In Mendocino County recently, on a day when the smoke from the hundreds of still-burning forest fires was relatively tolerable, I walked through a nearly deserted city park in Willits with my son and my brother and noticed two black men lunching at a distant picnic table. From previous conversations with my brother, a double-decade Willits resident, I knew the town’s demographics: two black men were entirely anomalous…and therefore, intriguing. Originally on a tack that would pass them at an impersonal distance, our stroll was drawn closer by their African garb. On the edge of the table was a book, so my brother opened the conversation, “What’re you reading?” Continue reading “Kenya in Willits”
Irrepressibly True Tales
One man's squint at the metaphorical signposts, songbirds, soapboxes, street musicians, and hot dog stands of life. Criticism, lyricism, polemics, performance, and making change…all with mustard.
Vive le Musée!
Passersby were forced to walk in the street as the Tour de Healdsburg cycled (without forward movement) on the sidewalk outside Costeaux French Bakery in a vigorous and joyful celebration of Bastille Day.
Riding for the unheralded Le Musée Historique team (Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society) were Continue reading “Vive le Musée!”
Looking Back at Filmmaking
An elephant carries its baby for 22 months. I carried mine far longer. My baby was HEARTWOOD, a feature film.
I first came to Hollywood in 1975, where I starved writing four-minute radio dramas for Vincent Price ($86 each), then suddenly (it took four years!) I became extraordinarily successful at getting film projects produced: Continue reading “Looking Back at Filmmaking”
Naples: Local Wisdom (Part 2)
More of my trip south from Naples Airport, during which my driver, a 40-ish local with no pretensions about his hometown, his country, or his government, continued his expatiation on his hometown, his country, and his government.
On Cultural History:
Italy has been conquered by others many times. For 200 years (I checked: 1504-1707 it was called the Spanish Kingdom of Naples)
before 1861 the south of Italy was Spanish, so we are more Spanish than Italian. That is why we have the big meal at lunch. And the siesta from 1 to 5, everything is closed. The Italian some places, it sounds like Continue reading “Naples: Local Wisdom (Part 2)”
Naples: Local Wisdom (Part 1)
A few minutes after leaving Naples Airport, my driver, a 40-ish local with no pretensions about his hometown, his country, or his government, began a 46-km exegesis on life in the south of Italy.
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Democracy(?) in Dallas
The Trinity Parkway project in Dallas includes some urban upgrades to the Trinity River area and a 10-mile toll road that bypasses the downtown area. It was approved by 53% of Dallas voters in a November 2007 election.
Democracy in action.
Last month, the City Council, with further democratic intent, asked the public to vote on a new name for Industrial Boulevard, a road within the Project’s purview known more for its bars and bail bondsmen than the river it winds along, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The City Council announced a combined online and telephone survey, and when the results were announced yesterday, voters chose César Chávez Boulevard by an overwhelming margin. Of the 20,594 votes counted for six name choices, Chávez received 10,710 votes, or 52 percent. The next highest vote-getter garnered only 19%.
Install the Chavez street signs, right?
Nope.