SUCK IT IN

 THE FUTURE IS NOT CHEAP

     Sometimes vision comes with a price and acrimony.  

     The US is overdue in brining rail trail into modernity. Other nations put us to shame and our transportation matrix suffers by lack of high speed trains.  This week the California legislature will vote on Governor Jerry Brown's attempt to build the nation's first high speed line. 

      Many criticize the plan, saying it is too expensive, we can't afford it in a recession, that the opening leg is on a non crucial route.

      Governor Brown is quoted as saying "Suck it in.  We've got to build, we got do it right."

       I agree.  There is probably never a time we can "afford" to undertake a leap into the future, so it is easy to put it off and as time passes it never happens.  Exactly why the US is a pathetic player when it comes to rail travel.

       There is a Chinese wisdom, from LaoTsu, that says "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  This is California's opportunity to start the US on that journey. It will cost more later, it is already seriously delayed and it will be good for future generations.  
      Jerry Brown's father, Governor Pat Brown authored the California State Water Plan and helped push the Golden State into the future. There was acrimony over his idea, but the flourishing of the Central Valley agriculture, the water resources in Southern California and other measures have proven to be the positive outcome of a visionary plan.  In this case it is "like father, like son." 

      High speed rail has proven itself in Germany, Japan, France and other nations.  
     It's time to "suck it up" and get on with the future.

DAY FILE

THE SPIT & THE ROCK

     History abounds in this shot.  The Rock, at the end of the spit is the famed Morro Rock, a volcano plug and one of the "Nine Sisters" of volcanic and tectonic formed mountains that follow the central coast from Morro Bay, south to below San Luis Obispo.

     The "Rock" was named by the Portugese explorer Juan Cabrillo in 1542.  He thought the rock looked like a Moor, the North African people of whom the men wore turbans.

     The spit is naturally occurring, but augmented by breakwaters built by the army.  During WW II landing craft were housed in the harbor and the spit was used as part of

training exercises.  Some of the D-Day invaders practiced  "hitting the beach" from landing craft on the spit.  

     In December 1941 the Morro Rock was struck by shells fired from a Japanese U boat.  It was the same day the oil tanker Montebello was sunk by a Japanese submarine.

     Today the Spit offers a scenic and athletic hiking trail.

INTO THE SUNSET

Here are a couple of minutes of nature for you

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) REALLY FAR OUT

OF STARS, DREAMS AND MORE

      The star field above our ridge top between the Pacific and the Santa Lucia Mountains is spectacular. Twice in the last week house guests were taken back by the clarity and depth of the celestial bodies.  Watching the night sky is a common activity here and the vocal enthusiasms of our guests underscores how pristine the views are.

INTO THE STARS

      Before we get to the weekend's video offering, a sort of tribute to life and work of Ray Bradbury, The Weekender :) adds a cosmic note.

      As I was walking a coffee cup back to the waiting group of tennis partners who had assembled on the coffee deck after our match, a friend engaged me in a trio who were sitting elsewhere.

      "Did you hear what a new survey found?  The majority of Americans would prefer Obama over Romney in the event we had an encounter with beings from another planet?"

      Well, I had not heard that. Hadn't considered that eventuality either.

      "It's just a matter of time," one of her companions said with conviction and a bit of a distant look. Not so distant that I couldn't see he believed and believed it might just happen sooner that I expected.

       So as you consider that as part of your presidential election thinking, here's a unique video that explores the possibility of something once considered only science fiction. If it's truly "a matter of time" this free enterprise idea just could make sense and in just 11 years!!

Have good weekend.  Maybe do a little star gazing.

Mars is visible.

See you down the trail.

       

A SEA OF EXPERTS

WATCHING IT PLAY

    The ruling by the Supremes put all news organizations through the drill.  I was fascinated by watching how it was covered.  

    The challenge was an old one-get the essence, then get the info out of the court room and to the viewers or online readers or listeners.  It was a kind of fire bucket brigade.  The first of the info was handed along, while reporters and analysts in the Supreme Court building continued to listen to Chief Justice Roberts, gather the actual ruling, opinions, copy them, get them to the news headquarters and to the field correspondents waiting outside. It was a massive operation, like a 100 yard dash with copy machines and text books while deciphering a code.

   I've covered court rulings and appreciate the logistics of getting the story right, and getting it on and in a competitive environment. All news groups want to be first. 

   While there is no shortage of talking heads and experts, the smoothest and most concise of the morning was Ted Ruger, constitutional law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who provided succinct and helpful analysis on CBS.  As a former anchorman, that is the kind of analyst I would like to have along side. Scott Pelley, who handled it nicely, benefited from Ruger's polish.

    The next chapter is to now watch the spin, the spinners, the straight networks and newspapers and the partisan media like Fox and MSNBC and all of the yacking heads who'll try to make you think their perspective is the only correct one. 

     And we can't forget the candidates.  There is a presidential election into which all of this will factor.  Do you know how that will play out?   Well, Someone on one of the networks or blogs will try to convince you, he or she does. Let the game's begin. 

DAY FILE

RANDOM SCENES
eclectic and well, random

This is the kind of "hot" issue I now prefer to deal with.

See you down the trail

WAITING AND NEWS

OCCUPYING THOUGHTS

     Regardless whether Chief Justice Roberts writes it, and regardless of the outcome, the ruling on the health care reform will be remembered as one of the most anticipated, watched and debated. It is an automatic argument starter, however it comes out.

TRUTH IN THE NEWSROOM

       I entered my first newsroom as a green high school kid and have lived in them since.  The Aaron Sorkin script for the HBO series The Newsroom is brilliant and it speaks truth.  It demonstrates truth as well.  The pilot does a great job of showing how a breaking news story get's covered.  And I can't leave this without saying the tirade launched by actor Jeff Daniels, as a network anchor, is masterfully done. And it speaks truth.

DAY FILE

EARTH AND SEA

 In the frames below it looks as though the stone has been carved with a saw.  Amazing power in the relentless surf.

All of the shots were gathered at one of our favorite hikes, 

Montana D' Oro State Park.

See you down the trail.

HERE'S WHERE YOU WANT TO DRIVE

A SWEET ROAD

     You may have seen Turri Road between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay, even if you've never been to California. It's been filmed for car commercials.  The good thing is, there's hardy ever any traffic. The other good thing is its beauty, especially when marigold fields are in bloom.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) FLOATING CARS & DREAMS

A COASTAL SNOOZE

     Saturday or Sunday was always good for a couple of things-getting outside and sneaking a nap, usually in a hammock or lawn lounger.

      Our first stop this WEEKENDER :) is a place where snoozes and snoozers combine.

The Dreamy Scene

 The coast north of San Simeon

 where the big boys-the elephant seals-snore

   These guys excel in napping.

A DREAM COME TRUE?

Would you believe a "floating" car?

Enjoy this ride.

Catch a nap and have a dreamy weekend.

See you down the trail.  

IN THE EAST OF THE APPELLATION

AN AFTERNOON EAST

     We made a rare visit to the far east side of the Paso Robles Appellation and collected a few scenes to share.

     Our destination was the Pear Valley Winery, where a local group held a luncheon meeting.  We left fog at the
coast and drove into 80 degree sunshine and mild breezes.

    Lana was asked to decorate tables with her Pear cards and ceramic pieces.

 It's a beautiful setting and a micro climate apart from Cambria.

See you down the trail.