Painted-Bone Dry and A Short Throw

ENCHANTED EVENING

   Marvelous summer sunsets are a California positive, helping us to survive historic drought.

IT HAPPENED BEFORE

    By 1863 the drought on the central California coast was so severe, ranchers drove starving and dehydrated cattle off bluffs into the Pacific. 

    Today ranchers have alternatives, including thinning herds. A recent walk brought all of this to mind

  It's difficult to see what the cattle may be grazing on.

DRY CREEK BEDS

   San Simeon Creek should be rushing through this. Now only traces of a flow.

  So now all of us, quadrupeds and bipeds adopt the attitude of the above lady-what's up?  In the meantime we wait for El Nino.

A FIVE YEAR THROW

    Five years ago this summer-the Journalism Hall of Fame induction. The ceremony was in a magnificent Tudor hall in one of the historic buildings on the campus of Indiana University which now houses the Hall of Fame in the Ernie Pyle Center.

  You can link here to learn more about the particulars.

  This summer my thoughts are with former president Ray Moscowitz who presented me with the Crystal plaque. A great newspaper editor who oversaw operations for 14 papers in his career, Ray is battling a brain tumor. He faces the challenge with the same zeal and forthrightness that he practiced journalism. Ray is a 2002 inductee.

  Also proud of my former colleague and longtime friend Kevin Finch. Kevin is now a professor at Washington and Lee University. You can link to his blog in the Rich Blogs column to the right of this post.
   Time certainly does fly!

   See you down the trail.

HITTING WHERE IT HURTS-A MUSICAL CHRISTENING-MAKING MEMORIES-A WAY BACK THROWBACK

HITTING THE NFL HARD

     Something good may come of the domestic brutality cases haunting the NFL. People are talking about the pathology of abuse and abusive relationships. Sponsors are flexing their muscle and putting pressure on the league and individual team endorsements. That too will help raise consciousness and provoke more talk. 
    Perhaps the major sack out there is the effort to revoke the tax exempt status of the NFL. If you were unaware, the league has estimated revenues of 9 Billion dollars but is tax exempt, as a not for profit entity. Incredible you say?  This link takes you a Mother Jones article that explores the matter.
       There is also the matter of the 44 Million dollar salary of the non profit's Commissioner.The story of Roger Goodell's salary and the NFL Not for Profit status reported here by Esquire Magazine.   
   These are fluid times for the NFL, teams and those who help fuel the giant entertainment dynasty.

WHERE TIME IS NOT IDLE

    As the old TV soap opera announcer intoned, "Like sands through the hourglass, these are the Days of our Lives."
    That was a favorite of my grandmother and great aunts so I heard it often. I think of it often as I watch the surf erase foot prints in the sand."
   Jackson Browne wrote in These Days "These days I seem to think a lot about the things I forgot to do for you…"

 Visiting with friends we are reminded of the swift flow and the wisdom of not leaving things unsaid or kindnesses undone,

  or of the joy in keeping the child in us alive. 

     When we arrived in Cambria, recent retirees and just beginning the throttle back process, our wise plumber Phil told us to go out to Moonstone beach, settle into the sand and search for moonstones. "That'll help you relax."  Indeed it does, still.

   A concert served as the inaugural event at the old Woodland Garage where, as promoter Steve Crimmel said, "nothing had gone on" in decades.

 Austin based Eliza Gilkyson and guitarist extraordinare Nina Gerber initiated the new venue in a Painted Sky presented concert that blessed the old place with sweet sound, vibrant energy and remarkable artistry. 

   The old garage has been refurbished to provide relaxed seating and lounge space.

   Who would have thunk the old garage would grow up to be a nice funky concert venue?  We hope Steve will book more shows into the Main Street gem.

 THROWBACK TO THE THIRD GRADE

    This blogger is in the class photo from Garfield Elementary School. Want to guess where?

     See you down the trail.

BANKERS AND HELL & TRUE GREATNESS

PUT A GUILLOTINE ON WALL STREET

    This weekend's Bastille Day in France kicked my imagination into high gear.  Yea, yea, I know history calls that era in France, "The Reign of Terror." Well, the French do tend to over do things on occasion, but this latest LIBOR mess has me fantasizing on what to do with bankers!

    The good and real news is that some solid experts are paying attention to the weasel cretins in banking.  The Systemic Risk Council, funded in part by the Pew Trust is on the case. Here's a clip from the PEW website.

