THE WEEKENDER :) CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT

THE BEST FUTURE BUSINESS?

      A few years ago I was at an international broadcast and communications trade show and forum when CNN founder Ted Turner said something that floored me.  He was asked if he was just getting started what would he invest in?  Television, computers, the Internet, wireless, telephony, or  what?

      Without a moment's hesitation he said "Water."

      I've seen "war game" strategies and table top drills where

wars are fought over water and where civil authorities train to maintain order when water supplies are sparse.  

     I told an inventor friend I wish I could develop a system that could produce water.  "Can't be done" he said.  That may be true, but what a boon for human kind.  

     In the meantime here is something absolutely beautiful,

calming and celebratory about water.  This is a stunning 

piece about some of the freshest water in the world, just about 3 1/2 hours from where I sit typing this.

     Take a few minutes this weekend to watch this.  It is majestic and ultimately, important.

See you down the trail.  

THE HIGH GROUND-FLAT AS WELL

PART 2

      My thanks to those of you who responded here or in e-mails about the beautiful work Lana has done.  Today we continue. 

THERE IS ALSO THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

     You may recall from an earlier post that we dubbed a section of high ground that we tilled, Indiana. Flat and with good soil, it is a perfect place for the kind of veggie gardens we kept in the Mid-West.

 These "book end," shots, from north and south, provide a low ground view of the raised bed garden.  You can see the bird net hoops as a marker.

More about those steps in a future post.

Up in Indiana Lana has created other beds for lettuce,

parsley and other goodies.

Veteran readers may also recall the "original" raised bed

and Tomato Tent at the side of the house

We borrowed the tent idea from a veteran gardener and friend, Nan, last year.  It is the only way to get tomatoes to ripen well this near the Pacific. The tent maintains warmth.

Lana is happy that after a couple of years in a pot

the Camilla is now blooming.  

And for those of you who suggested I put down the camera
and do some work, well.....
Someone needs to report. And it is Lana who has the 
green thumb.  I'm her #1 fan.
See you down the trail.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

IF IT PLEASES THE CHAIR

     In bodies that abide by parliamentary rule, the US Congress, boards, clubs, organizations and the like, you can some times ask the chair to rise to speak on a point of personal privilege.  And so I do today.  

I enter into the record 

LANA THE GREEN THUMB

     This is to brag about the love of my life and her incredible gardening skill.  She is a remarkable artist and gardener.  I offer my case.

Before

This is the back hill 5 years ago

After

Lana's touch and some design work

More of the story

 Some of the original ice plant has been saved,

but she's created hill side space for succulents and drought tolerant plants

 She has found the deer & turkey fence not only protects the plants, it provides space for design touches 

 Some of those touches include her own ceramic work

 After a couple of years of frustration, she's found

a good combination along the front walk

There's also the "Indiana" garden-stay tuned.

See you down the trail.

HIGH DRAMA

HUMAN KIND AND NATURE

Take 2

     There is chilling new information since yesterday's post about the great white shark taking a bite out of kayak just off Cambria's Moonstone Beach.  The Cambrian and San Luis Obispo Tribune reporter Kathe Tanner has details.

Link here to read the kayakers dramatic account.

IF YOU LIKE THESE

YOU CAN SEE IT LIVE

Magnificent Yosemite

    You may recall previous blogs where in I profess my passionate love for the majesty of Yosemite National Park,

one of the wonders of the world.  If you would like to see the park from your screen, you can visit live.

Link here to see live webcam shots, courtesy of the National Park Service. 

You have your choice of six cameras.

See you down the trail.

WARNING SIGNS

TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY

First there was one...

 Then there was two

      Kayakers who were enjoying the big blue got a bit more adventure than they wanted when a great white took a chomp out of their craft here on Moonstone Beach in Cambria.

     There is always a bit danger at the shore.

     Today however there is another seasonal warning.

     I know some folks worry about the "nanny state" intrusion
into lives, however I'm grateful for the San Luis Obispo County Health Department diligence. 

