America's Pastime

 

pastime - noun - an activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment.

Traditionally, the end of October marks the official last stand of the boys of summer as it is when the World Series happens. This year, there is a bit of a "subway series" taking place as the Los Angeles Dodgers were once ensconced in Brooklyn, New York, and the Yankees' home base is still in the Bronx. Although tickets to the games are extraordinarily high, fans are still flocking to the ballparks to see their heroes hit and field baseballs. But based on the above definition, courtesy of Google, can we say that baseball is still America's pastime? 

No, golf is. 

Yes, it is undeniably golf. Other than the pros and Little Leaguers, who plays baseball? I'm telling you. The pastime is definitely golf. Okay, okay. Maybe the televised PGA tournaments don't win any ratings' wars, but middle and upper-middle-class people of all ages are migrating to the public courses, taking golf lessons that run about $150 an hour for a private lesson, buying expensive clubs (some at $2,000 a driver), and flocking to try them out just about anywhere green, even in desert locals, like the irrigated Las Vegas. I know all of this since I follow the crowd. In fact, just last Monday around 3 p.m., I took a drive over to Alondra Golf Course, which is in the neighborhood of Torrance, California and found myself waiting in line (yes, in a long line) just to drive a few balls on the range. I have never before encountered such enthusiasm for a sport that is not only expensive, but terribly difficult and often exasperating. 

The pastime of golf is practiced regularly, yes. We who play find ourselves competing in leagues, playing regularly in quartets, in trios, or in duos on courses that are challenging and even dangerous – yes, dangerous because a little hard ball soaring at 120 m.p.h. can go in any direction, right at other players sometimes. And a "Fore!" cried out quickly won't stop the ball mid flight. My father had to get four stitches in the back of his head once because he was in the wrong place at the right time on a course. He was lucky the errant number 3 Titlelist didn't kill him. 

That's the thing, though. It is rare for the weekend warrior to be consistent at the game. No amount of lessons can cure this ill either. Look at the pro golfers, for instance, Phil Mickelson. Once during the PGA held at Baltusrol in 2005, I saw his ball strike the side of the pro shop and land just beneath it. Steady, yet unpredictable Phil had to hit the ball off of the macadam cart path alongside the eighteenth hole. Of course, he got it in the hole and won the tournament. Clearly, he didn't earn the moniker "Phil the Thrill" for nothing.

Is golf enjoyable? Hmmm. I would say it is if you are having a good game. It isn't if you aren't. And you are lucky if you do have a majority of minuses as opposed to pluses on your score card by the end of eighteen holes because in golf, it is all about the lowest score, getting the ball into the hole via the fewest strokes, which is almost impossible if you play by the rules. And very few do.

What does all of this say about those of us who run the risk of being totally frustrated more often than not on the course? It says that we are risk takers, that we are brave enough to accept failure, and willing to allow tenacity to be a best friend. Golf, like baseball, can be a metaphor for life. If you play the game well, you reap rewards. If you don't or if you cheat, you stand to be discontented. 

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Take A Hike

 

ambulatory - adj. - able to walk about

Years ago, when we wanted to rid ourselves of someone's presence, we used the creatively idiomatic, "Take a hike!" as opposed to the current pithy, degenerate, "Fuck off!" which has fallen into overuse, losing its profane punch. But this article isn't about verbal expression albeit it could be. It's about the value of being ambulatory, taking literal–not figurative–hikes. 

If you live in California, like I do, you don't think twice about hiking miles as the occasion presents itself constantly. In the past week or so, the digital odometer on my ubiquitous iPhone has clocked over twenty miles, which for a senior over 65 is pretty impressive. Along with one of two partners in ambulation, I traversed Mirror Lake in Yosemite (seven miles), the Hollywood Reservoir (3.5), Huntington Gardens (five), the Baldwin Hills (2.5), and the streets of West Los Angeles (two). In short, we covered swaths of some very beautiful ground and took in some outstanding views along the way. What was even better was that we treated our bodies to some outstanding exercise. 

