Creativity

Creativity.

It’s amazing how therapeutic making something from just an idea can be. I recently resumed painting for the first time in decades. And this past week I arranged some music recording with some friends.

The results are not quite studio quality gems, but the process is so fulfilling and rewarding. Arranging, layering and nuance all add to the finished project. Outtakes are hilarious. And sometimes you find your voice when you thought it was lost.

And now I may get a chance to get on stage and perform.

The Clothes Make The Man

I’ve always loved sports. Playing. Spectating. Reading of. Writing about. I’ve also always been fascinated by uniforms. The identity of a team. The pride that comes from wearing a shirt that says ‘Portland’ or ‘Boston’ or Catlin Gabel’ or ‘Jefferson’.

I currently live in the Jefferson district in Portland. Several blocks straight down the street. I also belong to an organization called the 107 Independent Supporter’s Trust (107ist). This organization is the machine behind the Timbers Army here in Portland. They represent the interests of the fans at large, plan events, build community trust and make the match-day experience that much better.

They also do a whole lot of good in the community.

Jefferson High needed some help and the 107ist got word of it. Over the past month the 107ist has worked to generate funds for equipment, uniforms, practice gear, etc for Jefferson’s neglected soccer program.

Uniforms.

My fascination with uniforms has led to a sort of hobby/business for me. I have equipment to stitch or heat press logos, letters, numbers, etc. onto shirts. Professional quality. I’ve produced uniforms for a growing number of adult soccer teams, but this was my first opportunity to help my local school. I couldn’t say no.

As of now the uniforms are half complete. Numbers adorn the bright blue backs of the clean Nike uniforms we are providing. I am still waiting on the graphic ‘JEFFERSON’ to put on the front. I remember what it was like in high school to get that brand new uniform to represent the team. I always loved wearing them. I still do. Funny thing this uniform obsession.

I am looking forward to seeing the Jefferson kids take pride in their school and community when they don these shirts for the first time. Those are special moments. I am thankful to be a part of it.

Where Have I been?

I apparently fell off the face of the earth.

Now it may be time for me to reappear. I've got a lot of thinking to do and that may come with some new writing. We'll see. I've also been taking a lot of pictures so check out my flickr page when you get a chance.

Hope

Pete Seeger, the father of American Folk Music, has played before on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In protest.

What a wonderful thing to see him singing this song with his grandson and with Bruce Springsteen and with a rousing chorus full of joy and hope, the great anthem of America, Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land".

Seeger has strived all his life for justice for all humanity. He is a treasure of America. An America that at one time disowned him. Through it all he's led a life of service and dignity and hope. I am so thankful that he was included at Sunday's concert and that he, at 89, showed us all the unifying power of song.

Great moments are born of great opportunity. That is the message of these days. We can do better because we must do better. We must do better. We must.

The King And I

Roy Hobbs was The Natural.

Roi is the French word for King.

Brandon Roy is often referred to with the title, The Natural, and he just took his place in Blazers Royalty with a 52-point performance on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Roy is a gifted basketball player. He can score, shoot, pass, defend, handle the ball, penetrate and create his own shot. He has no weakness. He doesn’t make many mistakes and the ones he does are minor. He has a superior basketball mind and is tough mentally to take over games.

I’ve been surprised by Roy at every turn. Coming out of the University of Washington (I hate UW) he had some promise but most of us didn’t know much about him. His teams at UW were very good his last two years and he was an All-American. He stayed in school for all four years and it showed when he reached the pros.

His rookie year he looked like a very solid, but unspectacular player. He did a lot of good things on the court, but I figured this was what he was. 17 points per game, decent shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 assists. Good numbers for the #2 guy on a team, which is what I figured he would be.

His second season, they turned the team over to him and almost all of his numbers improved. He made the All-Star team. Again, I said to myself that this was the best we’d see from Roy. He’d be just less than 20 points per game and just fewer than 5 rebounds and 5 boards. But he still wasn’t displaying the athleticism that most game-changing players provide.

I was so wrong about him.

This season he is taking the burden of this entire franchise on his back and he is thriving. 23.4 points per game, leadership, game changing performances night in and night out and he’s currently having the best stretch of any Blazers player since Clyde Drexler in the early 90’s. Maybe the best stretch ever. I didn’t think he had another level to go to and he clearly does. I’m trying to find a single player to compare him to and am failing. There may not be a direct comparison available. He’s part Larry Bird, part Terry Porter, part Gary Payton, part Reggie Miller.

It’s so fun being a Blazers fan these days.

My Plan To Fix The Economy

I just sent the following to President Elect Obama's team. It's important to note that I do not address the politics of my plan. There will be lots of upset people whose only benefit would be a stable nation and economy (no big deal...) But the plan would work, I am confident of it.

"If there were a way to get the vast majority of mortgages in foreclosure to resume their monthly payments would it have an impact on the troubled economy?

There is a way to do this with prudent, responsible investment from the Federal Government in our banking institutions.

The premise is to use federal funds to create an endowment to assist both the banks and the troubled borrowers. The endowment would be invested in the banks that need capital to loan as normal. The interest generated by these deposits would be routed to the Fed to then assist homeowners in making their mortgage payments.

If we invested $400 billion dollars at 3.5% annually it would generate about $1.2 billion per month in interest. The interest would then be used to assist a troubled borrower in making their mortgage payment. If an average borrower is in need of an additional $500 to make their payments this investment could help over 2.3 million average borrowers. If a rate of return of 4.0% was possible, this investment could assist over 2.6 million average borrowers. The more money invested and the higher the rate of return the more troubled homeowners could be helped. Banks could even compete for these deposits by guaranteeing higher returns over time.

This program does not buy out a mortgage, nor does it make the homeowners entire payment. They are still making a monthly payment of what they can reasonably afford. This would just bridge the gap between what they owe and what they can pay.

This program would get the money flowing back into the bank on the front end, with both what the borrower can repay and what the program can do to cover the gap. Plus the banks receive the initial deposits to help them lend.

Over time, as property values stabilize and hopefully increase, participants would be offered refinance options to reduce their need for assistance and eventually be out of the program entirely. As assistance is reduced, the original investment could be withdrawn slowly and repaid to the Fed.

The risk to the taxpayer is small. The benefit to our economy is massive. People keep their homes, their jobs and their dignity, banks have money to lend and have vastly fewer mortgages in default."

B!

Time For Thanks

The list, in no particular order:

Freedom: so much of our liberties have been under attack both as a consequence of our enemies and as a consequence of our own government. Enough. I like my freedom and I like yours too.

Portland: I love this city so much.

Family: I don't see or talk to them enough but I value each and every one of them.

The future: My hope and optimism is as high as it's been in decades.

Heather: What can I say about her. One of the greatest souls I've ever encountered. She lights me up.

Taste buds: I love good flavors so much.

Imagination: this one cognitive tool keeps me going sometimes.

Friends: keep me on my toes.

Timbers: one love.

Blazers: another love.

B!