burning corn

fuuuuuunny

2008-09-03T08:39:00.005-07:00

There are certainly a lot of things to take seriously, but it is good to laugh on occasion.

I am talking about more than an occasional chuckle or titter covered politely by fingertips across embarrassed lips – I'm talking about a really deep belly laugh. The kind of guffaw where you actually can't control your own bodily functions. An "I laughed so hard I cried..." sort of thing.

For years I used to get this type of laugh from reading The Onion, but I just don't go to the trouble of finding their site very often (actually, I'm so ancient that I recall when their humor was only available in printed format.) these days.

I read lots of political news and comment sites. Both for news and to get a sense of what is going on out there in the world amongst the people who I have come to commiserate with over the state of our existence on many levels. (Vague and blathering enough for you? Okay, I'll get to the point.)

One site that I've started reading regularly of late is called Wonkette. Sorry that I don't have time to launch into a long discussion of the site, but let's just say it is fun to read, they are smart, they know the issues, and they are smart-asses. Smart ones.

So this morning I took a minute to read their site, and although I don't often click on links to embedded videos, I took a chance and watched their first ever episode (and they say the last) of Wonkette TeeVee, and this is where I experienced the biggest belly laugh that I've had in a while. For example:

". . . and we are going to talk about why democracy is dead, it's Dead, we will soon elect people by throwing rats over the fence of dreams. . ."

A bunch of snide, cynical (actual)smarty-pants sitting in a dark bar at the Republican National Convention drinking and performing a mock television interview show for their own amusement. It's better than any (real or fake) television news show that you could ever watch (and I'm a big Daily Show fan). Very low production values ("don't unplug my Mac motherf***er...") Go see it. Belly laugh.

do you really think.....?

2008-08-26T17:41:00.006-07:00

Do you really think that the Bradwood Landing Office would be spending over $30,000.00 on deceptive push polls in this election if they really believed the referendum would have "no meaningful impact" on their project as is stated in their "Fast (and loose) Facts" brochure?

ClatsopCommonSense.org

UPDATE September 16, 2008:

67.11% say no.

i'm not certain, but i seem to recall...

2008-01-23T15:15:00.002-08:00

ccfog.org/

some attention to LNG issue from editors of The Oregonian (it's about time.)

2007-08-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Better (years) late than never, I suppose.

The Editorial Board of The Oregonian opines that "LNG projects invite skepticism."

Thanks for that.

If my thanks seem just a tad lukewarm, maybe I can explain why with a question:

Where, Oregonian, have you been for the last few years while we out here in Clatsop County have been fighting practically alone to keep LNG out?

Well, anyway, you're here now, and your audience, so we need your help. Here are some places where you can go to get up to speed on the latest LNG related goings-on, and what you can do to help:

RiverVision
A community-based lower Columbia org fighting the good fight to keep LNG out.

The Daily Astorian has an area on its website entirely dedicated to the whole sordid story of the attempts to site LNG on the Columbia, and much of the "Mayberry Machiavellian" chicanery of the now (mostly) former Port Commissioners.

Columbia Riverkeeper
Columbia Riverkeeper has been a great help in supporting anti-LNG efforts.

Not a leap: a “loop.”

2007-08-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

In his letter to the Daily Astorian last week, Kirk Wintermute claimed that it was an “odd leap” to suggest some connection between Mr. Zafiratos, Mr. Roman and their dislike for Josh Marquis, even claiming that such a connection is “unsubstantiated rumor” in spite of their partnership in a law firm that made a significant portion of its income from DUI cases, and in spite of the fact that some of their efforts were no doubt thwarted by Mr. Marquis.

But a quick search for “Kirk Wintermute” and “Seattle” turned up a link to his blog, which demonstrates that there’s really no "leap" at all. What do Mr. Wintermute, Mr. Zafiratos, Mr. Roman and another Astoria blogger have in common? The answer is "looping," AKA "drunk driving," and their writings concerning Mr. Zafiratos and Mr. Roman.

