Robert Gale Ongley

Author: Bo

  • NOBODY TOLD ME THERE’D BE DAYS LIKE THESE

    Covid-19

    That’s a quote from a John Lennon song written in 1976. The title is actually Nobody Told Me. The first refrain of the song goes:

    Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Strange days indeed. Most peculiar Mama.

    Prophetic words by Mr. Lennon, seen from our 2020 perspective. What was so strange in 1976 that inspired these lyrics? Nixon was gone, the Vietnam War was over–both good things. A look back at the top stories of the year gives us little information as to why those were strange days.

    The Year That Was

    The civil war ended in Lebanon. The United States celebrated its bicentennial. Jimmy Carter was elected President. Viking landed on Mars. String theory was first postulated by Thomas Kibble. A mysterious disease struck an American Legion convention in Philadelphia, eventually killing 29 people. There it is–the connection to 2020 and truly strange times.

    The Virus Nightmare

    There have been many virus outbreak movies and TV series. They have effectively shown us how deadly these viruses can be. One such film is Outbreak, made in 1995. Many since give us a look at a future when a pandemic has destroyed life as we know it. An apocalypse is something we’re getting accustomed to witnessing on our screens. It can really happen! And we know it. The potential that it could be happening now has taken hold throughout our country and across the globe.

    How bizarre to have entire sections of our grocery stores taking on the look of the bleak markets in the U.S.S.R. Who would have guessed we couldn’t get toilet paper, dish soap, or vinegar at a major supermarket? The mere threat of exposure to a virus that has a high recovery rate and had infected less than one-tenth of one percent of the United States population was enough to shut down major events, professional sports leagues and March Madness! We have hunkered down, closed restaurants and bars and the doors of our churches. The global economy is apparently in recession and it could be severe.

    I’ve seen video of people brawling over hand sanitizer. Price gouging has begun on the products we most need. The government is working on a two-trillion dollar bail-out for workers and companies who’ve seen major business disruption. And we’ve only just begun. The predictions are that this is going to get much worse before it gets better. I heard that our social distancing will likely last another 10-12 weeks. What if people in our neighborhoods start dropping like flies? What if shortages continue or even get significantly worse? It could be a true nightmare beyond the scope of movies and TV shows.

    Panic of 1857

    What Not to Do

    Don’t panic…under any circumstances. Others suffer when you panic and you will suffer if others panic. While it makes sense for people to stock up on life’s necessities in preparation for a self-quarantine, it doesn’t make sense to hoard huge supplies that result in others’ shortages.

    Don’t practice denial when you have real symptoms of COVID-19. It may be scary, but pretending you’re not having signs of the illness will leave you open to the ultimate cost.

    Don’t use your President as a source of medical information. When he says a drug may be an effective treatment, don’t end up like the couple in Arizona that drank a solution with that compound in it. One died and the other is in critical condition as this is being written.

    So What to Do?

    Let me begin with a disclaimer. I’m not a doctor or in the medical field at all. I’ve gathered some information by reading, by listening to various sources and by accumulation of experience. However you choose to protect yourself from this virus or to treat the virus is your responsibility and your decision.

    The most important thing is to follow the recommendations given us all by the Center for Disease Control. Isolate yourself as much as possible, properly wash those hands often and leave them off your face. If you don’t already know all their suggestions, access the information on their website or find it by the method you prefer. Seek and ye shall find.

    Many months ago, I read an article in Natural Awakenings about something that can wipe out bacteria and virus before it can develop into a cold or influenza. It’s copper. It said that at the first awareness of a cold or fever blister, rub pure copper in and around the nostrils or on the tingling spot on the lips for 60 seconds, repeating later as needed. This will kill the virus quickly if it hasn’t moved further into the body. I’ve had only one cold and one fever blister since applying this technique. The National Institutes of Health and American Society for Microbiology have corroborated the virus neutralizing properties of copper. I have no information on whether it works on COVID-19, but you could give it a try while also making sure to follow all instructions from the CDC and your doctor.

    Support

    Stay positive. Most of us will probably make it through this strange moment in time. Hopefully, we’ll be stronger for it. It’s vital that we are here for each other as a unified community no matter what befalls us. Be well, brothers and sisters.

  • A TASTE OF THE BLUES (PART THREE)

    Blues Festival in 2020

    The essence of the blues is in the people who create this beloved music. The men and women who feel it in the depths of their souls. Those who channel it through the pain of living and who transform that pain into something that makes us want to cry and to laugh and to enjoy life for what it is.

    In the last of this series on the blues, I want to honor some of the greats who have made this genre the great art form that has endured so long. I’ve mentioned a few of them in Parts One and Two. I won’t bring them up again because there are so many more than I could even list in this short article. Some all-time greats won’t even get a nod, but if you notice any, please take the opportunity to comment. Feel free to share the names of those you love.

    Robert Johnson

    Any list of the greatest blues musicians could begin with this man. Coming out of the Delta blues tradition, he moved the genre along with his fluid style and innovative songs. His delivery took the blues to a new level across generations and he influenced popular music well into the 1970s. By the way, check YouTube and see how many people are listening to him even now.