    Here in the U.S., the Dodd-Frank law was designed, in part, to eliminate systemic risk — that is, the idea that the failure of one institution could be big enough to bring down an entire economy. Implementing financial reform has taken longer than expected, though, and that has many watchdogs increasingly on edge. 

Count Sheila Bair among the concerned. Last week, Bair, the former chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, announced she will be leading a new private sector group called the Systemic Risk Council whose mission will be to encourage reform. 

The council’s members are a who’s who of regulators, lawmakers, and academics, including Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve; Brooksley Born, a former chairwoman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and Paul O’Neill, who served as Treasury secretary under George W. Bush.  

     I urge you to learn more at this link. It is a high powered group.

       As I see the other banker shenanigans, thinking of Stephen King style scenes, I'm hopeful Shelia Bair and SRC will help.  Just in case you too harbor thoughts of malice toward  the slimy thieves of banking, here's a thought from Thomas Jefferson.

If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their  currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks…will deprive the people of  all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered…. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. – Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809)

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.” – Thomas Jefferson

NOW TO THE TRUE GREATNESS-

A 21ST CENTURY TROUBADOUR

    It was another enchanted night at the Painted Sky in Harmony.  One of the greats was back in the room.

     Michael On Fire is the progenitor of a love fest, or maybe a happy reunion looking for a place to happen. He is a story teller, charmer and entertainer who lights a room, fills it with image and music and delivers lyrics that get inside your heart and head. He's like a troubadour Horton Foote. A writer who conveys power and history in his message.

      As in the words of one of his songs he "makes thunder and brings back the sun." Michael is one of the most intelligent lyricists working, but he also delivers a poetic history.  His Apache Warrior is a case in point.  

      To write as intuitively and sensitively as he writes, you need to bleed your soul. You don't sing of "meeting angels I've abused" without uncorking a deep musical spirit. His tunes ring in a rhythm and cadence that moves your feet and stirs your heart. You rock in the joy and marvel at the story.

      Playing with a band he marshals a power that surrounds you. As an acoustic artist accompanied by only a drum he is like a sculptor who shapes meaning with an elegance of economy. A guitar, a voice and a drum beat evoke visions.

      Michael is an artist whose music delights and haunts.

Over the decades I've seen big acts, major stars, impressive tours, but there is something about Michael on Fire that connects like no other. He is singularly peerless. You simply need to see or hear him. I will make a point of catching him whenever he is in the region.  Watch for his tour coming your way.
      A post on an earlier visit and a sample of his music can be found at this link. You can enter Michael's site by linking here.

      DAY FILE

     PAINTED SKYS

See you down the trail.      

FRACTIONS OF A SCENE

MISSING IN NEW ORLEANS

     People rallied in New Orleans today, led by prominent jazz musicians, trying to reverse a decision that has shaken the Big Easy.  The 175 year old Times Picayune newspaper laid off 32% of its staff and announced it is was going publish only 3 days a week.  In the newsroom alone 84 of the 173 employees were sacked.

      The Times Picayune has figured prominently in the jailing of corrupt politicians, a Louisiana tradition. That watchdog roll will be missing.  And people complain about the end of a morning tradition of coffee, the paper and maybe a beignet.

       On-line news can do a lot, but nothing is like the morning paper.

OYSTERS VS ENVIRONMENTALISTS? 

     An interesting fight continues here in the California Republic.  Senator Diane Feinstein's record of environmental support is in question because of her support of an historic and popular Drakes Bay Oyster Farm.

      It is explained and put in context in the East Bay Express that you can link to here.

         The beautiful Point Reyes area is part of the equation.

PIECES OF THE NIGHT

AT THE PAINTED SKY

    The multiple Grammy nominated and extraordinarily talented Peter Case played the new Painted Sky in Harmony last night.

      Case is a songwriter's songwriter who counts Bruce Springsteen as among this fans. (He tells a great story about his first meeting of the Boss.)  

       Last night's audience was treated to his skills on 12 strings, 6 strings, electric guitar, harmonica and piano.

       Most of the music was original though a cover of Whiter Shade of Pale brought a palpable electricity into the room. It's been done countless times by more artists than we know but this performance was one of those moments in the rock ether when performance angels swarm around and frame the moment to lift it away and place it in the hall of timelessness and greatness.

