I’ve been laid up with the flu, so can’t spend as much time on this edition. See you next week. E.
Salon Weekly
~ In 4 Color-Coded Sections:
- Table Notes
- Events & Opportunities
- Articles, Letters (“opinions expressed are not necessarily mine”...ellen)
- Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
- Tri-State Treasures: compiled by Jim Kesner
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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.)
Rob, Judy, Roger, Lauren, Theresa Marilyn, Jeff, Carolyn, Janet, Jan, Dennis, Mira, Vlasta Marvin, Jeff, Alan, Marilyn Ellen
At the table Wednesday this week:
Marilyn Gale, Mira Rodwan, Lauren Macke, Judy Cirillo, Janet Kalven, Theresa Principata, Roger Pamplas, Jan Kinsley, Rob Nendahwaab, Dennis Kinsley, GerryKraus, Marvin Kraus, Mr. G., Carolyn Aufderhaar, Alan Jozwiak, Vlasta Molak, Jeff Cobb (Welcome Lauren and Theresa!)
Mira: petition to ban mountain top removal mining. Quote by Rudolph Steiner (send by Ed Gutfreund) ... Musical event (see announcement below). Sunday March 15.
Time change this weekend Saturday night, hands of the clock “spring forward”.
Rob: Imago having their first Friday pot luck this Friday.
Mr. G.: Topic: Moral Hazard and the Economy
Wikipedia def. Moral Hazard:
“Moral hazard is the prospect that a party insulated from risk may behave differently from the way it would behave if it were fully exposed to the risk. Moral hazard arises because an individual or institution does not bear the full consequences of its actions, and therefore has a tendency to act less carefully than it otherwise would, leaving another party to bear some responsibility for the consequences of those actions. For example, an individual with insurance against automobile theft may be less vigilant about locking his or her car, because the negative consequences of automobile theft are (partially) borne by the insurance company....”
Ellen: Bad news re the ecoomy... More fear than ever in my lifetime... I worry because for what I hear, the entire nation is like a family with huge credit card debt that just keeps spending wildly. Balance of trade (buying more than we are selling), budget deficit, borrowing to keep gov’t afloat, huge debt to the Chinese and others who own our t bills. How can we create a better future with all this going on?
Spencer: the problem is that banks have bonds as assets which are secured by numberless mortgages. They have bundled the mortgages together and then split them into “shares”. This was OK as long as real estate will NEVER decrease in value. Problem is that no one knows what is the real asset value of these bonds.
The banks can’t loan money because they don’t know what their assets are worth.
Alan I was at a workshop. http:// Www.crisisofcredit.com and excellent 10 minute video. (we watched the video it was pretty clear, but to really understand the economic crisis see the “This American Life” radio shows, 1 hour explaining the crisis.
from “This American Life” web page at http://www.thisamericanlife.org/
Bad Bank
The collapse of the banking system explained, in just 59 minutes. Our crack economics team—the guys who explained the mortgage crisis, Alex Blumberg and NPR’s Adam Davidson—are back to help all of us understand the news. For instance, when we talk about an insolvent bank, what does it actually mean, and why are we giving hundreds of billions of dollars to rich bankers who screwed up their own businesses? Also, two guys go to New Jersey to look at a toxic asset.
Other shows on the financial crisis: Giant Pool of Money and Another Frightening Show About the Economy. And you can get daily updates about the financial crisis on Alex and Adam's Planet Money podcast and blog.
I listened to this program and it is superb. ellen).
Gerry: so what of the bail out? How is it supposed to help to regenerate the economy.
Jan: “Countrywide” is buying up the bad debt for .20 on the $1, and renegotiate the mortgages so people don’t have to face foreclosure.
Spencer: in the great depression we just let the mortgages foreclose. All the property dropped.
Jan: yesterday in the NYTimes.
Mr. G. the definition of “healthy economy” is under question.
Gerry in old times when I got the first mortgage we got it from a bank that kept the mortgage. Why don’t they keep it now?
Jan: because the banks can lend a percentage of their depositers’ money; when they have loaned it all out, they can’t make new loans. So in order to generate more money to make new loans, they sell off the mortgages at a commission, and then have more money to lend out. And they keep doing that again and again and again.
Roger jWhat was the change in regulation of all this during the Bush administration?
Jan: Countrywide and others became a force; they created sub prime loans, making it easier to borrow money. People could borrow for instance 120% of the house’ value.
Marvin: Where are those who are purchasing those mortgages getting their money?
Jan: Freddie Mack and Fanny Mae are selling bonds to get the money.
Marvin: Wall street was buying it and then selling it to their customers who want more investments.
Dennis: they discover that if you cut a bundle of mortgages into little slices that it makes more money.
Mr. G.: it’s a Ponzi scheme.
Dennis: this wasn’t all Bush; it started in the Clinton Administration when they determined that “Everybody should be able to own their home”. So there was pressure on Fanny and Freddie.
Ellen no, it was because the Fed Reserve dropped the interest to 1%, and so the Giant Pool of Money (e.g. China, etc.) was desperate to invest in something better than that, and they got indiscriminate in what they bought.
Vlasta: remember the guy running for att’y gen of ohio who came here to the salon and was fighting “predatory lending”. He was warning us.
Jan it isn’t Wall St’s job to say “this is too risky”. You should assess that yourself.
There was a person who warned about this twenty years ago.
Theresa: how all of the NAACP and community activists got involved... People who were not usually able to borrow money got NAACP and ACORN to pressure banks and brokers to give them mortgages anyway.
Jan that’s right, there was so much pressure.
Mr. G.: I don’t believe that sub prime loans to the people in the street caused this crisis.
Spencer the acceleration factor. People wanting bigger and bigger houses. They leverage that house to 100% and took the equity and speculated on the stock market. .. Enticements to borrow money. In the ‘80s the social activists studied defaults on mortgages and determined that it didn’t make a difference if the buyer had a down payment or not, because the default rate was the same with or without down payment. That was because houses were inflating in value so fast. Once money is cheap, you can borrow easily, then people borrow more and more. That causes inflation. So then the Fed lowers the prime. The dot com bubble burst, and so we needed to start acceleration in another place...
Jeff I just took a college class in principles of banking. You are right, the sub prime lending was not sufficient to cause this crisis. Because of deregulation they were able to sell mortgage backed securities as great investments. Plus credit default swaps which function like insurance. But they didn’t call it “insurance” because that would have meant the insurance co. had to have assets sufficient to cover it in the event of failure. The sellers of credit default swaps did not have sufficient reserves. That’s the AIG thing.
... (gap in note taking) ....
Spencer: assumability of mortgages. ...
Marvin when you assume, the worst thing any seller can do is to sell their property and allow somebody to assume their loan because nobody tells them that when that loan is assumed, the lender can come back to collect from that seller... You must ask for the release from liability in the case that someone assumes the loan. You, the seller, must ask that question, “Do I have a release of liability?”
Spencer I bought a lot of houses by assuming their mortgages before foreclosure...
Marvin: people here talking about the good old days when there was money all over the place , eager to lend money. Now where are they? It wasn’t real money even then.
Jan the last time there were issues with assumable loans...citycorp created “purchase money second”, and it saved the economy at the time. A brilliant fix. During the 80’s. You could assume an FHA or VA loan at the existing rate using a second mortgage to cover the rest of the value of the property. Dennis then did “wrap loans”, in the 70’s. Same concept, creating a blended rate.
Mira I have a painful revelation. I have bought into the Chase Commons, mixed income housing. Sounded wonderful, Women’s Research and Developmet Center. I got in and went to monthly meetings .... Finally I moved into Chase Commons. Janet is there too. ... Had several visits with counselors to make the right choice of what to buy. She kept telling me I could afford to buy the huge corner unit. I actually bought a small unit, and have a 30 year mortgage. If I had followed her advice I would be in way over my head. ... My father said your rent should be 1/4 of your income. Now the figure is more like 1/3.
spencer: Marvin asked, Where is all the money? Banks don’t have money unless they can sell their bonds. The Wall St. market shut down because Leman bros and others went belly up, so they won’t buy bank’s bonds.
