HANNAH'S COURAGE, A BAD CAT & FRESH

FRESH AIR

     A brisk pace in the fresh air and light on the bluff was a good way to start 

the year and think about the recently published study that finds working out and exercise enables the brain to grow. Good news for generations of boomers.

A FRESH START?

     Wouldn't it be great to think the somewhat bi-partisan work in avoiding the self inflicted flagellation called the fiscal cliff could be the beginning? The beginning to a sense of "governance" and the putting of politics into the basement? By, for and of the people.

A STALKER ON THE GRAZING SLOPES

Photo courtesy of countyofsb.org

    A rancher friend told me he has lost four calves in the last several days to a California Mountain Lion.  He says tracks and the condition of the remains lead him to think it is a mother with two cubs.

Photo courtesy of cal poly.edu

       The big cats are pretty much the top of the food chain in the mountains. The bears in this area are sparse and generally non threatening.  That's not the case with cougars which have been spotted in populated areas too.

    My friend is checking with other ranchers to see how widely traveled the predator family may be. We've seen a few bobcats out here. I'd be content to not see a cougar, unless from a good distance.

HANNAH'S WARNING

     Back in the 60's,Hannah Storm, then Hannah Storen, was a cute little gal, the daughter of Mike Storen Coach and GM of the Indiana Pacers and Commissioner of the old American Basketball Association. The Storens were popular with Pacer fans and the media.

     I've followed her career since she graduated Notre Dame and started her media ascendancy.  She is a genuine communicator and a first class broadcaster.  Over the New Years weekend, she told of an event that could have killed her. Her public explanation displays a dignity, confidence and courage. Some in her business would have been less public.  She offers this as true public service.  
      Heal and continue to thrive Ms. Storm.  You are the real deal.

    See you down the trail.

NEW YEAR

A GLIMMER

       This is the second cup of adrenaline laced hope in this great season.  A week after Christmas and the season of joy comes the New Year, the makeover of all makeovers, when all that is hoped for is possible, at least for this season and sometimes that is good enough to create momentum.

       Dream it now, and in the winter to come, do it.

FOR OLD TIMES

       Excuse me as my Scots blood turns me to sentimental recall of Robert Burns anthem

       "...and there's a trusty hand my friend 

       and give us a hand of thine!

       and we'll take a right good will draught,

       for auld lang syne."

       Linking here to last year's post with 6 versions of Auld Lang Syne

       Take your choice of style, just have a happy ending and joyous beginning.

       Thank you for your readership this year.

       Be safe and be well.

       See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER-RECALLING

FRAGMENTS 

Sometimes a piece of a tune, a hint of fragrance or a glimpse is enough to put you on memory lane.  

FRIDAY LUNCH FLASH MOB

AT THE CLOSING OF THE YEAR

What's a cloudy cool day among friends?

THE YEAR IN PICTURES

    A favorite task in the newsroom was to review the work of our photo journalists, to find the images that told of a year.  Here is the year reconstructed by images from shooters at Reuters. I suggest you watch this full screen.

Enjoy your weekend and the reminiscence.

See you down the trail.     

THE LETHAL ANCHORMAN

ABSURDITY REIGNS 

     OK, District of Columbia police are stating the law, maybe even doing their job well, but, hey!!!

      NBC News and Meet the Press anchor David Gregory being in a hot spot because he held an automatic weapon ammo clip on the air while Americans own and use such things is a snapshot of how absurdly silly this complex nation is becoming.

      School children die when a "legal" weapon is used against them, but hold a clip in a studio and be the object of an investigation?!  Should we laugh, or cry?

SCROOGE

      Frank Raiter played the best Scrooge I have seen.

      I struggled to remember his name last week, as I noted the great performance in Tom Haas's adaptation of the Christmas Carol at the IRT a couple of decades ago. 

      My thanks to those of you who suggested other names, and while I know some of them and they were indeed very worthy, Raiter played old Ebenezer better than any I've seen, on stage, film or television.

      Frank's name popped into mind over the weekend as I devoured any thing Christmas Carol on the air, DVR or On Demand. One more Christmas ghost, jarred loose.  I don't think Raiter's performance was captured on film or tape so like many other good stage performances, it lives on in memory only.

WHEN THE TIDE IS OUT

  See you down the trail.

UNBELIEVABLE

CHRISTMAS TIDE

     Incredible, amazing, even miraculous that the birth of a legal bastard of questioned fatherhood, born in an alley stable to a poor couple, the mother both reviled by community and rejected by her intended husband's family, two thousand years ago in a backwater village is the cause of a celebration of joy and hope that wraps the globe.                   

     When gazing upon that tender infant's face, Christians for two millennium see he who links humans with the divine and the child who grows to be a rabbi who demonstrates sacrificial love. Unbelievable that such a story line is a trigger to such cultural outpouring.

     Christmas, as we know it today, is a relatively new occurrence.  But even in a cultural milieu of silver bells,  Santa Claus coming to town, decking the halls, rockin' around a Christmas tree, family gatherings, feasts, parties, pageants, ballets, choirs, wrapping paper, and every thing else that has grown around the date, it centers back to that illegitimate baby boy born among live stock to a young girl. 

     Guess those astrologers from a line of scholar disciples of Zoroaster may have been onto something when they read the charts and traveled under night skies to visit the child and his bewildered parents. In a very real sense they were the guest at the first Christmas party.

