A Visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium - April 5, 2023

Such cute otters!

Monterey sardines.

Hammerhead shark.

Hammerhead shark.

Monterey sardines.

Green Sea Turtle

Yellow Tuna.

Blood-red jellyfish.

Jellyfish.

Various jellyfish.

Deep-sea crab.

Isopods.

Petting an isopod (and not the Socorro isopod either).

Puffin.

Fish, and California Moray Eel.

Fish.

California Moray Eel.

Yellow fish.

Blue fish.

Fishies.

Yellow fishes.

Cool fish.

Cool reef.

Penguins.

Penguins.

Yellow tuna.

Jellyfish.

Jellyfish.

Green Sea Turtle.

Green Sea Turtle.

Green Sea Turtle.

Green Sea Turtle and a Ray.

Green Sea Turtle.

Green Sea Turtle.

A Ray.

A Day Trip to Monterey - April 5, 2023

Along Highway 33 south of Santa Nella, near O'Neill Forebay, workers on an electric tower were loosening metalwork for a passing helicopter to grab.

There go the struts!

A peak along Highway 152.

Rachel's kids called this place in Monterey the "Emo McDonald's," because the arches are black, not golden.

Donuts first!

Macabee Beach, next to the Monterey wharves.

Bathers on the beach.

A seagull stands atop John Steinbeck at the Steinbeck Statuary in Steinbeck Plaza.

I gingerly step barefoot into the world's largest ocean at Macabee Beach.  The rules are different here.  Eyes out for sharks!

The Graffiti at the Acme Metal Yard in Albuquerque

The graffiti here just off North Second Street is pretty remarkable - a living, breathing museum of top-notch graffiti. And it's changed quite a bit from what I remember in 2012.

 

TikTok Should Not Be Banned

Where else can you get stuff like this?

@corrk2 “It was a hard back NVI version”😂 #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ Nuthin’ But A "G" Thang - Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg

And You May Find Yourself Behind the Wheel of a Large Automobile

Democrats Are Number One!

I Don't Need No Stinking GPS

A Glorious Rainy Season is Wrapping Up!

It's almost a wrap on the 2022-23 California rainy season! April is the month when storm systems weaken dramatically, and that process is underway now. 

Rainy seasons have been so erratic this last decade! Contrary to historically-dry expectations related to La Niña, we did quite well this season, waterwise. We're about 140% of normal here in Sacramento - the best season since 2016-17, just six years ago. Life in California is so much easier when everyone has the water they need. (I think it's a mistake to rely alone on La Niña- El Niño for rainy season predictions, since California is some distance from that cycle's equatorial home.) 

The big question now is how quickly that unstable ice cap in the Sierras will melt. Almost every day since the middle of February has had temperatures below average, which is great for preserving the snowpack, but that remarkably-cold run is ending now. 

And so, how abrupt will the warm up be? Not as abrupt as in April, 1997, when a warm Atmospheric River arrived and decimated the snowpack, leading to flooding. There are no such storm systems on today's horizon. Still, I'm thinking the next week will warm quite a bit, and the snowmelt will seriously start. Beware swimming holes and similar fun places this year. Waters will run cold, deep, and fast!

The Last Coal Miners in Spain

Interesting article on the last coal miners in Spain:

Arango said some of the miners feel abandoned. 

“The industrial heritage in Asturias is enormous and of significant historical relevance. However, very little is done to keep it in good condition,” said Adrián San Martín, a 38-year-old miner from Mieres. “When I pass by the closed mines, like the one in Olloniego, and see the rusty tower and the abandoned facilities, I feel terrible.” 

San Martín started working as a miner when he was 24, and he doesn’t know what his future will be when San Nicolás eventually closes. 

“What saddens me the most is not that mining ends,” he told Arango. “I understand that coal pollutes and that we have to look for other energy models. But I am outraged that the mines stop here if coal continues to be imported from other countries, such as South Africa or Colombia, which arrives at the ports of Europe.”

I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin cover featuring Kenton Chen

Gabe recommends this.

 

My Ascent Won't Ascend

After my pre-interview, it looks like I won't become part of the Ascent Environmental team.

Sigh.

Trump Got His First Indictment

Hopefully the first of many!

Old Chapel in New Mexico Needs TLC

An old chapel is suffering structural issues and needs repair:

For more than 165 years, the mission church has been a reassuring presence in Pecos Canyon, a steadfast and physical reminder of sacrifices endured by ancestors and of those people’s unflinching Catholic faith. As you drive N.M. 63 through mountains and trees and along the Pecos River, it appears suddenly, like a vision. 

“It’s almost surreal,” said Brian Sandoval, 54, who grew up in Pecos and owns Frankie’s restaurant there. “It takes you back in time when you go in there. It’s a mud church on a hillside. You feel very connected and centered and grounded to the earth.” 

