The View Looks Good From Here, Fresno

episode 40 of tvlgfhf

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:36:00 +0000

Episode 40 of tvlgfhf features Malcolm Sosa from Rademacher. We discuss

the Super Badass Thanksgiving Concerts
the Smeds clan
Babyhawk
Vince C.
the Thanksgiving season

Someone might be offended, so keep that in mind.

episode 39 of tvlgfhf

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:00 +0000

oh yeah! we're back with a new episode featuring our friend mike wise. we three went to fresno magazine's "best of fresno" party, enjoyed ourselves, and our talking about the list, the event, and more. and, as always, we asked mike if he would prefer to die in a shark attack or a bear attack.

enjoy the goodness. be warned of language that might possibly make you upset.

november undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:55:00 +0000

Ed: Environmentalism in the valley is a hot topic, both socially and politically. Really, we draw people like Sean Hannity and Paul Rodriguez to the valley just to talk, somewhat uninformed at times, about water. We grow food for the world, but that process contributes to the poor air quality of the valley. And lately, the politics of environmentalism intermixed with the politics of neighborhood and art in Fresno. While we won't recap the whole drama, the mural on Neighborhood Thrift Store featured a woman, made of water, with the San Joaquin Valley flowing from her mouth. It flowed to scenes of farms being worked and to the city. As the mural progressed the artist changed the piece to have the water (and her mouth) damned up, but flowing from a grate on her neck. Water is life in the valley. And let us not forget the signs along 99 that inform us 'where water flows, food grows.' The valley should be at the front of environmental discussion however, we are woefully at the back consistently sticking our heads in the sand. We ignore years of drought and water lawns like there is no tomorrow. Farmers sell off their water rights for the construction of more tract homes. We demonize people that support environmental causes like restoring salmon runs in the valley and protecting endangered species like the Delta Smelt. And the biggest city in the valley still isn't using water meters, although they are slowly in the process of installing them for future use. How can we cultivate a culture in Fresno and the valley that is willing to examine how we are using our environmental assets properly, while still working to stimulate businesses?

Adam: Transparency and education. There’s a lot of partisanship going on. Taking everyone back to their SATs, Republican : Democrat :: Agriculture : Environmentalism. Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s always aligned that way but I’d say a large percentage is. And I’d say that a big part of that is the nature of how political parties engage and co-opt issues affecting their constituencies. I think that the water issue would be oh so much simpler if it were removed from the world of politics but that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon, if ever. But, what I think could really help the issue is for people to count to 10, take a deep breath and attempt to engage the opposition, or at the very least attempt to understand and empathize with their position. All too often there’s a lot of finger-pointing and shouting, so we end up with some cathartic debate but no one budged from their initial position.

Ed: That’s a good recommendation, Adam. I mean, I even remember Paul Rodriguez getting into a shouting match with another man here in Fresno over water and representing farm workers that almost escalated to a physical confrontation. That’s not what we need, at least in my opinion. We do need clear discussion of the issue, whether it is water, pesticides used, housing development, or the cars we drive. Sadly, it seems that there are few that are willing to really engage at that level, and even fewer that are willing to actually implement it in their lives. I mean, I can talk a good game about conserving water and how farmers need to balance with environmental needs, but it’s all bull hooey if I take a forty five minute shower every day before I jump in my car alone to drive across town. At some point we all need to implement environmental change in our lives. What practical changes do you think the average Fresnan, as well as the city of Fresno can implement?

Adam: Well, there are the obvious answers that get mentioned a lot. Xeroscaping is a big one; making sure that the plants in your yard need little to no watering. Cut back on your water usage from dish washing to showers to low-flow toilets to hosing off your driveway to making sure your sprinklers are working and aimed the right direction. Try to buy things that are local and/or in season. It reduces shipping of products from out of the valley, cutting down on pollution and fuel usage among other things. What things would you recommend besides those?

