Departing the Sensory

Lola “Beastie” McCallum got her last scratch behind the ears on February 9, 2021 as snow fell softly outside. Born perhaps in West Valley City, Utah to unknown parents, she led a rough and tumultuous existence for three or so years before winding up in a Salt Lake City orphanage with many others of her kind. She was rescued from that circumstance by her gentle demeanor and the fine taste of her rescuer. The two were inseparable, immediately. Lola rolled in the marrow of life. She adventured with her companions in the mountains and in the desert, in forest and in sand and in snow. She treed squirrels in the Tushar Mountains and visited Pando, the largest living thing. She watched from the zone of totality in the Wind River Range as the moon blocked the sun during the Great American Eclipse, and she listened as the woods grew silent in awe. She explored the source of the Green River, and swam in the cold jade waters that give the river its name. She watched the full moon rise over the ci...

 [Below is a lightly edited email I sent to a friend recently. We were discussing journalism generally, and particularly the major print and Internet houses. I was trying to make the point that fair & objective reporting doesn't require journalists to treat all political statements as potentially valid -- being "fair" doesn't require ignoring truth or falsity. -- Ed.] * * * I'm so old I remember when HRC said "you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables," and everyone flipped the fuck out. HRC's own internal expert concluded , for example, that that particular comment caused the biggest shift in undecided voters of the election. (Sidenote. While I buy the comment induced a big swing in undecided voters aspect, I don't buy related analysis that the comment was what got Trump elected. The EMAILZ!!!1! non-scandal and the late Comey letter were much more important in that regard, because the election ...

Source: CDC / WHO There are two ways to beat the novel coronavirus. One is to take sufficient social steps to get R0 (reproduction rate, or "r naught") down low enough so that the virus burns itself out for want of new hosts. Estimates vary wildly, but current data suggests an R0 of around 2.5. We need to get it down to somewhere as low as 0.3, from what I understand. Doing so requires meaningful testing, contact tracing, and quarantine. The other way is to achieve herd immunity, either via vaccine or via acquired immunity after infection or some combination of both. It's pretty clear at this point that the U.S. is going for herd immunity rather than suppression of R0, given the Trump Administration is doing literally nothing that suggests the latter (and is in fact advocating for the former, albeit not explicitly). Basically the U.S. is doing what Sweden is doing, but without the honesty and without the social safety net and national healthcare system. Herd immunity requ...

I wasn't thinking about the massacre at Kent State when I woke up this morning. (Although I think I would have told you it happened in 1970 if asked, I don't think I have ever known what the precise date was.) Then I saw on Twitter and elsewhere a breaking story, that the Trump Administration is internally predicting that deaths per day from C-19 will double by mid-June, at the same time it publicly advocates for "reopening" of the economy and ending stay at home orders. Those headlines reminded me of something my father once said. I've been interested in 60s counter culture for a long time, and I once asked what it was like to live thru that galvanized period -- particularly Kent State. I'm sure I was listening to Neil Young at the time. One of the things he told me (paraphrased somewhat) is that during the 60s the Vietnam War allowed activists and society generally to focus on foreign policy. But Kent State was a turning point, because "now, they...

In an effort to put more down on (digital) paper, just in case there are still historians in the future, I'm going to make a couple observations about C-19 and the economy.  [ - ] As of today, near the end of April 2020, government officials at most levels -- municipal, state, and federal -- are talking about "reopening" the economy. Setting aside for a moment whether the economy is something that can be opened (or closed in the first place),* and setting aside the obvious problems with treating the economy as some sort of device that has an on/off switch, the reopening talk is insane. It's insane because, as far as I can tell, no one has a plan to make the so-called reopening work. For one thing, the polling data we have suggests that a shockingly high percentage of Americans support social isolation. So as an initial matter, it's not at all clear that people will actually go out and use the reopened economy. Will people work from the office more than from ...

On March 2, 2020, I had a conversation with my wife and in-laws about the then-prevailing advice that wearing masks was not effecting at stopping the spread of novel coronavirus. In an email written and sent later that day, I called bullshit and concluded after analysis that the government was lying to cover up its incompetence. The email is reproduced below with minor edits for clarity. It turns out I was right, because now of course we should all be wearing masks when we leave our homes. * * * Subject: the idiots running this clown show Apropos of two conversations we had tonight, I looked at the whole "don't wear a mask " thing. Here's what's reported: In fact the U.S. surgeon general recently urged the public to “STOP BUYING MASKS !” “They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!,” wrote Surgeon Gener...

