It's the little things that make us happy.

I went to the Santa Barbara County Fair yesterday with my wife and daughter and a friend she had whom I’ve never met before. Our son was already there as he is a participant in one of the biggest unknown youth boondoggling’s of our community, which is to mean – he’s there to sell his hog. After having lived in this County all my life, this is actually only the second time I’ve paid to get through the gate. It was early in the afternoon and the crowds were minimal, just the way we like it. Handed off some cash to the kid and off they went. Monica and I ventured toward the livestock side, giving us a chance for perusing all the fine fair delicacies exorbitantly priced. Corn on the cob for $5? What are we in Paris?  We arrive to the Farm section and thankfully the weather was sunny and clear with the typical cool afternoon ocean breezes perfect for pushing away the strong odors of the animal barns, leaving behind just enough to the sensory to remind you that you’re actually in an animal barn.


Within and surrounding these buildings is a hodgepodge of affiliates that covered the whole human spectrum: toddlers, kids, teenagers, adults and elderly. Some playing cards, some sweeping the floors (barn duty it’s called), some teenage romancing clearly in play, some old timers roaming the pens to look at the stock, and mostly parents just being with their kids. I found it fascinatingly interesting for a weekday afternoon. And every animal barn was the same. There was a barn for pigs, a barn for bovine, a barn for lambs, a barn for all things poultry that included rabbits and some other cute creature that looked like a guinea pig, and then a barn for goats. These last two I think were my favorite. The First three barns featuring the larger animals were nothing more than Death Row visits to each of the species. Not that I have anything against Rib Eyes, or bacon, it’s just that seeing the pictures at each stall with the kid that was raising them and that animal together – I couldn’t help but feel the falseness of it all. They don’t love them really do they? And if they did – how weird! My innate cynicism and the fact that my son doesn’t play that fake lovey dovey game – being true to the business side of this event leads me to think all they really just want is to get paid. But who am I to judge that a picture means love, and what the hell do I know about fair general principals and guidelines anyways?


I found a true peacefulness in the poultry and goat barns for perhaps reasons of non-violence. With the exception of the turkeys and maybe some of the rabbits –none of these creatures were going to have to spill blood in the near future. There is something therapeutic in watching chickens cluck and be, and for me especially, in looking at roosters. I had no idea how diverse, and handsome they can be. One Polish variety had this grey afro so salient, I envisioned seeing him signing his name at the bottom of our Constitution. Another - - looked as if somewhere back in it’s lineage they mated with a leopard since it’s spots and colors on the feathers were identical. The leghorns kept making me laugh thinking of course about Looney Tunes –“I say, I say, hey boy…..you’s all mixed up like a feather in a whirlwind.”


The goat barns at first gave me fear because Monica is so enamored with them right now, starting way before this fair, that I expect to see one or two when I get home anytime. But this gave her a chance to show me why and suddenly I couldn’t help but get what she is meaning. There are these Nigerian kind, that are solely for milking. They are small and adorable. Dammnit!!!! I love adorable. And I yearn to taste goats milk again –stemming back to my childhood daycare provider who made me drink and subsequently fall in love with ice cold goats milk.


So now we’ve gone through one of the major elements of this fair, we cruised the other cool parts that I forget are part of each and every fair across America – which are the art and food submittals. We looked at exhibits of jams, what struck out was a canned apple in red hot cinnamon sauce win 2nd’ place. There was a table setting arrangement contest. Artfully done photographs categorized of local landscape scenes, animals and miscellaneous venues. They showed a Scrapbook contests which notably covered a ladies trip to Catalina (1st place) and some kids trip to Disney land. They were amazing scrapbooks. Quilts were shown and judged, as were cookies, cakes and pies. All this stuff made me really happy. It made me remember about the truth in that happiness really resides in the small things that matter most, and in the attempt to try and do and hopefully “win.” I’m not one who subjects himself to being judged very often and I’m happy that others are.

Who Care's:

One of my favorite Lyrics from Beck: "Lost Cause"

There's too many people you used to know
They see you coming they see you go
They know your secrets and you know theirs
This town is crazy; nobody cares

In four sentences - this pretty much exemplifies life living in any village. The village can be small, like the one I live in.

