Chapter 4 - Yes ... sometimes there is a Free Ride ! by Anno Nymus 4 of 6

 

Chapter 4

Yes ... sometimes there is a Free Ride ! 

From 1965 thru 1969 Uncle Pat kept me driving neat old cars – for free!

I drove a fantastic array of used cars .. all classics now .. .. some you couldn’t give away back then, but worth tons 'o bux now as 'vintage' or 'classic's. Through the years 1965 – 69, – on weekend leave from the Marines at Camp Pendleton – I would ride the Greyhound bus to Santa Anna, in Orange County California, the walk to his car lot nearby.

So on Friday nights when I would show up, he'd toss me some keys on … and say drive that for the weekend ... or next few weeks ! It was a fungible floating free car loaner thang!

Often, when I'd bring a car back .. he'd toss me some other keys and say .. 'here ya go !'... with a big grin ! .. He always made sure I was covered for transportation … and would always toss in a full tank of gas, and a few cash bux too .. He really stepped up to the plate to a young me needing wheels !

Here are some notable loaners that came to be “trademarks” for me at various stages of my driving career.

1949 Chevy Bel-air – factory green, with windshield visor.

In 1965, this 1949 Chevy was antiquated and almost couldn’t be given it away.

Mine - used but running - had an un-fixable water pump leak. Drive-able, but only with a jug of water in the trunk, it overheated on all SoCal roads on a warm day. I would often have to pull over on the highways, to  top off the radiator water when the temperature gauge would go up too fast !  

In 1965 it sold as a used car for $350. Today this restoration sells in the $49,000 range!

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Notable other cars from Uncle Pat ..

1951 Ford when I was a kid in Pennsylvania

Note the snazzy 'Fender Skirts' – all the rage in 1950's

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Note: He promised me his black and red Ford - when I turned 16 … but, it was in a bad wreck just before my birthday, and went to the scrap heap!  .. it sure was bitchin' ! When I was picked up after school, all my friends envied it - everyone wanted a ride home!!

*

He always liked and drove Thunderbird’s He drove all of the different models over the years He died driving  his favorite T-Bird in a bad freeway accident. We were all Shocked and Saddened. As always it was totally unexpected. The only consolation , he was having the time of his life - business was booming - he loved every minute of his time with family and cars - and he was cruising in his favorite T-Bird.

It strikes that there is an odd symmetry to his passing in a car accident; cars were his life - and death. Cars revolved around him and his life revolved around cars! He lived like he wanted to - Fast, Fun, Free, and 'his way'  ! 

He was one of a kind. What a great Uncle! 

*

We already wrote about “Napoleon” The stalwart 1950 Plymouth Suburban that Pat sold us. 

see post: More Interesting Cars I've known by Anno Nymus

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

Chapter 3 - 'Count the Marbles'? by Anno Nymus 3 of 6

 

Chapter 3

TV Adverts and Contests ... !

'Count the Marbles' ?

Pat did a lot of TV advertising .. his biggest competitor was Cal Worthington .. so he did a lot of flashy cheap ads .. usually with contests where you would have to come onto the car lot to enter.

He always had contests. He was caught short several times when customers actually WON the contests... !! .. he had outrageous payoffs and prizes .. expecting no one could ever actually win .. but I know 2 times they did .. and he was chagrined...  had to pay them both off – but usually weaseled his way out or around,  - except for the one weightlifter who really won, and the day he lost his marbles!

The contest was to carry a 100 pound weight for approximate 2 miles - on a course of city streets - held straight out from the chest … arms fully extended. 

 They thought no one could do it .. but a “Mr. America” type body builder – a local champion .. with guns the size of Chicago .. tried .. and actually DID IT !?!? .. Pat had to give him a car !! That was well publicized and in the papers and local TV news.

How Many Marbles in the Jar ?

This next one he told me about himself .. when I was about 23 years old and just out of the Marines – back from 'Nam . The almost disastrous 'Count The Marbles In The Jar' contest ... where he nearly got busted?!

They had a huge Ginger Jar with lid - full of marbles in the showroom .. and the contest was to guess the exact amount of marbles in the jar – for a free car ! Put your guess on a card .. drop in barrel .. if you have EXACT number – you win a nice car !

He did heavy TV advertising, and it brought lots of folks and “Looky-Lou's”, but it sold a lot of used cars too. He was doing his best version of 'Cal Worthington'.

Shock of shocks .. one customer had submitted a ticket with the exact number !?!?!?

It matched the official count card in the safe .! ? He had guessed the exact number!? What to do Percy ?

The time was approaching to announce the winner - the press and TV were there. 

Pat hemmed, 'n hawed stalled as long as he could, but the press, and waiting crowd were getting anxious – it was past time to award the prize. Thinking quickly, he said the official count card was still locked in the safe, but and the ONLY person with the combination - the accountant - had just left on a two week Hawaiian honeymoon cruise. There was no way to contact her. The only thing to do was have to RECOUNT of all the marbles - in front of the press!

This would prove the contest was a legit  – and tamp down the grousing and growing shouts of  'rigged',  BUT .. for security, Pat said they would need to " ... count the marbles in the back secure counting room" ... the jar would have to be moved.

