THE GREAT SECONDLIFE BLACKOUT WRITING CONTEST

By Debbie Bulloch



Did you survive the Great SecondLife Blackout of April 28?

How did you survive without your SL “fix?”

Did you miss your friends?

How did you cope?

What other fun and exciting things did you do when you could not log on to SL?

Post your comments here.

The funniest, most imaginative comment will receive a $300L (Lindens) prize.

Second prize: $200L

Third prize: $100L

Your comments can be as long or as short as you like.

Please be sure to sign your SL name to the comment.

Contest ends at midnight (SL Time), Sunday, May 2, 2010.

So hurry up and tell us how you survived the Great SecondLife Blackout!

Have fun!

RAILWAY RESTORATION CONTINUES

By Debbie Bulloch



My garden railway restoration project is moving slower than I had expected. In addition to clearing weed, rocks and other garden “debris” from the track there are also two other major jobs involved.

First, the track has suffered from years of benign neglect. As you can see from the photographs below, sections of the track are not level. While up and down tracks may be fine for a rollercoaster ride, trains require perfectly level, perfectly smooth track to run properly.

The second, and biggest problem, is delivering electrical power to the track. The trains run on electrical power and every inch of track must be electrified. If there are electrical gaps in the track, the locomotives may slow down or even stop. There are over 100 feet (33 meters) of track running in the shape of a dog-bone loop so the challenge is to keep electricity flowing to the whole track.

Electricity to the track is delivered by special transformers. The transformers change (or transform) household A/C current (alternating current) to D/C current (direct current). The previous homeowner took the transformers with him, so now I must find transformers to power the track.

One available alternative is to modify the trains to run on battery power; that, however, is expensive and time consuming. In order to change the locomotives to run on battery power, each locomotive has to be opened up, battery packs fitted inside the locomotive and some sort of radio control (R/C) installed to control the train's speed. Right now, a rheostat in the transformer controls speed by regulating how much electricity goes to the track – the more electricity going in, the faster the trains run. With battery power, however, each locomotive must be individually controlled, so that is why R/C is needed.

I will keep you posted of progress on the DBRR (Debbie Bulloch Railroad). By the way, DB stands for Deutsch Bahn or German Railways, very convenient, eh?

All aboard ... chooo...choooo...







When restoration work is finished on the DBRR, it will (I hope) look something like the railroad shown on the video clip below.

A VISIT TO A SEAL COLONY

By Debbie Bulloch



This afternoon, after work, I drove to the coastal town of Carpinteria. Carpinteria is a small, seaside town located between Santa Barbara and Ventura. My plan was to go for a nice, relaxing bike ride along one of the town’s famous beach trails.

The weather forecast for the afternoon called for strong, gusting winds and low temperatures. Like most people, however, I do not completely trust weather forecasts – half the time they are completely wrong and the other half they are somewhat off! This time, unfortunately, the forecast was right. When I arrived at the parking lot the wind was gusting and blowing at about 15 – 20 miles per hour (24 - 32 kph) with occasional gusts in excess of 30 mph (48.2 kph). Temperatures by then had dropped to 55 F (12.8 C), with a wind-chill factor of about 50 F (10 C). The winds that greeted me upon my arrival at Carpinteria are the famous sundowner winds that usually hit this area of the California coast in the late afternoon.

I must admit that I was a tad frustrated at not being able to ride my bike. All day long, while sitting at my desk, I had been daydreaming about getting on the bike and pedaling up and down the coast, with the blue ocean at one side and the verdant mountains on the other side. Now that I was here and ready to ride, the weather was not cooperating. (Riding a mountain bike in gusting, cold winds is not my idea of a relaxing ride.)

But when life hands you lemons you only have one option left: get a bottle of good tequila and make margaritas. Well, I did not have tequila with me so I decided on the next best thing – to go for a hike down to the beach.

A friend had once told me about a remarkable place along the Carpinteria coastline where harbor seals have established a large colony. Remembering what my friend had said about the seals, I decided to go exploring and find the seal colony. To get to the rookery, I followed a footpath that led me down to the bluff, after a short hike I crossed over the railroad tracks and then I walked the rest of the way along the top of the bluff that overlooks the seal rookery below.



(Note: A rookery is a colony of breeding animals. The term is applied to the nesting place of birds, such as crows and rooks, hence the term "rookery." The breeding ground of colony-forming seabirds and marine mammals, such as seals or sea lions, is also referred to as a rookery. In Disney's animated television show, "Gargoyles," the term rookery is used to refer to the place where the gargoyles raised their young.)



