Walt Opie

India 2010 - From the Bus Photos

2010-05-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

I went on a 3-week trip to Northern India in late January and early February. These are four images I took from the window of our bus as we traversed the country. My favorite is the kid playing badminton--if you look closely you can see the shuttlecock in mid-air.

Unmistaken Child: Film Review on Greencine

2009-11-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

I wrote a new film review for Greencine.com recently: Unmistaken ChildReviewer: Walt OpieRating (out of 5): ****http://guru.greencine.com/archives/2009/11/unmistaken_chil.htmlYou don't necessarily have to believe in reincarnation to practice Buddhism, nor to appreciate Unmistaken Child (2008), an engaging documentary on this subject by Israeli director Nati Baratz. Now out on DVD after a very

Meditation Instrucstions from U Tejaniya

2009-08-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

Observing Minds Want to KnowBy Sayadaw U Tejaniya - http://sayadawutejaniya.org/ BEFORE WE START practicing mindfulness meditation, we must know how to practice. We need to have the right information and a clear understanding of the practice to work with awareness intelligently. This information will work at the back of your mind when you meditate.1. Meditating is watching and waiting

Aung San Suu Kyi Faces Military Trial

2009-05-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Photo from Agence France-Presse — Getty Images(NOTE: I am really outraged by what the junta gets away with in Burma. When will public outrage kick in? Maybe if Aung San Suu Kyi is put in prison. I added bold to the text in the article to emphasize a few points.)New York Times - May 15, 2009Burmese Democracy Advocate Faces Military TrialBy THOMAS FULLER and SETH MYDANSBANGKOK — Myanmar’s

Julia Butterfly Hill - Interview Excerpt

2009-04-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting excerpt from an interview with Julia Butterfly Hill, the well-known activist who lived near the top of a giant redwood tree (named Luna) for 738 days about ten years ago as a protest action. She is also profiled in today's SF Chronicle here. Belvia Rooks (Shift In Action): And what was the personal aspect of your journey that led you or called you to the West coast and the

How to Make Fewer Mistakes

2009-03-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Untitled (SF,CA) photo by walt opieHow to Make Fewer MistakesWe all make mistakes from time to time. Life is about learning to make our mistakes less often. To realize this goal, we have a policy in our monastery that monks are allowed to make mistakes. When the monks are not afraid to make mistakes, they don’t make so many.–Ajahn Brahm, from

The Inauguration. At Last. By Maira Kalman

2009-01-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

This is great--my kind of word/image combo. -waltThe Inauguration. At Last. by Maira Kalman (from The New York Times, 1/29/2009)

John Updike (1932 - 2009)

2009-01-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

John Updike, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, prolific man of letters and erudite chronicler of sex, divorce and other adventures in the postwar prime of the American empire, died Tuesday at age 76.I saw John Updike give a reading at the University of Richmond in 1985 or '86. The auditorium was so packed that I had to sit in the aisle, as I recall. It seemed like a momentous occasion in my

President Barack H. Obama!!

2009-01-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

Peaches or Plums by Alan Michael Parker

2009-01-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

(I heard this poem on NPR this morning, read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer's Almanac. I particularly love the first stanza--the idea of memories inventing their own memories. That's about right... -w)PEACHES OR PLUMSby Alan Michael ParkerOh, how I hate my mind,all those memoriesthat have invented their own memories.Take my first love, for instance,how after Mass we'd kneelunderneath the back

The top 25 Bushisms of all time (from Slate.com)

2009-01-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

I've always really enjoyed these Bushism compilations (real quotes from George W. Bush) by Jacob Weisberg at Slate.com. Here are his top 25 of all time:1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 20042. "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your

Staunton, Virginia -- December 2008 (photos by Walt Opie)

2008-12-31T13:16:00.000-08:00

Natalie Goldberg on Zen & Writing Practice

2008-11-12T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here's an instructive excerpt from an interview with Natalie Goldberg (author of Writing Down the Bones and other books) that was published in The Sun Magazine. I've met Natalie a few times and read many of her books. Just last year at a bookstore I asked her how to best combine meditation and writing practice, and her response was, "The writing IS your meditation."www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/

Burmese Military Junta Sentences Pro-Democracy Activists to Harsh Prison Sentences

2008-11-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Myanmar Sentences 14 Democracy SupportersBy THE NEW YORK TIMESBANGKOK — Myanmar’s military leadership continued its crackdown on dissent Tuesday, handing down prison sentences of 65 years each to 14 pro-democracy advocates, according to regional news accounts and reports on a Web site for exiles.The convictions came a day after a blogger was sentenced to 20 years for “creating public alarm,”

Bring on the Blue States!!!