Just what are the health benefits of taking a hike? According to the U.S. National Park Service, hiking builds strong muscles and bones, which we seniors tend to need in particular as our bones become more brittle as we age. It also improves balance (although I personally keep clear of edges on the way up the sides of steep inclines), heart health, and minimizes the risk of some respiratory problems. It also reduces stress, high blood pressure and cholesterol, the incidence of some cancers, excess weight which could lead to diabetes, and boosts mental health. Unlike meds, it won't rob your wallet. Pretty darn good. 

Hiking is better than ambulating on a treadmill in a gym because it allows for time in the fresh air and provides limitless space. And if you are constantly moving forward, you don't have to worry about any intrusive insects although I would recommend bug repellent if you are planning to hike in some of the national parks as gnats can be a problem. In addition, it is an inexpensive form of socialization, often recommended as a second date–providing you hike in a well-visited area–as it enables you both to enjoy nature, be physically active vertically (before any talk of the horizontal), and chat quietly without distractions.

Wow! Taking a hike is a lot more than I thought it could ever be. Back when we used the idiom in the derogatory sense, we didn't take into consideration all of the pluses of the literal act, which is perhaps why we don't hear the expression used anymore. If you told someone to "Take a hike!" today, the person might understand it to mean that you care deeply about him, her, them. Which is not bad. Hmm. I like it when things change for the better, something you don't see too much these days.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and take a hike! 

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What It Takes to Make It in Hollywood

 

veracity - noun - truthfulness; fact as opposed to opinion.

Although I have only lived in the vicinity of Hollywood for six months, because I already know and am still meeting many in the entertainment industry, I am learning what is safe to label "unreported veracity," facts that reporters would be afraid to unleash to the general public. Ironically, it is the individuals who work in Hollywood who shed the most light on the goings on in Tinseltown, and they don't seem to care who knows the truth. 

If you have ever had the dream of having your own star on the Hollywood walk of fame, it takes a lot more than talent. A lot more than talent. Sometimes talent doesn't even matter if you happen to have everything else. Based on conversations I've had over the past few months with friends (a TV/movie actor, a TV/film director, and a highly decorated documentarian), talent is the least of it. 

Okay, so other than talent, what does it take? The following:

1. The right look: most who are successful in the business are considered "attractive" by modern standards; however, if you have an idiosyncratic appearance that makes you stand out, you may get more work than the Ford model sitting next to you at an open call. Why? You are unique, a quality that defies competition.

2. The right personality: if you are extremely shy and generally introverted to a fault, chances are you will get buried. The squeaky wheel always attracts notice. It also helps if the wheel has a sense of humor to which others react favorably. Despite what most think, divas don't last long in Hollywood. They wind up making a lot initially, but later wind up financing their own projects because no studio wants to work with them.

3. The right connections: it always helps to know someone on the inside. This almost goes without saying. Even though it is frowned upon, nepotism is rife in Hollywood. For example, the Coppola family, all twenty-something of them, have had a great deal of say in the business for years. Many have avoided judgement by changing their last name to something less redundant, opposed to the dynasty. For example, Nick Cage is a Coppola. But you probably already knew that. 

4. All of the above to attract the right luck to get you where you want to go: luck is usually a factor in celebrity. It doesn't hurt to have what it takes in addition to timing. For instance, Charlize Theron was discovered while on line at a bank. This kind of luck is rare, most likely up there with winning the lottery in terms of probability. The odds are usually not in your favor, but you never know. You might just be standing in the right place at the right time and have exactly what the casting director is looking for.

5. The right attitude: plan on being indefatigable and industrious, keeping your nose to the grindstone for a long, long time. As Churchill once said, "Never, never, never give up." In short, you will need tenacity and thick skin because you will have to endure much rejection in Hollywood in order to secure that star. 

6. The right support: It doesn't hurt to have devoted stage parents, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, or just a friend with a lot of #7. The world's darling Taylor Swift would have never secured fame sans her financier father, who stood adamantly behind his daughter's efforts while tossing bags of cash to all of the right people. (I know this because a close friend of mine–also an actor–is one of Mr. Swift's friends.)