Roger in the last months the gov’t giving out billions; where is it going?
Jan: it is decreasing the level of debt of the financial industry.
Marvin: Where is the money going?
Dennis: It is going into the wallet of the managing officers on Wall St and the Banks. The ass hole who spent millions refurbishing his office should be shot.
Mr. G: I was listening to Diane Ream's show on AIG. Conflict between between secrecy and transparency. Our system depends on secrecy. You can’t really find out what is happening... Fundamental conflict.
Rob: The 800 billion going to the bail out, the first one in Jan went to companies to help them weather the storm. Unfortunately some rich people grabbed a chunk. Rather than passing onto the people. ... The stimulus package is going more to people.
Jan a lot of the bail out money went to banks buying other banks who were in trouble.
~ End of Table Notes~
- Hugs to everyone,
Ellen
Section Two: Events & Opportunities
As part of St. John's 20th Annual Music Series '08-'09, MUSE, the Women's Chorus of Bowling Green State University, and the Indian Hill High School Women's Chorus, join in concert to celebrate a very special International Women's Day.
Buy your tickets for this Sunday, March 8th, 3 pm, performance, and hear these women celebrate women and their continued struggle and strength.
Read more: at http://museChoir.org
At David Pepper’s talk I learned about a FREE foreclosure prevention hotline. Just dial “211”. The county wants to help you avoid foreclosure! ellen
A Morning Cup of Yoga! With professional teacher Phoenix Wilson
When: Fridays 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Where: THE LLOYD HOUSE third floor Zendo
Leave your car in the back or on Lafayette Ave., bring a sticky mat if you have one, let yourself in the front door, leave your shoes in the foyer and find your way to the third floor. We’ll see you there!
Date: Starting January 30th 2009
Cost: $ 13 each class or $ 77 for the 7 week session
Greetings and Happy New Year!
Start your day and weekend with a clear mind, invigorated body and renewed spirit.
This class is open to new and experienced students.
Instructor, Phoenix Wilson, RYT , 859-341-9642 phoenixwilson@mac.com <mailto:phoenixwilson@mac.com> , please call or e-mail if you are interested in or have questions about the class.
A little bit about my background ~~ I am a certified Yoga and Tai Chi Chih instructor. My studies include various styles of Yoga primarily focusing on Iyengar and Anusara. I have been teaching for the past eight years in the greater Cincinnati area including three years of training and teaching in Japan. My goal is to blend what I have learned into a fully integrated practice. Our practice will focus on the cultivation of healthy body alignment, the flow of energy in the body and a more peaceful and open heart. I am excited to have this opportunity to share in the practice of Yoga at the Lloyd House!
Namaste. Phoenix
See our CRAIG’s List Ad for Lloyd House Vacancy:
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/roo/1055829081.html
April 1 2009 avail.
2 rms + private bath in Gaslight Clifton Historic Castle, 3rd floor. Huge, Multicultural house (4 other adults plus you). Other (shared) rooms: living room/music room, grand piano, zendo meditation room, big dining room, spacious veranda, TV room with wood burning fireplace, weight room, laundry rm, sauna. You share kitchen with 3 others. Furnishings available. High speed wyFi. Beautiful environment, awesome vibes, great people. Weekly pot luck salon, yoga and tai chi classes, monthly drumming circle, vegetable garden, off street parking, seasonal parties w/ live music. Two mi. N of U.C. Great for mature grad student or visiting prof. No undergraduates, no smoking. Available 1 April 2009. $460 includes utilities. Call Ellen 513 221 1289.
Ed Gutfreund offers: Music, food, community, conversation, Sunday 15 March. (Ed is a terrific guy, known him for years, does body work, psychotherapy etc. etc. I plan to be there. Ellen)
Ellen,
I am planning a concert-community conversation for March 15. Can you add it to your events portion of the weekly a couple of times till then? I would appreciate it. Hope you are well these days,
Ed
The healing social life is found when in the mirror of each human soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the community the virtue of each one is living. - -Rudolf Steiner.
You are invited…
To an afternoon of music and community conversation…
I have arranged with some long-time musical friends (Bobby Fisher, Steve Hayes, Mary Schulz, Jeff McLemore, Skip Kroner, Mark Davis) to do some music for your inspiration and enjoyment. We want to anticipate the changes of the Spring Equinox and season as well as to consider and celebrate the possibilities that arise when we are well-connected in community. I would like you to come and participate!
The late afternoon gathering will be made up of three sets of music along with reflections, stories, and some singing together. Between the music segments I’ll invite and guide everyone to participate in a community conversation based on the generous work of Peter Block’s A Small Group. I believe quality conversation is right up there with good music as a highly influential experience. These conversations will offer you an opportunity to meet new people, to make connections, and to find ways to recognize, celebrate, and bring forth the positive possibilities available to you at this time.
After a final set of music we will share food and the conversations can continue. Please bring some easy finger food for the potluck.
I am looking forward to seeing friends as well as new people who are interested in bringing their wisdom and hope to this feast of community. Please pass this email on to others who might want to participate in the joy of this gathering.
See you in a few weeks,
Ed Gutfreund
Date: Sunday, March 15.
Time: 4:30-6:30 or so. Cost: Donations will be asked to cover expenses.
Place: St. Bernard Church Annex building
745 Derby Ave. (Spring Grove Village, formerly Winton Place.)
Cincinnati, OH 45232
Please RSVP to reserve a place. There is limited space for this event.
Email Ed@presencepractice.com <mailto:Ed@presencepractice.com> , or call 513-319-4432. Remember, bring a little food to share and something that makes a sound (shaker, keys, drum, your voice).
IDEAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH:
(See my pieces on wellness in my website http://www.lloydhouse.com ... Useful pieces about insomnia, eating disorder, visiting family at holidays, and the newest, how husbands fear their wives...etc.)
Everyone needs a psychologist sometime in their life.
Ellen Bierhorst Ph.D. is a good one. In practice over 30 years. 513 221 1289
Areas of particular interest: 12 Step Program support; Family and Relationship issues; Young Adult Issues; Chronic Illness and Senior Adult Issues; Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Issues, Holistic Wellness (body/mind/spirit approach), Clinical Hypnosis, EMDR.
- Get a fresh perspective. Sort out tangles in interpersonal relationships. Clear away the messes of the past. Become empowered to launch your new life. Heal trauma, change, loss. Escape from the bondage of addictive behavior(alcohol, drugs, food, tobacco, gambling, etc.)
- Central location (Clifton Ave. at Lafayette)
- Beautiful setting (The historic Lloyd House)
- Many health insurance plans will pay a percentage. (Standard fee $125/hour. Some pro bono work available.)
- Compassion and good humor.
- Rapid results.
We'd like to invite you to join us for our first LEVEL I ANIMAL COMMUNICATION CLASS of 2009!
This class is designed to be both informative and experiential. Students will come away with both knowledge and experience in basic animal communication skills. We keep our class sizes small so that each student gets individual attention and instruction. You'll learn to communicate with animals both in person and at a distance. Our animal teachers include dogs, cats, horses, an iguana as well as your own pets.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28th & SUNDAY MARCH 29th 1 - 5 p.m.
Class is held in our home just north of Cincinnati in Pleasant Plain, OH
COST - $225
Certificate of completion is provided at conclusion of class.
Former students may repeat the class for $175.
CONTACT CINDY TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE IN THE CLASS!!
513-310-3997 or email cindy@cindyhuff.com
A flyer (below) is attached . Please join us!
Cindy Huff & Terri Noftsger
Animal Communication and Wellness Services
Friday morning Yoga class with professional Yoga teacher Phoenix Wilson (she’s terrific!) starting 1/30/09, $13, ($11 if you buy a series of 7). 9:00 – 10:30 am.
