REVIEW POTPOURRI: Ralph Meeker (Actor)

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Ralph Meeker

Ralph Meeker

Ralph Meeker (1920-1988) was labeled perhaps a bit misleadingly as a character actor; on film and television, he did portray men on both sides of the law but he didn’t have the characterizing artistry of a Rod Steiger or Sir Lawrence Olivier.

What Meeker did have was a tough, almost explosive masculine screen presence. Examples would be the smiling rattlesnake outlaw he portrayed on the late 1950s Disney series Texas John Slaughter, the coldly focused detective in the 1955 Kiss Me Deadly who smashes a rare opera 78 in pieces to get information from a reluctant witness and the kidnapper who gets sent to prison in Big House USA, also from 1955, and escapes with four deadly cell mates, portrayed with consummate persuasion by Broderick Crawford, William Talman, Lon Chaney Jr. and Charles Bronson.

Meeker was also a motorcycle cop in the 1953 Code Two, whose slightly rebellious attitude during police basic training is pulverized by a drill instructor convincingly brought to life by actor Keenan Wynn.

The 1955 season one of Alfred Hitchcock Presents began with an episode Revenge, one of a few directed by Hitchcock himself and starring Meeker and Vera Miles as a married couple who has relocated from back East and set up temporary living quarters in a trailer park community on the otherwise still unspoiled Pacific Coast.

We find out that the wife is under doctor’s orders to take it easy for a few months after having suffered a nervous breakdown, that the husband has taken an engineering job at a nearby plant but that otherwise he does most of the cooking and other domestic chores so that his wife can relax as much as possible.

Meeker displays an endearing tenderness as the husband. As he leaves for the day, his wife promises a surprise dessert that evening.

Inevitably, Hitchcock being Hitchcock, the plot thickens. The husband returns home to find out that the wife has been violently raped (due to 1950s censorship, the word is assaulted) during a home invasion by a salesman.

Events proceed to where the couple is driving around the surrounding area, the wife sees a man walking on the street and yells, “That’s him!” The husband sneaks into the stranger’s hotel room and murders him with a wrench.

As they drive away, the – well, I won’t reveal the ending.

CSI: New York

Gary Sinise

I recently started watching the 2004 opening season of CSI: New York starring Gary Sinise as the lead investigator in the forensics unit of the Man­hattan Po­lice Depart­ment. My most memorable experiences of Sinise’s acting were in Ransom as a psychotic kidnapper and in Snake Eyes as the assassin of a Secretary of Defense . He conveyed a brutal ruthlessness in both roles.

In the TV series, Sinise started off with a strong presence but then has been getting more stiff and boring in subsequent episodes.

* * * * * *

Mozart: Magic Flute – La Dove Prende; Emma Eames, soprano and Emilio de Gogorza, baritone. Victor Red Seal 89003.
A very charmingly sung duet as sung by Eames and Gogorza who were married for over 25 years and resided much of the year in Bath, Maine.

Rossini: Stabat Mater – Cujus Animam; Evan Williams, tenor. Victor Red Seal 74093. Evan Williams sang a truly spirited performance of this very joyous aria from Rossini’s Oratorio. He passed away in 1919 from an infected boil at the age of 52. Williams, Enrico Caruso and John McCormack were considered Victor’s three most popular tenors during the World War I years.

Strauss: Blue Danube Waltz; soprano Frieda Hempel. Victor Red Seal 88540. The world’s most famous waltz gets a nice but not exactly earth shaking vocal performance.

Handel: Il Pensieroso- Sweet Bird, That Shunn’st the Noise of Folly; soprano Nellie Melba. Victor Red Seal 88068. Australian soprano Nellie Melba left many splendid shellacs and this one from a rarely heard opera of George Frederick Handel is sung with beauty and expressive dexterity.

Gluck: Orfeo and Euridice – On My Faith Relying; soprano Joanna Gadski and contralto Louise Homer. Victrola Red Seal 89041.

Both Gadski and Homer were huge successes at the Metropolitan Opera of the pre-World War I years. Gadski was most acclaimed in the operas of Mozart and Wagner while Homer sang the male role of Orfeo, as contraltos Rise Stevens and Marilyn Horne would 50 years later.