Ed: Reading local blogs, because those out of town blogs pollute your mind. Just kidding. I actually think that what the city can actually do would be to accelerate the pace of bringing water meters on line and force people to actually pay for what they use. I’m betting that when people are faced with the prospect of less money in their pocket they’ll rethink their water usage. Individually I’d encourage Fresnans to walk or bike somewhere once a week instead of driving.

episode 38 of tvlgfhf

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:38:00 +0000

it's a double dip week, but you'll love the results. Adam and Ed are joined in episode 38 by Ceilidh Benoit to talk about Green Eggs and the Met coming up this Friday.

we talk about:
what Green Eggs and the Met is
the art of Dr. Seuss
how it came about
the huge amount of community involvement
the bands that are playing
and we throw her a curveball question at the end

Enjoy. And, go the Met on Friday, October 30 from 8-12 for Green Eggs and the Met.

http://www.fresnomet.org/greeneggs

episode 37 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:43:00 +0000

we snuck back into the studio to record a new podcast for you. in episode 37 we're joined by boney beasely of the argyle pimps, and nick nocketback sits in for a while as well. we talk about

-where boney is from
-how boney got into hip hop
-the genus of the argyle pimps
-nocketback's song - the girls look so good
-avoiding or embracing schtick
-the state of hip hop in fresno
-shark vs bear
-plugs

forgive us as the audio is a little buzzy. we'll do better.

october undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:13:00 +0000

Ed: Education. It’s a weighty topic. And, it would be easy to sit back and take pot shots at the education system. But, we here at the View Looks Good from Here, Fresno choose not to do that. Instead, we would like to celebrate educators and the education system. They face immense challenges and more than make due. From elementary to university, it seems like schools are operating on a shoestring budget. Priorities seem scrambled at times, but maybe we’re just not aware of the whole situation. Perhaps we are taking it easy on education because we both have worked in educational institutions in various capacities. Or, maybe we just like to look at the sunny side of life. Maybe it is due to the fact that we had relatively good educational experiences. Whatever the reason, we’re not here to criticize. So what do we want to talk about Adam?

Adam: Our educational system is shit! The whole system is bunk and in need of a massive overhaul! Just so we're clear, those are potshots, not criticisms (I'd probably know that a potshot is a criticism if it weren't for my public education). I kid, I kid. No really, I have baby goats. But now I'm way off track; like kids on a year round schedule. No, real kids, not baby goats. Remember year round schedule? Those were the good old days when your parents had to negotiate to get you on the same track as your siblings so that the whole family could take a vacation together; in February. But let's be serious for a moment. Ed, what's your favorite syllable in the word education?

Ed: I went to a year round school, and I turned out fine. My favorite syllable in education is the first one. I'm curious about learning, and not just from an educational standpoint. How do we test the information we're given? I remember a Rage Against the Machine song that started with the line, "The classroom is the last room to get the truth." Now, obviously that is a very jaded perspective. Or perhaps it's a very honest one. How do we decide what is the truth about the information we receive? I mean, obviously I accept everything that is in the Undercurrent as gospel, but what about the Bee? Are they educating me about the world around me with truth or is it something a little less?

Adam: Well now you're charting in new waters! I'd argue that news media is less about education and more about the creation and dispersal of information. I suppose in a broad sense you could call it education in that it may still have a formative effect but I think that it's not nearly as intentional as something like schooling or parenting. To put it another way, how one interprets and applies the information given by the newspaper or nightly broadcast would be informed by one's education and previous understanding of the world. But this is all semantics. You know you can't trust the Undercurrent to get it right. They let us write for them!

Ed: Touche, my friend. I bring up the news industry as a source of information/education because I read a recent opinion column that was filled with verifiable facts about an issue that was also calling into question the handling of the issue by another news source. It intrigued me, the idea that one source was essentially saying, "You're right about the issue, but you're not telling the whole story." It's this sort of thing that brings me to the point where I believe that newspapers/stations have become the de facto educators for a large portion of society. Should we challenge this, and if so, how?

