Column

Comic Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Film Maker, Composer

Perhaps millions of people, worldwide, knew Charlie Chaplin, as a comic actor who appeared in numerous films specializing in comedic roles; but how many knew him as a musician, singer, instrumentalist, and composer of songs and film music?

Chaplin wrote the music for almost all his films. This came as a complete surprise to me, until I recently heard music composed by Chaplin on the radio. I was astounded, as I had never heard of Chaplin as a composer. Numerous books and articles have been written about Chaplin, but they usually don’t concentrate on Chaplin, the musician and composer.

Early Life: Charles Spencer Chaplin was born April 15th or 16^th (the day is disputed), in 1889 in South London, England. His father, Charles, was a music hall star and his mother, Hannah, was a singer in music halls. Young Charlie was exposed to music, dance, acting and singing at a very early age, by both parents. His early years were spent in the English music halls and vaudeville theaters.

At five years of age, Chaplin’s father took him to a music hall where his mother was scheduled to sing. Her voice was weakened, and she couldn’t perform. (Unfortunately, his mother later suffered from mental illness and eventually was committed to an asylum.)

 It was decided that the young boy would take her place. “During his performance the audience started to throw money at him; he couldn’t gather it up fast enough. The audience laughed and shouted as they just couldn’t get enough of him. Obviously, this made quite an impression on young Chaplin,” wrote Kenneth S. Lynn, in Charlie Chaplin and His Times. The influence of the English music halls was present in Chaplin’s composing. “It was the music halls that would represent the breath of the streets and the dreams of ‘ordinary’ men and women on the stage,” wrote Simon Louvish, in Chaplin the Tramps Odyssey. “The music halls were his Eton College and his Harrow School for Boys; referring to the schools that he infrequently attended.” In other words, what he heard in the music halls was the basis of his education.

One day, Chaplin was walking around Kennington Cross in South London, when he heard the song, “Honey Suckle and the Bee,” being played by a clarinetist; Chaplin remarked, “It opened my soul to music.”         

Chaplin was so enthralled with music he bought a violin. Being left-handed he reversed the strings and the bridge so he could easily play. He also learned to play the piano and cello. Again, he reversed the strings and the bridge on the cello allowing him to play left-handed. He practiced for hours at a time and became proficient on these instruments. He said music cheered him up when he was grim. He wrote,” I strove for a mood, usually music created it.”

Chaplin once heard a Hungarian violinist in a restaurant. He was so intrigued, he stayed four hours until closing time. Later, after 27 years, Chaplin remembered that violinist and brought him to life portraying him in an act, with Buster Keaton on piano.

During the years 1913 to 1919, Chaplin rose to fame in Hollywood. He was considered a super-star of the silent film era, doing a series of short comedies where he introduced his “Little Tramp” character. After 1918 he produced his own feature length films. He was a silent film star who easily transitioned into the “talkie” era. This was the start of a notable career, lasting more than 75 years.

Chaplin’s most famous character, “The Tramp,” was portrayed in five of his films dating from 1921 to 1935. They are: The Kid, The Gold Rush, The Circus, City Lights, and Modern Times, all became famous, popular movies.

A story that is most likely significant in the creation of the “Tramp” character, is about entertainer, George Robey. He was a music hall favorite who sang comic songs and had a very funny delivery. He dressed in a black clergyman’s coat, wore an ill-fitting bowler hat, elongated shoes and carried a flexible cane. Another prop was his black mustache that took on different permutations for different characterizations. “Could this be where Chaplin got his inspiration for “The Little Tramp?” wrote Simon Louvish, in Chaplin: The Tramps Odyssey.

Regarding Chaplin’s film making, much of it was innate, but he also learned from Mack Sennett, who was known as the “King of Comedy.” Sennett learned from D.W. Griffith, who also influenced the young comic. Chaplin was a tough task-master and disciplinarian and was not afraid of hard work, expecting the same from his employees. He sometimes spent hours and days on one shot in order to make it perfect. Chaplin made more than 70 films in his long career, composing the music for many of them.

In many ways Chaplin felt compelled to compose not only songs, but entire film scores for his many movies that he not only wrote, produced and directed, but starred in himself.

Music and Composing:

(Some information in this section was from Phil Posner’s article: His Musical Career: Chaplin The Perfect Composer)

Chaplin was not formally trained in music. His parents, being in show business in the English music halls, were responsible for his early learning experiences. He was blessed with a keen musical ear and a very good sense of rhythm. As a child, he became aware of the magic and mystery of music. He didn’t understand it, but he loved it.