Then whilst carrying the monster jar of glass - with his ad hoc crew of cronies making it as confusing as possible .. juggling and struggling with it  to get it  away from the TV cameras, and back into to the 'counting area'. 

In all the hubbub, he managed to “palm” a few extra marbles into the jar - whilst they carried the jar to the counting room. The confusion was the cover!

When they finally finished counting all the thousands of marbles, in front of the press – a few long hours later – they mysteriously 'found'  more marbles than on the customers ticket !? - Oh too bad

“Sorry Charlie – you lose !!

Pat didn’t have to give him the fancy car – but there was so much grousing that the contest was rigged – with shouts from the waiting crowd- and the growing curiosity of the police, that the better part of valor was to offer a decent different car. This was a live remote TV broadcast from his car lot ... with a large crowd waiting to hear the results! 

Spectators were agitating for the cops ought to get involved. Just then, like a miracle, another nice car was offered as a consolation prize. 

This was acceptable to the worried ticket holders – and to the cops - so all was settled to satisfaction .. but a very close shave at that !! Pat was out 2 cars ultimately! Hoist by his own Petard,or more correctly -  marbles! 

Pat quit doing contests after that !

*

Don't lose your marbles !

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

Chapter 2 - The Used Car Lot 'Game' ! by Anno Nymus 2 of 6

 

Chapter 2

 Pat and his Car Lot 'Games' !

*

Our relationship would mostly revolve around transportation, cars, and the used car lot after I turned 12, but my 'car buying and selling' lessons awaited, and unfolded daily once I could drive. He kept me abreast of his latest schemes, scams or hot tips! I soon discovered that he was really about one step away from being a carnival barker- side show huckster - con man, and flimflam  artiste ... all rolled into one!

 He had the gift of gab, a hint of larceny, with a generous amount of charisma, and silver tongued skills enough  to sell  ice to Alaska! Somehow, he could make a $5 profit - on a $2 dollar deal!? He was a hustler - He was gen-u-wine ! 

He carried a cashiers check for $1 million dollars in his briefcase!

His game ? 

 When he would try to pay an invoice with it in person ... 

 ... if they couldn’t give him change ... he asked folks for credit !!

It worked !! 

He got a LOT of credit on the spot when he flashed it, and used it to his advantage in every deal! 

*

*

Pat bought a lot of cars to stock his huge and successful car lot in downtown Santa Anna! He would plan buying trips to other dealers on Thursdays, where he could often buy $40 - $80 thousand dollars worth of cars, or more at a time. That was a whole lot for the 60's ... since these cars generally retailed  from $800 - $1800 each - upper middle class rides. He would buy them for about half of retail. He made a lot of profit ! 

Here's how it worked.

Once he found a Car Dealer where he wanted to buy, he would line up a bunch of drivers to go with him.  He used granddad and myself a lot, but all warm bodies were welcomed or recruited. "Do you know anyone else who can drive?". 

There was always a motley crew of whomever could be rounded up for buying-driving day. 

Before cell phones, it was only land line calls on rotary phones ! Dialing for Drivers ! 

No answer? Keep going down the list of candidates .. call until you have enuff drivers for the buying trip. There were a lot of logistics to setting up a big car buy at another dealer. Money talked. 

For the then princely sum of about $25, he would get a driver for a day. Depending how badly drivers were  needed, the offer could be sweetened. 

We had a lot of language barriers as well. Pat's car lot was like a little international gathering, he had employees of all racial and ethnic types and languages, from salesmen .. to lot boys. On driving day .. if you were licensed, and  available .. you were tagged ! There were always a few drivers who got 'lost' on the way back .. running hours late, or even the next day claiming language problems, or a wrong turn on the confusing freeway interchanges.

Most of us would straggle back to Pats car lot over the next few hours. I was always amused that some didn't make it back at all !?  

I found out later - he let some drivers take the cars home, and enjoy them for personal use - even take the family out to dinner and a movie ...  "just bring the car in the morning!" -  That was one of his famous  'sweetened offers! He really was a 'softie' in his own way! 

Once we were all at the designated car lot where he was buying, he would then commence to walking the lot and  deciding which cars were going back with us  ... basically what to put in his basket! If it was clean and shiny, he could flip it fast, a key criteria ! If a thumbs up, he would assign a driver. 

Pretty soon we would have a line of cars - a dozen or so all in a row .. waiting for the signal to pull out. We learned to expect the drive out signal whilst he was in the office - 'doing the paperwork'. 

Once everything was ready to caravan out - he would carefully time the transaction - so they would be IN the office. Once everyone was sitting in the Mangers Office - he would signal thru the showroom window for us to pull out quickly  – his cue meant - DRIVE OFF NOW !!!

We would then drive off quickly as possible, with a dozen or so cars .. and this would usually leave the car dealer or sales manger sputtering  watching the best cars having just been cherry-picked and driving off!! Meanwhile ... 

Pat would be handing them his $1 Million dollar Cashiers Check and saying .. "Here ! ... don't worry about the cars .. just give me the change!" 

What a heckuva trick ...“ say buddy got change for a $1 million dollar cashiers check ?”

He sure was a hustler …This was his usual buying M.O. .... 

