FUSION REACTOR MAY COMBAT GLOBAL WARMING

PARIS — Seven partners representing half the world's population signed a pact Tuesday to build an experimental fusion reactor in southern France that could revolutionize global energy use for future generations.

Construction of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, or ITER, is expected to take eight years. The site is in Cadarache, near Marseille in the southern region of Provence. It will take decades for scientists to learn whether the long-awaited $12.8-billion reactor will work well enough to make commercial plants feasible.

Physicists have been trying for half a century to create fusion, which produces no greenhouse gases and generates relatively little radioactive waste. Fusion, which powers the sun and other stars, involves confining hydrogen isotopes at extreme temperature and pressure to create a highly energetic gas. At 180 million degrees, the hydrogen nuclei undergo nuclear fusion, forming a helium nucleus and releasing energy.

The ITER project by the United States, the European Union, China, India, Russia, Japan and South Korea will attempt to combat global warming by offering an alternative to the burning of fossil fuels. Controlling climate change and finding new energy sources are urgent goals for meeting rising global demand. (From the Associated Press)

Stepping Back Into History and Remembering CLIFTON'S

Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria, 648 So. Broadway, Los Angeles (downtown), 213 627 1673, daily 6:30am to 7pm, since 1935. (For the complete story on Clifton's see my August 5, 2006 posting)

Clifton’s Cafeteria is credited with saving the lives of many down and out people during the depression with its "pay what you wish" policy. Founded by Clifford E. Clinton, the Brookdale branch was once the national headquarters for "Meals for Millions Foundation" a nonprofit corporation to prevent starvation (apparently in the US in the 1930s but I believe continues to this day). They also developed a special 5 cent meal served to 500 patrons a day "with the nutritional equivalent of beef, green peas, milk and potatoes". It was called "multi-purpose food". The meal checks used to say "Regardless of the amount on this check our cashier will cheerfully accept whatever you wish to pay - or you dine free". Can you imagine a restaurant today surviving with that policy? It seems our culture used to have more integrity.
Other branches, including a tropical themed one called Clifton's "Pacific Seas" at 618 So. Olive and a comparatively more elegant one called the "Silver Spoon" are long gone (although a sign for the Silver Spoon still exists at the location). The Seven Seas had primitive huts inside with rain and thunder effects and waterfalls on the outside exterior.

Beautiful Terrazzo in front of Clifton's Cafeteria

All of you who are old enough will remember BOB'S BIG BOY

A classic Wayne McAllister coffee shop. This is the oldest surviving Big Boy. Modernism par excellence. Well worth a visit, especially when they have a classic car show in the parking lot.
Near the Smoke House Restaurant, Frank's Steakhouse, Genio's Restaurant, Dimples Restaurant, Chili John's Restaurant, the Bella Vista Italian Restaurant, Tin Horn Flats, Monte Carlo Deli & Pinocchio's Restaurant and the Blue Room bar.
Bob's Big Boy, 4211 W Riverside Dr Burbank, CA 91505 818-843-9334 since 1949

Ain't it the truth !!!

Oftentimes the Obvious Can Be Elusive

Studying the Origins of the Solar System

ARTIST'S RENDERING BY PAT RAWLINGS / NASA (2005)

At events on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, the public joined astronomers worldwide in observing the unique encounter between Comet Tempel 1 and an impactor from the Deep Impact spacecraft as part of a historic experiment to study the origins of the solar system.
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Interior Rendering by Concept Visualizations

Mystical and Magical Switzerland

Set Your Goals and Achieve Them

LEADERSHIP: "Be the calm after the storm and the light that leads the way towards excellence."

New Glass Bridge Above the Colorado River on the Very Edge of the Grand Canyon

The Glass Bridge Construction of the Skywalk began March of 2004 and is estimated to be completed by 4th quarter of 2006.

