On Thu, 11 Nov 2010 11:41:16 -0500, I am Tosk
wrote:

Read the article... Saw dozens of reports, experts "on both sides" and I
believe myself it was "message" from some axis power saying "see, we can
sit in your back yard and you didn't even know we were there". That's
why it went due west.

Interesting conspiracy theory but if fails the Occam's Razor test
which basically says that the simplest explanation is more likely to
be correct. The two most plausible (and simple) explanations are
that it was indeed a jet contrail observed from an unusual angle; or
two, that it was a classified US govt misile launch which take place
fairly often in coastal California. One of my old high school friends
is alleged to participate in that sort of thing (if they actually
exist). :-)