When I reached the top of the bluff, I was treated to an amazing sight. Right below me, on a narrow stretch of rocky beach, there were dozens of seals, pelicans, seagulls and other marine birds. The windy conditions had made it difficult for the birds to fly or for the seals to swim - so they all hung out together on the beach, like a bunch of vacationing tourists.







Later that evening I learned that the Carpinteria seal colony has existed for over a century. The rookery at Carpinteria is only one of two such places along the Southern California coast that is readily accessible to the public.

Pacific harbor seals, like the ones I saw today in Carpinteria, are "true" seals: on land, they drag their bodies along, like big blubbery caterpillars; in the water, they swim with their hind flippers. Seals are different from their cousins, the "sea lions" in that sea lions have small ears and front "feet;" on land they walk on all feet/flippers. Harbor seals can live more than 40 years. An adult harbor seal can weigh over 300 pounds. There are a few visible differences between males and females.



(NOTE: Here is a picture of a sea lion taken last year. You can see that the sea lion, unlike the harbor seals, has front flippers. You cannot see them on this picture, but sea lions have small ears, on either side of their heads.)

The harbor seals in Carpinteria usually bear their young in February and March. Few pups are born as early as December or as late as May. The pups usually weigh 12 to 15 pounds at birth. By the time they are weaned, at four to six weeks of age, the pups can weigh 35 to 50 pounds.

Harbor seals feed on fish, octopuses, some crabs, and other bottom-dwelling organisms. They can dive well over 1000 feet and stay down for more than 45 minutes. Harbor seals generally return to the same area year after year. The seals usually live and feed within a day's swim of their colony.

Today’s windy conditions kept me from my plan to ride my bike; the same windy conditions led me to the happy discovery of the Carpinteria seal colony. I guess the lesson here is to learn to be flexible and just ride the wind. Remember that life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

Here is an important note. If you are planning to visit the Carpinteria seal colony (or any other seal colony) remember the following:

Federal law protects harbor seals. They cannot be disturbed in any way; this includes making loud noises, conspicuous gestures or approaching too closely. Disturbing the seals in any way is a felony, punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and/or one year in jail per count.

TUESDAY MUSIC: LIGHTHOUSE - PRETTY LADY

By Debbie Bulloch



By special request, here is another hit from the Canadian band, Lighthouse ...















LIGHTHOUSE – Pretty Lady (video)



Pretty Lady (Lyrics)

I see you each morning, and in silence I say
"Pretty Lady, I love you, but I know there's no way
You'd consider my love girl, cuz you don't have the time."
So I try to conceal it, so you can't read my mind.

All I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady
Just for once in my life, makin' love to you. Yeah!
All I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady
And maybe once in my life makin' love to you.

Every day I keep hopin' that I may see a sign.
Better give me a chance girl, to be first in your eyes.
But I just go on waitin', every day it's the same.
All my friends keep on sayin', "You're a fool who loves pain!"

But all I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady,
And maybe once in my life makin' love to you. Yeah
All I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady,
Maybe once in my life makin' love to you.

I'm beginnin' to wonder, if you know I'm alive.
Every day it gets harder to feel good when I rise.
If I just had a chance, girl, you could feel what it's like
Makin' love every mornin', every day, every night.

Cuz all I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady,
Maybe once in my life makin' love to you. Yeah,
All I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady,
Maybe once in my life makin' love to you. Yeah,
All I wanna do, Pretty Lady, is see you smilin' too, Pretty Lady,
Maybe once in my life makin' love to you.

MONDAY NIGHT MUSIC - THE SOUND OF SILENCE

By Debbie Bulloch



In a recent comment, a reader asked me if the songs that I post here are addressed to anyone person in particular or if they have any special meaning attached to them.

The answer is both YES and NO.

Recent events, however, have brought this song to mind - especially the words at 1:52 minutes into the song.







SIMON & GARFUNKEL - The Sound of Silence

SPRING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

By Debbie Bulloch



Spring is finally here.

Gone are the storms that wreaked havoc on Southern California. Wildflowers are in bloom, bees are abuzzing, birds are flying and dolphins are back to doing what dolphins naturally do ... have fun!

Enjoy these scenes from Spring in California.

TULIPS

By Debbie Bulloch






Next to roses, tulips are my favorite flowers. (I know, technically they are bulbs, I still like them.)





















Enjoy!