The church, which can accommodate about 100 people, is made of adobe and has a ribbed, metal panel roof. A sacristy constructed in 1962 to replace the original sacristy is the only part of the church made from non-traditional materials. The building has no water or electricity. It is lighted by candles and lanterns and warmed by a wood-burning stove. A low stone wall, built in 1916, surrounds the church, and graves are scattered throughout its yard. 

It is common these days to refer to this venerable building as El Macho Mission Church due to its location in a place named for a male mule. But according to the archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the church was christened Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe, when it was built about 1857.

Amateur Gold Digger Finds a Nugget

Kind of formidable:

An amateur gold digger has found an enormous gold nugget worth 240,000 AUD ($160,000) in Australia. 

Discovered in the state of Victoria in an area known as the "Golden Triangle," the gold-filled rock weighs 4.6 kilograms (10.1 pounds), with the precious metal making up 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds).

Elaine's 80th Birthday

The folks at The Ballet Studio celebrated Elaine Silver's 80th birthday. She was presented with a cake, a tiara, and a sash - Lisa, Katie, and Vaughn all worked together on it.  Ballet and Elaine get together very well.

Demise of the Local Century Plant

The local Century Plant that sprung up spectacularly in May, 2021 has bit the dust. The stalk of the Century Plant had had a burnt-out look for some time and was beginning to list. The landowner decided enough was enough and had it cut up. But it was really something in its heyday!

Wander (I) (2020)

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Last updated: April 2, 2023


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) Arthur Bretnik is a mentally unstable conspiracy theorist and private eye with a traumatic past. After being hired to investigate a possible murder cover up in the small town of Wander, Arthur is plunged into a world of lies and deceit, as he quickly suspects the murder may be part of the same 'conspiracy cover up' that caused the death of his daughter. Increasingly paranoid, Arthur's sanity is tested as he attempts to filter fact from fiction and solve the case, all the while questioning if he is a pawn in a much bigger game.

Even though there are no obvious signs that this movie was filmed in Albuquerque, I'll cover it anyway.  The various interior scenes in the Foxhole, for example, could have been filmed in the studios in Albuquerque.

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Road - Wander - Probably old U.S. Highway 380 - roughly (33.747563°, -106.016515°)

Trailer at the base of the mountain - Thought Junction - Middle of Nowhere - Somewhere near the end of Snell Rd. I'm thinking: (33.629332°, -105.740480°).

Restaurant in town

Building in town - 1939 - Circular room - 11th & D Ave., Carrizozo

Flashback to a playground at a park

Church

Wife's room

Highway 380 Bridge over the railroad

Aerial shot of Carrizozo from roughly 1108 B Ave.

Eat and Drink sign - view from about 407 12th St.

View of Roy's Gallery Central Ave. and 12th St.

Police stop on grounds of pink building on 5th Ave. near Central

Sands Motel - SW on Carrizozo on Highway 54

Elena Guzman's house.  I'm thinking at East Ave. and 14th St. (33.637230°, -105.877711°)

Tower - Building with arch - Tiled hallway - Morgue - Hallway Flashback

Niece's office

Wander again

Following Cherokee - different site

Roadside Bar - No Scum Allowed Saloon, 933 White Oaks Rd., White Oaks, NM

Railroad

Old Gas Station - The Foxhole - about 12231 U.S. 54, SW of Carrizozo

Back in Carrizozo

Scrapyard - Carrizozo Auto Salvage?

Daughter in back seat flashback - Back on 12th Ave. again

Sands Motel

1939 building again, etc.

New base - Spruce Winds Cabin #11 - Casey's Midtown Cabins, 2640 Sudderth Dr., Ruidoso

Junky looking drive behind the No Scum Bar in White Oaks

Shell's home

Bridge

Safe House - Ft. Stanton

Bridge over RR again

Carrizozo Airport

300 Central Ave. Court House in Carrizozo

etc.

Doug Pauly and the Cover Girls - April 1, 2023

"The Side Door" in Curtis Park is a very-conveniently-located venue for live music - generally folk and rock music. 

Even though I’ve known for decades that Doug (my neighbor the next house over) is a guitarist, this is the first time I’ve actually seen him perform. I didn’t realize that Mike Crain (who lives between Doug and I) is the percussionist. (Mike teaches percussion at Sac State.)

Two musicians within a stone's throw! I’m clueless about my own immediate neighborhood!

 

From The Side Door's mailing list: "Doug Pauly brings “Doug & The Cover Girls“ Sister duets this five member group includes Doug Pauly, Jeanne Munoz, Erin Costa, Mike Crain and Kerry Kashiwagi performing music described as the next generation of The Great American Songbook. Duets as only sisters backed up by guitar as only Doug Pauly can play."

