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Friday, September 9, 2011
Lessons learned from yesterdays total blackout of San Diego county... from Orange County to Rosarita Baja California (Mexico) the power plants were tripped offline
0 comments Posted by st at 8:04 PMIt took 9 hours to get power back. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/data-drive/article_dc4aabe6-db5b-11e0-97ba-001cc4c03286.html
No gas stations were able to operate. No grocery stores, no businesses. Of course, that is their fault for not having a backup generator to keep the pumps, fridges, and cash registers operating. Stupidity is contagious among busniesses it seems. Costly too, because if any had power backup, they would have been the only source of gas or food around.
No ATMs, no fast food restaurants, no air conditioning, no trolleys (public transportation in San Diego) and all the elevators are designed by nimrods who don't mind that on loss of electricity, the elevators trap all people riding.
Roadside assistance was called by a Marine, and they told him that they weren't going to show up, cause they are not going to waste gas. True story, he called the local radio station to spread the word.
Stop light intersections, they aren't as high a priority to get power to as the carpool lane monitoring equipment.
Traffic cops, never at the right intersections, but any intersection they are directing traffic at, moves faster than all the rest of the powerless intersections that all lanes have to stop at, car by car.
The wastewater treatment plants don't work without electricity, neither does the water dept. About 2 million gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean.
Most dispatched fleets switched to laptops and Nextels... neither worked with no power to the repeaters, cell phone towers, etc etc. This includes tow trucks, ambulances, taxis etc etc
The airport (San Diego International) doesn't have generator backup, and all that post 9-11 security is useless without electricity, so no planes were loading and leaving, no-one got scanned, no luggage was searched, the whole airport shut down. The port authority - the airport manager is also an idiot... across the street from the airport is Solar Turbines.. and guess what they make? Big ass tubine generators from 1 to 22 MegaWatts each http://mysolar.cat.com/cda/files/100588/7/dssolar.pdf ... and they have some in use, ready to deliver, and others ready to test. Bet you the Mayor or Govenor could make a couple calls and get a bit of cooperation to happen and have those megaWatts doing some good in this blackout
My advice to lessen the problems of being without power...
leave your fridge closed... it can keep things cold for hours without power
It's a good idea to have an extra gasoline... about enough to fill your car twice. ( You'll need a small tank, a 50 gallon barrel ought to do)
Flashlights and batteries are way better than candles.
a small inverter and an extension cord with a surge protector - really good at making 120 ac from car batteries to keep your cell phone charged, or house lights that plug into the walls lit. It gets really, really dark after the sun goes down... but even better would be a small RV generator, and Honda makes a really quite line of generators (again, some gas is good to have stored safely in your garage or storage unit... or siphon some from your car to keep your generator going)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
I'm not happy to see the great blog the Winding Road used to do, and the Twoseatsorless.com disappear, they were sites I really enjoyed going through
Labels: news
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Gamma towing in San Diego prosecuted successfully for illegal towing, illegal impounds, and failing to release to lawful owner (and more)
0 comments Posted by st at 9:32 PMThe City Attorney was making hay out of this of course, but when does a city attorney ever get good press anyway?
Labels: law enforcement, news, towtruck
Monday, July 18, 2011
Two days before his 61st birthday, Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima was once again crowned King of the Mountain. His winning the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for the sixth consecutive year on June 26 was no surprise, but his time was. He completed the 12.42-mile course in 9:51.278, becoming the first person to conquer Pikes Peak in less than 10 minutes.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/how-the-monster-beat-the-mountain/
Labels: news, Pike's Peak, racing
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
La Mesa car cruise, under new management, lowriders and all older than 1972 welcome
0 comments Posted by st at 8:48 PMJonathan, manager of the Regal Bar in downtown La Mesa is now the spokesman and came to the car council meeting to clarify that the last guy to sound off at the car council meeting (San Diego Car Club Council) was out of line, and his comments that lowriders aren't welcome was not the party line for La Mesa. So, I'm no longer calling for the boycott of the La Mesa cruise. Good news
Labels: informative, LaMesa cruise, news
Monday, February 28, 2011
The US Interior Secretary and Director of the BLM toured the Imperial Sand Dunes at Glamis
0 comments Posted by st at 6:30 PM
story here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sand-dunes-20110221,0,4494274.story but in a nutshell they came to relate that motorized recreation fits into the Obama administration's "America's Great Outdoors " conservation initiative rolled out last week that is heavy on land preservation.
