JOSH CRUMBLY STRINGIN' ALONG

Joshua Crumbly, jazz bassist, sat in to accompany a few entertaining tunes with one of my favorite groups, ZZAJ, last weekend, providing me with a welcome change of pace from other life matters. The full round sound of an upright acoustic bass he was playing, has special significance to me since my husband’s avocation was playing the instrument professionally with his own groups, other musicians, occasionally backing celebrity performers who came to the Columbus, Ohio area. I’ll be sharing more information about Josh in the future.

Josh has been visiting his parents on a break from Juilliard Schools renowned Music Division a “…Private conservatory offering programs through the Divisions of Dance, Drama, and Music from its campus at Lincoln Center in New York City.” Juilliard has “… some 600 students from more than 40 countries. Its distinguished faculty includes internationally renowned soloists, chamber, and orchestral musicians…Among them are recipients of Pulitzer Prizes, Grammy and Academy Awards.”

Josh has been developing his musical skills from an early age through high school, continuing to receive many wards including the Ruth Nadel Award at the Stanford Jazz Festival, 1st Place at the Duke Ellington Society Awards. Here he is on acoustic upright bass playing in a jazz quartet of piano, drums and keyboard at The Music Center’s Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County 2009 Spotlight Awards.

I’m always keenly interested in the many individual young people and musical groups committed to perpetuating jazz’s continuance for long after I’m gone and future generations – they give me great pleasure and satisfaction. Josh is definitely one of those young jazz musicians beginning to realize a promising future.

You can follow Josh’s career, listen to more of his music, and track his itinerary of appearances on his new web site still under construction: joshuacrumbly.com

Go to the "listen" link to hear several tunes including one of my favorites: "Caravan."

Most recently he performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival. He's been appearing with Terrence Blanchard and earlier this month was at NYC's Birdland Jazz Club. In a few days he'll be in Taipei, China with Blanchard's Quintet at Kai-Shek Concert Hall.

Let's charter a plane and all go, but I don't know if concert tickets are still available.

Josh's career plans in music will include appearing "solo, touring, recording, producing and writing." Enjoy his music and remember this name ---- JOSH CRUMBLY !

PERSONAL RIGHTS VIOLATION

I meant to add a second story based on an experience associated with AARP that I experienced today which prompted me to write this piece. But this first tale has become quite lengthy, so, perhaps I'll delve into the other one another time. By then, maybe it will have been resolved.

Just when I thought my life couldn't become more insane, it has! I'm not talking about the economy, political madness or my personal life. The latter is quite sane. The former two are in frantic upheaval as we all know.

My story begins last year, when I received a reproduced letter from a company located in Central California -- I live in Southern California. The letter writer stated they had been designated to represent a city near to my own. This letter hardly looked official and I almost shredded it as more unwanted advertising solicitations. Had I been really busy at the time that's probably what would have happened to this letter, since I receive advertising letters all the time that have a similar schlocky appearance. This company wanted me to phone and advise them if I had worked in the-city-I-will-not-name here that they represented, and noted a city license to work there was required.

The letter appeared to be of the mass mailing variety, possibly some sort of scam, I thought. Or, maybe the city was so desperate for funds this company had obtained a mailing list of various professions and made blanket phishing mailings to those in the city's immediate surrounding area who might possibly work there. I could have phoned that city I'm not naming to see if this company was legitimate, but decided to phone the company directly, see what they had to say, and determine then what action might be appropriate.

I was aware of, and sympathetic to, the poor financial status of many cities, though I had no knowledge of the one in question. I knew many cities resorted to all sorts of strategies to acquire money. I decided if this company was acting legally that I would be responsive and make their job easier in their efforts to inform people who might need a city business license. I also knew there might be scofflaws, but I was not one of them.

A young-sounding woman's voice answered the company phone when I called. Identifying myself, acknowledging receipt of the letter, I stated I didn't work in that city, hadn't and would not be doing so in the future, since I'm semi-retired, working on a very limited basis; therefore, I was not a candidate for a city business license. I was politely thanked, so I thought the matter was closed. NOT!

Periodically, in the weeks and months ahead this company has sent me letters in what has now become a harassing mode, assigned me a "Case No. ____", and began to enclose various forms for me to complete. The next letter included a form to apply for a city business license. I thought there must be some mistake that I had been sent this letter -- perhaps, the person taking my phone message had not reported accurately the information I gave her. I have this trusting bad habit of giving people the benefit of the doubt.

No good deed goes unpunished, so my call to re-state my earlier message proved later to accomplish nothing. In time, another letter arrived with another city business license form and a form I was to sign under threat of perjury that I hadn't worked in that city. That latter form raised my hackles! An expectation that I should have to sign such a form without just cause I viewed as an assault on my rights.

We lose our rights and freedoms by small government actions. This was one such assault I could not and would not roll over to mindlessly accept.

I phoned the company again, finally asking how they obtained my name in the first place to lead them to think I worked in that city. I was told this was "confidential." I asked to speak to a supervisor with whom I repeated I didn't work in that city, so this effort intimating otherwise was erroneous. He, too, cited "confidentiality" preventing him from telling me the source of my name causing this mailing.

More letters, forms, with insistence I sign a statement I had not worked in that city. Guilt until I proved my innocence, apparently, without knowledge of how I had come to be accused in the first place.

An additional phone call to that company and supervisor toward the end of last year was civil but firm on my part, until he became verbally obnoxious and offensive. I became frustrated and angry at his irrational demanding attitude. I was reminded of TV expose' stories I had seen about abusive collection agency personnel using unacceptable tactics harassing people they believed to owe money to whatever business represented. Many of those people being pursued actually owed money, but my circumstance was quite different. I owed nobody, no company in the city of question, or the city itself, anything!

The New Year came, months passed, then in May came another letter with more forms. I phoned the city-in-question, asking to whom I should speak about my being harassed by this company representing them. It was too late in the day to reach any official. The person to whom I spoke initially presented as knowing nothing specifically about my matter, but as we spoke revealed more knowledge, including how the source of accused names was "confidential."

I briefly reviewed my experience with this company, requesting the information be reported to whoever the appropriate city official(s) were. I stressed that they should be concerned that this company was wasting taxpaper money pursuing me (and others?) and damaging the city's image. If the company employees worked on commission, based on monies they could coerce from people for licenses, etc., their tactics were deplorable. Another futile effort to end this harassment.

Another letter, more forms including a copy of a letter from the city-in-question's Treasurer authorizing the company to seek the information they were requesting -- again, poor print appearance that looked anything but official. I phoned the City Treasurer leaving a message on his answering machine, stating I did not work in that city, requested the letter harassment cease, briefly alluded to wasting taxpayer money and added I would not sign the form being demanded. Finally, I erroneously thought, the matter will end.

The next morning the City Treasurer phoned me. The only new information was his revelation as to where they obtained my name -- from an individual who happens to live in their city for whom I work in another city. Furthermore, I was told I would be offered this one time opportunity to avoid what their city had now concluded I owed them, amounting to about $200+, if I signed the form I have refused signing. I recall the word "tax" being mentioned, but it did not register with me as being pertinent to my city license issue. Based on other numbers quoted to me, he clearly had access to information regarding my meager part time income that year, and probably had my social security number and other data to which he has no right.

(Curiously, at one point in our conversation, the Treasurer injected the subject of Afghanistan. I quickly squelched that distraction by stating I wasn't interested in talking about that matter. Strange!)