Adam: I don’t think we should challenge it. I think we should foment it. We should build on it. This is not to say that I believe news media should be the sole source for educational material but more people, in more places should be engaging in open dialogue with one another; hearing another side and being open to the idea that the ideas we hold about the world may in fact be wrong. If that comes by way of a newspaper, then so be it. In fact, I don’t believe that enough news sources are actively engaging in sharing a balanced perspective. But then again, I’m a commie socialist as Glenn Beck might suggest and I think that too many news sources are inclined to make money on the capitalist model more than they are inclined to inform a social ethic or morality. Who cares about the long term when you can make millions misinforming the short term?

episode 36 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:11:00 +0000

We're on a roll again, and this time the fellas from the View Looks Good From Here, Fresno sit down with 2 of the authors of picturefresno.blogspot.com. Sara, Barbara, Adam and Ed talk about:
picturefresno.blogspot.com
how it came about
how it all works
what you win for guessing
where the spots are
kaiser permanente
shark vs bear.

download, listen, enjoy. and remember, check out picturefresno.blogspot.com daily starting 10/10/09/

episode 35 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Adam and Ed are joined by Josh Tehee and Mike Seay, two of the guys behind the Re:Fuse festival. In episode 35 they talk about:

selecting bands
selecting locations
what they're looking forward to
internet controversy
plugging the fuse
bear vs shark

episode 34 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Adam and Ed are back again, this time joined by Fresno blogfather, Mike Oz. The fellas kiss the ring of the local media king and in episode 34 they all discuss:

Who is this Mike Osegueda and how did he get started writing
How online content for the Bee has changed his content
How do stories come about for reporters like Mike
the death of newspapers
Billy Mays coke infomercial & television
the Bee's online wackiness
A1 stories
Mike Oz, Fresno apologist
Mike & Bubba, Fresno hangouts
Taco talk
Bear vs Shark
Final plugs

This episode has a lot of good conversation, and we talked for around an hour and a half, so be warned. You can definitely take time and listen to it in segments, or all at once.

episode 33 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:36:00 +0000

Hey, we know you missed us. We're sorry. Let's not fight. Instead, let's enjoy Adam and Ed talking to local songbird, sexy van inhabitant, Abigail Nolte. in episode 33 they all discuss:
Abigail's musical history
where her songs and inspiration come from
what it's like being a songwriter/singer in Fresno
favorite venues
being a Rogue artist
and more

Give us a listen. Enjoy. We'll try not to take so long before we're back.

september undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:58:00 +0000

Ed: On their album Frizzle Fry, the band Primus had a song called “The Toys Go Winding Down.” It starts out with a banjo-esque sound that rattles a long for a bit until that trademark Primus bass drops in. Truly fantastic. It’s a song that has always pulled me in, intrigued me, haunted me with it’s refrain of “as the toys go winding down,” and even saddened me as I dug into the lyrics

“An overaged boy of thirty-nine has left the wing today. The first time in his life he’s made that step. Be numbed by the society and plagued by insecurity. He’s entered in a race that must be won. One of the animals has left its cage today In search of better things so it seems to be. But in this land of polyurethane, Things are apt to get a bit hot. As the toys go winding down.

C.G. the Mexican is a friend of mine. We used to sit around the house watching Evil Dead. Talking about the way it used to be...We used to pull the stripers out of San Pablo bay. Now the Delta waters go down So. Cal. And the stripers start to fade away. Its pudding time! Its pudding time! As the toys go winding down.”

How does this song relate to the idea of it all coming tumbling down, especially in a Fresno context? Well, stick with me a minute longer. Recently I went on a walking tour of the Fulton Mall. Now, I’ve walked the mall hundreds of mall, and have even been on a different walking tour of it, but I love to hear the history and this tour was focusing on the Mall’s art. I knew many of the pieces, was astounded that we had a Peter Voulkos that I didn’t know about, and had a good time. But, in seeing the poor state of some of the pieces saddened me. The clock tower is especially a poignant piece. Designed as a central showpiece by Jan de Swart it has fallen in disrepair. The fiberglass separates away from the wood of the piece. Cracks abound. How did it get this way? Well, it was neglected, and allowed to get this way. This once beautiful thing was allowed to be ignored by a city that was in a race of insecurity and views of elsewhere that pulled away from its proper care. And now the clock winds down, like the mall that it centers. I hope that the two of them can be “wound back up” as we decide what is important for vibrant city.

Adam: It’s an interesting thing the policy-making of those running Fresno. It’s an interesting thing the policy-making of those running anything they were elected to run, but we’re talking about Fresno.

Fresno is a diverse, big metropolis; an agricultural metropolis that has desires of being something else. So you have these politicians and policy-makers contending with huge, sprawling diversity. They make decisions and those decisions come tumbling down on us, the citizens. They make choices and those choices come tumbling down through history. Things like the Fulton Mall and improvement of downtown that were supposed to be a 20 year project in the making and change the course of history (for better) ended up being boondoggles that failed in some senses.