Labels: informative, news
Monday, January 3, 2011
The fact that Geneva airport and a few French-speaking Swiss towns have already shown keen interest in Airpod augurs well for the project; not to mention that EU countries have already approved of the project.
It holds that initial production will kick off on Swiss grounds (in Reconvilier) where the first unit should roll out by March 2011
Labels: informative, news
Monday, December 6, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
California lawmakers can't pass or balance a budget, but get 5 million dollars worth of new cars annually for their personal use
0 comments Posted by st at 5:42 PMDon't sweat it... it's the only state that wastes money on rich politicians automotive needs. Well, unless you count free gas and insurance... I bet your lawmakers and politicians don't pay for gas or insurance. I bet they get chauffered limos as a way around your state purchasing cars for them. You likely know they get a lifelong pension better than double your annual income, free medical care you can't afford, and you'd scream to be told the free overseas flights on "fact finding missions" and subsequent luxury hotel accomodations and vacation in overseas countries.
Wankers as the Brits would call them (in polite company)
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2010/12/03/free-luxury-cars-for-lawmakers-amid-calif-budget-mess/ has the following to report about it: (I'm summarizing to avoid copyright BS)
California is the only state to provide rank-and-file lawmakers a luxury perk as the state has a 6 billion dollar deficit.
The state buys cars for lawmakers unlimited use under a decades-old program.
It spent more than $5 million for the latest suite of vehicles, including a $55,000 Cadillac and a $52,000 Lexus.
I listened to this today on KNX am 1070 Los Angeles
Think all of this is nuts? Heard of Speaker of the House Pelosi?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=231461
"Since 2007, we U.S. taxpayers have paid $2,100,745 for now-outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to make 85 flights aboard a 42-seat Air Force C-32 – which is the size of a Boeing 757"
Labels: humor, informative, morons, news
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The below seat can be seen at http://www.segseat.com/ and purchased for about 500 bucks

Just check the seating custom changes... this is what enables anyone with leg problems to utilize a Segway and have upright mobility. Both of the seats will flip up or down to get out of the way when getting on or off the Segway.The recipients included nine soldiers, two Marines, two national guardsmen, two airmen and two sailors. They come from Guam , Washington, D.C. and a dozen states, including California. Many are still undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at the Naval Medical Center San Diego.
Segs4Vets, a project of Disability Rights Advocates for Technology, a non-profit organization rated as one of America’s best charities, (one of 2,000 out of 1,000,000 charities in America) returned to San Diego for the third time to make the presentation.
``Those who become disabled while serving our nation deserve the best tools available to live productive and fulfilling lives,’’ said Jerry Kerr, president and founder of DRAFT. ``The Segway has proven its value to more than 400 wounded warriors and we are delighted to provide this device to these brave military service members to help them fulfill their dreams.’’
Several former recipients who attended the ceremony included John Hyland, a former Army soldier and trained opera singer who will sang the National Anthem at the ceremony, and Kortney Clemons who is training for the Paralympic Games at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego. Two of the earliest recipients used their Segways to complete undergraduate studies at Georgetown University and are now attending law school.
More than 33,000 men and women in uniform have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of hostilities. The Segway is not covered by military medical insurance.
DRAFT is the only organization to ever receive a blanket waiver from the U.S. military allowing a gift in excess to $1,000 to severely injured active duty military force members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Labels: innovation, invention, news
Monday, March 15, 2010
Is there something wrong with the El Cajon town council, do they have no pride in a native son?
One that is a household name for his achievements in NASCAR while ranked first (season champion) for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009? You may not know that Jimmie is the only driver that has ever accomplished this, in all of NASCAR history.
One that reinvested in his home town with a Chevrolet dealership, and has been invited to the White House, has a charity foundation that helps the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Make a Wish... and so on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Johnson
Want to do something about it? Monday March 22nd at 7pm the planning commission will be having a meeting... lets crash it. I'm planning on being there... this I gotta see and hear!
Support of Resolution No. 10604 - Jimmie Johnson Avenue
Please pass this along to any and all who could write in a short e-mail to the address below or show up on Monday, March 22 at 7:00 PM.