Nevertheless, none of this alters the fact that I didn't work in their city and I owe them nothing. No satisfactory resolution was reached with the City Treasurer. Instead, I received only intimations I could expect more problems, leaving me frustrated and angry.

Another letter arrived -- this one a copy with changes made to a letter previously received in Spring 2011. It is accompanied by an itemized form claiming I owe the city $200+, which includes interest fees that will continue to accrue for late payment. I am admonished that I have 15 days from the letter date (then "letter postmark" has been inserted) to pay the amount due. That due date based on the letter postmark comes up before this month ends.

I phoned the company one last time, prefacing my statements to the person who answered the phone that he should take my information and report it to whoever because: 1) I will not speak to his supervisor based on the unacceptable manner in which he previously spoke to me, 2) This was the last phone call I would make to this company. The message was, once and for all, I did not work in their city, therefore owe nothing. I was told to sign the form. Also, I was repeatedly told by the man I spoke with that he could not change any information on his computer, whatever that meant.

I've begun to think this has only partially been about requiring me to purchase a city business license. I'm still awaiting being told where it is in their city that I am alleged to have worked. There is no such place. Instead, I'm suspecting this city/company collaboration has adopted a stealth approach to try to assess some sort of city tax from me based on the fact the person who pays me to work in a different city from theirs happens to reside in their city. Whether or not such a tax, if that's what this is about now, is legal -- it's not my tax. It was only in final letters and forms that the issue of a city tax was even mentioned -- sneaky!

I'm unable to discuss this whole situation with the person for whom I work since she's presently out of the country. I know I could consult an attorney. I know I could roll over, play dead and sign the form. Of course, now, that City Treasurer said I had lost that right to sign such a form in order to waive the $200+. It just seems to me that my rights are being abused.

I persist in believing we relinquish our freedoms and rights little by little, when well-meaning or unscrupulous officials in power attempt to achieve a desired end by any means, possible. They often totally disregard what is ethically and morally right. Sometimes, in other aspects of their life they are fair and just; sometimes, not! Perhaps none of this matters. What do you think?

DYSFUNCTIONAL U. S. CONGRESS

I want to express these thoughts, but will focus on some other topics in the future.

The best I can say for this 2011 dysfunctional U. S. Congress is they're incompetent. They've averted a default on U. S. debt with the bill the House of Representatives has finally passed August 1st. On the bill's receipt the Senate is likely to pass the bill also, then send to the President whose signature is expected by day's end -- before the predicted August 3rd default deadline.

Congress has embarrassed our nation in the world. The threat of default should never have been an issue and those Congresspersons who made it so should be roundly politically castigated for having done so!

For the first time politics was injected into our world financial dealings adversely affecting our nation's credibility -- courtesy of the Tea Party minority wing of the Republican Party. They unnecessarily risked the full faith of credit of the U. S. Government for the first time in our history and for political purposes. They will claim in getting their way that their actions forced success for debt reduction, but what we have is a sham deficit reduction plan. Neither the Republican or Democratic Party benefits, and most importantly not the American people.

Make no mistake, we live in a Republican and Tea Party economy though they will attempt to deceive voters into believing otherwise from now until the 2012 Presidential election. That is all this Congressional political farce has been about.

Congress does have to address the nation's deficit which is primarily attributed to preceding Administrations and Congressional actions, or lack thereof. It is ludicrous and ridiculous to allege the current Administration is responsible for our nation's financial situation. Equally unrealistic is to believe this Administration, or any Administration, could quickly reverse this situation, especially considering the near financial collapse caused by multiple financial forces.

Now is the appropriate time for all Congresspersons to make a serious effort to legitimately enact legislation toward reducing our nation's deficit with minimal focus on political maneuverings. The American voter should monitor for such excessive political behavior with the intent that those who do so are the so-called legislators we should not reelect.

I think a good start would be for all Congresspersons to recognize the need to realign the tax system which includes increasing revenues from the wealthy. That certainly is not going to totally correct the deficit, but would be one reasonable contributing factor to deficit reduction. This would not create a hardship on them, unlike the adverse effects on our diminishing American middle class and those with even less. I believe those opposed provide a deliberately misleading argument that is a fallacy by saying that a suggested modest increased tax rate will take monies that would otherwise be spent creating new jobs. Those same wealthy individuals and large corporations who pay no taxes at all need to begin to pay their fair share if they truly respect and care about the United States of America's viable survival.

Representative David Dreier Alert !

The following message has been sent to Republican David Dreier in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Message Text (edited):

PASS the Nat'l Debt Limit Extension to beyond the 2012 election NOW!
We can debate the budget issues during the election. Legislators can then legislate instead of engaging in the shenanigans in which they now engage.

I am so disappointed in the Republican Party allowing "the tail to wag the dog" on this and many issues. Majority Republican party members need to:

-- summon the courage to do what is best for this nation,

-- stop being intimidated by their extreme right members,

-- stop playing politics on this matter.

Perhaps you'll want to contact your House Representative and Senator(s), too. My Senators are voting appropriately, but I've sent them a tangible supportive message.

I continue to have other interests during this time besides government and politics that I'm overdue for posting about here. For now, I do believe this debt extension issue is critical. I'm concerned that continued political game-playing in D.C. may well be damaging international financial world perceptions of our nation with less than desirable results we may reap in the future.

ADDENDUM:

Congress is abdicating their responsibility if they avoid passing legislation to increase the debt limit. Political forces attempting to force the President to take that action instead of Congress doing their job demonstrates less than noble motivations despite words claiming otherwise.

By the way, I also expressed my views on the debt limit issue to Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner; Democratic Senate leader, Harry Reid.

I hope voters in future elections remember to withhold their votes for those Congresspersons, unfortunately a number of Republicans primarily in the House of Representatives, who have participated in the political manipulations that are inflicting such potentially damaging consequences on our nation.

U. S. LEGISLATOR NEROS FIDDLIN'

Positive reinforcement techniques, which I generally strongly support, do not seem to work well with too many U.S. legislators in recent years, especially presently. We’re way past time for tough love. If we get through this latest financial crisis, unscathed, we need to demand more from our Congresspersons.

Make U. S. Congresspersons pay $$$!

Legislators busy work for “kick the can down the road budgets” earns no pay, no perks!

Congress needs to increase the national debt limit, and stop playing games with the U. S. and world economies!

Then, Congress, get down to business and legislate for the American people, not just corporate America!

If Congress allows the United States to default on our debts August 2, 2011, then we should aggressively reject returning to office all those Congresspersons who are responsible for allowing this to happen.

Those legislators who take the credit worthiness of the United States as a hostage for their own agenda, with unwillingness to compromise, are betraying America’s best interests.

We must communicate unequivocably to Congresspersons that their lack of sincere negotiation and compromise is unacceptable! Compromise does not all happen on one side.

Consider California’s efforts to address severe state financial deficits with an inability of legislators to pass a timely budget, much less a balanced one for many years. Our state government has been suffering from the same malaise as our Federal Government legislative offices during this time of extremely severe financial crisis. Both state and federal legislators have been practicing purely rigid ideological stubbornness, are unwilling to negotiate, compromise and work together.

California has a budget now, though far from perfect for the tastes of either major political party. Perhaps our state is modeling an approach that could be used to motivate U.S. Congresspersons to learn how to prepare balanced budgets on time. The secret may simply be to:

ENFORCE a budget completion time deadline.

REQUIRE a balanced budget.

ESTABLISH consequences that effect Legislators if these criteria are not met.

