One of the hot and trending topics of the day is that
failed Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is still getting
Secret Service protection. According to published records, that is at a cost of about $ 42,000 a day. $42 K a day to protect Gingrich?!!
The porcine and largely unpopular former Speaker of the House was never a serious candidate, other than in his own mind. His staff abandoned him. Voters rejected him. Party leaders despise him. Comics mock him. It seems the only thing he's qualified for is to be a stand in for the Pillsbury dough boy.
I have long suspected this whole candidacy farce is about feeding his considerable ego, trumping up his profile so he can earn bigger dollars as a lobbyist and "advisor" and to sell what ever book his swampy mind conjures.
I hope the GOP convention planners ice Gingrich. In the meantime taxpayers should demand this demagogue not only no longer get Secret Service protection, but pay back what his coverage has cost since he "suspended" his pathetic campaign. Can you say contemptible?
ANOTHER FACE OF THE PACIFIC
It is evident some of you didn't care much for the video of the Slime Eels posted yesterday. They are oddly fascinating, but I was taken by surprise they are being harvested in the local sea bed.
Well for those of you, some who posted a reply and some who sent me an email, not so positive about those creatures,
here is a more tranquil short on the Pacific, just a few miles north.
In many ways Dick Clark was the curator of American pop culture as well as one of its progenitors. His boyish charm helped ease counter cultural influences of Rock into American mainstream life. American Bandstand not only made stars and hit records, it made the connection between boomers and music.
Clark always seemed the cool and upbeat host and DJ, but he was also a skilled production executive and businessman.
He built an empire from his production of television specials, game shows and show business ownership.
I met Clark a few times, first as he promoted Dick Clark's caravan of Stars, then later as he tended to his restaurant franchise business. The last time was as the production company I was the head of did business with his giant company.
Of course, like Guy Lombardo before him, Clark is linked in many minds with New Year's Rockin Eve. I had very mixed feelings about his staying on the air, after his debilitating stroke. It was difficult to see the smooth television persona struggle. But it was also good for us, to see this determined and driven personality refuse to submit to a condition.
Clark pioneered much of contemporary American entertainment. He remained a pioneer to the end. Many
men of his age, wealth and condition would have simply backed away, but he stayed in the pop culture spot light he
helped illuminate.
This is not meant in an unkind way, but Ryan Seacrest is
the likely heir to the role in Americana that Clark created. It
may also be that a Seacrest stardom would have been impossible without the pioneering of Dick Clark. He was an original. Maybe even an American Idol.
WARNING
THIS IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH
I was fascinated to learn of a new catch coming from about 10 miles out from Morro Bay at a depth of about 130 fathoms.
Here, in less than a minute, is a video to tell you more.
This evening shot captures the foggy edge of a day
that ranged from the extremes available at the coast. A very warm and bright sunrise, warm morning, brilliantly sunny mid day and the rolling in of a massive bank of marine clouds and haze, pre sunset, strings together a series of micro climates and clothing adjustments. Shorts and short sleeves, give way to jeans and fleece. The cool marine fog fills the valleys, obscures the mountains and shrouds the trees that just a couple of hours before were brilliantly green under a cobalt blue sky. Living near the Pacific brings these changes and diversity.
PERPETUALLY SUNNY
Though I'm a little dubious about these things, I'm happy
to note that a fellow blogger has awarded me the Sunshine Award.
I appreciate the sentiment, and certainly appreciate the awarding blogger Bruce Tayor's OddballObservations, but as an old journalist I'm suspect of these awards that form a kind of mutual admiration society. Boy, do I sound like a cynic at the Banquet of the Sunshine Society, or what?!
This kind of mutual support in the blogosphere is actually a wonderful thing. It is kind and generous, and of that I am appreciative. I think it is nice that people pass this along to
others. That it helps grow awareness of other bloggers and writers is fine as well. But it reminds me a bit of kids sending secret "I like you, will you be my girl friend?" notes on the playground. Sweet. Cute. But my posts are often
not either. So, Thank You Bruce. Thank you Sunshine Award
originators and fellow recipients. As someone who loves
the sunshine, and sunny dispositions, I accept on behalf
of those of us who take our sunshine with reality, on the rocks, shaken and not stirred.
So, something about me, an obligation of the award. I love film and cinema. I admire artists regardless of medium. I think creativity is one of the highest achievements of the human mind. My heroes include John Muir, David Brinkley, Ernie Pyle, my father Karl and there are others. One current hero is my friend Bob Foster some 56 days into a bone marrow transplant. My clan were Picts. The bloodline is Scots, Celt, Anglo Norman, (English), Welsh, Pennsylvania Dutch from the Palitinate.
I have two published books, and would love to add to that number if I can get a deal for #3. #4 is a work in progress. Another obligation of the award is to nominate another blogger. I think Mollie, who I have known since her birth, is a very deserving recipient. She is an enormously talented young writer who has shown a gift as she plumbs what it means to be a young Christian in the 21st Century. Mollies lightbymorning blog. See you down the trail.
Now the Obama vs Romney match is on, we may get an opportunity to see a national debate about the role, scope and intent of the federal government. Though both are Harvard men and technocrats, they apparently possess different visions. It would be nice if the campaign remained focused on that. Sadly though, it appears big money, super pacs and huge advertising budgets will steal the plot and establish the tone and probable shallowness of the campaign.
It would be nice if the media would forego being manipulated and spun by the ad dollars and their masters. Better if they'd stop the pundit pontificating and over zealous devotion to the "horse race" and odds sequences and shape the discussion about visions of America's future and how we get there via the Romney or Obama route.
Wouldn't it be nice?
