Rogue River Rafting: Unplugged

Everyone loves a wild river. Not many folks get the chance spend time on one. Lucky me, I do. Every year or two, seven or eight of my oldest friends get together for a spectacular and somewhat dangerous trip down the Rogue River in Oregon.

Here's a short list of the things I love about this trip. First, the scenery is spectacular beyond description. The Rogue River's "wild and scenic" section (designated by the US Congress) is world class water, surrounded by virgin forests and majestic canyons in western Oregon. Second, the peaceful feeling of camping in the wilderness for 3 nights, away from cell phones, computers and the stresses of modern life is something we all need but rarely get. Third, and best of all, is the chance to spend unrushed time with my closest friends, guys I don't get to see very often.

There's one more thing---the music. Every night on the river, I'll be playing guitar and singing my ass off. By the end of the trip, the deep calluses on my fingers will have the skin ripped off from playing so long and hard. Music,of course, is among the strongest forces that bind the friendships in our group. In college, we danced and partied to the our favorite artists in a golden age of music. On the Rogue, we will recapture some of that energy.

The river level is high, the sun is bright and my friends arrive from Portland, Seattle and San Francisco in about an hour. When I get back, I'll tell you all about it.

Terrible Taser Trouble

Police love tasers. They claim that tasers promote public safety. Isn't it better to "deploy" a taser on an unruly citizen than to be forced to use deadly force? So goes their rationale.

Last month in sleepy but politically active Eugene, Oregon an 18 year old protestor holding a bucket of water was "subdued" by local police with a taser. Many witnesses describe the use of such force by the police as being unnecessary to the point of being criminal.

It turns out that the 18 year old was wearing protesting the use of pesticides and claimed that his bucket contained poison which he was spraying around the public square. The police were uncertain whether he was telling the truth and didn't want to risk exposure to poison. That sounds plenty reasonable but why introduce the taser?

The strangest thing about this little demonstration is how it got reported to the local police. As it turned out, a vigilant employee of the Department of Homeland Security was maintaining surveillance on this small demonstration of 30 pesticide protesters. Wow, talk about Big Brother. What other kinds of things is the Dept of Homeland Security spying on? Chances are this blog is being monitored. And maybe your email. Does this make you feel safer?

Back to tasers. How dangerous are they? Here's the party line: the 50,000 volts a person temporarily receives temporarily disables them enabling police to secure the individual. The voltage is painful but after application of a 1-2 second burst, most individuals experience no further pain and have, at most, minor burn marks from the fish-hook barbs. Hmmm. Mainstream media (CBS) reported that taser use by police was responsible for 70 deaths in a report published in 2004. The manufacturer of Tasers denies that the electrical charge imparted by the Taser is responsible for no deaths. Who do you believe?

July the 4th, 2008

This 4th of July is special. You know why. It's the last time we'll be celebrating Independence Day with W in office.

Since W was selected as president nearly 8 years ago, our national prestige and pride has plummeted. The world thinks less of us (US) and it's easy to understand why. W's disregard for human rights and the environment has brought shame on our great nation.

I could, of course, go on quite a rant, but others have done that so often and so well that there's not much point in heading down that path.

Instead, let me recommend that you celebrate this 4th of July with special vigor and enthusiasm. Let's hope that next year, we have a new brand of leadership (McCain won't give us that; anybody who thinks otherwise needs to smell the coffee). Without a doubt, Barack Obama will restore our standing in the world of nations. No president can be expected to solve all our problems but Obama's election will surely resurrect the respect America once commanded. And we can depend on being able to celebrate every 4th of July for years to come.

Beijing Journey Starts in Eugene--US Olympic Trials

Eugene, Oregon is known as Track City. It's a long story but the condensed version goes like this: The University of Oregon established a tradition of track excellence early in the 20th Century. By the 60's, a succession of outstanding athletes and a pair of legendary coaches gave Eugene a high profile in the track world. This, in turn, gave Eugene the chance to host the US Olympic Trials in Track and Field in 1972, 1976 and 1980.

Of all the great Olympians connected with Eugene, Steve Prefontaine's legacy is most enduring. Today isn't the day for a post about Pre though. It's a story about the return of the Olympic Trials to Eugene. The Trials began here yesterday and they will continue until July 6.

Some call it the most exciting track meet on earth, better even than the Olympics themselves. Why? Because you can't be a member of the US Olympic team unless you finish in the top 3 in the Trials. No exceptions. As a result, sometimes the best athletes in the world don't make the team.

This event has brought our community together like nothing else could. Folks have come from every state to attend the Trials. Huge crowds, great weather, outstanding performances, all combined with a festive atmosphere. That's a tough combination to beat.

Every day after the Trials end, a music festival begins next to the stadium. Excellent cover bands rock the place, local microbrews (and of course Bud and Bud Lite) are abundant and the living is good.

Even for people who don't know much about track, this is an unforgettable event. I'm proud that our community is rising to the occasion and happy that so many visitors get to see Oregon at its finest.