            It must be remembered that a large part of his film making, and acting was in the silent movie era. In this era, it was customary to have some musical accompaniment to go with the action on the screen. The music ranged from a single player on organ or piano all the way to a full symphony orchestra in the larger theaters. Before the 1920s the musical selections were largely left to the discretion of the local musicians. On major productions the studios would send cue sheets to indicate to the musicians what to play in certain scenes. The 

purpose of the music was to enhance the dramatic action on the screen, whether comedy or tragedy.

Chaplin became aware of different musical styles both from performances he was in and from those he attended. Ragtime, jazz, show tunes from Broadway, and classical pieces, were often used in his own music, as he was very eclectic in composing.

In his comedic style, emotional content was paramount. He controlled mood in depicting situations and characters that were important for the audience appreciation of the story and the performers. To his credit he was aware of his own limitations as a composer and was not adverse to using arrangers and music directors when he felt he needed them. His music was said to be simple, elegant, romantic, but not too comedic. His first film score, The Kid, was made in 1921, before talkies.

In his music written for the talkies, it was, understandably, more subdued than his music for the silent era. The silent era music played almost an equal role to the action on the screen. Chaplin used a recurring theme or leitmotif, assigned to each character. Again, mood was very important in both depicting situations and characters. He used exciting chase music that added to the excitement and comedic action on the screen. He used short musical phases to accent an action or situation. Usually his music was serious unless he mimicked the action with appropriate music. Many of his musical sequences were dance rhythms—waltzes, tangos and two-steps.

Melodic development was an important part of Chaplin’s music. Some great melodies were assigned to female actresses. His melodies have elements of sweetness, loveliness, touching, and feeling. He re-used some of his own movie themes, he was not above self-borrowing. He also paraphrased other composer’s music for his own films. Some examples are: How Dry I Am, Comin through the Rye, Loch Lomond, The Flight of the Bumble Bee, and Sleeping Beauty.

Chaplin’s concept of character was both brilliant and original. His pictures that portrayed little nuances of vulgarisms came from his training and exposure in the music halls. “No other composer could have so well formed the moods and emotions for his films,” wrote, Phil Posner in his article, His Musical Career: Chaplin The Perfect Composer. “He was the only composer to be fully aware of their effects and was the perfect composer to attain them.”

Some of his familiar songs are: Smile, The Vagabonds, Breakaway, Getting Acquainted, Easy Street, His Trysting Place, Life After America, The Fatal Mallet, The Face onThe Bar, and The Circus.

Chaplin’s best-known films are: The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), and Modern Times (1936). Chaplin designated City Lights as the finest film he ever made. He said the music was one of the primary reasons for this conviction.

Chaplin, most likely, considered himself a lady’s man as he had numerous affairs, girlfriends and wives, frequently at the same time! He had four wives: Mildred Harris, his first wife, then, Lita Grey, Paulette Goddard, and Oona O’Neill; the daughter of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright, Eugene O’Neill. (In 1937, O’Neill moved to Danville, California to “Tao House” where he wrote three of his most famous plays. Today the home is a National Historic Site that is open to visitors.) When his daughter, Oona, married Chaplin she was only 18 years old and he was 54, a 36-year difference.

In addition to his other accomplishments Chaplin authored several books, two of them were of an autobiographical nature: My Auto-Biography (1964), and My Life in Pictures (1974), written just three years before his death. Queen Elizabeth II, knighted Chaplin in1975. He became Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, KBE (Knight of the British Empire).

Chaplin is regarded as one of the greatest comic actors ever to grace the silver screen, then and now. He is universally known as one of the most important and influential men in the film industry. Chaplin’s movies and music still enjoy world-wide appeal and fame and no doubt will, for years to come.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

Spring is officially here, and every sunny morning validates the promise of more picture-perfect days to come. After a dreary winter the farmers’ market is also coming into bloom, with towering displays of cool-weather crops like squeaky-fresh artichokes, field-grown asparagus and rhubarb, sugary little beets and carrots, celery, peas-in-the-pod and super-sweet sugar snaps, plump fava beans, crunchy radishes, snowy-white turnips, and tender young spinach. Months with little more than apples and citrus to satisfy our cravings for fresh fruit give way to early strawberries and cherries. As if that were not enough, there is a proliferation of fragrant spring flowers to lift our spirits. It pays to pack a cooler in your trunk, lest you succumb to temptation! You’ll never regret it.

Asparagus is the long-awaited harbinger of spring. Unlike the woody, flavorless spears offered year-round at the warehouse store, locally-grown asparagus is a thing of beauty. The following recipe couldn’t be easier, and will be just one more reminder of what a glorious month this is at the farmers’ market.

