30 March 2012
How to run legitimate scams
When you live in a country that claims to be against corruption and wrong doing that when you receive an official looking letter (such as the one above) you really need to act because surely it is all above board. Isn’t it? This letter says we need to pay $87 (or $122 if after 13 April) to get a copy of our property deed. It implies that this is an official document from a government department and that we need to act accordingly. It turns out that this is not an official letter. When you read the letter you see…
18 March 2012
The strange tail of Wilbur Sardo
Wilbur Sardo is a neighbor of ours, and a most unusual one at that. He is a miniature pot-bellied pig and has caused quite a stir since he appeared in Christmas 2010. The Home Owners Association (HOA) is locked in battle with the family over whether or not Wilbur is classed as livestock or pet. Experts have been called and deposed in a legal battle that has ensued since the HOA sent a letter to the family asking that Wilbur find a new home back in July. Wilbur can only hope that the Seventh Commandment of Animalism is interpreted in…
17 February 2012
All About Flags
If you wake up and find a flag outside your house, don’t worry. You are probably in America (if unsure check the flag on the CIA website). Obviously we had seen the specially marked hole for a flag pole when we moved in: And we knew about the idea of displaying the flag on holiday weekends. So this being President’s Day weekend it was no big surprise to see flags appearing in our neighborhood. But where did our flag come from? Well it turns out that the local High School offers a service where they put out a flag for…
05 January 2012
5280
Denver, Colorado, is very proud of the fact that it is 5,280ft above sea level; so much so that it has a local magazine called 5280 which tells you about what you can do in this city (Bakersfield has a similar magazine but in Denver it’s much easier to recommend where to go to eat). Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr liked Colorado so much that he renamed himself after its capital city. Colorado returned the favor and made John Denver, as he is better known, their poet laureate and chose “Rocky Mountain High” as one of their state songs. Jack Swigert…
22 November 2011
Dallas 1PM
Is there any date/time (other than September 11 2001 8:45am) in history better know than November 22 1963, 1PM? When President Kennedy died from gun shots sustained about 30 minutes earlier whilst driving in an open top car in Dallas. To quote Biff Byford, who wrote the song Dallas 1PM for Saxon’s classic1980 album Strong Arm of The Law: “The world was shocked that fateful day A young man's life was blown away, away, away In Dallas 1 p.m., 1 p.m.” And here is the classic line-up playing it live: Of course if you’re a conspiracy-theorist you won’t believe…
07 October 2011
Homecoming
Homecoming is an annual tradition at this time of year. The idea is to welcome back former students and residents. Most often there is a football game or other sporting event that everyone goes to. There is also often parades and the coronation of a Homecoming Queen and King. A dance commonly follows the game. Another big part of Homecoming is the giving and wearing of Homecoming Mums. A Homecoming Mum is a large corsage decorated with streamers in school colors as well as bells, charms and furry animals. The name Mum comes from Chrysanthemum, the traditional Fall flower used…
01 October 2011
The Road To Nowhere
If you are looking for something to do in Bakersfield my top recommendation is to drive somewhere else. Bakersfield is a city of 350,000 people in the San Joaquin Valley, right in the middle of California. Two hours from LA, three from San Francisco and 4 from Las Vegas and with none of the benefits of any of these places this really is a place in the middle of nowhere. One of the biggest problems in Bakersfield is finding somewhere to eat that does not make you ill or will give you decent service. In fact in Bakersfield it is…
23 September 2011
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
What trip to Boston could be complete without a visit to the place where everybody knows your name - Cheers? Talking of knowing your name, the bar above was actually originally known as the Bull & Finch but was renamed in 2002 (only 9 years after the TV show ended!). Although used for the external shots in the show, the interior was never used and in fact looks nothing like the bar in the show. However in order to capitalize on the fame of the show there is a replica Cheers bar in nearby Faneuil Hall. The Bull & Finch…
30 August 2011
We’re not in Kansas
If someone suggests a trip to Wichita Falls, don’t assume you’re going to Kansas. Wichita Falls is in the far north of Texas, close (15 miles) to the border with Oklahoma. Wichita Falls is famous for five things: -The birthplace of Phyllis Coates, the first actress to play Lois Lane -The home of the band Bowling for Soup -A waterfall -The annual Hotter n Hell 100 bike ride and, most importantly: -Being hot It might also be the inspiration for “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell. It was written by Jimmy Webb from Elk City, OK…
10 August 2011
P-Town
Provincetown (or P-Town to those in the know) is on the tip of Cape Cod and is the most popular gay vacation destination on the East Coast of the USA. If you weren’t sure a quick look around the shops will help clarify things: The Fudge Factory Seamen’s Bank Board Stiff The Squealing Pig (presumably catering for those from West Virginia) Spank The Monkey Good old Finbarr Saunders from Viz is well known for his double entendres and would have a gay old time in P-Town. The “oldest gay bar in the USA” - The Atlantic House (original part built…