OPINIONS: Internet access for many may be at risk

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by Kim Lindlof
President, CEO Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce

In response to our nation’s increased reliance on high-speed Internet, both the Trump and Biden Administrations have taken important steps to provide connectivity to those that need it, particularly in rural areas. An invaluable program that’s been created in recent years to enable this is the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which over 18 million American households are currently enrolled in. The ACP enables eligible Americans to overcome the obstacle of affordability by providing a monthly voucher which can be used on the cost of an Internet subscription. When combined with the low-income offerings made available by many of the nation’s leading providers that participate in the program, the voucher can make the cost of a subscription free for qualifying low-income families. Here in Maine, over 82,000 households are enrolled in the ACP, while another 150,000 are eligible to enroll.

Unfortunately, the ACP faces an existential threat that could eliminate Internet access for the over 18 million American households that rely on the program – its funding will run out sometime in 2024. Extending its funding to ensure that the program continues to exist should be an urgent priority for lawmakers regardless of partisanship.

A CNBC poll earlier this year found that the significant majority of Republicans and Independents support the program, and its expiration would be a blow to constituencies of both parties, as data from the Technology Policy Institute reflects that enrollment is essentially equivalent for both Republican-represented and Democratic-represented Congressional districts.

Politics aside, an end to the ACP would set us back years in our effort to overcome the affordability gap, a barrier that accounts for two-thirds of our nation’s digital divide. By not having an effective solution in place to assist Americans struggling to afford an Internet subscription due to level of income, we will more or less be fighting this fight with one arm tied behind our back.  In Maine, 39 percent of households with income less than $20,000 have no connectivity. Closing the digital divide is an effort that we must be successful in, as analyses of the issue have indicated that allowing millions of Americans to continue to be without connectivity will have grave repercussions for the American economy at large. A 2021 study from Deloitte found that a ten percentage-point increase in broadband penetration in 2016 would have created more than 806,000 additional jobs in 2019.

The persistence of the digital divide will continue to mean untapped prosperity for the American economy, and it’s not hard to understand why. Seemingly every industry stands to benefit by having access to high-speed Internet and all of the essential resources that come with it. This means not only capabilities for remote working, but also access to information, so those working in sectors that are more hands-on and less computer-intensive can still utilize the Internet to yield better results. An example of this could be a farmer in Clinton that relies on online resources for market prices, weather forecasts, farming techniques, and agricultural research, or a small business owner in Waterville that utilizes online platforms to advertise its product and grow its brand.

Overall, I am hopeful that federal policymakers understand that combatting affordability barriers is an integral part of getting Americans online, but I also hope that this understanding will translate into tangible action that specifically acknowledges the need to prolong the Affordable Connectivity Program. With the program set to expire next year, we need to find a funding solution in the near future that keeps this critical program intact.

CRITTER CHATTER: Some things never change

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The late Carleen Cote and one of her rescues.

by Jayne Winters

I was planning to write about the two fawns at the Duckpond Wildlife Rehab Center, but after reading through some old columns written by Don’s late wife, Carleen, I was again moved by the years of dedicated, tireless – and often under-appreciated – commitment the Cotes have given to literally thousands of wild critters since they began to rehab (initially it was part-time) in 1964. Here we are, almost 60 years later, and Don continues to rescue and provide TLC to abandoned, injured and sick animals. It’s truly mind-boggling to me, even as one who has loved animals since I was a young child.

In 2010, Carleen wrote the following: “When I wrote that first article [for The Town Line in 1996], we typically received fewer than 100 birds and animals a year. How times have changed! Since that first Critter Chatter column, Donald has retired. We now receive between 350 to 400 mammals and birds.

“Our day starts about 6:30 a.m., when the alarm goes off. Donald prepares the bottles of milk to be fed to the fawns. I prepare the formula for the raccoons and other babies. Soon our much-valued volunteers arrive to help with feeding the babies that have begun stirring and crying for their milk. All want to be first! The floor of the living room is crowded with tubs where the babies live until they are big enough to go outside. We go from tub to tub, feeding the ones that scream the loudest.

“Even though they are hungry, some are reluctant and will eat only if I feed them. If they won’t eat, we have to guess about what could be the problem. Is the milk warm enough or do they not like the nipple? We re-warm the milk in the microwave. We pass the bottles back and forth until we get the nipple the baby will accept. It is frustrating trying to get the stubborn ones to eat.

