Greeks, Actors, Singers for a good cause at OSF

I love Greek Mythology so here is my chance to inform my readers about Daedalus, the namesake of a fund raising organization in Ashland.

We attended the “Daedalus Concert” a few days ago with locals Larry and Debra. Why the connection between this Greek and a fund raiser for AIDS I do not know, but the name is classy anyway.

Daedalus was a very talented Athenian artisan descendent from the royal family of Cecrops, the mythical first king of Athens. He was known for his skill as an architect, sculpture, and inventor, and he produced many famous works. Despite his self-confidence, Daedalus once committed a crime of envy against Talus, his nephew and apprentice.

Talus, who seemed destined to become as great an artisan as his uncle Daedalus, was inspired one day to invent the saw after having seen the way a snake used its jaws. Daedalus, momentarily stricken with jealousy,got a little crazy and threw Talus off of the Acropolis.

For this crime, Daedalus was exiled to Crete and placed in the service of King Minos, where he eventually had a son, Icarus, with the beautiful Naucrate, a mistress-slave of the King. Minos called on Daedalus to build the famous Labyrinth in order to imprison the dreaded Minotaur. The Minotaur was a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. He was the son of Pasiphae, the wife of Minos, and a bull that Poseidon had sent to Minos as a gift. Minos was shamed by the birth of this horrible creature and resolved to imprison the Minotaur in the Labyrinth where it fed on humans, which were taken as "tribute" by Minos and sacrificed to the Minotaur in memory of his fallen son Androgenos.

Theseus, the heroic King of Athens, volunteered himself to be sent to the Minotaur in the hopes of killing the beast and ending the "human tribute" that his city was forced to pay Minos. When Theseus arrived to Crete, Ariadne, Minos's daughter, fell in love with him and wished to help him survive the Minotaur. Daedalus revealed the mystery of the Labyrinth to Ariadne who in turn advised Theseus, thus enabling him to slay the Minotaur and escape from the Labyrinth. When Minos found out what Daedalus had done he was not exactly overjoyed, in fact he was so pissed that he imprisoned Daedalus & Icarus in the Labyrinth themselves.

But Daedalus was no fool and conceived to escape from the Labyrinth with son Icarus by constructing wings and then flying to safety. He built the wings from feathers and wax, and before the two set off he warned Icarus not to fly so low that his wings would touch the waves and get wet, and not too high so the sun would melt the wax. But the young Icarus, overwhelmed by the thrill of flying, did not heed his father's warning, and flew too close to the sun , melted the wax and he fell into the sea. Daedalus fared better in his flight plan and escaped to Sicily where the Corleone family took him in..(I made up that last part). Icarus' body was eventually carried ashore by the current to an island then without a name. Heracles came across the body and recognized it, giving it burial where today there still stands a small rock promontory jutting out into the Aegean Sea, and naming the island and the sea around it after the fallen Icarus.

As for the Ashland Daedalus Project, it has been around for over twenty years and each year it seems to raise more money for worthy local causes. The big event is the annual concert in the Elizabethan Theater where the OSF Actors and Staff get to let their hair down and perform their own version of Saturday Night Live. There is hardly an empty seat and a great time is had by all, especially the actors. The intermission highlight is the actors underwear parade, where you get to “stuff” their outfits with $$ bills. Some attract more attention and $$ than others for obvious reasons. On a serious note, the evening ends with many on stage with lit candles remembering and naming loved ones who have been lost to AIDS related illnesses.

Jam, Dunes and Deals

Friday August 21, 2010

Well I went a little crazy this morning on the jam thing. Misty Meadows is a world class jam store just south of Bandon. they must have 100 varieties of jam and most if it comes from local berries. I love jam. Put it on a piece of whole wheat toast and i am in heaven. Put it on anything for that matter, even pizza. Paula was my partner in this craziness and after 30 minutes in the store we were $80 poorer for our trip to jam nirvana. Check outhttp://www.oregonjam.com/ if you want to order something really good that is still legal.

After blowing the money on the jam and a delightful breakfast in Old Bandon we headed North to Reedsport and the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Our intention was to do an extended hike, but because of the time, we opted to just look at them from a high viewing point. We took some additional time talking to a very nice the Park Ranger(they all are nice BTW) scoping out our next trip when we can really spend a whole day hiking. I had to wait a bit to talk to him as there was a rather robust gentleman, using the term loosely, from North Carolina insisting that his dunes in N.C. were bigger than the Ranger's dunes here in Oregon. I was restrained by not asking this man if he thought his"maleness' was also bigger by comparison. "Be good Shel" I keep telling myself in these situations.

