All The News That Fits

• A severe thunderstorm hit the DC area last evening in the midst of rush hour, downing trees and power lines, and closing parts of the Capital Beltway (not that it would have made much difference at the time). While the power didn't go out in my neighborhood, one of the trees in the front yard took quite a hit, and will probably have to be taken down.

• The VW plant in Mexico stopped producing models of the classic "Beetle" recently. While they cannot be legally imported into the USA due to safety and emission regulations, the final run of 3000 are sure to become collector's items. In any case, hundreds of classic Beetle owners in the USA could sure use a batch of fresh spare parts to keep their own little love bugs running.

• From Dead Heads to... Del Heads??? The Del McCoury Band, a bluegrass phenomenon headed up by the 62-year-old grandpa for which it is named, has found a young tie-dyed following, while playing their high lonesome sound wearing suits and ties, just as McCoury himself did while backing up the legendary Bill Monroe as one of his Blue Grass Boys. Nice work if you can get it, Del. Keep it up.