ABOUT FORGIVING and ANOTHER CLIMATE

THE RAILWAY MAN

     I'm curious why this is a summer release film, so far from the Academy Awards season, because it is award worthy in a number of ways.

     Colin Firth is brilliant as a post war Eric Lomax in the story based on Lomax's book. Jeremy Irvine is equally  brilliant as a young Lomax in a Japanese prisoner of war forced labor camp. Then too Hiroyouki Sanada and Tanroh Ishida are both excellent as the elder and younger version of the Japanese interpreter Nagase who was instrumental in the horrid torture and abuse of Lomax. Nicole Kidman's supporting performance as Firth's wife is also award worthy.

     Perhaps it is the "politically incorrect" nature of the film's background-the brutality and barbaric nature of the Japanese camp. But this true story is historic. It demonstrates the enormous endurance of the POW's and the spirit that kept them alive. More importantly it is the powerful story of learning to forgive. Firth, one of the finest actors of the age, plumbs the depth of the human soul and experience to deliver a portrayal that is deservedly something you will have trouble putting out of your mind.  Nor should you.  Irvine's ability to display strength of spirit amidst the incredible torture will also stay with you. 

    Perhaps too it is the graphic water boarding that some might find to be too politically charged.  But despite those reasons, the film is inspiring, powered by love and is indeed a timeless exposition on forgiving. Very strong all around. Director Jonathan Teplitzky is to be commended.

A BOTANICAL CLIMATE

  Scenes from the Naples Botanical Garden.

  See you down the trail.

EARTH SMILES

E'lan Vital

    Spring is a magical season. Many see it as symbolic of hope and renewal. We've paid special notice since the ancients organized rituals to mark its impact. 
    Henri Bergson, the French Philosopher wrote of what he called E'lan Vital-the dynamic force of creativity and life. Spring seems full of that expanding and unstoppable newness and energy.
    For some of you who suffered a long winter, the celebration is probably more dear. Wherever you read this, happy spring!

    See you down the trail.

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

THE REACH

Solitary fisherman on Moonstone Beach, Cambria Ca.

REEL THOUGHTS

WATERMARK

    WATERMARK is an extraordinary 92 minute visual odyssey that spans the globe and reminds us in every image how inextricably linked humans are to water.  

     Canadian documentary filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky have created an extraordinary work that is captivating. It is stunning in its scope and beautiful. Scenes are majestic or powerful and so well captured they prompt audible gasps from the audience. WATERMARK is a film to see, either in the theatre or at home on a good screen.

JUST BEING PRESENT

   A public expression of gratitude to Lana for her artist's palette creation on our back slope.

   Frequent readers are familiar with the work. She has created a space filled with a couple dozen variety of blooms, drought tolerant too, that is an aerial playground for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, beetles and other airborne denizens of the California coast. Orchestrated with wind chimes it is a perfect retreat for being present in the moment. It is a place of beauty, nature and transcendence.  

SCENES OF A STROLL

 A recent late morning stroll along San Luis Obispo County's Bob Jones "city to sea" trail was picture perfect.

 A FIRST EFFORT

   Bruce, aka The Catalyst, likes to experiment with recipes.

A few weeks ago he published his adventure with a coconut cream pie.  It "spoke to me," enough so to compel me to bake my very first pie. I'll do a couple of things differently next time, but it got nice reviews, none-the-less. Thanks Mr. T! Who'd ever think I would bake a pie?

   See you down the trail.

GIGGLES, SILVER POUNDS STERLING, WHEN IS TOO LATE

AT LARGE IN A WORLD OF WONDER

   The ever curious Hemingway, partially committed to a quest.

Looks as though he's thinking about moving the rest of his body through-but, that won't happen easily.  Wonder if he "knows" that?

  Looks like his logic kicked in and he'll just stare from where he is.

NOTES FROM THE NEWS ROOM
 Silver Pounds Sterling

    The almost universal praise for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is deserved. In banishing Donald Sterling for life, Silver added an historic chapter to the American story.  The racism evidenced in the recording may have been a personal statement, but when someone who owns a team in a league where African Americans are not only full participants but some the best of the game, the stupidity alone is deserving of a lifetime ban. In a culturally diverse modern world such sick and poisonous thought needs the kind of bold, decisive and courageous action taken by the still new Commissioner.  Silver earned his spurs.

     All of that being said, there is lesson and/or conundrum in the Donald Sterling incident. Stupid and foul though it was, Sterling was speaking privately and obviously his words were his thoughts. We are all entitled to our words and thoughts, though we must be mindful of how those words and thoughts enter into a wider world as well as the impact they have. There are no doubt tricky and complex under girding legal and philosophical issues here, but the bottom line in this case--if you say it, you must be prepared for the consequence.

ALARM BELLS SOUNDING

     Paul Rogers of the San Jose Mercury News writes here of the chilling discovery of increasing acidity level in the Pacific that in fact threatens all life on this blue planet.

     I saw a teleplay featuring a haunting scene where a journalist reviewed how human kind had ignored warnings of air and water pollution, climate changes, toxic discharges, extinction of species, decimation of forests, loss of crops until all of life was trapped in a terminal spiral. 

     It was only a drama, but I raged at how generations put financial concerns, politics and expediency above the well being of future generations. Increasingly I worry that we are the generation that has ignored the clear warning signs. And perhaps we are watching a rapidly escalating compounding of the consequences of such. Indeed we are reaping what we have sewn. When is too late?

     See you down the trail.

     

A VISIT WITH TREES-A SPRING BOUQUET and THE OLD BOY

THE LADIES TAKE THE SUN

     A majestic afternoon promenade of shadows

    with a Pacific breeze.

AMAZING THINGS YOU MAY NOT

KNOW ABOUT TREES

There is no question but you will learn from this!

AN OLD BOY
CAUGHT IN ACTION

    Despite being well retired and doing my best to be lazy,

occasionally it is like the bell for an old fire horse and I get 

pressed into some public speaking. Maybe this will convince the tax man some of those deductions are indeed real. 

PRETTY

  Enjoy your spring.

  See you down the trail.