2008-11-04T17:06:00.000-08:00

VOTE BARACK OBAMA FOR PREZ

2008-11-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

Gary Snyder Poem from The New Yorker

2008-10-16T13:08:00.001-07:00

I love this poem by Gary Snyder about this painting. -waltMu Ch’i’s Persimmonsby Gary SnyderThere is no remedy for satisfying hunger other than a painted rice cake.—Dōgen, November, 1242.On a back wall down the halllit by a side glass dooris the scroll of Mu Ch’i’s greatsumi painting, “Persimmons”The wind-weights hanging from theaxles hold it still.The best in the world, I say,of

David Foster Wallace Dies: A Brief Lament

2008-09-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

(photo of David Foster Wallace by Steve Liss of Time Life Pictures)I have to acknowledge the recent loss of writer David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest, A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments), who was found hung to death as an "apparent" suicide last Friday (on September 12--my birthday) at his home in Claremont, California. There are lots of articles about him out there

The First Couple Visits Burmese Democracy Activists

2008-08-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

from THE IRRAWADDYhttp://www.irrawaddy.org/opinion_story.php?art_id=13746Bush, Beijing and Burma By AUNG DIN Thursday, August 7, 2008 One day before the Beijing Olympics begin, President George W Bush and first lady Laura Bush meet with Burmese democracy activists in Thailand. The trip rightly draws attention to

Where the Hell is Matt? (A Dancing Video)

2008-07-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

I'd heard about this guy Matt (Matthew Harding) who traveled all around the world and had himself videotaped doing a goofy dance, often with other people, but I hadn't seen him until today. This is right up there with the hugging video. As the Dalai Lama says, "We're all the same human being." Here's a link (turn off HD if it's too slow or jerky):http://www.vimeo.com/1211060Also:http://

Randy Pausch, 'Last Lecture' professor, dies

2008-07-25T12:29:00.000-07:00

From the Associated Press today: "Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose 'last lecture' about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47."This is all over the internet, but if you've never seen Randy Pausch's last lecture, I highly recommend watching it. I have to admit, I first saw him on Oprah and found him

Warning: Link Between Cell Phone Use & Cancer May Be Real

2008-07-23T22:31:00.000-07:00

Not to freak anybody out, but the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute has issued a precaution to its own faculty and staff, telling them to limit their cell phone use because it may cause brain tumors, especially in children and especially over long-term use (10+ years). They also recommend avoiding the use of your cell phone while driving because "this automatically increases power to a

Film Review: Classe Tous Risques

2008-06-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote a new review of a 1960 French gangster film called Classe Tous Risques for Greencine.com's official DVD review blog Guru. Here's an excerpt (below) and a link to the whole review:Reviewer: Walt OpieRating (out of 5): ***½ Classe Tous Risques ("The Big Risk") is a once underappreciated 1960 French film noir by director Claude Sautet (Un Coeur en Hiver), now finally out on DVD

2008-06-10T19:08:00.001-07:00

Telling Article about Burma from NYT

2008-05-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

I think the following article about Burma gives you a good idea about how the gov't in Burma operates. Gas in California today at the cheapest local gas station is $4.15 per gallon--the highest I've ever seen it here. Meanwhile, a gallon of gas in Burma could cost $500 a gallon on the open black market there.To donate to Foundation for the People of Burma, go to http://www.foundationburma.org/.

Emergency in Burma Worsens

2008-05-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from sailing in the Caribbean only to find out that the situation in Burma from the recent devastating cyclone that hit there is much worse than originally reported. Meanwhile, the military junta in Burma is still not allowing aid workers into the country to help those in desperate need. And China is again blocking the UN from taking action. Meanwhile, over 100,000 people may

At the Bitter End

2008-04-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

I'm at a place in the Caribbean right now called the Bitter End, near Saba Rock. Our sailboat (Lady K) is moored here for the night. Richard Branson (Virgin Records/Air) owns an island nearby which we sailed right by. It was raining just a minute ago, and now it's sunny again. Early this morning we went to this famous spot on Virgin Gorda called The Baths, along with Devil's Beach. There are huge

Free Burma March over the Golden Gate Bridge

2008-04-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

This was the start of the Free Burma walk with Jack Kornfield and a Burmese monk leading us in a very orderly procession over the Golden Gate Bridge on April 9, 2008--the same day the Olympic Torch passed through San Francisco amid storms of protests (as they say).

