Venice Skatepark in Venice Beach, California



Not far from my home the boardwalk at Venice Beach was known more for bodybuilding than skateboarding, but since 2009 the thrashers have been giving the weightlifters some real competition. People-watchers looking for a little high-speed drama congregate at the Venice Skatepark, a large concrete plaza set right into the beach. Skateboarders maneuver through two swimming pool-like bowls, a twisting and turning snake run, and a section replicating an urban street with steps, platforms, and metal railings. The city-owned property is free to use, but mastering the skills to tackle this flow takes time, practice, and a lot of nerve.

Yes that mountain horizon is on the masthead of this blog.

Trolls, Ogres, and Trolling

In days gone by a troll was some kind of monster who threatened people and communities.

Trolls are considered to be supernatural creatures in Scandinavian folklore and Norse mythology. They are depicted as dangerous, cunning, and capable of magically cursing people and also eating them up when it suited them. They are considered to be more reasonable than ogres and could be reasoned with unlike ogres. It is believed that they would turn to stone in the sunlight, so they lived in dark caves in isolation in mountains in small family-like units. They are depicted to be living far away from any human population. Their appearance is more varied than ogres. Trolls could either be very ugly creatures and slow witted or could look like humans and could be very cunning and intelligent.

Do not mix trolls with ogres. Ogres were considered unreasonable and murderous; trolls could be reasoned with and may or may not feed on humans.

Shrek, the cartoon character, was an ogre. Obviously he was the reasonable exception.  Donald Trump should be viewed as an unreasonable ogre.

Today in Internet slang, a troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Facebook is filled with trolls and significant trolling.

John Brennan doubles down

It is the chaos president versus America’s security apparatus. This fight will not end soon.

✔ @JohnBrennan

John Brennan tweet

Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of “high crimes & misdemeanors.” It was nothing short of treasonous. Not onlywere Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin.
Republican Patriots: Where are you???

8:52 AM – Jul 16, 2018

During NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, host Chuck Todd asked if Brennan regretted accusing the president of treason.

“I called his behavior treasonous, which is to betray one’s trust and to aid and abet the enemy,” Brennan responded. “And I stand very much by that claim.”

Trump’s Enemies are America’s Enemies?

Donald Trump sees enemies everywhere. In his view all of them have just one goal. It is apparent that he sees their goal is to remove him from the presidency by any means possible.

Thus Trump claims that the press is “the enemy of the people.” It is not just the print press. It is all media. His banning of CNN and NBC at news events has become routine.

John Brennan, Former CIA director, called the US President’s performance at Helsinki “nothing short of treasonous.” Trump has fired back by revoking Brennan’s security clearance.

Trump has compiled a list of at least ten people who are all likely to be denied security clearance.

Richard Nixon also had an enemy list of more than 200 people.

It all reminds me of The Caine Mutiny. In that movie Captain Queeg loses it in a court hearing.

The similarities between Queeg and Trump are remarkable.

What is the Robert Mueller Investigation?

For those of you outside the United States the question is what is going on in the USA?

The original Robert Mueller investigation, motivated by the firing of FBI director James Comey,  was at the direction of Mr Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general appointing Mr Mueller to look into:

  • The Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the election
  • Any links or co-ordination between Russia and Trump campaign-linked individuals
  • Any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation

That last point gives him quite a broad authority to also determine if the president himself has committed any wrongdoing.

The president’s words and behavior towards Russia and Vladimir Putin since taking office have only heightened the suspicion that his election was tainted and he has committed treasonous acts. The Helsinki summit between Trump and Putin only exacerbates that suspicion.

Donald Trump’s extraordinary performance in Helsinki alongside Russian leader Vladimir Putin may have crossed a red line with his fellow Republicans.

Former Republican Representative David Jolly said Congress was at “an inflection point.”

“This will be one of those moments the long lens of history remembers,” Jolly, who represented a Florida district from 2014 to 2017, said in an interview. “We’ve never had reason to question a president’s patriotism. We question their competence, their judgment, their self-interest, their partisan motivations. Even with Richard Nixon we never had questions of patriotism like we are seeing today.”

