Scampi In Garlic Tomato Cream

Home-grown cukes made it all work! Mmm, mmm, good!

Meanwhile, the cat joker in the entry was happy this morning, when the horizontal sun shone upon her/him/it.

Remembering Guam Fondly...

Here's Tumon Bay, Guam's center for tourism (and good food!).

Of more current interest, here's a recent photo of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) entering Apra Harbor, on Guam's western side. At the top of the photo is the end of the Glass Breakwater, which helps to define the harbor.

The Glass Breakwater is not made of glass. It memorializes Adm. Glass of the USNavy.

We were fortunate to be invited onboard a nuclear submarine in Apra Harbor, for a descent, gentle maneuvers underwater in the Philippine Sea, good breakfast, and return to the harbor and fresh air.

It was fun.

Living Portraiture

So, about one hundred years ago, this guy, Arthur Mole, immigrated to the United States and found a camera and a very tall ladder.

Then, he organized a whole lot of U.S.Army troopers and told them where to stand. And, he climbed up his ladder.

Wow! He didn't even know what a pixel was!

Perpendicular To Market Street

Discussion of downtown San Francisco this weekend. I recalled that I had a few pix of the sides of older brick buildings facing Market Street, and they are posted here for your recollections of a different day, a different age. (Sorry. I'm still learning the new Blogger)

Beware! The aging paint contains lead!

Cats' Eyes, And Eyes, And . . .

First, we have eight eyes watching two human eyes which are not watching. Two more eyes are coming down the roof to watch the unwatching eyes:                                                                                                                 

Then, in a more contemplative mood, we have two cat eyes watching pictures of six larger cat eyes:

Very cool pics, in my opinion. As always, click to enlarge.

Old Japan

For those interested, you may wish to visit "Old Photos of Japan" at http://oldphotosjapan.com/en .

Express Elevator Upstairs

If you believe in this stuff, the following may be interesting:

Wonderful Generations

My father, who lived through The Depression, worked for a few stable, and established, employers. Not much risk of losing a job.


My son, who grew up during the opening of the free-form Digital Age, has worked for several risky, informal, 24/7 internet companies, with success always uncertain.


And me, I just stand here bemused, in between, and worry about my golf swing.
(Don't look up!)

"The Drunken Landlady"

Brendan Power plays Irish harmonica:

Now, take a deeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath.
(And, stop your feet from tapping.)

This May Well Not Be Real

But, it sure is touching:

Especially if you like lions.

Miss Universe 2008

The Miss Universe contest is being held this year in Viet Nam. The venue is Nha Trang, where I spent a day on the beach. With a lovely Vietnamese lady who wanted me to marry her and adopt her "hapa" 17-year-old kid.
I declined.
It is a beautiful beach, and the local folks use it in the early morning, about 5 a.m.
Ask Rudy about the early-morning swimming.

Just prior to this, we had visited Ha Long Bay, east of Hanoi. It was warm, and spectacular! We also drank some liquor from a jug with a Thai snake inside. Good for the stomach.
Here's a lovely view of Ha Long Bay:

The Belted Galloway

For some reason, we were discussing Belted Galloways at dinner last night.

That's pic of them in front of Hwy 29 at the foot of the Napa Valley.
Neat, hunh?

Smoky, Smoky Skies

We've still got smoke in Northern California, but the on-shore breezes are mitigating the problems. So now, I'm beginning to worry about Beijing, and the 2008 Olympics (which start on 8/8/08, of course.)
Here's a rendering from the architect of the new headquarters of CCTV, China's Central Television, in Beijing:

And here's a recent, ground-level photo of the building:

There is definitely a pollution problem.
I'm beginning to be concerned about the athletes and their great exertions. Perhaps they should simply shut down the country, which they can do, starting tomorrow, and hope for a strong breeze.
(Thus blowing all this stuff over to Guam, which has already happened several times.)

Nothing to Joke About

Iranian ICBMs going in all directions, while we're in the middle of a national credit crisis, and the toll is rising to $6.00 over the Golden Gate. Difficult times.

(H.T. to lgf for the fauxtography)

Architecture Without Ego?

That instant destruction on the far left, under the crane, is a Frank-Gehry-designed addition to a classical Bromptom gallery somewhere in the U.K. It's truly weird and inappropriate.
I think I retired just in time!

Where The Hell Is Matt?

Why not? It's all about Matt.


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
I particularly enjoyed the suspicious look on the face of the guard at the Demilitarized Zone in Korea.

Fond Memories

I think I've posted this Don Rickles Roast before, but it's still a big kick:

Food AND Fuel

I thought this was interesting, and I post it without further comment:

(Click to enlarge)

Area Code 209

We spent a portion of the weekend in the foothills - Copperopolis, Arnold, Jamestown, Twain Hart, etc.

This is all 209 country, very red, not blue. That was obvious as I stood next to a jeep-mounted 50 cal machine gun.

The celebration of America's past was evident at the railroad museum park in Jamestown. Rides are available, for 40 minutes each, at a reasonable price.

The tip-off was the Independence Day parade in Arnold. The 6 members of the Arnold Democratic Party trudged by, to scattered, polite applause.
Then the dozen members of the Arnold Republican Party rode by, in a new and shiny Ford F450, to a standing "O" from those assembled. It was awe inspiring.
(On the way back to the car, we passed a bumper sticker, which read:
"EARTH FIRST
after we're through here, we'll work on the other planets"
I never see that in Walnut Creek.)

Parking

Believe it, or not, I have parked in this lot. And, paid $25 for the privilege.

Happy 4th, America!

Here's a close-up, faces obscured, of a GI and a young Iraqi kid, in Sadr City recently:

(Nice picture)

Recollections of Earlier Days

We all remember the Berkeley Pier, right? Hours in the wind and the sun, sharing tips with fellow fishermen (yes, men), trying for the best bait, and catching mostly nothing.

Imagine my shock when I opened the CoCoTimes this morning and saw this picture of Teddy Mendoza and his halibut! This guy really knows fishing!

I never even dreamed that a fish that big could be caught in Berkeley.

I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke

It's hard to believe, but this ditty first hit the TV screen in 1971. Hit the link to read about it, hit the screen below to listen to it again.

Wow. 37 years ago.
How time flies.