Damon's Martian Has "Bro" but Lacks Soul

While it was impossible to not be on the edge of my seat the whole time, something about Ridley Scott's new film The Martian disturbed me. There is the obvious "go science!" aspect, which is understandeable as Damon's character, a botanist-astronaut is stuck on mars.

(And give him a soul)

And there was a lot of upbeat positivity bouncing around portraying the struggles he faced in not losing his sanity. It also bounced back to earth in Apollo 13 style to explore the complexities of the rescue mission, and also to the earth-bound Hermes crew.
Through all this hoopla I still think there was a lack of focus on Damon's character. He listens to music a lot, which is great, but what else does he do? He is there a long time, over 500 days!
Surely there were ebooks, and I thought it would have been a nice touch to see him strive to do something creative, perhaps sculpt the martian earth into designs, or draw, or write. Even Tom Hanks in Castaway "painted" a face on volleyball.
I just wanted him to do something besides the video logs which really, is it just me, or is this increasingly standard sci-fi trope (a la Avatar) grows tiresome. Is it supposed to make it seem more real?
After seeing a dozen vlogs, I couldn't help just wanting to see his character, who is utterly convincing by the way, inhabiting the actual scene undistorted or unaffected by "diary-speak."
The whole thing just had a bit too much of a bro-science vibe. The need to dazzle and be constantly moving tended to overwhelm.
There was simply a missed opportunities for more soul searching expected of a marooned voyager.
It was the bravado of Odysseus without the tears and heartache. But this is still big hollywood, so what did I expect. People must be entertained, not enlightened. And Damon's character's creativity was perhaps fully expressed (or subsumed) in his efforts to stay alive. He is a science nerd, not an artist.

Amazing fake Patina make-over on 2014 VW Eurovan!

Amazing fake Patina make-over on 2014 VW Eurovan! (Via BoingBoing.net)





In my ongoing fascination with all things rusty, I ran across this great fake rustbucket sticker-job. Click the link for more photos and info. So, this is one way to get the rusty look without sacraficing the structuraal integrity, and safety, of your wheels. Speaking of wheels, I can't help wonder if they will put some rusty hubcaps on, because the stock aluminum wheels definitely doesn't match the aesthetic.

On Patina, Agedness, & the Effects of TIME

On Patina, Agedness, & the Effects of TIME

       Patina n, 3 : a surface appearance (as a coloring or mellowing) of something grown beautiful esp. with age or use 4 : a finish or coloration derived from association, habit, or established character : the look acquired from long custom or settled use.

"When you see an aging building or a rusted bridge, you are seeing nature and man working together. When you paint over a building, there is no more magic to that building. But if it is allowed to age, then man has built it and nature has added into it." 

-David Lynch

I am not sure exactly why I am so taken with patinas. It is as though the hypnotize me. Anything sporting (spotting?) rust, lichen or any variant of weathering or wear, such as the spot right beneath an old cars door handle where the drivers hand brushing against the little recess in the door panel has worn away the original paint to a expose a little patch of bare steel. Or such as old mopeds, or the blanching of old plastic to a opaque, brittle shell by the sun's ultraviolet rays.

My 1956 JC Higgins Colorflow

I find these so fascinating, and I am compulsively drawn to inspect and observe such discoveries like a biologist studying an endangered species. I think it may have something to do with the human wear being proof of life, proof human interaction- proof of the personal on the permanent - a symbiosis. Here is an object fashioned by people made use of long enough to seem organic or to redefine itself. In terms of used and re-used items, it is that others have aquired and made use of it too, utilized it, for a time.

The cargo area of my 1959 VW SO23 Westy, at Gold King Mine

In 2006 I spent three days in Jerome, Arizona and visited what is likely the most patina-rich place I've ever seen. I drove there in my beatup skyblue, badly rusting 1959 VW Westfalia SO23 camper from Pheonix as a part of a caravan of about 100 other vintage aircooled VW buses. Besides a spectactle that literally stopped traffic and had the other vehicles on the road pulling over and whipping out cameras to snap pictures, and people waving and beaming smiles. I have tons of awesome photos from this trip on my Flickr page HERE.

In Jerome we converged at the old Gold King Mine whose sun blasted acres were home to a vast collection of random vehicles large and small, all at varying stages of agedness. Many were restored to running condition by a talented mechanic, the sole employee of the "mine." The place was a treasure-trove of patina, and I went wild with my camera.

