Shit, Someone Has Set Fires All Over The Neighborhood

For clarification, this was Sacramento, CA, near 21st St. and 2nd Ave., on the evening of Monday August 3rd. The fire in the picture was about one block from my house. Fire department response was slow, due mostly to having to respond to simultaneous fires, but things seemed under control Monday night.

One fire was along the east sound wall along the railroad, with apparently some carryover over the wall into the Larkin St. cul-de-sac. Then there was a separate fire around 2027 Second Ave., and nearby there too, along Sloat Way cul-de-sac. I could see smoke from another fire in the distance that I thought was near Sloat Way and 24th Street, but when I went there about an hour later I couldn't find the fire's location. I'm still mystified by that one. Since my house backs out on Sloat Way I was really worried by these simultaneous fires.

Even the most urban parts of California are susceptible to quick moving fires (plus Monday was the hottest day of the summer so far). 

I did not see any perpetrators, but it is unusual when about three fires are underway simultaneously several blocks apart to the west of me and smoke from another fire is visible several blocks away to the east. Sometimes that can happen when a much larger fire nearby drops burning debris over a wide area, but here there was no larger fire. It could partly be coincidence, of course; some mix of events. I jumped immediately to the thought of arson. I could be wrong, of course, but in the moment that is the more likely explanation. 

According to rumor on Reddit, someone was apprehended.

And yet, because the fires were fairly-quickly put out, it's as if they never happened.  The world spins on, until the next time this happens.

2027 Second Ave., 7:25 p.m., Monday, August 3, 2026.

2027 Second Ave., 7:29 p.m., Monday, August 3, 2026.

2027 Second Ave., Wednesday morning, August 5, 2026.

The Drama of the Cones

Fighting ICE has a number of ancillary aspects, including protecting cones. 

Faygo has several videos on this theme - I share this video because you can hear me negotiating in the background.

.  

 The officer arrests the cones.

@obriengoespotatoes SACPD shares information with ICE. As of the recent city council vote, Sacramento is solidifying its participation in an intelligence center (CCIC) which includes DHS, despite public outcry. #ICE #protest #Sacramento #SACPD #immigration ♬ original sound - O’Brien Goes Potatoes

 

What kind of asshole moves a cone?!

Darina Moseeva

Apparently she's not yet a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi, but she'll be there in a few minutes.

@ballet_fan11 Дарина Мосеева #никия #баядерка #балет ♬ оригинальный звук - Balletfun

"Dear Evan Hansen" - NorCal Arts - 24th Street Theater - July 31 and August 2, 2026

Friday evening, July 31st.  Program is here.

Bows

x

x

x

Jacob W. and Larry R.

Ashlyn C., Jacob W. and Larry R.

Keeley W. and Larry R.

Keeley W. and Larry R.

24th St. Theater on Friday evening.

I obtained a ticket for Act 2 on Sunday afternoon, August 2nd.

x

Bows

x

24th St. Theater on Sunday afternoon.

Memorial Gathering for Jon Beaver (1938 - 2026) - July 26, 2026

The gathering was held at the Innovation Center at Granite School in Folsom, with about 140 people in attendance.  The gathering featured experienced representatives from SO MANY different community musical theaters in the Sacramento area.  Jon was a busy man!  Jon had a wonderful, boisterous personality; perfect for being a lawyer, and perfect for theater - and a liberal's liberal too!  The best!  

Jon's widow Eileen Beaver (costume manager for SO MANY shows; these days, particularly for Sutter Street Theater in Folsom) will sorely miss him.

"The Odyssey," Seen with the Classics Book Club - July 25, 2026

Great fun!

Dinner afterwards at Cafeteria 15 & L.

Posing for pictures in the Esquire IMAX lobby.

Franklin Blvd. Corridor Upgrades

The Franklin Blvd. corridor in Sacramento is getting various upgrades (but it still retains that workaday grime that reminds me so much of Albuquerque). 

They now have separated bike lanes (whose cement barriers unfortunately confuse drivers like me, and I understand there has been an uptick in auto accidents there recently). 

And so many nice murals! The last picture here is of a mural being painted by the artist Eric even as I took the photo.

Iran (So Far Away)

Thanks, Andrew!

 

Iran vs. the USA

@cpscott15 How are negotiations going? #iran #trump #vance #israel #usa ♬ Funny Song - Sounds Reel

Headline Writing Used To Be a Skill

Headline writing is a skill that many fail at. I like this current one on ABC News: “NASA detects rare phenomenon of a black hole 'devouring' a star with help of AI.” 

Another reason to oppose data centers, I suppose.

Thug Life on the Protest Front - John Moss Federal Building (July 23, 2026)

Protesting life. Three bullies showed up yesterday evening to interfere with a birthday party. Confrontation was their goal. Pushing led to punching and one the bullies suffered broken glasses and small cuts. 

