July 2, 2022
Four Architecture Shots On Slide Film
Construction of Copley Place in Boston, 1983, Agfachrome. The dome in the foreground is the backside of the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade.
In Chicago, 1984. I can't identify the building, but I'm sure someone else can.
The north tower of the World Trade Center, 1985. This was my one trip to the top of the WTC. The roof deck was closed that day.
Citigroup Center in NYC, 1983.
Filed under Architecture,Photography | July 2, 2022 at 05:34 PM | Comments (0)
"Right to Tranquility"
The Supreme Court’s chief security officer has written to authorities in Maryland and Virginia regarding the intolerable situation of citizens exercising their rights by protesting in front of the homes of Supreme Court justices, specifically citing a Maryland law that says a “person may not intentionally assemble with another in a manner that disrupts a person’s right to tranquility in the person’s home.” Clearly, there has never been a right to tranquility written in the Constitution. The Maryland law must be invalid. However, a law preventing a Supreme Court Justice from leaving Maryland to seek tranquility elsewhere is probably just fine.
Filed under Public Safety | July 2, 2022 at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)
Finally!
Pete Arredondo has resigned from the Uvalde City Council. This is the first acknowledgement by any of the involved police that maybe, just maybe, they did something wrong and voters are at least somewhat disappointed in their behavior. Why did it take a month for this clueless lump to resign? Did he think people were going to forget? Did he need the health insurance benefits? Has he never had his head anywhere but up his own ass?
Is anybody running a betting pool on when he will also resign his position as police chief for the school district?
Filed under Public Safety | July 2, 2022 at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)
Kam Lun Chinese AGAIN!
There seem to be a lot of especially gross reports in this week's list of health department inspections in the Press-Enterprise, including this bit: "the inspector saw several dead cockroaches, including in a pot on the stove" [Pho TYC, Wildomar]. But there were only these three in the Coachella Valley.
Kam Lun Chinese Food, 66610 8th St., Desert Hot Springs
Closed: June 29
Grade: 81/B, failing
Reason: Failing an inspection while on probation. Among the 13 violations, the inspector saw rodent droppings in several areas including by the food-prep sink and a microwave; there were flies at the cook line; cooked meat was sitting at room temperature and an employee said the practice is to leave it on the counter until it’s ordered; shrimp, beef and eggs were at unsafe temperatures in a refrigerator that was impounded for not keeping cold; dishes weren’t being washed properly; raw and ready-to-eat foods weren’t adequately separated; and the floors, walls and ceilings needed cleaning. The restaurant has been on probation since last August after failing three inspections and being shut down twice for rodent infestations in a two-year span. This is its second failure and closure since going on probation. To reopen again, it would have to correct all violations and purchase a new health permit.
The restaurant at Desert Falls Country Club, at 1111 Desert Falls Parkway in Palm Desert, was inspected June 22 and received a failing grade of 80/B with one critical violation. Dishes and other surfaces weren’t being sanitized. Among the 11 other violations, the inspector saw a live cockroach in a walk-in cooler and two dead roaches in other locations, meat and cheese were at unsafe temperatures in a cook-line fridge, the bar area didn’t have hot water, the women’s restroom didn’t have cold water and there was a long list of items that needed cleaning and repair. On June 29, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 97/A.
The restaurant at Terra Lago Golf Club, at 84000 Terra Lago Parkway in Indio, was inspected June 20 and received a failing grade of 82/B with one critical violation. The inspector saw rodent droppings on top of the food prep sink, on the back of a unit for holding hot food and on the floors, and noted rodent and cockroach traps in the kitchen and bar areas, as well as dead flies in the bar area. Among the 10 other violations, some food wasn’t being kept hot, there was pink mold in the ice machine and equipment, floors and walls needed cleaning. On June 23, the restaurant passed a follow-up inspection with a 94/A.