“Other volunteers, meanwhile, are outside feeding the older babies – milk and bread for some, puppy food for others. Clover and dandelions and other greens are picked for the woodchucks. After Donald feeds the fawns, he prepares food for baby foxes, coyotes and bobcats. Then, pens need to be cleaned, food and water dishes washed and disinfected, and fresh water provided before we can stop for lunch.

“At 1 p.m., it starts all over again! Donald feeds the fawns, the rest of us repeat the same scenario – feeding, changing soiled bedding, washing out the tubs, making formula, coaxing the reluctant ones to take the bottle, dispensing medications to those that need it.

“In addition, there is the special caring for the smaller, weaker babies in the incubators, feeding, cleaning the incubators, changing their towel bedding. There will be two to three more feedings before all settle down to sleep for the night. The soiled towels have piled up – seven to eight loads of laundry every day to be washing [sic], dried, and folded, ready for the next day.

“After the outside critters get their afternoon feedings and pens cleaned, it is finally time for volunteers to end their day with us. I will give another one or two feedings to the house babies and Donald still has two more feedings for the fawns. We usually get our evening meal about 11 p.m. Last chores are accomplished at 1 a.m. and we get to bed between 2 and 3 a.m. As soon as our heads hit the pillows, we are asleep…oh, darn, that can’t be the alarm going off so soon!”

Although many critters are being transferred to other rehabbers, the daily chores and feeding schedules remain the same. Don has slowed down with age, but his commitment and that of volunteers Jane and Debbie are inspiring. Thank you to you all! Please check the following websites to see if there is a rehabber near you: https://www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html.

Donald Cote operates Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3, in Vassalboro. It is a nonprofit state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. Please note the previous e-mail address is no longer monitored.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Two other types of illnesses connected with ticks

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Deer tick before and after engorging.

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

This week, I will share with you a press release I received from Nancy Bostrom, of American Family Care. In the early days of summer 2023, local healthcare providers are sounding an alarm about a triple tick threat that includes a rare illness that just killed a man!

While Lyme disease – considered one of the most common tick-borne diseases is usually the biggest concern this time of year – local healthcare providers at American Family Care (AFC) are spreading the word about two other types of illnesses associated with the blood-sucking insects.

They’ve even launched an educational campaign called Tick Talk so local families know what to look out for while outdoors this summer and how to protect themselves.

Powassan Virus

Powassan virus is a non-treatable illness transmitted by the same black legged (or deer ticks) that carry Lyme Disease. Just a few weeks ago, health officials in Maine confirmed a man was pronounced dead from the disease.

So far this year, two cases of Powassan Virus have been reported. The CDC has tracked nearly 300 cases, including 264 hospitalizations since 2014, but experts fear many cases are unreported.

Symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures or even memory loss. Ten percent of those who contract Powassan will die.  Approximately one half will have long term health problems like recurring headaches, loss of muscle strength, and memory problems.

Big difference from Lyme – It takes Lyme Disease many hours (at least 24) to be transmitted from tick to person. It is suspected that Powassan Virus is transmitted from the tick to person in just 15 minutes.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is another tickborne illness on the rise. Unlike the Powassan virus, babesiosis is treatable if caught early. This illness can also be transmitted by a tick that is also carrying Lyme.

Federal health officials say cases of tickborne illness have skyrocketed over an 8-year period.

Symptoms can include fever, chills, lethargy, joint pain, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea or fatigue – things that can appear to overlap with Lyme disease, but there is no distinctive bullseye rash.

If left untreated, it can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe anemia, congestive heart failure, renal failure, disseminated intra­vascular coagulation (DIC), shock and coma.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most known of the tickborne illnesses. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected deer tick. Cases of Lyme disease have more than tripled since 1993 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lyme disease causes a rash that looks like a bullseye. It also causes flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Lyme disease may evolve through phases, which can overlap and cause ever worsening symptoms that may involve the skin, joints, heart, or nervous system.

Antibiotics are effective treatments for Lyme disease when detected early.

