Dipping into avocado lore

As Super Bowl time approaches, America's thoughts turn to...food. Mounds and mounds of it. Wings, pizza, chili, burgers, brats, and of course, guacamole. Depending on which advisory council you believe, Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest alligator pear-consumption day of the year. With that in mind, TSG presents this little trivia quiz on the subject of that lovely greed obloid once known as midshipman's butter.

Which of the following are true?

• Avocados have been used to advertise Led Zeppelin concerts
• The name avocado comes from the Aztec word for testicle
• Hass avocados are named for a mailman from southern California
• All Hass avocados can be traced to a single tree that died of root rot in 2002
• Avocados leaves are toxic to horses
• Avocado milkshakes are popular in both Brazil and Vietnam

Salvation Mountain

Just east of Niland, California, on the outskirts of Slab City  is a true piece of painted desert.  Rising up from the sands like a mirage is Leonard Knight's labor of LOVE, Salvation Mountain.

An ongoing project since 1984, this amazing bit of personal obsession is a wonder to behold. These photos are from a pre-2001 roadtrip. The mountain now boasts a multi-colored Hogan and a museum.  If you ever find yourself on the southeastern shores of the Salton Sea, stop by and say hello to Leonard...and don't forget to bring a can of paint!

Tanks, a lot!

Behind the gates of Pony Tracks Ranch, and just up the drive...

Is one of the premier collections of military vehicles in the world.

The Miltary Vehicle Technology Foundation, home to more than 220 tanks, tank destroyers, self-propelled artillery, personnel carriers and other assorted hardware, was created to carry on the work of Jacques Littlefield, who amassed this amazing collection over a period of more than 30 years.

On Saturday, TSG toured this remarkable facility.  A most enjoyable excursion! 



Led by an extremely knowledgeable docent (the unusually nicknamed Chris "Toadman" Hughes), we wandered through four large buildings that house roughy half of the collection. We saw Shermans, Panzers, Panthers, Scorpions, Scuds, M60s, T34s, and a host of other multi-ton behemoths.

You can see more photos from the tour here: http://picasaweb.google.com/yawndave/TankMuseum11610