Da’ Meaning

So Madonna wrongly adopted/ bought/ stole a child from Africa.

So Google is taking over the world.

So Bushie don’t know the Internets from the Intelligents

There’s not much we can do today about those things, except get smarter than they are.

Meghan and I watched NOVA the other night, I made her watch it. I am on the NOVA mailing list because the show is good, worthwhile and has NO commercials. About the only other shows I’ll suffer through are Law/ Order and Project Runway. Yea, jacked.

The NOVA show we watched was about Earth’s magnetic field and how it’s weakening significantly. This field is what protects us from the sun’s radiation by deflecting harmful solar winds away from the earth and toward the South and North poles. This is where aurora borealis comes from, and why it’s easier to see way up north or way down south.

So, it seems that not only is the field weakening quickly, but it’s about to completely reverse itself, which is something that happens every 300-700 thousand years. I guess we’re due for a switch. When this happens, compasses will no longer point north, but south. In between the switch, there will be no field at all, and we’ll feel the full strength of the sun’s radiation. This in-between time could last up to 3000 years. Yea, no shit we won’t be around any more, but does that mean we should not fully comprehend it?

Steven Weinberg said, “The more the universe seems comprehensible, the more it also seems pointless.” His point was that the human species is just one of billions of species of life on Earth. The Earth is just a typical planet near a star. And our big star is just one of a trillion stars in the galaxy. And our galaxy is just one of hundreds of billions of galaxies!

So what’s the point in understanding our place in all of this? I think it’s the most important point, and everything is pointless. And I think I don’t spend enough time working on it, and I spend too much time working on the wrong stuff. (I just got Splinter Cell-Double Agent, so I’ll let you know how it is.)

On a lighter note, I had a chance to see the new Burton Snowboards movie the other night at Kennedy School. “For Right or Wrong” was produced by Burton and Mandalay Entertainment and featured the stories of a group of riders who are in it for different reasons. But the fact is, they’re all in it for the money in the end, except maybe for Jake. I believe Jake loves snowboarding for real, and he may be the only untainted rider in the movie.

Everyone loves snowboarding for different reasons, and if you ask them, everyone can get real philosophical about it and tell you why they do it, “fo’ real”. But the bottom line is: Shaun, Keir, Jeremy, Dave, Terje, and Kelly all get paid a shitload of money to go snowboarding. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t ride as much (because they’d have to get a job) and they wouldn’t be so good at it. Shaun is pretty down to earth, believe it or not, but he’s got so many people up his ass, it’s impossible to do things for the right reasons. Jake has the ultimate freedom now, to do whatever the hell he wants in snowboarding AND surfing.

Told some Burton folks I was going to draft a comparo between the brand new Burton movie (which really isn’t about Burton itself) and the first, ever Burton movie, “Winter Waves”. All I have to say about that is that the characters in Winter Waves did not have the means to hire a gigantic Russian helicopter to take them to the deep shit, so they stole one. They did what had to be done to get to the goods, not for money, a video part or a gold medal. They stole a heli and jammed up there as a tight group of friends just to ride for fun. They took matters in their own hands and never criticized each other’s steez. Nor did they have a CAD machine to design the takeoffs and landings of their jumps. And I am sure the production budget for “Winter Waves” was a smidgeon less than the new Burton movie.

I am calling bullshit on a few things, because there’s not enough honesty behind the intentions of the things to respect. In, “For Right or Wrong”, Nicolas Mueller comes closest to the pure intentions of the boys in “Winter Waves”.

Shame Less

We designed, built, wrote, deployed and plugged the new grainsurfboards.com.

My brother’s company designs, builds, rides and sells hand-built wooden surfboards on the coast of Maine. We still have a few things to add to the site, but it’s fun.

http://www.grainsurfboards.com.

Living Together

Why do people feel the need to be part of a group? Sometimes so much so, that they’ll act completely stupid, inhuman and like an asshole, to remain a part of that group?

We have a little black dog named Sirius who came to us after he was abandoned by his first adoptive family. It takes a dog a long time to get used to being removed from it’s mother in the first place, maybe months. And then, about a year later, Sirius’ family dropped him back off at the shelter.

I am sure his mind was screwed up by this, and only in the past few months has he finally realized we’re not going anywhere and he’s part of a solid group again. His behavior, happiness and success in life is directly tied to being part of a group, a pack, of which we are a part.

Truth is, people work the same way. From families, to sports teams, to religions, to classrooms, to the stools at the local pub, people want to be around and interact with large groups of other people. Groups have collective influence, and without this power, people can’t really do much on their own. What’s the use in acting alone, today? Groups add meaning to our days.

Try to list out the groups you’re a part of. Family is usually the first. Then, you share an office with a group of people doing similar work, maybe. Religion is maybe the next one, and probably the largest and most powerful you’re a part of. Snowboarders. Golfers. Computer Geeks. Strong Women. Parents. Detroit Fan. Socom3 Nerd-out Crew. Indie Rock. Vegan. Writer. Blonde. Middle Class. Nascar. Fred Meyer Rewards.