Legislators’ salaries and all perks, including that wonderful exercise gym and pool, would cease to be free until they get the job done. They can’t prepare just any ole’ budget either, much less “kick the can down the road” on finance issues for future legislators and generations to resolve, as I’ve observed being done on select critical issues during many of my voting years.

Unfortunately, in applying these consequences, the legislators who are effectively performing their functions will suffer along with those who don’t. But...wait a minute...that’s just like what all the rest of us experience in our lives from the undeserved effects of those who don’t appropriately fulfill their responsibilities.

Remember those regulators who didn’t regulate? Remember those bankers who practiced magical banking? What about those Wall Street financial geniuses who are still raking in billions? Then, there all those large corporate covert operators in controlling positions to manipulate, even assert their will, for their own exploitative purposes. We get penalized for them, even though we didn’t do anything wrong. Where are our legislators who act in the best interests of those in the middle class and those with even less income?

Maybe if this consequence process prevails legislators will learn how to refine their time use, tone down their rhetorical grandstanding and minimize their political posturing, though it’s probably too much to expect they’ll ever eliminate that jawboning. Acquiring such skills might actually contribute to enhancing legislators’ ability to expand their professional talents to include negotiating and compromising.

Here’s a bit of state history and what’s happened in California, which is the world’s eighth largest economy. What transpires here has some impact not only on our citizenery but the financial world.

Years ago our legislators began feuding excessively among themselves, usually from the two major political parties ideological perspectives. They were unable to agree on a budget, taking longer each year to formulate one. Often the resulting budget was cobbled together with little relation to reality and a foisting to the future of paying for the present day’s costs. Increasingly legislators seemed never to get around to passing a budget until the last minute, then in recent years, not until long after the prescribed due date of June 15th. Last year we had no budget until October. Taxpayers finally became exceedingly frustrated.

Voters passed an initiative allowing a simple majority vote to pass a budget instead of the higher level of two-thirds vote. No longer would representatives from the dominant political party have to persuade a few from the minority groups to join their opposite number to pass a budget. Thus, voters have eliminated one of the obstacles legislators have cited in the past as a reason why they've been unable to keep this legal obligation to meet a time deadline.

But our state legislators have ignored some of the responsibilities of their job which includes negotiating and compromising on issue positions in order to achieve a budget formulation that would be in California citizens’ best interests. This year to meet the budget submission deadline they whomped up a sham budget that was just numbers monkey business for submission at the eleventh hour, as has so often been the case. Our governor gave fair warning he would not sign such a budget and he did not as their deadline passed.

California legislators were permanently penalized with no salary, no travel and no living expenses for each passing day after the budget submission deadline until a credible state budget was offered and signed. Our State Comptroller said legislators typically earn $95,000 a year plus $142 a day living expenses. For legislators in total, an expected $50,000 a day in savings was expected. Lawmakers generally lost salary and living expenses of about $4,830 over 12 days when California finally had an official budget. Granted these dollars didn't make much of a dent in our deficit, but that wasn't expected. The budget has a lot of shortcomings but it's a start. I look forward to seeing when our California state budget is submitted next year.

I wonder if there is any Congressperson with the courage to introduce a federal late budget penalty bill like California's, much less whether a majority of the Representatives would pass it? Perhaps such a bill would dramatically reinforce the seriousness of our expectations that Congresspersons effectively perform their jobs and that they all become determined to work together.

U.S.A. 235th BIRTHDAY

The United States of America celebrates our 235th birthday this July 4th as we
commemorate the signing of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

Much nation building continued through the following years. Actual ratification of our written U. S. Constitution containing the Bill of Rights delineating our individual freedoms occurred eleven years later. Subsequently our constitution has been amended twenty-seven times adapting to changing times. Today we face serious challenges as this republic's grand experiment with democracy continues.

Throughout our two hundred plus years our country has been overtly and covertly attacked by individuals, groups, ideologies dedicated to undermining our way of life, or blatantly imposing their own governmental systems on our nation. These forces have come from outside our country and, sometimes from within.

Our populace sometimes even undermines our nation's own best interests. Some well-intentioned elected officials we've chosen to conduct the country's business on our behalf have failed to effectively do so for too many years. Also, our capitalistic system has been abused -- running amok in a long festering financial debacle. We've finally reached a point in time when our nation is threatened with financial bankruptcy.

So, we must continue making our views known to our government officials, coupled with the admonition that they MUST reach agreement to resolve this issue.

Meanwhile, this 4th of July we celebrate our nation's birthday with the expectation the current crisis will be averted.

FIRST TIME -- DAD

Fathers Day is special every year but this one is especially so in my family. Earlier this year I shared a photo taken minutes after my son became a first time Dad. You can view his joy with a click here for "Family Togetherness." Actually, you get a bonus with first time Mother (my 'other daughter') delighting in her son. Of course the star of the photo is my new, first and only grandson.

Dads everywhere can likely recall the overwhelming feelings of love they felt with their firstborns and subsequent births. I wish my husband had still been living to experience the wonder of this new life in our midst. I wish my son and his Dad could have had what I imagine would have been a unique, now shared experience of both being fathers.

A special salute to all those Dads who've given their support, their counsel not only when all is well but during challenging times and most of all for their unconditional love.

PAKISTAN CARES -- ABOUT WHO?

("Tone down Pakistan rhetoric" is an L.A. Times editorial 6/18/11 suggesting "...the fight against Islamic extremists" could be jeopardized. They raise important concerns in a complex situation.)

Unexpected news has been forthcoming about most recent Pakistani government actions. I hadn't intended to write more on this topic but Pakistan has arrested five men who assisted the U. S. CIA in locating Bin Laden, residing in a secret compound where he was eliminated. Pakistan officials are reportedly angry they had not been forewarned of the U.S. special operations.

One of the issues this blog's previous article, "Duplicity." questioned was Pakistan's duplicitous actions. Their jailing these men serves to increase my apprehension about that nation's true relationship with the United States, their attitude toward the Taliban and terrorism.

This CBS News World Watch account provides additional specific information including:

"U.S. officials have begun to question whether America should continue to send aid to Pakistan, which so far has amounted to $20 billion since 2001."

What could we do with those $$$ in the U.S.?

The news source quotes a statement by Sen. Dick Luger (R-Ind.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senator describes Pakistan's complex government as consisting of various civilian, military and security groups each of which may erratically control the country. Who is in control at any given time varies and the nation's position on issues can rapidly reverse just as does who's in charge.

Are our taxpayer billions helping bring stability to Pakistan's government, keeping their nuclear capability from becoming dangerously active, or do officials keep the monies?

Certainly Pakistan's behavior toward our nation often seems to be based on conflicting allegiances involving the countries surrounding their borders with actions contrary to U.S. efforts against terrorism.

This is just one of several nations accepting billions of our tax dollars. We need to pay attention to the amount each nation is receiving, how and where that money is used.

DUPLICITY

": contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially: the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action" Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition

Duplicity is rampant hiding behind all kinds of guises. History is replete with many instances of such shenanigans both ‘fair and foul’ depending upon the perspective and rationale of those individuals, groups and countries who employ these techniques. (Refer to this link documenting select duplicitous actions from the 1500s to the present.)
Some examples occurring during our nation’s founding from summaries of Old West Native Americans:

“Mar 22, 1622 - He plotted the destruction of the colony so secretly that only one Indian, the Christian Chanco, revealed the conspiracy, but too late to save the people of Jamestown, who at a sudden signal were massacred, on March 22, 1622, by the natives who had earlier deemed to be friendly. In the period of intermittent hostilities that followed, duplicity and treachery marked the actions of both whites and Indians. In the last year of his life, Opechancanough, taking advantage of the ...”
www.legendsofamerica.com/we ...