You dont really have to be a Mensa Genius  ... just saying... 

*

Back at his car lot, Pat would harangue and hustle his salesmen to sell out all the latest cars that we just brought in "Last in /First Out - over this weekend !!" His bank account was always tight, and he would have to sell the cars fast to cover the purchase, and beat the check to bank! 

He demanded that his salesmen would HAVE to raise enough money to 'beat the invoice', or, 'a post dated check' that he might offer to leave for reassurance to the sputtering Car Dealer, and Sales Manager ! The car tailights were disappearing down the road, and A post dated check was on the table for the full amount! 

He was very successful .. lots of Glengarry Glen-Ross high pressure sales stuff on his own lot and staff - he usually had about 30 salesmen watching the lot! In the sales office there was an easel with a leader board of top salesmen - showing how many cars sales cinched -  'for sure',  'hot prospects' and 'how many sold ' that week!  ..  flip - flop - and fly! ..1st prize is the set of steak knives .. 2nd prize - you're out! 

Lined up - ready to pull out - on the signal ! 

 * *

All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

Chapter 1 - Uncle Pat & the “Used Car Lot” by Anno Nymus 1 of 6

[Editor's Note: Who is Uncle Pat?

RobertD (Sr) was the spouse of Mrs. B.  Uncle Pat was the youngest brother of RobertD (Sr) and was a  brother-in-law to MrsB.  He was always known by his nickname: Uncle Pat, even though that was not his true name.  He was an uncle to KimB and RobertD (Jr). The brothers grew up in Pennsylvania. Uncle Pat moved to California.]

 

Chapter 1

 Uncle Pat's “Used Car Lot " 

Automotive Reflections on So Cal – 'back in the day' 

by Anno Nymus

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Scoundrel-ism ?

*

Uncle Pat was a scoundrel ! In all fairness, a loveable, gregarious, and good hearted soul, but a scoundrel none the less ! His scoundrely-ness was fairly benign – no one ever got hurt, and it always worked out in the end 'somehow', but Pat was always ... 'working the odds', and 'sanding the edges' !

I only have wonderful memories of Uncle Pat – met him when I was 7 or so, visiting back east. He was dad's younger brother – in his mid twenties then – and according to grandad and grandma .. the 'wild one' ! I was looking forward to meeting him – Dad had often regaled me with stories of his escapades and high jinx growing up – he was my kind of guy !

From the very start, my connection with Pat started with, and thenceforth always involved, cars.

The first time I met Pat – was in Pennsylvania, where I was visiting my grandparents – his parents. I was about 7 or 8. He was about 25 ish - I had been very excited to meet my dads youngest brother, so planned to hang around him like a puppy dog.

He needed to watch me on the first day I arrived, but he also had to go pick up his new car parts from the body shop. He was having 'fender skirts' made and then installed. I was baffled .. skirts on a car !? 

He asked ..did I want to ride along ? .. d'oh !! .. after the wild stories .. of course !!!

Wow – we just met, and I got to ride in his new Ford! Pat was terrific – telling me all about the car .. what fender skirts* were. We talked sports and such. He quickly became a true dutch uncle .. taking me to the malt shop for a black n white shake later, and pretty much treating me like a younger brother ! This was looking good !

I was fascinated at the body shop. I had been around a lot of automotive shops – visiting mom's dad, and brothers (who were professional auto mechanics – and ran a big and popular Flying A Gas station ). The body shop was neat, and caught my interest.I was amazed at how they smoothed out the wrinkles n dents in steel, and made it look new again.

After the fender skirts were done to Pats satisfaction and installed, we went cruising' to show 'em off .. he drove around to some of his buddies houses .. and they all raved appropriately … … and then after that .. a malted at the Ice Cream Fountain with a real Soda Jerk!. Then we headed back. I was happy !

*

Fender skirts were all the rage in the early 50's - they streamlined the undercarriage line across the rear  wheels !

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All photos: free, public domain, or by permission

How Does Your Garden Grow?

KimB

How Does My Garden Grow? In the Hot

This year of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. The global tragedy continues to unfold, the effects of illness, death, vaccine trials and vaccine queues, food shortages, overwhelmed workers, income uncertainty, housing difficulties and the myriad other aspects of our modern societies inequities were laid open for the whole world to see.

Only a few countries managed the situation well. The USA was not one of them.

During the first lock downs and lock ins, human perseverance come to the fore. As the shelves in the stores of our affluent cities lay bare, shopping options decreased and old techniques began to resurface. Old cookbooks with recipes that showed raw ingredients rather than listing cans of preprocessed food, were sought after. People with internet access found sites that promoted Olde Tyme Ways like making your own butter, provided you could find the right milk, 'cause most urban dwellers are forbidden to have cows, sheep, goats or chickens in their back yards. Friends exchanged tips and techniques on making-do, as well as sharing the occasional good luck when finding hard to acquire items.

During the winter, I spent a good deal of time considering what I could do with my limited resources and abilities to ameliorate our situation. Shopping was out. We relied on some friends to drop food at our door. Things were shaky and eating was my main concern.

