Steel Kaleidoscopes

Another '67 Innovation

Forty years ago, the world was introduced to Pink Floyd.

On Aug. 5, 1967, the relatively unknown British band released "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," the first album from what would be a storied, classic catalog.

Earlier that year the band had recorded several tracks for the movie "Tonite Let's All Make Love in London," two of which were eventually released on the EP "London '66-'67." These extended jams — "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Nick's Boogie" — are Pink Floyd's first known recordings.

Here's a site that has chronicled all of their live performances.

Bad Seeds

This is how those unruly Red Sox "fans" mingling outside of an empty Fenway Park must have felt waking up yesterday morning.

(Photo courtesy of Tim in Syracuse.)

Red Sox Do It Again

There will be another parade through the streets of Boston this week, Red Sox Nation standing and applauding one of the most dominating postseason performances in the history of Major League Baseball.

After finding themselves down 3-1 in the American League Championship Series to the Indians, the Red Sox tapped into the guile and determination that have carried them throughout the spring, summer and autumn, ripping off seven straight wins to capture their second World Series title in four years.

And now we can get some sleep.

The angst and passion of the last few weeks wasn't as feverish as the 2004 World Series drive, but clearly a three-year drought is quite different from an 86-year well-chronicled dramatic epic of coming up short.

What makes this World Series victory special is the promise of the future.

Rookies Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are the best one-two maiden punch since Jim Rice and Fred Lynn in 1975.  They are the new Gold Dust Twins.

Add in the youthful and unhittable Jonathan Papelbon, last night's winning 23-year-old pitcher Jon Lester, and a veteran Mp3 age Murder's Row of David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell and the Red Sox are the team to beat for the remainder of the decade.

You get the picture.

There's no more Curse. No A-Rod Purse.

It's only Red Sox Euphoria.

The Red Sox did it again.

Rock on.

Southern California is Burning

My friend Scott who was with me on 9/11 moved to Irvine, Calif., a few years ago.

His neighbor took these pictures last week as the fires raced toward their neighborhood.

They were lucky as firefighters were able to douse the blaze before it reached the homes.

This guy needs a break.

Scary.

Quote of the Day

"Tackle life with abandon. Go all out, hold nothing back."

-- Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Route 66

Route 66 was established in 1926. It started in Chicago and ended in Los Angeles before changing its endpoint to Santa Monica. The highway is 2,448 miles.

In 1985, Route 66 was decommisioned and considered no longer relevant when it was replaced by the Interstate Highway System.

But Bob Dylan insists you can still get your kicks here.

The Turnip Truck

Where did the expression "didn't just fall off the turnip truck" come from?

Clearly, it's an expression to say someone is not naive, or stupid.

But are there really such things as turnip trucks? Would someone dedicate an entire truck to transport turnips?

And who eats turnips anyway?

I can honestly say I don't ever think I've eaten a turnip.

"Yes, I'll have a steak, some fries and ... could I get some turnips too?"

Odd.

Corn and Sky

The late October sun blazes through the corn maze at Marshall Farm in Fitchburg, Mass.

Monday Morning in Cleveland

In Cleveland cafes this morning, they are reading the Plain Dealer and drinking bad coffee.

Nothing tastes good.

Even Rosie's eggs.

Joan Jett can't sing in tune.

And Cleveland certainly doesn't rock.

Go Red Sox.

Suitcases

They get tossed around by bag handlers at the airport, then sit in silence in the airplane cargo.

When they come home, they're tossed into a dark closet.

They're kicked, over-packed and sometimes lost.

They spin on a carousel, enduring a collective stare-down with the common theme of "you're not mine."

They're mostly dark, non-descript, holding personal items without a personality.

Suitcases.