I have enjoyed their various other Victor shellacs but, strangely, this one didn’t quite get off the ground both in performance and the very dimly recorded sound.

All five of the above Red Seals came from the pre-electric microphone years and can be heard via YouTube.

Ralph Meeker

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Early Screening—The First Step to Protect Your Memory and Cognitive Ability

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92% of older Americans living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are undiagnosed—but they can be helped.

(NAPSI)—Throughout my career as a clinician, I have experienced firsthand the concerns and challenges that cognitive issues cause older adults. They fear they’ll lose their memory and their independence, and become a burden to their loved ones. The questions they ask most often are if their “forgetfulness” is just natural aging, or if they’re developing a form of dementia. They are often scared of the answer because they think there is little they can do about it.

Even though there is no cure for dementia, if you or a loved one are tested and diagnosed early, there are treatments that can slow down disease progression. These treatments can help you protect your cognitive function and potentially add years to your memory and ability to live independently.

The key is early screening and diagnosis, but sadly, far too many older adults need testing. In fact, according to research published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 92% of older Americans living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a common predecessor to dementia, are estimated to be undiagnosed. Similarly, the Alzheimer’s Association reports 54 percent of adults aged 45 and older who believe they have cognitive decline, have not talked with their health care professional to get tested. This gap is a huge concern since diagnosed cognitive issues can be managed to help reduce the disease’s progression. Without care planning, older adults with MCI have an increased chance of hospitalizations, among other risks, resulting in higher costs to families.

Individuals with MCI and those around them may be aware that memory or mental function is declining. Oftentimes these subtle changes may seem insignificant, so they do not discuss it with their primary care provider who could recommend early interventions that would make the most impact.

Some important red flags to look out for when considering if mental decline goes beyond the typical forgetfulness that comes with age are:

1. Missed appointments and social events
2. Consistently losing train of thought and inability to follow the plot of a book or movie
3. Trouble following a conversation
4. Difficulty taking medicine due to confusion or lack of dexterity
5. Falls
6. Difficulty making decisions, finishing a task or following instructions
7. Issues finding a way around familiar places

If you or an aging loved one is experiencing these potential warning signs, do not ignore them. Take action and get tested as early as possible. If you are diagnosed with MCI, you can determine your management options and start them early to help you stay independent for as long as possible.

Testing can be easy and convenient.

Digital cognitive testing, which leverages technology for a more accurate diagnosis, is one of the most efficient and effective methods to identify and address cognitive issues early. These tests, which can be completed in less than ten minutes, are offered to eligible health plan members as a part of Signify Health’s In-Home Health Evaluations (IHEs), a visit covered under many health plans at no additional cost to the member.

As part of the IHE, clinicians administer the digital cognitive test in the members’ homes where they are often more comfortable than in an office setting. The clinicians also discuss any concerns and fears a member may have regarding the sensitive topic of cognitive decline. Once the test is completed, the results are shared with the member’s health plan and their primary care provider to help facilitate care planning and develop a treatment plan so health plan members get the support and resources they need.

By catching cognitive health issues early, older adults can get ahead of the disease progression and start treatment that may help reduce future caregiving challenges and concerns. Additionally, early detection gives members and their caregivers extra time to learn more about cognitive decline so they can actively engage in making decisions about their future health care and daily living support needs.

If you or a loved one is interested in exploring digital cognitive testing, visit the self-scheduling portal at HelloSignify.com to see if you’re eligible for an In-Home Health Evaluation.

While 92 percent of older Americans with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are undiagnosed, early screening means they can be helped to a better, more independent lifestyle. Tests are available as a part of Signify Health’s In-Home Health Evaluations (IHEs). Learn more at HelloSignify.com.