The Glass Bridge will be suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River on the very edge of the Grand Canyon . On May 2005, the final test was conducted and the structure passed engineering requirements by 400 percent, enabling it to withstand the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes (more that 71 million pounds).

The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100 miles per hour from 8 different directions, as well as an 8.0 magnitude earthquake within 50 miles. More than one million pounds of steel will go into the construction of the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

This helps give the project a little perspective.

Just When You Think You've Seen Everything . . .

Here's a German semi-truck whose trailer is decorated to look like the sides are missing and the product they are hauling is painted on the sides and back. The bottle of beer looks so real, like it is coming out of the side of the trailer.

Scotty's Castle Helped Make Death Valley Blossom

Born Walter Scott in 1872, Death Valley Scotty as he became known, first visited Death Valley as a young man while working out of a Nevada ranch. In 1890 a talent scout hired him to work as a cowboy in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. After traveling with the show for twelve years, Scott returned to Death Valley to try his hand at Gold prospecting. He persuaded several wealthy businessmen to part with their money in exchange for a split in the profits, if they would fund the initial ore extraction. Despite having little luck with his mining operation, Scott was often seen in the finest Saloons and Hotels in the area, spending money freely. Scott's most consistent investor was wealthy insurance magnate Albert Johnson. Mr. Johnson gave Scott thousands of dollars to fund operations, but the gold never materialized due to what Scott described as "a number of calamities". Eventually Mr. Johnson decided to visit the mine for himself, Scott thought that a grueling horseback ride through Death Valley would be more than the sickly Mr. Johnson could handle, he was wrong, the Valleys warm dry air soon improved Mr. Johnson's health and in fact Johnson fell in love with the area and stayed for nearly a month. Despite the fact that Mr. Johnson never got to see Scott's mine, they struck-up a friendship that would last a life time. Mr. Johnson would return with his wife to winter in Death Valley, for the next ten years. Eventually the couple decided to build a more comfortable lodging in which to spend their winter vacation, and in the late 1920's construction began on the Death Valley Ranch.

Scott told everyone that he was building the Two million dollar property with the profits from his mining operation, and when asked by visiting reporters and tourists Mr. Johnson actually agreed, passing himself off as Scott's banker. The tale of Death Valley Scotty as the world's richest gold miner, brought tourists to the area in great numbers, eventually the Johnson's retired to Hollywood leaving the castle to a charitable trust, which ran the building as a hotel. Death Valley Scotty continued to live in the building until his death in 1954. He was buried on the hill that overlooks the castle. In 1970 the castle was sold to the National Park Service, which continues to operate and maintain the building as a tourist attraction. National Park Service tours of the castle are available throughout the year. Contact the NPS at www.nps.gov/deva. Scotty's Castle is located 45 miles north of Stove Pipe Wells, on highway 267.

IMAGES OF MARILYN'S "SEVEN YEAR ITCH"

Marilyn Monroe starred in "The Seven Year Itch" with Tom Ewell in 1955.

ANNIE HALL: MEMORIES FROM AN UNFORGETTABLE FILM

annie hall: 1977



Most Memorable Line From Annie Hall
(for me at least):

"A relationship, I think, is like a shark. You know? It has to constantly move forward or it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark." (Woody Allen to Diane Keaton)

New York . . . the way it used to be

Ambition

The DeLorean Motor Car

If you ever wondered who designed the DeLorean automobile (1981-1983), it was Giorgetto Giugiaro. The DeLorean was designed with a great look, and off the shelf engine and parts. The body was stainless steel, so it should last forever. About 9000 of the cars were manufactured at the DeLorean plant in Ireland before John DeLorean was busted in a drug selling sting. DeLorean got off from the drug bust for entrapment, and served no jail time. He did create one beautiful car! These figures are from U.S. Design Patents 283882, and 257834.

The Start of Something Big

The first automobile for the mass market:
the Model T Ford (circa 1908)

"Golf with your Friends"

Lunch on a Skyscraper

circa 1932