OB Rag

Alone on the plane, I had the same thought that I always do: “we could crash and my life might end at any time.” As always, images of the moments before death subsumed me. I imagined the faces of my fellow passengers contorted in horror. I heard the weeping, the screaming, the voices futilely attempting to leave last messages for their loved ones on their cellphones, all to no avail.

My fantasy was real enough that amidst a banal announcement about expected turbulence, I came close to tears as I thought of never seeing my wife or son again and went on to consider the weight of the collective losses of all the souls on the plane.

But, in this case, what used to be a source of physical anxiety gave way to a feeling of absolute groundlessness.

There is something liberating about anonymity and the small pleasure of being unrecognized in the odd womblike environment of a passenger jet.

By Colleen Cochran

The California Public Utilities Commission placed the welfare of San Diego County citizens and wildlife ahead of San Diego Gas & Electric’s profits yesterday, June 21.

The 5-member commission voted unanimously to reject SDG&E and its partner Southern California Gas’ bid to install 47 miles of new pipeline from the Rainbow Metering Station near Fallbrook down through Miramar, mostly along Interstate 15. Another potential route these utilities were considering would have taken the line through Mission Trails Regional Park.

The rejected Pipeline 3602 would have been 36 inches wide and have had five times the carrying capacity of existent 16-inch-wide Pipeline 1600. In an effort to avoid making potential repairs to Line 1600, SDG&E’s plan was to reduce the operating pressure on that line and to run new Pipeline 3602 at high pressure.

You can’t get away from it. Point Loma and Ocean Beach between them have three of the top four most dangerous intersections for bicyclists within the City of San Diego.

This, according to an analysis as part of a project by local attorney Michael Bomberger, who is trying to make local bicycle riders more aware of the most dangerous areas.

Of the City of San Diego’s top 4 worse intersections, 3 are in OB and Point Loma:

The County of San Diego’s Water Quality Program has issued an immediate advisory to avoid contact with any water at Dog Beach in OB.

The advisory covers the San Diego River outlet south three hundred (300) feet. The County says “Bacteria levels may exceed health standards.”

Here is their Advisory

From the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association:

The 39th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival will offer attendees eclectic fun in the sun for all ages. Join more than 70,000 visitors from 10am to 8pm on Saturday, June 23, 2018, for tasty festival nosh, art, beachfront entertainment, shopping, and more. Entry to the Street Fair is always free!

Here’s the Four Stage Line-Up of Continuous Music:

The Overpass Light Brigade’s display on Tuesday evening:

Protest Actions in San Diego on Friday and Saturday Still On

FRIDAY JUNE 22

11 AM
Keep Families Together With Senator Kamala Harris
Otay Mesa Detention Facility, 7488 Calzada De La Fuente

3:00 – 4:30 PM
“Keep Families Together” Nurse-In
880 Front Street San Diego 92101

By Gail Powell

Thursday, June 7 was the last call for the popular Nati’s Mexican Restaurant, once located at 1852 Bacon Street in Ocean Beach.

My daughter and I made sure to be there right when it opened for business at 11 a.m on this final day and the spacious parking lot was already full early on. The vibe felt like you were attending a wake. But things were about to get much more depressing when I made the acquaintance of a fellow lady in mourning.

After trying to sit outside, it was just too hot out so my daughter and I ventured inside to visit with the portrait of beloved former waitress Luisa, one more time. We sat down next to a poor soul in despair, an older Point Loma High School alumni torn apart by her favorite restaurant being sold.

85°C Bakery Café
Loma Square
at Rosecrans and Midway

by Bob Edwards

Up until a few weeks ago, the only Chinese pastries I’d ever tasted were at tea houses or “dim sum” palaces, huge restaurants where you can enjoy a brunch of fried or steamed noodle dumplings with savory fillings such as minced shrimp, pork, or vegetables. \

Dim sum parlors also usually have a few sweet buns that are baked or steamed and filled with sweetened bean paste. The only beverages served are hot tea or, if the tea house also has a liquor license, cocktails. You can’t get coffee but you can slam bloody marys, mimosas. or Tsingtao beer to your heart’s content!

Since opening in February of this year in Loma Square, 85°C Bakery Cafe has been serving Asian-influenced pastries that are mostly quite different from dim sum. At this busy restaurant near Sprout’s Market you will find one company’s versions of classic European baked goods as well as unique Chinese/European/American/Japanese fusion treats.

UPDATE: Under pressure from the entire country, Trump signed an executive order today, Wednesday, that is meant to keep families together at the border, halting a policy he instituted earlier this year.

13 Governors Pull Back their National Guard Units from Border in Protest of Trump Child Separation Policy

Rachel Maddow wept openly on TV as she struggled to read the last report of her nightly broadcast on MSNBC last night, June 19. It was an AP story about how the Trump administration was moving to set up a 4th prison camp for hundreds of babies and toddlers in south Texas, euphemistically called “Tender Age Centers”.

Maddow’s empathy matched that of most of the country, as America reeled under the horrifying images and audio recordings of small children wailing for their parents –

By Colleen Cochran

You know the 2018 San Diego County Primary Election is not officially over, don’t you? As of Tuesday evening, June 19, roughly 15,000 ballots are left to be counted.

The results first announced after election day, which was held June 5, 2018, reflected votes compiled from precinct ballots, as well as those from mail-in ballots received early by the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Tallies of mail-in ballots dropped off at the polls were completed late last week. Only the provisional ballots remain uncounted. Thus far, election results have changed in two races:

It’s true – Claudia Jack returns to the monthly Ocean Beach Historical Society get together.

Due to the popularity of her previous OBHS program Claudia Jack is returning to talk about her O.B. tales – going back to when she came to Ocean Beach in 1957.

She will also show her latest sign collection acquisitions and