MAINE-LY GARDENING: Flowering shrubs for Central Maine springtime – Part I

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by Jude Hsiang

While the daffodils and crocuses are just poking their green noses out of the soil, forsythia begin to bloom. This shrub is a favorite just because the little neon yellow flowers cover the long stems as we are becoming even more tired of snow and mud. Some people prune forsythia into balls and hedges, which it will tolerate, but it wants to grow into a fountain shape. Those long stems will root if they touch the ground and, in a few years, can become a jungle of crisscrossing square branches with small leaves. It’s not the most beautiful shrub for most of the year, but it shouts, “Welcome Spring!”

For many New Englanders spring means lilacs. They’ve been grown here for centuries and with their preference for a more alkaline soil than our native plants, are often found around long abandoned cellar holes nourished by a bit of limestone. In a range of lavenders—some reddish, some more blue—and crisp white, lilacs with their lovely fragrance are one of our “must haves.”

In addition to the common lilacs, which is a direct translation of their scientific name Syringa vulgaris, we can also plant Korean lilacs which are a little smaller in every respect. These re especially useful for smaller spaces. They don’t usually have the same rich perfume, but some varieties will re-bloom a little later during the season which is a plus for some gardeners. Lilacs should be pruned within a couple of weeks after the flowers fade, to assure a bounty in the following year. Just clip off all the flower clusters, or if the plants are getting to tall to reach easily, or covering the windows, cut them further back. Lilacs will sprout all around the base of the main shrub, and those sprouts can be dug and transplanted.

Another group of shrubs for our area are the Viburnums. There are several species and a wide range of cultivars available. Some have a strong sweet fragrance: others almost none. Some bear their flowers in “snowballs” and others have tiny clusters of flowers of more interest to insects but produce berries that attract birds. Most viburnums have white flowers but there are some pink varieties, and many have good red fall foliage. You can choose from rounded shrubs that might only reach six feet, or small trees whose branches are covered with flat blossoms and stretch out in layers. Viburnums rarely need pruning, but if they are becoming too large, it’s best to prune right after flowering, like lilacs.

These three groups of flowering shrubs are hardy and need little care after proper planting and appropriate watering in their first two years. They are mostly pest-free, except for four species of viburnum that can defoliated by an invasive beetle. A good nursery or garden center will help you avoid purchasing one of these species: V. dentatum (arrowwood viburnum, V. nudum, (smooth withered), V. opulus, (European cranberry), V. opulus ssp. trilobum, (.American cranberry). There are lots of other fine viburnums to choose from.

These fine shrubs will provide decades of beauty with very little attention so why not add one or more this spring?

In my next article I’ll cover flowering shrubs for summer and beyond, including some favorite natives.

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden Project.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: One in three Mainers admits they have lost interest in playing sports

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Recently, LiveSportsonTV.com sent along this statistic. It’s truly disturbing that Americans have gone to couch surfing as their national pastime.

I used to participate in many sports in my younger years – softball, golf, tennis, table tennis, hockey, volleyball – to name a few. One of the more interesting games was walleyball, where you play volleyball in a handball court using the walls – pretty intense.

Today, I only play golf, for various reasons. As you can see, it’s a matter of not having the stamina and dexterity I once had. Also, the facilities are not what they used to be. Outdoor tennis facilities have diminished, and the softball and hockey leagues have been long gone for quite some time. (I played softball and hockey into my 50s.)

So, here is what the survey had to say:

Americans are increasingly trading sneakers for screens, as the rise of technology has made it easier than ever to watch sports instead of play them. With live games, instant replays, and highlight reels available on phones, tablets, and every social media platform imaginable, the thrill of the game now comes in bite-sized, bingeable formats. While stadiums still fill up, backyards and parks are quieter – people are far more likely to stream a game than join one. The convenience of watching has outpaced the effort of participating.

LiveSportsonTV.com set out to measure just how much this trend has shifted, polling 3,024 adults to find out how many have lost interest in actually playing sports.

The findings paint a telling picture. Over 1-in-3 (36 percent) of Mainers say they have lost interest in playing sports. This compares to a national average of 36 percent. LiveSportsonTV.com also asked, “If you had an hour to spend on sports, would you rather play or watch?” In Maine, 73 percent picked watching over playing – a stat that might make gym teachers everywhere wince.

