STORMS--UPDATED

POST UPDATE

    Highway 1, the fabled Pacific Coast Highway in beloved Big Sur has suffered mightily. The photos are by Heath Johnson of Cal Trans. The road had been closed as a precaution as the storm closed in on the coast.

    This damage is at Rat Creek near the John Little Nature Preserve and a few miles below the Esalen Institute. 

    Flood damage in homes is extensive. Many of us in Cambria are hearing from friends who experienced standing water in their homes and garages.

    At our home, on a ridge in what is called Top of the World, we recorded 13.3 inches from Tuesday to Friday morning.

    Our power outages were intermittent with the longest being a 5 hour stretch. We are lucky, some in the village have been without for days. 

    A few additional photos are posted below

    

 A storm turns a tranquil creek entry to the Pacific into a roiling torrent. The California central coast is recovering from an 

   historic storm that belies a pacific calm, a peaceful nature.             Consider it metaphor for the betrayal of the beauty of a constitutional principle or a Capitol roiled by a storm of insurrection.

            This post is primarily about the atmospheric river that has inundated the central coast with record setting rain. It is something to see, and to live through. At this UPDATE we've had 13.3 inches in THREE days. We share a few scenes here.

        But the old reporter's fire horse instinct can not be stilled. There is something rotten wafting from Washington and it very dangerous. 

        It is political gospel Republicans were warned by the House impeachment that if Donald Trump was not stopped by a Senate conviction, he would be emboldened and would do more to damage to American credibility and a civil society. If they had listened he would not have been able to perpetuate the big lie, savage the electoral process, embarrass the nation and rile his brainwashed minions to attack the government, the citadel of a our democratic republic and to seek to kill government leaders.

        It appears they are about to be cowards and accomplices again. Not to put a stake through Trump's narcissistic heart will bring more havoc on this nation. Killing Trump power will not end the travail, but his preternatural would-be successors do not command the loyalty of the suckers who were swindled by the worse liar in American history. 

        America is under attack from domestic terrorists. They are Trump jihadists, self righteous idiots, brainwashed by Fox News and rightwing spew. They reject all proof that Trump and his shameful failure were rejected by the largest vote in American History. They want to end the Republic and impose a would-be dictator. These are dark and evil currents and there is increasing evidence members of the House and Senate were in on the Capitol attack. They should be rooted out and dealt with. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz are insurrectionists and prison time is the least they deserve. Ditto for the complicit members of the House. That Kevin McCarthy goes on bended knee to see the disgraced Trump is enough to make Lady Justice hurl. The crazy woman from Georgia takes a weapon onto the House Floor and says Nancy Pelosi must be taken out. Matt Gaetz, a Bozo of a stoner goes to Wyoming to challenge a House Republican leader Cheney. Maybe her papa, the dark lord of Republican grift will take Gaetz hunting with a shotgun.  

        It is time for the Republicans to stop this descent to violence and chaos. And it is it is time for federal investigative agencies and the Depart of Justice to send a few to prison and to continue to root out the militias, supremacists, faux patriots, fantasy warriors, racists and the intellectually destitute who believe anything that comes from a Trump's mouth.

        Enough of the profane. Let's look at the profundity of nature making history. Our little village and environs has been at ground zero of an atmospheric river acting like an open hose.

Along Main Street, East Village

Where a popular Taco vendor had a spot

The lawn bowls court 

Waterfalls in abundance, most in places where they never existed

The Before-

San Simeon Creek-usually a gentle stream

Not now-

After the rain...

additional photos

      All of the water, in an area where rain comes only in one season, reminded me of Scotland. Power outages, landslides, road closures, flooded homes and garages, downed trees, high winds and constant rain informs us this, unlike Scotland, is not natural. 

    But...we were in for a drought year, having received only two inches, deep into the rain season. That has changed in two days. 

    We'll recover, have something to talk about, and be grateful for the green hills and mountains, wild flower blooms, recharged lakes, reservoirs, wells and streams. 

    The storm of violence and hateful lie fueled terror is another matter. On that, it is time to act.

    See you down the trail.

    

Fire Season

    Nerves are on edge during fire season on the west coast.

Californians track where fires are active, stay in touch with friends, pray, and wonder how anyone can deny the worsening impact of climate change. We also ponder the interface between nature, wilderness, where and how we build, and our methods of forestry and fire control. We also live with the impact.

