Keith - Whip It Up

If you don't like this, then you don't like Rock and Roll!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e7PoAvUmVA

Kiplinger - Top Ten Of The Last Decade

Kiplinger has included the Lexus LS460 as one of the ten best cars of the last decade. I have to concur, based on my ownership experience. The LS430 I previously owned was an excellent vehicle, but the new model, the LS460, introduced in 2007, is even more impressive. It will be interesting to see what the next LS??? will offer. That's still a year or more away. I imagine the technology will be out of sight!


http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1644/10-best-cars-of-the-past-decade/

Out Of Control - Stones

I'm currently reading Keith Richards' memoir, titled "Life", on my Kindle. I've also been watching some You Tube videos that accentuate his prowess as one of the finest guitar players in recent history. The music from the album, "Bridges to Babylon", makes for a great live performance. Click on the link to watch the Stones get - out of control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kNnMrzs5AI

2011 Hyundai Elantra

The below link provides a thorough look at Hyundai's newly designed Elantra sedan. What I find interesting about this vehicle is the numerous features that are offered for a compact class car. Hyundai has provided the buyer with a plethora of upgrades that are not common in this price segment. The Elantra will likely require other manufacturers of compact vehicles to up their game if they hope to compete.

I have yet to read a review of the 2011 Elantra, but I plan to do a Google search right after I make this blog post (see second link). If the drive train is as nice as the new exterior and interior the Elantra should do quite well in the marketplace. An interesting note regarding Elantra pricing. If past practice is any indication, as to pricing of Hyundai products, then MSRP isn't a very good measure of what the dealers will actually take for the Elantra. After the typical Hyundai rebates and dealer incentives, the consumer should be able to purchase the car for considerably less than MSRP. The current 2010 Elantra models are discounted as much as five thousand dollars, according to various advertised prices that I've checked.

It will be interesting to see what the new compact models from Honda, Mazda and Toyota will look like. Hyundai has set the bar a notch higher than might be expected in the compact class. Compact cars may soon have accessories that are typically available only on luxury cars. Game on Hyundai!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNzXhsY-qZc


Update: Road Test (Car and Driver)

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q4/2011_hyundai_elantra_limited-short_take_road_test

Craving Some White Castle Hamburgers

When I think of Louisville, I tend to think of food - burgers in particular - the White Castle kind. Unfortunately, we have no White Castle restaurants in Sacramento. It's a shame! And don't get me going about the frozen ones that are sold in some of our grocery stores. They're not the same as when you eat them hot off the grill!

A White Castle burger is a unique product that may never make it to California. I don't know if the natives could actually appreciate them anyway. Many would probably think the burgers are too expensive for their size. Maybe so; but a few bites should convince any doubts one might have.

All we Californians can do is dream about the next time we can travel to the vicinity of a castle shaped restaurant. When that does happen, it's almost certain that one of the first stops will be to savor a bag full of "slyders". That's what I always do!

The below link provides a short history regarding the White Castle business. As you will see, they have been making them for a very long time and fortunately there appears to be no end in sight for a devotee, like myself, who just has to have a White Castle now and then. Guess I better plan a trip to Louisville sooner than later!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKq5IoARMSg&feature=related

T-Bar-V Ranch

My friend, Tim, sent me a link about Louisville, KY TV shows from the early days of television. It jogged my memory regarding a children's show that I had long forgotten about. T-Bar-V Ranch was a favorite daily show for many young kids growing up in Louisville during the fifties and sixties. Children would come on the show - to celebrate their birthday. I can't say for certain, my memory is foggy on the details, but I believe I was on the show once. I think I was seven or eight years old when I got to meet the host of T-Bar-V Ranch, Randy Atcher. Randy passed a few years ago. He once mentioned in an interview that surprisingly there are no tapes of T-Bar-V Ranch from all those years that it was broadcast. I'm amazed that we have no shows to view of Randy and Cactus (Tom Brooks) and all the children that appeared on T-Bar-V Ranch. It would have been a great tribute to Randy and also a valuable historical document to depict the era.

The below link provides additional information about Randy Atcher and the show T-Bar-V Ranch. I did get to know Randy's son, Mark, when I attended Western Kentucky State University, way back in 1963. Neat guy, Mark. It's been forty-six years since I last talked to him. I plan to do some "Googling" to find out if Mark still lives in Louisville.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/IL-COOK-SCHAUMBURG/2003-03/1047568168

Michelle Rhee - Strategies For School Reform

Michelle Rhee has decided to tackle school reform throughout America. Her track record as chancellor of the D.C. public-school system was, and still is, polarizing. Her role as a spokesperson and advocate for a national movement, which she calls StudentsFirst and which was created to change education in ways that puts the emphasis, in her words, on students - rather than on teacher tenure and the unions that support teachers jobs at any cost. Rehee's movement is growing as fast as she can garner support from concerned parents, philanthropists and political leaders who are anxious to get on board with her concepts for the creation of a new paradigm for education in America.

If you are interested in finding out more about her background as an educator, and the movement StudentsFirst, you will probably want to read the December 13 issue of Newsweek. She has already created enough media attention over the last few months for Newsweek to make her this week's cover story. There is also lots of information about Michelle Rhee online, via You Tube and through various educational forums. Below is a link describing what happened in D.C. when she proposed a new teacher contract.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pii96AoTPw&feature=channel