So the next crop of decision-makers steps in. They attempt to pick up the pieces and they make decisions that will succeed or fail, the results of which will inevitably continue on down the line. And we find ourselves at this crossroad with a mall that has crumbling infrastructure and crumbling facades, but is still supported by people. Unfortunately, that support is diverse in scope and scale; as diverse as the city itself.

Do we tear it all out and revert back to the original? Do we leave it as it is with its current success among a population that the original designers didn’t expect? Do we try to find a happy medium that satisfies most people without watering down the alterations to the point that they aren’t successful? Can an idea without a mass of passionate support succeed in this context?

In times as troubling as these, it’s no surprise that those making the decisions about what is to be done are seeking the input of many people. It serves to dissipate the potential failure and inevitable blaming. Share the burden, whether successful or not. Regardless, it will always come down to a handful of people to make the official decisions. We can talk and form committees and do research and bounce ideas and work the numbers but at some point, a final call will come down from those in charge that we are definitely running with a particular idea. And I hope that idea works because I’d hate for this debate to be taking place again in 30 years.

august undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Ed: Ah, the Internet. I will confess right away that I love the Internet. I wouldn’t say I’m an Internet addict, but it is a part of my daily life. Maybe a big part of my life. I mean, I surf the web, I blog, I read local blogs, I check four email addresses, and that’s all before breakfast. It’s actually hard for me to think about not being able to check the Internet on a daily basis. I recently “went off the grid” for a day – I was in an area without my laptop, my cell phone didn’t have service so I didn’t have internet there and I was devoid of internet completely. And I was alright. In fact, it sort of took me back to a time when the Internet really wasn’t a part of my life. I was able to just kick back with some friends and enjoy their company. And now, I think back on how I even got into the Internet. It was the fall of 1995, I was a freshman in college, and I was given my first email address. To check it, I would need to access the university’s website via the Internet. Since I’m there, might as well browse a bit. And I was hooked. From their I found interesting sites to either find my sports needs, to find news from around the world, and even connect with people elsewhere. What started you on the Internet, Adam?

Adam: That Internet? Shit. I'm regretting all that research I did regarding the built-in liners they sew into men's bathing suits. I kid, I kid. I got into the online world when I was young, probably around 1996 or 1997 when I set up my first HoTMaiL account (one that I still use to this day). Yes, that's right, I have an email account older than most of my friends' children. It wasn't long after that I started delving into the realm of mIRC, one of the precursors to things like AIM and Pidgin and all the myriad chat clients that daytime talk shows and nighttime news hours use to scare parents of pre-teens. Tame stuff compared to Myspace and Facebook of course. My introduction to mIRC was also my first taste of file-sharing (which eventually led to my use of Napster, which is child's play compared to what The Pirate Bay is doing these days) Of course, I set up accounts on Geocities and Tripod because I developed a fast addiction to HTML coding. If a person is lucky, I might one day direct them to my original website, complete with teen angst and the usual condescension of a 17-18 year old. And this was all before Nigerian email scams. But lest we bore our readers with nostalgia related to Intel 386 computers running on 28.8k dial-up modems, it's probably best we move on. Where do you think we will take the Internet from here? Or maybe, where will the Internet take us?

Ed: Shoot, where will the Internet take us? Well, it’s taking the two of us worldwide via blogs and our podcast. And there are things that I know will help connect people better, like Skype, that I don’t even use. In a class that I teach I give a long history of Western Civilization and how there are great markers in knowledge along the way, and how each of these markers were huge jumps in knowledge and sharing knowledge. Those markers: the advent of writing, the printing press, and the Internet. Sure, it’s a little oversimplified, but the Internet amazes me constantly how it connects us together, and we have access to knowledge everywhere. Btw, I set up a hotmail account around the same time and still use it.