I thought about my small container garden along side the house, but rejected using it as things rarely worked out as planned. The summers are hotter than hot and without shade the plants just cooked in the containers. I had a shade cloth rigged that covered the garden area which did improve things, until our HOA sent the Cease and Desist Letter informing me that "having a shade cloth visible from the street was against the HOA rules". Even requesting a temporary use until harvest time was met with a big NO. It was discouraging.

Still the containers remained a possibility.

One of the big DIY stores did home delivery and while looking on line for repair items, I found packets of vegetable seeds. Most of the standard types and most them with the invisible ink message: Failure In Waiting. Several types of tomato seeds were also listed. Checking the pennies in the bank account, I figured I could order 2 packets of seeds: 1 Roma type and 1 Medium Round type.

Tomatoes are a hit n miss item for the containers and the heat, plus growing from seed is another OH? problem.

I set out to solve a few obstacles in growing the seeds by changing my expectations.

1. I would not expect any harvest
2. I would not expect the seeds to germinate
3. I would not expect the plants to survive very long
4. I would use the activity for stress release
5. It would give us an opportunity to "look forward" to something new

First I had to check and repair the drip water lines. Over the years, I've had to readjust my thinking about drip irrigation too, from "text book" to "practical". I had the extra parts and lines to adjust system with new insights: Hot Hot Hotter and No Shade.

Next, one of the main water pipes had broken and I needed to repair that. This was a whole adventure in itself. I had to order parts "by picture" and when it comes to irrigation pipes that can be a challenge. It was an adventure for sure, but in the end, I got the pipe repaired and the water flowing again.

I planted 2 pots with 5 seeds each. I hoped for 2 seedlings. I covered the 2 pots with some shade cloth and waited. In short order, 10 seed begain to sprout!

H-Frame

I had some old wood garden stakes stored and I got those out and began to build a small frame completely Ad Hoc. A screw here and there and I had a small H-frame double the height of the containers. I made a few of H-frames and set them next to the containers to hold up the shade cover. This wasn't going to last too long when the plants started to really grow, but it gave them a chance to get started.

When the seedlings got to transplant size I asked my friend if she wanted some for her garden. It was a surprise when she said they were not doing a garden this year and my attempts to re-home some tomato plants fell though.

I had 10 nice tomato plants ready to transplant but no home for them.


What to do, Percy?

Morning Shade

Well, what I did was fixed up more containers, repaired and adjusted more drip lines and transplanted the young plants to new homes in the side yard. I now have a bunch of containers with large tomato plants.

They do have a few flowers but with global warming, heat domes and record 115F/46.1 heatwaves in progress locally, I doubt that any tomatoes will happen.



But then, I didn't think any of the seeds would sprout either.

Hopeful Flowers

Part 1 -- Digital Tones and Pavlov’s Dog – A New Language ? - 'Beep-speak' ? by Anno Nymus

 

Digital Tones and Pavlov’s Dog – A New Language ?

An exploration of our times - with tongue mildly planted in cheek  

by Anno Nymus

"In 1927, Ivan Pavlov experimented with his dog on the subject of psychological training—specifically conditional stimuli and response. He found that when he rang a bell each time before he fed his dog, the dog no longer salivated in response to the food, but to the bell."

A conditional response is when you're trained to respond to something such as Pavlov's Bell as opposed to using simply your reflexes.” * – Urban Dictionary

*

'Hotel California', an album recorded by the Eagles, (greatest selling album of the 1970's), used a subliminal ringing phone
at the end of a long passage to refocus your attention to the next lyric !

*

This was my first personal experience with social engineering --  using audio tones. At the time I thought it was very clever. We have all been programmed since childhood to answer a phone quickly, so we get a vague sense of urgency to respond to a subliminal ringing phone. Folks then take a mental beat to give the issue some unconscious attention unaware they are seeking a source for the ringing phone. Thus we have a physical reaction that makes us 'look' !? Hmmm ?? This is what brought Pavlov and his famous dog to mind.

I think the social engineering folks have sussed this pretty well .. and the folks who brought you the cloud, might now be programming us - subliminally -- are we taking the bait? Now the stimulus is overt – outright notification tones and alerts emitted by our devices.

Have you ever raced or fumbled to answer an insistently ringing phone? Do you get a mild rush of anxiety when you just barely miss that call ? The area of emotional manipulation by alerts, is a growing phenomenon worth looking into.

Example: A notification triggers a sense of urgency (and probably some adrenaline .. further fueling the sense of urgency – metaphorical salivation?). Youth especially are committed to the social media phenomenon, and some research suggest there may be a chemical-endorphin 'reward' component to their compulsion to achieve notices and comments with constant alerts? Everyone has their own personalized tones, beeps, squawks, and alerts, or silent-vibration mode to catch every notification possible. Any group today will have a stew of phones and notification tones going off.

Since the advent of of the digital age it seems our lives are continuously driven by endless notifications and digital sounds throughout our personal 'audio-dome' - environment.

Noise Pollution - and our personal 'Audio-Dome' 

There is an area of research called Noise Pollution, which deals with social problems created by digital sounds.

In the ER, folks have to instantly assess, understand, and react to the meanings of the various equipment tones, alarms, and beeps ! But there is a serious “Catch 22”. Many of the machines use similar tones for opposite functions or conditions, or opposite tones for the same functions. Noise Pollution, can literally be dangerous !

