Saturday, September 20, 2003
WHILE REGIS BURNED
It was my hope, during that time when Regis Philbin seemed to have the TV audiences of the nation pretty much under his control with the program now, short-titled as “Millionaire,” that we were on the edge of a positive result bringing us improved TV programming.
ABC-TV, I was pleased to see, appointed Susan Lyne as “Entertainment President.” The title itself impressed me .... not “Vice President in Charge of Entertainment but “Entertainment President”. The very classification seemed to grant to Susan Lyne , the young lady from within the firm who was named to the position, a somewhat higher level in the pecking order at Board meetings.
Susan Lyne set forth some interesting idea, too. She wanted to make her network a “talent magnet”. She plainly said “we have a lot of work to do” and said “it was a time when no broadcaster can do the expected. We need to occasionally surprise people, to make noise.”
In the weeks when Regis was running hot and breaking his own records for viewers, it was refreshing to find someone concerned about the future. You will recall how the TV world went wild with imitations,. We watched a score or more of imitations of the “hit” show. Regis Philbin, has what is known as “street smarts” which told him when it was time to leave, and when Millionaire fell into two traps - one over scheduling of the show and, then, a reliance on celebrity participants which is so often a sign of weakness.
What followed the remarkable Regis revival ?
“Millionaire” itself was an import. It was the Yankee version of a British TV show, TV moguls seem to think something used was more profitable than anything new. We have been engulfed in a parade of so-called “reality”shows and a mixture of “Talent(?) Shows” of the most pathetic types. That era has run it's downward course and we now come to the “new” Fall shows.
We are just beginning to see new fall offerings. There are around thirty of them , and I have seen two thus far which have have not been encouraging at all.
We should be watching the ABC-TV entries, in particular, because if they out-rate or out-last the others, Susan Lyne's work will be vindicated. She envisioned a place where “creative talent will be given freedom to do their best work “. She realized she faced a situation on which the prevailing way was to “attract talent was by offering more money.”
The success of ABC-TV shows this fall will let us know if Susan Lyne's innovative work has had the desired affect.
.A.L.M. September 19, 2003 [c471wds]
Friday, September 19, 2003
FOR THE BIRD
Today, I am told, you can stand in front of the steps leading up to the impressive Pyramid of Kukulkan at Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan area of Mexico and, when you clap your hands deliberately, a strange echo comes back to you which duplicates the sound of the Mayan sacred bird – the Quetzal.
I wonder. Does this happen by chance or was it “built in “ ... on purpose? I have heard a tape of the actual; bird call and I have listened to another tape of hand claps in front of the ancient temple an it would be difficult for me to tell one from the other. had they not been taped for me.
This unusual bit of acoustical archeology has only recently been discovered and it points up studies of the actual, physical measurements of the pyramid and others like it. An oddity concerning those measurements, too. The risers on the steps are uncomfortably high - far too high for the descendants of the people who built them to climb. Today's natives are short of stature. They cannot walk up the forbiddingly high steps to higher levels. It becomes a task; a real climb.
More details. The two restored side of the pyramid have ninety-two such levels of and because of the thickness of each of those layers of stone, one gets and echo called a” “picket fence” ..intermittent sounds that last about one-tenth of a second. The actual sound of the call of the Quetzal bird is about twice as long - about one-fifth of a second. Studies done of the two un-restored wall surfaces are much weaker. The original, smooth plaster finish is missing on the two side and the are rough and irregular. The site was mysteriously abandoned around 1200 A.D. and historians have yet to come up with a good reason for the sudden departure of the faithful
About that sound: the starting frequency is about 1,310 Hertz and the minimum end frequency is 922 Hz. Sonograms show “a striking resemblance in sound quality, frequency, length and harmonic structure” to the bird call scientists tell us. They agree it seems to be more than mere coincidence as if some one planned it that way. The pyramid's Mayan name was “Temple of Kukkulkan.” The prefix “kuk” has roots in the Mayan name for “Quetzal” which was viewed by the ancient devotee as “the messenger of the Gods.” It may be may the sound is what the old Mayans called “La cola del Quetzal” or, “the “Quetzal's tail”. They used the feathers of the bird for ceremonial purposes; why not make use of the bird's call as well ?