    Muddy Waters

    Referred to often as Father of the Chicago Blues, he brought his strong bass voice to powerful tunes that transcended his time. Here are some samples of his songs that made it big with other bands. You Shook Me/Led Zeppelin, Close to You/The Doors, I Just Want to Make Love to You/Rolling Stones and others, I Got My Mojo Workin/Elvis Presley, and Rollin’ and Tumblin’/Cindi Lauper.

    Leadbelly

    Not only did he write a host of classics such as Midnight Special, Where Did You Sleep Last Night and Alberta, Leadbelly wrote songs of great social import. Mr. Hitler, Jim Crow Blues and Bourgeois Blues are a few of his courageous titles.

    Etta James

    Although she performed songs of many kinds, she was a stellar blues singer. On her 27th studio album, which was called Blues to the Bone, Etta James recorded her favorite blues songs. She reached back to compositions by Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Rogers, Willie Dixon, Lightnin’ Hopkins and more. The album won a Grammy in 2005 for Best Traditional Blues Album.

    Elmore James

    This James was known as the King of the Slide Guitar. His lively style was unique and his full-octave slide guitar opening was his trademark. His tenor voice rang out above the accompaniment with great energy. I first heard of him long ago when George Harrison called out during John Lennon’s steel lap guitar solo on the song For You Blue, “Elmore James got nothin’ on this baby!” That one comment gave Elmore immortality in my book.

    Johnny Winter

    OMG! There was no one like Johnny Winter. He got the blues injected full-force into his hands and jacked it into warp speed. Highway 61 Revisited is one of the most remarkable adaptations ever done on a song. Hearing Johnny play the blues is like being lifted to the clouds and whisked along the jet stream.

    Bonnie Raitt

    If Elmore James is the King of the Slide Guitar, Bonnie Raitt is the Queen. She makes those strings sing under that slide. Her singing, playing and songwriting all elevate the blues in a very special way. Her album Nick of Time truly touched the sweet spot when it comes to balancing all the elements of musical prowess.

    Eric Clapton

    “Slow Hand” can play the blues with smoothness and expertise unsurpassed by anyone. He plays them with absolute love and he’s done more than anyone in our modern era to give the genre everlasting life. He was one of the first in the 1960s to merge blues and rock. Eventually, songs like Layla and Cocaine in the 1970s epitomized a new brand of blues that transcended all that had gone before.

    Stevie Ray Vaughn

    When it comes to the blues, no one did it quite like Stevie Ray Vaughn. He was a master player with imagination and the chops to put his ideas into motion. He could make that guitar cry, combining licks followed by rhythm chords that make you wonder. His voice was perfect for the blues and he knew how to use it. And when your songs are being covered by greats like King, Robert Cray and Buddy Guy, you’re breathing rarefied air.

    Stevie Ray Vaughn statue

    Blues Out

    Let there be another century of the blues, with passion and a flight of fancy to keep it fresh. I hope you have enjoyed this taste of the blues as much as I have had bringing it to you.

  • A TASTE OF THE BLUES (PART TWO)

    In Part One of this series, we took a look a the origins and early history of the blues. This time around, I want to deepen our understanding of the different styles of this music. There are many more branches on the blues tree than I would have guessed.

    Although its roots were widespread around the deep South, there were a few places where it evolved into a style unique to those areas. In fact, it evolved for many decades and many sub-genres were created. I mentioned one (Memphis Blues) in the previous post. Let’s expand on that one first, then move on to the others.

    Memphis Blues

    This one is important mainly because the first recordings of blues songs were done there. The actual style that came out of Memphis in the 1920s was part blues, part vaudeville and part jug music. It was largely about broader entertainment, not just pure blues. One key innovation, however, was the use of the rhythm and lead guitars to have each playing their own specific parts.

    In the early 1950s, the Memphis style took a turn, featuring heavier electric guitar and drums. Led by such blues players as B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf, the genre was transformed into a more modern version that still holds up to this day.

    Delta Blues

    If you were to make an attempt at pinning down a birthplace of the blues as a music form, the Mississippi Delta would be the most likely choice. It’s said that it spread from there to Louisiana and Texas, then north to Memphis and other cities we’ll come to later.

    Delta blues has been described as “rough, intensely emotional” in an article from Saturday Review in 1968. It’s mainly about Son House, who’s been called Father of the Delta Blues. If nothing else, he was a contemporary of early blues legends such as Charley Patton, also considered by some to be the Father of the Delta Blues.

    So, what does this style sound like. It’s raw, often played with one guitar and sung with one gravelly voice. The Saturday Review piece describes House as “an artist of almost incredible forcefulness and stature. His is a ferocious, almost violent, instrumental attack on one of the fingers of his fretting hand, along the strings of his steel-bodied National guitar.” Patton was a bit more melodic, from what I can tell, with a somewhat softer sound, making it clear there was room for some variation. Nonetheless, the early blues structure is there and the subject matter reveals this unvarnished look at life.