The Troubled Homecoming of An Iraq War Vet

2008-03-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

The man's name is James Blake Miller, and he's from a tiny coal-mining town in Kentucky. During the battle of Fallujah, LA Times photographer Luis Sinco captured a shot of Miller smoking a cigarette and looking very WWII John Wayne--vintage Americana. That photo ran in news outlets all over the planet, and now this young former Marine is an icon. Only problem is, he also suffers mightily from

A Neuroanatomist Discovers Nirvana During A Stroke

2008-03-26T23:28:00.003-07:00

This brain scientist experienced a major stroke and stayed as alert as possible throughout the process. Her account here is very interesting if you want to understand more about how the brain functions in the left and right hemispheres. Make sure you watch it all the way to the end, where she gets very emotional--very moving if you ask me.

An Image for Our Times

2008-03-13T15:52:00.001-07:00

I took this image from my car while commuting home from work through Marin County one night not long ago. According to various news sources including the San Jose Mercury-News, the Bay Area has recently been breaking records for all-time high gas prices. I wish I could bike to work!

Travelin' Bones

2008-03-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Woman Tries to Bring Skeleton on Plane Wednesday, March 12, 2008 (03-12) 07:27 PDT MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- A woman was stopped at Munich airport after baggage control handlers found the skeleton of her brother sealed in a plastic bag in her luggage, police said Wednesday. The 62-year-old woman and her 63-year-old friend,

Homage to Lee Friedlander

2008-02-25T23:48:00.001-08:00

from Los Angeles Series 2005, by Walt OpieCourtesy of Museum of Modern Art"Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1972," by Lee Friedlander. He said he deliberately includes "those poles and trees and stuff" that other photographers avoid.The top photo is my tribute to the work of Lee Friedlander, and especially to the photo by him above, which is currently on display at SF MoMA. I went to see the show on

Los Angeles Photo Project

2008-02-18T23:49:00.000-08:00

These are photos* I took in the greater Los Angeles area in 2005 on two different visits. I'm thinking of turning a group of these images into a small book or even exhibit somewhere. Showing them here seemed like an easy place to start. I welcome any comments. To me Los Angeles is one of the most natural places to take pictures--the light there is great, and it has its own sophisticated urban

Me and Pop-Eye

2008-02-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

This is me with my long-haired mini-Dachsund Pop-Eye, who likes to hang on to things even when he should probably let go. Hmm, that sounds like something to take note of... Incidentally, Pop-Eye was not harmed in the making of this photo. In fact, he had a blast.

Art Shanty Projects in Plymouth, MN

2008-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

My old buddy from art school, Peter Haakon Thompson, is the founder of this amazing event called Art Shanty Projects on Medicine Lake in Plymouth, Minnesota. Check out this link to see their website. It starts tomorrow, and apparently the ice is super thick this year plus the temperatures are very low... (brrr)

Check out Monkey & the Engineer by David Opie (my bro)

2007-12-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

My brother Dave's new book Monkey and the Engineer (illustrated by him with text from the song by Jessie Fuller) is now out in hardback. He is selling them (signed) from his website at http://spacemandave.com/.I'm at my parents' home in Staunton, Virginia at the moment (until tomorrow--Dave left just a few minutes ago), and yesterday on the front page of the newspaper here they ran an article

What is Emptiness? (Joseph Goldstein explains)

2007-12-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

What is Emptiness?The expression of emptiness is love, because emptiness means "emptiness of self." When there is no self, there is no other. That duality is created by the idea of self, of I, of ego.When there's no self, there is a unity, a communion. And without the thought of "I'm loving someone," love becomes the natural expression of that oneness.- Joseph Goldstein, The Experience of Insight

The Rocket: A DVD Review

2007-12-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote a review of the hockey film The Rocket for Greencine.com that has been posted here. An excerpt of the review is below:Directed by Charles Binamé (Seraphin: Heart of Stone), The Rocket stars popular Canadian actor Roy Dupuis, who had already portrayed Richard for two previous projects (including a two-part French-Canadian miniseries). Dupuis reportedly did his own skating in the

