Tag: local

You’d best be movin’ on.

I went over to Newport Center to the doctor to get fluids removed for the scienticians. On the way there I saw a car pull on to Coast Highway in front of me. Beat-up old early 80s Buick or something, one of those huge two-door American mistakes. There were a couple of pieces of furniture haphazardly roped to the roof and a frazzled looking couple of people inside. Tramp Family. They radiated disorganization, poverty, and sadness.

I thought as they went by that they were unusual for the shininess of that part of town. Almost anywhere else in America you wouldn’t even notice them unless the furniture fell off, but they were in the heart of the Wealth Star.

Went in, got poked with a needle, peed in a cup. As I left I saw that two Newport cop cars had pulled them over and they were doing the shame squat on the curb while an officer talked to them. Police around here don’t miss much.

Seeing pharmaceutical reps always reminds me how fucked-up that part of medicine is. I put chemicals into my face every day that are aggressively marketed to physicians by stewardessy young women with too much makeup on.

The Legend of Aquaman

He arrives in an old Suzuki Sidekick,white with pink and blue pinstripes, and strides in resplendent in a mane of dyed and teased Male Pattern Doofus, plucked eyebrows, and one of an assortment of costumes including but not limited to: captain’s hat with corncob pipe and blazer; medieval/druidic tunic and Roman strap sandals; loud blue-green aloha shirt with slacks and espadrilles; or New Age t-shirt covered in Native American imagery and/or crystal faeries.

His life is mysterious. Before Bree snapped and robbed a bank he used to talk to her a lot, but even a freaked-out Crowleyan transgendered blues singer found him too outré and would sink back into her studies of Left Hand Magick with an apologetic smile. A particular exchange I overheard one day became legendary. They were discussing movie actors and their pay, and that female stars were paid less, and he said: “Well, of course, there’s one business where the women get paid more, and that’s… [pause for effect]… [slowly and deliberately licks top teeth] poooornography.”

His nickname comes from the blue-green aloha shirt outfit, which looks like an aquarium just exploded on him.

I present to you a genuine California eccentric:

two 800×533 jpegs

Did Nena snuff it at the Fairview offramp this morning or something?

Some woman in a Hummer Limo apparently committed suicide on the freeway at 5 this morning by leaping out of it. The news reports say they had been at a “celebrity event” (nice phrase) and then at a party in Costa Mesa. Also that she was in a “German band”. Unsurprisingly, there may have been alcohol involved!

So, what German band was at a Celebrity Event, then came down to this hub of culture and excitement called Costa Mesa and partied until 5 am, and then got in their Hummer Limo to go back to L.A. only to be interrupted by this lady’s suicide?

Edit: Now it says she was in a “popular German punk band”. I’d put up the Drudge siren because it’s a DEVELOPING… story but I’m lazy.

News story in our local rag

AP Story at sfgate.com

My county’s sheriffs are doing a fine imitation of Tijuana cops lately. Background here: The son of an “assistant sheriff” and major campaign donor took part in a gang rape of another teenager and the Sheriffs Office obstructed the investigation. They also let the kid go when he was smoking pot outside the courthouse. Meanwhile, it turns out that the Sheriff has been handing out Reserve Deputy status, with badge and government issued gun included, to all his buddies. Some of said buddies have criminal records, and none of them are peace officers. The State has been pressuring him to train or fire his reserve deputies.

Hey, they’re right! His taekwondo instructor turns out not to be the kind of guy you want packing heat:

O.C. Reserve Deputy Is Suspended
Four felony counts are lodged against the man who is also the sheriff’s martial arts instructor. He allegedly pulled a gun and raged at golfers.
By Christine Hanley
Times Staff Writer

August 5, 2005

An Orange County sheriff’s reserve deputy was suspended from duty after his arrest Monday for allegedly flashing his badge, pulling a gun and threatening to kill a group of golfers at a Chino Hills course.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in San Bernardino County said Thursday that they were upping the charges against the reserve officer from a single misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm to four felonies: two counts each of assault with a firearm and making criminal threats.

conduct unbecoming

It’s good to live where I do.

Southern California this week is going to be a dangerous and painful furnace. Today it was 120° in Indio (desert town). The emergency services people have put out a dire bulletin advising people to be careful of the high temperatures and unusually high humidity, and not to leave old people, children, or animals in cars, and for chrissakes don’t die of the heat.

Meanwhile, the report ends with this:

ONSHORE FLOW AND A MARINE LAYER INFLUENCE WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES
FAIRLY MILD ON THE COASTAL PLAIN…GENERALLY IN THE 70S AND
80S…EXCEPT 60S ON THE BEACHES.

Thank you, Dad, for buying a house in Paradise 40 years ago.