Whether played by a marching band, an orchestra, or a rock group, there are patriotic tunes that everyone in America finds familiar, exciting and uplifting. But how much do you know about how these songs were created? And what do you know about the people who wrote them?
There are some surprising facts behind all of this glorious music.
So, fire up the barbecue grill, look up at the fireworks, and strike up the band as we reveal the secrets behind the most influential nationalistic musical moments of all time.
"Star Spangled Banner," Francis Scott Key, 1814.
Schoolchildren in America all learn how Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and so admired the courage of the beleaguered American forces that he wrote four stanzas of "The Star Spangled Banner" (only the first is usually performed). Key based the melody on an English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven." The song has only been the national anthem since 1931, and there was a strong movement to replace it with one of the other songs on this list.
"America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)," Samuel F. Smith, 1832.
The music was composed in the 1700s, sometimes attributed to Henry Cary. First popular in Great Britain as "God Save the King (Queen)," the song became bi-continental in 1832. Modern audiences have been greatly moved by the R&B version by Ray Charles, a truly wonderful blending of emotion with what musicians call "the groove."
"Rally 'Round the Flag," George F. Root, 1862.
Written for the Union army and its supporters during the Civil War, the song was hugely popular in the North. This didn't prevent Confederate troops from writing their own lyrics and singing the song throughout the South.
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home," Louis Lambert, c. 1863.
Lambert was a pseudonym for Union Army Bandmaster Patrick S. Gilmore. His lyrics, set to an old Irish folk song, were popular through the whole Reconstruction Era (1865-1896). It appears in an extended instrumental version on the soundtrack of Stanley Kubrick's film "Dr. Strangelove."
"Battle Hymn of the Republic," Julia W. Howe, 1861.
Howe is another lyricist who succeeded by utilizing a pre-existing piece of music, in this case a camp meeting tune of the 19th century (which also became "John Brown's Body"). The profound power of the words combined with the compelling melody cannot be denied, and it was sung at the funerals of Winston Churchill, Robert Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan.
"Overture: 1812," Petr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 1880.
Patriotic music doesn't always revolve around the July 4th celebration, or even refer to the USA. Tchaikovsky got Russian hearts a-pounding with his "1812 Overture in E Flat Major Op. 49," written to celebrate the 70th anniversary of his country's victory battle during the Napoleonic Wars.
"Semper Fidelis," John Philip Sousa, 1889.
Popular ever since it was first performed, the effective and spirited tune takes its name from the U.S. Marine Corps motto meaning "always faithful" and is dedicated to the Marines.
"America the Beautiful," Katharine Lee Bates, 1895, 1904, 1913.
Originally a poem that Bates twice revised after its first publication in 1885, "America the Beautiful" was sung to several different melodies. The song associated with it today is "Materna," composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882, but it was also often performed to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne."
"Stars and Stripes Forever," John Philip Sousa, 1896.
Composed on Christmas Day, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" has become the country's official march (US Code, Title 36 Chapter 10). Sousa wrote lyrics to the song, but they are little known today (sample: "Let martial note in triumph float / And liberty extend its mighty hand / A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers, / The banner of the Western land.)"
"Yankee Doodle Boy," George M. Cohan, 1904.
"You're A Grand Old Flag," George M. Cohan, 1906.
"Over There," George M. Cohan, 1917.
Known as "the man who owned Broadway," Cohan was a superstar before the term was coined. While his film biography is called "Yankee Doodle Dandy," the title of his first big tribute to America is actually "The Yankee Doodle Boy." Cohan excited U.S. audiences again in 1906 with "You're a Grand Old Flag," although the original line was "You're a Grand Old Rag." It was America's entrance into World War I in 1917 that inspired Cohan to write "Over There," for which he received a congressional medal.
"God Bless America," Irving Berlin, 1938.
The prolific Berlin (900+ songs despite being unable to read music) originally wrote this song right after the first World War, but did not complete it until just before World War II. Kate Smith first performed it during her radio show on Armistice Day, 1938. An immediate sensation, the song was often suggested to replace the "Star Spangled Banner" as the national anthem.
"Star Spangled Banner," Jimi Hendrix, 1969.
The legendary guitarist took the stage near dawn on the final day of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The 13th song in his hour-long set was an incendiary rendition of the venerable tune. In a performance that was somehow savage and grand at the same time, Hendrix wrestled new levels of emotion from the song and generations have never heard it quite the same way again.
