COMMUNIST CHINA 1991-BOB GAMBOL ON THE ROAD

I interviewed Bob Gambol before I left Yuma. His story is so interesting I can't resist printing previews of his adventures on my blog. This segment was from 1991 when China was still a Communist country.
“I was on the platform at a stop at Guan Zou on my way to Chon Quing and I hooked up with a Chinese gal who had left home. She got manhandled at the border crossing and she asked me, “Can I travel with you? I’m afraid.” So, she stuck close to me for several days until she got her confidence back. O
“In the Port city of Chon Quing I couldn’t get a ride hitching because there were few private cars. So I caught a local train to the end of the line which happened to be a restricted city closed to tourists. The officials there got a woman interpreter and she interrogated me. They thought I was some kind of spy. I told them I was just an old codger wanting to see the country. "Well, you can’t stay here" I was told. After the questioning, hell, I didn’t have anything on me but my backpack, they put me in a hotel, at no cost, but I couldn’t walk around. They told me I’d have to leave in the morning. I didn’t have to pay for meals either. They fed me and sent me back to Chon Quing.
“I took a Chinese cargo boat down river through the gorges to Wu Han. It was a triple-decker where you slept in hammocks on deck. What a fantastic view of the real China. At the end of the line, they didn’t have much in the way of accommodations for tourists and I stayed over in the Rail Road Hotel. They let me stay there, which isn’t the norm. I traveled on from there by rail to Beijing. The train that I took had open pit toilets which were just holes in the bottom of the train.
“In China, riding the rails going west, the train would run over something, including people. The engineer would just stop and they'd just drag whatever it was off the tracks and go on.
To be continued-

HIBERNATION-HIDING FROM THE SNOW

Jim arrived late yesterday and we put the motorhome in hibernation. I didn't know a motorhome could hibernate but with snow predicted, we hastily drained tanks and insulated vents, etc. But my guy, he showed up in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. I tell ya, these follow the sun types haven't a clue. But my rover enjoyed a taste of Red Rover Prosecca by Stevenot Winery and we celebrated his arrival. Then, he admitted, he felt a bit cheated because the snow didn't show up as predicted. What I'm gonna do with this guy?? Actually he's my hero. He has promised to take care of me when I'm incapacitated by shoulder surgery. (He is clueless but I love him.)

DEATH BY SMOKE DETECTOR

Having children die because of faulty smoke detectors is unforgiveable. Paying for something that doesn't work is unacceptable. All planning departments should reconsider their requirements for smoke detectors. As an activist, I wish to expose this sham to as many people as I can. Please tell your friends to contact their supervisors and question what they know about smoke detectors.

These quotes prove that decades ago fire officials knew that detector failures were causing wrongful fire deaths but they hid the truth:

“John C. Gerard, Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department cited national statistics showing battery powered devices have a 50 to 80 percent failure rate.”

Source: Fire Chief Magazine, January 1980.

“Smoke detectors were an unknown term to 99 percent of the population 10 years ago. Today, millions of single family dwellings have them, yet there is no reduction in loss of life from fire. This paradox has not been explained. Source: Fire Chief Magazine, January, 1980.

“We put 50 million smoke detectors in buildings in America in a two year period and our fire loss and death rate goes up. We’re having a little trouble explaining these things.” Statement by Gordon Vickery, former head of the U.S. Fire Administration. Source: Fire Engineering Magazine, September 1980.

“Residential fire death rate increases nearly 20 percent over 1984 residential death rate with over 100 million smoke detectors installed in American homes”

Source: NFPA Fire Journal, November 1986, page 44

PARROTS FERRY, NEW MELLONES, DROUGHT AND THE WEATHER

Some of us love weather. There is just something about the bluster and change that winter brings; the winds of March and the bursting greens of spring with hot summers to follow that makes you feel alive. But...not so for Jim. He likes the 74-80 degree weather pattern and if HE were to control, it wouldn't change. He is driving to Murphys in his motor home as I write and I haven't warned him that the weather report is predicting snow-OH, NO, SNOW-down to 2,000 feet. He hasn't been rained on in 8 years, or some such! Haven't a clue what will happen if the white stuff actually touches his skin. Yikes!
But, you know, the drought is upon us and we need that water even if it comes down as bits of ice. I took a picture of the Parrots Ferry Bridge over New Mellones. The red dirt shows how low the reservoir is and how dismal the future for Calaveras County and California in general, if this dry trend continues.
Soooo, I've got wood for the fire, I'll mull some wine, light the candles, and cook up some South of the Border Stew. Ahh. Stave off the chill. But, I think I'll hide the thermometer just the same.

FIRE SAFETY WORTH REPEATING

In a previous blog I posted an incorrect address dealing with smoke detector failure, something I learned about from my inside the industry friend, Richard Patton. I corrected it, but I'm copying the letter I received from Adrian Butler so you will see the correct address and be reminded once again about this important issue because even Public Fire Safety people have been bamboozled about the efficiency of smoke detectors.
Gidday Mary
Crickey that was quick! What would we do without the Internet :-)
If you go onto 'The Evidence' page and scroll down to the 'Far Worse than the Pedophile Priests' document by Mr Patton (10 Jan, 2009), then click on the 'More>>>' button you will see that you have a friend who could soon become famous. Mr Patton is an inspiration to us here at the World Fire Safety Foundation in Australia. We would have given up on this battle had it not been for his amazing tenacity. If you have an opportunity you'll find the website is particularly damning now as we've started calling a spade a spade. If you haven't seen 'The Corporation' it is an amazing film to watch - please get all your friends and family to check it out too as it is a real eye opener. You can access it from our 'Home' page.
www.SmokeAlarmDisclosure.org

Take care Mary and thank you once again for your help in spreading the word.

