Coincidence? I think not.

On the right is a new entry to my animal friends. Common markings but a new cat on the block. On the left is a pair of 'shrooms blooming at the usual spot. But, as usual, they appeared this morning full blown. Gorgeous. Some day I'll take a few of these and see what the spores look like.
I started my walk this morning to the singing of the venerable Lizabeth Cotton finger picking her classic country tune Freight Train. Filled out with the likes of Emmy Lou Harris and Gram Parsons the walk was bounded by the perfection of Jerry Garcia's exquisite guitar riffs and David Grisman tastefullly playing his Gibson mandolin all to (you guessed it) Freight Train. Freight Train front to back . Coincidence? I think not. But the meaning escapes me at the moment.
I did conclude on the walk that the ideal country music duet would be the crystal tones of Emmy Lou Harris laid over the warm baritone of Willy Nelson. Like honey on the lyrics. I can't think of one right now although I'm sure they must have done some sterling work sometime through their careers.
Jerry Garcia's exquisite guitar riffs are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Back to to the basics.

The mushroom picture is just to remind us of life's little mysteries.
A few months ago I asked a question I have often pondered. What makes me me? It turns out, half way through the book, that the answer is the topic of Hofstadter's book about strange loops. So all of a sudden my interest is piqued. Then just as I understood the premise I realized I still had an unread book in my collection. It was written by an Englishman about whose writing I have generic qualms. So had put it aside and forgot it. But today is bluegrass music day I figured it was a good time to try to read a book by an Englishman, only a slight distraction from the music. Surprise! It reads like a novel. Challenging and satisfying. The topic is quantum entanglement. Ahhhh. Back to to the basics.
So now I'm doing my blog entry with the dulcet strains of Nanci Griffith in the background. Sounds like a great compromise to me (whatever that is). There is a strange loop.
Strange loops are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Courage.

I have often joked about flying to Hawaii in a small plane with a maximum range of 400 miles. What a way to go! But fear not friends. Have you ever wondered what became of the those who have jumped off the Golden Gate bridge. One survivor (of which there have been very few) said the instant he let go of the bridge he realized no problem was too difficult to solve, except the irretrievable jump. Being a Pisces the inability to reverse any decision would take a great deal of courage. Courage of a sort I don't have. So although the idea of flying to Hawaii may be romantic, I believe that my bifurcated nature would turn chicken as I approached the point of no return. I can't even imagine it. I'll go the natural way someday by surprise. I'll admit don't have the courage (nor the inclination) it would take to attempt an impossible flight to Hawaii. Besides I have a commitment never to fly again which I take very seriously. Dream yes, fly no.
The photo is of the tram used to ferry attendees from one end to the other at the recent Fullerton Railroad Festival in Brea. Another candidate for my non trip to Hawaii.
An impossible flight to Hawaii is prof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Is this the way an empire collapses?

Three aeroplanes passed overhead and one cat zipped by on my walk today. Benjamin, the white terrier was out and about in his yard with what appeared to be an aggressive pit bull which I had never seen before. Choosing discretion over valor, I walked on past without stopping to visit. I also saw a previously not seen cat slouching away too fast for me to get the camera and snap. As if to punctuate the etheriality of life one of the three aeroplanes flew by unseen, hidden by the tree top foliage as it passed over.
I finished the book on the Supreme Court this morning. The last chapter discussed the 2000 selection as president of GW Bush by the Supreme Court. Not a pretty picture when you consider the costs in both dollars, lives and freedoms that resulted from that 'decision'. All of which have continued unabated under Obama. Is this the way an empire collapses?
Unabated under Obama sounds a little like a country song, N'est pas?
Aeroplanes, cats and country songs are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Executives of BP should be forced to take a daily shower in water that has been saturated with crude oil.

I think the top 50 executives of BP should be forced to take a daily shower in water that has been saturated with crude oil until the mess in the Gulf is totally restored. That coat of thin shit should change their attitude about the safety of of oil wells in a hurry. To remind them of the lives lost in the recent debacle the shower will be taken outdoors in a local cemetery.
The photograph was taken a few days ago to remind me that executives at Carl's Jr should suffer a similar fate. And let us not forget the flyers and other crap delivered to my driveway and left for me to pick up.
Being pissed off is proof enough to me that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Regrets won't turn back the clock.