Observations Part 2 are a collection of selected email and text messages from the last couple of days. (I've done minor editing for clarity and anonymity.) Regarding climate disruption: We [the US] can't get our act together about shit that's killing people now, why would we ever get it together for shit that's going to kill people later (soon).  The economy: People our age sometimes discuss retirement in various contexts, like how's the 401k doing and stuff like that. I've been saying for a while now that I don't worry too much about retirement savings because I think there's around a 30% chance money will be irrelevant to the sorts of problems we'll be having at retirement age. I would have put money on climate disruption before virus, but whatever. Broken legs and blown knees: What got me most was force-realizing how much mobility -- and I don't mean doing moderately impressive for my age athletic feats on skis, I mean like...

I went to my physical therapy appointment today as scheduled four weeks ago, the day after I had surgery to repair a fractured tibia plateau & torn meniscus. My PT folks are at a local clinic that does urgent care, but is not in any way a hospital. I decided to go even though I generally think we should all be acting like we're on house arrest, because there's a non-zero chance that I'll walk with a limp for the rest of my life if I don't get this recovery right. Driving in to park I saw for the first time an actual drive-thru testing setup. The clinic has put up a big tent like you'd see for a wedding or event, and the tent covers five parking spaces. Apparently, people who have been prescreened can drive up and park, and clinicians in hazmat gear do the nasal swab thing thru the window. (I don't know what prescreening looks like in Utah right now -- it's still very difficult at best to get tested -- and I assume the test is the swab, though I didn...

The xx I See You (2017) I get chills Heart's rate multiplies I'm on a different kind of high A rush of blood is not enough I need my feelings set on fire I had a review of this album mostly composed in my head six weeks ago. It was going to be about how I wasn't that impressed, how the brilliance of The xx may have faded in inverse proportion to their age and maturity. I was going to say that the album's only gem "Replica" was a bit ironic, given that the album was failing after all to replicate the success of Coexist and xx . And then I listened one more time. And then another and one after that, and concluded this is an outstanding piece of work. It's at once more profound and more reserved than the earlier work. I've heard people say I See You  is a transition from indie electronic to a more mainstream indie pop, but I don't buy it. Pop music doesn't revolve around lyrics this subtle and haunting. Check out the very awkward perfor...

More album reviews: Spoon Hot Thoughts (2017) I heard somewhere that Spoon is incapable of making a bad album. I think that's essentially true, aside from their first album Telephono, which sucked. Their ninth effort  Hot Thoughts dropped last month, and it's outstanding. I won't say much because so many others have. Needless to say, check it out if you haven't already . Sidenote: see these guys in concert, their show is much more rock and roll than I would have though. Four stars. Thievery Corporation The Temple of I & I  (2017) Thievery Corporation's The Temple of I & I is more transparently cohesive than their other work. The reggae theme that pervades the album works pretty well with the classic Thievery sound, but it somehow also grates on me in more than a few spots. Maybe it's over-produced, and perhaps a little dated. Regardless, the guests on the album can flat out rap and are definitely worth a listen, even if it may be evidence o...

There’s a whole lot of music, and even though most of it’s somewhere between uninspiring and “turn it off now please”, there’s a ton of amazing art given the volume. Filtering through the mass of autotuned garbage is tough though, and over the last few years I’ve come to rely almost exclusively on word of mouth recommendations for a variety of reasons: I’m not too down with mainstream reviewers like Pitchfork or Rolling Stone, the radio is worse than useless, and Google Play’s premium “radio”-like playlists are mostly crap because good algorithms do not good taste make. Here's what I've been listening to this fall. The Record Company Give it Back to You  (2016) This debut from a new LA-based power trio is pure rock and roll. In a modernized original sense of the term. I guess they are making a few waves here and there, one of their singles going to the top of one of the alternative charts and all. And I can see why it did. I hear simple arrangements layered in compelli...

Dear Governor LePage, Maine Law Board of Directors, and others: I recently had an interesting experience when dealing with the state University.  Before I relate said experience, however, I would like to take just a moment to mention a couple of small things. Throughout the recent gubernatorial race, and regularly in the political discourse, a main issue of focus has been on the educational system in the (sometimes) Great State of Maine.  Tied in with the educational system, inexorably linked you might say, are the cousin issues of employment prospect and desirability.  The recent census reveals Maine to be the oldest state in the nation .  Older even than Florida, which is where all the old people go to die.  Quite frankly, it is embarrassing. Politicians argue that young people are leaving the state because they can't find work here -- and therefore our business climate must change.  I have made the argument that it is not so much the lack of work ...

