November 13, 2026
Quote of the Day
When you’re interested in something you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.
~ Kenneth Blanchard
This Day in History
November 13, 1953: Indiana Textbook Commission member charges that Robin Hood is communist. In an example of the lengths to which the “Red Scare” in America is going, Mrs. Thomas J. White of the Indiana Textbook Commission calls for the removal of references to the book Robin Hood from textbooks used by the state’s schools. Mrs. White claimed that there was “a communist directive in education now to stress the story of Robin Hood because he robbed the rich and gave it to the poor. That’s the communist line. It’s just a smearing of law and order and anything that disrupts law and order is their meat.”
She went on to attack Quakers because they “don’t believe in fighting wars.” This philosophy, she argued, played into communist hands. Though she later stated that she never argued for the removal of texts mentioning the story from school textbooks, she continued to claim that the “take from the rich and give to the poor” theme was the “Communist’s favorite policy.” Reacting to criticisms of her stance, she countered that, “Because I’m trying to get communist writers out of textbooks, my name is mud. Evidently I’m drawing blood or they wouldn’t make such an issue out of it.” The response to Mrs. White’s charges was mixed.
Indiana Governor George Craig came to the defense of Quakers, but backed away from getting involved in the textbook issue. The state superintendent of education went so far as to reread the book before deciding that it should not be banned. However, he did feel that “Communists have gone to work twisting the meaning of the Robin Hood legend.” The Indianapolis superintendent of schools also did not want the book banned, claiming that he could not find anything particularly subversive about the story.
Ojai Weather
Partly sunny, rain – High 70 / Low 45
Total rainfall for the season – 2.79 inches
Lake Casitas water capacity – 94.5%
Friday, November 13, 2026
10:15 a.m.
There are no new listings on the market today.
Off the topic of real estate and a random rant: Yesterday, I watched the movie, “Road to Perdition.” It’s my second or third watch of the film, and although I enjoyed it immensely it’s got what is for me, one of hugest plot holes that I’ve ever seen (or maybe it’s just bad judgement on the writer’s part), and it effectively ruins it from being on of my all-time favorite movies.
Tom Hanks’ character, Michael Sullivan, is being hunted down by a mafia-hired assassin (played by Jude Law). The mafia has already killed Sullivan’s wife and one of this sons. Sullivan is himself a hit-man, formerly employed by that same mob who’s turned against him. In a hotel, the assassin catches up with and confronts Sullivan with a shotgun, resulting in a shootout. Sullivan isn’t hurt, but he manages to shoot a glass lamp which shatters, spraying the assassin in the face with glass. The assassin groans in pain and goes down to the floor, but is not killed. Sullivan leaves the room, grabbing the lockbox/money he went to the hotel for and leaves – getting away in a car driven in a car by his other son.
So you’re telling me, Sullivan – who was a hired enforcer/killer for the mob – would just leave the hotel, knowing that the assassin is attempting to kill him and his remaining son, that he wouldn’t make sure the assassin was dead? The assassin hired by the mob that turned against him and killed his wife and son? Sullivan would just walk away?
(Spoiler alert)
The fact that the assassin comes back later and ends up killing Sullivan is one of the worst movie twists I’ve ever seen. It’s a shame, really, because otherwise it’s a fantastic film and would be on of my top 10 all-time favorites. (Not that Sam Mendes will lose any sleep over my opinion.)
Have a good weekend!
Pic of the Day
Thursday, November 12, 2026
10:30 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
518 Pleasant Avenue – $995,000
450 Avenida De La Vereda – $1,175,000
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
11:15 a.m.
There are no new listings for today.
Pic of the Day
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
12:30 p.m.
No new listings have come to the market since Friday, but there are a couple of properties that have come back on the market as “new:”
- 1320 McAndrew Road – $795,000 (this had recently expired on 9/30).
- 0 E. Ojai Avenue – $550,000 (this had recently expired on 10/28).
Pic of the Day
Friday, November 6, 2026
10:50 a.m.
There are two new listings on the market:
12412 Linda Flora Drive – $4,000,000
1124 Golden West Avenue – $1,695,000
Have a great weekend!
Pic of the Day
Thursday, November 5, 2026
10:45 a.m.
There are four new listings on the market:
1114 Mercer Avenue – $1,335,000
928 Devereux Street – $1,350,000
11755 Mirror Lake Avenue – $839,000
1738 Orchard Drive – $699,500
Pic of the Day
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
9:20 a.m.
There is one new listing on the market:
818 N. Signal Street – $2,100,000
Pic of the Day
(And in accordance with today’s “This Day in History…”)
There was a bit of controversy involving this cartoon. In this 1987 depiction, Gary Larson (of “The Far Side” fame) referred to Jane Goodall as a ‘tramp’ – but all in good fun – and while Goodall’s institution took offense, she went ahead and made friends with the artist:
“The controversy between Goodall and Larson garnered a national response. The cartoon depicted a chimpanzee couple, and while they were grooming each other, the female found a single blonde strand of hair on the male and probed, ‘Conducting a little more ‘research’ with that Jane Goodall tramp?’”
“Larson, however, had never meant for it to express any malice towards Goodall. With Goodall out of the country, the Jane Goodall Institute let Gary know that it was not amused. In his ‘The Prehistory of The Far Side: A 10th Anniversary Collection’, Larson wrote: ‘I was horrified. Not so much from a fear of being sued… but because of my deep respect for Jane Goodall and her well-known contributions to primatology. The last thing in the world I would have intentionally done was offend Dr Goodall in any way.’ When Jane finally saw the cartoon, she loved it. Gary was relieved. And that was ‘the beginning of a beautiful friendship.’ A friendship that saw the cartoon printed for the benefit of The Institute.”
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
11:05 a.m.
One new listing has come to the market since Friday:
640 Lark Street – $1,395,000
Recently cancelled, withdrawn, or expired listings – back on the market as “new:”
- 10920 Ventura Avenue – $1,595,000 (this had recently expired on 8/31).
Pic of the Day
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