The thought that we ourselves like a timeless boulder or disintegrating barn, or other forgotten shipwrecks endlessly rooting deeper into a host of lost beaches, and yet we are also ebbing and flowing along with these lush tapestries of things, becoming something different with each moment.

So it is this: the symbius of life's progression into decay, into another form, being right there, in every back alley, scattered across every city shadow, just waiting to be meditated upon and celebrated.

Carrie and Lowell: Sufjan Stevens' melancholy masterpiece

"This is not my art project; This is my life"

- Stevens (Pitchfork interview)

            "I don't know where to begin... I've lost my strength completely" Sufjan Stevens sings, the impact of his whispered style given a new and arresting sheen in part thanks to Bon Iver's treatment at his rural Wisconsin recording studio. A slew of other recording locations and engineers is indication Stevens' quest to perfect Carrie and Lowell, what he himself admits is his most personal album in his fifteen year career, (and the first album since 2010's extravagant The Age of Adz).  

            Here the feel is less epic and more personally immersive. His vocal delivery which used to seem reserved and shaky or at times whiny and has grown ever stronger and more assertive in recent releases is now quiet again, but still sounds confident. I challenge anyone to find fault in his vocals, thought the layering helps smooth it out a bit, its clear he is still in control and has grown tremendously as a singer in his own right. Carrie and Lowell is a quiet soundscape with some echoes of Seven Swans (2004). This ambient landscape rolls along in quiet contemplation, swelling with the cleansing yet relentless rhythm of spring rain showers. The more I listen the more I am moved and the more I see that he is not playing for sympathy but to express himself in the best way he can. I have further realized that the effects of such a poignant album go beyond the artist and now play a significant role in comforting listeners and assauging, or giving voice or identification with the loss of loved ones. The album stands out as much for the sum of its parts as for each finely honed line. It is a wonder to discover again Stevens' mastery.

            We have been accustomed to Stevens tradition of storytelling backed by resounding, epic, atonal arrangements - a la Phillip Glass modernism; momentous "art," or themed albums, (Illinoise, Michigan, The Age of Adz) in which were nestled quieter tracks that drove straight to the heart, such as "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.". Here sufjan has given us a seamless album of such quiet gems. There is his trademark banjo plucking, careful keys, yet a distinct lack of the percussion and soaring orchestrations and nearly spastic electronic noise we have come to expect from his big-sound, rock-opera-esque forays. All has been washed in a reverb-dust that thankfully somehow never grows old. 

"It is a wonder to discover anew Stevens' mastery of songwriting."

            Though all of his albums include elements of auto-biography, personal details mixed with local history and zoomed-out reflection, this is his most purely Sufjan-centric narrative to date. Its packed with the heart-piercing sorrow (bring kleenex), and a grace drawn from the well of life. Ultimately it is a testament to the eternal mystery of death when it comes knocking on our loved-one's door. In 2012 Steven's mother - Carrie, of the album's title - died suddenly from stomach cancer. This tragedy is the source for much of the stages-of-grief apparent throughout. In "Drawn to the Blood" Stevens grasps "How did this happen, how, how did this happen?"

            True to form, a plenitude of historical, mythological and biblical references are included, from Oregon's "Tillamook Burn" - a spate early 20th-century wildfires, the NW coast Sea Lion Caves ( he spent summers in Oregon with his mother), to childhood swimming lessons, and "slain Medusa". A few song titles seem to be twists on traditional Christian hymns, making clear the tumultuous nature of Stevens' faith (No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross, John my Beloved, Drawn to the Blood), or twists on modern pop songs (All of Me Wants All of You). There is a current of muddy confusion, desperation even, running throughout, as in Blue Bucket of Gold, "Once the myth has been told, the lens deforms it as lighting/ raise your right hand/ tell me you want me in your life/ Or raise your red flag, just when I want you in my life." Or shockingly abrupt, "You checked your texts while I masturbated ... now I feel so used" (All of Me). While such lines are deeply personal they are also universal.

            Harmonies are reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel abound, particularly in "Eugene," and a few merciful doses of humor too: his childhood swimming teacher "could not quite pronounce my first name/ he called me Subaru." And transitions to the more melancholic in the next stanza, "Whats the point of singing songs if they'll never even hear you?" We hear you Sufjan,  and we grieve along with you, for as he chants in "The Fourth of July," the albums centerpiece, "We're all gonna die, we're all gonna die, we're all gonna die."