There must be other sounds of history all around us. We should listen for them, I suppose.
The next time you happen to be in the Chichen Itza area, I'd appreciate it if you'd check this one out for me.
A.L.M. September 18, 2003. [c502wds]
Thursday, September 18, 2003
CROSS SECTION
If you had a welcomed guest from another planet and you wished to show him, she or it an accurate cross-section of the American people, what one place would you visit to get your best look at the real American?
We seem to be in a phase of our existence right now in which we are evaluating ourselves in many ways, especially in relation to potential peaceful existence with other nations. If you had to select one place, over all others, where you could get the best and most complete view of what the American people really are today, where would you turn? What one location in these State United would illustrate the complexities of our social system and show the best cross-sectional sample of what constitutes the citizenry of this Land of ours?
Right. You would turn to a place where a great many people gathered. Certainly, sports events get more people together in one place at the same time than any other event. Choose that site and you have a goodly number of sports fans and fanatics and the same limitation would apply if you selected your nearest Big League Baseball diamond with all stands loaded.
You might think, then that one of the marches on the nation's capital might - with their “millions”of participants, but r that is only a partial count of a group of protester, petitioner, or special problem people. The high count does not assure us of seeing a full version of the American people.
Unfortunately, you would not go to your your favorite place of worship to find the most complete group representing all elements of American life. Think of every place you go in your busy life and choose one which you would nominate as being the place you can see the best overall representation of Americans.
I made my choice a few year or so, and I have yet to find another site which equals it in getting more types of typical Americans together in one location. That's true even of close competitors in the same occupational field. If you - and your inquisitive guest – spend a hour so there watching - you will see the rich, the poor and the in-between earners, you will see men and women' girls and boys, you will see well-dress individuals, slovenly attired geeks, nerds and - even some left-over beatniks from previous decades. You will meet teachers, students - the list is virtually endless!
One place seems best of all if you wish to see the most complete cross-section of Americans.
Visit any Wal-Mart parking lot.
A.L.M. September 17, 2003 [c425wds]
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
BOONDOGGLE RERUN (*) OWEL
In June of 1999 I wrote a piece for this page titled “Boondoggle”.
I used that title to decry the fact that I received through the United States mails each month a publication intended for farmers receiving subsidy payments. I am not, and have never been eligible, for such government assistance and the monthly newsletter listing start and cut-off dates for such programs which were not of much concern for me. I have received this newsletter for many years and, now in 2003 I find I still get it. It also provides me with the names of twelve paid persons who make it possible for me to have news of activities of their governmental office each month.
I have received and replied to an occasional form from time to time, which asked me if I wished to continue receiving the publication. I have ticked the “No” box but no one every read them, it appears.
A “ boondoggle, I find, is described as being “an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity”, so it is logical that I should find some in governmental areas.
Specifically, the use of the term “boondoggle” can be blamed on one man. His name was Robert H. Link and he was active as a Scoutmaster for many years before his death in 1957. I mention the date pf his passing to show that the term is fairly new and not one used when the founding fathers were finding fault with the King's men. The word grew from Scouting, in fact.
Two “other” meanings of “boondoggle” are: (1) A braided leather cord worn as a decoration especially by Boy Scouts. (2) A cord of braided leather, fabric, or plastic strips made by a child as a project to keep busy.”
Remember ...as a noun: “an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity”. As a Verb: “to waste time or money on boondoggling.”
If, for some weird reason you'd rather not talk about at this time, to further your own investigation of this strange word - “boondoggle”, I think “government” might still be a good place to start.
(*OWEL... this being one of a random series dealing with “Our Wonderful English Language” - ever growing)
A.L.M. September 15, 2003 (c398wds)
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
TROUBLE FREE
Our own United States, in its younger years, was not without problems aplenty. Actual rebellion was not all that common but it did appear at several sore spots, with some odd circumstances.
