Take a drive up to Mission Beach for a stroll along the sea front. It’s definitely one of the more salubrious areas of San Diego. Walk down as far as the home exchange we stayed in a few year ago, wow it’s a tad decrepit.
Drive around a few supermarkets in the hope of finding some of that soft Australian liquorice. No luck.
WOW! A STIFF AND INFLEXIBLE MESSAGE. IF ONLY OUR POLITICIANS WOULD ENACT THIS – FAT CHANCE. THEY’LL WAKE UP WHEN IT’S TOO LATE.
Australian Prime Minister does it again!! This woman should be appointed Queen of the World.. Truer words have never been spoken.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard- Australia:
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..
Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques. Quote:
‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT.. Take It Or Leave It.
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. ‘
‘This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom’
‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society …. Learn the language!’
‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’
‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’
‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’ ‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves in UK , SA, Canada & USA, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
Tuesday
Appropriately warm and sunny for our last day of our California Road trip.
Take a drive up to the famous La Jolla Cove for a pleasant stroll around and watch the seals. Try to find somewhere for coffee, but no luck other than rip off Starbucks. What the hells going on this Is America or have we been transported to some 3rd World ghetto.
Drive down to explore La Jolla Shores. Sit down on the beach front for coffee while Wendy goes indoors to order. A stroppy waiter confronts me. Oh I need to take your order. Well you weren’t here so my wife had to go inside to order. “Look I don’t give a rats who takes my order, it can be Donald Trump for all I care. All I want is a coffee, black, no pollutants. Simple.” Wendy encounters shit service indoors so we vote with our feet.
Apple what is wrong with you? You claim to be the best in ease of use yet so many inconsistencies between IPhone, iPad, MacBook and Mac it makes me want to throw the whole lot out and go back to the evil Empire.
Complete lack of common sense and consideration. Just two classics Time on Mac on top right, time on iPhone top left; email swipe to delete on iPhone wanders from swipe left or swipe right with no obvious pattern. Sack the 10 year olds – incapable of tying their own shoelaces – and employ some adults with some common sense, For gods sake get a grip and before launching anymore trivia, get an Ease of Use / Standardisation project under way. I’ll gladly give you a burgeoning list of the senseless.
Wednesday
Up even before the crack of sparrows – 0315. Then drive to airport, drop off Hertz mobile, it may be a boring Chevy Malibu but it’s very comfy and served us well.
Usual queues at TSA – see rants below.
Into lounge with Dragon pass, not exactly one of the most luxurious, but it sufficed.
First flights Delta to Atlanta. Usual Delta staff, officious bitch at boarding had all the charm of a menopausal grizzly, obviously on a power kick. Flight crew weren’t too bad, lazy as usual but at least some of them smiled.
Dragon Pass has no lounges at Atlanta so we have to stump up $100 for a 4 hour layover. Tried to drink and eat our moneys worth but didn’t quite make it.
Virgin flight to Atalanta was the usual great Premium flight, although sadly they had no Baron Otard Cognac – will it be Aer Lingus next?
Home at last. Dog tired.
Well what an awesome road trip. Yes, we’ve been to many of them places before but discovered new attractions, 17 mile drive; Point Lobos; Monterey Aquarium; not to forget three days in Joshua Tree NP, one of my favorites.
Met some new friends. Had some great dinners with old and new friends. Stayed with Nat & Paul, our oldest Home Exchange friends; stayed at Bob & Marilyns lovely home twice – thank you all. I think we might take friends advice, get our feet wet and come across the border (will the mobile they give us be an iPhone?) and then squat at B&M’s home – it so comfortable and relaxing.
Thanks to everyone.
Good thing about the TSA queue of 20 minutes, as it gives you time to contemplate the evil of the religion responsible for it.
To encourage contemplation and as a reminder of that dreadful event, and to help pass the time the walls could be decorated with excerpts from the Quran extolling the virtues of violence.
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Leave Monterey, we’ve had a fabulous time there, and drive over to Sacramento.
Been past Sacramento a few times but never stayed.
Pleasant sunny drive. Check into a Home 2 Suite and as usual it’s a great all round, suite complete with a kitchen.
It’s in a nice neighborhood so we have a stroll to a local supermarket to get our tea (dinner for southern snowflakes).
Pat Condell – Appeasing Islam
Tuesday
Start the sunny day with a good breakfast.
Then after a lazy start, we’re off down to old town Sacramento, yes they actually have an old town, complete with river boat steamer. Very pleasant to walk around.
The next stop is the state capital. It’s only half a mile away but in true American laziness we drive to it.
Car parking in this city is expensive, typically $3 an hour.
There’s an indigenous Peoples Protest. What are they protesting about. Well, it appears that some of them have gone missing or been murdered. When I ask a so what question they point out that indigenous people are 7 times more likely to be murdered or go missing. Apparently, they’re not blaming police negligence. Fortunately, there’s a protest march followed by a cultural dance event in front of the state capital.
We sit down to watch, not all that impressive, no dancing and just a lot of singing of very repetitive “Girls Coming of Age” songs, which apparently solve most known social problems. Each song is unique to that girl and seems to consist of about 3 words chanted to death. Haven’t a clue how it solves problems unless it’s just the song’s so repetitive and boring that it drives you nuts.
They all have flags of their Nation but of course some woke snowflake has to spoil it with a Palestinian flag – disgusting they allow it.
Have a free guided tour of the palatial state capital building, similar to the one in Washington. What is it about politicians the World over splashing out taxpayers money on extravagant palatial offices, what’s wrong with a few low-cost portacabins. Apparently ND or is it SD has a very basic, low-cost capital – must look it up
Signs to the tour are wrong, point this out but everyone knows they’re wrong and nothing can be done about it, too much bureaucracy and politics involved so instead they just f..k with customers and waste their time. Typical politicians.
The Guided tour is great, very informative and interesting, without being too long and boring.
Yeah, it’s pancake day or as the Americans call it Mardi Gras. When I was a kid this was one of the highlights of the year. Just English pancakes for tea with orange juice, if you were lucky, and sugar on them, no Maple syrup or other exotic toppings. Times were hard and it’s a reflection of the times that his was one of the highlights of a kids year.
So, in loving memory, it’s going to be just pancakes today. Off to iHOP, I imagine tey’ll be packed out, it’s their day of the year. Surprised hardly anyone in, what’s wrong with Americans? It’s two Lemon Ricotta Mixed Berry Crepes and two Cinnamon Bun Crepes drizzled with Cheesecake Mousse. Heaven. A cholesterol special will bugger up my diet.
Wednesday
After a lazy start we set off on a long, 5 hour drive, down Bakersfield. Fairly pleasant drive down I5.
Stop overnight in Bakersfield, nothing much there really, just a big city.
The religion of fear
Thursday
We’ve decided to add a stay Thursday and Friday at our Desert Hot Springs Airbnb rather than stop over two nights in Motels somewhere. So it’s a 3 hour drive down to Desert Hot Springs. A lovely scenic drive and very little traffic.
Arrive at our Airbnb for the next 9 days. It’s lovely, in a pleasant neighborhood. A real home from home, loads of gadgets and everything you need.
Spend the first 5 minutes on arrival looking for the button to open the drive gate, until I realize it’s manual. Can you believe that this is America, and this is California – bizarre.
Have to say the photographer did a good job of making the rooms look way bigger than they actually are, but they’re big enough and lovely furnished, so it’s not a problem.
Tea for me tonight is a Beef Burrito from a local Mexican restaurant. Good, plenty of beef.
Sort Apple TV out and we’re settled in for the night with a couple of beers and some Zinfandel.
How come there’s no cave paintings of salads?
Friday
Lazy start to what will be a lazy day and for Wendy the excitement of a supermarket trip.
Wendy has a shower and then can’t turn the water off. I try everything. Ring owner who gets her Uncle to come round. Meanwhile turn water off at the mains.
Uncle can’t fix it so a plumber is on the way. Meanwhile, we have the joy of a trip to Ralphs in Palm Springs.
Saturday
After a lazy start to a warm sunny day we’re off to Joshua Tree National Park, I’m excited.
Call in the visitors centre, tempted into buying another JT hat and then buy an annual NP pass, ready for summer.
Devastated at how busy the place is. Mind you perhaps coming on a Saturday was not such a good idea, and to top it off it’s a bank holiday weekend – Presidents Day on Monday. But the child in me could hardly wait. Nearly all the parking areas were chockablock, just too many damn tourists. Managed to park and have lunch sat by skull rock along with thousands of other pesky tourists. take a small stroll around the area, decide the best philosophy is to just drive around and enjoy the scenery as we will be coming back another day. scenery is awesome especially the rocks never mind the Joshua trees.
Back home for steak and salad for tea.
Joshua Tree rock formation animation:
The giant boulders found in Joshua Tree National Park were formed through a geological process called exfoliation, which is also known as “sheeting.” This process typically occurs in areas with granite rocks, such as Joshua Tree, which is part of the Mojave Desert in southeastern California.
Here’s how it happens:
* Formation of Granite: Granite is an igneous rock that forms deep underground when molten magma cools slowly over thousands to millions of years. This slow cooling allows large mineral crystals, such as quartz, feldspar, and mica, to form within the rock.
* Erosion and Weathering: Over millions of years, the surface of the Earth undergoes weathering and erosion due to wind, rain, temperature changes, and other environmental factors. These processes slowly wear away the outer layers of rock, exposing the granite beneath.
* Exfoliation: As the granite is exposed to the elements, it undergoes a unique type of weathering called exfoliation. This occurs when the outer layers of the granite expand and contract at different rates due to temperature changes. During the day, the surface of the rock heats up and expands, and at night it cools down and contracts. Over time, this repeated expansion and contraction cause the outer layers of the granite to crack and flake off, similar to the way layers of an onion peel away.
* Formation of Boulders: As exfoliation continues, large sheets of granite break off from the main rock formation. These sheets eventually break down further into smaller pieces, which are then shaped and rounded by additional weathering and erosion processes. The end result is the formation of the giant boulders that are characteristic of Joshua Tree National Park.
These boulders are scattered throughout the park and often stacked on top of each other in fascinating formations, providing a unique landscape for visitors to explore and enjoy.
Joshua Tree is beautiful, but we missed this beauty.
I’ve been told how busy the National parks have become, but never yet experienced it. Well, this place is infested with damn tourists. So have come up with a few ideas and thoughts on how to get rid of them.
1 Use the obvious tactic of pricing them out of the market, but that would spoil it for the poor people. Are there any poor people in America?
2 You could limit the number of people allowed in per day, that would mean I’d have to get up early.
3 I think this solution is simple. Get rid of the car parks near the attractions and build replacement car parks at least a mile away on the basis that no Americans walk, it would easily get rid of 90% of the tourists. The distance between the attraction and the car park could be directly proportional to the popularity of the attraction. So really attractive attractions would have a car park, at least 5 miles away, while, the less popular would be a mile away.
Sunday
Warm and sunny so decide on a lazy day as Mike’s arriving.
Nip out to the supermarket and Mike turns up while we’re out. Great to see him.
Quiet night in.
The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) primarily grows in the Mojave Desert of southwestern North America, particularly in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. While it’s true that Joshua trees have specific habitat preferences, including certain altitudes, their distribution isn’t solely determined by altitude but rather by a combination of various environmental factors.
Here are some key factors influencing the altitude range of Joshua trees:
* Climate: Joshua trees thrive in arid and semi-arid environments with low rainfall and high temperatures. The Mojave Desert provides these conditions, which are typically found at lower elevations. However, they are also found at higher elevations within the Mojave Desert where the climate is suitable.
* Temperature: While Joshua trees can tolerate extreme temperatures, they are limited by freezing temperatures, which can damage or kill them. Higher elevations generally experience colder temperatures, and Joshua trees may be restricted from growing at very high elevations due to the increased risk of frost damage.
* Soil Conditions: Joshua trees prefer well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils. Altitudes with certain soil types conducive to their growth may influence their distribution.
* Precipitation Patterns: Altitude can influence precipitation patterns, with higher elevations often receiving more rainfall or snowfall. Joshua trees are adapted to low rainfall environments and may not thrive in areas with significantly higher precipitation.
* Competition and Ecosystem Dynamics: At different altitudes, the ecological communities and species compositions vary. Competition with other plant species and ecological interactions may limit the distribution of Joshua trees at certain altitudes.
While Joshua trees are commonly associated with lower elevations, they can be found at altitudes ranging from about 1,300 to 6,000 feet (approximately 400 to 1,800 meters) above sea level. Within this range, they occupy habitats that provide the specific conditions necessary for their survival and growth. However, outside this range, environmental factors become less conducive to their persistence.
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Lazy morning with a trip into Cambria for tonight’s dinner. Must have a slice of Olallieberry pie.