Losing the Love – and What Might Bring It Back

So, what’s stopping people from playing – and what might get them off the couch and back in the game? The survey paints a clear picture of both the practical and emotional hurdles standing in the way of participation.

A significant portion of respondents said they’d be far more likely to play if they had friends or a group to join, highlighting the deeply social nature of sports. In fact, nearly half of all participants pointed to this as their main barrier, suggesting that loneliness – or simply lacking a go-to crew – may be benching more would-be players than we realize.

Time was another major obstacle. Over a quarter of people surveyed admitted that their schedules just don’t allow for regular play. Between the demands of work, family obligations, and the ever-present lure of streaming platforms, carving out even an hour for something like pickup basketball feels increasingly difficult.

Access was also a recurring theme. About one in six respondents said they simply don’t have enough local options or facilities nearby. If the nearest court requires a long drive or if the local league folded years ago, it’s no surprise that motivation starts to wane.

Roland’s trivia question of the day:

With Garrett Crochet flirting with a no-hitter last Sunday, who was the last Red Sox pitcher to hurl a no-hitter?

Answer
Jon Lester, May 19, 2008.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: MobLand

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

MobLand

Pierce Brosnan

A new Paramount series MobLand depicts the activities of Conrad Harrigan, a gentlemanly head of a crime family in London and his calculating, slightly shrewish wife Maeve, both portrayed with consummate persuasion by Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. The gentlemanly quality masks a ruthless cold-blooded evil and greed as he decides that fentanyl is far more profitable than heroin and guns.

Harrigan’s fixer, Harry da Souza, is constantly putting out fires, dealing with contentious cohorts, threatening potential witnesses and dealing with his own family issues at home, including agreeing to see a marriage counselor with his wife, Jan. Tom Hardy and Joanne Froggatt do superb work as the couple.

I have only seen the first of what will be a ten weekly episode series , and highly anticipate viewing the second which is available as of tonight, April 6.

Charlie Barnet

Charlie Barnet – The Heart You Stole from Me-F.T.; Murder at Peyton Hall-F.T. Bluebird 11292, ten inch 78, recorded 1942.

Charlie Barnet

The F.T. denotes fox trot.

Charlie Barnet (1913-1991) was one of the finest musicians to emerge during the Big Band Era of World War II. In 1989, I first discovered him through reading George T. Simon’s immensely interesting 1968 encyclopedic volume The Big Bands in which the author commended Barnet for the intelligence and very listenable musicality.

In short, Barnet was on the same high level as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Glen Gray, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and a few others. A short time later, I purchased an RCA Bluebird cassette re-issue of roughly 20 sides from the original 78s. I played that tape numerous times, became familiar with his two lead singers Bob Carroll and Lena Horne and discovered what an oasis of beauty and excitement the Big Bands were.

The above two sides were typical of Barnet’s own quality control standards and can be accessed on YouTube along with numerous other sides of the bandleader.

Johnny Carson once mentioned on the Tonight Show a special fondness for Charlie Barnet’s Band.

George T. Simon was the much younger brother of Richard Simon (1891-1960), the co-founder of the publisher Simon and Schuster; and the uncle of pop singer Carly Simon. The author mentioned visiting Benny Goodman during the ‘60s at Goodman’s palatial Connecticut mansion. Because he was walking with a cane in recovery from surgery, Goodman insisted that Simon feel free to use his swimming pool at any time for its health benefits.

Simon’s journalistic connections were such that Frank Sinatra wrote the introduction to Simon’s book and recommended to would be readers that, if any family or friends wanted to borrow the book, to tell them to buy their own copy.

Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan – Sarah’s Golden Hits; Mercury, cassette.

Sarah Vaughan

Although Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) was often labeled a jazz singer, she resented the label, loved all kinds of music, and brought elements of all kinds of music to her singing. Several musicians claimed that her vocal range was wide enough to where she could have been a successful opera singer like Leontyne Price.

Frank Sinatra contended that listening to her singing made him want to slit his wrists. (Much like when Fritz Kreisler first heard Jascha Heifetz, he and all other violinists might as well break their fiddles.)