The Oregon Dunes are a unique area of windswept sand that is the result of millions of years of wind, sun, and rain erosion on the Oregon Coast. These are the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America. Some dunes tower up to 450 feet above sea level, providing for some amazing hiking experiences. In 1963, Congress passed a bill to establish a National Park at the Oregon Dunes. Here is some trivia: Author Frank Herbert was inspired to write the famous science fiction novel ‘Dune” based on his research about the dunes of this area.

Oh yes, what about the "deals' part? Since I have been on this extended trip from my office in Arizona i have been able to conduct my business seamlessly via my Google Phone or via internet. Today was one of those days where it all came together. Thanks to some great support in Arizona (thanks Frank and Yohannes) and the coordination of Mitch Cohen in New York, we finally closed a project that was pending for months. A great day for Jam, Dunes and Deals! If this keeps up, i might not leave this place till the snow falls.

Goodby Columbus, or Madison, or Mesa, or Scottsdale?

Thursday August 19th, 2010

With due respect to Philip Roth, who was born in the same city that I

was, the garden spot of the Garden State, Newark N.J., this blog has nothing to do with his book. But, I do like the title for my latest blog.

We took a two-day trip from Ashland to explore the Oregon Coast and the beautiful beaches. At breakfast we had the opportunity to chat with a young couple who had recently moved to Bend Oregon from Madison Wisconsin. (Hence the title of this blog). As I travel through this state and take time to talk to anyone who looks interesting, I find so many people of all ages who have decided to make Oregon their home. The common thread among all is an appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Oregon has the lowest “couch potato” quotient in the USA.

The state has long been one of the major producers of lumber in the USA and the evidence of clear-cutting is everywhere. Check the pic attached and you can see what “clear cutting” looks like. Not a pretty site. However, in the last twenty years or so the state has finally figured out how to balance the needs of the lumber industry and holding on to local jobs and those who want to see pristine forests everywhere. And fortunately the “old growth” forests are being harvested in way that keeps them healthy and vibrant.

Then there are the beaches and the miles and miles of endless huge dunes. Most of the immediate shoreline in the state is protected and accessible to all through the state parks and U.S. Forest Service. You can hike till you drop along the two hundred mile coastline. On this trip we stayed at the Sunset Motel which sits on the cliffs above “Face Rock” in Bandon. The gull in the pic was an early morning visitor to our deck who expected me to feed him breakfast.

Bandon is now world renowned among golfers for Bandon Dunes Golf Resort which has three of the top ten public courses in America. Before it was “discovered”, I played the original Bandon Dunes Course for $40. Now daily green fees run $270, but if you really love golf it is worth every nickel to play here. We did play some golf, but at a new course, Bandon Crossings, which was quite beautiful in its own right and a fraction of cost of its famous neighbor. BTW i have to note here that P managed to score three threes on the back nine today including a 'sandy' from a deep trap.

I have only played a few times this month but my golf game seems to have come back. Perhaps it is the stretching I am doing, perhaps it is not having my goofy friends John and Dennis tormenting me, or perhaps just playing on courses easier than my home course, Desert Highlands, but in any event, my worst score this month has been 78. Hope I can bring this game back with me when I return.

Hip Hop Hamlet

August 15th, 2010

More on the troubled Dane later.

It actually rained today. (Check out P and Shauna with the brollies). First rain we have seen in quite a while. Today is the Wine day and tonight the version of Hamlet that everyone is talking about.

The day started with Paula and Shauna taking some time to check out the regular week-end Artisans Market. P came back with a purple Russian peasant cap looking like Anna from Dr. Zhivago.. but just not a blond, but very cute!

We loaded into the Prius and off we went for a day of some good food and wine tasting.

First stop was the historic town of Jacksonville for lunch. The town has been settled since the mid-1800s with many of its historic building preserved as shops and restaurants. Surrounded by mountains vineyards and orchards it is hard to find a more beautiful place. One historic tid-bit about Jacksonville. It was the site of the first "Chinatown" in Oregon in the 1850s when the area was being mined for gold.