     For two thousand years critics and doubters and the intervening madness of wars, mass killings, disasters, disease, poverty, decadent commercialism and even hate have been unable to stop the party.  

     A curious birth, lower than the lowest level of civil society, in a smelly stable and it has come to this. Unbelievable isn't it?

      Merry Christmas. 

      See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER-A GIFT

BEYOND CAROLS

     A couple of weeks ago I posted a video with Dan and Phil Ponce, a couple of Chicago news casters who are also extraordinarily talented musicians and singers.  Dan was one of the founders of Straight No Chaser an a Capella group formed at Indiana University that is now a hot ticket.

       As fate would have it, several of you have sent me videos of the group, so I am "re gifting."  Most of you are no doubt aware of them, but for those of you who are not-

Enjoy.  Here's an early gift.

AND AN EARLY VERSION OF THEIR FAMOUS RENDITION

DAVID HANGS IT UP

     An era came to a sad but noble end today. I think of it as a ghost of Christmas future.  

     A tennis partner quietly announced at the net as we were shaking hands at the conclusion of a match, that he would no longer be playing. David said he could not trust his balance anymore and he didn't want to take another fall, as he has twice this year.  David is an octogenarian.

     I didn't play tennis until we moved to Cambria.  My court sport in Indiana was basketball, but wanting to stay in shape I began as a late aged neophyte on the tennis court. It took months of some awful play before I was worthy of joining into a foursome.  David, Phil and Janos were the first group to ask me to sub from time to time.  They were also the first group to ask me to join as a permanent player.

     I play three days a week in three different foursomes now, but the Friday morning 9AM foursome on Court 1 was the "mother's milk" of my tennis play.  David, Phil and Janos allowed me to learn and grow and they are a delightful group of guys. After our play, we always end up at Lilly's coffee deck for wide ranging conversations and a good dose of friendship.

      David and I were often partners and there would be times he wore a frustration at what had departed his game. But there were also those times when his wicked cross court shot, or a hard hit liner would do the job and was evidence of a man who had great game.  He particularly enjoyed, as I did as well, when we would rally back from being down and win the match. We both would leave the court with more spring in our step.  He remained a competitor though he knew his days of being an excellent player were history. He loved the game and he continued to play.  

     David was also the picture of a gentlemen competitor at all times.  He evinced a great sportsmanship and integrity.  He is also a true gentlemen in every other regard.  A class act if ever there was one.  As well traveled as anyone I've met, even among other globe trotting journalists, David is a great joy in social settings.  We hope he will continue to join us for our post match coffee.

      Our buddy Phil has been on medical leave of recent, though his love for the game is pushing him to get back on the court as well.  In my few years of play I have come to know that love of the game and can understand how tough it must be to hang it up.  David will now take up lawn bowling, of which there is a tough league in Cambria.  And he may join the ping pong matches.

      I am indebted to Janos, Phil and David.  I will miss David's enthusiastic narratives and droll humor as we play. And I hope at some distant match, holiday season or other wise, I can leave the game with the same class and gentlemanly style as David.

      And for the record David's quick returns and well aimed shots earned us several points today.

      See you down the trail.

     

IRONY OF ICONS

ICONS

     Paul McCartney playing with Nirvana may have been the  cosmic rift that some have attributed to the Mayans.

      First at the Sandy benefit international broadcast, 12/12/12 and then again on Saturday Night Live (SNL), McCartney assumed the late Kurt Cobain's role. That is not something we saw coming, nor would ever expect.

        By virtue of his "Beatledom," McCartney is probably the reigning star in the Rock realm.  Some ascribe such cultural and musical shaping influence to the Beatles they belong in Darwin's theory of evolution.  Of course most of that is true.  And Paul is a superb player, in addition to writer, composer, arranger, producer and by most accounts a grand fellow.  He certainly held his own, and in a way was saying, I maybe the grand old man and the master of pop and ballads and lyrics, but I can still kick out the jam.  Still

McCartney with Nirvana was just plain weird!

THE LEGEND MAKERS

     One more item of Iconography.  One of the greatest sports legends, because it is true, is the "Goliath killer" Butler Bull Dogs.  

       The small Indianapolis north side University thrilled NCAA fans a couple of years ago with back to back national championship runs, ending up as runner up two years in a row.  Over the weekend the "Dawgs" worked their way into the nation's top 25 again by knocking off the nation's number 1 powerhouse, neighboring Indiana University.

       The IU Hoosiers lay claim to 5 national championships and 8 final four appearances.  To some, IU under Bob Knight, UCLA under John Wooden and Duke under Coach K are the epitome of college basketball powerhouses.

      Well,...way back, in my kid hood, we remember the great and historic Butler teams under the legendary Tony Hinkle.  Always a small school, but with a brand of basketball that cast a national shadow.  

      Under former coach, now athletic director Barry Collier and coach Brad Stevens, Butler has become the favorite little guy. Their intelligence, determination and toughness remind millions of how basketball excellence can look.  

      If you saw the classic movie Hoosiers written by Angel Pizzo, you may be inclined to say the real Hoosiers in Indiana-the little guys who knock off the big boys, are the Bull Dogs!  Great stuff.

Day File
at the coast

  See you down the trail.