Then it’s one of the highlights of our trip, or so we suppose, as we visit Hearst Castle. Despite having passed this way several times we never got round to visiting it.
Well have to say it is amazing, but for all the wrong reasons. Just an ostentatious flaunting of extreme wealth. An amazing collection but all somewhat gaudy. Seems like he had a scandalous love life for those times and was also a supporter of the Nazis. Really will have to watch “Citizen Cane” as William Randolph Hearst was the primary inspiration. The castle, despite it all, was well worth seeing . Guided tour is very well done and informative. Even if they didn’t confirm what his politics were – see Trivia.
It wouldn’t be America without a bottle of tomato ketchup on the table.
Then we drive up to the Elephant Seal Beach. Now that is truly amazing. The excess of pictures tell the story. What a boring life they must lead flipping sand on their backs, copulating, giving birth and nipple feeding. Well worth seeing.
Pie was good, but pastrami was pathetic. I’m becoming a real pastrami and Reuben’s snob these days.
William Randolph Hearst Sr. (/hɜːrst/;[1] April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician known for developing the nation’s largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications. His flamboyant methods of yellow journalism influenced the nation’s popular media by emphasizing sensationalism and human interest stories. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887 with Mitchell Trubitt after being given control of The San Francisco Examiner by his wealthy father, Senator George Hearst.
After moving to New York City, Hearst acquired the New York Journal and fought a bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. Hearst sold papers by printing giant headlines over lurid stories featuring crime, corruption, sex, and innuendos. Hearst acquired more newspapers and created a chain that numbered nearly 30 papers in major American cities at its peak. He later expanded to magazines, creating the largest newspaper and magazine business in the world. Hearst controlled the editorial positions and coverage of political news in all his papers and magazines, and thereby often published his personal views. He sensationalized Spanish atrocities in Cuba while calling for war in 1898 against Spain. Historians, however, reject his subsequent claims to have started the war with Spain as overly extravagant.
She has a headache.
He was twice elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives. He ran unsuccessfully for President of the United States in 1904, Mayor of New York City in 1905 and 1909, and for Governor of New York in 1906. During his political career, he espoused views generally associated with the left wing of the Progressive Movement, claiming to speak on behalf of the working class.
After 1918 and the end of World War I, Hearst gradually began adopting more conservative views and started promoting an isolationist foreign policy to avoid any more entanglement in what he regarded as corrupt European affairs. He was at once a militant nationalist, a staunch anti-communist after the Russian Revolution, and deeply suspicious of the League of Nations and of the British, French, Japanese, and Russians.[2] Following Hitler’s rise to power, Hearst became a supporter of the Nazi Party, ordering his journalists to publish favourable coverage of Nazi Germany, and allowing leading Nazis to publish articles in his newspapers.[3] He was a leading supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932–1934, but then broke with FDR and became his most prominent enemy on the right. Hearst’s publication reached a peak circulation of 20 million readers a day in the mid-1930s. He poorly managed finances and was so deeply in debt during the Great Depression that most of his assets had to be liquidated in the late 1930s. Hearst managed to keep his newspapers and magazines.
His life story was the main inspiration for Charles Foster Kane, the lead character in Orson Welles’ film Citizen Kane (1941).[4] His Hearst Castle, constructed on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean near San Simeon, has been preserved as a State Historical Monument and is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Tuesday
Mixed weather so after a lazy start we set off from the hotel in Cambria, really nice place, to our Airbnb in Seaside, just outside Monterey. Couldn’t go up Highway 1, as planned, the road is closed.
Pleasant drive up 101. Stop off at Mission Nuestra Senori de la Soledad for a look around and Wendy’s lunch in the car. It’s a quaint little Missiondating back to 1791 and off the beaten path.
Arrive at our Airbnb. Very comfortable
Pat Condell – O Dhimmi Canada
Wednesday
Rained all day so the usual lazy start. Drive down to Cannery Row, a tad disappointing. Just went shopping, trying to find a decent supermarket was worse than trying to find a decent web site. Then hunkered down and spent the day in.
In the evening we started watching Citizen Kane, based on the live of Willian Hearst. Obviously a tad dated and in black and white. Well it may be an iconic film but so dated it was hard work.
Thursday
Sun and cloud day, so after the usual lazy start we take a drive down the Famous highway to the Big Sur. some awesome coastal views. Can see why it’s the most dangerous road in America, too many great views to distract you. Although we’ve drive highway 1 South to North, we had planned on this trip to drive all the way up highway from Atascadero to Monterey but it’s closed is currently closed due to a massive landslide that occurred in January 2023 at a location called Paul’s Slide. This landslide buried a two-mile segment of the highway, making it impassable. It’s not forecast to be open until late 2024, but at least we got to photograph the iconic bridge.
In the evening we go out for dinner to Tarpy’s. Paul’s recommended their Shrimp and Grits. It was just around the corner from our Airbnb, the shrimp and grits were amazing, I was stuffed. But as for the rest of it, well. Place was freezing, needed long Johns and an anorak. Had an Artichoke starter, what an Anorexic Artichoke, hardly any flesh on it. Wendy had the Meatloaf, not very tasty, but the shrimp grits made it all worthwhile.
Friday
Sunny day so we take a drive around the famous 17 mile drive. Yes, we have to pay $11.95, but unusual for to say it was well worth it. Some spectacular ocean views and get to see the World famous Lone Cedar – reminds me of the cover of the book Snow Falling On Cedars.
Then it’s a trip to Costco – treat me sen to some new socks – and then cheap petrol. Also discover Lucky supermarket, so much better than anything round here.
Audrey drops off free Aquarium tickets and we chat.
The Lone Cypress is a Monterey cypress tree located in Pebble Beach, California. Standing atop a granite headland overlooking Carmel Bay, the tree has become a Western icon and has been called one of the most photographed trees in North America.
History
Early history
The tree is believed to have been seeded circa 1750 in what was then the Spanish colony of New Spain. However, due to the invasive nature of traditional dendrochronology, the precise age of the tree is unknown and can only be inferred.
Over the centuries the tree has been weathered by the wind and salt spray coming off the Pacific Ocean, gradually altering its appearance. The earliest known depictions of the tree’s likeness in paintings and photographs date to the 1880s, which shows the tree with a lush dome-shaped canopy.
20th century
In 1941, a stone retaining wall was constructed around the base of the tree to protect its roots from erosion.
In 1948, a series of cables were installed to help support the tree.
In 1969, the tree was fenced off to the public in order to protect its roots from being damaged from trampling.
In 1984, an unknown arsonist attempted to set fire to the tree. The tree survived with only minor fire scarring.
21st century
On February 16, 2019, the tree lost one of its limbs during a severe weather event known as a Pineapple Express. This dramatically altered its appearance.
Future
The future longevity of the tree is unknown. The longest-lived Monterey cypress based on physical evidence lived to only 284 years old.
Geography
The tree is located off 17-Mile Drive between Cypress Point Club and the Pebble Beach Golf Links, two of world’s best-known golf courses.
The Monterey cypress grows naturally only in Pebble Beach and Point Lobos.
Trademark
A drawing of the tree was registered as Pebble Beach Company’s trademark in 1919. The company said the trademark protected not only the logo but also the tree itself.
Saturday
Sunny day. Off down to the Aquarium . Parking is a nightmare. I end up ina 2 mile No Left Turn debacle, unbelievable.
Aquariums very crowded but enjoyable. Some great exhibits. Alas no scuba diving in it, just not big enough. Exhibit on Sardine business and canning on Cannery Row, which was in full swing until the 1950’s, was very interesting. Amazed to see the examples of Pilchard cans, yet nowadays you can’t get Pilcards in an American supermarket, rarer than a bible seller in Tehran.
Take out a second mortgage for the coffee and can you believe $20 to park.
Then it’s off through farming country to Salinas and the Steinbeck museum. Yes, I know we’ve been before, but thanks to my geriatric memory I can’t remember it so I delight in a whole new experience.
Pop round to Audrey’s to return the free tickets.
Then it’s back home, Lucky’s supermarket, and a great Hickory Beans and burger dinner.
Pat Condell – Sharia Fiasco
Elephant seals or sea elephants are very large, oceangoing earless seals in the genus Mirounga. Both species, the northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal (M. leonina), were hunted to the brink of extinction for oil by the end of the 19th century, but their numbers have since recovered. They are the largest extant carnivorans, weighing up to 4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb). Despite their name, elephant seals are not closely related to elephants, and the large proboscis or trunk that males have was convergently evolved.
Seeing elephant seals in the wild is a truly remarkable experience, and coastal viewpoints in California offer breathtaking sights of this species that you won’t want to miss. As you watch these large, blubbery mammals interact in their natural habitat, the experience is made even more special knowing that you are witnessing a conservation success story.
Northern elephant seals were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century. After decades of being slaughtered for their blubber, which people used for lamp oil during that time, only an estimated 100 animals remained on one small island off the coast of Mexico. Mexico and the United States declared protections for this species, and northern elephant seals rebounded in a big way—there are an estimated 150,000 – 200,000 individuals today, and the population continues to grow every year.
This species is found in the North Pacific, ranging from Baja California, Mexico, to the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Elephant seals spend the vast majority of their time—about nine months of the year—in the open ocean, only coming to shore twice each year to breed and molt.
They have one of the longest migrations of any mammal in the world, traveling up to 13,000 miles each year from shore to their feeding grounds in the northern Pacific Ocean. During their biannual migrations at sea, northern elephant seals forage for bottom-dwelling creatures and dive up to depths over 5,000 feet (that’s equal to four Empire State Buildings!).
While there are peak seasons between December and June when most elephant seals haul out, or temporarily leave the water, you can see elephant seals year-round in California on their breeding beaches, called rookeries. But with so much of their lives spent underwater up to 5,000 miles offshore, how is it that elephant seals can be spotted on the beach during any season?
Male and female elephant seals swim to and from the rookery beaches in phases, depending on where they are in their life cycle. This means that depending on when you venture out to an elephant seal overlook, you might be able to spot 4,500-pound male seals fighting for dominance, expectant mothers coming ashore to give birth, or young pups learning to swim.
Whether you visit an elephant seal viewing point or tune in to our live beach webcam, you can watch wild seals ashore and observe their fascinating natural behaviors. Follow the incredible life journey of this species in the timeline below, find out when and where to see elephant seals in California, and learn how you can help protect these animals.
Sunday
Another sunny day.
After a lazy start we take Audrey’s advice and visit Point Lobos. It has to be one of the State Parks ever. Amazing and awesome coastline, my iPhone nearly ran out of film! But photos don’t do it justice, really don’t know how to get them all on this blog. We were really lucky as they were closing the entrance when we got there we were the last car in. Sadly very limited parking. Best $9 spent on this trip so far.
In the evening I watch the Super Bowl tonight. Pity I don’t understand it. Adverts galore. Half time entertainment was pathetic, who were they? Wot no costume failures.
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A very lazy start to another warm sunny day. I could really get used to this lifestyle.
Drive over to the Santa Monica Mountains. First stop King Gillette Ranch. Of course the visitors centre is closed but have a shuffle around. Then it’s on to own main objective, Malibu Creek Park. Sit an have lunch admiring the Mountains – well hills really – and the Blue Birds. Then head off to the Rock Pool. It’s near the visitors centre which as well as being closed is a 1 mile walk away from the main car park. What numpty dreamt this up. Don’t they realise this is America, nobody walks in America. On top of that the distances shown on the signs are a total screw up. Not only must their idea of a mile be based on some mythical American mile, but to find the Rock Pool gets further away as you get closer must be some sort of space time distortion in the fabric of their universe.
Anyway finally get there and it’s infested with two families and an excess of noisy rug rats.
Ventura park.
Then it’s onto Paramount ranch, but that’s all being rebuilt after a forest fire – no doubt caused by climate change which in turn has been caused by BREXIT.
Pass on Peter Strauss Ranch.
It’s been a lovely drive around these “mountains”, so very picturesque.
Then decide we’ll drive down the rest of the famous Mulholland Drive, can you believe it’s closed. Oh well, 101 back to home for afternoon tea in our new mini-kettle – Assam, so civilised.
Big decision, wine or no wine?
Ventura town hall. Why do they always have to be so palatial? Just like the UK it’s taxpayers money so it doesn’t matter.
Stop signs in America leave a lot to be desired. Are they just a stop or is it a 4 way, look for the plaque underneath that says “All Way”, well not always. Now here’s a suggestion why not keep “All Way” stops as an Octagonal sign and 2 way / Others as a Square. That way if you miss the plaque you can still know what it is by the shape – SIMPLES.
Up in Monterey they don’t even bother to say “All Way”.
Only in California.
Tuesday
Another sunny day and lazy start.
Drive down to Main Street Ventura, a pleasant traffic free zone. Have a shuffle around and Wendy has lunch.