    The frame above is the top of an umbrella on our front deck. It is ash from the Dolan Fire which is raveging our beloved Big Sur, less than an hour up the Pacific Coast Highway.

   It is better today, but we've experienced an ash fall that has coated the central coast and made the air unfit for outdoor activity.

   Above-ash particles captured in spider webs. Below-on our deck surface.

    We've had ash in previous years, but not to this extent, even a couple of years ago when the Chimney Fire threatened the famed Hearst Castle just 6 miles from here.

    This ash fall is a minor thing. Lives have been lost, communities and homes destroyed, daring helicopter rescues have been necessary and thousands of fire fighters risk their lives in California, Oregon and Washington.

         Like many others, I spent time today in line at the car wash.

    On trip number one my granddaughter thought of the experience as a kind of ride. It was her first, and we passed the time in line looking at old movie clips. She told me about an Adam Sandler movie Transylvania, where he is "Drac-lee-a" so I introduced her to Bela Lugosi. 
     "Old time movie Drac-lee-a is not nice, is scary" she said.
    The "ride" diverted her attention, she and her mother had been fretful about the ash. 

    The second visit offered time to check email and read a couple of articles. 

     Since last week's heat wave, we've been lucky to have overnight fog and cooling temperatures. Anything of that nature is a blessing, here and to those in the fire zones.

          A man from LA who came north to escape smoke, said on our local NPR station, "the sky looks like something from a Batman movie." 

       If only all of this was just special effects. 

       September and October on the Central Coast can be spectacular and pristine and each day is like a jewel. But there are times, when fires intrude, that we desire our internal clocks to speed away until rain season can begin.

When it is good, it is as good as it can be. But at times we do a dance with our nerves. And we are heartbroken by the news from elsewhere.

       Stay well, stay safe.

       See you down the trail.

Mounting Appeals

     I thank you for your patience over the last 10 years and 1,245 posts. We have not always agreed, the posts may not have been to your liking, but you have given me the kindness of your attention.
     In this post I come to you with a set of appeals, and, as is the case, the appeals are to a higher principle or value, or an effort to change a judgement or reality.

the list

•     An appeal for a place of history, just up the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a very special place.
•     An appeal to the Biden Campaign.
•     An appeal to Donald Trump
•     An appeal to you and the news media. We begin here.

a plea for perspective and proportionality

    covid-19 

      At this writing 101 thousand people in the US have died from Covid-19. Most have been horrible deaths, often alone, following terrible suffering. The attempt to save victims has overwhelmed some hospitals and has cost the life of medical personnel. 

     101 thousand deaths in three months=33,000 deaths a month.

     At this time 1.72 million cases have been reported and 365 thousand are reported to have recovered. Hold these numbers.

     Most of the stats are from the CDC and the calculations are estimates based on several years. 

     heart disease

    More than 647 thousand people in the US die from heart disease. That is 1 in 4 US deaths=53,916 deaths a month.

     cancer

    More than 606 thousand people in the US die from cancer=50,000 deaths a month

     stroke

    More than 140 thousand people in the US die from stroke=11,000 deaths a month

     alzheimer's disease

    More than 122 thousand people in the US die from Alzheimer's disease=10,000 deaths a month.

      influenza 80 thousand people in the US died from influenza last year=6,666 deaths a month.

     Covid-19 fatalities will increase. If it kills at the rate it has thus far, it will not be the most lethal disease on our shores.    
      It is a new and changing virus and it may prove to be more deadly than any disease. We are still not sure about legacy effects and so it needs study and research. You and I and the media can't help but pay attention.

     A raging, invisible enemy virus is too important a story to ignore. 

     But when the pandemic is under control, and/or when a vaccine or treatment drug is available, will there be dire reporting about the monthly or weekly toll of heart attacks, cancer, stroke, alzheimer's? 
    I'm not suggesting an equivalency. The virus has hit like an invasion and it kills, some, rapidly by comparison. 
     I wonder as some talk about "herd immunity" why we then don't also speak of "thinning the herd?"  It is an indelicate and insensitive thought, akin to "survival of the fittest" or, in my view, the detestable concept of Social Darwinism. But when a disease attacks the most vulnerable, the eldest, those with illness, it operates functionally as such. 
    In some some cultures, those least able to keep up are left behind. Today we hear people say reopening the economy puts some at risk.
     As the virus has killed, it has killed people of color and disadvantage disproportionately. There are reasons for that, but few seem interested in that discussion. That topic is much like the economic disparity the resulting pandemic recession has brought to light. There is much in the US that is not equal, despite our creeds otherwise.  

