12.28.2010

x-mas with x

So many years, so many live concerts, so many great bands - but I have never seen X, one of my all time favorites. In only a few hours that dream will come true as X performs live at Slim's in San Francisco. Come hell or high water (we are expecting flash floods tonight) I will be there.


X

Playlist for Los Angeles at MixPod.com
Thanks to RakyMaky for all the X songs on YouTube

Los Angeles
X

(Recorded 1980)

Side A
Your Phone's Off the Hook, but You're Not
Johnny Hit and Run Paulene
Soul Kitchen
Nausea
Sugarlight

Side B
Los Angeles
Sex and Dying in High Society
The Unheard Music
The World's a Mess; It's in My Kiss

Bonus tracks
I'm Coming Over
Adult Books
Delta 88
Cyrano de Berger's Back
Los Angeles



X-mas With X

X, giants of the L.A. punk-rock scene, celebrate the 30th anniversary of their legendary album Los Angeles by playing it in its entirety during a run of Christmas dates on the West Coast — including 2 special San Francisco shows featuring the record’s producer, Ray Manzarek of The Doors.

X’s original lineup — John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom and D.J. Bonebrake — are scheduled to play nine shows in total, beginning Dec. 15 in Hollywood, Calif., and running through Jan. 1 in Portland, Ore.; Manzarek will join the band onstage for the first time in 30 years at concerts on Dec. 28 and 29 at Slim’s in San Francisco.

In addition to a track-by-track performance of Los Angeles, each show also will feature a screening of "X: The Unheard Music,” the 1986 film about the band that mixed documentary footage with live performances filmed between 1980 and 1985.

X at their official site
X at Facebook
X at Slim's in San Francisco
X at Wikipedia



X

12.25.2010

and so this is christmas

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, first edition illustration by John Leech in 1843

Every year we get together with our surrogate family for Christmas dinner.

Two years ago I made my husband go without me. I was too miserable to face anyone. My mother (93 with Alzheimer's, who we cared for in our home, putting her needs ahead of ours for five difficult years) had just been legally kidnapped by my only sibling. I was beside myself with worry and woe. I refused to see a soul.

Today the misery was in the hearts of others. The mother of a brilliant 4.1 student who had just started college on a full scholarship, came home to find her perfect son passed out on the sofa with a bong and a bottle. When I confided this to my husband he said "Well that's normal." But for our friend it was the end of her world. All evening she wept in her wine and stared me down from six inches crying, "Tell me what to do!"

One sweet and wonderful young man, recently diagnosed as bipolar, has been learning to cope and balance heavy meds, social situations, not to mention raging hormones and, although he appeared to be doing well, you know that he too had to be going through hell.

The woman who graciously opened her home to all of us the past few years, had just fled the country for legal reasons. Her two children were there trying to carry on Christmas without her for the first time.

A very old and dear friend of my husband's made dinner for everyone at his apartment in a valiant effort to preserve the tradition. He is about to lose his business and hasn't a penny to his name.

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, first edition illustration by John Leech in 1843

As we finished our ravioli, listening to one despairing rant after another, I quietly began to sing: and so this is Christmas. Everyone burst out laughing and merriment was restored. Hail humor! What would we do without it?

We didn't give gifts this year, but I got one anyhow. I learned that everyone has troubles that can't or shouldn't always be hidden away. If your friends are your friends, they will put up with you no matter how miserable you are. Back in the quiet little trailer we call home, my husband and I held each other and agreed we possess a fortune. Christmas doesn't always come wrapped in fine paper.



12.24.2010

zat you, santa claus?

It's Christmas Eve and you're five years old. You know that Santa won't arrive until after you're asleep so, before you head off to dreamland, what would your wildest dream be for right now? To call Santa. That's what these kids did. From LIFE Magazine 1947.

Slideshow: Kids On The Phone With Santa

LIFE


Waiting for Santa Claus

By Larry Strauss | Veteran high school English teacher, novelist
Posted: December 24, 2010 on The Huffington Post

I'm not a big fan of token gestures that conspire to obscure our attention from all the entrenched inequities -- the over-feeding of homeless people on Thanksgiving, for example, or TV-network-funded home makeovers.

I try to train my students to see through this kind of feel-good fraud and recognize the difference between slick charity and exquisite justice. So when I was approached one December afternoon, by two aids from a daycare next to my high school and asked to be their Santa Claus, I nearly uttered the words "opiate of the masses."

But the desperation on their faces halted me. They said they had a room full of anxious children and that their scheduled St. Nick, someone's brother-in-law, was a no-show.

