George Packard – An Occasional Story or Magazine

George Packard’s Latest Scoop

George Packard, combined his already-questionnable, journalistic zeal with his definitely dubious physical fitness regime and rode his bicycle to the beach. By now, George Packard was well aware that it was highly unlikely for him to chance upon any Breaking News stories while at the beach. However, the way George saw it, during a pandemic, if you needed to be to be looking for a Breaking News Story, then the beach was probably the safest place to be doing it.

George let the ocean breeze pass over him. It was still early in the day. In Los Angeles the early morning fog kept thing cool most days. Thank goodness for the fog from the ocean. That’s why LA is a cooler place than, say, Bakersfield. Indeed, in nearly all respects LA is cooler than Bakersfield. Well, except for Country and Western music.

The beach would get a little more crowded when the sun came out. George didn’t go to the beach on weekends anymore (the bicycle paths get too crowded). Still, once you do get to the beach, once you get on the sand, social distancing is as easy as pie. It’s these parties, these big gatherings, especially indoor gatherings, that are making all the trouble. George avoided those crowded places like the plague… Er.. I mean, George Packard avoided restaurants and indoor places like anything.

The scoop is that the populace of the great United States of America is spoiled. Unlike other countries, the American people, led by a demagogue, are non-compliant, and unwilling maintain the simple self-discipline and patriotic sacrifice that is required to limit this virus. Nearly every industrialized nation in the world has been able to do this better than the great United States. What a disgrace. We don’t even have enough swabs and surgical masks.

The number of new cases per day has to be taken down to 1 – or maybe 10 – per million population. More cases than than that, and the tracing becomes impossible. But when you can contact trace quickly and thoroughly, you can lower the rate of transmission, i.e. the average number of people that a covid individual infects. The rate of transmission is the key piece in the equation. The medical teams need to catch the virus early and then quarantine effectively. Nipping the seed in the bud, as it were. If we’re going to live with this virus for the next year, if we want to have a somewhat normal life, if we want to open the schools, we have to get the incidence, the case numbers, down. And even when incidence goes down, there will still be sporadic breakouts of the virus. But the risk of (re)infection will be low enough to send the kids back to school. People might have to manage without bars and restaurants for a while.

What a shame that we have to wait til January for some re-direction in this country. Too many people will die. This man, this monster, does harm at every turn. What a shame he wasn’t convicted of abuse of power this past February. Remember that? Mike Pence would have become President and 50,000 people would still be alive.

We have no choice but to vote Democratic. A Blue Wave. Go Democrats!!!!

Hurray for the Democrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

George Packard and the Truth about Breaking News Stories

George Packard, roving reporter for Bumbastories set once again out in search of a scoop, a BREAKING NEWS story. Let it be known that George W. Packard was as intrepid a roving reporter as you’re likely to find. When it came to intrepidness and sheer roving ability George Packard was second to none. The problem was that whenever he hopped on his bicycle George headed for the beach. Truth be told, George Packard liked the beach a lot better than he liked Breaking News stories. In fact, earlier in the week, George was pedalling along Venice Blvd, (on his way to the beach of course) when he saw a huge accident scene up ahead. A pick-up truck, now overturned, had apparently jumped the divider and managed to smash into three or four police vehicles. Cops and ambulances were everywhere. It looked like the end of a long car chase. A BREAKING NEWS story, no? But did our hero leap off his bike with camera and reporter’s notepad in hand? No, he did not. No way. George deftly maneuvered around the wreckage -taking extra care not to ride over any glass – and continued on his way to the beach. So much for BREAKING NEWS.

The beach was a safe place, covid-wise. Especially early in the morning. Most summer days in LA, the sun doesn’t come out until early afternoon. The beaches were empty in the mornings. On the bicycle path George was pleased to see the large majority of riders and joggers wore face coverings. LA was experiencing another increase in covid cases. It was no breaking news by now that the virus was going to threaten us, limit us, scare us, divide us, and grieve us for another year at the minimum. It was also no breaking news that the American people were weak and spoiled, and therefore fated to suffer more. Unnecessarily. They has elected a monstrous buffoon to lead them, and now they were paying the price.

At least it was safe and quiet at the beach, albeit a bit chilly on this grey southern California morn.

George Packard and the Breaking News Story at the Beach

George Packard, roving reporter for Bumbastories headed for the beach in search of a Breaking News story. As reported earlier in these pages, George had already made two attempts to bicycle out to the beach – only to be turned back, stymied by excessive bicycle and foot traffic on the usually deserted Ballona Creek bicycle path. George got on the bicycle path in Culver City and before he reached Centinela he had already countted over 70 bicyclers and joggers who were headed in the opposite direction. Employing his journalistic computational skills, George computed that 40% wore masks. Not enough! They were riding double file too! One bad apple spoils the barrel. And there were too many apples (stupid apples) out there.

