A Thought or 2 - The NHL and Related Matters

Among other pondering, the recent play of the NHL Kings [Really - a Fan of L.A. Sports Teams?] and the MLB Dodgers [It's Only Taken 30 Years - What's Next?] has me reflecting on my lifelong loyalty and preference to Detroit / Michigan sports teams.  Three decades after removing to So. Cal. and roughly 35 years since I left my hometown Mad. Hts., I occasionally find myself actually rooting for these adopted home teams. However, this all takes place within a limited perspective.  First and foremost, I'm a sports fan. Meaning that I enjoy viewing a good match regardless of game, team, or player.  Second, my ongoing ranking of favored sporting events observation / participation is currently baseball, hockey, golf, with basketball and football in a 4th-place (not too interested) tie, and everything else trailing behind.  In addition, this is all shaken up, (when I'm so inclined), with good doses of cynicism along the lines of "let guys who make an average of millions-of-dollars-per-year support these elitist athletes, etc. . . ."

That said, I recently recorded my preference for a Chicago vs. Los Angeles match-up in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  The series came to be and it's been great sport.  Last night's game in Chicago was one of the best exhibitions of hockey that I've witnessed recently.  Also, kudos to the officials / linesmen who allowed the match to be played at its player-dictated tempo.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Michal Handzus, right, scores the winning goal past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick in double overtime in the Kings' 5-4 loss in Game 5 of the West-ern Conference finals.  (Photo by Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images)

One of the aspects of hockey that I enjoy is the pace of play which can be breathtakingly fast.  Compared to NBA play (particularly in the playoffs) where a final half-minute of action can take a half-hour to play out, I find hockey to be refreshingly entertaining and a lot more exciting.

From journalist Lisa Dillman: "Almost eight eye-catching minutes flew by — 7:56, to be precise — without a stoppage in play between the Kings and Chicago Blackhawks in the first overtime period at the United Center." And from Chicago coach Joel Quenneville, a former NHL defenseman. "That might have been the greatest overtime I've seen.'' From journalist Nicholas J. Cotsonika for 'Yahoo Sports' on May 29, 2014: "This is why we love hockey, and this is why we especially love the playoffs. They are full of surprises. The Kings still hold a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference final and can clinch on home ice Friday night. But who knows what’s going to happen? This is a matchup between the last two Stanley Cup champions – the Kings won in 2012, the Blackhawks last year – and there is no script, just skill and will and luck."

Box Score / Game Data

I'll be watching Friday night from the comfort zone of my wanna-be-man-cave in K-Town, and I'll be rooting for the Kings.  It'd be good and easy to see Los Angeles beat New York in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Now, if ever in my lifetime a given finals comes down to L.A. versus Detroit  . . . . . I'll just have to wait and see.

ExFlorations -- Black, etc. . . .

Just something to post quickly, but I like it:

Venice Sidestreet Symmetry

Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2014

Imaging - Another Oblivious Gull

Scene 'piered' at during a delightful hike around the King Harbor area of Redondo Beach this Sunday morning:

Redondo Seagull Posted

Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2014

A Thought or 2 - Just Wondering . . . Wildlife

The poaching death of a well-known elephant in South Africa got me thinking about the future of wildlife in general.  A few years ago I came across the mid-19th century story of Seth Kinman who was personally responsible (and locally famous) for practically eliminating the indigenous grizzly bear population in Humboldt County, California.  

(Publicly accessed / www.bing.com / May, 2014)

Looked at within an historical context of, say, the last 100 to 200 years, Kinman's case is not an isolated incident regionally, nationally, or internationally. Natural extinction is not abnormal, but the man-made elimination of wildlife populations and species certainly is. Progressive groups such The WWF are helping to balance the historic ignorance and counteract the ongoing destructive processes. However, its mission and vision can appear to be somewhat idealistic and the organization's objectives lead directly into a long, difficult struggle: "WWF's mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. Our vision is to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature." Still, the World Wildlife Fund and similar groups' efforts warrant support from every human who appreciates wildlife.

'Mountain Bull' (c.1968--2014) R.I.P.

(Photograph courtesy Lewa Wildlife Conservancy 

via www.newswatch.nationalgeographic.com . . .)

Will any wild elephants exist when my grandchild is my age?  How about during the lifetimes of her grandchildren?  Just wondering . . .

Exflorations -- Red / Orange

A Trio of Selections from March, 2014

Prespring SFMission Blossoms

Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2014

Third & Fairfax Flowlers

Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2014

Sanita Arboretum Bloomination

Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2014

A Thought or 2 - Work at [not on] a Mission

Supposing that my current employment will continue on through the end of next month, (not a given), my gig as Associate Archivist for the Archdiocesan Archives will reach the four-year mark.  Like most others, this endeavor has had its pluses and minuses, its ups and downs, as well as its advantages and disadvantages. However, one aspect of this work has certainly high-lighted my time here at Mission San Fernando.  Abutting the northern slopes of the Valley is this especial site where our Archival Center is located, and it has become the most historic place at which I’ve participated in more than just casual visiting or working experiences.

