Sacramento area community musical theater (esp. DMTC in Davis, 2000-2020); Liberal politics; Meteorology; "Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul," and Albuquerque movie filming locations; New Mexico and California arcana, and general weirdness.
I hope the deal works, at least in the short term:
The seven states that rely on the Colorado River for power and drinking water have reached a deal on cuts to keep the drought-stricken river flowing.
Three states — Arizona, California and Nevada — have agreed on a plan to conserve at least 3 million acre-feet of water by 2026 — roughly the equivalent to the amount of water it would take to fill 6 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
...The seven states that rely upon the Colorado River were on the precipice of crisis after decades of overuse. Before a banner winter of snowfall, officials grew concerned as dams at Lake Mead and Lake Powell neared “dead pool” status — when flow would be cut off to lower regions of the river as water levels dropped too low to pass through the dams.
About 40 million people rely on the Colorado River for drinking water. Utilities depend on it to generate electricity at dams on Lake Mead and Lake Powell and keep power flowing in several states.
The deal could avert the near-term crisis and put the states on a more sustainable trajectory for water use, but it calls for less conservation than some scientists say is required to stabilize the river after a more than two-decade drought. The deal prevents a political predicament for the Biden administration, which would have been compelled to enforce cuts unilaterally if the states could not negotiate an agreement among themselves.
...As part of the agreement, the administration would use funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to compensate some farmers and other water users who temporarily agree to cuts.
As it analyzes the new agreement, the Biden administration has agreed to temporarily withdraw the plans it drew up for dramatic cuts in case the state negotiations failed.
Glennon said the proposals from the federal government — which laid out competing proposals with stark consequences if states couldn’t find common ground — “focused the minds” of negotiators and forced them to find tolerable cuts. The federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act will provide compensation for more than three quarters of the water conserved in the deal.
“Without that money, this deal doesn’t happen,” Glennon said.
...The Colorado River’s water is apportioned among seven states, 30 tribal nations and Mexico. The river has been overallocated, meaning users collectively have rights to more water than what typically flows through each year, since its use was divided up in the 1922 Colorado River Compact and in subsequent agreements. The effects of climate change — which is heating and drying the Colorado basin — is squeezing the water supply even further.
“We need to reduce demand by up to 3 million acre feet per year to reach a balance in terms of our current supply and demand. This is a fraction, maybe a third, of what is likely necessary, but it is an important step,” White said.
...“The stakes for the 40 million people and farmland reliant on this water are too high,” Buschatzke said. “We can’t stop and take a long break and breathe a sigh of relief and say we’ve fixed our problems because we haven’t for the long term.”
I was pushing a shopping cart around a Sacramento Safeway when suddenly a boy with the brightest smile, age about 18, stood right in front of me. He said, “Did you know that you have rights? The Constitution says you do!” I blinked in surprise for a second at the Saul Goodman catchphrase, then remembered I was wearing a “Better Call Saul” T-Shirt. I guffawed, and the pleased boy hurried away.
Gabe surprised me with an offer to attend the "Love and Rockets" concert in Oakland. I was flattered and pleased, but these offers usually come because Eleanor finds she doesn't want to, or can't go, to various events. Recently, Gabe and I went to the Sacramento Philharmonic, and the Lara Downes concert at the Mondavi Center, in Davis. Eleanor E-Mailed the tickets to me, and I put them on my phone. Apart from the song "So Alive," which is on the Classic Rock setlist, I knew nothing about the band. 80s nostalgia show, perhaps? So, I looked forward to Gabe coming over about 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, picking me up, and driving off to Oakland.
At about 6 p.m., I got in touch with Gabe, and discovered there was a miscommunication. He wasn't going to go to the concert. He had just attended a funeral. So, I had to make an instant decision: should I drive to Oakland and attend alone, or not?
I wanted to wash up first, so I took a quick shower. It was not possible to get to Oakland by showtime, at 7:30 p.m. Still want to go? Yes. So, I jumped in my yellow car and raced off to Oakland.
The Fox Theater in Oakland. I've seen two concerts here in the past: Kylie Minogue's first North American tour in 2009, and Die Antwoord in 2013. I remember how Die Antwoord's Ninja decided to crowd surf, but the floor wasn't crowded enough to support him. The crowd dropped Ninja on the floor and the wave of people nearly threw me off my feet.
I was encouraged by the mob of fans at the door. What rock band ever starts on time? I wasn't late after all! I took my seat in the balcony for the 8:30 p.m. start.
The Fox Theater started as a movie palace in 1928. It's quite amazing that it was able to survive over the years. It was refurbished as a concert venue in the 00s.
Nice sign. Lots of people, dressed mostly in black. Ages ranged all over the place, but lots of folks in their fifties. Goth black seemed the favored style. Very few masks. I was the only one with a white mask.
Hmmm.... An old switchboard!
Cool Middle Eastern inspired decoration.
Nosebleed seats not far from the intricate ceiling.
