“Number three. Calling number three”
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Yup. Number three and there will likely be more. Check out “Third Rattlesnake this season” under NEW VIDEOS.
My best to you and yours, Lew
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Monthly Archives June 2013
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION @ 1109hrs
Since I had not checked it out for weeks, I logged on to the NASA Human Space Flight website and discovered I had approximately 10 minutes to set up for a pass of the International Space Station (ISS). The schedule had the ISS for June 18 2013 appearing at 2309hrs, 81 degrees, approaching from 16 above NW and departing 36 above NW for a total observation time of about 1 minute.
After locating the tripod and camera I decided to try several single 4 second exposures because experience had taught me attempting to merely videotape the speck of light would be unsatisfactory. (Leaving the shutter open for an extended exposure creates a better “light trail” of the object making it easier to see.)
Just as I had anticipated, there were 6 images of a short straight line of light (with darkness in between as the ISS moved across the sky while the camera processed the image and the shutter was closed) passing by the bottom of the Big Dipper. The ISS entered my field of vision coming from the direction of Modesto and departed towards Mariposa with the entire process taking under a minute. I snapped another 4 second exposure as soon as the camera had processed the one before. (Sure wish I could find out if it is possible to increase the exposure time or if the equipment is factory set at 4 second exposures.)
ANYWAY, here’s the ISS that passed over tonight along with a couple of photos of the KOI fry that are beginning to show color despite their small size.
ISS 01
ISS 02
ISS 03
ISS 04
ISS 05
ISS 06
Oh yeah, the LDPCSD water board meeting yesterday went very well despite a three director attendance.
My best to you and yours, Lew
PS: Here’s the link to that NASA website: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+States
CARSTENS FIRE REQUIRING MORE ASSETS
Prior to attending the June monthly meeting of the LDPCSD Board of Directors I snapped the below photo.
June 17 2013 1229hrs
Below photo taken across from the LDPCSD on Merced Falls Road.
Across road from the LDPCSD
The below photo was taken on Lazo Way looking east. Lake McClure is this side of the hills in the center of photograph.
Looking east from Lazo Way in Lake Don Pedro
Below: Returning home from the meeting I took another shot of the Carstens Fire plume which was spreading north and south.
June 17 2013 1512hrs
FOR BREAKING NEWS ON THE CARSTENS FIRE:
Sierra Sun Times: http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/154-june/8816-up-dated-news-on-the-carstens-fire-in-mariposa-county
Mariposa Gazette: http://www.mariposagazette.com/
CALFIRE: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current
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To all those affected, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My best to you and yours, Lew
HELL JUST OVER THE HILL
0745 Monday, June 17, 2013
Does not look encouraging from here. Early this morning the smoke started to again billow up over the mountain horizon. Current estimate is three days to containment.
0659hrs June 17 2013
0730hrs June 17, 2013
Here are some links for information, photos, maps, and video of the fire:
Sierra Sun Times: http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/154-june/8816-up-dated-news-on-the-carstens-fire-in-mariposa-county
Mariposa Gazette: http://www.mariposagazette.com/
CALFIRE: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current
MAP OBTAINED FROM SIERRASUNTIMES –
Map of the area showing hot spots 6:45 A.M.
My best to you and yours, Lew
CARSTENS FIRE
I was outside harvesting some tomatoes when I looked up and saw
a large column of smoke rolling up into the sky and being pushed into a horizontal strata by the wind….
Here’s what I found out from CALFIRE and the MARIPOSA GAZETTE:
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CAL FIRE REPORTED:
| Carstens Fire: | |
| Name: | Carstens Fire |
| County: | Mariposa County |
| Location: | off Carstens Rd., east of 140 in the Midpines area. |
| Administrative Unit: | CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa- Merced Unit |
| Containment | 1,000 acres Evacuations for Clarks Valley and Jerseydale area. |
| Date Started: | June 16, 2013 2:10 pm |
| Last update: | June 16, 2013 8:00 pm |
Here’s the CALFIRE INCIDENT LINK WHICH WILL BE UPDATED. http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current
Here’s an article in the Mariposa Gazette and their link: http://www.mariposagazette.com/
Mariposa Pines residents flee
Jill Ballinger/GAZETTE EDITOR
Flames are easily visible from Jerseydale Road just past the Circle 9 Ranch. 
Mariposa Pines resident Alicia Osteen anxiously awaits the arrival of her family at the CHP road block on Jerseydale Road.
A U.S. Forest Service officer talks with a Jerseydale resident at the CHP road block. Residents coming in were allowed to retrieve belongings provided they promised to leave immediately after doing so.Residents of Mariposa Pines have left their homes as this afternoon’s fire advances toward Jerseydale.
Just before 6 p.m., huge flames were easily visible from Jerseydale Road, just past the Circle 9 Ranch.
Mandatory evacuation remains in order for the area.
The Gazette will continue to update the story as details become available
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BACK TO LEW…..
Here are a few 4 second time exposures I took around 2200hrs:
<Below> Looking east towards glow of fire.
”]”]
<Below> Looking southeast towards Fresno/Madera – for light comparison. That is the Scorpius constellation above.
”]
<Below> Light trails from a passing vehicle…. Carstens Fire in the background to the right of the utility pole.
My best to you and yours, Lew
THE VICTOR TALKING MACHINE CO.
I was digging through some old records when I discovered this single sided 78 RPM Victrola. Enrico Caruso performing Rigoletto – Ladonna e Mobile “Woman is Fickle”.
So? Like I really listen to opera. Didn’t mean that much until I listened to it on this website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpLxqVn7ZiY
Whoa! Who knows how many times I have heard this particular song in my lifetime without being aware of the composer, title, or performer?
Learn something new everyday.
La-la la la-la-la,
La-la la la-la-la …
Great. Now I won’t be able to get this tune out of my head.
Didn’t the Three Stooges use this music in a skit?
My best to you and yours, Lew
woo-woo-woo
COMMUNICATION PUZZLE CLUE AND A WATER GRIP
BEFORE THE TELEVISION and TELEPHONE THERE WAS THE TELE - - -
IT IS ALL IN THE GRIP FOLKS . . . HANG ON
MBTYAY, LEW
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WESTERN WHIPTAIL
Here is another very common, and fast, lizard. These get almost as big as the alligator lizard also indigenous to the Lake Don Pedro area. Beautiful markings huh?
WESTERN WHIPTAIL LIZARD
MORE INFORMATION: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/environmental_education/BLM-Idaho_nature/wildlife/reptiles/turtles_and_lizards/western_whiptail.html
My best to you and yours, Lew