Originally, the vicinity was home to local Native Americans who were drawn and tied to this particular neighborhood by comparatively abundant natural springs that surfaced the landscape of an otherwise very arid region. The ancient civilizations of the Tataviam and others that included Chumash, Kitanemuk, and Tongva speakers eventually succumbed to the dominance of the Euro-white ethnic groups that had first staggered around this place during the second-half of the 1700s A.D.  The great Carleton E. Watkins produced the first photograph of Mission San Fernando after railroads had connected the region to a larger world.  This image can  likely be dated to 1880, but can be confidently placed within the period from 1875 to 1881.

Ex-Mission San Fernando by Carleton E. Watkins c.1880

These days, the site of Mission San Fernando isn't just the locale of the Archdiocesan Archival Center and office building that was opened in 1981. It's also the setting for the 1970s church that is a replica of the c.1806 structure it replaced, and the iconic, two-story, long building known as the 'Convento' that was completed c.1820 and has retained much of its original design.

The 'Convento' at Mission San Fernando -- April 22, 1934

(Library of Congress photo)

The 'Convento' at Mission San Fernando -- Sept. 20, 2013

(Jim A. Beardsley photo)

Within the confines of this built environment that dates back to late-summer, 1797, the site of Mission San Fernando has been visited by a variety of historical figures and has been connected to an array of historic events.  Fr. Francisco Dumetz, (a native Mallorcan who arrived with the region’s first wave of Euro-missionaries), was among those whom initially established the outpost as he roamed over Southern California for roughly forty years prior to his death and burial at Mission San Gabriel in 1811.

The son of Sacagawea, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, who was born in early 1805 at Fort Mandan during the Lewis and Clark Expedition probably visited in the 1840s.  Long before his likeness as an infant was ever reproduced on a series of U.S. dollar coins he was listed as the father of record of Maria Cantarina Charguana who was baptized at the Mission on May 28, 1848. 

At various times following secularization of the Mission and leading into the period of California statehood, a Californio of mixed-race ancestry was overlord around the Mission site.  It’s been fairly well documented that Gen. Andrés Pico relished his role as a committed bachelor (among many other adventures) who fancied entertaining  guests at San Fernando as they enjoyed the celebrated local wine and brandy that were still being produced from the old padres' vineyards.

For a few years around 1860 the west end of the Convento building was likely used as a supplemental station or alternative stop on the segment of the short-lived but well-known Butterfield Overland Mail Trail that ran between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  And it can be argued that the modern history of Mission San Fernando began on May 31, 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation that returned the land upon which the original buildings were sited back to Catholic ownership and administration.

Subsequent to the romanticized ‘Days of The Dons’ and coincident with another era of large-scale ranching in the Valley that peaked about 1900, the history of the 17th mission established by the Franciscans in Alta California entered into an ongoing period and process of repairing, remodeling, rebuilding, and renewal that has resulted in the Mission and site we see today.  A long list of modern-day dignitaries and celebrities that have signed the Mission guest registers includes Pope Saint John Paul II who dropped in on the third Wednesday of September during an extended papal visit (his fourth of seven) to the U.S. in 1987.

The Archival Center at Mission San Fernando - Aug. 8, 2010

(Jim A. Beardsley photo)

So, while I've not relished or been enthused by all [aspects] of the four years of time spent at San Fernando it has given me the ways and means for a continuing study of local history that I've come to value greatly.  Perhaps it is a mission after all, and not just a Mission.

Imaging - EXFLORATIONS

          'Exflorations' is my term for the process of exploring and imaging flora (more on this concept later.)  Here's a recent favorite:

'Windsor Square Darkbloom'

March 2014 (c)Jim A. Beardsley

Imaging - Religious Architecture

Trinity Lutheran Church
759 Linden Ave.; Long Beach, California U.S.A.
April, 2014 (c) Jim A. Beardsley

Creating my religious architecture image archive has become a fairly consistent hobby over the last ten years or so. It's proven to be an inexpensive pursuit that provides me with focal points from which to get a bit of exercise while I explore various neighborhoods on foot. What I enjoy most about building this type of personal collection is the availability of content everywhere I go, as well as the great array of structural shapes, textures, and colors which I encounter along the way. Add in some of the contemporary, cultural and historical elements of local architectural and my casual interest becomes an evolving appreciation.

Jim A. Beardsley's Religious Architecture / Houses of Worship Album on 'FLICKR'

The actual imaging is produced in three basic steps: (1) capturing a subject; (2) editing the selected photos; and (3) presenting, sharing, and preserving the results. It does takes a fair amount of time and effort. In my definitively amateurish case, I complete these steps with an assembly of cheap equipment, hardware, and supplies.

