Lame Town Blog

Planning For Catastrophe? Or Not.

2011-10-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

I just ended my first year with no health insurance. This was a sacrifice (among others) that I made to pursue a career in radio after working for an environmental consulting corporation where I had enjoyed a full suite of benefits. Now I am in a position to buy health insurance but I am finding it difficult to do.

Health insurance premiums went up 9% in 2011, and it now costs an average of $15,073 for family health coverage through an employer. To cover myself and my kids (my wife has coverage through her employer) I am now looking at a minimum of $2500 for a year of health coverage with an annual deductible of $5000. So barring anything catastrophic, I can look forward to paying at least $2500 a year for what amounts to almost no benefit.

In this case, buying health insurance is almost nothing more than a way to cover the guaranteed exorbitant medical costs in the event of a catastrophic accident. Or, I could save the money that my employer puts into my health reimbursement account to use for routine medical costs and hope nothing catastrophic happens to me or my kids.

Plan for a catastrophe and give at least $2500 (and more each year) to arguably one of the most cynical industries ever known or save money and hope for a healthy future for myself and my family? Act in fear of what could happen or envision positive and happy days of health? Fall in line with a culture that says we should plan for the worst or take the radical risk that we may be okay?

What should I do?

I Wish I Had Run

2011-09-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

I played football in high school and I was pretty good. I also broke my left leg playing football while being tackled after a screen pass left me lying on the 1-yard line. That leg is now one centimeter shorter than my right thanks to the doctor who decided to just set the broken ends of those bones together instead of using pins like they would today. Many of my teammates from my high school team also suffer today from football injuries, from neck pain to reconstructed knees and gimpy shoulders. Last night I watched a player from Florida State University get strapped to a backboard and get carried away in an ambulance after his head was sandwiched between two defensive backs. He was knocked out immediately, his arms twitching.

Such a brutal game, leaving even the young scarred and injured for life.

My son Caleb also loves football, he proudly wears Broncos jerseys to school, and has an uncanny memory for player statistics. He was all set to play his first organized football this fall but something happened. He went to a summer football practice, one of those casual gatherings where the coaches just focus on some running drills and throwing the ball around. Caleb got hurt that day, apparently falling hard on his wrist during some backwards running drill. We later found out from the coach that after he fell, and was sitting on the sidelines nursing his wrist, the coach decided to toss the ball to him to see just how hurt he was. When Caleb winced in pain as he caught the ball, the coach decided he really was hurt. Way to go coach.

About a month before school started, Caleb informed us he was going to join the cross country team. This was not a big surprise since one of his best friends is a runner and was clearly going that direction. I have no experience with distance running and couldn't relate. But I decided a long time ago that I would never pressure my kids to play (or not play) any sports, so we bought him some good running shoes and hoped for the best.

I went to Caleb's first cross country meet with some trepidation; in fact I didn't quite know what to do with myself. I was surprised to see how friendly all of the other parents were, even those from other schools. The whole atmosphere was very, well, non-competitive, with pretty much everyone cheering on everyone. I even saw two girls from different schools give each other encouragement midway through a race. Caleb placed well into the lower half of the finishers in his race, but as he sprinted into the finish he looked like a champion. And even better his team (and the other teams) treated each and every teammate like a champion. It didn't matter how they finished.

Last week Caleb admitted that he wasn't really into the competition, he just likes the social aspect of the meets, and having fun with his friends on the team during practices and at their team dinners (which happen the night before every meet). He seems so happy, and so content to just....run. And I don't miss seeing him in a football uniform at all. In fact, I'm jealous of him. I wish I had run and kept my leg intact, and learned much earlier in life that sometimes its not the competition that makes sports so great.

Who You Really Are

2011-09-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

"You and I are all as much continuous with the physical universe as a wave is continuous with the ocean." - Alan Watts

The World Is Made Of Stories

2011-08-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

At the radio station where I work we are pretty fond of stories. We want everyone to have a chance to tell their stories, and to be heard. There is a special feeling that we get when someone shares a story with us, especially a true story that impacted their life in a profound way. So at a local festival we set up a booth with a microphone and a recorder in hopes that people would stop by and tell us their stories, or at least answer some thoughtful questions we happily provided.