LEMONY ASPARAGUS with NEW POTATOES

1 1/2 pounds tiny new potatoes (creamers) or fingerling potatoes, halved

3 tablespoons California olive oil

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 bunch farm-fresh asparagus (1 to 1 1/4 pounds), tough ends trimmed, cut in half crosswise

1 lemon, sliced, seeds removed

Lemony Garlic-Yogurt Sauce

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the potatoes on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly. Spread the potatoes into an even layer and cook, turning once, until just tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the baking sheet, but do not turn off the oven.
2. Add the asparagus and lemon slices. Drizzle the asparagus and lemon with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Carefully toss to coat, and spread the potatoes, asparagus, and lemon slices into an even layer. Return to the oven and cook until the potatoes are nicely browned and the asparagus is crisp-tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 7 to 10 minutes, depending upon the thickness. Serve at once, or let cool to room temperature. Drizzle with a bit of the yogurt sauce, and pass the remainder at the table Serves 4 as a side dish, or 2 as an entrée.

Lemony Garlic-Yogurt Sauce

1 cup plain yogurt

Finely grated zest and juice from 1/2 lemon

1 garlic clove, crushed through a press

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Optional: 1 to 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves

In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, lemon zest and juice, and garlic. Taste, adding salt and pepper as needed. Serve at once, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Just before serving, stir in mint if using.

Cook’s Notes

This easy preparation steps up to the plate as that perfect single side dish for just about any grilled or roasted protein.

Alternatively, serve “grass & spuds” as a casual vegetarian meal for two, accompanied by a big green salad and/or loaf of crusty artisan bread; or please the carnivores in your life by “stretching” the recipe by adding chunks of fully-cooked sausage to brown along with the asparagus.

Be sure to serve the roasted lemon slices along with the asparagus and potatoes. In addition to being beautiful, they are quite tasty.

Instead of topping with the yogurt sauce, sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

ASPARAGUS TIPS

• When buying asparagus, select firm, bright green stalks with little or no white and tight, dry tips. Asparagus breaks down quickly after harvesting, losing sugar and moisture, so check the ends; if they are shriveled and dry, the stalks are old.

• If your taste leans toward the exotic, remember that white asparagus is comparatively bland; and that purple asparagus turns green when cooked.

• White asparagus is the very same vegetable; it’s just grown differently. The stalks are covered with soil during the growing period to block out the sun, so they never produce chlorophyll—and therefore never turn green.

• To ensure even cooking time, choose asparagus spears that are all about the same thickness.

• Thick or thin?  Like people, it’s often the luck of the draw. Asparagus plants live 8 to 10 years. Young plants produce thin asparagus; mature plants tend to produce thicker spears. It’s as simple as that.

• To store, wrap unwashed asparagus in a damp paper towel and refrigerate in an open plastic bag for up to 4 days. If the spears begin to go limp after 2 or 3 days, rehydrate by cutting a bit off the ends and standing them upright in a container filled with about an inchof water; cover loosely with a plastic bag and refrigerate for an hour or two.

• To remove tough ends from asparagus before cooking:  Hold a spear near the middle with one hand and near the bottom-end with the other hand.  Gently bend the asparagus; it will snap apart at the spot where it begins to get tough.  (If you’re a neat-nik, go ahead and trim off the ends with a knife.)  Discard the tough ends or freeze them for stock, or toss them in the compost pile.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!

California is famous for its magnificent wines but that wasn’t always the case. Up until 1976 and the famous blind tasting at the Judgment of Paris, California was just a lowly backwater when compared to Europe and in particular, France.  French wines had always been the benchmark of excellence while California wines were classified as substandard and not taken seriously by anyone outside the state.

As far as wine production was concerned, the Old World (meaning Europe) was miles ahead of the New World (meaning the rest of the globe). Historic European wine producing countries such as Greece have literally been producing wine for thousands of years. The Cistercian monks of France were planting vines and tasting the soils of the venerable Burgundy (Bourgogne) region many hundreds of years before settlers even arrived on the shores of North America.

Wine producers of the New World believed they could not compete with such a remarkable track record and it never occurred to them to try. In a twist of fate, the sublime wines of Napa burst onto the international scene at the celebrated Paris tasting. Two unknown California wines were sneaked into the competition in unmarked bottles. Secrecy was key, as California wines were perceived as not worthy of even entering such an esteemed contest.

In the end, two wines from the Napa Valley, a Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, bested the French in both the red and white categories and won the competition. The world was stunned by the unprecedented victory. The French were scandalized.

In one fell swoop; the idea that only the French could produce top-caliber wine was destroyed. It was a clear victory for Napa, proving California wines were worthy of international acclaim in both quality and potential. Suddenly, it became possible for wines from around the world to not only compete on the international stage but to win.

