The contradiction.  There's an odd beauty in the smoke heading up to the sky.  As a young person, the imagery of Bethlehem Steel enthralled me.  From the waterfront one saw white-gray smoke drifting upwards into the clouds, beautiful puffs against a turquoise sky.  When I learned of environmental hazards of coal-fired plants, I reconsidered, particularly since I was burdened with numerous upper respiratory issues.  Now, as a photographer and writer, I see the strange contradiction and wonder.

We want clean energy.  We want energy-independence.  We need heat and electricity and fuel for our vehicles.   Very few of us live "off the grid."

How do we reconcile these internal contradictions?

"A Moment in the Sun" entrenches us in much of American history at the turn of the 20th century

It took me time to read this book, close to 1000 pages. This epic takes  the reader from the gold rush in the Yukon to America's incursions in  Cuba and then the Phillipines, with lengthy stays in Wilmington, NC,  New York  City, and other parts of the United States around the turn  of  the 20th century. Sayles captures the lives of regular people,  communicating in authentic voices and reflecting their times. I can  only say that it is an incredible look  at history  through individuals  and  families caught up in the times.  I particularly was intrigued by the Lunceford family.  Driven from  Wilmington by racists, Dr. Lunceford attempts to start life anew in  New York peddling cures door-to-door, while his son Junior joins  the Army, and pianist Jessie ends up working in a factory in  dehumanizing conditions. Grimness, pain, and sorrow abound, but  there is some joy as well. As I read the final chapters, I was sorry  these tales of many were coming to an end.  The final pages of the book shock and lead to much reflection about  what was just read. For those interested in authentic historical  fiction peopled by well-rounded characters (interspersed with true  figures from history),  this book is highly recommended.

Homestead

Photo courtesy of :Walter Sargent, UM-Farmington -- Homestead and its mill in the 1890s

The time spent writing and refining my script on the 1892 bloody battle between steelworkers against Pinkertons hired by Carnegie Steel Company has been worthwhile.  Of course, the script isn't just about the battle. I've developed a storyline that focuses on two families (Welsh and Romanian), the union leaders, and Henry Clay Frick's role.  Andrew Carnegie is the backstory as, I believe, he always intended to be when he took his trip to Scotland as the tensions grew between the union and Frick.   I visited Homestead several times in the 1990s, before the last remnants of the mill were destroyed and a shopping center arose.  Typical.  There is a monument to the workers on the land, but nothing that recounts the incredible and shocking events.  I read journals and books written during the 1890s and early 1900s.  There were congressional hearings, and those transcripts provided some valuable background.   I hope that now is the time, with "Lincoln," doing well,  historically based scripts may sell.

So, I'm now in the marketing stage.  Here's hoping I can finally get some serious interest in this story. I have some contacts and methods for getting some looks, but if anyone has ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Imagine a peaceful island minutes from downtown Portland

Sauvie Island offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.  It's a short (under 20 minutes) drive from downtown Portland.   The Audobon Society, apparently, owns or has some involvement regarding part of the island since there is an abundance of birds.  

The Oregon Zoo

 I have mixed feelings about zoos.  I don't like to see animals in captivity.  I see the educational value in showing people wildlife and educating them about habitats.  Environmental issues are in the forefront of one's mind (I think) when one sees the amazing diversity of wildlife - and learns how we are losing and have lost so many creatures to development, pollution, senseless killing, and so forth.

Portland -- Portlandia -- Keep Portland Weird

 I've been here 8 weeks now, moving from desert sandstone red tones to lush Columbia River Mt Hood green tones.  Portland, to me, is like a return to the late 1960s.  Creativity abounds.  People who are odd don't hide it.  Art, films, dance, music, outdoor markets - it is all here.  I visited Chinatown, and afterwards we strolled around the area.  I love the brick, city hiking paths, art.

 

 

 

Placebo

So, "for what it's worth," I just decided to put a link to the Placebo tune which was the inspiration for my blog title.  I love this band. I've seen them perform 4 times, twice in the DC area in the late 90s and twice in Vegas in the mid-00's.  We had excellent tickets to 2 more performances for their 09 (?) tour but it was canceled when Brian became ill.  I'm really hoping they will perform in the States again soon. The new DVD set, which included a video with parts of their world tour, is fantastic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBeCgtgr6Rs

These links aren't like FB, opening up into a direct link to youtube. One has to copy and paste (and for this one, watch an ad for Cage the Elephant), but it's worth it.