    If we care about the daily death toll of the virus, should we not also care about other killing illnesses? At this time they are more lethal and less likely to be halted by a vaccine. Certain clarifying truths have been revealed since Covid-19 attacked, and there is much about our for profit medical system, our ailing government, our strategic readiness, and our priorities that need attention.

     I'm appealing for perspective, and a sense of proportion.

attention biden campaign

     A thought about bona fides; there are resumes more impressive than mine, still I made a living covering politics. I was on campaign trails since 1968, covered conventions, moderated senate and gubernatorial debates, questioned presidents, was an on air analyst, have written and reported and documented. So consider this as worth two cents, or not.

     This speaks to two tracks, the election and then governance.

      It behooves Joe Biden to do early transition work and reach out for Cabinet members and key roles now. There is much to do to repair the damage of the last 4 years, at home and around the world. Works and strategies should be underway now. It also helps strengthen the campaign's appeal.

      If US voters can see the experience, stability and qualification of the Biden team, it helps to draw a clear picture of comparison. What is most appealing-calm, experience, and strategic or irrational, erratic and inexperienced bungling, compounded by deception?

      Mr. Biden and his advisors should be meeting with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer collaborating on a legislative agenda. This is the time to work out the friction points and polish off the agenda for the first 100 days. 

      When congress convenes in 2021 a united Democrat effort, from the White House to Capitol Hill, should immediately jump into recovery from the pandemic's economic impact. 
       The Biden team should look closely at the FDR approach. Something like a new version of WPA could  put millions to work rebuilding infrastructure, roads, bridges, schools, sewer systems, neighborhoods and more. 
      What have we learned during the lockdown that might help to positively shape education, business, and a transactional culture? The Biden team should be on top that. 

      The Biden effort could tap Bill Gates to assemble a team of thinkers to advise the administration in how to embrace the technology and communication driven changes that are necessary in the Federal system and in the wider economy. The conundrum of a 21st Century population dealing with federal agencies that are still using 20th Century data and processing allows for fraud, waste, and results in things like  veterans having to wait for attention, or delays in getting small business loans processed, lack of oversight in how the Trump people are dumping millions to favored businesses and countless other problems. 

      It is an organizational as well as functional problem and the expertise and brilliance of innovative minds could make an impact. Think of it as a new generation of bright ideas.

      Biden should speak of the New Beginning, and set the vision for repairing the damage done by the stooges of the last 4 years. 

hit hard and often

      The campaign should hit Trump hard. It is effective to simply show video of his thousands of lies and his egregious behavior, and his traitor like sycophantic pandering with Putin and Kim. No one has held his feet to the fire because he is the master of slime and changing focus and he keeps putting a new bright shinning object out there to distract. 

      I appeal to the White House Press corp to continue to evince courage and to challenge lord blowhard and not let him prevaricate and lie. 

      The Biden campaign should unleash a full scale assault on the Trump deceptions, fraud, failure and his unfitness to lead. They should reach out to Republicans, true traditional Republicans, to help with the repudiation.

      This heavy work is to be done in the media, mainstream and social. No one should be able to turn on screen without seeing the dissembling of the Trump era.

target keys 

      As noted earlier there must be a full on campaign in those key swing counties and states. A majority of popular vote for Biden is likely, but the Trump path is in the key counties and precincts that could swing an electoral vote. 

     The Biden team should include, Sanders, Warren, Klobuchar, Castro, Harris, Booker, Buttigieg, Yang, at the very least. Let them campaign to those segments and regions where they have appeal.

      A good question to drive home time and time again in those traditional Democrat states that voted for Trump in 2016 is the old "Are you better off than you were" before Trump? Ask that to the coalminers for example. Just this week it was announced that 13 coal mines are closing. This on the watch of the man who was going to open the mines. Remember the video of him shoveling and crowing about how he was going to reopen the mines? There is a lot of that sort of thing available. 

      His shamelessness can be used against him, by the media team, while Joe and his administration team explain how they will rebuild and repair and recover and make a New Beginning. 

an appeal for an historic piece of california

   Just up the road from this iconic view of Big Sur is bit of California hospitality that has enchanted visitors since the 1930s.