        Case is the music curator at the Getty Museum in LA, an author and a blues expert as well.  He told about seeing Honey Boy Edwards shortly before his death.  He took us behind the music when he tuned down his 12 string "the way Leadbelly did it" and then ripped out a gut bucket "30 days in the workhouse."

        Some of the greatest lyrics of the night came from one of his new tunes exploring change, loss and time-"we'll meet again at the end of the long good time."

         Playing his 12 string with a sweetness that was ethereal he explored poignancy in a tune he penned in Scotland with the refrain "someone sees the dreams we hide."

       Case had an arc as a rock star when he fronted the Plimsouls and was lead in the new wave band the The Nerves.

       Case teaches and plays frequently at the legendary McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. We hope he'll find his way north again for another night in the magic of the Painted Sky.

PIECES OF THE SCENE

See you down the trail.

A NEW ERA IN CALIFORNIA MUSIC

THE PAINTED SKY IN HARMONY

     Jazz, blues, acoustic, Celtic, bluegrass, country, western and classical musicians sought out the famed Painted Sky Recording Studio in Cambria. 
      A frequent reader of this blog is more than likely familiar with the extraordinary history.  
      One of the last concerts at the old venue featured Jude Johnstone and Ray Bonneville which you can read about by linking here.
       Another extraordinary night featured Inga Swearingen, often heard on NPR  and it was powerful the night Michael On Fire played.

       All those years and countless great nights are history and prelude for the New Painted Sky, located in the old Creamery

in historic Harmony California, about 5 miles south of Cambria on the Pacific Coast Highway 1.

    Concerts at the Painted Sky are intimate affairs, like a house concert.  Artists who are in the studio often put aside a night to entertain small and appreciative crowds.
     It has become an institution for California and other musicians and for the music lovers of the Central Coast.

     You may recall the circumstances by which producer, sound engineer Steve Krimmel and music fans lost the old location for antique storage. A point of view here.

    It is still a work in progress, but Steve has the sound about
where he wants it. The touring of a sensational young
group of guitarists The New West Guitar Group

   provided the context for a the launch of the new Painted Sky, in Harmony.  

    Your intrepid blogger/correspondent, armed with iPhone provides about a minute's look at the dawning of a new

era.

See you down the trail.

MICHAEL ON FIRE--A UNIQUE PERFORMANCE & SUCCULENTS, CACTUS AND THEIR FANS

EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL ARTIST

      Michael On Fire played the Painted Sky this Memorial weekend in what was one of the most powerful and personal performances I've seen.

      Michael and his band, mesmerized the audience in the historic recording studio.  He is a powerful lyricist painting images that connect with something deep in the psyche in a way that makes you feel you have known the songs and ranged over the emotion of them for your whole life.  His tunes are as though they were pre ordained in your memory.  Almost his entire play list clicked open a receptor that made it immediately recognizable, though I'd never heard his music before.  Weird huh!  And the stories they convey also reach deep in a haunting way. He covers a landscape of history, spirit, aspiration and grit. 

     He is a sincere and engaging troubadour.  His band were all masters of their instrument. In the room that evening was a give and take between artists and audience that was palpable. 

     I urge you check him out.  His music will not leave you soon. Here are a couple of samples.

THE ANNUAL SHOW

       The Central Coast, South Africa, an area of the Mediterranean, south and west Australia and portion of Chile share a unique climate and growing zone.  Succulents and cactus are a part of that mix, especially where drought resistant plants do well.
       Those exotics are celebrated on the Central Coast by the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society.  They are so celebrated there is a waiting list to join the Society.
This year's show, the Fifth Annual, is a case in point.
        Look at the people in que to ring out their purchases.

Yes, that is a double line.

with four cashiers at work.

 These are scenes from the "sales" room.

Ribbon winners are presented further down the post.

THE SHOW ROOM AND THE RIBBON WINNERS

I was ignorant about succulents and cactus until our move to the Central Coast.

I knew a little about desert cactus, but very little.  I've been fascinated to discover the wide variety of plant and marvel at their exotic and other worldly look.

The picture below reminds me of a character out of Star Wars.

If you are curious, we did take a couple of new plants home where they'll join our succulent garden.  Frequent readers of the blog have probably seen photos in previous posts in our Day Book section.

See you down the trail.