Wasn't this all a big joke? For April Fools or something? I have heard
ideas of changing all the Spanish Names to English. I mean I think I
would prefer to live in Los Banos and not "The Bathroom" and "Holy
Cross" doesn't sound half as nice as Santa Cruz. I do like the Pajaro
River and not the Bird River. Imagine if all the places in Wisconsin
were renamed from French to English..
(This is not a Big Joke)
| | | | | | |
\/\/ \/\/\/ \/\/\/
By the way in referenmce to Star Parties does anyone give rides to them
and do they pass through Watsonville? Oh and speaking of such stuff
this week on Tuesday the 12th we are going to try to do eyeball
Astrronomy from the area of the Watsonville Public Library. We sort of
means the library folks, Dr. Connie Rockosi from Lick and others
interested. We can turn off most of the Library Parking lot and
surrounding lights Although shooting for 7:30PM is pretty early, but at
night I can see all the stars in the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) from my
friend Sergio's back as long as the Wildcats (Watsonville HS) is doing
sports stuff in the Stadium.. So if ya are near ya might want to show up
starting at 7:30PMPM. I will post a forecast if I can get the stuff
together and schedule a model run If it is cloudy or rainy it will be
the indoor lecture sort of thing. Maybe I should bring the collection of
astgronomy books including Burnham's Celestial Handbooks which I have
borrowed from the Library.;)
Have Fun,
Sends Steve
P.S. Irene the reason you got this letter is to razz you about the
French named places in Wisconsin....and I am working on getting my
driver's license back thaat I never should have let expire, but I
thought I was going to expire so I let it expire....It did...I didn't;)
john w wrote:
> A copy of the reply sent to the Board on Geographic Names:
>
> Honorable Members:
>
> In regards the proposal to rename Mount Diablo:
>
> I am a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, and am
> personally familiar with numerous local features and place names. The
> history of this region of the country is vividly, and sometimes
> colorfully, illustrated by the names attached to various regions,
> features and structures found throughout our area. Prominent roadways
> whose routes can be traced to the earliest European explorers are
> vividly named El Camino Real (The King's Highway) and Alameda de las
> Pulgas (Boulevard of the Fleas). No one, insofar as I am aware, has
> suggested renaming these on the basis of anti-royalist sentiment or an
> aversion to pestiferous insects.
>
> Now we are presented with the proposal in the above-mentioned docket
> to rename one of our area's most prominent and magnificent features,
> Mount Diablo. This mountain, the second tallest in the bay region,
> from the peak of which may be had some of the most distant view on our
> planet, is a landmark familiar to all who live in this area. In
> addition to lending its name to numerous organizations, businesses,
> parks and community features, "Diablo," as it is affectionately known,
> is home to vast numbers of wildlife, including several rare species
> seen in few other areas. Outdoor activities, including but certainly
> not limited to hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, astronomical
> observation, bird watching, archaeology and historical investigation,
> are all carried out on the slopes and valleys of this magnificent peak.
>
> Numerous mountains in this region are given, or retain, the names that
> were associated with them among the indigenous people of this area.
> In the south bay area, Mount Umumum (Hummingbird Mountain) is a very
> prominent example. Other peaks are named for individuals of greater
> or lesser historical interest, often surrendering the "official"
> nomenclature to more pedestrian but popularly employed local names.
> To my knowledge, there has been no outcry to replace the name of Mount
> Hamilton, whose name honors a rather obscure local minister, with a
> name devoid of religious overtones.
>
> Mount Diablo stands isolated in its magnificence, apart from the
> surrounding ranges, its peak rising tall above the lesser hills,
> visible from almost everywhere in the bay area, a landmark that serves
> to orient one from the Sacramento River delta to the south bay area,
> from the peninsula in the west to the Central Valley in the east. It
> is a valued treasure in our local landscape.
>
> Let us give the Devil his due, and his mountain. For the sake of
> history, of poetry, and of simplicity, reject the suggestion to rename
> Mount Diablo.
>
> Thank you for your consideration in this matter,
>
> John Welsh
>
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Received on Sun Apr 10 06:30:37 2005