THE CALIFORNIA PERSPECTIVE

NATURALLY

      Geologists, energy officials, and levels of government are all weighing in on California vulnerabilities in the wake of the Japanese disaster.

        Scientists says California's faults are unlike those in the Pacific off Japan.  Ours are strike slip faults while those that unleashed the disaster are thrust plate faults.  Here the plates slide past each other, like knuckles of both hands interacting, while the thrust plate faults are like chunks of the planet diving under each other.  We are being told the California plates produce less energy and thus destruction.

       Governor Brown, our US Senators Boxer and Feinstein, Congresswoman Lois Capps, County Supervisor Gibson and a host of others are asking for investigations, further information, accountability and greater scrutiny of nuclear plants.  Pardon my skepticism, but it seems no manner of projection, scientific or otherwise, is really anything more than guess work, intelligent and historically determined guess work in some cases, but still a guess.

        We are ingenious, but

       You have to marvel at the brainpower that can develop the technology and systems that account for internal combustion engines, the finding and refining of petroleum, the splitting of atoms and so forth. BUT what about considerations of consequence?  How did that part of the equation get lost?  When the first industrial plant started dumping toxic byproduct into a river, didn't someone think about where it would go, what it do, the eventual impact?  Didn't someone wonder about the carbon byproducts of burning fuels? Is there anything in human history that leads you to believe we will properly handle, maybe even remember, where we have stored spent atomic byproduct?  We may be clever, but we have yet to prove we are intelligent.

A MAJOR OUCH!!!

Photo by Orville Myers/Monterey Herald

This is California Highway 1, near Monterey at Hurricane Point.  A 40 foot stretch of road simply caved in after the recent rains.  You may recall we posted a couple of dispatches from our recent drive up the coast when we drove this portion of road. The state is experienced at repairing the incomparable Pacific Cost Highway.

A CALIFORNIA CLASSIC

       I didn't know Clark Russell Emmons, but I admire him.  Clark was a real cowboy and by all accounts a remarkable man.  He was called a hero.  Born in California he started "cowboying" as a young man.  That was interrupted by WWII and service in Saipan, Tinean and the Marshall Islands.  He cowboyed again after the war.  He went to work at Rancho La Vina in 1957 and he worked and lived there until last year.  That means he was a cowboy until he retired at age 90.  

       He was given many honors and was recognized for being the real thing. It is said he mentored many, teaching "ropin', ridin' ranchin' and life."

       Those who would know say he represents the best of an honorable life- where hard work, and your word were the code-the best of the code of the west.  He died at 91, in his daughters home, surrounded by friends and family.

Clark Russell Emmons

"...my heroes have always been cowboys..."

DAY BOOK

and today's echium update

Getting larger,

a different bush, with a different hue

and all with increased bee visitations!

See you down the trail.

OF PRINT, LEGACY PRINT AND THE HILL PROJECT

NOTHING LIKE SEEING IT IN PRINT

     Even after all of these years and countless articles and mentions, it is still good for the self esteem to see a little blip about yourself.  The page above is from the Mystery Writers of America Mid-west Chapter CLUES.  Since few of our eyes are good enough to read the page capture:

The publication date for “A Time of Hostages, a Reporters Notebook,” by Tom 

Cochrun, is the first week of March. The almost five-thousand-word piece ap- 

pears in Traces, published by the Indiana Historical Society Press. It includes dramatic photos 

from the groundbreaking 1977 hostage incident involving Tony Kiritsis. 