SATURDAY MUSIC, LIGHTHOUSE, JIGSAW AND THE DOORS

By Debbie Bulloch





















From Canada, the land of wide-open, rugged spaces ...

LIGHTHOUSE – One Fine Morning



From the U.K., the land of Shakespeare ...

JIGSAW – Sky High



And from my beloved Los Angeles, the City of Angels, the immortal Jim Morrison..

THE DOORS – Touch Me




Enjoy!

STORY UPDATES: KILLER PLEADS GUILTY AND VOLCANO CONTINUES TO CAUSE MISERY

By Debbie Bulloch



ICELANDIC VOLCANO CONTINUES TO CAUSE MISERY IN EUROPE AND BEYOND

A lingering volcanic ash plume forced extended no-fly restrictions over much of Europe on Saturday. Meanwhile, scientists in Iceland warned that volcanic activity had increased and showed no sign of abating.

Scientists say that because the volcano is situated below a glacial ice cap, the magma is being cooled quickly; causing explosions and plumes of grit that can be catastrophic to plane engines if prevailing winds are right.

Stranded passengers reported the delays were causing financial hardships. Some had to check out of hotels and sleep in the airports. Others, desperate to return home or get to meetings, rushed to book a ride on ferries or taxis.

Europeans have been warned that continued flight bans could spark shortages of imported fresh fruit and vegetables.

In Iceland, torrents of water have carried away chunks of ice the size of small houses. Sections of the country's main road were wiped out by the flash floods. More floods from melting waters are expected as long as the volcano keeps erupting. In 1821, the same volcano managed to erupt for more than a year.

Iceland, a nation of 320,000 people, sits on a large volcanic hot spot in the Atlantic's mid-oceanic ridge; there is a long history of devastating eruptions. One of the worst eruptions was the 1783 eruption of the Laki volcano, which spewed a toxic cloud over Europe, killing tens of thousands. Historians believe that the 1783 eruption of the Laki volcano set the stage for the events that eventually led to the French Revolution.

KILLER OF CHELSEA KING AND AMBER DUBOIS PLEADS GUILTY – WILL SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON

This is an update to previous stories about Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. [ New Details About Killer and Help Find Chelsea and Amber ]

On Friday, April 16, accused killer John Gardner pled guilty to murdering teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois.

Gardner entered into a plea deal with the San Diego District Attorney. In exchange for the guilty pleas, Gardner will be sentenced to two consecutive life in prison terms, without the possibility of parole.

Chelsea, 17, disappeared Feb. 25 after heading out for a jog near Lake Hodges. Her body was found just days later in a shallow grave near the lake. Gardner’s DNA was found on Chelsea’s underwear.

Amber, 14, vanished in Feb. 2009 while walking to school. Her skeletal remains were found in early March—just miles from where Chelsea was discovered.

Gardner also faces 33 years to life in prison for attacking a woman in December 2009.

Gardner has a history of violence against underage girls. In 2000 he was sentenced to six years behind bars after pleading guilty to assaulting a 13-year-old girl. He ultimately served just five years.

Society needs to do more to remove monsters like John Gardner from our midst.

Our heart-felt condolences go to the families and friends of Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. May they find comfort in the years to come. God bless you.

ICELAND'S VOLCANO AFFECTS ALL OF EUROPE

By Debbie Bulloch



The Eyjafjallajokull volcano, one of Iceland’s largest, had been dormant for nearly two centuries before returning to life in the late evening of March 20. The first sign that the volcano was coming back to life was the angry, red cloud glowing above the vast glacier that covers the volcano.

In the following days, fire fountains jetted from a dozen vents on the volcano, reaching as high as 100 meters, according to the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland. After a few day of spectacular volcanic activity the volcano seemed to return to sleep. Then on Wednesday, the volcano roared back to life sending clouds of ash soaring as high as 11,000 meter and molten lava down the mountain.

The latest eruption caused massive flooding as molten lava ate away at a 200-foot-thick cap of ice that covered some sections of the volcanic fissure. As much as a third of the glacial ice above the crater has melted — it had been up to 250 meters thick in spots — raising the level of a nearby river by nearly a meter and covering some roads. Three large holes have opened in the ice as a result of the eruption. The Red Cross evacuated residents of Hvolsvollur, a town approximately 65 miles from Reykjavik.

The latest eruption is the fourth by Eyjafjallajokull in 1,100 years, volcanologists say. The last one, in 1821, which began with days of explosive eruptions, left deep layers of dark-gray ash through vast areas of southern Iceland — some of it nearly reached Reykjavik — and it caused the Markarfljot and the Holtsa rivers to flood.