Negotiations to free sick and injured U.S. seamen prisoners in which U.S. Navy Captain John Paul Jones engaged with representatives of Britain, France, Holland is described:

“Jan 28, 1780 - …anger over this duplicitous action was probably compounded by his [Franklin] frustration and concern about the prisoners after he received a letter … In it, Hodgson reported tha't the American captives were “suffering exceedingly”…”
From Yankee sailors in British gaols - Related web pages
books.google.com/books?id=_UcyXV3DCHYC&pg ...

In 1998 former Senator Gary Hart’s book, The Minuteman: Restoring an Army of the People, explores the “scope of America's military policy and accountability to its citizens.”
Hart writes U.S. foreign policy has substituted "interest" for principle and morality.

"Interest, especially national interest, is a shifting, amoral notion."

"A concept that justifies virtually any action "however immoral, duplicitous, cynical, unjust, or undemocratic."

He continues:

“It is a concept without roots in reason or morality that justifies virtually any action, whether exploiting the sinking of the Maine in 1898, misconstruing events in the Gulf of Tonkin, or selling arms to Iran to finance illegal operations in Central America.”

At the time he wrote this Saddam Hussein still ruled in Iraq and 9/11 had not occurred. Hart’s premise about acting on the basis of “interest” as it applies to the world's war against terrorism continues to raise serious thoughts. Consider the factors prompting the U.S. Iraq invasion, our involvement in Afgahanistan and most recently Libya.

"What seems in our interest today, may not be tomorrow."

U. S. foreign relations with the nuclear equipped country Pakistan comes to mind. Yet their governing officials and military hierarchy appear to be at odds internally over the true nature of our two countries relationship. Billions of U.S. tax dollars are given annually to aid this nation. Where do our monies go, especially during this time when our own nation faces financial difficulties? Are our dollars wending their way into funding weapons and support for Taliban troops fighting U.S. soldiers? Are our dollars lining the pockets of Pakistan officials? Are our dollars actually aiding an appreciative Pakistan citizenry?

Pakistan seems to have no clearly defined allegiance to the U.S. as dramatically evidenced when Bin Laden was found living there in a large compound constructed in 2005. The walled structures location is in a major city close to the country's primary military training academy. Following discovery and disposition of Bin Laden in a daring U.S. military special forces action, Pakistani government officials persist in disclaiming they had any knowledge of his presence.

Duplicitous actions, accusations of some that others are behaving in a deceitful manner persist through the twentieth century through World Wars I and II, especially during the “Cold War” with USSR. Now in the twenty-first century relations with North Korea, China and Pakistan, to name a few countries, have elicited similar concerns about nations behaviors.

Does anyone ever say what they mean and mean what they say? That seems to be what our U.S. foreign policy is all about, determining truth from falsehoods, and formulating how we represent ourselves to others. I wonder if the day will ever come when peoples and nations interact with each other honestly and openly. Would life be much less complex, or would a different set of complications arise?

COMMEMORATION

Memorial Day is a nationally recognized day dedicated to commemorating those who died in service to our country. History suggests the 1860's was the beginning of this remembrance day. The belief is that many planned or spontaneous gatherings of people in various towns began for the purpose of honoring those who died. Those were times of national differences with the Civil War. Differences of many kinds continue even today, but we should remember:

"Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all."

War dead numbers have continued to multiply since those nineteenth century years -- continuing into my lifetime beginning with World War II. Various memorials to individuals and groups have been created throughout the United States. Washington D. C. is the site of some U. S. National Memorials including one to World War II that was opened to the public on April 29, 2004, then dedicated two days before Memorial Day May 29, 2004.

For those living WWII veterans, whose numbers are dwindling yearly, the following audio/video is of significance. I think it is of special interest for those who have been unable to visit the WWII Memorial, as has been my brother's situation from his Hawaiian Islands home. He served in WWII Pacific Theater U. S. Navy Submarine Service Communications. I know he holds in high regard all those who paid the ultimate price for all of us.

http://youtu.be/rXjyxjjnje8

"An extensively narrated video tour of the WWII Memorial the week after it was opened to the public. It was prepared for a veteran with visual and physical impairments who was unable to visit the memorial personally. The filmmaker hopes other veterans will enjoy it too. All inscriptions are read aloud. (Edited down to 10 min.)"

MOTHER SAID...

"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." This was one of many sayings my mother often quoted. When she said these words I knew whatever I was wishing for would likely not become a reality. Probably this saying had its origins in horse and buggy days, or even before that during the Victorian Age.

Mother was born into a nineteenth century agrarian society that was becoming industrialized as she became a young woman in the beginning of the twentieth century. My grandfather was a successful farmer whose well cared for animals, fowl, garden produce, fruit trees plus fields of corn and grains provided his family almost complete self-sufficiency. They had their own firewood forest, and fresh clear well water accessible by using a hand pump with a little elbow grease applied. Rain water collected could augment more ordinary household needs and watering the livestock.

A field near the house harbored a leafy green plant that my Grandmother introduced to me many years later. I learned there were leaves I could actually eat, that tasted good and I've enjoyed mint ever since.

Grandfather died many years before I was born, so my impressions of him are based solely on Mother’s stories. He maintained his farm land in a manner he described as being one indication of a good farmer -- someone who kept all his fences mended and the fence rows cleared of unsightly weeds. He proudly never expected his wife to perform outdoor farming duties since he believed she was fully occupied by household tasks and caring for the children.

During that time period the automobile was invented but few were seen on the road driving past my Mother’s home. The neighboring farmers who rotated gathering at each others farms to assist one another at harvest time shared a few stories about this new technology.

One story that elicited their laughter was about the wealthy city lady accustomed to having an auto with driver. She came to visit farm relatives she wanted to impress. During her visit she spoke of how simple driving a horse and buggy was compared to handling a car. Goaded to demonstrate her equestrian skills she impulsively accepted the challenge. The horse and buggy were presented. She climbed into the buggy seat, picked up the reins and said to the horse, “Commence!” The farmers made their point when she seemed perplexed, then frustrated when the horse did not move the buggy forward despite her repeated increasingly louder commands. Merely saying the word "commence" to each other elicited laughter for years after from those who knew the story.

Another true tale centered on the farmer friends good-natured teasing of my grandfather, who was perceived as being progressive. He was asked, “So, Floyd, when are you going to get an automobile?” He replied, he didn’t think he’d bother because he thought he’d “wait for one of those airplanes.” The Wright Brothers had recently achieved their first successful but limited plane lift above the ground.

A few years later my 80+ paternal great grandmother startled relatives by taking a short flight in a biplane, considered to be quite daring then for anyone. She would have been considered quite old which made her risk-taking all the more astounding.

Mother shared stories intended to provide a language learning lesson for me like this one. She was a young girl, walking along the country road toward home one sticky humid summer afternoon. There was considerable distance yet to go in the hot sun before she reached the cool shade of her house’s dooryard trees. A neighbor farmer coming up the road with his horse and wagon, called to her, “Do you want a ride?” She responded, “I don’t care.” He retorted, “Well, if you don’t care, then I don’t either” passing her by. Just as my mother learned after her experience, I’ve used great caution saying “I don’t care” once I heard her story.