Introductions at the show.

Song In My Head - Madison Cunningham

Vertical Freedom (2022)

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Last updated: March 31, 2023


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) Six diverse tower climbers overcome personal struggle and every-day danger to perform extraordinary work at very high levels to connect us all.

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Interviews with several tower climbers all over the U.S., including Robert Gallegos in the the Albuquerque area.

Sandia Crest, NM (KNME Tower listed in credits)

I-40 Eastbound - 2 locations, including maybe near Coronado Park (35.105870°, -106.646456°).

View of Albuquerque along the Griegos corridor, looking west from approximately San Andres Ave. and Grande Dr. NW

5021....

Various locations seen along drives include:

• Smoke City, 6900 Central Ave. SE;
• Central Avenue, just east of Wyoming Blvd., and;
• Oakwood Homes on Central Avenue.

Views of the prison in Los Lunas.

Vengeance (II) (2022)

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Last updated: March 31, 2023


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) A writer from New York City attempts to solve the murder of a girl he hooked up with and travels down south to investigate the circumstances of her death and discover what happened to her.

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Red Solo cups - Oil field (presumably near Artesia somewhere)

Bridge NYC - Party

Subway/Apartment

Double Eagle Airport

Cemetery - Mount Calvary Cemetery, near Edith Blvd. & Odelia Rd.

Driving, and a pitch to the producer - Bobby Foster Rd.

NYC Apartment

Corner mobile home - Dinkle Rd. and Summerfield Lane, in Edgewood (35.084687°, -106.150221°)

Quentin Sellers Music Factory - 680 NM-344, Edgewood (35.159650°, -106.187679°)

Cafe 66 (but with a reverse image?)

Mount Calvary Cemetery

Rodeo, near Walmart - Valencia County Sheriff's Posse Arena, Belen

Bar with country line dancing - The Dirty Bourbon, 9800 Montgomery Blvd. NE

Meeting with Sancholo

Law enforcement offices

NYC Office

Cafe 66

Doctor's Office

Whataburger, On Highway 528 near Highway 550, Rio Rancho

etc.

Evangelical Leaders are Slightly Miffed

Apparently evangelical leaders are slightly miffed at Donald Trump. Really? I wonder why? And does it matter? Somehow, I think not. The delusions are thick, thick, thick in this article. You can read this article and decide who's delusions are worst.

Piety aside, raw political calculation was at work. Trump’s relationship with the evangelical movement—once seemingly shatterproof, then shaky after his violent departure from the White House—is now in pieces, thanks to his social-media tirade last fall blaming pro-lifers for the Republicans’ lackluster midterm performance. Because of his intimate, longtime ties to the religious right, Pence understands the extent of the damage. He is close personal friends with the organizational leaders who have fumed about it; he knows that the former president has refused to make any sort of peace offering to the anti-abortion community and is now effectively estranged from its most influential leaders. 

According to people who have spoken with Pence, he believes that this erosion of support among evangelicals represents Trump’s greatest vulnerability in the upcoming primary—and his own greatest opportunity to make a play for the GOP nomination.

"Inside," with Willem DaFoe

I went to see Willem DaFoe in “Inside” at Saturday’s late showing at the Tower Theater. The plot is basically Trapped Burglar vs. Malfunctioning Smart Penthouse, and reminds me of other glitchy-tech movies like “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The movie is a meditation on the meaning of art as well as technology. The movie’s sense of isolation was heightened by me being the only person in the theater. I recommend the movie for those considering buying either sophisticated security systems or modern art, or who fancy some alone time. Excellent cinematography!

 

Springtime Means Exotic Creatures Last Seen in the Cambrian Start Appearing

To The Dog Groomers

Love and attention from Anthony and Azalia at Anthony's Dog Grooming Shop, in the Sierra Shops near Fair Oaks and Munroe/Fulton.

Before....

After.

Arguing Over the Inevitable

People are arguing about how to manage the reappearance of Tulare Lake as the snow starts to melt, but there's a "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" character about the disagreements. As Led Zeppelin sang in their version of "When the Levee Breaks":

Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good 

No, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good 

When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move, ooh

In previous flood years, Grewal said, levees were typically cut open in an agreed-upon order, sending water from one enclosed “cell” to another, and filling the lake bottom in an orchestrated way. This time, he said, there have been delayed responses and more levee breaches than in the past.

“The flood isn’t being handled properly,” said Grewal, noting he works with one grower who has 2,400 acres of pistachio trees choking underwater. “It’s a mess, because there are breaks everywhere.” In one mysterious incident, Jack Mitchell of the area’s Deer Creek Flood Control District alleged that someone had intentionally cut open a levee with a backhoe in the dark of night. He says he knows who did it, but the report hasn’t prompted an investigation. 