Driving for Burma -- Si Thu Visits Berkeley

2007-12-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

Monday night in Berkeley I attended an event to help raise awareness about the situation in Burma. We watched a 24-minute Frontline video, then a highly revered 81-year-old Buddhist monk, Masoeyein Sayadaw, spoke on the situation in his native Burmese language (with an English translator) followed by Q & A. At some point we heard from Si Thu, who is Burmese but now lives in Canada. He said he

Buddhist Peace Fellowship Delegation Returns from Inside Burma

2007-12-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

*Note: Recent press release from BPF. -wBuddhist Delegation Finds Burma Cloaked in FearDecember 15, 2007, San Francisco, CA A delegation organized by the U.S.-based Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF) has just returned from an eight-day visit with Burmese activists, monks, students, orphans, and citizens in Rangoon, Burma, and along the Thai-Burma border.Members of the delegation, who posed as

Burma Peace Rally Held in SF on International Human Rights Day

2007-12-11T00:00:00.001-08:00

A Burmese monk offered Buddhist chanting in his native language. Aung San Suu Kyi made a special appearance. Several of the original 88 Burmese student demonstrators from 20 years ago attended. A demonstration was held on behalf of the Burmese

First University of Richmond Spider in Space

2007-12-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

First UR Spider in Space* University of Richmond alumnus and NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, R’86, is set to become the first Spider in space tomorrow afternoon. Melvin and the rest of the NASA crew are scheduled to blast off aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 4:31 p.m. (EST) A number of University representatives and friends of Leland,

Car Salesman Helps Those in Need

2007-12-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a heart-warming story for you cynics out there:Revisiting The Generous SalesmanVANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 23, 2007(CBS) Car salesmen get called a lot of things. “Living saint” is rarely one of them.And yet CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman says he really does believe that’s what he found at a Chevy dealer outside Portland, Ore.His name is Korry Holtzlander.“There are no bad men. There are

Random Images

2007-11-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

I shot both of these one day several months ago in San Francisco.

Turkeys for Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T13:53:00.001-08:00

We have a lot of wild turkeys wandering around the grounds at Spirit Rock, where I work. Here are some photos of them (by me) for Thanksgiving week. Just don't get any bright ideas about a free turkey dinner!

Under the Volcano (Criterion) Review

2007-11-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

I just wrote a short DVD review for the 1984 film Under the Volcano, which starred Albert Finney and was directed by John Huston. It is up on Greencine.com's Guru blog now. Here's a brief excerpt of my review (which may or may not be entirely coherent):Under the Volcano was Huston's 34th feature film, and he would only make two more before his death (including The Dead, based on a story by James

Pop-Eye the Mini-Dachshund at Muir Beach

2007-11-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

Green Gulch Folks Help with Oil-Spill Clean-up at Muir Beach

2007-11-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

It’s nice to see hard-working Buddhists making a difference! I was just there at both Green Gulch and Muir Beach the Sunday before the terrible oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Muir Beach is such a magnificent spot. Green Gulch Residents Support Oil-Spill Clean-upWritten by Sangha-e StaffOn the afternoon of Friday, Nov 9th, approximately thirty people, twenty of whom were Green Gulch Farm

Aung San Suu Kyi Meets with Her Democratic Party

2007-11-09T18:15:00.001-08:00

A demonstrator holds a mask with a photograph of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi near the Chinese Embassy in central London, October 24, 2007, on a day of protests to mark twelve years of her detention.REUTERS/Toby MelvilleNovember 10, 2007 -- New York Times Myanmar Dissident Meets With Party By THOMAS FULLER BANGKOK, Nov. 9 — The pro-democracy leader in Myanmar, Daw

Zen Cook Ed Brown at Green Gulch

2007-11-05T13:46:00.001-08:00

The photos above were taken (by me) yesterday at Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center in Marin County. I went to meditate and listen to Ed Brown give a public lecture/dharma talk. Ed is the subject of a new documentary called "How to Cook Your Life" by German filmmaker Doris Dörrie (who also made the hilarious film "Enlightenment Guaranteed" about two German brothers who spend time at a Zen monastery in

Off On Retreat (Again)

2007-10-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

I'm going to do another silent meditation retreat at Spirit Rock for a week starting today and ending next Saturday, October 27. The teachers are Stephen Batchelor, Martine Batchelor and Sharda Rogell. I took the image of the tree above on a retreat with Joseph Goldstein this summer. Stephen Batchelor is not only a great scholar, but also a wonderful photographer.

