November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving. John Dean(The Watergate Guy). An Amazing Asbury Park Jazz Concert. No More Wire Hangars and No More BPA (lining of canned foods) A Bruce Springsteen Book Review. “The Light In Darkness.” Occupy Class Distinction? November 24, 2011

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Article, by, Dashboard, idealism, Powered — earthood @ 12:11 am

Before I get a chance to talk about this new Bruce Springsteen book, it’s time for some old fashioned drifting back to the future. Tuesday night before Thanksgiving: 11:23 pm; 42 years ago at this exact moment in time I was having a disagreement with my first wife to be. We were getting married Wednesday, that next night before Thanksgiving (it’s a cheap catering night). I didn’t take her to lunch earlier but hung with a few friends in a lame attempt at a bachelor party. So we disagreed about the principle behind such presumed negligence and then, after a brief stint in the small bathroom off my mother’s kitchen, she ran out of the house crying, slamming every door in her way. I stood frozen and stolid like I am now writing this blog. I would’ve been married 42 years if. That’s a significant number; eight years away from celebrating a 50th anniversary, picking out a place for final resting together and an assisted living home with video games in the day room and an old copy of ‘Peyton Place’ in the library.

laurel and hardy. how they made me laugh all through youth and on thanksgiving mornings

But that first marriage was incredibly statistically accurate; we almost made it to the obligatory first marriage duration of four years which set me up perfectly for the rest of my life. So at pre-Thanksgiving every year since she ran into the small bathroom and then bolted, I especially give thanks to the universe for all my blessings like the fortunate lessons learned from the bolting (she was not meant to be in my life). This is a magical time of year. Back then, my parents were around (living). So was an aunt who once found me in a partially compromised state of being clothed a week before Thanksgiving in a vacant apartment in her apartment house she inherited from my uncle who got tired of life. And I’ve been thinking about that uncle, the reach of genetics, and why people get tired of life. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been championing the cause of living to 150 years; there’s still so much to do and new careers to prepare for; like journalism, TV reporting and programming. I’m deliriously happy.

When I was five years old, I started watching ‘The March of the Wooden Soldiers’ usually on New York’s Channel 11 (WPIX). I do believe, I’ve never missed a Thanksgiving. I see an outline of a fiddler on my neighbor’s roof, yelling at me, “Tradition.” When my son was five, I introduced him to Laurel and Hardy, Toyland and the March. Up to two years ago, I guilt-tripped him into watching with me. But alas it is a wonderful holiday. The more gratitude you throw into the universe, the more you’ll have to be grateful for. The average amount of calories consumed in the complete Thanksgiving meal borders on 4500 calories. For my purposes, that’s five hours on the exercise bike. This just in: Newark Airport, forty minutes from my keyboard, has just been ranked as the second worst airport in America. I’m grateful for the streams of consciousness which flow and ebb just enough every week to keep this blog replete.

newark airport. the 2nd WORST in America

John Dean lecturing at Rutgers on Douglas campus

Last week on Wednesday November 16, I attended the Eagleton Institute of Politics lecture with John Dean, ‘Ethics, Law, and Government; Drawing the Right Lessons from Watergate.’ Here’s what’s rather synchronistic with respect to the first part of this blog. In the waning days of my first marriage, I spent weeks watching one of my heroes, John Dean, testifying at the Watergate hearings. He was a hero for a lot of reasons; doing the right thing despite President Nixon, a loyal and devoted wife Maureen (to whom he is still married to) sitting staunchly, supporting him through the testimony, possession of cerebral facilities to remember minute details and bravely accepting punishment. I was so engrossed with John Dean for all that time that I didn’t spend enough time trying to save a marriage; perhaps the night before my wedding pre-disastered it anyway.

me and John Dean

Randall Haywood and me on NJ Discover TV

me and Ben Bradlee former editor of Washington Post

Another hero emerged from those days; Ben Bradlee, editor of the Washington Post, who bravely dispatched Woodward and Bernstein to unravel one of the greatest political scandals. Now a funny thing; I’ve always thought about meeting both of these men, engaging and relaying their hero status. Mission accomplished last Wednesday with Dean. I met Ben Bradlee a few years ago, delivering one of my famous gentle hugs. I told John Dean that he was responsible for the break-up of my first marriage. He laughed and asked if I re-married. I said, “Happily for the last 34 years.” Then we shook hands and I said, “You’re still a hero.” He’s researching another book on Watergate as the 40th anniversary of the break-in is in June, 2012.

More important than hugs and photo-ops were the words of John Dean, talking to a packed Rutgers audience. Dean thought the kind of investigative journalism which caused Nixon to ultimately resign in August 1974 is lost to our times of economic distress. The ‘Presidential Records Act’ which took possession of Nixon’s papers was diluted by George Bush. Dean said those first days after the break-in at Watergate “cast the dye” in how little Nixon was told. During those days, the White House pondered breaking up the media and now 40 years later, the wish comes true with Fox news heading to the right, etc. On a lighter note, Dean is convinced that Nixon never caused that famous 18 1/2 minute gap in his tape, citing “He wasn’t mechanical enough. He couldn’t even open up medicine bottles.” Finally, as I visualized Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman from the movie, ‘All the President’s Men,’ Dean said it was not great reality theater, that they (Woodward and Bernstein) did not crack the story.

I suppose a bit Thanksgiving theme to realize I’ve now met both of my idols from those bygone days of youth, called Watergate. And why does Forrest Gump come to mind all of a sudden? Why do I feel like running to Arizona now? If only I could’ve met President Kennedy. I was so taken with my first President as a young man nearing voting age; I used to practice imitating him with that distinct Boston accent. Actually I was pretty proficient; even went on stage and delivered my version of his inaugural address. “And Caroline, the uh, rubber duck is mine.”

Changing times and directions: Last Saturday night inAsbury Park, I had the honor of being involved in covering for NJ Discover TV an amazing jazz concert at Chico’s House of Jazz. Talk about giving thanks; I had the opportunity to interview on TV, Randall Haywood (trumpet), Victor Jones (world pre-eminent jazz drummer), Jay Rodriguez (saxaphone), Andy McKee(Bass) and Tom McEvoy (piano). Haywood, who has an uncle who played with Jimi Hendrix, recently played with rapper Ludacris and has been on Letterman and Leno and teaches music in a local school system. We met the previous week for several hours and on camera for nearly a half-hour. I take this quite seriously.

The NJ Discover TV Interview and Concert Highlights: A MUST WATCH

Interview & concert highlights of house of jazz in asbury park

Andy McKee(Bass) Jay Rodriguez(sax) during a fire drill at house of jazz

Randall is nothing short of a musical treasure and success story; pre-ordained destiny took him from Jacksonville to all over the world performing. The concert was mesmerizing. Actually it was so hot we all had to run outside for a fire drill. They mixed old and new that Haywood recently wrote. And Victor Jones on the drums: I told him I’d come to Newark’s Skippers Lounge to continue watching him. Four weeks ago this kind of journalistic activity was more remote than a distant galaxy and now with red forearms from excessive pinching, I find myself doing TV interviewing and exploring worlds of music. It is a wonderful life and instead of Forrest, I do feel like George Bailey. Everything is spinning as if in a centrifuge. There’s some out of body thankfulness that I’m no where near mid-age if I’m living to 150 years, fulfilling more dreams.

Clarence and Bruce courtesy ©theLightinDarkness.com

A month ago I was contacted by Lawrence Kirsch, author and publisher of boutique books, especially about Bruce Springsteen. Would I like to review ‘The Light In Darkness,’ his latest work, about Bruce Springsteen’s 1978 ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ album and the tour as vividly articulated by Bruce Springsteen fans? Of course, being one of those fans, I said how fast can I get the book and how high do I jump. My jumping was not high enough; this was a perfect pictorial and word journey that took me soulfully back to 1978-1979. The pictures magically carpeted me into that world of Bruce Springsteen touring, making me feel as if I was slipping through that elusive Freehold rabbit hole through a looking glass.

