TOYLAND

photo by Graham Dean

Hall of Fame toys include Super Soakers, swings, Big Wheels, baby dolls, skateboards, Easy-Bake Ovens, and Legos.   Get or give any of these this holiday?  Personally we enjoyed (kinda?) something Nerf'y that shot and annoyed incoming family all day.   Classic.       story

Principle in the type:  "The only gift is a portion of thyself."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

'ELLA NEWS

photo by niteprowl3r

Biggest Coachella news I think so far: Guns N' Roses.   "The band played a 2 1/2-hour set of its biggest hits and deep cuts . . ."    Critics say they came, they played, they kicked butt'ola.   I vote GNR relevant in rock history.  They have their sound, made their mark, and all that.   Side note:  I read a while back some of guitarist Duff McKagan's book 'How to Be a Man: (and other illusions).'   I'm a sucker for a good "I'm clean now, love my family, and life is a beautiful thing" story.     news

Principle in the type:  "I think that one may contribute (ever so slightly) to the beauty of things by making one's own life and environment beautiful, as far as one's power reaches.  This includes moral beauty."        Robinson Jeffers          

NOVEL IDEA

photo by Bruna Ferrara

Novelist Harper Lee has died.   Lee was the world renowned "To Kill a Mockingbird" author.  ~~Many a school child's (and adult's) good read!     "The world knows Harper Lee was a brilliant writer but what many don't know is that she was a extraordinary woman of great joyfulness, humility and kindness," said "Michael Morrison, head of HarperCollings U.S. general books . . . "   What better attributes to be known for?          news             

Principle in the type:  "Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle."     Charles Glassman

AT THE CORNER OF VIN AND SCULLY

photo by Ken Lund

Maybe you don't know the Los Angeles Dodgers, like I know the Los Angeles Dodgers ... but newsflash - Vin Scully will have a street named after him.  We love him here.  He's a good guy.  What used to be Elysian Park Avenue will be the new Vin Scully Avenue, and lead right to the Dodger Stadium main entrance.  " 'A path to Dodger Stadium is a pathway to my heart,' Scully said. 'For 55 years, it has been an honor . . . I thank God for this great honor.' "  news         

Principle in the type:  "Be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble . . . "   Gordon B. Hinckley

THE BOWIE

photo by Marco Gomes

Albert Brooks Tweeted:  "R.I.P David Bowie.  Took creativity and wrung its neck."   Bowie, 18 months after being diagnosed with cancer, died Sunday at the age of 69.  "The legendary musician known for musical innovation and experimentation with his image," left his mark for sure.  Music wise I'm a fan of Boys Keep Swinging, Oh! You Pretty Things and Space Oddity (below).  Space Oddity overplayed?  Nah.  It's brilliant.   Goodnight, Ziggy.              news     

Principle in the type: "The more often we see the things around us - even the beautiful and wonderful things - the more they become invisible to us.  That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world:  the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds - even those we love.  Because we see things so often, we see them less and less."     Joseph B. Wirthlin     

                                   




(Sidenote:  here's Space Oddity with Kristin Wiig in a so inspiring scene from one of me'all'time favorite movies The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  Yes, it shows Spanish sub-titles, because A) maybe you speak Spanish? and B) other versions showed too many clips of the movie and it's most important you see it yourself.)