Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, June 3, 2017

B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 3, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS B2 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 3, 2017 
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS 
Jeff’s Book PicsBy Jeff Brown FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 

Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for 
Freedom by Thomas E. Ricks 

From the #1 New York Times bestselling authorcomes a dual biography of Winston Churchill andGeorge Orwell, who preserved democracy from thethreats of authoritarianism, from the left and rightalike.Both George Orwell and Winston Churchillcame close to death in the mid-1930’s—Orwell shot 
in the neck in a trench line in the Spanish CivilWar, and Churchill struck by a car in


relationships in sports history.

New York City. If they’d died then,

When future NBA legend Kareem

history would scarcely remember 

Abdul-Jabbar was still an 18-year


them. At the time, Churchill was a 

old high school basketball prospect

politician on the outs, his loyalty to

from New York City named Lew

his class and party suspect. Orwell

Alcindor, he accepted a scholarship

was a mildly successful novelist, to

from UCLA largely on the strength

put it generously. No one would have

of Coach John Wooden’s reputation

predicted that by the end of the 20th

as a winner. It turned out to be the 

century they would be considered

right choice, as Alcindor and his

two of the most important people in

teammates won an unprecedented

British history for having the vision

three NCAA championship titles. 

and courage to campaign tirelessly,

But it also marked the beginning of

in words and in deeds, against the

one of the most extraordinary and

totalitarian threat from both the left 

enduring friendships in the history

and the right. In a crucial moment,

of sports. In the book, Abdul-Jabbar

they responded first by seeking the

reveals the inspirational story of how

facts of the matter, seeing through the

his bond with John Wooden evolved 

lies and obfuscations, and then they

from a history-making coach-player

acted on their beliefs. Together, to an

mentorship into a deep and genuine

extent not sufficiently appreciated,

friendship that transcended sports,

they kept the West’s compass set 

shaped the course of both men’s

toward freedom as its due north.It’s 

lives, and lasted for half a century.

not easy to recall now how lonely a

The book is a stirring tribute to the

position both men once occupied.

subtle but profound influence that

By the late 1930’s, democracy was

Wooden had on Kareem as a player,

discredited in many circles, and

and then as a person, as they began

authoritarian rulers were everywhere

to share their cultural, religious, 

in the ascent. There were some who 

and family values while facing some 

decried the scourge of communism,

of life’s biggest obstacles. From 

but saw in Hitler and Mussolini “men 

his first day of practice, when the 

we could do business with,” if not in 

fact saviors. And there were others 
who saw the Nazi and fascist threat as malign,
but tended to view communism as the path tosalvation. Churchill and Orwell, on the other 
hand, had the foresight to see clearly that the issuewas human freedom—that whatever its coloration, 
a government that denied its people basic freedomswas a totalitarian menace and had to be resisted.In 
the end, Churchill and Orwell proved their age’snecessary men. The glorious climax of Churchilland Orwell is the work they both did in the decadeof the 1940’s to triumph over freedom’s enemies.
And though Churchill played the larger role in thedefeat of Hitler and the Axis, Orwell’s reckoningwith the menace of authoritarian rule in Animal 
Farm and 1984 would define the stakes of the Cold 
War for its 50-year course, and continues to giveinspiration to fighters for freedom to this day.
Taken together, in Thomas E. Ricks’s masterful 

hands, their lives are a beautiful testament to the 
power of moral conviction, and to the courage itcan take to stay true to it, through thick and thin. 

Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year 
Friendship On and Off the Court byKareem Abdul-Jabbar 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explores his 50-yearfriendship with Coach John Wooden, one of the 
most enduring and meaningful 

players were taught the importance 
of putting on their athletic socks properly, to 
gradually absorbing the sublime wisdom of Coach 
Wooden’s now famous “Pyramid of Success”; 
to learning to cope with the ugly racism that 
confronted black athletes during the turbulent 
Civil Rights era as well as losing loved ones, 
Abdul-Jabbar fondly recalls how Coach Wooden’s 
fatherly guidance not only paved the way for his 
unmatched professional success but also made 
possible a lifetime of personal fulfillment.Full 
of intimate, never-before-published details and 
delivered with the warmth and erudition of a 
grateful student who has learned his lessons 
well, COACH WOODEN AND ME is at once a 
celebration of the unique philosophical outlookof college basketball’s most storied coach and a 
moving testament to the all-conquering power of 
friendship. 

BEACH FOSSILS COMEBACK WITH ‘SOMERSAULT’ 


By Sean Kayden

It’s been four years since we last heard anything fromBrooklyn indie rockers, Beach Fossils. While such await can seem grueling for fans, it was a necessarywithdrawal for lead singer/founder, Dustin Payseur.
He’s debuting his long-awaited return, Somersault,
on his own new label, Bayonet Records, which heco-owns with his wife, Kate Garcia. The return of 
Beach Fossils is now just a trio with Jack DoyleSmith and Tommy Davidson, both whom playedon the band’s previous 2013 sophomore record,
Clash The Truth. Despite the departure of longtime drummer, Tommy Gardner this past March,
the band’s core sound is still in tact. However, we 
are introduced to strings, piano, flue, saxophoneand even harpsichord on the band’s third LP. As theband sets their sights on an upcoming tour, BeachFossils have found new methods on connectingwith new and previous fans alike. Somersault is afresh start for Beach Fossils as they’ve establishedmore independence with this release, but it’s alsovalidation of a band in full bloom. 

