Raven Jake Dawes

Google Salutes Duke Kahanamoku

Duke Kahanamoku (whose full name was a mind-boggling Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku) would have been 125 years old today, if people had indefinite lifespans and Google (through "Google  Doodler" Matt Cruickshank) saluted him with a distinctive surfboard logo. Less well known than the fact that Duke introduced the world to surfing and was the best known Indigenous Hawaiian ever) is that Duke won  five Olympic medals in swimming:

• 1912 (Stockholm) -  gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle and the silver medal with the U.S. team in the men's 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay
• 1920 (Antwerp) gold medals both in the 100 meters (bettering fellow Hawaiian Pua Kealoha) and in the relay. 
• 1924 (Paris) Silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle  (with the gold going to Johnny Weissmuller and the bronze to Duke's brother, Samuel Kahanamoku).
• 1932 (Los Angeles) Duke didn't compete, but he was an alternate for the U.S. water polo team.

Bear in mind he was born in 1890, so in 1932 he was almost 42. He also He served as sheriff of Honolulu from 1932 to 1961, serving 13 consecutive terms. Duke surfed on in 1968, having packed so much into the first 77 years of his life that it makes you wonder what he could have accomplished with another 47.  E ho'omaha me ka maluhia, Kahuna, you continue to serve as an inspiration. 

TwentyWonder Benefit for Down Syndrome

Folks, I’ve gotten behind on my posting, and my adventures. Looks like I’ve got some catching up to do. Now you might have noticed that just about every time you go to some fundraiser, no matter what the organization is, they follow the same dang format: hotel, conference center-style chicken marsala, boring speeches about said cause, lots of self-congratulating from the organizers. TwentyWonder ain’t like that.

Now we went last year and it was pretty terrific. And this year’s line-up was just as good. Instead of boring speeches, they have Mexican-style wrestling. Instead of chicken marsala, they have food trucks. Instead of a hotel, they have the Derby Doll Warehouse and an exhibition rollerderby match. Instead of self-congratulatory introductions they put the focus on the beneficiaries – adults with trisomy 21 aka Down syndrome. And then there are the acrobats. Can’t leave them out.

Shout out to Jim Hodgson, whose son Henry motivated him to start TwentyWonder five years ago. Jim’s now the full-time Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA), and still chief TwentyWonder wrangler. All proceeds for the event go to the DSALA for programs to support people with Down syndrome who are 18 years and older. There are a lot of programs to support school-aged kids with Down Syndrome, but few to support these folks and their families once they become adults. So the need is definitely there.

“TwentyWonder, a Carnival of the Mind” goes down like a 3-ring circus. The evening starts with roller derby, moves on to lounge acts in the Cool Room (which is also the room with air conditioning; it was a mite warm last night) then a stunning show by Cirque Berzerk, followed up by music and wrestling. In the meantime, there’s a midway in the main hall with lots of little booths and exhibits to inspire thinkin’ about science.

There’s a chair that magnifies your pulse 32,000x and features red flashing lights until you’re having a relaxed rave of one,  an entomologist with tarantulas to play with and lots of bug specimens, a couple of UCLA students explaining planetary mass, some presidential reinactors hosting Mad Libs (changed to mad liberties) Willie Wonka hawking benefit chocolates and golden tickets, a couple of bars, Tom Woodruff's batmobile and so much more.

You sure won’t want to miss it in 2015.

Naahilii: New Designation for Black Native Americans

Couple months back, Jane went off to see Radmilla Cody give a presentation about Native American identity issues.  Radmilla Cody is beautiful, talented and smart. She made headlines a few years back as the first half-Black, half- Diné Miss Navajo Nation in 1997-1998. At the time, and maybe now too, she caused a lot of waves because she didn't look like a typical Miss Navajo. Rest assured, if anything she was overqualified. See, to be Miss Navajo you don't prance around in a bikini and do floral arranging for your talent. The Navajo expect their women to work, not just sit around looking pretty and making bland conversation. So Miss Navajo has to be the best at public speaking in Diné, traditional dress, singing and butchering a sheep. She has to get things done.

At this presentation, Radmilla showed an abridged version of her film, “Hearing Radmilla.” It described her beginnings being raised by her very traditional grandmother, her experience of being bullied at Navajo schools and being called a jinny, which is a derogatory word for a mixed-race Black Navajo. That’s kind of unusual, but not as much as you might think.

Radmilla decided to come up with a new, non-derogatory word that would describe being mixed-race, but in a positive way that would honor both heritages. The word she (and an elder) came up with is Naahilii, which breaks down to:

Naa = those who came across (overcame)

hil – dark and calm

ii – oneness.

