As Kukla, Fran and Ollie used to sing, “Here We Are Again.” The sixth edition of the reincarnated Weinberg House Organ is here for you to check out, based on your interest, convenience and necessity.
ALL THAT JAZZ
Two Saturday mornings ago, I had a mind-opening experience at the Museum of Science and Industry (“science and interesting” as my kids’ name for it).
It was one of a series of weekend classes that combines art with science, focused on possibly of creating better/richer solutions to complex issues. Urban nutrition is the challenge for Chicago, but topics and the way they were presented as participatory learning was exciting. I was especially taken by the hour plus that focused the nuances of collaboration, using jazz as the metaphor.
One of my oldest friends, Spike Schonthal (who introduced me to Thelonius Monk at the Sutherland Lounge and the Bird House in 1960!), is involved with this year-long project, funded by the National Science Foundation and hosted by the Museum.
One concept that excited me is the idea that dissonance is what fires creativity and ideas. This was the lesson of Michael Gold, jazz bass player and master teacher. When any process flows without interruption or variation, it’s unlikely anything new will happen. (It was also the lesson of another Michael—Jordan—whose creativity was at the core of his greatness …but that’s another story.)
The jazz study took on another wrinkle when the results of brain functions of performing jazz musicians (the art) were measured electronically (the science). My simplistic understanding is that the brain patterns of playing jazz closely resemble what the scan shows when measuring CONVERSATIONS. Both playing jazz and having genuine conversations are about communicating directly within a small group. Good conversations and good jazz ensemble performance combine listening and speaking, challenge and support, questioning and answering- all at the service of advancing an idea. There is an accepted and unstated system of flow and interaction, but the spontaneity and dissonance—including unpredictability–is what I perceive as FUN in all different arenas.
I know you didn’t ask for this two-bit science stuff, but what happened in my sleepy half-consciousness early Saturday morning seems to have stuck so excuse the indulgence of the last 336 words.
WRITE ON!
Seems like the more I read and write (even in 12 minutes online doses) the more I think about writers and writing. I love obits…they’re tight writing, just the right length, and open up someone’s world I’d either never heard of or just knew the name. Like Vincent Harding, died May 21 at 86…was one of the most effective civil rights policy leaders (who was usually behind the scenes).
Another example is the personal note online like:
What do you do when your friend Nora Ephron dies?
You cry and then you write about it. Because that is what she said to do whenever you told her a story that moved her or amused her. “Write about it” she’d say. It was like Beethoven telling you to play a symphony or Billie Jean King telling you to serve the ball or Springsteen telling you to rock.
She was the best of the best and when she said, “write!” she was telling you to engage in the noblest pastime she knew. Because when Nora wrote — or when she read something that someone else wrote that she appreciated — she shared it all. Not just wisdom or amusement, but vulnerability combined with self-awareness that gave permission to the world to do big, crazy, passionate things. Fall in love, raise your game, change the world, slap back at the Republicans — do it all, but do it all with self-effacing charm and a self-assurance that people will notice.
–Arianna Huffington, again, sorry
Re. WRITING: MORE from MEDIA BURN, the BOOK
As has become my custom, I present another offering from my 40+ year book-in process. This selection is more personal than theoretical as much of the book is. It’s condensed from a longer chapter about…me and my work life. It’s called My Ink-Stained History (and it doesn’t even mention my shirt pockets). I really want your reaction to this…how else can I make it better? Use the comments or send email to me.
YOUR FEEDBACK
In the last issue, I included some video of recent presidential rhetoric by B.H. Obama. I submitted it as an example of why so many of us were enthusiastic about him and the possibilities in the old days (2007-8). A good friend since college, took to her keyboard and straightened me out about the President. Herewith:
Tom…
Just read the organ…didn’t go to the link, but I gotta say, in spite of Congress and the Tea Party and all the odds that were against him, I still think this guy was never ready for prime time. I love it when Joe Biden has to say the right thing and then Obama is forced to follow. I’m doing some revisionist thinking of late about LBJ who we all hated so much and in whom there’s been a lot of interest lately because of the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Yeah, he destroyed himself and thousands of other humans with Vietnam, and that almost trumps everything, but it really doesn’t. We had to hate him cause we loved Kennedy and suddenly there was his ugly mug on that plane. But the truth is, he was a real POLITICIAN. He had paid his dues in the senate for years and he knew how to horse trade and what to do in those smoke filled rooms where arms were twisted and favors were called in. I just don’t believe that all of that is impossible today. Obama was green and untested. I still think of him as a wonderful projection we liberal democrats had. We poured so many hopes and dreams into him after eight years of W, AND he was black! It was perfect, except we forgot that he had no real experience and knew how to talk pretty. I don’t think history will be kind to him. In almost every instance that has meant something to me he has failed to take a strong moral stand based on principle. This has particularly vexed me in those instances where he knew he would lose. If you know you don’t stand a chance, then what have you got to lose by taking that moral stand with even more conviction? This is simply not a great man Or at least not to me.
I must admit, when I think about his place in history, I suspect she’s right…and it’s a damn shame (btw, she knew him from the years he was at the University of Chicago).