    Country Blues

    Some of Patton’s songs fit into this category, which has roots in folk, gospel, ragtime and hillbilly music. It’s known by other nicknames such as downhome blues, rural blues, folk blues and backwoods blues. Texan Blind Lemon Jefferson was one famous Country blues pioneer.

    This style was one of the earliest forms of the blues. It featured a solo vocal most of the time, often with guitar fingerpicking and harmonica. The music has a light-hearted, feel-good sound. An example of an adaptation that many would know of is Canned Heat’s Going Up the Country. Even the flute heard on their recording mimics the panpipes in the original, which was called Bull Doze Blues.

    Pick Your City Blues

    Just kidding. The point is that there are a slew of cities that have a blues style named after them. Those I know of are Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, New Orleans and Detroit. Oh–and Memphis, of course. This happened due to a migration of blues players who took their stylings to these cities and became famous for their particular take which caught on and was imitated by others in the area.

    This general sub-genre became known as urban blues. It was adapted for city folk to make it more sophisticated, adding more instrumentation and eventually amplification. Lyrics addressed more urban themes. Smoother presentation was another characteristic. A few examples of urban blues songs are Walking to New Orleans, Match Box Blues and Stormy Monday.

    British Blues

    The blues have spread all over the world, but they took a particular foothold in Great Britain. So many bands counted the blues among their early influences. I’m going to hold back names of these groups until Part Three, though many could guess who some of them are.

    The young British bands of the 1960s took the American blues and pumped new life into them with powerful guitar arrangements and voices that perhaps only youth can bring. Same songs, entirely new takes that quickly caught on with the kids starved for something other than crooners and balladeers.

    More to Come

    Next, we’ll take a closer look at select blues musicians and what they brought to the table over the last hundred years.

  • A TASTE OF THE BLUES (PART ONE)

    The global phenomenon that is music takes many forms. The origins stem from multiple cultures across the planet. Their evolution is never-ending with new variations limited only by imagination, which never seems exhausted. The genres remain, though, their boundaries mostly honored by those composers and musicians who love the tradition in which they have trained.

    A few of these musical styles have come into existence in America. Jazz is a prime example, but before jazz the blues were created, bursting out of the hearts and souls of men and women who were giving expression to their distress in a way never known before on earth.

    From Seeds of Discontent

    In Sheila Davis’ book, The Craft of Lyric Writing, she states, “The blues began as an Afro-American work song which originated with the newly freed Southern slaves, largely unskilled laborers. The lyrics concerned the singer’s miseries–economic, sexual, and political. Unlike spirituals, which are choral in nature, the blues are a one-man (or one-woman) affair.

    ” ‘Sorrow-songs’ were often sung out-of-doors, the improvised complaints of exploited workers in cotton fields and ‘the sunless depths’ of mines. These melancholy moanings were also the ‘trial and tribulation music,’ as Mahalia Jackson put it (in Time magazine), ‘of the men on the railroad track layin’ crossties; everytime they hit the hammer, it was with a sad feelin’, but with a beat. Or it was the sound made by the men sellin’ watermelons and vegetables on a wagon drawn by a mule, hollerin’ ‘watermellllon!’ with a cry in their voices.’ Other lyrics told of double-crossing women, deserting men, whiskey, morphine, and chain gangs.”

    Early Tunes

    Ms. Davis goes on to tell us about “Joe Turner,” the main character of an early composition. While the first “sorrow-songs” were created as much as 50 years earlier, she says this one was prototype of all blues when published as Joe Turner Blues by W.C. Handy, who became known as “The Father of the Blues.” Handy wrote his song in 1915, but said he based it on a folk song he first heard in 1895.

    Handy at 19 years old

    This makes total sense, since the old Joe Turner song came about because of a man actually named Joe Turney, brother of Tennessee governor Pete Turney, who held that office from 1892 to 1896. Perhaps because of his connection to the governor, he gained a fearsome reputation for gathering up groups of convicts in Memphis, putting them in long chains, and leading them to the Nashville penitentiary. It was during those years that the song developed into a folk song with the basic blues shape Handy used. The name Turney had been mistakenly altered in the likely verbal passing along of the lyrics, but there’s no doubt the story is the same about this “bad” sheriff who transported great numbers of convicts in chains.

    The tune for Joe Turner Blues was carried over to numerous sets of lyrics that fit the mold of blues lamentations. It was widely used across the region by singers with fresh emotional wounds who loved the blues structure made popular by Handy.

    Before that iconic tune was composed, the guitar had gained popularity with black musicians. That change occurred in the 1890s, so by the time Joe Turner Blues came along, there was a lot of blues style music merging with the sounds of the guitar.

    The first blues song ever published, though, was called I Got the Blues, in 1908. It wasn’t in the pure structure of the prototype, but a man by the name of Anthony Maggio wrote it as a ragtime blues tune. In 1912, the blues gained momentum in the publishing world. Dallas Blues by Hart Wand, Baby Seals Blues by Baby F. Seals, and Memphis Blues by Mr. Handy were all released within that same year.

