We got to the parking area a bit late (8:45ish) and so had to park down the road a good mile or so. Chantry Flats filled up quick! The guy at the general store where we bought our State Parks passes said it was full by 7am. Lordy. The big draw are some pretty waterfalls and swimming holes a couple of miles in.

Just after the falls is where things got bad. Not steep bad, or overly hot bad, but bad because we were suddenly swarmed by thousands of flies bad. Hoping they would get bored, we pressed on another couple of miles, but by then realized they were going to be pestering us for the duration. I guess it was a good motivation to keep moving (I barely even stopped for water breaks – just drank as I hiked), but it sort of ruined the chance to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Anyway, got to the top and thankfully the flies disappeared due to the slight breeze. We hung out on top for a while, grabbing a sandwich at the little lookout cafe and checking out some of the huge observatory telescopes. It’s pretty developed on top, with several radio and TV antennas, as well as a half dozen telescopes.

The hike down wasn’t nearly as awful as the way up, mostly because we could outrun the flies. Took a pretty good toll on my not-so-young-anymore frame, and I was still feeling sore two full days later.

Rico tracked the trip with his nifty GPS unit and imported the data into Google Maps. Here are some stats and images:

Mt. Wilson Summit Loop via Santa Anita Canyon / Winter Creek Trail
total distance from parking down back to the trail head: 17 miles
starting elevation:  1938ft (car) / 2129ft (trail head)
lowest elevation: 1784ft. (sturtevant falls)
summit elevation: 5690ft (cafe)
total climb: 3906 (top to bottom)
total time: 8.5 hrs

Google Map with route overlay (click to enlarge):

Elevation tracking (click to enlarge):

Rico also added the hike to his awesome new website ReCreateLA.com. Check it out and give the boy some love. Or at least get outside and play!

(As a side note, yes I know my updates are pathetically rare. But I had a pretty nostalgic look back at my posts over the past couple of years today, and just thought it would be a good idea to make a post now and then.)

When I was a kid I was super into BJ, and probably knew all the lyrics to every song on the Greatest Hits compilation of 1985. I possibly even purchased the album that came out after that one, River of Dreams, but I lost the habit for this style of musical theatre pop when I met a kid at computer camp who was WAY more into Billy Joel than me. Like, superfan status. Knowing I couldn’t compete with that level of sheer cornball, and also anticipating a time when I might want to actually *date a girl*, I started listening to gangster rap instead.

Anyway, check out the awesome video above (not so subtle racial stereotyping included!). 1984 was a million years ago, huh. If you’re feeling extra nostalgic, check out this one too.

Vote YES on Proposition 19.

This is the big one folks. Prop 19 would legalize the personal possession, cultivation and transportation of marijuana, and would set up a showdown with Federal law. I support this proposition because the drug war is by all accounts an abject failure – a horrific waste of money and lives that has not had one iota of impact on the global drug trade and only supports the massive military industrial complex and foreign despots and criminals. Legalizing pot will be a huge weight lifted off the shoulders of law enforcement as well as the state court and prison system, and will be a huge blow to the brutal Mexican drug cartels. The taxes raised from the legal, above-board sale and distribution will be more than enough to pay for added drug-treatment centers, education, and other uses. In addition, we can expect to see a Supreme Court fight that could lead to broader decriminalization/legalization. Make history – vote YES on Prop 19.

Vote NO on Proposition 20 and NO on Proposition 27.

These two, related Measures concern the complicated and corrosive process of congressional and local redistricting. Historically, elected representatives “rig” the district lines every ten years (after the census) to conform to their party, which helps entrench incumbent power by consolidating their supporters while dividing their opponents. In 2008, CA voters passed a proposition to create a 14-member, bipartisan commission to establish Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization districts – a step in the right direction. However, I believe we have not yet gotten conclusive evidence that this commission is cost-effective or actually improves fairness, and it should not be given the additional power to redraw congressional districts at this time. Let’s give them more time to prove themselves by voting NO on Prop 27, which would take away all of their authority, but also voting NO on Prop 20, which would give them more power.

Vote YES on Proposition 21.

This would establish an additional $18 surcharge on your car registration in order to help fund state parks and wildlife programs. Everyone hates taxes, I know, but the CA State Park system is one of the best in the nation, and is currently underfunded. This prop would offset over $200 million of other funding sources currently being used, and anyone who pays gets a free pass. We all need to spend a little more time outdoors, and this is the perfect kick in the pants. Get outside and play in the state parks! Vote YES on Prop 21.