* * * * *

Trinity Lutheran was originally built at its Long Beach site in 1910. Prior to taking on its current appearance the church underwent a number of reconstruction or repair projects that included rebuilding following a powerful earthquake in 1933 and recovering from a big fire in 1955. Now, it's a very photogenic building due, in part, to an absence of obstructions. With this photograph and framing, the late morning bright light played well on the east-facing elevation and the chosen shot was the first take.

Music - My Gripe with "Classic Rock"

          For a change this morning,  I'm hearing the local 'classic rock' radio station using a PC, Google Chrome, and http://player.liquidcompass.net/KSWDFM. Here's the problem: they just played (in this order) Journey, The Beatles, The J. Geils Band, and Boston.  Except for maybe The Beatles, I really, really don't care to hear selections from any of these groups - given the choice, I wouldn't play them myself.

         This particular station (KSWD The Sound 100.3  http://thesoundla.com/?nid=7) boasts that, on a daily basis, they never repeat a song.  They do, however, play lots of the same songs on a daily basis; mostly lots of the same ones highly commercial corporate stations like this (i.e Bonneville International of Salt Lake City http://www.bonneville.com/?nid=2) have been pushing on a formulaic basis to listeners for years and decades.  Considering all of the music entertainment choices available today, I simply cannot bring myself to regularly tune into this same old type of mediocre and tired content.  Mostly, I'm referring to middle-of-the-pack, [at one time] nationally and commercially successful bands / brand names? such as Boston, Heart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. ad nauseam.

          That said, I can still listen to and like extended plays of any number highly influential and commercially successful [rock and other genre] groups from the 1960s and 1970s.  For instance, this week I listened to and sorta studied up on the first six studio albums by Led Zeppelin and I often explore the Rolling Stones' extensive catalog.  Finally, it's fair to note that I enjoy portions of the programming on 'The Sound' such as the comedy breaks and the 'rock history' offerings.  They'll be playing 10 selections from 1969 at 10:00 this morning -- I think I'll struggle through a couple of hours of the commercials, mishmash, and stuff I like and listen in / listen up / lend an ear.

A Thought or 2 - L.A. Kings & NHL History

     A TBT salute to the Los Angeles Kings in appreciation of their exciting Game 6 win over Anaheim at the Staples Center last night.  Going back 45 years, a month and two days ago to April 13, 1969 finds the Kings completing their first ever playoff series win as they upset the Oakland Seals by score of 5 -3 in Game 7.   Lowell MacDonald scored the clinching goal   (unassisted) at 7:53 of the 3^rd period. 

             The top attractions on the Kings squad that season were rookie goaltender Gerry Desjardins and leading scorer Eddie ‘The Jet’ Joyal.  It was the NHL’s second season of expansion (from the ‘Original 6’) and the East Division was vastly stronger than the West. This imbalance led, in part, to the rush of scoring records that really began to take hold during the 1968/69 season which included Bobby Hull’s new single season record of 58 goals, and Bobby Orr’s new record of  21 goals by a defenseman.  Notably, three  all-time greats also became the first in the NHL to score 100 points in a season:  league leader Phil Esposito had 126; Hull added 49 assists to his goal tally for 107 points; and the legendary Gordie Howe had a first-team All-Star season as he finished with 103 points. Geographically, these Divisions didn’t work too well either as the Flyers and Penguins struggled to get established in the Western grouping while lots of traditional hockey fans decried the absence of an expansion team in Canada. 

            The Jack Kent Cooke-owned Los Angeles team was swept out of the 1969 playoffs in the second round by the St. Louis Blues.  They failed to qualify for the postseason the next four seasons and didn’t win another playoff series until 1976.  St. Louis went on to get swept by Montreal in the finals as they scored only 3 goals in four games against future Kings goalie Rogie Vachon. In fact, five of the seven NHL playoff series in 1969 ended in ‘4-0’ sweeps while the ‘Original 6’ Canadian teams (Montreal and Toronto) were in the midst of an era-ending streak between 1955 and 1970 during which they brought the Stanley Cup back to Canada 13 times in 14 years.

            Good luck to Los Angeles at Anaheim on Friday night.  It’s been an entertaining and hard fought series, but I’d much prefer to see the Kings rather than the Ducks go up against the Blackhawks in the Conference finals.

A Thought or 2 - What is / isn't the Past? and a nice ExFloration

The past is never dead.

It's not even past.

                                                         —William C. Faulkner

Sepulveda Boulebirdo Paradise

Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2013

A Thought or 2 - Back to Blogger and Maybe My Best ExFloration

          Starting with a go-to composition and going forward with some revisions, ground rules and freshened ideas:  (1) primary focus on original content; (2) secondary focus on content that interests me while appealing to my various degrees and levels of appreciation; and (3) solely by and for me yet open to anyone.

Mission Bee Lily
Jim A. Beardsley (c) 2011