Irony

"Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash."

"Sweet Home Alabama" played in the background aboard the plane while transvestite Johnny23 danced to the music, when Garland Greene (played by Steve Buscemi) uttered these words in the movie "Con Air" (1997, starring Nicolas Cage).

What is just as ironic is this:

"A fence-building company in Southern California agrees to pay nearly $5 million in fines for hiring illegal immigrants. Two executives from the company may also serve jail time. The Golden State Fence Company's work includes some of the border fence between San Diego and Mexico."

More of the NPR article can be found here.

Venus

I stepped outside this evening and observed Venus high above the western horizon, the brightest I've seen this planet in quite a long time. Years... perhaps decades. I was reminded of the Hale-Bopp comet's presence about 10 years ago where it was visible (to the naked eye) in the northern sky. Celestial events are awesome!

Kiwis and Coconuts

They are... a mystery to me. I picked some up at the produce today, but I am at a loss as to how to prepare them. I recently read that the kiwi fruit contains more postassium than a banana and more Vitamin C than an orange. I know how to get into bananas and oranges; however, I am unsure about what to do with the kiwi.

Or the coconut.

If simians can get into the coconut's hard, hairy shell, then by golly I'm not about to get outdone by no stinkin' ape. I am not aware of its health benefits, only something I vaguely recall from my youth about the high number of calories. So, what's the best way to eat it (and the kiwi)? Thank goodness for the Internet, where I hope to find all anyone needs or wants to know about kiwis and coconuts.

Hehe, I bought a couple of limes too.

Chuck Yeager

My friend (Anonymous) posted a comment to "Seasons Change" where I made a reference to Chuck Yeager of Grass Valley, CA. I mistakenly referred to him as Colonel, although I do not know why I thought this since he had not held that title since 1968. The man who broke the sound barrier in 1947 and flew at speeds over twice that of sound (Mach 2) only years later became a Brigadier General, the rank he held until retiring from the Air Force in 1975. My sincerest apologies.

I have been to (and through) Grass Valley many times on my motorcycle excursions, but never managed to stay long enough to roam about town and per chance meet this legendary hero. More information about Brigadier General Chuck E. Yeager (Ret) can be found here.

Botched Carjacking

It was a case of a carjacking attempt gone sour resulting in the death of the target's passenger. Read here.

I have posted a comment to this online newspaper article asking (as another commentor had) when California will approve concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits. I am talking about provisions for Joe "Law-Abiding" Citizen, since the CCWs exist and are already being handed out to the privileged who request them. Ironically, many of these privileged are also the ones who want to take away our firearms rights.

California? Dream on.

Seasons Change

We had temps reaching into the 80s during the last days of Winter, and now that we officially have crossed into Spring, the next couple of days' forecast will be a passing cold winter storm (possibly accompanied by lightning, which suits me just fine). Go figure. I rode into the foothills yesterday and witnessed many flowers in bloom (especially daffodils). Many trees were blossoming as well, which will eventually give way to a full complement of leaves. It was also a thrill ride in that I scraped my footpegs (yet again), but this time my aggressive riding managed to cause other parts to taste a bit of asphalt. I believe the kickstand took a bang against the exhaust pipe; this bike is a cruiser and was never intended to be pushed in this manner.

70 was today's forecast and I rode up the Sacramento River's levee road, cut through some hills and valleys and grabbed lunch in Grass Valley, CA (I have yet to run into the Retired Colonel Chuck Yeager). Next weekend should be nice and back into the 70s after the storm passes, and I really really really oughta stop and snap some photos. Really.

On an aside, I was just vegging in front of the boob toob watching "Without a Trace" and the line is still fresh on my mind: "Mom, could you please excuse Jack and I?" Whoever wrote the script is either oblivious to the error, or decided that FBI agents can be grammatically challenged too.

Yes...

... as in "Yes-terMe, Yes-terYou, Yes-terDay". Steph had commented, asking what my favorite Stevie Wonder song is, so I thought I'd post his song using RadioBlog Player (I had a chance to meet him while down near LAX this week).



There was a lot of (ahem), talent at LAX Airport, and oh to be 21 again!

Boys, I'm Back

My boys seem to be okay with seeing me after a few days' absence, with none of that cold shoulder routine like those times past when I ventured off on 2-week long vacations. Bubba is making like a lap cat, as usual, while Charlie is lurking around somewhere.