"If I had to choose my place of birth, I would have chosen a state in which everyone knew everyone else, so that neither the obscure tactics of vice nor the modesty of virtue could have escaped public scrutiny and judgment." Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Dicourse on the Origin of Inequality. (1754)

If you don't care knowing that they know - then who in the fuck really cares about anything. We should wear our lives on our sleeves and hold no secrets. Easier said than done though.

One of my best days EVER! Meeting No. 82.

I take these words seriously. You know one's happening when you cant stop grinning for hours on end. Then they keep occuring, for days, weeks and months later. Unassisted by anyother influence than that moment. Of feeling child like, true joy splattered throughout yourself - the immensity of the happiness.

It started with a call from a friend last friday (4/8/2001). Not an acquaintance. Only a real friend would do what he did for me this day.

Through my restaurant "Twin Oaks" I've got to meet all sorts of people. Customers, purveyors, and the passin through. Mike W., whom I am referring, to was a passin through. He's a semi driver for multiple fast food joints. Four years ago, fate decided for him to stop by my place and check us out. Long story short, he and I got along great from the start. He'd hang out with me in the BBQ room and Inoticd within the bullshitin, conversating with him was really without effort. It seemed like we'd known eachother forever. Thats not always the case i have with folks. I can be cordial withmost even though typycally most folks annoy me. But with Mike, I could tell I had a felow whose comapny I really, truly, honestly, enjoyed. Didn't hurt that he began to occasionaly chuck over my fence cases of free groceries that the chain stores wouldn't use, nor miss. Also an easiness came from the topic of golf serving as a catalyst for conversation no doubt. But it felt for me as I had a true mentoring soul sharing with me, and that I need to listen yet be myself and share with him my side, my soul, openly - and thats hard. This is something that has occured frequently with me all my life. My ability to appreciate my elders and listen to the wisdom that they are willing to share with me.

Anyways, he calls me up Friday evening, just before I leave to work the dinner service, and he says in words that I needed repeating from him. I then heard him clearly, that John Taylor #82 was gonna come over for dinner to my place to eat tonight. That he told him to come by, that we had really good food. I started to panic. I wondered, "How's Mike know John Taylor?" But it didn't matter, cause if Mike said he's comin, I know he's really coming. Mike knows I'm a lifelong Niner fan, so he he recommended our place to him. I"m feeling giddy - feeling strang. True excitement, sadly absent since childhood.

I've met many famous people in my life. John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Anson Williams (Potsie from Happy days), Steve Martin, James Cameron, Dennis Franz, Jackson Browne, Kelly Slater, Tom Curren, Kelly Lebrock, Bo Derek, Yvonne De' Carlo, Matt LeBlanc, and Melissa Ethridge. Got the "giddy" only out of meeting Travolta (I was 8), and Hackman when I was 10. hackman ate in my folks restaurant which was right next to the Granada Theater on State Street, downtown SB. He lleft the restaurant and I ran after him and I summoned the courage to ask if he was really Lex Luthor, in which he patted me kindly on the head and said laughingly.."yes." Fast forward 20 years, with word of Taylor coming _ I was taken back to those younger, happiest years you can remember where you felt inside.... that happy about something.

John Taylor. One of the most prolific compliment wide receivers of all time on a team that was the most amazing success stories of all time. John Taylor, known for all to be the one that caught the game winning TD catch from Montana with less than a minute left in SuperBowl XXXIII. The man is a legend. To say that i was honered for him to eat in my place would an absolute understatement. Words cant describe how much a fan of him I am. I liked his style a lot. His speed, his skill, I appreciated his willingness to be underappreciated in some ways. Terrel Owens couldn't do this while #80 was on the other side, but his gifts were super special as well. It's magnitude of ego that seperate those two.

So with John comin in friday night, I broke the rule when dealing with celebrities. I got excited and euphoric. All just to meet another man. Weird kind of. But it was true happy emotion I had in me, and all the other employees could draw positive energy from it. He's a bonna fide hero to me. I'm stoked right now just writing about it and recalling it.

He at our semi famous baby back ribs, and his lovely companion Kim had a 5 oz. filet mignon. I doubt they've ever this good of food cooked over red oakwood coals. They ate everyting off the plate. A great indicator they liked it. meanwhile, I was texting a Bay area buddy of mine that "John Taylor isa eatin baby back ribs in my place as we speak".