Life is slow in Fullerton. Overcast mornings and hazy sunshiney afternoons. Nothing out of the ordinary has been happening. I'm beginning to regret not driving up to Topanga last week end but regrets won't turn back the clock. I could travel close to the speed of sound for a week or so then turn around and come back at the same speed. I should arrive back before the decision not to go to Topanga was made and change it. That's a lot of effort for something that happens every year.
I'm back to reading about the Supreme Court again. They are from the same gene pool as our Senators who believe in, and make laws based on, such things as creationism. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of technical savvy amongst our 'leaders'. Legislative as well as judicial. God (if one exists) save our souls. It seems to me to be more sensible to elect constitutional scholars to the Court who understand the basic document of our Nation rather than political hacks who are FOP (friends of the President) who will always be slaves to or corporatism.
Constitutional scholars are proof that were all on this flight together.

Dick

I have not a thing to say today.

I have not a thing to say today so here's a photo of a restored water pumper from the fire fighting days of the 49ers.
Fire fighting 49ers are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Howling wolves and the Supreme Court.

I hadn't intended any cosmic connection between the photo of the HO model howling wolves (on the left) and the Supreme Court. The photo was taken a few weeks ago at the Fullerton Railroad Festival in Brea.
On further consideration there appears to be what could be a metaphorical connection between howling wolves and the Supreme Court. The more I learn the more convinced I am that our laws are finally adjudicated by what has deteriorated into a group of howling wolves in black robes.
I'll put aside the book on the Supreme Court for a while. It depresses me to realize how fragile the laws of our Nation turn out to be. So I'll return to the mysteries of quantum mechanics and String Theory. I may not be able to understand it but it doesn't piss me off like the duplicity of 'real' life. As the Dog Whisperer says, "Fight, flight or something else". I chose flight. Back to quantum mechanics and String Theory.
To offer a little cheer I am including a photo taken last week end at the meeting of the Orange County Model Engineers.
Real steam is proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

June gloom is here a few weeks early. The good news is that it will probably be gone by 10 or 11 am.
On the walk this morning I passed a plethora of small animals. A lady came by with a weimerana and a beautiful red male Doberman. Next I passed the mushrooms shown on the right. Here one day and gone tomorrow. Then I passed two cats, separately. Lastly was a pair of squirrels. Two dogs, two cats, two mushrooms and two squirrels. That's symmetry.
The video is of an internal combustion engine (diesel) driven locomotive. This is left over from Saturday at the Orange County Model Engineers meet.
Beautiful Dobermans are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

The Senior Softball Hall of Fame.

The red headed dynamo, Diane has been formally nominated to the Senior Softball Hall of Fame. Induction is planned for later this year. Congratulations!
Yesterday I drove down to Costa Mesa to see the trains of the Orange County Model Engineers run their trains. They are hauling people. The cars are magnificent, every bit the youngsters of their grand daddies. They have about 3 miles of track through the park. The tracks are about 12" apart. Birds and squirrels are abundant.


The photo is of one of the model steam trains shuffling along the track.
The video is of one of steam trains leaving the station , whistle and all. I did ride one of the trains but were prohibited from taking photos while the train was moving for some reason.
Steam trains are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Tomorrow there's music in the air.

Tomorrow there's music in the air so it must be Friday.
My boycott of anything Arizona continues to gain momentum . Welcome aboard to the Republican National Committee for choosing Tampa, Florida over Phoenix for their annual meeting. Talk about strange bedfellows but as they say, "Any port in a storm". Although the relevance of storms escapes me at the moment.
I continue perusing the book on the Supreme Court. I had always considered the Court to be the last resort of the helpless but it seems that is not true. Reading this book is like driving past a bad accident you can't help but to look. Parochial and ideological racism seems to be the norm among the Justices. The good news is that it's going to be hard to be worse than it is already without a real effort.
Normally below average Justices are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

I have decided to turn up the heat on Arizona.