Each of us has a palette of notification tones programmed into our sundry devices. Each notification or silent buzz , has meaning to us. It's our own code, and we know how to process each notification. We ingest a panoply of alerts, consciously, or subliminally in our daily personal activities. This constitutes our personal Digital Noise - Audio Pollution Dome.

"Beepspeak" ? - A new language ?

I think Digital Noise Pollution has become a new kind of unspoken 'digital language' in a curious way : an audio pollution-collusion, contusion, and intrusion that I like to call “Beepspeak” !

This 'Beepspeak' brings me to think again of Pavlov! Epiphany ! Have we been programming ourselves, whilst programming our devices ?!? Perhaps in doing so, have we made ourselves 'digital' Pavlovian dogs ??

You can't put the poop - back in the horse. We sure would be in a mess without these notifications. The world would grind to a halt in short order, but where is all this notification taking us ?

Is this digital cacophony some weird mystical new unspoken language or tower of babel ? Could this be presaging some digital “AI bot” take over by programming us to react to various notifications?

No voting required madam, the computer voted for you – with who it thought you liked – based on your notification history ? 

The sky is falling ! – the sky is falling !

 

Beeps, alerts and tones control us more than we would like to admit. We continue to program ourselves to jump at an alert – whose sound demands and insists, that we react !

Do we need to be concerned ? What does this unseen phenomena signify? Where is this digital whirlwind of alerts taking us? What are we becoming because of it ? What – if anything – should, or can be, done about it? Hmmm … Tag ! You're 'It' !

Mysteries yet abound doncha know ? Thanks Pavlov for leading us to this new “Beepspeak” !

What are your devices telling you ?

Riiiinnnnnngg ! ! !

... still scratching my head over the future, 

so with tongue firmly planted in cheek ..  

until next time .. 

Anno Nymus

* * * * *

Truth – Justice – and the American way ! By Warren Pease

 

Truth – Justice – and the American way !

By Warren Pease

*

My first awareness of what we would now call “conspiracy theories” - came to me waaaay back in my1961 High School Drivers Ed course. The teacher was Mr. “S”. It was in northern California – near Stanford. We had about 20 students in my class.

We had classroom time – learning theory, and rules of the road, and then the good bit we all were excited about - actual driving! Certain days were 'class', and some 'field', for driving - depending on the weather. The school had 2 Ford Falcons for the drivers ed courses. They were set up with 2 sets of brakes – the 2^nd brake pedal was on the passenger's side for the instructor – think panic stop.

On our weekly outings, a “Student Driver”, Teacher, and 2 hapless, and helpless, students (nervously waiting for their turn to drive – prisoners in the back seat), would set off to terrorize other drivers in the area.

Each week, 4 students were picked for the driving days. This rotating gaggle would set off on driving days – usually Saturday: we would get to drive for about 10 ish minutes or so – each. Residential neighborhoods, busy boulevards with lights and left turns, a wee bit of freeway for a 'final' .. one or two exits up the Bayshore Freeway, toward Frisco, exit and pull over in a gas station, rotate drivers – head back toward San Jose - repeat as needed. He always tried to give us each a bit of extra drive time.

He was a cool teacher and we all liked him. He was a stylish dresser, with an easygoing charm. Plus he was very patient with us driving. Best of all, he answered our odd questions about life and living. He told great jokes and stories in the slow times.

On one particularly slow rainy day, he told us an incredible story about a new car he and his wife bought. He prefaced by insisting it was completely true, but even with our natural teen skepticism , when quizzed by us afterward, he gave all the right answers – closing any and all loose ends to everyone's satisfaction, over the next hour or so!

I assure you, that after class, to a person, we all left believing it was completely true. He was religious, and a very precise engineering type - not the sort to invent stuff. This is a true story.

Here is the story he told ...

He and his wife purchased a new Ford. They wanted air conditioning built in. In those days 'Factory Air', indeed had to be custom installed at the factory. It was expensive, but handy in the summer heat. Alas, they would have to wait a few weeks to pick up the car, for the factory modification, and would be notified when it arrived.

While Mr “S” was at school teaching,his wife got a call that a trainload of new cars had finally arrived at the dealer. Delighted that it had arrived, she picked up the new car.

For the next week or so they enjoyed taking turns driving the car. One day he thanked his wife for keeping the gas tank so full. She said she hadn’t put any gas in, and assumed he was topping it up. On comparing notes, they realized neither had put gas in the car since they had picked it up the week before. The gas gauge was still reading almost full !? They had driven quite a few miles just commuting the week by then, without adding any gas!?

Hey, whats going on? Man that’s some amazing mileage!?. There was a holiday week coming up, so they decided to see how far they could go before running out of gas. Putting a 5 gallon gas can in the trunk, they headed from the San Francisco Bay Area, to Los Angeles to visit family – about 500 miles!

Well they drove to LA – visited – did some sightseeing, and drove back to the Bay Area.

Once back home, they still had a half tank of gas !? Deciding to see how many miles they could go before running out of gas, they decided to continue driving until they ran out, so redirected plans, and drove the scenic “gold rush country ”-- Highway 49 in the Sierras. At last, nearly a day later, they finally needed to use the 5 gallons of gas in the can, and turned around for home.

