optimism

as self conscious as i am about having purchased an issue of vanity fair recently, i feel compelled to share what the experience has stirred up. those who know me (and those who don't) can easily guess what might have grabbed my attention about this particular cover (1 of 20 by annie leibovitz). however, the eye-candy was only a ploy to get me to read the quote next to mr. durden's famous face; "a person is a person through other persons; you can't be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships." -archbishop desmond tutu (also pictured). though it was said in quite a different context, this quote initially grabbed my attention based upon its relevance to the work that i do. i have not previously spent a great deal of time conducting fact-finding-missions, etc. to learn the ins & outs of all that is happening in africa (something i'm neither proud nor ashamed of), i've pretty much left it up to bono and the cast of ocean's 13 to do their thing... but i AM glad to have had my curiosity piqued enough to start learning more now. i can't begin to describe here all that is needed and/or all that is already happening related to the great need in africa, and i won't try. but i do urge all, who haven't, to begin learning more. this special issue of vanity fair is a surprisingly good place to start; "this is an emergency-normal rules don't apply. there are no easy good or bad guys. do you think an african mother cares if the drugs keeping her child alive are thanks to an ipod or a church plate? or a democrat or republican? i don't think that mother gives a damn about where that 20-cent pill comes from, so why should we. it can lead to some uncomfortable bedfellows, but sometimes less sleep means you are more awake." -bono.
the thing that struck me most about all of this is the great many ways that all of these celebrities, politicians, business leaders, religious leaders, philanthropists, etc... are not only publicly lamenting the conditions in africa, but have actually designed and begun to implement mechanisms for real change. this is not just an impressive array of spokespersons, they have become a driving force. as trite as it may sound, it is so encouraging to see these -who have so much- to truly find ways to use their celebrity and wealth to make a difference, and create ways for the rest of us to make a contribution, even through buying a little white bracelet, an ipod, clothes, etc.
i realized that, as much as i see myself ultimately as an optimistic person at the core, i had begun to adopt a view of world politics, environmental issues, poverty, etc. that was sort of gloomy in terms of the big picture. this all has given me pause. on a related note, through a conversation on sunday, i learned of some innovations related to transportation. the tesla roadster is an electric car, not a hybrid, and it will kick your ass (0-60 in 4.5 sec). it is being marketed to the ultra-rich right now in order to increase the appeal, and funding needed to develop the technology to be more affordable for everyone else.

this is another recent example, for me, of things moving in the right direction, giving real hope for a better future, rather than watching us slowly (sometimes not so slowly) destroy eachother and ourselves.

finally, as a lovely sonic backdrop for all of this, i highly recommend sufjan stevens' live song majesty, snowbird (supposedly from a forthcoming oregon-themed album). it feels good.

partly pouty

redemption

it might be important for me to let you know that morgan freeman now works at the advance auto parts store down the street from my house, i saw him there this morning. i'm not sure of the implications of this. apparently he is God now, so... i'm a little wary that he might be calling me to part the lake overholser or something, possibly as a third installment to his evangelistic videos in the '____almighty' franchise. we'll see. he was very helpful. when i walked in and asked for assistance, he said "i'm known to locate certain things... from time to time..."

iiii'llll beeee baaack.....

dare you to click on the photo... diversafest

just because

[thanks to ryan & the flaming lips' myspace]

close encounters of the 3rd kind

it's no secret that i regularly drive by wayne coyne's house, just to catch a glimpse of a local hero. well friends, yesterday my hours of stalking finally paid off! on the way to see a friend's baby at the hospital, i decided to swing by nw13th & blackwelder (its only like a mile and a half from our house). mounted upon my trusty scooter, i rounded the bend to see a large semi- truck/ trailer (presumably filled with touring equipment) parked out front of wayne manor. as i drew closer, i noticed that the gates to the large privacy fence they have recently erected (i wonder why?) were open, and who did i see in his own back yard but master wayne himself! in case you are wondering, yes, i do feel a deep sense of satisfaction that extends now to every corner of my being, and yes, it is something that you can only wish to understand, and no, this does not mean that i will discontinue my weekly forays into the ghetto to chance upon another rendezvous. ahhhhh.....

click here to read rikki lee's [arguably better] rendition of her own chance encounter...

dissonance

Setting: present day, a fast food/ convenience store in a large mid-western capital city, late afternoon, early summer. the store is nearly empty, save for the female CLERK, & RON, a mid 30's, surly looking construction worker type, leaning at the end of the checkout counter after a hot day's work, seemingly waiting for something.

Enter: JöE, a late 20's male dressed casually, yet professionally in dark jeans & a collared dress shirt with the sleeves at 3/4 mast. he is fully bearded, wearing mirrored, medium size aviator sunglasses, and longish rock-staresque shaggy hair. as he enters the dimly lit establishment, in midstride he is observed to pull his sunglasses off and whip his hair back out of his face in a fluid motion. as he does this, he scans the room, noticing RON, who at that moment seems to be sizing JöE up for an ass-kicking after watching his entrance. JöE, aware of RON's gaze, makes brief eye contact, nods slightly and continues to the cooler for a drink. JöE passes RON again & gets in the short line that has now formed for check-out. RON makes his move, walking over and stopping adjacent to JöE angled slightly inward. so begins their time together...

RON: "hey man [smiling], you should be on f*ckin tv, man."

JöE: [briefly hesitating, struck by the compliment as if he was expecting a physical assault rather than such friendliness, not sure if the words are sincere or a sarcastic prelude to a beating] "...pardon?"

RON: [still smiling] "you should be on f*ckin tv, man. with the long hair and your beard and the sunglasses, you look like you could be on f*ckin tv, man..."

JöE: [flattered, slowly returning RON's smile] "well, thanks..."

RON: [still smiling, but now more insistent] "yeah, man... should go out to f*ckin california and be an actor..."

JöE: [at somewhat of a loss as to how to continue to graciously respond] "i don't know, that's a pretty big risk, ha ha [laughs awkwardly]..."

RON: [clearly displaying his expectation that JöE should walk out of the store and drive directly to hollywood and the certain fame that awaits] "it's all about the looks anyway, man, those f*ckin guys you see on tv, you look like you could be on tv..."

JöE: "well, i sure appreciate it..."

they have reached the counter, JöE completes his transaction as RON is joined by TIM, early 40's, also a surly looking construction worker type. TIM, looking grimy and tired from working, seems to have been lurking just out of sight and apparently has heard RON's last line, looking at him as if wondering what the hell has gotten into him.

RON: [noticing a ring that JöE is wearing] "hey man, is that a skull?... [without waiting for a reply] ...badass!"

TIM still appears confused, slightly irritated. JöE's face betrays renewed wonder as to the likelihood of his ass becoming grass.

TIM: [joining in, to both] "been on a steel roof all day..."

RON: "f*ckin hot out there, man."

JöE: [sympathetically] "aw man that sucks!" [beginning to hastily back out toward door, hoping to avoid conversational attention turning toward his own occupation (sitting in an air-conditioned office listening to people), a topic that would almost certainly activate RON and TIM's resentment and heretofore inexplicably repressed predatory instinct to 'smear the queer', etc.] "you guys try to stay cool out there!" [exits, relieved, but planning to get a haircut as soon as reasonably possible]

as scene closes RON is observed to turn toward the -still surly- TIM and say something not quite audible, but presumably along the lines of "hey man, doesn't that guy look like he could be on a f*ckin tv show, man?!"

[fade to black.]