March in April

It's not every week you get to march down the middle of Market Street in San Francisco with a whole big bunch of people you don't know. Except for this week, when it happens twice.

You may have missed the Tax March yesterday, but there still is time to get in on the act: this upcoming Saturday (11am, Justin Herman Plaza, if you want to hear the speeches. Otherwise, show up at noon or so.) is the March for Science. Best of all, you can march along with real live scientists. With a science fair, food trucks and other cool stuff at the end. And it's not even supposed to rain.

What a way to blow off a Saturday!

Now What?

We lost. We all have lost. And all the cute kitty photos are not going to make it right. At least not anytime soon.

It is most disturbing that we - and the rest of the entire world - are stuck. Stuck even though scarcely more than 25 percent of potential voters in America chose this future.

We can be sad. And we can be angry.  Around this house, we are both.

This past week I've kept my brain busy devising numerous ingenious punishments and painful hardships for those supporters of hate and strife. I won't go into too many details (is it really possible to have a giant tornado and a fracking-induced violent earthquake at the same time?), but trust me, in my schemes, that Pharaoh in Exodus got off really easy.

But that is all in my head.

The real question? What to do next that will make a difference. And how to keep sane and of good cheer in the meanwhile.

Many of the issues raised during the election are important. For me, the two that seem most critical are the composition of the Supreme Court and climate change.

I do not feel that I can have much of an impact on the Supreme Court, but I do plan to work very hard over the next few years to try and keep this planet a living planet.

Summer Fun in a Park Near You

SF Mime Troupe's For the Greater Good

We all know about these events, but somehow the summer can glide past without remembering to go and do.  Especially now that there seems to be so many fewer posters hanging up in store windows to give the old memory a jog. Or maybe I just don't get out very much any more.

For a few ideas before the August fog rolls in and the official summer is over (we all know that "real" summer begins in September 'round here):

Now in its 53rd year (my goodness, almost as ancient as I am), the San Francisco Mime Troupe is very busy presenting For the Greater Good in a large number of local parks.  Free to all, although expect to be hit up for a donation (well, duh...).

I saw the performance at Mosswood Park with some good friends and I strongly recommend the good friends part. The music, the singing, and especially the dancing were great but the preaching was a bit too much. It used to be funnier. But with friends, a picnic and some sunshine, I couldn't complain.

And the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is putting on Henry V this summer - their 30th season (we're all getting old).  I remember watching their production of Henry IV (same Henry, but with Falstaff for entertainment) a number of years ago.  Can't say exactly how many years, but I do remember that it was very good. And this one should also be good. Sadly, SF Shakes no longer holds performances at Lake Merritt, so you'll have to go further afield with your picnic, blanket and friends to see it.

Lastly, across the Bay, the venerable Stern Grove Festival has for 75 years(!) presented world class concerts and other events free and open to all during the summer. Cross your fingers for sun to shine.

Taking a Shellacking

A few weeks ago, I had to shellac some lampshades. Not my favorite activity: carefully putting down layers and layers of stinky insect secretions with a small brush. And then do it all again. And again.  So, while that's going on, you try and be distracted. Without chemical enhancements. Because all those dead bugs supply plenty, thank you. However, since I'm not in my own work space, the options are limited: the radio, tuned to KQED, the local public radio station.

But I got lucky - Peter  Coyote was being interviewed by Michael Krasny on Forum. Now I've enjoyed listening to Peter Coyote for many years (and, in some instances falling asleep to Mr. Coyote, especially while watching Ken Burn's Prohibition series). And I was enjoying the discussion of his experiences in the '60's, and now, as a Zen Buddhist priest, actor, and roadie for his wife's rock & roll band.  Until he was asked about the Occupy Movement:

A caller named Susan asked,  "I wonder where you place the Occupy Movement in the social change arc?"

Coyote:
"I think the Occupy Movement is the most exciting thing that's happened in the last 35 years. And I think that they've refined a lot of the things that we began....." And he elaborated.

Krasny:
"But what about the people who say that they sympathize with the Occupy Movement but they're concerned about the violence. Or they don't support it any longer because of the violence."

Coyote:  "What violence?"

Krasny:  "Oakland."

Coyote:  "Whe..."

Krasny:  "Property damage."

(Right. So let's do the arithmetic: the Occupy Movement = violence, that is, property damage, not head-bashing. And violence = Oakland. Umkay...).

As I said, I've enjoyed listening to Peter Coyote's voice for a long time. The thoughtful responses he gave to this questioning turned me into a fan.

KQED Forum interview with Peter Coyote