The victory sparked a sort of revolution in wine production and inspired international winemakers to aspire to greatness. If the California vintners could do it, they could too. The glass ceiling had been broken. The victory in Paris was not only a turning point for Napa, it had an impact on the entire world.

Demand for the winning wines surged. Almost overnight, new vineyards were planted and new wineries were opened in Napa, hoping to ride on the venerable coattails of the winners. The now legendary Napa Valley did not disappoint and the name “Napa” will forever be associated with fine wine.

Since 1976, the wines of California and of the United States as a whole have evolved and proven themselves to be in a superior class of their own. Today, the United States is a driving force in the wine industry. With gifted winemakers leading the way, states such as California, Oregon, New York, Arizona, Texas, and many others, produce some of the finest wines in the world.

The next time you pour yourself a glass of fine wine, consider the history that brought that wine to your table. If not for the intrepid efforts of California vintners back in 1976, we might never know the joys of so many excitingly different wines from around the country and around the world. Surely that is something to celebrate.

Cheers!

The Dirty Dozen investment lies to ignore.

Bonds mature. Stock trades come and go. All options expire. What is timeless in investing are certain principles essential to success. The rules required are non-negotiable if you want long-term investment success. My intent isn’t to scare you, but to encourage all investors, both future and present, to embrace a rules-based approach to investing. We are all either trained or un-trained in our chosen endeavors, including investing. Be disciplined, do the homework, stick to the rules, and, ignore the “lies.”  We must separate investment myths and misconceptions from truth. Below, I have listed the “Dirty Dozen”—twelve common fictitious beliefs you may have heard.  

1) Investing is easy and a quick way to make money.

You may have heard this myth. And, given the bull market that we are now in, which just turned 10 years old, you may have had thought so yourself. I had a client once decide to go on her own, saying, “Buying stocks is easy!  It’s like gambling. It’s fun.”  She said that verbatim. Make no mistake, that myth could not be further from the truth. Investing is not easy, and it’s no way to make quick money. Know anyone who quit their job in 1999 to become a “day trader”?  I’ve said for 35 years, “Serious money should be managed seriously.” A recent study by the American Enterprise Institute showed that as of last year, over 80% of professional equity fund managers failed to “beat the market” over the last five years.

2) Stocks Are Riskier Than Bonds.

It is understandable that this investment myth is widely believed since the stock market is so volatile. However, over the long term, the U.S. stock market has been remarkably consistent. Since 1926, the rolling 30-year average annual return of the S&P 500 index has averaged 10%. While most bonds have little risk, so can a diversified portfolio of high-quality stocks.  

3) Gold Is the Best Investment.

Not true. While gold provides protection against inflation, there is little evidence to suggest it is a better long-term investment than other investments, especially stocks. From 1996 to 2015, gold generated an average annual return of 5.2%, well below the average annual historical return of the S&P 500. From 1970 to 2015, gold averaged a 7.9% annual return, still below the stock market’s historical average return (10%). Like any other asset, gold is only worth what investors are willing to pay for it. Some believed Beanie Babies and Bitcoin were the best investments, too.

4) International Investment Risk Is Too High.

To the contrary, the fact is NOT investing internationally is high-risk. International stocks in combination with U.S. stocks can actually lower risk in an equity portfolio, compared with an all-U.S. portfolio. That’s because historically, the performance of U.S. and international stocks has been somewhat uncorrelated, which reduces risk. Historically, a globally-balanced (hypothetical) portfolio of 70% U.S./30% international equities has produced better risk-adjusted returns and lower volatility than an all-U.S. portfolio.

5) Avoid Market Fluctuations by Investing in Index Funds.

Index funds mirror the market, so this belief cannot be true. Last market crash resulted in the S&P 500, the most popular index fund, falling about 58% (from October of 2007 to March of 2009). The truth is, index funds should lose more in a down market. Since they are not managed, they just passively go along for the ride as bear markets continue to drop month-after-month and year-after-year.

6) I’m Too young to plan for retirement.

It’s never too soon to save or plan for retirement. It can only be too late. Ask a young person, say around 20, if they want to be a multi-millionaire when they retire?  Then tell ‘em that after saving $100/week for 40 years they will have over $2,531,000 (assuming a 10% annual rate of return on the investments) when they are 60. Investing small amounts adds up over time. What if only half of that was saved? The real lesson here is the power of compounding.

7) All Investment Advisors Are the Same.

Not all doctors, CPA’s or car mechanics are the same. We all know no two are alike. This myth simply is not true. Experience, education, certifications and designations are just a few factors among investment advisors that can help you identify key differences among investment advisors. The fact is there are many professional attributes that differentiate one advisor from another. Perhaps most beneficial is an advisor who does things in ways best aligned with what you want, in ways you want them done.

