Right Track - Media Bias

It's generally accepted that the media is biased towards liberal causes.  All but the most partisan accept this.  They are pro-Obama and pro-big government and ant-gun almost to a man (and woman.)  The other day I received an email that confirmed my suspicions however.  At the end of Good Morning America's Sunday political talk show there used to be an "In Memoriam" section.  This was where the host would assume an instant grieving voice and tell the audience of the number of military killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I noticed that this section had somehow disappeared from the program and wondered why.  The email explained it.  Since Obama increased the number of troops in Afghanistan, and also changed the rules of engagement so that soldiers have to be very careful of opening fire, the number of dead has increased dramatically.  In fact in the two years since our withdrawal has been announced deaths have gone up to about 1000.  Twice as much as during the Bush years.  Could this silence be a coincidence??????  In a turnabout, it has been reported that no US servicemen were killed in the month of March, which is wonderful news.

Tirade - Baseball (or not!)

It's time for Dodger baseball!  Well, it is if you're a subscriber to Time Warner Cable TV.  For the rest of us, we can't hear the dulcet sounds of Vin Scully calling the game.  In fact the embargo has been so total that we couldn't even see the games they played in Australia.  All this because the Dodgers signed with TW and left the rest of the TV cable firms out in the cold.  It's going to be a tough season not being able to follow the team.  It's not as if we can change to TW as they don't operate in this area.  To show you how bad it is, even Vin himself can't watch away games which at 86, he no longer calls.  He can't get TW either.  Come on People! http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/no-vin-situation-fans-and-scully-himself-shut-out-from-watching-dodgers-040114

Music Track - Elton/Love Lies Bleeding

I'm sure when they finally write up the all time classics - they probably have by now anyway - this is going to appear somewhere near the top.  It comes from the 70's LP Yellow Brick Road, and I've always thought it is a wonderful piece of music.  It's quite long - about 10 minutes - but well worth the time.  Often it's a disappointment to see live performances after knowing a piece of music well from a record, but this is just as good, if not better.  For interest, I believe the original double LP was completed on the isle of Majorca in only two weeks flat.  The juices must have really been flowing. Enjoy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAhpIjazFN0

Absentees

There used to be a bar in downtown Denver.  It had a section of the wall where you could leave money to buy a drink for someone when they came in.  I was amazed at the number of five, ten and twenty dollar bills waiting  for Elvis Presley.  He better be thirsty when he finally gets there.

It seems there is no end to those who have "departed" still being around.  I left an art museum the other day and happened to notice a number of "tiles" that people had donated to the museum.  But what is this?  It seems that Jackson Pollock, the great avant guardest of the 1950's, had paid a visit and left a donation.  And this was back in 2000+.  Amazing!

Snow Valley

The first snow resort that people see when they come up the mountain is Snow Valley.  It's the ideal place for people who don't want to drive any more - Big Bear is about another 20 miles further on.  It's also the first place to feel the effects of the end of the season.  It's mostly not a lack of snow but enthusiasm that causes the slopes to close.  Snow Valley also suffers from the lack of a natural water supply and so making snow is more difficult for them.  Although I'm not a skier, there is something sad at the sight of these slopes gradually losing their coverage together with the empty parking lots.  Ah well, next year is around the corner.

Video - Vehicle recovery, and then some!

I'm grateful to my friend Paul in England for this very short (24 seconds) video of a vehicle recovery that didn't end up the way it was supposed to be - Ouch!

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/KBxSntGGm8U?rel=0kkk

Right Track - Alinsky

I'm grateful to Jim in Pasadena for sending me this theory in a format I can use.  It's a little chilling.
Saul David Alinsky (January 30, 1909 – June 12, 1972) was an American community organizer and writer. He is generally considered to be the founder of modern community organizing. He is often noted for his book "Rules for Radicals". 

How To Create a Social State

by Saul Alinsky

There are 8 levels of control that must be obtained before you are able to create a social state. The first is the most important.

1) Healthcare – Control healthcare and you control the people.