Jolly said that for the first time he believes impeachment of Trump — or removal under the 25th Amendment by declaring him unfit — should be on the table. But, he said, “The fates of Republicans on the Hill are too tied to the president. I’m not optimistic that they will be independent.”

The Best Things to do in Fargo, North Dakota

Lilit Marcus, CNN • Updated 9th August 2018

Fargo, ND (CNN) — If you live outside of the United States (or, possibly, in it) and have heard of the small city of Fargo, odds are good that it’s from the Coen Brothers movie than won Frances McDormand her first Oscar.

But adventurers willing to explore the largest city in North Dakota will find an underappreciated art scene, incredible craft beer and cider and friendly locals in this off-the-beaten-path destination.

Here are the best things to do in Fargo when you travel there — woodchipper not included:

A cool, crisp morning in Fargo pairs beautifully with a bagel from BernBaum’s.

The tiny downtown deli is a mix of Scandinavian and Jewish traditions — it may sound weird until you realize how much both cultures appreciate smoked fish.
A bagel and lox plate is a solid bet, but if you’re feeling adventurous — or dreaming of Tel Aviv — ask for za’atar, labneh and other Middle Eastern flourishes.

If you prefer sweet to savory, head to Sandy’s Donuts for your standard cream-filled bismarks along with edgier offerings like “dirt and worms” (that would be crushed Oreos and gummy worms).

Down the block is uber-fashionable coffee shop Young Blood, where baristas swap out vinyl records between making lattes. You won’t need Shazam to tell you what song is on — employees will display the record cover above the register for reference.

At dinner time, head to the HoDo Lounge (inside the Hotel Donaldson, which we’ll get to later) for tastes of fresh food from the Red River Valley region. Highlights include shrimp and grits (who knew they could be so good so far north?), seared tuna steak and the obligatory bison burger.

BernBaum’s, 115 Roberts St N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 306-4131
Sandy’s Donuts, 300 Broadway North, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 478-1155
Young Blood, 623 2nd Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102, (218) 770-4728

Like many other Midwestern cities, Fargo has a thriving beer scene.

If you’re in downtown Fargo, several excellent breweries are in walking distance, most notably Fargo Brewing and Drekker — the former is known for pale ales and shandys while the latter is faux-Scandinavian (the name, as a sign in the tasting room explains, is a made-up word intended to sound Nordic) with hearty IPAs.

If you were planning to check a bag, Fargo Brewing sells its best beers — including, sigh, a Wood Chipper IPA — in cans ready to be packed up.

Downtown is also home to Wild Terra, North Dakota’s first cider bar.

The menu helpfully breaks down the major types of cider (“cider beer does not exist”) as well as meads and honey wines, and vegetarians having a tough time in the area will appreciate the plant-centric bar snack menu.

If you feel like a drive, it’s a ten-minute trip over the Red River to Fargo’s sister city of Moorhead, Minnesota.

There, Junkyard Brewery is beloved by locals who appreciate their daring brews like hoppy peach sour and guava milkshake (no, really, it’s better than it deserves to be).

Fargo Brewing Company, 610 University Dr N Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 478-BEER
Drekker Brewing Co, 630 1st Ave N #6, Fargo, ND 58102 (701) 540-6808
Wild Terra Cider and Brewing, 6 12th St N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 639-6273
Junkyard Brewing, 1416 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560, (701) 936-5545

If Fargo has a main drag, it’s Broadway, where in just a few minutes you can pass by a boatload of independently owned shops. The treasure of them all is Zandbroz (the second syllable is pronounced “bros,” like “cool story, bros”) Variety.

“Variety” is accurate — the shop sells new and used books, candles, perfume, greeting cards, stationery, herbal tea, pottery, jewelry and more, all with a hearty helping of North Dakota pride.

Although the eclectic mix could be overwhelming, it works because every item feels hand-chosen.

Just down the block is Unglued, where local makers sell their crafts — as the store helpfully explains, “it’s like Etsy in real life.”

Next door is Stabo Scandinavian Imports, a place for North Dakotans — many of whom have Scandinavian heritage — to go full hygge with knitwear, chocolates, baking supplies and more.

But the centerpiece of Broadway is the Fargo Theatre, a National Register of Historic Places-listed Art Deco cinema and theater whose neon sign is the most recognizable image in town.

