tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38945093479160947272012-02-16T16:49:49.195-08:00Torrance, CA Blog - stuff and nonsense in Torrance, the South Bay and beyond.So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.comBlogger2971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-88190474834388979262011-12-13T00:43:00.000-08:002011-12-13T00:43:38.917-08:00

...is some young person made this parody. I long for the days when no one knew much about a candidate's religious affiliation. Really, does anyone know or care that Harry Truman was a Southern Baptist, Eisenhower was a Jehovah Witness, and George Washington was a Presbyterian? Why can't this current crop of proselytizing douche bags keep their holy underwear on the inside like, say, Abraham

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-42571444662490216932011-11-28T15:43:00.000-08:002012-02-06T07:54:00.620-08:00

For more about this attempt to censor the internet, go here: http://www.regretsy.com/2011/11/18/sopa/ and here: http://americancensorship.org/ or here, for a video explanation: http://cnettv.cnet.com/kill-demon-copyright-law-from-hell/9742-1_53-50115087.html

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-34614857091928869622011-11-01T17:58:00.000-07:002011-11-01T17:58:30.811-07:00

We bought a $1600 recliner from the store in Torrance about 8 years ago - kinda looks like this one, except ours is black leather: After 8 years, it still looks pretty much as it did when we bought it - except for the fact that the circular base broke off from the frame. Right now, it's completely unusable, and Lazy Boy refuses to honor their "Lifetime Warranty" on the chair, even though the

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-66687536070637265152011-10-11T01:31:00.000-07:002011-10-11T01:34:29.015-07:00

These are excellent videos that explain why you should always invoke your 5th amendment rights - amusing, entertaining yet extremely convincing. Highly recommended!

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-39512401056858197682011-09-29T23:56:00.000-07:002011-09-29T23:56:25.519-07:00

Plan to make use of my old toy making skills and recreate a little plush I had as a kid...it was a favorite of mine, and have never been able to find one out there - I think it must have been a one-of-a-kind piece. If all goes well (keep fingers crossed) I'll make several - some for gifts, some to sell. Hint: it's made of sheepskin (PETA won't like it, but everyone else should.)

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-36208822273844468172011-09-11T15:29:00.000-07:002011-09-11T15:30:41.743-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-5301791337431547092011-09-06T09:13:00.000-07:002011-09-06T09:13:55.160-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-80902396310186062032011-06-20T20:34:00.000-07:002011-06-20T20:34:45.513-07:00

Great speech - funny, of course, but heartfelt.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-74869335078813179762011-06-10T20:30:00.000-07:002011-06-15T13:39:55.214-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-1501312776219440192011-06-02T17:44:00.000-07:002011-06-02T18:06:20.750-07:00

I try to purchase items made here. Frankly, it ain't easy. Even the lowly, albeit absolutely necessary light bulb is no longer made domestically. God forbid the Chinese get mad at us, we'll be burning earwax candles for illumination. Recently, I was looking for a simple, drying rack, something I could hang jeans and towels on. Those two items alone are responsible for global warming, they take

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-79978776504395997872011-05-22T09:52:00.000-07:002011-05-22T09:52:02.270-07:00

Well, I checked with a reliable source - the world didn't end yesterday. I had read some people threatened to commit crimes and run amuck before armageddon. Our family experienced this first hand when someone stole my son's basketball shoes off our front porch. As for The Family Radio Network and Harold Camping, I think you owe some of your members a refund. Or, you can recalculate your

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-21309301681741167662011-05-20T08:36:00.000-07:002011-05-20T08:36:58.442-07:00

Why would anyone steal used shoes? Especially my son's stinky basketball shoes (two pair), and an old pair of basketball slippers? Over the last few days, several men have come to my door, selling contractor services. I can see them, but I rarely answer the door to them when I'm home alone. Call me paranoid. I suspect, one of these guys, for whatever reason, off'd with my son's shoes. Quite

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-27328394571080851722011-03-11T09:12:00.000-08:002011-03-11T09:17:59.715-08:00

Maybe it's me, but it appears the friendly neighborhood postman has turned into a pusher. If you don't go to the post office often, here are some words of warning. First of all, shipping costs have gone up, and like everyone, the p.o. is looking for more ways to make money. During every transaction, they'll ask you if you need extra services, like Delivery Confirmation or insurance, stamps, or

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-1186909487237949272011-03-07T23:54:00.000-08:002011-03-07T23:54:51.979-08:00