Then we do the botanical gardens, at least with plant watching they don’t fly off like bird watching. The place is in need of a bit of TLC and some signs. Good 90 minute walk up and down but not really worth the $7 each.
Quick supermarket stop and then back home for afternoon tea.
The sea mist is shrouding the Channel Islands, there’s an occaisional peep through the mist.
On the wall over the urinal:
Pat Connell – A Word to Islamofascist
Wednesday
Lazy start to a grey day as we pack to move onto to Nat and Pauls home in Atascadero. I must be about 8 years since we last saw them.
Drive up to Pismo beach and stop off on the beach car park for Wendy’s essential lunch. Then drive down to the pier for a stroll. It’s going to rain any moment and is blowing a gale. Is this really California?
Then drive onto Atascadero after yet another brief supermarket stop.
It’s great to see N&P again, they make us so welcome. Nate prepared dinner and then we have a pleasant evening in catching up. Put the World to rights. Agree that we’re both living in a kakistocracy. Watch The Sound of Freedom. And yes by way of a change it’s raining.
An American professor suggested adding a pinch of salt to a cup of tea, and Brits lost their minds. People were pissed. The US Embassy even had to issue a statement condemning the recipe. They said, “We want to ensure the good people of the UK that the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain’s national drink is not official United States policy. And never will be.”
It’s Very, Very Funny How These 29 Extremely American Things Confuse The Bloody Hell Out Of British People.
Because I love a good “US vs. UK” moment (our comments in brackets), here are some American things that confuse the hell out of British people:
When Americans say what grade they are in to describe how old they are.
Beans on toast. (what’s wrong with them – awesome).
Sweet potato casserole.
The way Americans heat up water in microwaves. (both bizarre and dangerous).
The fact that Americans call it “math” instead of “maths.” (never understand that one).
When Americans say, “Wanna grab a coffee?”
Why Americans are so friendly and chatty in general. (We agree, they are so awesomely friendly).
Why Americans always joke about marmite.
Why Americans care about the royal family. (never understand that one).
Summer camp. (never understand that one).
The fact that Americans wear things that say “London” and “Oxford,” and Brits wear things that say “New York” and “Chicago.”
Halloween.
The way Americans call pizza “pie.”
The fact that Americans find British accents sexy. (never understand that one, but it’s good for us).
The use of “xx.”
The whole kettle vs. teapot conundrum. (never understand that one. Very rare to find an electric kettle, we take our own.).
The legal drinking age. (never understand that one).
Wee vs. pee.
School dances.
“Chip chip.” (really annoying along with “tally ho” and “old chap”)
The fact that Americans call it “horseback riding” instead of “horse riding.”
Clapping and cheering at movie theaters. (never understand that one).
The way Americans carry shopping bags.
The way Americans think talking in British accents is funny. (just annoying).
The way Americans tell non-Americans what specific state they’re from, as if the non-American has any idea where that is. (never understand that one).
“Lovers’ lanes.”
“On line” vs. “In line.” (worse still is the line instead of queue – probably because it’s difficult to spell queue).
And lastly, toasting marshmallows.
Thursday
My expensive, luxury easy peel orange – £3.
After a good nights sleep there’s home grown Figs for breakfast – awesome.
Have a lazy day in with N&P, just enjoying one another’s company. Must be over 6 years since we saw them.
Go out for dinner in the evening to a local restaurant in Atascadero.
Then it’s back home for some Netflix – I manage to fall asleep. It’s oh so tiring doing nothing all day.
Sea glass are naturally weathered pieces of glass, which often have the appearance of tumbled stones. Sea glass is physically and chemically weathered glass found on beaches along bodies of salt water. These weathering processes produce natural frosted glass. Sea glass is used for decoration, most commonly in jewellery. “Beach glass” comes from fresh water and is often less frosted in appearance than sea glass. Sea glass takes 20–40 years, and sometimes as much as 100–200 years, to acquire its characteristic texture and shape. It is also colloquially referred to as drift glass from the longshore drift process that forms the smooth edges. In practice, the two terms are used interchangeably.
Sea glass begins as normal shards of broken glass that are then persistently tumbled and ground until the sharp edges are smoothed and rounded. In this process, the glass loses its slick surface but gains a frosted appearance over many years.
Naturally produced sea glass (“genuine sea glass”) originates as pieces of glass from broken bottles, broken tableware, or even shipwrecks, which are rolled and tumbled in the ocean for years until all of their edges are rounded off, and the slickness of the glass has been worn to a frosted appearance. Then, the glass will wash to shore where it may be collected.
Friday
Morro Bay.
Wake to more frozen figs for breakfast. Then the usual lazy start and once we all get our acts together we drive over to one of our favorite places – Morro bay. Have lunch there overlooking Morro Rock. I have the best crab cakes I’ve ever tasted. Quite novel having a meal at lunch time and then a snack / salad at teatime.
Then drive down the coast to Harmony for a shuffle around the pottery and glassworks. Only 18 people live there!
Groundhog Day (Pennsylvania German: Grund’sau dåk, Grundsaudaag, Grundsow Dawg, Murmeltiertag; Nova Scotia: Daks Day) is a tradition observed regionally in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.
The tradition has roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be.
While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.
The first Groundhog Day was celebrated on Feb. 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Penn., according to History.com.
The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger (German: Dachs) is the forecasting animal. It is related to the lore that clear weather on the Christian festival of Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.
The Groundhog Day ceremony held at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania, centering on a semi-mythical groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, has become the most frequently attended ceremony. Grundsow Lodges in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the southeastern part of the state observe the occasion as well. Other cities in the United States and Canada also have adopted the event.
Punxsutawney Phil brought cheers as he predicted an early spring is in store for us in 2024.
Storage of all the items for the troops.
One of the boxes ready to go.
Storage of all the items for the troops.[/caption]For a change here’s a real good news story.
Our friends Nat and Paul run a charity to send boxes to troops. Every Monday, along with some helpers, they make up boxes to send out to their troops. They also raise money for this charity.
Mission Statement
To serve all our troops in all branches of the United States Military by sending care boxes full of items they need for their professional and personal well-being.
We are reaching out to all deployed military personnel, with the hope of making their deployment a little easier.
Sample list of needs, some of the items requested, that we send in large flat-rate USPS boxes are:
Saturday
After a fig breakfast, a lazy start and a salmon salad for lunch we set off to our next stop in Cambria. Of course no journey would be complete without a supermarket stop.
Paul tried very hard to get us to stay longer but we’d already booked the hotel and house guests are like fish they go off after a few days. Much as we enjoyed our stay with N&P, it was awesome, we were determined not to overstay our welcome.
Hotel is very nice and comfortable. Chicken salad for tea and a full bottle of wine. Slept like a log despite the 5 serious weather warnings.
Sunday
We were going to drive up Highway 1, all along the cost to where it was closed off. But when we saw the various work crews clearing fallen trees decided it might be more sensible to just hunker down for the afternoon. Test out some SQL solutions for PCMSC, and who knows I might even get some of the Benjamin Franklin biography read.
Judging by the alarming and dire TV weather forecast you would think this was Armageddon, enough to strike fear and terror into anyone. Stay indoors and check your emergency supplies. The end of the World is nigh. Five weather warnings, don’t they realise this is just a typical summers day in Belthorn:
Nabeel Qureshi: Why I stopped believing Islam is a religion of peace
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on 20240129 – Santa Monica to Atascadero
Start the day with a pathetic breakfast and then it’s off in the pouring rain up to the Reagan Library. It’s over a 100 miles between Dana Point in the South East of LA and the Reagan in the North West of LA.
Amazing not a single hold up driving across LA. Most of it was in HOV lane (2 or more people in car). What a great way to travel, hardly any traffic in them and usually much wider with lower risks. I knew on April 3rd 1971 that Wendy would eventually come in useful!
The Reagan Library is amazing. What a prosperous Presidency he had. Really improved my appreciation of his time as President and the issues of the time. Pity we don’t have leaders of his calibre. To have a full sized Air Force One in the Library.
Then we did the Auschwitz Not long ago. Not far away tour, which was packed. Another Yad Vashem moment. I found it as good as Yad Vashem, exhibits etc were not as large and spectacular but the detail and individual case stories were amazing. Can’t fail to be moved and wonder how could it ever happen. How did so many go along with it? Is the cruelty and evil in all of us that can be released? Worrying.
Then it’s a drive to Santa Monica and down WIltshire and Santa Monica Boulevards at rush hour to our hotel. LA at its worse. How do people cope with it.
Have a walk up to Wholefoods to buy something for tea. Interesting area; a few homeless, one even sat on the wet pavement with his iPad; but no one sleeping rough. Amazing Wholefoods had normal people in it, none of the freaks who infested Wholefoods New York.
E pluribus unum, Latin pronunciation: [e ˈpluribus ˈunum]) – Latin for “Out of many, one” (also translated as “One out of many” or “One from many”) – is a traditional motto of the United States, appearing on the Great Seal along with Annuit cœptis (Latin for “he approves the undertaking [lit. ‘things undertaken’]”) and Novus ordo seclorum (Latin for “New order of the ages”) which appear on the reverse of the Great Seal; its inclusion on the seal was suggested by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere and approved in an act of the Congress of the Confederation in 1782.
That the phrase “E pluribus unum” has thirteen letters makes its use symbolic of the original Thirteen Colonies which rebelled against the rule of the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first thirteen states, represented today as the thirteen stripes on the American flag.
The meaning of the phrase originated from the concept that out of the union of the original Thirteen Colonies emerged a new single nation.
A popular but erroneous myth is that the seal is changed during times of war, so that the eagle faces the arrows in its left talon. This belief may have arisen because major changes to the seal have coincidentally been made before or after wars – specifically, the 1945 change in the seal, and also the 1916 change in the flag (though not the seal) from the right-facing Great Seal to the left-facing presidential seal.
This misconception may also have arisen from a comment made by Winston Churchill, who, regarding Truman’s redesign of the seal, joked: “Mr. President, with the greatest respect, I would prefer the American eagle’s neck to be on a swivel so that it could face the olive branches or the arrows, as the occasion might demand”.
The belief is perpetuated by a 2000 episode of The West Wing entitled “What Kind of Day Has It Been?”. Character Admiral Fitzwallace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, notes that the presidential seal in the center of the Oval Office carpet contains a shield bearing a bald eagle clutching the olive branch in its right talons and arrows in its left. The eagle’s head is turned toward the olive branch. Fitzwallace alleges that in times of war the seal is replaced with one in which the eagle’s head is turned toward the arrows.
Similarly, the Dan Brown novel Deception Point (2001) includes a passage implying that the seal embroidered on the carpet in the Oval Office is switched by White House workers. The novel states that an alternative carpet is stored in the basement, and the workers make the change overnight when no one notices.[55]
Tuesday
Start the day watching Fox in order to get the full American experience. Early morning joy bought to your screen with the “Blond Bimbo Horsey Teeth Newsreaders”, all teeth and tits, don your welding goggles before turning on; turn off your hearing aids before they open their mouths with the giggling drivel and trivia of a Butterfly brain. Silly cows. No intellectual stimulation here.
Then it’s the worst hotel breakfast. Poor choice, disgustingly cheap options and only 6 useable tables in the breakfast room – great way to stop people having too much breakfast.
It’s a sunny day so we’re off down to Santa Monica Pier for a pleasant stroll. Very busy. Like a more up market Blackpool all confined to the one long pier.
Then we drive down to Venice Beach for a stroll along the front. It’s a weirdo magnet. Santa Monica seemed to have “normal” guys and gals, but here it’s weirdo heaven. More weirdos than a New York Wholefoods supermarket. There’s shirtless roller skaters with ties down their back; roller skaters who have turned up their Gay meter to outdo even Torvill and Dean; tasty, skimply dressed women in ugly boots with soles so thick it’s a wonder they don’t get nosebleeds; ugly dogs with matching ugly owners; dogs in bike baskets with sun glass and goggles on; that many Jesus Lookalikes I’m sure there must be a competition on nearby; women in jeans with holes so big it’s hardly worth wearing them, other than to display their tattooed legs; tattooed folk who have obviously escaped from a Fairground freaks show; and of course piercings in every orifice imagined and visible and no doubt an excess in invisible body parts.
Shop owners trying to entice you in to view and buy their bizarre wares. One really smart business owner, who obviously has an MBA in marketing and has really profiled his typical customer, tries to entice me into his store. What’s wrong with that you may say, well all he sells is skate boards – I rest my case.
Try to find somewhere for Wendy’s lunch. Not a chance in hell with all the squalid greasy spoon cafes.
At long last it’s a subway for tea tonight. Expensive and not a patch on the subways I remember.
More demands from islam – another past rant from Pat Connell:
Wednesday
Ah, the joys of morning routines: one of the most stingy and disgusting breakfast’s devoured, bags packed, and the open road beckoning. Today’s destination? Ventura.
