The Government, Music as a Medicine, and Schools

This post has nothing to do with the government shutdown. The shutdown will either happen or not happen. The shutdown will also pass in the short term. What this post is about is the medical benefits of music, how music could disappear and how the government is involved. What has inspired me to write this blog was the Mickey Hart visit with the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus along with Dr. Adam Gazzaley. 

I first became aware of Mickey Hart by his percussion and drumming for the Grateful Dead. I gained even more respect for Mickey Hart by reading his book Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey into the Spirit of Percussion. I am not familiar with Dr. Gazzaley but I am sure he has some great credentials. Below is a bit about Mickey from last year. It is a bit far out, about the cosmos, vibrations and the healing powers.

So obviously the government is aware of the healing powers of music. However schools are constantly taking music (and other arts) out of the curriculum. I wonder if this trend continues if we will lose music and it's healing powers. It is almost like finding a miracle cure in an endangered species. We need the possibilities, we need the medical advancements, and we need the music.

I'll leave you with one final video..

Times Up Lane Kiffin

When does a 62-41 loss sting more for a head coach? When you get fired after the game. It could be karma for the coach who jetted the Tennessee Volunteers after one season. However, the truth is big time programs in college football have big expectations and simply put Lane's teams did not meet them.

In parts of four season with the University of Southern California Trojans Kiffen has a respectable 28-15 record. However losing 7 out of your last 11 games is not good. Starting your conference season 0-2 is not great either. Last season the Trojans were a preseason number one team they finished unranked.

Lane Kiffin will probably coach again, he is young, and he has some experience. Is he a good coach? I don't know. Perhaps he turns his players into great men which would indicate he is an incredible coach. What I have observe is he isn't a loyal coach (Tennessee) and he didn't get the job done at USC. Maybe he will be a bit humble. If a school takes a chance to hire him will he stay loyal or will he jet as soon as a more appealing opportunity comes about? Can't really blame him for jumping ships soon, I mean schools don't have loyalty to coaches either. But I am sure that is a question schools interested in Kiffin will be asking.

He could be an entertaining coach if he gets another chance. If he could stick around a place and have a bit of success. There are a lot of could, maybes and questions around Kiffin I hope he finds answers.

fantasy football finally a win

After losing in week one and two my fantasy football team finally won. In a 12 team league I sit in eighth which is better than the cellar. Ironic as it I have the most points in the league. That is great for tiebreakers. However in match ups it is all about when you get the points. If I win this week I will be back in the hunt.I thought for a while I was becoming the Jaguars of my fantasy league.

Happy Birthday to four Greats

Roy Buchanan, John Coltrane, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen all share today as there birthday! A guitar master, a jazz legend, a musical icon and rocker! 

Roy Buchanan was a guitar wizard..enjoy

John Coltrane..Blue Train

Ray Charles..

and the Boss, Bruce Springsteen

It is rare when four greats have their birthday on the same day so enjoy!

Jimi Hendrix

43 years ago Jimi Hendrix died too soon. He probably died of rock star excess or trying to deal with rock star stress. I say probably because there are other theories out there on his death. Regardless how we died most people would agree 27 is to young.

If you think Jimi Hendrix is just an electric guitar player or you have never heard him play the blues the video below is for you...

When I blog to mark an artist death or mark their birthday I want to celebrate their musical legacy. I really like his version of this song..

Guitar fans always like jams like this,,,

I appreciate his lyrics as well as his guitar playing...

This brought it home at Woodstock,,

Hendrix is missed, appreciated and not forgotten

Fishing

I am in the mist of changing locations. A lot of my future is unknown. My blog entries have become fewer. Simply put my life is going through a duller point. However, today was a good day. After work I was able to watch the sunset from here..



Yes the darkness and lightning did come much to fast. However, I did get to enjoy the sunset and caught half a dozen fish. Including my first red fish, it was a pretty little fish..




The rest were croakers, this was the smallest one I caught but he was my first fish today..



Thankfully the fish became larger. I let them all go and since I ran out of daylight I provided them with extra shrimp dinners. For me it is about the excitement of catching something, the beautiful scenery, and the peace of mind.

Friday the 13th

I did not need to check the date to know today was Friday the 13th. I am not generally a superstitious person.

However, Friday the 13th is not the best day to decide to move across town. While I was getting ready for work and packing up I managed to lock myself out. Being kind I waited a half an hour so I knew everyone would be awake before  ringing the door knob. Waiting was my only option since I was blocked in. In the end I had to rush to work with all the stress of rushing to work.

In the end it all worked out. I moved into my new temporary home and stayed put. No long road trip. No checking out the area. Just an uneventful night.

10 Years without Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash passed away on September 12, 2013. I have heard many musicians cover Johnny Cash since his death.Some you would expect but many have been surprises.Cash influenced so many musicians and his influence crossed many lines of musical genres. 

Of course Johnny could pull off a cover,even if the band was Nine Inch Nails...

 

His originals stand the test of time..

Books, movies, and musicians have all added to the legacy of the man in black,,

Cash will be remembered for years to come.