I'm not even sure I actually agreed to do it -- or whether I just didn't refuse quickly enough -- but I found myself, moments later in a men's room toilet stall climbing into their Santa suit wondering what in the world I was going to say to these inner-city children who needed so much -- who needed in-tact families and better nutrition and an end to the crack epidemic and the gang violence ravaging their neighborhood and the social alienation that not long before had led to three days of civil unrest. They needed economic opportunity in their community, better schools and stronger political leadership.

Outside the daycare bungalow, the aids introduced me to their director, a man in a dashiki, from whom I thought I might receive a word or two of encouragement or advice. He looked me over and said, "You're not Santa Claus. Santa Claus is black." Then he half smiled, gave an affectionate yank on my beard, and went into an office. One of the aids took me by the elbow and guided me inside the daycare center where I was greeted by the collective scream of small voices: "It's Santa Claus!" "Hi, Santa!" "I love you, Santa!"

The children were all around me pulling at my belt and grabbing the back of my suit. Their tiny faces burned with expectation and runny noses. Daycare aids encircled me and pushed the children back. Any myth-bursting aspiration I might ever have had evaporated and I realized suddenly that I would have to somehow produce a Santa Claus voice. If I could get myself to speak at all.

But I hardly had to say anything. Order was restored and I was installed in the room's only adult-sized chair. The children were lined up and one-by-one they climbed on my knee. A few of them asked for things so simple, so basic, that I had to hold back tears -- "I want a doll." "I want a toy." "My daddy coming for Christmas?" -- but mostly they just wanted to look at my face, and yank on the fake beard and hear me repeat their names back to them. They wanted to be seen. They wanted, for a moment, to know that someone really important really cared about them.



Some years ago I read that the single most universally important thing to the human ego is recognition. Maybe so.



12.23.2010

what if?

"What if there had been no special baby born in a cave under the stars?"

This is the question pondered by author and scholar Kathleen Jenks, as she wrote several solstices ago. Here is my animated version of her wise and thought-provoking words, illuminated with paintings that span many centuries. They are framed with stunning images of the here and now of deep space, transmitted to earth by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. It all comes to life with the music of Brian Keane and his transcendant song Western Sky.

As you watch, try to remember Peace. It's out there somewhere... probably hanging out with Truth.


12.22.2010

unto us a sun is born

I awoke suddenly at two and stumbled out of bed to see if any of the lunar eclipse was still visible, but I had slept through it all. The show was over. Sort of.

The moon was now full and round and bright as it slipped in and out of storm clouds. We've been pummeled with some pretty heavy rain lately, thunder and lightening, even hail. But at that moment, although the sky looked threatening, all was calm. I wondered if we would be able to make our usual trek up the mountain for the solstice and our anniversary. We were married on top of Mount Tamalpais at sunrise so we return every year, like the sun, in a celebration of life.

By six the storm was still holding, so up we went precariously in the dark, wondering what we would encounter. 2574 feet up, at the eastern ridge, we were completely engulfed in an ocean of dismal wet fog. One can usually see for miles up there but this morning we could barely see beyond our noses. But we were there.

Then, at precisely 7:21 (every year, without fail, 7:21) a tiny slip of light shot through the dark. "The sun!" I cried. "No," my husband cautioned, "That can't be it." We scrambled to the spot where we exchanged vows. "Look! Loooook!" All that was before us was a solid grey wall but the sun burned right through. Then the most phenomenal, spectacular thing happened in a matter of seconds. That massive grey shroud that surrounded us suddenly turned to a cloak of gold. Millions and millions of water molecules were reflecting the golden light of the sun! I have never seen anything like it. It took my breath full away.

No matter how dark and dismal the horizon, keep climbing that mountain. Never give up hope. The light will come.

Winter Solstice 2010 by Melanie Renn

Winter Solstice 2010 by Melanie Renn

12.21.2010

fun in the sun

Solstice Concert




Winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Traditionally, it is a time of both foreboding and expectancy, as the longest night leads to the revival of the sun. And yet it is a turning point, when the sun reaches its southernmost point from the equator and seems to pause before reversing course. “Solstice” in Latin means “the sun standing still.”

In ancient times, observers watched the sun sink lower in the sky each day, and feared it would disappear completely and leave them in darkness.

People practiced special rituals intended to entice the sun’s return. Bonfires and candles, with their imitative magic, helped fortify the waning sun and ward off the spirits of darkness. These symbols live on in our modern seasonal customs: the candles of Hanukkah and Christmas are kin to the fiery rites of old, which celebrated the miracle of the earth’s renewal.