DAY BOOK

BEACH SIDE SCENES

Despite the warnings

     Driftwood builders have been busy...

 ....almost as busy as this guy

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) LIGHTER-BRIGHTER

THE CHANGE OF PACE

    After weighing in on a couple of heavy topics this week

the WEEKENDER :) arrives to bring cheer and something you may never have seen.

I NEVER DID THIS

    I will acknowledge that as a news anchor we did, sometimes, amuse ourselves (us and the studio and control room crews) during breaks.  But in all of the clowning-we thought of it as stress relief-we never got this elaborate. This is kind of fun, though you may never look at a news anchor the same again.

CALL THIS "THE ANCHOR DANCE"

Courtesy of WGN Chicago

DAY BOOK

CHEERY BLOOMS

 The orchid cactus is an heir of Lana's grandmother and her mother.  It was one of the plants she refused to leave behind when we moved west.

 We've tried before, but this is the first year the 

"Bird of Paradise" has bloomed.

 Lana has done a wonderful job in creating a beautiful garden where once it was just a hill and ice plant.  I'll provide an update in a future post.

Enjoy the weekend.

See you down the trail.

SKULL TATT'S AND 40 K A PLATE ??!!

SKULL TATTOOS SEND A WEIRD MESSAGE

    The LA Times prompted the LA County Sheriffs office to

investigate a "secret clique" in the sheriff's gang unit.  Members wear a gun toting skeleton, which according to the Times, the members alter after they've been involved in a shooting. They are called the "Jump Out Boys."

     I understand the need for camaraderie.  I saw it work as I spent weeks with Army Snipers in training, followed FBI Agents through 16 weeks of preparation, embedded with tactical weapons teams, and covered countless other law enforcement or security and intelligence operations.  You go through things civilians never see and it does contribute to a sense of bonding.  There is an however here.

     Cliques, private creeds, as alleged in the Jump Out Boys, are wrong, and send a terrible message.  Yes, we ask cops on drug and gang task forces to deal with the dregs of our society and it is difficult and often dirty work.  The line between good and bad is hard to see.  Still, even when dealing with the dirtiest of dirt bags, or most foul of criminals, cops need to stay within the law and propriety.  They are the line of demarcation between true law and order, civility if you will, and the lawless degeneration of crime. 

      We don't know where the LA Sheriffs investigation will end. Nothing wrong with a tatt, unless it is a symbol for a 

code of a behavior in violation of procedure, policy and law.

I remember rooting out a federal employee-a postman-who

swore a secret oath and wore a tattoo of his allegiance to the Ku Klux Klan. He put that belief above the law that 

governed those of us who paid his salary. He openly advocated violation of some of those laws. 

       If we are a nation of law, we must behave that way, especially those who enforce the law. 

TOO MUCH $$

     One more thing has me venting today.  A $40 thousand

dollar a plate dinner at George Clooney's home?  Even though the attendees can afford it-they are all wealthy, it is just another symbol of the influence of big money in politics.

The Obama campaign will get a shot in the arm.  Romney's campaign also does high ticket fund raisers.  Most of the money will end up in commercials and advertising.  

    The need to raise and spend money has perverted the 

process and supplanted principle, intelligence, problem solving and vision.  What a helluva way to choose office holders!

DAY BOOK

CAT PLAY

The Further Adventures of 

Luke and Hemingway

 "Hey, you know I could sleep a lot better if you'd knock
off that scratching down there."
  "Oh yea?!  Well if you didn't hog the top deck all the time."

 "OK big boy!  I'm down on your level now.  Hey, look at me
when I'm talking to you."
  "I don't want another of those stare downs. But I can see you looking at me.  I just want to get up on the top deck."

 "I'm watching you.  See this right paw?  I can take you out with it."
 "I see it.  Big deal!  Keep the top deck. I'm going to take a nap."

 "Now if you'd please get that camera out of here....."

 "I've got a nap to catch up with....."

   "It's too hot in the sun.  He can have the top deck.

I just want this shady spot."

See you down the trail