Protect Yourself

Remember, ticks can typically be found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or on animals. They typically wait on the tips of branches, leaves, or tall grasses for prey to walk by.

A tick’s saliva has anesthetic properties, so you may not even realize you’ve been bitten.

When spending time outdoors, be aware of your surroundings and the possibility of ticks in the area. Wear insect repellent with DEET. If you must be in a grassy or wooded area, wear long sleeves and long pants. Tucking your pants into your socks for extra protection. Shower immediately after being outside. Ask someone check your body for ticks. If you find a tick on your body, time is of the essence!   Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it by the head as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull the tick upward, making sure not to twist or squeeze it. Wash and disinfect the area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

Save the tick!

Take a photo of the tick and submit to a tick identification website which can inform you of the potential pathogens it could be carrying and whether you might want to have the tick tested as a further assessment of disease risk.

Protection is the key, however, if you do come in contact with a tick, don’t wait. If you’re not sure, seek professional medical help.

Roland trivia question of the week:

Name the only two players to win a World Series with both the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Answer
Babe Ruth and Johnny Damon.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Prevent Pain And Problems

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Dr. Louis F. McIntyre says seeing an orthopaedic surgeon can help you live a more pain-free life.

(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care about is a weekend warrior, maturing man or exercise enthusiast, you might want to bone up on these facts about health and safety.

The Problem

As men get older, over-exercise or make sudden changes in activity, they may experience injuries, stiffness, discomfort or pain in their bones, joints and muscles. Instead of ignoring these symptoms which can lead to more issues, it’s a good idea to see an orthopaedic surgeon who can prevent, diagnose and treat such problems.

Some Answers

To help you understand how much orthopaedists can do for you, Dr. Louis F. McIntyre, Chief Quality Officer for U.S. Orthopaedic Partners (USOP), a platform of over 250 orthopedic providers across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisi­ana, offers four tips:

• As the weather gets warmer, people are more inclined to get out and start exercising. However, if you have a previous injury, you can do more damage.
• Many people don’t realize you don’t need to have an injury to visit an orthopaedist. As people age, they experience more aches and pains and joint damage.
• Orthopaedists can prescribe treatments, assist with rehabilitation, and help develop long-term strategies to deal with specific injuries.
• In addition to injuries, orthopaedic surgeons can assist with arthritis and sciatica, knee, back or shoulder pain, reduced range of motion, and numbness in limbs.

No one wants to live with long-lasting pain or be limited in their daily activities. Orthopaedists can help address the issue and get you back to living a pain-free active life.

Learn More

For more facts on orthopaedics and how it can help you, visit www.us-orthopartners.com.

LIFE ON THE PLAINS: Saturdays at the movies

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by Roland D. Hallee

Well, following a brief hiatus, I am ready to continue with Life on the Plains, and how it was in the 1950s and’60s.

Let’s take a look at Saturdays.

Recently, in speaking with some “old timers” – I’m not one of them, of course. Ha!

Although I remember the Maine Theater, on Water St., I never set foot inside the building. But one gentleman was telling me of the 8-cents admission for Saturday movies for kids. I’m sure some of you out there do, also.

My recollection of Saturdays at the movies involved the State Theater, which was located on Silver St., where Cancun’s Mexican Restaurant is now, and Steve’s Restaurant, prior to that.

We’d rise on Saturday mornings, have our breakfast, do a few chores, and then our mother would give us money to go to the movies. This is where some of you younger readers will have a hard time believing. She would give each of us a quarter. For that quarter, we would pay for admission, popcorn and soda. We would arrive around 10 a.m., and pick a spot in the theater. Now, only the older kids were allowed in the balcony, I don’t remember how old, but I think it was over 12 years old. I don’t remember ever sitting in the balcony where all the “action” was.

Oh, and on occasion, there were door prizes given away. I recall them giving away bicycles from time to time.

So, it would begin with a series of cartoons, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Tom & Jerry, and probably my favorite, Mighty Mouse. Following that, there would be at least two full-length films, usually Westerns – Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Hoppalong Cassidy, Gene Autry and Tom Mix to name a few. They would chase the bad guys across the silver screen, and Rogers and Autry would always camp out at night, and belt out a tune or two.

From time to time, they would have a “monster movie” – Godzilla, or The Creature from the Black Lagoon, etc. – a film that would scare the daylights out of us. Now, let’s take a break and fast forward to today.

