They don't allow kangaroos

A quote from Life is Beautiful.

Giosué: "No Jews or Dogs Allowed." Why do all the shops say, "No Jews Allowed"?
Guido: Oh, that. "Not Allowed" signs are the latest trend! The other day, I was in a shop with my Chinese friend and his pet kangaroo, but their sign said, "No Chinese or Kangaroos Allowed," and I said to my friend, "Well, what can I do? They don't allow kangaroos."
Giosué: We let everyone in our shop, don't we?
Guido: Well, tomorrow, we'll put one up. We won't let in anything we don't like. What don't you like?
Giosué: Spiders.
Guido: Good I don't like Visigoths. Tomorrow, we'll get a sign: "No Spiders or Visigoths Allowed."

Bubble trouble

In Oakland, CA just across the Bay, I can see the beautiful hills. But there are some real dangers in that area. There have been 56 homicides in Oakland so far this year.

Here are a few select reports from Silicon Valley, last night:

Police reports

July 28, 2009

Tiny bubbles

Six to seven men hopped a fence and put bubbles in the spa on the 1300 block of David Street in San Mateo before 6:33 p.m. Thursday, July 23.

Millbrae

Disturbance. A man and a woman were seen arguing on Chadbourne Avenue before 1:10 a.m. Saturday, June 20.

Disturbance. A mother and daughter were seen arguing on Redwood Way before 9:09 p.m. Saturday, June 20.

Burlingame

Stolen bicycle. A blue Fuji boys frame bike with white chain was stolen on the 200 block of Primrose Road before 4:17 p.m. Thursday, July 16.

Suspicious circumstances. A woman is afraid a man she met at a bar was following her on the 1200 block of Bellevue Avenue before 3:04 p.m. Thursday, July 16.

Tamper with recycling. Four people were seen taking recycling and garbage items on the block of 1300 Edgehill Drive before 8:10 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.

Burglary. The passenger side window of a 2000 Cadillac was smashed but nothing was reported taken on the 1800 block of El Camino Real Highway before 8:33 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.

Loud music. Amplified music was heard from a backyard on the 1100 block of Oxford Road before 9:09 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.

Belmont

Vandalism. A black Nissan Pathfinder had its window smashed on Manzanita Avenue before 8:55 a.m. Wednesday, July 22.

Disturbance. Management reported that skateboarders were causing a hazard for drivers at the Carlmont Shopping Center parking lot on Alameda de las Pulgas before 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, July 22.

Bubble vandalism? There sure are worse things.

Ode to the God of Atheists

Typically I don't write about cultural differences as they relate to religion, but this poem by Ellen Bass prompted me to want to share it.

Ode To The God Of Atheists
by Ellen Bass

The god of atheists won’t burn you at the stake
or pry off your fingernails. Nor will it make you
bow or beg, rake your skin with thorns,
or buy gold leaf and stained-glass windows.
It won’t insist you fast or twist
the shape of your sexual hunger.
There are no wars fought for it, no women stoned for it.
You don’t have to veil your face for it
or bloody your knees.
You don’t have to sing.

The plums that bloom extravagantly,
the dolphins that stitch sky to sea,
each pebble and fern, pond and fish
are yours whether or not you believe.

When fog is ripped away
just as a rust red thumb slides across the moon,
the god of atheists isn’t rewarding you
for waking up in the middle of the night
and shivering barefoot in the field.

This god is not moved by the musk
of incense or bowls of oranges,
the mask brushed with cochineal,
polished rib of the lion.
Eat the macerated leaves
of the sacred plant. Dance
till the stars blur to a spangly river.
Rain, if it comes, will come.
This god loves the virus as much as the child.

Win a guitar ad

Ad campaign for band REILLY

A note

Mother of mine,
The first time I saw you, I was a yolk.
The first time you saw me I was in black and white, posted on a 14 in. TV screen.

The first time I breathed, one breath of air,
You were there,
Breathing the same breath as mine.
The first time we saw each other,
Was in a white…clean… frebrezed aired room…?
Hospital, some might call it,
But I call it heaven.

Through out life,
I grew,
You shrunk
I talked,
You grinned,
You cry…,
I cry.

If you weren’t here.
On earth, we say.
Me, a yolk, in a big batch of omelets.
Would never be.

Some describe you,
Funny,
Weird,
Corky, [Quirky]
Nice,
But I say…..
Unique.
You are a…um
Needle in a haystack
A carrot in a bag of chips.
A purple haired girl in a group of old women.
In a good way.

Basically,
what I’m trying to say,
you are the most important thing in my life,
(other then Mr. dad)(who helped)
And thanks for raising me.
Prepare for the rest of my life

I love you