I found this on etsy - I can't decide if it's absolutely the worst or the most brilliant idea ever. Clicking on the image will take you to the owner of this amazing object d'art.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-24763996188251720442011-02-27T23:15:00.000-08:002011-02-27T23:18:22.474-08:00

I made a very modest attempt at gleaning the garage of 20+ years of collecting. I have at least 4 large bins of stuff I will be selling bit by bit. I did opt on keeping my infamous box of Darkie Toothpaste (now known as Darlie Toothpaste) - we need to be reminded from time to time how very, VERY bad some ideas were and still are. I stole this image off the internet. Mine is like the one

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-59976301472176018112011-02-12T11:53:00.000-08:002011-02-12T11:53:50.628-08:00

Jarts are a outdoor toy officially banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They are not only banned, but the agency recommends if you have this game, you destroy it. You'd think Jarts were semi-automatic weapons marketed to children. If you read the packaging, you'll note that it's states, quite clearly, that Jarts are an ADULT toy. It wasn't always that way - originally, the

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-86924242849414582022011-02-12T10:47:00.000-08:002011-02-12T10:47:02.888-08:00

Kudos to our frosh/soph basketball team who won 9 out of 10 games this season - big hearts, great teamwork, dedicated coaching brought it all together. Better things to come!

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-72438840200298180682011-02-09T01:02:00.000-08:002011-02-09T01:02:32.686-08:00

I just bought this off ebay, and I was so ecstatic - she is fantastic: I don't know how many of you know about Esther Hunt, but I can never afford those busts. They are very expensive, and well, I just can't rationalize expending that kind of dough on a big chalk head. But this little girl is so cute, I couldn't stand it, and when I got her for as cheap as I did, well, I just had to have her.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-59699944975129834102011-02-07T09:27:00.000-08:002011-02-07T09:27:24.788-08:00

This is a departure from the usual flotsam and jetsam posted here. A very classic design, and up for auction on ebay:

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-63886680163164221312011-01-28T11:18:00.000-08:002011-01-28T11:18:58.153-08:00

Ah, the halcyon days when toys were actually manufactured in the US. Here's an example from Lorain, OH: You push a lever on his butt, and he deposits the coin quite effectively in the slot on his back. If you are interested, you can find him for sale here.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-86452964218213178912011-01-21T08:53:00.000-08:002011-01-21T08:53:00.890-08:00

I have a soft spot for these old cars - they were popular when i was in high school. Does that make me a classic?

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-84751988477138872242011-01-20T08:48:00.000-08:002011-01-20T08:48:12.208-08:00

I've got a loverly bunch of coconuts. Actually, just one. He's for sale. He's a hollowed out coconut box. Frankly, I-don't-really-know-what-the-heck-it-is, it may not even be a coconut. But, he's awfully cute. In an homely sort of way. You can pick him here.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-53991378780482355882011-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:002011-01-20T08:41:54.893-08:00

I'm losing my electricity on Friday - the electric company is changing out transformers or something. There's no parking on the street on that day, in the morning. It's also garbage pickup - so I get to watch dueling trucks and trash. Let the games begin.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-23847254150241217872011-01-18T08:31:00.000-08:002011-01-18T08:31:22.391-08:00

I got it in my head to separate myself from my hoard before I turn into a subject on one of those reality shows. Here's a fine gewgaw example that I have no idea what it is. It's addressed to a Cpl. Thomas Audio, so I wonder if it was sent directly through the US mail. I suspect it dates back to WWII. You can see it and the rest of my 'treasures' here.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-74573944208062879532010-12-31T09:51:00.000-08:002010-12-31T09:51:24.138-08:00

I've listed my 24 pillow covers on craigslist - haven't gotten one bite. I dread selling these on ebay just because it  costs me to sell them, what with the listing fees and drives to the post office. This one is a bit cool, as the printing is not just flocking or paint. It feels like the kind of texture you'd find on a movie screen - tiny beads.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-91537675870391471902010-12-27T09:44:00.000-08:002010-12-27T09:45:44.997-08:00

Anyone need a free sofa? Here's mine - It was originally a $2000 sofa, back in the mid 90s. Now, it's just a care worn, albeit comfy old sofa. I bought a 'new' one off Craigslist, and this one is going out on the curb. Part of the Resolve.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-48229313244537282372010-12-27T02:17:00.000-08:002010-12-27T02:17:10.711-08:00

I refuse to call it a resolution. That innocent little noun gets tougher when you make it into a verb. I am going to take action and clear out stuff if it kills everyone in the house. First of all, I'm selling this little item on craigslist: It's an old rifle/ammo crate someone painted to look like a toy box. I had some old linens stored in it, which made no sense, since the linens took up so

