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.

Trevor's Tirade - Irish?

Let's get some basic facts on the table.  I was born English but chose to become American.  

I've been to Ireland many times - both north and south.  I've also been to Scotland and Wales.  But those two countries have never tried on any occasion to encourage me to become one of them.  Nor am I expected to wear a thistle on St. Andrews Day. (November 30th), a leak or daffodil on St David's Day (March 1st) or do I ever put on a rose for St George's Day (April 23rd.)  So why on earth am I expected to put on green or wear that very common weed the shamrock on March 17 - St Patrick's Day?  I'm not Irish and I'm certainly not going to drink green beer, any more than any self-respecting Irishman would.  So March 17th passed as any other day and I avoided the celebrations by the 90+% of those Americans who have never set foot on the Emerald Isle!  Maybe I'll just wait for Cinco de Mayo!  Come on People!

Music Track - Lili Marlene

I recently played what seemed like German martial music from WWII, which in fact was written by an Englishman in the 1950's.  This however is the real deal - Lili Marlene - which became an instant hit with German Soldiers during the war.  Then for some strange reason it crossed over and was loved by Allied troops as well.  Here it's sung by the original and only Marlene Dietrich. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7heXZPl2hik

PYSO

We went along to a concert given by the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra the other day.  I was a little sceptical as I don't particularly like music butchered by youngsters no matter how keen they are.  However, I was most impressed as they were terrific.  Only a couple of split notes by a trumpeter and a few accidental glissandi by some string players.  Other than that they were very good indeed.  Also they were only aged from ten to fourteen.  Here is the link to the organisation http://pasadenayouthsymphony.blogspot.com/

Heater

Some time ago we bought an electric heater to add a little extra boost to our living room.  It was advertised as using virtually no electricity.  During the month of December when things get fairly chilly up at 6,750 feet, we used it to warm up the center of our living area.  It was quite efficient.  Then the electric bill came in. Holy smoke!  Foolishly the electric company gives one a little graph to show you your usage compared to other months; we had gone through a lot.  We cut out the heater immediately. Yesterday last month's bill came in and it was half the amount.  I guess energy efficiency is a flexible term!

Sunday's Column - Hotpoint

This week we look at the Ontario Museum and the origins of the Hotpoint Company.  Did you know that the inventor of the famous brand started his commercial life out here in California in a tent?  It's an interesting story of how he went from tent dweller to one of the richest people in the state.  As for the name, well it came from his iron being able to send heat to the point of the iron.  You can read the entire column at http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140324/small-local-museums-give-a-taste-of-local-history

New Layout

With the arrival of spring we change the layout once more.  I hope you like it.

Video - Wolves

I'm grateful to my friend John in England for this great video on the effect of introducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park. http://www.flixxy.com/how-wolves-changed-an-entire-ecosystem.htm
I had the pleasure of visiting the park last year and it is a wonderful place.  We learned of the introduction of wolves back into their natural habitat, but these advantages were new to me.  A sort of biological trickle down economics?

Right Track - Liberal Heaven

I'm grateful to my friend Kevin in the Marina for this always timely quote from the true liberal's chum, Sheriff Arpaio in Arizona

"A "Liberal Paradise" would be a place where everybody has guaranteed employment, free comprehensive healthcare, free education, free food, free housing, free clothing, free utilities, and only Law Enforcement has guns. And believe it or not, such a place does indeed exist ……it's called prison!"

Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Remember it was this sheriff who dressed the inmates in pink, and when they complained that they didn't like their accommodation of tents in the desert, he told them they were living better than the troops in Iraq.

Tirade - Coffee

When I first used to come over to America in the 70's and then moved here permanently in the 80's decaffeinated coffee was a bit of a problem  It usually meant that you would be given a cup of hot water and a little sachet of coffee called Sanka. Do you remember that?

Eventually the powers that be convinced people that there was little point in jolting yourself and taking caffeine, and it became frowned upon.  Also it elevated the blood pressure.  Everyone switched to "decaf!"  Now it seems as if the trend is reversing, and if you go into one of the many coffee places that are everywhere with young people ordering a complex assortment of lattes, espressos and the like, they no longer have a brew of decaf available.  Are we to revert to Sanka soon?  Come on People!

Sunday's Column - Local Fun

It's been a pretty mild winter.  I haven't used the snow plough once and the shovels have been underutilized as well.  A strange thing as we had our first snowfall on October 10th last year and we all thought it portended a big season.  Nonetheless with modern science the slopes have been busy and our local snow slide has all sorts lining up to go down on inner tubes.  You can read all about the activities in last Sunday's column http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140317/no-snow-needed-for-big-bear-fun

Music Track - Radar Love*

*I always thought that this was Red Alert!  I obviously wasn't paying attention to this 1973's  hit.  Still a good bit of driving rock.  The video is also quite amusing and it features a Reliant Robin.  A particularly nasty little bit of British automotive engineering.  Just try getting that by the EPA/DMV agencies today!  I once saw a bloke driving one of these up the Kingston by-pass at 90 m.p.h.  He was also wearing a very large pair of headphones.  A man before his time!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NzZ1mCNbNA