Friday, November 14, 2014
JUST FOR FUN: Halloween, 2014!
It's no secret that the Waag's love Halloween. Rick and Brian create a crazy Haunted House every year down in Southern California, and this year is no different. Thanks to them, as well as their spooky spouses, for building the Spook House and creating all the costumes for us, so we can come down and have some fun. Andrew joined us this year, which made it even better. A few photos from the event:
Above (click to enlarge): Rick chooses the theme every year. This year's theme was "Casa de VooDoo" which was a great one. Think jungles, gorillas, shrunken heads, etc. Rick carves the "masthead" above the Haunted House, which is lit up at night.
Above (click to enlarge): Sue in costume (left), and Andrew still in corporate Hulu attire - just showed up (right). Rick and Chris make all the costumes for us, the cast of creeps! Note that Sue designed and applied her own make-up. They have a huge make-up kit available for us to use to create our own crazy look.
Above (click to enlarge): Sue and I create 4 new Halloween themed drinks for the Haunting every year, and we always have a winner, and this year, the above was it: the Fractured Froggie - it looks gross, tastes great, and you just shoot it!
Above (click to enlarge): The crowds for the VooDoo haunt are always huge and around the block, and this year was no exception. A streetview above. Funny side note: during the running of the spook house, I leave (in costume) and go out and take the above photo - with a beer in my hand; I was standing in the middle of the street getting this shot, when who shows up but a cop car - but they didn't even blink. It would be a bummer to have received a citation while quickly leaving the set to go take a photo of the line action. Fortunately, the police were more worried about the crowd we were attracting!
Above (click to enlarge): Reina and Chris - a VooDoo Princess (daughter) and VooDoo Queen (mother)! How sweet! Great costumes...
Above (click to enlarge): Brian (left) as a sort of VooDoo Indiana Jones. Laura (right) in a crazy VooDoo feather-dress, complete with yellow and orange tooth makeup - and oh, what's in here right hand? Correct: she's about to down a "Fractured Froggie"!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
WORLD: Watch This Video!
Some of my favorite videos. Many involve me or people that I know. Have fun viewing them.
19***** It's no secret that E. Clampus Waagus has a weakness for the late great Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". Mark M. sent me a link to this you tube music video of a cover (by Avi Kaplan of Pentatonix) of Ring of Fire. Okay, I liked it. Not as much as the original from the Man in Black, but pretty entertaining, so listen to it by clicking here.
18***** The secret of how the "Moving Rocks" at Death Valley's Racetrack actually move has finally been revealed in this fascinating video, which you can watch by clicking here. Previously, many researchers thought they had found the answer, but this video proves them dead wrong. Many theories. Many projects. These guys finally figured it out. BUT they still don't know how the larger moving rocks actually move. Guess there's always some mystery left to figure out! This same group also has a web page at http://www.racetrackplaya.org/
19***** It's no secret that E. Clampus Waagus has a weakness for the late great Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire". Mark M. sent me a link to this you tube music video of a cover (by Avi Kaplan of Pentatonix) of Ring of Fire. Okay, I liked it. Not as much as the original from the Man in Black, but pretty entertaining, so listen to it by clicking here.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
SLO: County Needs Affordable Housing - Part III
*****November 6, 2014:
They ran my letter to the editor (below) in the San Luis Obispo Tribune Newspaper on 11/6/2014, which you can read by clicking here.
Added commentary on this subject:
The real question is, other than myself and a handful of other so-called "crazies", does anybody actually care about these homeless people? Enough to actually do anything about it? The answer, of course, is no - nobody cares enough to actually do something.
My blog here at/timwaagblog.blogspot.com is filled with things that people can do to help the homeless. Remember, "there but for the grace of G*d go I", which means - it could be you that is homeless, instead of them.
Added commentary on this subject:
The real question is, other than myself and a handful of other so-called "crazies", does anybody actually care about these homeless people? Enough to actually do anything about it? The answer, of course, is no - nobody cares enough to actually do something.