"Apocalypse Now," Francis Ford Coppola, 1979.
The music in question is "Ride of the Valkyries," from Richard Wagner's opera, "Die Walkure" (1854-56). The composition fit perfectly into director Coppola's nightmarish vision of the Vietnam War. The sequence, featuring a helicopter attack at dawn, never fails to raise the emotions of viewers.
Jumat, 13 Oktober 2017
Jumat, 06 Oktober 2017
Celtic Music: The Japanese Connection
My friend, guitarist Brian Hughes, toured with the Chieftain's in Japan as an opening act with Loreena McKennitt. He then went on to perform with the Chieftains in North America and Europe when they were promoting their album Santiago. In Japan they played about ten shows between Tokyo and Osaka, mainly at soft seat classical concert halls. The seating ranged from 1500 to 4000 capacity. They were booked through the agent Plankton who specializes in Celtic music. Although the audiences were enthusiastic Brian felt that Celtic music was still a niche market in Japan.
Celtic Music and Traditional Japanese Music: A Comparison
If you listen to many of the traditional Japanese folk melodies they have a bittersweet quality that is similar to traditional Celtic music. The Japanese minor pentatonic scale is different from the western one but some phrases especially when they go into the major could easily be bits of Irish or Scottish folk songs. If you look at the traditional transverse folk flute the shinobue, it is really not that different from the fife, or Irish flute in terms of fingering. The technique of sliding and taping with the whistle or the shinobue are also similar.
Where to Find Celtic Music in Japan
The major labels in Japan all have Celtic music under license and CDs are available as imports. A reputable distributor of Irish music in Japan is a company called Music Plant. I think they probably are affiliated with Plankton. JVC (Japan Victor Corporation) directly signed the group ANAM. They have recorded two albums for JVC and have toured Japan three times. A talented young musician from England, Tim Edey who played button accordion on my latest album Celtic Heartland just joined the group recently. There was a company in Tokyo called Trinity who was specializing in importing traditional Celtic CDs but I am not sure they are still in operation. Brian Cullen an Irishman from Wicklow now living in Nagoya has his own label for marketing his own material called Celtic Otter music and he has published collections of ballads.
There is a Celtic festival held annually in Tokyo at Ryutsu Center. They have music and dance performances, fashion shows, arts and crafts exhibitions and seminars and workshops.
There is an organization called CCE Japan that provides lessons for most Irish instruments as well as Set Dance and Gaelic. CCE Japan is the Japanese branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, an association for promoting
Japanese Musicians Specializing in Irish Instruments
There are some quite accomplished Japanese Celtic musicians. Isao Moriyasu, who began as a classical recorder player, now specializes in Irish flutes. He lectures at Kunitachi Music College and has written a book on Irish music. He often performs with his wife Masako who plays Celtic harp, concertina and bodhran. Mayumi Nagaura who is a member of The Rising Pints, also has her own group called BIRD. She is a really good accordion, tin whistle and bodhran player. She has encouraged many other Japanese to learn Irish instruments.
Western Celtic Musicians in Japan
There are a few musicians who have formed groups with foreign and Japanese members. Examples include the Rising Pints and the now defunct Eye Wish as well as a group in Sendai called Callanish.
The Pub Circuit in Japan
There are many Irish pubs in Japan such as Dubliners, O'Carolan's, The Pint, The Warrior Celt, Shamrock that regularly have music. Irish pubs all have regular sessions as well. Because rent is at a premium particularly in the major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto the venues are smaller than you would expect in America or Europe. Like many jazz clubs in this country the capacity ranges from as little as 50 to 200 comfortably. Brian Cullen reports that the Osaka Dubliners claims to have had 600 customers on a St. Patrick's day a few years ago. I would say that must be the maximum and that is after a few pints. Westerners are usually surprised by the amount of the cover charges. Generally to see a band a 3000 yen cover charge is pretty typical. CD prices are still about 2500 yen as well.
While Celtic artists are not household names like major rock stars, the interest in Celtic music is likely to continue to grow in Japan for some time to come.
Celtic Music and Traditional Japanese Music: A Comparison
If you listen to many of the traditional Japanese folk melodies they have a bittersweet quality that is similar to traditional Celtic music. The Japanese minor pentatonic scale is different from the western one but some phrases especially when they go into the major could easily be bits of Irish or Scottish folk songs. If you look at the traditional transverse folk flute the shinobue, it is really not that different from the fife, or Irish flute in terms of fingering. The technique of sliding and taping with the whistle or the shinobue are also similar.
