Reading

I'm reading a book at the moment.  Nothing particularly unusual about that as I read a great deal.  But on this occasion, I'm actually reading a book rather than my Kindle.  I've been using a Kindle for about 4 1/2 years and when I first started on it, I found the experience a little strange.  I missed the feel of a book in my hands and the turning of the pages.  Now however as it's been about a year since I reverted to a  book, I'm finding the loss of my Kindle to be equally difficult.  I miss the ease of the device, and the lightness of it.  If I'm outside and the wind blows I don't have to fight the pages.  But the biggest downside of all is the lack of an instant dictionary.  Whereas on the Kindle, if I want to look up a word, it's immediate.  Now I have to go to a dictionary, which means I probably don't!  I'm anxious to get back to a more modern read!

Ding

A few months ago I was fiddling about in the roof of the garage and an item fell down.  It hit the rear fender of the Harley and caused quite a chip in the paint.  I was very annoyed.

As there are about six layers of pain and all of the pearl white had gone, I lived with the annoyance.  Then I saw an advert for Dr. ColorChip, and decided to invest the $40 for their kit, which arrived promptly.

It took me about 20 minutes to do the job and frankly although there is still a slight indentation, the result is great.

Video - Dog's Pray

Many thanks to my friend Paul in England for this great video of four Chinese dogs at the lunch counter.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32rVDwTUbzs  I wonder if the one nearest the camera is perhaps a Labradoodle or even a strangely clipped Poodle.

Sunday's Column - Hesperia Fishing Lake

Canadian Goose afloat

It's always nice to see all the various ducks and geese at the Hesperia Fishing Lakes.  The day I went there, it was blowing quite a gale, but all the trees and banks sheltered the many people who had come out to enjoy the day.  It's really a true oasis in the high desert.  You can read the entire column at http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140524/hesperia-lake-park-a-great-catch

Right Track - Sequestration Part II

So the results of the sequestration are finally in.  I thought things had been rather quiet on that front since various members of the left wing had forecast terrible events if we dared to cut any government jobs or programs.  We heard estimates from 1.2 million jobs (Harry Reid) to 170 million (Maxine Waters!)  I don't think we have 170 million actually working here anyway.  Well, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) has just published its report on the number of government positions lost and it managed to find one.  Yes, only one job was lost.  Amazing after all the doom and gloom of total collapse that just one poor fellow in the Dept. of Justice was let go.  Can we ever trust politicians with numbers?

Trevor's Tirade - VA Health Care

Is it me or has everyone gone crazy?  We are in the midst of another "scandal" and this time it's to do with the Veterans Affairs hospitals.  It seems that vets cannot get the healthcare that has been promised to them.  There is talk of secret lists and long long waits.  I saw a Major General (retired) talking about his difficulties.  He had to wait months to be seen by a specialist for his complaint.  He was able to take it to the very top of the Pentagon.  But as he said how many could do that.  No one has complained about the actual medical care once they get through the screen of paperwork and bureaucracy.  Over eleven states are reporting that things are very bad with the VA.  And yet the custodians of our society - the media - have totally failed to suggest that this gross inefficiency is the face of government run health care.  Come on People!

Music Track - Brahms

In the TV detective series Jesse Stone, the hero played by Tom Selick is advised that when things get tough he should listen to Brahms.  Now I took to Brahms quite late in life as I didn't like him early on.  This is one of his Intermezzos, played by Glenn Gould who himself was quite an interesting character.  It's about four minutes; see how you like it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVy_gnnwYDE

Heaven

It is said that politics and religion are the two conversational topics that should never be discussed.  Well, I've blown the first taboo, but the second has remained quiet.  However this pretty much sums up my beliefs in that area.  Thanks to Paul in England for sending it to me.

Boating

It's that time again.  Always a wonderful moment to head out on the water.  We had the boat tuned up and the boatyard launched it for us.  The lake level is down quite a bit and I don't think the mechanics trusted me with their ramp.  But we headed out the other day for the first run of the season, and here is She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) enjoying the scene,  It's still a little chilly, but it'll warm up pretty soon.   If you have an interest in how our lake is doing this is the site http://bbmwd.com/Lake_Info.html  You'll see that we're down eight feet from full after our dry season.

Video - Smart Bird

Many thanks to my friend Paul in England for this video. http://www.flixxy.com/this-crow-is-the-smartest-bird-you-have-ever-seen.htm  I think the bird is smarter then me as I had to watch it twice to see what exactly was going on.

Sunday's Column - Center Ice, Ontario

I have to say that ice rinks are not my favorite  venues for stories.  Let's face it they have a very large surface of gray ice, which is hardly photogenic and also apart from the Olympic gold medal contenders, the people there just go round and round. I had to visit Center Ice in Ontario twice to get a decent line on the article and looking at it now it came out all right.  See what you think. http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140517/hitting-the-ice-in-ontario-for-skating-activities

Right Track - Government versus the individual

About every ten days I receive a short lecture from Prager University.  Dennis Prager is a conservative commentator who gives a great deal of thought to matters.  Here is a 4:00 minute lecture by one of his colleagues about how goverment has changed in the last 50 years.  I think you'll find it interesting. http://prageruniversity.com/Political-Science/The-Government-vs-the-American-Character.html

Tirade - Vonage

We've recently been subjected to a TV ad by Vonage, the phone company, for their service.  It's given by a man who has the usual enthusiasm for the product he's representing, and he's wandering around various locations seemingly welcomed by all and sundry to his shouted words -  often in other tongues.  My complaint is his dress.  He seems to have been dressed from a heap of clothes rejected by the Goodwill Industries and then having them stored in a heap to have them in a perfectly dreadful condition.  Have we sunk so low that this is now the way we want our representatives to appear to the world?  If he's just a "rep" for Vonage and reflects them, one wonders what a board meeting looks like.  A vagrants' convention?  Come on People!

Music Track - Trance

I was recently made aware of a genre of music called Trance.  It developed in Germany in the '90's and I can see its appeal to those who like their music dreamy and for a concert of it - long!  It sticks to rhythms that are between 125 and 165 beats per minute.  Here is a 4:30 minutes piece by Above and Beyond - a British group.  See how you like it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLMRxJOL4JM