On his blog, Mr. Wintermute waxes nostalgic about his "looper" adventures. According to a few young Astorian bloggers with happy juvenile looping memories, a “looper” is where you get drunk and drive around with drunken friends until "you get a funny story or a DUI." Hopefully the "funny story" turns out to be rolling your rig, as is depicted in a photo on Wintermute’s blog, and not that you kill someone.

I guess that explains why some people need, as Astoria blogger Tryan Hartill posted on his North Coast Oregon blog, to "have Steve Roman’s number on speed dial in case you get in trouble."

In case we had any doubt about what looping was, Tryan clarified:

"A comment on 'Looping', that is only a true Astorian word. If you say it to someone from out of the area, they say ‘What is Looping?’...you’re like 'Duh…drinking and Driving!' "

Tryan also recently posted some alcohol - inspired photography, writing that he was on a "foot looper" when he took the pictures. I'm assuming that he didn't get in his car and drive home after taking the photos. No, I'm sure he wouldn't have done that.

So is it a leap to connect drinking, driving and support of Mr. Zafiratos, and Mr. Roman? I guess not, given that both Tryan and Kirk clearly love looping, and both are supporting Mr. Zafiratos in his recent (failed) maneuverings re: the D.A. stipend issue.

It’s no leap to say that Mr. Hartill was given documents obtained by Mr. Zafiratos in an unsuccessful attempt to sway public opinion, in an ill-considered PR campaign which has backfired, and spectacularly.

Perhaps it’s time for those who think drunk driving is funny to hear some of the horror stories from people who've lost loved ones to them, AKA "loopers." The family of Dorothy Gunther, for instance, would probably not be so amused by these clever blog-musings on looping.

The oddest leap of all would to leap over the obvious connection between people who love to drive drunk and the people who stand to gain financially from their cases, and thinking that either could be disinterested in seeing the current D.A. suffer, given that he has done much to curb drunk driving in our county. In my view, that leap that would take you clear across the Columbia.

My Cheezwhizzian Oath

2007-06-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

The Cheezwhizzian Oath

I hereby adopt these, my own personally and painstakingly developed Cheezwhizzian principles, and do solemnly vow to uphold them. May I be struck down by enlightening before I refute them:

1)- For best results, I will remove cap.

2)- I will always shake well before each usage.

3)- I will hold the can firmly, and at approximately a forty-five degree angle.

4)- Holding firmly, I will then depress the nozzle.

5)- Upon completion of each application, I will add a decorative, yet not immodest swirl.

6)- I will keep refrigerated after opening.

You may think these principles silly, but I will never, ever take them down from this site, no matter what evil insidious forces try to induce me to do so.

W's innovative whitehouse recycling program! (for tired catchphrases used on the many anniversaries of the start of the Iraq War)

2007-03-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a sample from Think Progress:

March 19, 2007: “There will be good days, and there will be bad days ahead.”

March 19, 2006: “There will be good days and there will be bad days.”
March 19, 2004: “There will be good days and there will be difficult days.”

They couldn't even be bothered to write a new speech?

Meanwhile, it's four years later and the body counts continue to rise:

Casualty Count:

U.S. Deaths - 3,218

U.S. Wounded - 32,544

Iraqis - +65,160 (some say drastically more - researchers at Johns Hopkins say about 650,000 an Australian researcher estimates over one million.)

Stop it. Just stop it.

5,4,3,2...

2007-03-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

A long-awaited day rapidly approaches.

Goodbye Los Angeles, keep in touch.

No, better yet – I'll call you.

Maybe old Woody said it best:

"So long,
it's been good to know ya..."

firedoglakin' the Libby verdict...

2007-03-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Cindy Price who first introduced me to firedoglake, so that I could follow the minute-by-minute coverage of the Libby trial and receive their insight into the process as well.

Awaiting a verdict has never been so much fun.

A little refresher just so everyone knows the charges:

"Vice President Cheney's former Chief of Staff has been been accused of lying to a probe into the leak of classified information. He is charged with two counts of perjury, two counts of false statement of facts and one count of obstruction of justice. If convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail." (from Huffingtonpost.com)

UPDATE in case you're having trouble(also via huffpost):

March 6, 2007 10:30 AM
Lewis "Scooter" Libby has been found guilty of lying to a probe into the leak of classified information.