Where to Find Celtic Music in Japan
The major labels in Japan all have Celtic music under license and CDs are available as imports. A reputable distributor of Irish music in Japan is a company called Music Plant. I think they probably are affiliated with Plankton. JVC (Japan Victor Corporation) directly signed the group ANAM. They have recorded two albums for JVC and have toured Japan three times. A talented young musician from England, Tim Edey who played button accordion on my latest album Celtic Heartland just joined the group recently. There was a company in Tokyo called Trinity who was specializing in importing traditional Celtic CDs but I am not sure they are still in operation. Brian Cullen an Irishman from Wicklow now living in Nagoya has his own label for marketing his own material called Celtic Otter music and he has published collections of ballads.
There is a Celtic festival held annually in Tokyo at Ryutsu Center. They have music and dance performances, fashion shows, arts and crafts exhibitions and seminars and workshops.
There is an organization called CCE Japan that provides lessons for most Irish instruments as well as Set Dance and Gaelic. CCE Japan is the Japanese branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, an association for promoting
Japanese Musicians Specializing in Irish Instruments
There are some quite accomplished Japanese Celtic musicians. Isao Moriyasu, who began as a classical recorder player, now specializes in Irish flutes. He lectures at Kunitachi Music College and has written a book on Irish music. He often performs with his wife Masako who plays Celtic harp, concertina and bodhran. Mayumi Nagaura who is a member of The Rising Pints, also has her own group called BIRD. She is a really good accordion, tin whistle and bodhran player. She has encouraged many other Japanese to learn Irish instruments.
Western Celtic Musicians in Japan
There are a few musicians who have formed groups with foreign and Japanese members. Examples include the Rising Pints and the now defunct Eye Wish as well as a group in Sendai called Callanish.
The Pub Circuit in Japan
There are many Irish pubs in Japan such as Dubliners, O'Carolan's, The Pint, The Warrior Celt, Shamrock that regularly have music. Irish pubs all have regular sessions as well. Because rent is at a premium particularly in the major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto the venues are smaller than you would expect in America or Europe. Like many jazz clubs in this country the capacity ranges from as little as 50 to 200 comfortably. Brian Cullen reports that the Osaka Dubliners claims to have had 600 customers on a St. Patrick's day a few years ago. I would say that must be the maximum and that is after a few pints. Westerners are usually surprised by the amount of the cover charges. Generally to see a band a 3000 yen cover charge is pretty typical. CD prices are still about 2500 yen as well.
While Celtic artists are not household names like major rock stars, the interest in Celtic music is likely to continue to grow in Japan for some time to come.
Jumat, 29 September 2017
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Review
One of the great children's classics by C.S. Lewis, is brought to the screen in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Set in wartime England, its plot has the four Pevensie children sent out of London for their safety. They end up in the country house of the eccentric Prof. Digory Kirke, and like all children removed from their usual source of fun and amusement, they're bored, bored, bored.
Then one day, Lucy begins poking into things, and one of them is the very odd wardrobe of the professor's. What she sees inside, is not the professor's clothes, but a world encased in snow. The others of course, don't believe her, since they haven't found anything half so interesting. But eventually they give in to their own curiosity, and all enter the wardrobe to find themselves transported to the world of Narnia, where an evil White Witch has created an eternal winter, that will never see a Christmas.
Meeting up with the kind and caring lion Aslan who rules the strange land, the children begin their trek towards defeating the witch. But along the way, one will fall behind and join the very forces of evil they are trying to defeat. Amongst the mysteries of talking animals, mythical creatures and magic spells, the children must free Narnia from the perilous cold, and one of their own, from dangers that could destroy them.
This movie was extremely engaging from beginning to end, even at a long 2 hour and 20 minute running time. Perhaps, it's because it was one of my favorite novels growing up, but the young actors were quite engaging and Tilda Swinton was superb as the White Witch.
Just one note of caution to parents: The movie was rated "Parental Guidance Suggested" and parents should be aware. The movie definitely has numerous violent scenes and it's certainly not for little ones.
Then one day, Lucy begins poking into things, and one of them is the very odd wardrobe of the professor's. What she sees inside, is not the professor's clothes, but a world encased in snow. The others of course, don't believe her, since they haven't found anything half so interesting. But eventually they give in to their own curiosity, and all enter the wardrobe to find themselves transported to the world of Narnia, where an evil White Witch has created an eternal winter, that will never see a Christmas.