8) Timing the market right is required to make money.

One of my Top 10 Investment Tenets is that the key to long-term investing success is time; “It is the amount of time inthe market, not timingthe market, that matters.”  There is evidence from investor behavior studies that analyzes “investor vs. investment” returns. The average investor’s returns are less than the investment’s return they owned. How’s that?  The investors got out. For the twenty years ending 12/31/2015, the S&P 500 Index averaged 9.85% a year. The average investor in the index only earned 5.19% (according to a January 2019 Dalbar study). Must stay in to win.

9) Good companies are always good stocks.

I call it the “Good company, bad stock” scenario. Just because a company has a recognizable brand or a popular product doesn’t mean the company’s stock will be a good investment. Even the very best company can be a bad stock investment at times. The market reacts to different valuation metrics other than brand popularity. Investors should value stocks based on earnings and revenue growth, company debt levels, and many other fundamental and technical analysis criteria. Chevron Corp, headquartered here in the East Bay, has been long considered a good company; a caring corporate citizen and a worldwide leader in the oil exploration and production industry. However, over the last 10 years its’ stock has substantially underperformed the general stock market. Chevron stock gained a total 85%, while the S&P 500 index is up over 250% over that time.

10) You Can’t Beat the Market.

Yes, you can. As I write this, I am reminded that today is the public birthday of Microsoft Corp. The company’s IPO was March 13, 1986.  One thousand dollars invested in the stock then is nearly $1,400,00 today. The same investment in the S&P 500 index (the “market”) is now about $11,000. Just that a portfolio of well selected stocks will beat the market. Warren Buffet has proven that.

11) Stocks that have gone up must come down.

Sure, stocks and the stock market experience declines. Whether more frequent “corrections,” or more infrequent and severe bear market down turns, stocks go down at times. However, the laws of physics do not apply to the stock market, and there is no gravitational force to pull stocks back to even. For example, over 20 years ago, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway stock price rose from about $7,400 to over $17,000 per share in just a five-year period. Far from coming back down, the stock has continued its ascent, now over $306,500 (as of 3/15/2019). Dozens or more innovative, well managed, leading companies in growing industries have continually increased in value over many decades.

12) Investing on your own requires being intellectually gifted.

My wife Maya reminds me often that “Common sense isn’t that common.” It is perhaps just knowing yourself and having some common sense that is needed to be a successful investor. You do not need to be a member of Mensa to invest wisely. Isaac Newton was one of the smartest people to ever live. But there’s a big difference between being a smart physicist and smart investor. As many do, Newton learned that the hard way. He got caught up in the first “bubble” in stock market history. From the book on his story, Back in the spring of 1720, Sir Isaac Newton owned shares in the South Sea Company, the hottest stock in England. Sensing that the market was getting out of hand, the great physicist muttered that he ‘could calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of the people.’ Newton dumped his South Sea shares, pocketing a 100% profit totaling £7,000. But just months later, swept up in the wild enthusiasm of the market, Newton jumped back in at a much higher price, and lost £20,000.  That’s more than $4 million today.

“What’s obvious is obviously wrong” is an old investment adage. It implies that knowing just a little will only have you following the crowd like a lemming. Successful investing takes hard work and effort. I hope this article helps increase your investment knowledge and success.

Spring is in full swing. The birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining. I don’t know about you, but this gets me excited—immediately thinking about the ways to dress for those brighter, lighter days. 

New trends come about with each season. There are always fun things to buy, but there are great and simple ways to dress fresh and for the season without it becoming overwhelming or too expensive.

So, let’s talk three ways to feel freshened up for Spring! 

Switch out your winter purse for a bag that adds a pop of color. I carried a black leather bag all winter. It’s time to add some color. A lighter or bold hue is perfection for spring and summer. Even going from black to a cognac brown bag would create enough change to feel like you’re in a new season.

It’s time to put away the wool/knit scarves. Still, scarves are a great way to add a little dimension. Finish your outfit with a light weight scarf. Choose a floral print, solid, or stripes. A scarf allows for dimension with your look. 

Sunglasses can be used year-round; there aren’t “winter” sunglasses or “spring” sunglasses. The same pair can be worn for any season. Still, there’s something about a fresh pair of sunnies once spring and summer hit. Update yours and you’ll feel refreshed in your wardrobe, just by adding a new accessory. 

A purse, scarf, and sunglasses can be worn time and time again without getting repetitive. That’s the best thing about accessories. Update them for spring and enjoy all season long! 

Stop by maccarose.com for links to freshen up your spring wardrobe. 

Thanks for reading dear ones! Happy spring. 

