MARINE BIOLOGISTS HELP SAVE STRANDED WHALE

By Debbie Bulloch



Not every encounter between humans and animals turns out badly. Yesterday, marine biologists from California's SEA WORLD, helped save a stranded whale.

Here is the full story, from KTLA-TV:

DANA POINT -- An emaciated gray whale who swam into the Dana Point Harbor is heading back to the open ocean, thanks to some help from marine biologists.

The older, 35-to-40-foot whale first made its way inside the breakwater around noon Monday and stayed in the harbor area for three days, showing signs of distress.

Marine biologists, including a team from Sea World in San Diego, successfully removed 100 pounds of fish net and rope that was wrapped around the whale's tail Wednesday. Once the net was removed, biologists say the whale's condition began to improve.

The whale, nicknamed "Free Lilly," appeared to be heading back into the open ocean, early Wednesday afternoon. Biologists are hopeful she will continue to migrate north.

The whale, estimated to weigh about 30 tons, was believed to be about 60 years old, and may have been close to death, experts say. However, now that the whale's condition improved so dramatically, they hope she will make a full recovery.

An estimated 10,000 gray whales have been making their annual migration from the warm waters of Baja California, where they spend the winter, to their feeding grounds in Alaska and the Arctic.

"We don't expect to see northbound gray whales after the end of April," Tom Sullivan of the of the Ocean Institute. "This is a little late. This is a straggler."

Sullivan said whales who wander into the harbor are usually infants who lose their way. Whales in the harbor are a danger to boats, and boats are a danger to whales.

Copyright © 2010, KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

To watch video of the report, click here:

Marine Biologists Help Save Whale

Score: Whale: 1 Humans: 1

Fire in Moorpark, California

Hello my friends !

I hope that everyone of you is good.

Today I am writing about a drama in California which is happening now ! That is the fire , the fire again in California !

This one is very dangerous too like the last one near Los Angeles. I have a thought for Debbie and her friends because she has friends here so that is dangerous and there is a risk for houses. So please have a thought too for them and for every people who live here ! California is quite dangerous with fire because it is dry and there is a lot of wind.

The Guiberson fire, which has prompted the closures of two elementary schools and a community college, is expected to grow to more than 10,000 acres today and maybe 16000 till the end of the week due to low humidity and strong winds.

The fire and the resultant poor air quality have prompted the evacuation of Moorpark Community College, Walnut Canyon Elementary and Campus Canyon Elementary, Mohler said.

Though the Santa Ana winds haven't picked up yet today, they are expected to blow from 12 mph to 22 mph in about an hour.

"We're preparing for almost an exact repeat of what we saw yesterday," said Steve Kaufman, a public information officer with the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters are expecting temperatures around the 100-degree mark today as they continue to amp up efforts to control the blaze, which is 10% contained, Kaufman said. About 900 firefighters are battling the blaze helped by18 air tankers and 12 helicopters.

A DC-10 jumbo jet converted into an air tanker was put into use Wednesday, dropping retardant on vegetation.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Ventura County Sheriff's Department officials have said it appeared to have been started by spontaneous combustion of manure from a local ranch.

Voluntary-evacuation warnings have been issued for a few neighborhoods north of Moorpark, including Balcom Canyon, Bradley Road and areas around the college. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Ventura County

Example of fire in california and after the map of the place where there is the fire.

Firefighters guarded rural homes, ranches and orchards as the wind-driven blaze grew

Residents run from the fast-moving flames. (KTLA-TV)

The fire has been fanned by hot and dry Santa Ana winds, but wind speeds were lower Wednesday than on the first day of the blaze.

All mandatory evacuation orders in the area have been lifted. But voluntary evacuations are being recommended for the north end of Donlon Road, Coyote Canyon and Serano Verde.

Revers 911 calls recommending evacuations were made to 2,200 phones in unincorporated areas, but officials couldn't say how many people actually left.

The 15,000-student Moorpark College was closed because of its proximity to the fire.

A slow down in the winds allowed fire crews to build up defenses north of Moorpark, but the winds were expected to pick up again.

So that is a resume of the situation which is not good !
Debbie we are with you and your friends and with everyone who is here. We really hope that this situation will be better as soon as possible because fire is terrible !

And a big thanks to all these firefighters who fight always fight against the fire.

Bye bye my friends
arc

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was assembled from various news sources. The photographs used in this story are copyrighted. The copyright owners fully reserve all rights.

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC AND MORE

By Debbie Bulloch



For Buccaneer Braveheart, who requested this Stevie Wonder song.

Here is for you Buc!













AS (ALWAYS)



Here are the lyrics, so that you can follow along.