Vice President Cheney's former Chief of Staff was found guilty on two counts of perjury, one count of making a false statement, and one count of obstruction of justice.

He was acquitted of one count of making a false statement.
On these charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail, CNN correspondents say.

documentarealism

2007-02-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

I was talking film and documentaries last night, which prompted a post at Lacunariae concerning a missing writer. (He wasn't missing to himself, but to the book-buying public.)

This prompted me to go through my PDA, Netflix and IMDb.com looking for my favorite documentaries, and so I thought I'd share them.

Before there were reality shows (Which are amazingly unreal - like for instance, why don't they drop people on a really deserted island and see how long they last? That I'd like to see.) there were documentary films, which I've always loved. There are many great ones, but here are some of my favorites which I think should not be missed. I grabbed some info on most from IMDb.com (Except when it says "Note:" Then it's my own opinion or description.)

These are in no particular order, just be sure that you see them all, then let me know what you think. Two pages double-spaced will do.

Then leave a comment for me and give me some more to add to might Netflix qeue.

Stone Reader (2002)
Eighteen-year-old Mark buys a novel by a little-known author and starts reading it, but is unable to get through the whole thing. Twenty-five years later, Mark decides to give the book another try and finds the story absolutely spellbinding. When he tries to buy more copies of the book, he finds that it's out of print and no one seems to know where the author can be found, sending Mark on a yearlong search for the elusive writer.
(IMDb.com - link)
Note: This doc spends a lot of time contemplating "one hit wonder" writers - writers that had one amazing novel then fell into obscurity, or at least never wrote another book that was as popular as the first. The filmaker even started an organization dedicated to lost books - and authors - called The Lost Books Club.

The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987) Yuki Yukite Shingun
This absorbing documentary follows Kenzo Okuzaki, a Japanese veteran of World War II, as he tries to seek justice -- and vengeance -- for the unexplained deaths of several soldiers in his unit. Through meticulous research, Okuzaki tracks down former military officers to accuse them of war crimes. Though his methods -- including doling out verbal and even physical abuse -- are questionable, Okuzaki finds compelling evidence of military atrocities.
(IMDb.com - link)
(Amazon)

How to Draw a Bunny (2002)
The cartoon rabbit that was artist Ray Johnson's signature inspired the title for this documentary about the man, whose memorable life in the arts was often so creative that it befuddled even his closest friends. Johnson, once referred to as the "the most famous unknown artist in America," took individuality to a new level with his art that inventively infused pop-culture images, collages and even rubber stamps.
(IMDb.com - link)

Salesman (1969)
Filmmakers (and brothers) Albert and David Maysles follow four employees of a company that makes expensive, ornate, illustrated bibles as they attempt to sell the items door-to-door to less-than-interested customers, who are mainly poor or lower-middle-class Catholics with little money to spend on pretty Bibles.
(IMDb.com - link)
Note: also see "Grey Gardens" and "A Concert of Wills."

"Seven Up" (1964) (and the rest of the "-Up" series)
Michael Apted
A group of British children aged 7 from widely ranging backgrounds are interviewed about a range of subjects. Director Michael Apted plans to re-interview them at 7 year interviews to determine how their lives and attitudes have changed.
(They are now up to "49 Up," which is available now. See them all.)
(IMDb.com - link)

Latcho Drom (1993)
(Read the review, but remember this: this film is about beautful, powerful music and the lives and culture of those that make it.)

The film takes the viewer on a journey west, from India to Spain, with stops along the way, to dramatize Romany's nomadic culture. This journey takes place over a year's time, from summer through fall and winter to spring. Gatlif holds his camera on the elemental essentials of this life: water, the wheel, fire, beasts of burden and of sustenance, colorful clothes, jewelry, musical instruments, song, and dance. Throughout, via song and dance, young and old celebrate, embody, and teach the cultural values of family, journey, love, separateness, and persecution.

