Brief moment of computer time. Thankfully I have been paying little attention to news and mostly relaxing. Spent several days staying with friends in the Hollywood Hills (in a house that originally belonged to D. W. Griffith) now with relatives in Santa Barbara.

I hear Fred Thompson, supposedly the savior of the Republican's chances for the White House, has hit some rough waters. No real surprise, of course. It's going to be a rough ride for ALL the candidates, particularly the Republicans who have to somehow appeal to an America sick to death of Bush but also appeal to the base that is so fanatically right wing they practically are from another culture altogether.

Would love to write about one of the people I know in Santa Barbara who was one of the veteran reporters fired (perhaps illegally) from the Santa Barbara News-Press by the nut-case rich bitch publisher Wendy McCaw, but it isn't my story. For those who want to see how a dumb rich idiot can spoil a pulitzer prize winning newspaper, I refer you to Craig Smith's blog and to a recent biting letter from Lou Cannon (Cannon's letter is a PDF). This whole thing was blowing up last year when I visited California, but I had forgotten about it until hearing the latest from my friends here. My connection is now free lance because of McCaw's purge. One can find some sense of justice in the fact that McCaw is driving her newspaper into the ground as readership drops precipitously, but that doesn't help the many men and women whose livelihoods have been ruined or at least hurt by her utter stupidity. Again, I defer to the above sources for details. But it has been on my mind.

When I checked my investments, I was happy to see my solar energy investment continues to rock. The stock has more than doubled since my first purchase. Those who tell you alternative energy isn't economically sound are fools. The technology is today and America is stupid if it doesn't invest in it because it means AMERICAN jobs, local energy solutions and a cleaner environment. The only losers are big oil companies and the politicians who work for them, and the Saudis and the terrorists they support.

Along these lines I want to offer a few observations. Nothing scientific here, merely observations over the period we have been here. Summer is often a peak time for smog in Los Angeles. Yet this visit the air has been cleaner here than it was in New York City. Beautiful out here! Clean air tinged with the smell of eucalyptus and jasmine.

At the same time my wife and I have been noticing a large increase in the number of Priuses we are seeing on the road in California. More than we have noticed ever before. Hybrids are definitely gaining in California, mostly Toyotas. Some Honda Civic hybrids as well. We have driven both the Prius and the Civic hybrid and found the Prius better. But interesting that it is still the Japanese hybrids that are doing well. Once again Japan is beating us in new car technology. Didn't we learn from the near death of the American car industry in the 1980's? But hopefully America will catch up.

We also notice that most of the buses we see in Los Angeles are clean air cars. Bio-fuels, natural gas, etc. The Los Angeles MTA is bragging that they have the largest clean air fleet in the nation. I know NYC is trying to improve their fleet as well, but Los Angeles is claiming to be well ahead.

Is the lack of smog connected to the seeming increase in hybrids and the development of a clean-air fleet of buses in Los Angeles? Probably a little bit. Mostly the atmospheric conditions may just be right for clean air. But having known Los Angeles for most of my life, this summer seems unusually good for air quality just as Los Angeles seems to be taking many small but real steps towards cleaning up it's air.

An interesting observation about Santa Barbara as well. I have noticed a slight, almost refreshing touch of seediness in its downtown area. Santa Barbara, for those who don't know it, is one of the most idyllic cities in America. Wealth and careful local policies have made for a pretty successful, beautiful and almost eerily lovely city. I love Santa Barbara, but honestly I have often found it almost too perfect. State Street, the main drag through downtown, is very tourist oriented, with many upscale though rugged clothing companies (e.g. Coldwater Creek), many Mexican, New Mexican and Asian restaurants and Starbucks galore. But something I never noticed has crept in to downtown Santa Barbara and I kind of like it! Tattoo parlors, the occasional adult bookstore and massage parlor are now competing with Coldwater Creek and Starbucks for the tourist industry. More bars than I remember as well. Back around 2003 a friend and I had something to celebrate in Santa Barbara, but could find no bars in which to celebrate! Shameful! Now, the near perfect city has developed just a touch of seediness for those of us who like a bit of imperfection with our perfection.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

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