Warmest regards

Adrian Butler
Chairman
World Fire Safety Foundation
Gold Coast, Qld, AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 409 782 166

Thanks Adrian for giving me another opportunity to get the word out.
Mary

SNAKE DINNER, VIETNAMESE STYLE

Back packing around the world isn't for sissies as Bob Gambol can tell you. He had so many interesting experiences he is rich in memories, some of which I will share with you. He wanted to travel in Viet Nam to close that chapter of his life. Here he describes a memorable meal he had in 1995.
“In Viet Nam, prostitutes take cabs back and forth across the border but they have to have 4 people in a cab. So I got a ride with three gals right up to the border village at the Port of Entry. The U.S. Consulate is situated across the land border. I was told I had to leave and enter at the same place. So I stayed in the village and walked to a jungle compound and got a room in a cement block building with a cot. These guys were sitting under a tree and it was hot and humid and I had a beer with them. I asked, what’s for supper? They got a kid to come over. He ran into the jungle with a knife and came back with a big old snake. He went into the kitchen and skinned that thing, filleted it and we ate it with vegetables and rice. It was a great meal." Bob can be reached at bobgambol@yahoo.com

AUTO MESSAGES, VARIED COMMUNICATION FORMS

That song, “I Was Born In A Small Town,” has been running through my mind a lot lately. And, Murphys is a small town with a lot of character and much to recommend it. I remember upon first moving here in 1978 that everyone waved at you from their vehicles whether they knew you or not. It was a typical friendly gesture from the townsfolk even to a “flatlander” as we later learned we were called.
In those days we spied someone wearing a T-shirt with the message, “I’m not a tourist I live here in Murphys.” A nice distinction, and kind of fun. We bought them immediately. Those were the days when messages on T-shirts were popular-and they still are. But…now I see personal messages on cars and it kind of tickles me. In the 70’s if you painted your car you were a hippy. Now, anything goes. Everyone is trying to get their message out. I'm no different, I’m blogging! Its kinda crazy, and new, but I like it. Don’t think I’ll write on my car, though. Or maybe...?

DRAWN GUN CHALLENGE AND RIGHT-OF-WAY

Today, I stopped at Murphys Realty to have papers notarized by my dear friend Kendra North, after which we went to lunch at Grounds. Kendra and I met as quilters and for years we met on Monday nights and quilted and gossiped and sipped. Then life changes and habits change, too. But, golden friendships, we never forget.
This legal paper was necessary as a neighbor of mine in Oregon crosses a corner of my property to get to his house at the end of a dirt road. According to the paper work, his family has been crossing this patch of my land for 70 years. Who am I to even think about denying him legal access, especially since the papers claimed they could win the right in court and they would take me to court on January 15th if I didn't sign? I, mean, I was in Yuma on Jan. 15th? Not too friendly, this paperwork. And, my erstwhile neighbor isn't too friendly either. His boys have rammed my gate with their pick-up. My foster daughter and her husband visited my place for the first time and mistakenly thought my place was at the end of the road, and "friendly" neighbor drew guns on them for having the gall to drive into his driveway. The same thing happened to my cousin in his motorhome. I was tempted to return the paper with a note politely requesting that he never draw weapons on my guests and I would be glad to sign. But, in the end, I thought better of it, signed the paper and enjoyed my good and true friend Kendra instead.
Lunch was delicious but the company nonpariel.

PUNXSUTAWNEY GROUNDHOGS, FALSE SPRING AND SHROOMS!

In Punxsutawney, the groundhog went back into his hole indicating weeks more of winter. But, hey, here in Murphys, we have had a false spring, a freeze and spring again. The paper whites are already finished blooming and the daffodils are up and budding. The pansies are a riot of color and the sun is shining and pleasant. We all know that drought is the result of this wonderful weather, but since we can't send it back, we may as well enjoy it. And, the shrooms! This cluster of three beauties measured six and seven inches each. My biologist daughter can tell you what name they go by, but the local Eytalians simply call them buckskins. They are delicious to eat and I'm soooo lucky to have them crop up voluntarily in my yard. Happy springtime! Or, eat your heart out, whatever applies.
Caio

EGYPTIAN/AMERICAN MUMMY MEETS CHINESE AND AMERICAN STUDENTS

Eleven year old Cathy and twelve year old Zoe came to the United States with about 100 Chinese students, to learn English, and in the process, American ways. This sarcophagus, or mummy, as most people refer to it, is a ceramic work of art made by American Artist Jan Stewart. Here Jan explains the significance of this Egyptian/American piece of art. Egyptian/American because the piece is an Egyptian talisman with definite American symbols. Jan inscribed a cross for her religion, her credit card, paint brushes and car keys to take into the hereafter, and Uncle Sam grasping for the heart as it sits on the scale to be weighed. It must weigh less than the feathers or her journey to the hereafter will be troubled and unhappy. Oh, my. Jan's grand daughter Cali is having a great time with her new friends, and I had a great time showing off Jan's talent in this wonderful piece of art that is the centerpiece of my art collection.
Art is life, as they say!