The problem is that people are generally more than happy to share stories if they are NOT being recorded. The moment you ask someone to record their story, they take a step back and get squeamish, like the microphone might inflict a poisonous bite. I even had friends of mine begin to tell me really great stories as a natural part of conversation but as soon as I said "hey, you should let me record that story" the magic disappeared, and they looked at me like I was being a total dick. One guy told me that he couldn't record a story because "Uncle Sam had done things to him" and it might get him into trouble. Uh huh.

This went on all day, although a few brave souls did let us record really wonderful stories about how they met their spouses, falling through the ice while ice skating as a child, and even one animated story about a Backstreet Boys concert. But for everyone that was willing to record a story, 20 others practically ran away from that hideous microphone. Clearly, the world is not ready to have their stories recorded, even with the assurance that they would not be broadcast on the radio. Which just made me wonder how Story Corps and The Moth got so goddamn popular.

But then, just before the rains came and we had to break everything down and call it a day, a timid Navajo woman approached our booth. Defeated, I just smiled and let her explore the papers and pamphlets, but my booth partner asked her "do you want to record a story?". OK, she said, and I sprang into action as she positioned herself in front of the much-maligned microphone.

What happened next was amazing. She proceeded to tell us about a paper her daughter had written for a college class about the labels we give to people, and in particular about the labels that people give to all Native Americans based on the "drunk Indians" in the city park. That on the reservation the aunts and grandmothers never drink, and that we should go and visit them to see for ourselves. She ended her story by telling us that her daughter died in 1989, her voice and our hearts breaking at the same moment.

All it took was one story by a woman who lost her daughter for me to resolve to always ask people to share their stories. I'll ask a thousand times to get just one story that matters.

A Life of Cartoons

2011-08-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

I love cartoons. Not just animation, which I love as an art form of its own, but cartoons. Like most of us this all started for me with Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote vs. Roadrunner, and Porky Pig explaining "that's all folks!" Then things got more sophisticated with Johnny Quest, Super Friends, and G.I. Joe. By the time my college years rolled around I was hooked on The Simpsons, Beavis & Butthead, and Ren & Stimpy. Now I am playing along as my own kids discover all of these and much, much more.

What is it about the fantasies that can be portrayed in cartoons? The unnecessary, exaggerated violence? The grade school morality? The bitter satire, and the just plain stupid that make it all so brilliant? Sometimes when I am watching cartoons I feel so relaxed; the unreal portrayals can make the real world seem so far away. And even hilarious.

The Top 5 Ren and Stimpy Moments of All Time - More free videos are here

Cowboys and The Cupid Shuffle

2011-07-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

I was the DJ at the Lame Town Street Dance last night, which was fun but I can't shake this whole "Cupid Shuffle" thing. You see, apparently cowboys like hip-hop songs that you can line dance to. They really like them, to the point where a DJ might get like, 7 or 8 requests to play the Cupid Shuffle over and over again. I didn't even know this song and dance existed, and then this:

Does anyone else find this odd yet strangely encouraging at the same time?

Who Am I Between Love and Fear?

2011-07-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

I heard from two great men today: Alan Watts and Bill Hicks. The great thing about hearing these two pioneers back-to-back was how remarkably similar their views were. Alan Watts wondered who the "I" is that we think we are, and explained how we are an expression of the intelligence of the universe. Through hallucinogenic experiences and laughter, Bill Hicks realized that life is one big ride. They both understood something about our experience that points to the beauty of letting go so that we can see the truth in who we really are. And how hilarious that can be. Terrifying and liberating and hilarious. But we have to be willing to let go of that "I", that character that we play, to see that if we are not afraid, love will set us free.

