Skip to main content

The Consummate Reporter

Embarcadero - San Francisco
“Isn't it nice that people who prefer Los Angeles to San Francisco live there?”

Recently, during a weekend get-a-way to San Francisco, while strolling along the Embarcadero, we ran across this street sign and Lori spontaneously said, “Take a picture of that sign and send it to Russ - he will know who that is for sure.” My response, “Ok, who is Herb Caen?”

“I remember reading his daily syndicated column living in Los Angeles,” said Lori. “He was a California icon.” A quick Google search, turns out, Caen was journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle. He wrote, just shy of 1,000 words a day from 1938-1997 about; local events, social and political happenings, and offbeat narratives that made him a household name throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. A special Pulitzer Prize called him the "voice and conscience" of San Francisco.

Huh - I never would have known.

“All of this gets written, two-fingered, on an old Royal typewriter,” Mr. Caen says in a 1993 interview by Jane Gross of the New York Times. Now I see the connection. Translate this to today’s technology, I conjure an image of my good friend Russell Shor pounding his imaginary typewriter - or is it his iPhone? Not metal, but a touch-screen, that takes a beating as he prepares his weekly Industry Analysis Reports.

"People came from miles around," to see the only remaining typewriter in the Chronicle building. The youngest gawkers, Mr. Caen said, have never seen carbon paper, a vestige of the pre-computer newsroom. You use it to make dupes, he tells them. What are dupes? they ask.

Today, newspapers have been replaced by digital data, and ones' audience has grown exponentially with the internet; blog posts, electronic newsletters, e-mail, text messages, and social media sites. However, I’ve always admired the consummate journalist. How they can take a subject and within a few minutes paint vivid pictures with words. And, with just a little editing, can draw you into their world of fact, fiction, and the unexpected recesses of the imagination. What an incredible talent.

Russ is connected - a smartphone in each hand, work in his right and personal in his left, pounding the digital pavement, communicating with friends and contacts around the world. Admittedly, his appeal seems to lie in the endless bonhomie he projects.  We may be enjoying a hike at Daly Ranch, or lunch, or having our morning coffee, I catch him texting and ask, “Who are you chatting with?” It’s usually a friend from London, South Africa, or India. Something Caen would never do as an old time journalist pounding the streets of San Francisco for stories.

Personally, I love having our consummate reporter and tech user in Carlsbad. You might say, this is my humble way of nominating him for the Pulitzer Prize or its equivalent recognition in the jewelry industry. To paraphrase Herb Caen, Isn't it nice that people who prefer anywhere on earth to San Diego live there?”

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Finding Our Place

In this episode,  Finding Our Place: Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI . . . Yesterday, I overheard a conversation that echoed a question many of us are quietly asking: In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, where do we , as humans, truly fit in? My younger colleagues, sharp and driven, were "joking" about AI taking their jobs. Their concerns felt valid, prompting me to reflect. Will machines really replace us? My answer, unequivocally, is No . And here’s why. What makes us uniquely human isn't merely our ability to perform tasks. It's our innate capacity for creativity and our deep-seated need to serve others. These aren't just abstract ideas; they are the very essence of what gives meaning to our lives and work. While AI excels at processing data and automating tasks with incredible speed, it cannot replicate the spark of human ingenuity. It lacks the empathy to truly understand unspoken needs or the intuitive synergy that fosters breakthrough solutio...

The Curious Crew

In today's special episode, The Curious Crew . . .  Oh, our young folks are ready, with AI so grand, A new era of wonders across every land! With curious minds, vast as Space, full of creative delight, And a zest for exploring, with all of their light! They welcome new tools, with a gleam in their eye, To learn and to grow, way up to the sky! Our thinking's a marvel, a clever design, We make new plans, so fantastically fine! With problem-space maps and memories, too, We build new ideas, quite fresh and quite new! With smiling faces, showing gratitude's grace, We find our own wonderful, human-filled place! Sharing a meal with generosity and love, A warm human spirit, a gift from above! We stand tall together, collaborate, and help with a grin, For with Agentic AI, together we win! Not machines all alone, but with us by their side, We'll create and serve, with nothing to hide! I'm Patrick Ball. Stay curious and ask questions. See you next time.

Beyond June Gloom

Beyond June Gloom: The Milky Way Awaits! ✨🌌 Has the seemingly endless marine layer got your telescope feeling neglected? For us sky-watchers on the beautiful California coast, May Gray and June Gloom have played a persistent game of hide-and-seek with our celestial views. But there's good news tonight: as summer officially arrives, a stunning cosmic spectacle is about to reveal itself, and you absolutely won't want to miss it! We know the drill: that persistent marine layer turning our sunny days into cool, misty ones. It's a hallmark of our coastal climate, and while it's kept our telescopes under wraps, consider it nature’s way of building epic anticipation for the celestial show that’s about to unfold The Return of the Galactic Core! (Photo courtesy of Gemini) As the days grow longer and the summer air warms, those stubborn clouds will begin to dissipate, revealing a breathtaking sight: the core of our very own Milky Way galaxy! That's right, the vibrant heart...

Legoland Birthday Magic

In this episode, Legoland Birthday Magic . . . By: Patrick Ball and Gemini Good morning! A grand notion, a fanciful spree! Let's twist up a tale for all folks to see! From Carlsbad, California, the clouds they did gleam, On LEGOLAND wonders, a birthday dream! Young LUCA, the lad turned precisely six years, With JULIAN, his brother, dispelling all fears! A baggie he clutched, with small figures inside, For trading and swapping, with a joyful stride! But then! A new twist, a high-energy spree! Forget little figures, let the youngsters run free! In overcast skies, the LEGO bricks gleam, But birthday boy LUCA was living a dream! Not just Luca, oh no! Two pals joined the fray, Young JULIAN, seven, to brighten the day! And their curly-haired buddy, aged eight, with a giggle so grand, Plus, one little lady skipping close at hand! No slow strolls or glances, no careful, soft tread, This crew was a whirlwind, right out of their head! Like Zappers on race tracks, they zoomed and they flew, ...