Every woman has the God-given right to determine what happens to her own body. No law, particularly ones crafted and enacted by old, white men, should constrain or regulate a woman’s control over what happens to, or what she does with, her own body. For that matter, the same is true for men, too.

Except if she, or he, wants to use their body to drive a car over the speed limit. They might crash and hurt someone, so the government can make an exception in that case. Oh yeah, and when they’re young, if they want to go to public school, forcing them to be inoculated is reasonable because not doing so would put other kids at risk of catching all kinds of communicable diseases. Oh, shoot, I forgot one along the same line; if they have a disease like AIDS, they mustn’t be allowed to use their body, sexually that is, with others, because, well, that would be a criminal act.

Okay, I guess there are some clear cases when women or men don’t have a right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Whenever such acts infringe upon the rights, or certainly the “bodies” of other human beings, it’s simple logic and universally agreed within civilized societies, that such acts be prohibited. In this country we are fond of the phrase, “You’re free to do whatever you want, so long as it doesn’t harm someone else.”

Ah, there’s the rub! What determines when and what a “someone” is? What is a person and when do they become one? This core question is at the heart of the most divisive issues today and it has been so since our nation’s founding.

As far as I know, the only time “personhood” was dealt with by the Supreme Court was in the now-infamous Dred Scott case of 1857, when the court ruled in a 7-2 decision that “persons” of African descent could not be  citizens (with rights) because they were, essentially, “property,” i.e., not really human beings—you know, not fully human; less than human; at least, of less value than real (non-black) humans. Hmm. It appears the courts sometimes get this stuff wrong—this stuff being: “What constitutes—what is—a unique human being, deserving of human rights?”

In the moral perspective, until recently, all civilized societies on earth have been in agreement that murder—the taking of an innocent life—is wrong. But a gray area exists when it comes to the subject of abortion, as a grand mistake was made in the Roe v. Wade case when the court failed to define what constitutes a unique human being.

The new law in New York that legitimizes infanticide, as well as other laws around the country condoning euthanasia, will, I believe, move this issue to a Supreme Court near you in the not-to-distant future.

I do support a women’s right to choose how she treats her own body, and what decisions she makes about it—so long as it is her body, and no one else’s. When other people are involved, society has the right, no, the obligation, to be involved in those decisions.

As a Christian, I believe the pro-life argument isn’t effective or even meaningful when we make our case solely on moral grounds. You can’t argue that someone’s decision about an act is immoral unless you agree upon a baseline of morality. Instead, it should be argued in terms of something many on the pro-choice side believe to be more objective—science. Indeed, the abortion issue itself isn’t so much a question of morality, as it is a question of facts. While we all agree that murder is wrong, we can only know what murder is by first understanding and properly defining what constitutes a unique, individual person.

My guess is, society—via the courts—will soon conclude that there are scientifically-factual characteristics that define unique human beings, i.e., personhood. Unique DNA is one characteristic. Dad’s, mom’s and baby’s DNA are all unique and different from one another. Then, there is a question of viability. Since all fertilized ovum do not necessarily progress to become “people,” these may not be considered so. But, when an ovum implants itself into the uterine wall, it is a fact that it will eventually become a “baby” (person), so long as it is not molested. A reasonable, scientifically-based definition of a person could be: “A life form with unique, human DNA, allowed to develop to whatever point nature (or God) determines appropriate, when left un-molested.”

Aside from fact, another argument to affirm life is that it is the more “progressive,” optimistic point of view. A child that society felt justified sentencing to a pre-mature death, had it been given the chance to live, may well have grown up to become the scientist who would have discovered the cure for a form of cancer that subsequently plagues generations of that society to come. Every lost life is a loss of human potential.

Finally, I think all of this is already self-evident. Deep down, we all know the truth, and it’s obvious by how the issue is talked about. For example, we often hear the argument from pro-choice advocates that “a fetus is hardly the same thing as a human being and abortion is really just like scraping skin cells off your arm.” But in the next breath, those same people argue that having an abortion is a “very private, personal, difficult matter,” or that abortion is a “very difficult, serious decision to be made solely between a woman and her physician.”

If a fetus is just a “blob of tissue;” if it isn’t really another distinct person, why then is the decision to abort it so “difficult, serious, personal, and private?”   

We can’t have it both ways. Is the decision to end a life the same as flicking dandruff off your shoulder, or are we dealing with a solemn, sacred issue that defines what it means to be a just, honorable, civilized society; one that values each person—each life—regardless of race, age, gender, condition, social status, or stage of development?  

The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Whether you are a casual member of the Easter Lily and Poinsettia crowd, participate in another faith, or you are a follower of Christ, you know when spring comes, Easter can’t be far behind.  Some of you may even remember getting new Easter clothes every year so you could look your very best at church with your family on Easter Sunday. While many “Easter-named” events have been traded in for the likes of Spring Break, Egg Hunts, or Brunch, the event that spurred the holiday is still imbedded in most of us. 