On the left is a pic of a turntable and engine barn. The symmetry and complexity of the model appealed to me. The detail of the HO model Radio Flyer wagons on the flatbed car caught my eye on the right.
It's a beautiful day for a walk. I saw a gun metal gray cat run across the street at the beginning of my walk. He ran so fast he was gone before I could access my camera. Fast little bugger. The weather was so nice that I proceeded clad only in shorts and turtle neck shirt.
The further I get into the book on the Supreme Court the more depressed I get over the future of our Nation. Petty jealousies among right wing ideologues make doing anything impossible.
On another topic, the LA city Council has acted (where possible) on my boycott of anything Arizona. In order to turn up the heat on Arizona I have decided to include the entire available company assets of Prompter Is Ready to the boycott. That should give the state of Arizona pause. In the meantime directed quantum mechanics should uncertainly nickel and dime them to death.
Walking in shorts is proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Today's walk was tough.

Whew. Today's walk was as tough as I've had since I started walking. Everything seemed to hurt, joints and muscles. It was really hard to finish the last block. But when you come right down to it, what's the other choice? I suppose I could have just started living there. Sort of homeless within 100 yards of my home. Wouldn't that be ironic? The weather was perfect. It was warm enough that I could have left my jacket at home. The sky was clear and the visibility unlimited. A perfect spring day. And it is forecast to be slightly warmer over the next few days. Paradise is sooooo boring.
My boycott of anything Arizona is spreading. Maybe I'll withdraw my protection from terrorists and zombies from Arizona. That'll teach them.
The lack of critical thinking is showing its ugly head in our national politics. I'll not say more about that today in order to hold my blood pressure in line.
A lack of critical thinking is proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

I forgot to mention yesterday that a small biplane flew over during my morning walk. It's unusual to see such planes over suburban areas since they are not usually considered to be distance planes. But there it was. The wind beneath my wings (top and bottom). The picture of the biplane at the left is a consolation offering.
I am concerned that something has splintered our Nation. We are going the way of all empires whether Roman, English or whatever. But I have neither the desire or motivation to say any more today. Maybe another day (before the Empire collapses).
Back to the Supreme Court. That worries me too.
Biplanes are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Historic Flabob Airport is free of terrorists.

So here we are, ten days into my active boycott of anything Arizona. And the boycott continues to spread. It's amazing what a single person can build. If I can single handedly keep Historic Flabob Airport free of terrorists, I can do anything.
I changed my regular route this morning t0 go past the neighbor who had mushrooms sprouting in his lawn. They were so nice I wanted to go back and take a few pics of them. But the ephemeral little rascals were gone already. Like the olde saying, "It's the early bird that gets the worm". Although it's not clear just what the connection is between worms and mushrooms.
I've given for the time being on the book by Hofstadter. I just don't get his ideas. I know he's American, born and raised, but he writes like an Englshman.
So I'm off to the Supreme Court. What a dirty bunch of rapscallions they are. And Obama's selection today moves the court incrementally to the right. Where are the Warrens and the Marshalls when you need them. The Court is now tilted dangerously to the extreme right. And 3 Jews and the rest Catholics. Dangerous. Where is the Agnostic? The Buddhist? Or should we not count that way?
Agnostics are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

I found 2 lonely mushrooms.

On the right is a photo from the Fullerton Railroad Festival in Brea. The parallelicity of the tracks is what appealed to me here. Imagine if all the tracks were full of cars. Just like the olde days. Which reminds me of the olde folk song "Railroad Bill' who "Never worked and he never will".
I found 2 lonely mushrooms this morning in a previously unfound location. They really are pretty little things. No pics because of the location.
Yesterday was the monthly meeting of EAA Chapter One at Historic Flabob Airport. The drive t was a little hectic. The traffic seemed awfully busy for late morning on a Saturday. But it was worth the drive. The topic was formation flying and I learned something or two. And the plane of the month (recall my Sonex was the first of the planes of the month) was an RV-7A. The A signifying tricycle gear model. It was truly a work of art. I couldn't achieve that level of work if I devoted my life to it. Really beautiful.
Formation flying is proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Ah, the mysteries of ants and mushrooms.

