Workin' The Night-Shift

In the wee hours of Thursday morning I was invited out to see a work site on Interstate 15 where work crews were busy replacing cracked concrete slabs.

Most freeway projects get done during the darkest witching hours and commuters barely notice the next day. This work can only be done at night. It is vitally important because our freeway infrastructure needs a lot of upkeep and Caltrans is also working hard to accommodate San Diego’s skyrocketing growth.

Statistics from the US Census Bureau show that the population of our county has grown by over 1.2 million people since 1980.

1980 Demographic Profile:
Total Population = 1,861,846

2010 Demographic Profile:
Total Population = 3,095,313

The California Department of Finance projects a population growth to over 4.5 million people by 2050! So I don’t know about you, but I am grateful to the unsung heroes of the freeway night-shift.

A special thanks goes out to the good folks at Caltrans and Atkinson Construction who opened up their job site to me. I will be spending a lot of time putting together an article on the subject…

Copyright 2011 Notes On San Diego

Kermit Beware!!!

Parents can now rest easy. They no longer have to worry that reality TV executives will corrupt their daughters with booze and exploit them on camera. Discovery Channel has launched “Hogs Gone Wild”. As their website states, “Each episode documents the perilous challenges and dangerous battles of hog removal experts”.

If you take a look at the videos on their website you won’t be sure if this is a comedy or not. These ‘hog removal experts’ look more like the dudes from the TV show, “Jackass”.

Yet the Discovery website reveals a sobering statistic, “the feral hog epidemic now extends into 44 states”. That includes California!!!

“People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (PETA) is up in arms because of some proposed solutions to the overpopulation of feral hogs in eastern San Diego County. There are two possible solutions on the table… either to use traps or hire professionals to hunt the rampaging animals.

Native American tribes occupy large tracts of land in eastern San Diego. Even though the tribes are sovereign and can kill the hogs themselves, they have reached out to the US Forest Service for help. The Kumeyaay and Mission Indians are worried because this is a regional problem in which 56 of California’s 58 counties also have feral hogs.

According to the LA Times;

“The Forest Service has published a proposed eradication plan. The public has until the end of the month to comment. A public hearing may also be held.”

If something isn’t done the problem will get much worse. Feral hogs have few predators and a sow can have up to two litters a year (with a half a dozen piglets in each).

As feral hogs multiply they cause extensive damage to vegetation and crops. A particular worry is that they range across land burned in wildfires and eat the new growth. Feral hogs also harm birds that nest on the ground and out-compete other foraging animals.

Notes on San Diego has a photo exclusive revealing just how dire the situation has become. A wildlife camera has captured a photo of one of these wild hogs caught red-handed in the act of destroying the environment (and defying all fashion sense)…

Editor’s Note: No animals have been harmed in the writing of this post…

Is It Art or Is It Vandalism?

San Diego, CA - Some things are not black and white. Take the example of the Surfing Madonna Mosaic in Encinitas, a sleepy surf town just north of San Diego.

In late April a group of guerilla artists dressed up in orange safety vests and installed a beautiful stained-glass mosaic on public property. The local government authorities were caught off guard.

Since this is public land and the mosaic contains a quasi-religious theme, the officials of the North County Transit District and the city of Encinitas can’t be blamed for being concerned. In these days of wasteful litigation and changing religious values, the Surfing Madonna creates a problem for public officials.

They have handled this controversy competently, but with little imagination. The artwork was conceived and assembled with a great deal of loving care. A local arts dealer has estimated the mosaic to have cost about $1,000 in materials and 100 hours to build. While it was done without any official permission; it is still one hell of a gift to the people of Encinitas.

Mayor James Bond (I know…) had a very noxious perspective. He can only see the bad. Mayor Bond claims that there have been some complaints that the piece is sacrilegious and violates the city’s graffiti ordinances.

Everyone can agree that it does violate city ordinances and many will agree that the mosaic should be moved since it depicts a religious figure on public property (although I personally believe that we have taken the separation of church and state too far)...

…But how is this artwork offensive as a religious symbol? Seriously! Look at the message written directly on the mosaic, “Save Our Oceans”. It is clearly not meant by the artists to be an attack on religion. There is a stated mission to the piece. Anyone taking offense to the Surfing Madonna clearly wants to be offended. Show me where it is written that Our Lady of Guadalupe cannot surf. What religious dogma does this violate?

In his conventional wisdom Mayor Bond asks, “What’s to keep other aspiring artists from planting something on any other public facility”? The answer to his question is simple, the Encinitas Police Department. On the other hand, he has a valuable resource in his city…

…A group of artists willing to spend 100s of hours of their time and thousands of dollars to beautify his city. Use your imagination…

I’d like to balance this story with another comment from someone who expresses a similar view to my own, but displayed a small, but inexcusable lack of judgment when commenting on the mosaic.

