SwimFinsSF

Things I long for

In case ya haven’t guessed I’ve fallen into one of my crazy busy times.. This time its more self induced than something I can blame on work.. Don’t get me wrong – its all work – but its cuz I’m working on things I”m interested and can’t quite step away… Unfortunately, when I get in this frame of mine I tend to get too lost in what I’m focused on to pay attention to whats going on around me.

But ever so often there are things that stop me from what I’m doing and make me take a breath and think for a minute. Thats happened to me three times this week – all triggered by something I heard out of context from the TV I keep on in the background as I work. All that made stop what I was doing and rewind and listen. All choked me up. And one left me in tears.

The first was a clip of a speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. that they played during Driving Miss Daisy:

We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of bad people but also for the appalling silence of good people.

The second was the closing scenes of ‘And the Band Played On’ with the scenes of all of the amazing and wonderful people who have been affected and taken by the AIDS epidemic. This was the one that left me in tears. The number of people who died as our administration did nothing and ignored the problem. And the effects that continue and grow in many ways today in so many people I know.

And the third was a speech on the west wing by the President:

Forty four people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kenneson State University. Three swimmers from the men’s team were killed and two others are in critical condition when after having heard the explosion from their practice facility they ran into the fire to help get people out. Ran into the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They’re our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight.

But every time we’ve measured our capacity to meet a challenge we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars.

All three of these snapped me out of my work trance and got me thinking.. and dreaming… And longing… Longing for a world where people take a stand for what is right. A world were people respect and love each other – and start by respecting and loving themselves. For a world where everyone is treated with respect and dignity throughout their life and in their dying hour. For a government that truly places human compassion and dignity before moral superiority and judgments. And for a President who is a moral and noble man who truly cares for the people of our country…

Anyway. Kind of a lot to ask huh? Just seems some times like we’re so far from it that it makes me kinda sad… Thats the kinda stuff that gives me pause as I’m surrounded by the hubbub of life and the insanity I see in the news these days…

Back to your regularly scheduled programming! 🙂

San Francisco Summer

From the wonderful folks at <shameless_plug> Jackson-Fuller Realators</shameless_plug> , below is a really cool and comprehensive list of all of the street fairs and festivals around San Francisco this summer along with dates and links for more information.

Of course my personal favorites being the Folsom Street Fair, Dore Alley, SF Pride, and the Filmore Street Jazz Festival. But check ’em all out and judge for yourself! 🙂
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There has to be a rule somewhere

That says you’re not allowed to whine about something you don’t like unless you’ve got an alternate way of accomplishing the same goal AND you’re willing to help implement the solution.

I’m just sayiin! 😉

Dictum ac Factum

Kevin and I went and saw “Dogville” last night. It was REALLY good…. A little long (ok a LOT long – 3 hours and 10 minutes or so) and it feels at least that long but well worth it. The production was really interesting – they staged the whole thing more like a play than a movie. The plot was set in a small town in the rockies however the set was essentially a large sound stage with the outlines of houses painted on the floor and minimal furniture and other things. The whole goal seemed to be to make you focus on the characters, the narrator, and the human interactions without being distracted by other things.

However the more important part was the plot and the message. The movie centers around a small town who adopts a woman who is a fugitive and the interactions surrounding them agreeing to protect her from her pursuers. I don’t want to go into too much detail at the risk of blowing it for others. But I HIGHLY recommend the movie and would be interested to hear what other people’s perceptions of the message were.

Summary from IMDB:

The beautiful fugitive, Grace (Nicole Kidman), arrives in the isolated township of Dogville on the run from a team of gangsters. With some encouragement from Tom (Paul Bettany), the self-appointed town spokesman, the little community agrees to hide her and in return, Grace agrees to work for them. However, when a search sets in, the people of Dogville demand a better deal in exchange for the risk of harbouring poor Grace and she learns the hard way that in this town, goodness is relative. But Grace has a secret and it is a dangerous one. Dogville may regret it ever began to bare its teeth…

New look for couch potatoes

Just heard about this on NPR and it made me giggle

Todd Oldham designing for La-Z-Boy

Have to see if he can come up with a recliner that kevin would like. (highly unlikely but worth a shot!)

BTW – The actual collection is here

Well CRAP

It looks like if yo’ure a slacker at managing your blog like I’ve been lately and you let the first of the month pass without posting your blog goes blank.. CRAP… Ah well.. here’s a place holder for now… got a lot to tell (product releases, vacations, and some other stuff) but my ride wil be here in 10 minutes and i’m still in my underwear! :):)

Happy May! 🙂