Every Saturday night, my wife and I religiously watch the MeTV show Svengoolie, who shows classic, old horror movies. Well, on two occasions recently, they have shown The Creature from the Black Lagoon. For some reason, that movie doesn’t seem so scary, anymore.

Svengoolie

Back to Saturday mornings.

Usually, between the cartoons and the feature films, they would have News Reels, video of current events happening around the globe. None of us really cared about them. That’s when the teasing and loud shouting took place, which the ushers had to step in and take control.

Now, we need to take a look at the “action” going on in the balcony. Remember, these were the older kids. They must have had extra money to spend. Because, as sure as the day is long, sometime during the shows, popcorn and soda would come raining down on us poor shmucks down below. That is why it was important to show up early to get a seat close to the stage, which was out of their range. Occasionally, the ushers would catch someone in the act, and would be escorted out the door. That was not always a wise decision, because, if your parents were coming to pick you up, you’d have a long wait, or even worse, some explaining to do.

And, once all the shows were done, we’d leave the theater and head for home. Depending on the time of year, it was dark. A whole bunch of us would descend the Jinjine Hill, feeling comfortable being in a group.

I remember a couple of times when these were held at the Waterville Opera House.

Many years – and decades – later, I still feel as though our mother would send us off so she could enjoy a day of peace and quiet without us boys running around creating havoc.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Herbert C. Hoover

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Herbert C. Hoover

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Herbert C. Hoover

The 31st president Herbert Clark Hoover (1874-1964) heavily criticized FDR’s New Deal policies and increasing big government spending; he stated the dollar decimal point was “wandering around among the regimented ciphers trying to find some of the old places it used to know. ”

In res­ponse, FDR launched fishing investigations into Hoover’s four years (1929-1933) but came up with zero.

As a one term president before the four terms of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Hoover’s most serious blunder was his glaring lack of sensitivity to the nationwide collapse of businesses, and to the horrific unemployment and near starvation of millions during the early years of the Depression, continuing to believe that private enterprise , local charity, etc., would suffice.

Sadly and ironically, it was Hoover who led relief efforts in Europe after World War I to save many millions there from starvation.

Herbert Hoover was born to Quaker parents in West Branch, Iowa, on August 10, 1874; was orphaned at ten and raised by uncles and aunts; showed initiative and self-reliance during these early years, entering the then newly-founded Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California, in 1891, at the age of 17, where he totally supported himself; earned degrees in engineering; and, through his success as a mining engineer, became a millionaire by the age of 40.

Hoover met his wife, the former Lou Henry (1875-1944), while attending Stanford and they had two sons, Allen and Herbert Jr., both of whom pursued careers in engineering.

After leaving the White House in 1933, the Hoovers settled down in a mansion in Palo Alto. When Mrs. Hoover died in 1944, the former president moved to a suite in New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and assumed the role of an elder statesman and advisor, when asked, to both Republicans and Democrats until his own death at 90 years old.

Hoover was shunned by FDR but welcomed back to the White House by both Truman and Eisenhower who asked him to set up a group known as the Hoover Commission to help with food distribution in Europe after World War II and to help eliminate government waste in the U.S.

Interestingly, during the 1920s, Herbert Hoover and his wife would dine frequently with the Roosevelt’s and moved in the same social circles.

Delmore Brothers

Delmore Brothers

Recommended listening and accessible on You­Tube is a ten-inch 1945, 78 rpm re­cord on the King label by the Del­more Bro­thers who were outstanding early country singers and guitarists. The two selections are Midnite Special, and Why Did You Leave Me, Dear?

 

 

 

Lake Life Today: While planning for the future #4

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RELAX: Michael Bilinsky, of China Village, photographed this loon as it sits in the lake, relaxing.

Submitted by Elaine Philbrook

Lake Life Today is a series of articles that are hoped will inspire you to see how, by taking just a few steps, you can make a difference and help preserve the quality of water in our lakes for future generations.

These articles have been collected and organized by LakeSmart Director Elaine Philbrook, a member of China Region Lake Alliance (aka “the Alliance”) serving China Lake, Webber Pond, Three Mile Pond, and Three-Cornered Pond. The Alliance would like to thank our partners at Maine Lakes and Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) for information to support this article.

