Friday, February 22, 2013

C. D. Robinson

quote
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE
Investigation of the Yosemite Valley Commissioners.
[CALIFORNIA APPENDIX TO THE JOURNAS OF THE]
ASSEMBLY – TWENTY –EIGHT SESSION

TESTIMONY

Sacramento, Tuesday Evening, February 5, 1889.

The Assembly Committee [CALIFORNIA] on Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of Big Trees met at half-past seven o’clock P. M., for the purpose of investigating certain charges preferred against the Commissioners to Manage Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, by C. D. Robinson. The following Charges proceedings were had:

The Clerk read the following charges, preferred by Mr. Robinson:

Twenty two charges were preferred against the Commissioners and the testimony recorded in this volume of 440 pages [see photos of title page].

Some of the charges were:

1. Squandering public moneys….

2. Forcible entry of private property…..

3. Cutting and destroying timber in the valley…….

4. Making illegal and arbitrary contracts with laborers……

5. Gross neglect……

6. General failure and incompetence…….

7. Etc., etc., etc. [see photos of title page]

A scathing attack on the competence of the Commissioners to run the park
 
end quote
 
Some old pamphlets about the Valley back in 1885 are up for auction on ebay currently, government pamphlets as it were, and web search doesn't bring them up, it seems, and I guess I should bid on them, as they look to be a marvelous curio!! 
Apparently an irate aritist, of some note, took the bit and filed a criminal suit of sorts.  Here's link to wiki's bit on C. D. Robinson:
 
quote
Charles Dorman Robinson (alternate: Charles Dormon Robinson; nickname: C.D.) (July 17, 1847 - May 8, 1933) was an American panorama, cyclorama, landscape, and marine painter.[2] He is known for his seascapes and landscapes of Northern California, including over a hundred paintings of Yosemite Valley. He was known as "the dean of Pacific Coast artists".[3]
 
quote
 
hmmph

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Citizen Scientists

Here's link to general idea of what Citizen Scientists are, do...


http://www.scientificamerican.com/citizen-science/

and I had to drill down a bit to find where the Russian kid that spotted Hagfish being slurped up by Elephant Seal, story on web front page tonight, got the clip, and it is here:

http://www.neptunecanada.com/


very cool 'backyard' science!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Bobcat Coast

http://youtu.be/6fEr77ge_WA

and Blog of the Day...very cool...
http://www.ibabuzz.com/garybogue/

and on the mast is listed Critters...clicked on Bobcats:
http://www.ibabuzz.com/garybogue/category/bobcats/

cool...but needs more Bobcats!



 

Flammulated Owl

While doing the Bobcat clips, post maybe tonight, along the Coast at Elk, a local photog stopped by, and while trading Bobcat stories, and gear talk, they showed me Little Owl they'd just found expired beside the Road....Owl is Flammulated Owl, I think, and a new bird, for me, and sad to see as seen....

Monday, January 14, 2013

Seagulls

http://youtu.be/zvEI43qXsg0



pic and clip from Ft. Bragg, from Bluff where I took Kite clips....