Thursday, December 27, 2007

Weekly 12/27/07 - 5

Salon Weekly

~ In 4  Color-Coded Sections:

          • Table Notes
          • Events & Opportunities
          • Articles, Letters
          • Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
          • Tri-State Treasures: events compiled by Jim Kesner


A W
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Section One: Table Notes ............................................................................ (Note: these notes were taken at the table and have NOT been approved or corrected by the speakers.  Reader beware of inevitable misunderstandings and misrepresentations.  E.B.)
At the table Wednesday 12/26/07
Steve Sunderland, Vlasta Molak, Bill Limbacher, Mary Biehn,  Ginger Lee Frank, Santa, Bob Witanowoski, Adrienne Cooper, Judy Cirillo, Ellen Bierhorst, Gerry Kraus, Marvin Kraus, Mira Rodwan

Preamble read by Judy Cirillo.
Announcements at table:
Gerry:  We went to movie “The Great Debater”.  Marvelous!  Everyone should see it.  True story!  The story of James Farmer, founder of CORE (congress of racial equality).
Steve: I reviewd it in the NY Times online in “readers reviews”.  NYTImes.com>entertainment>movies> movie reviews> stephen holden’s review>reader comments > comment by Steve.
Barrie I am surprised to be here.
Adrienne: I am offering cooking classes starting Jan 3, vegan, my house Springrove Village/Winton Place, $25 each, full course meal included.  Appetizer to desert.  6 pm.  Phone: 542 0055.  I run marathons; will be 70 next month.  Feel great.
Steve:  as good a movie as “the great debaters” is, the “Kite runner” is equally as good.  Muslam people... No famous actors ... Done extraordinarily well.  What do we do with the emotional/guilt baggage  that we have.  At Esquire.
Vlasta  I have been running an environmental consulting co. 15 yrs, and Gaia Foundation for sustainable development.  Last 6 years working on huge project in Cincinnati’s heart...see it at WWW. Gaiafoundation.net.  We have designed a course, “Sustainable Cincinnati”.  Sustainable is defined by UN in 1992,... A development that would s top and reverse negative human impact on earth.  So ... Will deal with basic concept of sust. And apply to everyday life in Cinti.  What we could do .  Course starts Thursday night Jan 17 6 pm with dinner.  Friday 10 am through dinner.  Sat. 10 to 5.  Cost $360 including food.  T shirt, manual.  Location: the  newly opened Gaia Feast and Sust. Living Center, across street from City Hall.  Limited to 25 people.  
Bill Santa was kind to me.  Now have new computer AND printer.  I can do printing work... Roman alphabet, cherokee language ....
Word processing.  
Ginger Lee :  Saw Kite runner.  Great!  Felt v. authentic.  I took Bert Lambert and he loved it.  Agree with Steve.  Felt as though I was actually inside situations and cultures I would not otherwise get to experience.  That’s what film can do.  Some filmed in Kabul, some in Afghanistan.  The two children used in the film, their lives were endangered by their participation in the film... Depiction of an event that is taboo in that society ...
Steve there is an actor who plays a father of one of these children who .. Must be seen! Incredible, what does a father do.  Like also in “The Great Debaters”, a father: how do you maintain your dignity when the society is so oppressive.  I left there thinking about my own father, myself as a father...
Ginger :  one of the outcomes of the election of the new Mayor here in Cinti was a promise to reinstate the Environmental office. Mallory has gone further, created a task force/steering committee for climate protection in the city.  Interesting membership...from corporate to Sierra Club ... Established five task teams that pertain to climate change, seeking community involvement.  Individuals are invited to join ... They want the creativity of citizen input.  Larry Falkin, director of Office of Environmental Quality, has put out the word.  I have been asked to draft a letter to the task forces that asks them, while considering economic, social, environmental (“Triple Bottom Line”) they should also consider planetary sustainability.  We are urging for this task force.  Go online , google Office of Environmental Quality City of Cincinnati.  Or “Climate Protection Task Teams”.  The first mass meeting was a month ago.  Not too late to sign up and join.  (To sign  up or for more info:
contact Ginnell Schiller at ginnell.schiller@cincinnati-oh.gov or 513-352-6911.)  (See Annoucements section below, the green entry.)



TOPICS
Kwanza (Mira)
A favorite Holiday Story
Gerry: I am concerned about the quality of the election process in Ohio for next presidential election.  Sec’y of State has reviewed our voting machines and determined flaws, manipulation. Recommendation to return to paper balloting.  Want to discuss How do we convince the powers that be to return to paper balloting.  It would help to have a groundswell of support.  
Vlasta I want to discuss tolerance in our society.  Couple weeks ago I was told a Muslim man in Canada strangled his daughter for refusing to wear the hijab.  ... Lecture by the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, openly gay, will get married to his  20  yr partner in June when the law changes.  He talked about homophobia and the problems of the Marriage Protection movement.  Roots are essentially misogyny.  C Span.  
Steve and he has broken apart the international Episcopal church.  ... There is liberal Islam e.g. In Indonesia, there is fundamental Islam e.g. In Saudi Arabia, there is moderate Islam in Kuwait.  
Ginger Four or five m inutes on Mithraism.  The source of Christianity.  