2) Poverty – Increase the poverty level as high as possible, poor people are easier to control and will not fight back if you are providing everything for them to live.

3) Debt – Increase the debt to an unsustainable level. That way, you are able to increase taxes, and this will produce more poverty.

4) Gun Control – Remove the ability to defend themselves from the government. That way, you are able to create a police state.

5) Welfare – Take control of every aspect of their lives (food, housing, and income).

6) Education – Take control of what people read and listen to – take control of what children learn in school.

7) Religion – Remove the belief in God from the government and schools.

8) Class Warfare – Divide the people into the wealthy and the poor. This will cause more discontent, and it will be easier to take (tax) the wealthy with the support of the poor.

Sound familiar?

Tirade - Hypocrisy

I'm sure everyone gets cross with the amazing amount of hypocrisy coming out of Hollywood.  We're always being lectured by actors and actresses on how we should behave, while their own behavior is far from perfect.  But the case of actor Angus T. Jones is a particularly egregious one.  He is the child actor who played the 1/2 in the Two and a Half Men TV series that was so popular.  He is no longer a child and has found his savior.  I'm sure that's a wonderful thing, except that now he looks like a ferret peeping though a ball of wool with his new facial hair.  He also spends a lot of time saying how bad (sinful) the series was and how he's turned his back on it.  I only have one question, Angus.  Did you send the money back?  He was reputed to have been paid $300,000 per episode, which is not bad work.  Come on People!

Music Track - Shoenberg

Arnold Shoenberg is the father of atonal music.  Now this might not seem the type of stuff you like, but you hear a great deal of it.  It accompanies a lot of what we see in films and TV performances.  It's not easy stuff to listen to on its own, but here is a short piece from Shoenberg's Serenade.  See how you like this four  minute piece. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNLQ2jDAkWo

Duesenberg

I'm not much given to coveting!  I'm glad of that as it must be miserable to have a great yearning for something and not to be able to acquire it.  But the other day I did get that sort of gnawing of the gums.  I had cast my eyes on perhaps the most beautiful car I had ever seen.  A 1936 Duesenberg.

I shall be writing about the Nethercutt Museum where it was on display soon, but it's worth a double mention.  The curator told me that they had been contacted recently by a man with terminal cancer.  His dying wish was to ride in a Duesenberg and the owners said the curator could take him out for a spin.  They went about twenty miles.  I wouldn't necessarily want to do it under those circumstances, but I would like to drive it - or dare one say it, own it!  It cost $13,500 when new.  Any guess as to its value today.  The museum isn't saying!

Pets

"Rufus"

I'm rather fond of animals.  Well, most of them.  I've also met people who have unusual pets.  There used to be a man walking around Big Bear with a long, yellow python draped around him.  I dread to think what would have happened if the snake became angry for some reason.  I've had gerbils, budgerigars, guinea pigs and a tortoise in my family.  But my friend Pat has a tame cockerel - he keeps it in his office.  Rufus is a splendid chap.  He's also quite friendly provided you are positive and "don't let him smell your fear!"  I stroke his back feathers when I see him; Pat is extremely fond of him.  In fact Rufus follows him around and seems to think he's a dog.

Video - Flash Mob

http://www.youtube.com/embed/s_IHDJQudmo?rel=0  I've never seen a flash mob in action in real life.  This one is on a tram in Budapest and I like the outside decoration too.  Thanks to Paul in England for this one.  It takes about 4 minutes.

Sunday's Column - Private Train

I don't think I've ever been in an engine driver's compartment.  So this was a first for me.  It is a Canadian Pacific engine attached to the private train which belonged to Clara Baldwin Stocker.  She was the daughter of "Lucky" Baldwin of early Los Angeles fame, who left his two daughters $10 million dollars each when he died.  Clara bought this train with the money and you can read all about her at  http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140329/clara-baldwin-stockers-private-train-at-the-nethercutt-museum-in-sylmar

Right Track - Freedom

I heard a commentator say the other day that you don't have a really free society if you're not allowed to own a gun.  To follow up the thought perhaps it's best to remember the history of the American Indian.