Adam: I know I'm not the first to say this or the last, but the Internet has done a fantastic job of allowing more people into discussions, for better or worse. Things like Twitter are allowing people in countries whose governments typically stifle the sharing of information to bypass more traditional forms of media (see Iran and China). I think locally, barring any revolutions, it's allowing more people to share their opinions on things that vary widely, from downtown development to mixed martial arts in Woodward Park. And I think more opinions and debate in the marketplace of idea is better. I can't wait to see what great things come as a result.

episode 32 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:37:00 +0000

after a month hiatus (summer break?) adam and ed are joined by fresno heavies, fay wrays. in episode 32 they discuss:

-the history of the band
-what inspires the fay wray sound
-the new record
-favorite gig venues fresno and beyond
-favorite lunch spots
-benji's day job
-and of course, bear vs shark

we wrap it all up by playing the track broken wings off the new album, mata hari

give it a listen, leave us a comment, subscribe via itunes.

july undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Ed: D.I.Y. Do it yourself. I love that mantra, and in a lot of ways it embodies my spirit and the spirit of Fresno. We are a group of do it yourselfers, a city of them. Six or so years ago, there was a void in Fresno’s internet community, and so a few people started a little website, Fresno Famous, that eventually was bought out by the big time media. But the site stirred up others to grab hold of the internet and tell the world about Fresno and what’s happening here from our persective. Fresno had a void in reporting about politics, arts and culture, and a group of people started up the Undercurrent. A few years back a few women wanted to do something different and competitive. They strapped on some skates and started Smog City Roller Girls. They rented rink time, they promoted the hell outta themselves, and became local sports stars in a city that sometimes has trouble noticing anything that’s not a Bulldog. And us, was saw that there were and are Fresno based podcasts, but we saw a void and started up something of our own: The View Looks Good from Here, Fresno. And now we’re over a year old and have done 30 episodes. Did we take a class? Did we study what worked? No, we just got after it and have become a successful podcast drawing in a variety of listeners and guests. I mean, who would’ve figured we would have had news reporters, local bands, community developers, and a mayoral candidate all in our first year? Shouldn’t we have waited and established ourselves and then tried to take a big bite out of local media? The do it yourself in me says no way, do it now. What’s do it yourself mean to you, Adam?

Adam: Well, as your partner in this venture, I don't think it would be a surprise for anyone reading this to see that I absolutely agree with all the examples you've cited so far. I definitely think that the entrepreneurial spirit embodies the DIY attitude but I think that its roots are far simpler. And I think that the hard economic times we're witnessing now are bringing about a restart in personal DIY ideals.

For example, in a recent issue, we read about more people gardening and growing their own food. In my apartment complex, a neighbor has found a spot of ground that gets sun and started some tomatoes, squash, and beans. We even see that idea being born out with the community garden growing in the Tower District.

I know for my part, I see the idea working in terms of home maintenance. In the last months, I've put up a ceiling fan for a friend, finished some cabinetry for another, and changed the tail lights on my car, among other things. It's the idea of maybe not knowing how to do something from the get go, but having the gumption to educate one's self and actually do it; taking back some of the ground that is claimed by expertise.

Ed: Great point about hard economic times causing people to rethink what they pay for and what they’re willing to do themselves. At my house we’ve started a modest garden, and built our own raised bed boxes for them. At one point we considered a gardening service, but chose to do it ourselves. These little things have brought great joy and definitely have made us feel proud about our first cucumbers or how the lawn is coming along. Shoot, just today I had to get the hammer and nails out to fix a fence. Not a big task, but slightly empowering.

Adam: Yeah, I think it's a great thing across the board. And the more people that do it, the better. More people trying to promote shows, more people trying to engage in the public discourse of ideas, more people trying to contribute to their community, at all levels. It's wonderfully paradoxical that "doing it yourself" can be applied and be beneficial to the larger community.

Ed: Speaking of more people doing it themselves, let’s take some time to point out and thank some d.i.y.’ers and their work:
-Notown Roller Girls – DIY roller derby @ the Fresno Fairground, next match on July 11
-Let’s Go 77 productions – recently brought The Queers, the Hot Toddies, and the Mansfields to Audie’s Olympic
-Tower Beautification Group – group of volunteers that meets outside the Chicken Pie Shop on the fourth Saturday of each month and fans out to pick up trash.
-The guys @ Dumbdrum.com for creating one of the only Swede festivals worldwide and pulling off 3 successful events and a fall one in the works.