Latcho Drom (Romanian for "safe journey") describes the travels, singing and dancing of Romany groups from Rajahstan (India), Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France, and Spain. Some scenes are acted, but there is no dialogue or narration--only partial translation of some songs. The film illustrates the variety of conditions in which the Romany people live--earthbound nomads in the hot deserts of Asia, ironsmiths and abjectly poor tree-dwellers in the frozen plains of Eastern Europe, and craftspeople and traders in the hills and seasides of north Africa and western Europe. It also illustrates the similarities in travel habits, musical tones (spoons, open drums, and string-based rhythms) and song themes (celebration of travel and perceived rejection by sedentary locals).
(IMDb.com link)

Incident at Oglala (1992)
Directed by Michael Apted
On June 26, 1975, during a period of high tensions on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, two FBI agents were killed in a shootout with a group of Indians. Although several men were charged with killing the agents, only one, Leonard Peltier, was found guilty. This film describes the events surrounding the shootout and suggests that Peltier was unjustly convicted.
(IMDb.com - link)

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control
Errol Morris
The beautifully intertwined stories of a lion tamer, a roboticist, a topiary sculptor and an expert in the life of the naked mole rat.

Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (2005)
Searching for The Wrong-Eyed Jesus is a captivating and compelling road trip through the creative spirit of the the South of the USA. Director Andrew Douglas's film follows "Alt" Country singer through a gritty terrain of churches,prisons,truckstops,biker bars and coalmines. This journey takes you through a very real contemporary Southern America,a world of marginalised white people and their unique and homemade culture. Along the way are roadside encounters with present-day musical mavericks including The Handsome Family, Johnny Dowd, 16 Horsepower and David Johansen; oldtime banjo player Lee sexton; ockabilly and mountain Gospel churches - and novelist Harry Crews telling grisly stories down a dirt track.
(IMDb.com - link)

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (1994)
A documentary about the amazing life of Leon Theremin, inventor of the theremin, the electronic musical instrument so beloved of 50s sci-fi movie music. Theremin amazed America with his instrument until his kidnapping by Soviet agents in the mid-30s. Upon his release from a labor camp, he worked on surveillance devices for the KGB. Almost 60 years later , he is brought back to America for a touching reunion with his friends and colleagues.
(IMDb.com - link)

Fishing with John (1991) (series)
Musician John Lurie knows nothing about fishing, but that doesn't stop him from embarking on fishing in exotic locations with friends.
(IMDb.com - link)

(Enjoy, and like I said, if there's something you think I should see, let me know.)

politics and the astorian language

2007-02-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

I made my first post over at North Coast Oregon concerning the recently formed Clean Slate PAC, and in the process was reminded just how important it is try to write clearly and concisely.

Due to some unclear writing (or was it a purposely vague sentence?) I misunderstood something that I read. I replied, and in turn my intention was misunderstood, leading to an exchange that required some clarification, which I hope I've done now.

This reminded me of George Orwell's great essay "Politics and the English Language," which you should read if you haven't. Written in 1946, it is, as Wikipedia says, "an essay written by George Orwell in which he criticizes 'ugly and inaccurate' contemporary written English and asserts that it was both a cause and effect of foolish thinking and dishonest politics."

(I want to make it clear here that I am not accusing the gentleman with whom I was communicating at NCO of being foolish or dishonest.)

I especially love Orwell's six "Rules for Writers":

In his essay "Politics and the English language," George Orwell provides six simple rules for all writers of English (that is, in a non-literary context)[6]:

• Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
• Never use a long word where a short one will do.
• If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
• Never use the passive voice where you can use the active.
• Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
• Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

I also recall that one of his biggest writing pet peeves was people who write "...it is not unlike..." when what they mean is "... it is like...". Funny.

If you intend to run for (or already hold) a public office, if you would like to write in a clear, concise manner, or if you're an Orwell fan, you ought to read this essay.

music and pipelines

2007-02-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

Last night was another typical night in Astoria, which is to say it was atypical.

