Ze Future

Any kid knows that to see one's future, look at the parents.

It has been non-stop since returning to London Saturday. So I roll with it : Parents swimming dinner-party; Jeremy Ben-Ami reception; Sunday brunch with the neighborhood and Rusty. Oh, and I meet the Asst Treasurer of Diageo, the largest drinks company in the world.

Ben-Ami is interesting.  His family connection to Israel goes back 130 years to the first aliyah when his great-grandparents were among the first settlers in Petah Tikva.  His grandparents were one of the founding families of Tel Aviv, and his father was an activist and leader in the Irgun, working for Israel’s independence and on the rescue of European Jews before and during World War II.

Ben-Ami served as the Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor in the White House to President Bill Clinton in the late-90s and has worked on seven Presidential and numerous state and local campaigns.  He was Howard Dean’s National Policy Director in 2004 and helped manage a Mayoral campaign in New York City in 2001. The Jerusalem Post recognised him as one of the world's top-50 influential Jews.

In 2008, he founded non-profit PAC J Street, which argues "a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential to Israel’s survival as the national home of the Jewish people and as a vibrant democracy." 

Tonight  he debates Israel and the US in the Middle East at Cadogan Hall, moderated by Roger Cohen of the New York Times.

Deb

Debbie and I met in, like, 7th grade : she dated my best friend Wylie and I her neighbour, Sarah, my first girlfriend who, along with being runner-up valedictorian at Berkeley High, was also well developed for her age. My first kiss, in fact, took place with Sarah that year, 1979, when yours, truly, made his move, connected, and tripped, landing in the street gutter staring at the starry sky. Some things never change.

Today Deb is a theatre actor whose credits include A Traveling Jewish Theater, Member of the Board of Directors at Central Works, Producing Partner at Branch Out Films, performance artist at BadUnklSista, Actor, "The Appraisal" at Bad Kid Films, actor at Aurora Theatre Company, On Camera Acting, Instructor at UC Berkeley, Extension, Actor at SF Playhouse, Actor at Thick Description, customer service, management, special events at 42 degrees.

I recall Deb in the 9th grade production of "Cabaret" where she played the perfect Sally Bowles (made famous by Liza Minnelli, or vice versa). She has never looked back.

Redwood Forest Trail

Guy and I walk a familiar path.

I am in capable hands, too: Guy was President of The Sierra Club Foundation 2004-6 and now sits on the board of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. In 2005 he wrote "The Getaway Guide to the John Muir Trail" about backpacking the 236-mile John Muir Trail with his son Jacobus. The book won the Gold Award for Best Guidebook in 2006 from the Society of American Travel Writers. In 2002, he kayaked the Grand Canyon and backpacked the 200-mile Tahoe-to-Yosemite trail. In 2003, he received the Mark Dubois Award from Friends of the River for his work preserving American rivers.

Guy owns a piece of the Oakland A's which is on my mind since I watch "Moneyball" on my outbound flight. The movie profiles A's general manager Billie Bean (Guy says Brad Pitt "nails it") who uses quant methods to select ball players - the first time datas used in scouting. In 2002 the A's, with one of baseball's lowest payrolls, set the American League record for most consecutive wins at 20.

The day before I am with David Coats, who is doing the same thing for venture capital : he, too, receives substantial push-back from the establishment. I and everyone in the December closing of Correlation Ventures I hoping for a similar miracle. I expect it.

Giles

Sonnet sends me one from the London Fashion cat walk. This time it is Giles Deacon, whose clients include Princess Beatrice, Drew Barrymore, Thandie Newton, Scarlett Johansson, Gwen Stefani and Mischa Barton. Usual crowd.

Here is what the abel says:
"Ever since his groundbreaking debut in 2004, British designer Giles Deacon has fine-tuned his vision of high craft mixed with a steady stream of wit. He spent time at the Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Gucci studios, among others, and he’s honed his knack for mixing superior craftsmanship with whimsical irreverence. One of the hottest tickets on London runways, Giles dabbles with unlikely proportion and padding, wild prints, and pop-culture references that range from Poe to Peter Saville. As his style matures, he’s transitioning from editorial to wearable, and retailers are watching."

Grace And Sweetie Pie; Titus Arrives

I drive to Menlo Park with my mom (or should I say: My mom drives me to Menlo Park since I left my drivers license in London ).  This is a nice way to catch each other up and Grace is now retired from the non-profit she founded, The Link To Children, which is in the capable hands of the new executive director.  Grace tells me she enjoys the free time to focus her love on my father and Maggie, the beloved bisson frisee "mix" (Maggie comes from a rescue-home and has a lovely gentle temperament. Irresistible).  Grace also goes to mid-day movies and sleeps later than Moe, who is up per usual at 5AM to work-out with his crew at the Berkeley Y (where he is a Director).  Mom has also become one of the "Ladies That Lunch" which I see at many a fine restaurant in London. As Superior Court judge Mike Ballachey once commented to me: "Old fiends are gold dust." 

In other news, Diane has her first baby which she and Kenny name 'Titus.' Bravo!

The Papercuts

Post dinner band The Papercuts - pictured. Blake joins us on his way home from doing banking deals.

Says The New York Times : "Melding sustained organ chords with slow finger-picked guitar, the Papercuts’ music merged Velvet Underground ballads with touches of the Byrds, while Jason Quever sang in a high, diffident voice about elusive love."

And better, PopMatters writes : "a marching band on Quaaludes".

Either way : all good.

Living Large

Christian and I re-union, as we always do when I am in San Francisco or he in London. Not often enough, either. Tonight we meet Eric and Tyler at Delfina's - a favorite restaurant - then catch The Papercuts at the Independent. We have walked this path before.