Make it Easy on Yourself

Certainly one of the most beautiful and powerful songs ever written. But never presented better than by Chris McNulty on her Whispers the Heart album. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1962 for Jerry Butler. But later made popular by the Walker Brothers and many others. It is the ultimate […]

Destination Pistachios

Theme from Route 66 ____________________________ There are destination places like the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, Ohio. Or the Taj Mahal for that matter. And there are also those rare few destination products. Their presence alone attracts people to them with the charm and image of a southern politician.It’s not hard to understand how these might […]

Annadel State Park / Sonoma

When I lived out in Santa Rosa from 1998 to 2002, the magnificent Annadel Park was right behind my home in the Valley of the Moon and I hiked every trail in the park. The music playing on my car radio when I first saw the Valley of the Moon was Seal’s Human Being. In […]

The Endless Colored Ways

The Songs of Nick Drake I’m just beginning to become a fan of Nick Drake. After listening to a few amazing pieces, I downloaded his latest album The Endless Colored Ways. It is made up of various artists influenced by Drake and their own interpretations of one of his songs. What more of an endorsement […]

Pascal

Suzanne Pascal / March 19, 1914 – September 24, 2021  Essence of the Sun / Nicola Conte and Spiritual Galaxy ____________________________________________ A friend of my mother’s was the famous painter and glass sculptress Suzzane Pascal. She lived a few blocks from our home in Beverly Hills and her glass studio was in the garage behind […]

Confessions of a Leading NextDoor Neighbor Poster

My Neighborhood in the Early Evening John Fraim Trepidation _________________________ “Absolutely amazing! So good to see a post on this sight with people not angry, not political, not rude, insensitive or ignorant. Thank you!” Message to the author from NextDoor Neighbor. Thanks to one of my NextDoor Neighbor messages above. It’s for these short little sentiments […]

The Two Generation Ticket

Backward Step ___________________ A Case For … A Two Generation Presidential Ticket And Two Generation Leadership of our Nation’s Future John Fraim It’s been interesting (and disturbing) that almost all the media attention has been on those running for president with hardly any talk about a vice-president. Many say – at a year out – […]

Flying Over Mt. Everest

“Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear – the earth remains, slightly modified … I sometimes choose to think that man is a dream, thought an illusion, and only rock is real. Rock and sun.” Edward Abbey  ___________________________ I’ve had a Mavic DJI drone for a few years and […]

Nyad

Mode for Trane __________________________ John Fraim Every once in a long while, an inspiring film somehow makes through the mess of zombie, horror, apocalyptic, depressing films that rule over much streaming today. Finding a great streaming film is not like the old days of broadcast TV programs listed neatly in TV Guide. It is more […]

The Jim Arter Freeway

The Backward Step / Nicholas Payton “Trust is letting your heart have the final say.” ______________________________________ Readers of Midnight Oil know I’ve written about my good friend Jim Arter. I met him when I was making a documentary film on the legendary jazz musician Gene Walker. Maybe 15 years ago. Jim knew Gene very well […]