Category: World Events

Road Conditions & Misc info

9 am — Road conditions are likely to be changing hour-by-hour today, so keep an eye on the CHP website (link to the right under road conditions). Right now the 101 is flooding in King City near Wild Horse and there are rocks all over the road from the Little Sur to Rocky Point. I imagine Cal Trans will be trolling all day, but for those who don’t know, they stop patrolling at dark.

Also, Mary Adams’s office posted this on FB:

There is information available for employers and workers who may be impacted by COVID-19 from the Californian Employment Development Department.

https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm

That’s it for now. I will update as needed throughout the day. In the meantime, I have a very bored puppy who won’t go out in the rain (nor do I want her to as my floor is already a mess) who needs entertaining. Between the weather, the roads, and the coronavirus, it is a good day to stay home.

Labor Day, in honor of Anna Walentynowicz

This is a repost of one I posted back in 2014. Worth reposting.

Who is she, one might ask. I would have, too, before I recently watched a Polish Film called “Strike.”

She is the woman responsible for the Solidarity movement and the eventual overthrow of Communism in Poland. Her dedication and hard work took decades, and many sacrifices. She was originally a welder at a shipyard and couldn’t read. Her son taught her how to read so she could take the crane operators test – more money and better shifts. She was afraid of heights and threw up in her bag the first time up. She was a strong, fascinating woman. Her name was Anna Walentynowicz. She was the women’s labor rep at the Lenin Shipyard and a trouble-maker. She went to jail numerous times for her labor and anti-communist views and activities.

The Solidarity Movement started when the Shipyard fired her 4 months before her retirement. She was one of 7 leaders of the movement, one of whom was a male named Lech Kaczynski, later President of Poland. He wanted her to head the movement which started with her firing. She felt a male would be better, and she also felt he was the better public speaker, at least as portrayed in the movie. She died at the age of 80 in 2010 in a plane crash which also claimed Lech and his wife. She was a fascinating, hard-working woman who made a huge difference in the Labor Movement and also in her country. So today, I honor her.

Labor Day, in honor of Anna Walentynowicz

Who is she, one might ask. I would have, too, before I recently watched a Polish Film called “Strike.”

She is the woman responsible for the Solidarity movement and the eventual overthrow of Communism in Poland. Her dedication and hard work took decades, and many sacrifices. She was originally a welder at a shipyard and couldn’t read. Her son taught her how to read so she could take the crane operators test – more money and better shifts. She was afraid of heights and threw up in her bag the first time up. She was a strong, fascinating woman. Her name was Anna Walentynowicz. She was the women’s labor rep at the Lenin Shipyard and a trouble-maker. She went to jail numerous times for her labor and anti-communist views and activities.

The Solidarity Movement started when the Shipyard fired her 4 months before her retirement. She was one of 7 leaders of the movement, one of whom was a male named Lech Kaczynski, later President of Poland. He wanted her to head the movement which started with her firing. She felt a male would be better, and she also felt he was the better public speaker, at least as portrayed in the movie. She died at the age of 80 in 2010 in a plane crash which also claimed Lech and his wife. She was a fascinating, hard-working woman who made a huge difference in the Labor Movement and also in her country. So today, I honor her.

Comet Pa-STARRs

Kate,

I just got my first glimpse of Comet Pan-STARRs this evening a bit before sunset — no binoculars needed! And I of course thought how spectacular it would be to see from the Santa Lucias out over the Pacific.

So do try to take a look if you have a moment. It was just to the left (south) of the Sun approx 15 mins bef sunset. At first glance it looks kind of like a jet contrail — except that unlike a contrail, it isn’t moving. Tomorrow (sunday) eve, it will be slghtly higher in the sky, so one will be able to see it longer into the dusk. And judging by its tail this evening, it could really turn into an impressive sight by monday/tue when it will appear close to the new crescant Moon. So, be sure to get out and look for it! (And binoculars won’t be required, but are a very good idea)

Here is an article on where to look:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Spot-Comet-PanSTARRS-in-Twilight-196688441.html
article
best
-p (Paul Saffo)

Here is what one can expect to see – okay, having trouble uploading a photo! Grrrr…) I photographed it with my iPhoto, but tomorrow night, I will make sure and have my Nikon available. As you can see, I found it slightly to the right, or north of sunset tonight.

