The grandeur of the cosmos has intrigued and challenged us since time immemorial and, on a clear night, looms above us stirring wonder in little boys and girls and discomfort in men who have lived a little.
Add the magic of Hollywood and later the sound of the Beach Boys' pop and cool West Coast jazz: no wonder the world thought California to be especially blessed.
And you have to wonder: What if, instead of roaming around with guns, boys like them had access to a computer lab or a community center or some decent basketball courts?