Hillary Clinton's nomination would set up a potential shift in the American psyche, the likes of which we have not seen.
US citizens, consciously or unconsciously, think of the President as a default "Father" figure. One could build a case that it started with our reference to George Washington as the "Father of our Country," and followed from there in a largely patriarchal society. Hillary would cause a shift.
The US adapted, not entirely successfully, to a Black President. The next adaptation would be to a Mother President which I submit would be even more profound. Both Obama and Clinton carry "historical narratives" and with those come historical disruptions, which by themselves are positive, even progressive. It is the manner of reaction in the short run that can be sensitive.
If Hillary is elected it would be probably the last definitive cultural change brought by the boomer generation, the parting echo of the 60's counter cultural revolution. It would be a big deal here, but women leaders of nations is not news. That it would be such a big story here is further evidence of how hung up, fossilized, old school and out of touch is US politics. This breeze stirs a haunting refrain from long ago, that is more than an anachronism, "Oh, the times, they are a changing..." It's about time many would say.
PARTINGTON COVE
Nautical drama played out in the shallows beyond the trees rimming Partington Cove south of Big Sur.
You are looking at a "dog hole port" as they were known in the late 19th century.
The remains of a tunnel transports you to the scene of 1870's adventure.
It was here that schooner captains proved their mastery of the sea by bringing their sailing ships into this dog hole port. They were so called because in the idiom of the day, there was "barely room for a dog to turn around."
A 125 year old tie up remains witness to the loading of tan bark product that took place here below the famed Partington Ridge in Big Sur.
There were no engines or motors, only wind and water for the captains to command as they battled their way along the rugged California coast. These were isolated areas but rich with Tan Bark trees that were used by San Francisco tanners north up the coast. The captain would read the tide and pilot his schooner into these tight quarters as crewmen went to work loading the bark that had been harvested on the other side of the mountain in thick oak and redwood forests.
It is hard not to be impressed by the enterprise and heroics of 1870-1890 commerce that plied along this rugged coast.
Construction of a tunnel, for example, that was build to last.
THE LOCAL RODEO
This is from a Hearst Ranch historical display in San Simeon. Cambria's 8th Annual Rodeo program for Sunday June 30, 1935. I note the Rodeo was preceded on Saturday night and followed on Sunday by Cowboy Dances.
I took pleasure too in noting the ad on the left from the Cambria Development company, promising longer life in Cambria Pines by the sea.
Some think of California as LA, Hollywood, SoCal, San Francisco, freeways, beaches, show business and population. Many forget California is "the west." Sure, there are eastern states where they can wear the title of "the west," but none are as western as California. I frequently see cowboys, on horseback, riding the range, tending to cattle. We have friends who are ranchers and a lot of what they do is traditional cowboy work. So while happy hour can be a cold beer, glass of wine or cocktail, it can also be this.
Seeing horses on a mountain side, kicking up dust in the long slant of evening sun, I feel as though I'm in a cowboy movie-in my case it would be Billy Crystal's City Slickers!!!
HOW TO BE A MAN
A comment in a program about women in war launched me on a thought trail. No disrespect to that issue. In fact I encourage viewing of MAKERS, an excellent series on PBS, but this concept of "being a man" is stuck in my head.
It was said it used to be the only way a male could prove his manhood was to go to war. If I were an anthropologist I might refute that historical premise. However, in our age, manhood certainly comes in many faces, roles, and iterations.
A life of labor, providing for a family come to mind. Setting aside individual dreams to assure a quality of life for children is a very manly thing. There are countless journey's to "manhood"-living honorably, true to ideals, teaching, being a cop, staying sober, back breaking labor, medical work, emergency services, mentoring, emigrating and starting over, building, leading a church choir, driving a cab, being a lineman, editing a newspaper, plumbing, lawyering, running a business, investigating hate groups, challenging bad laws, standing up for the abused or disenfranchised, being a correspondent, philanthropy, creating, and on and on. Women do these things too and making such a point should serve to underscore how gender judging ideas like "manhood" or "womanhood" are anachronistic. Maybe it is better to think of our humanity instead.
There is still combat, danger, crime, evil, hatred and other, perils, disasters and destruction's of life. Men and women will respond and sometimes in heroic and sacrificial ways. I think a nation is indebted to those who go into harm's way (There is very little that is manly or womanly in the way this nation has historically responded to our service personnel. But that is another discussion. And too medical workers and journalists who endure combat or natural violence, without weapons, are rarely remembered for their service)
Valor and courage are fine human attributes, but they can also be manifest in hard work, sacrifice, loyalty, reliability, honesty and devotion.