Cover of 'Light In Darkness' credit ©theLightinDarkness.com

inside front cover 'The Light in Darkness' credit ©theLightinDarkness.com Bruce Springsteen

It was a perfect journey back to the future. Kirsch did amazing work analyzing themes of the album; timing is everything as Springsteen just announced his 2012 tour. I’m not in the habit of tiptoeing through endorsements; however if you’ve got any proclivities and affinities for Bruce and dreams and memories or verbal historic incisions, then you should order this limited edition book which is only available on line at http://www.thelightindarkness.com/home/

And this makes a special holiday gift!! Funny; every day I manage to look at the pictures in the book. And a confession proudly conceived. Just as I always hoped to bump into Ben Bradlee and John Dean; well the same goes for Bruce Springsteen. The book is a taste. Someday over a Freehold, New Jersey rainbow, maybe Springsteen.

Soon I’ll be watching ‘March of the Wooden Soldiers’ and almost simultaneously, the Macy’s parade; it’s called flicking to avoid commercials. My son moved out in June, so no matter what, it’s a solo watch. My little boy all grown up called me the other day, upset about the world and protesting and Occupy and Mayor Bloomberg kicking protestors out of Zuccotti Park near Wall Street. He tripped me back to the sixties, when I knew about protesting everything.

occupy protestors clash

I’ll always regret (maybe one of my top ten life’s regrets) not having marched on Washington with Dr. King on August 28, 1963. Then he tells me almost sheepishly that Occupy is all hot air; that’s it’s a shamble and almost a caste system. He was disillusioned which reminded me of the chimpanzee Lucius from ‘Planet of the Apes’ that Charlton Heston had to give a pep talk to about ‘adults.’ I asked him to explain disdain. “Dad the rich people in Occupy who were camped out had an espresso machine hooked up to a bike. There was no middle class. And they didn’t share with the poor.” And suddenly I was overcome with the futility of explaining human nature, the tower of babble and that nothing has changed about human nature since our cousins, the Cro-Magnons from aNorth Jerseysuburb were fumbling around with something that resembled the first wheel. What we have here is a failure to communicate, I thought. How would I explain the espresso machine deal to my son? Then I said to him, “Mom is calling. We’ll talk later.” And we didn’t. Over my desk is a small picture of an ostrich.

Finally on the health front and living to 150 years; there have been some disturbing studies on BPA (bisphenol A) that shows the urine of people who consume canned soup contain surprisingly high levels of BPA, a hormone-disrupting compound linked to health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

soup cans contain BPA. beware!

People who consumed one serving of canned soup a day for five days had a more than 1,000 percent increase in urinary BPA over people who consumed fresh soup for five days. Drinking beverages that have been stored in certain hard plastics can increase the amount of BPA in your body. BPA is used in the linings of metal food and beverage cans as well as in certain plastic bottles and dental sealants. And I wonder how many white doves have to blow in the wind before they take it out of the lining. It’s about money.

Memories of Thanksgivings and gatherings of family and friends is such a powerful force within the neuronal pathways of my composition. There’s a longing to find a waiting worm hole for me to slip through. I want back. I want my mother to send me off to the grocer for an extra apple cider gallon. I want my older sister to hug and thank me for being a good big brother. I took her to a first Broadway play before Thanksgiving. ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ Tradition. What happens to traditions and sisters? I love Thanksgivings when all the leaves that were green turn to brown and vacate their places of attachment to branches and the sky is steel gray, ominous and cold. I’ll plunge into my journalism journeys in the New Year. There are miles to go before I sleep or weep. I can almost see Ollie and Stannie reassuring Mother Widow Peep who lived in a shoe that everything would be alright. Thanksgiving is magic. I think by next year I’ll have so much more to be thankful for. I think next September I’ll start dreaming about the holiday earlier than ever before. Maybe I’ll cheat and watch the VHS ‘March of the Wooden Soldiers’ a few months early too. Maybe ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ will be back on Broadway.

Tara Jean (co host) and me outside House of Jazz in Asbury

Interviewing Victor Jones for NJ Discover in House of Jazz Asbury Park

CONTACT INFORMATION

website: http://vichywater.net/

Facebook: Cal Schwartz

Twitter: Earthood

book trailer. hey its 65 seconds long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj2ko9gcC_M

IMPORTANT LINKS:

If on Facebook check out this NJ Discover site:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000125711074

OR www.njdiscover.com

ARE you in search of another blog that is also outspoken, unique BUT refreshingly, topically unbridled which means uninhibited ???? Meet LINDA CHORNEY:

http://lindachorney.wordpress.com/

Immortality Institute (which represents advocacy and research for unlimited lifespan)

http://www.imminst.org/

August 2011. Guest on Alicia Cramer Show (podcast) “Thin Healthy Happy” :

http://wausauhypnotherapy.podbean.com/2011/08/02/calvin-barry-schwartz-interview-on-living-life/

LINKS TO VIDEOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfFA-y115nc&feature=autoshare

1. ZOMBIE WALK October 22, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dbtCJifzpQ

2. 9-11 lecture atMonmouthUniversitywith Govenor Tom Kean

Nov 3, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYwkaa_xreg&feature=related

3. VETERANS DAY NJVIETNAMMEMORIAL

Nov 11, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNohzH8AHvM&feature=player_embedded

4. RANDALL HAYWOOD & JAZZ CONCERT

Nov 19, 2011

Comments (2)

November 13, 2011

A Late Blog Explanation. New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Veterans Day Ceremony) A Menu for the Ages. Penn State. Living to 150 Years (Pomegranate Juice) November 13, 2011

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: by, Dashboard, idealism, philosophy, Powered — earthood @ 9:58 pm

I’m so moved by the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial. But first: For the first time in nearly two years, I’ve let my deadline of writing blog entries every week slip into a second week. There was a song, “You Can’t Hurry Love” by the Supremes. YouTube:

The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love”

I love writing my blog; a magic carpet ride of introspection, heightened awareness and personal growth. I’ve evolved into a better writer, a better citizen of this old town or any old town. Good old Ebeneezer Scrooge: in another five weeks I’ll find my VHS copy of ‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Alastair Sim(the only film Scrooge there ever was) and slip into the joyous world of holidays.

sleigh to Grandmother's House

Ebeneezer Scrooge(Alastair Sim) and the Ghost (present)

All year long, I think about Scrooge and how he fought change and spiritual enhancement. Then on Christmas morning we witness his rebirth and commitment to taking care of Tiny Tim by symbolically standing on his head in a showing of complete joyous spiritual arrival. How often I’ve dreamt about conditional change forcing me to stand on my head. I dreamed of NBC morning programming. I’ll need a couple of stage hands to hold me up on a worn easy chair or sofa. I’ve got it all figured out; the scene is part of my arrival at journey’s end. Arrival is not a bad thing; just a time to exhale and give thanks. And I love Thanksgiving, a most perfect holiday of family, friends, food for thought, and a sleigh ride to Grandmother’s house. But there are no Grandmothers left, very little family and earthquakes happening all over the world with increasing frequency and intensity.

If you haven’t guessed, I’m firing away on all cylinders, dusting off my parched streams of consciousness that I haven’t used in two weeks. I can still give thanks on Thanksgiving; every day I find a way to thank the universe for my blessings; I just don’t and never will have much of a family. All those scattered cousins everywhere and not a drop to drink with, except precious poignant Cousin Stuart. Where did all the flowers go; same place of obscurity where my cousins sit at the diner of lost dreams on Wednesday 3AM. Is there a good geneticist in the house? Am I the product of bad cousin genes? I’m even down to one sister left; more gene splicing?

dorothy's shoes. i tried to get them to fit on me once in florida

Paul Newman in 'Somebody Up There Likes Me'

I see Dorothy clicking her red ruby heels; there is no place like home and extended family. I’ll never know. Is it purist simple gifts of life? I must be on to or just on something (broccoli?). I’ve been listening to the song and instrumental ‘Simple Gifts’ for years. Then during President Obama’s Inauguration ceremony, ‘Simple Gifts’ was one of two songs played at the Lincoln Memorial.

rare pix of Marilyn Monroe

‘Somebody Up There Likes Me.’ A wonderful movie starring Paul Newman. Last week it hit me again. How can Paul Newman be gone? And Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Sammy Davis.

