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The Duke

May 2, 2020 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Ring, Ring! When I decided to write an article not about a movie but about a legend, there was but one place to start. My brother. Why? Because he’s been retired for decades and now is the ultimate authority on all things “Western”. When you think of a cowboy, who do you see? None other than John Wayne, The Duke.

According to my expert, the very best John Wayne movies are the old black and white’s filmed in the 1930’s. The Duke was “Bigger than Life” but in real life he was big. He was 6’4” and weighed 240 pound and was a handsome devil. He had instant stage presence and even better, everyone seemed to love him.

Born in Winterset, Iowa in 1907, Marion Michael Morrison moved to Southern California when he was seven years old. He played football on a scholarship to USC for two years and then he lost his scholarship with a shoulder injury. He went to work in the backlot of a film studio. The rest is truly history. His first film was in 1930, and 140 movies later, in 1976, The Shootist became his last. John Wayne died of cancer in 1979. The Shootist was about an aging gunslinger dying of cancer.

Back to my brother, the expert. He explained to me that in the 1930s when The Duke was doing his best work, he became known for his work ethic. Back then, the studios would be on set and while the actors were shooting (quite literally) scenes to be added to the film, the writers would be on the set writing the dialogue. That’s an interesting process; it puts a whole new meaning to low-budget Westerns! Actors like Wayne made low budget possible. He showed up on time, knew his lines, did his best work and didn’t complain.

John finally won an Oscar for Best Actor in True Grit in 1969. Two of his 7 children followed in his footsteps. Patrick acted in many of his dad’s films as well as brother Michael became a producer. Both children had successful careers.

The Duke had a “Man of Action” persona that he carried into every film he ever made. He quite literally is an Icon. Years after his passing he is still alive and well. How could he not be? Most of us have flown into John Wayne Airport named after him in 1979. In 1985 his children built The John Wayne Cancer Institute and Patrick is Chairman of the Board of this prestigious medical center. Wayne was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2007. The list goes on, not only is his image on a 1990 stamp but again in 2007. That’s a legend. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, in 1979 he also received the Congressional Gold Medal. Not bad for Sandy, “The Singing Cowboy”!

John Wayne was a ‘died in the wool’ Conservative and anti-communist. He helped his friend, Ronald Reagan get elected, more than once. He even did promotional ads for him. After filming Green Berets he was asked to speak at the liberal Harvard Lampoon Club and receive the Brass Balls Award on January 15, 1974. He admitted he had no idea what kind of reception he would get but he showed up like it was a parade of one. He rumbled through a packed Harvard Square on a 13-ton Army Personnel Carrier to battle the liberal college students and they loved it! He loved his country, a true patriot. Do yourself a favor and look up his “America, Why I Love Her”!

Whether you talk to his children or his colleagues, you get the same answer; John Wayne was the real deal, a true 20^th Century, bigger than life, Hero. As my brother told me about The Singing Cowboy, “he was comin’ and he was gonna to slap leather”! Thank you for all the hours a good wholesome entertainment. Rest in Peace, Duke, and may your memory last forever!

Email me at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com if you have any questions or comments…I’ll forward them to my brother!!

Besides Wayne in May

May 2, 2020 by Darrell Garrison Leave a Comment

Some scholars say the month of May was named after the Greek goddess Maia, the daughter of Atlas. The Roman poet Ovid said May is named for the maiores, Latin for “elders.” May is National Hamburger Month, and National Smile Month. Here are some questions about one of the yummiest months to make you smile.

(1) In the early 20^th century Anna Jarvis made what holiday popular in the United States, but later regretted it becoming too commercialized?

(2) May was a young woman who married a 60-year-old knight named Januarie, in what 14^th century work?

(3) Starting in April but ending in May, what holiday, celebrated by hundreds of millions, translates as ‘dryness’ or ‘scorched heat’?

(4) The Kentucky Derby is usually held in May but is postponed this year until September 5^th. The greatest horse to run the Kentucky Derby, Secretariat, had what amazing physical feature discovered after his death?

(5) Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of victory by the Mexican Army over what country’s army?

(6) On May 14^th, 1998, 76.3 million people tuned into what TV show?

Kick up Your Spurs!

May 2, 2020 by Macca Edwards Leave a Comment

John Wayne’s birthday is this month! For me he is that guy who was a “go getter,” “get er’ done!,” “no nonsense,” kind of man—a fun character to portray—especially with COVID-19 at the forefront of our lives. Thinking about how the characters John Wayne portrayed were strong and fearless; what a great time to consider such a personality and to do our best to encompass these qualities during hardship. Sometimes it is fun to think outside the box and to find that alter ego who exudes strength. We can conquer this quarantine and come out better than ever.

So, in celebration of John Wayne’s birthday, and the fun his characters bring to our lives, we are going to give our style a little western vibe!

Cowboy boots are a classic and a great way to add some flare to an outfit. Now, there are traditional cowboy boots and ones that lean on the spectrum of “made for fashion” Western boots. We are going to stick with the fashion-forward cowboy style boots for the looks we’ll be creating.

First off, tall cowboy boots are a great way to make a statement. Throw on a white dress, a black moto jacket, boots, and a crossbody. This look is effortless, perfect for spring, and a cool summer night. A midi length skirt pairs well with tall boots. But for this look, we will stick with above the knee length for warm weather days. The perfect finishing touch is a long stone necklace. The pop of color will look amazing against the white dress. The moto jacket is a great way to modernize an otherwise classic, feminine, western style outfit. The leather jacket mixes styles and adds an edgy element. You can opt for a more classic look and wear a denim jacket. A darling look! Just depends on the vibe you prefer.