Just outside Jacksonville is the Applegate Valley home to about a dozen vineyards. We made two stops, the first at Longsword for some great sparkling Chardonnay ("Accolade"). A couple of years ago we met the owners, Maria Largaespada ("Longsword" in Spanish) and her husband Matt. At the time Maria had already given up her job as a research chemist and Matt was in the process of transitioning from the corporate life in the Indianapolis to grow grapes in Oregon. I love the term "Transitioning'. Everyone seems to be in some state of transition these days. some for the good, some not. In fact there are even people who specialize as "transitioning coaches"..LOL! I may need a transitioning coach soon if I stay here too much longer.

Fast forward two years and Matt and Marie appear to being doing quite well. Longsword has moved from a tasting room in a tent to a beautiful small building set among the vines. Her brother has even joined the group, happily trading his like for Bud Light for Pinot Gris. We leave Longsword with three bottles of "Accolade" to share with friends and some Longsword Balsamico for Chef Jon in Seattle.

Second wine stop was Woolridge Creek. This vineyard lies above the valley and the views are to die for..see attached pic. Anthony gets a quick tour of the place by the winemaker and a couple of more bottles are purchased.

Southern Oregon is quickly gaining a reputation as a region for fine wine. In the dozen years or so i have been coming here the number of wineries has grown dramatically. Typical of Oregon the people owning these wineries are unpretentious and welcoming. If you are into the wine tour thing, this is a nice change from California.

Now, on to Hamlet.

Would you ever think of spending the money to see the Shakespeare classic with a Deaf Ghost, Rosecrantz and Guildenstern as a pair of lesbians, a hip-hop/rapper play and King who reacts to the Hip-Hop performance by puking his brains out into a toilet on stage? I am not sure one would even go to this kind of performance for free!

Well..I can say without a doubt it works! In fact it is great, as good a Hamlet as I have ever seen.

Dan Donahue plays the troubled Prince of Denmark impeccably. He is a talented actor and has been with the company for many years. We saw him in Phoenix a few years ago playing Van Gogh equally well. Probably the only weak point in the play was casting a very large black woman as Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, and recent bride of Hamlet's uncle the new King and murderer of Hamlet's father the former King. (Did i get that right? Sometimes Shakespeare gets way too complicated!)Gertrude is supposed to be a sensual character but there is no way this works. There is absolutely no sexual energy between the King and Gertrude. OSF tries to be racially and physically blind with its casting but sometimes you have to make a "couple" look like a good match. A tall white Danish King with a bride that looks like a very large gospel singer. just does not work for me. in her defense, I will say that "Gertrude" put on an excellent performance, it was just hard getting over the physical incongruity.

Howie Seago plays the apparation of Hamlet's murdered father and former King. It was so different to see the Ghost of King Hamlet played as a deaf man. But it was riveting to watch the signing of the ghost matched with Prince Hamlet's translating and signing on his own. At his lecture last week Howie covered his interpretation of the role as a deaf actor.. it was great to see it come together live.

Sarah Jane Nelson

Saturday August 14, 2010

Anthony and Shauna came down from Portland yesterday for a quick week-end visit and we are trying to cram as much local culture etc. as possible during these next few days.

A&S are re-modeling/building their circa 1913 home in Portland and are doing most of the work themselves between juggling their full time careers. We thought it would be fun to show them our friends' remodeled 1910 home next store for some ideas. We only met Larry and Debra here a week ago but we have become fast friends. Larry and Debra moved here from Anchorage about six years ago and have remodeled a 100 year old home next door to our cottage. They did an amazing job and when we took Anthony and Shauna over to look, it turned out to be a two hour tour.. A&S could not get enough ideas. In fact, Debra was kind enough to give them two boxes of cabinet hardware and trim that was taken out of the old house and replaced during the remodel. I am sure the Portland duo will put the hardware to good use!

This evening we all went to the "Green Show" to hear Sarah Jane Nelson sing. The "Green Show" is a nightly free concert put on for 100 days each spring/summer here. Sarah sings everything from Country to Blues to Broadway and her husband Rene Milan is one of the most talented actors with the OSF Company. We just watched Rene play the lead in "American Night". Tonight Sarah did light stuff and even performed a couple of songs from "Beauty and the Beast" with her 3 year old daughter. She has a beautiful voice and her Louisiana charm is effusive.