The photo is of the detail of an HO gauge steam engine, I didn't notice the gentleman sitting on the front bumper until I was at home. Notice also the smoke stack indicating a cross wind.
May 6th. The sixth day of my intentional boycott of anything Arizonia. Since haven't been in Arizona forty years, I am making the boycott retroactive. I am also retroactively not voting for John McCain.
Last week on my morning walk I noticed a trail of ants crossing the sidewalk. I thought they were back for permanent inspection but they were gone the next day and have not been back since. Ah, the mysteries of ants and mushrooms.
Ants, mushrooms and steam engines are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

This is a sampling of the photos I took at the Fullerton Railroad Festival in Brea. On the far left is a turntable and engine house to show the complexity of the trackage of the models. Next is the garden track with large gauge models to be run out of doors. Notice the people in the lower left for scale. No steam though. Third is a tiny model that although primitive, actually ran, switches and all. It's about 18 inches in the longest direction. Lastly is an HO gauge model of a street scene, people and all.
The book I am presently reading is "I Am A Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter. His first book was "Godel, Escher, Bach" about the scientific basis of consciousness. Daughter Deb gave me a copy of it forty years ago. I never finished it. Truth be told I wasn't ready yet. Anyway I recently purchased the new one on the recommendation of Amazon not making a connection but loving the title. It's interesting to see what forty years can do to the way one thinks.
Forty years are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

It doesn't get any better than this!

Another beautiful day in Fullerton. The easily identified train depot is a faithful reproduction of the Fullerton Depot. From the HO scale model at the Fullerton Railroad Festival in Brea. I'll drop brother Bob off there on the morrow when he visits.

The video is one more that I found that worked, sort of. It's only a few seconds long but check out the parachute drop model in the center of the circus. There is a parachute drop at Knotts Berry Farm that I pass quite frequently.
Model parachute drops are proof that we're all on this flight together

Dick

Another beautiful day in Paradise. This time with trains, all size models that ran. The exhibits filled two long blocks mostly with operating layouts. On the left is from the middle looking down on one of the streets. The large layouts were set with track running around the outside with 'operator' space inside. The outside track of one layout is on the right.

As an experiment I tried to use the camera in the video mode. After a lot of fooling around one turned out OK, sort of. But it works. Not exactly professional but we all have to start somewhere. Try it.
Circus models on a model train layout are proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

Guitars, banjos, mandolins and fiddles.

The Claremont Folk Festival was all I had hoped for and more. Guitars, banjos, mandolins and fiddles. There was even a Dobro and a dulcimer somewhere in there. Bluegrass and folk instruments make the music sweeter, the sunshine warmer, the grass greener and softer and the women better looking.
On the left is a photo of the stage and the surrounding space. Mottled sunshine shaded by those elegant trees. On the right is the first group I saw as I entered the festival. All accomplished instrumentalists and vocalists. And it was uphill from here. The biggest problem of the day was that the battery in the camera died about a half hour before the end of the festival. Not too bad considering.
Today is the second of the Fullerton train days in Brea, to which I intend to go. In the meantime remember...
Women bluegrass musicians are beautiful proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick

There's bluegrass in the air and entropy on my mind.

There's bluegrass in the air. But this week it's live at the Claremont Folk Festival. And I just found out that , The Santa Fe 3751, is making a run down the coast from LA to San Diego today and back tomorrow. I'd love to see it glide through Fullerton but I couldn't get a schedule on the Internet. The Santa Fe 3751is one grand hunk of steaming testosterone. Oh for the good old days. Maybe I can see her on the morrow.
It should be a great day for live music out doors. Sitting in the sunshine having been properly medicated, what a day it will be. I'm looking forward to it with great expectations.
I'm deep into the book on black holes, the most technically inclusive book I've read so far. But the good news is that I understand the chapter on entropy and black holes. Entropy finally has some meaning to me.
Or not.
I'm off to Claremont but remember...
Entropy is proof that we're all on this flight together.

Dick