Tag: San Diego

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Return to Facebook

As explained yesterday, major anniversaries are coming, or recently passed, for a number of the cloud services that I have long subscribed to. For example, X, formerly Twitter, reached 20 years on Christmas day. Yeah, I registered in 2005. YouTube will be two decades on July 20. Then there is Facebook—around October 1.

I don’t love Facebook. The user interface is needlessly complicated, which must mean that’s by choice. For one, co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is a socially handicapped geek, and he designed a social network that defines how people interact online? Seriously? For another, the company’s profit-driven business model is all about time online—how long can somebody stay engaged and exposed to advertising. Deliberate design helps achieve that objective, by making people click, click, click.

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The Cats of University Heights: Christmas Cat

Merry Christmas! We celebrate the holiday with a kitty seen yesterday along Monroe Avenue (cross-streets withheld). This fine feline takes the day for posing beside a holiday tree. What could be more appropriate than that?

I used Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to take the Featured Image and companion. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 100, 1/125 sec, 115mm (film equivalent); 10:59 a.m. PST. The second: f/3.4, ISO 50, 1/60 sec, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 10:59 a.m.

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The Cats of University Heights: KitKat

I may not have the spelling right—two words or perhaps “C” instead of “K”—but the name is correct. This forlorn little thing came to her current owner quite unexpectedly about three years ago. A young man and woman came by looking for the, ah, pet parent after witnessing some beastly human kicking the cat in the face, injuring her jaw and breaking considerable number of teeth.

They were going to drive the wounded cat to San Diego Humane Society but instead left her behind. The couple had come to the home of an animal lover. She puts out food for stray cats, possums, skunks, squirrels, crows, and other birds. She once rescued a snake whose tail got crushed by a car. She nursed it back to health and had it released six months later. She likewise cared for KitKat (and had help from a relative who is a veterinarian).

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Something Sweet Before the Sour Comes

Two weeks to Christmas, time comes to start spreading holiday cheer—decorations, too—and pledge to keep the spirit alive all through the upcoming year. My wife and I dispatched holiday cards today, for the first time in a couple of ages (yeah, too long a time). A final batch goes in the mail tomorrow—followed by, during the coming days, distribution to local friends and neighbors.

The candy canes come courtesy of San Diego Zoo, where we saw them on Nov. 10, 2025. Yeah, Christmas starts early there but means less this year because of the big bah, humbug coming on January 5. Parking will no longer be free for everyone at the zoo, nor in adjoining Balboa Park.

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In the Alley with Harley

San Diego’s three-season Summer makes motorcycle riding an enticing transportation option for many residents. Then there is California law, which permits cutting the lane; it’s a common practice, too. You’re stuck in traffic, for example, while a motorcyclist weaves between vehicles and advances.

The practice is all the more unsettling, when a motorcycle suddenly races up from behind between you and other fast-moving cars, SUVs, trucks, and more! I am surprised that there aren’t more accidents caused by the driving tactic. I needn’t say but must: Don’t text and ride, please.

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The (Honorary) Cats of University Heights: Swarthy

Not every first photo is a winner. This one is more of a loser but nevertheless is worthy enough to be the Featured Image. The companion capture is much better, albeit still somewhat lacking. Both pics come from Pixel 10 Pro XL, which replaces the still functional and charming Pixel 2 XL. But, alas, Google stopped supporting the smartphone at Android 11 (current version is 16).

For today’s morning walk, I left behind Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for chance to get a first shot with the Pixel. Opportunity presented on Arizona Street, which is one block beyond the neighborhood boundary. Hence, the honorary designation. My wife spotted the blackie that paid little attention to us as it stalked birdies.

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The Cats of University Heights: Peppers

Meet the last remaining member of a small community cat colony. The oldest two, an abandoned bonded pair living in the alley for at least six years, are absent. Floyd found his way to foster care about a year ago for health reasons. He was adopted earlier this month.

Jingle was left behind with Pops, who was also recently adopted, a sadly emotional debonding. Turns out that Floyd’s new owner would like a second cat, which could be Jingle. Problem: He hasn’t been seen since November 8. One possible reason: The property that the cats claimed as territory is in the early stages of a disruptive renovation, following the death of the homeowner.

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Comic-Con: The Return

On Oct. 14, 2025, Comic-Con International sent email that Open Registration for the 2026 San Diego event would commence today, at 9 a.m. PST. It’s a wickedly wet day here in Southern California, which put me uncharacteristically inside. So, I pulled out the laptop, meandered over to the badge sale webpage, and joined the queue—where I was warned my wait would be more than an hour.

I puttered about my office, while waiting to see if maybe my chance for a Golden Ticket would come. The passes sell out fast, and I haven’t attended the Con since 2017, I did secure a pass for San Diego Comic-Can Special Edition during Thanksgiving 2021. But I couldn’t attend, for not meeting SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)/COVID-19 requirements. Seriously?

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Makeshift Food Bank

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history means millions of people are not receiving federal funds for basics—you know, things like food. People employed by Uncle Sam are either furloughed or working without pay (and delayed only, hopefully). Don’t get me going about families who count on SNAP benefits and won’t receive them for November.

To the Congress, I say this: Do your job! Pass a damn budget. Stop pissing away days whining over line items like expiring subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Agree to punt! Fund the damn government for X number of days and fight among yourselves meantime about a final budget. Don’t punish people while you bicker like kids in the schoolyard or, worse, an angry soon-to-be-divorced couple gouging one another in spiteful rages over splitting assets (or assigning child custody).

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The Cats of University Heights: Brim

We briefly step back from the backlog and present the one-hundred-fortieth feline found behind door or window. Nickname Brim, this handsome kitty lives somewhere along Panorama Drive. Date: Oct. 19, 2025.

The Featured Image comes from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Vitals: f/3.4, ISO 80, 1/2000, (synthetic) 230mm (digital and optical zoom); 10:08 a.m. PDT.

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This Use to Be Grass

The homeless are increasingly pariahs, across San Diego County. The public policy is discourage and displace, rather than meaningfully address fundamental causes. The Featured Image and companion reveal one tactic: Piling jagged rocks where until recently there was grass, punctuated by shrub-like trees.

But the homeless would somewhat frequently hangout or campout on the grass. Honestly, the rocks are more unsightly than the homeless tents. Grass is great! We need more. The city destroys a lovely green space to deter the so-called unhoused? Solve the problem! Don’t create one as band-aid for another. The rocks look weird, and they are weapons. Lots of damage can be done with rocks like these.

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Larger Than Life

Halloween may be over—and Day of the Dead with it—but I have one seasonal yard decoration to share, as you can see from the Featured Image and companion. There is no optical illusion here. The skeleton really is giant size.

Both photos come from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra on Oct. 30, 2025. Vitals, first: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/1600 sec. 70mm (film equivalent); 10 a.m. PDT. Vitals, other: f/1.7, ISO 50, 1/500 sec, 115mm (film equivalent); 10:01 a.m.