Filed under Coachella Valley,Desert Hot Springs,Food and Drink,Health | July 2, 2022 at 09:02 AM | Comments (0)
July 1, 2022
Five Republicans - One Brain
Meet Liz Cheney’s primary challengers. https://t.co/OVqZXylCmb
— Barry Rubin (@barubin) July 1, 2022
Filed under Politics | July 1, 2022 at 11:41 AM | Comments (0)
Studebaker Golden Hawk Up For Auction
The Riverside Public Administrator Auction takes place on July 13 and will include this Studebaker Golden Hawk ("ignition does not work").
Filed under Automotive | July 1, 2022 at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)
June 29, 2022
Four From The 1980s
Snow on the Charles River, Agfachrome, 1985.
The Cloisters, 1986. I don't even remember visiting the Cloisters or how I happened to be there, but no denying the photographic evidence.
Canoes, Polaroid Polapan instant slide film. Late 1980s, but I don't recognize the location.
Filed under Architecture,Photography | June 29, 2022 at 06:39 PM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2022
Million Dollar Theatre
A good shot of the Million Dollar Theatre while the Los Angeles World Naked Bike Ride was passing by. Photo by westwood1727.
Filed under Architecture,Cities/Urbanism,Cycling,Naturism-Nudism,Photography | June 28, 2022 at 08:05 AM | Comments (0)
June 27, 2022
California Cannabis Cultivation Tax Headed For Repeal
A trailer bill in Sacramento would, among other things, repeal the cannabis cultivation tax which is currently assessed against cultivators at the rate of $10.08/ounce of dried flower.
Filed under California,Marijuana | June 27, 2022 at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)
Herb Ritts Took A Photo In Desert Hot Springs?!
I had never heard of that before. "David with Lampshade, Desert Hot Springs, 1989".
Filed under Art,Coachella Valley,Desert Hot Springs,Photography | June 27, 2022 at 02:57 PM | Comments (0)
Desert Recreation District in Cathedral City
The City of Cathedral City is considering joining the Desert Recreation District. Doing the same in Desert Hot Springs has been discussed occasionally. The main drawback for Desert Hot Springs is that some form of additional tax would have to be levied to pay for it. Cathedral City is considering a new property tax to pay for it, according to this article in The Desert Sun, but in keeping with the usual deadhead standards at the newspaper, the article doesn't really tell us what the tax rate would be.
Cathedral City is preparing to have voters decide whether to impose the tax — which would be 15 cents per square foot on single-family residential units — in the Nov. 8 election.
"15 cents per square foot on single-family residential units." Assuming this is a complete and accurate description of the tax, I would take that to mean SFRs would be taxed at 15¢/s.f. of inhabitable space (of course); and that in multi-family buildings it would be applied to the square footage of the residential units themselves, excluding common areas; and that commercial and industrial properties would be exempt. But that would be a difficult tax to sell and to assess. So I went digging into the agenda for the city council of Cathedral City and, quelle surprise, that is not how the tax would be assessed.
Here are the facts, which were just too, too difficult for a Desert Sun reporter to research:
These actual proposed rates look to be more fair and palatable than the Desert Sun story led me to believe. Now I wonder why a condo unit will have to pay $24 more than a rental unit. Do condo residents use more recreation facilities than residents of rented apartments?
TL;DR: The Desert Sun continues to suck badly. If you want to know what's happening in your city government, you need to watch your city council meetings (at least).
Filed under Coachella Valley | June 27, 2022 at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2022
Oh, The Brutality!
The NY Post uses the words "slapped" and "hit." Giuliani himself said "All of a sudden, I feel this, 'Bam!' on my back;" and goes on to say "I feel this tremendous pain in my back." Fortunately, there's video accompanying the NY Post article.
The "hit" was the same sort of gentle tap you might make on any friend's back, just to let him know you are there. The words spoken were a lot stronger than the touch, but the words are covered by the first amendment.
Filed under Politics | June 26, 2022 at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2022
Front Page Of The Onion Today
Filed under Politics | June 25, 2022 at 01:43 PM | Comments (0)
Supreme Court Six
The Supreme Court has already ruled that we have a constitutional right to do exactly this.