The weekend is upon us and it was 75 degrees when I flew in around 4:00pm. Needless to say, I will likely be putting on some more 2-wheeled miles (last I saw on the news is gasoline over $3 per gallon). Considering other leisurely alternatives, I still find this as cheap entertainment; too bad my boys can't (and probably have no desire whatsoever to) come along on my rides.

They're motorcycle orphans.

Wonder-ful!

What an unexpected surprise... Stevie Wonder happened to show up at the convention. I found an opportunity to approach him and engaged in a brief conversation, pointing out that today was my birthday.

Stevie Wonder sang a happy birthday to me.

No kidding! My coworker was right there and witnessed it. Earlier she pointed him out suggesting that this guy was dressed up like Stevie and even had his familiar trademark sway, only minutes later to discover that he was the real deal.

Birthday!

It's my birthday too yeah!

And here I am at LAX. I got an e-card from volleyball friends which depicted a cake with loads of candles, being doused by a fireman with firehose in hand. See the photo in my earlier posting about the railroad trestle BIG FIRE and you'd think this may have been the cause of all that black smoke!

Unfortunately, my WiFi access here is not compliments of the hotel where I am staying, boohoo.

Animals

It's strange some of the stuff that goes on inside of my head. I had a thought earlier this evening about how many of us work with animals; not as veterinarians (what Jack's kid refers to as vegetarians), not as animal trainers, not as kennel keepers, not as groomers. Also, not necessarily at a zoo or circus although it may oftentimes feel that way.

Some of the animals I have worked with? Crabs, old goats, dogs, foxes, bats, asses, snakes, worms, sloths, lummoxes, yaks, pigs, rats, turkeys and morons.

LAX

That's where I will be headed soon (to a convention near LAX airport in Los Angeles). A coworker and I will be flying down there to check out the various technology for assisting people with disabilities. This includes software which provides text-to-speech, voice recognition and screen magnification.

I try to avoid LAX if possible, but it is still better than my experience with Atlanta-Hartfield.

Big Fire

Last night we had a big fire just north of the American River, not far from where I work (which is about 4 miles from where I live). The wood and steel railroad trestle (bridge) was aflame and is still burning as I type. The creosote used to protect the wood from rotting is also keeping the fire going, emitting toxic fumes into the air. We had the option of going home to telework if we felt a health concern; however, now that I realize how damaging these particulates can be, perhaps the wise move was for our employer to send everyone home and call it a day. Hmm, it's a Friday and the temperature is around 80 degrees.

Check out the news video clip here.

YouTube vs Viacom

YouTube is being sued by Viacom for publishing many contributors' video clips... of Viacom broadcasts (which includes "South Park", which I have been watching on late nite TV). The shows are copyrighted and they probably have a leg to stand on; this will mean monumental changes in the landscape of cybermedia.

I personally don't care for the entertainment industry (i.e. Hollywood, et al). Pro sports included. If it isn't already enough that we have actors (musicians, athletes, you get the drift) pulling down obscenely high incomes, they're wanting to make sure not a single red cent escapes them.

Just my 2¢ worth.

The Taxman Cometh

Only a month left before the tax deadline, and I was able to schedule a session with my tax preparer. I will still probably owe Uncle Sam a tidy sum as I have the past couple of years. This was due mainly to the high number of withholdings that I was claiming and have only recently adjusted (maybe around 6 months ago?).

I would gladly have paid close to $200 million in taxes... if I had been the sole winner of that near $400 million multi-state lottery. There will always be another chance, and although the odds against winning are astronomically high and there will be people who continue to pooh-pooh participating, tell that to the last two lucky winners of said lottery.

OK, back to taxes. I suppose they're a necessary evil in life, but I sometimes wonder if it isn't high time for a tea party. As a symbolic gesture, make that green tea.

Let It Go

Last Saturday I rode 150 miles (and did I ever mention this is often where I do my most creative thinking?). This time it was a beef. I felt screwed by Nationwide Insurance after having been a loyal customer for 20 years and getting my rates jacked up over one minor infraction. Summer of 2004 I was homeward bound from Colorado and was stopped near Cedar City, Utah for going 65mph in a 55mph zone.

All desert, traffic next to none.

It's been 7 years since my previous ticket which I justly deserved. Maybe this was on my mind because my American Motorcycle Association (AMA) membership is up for renewal after trying it for a year, which I plan on deferring mainly due to their apparent mutual endorsement with Nationwide. I was composing a letter in my head on how I wanted to share my sentiments with the AMA.