DAY BOOK
BUILT TO LAST I was impressed by what I call "Federal Style" grandeur evident in the building at the Hoover Dam. Buildings constructed in the 1930's remain impressive today in their stateliness, sense of artistic design and that little touch of deco.
Someone makes sure, but even today those
brass doors shine like new.
And after 70 years the marble with brass inlay "signs" are
as classy as anything new.
SOME TIMES OLD CAN'T LAST Here's a quick tribute to a tree that was a young windbreak about the time of the Hoover Dam construction.
If you spend a few minutes with this video, your day will
be richer and you will feel better about, well, a lot.
As a journalist I was repeatedly surprised by the inherent wisdom and or goodness of people. Often these qualities emerged in the darkest or more challenging circumstances.
As you will see here, there is nothing quite as uplifting as
a smile in expression of arigato, merci, obrigato, gracias, thanks.
ASKING THE PUZZLING QUESTIONS
As the California coast enjoyed a good soaking, helping to alleviate what has been a sparseness of rain this year, I just had to ask....
Enjoy your weekend.
Think about water, and say thank you to someone.
See you down the trail.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
THE CONSEQUENCE
"The voice of the intellect is a soft one,
but it does not rest until it has gained a
hearing. Ultimately, after endlessly
repeated rebuffs, it succeeds.
This is one of the few points in which
to be optimistic about the
future of mankind."
Sigmund Freud
Analysts of the social scene, sociologists, psychologists, theologians and others have noted the apocalyptic nature
and almost obsession of film, games, literature and other
cultural symbols designed for and sought by people 18-35.
To mine the deep implications and causes can fill books. But a shorthand version is an attitude about the future that is not all sunshine and roses. Some of those reasons may smack us in the face if we look closely.
Think of the impact on younger minds of just these events:
THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF KATRINA
WITNESSING THE WORST ECONOMIC COLLAPSE SINCE
THE DEPRESSION
FUKISHIMA
I chose those three because they are linked by a seemingly helpless situations played out large and in detail in a media saturation. But there are multiple such examples and other complexities of modern life that also work to destroy optimism.
Bringing it back to Freud then, is the soft voice of intellect being heard? Or is it being drowned out in a world of social media where Kim Kardashian has 9 to 10 million "followers?"
REEL THOUGHTS
THE HUNGER GAMES
We became two of the most recent of the millions who are making this film a box office smash. Talk about dystopian! The Suzzane Collins young adult novel which was a sensation, is even more so in the hands of Director Gary Ross who wrote and directed Pleasantville, Seabiscuit and Big. Ross is a very good film maker and his screenplay with Collins is of a world that is a continuation of the bleak future theme.
Lana is more enthusiastic about the film than I am. It is an entertaining, big budget action adventure thriller focused on kids surviving a decadent societies' game. She sees the hope expressed in the story line. I see a clever portrayal of a society that becomes increasingly self indulgent, hooked on cheap thrills and riven with a wealthy elite controlling poor, working masses.
And it is probably just me, but the brilliance in the film
is the parody of our obsession with "reality game shows." How far will we go? When I was ceo of a television production company we'd joke about how outrageous game shows could become. This film is a punctuation point.
Stanley Tucci as the television host, Caesar Flickerman
is delightful. Jennifer Lawrence as the heroine continues to show remarkable talent, first seen in Winter Bone. Elizabeth Banks as vacuous Effie Trinkle is superb. She captures the empty values and superficiality of a society that can enjoy watching children kill each other. Woody Harrelson as the burned out former hero provides a nice nuanced and textured performance. And Donald Southerland as the contemptible president Snow is a poster boy for legalizing assassination.
I'm struck by how this is a film for and about youth and even in a kind of victory there is an uncertainty and looming shadow.
"Have I not reason
to lament what man has made of man?"
William Wordsworth
REALITY CHECK NOW
MORE OF THE SAME
A new public awareness campaign has been launched.
It is the most recent voice in the escalating fight over
fracking.
There may be places where fracking has not done harm.
But clearly, there are places where it is doing severe harm.
"A simple child,
That lightly draws its breath.
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?"
William Wordsworth
I've been accused of looking on the bright side of things. Not sure about that, rather I'm a pragmatist who understands the value of doing something. In engagement is opportunity, and hope. That attitude was honed in Paul Hamori's class on Hegelian dialectics.
I heard from readers after my Monday post onMike Wallace. Some of you took me to task for my praise of his contribution to American broadcast journalism. Here's a portion of an email-
"You forgot to mention how he set back gay rights with his 1967 special The Homosexuals. By the time he was done with the special which featured a doctor who stated the homosexuality was a choice and that they could never be happy....a number of parents stopped supporting their gay children, threw many of their own kids out and many gay adults lost their jobs. At the time Mike Wallace associated socially with gay people including long time partners. This was a news man who used sensationalism at the time to gain viewers.
He never countered that original show. Later he said that he had made a bad judgment call. That was it."
And another:
"The old toughie is probably laughing
that he's getting a pass on some of his
outrageous sensationalism. Look at
how he bashed gays. Think you could
broadcast that kind of stuff today?"
I either forgot about the broadcast, or never saw it. The piece, which aired in 1967, has a legacy and even has
One source has edited portions of the broadcast and
posted a short YouTube video.
A virtue of this means of communication is the quickness of response, the depth of research accessible with only key strokes and the value of conversation. So I amend my thought's on Wallace by expanding it to include this post.
I hope this now broadens the view and achieves more balance.
It will be interesting to see how CBS handles it on their
60 Minutes broadcast on Sunday.
DAY BOOK
RIDING OUT THE STORM The birds have created an interesting profile.