My blog here at/timwaagblog.blogspot.com is filled with things that people can do to help the homeless. Remember, "there but for the grace of G*d go I", which means - it could be you that is homeless, instead of them.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
HOMELESS METERS: Homeless Donation Meters
Introduction: Many folks have asked me what I think about the parking meter style donation centers that are springing up across the country. Today it started with this message from a friend: "What do you think of Pasaena’s effort to repurpose parking meters to collect change for the homeless, Tim?" You can read about Pasadena's program in the LA times by clicking here. This and numerous other inquiries lead me to devote a website page to describe the various programs, how they are doing, and what I think of them. Much has been written about these fund-raising programs, and they've gotten a lot of local press. But are they worth it? Let's see.
What Do I Think of These Programs? First, we need a better name than "Programs to Convert Parking Meters into Fundraisers for the Homeless". That just doesn't work, in a conversational sense - way too awkward. Though each of the various municipalities have their own names for their programs, I'll go with the generic "Homeless Donation Meters" for now (unless someone comes up with something better).
In general, I am in favor of city parking meter programs that encourage donations to organizations that benefit the homeless and provide an alternative to giving money to panhandlers. We have 7 parking meters here in San Luis Obispo in a program called "Change for Change". They don't raise enough money (so far) to help provide affordable housing to the homeless, and their primary benefit is to increase awareness of homelessness and provide an alternative to paying panhandlers.
What Do I Think of These Programs? First, we need a better name than "Programs to Convert Parking Meters into Fundraisers for the Homeless". That just doesn't work, in a conversational sense - way too awkward. Though each of the various municipalities have their own names for their programs, I'll go with the generic "Homeless Donation Meters" for now (unless someone comes up with something better).
In general, I am in favor of city parking meter programs that encourage donations to organizations that benefit the homeless and provide an alternative to giving money to panhandlers. We have 7 parking meters here in San Luis Obispo in a program called "Change for Change". They don't raise enough money (so far) to help provide affordable housing to the homeless, and their primary benefit is to increase awareness of homelessness and provide an alternative to paying panhandlers.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
LOCAL: Bonetti Ranch Development Could Use More Housing
Update 12/16/2014: I've spoken with Bonetti Ranch Development people about including more housing of all levels in the development. They've told me that the city of SLO, through their housing policies, will not allow it. Specifically, they said they wanted to build 500 square foot housing units, and city policies basically made it unfeasible.
Original Article Introduction: On September 6, 2014, the Tribune published an article on the proposed Bonetti Ranch Development located on the north east corner of Tank Farm Road and Higuera in San Luis Obispo. You can read an article on the development in The Tribune newspaper by clicking here.
Above: Corner of Tank Farm and Higuera. Left to right: Barn that will be torn down, windmill, ranch house.
Original Article Introduction: On September 6, 2014, the Tribune published an article on the proposed Bonetti Ranch Development located on the north east corner of Tank Farm Road and Higuera in San Luis Obispo. You can read an article on the development in The Tribune newspaper by clicking here.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
NATION: The So-Called Republican "War on Women" Continues (The Hobby Lobby Decision & more)
*****Update 9/10/2014: Persecution of Women and Christians in the Middle East - I try to avoid partisan politics whenever possible and stick strickly to the issues, but sometimes I just can't keep quiet. This is one such occasion. Read on.
Democrats continue to push the idea that the Republicans are at "War with Women". Apparently, this idea resonates in opinion polls, but is ridiculous on it's face. Much of this argument has been fueled by the recent "Hobby Lobby" contraception opinion by the U. S. Supreme Court. You can read the Wikipedia page on the Hobby Lobby decision by clicking here.
The real war on women is being fought in the Middle East, where women have no rights whatsoever. In addition, muslim extremists are kidnapping, torturing and raping women and have been legally doing so for decades and centuries. For good measure, there is also currently mass genocide of those of the Christian and other minority religions in the Middle East. These issues are the ones that should concern us, rather than the "war on women" political farce being perpetuated by the Democrats on the uneducated public.