For the athletes, this means everything. The dream of Olympic glory in Beijing cannot become a reality without success in Eugene. Poignant moments abound. The realization of one athlete's dream means failure for another. Such pure athletic competition is hard to find these days. I love it.

The Etiquette of Barber Break-Ups

Nathan was my barber, oops, I'm mean "hairstylist", for 15 years. No, this is not an obituary. Nathan is alive and well. It's just that I don't see him anymore.

Nathan always did a good job and the conversations were plenty interesting. Nathan's shop is in the heart of downtown. This means that he cuts the hair of many professionals and businessmen.

When I started playing more gigs a few years back, my Nathan-esque haircut started looking out of sync with my performing self. It had a slightly comb-overish quality. This really bothered my wife, a person who used to do hair in a fashionable salon on the Oregon coast. And I can't say I blame her. In fact, I greatly appreciate her concern for my appearance.

Once I agreed to let my wife cut my hair, that was it for Nathan. But the thing is, he's a guy I like, respect and admire. And I never took the time to discuss this change with him. Once I bumped into his hair-cutting partner Mac and explained the situation to him. He said they figured something like that happened. But that's not the same as me telling Nathan.

Why am I writing about this? My sensitive side is telling me that I owe Nathan the courtesy of a face-to-face explanation. What is the etiquette of barber break-ups anyway? Does it depend on the nature of the relationship? Or the length? Or the reason for making a switch?

I'm thinking I'm overdue to drop-in on Nathan and tell him what I great guy I think he is. To tell him that my wife now, more or less, insists on cutting my hair and pointing out that the avoidance of domestic strife is a smart man's top priority. And I know he would understand. I feel like a little bit of a jerk for not doing this a long time ago.

But the thing is, if I just drop in on him, he'll probably be cutting someone's hair when my mea culpa moment arrives. That seems awkward. Calling him on the phone is too impersonal. Hmmm.

Yes, there are bigger problems in the world but right now, I want to set things right with Nathan, my old barber friend.

A Little Encouragement Goes A Long Way

Thanks. I guess maybe somewhere deep inside, I needed a dose of encouragement. In lasts weeks post, the implied message was that it seemed like my live-performance activity was something I could let slide, and somehow feel ok about. Suddenly I started getting inquiries, lots of them, about when I'm going to play again. They were coming from sources near and far, known and unknown, in person and by email. Enough of them to convince me that people really do care, more than I thought.

I remember an old tv commercial from when I was growing up, one of the many really dumb ones. It was an advertisement for an after-shave product, maybe Gillette's Skin Bracer After-Shave. A guy is looking at his freshly shaved, quite ordinary face in the bathroom mirror. A hand appears from off-screen and slaps the guy hard on the side of his face. The guy says "Thanks. I needed that."

Now I'm that guy. So to all of you who have been asking when I'm going to perform again and encouraging me to do so, I say Thanks. I needed that. I'll make the changes necessary in my life to make it happen. And I can't wait.

Finding Time To Perform

I admit it. Lately it's been tough to find the time to perform. It wouldn't be so bad if it were easier to book satisfactory gigs. But it isn't easy. Sometimes I'm tempted to think that this problem is uniquely mine. Not so. Every musician I know experiences this problem.

Discussing this topic with my LA producer/long-time friend Gary White, I have learned that even for first-call session players, things can be tough. Not exactly headline news that things have always been tough in the arts.

My situation IS somewhat unique though. Here I am, still working my day job as an attorney, mainly defending poor folks charged with misdemeanors---minor crimes which are generally the result of making dumb decisions after drinking too much. Then I discovered that I really enjoy creating new living environments using sustainable products. Some people characterize this new activity as real estate development but I don't really think of it that way. I prefer to think of it as community re-development because I'm taking worn-out, unattractive buildings and replacing them with new places for people to live that are visually striking and environmentally sensitive.

In the process, I've learned a lot and made many new relationships with architects and professionals in the building trades, many of whom are artists within their own areas of specialization. Through a highly collaborative process, we have designed and built a couple projects which some describe as "Northwest Urban" architecture.

I am proud of what we have accomplished. I have a newfound passion for this and I find myself wanting to do more. But there are problems. For one, it is not without significant financial risk. But mostly it takes a lot of time. Before I starting doing this, I was very busy with music and law. Now that I have added so much real estate activity to my slate of activities, I'm busier than ever. Something had to give. None of what I do is easily sacrificed but it seems that the task of trying to book gigs is the thing I am least inclined to do. The result---performances have been rare.

I still pick up my guitar every day. And I still intend to push the music when time allows in the future. But for now, I'm seriously immersed in a new kind of creative process. Without seeking any recognition for this new activity in the media, I've gotten plenty. I've been featured in several articles recently and I'm happy to say that the portrayals have been flattering. One called me a "renaissance man". I am humbled and flattered by such attention. But mostly I hope that my example inspires others to be adopt building practices with a greater sensitivity to the environment. Yes, it costs more money initially to build using sustainable practices and materials, but in the long run, you save money, the consumer enjoys a better product and society benefits. If you know any developers, encourage them to learn more and if they have any questions, have them contact me. I would be delighted to share my knowledge and enthusiasm.