    Recordings

    Handy’s Memphis Blues was first known as Mr. Crump, named for a Memphis mayoral candidate running for office. The song was hugely popular and became the first blues recording, done by a band known as the Victor Military Band. Within a month, Prince’s Band and a vaudeville singer named Morton Harvey recorded new versions. So, Handy’s hit accounted for the first three recordings of the blues!

    Another milestone was the recording by Mamie Smith of Crazy Blues, written by Perry Bradford. This was the first record of a vocal blues song by a black woman. It sold a million copies in its first six months.

    Blues Forever

    The blues were here to stay. The American public was hooked and record companies were on the bandwagon. But things were just getting started. Be sure to check with me next time for another taste of those sweet blues.

  • ACUPUNCTURE–ART OR SCIENCE?

    Since it was introduced in the United States in 1971, the ancient healing practice of acupuncture has enjoyed a surge in popularity with Americans. It is primarily considered an alternative form of treatment, but its widening acceptance seems to be lending it more and more credibility.

    Is acupuncture a healing art or legitimate science? Many have weighed in on this question and between critiques as well as testimonials, opinions run deep. Emotions run high.

    Voices of Dismissal

    Following is an excerpt from a contributor to Wikipedia. “Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body.  Acupuncture is a pseudoscience because the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientific knowledge, and it has been characterized as quackery.”

    On the website sciencebasedmedicine.org, their article “Acupuncture” comes out strong on the subject. It states that acupuncture was developed before the scientific method was created and before much was known about biology, the functions of the human body or diseases. The field of medicine was based on philosophies, making treatments according to what people thought or theorized rather than on hard facts.

    Acupuncture was the answer to the Eastern philosophy of chi, the life force or vital energy that animates all living creatures, and the idea that chi can become blocked in the body. Placing the needles along the channels where this energy flows would, according to the theory, open the way for the neural energy movement. This article contends there is no real mechanism proven to demonstrate how this process actually works.

    Ongoing Debate

    In 1997, an article was written by Jane E. Brody in which she posed the question, “Acupuncture: An Expensive Placebo or a Legitimate Alternative?” She wrote that although it doesn’t cure anything, it at least provides management of certain maladies such as chronic pain that is as effective or more effective than mainstream medicine options like drugs or invasive surgery without the side effects and the physical damage. Still, the medical community in the West had been unwilling to take it seriously, again due to lack of scientific evidence of its practical value in the field of medicine.

    At that time, though, Ms. Brody reported that experts on the subject were summoned to respond to questions from the consensus development program of the National Institutes of Health about what acupuncture treatment can accomplish. There was enough actual data communicated that an independent panel concluded acupuncture could alleviate acute and chronic pain as well as control nausea caused by pregnancy, anesthesia or chemotherapy.

    Ms. Brody’s article went on to say that much more research needed to be done to determine whether acupuncture is a truly medical technique of value to a large segment of the population. She at least was able to report that many researchers and practitioners at the above-referenced conference stated it should for the time being be considered a complementary treatment to standard medical practice.

    Fast Forward

    The National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), has been working on acupuncture research…slowly, it seems. Their website has an entry about “Acupuncture: In Depth,” last updated in 2016. Much of the same ground is being covered as in 1997, but it’s of no small significance that they acknowledge the likelihood acupuncture can help manage certain pain issues.

    The Mayo Clinic is one of the most respected medical organizations in the world. They now have a team of specialists in integrative practices–aka complementary and alternative medicine–who perform approximately 1000 acupuncture treatments per year. The Clinic also is a leader in research of acupuncture, using evidence-based testing for effectiveness and safety of its procedures.

    In 2017, Healthcare Medicine Institute wrote about the University of Minnesota’s research involving the use of acupuncture in treating cardiac arrhythmia. It was found in eight separate studies that the success rate ranged from 87% to 100% for converting patients to a “normal sinus rhythm after acupuncture.” The practice out-performed drug therapy significantly in conversion rate and in speed of results. There can be a recurrence of the condition, according to their 12-month follow-ups, but this is true for drug and surgical options as well. It’s suggested that occasional maintenance visits can prevent recurrences after acupuncture..

    So…Art or Science

    Much more research needs to be done to place acupuncture in one category or the other. However, that there are enough cases of proven results to warrant the use of this practice as a viable alternative to conventional medical treatment. If there’s a chance that strategic insertion of some fine needles will produce a comparable result to that provided by drug therapy or surgery of any kind, I’ll give the needles a shot. (You see what I did there, right?) Modern medicine is remarkable and mostly reliable, but don’t discard the ancient Chinese wisdom before it’s fully understood.

  • CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

    Christmas in Spain

    It’s that wonderful time of the year again! While there’s reason for stress, amplified loneliness, or reflection on the negative, there’s ample stimuli to bring us feelings of love, joy and excitement. Almost all of the positive arises from the colorful traditions dating back centuries ago in countries we may never have visited. We are beneficiaries of those enduring customs and that is especially true here in the melting pot known as the United States of America. Let’s visit a few of those countries now and see what they contributed to the holiday season as we know it.