Meeting up with the kind and caring lion Aslan who rules the strange land, the children begin their trek towards defeating the witch. But along the way, one will fall behind and join the very forces of evil they are trying to defeat. Amongst the mysteries of talking animals, mythical creatures and magic spells, the children must free Narnia from the perilous cold, and one of their own, from dangers that could destroy them.
This movie was extremely engaging from beginning to end, even at a long 2 hour and 20 minute running time. Perhaps, it's because it was one of my favorite novels growing up, but the young actors were quite engaging and Tilda Swinton was superb as the White Witch.
Just one note of caution to parents: The movie was rated "Parental Guidance Suggested" and parents should be aware. The movie definitely has numerous violent scenes and it's certainly not for little ones.
Jumat, 22 September 2017
Lord of the Rings; How is this an Adventure for the Yuppie Lost in Life?
Tolkien followed the tradition of the Nibelunglied from Norse Mythology of a Wife who brow beats her husband to remove all emotion from his life so he may in turn bury that part in his children and kill all logical opposition to him. For if he can not control his own life or wife's, who else can he push around besides his children?
This is the predecessor for all Dragon stories. Not only that it is the original story of a ring of extraordinary powers one must renounce all love for. Roma for Amor, the ring is the symbol of marriage that traps some women in the cave of subconscious repression of a bad emotion. The fear of financial security coupled with social opinion. But where does this start, when did it happen, Who's fault is it, and how to change it?
The story starts with Frigga, Odin's second wife representing civilization's triumph over his first wife of Nature, condemning the fear of an incestuous relationship of Sieglinde and Siegmund. This pair is also present in the relationship of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, the pair separated at birth in the life of a borderline child. The emotions are never validated within the family and forced to be second guessed which should of naturally been accepted in healthy homes. Before a child takes any action with consequence, career or marriage, he must bridge his emotional (Princess Leia/Sieglinde) with their Logical (Luke Skywalker/Siegmund) thinking. This motif is represented by the pair crossing the chasm through a leap of faith (Fool card in Traot) or walking a razor's edge between the two modes of thinking. The Goal is to gain employment (Logic) but which employment (Emotion). But Frigga has her husband to act on her behalf.
Now Odin, the megalomaniac ego that replaces emotional thinking for fear and consequence, now kills opposition where he can and removes the logical thinking and the self directed action from his children. By killing Siegmund. This is spurred on by Siegmund pulling the sword out of the tree, symbol of decisive action upon a goal. The fear of opposition to his weak ego, the child is suppressed and the anger toward the wife or mother is transferred. Like the Bully that is beaten in the home robs the milk money of the nerd.
After the death of Siegmund and the pieces of the broken sword are collected, sieglinde is hidden by Brunhilda in the east forest guarded by the Dragon Fafner. The sword Islidor breaks opposing Saurian, is the same sword that Siegmund finds in the tree which his son Siegfired like Aragorn will wield later. The east forest sieglinde is hidden in is the subconscioussnes of the inner child. The east represents the beginning and new start. The child of borderline parents, like the child, has a stunted development and is removed from access to adulthood. Only when a person has its emotions validated and has self direction in its action to attain its goals, in many ways it still reacts to the world much like a child and looks for others to make decisions and tell it how it feels. Its direction comes from Fox news, the mate, boss, or parent. Now Brunhilda is the emotional stirring that still remains in Odin, the father, that is entrapped after the scorn from his wife of Sieglinde escaping. Brunhilda is circled by fire until a hero can free her.
Now Sigelinde carries the seed of the logic of her dead brother. For even in the Dao symbol, there is a little white hole in black and vice versa. Emotional thinking caries a spark of logic that can grow. For her child Siegfried will become the dragon slayer. The Dragon is the generational and cultural split that pervades in families to bring societies into the wasteland expressed in T.H. Whites poem. The King and the land are one. As long Odin is separated in his thinking, so is the land in which the patriarchs or patriots of the country control. As after September 2001, it can be seen what happens when emotions from outside create fear in men to ignore their own emotions to ride a band wagon and put their actions into others to invade countries that do not oppose any logical threat. Now Siegfried will have his father's sword put back together again to slay the dragon. Like Aragorn.