These traditions reflect our need to come together in times of extended darkness. We celebrate not only the rebirth of the sun, but the community of life on earth.



Playlist at MixPod.com

Click the bottom arrow on the frame for continuous playing (2 1/2 hours) of 46 versions of The Holly and The Ivy, another one of those ancient pagan carols absconded by the church to pack its pews. The rising of the sun and the running of the deer...


Newgrange



The longest night of the year is passing, the dawn of a new day is about to begin and this Neolithic monument waits in the darkness for a finger of light to enter through its passageway and illuminate its central chamber, just as it did over 5,000 years ago when the monument was constructed.

12.20.2010

the darkest of the darkest

Tonight's the night! Multiple astronomical events are lining up for an extremely rare display of synchronization as this year's Winter Solstice occurs simultaneously with a total lunar eclipse. Rare indeed, as the last time this happened was nearly 400 years ago.

But wait - there's more! The seldom seen Ursids meteor shower will also take place. This particular annual show is rarely witnessed compared to its brighter counterparts, but stargazers will have an exceptional chance to view the display this year because of the eclipse's darkened sky.

As this celestial drama unfolds, North and Central America will see the moon completely darkened by Earth's shadow as our planet passes between it and the sun. The total eclipse will take about 3.5 hours, beginning at 11:41pm PST on Monday, or 2:41am EST on Tuesday, with the best impression happening around 12:17am PST, or 3:17am EST.

In the Northern Hemispere, December 21 is the Winter Solstice, the year's longest night and shortest day. From this point on, the hours of daylight begin to lengthen. But for tonight, coupled with the lunar spectacle, we're in for an especially dark eve. Throw a log on the fire and snuggle up.

Associated Press

Associated Press

Associated Press

12.19.2010

a stark holiday

David Stark | West Elm

David Stark | West Elm


David Stark for West Elm

David Stark Sketchbook

David Stark Decorates the State Department

InStyle partnered with the State Department to decorate its Diplomatic Reception Rooms for the holiday season and the results are stunning. “[The rooms] are one of the hidden gems of Washington, playing host to Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the world and showcasing the best of our nation’s heritage,” said Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall, Chief of Protocol of the United States. InStyle brought in interior designer David Stark to come up with elegant holiday decorations. “The rooms have historical significance and are highly utilized so it was important for us to enhance the beauty already there,” InStyle editor Ariel Foxman said. “David created a gorgeous, modern winter wonderland that is both stylish and functional. It’s a living, breathing project and so much more fulfilling to know it will be enjoyed by others.” Stark used everyday materials like ribbon and wrapping paper to design extraordinary decorations like the wreath and archway. The rooms are open for public tours, but in case you don’t have a chance to get to Washington D.C., click on the gallery for an exclusive sneak peek. Plus, get tips from Stark for ways to incorporate these décor ideas into your own home this season!

David Stark | InStyle | U.S. State Department


When decorating the rooms, Stark was extremely sensitive to the historical surroundings, so he created this freestanding present archway for the Thomas Jefferson Room by stringing gifts through a steel arch. To get a similar feel in your house, Stark suggests using the gifts you’re giving as holiday décor by stacking them together next to the tree or peppering them around the room. “Instead of using gifts, you could also wrap boxes from the recycling bin or empty electronic boxes you store in the closet,” Stark said. Create a cohesive look by choosing a few complementary wrapping papers—like the gold and silver shades Stark used in the arch—for an elegant look.

David Stark Holiday Collection from west elm on Vimeo.

12.18.2010

peace, bro, sir

Peace on earth, good will toward everybody.

President Obama whistling by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama whistles a Christmas carol as he walks along the Colonnade of the White House following a holiday reception, December 14, 2010.

A Marine Sentry stands guard outside the West Wing entrance of the White House
A Marine Sentry stands guard outside the West Wing entrance of the White House.

12.17.2010

propagandecor

The London house of director Roland Emmerich is a block-buster. Definitely two thumbs up.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Jonathan Player | The New York Times
The director Roland Emmerich, best known for his high-budget, spectacle-filled films like “10,000 BC” and “Independence Day,” told his designer to make his house "as nonfrumpy as possible."