In an interesting historical twist, historians believe that the explosion of another Icelandic volcano helped trigger the French Revolution. The Laki volcanic fissure in southern Iceland erupted over an eight-month period from June 1783 to February 1784, spewing lava and poisonous gases that devastated the island's agriculture, killing much of the livestock. It is estimated that perhaps quarter of Iceland's population died through the ensuing famine. The disruption to farming and the death of large numbers of livestock throughout most of Europe caused widespread hunger and much misery.

In France a sequence of extreme events included a surplus harvest in 1785 that caused poverty for rural workers, accompanied by droughts, bad winters and summers, including a violent hailstorm in 1788 that destroyed crops. This in turn contributed significantly to the build up of poverty and famine that triggered the French Revolution in 1789.

European health authorities warned people Thursday to beware of possible health problems from ash falling to the ground. Persons in European countries directly in the path of the ash flow are being encouraged to take precautions, including staying indoors and avoiding all outdoor physical activities.

It seems that the world has entered a cycle of heightened seismic and volcanic activity. Large earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China, Indonesia and Mexico /Southern California plus the Iceland volcano are indicators of a period of possible future instability. Whether this activity is a presage of more serious trouble to come, or simply a hiccup in the life of the Earth remains to be seen.

Stay tuned and be safe!

THURSDAY MUSIC - THE EAGLES

By Debbie Bulloch



Tomorrow (Friday) night I will go and see The Eagles in concert. They will be playing at the world-famous
Hollywood Bowl.

The Eagles is one of my all-time favorite bands. The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles, California in the year 1971 – the same year that the Sylmar Earthquake rocked Los Angeles. Since that time, and in spite of some bitter in-fighting that kept the band apart for several years, the band has become one of the most successful rock bands in history.

By the end of the 20th century, two of the band’s albums, “Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)” and “Hotel California,” are ranked among the 20 best-selling albums in the U.S. The album “Hotel California” is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone's “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

Here then, for your listening pleasure are some of my favorite hits from The Eagles.

Enjoy!

The Eagles – Hotel California



The Eagles – Take it Easy



The Eagles - Peaceful Feeling



The Eagles – One of These Nights

TINA TURNER - "PRIVATE DANCER"

By Debbie Bulloch




For all the women (and guys) who work hard earning a living as private dancers in Second Life (SL) this song is for you.

Enjoy!













TINA TUNER – Private Dancer



NOTE: Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock, November 26, 1939) is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She is better known as "The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".” Turner was named "one of the greatest singers of all time" by Rolling Stone magazine. Her records have sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide. In 2008, Turner left semi-retirement to embark on her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour.

MORE MOVING AND SHAKING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

By Debbie Bulloch



According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the number of earthquakes greater than magnitude 4.0 (measured in the Richter magnitude scale ) in the Southern California and Baja California area has increased significantly in 2010.

The article notes that there have already been 70 such quakes so far this year, the most of any year in the last decade. There were only 30 magnitude 4.0 or greater in 2009 and 29 such quakes in 2008.

Seismologists said they are studying the increase in seismic activity but cannot fully explain it. Major earthquakes tend to occur in cycles, and experts have said the region in recent years has been in a quiet cycle when it comes to sizable temblors.

The string of quakes this year raises the possibility that Southern California might again be entering a more active seismic period. Scientists said the increase does not mean the Big One is imminent, but it could mean more significant quakes are on the way.

Just last night I watched the movie “2012.” Could it be that all of this recent quake activity means that Los Angeles is going to slip away into the Pacific?

To read the full story, please go here: More Moving and Shaking in Southern California.

Shango – Day After Day

A GARDEN RAILWAY COMES BACK TO LIFE

By Debbie Bulloch



The man from whom I bought my current home was an avid train fan. Like my Father, the previous owner had a collection of trains made by the German train maker LGB

When I bought my home, one of the selling points was the outdoor, garden railway layout that the owner had built years earlier. Garden railways originated in Europe but have now become very popular in the U.S. The garden railway in the home I bought is built on a raised planter bed and it features tunnels, a waterfall and a small pond.









At his death, my Father left me his collection of large scale trains but other than Christmas time, when I set up the trains around the Christmas tree, I did not have a regular place to run the trains. With an outdoor, garden railway already built, I now had the opportunity to once again play with my Dad’s trains.





Unfortunately, however, the previous owner had been ill and so he did not have the time and energy to keep the outdoor layout in running shape. Like a real railway, a garden railway requires regular maintenance. The tracks need to be kept clear and in shape, plants need to be trimmed and weeds have to be cleared.