Paula spoke to Sarah Jane briefly after the concert and told her she should have been the lead in last years version of the "Music Man". Her answer "They did not even let me audition" led us to believe there is a lot of politics going on here in this town with respect to who is in favor with the Director and who is not. In any event, it looks like Sara Jane does not lack for work (she has been on Broadway and does television), but it sure would be nice to see her more in Ashland with the Company!

OSF "The Best". "Survival is the only art I recognize."

I have been coming to Ashland for more than a dozen years. There are few places like this where you have the great outdoors and great culture at your doorstep.

Today I took full advantage of all that Ashland has to offer. I got up around 6AM took an hour and a half hike among the tall redwood trees, and then hung out with P at a great coffee shop, one of the many in this town. (For you tea drinkers, there are also lots of choices here!)

Went home and did a little work trying to figure out how we can connect one of my biotech clients with the hundreds of thousands of patients with Multiple Sclerosis. (Still working on that one).

Then, the highlight of the day, went to the theater and watched a disturbing but terrific play, "Ruined".

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is, of course know for the Bard, but they also put on many contemporary works as well as other classics. The acting and directing is almost always top shelf, as good as you will find anywhere including New York.

I am pretty much speechless about today's performance except to say I am still thinking about the play hours later.

I will let this review summarize the play..if it comes your city or town..run, don't walk to see it and be prepared to emotionally engaged.

“Ruined”, The Pulitzer Prize winning play shines a harsh light on the plight of women in East Africa, where rape has been employed as a terrorist tactic in ongoing armed conflicts among ever-fracturing alignments of nations and rebel militias. The play premiered in the West at the Oregon Shakespeare’s New Theater, and its emotional force is almost overwhelming. It has moments of humor, warmth and tenderness, lively music, dancing that channels both raw sexuality and a very desperate love of life. But it also has recurring tensions that ratchet to nearly unbearable levels, and speaks of the horrors of war and sexual slavery in wrenching terms. "

P.S. The situation depicted in "Ruined" is the result of a toxic blend of ethnic rivalries, fallout from a colonial past, economic deprivation, fighting that continues to this day though the war has officially ended. In this conflict, rape is regarded as a tactic of war. Systemic, deliberate and often public, rape is committed to instill terror.

In the past few years several newspapers have covered the issue and finally international pressure is being brought to bear upon the government of Congo to end this culture of impunity in its army as well as upon the UN to reign in it's peacekeepers. Things are slowly changing, but not fast enough. Secretary of State Clinton, during her visit last August, pledged $17 million for medical care, counseling, economic assistance and legal support for these victimized women.

Who in the world is Howie Seago?

Glad you asked. We had the pleasure of attending a lecture given by this unique deaf actor followed by 15 minutes of private time.

Calling Howie a "deaf" actor is really an injustice. When he is on stage he blends so easily with the "hearing" actors that his deafness is an enhancement rather than a distraction to the story. I have seem Howie perform several times in stuff as varied as "Music Man" to Shakespeare's Henry IV and he is truly remarkable.

His lecture was quite illuminating, describing how a deaf actor goes about his craft and detailing his long experience in live theater and television.

Best of all was the time spent with him after the lecture. We first heard about Howie from Jess (of John and Jess fame). Jess is a student and aspiring teacher of American Sign Language (ASL)

and first saw Howie when he performed in Seattle a few years ago. To make a long story short, with Jon and Jess moving back to Seattle in a few weeks and with Howie and his wife making Seattle their home, the ever endearing Paula was quick to see if she could arrange for Jess to eventually meet with Howie on his return Seattle.

"No problem" says Howie. Paula "talked" to him. His wife signing as she is speaking and Howie answering in an easy to understand voice. (Yes many deaf people can speak quite well!). He was so gracious and seemed genuinely interested in spending some time with Jess and helping to make contacts in the Seatttle deaf community.

He really is a remarkable guy. Never having spent any time with a deaf person I have a whole new perspective.

Here is Howie's bio from wickipedia:

Howie Seago (born in Wichita Falls) is an American deaf actor and director. Born deaf, he first began to develop his mimic abilities as a child with the help of his mother. He began his serious acting work in college, when he joined the National Theater of the Deaf. His break-out role was in Peter Sellars' production of AJAX. He was later cast by David Byrne for the German production of The Forest (1989), because he was so impressed with Seago's performance. This production was directed by Robert Wilson for the Berlin Festival. In Austria he worked as an actor for the Salsberg and the Vienna and as a director for ARBOS - Company for Music and Theatre. He also had a significant role in Beyond Silence, a German film about a hearing girl growing up with deaf parents.