It was a nice ride in temps of at least the mid-70s, which offered me a chance to chill. Maybe I will wait for them to solicit my reasons for not renewing (or perhaps they did, but I had not bothered to open the envelope). In any case, that's water under the bridge and I will never see those lost insurance premiums again, but if anyone asks I will be sure to talk up a bit lot of smack.

Until then I felt it was best to just Let It Go. It is something that I hope to apply to other baggage I may have tucked away in some dark, forgotten corner.

Let it go.

Clocks

Now that everyone has moved their clocks an hour forward (3 weeks ahead of schedule compared to previous years), how's it feel? My schedule was a bit whacked, having stayed out later than usual Saturday night, something which I haven't done in years. I attended my friends' lavish 50th birthday party, a husband/wife couple reaching the half century milestone around the same time. I had a great time!

Today was a grass doubles volleyball outing where the temps may have hit 80 degrees. Since we were hoping to set up around 1:00p I did not plan on any rides (which was okay seeing how late I stayed out the night before). Needless to say, I woke up late so it won't be until tomorrow morning as I get up early for work that I will probably feel the impact of Daylight Savings Time.

Carbon Offsets

This is a service to offset the amount of pollution an individual emits into the environment due to his/her travels. Our governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, flies frequently between a home in Southern California and Sacramento, where he works. He also has a residence in Idaho. Other state politicians have done similar, but to me this seems to be an indulgence in guilt-cleansing where money can excuse one for any "wrongful" actions against our environment.

If it eases the conscience, it must be good.

Atlanta-Hartfield

The Atlanta, Georgia airport is touted as the busiest in the world, but not being a well-seasoned flyer, what would I know? What I do know is this: it certainly is a BIG airport. Back in 2001 and just shortly after 9/11 I happened to fly into Atlanta-Hartfield to visit friends in the area. This was before Thanksgiving and if you dig into your recent history journals you may recall that this busy airport shut down due to a security breach. Some bozo went down the up-escalator in a hurry after having already passed security screening (or so the story goes). My flight's ETA was between 10:00p - 10:30p and was a four hour trip from Sacramento, CA; it was another four hours on the tarmac before we were allowed to deplane. Worse yet, I was at the furthestmost gate from the center of the airport and it felt like I walked miles before meeting up with my friend (they have a shuttle train, but its operation ends at 1:00a and here I was just before 3:00a).

I was slightly exhausted from the brisk walk; did I mention that this is a BIG airport?

Tempus Fugit

Yes, time flies! I do not wear a wrist watch and haven't for many years (the clock on my cellphone will have to do, and I am not a fan of phones). However, this does not mean I am not intrigued by timepieces, because I certainly am. I cannot explain why I have this fascination, but I think a lot of it has to do with its design element. But there has to be more. Perhaps it is because time marches on and there's no turning back no matter how much I often want it to. I have a couple of clocks hanging on walls, and a large circular clock with a pendulum that needs mounting; a small retro triangular clock on my dresser; an am/fm/clock radio on my nightstand; a small, palm-sized square clock on the bathroom etagere; and a neon guitar clock still looking for a location. Of those mentioned, all are analog with the exception of the clock radio. I even have an analog clock on my computer screen which I downloaded from ClocX (it's a freebie where the developer asks only a voluntary donation). Check it out when you have a minute.

Italian Cuisine

Pasquales Italian Restaurant is located in Carmichael (in Sacramento County). Several of us stopped by after a volleyball match at the gym and grabbed some calzone and drinks (we won all 3 games); a couple of us have been regulars for over a dozen years. This is NOT fast food. On the contrary, the service has always been traditionally slow, but the food is actually prepared on the premises and is quite good. Besides calzones, the menu includes pizza, manicotti, cannelloni, lasagna, spaghetti, tortellini, various sandwiches and more. They are only open for dinners and are closed on Mondays... the owners are Patti and Earl (who happens to have purchased a Harley within the past year, but I won't hold that against him).

Check them out if you're in the neighborhood!

F³ - Jack

It's the Fast Food Files, which I will refer to as F-cubed (F³). I have to admit that I consume more than my fair share of junk food (and I will hazard a guess that those who do not are a shrinking minority). There are many levels of these chains and eateries: local, regional, national and international. What is fast food? I think the definition has become somewhat fuzzy and the line that separates fast food from slow food is not so distinct. I will just leave it at that; everyone has his or her own idea of what constitutes fast food.

