3 bucksagallon scoops la times

Turns out 3 bucksagallon picked up the story before the la times.  Who knew I was on the heartbeat of Southern California, I guess I just didn't realize how wide my audience had become? At first I was a little pissed that they stole my story, I even went as far to contact my lawyer about pursuing a legal course of action. But upon further reflection I'm rather flattered that it was stolen.  I mean, this blog just started has an outlet for some of my humble opinions and stories of adventure.  I suppose its turned into a pipeline to the reporters of the la times and various other news organizations.  Thankfully, I don't need the recognition.  So if your out there keep on stealing the stories - I got a good one about some high sea adventures with lobsters, jaguar sharks, and some crazy hijinks.  And for those of you who want to know the story before the story - just keep on reading.

 

Link To LA Times article - New Developments Mask Wild land's Threat

southern california

The news media and these so called experts are insane.  First, we are not in the middle of a drought. True, last year we had a very low level of rain the lowest ever recorded, however, the previous 5 years were over average years of rainfall.   In fact, 3 years ago Southern California had it's second largest rain season ever recorded.  The last "real" drought in Southern California was 1986-1991.  I'm sure those so called experts don't remember that drought because they hadn't moved here yet.  

Second, these Santa Ana winds were no different then the ones I have felt my whole life.  They happen every year and cause damage every year.  They start in October and end in April.  There were news reports that these were unusually strong and early, anyone who has lived here their whole life knows that is not true.  They were strong, but no stronger than ones I have felt before.  I work outside, my livelihood is attached to the weather, I know when Santa Ana's start.

Third, we did not have the resources in place to fight the fires?  I'm sorry all the planes in the world and all the fireman in the world could not have prevented what happened.  It is a force of nature that can not be controlled.  Get over it people, we can not control everything.  Life is filled with uncertainty and we prepare for things best we can, however, some things are unavoidable.

No one talks about the real problem.   There are to many people living in areas that fires can not be controlled in.   Most of them were not told or don't understand this.  Southern California is a desert, are water comes from other places.  This area was not meant to be inhabited by so many people, we created it.  As more people move here and growth becomes a necessity people will move to areas that are on the fringes of uncontrollable wilderness.  We must live with the consequences of what we built and where we live.  The only people we should blame our ourselves.  If we don't want to live with fire danger than we should move. But no amount of spending will solve the problem of us living in an overcrowded desert.

the reluctant competitor

Since Tara, Drew's wife, has chosen to make a competition out of the lobster diving , I have decided to keep a tab of who is leading the race.  I myself do it for the love of the sport and the camaraderie of braving the dark waters. 

Mind you, drew is 7 years my junior and impervious to cold as evident by this picture.  He feels no cold, thus, he is able to stay in the water longer.  I'm not making excuses, just stating the facts. The picture is from the Klamath River on the border of Oregon and California - it's cold.

Jonas - 2

Drew - 9

picture of the week

click to enlarge

best bouy page

Link to bouys

who the hell is Johnny Sprocket?

I have been asked, now that he has commented on my blog and so graisouly put me as a link on his blog, who the hell is Johnny Sprocket? Unfortunatly, I met Johnny Sprocket before the advent of the digital camera - hell, even before Al Gore invented the internet. Thus, I have no pictures of the man who calls himself Johny Sprocket. I can only say that at one time I looked up to him as a roll model, a person who lived thier life to the fullest and always accepted a challenge with a bitting sense of humor and the wit of an Irishman (even though he's German). Men wanted to be him and girls wanted to be with him. Unfortunately, as time progressed I fell out of communication with Johnny Sprocket. Judging from his blog he has moved into his responsible adult years with same vitality and humor that characterized his earlier years. Even if you don't know Johnny Sprocket, I encourage you to read his blog as it is quite humorous as well informative.

beatgriffracing.blogspot.com

a picture is worth a thousand words

                                                                                photo courtesy andy white

Its like shooting fish in a barrel. Sorry Doug

hoopnetting is not a crime

First off, let me say that I am speaking from a not completly informed point of view. After many attempts to call some Ventura Harbor Patrol Officers and get their comment on closing the lobster fishery along the ventura harbor breakwall, I was rebuffed and have yet to hear from them - officially. I can only imagine that that they are fearing for their lives, I can't say I blame them.

Unofficially, I believe a Harbor Patrol officer contacted me, and speaking on condition of ananimity, told me that he believes, and I quote - "Hoopnetting is not Crime". He believes that if this opinion gets out into the public he would be ridiculed at work, and even worse - tortured. I have heard they already put live lobsters in his locker. Oh the humanity.

As you may or may not be aware many people fed their families with those lobsters. Believe me, RUN DMC didn't pay for that hoopnetting outfit hanging drywall. He did it catching Lobzillas. Now hundreds if not thousands of people are going to starve to death because the Ventura Harbor Patrol thinks it is to difficult to control the traffic during the catch, and by the catch I mean the harvest of the langosta. This is adding insult to injury, right when the credit crunch hits us and the sub -prime mortgage industry takes a crap, now I gots to deal with the closure of the west coast's most abundant lobster fishery? How am I and the rest of my lobster catching friends supposed to pay our mortgages, if we have to go out and by lobster every night? How am I going to buy my Adidas Sweatsuitos? Answer me that - Mr. Harbor Patrolman.

I urge you to contact your local harbor patrol and ask them, if not for you than for the children, re-open the fishery!

Viva Langosta