We went to the Cannery Cafe to hear Myshkin's Ruby Warbler's. With this event, artist and promoter Heidie Johnson has orchestrated another amazing evening of music.

Myshkin played strong guitar and was reinforced by a gifted bass player who had obviously been playing with Myshkin a long time, weaving the bass line in with the guitar, occasionally tossing in a perfectly placed whispered raspy back ground vocal. It was hard to believe that just two people could produce such a full rich sound. The songs were smart and complex, and every word and note were delivered in a caring poetic way, and clear enough to hear the words and garner the meaning, which was sometimes melancholic, sometimes wickedly funny. I'm sorry that I don't have the musical vocabulary to adequately describe what I heard, you'll simply have to go yourself next time. (the link above offers some samples, but see them live, you won't regret it.)

One of my favorite songs was "Pipeline," about an African girl who is badly burned while stealing gas (a common occurrence these days), and her dealing with the pain and her fear of the impending consequences. There were other favorites, such as "Apricot Tree," which you can hear on the aforementioned site.

The Cannery space is small but cozy, with good food and beverages available as well. Do yourself a favor, the next time Heidie has a show, see it.

PS - I almost forgot - Heidie/Cannery are hosting Sunday Night Scrabble. It's fun, come play!

notes from Clean Slate PAC meeting 2/13/07

2007-02-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Clean Slate PAC Meeting Notes
(Note: these are not my personal views - these are simply some of the highlights from my notes concerning what was said at the meeting)

2/13/07
Cannery Pier Hotel
Astoria, OR

Ted Thomas, speaker

Clean Slate:
- a political action committee

- they have registered as a PAC with the state, and set up a bank account

- goal: to clean up Port malfeasance
(also see this text from the Clean Slate flyer for more info on their goals)

- Clean Slate not sponsored by or affiliated with any party, Republican, Democratic or otherwise. Funds from a nonpartisan group who want public accountability and transparency

- pushing for a public audit of Port of Astoria, want to support candidates that will do this

- need to replace three commissioners in order to have the votes to be able to initiate reform of the Port

- they considered a recall, but logistically, a recall of three commissioners is infeasible

-only solution is to run 3 reform candidates

- asking concerned citizens to approach/nominate people to run against current commissioners

- clean slate candidate nomination period open thru Feb. 28th

discussion of some port problems
3 current investigations:
1) EPA
2) federal
3) attorney general

- Port of Astoria counsel assisted port in circumventing public meeting obligations by suggesting to commissioners that they hold non-public meetings concerning Calpine/Leucadia lease transfer in groups of 2

- believe they can win w/ swing vote of 5,000 votes (?)

- thanked everyone for coming

a clean slate

2007-02-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

A flyer that's going around town:

Are you tired of hearing about corruption and mismanagement at the Port of Astoria?

Clatsop County needs you to come to the opening meeting of

Clean Slate

a group of concerned citizens seeking to:

• Rid the port of further abuses through replacing a majority of commissioners this election cycle.
• Regain the public trust through transparency of administration.
• Administer our county assets for the benefit of the public and not the personal profit of the commissioners and their friends.

If you want to know what is going on, if you want a change of leadership at the port, if you might consider running as a candidate, please attend.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007
6:30 PM
Cannery Pier Hotel
Union Fish Conference Room

Clean up with Clean Slate for change

325-1556

(see you there)

LNG project killed in Long Beach, CA

2007-01-24T08:59:00.000-08:00

From LA Times:
Long Beach energy project halted
The city cancels plans for a liquefied natural gas terminal. Many had voiced safety concerns.
By Gary Polakovic, Times Staff Writer

In a unanimous vote, the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners decided to end an environmental review of the project that was launched more than two years ago but had slipped far behind schedule. The action effectively terminates the effort by the port and a partnership of Mitsubishi Corp. and ConocoPhillips to build a $700-million liquefied natural gas plant inside the busiest cargo port in the nation.

