Selina Bliss for AZ LD 1

 

You're Not From Around Here - Are You

Pet Peeve Time

OK, this is a local pet peeve of mine. I live in Arizona and we have a LOT of transplants from other states, primarily California. I don't know how many times per day I come to an intersection to turn left and there is someone waiting to turn left in front of me (and or in front of several others) and they are NOT IN THE INTERSECTION! 

OK, not a huge deal here - and perhaps an opportunity to learn the virtue of patience - but for informational purposes, and perhaps to reduce frustration and maybe some road-rage for other drivers, let me clarify - (unless otherwise posted) IT IS LEGAL IN ARIZONA TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION FOR A LEFT TURN! Well, provided the intersection is not controlled by a left-turn arrow - in which case, we are all stuck waiting for the red arrow to go away. Some intersections have a green arrow that goes away, and no red arrow follows - in which case, IT IS LEGAL IN ARIZONA TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION FOR A LEFT TURN!

Why the frustration? 

Because generally if that lead car enters the intersection, 1) they can make the turn quicker if they are already out there, and 2) usually more than one car can get into the intersection (beyond the crosswalk and/or line of demarkation) so when the light changes, those cars which have entered the intersection can now legally make their left turn - thus clearing the intersection of at least one to two cars - speeding up everyone's day by a couple minutes. If you have not entered the intersection before the light turns yellow - at this point you CANNOT enter (legally) and make your left turn - so you are stuck there and likely at least one other driver behind you.

I believe it is illegal in California to enter the intersection (going to look this one up to be sure) so it becomes rather obvious who the transplants are when they sit outside the intersection.

(A few minutes later) - OK, it appears I am wrong! It is LEGAL in California too! If you are IN the intersection before the light turns red, you are OK - just like in Arizona, it is illegal to enter the intersection after it turns red. https://www.nbccomedyplayground.com/can-you-be-in-the-intersection-when-the-light-turns-red-california/ 

This is LEGAL - car 1 is legally in the intersection, car 2 must wait for the intersection to clear enough to allow room, or wait for the next light:

AND - if the intersection is large enough, and cars are small enough, the following is LEGAL for the first two cars - the third needs to wait for the intersection to clear or for the next light:

OK, I have vented. 

Gov Brewer Not Running For Re-Election

Gov. Jan Brewer announced Wednesday she will not seek another term in office, an effort that would have required a long-shot court challenge to the state's term-limits. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/12/arizona-gov-jan-brewer-not-running-for-re-election/6331169/

Governor Brewer Vetoes SB1062

Thank you, Governor Brewer!  The SB1062 legislation was not well written being too broadly expressed, which you nailed exactly when you announced the veto of the bill.  While I do support religious freedom, this bill was the wrong thing at the wrong time - and - the way it was written could have led to serious discrimination issues.  It took some courage to veto a bill put forward by fellow Republicans, but really - all it took was common sense, and you showed that.  Thank you again.

Scott Windsor

Arizona SB1062

This bill has been labeled across the country as an anti-homosexual bill, when in fact - it is not.  The intention of SB1062 was to promote the rights of business and church groups to not be forced to perform service(s) which may be in conflict with their own moral beliefs - religious or otherwise.  The fact is, it is an unnecessary bill.  Businesses already have the right to refuse service to anyone - it's their prerogative to do so.  If they turn away business - it's their bottom line which is at stake.  Those who oppose such a stance are free to take their business elsewhere.  

Since this new bill really doesn't DO anything, it's silly legislation which is only allowing the state to be opened to unnecessary attacks from some with an agenda to oppose anyone exercising personal freedoms.  It can only bring upon calls for sanctions or boycotts - and really, again, the intent of the bill was not to put down any particular group, but to recognize the rights of other groups.  