There's no person ever that has eaten food in my place that i wanted to please more. I feel like I have reached a pinnacle. Just by meeting a man that worked hard, took advantage of his being at the right place at the right time playing the with the gifts that humanity gave him. Then after the stardom, livin like any other man by driving a big rig to stay busy and outta the house. Staying low key, still wanting to go on being productive. I have immense respect for this kind of person, let alone a celebrity. I will always appreciate hard work, low ego, and making it on your own.

Its been a long time since a post

but I thought of this Nursery rhyme I used to read to Adrianna every night when I looked up at tonights magnifecentley clear and crispy cool night: Its as close to religious as I will ever be.

Written By: Unknown
Copyright Unknown

I see the moon, the moon sees me
The moon sees somebody I want to see
God bless the moon and God bless me
And God bless the somebody I want to see.

It seems to me that God above
Created you for me to love
He picked you out from all the rest
To be the one that I loved best.

I had a heart 'twas true and good
But now it's gone from me to you
Take care of it as I have done
Cause you have two and I have none.

End of the Legend:

What a shitty way for Favre to go down:; I'm still in shock of seeing him throw that pick just before OT. I hate second guessing, but the Vikes got fucked today. Speaking of Vikes---o'l Brett may want to reconsider getting back on them tonight and tomorrow. He got pulverized today. Even if they won, not sure how he would be able to play in two weeks. I mean I'm 38 and I am soar from working in a kitchen.

Here comes another Monday. Ho Hum.

AFC Championship, NFL - predictions:

It's kickoff time with the Jets / Colts game: -- I'm thinking today could be an upset---but in reality, the Colts will win.

Any one miss this guy?

Murderer.

So Now What:

Coakley loses. I can hear the Fox News Channel now - schedenfreuding for months. Fearmongering Tea Baggers. They are idiots and I think I border line hate them. It doesn't hurt that a horrid, lazy, prima donna candidate did all she could to earn this - against a damn handsome (yeah I said it) Tea peddling Carpet Bagger that had a good debate. He took advantage of a populace that orders their steak cooked medium. Medium temp is the "I don't really know where I stand" order. As a cook - it tells me the customer has a variying tolerable band width. Some like it red with juice, some with no juice, rosy, pink, .....it is a declaration of indecision - and we keep voting like that. We dont know what we want, but our state of the art, fast food eating culture mind set tells us we want it right now. After only a year - we want Change to come faster? Things are getting done, and thats not good enough. Fuck You Curt Schilling -

Stewart nailed it last night - Republicans can declare wars, torture, and now we know KILL people without trial having only 40 Senators! Sad. Our first Playgirl Senator. The Dam has burst on firsts after Obama - that's for sure.

I'm gonna watch War Games now -- that's a classic fear monger movie that will make me feel good. Take me to Defcon 4.

The perfect Example:

SO my review of Avatar as posted below was (sneezing) "ahhhh.....ahhhh....RIIIIP OFFFFFchoooo"

I was not alone when while watching I thought this was blatant copyright infringement of Pocohantas -- and Dances with Wolves and obviously, The Matrix. So what -- is this Bad???

Others have connected it to FernGully as well. I saw that only a couple of times. Adrianna was way more into Pocohontas (viewed 379 times now and counting thanks to Julia)


Well thanks to the genius of real artists, that are actually creative and unique -- we can see that -it's pretty bad. I hope Cameron gets his ass sued off.....not that I'm bitter ( I thought Terminator is a a top 20 of all time)

Misc.

So during our trip to Reno I took the kids to the movies. Hayden and I saw Avatar cause I sure couldn't stomach Alvin in The Squeakle. First off I was bummed because it wasn't a 3d theater. As I'm watching the movie, I noticed how predictable and familiar the story was. At once I caught it --- the perfect hybrid James Cameron flick, inclusive were dazzling special effects and a retreaded fool proof, data proofed recipe. The pitch from the minion that will later be superbly ripped of by Cameron and his ebony armored contract, sounds like this "Jim - we'll make it a Pocohantas meets Dances with Wolves wrapped inside The Matrix, but set into another world." Jim says " Is there any ocean in that other world?" "Of course Jim - we can give you an ocean---it'll be just like earth, like one big American Earth, but before white people." "---oohh, I like that world - maybe I could take the submarine out for a cruise there." " Its not a real ocean, Jim - it will be in an animated one" - "I can't wait to take a swim" ---"OMFG!

Other:
The sickness of cable news is disheartening. I'm pretty sure though, after being around other humans in large bunches---no one is paying attention to it. Only in-laws that disagree with your philosophy of life.