7. MONEY. MONEY. MORE MONEY: without #6 and #7, most likely #5 may tarnish rapidly. A friend of mine who was a largely successful TV/movie actor had to give up the craft for practical reasons. Without an agent (who usually doesn't do much for you due to the competition), a personal manager, and public relations executive (the latter two require payment up front from your wallet), you can only get so far, not far enough to support a spouse and family, or if single, pay all of your bills. Because he couldn't tow the mark, my friend stopped auditioning altogether and now sells Anderson windows. 

Nothing in life is easy. To get what you want is difficult. Even if you feel as though you have what it takes, there are no guarantees. But not trying at all will only cause you to regret what you didn't pursue in the years to come. After all, Hollywood was built on dreams. They don't call it La La Land for nothing.

#TaylorSwift, #NickCage, #CharlizeTheron, #Hollywood, #Stardom, #word-to-words, #slice-of-life,  #blog, #blogging, #editorial, #reading, #vocabulary, #ReadersMagnet, #spilled thoughts, #personal-essay, #writing community, #writing, #truth, #society, #good advice, #gwynenglishnielsen

Educational Revaluation (Reprinted from the Newark Star Ledger, September 3, 1986): Back to School Sans Change

 

amenities - noun - a desirable or useful feature

FORUM                                                                                                        September 3, 1986

Educational revaluation

DEAR EDITOR:

As an educator, I feel compelled to comment on your recent editorial reflective of the deterioration of American education. "First Step on a Long Road." Realistically, it would not have been inappropriate to have headed your piece, "First Step on an Interminable Interstate Highway." The current problems of the American system of education are deeply rooted within our society. The ubiquitous unsatisfactory test scores are but superficial indicators of societal maladies, which may take decades to correct. However, the road to knowledge may not be so overwhelming if we contemplate two essential points.

Initially, perhaps we as Americans need to reevaluate our distorted values and focus on the importance of education although this task may be neighboring on inane considering our contemporary priorities. For starters, why is it that we overly compensate our professional athletes and starve our teachers? Under the prevailing circumstances, some teachers are worthy of receiving five million dollars over five years. Just think of the number of minds they reach and shape over that period.

After revamping our priorities, we must then proceed to reinforce the absolute necessity of education in our children. Abstain from spoiling youngsters with an overabundance of material amenities! Invent a stimulating, creative, educational environment utilizing primitive tools...As they grow older, provide youths with books to read, rather than isolating them in front of the television set. After all, teachers cannot teach if students are not receptive to learning. Educators cannot perform the impossible by unlocking a door when students alone hold the key to it. The brightest of children have always been those who are motivated to learn.

It is conceivable that the "long road" may be abbreviated immensely if we as a nation take time to ponder our values and reorder our priorities. 

-Gwyn English Nielsen, age 27, a teacher at Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, N.J. 

Enough said. 

Sadly, even after 38 years, the aforementioned is still relevant today. 

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Indefatigable Show People and the Importance of Unions

 

indefatigable - adjective - persisting tirelessly (Google)

For four out of the seven evenings that made up the p.m. hours of last week, I had the distinct pleasure of being in the audience of four separate venues in three states. Perhaps the only thing they had in common was that all of the indefatigable performers in each worked very hard to get onto their respective stage and will continue to work very hard to stay on it. I know because I have been where they are: numerous stages. What I can tell you is this: "There are no people like show people; they smile when they are low." The ones who smile because they are genuinely happy are usually the ones a union is backing. Just in case you had no idea, there are unions that represent musicians and actors. Those who aren't members of a union can usually find more work, but they won't be protected. 

The first performance I experienced last week was that of an Elvis impersonator in a small, old-fashioned theater in a marvelously outdated, 1970s-style motel off of the strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. He and his fellow musicians probably belong to a union, but sometimes it was hard to tell. The average Vegas performer makes just below $28 an hour, which isn't bad, but if the show is only an hour, it is not a healthy wage, but I am guessing the musicians who only work an hour at a time could be paid more. I was even as a non-union entertainer. I would hope that Las Vegas isn't always about lost wages. 

