend Cal Fire reported the burn index in our county was 160. The burn index is calculated based on fuel and weather conditions. We typically expect to have a burn index of 30-40 (low) this time of year (for seasonal non-foggy days). 51-70 is high. Greater than 90 is extreme. When I hear 160 I think of Southern California in Sept/Oct, not Kings Mtn in June. Santa Cruz County has already suffered three major fires this year. Some of our firefighters suppressed a fire in the Saratoga Summit area this past weekend. The fire had no topography or wind to drive it, but it did burn actively with some torching of trees.
- [UPDATE 1:30pm): Webcam link from Nepenthe Restaurant, looking southeast towards the Henry Miller Library:
Posted by Paul at 08:18 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 24, 2008
Tim Russert's Epitaph
When I think of Tim Russert, I'll remember him as someone who spent the past 30 years leaking information to Bob Novak.
Thanks to Harry Shearer for pointing this out in last week's Le Show.
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June 23, 2008
"The Guy Who Vandalizes Your Car and Blames it on the Kitchen Staff"
Karl Rove works his magic.
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June 18, 2008
The Lakers Don't Even Bother Phoning It In
*answering machine BEEP*
"Hello? Celtics? It's me, the Lakers. Um....just wanted to let you know I'm on my way soon but ... uh .... I'm running late, and it's possible I may have to take a personal day today. Talk to you ... byeeee--"
* BEEEEP*
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June 17, 2008
Citywise Fern
Sword fern growing beneath the roadbed of the 101 freeway in San Francisco, about 35 feet above 13th/Duboce (near Bryant Street).
I'm not sure it'll make it through the summer, but a friend suggested I load up a deluxe Super Soaker with MiracleGro if the fronds get much browner. Not a bad idea.
Taken with the iPhone.
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"The Tragic Legacy of a Disastrous President"
Britons reflect on a monumental erosion of trust.
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...And Then They Woke Up
The "Millennials" are in for a surprise:
* Generation X, Y, Z supposed to change the world.
* Generation X, Y, Z enters the working world with the theory that they are somehow different.
* Worker meets boom-bust cycle.
* Worker humbled.
* Changes happen, but are much more modest than the revolution predicted.
Posted by Paul at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
One More Tim Russert Story
Only this one has something new to say.
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