Dalai Lama Visits Washington, DC

2007-10-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here's the caption for the photo above (from SFGate.com):Members of the Tibetan community offer traditional sweet rice to welcome the Dalai Lama as he arrives at his hotel in Washington on Monday. The Dalai Lama will receive the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, on Wednesday after being hosted at the White House by President Bush the day before.

Standing Up For Burma (video)

2007-10-15T15:22:00.001-07:00

This video shows Jack Kornfield reading a statement in support of Democracy in Burma on behalf of a recent conference in Los Angeles. That's Thich Nhat Hanh ringing the bell and leaving so mindfully at the end.

Al Gore Shares Nobel Prize With U.N. Panel

2007-10-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

Photo caption from The New York Times: The chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjoes, in Oslo, Norway, today. (Cornelius Poppe/European Pressphoto Agency)I woke up really early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep (around 5 am), so I finally got up and went online to check The New York Times website. The above photo was the first thing I saw, with a quote from the Nobel

Into the Wild: Memories of Alaska

2007-10-08T10:45:00.001-07:00

Last night at 8:30 I went to see Sean Penn's new film Into the Wild by myself at the Piedmont Theater in Oakland, which is close to where I live. I had read the book by Jon Krakauer back when it first came out in paperback--I even saw Krakauer give a reading from it in Seattle where I lived at the time. The odd thing about that is that it's sort of blacked out of my memory, but I went with a

Story About a Monk Who Fled Rangoon

2007-10-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Power of love might not be enough, says monk who fled Rangoon terrorLast week Vida was a simple monk who marched through the streets of Rangoon because he believed it would persuade the regime to be more compassionate towards Burma’s hungry poor. Yesterday he was an angry, perhaps even traumatised, man - but a determined one; his face haunted, his hands kneading constantly as he described his

San Francisco Events for the People of Burma

2007-10-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

Upcoming San Francisco Events to Support the People of BurmaFriday, October 5Please join our friends in the Burmese community for:Peace for Burma: March and Prayer Vigil from 2-8 pm2 - 5 pm: Rally and meditation at Chinese consulate, 1450Leguna Street, San Francisco5:00 - 5:40 pm: Peace March to United Nations Plaza Market StreetBetween 7th & 8th(Let's give democracy a voice in Burma by

Monday's Burma Protest March in San Francisco

2007-10-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

These are images from the march in support of the people of Burma that took place in downtown San Francisco yesterday at noon. Jack Kornfield helped lead the march, along with members of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and the San Francisco Zen Center, to name a few. Many marchers remained relatively silent throughout the march--I even overheard one woman say to her friend as we filed by, "They're

San Francisco Vigil for Burmese People

2007-09-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

These are some photos I took today at the San Francisco vigil for the people of Burma in front of the Chinese Consulate from 12 noon - 1 pm. The last image shows Jack Kornfield addressing the crowd. The turnout was really strong and it felt good to have a way of showing solidarity with the monks and people of Burma in this terrible time of crisis there. Internet connections were largely shut down

Monks Being Captured in Burma

2007-09-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some powerful images from this incredible blog -- http://www.ko-htike.blogspot.com/ -- based out of Burma. And I discovered this website -- DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA -- which has good up to date info on the situation in Burma, much of it harrowing as hell. The soldiers are rounding up monks and other protesters in the middle of the night at the monasteries, so nobody sees them. A

Violence in Burma

2007-09-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

As feared, things are turning uglier in Burma with the clash between the Buddhist monks and the common people vs. the military junta in power there. Reports so far indicate that two monks have been killed and at least a hundred or more arrested (according to The New York Times and BBC News). The BBC News site has lots of background information on their site. Here's one passage from the BBC

Troubling News Flash From Burma

2007-09-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

I just received the following very disturbing report from the United States Campaign for Burma, which states that the military regime in Burma has ordered soldiers to shave their heads and they have ordered monks' robes for their soldiers from a local factory so they can infiltrate the peaceful demonstrations and act out in ways that would justify a crackdown on the current political marches. I

Monks Still Marching in Burma

2007-09-23T23:32:00.001-07:00

These striking images of Buddhist monks and others marching and protesting the military junta (or dictatorship) in Burma (Myanmar) were in the New York Times today (photos by Associated Press and Agence France-Presse — Getty Images). One of my favorite Buddhist teachers is a Burmese monk named Sayadaw U Tejaniya. His monastery is Shwe Oo Min Dhammasukha Tawya in Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma).