Elsewhere, Mitchell said, the Boswell company at one point used a massive piece of equipment as a barrier, keeping Mitchell’s crew from cutting into a levee to send water flowing toward the basin bottom and away from towns. 

“It’s silly the way they’re doing it,” he said at the time. “It wants to go to the lake, and they won’t let it go.” 

The Kings County Board of Supervisors stepped in to settle the dispute, ordering Boswell’s managers to cut a levee and send water toward the lake bottom — and into their fields and those of other growers — rather than trying to pump the water up to higher elevation areas. 

“They weren’t really happy with me,” said Supervisor Doug Verboon. “To have someone come and tell them what they have to do is not good for them. But what it did was, it opened a line of communication. So now we’re speaking to each other and sharing ideas.” 

…Over the years, the company has built levees on the old lakebed bottom to control floodwaters. “The idea is that you want to flood the least amount of acres the highest you can to minimize losses,” Grewal said. Local responsibility for flood control in the basin is split among about a dozen reclamation districts, which are controlled by landowners. State officials have visited the area to discuss response efforts. Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth told the news website SJV Water that she and her team are assessing the state’s authority to intervene, if needed, to help “deal with the challenges we’ve already seen emerging in the last 10 days.” 

Verboon said one issue that has complicated matters is bad blood between the Boswell company and John Vidovich, who also owns vast acreage in the basin. Their disputes, some rooted in disagreements over water rights, have led to litigation, and Verboon said they have refused to talk to each other. 

“We all pay the price when they’re fighting,” Verboon said. But he said he anticipates the flooding, which is set to worsen in the coming weeks, could spur the two camps to “work together to move this water out of here.” During the 1983 floods, Grewal said, a decision was made to take a large portion of the water that was rushing in and divert it to Southern California cities. “They pumped a million acre-feet to L.A. that would have gone to the lake,” he said. “Boswell paid for that, just to dewater the lake faster.”

White Cat, On Patrol

Every breath you take 

And every move you make 

Every bond you break 

Every step you take 

I'll be watching you

More Runoff Being Aimed Towards Groundwater

Dunnigan in the news:

DUNNIGAN, Calif. — As storms have drenched Northern California, water diverted from the swollen Sacramento River has been flowing from a canal and pouring onto 200 acres of farmland. 

For more than a month, the water has spread across fields, forming shallow pools, then percolating slowly into the earth. 

This farm northwest of Sacramento, which has previously produced rice, is being used to replenish groundwater. It’s one of a growing number of sites across the Central Valley where landowners and local water managers are using farmland to take advantage of this year’s heavy rain and snow by capturing water and putting it underground. 

Once applied to the fields near the town of Dunnigan, the water quickly sinks into the soil and makes its way through sediment to the aquifer. Measurements in nearby wells show that groundwater levels have risen. 

“Within a matter of a couple of days, we see improvement in the water table,” said David Schaad, a farmer and president of the Dunnigan Water District. “It’s wonderful to see.”

Prince - Crimson and Clover

Love Tommy James and the Shondells. Love Prince. Love Misty Copeland.

 

Millennium Bugs (2020)

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Last updated: March 27, 2023


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) Set in the last week of 1999, best friends Kelly and Miguel find themselves on the cusp of their future. Kelly has been floating through life after her parent's death. Drowning herself in alcohol and drugs. When her inheritance money runs out, Kelly is slapped with the realities of her actions. Her best friend Miguel is torn between his immigrant parent's expectations and his dream to become a comedian. The pressure to pursue his dreams while defying the sacrifices his parents made for him pushes Miguel to the brink. Together, Kelly and Miguel along the rest of the world find themselves wondering what's next.

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Various news clips

Police Station - James Dwyer Police Station

House

Looks like Calvary Skatepark - 4001 Osuna Rd. NE

Convenience store - North Heights Food Mart, aka Shop N Go, 11928 Candelaria Rd. NE

Vulcan Video Store, 4411 Russell Drive, Austin, TX

Rooftop

Office

Vehicle

Miguel's House

Launchpad club, downtown near 7th & Central

Outside El Rey Theater, SW corner

The Pic, Moonlight Lounge, 120 Central Ave. SW

Miguel and ex-girlfriend meet on sidewalk just in front of Launchpad

Getting in vehicle - U Public TV Parking Lot, 912 3rd St. NW

Towing Place - Acme Towing and Recovery Inc., 8705 Broadway Blvd. SE A

etc.

Storage Unit

In alley and parking lot just behind Launchpad

Ex's house

Kelly's House - 2840 Rhode Island St. NE

etc.