George exited the bike path and took his chances on the streets – where traffic on the main thoroughfares was nearly at regular levels. And it wasn’t even 10 AM yet! When George finally made it to Playa Del Rey, a policeman stopped him from going onto the beach bicycle path, so George chained up and walked. However, George soon saw a number of bicycles on the beach, and once the policeman left, riders were entering freely. On the beach people were spaced out on the sand at safe distances. Here and there young people congregated.

In an exclusive Bumbastories interview with one of the lifeguards, George learned that the beaches were open for limited use. The bicycle path was “Kinda off limits to bikes, but I guess it’s OK for walking,” said the young lifeguard with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders. George promised the lifeguard to be back during the week when it wasn’t so busy. George Packard could only imagine what a mess the beach was going to look like come Memorial Day. In LA at least, most people were being prudent and respectful, and doing the right thing. But there were enough A-holes around to mess everything up. Such was George Packard’s assessment of the situation.

George Packard and the Breaking News Scoop at the Beach

George Packard, roving reporter for Bumbastories, had been doing minimal reporting of late. Heck, he barely wrote anything at all for Bumbastories anymore. George had essentially abandoned his quest to be the johnny-on-the-spot reporter who comes up with a big, journalistic scoop, a headline piece, a Breaking News story. George had given the Breaking News matter some thought, and he’d decided in the end that most of these Breaking News stories involved some kind of tragedy: a fire, a car accident, a violent crime, a tsunami, a tornado… the kind of things George figured he’d be best off avoiding. In addition, most of George’s rovings were done on the bicycle. And he hadn’t ridden since the quarantine started! George missed riding the bicycle. It was one of his regular things.

So he was delighted to read in the Sunday L.A. Times an account by Robin Abcarian of a pleasant bicycle ride she had with her partner in the Marina Del Rey area. Even though the beach and the bicycle path were closed down, there was still some fine riding and nature to commune with in the wetlands along the Ballona Creek bicycle path. The political issues surrounding bike path and the wetlands area were touched upon. A fine article – one which immediately tipped the scales for George Packard vis-a-vis riding the bicycle. This was George Packard’s regular route, the Ballona Creek bike path! George went out to the garage and got out the bike.

As George pedalled, he thought of all the posts he had submitted to Bumbastories about his trips to the beach. The President could be visiting in Beverly Hills, the mayor giving a speech at City Hall. There could be an award ceremony Hollywood. No matter. George looked for his Breaking News story at the beach. It used to drive his editor, old Bumba, crazy. But here he was on his way to the bicycle path. On his way to a scoop, perhaps? It seemed to George that people, mostly young people, seemed to be less vigilant of late. Restrictions were being loosened in other parts of the country. People were going to the beach down in Orange County. George wondered what the beach at Playa Del Rey would look like.

The streets were easy to navigate as he headed toward Culver City. George rode down an empty Washington Blvd, made a left at Overland, and rode down to the bicycle path. Ah, the bicycle path! It was sunny and quiet. At first George saw only a few occasional riders who passed the other way. Most wore masks or kerchieves. But, as George rode on in the direction of the beach, he saw that the path was busier than usual. At Centinela he saw clusters of riders ahead. Yikes! George stopped. Maybe a lot of people had read the same article. George turned the bike around, rode back up on Centinela over to Venice Blvd. He took Venice all the way back home. So much for journalistic scoops in the age of pandemics.

********************

***********************

Monday Magazine ———September 29, 2014

George Packard Reflects

It was a pleasant enough crowd at McDonald’s. As George sipped his iced coffee, he looked out at the assorted crowd of plain ol’ folks at the other tables. He sat in a comfortable side booth at a shiny, clean little table. George placed several sheets of paper on the table before him and took out his pen.

George Packard, retired schoolteacher and roving reporter for Bumbastories, had not written for a long time. George yearned to write something that was not “George Packard, roving reporter”. George wanted another voice, another role to play. All this chasing after scoops was getting a bit long in the tooth.

The other day George had noticed that the newly reconstructed Carl’s Jr. on Fairfax and Olympic had already opened. Doggonnit, he had missed the Grand Opening Ceremony! Too bad. It would have been a scoop! Being a roving reporter was fraught with frustrations; the job was not all it was hyped up to be.

“Never mind the scoop,” thought George.

George Packard roved on.

✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸

Sports Poem

Predatory instincts pull on the leash

How to control them?