Democrats continue to push the idea that the Republicans are at "War with Women". Apparently, this idea resonates in opinion polls, but is ridiculous on it's face. Much of this argument has been fueled by the recent "Hobby Lobby" contraception opinion by the U. S. Supreme Court. You can read the Wikipedia page on the Hobby Lobby decision by clicking here.
The real war on women is being fought in the Middle East, where women have no rights whatsoever. In addition, muslim extremists are kidnapping, torturing and raping women and have been legally doing so for decades and centuries. For good measure, there is also currently mass genocide of those of the Christian and other minority religions in the Middle East. These issues are the ones that should concern us, rather than the "war on women" political farce being perpetuated by the Democrats on the uneducated public.
Above: Havasupai Creek, Grand Canyon, May 2014. Photo by Tim Waag. Ya gotta see it 2 believe it!
Friday, September 5, 2014
SLO: County Needs Affordable Housing - Part II
Introduction: Creating truly Affordable Housing in SLO requires a full-court press. This means that every form of affordable housing must be pursued and implemented. One form of affordable housing is what I like to call "Affordable Green Micro-Housing". It has already been done here in SLO County, around our country, and around the world. It consists of homes primarily in the 200 to 400 square foot range (10 x 20 feet = 200 square feet; 20 x 20 feet = 400 square feet) - that is, bigger than an old-fashioned dorm room with a bathroom and kitchenette, but not by much.
The Need to Attract Affordable Housing: The city of San Luis Obispo works hard to attract businesses to move to SLO. However, it appears to do little to create city policies that would allow those who work here to also live here. This would require policies that promote so-called "workforce housing". "Workforce housing" is a nice word for "Low low low low Income housing". We have many workers in the hospitality / service / tourism / retail industry that cannot afford to live in SLO (or often, anywhere at all - thus, remaining employed and homeless).
In my opinion, the city of SLO has a moral obligation to allow policies that create low income housing to match the employers that it recruits to move their business here. These would include low per-unit fees for "micro-housing" development and more permitting for high density in-fill within the city, as well as "homesharing" and granny unit development.
*****RESOURCE: TINY HOUSE BUILD.COM
Web Site (Tiny House Friendly Map of the United States)
*****RESOURCE: TENT CAMPS TO TINY HOUSE VILLAGES - A HISTORY
Please consider buying this book: Tent City Urbanism: From Self-Organized Camps to Tiny House Villages by Andrew Heben. It is available for around $16 from Amazon, and you can find it by clicking here. Yes, indeed, there is a "Tiny House" Movement in this country, and I hope we can do some of this in SLO County.
First, let's take a look at the many different implementations that of "tiny home villages" that are out there now.
The Need to Attract Affordable Housing: The city of San Luis Obispo works hard to attract businesses to move to SLO. However, it appears to do little to create city policies that would allow those who work here to also live here. This would require policies that promote so-called "workforce housing". "Workforce housing" is a nice word for "Low low low low Income housing". We have many workers in the hospitality / service / tourism / retail industry that cannot afford to live in SLO (or often, anywhere at all - thus, remaining employed and homeless).
In my opinion, the city of SLO has a moral obligation to allow policies that create low income housing to match the employers that it recruits to move their business here. These would include low per-unit fees for "micro-housing" development and more permitting for high density in-fill within the city, as well as "homesharing" and granny unit development.
*****RESOURCE: TINY HOUSE BUILD.COM
Web Site (Tiny House Friendly Map of the United States)
According to the "Tiny House Friendly" map of the US, no municipalities in SLO county are shown on the map - not a surprise. Also, much of the current trend in "tiny homes" involves those with high incomes that want to live a simpler, less resource intensive lifestyle. That is, they can afford the "McMansion" but choose to live in a "tiny home".
Please consider buying this book: Tent City Urbanism: From Self-Organized Camps to Tiny House Villages by Andrew Heben. It is available for around $16 from Amazon, and you can find it by clicking here. Yes, indeed, there is a "Tiny House" Movement in this country, and I hope we can do some of this in SLO County.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)