After the slaying of the dragon, Siegfired will free Brunhilda and return emotional thinking to Odin the father. In alchemy the megalomaniac ego is called the sennex. In the Grail Cycle it is the Fischer King whose creative powers were staunch by a groin injury from raping a maiden at a well. Siegfried brings love and compassion to Brunhilda. This act overcomes the fear thinking that Frigga, civilization over nature, has bestowed upon her husband Odin. This is also seen in Nineteenth century architecture in America. Federalism was the response of better ships and the math of probability in shipping insurance that seemed to overcome nature. What in the previous century was exposed natural wood was covered up for painted wainscoting and wall paper. Everything man mad or improved was better than the poor man's natural finishing. Merchant over farmer. Christianity over paganism. Siegfried as Tolkien hoped his story world answer to the strip mining that was going on in his England merge civilization to nature. Ents and all. The wasteland is the void before the merger. But till then the sennex will not accept the son, Siegfried, until he has a better course of action than Frigga. The sons answer will not be accepted wholesale, but digested and absorbed to bring about a better and more individual answer than what the son brought. The son will give self determination, motivation, and acquisition of the self to the father.
Now to the person who started this all. Remember our foreparents had to fight ice age, Frost storms, draughts, famine, earthquakes, and unpredictable herds. Nature seemed to be a fickle parent. So man strove for technology and civilization to bring order and control to the world it feared. Civilization made us separate from the world that threatened us. Today we can be locked in our environment controlled homes. Even in the hottest summer sun in the Sahara, men can drive Hummers with A/C setting the interior to 60 degrees. But who has become our safe keepers? Those that promote the fear and separation. Frigga as civilization and fear removes our natural mother in the earth and instinct. Granted for a time in our world expressed in Tribal oriented societies in the third world up to the beginning of the last century had maintained a balance between civilization and nature. They had the latest technology but not the latest fashion out of Paris. They had people coordinating society and not dictating. Frigga has grown to large degrees in the way of the woman since the suffrage movement. Woman gave up the emotional grounding they gave children for goal setting. Love became conditional on success. At the same time men came back from two great Wars broken and not able to nurture their children but push forward their wives ambitions. If they spoke up it was aggressive and logical only. This has been prevalent in most of the worlds leading classes, with queens like Katherine of Aragon positioning of her wealth and power against her Husband Henry the Second. Just watch the Lion in Winter to see what happened to their children that became the predecessors of English Law that we find in America today.
With the rise of economic success, we have seen the rise of latch key kids and children sent to boarding schools. The Ruling class disease is prevalent through the world. The disease that does not let the father bring emotional support to the children if the Mother wants to pursue her goals outside of the family. To the slurs of Mr. Mom. Frigga is the woman that is opposed to her own emotional non logical and some times passive side. Frigga's separation from her self and lack of control is found within that of the husband and child. If she can not control herself, she controls those in her life and the world around her in the home at least.
After the freeing of Brunhilda to allow Odin's support of his logic with that of his emotions, Siegfried has freed him to use the sword to discern for himself his own direction that is finally guide by the balance of emotional validation and the knowledge of logic to become truly a king in his head to coordinate all his skills and wisdom to action and accomplishment of his dreams. In doing so he heals Frigga and society. Society learns to live in nature, not against but with. Alternative fuel sources and biodegradable resources that function and out perform hazardous ones of the past.
The song remains the same but the tune changes. In the Twelve hundreds the cultural response to this story in England and Europe was the Grail Cycle with fashionable Knights of the Round Table. In the beginning of the Twentieth century, it was Norse heroes fighting for the ring to control in the Lord of the Rings. Ring of marriage that controls many to forsake love of thyself. For when the ring is that of wealth and position, it is deadly. For when the ring becomes more important than love, it is too powerful. True marriage comes with true love of oneself first. Without that you only have a ring, and you will never understand how to love another. So to Frigga the ring was the wealth and control of her spouse to provide for her against the her fear of nature and the pieces of herself.
This is the predecessor for all Dragon stories. Not only that it is the original story of a ring of extraordinary powers one must renounce all love for. Roma for Amor, the ring is the symbol of marriage that traps some women in the cave of subconscious repression of a bad emotion. The fear of financial security coupled with social opinion. But where does this start, when did it happen, Who's fault is it, and how to change it?