Buffers

Our last articles included information about phosphorus, its sources and how it impacts our lakes whether it is from shoreline properties or sources found in our watersheds. The next several articles will be sharing actions you can take to “slow the flow” of water on your property to keep nonpoint source pollution (NPS) from entering our lakes. The first action is creating a “beneficial buffer” along the water’s edge. This area is the last but most valuable line of defense we can use to keep NPS and other pollutants such as phosphorous from entering our lakes.

A SHORELINE BUFFER ideally starts at the water’s edge and extends 75 feet or more into the upland area of your property. The best shoreline buffers are deep, wide, and continuous (with only a narrow path or other small break for access to the water). These buffers have many layers of vegetation, including tall trees (canopy), shorter trees (midstory), shrubs, perennials, and groundcover. A layer of duff (twigs, fallen leaves, and pine needles) also accumulates on the ground in a buffer.

Vegetation in a buffer intercepts raindrops so less rain impacts the ground. The uneven duff layer absorbs rain, and loose soils filters out pollutants. Tree roots help anchor soil in place and absorb water and nutrients. Buffers act like a sponge, soaking up rainfall, absorbing nutrients and runoff, and reducing the flow of stormwater into the lake.

But that is not all buffers do.

Buffers also provide habitat for insects, birds, small mammals, and believe it or not, sometimes even fish! Tree branches overhanging the lake provide cover for fish that need safe and cool places to protect themselves. Dropped leaves provide food for bugs and dropped limbs provide habitat structure for mammals. Ideally, shoreline buffers are composed of native vegetation, which is easier to maintain and better for wildlife.

It can be tempting to “limb up” trees in the buffer to increase lake views but most local ordinances allow only trimming the lower 1/3 of branches, and dead limbs can be removed. Remember, each branch left on the tree enhances the integrity of the buffer and provides more habitat value for wildlife. Let the trees frame your view!

Buffers are the last line of defense for a lake against NPS pollution and stormwater runoff coming from your property! You can make your buffer bigger and better by adding plants to fill in thin spots, even a few at a time. In fact, you can plant up to 24 plants along the shore each year without a permit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Let leaf litter accumulate in the buffe, and limit the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on your property. Note that pesticides and fertilizers are not allowed within 25’ of shore. With a healthy buffer, you are helping to ensure your view is of a clean, healthy, and blue lake!

One final point: buffers are not a one size fits all. The information shared above is for an ideal buffer. This information comes from The Lake Book A handbook for Lake Protection from MaineLakes. You can visit their site for more information about caring for our lakes in Maine at: https://www.lakes.me/

If you have any questions about what you can do to ensure the integrity of your valued lake or if you would like a free LakeSmart evaluation you can reach Elaine Philbrook by email at chinalakesmart@gmail.com and follow-up to read the next Townline newspaper.

Live lightly on the land for the sake of the lake (LakeSmart).

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Secrets to Living Longer – and Healthier

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Now’s the time to kickstart your summer exercise routine. Pair up with a friend for extra fun and motivation.

Those who have lived long lives often swear by a particular habit or food that’s kept them healthy. But there are real secrets that may help you live a longer, healthier life – and they don’t involve drinking from the Fountain of Youth.

The Psychosomatic Medicine journal revealed the results of a 50-year study on aging.

After studying more than 2,300 people, researchers concluded that physically active, emotionally stable, and conscientious people live longer. So maybe it’s time you asked yourself, “Am I active enough, relaxed about life, and happy?”

Use the list below for a quick check-in with your wellness and answer either yes or no to the following statements.

• I exercise regularly, and my exercise routine is right for my age group.
• I sleep well, never tossing and turning with worries.
• I have regular checkups, and my doctor is familiar with my health.
• I’m well informed about nutrition, and I take care to eat healthy, nutritious foods.
• I’m active with a strong network of good friends.
• I’m generally happy with my life.

Tips for a healthier life

If you checked several of the boxes above, you’re well on your way. Aging successfully means more than just being comfortable and safe. It means having self-esteem, confidence, fulfillment, and continued growth. How do you make that happen? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Get daily physical activity

You don’t need to be a marathon runner to see the benefits of exercise and physical activity. Just 30 minutes per day — minimum — helps you stave off heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental illness, and more. For even better results, include strength training and add endurance, flexibility, and balance exercises to your workout.

