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What did Logan do?

I can't figure out these street signs in Santa Ana. They say "Don't litter Logan." Who is Logan, and why is Logan being singled out? The place isn't called Logan. I don't know any Spanish word like logan. What is it?
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Tuesday Travel Photo (No. 228)

This is a closeup of the dorsal fin of a dolphin that seemed to be following us earlier this month off the shore of Santa Catalina Island, during our cruise from San Diego to Catalina and Ensenada.

The reason it looks so close is because it was so close.

He Doesn't Always Drink Beer,

I hope The Most Interesting Man in the World hasn't been affected by this swine flu outbreak. I like that guy.

Tuesday Travel Photo (No. 227)

I took this photograph in Glacier Bay. I believe this is the Diamond Princess rolling into Glacier Bay, with us sailing away from the Margorie Glacier and heading toward the Lamplugh Glacier and Johns Hopkins Glacier. Glacier Bay currently features 16 glaciers, 4 of which do not extend all the way to the water, including the one in the background here.

Back when the American colonists were contemplating independence from Great Britain, this 65-mile long fjord was still a single massive glacier thousands of feet thick. If Al Gore is right, they'll be growing grapes here in another 50 years.

Here's a Thought

Why couldn't God have made it so that sins were like calories, and good deeds were like exercise? Then you could take one look at a person and judge their character. You'd know that someone who looked like Karen Carpenter was a really good person, while someone who looked like Chris Farley would be a bad, bad man. Wouldn't that be cool?

Spring Break 2009

For the past few years, we've made Spring Break our big trip of the year. This year, not so much. We had calendar conflicts because of soccer, so we only went away for a bit more than three days. Our expectations were low, and we weren't so much excited about this trip as we were simply looking forward to a few days to spend together, enjoying some fun.

In keeping with our family tradition, we celebrated Easter Mass somewhere out-of-the-ordinary, settling on California's oldest church, Mission San Diego de Alcala. Then we boarded a Carnival ship (not our favorite) for Ensenada (our least favorite cruise destination).

The first stop was Catalina Island. We were seriously bummed out to learn that we could not rent a golf cart, because we had no child seat for the baby, and the only rental outfit with baby seats only had 4-person golf carts. So we ended up renting a little boat instead. About ten minutes into our boat ride, we were surrounded by dolphins, in an encounter that lasted almost an hour. The girls thought this was easily one of their two or three best vacation experiences ever.

The next day, we spent about 11 hours docked in Ensenada. We went ashore for about 2 hours. We bought very little, drank nothing, and eventually just walked back to the ship, rather than waiting for the next shuttle bus. Perhaps Ensenada is just quiet on Tuesdays, or perhaps everything is just slower now because of the economy and the Baja drug violence, but that place was dead and dull. We spent most of our port day on the ship.

On Wednesday, we spent the day at sea, in moderately high seas that kept the ship rocking all day. They closed the top deck, including the miniature golf and the running track, due to high winds. The winds made the pool deck a bit cool for my tastes, but I managed to find ways to relax nonetheless. Aside from the unpleasant karaoke lady, our experience on the Carnival Elation was an entirely positive one.

On Friday, we found out that the soccer game on Saturday would be cancelled. My first reaction was disappointment, mostly because we could have taken a better trip, but the kids quickly pointed out that we wouldn't have seen the dolphins if that had happened, so we're just going to count our blessings and forget that the glass is half-full.

We rounded the weekend off with a night of horse racing, with a couple of winners in our pockets, and then a day at the beach and a day kicking back at home. School and work start back up tomorrow. For a change, we are relaxed and not exhausted from working or taking a busy vacation.

Faux Homelessness and Four Other Thoughts on the Passing Parade

A group of students are living in cardboard boxes, to try to see what it is like to be homeless. To comfort themselves, the are decorating the boxes with streamers and ribbons and stuff. Sorry kids, that's not how homeless do it. Try beer cars, rum bottles, scrap metal and partially smoked cigarettes, and make yourself at home.