Off we go, cruising along the picturesque coast road, the wind in our hair – well it would have been if we’d selected to Dodge sports car – and the promise of adventure on the horizon. But wait, what’s this? Malibu, the land of the rich and famous, beckoning us with its glamorous allure. Alas, Wendy’s back has decided to join the journey, throwing a wrench into our plans. Oh well, who needs Malibu when there’s a comfy Airbnb waiting?
Our Airbnb, nestled in the bosom of an “okay” neighborhood, doesn’t exactly scream luxury from the outside it’s about as spectacular as a soggy Subway sandwich. But fear not for appearances can be deceiving. Inside, it’s a different story altogether: comfort, cleanliness, and enough amenities to make even the pickiest traveler swoon. And lo and behold, a glimpse of the sea! Well, sort of, if you crane your neck just right and squint past the rooftops.
Settled in, what’s the next logical step? A leisurely stroll? A quaint exploration of the local scene? Nope, it’s off to the supermarket! But why stop at one when you can turn grocery shopping into a triathlon? Walmart, check. Ralph’s, double check. Because why settle for one episode of misery when you can binge on two?
And there you have it, folks, the glamorous life of BREXIT escapees and road warriors. Where every detour leads to a new adventure, and every delay is just an opportunity to vent my spleen with some choice swear words. Time to bring back some good old English oaths such as:
Thursday
Another warm sunny day.
Set off down to the Channel Islands National Park Centre which is in Ventura,not on the islands. Watch the video, get some friendly advice and of course buy yet another National Park hat to add to my collection. Sadly it’s not a Forage cap style.
Book a cruise to the Channel Islands for Sunday. A tad expensive but I want to add it to my collection.Who knows we might even be rewarded with a sighting of the beautiful Channel Island fox. In the awesome animal stakes comes a close second to the Red Panda.
Stop off in the harbor for a coffee and I finally get by Root Beer float.
Return the daangerous leaky kettle, that tried to fry me, to Walmart. The slob who processed our return couldn’t even manage a smile or an apology, poor thing had to curtail her gossip with a colleague. It seems like Walmart isn’t just the home of pajama and slipper wearing customers but also ignorant staff.
George Carlin: The suicide guy
Friday
Another sunny day so set off to Santa Barbara. Yes, we’ve been there before, but that applies to most of the places on this trip. It’s a lovely typical California beach resort complete with palm trees, beaches, surfers and of course a pier. Thank fully there’s no amusements, grot shops or filthy greasy spoon, salmonella infested cafes to spoil it. Most of the people seem boringly normal, unlike the freaks in Venice Beach.
Walk along the pier; lunch in the car overlooking the beach and the Channel Islands. Back home to try a coffee from the local coffee shop – as expected it’s full of Apple laptops, probably all browsing porno. Sample their different coffees FOC – now that’s enterprising. Buy a bag of the sweetest coffee I’ve ever tasted.
Then we act our age (quite difficult as we’ve never been this age before), sit back with a coffee, and enjoy the sun on the balcony, all the time missing, like a raging toothache, the dire weather and 2nd hand USA storms that are battering Belthorn.
The United States Secret Service (USSS or Secret Service) is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security charged with conducting criminal investigations and protecting U.S. political leaders, their families, and visiting heads of state or government. Until 2003, the Secret Service was part of the Department of the Treasury, as the agency was founded in 1865 to combat the then-widespread counterfeiting of U.S. currency. President Abraham Lincoln signed the legislation on April 14, 1865, just a few hours before he was assassinated.
In 1901, the Secret Service was also assigned to presidential protection duties.
Primary missions
The Secret Service is mandated by Congress with two distinct and critical national security missions: protecting the nation’s leaders and safeguarding the financial and critical infrastructure of the United States.
Well I see our fucked up Blackburn council has decided to allow the building of an Industrial park on greenbelt. Now there’s a surprise! One would wonder whether the council are lapdogs to the Issa Brothers? There’s a question. Have the Issa brothers added Blackburn council to their long list of acquisitions. Why would any sane council approve any plans from the Issa brothers, given their track record of riding roughshod over local planning laws, and getting away with it.
Saturday
Another sunny day.
Lazy start then drive down to Ventura pier – closed due to storm damage – have a stroll along the front. Sit and watch the surfers. Treat ourselves to a dirty chai and latte – we sure know how to live, spare no expense.
Oh joy another supermarket trip. Then home for wine on the balcony watching the sun set.
In a rapid legislative progression, the Utah House of Representatives has passed HB 257, a contentious bill that, if signed into law by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, would become the first anti-LGBTQ+ bathroom ban of the year. The bill aims to stop transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, as well as restrict access to changing rooms in government-owned or operated facilities for transgender people of all ages.
Hu
Sunday
Another gorgeous sunny day. Up a the crack of sparrows to catch the boat / ship over to the Channel Islands. Another National Park to add to my collection. It’s a tad rough so the wimp in me takes a Qwell, seems to stave off a visit from Huey and Ruth and keeps the diced carrots at bay.
Fortunately there’s a NP Ranger talk and walk – always a great way to learn about the park. We’re rewarded with two sightings of the gorgeous Channel Island fox and a CI Scrub Jay. Being an Island a lot of the animals and plants have evolved separately from the mainland. There’s a 300 foot climb to some great viewpoint s at the top of the cliffs – Wendy struggles with her back but is glad she did it as the views were worth it. Have lunch on the clifftop, enjoying the stunning clifftop views.
A great day, a long day, but well worth.
Home to a couple of well deserved beers and finish of a bottle of Zinfandel. Of course I nod off during the evenings TV.
Only in California:
Islam in Europe – a past rant from Pat Connell that is still relevant today, even more so:
The island fox only lives on six of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of southern California–they are found nowhere else on Earth. Each island population is recognized as a separate endemic or unique subspecies.
The island fox, a descendant of the mainland gray fox, is the largest of the Channel Islands’ native mammals, but one of the smallest canid species in the world.
Although foxes have always existed at low population sizes, four island fox subspecies underwent catastrophic declines in the 1990s. On San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands at Channel Islands National Park, the decline was attributed to predation by golden eagles. The presence of non-native ungulates as a food source in addition to the DDT-caused decline of bald eagles, a natural competitor, facilitated the establishment of golden eagles as resident breeders on the islands. By 2000, predation on island foxes resulted in population declines to 15 individuals on San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands, and less than 80 on Santa Cruz Island. In 2004, each of the park’s island fox subspecies were federally listed as endangered.
In 1999, Channel Islands National Park began an island fox recovery program that included captive breeding and reintroduction of foxes, removal of resident golden eagles, re-establishment of bald eagles, and removal of non-native ungulates. This coordinated, organized and highly focused strategy was able to reverse the certain extinction of an endangered population. Today, the population has recovered within the park. Population trend and annual survival are currently monitored to ensure that recovery continues and future threats to the park’s island fox subspecies are identified.
Quick and Cool Facts
It is the only carnivore unique to California.
Although the island fox is one of the smallest canids in the world, it is the largest native terrestrial mammal on the Channel Islands.
The island fox is one-third smaller than its mainland ancestor, the gray fox. At 12 to 13 inches in height and 4 to 5 pounds, the island fox is about the size of a housecat.
Some individuals have been known to live up to 15 years.
Unlike nocturnal gray foxes, which hunt exclusively at night to avoid predators, island foxes have no natural predators, allowing them to be active duringdaylight hours with peaks in activity occurring at dusk and dawn.
Visually, island foxes show signs of dominance or submission through facial expressions and body posture.
They communicate by barking and sometimes growling.
Their keen sense of smell plays an important role in the marking of territories. Island foxes are known to scent-mark their territories with a few drops of urine and tend to concentrate scats in particular areas, often conspicuously positioned on well-traveled paths.
Appearance
The island fox is one third smaller than its mainland ancestor the gray fox. Environmental and ecological factors such as overcrowding, reduction in predators, food limitations, and genetic variations could have contributed to the natural selection for a smaller size.
The island fox has similar markings to the gray fox. They have gray coloring on the back, rust coloring on the sides,and white underneath. The face has a distinctive black, white, and rufous-colored patterns.
On each of the six islands, a different subspecies occurs, distinguished by both genetic and physical differences. For example, San Miguel Island foxes have shorter tails, due to one less tail vertebra, and longer noses than the other island foxes.
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Up at the crack of Sparrows yet again, but getting slightly better.
Lazy morning then off down to the Coronado for some sightseeing, not that we haven’t been there before. But it’s a lovely sunny day and a great place for a stroll along the beach and in Wendy’s case lunch. On the way we call in the Apple Store to us my MacBook Pro, M3 Pro processor, 1TB to replace my faithful 6 year old MacBook Pro. You really couldn’t make this up, greeted by a tranvestite, then passed over to a guy who is blind. Use accessibility features of his iPhone, and the dog, to do an awesome job. In no way did his disability impede his customer service or ability to do the job. Amazing.
Wow the new toy is fast. Let’s hope it lasts as long as the last and with 1Tb I can ensure it has full sized copies of all my photos.
In the evening Chris comes round for dinner and we have a lovely evening, with a few drinks and some steak. It’s great to catch up with him.
Martin Luther King Day.
Tuesday
Glorious start to the day but turns to cloud in the afternoon.
Drive through Del Mar, all very posh. Drive up the coast road to Encinitas. Have lunch on Moonlight Bay beach. Then onto Carlsbad for a mooch around and a coffee. Not quite as glamorous as we remember it. Then drive onto Oceanside. Finally call in at the Outlet Mall in Carlsbad, no idea why, as we never but anything.
We’re going to Janelle’s and Mike’s for dinner, as we’ve plenty of time we decide to take the picturesque route, avoiding InterStates. What a mistake that was. This country really needs to wean itself off traffic lights. Lights nearly every 10 feet. Have they not hear of roundabouts?
Have a great evening catching up with J&M in their lovely new home. Food was off the charts.
Wednesday
A quiet day, to recover from the hectic past few days. Enjoyed all our meals out and entertaining old friends but it’s always nice to have a quiet night in. Just like being in Belthorn.
Thursday
Lazy start then off down to Old Town. Visited the Heritage Park which has some awesome old buildings, what style. Then it’s a visit to the Mormon Battalion Museum. It’s a free tour and is one of the most creative Mormon tours we’ve ever done. Great use of technology, warm welcome and as always free. Can well recommend it, they don’t push their religion down your throat, very low key.
Then had a shuffle around Old Town and visited to First courthouse. Wendy passed on lunch as everywhere was Mexican. Having lunch out with Wendy is a challenge to anyone’s patience – even for me who is legendary for my patience and understanding – as she seeks her view of gastronomic perfection – snowflakes food. In future we ensure she brings a sandwich.
Back home for afternoon tea on the patio and then another quiet night in, with a great bottle of Carmenera.
Bob & Marilyn’s home is just lovely, we feel so at home and comfortable. As for San Diego it’s such a great area. Even at this time of the year temperatures are pleasant and plenty to see and do. Sat out on their patio having morning coffee or afternoon tea is just rad (awesome). Even though it’s in California I could live here. For B&M living between here and Park City is sure “Shitin in the tall cotton”.
Friday
Another lazy start to a warm sunny day.
Then we’re off to Seaport Village, not really a village like Belthorn or anywhere a Brit would recognise as a village, but more a nicely laid out shopping extravaganza. Spoilt by the need to pay to stop my tyres anywhere. Can you believe the main car park wanted $8 an hour, reduced to the mere pittance of $3 if you spent a weeks earnings in the “village”. And can you believe there were dip shits who pay it. As usual you don’t get to see the price until you’re in a narrow lane in a line to get in. Needless to say this cantankerous cheapskate Brit just reversed out and found somewhere cheaper.
Very pleasant to walk around, rest in the “free” Adirondacks overlooking the ocean and having a quiet laugh at all the ugly dogs strolling by. How come a lot of people end up looking like their dog?
Back home for afternoon tea.
Jim and Maria come around for a drink and then we head off out to a fish restaurant.
Another very pleasant evening with J&M.
Pat Condell on the trouble with Islam:
Saturday
OMG it’s raining. Is it permitted in the woke state.
We say goodbye to B&M’s home. It’s been a lovely place to stay, just so relaxing, a home away from home. Clean, pack and set off after lunch to our next adventure for two nights in Dana Point, a safe distance south of Los Angeles.
I5 gives us a taste of whats to come with traffic jams. Swap over to the coastal highway 101 but it seem an Army base has intervened, so we have to get back on I5.
Meet Paul and Doris at our hotel. It must be nearly 4 years since we last saw them. Then we’re off out for a great fish restaurant, yes it’s fish again, but there’s so much choice. I have the Pan Seared Tuna, didn’t realise that it meant raw inside. Have to say it was delicious and I’m still alive to tell the tale. Had some great food and wine, but best of all catching up with old friends.