This cassette includes a special favorite Broken Hearted Melody, Misty, Autumn in New York, Whatever Lola Wants, the perpetually charming Make Yourself Comfortable and seven other classics.

Sarah Vaughan passed away from lung cancer in early April 1990 just shortly after her 66th birthday. Her close friend Ella Fitzgerald was so grief stricken that she went into a lengthy period of mourning.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Are Carbonated Drinks Bad For Your Teeth?

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Save your smile: Cut back on carbonated drinks.

(NAPSI)—You may know sugar-sweetened beverages are bad for your teeth, but did you know carbonated beverages can also be harmful to your smile in other ways?

It’s true, and with more and more people turning to popular drinks such as sparkling water to cut down on their sugar intake, it is necessary to be cautious about what types of carbonated drinks you are consuming.

The important thing to know is that carbonated drinks are acidic, which can lead to tooth enamel damage and mouth diseases such as gingivitis.

The acidity level of a drink is determined by its pH level. Tap or bottled water generally has a pH level of 7, whereas sparkling water is in the pH range of 4.18-7. Drinks that are below pH 5.5 can damage enamel.

Excess consumption of carbonated drinks and acidic foods leads to accumulation of acid-producing harmful bacteria, which are the main causes for cavities and infections. Drinking both sugary and carbonated drinks in moderation can reduce some of their impacts, including damage to enamel. Once enamel is deteriorated, it doesn’t grow back, removing a major line of defense for your teeth.

The best beverages to consume include water, milk, and brewed and unsweetened green or black tea. And while not all carbonated drinks have sugar and not all sugar-sweetened drinks are carbonated, both can cause harm and should be avoided as much as possible.

Some beverages to avoid include soda pop, sweet tea, sweetened coffee drinks, chocolate milk, energy drinks and sports drinks. Never drinking any of these beverages is unlikely, but reducing your intake is a key step in your health journey.

There are also a few steps you can take to mitigate the damage sugar-sweetened and/or carbonated beverages cause including:

• Use in moderation – Just as with sugar-sweetened beverages, think of carbonated beverages as a treat you partake in occasionally, rather than something you drink often. The less you drink, the less it damages your teeth.
• Use a straw – This may reduce contact between the acidic and sugar-filled drinks with your teeth.
• Drink water afterward – Water is a great way to rinse out your mouth and wash away acids and sugars.
• Don’t brush your teeth right away – While it might seem like the best way to help your mouth is to brush immediately, your teeth and its enamel are actually in a weakened state at this time and a toothbrush could damage them further.

In the end, water is your best bet for keeping a healthy smile, especially fluoridated tap water. Carbonated drinks can be very tempting, but anything that puts your oral health into jeopardy should be avoided.

And when it comes to soda, surprisingly, studies have also shown that diet sodas and low-sugar sodas are no better for oral health than regular sodas.

Ultimately, the more sugar-sweetened beverages you drink, the more unhealthy attacks on your teeth, which in turn leads to a degradation of your oral health.

Dr. Dosch, DDS, is the Delta Dental of Washington’s dental director and a member dentist.

MAINE-LY GARDENING: It’s not too early to be looking at your lawn

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by Jude Hsiang

Between snowstorms and several mud seasons, we’re beginning to see a few signs of spring. Spring will bring warm weather, bird song, wildflowers, and, for many of us, lawncare.

Americans are said to be great lovers of lawns although this love affair is only about a century old. Before that time, while many people might have a nice patch of grass in front of the house along with a few shrubs and a flower bed, maintaining a lawn required significant work. When lawn mowers replaced scythes, it was possible to have a large well-tended lawn like the wealthy folks with hired help, who in turn emulated the greenswards of Merry Old England.

Our fondness for lawns originated in England, France, and neighboring countries with milder temperatures and wetter weather than most of the U.S. Those who study turf grasses say that Maine is luckier than other parts of our country because those grasses, brought here by the European settlers, tolerate our weather and soil quite well. The diseases and pests of turf grass are less of a problem here than further south or west.