By the way, the first tax increase of the Obama administration went into effect this week. It's that huge federal tobacco tax increase. Sadly, the aren't screening taxpayers for $250,000 incomes at the store, so everyone gets to pay it if they want to smoke. Remember September 12, 2008 in Dover, N.H., when Obama said it was his "firm pledge" not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000.00 a year? "Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000.00 a year will see any form of tax increase. ... "Not your income taxes, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes." (pinky cross - but your cigarette taxes are going up 156%).

Another silver lining for McCain/Palin voters: we dodged another embarrassing vice-presidential sibling.

Karma must have been doing a drive-by on OJ Simpson, and some stray bad fate struck his sister instead. Dead. Carmelita Durio, who collapsed in the courtroom when OJ was convicted, died of kidney failure in Sacramento.

Don't you just hate having to someday have "The Talk" with your kid, and explain about penises, an vaginas, and frozen sperm taken from a brain-dead accident victim before his junk got cold.

Sprint Welcomes Me To Mexico

About an hour after my cruise set sail from San Diego on Sunday, I got a text message that read: "Welcome to Mexico: To call US dial 00-1-area code-number. To call Sprint Care dial 00-1-817-698-4199." Pretty cool, because I can never remember how to call home from across the border, and when I tried placing cell calls from Cancun, the instruction were in Spanish, so I never did figure it out. Now, all I have to do is check my old text messages.

Happy Tax Day

I have a bunch of money coming back, but I haven't cleaned up and sorted all of my papers yet, so I'm giving the government more interest-free time to hold my overtaxes. Plus, I'm nowhere near a U.S. Post Office today, so I sent in for an automatic extension last week.

Tuesday Travel Photo (No. 226)

We visited Catalina Island this week. We rented one of those little seagoing boats for a couple of hours, and after a few minutes, about a mile south of Avalon, and just a couple of hundred yards offshore, we encountered dolphins. Lots of dolphins. They were completely unafraid of us, swimming right beneath us, and popping out of the water right alongside and in front of us.

We've now ruined Catalina Island for our kids forever. Any time we go, they are going to expect dolphins to chase them all over, and it's not going to happen.

On Toy Thieves and Four Other Thoughts on the Passing Parade

While I'm not an advocate for bitches who steal toys from little kids, the outrage over this San Diego woman who stole toys from underprivileged kids to sell on eBay is a bit overblown. Show me 100 rapists, even those who raped only adults, and just one time, and I'll show you 100 people who ruined more lives than this stupid toy thief.

Levi Johnston is no longer a favorite son to the Palin family. He seems to have had enough, and he's talking to the people who ae begging to talk to him. While he hasn't said anything we didn't already know or suspect, the Palin's are pissed, and fighting back. "We're disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship ... Bristol's focus will remain on raising Tripp, completing her education, and advocating abstinence." Uh, like this? "teen abstinence is not realistic at all."

Cops in Phoenix are telling citizens that they can't take photos in public because of homeland security laws. "Go google it", one cop said when asked what law they were violating. It's been three months. Can we start blaming Obama for this shit now?

After seeing these protesters drawing attention to foie gras, I'm curious. I'm not alone. The protests are causing restaurants to sell more of it than ever. Maybe I'll finally eat fat duck liver before the 2012 ban goes into effect.

Ten great things to do in 24 hours in Rome. Makes me want to go to Rome. Maybe in 2011. But my favorite travel thought of the day: I'd love to go back to Dingle. Mmmmm. Dingle.

Easter Mass @ Mission San Diego

We got to sit in the loft, which is usually reserved for the choir. It was a nice view of an excellent and aged church. Now we're off to have some fun.

Happy Easter!

We're in town for Easter for the first time in four years, but we're still going to have Easter Mass somewhere different and interesting. We're heading to Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala.

On Racist Film Critics and Four Other Thoughts on the Passing Parade

Now that Disney has decided to release an animated film with a black princess, we can all be happy right? Wrong. Her prince is not black. This has white racists furious, presumably, because it's interracial, and it has black racists furious because they apparently think that a black princess deserves a black prince, because a white one just isn't good enough.

Awesome airfare from LAX to New York City: $99 each way. That's cheap enough to make me consider a long weekend to the Big Apple.