Richard Wolffe, frequent guest pundit on MSNBC, looks like the bad alien, Galaxar, in Monsters vs. Aliens. They were both, very, very smart.

Wes Welker can be replaced.

Rush Limbaugh is not a healthy man.

I want to reneg on my promise to myself to not pay for another piece of shit XBox 360. Im jonesing for some XBox.

How to get rid of terrorist flying on your plane: The up and coming Muslim only Airline industry. No taking off shoes, cash only, no detectors or security. They should have their own: Ackbar Airlines? 31 Virgin Airlines? For all "westernized airlines" the only security check would be a video of your facial expression as you watch the ticket agent spit on a Kuran, hold up a placard picture of Mohammed getting fucked up the ass by George Bush, then hold up a picture of the Twin Towers. If they turn red, then suddenly smirk----they get bumped to the muslim airline.

Better Ways To Pay

The hot topic is Health Care. Why does this come as such a surprise, when after all during the campaign this is all we really heard from the umpteen different candidates and how they would tackle the unanimously agreed upon problem. Romney's solution was to make it the same as Massachusetts form, which he takes credit for of course. McCains solution was to stop his candidacy to help solve the economic crisis. Clintons was to force feed health care down every ones throat no matter what. Obama's was to provide a government option---so that its affordable for anyone who wants it. Who won again?

I have a great health care plan. I work for the government. I also own a business and have employees that work really hard, for meager pay, and are living without the safety net of a health care plan. It is unconscionable that the wealthiest nation on earth can not provide affordable health care insurance for hard working taxpayers. Long term strategy for American fiscal solvency has got to reform health care, social security, and defense spending. This is a three headed hydra that needs to be beheaded and the melted wax poured on top. First head- health care. If Americans are so distraught that this is going to cost our grand kids grand kids forever-- I would like to provide some solutions to pay for it right here, right now:

Some of my ideas on better ways to pay for health care:

1.) Spoils of war. Romans didn't conquer half of the known world just to spread the rule of law and Western democratic ideals. They did it for profit. Wasn't this (oil) supposed to be the method of rebuilding Iraq? Well that's what our boy Paul Wolfowitz told a Congressional panel on March 27, 2003. That's part of what the Bushies lead us to believe on how this was going to be paid for. I think we should follow through on that promise. Estimates sourced here estimate production at about 1.5 to 3.5 million barrels per day. Take the middle, multiply by 0.25 (because 4:1 is only fair) you come up with about 688,000 barrels of oil per day comin our way. At roughly $60 per barrel that would be $41,250,000 PER DAY, retribution of freedom tax. A small price to pay really - for the ability to tell your government to fuck off without going to jail.

2.) Sell Alaska. For Obvious reasons, partly including Palin. Normal commercial sales use a simple formula of about 5 times the gross revenue. 2005 census figures> Alaska G.D.P. is $39,314,000,000. Five times would garner a tidy intake of $1.9657E+11. For you non engineers E to the anything is 10 X the following number. This state is worth damn near $2 trillion. Get rid of it.


3.) Get rid of that goddamn adventure pass program. I pay my federal taxes. I should be able to enjoy National Forest without having to pay an additional fee to park on the side of the road to take my son fishing. Estimated savings? Who cares-- its wrong, and I think they need to get rid of it.


4.) And maybe the most realistic of all of them: Eliminate the Employer Sponsored Insurance (ESI) Exclusion: Explained simply here --- I don't really know how much this will save---but I have the benefit of my health plan being reduced off of my taxable income. All government employees get this, and I think its wrong to not be included as income. Anyone off the street would have to pay for a plan with after tax income. This is a matter of fairness, and I would not be opposed to paying more for a plan that most people cannot obtain.

Letting them go_

I heard this lady talk on the radio today, and she made sooo much sense to me. I like the way she thinks and I felt validated that her research has given me power to tell my neighbor friend worry wart down the street that she is a freak when it comes to overprotection of her kids. Freerange mommy has the right idea. Let them go and be kids. She has all the statistics, and this world is no different, if not a bit safer than the one we grew up in.

SOLVANG_A quaint little drinking village with A Danish problem

As a Senior in high school, I had a Civics class that was taught by your run of the mill public school tenured, Vietnam Flashbacking psycho son of a bitch weirdo who combo'd as a metal hucking ( I still have the scar)welding teacher. I liked Dave Smith, and I still do to this day, and I love calling him Dave now---not Mr. Smith.