Wearing a pair of short booties with some stitching details is a very trendy way to achieve the western cowboy boot look. These style boots look great with denim shorts, skirts, flare cropped denim, or skinny/straight leg cropped denim. The short style boot the most versatile option. I personally love the way these booties look with a cropped flare. Cropped flare denim are trendy and a great way to show off the boots! Wear these pieces with a graphic tee and a green military jacket. Again, a mix of different trends. It’s the perfect casual yet, sophisticated look.

Finally, opt for a midcalf boot and wear with a maxi dress. Tall boots aren’t great for when it starts to get especially hot. But if the temps are not too high then a midcalf boot is a fun option. Pair these boots with a long flowy dress for an easy breezy feel. Boots dress up a summer maxi and give it some edge. Bring along your denim jacket just in case, layer a few dainty necklaces and you are set!

Cheers to embracing our western style and adding some trendy pieces for today’s style. Happy Birthday John Wayne. Stay safe and healthy, friends.

Seven Things Investors Need to Know

May 2, 2020 by John Gardner Leave a Comment

While there are likely countless things we need to know to be successful investors over the long term, here are seven I believe are most critical now. The global financial markets have never seen such uncertainty and volatility brought on by COVID-19. I hope you find these investment tenets helpful.

1) Know Yourself

In the August of 2018 issue of ALIVE Magazine, my Investor’s Edge column was about rules-based investing. I highlighted my “Top 10 Tenets”. These are investment principals that have guided my investment decision making process for most of my 35-year career. Number 2 of those 10 is “Know Yourself”. I also call this the “Be true to you rule”. Knowing your unique investment parameters and constraints will help you stay true to you. An individual investor must know him/her-self to be a successful investor. You must be able to answer fundamental questions about yourself relative to investing. There are no wrong answers. Just an honest assessment of who you are as an investor. The goal here is to ensure you only own investments that are consistent with the type of investor you are.

2) Know Your Investments

Some investments offer relatively high income and little appreciation potential. Others are growth investments that offer great gain potential and little or no income. Still others offer a moderate amount of both. Some are high risk, while others are stable with relatively low risk. There are tax advantaged investments and investments with no tax benefits. Those, and other attributes, are easy to know. When I say “know your investments” I mean KNOW your investments. What are ALL the costs and expenses? How liquid is it? What is the quantifiable risk? What amount of leverage or debt does it have? How experienced is the management team? How does a particular investment complement your overall investment plan? As you have heard, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” That wisdom applies to investments. You have to do your homework. Open the prospectus. Read the financial statements.

3) All Investments Are Risky

Bernard Baruch famously said, “There is no such thing as an investment without risk.” It’s true. Think about the safest investment in the world; a U.S. government guaranteed bond. It is guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. BUT it is still not without market risk. If you need to sell it when interest rates are climbing, you will likely get less money back than you invested. That is because of a basic investment fact: bond prices move inversely to interest rates. So, when rates go up, bonds go down. Conversely, bond prices rise as interest rates drop. There many types of investment risk, from liquidity risk and market risk, to currency risk and interest rate risks, for example. There is no such thing as an investment without risk.

4) Good Companies Not Always Good Stocks

I have often discussed the notion of “good company; bad stock” with clients. This concept is counterintuitive. Logic would suggest a good company should also be a good stock. The reason here is in part a function of where a company resides relative to industry groups. I monitor 197 industry groups daily. Think of the travel industry today in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic. Comprised of airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, casinos and the like, the travel industry group consists of hundreds of companies. Many of those, such as Southwest Airlines, Marriot, MGM and Carnival Cruise Corp are widely viewed as good companies. They are really bad stocks, though, now (as of April 17, 2020). I know it’s obvious: while we are ordered to “shelter-in-place” and travel has essentially stopped, these companies are not profitable and therefore are bad stocks. The good news is the best of these “good” companies will be “good” stocks again. There are certainly many other factors that prove this concept true. Most industries move one way or another relative to macro-economic conditions. Telecommunications, utilities and real estate stocks, for example, are interest rate sensitive. They, like bonds, trade inversely to interest rates. Therefore, they tend to go down in price and interest rates go up. Those good companies are then bad stocks.

5) It’s Time in the Market, Not Timing the Market

I mentioned my “Top 10 Tenets” above in need to know #2. Time in the market, not market timing is another. It is critical to know for successful investing. Throughout the ’80’s and ’90’s I taught an investment class. “Market timing” was a popular topic with the students. I talked them out of it. A key to successful investing is time; it is the amount of time in, not the timing, that matters. Time in the stock market does two things: It reduces risk and avoids the cost of being out. The longer your time in the market, the lower your risk. Quite simply, no one can consistently time markets. Fact is no one knows the future, and there is no “crystal ball”.

6) Know How to Diversify

Common wisdom isn’t always the best wisdom. Diversification is common investment wisdom. For some it may not be wise. The opposing investment approach to diversification is “concentration”. Maintaining a ‘less-is-more’ conviction, concentrated stock investors choose to invest a lot of money in a few companies. Holding 5-8 stocks is a concentrated portfolio. The best of the two is answered by which is best for a specific investor. Too much diversification can dilute profit potential. Too much concentration can be dangerous, also. Knowing your investor-self will help you with concentration vs. diversification. Diversification is a time-tested way to reduce risk. Just know the right amount for you.

