Motley Blog

The prolific William O. Douglas is best known as the longest serving Supreme Court Justice. He was promoted from a leadership role in the new SEC, serving from 1939 through the resignation of Nixon(1975). Though a champion of the poor and an opponent of big business he is perhaps secondly best known as a wilderness conservationist.

In a famous dissenting opinion, 1972's Sierra Club v. Morton, Douglas once argued that trees had every much a bit a right to sue as any corporation. I hiked the area in question as a pre-teen boy scout, the Southern Sierra's Mineral King, within five years of that decision. I don't know the details, but I gather, dissenting opinion not withstanding, the Sierra Club did prevail.

Douglas was a fan of the Sierra Club - in 1961 he wrote a children's biography book entitled 'Muir of the Mountains' - a co-founder of the club. (Muir was from the same generation of conservationists as Teddy Roosevelt.) The book, suitable for pre-teens (give or take, I'm not an educator) chronicles the life of one of California's legendary characters and his dedication to wilderness conservation.

Although Lawyers, as a rule, are not necessarily the most creative of scriblers, the string of reasoning throughout Douglas's endeavors is one worthy of following. And this book is certainly a much better 'cookie' to place on the path of a youngster than those left by Hansel and Gretel.

The book was re-published in 1993 by the Sierra Club. It is currently out of print, but available from Amazon, used.

I'm not a William O. Douglas scholar, so I can't really compare this book to others regarding or by this influential, Washington State born, American.

However I did find this particular collection of well introduced writings both entertaining and educational. O'Fallon takes a broad selection of his writing ranging from commentaries on the fly fishing advice of Izaak Walton to Supreme Court opinions regarding civil rights in the 1960's. His stories of growing up in the NW are also worthwhile.

Douglas was not without flaws - you could say he epitomized the cliche 'Soviet State of Washington'. You could also say he was a womanizer and I'd bet drink had an influence on his life. But he was very definitely very much a man of his times and his influence is still with us today.

Mr. O'Fallon is with the University of Oregon Law School, recognized as one of the nation's best on the subject of Environmental Law. I highly recommend this book, as well as the near Seattle William O. Douglas Wilderness.

FLOOD

By Andrew Vachss

1985

Vachss, as a writer, is a reincarnation of the a 1950's noir pulp P-I scribbler, but with a twist. His P-I, Burke, has been the subject of 17 books, most recently 'Terminal', also reviewed locally, I believe in the Times.

'Flood' is the first in the series. Floods as a metaphor carry a lot of weight with me. I'm a whitewater kayaker, by sport, and coming of age in Eugene the most dramatic moments of this California boy's NW winter were spent paddling the swollen rivers of the Coastal Range. My favorite book of all time is Eugene native Ken Kesey's 'Sometimes a Great Notion' inspired most likely by that same river. Enjoying the adrenaline rush of Grand Canyon quality whitewater with unavoidable concern for the residents of the 'flooded' homes is as memorable as one's most imprinting sexual encounters.

'Great Notion' was definitely also about sexual politics - and that is the twist that Vachss brings to his P-I books - all 17 of them deal, in some fashion, with childhood victims of sexual abuse seeking revenge. As Bogart would no doubt tell you the risks of dealing with the Femme Fatal are many - but in this case Vachss handles those twists in a manner that is both responsible and emminently entertaining. The simple moral of this story is that carrying a gun in your purse is not necessarily an unfemine thing, but I'll leave the rest to you.

Now, as to that girl who's father wrestled with Kesey in college (and whose logging family father's relationship with her mother may well have been an inspiration) - I wish I had been as good a communicator as Kesey, or Vachss, (now my number two favorite writer), when we had had a chance.

I'll leave the rest on that one to you too.

I, ROBOT

by Isaac Asimov

1950

Also a 2004 movie starring Will Smith

Watching Will Smith's 'I, Robot' was strangely revealing. I had read the book when I was quite young, 12, give or take. The realization of the impact the book has had on my life was quite shocking - all the more so when you consider the nature of the plot.

Writing in 1950 the case could easily be made that Asimov was extrapolating the warnings of Eisenhower and others regarding the military industrial complex into their manifestation with computer, and 'robotic' (a word Asimov is credited with coining') technology. As you will recall the movie explores the potential risks of even a responsible implementation of 'motive' computing technology. His foil was a doubting aquaintance of the inventor, Will Smith's gritty detective character.

The 'Three Laws of Robotics' are the 'hardwired' safeguards built into every robot. What surprised me watching this movie was realizing that Asimov, a crafty secularist, had 'programmed' me to respond to the military industrial complex?

Go figure.

BTW - Asimov died of tranfusion contracted Aids, a fact not publicized. He was born as a Russian Orthodox Jew, his parents emigrating before he learned to speak the language. He was trained as a Chemist and worked both as an engineer and a University Professor starting during WW2.

