Friday, October 24, 2008

Driving in southeast Tucson

Driving home in southeast Tucson

This message was sent using a cell phone

Friday, October 17, 2008

Southwestern Region Recreational Activities

For Arizona - October 15, 2008:

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

Estimated percentage of current fall foliage: 60%-80%
Area with greatest amount of color: Elevations of 7000 ft. and below.
Recommended viewing routes: The lower elevations of the Alpine Ranger District as well as areas of the Clifton District are best for viewing color at this time.
Estimated peak viewing period: This will likely be the last week for fall colors on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Coconino National Forest

Estimated percentage of current fall foliage: 85%-90% for the higher elevations and a 10%-20% for Oak Creek Canyon and lower
Area with greatest amount of color: Lockett Meadow (Inner Basin), the northern and southern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks, the northern part of Oak Creek Canyon and along the West Fork Trail
Recommended viewing routes: Great views of the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks from the Around the Peaks Loop scenic drive. In the line for the Scenic Skyride, and also along Snowbowl Rd (FR 516). Forest Road (FR) 552 to Lockett Meadow (Inner Basin). The trees are starting to change above Cave Springs Campground along Highway 89A. Also, along the Mogollon Rim and Forest Roads 300 and 321 are also great scenic drives.
Estimated peak viewing period: In the higher elevations the color is excellent and color will move down to lower elevations (Sedona, Red Rock RD) in 2-3 weeks.
- Coconino's fall colors web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/fall-colors/fall_colors.shtml.

Coronado National Forest (As of October 9, 2008)

Estimated percentage of current fall foliage: 15%
Area with greatest amount of color: Elevations above 6100’
Recommended viewing routes: On the Safford District color can be seen in Wet Canyon in the Pinaleno Mountains. Some aspen on the south side of Mt. Graham along the highway are starting to change yellow. Other viewing spots include Soldier Creek, Cunningham and Riggs Flat Campgrounds. On the Santa Catalina District, color change has started around the Palisades Visitor Center, just before Milepost 20 on the Catalina Highway.

Kaibab National Forest

Estimated percentage of current fall foliage:North Kaibab RD: 40% Williams RD: 35% Tusayan RD: 10%.
Area with greatest amount of color: : The North Kaibab District is currently the most colorful area of the Kaibab NF. The Williams Ranger District is also showing a lot of color, especially on Bill Williams Mountain and Kendrick Mountain
Recommended Viewing Routes:In Williams, take the drive up Bill Williams Mountain or hike in either Sycamore Canyon or up Kendrick Mountain. On the North Kaibab please visit the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center for a fall “Fall Color Tour” information packet.
Estimated peak viewing period: Now is a great time to visit the North Kaibab and Williams Districts. Tusayan may show more color in a week or more.
- See the Kaibab's fall color web page at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/fallcolors/.

Tonto National Forest (As of October 9, 2008)

Area with greatest amount of color: Elevations of 3500’ and above and scattered in other areas.
Recommended viewing routes: Color can be seen along 288, North of Young, AZ
Estimated peak viewing period: October-November

There has been no color change reported for the Prescott National Forest

Friday, October 10, 2008

Dobermans head sticking out of sunroof

Barry and I were in a nearby city recently, on our way to Best Buy. When we were stopped at a red light at a huge intersection, I glanced out the window and saw this black car pull up in one of the left turning lanes. Imagine my surprise when I saw this huge Doberman sitting in the car with its head sticking out of the sunroof. I was so happy that I had my Centro with me! I quickly got it out and snapped this photo. You just never know what you're going to see when you're out and about.

http://www.treocentral.com/content/Stories/2089-1.htm

El camino driving in south Tucson

El Camino driving in south Tucson

El Camino 2

Driving I-10 south of Tucson in October

Driving east on I-10 south of Tucson in October

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Grant Road Improvement

Recent Media Coverage

Grant Rd. widening alignment unveiled, Arizona Daily Star, October 07, 2008

Left-turn restrictions proposed for Grant Road widening, Tucson Citizen, October 07, 2008

Grant Road expansion plans unveiled, FOX11AZ.com, October 07, 2008

Proposal Announced to Widen Grant Road, KGUN 9 News, October 06, 2008

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Arizona gets $1M grant for Phoenix-Tucson rail study

Phoenix Business Journal - by Jan Buchholz

Arizona was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct a planning study on the environmental impacts of passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson.

The grant would complete the environmental analysis necessary for project development, according to a written statement from the federal agency.

The proposed rail plan would operate trains at speeds up to 125 miles per hour with up to 15 rail stations between the two Arizona cities. Currently there is no daily service between Phoenix and Tucson. It’s estimated that daily rail service would attract 1.2 million passengers annually.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, the former director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, released data Tuesday showing that Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in July 2008 compared with July 2007. At the same time, transit ridership increased 11 percent. Amtrak had its busiest month ever in July.