So in this class, we were broken up into three groups to represent the three staple government systems-Communism, Socialism, and Capitalism: Each group was supposed to present the best case that each was the way to go. This was 12th grade non prep Civics. Most in the class had to leave early to pick up their kids, or go to English as a second language tutoring - so as not to provide an unrealistic backdrop for the following story. Which is that I was so convincing in my presentation to the class that Socialism, on paper, is the best economic system of the three for the following reasons. 1.) Private property rights exist, therefore capitalism exists. 2.) Medical benefits, good education yada, yada. 3.) Drinking age is non existent. BOOM! Come time to vote, Socialism won in a landslide.!! It drove Dave absolutely insane that I convinced the class for Socialism. I remember the day fondly.

Fear of something that we kinda are right before our feet - Socialist I mean(think public school, libraries, National Parks, National Forest, Postal Service, Medi-care, Social Security, roads, bridges, etc, etc.) is the flavor to pitch from the right now. Hannity will never conced that Capitalists need control, of themselves- period. But even with all his Obama Socialism bashing, 99.79 percent of America's corporations are not owned by the U.S. government. No matter what that douche bag Glenn Beck says, its not true, we are not going to be a nation of complete state controlled industry. This includes all this B.S. going on with GM. If you think that then you think small. Bottom line is we are not giving up on our constitutional clause of the "right to prosper." What we want is to live as good a life as we can within our priorities I think. Which brings me to Solvang.

Solvang, to me, is the epitome of Socialism. Denmark was not socialist at the time of their settlement in the Santa Ynez valley. But socialist theory was a large movement underground, and most likely, they just got the hell outta Dodge, chuck all the war mongering, and to build themselves a better life -- like all immigrants do. They bring with them one crucial element, which is their highly clarified sense of community. They know what that really is. Similar minded through heritage and probably religion, they now rule both sides of the corner of the monopoly board colored yellow and green. I could never imagine a group of new age settlers, say in Palmdale, or something, do anything like it again. Developers would have to provide that cheesy American home dream/ strip mall feel for them. Not these Danes---they want something, they all go out together, work their asses off during the day, get drunk at night, so on and so forth until the task is done. They build, they bank, they feed, and they party. Not afraid to argue,serious people with the hardest heads, almost mulelike stubborn, but overall surging toward the common goal which was to build a town the way they wanted to see it. And today, it is one of the most traveled to destinations in California. That's socialism to me. They personally made well for themselves AND they made well for their entire community with this formation of a Danish Village in the middle of Spanish, American territory. Amazing.

What I think __

How about a food t.v. program that is more like Cooks vs. Chefs? How about a different kind of Top Chef? One where you see them eat normal food--- that isn't consisting of pureed monk fish curdled inside a waffle cone sprinkled with beluga caviar on top. RALPH! I say to you Mr. Thomas Keller, of the famed French Laundry Restaurant in Napa with all of your wonderful genius, will never an opportunity arise for me to try your stuff - your out of reach for mere mortals like me.. There are fantastic cooks everywhere, that love what they do. It is true that some produce slop, but some produce really great slop! I think of the South and all the ways to BBQ, and I think of the Pacific Northwest with some of the best seafood imaginable, and the central mountains with the game choices available---these are not culinary trained people, but homestyle aficionado's that know how to please people. Anthony Bourdain has made a killing traveling around exploiting these treasures. Plus - I think some really funny folk reign in kitchens around America, and the World. You have to be happy right?---You're always warm, there's great food everywhere around you, and drink --- and usually very beautiful company to talk to. Chefs vs. Cooks is what I would call it. I'd think that there would have to be judges that are a realistic sampling of our red/blue nation, meaning some pretty well to do's to the down home blue collars. And it would make better T.V.

Bankruptcy Court: A range of real legitimate Broken Heartedness to sheer amazement of grand scale greed and recklessness. I just had a friend go through it, and she told me the stories of what she saw. Without ever having been to watch, which I now will put on my to-do list, I can imagine so easily the variety of tales there are to be told. That stuff would be interesting for anyone to watch I'd assume. Put that in your stats! my boy Stevie would say!