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-22945402078912950372010-11-24T23:15:00.001-08:002010-11-24T23:17:13.324-08:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-37616963356388581842010-09-10T17:06:00.000-07:002010-09-10T17:10:02.832-07:00

My hub nut, being the sensitive caring guy he is summarily dumped our kid off at school without much fanfare. When he came home, I yelled at him for not making sure son nut got his classroom assignment, so he grumpily went back to the school, only to find everyone had been sent off to class. So, there he is, tramping around campus hearing his name butchered on every security guard's radio "Mr.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-66123254982313593302010-09-07T17:49:00.000-07:002010-09-07T17:49:15.075-07:00

My son starts 9th grade at Torrance High tomorrow. Of course, we have more questions than answers. For one, after a gander at his 'schedule' I noticed there were no classrooms listed. So, I guess he gets that information on his first day. Great. Secondly, when we visited to find out where his locker was located, we couldn't find it. Great again. He doesn't appear too concerned, and the

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-77633146012438324732010-08-11T19:09:00.000-07:002010-08-11T19:13:53.138-07:00

My son's friend is headed to Japan this week with a youth organization - his team will be competing against a Japanese team, and he'll be spending a few weeks at the home of a Japanese family. His team also did a dance that they will perform - in the video, they're performing for friends and family before the trip. I'm posting it because he's really excited about the upcoming trip, and because

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-61662034916116945502010-08-03T18:00:00.000-07:002010-08-03T19:33:20.685-07:00

I've been a subscriber to the Breeze for many, many years. I typically enjoy the paper, with some exceptions, but this morning's paper makes me wonder whether I want to continue to get the DB. I noticed that almost all the 'feel good' articles and lovely photography typically involved Palos Verdes, and the beach cities, whereas all the bad news and mug shots - shootings, rapes, dog attacks,

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-24293673563749942492010-07-28T12:10:00.000-07:002010-07-28T12:11:09.260-07:00

"I wouldn't walk anywhere in this neighborhood!" Comment made by an El Segundo mother to her son at a local KFC. El Segundo's 13 year old All Star Babe Ruth team had just been mercy'd by Torrance's team at the local Torrance Babe Ruth Field. The field is less than two blocks from the KFC, and no doubt, the comment was directed at the Torrance parent who was at the same restaurant purchasing

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-30768797090144397462010-07-13T20:42:00.000-07:002010-08-23T02:44:37.862-07:00

My hubnut has been taking the bus to and from work for the last several weeks. He was really enjoying it. He would drive to a Park and Ride near the Artesia Fwy. and pick up the bus there. It was certainly saving us the wear and tear on the car, gas, and he was seriously considering giving up his $1000 parking pass. Unfortunately, someone broke into his car today. That is certainly a bummer, but

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-29131115520553031232010-07-13T12:56:00.000-07:002010-07-13T12:57:36.002-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-29008560969388499052010-06-28T23:54:00.000-07:002010-06-28T23:59:08.477-07:00

This talented Torrance High School baseball player has been drafted by the NY Yankees - how cool is that?? And to think he ump'd a few of our Babe Ruth games! Couldn't happen to a nicer kid.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-2877687224367110552010-06-28T02:43:00.000-07:002010-06-28T23:48:37.157-07:00

Yup, Whooping Cough is officially epidemic in the State of California, thanks in part to people like Jenny McCarthy. I'm posting two excellent videos on the subject of vaccinations - I can't imagine the pain it would cause a new mom and dad to know the death of their infant was preventable, if not for one unethical medical doctor, and a plethora of paranoid, ill-informed parents. I chose these

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-36676248663900653022010-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:002010-06-27T13:32:43.857-07:00

Amazing what you can find on google...duh. Here's a YouTube video of the owner as he appeared in the late 80s and a link to his rambling My Space page.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-23458509849629217362010-06-27T13:04:00.000-07:002010-06-27T13:28:58.931-07:00

Ah, the 1980s. The hub nut and I were newlyweds, broke and young. We spent many evenings exploring the cramped aisles of our favorite video store, Mondo Video, located in a tiny strip mall off Channel Street in San Pedro. The owners, from what I could gather, were a son and his father. The location was dark, spooky and isolated, so the elder Mondo carried a pistol, visible beneath his sizable

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-16842475014634905162010-06-18T17:06:00.000-07:002010-06-18T17:06:48.767-07:00

Very dear little short film.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-72086090483637190652010-06-18T13:24:00.000-07:002010-06-18T13:24:53.012-07:00