I asked my mother the other day; how can it be that I only have one sister left. Things we take for granted; the warmth and caring relationships of the blood is thicker than water. What if water becomes blood? There’s Yul Brynner holding up the staff but the river Nile still turns red. Well, I accept the law of diminishing family. I see a thousand Conestoga wagons heading into Kansas during a land rush. My father decides to pitch camp at the first overflowing stream and within two weeks our cabin is built, a fence surrounds the property. An asteroid came within 200,000 miles of earth the other day; awful close astronomically; scares the hell out of me. I wonder why we didn’t experiment and send a rocket to see how effective we can be in destroying menacing asteroids; ‘just in case’ kind of deal. Or with our luck, we divert it right down here to central Jersey. I need Thanksgiving; a cold, cloudy day with fresh cranberry sauce. I asked a friend on the tennis court recently if he remembered the cranberry scare of 1959. He said no. “What about Thalidomide?” That he knew; the sedative drug that causes malformation of fetuses and was withdrawn from the market in 1961.

Sammy Davis. Jr.

Yul Brynner. Pharaoh

Enough with dodge ball. I apologize for being tardy. But the good news for all my blog readers is that my words are reaching a larger audience than I ever dreamt. Back in July, I started writing a monthly column for OUR TOWN newspaper. The following month it went to two columns. And in October it hit three columns a month. It is work and commitment but I love words and writing. Then three weeks ago in the blowing winds of synchronicity, I became ‘involved’ with a Jersey TV Production company, as a reporter, writer, and program/talent developer. And I do all this as you know because I’m not quite at mid-life yet as long as I subscribe to the notion of living to 150 years which I always blog about. I hear my mother calling to me from upstairs to budget my time. I love this blog and thanks for your support and dropping by. Enough said. Maybe take four minutes and watch my first gig as a reporter during Zombie Walk on the Asbury Park boardwalk two weeks ago. The YouTube link:

Calvin reporter at Zombie Walk Asbury Park

Calvin interviewing zombie on Asbury Park Boardwalk

I LOVE Conestoga wagons

A few years ago, on a cold, bleak, windy February Friday afternoon (enough adjectives?); I was heading homeward southbound on the Garden State Parkway. It was 2 PM, two hours from descending darkness. Something grabbed my soul and told me to go visit the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel. Something is one of my favorite amorphous spiritual conceptual words; much too involved and complicated for a dissertation now. But I always listen to something because it is wise, warming, steering and magical. Something made me write my first novel a few years ago.

at New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony

at New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony The Tree losing leaves.

Something made me climb mountains barefoot in Sedona or walk on a decaying old wooden dock in Key Largo or gets me up at 3 AM to stare blankly at computer screen savers. I’ve never been to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial not being a veteran of that war during my twenties. Of course with the extreme weather conditions, I was the only person visiting. There are 360 panels, each representing a day of the year including leap year. Each panel contains the names of those men and women who died on that day. I decided to stare at each name, shivering from the brutal 10 degree wind chill cold and then consume random names and commit to my eternal memory. Arthur John Abramoff and Albert Potter became part of my senses. Forty minutes passed until I made the circuitous journey around the memorial, promising to keep committing names to my senses. I might fill up several pages to rip words from the intestinal lining of emotions when seeing names of all those special wonderful young people taken away with so much of life’s promise.

at New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony

at New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony Cameraman and Me

Six months ago, I knew on this special Veterans Day of 11-11-11, 11:11 AM that I’d be there. But I never dreamt I’d be going as a TV reporter and journalist. Life is something. Once again, it was so cold and windy. One lone tree in the middle of the memorial grounds kept losing leaves that were once green, now brown. One fallen leaf skirted my cheek. I kept looking around at the faces of these amazing veterans. A strange welling in my chest; should I have been with them back then? Five hundred proud Vietnam Veterans gathered. I got to interview on camera Clark Martin, Chairman of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation and Joseph Formola, (“Hero’s don’t wear capes; they wear dog tags.”), Chaplain New Jersey State Council Vietnam Veterans of America and Chester, a proud eloquent Vietnam veteran.

at New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony

Everyone said the same thing; how hard it was coming back from Vietnam because of the way they were treated; there was no respect for their sacrifices and patriotism. Chester said it best, “People come up to us now, thank us for serving. That really didn’t happen years ago. Didn’t happen. But it is happening now and that’s beautiful.” I thanked him three times and got all choked up. My video cameraman knew to stop shooting. I need to keep going there. I’ve added John Richard McDonough from South Orange to my senses. It’s hard excavating intestinal linings and emotions. Here’s the link to the video coverage of Veterans Day in New Jersey. (2 minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYwkaa_xreg&feature=youtu.be

Yes, I dig living to 150 years. The other day I encountered a menu from a fast food place soon opening here in Jersey. I whispered to myself, “Fried Snickers?” Picture attached and I think I’ll take the terse road which may be the high road not the back road to Perdition. One other note on living to 150 years: A glass of pomegranate juice a day could keep the wrinkles away, according to a new study that reveals it slows down the aging process of DNA.

Fried Snickers???

Pomegranate juice

Pomegranate has previously been linked to the prevention of heart disease and stress relief but now researchers from the Probelte Bio Lab in Spain have found that the fruit juice also slows down the natural oxidation (‘wear and tear’) of DNA. During the study, scientists used a potent new type of pomegranate extract including the skin, pith and seeds of the fruit. The 60 participants were asked to take the extract for 30 days in the form of a pill. The results found a significant decrease in a marker associated with cell damage that disrupts brain, muscle, liver and kidney functions, as well as causing aging.

Finally Penn State: There are few words I can excavate now. Enough will be said for years to come. I became friendly with a former pretty good Penn State quarterback from the mid 70’s when I actually used to root for them before I began my love affair to remember with Rutgers. He always talked spirited about Joe Paterno and actually became an assistant strength coach after graduation. One morning in the early 90’s, I had my wheat flakes with sprinkled raisins and felt pretty good as far as throwing a football was concerned. Later that day I was at John’s house in eastern Pennsylvania, sitting in the den when I spotted a football and suggested we go out into his endless backyard and start tossing the football around.

Scarlett O'Hara. Tomorrow is another day??

Who knows, if John never got hurt in senior year, he’s playing on Sunday. So we’re throwing the ball around. I keep backing up knowing I’ve got a pretty good arm. The further back we go, it seems the more effortlessly he’s throwing the ball to me. Then Cher slapped my face and told me to snap out of it. And I did back then. I could never be a quarterback like John. Thing is, I wish upon a fading star of Paterno and Penn State that this was all a nightmare and Cher could slap my face, tell me to snap out just one more time and then Scarlett O’Hara could come along just about now as I finish this blog and say “Tomorrow is another day” But it isn’t.

Cher slaps nick cage You tube (5 seconds)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY

CONTACT INFORMATION

website: http://vichywater.net/Facebook: Cal Schwartz

Twitter: Earthood

book trailer. hey its 65 seconds long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj2ko9gcC_M

IMPORTANT LINKS:

If on Facebook check out this NJ Discover site:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000125711074

OR www.njdiscover.com

ARE you in search of another blog that is also outspoken, unique BUT refreshingly, topically unbridled which means uninhibited ???? Meet LINDA CHORNEY:

http://lindachorney.wordpress.com/

Immortality Institute (which represents advocacy and research for unlimited lifespan)

http://www.imminst.org/

August 2011. Guest on Alicia Cramer Show (podcast) “Thin Healthy Happy” :

http://wausauhypnotherapy.podbean.com/2011/08/02/calvin-barry-schwartz-interview-on-living-life/

Comments (7)

October 30, 2011

Singularity Frustrations and Seven Layer Cake. A NJ Beach Cleanup (Part Living to 150?). Asbury Park Annual Zombie Walk.(5000 Zombies). Love Marriage Carriage. October 30, 2011

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Article, Dashboard, physics, Powered, syracuse — earthood @ 11:40 am

from the video. calvin interviews a zombie on asbury park boardwalk

Before Singularity and reading this fascinating blog, take 3:55 and please watch this YouTube video of your blog writer doing his first television reporting gig(and thanks):

my 1st tv reporter gig on YouTube video an absolute must watch!