Or how about a better ad campaign to Stop The Idiots that open unsolicited emails with hidden viral's, that then go on to infect ..you know....the rest of the WORLD? Morons?? I think there's about a dozen hidden trojan.zbots. in my computer watching me type right now even. Or how about a computer that doesn't get viruses? Oh yeah, they have one---and there called Mac's----is what they tell me. I seriously think that's bullshit--open an email whether it's Mac or P.C. and>>>>POOF!!>>>>> The "Cyberchainmail Bodacious 2000_Conficker Worm> " has infected your, and all your Facebook friends, and all of their facebook Friends, and so on, and so on. ---"Fucking Shalhoob"_ I've seen enough jokes OKAY?

Or how about a credit card processing center that puts the swiped money into your account___immediately! For me as a restaurant owner, I have to wait about two or three days to get my settlement money. This includes tips that I have to pay out to servers__so I'm money short in two ways, the check, and the tip, for over two fucking days~! I can do a test, that I'm sure will be true, and that would be to go to the corner liquor store at 8:50 a.m. and swipe purchase an L.A Times, a Lotto ticket, and a mini bar size Johnny Walker Red - and at 9:03 A.M. when I go back to my office and check my account online, that money is posted and ga, ga, ga, GONE! They take the money immediately, but that poor small business owner waits three days sometimes to get my $7.25. This is a sham, because for almost three days, they can play that money on the stock market, or some AIG -scandal ridden Credit Default Swap game for two days---a lifetime in high finance these days, blow it all, and come up with a way to get that $7.25 to the store owner. Bullshit. Create a method where they get paid just as fast as the cock suckers take it out. It can be done.

Which of these ideas shall I work on?___or maybe I'm just high and won't act on any of it? Any thoughts or comments?

Limbo

Since I almost got hammered by an oncoming semi this morning in some bullshit traffic control setup on San Marcos Pass -- I immediately snapped into a contemplative mood.....again. This seems to happen to me all the time. Which is why I am reading the book I am.

So my reading of the 4 - Hour Workweek is progressing along okay, and here's some of my thoughts along the way so far:

I truly think the author, Tim Ferris has some methods, and thinking points that fit well with me. Things like simplification, elimination, thinking in the opposite such as - " I really don't have to wait for some fictitious point to make my move--some bogus mark set that when reached, triggers some radical life changing milestone. Work for works sake is his phrase that captures the lameness of having the need to be busy all the time. I get it--I really do, on what is being said.

However - hard work never hurt anyone. People scam their lives away thinking of better mousetraps to avoid the work--in the process of making the superior trap - the work increases ten fold, when the simple o'l spring loaded bait and pin model works so efficiently! Working smart is the key - we know that as obvious - but easier said than done. The key element for me to achieving the dream life is to quit worrying about what other people like, and to focus on what I like. Be smart, be responsible. I've done pretty good so far in my life with minor lapses in discipline - And I have accomplished a lot, which I am proud of. I just can't be fearful of change anymore---nobody's going to eat me once I make my move toward achieving my lifestyle by design.

What I really don't like is Boredom and this is where I am. This is my Limbo. I have to change my life, or else I will go even more insane. So what the book is teaching me so far is -- firstly, define what do you want? For me the answer to this question is simple. I want more time. The most valued treasure on earth. It is finite, it is dynamic, and it is oh so precious. So how am I going to get there? A lifestyle with more free time to do what I want to do -- enjoy my family, do exciting and challenging things - and never ever have to be anywhere I don't want to be. So I say this as I sit at work today analysing a set of plans 100 sheets thick for some Isla Vista road project - page after page of monotonous insignificant construction notes, 124 ADA approved wheelchair ramps, decorative concrete crosswalks, road signage everywhere all on 2 dimensional prints in a 3 dimensional world. Sheet after sheet of traffic control plans, mind numbingly complex for the sole purpose of minimum inconvenience to the traveling public---UGHHHHHHHHHH!!

I am starting thinking about that truck that I'm kinda of hoping next time does hit me unless I get the fuck out of this trap - I would deserve it for lack of a set of balls.

This should not be only in the imagination of any man, let alone a husband and a father: Having breakfast every morning with your family, taking your kids to school, heading to the tennis courts for a morning match with some mates, having a nice lunch at the beach, playing music, playing with the kids, helping the homework, eating with your family, then chilling out in the garage with a fat bowl of your best output from the agriculture project in the back green house writing, reading or chilling - then to make sweet passionate love to your partner. Everyday, with replaceable action events that me and my wife like to do. I would have the chance to surf when its good, to cook when I want, to live out all the things I want to do and accomplish ----which is not infinite, but not a short list either.