The story starts with Frigga, Odin's second wife representing civilization's triumph over his first wife of Nature, condemning the fear of an incestuous relationship of Sieglinde and Siegmund. This pair is also present in the relationship of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, the pair separated at birth in the life of a borderline child. The emotions are never validated within the family and forced to be second guessed which should of naturally been accepted in healthy homes. Before a child takes any action with consequence, career or marriage, he must bridge his emotional (Princess Leia/Sieglinde) with their Logical (Luke Skywalker/Siegmund) thinking. This motif is represented by the pair crossing the chasm through a leap of faith (Fool card in Traot) or walking a razor's edge between the two modes of thinking. The Goal is to gain employment (Logic) but which employment (Emotion). But Frigga has her husband to act on her behalf.
Now Odin, the megalomaniac ego that replaces emotional thinking for fear and consequence, now kills opposition where he can and removes the logical thinking and the self directed action from his children. By killing Siegmund. This is spurred on by Siegmund pulling the sword out of the tree, symbol of decisive action upon a goal. The fear of opposition to his weak ego, the child is suppressed and the anger toward the wife or mother is transferred. Like the Bully that is beaten in the home robs the milk money of the nerd.
After the death of Siegmund and the pieces of the broken sword are collected, sieglinde is hidden by Brunhilda in the east forest guarded by the Dragon Fafner. The sword Islidor breaks opposing Saurian, is the same sword that Siegmund finds in the tree which his son Siegfired like Aragorn will wield later. The east forest sieglinde is hidden in is the subconscioussnes of the inner child. The east represents the beginning and new start. The child of borderline parents, like the child, has a stunted development and is removed from access to adulthood. Only when a person has its emotions validated and has self direction in its action to attain its goals, in many ways it still reacts to the world much like a child and looks for others to make decisions and tell it how it feels. Its direction comes from Fox news, the mate, boss, or parent. Now Brunhilda is the emotional stirring that still remains in Odin, the father, that is entrapped after the scorn from his wife of Sieglinde escaping. Brunhilda is circled by fire until a hero can free her.
Now Sigelinde carries the seed of the logic of her dead brother. For even in the Dao symbol, there is a little white hole in black and vice versa. Emotional thinking caries a spark of logic that can grow. For her child Siegfried will become the dragon slayer. The Dragon is the generational and cultural split that pervades in families to bring societies into the wasteland expressed in T.H. Whites poem. The King and the land are one. As long Odin is separated in his thinking, so is the land in which the patriarchs or patriots of the country control. As after September 2001, it can be seen what happens when emotions from outside create fear in men to ignore their own emotions to ride a band wagon and put their actions into others to invade countries that do not oppose any logical threat. Now Siegfried will have his father's sword put back together again to slay the dragon. Like Aragorn.
After the slaying of the dragon, Siegfired will free Brunhilda and return emotional thinking to Odin the father. In alchemy the megalomaniac ego is called the sennex. In the Grail Cycle it is the Fischer King whose creative powers were staunch by a groin injury from raping a maiden at a well. Siegfried brings love and compassion to Brunhilda. This act overcomes the fear thinking that Frigga, civilization over nature, has bestowed upon her husband Odin. This is also seen in Nineteenth century architecture in America. Federalism was the response of better ships and the math of probability in shipping insurance that seemed to overcome nature. What in the previous century was exposed natural wood was covered up for painted wainscoting and wall paper. Everything man mad or improved was better than the poor man's natural finishing. Merchant over farmer. Christianity over paganism. Siegfried as Tolkien hoped his story world answer to the strip mining that was going on in his England merge civilization to nature. Ents and all. The wasteland is the void before the merger. But till then the sennex will not accept the son, Siegfried, until he has a better course of action than Frigga. The sons answer will not be accepted wholesale, but digested and absorbed to bring about a better and more individual answer than what the son brought. The son will give self determination, motivation, and acquisition of the self to the father.
Now to the person who started this all. Remember our foreparents had to fight ice age, Frost storms, draughts, famine, earthquakes, and unpredictable herds. Nature seemed to be a fickle parent. So man strove for technology and civilization to bring order and control to the world it feared. Civilization made us separate from the world that threatened us. Today we can be locked in our environment controlled homes. Even in the hottest summer sun in the Sahara, men can drive Hummers with A/C setting the interior to 60 degrees. But who has become our safe keepers? Those that promote the fear and separation. Frigga as civilization and fear removes our natural mother in the earth and instinct. Granted for a time in our world expressed in Tribal oriented societies in the third world up to the beginning of the last century had maintained a balance between civilization and nature. They had the latest technology but not the latest fashion out of Paris. They had people coordinating society and not dictating. Frigga has grown to large degrees in the way of the woman since the suffrage movement. Woman gave up the emotional grounding they gave children for goal setting. Love became conditional on success. At the same time men came back from two great Wars broken and not able to nurture their children but push forward their wives ambitions. If they spoke up it was aggressive and logical only. This has been prevalent in most of the worlds leading classes, with queens like Katherine of Aragon positioning of her wealth and power against her Husband Henry the Second. Just watch the Lion in Winter to see what happened to their children that became the predecessors of English Law that we find in America today.