YOGA practice group at Lloyd House. Wednesdays 9:15 – 10:30 am. Open, free practice group led by Nina Tolley.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi practice group Sundays 10:15 a.m. Led by Jackie Millay. Experience the chi with this gifted leader. Beginners welcome. Qigong and Tai Chi forms. Ellen
Mark your calendar; Plan to attend; Ask for a brochure earthspiritrising@imagoearth.org; Register http://www.earthspiritrising.org/... these are the Powerful Dreamers. David Korten, et al.... Envision our world a different place...then see how you can bring it to being. ellen
June 12-14, 2009
Xavier University Cintas Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
EarthSpirit Rising: A Conference on Ecology,
Spirituality and Living Economies
examines economic models that are based on Earth's living systems.
highlights initiatives that support and expand local and regional production of food, energy, goods and services.
explores the cultural and spiritual dimensions of a transformation to living economies.
To register go here:
http://www.earthspiritrising.org/
Reduced price food!
on 2/22/09 8:02 AM, Mary Swart at morninglory@zoomtown.com wrote:
If you or someone you know is having difficulty putting food on the table here is a wonderful resource of good food at a greatly reduced price. They have numerous locations in Cincinnati.
http://www.angelfoodministries.com/
Articles
- Readers’ responses to table discussion on race, etc.
Salonista Mary Washington: on the table discussion re. race
Hi, Ellen.
I miss coming to the Salon on Wednesdays. I read all the comments from your previous meeting. There was great dialogue about race among the group. I regret not being there to share my thoughts with the group. I appreciate the honesty of the statements made regarding relationships with black people.
I think the lack of black people at the salon could be because they have different interest. One of my attractions to the group is the passion for outreach. I have spent much of my life serving my church and community. I happen to enjoy talking to people and sharing ideas. I don't believe it has anything to do with comfort levels due to majority being whites. I don't know of many black people that have problems being the only black face in the crowd. I am very comfortable in my skin as most people I know.
If I happen to be the only African American to attend the salon lets just build upon that fact and enjoy our weekly dialogue to realize we have more in common than differences. I am still working on Wednesday evenings until after April 15th.
I will see you all soon. It's nice to be missed.
Mary
To Ginger Lee Frank:
E.Would love to hear your input/report about this thing last Thurs. I believe it was a forum discussion about the environmental justice ordinance... Crowley, someone else in opposition, at the Mt Auburn Presby Church. Weren’t you there? I was too sick to attend. Flu.
Ideal would be a blurb to print in the Weekly.
Hugs
From Ginger:
Ah yes. I was at the 6:00 - 8:00 PM Food Task Team meeting then rushed up to MAPC for the 7:30 PM EJ forum and found it had already ended. Talked to Jeanne Nightingale and the Krauses a bit. At least I managed to get the 5:30 PM Green Cincinnati Marketing Task Team meeting postponed (it would have been in the room next door to the Food Task Team; I was planning to sit in the hall between the two rooms with both doors open). I went to another EJ meeting yesterday, at CUFA (Marvin was there for a while). There's a good chance the EJ ordinance could clear the Health Committee this week and get to Council itself, where it is believed there are the votes to pass it. "It" however is not the ordinance it started out as; it has been "severely watered down" (CUFA's term) or "generalized" (my term, as specific references to race and economic status have been reduced or removed in order to assist the ordinance through expected legal challenges from Ohio's Republican judges). I'd check with Gerry and Marvin for info about the forum. G.L.F.
Hi Ellen,
I wanted to give an update (last night at the salon table) on Earth Hour, but everyone was obviously focused on the financial situation. But email will be fine.
I had lunch with Larry Falkin last week, who had great advice on how to navigate this through the city bureaucracy. I spoke before the Council's Education, Environment and Health Committee for my two minutes yesterday. While there, a staffer for Vice Mayor Crowley said that they are trying to get Cincinnati to participate in Earth Hour. Next Tuesday I will speak with the Mayor at the 'Mayor's Night In'. I will speak for my two minutes before the full council the next day on Wednesday. In the meantime, I'll be attempting to get individual appointments with each member of Council. After I speak to the full Council on Wednesday, I will be asking the Salonistas to email the Council and the City Manager in support of Earth Hour.
An additional idea that Larry Falkin had was that there have already been 'Light Up Cincinnati USA' events where downtown was light up more than normal by a partnership of the Chamber of Commerce, Duke Energy, and the Stadium. Obviously that same team can turn the light switches in the other direction.
Great night tonight!
Jeff Cobb
Climate Change Advocates of Cincinnati
http://climate-change-advocates-of-cincinnati.groups.local.1sky.org/en/summary/
“Salonista in Dissention”, Roy Jones, responds to our Race discussion last week in which he was mentioned: (printed as received including formating. E.)
Heya to both of you Steve & Ellen!
I just thought I'd share with you, Steve, (I already told Ellen), that I have my artwork up & for sale in Masterpiece Gallery. An art store in Tri-County mall between Auntie Anne's & Macy's on the 1st floor (closer to Macy's). I've sold 4 paintings in the last 2 weeks so I'm worried I might not have anything left up there soon! : ) I guess that's a good problem to have eh?
Yes, Ellen, Steve was correct in saying I did stop attending mostly due to some personal issues I had with you &, yes indeed, most were about the discussions we had about prejudice & how things were handled regarding it. I also had other things going on in my life with the change of jobs & such. I consider coming almost every week but I just can't seem to break my current structured life.
I read the notes from the discussion you guys had about Holder's comments regarding a "Nation of cowards" & developed this contribution. Here it is ...
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With the first non-White person as president we have been challenged to deal with race in new ways. If we let this opportunity pass without trying to deconstruct & reconstruct our images of race in the US we will contradict the earlier declaration we made that we have a new racial paradigm when we, by a noticeable majority, elected someone who wasn’t White.
(Note I didn’t say we voted for him because he was a non-White, the reasons why people voted for him are personal & varied. However, I refuse to believe, even for a moment, the fact he is a non-White was lost on some of those who voted for or against him.)
HOLDER
Not only did Obama directly challenge us to revisit & rethink race in the US while in Philadelphia, but also he has apparently appointed an Attorney General who is trying to give us the individual responsibility of opening our collective closet & study the bones. Perhaps Obama is much more eloquent & engaging than Holder was. Perhaps Holder’s approach was reminiscent of the polarizing dialogue we’ve come to expect when discussing race. Perhaps his attempt at encouraging such a discussion in fact inspired an external reaction instead of an introspective reflection.
I agree with Holder’s statements but not his tone. Part of the challenge of prompting a discussion on race in the US is to avoid polarizing terms or accusations. Hopefully Obama is coaching him on this as we speak.
REALITY
The undeniable reality is that racism exists in our country. Heck, a lot of “-isms” exist in our country. We have a long history of divisions among race, class, gender, sexual orientation, neighborhoods, latitudinal geographic location, and even intrastate laws! We can’t, however, allow ourselves to believe this is a self-correcting problem or one that effects so few in so little ways that it can be allowed to persist in it’s current form.
Every day an individual is discriminated against for reasons non-applicable to the situation is another day the US fails to deliver its most basic tenements. Every day that happens we have failed to be the society we have challenged ourselves to be & we pretend to be to the rest of the world. How many individuals of great potential have been shut down & kept from contributing to the greatness of our country because opportunities were arbitrarily taken away or not given to them? How many George Washington Carvers are unjustly sitting in jail cells each generation? How many Susan Anthonys are scarred for life by humiliating teenage boys? How many Martin Luther King Jrs are wards of the state before they can even walk? How many Oscar Wildes are beaten back into the closet so deep they can’t express themselves?
Racism’s reality is that it reduces your ability to have a better life everyday & every generation, as long as it exists. If people were truly measured only by their merits & not tertiary attributes, we’d finally tap into the potential our country was meant to overflow with.
HISTORY
The Civil Rights movement is over. It’s as dead as the Reconstruction Era is. It’s as dead as The Slave States Era is. It ended the day King was killed but it shivered and shook from its sudden end for some time after but was never revived. The days of effective marches, votes, rallies, & dedicated full-time protestors is over. Like any government, or society, that went through a revolution does, it inoculates itself from being changed the way it was overthrown before. The last 30+ years of trying the same methods have proven their inefficacy because progress has been slow if not sometimes regressing.