I was checking my email the other day.  Lo! And behold; Drexel has a law school, and they want me to apply! Below is what they sent me (italics mine), and then my response thereto. Dear John, The Earle Mack School Law at Drexel University is forging a new model for 21st-century legal education. In addition to a rigorous curriculum, our unique co-op program gives you the experience of actually working in law before completing your JD. And Drexel  waives the application fee for online applications, so we hope you take a moment to visit our web site to learn more about our  programs, including our: integrated co-operative education program providing students with in-depth real world experience outstanding, engaged faculty dedicated to preparing our students for the rigors of law school and the practice of law location in exciting downtown Philadelphia , one of the nation's largest and most sophistica...

Charles E. Gayarre Elementary The architecture in New Orleans is much like I expected. Gorgeous, depraved, gaudy, shabby, atrocious. The French Quarter, most of the city is not. An industrial wasteland? A little closer.  The shotgun-style homes are a trip, some are 12 feet wide and 80 feet long. City Hall looks like a cruel joke, as if some giant child played around with enormous cement legos and the government said what the hell? and put some offices in there. On the other hand, some of the coolest architecture around is found at the schools. Note the elementary school above. It stands out.  It's an impressive structure, southwestern influence, terracotta roof, and lots of other flair that this picture doesn't do justice. It's boarded up, crumbling apart. I've noted two other schools around town, equally impressive, both fading as well. Observe the reason: The last thing that happened at this place was student registration, three weeks before Katrin...

Pauline St., Upper Ninth Ward. (2 in 5 houses look similar)

Stencil art at The Country Club (Nola)

The whole volunteer house shakes when a loaded dump truck drives by. A few blocks from here, tucked on the corner of two residential side streets, is the home of a gentleman of considerable experience.  He was born and then raised in the Lower 9th Ward, on the same plot of family land that I stood on earlier today.  He lives there now, after a considerable hiatus, in a home (re)built in part by Common Ground Relief.   Smitty has invited a group of us into his living room.  I have no idea what his given name is.  It doesn't matter.  Or even where we were exactly, I didn't bother to look at the address.  That doesn't matter either.  We are here to talk about the history of his home.  Which has nothing to do with his house.  That's a different story. I'm told the city water in New Orleans is potable.  It doesn't taste like it. At one point I surveyed the scene, arranged around the living room.  Twenty humans present.  S...

A houselot in the Lower Ninth Ward. All that's missing is everything.

First days with Common Ground were a pretty good sample of what's to come I think.  Make It Right is just next door to us.  Literally.  That's Brad Pitt's organization. They are well funded from the look of it. They are definitely building some houses, but the word on the street is that they can be  a bit out of touch with the reality on the ground.  Make It Right builds architecturally interesting homes with odd (for the Northeast) roof styles and angles, solar panels, and on stilts.  The houses on posts are a common sight here now, an effective way of dealing with flooding problems.  As for the other aspects it seems to drive the price out of reach for the typical lower 9th Ward would-be residents.  Houses here used to cost say 20 grand.  Pitt's homes cost over 200k.  Now, to be fair, it's not a direct comparison - a new / modern house clearly costs more (and should) than some 80 year old shack.  But the barriers to ownership are...

I watched the sun rise over the Atlanta skyline not long back.  I guess I rather would have been sleeping, but a few hours were all I could steal on this Amtrak.  We stopped for a while, having arrived at the Atlanta station a bit ahead of schedule.  And by station I mean a 10-ft wide strip of concrete not wide enough for the luggage trolley and a passenger to stand abreast.  Oh, and there's a carport-style roof.  Very classy.  It's cloudy here, quite cold as well.  Hotlanta my ass. Amtrak coffee is really not good at all.  It says Green Mountain on the side, but it tastes of thinly veiled extortion.  See my earlier statement about the lack of train station slash no other option.  Some guy from Flickr thinks that it is a step up from airplane coffee.  He might be right, but I don't care.  Between junk and less worse junk I do not care to differentiate. We just passed by the site of a freight train derailment.  I happe...