Although I can't be positive, AEA (Actors Equity Association) seems to care the most about its members. The second performance I saw was at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, an outdoor amphitheater nestled in the remote red rocks surrounding St. George, Utah. Even at 9 p.m. at night, the temperature was 95 degrees. The actors and dancers of the featured show Anastasia were covered in winter clothing including furs indicative of Leningrad/St. Petersburg at the time of the Russian Revolution. Yet not one excreted a drop of sweat. I couldn't figure it out as I felt as though I were perspiring for the entire cast. Afterwards, I met with two of my friends who had leads in the musical. The first question I asked them was, "How did you two survive the heat?" Apparently Actors Equity insisted that all of its members be blanketed with ice vests beneath their clothes and provided with generous helpings of Gatorade and water in the green room. If the Union had not stepped in, there would have been casualties for sure. 

The third performance was a rock concert at the Greek Theater in Los Feliz, near Hollywood. The band was O.A.R., a little known act that had a few hits in the early 2000s. (My daughter insisted that I tag along.) Most of the musicians, I'm guessing, are in the musicians' union. Arenas like the Greek generally require that they belong. On Thursday night, all seemed well although I couldn't make out the lyrics of each song, which was more about me than the lead vocalist whose fans appeared to have no problems singing along with him. 

Finally, the last show I saw was at a comedy club. There are no unions for comics, but many join SAG/AFTRA or Equity if they are also actors. If you ask me, the audience should be offered union protection from the comedians, meaning that if you dare to sit in the front row, you will be demeaned and debased so that others may laugh not at the comics, but at you. Of course, no one offers you compensation to be bullied because it is all in good fun. (Is it?) If you don't have a strong sense of self and the ability to laugh at just about anything, don't go to a comedy club. Or do and hide in the back of the club, so you can always slink out sans notice. 

Perhaps my purpose for penning this is twofold: 1. Any and all performers deserve respect (I am not sure about all of the comedians, though) and 2. Unions, no matter what you might think, are necessary entities. 

#word-to-words, #slice-of-life,  #blog, #blogging, #editorial, #reading, #vocabulary, #ReadersMagnet, #spilled thoughts, #personal-essay, #writing community, #writing, #truth, #society, #good advice, #critique #gwynenglishnielsen

The Fickle Fate of Being a Recording Artist

 

fickle - adjective - changing frequently (Google)

Although I am aware that I am dating myself here, back in the dark ages (late 1960s, early 1970s) of television when channels were few yet not far between, I liked to watch "Ronan and Martin's Laugh-In," a bizarre variety show that was all about comedy. It was oftentimes silly, but creative, satirical, and quite a few names synonymous with humor (such as Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin) became household fixtures because of it. The weekly award known as the "Fickle Finger of Fate" was presented to noteworthy individuals who received media attention for their dubious achievements. We could sure use it today. Right? Not much has changed, yet I digress.

As a recording artist who stands in the same room with 75.9 million music creators (Google) is a fate that is fickle, meaning that since there are so many releasing songs, no one can predict whose music will be embraced by hundreds, thousands, millions - even billions, like artists such as Taylor Swift, who won the lottery and probably has more luck than talent (or just a financier father to back her). Spotify alone reports that it drops 100,000 new songs a day. Will all of them find open ears that will stay alert and stream them more than once? Probably not. But you never know until you take the risk of releasing a heartfelt composition to the entire world.

The aforementioned numeral supports the fact that the competition is just beyond anyone's comprehension. It seems like everyone has a song or even a book to release, and it is easy to do either if you have enough money to pay the right people. But once the product is out there, you must either spend money on just the right public relations persons, or like me, spend a lot of time and a few dollars (way more than you are making) on every social media platform promoting. At the end of the day, I am fortunate to see any results at all. And critics overseas have called me "the real deal." Well, I'm not feeling that moniker, not at all. For example, I may get 2,000 streams a month on Spotify and a minuscule pay check. Imagine one record turning 2,000 times on the radio over the course of one month. Doesn't that seem to be a lot of rotations to you? It does to me, too. However, the amount is only worth a bill with a portrait of Alexander Hamilton on it. He doesn't go far. Thank Goodness I am not depending on Spotify or any of the others to pay my rent.