Decline of the Pacific Madrone

From a conference at the Center for Urban Horticulture (UW)
Edited by A.B. Adams and Clement Hamilton

1995

Unfortunately the Center for Urban Horticulture is best known as the victim of an alleged eco-tourist attack (never rule out some smart counter-terrorism on these sorts of things). It should be best known as the agricultural extension agent for 21st century environmentalism. Their staff is very helpful on questions relating to the health of the urban environment - for everyone from the most sanguine and connected landscape professional to the lay home owner with an avocational expertise.

Like it's publisher this book may also have more presence negatively than that positively earned. It is true that Madrones have suffered some locally - but this book investigates that question to positive result. Madrones,(related to Rhododendrons) are beautiful, unique, and native can be successfully planted.

In fact it is quite possible that the sick trees seen are soley the side effect of making them visible. When a stand is revealed by the construction of a nearby road roots can be disturbed, something the trees are sensitive to (they also don't transplant well from the wild, once established). In addition the bark is sensitive to light, more so if it has grown in the shade and then is exposed. A tree that thanks to that same clearing is now on the edge of the forest may develop problems from such. The only real bad news is that the distinctive red bark is a sign of stress - it is not necessarily fatal, but too much can be a bad sign.(It shows a weaker protection against disease penetration)

Many trees can also be quite spindly, with little foliage, except at the very top. This is an effect of growing in a denser forest and the competive stress of same can lead to a less healthy tree, as it does in many species.

A little bit of spindliness can be quite attractive, like some of the trees in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood. My personal observation is that the form of these trees is most likely a remnant of their youth, prior to the development of the boulevard. In a sunny spot and well drained soil a Madrona should thrive.

The conference that inspired this collection was brought about by the actions of the Magnolia neighborhood. I haven't been there lately, but I do recall one of the test plots, near the main Discovery Park parking lots. The success of these trees, as well as the grand old fellows (and ladies) of Magnolia Boulevard is perhaps the best testimony to the accuracy of this research and its ability to stand the tests of time.

Per the Center for Urban Horticulture the trees are available at least through these sources:

Burnt Ridge Nursery in Onalaska, WA
http://burntridgenursery.com/search/searchprods.asp
Forest Farm in Williams, OR
http://www.forestfarm.com/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=arme095
wholesale nursery Fourth Corner Nurseries in Belllingham, WA
http://www.fourthcornernurseries.com/PlantDetail.asp?Symbol=ARME

BOOM

A discussion of the book with

Author Tom Brokaw

Moderator David Brewster (Founding Team Member of the Seattle Weekly and Crosscut)

Available for Download from TVW

David Brewster and Tom Brokaw are both big fishes in their respective ponds - Brewster in the world of local alternative weeklies and Brokaw as a long term top dog of the news team at 30 Rock. One might think Brokaw to be a big fish in a bigger pond, but Brewster is a bit more of a pioneer, and at least in Seattle may have more influence than Brokaw. As to the rest of the region their influence may be relatively equal.

Like my Parents Brewster and Brokaw are not technically 'Boomers', born before the war, but to young to have worked during it. Their leadership in that history, as well as the differing approaches towards journalism, makes for a very interesting discussion.

Alternative weeklies, including Brewster in Seattle are an experiment in journalism - dropping the pretense of inpartiality for advocacy journalism (turf the bloggers may yet win). Brokaw, in comparison follows the tradition of Cronkite and Murrow in attempting to be objective. Their discussion from those two perspectives from two top players at the top of their game is as interesting as the discussion of the baby boomer generation.

I'll leave it up to you to decide who is the more impressive. I do think though that from the perspective of politics in America (Brewster is unashamedly pro-Democrat) Brokaw wins hands down.

FWIW I haven't read either of Brokaw's two books, I do think I know the story already and don't have the time to rehash. They are both on my list though, and hopefully at some point I will - perhaps if I should ever be so fortunate to have a couple of children of my own - 21st century boomers or busters, however the case may be.

Jews of the American West

Edited by Moses Rischin

From a 1986 Conference at the University of Denver

1991

I'm 50% percent german, ethnically, on mom's side. Growing up in California I was raised to be totally clueless about german/jewish tensions. One of mom's closest friends was jewish and her son was very good friends with both my brother and I. His older sister was one of my first major crushes in puberty, probably for the best though that I didn't act on it.

One of my strongest memories from going to school back east was attempting to flirt with a Jewish girl during my Freshmen year and getting totally shot down. Nothing particulary dramatic, save for the realization on my part as to what was going on.

Based on my experiences in Seattle I dug up this book. It makes virtually no reference to Seattle and only a few passing one's to Portland. The book did provide a scholarly confirmation to my own experience - California Jews are the most integrated in their communities.