George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead (2024)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kONMe7YnO8
Amazing, especially when you consider it was all created by AI, as he is dead. Sort of worrying.
The Myth of Islamaphobia:
Just a typical example of the woke and snowflake laws here in this paradise spoilt by overbearing, interfering liberals.
The city of Perris, California, is looking to axe all unhealthy foods sold near its grocery store register. Earlier this year, Perris’ City Council unanimously passed a new law that bans junk foods from being sold at supermarket checkout aisles, the East Bay Times reported. Specifically, the law forbids grocery stores of at least 2,500 square feet in size from selling snacks or drinks that are more than 200 calories per package, contain trans fats, derive more than 35% of their calories from total sugars or have more than 200 milligrams of sodium. Grocers will be limited to selling healthy snacks and drinks instead, per a requirement that must be met no later than 2024.
The misery index is an economic indicator, created by economist Arthur Okun. The index helps determine how the average citizen is doing economically and is calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate. It is assumed that both a higher rate of unemployment and a worsening of inflation create economic and social costs for a country.
The Misery Index was created originally by economist Arthur Okun in the 1960s as the Economic Discomfort Index. Ronald Reagan is attributed to its renaming.
Average by US presidents back to 1948 then Trumps presidency has the lowest.
Sunday
Wake up to another grey day but at least it’s warm.
Plenty of rain but fortunately we’re visiting the Nixon Presidential library, so it doesn’t spoil the day. Let’s hope it’s open this time.
Pondering what junk food California is famous for – it probably all comes with a 28 page health warning and a disclaimer to sign. I have my remaining list:
Chilli dog
Pepperoni rolls
Chicken with white barbecue sauce – Alabama
Chilli cheeseburger
Rocky mountain oysters – Colarado
Potato chowder – Idaho
Hoosier pie – Indiana
Mississippi mud pie
Runza
Egg cream – drink from New York
But I don’t think any of them originate in California. Never mind there’s always In/Out Burger.
Then I remember I’ve still not had the delight of a Costco Hot Dog. Just $1.50 for a giant hot dog, as much mustard as you can squeeze onto it and a giant coke. Time to nip into Costco and finally fulfill my pent up desire.
Is this some sort of joke or just another symptom of woke California:
Costco water in Salt Lake $3.99
Costco water in California $5.99. Why nearly twice as much because of $2 for CRV.
California Redemption Value (CRV), also known as California Refund Value, is a regulatory fee[1] paid on recyclable beverage containers in the U.S. state of California. The fee was established by the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act of 1986 (AB 2020, Margolin).
No wonder they’re leaving in droves.
Richard Dawkins on Islam, Jews, science and the burka – BBC Newsnight
The History Of The World
The two most important events in history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel.
Beer required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That’s how villages were formed.
The wheel was invented to get man to the beer and vice versa. These two were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:
1. Liberals.
2. Conservatives.
Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to BBQ at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.
Other men who were less skilled at hunting (called ‘vegetarians’ which was an early human word meaning ‘bad hunter’) learned to live off the Conservatives by showing up for the nightly BBQ’s and doing the sewing, fetching, and hairdressing. This was the beginning of the liberal movement.
Some of these liberal men “evolved” into women. Others became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that Conservatives provided.
Over the years Conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant.
Liberals are symbolized by the jackass for obvious reasons.
Modern Liberals like special flavored beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine spritzers or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: many liberal women have higher testosterone levels than their men.
Most college professors, social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, film makers in Hollywood, group therapists and community organizers are liberals. Liberals meddled in our national pastime and invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn’t fair to make the pitcher also bat.
Conservatives drink real beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are members of the military, big game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, engineers, corporate executives, athletes, airline pilots, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other Conservatives who want to work for a living.
Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when Conservatives were coming to America. They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.
Here ends today’s lesson in world history. It should be noted that a liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to this post.
A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be shared immediately to other true believers and also to just irritate a bunch of liberals. And there you have it.
Let your next action reveal your true self, I’m going to grab a few beers and grill some red meat.
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Start off in the Escape lounge awaiting flight to New York for a few days then off to California. No waiting to check in, straight through security, is this really Manchester Airport! I’m jumping for joy at the thought of escaping again and we’re both looking forward to some warmer weather. Wendy quaffs down a few brandies to help take her tablets.
Inside the Oculus.
Yeah, finally reached escape velocity. Cabin doors closed, time to guzzle the champagne. Leaving the chaos and kakistocracy behind. We’re sure shitting in the tall cotton now. Yeah, the awesome Virgin trolley dolly manages to rustle up a couple of Baron Otard miniatures from upper class.
Watch a few downloaded programmes on how the West Was won and the first of the Royal Society Christmas lecture, as always very good, but where do these kids get their awful weird snowflake names.
World Trade Center memorial.
Have a good sleep during which the Baron Otard fairy deposits a large quadruple on my tray. Virgin cabin crew are awesome, just such a pity about the rest of the tripe hounds that run their customer service, marketing, IT and Web site – it’s all a disaster. As I keep raving, brown envelopes for the heads of all these departments and replace them with cabin crew who understand customer service with a smile.
Catch one of the famous yellow cabs from JFK to the Hotel, works out cheaper than Uber. It’s persisting it down.
Hotel is ideally situated, and we have a nice suite.
Wholefoods is just two blocks away, so it’s real treat for Wendy with a trip to get some water and essential. The place is infested with snowflakes, wokes and libtards. More men with handbags, tattoos, weird clothes and piercings than Muslims at a stoning. Ultra healthy shit, nothing normal. For the FSM sake, probiotic root beer, smart water, hydrating water, overachieving water and even a Vegetable Butcher.
Just heading back to the crazy time in the USA:
Wednesday
Great breakfast. You can tell we’re in America, there’s the iconic waffle machine and we meet some friendly Americans, complete strangers, over breakfast for an entertaining breakfast. So much more engaging than any of our meal encounters on the 12 day geriatric cruise.
Catch a hop on / off bus tour. Seems like a good way to see most of the highlights, but it’s cold enough to freeze a withes tit.
Hop off at the Twin Towers Memorial. All very well done and a sad reminder of that tragic day. It reminds us of what those cave dwelling ragheads did that day. Members of a so called religion – really an evil ideology, posing as a religion, a religion of pieces and permanent offence. How soon we all forget. An ideaology that seeks world domination in the name of their religion.
My first Manhattan.
Then have a walk down Wall Street to see the Bull. Bizarre that the queue to photograph the Bulls balls is longer than the one to photograph his head.
Back on the bus to finish the tour.
Katz’s Deli – the object of my Pilgrimage.
Then it’s a subway up to Central Park. Have a stroll around Central Park. Stop off at a very plus and as it turns out very expensive restaurant. I decide to try a very expensive Manhattan cocktail. That was so good so next up I’ll try a Statten Islandcocktail, also good. Wendy’s getting worried I will be wearing a pink shirt next. Meanwhile a women’s just walked by wearing a brown bears fur with two rug rats in suits and red dicki bows. Those kids will be mentally scarred for life.
Rewarded with a traditional corn beef Reubens. With lashings of corn beef.
For dinner tonight we’re heading on the subway for a real treat at the famous and iconic Katz Deli. I can hardly wait. Do I go for the Corned Beef Reubens or the Pastrami on Rye. Opt for the Reuben. What a disappointment, so very grisssly and hardly any taste to the sauerkraut. Whilst the atmosphere was great, give me a Feldmans Reuben’s in Salt Lake any day, plus a lot cheaper.
Listening to the announcements on our subway train I keep wondering why we’re on this “Broken down train”. Turns out it’s a translation error on my part, they’re really saying we’re on a “Brooklyn bound train”. Bloody earring aids.
Nice hotel. Pans no cooker, coffee machine no jug.
Battery Park
The park and surrounding area is named for the artillery batteries that were built in the late 17th century to protect the fort and settlement behind them. By the 1820s, the Battery had become an entertainment destination, with the conversion of Castle Clinton into a theater venue. During the mid-19th century, the modern-day Battery Park was laid out and Castle Clinton was converted into an immigration and customs center. The Battery was commonly known as the landing point for immigrants to New York City until 1892, when the immigration center was relocated to Ellis Island. Castle Clinton (sometimes called, Castle Garden) then hosted the New York Aquarium from 1896 to 1941.
Thursday
Bryant Park
Start the day with another awesome breakfast.
Then we head up to Times Square for a saunter around. Soon get bored with that so we catch the subway down to Battery Park for our next jaunt. Catch the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty. Do the touristy thingy and then the highlight of our trip is the ferry to Ellis Island. I’ve fancied this for years. It’s very well done and doesn’t disappoint, just wish we had more time. Took in the whole experience and then watched the film that summarized the whole experience, sadly we had to leave halfway through. It really was a stark eye opener to what those legal immigrants had to endure to escape to the promised land. Stories of hopes and tears. Seemed like a Yad Vashem moment, haunting and moving experience. Best experience of the whole trip.
Then it’s a subway up to Juniors restaurant for my long anticipated Pastrami on Rye, it was awesome and massive. Followed by their famous cheesecake and an expensive Rum Runnner cocktail – all awesome.
The World over it seems that dickheads on bikes who don’t understand red traffic lights, but in New York it takes on a whole new threat. I thought a aseball bat might be a great solution to knock them off as they try to mow you down, but a walking pole would be better, they’d be head over handle bars and an added bonus it would wreck their bike.
Processing Hall on Ellis Island.
Ellis Island is a federally owned island in New York Harbor, situated within the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York, that was the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States. From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 million immigrants arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey were processed there under federal law.[6] Today, it is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and is accessible to the public only by ferry. The north side of the island is the site of the main building, now a national museum of immigration. The south side of the island, including the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, is open to the public only through guided tours.
Ellis Island
In the 19th century, Ellis Island was the site of Fort Gibson and later became a naval magazine. The first inspection station opened in 1892 and was destroyed by fire in 1897. The second station opened in 1900 and housed facilities for medical quarantines and processing immigrants. After 1924, Ellis Island was used primarily as a detention center for migrants. During both World War I and World War II, its facilities were also used by the US military to detain prisoners of war. After the immigration station’s closure, the buildings languished for several years until they were partially reopened in 1976. The main building and adjacent structures were completely renovated in 1990.
Friday
Thursdays reward a great Pastrami on Rye, but not in a traditional Jewish Deli. Instead Juniors in Time Square area. Famous for their New York Cheesecake.
0400 get an Uber to JFK, too damn early for our liking.
TSA on a rampant power trip, mind you it is New York. It really is about time technology replaced this burgeoning TSA industry.
In JFK we use our Dragon Pass – what a waste of plastic it is – to get into the Prime Class lounge, it’s a dump. Receptionist has all the greeting skills of a grizzly with toothache; wot no orange juice, its coming, someone must have gone to pick them; porridge you need to heat up in the non-existent microwave, probably on the way with the orange juice. Probably good preparation to get us ready for a 6+ hour Delta flight.
Flight was a typical Delta trip, at least seats were a bit more comfortable. Men with trolleys were as lazy and miserable as ever.
Picked up a Hertzmobile. I had a choice of about 20 to choose from. Chose a Dodge 2 seater sports, just what I’d always to drive, but Wendy couldn’t see over the bonnet. Settle for a Chevy Malibu – great comfortable car but a tad boring compared to the 3 sports cars I could have had.
Got to Bob and Marilyns just before 14:00. Such a lovely comfortable home. Soon got settled in and then its off to the supermarket for supplies. Sun’s out and it’s lovely and warm 66F. This is the life. Sure shitting in the tall cotton.
Lazy evening in, tired and in bed by 20:00.
Saturday
Awake early yet again. Body still not synched as we’ve had another 3 hour time shift.
Time to go to the liqour store for wine, beer and bourbon followed by the rest we didn’t get yesterday – Wendy sure loves her supermarkets.
A lazy afternoon sat out on the deck enjoying the sun, followed by yet another early night
A brief George Carlin special on Islam:
Sunday
Another lazy day.
Organ recital.
How sad can we be. Hunted high and low for the full 5th republican debate. Finally found one and watched it all.
Then it’s a stroll around Balbao park followed by listening to an open air organ concert. Is this what it comes to?
Now some real fun with a trip to woke / snowflake / libtard heaven, AKA Wholefoods, to try and get some decent teas and coffee. Wendy’s excited.
Lazy afternoon tea on the patio, enjoying the sun and the Humming bird.
In the evening we walk round to Maria and Jim’s, more new American friends introduced to us by Bob and Marilyn, for drinks and then out for a Mexican. What a great evening we had.
More from Pat Connell, some years ago, but still relevant:
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Some of this blog has been rewritten by ChatGPT – artificial intelligence. It’s terrifying how good it is. I just give it my original input and tell it I want a humorous and sarcastic version and Abracadabra it replies in seconds with words way beyond my O’Level English pass level 6 could hope for in my wildest dreams. Complete with commas in the correct place. To distinguish AI editing I have highlighted it in Blue.
