Cremona

On By scottpetersenIn Amati, Cremona, Guarneri, Gutenberg Bible, StradivariusLeave a comment

Cremona is a city of 75,000 in the Northern (Lombardy) area of Italy.  The city has a long and storied history.   It is known for many things but it is famous for one — violins.   Beginning in the 16th Century, Cremona was home to three legendary luthier families:  Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri.  While many associate the names Guarneri and Amati with fine violins, everyone knows the name Stradivarius.

When I was young, I read a lot about treasure — the Lost Dutchman Mine, the Oak Island Mystery, the San Saba River treasure, Padre Island doubloons and so on.  I avidly read books like Frank Dobie’s classic Coronado’s Children.   And I always longed to one day go hunting for these treasures or rarities like a Gutenberg Bible (post of 8/18/11) or a Stradivarius violin.  I’ve come close to a Gutenberg (another story) but the Stradivarius has escaped me. 

During his lifetime, Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) made about 1,100 instruments.  A few hundred survive and those that do are rare and valuable.  Why?  Because the sound is near perfection.  Antonio created his works of musical art with spruce tops, willow blocks and maple backs, ribs and neck.  The technique has been duplicated but the sound never replicated.  There is thought that the coatings on the wood made the difference.  So far, the exact recipe remains a mystery.

I still think of taking a sabbatical someday — and heading off in search of a Gutenberg Bible or a Stradivarius violin.   Or maybe the Lost Dutchman Mine. . . . .

Education: So what do we do?

On By scottpetersenIn Education, Education - an editorialLeave a comment

Some said that while my Monday editorial critiques, it offers no substance — on reforming education.  I’ll add some thoughts.

How about if we pay nursery school, kindergarten, 1st, 2d, 3d grade teachers (the early grades) what we pay college professors (and college professors get paid what nursery school teachers make)?  Young children are virtual sponges.  They learn and absorb the most in these early years.  This is the time!  This is where we need our best teachers.  By the time children reach college, learning patterns are fixed.  Will this happen?  Should it happen?  Probably not — but you get my drift.

Longer and more school days beginning with the grades referenced above.  The U.S. averages 180 school days per year.  That’s right down there with Portugal, Haiti and Bolivia.   The average day is 6.5 hours.  We can do better.  We must do better. 

Unions represent teachers – sure – but they must be spokesmen for students.   The job is education.  Become champions of education instead of the trumpets of discord.   Blindly protect the worst teachers?  Everyone loses.   Strike for fewer work days and shorter hours?  Give me a break.  Work for the betterment of students?  Everyone wins.   And policy makers need to understand what it takes to be a good teacher.

Today anyone can become  a teacher.  Yet some teachers don’t have the ability to teach.   Raise the bar on teacher certification. 

Teachers deserve incentive pay and h.d.p. (hazardous duty pay) for working in tough schools.  Great results deserve meritorious compensation.   

Charter schools – yes.  Magnet schools – yes.  Vouchers – yes.   Tutoring programs – yes.  Require parental involvement (and educate parents while we’re at it) – yes.    Keep our eye on the ball — the objective is to educate.

Hold students to higher levels of achievement.  Let’s not “dumb down” expectations.   Grades are important.  You fail?  You fail.  Try again. . . . and again.  And succeed.  I’ve read that uniforms (or strict dress codes) improve student performance.  Worth a try??   

Teach computer literacy and typing early on.   Best course I ever had in high school — typing. 

Be creative.  Be inspirational.  Be learning-oriented.  Target achievement.  Develop a new mind-set.  Educate.  We can get there. 

Education – An Editorial

On By scottpetersenIn Education, Education - an editorialLeave a comment

We spend more and more money on public school education and each year, the results are dismal.   Our educational system is flawed if not broken.  Why?    

I am concerned that teachers unions impede the education process by focusing on teachers — not education.  There is blind protection of the lowest common denominator (the worst teachers), opposition to charter schools, objection to longer hours and more school days and rejection of merit pay for great teachers who achieve great results.   And unfunded (and unfair to taxpayer) pensions drain state and local budgets.   And tenure?  Where did that come from?   No other business has such foolishness. 

A big negative in educational outcome is parental void.   We want parents to be involved in the education of their children.  But when parents are out of the mix, teachers must step up to a higher calling. 

The notion of federal control over education is not working.  Requiring states to send massive amounts of taxpayer money to Washington to be massaged and nitpicked by (and paid in salaries to) bureaucrats is draining and counterproductive.  The U.S. Department of Education (begun in 1979) has 5,000 employees and a budget of $94 billion(!).  I have a feeling that states can use that money more productively.  

School districts?   According to a 2002 census, there were nearly 14,000 in the U.S. (each a bureaucratic fiefdom unto itself).   And Illinois (a state that is nearly bankrupt) has nearly a thousand of them.  Can we consolidate?   