So if you’re not already, get out and do it yourself.

episode 31 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:11:00 +0000

yes, yes, y'all and we don't stop. as we continue to steam up your summer with podcasts, we return for episode 31 with our three guests from episode 30 (nick nocketback, malcom sosa, kaylee scarjo) and we even added a fourth guest, josh. but have no fear, the audio is much clearer and easy to listen to (hopefully). in this one we focus on bikes and biking in fresno

specific layout:
intro
unfortunate comments
what could make cycling easier in fresno
how to encourage more people to cycle
what makes a good bike
2 minutes of unadulterated nocketback
shark vs bear
final plugs and we're out

as always, the content is intended for mature audiences, and there may be some words that offend. be warned.

episode 30 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:28:00 +0000

it took us 30 episodes, but we've finally decided to do a two part episode. and, we actually edited some content (but not much). in episode 30 we're joined by nick nocketback, malcom sosa and fresno's scarjo.

the podcast starts with malcom sosa asking us questions
we talk about gentrification and downtown redevelopment
we end up on arguing whether or not the fulton mall should be open to traffic

next week we're having these same three knuckleheads on to finish it off.

episode 29 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:12:00 +0000

the gents from the view looks good from here, fresno are on a run right now, and this time they're back with blake jones. blake jones is fresno's theremin expert, musical wizard, and community oriented cat. the three of them talk about:

who blake jones is
blake's new album - theremins of mystery
what's a theremin?
the trike shop & liverpool
a limited release jingle for the view looks good from here fresno
spawlzilla vs mainstreet & the rogue festival
being an "older" musician
fuse festival 2009
collecting stuff
bear vs shark
final plugs
a song from blake - astronauts in trouble
outro

episode 28 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:05:00 +0000

we kick off a big string of podcasts by bringing in kiel famellos-schmidt. he's a local designer, the daddy of fresno's archop & pecha kucha & more. hear it's all here in episode 28.

we talk about:
kiel's history & what made him who he is
working with "problem" populations
archop
fultonia, criticisms & sotow
pecha kucha fresno
what is design
kiel's hobbies
what's next for kiel
el torro chingon & design review
finding kiel
shark vs bear
final plugs & outro

may/june undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:53:00 +0000

here's our latest undercurrent article. sorry it took a little time to post:

Adam: Spring brings young life, a rebirth, a new cycle. Yes, we're talking about Adam's birthday at the end of April. No, not really. Besides that, this is a time of anniversaries, both for The Undercurrent (turning three) and also for The View Looks Good From Here, Fresno (turning one). Yeah, we really are a bunch of babies. Waaah.

But more than that, these are examples of how a lot of energy, time, and money can go into something you care deeply about and you still don't get paid. For Ed and I, it's been a journey of amateur journalism. We've blogged, Ed has acquired the equipment for us to record audio shows that assail the ears, and recently The Undercurrent has generously offered this 800 word column space for us to pretty much do whatever we want. We're here mostly because we think Fresno has a lot of great stuff going on and more people need to be talking about it, hearing about it, and participating in it. You can bitch and moan...or you can do something about it and put your money where your mouth is.

Ed: And let’s not forget, when you’re doing something about it, putting your money where your mouth is, and all that stuff, you can still complain about the state of things in Fresno and the world. To me, doing something gives you the street cred, or the impunity to back up your complaining. But let’s focus less on the complaining aspect and more on the doing. Why do we do what we do? I’m still doing this amateur journalist thing because I really do want to contribute to and change the culture of Fresno. I love the city, and really want to see it continue to evolve into a shining example of city life. A part of me thinks, “People know what’s going on in Fresno, they don’t still think there’s nothing to do,” and then I run into people that still don’t know what’s going on. Just recently I ran into several people that didn’t know even 1/10th of the cool things that are going on. So, I pointed them towards some good information sources and hope that they can see how good, how exciting of a city they live in. What keeps you blogging and podcasting? And how are you going to keep it fresh over the next year?

