Berkeley Tree-Sitters hit with Massive Fines

I guess actions have consequences:
This in today's S.F. Gate:

Berkeley’s infamous tree-sitters have been hit with a rude surprise since they came down to earth: Judges are socking them with thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees.

Ironically, much of the money - which could total more than $10,000 per sitter - is going straight to the University of California, the very institution the tree-sitters were protesting as they tried to save a grove of trees outside Memorial Stadium.

“It’s really vindictive,” said an attorney for some the sitters, Dennis Cunningham. “They don’t have this kind of money.”

Maybe, but university lawyer Michael Goldstein isn’t making any apologies. “We’ve asked the judge to throw the book at them,” Goldstein said flatly.

UC Berkeley estimates it spent more than $800,000 on police and other security measures during the 22 months sitters were up in the trees. The university spent $40,000 alone on the scaffolding that went up around the final tree during the last day of the protest this month.

Tour Lava Beds National Monument

This region covers Siskiyou County is famous several popular natural attractions
including Mt Shasta, at 14,197 ft, is the tallest volcano in California; Lava Beds National Monument,
and Klamath River wilderness area.

Lava Beds National Monument

This region has witnessed many violent volcanic eruptions over the last half-million years.
Many diverse and fascinating volcanic features now mark the landscape.
Park features include more than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites,
and historic battlefields. An exciting California high desert adventure.

Tour Yreka CA
Discover Historic Yreka when gold was found in 1851.
Today, the spirit of gold rush era lives on in the buildings
on within the Yreka Historic District.

Tour Klamath Falls OR

Located in a geographically diverse area east of the Cascade Mountains and north of the
Oregon/California border, the Red Lion Inn Klamath Falls is close to snow-capped mountains,
sunny high desert and "The Klamath", Oregon's largest lake.

Tour Weed CA

The historic lumber town of Weed in south Siskiyou County with a breathtaking
view of beautiful Mt. Shasta, is a haven for the outdoor recreation enthusiast.

Tour Scott Valley

Explore the scenic Scott River Valley and the eastern approach to Marble Mountain Wilderness Area.
Includes the historic villages of Fort Jones and Etna.

Tour Happy Camp

The wild, scenic western region of Siskiyou County where the main highway (SR-96) follows
the Klamath River through dense forest.

Tour McCloud CA

The town of McCloud is proud of its varied and fascinating history. We welcome you to take a look back to its timber and railroad
beginnings and forward to what the future may hold for this historic lumber community.


Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Encompasses 39,116 acres of mostly open water and
croplands. Approximately 17,000 acres are leased by farmers under a program administered
by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. These crops, together with the waste grain and potatoes from
the lease program are a major food source for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Rancho Cuyamaca State Park

Visit Rancho Cuyamaca State Park -

The beautiful park offers camping and hiking in an oak woodland forest, with a sprinkling of pines and lovely meadows with creeks.
There are over 100 miles of trails which accommodate hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

At Cuyamaca look for the waterfalls near Green Valley Campground, headwaters to the Sweetwater River. There are also hidden meadows near Granite Springs or Milk Ranch Road. And great views from the top of Cuyamaca Peak or Stonewall Peak.

Park Wildlife:
The most commonly seen wildlife includes mule deer, gray squirrels, raccoons and striped skunks. Predators such as gray foxes, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions are also present.

Park Campgrounds:
The two family camps, Paso Picacho and Green Valley, are open and on the reservation system spring through fall. Call for availability during the remainder of the year.

Theme Park Summer Crowds have gone.

Kids are back in school and that means the big crowds have disappeared from area theme parks.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - The Xtreme Park

Magic Mountain is a 260 acre theme park and entertainment complex located a short distance north of Los Angeles
There are over 100 rides (including 16 super-scream roller coasters), shows and attractions.

A Story from Little Red Hen

Allow me to share the latest story to hit my mailbox. However, I've changed the names to protect the guilty.

Once upon a time, on a farm in Texas , there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains of wheat.

She called all of her neighbors together and said, 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'

'Not I,' said the cow.

'Not I,' said the duck.

'Not I,' said the pig.

'Not I,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.

'Who will help me reap my wheat?' asked the little red hen.

'Not I,' said the duck.