Words, Bad

2011-07-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Words, Spoken

2011-07-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." -John 1:1

We take language for granted much of the time. The words that come out of our mouth are just reflexive, a way to communicate in the moment. But the spoken word is an ancient, powerful force that can take on something deeper. Poets and storytellers have been working magic with words since human beings first started using spoken language. The live performance of spoken word can be a transformative event for the listener, much more profound and moving than listening to a recording or watching a video.

Last week I invited a few amazing friends and poets to come over and read some poetry for the Lame Town Review podcast. Inspired by my friend and talented poet Renee Podunovich (check out her blog at reneepodunovich.blogspot.com), I thought it would be fun to record some poetry for the podcast, but what transpired could never be captured in a recording. Listening to Renee, Russ, Laura, and Danielle read poetry aloud created a space that felt essential, and I think we all felt more connected somehow.

Check out the recordings of those poems and some good tunes in the latest Lame Town Review podcast by clicking HERE. It won't be as magical as it was in my backyard on that warm summer evening last week, but its still worth checking out. Word.

Soul Surfing

2011-07-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a surfer. I don't want to surf, I want to be a surfer, to understand the waves and the ocean and the magnificent hydraulics involved. My best friend in junior high started buying Surfer magazine in 6th or 7th grade and we taped pictures of our favorite surfers in our lockers (Tom Carroll, Martin Potter, Mark Richards) . In Steamboat Springs, Colorado I guess this was our way of getting outside of the skiing/powder worship that surrounded us. Ever since I have been drawn to pictures and video of surfing, the way the rider is dwarfed by a huge wave, poised in a barrel of pure energy.

My fascination with surfing has never taken me to actually try surfing. I don't think I have even held a surfboard. In fact, I am pretty terrified of being way out in the ocean, contending with all that salty water, reefs, rocks and of course sharks. Yes, I probably watched Jaws at just the right age to be permanently damaged (you know what I mean, I'm sure). Now I feel too old and out of shape to ever pursue my surfing dream, too far away and too afraid.

But when I see a rider paddle up and stand, descend the face of a huge wave, bottom out and settle into a perfect tube, then get shot out in a blast of spray, it means something to me. Maybe I was a big wave Hawaiian surfer in a past life, maybe I just yearn to be at the mercy of nature like that. To ride a wave seems to be a beautiful act of freedom. Poised perfectly at ease in the void as the world swirls around, timeless and without fear.

Lame Town Revived

2011-07-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

OK, let's try this again. Despite the fact that nearly two years have passed since the last post, I guess I'm back. There are all these cool templates now and the fonts are so much better. So I'll be back here again for a bit, ranting and raving alongside the social media tools that can now make blogging so much more interactive than way back in 2009. Or maybe it's just me, I'm probably more willing to just well, blog, and not worry so much about HTML codes and embedding media players. So yeah, I guess I'm back.

Chappelle and Chip

2009-11-03T21:33:00.000-08:00

Health Care Primer

2009-10-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

If you care at all about health care reform in America but can't quite grasp the complexity of all the issues, a great place to educate yourself is with two recent episodes of This American Life. First check out this episode, then move onto this episode. Great stuff on doctors, patients, the role of government, insurance, and even some history on how we got into this mess. Very informative.

Spare Some Change?

2009-09-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Change. Hope. Great ideas for a Presidential campaign against an old white guy associated with one of the most evil administrations our country has ever seen. But, uh, where is all this "change" we were promised. Still fighting two wars, and considering sending even more troops into Afghanistan, the so-called "Graveyard of Empires". Still upholding all of the provisions in the Patriot Act. Still seeing juvenile Democrat vs. Republican antics on every contentious issue. And now the health care reform issue. Clearly the only reform we are going to see will be that allowed by the big drug and insurance companies. Follow the money and corruption it becomes clear that we will not be seeing a change any time soon. Obama was the lesser of two evils in 2008, and IMHO until we see a viable third party emerge that will continue to be our "choice".

Grasshopper R.I.P.