Call to Action on Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi

2007-09-20T12:45:00.001-07:00

Things are heating up with the military government in Burma right now. Buddhist monks have been marching in the streets as part of a protest. Even celebs like Jim Carrey are getting involved in bringing awareness to this situation. Many deep bows to Aung San Suu Kyi.

Death by Microwave Popcorn (Almost)

2007-09-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Troubling story in today's New York Times about the guy whose health was compromised by a daily microwave popcorn habit. I had heard not long ago that workers in microwave popcorn factories were suffering terrible problems from constant exposure to the chemicals used in the artificial butter flavoring. This is the first known case of a consumer being so badly effected. Here's an excerpt (written

New Review of Hunter S. Thompson Documentary

2007-08-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

Greencine.com just posted my film review of Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride, a 2006 documentary on Hunter S. Thompson that is about to be released on DVD. Here's the full text of my review:According to none other than acclaimed author Tom Wolfe (The Right Stuff) in Tom Thurman's documentary Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film, the gonzo journalist was one of the greatest comic

Grace Paley: In Memorium

2007-08-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Grace Paley, whose short stories and poems are really wonderful, died yesterday at the age of 84. I have read a lot of her work and once saw her read and answer questions in person at a small auditorium in Oakland on the campus of Mills College. She was full of life and very funny, intelligent, humble and inspiring. I've always loved her story "Wants" which is quoted from below.Here's an excerpt

Not-Self Portraits (Shadows)

2007-08-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a series of photos of my own shadow that I call Not-Self Portraits kind of based on the Buddhist concept of not-self. I like this image, which I shot in my neighborhood in Oakland, partly because it has the great shadow of the parking meter. They are in the process of replacing these "old-school" parking meters with big tall rectangular-shaped ones whose shadows will only look like

Kerouac Awareness Month?! (OK by me)

2007-08-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

I have to give Jack Kerouac a huge bow of gratitude for helping spark my initial interest in Buddhism back when I was in junior high school and first reading his books, especially On the Road and Dharma Bums. Dwight Garner in the New York Times is calling it Jack Kerouac Awareness Month, so I thought I'd play along and include this photo from the alley in his name next to City Lights Books and

L'Avventura review on Greencine.com

2007-08-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

I just wrote a film review of Michelangelo Antonioni's film L'Avventura that is now available to read on Greencine.com here. Monica Vitti, who stars in the film, is pictured above. I'll also include an excerpt of my review below:In L'Avventura, Antonioni pokes many holes through the usual myth of romantic love and yet still manages to keep the torch of our ever hopeful human hearts lit at the

Things Change

2007-08-02T12:50:00.001-07:00

I was on another silent meditation retreat at Spirit Rock last week for 10 days with Joseph Goldstein and other teachers. Near the end of the retreat the moon suddenly appeared almost full and I took one photo of it (above). The day after the retreat ended, famed European film directors Ingmar Bergman (89) of Sweden and Michelangelo Antonioni (94) of Italy both died. Antonioni is one of my

Following Sean: A Film Review

2007-07-09T10:48:00.001-07:00

I recently wrote this short film review for Greencine.com (click title above for link):Following Sean: 34 and a half UpDirector Ralph Arlyck's 2005 documentary Following Sean is based on the premise of a somewhat strange, but certainly compelling, reunion--namely, the act of revisiting the main character of your own film from 30 years ago.Arlyck had lived in the Haight Ashbury District of San

Happy Birthday to Breece Pancake--West VA's finest

2007-06-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Even though he only published one book, Breece Pancake is one of my all-time favorite writers, and apparently today was his birthday (although he committed suicide in Charlottesville, VA long ago using the same method as Hemingway). What follows is a blog about books by Dwight Gardner from the New York Times that talks about Breece:Breece D’J Pancake at 55I wrote a post last week that mentioned

A Quote on Impermanence & Link to Talks

2007-06-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

First of all, click on the title of this entry and you will be taken to a page of online talks by various Buddhist vipassana teachers. These are free and by many excellent teachers, so check it out!Also, here's a quote for you: Dharma Quote of the Week "Life would be unbearable if everything stayed the same because human beings find situations that are fixed and predictable very hard

NYT Editorial Tells It Like It Is

2007-05-21T12:14:00.000-07:00

Today's editorial in the NYT seems almost historic as it reminds us how important the current Justice Department scandal is to all of us, whether we realize it or not. This is about basic integrity, which the Bush Administration constantly works to erode right before our very eyes every day of the week (as far as I can tell). Looking at the San Francisco Chronicle's website just now, the top