Project them onto the playing field

Play ball!

Now, there’s good sport!

A joie-de-vivre shining through

Goal!!!! images

✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸

Science Section

I hit the stacks at the libraries. Again, I needed to find a good, elementary physics book to bring me up to speed on the fundamentals of physics. I had this thing about getting a handle on Quantum Mechanics and Relativity Theory. I found Isaac Asimov’s classic, The History of Physics, to be the best so far, the most useful to me. As with all of Asimov’s works, the language is delightfully clear. His breadth of scientific knowledge is stupendous. Asimov also probably holds the Guiness World Record for most books written – hundreds of them – and good books! – What a writer!

Asimov clarifies the concept of inertia as expounded by Galileo. He explains Newton clearly. I will let you know when I understand relativity and quantum physics. Meanwhile Asimov’s 745 page tome – which includes ample chapters on Relativity, Quanta, and Particle Physics – should keep me busy for a while!

✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸✸

George Packard Gets His Scoop!

Roving reporter knocks down a Double Scoop (Milkshake)

George Packard, roving reporter stopped by as soon as he could at the newly-reconstructed Carl’s Jr. on Fairfax and Olympic. (See earlier George Packard reports on this major reconstruction project in earlier issues of the Monday Magazine)

It was a very pleasant surprise.

The design was the same as the old Carl’s: two rows of booths with a partition (that featured a Carl’s Star) running down the middle, some smaller tables alongside, the rest rooms in the same place. It was eerie. After all, they had totally razed the old Carl’s and started from scratch! The counter was in the same place when you walk in, and nearly identical. The new Carl’s looked like the old Carl’s – only cleaner!

Hat’s off to Carl’s!

And a pleasant week to all!

Monday Magazine Section ====August 3, 2014.

A Note from the Editor

On behalf of all the members of the Bumbastories staff, I would like to offer some explanation as to why this Bumbastories Sunday Magazine Section has had its name changed to Monday Magazine Section. As you may or may not be aware, this Bumbastories blog is titled Every Day Another Story. For a brief while we at Bumbastories believed ourselves capable of answering the daily writing challenge: every day another story. Quite rapidly, though, Every Day Another Story devolved into a de facto “story maybe every couple of days” kind of thing.

Then we arrived at the weekly Sunday Magazine format!

And we’re even late on that!

So, with an admission of our incorrigible sloth, and with a touch of realistic goal-setting, Bumbastories has pushed back the deadline yet another day and will now publish the Monday Magazine Section.

⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿THE MONDAY MAGAZINE SECTION⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿

George Packard, retired schoolteacher and roving reporter for Bumbastories was back out there – roving the streets of Los Angeles on his bicycle. Looking for a scoop.

Exciting stuff, no?

George thought so too.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

George Packard, roving reporter, roved on….

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

How ’bout a song to move us along today? Click to hear Bumba playing Up a Lazy River or the umpteenth time. Bumba says he can’t help it. He uses the song to practice his chords.

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

And now for the thrilling continuation of the Ted Morris, Los Angeles Private Eye of the Raymoond Chandler ilk story.

Ted Morris picked up Angelina Despaigne from the Adelanto Federal Prison out past Victorville the day after Robert Kennedy got shot. It was a sad, sad time. For every one. Even the prison guards seemed to be in shell-shock.

Angelina Marquez walked quickly out of the big prison door and got into the car. She had tears in her eyes. Stiffly she sat next to Ted Morris in the car. She held her duffel bag on her lap.

“Drive, baby,” she spoke, looking straight out at the road ahead. She watched coldly as they passed through the prison gates, which were slowly opened for them after a quick inspection of Morris’ visitor’s pass and Angelina’s release papers.

Ted Morris, tough and hardened Los Angeles private eye, found himself crying too as he eased the low-riding black Chevy Impala onto Rte 395 and headed toward L.A. It was the emotion of Angelina’s release together with all the accumulated sorrow and held-back tears of the Kennedy assassination. The last chance had been shot down. It was the final nail in the national coffin. It was too hard a blow. As he drove he reached with his free hand down into his trousers’ pocket to get his handkerchief. He felt Angelina’s hand clutch his. He patted and then grasped her thin fingers with his big paw, as he carefully steadied the big Chevy on the road. Rte 395, long and straight and dusty lay ahead of them.

“At least you’re coming home,” he said, drying his eyes. “We’re all glad about that.”

“You’ll see'” he continued. “Francisco’s fixed you a party.”

“Ted Morris,” she began. “How do I thank you? Ever?”

“Hey, Angie, you know we made a deal.” He turned to look at her briefly. She was smiling as a tear ran down her cheek.