Descriptions of some of the in-fighting among competing organizations is a bit mundane, but it sets the stage for a much more interesting debate. Prior to WW2 there was a major Jewish 'anti-zionist' movement in America, based in San Francisco. The basic philosophy was that jews here should see themselves as americans first and drop all the old european divisiveness. In it's day it was perhaps dominant, however given Hitler and the formation of Israel it's arguments lost sway almost completely.

Also interesting are the discussions about intermarriage.

I won't go into my Jewish experience in Seattle, save to say it was not positive. It would be interesting to discuss same with some of the contributors to this volume, if I had the time for such things. I do have Jewish friends from LA that I met back east whom I think were as clueless, or nearly clueless, as I. That's a conversation I do hope to have.

FWIW my mother's family was part of the same german immigration wave that brought the first german jews to America - many of whom also ended up in California. Go figure.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

By Alexander McCall Smith

1998

Rhodesian born European McCall Smith somehow channels Oprah Winfrey into an entrepeneurial African Native in a successful emerging free market democracy. Mma Ramotswe is a businesswoman, make no doubt about it. And her P-I business gives McCall Smith a platform of social commentary.

One of those lessons is that men are dogs, and this can be tiring in traditional english literature. However these flaws are well presented here. I'm not enough of an African expert to say whether the profile of character here is one central to the success of this African nation, but if so, this is truly a guiding work.

Certainly quite the opposite effect to what Christine Gregoire is doing to the State of Washington right now.

Cops, Crooks, and Politicians

By Neil W. Moloney

With a foreword by Former Governor John Spellman

1993

This book is not quite the tell all that the title promises, however for those concerned with public safety, post WW2 corruption, or Pacific NW history this is a must read.

This is a cop's story of an uncompleted investigation, starting with a 1954 murder of a Seattle Police Officer in a Greenwood neighborhood bank robbery. The perpetrators were Canadians, apparently connected.

The author, former chief of the Seattle PD, Port of Seattle, and the Washington State Patrol, started his career about this time. He rose to the top ranks in the 1974 corruption scandals, a story he also addresses.

He doesn't name American names, or at least new ones. He does talk at great length about Canadian corruption and implies that there are similarities in 'practice' on this side of the border.

One name he mentions a lot, and seems to like, is former US Attorney Brock Adams who did his best to prosecute the case. Curiously this book was written not long after Adam's disgracement on no evidence.

Reading between the lines the names not said would be Norm Maleng and the Judges of King County, to start. Moloney though is a good cop, and states only those conclusions that he can back up.

It is up to the reader to bring their own experience to the story - and to ask themselves whether those same corrupt practices continue - or, as more likely, reinvent themselves.

The Moral Center

By David Callahan

2006

Callahan rose to notice in America with his early 2004 book 'Cheating Culture' where he makes the case that America has been taken over by those who dishonestly make their living - on the right and left.

'Moral Center' is his 2006 post election reflection on solutions for that problem.

I knew Callahan as an undergraduate (where Brock Adams was Trustee, in addition to his duties as US Secretary of Transportation). Callahan was on the political track while I was a economist into divestiture and workplace democracy. But we did have the chance to have several worthwhile conversations - my strongest memory is noticing that he was getting letters published in the New York Times on a regular basis. Definitely someone worth talking with, and hopefully I for him.

I'll leave his solutions to you, but let me extract his quoting of FDR for your thought.

Roosevelt was masterful at laying claim to the ideals of self-creation and personal liberty through hard work. In his 1936 speech to the Democratic Convention, Roosevelt decried industrial barons who had imposed a "new despotism", and said that "the average man once more confronts the problem that faced the Minute Man." He exhorted America to fight a "new industrial dictatorship" that crushed "individual initiative". FDR than spelled out his vision of freedom: "Liberty requires opportunity to make a living - a living decent according to the standard of the time, a living which gives a man not only enough to live by, but something to live for .....Today we stand committed to the proposition that freedom is no half-and-half affair. If the average citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity in the polling place, he must have equal opportunity in the marketplace."

Just prior to the conclusion of the book he quotes from another early 20th century leader, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

We can have concentrated wealth in the hands of the few or we can have Democracy. We cannot have both.

Rules of Attraction

By Bret Easton Ellis

1987

I was prompted to read this book by my recent review of the classic Christian Bale movie written originally by Ellis, 'American Psycho'.

This book, his first, was also turned into a movie, by the same name. I've seen it - my memory of it is positive, but no more distinct than that it reminded me of my first alma mater, Hampshire College. 'Rules of Attraction' as a book however has created quite a distinct memory. Excuse me while I indulge myself by recanting same - and restating some of his same 'rules' for your own pleasure and evolving judgement.

Ellis is a moralist wielding sexuality like a Shao Lin monk or Zen master wields a sword.