Still, if my one hundred fans in Brazil like what I am putting out there on Spotify, every one of them counts. If all of them enjoy what I'm doing musically, all of the money that I am investing that I may never see back is worth sacrificing, especially since I could just be changing their worlds for the better in some minute sense. I'm sure all 75.9 million music makers are thinking the same thing except I don't give a you- know-what about fame as it only creates problems, but a little more compensation wouldn't be a bad thing as I could support more charities with it. 

I hope someday the music channels will up the ante on remuneration. Until that happens, check out my tunes on your favorite streaming service, such as YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@gwynnielsen5081) or Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qiQLmWs81Zno7WFH4lLiS. My newest single "Another Woman Trying to Wear My Shoes" debuts on Friday, August 23rd. Who knows? You may be able to relate to it. 

Thanks, all! 

#word-to-words, #slice-of-life,  #blog, #blogging, #editorial, #reading, #vocabulary, #ReadersMagnet, #spilled thoughts, #personal-essay, #writing community, #writing, #truth, #society, #good advice, #critique #gwynenglishnielsen

Why A.I. Won't Prevail in the Future

 

prevail - verb - prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious (Google). 

Lately, it seems to me that "artificial intelligence" is a topic of interest for many who depend much on technology. Personally, I know that a few of my former colleagues in education are quite distressed as their students are starting to purchase various programs that can literally compose essays for them. As a former English teacher, the question that initially registers in my mind is the following: What is the point of teaching writing when students can rely on their computers to do the work for them? Or just What is the point of education at all? Maybe when Trump proposed to eliminate the Department of Education, he was just responding to the latter question. Scary, I know. 

This particular blog's case in point isn't terribly obvious. Since A.I. is all about human invention (meaning humans feed knowledge to these robots), it is terribly imperfect. From my own experience, I am finding that the A.I. I use (Siri) is terribly stupid. She is far from error free. Just when the students are thinking they can get away with gross indolence, they can't because their teachers can tell that they are using A.I. due to its ignorance of the basics. The supposed "brains" who are feeding information to artificial intelligence know nothing about English grammar because they are most likely too young, products of the contemporary educational system that frowns on the direct instruction of the A, B, C's of the written word. These modern-day geniuses, who only paid attention in science classes when they attended secondary school, aren't experts in language. Does it make sense for imperfection to perpetuate imperfection? (Does anything make sense today?) No, no, no! 

On the flip side, I am hopeful, extremely hopeful that A.I. may just fail completely to make the billionaire techno mobsters more billions. I believe this could be an accurate prediction as I have been spending time with toddlers lately, yes, little kids, who are incredibly with it, sharper than the millennial tots whom I once spent many hours observing when my own daughter was that age. I totally think that today's inchoate generation won't have to depend on A.I. in the future after all, and they may even reject it in favor of the byproducts of past inventions, like that of the Gutenbergs'. This immature group finds books (yes, physical, hardcover books) to be fascinating and fun because their brilliant parents bestowed with common sense are making a sincere effort to keep them away from technology (iPads, etc.) by taking them to public libraries. No, I'm not kidding. I work with these little ones at a public library, so there. That has got to mean something. Albeit a small test group, I am hoping that it will soon represent a large portion of the majority. 

Parents, if you are introducing your children to the rudimentary, please keep it up before we as humans disintegrate and get swept up by machines that can hardly employ brooms correctly. And demand that your kids be taught English grammar when they get to school even if the current batch of teachers must return to classrooms themselves to learn it. Your infant Einsteins deserve to have their cerebral matter stimulated from this moment on. Together in this push, we will prevail. 

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