What does this mean? It means that if we are going to rally around this cause we have been challenged to by the president we elected we have to rethink what & how we’ll do it. The old paradigm has been integrated into our society to the point that it can’t shake anything up because it’s part of the foundation. We have to develop a new approach that is catchy, easy to understand, viral, inspirational, & effective. We don’t just have to get out our comfort zones in our day-to-day lives, we have to get out of our comfort zones of what we feel is the “right way” to bring about change.
The Civil Rights movement is history. We must now author a new chapter.
MYTHS OF THE CURRENT FAILING PARADIGM
Let’s take a look at those approaches & myths that are popular today. These have not been effective in bringing about change so let's talk about them so we can get from under their influence.
Association Breeds Friendship
Sorry, this one “gotta go” <sic.>. Proximity doesn’t breed friendship. It breeds familiarity. Familiarity doesn’t equate to friendship nor does it automatically defeat presumptions. In fact, I will say, that proximity grants an illusory sensation of community that may not go any deeper than the arrangement. Interaction, in and of itself, doesn’t inherently bring about perception change. You may coordinate how you park your cars or you see types of people you’ve never seen before, but that a level minimal function & understanding.
You can go to work every day & hold the same degree of contempt for the boss you see everyday for 30+ years. Just the same as racist skinheads & Klansmen can be born & raised next door to the most generous & welcoming non-White, non-Protestants, but still end up an overt racist (I’ve seen this with my own eyes).
Proximity bring an opportunity, but which way that turns out is still unpredictable & it is simply not good enough.
Like Likes Like
One of the myths is that people like those who are like them (The “like” like those who are alike them). The truth is that people do gravitate to those who they feel attuned to, a sort of self-organizing instinct, but the issue is what attributes do people view as being familiar?
What attributes do you, as an individual or society, apply to yourself and/or apply to others? What socialized you to believe that you were, indeed, a young Jewish middle-classed girl with red hair or a middle-aged Catholic poor Black man with a lisp?
When you associate with any group, you must to overlook differences they have within them. So you’re a girl hanging out with girls? Are you the only tomboy? Are you the only lesbian? Are you the only one who can’t get a tan? You choose to associate with them because they’re female but overlook those other defining characteristics.
Race was made a very important attribute in our society. It’s one of the highest priority attributes we process. We applied racial identities to others and ourselves & tend to react on those attributes with that high-priority. We do have other high priority attributes like financial class, & gender, to self-organize by as well.
When we’re overseas & we encounter someone from the States, regardless of their gender or race, we will bond with them. The priority of attributes change based on context. It may be that if we were in a mixed crowd we might end up self-organizing based on what industries we work for if it was a work outing or by our religion if it was an inter-faith event. However, if we just encountered a group of people in an undefined group or setting, we self-organize according to our expected social standards going down the priorities of race, gender, etc.
It’s a <demographic> Thing! You Can’t Understand.
I could never claim to know the full extent of what it is like to have lived your life, even if you were my twin. Everybody’s experience in life is a unique path that is impossible to translate into words. To claim you have overcome your individuality & somehow obtained access to every life moment & the extensive history behind someone else’s life is beyond ridicule.
With that said, we’re all human. We have the same capacity for emotion, abstract thought, & sense of success or failure. We may be able to appreciate or empathize with another person’s plight. However, you can’t understand if you aren’t listening & they can’t understand if you aren’t talking.
I know it’s very tempting, when having a discussion, to claim an area of expertise by saying you’ve experienced it to an audience who hasn’t, or for you to draw the line between you & someone else because they’re sharing an experience you cannot immediately relate to, but it’s necessary to push that barrier. Maybe if not at that moment, make the point to come back to it later. If that item is crucial to your understanding then it’s worth understanding. If it’s crucial they understand it don’t draw up the boundaries when discomfort sets in.
If you are both invested enough in the shared goal then you will find ways to work around, with, or through your differences.
Racial Delineation is Instinctual
Are we doomed to always see people of different colors as different than us because we are wired with the instinct of tribalism?
Race is a social construct because tribal identity is a social construct. Not that tribalism is a construct, but distinctions for what tribe we belong to are self-ascribed & ascribed externally. You could just as easily distinguish your tribe from the other by feathers in your hair, color of paints on your skin, or the typical height of it’s members.
As children we have an insatiable desire to consume & diagnose patterns. Things that change or finding things that are similar when everything else is the same mentally stimulate us. However, kids don’t instinctually have values (good/bad, evil/righteous, valuable/worthless) associated with those elements in the patterns. Kids know ice cubes and wooden blocks are different but don’t know which one is good or bad for what situation until they’ve experimented with it for some time or society applies value to them.
By instinct’s design, you will notice that people have different skin color, heights, genders, and clothes. But whether you value blonde over brunette or girth over skin-and-bones is based on your personal experience & socialization. If society never ascribed values to races, how would we perceive them? If society doesn’t apply values & believe it’s more likely you would consider the differences inconsequential to the decision process.
Racial Blending is Inevitable
Racial identities go beyond skin color or apparent physical features. Racial identities are given, chosen, & revoked. The idea that one day we’ll breed racial distinctions out of our genetic makeup is flawed because we aren’t addressing the social pressures or motivations to view our society racially.
An albino person isn’t, by default, considered Caucasian because race goes beyond those appearances. Supermodels like Tyra Banks have proven that you can have all the physical characteristics of a Caucasian but have brown skin & still be considered a non-White. Marshall Mathers (rapper Eminem) has shown that you can have the physical characteristics & skin color of a white person but still identify more as a non-White.
As long as the concept of racial delineations are at the forefront of our social mind we will still categorize every multi-raced child & force them to behave to social norms or rebel, but never will they be able to have a new category distinct from those norms.
I mean: Black people were called “black” because they were so dark. In our northern society today rarely will you find someone dark enough to be mistaken as the color black because they’re brown or slightly tan. However, per society, census, police, eyewitnesses, and such, they’re Black. Therefore, if we were to start swapping so many attributes that our race becomes hard to delineate. Instead of giving up the process of racial categorization, the process of delineation becomes more sophisticated.
Racism is Dying
Racism is part of the US culture at the highest level even though the contradictory “all <people> are born equal” is too. All major US subcultures arbitrarily include race as an issue. Sure, some place heavier priority to it, but at their bare minimum, they have to recognize race as being an issue to those outside of the culture. Therefore, they have to deal with it in their own way so they can deal with (or even disconnect from) the US culture.
When we seek to build bridges, intermarry, or even properly tolerate & manage diversity, it doesn’t do away with the laws, history, movies, & behaviors of those around us. It doesn’t do away with the built in “Pavlovian conditioning” that still creates the same disparity in results for the different races.
When you have a pool of the general population that gets run through employment opportunities & the results end up skewed in a unfavorable way clearly observable by racial categories it’s safe to say that something within that process introduced racism. We can’t consider it an anomaly because it is repeated through many institutions over time. When racist results are investigated as individual incidents for moments of clear-cut racism affecting the outcome, the racist moments “disappear”.
Let’s say a Black person applies for a job in IT along with a slew of White applicants of equivalent skill & background. If his resume wasn’t reviewed they could site that it wasn’t properly formatted, their place of residence was too far to expect a reasonable commute, or even something as gray as assuming the name given was misspelled. If he was invited to an interview the interviewer could report that his accent was unprofessional, his mannerisms seemed incompatible with the workforce, or, obviously borderline, the other candidate (who happens to be white) reminded more of them when they were first starting. Then you get to point where they can excuse away the offers they gave them or the expectations for employment, etc. Of course, when it’s all said & done the proportion of Blacks who didn’t make it through those checkpoints is greater than the Whites who made it past, but when investigated the details support legal practices.