Please show up to the El Cajon Planning Commission meeting scheduled for:
Monday, March 22, at 7:00 pm, at
Council Chamber
200 Civic Center Way
El Cajon, CA 92020
…and wear your Jimmie stuff to show your support
OR IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND :
If physical letters are not possible
to Anthony Sottile,
Chairman – City of El Cajon Planning Commission,
emails of support for Resolution No. 10604,
(Jimmie Johnson Avenue), can be forwarded to:
Melissa Ayres, Director, Community Development.
(mayres@ci.el-cajon.ca.us).
Include first name, last name, email address, and comments in support of the resolution.
(FYI – http://www.ci.el-cajon.ca.us)
Points to mention:
- Agree with El Cajon City Council’s decision to honor JJ with “ Jimmie Johnson Avenue .” (Approved by Council on January 26, 2010).
- Fitting tribute for ON track accomplishments, (i.e. 4-Time NASCAR Champion, Future Hall of Famer, etc.).
- Most importantly, OFF track accomplishments - a true humanitarian who continues to support his hometown.
Thank You again,
Go Jimmie (Johnson Ave.) Go !!!
Tom McGrath from Alpine opinioned that East County road naming is best left alone and chided Union Tribune readers to keep our noses out of it, and stick with North County issues. Boo and hiss to you Tom. 4th story down http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/13/oceanside-rejects-saving-1-million/
this reader had it right http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/25/jimmie-johnson-way/
Is there a city in the South that doesn't have a street named after a stock car racer? Isn't this country founded with ideals of naming locations after important contributors to civic pride? Washington DC, Washington state, Pennsylnavia state, Boone county, Crockett County, and there almost was a state named Franklin... but that is a real history lesson. We even have states named after European royalty... why? Why not rename a state for a hero? Well, if that is too much, then I guess renaming a street for a NASCAR champion is good enough for me.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
I've been interviewed, and a newspaper wrote a story about my blog!
0 comments Posted by st at 8:03 PMhttp://www.mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/509118.html
It's the newspaper from the nearest big city of the little town I grew up in, same county, and it's the only newpaper article I've been in since getting through bootcamp!
Labels: news
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ridelust has a top 25 auto website list (I made their list!) and recommended blogs
0 comments Posted by st at 9:09 AMI’m entirely moved, wow! Thanks! You’ve paid me an enormous compliment to feel my hobby compares favorably with the likes of Jalopnik, the NY Times Wheels section, wonderful Hooniverse, Dan’s Hemmings blog, Autoblog, Edmunds, Carscoop, B.A.T, … the websites I admire.
Is mine the only no advertising, no pop-up, non job, done after work, camera / laptop / and love of cars operation in your top 25? I’m astounded! Take that high school career counsler!
Long live car porn and the humor we find and post for readers! Many compliments to the 80 sites I recommend in my blog roll, Ride Lust has been one for years!
With admiration for vulcanized rubber and all the uses we’ve found for it, with adoration for affordable tech like digital cameras, laptops, and jacking into neighbors wifi to upload to my blog, with love for the bloggers, photographers, and artists, the hot rodders, the hoons, the metal shapers, the body working masters, the designers, racers, owners, and rich buggers who can afford to keep Foose on retainer, admiration and respect for the lakes racers, salt streamliners, innovators like Navarro, Munro, and Blastolene Bros…
http://www.ridelust.com/ridelust%e2%80%99s-top-25-car-blog-and-websites/ this is the coolest thing to happen since I was picked as the artist of the month for my photography: In related news, in December '09 I was the artist of the month of the Photographer's Formulary company monthly online newsletter: http://www.photoformulary.com/images/2009%20Newsletters%20folder/December2009NL.pdf
Labels: news
Sunday, January 24, 2010
As has become a common and admirable occurance at Barrett Jackson auctions, Darryl Gwynn auctions off a remakable historic racecar, Ron buys it, offers it at auction again, it was bought by another collector who matched Ron's generosity, and was bought by a third collector who says it'll be for auction again soon.