Also some of the cartoons have also been created by AI.
Monday
Cartagena today, sunny but the breeze takes the edge off the heat – just comfortable.
Our free walks have been canceled so I sign up to the GPSMyCity app and create my own tour. Just select the sites we want to see. Just under 3 miles. It’s a pretty good app with interactive walking directions and details of each site you’ve chosen at the click on the screen.
Just as you would expect in Spain, or anywhere in Europe South of Latitude 43 degrees north, the museums etc are closed as it’s Monday closing day. Forget all the money that’s just cruised into town.
We get to see most of the sites, including castle, amphitheater and Roman columns, although we nearly missed them as we walked past and didn’t notice them. Not really a great deal there. Model Christian story of Christ was impressive. As for the paving, it was like an ice ring, smooth marble which was treacherous when wet – you really couldn’t make this stupid choice of materials up, obviously chosen by the local hospital board in order to drum up trade.
Back on board around 14:00 for a late lazy lunch.
Dinner’s the usual flexi dining, dominated by one woman whose gob ran away with her and never had a rest. It was a wonder she ever managed to eat anything.
Went to see a guitarist after, pretty dire. So far we’ve avoided the main theatre as not much has attracted us.
“Sarcasm is the body’s natural defense against stupidity.”
Tuesday
Malaga today. We’ve got a free walking tour booked. After 15 minutes we abort. Her English is appalling, more stutters and pregnant pauses than listening to Boris spouting a boring hellfire sermon.
Do our own thing with the GPSMyCity app. A very pleasant day, even stop for lunch and a beer. The weather is awesome and it has to be the best port by far.
Our floating Petri dish.
Pat Condell OK Groomer
Wednesday
Day in Gibraltar: Where Even the Cable Car Can’t Escape the British Charm
Our morning adventure involved a guided walking tour, a private affair because apparently, everyone else decided to stay in bed and avoid the potential drowning that might occur in light drizzle. Our guide, a walking encyclopedia of Gibraltar facts, spoke impeccable English, a rarity in the world of travel where sometimes you need Google Translate just to order a coffee.
Then came the pinnacle of our expedition – the cable car to the top of the rock. The restaurant up there, a place that looked like it was decorated by a committee of blindfolded monkeys, welcomed us. The tables seemed to have a history as rich as the rock itself, salvaged from what one could only assume was the debris of a furniture apocalypse. And surprise, surprise – despite being in a British territory, our waiter spoke a language that might have been English but sounded suspiciously like the mating call of a confused penguin. Incredible indeed.
The town itself felt like a British annex, complete with familiar shops. The pièce de résistance? Marks & Spencer, proudly asserting its imperial dominance in a place where you’d least expect it. Six miles of exploration later, Wendy resembled a character from a survival show, a testament to the perils of conquering territories, one tourist attraction at a time.
Back on the ship for afternoon tea, where apparently, the ship’s population believes in starvation as a form of recreation. The café resembled a battlefield of empty plates, as if they were on a mission to prove that humans can, in fact, survive on the fumes of Earl Grey alone.
For dinner, we descended to the main restaurant, where I, surprisingly, decided to embark on a sober meal.
The news headlines, a surreal twist in our journey, revealed that while we were freezing in drizzle, The rest of Spain was busy breaking December heat records. Oh, the irony – our thermometers struggled to reach double digits while the Spanish were probably sizzling paella on their sidewalks.
And so, the day ended, with me sticking to sobriety, Wendy reaching the brink of exhaustion, and Gibraltar standing as a testament to the fact that even in the most unexpected corners of the world, the British charm – or lack thereof – manages to make its presence felt.
$100 trillion spent by 2100 will reduce temperature rise by one sixth of a degree Celsius.
The anti-American dream
Just to remind everyone how powerful the First Amendment is:
First Amendment Fundamental Freedoms
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Thursday
Cadiz – high expectations. What a dump.
Wendy’s not feeling so good so we have a lazy stroll around guided by GPSMyCity. Wander around the main attractions. Have a beer and then back onboard to a sunny balcony. There’s a severe danger of being legless today.
Wendy passes on dinner so I go down on my own. Table of 6 tonight is dominated by a lady who can best be described as Dame Everidge – never shuts up and you can see her husband is as bored as a security guard on a night shift, with the stories he’s heard so many times before.
Our Zimmer frame hell:
This was published in the new year 10 years ago and still holds good. No doubt the wokes, liberals and snowflakes will be apoplectic if they bother to watch. Yes, the root cause is that barbaric ideology – muslims mistakenly think it’s a religion – of peace and permanent offence – islam.
Ah, the daily symphony of juvenile web design, where 10-year-olds, fresh from their morning tie-my-shoelaces-with-Mommy routine, morph into digital architects. Brace yourselves for another riveting episode of “Password Palooza” and “Captcha Carnage,” where clicking to accept cookies is the closest thing to a thrilling adventure!
In the enchanted kingdom of web development, where logic goes to die, our mini-Mozarts craft password policies that make Fort Knox look like a pop-up shop. Forget having there Mummies tying their shoelaces; these prodigies are too busy knotting users into a labyrinth of alphanumeric chaos.
And let’s not forget the captivating dance of captchas, those delightful puzzles that prove whether you’re a human or an alien impostor. Because clearly, if you can’t distinguish a street sign from a bicycle, you’re not fit for internet society.
But wait, there’s more! Click to accept cookies, the virtual version of handing out sugar treats on Halloween. What’s more heartwarming than a website caring about your online well-being while silently tracking your every move? Sweet, isn’t it?
Behold, the pièce de résistance: codes to mobiles, the modern-day equivalent of the mating call of a 1990’s lesser spotted 9,600 Baud modem trying to connect to the Internet. Nothing says “security” like entrusting your precious login secrets to the pocket-dwelling device that occasionally gets lost in the couch cushions.
In conclusion, dear netizens, prepare yourselves for the whimsical wonderland of web design brought to you by our pint-sized prodigies. Will they tie their own shoelaces one day? Only time will tell. Until then, may your passwords be complex, your captchas merciful, and your cookies crumb-free. Happy surfing in this digital carnival of chaos!
Friday
That damn Elf’s been at it again:
Yippee, a day at sea with the usual range of mindless entertainment and merchandising opportunities. Keeping to two of my three retirement commandments (no drinking, no TV) is hard work on these sea days, plus you’re surrounded by the temptation of constant gluttony.
We’ve still got £270 left of our £490 onboard spend so it’s a trip to the onboard shops to get it spent rather than loose it – a tad short sited really as if you could carry it over it may encourage you to do another cruise with P&O. Buy a load of duty-free booze, 6 Toblerones and 2 big Hotel Chocolates. Yet still have £60 left for drinks tonight and tomorrow.
Drama on board as a helicopter is coming to take a sick passenger off. Then apparently the Portuguese no longer seem to have a helicopter so we divert even further for a Coastguard cutter to take the sick geezer off.
Artwork in a Spanish toilet.
I go to a piano concert, Mozart and Schubert, very heavy, Wendy gives it a miss.
Order some smoked salmon from free room service to stave off hunger.
Joy of joys it’s another Black Tie night so the Penguins will be bobbing around in droves while the RestofUs are relegated to the pleb’s restaurants and bars. I really can’t be bothered donning my suit and a tie.
Rock hard potato lyonnaise and raw liver for dinner in the self service restaurant, do these guys know how to cook. The liver was disgusting.
Another sea day. With the usual range of unimaginative activities and the usual lack of mental stimulation.
Spend the rest of our onboard spend, keeping enough for drinks tonight.
Yet another one of those Spanish cows.
Try a walk around the deck but the surface is a slippery death trap in places.
The rest of the day is spent in our suite knitting, Wendy that is, reading and playing Canasta on an iPad app. Not to forget the joy of packing, trying to get all that booze in our suitcases and yet still having a box full to carry ashore.
Most nights I end up in the red bar for a pre-dinner drink of Budweiser. Today I noticed that it’s made with Rice – obviously they’ve never heard of the Reinheits Gebot.
Well, whats our final view of this cruise:
Suite is very roomy, comfy with quite a few extra benefits. Thankfully we had a suite as with 5 sea days, weather not up to much, we spent a lot of time in it. Balcony cabins don’t look very big.
Overall I would say good value for money, but certainly not as luxurious as past cruises.
Food is just ok, but minute portions, they really should provide a magnifying glass.
Service is just ok, but clearly a problem with the crews English comprehension.
Weather wasn’t all that good, just two really warm and sunny days.
Ports of call were as expected, just chicken shit Spanish towns, nothing that spectacular. Malaga was about the best. I had great expectations of Cadiz, found it a typical Spanish dump.
Very much an old persons cruise – yes I know we’re old – but I found it depressing and a constant reminder of what’s in store for us if we survive – still probably better than the alternative. Sadly not much stimulation at breakfast or dinner, most conversations were uninspiring. Give me an American cruise any day. My “American Ski Lift Theory” is that if you get on a six pack ski lift with 5 Americans you can guarantee that by the time you get off everyone will have told you:
1 Who they voted for.
2 No matter if they voted for the current President, they think he’s now a dick head.
3 If they didn’t vote for him then it’s a “he’s not my President”.
4 Then they give you the gruesome details of all their ailments and their copious visits to the sawbones.
No reports of Covid on board, we’ve kept a low profile and avoided the crowded main theatre (not that we’ve missed much worthwhile entertainment by all accounts), but on the last day we were advised of Gastro Enteritis being rampant, joy – confirms the Petri dish theory.
Survived the whole cruise without using the lift or having a dessert after dinner. Wonder what opinion the scales will have on Monday?
Thank the FSM (Flying Spaghetti Monster) we downloaded plenty to watch on our iPads of an evening.
Acid test, would I do it again. No, if we ever cruise again it will have to be somewhere warm, with very few sea days and some new places I actually want to see. Any day give me Park City or a Road trip, for the money these 12 days have cost us we could have one hell of a Road trip.
Looking on the bright side I certainly got some great reading in.
California wokes and snowflakes:
A bill, signed in 2021 by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, will force stores that sell childcare items or toys to pay a $500 fine should the store fail to create a gender-neutral toy section for kids 12 years old and under.
Can you believe it. And to think we’re spending 6 weeks there this winter.
The deranged idea of a World without fossil fuels:
Sunday
Well, it’s time to dismbark. Process wasn’t too painful, only an hour of hanging around before we were allowed to disembark our floating petri dish and old folks home.
The taxi arrives promptly and takes us back to our car at the hotel. Yes, it’s still there.
Then it’s a 4-hour drive home. Can you believe no holdups?
Just 3 weeks before we escape again. This time to the warmth of California amongst the wokes, snowflakes and libtards. Well at least we hope it’ll be warm.
When is the civilised World going to man up and eliminate these Islamic Houthi rag heads in Yemen who are terrorising the shipping lanes. Hopefully, once they’ve been sorted, Iran, the head of the snake, will be next.
Climate change forecasts, weather forecasts and all forecasts, are unreliable.
Why not go back to reading entrails or re-introduce an Augur, a priest and official in the classical Roman world. His main role was the practice of augury, the interpretation of the will of the gods by studying events he observed within a predetermined sacred space (templum). The templum corresponded to the heavenly space above. The augur’s decisions were based on what he personally saw or heard from within the templum; they included thunder, lightning and any accidental signs such as falling objects, but in particular, birdsigns; whether the birds he saw flew in groups or alone, what noises they made as they flew, the direction of flight, what kind of birds they were, how many there were, or how they fed. This practice was known as “taking the auspices”. As circumstance did not always favour the convenient appearance of wild birds or weather phenomena, domesticated chickens kept for the purpose were sometimes released into the templum, where their behaviour, particularly how they fed, could be studied by the augur.
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Panic, panic, panic. Forecast 2 days ahead of departure predicts snow. Typical. We get about 4 – 5 days a year when it actually snows and our departure date just happens to be one of them. Yes, Parkinson’s Law of Maximum Perversity (AKA Sods Law) was seen to be observed. Have SUV on standby to get us out of Belthorn down to Kurts to swap to BMW – hopefully less snow. Up and out at the crack of sparrows.
Hang on, wait a moment, it’s raining and forecast now says rain.
Outcome is a very early start in the rain and a smooth trip down to our New Place Hotel for the night.
Learning lesson – don’t rely on weather forecasts, they even struggle to get it right a day ahead, but never mind they can forecast a 2 degree temperature rise by January 5th 2099 – in their dreams.
Call at Costa for a coffee. Yes, thought I’d give them another chance. It’s vile. How anyone can drink this revolting burnt bile amazes me. That’s it, no more chances, rather drink distilled pig swill.