Over at the left is Diana Fletcher of the Kiowa tribe. Anyway, I think this positive re-naming is really beautiful, and it’s a concept that should be exported to all tribes so that they have an inclusive word for the many Native folk who belong to more than one race. Now it's not like Radmilla just sits around reminicing about her glory days as Miss Navajo Nation - she's got her movie out, she's working on campaigns to address domestic violence and Native identity issues and she received a Grammy nomination for her album "Shi Keyah: Songs for the People" in the category of best regional roots. 

100 Mules for the LA Aqueduct's 100th Anniversary

Y'all, last weekend I got an unexpected treat. Jane and I headed over to the LA Equestrian Center with Greg and Sigrid and Sherri to celebrate the arrival of 100 very special guests. These mules walked down the length of the LA Aqueduct to commemorate it's 100 year anniversary. Notice I didn't say "celebrate." The Owens Valley got the bad end of that deal. 

It ain't often you get to see 100 of any kinda critter together like that, and even though they might'a beena bit shy of 100, it was still something to see. After they showed off their synchronized walking routines, the skinners removed their packs in record time and they got the opportunity to frisk around, roll in the dirt and enjoy some "horseplay." I had such a terrific time watchin' them mules cavort, I'm still smiling. Now I can't wait for Memorial Day weekend for Mule Days in Bishop.

Last Weekend for Cirque-a-Palooza

The  historic Pasadena Playhouse has taken a significant departure in its offerings this summer by presenting "Cirque-a-Palooza." Instead of intimate plays and single-performer showcases, this production very loosely based on the material and performances popularized by Cirque du Soleil, features a huge cast, sideshow performances, magic and juggling and acrobatics and much, much more. It has a special appeal to families with young children and affordable ticket prices. Unfortunately, this is the last weekend to enjoy this very special opportunity in the beautiful setting of the Pasadena Playhouse..

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013
ROAD TO PALOOZA: A CIRQUE VARIETY SPECTACULAR
8:00 p.m. - Mainstage
BILLY'S UNSPEAKABLE ACTS
8:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre
WET THE HIPPO
10:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013

TEN WEST
12:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre
STUDIO ZANNI
2:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre
AMY G.
4:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre
GRAND GUIGNOLERS
6:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre
ROAD TO PALOOZA: A CIRQUE VARIETY SPECTACULAR
8:00 p.m. - Mainstage
BUTT KAPINSKI
8:30 p.m. - Makineni Library
GRAND GUIGNOLERS
10:00 p.m. - Carrie Hamilton Theatre

Tickets to all CIRQUE-A-PALOOZA shows are available at The Pasadena Playhouse box office, online or by calling 626-356-7529.

Congratulations to Harold Kast

Last night the La Cañada City Council honored my friend,  17-year-old junior assistant Scoutmaster  Harold Kast, for earning every merit badge there is. That's right. Every one of them. Harold's dad Martin, Scoutmaster of Troop 509, chartered by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, simply explained it the best, "There have been 110 million Scouts in the past century, he explains, and only 190 have earned every available merit badge. That's one in a million; Harold is one in a million." Now that he is, and I ain't sayin' so just because of this badge thing. Harold is one of only three youths in the 103-year history of the organization to have as many as 135, according to meritbadgeknot.com, which tracks, verifies and celebrates the achievements. He had an edge there - they didn't used to have so many of them. 'Course Harold earned his Eagle when he was just 14, and his sisters set the bar pretty high too - it's a committed scouting family - so he really had to distinguish himself. And that he did. Harold's turning 18 in a couple of weeks, takin' off for Fullerton in the fall, and I, for one, can't wait to see what happens next for young Mr. Kast.

Aloha Hula Ho'ike 2013

Last weekend, we were lucky enough to be the invited guests of Susan McLeod and her husband Jerry Smith  to Aloha Hula Ho'ike 2013 at the Orpheum Theater downtown. The Orpheum has had a major makeover and looks great, by the way. The Ho'ike showcases the work of the Aloha Hula Dance Studio in Granada Hills where Susan has been taking lessons over the past few years. What an amazing show - 300 dancers on the stage and around 2,000 people in the audience. Three hours of Polynesian dance. All the girls did a terrific job - even the little teenies. I was pleased that a lot of boys are getting into dance - dance class was one of my favorite things as a youngster, and boy did I take some heat for it. Good to see things are changing. Of course, the best offence is an awesome Haka -  just ask the New Zealand All-Blacks. 

The San Dimas Ho'olaule'a is comin' up on June 8-9 and it goes to support the San Dimas Canyon Nature Center

Zombie Jake

Now folks, I'm an old-fashioned kinds guy, so when I think about zombies, I'm liable to be thinkin' of old-school zombies. The ones that are the thralls of some voodoo witch doctor in a Caribbean paradise. These new-fangled animated corpses and the quick-moving vampire-zombie hybrids are alright, I guess, but it just ain't the same thing.