Billy Collins Poem About His Dog

2007-05-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

Dharmaby Billy CollinsThe way the dog trots out the front doorevery morningwithout a hat or an umbrella,without any moneyor the keys to her doghousenever fails to fill the saucer of my heartwith milky admiration.Who provides a finer exampleof a life without encumbrance—Thoreau in his curtainless hutwith a single plate, a single spoon?Gandhi with his staff and his holy diapers?Off she goes into

H.H. Dalai Lama--a Tibetan All-Star

2007-05-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

I went to see the Dalai Lama for three days in a row this weekend (April 27-29) in San Francisco. On the last day, I happened to see him arrive at the back of the Bill Graham Civic Center. This is a photo I took of His Holiness signing a baseball (for unknown reasons). I asked one of the security guys if I could go closer to take a better photo and he replied that if I tried it, he would have to

In honor of: Jared Washines

2007-04-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

When I worked at Amazon.com, I befriended an awesome guy named Jared, who I knew was Native American from Yakima, Washington, although that was about all I really knew because he didn't talk about himself that much. I always enjoyed saying hello to him and running into him around the office or around Seattle in general. We even belonged to the same gym in Fremont, so I saw him there regularly,

Red Desert, Red Lights

2007-03-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

This is a still from the Michelangelo Antonioni film Il Deserto Rosso (Red Desert in English)--a 1964 art classic. Last night I wanted to see this playing at the Castro Theater in San Francisco right after work, so I was careening down the highway not watching the speedometer when suddenly I spotted a California Highway patrol car in my rearview mirror. Imagine my astonishment when his red lights

My Parents Are Selling Their House

2007-03-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

This house is for sale in Staunton, Virginia. I can't believe my parents are selling their lovely home on the hill (with a perfect view of the Blue Ridge Mountains)!

Maha Ghosananda Dies

2007-03-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

I never saw this famous Cambodian Buddhist monk in person, but there is a wonderful photo of him bowing very deeply to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is bowing just as deeply in the photo, and it turns out they were honoring each other by trying to bow the deepest to one another. Somehow that tells you everything you need to know about Maha Ghosananda. Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda, the wonderful

Dalai Lama Quote on World Peace

2007-03-12T16:40:00.000-07:00

I have a ticket to see the Dalai Lama give a teaching in San Francisco in late April--so I've got that to look forward to! Meanwhile, here's a good quote by His Holiness: Dalai Lama Quote of the Week Many places have been totally changed through the use of police force and the power of guns--the Soviet Union, China, Burma, the Philippines, many communist countries, countries in Africa and

David Remnick on Al Gore (for President)

2007-03-03T15:34:00.000-08:00

I just read the following short piece in The New Yorker while eating a burrito for lunch, and I had to post it here for all to read. This is part of my ongoing "Al Gore for President" campaign scheme. -Waltfrom The New Yorker -- Talk of the Townby David Remnick Issue of 2007-03-05Posted 2007-02-25 “Saturday Night Live” is erratic in middle age

New Film Review

2007-03-01T17:07:00.000-08:00

I just wrote a new (short) film review for Greencine.com. Here's an excerpt:One over-riding question that arises while watching Andrew Berends' 2005 Iraq-set documentary The Blood of My Brother is, how did an American filmmaker get access to all of this, short of joining Sayid Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army himself? Several reviewers have already commented that much of the footage here puts Western

Like, A Really Awesome Poem by Taylor Mali

2007-02-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

Totally like whatever, you know?By Taylor MaliIn case you hadn't noticed,it has somehow become uncoolto sound like you know what you're talking about?Or believe strongly in what you're saying?Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)'shave been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences?Even when those sentences aren't, like, questions? You know?Declarative sentences --

Wet Cleaning

2007-02-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is my Valentine's Day "romance" shot. Taken in the Mission District of San Francisco not long ago. Heart, Walt

AL GORE FOR PRESIDENT 2008

2007-02-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

He would have my vote in a heartbeat. Supporters push Gore to run in 2008 By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 28 minutes ago Veterans of Al Gore's past are quietly assembling a campaign to draft the former vice president into the 2008 presidential race — despite his

Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension: An Interview with Bhante Gunaratana

2007-01-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

The Sri Lankan monk Ven. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, who at nearly 80 still walks 4-6 miles a day, visited Spirit Rock this past November to lead a retreat on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. I caught up with him as he was having tea alone in his room late one afternoon during the retreat. “Bhante G” as he is affectionately known to his students, is very skillful at presenting the dharma in a

