GIVING US THE FUTURE

This post comes in the last hour of this day here on the Pacific Coast.  It has been a day without a post.

Had Steve Jobs never lived all days would

pass without a post on your pc, smart phone, pad or desktop.

What a strange world it would have been! 

See you down the trail.

WHY IS IT?

ARE THESE PROBLEMS IN DESIGN?

As a former executive and CEO I understand

and appreciate the intricacies and demands

of product development and eventually packaging.

What I can't understand is how some

of the packaging today gets approved.

 Haven't you also encountered similar, what I call

"impervious plastic" encased items?  It can be dangerous

trying to use scissors, shears, knives or chain saws to

open some items.

Maybe at risk of sounding like an old grump, why can't these

type of seals be made to actually unseal as they would

pretend to do.  You find these little tabs on all manner of product, like this container of cocoa, or on aspirin bottles, or fruit juice bottles, or boxed almond milk and the like.

There's that little tab and you think OK, pull it carefully and it will open and peel back.  Are you kidding?! Don't you

have to rely on a knife, fork, fingernails or crowbar?

And I won't get started on how much flimsier the cartons and containers are these days.

WELL, EVEN NATURE HAS DESIGN ISSUES

We've noticed more tomatoes with design flaws this season.

They taste great, but what is it with these extensions?

Little tails, noses, horns or whatever your imagination

might find.

 They are just odd.

I'm waiting for a nouvelle cuisine chef to 

give these a name and design a dish around them.

Like Halibut cheeks-although I guess Halibut are 

supposed to have cheeks.  I didn't know about them

until seeing it on a menu.

Tomato beaks on romaine, perhaps?

Oh, Good luck opening that new CD or DVD you just bought.

Be careful.

See you down the trail.

WHEN THE NEW BEGAN

OVER THE THRESHOLD

For those of us who are boomers, this day in history was

a "game changer."  Actually the world changed on October 4 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite.

Sputnik's success ushered in the space age, but it was 

a source of concern.  At the height of the cold war being 

beaten into space was a source of national paranoia.

I remember the odd mood of teachers that day as

though the glow of what had been "happy days" had

been snuffed. The great achievement was overtaken by the

knowledge that it was our adversary who now had the high ground and we were left some how vulnerable.  

Until then it was a bit like the old saw about "morning in America." The post war boom continued, there were new houses, cars, people were getting television sets and life seemed as though it was straight from an idealized movie.

But the idea of a foreign satellite racing over our heads

gave the dawning of the space age a nervous and

competitive edge.  Fifty four years late we now 

worry about some of that space age falling back onto us.

THIS WE APPROVE OF FALLING

THE NEW RAIN SEASON

There is a rain season in California, and it has begun.

From now to March is the time when it rains here and how much is always a guess.  One year we had only 16 inches of rain.  Last year we had a record 37.9. 26 inches is an "average" year. When the season begins, unlike in other areas of the nation where rain is more common,we make note of it. The first rain last year came on
October 5 when we got .4.  Last night we got .35, so  it has begun.
DAY BOOK
SCENES OF THE NEW RAIN SEASON

One of the first to celebrate the rain last night-a famed banana slug.

Luke is not so sure.  This is his first rain 
and I don't think he likes the way it feels on his paws.

I think I'd rather be up on the bench.
Stay tuned-as we watch the season unfold.
See you down the trail. 

SIDE SHOTS

OFF THE MAIN DRAG
It is probably a result of years of reporting.
but I like finding the out of the way and even
obscure spots.  Side streets, side roads
and alleys are good for holding interesting
places and scenes.
You see things most people never see.

Here's the latest from my friend Bob 

Last June, I struck up a friendship at Gift of Life Transplant House 
with a fellow from the Twin Cities named "Jim." He had the same 
diagnosis as I, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Jim's  first stem cell 
transplant was unsuccessful, so he underwent a second. Jim went home 
about six weeks ago. Diane and I saw Jim today. His second transplant 
has failed. The donor cells have all but vanished...and so has his 
leukemia! Jim is completely disease free. The Mayo transplant doctors 
can't explain it. Jim is cured. Praise Jesus! We see so many miracles up 
here, but this is the first that was so dramatic.

Me? I'm slugging through. Came close to chronic fatigue syndrome this 
week. A Mayo nurse got on me about getting rest and so I did. A minor 
infection may have cropped up due to my immuno-suppression, but we 
caught it in time. I go back on the steroids Monday. Two more weeks of 
3x per week chemo injections to go. We will be out of Rochester sometime 
in mid-October. Then, re-test the bone marrow.