His television career has included appearances on Hunter, Star Trek, The Next Generation and The Equalizer as well as involvement in the Emmy award winning children's show, Rainbow's End. He has also produced some plays, using both hearing and deaf actors. He is a central figure of the American Deaf Community, especially as an author and teacher. Seago has been honored many times, including being a recipient of the Helen Hayes award.

Seago is currently working at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, in Ashland, Oregon

Musings from an gray-haired guy in Ashland

August 11, 2010

Time to depart from mythe usual travel commentary.

As I look at my window and watch a doe and her fawn enjoy the cool shade in our backyard, I start to think about how much life slows down here in Ashland and how much pleasure one can get from non-material things, particularly here in the beautiful Northwest.

I love to read when I am here. Just finished John Daniel's "Rogue River Journal". The writer chronicles his six months off living in a remote part of the Rogue River Canyon (about 100 miles from here) with no human contact. within the context of his day to day activities in the wilderness also tells his life story. Sort of a "Thoreau" meets "Into the Wild" with a happy ending.

The book really gets me thinking, which is what a good book is supposed to do.

The author and I are approximately the same age and share the same philosophy of life and a passion for the outdoors. So at the risk of revealing my inner thoughts to my readers, my thoughts today:

One passage touched a chord with me:

'In my teens and twenties, I took it for granted that when I hit 50 I'd be worried about being an old man. In fact, I would already be an old man. I've been thinking lately though, maybe I am seeing the problem upside down. Maybe it's not that I am getting old, but that I never grew up."

This got moi to wondering if I will ever grow up, or if I want to. My hair is gray (thankfully I still have much of it left), my ankle has two plates in it and I can't do the black ski runs anymore. My patience for all the blabber on TV is thin. And these are only a few of my shortcomings. But I will say that each day I learn to appreciate what life has given me. I now understand what matters most is not so much what I own, but rather my experiences and relationships and the continual quest to expand my knowledge and those experiences and relationships. Perhaps this is the process of becoming a complete "man" or "woman". Becoming a grown-up is a much longer road than I ever could have imagined. I don't expect to be done with it anytime soon.

I close with another passage from Daniel's book. It is part of the eulogy he wrote for his father. One can only hope to be remembered like this man:

"Tomatoes still grow fat in August, and the fish still bite,sometimes. People still laugh at a well told story, still are moved by Beethoven and nature, still are enraged by injustice. My father believed in life. He believed in the future. He believed in children and gave them something they will never lose. He gave such things to me and many of you. Rejoice that he lived, and lived a hell of a life, a life so full that it overflowed into countless others."

What is very large, very thick and very old?

July 31st 2010

No don't say Rush Limbaugh, because he is not really very old. If you said the "General Sherman" tree in Sequoia National Park you would be right. In fact this 2500 year old tree probably contains enough lumber to rebuild the Atlanta it's namesake general destroyed during the civil war. Is this not ironic? The largest tree on the planet is named after a general who burned his way through the South on his march to the sea!

John Muir and George Stewart played an important role in preserving this beautiful part of the world. Stewart wrote this 10 years before the forests here were finally protected:

“The cutting down of one of these trees is nothing less than a sacrilege and should be prohibited by the most stringent of laws. This practice should be stopped before our forests are entirely denuded of redwoods…”Every lover of wild woodlands may cherish the hope that Congress will be induced to throw about our splendid forest at once the mantle of government protection.”

Sequoia became the nation's second national park when it was established on September 26, 1890, as a result of the same piece of legislation which created Yosemite and General Grant (now Kings Canyon) National Parks. It tripled in size one week after its founding, when the Giant Forest area was actually added to the park. In 1926 the park was again expanded toward the east to include the crest of the Sierra mountains, including Mount Whitney. The last section added was the Mineral King area in the southern portion of the park in 1978, culminating an effort to save the area from development as a ski resort.

We awake early this day and drive to the park entrance, just a short distance from our motel. after entering the park it is about a 30 minute drive straight uphill to reach the area named by John Muir as the "The Giant Forest". The giant Sequoia trees here cluster together in groves. In fact, all of the earth's sequoia trees are contained in just 75 groves which lay at an elevation between 5000 and 7000 feet in the Sierra. In this "Giant Forest"live four of the earth's 5 largest trees. (I have no idea if this is true or not but is sounds good and is noted in the park's brochure.)