But none o' that prevented me from zombie-ing it up for a music video yesterday. The artist is Tim Hicks and the song is, I believe, Hell Raisin' Good Time. And me and the other zombies had exactly that. Wishing every success to Tim as well - he and the whole crew were a pleasure to work with.

 

California Institute of Abnormal Arts

Folks, I'm almost ashamed to say that I ain't heard of the California Institute of Abnormal Arts until last night, when Jane, Sigrid and Greg "forced" me into goin' out for dinner and a show. An old acquaintance  of ours, Zamora the Torture King, was making a rare L.A. appearance. That's him over at the right. Eatin' fire. He also swallows lightbulbs, walks on broken glass, lies on a bed of swords while having a cinder block smashed on his chest; all of those old sideshow acts - he's done it.

Joining Zamora was one of his co-stars from Knott's Scary Farm, Dr. Odd. Mike Odd is also the lead vocalist of Rosemary's Billygoat. He's been studyin' up on the snake oil, though, and has apparently invented some sort of tonic. Or maybe it's an elixir. Anyway, if it don't cure you, it'll surely kill you. Either way, problem solved. Dr Odd's electric chair short circuted during one of his therapy sessions (below) but he seemed just fine. Probably on account o' all that "medicine."

Now the California Institute of Abnormal Arts, [CIA] which is nestled among the head shops and auto repair places in North Hollywood, is the brain child of one Carl Crew. Carl, much like myself, likes his entertainment with a sideshow twist, and that's why he's known as "The Barnum of Burbank Boulevard." His institute has the look of a Wunderkammer, or an old-time museum, and the performance space is kind of a circus tent / burlesque stage / speakeasy with broad strokes of pirate-clown set dressing.

Going through the gate (Carl handles the tickets himself) he manages to personally meet and greet each person coming through the line. Unfortunately, his hand stamping device is a little old fashioned and it gives you a hell of an electrical shock and kicks up quite a racket. Maybe he'll just get an ink stamp some day, but I wasn't going to pay another $12 for in/out privileges. 

From there, you start through a creepy maze of semi-permanaet shrines, sitting areas, tiki bars and suchnot. A skinny cat popped out to meet up, and I got a fondness for the sort of casual atmosphere that encourages curious critters to put in an appearance. 

Anyhow, it was a great venue, a fun show and a terrific night out. It's kinda hard to tell, but over at the left, I'm hanging out with a Feejee Mermaid. Down below, I'm hangin' out with Mike Odd. Discerning readers will immediately be able to tell the difference. 

 

 

Public Piano Project at the Coyote Corner

Y'all know I'm a sucker for a street piano. Turns out the one in Joshua Tree really has some history behind it.

Poor thing is as flat as can be - could really use a tuning. Now the public pianos I'm familiar with are mostly the ones in LA left from last year's Play Me I'm Yours project so I had to turn to Wikipedia to get schooled about this one:

The Public Piano Project in Joshua Tree California began as a public grand piano Valentine Gift to the community in 1995 as the Self Serve Serenade by artist Piano Bob (aka Bob Fenger). In 2002 Piano Bob began a donated piano consolidation project building a weather proof outdoor piano from the parts of 3 pianos and installed April 2004 in front of Joshua Tree Health Foods. It was enjoyed by thousands of Joshua Tree National Park Visitors and locals for nearly 2 years and was reinstalled 20 April 2012 at the Coyote Corner Gift Shop in Joshua Tree as the first Public Prepared Piano. The piano is reminiscent of a Gamelan Orchestra prepared with everyday items such as coins, screws, paper mutes, wedged into the strings in a typical John Cage manner(inventor of the prepared piano in the 1940s also see Bob Fenger's Acoustisizer at Prepared piano 2.10). The Public Prepared Piano is the third phase of the Public Piano Project dedication to unknown closet pianists, art in public places, and instant drum circle fun around a keyboard. Through regular tuning and maintenance of the public pianos another opportunity presented itself for the public to observe, learn and interact with the total Public Piano Project experience. Questions like: how long does it stay in tune outside? The short answer: the colder the better the more in tune. The fact that Joshua Tree is in the High Desert above Palm Springs with many 100 degree plus days in the summer gave numerous opportunities for tuning, sharing and exchanging ideas. The artist's stated intention: 'The Public Piano Project creates momentary beauty thoughts and ideas that resonate out across fields, parking lots and sidewalks. It invites others to play along and gives way to song and laughter, accidental bonding and new friends; even possibly an ephemeral center of insight and change'. On 21 December 2012 Piano Bob launched his fourth phase of the Public Piano Project with the Prepared and Unprepared dueling pianos for peace at the Joshua Tree Hospice. Public Piano Locations Public Piano Tour Pictures 2007.