Such a case was the rebellion which occurred in western Massachusetts. Known , then when in started in 1786 - just three years from the birth date of the new nation and it lasted well into the new year of 1787.
The farmers of the western area of the state were not alone in suffering from a severe economic depression. They could not pay their debts and, in keeping with laws of the time, they soon found themselves in court and then, in many cases, in jail. The farmers were not alone in feeling the economic pressures which explains what historians who have bothered to write about it, called it – not the Farmer's Revolt - but an “uprising of the mercantile elite of Eastern Massachusetts, especially Boston, who demanded hard currency to pay to their foreign creditors. It was the farmers in the western areas who took action, but the merchant class was in marked sympathy with their revolt.
Captain Daniel Shays (1747-1825) was a veteran soldier of the American Revolution. He was a farmer from Pelham, Massachusetts, He found himself leading around 1500 followers. They wore their old Continental Uniforms, for the most part, and had a spring of hemlock in their distinctive mark.
The rebellion started with a series of petitions to the government for paper currency,lower taxes and judicial reforms. .When these failed to have any affect, the farmers took more stringent action. The first target was to takeover the site of the Court of Common Pleas at Northhampton on August 29th. Other groups stormed the courts at Worcester, Taunt on, Great Barrington and Concord. Their plan was to disrupt further trials and imprisonment for debtors.
In September - from the 25th through the 28th - Shays' impromptu army occupied the Courthouse at Springfield which prevented the Supreme Judicial Court from convening.. Governor James Bowdoin assembled 4,400 militiamen under the commend of General Benjamin Lincoln to defend the courts and to protect the Commonwealth The rebels then decided to take over the Federal Arsenal at Worcester. General William Shepherd , however, successfully defended the Arsenal with some 1200 local militiamen, which, had it been successful which, might have given Shays' army supplies for extended engagements. That was on January 25, 1787.
Two weeks later General Lincoln arrived in the Springfield area and quickly scattered Shays army into various neighboring towns. The insurgents were taken completely by surprise on the morning of February 3, 1787. The actual decisive attack took place at Petersham, Mass. General Lincoln had marched his troops through a heavy snowstorm the previous night in order to surprise the insurgents.
Most members of Shays' army army took advantage of a General Amnesty which was offered. The Supreme Judicial Court, meeting once more, sentenced fourteen of the rebellion's leaders - including Daniel Shays to death for treason. They were later pardoned by Governor John Hancock, Just two men, John Bly and Charles Rose of Berkshire County, were hanged for their part in the rebellion. Just why they were singled out and Daniel Shays went back this farming, is not made clear. The Massachusetts Legislature started to consider reform legislation seriously and the Federal government, in convention assembled at Philadelphia, struggled to create a constitution to deal with such situations in the future.
An interesting sidelight - one which might prove to be of special interest today - is found in Thomas Jefferson's comment on the Rebellion. The word appeared in a letter James Madison. It is important for us to notice, however, that Jefferson wrote the letter to Madison from Paris, France, January 3th, 1787 - before the end of Shays' Rebellion. His words: “a little rebellion now and then is a good thing. -” and “a medicine necessary for sound health in government.”
We should, I feel, pay strict attention to the time elements involved when we make use of those Jeffersonian quotes.
A..L.M. September 25, 2003 [c767wds]
Monday, September 15, 2003
CHICKENS, HERE AND THERE
It may well be that you have not been in and around the nation's poultry houses recently, but the publicity prone poultry problem protesters are present once more. They are attempting to build a strong anti-chicken eaters group among us and to boycott all chicken-serving restaurants.
Their allegations, once again are that we are grossly unfair and unnecessarily cruel in the manner in which we raise and execute our birds. They are gathered again in the name of “animal “ rights.
They dislike the manner in which thousands of American chicken producers continue to place generous supplies of finely ground grains and nutritionally balanced food before their housed birds from chick hood - medications,as well, if needed and supplemented to meet ever known chicken need! Fresh water is supplied in a steady, constant flow of droplets of water from pipes installed just over the feeder and readily available to all. There is not crowding and pushing around basins or troughs to compete for walked-though , filth-filmed water. We deceive our birds, they point out, by burning lights in the houses in the evening and again during the wee-hours of the night to make them think it is daylight and time to eat some more of that fine grain. That's unfair, it seems.
