Sunday's Column - The Cave

We lost one of our two movie theaters earlier this year, and it stood empty for some time.  I was sorry to see it go as we'd seen some pretty good films there over the years.  But local businessman Dave Stone bought the property, and opened it up as an entertainment place for rock concerts.  Big Bear has never had anything like it before.  You can read the entire article at http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20131108/the-cave-is-a-noteworthy-addition-to-big-bear-lakes-nightlife

Right Track - Immigration

We now have a new problem to add to the many others concerning illegal immigration.  We now have people turning up at the border claiming asylum, as they are political refugees.  They are using the legal term of having "credible fear" of drug cartels in Mexico, and we, the USA, are bound to allow them in.  No more need for coyotes and tunnels or climbing the fence; just turn up and claim credible fear and you're in.  As many of the facilities are already overcrowded, the solution is now to put these "refugees" in hotels at taxpayers expense.  Nice!  I wish when I came here in 1982, I had tried this dodge.  After all I was in credible fear of two things - soccer and socialism.  But wait, they've followed me here.  Where to now?

Tirade - Pregancy

There seems to be yet another problem brewing that I hadn't realized existed.  It stems from some strange overwhelming urge on the part of people, and I believe it's largely men, to touch a pregnant woman's belly.  I hadn't known about this before, but I do recognise that there is an odd urge to do so.  Before I became the retiring, sensitive person that I am today, I have to admit that I have been known to do it, not realising the revulsion that I had caused.  So it seems that yet another pretty harmless activity is to be labelled as an invasion of privacy.  What's next, call it a sexual assault followed by registration as a sex criminal? And yet it's OK to grab an unsuspecting person (of either sex) and enfold them in an unwelcome hug!  Come on People!

Music Track - Elton John

I think that if a popular song can last nearly 40 years and still work - particularly when the performance is minimalist - then it has to be good.  See what you think of this 1976 Elton John video - long before he adopted the wigs! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2e4NlnLr28

Winter?

We seem to have changed from summer to winter in about 48 hours this year.  And it's come rather early too.  It's not just us humans that have felt it but the trees.  I was told some time back by a naturalist that it's the combination of lower temperatures and less sunlight that makes an enzyme in the trees (and flowers) begin to change color and eventually lose their leaves.  Up here in Alpine country we have mostly  pine trees but if you keep your eyes open there are a lot of other deciduous trees with wonderful colors.

How about these two beauties side by side

This was tucked away in someone's backyard, too bad they were not there to enjoy it.

The Gun Debate Continues

In the constant argument about guns and whether to ban/control them here is one aspect that many might have overlooked.  I'm grateful to my friend Don in Orange County for sending me this touching account.

"While out walking along the edge of a bayou just below Houma, Louisiana with my soon to be ex-husband discussing property settlement and other divorce issues, we were surprised by a huge 12-ft. alligator suddenly emerging from the murky water and charging us with its large jaws wide open. She must have been protecting her nest because she was extremely aggressive. If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire .25 caliber pistol with me I would not be here today! Just one shot to my estranged husband's knee cap was all it took. The gator got him easily and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace. It's one of the best pistols in my collection! Plus ... the amount I saved in lawyer's fees was more than worth the purchase price of the gun."

Video - Brick Top

A relative recently ran into the Cockney actor Alan Ford.  He played Brick Top in the Guy Ritchie movie "Snatch."  He has a way of playing bad people like nobody else.  Here he is explaining the finer points of body removal.  If you're easily offended then you may want to miss this 2:20 minutes clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyEBXTL1Y3U

Camping - Sunday's Column

With the day's shortening and the nights growing colder, it's the end of the camping season.  This Sunday's column is devoted to the activity with some thoughts about it.  You can read the article at http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20131101/camping-is-a-wonderful-thing-in-moderation

Right Track - Obamacare

I have not weighed in on the Obamacare business much here.  Having come from a country that has enforced socialized medicine, naturally I'm aware of all the horrors, and like most people while I lived there, I bought private health insurance.  Yes, most people do if they can afford it as the National Health Service is so bad.  But if Americans want a foretaste then just look at the roll-out of the on-line program.  If a Web site is causing this much difficulty I dread to think what it's going to be like when the government is running it all, which is truly their ambition. 

Tirade - Recess

A Washington state school district has recently made the decision to ban all hard balls from the playground during recess.  This includes footballs, baseballs, lacrosse balls and I assume soccer balls.  The reason given by the woman superintendent was that there were too many injuries caused by these items.  Now one has to ask how much risk can you take out of life for these types of individuals.  Do they imagine that out in the real world there is no risk at all?  One of the people involved with the decision said to a reporter that as far as she was concerned one skinned knee was one skinned knee too many.  Later in the day I heard a man interviewed who had a gym a block away from one of these schools and he said his kids' class was jammed.  They liked to climb ropes, throw balls - even dodge ball, the new horror of school life - and other fun things.  Is it any wonder he's doing well?  Come On People!

Music Track - Segovia

This week's track is a short tribute to two of music's great talents.  J.S. Back and Andres Segovia  - Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBQfHJA2Lng

Campsite Sight

On what was to be my last camping night this season, I was sitting in my fold up chair listening to my iPod and generally communing with nature, the way you're supposed to do while camping.  Along came this bride in full regalia and was about to enter a trailer parked across from me.  I took my camera and asked if she minded if I took a photo as she was so beautiful.  She sportingly agreed.  She was rather pretty and the occasion I thought demanded a shot.  (Being a very old man I can now approach young women with some degree of impunity!) After all you don't see people dressed like this in a campsite very often if at all.  She soon appeared with her two children.  I never saw the groom.  Does anybody get married these days without their children in attendance?

Acting

I've never had any real respect for actors.  It always seems to me that most of them just play themselves when they go on screen.  Perhaps Alec Guiness was an exception. But Sinatra, John Wayne and most of the others who were lauded in Hollywood just seemed to me to be themselves, and I've often thought I could do just as well.
I went along to see Captain Phillips the other day and found it a pretty good film.  In the final scene when Tom Hanks is rescued from his ordeal, he is taken to the sick bay on board the US Navy ship and looked after by a nurse.  He is in a great deal of shock and seeing him handle this and try and recover from it, made me realise that it was something I could never do.  Hats off to Mr. Hanks!

Video - Rainbow Mountains

This is not a real video but a series of photographs you have to click through. http://www.parade.com/63549/linzlowe/where-in-the-world-are-these-incredible-rainbow-mountains/
I'm grateful to my friend Kevin for these wonderful shots of a place I had never heard about before.