TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

CAPTAIN OF THE WALK

Twilight in Morro Bay

TIME FOR A CAPTAIN TO GO

     Naming Walter Cronkite and Brian Williams in the same sentence is somehow inappropriate but now inevitable. 

     They had the same job title, but the world between them is profoundly different. Williams appears to be a likable guy, big personality, glib and facile mind but he's no longer right for the job.The NBC Nightly News anchor and managing editor has benched himself for a few days during the furor over his indiscretion. As hard as it would be to do, he should step down and find another role. 

     In the age of Cronkite, Huntley, Brinkley, Smith, even Jennings, Brokaw and Rather he'd be out. Rather's demise at CBS News was linked to his voicing a report, prepared by a producer, that claimed documentation they did not have. Later those documents were evident, but not when CBS claimed they were. Williams, kindly put, exaggerated. More pointedly he hyped or lied about being on a helicopter hit by ground fire. His credibility is shot.

     Back to my lead sentence.  Walter Cronkite was a journalist who spent years in the field and learned the craft first as a writer and reporter. Eventually he became a broadcaster.  Williams is of an era of "studio babies."  There are many of his generation who have spent most, if not all of their career in studios. That is not a skill to be discounted, but it is nothing like being in the field, gathering facts and data and sorting through experiences.  

    I know the difference. I've been a reporter on his own and I've been an anchor in the field, surrounded by producers, and other support staff.  When a network anchor leaves the studio for the field  there are many who accompany them.    

    The current gold standard for a television anchor today is personality, looks, style and communication skills. There was a time when journalistic tools, writing and reporting were the skills that moved a person to the anchor desk. It is a different world and while standards and roles have changed, an appearance of credibility still matters. 

     I can't begin to understand how Williams could have confused reality. I don't know why he would need to inflate his resume and experiences. I don't buy the excuses he offered. 

    I've covered stories with gun fire. I've reported from war zones. I've had a gun jammed into my chest by a young combatant. My crew and I were the only unarmed people in some situations. Memories like that remain focused, even when you try to forget or bury them. 

    I'm sorry for Brian Williams, but I'm old fashioned enough to expect my anchor person to be honest and to understand the most important part of the role is the news, not them-self. The task is to get it right and to be honorable and honest.

GRANDEUR IN DECLINE

 A once stately building on Oahu provides an interesting photo op.

  

A MOST INTERESTING FILM

   JC Chandor seems to have mastered the art of making a film that has a mostly singular focus, immersing you in a tight and enthralling struggle and delivering extraordinary and unique work.

    A MOST VIOLENT YEAR is not for everyone, but if you enjoy a compelling tale, realistic in style and scope and full of brilliant acting, you'll want to see this.  Chandor wrote and directed A MOST VIOLENT YEAR. His previous work was the solo performance of Robert Redford in ALL IS LOST.

   Oscar Isaac is marvelous as the New York fuel dealer who trys to play it honestly in a business full of corruption and violence.  Jessica Chastain is also superb as his wife who's family ties are to the other side of the street. Albert Brooks demonstrates his great acting chops as Isaac's partner.

    The film is not full of violence, despite the title, though it is a marvelously taut script, brilliantly directed and unpredictable through out. And it is a tribute to honor and honesty.

    See you down the trail.

   

THE WEEKENDER-HOW YOUR PHONE CAN KEEP YOU HEALTHY & EXOTICS

THIS IS CREATING THE FUTURE

     A story by NBC News has been getting a good pass along, deservedly so, because it is both hopeful and a bit mind-blowing. Creative thinking and development such as this is a reason for optimism.  This Weekender Video shows how your phone, could be even better for you.

YOUR WEEKENDER BOUQUET

from out front flower bed

a type of hyacinth

a mini ice plant bloom

    Even the blooms of the "bottle brush" tree strike me as exotic.

A REPURPOSED SCHOOL

a great gallery

    I was pleased to see Lana's modernist Aguacante, a biomorphic abstract, in such a place of prominence in the recent hanging at the Cambria Allied Arts Association Gallery. 

     Bruce Marchese's award winning Waterfall hangs on the left.

       The well lit space is part of the repurposing of the old Cambria Grammar school.

       Behind the door at the end of the hall is the auditorium now converted to a theatre and used by a superb local theater group.