     I have avoided doing pitches or appeals, so this is an exception to my rule. At the bottom of this post is a piece from Deetjen's Inn. It tells of the history and the struggles they face.
    I provide just one more space for their outreach.

    These images are from a family outing and stay at the funky, eclectic Big Sur institution. 

    Since our grand daughter was with us, we took this cabin. Mom and kid down, Lana and I took the upstairs, in the trees. 

         The dining room is legendary itself. It is not unusual for people to book a stay, just to dine.

   The grounds offer trails and places to walk and meditate in the red woods. 

     At night the cozy charm almost glows. 

      

Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Needs You Now!

For years Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn has weathered fires and floods, mudslides and crashing trees, and we have survived. The crisis surrounding Covid-19 and the sweeping Federal, State, and local states-of-emergency is being felt nationwide and it pains me to have to ask for help during this impossible time. Today, I am writing to you from a place of uncertainty. Today, Deetjen’s needs you! DONATE NOW If you have ever loved a pancake, a cup of coffee, an Eggs Benedict, or a candle-lit dinner, a glass of wine, a fire-warmed room on a rainy night, or have been welcomed to the Inn just passing through, I am appealing to you. If you have a memory of the first time you ever came to Deetjen’s in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, or 2010’s, I am appealing to you. On March 20, 2020 we closed our doors to guests and sent most of our team home. We asked ourselves: how long can we stay closed, who can we support right now, and what will it take to get back opened. Like everyone, we wondered “how long will this take?” And like everyone, we have very few answers. Our considerations are, first and foremost, for the health and safety of our staff, our guests, and our community. We are in constant deliberation and engaged in very challenging decision making to ensure that we can reopen the Inn. In 2016 the Soberanes fire interrupted business at Deetjen’s and in 2017 Deetjen’s was closed for 8 months as a result of the failure of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and subsequent closing of Highway One and then in the devastating winter of 2016/2017 Deetjen’s lost 4 guest rooms to falling trees. In addition to the destruction of our rooms, in December 2017 the IRS reviewed our 501(c)3 non-profit status. In January of 2020 the IRS returned with our affirmation, the mission and related non-profit status of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn was upheld. Deetjen’s was able to reopen its doors in October of 2017 because of generous support from our community and from the worldwide Deetjen’s family. Though reconstruction was permitted in December and finally commenced in January 2020, Deetjen’s has never fully recovered from the previous years’ losses.  For more information about Deetjens Big Sur Inn Preservation Foundation Inc. visit our website at www.Deetjens.com In Service to the Inn,  Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Friends and Family  DONATE NOW Deetjens Big Sur Inn Preservation Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Charitable Organization. Activities include lodging to the public to visit and experience the historic location in authentic, historic and original redwood cabins, with educational activities, experiences, and tours.  California Residents Disclosure: The non-profit status with the state of California Franchise Tax Board remains unresolved for the time being and itemized deductions of contributions will be permissible on your federal return, but possibly not on your California state return (unless we can get FTB straightened up before the end of the year).

Donate Now!

       

   the appeal to trump

    Find a reason to go away. Blame it on the deep state conspiracy that created the pandemic just to ruin your reign.

Blame Obama, Hilary, Comey, and all of the fake media for setting out to get you. Just leave, quit, go back to your faux palace and gold leaf toilets. 

    There is a reason why some 50 high Republicans warned us about you. As they said in August of 2016 you are unfit, unqualified and you lack the character to lead. You have proven that every day.  They said you would be dangerous, and you have been.  

     The people who were once decent Republicans would be so much better served if you left now, blame it on those bad bone spurs. Tell us that Obama snuck into the White House and put drill worms in your ears. Tell us that Melania is worried about how Mike Pence looks at her. Anything, just say it. Tell us you are going to invent a new florescent suppository that will cure the next pandemic the Deep State will unleash. Maybe you've already said all of that. I'm like millions of others, we just don't listen anymore. The country is over you. 

     Let your buddy Mr. Mannequin have his day in the sun.  Tell us you made America great again and did everything to make it all perfect, and then just shrink away. That would be beautiful, just beautiful. You know, that's what we're hearing, that's what people are saying. Now, just go.

      Take care of each other.
       See you down the trail.