I finally got my hairs cut. It was long overdue, like the old joke goes: What's the difference between a good hair cut and a bad hair cut? Answer: Two weeks. In my case, it was more like 3 months. My hair had gone from a bob to shoulder length, and at my age, it looked pretty darn horrific. I had given to putting it in pony tail or clipping it in the back. Scary. Now, I look like a well groomed

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-53296622466085861762010-06-12T09:44:00.000-07:002010-06-12T22:17:19.892-07:00

Which of the following are racist? According to an article in the Daily Breeze, both are. (who knew Stephen Hawking was such a potty mouth!) Apparently, the NAACP missed the 4th grade grammar lesson when "homophones" were explained - however, it's quite possible the word "homophone" was deemed politically incorrect, and is no longer taught in the public schools. In the interest of fair

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-3068532625780884412010-06-12T01:35:00.000-07:002010-06-12T01:38:01.942-07:00

There was a home on 223rd Street in West Carson, just a few blocks off the Harbor freeway and across the street from Meyler Elementary School. Does anyone remember the condition of this home the way it appeared several years ago? You couldn't miss this place traveling west from the off ramp. It was the most amazing, bizarre, nightmarish home ever. I remember it well for several reasons. First of

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-75961874091530179862010-06-10T22:57:00.000-07:002010-06-10T22:57:09.973-07:00

That's an overstatement, but I've been to Kaiser three times this week, and I'm going back tomorrow. I'll be going at least four more times this month. I'm never getting old, I swear.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-51058760935486806202010-06-08T17:18:00.000-07:002010-06-08T17:18:52.881-07:00

I voted, but I would probably done a lot more good NOT voting, since I was a lazy butt, didn't really read anything, and was only interested in our local election and issues. I figured everything else is a lost cause, and that people who could actually make a marked change  would never run or could never be elected. So, there you have it.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-31409186188254772642010-06-05T11:06:00.000-07:002010-06-05T23:15:07.183-07:00

My hub nut got an iPad a couple of weeks ago. It's pretty swanky, but in all honesty, it looks and feels like a really big heavy iPhone. I teased him about it really being just a laptop sized phone without a keyboard. Of course, he came home the other day with the iPad accessory keyboard. Sigh. I have a laptop, and a phone, so what would I need with a hybrid laptop? While waiting at the

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-8903531287219271832010-06-03T09:56:00.000-07:002010-06-03T23:41:03.669-07:00

Once upon a time, on a laptop far, far away, I started a blog with the intention of posting my collection of vintage souvenir scarves and pillow case covers (HEY, it was better than collecting Pez dispensers or Beanie Babies.) The purpose was to eventually give up the collection, either by selling or giving much of it away - and there is a lot to get rid of. I successfully gave away several of

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-35926602232052605452010-06-01T23:24:00.000-07:002010-06-01T23:24:52.736-07:00

Tomorrow, I register the son nut for high school - oh, joy! I think the process is pretty assembly line, so it shouldn't take long. I checked my calendar and this month is nuts - in addition to the usual sports stuff, orchestra and work, there's my dad's cataract surgery and other doctor appointments, dentist and orthodontist appointments, my mammogram, at least one birthday, an anniversary, end

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-48252114355969938952010-05-31T14:47:00.000-07:002010-05-31T14:47:09.829-07:00

Get it? A blog on the history of the Southbay? A blistory? Hmm? feh. It's good reading, tho.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-46179973026573250992010-05-30T10:34:00.000-07:002010-05-30T10:34:18.603-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-65128496300925182192010-05-30T10:22:00.000-07:002010-05-30T10:22:44.606-07:00

In case you didn't notice - both of you - I have a host of videos in the side bar to the right. There you will find a plethora of videos I've culled from YouTube that, typically, deal with Torrance or the surrounding communities. There are at least eight new ones down there, and they deserve a gander. Take a look, already!