INDEED PLEASE WATCH 4 minute video. comments welcomed/needed. I never held a microphone before.

Last week’s blog dealt mainly with the Singularity Summit in NYC; a meeting of 600 global scientists, technologists, business people, some boutique media and me, probably the only journalist from New Jersey covering this annual event that looks at the advancement of artificial intelligence and technology and how it will affect current 2011 denizens in the lurking future.

Jason Silva at Singularity Summit

After several epiphanies and a great talk with Jason Silva from Current TV etc, I found a place for myself in the world of Singularity; a reason to believe; purposeful involvement; communication to bring the message of Singularity to high school and college kids and perhaps a few senior citizens. Getting to know me through my blog, you probably can sense my exuberance to share information that I believe in. I do believe. I do believe in Singularity. I don’t want a smart aleck computer in 15 years to clone itself into a smarter computer that passes us humans by. I certainly don’t want to spend my golden years in a mind matrix of field of dreams or on a self-imposed prune subsistence diet. I want to wait on line at a broccoli and cauliflower buffet and talk to real people about real sex and the NY or Jersey? Jets or Giants. I hate being confused in a world of total recall. Is it live or memorex? Does anyone remember that commercial?

On the day after the Summit, I took my unbridled enthusiasm, got on my horse that I rode through the Lincoln Tunnel on, and galloped into Monmouth County where I met with three honor high school students at a television studio. They were taping a segment on their amazing community service project. When I cornered two of them in a glass window room off camera, I introduced myself, told them I still play beer pong (a bonding commonality technique) and asked enthusiastically, “Did any of you ever hear about Singularity?” Of course the response was negative.

Hyman Roth with Michael Corleone in Havana. nearby is a gold dial telephone

Three nights later, I was on a tennis court, with my regular doubles game. The other three players: a cardiologist, a dentist and an organic chemist who owns a lab( supplied dispersants to BP in the Gulf oil spill and as Hyman Roth said to Michael Corleone, “Your father and me. We made a fortune.”) and graduated with honors from Yale. Jennifer Cavalleri would’ve described him as, “A Yalie.” I’m a hopeless movie romantic as well. In between tennis sets, I asked the triumvirate if they ever heard of Singularity. More negative responses. Undaunted, I stopped strange men and women on the street near where I live and asked the same question. No one ever heard. Hey, I was batting 1000%.

Beach Sweep Registrar

Belmar Fishing Club. members only

Last Saturday I journeyed to Belmar, New Jersey to participate in Beach Sweeps; a New Jersey coastal environmental project, sponsored by Clean Ocean Action, where up to 8000 Jersey citizens gather at 70 sites to rid the beaches of unsightly and harmful debris. Fishes, whales, birds and other animals mistake litter for food. Even cigarette filters mimic fish and have been found in the stomachs of birds and larger fish, blocking and affecting digestion. Plastic litter takes hundreds of years to break down, so it threatens wildlife for decades. So why do I run to the beach to pick up litter? Well, if I’m living to 150 years which as you know, I always blog about (part of Singularity future) then I’m not even close to mid-life and therefore a ‘young’ thing to do. Of course, a significant amount of literary license and Sunday morning light-headedness, but is there relevance and intrinsic mystical quality to doing supposedly young things? Maybe teasing a few neo-cortex neuronal connections. Enough said. I was excited about being part of the sweep and I picked First Avenue Beach in Belmar because it’s a few hundred feet away from my spiritual jetty at the Shark River, where I’ve been communing and meditating since I was 10 years old and first heard the Everly Brothers sing ‘Bye Bye Love.’

YouTube Bye Bye Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFoIdxLBm_A

At the registration, Brian, a college student, gave me a white plastic bag for litter, a black bag for recyclables and a reporting form for documenting everything I recovered. “Brian, before I venture on the beach, quick question for you. Did you ever hear of Singularity?” “Excuse me, sir,” he was puzzled. “Never mind.” As I slipped under the boardwalk of the members only ‘Belmar Fishing Club,’ I found my first plastic straw next to a plastic bottle cap. I mattered; this clean up was now relevant. Observations 14 minutes into clean up: There was no one close to my age present. Groups of young kids, ostensibly organized by schools, were there to feel environmentalism. Of course I was heartened; I remember the first Earth Day in May 1970: I’ve never stopped caring and being aware. Slyly, I let the sand formations of a recent tractor incursion lead me to a group of five students from East Brunswick High School.

East Brunswick High School students and me at Beach Sweep

Comrade Kruschchev with shoe at the UN. I asked my mother why he did that

I explained my novelist and journalistic background, gave them a business card, asked for a photo op and finally after thanking them, “Oh one more thing, has anyone ever heard of Singularity?” Heads were in synchronistic lateral movement like precision dance swimmers in the Olympics with of course smiling blank stares in front of perfectly situated teeth; one girl still had braces. “Well let me quickly tell you. It’s your world to inherit. Singularity contemplates a computer birthing another computer that’s finally smarter than us. Think of all the scenarios.” Then I was gone with the cool autumn wind under unrealistic blue sky which even looked adulterated blue. Still batting 1000%. A pair of dark blue men’s socks (no designer logo visible) were tied together, half buried in the sand. A plastic fork got socks into the bag. Could it be, the last time I held a collection bag of any sort, I was asking geographical neighbors (they’re almost never friends), back in Newark while Eisenhower was president “Anything for Halloween?”

Students from Biotech High School at Beach Sweep

Aimlessly I wandered, still finding plastic straws, hoping to meet at least one senior citizen comrade. I remember comrade Nikita Kruschchev banging his shoe at the UN. Another group was near so I drifted to the left and introduced myself; a group from Biotechnology High School in Freehold. Same routine; no one knew Singularity and didn’t seem to worry about working for a computer in 20 years. Still at 1000%. My white bag was filling but no recyclables; maybe the species was learning. Off to the right was another group of kids, also from Biotechnology High, with two teachers. I slid over. Remarks were addressed to the teachers, kids listening. I hoped teachers would know about Singularity. Still 1000%. “It’s your future too. Here’s my card. Friend me on Facebook. A lot of information to share; it’s a brave new world.” Of course no friending or follow up. Still 1000%.

the seven layer cake bakery in belmar site of complicity

Frankly my dear (blog readers) it was time to leave the beach. On the boardwalk, near my car, a group of four Rider University students had just finished Beach Sweep. My son went to Rider. I asked about Singularity; no one knew but laughed when I said, “And I still play beer pong.” Still 1000%. Seven days and seven nights asking people about the future and no one knew. On Main Street Belmar there’s an old fashioned bakery; I thought about the long week past and teaching (promulgating) the Singularity awareness journey ahead. I don’t do windows, bottles of wine or beer, red meat or chemical aids when frustration blows in the wind. But I do voluminous chocolate and especially seven layer cakes. And I finished a substantial helping(which had been protectively sealed) by the last traffic light close to my house.

Rider University students at Beach Sweep in Belmar. ocean backdrop

Much too long to delve into now, but I’ve been drifting into the world of journalism, writing for OUR TOWN newspaper and then through the magic of social networking became involved with a television production company looking into New Jersey programming. Who would’ve ever thought? Hours after my Beach Sweep, I’m back at the Jersey shore, in Asbury Park for the Annual Zombie Walk. Imagine 5000 zombies, incredibly made-up, preparing to walk downtown Asbury in front of 15,000 spectators. Deep inhalation: it was great to be alive (therefore I wore no costume), absorbing, witnessing, immersing myself in pure ecstatic joy at being there; soon the television crews arrived, gave me a microphone and I’d love to say at this juncture, the rest is history. You can judge for yourselves; my first reporting experience (4 fun-filled minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfFA-y115nc

zombie walk.. does he look like johnny depp??