    Germany

    Germans have held steadfastly to their Christmas traditions. They have reasons to be proud of them. Their country was the first to bring the evergreen tree inside for holiday decorations. That was in the 16th century. Martin Luther was walking the streets of Germany then and it is said that he was the first to place lighted candles on the Christmas tree.

    Before the Christmas tree, the Christmas pyramid was very popular in Germany. It continues to have its place today. The Christmas pyramid has its origins in the Middle Ages. It is made of wood and has three or more platforms with decorative sides and a pole through the center. It’s hung from the ceiling usually, turning to show such things as nativity scenes, angels or folksy figures.

    The Germans also originated Advent celebrations and Christmas markets. They emphasize Saint Nicholas Day as well.

    Italy

    Obviously, a huge part of Italy’s Christmas revolves around the Vatican. A huge Christmas tree is erected in front of St. Peter’s Cathedral for the season. People buy tickets for Midnight Mass, a sacred worldwide event officiated by the Pope.

    Nativity scenes actually originated in Italy and they remain a basic part of the holy Christmas ambiance.

    In communities around the country, bagpipers and flutists known as zampognari enter the towns and play publicly. They dress as and represent shepherds looking for the baby Jesus.

    Father Christmas comes and brings gifts to the children on Christmas Eve. In Italy, he is called Babbo Natale. The gift exchange by everyone else is not held until January 6th. A traditional food for that occasion is pannettone, a sweet yeast cake.

    Norway

    On visitoslo.com, you will find the following quote: “Christmas in Norway is based on Christian traditions, with elements of old pagan traditions and Jewish Hanukkah. And new traditions are added every year.” Let’s concentrate on those old ones, though. After all, what’s a tradition without some time built into it?

    On December 23rd, families have their own “Little Christmas Eve.” They enjoy good company and special foods such as risengrynsgrot, a hot rice pudding that has one almond hidden in it somewhere. The lucky person with the almond wins a marzipan pig. It’s also common for people to make a gingerbread house on this occasion.

    On actual Christmas Eve, Norwegians run around getting gifts or going to church services. At 5:00 PM, the stores and pubs close and everyone is supposed to head home to place the presents under their trees. Dinner follows. “The most popular Christmas Eve dinner is the ribbe (pork ribs or pork belly, bone in), but lutefisk (cod cured in lye), pinnekjøtt (dry-cured ribs of lamb), boiled cod, ham roast and turkey are also common dishes.” Then, after dinner, the gifts are opened.

    Israel

    In this region known to many as The Holy Land, Christians are much in the minority. Israel, however, is the one country in the Middle East where Christians are widely granted the right to worship in peace. Interestingly, Jerusalem is known as the city of three Christmases. It is recognized by different denominations on different days. The Catholics and Protestants have their services on December 25th, but the Orthodox Christians celebrate on January 6th and the Armenian Christians do theirs on January 18th.

    In Nazareth, a Christmas Eve parade is held along the main street. It works its way to the Basilica of the Annunciation. Then, in the evening, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism sponsors a fireworks display.

    Starting three weeks before Christmas, many Israeli Christians light a candle weekly until the holiday arrives. Many attend church services with communion. Getting together with friends and relatives is common as it is with Christians all over the world, but the food served has its own Middle East unique character. Barbecue, salads, grape leaves and savory pastries are consumed with a seasonal delight.

    We Are The World

    As we enjoy our own American traditions, it’s nice to think of those around the globe who are spending Christmas in their own nostalgic customs. May we find unity as we raise our voices in joy and praise to the Christ in all of us.

  • WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HIPPIES?

    In the midst of maintaining this blog, working on another novel, doing a little freelance work and composing as well as playing music, I wrote a short memoirish piece for a book that has just been released–What Happened to the Hippies? Voices and Perspectives. I’m one of many contributors. The author who created it and assembled the contributors’ articles is Stewart L. Rogers.

    The Basic Concept

    Stewart writes in his poignant introduction that the years 1970 through 1973 were by far the best time of his life. He had tired of chasing goals that didn’t really matter and trying to fit himself into smaller and smaller boxes. Taking on a new identity aligned with love and understanding, peace and generosity, he saw himself as an authentic pioneer. He knew he had ideals in common with his brothers and sisters of his generation. “Exhilarated with hope, giddy with freedom, turned on with idealism,” he was immersed in a movement that was changing the world.

    By 1974, Stewart was being consumed by a world changing him. He found himself caught up in marital chaos and, as he puts it, “a relentless struggle for money.” This went on for 30 years. Finally, he hit bottom and saw he had a choice between death through substance abuse or life through sobriety. He stopped using, seeing his life with a new perspective and clarity. He reinvented himself by combining his old hippie values with real-world experience and the result was a happiness greater than he had ever known.

    Thus, the idea for the book was born. He wondered what had happened to others who had shared his journey and values back in the day. This incredible movement, powerful socially and politically and in the arts, had practically disappeared as a societal force. Were those same people out there, living those values and still effecting change? Or were they simply absorbed by the realities of life and the all-consuming Establishment?