One of Mother’s lingering grammar lessons flashes through my mind every time I hear the misuse she frequently corrected when just the two of us talked. Any time I ended a sentence with “at” -- such as “Where’s he at?” -- I would be told “Just before the at.” Once she explained how useless “at” was, then spoke the words, I agreed that “Where is he?” sounded much better. I long ago ceased tacking an "at" on to sentence endings.

Ending “where is…” inquiries with “at” occurs in much casual conversation, When I hear TV news personages using the errant phrasing/sentence I can’t seem to avoid correcting the television speaker in my mind. Each time I chuckle to myself enjoying loving memories of my mother.

SILENT VOICES

Silent voices hear

Osama Bin Laden is dead.


Remember 9/11/01

Many souls are listening.

STOICISM, EMOTIONALITY, THE FUTURE

(Just noted this draft I long ago stashed away that I wrote after reading the piece I reference below. My observations about our nation and the world still seem to be apropo.)

Others often write thoughts that stimulate my own resulting in my composing comments the equivalent of another post. Such is the case with Ronni Bennett's piece titled,"Aging Into Sentimentality" 11/23/09 at "Time Goes By."

I can certainly identify with growing up in a home where stoicism was considered to
be how one best coped as I observed. I do recall a few instances of being told "Don't cry, or I'll give you something to cry about" but I don't recall any physical punishment. I think I probably had my bottom paddled on occasion when I was little. My Mother told me of switching my little legs all the way home from three houses away where I had gone without permission to visit my young friend. Perhaps these are a couple of environmental contributors to my having a high pain tolerance level, maybe it's genetic, or both.

I also learned to look for the best in others, sometimes to my detriment when I too quickly gave the benefit of the doubt to the intentions of another.

Perhaps when we are older we simply have more time or take more time to ponder some of the matters Ronni and others comments describe. Certainly we’re more aware we’re moving toward the end of our lives, so I think it’s to be expected that most of us will begin to think more about our lives in quite different ways from when we were younger. I know when I reached about forty years and through my fifties I was really heavily into very egocentrically examining my life. All this when I was striking out on a new career path while simultaneously having more demands on my being than at any other time in my life.

Perhaps any major life change, once life seemingly settles a bit, can have us, suddenly, after the fact, starting to think about such matters as described there. Perhaps there’s a certain amount of relaxation occurring that allows erratic thoughts once inhibited to be released. Emotions held at bay then become more accessible, can emerge much more readily. I experienced that after my mother died, when later other major life changing events occurred for me, but in those instances the emotions didn’t emerge until quite some time afterward.

In recent years that sensitivity began happening immediately after my husband’s death beginning when my son arrived home. I continued to project strength outwardly to most others but my feelings became incredibly sensitive as was my vulnerability to the slightest kindness, exaggerated beyond all that was rational. I had never been on such an emotional roller coaster.

I believe sometimes as we get older the tears and strongly expressed emotions are not always completely about what they seem, or what we and others may think. I suggest the apparent surface cause can be primarily only the trigger reflecting much deeper sources erupting from composite forces of life’s residue.

I don't consider compassion and empathy for living creatures being maudlin or sappy when a core deep within ourselves is tapped. I've felt this way about animals and increasingly about other creatures for as long as I can remember. Allowing outward expression of such feelings can be cathartic though I'll grant you not always best anywhere at anytime, or with just any person lest they be misunderstood. Further, if you're not too rational for a period, you best be interacting with someone who knows you well, and realizes you're only in a temporary discombobulated state.

What I'm most acutely aware of avoiding for quite a few years are stories about young babes, children, fictional and true, books and movies that entertainingly show the pain adults inflict upon them including parents, other family members, friends and strangers. I become tearful and angry at the emotional and physical abuse to which these innocents are subjected. I never wanted to read Frank McCourt's book, “Angela’s Ashes” about his Irish childhood partially for just that reason. Likewise, I never went to see Steven Spielberg’s movie “Schindler’s List” in a big screen movie house, only, finally, renting the DVD years later as I had feared there would be too many broken family scenes and worse. “Sophie’s Choice” haunts me still as does the movie from my childhood, “Bambi” with the gut-wrenching scene of Bambi seeking his Mother. Many movies in recent years seem to feature young children, youth and teenagers being subjected to all sorts of horrors judging by their ad trailers.

With all the wars around the globe I think how horrible this must be for children. When I consider all the nation's ills, the world's wrongs I seem to have arrived at a state that allows me to be aware of my own limitations to effect change, and likely not immediate under most circumstances. I perceive I'm looking down on a picture much larger than myself, that much desired change is going to be more gradual that I like, very possibly may not even occur in my lifetime. Yet, I remain dedicated to doing whatever I can in my small way to facilitate the change I desire. I try to avoid becoming permanently discouraged when it doesn't happen in the way I might want, especially as rapidly as I might wish, sometimes much easier to say than do.

Referring to history can help put the current reality into perspective when viewed in comparison with life in other times. Most generations have had legitimate reasons to think their situation and future was dire, much worse than that of previous ones, especially if they had known better times in their lifetime, yet here we are. Sure, we can look back and say, "Oh those times are nothing like what we have now." Probably so. I wonder what those in our unknown future will say when they look back on our time?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONNI BENNETT

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES

TO RONNI BENNETT

WITH WISHES FOR MANY MORE YEARS AHEAD !

YOU CAN ANTICIPATE AN EXCITING DECADE

BEGINNING WITH THIS YEAR.


If visitors here haven't already...
stop by "Time Goes By" and
leave a few good wishes for Ronni.

NOT SO TYPICAL DAY

(Blogger seems to be experiencing some technical glitches since I just posted this on Wednesday, April 6th after writing it Tues. night, but the gremlin affixed a different date, so I'll try re-posting to see if it corrects. Actually, my previous piece was posted April 1st, but the gremlin dated it March 31st.)


Yesterday was not a typical day. In fact, the day was quite unlike the
"Summerish Spring Day" described in my previous piece.

Let's go back a few days to when I started that dreaded process for a periodic medical procedure many of us undergo. I had more than slight trepidation since not only had my doctor specialist retired, to be replaced by one I did not know, but the procedure's preparation substances were different, too.

My memory of several previous such preparations requiring drinking of excessive fluids was pretty negative. I recalled the intensity of the liquid's repellent mouth puckering taste. Determined to make this experience as positive as possible, I forced myself to reject preconceived expectations. So, several nights ago I initiated the several day process with step one by swallowing the prescribed two pills before going to bed.

Coincidentally, at this time I was having rare slight headaches that developed into some other unique symptoms that had me thinking I might need to seek Urgent Care. This could complicate the whole process I'd already started and I didn't want to have to begin all over again at some future unknown date. Of course the time frame for these events was evolving into a weekend when my physician's office was closed. Fortunately, I was able to press ahead with my medical procedure preparation because I was really primed for completing this process, having already started, but I felt worse before I felt better. Diagnosis today, Tues., revealed Otitis Media -- middle ear infection -- and some concurrent swallowing and throat issues.

Returning to the saga's second step, the following afternoon was time to mix a large amount of this new liquid concoction for overnight refrigeration. I selected the lemon flavor over the orange, cherry and pineapple, hoping the taste would not be sickening or overpowering. Before refrigerating I was instructed to add lots and lots of water to the container's mysterious white powder and flavoring, then shake to mix. Another two pills would be taken before going to bed that night. Then, the next afternoon I would have to drink this flavored beverage within a specified short time period after first taking yet another larger pill. That entire day I could drink only specified liquids, eat no solid foods. After midnight I couldn't even drink liquids until after the next morning's medical procedure at the hospital.