Prediction about Zombie Walk: Maybe 40,000 people next year. Hyped media coverage (including little ole me) will bring many people for the first time. In my own micro-cosmic world, I’ve received enough comments about how most just didn’t know these events went on. And Asbury Park, you keep going and growing, on the merry-go-round of an amazing renaissance. I love this town.

more zombie walk

Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. I love this Sinatra song too:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRDBvKGc1fE

So I think on Monday, Earth’s population will hit exactly seven billion people. A few weeks back, I questioned a scientist on population, food, water, monopoly game boards, and the fact that French schools have banned American Heinz ketchup; Too much sugar, salt, and imports? Perhaps we’ll go to nine billion next time we count, he said and when I grimaced about poor mom earth supporting all that, he patted my shoulder, “Don’t worry. By the time the water tables dwindle, we’ll lose that extra two billion again.” Then I had strange vibes on my mind. “How about social change?” “You mean that in 1950, 33% of the adult population was single and now the figure is 50%.” Marriage today is an option not a necessity and we’ve got economic gender parity.

even more zombie walk. truly fun stuff.

Then I looked at my own pre-disastered first marriage back in 1969. The night before the wedding, fiancé and me had a disagreement(a nicer word); she ran out of my house crying and mother appeared out of a saffron lit dining room; an almost vaporous figure with tears racing down each cheek. “Don’t marry this girl tomorrow. Mother’s know. Call up everybody right now and cancel. Give the gifts back. She’s all wrong for you.”

Psychology Today magazine taught me well. “Mah, my generation is getting divorced all over the place. So I want to get on with my life. It doesn’t make a difference who I marry tomorrow. It won’t last. So let me get the first over with as quickly as possible so I can get on with my life. Now do you understand?” “No, Calvin.”

banned in French schools like books in Boston????

my seven layer cake. was this pix necessary???

The other day I asked my son (about the same age as I was back then), “Did you call that girl from last week?” “No Dad, I’m not looking to get married for a long time, so I didn’t call. No rush. Do you understand?” I thought about my mother back in 1969 and had to say, “No.” But I really do. I really do a lot of things. I love writing this blog and looking to find ways to eliminate the 1000% Singularity shaking of the heads sideways. A few hours ago I talked with amazingly progressive Mayor Jonathan Hornik of Marlboro,N,J. about finding ways to teach the youth of the town and beyond about Singularity and their future world. “Just have to wait until after Election Day,” he said. I was back on the beach running around, glad to be alive, head swimming with ideas. I’m on the way to fulfillment and dreamy stuff. What a purist high to resolve a mission. And it absolutely even did not bother me to seven layer cake thoughts again when the mayor originally said, “What’s Singularity?” And I thought, still 1000% but………………..

Singularity Summit auditorium. I'm 3rd from left.

CONTACT INFORMATION

website: http://vichywater.net/

Facebook: Cal Schwartz

Twitter: Earthood

book trailer. hey its 65 seconds long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj2ko9gcC_M

IMPORTANT LINKS:

If on Facebook check out this NJ Discover site:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000125711074

OR www.njdiscover.com

ARE you in search of another blog that is also outspoken, unique BUT refreshingly, topically unbridled which means uninhibited ???? Meet LINDA CHORNEY:

http://lindachorney.wordpress.com/

Immortality Institute (which represents advocacy and research for unlimited lifespan)

http://www.imminst.org/

August 2011. Guest on Alicia Cramer Show (podcast) “Thin Healthy Happy” :

http://wausauhypnotherapy.podbean.com/2011/08/02/calvin-barry-schwartz-interview-on-living-life/

Comments (0)

October 19, 2011

SINGULARITY SUMMIT NYC Oct 15, 16. Comic Con NYC. Oct 14(Grant Alter Interview). Manhole Covers in NYC. I Met r2d2. ‘Watson’ the Computer. October 19, 2011

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: Article, by, Dashboard, physics, Powered — earthood @ 5:21 pm

bamberger's newark 1950's

First a few words on Singularity. On Monday night, I met three local high school honor students in a television studio to observe a taping. Give me a captive audience (sound proof room and glass window) and an idea (there were 73 prominent futuristic notions cerebrally floating around from the Singularity Summit). A few times as a little boy, I was in Bamberger’s Department Store in Newark. I loved elevator rides (my equivalent of the Starship Enterprise). As the doors opened and always a man with an oversized cap and uniform slid the metal doors slowly apart, my mother led me inside. I watched the floor indicator slowly move from left to right. Arrival sign on third floor said notions. “Hey mom, what’s a notion?” “Just stuff Calvin.” I still don’t know. Back to the future and the high school kids: Picture me, filled with Singularity concepts and an earlier epiphany that my place in the world, and I espoused to several speakers, is to spread the message to mainstream youth, after all, I’ve come to accept, it’s their world. “Has anybody ever heard of Singularity and Ray Kurzweil?” A perfect expression of synchronistic lateral moving heads; “Just what I thought!” Smiling, they stared quizzically at me. I hate that look; means a lot of work. Sometimes I get these ocular floaters; we all get them; mine usually are of a rocking chair variety and then they float away from fields of visions and dreams.

HAL from 2001

forbidden planet

Delving time: So what would happen if and when greater than human intelligence is created either by building artificial intelligence or doing something expansive to our brains? I remember the movie ‘Forbidden Planet’ in 1956 when a character takes the Krell mind boost. I made my 25 year old son watch that movie a few months ago then coincidentally, a few weeks later, at Hayden Planetarium, Dr. Michio Kaku tells us that ‘Forbidden Planet’ was his favorite movie growing up; a redemption for dad. Today technological advances move forward at an ever increasing rate. What if the intelligence we create could create even greater intelligence; prospects are hugely scary and remind me of ‘2001’ and ‘HAL,” the nasty computer. I never liked its voice; like an old science teacher back in Newark who gave me a ‘C.’ Aw hell, it was ‘D.’ This event was called Singularity by author and computer scientist, Vernor Vinge.

Singularity is Near

Singularity Summit auditorium t minus five

Ray Kurzweil (go Google him, he’s too amazing to even begin to blog about) has pioneered singularity concepts. One of his books, The Singularity Is Near was published in 2005 and is a movie. http://www.singularity.com/themovie/index.php

The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence is dedicated “to research and rational deliberation on the future of humanity and in particular the promise and perils of advanced artificial intelligence.” Hey, don’t forget IBM’s ‘Watson’ computer beat Ken Jennings on Jeopardy earlier this year. Ken Jennings was the last speaker on Sunday; funny guy; smart too.

watson playing jeopardy

Ray Kurzweil and me. Notice I made this pix bigger.

The Singularity Summit is in its sixth year casting a hopeful but cautious eye on the latest developments in science and technology and what portends for future of intelligence and therefore all of us, the human league family. If you’ve been reading my blog the past 20 months, you’ll remember I’m an environmentalist who doesn’t hold much earthly hope down the road. This year alone, I apologized to my son several times for what we’re environmentally leaving his generation. “Do you mean Dad, out of your guilt that I don’t have to pay my monthly phone bill anymore?” But for the first time in a decade, after spending two days at Singularity Summit, I’m not doom and environmental gloom. Wow, there’s amazing things coming. Maybe living forever, measuring consciousness, doubling earth’s agricultural output and three dimensional computing.(soon) Christof Koch (PhD. Biophysics) talked about measuring our consciousness (phi) with an equation. In the lobby, he said that one day we’ll even be able to see your dreams too; I thought a whole new field of law, “He dreamt, she dreamt.”

