The world today...

There are some crazy people in this world… I heard that some people think that the Earth will pop, yes pop like a balloon. The Earth will expand and the crust will crack, the oceans will pour into the center and the Earth will break into many little chunks. Is this the effect of our dumb-down education system? I really worry sometimes as to the future of this country, maybe it is a plot to over through the government by making the people so stupid that they vote in people who are destroying the country. I saw a video clip from the 50’s, people seemed in general so much smarter, they wanted to be smart and know the latest scientific news. People stood in line to read a posting of math equations. Today people just sit and stare at their little screen while listening to noise. People don't think, they just read what the little screen tells them. It is a form a mind control, post something and people will believe it no matter how crazy it is because they read it on line.

Greek Festival in Portland

A week ago there was a major festival at a local Greek church. This was the 75th year and everyone said it was such a great thing. Since I lived in Greece for a few years and really loved the culture and food, I had to go and see what they offered. I drove out to east Portland on a somewhat rainy Saturday. I was lucky to find a parking spot on the area around the church, it was filled with cars. I parked and walked a few blocks to the church. As I walked up there were people all over sitting and eating. That seemed to be the thing to do. I walked in and found that you had to buy "Talons" or money to use to get anything. Well I kind of was wondering about that, the Greeks used Drachma as currency, I thought Talon were Romam... Well I got $20 worth and walked over to the area where they were selling Gyro and Kabobs. I got two gyro and paid the $10. What I got was a fake peta type bread and one slice of that pressed meat, a big glob of something that I don't know what it was, some kind of sauce though it wasn't Greek. And a few onions slices on to to finish it, it was crap. One bit and I wanted to spit it out. It wasn't Greek at all, it was what the Greek would say Malacca's! Shit. that is what it was, American food with a Greek name. I tossed the other one and went to the beer tent, they only had American beer, what is up with that??? Not even trying to have Greek beer. This is what the Greeks say, American Greeks are not Greek, they are not even worth calling Greek. I have to agree, they know nothing of what Greece is all about. They are tourist who go and look around and are happy to leave. The one thing I thought they couldn't screw up was coffee.the Greek coffee is a strong  boiled brew, but it is easy to make. Unless you are American Greek, it was crap like everything else. I left after 20 minutes, what a waste of time and money.

A day drive to Hood River.

It is Sunday and I wanted to get out of town and see something different. I gassed up the car and headed to Hood River which is on the Columbia River about 60 miles east of Portland. I had wanted to do other things today but they never materialized so I just headed out on my own.

 Hood River is an easy one hours drive no the Oregon side, but I crossed the river and drove over on the Washington side of the river. It is slower but a lot less traffic and you see more. After about 1 1/2 hours I crossed the river again and entered the town of Hood River. It was over cast and there was some rain so it wasn't great weather, but it is typical of this time of year.

Hood River is a small town with a main drag and some shops and places to hangout in. It is a great spot to wind surf or Kite Board plus it is a jumping off point to Mt Hood. It is not ski season yet so there wasn't a big crowd in town, just some older people wandering and the local young kids hanging out with nothing to do.

 I went into a coffee shop and had lunch, just relaxed for a bit. The town is not a wild place so the pace of life is slow. After I ate I wondered around and looked in a few shops, They have a lot of windsurf and ski shops, plus mountain bike places as well. I spent about two hours there then decided to head back to Portland.

The drive this time was on the south side and it was much faster, the speed limit is 65 which means people drive 75. The north side limit is only 55 so it is slower and more windy of a road.