When they arrived – the phone was ringing – notes were in the mailbox - they were besieged by phone calls and messages from the dealer !!!

“They had been given an experimental car – destined for Stanford – delivered to them by mistake !!! – it was in the same shipment with their car – but a serial number /clerical error released the experimental car instead! Would they return it immediately!. They would be compensated, and get the car they actually ordered.! Contact the dealer immediately!”

They had the wrong car .. and Ford would like them to exchange it! Ford was offering them ...  a new car each year for life to return the car!

It turns out the car they had – was equipped with some experimental carburetor that allowed hundreds of miles per gallon !!! .. they were gobsmacked .. but under heavy pressure, made the deal .. and returned the car. They did get a new Ford every year I was in High School!?! (free???)

Wow !! – A carburetor that let you go hundreds of miles per gallon in 1961 !?!? …The gasoline companies did NOT want that to go public! Mr S and wife were told not to discuss it - or promote it .. and were forbidden to go to the press, or the new car deal every year - was off !

After intense questioning and grilling by all of us … we couldn’t find any loopholes .. he was serious – not putting us on .. but sharing a 'secret' he was bursting to share!

That’s when we teens had the light bulbs go on – and realized that what the companies 'sell and tell' on TV .. isn’t exactly what they 'know or have' in R and D !? …

Germs of doubt about official pronouncements were seeded ! What else were the great mesophysical “they” not telling us ? We started to really grow up !

Thus began my critical thinking and questioning about what was 'really' going on in the world? – out front – and behind the curtain? ..

what else were we 'not' knowing ?.. and when could we believe what 'they' tell us .. ?

Moral of story : Always – listen between the lines – whenever 'they' speak !!!

*  *  * 

In 1961, I grew up a little bit. I learned to drive a car, and got a license, but also ..

“ ...  we .... saw the enemy – and it was ... US ! ” **

Those flashes of understanding started up then – and haven’t stopped since!

200 mpg for gas in 1961 !? … hmmm ??? .. jus' sayin' ….

* * *

"Truth! – Justice! – and, The American Way!"*

Warren Pease – Out !

* * * *

* – thanks Superman !

** – Thanks Pogo !

Good Bye Mr Crane - Hello Summer and Junior High

 

Good bye Mr. Crane – Hello Summer, and Junior High !

by Anno Nymus

*

Mr Crane our 6^th grade Home-room teacher was called out of the room into the hall to speak with another teacher. We were sternly instructed to remain quietly seated and read, while he stepped into the hallway for a moment. He could see us thru the window in the door, and we could see him chatting up the other teacher out in the hall.

whilst he was out of the room .. the class clown ... Albert C ..slowly rose out of his seat in a half crouch, while eyeballing the discussion in the hall thru the little window...

His sudden movement got all our attention. We could see him gauging how much time he had before Mr Crane stepped back into the room, and then he suddenly rose, seeing that Mr Crane had his back to the room for a moment.

Albert rushed up to Mr Crane's desk … put something down, and scurried back to his front row seat to avoiding detection, then doing the classic silent whistling – 'I didn’t do anything', and innocently glancing around the room. Exactly as he was sitting back down, Mr. Crane came back in, and slightly detected the movement and sensed something was up ..

We had no clue what Albert had put on the desk, but he was chortling to himself and sort of indicating we should watch what happens next.

You have to appreciate that Albert was a burgeoning juvenile delinquent.

Albert was always in trouble, but had a cavalier attitude about it. He was a skilled liar - having much experience talking his way out of various jams: smoking, loitering in the hall and generally moving at his own tempo. He probably grew up to be a gangster – or a lawyer. Albert was a clown , and had a bit of 'I can get away with it' swagger in his walk.

Let me describe the Home Room

As we faced front, Mr Crane's desk was on the far left facing the class with the big blackboard behind him. His desk was along the front wall of 7 foot windows with transoms, overlooking the front lawn.

This was Home Room, a checking in room for an hour before regular classes, where roll was taken and announcements and notices read, and last minutes could be applied to homework needing to be completed (or quickly copied) -- to hand in later that day.

All of us were about 12-13 years old – and mostly boys – but typically unruly as we were wont to be in the late 1950's – being 'rock n roll rebels' in Hollywood … and flexing our new found rebelliousness and increasing disregard for regulations. We were often shocking the old folks.

First bell rang at 6:50, meaning 10 minutes to get to your room, get settled and seated by the 7 o'clock bell.. To Mr Crane, Home Room started at 7 sharp!

When the bell rang, we were to be in our seats, sitting up, alert, quiet, and paying rapt attention to the front notices on the blackboard, while Mr Crane would commence taking the roll !

We did none of those things!!!

He would berate and harangue any infractions, and woe unto late comers or stragglers – they were to be in their assigned seat, attentive, quiet, and ready for the day before the bell rang at 7! 

We didn’t do that.

The Permanent Record &  Taking The Roll

Mr Crane – old, be-speckled, and befuddled .. seemed about 85 to us and as alien as someone from another century – which he was – and frequently reminded us that we were his very last home room class. He was looking forward to retiring. We were glad, and couldn't wait.. he was literally .. stern and far too OLD SCHOOL !!