One scientist told me global warming will melt the polar ice caps so we’ll have plenty of water. But from a high placed oil company executive, a month ago, he said in confidence to a cousin, there’s plenty of oil but I’d start worrying about water; mixologist messages? Singularity Summit, at the 92nd StreetY, had about 600 attendees from all over the globe, mostly scientists, technologists, business people, press and me, representing OUR TOWN newspaper; I think the only journalist from New Jersey media. A block away from the Y, I crossed the street at Third Avenue and 92nd. A manhole cover prominently displayed ‘Made in India.’ Is this globalization? It must’ve cost a fortune to ship those heavy objects. There were 24 speakers; all major global intellects.

comic con characters

neal adams art work

Now hear this. The day before Singularity Summit, I went to Comic Con, NYC at Javits convention center for a complete roll me away reversal. Comic Con is also a mind expansive journey through the world of imagination and comics such that 100,000 show up, some dressed to kill, to explore their world of characters, gaming, pulp and plots. My son has me going for years and I love it; why not, I got a photo-op with ‘Snow White’ and r2d2 (I had to drop to my knees to meet him eye to eye).

a neat booth at comic con

r2d2 and me

Reflecting back on the past weekend, I wonder how many of the 101,000 visitors to both Singularity Summit and Comic Con mixed the two events as I did. Perhaps it’s one of those volatile mixtures like drinking and driving or tranquilizers. I’d like to think I’m one in 101,000. So I made it to both events last weekend; throw in a really great blues band (Slim Chance and The Gamblers in Aberdeen, NJ) late on Saturday night and I was a tad tired to write yesterday. A friend recently asked why I always run around; perhaps it’s partly posturing myself to feel the rays of the warm sun on my face which means staying alive by throwing as much into the old cortex as I can; perhaps it’s a Ponce De Leon thing; staying young and vital, stretching mind and body; perhaps it’s a cerebral maintenance thing much like an oil change for your car. Anti-aging phenomenon Aubrey de Grey said that over the weekend. I spoke to him briefly at Singularity.

You tube: Aubrey de Grey, “why we age and how we can avoid it.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iYpxRXlboQ

grant alter and derek ruiz

Back to chronological events. Comic Con was eye-opening. I ran around with a camera, jumping next to famous or infamous characters for photo-ops, marveling at Marvel Comic’s booth, observing really far out costumes; imagine one masculine soul having the fortitude/anatomy to run around in just under shorts. I did observe subtle changes in attendee demographics over the years, from hard core comic followers, escaping into its wondrous world of limitless imagination to something akin to mainstream Docker Polo folks just wanting to see ‘What’s it all about Alfie?’ Highlights included my first real interview as a reporter with Grant Alter, an accomplished writer from St. Louis who is adapting Richelle Mead’s ‘Storm Born’ comic; he’s also at Comic Con to promote his book. He’s a big proponent of Facebook for writers to network while artists still need websites. I agree with his Facebook contention. Soon he’ll be on his way to Wizard World in Austin. I invited myself; anything to get back to Texas. When I was in Austin last summer, in the capital building, taking an elevator (no men in hats to open doors) a civilian walks in wearing a holster and a real gun. You could cut my silence. Later I asked a Texas state trooper about the guy in a cowboy hat wearing a real gun, roaming around the capital building. “As long as it’s not concealed,” he said. I wondered if New Jersey would ever get there. You can’t sneeze in Trenton without; I humored myself.

michael shermer(skeptic magazine) and jason silva(imagination foundation)

So much went down at Singularity Summit. You know what, go to the website and check it out. In a week they’ll have podcasts of lectures etc.

http://www.singularitysummit.com/

If I had to capsule some self relevant highlights:

I’m always blogging about living to 150 years. Sonia Arrison, a futurist at the Pacific Research Institute in San Francisco, Calif., said that by engaging end-of-life diseases like cancer, medical advances could nearly double human life expectancy to 150 years; do I ever feel vindicated. I met David Brin (PhD in physics and NY Times best selling author) at the coffee pot. In a passing remark during his question/answer segment, he said he’d like to see someone fund another clock, set up next to the National Debt clock showing what our debt would be if we charged royalties for satellite communications, the internet and pharmaceutical research. We chatted later. I told of my recurring futuristic colorized dream when I’m wearing a white toga, waiting in line for a cup of water and cracker then I’m sitting in a vast cathedral in 2050, thousands of people are all there wearing blue vests with the words, “How can I help you?” We laughed.

Jason Silva positively electrified with unbridled energetic imagination. “We need to give people goose bumps.” And what has to go down as a personal top ten event, Jason Silva asked to interview me. Funny thing as I observed, in addition to our physically seeing eye to eye, we’re ‘together’ on spreading the Singularity word. I had an epiphany just that morning, half-way through the lonely Lincoln Tunnel, that my place in the world of Singularity, as a growing media person, is to imaginatively illuminate youth. “I can do that. I still play beer pong. I relate to them. That’s what I’ll take back from this Summit; spreading the word.”

Check out this 2 minute video with Jason Silva (Imaginary Foundation)

¨http://www.vimeo.com/29938326

(ferrucci and cerruti from ibm)

IBM scientists David Ferrucci and Dan Cerutti told how they watched Ken Jennings win 74 times in a row on Jeopardy and thought how neat to make a computer to beat him; the birth of ‘Watson.’ They envision one of the early uses of ‘Watson’ is in the medical field. Wait until the insurance companies get this machine instead of a doctor (hint). Stephen Badylak told it’s possible to re-grow muscles in humans and better yet, someday treating stroke patients by regenerating pieces of the functioning human brain. Peter Theil, inventor of PayPal, would like us mainstream folks not to distrust or be uneasy with technology; look at Steve Jobs and how he deposited new technology in our laps. And fasten your seat belts; it’s going to be a wild ride. Dimitry Itskov(‘Russia 2045’) has rather bold ‘where no man has gone before’ plans to create a human like avatar entity, transplanting a human brain into a new body in 15 years, and putting consciousness in hologram-like bodies in 35 years. Somewhere over the rainbow, I remember an Arnold Schwarznegger film (‘Total Recall’) and Baron Von Frankenstein yelling in my ear, “It’s alive!” I paid 25 cents back in the day to see that movie at the Park Theatre. A heavy scientific conference usually connotes unapproachable; Alexander Wissner-Gross(PhD Physics Harvard, triple major from MIT where he is a research affiliate in Media Lab) and I sat in an nearly empty press room talking anti-aging and beer keg stand youth-bonding which I explained in my Jersey accent. He turned me on to a recent article on the potential of curing diabetes with a starvation diet.

ray kurzweil at press conference

And I didn’t understand everything. Stephen Wolfram made me feel like an amoeba on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Asbury Park. He would like to make as much of the world’s knowledge as possible, computable and accessible. I did understand when he said that he’s got data on every keystroke that he’s typed for the last 20 years. “Lions and tigers, oh my,” I thought sitting in the balcony, momentarily checking Facebook messages on my Steve Jobs technology birthday gift for being an advanced senior citizen. But as I thought to myself in silence of the balcony, if I’m living to 150, then I’m not even at mid-life and no where near being a senior citizen. Hey, social security cost of living increase is up around 3% to $39 extra a month. Ken Jennings was bothered by losing to ‘Watson.’ It had to do with sense of self, dehumanization, being threatened but still left him with a sense of wonder. In closing, Ken Jennings said that when he was at IBM and preparing to take on ‘Watson’ for Jeopardy, he thought being there, “was an away game for humanity.” Perhaps.

ken jennings and dileep george

I just lifted glasses off my head. I hear Walter Cronkite saying, “And that’s the way it is.” There was never enough time for him to cover the news each night in the 22 minutes CBS gave him. And not enough time for me to blog about being a kid last weekend on Christmas morning about to open a myriad of presents. I was a kid at Singularity; wanting to shove(open) as much as I could into my growing neo cortex and meet as many scientists and personalities as I could. I did it. I really did it. The day before, I was at Comic Con. I really did that. And I really think I was the only person (and Jersey journalist) left in the world who did both Comic Con and Singularity Summit. What does it all mean? I thought about that sitting on my favorite Jersey Transit train contemplating smoke stacks and small sail boats in Raritan Bay, thinking about next summer dreams and sojourns. What does it all mean? I just thought that again sitting here at keyboard. I am getting younger with a lot of roads to travel and no rocking chairs (even if they’re on sale) in my future. Singularity has given me a mission to share and a jolt to my imagination and yes Virginia, there is a future Santa Claus.