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-87457176768113210412010-05-29T11:39:00.000-07:002010-05-30T00:11:04.764-07:00

The title of this one is my pathetic attempt at being hip... My hubnut is grousing about the theft of our Saturday Daily Breeze. This is the second week it's gone missing (in a row, that is - it's gone missing before.) I'm slightly ticked because I wanted to do the crossword puzzles while my son gets his hair cut. Hubnut is plotting to catch the thief by lying in wait next week - at 6'4", 230+

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-36450981290382744162010-05-29T11:12:00.000-07:002010-05-29T11:12:27.512-07:00

I just logged onto my old site, randommadnessintorrance.com and here's what I found (click on the picture below : Ew. It's now one of those generic sites no one actually goes to on purpose  - I mean, really, what are the odds that while surfing for information on Torrance, you also need information on a hotel in Munich? I've tried to analyze this logically - the old site would have to get

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-89871173952301528922010-05-28T21:42:00.000-07:002010-05-28T21:42:43.147-07:00

I'm coming clean.  I watched more than one episode of Diff'rent Strokes, and thought little Arnold was cuter than a bug. Like everyone else, I watched his real life become, well, a bit of a train wreck. In memorial, here's a personal story I have of Gary Coleman. My hub nut was hanging out with his younger brother and a couple other friends at Six Flags Magic Mountain (this was before we met,

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-54937846681859010442010-05-24T16:41:00.000-07:002010-05-24T16:41:39.184-07:00

Words escape me. My favorite line: "where I wash and where I cream..." I give it a 97 - it's got a catchy tune and it's easy to dance to.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-76565135035816893072010-05-23T11:09:00.000-07:002010-05-23T11:09:15.466-07:00

It's that time again - SBYO is going to perform at the Marsee Auditorium on June 5, 2010 at 7pm. It's one of the few times I get to see my son nut in a tie, so it's a very special occassion. It should be a fantastic concert, with two of the kids in the orchestra performing solos, so come, bring your kids, and let them know there's more to playing music than Garage Band and Guitar Hero. And at

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-43962878695066097382010-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:002010-05-15T11:29:51.624-07:00

A couple of years ago, I wrote about several places in Torrance that are 'ex-parrots'. Places like the Shamrock roller rink, the Parasol Restaurant, JK Gill and a host of other has-beens. That story got the most comments of any other I've written, so to honor that, I've decided to expand the geographical area which to wax nostalgic about. Spot Market. When you were asian or otherwise and

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-86804958597237034472010-05-13T18:42:00.000-07:002010-05-13T18:42:40.987-07:00

Well, if you happen to run a search on google for 'randommadnessintorrance' you'll notice when you click on the site, the dot com version is gone. Vamoose. Defunct, dead, deceased - it's an ex-parrot, so to speak. After researching what to do when someone snipes your domain name, I read an article here: http://photocritic.org/copyright-dmca. My old site, was a mirror site that had all my content

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-46063287624665545442010-05-11T12:11:00.000-07:002010-05-11T12:12:10.349-07:00

Some of the kids at my son's school will be 'head'-ing to Turkey this summer. If they knew what was in 'stall' for them when they get there, many would reconsider the trip. This is the one item which will prevent me from ever becoming a real world traveler. I've traveled to many areas in asia, and this is a common sight. Read about it one man's experience here. They're not just in China, but

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-84797696929664059362010-05-10T23:15:00.000-07:002010-05-10T23:38:23.327-07:00

Tonight, we went to an old standby, Foster's Freeze in Old Torrance. The great thing about the place, in addition to the ice cream, is it's a great place to chat with complete strangers. In spite of the fact that it was cold and windy tonight, 5 people were in line waiting for ice cream. We chatted about baseball, Boy Scouts, the old Pussycat theater, the old Farrells on Hawthorne Blvd.,

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-4149762751354199542010-05-08T09:35:00.000-07:002010-05-08T09:35:22.758-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-14467721315782365782010-05-06T03:06:00.000-07:002010-05-06T03:09:10.271-07:00

I slipped up and lost my old domain name to some shark at godaddy.com. So, I am now randommadnessintorrance.net. Fortunately, the folks at blogger will (hopefully) forward links to the old dot com address to the shiny NEW (not all that different) address. You'll note the old page still exists - I just can't edit it, or create new posts, dammit grandma. I hate to break it to the cretin who off'd

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-42155488677893110832010-05-05T21:51:00.001-07:002010-05-06T19:42:21.727-07:00

Tickets for this event can be purchased at the El Camino College Ticket Office Monday thru Friday 10 am to 6pm, or on Saturday, May 15th starting at 4pm. Or, for a small processing fee, tickets can be purchased over the phone (see poster). Feel free to pass along this information to family and friends. DID YOU KNOW...Most middle and high schools in the South Bay area do NOT have a strings

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-28369997717052456312010-01-05T11:13:00.001-08:002010-05-06T03:27:48.540-07:00

Oi, we're broke. We'll be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday for the next two years. I'm getting my son-nut's teeth straightened, which costs as much as what we paid for our first new car. Of course, an orthodontist will tell you it's not what they do, it's what they know. One thing I know is $5500 is a lot for a bunch of wire and 24 trips to and from his office. I suppose it