So, a wrong mom breastfeeds the wrong baby in the hospital. It is "every parent's worst nightmare," says the husband, who has fortunately been spared, so far, the more severe dreams of the baby being stolen, raped and/or murdered.

The judge's actions this week in the Ted Stevens corruption case lead me to believe not only that the former senator got screwed by the judicial system, but that he may have even been factually innocent, at least in this particular set of charges.

I loved the finale of Life on Mars. It's just too bad that smart and interesting shows on TV don't find audiences anymore. If Quantum Leap was introduced as a new series this summer, it would get cancelled after ten episodes, and some crap reality show with a bunch of has-beens from 1970s-era sitcoms would get renewed instead.

Murder

 

Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside, the driver of the minivan accused of running a red light and causing the deaths of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson, and severely injuring Jon Wilhite, is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for murder, vehicular manslaughter, felony hit and run, and drunken driving involving fatalities and great bodily injury. Hospital tests indicated that Gallo had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08, and he was driving on a suspended license after a previous drunken-driving conviction.

Keep me off that jury, judge, because I'm thoroughly convinced that this guy should spend the rest of his life in jail.

Angels Rookie Starting Pitcher Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver

It happened this morning in Fullerton, near Lemon and Orangethorpe. A driver ran a red light and plowed into the car in which last night's starting pitcher, Nick Adenhart was riding. The driver, Andrew Thomas Gallo, fled the scene, was was later caught. Local radio is reporting that Adenhart died this morning after undergoing surgery for his injuries. Two others in the car were also killed, including the driver, Courtney Stewart, a 2008 cheerleader at CSUF. Jon Wilhite, a former catcher for the Titans, was seriously injured. Adenhart, 22, made his season debut against Oakland on Wednesday night, shutting out the A's for six innings in a game the Angels eventually lost, 6-4. He was 1-0 for the Angels in 2008.

His death reminds me of Lyman Bostock, the Angels outfielder who was shot and killed during the 1978 season. Until this morning, Bostock was the only major-leaguer to be murdered during the baseball season. Gallo has reportedly already been charged with a felony hit-and-run count. I'm hoping that a murder charge is filed.

May Nick rest in peace.

9/11 Fail

Who would buy a souvenir of the events of 9/11? How about a souvenir of the events of 9/11/2002? Still no takers?

Bonus: their business cards are upside down in the cardholder.

Lex TV 204

Here are another dozen videos:

This 90 foot shot at the end of a quarter is the high school shot of the month.

Remember WWIV boards and other BBSs? I was once a sysop.

Speeza gets busted despite busting his illegal stick.

Seriously, these days, if you throw a tantrum, why wouldn't you expect someone to video it?

Jon Stewart destroys Jim Cramer.

"Pick me!"

Mickey Mouse has moves.

Rapping Hitler.

In soccer, having a great ballboy can be the margin of victory.

The Westboro Baptist Church v. Alpha Delta Phi at the University of Chicago. Who ya got?

The two dollar DIY hair restoration procedure.

Why you should quit smoking, moms and dads.

Kumar Goes to the White House and Four Other Thoughts on the Passing Parade

Kal Penn, best known as "Kumar" from the "Harold & Kumar" films, is leaving acting to join the Obama administration. Dooooooooood! We need some tiny little delicious burgers from the White Castle House. Apparently, this was so important, they had his character on House shoot himself in the head.

Like a lot of lawyers these days, I've had a bunch of clients ask for referrals to lawyers who do mortgage loan modifications. I got some names, but before forwarding them, I checked the lawyers out. I didn't like any of them. Most, frankly, were schmucks. One of the names I had, and did not pass on, has already drawn an investigation from the FTC. I'm glad I put those names in my pocket, rather than in my clients' in-boxes.

Apparently, PETA's new motto is "Do as we say, not as we do", since PETA kills 95% of the dogs and cats they get. Next time, assholes, rather than worrying about a few hundred glorified rats who die each year to make fur coats, worry instead about the thousands of dogs and cats you waste each year. Oh, and if you didn't offer them one of the puppies you were going to slaughter, how about you STFU about Joe Biden buying a purebreed puppy from a breeder?