    The Shape of Things

    Stewart reached out through Craigslist across the country, looking for “Old Hippie Writers.” He sought short memoirs from those who responded, detailing a comparison of “what the writer did or believed in the hippie era to what he/she does and believes today.” Over 50 people wrote articles for the book. From these, we begin to see not all was lost from those special times.

    The articles were crystallized into 13 categories, making for 13 chapters. They are aptly titled according to their respective subject matter. For instance, some of the chapters are titled “Age of Aquarius,” “Flower Power,” “Free Love,” “Give Peace a Chance,” “I Have a Dream,” and “My Sweet Lord.” Stewart wrote some commentary at the beginning of each chapter.

    The book concludes with a chronological summary of events that marked the era, followed by some memorable quotes that shed light on what it was all about.

    The Contributors

    We were all asked to write a short bio. These appear near the beginning of the book. They should not be skipped. As I read through these, I was taken by the mostly fascinating stories of the lives of those who lived the hippie lifestyle for periods of their lives. Most of them still have a hand in the arts or social justice or volunteering for the good of others. I’m not going to mention any of those who stand out to me because it wouldn’t be fair to the rest who have their own unique and compelling lives. Let it suffice to say that this is quite a surprising assembly of talented people brought together by a cute Craigslist ad.

    My Takeaway

    I haven’t had a chance to read the entire book yet, as I just received it this past week. The more I read, though, the more I want to immerse myself in it. Stewart’s introductions to the chapters synthesize beautifully the various categories of the hippie experience, or to put it another way, the lifestyles which evolved in the ’60s and ’70s.

    I confess that these poignant stories of those who lived somewhat parallel lives to mine mean a great deal to me. I’m moved by what it meant to them. We are brothers and sisters of a generation and perhaps every generation relates to that in their own way. And maybe we baby boomers overestimate just how special and unique we are, but it’s hard to argue with the groundbreaking, enduring music that we produced. The progress in civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, protection of the environment, freedom of speech, nuclear freezing and more have changed our world in huge ways. Though the pendulum has swung back in the other direction in some of these areas, I believe sanity will prevail in the long run and “hippies” old and young may still have a say in the evolution of our human community.

  • TEN OF THE MOST IMAGINATIVE TV SERIES EVER

    Scanning the landscape of television across the many networks available to us, we find tremendous choices in numerous genres. The writing and special effects are stellar in so many of these shows. In this post, I’ll acknowledge those that demonstrate the greatest imagination. There are many to choose from, but I’m going to try to name the best ten, in my opinion.

    In the 70 years since television became standard household furniture, there have been many groundbreaking shows. Many that were imaginative for their times can’t compare to the level of creativity and innovation common to programs today. However, there are a few that still stand out and deserve recognition for their longevity. After all, it’s more about ideas and creativity than use of technology. So, on to the list, with no regard for the age of a series or its popularity. Vision and imagination are the key.

    10. The Wild Wild West

    This show from the late 1960s combined the western with science fiction and comedy. The innovation was most clearly seen in the many gadgets introduced for the characters to use. One example of many included a sleeve gun, which was a Remington Double Derringer that was revealed with the help of an ejecting arm that sometimes produced other surprising tools of defense. Fans of the show could always look forward to developments they wouldn’t have predicted.

    9. Doctor Who

    There are probably those out there who think this series should be ranked No. 1. While I appreciate the show, I haven’t immersed myself in it and most likely just don’t get it like its legions of fans do. The truth is, though, that this British show has endured since 1963 and that doesn’t happen in Science Fiction without a solid reason. It’s a testament to the collective imagination of the makers of this program throughout its long tenure, having maintained their strong vision that continues to entertain. They have evolved right along with the time travel premise common to Doctor Who and Science Fiction overall.

    8. Star Trek: The Next Generation

    Gene Roddenberry created this upgraded phase of Star Trek which began its run in 1987. Taking the universe of the Enterprise to a new level of sophistication, this series gave us such unique characters as the endearing android Data, Geordi La Forge who was blind but sighted through his visor, the Federation’s Klingon officer Worf and the vastly powerful, narcissistic Q. And we can’t leave out the Borg…resistance is futile.

    7. Police Squad

    This groundbreaking TV sitcom was brought to us by the creators of Airplane, starring Leslie Nielson as Detective Frank Drebin. The sight gags and word play are hilarious and out of left field. A comment like this on Police Squad may be followed with a shot of the staff writers in baseball uniforms firing their jokes in from left field at Dodger Stadium. This style of writing is like no other and the dialogue is creative well beyond the usual.

    6. Breaking Bad

    What is it about Breaking Bad that makes it stand out so much from other shows? In my opinion, it’s the combination of desperation with life-and- death situations involving characters with whom we can relate on a personal level. A schoolteacher who has a terminal illness is determined to provide for his family after he’s gone. Entering a world of crime and cartels isn’t the way to go and we watched it unfold in riveting fashion. Oh, how the people who made this series expertly milked it for a thrilling ride!