Tips for staying active and hydrated

Eat your way to better health

As you get older, your nutritional needs may change. Make sure you’re including a variety of foods in your diet. The National Institute on Aging offer these suggestions for choosing healthy meals:

Drink plenty of liquids. Avoid or limits ones with lots of added sugar or other ingredients, like soda.

Make eating a social event. Even if you live alone or are social-distancing, you can set up a video call and encourage friends or family to join as you all eat together.

Know what a healthy portion size is.

Use herbs and spices to amp up the flavor of your meals without adding additional sugar or sodium.

Eating well is the foundation for your whole picture of wellness and can make you look and feel better in every aspect of your life.

Get the rest you need

While many older adults find it’s harder to get enough sleep, it doesn’t need to be that way.

Certain health issues or a medication you take might make it harder for you to fall asleep. If that’s the case, talk to your doctor to see if there are other treatments or methods you can try.

If you’re simply having trouble falling asleep, try one of these suggestions to help you get the rest you need:

Follow a regular schedule of going to bed and getting up, even on weekends.

Keep your bedroom at a cooler temperature and as quiet as possible.

If ambient light bothers you at night, try wearing a sleep mask.

Avoid napping later in the day so you feel more tired at bedtime.

Don’t eat, exercise, or drink alcohol too close to your bedtime.

Try to avoid watching TV or using a computer or cell phone too close to bed.

Stay socially active, too

A network of friends and active involvement in a community are essential to your happiness. Plus, people who are well connected socially have much lower risks for diseases.

So sign up, jump in, and go with the flow! Spend time with family and friends, even far-away ones, with phone calls or Skype. And look for groups to join through your church or religious organization, the local library, or at a nearby senior center.

Consider where you live

CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) are designed with active, engaged lifestyles in mind. So they typically offer a long list of fun and fulfilling activities, including:

Book clubs, Brain fitness exercises, Concerts, Creative arts.

Day trips

Even if you don’t live in a CCRC, you can reap some of the benefits by fitting these types of activities into your daily schedule.

An attainable goal: living a longer, healthier life

Living a longer, healthier life is a goal we can all get behind. For support and assistance with your emotional and physical health, communities specifically designed for senior adults are a great option. Learn more about how to find a community that’s right for you.

THE BEST VIEW: 8:00 p.m., welcome to Florida rainy season

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by Norma Best Boucher

I stand in my kitchen at the open refrigerator door trying to find where I hid my half-eaten chocolate bar. I foolishly did NOT eat the entire bar and left the remainder of the chocolate in the original foil packaging on my passenger side car seat. This was only for mere minutes, but as a result, the Florida heat melted the other half. To save what was left of the chocolate, I put the melted part into the refrigerator to harden.

Indiscriminately, I tear away at the refrigerated food to find the lost bar when I hear what sounds like repeated rifle fire striking my three sliding glass doors and sunroof.

Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat!

At first, I stand there shocked. I quickly break out of that stupor and move semi-frantically in circles making instant decisions like, “Where do I hide?”

I duck down fast behind the kitchen sink island, listen carefully for the invasion and wait.

The rat-a-tat-tats come in waves now. First, they are frantic, then they stop, and then they are frantic again.

I think about this: lots of sound but no broken glass or bullets flying into the condo.

On hands and knees, I crawl out from behind the island, look around, and check my bearings. All senses heightened, I pause.

Suddenly, my cell phone and two televisions simultaneously blare out in deafening decibels, “Warning! Warning!”

Still on my hands and knees, I hurry back to the protection of the island.

“Warning!” comes from one TV.

“Rat-a-tat-tat!” comes from the sunroof.

“Warning!” comes from the other TV.

“Rat-a-tat-tats!” come from all three sliding glass doors.

The two televisions scream at me, “Tornado warning! Tornado warning! Go to your safe spots NOW!”

I rise and race to my inside bathroom. On the way I see nickel-sized hail striking my glass doors. I grab a pillow as I pass my bed.

8:00 pm – I stand in the shower, put the pillow over my head, and pray.

8:15 p.m. – The danger passes. No funnel hits land. The supercell continues out to the ocean.

