This thing has always tripped me out. From what I am told, it is also
(apparently) the reason I got a fix-it ticket for having a clear (non-
tinted) cover on my license plate. Apparently, it's the law even if
the plate is totally readable (CVC 5201 (f) ). I should clarify, I
got the ticket before this little gremlin was put into use - because
the SBPD anticipated that they wouldn't be able to read or scan my
plate properly with the new gizmo. I just get a sinking feeling
every time Wall-E here rolls past. Aren't those two back cameras
looking at each other lovingly? Like they might have children?
Categories:
Tags: meter maid, santa barbara, interceptor iii, camera cops, presidio, panino
There was a very loud sonic boom (more like a bang) this morning about half way through the 8am hour. Unless you took some sleeping pills or were laying in a sensory deprivation tank, you probably jumped this morning like I did.
After doing a quick search on twitter for 'sonic boom', I saw that the local twitterverse (twitterbarbara?) had indeed taken note of the bang.
I wish I could say that I had been glued to my computer all morning, faithfully watching streaming video of the landing (as I did during the Discovery mission directly following the Columbia disaster), but I wasn't. I was sound asleep having a dream about my friend turning into a monster and chasing me down some strange beach in Mexico, when I levitated out of bed because I thought a bus had slammed into my apartment building.
The boom/bang felt much louder than what I remember from childhood (I think Edwards Air Force Base hosted more shuttle landings in the 80's), though I do remember doors in my parents house doors shifting open and closed from time to time during shuttle re-entries.
Since you all probably heard/felt it. I'll spare you any more of my own impressions and instead list/quote a few amusing local twitterers reactions to it, and then a few fun 'sonic boom' links. Enjoy.
littlecassalina: got woken up this morning by a sonicboom!? wtf...i thought the world was ending
ScottStrandell: Thought I was experiencing a CA earthquake. Not exactly, it was the sonicboom from Space Shuttle Atlantis returning safely to Edwards AFB!
andisigrid: BOOMBOOM went the sonicboom from the space shuttle, hubby thought something fell on the house! HAHA
1jonmuir: @lorilyg the sonicboom seemed extra loud but it might be I had my bedroom window open
and my favorite (apparently from a local dog):
sbpuppy: Recovering from a sudden noise. The people called a sonicboom, whatever that is. I didn't like it.
And lastly, here is a really fun video that explains sonic booms by 'sciencemadefun':
• As an aside.. at the SB Tweetup on Thursday, many people were debating the inevitable 'inaccuracies' when events occur. While it is a supremely important conversation to have, sometimes the 'human response' (and initial reaction) is interesting (and even useful). I actually like hearing the local chatter, because it gives you a sense of where the public is at on any given issue/event - informed or not.
--thanks to latzinis for the use of the shuttle photo (which is I believe a picture of the launch - not re-entry).
Categories:
Tags: sonic boom santa barbara, space shuttle, vendenberg air force base, lompoc sonic boom, ventura sonic boom, sbnews, sblifestyle, santa barbara news
Ethan and I went out to the Red Cross Shelter at the MAC Center at UCSB. It felt a little weird being there to take pictures. We weren't capturing the flames, or even the homes of that some of these people lost. We were just witnessing a sort-of surreal purgatory. A purgatory full of people in their pajamas, wandering around an indoor hockey rink, eating, charging their phones, and witnessing big water planes spray orange fire-retardant on their neighborhoods. Though we weren't sure what we were expecting, most of them seemed a little bored and tired of waiting.
I spoke for a few minutes to a guy that I hadn't seen since high school. His story matched most of the others we've been hearing. He recalled thinking how much he thought it sucked that certain areas closer to Mission Canyon were being burnt, with that guilty excitement that many of us feel when something BIG happens in our town. Then the fire started racing west. Then they got the warning call. Then the Jesusita fire (if you didn't know this is spanish for 'Baby Jesus' you do now) jumped highway 154. Then it was time to leave, which he and his family did along with other stunned neighbors, and here he is, looking for a place to plug in his dead iPhone.
The Red Cross facilities are top-notch. They are well-staffed (and well-volunteered), clean, and internet equipped. There are even a bunch of plasma screen TV's set up here or there, each surrounded some mildly dazed evacuees in folding chairs and blankets.
There was even a second gymnasium that was all ready to go with several hundred cots, garbage cans, and stacks of bottled water in the corners. The Red Cross gets huge kudos for being so on top of it. Happily, because of their competence, there is very little else to report.
Here are some photos:
The Women's section (I'm guessing this was the quieter end of the rink).
Volunteer getting snacks ready.
Another Volunteer getting cozy with the staff.
Watching the planes drop retardant.
Watching the DC-10 big drop.
Navy? ROTC?
Volunteer texting.
Sheriff Bill Brown tours the facilities with entourage of Red Cross Staffers, journalists and officers.
Keep up to date with the latest headlines from the Indy, Daily Sound, Nexus, Craig Smith, etc on the City2 Headlines Page.
