So, why is called a marine layer and not fog in Southern California? I’ve been wondering why ever since I’ve moved here 4.5 years ago. I realize the definition of marine is “of or pertaining to the sea.” However, wouldn’t that also be applicable to San Francisco? Granted SF sits on a bay, not the ocean, it is ocean water though.

Yes, I’m being serious when I ask this question. Yes, I drive people nuts with my “only you would wonder that.”

Throw a girl a bone.

The ever informative Fast Food Maven has disclosed that the brand new Bob’s Big Boy at the Stadium Promenade (on Katella by the Honda Center) will open on August 9th!

Squeeee!

Finally, no longer having to go to Baker or Burbank to have a double-decker combo!

Granted, their food may not be the most gourmet stuff around, but I have mucho memories of going to Bob’s Big Boy with my grandparents, where for some inexplicable reason, I would always have the Pappy Parker’s Fried Chicken.

What was I thinking?

What was your favorite meal from Bob’s?

The LA Times gives us a peek into the OC Super Fair.

I went on Friday, and I’ll wait until tomorrow to tell you about it.

The other day I was walking on PCH in Laguna Beach and I saw the above meter against a wall. Upon further investigation I realized it was part of a program the local businesses and residents have implemented to stop panhandling in the city. As I thought more about it, I realized that it has been a while since I have been approached for change when walking the downtown area. I am not opposed to helping those in need, but panhandling can get a little annoying, especially when they don’t believe that you don’t have any change. I have been challenged more than once, and most of the time I don’t, living off the debit card.
The program was launched last July and there are five parking meters that have been individually painted by local artists around the downtown area. The money goes to the Laguna Resource Center, which provides assistance to the homeless, as well as low income families.
I personally think this is a great way to go about it, and it gives a passerby the option to donate, and the homeless person an option to receive assistance if they want it.

For more information go to change4homeless.com

In an interesting article in the LA Times today, Tony Barboza writes about some residents in the Wilshire Square area of Santa Ana being fed up with people going through their recycle bins.

So much so that they have signed up for a city program that provides them with containers originally built to withstand scavenging bears. Except the locks didn’t quite hold up to bears, but they’re hoping they will withstand a homeless person or two.

Resident Paula Faccou is quoted as saying:

“It just scared the living heck out of me,” said the 67-year-old retiree. “A complete stranger, standing outside. It was very brazen, and that’s pushing it too much. They have told me, ‘What’s your problem, lady? It’s just trash,’ but I pay for trash service. . . . I should decide where it goes.”

I have to say I’m ambivalent about the issue. I’m not sure that I’m cool with people taking something that someone has not intended for them, i.e. recycling that the property owners want the city to take care of, for themselves and their own personal profit. On the other hand, I understand that people are desperate, and you’d have to be fairly desperate to rummage through trashcans to make some money.

So, what you do you think?

photo courtesy of wikimedia commons

If I remember correctly, last June was scorching hot. I hate scorching hot.

And yes, I know that I probably live in the wrong geographical area for someone that doesn’t really like heat, but hey, I was born here.

So, count me out amongst the complainers. Give me clouds and cool breezes any day of the week.

And yes, even a bit of drizzle.

I’ve got a perma-tan from living here all my life, I don’t need to worry about the state of my tan lines.

After years of expressing support for a high-speed rail project originating from Anaheim to Las Vegas, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now favors a line that begins in Victorville.

That is bad news for Anaheim, who has been anticipating the high speed rail system in the plans of their newly approved design of the transportation hub, dubbed ARTIK, that has been in the works for years.  I know that the city of  Anaheim has lobbied aggressively for the maglev.

What gives, Mr. Reid?  I can tell that he doesn’t live here.

Because whilst I have no grudge against the expanse of sand that is Victorville, I would like to point out that often the longest and hardest part of the commute to Vegas is from Los Angeles/Orange County to Victorville.  Once you are up the Cajon, it usually gets much easier from there, depending on construction projects on the 15.  Yeah, it may be cheaper to build from Victorville, but once you’re already made it to the high desert, it seems to me you might as well keep on going. 

This is the problem with so many mass transportation projects in SoCal.  Just do the damn thing right the first time!

I would like to start off this post by apologizing. I’m sorry if you were working or otherwise involved with life las Sunday, that you were stuck indoors or couldn’t make it to the beach. I’m not trying to rub it in your face. I promise!

My best friend and his wife just got new bikes, so my wife and I decided to join them for a ride around Huntington Beach. Oh boy was I glad I did! I’m fairly certain the weather at the beach was even nicer than it was inland. Honestly, how often does that happen? Especially in June!

More photos and a video after the jump……. (more…)

Holy Shit! That was significant. I hate being naked during these things… standing in a door frame with no pants. That’s not how I’d like to die thanks.

According to The ScienceDude, a study done by UCSB has found that Orange County beaches in particular have had quite a bit of damage done by, you guessed it, people.

Well, it’s no surprise that the more people visit something, the more jacked up that something tends to get. Think of the Sistine Chapel, or the caves of Lascaux, or the entire city of Rome. Ha, kidding on that last one. Sort of. But, eventually they figured out that reducing human exposure was actually a good thing, even though some of that damage was done inadvertently, from like, the act of breathing. Hard to avoid, that. However, if you wanted to limit the damage, then you had to limit the people.

So why not the same for our coastline? Sure, beaches may be public, but that shouldn’t necessarily mean that anyone who wants to be there should be there. Many buildings are “public” spaces, but the amount of people allowed is not infinite.

Perhaps we should limit the amount of people allowed on the beach per day, lumping sunbathers and recreational fisherman all together. After that amount has been reached, then someone can only arrive if someone else leaves.

Our beaches and coastline are precious natural resources. Let’s not screw them up for future generations in the name of “Me, me, me!”