      There is nothing like seeing it in print, no matter what it is.  Which leads to the idea expressed by David Carr, the New York Times columnist and writer, who says the new world of tablets will be both a future for existing legacy print news organizations but a moment of opportunity for new players.
     Carr told Charlie Rose that a serious news group could enter the field and challenge existing legacy news papers with an investment of $25 Million.  That seems like a lot, but I managed news organizations in a single market with a $6-7 Million dollar operating budget.
     You can do serious and extensive news gathering and dissemination with that kind of money and avoid the legacy costs of newsprint, fleets of trucks and all the attendant labor and operating costs.
     Years ago I presented at an international forum on the future of news and suggested that new generations of computers would replace print as the preferred delivery channel for readers and that modern newspapers on line would resemble television news. That was before the tablets, which now make presentation and style even more brilliant, simple and user friendly.
     To come full circle here.  I am old fashioned enough to delight in pouring over my local newspaper while savoring a cup of hot chocolate.  It is a ritual that seems ultimately civilized. I still even "clip" articles and save or send them.  HOWEVER, once I've consumed the paper, I move here, to my keyboard and screen and continue to read, and clip and send.
     So, while my daughters will someday find boxes of old newspaper clippings and articles, this boomer finds the efficiency, range, depth of reach and expanse of the "new print" is exhilarating.  I am however hopeful Carr is also right in saying that there will still be some copies of papers printed, probably in a rich format, that will be available and carried by some.  He adds the post script, they will be carried as special objects with a kind of snob appeal.  Wonder what the old "ink stained wretches" would make of that?

PROJECT: HILL

       For four years we-mostly Lana-have been working on the steep hill behind our ridge top house.  As you can see there is a formidable incline.

       Lana has done a wonderful job of planting, difficult though it may be, and blending with existing ice plant growth.

       She has started on a new patch, with more succulent plantings.  Consider these the BEFORE shots of the new project.  

Stay tuned.
See you down the trail.

UNCERTAIN, IMPROPER, CHANGING AND HEALTHY VIEWS

FIRST THERE IS PERSPECTIVE

       Dawn brought one of those Central Coast mornings, dripping with a marine haze, sliding glimpses of the blue sky that will eventually prevail behind wisps of gray.

          I think of them as a day that "works" for a focus, an eventual resolve.  Still aching

from the horror of Japan, I spotted an article in my morning read that struck me as inappropriate. 

HERE IS A CASE OF SOMEONE WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER, BEING INSENSITIVE AND FRANKLY STUPID. LINK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE OF HOW 'SNARKY' BACK FIRED.

       I struggle with stories like these.  Yes people are free to say what they wish.  My trouble is with the quality, arrogance or lack of grasp they evince.  Like a morning trying to burn off a gray, it seems our level of respect or civility is being increasingly shrouded by a lack of class and intelligence.  Who can be the wisest ass in the crowd seems to be the contest.  

A STORY ABOUT REAL HEALTH

THINK OF HAPPINESS. WHAT CONSTITUTES REAL HAPPINESS? LINK HERE FOR A FASCINATING PIECE FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ABOUT LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS PRESUMED AND REAL HAPPINESS.

DAY BOOK

FOG vs. SUN

and

A MORNING FOR SPIDERS REVEALED

It started thick.

The moisture gathered in spider nets.

 As the sun began to reign in this battle of nature

Green began to emerge as the wisps retreated

and gathered in the valley

LOOK AT THIS BEFORE AND AFTER

The birds sing in fog or sun but one of them seemed a little curious about the guy with a camera

We close then with today's echium update

Good luck in clearing the foggy moments of your day. Wishing you blue skies.

See you down the trail.

BEARING UP

A FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS

       At coffee this morning Jim said he was depressed, that all he could think about was Japan.  It is a horrible scenario and most of us are moved and heartsick.  

       We've seen devastation,wrought by nature, even by tsunami before.  What makes this different though is that a modern, industrialized and well prepared nation is the victim.  There are also the searing images.  Japanese media is among the most sophisticated in the world and they have provided a continuing stream of horrific images and have done so from the beginning.  And then there is the nuclear disaster with its unknown implications and aftermath.

       As we noted in a previous posting, our human life on this planet is so fragile.  The Japanese disaster reminds us just how vulnerable we are. Despite design, and safety measures, warning systems and other protective precautions, we were helpless to prevent the nature born tragedy.  And now millions around the world watch in horror and feel helpless in ending the misery, that will continue.

COURAGE AND FAITH

AN UPDATE ON BOB

       Frequent visitors to this blog will recall that we are posting periodic updates from our friend Bob, a road warrior, sensitive observer of the world and a leukemia patient. Here's his latest update.

     

     Life is better here. Friday's Mayo tests indicate the leukemia is officially in submission, through the love of Jesus, power of God and application of His wisdom.