Strangely, as if to prove his authenticity, the battered bully stated his name and address. Also strangely, there was no talk of politics. Sometimes the street is the street and bullies be bullies!

@theactionjaxon

♬ These Days - Rudimental,Jess Glynne,Macklemore

The Afterlife of “Better Call Saul” Filming Locations

It’s interesting to see the afterlife of “Better Call Saul” filming locations; in this case, the underground Neff Copiers parking garage.

 

Anywhere Man Gets The Spirit

I’ve been periodically checking out Anywhere Man’s content, because I saw him at Sacramento’s Howe and Arden protest several months ago. (He travels the country as a modern-day hobo.) And he captures the spirit of the Sacramento crew. Sweet!

@anywheremanhobo @KcBoucle @O’Brien Goes Potatoes ♬ original sound - Anywhere Man Hobo

Hopefully Jasper's Last Splint Refurbishment (July 22, 2026)

This week, Jasper’s splint bandage design pattern is Grey Elephants on a pink background. 

The intention right now is two more weeks with this bandage, then an X-ray on August 4th, and then a decision if the splint is necessary any longer.

Secret - The Pierces

Matt likes this song (and I secretly like it too).

 

Silliness in my Neighborhood

 

Sacramento City Council - July 21, 2026

Today was a frustrating day at the Sacramento City Council chambers, where Item #11 regarding Sacramento accepting federal money to support the Central California Intelligence Center (CCIC) was voted upon. Citizens vehemently oppose the proposal, because there is no way to prevent the Sacramento Police Department from outing the identities of undocumented immigrants to ICE through CCIC, but a majority of council members seem to trust SacPD representations that that won't happen. 

So we slip farther down that slippery slope. 

Comments on Item #11 start at 25:45 and end at 1:13:30. 

Acquaintances speak (T. at 48:05 and S. at 1:00:20). 

Police presentation - 1:15:20 

Vang speaks 1:26:00. Talamantes speaks at 1:31:40. 

Council chamber cleared at 1:32:15 after Talamantes announces support. 

Maple speaks at 1:54:20. McCarty speaks at 1:55:50. 

 The vote is at 1:56:35 to a closed chamber.

 

Warm Sector

It's been a pleasant summer so far in Sacramento, but now we find ourselves in the warm sector of the former Tropical Storm Elida, with all that toasty El Niño air streaming north directly from the distant tropics, and - I want to be somewhere else.

The Golden Helmet of Mambrino

On Saturday, I hurried to finish protesting ICE, because the big event of the day was about to start: our Classics Book Club (which just finished reading Emily Wilson’s translation of “The Odyssey”) was gathering at Sacramento’s Esquire IMAX Theater to watch Christopher Nolan’s take on “The Odyssey.” I grabbed my rent-a-golden-plastic-Roman helmet and headed to the theater. 

Lo, there was just one problem. I hurriedly called Gabe McAuliffe to confirm my worst fears. I got the week wrong. The Classics Book Club will assemble next Saturday for the big event. I was a week early. 

I felt conspicuous wearing the golden plastic Roman helmet in the lobby of the theater. Fortunately, the theater patrons were all smiles and appreciated my spirit. I felt conspicuous mostly because my helmet was the wrong era. They didn’t have 10th Century B.C. Greek bronze helmets at Broadway Costumes. They didn’t even have Spartan helmets. No, all they had was a modified hard hat; a golden plastic Roman helmet. So, I fancied myself a critic from the Roman future, maybe a scholar from Nero’s entourage, ready with lame zingers to assail Matt Damon (too amiable to play General Groves in 2024’s “Oppenheimer”; maybe not amiable enough to play Odysseus). 

Standing in the theater lobby, a song crossed my mind. Later, the same thought independently crossed Gabe’s mind too: “The Golden Helmet of Mambrino,” from “Man of La Mancha.” Just the relic to enchant madmen - a shaving basin, aka a golden plastic Roman helmet.

 

I was reminded of this scene from a favorite movie from 1970, "Start the Revolution Without Me":

 

Just Struck Me As Funny

@masinikeug Today moods 🍍😂 ##tictoc #masinikeug #entertainment #trend #tiktok ♬ original sound - masinikeug

Turkey-Poop Poultice

This week, Max the Dog has been visiting, as his family has gone to frolic in the surf. Max and Jasper are old friends and get along well, as we walk around the neighborhood.

Jasper’s injured foot has been slowly healing, but the abscess he got on his neck from the infected scratch from the dog attack persists, and appears to itch. 

Yesterday, Jasper watched Max roll on the grass. Jasper then maneuvered a turkey out of its familiar spot next to the dentist’s office and took its place. Jasper then found a pile of turkey poop (and taking Max’s cue) proceeded to roll in it, paying particular attention to smear the poop on his lingering abscess, almost like a turkey-poop poultice. 