7) Tax-Deferred Compounding Secret to Wealth Accumulation

Albert Einstein is known to have said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world.” Why so? And, why should you know? It’s in the numbers and works like magic – – especially if the interest (or return on your investments) is compounding tax-deferred. This phenomenon is truly exponential. You should know this because it is this concept that, through your 401k for example, will allow you to retire rich. Another wise man worded what Einstein said differently. According to Benjamin Franklin, “Money makes money. And the money that money makes, makes money.” That is probably the simplest explanation of compound interest you’ll ever hear.

Stay healthy and invest to be wealthy.

Revisited: Mutiny on The Bounty

April 7, 2020 by Anita Venezia Leave a Comment

I don’t remember when I first became interested in the history of HMS Bounty and the mutiny by the crew that took place in 1788, or Pitcairn Island where the renegades settled. My childhood fascination was probably sparked by portrayals in rerun movies, and being an avid stamp collector, I yearned for Pitcairn stamps.

As a youth I was fascinated by the “Mutiny on the Bounty” story and we had learned in history class that the ship had actually docked near my own hometown, Cape Town, South Africa, before crossing the Indian Ocean to Tahiti.

Then, a few years ago, my friend, Wallene Nelsen, and I, visited Smithsonian Museum of Natural History where we were invited to the off-limits botany specimen storage room. The curator showed us actual plants collected on Captain Cook’s expedition in the 1770s by Sir Joseph Banks. Banks was the same botanist who referred the Bounty’s William Bligh to King George III, to bring breadfruit saplings from Tahiti to Jamaica. Imbued with curiosity, I requested to touch the leafy specimen before it was returned to the drawer.

Thus, the islands were vaguely on my radar with the Bounty having docked in my own hometown, yearning for Pitcairn stamps, and being so close to the actual breadfruit specimens collected by Joseph Banks.

As the story goes, after cruel punishments and floggings by Bligh, Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian commandeered the vessel and banished Bligh and his followers to an open boat, setting them adrift in the South Pacific Ocean. After many weeks at sea they finally reached land, returned to England and demanded the mutineers to be hanged.

Although the mutiny was romanticized in books, it was not until the story hit the big screen that Fletcher Christian became a maritime hero in three films; Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard, and Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins, in blockbuster renditions of the nautical crime of the century.

The thrust of the HMS Bounty story was that Sir Joseph Banks referred Bligh to King George III to secure breadfruit plant saplings in Tahiti, then to deliver them to Jamaica to grow as cheap foods for slave workers. The trees yielded about 200 high protein fruits per season and also provided timber for outriggers and latex for boat caulking.

Successful transplants of seedlings to Jamaica meant bonuses for Bligh and success for botanist Banks. The ship’s great cabin was refitted to hold over 1000 plants—plants that required much of the ship’s limited drinking water.

While on the extended Tahiti layover, the crew nurtured the Jamaica-bound breadfruit saplings for ten months, as many of the sailors became enthralled by the tropical maidens. Bligh admonished the raucous sailors, and some were mercilessly flogged. When the Bounty departed Tahiti with breadfruit saplings, the crew rebelled.

Fletcher Christian had taken up with an island maiden and was not about to abandon her. With his anger roiling, Christian lead the mutiny against Bligh and banished him along with eighteen others, to a twenty-three-foot open boat, to fend for themselves in the vast ocean.

He commandeered the HMS Bounty with eight roguish sailors and returned to Tahiti to pick up six local men, eleven women, and one infant. The hijacked Bounty zigzagged the South Pacific for nine months in search of safe harbor far from Britain’s reach. In January 1789, they landed at an inlet on the volcanic outcrop island of Pitcairn in a four-island archipelago. Christian named the inlet “Bounty Bay,” and settled his ragtag colonists near abundant food sources. They stripped the Bounty of lumber, canvas sails, and supplies, scuttled it, and set it afire to prevent escape.

I would imagine they redeemed the breadfruit samplings to grow for food and used all possible survival devices as they colonized their lost paradise, invisible to the outside world.

But trouble was brewing in the utopian paradise as British sailors, and the Tahitian men, fought among themselves, often over women, and many died in the first two years, including Fletcher Christian.

John Adams was the sole mutineer survivor as shortly after their arrival, all the others died. Some were murdered, one committed suicide and others died from various causes. In any case, their names remain etched in history; Fletcher Christian, Matthew Quintal, William McCoy, William Brown, Isaac Martin, John Mills, John Williams, and Ned Young, whose descendent, Kevin Young, has added to this story.

Despite despair, isolation, and fear of capture, survivor John Adams, the Tahitians, and subsequently future descendants of seven generations have lived on Pitcairn and Norfolk Islands for 230 years to the present. The multi-generational descendants, living links to the storied Bounty, are still preserving their Anglo-Tahitian culture.

Isolated Pitcairn Island, an Overseas British Territory, has the smallest population of any democracy in the world. It lies within the Henderson, Ducie and Oeno archipelago. Pitcairn, the only inhabited island, is 3,500 miles equidistant from New Zealand to the west and Peru to the east, has a combined area of 1.6 square miles, and the highest point is 1100 feet. It has internet access and one television channel. Adamstown is the capital.