He was a few years past his ability to control the class. Authoritarian efforts attempted – to no avail . He was set in cement . We were incorrigible.

He was what we thought of as strict and mean – which now I appreciate as probably old age. To us he didn’t appreciate anything new or different – it was the 1950's!

Life was rockin' n rollin' just like our new battery powered transistor radios ! The media for social interaction of the 50's. It bumfuzzled Mr C if you were listening to a radio waiting for the opening bell.

We would gang around the person with the best transistor radio .. and we'd listen to radio KFWB – channel 98 - DJ's spinning those platters... in the hall waiting for the bell.

Records 'n Spinning Platters : 78 rpm was being replaced by 45 rpm for us kids n teens, and 33 rpm hi-fi long play for the adults . The world was changing ,and Mr Crane – with his charge of inquisitive and motivated students – wasn’t up to the challenge. we were his last class.

We got the 1930 stuff... but needed the 1950 stuff …  he thought a lot differently than we did... I now realize that was just a massive generational gap. He expected us to be like his 1930 students. He had started in 1928, and had been teaching for 30 years by 1958 !

We were definitely not like his 1930 students! Especially with Albert leading the mischief.

Now... Back to the story.

Albert just barely got into his seat when Mr C came back in – immediately sensing something was up.He went toward his desk – with the precious Log Book ... scanning the class for hints of what was up !?

Before I proceed, and reveal what Mr Crane was about to see, it should here be noted that his cursive penmanship was magnificent!

Penmanship

His Roll Book - “ The Master Log”, was flowery and beautiful. He had perfect cursive, and used an old dip pen .. that old kind with gold nibs that you dipped into an ink well. It looked like he had written the Declaration of Independence. 

His attendance book was meticulously kept .. every entry perfectly scribed – Present/Here, Tardy/late, sick , excuses, grades .. a perfect log book. He prided himself on how well he kept the attendance record. It was in fact our 'permanent record' he would say .. so he took great care to make each quill penned entry perfect .. and blotted.

We mostly all took great care to avoid that any negative entries be made about us … it was after all the 'permanent record' .. well, all except for Albert and the incorrigible bunch – a small group that took another tack. They thrived on how many entries they had !

Note here that Mr Crane's weapon of control was --  the constant threat of making an entry in the attendance book under our name ! A typical threat might include picking up the book to demonstrate intent .. and if serious .. reach for the dip pen! The threat of entry in this book .. did surprisingly well to keep most of us mild -1950's rebels -  at bay .. except for Albert.

Important Aside: we must here note – The Farmers Market

We lived pretty close to the famous Farmers Market by the CBS TV studios .. and we often wandered thru the stalls window shopping and looking at the various products after school or lazy weekends, but a favorite stall .. was the scientific and gag toy shop .. solar driven whirlygigs .. tin spoonbill birds , endlessly and repeatedly dipping their beaks into a glass of water – popping up and doing it over n over. Of course to 12 year olds guys, the rubberized plastic, realistic looking .. fake barf / fake dog poop / fake pee puddles held special scatological allure, and potential laughs galore ! Wow !! They look so real !!

This is about the place I should mention – this was the last day of school before summer! Only 6 classes to go and … FREEDOM !!! but first … one last Home Room ..ugh .. and 45 more minutes … tick tock tick tock …

Back to the tale …

Albert is smugly watching as Mr Crane approaches his desk .. stops cold .. turns beet red .. faces the class .. and says .. 

“Who threw up on my desk ????? “ SPEAK UP .. THAT IS DISGUSTING .. STEP UP NOW AND CLEAN THIS UP !!! NOW !!!

Mr C was .. tapping his toes .. we all squirmed uncomfortably – but now we know what Albert did .. and its a riot .. but we are smart enuff to stifle the chuckles .. but its tough .. He thinks its real .. we know it cant be !

Mr C is pacing and fuming now .. “OK I'm going to get the Principal and we will settle this once and for all .. whoever is responsible will be held accountable .. the Master Log book is ruined !!!

He turned and left the room to fetch the Principal ..!

Quick as a rabbit .. Albert jumps up .. runs to the desk and grabs the rubberized fake barf .. holds is up and shows it to all of us, then throws it out the 7 foot window transom .. and it fly’s out toward the front lawn  into some bushes ..

Albert returns to his seat giggling .. we are all laughing and hooting. Soon Mr Crane and the Principal return … and we instantly sit bolt upright, silent, and awaiting doom! 'Rapt' would be about it !

Mr Crane says to the Principal “come here and see what they did to the Master Log Book !” … and then notices that nothing is amiss .. and starts too look around .. seeing that nothing is wrong .. no barf !?!?! … now he IS bumfuzzled .. and the Principal is a bit disconcerted .. what IS going on here Mr Crane ?

Mr Crane demands to know who 'cleaned it up '?? … no one stirs .. and clearly the Log isn’t wet or damp .. with no sign of anything awry .. The Principal soon exits scratching his head, ..

Mr Crane is taken aback and sits down in total consternation .. he asks a few of the teacher pets if they know anything .. no one speaks up …

We get a lecture on civil manners and courtesy, rules of social behavior, and social norms not to be broken, or taken lightly .. then we were told to work quietly till the bell rings.