 We need to educate.   Those with good jobs and higher pay are normally better educated.  Those without solid education* are the un and under-employed.  Want to build the economy?  Education.  Want to reduce crime?  Education.  Want to reduce unemployment?  Education.  It’s the Rx for lots of things. . . .    

     *”Education” does not mean a child must be college-bound.   It can mean the trades, military,  associate degrees, agriculture and a host of other job and skill set training.  (See posts of 11/23 and 12/5)

Whiskey in the White House – 1921

On By scottpetersenIn Daniel R. Crissinger, Orlando Rapp, Prohibition, Whiskey in the White HouseLeave a comment

On January 16, 1920, the Prohibition Amendment banned the sale, manufacture and transportation of intoxicating liquors.   The only way to get alcoholic beverages was with a doctor’s prescription.  See e.g.  Crissinger – prescription    The President of the United States — Warren Harding — as a Senator from Ohio voted for Prohibition.  But he did so with a twinkle in his eye. . . .

Notwithstanding the dire strictures of Prohibition, the White House remained stocked with fine quality booze imported from Canada.  The President had help from his “Ohio Gang” — a fraternity of boyhood pals whom he brought to Washington to help run the country.   

Some years ago, I acquired a collection of spicy correspondence from Daniel R. Crissinger, a member of the Ohio Gang, which provides insight into the smuggling of booze into the White House.  The letters are dated from April to July 1921 and are directed to Orlando Rapp (“Orlie”) – another Ohio pal.  An example is a letter dated July 2, 1921 – “You have been wanting some Gordon gin.  I think it can be had here at $105 per case.”   

While the President’s name never comes up, you can bet that he was up to his corkscrew in complicity.  I have attached the letters.   Also attached is a 1924 doctor’s prescription for “sherry wine.”  And it is an “emergency.”  Mercy!  I hope the poor woman got her medicine. . . . . 

Crissinger 1  Crissinger 2    Crissinger 3  Crissinger 4  Crissinger 5 

Islam, Judaism and Christianity

On By scottpetersenIn Christianity, Islam, JudaismLeave a comment

Islam, Judaism and Christianity all trace their lineage to a common ancestor  — Abraham.  Abraham had two sons:  Isaac (by Sarah) and Ishmael (by Hagar).  Isaac begat the Line of David from which Jewish and Christian traditions derive and Ishmael was an ancestor of Muhammad — the Messenger of Islam.  

The Quran is interesting in that it adopts and references all of the prophets of the Old Testament.  Jesus is mentioned nearly a hundred times.  And Mary is the only woman mentioned in the Quran.  Islam accepts the Old Testament (especially the Torah and Psalms) as “The Word of God.”  Yet try and reconcile the Quran and the Bible theologically?  In most cases, it is a major chore.      

A common heritage, yet irreconcilable division.  Islam has 72 insular sects.  Christianity has its own islands of belief and Judaism has various divisions.  Despite common origin, there is distrust, misunderstanding and even violence — all in the name of religion.    While most Christian and Jewish traditions accept (or at least are tolerant of) other religions and denominations, the violence tends to be confined to Islam and is curiously sectarian in nature though much too is directed outwardly — toward Christians and Jews.

In my post of January 30th, I commented on the ecumenical role the Archangel Gabriel has played in various religious traditions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, Bahai, etc.).   I wonder what Gabriel is thinking with all that’s going on in the world. . . . .    

 

Meeting with the Mayor

On By scottpetersenIn Chicago Lights Tutoring, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Student plays, Tutoring1 Comment

I have previously discussed how I tutor with the Chicago Lights Tutoring Organization (see posts of August 8 and 9, 2011, and January 26, 2012) and how I write plays for students to read.  (See  www.chicagolights.org)

Several weeks ago, I wrote a play for my student (Jordan) where he played an NBC co-anchor for the 10:00 pm news.  At the conclusion of the “broadcast,” he invited viewers to tune in next week for an interview with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  At the end of our session, Jordan asked if I would write a play where he interviewed the Mayor.  So I did.  I sent a copy to Chicago Lights’ administrators so they might use it with other students.  They liked it – and sent a copy to the Mayor’s office.  Long story short – the Mayor asked to meet Jordan and me.    

A few weeks ago, Jordan, his parents, the administrator of the Chicago Lights Tutoring Program and I spent about 40 minutes with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  He was a gentleman, didn’t rush us, showed Jordan around his office (and let Jordan sit in his chair – at his desk), and he read the whole play – interacting with Jordan.  Jordan read perfectly!!   The Mayor asked a lot of questions of Jordan and his parents.  And then he inscribed – and signed – Jordan’s copy of the play.  He signed mine too. 🙂   He liked a line from the play which went “There is no finish line for improvement.”  He told Jordan to listen for that phrase in the coming weeks since he said he would use it – and perhaps say “my friend Jordan says ‘there is no finish line . . . .'”  That, he said, might have reporters going “who is this ‘Jordan’ fellow“?    Pretty cool. . . .

