Solstice letter, June 22
Finding inspiration in sustainability, sports, and streaming
What I’m discussing today:
Intro: a quick note on my recent visit to Kauai. (Mahalo!)
Career updates
Max’s music moment: “Flying Chicken” by Hamilton de Holanda.
Upcoming gigs
Schwartz’s Sports Corner: The Valkyries, Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and KD’s trade to Houston
Forthcoming articles: lots to talk about. The Middle East, AI, capitalism, autism, gender and performance theory, and sustainability.
Recommendations: Three series, three documentaries, and three podcasts, in case you’re looking.
Intro:
I’m back from vacation on Kauai. During that time, Israel and Iran began fighting with ballistic missiles. It dawned on me that it was an attack on Hawaii that forced the United States into a world war it preferred not to wage. While I was poking around on Google Maps, I happened to notice the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands parked on the west coast of Kauai. As I was reminded in a conversation with family this week, “Death is always around the corner.”
As you embark on the first true week of summer, embrace the coming heat, but prioritize keeping a cool head while you do it. We must continue to live and thrive, even in the face of tyrannical governments, masked ICE-agents, and warring nations. Peaceful activism continues to be the modus operandi of positive American change. The “No Kings!” protests nationwide were a tremendous success, compared with a weak turnout at the Trump military parade. Chris Hedges talks in his recent book about how violent protests are used as an excuse for militaristic intervention by the state. Remember that before you throw a rock at a cop or vehicle and become a talking point for Fox. DON’T DO IT!!!
Hoping for peace, now and forever, in Iran, Israel, and Palestine.
Career Updates:
I recently started co-teaching a guitar class en Español. It’s a great challenge and it’s forcing me to teach and sing in Spanish. Although I have been slipping on practice recently, my Duolingo owl is usually pretty happy with me. (friend me if you want!)
I’ll be on tour with Robbie Fulks from November 11-22. You can see the exact dates on his calendar, or on mine.
Speaking of gigs, I just added about 20 to my website, and did a bit of a makeover. I’m doing all the Wordpress work myself these days, so, if you have any suggestions for improvement, please send them my way!!
I’m working on some music for my new band, Banjo Latino, in which I’ll be playing and singing mostly Cuban standards. The group had a recording session the other day to do some demos for gigs and festival showcases. Looking forward to working on arrangements for a full album!
Max’s music moment:
“Flying Chicken” by Brazilian bandolin player Hamilton de Holanda — recorded live at Dizzy’s earlier this month.
Sir, I was not familiar with your game. Great trio interplay on Hamilton’s solo. Featuring Chris Potter on tenor sax.
“Recorded live at the legendary Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, during the celebration of the club’s 20th anniversary, FLYING CHICKEN is a composition by Hamilton de Holanda that celebrates the adventurous, problem-solving spirit of his friend and sound engineer, Frango. Normally, chickens don’t fly. But after more than 20 years working together, Hamilton recognized his sound guy’s unique ability to soar—and wrote this frenetic piece inspired by the melodic motion of Choro and Jazz.” -description under video on Youtube
Upcoming Gigs:
6/24 — Playing bass at Bigfoot Lodge, 8-11 PM.
7/01 — Playing banjo at Bigfoot Lodge, 8-11 PM
7/08 — Playing banjo at Bigfoot Lodge, 8-11 PM.
Schwartz’s Sports Corner:
Monica and I recently had the opportunity to see the Golden State Valkyries play the LA Sparks. I’m a big fan of the W and of the new Valks: San Marino’s own Kaitlyn Chen got brought back on an emergency contract, and they had a great game against the Fever the other day, limiting Caitlin Clark to 11 pts on 3-14 shooting. Plus, our bench outscored theirs. I’m already loving this team!!!
Tonight is Game 7 of the NBA Finals, featuring the OKC Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Vegas has Indy +7 as of around 12:45 PST, so we’ll find out a few hours of now who will go home champs. Pascal Siakam has emerged with dominance we haven’t seen since he brought the Raptors a championship. Also, a recent video shows that Tyrese has not made a shot the entire series from the left side of the floor. What the Helly, Burton?!
While onstage Sunday at Fanatics Fest in NYC, Kevin Durant got traded to the Houston Rockets, now on the fifth franchise of his career. Phoenix gets back Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, and five second round picks. The crowd erupted in 50/50 boos and woos. As KD said immediately after re: his go-to gameday song, it’s “Raining in Houston!” SHEESH!
Forthcoming articles:
Attack on Titan, Israel/Palestine, and Cycles of Violence — takeaways from one of anime’s most compelling series, based on The Madagascar Plan
Giggin in the Desert: trying to “Light up the Blues” - on playing at the LA Greek Theater, high-stress environments, ego and respect, and the controversies of doing activism work
Ode to the life of Joe Hollis, coiner of the term “Paradise Gardening” — drawing inspiration from a believer in local, sustainable living
On Invisible Exceptionalities and The Curse of American Exceptionalism — on Judaism, Cubanism, and Invisible Disability
Removing our masks, weaving our costumes/customs — Lessons from Money Heist, The Rehearsal Season 2, first judgements of autistic individuals, and the hypocrisy of ICE agents being faceless
SANCTIFY THE MIND: how creative media is depicting a future with AI — a comparative review of TV shows including Altered Carbon, Attack on Titan, Pantheon, Pluto, Severance, The Last of Us, and Three-Body Problem, that center brains, intelligence, and the future of humanity.
Three-Pillar Identity Theory: Choice, Execution, and Moderation — disputing old conceptions of “divine” energies and bigoted gender roles
Recommendations:
Series:
The Studio, Season 2 (Apple TV) — watch what happens when an insecure film executive, played by Seth Rogen, fumbles his way through Hollywood.
The Rehearsal, Season 2 (HBO Max) — Nathan Fielder’s new season explores aviation safety and the FAA, autism, and issues with bureaucracy.
Money Heist (rewatch) (Netflix) — one of the most successful international streaming shows of all time, this is a compelling tale capturing the Professor’s militaristic effort to keep their resistance non-violent, while the state and activists fight for favor in the court of public opinion.
Docs:
The Greening of Cuba — what happens when an embargoed isle moves from pesticide reliance to organic and oxen
Cuba…History Will Tell — the story of Huber Matos, a former educator recounts his betrayal after trying to steer Fidel Castro and the revolution away from communism.
Paradise — in his dying days, longtime herbalist and coiner of the term ‘paradise gardening,’ Joe Hollis passes his land and legacy down for others to learn from
Podcasts:
The Necessary Conversations Pod — a family does its best discussing current events.
Conversations with Coleman — The Roots of Iran’s Nuclear Program w/ Mark Dubowitz (The Free Press)
The Copernic Affair (from Canadaland) — the aftermath of a terrorist attack against Jews in France results in the charge in-absentia of a Canadian sociology professor, Hassan Diab.
