Video - Mower

As well as keeping Europe financially afloat, the Germans can also engineer some basic tasks, like keeping the roads and streets neat and tidy. http://www.youtube.com/embed/L3j6HaAieEU?rel=0

Sunday's Column - Mojave River Forks Musem

This Sunday we visited a small museum in Barstow.  The town gets a bad press I think as it's sort of on the way to everywhere else, but it has five museums that I know of.  This article is about the first of two I went to the other day.

The Mojave River Forks Museum has a varied collection of stuff from years ago and some of it is outside the actual building itself.  This includes a very nice caboose from the early part of the last century.  There is also a collection of artifacts from the days of mining in the area.  It's easy to get to and there is no charge for admission.  You can read the entire article at http://www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels/ci_22279907

Tirade - Cheap Fares

What the heck is with these airlines?  The other day I arrived early at an airport and went up to the ticket clerk who was amusing herself watching people struggle with the "do-it-yourself" computer in front of her desk - they don't check you in any more, just watch you struggle.  I showed her my printed out boarding card, done at home, of course, and asked if I could get on an earlier flight.  She directed her attention to her own screen and punched some buttons.  "There's one in half an hour."  "That would be great," I replied.  But wait.  "Oh, your ticket is a reduced fare one."  This said as if I had a particularly virulent and visible form of venereal disease.  "There's an additional charge for that, I'm afraid."  "Oh really," I said, "what might that be?"  "$125!"  Good grief!
Now what's the idea behind the penalty. Are we supposed to buy more expensive tickets than the ones they advertise so that we can chop and change around?  It seems a little draconian to me.  Come on People!

Right Track - Unions

So let me see if I've got this right.  It now seems that 75% of the money from the stimulus package in Wisconsin went to union jobs.  This kept those people at work and paying union dues.  As unions pay massive amounts to the Democratic party to keep them in power, they naturally support the closed shop.
Now the "right-to-work" laws in 24 states stops this money laundering and allows people to work without joining a union and therefore contributing to a political party they don't like.  It also stops any thuggery.  No wonder the unions are mad as hell.
Ain't democracy a bitch!

Music Track - Carol

As we're still in the heart of the Christmas holiday, here's a rather different take on Carol of the Bells - see if you like it - I rather do!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9GtPX6c_kg

Traffic

One of the best things about being retired is I don't have to deal with traffic.  Well, we do get our local rush hours up here where manic contractors who failed to get up in time are late for their first and then of course, subsequent jobs. Sometimes we get as many as fifteen cars waiting at one of the lights along the boulevard!

The other day however I had to go down to the flatlands and drive right into the heart of the beast.  I had to go along the 91, 55 and 22, for those familiar with local places.  For the others, let's just say it was travelling the biggest Freeways LA has to offer.  It was OK going but then came the return trip which began at 6 p.m.  This is not a good time.
It was fairly harrowing, but good to hone one's skills which had somewhat atrophied over the years.  The traffic was terrible and now in yet another search for funds to pay for overinflated pensions and benefits, the bureaucrats are doing away with car pool lanes in favor of Fast Track lanes that you pay for.  Unfortunately you can't pay for them at the time you need them - only in advance.  By the time I got out of it I was in need of a serious adult beverage!

Harley - R.I.P.

We had a great sadness in the family on Thursday.  We lost our friend Harley - Simon, Caroline and Evan's big dog.  He was about ten.  He was half boxer and half mastiff.  He was a lot of fun and we will miss him greatly.  On one occasion I was staying with them and there was some sort of domestic disturbance next door.  There was a lot of noise of doors slamming and shouting.  I was asleep downstairs, and Harley came down and sat next to me until the noise was quieted  down with the police arriving.  He obviously thought I needed protection.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Video - The Night Before Christmas.

As it really is The Night Before Christmas, this is a very good traditional interpretation of the poem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3fgRV5N_qQ
My thanks to Denise in Florida for this sentimental video.

Sunday's Column - Christmas

Christmas in Big Bear is almost always the ideal location for such a time - mostly there's snow on the hills and this year is no exception.  We've had quite a lot for this early in the season.

Naturally we have Santa in the Village - he's got Mrs. Claus around to help with all the requests.  I don't remember Santa had a Mrs when I was young, but perhaps with the years he's needed more help than the elves could provide.  We have Bear Valley Stage giving rides and also we now have a new ice rink.  You can read the entire column at http://www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels/ci_22246219/happy-holidays-from-top-world

Tirade - Sandy Hook

Once again tragedy has struck a small part of America, and as usual the media has descended on the town in full force.  Once again they are ready to milk the situation and try and glean every bit of emotion out of the grief that the poor surviving parents are enduring.  And do it 24/7!
Then, of course, comes the perpetual question as to why this happened, and then the implication that somehow our 2nd Amendment rights caused it.  "We have to do something," booms the President.  Gun control talk buzzes around the tables of the Sunday morning political talk shows.  "We have to make our schools more secure," says one.  "We need to look at mental health," shouts another. Sadly we have few solutions for the act of a madman.  Because that is what caused it.  Maybe we should start blaming violent video games!  My solution?  Arm the teachers!  The little bastard would have thought twice before going into a classroom that could have fought back!  Come on People!

Right Track - Budget Cuts

My thanks to my friend Don for sending this to me.  It's rather sad in a way.

We are cutting back and you may want to also....
We're going to bite the  bullet !!!!
President Obama ordered the cabinet to cut $100,000,000.00 ($100
million) from the $3,500,000,000,000.00 ($3.5 trillion) federal budget.
I'm so impressed by this sacrifice that I have decided to do the same
thing with my personal budget. I spend about $2,000 a month on
groceries, household expenses, medicine, utilities, etc., but it's time
to get out the budget cutting ax, go through my expenses, and cut back.

I'm going to cut my spending at exactly the same ratio (1/35,000) of my total  budget. After doing the math, it looks like instead of spending $2,000 a month, I'm going to have to cut that number by SIX CENTS. Yes, I'm going to have to get by with $1999.94, but that's what sacrifice is all about.
I'll just have to do without some things.  I'll cut out six cents worth of luxuries, and I'll just have to live without them.
Did this President actually think no one would do the math? How idiotic to only cut $100 million out of a $3.5 trillion budget –  ludicrous!!!!!!!

New layout

As we all seem to have survived the Mayan forecast of extinction, it's now the first day of winter, so we have a new layout for the blog.  I hope you like it.

Music Track - Webern

This only takes 4:17 minutes.  But it will strain your ears.  Anton Webern was an Austrian who died in 1945.  He was accidentally shot by an American soldier while enjoying a cigar on the veranda of his house in the woods near Saltzburg.  The soldier, mortified, eventually killed himself due to grief.  Webern was one of the principle exponents of atonal music along with Shoenberg and Berg.  It's tough stuff, and not many people truly enjoy it.  I'm not sure about it myself.  But in the interests of pushing the envelope, here are Five Pieces for Orchestra written in 1911.  As one critic said: It requires the utmost in concentration by the listener. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOnFKLvonQw