Miscellany

I grew up in the mid '70s exploring the rocky outcropping in the west San Fernando Valley known as Stoney Point. Back then, a talented climber by the name of John Bachar was already turning heads and inspiring awe there. Although I knew him only from a distance, he quickly became a role model for me and a generation of young climbers who were finding our way into adulthood as much as we were finding our way up rocks. On the surface, John was impressive from the beginning. On the rock, he had a style like no other and physical strength that often seemed super-human. On more than one occasion, I found myself scratching my head after watching him scale some absolutely blank boulder, trying to work out how he so effortlessly achieved what I'd just witnessed.

Today, a friend of mine sent me this commencement address. It was delivered May 3rd, 2009 at the University of Portland by Paul Hawken. Upon reading it, I was compelled to share it with others. Enjoy.

University of Portland, May 3rd, 2009

When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was "direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful." Boy, no pressure there.

But let's begin with the startling part. Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation - but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement.

Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

The Mark Taper Forum in Downtown LA is known for it's ground-breaking theatrical productions. It's the primary reason my family has been season ticket holders for many years. So it was with delight that we experienced the Taper's production of Lydia this past Saturday night. Set in El Paso, Texas in the 1970's, Lydia is the complex story of an immigrant family wrestling with shifting societal realities around them and secrets long buried within. Written by Octavio Solis and first produced in Denver in 2008, I believe this is the play's first production in Los Angeles, with much of the original cast intact. It is, in all respects, a gripping piece of work.

What better endeavor on a fine Southern California Labor Day weekend than an acoustic jam with old bandmates? What indeed! It was an acoustic cast of characters, including a few members of the now-defunct Sauce. Here are a couple of clips memorializing the event. The first is a rendition of Sauce's "Moo":

And what happens when you cross the Kinks' "Hot Potatoes" and "Ordinary People"? Let's find out:

This week, Barack delivered an address at the Brandenburg Gate. Recalling the legacy of the historic airlift of 60 years ago, he inspired and challenged all the people of the world to live up to that legacy, much as he's inspired and challenged us here in America to reach again towards the ideals on which this country was founded. Calling upon familiar themes of his own personal history, his vision of hope, inclusion and cooperation amongst all people, I believe he's rapidly establishing himself as an inspiring world leader for the twenty-first century. I urge you to experience the video yourself.

A few weeks ago, my son, Kieran, and I happened to hear a fresh new sound on KCRW that really grabbed our attention. It was a quirky, up-tempo tune that had us tapping our toes instantly. Turns out, it was a song titled "A-Punk" from a NY band by the name of Vampire Weekend. As often happens when we listen to Anne Litt's "The A Track" show, we'd found another gem that demanded further exploration!

In response to a solicitation from the campaign for words to woo super-delegates, I posted the following today to the Obama website:

I'm a technology professional who's lived most of my life in So. Cal. I've been a registered Republican for my entire adult life - until very recently. Over the years, I've become increasingly disenchanted by the direction of the Republican Party. I'm a fiscal conservative (believing in small government, low taxes, individual responsibility) but a social moderate (believing in abortion rights, gay rights). I've never voted strict party lines, always looking for character in our public servants rather than specific positions on issues.

On the eve of Super Tuesday, I'm hoping for a tidal wave. I'm secretly praying for a seismic event of national proportions - a political upheaval across America. And when we wake up the day after Super Tuesday and look around, I'm hoping we see Barack Obama at the epicenter. This country desperately needs that kind of day tomorrow.

I do not often critique music. However, KCRW's recent release, Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project, is so delightful, I'm motivated to share my impressions. KCRW has a long tradition of recording artists appearing on its flagship music program, Morning Becomes Eclectic (MBE), and releasing compilations of these recordings as membership premiums. Over the years, I've collected several of them, yet none have evoked emotion, nor sustained my interest like this latest offering.