'Out of my classification,' said the pig.

'I'd lose my seniority,' said the cow.

'I'd lose my unemployment compensation,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen, and so she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.

'Who will help me bake the bread?' asked the little red hen.

'That would be overtime for me,' said the cow.

'I'd lose my welfare benefits,' said the duck.

'I'm a dropout and never learned how,' said the pig.

'If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination,' said the goose.

'Then I will do it by myself,' said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, 'No, I shall eat all five loaves.'

'Excess profits!' cried the cow.

'Capitalist leech!' screamed the duck.

'I demand equal rights!' yelled the goose.

The pig just grunted in disdain.

And they all painted 'Unfair!' picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

Then the farmer came. He said to the little red hen, 'You must not be so greedy.'

'But I earned the bread,' said the little red hen.

'Exactly,' said the farmer. 'That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle.'

And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, 'I am grateful, for now I truly understand.'

But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established.

Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared...so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.


IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?

Camp Pendleton Race Series

Camp Pendleton near Oceanside California Features a very active racing schedule year round. This year's famous mud run is all sold out - but watch for the next one.

Biking, running, triathlons, obstacle courses, mud run - through the scenic rolling hills of the Camp Pendleton USMC Base.
Camp Pendleton Bulldog Bike Race [MAR] - 26 mile race with ocean views are throughout the majority of the course; this is one of four opportunities to ride on base.
Camp Pendleton Devil Dog Duathlon [APR] - 5K Run / 30K Bike / 5K Run through Area 43 along Las Pulgas Rd.
Camp Pendleton Mountain Warfare Challenge Bishop CA [MAY] - a challenging 10K off-road run at high altitude with obstacles such as tire course, low crawl, five-foot wall climb, and tunnel crawl.
Camp Pendleton Mud Run [JUN] - world famous mud run on the USMC base - a challenging 10K run with hills, tire obstacles, river crossings, two 5-foot walls with mud on both sides, tunnel crawl, slippery hill climb, and the final 30-foot mud pit.
Camp Pendleton International Triathlon [July 4th] - The 1.5K swim is in the boat basin / out & back 40K ride / 10K double loop run.
Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathalon [AUG] - The venue area will be at ACU-5, Home of the Swift Intruders - 500M swim / 30k Bike Ride / 5K Run.
Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon - Camp Pendleton [SEP] - This race draws over 1,000 runners who compete for awards in 50 categories on a 13.1 mile all gravel off-road course.
Buffalo Alley 10K - Camp Pendleton [NOV] - formerly the "Horno Ridge Run" - is the ultimate in Hard Corps Competition in a cross-country 10K.

Imperial Valley Winter Escape

Tour California Imperial Valley Vacation Resorts :


Located in the remote southeastern corner of the State of California, this desert area presents great adventure opportunities for the non-summer months. Hiking, exploring, wildlife, fishing and river treks along the Lower Colorado River and Salton Sea. Imperial Valley is also home to several great off-road vehicle sand dune recreation areas.

El Centro is the commercial hub for the agriculturally rich Imperial Valley. Irrigation successfully transformed a barren desert into productive farmland. Best crops are tomatoes, sugar beets, melons and lettuce. Most of El Centro is located at elevation 45 feet below sea level.

Borrego Springs is certainly one of the most scenic desert resort areas of California. The desert valleys are bordered by 9,000 foot mountain peaks. Some have said that Borrego Springs is what Palm Springs was 50 years ago - peaceful, quiet, relaxing. There are no stoplights in Borrego.

600,000 acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in the contiguous United States and voted the #1 state park in California by National Geographic. This area was first traversed by Spanish explorer Juan Batiste de Anza in 1774. Visitors can traverse canyons full of desert palms, ancient pictographs,
majestic cactus and early spring wildflowers.

Cibola NWR is located in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses the historic Colorado River channel and several important backwater areas that are home to many wildlife species. Because of the river’s life sustaining water, wildlife here survive in an environment that reaches 120 degrees in the summer and receives an average of only 2 inches of rain per year.

Anza-Borrego SP *
Borrego Springs *
Brawley *
Calexico *
Calipatria *
El Centro *
NAF El Centro *
Holtville *
Imperial *
Lower Colorado *
Salton Sea *
Winterhaven