Life is too short to be bored. Time is always ticking away, but I can't see it as a race against the clock for the sole purpose is to really and truly stop and smell the roses. I love roses, and ganja. I just have to learn to stop.

Or maybe Tim Ferris just wrote the book to make a ton of money and all that stuff I've read so far is a scam? People hating their jobs is no brain challenge of being popular? The topic is an easy seller to the masses for sure - who knows? All I know is I like it so far.

Grievances

This is a joke ....right? --How sad are some people? Ok -=--Simeon is cute, but what is he..err 5? 6? maybe even 4? -- How do you justify posting your child on a web page entitled Sexy People??/ What about the mentality of thinking " I'm Sexy, yeah, and i know it.....and I want the world to know it, so i'm going to post my portrait too.....with all those other Sexy People!"

Maybe they really are sexy, but just not in appearance per say. I am a true believer that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I watched "Shallow Hal" too...... I get it, and I am not a "Shallow Hal," BELIEVE ME those are secrets that will die with me.

Pretty funny looking web site....hate doing the laughing at someone else's expense. What am I saying---No I Don't-- I like laughing at other peoples expense-----These are RETARDS posting their UNSEXINESS to a page Titled SEXY! Funny shit---

Appraisers--------Get a rope....

After reading today's L.A> Times A1 article , it donned on me that one key industry which has gone completely unnoticed and almost completely unaccountable for participating in blowing the housing bubble to an unsustainable pressure is the Appraisal Industry. When everyone is saying what the "value" is - they mean the results this occupation concludes with. . How do you not believe it (the "value") when an accredited professional comes to your house - spends one hour measuring the rooms, 20 minutes listing the amenities, and another hour on the computer listing regional com-parables - to tell you YES--your house is worth what the mortgage broker / real estate agent needs it to be worth in order to meet the loan to value requirements the lender may have set? Of course your going to believe it. But it was all bullshit as we all know. and of course they get paid at least a four digit fee for a little more than 2 hours worth of work It was what we call a racket.

In the end, the market determines the value, obviously -- what something is worth is always contingent on what someone is willing to pay. Simple market principle. Com parables are what they are, and if a new buyer next door paid X for a house similar to yours, that is fair to say your house is in the ballpark of X. But what happened at the peak of this bubble was an upward dynamic of appraising so that when the new buyer bought in September lets say, the value of your house 5 months later was value X plus Y since so much time was going by and the market was red hot. That's where we got into trouble, a frenzied mess of overinflated appraisals, time dependent and absolutely thoughtless. Timber, nails, and concrete cost what they cost - how does the value then jump threefold in a span of five years?? It doesn't, but we didn't know any better. We believed it what they told us, and we acted foolishly in that exuberance - no doubt.

So now nearly one third of California homeowners are too deep "under water" with their home mortgages which thereby disqualifies them from the Obama admin plan of 105 percent loan to value solution -- Question is how are we ever going to trust the appraised value? It appears to me that the pressure will be back on this industry to fudge the numbers once again in order for qualifications to be made. What do you do to know the true "value" without actually putting your house on the market?

What a corrupt fucking mess this is.

2 ways to make Newspapers solvent:

Rocky Mountain News, a paper that I have never read in my life, is out of the game after 150 years, longer than Colorado has been a state. Sad. 200 layoffs, pictures of employees crying, real problems for real people. And there's a shitpot more that are on the edge of the cliff - San Fran, Seattle, L.A., Chicago. My take is they deserve it like the auto industry. They had poor vision, bad management, bloated budgets, egos, and primma donnas. But two key issues that happened, in my opinion, is one of the key reasons they are going belly up.

(A.) Gary Larsen retired, and took the genius of The Far Side with it and (B.) They let Craigslist come in to their prime ground---their community which should be their world, and get ruled in every kinkily contorted way.