All of these groups have an image. You help make up that image, as well as identify and assume a bit of this image every time you take part in group activities. Think about the collective mixture of the individual images of all of the groups of which you consider yourself a part. Where does that place you as a member of society? Does it match with your vision of yourself? Does it match with your vision of where you wanna be?

It’s a pretty powerful position you have. With some effort, you can both influence the future of the group and its own image, as well as reap the growing advantages of being a member. If you’re a successful member, you’ve not only had a positive impact on the group and it’s other members, but maybe you’ve increased the quantity and size of the benefits everyone inside receives, including yourself.

But, what if the group heads the wrong way? What happens when the popularity or success of any of the groups of which you are a part begins to decline? You had better watch your ass, and watch the people around you, because you don’t want to be part of a losing team! At the very least, you should be the first one to realize the warning signs of the decline, so you can be ready to make a move.

As a member of the human race, what can you do if you start to feel like the group is losing ground on the prospects of long-term success? (Really long term, not just until the sun burns out in 3,000,000 years.)

As one of over 300 million Americans, what can be done when you realize your group is having a hard time gaining consensus on basic issues that affect everyone, especially it’s most vulnerable members?

As a member of the middle class, what are you to think when there are people with a crapload more money than everyone you ever met, talked to or walked by in your whole life, combined, and one of them is the owner of your workplace?

As an Internet lover, what should you think when the freedom to search, view and download content is being commercialized and monetized behind closed doors to take maximum financial advantage of your attention?

As a fisherman, how can you deal when the logging, mining, power and other industries who constantly threaten to destroy what’s left of the viable trout and salmon habitat in the Northwest?

As a card-carrying Peet’s Coffee Club member, what recourse do you have when the price goes up on a medium mocha, and you’re short on change?

You can either walk out, or sit down and live with it. I pretty much do the latter, which drops me in the largest and weakest of all groups, the followers.

Fall Ahead

Fall is greatest time of year to be a marketer. With the holiday horizon coming, potential and current clients have money to spend and more reasons to spend it. It’s easier to motivate clients in the fall, and that’s really the hard part of this job.

I hear more of this: “We’ll find the budget” and less of this: “We don’t have the budget”. Fall is truly the time when the bounty of creative ideas are harvested.

I remember starting Instrument. I wrote the plan during the Summer, worked at Orvis to make money and get free gear, lived at home and mowed the lawn to earn my keep. I planned to launch in the Fall, because it seemed like things would be hopping. What I did not account for was the time it took to get the word out. Needless to say it was a lean, quiet winter in the Chickenbone penthouse that year.

I denied myself the basic necessities of TV, Cable and Playstation until I reached a certain level of sales. It took almost a year to get Playstation and when I did, sales stagnated. (Hmmmm..) My SOCOM2 skills blossomed though, and I logged many hours achieving Commander rank with my men.

I should have launched Instrument in the Spring somehow, so I could dial my contacts, processes and get some business rolling right when the bounty of Fall returned. My advice to you is get your shit together in the Spring and Summer, lock up your business in the Fall, let it ride through the Winter. Once January 1 hits, everything changes at every company. It’s a new year, with new budgets and new board directives to spend less on copy writing and marketing even though you know the company needs it even more. You know it!

Fall in Vermont was always my favorite time. Contrary to common notions, autumn in Vermont is a time of growth and renewal. The mountains get brighter, the air gets crisper, the wind blows fresh and the fishing turns on again. Not only this, but everyone else in Vermont decides it’s time to hibernate early, and leaves the great outdoors open for the taking. Very few people fish in the Fall, which is why it’s a great time to be out. I HATE being hot, so it’s even better. Fish are hungry ’cause they know the ice is a-comin’. Even the streets downtown seemed quieter back in Burlington in the Fall. For me, Fall in Vermont was about snowboarding anticipation, Jake’s party, and hungry bass. There was usually one last spurt of energy before the freezing, bleak darkness of December set in.

When Spring rolled around in Vermont, things for me slowed down. Everything got muddy, it got hotter, everyone was leary of the coming oppressive heat and humidity. There’s about a month of great, dry weather in the Vermont Spring, usually between May 15-June 15. Other than that, I’d take Fall all year-round, which is basically how it is here in Portland.

Spring back. Fall Ahead.

Oregon Assholes

Been here almost 8 months, haven’t met an asshole from Oregon yet.

I know they exist here. I’m sure there are asshole barkeeps, asshole business owners, asshole politicians, asshole parking lot attendants, asshole post office desk clerks, etc… I just have yet to meet a complete asshole from Oregon.

I’ve seen asshole driving, mostly on the highways. People here generally drive like crap in the fast lane. Better off passing them assholes in the empty lanes to the right.

