The Wandering Minstrel

Why California kids in this generation (usually) grow up to be inconsiderate assholes - it’s their inconsiderate asshole parents . . .

With the warning sign posted a mere five feet away, this California parent allows her brat to risk himself. Californians are getting as stupid and permissive as Eurotards.

Seen at the supermarket today. A 1959 Edsel Ranger, four door, powder blue with white trim. For a fifty year old car, it looked like new to me.

I remember when the Edsel first came out. I was visiting with my uncle in Colorado and he took me and my cousins to a tented showroom grand unveiling - or something like that. I remember that they were giving stuff away to us kids and little else except for the funny toilet seat-looking grill.

Clickable image credit - the Better Half.

Despite the Massachusetts referendum on healthcare reform on Tuesday, the Obamination fully intends to jam it down our throat (or up our collective ass - you choose the metaphor).

From Mark Alexander in the Patriot Post:

On Wednesday, 27 January, Barack Hussein Obama will deliver his first “State of the Union” speech as president, a self evaluation of his first year’s achievements.

Sprinkled between his infamous “let me be clear” or “make no mistake” introduction to his lies, he will, characteristically, attempt to spin a plethora of failures into something including these phony fallback phrases: back from the brink; signs of recovery; restored our reputation; achieved some successes; more work yet to do; fiscal restraint; greed on Wall Street; affordable health care; relief for working families; job creation.

He’ll also use the word “inherited,” as in “I inherited this mess.” He’ll speak of “unprecedented” reforms or achievements or challenges. And he’ll mention “those who seek to do us harm,” but he won’t dare utter the term “Islamic terrorists.” [more]

Image: a sneering Obama sending America his very best “Screw You.”

We left Arizona this morning to head back home. One of our rest stops was at the Patton Museum, located along Interstate 10 at Chiriaco Summit. We walked the dog, stretched our legs and took some pictures. We were in the museum a few years ago, but not today. I promised the Better Half we would visit Joshua Tree National Park when the flowers are in bloom in the springtime. Since the museum is near the road into the park, we will visit the museum then, when we have a little more time.

Meanwhile enjoy this clickable image of General Patton, realized in bronze and bird shit (the artist did not provide the latter).

Clickable image: T-38 Talons on Flatbeds

Last week, I posted about seeing aircraft being hauled on flatbed trucks. In the comments to the article, DrJim and I speculated about the destination for the Talons. We thought either a rich collector or perhaps a museum like Pima Air Museum in Tucson.

Today, the Better Half snapped another photo of a third Talon on a flatbed (bottom) in the same location we saw the first two. The two at the top, each with a different tail number, were headed out last week.

I now speculate that the Talons are headed for the Davis-Monthan “Boneyard,” in Tucson, AZ. There are a couple of places near Tucson that aircraft are ‘mothballed’ after their service life. Davis-Monthan and Pinal Airpark in Marana. The former is used for military aircraft while the latter for retired commercial airliners and such. Since this is the third military T-38 Talon that we have seen near I-10 in Arizona, I now strongly suspect that Davis-Monthan is the destination.

We had these delicious New York Strip Steaks for supper last evening. They were easy to prepare - just spread extra virgin olive oil on the steaks before applying salt and pepper to taste. I tossed them on the portable grill after spreading the previously ignited briquettes under the cooking area. Cooked them with the lid closed for 12-15 minutes each side.

The Better Half made up a couple of salad bowls with romaine lettuce and sliced tomatoes, tossed in balsamic dressing. The steaks were pink and juicy and the salad was crisp and delicious. Very happy camping, indeed.

Clickable image.

From what I can tell, this is a Russian-built Ural. I was walking the dog this morning when the ‘cycle passed on the way into the gate of the RV park where we’re camped. I would rather post a front-side shot, but the riders didn’t pause long enough at the gate.

I looked up Ural on Wikipedia, and, judging from the condition of this rig and it’s olive drab paint job, this may be a World War Two relic. These have been in production since 1941 and still in production today.

Clickable image.

Watching Football at the moment, so this is a non-verbose post.

We ran out to do some errands today, when we saw this biker pass us on the road. Clickable image to see the DEA message on his shirt.