Foster

If you've been following Bob's story here, you 

know he is a guy with great strength, determination

and faith.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) GROWING THINGS

WAYS TO FEED

 California historically has produced

food for the world.  Blessed by great climate

and making accommodations for water

growers here have been hugely successful.

But is it sustainable?  As we 

learn more about resources, especially the need

for water conservation, we are finding

more imaginative ways to raise food.

Here's a fascinating example-

One million pounds of food on three acres-

plus fish.

Keep this in mind as you consider where

your weekend meals originate.

Enjoy.

See you down the trail

FRIENDS & CREATIVITY

MUSINGS ON TREASURES

MY FRIENDS ARE MY ESTATE

Emily Dickinson


A group of fraternity brothers have gathered
again for our twice a year encampment.
These are our oldest friendships and over
the years they have grown to be more
important and enjoyable. Wives have become
friends, we have shared troubles and tribulations
and watched changes and the constant remains
our love for each other. These people
and these times together are treasures indeed.


I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
John Lennon


A WORTHY HUMAN ENDEAVOR-
CREATIVITY
No doubt, it is because of the way I am hard wired that 
I think creative endeavors are the highest and holiest
of human activities.  In a sense it is an emulation
life itself-giving birth to something new. It is
an "aping" of the Creator.
Thanks to friends at the WCI for finding
a great thought from our beloved Indiana writer
Kurt Vonnegut

"Nobody will stop you from creating. 

Do it tonight. Do it tomorrow. 

That is the way to make your soul grow - 

whether there is a market for it or not! 

The kick of creation is the act of creating, 

not anything that happens afterward. 

I would tell all of you watching this screen: 

Before you go to bed, write a four line poem. 

 Make it as good as you can. 

Don't show it to anybody. 

Put it where nobody will find it. 

And you will discover that you have your reward." 

                          ~Kurt Vonnegut

Think about a friend today and then
think something new.
See you down the trail.

AN EVENING AT THE PAINTED SKY

A CAMBRIA CULTURAL CENTER

It looks a bit time worn and ramshackle
but the building above is a part of Cambria History.
It's been several things, but most famously the Bucket of Blood Saloon, going back to when cowboys, miners and fishermen were patrons in this Central California coastal enclave. Local lore has it, the last stabbing in town was here.
But its more recent history has made it a cultural center.
For over a decade this has been the Painted Sky recording
studio. The famous and near famous have come here to
lay down track in the acoustic splendor of the old building
near a side street. For as good as it is as a recording studio,
what has enshrined it in the hearts of modern Cambria are
concert nights-an evening at the Painted Sky.

IT'S SHOW TIME

Owner Steve Crimmel and producers
have booked talent, some of whom are working on a disc,

into the intimate, "house concert" like setting of the
enchanted room. Blues, jazz, swing, blue grass, Celtic,
classical, country, cowboy, rock and vocal artists, including
big names and stars, have played here.  

In his low key, no hustle way, Steve
thanks people for supporting live music and
introduces the act. The studio is configured to seat
between 50 and 70 people with everyone having a
perfect seat.

The courtyard is transformed for intermission
cheer and community.

 On this night Ray Bonneville, a master of 
swampy blues and guitar opened.
Ray has played with BB King, Muddy Waters, Robert Cray
among others.

Extraordinary jazz and blues vocalist

Jude Johnstone and her superb band

headlined. Jude's songs have been recorded 
by Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Trish Yearwood and others.

I've seen live music in a multitude of venues-
from arenas to jazz caverns.  The Painted Sky
is among the all time tops.  The sound of the room is 
exceptional, the intimacy between artist and audience is
legendary, and it is an "only in Cambria" kind of mood
and presence.

From my first visit, before being a resident, when
I read the old Thurber quote in courtyard, and watched and 
listened as people in this village shared an evening with a 
legendary old blues man, I was sure this was indeed a 
cultural center of a unique west coast village
half way between LA and San Francisco.
Unique and beloved indeed.

Thanks to Steve for all the many great evenings.
It appears the building's landlords want to shut the studio
so they can use the building a storage space for 
antiques-left over inventory from a west Hollywood
business they are closing.  
What a shame for such a cultural center and 
historic building.
What a shame for the loss of those special
evenings a the Painted Sky.
Great memories indeed!
See you down the trail.