OH, THE PUZZLE FROM LAST TIME
Here’s how Louis Weinberg, Jr. answered it in the House Organ in 1958:
Before I forget it – thanks for your many letters, wires, and phone calls volunteering your answer to the puzzle in the previous House Organ. The were a source of great pleasure – not only because I enjoyed hearing from you, but also because the overwhelming majority of you sent in the same wrong answer I had when I was first presented the puzzle.
The correct answer is that the worm traveled a total of only one-half an inch. In other words, he was obliged to travel through only two covers (each one ¼” thick). He did not travel through a single page because Page 1 Volume 1 and the last page of Volume 2 are immediately adjacent (except for the two covers) when the two books are placed in the correct order on the shelf. If you’re unconvinced, put any two volumes on the desk in front of you – and you’ll see!
I’ve also been wondering how the worm found itself at the cover of Volume 1 as a starting place, but that’s thinking outside the book.
Two of your co-subscribers got it right (with some minor hints after their first guesses): Bob Dove (a brilliant documentary audio recordist and colleague for decades, retired and has time to work on such tomfoolery) and dear pal Dee Davis (also brilliant in a multitude of ways and who has some “free” time–he spends inordinate hours on airplanes and in airports). From what I glean, Mimi Pickering, his wife and better half, likely figured prominently in their solution-making.
Congratulations for solving it correctly…we’ll do more puzzles, probably repurposing some from my dad, who wrote ad copy in the 1920’s to 1950’s, and could spot a response-provoking gimmick with the best of ‘em.
As Hawk Harrelson, long-time and sometimes annoying White Sox TV announcer is fond of saying after the third out in the ninth nearly every night, for six months, cold or warm, “ It’s o-o-o-o-over.” Even though it seemed like a short one this is the end of another edition. (cue the music).
No Abreu-watch this time. He twisted his ankle and hasn’t played for a few weeks, though when he went on the DL, the difference-making Cuban first baseman had the Major League-leading home run total (15). I’m hoping to see him hit one at Dodger Stadium on Jesse’s birthday party, June 4.
For sure, exciting José will be back before his first All-Star game and so will the next Weinberg House Organ/PY-O-MY Letter. Meanwhile, please be nice to old people…I just realized that I’m undeniably becoming one of them!
PY-O-MY 
Hey Tom…there I was, at last in print! Thanks for that! Now I’ll probably need round the clock security protection! No, really, thanks! Now it’s time to write a little something about how the Blackhawks broke the heart of a city. I’ve never seen the kind of mass depression that followed their astounding loss Sunday night. It’s as if they sucked the air out of the whole metropolis. They would have wiped up the Rangers. So sad. Does victory inspire greed? That repeat that won’t happen meant a lot to so many of us true Was it wrong that, after all these years of losing sports teams we felt a sense of entitlement? Maybe. Doesn’t matter. We was robbed. When does training camp begin?
I happen to be in LA and I was on Sudden Death Sunday. Every time I’m on the freeway next to a flag-waving Kings-mobile, I feel like I want to forecheck them right off the shoulder. Aw, Nanc, there are more important things in life than hockey. Baseball, for instance. We have our Bobby Hull now (José) and maybe we’ll get another title in a decade or two. (We should live so long)
Reading your ink stained history passage got me thinking. My son Max, who is a sophomore in high school, has a video project for not one, not two, but three of his classes — history, video arts, and — of all things — French. Video production and video editing was always something I assumes to be a highly specialized skill known only to a few. Now we have public school instructors telling their students to go out in groups of 3-4 and create 10- minute films without giving them any equipment. They’re assuming, with apparent success, that at least one out of three has the necessary equipment and knowledge to hack together a quasi-presentable video.
Where are we headed? Will Videos replaced the essay? Will video editing software get fast and easy enough that people will choose to communicate using video footage rather than text emails or documents?
What elements of political artistry will be lost in the process?
What new revelations and collective consciousness will be discovered?
Fascinating.
All good questions, Ted.
I’m a proud great-uncle when I hear that Max has the Weinberg editing DNA.
The ease and availability for him exceeds what was available for tens of thousands of dollars and totally limited access
when he was born.
Who knows the future. One thing we do know is that using screens for images (especially games) is what most people
are doing for hours every day. For dinosaurs like me, who use it to actually be involved with other humans, it barely computes.
But, for Max, now’s the good old days!
Meant to say *poetic* artistry in that last paragraph. Interesting how Siri mis-transcribes some of my dictations. Looks like I need to check Siri’s verb tenses more carefully as well. 🙂
Win: Keep them coming. I love any text with Spike Schonthal’s name in it. And the museum of science and interesting is classic. Also the letter about Barack H O — can’t remember who wrote it but it’s pretty right on.
I was with Caker Meyer for the day in DC Saturday on sad business. Jimmy Kraft (who Nancy and I have stayed close with all these years) died last week – and though we missed the funeral because we were in Maine, we went down to DC Saturday to be with Karen and some of Jimmy’s kids — and Caker and Barb were our chauffeurs in DC,
Love to you,
Id