Adam: You know, right now, there isn't a lot keeping me blogging. I've always kept a pretty personal blog that didn't deal with Fresno directly (as in reviews of shows and restaurants, or letting people know upcoming events, etc). I've blogged diversely, but right now it's kinda been reduced to bitching about work and commentary on some of the most asinine letters to the editor of the Fresno Bee. I've been thinking a lot about how I can better contribute to the blogosphere. Some time soon, perhaps, I'll come up with something new and exciting and fun. Podcasting is just good, clean (except the language) fun. It's a great way to interact with other people doing awesome things in Fresno and just shoot the breeze in a very casual manner. I've got some ideas about how to liven up the podcast or make it more fun, but I won't divulge here. You'll just have to listen and see.

Ed: Damn, I was going to ask what you were thinking, and then I read the rest of the sentence. Shoot. But I hear you, podcasting is pretty fun. I’m not sure why, but hearing a voice seems more alive, more important than reading a blog. They’re both pretty similar content for me, but podcasting rocks. And that’s why we keep doing it. That and I’m very self-important.

But seriously, let’s get down to some Fresno brass tacks – aka stuff you should be checking out. Of course, you should be listening to our podcast. And, it goes without saying that you should be at the Undercurrent birthday show. Get your rear out to older staples of the community like Arthop and hit its newer cousin Archop. What are you recommending right now Adam?

Adam: Well, I've checked the schedule and nothing is posted yet, but there's bound to be some roller derby happening again soon. Be sure to check the local blogs, find out when, and get thee to a bout. Also, if you haven't been there yet, take a nice drive out 180 into the hills and somewhere near Dunlap, take a left turn into the Cat Haven Wild Animal Park. There's a big sign. It's the best $9 you'll spend to see some fantastic animals. Lions and tigers and cheetahs and leopards and jaguars, oh my!

Ed: Well, if there’s nothing else, I think I’d like to say peace out.

episode 27 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:14:00 +0000

once again striking while the iron is hot, tvlgfhf is back with another episode. in episode 27 we're joined by patrick contreras. he's a local musician, crazy violinist, and a musical phenom.

we discuss a bunch of stuff including:
patrick's upcoming cd release show on June 20th behind the Tower theater
about his other shows
the upcoming cd
venues, festivals & charity shows
what it's like to be a "different" type of act
playing Fresno vs other places
the philharmonic, Chris Kattan's wedding, beer
shark vs bear
the Patrick Contreras Band song "Belmont"

hope you enjoy. There might be language that some find objectionable so be warned.

episode 26 of the view looks good from here, fresno

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Tue, 05 May 2009 04:39:00 +0000

we've celebrated our first year and are back with guest reza assemi. reza's an artist, downtown developer and super duper guy. it's episode 26.

we discuss:
downtown develepment
iron bird lofts/fulton plaza
what got reza started - the pearl building
the cultural arts district and master builder status
the met & money downtown
what would get downtown going, the PBID & perception
what's holding downtown back
debts II society, sega, swede fest & litigation
reza's art
gardening
where reza eats dinner
& finally bear vs shark

as always, there are words and ideas that some find objectionable. be warned.

be on the lookout for another episode soon from tvlgfhf, interviews taped during our anniversary party.

the view looks good from here anniversary party

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:36:00 +0000

we're a year old and so we wanted to have a birthday party and invite everyone who's been on the podcast and a few other friends. sadly, not everyone could come, and honestly we didn't really try to invite the out of town guests. here's who could come:

mike from rademacher

mike from mikewiseisundecided. he's actually one person we've asked to be on the pod and he declined.

friend of the podcast kuffy.

adam was there.

yours truly was there, natch.

our friend kasey, who was scheduled to be on a podcast (episode 4)but she declined.

friend of the pod brian, who was on episode 8

aileen imperatrice came, and she did alright in croquette.

monticore joined us (it's her house, too).

nick nocketback rolled in, complained about a lot of things, and had a good time.

hmac graced us with her presence, giving us more blogger cred.

celeideh from our last episode came, and yes we got her started on scarjo again.

jonathan from rademacher/circles and circles stopped in for a bit.

this guy mike, that i've never met before came with jonathan and celeideh.

eli from fay wrays & rademacher regaled us with stories

ben from the fay wrays enjoyed himself. both he and eli will be on a future episode.

tanya oz was all smiles.

mike oz showed that yes, he can go to backyard parties

i honestly believe that joy is made of sugar.

corin, guest from episode 8, whispered sweet newsiness to us all.

brodiemash, recent winner of the blogger olympics saluted our podcast.

reza assemi, downtown guru/builder/all around swell guy was the last guest to arrive. he wins the prize. the prize? being on an upcoming episode of the view looks good from here, fresno.

thanks to everyone that came out.