In the 1930s, the population swelled to 233, however, today only about 50 people live on Pitcairn. No planes can land, no big ships can dock. Water and fuel are scarce, and to preserve energy, electricity is turned off between 10 pm and 6 am. Island transportation is by foot or quad ATVs, and passengers, supplies, and mail arrive from New Zealand once every three months on the island ship, Silver Supporter.

Accommodation and meals for visitors can be arranged at local homes with advance reservations. Most families have vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Breadfruit is harvested by “shooting down” as they are too high to reach. There is one school, a church, medical center, general store, and post office that still sells collectible stamps and first day covers.

When cruise ships visit, they drop anchor in deep waters, and weather permitting, passengers are ferried into Adamstown by longboats or ship tenders, where locals eagerly sell handmade wares, wood carvings, jewelry, tapa cloth, island honey, and handmade soaps. Pitcairn Island is actively seeking immigration and offers free land to those who qualify.

So, with my triad of links to HMS Bounty that moored near my birthplace two centuries before, avid Pitcairn stamp collecting, and a serendipitous Smithsonian connection with botanist Banks’ specimens, I decided to contact some Pitcairn inhabitants for my story.

Heather Menzies Young kindly put me in touch with Pitcairn’s deputy mayor, Kevin Young, a direct descendant of original Bounty colonist Ned Young, who emailed me his own words for my ALIVE article:

Life on Pitcairn can be busy. Our aging community is very small, so keeping the island maintained and functioning at a reasonable level requires all but the very young and elderly to participate in some way. Combine this with a self-reliant lifestyle, and time becomes a much-valued commodity.

In the summer months, a number of cruise ships break their journey between French Polynesia and South America with a call at Pitcairn. If the passengers come ashore, our population can swell to a few hundred for the day. Other ships invite us to set up a market on board so passengers can buy local crafts and wares. A popular choice is to write letters and postcards which are brought ashore and mailed from the Pitcairn Post Office. With some ships carrying several thousand passengers and crew, it can stretch us to capacity for those hours but the interaction with passengers and supplementary income is always welcomed.

Passengers often ask how we live on this small remote island. When they learn our homes are similar to theirs with electricity, satellite broadband, and appliances there’s often surprise. What’s less familiar to them is drinking rainwater from unpolluted skies, fish caught from pristine waters, and vegetables fresh from the garden for the evening meal.

If they were to ask me why I live on Pitcairn, I would tell them I was born here, a direct descendant of the Bounty settlers. My family has lived here for 230 years. Some set great store by the connection to the Bounty but I live here because I chose the Pitcairn lifestyle in retirement over the equivalent, time demanding, urban life in New Zealand I returned from. Pitcairn’s rugged beauty and sub tropical climate is a bonus!—Kevin Young

ET Science Project? Part 1

April 7, 2020 by George Kapus Leave a Comment

Back in 1958, when I was still just adjusting to our new life in the United States, as well as trying to get over my father’s death, some nice old ladies at Trinity Church in Berkeley, where my parents were caretakers, gave me an Ant Farm. I haven’t seen one for years, so some of you, particularly millennials, may not even know what I’m talking about. It was a box filled with sand, that a whole colony of ants had been relocated to. For hours on end, I could watch those hard-working little critters build tunnels, carry bits of gravel five times their size, as well as pieces of the tiny vegetation that had been planted on top of the sand. I just watched and watched, and wondered, what in heck the ants thought of my giant eyeballs observing their goings-on. I often wondered, how I would feel, being observed by beings that were far superior to me. Since ET beings may been observing us for years now, perhaps millennia, I have a sense of how those ants might have felt.

By the way, after a few months, the ant colony died out, just like I believe the first modern humans that had been transferred here to planet Earth did, by the ETs, 300 to 400,000 years ago, and again, 50,000 years or so ago, from our planet of origin.

Not only that, but I believe that along with us, other groups of Hominins had been “relocated” to various other regions of Earth; possibly, by various other extraterrestrial groups. Not only that but, the ETs may have not only been relocating and observing us, but also manipulating our genome, as well as meddling in our affairs ever since.

Why, just the other day, I was trying to explain to a friend, why I believed that we Humans, did not originate on planet Earth but, might actually have originated on another planet, possibly Mars, making us extraterrestrials. My friend just smirked, saying “I can believe you came from Mars. You kinda look like a Martian!” He then left, laughing his head off. He thought that I had lost my mind. Sometimes you just have to open your mind to let new ideas in before you laugh your ass off! What he didn’t realize is “he,” would then also be a Martian. As I have indicated earlier, at the time of our resettlement from our planet of origin, there were already other hominins occupying different regions of Earth, who probably came here as we did, but much earlier and from other parts of the cosmos.

Over the years, I have found a handful of authors who investigate the possibility of our ET origin with a 21^st century mindset. First, there is Erich Von Däniken who, all the way back in the early 1970s, came out with Chariots of the Gods, questioning long-held beliefs that we were the crown-jewel of creation (on Earth). Soon after, in 1976 came Zecharia Sitchin with a somewhat different take on humanity’s origins, with his 12^th Planet series, explaining how it was the Annunaki who meddled in human affairs, by going as far as manipulating our genome to create the perfect worker humans. His best title on the topic, The Wars of Gods and Men, is an excellent read, as it details, why humans are such an aggressive, warmongering lot. And, the latest notable to join this rather limited group of clear thinkers is Ellis Silver, PhD, with his excellent tome, Humans Are NOT From Earth, listing hundreds of facts accumulated through exhaustive research, in support of his theory. There are others that I have not listed, and there may be others that I am not even aware of.