I guess it can’t be much worse than Ivermectin. 

Given that I can’t really wash Jasper when he has a splint on his leg, I used scissors to cut the poop out of Jasper’s hair. 

Today (July 16th), I notice the abscess is bit smaller than yesterday. I guess this turkey-poop poultice really works!

Don’t Forget, If You Find Yourself Wanting Something To Do In Sacramento, There’s Protesting!

@roetheone There’s so many things to do in the Sacramento area #fyp #sacramento #davis #elkgrove #rosevilleca ♬ original sound - Roe

At The Emergency Vet Again - July 12, 2026

Well here we are again, and since it’s Sunday again, we’re back at the emergency vet, for nearly identical reasons as last Sunday. I rolled Jasper in his stroller into the alley behind my house. He didn’t see a squirrel this time, but he heard a squirrel, and that’s good enough. I had a better handle on his leash than last time, so he stumbled out his stroller instead of leaping, but it was still enough to dislodge his splint. 

When I have Jasper I need to avoid the oak tree behind my house. Too troublesome. 

It’s nearly six weeks since the dog attack, and Jasper doesn’t seem to be in much discomfort or pain. The wait here is long. Hopefully we can do this today.

Helga Monson at 99

I was blown away by this article in the LA Times (apparently reprinted in the Sacramento Bee) regarding Helga Monson, who is still teaching ballet in Pasadena at age 99. 

Monson danced with the Marquis de Cuevas Ballet at the same time my first ballet instructor George Zoritch danced with them. Indeed, I found online a program showing they were both dancing on the same day for the company in 1951. 

Despite the fullness of modern life, the world of ballet isn't that large. The art form isn't that old. Ballet dancers tend to live long lives, making most instructor-student genealogies, extending right to the start of the art form, quite short.

“There’s a kind of joy in seeing students make progress, and I have somehow made friends with a lot of the students, two of which have just turned 80. They’ve studied with me for a long time,” Monson de Kansky said. “In and out of the studio, I think the students have been wonderful.” 

For Monson de Kansky, the dance studio is her second home. It’s all she grew up knowing, and these days, it’s where some of her deepest friendships and greatest joys are. And even at 99, she has no plans to retire, at least, she says, “Not as long as I can walk.”

Anne Bloom - "A Pirate Princess"

 

I just posted this in Reddit:

I generally steer clear of claims that Pluribus is about AI - I think it's about more than that - but then I started listening to the AI singer Anne Bloom, particularly her song "Pirate Princess," and I thought that maybe that song and its lyrics were inspired by Pluribus. The songs are recent enough that that could be the case. The titles of other Anne Bloom songs seem to harmonize well with other Pluribus themes. When Vince Gilligan talks about how much he HATES AI, a few neurons in the back of my head think "the lady doth protest too much." Does anyone know of any connection between Anne Bloom and Pluribus, or is it just good correlation?

Support in Court

There are many angles to being an anti-ICE activist. On Tuesday, I decided to show up to support an activist who had been given a citation at the John Moss Federal Building protest in downtown Sacramento, so it was off to the Tani Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento County Courthouse. Now, I have good memories related to Tani Cantil-Sakauye, when she was Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.  I filed a claim with the California State Bar when I got ripped off by sleazebag attorney Hal Wright in 2013, when he churned out an ineffective will for me.  Not only did I get my money back - with interest! - but I also got a letter of apology from Tani Cantil-Sakauye herself.  Nice! I still have it around here somewhere.

The activist had faced Citizen's Arrest for having had the temerity to use a megaphone at noontime outside the John Moss Federal Building, where ICE is headquartered in Sacramento, and where we try to have a continuous, 24-hour protest.  Since we do make noise at times, we sometimes aren't popular with the people who live in the high-rise apartment building across the street, or the people who live in several other nearby apartment buildings.

Impressive court building.  I never knew this building was here.  If I go to court at all I usually go to the Superior Court on 7th Street, where the really big trials happen.  I guess this new building is devoted to smaller stuff. I noticed a woman waiting in the hallway carrying a wrinkled Notice of Trespass.  So, if you trespass on someone's property, and get caught, you end up here. The smaller, workaday stuff.

Nice views here.  Good view of the Sacramento Railyards.

Ooh, there's a big fire over there.  My understanding is that this was a grass fire at 20th Street and the rail line (probably the line formerly known as the Union Pacific).

Hanging out, waiting for the courtroom to open. Saw a few fellow activists. And as it proved, the District Attorney (DA) never bothered to file a charge against the activist.  Probably too stupid a citation to waste time with, especially with 1st-Amendment implications. No charge means the activist and supporters can all leave.  I guess if you get a citation the DA reserves the right to file a charge even at the very last moment, so everyone has to show up regardless.  A fine way to run a train.