KWANZA, presented by Mira

Maulana Karenga, creator of Kwanza, chair of Nat’l Assoc. of Kawaida organizations.  A pan-Africa and African American holiday celebrated by millions.  World African community.  “Habari Gani”, the traditional greeting.  7 nights, 7 candles, starting tonight.  1966 originated.  Reaffirm commitment to selves, community.  7 Principles or “Nguzo Saba” are guides of daily living.

  • umoja, unity.  In family, community, nation, race
  • kujichaguli: self determination
  • ujima: collective work and responsibility for our community
  • ujama: cooperative economics... Have our own businesses
  • niia; purpose, to restore our people
  • koomba, creativity.  More beautiful than when we came
  • imani: faith.  Believe in our people, our leaders, our people.

Families gather, expalin the symbol for that night, light the candle.  Wear African garments.  Singing, dancing, eating.  Many African Americans don’t celebrate Kwanza at all.  
Gerry read in the Herald this week ... There is a big movement in the Afr. Amer. Community to eat more healthily ... Cartoon, “Kwanza means first fruits.”  Traditional Afr. Amer. Foods are fatty and greasy, fried, etc.
Steve re. the invisible culture.  When I saw “the great debaters” it struck me that I had never heard of Melvin Tolson, considered by many poets the prime poet of the 20th century,  an Afr. Amer.  Shocking invisibility of achievements of Afr. Amer.  He died in 1966.  Had a poem in Atlantic Monthly in 1943, “Dark Symphony”.  His influence not as great as Langston Hughes, another great poetry.  So Kwanza represents ... Denial of equality of recognition ... A major crime that we don’t know about him.  Our pub. Library has a wonderful collection of his work.  
... Judge Geo. Edwards, here in Clifton,  his father the first lawyer for the NAACP in Texas in the ‘30’s, and was ostracized by the white community.
Gerry  I didn’t realize that Texas was as bad for Afr. Amers. As Mississippi.  
Steve  death penalty is being outlawed in every state except one: Texas.  Brutality tradition.  Tolson was from Marshal TX.  In the movie played by Denzel Washington.  ... We don’t know the stories of every ethnic group... The Irish.  The Italians.  The Jews.  I used to walk in the cemetery by Jacob Marcus and Danny Ransahoff... Pointing out great people.

Marvin research is so wonderful... So much information.  You never get to the end.  Computer is so wonderful.  We should all encourage ourselves to keep learning.  

Ellen... Orange; homeland security; airport; announcement.  Message, “Be afraid!”  I hate it!

Bill gays and lesbians; Indians in various communities in the country.  Very encouraging. “This life”.
Some groups refuse to release this program.  They don’t want to release stuff like Cherokee language written information that are not being shared.  A lot of stuff not being shared.
Marvin  60 years ago in college, studying the Navajo Indians.  I remember, men who had feminine tendencies were encouraged to go around in women’s clothes and that was fine.  
Steve some Indian nations were like that, others became homophobic. Pre-alcohol, they were diverse.  Post Alcohol, people did insane things.  Abanakee nation I am most familiar with.  Wisconsin.  Homosexuals, retarded people considered sacred people.  
Marvin  Why is it in some societies different people are treated kindly, while in others they are treated unkindly. Why?
Steve I am reading a biography of David, (Jewish King) by Jonathan Kirsch.  

Santa:  people act (badly) when they are suffering.  ... Distinction between pain and suffering.  Suffering is an interpretation.  Change your interpretation of the reality and the suffering disappears.  

Marvin:  When I broke my femur I kept a journal of the pain and the suffering.  Suffering was the things I wanted to do but couldn’t. Also worry and fear. Pain was physical.  
Gerry  even physical pain can be alleviated or even removed through psychological means.
Ginger  I had root canals... Terrible pain, I wanted to die, on third night I decided “Pain is just a sensation, you can go with it rather than fight against it.”  I chose to surf the pain.  Like a switch in my head, a choice.  Amazing.  Transformative.  

Steve Buddhism says, “Befriend the pain.”  Rather than fight it or medicate it.  In the branch of Buddhism I am thinking out, and also in Lakota practice in the sun dance, you are lifted by a piercing in your chest for ecstatic experience.

Judy Catholics hve a saying, “offer it up to god”.  What does that mean.
Ellen the belief that undeserved suffering freely accepted and made as an offering... Becomes a redemption, a gift.  Story about giving up smoking for the sake of a baby dying in Children’s hospital.  I longed to help that baby somehow, and the notion came, that I could take my struggle against cigarette addiction and pull free as a gift and offering for that child.

Ginger this couple whose daughters were shot ... The wife told the press, “We’ve turned it all over to God, and He is taking care of it.”  And I was jealous.

Santa  David’s psalms.  Was the source of terrible violations, e.g. Bathsheba’s husband being killed... And also amazing beauty.  We are taught we have the choice to serve life or to serve death.  ... It is our belief patterns.  Change beliefs and the experience changes.  Genesis 1:1::1.  “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth and the earth was void and without form and darkness was upon the face of the earth.”  ...
Ginger I think I disagree.  Hot and cold are not different, the absence of heat is what we call cold.  
Santa  There is no creation of light in Genesis, there is a coming forth...
(We got the bibles and compared the first  sentences of Genesis.)

Santa:  god created heaven, the contextual field.  Elohim is plural and feminine.  Not the same as Lord God, which means ruler.  ...

