That New Car Feeling

I have always felt everyone should at least at one time in their life, live at the beach. I also feel the same way about owning a new car, and at least a convertible auto.

I had my first car, an Opel Kadett, back in the early 1970's,





and my last NEW car, in 1977, a Fiat Spider convertible!

RIP, Speed Racer (Peter Fernandez)

William Winckler has informed ANN that Peter Fernandez, the actor and voice director best known as the title character in the animated Speed Racer series, passed away this morning due to lung cancer. He was 83.

Fernandez not only voiced Speed himself, but also his brother Racer X and several other characters in the English-dubbed adaptation of Tatsunoko's Mach Go Go Go anime series. He also directed the voice cast and even wrote the lyrics to the signature theme song. He later played Lupin III, Daisuke Jigen, and President Jimmy Carter in the JAL dubbing of the Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo film. His voice can be heard in such dubbed anime titles as Astro Boy, Gigantor, Marine Boy, Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars, and Superbook. He made a cameo appearance as an announcer in the 2008 live-action Speed Racer film.

RIP

Critical Mass, 6th St., Los Angeles, June 25, 2010

Every last Friday of the month, bikers from all over the world amass and ride. They are known as Critical Mass. I took a video two years ago, at a staging area before they took off. Over the years, there have been two major ones that have gone down 6th street in front of my apartment building. The last one, they all turned left on La Brea heading up to Hollywood.



There have been a number of incidents with these events, some including police officers that intentionally trip the bicyclists, and some have even been caught on tape and posted on YouTube.

Tonight was something visually stunning, and I wish I had put new batteries in my video camera. This group that was going down 6th Street (and remember, they do not YIELD TO STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS, THEY MAKE THE CARS HAVE TO STOP AND YIELD TO THEM) they were accompanied by cops on bikes, cops on motorcycles and some cops in patrol cars as well as unmarked cars. This was also the largest one I've seen, it took a full five minutes to get past my house. Must have been a few thousand bicycle riders.

Nice to see our men in uniform for once standing up and supporting people over cars!

Car Show

I did my usual Saturday in L.A. (sans grandson - I've had him since last Friday, and I am totally worn out). Had my usual chili for lunch at Johnny Rockets, and at the Grove was a car show.

Pretty cool ... enjoy some pictures.