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-48960841484418117602010-01-03T09:27:00.000-08:002010-01-03T09:50:51.835-08:00

My hub-nut and two bro-in-laws put in a new, shiny marble floor into my bathroom. The old and ugly linoleum/vinyl floor is history, thank god. Bro-in-law #1 threw in the marble tiles, gratis - they were leftovers from another project. Bro-in-law #2 directed the installation and made all the tricky cuts. However, when you want to remodel your one and only bathroom, you have to get creative. There

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-70834293072635859052009-12-25T21:46:00.000-08:002009-12-26T10:06:01.144-08:00

We had our big holiday celebration on Christmas eve. We serve fish, which is an italian tradition, and technically shouldn't serve meat, but my mom brought a ham. My hub-nut bbq'd some really nice ahi tuna and salmon, and I baked some tilapia wrapped in parchment and cooked a bit of scallops. My hub-nut's mom brought some pesce stocco, which is a cod soup - the cod is reconstituted - sounds

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-22489564535476961752009-12-19T14:08:00.001-08:002009-12-19T14:22:15.633-08:00

Mayor of Torrance, Albert Isen, bantering with Groucho Marx on "You Bet Your Life". This wasn't the only Torrance resident to appear on the show. Here's another episode where a Torrance denizen appears. (The video was too long to post).

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-36612897712788900102009-12-14T20:48:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:16:01.022-08:00

Last year's Christmas Gewgaws, here, and here, and here......all come together in this little video I've thrown together for you to enjoy. The gewgaws, ornaments and various stuffage represent years of collecting - some of the glass balls and glass ball strands are 50-70 years old. The manger items could have been purchased 50 years ago at Woolworths for 15 cents a piece. However, there are new

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-40843062284386315442009-12-12T18:44:00.000-08:002009-12-12T19:03:35.975-08:00

AAaarrgh.I was involved with an online game about a year ago. It took over my life. In the end, I was invaded and lost the village I cared for lovingly for months.The game? Tribal Wars. My son-nut has convinced me to join once again, which I did, contrary to any sense I may have.My hub-nut is a major player on World 23. He's been playing for quite some time and has amassed a significant

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-32855478691526259852009-12-08T16:45:00.000-08:002009-12-08T16:54:15.638-08:00

I must confess I prefer Halloween to Christmas.The best part about Halloween is it's a cheap holiday - typically, there is only snack foods and candy involved. Christmas is quite another story. Every year I swear I'm not going to drop a cartload of cash, and every year I fail miserably.So far, I've purchased these for my niece - I've always wanted a set, and so I'm foisting my regret on her. I've

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-59228555166705292302009-12-03T08:14:00.000-08:002009-12-03T09:21:13.757-08:00

This incident is of interest to me - I grew up in the neighborhood. I won't say precisely where, but my parents still live in the neighborhood. I know (casually, not biblically) the man accused of the shooting. He's relatively new to the neighborhood, compared with my parents, but he's lived there for at least 10 years, if not longer. No, he's not a crazy guy - just a quiet man in a quiet

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-5760130732701455172009-12-02T23:48:00.001-08:002009-12-03T00:09:23.611-08:00

Every year at this time, my family plays the Christmas Lights! Game - I take credit for its invention (if you play this game, please email me so I can tell you where to mail my royalty checks.)The game is played while driving in the car at night, typically while on the way home from the store, or practice. The rules are simple - the first person to spot homes with Christmas lights along the road

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-26589748807094233512009-12-01T00:26:00.001-08:002009-12-01T00:31:47.843-08:00

Yeah for chestnuts!Yeah for their hot steamy center!Yeah for their low fat calories!Yeah for their yummy taste!Yeah when the shells peel right off!Boo when one assplodes in the oven, coating the interior in chestnut shrapnel.Boo when the shells stick to the nut and you have to scrape them with your teeth.Boo because they take so long to cook.Boo when the last one you peel open is rotten.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-30076858514594279172009-11-30T22:48:00.000-08:002009-11-30T23:17:35.719-08:00

Why collect ashtrays when one doesn't smoke? Good question. I do like the graphics on vintage ashtrays, and you may recognize one of the ash trays in this video from a previous Gewgaw posting. It's certainly not a huge collection by any means, just a few odds and ends casually acquired during short jaunts at a thrift.Smoking is an activity with a certain amount of mystery and attitude - who

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-22236077166715862592009-11-28T13:34:00.000-08:002009-11-28T14:02:59.579-08:00