I had prepared for the worst based on the last time I went through this process. So, I was choosing jello, chicken broth, gatorade, and ginger ale to provide some nourishment and keep me hydrated.

The drinking hour arrived and it was down the hatch with 8 ounces of the lemon flavor mix every ten minutes for the next two hours. I was surprisingly pleased that this new liquid was much more palatable than the product I'd always had to drink before. I gradually became liquid-sot and quickly realized I didn't want to sip ginger ale or any other beverage to pacify my palate. Forcing my mouth to accept the final three glasses of this lemon liquid drink took all my effort and will power.

About an hour later I began those most dreaded rapid trips to the throne in the room of contemplation. I had learned from past years what soothing remedies to have at the ready and was prepared, but I did not need them this time. A half-a-mega-tissue-roll later I could relax for longer time periods in the living room. I began to gather the few items I'd need to take with me the following morning to the hospital's outpatient radiology department clinic.

The procedure itself, like those before, was painless, uneventful and quite routine. As usual, I had no memory of the actual procedure, nor did I experience (or have I ever had) any brief memory lapses of events afterward during the Doctor's consultation. Some individuals do experience this later recall loss, so everyone has to be accompanied by family or a friend who is also responsible for transporting them home.

Now that I'm on my own I wasn't about to impose on someone to drive me to the hospital for this very early morning appointment. I couldn't use my car as I knew I wouldn't be allowed to drive myself home. I was able to use a special very inexpensive car service provided by our city for anyone needing such transportation. I was displeased with the hospital's requirement that prevented me from using that same service, or a commercial cab service for the return trip home. (I had been able to use a cab after this same procedure several years ago.)

Not being permitted to use any sort of private car commercial transportation is primarily due to the hospital's liability concerns, though ostensibly for my own protection. Ultimately, I did have to impose on a colleague to drive me home, and, in fact, tell them herself she would do so, before they would prep me for the procedure. Additionally, she had to be present for the Doctor's discussion of my medical procedures results.

I couldn't help entertaining rebellious thoughts that maybe my privacy rights were violated by the requirement I had to have this person present for my verbal medical report. I had been given all the same information, pictures and more written out in a folder to bring home even before the doctor's appearance. I quelled my natural tendency to protest for individual rights by acquiescing to system rules that must apply to all and leave little room for special circumstances.

Let this be a testimony that undergoing a colonoscopy, especially the preparation, has become a much less unpleasant process in every aspect than that I experienced just a few years ago. Despite my attitude expressed above, I do agree having a trusted known person present after the procedure, who can also provide transportation home, is wise and a not unreasonable requirement.

I do know of one instance when my husband did experience a brief memory lapse following his procedure when later he told me he was unable to recall our short driving trip home together. Just because I've never had such a short memory lapse doesn't mean I might not the next time. Fortunately, that won't be for another five to seven years.

A colonoscopy is a recommended endoscopic colon examination which enables early detection of pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. This visual procedure is administered in a hospital outpatient setting by a physician specializing in Gastroenterology.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report:

"Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most common cancer in men and in women."

SUMMERISH SPRING DAY

Sunlight seeped through the curtains to awaken me this morning so I could commence another day. My arm reached across the bedside table with fingers extended to give a customary one tap on my radio. This activated voices from the all news station with sound intentionally set on low volume so as to not jolt my system. I continue to enjoy the occasional luxury in these semi-retirement years of lolling in bed a bit, half awake, gradually acclimating myself to the world.

Today the radio newscaster reported California's Democratic governor announced negotiations with the minority Republicans had collapsed. The Republicans continue to rigidly refuse to allow a needed four of their number to join Democrats voting in favor of an election voting initiative. The proposal would give the voting public the opportunity to select which one of several actions we would choose to address our state's extremely serious budget deficits. None of the choices are desired but some action must be taken. I wonder about the allegiances of those politicians who don't want to let the people decide by vote where we would accept needed budget cuts.

Then I heard startling news that Newport Beach's library was going all digital. They would retain their children's library and activities in addition to a few other services. Throughout the day I thought about the ramifications. I considered the implications if all information everywhere was available only digitally and required a power source for the access devices. What if ... all power systems ceased to function? Those individuals retaining memory bank knowledge they could share would be prized elders in every community. We would have come full circle with our early ancestors, but would just be on a different level from them. Tonight's news reported the story was incorrect with the true facts misunderstood. Meanwhile an interview with the library's representative discussing an alarmed Australian communique on the change revealed her amazement the library had been receiving these inquiries from all over the world.

By this time, I've arisen, engaged in the usual morning personal self-care activities. Then comes breakfast preparation, retrieving my daily newspapers that I still prefer reading to computer scanning. Meanwhile, another room's radio continues with news, weather and traffic reports. I ignore traffic information unless some significant event could impact my driving area -- a freeway chase, roads closed for repair or major accident. I've already learned weather conditions before I dress. Typically their effect on clothing attire is simply do I need a jacket or not, an umbrella or raincoat -- a far cry from all those midwest years ago preparations for ice and snow.

News reminds me again the Governor has stated our 3-year water drought is over. Our annual rainfall and mountain snowpack exceeds the norm expected. We are admonished to still use conservation measures though the critical necessity has passed for now.

By now I've left home and am driving into the retirement community I serve, I enjoy the landscape of flowering plants including shades of pink, red and lavender. Dark green shrubs tinged with light yellowish tips are striking as are the emerging green tree leaves and red maples. This day I have only one patient to see, which I follow with a phone call to the patient's spouse confirming I'm ending therapy.

Exiting the facility I notice sudden movement in the bushes ahead. Suddenly a red squirrel with a fluffy arched switching tail darts across the walkway. A pursuing squirrel companion emerges, then stops short, unsure if I pose a danger. I casually walk on by, confident this pair will soon resume their Spring courtship activities once I'm out of their sight.

My thoughts are pondering whether I have time to drive to another nearby retirement community where I usually leave my previously completed end-of-the-month reports. I drive through the intersection where I would have turned if I was going directly for my hair appointment, so conclude I've made the choice by default. Driving cross town in another small college community I notice the greening arch-like canopy provided on this tree-lined street, how the symmetrical tree shapes suggest they're been recently neatly trimmed.

During this trip the radio resumes the all news reports. The newswoman repeats the not unexpected news I first heard early this morning, Japan nuclear officials are expanding the distance they now tell residents to stay from the increasing number of plants with dangerous emissions -- 10 times above the accepted limits -- water affected, but not their drinking water, some farmland and vegetables, cow's milk contaminated. In the U.S. Spokane continues to evidence "trace" amounts of radiation in milk and now that's true in California, too, but not in an amount to be of concern -- reported 5 times below the accepted limit.

I remember a days earlier news report about the San Onofre nuclear plant that's 51 miles from my home. An ex-plant manager has filed a whistleblower suit against utility Southern California Edison Company for wrongful termination in response to his efforts to expose safety violations at that nuclear plant.

"As Reuters reports, the firing came after the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent a warning letter in March, 2010, to Southern California Edison, the principal owner of the San Onofre plant. It rebuked the utility for a workplace climate that, the agency said, had the “chilling effect” of preventing employees from raising safety concerns."

My thoughts refocused as I drove the heavily travelled Route 66 Foothill Boulevard eastward to my hairdressers. Small business offices, one used book store, banks, restaurants plus mini shopping centers with department stores lined both sides of the roadway. I remembered this was the Route that my husband and friends traveled west from Ohio to L.A. in the early fifties. This whole area had been citrus orchards and would have been filled with bloom-covered orange or lemon fruit trees.