            Death may even seem a bit easier to contemplate thanks to Stevens' sonic elegy, his most unified and intimate album to date, perhaps even a masterpiece, though only time will tell.

            HERE.Buy it here!

Is Tolkien turning in his grave?

I finally found time to watch The Hobbit movies this past week and found them unbelievable in a mix of astonishing fx and pitiously laughable action sequences. I'm glad to find I wasn't alone in my confusion. In a December 19th article on Wired, Ethan Gilsdorf writes:

     "The attention to detail ... is unparalleled. Middle-earth feels real. But in these Hobbit movies, the  more important thing to get right is situational realism: How the plot turns, what the characters do, if they move through space in a believable way. All this is thrown out the door. The sincerity of Thorin and Bilbo’s struggles is completely undermined by the story’s blanket disregard for physics, logic, and credibility. Gone into the ether is Tolkien’s gentle, thoughtful, and more plausible children’s tale." (LINK TO WIRED ARTICLE)
While I am not as irate than Gilsdorf - perhaps I am still under Jackson's unrivaled world-building spell - he certainly brings up some worrisome points. Has Jackson gone off the deep end? Has he damaged Tolkien's beloved childrens classic? Has he pillaged it and created his own disney-world phantasia version? If so, why? What was his purpose? Simple lack of constraint cannot explain it, as Gilsdorf asserts. It must be about the money. Beside lining his pockets, turning a one movie book into three nearly three-hour films allowed Jackson and Company the elbow room  to get overly creative - to get carried away with their artistic license.

Post Live-Aboard Fog Horn Blues

In the fall of 2004 - thats ten years and three months ago - at the adventurous age of twenty-three, I threw caution to the wind and with all of $700 in my pocket moved from my homecity of Spokane 300 miles due west to Seattle and the big Emerald city that had beckoned me like a siren, and which I would call home for the better part of the next seven years. My first winter in Seattle ( a winter of record cold, no less) was spent living aboard a derelict old wooden boat that I bought for $150 (in two monthly installments!). I kept my belongings in Rubbermaid bins in case of a sinking - a realistic concern if you'd seen my boat - the photo below gives you an idea, the back wall was Plexiglass (this is the only photograph I have from those days). I had visualized, or at least had hoped, to have enough time to grab the two huge bins and fling them onto the dock if she started going under. 

In my "house-boat," a 1965 Chris-Craft Sea-Skiff. Sept. 2004.

The thrill of cheap living and romance of misty mornings and the chime of the drawbridge quickly faded. In my dreams I was often drifting away down the ship canal or coming home to find just the antenna sticking out of the dark oily water. After 7 months of nightmares (and day-mares!) I sold the boat (for a $300 profit!) and fled to the relative stability of dry land. A year later I returned to see if it was afloat and discovered that it had just sunk two days earlier. The lady who bought it had her belongings - mostly clothes and books, as I recall - spread out all over the dock drying in the weak April sunshine. I felt bad, but was glad I had gotten away while I still could.

'Clicking and Clacking' into eternity

In case you missed it, Tom Magliozzi, the older brother from Car Talk passed away recently, on November 3rd, 2014, due to complications from Alzheimers disease. Tom and his brother Ray hosted Car Talk for 35 years.

Tom in his infamous ratty MG convertible with his beloved dog

         
I grew up listening to this show. It was the one program my Dad allowed me to listen to on NPR ( the rest were produced by Satan, apparently). Every Saturday mornings at the Thomas house the hilarious antics and notorious guffaws of "Click and Clack the tappet brothers" could be heard from somewhere in our house, usually accompanying me via my little portable radio while I raced to finish all my various chore duties. In all honesty, I have never stopped laughing along with these wonderful reniassance men. (Both brother hold degrees from MIT, a fact not generally known).

"Saturdays will always be synonymous with chores, pancakes, and Car Talk."

Tom's resplendent laughter always brought a smile to my face and lasting joy to my heart. Click and Clack have also challenged me to stay interested in mechanics and passionate about not just cars and moped but not to take it all too seriously, sometimes the best (or only) solution to a problem really is to laugh it off. 