The Passion of the Christ. This movie was released on Ash Wednesday 2004 among huge hubbub. Mel Gibson created an impassioned (pardon the pun) view of the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Actor, director and producer, par excellence, Gibson, in my estimation created a masterpiece. The Passion is a composite account assembled from the four Biblical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of the final hours of the life of Christ. When this amazing film was released, many shows were sold out in advance by whole churches experiencing this film together. 

Filmed entirely in Italy, the outdoor scenes were shot in Matera. The rest was filmed at Cinecitta Studios outside Rome. Forty percent of it was shot at night or indoors under wraps in order to get an effect of light fighting its way out of darkness, according to Gibson. His beautiful film had a budget of $30 million and a box office of $611.9 million. Viewers obviously wanted to see it even if it didn’t win any of the three Oscars for which it was nominated.  But, don’t get me started on that subject!

The costumes were meticulously researched and hand-crafted by award-winning designer Maurizio Millenotti to enhance the overall visual design Gibson wanted for the film with shades of brown, black and beige. All the characters in the film are heard speaking the languages they would actually have spoken at the time.  This means Aramaic for the Jewish characters including Christ and His disciples, and “street Latin” for the Romans.  Greek, which was commonly spoken among the intellectuals of the period, was not quite as relevant to the story. Most of the cast were hired locally or in Europe except Washington-born, James Caviezel, who was cast as Jesus. Chosen for the role because he was willing to commit to this unique project wholeheartedly, the talented Caviezel spent several months preparing himself physically, spiritually and emotionally for the most demanding role of his career. It was a daily struggle learning Aramaic and during production he endured full-body make-up sessions that sometimes dragged on for ten hours. He spent entire shooting days exposed on the cross in freezing temperatures and during the grueling scourging scene one of his shoulders was dislocated. He was even struck by lightning while hanging on the cross and walked away unharmed. Maia Morgenstern, cast as Mary, is a famous Romanian theater actress.

As a Christian, I saw it with my church, and must admit it, it was a bit more comfortable bawling my eyes out amongst friends. I have watched it nearly every Easter since as my way of remembering. I invite you to experience this amazing film. Its breathtaking images, incredible acting and truly inspired directing makes it a top pick of mine. So, whatever your religious views happen to be, this slice of history is definitely worth viewing. Caution: rated R and not suitable for younger viewers. As always, I welcome your comments at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com.        

How Purging Clutter Can Uncover Spending Habits

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the book talk of New York Times Bestselling Author, Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen just released her new book, Outer Order, Inner Calm and delivered a joyful discussion about decluttering a home to make room for happiness.

While driving home I started to think about this hot topic “decluttering” and wanted to understand how individuals have gotten so deep in clutter. There had to be a common source. Within minutes of taking the time to dig a bit deeper, the root of the problem became vividly clear. Knowing the source of the problem is the only way to truly prevent repeating the habit of getting buried in clutter.

Decluttering a home is definitely a learned skill and I applaud these women for writing such incredible guides that are helping millions of people shed pounds of unwanted goods, organize homes, and learn to live with the concept that “less is more.” But, one thing not discussed in either book that, in my opinion, is the source of the problem, is SPENDING! Clutter goes hand in hand with poor spending habits that if not kept in check, clutter creeps back into a home. How many times have you cleaned out the garage, a closet, or a desk only to find a few years (or months) later that the same decluttered space is packed full again with items that you a) don’t need and b) never use? This happens to all of us!

Regardless of which system you choose to purge unwanted items, adding the additional step of identifying the items creating the most clutter and then reviewing spending habits behind purchasing these items, will help break the habits that led to clutter in the first place. It will also eliminate the buildup of clutter in the future and save you money. Every room, closet, box, or drawer presents an opportunity to identify where money is being spent on unneeded items. But before you just dump and donate, use the below tips to help break future clutter habits:

Take inventory

As you clean out each closet, drawer, or room, take the time to look for duplicates, review the items that you are giving away or selling, and write down the quantity of each item. For example, while cleaning out a clothes closet stack the items into groups(e.g., shirts, pants, shoes, handbags, etc.). Before you pop everything in a bag and donate the items, grab a notebook, review each stack, and write down which items make-up the largest portion of the donation. Once noted, immediately put the items in a donation bag.

Most donated awards

Next, review your notebook and determine which items win the largest donation pile. For ladies, most donated pile may be shoes or clothes. For the gentlemen, the pile may be tools from the garage or a coffee cup collection (random, but true). For kids, the list may range from clothing to puzzles or books to squishies.