"The project is dead," said Doris Topsy-Elvord, a commissioner and former Long Beach councilwoman. "It's been a long haul, we've worked hard at it, but it is at a standstill. I do not think there's a possibility it will come back," she said.

-snip- (for full article, follow link above)

"This is very good news for the people of Long Beach," said Bry Myown of Long Beach Citizens for Utility Reform. "This was just a bad project."

Specifically, opponents raised safety concerns, citing the potential for a catastrophic natural gas explosion that could kill hundreds of people and devastate much of the Long Beach waterfront.

"This project would have put over 140,000 people who live and work within 3 miles of that LNG terminal at risk," said Harvey Morris, an attorney for the Public Utilities Commission. "The evidence was overwhelming there's all kinds of things that could go wrong if there was a terror attack or earthquake. There's a need for LNG, but there are much safer alternatives."

Astorian undercurrents

2007-01-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

I entered a piece in the upcoming annual group theme show "Scuttlebutt & Skulduggery: Undercurrents in Astoria" at the RiverSea Gallery, and I was thrilled to hear yesterday that it was accepted. The opening is this Saturday night, Jan. 13th, from 5 to 8 pm.

I'll be there enjoying the art of and about this place. I hope you'll stop by too, and we can talk about those fascinating (and sometimes maddening) Astorian undercurrents.

"Strategic Hamlet Program," version 2.0

2007-01-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

The L.A. Times says the newest strategy in Iraq includes a plan to build "gated communities" to try to battle insurgents. Hmmm....., anyone remember the Strategic Hamlet Program? It's a similar strategy that they tried in Vietnam. I remember reading about it in my favorite book on the Vietnam war, A Bright and Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam. Wiki describes strategic hamlet like this:

The Strategic Hamlet Program, along with its predecessor, the Rural Community Development Program, played an important role in the shaping of events in South Vietnam during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both of these programs attempted to separate rural peasants from Communist insurgents by creating fortified villages and forcing the peasants to take an active role in the civil war. The program backfired drastically and ultimately led to a decrease in support for Diem’s regime and an increase in sympathy for Communist efforts.

Sound familiar?

a small (anonymous) blue scrap of paper

2007-01-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

At the last Astoria Port Commission meeting, once again every person that rose to speak asked the Port of Astoria to exhaust every possible avenue of recourse to delay the Calpine lease transfer to Leucadia National Corp.

During this meeting (and all others I've attended) anyone who speaks during "public discussion" must give their name and address. Anyone who begins to speak and forgets to state their name and address before speaking is quickly reminded to do so by the Board, consistently and without fail.

Yet at the end of this meeting, the President claimed he had received a pro-LNG email from someone (he withheld the name) in the "97103 zip code" (he withheld the address).

He also withheld the vulgar curse words contained in the body of the text, while assuring his fellow board members and the audience that these curse words were directed towards the anti-LNG citizens who show up in overwhelming numbers at these meetings.

I was particularly fascinated by the piece of paper held up and waved around in the air. The paper on which this stealthy electronic missive was printed was a bright, vivid blue (see sample above). Someone had obviously gone to some great effort to tear the message out of a larger piece of paper, perhaps with the intent of concealing some vital piece of information, some secret that might endanger our national or regional security if divulged, had it been yanked from the presidential hand by some ne'r-do-well, or heaven forbid, an evil-doer.

Why blue? Was someone out of normal printer paper when they printed it? Or was there some wish to add some symbolic emphasis in the presentation of the anonymous message of support?

Was the choice of blue meant to invoke the Chinese emblem of scholarship, which, according to the book 1,001 Symbols, denotes a "wider meaning of spritual knowledge in Buddhism?" Or was it meant to suggest "the calm conscious mind as suggested in the practice of Jungian Psychology?"

No, I prefer to think this was a subconscious choice, made from despair of the situation that has been created, as the color blue also represents according to the aforementioned book:

"ancient associations with melancholia, especially in Northern Europe where its symbolism was used in Teutonic myths of 'The Twilight of the Gods' – the Nordic Ragnarök and the German Götterdämmerung."

The-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it kind of stuff, except that I don't "feel fine."