If one avoids the "General Sherman" area where the tourists cluster, there are some beautiful hiking trails among the trees and meadows where you rarely encounter but a few other hikers. We chose a 5 mile hike that ended at General Sherman. We crossed paths with a family of four and a young Spanish couple with whom we talked about the recent World Cup and Spain's exciting victory and celebration.

Ever hear of the 80/20 rule that exists in the National Parks? When most people get out of their cars or bus at a point of interest, they will walk no more than 80 yards and take no more than 20 minutes and then get back in the car or bus. My observations ...this is true!

Before our hike in the woods, we stopped at Morro Rock, a smaller version of El Captain in Yosemite, and climbed the 400 steps to the top. Nothing too treacherous here, but you do better by avoiding the look down till you reach the summit. The view here is remarkable! check out Paula in the attached pic.

Before I leave Sequoia, here is an interesting tid-bit. Sequoias make for lousy building lumber. They splinter easily. So while much of the old growth forests with Douglas Firs, Redwoods and similar trees suffered the ravages of clear-cutting, the Sequoias were spared.

On the road Again..Oregon or Bust!

July 30^th 2010

On the road at last!

The last month in Arizona has been totally unbearable with temps regularly exceeding 108 degrees. Finally, we are off for six weeks in Ashland Oregon with a quick stop in Sequoia National Park.

This year the old Prius has been replaced by a newer, roomier, more powerful version, and with better mileage (52mpg) to boot. Son Jon is the recipient of the old 2008 version, and he will soon be off for Seattle returning to the Emerald City with the lovely, brilliant and lively Jessica at his side.

My trusty guide Sacajawea (AKA Miss Paula) occupies the seat to my right navigating thru the treacherous desert and mountains that lay in our path. In a time past she was my Magellan, artfully guiding my speedy Italian Alpha Romeo through the hills and villages of Tuscany, Umbria, Apulia etc. and that dangerous land, Sicily. It just seems more appropriate to call her Sacajawea on this trip.

BTW, speaking of the fine Shoshone woman, as I have discovered in my recent readings about her, she gets hardly any credit for all she did. Were it not for her skills and toughness, Lewis and Clark would have probably suffered the same fate as Amelia Earhart. What I find most amazing about Sacajawea was she was not quite sixteen when she joined L&C and carted around a newborn son on the entire journey. Sadly, she died at the age of 32. Until recently, she never really got the credit from historians she clearly deserved. Ever hear of the Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea Expedition? Well at least we put her on the dollar coin (which nobody ever uses) in 2000.

I have three letters to describe the first day of driving, YUCK…oops four letters. With few exceptions driving through SoCal is boring and you have to be constantly on your toes to dodge the trucks and crazy drivers on Interstate 5. The first seven hours or so that it takes to get to Bakersfield…boring! But once past this point it is beginning to get interesting. The stark contrast between acres of orange groves spaced between brown desert hills is remarkable. It is truly amazing how irrigation has transformed this part of California. Sure hope the water never runs out!

The last hour of the trip we climb out of the desert and see the looming peaks ahead. Our destination, Three Rivers sits at 3000 feet, not high enough to cool down much but it is just a few miles from the Sequoia NP entrance. We arrive at the Western Holiday Lodge, not exactly the Peninsula Hotel in LA but good enough and the price is right. Tomorrow a day in the park and the vacation begins…yea!

Before I close on this day, however, I would like to make one social comment. This part of California and the Central Valley is dominated by the Mexican American population. Many of the families here have lived here for generations. Most of them are here legally but many are not. I just wonder how many of those beautiful oranges that come from here and wind up tables across America are picked by these “illegals”. I also wonder who would pick these Oranges for meager wages so we can buy these Oranges, or lettuce or tomatoes etc. at reasonable prices? If you spend any time here you quickly come to realize that the issue of illegal immigration is far more complicated than the ideologues in Washington and on Fox News want you to believe. Put these people on a bus and send them back to Mexico and the repercussions to the local economy (and the business owned by legal U.S citizens) will be devastating. What will happen to the cost of produce? Unintended consequences? Will we decide to import more from South America to compensate? Whatever, we need Washington to stop arguing and come up with some practical solutions!