IN THE ARENA OF THE MIND
"It may be different elsewhere. But a democratic society-in it the highest duty of the writer, the composer, the artist is to remain true to himself and to let the chips fall where they may."
John Kennedy said that a little less than a month before he was killed. He was speaking at Amherst College October 26, 1963.
"In serving his vision of the truth, the artist best serves his nation."
I wonder how many writers today concern themselves with such lofty concerns. Maybe they do in little pieces and then over time, taken in mass, it adds up.
It's harder to get your voice heard through the mass of signals that fill the public square. Digital media, social networks, cable, broadcast, the whole universe of film and print are choked with content, much of it simply trying to out pace the others. In some cases outrage and anger get attention. Those may be genuine, but are they the visions of truth JFK spoke of?
It's harder to get your voice heard through the mass of signals that fill the public square. Digital media, social networks, cable, broadcast, the whole universe of film and print are choked with content, much of it simply trying to out pace the others. In some cases outrage and anger get attention. Those may be genuine, but are they the visions of truth JFK spoke of?
The more I watch Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom the more convinced I am he is serving his vision of truth. Here's why I think so.
The modern media, in all of it's iterations, does more to shape our sense of reality, expectations and vision of government than most people make themselves aware of. As consumers of the din we rarely give ourselves the time to ponder the impact of what we consume. We think more about what we eat, than consider what we put into our heads though we spend hours a day consuming information flow.
The modern media, in all of it's iterations, does more to shape our sense of reality, expectations and vision of government than most people make themselves aware of. As consumers of the din we rarely give ourselves the time to ponder the impact of what we consume. We think more about what we eat, than consider what we put into our heads though we spend hours a day consuming information flow.
Sorkin's work cuts to the quick. Some criticize the "preachiness" of it. I don't see it that way. I think he is offering a valuable insight into the media machine that shapes our attitudes and affects our sense of destiny. Yes, it is entertainment, but it also holds a mirror to a powerful element of modern life and Sorkin, as President Kennedy opined, lets the chips fall where they may.
The Falcon expert had a couple of beautiful friends.
An injured wing has grounded this Pelican, now in the custody of a rehabilitation specialist. He eats 3 pounds of sardines or smelt each day. He'd eat more if he were burning calories by flying.
Here are a couple specimens of Elephant Seal skulls.
In the frame below is the skull of a Dolphin. The bottom piece, in the shadow, is the kind of sensor bone that transmits sounds from long, medium or short distances, using a different portion of the bone to do so. The differing signals are then processed in a sophisticated brain.
Skulls of native wild life.
While it was sunny and bright up at the cove, south toward
Cambria, another micro climate existed, in the fog.
DAY FILE
A FUN "SCHOOL"
Each year, since our move, we make a point to attend
Coastal Discovery Day up at San Simeon. The Discovery Center, joined by a host of other nature, environmental, park and educational groups hold a kind of carnival overlooking the Pacific. It's for kids with lots of hands on activities, but each year we learn something and pick up a few interesting shots. This year I learned about the hearing chambers and ear drums (bulla) of whales, elephant seals and dolphins. Amazing technology at work in those sonar sensitive relatives.
Cambria, another micro climate existed, in the fog.
See you down the trail.