And what was torn away from the areas surrounding the message? A reply perhaps, or a previous message that appeared on the same piece of paper? We may never know.

Unless there is an investigation of some sort. But that is another issue, and the Port's attorney assured all present at the meeting that she had not heard anything referred to as an "investigation" yet.

I always leave these meetings with more questions than answers, always feeling with every question asked that something is being concealed, and that is the most troubling aspect of this issue.

Leucadia Metaphorica

2006-12-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

Tom Duncan stood up to speak at the special Port of Astoria Commission meeting last week, and spoke among other things about how little is so far known about the Leucadia National Corporation, the company that wishes to take over the Calpine lease at the mouth of the Columbia River. He mentioned his recollection that Leucadia was the promontory from which Sappho leapt to her death in sorrow from an unrequited love. At least that's what I thought he said.

So I looked it up in my handy Benet's Readers Encyclopedia: 4th Edition, and found that a lover's leap was not the only possible business metaphor that might be in play for Leucadia National.

Under the entry "Leucadia's Rock," Benet's R.E. does give the Sappho/Phaon story first, but then also offers this:

"At the annual festival of APOLLO, a criminal was hurled from Leucadia's rock into the sea; but birds of various sorts were attached to him in order to break his fall, and if he was not killed, he was set free."

So if my guess is right, there you have Leucadia National Corporation's metaphor for their business: to acquire bad companies (at bargain prices) that have been hurled toward the sea, with Leucadia National acting as the little birds that either save the bad company, afterwards setting it free (for a profit), or plummet with it to the rocky Leucadian shore.

couldn't have said it better myself

2006-07-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

Happy
Independence
Day
from
Burning
Corn.

back (and forth, but not for long now...)

2006-07-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Schools out. (I hesitate to say forever like Alice, but certainly for the long now.) All "back-burner" projects that have been on hold during my educational hiatus now move to the front. Doing a little work on the house on Jerome through and past the 4th of July, the pleasure of sharing our beautiful town with relatives, then back to L.A. to do the final prep for selling the L.A. house, then back here, for good. Finally.

There are a lot of new (or new to me) web sites, blogs, forums, etcetera that I have added links to, and will fully update soon. Many thanks to Tryan for the link and plug.

nine out of ten experts recommend. . .

2006-06-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Statistics. A class that I had a little difficulty with (although the teacher was great, and very patient with me).

This, then, was the last requirement to be fulfilled before my degree completion, after which we could complete the transition to Astoria.

Welcome, Clatsop VoyForumers

2006-06-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

(not this hard, but close)

Hey, I just noticed that I've been linked by the good folks at Clatsop County Matters.

Thank you and welcome. I'll return the link this week.

As you may see by reading further, I've not been burning lately. Not even smoldering.

But I promise you that I will be posting sooooon. Very soooooon.

Been working very hard on our project of making the complete and total full-time leap to Astoria. Project near completion. Watch out for falling hammers.

LNG protest day at liberty theater, Astoria

2006-03-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

Special Event – Be Sure to Attend!
U.S. Department of Energy LNG Forum
Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 9am–5pm
Liberty Theater, 1203 Commercial Street, Astoria

Info from Daily A

Info from Columbia Rivervision

Department of Energy

Concerning the AVA Riverwalk Sculpture Project and Public Input

2006-03-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long pause between posts – I'm finishing up final papers, after which I will be officially down to one more quarter before finishing school. This is very exciting.

Here's something, however, that I could wait no longer to comment on.

There have been complaints about lack of public input on the Riverwalk Sculpture Project. As an AVA board member since 2002, and member of the Sculpture Project Steering Committee since the first meeting in 2003, I can say that public input has effected every decision made.

After the successful and award-winning restoration of the Fort Astoria Park and Mural in 2003, AVA wanted to begin another project in cooperation with the city. The supporters and artists of AVA have great pride in and love for Astoria, and public service projects are an integral part of our mission. AVA understands that placing public art must be done with respect for community values and wishes.

