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Thursday, July 31, 2014

WHAT D.C. MEDIA INSIDERS ARE READING

Boris Pasternak (See "The Zhivago Affair:")

MID SUMMER READING—Staffers at PBS’ Washington Week asked its panelists what they were reading over the summer.  We’re a bit late in sharing this plethora of recommended printed pages because it has been a busy summer.  Despite so many books and so little time here’s a belated sampling of who is reading what thanks to PBS. 

Complete PBS survey selections:

Peter Baker—The New York Times: “The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book,” by Peter Finn and Petra Couvee (non-fiction/Random House)

James Kitfield—National Journal: “Bloodmoney” by David Ignatius (W.W. Norton & Company)

Gwen IfillWashington Week: “Americanah” by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie (Random House);  “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” by Charles Blow (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt) and “Hard Choices” by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon & Schuster)

Dan BalzThe Washington Post: “American Romantic” By Ward Just (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt);  “The Director” by David Ignatius (W.W. Norton) and “Washington Journal: Reporting Watergate and Richard Nixon’s Downfall” by Elizabeth Drew (Overlook Press)

Kimberly DoziereThe Daily Beast: “The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader” by Jason Redman and John Bruning (Harper Collins).

Tom GjeltenNPR: “Cuba in Splinters: Eleven Stories from the New Cuba” edited by Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo (OR Books).

Doyle McManusThe Los Angeles Times: “The Good Spy: the life and death of Robert Ames” by Kai Bird (Crown).

Joan Biskupic—Reuters: “TransAtlantic” by Colum McCann (Random House) and “The Second Amendment: A Biography” by Michael Waldman.

Gloria BorgerCNN: “New Life, No Instructions” by Gail Caldwell (Random House).

NON-PBS PICKS:

Stephen Colbert—The Colbert Report: “Californnia” by Edan Lepucki (Hanchette)

Jon Foro—Amazon: “Good Hunting” by Jack Devine (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux)


Wednesday, July 30, 2014

MEET THE ENTIRE JONATHAN SCHMOCK



THE URBAN FOOL--Jonathan Schmock is a fool. He says so on his webpage.  He is also performer, a writer, an artist, a director, and an editorial cartoonist. He is a recluse and the lifeof the party.
After starting his career as half the comedy team The Funny Boys, he became a writer/producer, co-creating such shows as the ABC hit Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, Love Boat: The Next Wave and Brotherly Love; and serving as an executive producer/writer on The Lot, Dharma and Greg and Good Girls Don’t, among others.

Most recently he was a segment producer and writer on the Emmy nominated Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

His credits as an actor cover the waterfront – everything from high comedy in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to science fiction in Star Trek: Enterprise.

Most recently he can be seen on CSI NY and The Mentalist on CBS.

His writings can be found in the anthology “Dirty Laundry.”


But before any of that, Jonathan loved to draw. He is an accomplished painter and photographer. His works have been on exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in a contemporary artist’s show. His editorial cartoons can also be seen at The Huffington Post.

We find him unique, talented and refreshing.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

FIVE MINUTE SAN DIEGO VIDEO


In other news: SD Mag in its June issue calls North Park the "Best" neighborhood for restaurants.

FAST FORWARD—Excellent time lapse video by Kevin Andrew Falk and posted on the net by the Movoto’s realtors, shows easy living in the world’s coolest and smallest big city (all before the ariZONIES invade for summer).  Video done a couple of years ago captures all the neighborhood signs and the throngs attending ComicCon convention.  Jets zipping into SD International shows just how really close the airport is to downtown.

All images from the Falk video link below:
http://www.movoto.com/blog/opinions/youve-never-san-diego-video-will-put-top-list/


About Kevin: http://cargocollective.com/kevinandrewfalk


The Republic of Ocean Beach

Boardwalk Mission Beach

Annual ComicCon convention crowds heading to the downtown Convention Center


Monday, July 28, 2014

MEDIA MONDAY / THE QHAPAQ NAN DESERVES TO STAY IN TACT


 
An ancient roadway is in danger.  Modern times are eroding this iconic road that has linked us with pre-Incan South Americans. Despite its modest appearance, the road traverses for thousands of miles through jungle, desert and mountainsides.   Photo by Roberto Guerrero of the Proyecto Qhapaq Nan.
ADD TO THE BUCKET LIST—To most of us the wonders of the Andes and Machu Picchu is what we immediately recall about ancient South America.  But lately, a dramatic and equally ancient roadway is garnering attention as many are trying to save the road system that has connected the peoples of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile for thousands of years and thousands of miles through mountains, deserts and jungles.

Read about The Qhapaq Nan in a fascinating article by New York Times reporter Ralph  Blumenthal.   See link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/19/arts/design/protection-sought-for-vast-and-ancient-incan-road.html?action=click&contentCollection=World%20Cup&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article


The Qeswachaka Bridge, which spans the Apurímac River canyon along the Qhapaq Ñan . (Credit: Getty Images)