2009-06-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

I never realized how much Kwai Chang Caine influenced me
as a boy until I saw "Kung Fu" again a couple years ago.
This is a classic lesson from Master Po. Live it.

Tag It!

2009-04-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

I gots my stencils, I gots my cans. Now I just gotta design my attack on the public canvas. Whatcha gonna do?

A Brave New Oligarchy

2009-03-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

Oligarchy is basically when the power of government rests with a small elite segment of society. I can't help but think that's what we are seeing right here in the U.S.A. Here is some suggested reading: Matt Taibbi from Rolling Stone describes how AIG, Citibank, Goldman-Sachs and friends got us into the financial meltdown we are hearing so much about. Meanwhile Paul Craig Roberts over at Counterpunch explains how Obama and friends are probably getting it all wrong. IMHO, a healthy dose of socialism is probably in order right about now. And some convictions.

Samantha Crain

2009-03-23T20:22:00.001-07:00

If you aren't hip to her yet, you better get a listen of this lovely singer from Oklahoma and her band the Midnight Shivers. I searched all over for a free track to share with you but could only come up with an early demo track of relatively low quality. And I really think the production on The Confiscation EP is a better first listen. Check Samantha out here. The new album drops April 28th, and I can't wait.

(Special thanks to my homegirl India for turning me on ;)

George Washington

2009-03-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

Finally, an accurate history of George Washington and his many talents.

The Joaquin Project (or The Phoenix Has Flown)

2009-02-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

You may already be aware of this, but if you are not: something strange is going on with Joaquin Phoenix. I first caught up with this new development in this brilliant actor's career when I saw this vid of him, uh, "performing" in Vegas. Then there was a fascinating Newsweek interview where he confirmed he is quitting acting for good. To top it all off, he gave a incredible performance on the now infamous Letterman interview last week.

Of course the media is attributing all of this to either drugs, mental breakdown, a hoax, or some combination of these. I'm hoping this is all a calculated move to take "acting" to a new level, exposing himself and by extension all of us as the characters that we choose to play. Whatever he is up to, I suspect it is a subversive piece of genius.

A National Disgrace

2009-02-01T21:18:00.000-08:00

I'm no hard-core patriot, but this is just down right disgraceful.

But also very funny.

Was Today A Good Day?

2009-01-07T21:42:00.001-08:00

If you are down with Ice Cube, here is a great way to evaluate your day. If you are a hater, please go away. Thanks again Ropeadope!

Resistance Is Futile

2009-01-06T22:10:00.001-08:00

When will this all stop?! I am avoiding the news again because I am tired of seeing dead children in the arms of their wailing parents. If I look far enough into the future I want to believe I see a world without this. But will it take this in order to get that? Its starting to look that way.

Please be good to each other. Not so you can avoid some fantasy place where its always really hot after you die, but because its the right thing to do.

The Hot Xmas Gift for 2008

2008-12-26T12:27:00.001-08:00

When my kids said that Santa brought them a "wee" for Christmas, I was horrified. Santa brought my two innocent boys a pornographic magazine from the '70s?! I mean, I kinda remember asking Santa for a Oui too, but I never expected to get one. Then my darlings showed me that Santa had actually brought them a Wii. We had a lot of fun playing tennis together on the Wii, but then I went online and got my own Oui. Get yours here.

Iron Men Clan Rules

2008-12-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Got it? Good.

Naughty Is The New Nice

2008-12-14T13:45:00.001-08:00

This one goes out to the naughty folks out there that are sick and tired of all the niceness at Christmas. I'm getting you all something very special this year. This is just a sweet teaser.

Lollipop (Nasty Ways Remix) by Lil Wayne

Urban Ninja

2008-12-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

I've watched this at least five times already and its still funny.

The Rural Alberta Advantage

2008-12-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

The Rural Alberta Advantage can now be yours! Find out how by clicking here! This band is a great indie trio that I have been humming along to for a few weeks now. Do yourself a favor, get the RAA. You'll never go back to the Urban Ontario Advantage. These are my two favorite RAA songs. Check 'em.