1947 Santa Claus at Bambergers

CONTACT INFORMATION

website:

http://vichywater.net/

Facebook: Cal Schwartz

Twitter: Earthood

book trailer. hey its 65 seconds long

IMPORTANT LINKS:

ARE you in search of another blog that is also outspoken, unique BUT refreshingly, topically unbridled which means uninhibited ???? Meet LINDA CHORNEY:

http://lindachorney.wordpress.com/

If on Facebook check out this NJ Discover site:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000125711074

OR www.njdiscover.com

August 2011. Guest on Alicia Cramer Show (podcast) “Thin Healthy Happy” :

http://wausauhypnotherapy.podbean.com/2011/08/02/calvin-barry-schwartz-interview-on-living-life/

Immortality Institute (which represents advocacy and research for unlimited lifespan)

http://www.imminst.org/

Comments (4)

October 10, 2011

A Day in the Life at Asbury Park. Pulp Non-Fiction. Jobs Bill, Steve Jobs: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” Consumer Update. SINGULARITY SUMMIT, NYC. October 11, 2011

Filed under: November 2009 — Tags: a, beefeater, of, pictures — earthood @ 11:36 pm

Asbury Park. When I was a kid, President Eisenhower had difficulties with the ninth hole(golf) and a few foreign policy issues, the Everly Brothers sang ‘Bye Bye Love’ and my parents rented a bungalow in Belmar on Seventh Avenue for August. When my father came for weekends, we’d go to nearby Asbury Park for boardwalk rides, Kohr’s Custard and wide-eyed dreams emanating beyond ocean’s horizon.

Custard evolved from an old original recipe that added eggs to the mixture to stiffen the product because their stores were located near the salt air ocean which tended to melt it quicker. Then I went away to college. Then I got married for a first time and Asbury Park somehow faded from sensibility. The city’s new building construction projects seemed to stop on the third floor; concrete skeletons endured for decades. Then Springsteen sprinkled magic. Then another viable Fifteenth century Renaissance; Asbury Park is now a Parisienne center (the left bank is the Atlantic Ocean) of music, art, boutique food and just plain chic stuff. Last Wednesday, I spent the day in Asbury Park stumbling around; the day could’ve been the sunniest, most perfectly blue sky day since September 8, 1934, when the S.S. Morro Castle, on the way from Havana(pre Castro) to New York, caught fire, burned and killed 137 people off the coast of Asbury Park.

S.S. Morro Castle after the fire. It was beached in Asbury Park

new vintage tee shirts for sale

I found a plaque near Convention Hall commemorating the disaster. Here’s my deal. Something had come over me this day. A week later, now as I write this, I still feel a sense of abandon and loneliness. As often mentioned in my blogs, I adore the word ‘something.’

Last Wednesday was a random day; free of purpose, filling my nostrils with magic ocean air; I wandered and roamed with a strange sense of abandoned sadness; my photographic experience was filled with desolation and solitude. In the distance the boardwalk seemed to end near the blue sky and awfully dark blue ocean. One lone person approached me. I waited for his passage and moved on. Convention Hall was open but wondrously empty.

boardwalk abandon. someone approaches in distance.

Just me and a few strange signs; ‘Open all Year. Closed’ and in front of a surreal cafe (no people whatsoever), a dozen empty ‘outside’ tables with a pastel sign, ‘ Please Wait to be Seated.’ Back on the lonely boardwalk, I saw a pigeon about to walk into an outdoor restaurant. The sun passed through a wrought iron fence and cast a strange shadow on the pigeon’s body. “Jonathan Livingston Pigeon, I presume?” I called out; no aviary answer. Pink web feet helped it scamper under an empty table that in season served ‘world famous lobster rolls’ and sausage and pepper sandwiches.’

I love materializing; an antique shop, ‘Flying Saucers’ sells empty boxes of mothballs, ‘Two Guys’ stores tee shirts and ‘Schaefer Beer’ trays; Heaven Art Gallery had an amazing showing of ‘Jersey Shore: Images from Sandy Hook to Island Beach.’ Artist Michael Miller was featured. I spent an hour absorbing. A few feet further down on Cookman Avenue was ‘Paranormal Book and Curiosities.’ The owner told me about the Zombie Parade in Asbury Park on October 22nd. I told the owner about my meeting George Miller, a ghost from a west Jersey eyeglass store, who once jumped into my cell phone. I have witnesses. Can you imagine 4000 zombies? Of course I’m a Zombie non-believer and will probably wear jeans and a Rutgers cap when I absorb the sunset festivities.

jonathan livingston pigeon on boardwalk.

infant boardwalk tumbleweeds

Suddenly I was in a Texas town, Anarene, a real ghost town but is the subject of the movie and book, ‘Last Picture Show.’ Black and white sage brush was blowing across a dirt street. A pool hall screen door swings open and closed in relentless wind. I looked down at my feet, firmly fastened on the Asbury Park boardwalk; infant sagebrush blew around my feet. Where did it come from? This is Jersey. How fitting and proper in my sadness to see ‘stumble’ weeds on a deserted boardwalk. A few yards away, ‘Obey Records’ had several vintage 60’s billboards on top of a sealed building that served as a brewery (just my imagination) during the high times of the Volstead Act (prohibition).

steve jobs

Two hours later, I was home, loading my pictures into a computer. On a distant den television, CNN announced Steve Jobs had passed and I knew why strange sadness surrounded me all day with ‘palpable’ that I couldn’t explain whilst in Asbury Park. It’s not for me to memorialize Steve Jobs; the media can do that. But I think how empty and helpless I still feel; how such an amazing man with $ 8 billion can not change the rules; we’re all in a line waiting for earthy popcorn and orange juice. Weeks ago, I wrote several blogs about Somalia; millions of people starving and dying. Millions of people mourned Steve Jobs’ passing including me too. I listened to his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford five times already; I memorized the ending:

‎”Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” -Steve Jobs

One more thought about jobs. The federal Jobs Bill. If you can put people back to work, then just pass the bill; put politics aside. Same rational thought; if there is the slightest doubt about innocence or guilt, then you never execute (dedicated to the state of Georgia,USA)

pulp fiction jules and vincent

In my never ending pursuit of fatherly bonding, beer pong fantasy teams and enjoying the company of my 25 year old son, said prodigal son came home for the weekend and asked me to watch ‘Pulp Fiction’ with him on Friday night. I’d seen bits and pieces; my son, in classic Siskel and Ebert format, narrated me through poignancy, relevancy and Quentin Tarantino genius. So now I love the movie, dialogue, craftsmanship, style and will surely see it again if only to figure out what was in the brief case. In the molecular rearrangement I’ve made since Friday night lights and action, maybe this is a good time to espouse some pulp non-fiction things which concern me. On a car trip my son and I took together over the weekend, I asked if we had started to sound like Jules and Vincent. He hesitated and half shook his head in agreement. And then I said to my son, “I still haven’t memorized the passage from Ezekiel 25:17.” He laughed and told me not to bother. I asked, “Wouldn’t that help our father-son bonding if I impressed you that way?” “No Dad.” I love when he calls me ‘Dad.’

occupy wall street

Then I suggested to him at the third traffic light in a row that I caught, “Would you be proud of me if I went to the Occupy Rally on Wall Street, perhaps wearing that old ‘Lehman Brothers’ tee shirt.” He laughed and said it’s just like me to do something foolish like that. And I felt good about him calling me foolish. I always aspire to be that no matter what; after all, “Stay Foolish” was the last two words Steve Jobs said to the Stanford students. I’ve been on a foolish quest for a long time. I think it’s an intrinsic ingredient to living to 150 years anyway.