Proposition 22 – no strong opinion, probably NO.

I don’t really know who would go to all the trouble to collect the tens of thousands of signatures necessary to get this one on the ballot, but basically it would further restrict the state government from moving funds from transportation, redevelopment or local government projects and giving it to, say, education or some other area, even in a budgetary emergency. It’s one group of state employees versus another, and I think we can do without the additional restrictions on the legislature’s ability to pay the bills when/where they come up, so I will probably vote NO. However, if you’re the kind of person that thinks tax money should only go to EXACTLY where it was originally slated for (keep in mind none of us actually get to decide where it goes in the first place), then vote YES.

Vote NO on Proposition 23.

This one is absolutely 100% critical to defeat, both for personal as well as economic and environmental reasons. The supporters are two Texas oil companies, Valero and Tesoro, that simply do not want to see their market share of the energy supply in the state to go down. They only care about profits. At stake, however, is the burgeoning green-tech/renewable energy sector, which is the fastest growing industry in the state and has the potential to provide thousands of in-state jobs for decades into the future, including MINE. The passage of Prop 23 would also kill clean air standards in the state, and if you think our air quality is bad now, just wait until you’re choking on smog and drowning in acid rain. Stand up for environmental progress and the clean-energy economy, VOTE NO ON PROP 23!

Proposition 24 – no strong opinion, possibly YES.

This measure would repeal a tax cut for some businesses that gave them some flexibility in terms of what they can write off as losses, what state their income is taxed in (if operating in multiple states), and the ability to transfer tax credits to other businesses. This flexibility likely has some positive effect on some business areas, but the state could also probably use the $1.3 billion the measure would reclaim. I am in favor of a friendly business climate, as that will increase economic growth and jobs, but the education system in CA is one of its most vital resources, and needs the funding too. I would love to see some education reform, but until then I don’t think we can keep starving the children of their right to decent public schools. So, probably vote YES on Prop 24.

Vote YES on Proposition 25.

Another pretty critical vote, which will help to break the budget deadlock that has been so brutal this year. Currently the CA legislature requires a 2/3 majority vote to pass a budget, which, as is readily evident from our disfunctional national Senate, gives the minority party undue power to hold the budget hostage until their special demands are met (usually money for their districts). Passing this measure would withhold the lawmakers’ salaries until they do their damn jobs and pass the budget. Keep in mind that a 2/3 majority would still be required to raise taxes, so you can be rest assured that they wont go up very easily. Help democracy do its job – vote YES on Prop 25.

Vote NO on Proposition 26.

This is the “rename business fees as taxes” measure, which is an underhanded way for corporate interests to avoid paying for potential damages to society or the environment. If the fees are reclassified as taxes, which everyone hates, then the legislature will require a 2/3 majority to impose them, thus making them unlikely to be assigned. The reason you should vote NO is because the government needs the power to assess fees for the ill effects of business when and where they occur. In addition, the power to impose fees is the most direct and effective way to address underfunded state assets, such as entrance to state parks or continuing garbage service. So, vote NO on Prop 26.

In summary:

19 – YES!

20&27 – NO

21 – YES

22 – no?

23 – NO, NO, A HUNDRED TIMES NO!

24 – yes?

25 – YES!

26 – NO

Basically, my thinking comes down to a few points. First, California is a mess. The political system is screwed up, and the reality of actually attempting to fix it will take an intimate knowledge of all the different players, agencies, interest groups and so on to coordinate. Brown is a career politician, which I believe is a good thing – better than simply wanting to jump into politics for a quick romp and then exit to a high-paying lobbying job. This guy actually wants to work for the state. Crazy, I know.

Second, Brown supports the clean tech economy and environmental leadership that California will hopefully continue to lead in. This one hits close to home for me, as I work in the renewable energy sector. Much work still needs to be done to improve the green business climate in the state, and due to the reasons above, I believe Brown will be able to understand and cut the red tape faster and more effectively than Whitman. I believe Whitman would also be a good thing for business in the state, but much in the same way that Arnold Schwarzenegger spent years simply learning the ropes, I believe her effectiveness would be limited and/or misguided. In terms of actual climate policy, as well, Whitman is suspect, promising to suspend the incredibly important AB-32, which established California’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (which mandate that the utilities get 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2013) and set the state up to be a leader in the new clean tech economy of the future. VOTE NO ON PROP 23! (more on that in a subsequent post).

Third, I am much less worried about Brown’s “ulterior motives”. While in his previous stint as Governor he ran several times for President, his age would now preclude that possibility, as well as the previously mentioned golden parachute as a lobbyist. This guy will probably be a public servant until he dies. If not, he’s spent more than 35 years trying to fool us otherwise.