20130310-205635.jpg

Colorado Wildfires

I don’t cover out-of-area wildfires, in most cases, and I’m not going to cover these, except to let my readers know I am a tad preoccupied. There are many going on in the state, one of which is Waldo Canyon, just outside Colorado Springs, where my daughter and 3 of my grandchildren live. 11,000 people were evacuated this morning. Not my daughter. Nevertheless, it is close enough to worry, and to spend much of my online time keeping up with the status. Once I am no longer preoccupied, I have photos and events to cover. Hopefully in the next couple of days.

Photo Contest winners & other miscellany

I apologize for taking so long to get this up, and for missing a couple announcements. bigsurkate could easily be a full-time job, but the problem is, I already have a full-time job – and 4 dogs (one of whom has been to the vet three times in two weeks) and a home in the wilderness, which is always challenging. Thanks for your patience.

So, here are the winners:

First place goes to Daniel Van Gerpen, of Salinas, CA for his Garrapata Pano shot. He actually submitted this one last contest and it was inadvertently lost, misfiled, or otherwise left out. You can find his work at danvans.com Dan, send me your address (at kwnovoa@mac.com) so I can send you the $50 Nepenthe Gift Certificate.

Garrapata Pano by Daniel Van Gerpen

In second place, Big Sur Mountain Tops by Daniela de Sola of Big Sur.

Big Sur Mountains by Daniela de Sola of Big Sur

And in third place a mystical image by Brett Paul.

Palo Sunset by Brett Paul

I also would like to apologize to Lee-Ann and the organizers of the Occupy Wall Street protest at 13 stones for not being able to get the word out about yesterday’s gathering. I hear it was great, as was the one in Monterey. The Occupy demonstrations have spread through out the world, now. I want a bumper sticker that says – “I’m part of an endangered species – the middle class!” Let’s keep the conversation going!

9/11 weather report

4:00 pm – reports of both thunder and sprinkles in Paso Robles, coming in from the NE, he thinks. I seem to be living between the high, low clouds (fog) and the low, high clouds today.

10 am – While this is the 10th anniversary of the horrible terrorist attack, other than this quick mention, I prefer not to dwell on that infamous day. I spent pretty much a week in bed in abject depression from watching it unfold, and I cannot do that again.

Instead, I am keeping an eye on the sky. Here, I had rain/drizzle last night – enough to settle the dust a bit, revive a drooping Thompson seedless, and give a fresh taste to the air. It was less than 1/10th of an inch. I woke to chill.

Today, it continues to be overcast, thunder storms continue to be a possibility, and fires continue to rage through much of Fresno County, although there was rain, along with high winds on many fire areas last night, helping the firefighting effort.

Unless we I get reports of significant lightning, or I see it, I won’t be reporting much today, as I have work to do. Enjoy your Sunday, and try to remember the importance of this date, without dwelling or residing there. Come back to today, and what you can do to make your life and the lives of your loved ones better.

Weather Report, 4/17/10

Looking at another storm approaching late Monday evening through Tuesday. NOAA says: “UNSEASONABLY STRONG LATE SEASON COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE DISTRICT LATER MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING WITH PERIODS OF RAIN AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY TUESDAY.”

This afternoon, NOAA added this: “MAIN THREAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE SMALL HAIL. SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO 3500-4000 FEET ON TUESDAY.”

And while most of you have probably seen photos of the eruption in Iceland, some of you may not, and this one is spectacular. It was sent to me by “Z” I don’t know the original photographer, unfortunately. (As my constant readers know, I really hate to post photographs without giving credit, but this is one of those rare exceptions.)

And if you would like to see more, there is a gallery of them on flickr.
Iceland Eruption Gallery