Basically, the point is that racism isn’t dying it’s evolving. It’s changing from the overt cross-burning, hood-wearing, conscious White supremist to an impulse triggered brain filter spread by a virus known as the social norm.
WHITE PEOPLE’S PROBLEM; BLACK PEOPLE’S BURDEN
I’ve avoided sounding accusatory up until this moment. Bill Clinton basically made that point long ago &, unfortunately, it is true. When it all comes down to it, we cannot have a meaningful discussion of racism without pointing out that, regardless of effort, desire, or wondrous plans, if Whites don’t accept the change the change won’t change anything.
White people are the majority in this country. The non-White voting population came out en force to vote this last election & made the difference in the election. The majority of Whites voted for McCain (55% to 43% source: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1 <http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1> ) but all it would have taken was 3.6% less of the Whites voting for Obama & he wouldn’t be our president (considering just the popular vote results of 52.9% versus 45.7%). Compare that to the fact it would take more than 30% of all the non-Whites to have changed their votes to make that difference. This point is that, 3.6% of White people, in the election, held more sway than 30% of the minorities. Since our society identifies among racial lines, that is a perfect example of what being a majority means.
This means that minorities can’t make the changes all on their own. A significant amount of the majority population must make the effort to solve this problem. Without their buy-in this is just a crowd of disenfranchised people grumbling & making scary threats but with no capability to bring about a change for themselves. Of course, just as the last election demonstrated, it takes a lot more effort & people from the minorities to equal the contribution of one person in the majority, but without the efforts from the minorities, change still won’t come. However, I will note who my audience is.
My audience for this commentary is White. Whether you identify yourself as a White or whether you recognize society applies the “White” label for you, you are the target of this spiel I gave. Not because you are at fault or blameless, nor because you’re responsible or not, but because you are my audience. I hoped I was able to give you a perspective regarding old information & the challenge we still face. I also understand that if you somehow made it through this monstrously large thing you have some passion of your own about this. However, we must break new ground because, despite Obama’s success through the old paradigm, the “top” has been won but the problem still remains.
Roy Jones
Roy@theCreativeRoy.com
February 27th, 2009
Books,Movies, Reviews It’s up to you folks to send me blurbs. I know you are reading. and going to movies. What? Is it good? Ellen.............................................
From Ellen: Just finished Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott ... Funny, inspiring, truthful short pieces about real life. Recovering alcoholic, single mom, Californian. Still reading Bob Witanowski’s tout Before the Dawn by Nicholas Wade, absolutely fascinating readable story of scientific discoveries about human emergence from Africa 50,000 ago, what we were like, what happened, how we spread over the globe, etc. Also just got Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama and am loving it. Get this on the political polarization in our country:
“In distilled form, though, the explanations of both the right and the left have become mirror images of each other. They are stories of conspiracy, of America being hijacked by an evil cabal. Like all good conspiracy theories, both tales contain just enough truth to satisfy those predisposed to believe in them, without admitting any contradictions that might shake up those assumptions. Their purpose is not to persuade the other side but to keep their bases agitated and assured of the rightness of their respective causes—and lure just enough new adherents to beat the other side into submission.I think this is brilliant. It opens my heart and lifts my spirit to read such clear thinking, beautifully expressed. Ellen
Of course, there is another story to be told, by the millions of Americans who are going about their business evey day. They are on the job or looking for work, starting businesses, helping their kids with their homework, and struggling with high gas bills, insufficient health insurance, and a pension that some bankruptcy court somewhere has rendered unenforceable. ....” p. 24
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 forwarding your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net.
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Sincerely, Jim
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The Wayne Yeager Organ Trio [Thursday 5 March @ 7:30 PM]: Wayne Yeager is touted as Cincinnati's most seasoned, swinging & soulful Hammond organ player. The Trio features Bob Roetker on guitar, & welcomes Pamela Mallory with her sweet & sassy, soulful & swinging style that makes a song her own with unique phrasing & seemingly effortless delivery. Admission is $5; free if jazz club member or if you come to happy hour (5-7 PM). Free parking. At The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Avenue, Mt Lookout Square, Cincinnati, OH 45208. More info @ 513.871.6789, waltb31@gmail.com & www.jaspersmtlookout.com.
Slaves Among Us: Human Trafficking Today [Thursday 5 March @ 7-9 PM]: Two Ohioans will recount their experiences of being enslaved & rescued. Slavery today? How does this happen? Who is involved? What can be done? These questions will be addressed when the Wise Temple Critical Topics Committee & community cosponsors present this important discussion. Four panelists will provide information & action steps. High School & College Student breakout session will discuss slavery & plan ways for students to make a difference. Free. At Isaac M. Wise Center, 8329 Ridge Road, Amberley Village, Cincinnati, OH 45236. More info & forward questions for panel @ ctc@wisetemple.org.
Two Gentlemen of Verona [Thursday-Sunday 5-8 March @ 8 PM (Thu-Sat) & 2:30 PM (Sat-Sun)]: Based on the Bard's whimsical comedy, the Tony Award-winning 1971 rock musical "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is a frothy celebration of young love from the composer of "Hair." Two best friends leave their small town behind to indulge in the big city's hedonistic thrills. When a lovely young heiress catches both of their attentions, the boys engage in an outlandishly funny battle of one-upmanship. Tickets are $15-28. At Patricia Corbett Theater, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. More info @ 513.556.4183, boxoff@uc.edu, & www.ccm.uc.edu.
Signing Safari [Thursdays 5 March - 2 April @ 11 AM]: Join your child in singing, signing, playing & rhyming during this 5-week series of 45-minute play classes. Cost for all 5 classes is $75. At Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info & RSVP @ www.signingsafari.com.
Mythography: An Exploration of Narrative by 13 Artists [Opening Friday 6 March @ 6-9 PM]: We are fascinated with stories, legends, myths & fables. Stories help locate us &, form our personal identities. They often operate as larger metaphors for reality. Throughout history, visual artists have offered a unique contribution to the telling of tales. Manifest invited national & international artists to come tell stories in any visual creative medium. For this exhibit, narrative art includes comic art, sequential art, documentary, animation, video/film, illustration, performance, painting, sculpture, photography & drawing; 16 works by 13 artists from across the country comprise the exhibit. Refreshments by Café MoCA & the Echo Restaurant. Exhibit run thru Friday 3 April. At 2727 Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. Parking on street & across the street in DeSales Business Parking Lot. More info @ 513.861.3638, jason@manifestgallery.org & www.manifestgallery.org.
Double Vision - glass art [opening Friday 6 March @ 6-9 PM]: The glass art of Brook Forrest White, Jr & Susie Slabaugh White. Artists' demonstration Saturday 21 March @ 1-3 PM. Enjoy a rare opportunity to design & create a personalized piece in cooperation with the artists. Exhibit runs thru Saturday 18 April. At Marta Hewett Gallery, 656 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ 513.281.2780, 513.281.0076 & www.martahewett.com.
Lisa Biales/Michael G. Ronstadt [Friday 6 March @ 9 PM]: Lisa Biales (guitar/voice), "the Norman Rockwell of Songwriters with a crystal pure voice for painting a vivid picture," has teamed up with Michael G. Ronstadt's (cello/guitar/voice) "soaring cello" for 2 truly wonderful concert experiences. Food & drink for sale. At 12 South Beech Street, Oxford, OH 45056. More info @ 513.284.6805, treblig@ronstadt.com, www.michaelronstadt.com & www.lisabiales.com.
Constellation Workshops [Friday-Saturday 6-7 March & 3-4 April @ 6-9 PM (Fri) & 4-7 PM (Sat)]: Use this amazing process to move energy around almost anything. $75 for one session; discount for a pair of sessions. At Het Heret Transformation Resources, 11223 Cornell Park Drive #401, Blue Ash, OH 45242. More info from Beverly @ 513.489.9777.