Artist: Beach Fossils 
Album: Somersault 
Label: Bayonet RecordsRelease Date: June 2nd, 2017 
Review By: Sean Kayden 

The record kicks off with “This Year” and rightfrom the start, you sense the keen imaginationfrom the band. A reflective tale, “This Year” features 
guitars that strike with luminous precision. Thetempo flows with tenacity and the string sectionadds splendor to the song as it soars high frombeginning to end. It’s a song about setting yourselfup for change, but still making those same mistakesall over again. A tune that embodies today’s youthculture, Beach Fossils tap into that zeitgeist sincethey’re very well a part of it. “Tangerine (ft. RachelGoswell of Slowdive)” is a breezy jam with the vocal 

pairing of Goswell and Payseur working togetheramicably. “Saint Ivy,” one the recent singles, isanother new direction for Beach Fossils. With the 
inclusion of strings, piano, and a flute, the songlives within another era of music. Perhaps it’sthe 60s with the arrangements reminding me ofvintage Beatles, at least for this specific track. “May1st” does feel a bit like old Beach Fossils just witha more mature understanding of the world aroundthem. As the band grows older, their music andartistic expressions seem to reflect that. I dig thecrisp guitars that evoke a dreamy soundscape. Theirsound is refreshing to the ear and with a clearervision in mind, Beach Fossils are succeeding on anew level. 

“Rise (ft. Cities Aviv)” touches upon a more 
freestyle track featuring the words of Gavin Mays. 
The soulful, sub-two minute track is 90s inspired. 
It’s both unique and experimental for a band 
taking more chances here than they ever had in the 
past. “Social Jetlag” conjures this idea of walking 
through a crowded street, merely another face in 
the crowd. It touches upon some psychedelic vibes 
and fits strongly with its companion pieces on 
Somersault. My favorite pick is “Down The Line.” 
A song for today’s youth, lyrically it embodies 
angst, uncertainty, and apathy. Musically speaking, 
it’s the band tightest track with an effervescent 
baseline and sweeping guitars. Closing track, 
“That’s All For Now” provides lush arrangements, 
but also comes off quite wistful. It’s another track 
where you’ll find yourself thinking about the 
events around you, the circumstances that have 
come about, and the resolutions or therefore lack 
of, that have been made. In the end, Somersault 
paints Beach Fossils in a different light, where 
adolescence thoughts have drifted into adulthood 
concerns. Ultimately, it’s what makes the album’s 
theme so universal. 

Key Tracks: “This Year,” “Down The Line,” 
“Social Jetlag,” “That’s All For Now” 

FREE LAWN CONCERT FEATURING 
BIG BAND THEORY 

Sierra Madre United Methodist Church is holdingto bring their families, friends, lawn chairs andits first free lawn concert on Saturday, June 17, 2017blankets to enjoy free music. Light refreshments andat 7:00 p.m. The Big Band Theory is composed ofsnacks will be available for purchase. Free parkingmusicians affiliated with Jet Propulsion Laboratoryis easily accessible from Michillinda Avenue, north(JPL) in Pasadena. The band features selectionsof Sierra Madre Boulevard. The Church is located 
from the swing era, with a dose of 60’s Sinatra andat 695 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. in Sierra Madre. Call 
60’s hipsters. Members of the community are invited 626-355-0629 for more information. 


PARENTING: BUILD 
YOUR CHILD’S 
RESILIENCE TO SUPPORT 
THEIR ULTIMATE 
SUCCESS 

If you are like most parents, your primary objectiveis to support your children to be prepared to 
handle the pressures of adulthood. And if there is 
a single human trait which helps to navigate all oflife’s stages, it is resilience. Resilience is the abilityto bounce back, move forward, and learn from the 
setbacks in life. As a parent, one of the greatest giftsyou can give your child is the gift of learning howto make mistakes, learn from them, and grow as aresult. 

The foundation for developing resilience in yourchild is threefold: 1) to develop resilience in yourown life; 2) to allow your child the freedom to makemistakes, the security to learn from them and theopportunity to move forward with a clean slate;
and 3) to let your children see you make mistakesand role model resilience for them with vulnerable 
power.

Here’s an example: imagine you face a situationat work that creates adversity for you. You couldcome home and complain about your coworkers, 

your boss and your team, or you could take fullresponsibility for your part in creating the stressfulsituation and share with your child what you aregoing to do to face the challenge head on and makeit better. And, wherever you notice that you madea mistake or could have done something better, tellyour child about it and what you learned as a result.
And of course when your child makes a mistake,
celebrate the opportunity to learn, rather thanreinforcing the negativity of the experience.
Remember, some of the most successful people onthe planet failed first. What made them an ultimatesuccess? They had the resilience and supportto recognize that failure was simply part of thejourney and to keep going.

So how does estate planning fit into developingresilience in your children? First and foremost, 
resilience comes when your children know that nomatter what happens, you love and accept themand will always be there for them. It is having thatdeep knowing that creates the security that allowsyour children to take the risks that others can’t orwon’t. And I believe that’s the ultimate foundation 
of true success in life. 

When you’ve handled your estate planning andtalked with your kids about what you’ve set up (ifthey are old enough), they get the clear messagethat you’ve done everything possible to be there forthem, even if you cannot be there physically.

And by including them in the process when theyare old enough, they began to see that you trustthem, that you are working with them to designa future that is positive for your whole family andthat you value and respect their input.

Estate planning can (and should) be about somuch more than just passing on your money.
It can be a perfect opportunity to uplevel yourfamily’s entire foundation, and create a future 
all of you are excited to live in to together.

Dedicated to your family’s health, wealth, andhappiness, 


A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on amission to help parents protect what they love most.
His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointmentto sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of loveand financial security for your family by calling626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more 
information. 

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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com