Easy Board Meeting agenda in any one of therse companies; a simplistic, break down to rudiments is in order, some mind clearing, and you should arrive to the only fucking question that should really matter-----Why do people buy the newspaper? If you think it is because of great International/National correspondents reporting by way of elegant writing and prose ~ I think that's wrong. Granted, a big generation of 30 somethings up to the oldest of the old, within their wits read the paper everyday - faithfully, for actual news. But that's obviously not enough. The nation is loaded with way more people that don't really fucking care about Istanbul, California Water Rights, etc...They want The Far Side Back. They Want Calvin and Hobbs back they want something quick and funny to read while they're taking a shit (mainly men), but the truth really to be told is that a lot of us like the kinky shit most of all. And that's where they let Craigslist outflank, outmaneuver and then destroy their monopoly on the classifieds. Its like seeing Wile E. Coyote hose himself again, and again. He always tried to get too smart with that stupid stringy bird.


---Sadly, we don't have a great cartoonist and comedic genius commensurate with the masses present mood bringing the non newser types to pay up. And they are definitely not capturing the attention defecit full free minds of young kids, who could be running to the paper machine, plopping down the quarters ( or as I would do it, fist pump the coin return and pop the lid and grab one for free---they fixed that model in 82 I believe-- some are still around) trash all the lame stuff, like The News, and get to the cartoon pages. If cartoons aren;'t working, and no way is a 12 year old going to like Dilbert...or even come close to understand Doonesberry, then they should create something to get their attention--like a hip voice sending out an X-Box 360 codec program that does some trick thing that you never knew you could do before. A geek column aimed at 4th graders to fortysomethings. Whatever-----get the kids then plus to the papers again. Persoanlly, I miss Heatcliff the most.

Second---When you have a city, and a paper, the Classifieds used to be the most important reason to buy the damn thing for a majority of people. I dont have any statistics, but I know I'm right --- there are a lot of unaware people out here, trying to survive, but most importantly be happy. The classifieds can make a lot of people, within the same community, very happy. Business owners, tradespeople, buyers and sellers---its a real market place, with potentially the best deals available. When newspapers started going online , they fucked up mostly with the no knowledge of best effective use of their classifieds page. Hindsight being twenty/twenty - The beauty of Craigslist is (A.) It's free,and (B.) it's bare bones simplicity. Their shit gets right to the point of what you want, or are looking for. They smoked local newspapers outta the game with one simple ass software program. They should have all the same weird shit in their classifieds that the indepenent journal rags have in them to. We'd get a kick outta reading the Writing styles of SWM Seeking BWFM. Its the way of the world - used tires and chinese massage. Focus on that better, and you'll have a chance.

And a final bonus tip. Lower your damn fees for placing a help wanted ad or work wanted in your damn paper. Paying $300 for 2 weeks is well....weak. Obviously people are going to place those ads where they get a lot of viewership, and Craigslist owns it right now. Its become a euphemism, like Google and TiVO. -- but not as an action more as a noun---something fixed to the ground within your neighborhood. More viewers - more ad money (but make the ads small and non intervening). Lower the fucking fee for the hardcopy, and provide the free online ad. There, was that so hard? Pay me, I'm available.

A bad trip---and an anonymous hero

Last night at about 6:30 I saw the big Fire Engine race through town with the lights on. Not so much an unfamiliar sight, being the 101 freeway right next door induces several calls per month by Station 14 here in Los Alamos locally---but I knew something went down pretty bad because I could hear more sirens coming from the freeway while in the back BBQ room cooking for customers.

I had no idea this accident would be this bad.

I mourn for them deeply. I can see the tree that they hit with the bark peeled off - but not so much appearing for so much destruction. I can see the tire marks of where they went off the road. I visualize what it might have been like in the vehicle and how fast something like this can occur -- a moment away from your surrounding, a drift into the soft grassy median, a panicked twitch in the muscles that causes a fatal over correction the opposite direction - then an instantaneous stop from a high speed upon hitting an old thick tree. Mother fucker....----So much Life gone --so quick and sudden.

A blip of light in the story is the hero that saved the driver. An anonymous witness that ran to the fire consumed car amid the dead bodies and blood, to pull out the sole survivor - the driver. A real act of bravery is inside all of us I hope, which I hope to never have to exercise in any way such as this - but to that hero, I would like to know your name, buy you dinner and talk to you about how you're doing.


I will never take my life for granted. I will hold and love my family everyday ever stronger. I will not be afraid to kiss my son on the face or tell my daughter to slow down and be careful----even though it sounds like a broken record. Keep your eyes on the road and your surroundings constantly--because of real accidents like this - an avoidable one.

I'm going to have to try this.

Bone marrow anyone? I've had it once and it was delicious. This is a great article to prepare. from Ruhlman's blog How To Prepare Bone Marrow