    5. Battlestar Galactica

    This was an epic program when it was rebooted in 2004. There have been few TV shows with the scope of this one and it did not fail in the promise of imaginative storytelling with excellent effects. I saw it first on Netflix, only about six years ago. It held up just fine. The episodes were strong and the characters were rich. It’s one of the all-time greats for good reason. It fills our minds with compelling fear, it breaks our hearts, and it manages to help us maintain hope all the while.

    4. X-Files

    When Fox started running The X-Files in 1993, it was a gamble. There was not a known market for this unique series. The fans were out there and thankfully the quality was what they were craving. Stories were often taken from legends or rumored phenomena, but the way they were fleshed out took tremendous imagination. Additionally, the overarching plot featuring Deep Throat, The Cigarette Smoking Man, The Lone Gunmen and others is developed masterfully across the seasons. The skill required to do so involves detailed imagination as well.

    3. Twilight Zone

    This classic may be the standard of imaginative script writing. Even though I’ve seen most of the episodes, I’ll watch one now and then out of curiosity. When the show was still in the CBS rotation, the premise of each episode was an opportunity to see the world from a new perspective. A visit to an isolated old woman by aliens that were the size of small action figures. The question of sanity when seeing a creature trying to sabotage an airplane engine mid-flight. The woman whose horrifying face can’t be saved by piggy surgeons. These are stories fashioned by highly creative minds ahead of their time.

    2. Fringe

    In 2008, Fringe debuted on Fox. It’s another Science Fiction program involving the FBI. It has been said to be influenced by X-Files and Twilight Zone. It’s easy to see why, with the investigations of bizarre crimes and events as well as matters of universal import. The creators were able to mold amazing stories around high-tech procedures, alternate timelines and parallel universes in a framework of fringe science. This is inventive mythification at its best.

    1. Sense8

    The basic premise of this series is one of the most original concocted in television history. It explores psychic connection, using eight people from all over the world who each have suddenly had visions or dreams of the death of a Sensate. A Sensate is someone who has a keen emotional and mental connection with a cluster of others with the same experience. The cluster can be with each other as a group or individually and take part in each others’ lives, fully functioning you might say. When a Sensate dies, eight more are spawned. The new Sensates have to deal with what’s happening to them and why. Considered dangerous, they are aggressively pursued by an antagonistic organization. The weaving of the plot and various subplots in a world where eight characters can be mentally anywhere at any time is a monumental effort of wild but disciplined imaginations.

    Sense8 Cluster

    Fertile Grounds

    There are so many TV shows that are fantastic in their inventive creativity. Without spending too much time on it, I came up with a list of 23 of them. It was truly agonizing to leave some of them off this list. A golden age of television indeed.

  • THE THEATER TIME CAN’T FORGET

    Cochranton, Pennsylvania is a borough in the hilly rural area between Pittsburgh and Erie. It was founded in 1855, named for Thomas Cochran. It’s in farming country, with a population of around 1200. As it is in so many small towns across America now, many of the storefronts on its main street are long empty. But the community endures and so does one of its treasures that has survived recessions, a downtown fire and television. That would be the Iris Theater.

    An Iris is Not a Rose

    The Iris Theater was built in 1947 by local construction contractor W.L. Dunn. The project was for his wife Iris. What a gift! She must have really loved movies. By extension, it was a tremendous gift for this tiny town.

    A massive fire in the business district in 1962 or possibly a bit earlier leveled at least a couple buildings and threatened the entire block. Fortunately, the Iris was a block west and was not damaged.

    The theater lost some appeal to the baby boomer generation in the mid-1960s. Teenagers had cooler things to do in the larger neighboring towns. The Iris wasn’t making a profit and it was shut down, much to the dismay of the town folk. It sat there with its humble marquis, stuck in time, with its locked glass doors offering a view into the lobby and into the past.

    Revival

    In 1971, Jack and Grace Motzing took on this labor of love by reopening the Iris Theater. Jack became the projectionist while Grace sold tickets and refreshments. Mr. Dunn did his part, too, allowing the Motzings to operate the theater rent free.

    I sense that Cochranton collectively exhaled upon learning the Iris was once again open. Things were as they should be, at least in one important way. The same couple operated it for 42 years, staying with their intention of providing films for the entire family. Wholesome entertainment was of great importance to them. Eventually, they bought the theater from Dunn’s estate for $12,000.

    The Motzings also made the theater a ministry, holding Christian Cinema Night one night per month. At these showings, people would give testimony as to their faith. It’s estimated that more than 5,000 attendees became Christians during these events.

    When Jack and Grace retired from the theater business in 2013, they sold it to Cochranton Community Church for…$12,000! The church managed it for a while, but the plan was to re-purpose the enterprise in an ingenious way.

    Brilliance

    Prior to all that, a community organization attempted to initiate a plan to take over the theater’s operations. When that failed to materialize, Pastor Steve Clulow of the above-mentioned church presented the idea to save the theater to his congregation. He envisioned a full restoration, estimating it would cost between $250,000 and $300,000.

    Amazingly, the idea was embraced. The church’s general fund was used for $100,000 toward the goal. A fundraising campaign pulled in $190,000. Another $10,000 came from miscellaneous sources. These figures symbolize a monumental love for the Iris and this small community.

