Karen and I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!!!

Places I've ridden my bike this year

It could work!!!

Talk about a Dodger fan to the end. I saw this coffin at the Los Angeles County fair back in September.

My Farmville farm!!!

Went for a bike ride along the Santa Ana Riverbed from Norco to San Bernardino Sunday. It was a bit chilly, to the tune of about 56 degrees. It was also quite overcast. I could have used another shirt. I rode a total of 40 miles. As you can see, there is a bit of snow on the local mountains.

This is the turn around point, 20 miles from the start. It is near the intersection of Waterman and Hospitality Road. The bike trail passing behind the San Bernardino County Hall of Records, if you're familiar with that building. I had a quick granola bar and some Gatorade.

A bit of the trail along the way. There were quite a few riders out today braving the chilly weather. No snakes!!! These photos were taken with my Christmas Nikon camera. Much clearer I think.

One of my farming neighbors on facebook took this photo of her husband digging their car out of the snow using kitty liter. The neighbor lives in Oklahoma City, Ok, where they had a 12-hour blizzard that dumped over a foot of snow on the city.

Major General Tony Cucolo, who commands U.S. soldiers in Northern Iraq, set out possible punishments from reprimand to court martial for prohibited behavior, including drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or becoming pregnant.

General Cucolo defended the rules, which took effect for his 22,000 soldiers when he took over command in November, as necessary to retain combat power. Four U.S. soldiers were found to be pregnant since the general took over command and received letters of reprimand. Three male soldiers involved also were reprimanded and a forth male received stiffer punishment because he had committed adultery.

Punishment for becoming pregnant. I doesn't seem right to me.

Ah, remember the old Pomona Theater?? I remember seeing "The Graduate" in that theater. I think I also saw "Hard Days Night" there. I'm sure admission was under a dollar.

As I kid in Minnesota I recall gaining admission into the local theater for .10 cents. They wouldn't clear out the theater between movies so one could sit there all day and watch movies. Of course along with your movie, you got a cartoon and previews. Add a box of Junior Mints and it was a great day!!

I remember my Dad coming into the theater to retrieve me after I watched "Sink the Bismark" three times. I came out of the theater to find that it was dark. Ooops!!!

Merry Christmas to one and all. We've had a wonderful Christmas so far, and Christmas dinner is still ahead of us. Honey Baked Ham and all the fixins. Mmmm Mmmmm!!!

Went for a bike ride to work up a hunger for dinner. It was a beautiful day. Clear skies, temp about 62 degrees. Managed to ride 20 miles in and around my neighborhood. The snow off in the distance is as close as I like to get to it.

Who ever owns the road I ride on graded it since my last ride, as you can see from the after - before photos below.

Unfortunately when they graded the road, they built a berm at the gate at the west end of the road. I'm sure it will be gone by the next time I ride this road as several attempts have been made in the past to close this road.

These two photos are of an awesome sunset this week.

Last Saturday Karen, Corey and I went to Knotts Berry Farm. We spent a couple of enjoyable hours wondering around the park. It was quite crowded.

Karen and Corey while we waited in line for the Calico Mine Train ride.

Little girls singing Christmas carols - off key of course.

"Necessity defense" in Abortion Case Ruled Out
AP Associated Press
December 22, 2009 1:00 pm CST

Wichita, Kan. - A judge ruled Tuesday that Kansas law doesn't allow a so-called "necessity defense" in the trial of a man charged with killing one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers.

The decision was another blow to lawyers for the 51-year-old Scott Roeder, who has confessed to shooting Dr. George Tiller on May 31 and says it was necessary to save "unborn children." Roeder listened intently, at times twiddling his thumbs nervously under the defense table, as the judge gave a lengthy recitation of case precedents that mostly undermined that contention.

In the ruling, Judge Warren Wilber cited a 1993 criminal trespassing case involving an abortion clinic in which the Kansas Supreme Court said that allowing a person's personal beliefs to justify criminal activity to stop law-abiding citizen from exercising his rights would "not only lead to chaos but would be tantamount to sanctioning anarchy."

Judge Wilber further stated that he found it difficult to consider the shooting of Tiller in the back of a church on a Sunday morning, with no overt act by Tiller himself, as an act spurred by an imminent threat of death or bodily harm.

A few holiday cartoons