My younger native Southern Californian hairdresser knows this area well. She sometimes entertains me with her memories of when people, cars and freeways were not so prevalent as now -- her then back road driving trips past now landmark sites, the beach and nearby snow-covered mountains with young friends fortunate to have a car.

Haircut finished, with more gray and white strands visible as my aging process continues, I drive home. The radio weatherwoman's morning predictions have been confirmed by my car's thermometer -- 91 degrees outside. Two days ago and earlier we were having daytime 60+ degree temperatures. Tomorrow will cool down with a return to 60+ degrees and rain by Sunday.

Preparing dinner, later viewing the PBS News Hour I listen to talk of Middle East uprisings with speculations repeating no one knows what the outcome will be. Problems in Africa when a leader refuses to relinquish his office to a popularly elected replacement. The day is coming to an end. Tomorrow I'll shop for grocery items I need in the house to prepare for an upcoming colonoscopy. The preparation experience always seems worse than the procedure.

I guess today passes for being relatively normal but certainly slower paced than so many years of my life. There continues to be so much to think about. I didn't even mention what's happening, or not happening, in D.C. where we still don't have a budget. More than a few other critical items are pending there. Perhaps tomorrow some issues will move closer to resolution, or not.

NATURE'S INTERFERENCE

Nature sets its own agenda, so we human beings best consider that fact in our planning.

Recently our news was excitedly describing we were having an astronomical Super Full Moon event. The moon would be closer to Earth so would appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than we customarily see. When I heard about this Super Moon, I thought, “Wonderful! I’ll take a picture for my blog.” No! Non! Nyet!

Nature had other plans as I discovered when I walked outdoors. Looking into the night sky I could see the atmosphere was filled with moisture-filled clouds. Confirming weather reports had said that beginning in the morning’s early hours conditions were set for the unloading of rain, sleet or snow, depending on the elevation level where one lived (which is exactly what happened.) But that night, scanning the sky, I suddenly noted Nature was deliberately teasing by giving me a glimpse of that circular deep yolk-like yellow super moon form, before quickly pulling her cloudy gray scarf across its surface to discreetly cover that exposed naked body. So, I didn’t shoot the planned photo. NASA tells me I won’t have an an opportunity to view such a brilliant Super Moon again until 2029. Perhaps Mother Nature was more accommodating for those living elsewhere and some reading this were treated to the Super Moon view.



Nature was misjudged in Japan, too, as the nuclear energy plants thought to be built to withstand most assaults proved not to be. The 9.0 earthquake was greater than had been anticipated triggering an unexpectedly large tsunami whose waters wrecked far greater havoc than had been considered possible – whole cities washed to sea, thousands of people killed and everything else in the water’s path destroyed. Thousands more Japanese citizens have become displaced and homeless. Tsunami destruction occurred elsewhere, including on Hawaii’s Kona side and in several western mainland California harbors including Crescent City, Santa Cruz and Redondo Beach, but only one life was lost here.

The tsunami took its toll on the Japanese nuclear energy plants ability to withstand the outside forces to which they were subjected. The consequences of mistakes from failure, based on inability to construct indestructible nuclear energy plants, are often terminal for viable life. Their safety systems to contain deadly radiation emissions can become compromised when Nature’s unpredictable actions exceed any limits thought capable by the best scientific minds. Mastering control of Japan’s nuclear plants functions continues to be an evolving proposition.

Known facts about radiation released in Japan are gradually emerging. Affected areas are being expanded. Various foods including tap and sea water, seafood, vegetables, milk have been affected with increasing amounts of radiation present. The radiation plume reached our U.S. West Coast Friday, March 18th with no radioactivity immediately registering. Saturday reports indicated slight “miniscule” radioactivity in Sacramento, CA. Subsequent days’ radiation figures have continued to record minimal amounts that do not jeopardize safety which is of special interest to those of us living in California. A few California individuals have established Independent web sites where they report radiation levels they’re monitoring. Their scientific techniques validity and reliability have not been established, but I’ve heard no reports that their results conflict with official data.

Official radiation reports from Japan and the United States have met with skepticism from some citizens of both countries about whether all facts are being completely revealed by officials in a timely manner. This concern may motivate some of the private individual radiation monitoring on our shores.

United States Environmental Protection Agency provides regular radiation up dates at their site linked here.

Another link is the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, A Cooperative Japan-U.S. Research Foundation. A link to this Foundation’s site for information relating to the accident at the Fukushima Dalichi nuclear power plant reports that the English “Answers to frequently asked questions page is now under construction.”

This Japanese disaster has prompted increased private and professional conversation re-examining the safety of our U.S. nuclear plants – their construction, ability to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis, for those of us living along the Pacific Coast. I was prompted to check the miles between my good friends’ residence and my own with the coastal San Onofre Nuclear Energy Plant located between Los Angeles and San Diego. I’m 50+ miles distant, but my friends are only 18+ miles away from the plant. They report periodically receiving official information about the plant since its initial construction. In fact, the husband had an opportunity to tour there years ago and afterward reported confidence in its safety. I think we all welcome a reexamination of all the factors associated with nuclear plants in our midst to determine if changes are warranted.

Considering the nature factor, I think history shows that nature is unpredictable, given the limitations of human knowledge and despite the efforts of our best scientific minds. Nature clearly has the capability of interfering with our lives, and has, taking a terrible toll on life in this instance. This isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last for disasters when we consider all the potentially catastrophic weather conditions we experience. We may be inclined to think Nature is interfering with our lives when many catastrophic events are unleashed. Maybe we humans are interfering with Nature.

DISASTERS PERSONAL DISTRESS

(Later -- The earthquake was upgraded to 9.0.)

The recent earthquake in Japan dwarfs all the worlds other unsettling events. This catastrophes devastating human element is beyond comprehension. We cannot know the anguish of concern for the welfare of loved ones unless we’ve ever been in a similar situation of comparable uncertainty. The inability to establish contact with those we care for, or be able to provide them any needed assistance, must be an almost unbearable situation.

These circumstances are being felt most acutely by so many individuals in the United States, around the world and certainly specifically in Japan. A blogger, Bob Brady, whose writing I greatly admire, has been coping with just such unknowns. He lives in Japan, writes at "Pure Land Mountain," and is sharing his family experience. He has finally had phone contact with some of his family who live in an earthquake affected area. I can only imagine the relief he and his wife must have felt upon finally hearing their daughter’s voice. The account of his son-in-law’s hours long trek home on foot in the midst of this disaster is a heroic story. The family is still faced with much uncertainty. Bob says he will write on his blog as he is able.

These events have certainly given me pause to attend to earthquake information as also usually occurs any time after we experience these tremblors in So. Cal. Japan’s five minutes of shaking seems interminable compared with the seconds to little more than a minute’s duration of any shaking I’ve experienced. I hope quake experts’ reports are accurate that due to the smaller fault size, our San Andreas Fault could never register an 8.9 quake as in Japan. Our long predicted “Big One” has the potential for destruction enough in our populated areas.

The same experts say Northern California, Oregon and Washington are much more susceptible to a strong quake. I certainly don’t wish such a tremblor on those areas, or any others, now or in the future.

U.S. Earthquakes are often most associated with California, but the reality is they occur in various areas across our country. See USGS map.

Earthquake preparedness will be of interest to those who live in or might be affected by a nearby tremor.