Ginger:  Mithra was a god first in Zoroastrian religion and eventually beame equal to the sun god.  Was like a duality. Became its own cult in Persia from 7th cent. BC, ... Very popular in 2nd century B.C.E.  By then All the Roman emperors were Mithra worshipers.  Born 25 December of a virgin, was attended by wise men and kings, a star led them to the birth.  Worked miracles, healed the sick.  Was crucified. Born in a cave.  Had 12 disciples based on the signs of the zodiac.  The last Mithraian emperor was Constantine who became Christian by merging with Mithra with Jesus.  Moved Jesus’ birthday to Dec. 25.  Now all the Mithraian peoples became Christian by one stroke!  Brilliant stroke.  

Steve  James Carroll has a book Constantine’s Sword which reviews this issue.  Brilliant.  Political.  

Marvin This is the most literate group I’ve ever been part of!

    

~ End of Table Notes~

Hugs to everyone,
Ellen




Section Two: Events & Opportunities



See Gaia foundation course announcement in Vlasta Folder.


JAZZ WITH PAM ROSS AND ED MOSS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE


Noir Year's Eve 2008
Hi Everyone - Ed and I will be performing at the Know Theater on New Year's Eve.  We're really looking forward to it and hope to see you there.  Check out all the details below, which you can also find on their website @ http://www.knowtheatre.com :


    "The Know Theatre's New Year's Eve party is back by popular demand.  This year's theme is Film Noir, so dig out your best Bogey or Dietrich wear and join us.

    The party goes from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., and will be THE theatre community's NYE Bash. There'll be food and drink (cash bar), classic Noir Films,
    jazz with Pam Ross and Ed Moss, a Times Square video feed, a live DJ, champagne toast at midnight and Playstation on the big screen.

    It's just $15, or $5 for Know associates. Reserve your place today by calling 513.300.KNOW or BUY ONLINE <https://secure.pledgeconnect.com/payment.aspx?knowtheatre >"

    We hope you'll join us there....In costume, or not.  You'll love it!
Pam Ross and Ed Moss
DIRECTIONS & MAP BELOW
<<jsDIRECTIONS.ppt>>
 - From 71 (headed South), get off on Reading Rd Exit (42 South).  
 - Stay on Reading (42 South) and veer to the left (after passing over Liberty St)

- Reading Rd (42 South)  will turn into Central Pkwy E  when you veer left
- Go down Central Pkwy past the Court House till you see the Corporate Kroger Bldg (will be on left side of street)
 - Turn right onto Jackson Street (Know Theater is on rite side mid point of Jackson). Jackson St is in between Walnut and Vine.  

- There is plenty of street parking, as well as parking in the garage located right across the street







There is now every Sunday morning an open weekly
Tai Chi practice session at the Lloyd House in the third floor zendo at 10:15 am.  Everyone welcome.  

Coat Drive

Donate 2 or more new or gently used coats and receive your choice of a free Comprehensive Wellness Examination or Nutritional Consultation (value of $150).  Coat drive runs until January 4.
 
Gateways to Healing, Network Chiropractic
Dr's. Julie and Michael Nichols, DC's
821 Delta Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
513-321-3317
voted 'Best Alternative Health Provider' - CityBeat 06,07
www.GatewaysToHealing.com <http://www.GatewaysToHealing.com>


CITY OF CINCINNATI GLOBAL WARMING INNITIATIVE

FROM BILL MESSER
Ellen, Here's some information re. the City's Climate Protection Task Teams for all the Salonista list. I'm attaching the originating document (which includes the composition of the Steering Committee); the second document issued is below. WM

Are you concerned about Global Warming?
Do you wish there was more that you could do about it?
If so, then Cincinnati wants you!!!

All of us contribute to global warming - every time we turn on a light, ride in a car, or throw away trash.  We can all take individual actions to reduce climate change, but if we band together, we can do more.

Task Teams are now forming, to develop a regional Climate Action Plan for reducing green house gas emissions (GHG.)  There will be 5 teams, focused on: energy; transportation; waste; land use; and advocacy.  People with knowledge and/or passion are invited to join one of these teams.

Q: Will these Task Teams be listened to?

A: Yes!  The City Council voted unanimously to request this plan.  The Mayor has appointed a steering committee to lead the planning effort.  Everyone from the Chamber of Commerce and Duke Energy to the Sierra Club and the U.S. Green Building Council has agreed to participate.  The only thing missing is you.

Q: What would I have to do?

A: Each Task Team will meet about once a month, with the 1st meeting on Monday, December 10th from 4:00-6:30.  Task Team members will: brainstorm actions that could be taken to reduce climate change; evaluate potential actions for feasibility, impact, cost, etc; prioritize the ideas; resulting in a set of recommendations for inclusion in the Climate Action Plan.  The whole process should be completed in about 4 months.

Q: Who is eligible to participate?

A: Everyone.  Task Teams will include representatives of business, government, non-profits, and private citizens.  Knowledge and experience are helpful, but not required.

Q: How do I sign up, or get more information?