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

A Happy Monday and a Happy Week to All!

Sitting on the bus and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Sitting on the bus…..

“Whatt? Is this going to be another of those As I Sat On The Bus things?

Whatt? Are we to suffer through yet another of those ridiculous AISOTB diatribes about public transportation, and writing on the bus, and how the buses are always late, and what this country needs…..”

…on the way to the train

…..on the way to the annual L.A. Times Book Festival at the USC campus……

Actually, it’s just a George Packard piece about…..

“Oh. OK. We don’t mind George Packard too much….”

Well then. With your kind permission, George Packard, retired schoolteacher and roving reporter for Bumbastories, was down at the USC Book Fair.

It was jam-packed with all kinds of people, crowding all kinds of booths selling all kinds of books, courses, club memberships, and even some snake oil. But mostly books.

George checked out some of the publishers, publicists, printers, and some of the other writers at the Festival. George had some lovely conversations with some lovely people, It was a pleasant day at the Book Fair.

George Packard wondered whether he’d ever get to sell the two books he had written and self-published. George thought he might try to sell them on the Bumbastories blog. After all, he noticed that Bumba’s buddy, Stephen Baum, had done that with his two books. Both of Baum’s novels were up for sale on the Bumbastories blog.

That Bumba is a genuine supporter of the arts, thought George. Either that or genuinely stupid. It’s hard to tell sometimes.

As I Sat On The Bus (#21)

George Packard, roving reporter, had been derogated the task (derogated being a cross between denigrated and de-regulated), of writing the Bumbastories entry for the As I Sat On The Bus Invitational. Yes, every week Bumbastories writes a story that begins with the phrase As I Sat On The Bus, and asks all readers, followers, and bloggers to send in their own happy, mass transportation compositions via the Comments section. Hence the following entry by George Packard into this great, weekly fictioneers Invitational.

********************************************************************

George Packard sat on the bus and considered what great and fine contribution he could possibly bring to the world. As an individual, George was striving to live his life in such a way that the world – even the people after him – would not be sorry that he had existed. Perhaps he could even help a bit. What then could he, George Packard, bring to the table? As the roving reporter for Bumbastories and this week’s delegated (OK, not derogated) AISOTB writer, George wondered where to begin.

Surely the Golden Proportion is somewhere near the top of any list of fine and noble subjects, thought George as he sat on the bus. George had already written some earlier Bumbastories posts about the golden proportion, phi and phi. Readers could check out the golden proportion posts on the Search option.

Today George Packard would simply introduce and conclude his introduction to phi with the following:

The universality and beauty of the proportion are evident. The phi proportion expressed geometrically is images-1

As I Sat On the Bus #16

George Packard, retired schoolteacher, sat in the Beverly Hills Library and observed the minor goings-on at the check-out counter. In his heart he felt a familiar malaise. George was used to it, this malaise.
He watched the little exchanges. People returning their books, paying overdue fines. George found pleasure in watching people, but eventually would begin to fantasize and make up stories about them in his head. This was generally a bad practice. “Always remain objective if you want to be a good scientist.” George remembered a quote from a science book he had read as a youngster.

He wondered what to write for the Bumbastories As I Sat On The Bus Compendium. George had made a certain committment to Bumba. But George did not feel like writing any more. As a “roving reporter”, George felt the need for additional roving. He was on his bike that day. He went to Gardner Park.

However, the next day George took the bus

As George Packard rode on the bus, the inspiration to write swept over him like a salty ocean wave that sweeps you up and throws you toward the beach. Something called to him. Something called at him.

George would write a novel.

The Adventures of George Packard and the Key To the Highway

Here’s Key to the Highway again. This Bill Broonzy classic is one that I do all the time. Perhaps you will listen to it as you read another small chapter in the Adventures of George Packard:

George Packard took a seat at the back of the #20 bus. He had in his mind a story, or rather a series of little stories. He would write about his own adventures. Each day would be another adventure. True, the #20 bus was not a very auspicious start he had to admit. Not very adventuresome. Nor adventurous.

Yes, he George Packard, retired schoolteacher, would have to set out somewhere. To travel. All that “finding what you need in your own backyard stuff” was for losers. No, to have adventure, one must set out on the road!

What was that song? Yes. The Key to the Highway. The Highway, the Road, La Strada. The moving, the movement toward another place, another life. A life of adventure. The high seas perhaps…..

George Packard snapped out of his reverie just in time. He pulled the cord to request a stop. The heavy bus lunged toward the curb and jerked to a sudden stop at Crescent Drive. George stepped down from the bus and began his day.