A London Home To Shock The Neighbors

Home of Roland Emmerich
Interiors designed by John Teall/Flux Interiors
Published by The New York Times, August 6, 2008
Written by Kathryn Harris
Photographed by Gavin Jackson/Arcaid

From the outside, the director Roland Emmerich’s 1830 town house looks as buttoned-up as its neighbors in the Knightsbridge district of London, near Harrods and the Victoria and Albert Museum. But once visitors step into the living room, where a taxidermy zebra is juxtaposed with a 25-foot mural of Mao, they realize they’ve left the conservative neighborhood behind.

Mr. Emmerich, who is known for big-budget, spectacle-filled films like “10,000 BC” and “Independence Day,” bought the house in late 2004 without knowing much about the area. When friends told him that it had a reputation for being somewhat staid, he instructed his designer, John Teall, of Flux Interiors, to make the house “as nonfrumpy as possible,” he said, so that “when the neighbors peek in, they might want to call the police or something.”

Mr. Emmerich had recently returned from a trip to Shanghai with a suitcase full of Chairman Mao statues, and he asked the designer to fill the house with similar objects reflecting his predilection for art with a political edge.

After making a few basic changes to the five-story house — moving the kitchen upstairs, adding skylights and creating a 16-foot-tall glass atrium — Mr. Teall, who studied interior design at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London, set about following those instructions.

For the large murals that run throughout the house, he hired the painter James Gemmill, who duplicated works of art from the Louvre for “The Da Vinci Code.” After talking to “high-end furniture makers who gave me outrageous estimates and didn’t grasp the humor of the pieces,” he said, he commissioned film prop makers to fabricate other objects, including a life-size wax statue of Pope John Paul II and dioramas with scenes of notorious events like the actor Hugh Grant’s encounter with a Hollywood prostitute and the torture that took place at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. “People can spend an entire evening discussing a film,” Mr. Teall said, explaining what some might consider obsessive attention to detail. “I liked the idea that a house might inspire the same” reaction.

For his part, Mr. Emmerich noted that “the London house has a very friendly quality.” It “started as a sort of joke,” he added, but “has become interesting — John has a wicked sense of humor.”

Slideshow: Far From Conservative

Click on each of the following images to enlarge.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
Mr. Emmerich bought the house, in the Knightsbridge district of London, in late 2004 without knowing much about the area. Friends told him that it had a reputation for being somewhat staid.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Jonathan Player | The New York Times
The director Roland Emmerich, best known for his high-budget, spectacle-filled films like “10,000 BC” and “Independence Day,” told his designer to make his house "as nonfrumpy as possible."

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
He instructed the designer, John Teall, of Flux Interiors, to make it so that "when the neighbors peek in, they might want to call the police or something." A taxidermy zebra faces the living room, which reflects his predilection for art with a political edge.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
The large murals that run throughout the house were done by the painter James Gemmill.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
The library coffee table is made of a missile from Iraq and holds an Arabs-and-Americans chess set commissioned by Mr. Teall. (On the Arab side, pieces include an oil rig, Saddam Hussein and a suicide bomber, and on the American side, an exploding World Trade Center, President Bush and Rambo.)

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
A diorama depicts John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
The dining room chairs were designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano. The door, a replica of one from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow, was made of wood and given a metal finish.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
The walls and ceiling in an office are covered with chalkboard paint. The desk is made from a wing of a World War II plane; the chair once belonged to a military dentist.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
A chair on the terrace was made of Shell oil cans by children in Ghana. Benches are laser-cut with the words "insurgents" and "infidels." Skylights to the living room form the floor.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
Mr. Teall had originally planned to put a life-size waxwork statue of Mr. Emmerich under the stairs. After discussing news coverage of Pope John Paul II's death with Mr. Emmerich, though, he decided it would be much funnier to depict the pope reading his own obituaries.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
In the terrace hallway are a birdcage in the shape of the White House and a statue of Arnold Schwarzenegger inspired by Rodin's "The Thinker."

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
A guest bedroom features a headboard made from the wing of an airplane.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
The English bedroom has Charles and Diana dolls in the fireplace.

Roland Emmerich | John Teall/Flux Interiors | Gavin Jackson/Arcaid | The New York Times
A mural in the master bedroom was inspired by Chinese propaganda posters. The Chairman Mao sculptures, clocks and dictator nesting dolls were purchased in a Shanghai market and on eBay.

12.16.2010

he sees you when you're sleeping

And he gives you stuff. As you are meant to see in this 1954 poster from The People's Republic of China: The Happy Life Chairman Mao Gave Us, which now hangs upon the virtual walls of the Children & Youth in History site, a world history resource that provides teachers and students with access to sources about young people from the past to the present.

The happy life Chairman Mao gave us, 1954

Sköna Hem by way of Solid Frog