2011 GRAMMY MUSIC NOTES

BEST NEW ARTIST - 2011

ESPERANZA SPALDING
Vocalist, Musician, Composer

The recent 53rd Grammy Awards 2011 televised program moved at a refreshingly rapid pace for such shows. Almost constant musically entertaining action with tight time limits on everything in between performances accounted for this feat. The production also contained more disconcerting blipped content than I’ve ever heard on any one program. Eventually, I became distracted, then irritated, as I began to wish either all those censored words would be aired, or the entertainers would use some that could be aired. I won’t go into word censorship pros and cons now.

The show proceeded with the introduction of music world celebrities, who then received momentary audience adulation, before announcing the nominees, followed by each nominated individuals or groups performance. Declared award winners were strictly limited to very brief acceptance speeches allowing this lengthy 3 ½ hour program to proceed so rapidly. Maybe some of this time limiting would be welcomed for other televised awards shows of shorter duration.

Much of the music performed accurately reflected that aspect of the past decades pop tastes for mostly aggressive sounding music. The constant nature of the various songs’ lyrics consisted of stories often focused on only life’s harsh realities, though some were occasionally poetic. Personally, I could enjoy the musical choices offering a little more romanticism, idealism and fantasy.

Also, I certainly recognize the significance of physical sex to humankind, but the performers seemed to have a pressing need to overtly sexualize their words and body choreography. Perhaps their music is a reflection of thoughts most on the mind of the Grammys predominately youth-skewed artists. I also heard mostly loud belting singers voicing similar to each other yodel-like pitch changes with an over emphasis on wavering vibrato. Music instrumentation uniformly was characterized by the incessant heaviness of over-powering drum beating which continues to be so prevalent in much current music.

The highly touted appearance of Mick Jagger was characterized by his energy exhibited while shouting-singing with his striding parade back and forth across the stage. He effectively meshed the loud heavy musical bass beats with the song’s lyrics he sang that seemed to consist of little more than the same phrase persistently repeated. Some reviewers have snidely commented on his age, as they did about Barbra Streisand’s, but that has nothing to do with my comments about the actual music. I do have little regard for those critics or reviewers in the music, or any other industry, whose jibing comments are demeaning based on an individual’s age.

Every decade I’ve enjoyed a varying number of song choices from most every genre, including pop music. Recent decades I've heard fewer pop tune selections that appeal to me, but I’m always interested in listening to the offerings.

The Record of the Year, “Need You Now,” by Lady Antebellum also won Best Country Album and Song of the Year as I had guessed it might. Interesting to me, was that the initial lyrics seemed like a variation with a different rhythm of an old pop romantic ballad written by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen often associated with vocalists Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, “One For My Baby,”:

--- “It’s quarter to three and there’s no one in the place…”

Lady Antebellum’s initial “Need You Now” words, before some more original lyrics followed:

--- “It’s a quarter after one and I’m all alone...”


“The Suburbs” by Arcade Fire won Album of the Year, another choice I had, surprisingly to me, correctly selected.

Excepting the songs mentioned here, there was a sameness to most all the Grammy Awards music – loud and louder, fast and faster, with high and higher tension building toward increasingly extravagant special effects, pyrotechnics and often all sorts of grandiose dance gymnastics. Just doesn’t seem enough to have vocal talent and music skills without all the other ‘couterments ala Lady Gaga’s egg. I’ve often wondered if such distractions serve to mask vocal quality weaknesses and/or music skills, but listeners would have to arrive at their own individual perceptions and preferences on that topic.

I simply didn’t experience the Grammy program as having an overall musical variety, much less including many songs that created feelings of warmth, calmness and reflection until Barbra Streisand sang a rendition of her original composition, “Evergreen.” I welcomed hearing a tender romantic poetically uplifting melody backed by an orchestra with integrated unobtrusive drumming beats.

Introduced with Kris Kristofferson, Ms Streisand was briefly honored as MusiCares Person of the Year, sang "Evergreen, then quickly moved off stage. Her appearance seemed almost like a last minute injected footnote.

MusiCares is a non-profit organization offering assistance to musicians in crisis and seemed deserving of a minute or two more attention from those present. I wondered if the audience, with the optimism of youth, failed to recognize MusiCares significance, much less that some of the entertainers among them would likely eventually need to receive the organizations help.

Here’s Barbra Streisand singing “Evergreen” Live in Concert – 2000:



The Grammy Show's highlight for me wasBest New Artist -- Esperanza Spalding. Her selection was surprising to many of the music world pundits. I was delighted with her well-deserved recognition as I recalled being so impressed upon first hearing her music a year or more ago. I couldn’t describe better than this quote from her myspace web site that refers to her as a “jazz fushion artist.”

“If “esperanza” is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.”

(A video of her performance on David Letterman’s Show, and also a free download is available there.)

“Musician and rising star Esperanza Spalding performs ‘Tell Him’ on the double bass at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word on May 12, 2009. “



I confess to musical bias for the upright bass since this was my husband’s instrument as I’ve noted here earlier, including in this most recent February piece. An upright bass is an uncommon instrument for women musicians, but attractive Ms Spalding is exceptionally talented playing and singing -- well deserving of her 2011 Grammy Award as Best New Artist.

MIDDLE EAST AND U.S. PROTESTS

Increasing numbers of Middle Eastern people are gathering in peaceful protests. Citizens in countries undergoing profound upheaval are literally dying for freedom since their despot, tyrannical leaders are resisting leaving. Unknown is what sort of replacement governments will emerge in these countries.

Fearsome to me is the thought they might end up with a government that is controlled by a religious group, as occurred with Iran’s revolution some years ago. A pairing of religion with a military force willing to shed their own people’s blood for such an autocratic theocracy is just as dangerous and oppressive as any dictatorial agnostic or atheistic leader.

Strong religious factions are evidenced in each of those countries that are in turmoil, as they are in the nations we’re attempting to liberate with our ongoing Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The danger there is that once our army leaves those countries that a religious civil war between opposing factions could occur.

No nation, including our own, is free of the danger from religious groups, often a minority in number, who are dedicated to imposing their personal beliefs on a whole population. If choice exists, it’s only with options they define. Make no mistake this is not freedom.

Current protesters marching in the U.S. are motivated by quite different reasons than those Middle Easterners. No blood is being shed here. They are protesting political government efforts to take rights from them – the right to collectively bargain with their public employer for recompense and working conditions. I recently heard an intelligent discussion on these issues.

One interesting point made was that typically in communities where the public sector groups with bargaining rights exist, their earnings coupled with benefits, are higher than those enjoyed by comparable private sector workers. This is being cited by the opposition as one reason for taking away these rights during these times when serious budgetary deficits are being experienced by all levels of government – local, state, and nationally.

But significantly, salaries and benefits become lower for all workers, public and private, where there is no collective bargaining.

One might wonder if employer profits are accordingly lower, also? If not, might we find that disparity unjust? Might we not wonder if the widening gap between the haves and have-nots would expand even more? Might we not see a further eroding of the middle class in our nation as we move toward becoming more like a third world country?

All U.S. workers would be well-advised to consider that if collective bargaining rights cease, not only public, but private sector wage-earners are likely to share the effects in ways they might not want, or have anticipated.

In connection with the protesters Dick Klade, former newspaper editor, who writes at "gabbygeezer" reports an interesting story (Mon. 2/21/11 post.) He briefly notes both sides of the bargaining argument, then describes the unique national and world wide support that protesters in Madison, Wisconsin are receiving. As the effort to end collective bargaining rights spreads to other states some people may want to adopt the support-from-a-distance measures being taken there by those protesting marchers who want to protect their bargaining rights.

These are momentous times in which we live.