The first year after I bought my home I was too busy with other matters, so the outdoor layout laid in a messy state of disrepair. Every time that I saw the little train cars sitting on the track, I would promise myself that I was going to clear the layout and bring it back to life. Alas, life’s other obligations kept me from spending time rebuilding the train.

This year, the coming of spring has awakened my train-building ambitions. I hope that by the time summer arrives the little trains will be running in my garden. Stay tuned and watch the rebuilding process unfold!

Choo…chooo…!!!

POLISH PRESIDENT, WIFE AND OTHERS DIE IN PLANE CRASH

By Debbie Bulloch



A plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski and much of the nation's ruling elite crashed landed in the Russian city of Smolensk on Saturday killing all 96 people on board.

The Tupolev Tu-154 jet was carrying Kaczynski and his wife, the military chief of staff, central bank governor, deputy foreign minister, members of parliament and other top officials to a ceremony for thousands of Polish troops massacred by Russian forces in World War II.

The passengers included General Franciszek Gagor, chief of Poland's armed forces, central bank governor Slawomir Skrzypek, deputy foreign minister Andrzej Kremer, Kaczynski's wife Maria, and scores of MPs, historians and other officials, Polish officials said. All were to attend a memorial service in the Katyn Forest, near the crash scene, where 22,000 top Polish officers and troops were killed by Soviet troops 70 years ago. Russia has never apologized for the massacre of Polish citizens.

We offer our most sincere condolences to the brave people of Poland in this very difficult moment.

To my Polish-American brothers and sisters I offer you a warm embrace.

IDENTITY OF MYSTERY FRENCH HERO IS FINALLY REVEALED

By Debbie Bulloch



The identity of the mystery French tourist, who jumped into New York’s East River to save a two-year old girl, has been finally revealed.

Since last Saturday's brave river rescue captured the imagination of New Yorkers, the identity of the French man who plunged into the river's icy waters had remained a mystery. Well, the mystery has finally been revealed.

The mystery rescuer is 29 year-old Julien Duret. Monsieur Duret resides in
Lyon France.

M. Duret was visiting New York City with friends when he saw little Bridget Sheridan fall into the icy river. Duret immediately jumped into the water, he was followed into the river by Bridget’s father, David Anderson. Duret picked up the girl from the water and then handed it to her dad.







To read more about M. Duret’s heroics, click here: Rescue Was Not on Frenchman’s Vacation Itinerary

(Photos are copyrighted by the New York Daily News. All rights are fully reserved by teh copyright holder.)

MYSTERY FRENCHMAN HELPS RESCUE GIRL

By Debbie Bulloch



New York City can be a vast, faceless metropolis. People on the streets always seem to be in a hurry to get from Point A to Point B. They always walk fast, and stare straight ahead, and avoid contact with others. But on a bright, sunny Easter Weekend afternoon, the Big Apple became a very friendly place for a little, two year old girl.

The little girl, Bridget Sheridan, and her parents were walking up a gang plank to board a ship docked at New York’s South Street Seaport. It was a beautiful spring weekend and Bridgette’s parents had decided to take their little girl to the circus.

All of the sudden, something went terribly wrong. Somehow, Bridget slipped through a guardrail and fell some 15 - 20 feet (4.6 – 6.1 meters) into the river below. New York’s East River is not a good place to go for a swim. The currents are vicious, the waters are murky, and on the first weekend in April, the river is a bone-chilling 40 F (4.45 C) degrees.



The “Rule of 50” states that the average adult has a 50/50 change of surviving a 50-yard swim or 50 minutes in 50 F (10 C) water.

At that point, the odds for Bridget’s surviving her Easter Weekend fall into the icy waters were bleak.

Her father, David Anderson, driven by paternal instinct did what almost every father would do; he dove into the river to rescue his daughter. But even a father, determined to save his child’s life, is no match for the East River’s strong currents and cold waters. That is when a Good Samaritan jumped into action, assuring that Bridgette and her father would live to see Easter Sunday.

An unidentified French tourist - who onlookers say rushed toward the scene without hesitation—leapt after Bridgette’s father into the cold waters. The Frenchman helped to keep the father maintain a hold over Bridgette. By that time, other people formed what the New York Daily News described as a "'human chain of good Samaritan rescuers." The Frenchman took Bridgette from her father and lifted her to the others who had remained on the ship, who then passed her to her mother.