Drive away towards I-35 - about 7920 Claremont Ave. NE.

(Credits thank AAA - U-Lock It and Self Storage.  Three possible places where that could be.)

The Marksman (2021)

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Last updated: March 17, 2026


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) Leading a lonely, almost hand-to-mouth existence, Jim Hanson, a financially hard-pressed rancher on the Arizona-Mexico border and decorated former scout sniper for the U.S. Marine Corps, is on the ropes. Still reeling from the loss of a dear one, Jim spends his days with his inseparable companion, Jackson, the sheepdog, unbeknownst to him that his already complicated life is about to take an unexpected turn. Now, as desperate Rosa entrusts Jim with the life of her young son, Miguel, an inadvertent, all-out war with the brutally violent henchmen of the murderous cartel leader, Mauricio, breaks out. Suddenly, Hanson has one more problem to deal with, and the road to Chicago, where Miguel's relatives are, is long and fraught with danger. Can the grizzled protector carry out one last mission?

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Jesus Statue and Neighborhood

Fair/Market

Bridge

Mountains

Ranch House (35.148052°, -107.052396°)

New House Under Construction - ~ 6964 Dusty Dr. NE, Rio Rancho

Cattleyard - Looks like south of Los Lunas

U Lounge

Shootout

U.S. Customs and Border Protection - 310....

Railroad - Resembles south 2nd St. in ABQ

Overcrossing

Highway 550 - driving - (35.397421°, -106.639489°)

"Pueblo Rocks" - Red Rocks Gas Station - Jemez Valley Market - (35.643748°, -106.725261°)

Gas Station and Convenience Store - Red Rocks Convenience Store.

Red Rocks Convenience Store 

Sierra Vista, AZ - 7137 and 7141 Lookout Rd. NE, Rio Rancho

View looking up Mountain Trail Loop

Otto's Auto Shop - 6014...

Bar/restaurant - Becker St. Grill, Belen, NM

Town view - Looking west on NM-309 (Reinken) from pedestrian overpass

Pedestrian Overpass

Tewa Lodge, ABQ

etc.

Wellington Music, Wellington, OH

Blackwood Motel - 

Church

Big Barn

Liquor Store

Farm

etc. - Harpers Farms and Ohio Turnpike listed in credits

That's a Moray

Tornadoes and Their Kind Aren’t Common in California

@lenyyboo First post on TikTok !! Me at work witnessing my first tornado 🌪️🌪️#montebellotornado #weather #weatherreport #tornado #montebello #firsttiktok #CA ♬ original sound - Lenyyduhh

Need a Third Hand

The only thing worse than fumbling with the iPhone in order to get enough illumination on the pooper scooper as Jasper does his business in the darkness and rain? Dropping the iPhone in the pooper scooper, of course.

Tonight's Exciting Weather!

The meteorology was jamming this evening as the low pressure center approached San Francisco. Not only was "bombogenesis" (a rapid reduction in pressure) going on, but the low pressure center resolved itself into two (and possibly three) low pressure centers, all rotating around each other (called the "Fujiwhara Effect"). 

Here is a GOES-West visible picture from about 5:51 PDT, showing two centers spinning around each other like figure skaters. Thunderstorms and high winds occurred over a wide area! Rather rare for the greater Bay Area. 

The main thrust of the storm is still in Southern California, however. More here:

On Tuesday afternoon, as the storm approached the Bay Area, the system developed two “eyes,” or areas of low pressure, resulting in a “doubled-barreled blow” to San Francisco and Santa Cruz, said Bay Area National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Garcia. 

The rare occurrence, known as the Fujiwhara effect, intensified winds as the low-pressure areas danced around each other. 

Rick Canepa, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Monterey County, cited the two low-pressure centers “and possibly a third one that are just kind of rotating around each other.” 

The phenomenon was contributing to peak gusts upward of 60 to 75 mph in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Canepa said, with 50- to 60-mph winds across Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties.

Telltale Signs of an Equatorial Glacier on Mars

This is cool:

“What we’ve found is not ice, but a salt deposit with the detailed morphologic features of a glacier,” lead study author Dr. Pascal Lee, a senior planetary scientist with the SETI Institute and the Mars Institute, said in a statement. 

“What we think happened here is that salt formed on top of a glacier while preserving the shape of the ice below, down to details like crevasse fields and moraine bands.” 

The researchers believe the glacier was 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) long and 2.5 miles (about 4 kilometers) wide, with an elevation between 0.8 to 1.1 miles (1.3 to 1.7 kilometers). 

Scientists have an idea of how the imprint of the glacier came to be, based on evidence of volcanic material in the region. When mixtures of volcanic ash, lava and volcanic glass called pumice react with water, a hard, crusty salt layer can form. 

