SALVAGED ART… Just when Squid thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Pebble Beach art heist makes news again. Investigators from Farmer’s Insurance are digging in to figure out whether Angelo Benjamin Amadio and Ralph Kennaugh, the two men who reported the theft of $80 million worth of artwork by the likes of Jackson Pollock, Rembrandt van Rijn and Joan Miró from their Pebble Beach home, actually owned it. One answer may come from an anonymous videographer with the YouTube moniker of Studebaker Falcon. He captures a man who looks a lot like Amadio perusing the bargain paintings at Last Chance Mercantile while appearing to make notes on his iPhone.

UNDERSEAS ASTROLOGY… Meanwhile Squid would like to give a shout out to a fellow multi-tentacled sea creature who accurately predicted World Cup winners all the way to the finals. According to a report from Squid’s European colleagues at the British Broadcasting Corporation, a “psychic octopus” named Paul, who paddles about in the Sea Life Aquarium in the German city of Oberhausen, successfully predicted that Spain would beat the Netherlands in the World Cup, after previously wagering a win for Germany against Uruguay in the third-place match. But ace aquarist Julia Mariottini of the Monterey Bay Aquarium was skeptical. “I know octopuses are smart, but I had no idea they are also psychic,” she allowed. “I hope Paul can enjoy a quiet retirement now that he is done making predictions.”

TAKING A HIKE… Squid’s always glad (well, almost always) when visitors come to check out our pristine shores. But the feeling isn’t necessarily reciprocated. Squid received a communiqué from Andrew Gregg of San Francisco, a frequent P.G. visitor and fan of all things scenic, who was unpleasantly surprised when he was cited and fined $265 for what he describes as “premature hiking” at Point Lobos. He said he was detained at 7:22am on the day in question, because the park opens at 8am. “This was my first offense and I did not get a warning. With this fine amount, I do not think recidivism is an option for me,” Gregg wails. “I was told by Ranger [Erik] Landry that my ticket would be ‘less than $100.’ Does that mean the local processing fees are as much as $200?” Squid sympathizes.

RASTA FAR CRY… The 15th Annual Monterey Bay Reggae Fest has scored big with Barrington Levy, Kingston super-producers Sly and Robbie, Third World, and Judy Mowatt. Legends all. But pictures on the poster are Katchafire from New Zealand, 27-year-old Gyptian, and former B2K J-Boog. In newspaper speak, that’s called burying the lead.