In America, our children's attention is bombarded with images of wealthy (many times shamed) celebrity and rampant materialism. Who do our children have to celebrate: Michael Vick, Roger Clemens, Paris Hilton, Dick Cheney...? Add to this, the immersive nature and violence of video games, and to what do they have to aspire? Where are our science and technology heroes? Where are they celebrated? One Bill Nye the Science Guy is not enough. One Mythbusters show where some geeky guys and hot women blow things up, is not enough. The X Prize Foundation is headed in the right direction, but not enough.
IBM will sponsor a multi-million dollar golf tournament, or HP a Formula 1 team, or GM the Super Bowl, but it is the athletes who are celebrated, not the technologists behind the golf cubs, balls, racing engines, carbon fiber safety tubs and football helmets (which are saving athletes careers and lives). Thousands of corporations are spending billions of dollars sponsoring and helping us (and our children) celebrate and make important "the show" not the inventor, scientist and technologist who makes the show possible.
In my childhood, I had the Apollo and Gemini programs to follow. NASA was my team of choice and its astronauts, scientists and mission control staff my heroes. I spent hours in front of the TV watching mission controllers study their consoles with an occasional radio transmission from space or commentary from Walter Cronkite interrupting. Every Sunday night, as a family, we watched Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. We could always look forward to a National Geographic Special and Jacques Cousteau. Science was cool. At some point in our childhood, I remember the Vietnam War casualty report as the first news item every evening on the Huntley-Brinkley Report. My younger brother was playing with GI Joe dolls. What about the space program? Were my heroes all of a sudden not important anymore? War, gas crisis, protests. Sounds once again familiar…
I would say, the times affect the toys, what our children may believe, what they celebrate, to what they may aspire and ultimately their self-esteem. What have the Vietnam 60’s and 70’s contributed to our nation's self-esteem and our current American aspirations? This issue, the lack of interest in science and technology is one that was bred several generations ago. Susan Jacoby, author of “The Age of American Unreason,” calls it “anti-intellectualism” and “anti-rationalism.” The NY Times in its review of her book posts the headline, “Dumb and Dumber: Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?”
So what do we do? Do we make like Chinese parents and send our children to India for scientific educations? If we could afford it, maybe yes, but that will not solve America's self-esteem issues. The lack of substance to American celebrity and the bombardment of its folly present a challenge. The focus on war and a flawed presidency presents a challenge. Global warming, genocide and disease in third world nations barely get airtime and generate unwanted fear without means for Americans to emotionally contend and feel empowered to help. Our fixation on tainted celebrity is a diversion from these greater global troubles and lack of esteem, as individuals and Americans. Our national self-esteem is suffering and as our presidential primaries have illustrated, we need and want hope.
Leaders of American corporations, who wish to employ American children, who wish to help solve the problems of the world, who wish to inspire a greater good and who wish to rebuild American self esteem, need to look no further than this recent example of a nation politically ignited and motivated to change. This is an opportunity, a fulcrum point in the American psyche. There are openings everywhere in the media and business for new dialogs and courses of action. Technology (second only to and inspired out of the creative human spirit) is our greatest tool for change. Corporate leaders have an unprecedented opportunity to point their marketing dollars in new directions, toward celebrating the challenge solvers, the global warming coolers and cleantech pioneers. Create new opportunities for celebrity. Celebrate the inventor, the researcher, the teacher, the student and the pupil.
Every Fortune 500 corporation now has an opportunity to resurrect a classic formula and “Mutual of Omaha-lize” its marketing program. For every significant issue facing our planetary health, there stands a scientist or technologist working on a solution. Spend not just research money on these superstars, but marketing money. Every major chef in the USA has a PR specialist propagandizing on their behalf (and many a Food Network Show), why not scientists? All modesty aside: we are competing with Hollywood for our children’s attention. A corporation can take its "Formula One" money and easily underwrite a dedicated TV series to focus on any issue it likes. Brilliant researchers need to come out of the classrooms and labs and into our prime-time living rooms. There exist 10,000 “Marlin Perkins” in the wings, waiting to share their love of knowledge, research, technology and science.
This is a partnership with Hollywood, not an in-house production. It is a calculated risk by corporations to divert sports marketing dollars into “knowledge” marketing dollars. This is a promotion of the scientific muscle and ego on the grandest scale. Subtext reads: “Smart beats Strong,” nine times out of ten; “Smart is Cool” and “Science is Hip.” The real payoffs will be seen in a generation or two, when our children and their children have aspired to and actualized lives in the mold of their heroes. Meanwhile, corporations can take a bolder stand in the ways they promote themselves and the technologists who float their boat; and they can assume greater control over their brand presence. Making the short-term benefits more tangible? Well, that’s a creative pitch marketing departments will have to navigate with shareholders.
