For our anniversary Geoffrey was given a Purple Air sensor. So, now we are on the Purple Air website and on the Government's air quality map. And, we can also embed our own information on this blog... Geek Alert! Loading PurpleAir Widget...
As I walk around San Francisco during the Time of the Plague I am often delighted/confronted by special sights that would never be allowed in any "well organized" city plan. Previously I have discovered a street with two END signs blocks apart (St. Marys) and a street with no beginning but two ENDS (Hilton). Today I confirmed another city planning/street labeling impossibility: there is apparently a negative block of Pacheco. Looking up the Pacheco stairs from where there is a sign announcing the start of the street at the 000 block headed toward the Grand Pacheco Stairway..Looking away from The [...]
There is a lot to like about Senator Kamela Harris, and I celebrate her selection as Joe Biden's running mate. She's an experienced office holder who has done well in contentious hearings in the Senate. Before going to Washington, Harris was a strong Attorney General for the State of California. And, before that she navigated the torturous San Francisco City political circus to become our first woman, first person-of-color District Attorney. She's bright, dedicated. And from my own personal experience she is focused on doing what's right instead of just what's politically beneficial. Kamela Harris photo by Mobilus In Mobili [...]
Black Lives Matter. Period. The deaths of black men at the hands of police are tragedies that we as a society must work to stop. Demands for change are appropriate and necessary. But, I worry that anti-police and anti-government protests don't help us move forward. To me there is a difference between insisting on systemic changes and insisting that authorities are evil. In the 1960’s governors stood in the doors of schoolhouses to keep black people out, politicians publicly advocated segregation, and law enforcement openly planned how to violently attack marchers. There is no 2015 -- or 2020 -- equivalent [...]
It's been 40 years since my dispatching days at Long Beach Police. Have things changed? I remember working the day shift and wondering why whenever a certain officer radioed that he was going to investigate a suspicious subject on his own initiative, a unit or two would immediately go to his assistance. He didn't ask for back-up, but units who were supposedly busy magically cleared and showed up at his side. Unit 7 -- or was it Unit 21? some details fade -- was rarely alone with someone he stopped. Other units investigated people and wrote tickets without other cops [...]
A Midsummer Night's Dream written by William Shakespearedirected by Joseph Haj Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2020): Jeremy Gallardo (Snug), K. T. Vogt (Robin Starveling), Cristofer Jean (Francis Flute), Ensemble. Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Oh dear! I really didn't want my last comments on this COVID-19 affected season to be anything but positive. I had hoped that I would see more plays later in the year that I could sincerely applaud. Unfortunately the virus shut down all but two weeks of the season, and what I saw opening weekend is all that [...]
written by Karen Zacariasdirected by Shariffa Ali Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival The Copper Children (2020): Ensemble. Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Copper Children has much going for it: an under-told, important story, a talented playwright who entertained and educated us with Destiny of Desire, and an experienced and immensely talented cast. Unfortunately, this world premiere wasted its assets and delivers an evening that is a moralistic plod which fails to create drama or feelings. The play tells the story is of white Catholic orphans from New York who get sent out west for adoption by good [...]
story by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearsonadapted for theater by Rick Elicemusic by Wayne Barkerrdirected by Matt Goodrich Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Peter and the Starcatcher (2020): Preston Mead (Boy), Grace Chan Ng (Molly). Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I didn't grow up watching, reading, or otherwise being infused with Peter Pan lore. Sure, I knew that there was a kids' story about him and fairy we clapped for named Tinkerbell. But, when I walked into the theater for Peter and the Starcatcher I didn't remember anything about lost boys, Mrs. Darling, or any plot. My [...]
by William Shakespeareadapted by Rosa Joshi and Kate Wisniewskidirected by Rosa Joshi Ashland, ORat the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Bring Down the House, Part One (no photos yet posted for Part Two)Ensemble. Photo by Jenny Graham, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Through a scheduling snafu I missed the opening of Bring Down the House, Part I and took up the Henry VI story halfway through. Because co-adapters Rosa Joshi and Kate Wisniewski have done such a good job of curating scenes and speeches, I fell right into the story, despite the potentially confusing rush of characters and battles. I had a fun time [...]
The California Democratic primary is only a week away, and I haven't decided who to vote for. And, you know what? I am happy about my indecision.
