RIP Antoine “Fats” Domino 2/26/20- 10/24/17
A Tribute to Antoine “Fats” Domino Jr.
February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017
by Ron Wells
When I was a little kid and too young to know anything about anything, I heard “Ain’t That a Shame” and “Blueberry Hill,” and the deejay screaming from my little transistor radio, “All the way from New Orleans, here comes Fats Domino.”
Somewhere, deep inside, the songs resonated.
The sadness of “tears fallin’ like rain,” and the joy of how he “found a thrill,” pretty much covered the spectrum of emotions.
The beat was infectious; the voice soulful.
“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night,” writes Allen Ginsberg in the first few lines of Howl.
Ginsberg was talking about heroin. But today he’d be referencing smart phone use and abuse of the internet.
What are the psychological effects on people who touch, swipe or tap their phone 2,617 times a day? (Source of research)
You probably guessed the answer: NOT GOOD.
In a more recent article in the Guardian, Paul Lewis reports on those in Silicon Valley alarmed by a race for human attention who say that ‘Our minds can be hijacked.’ Some of the Google, Twitter and Facebook workers who helped make technology so addictive are disconnecting themselves from the internet.
According to the October 6, 2017 article, our use (or is it abuse?) of technology contributes toward “continuous partial attention” which severely limits people’s ability to focus, and possibly even lowers IQ: One recent study showed that the mere presence of smartphones damages cognitive capacity – even when the device is turned off.
“Everyone is distracted,” Rosenstein says in the article. “All of the time.”
To defend himself from addictive programs, the Guardian article says that tech consultant Nit Eyal “uses a Chrome extension, called DF YouTube, “which scrubs out a lot of those external triggers”” And he recommends “Pocket Points that “rewards you for staying off your phone when you need to focus.”” At home, a timer turns off the internet router at a set time each day.
But can we unplug? Read more…
I, Robot: 2018 Burning Man Theme
Hot on the heels of both LA and SF Decom, with San Diego’s Youtopia this coming weekend, the Burning Man Organization announced the 2018 theme: “I, Robot” and invites participants to “examine[s] how it feels to live in a world that is filled with robots that watch us, track us, hack us, read our tweets and emails, listen to our phone calls, and sell this information to other robots.”
Burning Man Decom 2017: LA, SF Oct. 14
- 1. the gradual reduction in atmospheric pressure experienced by divers,construction workers, etc., after working in deep water or breathingcompressed air.
- 2. the act or process of releasing from pressure.
- 3. a state of relief from pressure; a return to normalcy after a stressfulperiod or situation.
you are living life to the fullest imaginable.
you are ALIVE
Let Curiosity Be Greater Than Fear: Pema Chodron
“Let your curiosity be greater than your fear,” says Pema Chodron as reproduced in this image using a detail from an artwork by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo.
Two Trees Ventura: One Tree Down
The winds on Monday devastated several areas in California and led to a dozen or more people dying.
The winds drove catastrophic fires and downed branches damaged cars, homes, and took out power.
Chateau St. Jean. Photo by a firefighter.
Huge fires in Napa and Sonoma county tore through neighborhoods and destroyed vineyards and wineries.
Many of my wine country friends have been evacuated. Some of them have lost everything to the fire.
Here in Ventura, we lost one of our beloved trees on the hill above town.
Diseased and dying if not dead, it was not destined to stand much longer.
A tree has been planted to take its place.
I could see both trees from my classroom.
I could see both trees from my hikes in Arroyo Verde Park.
No longer.
Read more about Two Trees here.
Tragedy in Las Vegas 10/1/17
While she is not one of my students, I am sharing this memo from VC’s President: “I am saddened to share with you the news that a Ventura College student, Savannah N. Sanchez, was involved in the horrible incident that occurred in Las Vegas this past Sunday night. Information is limited at this time. Our personal counselors, located in the Student Health Center are available to provide counseling to you, your classmates, or anyone who may be affected by this event. Personal Counseling Services (PCS) is located in the Student Health Center directly behind the Performing Art Center and can be reached at 805-289-6346.”
Here’s a link to a GoFundMe for Savannah. The most recent update from last night by Sarina Mendez says: “Savannah has been opening her eyes more today & she has been moving her legs and arms but hasn’t woken up yet.”
At this point I don’t know why the shooter targeted who he did or why he did it. I don’t even know yet how many people he killed — will it be 60 or more? Many people are still in the hospitals. Many more who did not require surgery are injured in other ways, both physically and emotionally.
We do know that guns regulation or control will not be a result of this tragedy. Read more…
Tom Petty Oct. 11, 2014 at the LA Forum photo by Art Predator (off the big screen with my iPhone)
by guest blogger Ron Wells
“Some days are diamondsSome days are rocks..” —Tom Petty
Fall Books to Fall For from Sherman Alexie, Craig Childs, and more
To combat insomnia, I have taken to getting off my computer before midnight and taking to my bed with a book. It has to be the right book– it really has to be beautifully written and engaging, but not suspenseful.
So what have I been harvesting? What books have I been falling for this autumn?
to that end, I have recently started working through books by naturalist Craig Childs. Read more…
Chicano Muralists East Los Streetscapers To Speak at Ventura College Th. Sept. 28, 2017
art predator 