I still find it ironic that roughly 3.5% of the population gets so much attention!  When greater than 96% do not share in the homosexual lifestyle, why do we spend so much time debating the topic?  (See stats sited on the CathApol Blog).  Certainly, in this country, individuals who wish to pursue a lifestyle which is morally contrary to others have the right to do so - so long as their pursuit of such a right does not trample upon the rights of those who do not share their moral (or amoral) view.  In short, homosexuals do not have the right to force their morality upon those who "rightfully" oppose them.  

Still, I repeat, SB 1062 really doesn't do anything that individuals do not already have the right to do, or not do!  For THIS reason, I would recommend that Governor Brewer does NOT sign this bill into law.  She has until the end of the week to decide.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and/or share this article!  .

Granite Mountain Hotshots - Heroes Forever

While fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire, protecting the town of Yarnell, a sudden change in the wind blew the raging wildfire straight back at the Granite Mountain Hotshots - which lost their entire team, save one (who was on another hill as lookout, had radioed the crew that the fire had changed and that he himself had to get to another position).  

This same crew has been all over the Southwest, fighting fires, saving homes and saving lives.  Just the previous weekend they were on the mountain of their namesake, Granite Mountain, fighting the Doce (aka Dosie) Fire and they didn't lose a single structure nor sustain a single significant injury to any of the firefighters!

June 30th, 2013 would not be so fortunate for them.  As they were working up behind the Yarnell Hill Fire, putting themselves between the fire and the town of Yarnell, a thunderstorm just north of them quickly developed sending out-drafts of winds around 40-50 MPH.  The fire changed directions and within moments it surrounded and engulfed the Granite Mountain Hotshots.  It was so quick that some of the brave men did not even have time to get into their protective shelters (when they were found, some were in the shelters, some were not).  The shelters didn't save them, but the fact that not all of them had time to get into the shelter is indicative of how quickly they were overtaken by the firestorm.

This story hits close to home for my family.  My boys grew up with Andrew and TJ Ashcraft.  There was hardly a day when they weren't at each other's sides.  

T

This is a picture of my boys with Andrew and TJ at one of their favorite fun places.  Left to right: Russell Windsor, Andrew Ashcraft, TJ Ashcraft, Richard Windsor, Scott Windsor, James Windsor.

Here is a picture of Andrew with his wife Juliann and his four children.  If you would like to contribute directly to Andrew's widow and children, the family has setup a fund:  http://www.gofundme.com/3grdgs

Doce Fire Update

Friday June 21, 2013, 8:00 a.m.

Fire Information: 928-445-1089; 928-445-1269

Fire Information Center Hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Website: www.inciweb.org/incident/3437

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/docefire and Twitter www.twitter.com/docefire.

Photos and maps can be viewed and downloaded at www.flickr.com/docefire.

Fire Facts:

Location: 7 miles northwest of Prescott: burning in Granite Mountain Wilderness

Size: 6,732 acres (increase of 350 acres due to burnout last night.)

Percent Contained: 10%

Cause: Human, under investigation.

Number of Resources: 605 personnel including: 21 hand crews, 27 engines, 11 water tenders, 1 dozer, and 4 helicopters

Injuries to Date: 0

Estimated Cost to Date: $2,241,896 million primarily due to aviation assets in use

General Announcements:

Iron Springs Road is now open to all traffic. Evacuations were ordered for the northern portion of the Mint Creek Valley subdivision. All subdivisions east of Williamson Valley Road have not been evacuated but remain on notice for potential evacuation.

Yavapai County Fire Information line (928-777-7552) will be deactivated Friday, June 21 at 6:00 pm. Fire information will continue to be available from the Southwest Area Incident Management Team via the two phone numbers listed at the top of this update.

Fire managers will be closely monitoring weather conditions over the next several days as projected forecasts are expected to continue to be hot, dry, and windy.

Today’s Activities: Firefighters are making good progress around the entire fire, constructing line directly up against or at a safe distance from the fire’s edge. Crews have secured the heel of the fire on the southwestern edge and have established dozer line on the north and northwestern flank. Last night, crews conducted burnout operations help keep fire behavior from becoming established in ridges that align with the winds.