They also challenged my non-mechanically inclined nature with their brain-melting "Weekly Puzzler's," notorious listener submitted story problems involving mathematics, logic and outside-the-box solutions. Although I never did get around to submitting my answers taped to the back of expensive luxury goods and sent it off to Harvard Square. I wonder if anyone ever actually sent them the cool/luxury goods they requested Puzzler answers be attached to? 

Do you guys still listen to Car Talk reruns? They are as enjoyable as the old ones, and I always seem to learn something as well as laugh my ass off. My sincere condolences to the family for their immense loss. You may never know the full impact of Tom's legacy, but it goes to show how love, laughter, and passion of one great man can have a ripple effect that lasts forever. And I know I am not alone in my belief that the ripples of Tom's laughter and legacy will live forever. RIP Tom Magliozzi.
For a link to the NPR story and an excerpt of a classic episode click this LINK

Kurt Cobain's bizarre, rarely heard 1988 cut-and-tape cassette remix featuring dozens of samples including his own demos.

(Via Boing Boing, Courtesy of Dangerous Minds Blog)

Spokane is Reading Swamplandia!

HEY! Spokane is Reading the fantastic novel "Swamplandia!" by Karen Russell. The young novelist's debut masterpiece was caught in a 3 way tie for the Pulitzer Prize a couple years ago, and it is a real gem. I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you enjoy gritty tales of the south, and southern gothic genre inspired by the writing of Flannery O'Connor and Joy Williams. Russell will be here in Spokane in 5 weeks to give a free reading at The Bing on October 16th at 7pm.
LINK

It's All About The Fish Lake Trail, WA.

This is a short video from a couple days ago, on April 25, 2014. I ride home from EWU on this wonderful trail about once a week, year round. There is hardly ever anyone else on it. Fish Lake Trail goes from Cheney, WA to downtown Spokane, WA. It's about 16 miles, slightly downhill the whole way (obviously, that makes it slightly uphill if you start at the Spokane trailhead just off Sunset Highway. A good way to do this is take the #66 STA bus from Jefferson Park and Ride (all STA busses have free bike racks w/ room for two bikes), get off at EWU, or at the big Safeway shopping complex, then ride to the downtown Cheney then ride down Cheney-Spangle Road - the intersection where The Mason Jar cafe is located ( I think I say Cheney-Spokane Highway in the video, but that's incorrect, sorry). There is a nice wide shoulder on the left hand side. The trail head is around the first big bend, on the left, across from an auto shop. Have fun. Bring a couple water bottles! (Click on images for full size pics)

Looking South to Columbia Plateau Trailhead from the Cheney-Spangle Rd underpass. (This is the Fishlake Trailhead and parking lot a quarter mile from downtown Cheney). This goes to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (about 3 miles from here). CPT then proceeds 130 miles to Ice Harbor Dam near Pasco,Wa and Tri-Cities. To safely (and quickly) ride the large rail ballast, you'll want extra knobby tires (preferably you would rent or borrow a "Snow Bike," and slightly deflate the tires) especially past Martin Road near Sprague.
 (See "Crazy Guy on Bike" link below for a great blog about the CPT).

Frozen springs in winter. I have ridden from Cheney many times in the winter without seeing a single person!

Fish Lake and Trail

The missing link. Here you must veer onto Cheney-Spokane Highway for a bit until you reach Scribner Trailhead turn-off. Some people ride this anyway even though it is private property. I have never done it. From what I've heard, you're gonna want a mountain bike to safely attempt it. Word has it this section may be completed in the next year or two, hopefully!

Flooding in March, 2014.

Ice on Fish Lake, early Spring 2014.

Fish Lake/ CPT Trailhead as seen approaching from downtown Cheney.

Scribner Trailhead.

Scribner Trailhead. FLT will be underconstruction here starting June 6, 2014.

Scribner Trailhead rail crossing. This is a very active train track! It is also quite uneven, so be very careful while crossing.

Fish Lake Trail Links:

traillink.com
Inland Northwest Trails
Spokane Outdoors
Proposed $45 million Spokane County Park Levy (2015) : This proposed Parks and Rec levy would  fund the completion of Fish Lake Trail/CPT "missing link."
Crazy Guy On a Bike : Venturing south on The Columbia Plateau Trail clear to Pasco and the Tri-Cities? Check out this guy's blog. As far as I'm aware he is one of the few brave souls who have actually ridden the whole 130 mile trail through the remote Central Washington scablands.