Cal Thomas Has a Point

Posted on by Mike

Townhall.com::Are Republicans Kidding Us?::By Cal Thomas

House Republicans are being told by their leaders to run campaigns this fall on a platform of fiscal discipline that includes cutting spending. This from a party that has given us new entitlement programs resembling Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society; this from a party that has set new records in “earmarks” for pork barrel projects in their home districts and states; this from a party that under Ronald Reagan at least tried to eliminate the Department of Education, but under President Bush has thrown new money at it with no appreciable improvement in academic achievement.

What happened to the party of small government? How can the Republicans campaign on fiscal restraint? Is anyone laughing?

I am.

Known to the State of California

Posted on by Mike 2 Comments


Known to the State of California

Originally uploaded by MajorMike.

I had to laugh.

We were at Harris Ranch. A cool spot to eat between LA and Sacramento on I-5 in California. (They say “The Five” in CA). We stopped to eat and relax on our journey from Arcadia to San Jose. Here was this sign. I’d seen it before in California, but this time I had the camera.

I’m not sure why facilities in CA post these signs or what exactly they refer to (asbestos, mercury in the fish, global warming, contaminated Viagra), but I found the sign hilarious.

How can a state know anything? Scientists know, citizens know, people know, but implying a state knows is like saying, “a rock knows.” Jeepers, the State of Florida knows that drilling within 100 miles of the coast will destroy the tourist trade. Sheesh. It’s the citizens who know, or the experts in the state who know, or the legislators who think they know, but the state who knows?

Actually, those who require signs in the state of California who requred the warning sign I’m making fun of are serious about the risks they are warning about. Too bad they butcher the language in which the sign is written.

Ok, I’m a critic.

Just Married

Posted on by Mike 2 Comments


Just Married

Originally uploaded by MajorMike.

As promised, here is a follow-up to previous posts (Wedding a Huge Success and John and Cara), here is the newly wedded couple, John and Cara Erickson.

As you can see, the bride and groom dressed in Middle Eastern attire. The wedding was held at The Holly Street Bar & Grille, who specialize in “specialty” foods and entertainment. The meal was Middle Eastern and hughly delicious. I especially liked the parsley salad (I forget the real name for it).

It was a hot afternoon (I’m guessing about 98°F), but that didn’t wilt anyone’s spirit. The groom and best man wore knee lenght black jackets trimmed with a decorative border. The bride’s dress was breathtaking. It was custom made with all of those gold appliques.

And of course the real test of the success of a wedding is a yes answer to the following question: Did the bride and groom get married? Everything else is icing on the cake and this cake was well iced. I’m hoping that the parents of the groom have recovered as they spent lots of time and love in preparing for and bringing off the wedding.

Congratulations to Cara and John. May your marriage be blessed.

Los Baños

Posted on by Mike 1 Comment

On our recent trip to California, we drove by a town called Los Banos. When I was a kid we used to drive through it on the way to go fishing or to Yosemite. It’s pronounced Loss Baanos.

I never made the connection, probably because of the pronunciation and the city omits the tilde over the n, but it struck me funny when I realized it’s from one of the few Spanish phrases I know.

¿Donde es el baño? (Where is the toilet?)

Baño actually means bath. But call me wierd, I got tickled when I realized that it could mean “The Toilets”.

Great Friends

Posted on by Mike 3 Comments



Jack and Cheryl



Robert and Carolyn

What a great day. We were in Pasadena for my nephew’s wedding yesterday, more on that when we download photos, so we decided to visit our friends Jack and Cheryl and Robert and Carolyn whom we met on our Mexican Riveria cruise last January. Jack barbecued ribs, tri tip, and chicken, and Cheryl fixed corn on the cob, shish-ka-bob, guacamole and clam dip. Carolyn added a wonderful chicken salad.

We all stuffed ourselves and had a great time catching up. These folks are so much fun that when we left, not only were our stomachs full but our sides were aching from laughing so much.

All in all, it was a great day with great friends. Too bad we live on opposite sides of the country.