Rev. Brian Corcoran of St John’s Catholic Church in Encinitas loves the artwork so much that he placed it in a church bulletin and named it, “Our Lady of the Waves”. I completely agree with the logic of his arguments, but can’t believe his inclusion of Che Guevara as a positive force of change in this world. He stated;

“It could be anybody on the surfboard. Che Guevara, Buddha, Muhammad. You want to save this world? You want to save the ocean? You want to make a difference in this world? You want to change the economy? You want to change our society? You have to get involved. Get up and catch the wave.”

Perhaps Jesus Christ or Martin Luther King would be a better choice than Che Guevara, the Butcher of La Cabaña Fortress (this is where he executed 164 prisoners without due process).

Speaking of changing the economy, Guevara changed Cuba’s economy into a stagnant cesspool that has forced the formerly prosperous country (by Latin American standards) to live off of the foreign aid of countries such as Russia and Venezuela.

As a further testament to his character, Guevara abandoned two wives to spread savage wars around the globe. All in a fruitless effort to replace dictatorships with another dictatorship.

I’d like to leave you with a choice quote from Che Guevara, so-called agent of change;

“Hatred as an element of struggle; unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective, and cold-blooded killing machine. This is what our soldiers must become…”

The story of the Virgin Mary is nothing like the bloody story of Che Guevara. He is no role model for any sensible person.

BTW, if you were curious… Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, is unofficially known as the patron saint of surfers...

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

UPDATE: June 10th
The Artist is Revealed!

Taking Aim at a Sharpshooter

San Diego, CA - The landscaping of our California highways are so well maintained by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) that motorists take it for granted.

Now that the springtime blooming season is winding down, we can be thankful for the mild San Diego climate. Our weather allows the beautiful oleander bushes along our freeways to bloom for most of the year. In colder climates oleanders only bloom from the early summer to fall.

The plant was the perfect choice for California’s freeways. It needs little water, has a long blooming season, handles constant pruning with grace, it is simple to propagate, establishes itself easily and is resistant to air pollution.

Sounds like perfection, doesn’t it? As in many things that are too good to be true, there is trouble in paradise. Caltrans had to stop planting oleanders because of the invasion of non-native insect, the glassy-wing sharpshooter. This pest is responsible for a major outbreak of Pierce’s Disease (PD) in Southern California.

There is no cure when the disease afflicts a plant. Within 3 to 5 years of the first noticeable symptoms the plant dies. So we are losing our oleander plants. Caltrans stopped planting them in the late 90s. Freeway expansion has eliminated many more plants that have not been killed by disease. Caltrans is looking for an alternative, but they will never find a better replacement.

Even worse is the effect on Southern California’s budding wine industry. Sharpshooters love grape vines. Thankfully they only feed on the edge of the vines and the infected portion of the plant can be cut away with pruning. Unfortunately, infections are often undetected until the disease has spread. This cost 20 million dollars of damage in the last major outbreak of PD over 10 years ago in Temecula wine country.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is taking aim against the glassy-winged sharpshooter, but the pest is a prolific breeder and is highly mobile. Various predators have been evaluated, but so far we haven’t had much luck. Meanwhile, containment strategies have been implemented with only minor success.

While aggressive applications of pesticides blunted the worst outbreak over 10 years ago, it is imperative that we find a long-term solution to the problem. Unfortunately, State Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, proposed a list of budget cuts that include the elimination of 1.12 million dollars from the $3.12 million allotted to the Pierce’s Disease management program.

So let enjoy the year round displays of the oleander plants while we can. While we are at it, we should hope and pray that the glassy-winged sharpshooters don’t make it to Northern Californian wine country!

San Diego's Favorite Nostalgia Band

San Diego, CA - The Mar Dels have been a staple here in San Diego since 1982. They have become San Diego’s most well-known nostalgia band. That is fancy shorthand for “cover band”.

But dont underestimate their importance. The band has soared to rare heights in its career. The highlights include playing for President Reagan at a campaign rally, performing for the celebrations of the 1997 Hong Kong transfer of sovereignty, and appearing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City… (among other things).

The most important factor in building their reputation has been their regular performances at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. Over the years the Belly Up has remained as one of San Diego’s most important live entertainment establishments.

Their hard work has been recognized with several awards. They were voted best band by San Diego Union Tribune readers, as well as Ranch and Coast Magazine readers.

Crowds have thrilled to the antics of the band leader, singer and keyboard/piano player, Doug Allen. In addition to the high energy that he puts into his performances, he is renowned for his dexterity as a saxophone player. Allen is adept at playing the instrument upside down and even playing two saxophones at one time!!!

With two impressive female lead vocalists and a solid rhythm section, the band has become a powerhouse in San Diego’s live entertainment scene.

Since its inception the band has been playing the best music from the 50’s – 70’s. They have now expanded its repertoire to include select hits from the 80’s and 90’s as well as swing standards from the 40’s.

The Mar Dels will be playing at Tango Del Rey on June 3rd:

6:30-11:00pm
3567 Del Rey St. San Diego
$10 at the door

The Mar Dels will be making their first appearance at an interesting new venue

This evening will include dinner music with Doug Allen on piano 6:30-7:30pm

The full Mar Dels Band will play from 7:30 - 11:00pm

Appetizers, dinner, drinks, dance, singles meet up, big dance floor