A: Contact Ginnell Schiller, City of Cincinnati Climate Protection Coordinator, at 352-6911 or Ginnell.Schiller@cincinnati-oh.gov



The Climate Protection Steering Committee voted to create Task Teams consisting of volunteers representing a broad spectrum of perspectives and including individuals with subject matter expertise.  There are five teams, one each focused on: 

i. Energy, including conservation, alternative energy, and green buildings; 
ii. Transportation, including increased fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, mass transit, and bike/ped;
iii. Waste, including minimization, reuse, and recycling;
iv. Land Use, including patterns of development, creation and management of green space, and carbon sequestration.
v. Advocacy, including outreach to governments, organizations, businesses, citizens, and implementation

The mission of the Teams is to create a draft report for the Steering Committee including recommended GHG reduction goals and an Action Plan for achieving the goals.  Each team will have a Chair, Staff person and a sufficient number of members (i.e. 15 - 25) to perform the activities required to achieve this mission.   

Chair’s duties – set meeting schedules, develop agendas, organize and run the meetings, assign action items, report to the Steering Committee and other duties as necessary.

Staff’s duties – support the chair, suggest data sources, research climate protection ideas, collect data and facilitate the data collection process, draft plan and reports, take meeting minutes and other duties as necessary.

Members’ duties – attend and participate in meetings.  Additional activities (research and writing) will be appreciated but not required. 

 Any questions, please contact Ginnell Schiller at ginnell.schiller@cincinnati-oh.gov or 513-352-6911.



Take Action Now for single payer Healthcare reform in Ohio!
The Governor is studying 5 plans, but NOT Single Payer!  
Contact him (info. Below) to insist on single payer being studied.  ellen



From SPAN Ohio:
URGENT ACTION ALERT!

On August 1, 2007, Governor Strickland issued a press release announcing that Ohio was one of 14 states selected to participate in the 2007 Coverage Institute sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundations State Coverage Initiatives (SCI) program.

The release explained that The SCI program assists states which are considering systematic substantial and comprehensive health reform to develop and implement policies that will expand access to health care for the entire uninsured population in a state by expanding public programs and private sector reforms. The program will assist the state in considering a spectrum of health care reforms.. SCI will work with a team of Ohio policy, legislative and stakeholder participants to facilitate discussion of reform options for the state and will assist in modeling and implementing those options.

Accordingly, Gov. Strickland has assembled a task force comprising a 12-member State Coverage Initiative Team and a 40-member Healthcare Coverage Initiative Advisory Committee. $500,000 tax dollars have been allocated to study health care options the goal being to cover a third of Ohios 1.5 million uninsured. What about the other two-thirds? And what about the additional millions of underinsured?

Incredibly, single-payer the only plan that would help ALL Ohioans, uninsured and underinsured alike will NOT be included among the plans to be studied. Only plans that include the private insurance companies are being considered. This is unacceptable. (See letter from U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich to Governor Strickland urging inclusion of single-payer in the study.)

Please take Action NOW
1. Contact Governor Ted Strickland
    Governor's Office
    Riffe Center, 30th Floor
    77 South High Street
    Columbus, OH 43215-6108

    Contact the Governor Online
2. Contact Janetta King, Governor Strickland's Policy Director
    janetta.king@governor.ohio.gov   Phone: 614-466-3555

3. Go to the Governor's Public Input Request Site

Tell them that as an Ohio constituent, you want a single-payer plan (H.B.186 and S.B. 168) to be one of the five models studied by the Governor's task force for healthcare reform in Ohio.

Talking points:
·  Single-payer is the only plan that will provide guaranteed,
  quality, comprehensive medical and dental care to EVERY Ohioan.
 
·  A single-payer system is the most fiscally conservative. Ohio
  H.B.186 and its companion bill in the Senate, S.B.168, i.e., the
  Health Care For All Ohioans Act, would save more than $11 billion in
  health care costs.
 
·  Commissioned studies were done in Colorado and California by the
  highly regarded Lewin group. Single-payer was included as a
  model. They concluded that single-payer will, "cover more people, for
  more services, for less money."
 
·  Plans being considered by the State Coverage Initiative Team of 12
  have been tried in other states and have failed miserably, resulting in
  an increase in the number of uninsured. It is a disservice to the
  people of Ohio not to include a single-payer model.
 
·  The people of Ohio insist that a single-payer plan be considered in
  the comparative analysis done by our governor, for Ohioans, with our
  tax dollars.


If you would like to do more, contact one or more of the members of the Healthcare Coverage Initiative Advisory Committee. It would also be helpful for you to contact your State Representative and your State Senator to express your support for H.B.186 and S.B.168.

If you send an email to any of the above, please CC: spanhealthcare@aol.com and let us know what response, if any, you receive.

Thank you for taking the time to take action!

spanohio
http://www.spanohio.org
3227 W 25 Street
Cleveland, OH 44109-1667
USA







(See Tri-State Treasures,  the compilation of cultural events by Jim Kesner, at the bottom of the entire weekly.  It’s juicy! E.)



Section Three: Articles


Contents:

(Various short pieces, letters from readers...below.)

From Howard Konicov:
Dear all,

Here is a link to the copy of the summary of the final UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
** Report.  It represents almost 20 years of work and culminates with the analysis of 1000's of pages of peer reviewed scientific & technical literature by 100's of scientist worldwide who are recognized experts in their respective field.

**Oslo, 12 Oct 07 - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate  Change and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. were awarded of the  Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build  up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate  change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that  are needed to counteract such change".
 