We are lucky. Fat, and doubly lucky.On Thanksgiving Day, we ate at my sister in law's. On the day after Thanksgiving, we ate at my sister's.Two Thanksgiving dinners. Two turkeys, two stuffings, two pumpkin pies. Oooh, la la.Two opportunities to eat leftovers. If that ain't good ol' american gluttony, I don't know what is.Did not do any shopping - just ate, and chatted and plopped on the sofa. In

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-32273323750299783912009-11-27T11:01:00.000-08:002009-11-27T11:30:52.981-08:00

Try as I might, I could not get this posted yesterday. However, better late than never. This is a great potluck item for someone who doesn't cook a lot because it can be cooked in one pot, takes just minutes, and is easy as can be. It can be made ahead of time, or at the last minute. The recipe is very forgiving - if you have very ripe pears, the pears will soften and disappear, if you use

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-78296275115525499022009-11-24T16:49:00.000-08:002009-11-24T16:59:05.222-08:00

I don't have caller ID, but I always know, right off the bat, if a telemarketer is on the line.First tell: Call at dinnertime. Second tell: silence...for several seconds. I know while they are on the line, they are trying to figure out how to pronounce our surname. Third tell: they never pronounce our name correctly.Forth tell: they always ask to speak to my hub-nut. Typically, by this point,

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-494813112495386202009-11-21T12:00:00.001-08:002009-11-24T20:46:01.392-08:00

I'm fascinated by exaggerated body modifications - scarification, ear stretching, implants, large area tattoos. The animation is just one drawing, but I moved it around on the Photoshop canvas, then copied into iMovie. Voila, fake animation. My father has a tattoo he acquired in the Navy over 60 years ago. From what he tells me, it's an anchor. I don't see it - other than it's blue blob.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-61707432974209512702009-11-19T08:43:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:28:48.871-08:00

I've been combing the City of Torrance website - I can't find any information on the Torrance Telecommunication Committee. Google returned very few results - all from either this blog or the meeting last week. This site provides maps of the locations of cell towers and antennas within four miles of any location. I used Torrance City Hall as the address, and it came up with these:These are

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-81697890875498688692009-11-17T02:56:00.000-08:002009-11-19T00:51:54.862-08:00

Things 'needed' 27 years ago:1. one land line telephone2. two cars3. radio with cassette player, cassettes4. one bedroom apartment6. one no-name 128k PC hub-nut assembled7. one tv8. cable9. one hub-nutThings 'needed' now:1. landline telephone in every room w/ answering machine2. two cars3. cell phone for each person in house4. additional iphone for hub-nut for work5. stereo, cds6. ipod, itunes7.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-13398002946403592202009-11-16T09:17:00.001-08:002009-11-16T22:52:02.327-08:00

Get used to it, folks. San Pedro residents are up in arms over a cell pole near an elementary school.Within 4 miles of Taper elementary, there are already 166 towers, with two slated to go up. There are over 600 transmitting/receiving antenna.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-2896278743669881242009-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:002009-11-16T09:41:57.418-08:00

Google Earth mapped image of cell towers in the United States.Although I am a skeptic in regards to the dangers microwaves generated by cell phone towers may cause humans, there may be issues in regards to smaller, fuzzier, buzzier organisms.If you're concerned about the proliferation of cell phone towers, please sign the petition at CLOUTNOW, the Coalition for Local Oversight of Utility

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-28105349405755490372009-11-10T16:23:00.001-08:002009-11-16T09:39:36.674-08:00

To quote a Torrance Telecommunication Commission member, "...cell towers don't just fall down...they're designed by engineers..."Apparently, the cell tower in this video didn't get that memo.Fortunately for this Maryland community, there were no buildings or people nearby. No one was hurt.But what if this tower was installed adjacent to a preschool - say, no less than a few yards? Well, that's

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-19841105653504380522009-11-10T12:24:00.001-08:002009-11-19T08:39:16.409-08:00

In regards to the proposed project on Sepulveda and Arlington, described as "... Telecom Permit to allow the collocation of a telecommunications facility with 12 antennas designed as a false tree by increasing the height of an existing pole on property located at....etc...". This description left much to the imagination. My initial thought was T-Mobile simply wished to 'glom' some additional

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-72457539507532613992009-11-06T17:25:00.001-08:002009-11-16T09:40:35.548-08:00

