Editorial

A few days ago, Mike Koewler mentioned in another thread that I was writing editorials for his newspaper. They are basically about life here in the Arizona desert. If anyone is interested in reading them, you can contact me by email at dfday@earthlink.net, or you can let me know here and I'll email you a copy of the first four articles in a PDF file. They run about 900 words each. Mike says his readers think they are OK (Mike wouldn't admit what he thinks though ), but you be the judge.

D8)N

All,

I recommend reading them, they are enjoyable. I know this will make my twin's head swell, but one reader wanted to know what syndicate I got them from. (This has nothing to do with Don being evil - for those who may not know, there are groups around the country who supply articles, editorials, cartoons and features for newspapers. For instance, Mark Szordy is a syndicated cartoonist - I use some of his work from time to time.)

Also, if anyone is interested in being an editorialist, writing about whatever you want, I will happily print them and send you a copy of the paper, even if you live across one of the ponds. If you want more details, contact me via e-mail.

Mike

I haven't sent anyone the file yet since I didn't have a chance to put it together until today. Anyway, when I did I found it was a lot smaller then I thought it would be so I am posting it here instead.

D8)N

Thanks, Don - fascinating reading for those of us hailing from more temperate climes! More please in due course????

- Mike -

The original Serif Rogue verisimilitudes (27 portraits at present) are now here: http://www.devon.england.untiednatio...srg/rogues.htm, even if you're outside the UK (yes I've moved the little b*****s again!!)

Mike,

Thanks, I've tried to mix a little education and a little humor. I have fun doing them, and yes there is one that Mike has ready for press and another one that I'm working on. He has been printing them about once every three weeks. Now that I have an easy way to make a pdf (PP8PDF) and the files aren't that big,I will post them here as they go to press.

Don

Don't know if too many people are interested, but in case you are, here's one more that Mike printed in his last week's edition.

Don

Great stuff. Mo, mo, Don!
Bob

Don,

I saved the first edition and only read it yesterday. Great reading about living in harsh conditions. I'm with GPa, more please.

Geoff Barns

This one should be in today's edition of Mike's paper.

DN

Don
I thoroughly enjoyed reading those. Last year I did 'the tour' and we travelled from San Diego to Lake Havasu ( on our way to the Grand Canyon) so I reckon we missed Wickenburg (by about 100 miles?). I remember the heat, it was August, and the desert (it was just like the movies). We saw very little wildlife and certainly not any giraffes)
Great stuff
Walter

Walter,

Thanks, as I've said, I enjoy doing them just don't tell Mike that since he will expect more from me, as he does from everybody else.

We were in Lake Havasu City (just a litle over 100 miles NW of Wickenburg) a few weeks ago servicing some equipment we manufactured. I'll tell you, it was too hot there even for the giraffes; who incidentally, are really cagy and only seem to come out when no one is looking. They do tell me that "Spring Break" at Lake Havasu is a sight to behold though,8) a posssible subject for a future column.

Don

Don,

I've never been to Lake Havasu, but I remember London Bridge being taken apart stone by stone, each one being numbered so they could be rebuilt in the right position. Interestingly, it was demolished sideways, and the replacement built the same way, so at one time there were two half width bridges, each carrying traffic, side by side.

What I have always wondered though, did you get the street lamps? London Bridge was the last one to be lit by gas. Each luminaire contained dozens of mantles and mirrors, and the result was as bright as most contemporary mercury-vapour lamps. They were quite handsome lamps!

Geoff

Geoff,

Yeah, I remember seeing pictures all the numbered blocks sprawled out waiting to be reassembled. They rebuilt the bridge on dry land then dug a channel under it to create an island in the lake (actually the Colorado River). I've been by it and on it many, many times and I know there are lamps along the sides of the bridge, but I don't know if they are gas or not. I've always assumed that they came over as part of the package. The island has a bunch of condos on it along with the airport, and I can remember back in the 60's they would fly a Lockheed Costellation between Phoenix and Havasu at no cost to the passengers, just to bring potential buyers and business people up there. It worked...

Quite a marketing coup for both London and the guy that started Lake Havasu City.

Don

Geoff (& Don)
struggling to get these photos of the bridge for you to look at. if I exported them from PhP as jpeg they were converted to Black & White ???
Anyway used tiff instead. they show the lights but not very clearly (especially as i had to reduce them to a smaller file size)
Thought you might be interested.
walter

Walter,

I should be able to find a shot from the top of the bridge. They show one every night on one channel while doing the weather. Maybe the local TV channel will have one. Also, the Arizona Highway Magazine is a good source of pictures. I'll post one if I can.

I had no problems converting your tif to a color jpg. ???

Don

Hi Don and Walter.
I have photos from when I was sent to Lake Havasu by Ford Motor Co. to some work out at the Arizona Proving Grounds. Like you I went in August and it is disgustingly hot that time of the year. It was a 116 degrees when I landed. Bleah.

Don is there an airport on the island as well as the main municipal one? I don't remember even though I took a drive around the island while I was there.

I'll see if I can get my scanner up and running and scan in some of my photos from that trip.

Becky

Becky,

That's it, the only airport I know of is on the island, across the London Bridge. I flew in and out of there once... but that's fodder for another story. I can normally drive to Havasu quicker anyway, and especially now that I'm much closer.

What year were you there? Only 116 in August? Gee, they must have been having a cold spell.

Don

Wat'o Becky et al

So you're the lot who 'alf-inched our bridge!! It's likely to put a lot of strain on Anglo-American relations. We 'ave a much more civilized temperature 'ere tho. 116 degrees, I ask yer! Fings ain't wat they used to woz! I've got a friend living in Budapest. I'll 'ave ter warn him abaht watching their bridge!

The pics are very interesting. But it don't look right wivaht the London skyline tho. When are you lot going to nick that then? Interestingly, along the motorways all the bridges are numbered. Taking a bit more care this time!

TelBoy

Funf
I remember it was rumoured at the time that the guy who bought the bridge thought he was getting the more famous Tower Bridge.
Walter

Walter,

Sounds like the spiv in Dad's Army sold it to him