The $1 million grant Arizona received is a matching grant and is part of a $30 million grant program that will be shared with several other states, including California, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Driving home from the 2008 Greek fest 10pm (good thing I wasn't driving)
Photo taken and posted from the cell phone on the drive home

Driving to Greek fest in Tucson in September 2008
Sent from a cell phone on the way to the event

Monday, September 22, 2008

I-10 south of tucson

This message was sent using our cell phone as we drove east on I-10 this after noon into south east Tucson, Arizona after a day in the desert

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month – Arizona is joining a nationwide campaign sponsored by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign to encourage individuals, families and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies.

During monsoon season, many of us experience a power outage at one point or another. For most, the power service is restored within hours. However, have you thought about what you would do if power could not be restored within hours? Do you have a family communications plan in place? Do you have an emergency supply kit? Do you have nonperishable food supplies for 72 hours?

Please join me this month in taking these important preparedness steps: Get an Emergency Supply Kit; Make a Family Emergency Plan; Be Informed about the types of emergencies and their appropriate responses; and Get Involved in your community’s efforts.

Take that important first step to begin preparing yourself and your family for an emergency. To learn more about family preparedness kits, click here.

AZDOHS National Preparedness Month Prepare, Plan, Be Informed and Be Involved

1. Prepare
	Begin preparing for emergencies by assembling an emergency supply kit. Your kit should contain supplies to survive at least three days. Click here for items to include. Emergency Pantry Chart Instructional Videos on Emergency Preparedness

2. Plan
	Making a family emergency plan is easy. Create a disaster plan with your family so you will all know what to do in the event of an emergency. Be prepared to stay or be prepared to go. Click here for a checklist of items to include in your plan.

3. Stay Informed
	Learn all you can about emergencies that could occur in your community by visiting www.az211.gov or your local county emergency management office.

4. Be Involved
	Find out about local National Preparedness Month events in your area by visiting the ready.gov event calendar and selecting Arizona. Please click on the links for training and volunteer opportunities through local Citizen Corps Councils and other emergency preparedness organizations.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

--ORIGINAL MSG: Photo van on Kolb Between golf and 22nd
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Sent by a Cricket mobile device
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Joe Scott of Photo Blocker / Phantom Alert

Liberty Watch Radio

Charles has an interesting guest today:
Joe Scott of Photo Blocker / Phantom Alert

Listen on
AM 690, KVOI, Tucson,
AM 930 KAPR Douglas, and
AM 1240 KJAA Globe.

or listen online:
http://libertywatchradio.com/listen

They have a database of traffic light cameras and speed traps, and so far there have been plenty of callers

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Ethanol Power to the People (NPR broadcast Friday, August 15th, 2008)

From NPRs Science Friday, Friday, August 15th, 2008:

Ethanol Power to the People (broadcast Friday, August 15th, 2008)

Ethanol is the most commonly-discussed biofuel, but there are others. USDA image.

In recent years, the use of ethanol as a biofuel to help deal with the ongoing energy crisis has received a good deal of attention from Washington. But can we produce both food and fuel -- and can ethanol truly replace oil and gas?

In this segment, Ira talks with ethanol biofuel advocate David Blume about common misconceptions about the use of ethanol for fuel, and about Blume's vision for decentralized, community supported ethanol production in the US. Could a neighborhood ethanol distillery be in your future? Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests

David Blume
Executive Director of the International Institute for Ecological Agriculture
Author, "Alcohol Can Be A Gas" (International Institute for Ecological Agriculture, 2007)
Santa Cruz, California

Friday, September 12, 2008

Another post from a cell phone www.AZ13.com
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Sent by a Cricket mobile device
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We Started our Arizona Driving Blog

Welcome to our new Arizona Driving Blog.. looks like most of the pictures stopped working in our first set of posts, we'll add them a different way next time.

More reviews, photos along with our thoughts on the way..

Electric Poles Knocked Over in East Tucson, AZ
Posted By: Crescent Security
Posted: Sat Jul 26 2008
The wind and rain hit a street on Tucsons south east side one night in July 2008. Many electric poles were broken and dropped ...Click Here for full article

Komatsu PC 220 LC with Hydraulic Breaker vs Bank Safe
Posted By: Joe F
Posted: Sun May 25 2008
We took some photos of this Komatsu PC220 LC Excavator Crawler with Hydraulic Breaker in a battle with a bank vault. The rest ...Click Here for full article

Firebird Towing Service in Tucson, Arizona
Posted By: Firebird Towing
Posted: Wed Apr 2 2008
Firebird Towing Specializes in Towing illegally parked cars and Abandoned Vehicles from vacant lots and rental units. We cate ...Click Here for full article

Emergency Tools for the Car, Truck or Van
Posted By: Wills Auto Repair
Posted: Sun Jan 6 2008
There are as many opinions on what emergency gear as there are drivers, but most would include some of the basics. And most d ...Click Here for full article