Categories:
Tags: jesusita fire, santa barbara, fire, wildfire, may 2009, goleta, alamar fire, san roque, shelters, pet shelters, earl warren showgrounds, night photos, photography, photographs, helicopter, staging, firetrucks, las positas, time lapse, day 4, red cross shelter, evacuee photos
Not much to say except that the evacuation boundaries remain the same since my update late last night. Officials are encouraging people to 'not worry' as the fires are pretty far back in the hills at this point (though they look deceptively close). They're also making sure that anyone in or near a 'warning zone' knows they should be 'ready to go' at a moments notice should things (wind) change.
Fortunately, it seems like the cool, onshore winds are gently blowing the flames (which are still huge) up the mountains instead of into Santa Barbara.
I took a few pictures at the shelter today, which I will upload later. For now, here are some night shots from this evening. We ate at 5-Points and shot some big flare-ups from the VONS parking lot. Then we drove out to a secret overlook near the freeway and Hollister.. And finally back to our downtown rooftop.
Keep up to date with the latest headlines from the Indy, Daily Sound, Nexus, Craig Smith, etc on the City2 Headlines Page.
Categories:
Tags: jesusita fire photos, jesusita fire pictures, jesusita fire images, santa barbara fire photos, mountains, wildfire, vons, parking lot, photography, citizen journalism, santa barbara news, fire photos
SANTA BARBARA - May 8, 2009 - 12:30am - In tonights press-conference, SB Sheriff Bill Brown said the Jesusita Fire is the "Worst Emergency Santa Barbara Has Faced in 25 Years"
The fire continues to move West along the mountains forcing new evacuations. The fire is still only 10% contained. Here are some numbers:
* 2300 Firefighters * 246 Fireengines * 62 Handcrews * 10 airtankers * 15 helicopters (with nightvision) * 25,000 people evacuated * 3 Ventura county firefighters hospitalized and are being treated. * 11 Firefighters Injured
Direct Relief International will be at Loreto Plaza and Lazy Acres on the Mesa distributing Respiratory Masks starting at noon.
A Mandatory Evacuation Order is now in effect for all areas north of Cathedral Oaks Drive east of Highway 154 to San Jose Creek (Near Patterson Avenue), all areas north of La Colina Road between Highway 154 and La Cumbre Road, and all areas north of State Street between La Cumbre Road and San Roque Road.
• La Cumbre school • San Marcos High School • Saint raphaels • La Cumbre school • San Marcos High Hope School District: Hope School • Monte Vista School
Santa Barbara School Districts: Adams • Cesar Chavez • Cleveland • Franklin • Open Alternative • Peabody • Parma Center • Roosevelt • La Colina Junior High • Community Based School • Santa Barbara Junior High • Santa Barbara High School •Providence Hall High School Antioch • EF International • Brite Star Pre school • Mount Carmel in Montecito on East Valley closing at noon • Brooks Campuses in Santa Barbara • Bishop Diego
PHOTOS: See Links, Maps and Photos from earlier today, yesterday & last night:
This picture sucks. But I can see all of SB from my little perch here.
The fire has clearly branched into many children. There are three
bright blazes over towards the San Roque area (possibly near the
reservoir).
Sadly, another large blaze is racing towards the top of the mountain
near gibralter.
The wind is behaving erratically and shifts the direction of the fire
and column of smoke.
The good news is that it is nowhere near as
strong as it was yesterday (at least where I'm standing)..
From what I can tell, Santa Barbara proper doesn't seen to be in any
of the fires paths. But if the wind picks up again, all bets are off.
Just like the first night (Tuesday), winds were less severe in the early hours, giving Firefighters another chance to stomp out the fire. From what we can tell, there are more fire crews on the ground now, and some significant progress is being made.
About 20 homes were consumed in the area near the intersection of Cheltenham Road, Montrose Place, and Williams Way today, according to firefighters working there. “It was definitely an extreme fire today, and we’re not out of the woods yet if we see the same weather the next few days,” said Captain Adam Estabrook, an 11-year veteran of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. He explained that extremely high winds and a relatively dry winter had created adverse conditions earlier this afternoon. “When we got here, we couldn’t see ten feet in front of us. The fire hit hard over here.” - Chris Meagher, SB Idependent (more from the Indy here)
Though we are in good hands, there is no reason to celebrate. Those winds could whip up a new batch of chaos, and we'll be back to square one. The good thing, as Chris pointed out, is that though Santa Barbara Proper is threatened, the heavily watered (saturated) landscaping around more urban areas tends to retard the spreading of new flames.
UPDATE: Direct Relief International is distributing respirator masks at Loreto Plaza (State & Las Positas). I think they may have run out of them during the Tea Fire, so get 'em while there.. emm.. hot. (UPDATE: Direct relief didn't run out of masks last year. Thanks to Jim of DRI for the correction.)
Keep up to date with the latest headlines from the Indy, Daily Sound, Nexus, Craig Smith, etc on the City2 Headlines Page.
Categories:
Tags: jesusita fire, santa barbara, fire, wildfire, may 2009, goleta, alamar fire, san roque, shelters, pet shelters, earl warren showgrounds, night photos, photography, photographs, helicopter, staging, firetrucks, las positas, time lapse, day 3
