The Original Search Engine

The original search engine was a big old fume-spewing, metal monster sucking down fully leaded petrol into 6 or 8 cylinders with no power steering. 

The original search engine would get you to the beach. Most of the times. But as we look back on those analogue days last century, it was probably the disasters that bring us a smile. On the positive side, the original search engine usually had nice wide bench seats suitable for romance at the drive-in theatre where you would catch Crystal Voyager, Endless Summer, Morning of the Earth or any number of Bob Evans' surf movie classics. The sound would come out of a mono speaker at the end of a cable that you hung on the window. Remember not to drive off with it still attached!

His father, Perc Miller, was a famous artist. His mother called him Darryl. But to the rest of us he is Baron Von Weirdo - legend of surfing retro - black velvet painting, vintage surfboards and skateboards, tiki, ukeleles and other assorted Hawaiiana. And of course beautiful tees with slogans like "in odd we trust" and "original search engine" featuring all metal retro autos like those he painted on wood above. 

He also had a beautiful art exhibition called "The Original Search Engine". You can see highlights on Yewwtube here. Evocative. Stunning. Below, Kathy Kohner, the real Gidget, with her own original search engine - a 1946 Ford V8 "Woody". The Search continues.

Swell's Back

The surf is up 

as my Uncle would say. 

Jump off The Pier.

Jump off the rocks at the end of The Point. 

Jump off the back of a mate's boat

.

But bring a strong board - that custom one, 

the one made with love 

and care by the local legend shaper, 

(ie not one mass produced 

in a third world factory).

Big Jet Airliner

"Goodbye to all my friends at home 
Goodbye to people I've trusted 
I've got to go out and make my way 
I might get rich you know I might get busted "

"But my heart keeps calling me backwards 

As I get on the 707 

Ridin' high I got tears in my eyes 

You know you got to go through hell 

Before you get to heaven"

Jet Airliner from Steve Miller Band's album Book of Dreams