Congress shall make no law. . .

Free speech flourishes on Hollywood and Highland. The citizen peeking between the signs asks that you help his important cause by posting a picture of his signs on line. We'll do what we can, pal.

Police pursuit a good way to learn our freeway routes

A known LA gang member and a young woman led the California Highway Patrol on a low-speed chase for more than an hour and half last night, as we kicked back and watched the show.

He had committed some traffic violations and when police came to pull him over, he took off, reporters said. We dipped into the wall-to-wall television coverage and traced the route on our google maps. The miscreants passed through our community at about 9:30, and we noted the familiar landmarks and speculated about his next move. Will they take the 5? He avoided some spike strips and pit maneuvers as KCAL9 kept listeners up to date with play by play reports. The car was being driven by the brother of the owner and the tv station got an interview with the mother, who said that her son "was a good boy." After about an hour and a half, they finally stopped, without incident, on Northbound 170 Freeway in North Hollywood. The driver threw the keys out the window, revealed himself to the police and the television camera overhead, and soon he and the girlfriend were in custody. KCAL9 returned to its coverage of the Michigan primary.. . and probably lost at least half the audience.

The 134, the 170, the 101. Through Pasedena, Glendale, Burbank, Studio City.

Our house guest continues around the world

We don't know how this picture was made either. It's Alim, so anything is possible.

The Asian traveler we taught to swing a golf club while he was visiting Shakopee, Minnesota, continues on his round the world trek, greeting us today from Capetown, South Africa. When Alim spent a long weekend with us last July, we were a bit incredulous when he said he was going to return to his Malayasia hometown by land, stopping along the way to earn some money as a systems engineer to cover expenses.

Since then, he hopped from South America to Africa (his only flight) and sends his regards and a ton of beautiful photographs of his experiences there. We're amazed at the courage, single-mindedness and sensitivity of this modern Marco Polo and were privileged to be a part of his epic journey.
He sends along his impressions of South Africa, a complicated nation still very much in transition.  The multi-linguist writes:
People are generally nice, regardless of whites, blacks, Asians, Latinos, colored because we are all the same biologically. I love every single person I have met on this trip. They all my friends.
Some of my travel mates enjoyed and had great time in Africa. I am still hopeful Africa can “blow-off” my mind and give something good and memorable until I reach Cairo.
Please enjoy the amazing shots I have taken while visiting lovely South Africa.
Click here.
Alim,
Johannesburg, South Africa

------------------------------------------

God speed, Alim. We've never met another like you.

Cape Town

Thanks, Wayne. Now -- what's a Filetto?

Elder Publisher Wayne Kasich responds from International Falls with this helpful idea for the Frenchmen's surplus tomatoes:
He writes: Here you go, a light sauce recipe from Barron's "The Joy of Pasta."

FILETTO SAUCE:
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves chopped garlic
2 lg onions
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano (1/2 tsp dried)
2 TBL fresh basil (2tsp dried)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 lb can crushed or diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp sugar 
Blk pepper

Heat oil, add garlic one minute, add onion and sauté until opaque.
Add salt, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes and stir well for one minute.
Add tomatoes and sugar and bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer uncovered  for 30 minutes.
Add black pepper before serving over any large pasta. 

The book says that this is the sauce you see the restaurant staff having in Italy and it should not be overcooked. I will look into it when I get to Italy.

Looks like you have enough tomatoes to feed the neighborhood.

Sent from my iPad

Merci Beaucoup --- we think

Bright and early this morning, the three young men next door packed and headed home to France, after two weeks of light-housekeeping in LA. Before departing, they kindly left a grocery bag of their leftovers at our door. By the looks of it, they didn't cook up as much Italian as they thought they might. We're either going to have to find a food shelf drop off or rely on our good readers for some really dandy tomato-based recipes. Whadda ya got?
Their donation also included a big bag of Doritos, Nacho Cheese style. We know what to do with that.

We've always had a soft spot for the union label, so when Johnnie boarded the bus and fruitlessly dug in his jeans for a couple of quarters, we handed him the fare. "Hey, thanks, man," he said sheepishly and sat down. Stan asked for a picture, he said okay, but wanted a moment. Then he frizzed up his hair and slipped on his shades, only now ready for his closeup. Hollywood. Johnnie probably intends to pay us back, but something tells us that even if we should meet again, he won't remember anything about this, man.

How to get in without a ticket?

The book being promoted here is "How I Went to the Oscars Without a Ticket" by Dee Thompson and you can buy it on Amazon. Ironically, this interview was being conducted on the public sidewalk  . . . on the outside. . . of the Academy Awards security barrier. Hey buddy, read Chapter 2.

Oscar is just about ready

Hundreds of yellow roses adorn the Oscar
in the reception area.

"The real Hollywood is private, hon," the kind father said to his disappointed young daughter as they looked for signs of stardom this afternoon in front of the Kodak Theatre. Dad speaks the truth, of course, but none of the thousands milling around Hollywood Boulevard today want to believe it, including a tourist from Minnesota looking for his Oscar.

The bald one is Oscar

He found it inside the theater, surrounded by a remarkably relaxed group of florists, considering the big day is tomorrow. He got a look at the famous red carpet too, stagehands walking all over it like it was in a basement rec room.

Road closed. Patrolled by tricycle.

Hollywood Boulevard is closed in front of the theatre these days, but gawkers are encouraged to straggle around the massive preparations for tomorrow's network coverage . . . as long as they keep moving and don't bunch up too much. Merchandising rules.
The aluminum grandstands where fans will adore the arriving stars are all vacant today. They're reserved by guest ticket only, of course.
The Academy must have mailed them to his Minnesota address by mistake. Oh well.

Photos by Stan Rolfsrud

Harold gets a North Dakota facial

Breaking news from the Rolfsrud Ranch in the oilfields of western North Dakota:
Our cousin, Harold Rolfsrud, 75, is back from the hospital, he's okay, the bandages are off. Harold is a family patriarch, entrusted with the care and management of the Rolfsrud homestead, and not given to much exaggeration.

COUSIN HAROLD
Pre-facial file photo

He had a phone conversation with Cousin Stan this morning. Harold in North Dakota, Stan on a cellphone in Hollywood. Harold didn't call to complain about his accident, he just wanted to tell Stan he'd seen him on the Tonight Show and allowed that Stan's appearance there was extremely brief.
Eventually Harold got around to remarking that he was back from the hospital. What happened?
"Well, see, I was chasing this here bull through a gate and I slipped and fell and my face sort of smashed down into a cowpie and it pushed my glasses back into my head. The bandages are off now."
"Wait a minute," his incredulous cousin gasped, "You mean, at age 75, you're chasing a bull through a gate and you slipped and fell head first into the muck?"
"Yes, I know, and with an artificial hip too. Sometimes we just have these situations that come up, you know. Now don't give me a lecture."
"Oh no, I'm not going to lecture you," Stan responded to his elder. "I'm from your gene pool. You give us all hope. I admire you. I want to be chasing a bull around when I'm 75!"