10 Los Angeles Adventures for Under $200

1. Cruise up the PCH to Malibu on a rumbling Harley (motorcycle license required, $140).
2. Head out on the ocean from Marina Del Rey and watch the dolphins and seals lounging around the Santa Monica Pier ($115).
3. Ride the Palm Springs tram and snowshoe in the cool alpine forests of the San Jacinto wilderness (tram $24 per person, snowshoe rental about $20 at REI).
4. Take the lifts to the top of Big Bear and mountain bike down miles of trails (lift $20 all day, bike $40 per day).
5. Learn to surf in Santa Monica ($75 group lesson includes board and wetsuit).
6. Go horseback riding in Griffith Park ($75 per person).
7. Fly high above the ocean side cliffs of Torrey Pines ($150, all equipment included).
8. Go under the sea and learn to scuba dive at Catalina Island ($67 round trip ferry to Catalina Island, $110 intro dive, all equipment included).
9. Always wanted to be a pilot? Take control on an intro flight up the California coast ($99 per person).
10. Climb the walls at an indoor rock climbing center ($99 intro lesson, all equipment included).

Enjoy!

Richard

Portland Pictures

Write your representative about health care

House of Representatives

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Senate:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Dear Mr. Berman,

Please take action on universal health care. America remains the wealthiest and most powerful nation on Earth, but it is a national disgrace that so many of our citizen lack access to health care. We must have universal health care and there must be a public option to spur competition amongst insurance providers. Every other industrialized nation in the world provides universal health care and does so at a lower cost than America's dysfunctional private system. Please show the leadership and political willpower to carry through this reform. The Democrats were elected with a mandate of reform. There are no more excuses for inaction. The people want change.

Thank you,
Richard
Los Angeles

Tokyo pictures

I'm finally getting around to posting my Tokyo pics. Sophia and I went in the last week of May and spent four days exploring the city and countryside. The first couple of pictures are of the Tokyo Tower right outside our hotel. Next are some shots of the Tsukiji fish market and the fisherman's temple followed by the Asakusa temple. All of the green natury pics and forest temples are from Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The wall of sake containers is from the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Then its on to the craziness of Tokyo and the calm oasis of the Imperial Gardens. The kitten costs $4,000, so it warrants a picture.

Thank you FTC!

Remember all those annoying calls that began 'This is your second notice. Your vehicle warranty is about to expire...'? Well, the FTC has finally tracked down and sued the three companies running the scam. The original FTC complaint includes a 'Prayer for Relief' seeking to claw back the ill-gotten gains of these companies. I hope their prayer is answered.