An Evening of Laurel & Hardy Films [Saturday 7 March @ 6:45-10 PM]: After the success of their inaugural meeting in December, The Sons Of The Desert (The Cincinnati chapter of the Laurel & Hardy Appreciation Society) will provide another evening of screen comedy featuring Laurel & Hardy. Socialize, enjoy snacks & watch Laurel & Hardy films: “Two Tars” (silent with live keyboard accompaniment), “The Chimp,” & “Sons of the Desert.” Also see the Our Gang comedy “Divot Diggers” & the Warner Brothers cartoon “You Ought To Be In Pictures” featuring Porky Pig & Daffy Duck. See what sailors, traffic jams, golf, circuses, apes, marriage, & fraternal orgs were like in the 1920s & 30s. $5; free for kids under 13 years. Bring nibbles, snacks or soft drinks to share. At the Towers of Kenwood, 8044 Montgomery Road @ I-71 (enter thru West Tower lobby, where directions to film room will be given), Cincinnati, OH. More info & RSVP @ 513.559.0112 & chimptent@live.com.
Awakening: Path to Spirituality - Art Opening [Saturday 7 March @ 4-8 PM]: A collection of paintings by artist Chuck Marshall. A sensitive & beautiful celebration of the positive power of diversity. More than 20 paintings range in subject from the “Sufi Storyteller” to “Parzi Ceremony” to “Christ in the Garden” to “Mother Theresa.” This is an exhibit that explores specific themes of faith & mysticism, but ultimately reveals the oneness of the spiritual path. The exhibit runs thru Saturday 4 April. At Gallery 42, 105 East Main Street, #101, Mason, OH 45040. More info @ 513.234.7874, Gallery42fineart@gmail.com & www.gallery42fineart.com.
Basics of Home Coffee Brewing [Saturday 7 March @ 11 AM]: Sit down with Chuck Pfahler & Les Stoneham of La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasters & get the basics on home coffee brewing. Topics include the importance of using whole bean over ground coffee & correct water-to-coffee ratio. This is the 1st in a series of 3 free workshops. At Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info & RSVP @ 513.721.7275, info@parkandvine.com & www.parkandvine.com.
Save Energy, Save Green Interactive Workshop [Saturday 7 March @ 2-4 PM]: Learn about the environmental & financial impacts of home energy usage. Sponsored by the University of Cincinnati & funded by the Ohio EPA, environmental educators will conduct this fun, interactive session complete with empowering take-aways & door prizes. Appropriate for home-owners, renters & their families ages 12 & up. At Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ saveenergycincy@yahoo.com.
Scholarship to Cosmetology School [application deadline is midnight March 7]: Ms Niecey's Simply Beautiful Salon & Spa Group, Image Communications & Moore Universite of Hair Design offer an all-tuition-paid scholarship to cosmetology school for 1 person interested in a professional beauty industry career. Two runner-up awards of $200 each will also be granted. The goal of the scholarship program is to search for the best candidates with artistic & technical skills & career goals to succeed in today's professional beauty business. Candidates must provide a written application with their goals & desires for attending beauty school (150-250 words); a résumé of accomplishments in database management, mobile marketing & Microsoft office tools; & an artistic portfolio of work. “The neighborhood salons are in need of a new type of worker who can provide a new skill set needed to compete with the large corporate competition" ~ Marvin Gentry, owner of Moore Universite of Hair Design. More info & applications @ 513.531.3100, mooreu@zoomtown.com & www.mooreuniversiteofhairdesign.com.
Losar - Tibetan New Year Celebration [Saturday-Sunday 7-8 March]: The Tibetan calendar follows the lunar year. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is a time for expressing gratitude for the blessings of the previous year & praying for a prosperous year to come. 2009 is the year 2136 in the Tibetan calendar & is the “Year of the Female Earth Ox.”
<> Smoke Offering and Prayer Flag Installation [Sat 7 March @ 9 AM]: Prayer flags are inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations, prayers & mantras; each color has specific meaning: blue for sky/space, white for air/wind, red for fire,
green for water & yellow for earth. The flags are hung outside so that, as the wind passes over, it carries the blessings to the entire region. Prayer flags are hung to bring happiness, long life & prosperity.
<> New Year Dinner Party [Sunday 8 March @ 6 PM]: Enjoy traditional Tibetan delicacies prepared by the monks. The menu features vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes prepared by the monks using traditional recipes, including momos, a dumpling similar to pot stickers. Sample sweet tea & Tibetan salt tea. Free; RSVP required. At Gaden Samdrup-Ling Buddhist Monastery, 3046 Pavlova Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45251. More info & RSVP @ 513.385.7116, gsl@ganden.org & www.ganden.org.
LINKS Collection Days [Saturday-Sunday 7-8 March @ 10 AM - 5 PM (Sat) & 12-5 PM (Sun)]: LINKS, or Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids, is a “recycling program” for musical instruments. Instruments are collected, refurbished & placed into the hands of Cincinnati-area students who may otherwise not be able to obtain instruments on their own. The public is invited to donate new or used instruments. At Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Rookwood Pavilion, Hyde Park, Cincinnati, OH 45208. More info @ 513.556.2100 & www.ccm.uc.edu.
Eurydice - live theatre [Saturday 7 - Saturday 28 March]: This play by Sarah Ruhl is a modern retelling of the classic love story about Eurydice's death, & Orpheus' voyage to the underworld to save her. This version boasts quirky twists & unforgettable characters, like a tricycle-riding lord of the underworld & a chorus of loud-mouthed stones. Tickets are $12. At Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info, times & dates @ 513.300.5669 & www.knowtheatre.com.
International Women's Day Concert [Sunday 8 March @ 3 PNM]: MUSE - Cincinnati’s Women’s Chorus, Indian Hill High School Women’s Choir & the Women’s Chorus of Bowling Green State University will commemorate 100 years of International Women's Day. Experience 3 dynamic, diverse women's choirs, directed by 3 experienced women directors. This unique, multi-generational performance will celebrate the voices of women. Every year on March 8th, 1000s of events are held around the world to inspire women & celebrate achievements. $15 for 1 adult & 1 child; $10 for students with ID; $5 for kids under 12. At St. John’s Unitarian Universalist Church, 320 Resor Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220. More info & tix @ 513.961.1938, 513.221.1118, muse@musechoir.org & www.musechoir.org.
Gauguin & Modern Art: Degas, Matisse & Picasso [Sunday 8 March @ 2 PM]: The Alliance Française & the Cincinnati Art Museum present a French art lecture by Richard Brettell, Ph.D., Margaret McDermott Distinguished Chair, Art & Aesthetics, University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Brettell is a world renowned expert on French Impression & 19th century French painting. A reception with refreshments follows the lecture. $10 for Alliance Française & Museum members, & students; $20 for general public. At Fath Auditorium, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info & RSVP @ 513.721.2787, afpostmaster@france-cincinnati.com & http://purchase.tickets.com:80/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=1234&pid=%206431718.
Gypsum Duo & Lost In Holland [Sunday 8 March @ 3-5 PM]: The Gypsum Duo (Sandy Suskind-flute&sax/Michael G. Ronstadt-cello,guitar&voice) & Lost In Holland (Josh Hisle, guitar/Michael G. Ronstadt) perform, showcasing a truly unique blend of the Gypsum Duo's exhilarating combination of jazz, classical & folk music that "[takes] the listener on [an] unexpected, worthwhile musical journey" ~ Dan Buckley, Tucson Citizen. Lost In Holland's "fusion of sound, with Josh's brilliant folk-twinged guitar runs being complemented by Michael's wonderful, soaring cello" ~ Scott Sandie, Broken Arrow Magazine. $10. The Speckled Bird Cafe, 1766 Mills Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212. More info @ 520.730.5768, treblig@ronstadt.com, www.michaelronstadt.com & www.sandysuskind.com.
Learning to Read Tarot Cards [Wednesdays 11, 18 & 25 March @ 7-9 PM]: A fun class where you'll look at many different decks, learn the meanings of the Major & Minor Arcana, & practice several different layouts. A very experiential class, good for novices & those who want to brush up on their skills. $90 for 3 sessions; receive a certificate when you complete the class. Classes in Walnut Hills. More info & directions @ 513.281.6864 & patricia@patriciagarry.com.