Swedish Christmas Goat

2006-12-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

This photo of the X-mas Goat in Sweden really makes me happy. Here's the article:Is That a Bow on the Christmas Goat, or a Bullseye?By Tom Zeller Jr.In keeping with the holiday spirit, a good-news story (so far, at least) from Gävle, Sweden, where the town’s giant Christmas goat (a 40-year tradition) survived its first attack by arsonists (also a 40-year tradition) and remains standing today in

Free Hugs Campaign Video

2006-12-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Click on the title above to watch an entertaining video of this guy that looks a little like John Lennon (long hair and glasses, anyway) giving out free hugs to the general public. It includes great music by the sick puppies. This is my holiday feel-good posting! Here's an inspirational dharma quote for you, too:The Road Map to Enlightenment By B. Alan Wallace, Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground

'Bobby' Is a Better Film Than Critics Say

2006-12-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

I went to see the new film "Bobby" last night, and I thought it was a much more worthwhile effort than critics seem to be admitting. I would go so far as to say that a lot of critics are obviously jaded and lame, unable to admit that a guy like Emilio Estevez might be capable of writing and directing a great film. My feeling is--this movie really is right for the times and it should be seen by

Revised Poem

2006-11-22T11:13:00.000-08:00

My poem was recently published in a meditation group's newsletter (Insight Meditation Community of San Francisco), but now that I look at it again (and with feedback from my boss Karen), I have a much improved version, as follows:On Retreat at Spirit Rock (2005)Emerging from the dining hall after tea, a crowd gathers in silenceas the bright circle of a full moonedges over the hillside--everything

In Memorium: Robert Altman 1925 - 2006

2006-11-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

Director Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, The Player, Short Cuts, Nashville, Gosford Park) died last night at the age of 81. I first heard this news today over the radio from Terry Gross while driving to work. She played an excerpt of an interview she did with Altman back in 1990. She asked him if there were any of his films that he felt failed completely or that he would not want people to see. He said

James Bond Movie Primer

2006-11-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

The new James Bond film "Casino Royale" is out and it's pretty good--Daniel Craig gets it done. I recently wrote the first half of a Bond movie primer for Greencine.com (similar to Netflix) which can be found here (or click on title above for direct link):www.greencine.com/static/primers/bond1.jspTo be exact, I wrote about the early Bond films up through "The Spy Who Loved Me" and my friend Craig

Back from Retreat

2006-10-30T13:51:00.000-08:00

I'm back from 10 days of meditation. I've discovered that I excel at doing nothing, er, meditating (which is not to say that I excel at nothing, although I do excel at that, too). Here's a revised version of the poem I put up on the last post:On Retreat at Spirit Rock (2005) Emerging from the dining hall after tea one evening, we seethe bright circle of a full moonedging over the hillside.A crowd

Going on a 10-day retreat

2006-10-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm going on a 10-day retreat at Spirit Rock. Here's a poem by the Japanese Zen poet Ryokan (trans. by John Stevens) that Jack Kornfield loves to quote:BeggingToday's begging is finished; at the crossroadsI wander by the side of Hachiman ShrineTalking with some children.Last year, a foolish monk;This year, no change!And here's a poem I wrote based on an experience from my last retreat (exactly

Brief Video of Noah Levine at Spirit Rock

2006-10-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you click on the title above, you should be able to watch a short, very commercial video of Buddhist meditation teacher Noah Levine talking about retreats at Spirit Rock. The cool part (to me) is that I shot some of the footage featured in the video, including the spinning dharma wheel near the end, two women walking on a grassy hillside, shots inside the retreat hall, and other random

Elephant Article in NYT Mag

2006-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

If you didn't catch the article about elephants in last Sunday's New York Times Magazine, I highly recommend reading it. You can click the title above to go to the article. Jack Kornfield sometimes tells a story about the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, but his is about the happy reunion of Shirley (an elephant) and another elephant Shirley had known in the circus 22 years before--they

A Better Congress Indeed

2006-09-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a great quote from an article in today's New York Times about Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy's early addiction recovery that has been made very public by the press and the courts. What's truly amazing about the quote (if you ask me) is that it was said by a Republican, Rep. Jim Ramstad from Minnesota (and he's oh so right):The political world could learn much from these gatherings, Mr. Ramstad