And here is the link: http://www.ipcc.ch/  
Thank you,

Howard M. Konicov

MSES/MPA                                 IU School of Public & Environmental Affairs;
Bachelor of Arts in Economics     Washington University in St. Louis
Former EAC Chairman                 2002-2003

Executive Director                        The Synthesis Foundation



JOHN ROBBINS SAYS, JOIN IN THE ENERGY SURVEY:
It's time to think about my free 2007 home energy survey !   If
you're new to this or want to familiarize friends and family, read about
past surveys at my website (http://home.insightbb.com/~johnfrobbins) by
clicking on the various survey titles in the index.  The non-dated index
entry explains the whats and whys.  The dated entries are various
yearly summaries.  (2006 summary not yet posted)   Please circulate
this email to as many as you know who might be interested!

To participate, after you pay your last 2007 energy bill, add all your
energy usage and costs paid in 2007, including free acquisitions
like firewood.  Other instructions, plus my 12 questions to answer,
are at the bottom of
http://home.insightbb.com/~johnfrobbins/home_energy_surveys.htm

You could copy and paste my 12 questions into an email, then insert answers,
then send to me via email.  Or you could send just the info, formated as
shown here in my own summary for 2007:

1)  Robbins, John
2)  Kenton County, KY
3)  2100 sf (includes finished bsmt)
4)  2 occupants
5)  home occupied 80% of typical day
6)  1 usually home all day
7)  Electricity, firewood
8)  8270 kWh, 1 mini-cord (two pickup truckloads)
9)  $771.94 for electric, $140 for firewood
10)  Owen Rural Electric, firewood from a neighbor
11)  49 ccf for $503.01, NKY Water District
12)  ABCEFHILPSTV


If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me

John F. Robbins CEM  CSDP
859-363-0376 - johnfrobbins@insightbb.com
Design, Analysis, Consulting & Education to Improve Ecological Performance
http://home.insightbb.com/~johnfrobbins/
3519 Moffett Rd, MorningView, KY 41063-8748
Res.Chair, SW OH Chapter Assn Energy Engineers (AEE) www.aeecenter.org
Member, Kentucky Solar Partnership (KSP) www.kysolar.org
Member, SW OH Alt. Energy Assn (AEA) www.aea1.org
Instructor, Solar & Home Energy Evening Classes, Great Oaks Institute
www.greatoaks.com

Is there a conspiracy to dissolve the US government into a North American Union?
From Byron Moody, a Salon Weekly lurker. He wants to know, is this for real?
             
watch this video and then Google "North American Union"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vuBo4E77ZXo


DIANE FISHBEIN WRITES...

dear dear ellen, I just skimmed your last message and like (that) you didn't
think the Peter Block article was so damning.   I yes  sometimes I
"lurk"..  sometimes I just forget that it is Wed. and Ellen has dinner.
I wish you joy in your visit with Anna and Fran and baby Jeremy.   ...   I'm going to
... still doing some work
for the New Clifton Arts Center which I think has the potential to be
fantastic.   We shall see.  It can make all of greater Clifton and
beyond a better community.   Love to all of you,  Diane

Hundredth Monkey...  First, the phenomenon as reported; then, it’s a myth according to Wikipedia

The Hundredth Monkey


by Ken Keyes, jr.
The Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata, had been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years.

In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.

An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers too.

This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists.

Between 1952 and 1958 all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable.

Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.

Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes -- the exact number is not known.

Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes.

Let's further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.

THEN IT HAPPENED!

By that evening almost everyone in the tribe was washing sweet potatoes before eating them.

The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!

But notice.

A most surprising thing observed by these scientists was that the habit of washing sweet potatoes then jumped over the sea --

Colonies of monkeys on other islands and the mainland troop of monkeys at Takasakiyama began washing their sweet potatoes.

Thus, when a certain critical number achieves an awareness, this new awareness may be communicated from mind to mind.

Although the exact number may vary, this Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon means that when only a limited number of people know of a new way, it may remain the conscious property of these people.

But there is a point at which if only one more person tunes-in to a new awareness, a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone!