I became interested in the topic, way back in 1952 or 53, when one day, my uncle Bert brought home a French language tabloid entitled, Radar (Rah-dahr), with a front-page article entitled, L’Incident de Roswell, or, The Roswell Incident, of which I wrote a couple months ago. Just so you understand, at the time, we were living in France following a stint in a WWII Displaced Persons Camp in Austria before we got to emigrate to the USA. After one of my mother’s tasty Chicken Paprikash Sunday dinners, the grown-ups were relaxing with a glass of Mouton Cadet and a cigarette as they were listening to me reading the “Roswell Incident.” As I had been in school for the past three years, I was rather fluent in French, as opposed to the old folks, who needed a little more time to become comfortable with the language. As I got finished with the article, a discussion ensued. The grown-ups talked about the possibility of extraterrestrials and flying saucers, as well as the possible origins of humans. As I had not only read the article, but then translated it for them, I was allowed to partake in the discussion.

This is when my father declared that planet Earth was nothing more than a galactic Penal Colony, where Human beings had been banished for their criminal behavior. Papa went on explaining, “Just look at all the vicious, blood-thirsty dictators and their minions that the Earth has produced, like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao-Tze Dong.” He further explained how before the above three mass-murderers mowed down innocents all over the planet, we had numerous others who would have fit right in with this gang. He spoke of all the barbarians that rampaged throughout Europe and Asia, with nothing more than killing and conquest on their minds. He would say that men were the only creatures on the planet that went about killing the opposition as a solution to disputes. The first two thousand years of the Christian Era were all about war and conquest; over religion, no less.

Take for instance the Ottoman Empire which has threatened Christian Europe for over a thousand years, with extinction or conversion to its way of life by the sword. That is a pretty unnerving existence to have to live next-door to neighbors who would wish to wipe you out, because they couldn’t stand for the idea that you believed in a different God and prayed in a different church. To the list, my father added Tomás de Torquemada, the head of the Spanish Inquisition, who managed to prosecute around 150,000 souls for not properly following the teachings of the church, according to his interpretation. Out of that lot, the vicious head inquisitor managed to have between 5,000 and 6,000 put to death, all in the name of religion. Before that, we had the Crusades, another campaign over religious beliefs. It makes one wonder why the Extraterrestrials foisted religion on us Humans. Perhaps to give us reason to wage war and to distract us from spending too much time trying to discover our origins?

There was the Hundred Years’ War which lasted from 1337 to 1453, between the House of Plantagenet, rulers of England and the French House of Valois, over who would rule the Kingdom of France at the cost of thousands of lives. There are numerous other instances where war was waged to settle such differences; too many to list here. If you’ve ever taken a World History class, the main topic discussed is waging war for conquest, or who would be in charge.

Some of the wars that didn’t get discussed took place in the skies above India, as far back as 6000 to 7000 years ago. Some say that India’s ancient history might go back as far as 40,000 years. The reason we never talked about these aerial conflicts in ancient India is because, according to mainstream academia, these weren’t real events that took place. They were and are still considered mythological in nature; in other words, legends and faery tales. However, if you listen to some Indian scholars, they will tell you that these conflicts were, in fact, very real and are well-documented in ancient writings, such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, wherein tales of opposing factions waged war in flying machines called Vimanas in the skies above ancient India and to the people of the time, these were very real events. Those Vimanas were able to shoot each other out of the sky with deadly ray weapons and even dropped bombs on each other’s earthly strongholds, wiping out cities and thousands of people. Some of the very ancient and highly decorated temple structures you find in India today, were actually designed to look like those ancient flying machines, the Vimanas. These ancient battles were again being fought between two opposing factions, over who would eventually be in power here on Earth and possibly in the cosmos.

End of Part 1. This series to be continued in next month’s issue of ALIVE.

The Easter Bunny’s Endorsement

April 7, 2020 by Michael Copeland Leave a Comment

Alive & Thrivin’, is in the Basket

The Easter Bunny can afford to be pretty picky when it comes to selecting treats to fill an Easter basket. He is, after all, the Santa Claus of spring. Jelly beans, chocolate eggs, and even Peeps are staples for this holiday basket, but what about non-consumable swag? Does the EB include clothes in the basket? What about toys, games, or sports equipment? Does the rabbit leave a couple of gift cards or a little cash tucked under the Cadbury or Sees delicacies? This year, after reading about my appearance at Santa’s book club back in December, the Easter Bunny has selected my new book, Alive & Thrivin’ – The Thrillogy of a Trilogy, to go into every basket throughout the land. I’m truly humbled, honored, and hungry. For candy, not rabbit.

As most people know, Easter is a holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his crucifixion and burial by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD. Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.

The Easter Bunny is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter. Originating among German Lutherans, the “Easter Rabbit” originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the Easter season, aka Ash Wednesday. The Easter Bunny is sometimes depicted wearing clothes, carrying colored eggs, candy, and sometimes toys, in his basket to the homes of children. There are obvious similarities to Santa Claus, as they both work off a naughty or nice list and bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holidays. The Easter basket ritual has its origin in the German folklore of the Easter Hare. Legend has it that a white hare would leave a basket full of goodies and treats on Easter morning to signify new life, rebirth, and renewal in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus. Coloring eggs and placing them in baskets dated back to 1682. The colorful plastic straw from CVS came later.