     Some x-ray shadows remain on my lungs. Aspergellus requires a long time to control. Dr. Lacy said weekly blood tests are no longer necessary. We return to Mayo in 6 weeks to do a

chest CT and evaluate the Aspergellus. We have yet to discuss the side effects of an allogenic transplant with Dr. Hogan. It's still a bit early in the time line. Dr. Lacy reminded us the transplant process could begin in late spring. That would mean being less than optimal from June through September or even November. That's cool. I'll be full

strength in time to watch Paul Rhoads coach ISU in another bowl game.

     The massive steroids have left my system. My voice has returned to normal and I am sleeping most nights without the Amibien. Four of us made a four-day business trip to California this past week. There was a slight sideshow when Shingles began to appear on my face and scalp.

     Cause: lowered immunity due to chemo. A call to Mayo and, two hours later, I had the necessary medication in my system. Don't tell me it is an impersonal place.the key is to not whine to the staff and be memorable.

Looking forward to the next event.

Foster

DAY BOOK
SOMETHING BRIGHT NOW
CENTRAL COAST ECHIUM

I had never seen echium until moving to the central coast.

There are some 60 variations of echium, and the most common type in this area of California is also called the pride of Madeira.

It has just begun to bloom and spike. 

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) DISTRACTIONS

PRE MADNESS

       Our daughter Katherine says there is a nostalgic sense of peace that she feels when she hears the background hum of the crowd and the squeak of shoes on the court.  Her mother and I are long time basketball fans and both of our daughters grew up with that sound filling a room.  

       The scene grab above means this weekend's conference championships is the warm up for what can be a time of full day hoops on the tube.  March Madness is nigh and I'm practicing.

TO BRAVELY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE

       Here in the spirit of THE WEEKENDER :) is your science lesson of the day.

       Kids, this is not what Casey Kasem, the top 40 DJ meant when he said,
"Keep reaching for the stars!"
        See you down the trail.

WHAT IF

FRAGILE

    I was completely absorbed by what I saw coming from the screen last night.

The Japanese NHK network was feeding live helicopter footage of a wave, scourging cars, structures, land and even fire as it rolled ahead collecting everything in its path.

       I've seen devastation after nature's rage.  I've flown over tornado strewn paths of debris, over flood swollen rivers, to raging infernos to report. I understand how life can change in a moment, but the footage coming from Japan was particularly riveting.

       Living on the west coast, we were put on Tsunami alert.  Beaches were off limits for morning walks, roads were closed and some communities were evacuated. This area was spared any consequence, though to the north, Crescent City and Santa Cruz report damage to marinas, boats and piers.

       Friends call, text and e-mail, inquiring, some worrying, but here we are fine.  The story remains the suffering and devastation in Japan.

       COVERAGE IS EVERYWHERE, BUT THIS IS A LINK TO SOME ESPECIALLY POWERFUL PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOME EXCELLENT EXPLANATORY DATA.

       

       Life on this terrestrial sphere is fragile.  The earth is a living planet, still forming.

I remember standing on the lip of Pua Ou Ou, the caldera crater of Kilauea, the Hawaiian volcano with the longest history of eruption. As I stood there on the rim with USGS leader Donald Swanson, the earth shook beneath us and a jet engine sound  emerged from the lava cap accompanied with a cloud of black sulfurous gas.  It was like an earthquake, called a gas piston tremor.  I knew in that instant  this "mother earth" is not done, it is a work in progress.
       Here our wait was simple, but a reminder none the less that regardless of our powers, we are still subject to the forces of nature. Every moment is indeed precious and sacred.

REEL THOUGHTS

        THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

        I enjoyed it,but it could have been better.  It's based on a Phillip K. Dick sci-fi short story and while I like some of Dick's work, many seem a little short of something. I think  he wrote short stories when sometimes he could/should have done a full novel.  
        Dick had his demons--he was an amphetamine addict and and short stories were easier for him to knock out. I think his personal life kept him from throwing full attention to what were often his great premises. 

        The acting is good---the premise is intgriguing, the directing keeps the pace and interest up, but it could have delved more deeply into the background underpinning premise of the story---free will and choice vs fate. It just never got into that conundrum deeply and instead became a love story/thriller. It is fun to watch, but....