The mystery Frenchman has not been seen since Saturday afternoon. After jumping into the water fully clothed, not even pausing to take his phone from his pocket, the Frenchman simply climbed out of the river, got in a cab, and left.

"I'd like to offer him my congratulations and best wishes,” Bridget’s mother told the newspapers, “and I want to talk to him personally."

After her dramatic rescue, little Bridget was tended at the scene by paramedics. She could be heard crying – a very good sign. Bridget may not be alive today if Good Samaritans had not quickly jumped to her aid. Pictures taken at the scene show that the girl was already pale — almost blue — from her exposure to the cold water.

On an Easter Weekend, in a large, impersonal city, Good Samaritans jumped into action to rescue a little girl in big trouble.

One special Good Samaritan from France risked his own life to save another man’s child. Then, like a true superhero, he disappeared into the crowd not stopping to claim the crowd’s adulation that was rightfully his or the parents’ grateful “thank you.”

On that sunshiny day, the world truly became a smaller place and the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind became a little stronger.

To the mystery hero: Merci beaucoup!

(Photos from the New York Daily News. Copyright 2010 by Eric Stringer. All rights reserved.)

STRONG EARTHQUAKE ROCKS MEXICO AND PARTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

By Debbie Bulloch




A powerful earthquake in Baja California rocked the U.S.-Mexico border region Sunday, collapsing a parking structure south of the border and causing power outages in both countries as it sent out seismic waves felt from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Arizona.

The 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:40 p.m. about 19 miles southeast of Mexicali, a bustling commerce center on the Mexican side of the border where trucks carrying goods cross into California. More than 900,000 people live in the greater Mexicali area.

It was the largest earthquake in the region in nearly 18 years and was followed by aftershocks or distant "triggered" earthquakes on both sides of the border, including a 3.1 quake in the Malibu-Santa Monica area.

Here are the quake details from the U.S. Geological Service:


Earthquake Details

Magnitude 7.2
Date-Time Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 22:40:40 UTC
(Sunday, April 04, 2010 at 03:40:40 PM, Pacific Standard Time at epicenter)

Location 32.128°N, 115.303°W
Depth 10 km (6.2 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Distances 26 km (16 miles) SW (225°) from Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico
60 km (38 miles) SSE (165°) from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
62 km (38 miles) SW (233°) from San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico
167 km (104 miles) ESE (105°) from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Here is a list of the biggest quakes in recent California history, measured by magnitude:

7.3, Landers, Calif., June 28, 1992, three deaths

7.2, Cape Mendocino, Calif., April 25, 1992

7.2 (estimate), Southeast of Mexicali, Mexico, April 4, 2010

7.2, Off coast of Northern California, June 14, 2005

7.1, Hector Mine, Calif., Oct. 16, 1999

7.0, Honeydew, Calif., Aug. 17, 1991

7.0, Cape Mendocino, Calif., Sept. 1, 1994

6.9, Loma Prieta, Calif., Oct. 18, 1989, 63 deaths

6.7, Northridge, Calif., Jan. 17, 1994, 60 deaths

6.6, San Simeon, Calif., Dec. 22, 2003, 2 deaths

6.6, Off coast of Northern California, June 16, 2005

6.5, Off coast near Eureka, Jan. 9, 2010

6.2, Joshua Tree, Calif., April 23, 1992

6.0, Central California, Sept. 28, 2004

5.9, Humboldt County, Feb. 4, 2010

5.6, Sierra Madre, Calif., June 28, 1991, two deaths

5.6, San Francisco Bay Area, Calif., Oct. 30, 2007


Stay tuned for further details as this story continues to develop.

SUNDAY MORNING MUSIC - CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION

By Debbie Bulloch




















A perfect song for a super mellow Sunday morning!

Tommy James & the Shondells - Crystal Blue Persuasion



Crystal Blue Persuasion – Lyrics

Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a'rising
Most definitely
A new day is coming
People are changing
Ain't it beautiful
Crystal blue persuasion
Better get ready
To see the light
Love, love is the answer
And that's all right
So don't you give up now
So easy to find
Just look to your soul
Open your mind
Crystal blue persuasion
Mmm, mmm-mmm
It's a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion
Crystal... blue persuasion
Maybe tomorrow
When he looks down
On every green field
And every town
All of his children
And every nation
They'll be peace and good brotherhood
Crystal blue persuasion
Yeah
Crystal blue persuasion
Aha
Crystal blue persuasion
Aha
Crystal blue persuasion
Aha

Have a wonderful Sunday!