Ohio Innocence Project [Thursday 12 March @ 11 AM - Noon]: The Wise Temple Senior Adults present the Ohio Innocence Project, dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted prisoners. Speaker will be Dr. Mark A. Godsey, Professor of Law & Director of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Institute for Justice/Ohio Innocence Project, University of Cincinnati College of Law. A released prisoner will be in attendance. A light lunch will follow the program (cost is $7 per person). At The Wise Center, 8329 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. More info, RSVP & order lunch @ seniors@wisetemple.org.
Woman’s City Club's National Speaker [Thursday 12 March @ 7:30 PM]: Gail Collins, NY Times editor & columnist, will speak on "Scorpion Tongues: Gossip, Celebrity & American Politics." A native of Cincinnati, Ms Collins joined the New York Times in 1995. In 2001 she became the 1st woman ever appointed editor of the Times editorial page. Presentation is $25, presentation & reception is $125. At Millennium Hotel, 141 West 6th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info & tix @ 513.751.0100 & wcc@womanscityclub.org.
Play It Forward Benefit Concert [Thursday 12 March @ 8 PM]: A huge coming-together of local musicians performing to help fellow musicians via the 501c3 nonprofit organization Play it Forward. Gary Burbank, local comedian, radio celebrity & musician, founded Play It Forward to support local musicians in need & to help foster a strong local music community. To this end, he recruited Cincinnati musicians, friends & music supporters to get this org off the ground. Outstanding local artists contributed their talents towards a 30 track, 2-disk compilation CD which will be released at the concert. The lineup includes Gary Burbank with Blue Run, The Blue Birds, Sonny Moorman, Ricky Nye, Tracy Walker, Keith Little, Noah Hunt, Scotty Anderson & many more special guests including celebrity artists. $12 presale or $15 at the door. All proceeds from the door & CD sales will benefit the org & their mission. At Madison Theater, 728 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859.491.2444 & www.pifcincy.org.
Reiki First Degree Class & Attunement [Thursdays 12, 19 & 26 March @ 7-9 PM]: Experience Reiki energy healing, & learn to heal yourself & those around you. A transformative experience & a great step on your spiritual path. $90 for 3 sessions; receive a certificate when you complete the class. Classes in Walnut Hills. More info & directions @ 513.281.6864 & patricia@patriciagarry.com.
On the Same Page: a book discussion of The Soloist [Friday 13 March @ 6:30 PM]: Social worker & psychoanalyst Merrilee Atkins, MSW, & retired newspaper editor & columnist Mike Phillips lead a discussion about The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, & the Redemptive Power of Music, authored by Steve Lopez, an inspiring true story about Nathaniel Ayers, a mentally ill, homeless violinist, whom the author tries to "rescue." Free; pre-registration requested. The Association for Psychoanalystic Thought sponsors this event as part of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library's annual community-wide reading program. Wine & cheese reception @ 6:30 PM; discussion starts @ 7 PM. At Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute, 3001 Highland Avenue, Correyville, Cincinnati, OH 45219. More info @ 513.531.0415 & AssnPsaThought@aol.com.
Beyond War: A New Economy is Possible [Saturday 14 March @ 12:30-4 PM]: Judith LeBlanc is an internationally renowned speaker, co-chair of United for Peace & Justice & frequent radio guest on national news outlets. In her dynamic way, Judith will draw historical parallels from Martin Luther King’s Beyond Vietnam speech & illustrate it’s application to today. She’ll energize the audience to move beyond a militarized economy & bring about an economy that serves human needs. Workshops: ending the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan; beyond war: realistic ways to retool the economy for the common good & improved national security; building skills & alliances to end the wars & retool the economy; & healing the wounds of war. Sponsored by Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center & Xavier University’s Peace & Justice Programs. At Xavier University at Hailstone’s 2 by Bellarmine Chapel, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207. More info @ 513.579.8547, kristen@ijpc-cincinnati.org & www.ijpc-cincinnati.org.
Your Spring Salad [Saturday 14 March @ 11 AM]: Get all the seeds & plants you need to grow your own delicious organic salads from Greensleeves Farm. Students attending this hands-on workshop can choose from a selection of containers & soils from City Roots & Outside. Cost ranges from $20-40 depending on container size & number of plants selected. Limited space. At Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info & RSVP @ greensleevesfarm@gmail.com.
St. Patrick's Day on Fountain Square [Saturday 14 March]: Watch the 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fountain Square & spend the rest of the day partying on the Square. O’Nati’s Irish Pub (aka Fountain Square) features beer, food & live music by 5 bands including a U2 cover band & Irish merchandise sold by Celtic Corner. The 2009 St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 8th & Broadway, travels south on Vine, turns left at 5th Street & ends at 5th & Sentinel Streets. Parade & party begin at 11 AM. The parade ends around 1 PM, but the party continues until 9 PM. Free. Food & beverages available for purchase. At Fountain Square, 5th & Vine Streets, Downtown Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ www.myfountainsquare.com & www.cincinnatisaintpatrickparade1.netfirms.com/.
The Miracle Grain [Saturday 14 March @ 2 PM]: Adrienne Cooper returns for a hands-on vegan cooking class that uses whole grains to prepare sushi, encrusted rice burgers & rice pudding. $35 registration includes food samples, recipes & educational materials. At Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.542.0055 & 513.702.1692.
Reiki Classes Levels I-III: Learn & be attuned to the gentle healing energy of Reiki. Level I class is Saturday 4 April (prerequisite: at least one full body reiki treatment); Level II is Saturday 14 March (prerequisite: Level I); Level III is taught in 2 parts on Saturdays 9 & 16 May (prerequisites: Level II & 1 year practice). Space is limited. Presented by Pure Reiki, Inc. Taught in instructors' homes in Green Township, 45233 & 45248. More info @ 513.347.3099, 513.451.7007, elfriede@lookitup.com & jan613@current.net.
Karuna Reiki Levels I & II Training [Saturday-Sunday 14-15 March @ 10 AM - 6 PM]: Attunement to & training on the 4 Karuna Reiki symbols for each level & how to use them with the Usui Symbols. How to empower your voice to chant & tone with Karuna Reiki for powerful healing, & additional advanced techniques such as healing the Shadow Self. You must have had Advanced Reiki Training/Usui Master IIIa for at least 6 months to be eligible. Attend 1 or both days. Nurses: 8 contact hours per day. Massage Therapists: 7 contact hours per day. Level I - $185, Level II - $225. If you have taken these levels before & have your certificates, you may review for $75 per level plus $16 for new manual if needed. Facilitated by JoAnn Utley. At Synergy Holistic Health, 7413 Hwy 42, # 3, Florence, KY 41042. More info & register @ 502.777.3865 & jutley5122@bellsouth.net.
Bach Concert [Sunday 15 March @ 3 PM]: Dr. Elmer Thomas will conduct the inaugural performance of the Bach Association of Cincinnati's Bachorale (B.A.C.H.) in a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata 140 "Wachet Auf" & Giacomo Carissimi’s "Jephte," to be sung by 6 solo voices & accompanied by the Bach Festival Orchestra. Organist Paul Welch will perform a selection of Bach organ works. This is the last of this season's Cathedral Concert Series. The concert is free. At the concert, B.A.C.H. will present the Mendelssohn Award to Robert & Rita Schaffer for their work to incorporate the music of J.S. Bach prominently in the Basilica’s many concerts over the years. The award recognizes those who champion the music of J.S. Bach. At St Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Avenue @ 12th Street, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859.431.2060, cathedralconcertseries@fuse.net & http://Cathedralconcertseries.org.
Blood - live theatre [Sunday 15 March @ 1:30 PM]: Just in time for the Saint Patrick's Day season, the Irish American Theater brings Irish history to life with its production of "Blood" by Larry Kirwan of the musical group Black 47. This 50 minute 1-act play is based on the Irish Easter Rebellion. Free. Suitable for teens & adults. At Reakirt Auditorium, Museum Center Union Terminal, 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45203. More info @ 513.225.6915 & IrishAmericanTheaterCo@fuse.net.