Stop off at a Waitrose to buy tinned figs – bizarre I know. For the first time in 2 years I have my coffee cup with me so go for a free coffee. Two machines, one not working and the other being repaired as I rant. Just typical of the daily persecution I suffer – conclusion, does anything work these days, everything is a crock of shit.
Hotel’s absolutely fine, nice room and such a great service – overnight stay with breakfast; 2 weeks free car parking; taxis to cruise terminal; taxi from cruise terminal back to hotel all for £215.
Evening meal in the grandeur of the main house. Excellent meal but too expensive. £5 for bread and olives. Come on get real and to top it all our chosen dish was off the menu – typical.
After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to the local grocery store. Unfortunately, like most men; I find shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women – she loves to browse – avividly reading the labels and sell by dates on every can.
Came across this list of ideas to while away those boring hours in the supermarket:
Take 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people’s carts when they weren’t looking.
Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women’s restroom.
Walk up to an employee and tell her in an official voice, ‘Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away’. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money. We don’t have a Code 3.
Go to the Service Desk and try to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.
Move a ‘CAUTION – WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.
Tuesday
Our suite for the next 12 days.
Great breakfast, then taxi to ship.
Boarding was very slick, apart from the usual security screening fiasco, perhaps the advantage of priority boarding.
Now we’re on out floating Petri dish and gluttony palace for the next 12 days, battling through Zimmer frame hell. It’s just a floating nursing home. Dodging being mowed down by high speed electric wheelchairs. All these geriatrics, it’s depressing, sadly we’re just two of them but my 16 year old mind is rebelling against this hop on off floating Red Bus tour. What am I doing here? Shouldn’t I be on a Club 18 – 30 sex extravaganza?
For some perverse reason I stand on our balcony for 30 minutes, in the freezing cold, watching the guys cast off. It takes 4 guys to cast off the 7 strings anchoring us to the dock. They patiently wait for the ship driver to give the command “cast off blunt end”. Bizarre delight as the strings go slack and the engines throb into life. Yeh, we’re on our way even if at the imperceptible speed of 1 foot per hour, then 2, then 4.
Time to go in and get the pewk tablets down me.
Ship driver gleefully tells us the dire news that the Bay of Biscay is going to be very rough – typical. But fear not he’s going to speed across the Bay to avoid too much pewk decking the Christmas halls, and we’ll end up in Vigo a day early and get two days there.
Didn’t realise this was a swinger cruise but apparently, according to the name cards in the cabin, we have Wendy Stringer and Tony Spencer joining us. Hope Wendy Stringer has big boobs.
Complete with jacuzzi bath.
We’re on fixed dining and have a table of 5. Typical Brits, hardly speak, dire. Get me on a table with some Americans. They may well regale us with who they voted for; their opinion that the current President is “not my president” and is a total dick head; followed by the gory details of all their illness’s. But a least they speak and are entertaining. Never mind, confirms our opinion of fixed dining, tomorrow we’ll be on Freedom dining.
Food was good and and amazingly the wine not too expensive. We’ve £490 onboard credit to spend on it.
Pass on the raz-amataz show in the Petri dish theatre and go back to our suite for some bourbon and to watch TV on the iPad. How boring can we be.
Wednesday
First of our sea days.
Breakfast in the buffet style restaurant.
Today’s mental stimulation on board seems to be a lecture on Carry on Christmas and that’s it, apart from a couple of obscure quizzes on bizarre subjects such as flags of the world. Other entertainment consists of the usual repatoire of talks on wathches – try to sell you a watch; detox for health and weight loss – try to sell you colonic irrigation no doubt; back pain; build a bracelet Pandora party; Tanzanite renaissance seminar. Best stimulation of the day is going down the list and guessing what they will try and sell you.
Sea is getting rough, time for some pewk tablets – Qwells which seem to work pretty well.
Abandon fixed dining (that was a customer service ordeal and disaster – only took 5 different stops to get it done, should have left it to the butler) in favour of anytime dining. Don’t think I could cope with another dinner with the over stimulation from last night’s table – it was like drawing teeth from a ten year old on their iPad. Put me on a table with some Americans.
Dinner was a tad more stimulating. Only took me 5 minutes to order a glass of wine, amazed they didn’t bring me a glass of, it was that confusing. It seems that whilst most of the staff speak English, their listening and comprehension skills are like those of a 3 year old.
After dinner we go and watch the comedian – very mediocre. Then Noddys gone past Big Ears so it’s time for bed and a couple of episode of “My Family”.
Another day when I closely avoid being mowed down by yet another reckless member of the Hells Angels Electric Wheelchair Chapter attempting a speed record.
Given the rolling and banging from the Bay of Biscay I’m fortunate enough to manage to get a reasonable nights sleep, amazing yet another one of the many benefits of red wine.
Thursday
Rough in the night, never knew there were so many bumps in the sea. Woke up to the ship listing badly, ready to keel over, and very rough seas. Is this going to be a Titanic / MSC moment. Turns out it was a very strong wind as we raced ahead of the Bay Of Biscay storm.
Arrive early to a rainy day in Vigo.
Breakfast in the Epicurian resturant, reserved for Suite guests, none of the cattle class. Really nothing to write home about. They totally screwed up Wendy’s order.
Go ashore, so good to be on land, even if it’s not dry, and it is peeing down. Rain forecast for the whole day. Just like home but at least it’s not cold.
Have a stroll around Vigo. Yes, just another chicken shit port with an abundance of statues, hills and not much else. Well it is Spain.
Manage to trip over a concrete block as I’m pre-occupied looking at all the shops closed because it’s a bank holiday. Do a face plant, cuts on hands and lip, bruised hands and pull a muscle under my ribs that I never knew I had. Lucky not to break anything or loose a tooth.
Back on board for a very, very frugal lunch and then afternoon watching the 4th Republican nomination debate. OMG I’ve sinned.
At least we’re not at sea and the boat is stable.
A flexible dining dinner – not too bad. But they didn’t have the wine of my choice – typical. Well there’s one good thing at least with these meagre, skimpy portions you’re not likely to put weight on – times are hard.
We were going to the magic show but yet another queue so do the boring thing and go back to the room to watch a downloaded film.
Good news, our Butler tells us Room Service is free to suite guests, along with all the food on the chargeable menu.
PS
Alcohol is not FOC.
More ideas on how to cope with supermarkets:
Set up a tent in the camping department and tell children shoppers he’d invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department.
If a clerk asks if they could help, begin crying and scream, ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone?’.
Look right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while picking your nose.
While handling guns in the hunting department, ask a clerk where the antidepressants are.
Hide in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yell ‘PICK ME! PICK ME!’
If an announcement comes over the loud speaker, assume a fetal position and scream; ‘OH NO! IT’S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!’
Take a box of condoms to the checkout clerk and ask where is the fitting room?
Go into a fitting room, shut the door, wait awhile; then yell very loudly, ‘Hey! There’s no toilet paper in here.’
Friday
Another day in Vigo – not the most stimulating of places, but so much better than a day at sea.
Weather’s sun and cloud and not too cold. Sadly my free walking tour is cancelled – not enough Brits – so we do our own walking tour after getting Gemini AI to make some recommendations. Get up to the castle, great view, that’s about the highlight and to top it off its bank holiday so a lot of shops are shut. Main shopping centre is lively and awesome Christmas decorations. Splash out and break one of my commandments with a beer, Wendy has a Capucino.
Back on board for Wendy’s lunch.
So far we’ve kept to our cruise rules. Do not use the lifts and no desserts.
Bloody formal tonight when everyone gets tarted up like a dogs dinner. I suppose I’d better not compliment any of the ladies with a “you look like a dogs dinner”. Why can’t they just relax the rules. Those who want to don a penguin suit, that’s fine by me, I’m not offended; but those who want to wear just jeans that’s equally fine, what harm does it do.
Opinion so far:
View from Vigo castle.
Better than expected, although my expectation was one of a P&O Dover Calais ferry, so a very low bar.
Suite is very roomy, comfy with quite a few extra benefits.
Overall I would say good value for money, but certainly not as luxurious as past cruises.
Food is ok, but minute portions, they really should provide a magnifying glass.
Service is ok, but clearly a problem with the crews English comprehension.
Acid test, would I do it again. Yes.
Saturday
Dock in Lisbon today.
As it’s a major city and we’ve never been before we break our normal habits and book a ships tour “Lisbon by land and River”. Spend an hour driving around the slum housing of Lisbon to get to the boat trip, with very little worthy site seeing or narrative – in fact the river trip was only five minutes down the river front, a complete waste of time and just to fill out the tour. The river trip up and down was ok, got to see Lisbon from the river not a great deal in the way of commentary. Then back on the coach for a 40 minute tour of Lisbon with the sort of commentary we expected.
Did we learn much? Well my most memorable fact from the tour was that Portugal has 1,001 recipes for cooking Cod. What a waste of money it was. Thankfully we’ve no more ship’s tours booked.
Wendy started on a slow infusion of Martinis. This one was dire enough to make anyone jump on the wagon.
Again entertainment was not the least bit enticing so back to our suite to watch one of the many films we had fortunately downloaded.
Learning today – stick with our DIY approach to ship shore excursions.
Sunday
Day at sea again. Mental stimulation on offer is zero, not even a lecture of interest.
As we’re still sticking to our no dessert and no lift regime, the lack of a deck 13 is really appreciated.
Have a stroll around the deck for some exercise.
In the afternoon we take advantage of our spacious sunny balcony as we pass through the Straits of Gibraltar. Wow, it’s so narrow, what a risk it would have been traversing it in WW2. No wonder Gibraltar was of such strategic importance.
It’s a black tie evening tonight, another formal. At least our Butlers brings us Canapés to the suite. I can’t be bothered even putting my suit on, bugger it, will stick to shorts and tee shirt. These formals really should be banned and let those that want, wear monkey suits every night if they so wish, and leave us lesser beings to our jeans and tee shirts. P&O should remember it’s me paying them.
After buffet dinner we go to watch the Lady Gaga impersonates, wow, something worth watching at last. Quite the entertainer.
Don’t I just love it , 2 bloody formals, and now they’ve added a black tie night.
Anyway I’ve come up with a solution to redress / undress the balance between the “Penguins” and the “Restofus”. It’s oh so simple and equitable. If the only Penguins are allowed in selected bars and restaurants, whilst the Restofus are confined to the few remaining bars and restaurants why not make it that the Penguins are not allowed in the Restofus bars and restaurants. Never the twain shall meet. How can the Penguins object to that, so they’re not offended by the sight of the Restofus spoiling their evening.
Implement this and I bet it wouldn’t be long before formals and black ties are banished to the dustbin of past glories.
It’s simple if you want to dress up then do so any night. You shouldn’t need a formal night to express yourself by dressing up. Enjoy dressing up any night. I won’t be offended by it, nor should the Penguins ever be offended by the presence of the Restofus.
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Even small birds can have bad tempers, as any backyard birder who feeds hummingbirds well knows. These tiny birds often have the biggest attitudes, and their aggression can make for an entertaining show. However, this hummingbird behavior can be a problem for other hummers at backyard feeders when one aggressive bird may chase many others away from the feeding area.
Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward. They are the smallest migratory birds, weighing about the same as a nickel. They are called hummingbirds for the humming sound made by their wing beats.
Are Hummingbirds Territorial?
Many birds show aggression when they feel their breeding territories or feeding areas violated by intruders. Aggressive behavior is typically strongest in late spring or early summer when the birds claim territory and defend nests. Among North American hummingbirds, the rufous hummingbird has one of the worst tempers, but all hummingbird species may show anger and aggression to varying degrees. Male hummingbirds are often more aggressive at feeders, while females attack near their nests, but this angry bird behavior can be amazing to witness with both genders.
Another reason why hummingbirds fight is when food is scarce. They can’t afford to share flowers when blossoms begin to fade; they have a long way to go after the nectar is gone. The angriest hummingbirds may be aggressive well into the fall as they defend prime feeding spots in preparation for migration.
How Hummingbirds Show Aggression
Hummingbirds may be tiny, but they have a formidable array of weapons and threats at their disposal to discourage unwelcome visitors. When a hummingbird feels threatened, it may show aggression in a variety of ways, including
Sounds
Loud, fast-paced chirping, buzzing, or chittering is one way to get an intruder’s attention and let them know an area is already claimed. When a resident hummingbird spots an intruder, it may raise the volume or quicken the pace of its songs and calls to advertise and strengthen its territorial claim.
Posture
Threat postures show off a hummingbird’s size and strength to discourage unwelcome guests. A male hummingbird may flare his gorget to show its colors more brightly, a sign of his strength and health that could dissuade intruders. Other aggressive postures include flaring the tail, raising feathers on the crown, spreading or raising the wings, and pointing the bill at the intruder like a dagger.