The several Jack-in-the-Boxes in my vicinity (local) are consistent with what they have to offer. The food is prepared similarly, service didn't vary much and the environments aren't that different from one another. As a matter of fact, this held true with several out-of-town establishments as well (um, maybe this is what they meant by being part of a chain?).

About 5 or 6 weeks ago I was motorcycling in the Sierra foothills and stopped by Jack's for lunch where I ordered their meaty breakfast burrito. Wow, it was bigger than any I've had in the past; not only that, but the tortilla wrap was ever so lightly browned and crisp. If there was any chance that this may have been just a fluke, I happened to stop by the same Jack's yesterday and ordered something new on their menu: a sirloin steak breakfast burrito. Again, wow... hopefully I may be seeing a pattern here.

You can too if you happen to be checking out the Gold Rush towns along Hwy49. There are many small local cafes and restaurants that should be a part of the sightseeing experience, but if you must insist on fast food, Jack-in-the-Box Martell is located in the town of Martell situated off Hwy49 between Sutter Creek to the north and Jackson to the south. You can't miss the sign.

Congestion

Hybrid vehicles may be making it easier on the wallet when taking to the streets; however, this doesn't do much to alleviate traffic congestion. What are some possible alternatives?

• Relocate to the sticks.
• Build more roads.
• Mass transit.
• Ride share.
• Infill.
• Drive less.

I rode out to "the sticks" today. If you are familiar with American history, you may know of this region from the Gold Rush era during the mid-19th century. Those miners ('49ers) came looking to strike it rich in the Sierras. I went through the towns of Sonora, Angels Camp, San Andreas and Jackson (stopping there for lunch). What I found disturbing is that the sticks are no longer so, with new buildings and businesses sprouting up everywhere, and a new highway to Jackson (which I took) that bypasses the former route through Amador City and Sutter Creek. But I digress.

So, relocating to the sticks might not relieve congestion due to growth that follows you, and thus more roads are built. How many roads will be enough? To a nature buff like myself, they're paving paradise and you know the rest.

I haven't heard of many people who are willing to give up their much beloved personal vehicles for mass transit. Crime, cleanliness, timeliness and access are some issues cited.

We have carpool lanes out here, along with dissidents who argue for changing them to an additional, regular highway lane. Their reason? Not many people care to carpool.

Building residential housing near centers of business activity could mean that your neighborhood is surrounded by slums. Sure, you can walk to just about anywhere you need to be, but infill replaces that which was abandoned for some reason in the first place.

We could all drive less (and I often wonder why any given car is on the road. Are they going to work? Shopping?). The widespread availability of the cellphone no longer means you're tethered to a land line and allows more time behind the wheel. Sheesh. If not drive less, perhaps driving smarter by laying out a circuitous route will help.

I don't think we can have it both ways: you're either screwed at the pumps or sitting in traffic.

Mad Max

The movie which starred Mel Gibson came out in 1979, just after the oil embargo which sent gasoline prices skyrocketing. It's amazing how carmakers were able to respond by offering models that returned a stingy 30mpg, but since then the oil began to flow more freely, and vehicle fuel economy suffered as a result. Enter larger cars and the introduction of the SUV; having tasted the generous proportions there was no turning back. In order to continue manufacturing these cars (as opposed to downsizing) and provide better gas mileage, the companies have finally put enough research effort into alternative technologies. I have seen advertising claims of 30-60mpg for hybrid vehicles (using gasoline and electricity) which rivals that of many motorcycles. How long will it last this time? Hopefully for quite awhile, but then we still have this problem of congestion from too many cars on the road... but that's another story.

I rode 200 miles today (66 degrees was hard to resist) and the cost of regular was a nudge above $2.80 per gallon. Last I heard is that pump prices is on a rising trend for 2007... which is plenty enough reason to make one Mad.

Baby (Half) Grands

Happy birthday, baby, here's $500 -- courtesy of California taxpayers.

Legislation announced Wednesday would provide a tax-free, long-term investment account to every baby born in California, regardless of the parents' financial or immigration status.

Senate Bill 752 is meant to persuade more families to invest for the future.

Click here for the rest of this SacBee article.

I dunno. Perhaps there are good intentions behind all this, but I tend to agree with the "why not now, why wait 18 years" argument, or the "other pressing needs" argument. Even with conditions and other supposed safeguards in place which will disallow early withdrawals of this savings seed, it could still stir the cunning imaginations of scam artists and be a blow to past ZPG efforts.

Just what this overcrowded state needs.