The first meeting to discuss this project was September 14, 2003. AVA decided to create a successful public art project with thorough, careful planning, and public input. With this in mind, we devoted the first phase to determining feasibility. The goal was a thorough survey of potential public art sites. We sat down with City of Astoria Parks & Recreation and had an enthusiastic discussion of possibilities, including the possible pitfalls in attempting this project.

The city was concentrating on the Riverwalk, and asked us to focus there. We responded, renaming our project "The Riverwalk Sculpture Project.” We then presented our idea to the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce. They gave us seed money to start. The Wintercross Foundation heard about the project, and funded completion of the feasibility study.

Chadbourne + Doss worked with the City and others to locate all potential sites. Note the word "potential": it's never been the intention of AVA to fill the Riverwalk with art. None of us want that, and many, including myself, have called for a site protection survey and discussion. This is beyond AVA's purview, but we would happily host the conversation. It is just as important to identify where we don't want art as it is to identify where we do.

Upon completion of the feasibility study, AVA publicized and held a public presentation, and requested public input. The exhibit filled the AVA gallery with pictures and maps. That presentation was up for a month for public comment, and many did. We used that input to design the next phase of the project.

The Wintercross Foundation was pleased with our Phase 1 project, and again gave us funds, this time towards our first sculpture. We formed a selection committee of community members, and people who have extensive public art experience. The committee decided that since public art is a difficult and emotional project for any community, we would use the Wintercross Foundation grant (with their permission) to fund the creation of nine unique proposals for the Riverwalk. The goal was to show many possibilities for placing art on the Riverwalk. This was done specifically to receive public input.

Our intention has never been to build all nine projects, unless by some miracle all happen to be popular, practical, siteable and fundable, which was unlikely. We must raise funds for each work of art. Each one must be popular enough with AVA supporters and the public to generate financial and technical support.

It's a difficult project that has been a joy and honor for all of us to work on. We’re proud of what we've done so far, and we know that our process has been more thorough in scope, more thought out, and more open to public input than any public art project ever attempted in Astoria.

Regarding public input: to participate, one must show up. Everyone that came to the gallery, looked at the Phase I site study, talked with us, or wrote comments had input that directly affected the project. Everyone who came to see the artist presentations had a chance to discuss the proposals. The Holiday Inn Express was packed. The proposals were exhibited at AVA for a month. Everyone who showed up had input that directly effected the project.

Waiting until a project has been underway for two years, then saying “I don’t like it” in a letter to the editor or on the radio is not attempting to have input, it is unproductive complaining. Please talk with us, or send a thoughtful letter as so many did. Tell us what you don't like and why; we'll listen and reply, and we’ll have a useful conversation, and the project will be effected as we communicate. No public art project can please everyone, but everyone has and will have a chance to be heard at AVA. If anyone hasn’t had input on this project, it is due to their not showing up.

And it's not too late. This project is ongoing. After two years of difficult work by dedicated volunteers, we're raising funds so that we can site, build, and install the first work of art. Many thanks to everyone who’s had input on the project, whether you like it or not. Please keep talking with us, and if you like what we’re doing, please join AVA, or help fund the project. We're proud of what we've done, and we're excited to get the first sculpture started.

Everyone is welcome. That's what I love most about the AVA – the goal to engage in constructive, meaningful dialogue about art. The people who showed up actually had more than input. They participated. They are the project. They engaged in a dialogue. If anyone feels that they haven't had a chance to have input on this project, it is not because of any failure on AVA's part, but is due to their failure to show up at our many well-publicized events and participate.

If, however you feel strongly enough about it, I would suggest doing this. Go start your own organization as we have, start from scratch as we have, build community support on a variety of community projects for years as we have, start a long two year process as we have and then you will begin to see that to make such a project happen there is a lot of time, energy and effort put in by a lot of talented, dedicated people .

If you do, I hope that you find, as we have, that there are a few people who will complain about every project that comes along, but will not really participate in any. But you'll also find that for every one of those people, there are ten others that will help in some way if it is a project that is done with love, integrity and desire to have a positive impact on the community.