(from the book "The Hundredth Monkey" by Ken Keyes, jr. The book is not copyrighted and the material may be reproduced in whole or in part. You can look at the whole book also.)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The "Hundredth Monkey Effect" is the name for a supposed phenomenon in which a particular learned behaviour spread instantaneously from one group of animals, once a critical number was reached, to all related animals in the region or perhaps throughout the world. Largely due to popularisation of this story, the "Hundredth Monkey Effect" phenomenon is now thought by some to occur in human populations with respect to ideas and beliefs in general even though the original story has been discredited (Myers 1985).
The story of the "Hundredth Monkey Effect" apparently originated with Lyall Watson in his 1979 book Lifetide. In it he claimed to describe the observations of scientists studying macaques (a type of monkey) on the Japanese island of Koshima in 1952. Some of these monkeys learned to wash sweet potatoes, and gradually this new behavior spread through the younger generation of monkeys—in the usual fashion, through observation and repetition. However, according to Watson the researchers noted that once a critical number of monkeys was reached—the so-called hundredth monkey—this previously learned behaviour instantly spread across the water to monkeys on nearby islands.
This story was further popularized by Ken Keyes Jr with the publication of his book The Hundredth Monkey. Keyes presented the "Hundredth Monkey Effect" story as an inspirational parable, applying it to human society and the effecting of (positive) change therein. Since then, the story has become widely accepted as fact, and has even appeared in books written by some educators.
The content of the book by Keyes was a substantive treatise on the effects of nuclear war on the planet and the devastation caused thereon.
An example of the effect Keyes was seeking is captured in some degree by a two-month prospective experiment and study to reduce violent crime in Washington in 1993. Based on the results of the experiment, the steady state gain (long-term effect) associated with a permanent group of 4,000 participants in the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs was calculated as a 48% reduction in violent crimes in the District of Columbia. More can be found here:
http://www.istpp.org/crime_prevention/, and many other places on the web. It is seen by many as a prime example of confusing correlation with causation.
Rupert Sheldrake has cited the "Hundredth Monkey Effect" as evidence of morphogenetic fields bringing about non-local effects in consciousness and learning.
In 1985, Elaine Myers re-examined the original published research in "The Hundredth Monkey Revisited" in the journal In Context.
In her review she found that the original research reports by the Japan Monkey Center in vol. 2, 5 and 6 of the journal Primates differ from Watson's story in significant ways. In short, it contains no evidence that the 'Hundredth Monkey' phenomenon exists; the published articles only describe how the sweet potato washing behavior gradually spread through the monkey troop and became part of the set of learned behaviors of young monkeys. There is no evidence at all of a critical number at which the idea suddenly spread to other islands, and none of the original researchers ever made such a claim.
Despite the lack of supporting evidence for the story as told by Watson and Keyes it is still popular among New Age authors and personal growth gurus and has become an urban legend and part of New Age mythology. As a result, the story has also become a favorite target of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal and was used as the title essay in The Hundredth Monkey: And Other Paradigms of the Paranormal published by them in 1991.
I
n his book Why People Believe Weird Things, Michael Shermer explains how the urban legend started, was popularized, and has been discredited.
It is often claimed that the truth or falsity of the "Hundredth Monkey" story is a secondary issue, and that its true value and significance is as a sort of "transformative myth" that encourages those who believe in it to have an optimistic view of the possibility of positive change, particularly in human society.[citation needed]









Section Four: Books/Movies/Magazines/Reviews
...................................

I threatened to discontinue this section because so few folks were sending in the books they were enjoying or wanted to tell us about.  However, I got two letters asking we continue it and promises to write in. Hey!  So we’ll continue.  
Below, some fantasy works touted by my son, daughter in law, and roomate Curt:
Books recommended by Isaac and Gretchen and Curt
Curt:  Christopher Moore:  first "Coyote Blue" (his best).  Also "Island of the sequined love nunn"  "Blood sucking fiends, a love story",  "Practical Demon Keeping (spoof on suburbia"

Pratchett:  "Making MOney"
    
Jim Butcher
    Two Series: 1) The Dresden Files: "Storm Front", "Fool Moon", ... nine in series.
    2) The Codex Alera: "Furies of Calderon",

L. M. Bujold Shalion Series:  "The curse of Chalion"
    "Paladin of Souls"
    "The Hallowed Hunt"
    "The Sharing Knife"

...................................  

I am having a blast listening to A Team of Rivals, by somebody Goodwin, about Abe Lincoln.  Loved Terry Pratchett’s Making Money.  Also reading Bujold’s Hallowed Hunt.  Read Book one of “Dresden Files”... about a wizard working in chicago.  Cool.  Excellent fantasy.  ellen

...................................  

 



 
Tri-State Treasures
 
 
Tri-State Treasures is a compilation of unique local people, places, and events that may enrich your lives.  These treasures have been submitted by you and others who value supporting quality community offerings.  Please consider supporting these treasures, and distributing the information for others to enjoy.  And please continue to forward your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net.
 
Information about Tri-State Treasures and how to submit Tri-State Treasures is at the bottom of this email.  Please help me by providing all basic information, and formatting your submissions as described below.  Thank you.

