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Posts published in “Essays”

The Greatest Pianist Ever

It’s almost impossible to evoke good music in print, especially the dazzling and extraordinary sound of the world’s greatest pianist, Art Tatum. But, that’s not for lack of trying. Here’s a sampling of what fellow…

Beverly Hills Shrink: Med Board v. Dr. Frankel, Cont.

Imagine having to attend a public hearing at which a psychiatrist to whom you told the unguarded truth dis­courses on your “anti-social personality disorder.” That was Allan Frankel's plight as his fitness to practice medicine…

Mendo Arts…Living Treasures

“Living Treasures” are those elders in a community recognized as having special knowledge, learned over a lifetime, that they share with others. These folks usually aren’t rich or college educated but they possess a mental…

Cancer

In December 2005 I was diagnosed with 4th stage squamous cell carcinoma, tongue base, after a young resident at U of Wisconsin medical center noticed two lumps on my neck when I was in for…

Honor the Wiki-Leakers

When it comes to journalistic achievements in 2010, the elephant in the room is Wikileaks. I’ve seen many put-downs of the materials as containing “no smoking guns,” or as being essentially trivial diplomatic commu­nications to…

Winter Sunset at Glass Beach

Who needs loot from Santa with treasures like these? We live close enough to get to Glass Beach by bike.  Having spent the remainder of the post-preschool afternoon playing with Santa's offerings, a bike ride…

Making the Rich Happy

Nicely in time for the end-of-year job ratings, Presi­dent Obama has crawled from the political graveyard, where only a month ago wreaths were being heaped around his sepulcher. The Commentariat now gravely applauds his recent…

Our Lady of Perpetual Fun

Take Hwy 1 north to Maple Street.  Take a right and follow it to where the road becomes a T.  See that huge building you're facing that looks like nothing you've ever seen in Fort…

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