Many people feel that having a lawn is part of the American Dream of home ownership and that keeping up with the examples of neighbors, or the requirements of a Homeowners Association, is just part of the package. One person really takes pride in a healthy, well-kept lawn and will admit to enjoying the mowing, weeding. Their neighbor grudgingly hires a lawn service and hopes the results are worth the money. And some people have been wondering why we spend so much money and effort to raise plants we don’t eat.

Our university’s soil laboratory offers tests used to assure we can have right nutrients for lawns or other crops. You can then avoid buying products that could be unnecessary or even make a problem worse. We lucky folks who live among wonderful lakes, ponds, and rivers can be confident we aren’t contributing to water problems.

Weeds are a common complaint. White clover is often considered a weed, but years ago consumers paid more for lawn seed mixes that included it. Its nitrogen-fixing ability encourages healthy grass growth, and it supports pollinators. Of course, people allergic to bee stings would avoid planting it.

Some weeds can diagnose a potential lawn problem. Plantains can signal too much fertilizer. Japanese knotweed and spotted spurge like dry, compacted areas. Dry, sandy spots attract purslane. Wild strawberries do fine in dry acid soil and outcompete lawn grass.

Moss annoys many lawn lovers. It thrives in shade, compacted soil, poor drainage, low fertility, poor air circulation. You can try moss-killing chemicals, moss will return if the conditions are better for it than for grass.

Bare spots in sunny areas may be home to the larvae of Japanese beetles. Cut into and peel back a patch and you may see their fat white grubs curled just under the grass. In early July the adult beetles emerge and feed on many plants. Japanese beetle traps are sold, but research has shown that the traps attract many more beetles than the traps hold and those will stay in your yard. You can pick the beetles off your plants and drop them into a can of water with a few drops of dish detergent on the surface to keep them from escaping. Chickens & ducks love to eat them!

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden Project.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: The advantages of having Bobolinks around

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Bobolink

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

A couple of weeks ago a friend asked me about the songbird, Bobolink, and are there any in Maine. Well, bobolinks and other grassland birds are true agricultural allies to central Maine farmers – they eat large quantities of insects that damage crops.

The Bobolink is one of the world’s most impressive songbird migrants, traveling some 12,500 miles to and from southern South America every year. Throughout its lifetime, it may travel the equivalent of four or five times around the circumference of the earth.

The species name of the Bobolink means “rice eating” and refers to this bird’s appetite for rice and other grains, especially during migration and in winter.

A migrating Bobolink can orient itself with the earth’s magnetic field, thanks to iron oxide in bristles of its nasal cavity and in tissues around the olfactory bulb and nerve. Bobolinks also use the starry night sky to guide their travels.

The strange common name is frequently traced back to a 19th century poem by William Cullen Bryant in which he refers to the bird as “Robert of Lincoln.” The name comes both from the Bobolink’s “reverse-tuxedo” pattern of mostly black with a white back, as well as 19th century English speakers’ insistence they heard the name within the bird’s song, not something that is easy to do. That mouthful was eventually shortened to “Bob of Lincoln”, and then again to “Bob o’ Linc”, giving us the bird’s modern name. They were also often called “ricebirds” thanks to their propensity to consume and live near the crop, which provided an excellent addition to their typical diet that includes a heavy dose of grass seeds.

Today, Bobolinks can still be found near farmland provided it includes unkempt edges for nesting, but their preferred habitat is in the pockets of native grassland.

Perched on a grass stem or displaying in flight over a field, breeding male Bobolinks are striking. No other North American bird has a white back and black underparts (some have described this look as wearing a tuxedo backwards). Added to this are the male’s rich, straw-colored patch on the head and his bubbling, virtuosic song. As summer ends he molts into a buff and brown female-like plumage. Though they’re still fairly common in grasslands, Bobolink numbers are declining.

It’s easiest to find Bobolinks if you look for males giving their display flights during spring and early summer. In grassy or overgrown fields and pastures, listen for a long, burbling song punctuated with sharp metallic notes. The male Bobolink often sings this song while flying in a peculiar helicopter-like pattern, moving slowly with his wings fluttering rapidly. Outside of the breeding season, look for these in rice fields and listen for their sharp pink call notes.