Don't Haunt This Place by The RAA

Frank, AB by The RAA

The Word

2008-12-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

Miles Hodges kills it at the 2008 Urban Word Teen Poetry Slam Finals. Enough said.

Ancient Stash

2008-12-03T18:17:00.001-08:00

This was the big buzz today at work. As an archaeologist, this is the stuff of fantasy and a find like this would make you an instant legend. Like I always say, EVERYONE smokes weed. Going back at least 2,700 years apparently.

The Obama Bummer

2008-12-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

This is not a political blog, but sometimes I can't help myself. I'll keep this short and sweet: it appears that all this "change" we heard about on the campaign trail is turning out to be more of the same. From Obama's foreign policy appointees to his economic advisors, this gang looks a lot like the Clinton and Bush administrations. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Obama and all that he could represent, but I hate to admit this is pretty much what I expected. Hope fizzles fast.

Burnin' Tires

2008-12-01T22:10:00.001-08:00

All day I've been thinking about burning tires. I took a flat tire in for repair and I was told I needed new tires. But what to do with the old tires? Burn em! Lame Town could use more protesters burning tires. Like in Soweto. Or Fallujah. Nothing says "things are seriously screwed up" better than a mound of burning rubber. There are at least one billion tires discarded around the world every year. Up to 40% are burned as a means of disposal. 50% end up in landfills. While some folks are trying to find new ways to get rid of all those tires, I say make a statement, burn em!

Top Gun Is So Gay

2008-11-30T13:47:00.000-08:00

I just watched Top Gun for the first time since like, 1990. And while nobody should be surprised at the seemingly, er, alternative relationship that develops between Maverick and Iceman during the course of this film, I am still chuckling about it. Found this vid that lays it out perfectly. Poor Katie Holmes.

Belleruche

2008-11-30T13:10:00.000-08:00

This band is in heavy rotation at my house right now. Belleruche describe their sound as a mix of Sarah Vaughn, Django Reinhart, and Cut Chemist. Skeptical? I understand. I was too. But just take a listen to Kathrin deBoer's vocals and you'll hear what the buzz is about. Check this out to listen.

The Rick Roll Is Dead

2008-11-28T16:22:00.000-08:00

When a pop culture phenomenon is busted out at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, its pretty much dead. This makes me wonder how many of the folks watching even knew what was going on, or if they just thought "oh, that's that one dude from that one '80s song". Rick Astley is looking good though....

Thankful for Snoopy

2008-11-27T10:09:00.000-08:00

Snoopy is the best. Among many other things, I am grateful for Vince Guaraldi's swingin' tunes that made the Peanuts holiday TV specials so great. "Little Birdie" is one of my all-time faves. Happy T-day!

Spirits In A Dub World

2008-11-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

Reggae has been an important part of my musical evolution. Since visiting Jamaica at 16 (thanks Mr. Daly!) I have been deeply influenced by the reggae groove. Dub is my latest favorite flavor when it comes to reggae's vast family of styles (and even dub has many varieties). I'm also just a sucker for covers, especially those that "fit" the original. One of the latest dub covers that has stuck in my brain case in the past few days is a cover of The Police tune "Spirits In A Material World" by DubXanne, a German outfit that took on the task of covering all Police tunes on their album "The Police in Dub". Check it out and pick it up here. Get metaphysical.

The Learning Curve

2008-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm learning, I'm learning. I have time, a good thing, but I need direction and instruction. It will come together as soon as I can figure out how all the pieces come together: audio, video, and mostly ideas. More good ideas.

Lame Town Review

2008-11-24T22:51:00.000-08:00

The Podcast

Inbloguration Day

2008-11-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

So begins another chapter in cyberspace expression. Here will reside musing and many misspent hours of mindless ramblings. Mostly concerning music and media, but also life's lessons raising a family in Lame Town. I have spent the last couple days setting up my Myspace and Facebook pages and now this last endeavor. Two years of podcasting Lame Town Review has been rewarding, but I need more. Its all on.