So more pulp non fiction; a good friend and surgeon tells me how insurance companies are quietly, under the cover of darkness, trying to lobby lawmakers to change the rules regarding ancillary medical personnel (secretaries, window washers?) being allowed to administer Propofol (the stuff that killed Michael Jackson) during an operation because it is such a wonderfully safe anesthetic that leaves the body so fast and is relatively risk free; 50,000 procedures and not one problem. And I asked, “Why would insurance companies trespass on the way you perform operations and treat patients?” And before he answered me, I said, “Ah ha, the insurance companies, like car and drug companies that don’t recall things in a timely fashion, want to save money by not using/paying for the anesthesiologist.” He smiled sardonically.

Finally, one more bit of pulp non-fiction. Out of the clear blue infinitesimal realm of the synchronistic universe, which I’ve been travelling through for the last several decades, I got a letter from Harvard Medical School over the past weekend that saw Rutgers University football upset Pittsburgh34 to 10. The letter was an invitation to participate in a blind supplement study for five years regarding fish oil and Vitamin D. So the world it seems is Vitamin D deficient because we’re all sitting inside at computer screens and bathing in sunscreens while the sun helps us synthesize D. For no cash compensation, do I want to take a chance and pull myself off these supplements I’ve been taking for the last 40 years with the hope I’m not the fickle finger of fate with a five year placebo? Moments ago, Diane Sawyer reported on ABC World News about the results of a multi year study of women and supplements; they may not help but actually may hurt up to 3.8%.(iron) Only calcium helps. By the way, that letter is now on my old fashioned bulletin board, hanging next to a picture of Walt Frazier, Ron Jaworski and me. I do get around. I’d like to know how big brother knew I love taking supplements on my 150 year journey. Did a blogger or Facebook give me away?

A quick word about consumerism: Last week I went to CVS drug store to buy a bottle of Lipo-flavonoid Plus supplement ($32.99). A few days later, I forgot that I have an account with Amazon and looked it up. This is not a commercial. Amazon sells it for $23.61 and no shipping charge. Then I looked up Hyaluronic acid which I buy from a national vitamin chain ($22.99). Amazon sells for $13.21 with shipping. But the national vitamin store chain made me a VIP customer and I get a free health magazine every few months.

Finally, I’m standing outside this huge green door that rises up two stories from the good earth. On tip toes, I reach for a door knocker and bang the drum slowly for a minute. A small portal opens and a man with a huge handlebar moustache asks my business. I exclaimed, “I’m here for help, to see the smart man. I think you call him a wizard.” There’s silence. Again I ask for help. The door opens slowly; surprisingly squeaky too. I’m led down a long hallway by that man who’s wearing a Beefeater uniform.

beefeater at the door to greet me

More doors open. Meanwhile, a small circle in the palm of my hand started glowing ghastly green. Now I’m standing in a great room with tables and wooden stools. White cloths, dishes, wine glasses and plastic dinnerware tell me I’m in an adult dining room. In front of a makeshift stage, I see a long table with chafing dishes warmed by gas jets. Then I remembered the Jets just lost to New England. Then I snapped out of resignation. Did Cher slap my face too? The Beefeater guy points to a robust tall man with a ladle stirring something in a pot. “Go talk to Rex,” he said. I walk over. Rex asks if I’d like some split pea soup with or without croutons. I decline. “I need advice. A lot of heavy personal things; you know, crossroads stuff.” Then he whispered, “With or without croutons? And the soup is not greasy.” So I yelled, “Stop with the soup!” I’ve been waiting to use that line for a long time. Holding the ladle menacingly, Rex said, “Try it with the croutons. And the crossroads stuff. When you get to a fork in the road, take it.” I said, “That’s a foolish answer.” He smiled. “Isn’t that what you’re about? Staying foolish.” And I said, “Thanks for being incisive.” I turned around as all the doors opened. A football team rushed to the buffet line. When I turned back around, my new wise friend, who just might be the king, was gone; ladle was still on table.

Now new business: Here’s information and links re: Singularity Summit. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll finally be in OZ after a long winding yellow brick road.

http://www.singularitysummit.com/program

Singularity Summit Explores Ground-Breaking Technologies, Features IBM’s Watson’s Computer and Record-Breaking Jeopardy! Winner

What is the future of artificial intelligence?

New York,NY(PRWEB) September 20, 2011

Over 700 scientists, engineers, businesspeople, and technologists for this year’s Singularity Summit – the world’s leading conference on emerging technologies. The event will be held October 15 & 16 at 92Y inNew York.

The Summit will explore “big picture” questions such as the direction of the global economy, philosophy of mind, and the ethics of technological development. Twenty-five speakers will present including two professors of robotics, financial experts, a co-founder of Skype, a pioneer in regenerative medicine, scientists from the MIT Media Lab, a longevity expert, economist Tyler Cowen, cosmologist Max Tegmark, neuroscientist Christ of Koch, and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.

The recent victory of IBM’s Watson supercomputer on the game show Jeopardy! will be the central theme of discussion, with a keynote by Jeopardy contestant and 74-time winner Ken Jennings.

Jennings surprised audiences around the world in 2004 when he won 74 continuous Jeopardy! matches, winning over $2,500,000 on a six-month streak. In February, Jennings went up against Watson in on a special exhibition match of Jeopardy! and lost. In his keynote at Singularity Summit, Jennings will recount his experience on Jeopardy! and what it felt like to lose to a machine on the game show he otherwise dominated.

Ray Kurzweil, futurist and inventor, will be speak on the implications of the Watson victory. Dan Cerutti, who manages the commercialization of Watson at IBM, will speak on applying Watson to fields besides Jeopardy!, such as medicine. Stephen Wolfram, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, will speak on computation and the future of humanity.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

website:

http://vichywater.net/

Facebook: Cal Schwartz

Twitter: Earthood

book trailer. hey its 65 seconds long

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Immortality Institute (which represents advocacy and research for unlimited lifespan)

http://www.imminst.org/

August 2011. Guest on Alicia Cramer Show (podcast) “Thin Healthy Happy” :

http://wausauhypnotherapy.podbean.com/2011/08/02/calvin-barry-schwartz-interview-on-living-life/

ARE you in search of another blog that is also outspoken, unique BUT unbridled which means uninhibited ???? Meet LINDA CHORNEY:

http://lindachorney.wordpress.com/

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Vichy Water – Author's Blog Just another WordPress weblog

November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving. John Dean(The Watergate Guy). An Amazing Asbury Park Jazz Concert. No More Wire Hangars and No More BPA (lining of canned foods) A Bruce Springsteen Book Review. “The Light In Darkness.” Occupy Class Distinction? November 24, 2011

November 13, 2011

A Late Blog Explanation. New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Veterans Day Ceremony) A Menu for the Ages. Penn State. Living to 150 Years (Pomegranate Juice) November 13, 2011

October 30, 2011

Singularity Frustrations and Seven Layer Cake. A NJ Beach Cleanup (Part Living to 150?). Asbury Park Annual Zombie Walk.(5000 Zombies). Love Marriage Carriage. October 30, 2011

October 19, 2011

SINGULARITY SUMMIT NYC Oct 15, 16. Comic Con NYC. Oct 14(Grant Alter Interview). Manhole Covers in NYC. I Met r2d2. ‘Watson’ the Computer. October 19, 2011

October 10, 2011

A Day in the Life at Asbury Park. Pulp Non-Fiction. Jobs Bill, Steve Jobs: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” Consumer Update. SINGULARITY SUMMIT, NYC. October 11, 2011

Singularity Summit Explores Ground-Breaking Technologies, Features IBM’s Watson’s Computer and Record-Breaking Jeopardy! Winner

What is the future of artificial intelligence?