Today, firefighters will continue structure protection in all evacuated subdivisions, continue line construction, and prepping lines for burnout operations.

Today will be hot dry, and windy again. Crews are anticipating fire behavior to increase in the afternoon.

Evacuations:

Granite Basin Homes, Black Jack, Camp Anytown, Sundown Acres, Cielo Grande, Old Stage Acres, Mint Creek Wash to the north at Cielo Grande (Dome Road), and American Ranch remain evacuated. Neighborhoods in the Williamson Valley corridor are on notice for potential evacuation.

Road Closures:

Iron Springs Road is now open to all traffic. Williamson Valley Road east of the fire between Pioneer Parkway and Outer

Loop Road remains closed to the public. Residents from neighborhoods north of the intersection of Williamson Valley

and Outer Loop Road should plan additional travel around the road closure areas.

Fire Closure Update: The entire area of the Doce Fire is closed to public access. The closure area can be viewed at the

Prescott National Forest webpage at: www.fs.usda.gov/prescott

Individuals who may have seen suspicious activity related to the Doce Fire are asked to contact Forest Service Law

Enforcement and Investigations at (928) 527-3508 or 3509.

######

Doce Fire Day 3

6380 acres burned now...  but we lost the air support of the slurry bombers, they had to go to a fire in New Mexico.  Still no structures lost and no severe injuries.  One firefighter was injured a bit today when a swarm of bees was disturbed and he was stung.

Anecdotal report:  As a Sheriff Officer was checking a home for evacuation, he noticed the fire was getting VERY close and was even worried he would not be able to get out himself when suddenly one of the slurry bombers flew over, dropped it's load just behind the house... then out from the reddish-orange mist came several firefighters, covered in slurry!  That drop saved their lives and perhaps that of the Sheriff Officer too!

Just a few pics I took today:

Taken from Commerce Drive about noon.

Taken from Prescott Resort about 4pm

Panoramic view about 4pm

More Pics from Doce Fire

So far, over 400 homes evacuated, over 5000 acres burned, and not ONE home lost!  God bless the firefighters!  As you can see below, this fire got REAL close to some homes!

Taken by my sister, Wendy, on her way home.

From a friend's porch

God bless our brave firefighters!

Another house SAVED - BARELY!

DC10 saving a ranch!

Doce Fire Prescott Arizona

About 1pm

From YRMC 4th Floor about 2:30pm

From Yavapai Hills

From Chino Valley

Estimated over 5000 acres now, the Doce Fire has no containment at the moment.  Winds are expected to have gusts up to 45 MPH today, not a good outlook.

Prescott Daily Courier photo

Happy to Live in Arizona!

While we do get snow and icy roads from time to time, we don't have to deal with them very often...  be warned, there is a gruesome crash in this video...

And God created...

God was missing for six days.  Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him, resting on the seventh day.

He inquired, "Where have you been?"

God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made."

Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, "What is it?"

"It's a planet," replied God, and I've put life on it.  I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a place to test Balance."

"Balance?" inquired Michael, "I'm still confused."

God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth.  "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor.  Over here I've placed a continent of white people, and over there is a continent of black people.  Balance in all things."

God continued pointing to different countries.  "This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."

The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land area and said, "What's that one?"

"That's Arizona, the most glorious place on earth.  There are beautiful mountains, rivers and streams, lakes, forests, hills, deserts and plains.  The people from Arizona are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent, and humorous, and they are going to travel the world.  They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, carriers of peace, and producers of good things."

Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked, "But what about balance, God?  You said there would be balance."

God smiled, "I will create Washington, D.C.  Wait till you see the idiots I put there.

Watch While You Can! Why We Need 1070!

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/index.html

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438712/index.html

Videos from Atlanta, GA news - over 1000 miles from the Arizona border!

.