Sincerely,  Jim

~~~~~
 
NYC Jazz Musicians Deadra Hart & Fred Kennedy In Concert [Friday-Saturday & Monday 28-29 & 31 December @ 9 PM - 1 AM]: Vocalist Deadra Hart & drummer Fred Kennedy will be performing with the James Hart Quartet. Jazz standards & original compositions by Deadra Hart will be featured. The band also includes James Hart on piano & Jim Anderson on bass. Don't miss this dynamic, live, musical collaboration in the magnificence of the Palm Court. No cover; no minimum. At the Palm Court, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel, 35 West 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.421.9100.
 
Solo Recital at Premier Piano [Saturday 29 December @ 3 PM]: David Mamedov, Student of Luba Fedorov @ Toedtman School of Music, will present a solo recital of classical music. The program will include the Partita No. 2 BWV 826 (Sinfonia) by Bach, Sonata No. 26 Op. 81 (Adagio & Allegro) by Beethoven, Ballade No. 2 in F major Op. 38 by Chopin, Etude No. 12 in D-sharp minor by Scriabin, & Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major Op. 10 by Prokofiev. David is the winner of the OMTA Buckeye Piano Performers Competition, winner of the MTNA State Composition Competition, alternate winner of the MTNA State Piano Competition, & 2nd place at the CCM Concerto Competition. In the Brands Insurance Building, 6449 Allen Road, West Chester, OH 45069.
 
New Year Tara Practice [Monday 31 December @ 7 PM]: Also known as Dolma Tsendon, this celebration is a 12 hour marathon of Tara practice. Tara is mother of all Buddhas. She embodies all Buddhas power to relieve all sickness, obstacles, & granting all wishes. So, start a new year by blessing mother Tara. Dinner is offered. Feel free to bring shawl to keep you warm during the over night practice. This practice brings great benefits & mother Tara is known for swiftness in granting the boons. At Gaden Samdrup - Ling Buddhist Monastery, 3046 Pavlova Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45251. More info @ 513.385.7116, gsl@ganden.org, & www.ganden.org.
 
Fête de la Galette des Rois [Sunday 6 January @ 2:00-4:30 PM]: To celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, Alliance Française of Cincinnati will sponsor its popular annual Fête de la Galette des Rois. Open to the public, the Galette is a favorite tradition in France. A fève (small china figurine) is hidden in the galette (cake) before baking. The lucky guest who receives the fève in his piece of cake is crowned king or queen for the day. Children love the game. A magic show is also planned for the event. Reservations required by Monday 31 December. $6 for Alliance Française members; $8 for non-AF member; $12 at the door (for one slice galette & one drink). Terwilliger Lodge, Dulle Park, 10530 Deerfield Road, Montgomery, OH 45242. More info & registration @ 513.389.9100, afpostmaster@france-cincinnati.com, & www.france-cincinnati.com.
 
Forest-Aires Womens Chorus [Wednesday 9 January @ 10 AM]: This meeting will be the welcoming event for prospective new Forest-Aires members. Babysitting available; refreshments. Rehearsals will be Mondays @ 7:30-9:00 PM & Wednesdays @ 9:30 AM-noon, in preparation for shows on 18-20 April 2008 to be presented at the new Anderson Township Theater. Music will feature melodies from TV, movies, & Broadway. Auditions at Zion Lutheran Church, 1175 Burney Lane near Salem, Anderson Twp, Cincinnati, OH 45230. More info @ 513-232-0226.
 
Ongoing Tri-State Treasures

 
Ursula Roma Holiday Gift Sale: A local artist of remarkable talent, range, & creativity, Ursula is offering a wide selection of her art for holiday gifts at holiday-blowout, end-of-the-year clearance, rock-bottom, starving-artist prices. See her art & more info @ 513.542.5722, ursularoma@fuse.nethttp://ursularomaartforsale.blogspot.com/.
 
A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie [thru December 31]: This is the 1st major traveling exhibit devoted to the transatlantic slave trade, focusing on the Henrietta Marie, the most complete slave ship ever discovered in the western hemisphere & the only one to be fully identified, recorded, archeologically examined & preserved.  This exhibit examines the economic & social forces that drove the slave trade & provides insight into its impact on the material life & culture of Europe, Africa & the Americas. This exhibit uses artifacts & the ships records as touchstones for the entering the daily lives of the Africans on board, the seamen who manned the ship, & the traders who ran this notorious enterprise. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati OH 45202. More info @ 513.333.7500, ETurner@nurfc.org, & www.freedomcenter.org.
 
Pure Movement Dance Class: All In One [Mondays @ 6:30-8 PM & Wednesdays @ 9:30-11 AM thru December]: Motion is Life. Taste It. Feel It. Honor It. Offering cardio aerobic based movement class supported by personal attention to individual alignment & exploration of authentic expression. All classes have a stretching & strengthening warm up that expands your range of motion. The class achieves a balance between dynamic arousal & meditative peace. Four consecutive classes @ $12 per class. Individual classes @ $20. Free introductory class with Fanchon Shur, Growth In Motion Inc. master teacher. At 4019 Red Bud Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229. More info @ 513.221.3222, fanchon@growthinmotion.org, & www.growthinmotion.org.
 
Redtree Gallery Art Exhibit [thru Saturday 5 January]: This show is based on the theme RED, open to each artist's interpretation. At Redtree Gallery & Coffee Shop, 4409 Brazee Street, Oakley, OH 45209. More info @ 513.321.8733, mbusch@redtreegallery.net, & www.redtreegallery.net.
 
Manifest Art Exhibits [thru Friday 11 January]: Trick of the Light: Contemporary Photography, guest curated by Dennis Kiel, Chief Curator, The Light Factory, Charlotte, NC. Artists were invited to submit recent photography-based work for an exhibit to reveal the power of light-based imagery to communicate, express, or evoke as visceral 1st-hand experience as any painting or sculpture exhibit might. Jury selection whittled 414 entries from 120 artists down to 15 works by 11 artists from 6 states & Japan. Funny Men: Illustrations by Ryan Ostrander & Gabriel Utasi. Two successful illustrators together for a tour-de-force exhibit of classic drawing-based illustration. Gabriel Utasi is staff illustrator at the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, AZ; Ryan Ostrander is full-time illustrator & graphic designer for The Cincinnati Post & has received awards from Scripps Howard News Service, AP Ohio, & named "Best Graphic Artist" 3 times by The Society of Professional Journalists. At Manifest Creative Research Gallery & Drawing Center, 2727 Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ 513.861.3638, manifest@manifestgallery.org, & www.manifestgallery.org.
 