The band surprised me: sort of a psychedelic garage band. Not really 80’s nostalgia. Except for “So Alive,” all the songs were unfamiliar, but plenty of people were singing along, so they have fans. Loved the kaleidoscopic projections! Apparently the band got back together for this tour, so a rare opportunity for their fans.
Projections!
That ceiling....
Scalloped proscenium.
House left.
House right.
The entrance, where hot dog vendors plied their trade and made bank.
The bladelike sign, at night.
Neon!
Their big hit.
First time listening to this song. I really like it!
The same song, but from Saturday, when they performed in Pasadena.
Sacramento temperatures this spring have been unusually low. Between January 17th and April 20th (between days 17 and 110 on this chart) - a period of about three months - average daily temperatures were usually below average. Temperatures for most of the northern hemisphere have mostly been above average this year. It's interesting how California is out of step this year.
This cold weather, plus the unusual cleanliness of the snow, has slowed the melt of the virtual ice cap we have in the Sierras. I wonder if all the snow can melt this summer?
Wonderful afternoon watching Jared Lee, F. James Raasch, and the rest of the cast of "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812" at the San Jose Playhouse, with Rachel Rycerz and Ia Rycerz. The show's run has been extended to June 4th.
Beside Jared and James, I really liked the performances of some of the other cast members too. I thought Paloma Maia Aisenberg was perfect as Natasha. Annie Hunt was great as Sonya. I really liked Osher Fine as Princess Mary, and admired her dancing skills. Nicholas Rodrigues was already familiar from the Shotgun Players, and he was an excellent Dolokhov.
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We got off to a late start from Sacramento. I drove. Rachel's phone kept a handy-dandy running commentary on how we couldn't possibly make it on time, given the heavy Bay Area traffic on a typical Saturday. Curtain was to be at 2:30 p.m. Maybe if we raced mightily we'd get there by 2:40 p.m.
At first we were going to use Interstate 80, but the usual epic Yolo Causeway traffic jam was too thick, so we detoured back on Highway 50 and headed down south on Interstate 5, and crossed over towards San Jose through Livermore. The phone offered a surprising detour to us to claw back a few minutes by passing through downtown Pleasanton (!), so we went that way. Slow-moving traffic there and ambling pedestrians carrying bags from the tidy shops clashed mightily with our monomania to claw back seconds of travel time. Rachel texted ahead to the theater and I understood that they were going to hold curtain for us (!). We arrived during the opening number!
I know both Jared and James from DMTC days. Jared was the lead in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in 2017 and James was Anthony Hope in "Sweeney Todd" in 2015. Both gentlemen are excellent singers.
Jared Lee (Anatole) and F. James Raasch (Old Prince Bolkonsky/Prince Andrey)
Jared, me, and James.
I've never been to the San Jose Playhouse before. Here is the snack bar.
I like the ceiling here.
Ia and Rachel at the poster for their favorite, Nicholas Rodrigues (Dolokhov), who was also Anatole in the Shotgun Players' production of "Great Comet" in Berkeley earlier this year.
A tale of two kids. One kid had the Star Wars theme playing on infinite loop, and another kid became annoyed by the repeitive music and lashed out by calling it Fart Wars. The 12-year-old in me now wants to know how the Fart Wars saga turned out.
Spring cleaning time. I've been dusting bookshelves, cleaning wood floors, and putting a polish on them. First time I've ever done the polish part, and I've lived here 28 years.
Lara Downes is a DJ at a San Francisco radio station (KDFC), and holds a position at Columbia University in New York City. She is a kind of evangelist for the works of Scott Joplin. One hundred years ago, there was an impressive movement to bring popular music and classical music together, exemplified by Scott Joplin, the musical "Shuffle Along," and the works of the Gershwins. One hundred years later, there is an opening for that movement again, and we should take it!
Gabe McAuliffe suggested going to the Sacramento Philharmonic. I was surprised, but willing. To be truthful, I had never seen the Sacramento Philharmonic. So, off we went to SAFE Performing Arts Center. It was nice! Saw Erika from dance making the scene, plus one of my neighbors, who is an usher there.
Prigozhin's recent tirade featuring Wagner corpses was bonkers. His loud threats to leave Bakhmut seemed empty, but recent reports suggest his troops are actually withdrawing. Which, if true, is great!
These four dramatic posts were originally posted just after New Year's Day, 2023. I was petsitting at Gabe and Eleanor McAuliffe's house, and a few minutes before I arrived for my first visit, howling winds toppled a huge neighbor's tree into their driveway. Gabe asked me to temporarily withdraw the posts, because of sensitive negotiations with the neighbor regarding insurance payments, and the like. That restriction is now lifted.
In retrospect, it's good the tree fell during this particular windstorm, with winds from the north, and not the windstorm the following week, with winds from the south. A north-falling tree would have smashed the neighbor's house into smithereens, and maybe killed people!
Which reminds, me, I'm petsitting for Gabe and Eleanor once again this weekend!