If there’s breeding habitat of grassy pasture or overgrown fields near your home, Bobolinks may visit open yards to forage on seed-bearing weeds.

Bobolink molt twice a year, completely changing all their feathers on both the breeding and wintering grounds. When the male grows new feathers on the wintering grounds they all have yellowish tips, so he still looks like a nonbreeding bird. Eventually the pale tips wear off to reveal his striking black-and-white breeding colors.

Normally a daylight forager, the Bobolink sometimes feeds after dark on bright nights during migration, to build fat reserves for its long flight over the Gulf of Mexico.

Bobolinks are related to blackbirds, which are often polygynous, meaning that males may have several mates per breeding season. Bobolinks are polygynous, too – but they’re also often polyandrous: each clutch of eggs laid by a single female may have multiple fathers.

The oldest Bobolink on record was a female known to be at least nine years old.

The Bobolink was immortalized by nineteenth-century American poet William Cullen Bryant, in a poem titled Robert of Lincoln. The poem recounts the events of “Bob-o-‘Link’s” nesting season, describing the male’s flashy coat and song, the female’s modest attire and subdued voice, and the six purple-flecked eggs that hatch into nestlings.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who is the only defenseman in NHL history to lead the league in scoring? Hint: He did it twice.

Answer
Bobby Orr, of the Boston Bruins. He registered 120 points in 1969-70 and 135 points, in 1974-75. He recorded over 100 points in a season six times.

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Composer: Khachaturian; Singer: Nat King Cole; Writer: William Hazlitt

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Khachaturian

Khachaturian: Gayaneh Ballet Excerpts; Piano Concerto; and Masquerade Suite – Jiri Belohlavek conducting the Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra, in Gayaneh, and Masquerade; pianist Mirka Pokorna with Vladimir Valek conducting the Prague Symphony Orchestra in the Piano Concerto. Supraphon SU 3107-2011, recorded between 1972 and 1980, CD.

Khachaturian

Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) composed some of the most colorful, captivating music in these Ballets and the Piano Concerto. The exotic rhythms and atmospheric poetry give a unique beauty to a composer who was deeply rooted in his Armenian background, his most popular piece being the Gayaneh Sabre Dance which has been used innumerable times as background for chase or fighting scenes in cartoons and for TV commercials.

Certain moody passages of the Ballets remind me of the soundtrack music that Bernard Herrmann composed for Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, such as North by Northwest, Vertigo and Psycho.

A special favorite here is the Piano Concerto with a dramatic power and beauty of its own. Pianist Mirka Pokorna negotiated its difficulties with flair while conveying its beauty and delicacy with an exquisite touch. Her Czech Republic colleagues also did superb work.

A friend from Prague told me of being inspired to take up the piano at the age of nine after hearing Pokorna in a concert and visiting with her afterwards.

Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole –  Unforgettable; Capitol T-357, released in 1954, twelve inch LP.

Nat King Cole

Pianist/singer Nat King Cole (1919-1965) once stated that he sang the way he felt and that was that. After leading a jazz trio for the better part of the ‘40s, he gradually transitioned to pop singing around 1950.

His 1954 LP Unforgettable gathers a dozen songs that are gems already, a few of them best sellers as singles.

Among the hits, the title song; Answer Me, My Love; Too Young; Red Sails in the Sunset; Pretend; and the irreplaceable Mona Lisa, which was first released as a B side.

My first encounter with this LP was at the age of 6 or 7 when I heard a copy of it owned by my grandmother Annabelle Cates (1888-1974); not only was she fond of King Cole’s singing but also that of Ray Charles.

The other six selections, Portrait of Jenny; What’ll I Do; Lost April; the vivacious Hajji Baba; the immensely lovely Great American Songbook classic I Love You for Sentimental Reasons; and finally Make Her Mine, King Cole made his own.

Due to his chain smoking for years of Kool menthols, Nat King Cole died of lung cancer in January 1965, at the very young age of 45.

This deservedly classic album can be heard via YouTube.