    Halls that were once filled with the sound of children now  hear the reaction of art fans and patrons as they view the latest monthly offering of Cambria's distinguished art colony.

    See you down the trail.

WINNERS-LOSERS-GAMBLERS-SLOTS IN THE LAKE?

YOU-WE-WON!

    Watch dog groups and the political press have calculated that despite the billions spent on obnoxious advertising, it had little or no affect on how we voted.

THE BIGGEST LOOSER

Photo courtesy of Patrick T. Fallon New York Times

    Chump #1 ---Sherman Adelson, the casino magnate who dumped millions including on Newt Gingrich. The New York Times reports he spent tens of millions on 8 candidates, all of whom lost.

THE BIGGEST JACK ASS

     I'm surprised a New Yorker has not flattened this idiot's nose.  His team of body guards are effective.  His latest tirade, including calls for a "revolution" make him the number one candidate for western civilization's most egotistical fool. 

    He's a con man and hustler who NBC should drop after his latest temper tantrum. NBC Anchor Brian Williams made note of Trump's tweets on election night.

"Donald Trump, who has driven well past the last exit to relevance and peered into something closer to irresponsible here, is tweeting tonight" 

    Maybe the Peacock network could stage an ultimate fighting match between the two.

OPPOSITION RESEARCH

    I offer these thoughts realizing they may provoke a firestorm of response as did yesterday's post.

MITT ROMNEY

     He was a shape shifter. A true moderate by Massachusetts standards who posed as a conservative to win the Republican nomination.  Then he tried to shift back to the center and may be the only candidate in modern history who can claim a 360 degree position on every issue.

PRESIDENT OBAMA

     Insular, self confident, trash talking in hoops cocky, and smugly detached from those he disdains.  Extraordinarily bright and professorial but his disdain for the kind of one on one salesmanship or "backslapping" helpful in the job has diminished his power. Think of his personal style vis a vis Reagan or Clinton. 

     He's a great speech maker and had an incredible political organization.  Now he needs to demonstrate an adroit use of power to guide "the ship of state through the shoals." He needs to stretch himself.

A CLOSING TRIBUTE TO ALL THE GAMBLERS-

THE SLOT ROCK

     Fishermen try their luck in June Lake.  
     Is there also a cache of one armed bandits?

   The legend of the June Lake Slot Machines is told in this historical monument.  Colorful, legend, lore and rumor. Presented by one of the gold country's historical players,
E. Clampus Vitus.
Learn more about ECV here at the wikipedia link

   A modern old west tale.

   See you down the road.

WHEN LIFE IMITATES ART

IT HAPPENS

      Around America there are running conversations about Aaron Sorkin's new HBO drama The Newsroom.  

     I posted earlier about the superb "ballistic monologue" by Jeff Daniels as a cable net news anchor in responding to a question about America's "greatness." The truth was withering. 

      Episode 2 provided its great moment when the same 

character opened a broadcast and apologized for the failure of American journalism.  Again Sorkin speaks truth.

      Lana asked if seeing the drama made me miss my days as a news executive or news anchor.  It did fire those synapses that John Chancellor, the late NBC anchor, used to call "the fire horse instinct,"  answering the bell.  Seeing the election night scenarios brought back memories of many such nights.  Election night was always the most "fun" and it required a decompressing that only those who have been there can fully understand.

      There were other memories, however.  The battle between the head of the news division and the network president over the network's need to curry favors with congressmen because their votes were vital to the network's business interests. It was a scene familiar to me. Been there and done that. Stood my ground on ethics and common sense.  Further comment would do no one any good, except a few lawyers. Some things I don't miss.

     Sorkin wrote of something conscientious broadcast journalists have said for years.  The news should be void of sponsors, it should be provided as a public service.  That would help remove it from the tyranny of playing to the ratings. Networks and television stations make plenty of money, even in recessions and they can afford to staff and air news without selling out.  Oh, the budget battles! There's another memory.  Something else I am happy to live without.

      It is merely a drama and an entertainment show, but there is truth in this fiction.

DAY FILE

THE ROCKER IN SHADOWS

      As the afternoon light was beginning its transition to 

that magic "golden hour" I noticed how the oak rocker in

my study was being lit and how it was caught in and cast shadows.  A perfect lightbreeze moment.

See you down the trail.