Month: March 2007

I Am A Lookie Lou

Yeap, I just could not choke down anymore of the creosote-laced smoke without seeing it up close and personal. Stupid maybe, but, heck last night the dark cloud of smoke hovered around spreading it’s stinky gloom.

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This morning I woke up with wet eyes. When I went outside there were little bits of ash falling from the sky and the stunk like burning junk thrown into the campfire. So off I went to see what I could see. I was not the only one there either. Lots of folks made their way up the levee slipping and sliding to get a closer view.

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The buzz talk was all about how it just went up all at once. No central starting point just poof instant ignition across the whole length of the fire area. It has according to some news reports become somewhat obvious that someone set this fire intentionally. If so, what do they gain? They created an inconvenience to the rail transportation system or made a statement of some sorts that no one gets. Or, did they start it just to watch a hundred year old bridge burn? It will be interesting when the final word comes out – if they ever figure it out at all.

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I only stayed for awhile as the wind changed and the smoke started heading toward me. I have had enough of this smoke ok! All around downtown and in the Elk Grove area people are choking, wheezing, and getting headaches from this toxic junk looming over our heads.

Well long and short of it all:  if I get sick I guess it is my fault going there when I already felt some of the listed symptoms – but what the heck. …  One good side effect is we sure are having some beautiful toxic sunsets around here!

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A Trip to the Store Update- A Shooting Where I turned Around

Remember my post about the my attempt to walk to a store? Feb 28th??

Well here is an update – someone who was at the liquor store next to the store I was headed for did not make it!

From the Sacramento Police Dept. Web:

Sacramento Police Investigate South Area Homicide

On Friday, March 9, 2007, at 10:19 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department responded to 6626 Valley Hi Drive regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located one victim inside a parked car. The victim, 27 year-old Michael Lamar Barron, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another victim was located at an area hospital with non-life threatening wounds.

The Sacramento Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Crime Scene Investigations Unit and Gang Unit responded to the scene. Investigators believe the two victims were approached by their assailant as they sat in a parked vehicle. The suspect fled the scene on foot.

At this time it appears the victims did not know the suspect. The motivation for the shooting is still under investigation.

Anyone with information pertaining to this homicide is urged to contact CRIME ALERT at (800)-AA-CRIME, or (916) 433-HELP. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.

Ummm …. Now this young man was no angel It was reported that he was sentenced Nov. 8, 2006, to five years’ probation after pleading no contest to a drug possession charge.

We drove by this store this weekend and at the signal light a very emotional and nice lady offered to wash my truck for a penny, whatever we would give – she said that the family of a shoot man needed the money to bury him. I am assuming as the wash was set up in the parking lot by the liquor store – it was for this man. A pregnate girl friend . … I do not know … I did find myself asking – which death was this? Which young man? As there have been so many around these parts lately.

Fiberglass Elk and Carlos Miller – Civil Rights – Red,White, and Blue

Ok I really know that this is not going to come off the way I plan . … forgive me . …

Carlos Miller was arrested by City of Miami police officers Feb. 20 after taking pictures of them on a public street and refusing to take a hike. The theme Photography is Not a Crime ( no kidding?) . Thomas Hawk has been following the case you can read his latest article here.

Karoli on odd time signatures in her update on Carlos Miller pointed out a chilling reference to the involvement of Homeland Security – seems some blogger turned poor Carlos in as a threat to National Security – please spare me – did the police officers have some top secret super duper weapons on them – or perhaps the road work at the location was really a new secret defense department bunker – come on! Realities check Miami!!

Remember the pair of Homeland Security officers at the Little Falls branch of the Montgomery County Public Library in Bethesda that went around and looked at what each person was looking at on their PC. The confronted on man about a site he was visiting and told him to step outside.

Or how about the couple Walter and Deana Soehnge – they paid off their credit card and ended up with their account frozen and Homeland Security notified?

Exactly one year and one day ago I asked on this blog in a post titled Apathetic Citizenry and Loss of Civil Liberties when discussing Bush’s qualifing statement included with the H.R. 3199, the “USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 these questions:

How do you define domestic terrorism? How does the government?
How do you interpret this section? Do you think American citizens are becoming complacent and take their civil rights/liberties for granted?
You decide and let me know what you think.

These are not unexpected occurrences that should be anything more than the DUH factor- they are the DUH factor. Those who experienced a country where civil rights were on the rise not decline have been writing, protesting, and some even have been jailed to get the message out. Hello society your rights are going to disappear – this administration has just set the ball toward a federal police state a rolling.

It is unfortunate that this already has been allowed – the Constitution has been turned into a joke. The separation of powers … well you get the point. Now yesterday’s news was full of the judicial systems being influenced by the executive branch . . . and the stuff of Science Fiction’s Big Brother becomes closer to non fiction.

Last night I was photographing a statue of an Elk that happens to be located at the main entrance to the Elk Grove, CA. Chamber of Congress Building. As I started I noticed there was a police car across the street. I have noticed this before on nights where they hold board meetings. I started to take pictures and realized that maybe this might not be the smart thing to do at the moment. I being the good little sheep that I am LOL put on my zoom lense and shot from the public sidewalk – in a hurry – only when I pointed the camera in the direction of the police car did I see movement inside – so not wanting to test my spider senses I turned away. Sad but true. I am not saying that this officer would have done a thing. I am saying that I was not willing to find out in the wake of the Carlos Miller story – I also would be a bit short on bail funds if he had.

I have no answers I only hope that it is not to late to turn this country’s direction the other way again. As long as we have the political Fear Factor machine –mentioning evil doers and terrorists – an apathetic population – the little tale about next they will come for me is very much a reality.

I stopped posting political topics because no one really paid much attention and those who did usually did a much better job of covering the subject matter than I.

Katrina taught me that Mother Nature is one tuff gal, our government is not going to save or help anybody. I no longer believe my voice really matters (especially with the voting machines in place) – I believe in God, kindness, honesty, honor, and self sufficiently. I am not going to wait till the knock on the door is for me to be ready. And, if I am going down – I am going to get a better shot than one of a fiberglass statue! Even if it is Red, White, and Blue.
click for larger version Historic Elk Grove on Elk LOL

The Geese are Gone but Eggy was There

There are a few of us amature photo takers that have a pet name that we call any large white bird found at or near the restrooms located at the entrance area of the wildlife refuge. We call him/her Eggy. Now understand that there is one particular Egret that has made a permnent home in this area. But we suspect that Eggy may really be several different birds.

Eggy has been known to waltz across the paved parking area within 10 feet of many of us – after we have put away all the camera’s! Eggy knows.

If you are unfortuanate enought to have to use the facilities Eggy has been known to be right there at the door when you exit – scaring the heck out of yah.

If you change lenses and take off the zoom lense Eggy will almost always fly and walk just out of your lenses range for a good shot. Eggy knows.

Today Eggy sat in a tree right off the walkway. Silently we approach – taking mins to travell what should have taken seconds. Just as your close enough for a detail revealing shot and look down to adjust your white balance or tripod Eggy takes off.  Everyone of course misses the flight shot. I tell ya Eggy knows.