Dives
An angry hummingbird may first hover in front of the intruder—whether it is another hummingbird, another animal, or even a human—and then fly high above them before diving nearly straight down right at the intruder. The base of the dive is usually marked with a sharp chirp sound made from the tail feather position, and that sound acts as another warning to unwelcome guests.
Chase
Chasing away intruders is a common way hummingbirds are territorial and show aggression. A dominant hummingbird may first confront the intruder, often at a feeding area, before charging at them and following them far away from the feeder or flowerbeds. Angry chirps and other sounds often accompany these chases.
Fighting
Fighting is often the last resort for aggression and discouraging intruders, but it happens regularly. Fighting hummingbirds use their needle-like bills and sharp talons as weapons. When the birds connect with an enemy or ram them in flight, they can seriously injure, even kill, other hummingbirds that do not yield to their dominance.
Even the angriest hummingbird usually starts with the least aggressive option to defend its territory. Hummingbird sounds, threat postures, dives, and chases are the most common interactions between competing hummers.
Saturday – Persecute clay pigeons in the morning. Jo and Dan invite us round to their Labour Day Pizza dinner with their family. Turns out to be awesome steaks, indoors as the weather’s too dodgy. As always awesome food and great company.
I came. I saw. I forgot what I was doing. Retraced my steps. Got lost on the way back. Now I have no idea what’s going on.
If you can’t think of a word, say “I forgot the English word for it.” That way people will think you’re bilingual instead of an idiot.
I’m at a place in my life where errands are starting to count as going out.
I don’t always go the extra mile, but when I do it’s because I missed my exit.
I don’t mean to brag, but I finished my 14-day diet food supply in 3 hours and 20 minutes.
I may not be that funny or athletic or good looking or smart or talented. …I forgot where I was going with this.
Sunday – Sarah and Brett take us down to the Red Maple for Brunch and Dim Sun. In the evening Wendy goes to a musical “Nine” at the Egyptian – for some bizarre reason Wendy thinks about the wives of Henry the 8th, that he only had 6 and that musical called “Six” seems to have eluded her. Fortunately I’m allowed to pass, I’d rather lick piss off a nettle, than watch a mediocre musical at the Egyptian. So, I get a quiet evening in watching the TV programmes I enjoy and Wendy detests.
China town.
Thursday – what a full day. Starts off with a new hike from Cove Trailhead with Mark and Joe. In the afternoon it’s coffee and cake at Betti’s – a German tradition. In the evening it’s the free PCMSC Volunteer Appreciation Party at the Deloris Center. Good food and a good evening.
Friday – another full day. Moved Bowling to the afternoon so we can hike or bike in the morning. Starts off with Sarah leading her “easy” hike up Ecker Hill to the flagpole. A good hike, only 2.5 miles but given that it’s 670 feet elevation gain and the last 200 yards would even challenge a mountain goat, I don’t think it’ll be added to my easy hike repertoire. In the the afternoon it’s bowling. Then back home to set off down to the Greek festival with Wendy and Mike, it’s the biggest West of the Mississippi. Good food, dancing entertainment but big and busy. Enjoyed the experience, worth the trip.
Saturday – Clay Pigeons as usual and then in the evening Howard and Nancy come round for sandwiches from Stacked, they do an awesome Reubens with thick home made Pastrami.
Magnesium Chloride binds ultra-fine dirt particles together creating a hard surface that is more stable than untreated roads and surfaces. By regularly applying Magnesium Chloride for dust control, roads will have less erosion, fewer potholes, and require less maintenance.
Sunday – starts off with a hike at the top of Guardsmen’s Pass up “9K” with Mark and Joe. In the afternoon we go over to Rockport State park for a walk with B&M. The idea was to explore and walk along the 3D archery range to see if it’s worth bringing my bow next year. Weather had other ideas.
Range looks good, spread over about a 1 mile, with some great 3D targets, even if they are a tad far away. I can see plenty of lost and damaged arrows.
B&M then come round for dinner.
Monday – yes, it’s the anniversary of that awful day 9/11. Sadly so many seem to have forgot. And even more worrying so many forget the religion behind it all – yes, you guessed it the religion of pieces and permanent offence, Islam. Yes, a barbarian raghead islamist in a cave caused so much disaster, so many lives lost, and we’re still paying the price. Just remember every time you’re in a TSA queue who and what religion was behind it all.
Tuesday – after an easy hike in the morning off to the Oakley Diner with Mike, S&B. A tad disappointing but at least I have the free tee shirt.
Wednesday – farewell lunch with Carol.
Friday – start the day off by finally hiking up to the top of Quarry Mountain. A tad disappointing but at last I’ve done it and got it off my mither list. It’s a bit of a death march, 700+ feet up in a mile, mainly there for mountain goats.
Afternoon is bowling with the other geriatrics “Last Of The Summer Wine American Chapter”, followed by dinner out with Ruth and Mark at the Grub Steak restaurant. An awesome meal. It’s restored my faith in PC restaurants which seem to be suffering from an epidemic of mediocrity this year. Has to be the best meal we’ve had in PC this year and needless to say great company.
Saturday – lazy morning then of course it’s clay pigeon persecuting. Not that I manage to persecute too many.
In the afternoon Wendy and I have volunteered to help out at the Hike For Hunger. I’m dishing out purple wrist bands for those that look over 21 to prove they can have a drink. Only in Utah can they get so uptight about drink laws. Sadly doesn’t seem as well attended this year and somewhat disorganised and inundated with 10 year old volunteers – common sense is short supply. Well at least we got the tee shirt.
After a couple of beers and a bourbon we pick up a takeaway from Chubasco. Mike joins us for dinner. My Burrito’s bigger than an overgrown meatloaf and full of pork. Leave half of it to fill the trash can.
PARK CITY, Utah — After taxes and fees, a peak season day of lift ticket will cost over $300 at both Deer Valley and Park City Mountain for the 2023-24 ski season.
Last year peak season prices topped out at $259 a day at both resorts. Earlier this year TownLift reported that a peak season day of lift ticket at Deer Valley would cost $289 or $315 after taxes and fees. Park City Mountain recently posted its peak season walk up lift ticket window pricing at $299 or $325 after taxes and fees.
Sunday – Mike’s helping Wendy make his Meatloaf recipe for tonight. Then we have a bike ride down to the coffee shop. Marriane and Jo come round for a farewell dinner along with Mike. The idea was to use it as an opportunity to empty the freezer, apart from 3 cakes there’s not much left. Dan’s ill so he misses out but we send some cucumber sandwich’s and meatloaf home for him.
Some beautiful sunflowers on our bike ride.
Monday – lead an easy bike ride down to the coffee shop, yet again. Then in the evening we’re off to B&M’s to go to the Mercantile at Midway for yet another farewell dinner.
Having plans sounds like a good idea until you have to put on clothes and leave the house
It’s weird being the same age as old people.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be older… This is not what I expected.
Life is like a helicopter. I don’t know how to operate a helicopter either.
It’s probably my age that tricks people into thinking I’m an adult.
Never sing in the shower! Singing leads to dancing, dancing leads to slipping, and slipping leads to paramedics seeing you naked. So, remember… don’t sing!
I see people my age mountain climbing. I feel good just getting my leg through my underwear without losing my balance.
We all get heavier as we get older, because there’s a lot more information in our heads. That’s my story anyway.
Tuesday – Lead a last easy hike around “Road to WOS”. Pack up STUFF and take it to Mike’s lockup, only 8 boxes! In the evening we’re all off to Betti’s for a fantastic German dinner, complete with Klos dumplings.
Wednesday – pack bags, all four of them, then final coffee shop ride with Mike and Sarah. In the evening Mike takes us out for a farewell dinner at Grub Steak.
By the time we get home Wendy will have forgot how to cook.
Thursday – Mike picks us up in his truck, big enough for 4 families to live in, and we’re off to the airport. Check in and TSA not too bad. But, every time I’m in that damn TSA line I’m reminded why we’re being treated like this. All because of some Islamic rag head living in a cave. Lest we forget the religion behind all this – it’s ISLAM.
Get in the SLC Delta lounge for breakfast. Usual Delta flight complete with standing around for an hour after they’ve said boarding. Dollies with trollies as as miserable as a giraffe with a broken neck – as usual. For the Flying Spaghetti Monsters sake please don’t smile.
AT MCO get in their Delta lounge, we’ve a 4 hour layover. Very colonial style and good food. A few beers – well they call it beer – and a bourbon to help my sleeping tablets.
Virgin is the usual quality Premium experience once those doors are shut.Pop a sleeping tablet. Even get a giant glass of Baron Otards Cogna bought me from upper class. Reject dinner, but can’t resist the Key Lime Pie, yes can you believe I’m still awake. Then sadly I nod off with a glass of Malbec and Baron Otard in hands. 6 hours later wake up refreshed ready for breakfast. Those sleeping tablets are so much better and cheaper than forking out for Upper class.
Kurt picks us up and we’re home. End of an awesome 6 month summer. What the hell am I going to do with myself back in this hell hole shrouded in rain and clouds?
And hen people ask why I don’t want to be here!
Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day), is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. No-one I spoke to was even aware of it.
While often categorized as a democracy, the United States is more accurately defined as a constitutional federal republic. What does this mean? “Constitutional” refers to the fact that government in the United States is based on a Constitution which is the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution not only provides the framework for how the federal and state governments are structured, but also places significant limits on their powers. “Federal” means that there is both a national government and governments of the 50 states. A “republic” is a form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power.
When the Framers drafted the Constitution in 1787, they could not have predicted the many changes and advances that our society has undergone since the 18th Century. However, through their genius and foresight, they designed an electoral system that has the ability to adapt to modern-day America and work even better than they could have anticipated. Below are some of the many benefits of the Electoral College.
PRESERVES FEDERALISM.
The Electoral College preserves the principles of federalism that are essential to our constitutional republic. The U.S. is a large country made up of people from very different regions and cultures, and federalism is an important way of preserving the differences that make us unique while uniting us behind one common federal government. Since the country is comprised of 50 states coming together to form the federal government, it is important that the system to elect the President fairly represent them.
By allocating electoral votes by the total number of representatives in a given state, the Electoral College allows more states to have an impact on the choice of the President.
ENCOURAGES BROAD COALITION BUILDING AND MODERATION.
The Electoral College prevents presidential candidates from winning an election by focusing solely on high-population urban centers and dense media markets, forcing them to seek the support of a larger cross-section of the American electorate. This addresses the Founders’ fears of a “tyranny of the majority,” which has the potential to marginalize sizeable portions of the population, particularly in rural and more remote areas of the country.
Large cities like New York City and Los Angeles should not get to unilaterally dictate policies that affect more rural states, like North Dakota and Indiana, which have very different needs. These states may be smaller, but their values still matter—they should have a say in who becomes President. By forcing presidential candidates to address all Americans during their campaigns, not just those in large cities, the Electoral College has the added benefit of eschewing radical candidates for more moderate ones.
PROMOTES LEGITIMACY OF ELECTION OUTCOMES.
The Electoral College increases the legitimacy and certainty of elections by magnifying the margin of victory, thereby diminishing the value of contentious recounts and providing a demonstrable election outcome and a mandate to govern. Since 1900, 17 out of 29 presidential elections have been decided by 200 or more electoral votes.4
In contrast, a popular vote system with just a plurality requirement could lead to the election of presidential candidates by unprecedented, small margins. These smaller victory margins, combined with the overall decrease in popular support for a single candidate, could trigger chaotic and contested elections. Furthermore, a President elected by only 25 percent or 35 percent of the American people would not have a mandate to govern, and questions about his or her legitimacy could pose grave consequences both for the nation and for any actions he or she took as President.
A MECHANISM FOR STABLE ELECTIONS.
The Electoral College makes elections more stable, and less likely to trigger contentious recounts. Every state has different procedural rules for the administration of elections, including how recounts are triggered and conducted and how provisional ballots are counted. The 2000 presidential election saw an unprecedented vote recount in Florida that was a belabored, emotional, and costly process, even though it was limited to only one state. With a national popular vote, every additional vote a presidential candidate could obtain anywhere in the country could make the difference between winning or losing a national election. This provides a strong added incentive for recounts, even on a full national level, any time suspicious activities occur in even a single district.
DISCOURAGES VOTER FRAUD.
While no system can completely eliminate the risk of individuals trying to cheat the system, the Electoral College minimizes the incentives for voter fraud because the system isolates the impact of stolen votes. Under the current system, stolen votes only affect the outcome of one state rather than the national outcome. This is because fraudulent votes may win the state, securing the electoral votes, but it would make no difference for the candidate to win that state with 100 stolen votes or 100,000 since the candidate would secure the same electoral votes regardless.5 Under a national popular vote system, though, votes stolen in one state would have an impact beyond that state’s border, since those illegitimate votes would be added to the national vote total.
What a greeting. Worth coming home for:
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