Big Bear Lake

Time Bandits Ship Sinks

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

There’s a little (no pun intended) secret about the 1/3 scale 16th century Spanish galleon replica that tours Big bear Lake: it was the tiny ship used in the Terry Gilliam film Time Bandits, which featured a cast of men of diminutive size.

During this latest (and, so far this year’s only) storm which brought snow to the San Bernardino Mountains and caused some people to get all wound up and and start calling it a ‘class 1 hurricane’ the Time Bandit ship was sunk.  Maybe it was the high winds, the rain, or the snow.  At this point, the only thing known is that the 27-ton ship is sitting on the bottom of Davy Jone’s locker.  Okay, Big Bear Lake can’t really qualify as his locker … maybe it’s more like Davy Jone’s Smallish Cupboard.

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Religion

Fish and Fasting: the life of a Catholic during Lent

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Well, tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.  Per the ol’ Code of Canon Law, all us Catholics who are between 18 and 59 are supposed to fast and participate in abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays throughout Lent.  Fasting is an interesting thing; to me, fasting would seem to mean the absence of food.  The Catholic Church thinks that fasting is “one full meal during the day.”  And a light snacks for breakfast.  And maybe a snack in the afternoon. Or in the evening.  This is the kinder, gentler Church, I suppose.

According the the American Catholic, in addition to fish it’s still okay to eat eggs, milk products or condiments that are made from animal fat; chicken broth is okay, gravies are fine, sauces flavored with meat are coolio, butter, margarine, and lard – the staples of the American kitchen are “permissible,” and se can even slather even bacon drippings on our Lenten lettuce for a tasty salad – even if said dripping include bits of meat. Continue reading →

State Parks

Ocotillo Wells SVRA seeks input on Draft Planning Alternatives

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Comments due by March 10!

California State Parks has launched a comprehensive update of the General Plan for Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). As part of the update, Draft Planning Alternatives have been developed to illustrate different scenarios for how Ocotillo Wells SVRA may be managed over the long-term.

California State Parks is gathering public input to help identify which combination of options best serves the public’s interest in Ocotillo Wells SVRA’s future. The Preferred Planning Alternative ultimately identified for the General Plan Update process may be one of the alternatives or a combination of features from more than one alternative.

Learn about the Draft Planning Alternatives for the General Plan Update and submit your feedback via their Online Input Forum. HERE.

National Forests, National Parks

Redwood Poaching causes road closures at night

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

People are fucktards.  It’s that simple.  For their thirty pieces of silver, people are willing to destroy trees that have been around since before this country was a country.

From the National Park Service:

Newton B. Drury Parkway will be closed on a nightly basis starting Saturday, March 1, 2014. The parkway will be closed each day at sunset and reopened at sunrise. The hours of closure will be variable as the time of sunset and sunrise changes. Closure hours may also be impacted if staff is responding to other emergencies. Patrols will also be increased during this time to ensure the protection of our natural resources.

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Warbirds

Fantasy of Flight Takes a Bold Next Step on Its Journey

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Fantasy of Flight owner, Kermit Weeks, announced today that effective Sunday, April 6, the attraction will be closing its doors as a public attraction and will focus on its private event business and  the design and development of a new future destination attraction. “Although we are located just 20 minutes west of Walt Disney World, we’re currently outside the center of mass tourism and not perceived of as a destination.  We have a great product, but people have a misperception of what we offer,” said Weeks. “After 18 years of being in operation, it’s time we close the attraction and move forward toward creating the vision for what I know Fantasy of Flight can become,” Weeks told employees today.

Fantasy of Flight will close the daily attraction and focus on its successful events business. It will also turn the facility into what it was originally designed for, which is a restoration and maintenance facility that will be needed to build future attraction elements.  For those who wish to enjoy the historical aspects of aircraft, plans are to open an aspect of the collection in a reduced capacity and admission price later this year.

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