The Easter basket tradition dates way back to the 7^th Century; however, it is rare for the Easter Bunny to leave a book in the basket. Not just because a book, even paperback, can be heavy and would weigh him down, but it would need to be a magical book sure to be loved by all. Past Easter basket books to be distributed have included The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Harry Potter (no relation to Beatrix) and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. I am certainly in good company, but the Peter Rabbit book is obviously a case of nepotism.

As a child growing up, my sisters and I loved waking up on Easter Sunday morning to see what Mr. Bunny had left for us in our baskets. I’m not a fan of jelly beans, but I love me some pastel-colored M&Ms, Robbin Eggs, and the delectable hollow chocolate bunny. Once I had chomped off his ears, I would consume the rest of the rabbit leaving only a chocolate goatee as evidence on my adolescent face. Occasionally we did receive something other than candy. Over the years, I seem to recall finding a stuffed animal, a 45 or record album, a blacklight poster or packs of baseball cards in or near my Easter basket. Boy that makes me feel old. Wait a second, I am old.

When the Easter Bunny’s people reached out to my editor, Eric Johnson of ALIVE Book Publishing, to inquire about adding my book to their global Easter basket distribution, we were both admittedly very excited. Giddy might be a better term. (Giddy: having a reeling, lightheaded sensation; dizzy). Eric was definitely giddy, given that sales of my first two books never exceeded 25-30 copies each, and that was with me spending a lot of time marketing, promoting and giving roughly half away as gifts, this was a big order to fill. This Easter basket order would get into the hundreds of millions. Not too shabby. I trust that ALIVE can put their other massive print jobs on hold for a few weeks.

Other items to make the Easter Bunny’s Easter 2020 Basket list include: hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, bleach, bottled water, pasta, toilet paper, latex gloves, disposable face masks, soap (bars and liquid), all-purpose cleaners, milk, stock tips (some drug company’s going to come up with a cure for COVID-19) and a little cash $ just to get by for the next couple of weeks.

It should go without saying that I am looking forward to hearing from family, friends, acquaintances, and business associates when they wake up Easter morning to find a copy of my latest book in their childrens’ Easter baskets. Since Alive & Thrivin’is part of a trilogy (hence the subtitle, the thrillogy of a trilogy), they may want to purchase my first two books (Alive & Kickin’ and Alive & Chillin’) to complete the set. I would be happy to accommodate them, for a fee. They may want their books signed by the author, which I would be happy to do, for a fee.

Finally, they may ask if I’m available for book signings and public speaking engagements. Also, very amenable to either of those public appearances…. for a fee. I’m a full-service author and man about town.

As the world contends with a global health concern, let’s hope the Easter Bunny washes his paws, carries an ample supply of paw sanitizer with him, and drinks plenty of water before his enormous Easter Eve mission. He may want to consider engaging the services of Amazon or some type of drone distribution service just to be safe.

I am very proud that my new book was selected as an Easter Basket gift item this year and I will do everything in my power with the world wide audience I’m about to inherit to promote safe and healthy living so we can all stay Alive and Thrivin’.

Does Music Make Life Better?

April 7, 2020 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

There are many opinions about the presence of music in our lives. Does it make life indeed better, richer, physically and emotionally less stressful? Could it possibly lead to a life of contentment?

More and more research is being done by investigators at universities and research centers. Thankfully, we are learning much more about the restorative, positive effects of music’s involvement in the mental and physical health of people, worldwide.

A friend gave me an article that appeared in Reader’s Digest by freelance writer and editor, Michelle Crouch. Her article, entitled, 13 Incredible Ways Music Benefits You, was so compelling I decided to share many of her comments about the positive benefits of music. For years I have written about the healthful benefits of music, here in ALIVE Magazine.

Crouch wrote that in one study, researchers found that happy music in the workplace can help workers be more efficient. It takes less time to complete a task while listening to music, especially when the work is repetitive. University researchers found upbeat music helpful in making workers more corporative when arriving at decisions.

Surgeons improved their operating efficiency listening to music while performing surgery. The stress hormone, Cortisol, was found to decrease while listening to music, just as well as getting a massage. Patients with anxiety listened to music while in a dimly lit room. After three months, patients who listened to music experienced the same drop in anxiety as the patients who received massages. Also, patients listening to music before undergoing surgery experienced less anxiety and had limited need for sedatives. Pain was reduced after surgery, requiring less medication.

“Researchers from the Netherlands and Australia discovered that people come up with creative solutions when they listen to happy, upbeat music,” wrote Crouch. A possible reason is that music relaxes you and improves your brain’s flexibility so the creative juices can flow. While listening to music, moderate volume, rather than loud, is preferred.

Listening to music, causes the brain to release the neurotransmitter dopamine, sometimes associated with being in love—obviously a positive feeling. Crouch reported the dopamine can flow when one expects the best part of a song is coming.

When exercising, or working out, one can go farther if music is playing. Many times, repeated exercises can be very boring and tedious, however, when one listens to music, the boredom and tediousness can be lessened by distracting and motivating one to stay on task. When the psychological factors of music on exercise are examined, it can be termed, “a type of legal, performance – enhancing drug.”

Listening to music while exercising can produce a rush of energy that can be real. Many college age men were studied while doing squats while listening to a favorite song. The result was, they did squats more explosively and performed reps at faster speeds than a control group of similar men doing the same exercise in silence. They also found that people sprint faster and can hold heavy weights longer while listening to music.