With the rise of economic success, we have seen the rise of latch key kids and children sent to boarding schools. The Ruling class disease is prevalent through the world. The disease that does not let the father bring emotional support to the children if the Mother wants to pursue her goals outside of the family. To the slurs of Mr. Mom. Frigga is the woman that is opposed to her own emotional non logical and some times passive side. Frigga's separation from her self and lack of control is found within that of the husband and child. If she can not control herself, she controls those in her life and the world around her in the home at least.
After the freeing of Brunhilda to allow Odin's support of his logic with that of his emotions, Siegfried has freed him to use the sword to discern for himself his own direction that is finally guide by the balance of emotional validation and the knowledge of logic to become truly a king in his head to coordinate all his skills and wisdom to action and accomplishment of his dreams. In doing so he heals Frigga and society. Society learns to live in nature, not against but with. Alternative fuel sources and biodegradable resources that function and out perform hazardous ones of the past.
The song remains the same but the tune changes. In the Twelve hundreds the cultural response to this story in England and Europe was the Grail Cycle with fashionable Knights of the Round Table. In the beginning of the Twentieth century, it was Norse heroes fighting for the ring to control in the Lord of the Rings. Ring of marriage that controls many to forsake love of thyself. For when the ring is that of wealth and position, it is deadly. For when the ring becomes more important than love, it is too powerful. True marriage comes with true love of oneself first. Without that you only have a ring, and you will never understand how to love another. So to Frigga the ring was the wealth and control of her spouse to provide for her against the her fear of nature and the pieces of herself.
Jumat, 15 September 2017
Health Club Regulars -- Some of the People You're Likely To Meet at the Gym
One of the great benefits of belonging to a health club is the huge variety of exercise equipment that's available. It's also a great place to meet and observe a wide cross section of society. Here are just a few of the more notable health club regulars:
1. Screaming Banshee -- We've all been focused on our workout when out of nowhere comes a blood-curdling sound from the corner of the weight room. You look over and there's a guy doing laterals with 20 lb dumbbells. It doesn't matter what the exercise or weight is -- he's screaming with every rep. If it helps his workouts, then more power to him! It certainly makes a good case for a Walkman.
2. The Strainer -- The Strainer can often be observed loading up a barbell or weight stack with poundage that he is unable to perform even a single rep in good form with. A favorite exercise of the Strainer is the triceps press down machine. He will position the pin almost near the bottom of the weight stack and then proceed to wrestle the stack downward with every ounce of his being. It's truly painful to watch, but like a car wreck, it's hard to look away.
After using most all of the muscles in his upper body along with several in his lower, he finally manages to complete a rep. "That's one!" Yep, only nine more to go. Oh yeah, don't bother trying to be helpful and tell him to use less weight. You'll only be greeted with a nasty glare.
3. iPod Head Banger -- this is usually a young person, male or female, who seems to have ear buds permanently implanted into their head. Music can be a great inspiration during your workouts, but these folks turn the volume up to 11. Of course everyone in the immediate area can groove to the same jams due to the sound leaking out from their ear buds.
The hazard is that Mr. or Ms Head Banger is usually oblivious to their surroundings and you'll need to shout to get their attention if the need arises. At least you can hear them coming and give them a wide berth.
4. Stanley Steamer -- it's hard to believe, but there are people who actually use their gym memberships just to avail themselves of the locker room amenities. Take Stanley Steamer for example. He may come in on his lunch hour or after work and do some quick cardio work and then it's right back to the locker room. The cardio work is just a pretext for what comes next.
He then will do alternating shifts between the dry sauna and steam room until he's sweated out every last drop of water from his body. This process can go on for up to an hour. "Great for the pores!" he'll tell you as he stands there glistening like a Thanksgiving Butterball. You go Stan!
5. Ken and Barbie -- there are some gym regulars who are so genetically gifted that they have gone into permanent "maintenance mode" for they're training. Their routines consist of a solid core of shaping exercises with the strict rule that they must never, under any circumstances, ever shed one drop of sweat!