Recognize spending habits

Sit down as a family and review the quantity of items being donated. Determine the purpose of buying such a large quantity of each specific item and ask the following questions. Were the majority of the items purchased on impulse?  Is there a pattern of buying in bulk? Were the items purchased a “need” or a “want?”

Knowing the above will help identify spending habits. If items were purchased on impulse, going forward, take the time to think about a purchase before buying. Go home, review what you already have, and decide if the item is a necessary purchase. If items were purchased in bulk, buy less the next time and see if you can make do with one versus several. Always ask if the item is a “need” or a “want.” We tend to always want new things, but seldom do we really need them.  

Jodee Brydges is the author of Digging Out: A Practical Guide to Getting Out of Debt and Paving a Path to a Secure Financial Future. With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Jodee is a financial coach, speaker,and currently works at RPM Mortgage in Alamo as a loan originator. Jodee can be reached at jodee@jodeebrydges.com.

When I first began writing articles to promote inclusion for the special needs community, I had those with intellectual or physical struggles as my focus. However, as I am introduced to so many topics of concern within this arena, I have learned that a “special need” is an umbrella term for so many human struggles. 

I was recently introduced to the topic of mental health and the representatives of a national non-profit, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  As they explained their goals of being a part of the preventative awareness of mental health illnesses gripping our country, I was awakened to the realization that special needs also includes spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental well-being.  As I listened to one of the representatives, Graham Wiseman, share his story of losing his son to suicide and turning that deep pain into a passion by going into our local elementary and high school classrooms to educate about suicide prevention, I asked to schedule a time for me to visit one of their offices located at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord, California.  I was in awe at the various education courses they offered to families and individuals struggling with the effects of depression, bi-polar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and other disorders. Taught by trained volunteers, these workshops are offered at no cost to those who feel lost and alone as they face medical paths and an influx of adjustments for their loved ones. 

Founded in Madison, Wisconsin by Harriet Shetler and Beverly Young, whose sons were diagnosed with schizophrenia, they joined forces and began to seek out others who were going through similar experiences.  The high number of attendees at this first meeting eventually led to the formation of NAMI in 1979.  NAMI is part of the many small steps to help grow the awareness by providing education, resources and connecting families to support one another. It offsets the state of our world, which has reached a whole new level of strife that stems from the many special needs of individuals not being met at local and federal levels. The void that exists, as homelessness, suicides, mass shootings and incarcerations without rehabilitation, continue to grow, is being diligently filled through the caring efforts of this organization. 

It begins with teaching about the signs of a potential mental health issue along with advocacy and a genuine heart to fill the voids that so many people try to mask out of fear of stigmas.  The missing link to heal an ailment begins in our homes and in our classrooms and NAMI has made this available within many communities. 

Those interested can visit the website below to find out more. You may also sign up for their free programs that include: Family-to-Family, NAMI Basics, Mental Health Crash Course, and The Family Network. These courses and meetings offer crucial information.  Most importantly, they offer access to a community of people who can relate to one another. 

May is Mental Health Awareness month but every day is an opportunity to learn that we are never alone with our struggles. “May” the void of despair no longer exist as new strength is formed by from connecting with others.  If you are struggling with how to start connecting those dots, NAMI’s doors are open for you become a part of their village.  NAMI CC is here for you.

NAMI Contra Costa County: www.namicontracosta.org

2151 Salvio St., Ste. V, Concord, California, 94520 Office: (925) 942-0767  or  (925) 465-3864

Email: info@namicontracosta.org

American cuisine is really an amalgam of what our ancestors either grew here hundreds of years ago or brought with them from their native countries and incorporated into the U.S. lifestyle.  Here are questions about flavors and foods from around the world we enjoy.

1)  Related to the tomato and potato, this member of the Nightshade family is believed to have originated in India.  Known variously as brinjal or aubergine in other countries, what do we call this vegetable?

2)  Originating in Spain, what enbreaded, fried, or baked stuffed pastry is popular in Latin American cultures, as well as being served at some U.S. food trucks?

3)  Popular in Tuscan cuisine, and sometimes eaten with beef ragu, what common pasta means “little ribbons” in Italian?

4)  Meaning “miscellaneous leftovers,” what dish called tsap seui in Cantonese may have actually been created by Chinese Americans?

5)  French fries do indeed owe some of their backstory to original French cuisine, and Thomas Jefferson had them served at an 1802 state dinner.  But what would a Parisian call French fries?

6)  What is the fifth taste?  Sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness we all grew up with.  But becoming more used since the 80s as a flavor word, this “pleasant savory taste” shows up in dishes with a brothy, meaty taste.  Name this Japanese-origin word.