A PACIFIC EVENING

 MELLOW TIME

      When the light begins to get "sweet" a gentle and festive mood settles over the coast.

         You can see the marine bank, that will blanket in the darkness, taking shape out on the horizon.

      Sea foam washes in a shade of turquoise at evening.

       Shapes silhouette in contrast and shadows.

Light and dark begin to divide.

 The spring's abundant thistle, now dry, begins to click in

the evening coastal breeze,

and tranquility has a gentle rhythm.

Sky and sea both exude a blue calm.

The work of the day is done. The sun begins its evening recline.  Twilight waits yet another hour and watches

as the ocean's clouds begin to tickle in.

Mellow moments.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME

WHAT A RIDE?

At the WEEKENDER :) we enjoy the spirit 

of fun and adventure. We also

encourage the "weekend warrior" mindset

of getting out there and enjoying this

planet-but within limits.

Thanks to my adventuring friend Brian, who

sent this stunning video, here's a few

thrills-but as we say

Don't try this at home-

unless you can of course.

Enjoy-it also has a great sound track.

See you down the trail.

OF NAKED LADIES AND BIRTHDAYS

SERIOUSLY, THEY ARE CALLED

NAKED LADIES

      Sorry to disappoint if this is not the type of Naked Lady
you had in mind.  We'll get back to these wild ladies in a moment.

FIRST ANOTHER FRIDAY LUNCH FLASH MOB REPORT

Some of the gathered, below the castle

A magnificent noon hour near the old school house with the castle looming on the mountain

and the birthday candles lit.

No names here-but Happy Birthday SE and PC.

NOW ABOUT THOSE NAKED LADIES

They are also called a Chocolate Lilly

but what name would an old headline writer choose eh?

We are fascinated that these exotics simply

bloom wild.  Some of the old time locals

consider them a pest.  We do not.

These naked ladies are welcome in our neighborhood

anytime.

See you down the trail. 

CONTROVERSIAL PHOTOS & ZEBRAS TOO

DUMB MOVE

I'm all for a free and unfettered press, but I'm also for fair play.
The Newsweek cover of Michelle Bachman is a cheap shot by editor Tina Brown.
It is not the first time Brown has created  a cover that infuriates, but this time
it is uncalled for.  I am not a fan of Bachman and she has made statements
that deserve examination and scrutiny, but finding such an unflattering shot of an attractive and even glamorous woman is bogus.  Shame on Newsweek.
THE OTHER PHOTO FLAP

This photo, released by the White House has set off another round of comment about
media access at memorial services or the the ceremonial reception of bodies of fallen US service men and women.  It has been the policy of the White House and the Pentagon
to restrict media access if family members object to a media presence.
It is a sensitive issue of course and ultimately family wishes have been observed.
We have seen some photos, when family members permit a media presence.
I believe in full access and think that arrangements can be made to respect the decorum
and sensitive nature of such moments.  Some were unhappy, even some on the White House staff, that the picture above was released.  It is a good thing to have such a captured  moment for history and to show the honor afforded by and the solemnity of the Commander in Chief in paying respects for our fallen troops.
It is not unlike battlefield access. When American troops are put into harms way, on behalf of the nation, then we have a right and an obligation to watch, see and consider the full impact and obligation of committing to war. We in this case being we citizens, on who's behalf the troops are in harms way.
Not to see can too easily put the unpleasantness out of mind.
DAY BOOK

ZEBRAS ON THE CENTRAL COAST

A part of the herd on the Hearst Ranch.

Remember the controversy about the shooting of a couple

of the herd back in January. Link here.

See you down the trail.

EXTREMISTS-THERE AND ON THE RIGHT & SEA BIRDS-

WHEN SERIOUS WORK IS TO BE DONE

      We need to find a way to manage at the center, a way to incentivize a new wave of American business ingenuity and entrepreneurship, a way to provide for the national common good.  Failure to do so could provide images like those we see from London.

        Chronic unemployment, a widening gap between the rich and a shrinking middle class, a government that seems incapable of governance and looses public confidence are steps toward the kind of unrest we've seen across Arab nations this year and now in our own Mother country.

     
A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AT HOME
    The extreme right screeches so loudly as to drown out reason.  Friends who are life long conservative Republicans are sickened and frightened by the "tea party mindset" that would rather create, or permit crises (debt ceiling debate-deficit reduction plan) than engage in the American art of negotiation and/or compromise.  They are engaged in a kind of extortion. 
     As a good friend who is working on a campaign for a respected veteran Republican Senator wrote: 

"The so-called Tea Party is a huge problem.  My view is that they are aptly named.  What happened in Nov 1773 was one of those essential points along the way to independence.  But it took 6 years to win the war that commenced a year and a half later.  And when it came time to write the constitution there were no Tea Party men in the room -- serious business being at hand. 