       There is a great scene where Mr. Thompson (Terrence Stamp) and David Norris (Matt Damon) are talking about the matter of free will. I thought it was a highlight of the film, but alas, not enough of it.  

        Where The Inception and the original Matrix had shadings of philosophy/theology and provoked thought along those lines, the Adjustment Bureau comes up a little short.  

See you down the trail.

LOOKING AROUND IN OLD FILES & PASSINGS

PIECES OF YOU

OR

WHO YOU WERE?

      Isn't it a bit like looking through an attic, or sorting through a dusty garage, that is looking around in old computer files?  Surprising what we can find.  Bewildering too.

Why have we held on to something?  Did we intend to use it and when would that be?

Still there are pieces, artifacts, tell tale detritus of the person who filed it there.

      You know it may be a kind of self amusement, to find these old thoughts and frames of life and measure who we are now by who we were then.

       I found such a piece, only four years old, but it came at a time of epic change; retirement, selling a beloved home and moving across country.

home stretch.doc

Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakum are on the tube with the back beat as we chase this farewell tour toward home.  Five days on the road and we made it over the mountain tonight.  We watched the sun set over the Tehachapi Mojave gathering of 4,500 wind turbines.  A flamed sky behind the Tehachapi mountains as we made the climb.  Stars in the sky and lights on the valley floor as we came down into Bakersfield for the last night.  We snuck the cats into the Days Inn and retreated to Benji’s French Basque restaurant for some real peasant food. Road weary, the buzz of leaving is becoming the thrill of a new start.

Indianapolis to Joplin and an evening of blues and ribs. Down thru the breaks, a pause for tribute in Oklahoma City in the foggy mist then on to Tucumcari and a spin on Route 66, chased by maybe the best tacos ever at Del’s. 

On to Santa Fe and a tour of the O’Keefe museum after navigating the after math of the biggest snow in a half a century.  Green chili, pork tripe and hominy stew at the Plaza grill before an evening in the north Valley of Albuquerque including a drive past Unser Avenue and the former estate of little Al.  

Enchanted by North West New Mexico then through Zane Grey country, the Verde Valley and into Prescott Valley for a reunion with Bruce and Judy Taylor.  They planted the seeds of wandering forth.  

From Arizona into Bakersfield with Cambria the next stop, the 16 month farewell tour* all but over.  The goodbye saga- the sale, the move, the retirement- object of much planning and emotion all now history. Hard to believe the dream has come and the first acts are all a prelude belonging to history.

The road trip is an exclamation point-at the end and the start.  We’ve chased the sun as far as we can.  These open spaces, this land of cowboys, sunsets and guitar strains has become a dawn, a place of rising.  Tomorrow we begin anew in California.  January 5 2007.


*(We referred to all of our last year and half activities-season tickets at the Repertory Theatre, Black Tie Benefits, Big 10 Basketball Games, Art Museum Galas, Writer's Center Events, Concerts, Symphonies, dining at favorite restaurants  etc as The Farewell Tour)

      There are more old files to explore.  I like this one. 

GOOD BYE TO A CHAMP

       For my money, David Broder, the Pulitzer winning Washington Post Columnist and former reporter was one of the best of 20th and 21st century political journalism.

       I read and admired Broder, for his logic and keen analysis.  People say he spotted trends before anyone else.  As a working political reporter he was brilliant.  Partisans in both parties were always speculating as to his allegiance.  That is how it should be, how it used to be. Broder may have kept them guessing, but they read him closely for his masterful understanding, balanced presentation, sense of history and anticipation of where a story was moving.

       It was my great honor to have met Broder, to have worked around him at political events, and to even have shared a dinner table with him.  He was a champion of good old fashioned journalism.  David Broder died at 81.  

A LESS FINAL PASSING

       The extraordinary director Julie Taymor has quit or been sacked from the troubled 

Broadway production Spiderman. The budget has spiraled, an actor was injured, there were workplace safety issues and it all came to a head.  Taymor is quoted as saying leaving is like leaving a child.
        I'm sorry to see this.  She has a brilliant sense of story and scale and will once again reign.  She may be best known for LION KING, though I believe her marvelous work with the films FRIDA and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE earn her generations of respect and admiration.
        She is a creative genius and this is a sad, but only a temporary set back.

See you down the trail.