William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt

English essayist William Hazlitt (1778-1830) wrote the following in his On Going a Journey:

“One of the pleasantest in the world is going a journey; but I like to go by myself. I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors, nature is company enough for me. I am then never less alone than when alone.

‘The fields his study, nature was his book.’

I cannot see the wit of walking and talking at the same time. When I am in the country I wish to vegetate like the country. I am not for criticizing hedgerows and black cattle. I go out of town in order to forget the town and all that is in it.”

Although Hazlitt is considered an important figure in 19th century English romanticism and celebrated its spirit, he brought a restraint to its more excessive qualities and his writings on literature and social behavior attracted much attention due to his ability to combine enthusiasm with discernment.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Denied Relief: Children with Migraine May Be Left Without the Treatment They Need

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This treatment offers children a way to manage migraine without drugs or side effects—but getting it covered by insurance can be an uphill battle.

(NAPSI)—Migraine is a debilitating neurological disease that affects one billion people worldwide, but it is not just an adult disease. For the 1 in 10 children diagnosed with this complex and incurable condition, it can be a daily battle that affects academic performance, impacts friendships, and leads to diminished quality of life. And many struggle for years before receiving a proper diagnosis.

The Problem

Despite the lifelong consequence of untreated migraine, the landscape of evidence-based pediatric migraine care remains shockingly limited. Many prescription medications have not been evaluated in children or adolescents and were not originally developed for migraine treatment. In fact, only one migraine medication is FDA-approved for acute treatment in children as young as 8 years old, and no medications have been approved for preventive use in this age group. Additionally, they are often poorly tolerated, disruptive to normal activities, and require an adult to manage and properly administer medication to minimize adverse events.

An Answer

Fortunately, there is a non-drug alternative. Unfortunately, certain insurance companies are refusing to cover it. The Nerivio Remote Electrical Neuromodulation (REN) wearable is redefining what is possible for migraine care. It is the only FDA-cleared, non-drug treatment available for people with migraine ages 8 and above, offering both migraine relief and prevention. Despite its proven efficacy, many families face an insurmountable barrier: high cost due to lack of insurance coverage.

“Any treatment with evidence of efficacy is something I discuss with my patients,” says Dr. Ryan P. Williams MD, EDM, a pediatric neurologist and headache specialist with Children’s Specialty Group and Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters – a network of comprehensive pediatric services. “I have noticed more families are seeking effective, non-medication options, and the Nerivio REN wearable fits that need perfectly. However, the cost of the treatment without insurance coverage prevents many patients from accessing it. Of those I prescribe it to, only about half can afford to move forward.”

One Child’s Story

For Kieran Johnston, a 15-year-old migraine patient, non-drug treatment has been transformative. Migraine was an exhausting battle when relying on medications that left him nauseated and sometimes sleepy. The Nerivio REN wearable offered a way to manage his migraine disease without the systemic side effects of drugs. Using the treatment every other day for prevention and for relief when a migraine starts, Johnston has reduced his school absences from 6 or 7 days a month to just 1 or 2. He’s back to playing soccer and football with friends—activities he often missed when using migraine medication.

Still, Johnston’s family is paying out of pocket for this non-drug, non-disruptive treatment.

“We thought about stopping because it’s expensive,” says Johnston. “But it works so well that we decided to keep using it. I just wish it was covered by insurance for our family and so more kids like me could try it.”

Dr. Williams emphasizes that early and effective treatment can make a significant difference for pediatric patients, reducing the risk of developing chronic migraine later in life. “Insurance companies should cover all safe and effective treatment options, and the Nerivio REN wearable deserves to be one of those options, so we can not only treat early, but safely, effectively, and, if desired, without drugs.”

Families and healthcare providers alike are urging insurance companies to take notice and prioritize evidence-based, non-drug treatments for migraine. With growing evidence and real-world success stories, many believe it’s time for insurers to provide equitable access for drug-free options, including the Nerivio REN wearable.

Learn More

Patients, caregivers, and advocates can visit NerivioCovered.com for resources to help fight for better coverage and close the gap in pediatric migraine care.