Mr C sits down .. looks directly at Albert .. says .. "I know you were behind this .. but I cant figure out how you cleaned it up !? … I'm glad this is my last day!".

Just then the bell rang .. Albert jumped up .. Yelled "HAPPY SUMMER !" .. and raced out the door escaping any further 3rd degree… we all thanked Mr Crane , and  wished him a good summer .. and ...left the 6^th grade !

Next stop Summer and Junior High !

We all had a good laugh at Mr Cranes expense – no harm no foul – the precious LOG BOOK OF LIFE was still virginal .. but there it was .. summer was on us and we didn’t have time to be contrite .. that bit catches up with us all …much later.

I sometimes wonder if Albert became a politician, gangster or famous attorney!? Mr Crane got out at the right time, and all I know is that I escaped elementary school,  and I was now looking forward to joining  the junior toilet washer brigade - as we called the 7th graders !? 

Hello Junior High .... and ... Summer here we come !!! 

End

The Recipe Box: Hot Pepper Vinegar

Hot Pepper Vinegar

From the recipe box of KimB

During the first lock downs and lock-in days of COVID-19 Pandemic shopping was a No Go activity. Items had to be bought on-line, especially if you are At Risk (we are all At Risk but some are More At Risk than others), and you had to Make Do with whatever was on offer and more importantly, whatever was actually delivered.

Shopping online doesn't seem to be any easier for me than shopping in person. It's actually a counter-intuitive problem. One might think that having lists of goods scrolling on the screen would make things easier, except the items scrolling on the lists are not the ones I want.

You scroll past a lot of stuff of no interest and once you do find something you want, if you misclick the selection, you get to do the whole scroll thing again.

The only achievement is the "Store AI Shopping Algorithm" that is harvesting shopping data, is logging a lot of junk data. The program which suffers from a lack of the Intelligence part in Artificial Intelligence, collects useless info while it tries to entice me to buy stuff of No Interest To Me. It is likely of great interest and high margin profit to the store, so they keep trying to sell what they want me to buy.

It becomes a game of sorts, how to by pass the AI Shopping Algorithm and get to the stuff I DO want to buy.

During this phase of the initial COVID-19 pandemic, we all learned that there was an awful lot of stuff we didn't need, we never needed, and no longer want. Some of these epiphanies remain as we move into the more challenging waves of COVID-19 WackAMut.

One thing I did want, was a decent salsa or hot sauce. The Big Box Stores that provided the food lifelines only carry the huge sizes of salsa and hot sauce used by restaurants. Nothing small and dainty or suitable for an occasional dash 'n' splash. There was also the question of ingredients and some offerings have less biological content than the amount of inert packaging. I already have enough of that air-bubble wrap, thanks.

During a moment of celebration after getting The Jab and waiting the requiste days for effectiveness, we made a foray to the drive through burger joint. We drove home with our treasure:

Burgers, Fries, Shakes. Heaven.

In the bag was a container of extra pickles and another container of Hot Peppers.

Hot Peppers. Salsa. Hot Peppers. Hot Sauce. Hot Peppers. Hmmmm...

Not having the rest of the ingrediants to make Salsa or Hot Sauce, I began to rummage through the pantry goods to see what I could make with the Hot Peppers.

Not all Hot Peppers are the same. Some are mild and some have enough fire power to launch a rocket. You have to be mindful that a few letters in the name make a big difference.

• Burger Joint peppers are Cascabella or Guerito peppers. They are both sold in jars; both look similar. They have thick walls. They are pickled. They are hot. 1500-4000 Scovilles.
  
  Cascabella can grow as ornamentals. They turn orange, red if left long enough to ripen. The commercial pickled peppers are picked at the yellow stage and then pickled.


• Cascabel is a hot pepper, brown in color with thin walls; used dried and ground. 1,000 to 3,000 Scovilles.


• Pepperoncino sold in the USA are Friggitello peppers aka golden greek or tuscan pepper. Found on sandwiches and salad bars. They are mild. 100 - 500 Scovilles.

Pickling is the process of preserving or extending the shelf life of food using brine or immersion in vinegar. One thing I did have was vinegar.

Since the burger joint Cascabella Peppers had already been brined, I popped them into a jar of white vinegar to see if the vinegar would capture the flavor of the hot peppers but with less heat.

In short order, the vinegar had absorbed the flavor, with just enough heat, still having that acidic bite. A few teaspoons of the Cascabella Hot Pepper Vinegar Infusion, perk up some of the blander dinner fare without the flame thrower aspect of eating them direct. I've used it instead of horseradish in a chicken salad, it worked great.

Ingredients: Hot Pepper Vinegar

A few Cascabella Peppers. (obtained from higher quality Burger Joints)
1 cup of white vinegar. (other types might work)
Glass jar with a good lid.

Optional: Burger Joint pickles.

Preparation:

1. Place the Cascabella Peppers and Pickles in the jar.
2. Cover with White Vinegar.
3. Store in the fridge.
4. Stir or shake before use to mix the flavors.
5. Teaspoon the flavored vinegar as desired.

Hot Pepper Vinegar