I’m looking forward to seeing “Microsoft’s Cavalcade of Tech All-Stars” coming to a local station soon. Narrated by Brad Pitt, of course!
2008.02.12
Obama Rally Pictures are up. To the right are some good natured Obama supporters holding bills to the door, attempting to bribe their way into the standing room only Key Arena. He was thoughtful enough to come outside to address us. I was lucky enough to glimpse him and snap a few pic's.
2008.02.07
Senator Obama is coming tomorrow, Friday the 8th, to speak at Key Arena at 11:00 AM. RSVP for this Event and get an opportunity to listen to the most inspiring presidential candidate since JFK. No word yet from our Fired Up Team on whether they can assemble in time to play the event.
The most critical event in the nomination process comes this Saturday. Our primary election (it is an "advisory election") has no bearing on delegate selection for the Democratic National Convention. Saturday's Caucuses do. So, find your local caucus and let your choice be known.
2008.01.29
The fruits of last week's labors can bee seen and heard in the video below. My appreciation for that day grows as I continue to reflect and tell the story of how Jon and Joe assembled this team and they collaborated to produce Fired Up, Ready to Go. News is traveling around the Obama campaign and amongst supporters across the USA. even Canadians (apparently they would appreciate some change in our political landscape too) have been voicing their support in comment posts.
Band
Jon Bergevin - Piano, Musical Direction
Osama Afifi - Electric Bass
Matt Cameron - Drums (Pearl Jam)
Arturo Rodriguez - Latin Percussion
Frank Seeberger - Electric Guitar
Jessica Howard - Tambourine
Singers
Pastor Pat Wright - Lead Vocals and Choir Direction
Jake Bergevin - Lead Vocals
Grady A. Austin - Spoken Vocal and assistant choir direction
The Total Experience Gospel Choir
Sound Engineering
Chip Butters
Mark Yeend
Video Production
Neill Barham - Director and Editor
Paul Killebrew - Producer and Camera
Tony Tibbetts - Technical Advisor and Jib Arm Camera
Sean Orr - Camera
you can change the screen size by proportionally reducing the width and height parameters. In example, the next smaller size (if divided in fifths) would be 340 x 284 and the next smaller 255 x 213, and so on... keep subtracting 85 from the width and 71 from the height. Just remember to change both sets of width and height values in the code snippet.
2008.01.22
Yesterday, on Martin Luther King's birthday a group of us friends, some old, some new, assembled at the Columbia City theater to join in helping record and document the recording of the song Fired UP, Ready to Go. Organized in a few short days, by Jon and his brother Joe Bergevin, the all-day session included Matt Cameron, Arturo Rodriguez and the Mighty Pastor Pat Wright and her Total Experience Gospel Choir.
The event was inspired by and in support of Senator Barak Obama's candidacy for president. All services, facilities and equipment were donated. The song and eventual video will be made publicly available, free of charge. The intent is for this rousing song to become a regular feature on the obama campaign trail and toe-tapping reminder of the hope and promise Senator Obama inspires.
Pictures of the session are available here. Feel free to contact me for more information on the video release and print-ready images.
2007.12.15
I've taken some time to make a subset of my many Bonneville photos. These are all low-res (800 pix) exports from the unedited / uncorrected originals. There is also a subset of team photos and supporters posing with Russ in front of the car. This should make it easier for people to sort through the photos and find themselves or a picture in which they are interested. Contact me for high-res, print-ready images.
2007.11.29
The days are shorter, but the occasional stunning twighlight and holiday lights in the Market sometimes make up for it. Here's a shot from my balcony.
Russ and our land speed record success will be featured on G4 TV's Attack of the Show tomorrow evening at 7PM and 11PM (EDT/PDT). G4 is Comcast's gaming channel, no. 136 here in the Seattle area.
...Our American Challenge team (and pic') in the news. I'm hoping we can announce more (bigger) coverage soon.
2007.10.12
Bonneville proved radiant, challenging, sublime, humbling and triumphant. We (Russ Driving) set a new World (and Guinness Book) Stock Car Land Speed Record of 244.9 MPH. I've posted low-res samples of my raw files. [note: we are now managing access to the gallery. If you are interested in viewing or licensing pic's, contact me.
2007.10.04
The American Challenge Team is headed to the Bonneville Speedway next week. Russ has secured sponsorship from Autodesk and Chrysler's Dodge group. I'll be flying out on Sunday morning. We have the salt to ourselves Monday through Friday, though we expect to get the record breaking out of the way on Monday and Tuesday. Powered by our Arrington Engine we will likely push our last summer's record of 222+ MPH to over 240 MPH.
