WORD IS BORN

I started this blog WAY back in 2007 as "Word Is Born." The spirit remains the same: my thoughts and photos, random as they are. Enjoy.

Latest Grams:

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perch&egra

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perchè no? I didn't know what the future would hold, but I knew opening more doors for education and work in my father's country and greater EU would be good for me and future generations. Oh, and the history, culture, landscapes, pride of lineage, etc. I wanted to power up from half Italian to full citizen. I set a first citizenship appointment in San Francisco in 2010, the same year Amanda and I married, but didn't get enough paperwork together time. I had some other stops and starts but thanks to some major legwork led by cousin @mikebaiocchi I finally set an appointment two years ago for a January 2020 appointment at the consulate in San Francisco. We made it a fun little family vacation. The appointment itself went well (after some fair shaming about my language progress). We came home and waited for confirmation but of course COVID-19 devastated Italy, and I didn't expect to hear anything soon. Well, the surprise came in the mail today 🙌🏻. Eliza and Matteo automatically gained citizenship. Amanda has a few more steps (notably a high level of language achievement) to gain citizenship through marriage, but I am super pumped to reach this longtime goal! Forza Italia! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿

Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿

Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley.

I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on t

Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley. I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on these doors and many kind people responded. @nattyluna and @jordowilliams kindly met me for informational interviews. @lux2, after intense interrogation, finally conceded and offered me a job on the social media team to join @kelly_ann_walsh. Shout out to some of my other bosses over the years: @rowleycraig, @sarahjeanneisme @mrajet and @ph9er. Too many colleagues and teammates over the years to tag but so appreciative of the shared time. The work we did in this place will define my career and the brand for years to come. OptOutside, Force of Nature, etc. I’ve been able to pay it forward and meet people for informational interviews and hire some of them myself. I’ve met a lot of great people and forged a kit of friendship with people who were also willing to come to Kent. Because the location doesn’t matter so much as the mission. Shout out to those who literally drove with me and endured the I-5 commute that future generations won't comprehend: @jruckle @angelafgow @halleyrebecca @shelb_hall. Next stop, REI Tacoma (work at home) and a smattering of new Bellevue HQ. Onward.

I published monthly letters for these Puget Sound saltwater 🐟. Link in profile. #deareliza #dearmatteo

August 05, 2007 in Uncategorized

Bad news, good news and not such great news about Kurt Cobain's legacy.

In the bad news column, I learned from Sound on the Sound that Nirvana's entire "Nevermind" album will be featured on the latest Wii guitar game, Rock Band. While another, more popular video game series, Guitar Hero, has earned credibility amongst most folks (except real musicians, who prefer playing real instruments), Kurt should still be rolling over in his grave about this commoditzation.

Of course, put Courtney Love in charge of your catalog and estate (She reportedly made $50 million selling 25% of Nirvana's song catalog in 2006) and you get what you deserve. More recently, she gave some "collectibles association" permission to use Kurt Cobain's likeness on tacky stuff like lunchboxes and key chains.

In the good news column, Love says that she'll be auctioning off most of Cobain's remaining memoriabilia. Good news for collecters and music enthusaists who know she doesn't deserve to sing a Nirvana song.

"I'm going to have a Christie's auction," Love tells Spinner. "[My house] is like a mausoleum. My daughter [14-year-old Frances Bean] doesn't need to inherit a giant Hefty bag full of flannel fucking shirts ... A sweater, a guitar and the lyrics to 'Teen Spirit' -- that's what my daughter gets. And the rest of it we'll just fucking sell."

And finally in the not so great news column, filmmaker A.J. Schnack has made a new film called "Kurt Cobain: About a Son." The indie, scheduled to screen and film festivals this fall, is a "moving meditation on the late singer" culled from 25 hours of conversations between the singer and writer Michael Azzerad. According to the Seattlest, it features Cobain talking and a score by Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard. R.E.M., David Bowie and Iggy Pop are slated to be on the movie's soundtrack.

Why is this in the not so great news column? Well, because every other Nirvana or Kurt Cobain movie has sucked. But perhaps this one has hope. See the film's trailer below.