Oil Painting Still Life with Richard Luschek [Thursdays 19 March - 21 May @ 6:30-9:30 PM]: In this beginning painting course, students will not only begin with the very basics of painting, but will begin to learn how to see & study nature. The student's own work is the forum for inculcating this knowledge through verbal instruction, demonstrations & hands-on critiques. There will be plenty of suggested reading. The studio is in the Lindner Resthaven Barn marvelously reclaimed as an artist's haven. $250 tuition; $50 deposit to reserve your spot. Limited to 11 students. At the Women Art Club & Cultural Art Center, 6980 Cambridge Avenue, Mariemont, OH 45227. More info & supply list @ 513.479.3322, richard_luschek@yahoo.com, & www.richardluschek.com.
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Ongoing Tri-State Treasures
Positively Ninety - Interviews with Lively Nonagenarians [thru Saturday 7 March @ 6-8 PM]: An exhibit of photographs & writings about the incredible liveliness of nonagenarians by Connie Springer, writer & photographer. With partial funding from the City of Cincinnati's Individual Artist's Grant. At Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45213. More info @ 513.631.4278, larkspur@fuse.net & www.kennedyarts.org.
Clay Alliance 10th Anniversary Show [Saturdays thru 14 March @ 10 AM - 4 PM]: The show will feature clay works from the past decade from members of the alliance, both past & present. Free. At Kennedy Heights Arts Center, 6546 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45213. More info @ 513.631.4278, ellen@kennedyarts.org & www.kennedyarts.org.
St Mary's Cathedral Basilica Concert Series [Sundays thru 15 March @ 3 PM]: Enjoy beautiful music in an amazing space. St Mary's Cathedral Basilica presents the 33rd Series of concert music. Most concerts are free. At St Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Madison Avenue @ 12th Street, Covington, KY 41011. More info @ 859.431.2060, cathedralconcertseries@fuse.net & www.covcathedral.com/frame1.htm.
Black History Month Art Exhibit [thru Sunday 15 March]: Works by Jariel Galloway, Eugenie Goggin, Joanne Honschopp, Judi Parks, Wolfgang Ritschel, Robert Scholl, Paul Vollman & Zeta Wolf yield over 90 paintings, photographs, & art in other media celebrate Africa & the African American Culture. Refreshments & jazz by local band Ain't From Around Here. Discover the "Lure of Africa" while enjoying live African American musicians. Art on the Levee, between The Reserve Restaurant & Piano Lounge and Cafe Istanbul, Newport on the Levee, Newport, KY 41071. More info @ www.artonthelevee.com & www.newportonthelevee.com.
Miami University Italian-American Film Series [Wednesdays thru 29 April @ 7:30 PM]: Curated & presented by Professor Sante Matteo. Free & open to the public. In 102 Benton Hall, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056. This venue is a recently refurbished auditorium with very comfortable seating (& convenient adjacent parking) on the north side of High Street (Route 27 N from Cincinnati) at the intersection of Tallawanda Street. Map @ www.miami.muohio.edu/about_miami/campusmap/. More info @ matteos@muohio.edu.
Mar 18: Son of the Sheik, with Rudolf Valentino (1926) George Fitzmaurice
Mar 25: Saturday Night Fever (1977) John Badham
Apr 1: Donnie Brasco (1997) Mike Newell
Apr 8: The Godfather (1972), Francis Ford Coppola
Apr 15: Goodfellas (1990), Martin Scorsese
Apr 22: The Freshman (1990) Andrew Bergman
Apr 29: The Sopranos, episodes from the TV series, David Chase
Italian Film Series: Italy Is Made; Now We Must Make Italians [Thursdays thru 30 April @ 5 PM]: A 2nd film series curated & presented by Professor Sante Matteo. All movies are in Italian, some without English subtitles, & will be presented in Italian; those with English subtitles are noted. Free & open to the public. In 40 Irvin Hall, East Spring Street north of South Oak Street, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056. More info @ matteos@muohio.edu & www.miami.muohio.edu/about_miami/campusmap/.
Mar. 5: Il Gattopardo, part I, Luchino Visconti (1963), subtitles
Mar. 19: Il Gattopardo, part II; Cavalleria rusticana, opera, Pietro Mascagni, 1890, subtitles
Mar. 26: Tosca, opera, Giacomo Puccini, 1900, subtitles
Apr. 2: Cuore, part I, Luigi Comencini (1984—TV mini-series)
Apr. 9: Cuore, part II
Apr. 16: Cuore, part III
Apr. 23: Tutti a casa, Luigi Comencini (1960)
Apr. 30: Tornando a casa, Vincenzo Marra (2001)
State of Eight - Presidential Exhibit [thru Wednesday 1 April @ 8 AM - 4 PM]: The William Howard Taft National Historic site hosts a traveling exhibit celebrating Presidents day; a Bicentennial Tribute to Ohio's Presidential Legacy, on loan from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center that examines the influential role that Ohio has played in presidential politics: 8 men elected President of the United States. A series of panels explores the lives of these leaders, plus broader aspects of the Buckeye State's presidential legacy. Ohio cities have been sites for 5 presidential conventions hosted by major parties & more than 20 third-party gatherings. A long list of Ohio hopefuls tried but failed to reside in the White House, including female presidential candidate, Victoria Woodhull, in 1872. National Park Service staff provide tours. Free admission. At William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 2038 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219; ask about free parking. More info @ 513.684.3262 & www.nps.gov/wiho.
Raymond Lane, Jr. Art Exhibit [thru Friday 3 April]: Raymond Lane Jr., a local artist, will host an opening reception for his original clay sculptures of Harriet Tubman. A unique chance to view this collection of 6 sculptures in uniquely historical setting. Children, students, teachers & adults are encouraged to attend this art opening that also includes events from the Underground Railroad. Free admission; donations welcome. Exhibit closing reception is Fri 3 Apr @ 5-8 PM. At the new Harriet Beecher Stowe House, 2nd Floor Gallery, 2950 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45206. More info @ 513.324.2218 & stowehouse@zoomtown.com.
Appearances by Artist, Writer & Spiritualist Rex Oxley with his Natural Mandala [thru 30 April]:
<> Meditate on Rex Oxley's Natural Mandala [Sundays 1 February to 30 April @ 10:30 AM]: The region’s only member of the United Churches of Spiritual Living will use the inspiration, creativity & earthiness of the mandala as the basis of Sunday talks while the Ohio artist's spiritual artwork is exhibited at Beacon of Life Spiritual Center. Artist Oxley will lead meditation workshops & talk about his meditative creative process in building the mandala.
<> Meet Rex Oxley [Fri 27 Feb @ 6:30-8:30 PM]: Meet Rex Oxley & see his Natural Mandala.
<> Celebrate Mother Earth with a Mandala Meditation [Wed 22 Apr @ 7:30-9 PM]: Meet Rex Oxley & his Natural Mandala.
<> Mandala Meditation Workshops [Sat 28 Feb @ 1:30-4:30 PM & Thu 2 Apr @ 6:30-9 PM]: Rex Oxley leads how-to-meditate workshops based on his Natural Mandala. $15.
At Beacon of Life Spiritual Center, 5701 Murray Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45227. More info @ 513.218.2128, info@beaconoflife.org, www.beaconoflife.org & www.naturalmandala.com.
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Tri-State Treasures is compiled by Jim 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; please specify "Tri-State Treasures."
Email addresses are posted in BlindCopy to protect your identity. Email addresses are not shared, given, or sold without explicit permission from its owner.
Tri-State Treasures are typically transmitted on Wednesdays; submissions should be received as soon as possible for best probability of being included.
Because my time is limited, please help by submitting your Tri-State Treasures in the following format. This will help me immeasurably & enhance the probability the item will be incorporated into Tri-State Treasures:
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 @ 8-10 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 Movie 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 Yahoo 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, 7, 8 or 9. This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can delete it. Thanks! ellen bierhorst
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