We've all known good men and good women who have simply been brave in the way they have lived good lives.
If we can think of manhood in diverse ways, beyond the context of struggle, then maybe we can start putting down our clubs, spears, guns and bombs.
GOOD BYE TO A GOOD GUY
Courtesy of Mediabistro.com/
Ben Bradlee was no saint, but he was a helluva of good newspaper man. He spoke his mind, guided the Washington Post to an era of greatness, presided over the courageous Watergate coverage, was friend and confident to Presidents, an advocate of a strong and free press and an entertaining story teller.
To generations of journalists he was a kind of patron saint, a standard bearer.
Today we go "behind the scenes" of this far and still
some what wild west area of San Luis Obispo County California. Cowboys to Wine makers with stunning beauty and a few things that go round in between.
This is the 50th year for the Paso Robles Agri Business tour, which takes you far from the tourist track.
WARNING
THIS IS THE REAL DEAL
As we used to say on television
these scenes may not be suitable for all viewers
ROPING AND BRANDING
AT THE CRESTON RODEO GROUNDS
A two minute primer on a classic skill
FOR THE MORE GENTEEL,
WINE IS A BIG BUSINESS
The seventh generation is working the Ernst Steinbeck vineyards, home of the Steinbeck Winery.
The first grapes were planted here by the Ernst brothers in the 1880's. This shows the rare 4 stem arrangement of the vine.
Cindy Steinbeck tells how her son Ryan always wanted to work with his Grandfather, and now he does. This is a family face to Agri Business.
HIGH DRAMA
THE CAMBRIA BUS CATCHES FIRE
The lavender color at Union Road and Highway 46 is courtesy of the fire repellent used to douse the engine fire that temporary halted the Cambria Bus on the tour.
Just outside the Tobin James winery, there was much discussion that perhaps here is where our leg of the journey would end.
Undaunted we transferred to a temporary bus that included 3 surprised riders, two of whom had been napping and another who was in the restroom when the bus was rapidly diverted from the stop ahead, back to pick up the waylaid Cambrians. Consequently, a few of us "aisle surfed" on the way to the next stop.
The ranch, vineyard and farmland was spectacular.
There was a stop at the White Ranch. This family has been raising barley and cattle since the mid 1800's.
I learned that much of this area was planted in Almonds, and was known as the Almond capitol until WWII when barley was planted as part of the war food effort. Later of course some of the area was converted to Vineyards or grazing land.
The message at the Avenales ranch was sustainability, in all aspects of water use, crop rotation and grazing
Then it was on to one of the most beautiful settings I've seen. The Vaquero Water Ranch is a 40 thousand acre spread that used to be part of the historic Sacramento Ranch.
Historically the Vaquero cattle drives would cross this land because of the presence of water. Running streams made this a place where the cattle would be "watered up" before they headed south or over toward the coast.
It's a long drive from a public road, over rolling mountains back into a spectacular valley. The home also dates from the 1840's and commands a magnificent view of some of California's most beautiful cattle country.
Because of the grazing patterns used here, native grasses are making a return. I thought the shot below captured the the modes of cowboy transport. Horses are still preferred.
THEN THERE IS THE LAZY ARROW ADVENTURE
AT THE CAMMATTA RANCH
The historic 32 thousand acre ranch is now a
kind of dude ranch, camp ground, exotic animal
collection and well, a collection of lots of things
that go round.
This 1935 Lincoln V-12, is still in running condition.
The lazy Arrow could be the only ranch with a genuine circus wagon.
Everywhere you look there are old machines, parts and those things that go around they talk about.
Mark is a collector of old treadle devices, often rebuilding or converting once electrical applications, back to the old foot powered way.
The ranch is also a place for hunters and there a full field dressing kitchen.
AND THERE WERE MACHINES AS WELL
What is an Agri Business tour without the technology?
This is one of the harvesters at the White Ranch.
And this is a mechanical Grape picker used by the Steinbecks.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH REAL CURIOSITY
HERE'S A QUICK VIDEO OF THE PICKER
AND WE ARE BACK TO THE COWBOYS
These are guys who were probably the first
"agri businessmen" in the area. Fascinating
that despite all the changes in farming, grape growing
and wine making, some skills remain timeless.
A "by-product" of the roping, branding and cutting
are Rocky Mountain Oysters
I'd never had them before. I figured these would be about as fresh as they can get.