Welcome to the 2023 Florida rainy season.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Music, TV and books!

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George Raft

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

George Raft

Having for so long equated actor George Raft (1901-1980) with his role as the Saint Valentine’s Day killer/bootlegger Spats Columbo in the 1958 comedy Some Like It Hot, I found it interesting to see him in a good guy role in the 1952 film noir Loan Shark. He portrays a just-released ex-convict Joe Gargen who simply wants to live a quiet life and mind his own business.

Through his sister’s husband, he lands a job at a tire plant.

Unfortunately, he finds out there’s a gang of loan sharkers preying on workers there and at other plants. And after his brother-in-law is killed because he tries to rally workers to fight back, Joe decides to go undercover to find the individuals behind the operation.

The script was written by Martin Rackin, who also did a superb one for 1950s The Enforcer with Humphrey Bogart. And with a very good support cast, including Dorothy Hart, Paul Stewart and John Hoyt, the movie is highly entertaining.

Black List

I am watching the 10th and very unfortunately last season of NBC’s Black List starring James Spader as Raymond Reddington, a master criminal who knows everything there is to know about every other criminal and becomes a secret informant for a secret branch of the FBI.

In its 10 seasons, Spader constantly steals the show with his wit and insights.

Elevator Music

Lee deForest

A 1995 book entitled Elevator Music, by Joseph Lanza, is the first to provide a history of easy listening. Its practitioners in the U.S. include the orchestras of Lawrence Welk and Mantovani, the synthesizer musician Yanni, pianist Richard Clayder­man and Celtic New Age singer Enya, etc. With all due respect to individual talent, this brand of music making from them relaxes people, provides background noise and even works as a sleeping pill.

According to the author, easy listening came in with early radio and one of its inventors Lee De Forest believed “in the physical existence of a universal medium termed either, …’those silent etheric voices, which seem often less of nature than of the spirit realm.’…..Merging the language of science and fantasy, we can infer that from ether came ethereal music” – thus a jump from ethereal to elevator music that lifts the passive listener to the shining stars of the solar system and its dreamland. Enough said!

Hunter Thompson

Hunter Thompson

The late writer Hunter Thompson (1937-2005) created the term Gonzo Journalism which is a form of journalism having little to do with objectivity and more to do with the subjective participation of the reporter and whatever the point of view is being conveyed by him.

In his crazily witty 1988 book A Genera­tion of Swine, Thompson not only mentions the well-known fact of Benjamin Franklin flying his kite during a thunderstorm and getting a shock but also blubbering like a baby every time a thunderstorm occurred after that experience, which just might be a fabrication of Thompson’s imagination.

Rachmaninoff

Rachmaninoff

I wrote some months ago about composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s desert island melodic masterpiece, the Second Symphony, and how it has generated several distinguished recordings during the last 80 years, including four different ones by his close friend Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

A recording from September 19 and 20, 1994, and released by the BBC Music Magazine featured the late Edward Downes (1924-2009) conducting the BBC Philharmonic in a performance that glows with a consummate combination of power, beauty, rhythmic pulse and a shining array of exquisite details . And copies are available from Internet vendors such as Ebay and Amazon.

During the last two years of his life, Downes had been going both blind and deaf, and suffering from other health problems after hip replacement, totally dependent on his younger wife Joan’s caregiving.

Meanwhile she had come down with pancreatic cancer and had just a few months to live. Both believing that life under these conditions was no longer viable, they jointly terminated their lives at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland, with their son and daughter in attendance, on July 10, 2009. Downes was 85, Joan 74.

An example of classy easy listening done with good taste is a budget-priced LP on the t$2 RCA Camden label which was a subsidiary of the parent label RCA Victor. Its producer Ethel Gabriel organized a group of skilled singers known as the Living Voices who recorded numerous albums with different arrangers such as Nashville’s Chet Atkins; the superb Anita Kerr who passed away last year at 95 and whose records with her singers are consistently lovely; and several others.

A 1964 LP, Living Voices Sing Moonglow and Other Great Standards, has ten favorites from the ‘30s and ‘40s Great American Songbook – the title song, Solitude, I Get a Kick Out of You, My Funny Valentine, These Foolish Things, etc.