Why the buy and sell, and the Gwynn connection? All of the money for the sale of Gwynn's vehicles go directly to the Foundation, with no auction fees, and everyone realizes that this astonishing generosity is to be applauded and continued by some who can afford it. Financially it may be a tax thing, but when over a half a million goes to a kids charity, I dare anyone to pick a bone with it. Respect, applaud, repeat.
For the full story and details: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/autos-gwynn-dragster-scores-triple-header/
For the post about the collector and philanthopist Ron Pratte: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/01/ron-pratte-car-collection.html
Labels: auction, Barrett Jackson, news, Ron Pratte
Friday, December 11, 2009
You should buy a lotto ticket if you are as lucky as the two guys in the taxi, they dodged a 5 to 25 ton, 50 foot pipe falling from an overpass
0 comments Posted by st at 10:52 PM
images from all over the local San Diego tv stations websites from cell phone photos sent into the news
The trucker was Southbound on the 125 from Santee at 9 am, was taking the exit to the Westbound 8, and was driving TOO FAST! He didn't make the turn, hit the barrier, and the chains that were restraining the pipe snapped, allowing the pipe to fall 75 to 100 feet onto Grossmont Center Dr.Labels: news
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
New information on the 2010 Camaro... No supercharged 650 hp 427cu in for California
0 comments Posted by st at 9:15 PMCAFE won't allow them to be sold in California, and this is from GM marketing via a car club council meeting member.
So much for getting a GT 500 supercharged Shelby Mustang Cobra competitor in California
Labels: news
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Schlumph collection, also known as the Malmerspach collection
0 comments Posted by st at 9:11 PM

Over the years nearly 400 items (vehicles, chassis and engines) were acquired, A team of up to 40 carpenters, saddlers, and master mechanics were assembled to carry out the restoration work.The Schlumpfs fled to their native Switzerland, and spent the rest of their days as permanent residents of the Drei Koenige Hotel. But with wages outstanding, the factory was occupied for the next two years by the textile union and renamed "Workers’ Factory." To recoup some of their lost wages, the union opened the museum to the public, with some 800,000 people viewing the collection in two years.
As the scale of the brothers Schlumpf debt rose, various creditors including the unions eyed the valuable car collection as a way to recover their losses. To save the destruction, break-up or export of the collection, in 1978 the contents were classified as a French historic monument by the Council of State. In 1979, a bankruptcy liquidator ordered the building closed.
Labels: Bugatti, car collections, car collectors, museum, news, Pixdaus
Sunday, February 22, 2009
No more front license plates for Wyoming hot rods, classics, and customs
0 comments Posted by st at 10:34 PMA bill that has passed the Wyoming Legislature would exclude owners of classic and custom cars from having to put a license plate on the front of their vehicles.
Proponents of the measure include Steve Schaffer, owner of a baby blue 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Schaffer says he rebuilt the car from the ground up and stuck a late-model Corvette engine in it.
When he was done, the old Chevy didn't have a place for a license plate on the front of the car. Schaffer says he had to drill holes in the front bumper so he could install a license plate.
The bill is headed to Gov. Dave Freudenthal after clearing the House on Friday.
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9886591&nav=menu554_2_2
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Saturday, April 7, 2007
http://www.pistonheads.com/speed/default.asp?storyId=16025
(Keeping in mind this is United Kingdom business, not American, but the truth I'm sure, doesn't just exist on their side of the pond.)
The government decided that the side effects of blanket speed camera usage warranted investigation, the transport department discovered that neglect of a statistical bias had exaggerated the main benefit of speed cameras by 400 per cent.
In September 2006, the proportion of injury crashes involving any speeding vehicle nationally was found to be only five per cent -- not one-third as previously claimed.
And now Safe Speed has learned via a Freedom of Information request that the speed camera side effects research, announced in May 2005, had been axed. (bad information research... ain't going to continue)
According to the Safe Speed campaign: " speed cameras are making road safety worse. But the Department for Transport doesn't want to hear this, which is the only possible reason for axing the most important research."
Safe Speed campaign founder Paul Smith said: "Speed camera policy has failed catastrophically. Department for Transport knows that it has failed but won't admit its deadly mistake and pull the plug. Officials seem to be hoping that speed cameras will fade away over the next five years, yet they know that the policy isn't working and is costing lives.
http://www.safespeed.org.uk/
Labels: informative, law enforcement, news, safety