2007.09.24
Today the Cobi7 arrives. It will become part of the Dutch Bike Co's. stable. Look for us this weekend at Sustainable Ballard. The festival will be located in Ballard Commons Park and in the Ballard Public Library. Intersection of 22nd Ave NW and NW 57th Street. Be the first in Seattle to ride the amazing, giggle eliciting, Big Oil defying, team building wonder.
2007.09.20
Paris-Brest-Paris, August 24th: somewhere along the way back...
Mustering only enough energy to eat an energy bar and lay down on this bench – but not enough to let go of the wrapper or put it away (he'll need that energy to digest the bar), this participant steals a narcotic moment.
There is no alarm clock. From where does the voice arise, "it's time to get up and ride another 250 K before dinner?" many cyclists lay down for what they imagine ten minutes and find that an hour has drifted by. They are all school children wanting to sleep-in on a Saturday morning. The clock is running and most have given themselves generous schedules, but their bodies care not for a schedule. Every stop to pee, poop or eat becomes an invitation to nap. A flat tire – a call to nap. every roadside village celebration's picnic tables, Every warm pub, Every restaurant, Every bus stop, park bench and patch of dry roadside grass calls out. there are infinite places of worship for the somnambulant.
2007.09.08
Paris-Brest-Paris, August 24th: For four days throughout the North of France, 5000 randonneurs become heroes to the hundreds of thousands they pass along the way.
Alone with his toddler, a father kneels on a street corner, teaching her to wave as every peloton and individual cyclist passes. A husband, wife and son stand in their doorway cheering, "bon Courage," "bon Route," as the riders prove their muster against yet another hill. The family remains until dark; they eat and they return to the doorway, the son first to disappear (likely it's his bedtime). the couple remains side by side until late, standing vigil and now only quietly clapping and occasionally speaking words of encouragement, for it is very late and the rest of the neighborhood is sleeping. In those seconds, they bond with every rider who passes, they celebrate, they touch, they honor that rider's effort and love of cycling. They welcome them to their village and immediately say goodbye. They do this over and over. The scene is repeated in every town we pass.
2007.09.04
Paris-Brest-Paris, August 22nd: the courtyard is solemn and damp. every few minutes, it's more than damp and then the damp reclaims the mist, so in a moment of desperate optimism one can remark, that currently it's not raining. Is it midnight or is it three AM?
The courtyard hosts a museum of exotic bicycles. the dormitory which smells of a boys' high school locker room is an infirmary for the sleep deprived and saddle sore. The vast checkerboard of beds (foam mats with blankets on the floor of a meeting hall) paints a mosaic of the exhausted. There are murmurs, but few conversations. Ten to twenty assemble in a loose queue, as if waiting to cash in a lottery ticket, when one or two of hundreds of beds become available. These are the prime, precious hours for rest, yet the math dictates that as many that are here dreaming, there are likely five times as many still riding. They will sleep some other time, some other place. Some are littered throughout the cafeteria, some hidden under space blankets, many in all manner of strangely yogic poses on chairs tables and floors: mouths agape, necks crooked, arms akimbo. Others nap in country pubs with their heads propped on tables; others at bus stops, park benches, farm outbuildings, town squares and on foam pads along the roadside. Sleep overcomes riders readily and beckons at inopportune times, for all are on a schedule. Sleep competes with the need to eat and the will to finish. There is nothing more welcome, yet to acquiesce would imperil a rider's successful finish under the 90 hour limit.
2007.08.29
That departure day in Paris, Monday the 20th would be the last time we were dry for several days. We managed to document most of the PBP while driving, night and day, through the rain. The half-cup of water in my Left boot: a constant reminder of the weather.
2007.08.27
Right: the photo journalists and their trusty mule – BMW R1200 GS.
Arrived in Paris yesterday. Cycled the city with Gregg most of the afternoon. Hung out with Romain (our gracious host) and friends. Stayed awake as long as I could. We drank a few bottles of wine and chatted away the evening.
Woke up at 11 AM this morning and life seems perfect.
2007.08.13
Let's see: a map of France or the randonnee route may be a good idea. We'll likely be organizing our photos around GPS points. Look for a Google maps integration... may be a fun way to tell the story. Just to be safe I'll pick up a paper map tomorrow at Metsker maps. Nothing like an analog map and a sharpie to help navigate.
2007.08.12
In honor of our Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) venture over the coming weeks,
I have resurrected my favorite French Vacation theme song – Marseille,
by the Angels