How would you like to sleep longer, wake up fewer times during the night, and feel better and more rested in the morning? In a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, seniors who listened to 45 minutes of soft, slow music before going to bed reported a 35 percent improvement during their sleep time and less dysfunction during the day-time hours.

The fact that music can indeed heal has been known for centuries. Although music has worked in many facets of healing, until recently we didn’t know why or how. In an analysis of 400 studies, the findings found that music enhances the body’s production of an anti-body that attacks viruses and bacteria.

Crouch reminds us that the expression “time does fly,” has new meaning when it applies to listening to music. Like waiting in a doctor’s office, for example, many judge their waiting period as shorter when music is playing.

Stores and other retailers have known this fact for many years. When music is being played, buyers stay longer, look more, and very importantly, spend more money. It is proven that in restaurants and bars, more food and drinks are sold when music, especially slow music, is played. In grocery stores, sales increase 38 percent when the background music has a slow tempo.

Even the human heart can be helped by listening to joyful music. By listening to music that brings you joy, the blood vessels expand, increasing blood flow and improving cardiovascular health, according to a study at the University of Maryland.

In a revue of studies of 1,400 heart disease patients, it was found that music reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety. In our complex society, if more people listened to music, perhaps those with heart problems could be significantly reduced.

In a study of adults who focused on melodies of their childhood while being treated by safe electric shocks, pain was reduced by 17 percent. Other studies showed that pain may be reduced for fibromyalgia and even cancer patients. Children also benefited by listening to soothing, upbeat music while having an IV inserted. They had less pain, distress, and anxiety when compared to children with no music present during the procedure.

More research is being done with Alzheimer’s patients.

When a patient listens to a song from their past, they can be helped to retrieve memories, communicate more effectively, and remember who they are. Singing was found to be especially effective and powerful. When patients remembered an old favorite song, over time, it was found that it may boost their cognitive behavior and function. A study involving Parkinson’s patients also showed improvement.

Music, can and does, have a positive effect on people. It provides great joy, a sense of well-being, and comfort to the mind, body and soul.

Many thanks to Michelle Crouch for sharing her wise thoughts and words making this article possible.

Visit our website at danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band or reach me at banddirector01@comcast.net.

2020 Ford Mustang

April 7, 2020 by Charles Donaldson Leave a Comment

Power Packed Icon!

In the automotive world, there are few icon vehicles that are more popular or loved than the Ford Mustang. Originally introduced in 1964, as a 1964 ½, the Mustang was an immediate success. That success has continued through the years – minus maybe the Mustang II years. Ford’s iconic sports car remains extremely popular and a symbol of the dreams of young boys and adults with its masculine design, outrageous horsepower, and throaty exhaust roar.

Pricing and Trims
The 2020 Ford Mustang is available in multiple trim levels: EcoBoost Coupe ($27,765), EcoBoost Convertible ($32,265), EcoBoost Premium Coupe ($32,780), EcoBoost Premium Convertible ($38,280), GT Coupe ($36,725), GT Premium ($40,725), GT Premium Convertible ($46,225), Bullitt Coupe ($48,800), Shelby GT350 Coupe ($61,535), Shelby GT350R Coupe ($73,230), Shelby GT500 Coupe ($73.995).

What’s New for 2020?
The 2020 Mustang introduces a new 2.3-liter High Performance EcoBoost® engine, with package, and the Shelby GT500® with its 5.2-liter supercharged cross-plane crank V-8 motor. There are some other minor changes as well.

Interior Highpoints
The one complaint that I have always had with the Mustang is the nearly nonexistent legroom for the rear seat. At 5’8” tall, my seat adjustment only left approximately 3 to 4 inches of space between the back of my seat and the rear seat. The rear seats accommodate two passengers.

That aside, the interior of the Mustang’s cockpit was roomy, comfortable, and sporty. Soft touches throughout, the center console begins with oil pressure and vacuum boost gauges. Below is an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, satellite radio, and a 1,000-watt B&O Play audio system. The FordPass Connect provides you with access to some of the car’s vital information and nifty tricks via a smartphone app that is now equipped on all models. My test model included push-button start and paddle shifts.

Exterior Highlights
The styling of the 2020 Ford Mustang blends the iconic 1969 Mustang fastback roots with a modern sports car appeal. The long hood rolling into the symbolic roofline merges into the raked hatchback and rear end. A flared lower front fascia creates a wide and bold presentation grounded by a black grille pasted with the Mustang emblem which is centered perfectly.

Deep creased lines run over the hood and along the top and bottom of the doors. Flared wheel wells blend into the front headlights and rear taillights. The convertible version brings the feel of summer to any season. Exterior changes for 2020 include new paint colors, striping, and 19” alloy wheel options.

Performance Specs
The 2020 Ford Mustang is available in three engine sizes with multiple performance versions that increase horsepower. The base engine is the 2.3-liter EcoBoost with a decent 310 horses, a High Performance 2.3 EcoBoost upgrades the horsepower to 330. The GT and Bullitt are equipped with a strong 302-cu.ft. V-8 motor, generating 460 and 480 hp respectively. The Shelby GT350 owns a 315-cu. in. 5.0-liter V-8 powerhouse pounding out 526 hp. Going from street worthy to supercar status, the Shelby GT500 is loaded with a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 with NASCAR power that delivers an explosive 730 stampeding horses. Each engine is teamed up with performance packages, including suspension, tires, and/or brakes. Other items, as well, match the horsepower level ensuring that the handling can match the power. Whether or not the drive can control the horses might be questionable!