"AS (ALWAYS)"

As around the sun the earth knows she's revolving
And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May
Just as hate knows love's the cure
You can rest your mind assure
That I'll be loving you always
As now can't reveal the mystery of tomorrow
But in passing will grow older every day
Just as all is born is new
Do know what I say is true
That I'll be loving you always

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky---ALWAYS
Until the ocean covers every mountain high---ALWAYS
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea---ALWAYS
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream

Did you know that true love asks for nothing
Her acceptance is the way we pay
Did you know that life has given love a guarantee
To last through forever and another day
Just as time knew to move on since the beginning
And the seasons know exactly when to change
Just as kindness knows no shame
Know through all your joy and pain
That I'll be loving you always
As today I know I'm living but tomorrow
Could make me the past but that I mustn't fear
For I'll know deep in my mind
The love of me I've left behind Cause I'll be loving you always

Until the day is night and night becomes the day---ALWAYS
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away---ALWAYS
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4---ALWAYS
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Did you know that you're loved by somebody?
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left---ALWAYS
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
I'll be loving you forever
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through---ALWAYS
Until the day that you are me and I am you---AL~~~~~~WA~~
~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky~~~~~AA~~~~
~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~YS~~ALWAYS

We all know sometimes lifes hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet you life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed
so make sure when you say you're in it but not of it
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell
Change your words into truths and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children's grandchildren
And their great-great grandchildren will tell
I'll be loving you

Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky--Loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high--Loving you
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea--Loving you
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream--Be loving you
Until the day is night and night becomes the day--Loving you
Until the trees and seas up, up and fly away--Loving you
Until the day that 8x8x8x8 is 4--Loving you
Until the day that is the day that are no more--Loving you
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left--Be loving you
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself--Loving you
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through--Loving you
Until the day that you are me and I am you--
Now ain't that loving you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Ain't that loving you
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
And I've got to say always
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea~~AL~~~WA~~~AYS
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream-Um AL~~WA~~AYS
Until the day is night and night becomes the day-AL~~~~WA~~AYS
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away-AL~~WA~~~AA~~~~~
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA~~~~~~~AA
Until the day that is the day that are no more-AA~~~~AA~~AA~~~AYS
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left-AL~~~WA~~~A~~~AA
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself-~~AA~~~AA~~~AA~~~AYS
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through-AL~~~WAYS
Until the day that you are me and I am you
Until the rainbow burns the stars out in the sky
Until the ocean covers every mountain high
Until the dolphin flies and parrots live at sea
Until we dream of life and life becomes a dream
Until the day is night and night becomes the day
Until the trees and seas just up and fly away
Until the day that 8x8x8 is 4
Until the day that is the day that are no more
Until the day the earth starts turning right to left
Until the earth just for the sun denies itself
Until dear Mother Nature says her work is through
Until the day that you are me and I am you

After work I went on a bike ride along the beach. As you can see, the wind was blowing pretty darned hard!





Life at sea can be as harsh as it is exciting. This evening I saw a seagull feeding on what looked to be the floating carcass of a dolphin. (Using a pair of binoculars that I carry with my photo gear bag I could see that it was the carcass of a dolphin. The zoom lens that I was using was not long enough to show a better view of the seagull and the carcass.)

Just a couple of days earlier I took pictures of a dolphin pod frolicking on this very same spot. The dead dolphin was most likely a member of that same pod/family. Dolphin pods, like wolf packs, have been known to include long-established generations of the same family.

The circle of life!

(Click on image for a bigger view.)









For my daughter, the surfer-chick (love 'ya).

SURFIN' USA



And, finally, for all the California girls out there, for those who wish they were California girls - and for everyone who loves California girls!

CALIFORNIA GIRLS

MAY 2009 - SANTA BARBARA FIRES

By Debbie Bulloch



Once upon a time California’s “Fire Season” usually lasted from August through December (with the highest incident of fires in September and October). These months coincide with the onset of the Santa Ana winds. That was in the past, however; nowadays “Fire Season” seems to last year round.

Yesterday (May 5), a fire began to burn on the hills above Santa Barbara. Today, the wind-driven fire continues to burn with no immediate end in sight. The “Sundowner” winds are pushing the flames making life miserable for the firefighters who are battling the fires.

As of this writing, over 8000 homes are threatened by the fire and their residents have been ordered to leave. Injuries, so far, include firemen and civilians. I will update this portion of the post as more information becomes available.

UPDATE: As of 10:30 p.m. SLT, more than 20 homes have been destroyed, 8000 evacuated and three firemen, all from Ventura County, are being treated for serious injuries. They are expected to recover, however.

A few weeks ago we worried about news of the spreading swine flu, last Friday night a mild earthquake hit the area, and now we have fires – what's next? Flights of locust? Frogs falling from the sky?

In spite of plagues, fires and earthquakes, life is good in California. We are, after all, the “Golden State.”

At Between Homes our thoughts and prayers (for those of us inclined to pray) are with the brave firefighters risking life and personal safety to fight these destructive fires. Our thoughts and prayers are also with all the fire victims.

The photos below were taken from the L.A. Times and Ventura County Star websites, respectively. The Times and the Star own the copyright to these photographs. All rights are fully reserved.

(Click on individual image for a full view.)

A view of the fire spreading over the hills.



A beachgoer taking a dog for a walk on the beach - the fires burn on the hills above.



A dangerous night drop from a helicopter.



Air tanker making a drop over the hills.



Another view of an air drop. Because of the steep terrain and gusting winds, these drops are very dangerous to the pilots who fly the air tankers.



A firefighting chopper - thick smoke makes these operations dangerous.



Even animals need rescuing - goats being rescued.



Evacuated horses are safely boarded up at the local Fair Grounds.



Fires and palm trees - a typical Southern California combination.



Here is a link to community resources available to those affected by the JESUSITA FIRE (Santa Barbara).

COMMUNITY RESOURCES