    Now for the brilliant part of it. I don’t know who deserves credit for it, but someone suggested creating a coffee lounge in the old lobby. Pastor Clulow included that as part of his cost estimate for the project. So now, this center for the arts is a place where people can meet and have coffee four days a week from early morning to evening in Kovfino-The Coffee Lounge. The movie house is still called The Iris Theater and the building is known as the Motzing Center.

    Safe and Secure

    The church is using the Motzing Center as a part of their Christian ministry, but true to the Motzing family model, the theater is the theater. It’s a place for the Cochranton community to see films. No, you won’t see sex and violence on the screen. The movies are family-oriented and uplifting, but that doesn’t equate to inferior entertainment.

    Most importantly, the theater has stable backing and a coffee lounge that will help it meet its financial obligations. The church isn’t going to take any money from the earnings of the Motzing Center. It should be able to stand on its own. That gorgeous gathering place for coffee and movies should be an attraction that this grateful community can support.

    Now let’s see…what’s on the bill for upcoming movies? Well, there’s the animated version of The Addams Family, Abominable, Malificent: Mistress of Evil and Ford v Ferrari, just to name a few. All for $5.00 for ages 13 and up, $3.00 for ages 2-12.

    I need to get in there sometime to enjoy the ambiance. You see, I live in Arizona now, but my adolescent years were in Cochranton and it feels like my hometown even though I wasn’t born there. On my next trip there, I’ll have to drop by the Iris for one of those feel-good flicks.

  • WHY GIVING BIRTH TO ART FEELS SO GOOD

    An unknown composer finishes her song just after sunset. The last note is set upon the staff with eager anticipation. She can play it now in its entirety and listen as she does for any incongruity in the arrangement.

    She starts softly on the introduction with the bass keys droning as the right hand sets an ethereal mood. The song begins in earnest as the melody of the first verse comes in somewhat ominously. The tension builds slowly to the end of the verse with plenty in reserve. Verse two repeats the rise with just a bit more emotion in the end. The chorus angles off in another direction with even more energy, but lighter. By the end of the third verse and the final chorus, a dramatic crescendo delivers a message of hope in answer to the warnings of the earlier verses. The ending is so strong she is overcome and tears roll down her face.

    The light pouring through the studio windows is golden. She knows her work has hit the mark. She has a sense of satisfaction with a hint of enthusiasm. She has to play it again…and again.

    Crafting Joy

    What is it that makes creation of art so enjoyable? It may seem absurd to even ask the question. It’s akin to asking, “Why do we love this newborn so dearly?” Let’s see if there’s something of value to know on the subject.

    There’s at least one study showing creative art activity increases blood flow to the brain’s prefrontal cortex which, among other things, is a reward center. Dopamine is released into the blood stream to bring a feeling of pleasure.

    Not all effects of creating art are so easily measured by release of a neurotransmitter in the brain. Yet, these effects are documented. In a study by Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts, participants helped researchers determine that a feeling of sadness could be alleviated by creating art not related to the source of the sadness. If nothing else, making up a story in whatever form is a distraction from a painful preoccupation.

    In fact, a study published in Journal of Clinical Psychology promoted the idea that writing down our problems in story form tends to make the issues better understood and more manageable. I guess I’ve done that when writing fiction, though I wasn’t directly addressing those problems and they weren’t a primary component of the piece. Writing about my problems in my journal, while not in story form, has definitely had the effect of improving my understanding of these issues and helped me work out how to handle them. It isn’t exactly art, but in reality I feel I’m making art when I write a sentence or paragraph in whatever context.

    Playing and composing music have been found by researchers to be beneficial to the brain in the realm of cognitive function, even enhancing abilities relating to memory, study and language. It’s also known that endorphins are released when playing music. This could explain why making music with others can result in a feeling of well-being. These are findings of legitimate scientific studies. As a matter of opinion, though, I would submit that generating the rhythms of music puts a musician in the moment and thus in connection with the rhythms and energies of the universe. That has to be a source of joy, right?

    Other Benefits

    An increase in self-esteem. The sense of having accomplished something is key.

    Being more attentive. As a visual artist, it’s necessary to notice such environmental details as body positions, how moving water looks and the contours of rock formations. As a choreographer, motion and grace must be observed. The fiction writer, playwright and others learn about people and everything that goes with them. Every type of artist will develop observational skills that help them become better at their craft.

    Problem solving. Working on a project in the arts will usually lead a person into trouble. They believe it’s going along swimmingly when suddenly they realize it isn’t. As a writer, I can “paint myself into a corner.” The progression of the story can render the plot impractical sometimes. Or a painter might find the shape of the face hasn’t left room for that long nose. We find ourselves having to resolve the issue if we’re going to finish the piece. The more of these we handle, the stronger our confidence and ability to deal with difficult situations becomes.

    Feeling Good

    Having talents and skills are common to us all. Everyone has some unique ability. I am grateful that I’m drawn to the arts and I can give at least a small measure of enjoyment to others. There’s the most important payoff.