Even if you’re not going to see a performance, you can usually get a staff member to let you poke around inside the building.

Zandbroz Variety, 420 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 239-4729
Unglued, 408 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 205-1597
Stabo Scandinavian Imports, 406 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 282-0421
Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 239-8385

Fargo’s small downtown is packed with bookstores, record shops, music venues and other ways to experience art and culture.

The Plains Art Museum, which is free to visit, has a small but lovingly curated collection focusing on local work, including by local Native American tribes like the Lakota and Sioux (ND is the Sioux State, after all).

The highlight? A piece by renowned pop artist James Rosenquist, who was born in nearby Grand Forks, and created a North Dakota-themed mural as a special commission.

While Fargo’s hotel scene is still slow to catch up, the city is lucky to have a bona fide gem downtown — the 17-room all-suite Hotel Donaldson, aka HoDo.
Each room is decorated with work by a different artist, so look online and request which room you’d like based on your medium of choice — blown glass, charcoals and paintings are among the offerings.

If you want to be surprised, ask for room nine, which is one of the few to rotate out — students who win art scholarships get to display their pieces here.

Meanwhile, the best room for romance is number 17, which has an in-ground bathtub filled dramatically by a pipe from the ceiling.

Plains Art Museum, 704 1st Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 551-6100
Hotel Donaldson, 101 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102, (701) 478-1000

700K Foreign Nationals Overstayed Visas to the U.S. in 2017

More than 700,000 foreign nationals who were supposed to leave the U.S. in recent months overstayed their visas, the Department of Homeland Security said in a report released Tuesday.

Overall, an estimated 40 percent of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally stayed past their visas.

Overstays have exceeded those entering illegally every year since 2007, and there have been half a million more overstays than illegal entries since 2007.

We have visited Canada every other year for the past decade.  Canadian immigration always asks our purpose for entering but there are no arm bands or tracking device given to us.  They really do not know where we are.  It is the same way in the United States.

A study by the Center for Migration Studies divides the 2014 illegal population into two groups: those who enter with a valid temporary visa, but subsequently “overstay” and establish residence in the U.S. without authorization and those who “enter without inspection” (EWI) through the southern border without proper immigration documents.

Research published in June by the Cato Institute found both legal and illegal immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans. This data totally contradicts Donald Trump.  His language is enthusiastically endorsed by his followers. 

Is a border wall really a solution to illegal immigration?

ID is Needed to Buy Groceries

Campaigning for voter ID laws Donald Trump pointed out at a rally, “You know, if you go out and you want to buy groceries, you need a picture on a card, you need ID,” Trump continued. “You go out and you want to buy anything, you need ID and you need your picture.”

“From coast to coast, food-seeking scofflaws were turned away from supermarkets, convenience stores and fruit markets as they tried to circumvent the nation’s long-standing grocery I.D. laws,” wrote comedian Andy Borowitz in a satirical article for the New Yorker.

As Borowitz imagines it (in an actual fake news story) a supermarket cashier quipped: “It’s always, ‘Oh, I left my food I.D. in my other pants,’ or some B.S. like that. Believe me, I’ve heard it all.”

In the real world Donald Trump also says there is no global warming.  The EU is America’s foe and Russia is not trying to interfere with America’s elections.

Who is laughing now?

Parkinson’s disease

Alan Alda reveals he has Parkinson’s disease. ‘It hasn’t stopped my life at all.’ Alda is 82. Alda’s most famous role was on the television program MASH.

Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye ” Pierce in MASH

Michael J. Fox, the actor, found himself with Parkinson’s at 29 years old.  He is now 57. Despite the disease he has led an active life. He is the father of four children. Fox is most famous for his roles as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future movies.

 

The following is copied verbatim from the Mayo Clinic website.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.

In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson’s disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time.

Although Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, medications might significantly improve your symptoms. Occasionally, your doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms.

  • Tremor. A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may a rub your thumb and forefinger back-and-forth, known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremor when it’s at rest.
  • Slowed movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson’s disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag your feet as you try to walk.
  • Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.
  • Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson’s disease.
  • Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.
  • Speech changes. You may speak softly, quickly, slur or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections.
  • Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.