“This region of Mars has a history of volcanic activity. And where some of the volcanic materials came in contact with glacier ice, chemical reactions would have taken place at the boundary between the two to form a hardened layer of sulfate salts,” said study coauthor Sourabh Shubham, a doctoral student of geology at the University of Maryland, College Park, in a statement.

Someone Tried To Steal a Helicopter at Sac Exec Airport?

This boggles the mind:

The break-in occurred around 5 a.m. at the general aviation airport in the 6100 block of Freeport Boulevard, according to officials with the Federal Aviation Administration, which is also investigating along with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Sacramento Police Department. 

Officers who were called to the tarmac after 6 a.m. said someone broke into multiple helicopters on the tarmac before the Bell 429 helicopter was operated, resulting in the crash. 

Authorities found the helicopter on its side with major damage including the shearing of the aircraft’s rotor blades. Destruction of an aircraft is a federal felony, according to the FBI.

They Use Wooden Water Pipes in Truth or Consequences?

This boggles the mind:

But amid a worsening regional drought, the town with the curious name is losing 200 million gallons of potable water a year because of antiquated underground pipes that leak, spit and sometimes gush 30 feet into the air, putting not only its nearly 6,000 residents at risk of having their water shut off but also threatening operations at the city's five public schools and its only hospital and nursing home. 

Schools have already been forced to close without warning several times over the last year as water is shut off while repairs are made, city officials said. 

The system is so old it includes wooden pipes built in the 1800s and is patched up by one worker from the city’s Water Department and two others on loan from the sewer department. Last week, they were responsible for fixing 14 broken lines, 11 of which occurred on a single day, wastewater director Arnulfo Castañeda said. 

Resident Susan Abts, 72, said her water was abruptly cut off last month after a break near her home caused a gusher to shoot 30 feet into the air. 

“I’m concerned where this is going,” she said.

Jane (2022)

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Last updated: March 29, 2023


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) Olivia is a young woman who gets deferred from her dream college and experiences frightening panic attacks. In an attempt to regain some sense of control, she embarks on a social media-fueled rampage against those that stand in her way.

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Coastal bluff (presumably California)

Jane runs past house used in "The Man With Icy Eyes" (1971)

Olivia's House - 1605 Park Ave. SW

Izzy's House - 1601 Park Ave. SW

School - I'm immensely frustrated that I wasn't able to figured out where the school is located.  Nevertheless, I am informed, via Facebook, that the campus is the Bosque School, 4000 Bosque School Rd. NW.  

Coffeehouse - Modern General Feed and Seed, 1720 Central Ave. SW, Suite B (now apparently closed)

Thrift Shop - Avenger's Vintage, 4011 Central Ave. NE

Swimming pool - Not at Izzy's House, but elsewhere.

Frat House

Stanford?

Jane (2022)

In my effort to watch all movies filmed in Albuquerque, tonight I watched the psychological drama "Jane" (2022) on Amazon Prime. An excellent movie! Glad that I don't have the pressure anymore of applying to colleges. It just leads to trouble....

 

Pre-Interview with Ascent Environmental

Thinking maybe of getting back in the work world. Pre-interview seemed to go well.

The Curse and the Covenant (2020)

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Last updated: March 18, 2023


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Quick Summary:

(From imdb) In a dark time when the kingdoms of men have fallen and orcs dominate the earth, Akosh, the cowardly survivor of a dragon attack, seeks refuge in the mountains. There he must learn the ways of the sword from an exiled knight named Eli, and his daughter Zephra. But as Akosh gets groomed to take up the mantle of heroes who have passed in to legend, he begins to uncover dark secrets about Eli's family history. Set nine centuries before the events of "Song of the Starslayer," this new chapter delves deeper into the legends that form the history of Ashelon.

Notes on Individual Scenes

-----------------------------

Two men in sword battle - ocotillo present, so this is a southern location 

Juniper woods - Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - Abo ruins (34.451433°, -106.376200°) 

View through trees (34.449448°, -106.375198°) 

In the ruins 

 Walking across grasslands and through woods

View of Mountain (don't recognize mountains), Body 

Various views of the Sandia Mountains - on crest 

View of Kiwanis Cabin - (35.205633°, -106.445576°) 

Views of Sandias, Fire in woods with orcs 

View of Kiwanis Cabin cabin - (35.201582°, -106.438622°) 

Wood swords near Kiwanis Stream, bow 

King and fire - Some kind of grotto 

Abo again 

Battle site down south 

Mountain views (north - probably Silverton) 

Sandias again 

Top of cliff - View behind Sandias?