Among other cruel things we do - there are protesters who point out that the chickens we eat never get to ”touch ground”, never get to fly though the air, and never get to eat green grass blades, scratch for dried weeds seed and small pebbles, or delve among cow-droppings for choice leftover tidbits - and to, then, wash it all down with a swig of brackish, green water from the nearest puddle.
By contrast, our system is quite acceptable when compared with the modern process of raising birds in France, for instance. If they have to protest, they might do well to go there to see what cruelty can be. American poultry raisers cringe when they read about common French methods.
The French love their “pate foie gras” and many French and a few English producers, customarily force feed their birds during the final weeks of growth to as a more than twice the size of the valuable liver. Almost all French production is geared for each bird to have its mouth pried open, a tube is inserted down its throat and quantities of “maize” are pumped into its stomach, averaging as much as six pounds per day until time of slaughter. “World Farming”, an an animal welfare campaign group in Europe, estimates that the amount of feeds thus force fed daily as being the equivalent of a human being force-fed about twenty-eight pounds of cooked spaghetti per day. And, the procedure is growing. The increasing demands for ”pate foie gras” mean at least twenty-five million ducks and geese are to be force fed each year in France – double what the rate was just ten years ago.
It all makes our chicken-rising routines seem like kindergarten play, doesn't it?
A.L.M. September 14, 2003 [c530wds]
Sunday, September 14, 2003
DOUBLE FEATURE
Just why I would remember having read two kindred books at about the same time – February 1999, at this particular time when we have are marking the 2nd Anniversary of the downing of the Trade Towers in New York City, puzzles me.
I can't explain why that should come to mind unless it could be that I have been thinking how we, as a people, have shared in such a large fund of miseries over many years and survived to become and even better than we wee before in some strange way.
Life itself is largely a series of disquieting incidents. So often we are living soap opera. The difference being, of course, that a series of dire events is compressed into a time limit of just a few days or weeks on the popular radio-TV format. It real life it takes years and the stress and trying circumstances seem less ominous even as we live through each of them.
BOUND FOR GLORY – of and about Woody Guthie and ANGELA'S ASHES, by Frank McCourt. Those two book of which I write, are so very much alike, and, at the same time so different from each other,
I was reading the Guthie book when friend Nora Howell offered me a copy of the then “best seller” McCourt hit. I kept Woody as my “upstairs” book and Angela was my “downstairs” book for that week. The writers were both men who grew up during the years of the Great Depression, through the Roosevelt era and into early phase phases of World War II. That was, essentially, my own time , so we were had been hardened against pretty much the same things and I found ready comparisons and contrasts along the way. We each saw them in a difference light, of course.
The one lived in Oklahoma and Texas and the other In Ireland for the most part - having been born in Brooklyn and migrated back to Ireland when things got tough here. Both had miserable home living conditions.
Each writer undertook the task of telling of his childhood years and passage into manhood. Both made an attempt to be completely honest and both succeed in a way, yet I sense things were being held back from time to time - the better things, too, I fear, largely because both books depend on this situation of abysmal poverty which is to be kept in the forefront at all times.
I have many memories of doing without things during the Depression years but, compared to either of these boys, we had it very nice all the way, it seems. I can understand the poverty depicted but that people would actuality choose to live in filth and squalor is beyond my comprehension. For dramatic purposes they choose to dwell on the bad things and let the good things ride, I fear.
Guthie impressed me with his sense of what is dramatic and how to key it to a climax. McCourt will probably become best known for writing a lengthy book without using a single set of quotation marks. This freak quality hurts his story, at times and confuses honest readers.
It is good to read the two books concurrently to realize the differences between Ireland and Oklahoma, and how the people lived in relation to those different circumstances.
By comparing the troubles met by the people in these two books of my own era, I have had a life '- thus far, at least, which can only be termed as being “a piece of cake”.
A.L.M. September 13, 2003 [c656wds]
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