What gives me serious pause to Meg Whitman is first and foremost her disregard for politics for most of her adult life, having rarely voted at all. Her work as a businesswoman is impressive, but the state is simply far more complicated than running an IT company, and it strikes me that her goal to be governor is not out of a sincere desire to serve the state’s interests (as opposed to just business’s interests). I also don’t like the idea of Whitman’s use of her massive personal fortune for campaigning. What it says to me is that rich people can simply buy their way into politics (see: The Governator) without really having a demonstrated interest in serving the interests of the people. Brown may be supported by unions, which have their problems, but unions at least represent real people, banding together for collective and community betterment. There are no union chiefs who are billionaires, and a very few who are millionaires. Whitman represents the few, the powerful, the elite, who don’t necessarily want more than to enrich themselves and their friends. They see themselves as Masters of our Universe, who should simply be trusted to set the listing ship straight. But aren’t they the ones who got us into this mess?

In addition, Whitman supported Proposition 8, which took away the right of gay and lesbian people to marry. I would never vote for a person who supports taking away the civil rights of others.

If people really want to see uncorrupted campaigns based on real issues and policies, they should also support public financing of elections (which probably equates with a large tax hike). Otherwise politics will always be dominated either by the wealthy elite with big business behind them or the less-wealthy elite with giant unions and a lesser portion of big business behind them.

Vote for Brown on November 2!

This article is part of the CA Midterms 2010 series.

This article is part of the CA Midterms 2010 series.

Why all the hubbub? Well, there’s a sense among folks that these are desperate times, and indeed they may be – persistent unemployment, record low faith in government, a worsening deficit and a worn-thin patience for much “change” in the short term. In addition, the recent Citizens United Supreme Court decision has allowed the floodgates to open in terms of unlimited corporate spending by both named and, perhaps most controversially, anonymous donors.

In the following weeks, I’ll be adding posts outlining my advice on how to vote on the various important offices and propositions on the California ballot. Be warned, I will be endorsing progressive candidates and causes, so consider this first post to be the only fully neutral one of the bunch. Rest assured I will be doing my research and hope to at least paint an accurate picture of both sides of the issues and candidates.

So educate yourself! Here are some dates and links to get you started.

REGISTER TO VOTE! DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 18th! Do it today!

Anyone, even you, can vote by mail. Get the vote-by-mail application HERE (.pdf) THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS OCTOBER 26th. Do it today!


Read the candidate statements and learn what propositions will be on the ballot starting HERE. You can also download the entire guide HERE (.pdf).

Election day is November 2nd. Be there or be square.

*Yes, I DO think it’s important to vote. It’s the only way we regularly have the privilege of contributing to and shaping our communities, culture and economy through the democratic system of government. We have to argue and compromise, but therein hopefully lies its strength – that the result is either the will of the people’s vision or the vision of people with will.

This article is part of the CA Midterms 2010 series.

I’ve been cheating on you with another blog. Her name is PopTen. She’s a dot-net.

I’m sure you’ve been wondering where all my introspective political posting has been of late, or whatever happened to Your Weekly Media, and why don’t I ever tell you stories from European and Asian lands. I don’t even want to talk about the pictures. I can say now that all those things will always be ours.

But this new blog – I met her through friends – she just offers a different kind of outlet, you know what I mean? I can be more myself with her. Goofy and nerdy and use cuss words and all the other things I just don’t feel I can be around you. It’s top-ten lists (the horror) and pop-culture musings.

I’ve given it some thought, and I think it’s time for us to add a little e-spice to our lives. So we’re going to have a blogging-threesome. That means that from now on, I’ll cross-post my PopTen posts over here at What-What.com. I’ll still add personal and other things to you from time to time, and I think you should also start subscribing to her RSS feed to keep up with what her other authors are doing.

To give you a head start on my secret history, you can see all my PopTen posts here. I’ve discussed some important things, as you’ll see, from which lovable movie alien life form kicks more ass, sorry, butt, to a top ten list of the worst band names from this year’s Warped Tour.

I hope this new relationship status works for you, and I have some other “just us” things in mind for you very soon (hint: shifting to a design/photo showcase site cuz I need some jobs plz).

I still love you baby, and I know we can work through this.

Which is to say, it’s still a pretty good video.

Anyway, here’s the tune (no official video).

Constituent parts after the jump.

The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Jay-Z – What More Can I Say?