All versions except the Shelby GT500 are mated to a 6-Speed manual transmission. The Shelby GT500 is mated to a 7-Speed Tremec TR-9070 duel clutch manual transmission. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost and the GT are available with an optional 10-speed automatic transmission.

Cool Features:

Massive amount of horsepower for any of the trims – especially the Shelby GT500
Optional Recaro Bucket seats
Standard FordPass Connect

Safety & Integrity
The 2020 Ford Mustang takes safety to a level seriousness that you might not expect on a sports car. The Mustang offers a variety of safety features that perform well in the government crash test. Standard safety features include 6 airbags in convertibles and 8 airbags in coupes. The coupe models boast side curtain airbags, driver-knee airbags, and a glove-box-mounted airbag.

Certain active safety equipment offered on the Mustang is not standard. These features include forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking, driver attention alerts, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitors.

In Summary – The 2020 Ford Mustang continues to live up to its wild roots with each year raising the level of performance, technology and safety. The Mustang styling is pure aggressive sportscar and the roar of each engine choice announces the grand entrance wherever you are. It’s fun and comfortable to drive and it could even upgrade your cool status. If you are looking for a family car, then you might want to wait until late 2020, when the All-New Mustang Mach-E Electric SUV (Yes, I said SUV!) hits showroom floors.

Specifications.

2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Coupe

Base price:	$31,685 as driven: $39,370 (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	2.3-liter EcoBoost Turbo 4-Cylinder
Horsepower:	330 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:	350 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
Transmission:	10-speed automatic transmission
Drive:	Rear Wheel Drive
Seating:	4-passenger
Cargo Volume:	13.5 cu. ft.
Curb weight:	3671 pounds
Fuel Capacity:	15.5 gallons
Fuel Economy:	17 MPG City, 24 MPG Highway
Turning Radius:	37.8 feet
Wheelbase:	107.1 inches
Warranty:	3 years/36,000-miles
Also Consider:	Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Kia Stinger, Mazda MX-5, Nissan 370Z

Obsessed with Nebbiolo

April 7, 2020 by Elizabeth Kate Leave a Comment

With the Coronavirus pandemic upon us, many parts of the world are now closed off to prevent the spread of the dangerous disease. Who would have ever imagined being restricted from travel to Europe and Asia? But the reality of global disease has arrived and with it have come the restrictions.

The first European country to be severely impacted by COVID-19 was Italy and the country struggles to gain control of the virulent outbreak within its borders. How devastating that our beloved Italy with its incredible food and divine wines must be avoided and left to cure itself from within!

We can do our part by supporting their economy and buying Italian wine. Fortunately, there is no shortage of delicious Italian wine in our stores, so grab a bottle or two to offer assistance to Italy’s beleaguered economy. With schools closing and people working from home, it seems we suddenly have a lot of time on our hands to enjoy a good glass of wine.

One of the greatest Italian grapes is nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is an aromatic grape hailing from the Piedmont region of northern Italy at the foot of the Italian Alps. It produces outstanding wines celebrated the world over.

An affinity for nebbiolo can quickly become an obsession. Just taste one to see why. Named for the Italian word for fog or “nebbia,” as Piedmont tends to be quite chilly and foggy much of the year, nebbiolo is the grape used to craft the legendary wines of Barolo and Barbaresco.

Both Barolo and Barbaresco are pale garnet in color and have a spicy floral quality on the nose, with plenty of earthy minerality. On the palate, the wines are very high in acid. Flavors can include strawberries, cherries, rose petals, black tea leaves, and even tar. Depending on the producer and the vintage, the wines might also offer aromas of crushed violets, vanilla, toast, cinnamon, and clove.

A young Barolo or Barbaresco can often be too intense to consume pleasurably. Aging allows the wines to improve, as the flavors soften and gain in complexity. Not cheap wines, Barolo and Barbaresco may range in price from about $25 to many hundreds of dollars.

If Barolo and Barbaresco are not in your budget this year, fear not. Fine wines crafted from the nebbiolo grape but without the hefty price tag abound. You simply need to know where to look.

Just north of Piedmont is tiny Val D’Aosta, a narrow valley running along the Dora Baltea River. It’s a wonder that grapes are grown here at all as this is a steep, mountainous region with treacherous terraced vineyards. Brave pickers risk their lives to harvest these high-quality grapes.

As expected, the production in Val D’Aosta is very small scale but the wines are truly sublime. Beautifully perfumed with high acid and bursting with fresh fruit, these wines are absolute treasures if you can find them. Extremely well priced because of their relative anonymity outside the region, a wine from Val D’Aosta is always a delight.

Another region producing notable wines from the illustrious nebbiolo grape is found north of Milan in mountainous Lombardy. Bordering the Adda River and tucked in a steep alpine valley in the foothills of the Alps, Valtellina produces outrageously good nebbiolo. Fresh and bright with heady aromas of dried roses and violets and a mouthful of sweet fruit, the wines of Valtellina are not easily forgotten.

Valtellina also makes a specialty wine in the style of Amarone, by pressing dried grapes. Called Sforzati di Valtellina, these unique wines are rich and highly extracted, with high alcohol, and layers of fruit and spice. Velvety on the palette but packing a tannic punch, Sforzati di Valtellina wines are a must-try and will not disappoint.

As we wind our way from the depth of this pandemic, let’s remember to cherish the precious time we have with friends and loved ones. Open a bottle of good Italian wine and drink to a long, healthy life.

Cheers!