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Archive for the ‘California’ Category

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I am in Huntington Beach, California and thus California Dreaming.  Or at least living the dream that is Orange County—a bastion of white, Hispanic, and Vietnamese wealth, power, and privilege.  The Bentley now stands outside the small townhouse where once (fifteen years ago) there stood a cheap American car driven by old people, now dead.  The hue of colors at the pier is vast–although, thankfully, there are still young ladies in bikinis (of all hue) on roller-blades bedecking the streets.  As my son once said: “Dad, no man should be enabled to fall in love so often during a mere walk down the street.” (more…)

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Friday and Saturday were given over to love (some may call it lust and the pleasures of the flesh.)  Sunday was given over to good weather, a long bike ride, opera, and smoking a pipe. The most innocent of these is smoking a pipe.  I first smoked a pipe when I was thirteen or fourteen–I cannot recall which.  We sat behind the shed and puffed the pleasures of tobacco.  I transgressed to cigarettes and cigars, and strong spirits, including brandy and cognac.  (more…)

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Today was the first official baseball game my third grandson has played.  In the bright sunshine of a green field, he and the rest of the five- to seven-year olds who have practiced for a month or two, played their first game ever.  Most of the team are but a head taller than the baseball bat.  They have all the official gear:  personalized jerseys; helmets; lower protective gear; and headgear.  This is a game of much equipment and skill.  At least they have the equipment.  (more…)

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Dilution is the solution to pollution at the Royal Mounain King Mine in California.  As stated in a news release at this link, (more…)

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Back in Vancouver after six weeks in Orange County, California.  Loved the sun, the beach, the heated pool, and the family.  But it is great to be back to the expense, beauty, and banalities of a city.  And the pleasures of self-indulgence of the senses sans censors. (more…)

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Before we begin tonight’s celebrations, let me pause for a few minutes to wish all, and especially readers of this blog, a happy and productive 2013.  (more…)

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A cornucopia of impressions as I look back on the past two days.  The overall impression is crowds; the crowds of greater Los Angeles and Orange County in the days of a week of holidays; and the crowds of thirty-million people in a relatively small area.  I almost long for the smallness & loneliness of Vancouver. (more…)

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When I was a kid on a mine in South Africa, the day after Christmas was truly Boxing Day.  The excitement of presents subsided and we got to play with the new toys at leisure.  There was no TV so we truly sat quietly and read the new books Santa had brought.  The servants were off for the day and our parents, every reluctant to cook, simply spread the left-overs from which we picked as fancy and appetite dictated.  The sun shone ever-bright and we dipped yet again into the mine swimming pool and got ever more burnt to produce today’s sun-scorched skin and cancers. (more…)

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The very southern tip of Los Angeles is San Pedro, the area around the LA Harbor.  Here are some photos that I took yesterday while we spent the day cycling around and lazing on my daughter’s boat.

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Another day of webcasts on mining and yet another long argument over the future of mining.  We opined in the webcast that filter-pressed tailings is the only way to go with the future of tailings: if a mine cannot afford the costs, they should not begin, for they will not be able to end.  Unless they can afford an embankment dam of compacted, durable rock and closure to a site that becomes a place where the rich may recreate like at Cannon Mine that is now a riding stable for the rich. (more…)

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