Filed under Politics | June 25, 2022 at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)
Ketchup Popsicle
In Canada, you can buy factory-made ketchup popsicles, but French's has also made the recipe available for those who just want to make their own:
- 3¼ cups (810 milliliters) tomato juice
- ½ cup (125 milliliters) French's® Tomato Ketchup
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) FRANK'S RedHot® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- Caesar Rim ["salt, spices (including red pepper), sugar, citric acid, corn maltodextrin, dehydrated onion, natural flavour (contains soy)"]
- WHISK tomato juice, Ketchup and RedHot sauce in large pitcher or measuring cup until well blended.
- POUR mixture into popsicle molds of your desired shape and size. Freeze at least 8 hours or until solid. Serve frozen, sprinkled lightly with Caesar Rim, if desired.
One undefined serving contains 11 grams carbohydrates and 658 mg sodium.
If you like to experiment, add some mayonnaise into the recipe and let us know how it turns out.
Filed under Food and Drink | June 25, 2022 at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2022
Old Stuff In Slides
Greg in Washington DC, Kodachrome, possibly 2001.
St. Patrick's Cathedral and Atlas, Agfachrome, 1983.
Two Wall Street, 1985.
Myself at Tanglewood, late 1980s.
Filed under Architecture,Photography | June 24, 2022 at 08:48 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2022
Desert Hot Springs LGBTA+ Pride Proclamation Video
Filed under Coachella Valley,Desert Hot Springs,Gay Issues | June 22, 2022 at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2022
First-Ever Pride Proclamation In Desert Hot Springs
Desert Hot Springs' first-ever proclamation recognizing LGBTQIA+ Pride was delivered at tonight's city council meeting by Mayor Scott Matas.
Mayor Matas reading the proclamation.
Planning Commissioner James Nindel speaking on the significance and need for the proclamation.
And while I'm on the subject, you should check out GayDHS.com.
The City Council meeting tonight was a lot of the usual administrative items that they always have to handle at this time of year: landscape and lighting districts, putting DVD bills on the property tax bill, etc. But there was one significant item: approval of $3,172,000 to Onyx Paving Company and approval of a total project budget of $4,298,600 for a total redo of Palm Drive north of Pierson. This includes not just resurfacing, but bike lanes, sidewalks, additional street lighting, a 4-way stop at 12th Street and newly painted crosswalks. Palm Drive north of Pierson will be reduced to two lanes for motor vehicle traffic. The additional space gained will be used for the sidewalks and bike lanes. Councilmember Nuñez suggested the sidewalks should be 8 feet wide. Assistant City Manager Porras said that 8 foot sidewalks could be constructed where there are no sidewalks, but to tear out all sidewalks to rebuild them to an 8-foot width would really expand the size of this project [and I think it would probably need to be re-bid and, thus, delayed].
Mr. Nuñez's really bonehead suggestion was to retain the current four lanes for motor vehicles on Palm Drive, but WIDEN the road to be able to add sidewalks (16 feet) and bike lanes (maybe another 16 feet or so?). I'd suggest Mr. Nuñez actually go look at that segment of Palm Drive. It has the least traffic of any segment of Palm Drive. Residences north of 12th Street already suffer cramped front yards and driveways and no street parking is permitted. A narrowing of this part of Palm Drive has been under discussion for years. There are businesses along Palm Drive north of Pierson, including the new Dollar General, that are close to the roadway. The city couldn't add 16 feet to a side without the considerable expense of having to tear out or rebuild some commercial buildings.
And then there's the utter lack of need for a 4-lane road that far north in the city. The population won't grow much at that end of the city, unless someone is planning on building multi-family housing up the sides of the mountains. The growth in the city is all farther south, west or east.
The item was approved 3-1 with Mr. Nuñez voting against. Councilmember Betts was absent tonight.
Finally, there was this:
It was okay because no conflagrations were on the schedule for tonight.
Filed under Coachella Valley,Desert Hot Springs,Gay Issues | June 21, 2022 at 08:34 PM | Comments (0)