I believe FULLY that the point you raise below re brain dead journalism and the coming to power of new era know-nothings are directly related.  And we have no more hope of stopping it that the Japanese had of stopping the Tsunami."

      He was making reference to an earlier post where I noted the declining standards of today's broadcast journalists.

COMMON SENSE IDEAS?

       There is serious work to be done if this nation is to correct its path and avoid becoming a sad and weakened version of itself. There are a couple of things that could be done in the near future to establish vitality in our ability to govern and manage a budget.

       Health care costs can and should be contained and managed.  Most of us know of the common charging abuses and expenses that need policing. If we contain or control the rise in medical costs, the expense of Medicare will stabilize.  

        Defense spending can be cut without hurting our national security.  We've spent trillions in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of it needlessly and much of it going into the pockets of war profiteers, some of whom are paying no taxes on their no bid government contract revenues.  That is wrong and in my opinion criminal and it should be stopped.  Then we need to ask ourselves, do we really need the thousands of troops stationed in Germany?  Korea?  How many military bases do we need abroad and of those how many include inflated operating budgets, like golf courses?

      There is so much that needs intelligent, rational and thorough examination, but sadly some are screaming, with fingers in ears and others simply seem inept or indifferent.

       Failure to act as a nation, not as tribes of special interests will lead to grave times.

       Years ago as a new CEO, a trusted elder adviser and extraordinary business executive told me to remember always "in any successful deal or negotiation, both sides leave something on the table."  
       The extremists needed to be drowned out by the voice of common sense and the common good.  We should be a nation "...under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

    DAY BOOK

A TIME OF KELP

The summer sun along the coast has fed a growth

in the kelp beds.

The sun is also warming the Pacific enough to tempt 

some, without wet suits. 

while others are simply warmed enough to nap.

See you down the trail.

DUBIOUS THINKING & BIRDS OF A FEATHER

IS DUMB THE STANDARD?

     A couple of matters resonate with the same underpinning, a lack of intelligence.  One might say stupid!  This one does at least.

      Here in Cambria an historic old building, now a recording studio favored by many great artists over the years and the setting for wonderful "house concerts" may soon become a "storage" building because the two LA antique dealers who own the building have decided so.  It is a terrible affront to this village. Local legend has it that old building was a tavern, nicknamed the "Bucket of Blood" back when this was the wild west and a frontier town. Regardless of the veracity of that particular tale, it is an historic building and currently a cultural center.  That two men from LA can capriciously upend culture is wrong and stupid.  Local efforts are underway to "rescue" the Painted Sky.

      Elsewhere-more of the same. It was not an original thought with me, but several years ago I planted the idea of an airport being a city's "front door."  I did so when working on a committee that was "imagining" what a new airport could mean for Indianapolis.  Long story short-when the Indianapolis International Airport opened a couple of years ago, it was rich with art and sculpture.  Others who travel as much I have and do realized

this set the airport apart, gave it class and certainly made it memorable.

Link here to read how that is about change, sadly.

        Full disclosure here.  I am a friend of the artist and his wife, but that does not change my opinion, which I sent to Indianapolis via a link.  Here are my comments.  

Bush league   
Tom CochrunAugust 9, 2011 2:14 PM

Trading a world class piece of art for a commercial advertising space is the kind of thing a second class city would do. It represents a lack of imagination, creativity and sadly removes what is a unique icon for a the city's "front door." So a move like this makes Indianapolis look like just another run of the mill venue.

What happened to the once vibrant idea that Indianapolis was "special" a true "world class city?" Taking down art for an ad screen would not be tolerated by a city that truly wants to be recognized as being a special place to do and grow business, pursue excellence, raise families and celebrate a better quality of life. Looks like a few manager types can dash all of that for a few bucks and betray what was perceived to be a covenant between artists, fans and their home community.

If this is allowed to happen then "dumb" wins.

NOW TO SOMETHING PLEASANT

DAY BOOK

SHORE BIRDS

      

See you down the trail.

A DAY IN WINE COUNTRY

A GALA AT JUSTIN

        I can hear a couple of friends saying "it is so California" and well, I guess it is.  While waiting for the market hammer to fall this weekend, we joined a few hundred other people

at a wine gala.  No usual gala, this was at one of the class wineries in the US and just happens to be in the Paso Robles appellation.

        Our host was Justin, maker of great wine and giver of

great parties despite the economic dread most people wanted to overlook, at least for a sun drenched and joyous few hours with great food, world class wine and on a unique 

campus that always reminds me of a scene from that great 

British TV series The Prisoner.

       So as we hope for something better from our political

parties and leaders, and an improved economic report, let's be Californians and enjoy what is good.

The man in middle is Justin, the founder of 

Winery and maker of extraordinary wine.

See you down the trail.