No hair is out of place and they look spectacular in their Lycra workout gear. In fact, you seem to never see them wearing anything else, even outside of the gym.
6. Chatty Cathy -- Cathy is a relatively new species that has evolved with the proliferation of cell phones and the trend to use them no matter where we are.
She will take up position on the adductor machine and wait for a call -- any call -- which soon arrives without fail.
She'll talk away for minutes on end. Occasionally passing the cell phone to any friends who have joined her for a "workout". She'll use these breaks to get in a few reps on whatever machine she's parked herself on. Just to be fair and balanced, there are also plenty of Chatty Carls as well.
7. Swiss Ball Magician -- this is usually either a personal trainer or staff member who has learned a large repertoire of stability ball exercises from a special course or secret training manual. I marvel at the endless variety of moves they possess!
They're on top of the ball, under it, along side it, between the legs with it, and around the back. They make the Harlem Globe Trotters look like pikers! Actually, I pay close attention when they're around and try to cop some of their moves.
All of these types are well-meaning folks and they are certainly preferable to some of the knuckleheads that sometimes show up at the gym. They make going to the gym the enjoyable and enriching experience that it is.
1. Screaming Banshee -- We've all been focused on our workout when out of nowhere comes a blood-curdling sound from the corner of the weight room. You look over and there's a guy doing laterals with 20 lb dumbbells. It doesn't matter what the exercise or weight is -- he's screaming with every rep. If it helps his workouts, then more power to him! It certainly makes a good case for a Walkman.
2. The Strainer -- The Strainer can often be observed loading up a barbell or weight stack with poundage that he is unable to perform even a single rep in good form with. A favorite exercise of the Strainer is the triceps press down machine. He will position the pin almost near the bottom of the weight stack and then proceed to wrestle the stack downward with every ounce of his being. It's truly painful to watch, but like a car wreck, it's hard to look away.
After using most all of the muscles in his upper body along with several in his lower, he finally manages to complete a rep. "That's one!" Yep, only nine more to go. Oh yeah, don't bother trying to be helpful and tell him to use less weight. You'll only be greeted with a nasty glare.
3. iPod Head Banger -- this is usually a young person, male or female, who seems to have ear buds permanently implanted into their head. Music can be a great inspiration during your workouts, but these folks turn the volume up to 11. Of course everyone in the immediate area can groove to the same jams due to the sound leaking out from their ear buds.
The hazard is that Mr. or Ms Head Banger is usually oblivious to their surroundings and you'll need to shout to get their attention if the need arises. At least you can hear them coming and give them a wide berth.
4. Stanley Steamer -- it's hard to believe, but there are people who actually use their gym memberships just to avail themselves of the locker room amenities. Take Stanley Steamer for example. He may come in on his lunch hour or after work and do some quick cardio work and then it's right back to the locker room. The cardio work is just a pretext for what comes next.
He then will do alternating shifts between the dry sauna and steam room until he's sweated out every last drop of water from his body. This process can go on for up to an hour. "Great for the pores!" he'll tell you as he stands there glistening like a Thanksgiving Butterball. You go Stan!
5. Ken and Barbie -- there are some gym regulars who are so genetically gifted that they have gone into permanent "maintenance mode" for they're training. Their routines consist of a solid core of shaping exercises with the strict rule that they must never, under any circumstances, ever shed one drop of sweat!
No hair is out of place and they look spectacular in their Lycra workout gear. In fact, you seem to never see them wearing anything else, even outside of the gym.
6. Chatty Cathy -- Cathy is a relatively new species that has evolved with the proliferation of cell phones and the trend to use them no matter where we are.
She will take up position on the adductor machine and wait for a call -- any call -- which soon arrives without fail.
She'll talk away for minutes on end. Occasionally passing the cell phone to any friends who have joined her for a "workout". She'll use these breaks to get in a few reps on whatever machine she's parked herself on. Just to be fair and balanced, there are also plenty of Chatty Carls as well.
7. Swiss Ball Magician -- this is usually either a personal trainer or staff member who has learned a large repertoire of stability ball exercises from a special course or secret training manual. I marvel at the endless variety of moves they possess!
They're on top of the ball, under it, along side it, between the legs with it, and around the back. They make the Harlem Globe Trotters look like pikers! Actually, I pay close attention when they're around and try to cop some of their moves.
All of these types are well-meaning folks and they are certainly preferable to some of the knuckleheads that sometimes show up at the gym. They make going to the gym the enjoyable and enriching experience that it is.
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