Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

California

View of the San Andreas Fault

During our visit to Joshua Tree National Park yesterday, we took the short drive from the main road to a place called Keys View. From that point, you can see the Coachella Valley and the Palm Springs area five thousand feet (1525 meters) below. You can also see the San Andreas Fault (underlined in red) which has been the cause of many Earthquakes in California, including the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Click on the image to enlarge.

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In the distance behind the ridge of hills thrust up by fault motion, you can see desert communities including Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Indio and La Quinta. All of these places will have a front row seat for the next major San Andreas movement in this area.

Speaking of quakes, the ground here at home is still shaking from aftershocks form the earthquake that happened in this area last Sunday. That was on the Inglewood-Newport fault, not the San Andreas. We missed the main shock since we were in Wickenburg, AZ when it hit. No damage here at home, thank goodness.

20 May 2009 by California Travel

Treasure Flower

GazaniaThis is Gazania, or ‘Treasure Flower.’ Gazania is a South African perennial that looks similar to a daisy, but in bold, brilliant yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, cream and even a beautiful mauve and a burgundy color. It’s a plant that is perfect for window boxes or any hot, dry and sunny spot.

Gazania grows well in rock gardens or in hot, dry areas. Good soil gives best growth but the plant tolerates poor, sandy soil. Gazania requires less water than most annuals. Full sun is preferred and the flowers do not open on wet or cloudy days.

This one was open on the patio this morning just after I watered. Click the image above for the big picture.

08 May 2009 by California Home & Garden

California Ammo Craziness on Hold – For Now

ammoThis same issue seems to come back year after year – introduced by the same people and hopefully receiving the same disposition – to die in committee.

Last year, State Assembly Member Kevin De Leon (D-45), introduced Assembly Bill 2062 which put ammunition sales in the crosshairs. AB2062 would have required that law-abiding gun owners obtain a permit to buy handgun ammunition and would have imposed severe restrictions on the private transfers of handgun ammunition. Thankfully, it died in committee.

De Leon’s latest craziness again hit a speed bump in committee – from NRA-ILA:

Today, Assembly Bill 962 was placed in the suspense file by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

Sponsored by Assembly Member Kevin De Leon (D-45), AB962 would make it a crime to privately transfer more than 50 rounds of ammunition per month, even between family and friends, unless you are registered as a “handgun ammunition vendor” in the Department of Justice’s database. Ammunition retailers would have to be licensed and store ammunition in such a manner that it would be inaccessible to purchasers. The bill would also require purchasers submit to fingerprinting, which would be submitted to the Department of Justice. Lastly, mail order ammunition sales would be prohibited.

While this development is a solid step towards defeating AB962, the bill still poses a threat.

Not that we have any hope of ever getting rid of De Leon, or the Democrats that propose these insane ideas, but a trend may be in the works toward more sensible politics when it comes to firearms issues.

06 May 2009 by California Firearms

Live Eagle Cam

NestWe have gone to Catalina Island many times over the last ten or eleven years and just last year, we looked up and saw a bald eagle in flight high over Avalon. That was in September of 2008. Prior to that, the eagles were few and far between on the island, but these days they are making a comeback.

I was just thrilled today when I found a link on the Daily Breeze that took me to a live web camera of a nest of Bald Eagles. I watched for a very long time and could see one of the parents in the nest and could see the wobbly eaglets bobbing around – they were so CUTE!

Go here and watch them in the nest – disclaimer – daylight hours in California are currently from about 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM PDT (13:30 to 02:30 GMT).

23 Apr 2009 by California Critters

Not Exactly Your Average Street Vehicle

I stopped into a sandwich shop yesterday to get a ‘care package’ on the way to my Mom and Dad’s place. When I stepped outside, this was parked right there – right in your face. Bob thinks it’s a Ford ‘Hi Boy’ chassis, uhh, slightly modified. It looks like a lot of love and effort went into this interesting hot-rod.

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Click to enlarge image.

13 Mar 2009 by California Culture Something Shiny

The Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale

very pink flowersSaturday, we attended the Cactus Show at the South Coast Botanic Garden. We also took a walk into the main gardens, but more on that in another post.

I have always loved succulents and find them fascinating – so many varieties, sizes and colors. I always manage to pick up a new succulent and bring it home from the sale. This is one of four new succulents in 3-inch pots that made their way to our patio. It’s called ‘Neoporteria senilis’ or ‘Eriosyce senilis’ but I couldn’t find a common name for it on the internet. All I know is that the flowers are going to be bright pink when they bloom.

I’ll post another photo with the blooms when they open. Click the picture to see full sized.

09 Mar 2009 by California Home & Garden

California – Worst Anti Gun Laws in the Country

This nice piece of eye-candy is illegal in California UNLESS OWNED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

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This morning I read a post over at Ballseye’s Boomers where Glenn asks the question, “Is It Something In The Water?” He quotes a soft-headed Californian who wonders “why gun locks couldn’t be enforced in the city – forcing gang members to lock their guns in order to transport them“. My reaction is basically in agreement with Glenn’s observation that people in California are getting more indoctrination than education in the terrible school system here.

That, and the worst (and most ridiculous) gun laws in the USA, none of which make Californians safer. Consider the following generic restrictions on arms in this state; you will probably find most of them laughable:

The Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989, its subsequent augmentation in 1999, and the .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004 has led to many restrictions on semi-automatic firearms. In addition to a lengthy list of specific firearms that are banned by name, the following firearms are banned by characteristic:

  1. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
    • A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
    • A thumbhole stock.
    • A folding or telescoping stock.
    • A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
    • A flash suppressor.
    • A forward pistol grip.
  2. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
  3. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches [762 mm].
  4. A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
    • A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
    • A second handgrip
    • A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
    • The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
  5. A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
  6. A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
    • A folding or telescoping stock.
    • A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.
  7. A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
  8. Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
23 Feb 2009 by California Degenerates Firearms Second Amendment Whacko Politics

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