To see a pic and 2 articles on the subject, check out www.chicagolightstutoring.org  And here’s a link to the Play:   Rahm Emanuel Play

Trouble Sleeping?

On By scottpetersenIn Insomnia, Oh Shenendoah, Trouble sleeping?Leave a comment

There appear to be three types of insomnia:  transient (occasional); acute (short duration); and chronic (long duration).  All result in sleep deprivation which can (after longer duration) have serious health consequences.   I fall asleep easily – and quickly – but there are times when I will wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m.  thinking about this or that.  I’m familiar with the usual RX’s for getting to or back to sleep:  a cool room; no meal immediatly before bedtime; easy on the alcohol; no caffeine; no chocolate; a glass of warm milk; no afternoon naps; keep regular sleep hours; exercise but not before going to bed; read something boring – or soothing – before turning out the lights; and so on. 

However I have three further remedies that work for me that I’ve never read about.  They are:

1.  Clenching hands — When I wake up in the middle of the night, I sometimes find that my hands are clenched.  I simply unclench and lay them flat.  I suddenly feel relaxed;

2.  Deep breathing — I will breathe in through my nose, hold the breath and then exhale.  Slowly.  Deeply.   Through my mouth.  I get exhausted doing it.  After 7 or 8 times, it’s pretty much back to dreamland; and

3.  A pad of paper — I will often wake up thinking (you wonder – what could this man possibly be thinking?).  So I have a pad of paper by the bed.   And a flashlight.  I jot down whatever random drivle  comes into my small brain and I can then forget it.   zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. . . . .

And if these remedies don’t work, call me and I will start singing “Oh Shenedoah” (see post of August 14, 2011) .  That should do the trick. . . . .

Saturday Lunch

On By scottpetersenIn Caymus Vineyards, Frontera Grill, Hass Avocado, La Banderita tortillas, Saturday lunchLeave a comment

In my post of September 8, 2011, I commented that I usually feel like Diogenes searching for a decent lunch on Saturdays.  It’s often PB and J on pita or a tasteless frozen burrito (unless I dash out to Treasure Island to grab a few pieces of spanikopita).   However, on September 8th I shared a recipe for Saturday lunch that was cosmic.   It was a recipe that I stumbled on by pure accident due to a rare constellation of foods that happened to be in the frig, pantry and fruit bowl. 

Lately, I’ve been teeing up another easy Saturday lunch that is a “keeper.”  It is La Banderita tortillas with smoked salmon, Monterrey Jack cheese, fresh Hass avocado and Frontera Grill’s Salpica brand cilantro green olive salsa with roasted tomatillos.  Oh my. . . .

I toast the tortillas for a few minutes.  Remove, lay flat and layer some smoked salmon, a slice of Monterrey Jack cheese and fresh avocado.  Nuke it on “Reheat” for a bit, remove and slather with salsa.  I have died and gone to heaven.   For a dinner portion, you might use larger tortillas and add some grilled onions (see post of November 14, 2011) and fresh guacamole (avocados, squeezed limes, well-chopped cilantro). 

If you add a side of black beans and rice (brown rice is tastier) with a tad of salsa on top, and perhaps a glass or two of cabernet sauvignon (I am partial to Caymus), you will have an exquisite Sunday (or any day) dinner.  If you make it, invite me over. . . . . especially if you’re serving Caymus cab. . . . . 

 

Second City

On By scottpetersenIn Monterrey, Second CityLeave a comment

In 1938, my father and his friend Bill S. took a driving trip to Mexico.  This was an unheard of expedition at the time for two twenty-something guys from Chicago.   Despite numerous car troubles (a Model A Ford), they nearly made it to Mexico City.  At that point, running low on money – and enthusiasm for confronting a chronically ailing car – they chugged back north. 

I have a wonderful vintage film (now on DVD) my father made this trip.  The amazing thing — it is in color.   One of the classic images of my father is him standing next to the famed Obispado in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.   Built in the late 1780’s, this Church building has served as a barracks, retirement home, fortress and now – a museum.

In the late 1980’s I began traveling to Monterrey on business.  I have been there often – visiting two or in a few cases three times a year.   Monterrey has become almost a “second city” for me.  I pretty much know my way around (though it is challenging) and I enjoy the wonderful restaurants, sites and people.  When there, I normally stay at the Quinta Real, a beautiful hotel in the San Pedro Garza Garcia neighborhood.  I have visited the Obispado — and have a wonderful picture of myself standing in the exact spot where my father stood seventy years before.

I have made good friends in Monterrey – Antonio G. and his family being chief among them.   He and his family have been to my home (for Thanksgiving one year) and my wife and I have been to his.   And there are so many more good friends there.   These are times of great difficulty for Monterrey but the City is good and its people are strong.  They will endure and surpass.