Whoops

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:34:00 +0000

We tooooootally neglected to ask our last podcast guest the infamous question we like to end episodes with.

So I texted her and got, probably, the shortest answer yet:

"Would you rather be killed by a bear or a shark?"

"Bear. Sounds manlier. Plus, I'm afraid of the ocean."

And there you have it folks.

the view looks good from here, fresno episode 25

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +0000

oh yeah, look who just turned one! it's the view looks good from here, fresno, and we're back with episode 25. in this episode we're joined by our friend celeideh. that's pronounced kaylee. and it may be spelled differently.

we talk about:
fresno's scarjo
ed rants about long's pharmacy
ed tells a story about grape juice
where does klee hang out?
her art & life
our anniversary party!
ed in the megazone contest - already talking smack

as we often do, there are some salty words so be warned

april undercurrent article

noreply@blogger.com (edward stewart & adam wall) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Ed: This month the Undercurrent is focusing on going without. I started to consider the topic and realize that I hadn't gone without for some time. In fact, the more I thought about the issue, the more I realized that I live a life that often does not consider the word, "no." If I want it, I usually get it. I'm not trying to say that I'm some sort of spoiled brat, or that I'm living excessively, but I do live comfortably. I have a roof over my head, a vehicle, health insurance, dental plan, and a job. I've also got a lot of great relationships in life, and I would say that the majority of the people I'm around live in a similar fashion. So what do I know about going without? As I thought about it all and a story a friend recently related to me, we live comfortably and enjoy life while some of the worst things in history are going on. But it hasn't always been that way for me. At other points in life I didn't have as much, and had to make a lot more decisions on what to include in life and what I was willing to go without. Or, at other points I've taken part in fasting (going without) as a spiritual discipline. And, it seems that when I have denied myself of things for periods of time it has been beneficial and freeing. I realize that the things I've included in my life can be put aside and that I can see greater potentials to life. But in both of these examples I still realize that I have significant control in deciding whether I will go without something or what I will go without. What do you think, Adam? What does it mean for you to go without?

Adam: I don't know that I could speak to "going without" in any manner much differently than your experience, Ed. Granted, I understand that as a white male, I live a life of extreme privilege in the United States of America. I'm not subjected to sexism, or racism, or any of the other isms (except for maybe a religious one) because I drew the lucky straw with my birth. So, for the sake of exercise, I'll draw the following comparison. Without giving away the numbers, my family of five (parents and two brothers) lived, for a good chunk of the 80's and 90's, on about the same income that I now live on alone (plus my two cats and goldfish). But, to be forthright and honest, "going without" for me means, not having cable or satellite TV, not being able to afford a new car or the requisite payments, not getting that last beer at the bar, or not buying a new music album. As well, I do understand and hold a palpable fear that at this point in history, I could lose my job any day of the week which means that while I understand I live in luxury compared to most, it's a precarious luxury.

Ed: Those are all great points, Adam. I think that it’s good to deny and discipline yourself at times by going without things, but beyond that it seems sort of forced and a bit frivolous. Our lifestyles afford us many things, but they also cause us to go without other things. Neither of us are in a position to say what it’s like to live without a consistent source of food, without shelter, without peace of mind, or even without health care, although I hear you don’t have the best coverage in the world. Having said all that, I think that it is good to use this opportunity of thinking about what we going without to evaluate what is going into your life and try and think about its priority. Are the things we are consuming making us better? Are the jobs we have allowing us to enjoy life? Are the foods we eat the most healthy and responsible choices? I recently read about two people trying to live on a food budget of $72 a week, which is approximately what a family of two in California can receive in foods stamps. $72 a week doesn’t sound that hard, but when you factor in stops at Chik-fil-a or drinks at the local bar that $72 disappears real quick. If you want to live that disciplined a life you learn very quickly that you’re going without drinks out and fast food. Good for the body, bad for the social life. Maybe we can both keep going with, at least in healthy moderation. And again I’m back to not saying no.