THE EXOTICS ARE BACK AND KITES OVER THE PACIFIC

 EXOTICS IN BLOOM

    The annual succulent show in San Luis Obispo again provides plenty at which to marvel.

My George Lucas inspired imagination sees a Jabba the Hutt type creature in repose, below. That would be Jabba with a punk  hair cut.

This specie, and its cousins, are especially interesting in that they resemble something barely alive.

KITES OVER THE PACIFIC

   Several miles north of Cambria on the Pacific Coast highway, the sky is frequently filled.

    For several years I've watched these extraordinary athletes and remain fascinated by this combination of surfing and sailing.

    The launching beach is a wide expanse of sand.

   Below, the view behind the beach.

   See you down the trail.

A BLAME GAME & ALIEN BLOOMS

A DAY FOR A SWEET AND SOUR POST
THE SWEET COMES LATER

THE "TOLD YOU SO" FACTOR?

      The AP's Washington Bureau is out with an analysis that underscores what we all know.  The recovery from the recession is weak.

       It was about 3 years ago when economists and politicians were fretting over ways to recover that a dividing line was drawn.  A group warned that plans on the table were inadequate, but others were screaming about the cost of the stimulus on top of bank and hustler bail outs.  There was also the odd hysteria over the deficit.  What came out of the political stew was a plan that seemed to the best informed (as I define them) a recovery plan that was bound to be weak and weaken even more, several quarters out.

       A glut of housing, because of the "real estate idiocy" scam and crash meant that a normal recession rebounder-homes and building-was out.  On top of that government spending at the federal, state and local level continued to be cut. It is lower now than it was 3 years ago.  In addition the government has cut jobs, which on top of the already tall unemployment numbers is more bad ju ju. Three strikes against a robust comeback.

      Folks may not like to admit it, but government spending has always been a shot in the arm for recoveries from recession. Less spending, and well, you see where it is. Especially critical when real estate and credit quarters remain weak. The stimulus plan was too short and short sighted, but political realities being what they are, the better alternatives never flew. Austerity in the face of a staggering economy is silly.  We are seeing the effects of it now.

DAY FILE

SUCCULENTS

      A couple of my old broadcasting pals have chided me for including so many images of plants in these posts.  Before moving to the Central Coast, the only thing I knew about succulents was a cactus.

    Lana has loved them forever.  Her mother, a master gardener was into succulents.  This is a perfect climate for them, so I am gaining a rapid appreciation.  Their blooms, and some of the succulents themselves look other worldly.

    Lana was particularly excited about the frame below-a bloom on a burro's tale.  She says she's never seen one.

See you down the trail.

STARTING ANEW?

WHAT WOULD THOMAS JEFFERSON DO?

     As a prelude to the notion, is a notion itself.  Back in the early 70's I read a proposal that American electoral politics

would be more efficient if everything was done like a television rating service.  Well it was an idea before its time and not a particularly good one at that, but novel and bespeaking the need to "modernize" campaigning.

       Fast forward to what seems to be another endless and even more expensive campaign cycle and there is a new idea being floated.  Michael Eisner, ceo of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 to 2005 took to the pages of the LA Times to plug Americans Elect which will hold what they call the nation's first national online primary. You can learn more
by linking here to their web site.  
      I'm not sure of what to make of this particular iteration of an idea that has been kicking around for a while.  What I'm struck by is the logic Eisner employs in his advocacy. His dissection of the silliness and over weighting of Iowa and New Hampshire is spot on.
      American electoral politics has been through previous changes.  Information technology and systems have changed our ways of behavior in profound ways.  While the Americans Elect concept may not be the great salvation of the now costly and money influenced campaign process, it is a novel response and statement of dis-sastifaction with the way it is.
As Eisner says the current system is "mired in the past."  He adds "...we are burdened with a system that gives the bullhorn to the smallest voices and makes the majority feel unheard." 

DAY BOOK

CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS
Thorns of another type 

See you down the trail.

THE BAG BAN & A LOOK INSIDE THE EMBASSY

  ...OF THE PEOPLE

BY THE PEOPLE...

     So now the people are debating plastic bags.  San Luis Obispo County, which pioneered no smoking in restaurants, 

is in the process of voting whether or not to ban plastic bags at all stores.

      The plastic bag lobby, hiding behind a so called health and environmental front group, has mounted an extensive campaign to keep the bags, arguing cloth or canvas bags are unhealthy.  Tell that to the Europeans who have used non plastic bags for centuries and whose experience has been invoked and weighed in the debate.  

     This is one of the healthiest, fittest, most natural and

organic pockets in the world, so many folks already travel 

with their own reusable bags.  Still the democratic process is at work, which means at least one law suit, and while it is 

not making national headlines, it is a good local fight. 

Stay tuned.

ANOTHER HOT ISSUE

      The US government will reduce the staff of the Iraq embassy by one half, leaving much of the $750 Million complex unused. The situation in country is bad enough the government can not justify the $6 Billion annual budget. Including contractors, the number of employees in the complex has risen to 16,000. The State Department and Pentagon have begun to acknowledge they may have over deployed.

     Link here to see a New York Times photo tour of the complex.

     HERE'S ONE THING YOU CAN DO WITH OLD STUFF

 Scene along Highway 41 between Morro Bay and Atascadero

DAY BOOK

California Succulents

See you down the trail.

MICHAEL ON FIRE--A UNIQUE PERFORMANCE & SUCCULENTS, CACTUS AND THEIR FANS

EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL ARTIST

      Michael On Fire played the Painted Sky this Memorial weekend in what was one of the most powerful and personal performances I've seen.

      Michael and his band, mesmerized the audience in the historic recording studio.  He is a powerful lyricist painting images that connect with something deep in the psyche in a way that makes you feel you have known the songs and ranged over the emotion of them for your whole life.  His tunes are as though they were pre ordained in your memory.  Almost his entire play list clicked open a receptor that made it immediately recognizable, though I'd never heard his music before.  Weird huh!  And the stories they convey also reach deep in a haunting way. He covers a landscape of history, spirit, aspiration and grit. 

     He is a sincere and engaging troubadour.  His band were all masters of their instrument. In the room that evening was a give and take between artists and audience that was palpable. 

     I urge you check him out.  His music will not leave you soon. Here are a couple of samples.

THE ANNUAL SHOW

       The Central Coast, South Africa, an area of the Mediterranean, south and west Australia and portion of Chile share a unique climate and growing zone.  Succulents and cactus are a part of that mix, especially where drought resistant plants do well.
       Those exotics are celebrated on the Central Coast by the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society.  They are so celebrated there is a waiting list to join the Society.
This year's show, the Fifth Annual, is a case in point.
        Look at the people in que to ring out their purchases.

Yes, that is a double line.

with four cashiers at work.

 These are scenes from the "sales" room.

Ribbon winners are presented further down the post.

THE SHOW ROOM AND THE RIBBON WINNERS

I was ignorant about succulents and cactus until our move to the Central Coast.

I knew a little about desert cactus, but very little.  I've been fascinated to discover the wide variety of plant and marvel at their exotic and other worldly look.

The picture below reminds me of a character out of Star Wars.

If you are curious, we did take a couple of new plants home where they'll join our succulent garden.  Frequent readers of the blog have probably seen photos in previous posts in our Day Book section.

See you down the trail.