"The reality is, this budget resolution and ... policies have instigated a dangerous spiral of deficits and debt that constitute nothing less than fiscal child abuse, because they will immorally force our children and grandchildren to pay our bills.” Can you guess whose quote this is? Hint: it was made back in May 2006.

Finally, Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell proved himself to be quite a jerk in delaying NFL player Ryan Moats and his wife from the hospital bedside of her dying mother. While out on leave this week, he decided to resign. At least he has that going for him.

Tuesday Travel Photo (No. 225)

Living on the west coast, I get to take a lot of photographs of sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. I get few chances to photograph sunrises over the Pacific Ocean. The Inside Passage, however is a place where it is possible to watch the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean. Here, the shore is just a few miles away, but that distance let me watch the rising sun reflect off the waters. I made it a point to try to take a picture of the sunrise every morning on that cruise, and when we do it again, I'll be up early every morning.

Can't you almost feel how bitterly cold it was?

March Linklog, fka My Last Post, Written Long Ago

My link log for March. I put some of these up on my Twitter account, too, at http://twitter.com/OCLex.

• Octuplets mom fires free nanny service because they were totally, like, out to get her, man.
• Matt Lauer missed Today Show after bicycle fall. Biking celebrity trifecta in play.
• Lance Arm hospitalized after falls during bicycle race.
• Your next vacation: Iraq?
• Obama to come into O.C. via motorcade
• God smites Bishop Melvin E. Wheatley 27 years after he appoints first gay Methodist pastor
• 2009 NCAA tournament: #10 USC v. #7 Boston College in Minneapolis
• Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel fails quake safety standards
• Octuplets mom visits Disneyland then spends $1,000 on cosmetics. Your tax dollars still footing the million bucks in medical bills.
• Boston teenagers: Rihanna brought that shit on herself
• John Walker Lindh's defense attorney is Obama's nominee to head the Justice Department’s Civil Division
• Is Obama the first real ‘Manchurian Candidate’ ?
• Britney Spears: "My pussy was hanging out!" Audience: "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
• 'Facebook for filthy rich' prospers despite bad economy
• PSA: Some of those MMORPG gamers who are blowing you off are actually dead in RL, LOL.
• Remember when the Nasdaq was at 5132?
• Iran says capitalism on verge of collapse; soon, world will embrace Islamic theocracy and poverty
• BCS bowls agree to suck for at least 5 more seasons.
• Kid from Dayton Christian hits 90 ft Buzzer Beater at end of 3rd Quarter. Yes, they won.
• L.T. staying with Chargers 3 more years
• The worst and coldest streaker ever
• March Madness is also vasectomy season
• World Baseball Classic: United States vs. Puerto Rico aka "We got mercy-ruled by our own territory!"
• Single mother of six is on welfare, but manages to save and piss away two grand on a couple of dogs from Cameroon. Surprise! It's a scam.
• Food for thought if the shit really does hit the fan in our economy
• Darwinism just misses bullet hammerer
• Welcome to the Neighborhood Octomom
• Murder suspect attacks and injures judge and earns immediate execution.
• Great news for people who don't want their junk patted down at a ball game.
• Want someone to blame for the economy? Look in the mirror, then your wallet, then back in the mirror.
• Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: it's worse than you think.
• Half of America's corporate value is gone. DJIA finishes below 7,000 for first time since '97
• If he's on fire, you don't really have to shoot him.
• Utah wants to ban "looking drunk".
• Fight on, Titans! Screw Stanford!
• WTF, kid?
• Former Miss Ireland will judge a "sexist kilt" contest at Muldoon's in Newport Beach on March 15.
• San Diego man wanted for store robbery arrested after showing up to take examination to become police officer.

Okay, I'm deleting my bad joke. Actually, I do have a post like that, set to post at the end of each year, which I change the date of every year. That way, when I really do kick off, if I'm still a blogger, you all, or both, as the case may be, will know. Don't believe me if I post such a thing on April Fool's Day, however. Life varies, and lately, I've been more consumed by other things, but I'm going to start posting stuff again.

[revised 4/09]

If I haven't posted lately, I'm probably dead or in a coma somewhere. Wish me luck.

[written by Mike, 3/20/2006]