Book Review - Neon Prey

Lucas Davenport is back with fellow US Marshals Bob and Rae tracking down a serial killer hit man and cannibal from Louisiana to Las Vegas. As with most of John Sandford's novels, this one pulls you in and keeps you intrigued. The action flips between Lucas and his crew and the cannibal, who has hooked up with a gang of home invasion robbers in Las Angeles. Reading about both groups almost simultaneously hooks you to see what happens next and the banter between the marshals adds humor.

If you start this book, be prepared to binge it.

Green Auto Maintenance

My daily drive is a 2003 Expedition  with a 5.4 liter V8 that I bought from my son in 2006. It was the family school bus until I got it and then it became a true SUV with the emphasis on utility. I have no problem in loading the back with potted plants or bags of pine mulch. It stays dirty most of the time. It is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned and now has 150,000 miles, most of it with only basic maintenance. Repairs have been few and the cost of them is much lower than a monthly car note. While it has a few quirks (the door switch is out giving me a door ajar warning, the rear air con control door flops around, and the disk changer is tango uniform) I plan to keep it as long as I can. The air con is weak so every spring I give it a can of freon. This year I got a can, hooked up the hose and......nothing. I went back to the auto parts store and they told me that new freon cans were self sealing and the old hoses would not work as they could not pierce the seal. There was an adapter, but they were all sold out. One of the counter guys offered to let me use his if I charged the system in the store parking lot. Deal done and a good example of customer service. I'm not sure what drove the change unless it was environmental concerns, or a desire to force every mechanic to buy a new gadget.

Memories of Notre Dame

I was truly shocked and saddened to watch Notre Dame burn. Those who follow me know that I spend several weeks a year in Paris having fallen in love with the city after working there for about 1 year. In one trip there I stayed on Isle St Louis and my daily walk to and from the train station took me past Notre Dame. I would marvel that my daily commute took me past such history.

 In another trip, my sons family stayed with us for a couple of weeks. On the first night they spent in Paris we walked back along the Seine after dinner. My oldest grandson (then 17) was looking at stuff within the near field when I told him to look up and to the right. He looked up and saw the front of Notre Dame shining in spotlights and his jaw fell open in awe. He says that that was his "I'm really in Paris" moment.

On our last trip to Paris we again stayed on the island and the view out of our front window was the back of Notre Dame and its spire.

France rebuilt the cathedral at Reims after WW 1 and I am sure they will rebuild "Our Lady".

Joe Biden Meets Saul Alinsky

One of Alinsky's Rules for Radicals is "Make them live up to their own rules". I think Creepy Joe is finding that he is now on the receiving end of this rule and some of it seems to be coming from the far left of his own party.

Head Count

Seven druggies and 2 murderers had their heads removed last month in Saudi Arabia. The year to date total is now up to 45.

Yellow Vests - Week 20

Taking a look at Paris traffic on Google Maps today it looks like the lower Champs, from Grand Palais to the Tuileries is closed. The riverside expressway on the right bank from the Trocadero to Tuileries is closed and the area around the Trocadero and across the bridge to the Eiffel is closed. In other words, if you were a tourist today, you could not go to most of the popular tourist sites.

My wife tracks apartments for sale and rent in Paris and she has seen a marked drop in price since January. Now heading into its 6th month, this protest over the French president's new green deal has to be hurting tourism in Paris.

And as we head into an election season, keep the lesson of the Yellow Vests in mind.

Yellow Vests- Week 19

President Macron has essentially declared martial law and deployed the army to protect the streets of major French cities. While it is common to see soldiers at tourist and transportation sites, they have been deployed to protect government building under the French anti terrorism statutes.

If you look at the traffic function on Google maps, you will see that major streets are closed for their entire length. Basically, draw an "X" through Paris and it is closed. The entire length of the Champs is closed. The streets that circle the Tuilleries are closed as well as the river side expressway on the right bank. The N/S street that passes the Catacombs, goes by Luxumborg and the St Michael Fountain, crosses Isle de la Cite and on up to Gare du Nord and the 10th Arr. is closed.

This is not going to end well.