Burned area - battle with orcs 

Battle in south again 

View of mountains 

Knighting ceremony 

Migration of people 

------ 

Credits list Albuquerque, NM; Ruidoso, NM, El Paso, TX; Silverton, TX - Cibola and Lincoln National Forests and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument - Archery Shoppe, Adorn Salon, SCA Citadel of the Southern Pass, and Rock Ranch Equestrian Center

A Plethora of Easter Eggs

Recently, I was surprised by a massive spill of hundreds of brightly-colored plastic Easter Eggs in my basement. Paranoid, I wondered whether shadowy intruders might have been trying to send a message to me. (An obscure message, to be sure, but maybe symbolic of the equinox, or springtime, or something-something.) 

As it turns out, the intruders appear to be rats, attracted by the former association between the plastic eggs, once used for Easter-Egg hunts, and candy. (Maybe there were even a few stray pieces of candy left.) So, the rats ripped up the plastic bag holding the eggs, leading to the massive spill. The rats then dragged plastic eggs away and hid them elsewhere in the basement. 

I must war against these cunning intruders with appropriate symbols.

Max Sedgley - "Happy"

I like this!  This song sounds like it should have been in "Better Call Saul":

 

The Real Inspector Hound - Chautauqua Playhouse - March 3, 2023

Rachel and I went to go see John Ewing as Moon in "The Real Inspector Hound" at Chautauqua Playhouse in Carmichael. A very fun show! See it if you can!:

THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND by Tom Stoppard 

In this critically acclaimed comedy, feuding theatre critics Birdboot and Moon — the first a fusty philanderer and the second a pompous and vindictive second stringer — are swept into the whodunit they are viewing. In this hilarious spoof of Agatha Christie-like melodramas that follows, the body under the sofa proves to be an unexpected victim. As mists rise about isolated Muldoon Manor, Moon and Birdboot become dangerously implicated in the lethal activities of an escaped madman.

The Oscar Nominated Shorts 2023: Live Action

I saw this at the Tower Theater:

For the 18th consecutive year, ShortsTV presents the Oscar-Nominated Short Films, opening on Feb. 17th. With all three categories offered – Animated, Live Action and Documentary – this is your annual chance to predict the winners (and have the edge in your Oscar pool)! A perennial hit with audiences around the country and the world, don’t miss this year’s selection of shorts. The Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 12th.

The short films were: 

Ivalu– Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan, Denmark, 17 min.

Night Ride – Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen, Norway, 16 min.

Le Pupille – Alice Rohrwacher, Italy, 39 min.

The Red Suitcase – Cyrus Neshvad, Luxembourg, 18 min.

An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkeley and Ross White, UK, 23 min.

The shorts in the order I liked the best are:

Ivalu– Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan, Denmark, 17 min.

Le Pupille – Alice Rohrwacher, Italy, 39 min.

The Red Suitcase – Cyrus Neshvad, Luxembourg, 18 min.

Night Ride – Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen, Norway, 16 min. 

An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkeley and Ross White, UK, 23 min.

And tonight at the Oscars, the short film I liked the least won the Oscar:

An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkeley and Ross White, UK, 23 min.

Jenna Ortega on SNL

I remember how "The Exorcist" freaked everyone out in the 70s. I made sure never to watch it. Unlike my friends and neighbors, I would remain sane and stable. Jenna Ortega does a good Linda Blair:

 

Worrisome Rain Forecast Over The Next Week

Over the next week in California, it looks like we're going to be hit twice, pretty hard, by rain. Temperature-wise, the first storm will be kind of marginal - perhaps crushing roofs in the mountains as rain freezes on top of rooftop snow - but the second storm will be quite warm, and therefore more worrisome. With such a deep snowpack already present in the Sierra Nevada, warm rain will mean rapid melting and potentially flooding.

“We’re going to see rain on top of snow, and for elevations of say 2,000 feet to about 4,000 feet, a lot of that snow is going to melt,” said Carlos Molina, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford, Calif. “We’re going to basically lose a lot of the snow that fell from the previous storms. We’re looking at potential for flooding.” 

Indeed, the highest likelihood of flood-related impacts are in lower-elevation areas with unusually deep snowpack, Swain said. Small rivers and streams in those areas will see significant potential for runoff issues, as will some urban areas — particularly in places where storm drains are already clogged by snow. 

There may also be problems at elevations above 5,000 or 6,000 feet, he said. Though snowpack in such areas is probably too deep and too cold to be melted by the incoming storm, it can become heavier as it absorbs more water. That could cause roof collapses and other structural issues. 

“If you can go out and try and remove some snow from structures that might be vulnerable, do it,” Swain said. The state has already seen a spate of roof collapses from mounting snow, including a grocery store providing critical supplies in snowbound Crestline. 