Documentary WORKS: Social Activist Documentaries of Barbara Wolf [Monday-Saturdays thru Thursday 24 January]: Films by local documentary filmmaker Barbara Wolf are screening during normal business hours as part of the film@mediabridges series. The films: "The Earth Covenant" describes a covenant being made between the peoples of the earth to take responsibility for the environment in the absence of comprehensive governmental action. "Peace March 2004" presents the Cincinnati protest as part of a larger national demonstration on the 1st anniversary of the US initiating bombing of Iraq. "Degrees Of Shame" examines the situation of adjunct (part-time) faculty teaching in Americas institutions of higher learning, suggesting they are the information economys migrant farm workers. "Know Theatre Corpus Christi Protests" documents protests outside the theatre during the play's entire run. "These Old Buildings Raised Our Many Children" was made in 1995 for & with long-term residents of Over-The-Rhine, looking at the effects of massive community redevelopment on their lives. "This Is My House" highlights transitional housing associated with the Drop Inn Center which was threatened by the proposed new SCPA. These films are presented by Media Bridges. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8AM-9PM, Friday: 8AM-6PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM. Free. In the At Media Bridges front lobby, 1100 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.651.4171 & sara@mediabridges.org.
 
Julian's Stanczak Exhibition [thru 3 February 2008]: The exhibit of work by this internationally significant artist coincides with the unveiling of his design for Fifth Third Bank's 6th Street Façade facing the CAC. In addition to the models & preparatory drawings, a collection of Julian Stanczak's work from throughout his career provide a context for his newest monumental project. Polish-born Stanczak trained under Josef Albers & Conrad Marca-Relli at Yale University's School of Art & Architecture. He brought this background to the Art Academy of Cincinnati where he taught from 1957-1964. Stanczak's work is characterized by scientific precision & the illusion of pulsating motion. Using repeated line patterns, his work studies the optical behavior of colors in close proximity to each other. His work earned him the moniker "Father of Op Art." At Contemporary Art Center, 44 East 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.345.8400, pr@cacmail.org, & www.contemporaryartscenter.org.
 
Don Nesbitt Photo Exhibition Opening Reception [thru 15 February]: Creative photographs of Don Nesbitt, who prefers the old Black & White wet process for developing his photos. Special musical guests will provide entertainment. Free admission; donations to the Friends of Harriet Beecher Stowe House are appreciated. Sponsored by Friends of Harriet Beecher Stowe. At the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, 2950 Gilbert Avenue @ Martin Luther King Drive, Walnut Hills, Cinicnnati, OH 45206. Off street parking available. More info @ 513.221.4586, 513.751.0651, & maloneap@att.net.

 
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption Concert Series [Intermittent Sundays thru 9 March 2008 @ 3 PM]: The Series presents instrumental & choral music from the rich traditions of western liturgy & inspired classical music, presented in a suitable visual & acoustic environment. Donations support all series expenses & costs to preserve the Historic Matthias Schwab Organ (1859). In other words, the Cathedral Concert Series combines music of extraordinary range & quality in arguably the region's most magnificent space. Concerts include Musica Sacra Chorus & Orchestra, Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, Advent Festival of Lessons & Carols, An Epiphany Epilogue, Concert in Memory of Dr. Louis Schwab, & JS Bach's 323rd Birthday. At St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859-431-2060, timbrel@fuse.net, & www.cathedralconcertseries.org.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tri-State Treasures is compiled by James Kesner.

Submit Tri-State Treasures, or request your email address to be added or removed from the list by sending an email to
jkesner@nuvox.net; specify "Tri-State Treasures."
 
Email addresses are posted in BlindCopy to protect their identity.  Email addresses are not shared, given, or sold without explicit permission from the owner.
 
 
Tri-State Treasures are typically transmitted on Wednesdays; submissions should be received by noon on Monday.
 
Please help me by submitting your Tri-State Treasure in the following format:
Brief Title of the Treasure [date @ time]: Brief description of the treasure; what is it; why is it wonderful & unique. Cost. Sponsor. Location including address & zip code. More info @ telephone, email, & website.
A Fictitious Example:
Fabulous Film Festival [Friday 3 May @ 8 PM]: The first & best fabulous film festival in the city of Cincinnati will present live-action, documentary, & short films. Blah, blah, blah. Presented by Flicks R Us. Tickets are $8. At The Theatre, 111 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45200.  More info @ 513.111.2222, info@filmfestival.com, & www.filmfestival.com.



The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 12 people) Meets on WEDNESDAYS at 5:45,
EVERY Wednesday, 52 WEEKS/YEAR come hell or high water, as my mother used to say.

We of the
Lloyd House Salon gather in a spirit of
respect, sympathy and compassion for one another
in order to exchange ideas for our mutual pleasure and enlightenment.  

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our Salon blog is a promising interactive site:   http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com
  Also, we have an Interactive Yah
oo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon

For Pot Luck  procedures including
 food suggestions, mission and history visit
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html   .

You are invited also to visit the Lloyd House website:  http://www.lloydhouse.com


> To unsubscribe from the Lloyd House Potluck
Salon list,
send a REPLY message
> to me and in the SUBJECT line type in "unsub potluck #".  In the place of  #
> type in the numeral that follows the subject line of my Weekly email.  It
> will be 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7or 8.  This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can  
> delete it.  Thanks!   ellen bierhorst     


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