I’ve seen asshole outfits for sure. Hoopty down jackets and skull caps in August. Horrible, striped, woolen leg and arm warmers in May. I am sure I’ll see some downright asshole outfits come winter-time here too.

I bet that most of the asshole activities I’ve been witness to in Oregon originated with a foreigner, or someone from another state. In fact, I’d venture a guess that the asshole-to-cool ratio in this state leans heavily in the cool direction.

Let me give an example or two.

The guy who scrapes the crap off my teeth, my dentist, is pretty cool. His place is cool, his people are cool. They listen to me and don’t ask stupid questions. No assholes there.

I walked out of our office and one of the homeless dudes who lives under the Burnside bridge approached my dog and I. Sirius started barking and freaking out and pee-ing, which is just what he does. I tried to move on by, but the dude insisted I have one of his beers. In fact, it was his only beer, which surprised me even more. I tried to refuse, but he said it was Friday, it was hot out, and the beer was cold and unopened. He could have been an asshole to me, but instead he was cool for no reason. So I drank it, even though it was Tuesday.

I can tell you I’ve met plenty of assholes in my days, from around the world. I could probably look back and make a list. But in Oregon, everyone I’ve met from friends of friends to gas station dudes has been cool. Even our landlords are cool! No Assholes, yet.

I am sure Wifey over there could name a few assholes, without hesitation. I am sure people who’ve lived here for a while have met an asshole or three. All I can honestly say is, I have not met an asshole in Oregon so far. And everyone I’ve met here has some degree of coolness to them. Which I find interesting.

When/ If I meet an asshole in Oregon, I’ll remember it now and record it in me head. You may or may not hear about it, but I’ll try to let you know. Maybe I’ll just become an Oregon asshole some day. If that happens, you’ll know it too.

Moms and Dads

My parents had seven of us LaVecchias. John, Emy, Mike, Catherine, Betsy, Vin, Nick. Unbelievably, all of us went through private high schools and some form of 4 year college all without incurring our own loans. I can’t even imagine what that would cost if we started putting children through college today. Indefinite debt (on top of our current debt!).

Besides our formal education, our parents had to deal with all of the other essentials for a great life: shelter, food, clothing, vehicles, snowboarding. We ate nearly every complete meal together, at home. Dinners were around a large table, full course meals with meat, potatoes and veg, sometimes even dessert. (Can’t you tell!?) I remember my mom telling us once that at one point, she was going through 2 gallons of milk…a day.

Imagine the food costs per month! Imagine shopping each day, restocking the kitchen, preparing meals, cleaning up, doing it all over again, for 25 years. Imagine this on top of dealing with 7 kids at all different stages of development, with different needs. Imagine my dad being the single income for the entire family for over 30 years. Could not be done today.

I have the utmost respect for what my parents did. I am in awe of it actually, as we contemplate the idea of having children, like so many of our friends have. I think the monumental challenges my parents dealt with successfully (we all ended up ok…) make our generation look like wimps with our 2.3 children per household. I know there are other challenges to face with rearing children today, but the sheer volume of work to handle 7 children is daunting enough to render the idea ridiculous for people today.

I am not sure if this is the place to discuss my thoughts about becoming a father in detail, but I will offer some general notions that have been mulling through my mind of late. First, I am turning 33 in a few weeks. My career has tossed and turned a few times, but seems to be on a path now, albeit one with more twists to come for sure. I just got married, and I’m still getting used to the greatness of that. I want to be married for a while, I wanna get a house, do some stuff.

We’ll be in debt, with the house, cars and other things, for a number of years. I guess this is just the state of society that we’ll never outrun. Banks are loaning more money, in more ways than ever. It seems like a yearly salary goes nowhere towards fulfilling one’s needs these days. But maybe the problem is that we have more needs. Or do we have more expensive needs?

Either way, finance and age are the burning questions when it comes to thoughts of trying to continue in my father’s footsteps of being a great dad. I am not worried about anything else, yet. I think we can somehow handle bringing up children to be well-adjusted, (great term) successful, cool kids. I’m just not sure when I can to handle it.

The problem now becomes one of timing. We’ve got some time, just not a lot. So what’s interesting about that is the pressure not only comes from friends, family or within, but the ever tightening pressure of the clock. Damned machine! Damned everlasting element of human existence!

Time is the only thing that’s constantly taken away from us by no one, but ourselves. You use it, it’s gone. You don’t know how much you have to use. You don’t even know how much other people have to use. You don’t even realize how fast it’s going away, most of the time. Time is the worst thing, ever. There’s no way to get more of it, from any one. You can’t buy it, borrow it, or take it from someone else. Time sucks.

But time is the only thing that matters more to me now than ever. It’s more important to make the right decisions, because time seems more precious now that it’s shared. I decided to share it with one other person, and now we’re supposed to give the gift of time to a child. If we choose not to give the gift of time, are we wasting it?

I realized the other day, that one route to eternal life on earth is to become a father. Leave yourself behind and pass it on, hopefully forever. But at what cost?