Scott Rowe, a meteorologist with the weather service in Sacramento, said the incoming low-pressure system is originating in the north but is expected to link with “very warm” subtropical moisture coming from Hawaii. Such storms are sometimes referred to as a Pineapple Express and are known to drop heavy moisture in California. 

“We’re essentially transitioning from one storm track to another, where the moisture origins are coming from a warmer, juicier location,” Rowe said.

Parrot Bedtime

Shasta County Sails Off The Sanity Bridge

So, it looks like Shasta County is going full denialist, and kicking out Dominion. The CA Secretary of State is warning that election laws must be followed. Lots of luck making that happen! Let's see if the fascists can run much more than a Dairy Queen.

The county has been in near political chaos for more than a year after far-right activists, including members of a local militia, led a successful recall of a Republican supervisor and former police chief, in part because he enforced state-mandated coronavirus restrictions. 

In June, two members of the Board of Supervisors voted not to accept Shasta’s results in the primary election, questioning the validity of Dominion voting machines and proposing a forensic audit of the elections process. 

Their efforts were defeated at the time. But in November, two more candidates backed by hard-right groups were elected to the board, setting the stage for Tuesday’s outcome. 

Even in a county accustomed to public meetings rife with rancor and personal attacks, Tuesday’s session was notable. The meeting stretched 13 hours and featured passionate comment from residents on both sides of the issue, as well as some bitter exchanges.

Got a Replacement Door Knob for the Back Door

It means I’ll be entertaining fewer random people off the street.

Obligatory Bad iPhone Picture of Recent Conjunction between Venus and Jupiter

Getting In Some Solid Kicks

I took Jasper over to the dog park, where the unleashed pups play. Despite Jasper's excited yips, I hesitated on taking him inside. There was a dog inside there with black-and-white collie markings, romping around with the other dogs. There is a dog with such markings who has a history of always attacking Jasper. Was this the same dog? 

The dog took no notice of Jasper. The dog moved to the other side of the park to get a drink of water. It seemed this was maybe a different dog, so I relented and let Jasper into the park, so he could say hello the the other dogs. Much tail-wagging ensued. 

Suddenly, the collie was there, staring intently at Jasper. The collie's master shouted at her dog: "No, not THAT dog!" And suddenly the attack was on! 

The collie lunged as Jasper ran around my legs screaming and yipping. I pulled on Jasper's leash, which was attached to his harness, and lifted him off the ground. I swung Jasper around my head like a lasso as the collie leaped and lunged at him. I was able to deliver some pretty solid kicks to the collie. The dog's master shouted "Don't hurt my dog! Stop running around, so I can get a leash on him!" But I wasn't going to stop spinning that soon. 

Eventually, the dog's master got control, and the attack stopped. A bystander tried to help. Fortunately, I don't think the dog got a solid bite on Jasper. I should have been more cautious - the sudden exertion and adrenalin rush is probably bad for the heart. The dog's master should have been more cautious too - this isn't the first time this has happened. But, hey, I got some solid kicks in!

Ring Bell To Piss Off Liberals

End Game – Streamline Moderne and Surrealism in the Last Two Seasons of “Better Call Saul”

Here is the talk I gave at the Southwest Popular/American Cultural Association (SWPACA) conference in Albuquerque on Feb. 24th, entitled: End Game – Streamline Moderne and Surrealism in the Last Two Seasons of “Better Call Saul." I talk about the continuities and differences between previous seasons and "Breaking Bad," and some of the things that make the finale memorable.

 

Flight From Albuquerque to Burbank - February 26, 2023

Takeoff from the Albuquerque Sunport, featuring the airport terminal in the foreground.

The Duke City and the Sandia Mountains.

North-to-south corridors:  the railroad, Second St., and I-25, plus the Rio Grande just to the left.

Southwest side of Albuquerque.

The west side, featuring the Volcano Cliffs.

The Rio Puerco River, and this interesting rain cloud.

In the general area of To'hajiilee, but not exactly sure where.

Petrified Forest National Park.

Winslow, AZ.

On the flight back from New Mexico, we passed near Meteor Crater, looking barely a day had passed since a 50-meter diameter space rock slammed into northern Arizona 50,000 years ago. If I recall correctly, the winding canyon to the left (Canyon Diablo) was where author Robert J. Serling had Air Force One crash in his 1967 novel, "The President's Plane is Missing."

Southwest of Meteor Crater.

Just love Meteor Crater!

Yucca, AZ.

Needles, CA, and the Mohave Valley.

The Dead Mountains?

Newberry, CA.

Is this the Solar Power Plant?  Near the Barstow-Daggett Airport.

Nebo.  A U.S. Marine facility.

Barstow, CA.

The Barstow Outlets along I-40.

You deplane down steps at Burbank, which means you get to get close and personal with the various aircraft rolling around the tarmac.