Would you know a fake palm tree if you saw it?Of course you would. Especially if it were 45 feet tall, made of concrete and plastic, and had telecommunication equipment 'hidden' in the spindly, faded, plastic fronds. T-Mobile wants to make the fake palm monopole in the parking lot at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Arlington Avenue taller, bigger, badder, more dangerous and uglier. There's

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-33850324090072942952009-11-06T12:22:00.000-08:002009-11-06T12:54:40.504-08:00

A day or so after posting the preceding videos on anti-vax hysteria, my son came down with the flu.I got my flu shot a couple of weeks ago. I highly recommend the pharmacist at the Gardena Vons. The injection didn't leave my arm sore, probably for the first time since getting flu shots. She said the key was relaxing the arm as much as possible while getting the injection. I couldn't convince my

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-88030141116556205992009-11-02T09:48:00.001-08:002009-11-02T09:48:26.982-08:00

What happens when you let the lunatics run the asylum.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-30962892675469789182009-11-02T09:39:00.001-08:002009-11-02T20:53:56.014-08:00

Entertaining video that addresses the paranoia surrounding vaccines and flu shots.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-62823193129878516812009-10-26T08:54:00.001-07:002009-10-26T19:38:18.579-07:00

I wondered how a bakery could compete with a stalwart like Torrance Bakery - heck, I shop at Torrance Bakery. Bechamel's (sadly) closed, and those people could bake circles around TB. I hope Nana's fares better. Let me put it this way - if you want typical and predictable, go to Torrance Bakery. If you want pastries for people who appreciate fine food, go to Nana's.My Italian in-laws swear by

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-80013159652468073232009-10-26T08:37:00.001-07:002009-10-26T08:37:34.550-07:00

He takes one look at the camera, stares for a moment, and leaves. I tried over the course of the day to get some good footage. The peanut butter ploy worked, as did chasing his ball, which I might post later.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-73251819720931451962009-10-23T21:16:00.001-07:002009-10-23T21:19:11.474-07:00

My dog doesn't like being stared at. Or photographed. Or taped. It took some peanut butter to convince him otherwise.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-2165974623142295172009-10-20T13:50:00.001-07:002009-10-20T14:13:05.403-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-68845194541151946342009-10-19T16:25:00.001-07:002009-10-19T16:28:19.410-07:00

I don't know anyone who eats soft boiled eggs anymore. We used to eat them pretty regularly at our house - tap tap tap the top of the egg, peel away the tip, salt, pepper, dig in. Toast to dip.The egg in this one is a jumbo egg, so it barely fits.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-55771482136131653152009-10-06T22:10:00.000-07:002009-10-06T23:10:11.560-07:00

My son attended a parochial school up until the 6th grade. This note hails from the first or second grade when he was learning to write. The assignment was given to them around Christmas time, and all the children were asked to write what their gift to Jesus would be. Most of the kids wrote things like, " My gift to Jesus is to go to church" or "My gift to Jesus is to hug my mom and dad" or "My

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-22702544318446440012009-10-06T20:21:00.000-07:002009-10-06T20:36:06.163-07:00

My $100,000 Money Box hasn't a dime, secret papers or U.S. Government Bonds, and was originally the property of one Chuck Kabis. It's also missing its handle and the lock. It was made by the Ohio Art Company, also known for the Etch-A-Sketch. Lesser known is the fact that Ohio Art also made a heck of a lot of tin toys like sand buckets and mini world globes that doubled as banks.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-86184950187597214612009-10-03T20:23:00.001-07:002009-10-03T20:23:45.931-07:00

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-14508932123709971382009-09-30T02:11:00.000-07:002009-10-03T15:40:29.283-07:00

This refurbished marshlands, courtesy of the Sanitation Districts (poo processing plant) is located right down the street, traveling east on Sepulveda Blvd. The Bixby Marshlands is just off the 110 freeway and a stones throw from a Target store. Located at 24501 South Figuerora Street, Carson, CA 90745, it's a lovely little patch of nature in the middle of the city.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-4155833457694660692009-09-28T18:00:00.000-07:002009-09-30T02:27:31.874-07:00

I remember friends going to the Gardena Willows Wetlands to catch frogs and fish.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-59830204294623928922009-09-27T12:00:00.000-07:002009-09-27T13:06:45.011-07:00

I've signed up for mobile blogging. I'm hoping it will allow me to publish things around town more easily.

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894509347916094727.post-4541062258145269022009-09-27T11:59:00.001-07:002009-09-27T13:17:57.458-07:00

Before Torrance, Gardena was my home. I'm going to be on the lookout for the entire documentary...Can't wait!

So Cal Peepernoreply@blogger.com0