News

Can I Get a Witness?

by The Editors on August 27, 2007

Motocrash-1

On July 5, 2007 we told you about an accident involving a City of Carlsbad truck and a white motorcycle at the intersection of Tamarack and Jefferson streets (click here for story and photos). Now one of the people involved is seeking witnesses to the accident and they have placed a flyer on a Eucalyptus Tree on Tamarack. Here’s what it says:

Looking for witnesses to an accident that occurred on July 5th around 2:26 PM. . . Please call 760-822-3965. Your help is greatly appreciated.

The photo would suggest that someone may have run a red light. Now it sounds like exactly who that was is up for debate. If you saw the accident, please give the number a call: (760) 822-3965. And here’s a photo if you don’t remember.

Wreck2-1

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

A Total Eclipse of the Moon

by The Editors on August 27, 2007

Eclipse

Sorry about the short notice, but tomorrow morning (August 28) starting at 12:53 AM the moon will begin its trip into the shadow created by the earth. By 3:37 AM the moon will be completely eclipsed. The good news is that Carlsbadistan is one of the epic locations to watch the entire event. Here’s what NASA has to say:

All of North America will witness some portion of the eclipse, but western observers are favored. The early penumbral or umbral phases will be in progress at moonset for observers in Maritime Canada. From the eastern USA, the Great Lakes region and Ontario, the Moon sets in total eclipse. Only observers to the west of the Rockies (including Alaska) will be treated to the entire event.

If we’re up (which we doubt) we’ll try and snap a photo. All the Monday night revelers might want to stay up a little longer after stumbling home from Dini’s and check it out from the sea wall.

[Link: NASA]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

August Clouds Bring Thunderstorms

by The Editors on August 26, 2007

Rain2

Carlsbadistanians
who thought today would be a great day for a morning stroll got a surprise at 9:30 AM when the skies opened and it began pouring rain (.3 inches) monsoon style. What we thought was bombs going off on base was actually thunder and lightening. Steam floated up off the streets and most ran for cover. Of course the Weather Underground said there was only a 20% chance of rain this morning. Guess they were 80% wrong on this one. The guy crossing Grand Ave. at Roosevelt was one of the few, the proud, the prepared. Who carries an umbrella in Carlsbadistan in August?

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Carlsbad Bridges (Not) Falling Down

by The Editors on August 26, 2007

 Uniontrib 20070826 Images Met-Bridge280The bridge that takes The 5 over Carlsbad’s Batiquitos Lagoon is 42-years old, and last week Caltrans workers Xing Fang and Kenneth Vo took a closer look at it to make sure it’s safe. According to the San Diego Union Tribune it’s something Caltrans does every two years.

In its most recent inspection, in 2005, the west side of the bridge received a sufficiency rating of 97. The east side was given an 86. A bridge receiving a rating of 50 or less, and designated as “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete,” qualifies for federal replacement funding. . . Last week, Fang and Vo spotted what appeared to be a new problem: heavy erosion near one of the bridge’s footings.

Fang said this didn’t pose any “immediate danger,” however, they would work with Caltrans to come up with a solution. You know, because we don’t any bridges falling down especially when they carry 212,000 cars a day through Carlsbad.

[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

City Manager Ray Patchett Retires

by The Editors on August 26, 2007

21 01 528 25 07Ray Patchett, 59, has been Carlsbad’s city manager for 20 years and last Tuesday (Aug. 21, 2007) he announced that he will be retiring from his $220,683 a year position. North County Times writer Barbara Henry reviews his career and speaks with many who knew him and will miss him, several who won’t miss him refused to comment on the record. We think you can put us in the “we’ll miss him” category.

[Link: North County Times]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

PWC Crash in Lagoon Ends At Hospital

by The Editors on August 25, 2007

Having been watching the chaos in Agua Hedionda Lagoon since someone mentioned it to us last week, we find it very hard to believe that this doesn’t happen more often, what with all those PWCs buzzing around and around in that tiny corner of the lagoon:

A 13-year-old was flown to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego after a collision Friday [Aug. 24, 2007] of two personal watercraft at California Water Sports in Snug Harbor Marina, according to officials. . . The boy’s watercraft was bumped by another, causing pain to his back, firefighters said.

The boy was flown to the hospital via life flight, however, his injuries were not that serious according to The North County Times. The helicopter was simply used because traffic was so bad on The 5.

[Link: North County Times]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Justice Dept Sikh’d on Carlsbad Restaurants

by The Editors on August 24, 2007

When Dave Bindra, 22, tried to get into Carlsbad’s Ocean House Restaurant and Grill on July 27 wearing a turban, he was stopped at the door because of rules against do-rags, beanies and other “head wear associated with street gangs,” according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

. . . when he explained to Ocean House manager Steve Town that his turban was not a do-rag, but a religious expression that he never removes in public, Town said, “ ‘Beanie, do-rag or turban, you still have a towel on your head and you’re not going in.’ ” . . . Town denies he made the “towel” remark and said Bindra and his friends were denied entry because they were being aggressive.”

Bindra was told the same thing at the Coyote Bar. Then the religious man and his friends went back to the Ocean House and got into a yelling match with management. Now, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund has complained to the US Justice Department and a San Diego law professor thinks Bindra might have a strong case. . . The story has even been picked up by The Times of India.

[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Carlsbad’s Lego Tower Record Falls

by The Editors on August 23, 2007

Lego2.JpgWe’d hoped that the winds would continue all week and thwart Canada’s chances at building the world’s tallest Lego tower at the Canadian National Exhibit. But that didn’t happen.

Unfortunately the winds didn’t co-operate so we couldn’t get the boom operators up and then we waited all day on Tuesday and unfortunately the winds were even higher on Tuesday,” said John Lotenfoe from Lego Canada, who had been helping oversee construction. . . Luckily for us today we were able to get the boom up there and set ourselves a brand new world record,” said Lotenfoe.

The new record is 29.03 meters only .45 of a meter taller than the record previously set at Carlsbad Legoland at the beginning of summer. But Canada won’t be able to gloat for long. The next record is set for Oslo, Norway in May of 2008.

Kind of makes us want to do our own version and mess up their whole PR campaign. If you have a couple hundred thousand Legos laying around, please let us know.

[Link: 680 News]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Trading Card War Still Raging

by The Editors on August 23, 2007

Portal LogoudWe mentioned on Tuesday that Carlsbad based trading card giant Upper Deck had pulled out of their $416 million bid to purchase the Topps Co, Inc. That of course caused Topps’ stock to tumble 7% and made them a little angry according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

In a statement, Topps said the cancellation of Upper Deck’s $416 million offer was proof that the proposal had always been a “sham.” . . The New York company, which also owns the Bazooka and Ring Pop brands, said it would hold Carlsbad-based Upper Deck accountable for all “damages suffered by Topps and our stockholders.”

The Topps board was hoping to be purchased by an investment group led by former Disney head Michael Eisner.

[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Carlsbad: Number 9, Number 9

by The Editors on August 21, 2007

A Cleveland-based private jet service Flight Options LLC recently released a list of the top 10 favorite places their rich-ass customers like to fly (via private jet) and Carlsbad sneaked onto the list in ninth place behind Nantucket, Napa, Scottsdale and others. Here’s how they described us:

With seven miles of accessible beach, championship golf, world-class spas and the kid-friendly appeal of Legoland, Carlsbad is a classic Southern California destination for families and couples alike.

Then again, Las Vegas was number one on the Flight Options list so obviously these jet fliers have their priorities completely backwards.

[Link: Flight Options via Denver Business Journal]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }