Her first rebellion was to give me modern education in a Catholic school. She saw education as a way to broaden our minds, not to bring home glorious report cards. Fortunately, my father shared the sentiment and instilled in me an appreciation of everything artistic. He was extremely proud that he had gone to the Oriental Seminary, the school Tagore went to till about standard five.

Then followed stories of others who created modern Bengal which placed its values on education, knowledge and spiritual upliftment. I remember my parents pointing out the then dilapidated home of Narendra Nath Dutta, (we stayed close by), who the world came to know as Swami Vivekananda. This introduction to learning, education, culture, spirituality is what creates our inability to accept what is happening today in our nation.

As we grew older, the stories of Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Rani Laxmibai, Shivaji, along the Subhas Bose, introduced us to national pride. A pan-India feeling became a part of our childhood learning. This was also our introduction to politics. Rishi Aurobindo stirred something inside us. History was stories of Sikh valour against the Mughals. From Mark Twain to Tagore, from Bibhuti Bhusan to Bernard Shaw was the sweep of our literature.

Children in Bengal then were brought up on a diet of Rabindranath Tagore (Sahaj Path), Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Barno Parichoy) and Satyajit Ray (Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen & Felu da).

Read the rest here:
Candid Confession: The fault lies with our parents - National Herald

Editors note: Published on August 16, 1945,C. S. LewissThat Hideous Strengthis a dystopian novel that eerily reflects the realities of 2020, putting into a memorable fictional form ideas expressed in Lewiss non-fiction work, The Abolition of Man. To mark the former books three-quarter century anniversary,Evolution Newspresents a series of essays, reflections, and videos about its themes and legacy.

James A. Herrick is the Guy Vander Jagt Professor of Communication at Hope College in Holland, MI. His books include The Making of the New Spirituality: The Eclipse of the Western Religious Tradition.

This post is adapted from Chapter 10 ofThe Magicians Twin: C. S. Lewis on Science, Scientism, and Society, edited by John G. West.

[Professor Filostrato:] The work is more important than you can yet understand. You will see.

We are at the start of something quite new in the scheme of things.

Professor Julian Savulescu is the head of the Uehiro Center for Practical Ethics at Oxford University and a leading proponent of human enhancement, the school of thought that promotes the progressive use of biotechnologies to improve human intellect, moral reasoning, and other traits such as physical strength. Savulescu has argued that deep moral flaws and destructive behaviors point indisputably to the need to employ technology and education to change human nature; either we take this path or we face extinction as a species.

In Savulescus view, rapidly advancing brain science will provide some of the data necessary to shaping a better human race: Once we understand the basis of human brain development, we will be able to augment normal brain development in a way that couldnt naturally occur. But smarter people are not necessarily better people, and so another key to better people is found in a deeper understanding of human biology. [T]here is reason to believe that even aggression is something that can be understood in terms of its biological underpinnings. A clue to human aggression is discovered in a mutation in the monoamine oxidase A gene, which in the presence of early social deprivation has been linked to criminal behavior in at least one study. Savulescu also notes that [w]eve been able to manipulate human moral behavior and cooperation through the administration of drugs, Prozac providing one prominent example. Other drugs have been shown to promote trust and willingness to take risks and recovery of trust after betrayal.

According to Savulescu, genetic treatments, improved pharmaceuticals, and moral education will hasten the emergence of a new and better human race. However, more is needed, including worldwide cooperation in a way that humans have never so far cooperated. We live in dangerous times, and greater dangers lie ahead. Weapons technology makes possible the annihilation of the human race. At the same time liberal democracy fails to promote any particular set of values or particular moral education as it seeks to guarantee maximum freedom. Why are personal freedoms a risk factor? The answer is found in a condition theologians might call fallen human nature: We have a human nature that is severely limited in terms of its origins and in terms of its capacity to respond to these new challenges. Human nature thus requires restraint, modification, or both. Our predicament is deep and complex: weapons of mass destruction, a fragmented political scene, excessive devotion to individual freedoms, and an unreliable nature.

Only aggressive research aimed at helping us to understand our moral limitations and the ways to overcome these will produce the scientifically grounded ethics needed to decide how we should reshape our nature. Employing a vivid analogy, Savulescu affirms that Western culture is entering a dangerous Bermuda Triangle with liberal democracy in the position of Miami, radical technological advance in the position of Bermuda, and human nature and its limitations in the position of Puerto Rico. To avoid entering this triangle will mean reducing one of our commitments to these points. It is neither likely nor desirable that we would restrain technology, so Bermuda remains on the map. Savulescu continues:

We could reduce our commitment to liberalism. We will, I believe, need to relax our commitment to maximum protection of privacy. Were already seeing an increase in the surveillance of individuals, and that surveillance will be necessary if were to avert the threats that those with anti-social personality disorders, psychopathic personality disorders, fanaticism represent through their access to radically enhanced technology.

So, liberal Miami is threatened and the dubious Puerto Rico of human nature is clearly targeted for radical change. Of the three points of the Savulescu Triangle only technological Bermuda is safe, a contemporary manifestation of Francis Bacons island of Bensalem.

Moral education founded on a new ethics is critical to the task of rescuing lost humanity. I believe that we should be promoting certain sets of values and engaging in moral education, says Savulescu. Tacking away from Miami will require reducing consumerism and accepting a lower standard of living. Political and economic austerity are also necessary. Well need to accept an ethics of restraint, and well need to adopt long-term strategies that go beyond a typical electoral term of three to five years. What Savulescu terms the very extreme adherence to liberalism that weve so far enjoyed may also have to go.

Of course, human nature will not quickly abandon a comfortable life for a new austerity. After all, we possess a set of dispositions that make us very ill-disposed to give up our standard of living, to collectively cooperate to solve the worlds global problems. Ultimate answers may lie not only in terms of our political institutions and the degree to which we curb our commitment to liberalism, but also inside ourselves. But, help is at hand because Bermuda survives: The genetic and scientific revolution that were a part of today represents a second great human enlightenment. We now possess the means of understanding the human condition, and we are moving toward an understanding of our nature as animals, of our dispositions to act, why some people will kill, why some people will give.

Stopping at nothing, we should adopt whatever strategies are most effective at protecting our future, which includes moral education, the inculcation of various values and ways of living are no doubt an important part of this. But the greatest obstacle to our survival and advancement is human nature itself; it must be changed. As impossible as such a transformation might seem to a layperson, Savulescu is hopeful. [I]t may be that as science progresses, we have at our fingertips the ability to change our nature. The power to transform humanity at the genetic level is in our hands, but its up to us to make a decision whether well use that power.3

This chapter compares certain warnings in C. S. Lewiss The Abolition of Man (1944) with recent arguments about our obligation to deploy biotechnologies to alter or enhance the human race. I begin with Julian Savulescu because he articulates clearly the values of a growing scientific and cultural phenomenon known as the human enhancement movement or Transhumanism. Not at this point a coordinated effort, human enhancement nonetheless represents the convergence of powerful cultural narratives, mind-boggling technological developments, and a progressive agenda with an improved humanity as its focus. Savulescus comments serve as an entry point for familiarizing ourselves with the goals and the reasoning of the human enhancement movement.

In order to understand Lewiss objectives in The Abolition of Man, particularly the most commented upon third lecture from which the book takes its title, it will be important to set the work in its historical context. To what specific threats was the great Christian apologist responding in the 1940s? Answering this question makes clear that Savulescu and other enhancement proponents did not invent the agenda they advocate. Todays proponents of biotechnological and ethical improvements to the human race write in a tradition that includes such intellectual luminaries as the eugenics theorist Francis Galton, playwright George Bernard Shaw, scientists such as J.B.S. Haldane and J. D. Bernal, and science fiction writers H. G. Wells and Olaf Stapledon, all figures with whom Lewis was quite familiar. A crucial historical development, however, separates todays advocates from their intellectual predecessors and from C. S. Lewis. No longer are technological alterations to the human constitution a matter of speculation only; they are now vigorously promoted scientific realities awaiting the political and cultural conditions that will allow their implementation.

In an almost uncanny fashion Savulescus comments reflect key elements of the educational, ethical, and scientific planning that Lewis was concerned to answer in The Abolition of Man as well as in his fictional work, That Hideous Strength (1945). Proposals by Savulescu and others who share his concerns thus provide an ideal opportunity for assessing the prophetic nature of Lewiss concerns about applied technology in the context of an ascendant Western science operating outside the limits of widespread traditional values Lewis dubbed the Tao.

Lewis employed the term scientism when discussing science characterized by principles and practices tending toward controlling rather than investigating nature. Science joined to modern ideologies also encouraged the kind of kind of centralized planning he targets in The Abolition of Man and elsewhere. Finally, this pivotal distinction between science and scientism, his derisive fictional portrayals of some though not all scientists, and provocative comments in letters and essays all raise the question of Lewiss attitude toward science and scientists. Examining The Abolition of Man in its historical context will provide help in answering this persistent question.

Lewiss arguments regarding technological modifications to human nature merit attention even urgent attention in an era in which human genetic structure may soon be shaped according to the moral vision of a relatively small group of decision-makers. Moreover, his suspicion of scientific planning cut free from traditional values needs to be understood in an age in which technology is advancing at an exponential rate while moral knowledge in the West is declining almost as precipitously.

Tomorrow: Why C. S. Lewis Wrote The Abolition of Man.

More:
The Abolition of Man and the Advent of the Posthuman - Discovery Institute

Old men are dangerous. It doesnt matter to them what is going to happen to the world. George Bernard Shaw

Theres an old guy spoiling for a fight in the small car park at the rear of the hardware store.

Hes glaring at me. Now hes shaking his head the way Robert de Niro does in the movies, the wrinkled corners of his mouth turned down in disgust.

As he watches me place a bag of groceries in the boot of my car he mutters something under his breath and you see his jaw clenching and eyes narrowing.

Whats the problem? I ask.

Hes shaking with anger. He stammers. And then all that bile and bitterness explodes.

This car park is only for people who use the hardware store, he growls.

I tell him Ive been to the hardware first and then went to buy some groceries. Sure you did, he says, rolling his eyes in disbelief.

Of course, I should politely smile and go.

I should dismiss him as just another grumpy old bugger whos been up all night cursing his stubborn prostate and now has nothing better to do on a Saturday morning than use some trivial issue to take out all his frustration and weariness on the rest of the world.

But his rolling eyes and sense of self-importance have lit a fuse and a surge of fury shoves me forward and now were standing toe to toe, fingers pointing, faces red, snarling and raging like two chained dogs straining to attack one another.

Me, bellowing: Mate, why dont you mind your own f business?

Him, spluttering, standing his ground: You can only use this car park if youre going to the f hardware store.

We stare at one another. And then, like two ageing gunslingers who no longer trust their fading eyesight or their trembling hands, we back away, slowly, warily.

The horror and anticipation in the faces of bystanders turns to relief and you suddenly realise how pathetic the whole thing looks; two old codgers at the point of ripping each other apart over a stupid piece of bitumen.

But we all know the dispute isnt about a car park. Its about an invisible enemy we know we cannot beat.

Theres a comfortable lie we tell ourselves that says life compensates you for what it takes away.

According to this wonderful fib, as our bodies deteriorate and our reactions slow, nature reimburses us with an accumulation of wisdom, insight and patience.

You only needed to be in that hardware car park or more likely glance in dismay at the coming US presidential election to know this notion of the Getting of Wisdom when it comes to men is a load of bollocks.

Donald Trump a mean, narcissistic 74-year-old driven by envy and greed is up against Joe Biden, a tottering, opaque, self-entitled member of the Washington political aristocracy who will soon turn 78.

If ever there was a year to declare this world no place for old men, surely it is now.

If Mr Biden wins and lives out his first term he will be 82.

By then another vain world leader, Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be 71, as will Chinese leader Xi Jinping, whose slavish fostering of his own personality cult now rivals Maos capacity for self-love.

Look at the current mess these old men have created.

Trump, Putin and Xi and a conga line of conservative Mini-Me followers like Brazils Jair Bolsonaro have combined ineptitude and a callous disregard for human life and turned the coronavirus into a global inferno that will now take years to extinguish.

They have taken the language of diplomacy and bludgeoned it to the point where their bombastic rhetoric now approaches levels not seen since the Cold War.

And all of them display the tell-tale signs of old men impatience, arrogance and an unwillingness to embrace new ideas.

Why would they? Old men are wedded to the past. Its a wonderful place where they covered themselves in glory and covered up their mistakes.

The future requires quick reflexes, adaptability and curiosity traits older men, if they ever had them, no longer possess.

Its an issue as relevant to business as politics.

Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch never saw the digital future coming and were slow so slow in understanding how it might undermine the empires they had spent a lifetime forging.

Compared to the literature on female menopause, medicine does not boast the depth or complexity of research when it comes to explaining why ageing men become grumpier.

But it does tell us that one of the culprits behind Irritable Male Syndrome is testosterone the hormone that once stoked a mans sexual desire, hardened his muscles, reduced his body fat and made his energy levels soar.

The betrayal begins when a man enters his mid-40s. Testosterone levels begin falling and by the age of 60 are plummeting. This can cause a chemical imbalance that often leads to sudden mood swings and outbursts of anger and irritability.

Now lets compound the problem with a massive rise in the use of prescription statins drugs that lower cholesterol levels to prevent strokes and heart attacks, but which can also affect serotonin levels, creating sleep problems and fuelling aggressive behaviour.

Throw in some important psychological issues a decline in libido, a decaying body that creaks and groans like an old farm truck and the knowledge that your best can only be viewed in the rear-view mirror and you understand why angry old men crowd the world stage.

And your hardware store car park.

So when the hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine is finally over, can we search for one for grumpy old men?

Because if we are going to create a new world when this pandemic is over, the last thing we need is a bunch of greying men stubbornly clinging to the old one.

Garry Linnell was director of News and Current Affairs for the Nine network in the mid-2000s. He has also been editorial director for Fairfax and is a former editor ofThe Daily TelegraphandThe Bulletinmagazine

Read the original post:
Garry Linnell: Angry old men rule, and are ruining, the world - The New Daily

If you'd like to use this rainy Friday energy to shape your weekend, there are lots of virtual happenings you can enjoy while staying cozy at home. If not, there are options for socially distant outdoor things, too. We've rounded them all up below, from Hugo House's Strange Appetites with Karen Russell, Tara Conklin, and Tyehimba Jess to the first weekend of Mountainview Blueberry Farm's Berries & Blooms sunflower and blueberry U-Pick, and from Radical Women Seattle's Women's Rights Day Celebration to Hot Tub Boats' virtual Lake Union Summer Smash with acts like Razor Clam and Beverly Crusher. For even more options, check out our guides to movies to stream this weekend, our complete streaming events and protests & resistance calendars, and our guides to outdoor and socially distanced things to do this summer and anti-racism resources and events.

Marcus Green & Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez Local journalist Marcus Green and Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez will discuss the retirement of Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, the recent City Council vote to cut SPD's budget, and other actions being taken to "re-imagine" policing in Seattle.

Solitude Social Club Hugo House's bookish happy hour gives the digital floor to guest writers every Friday evening. This week, tune in to hear how author Matthew Salesses (The Hundred-Year Flood) is finding happiness and meaning through literature during this period of isolation.

Fellini's '8 1/2' Virtual Viewing Party Watching Fellini's seminal 1963 film 8over a feast of Italian food and wine is the right thing to do. This meal kit from Stoneburner (which you can order and pick up the day of the event) comes with everything you need to make your own pasta and pizza at home, plus your choice of wine and the provisions for a "Nino Spritz" cocktail. A screener link will be sent to you when you order.

Indigenous Drive-In Movies: 'Coco' Seattle's Indigenous Showcase will co-host this outdoor screening of Pixar's wonderfulCoco, about a boy who crosses over to the Land of the Dead, where he learns lessons aboutmortality, his Mexican ancestry, and memories. Skyline Drive-In Theatre

Pike Place Market Dine & Donate Pike Place Market turns 113 years old this month! The occasion is usually marked by Sunset Supper, where over 100 local restaurants, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and other market vendors commune on the cobblestones as the sun goes down. But since it's postponed until next year, make a pledge to dine at a participating restaurant (like Caf Campagne, Matts in the Market, orPikes Pit Bar-B-Que) and donate to the Power of Pike Place Recovery Fund.

HDLSC Presents: DATENITE Get into some moody synth-pop with DATENITE, coming at you live from High Dive's virtual stage.

Kremwerk x Budget Cuts Livestream Descend into the dark web with electronic music collective Budget Collective at this virtual Kremwerk takeover.

Live from the Rooftop: A Virtual Concert Bridge Music Project musicians will entertain you live from the roof of the Washington Center for Performing Arts, but you don't have to worry about keeping your distance from othersthis virtual concert can be enjoyed from your own living room.

The Clockwork Professor by Maggie Lee Theatre Off JacksonandPork Filled Productions will revive Maggie Lee's steampunk adventure The Clockwork Professor for this livestreamed performance. Lee and director Amy Poisson will come onto your screen after the show for a Q&A.

Seattle March for the Dead The Washington Poor People's Campaign will host this march and vigil for those who have died or are at risk of dying of COVID-19a disproportionate number of which are people of color, and specifically Black people. The event will start at UW's Drumheller Fountain. Drumheller Fountain (University of Washington)

A Map to the Sun: Talk with author/illustrator Sloane Leong Tune in to Outsider Comics' Instagram Live for a talk with author and artist Sloane Leong on her new book A Map to the Sun.

Hugo Literary Series: Strange Appetites For this edition of the literary series, for which writers and musicians present new work based on a theme, you can enjoy the great privilege of listening to Karen Russell (Rich Smith has praised her "Americana magical realism and lush prose" in Orange World), Tara Conklin (author ofThe Last Romantics), and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tyehimba Jess.

Magical Marauder's Scavenger Hunt 2020 Want to win prizes for your love of Harry Potter? Of course you do. This remote scavenger hunt allows you to complete a list of Hogwarts-themed challenges from wherever you are.

utopia: Touch Nine isolated dancers explore "the tenderness of unity and rebellion"in this politically charged piece inspired by brutalist architecture, "principles of socialism and democracy," the breakup of Yugoslavia, and the power ofYugoslav monuments dedicated to the Peoples Liberation War against Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers during World War II.

Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation's Virtual Furry 5K 2020 You and your real or imaginary dog can help raise money for the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation's Help the Animals fund at their annual Furry 5K fundraiser. It's virtual this year, which means you can stay socially distant and post about your route on social media.

Visual & Virtual What would an art fair in Seattle be without the bluest of chips, Greg Kucera Gallery? The roster of artists that are currently hanging in his replica booth constructed inside his gallery is off the charts with someStrangerfavorites likeRamiro Gomez,Jacob Lawrence, andDrie Chapek. But what I'm most excited to see in person again is Seattle-based artist Anthony White's recent work, which continues to evolve. JASMYNE KEIMIG Greg Kucera Gallery (Pioneer Square) Closing Saturday

Bamboo Circle E-Celebration This annual fundraiser for the Seattle Chinese Garden will move online, bringing a whole week of cultural activities like calligraphy, tea ceremonies, and live music to wherever you are.

Berries & Blooms Sunflowers and heirloom blueberries are ready for picking atMountainview Blueberry Farm. Wander through the late-summer fields and mull over about what you'll do with your bounty when you get back home. They also have a socially distanced beer and wine tent. Mountainview Blueberry Farm (Snohomish)

Sunflowers in Snohomish at Thomas Family Farm Wander through this farm's eight acres plucking sunflowers in yellow and red. Thomas Family Farm (Snohomish)

Patio Summer Series: Brisket Burgers & Chili Dogs, & Elysian Get yourself aDouble R brisket burger and chili dog with a Contact Haze IPA from Elysian ($3!) to top it off, and enjoy it all on Jack's social distancing-friendly patio. Jack's BBQ (Sodo)

Pike-Pine Summer United Get 10% off your bill at local bars and eateries like Amandine Bakeshop, A Pizza Mart, Bateau, and tons of other places on Capitol Hill moving into Phase 2 of reopening by mentioning The Stranger's Pike-Pine promotion. Various locations (Capitol Hill)

Whidbey Island Summer Music Festival This monthlong virtual music festival will highlight baroque and classical chamber music by artists near and far. In honor ofBeethoven's 250th birthday (cheers to you, Ludwig), this year's event will feature some classicfortepiano and cello sonatas.

Saint Joan Despite George Bernard Shaw's trenchant atheism, his classic depiction of the Maid of Orleans stresses her strength, bravery, faith, and humanity in the face of political and religious oppression. The original date of this production, staged by Mathew Wright, was canceled due to COVID-19. This is a digital rendition.

Felines of the Fey Braden Duncan, a member of the Seattle Arts Coalition and the international Strange Dreams Surreal Art Collective, will show watercolors of charming kitties infaerie realms. Gargoyles Statuary (University District) Opening Friday

Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair The Seattle Art Fair was canceled, but a bunch of local galleriesmany of which are in Pioneer Squareare taking it upon themselves to keep the tradition alive while abiding by social distancing guidelines with a DIY, self-guided version featuring exciting new pieces by artists like Anthony White.

Seattle Design Festival Now in its 10th year, Design in Public's Seattle Design Festival will switch over their programming to the internet to continue to explore how urbanism, architecture, and design can further justice, ecology, and community. Look forward to livestreamed webinars and discussions, a weekly "Thinkercyze" virtual challenge, and even in-person displays throughout the city that you can visit while social distancing.

Women's Rights Day Online Celebration This year marks the centennial of the 19th amendment! With a very major vote coming up in November, this Radical Women celebration is sure to have some extra zeal. Tune in to hear remarks from Seattle Central College teacher Anna Hackman, King County Metro driver and workers' rights organizer Cheryl Jones, and others.

Drive-In Movie At The Fair Get in your car and watch The Goonies, a notable example of Spielberg-style "old-fashioned adventure" cinema, complete with pirates, treasure, and that signature peril-and-fun-in-equal-parts recipe you've come to love. Donations from this free 35th-anniversary screening at the Washington State Fair's Blue Lot will give any donations to the Puyallup Food Bank. Washington State Fair Events Center (Puyallup)

9th Annual James Bond Soiree James Bond's favorite brandsRolex, Versace, Luis Vuitton, Chanelare teaming up for this luxe virtual affair complete withMI-6 party kits teeming with 007 face masks, champagne glasses and sparkling wine, oysters, and charcuterie. Proceeds will benefit breast cancer research.

Hops For Hope Fill up a growler or get a fresh one from Snohomish'sSnoTown Brewery, knowing that proceeds will benefit breast cancer research through Snohomish County Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. SnoTown Brewery (Snohomish)

Pop-Up Whidbey Makers Market Take a day trip to Whidbey Island with your picnic blankets in tow to shop from local vendors like Woodcrafts by Fish, eat seafood, and enjoy live music by Weak Sheep and Handsome and Gretyl. You can stay socially distant on a spot near the lagoon or on the Penn Cove beach dock. Captain Whidbey Inn (Whidbey Island)

Smoked Meats Class with Jack & Pit Master Joe Jack Timmons of Jack's BBQ andpitmaster Joe Whelan will go live to teach you the secrets of sumptuous, Central Texas-style BBQ, from cooking techniques to how to trim ribs to how to smoke a cocktail, along with some history of the cuisine.

DC Fandome Since Comic-Cons had basically just become a place to herd members of fandom for the express purpose of showing them trailers and commercials for upcoming movies, shows, toys (oh and comics sure comics too) it makes a ton of sense that the modern Con experience could move online pretty easily (see: San Diego Comic-Con @ Home) and that major studios would just hold their own cons. AND SO: DC Fandome, a 24-hour, free, virtual convention for fans of DC Comics and all the live-action, animated, video game (oh and comics sure comics too) entertainment based on their venerable characters.

'A Real Sensation' Visual Album Release Party Local dream-pop sweethearts Sundae Crush will release their new album, A Real Sensation, online. Stream it at home in its entirety and stick around after for a live chat with the band.

Hot Tub Boats' Lake Union Summer Smash Bliss out in your toasty apartment or socially distanced backyard to sets from Pedro the Lion, Massey Ferguson, Beverly Crusher, Razor Clam, Punktuals, and DJ AC Lewis to raise money forSeattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare. The show will be streamed live on Hot Tub Boats' YouTube.

Jeff Daniels Join singer-songwriter Jeff Daniels for an evening of original songs and stories on the Triple Door's virtual stage.

Kremwerk Livestream Series presents: Sub 49 Local DJ collective Sub 49 invites you to "get plamp, pay homage to broth, and get virtually groovy with some sick beats."

Let the Strings Speak Ujima Mona Terry, Lesa Terry, Munyungo Jackson, Evan Flory-Barnes, Karen Briggs, Josephine Howell, Otieno Terry, and other masters of string instruments will perform virtually in this fifth annual concert.

TRL Night Live Stream w/ #All4doras and LO KNOWS Local boy band cover band #All4doras and TRL cover bandLO KNOWS will link up for a virtual show.

Virtual Bothell Block Party & BrewFest 2020 This downtown Bothell event will take place online in the form of afundraiser for UW Bothell's Black Opportunity Fund. Jam out in your house to awesome local acts like the Black Tones, Black Stax, King Youngblood, BEARAXE, Shaina Shepherd, All Star Opera, and Tres Leches.

Everything's Fine Tonight LIVE! Billing itself as "the Internet's goofiest talk show," this program featuringLauren Baumbauer, Morgan Dusatko, Kristine Ota, and others promises lighthearted bits and sketches, fictional sitcom reunions, Jane Austen superfans, and aliens.

No Closet Follies Vol 3 Burlesque performers from around the countryincluding Egypt Blaque Knyle from California andBeary Manatease from Tennesseewill titillate your senses virtually. Seattle's own Mx. Pucks A'Plenty will host.

Save the Post Office Saturday Day of Action Organizers will meet up at post offices around the country demanding thatPostmaster General Louis DeJoy resign and that the USPSwhich safeguards mail-in voting, the more common method used by Democrats, whose turnout is essential this November for obvious reasonsbe saved. US Post Office (Ballard and other locations)

Alki Beach Pride - Roll OUT to Alki 2020 Decorate your motor vehicle in rainbows galore (bonus points if your mask has rainbows on it, too) and head out to Alki Beach for a zoomy (the fast kind, not the video chat kind) Pride parade. Jack Block Parking Lot (West Seattle)

Ray Bradbury Read-A-Thon Need even more dystopia in your life? Don't have an audiobook subscription? Watch or listen to a reading of Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451,streamed live on YouTube by the Library of Congress, Seattle Public Library, and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

Richard Scholar with Kathleen Cain - French Words That Turned English Why does the English language borrow so many French words? Professor Richard Scholar has some thoughts. He'll be joined by Kathleen Cain for a virtual rendezvous where he'll talk about his book migrs: French Words That Turned English.

The Virtual Griot Party Experience 2.0 A collaboration of many municipal and civic organizations, this virtual edition of Columbia City's Griot Party, based on West African storytelling tradition, will feature local performers on Zoom.

Seattle Marathon Summer 5/10K Choose your distance and course and submit your results and race photos in this modified version of the annual 5K and 10K race.

Tibet Fest 2020 - A Virtual Celebration The 25th annual Tibet Fest will go on virtually this year. Enjoy a day of learning about the country's rich culture and heritage.

Celebrate Woodinville Summer Virtual 5k Complete a 5K course at your convenience, in any location (even if it's a treadmill). Once you've completed the challenge, submit your results and receive a medal.

The "Secret History" of Bellevue! Seattle's not the only one with stories under its beltour nearby neighbor to the east is full of secrets, too. Learn about them in this virtual tour fromHidden Northwest Tours.

14th Annual Urban Poverty Forum: Challenging Black Voter Suppression At this virtual edition of the annual forum dealing with systemic issues surrounding urban poverty, see a screening of the documentary Suppressed 2020: The Right to Vote, followed by a discussion withAngela Rae (Barringer Global Enterprise) andCelina Stewart (League of Women Voters).

Valhalla Dinner Series with Tieton Cider Works Yakima'sTieton Cider Works will storm the beer hall with a six-course dinner paired with their fruit-infused goods.

The Royal Room Staycation Festival: Crystal Beth You can find Beth Fleenor fearlessly indulging her wildest creative inklings whenever she materializes in a musical forum. A classically trained clarinetist and imaginative soloist and with a music degree from Cornish, Fleenor has made a name for herself in Seattles experimental-music scene both as a solo artist and with well-known composers like Wayne Horvitz. The music Fleenor makes with Crystal Beth & the Boom Boom Band falls somewhere between the grisly skronk-punk of Stickers and earthy freak-indie of tUnE-yArDs, but even fans of those left-of-center acts will be thrown for a loop. Wailing vocals not bound to any conventions but Fleenors own, paired with percussive Bethnic chants, are set over freely drawn jazz figures and world-y rhythms. TODD HAMM

Desus & Mero's Virtual Experience - Northwest Show Bronx-bred pals Desus Nice and the Kid Metro of Showtime's Desus & Merowill host a livestreamed episode of their talk show. They promise an all-star lineup of guests that "spans the cultural landscape."

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The 55 Best Things To Do in Seattle This Weekend: August 21-23, 2020 - TheStranger.com

Broadway is dark these days, but the lights of theaters around the world should be dimmed in honor of author, critic, translator and playwright Eric Bentley, who died this month at his home in New York at the age of 103.

Bentleys legacy in the theater as a pathbreaker is profound. By shining a critical light on the American stage, he exposed the gimcrack that had been fobbed off as treasure and in the process made room for the genuine.

Longevity of such ostentatious proportions, however, can fog the mirror of reputation. The titles of books may be remembered but few are around to testify to the impact of Bentleys critical writing, the way it incited new modes of thought and, just as crucially, revealed the limitations of the prevailing wisdom.

I know Im not the first critic to feel as though his intellectual path was set by Bentleys The Playwright as Thinker, first published in 1946 and still a necessary text of modern dramatic criticism. Richard Gilman, who asked his incoming graduate students at the Yale School of Drama to read the book before beginning their studies, writes in his introduction that Bentley helped open his eyes to the aesthetic and intellectual possibilities of the stage.

Combining the wide frame of reference of a literary scholar with the practical knowledge of a man of the theater, Bentley wrote not to a readership of academic or professional specialists but to a culturally informed audience that understood the value of both learning and unlearning. Philistine prejudice (a particular bte noire), simplistic dichotomies and smug anti-intellectualism were routinely assailed in his essays and reviews.

Born in England and educated at Oxford on a scholarship, he came to America to continue his studies at Yale, where he received a PhD in comparative literature. It was in the U.S. where Bentley found his critical services to be most urgently needed, and he was fortunate to be plying his trade in his adopted nation at a time when space was being made for public intellectuals.

There were outlets the New Republic, Harpers Magazine, Theatre Arts, the Kenyon Review, the Nation, to name a few that werent afraid to take theater seriously. And Bentley gave them something more valuable than smart ideas: He provided dialectical argument, presenting a mind in dialogue with itself in much the same way that Ibsen, in Bentleys priceless formulation, allowed us to be present at thinking during his characters awakenings.

Through his drama criticism and translations of world classics, Bentley deprovincialized the American theater in the 20th century. One of his essay collections is called In Search of Theater, and the title reflects the exploratory spirit of a critic who couldnt understand why the glories of 2,500 years of dramatic literature were being neglected for playwrights of the caliber of Maxwell Anderson, a prolific author whom Bentley facetiously labeled the king of the Broadway intelligentsia while writing about Andersons hit historical drama Joan of Lorraine, starring Ingrid Bergman.

Bentley found what he was looking for in 5th century B.C. Athens, Elizabethan England and the Spanish Golden Age, among other epochs in which an appetite for soaring dramatic poetry flourished. But he was just as keen to revisit those modern titans we kept getting wrong.

in his virtuosic monograph on George Bernard Shaw, Bentley dismantles the naive notion that drama is fundamentally an art of feeling. Arguing that emotion and intellect arent mutually exclusive, he traces the way passion fuels the political and philosophical convictions of characters in symphonically structured comedies that are far too witty to be monotonously didactic. In Ibsen, he urges us to look for the idea behind the idea and not confuse the once-scandalous social problems of the plays for the deeper human questions animating them.

Bentley recognized that theater criticism has no more urgent function than to encourage the good. This entails not only praising, parsing and differentiating but also cultivating a sensibility in audiences for more complex pleasures. Within my own sphere what I am asking for is a new criticism of the theater, he wrote. By that he meant a new climate, the climate of a new generation. To that end, he sought out both the contemporary best and the best from other times and places that had yet to find welcome on our stages.

Italian playwright Luigi Pirandellos stature in the English-speaking world owes an enormous debt to Bentleys work as a critic, translator and editor of play volumes. The metatheatrical high jinks of Six Characters in Search of an Author playfully confounded illusion and reality. But Bentley wanted theatergoers to understand that Pirandellos plays grew from his own torment, and that for all their buoyant philosophical humor they can only succeed in performance if their tragic gravitas is respected.

For a long time Bentley served as a quasi-ambassador to Brecht. The two met in Los Angeles when Bentley was teaching at UCLA and the German playwright was in exile from Nazi Germany and not yet enjoying his status as the 20th centurys greatest political playwright. Bentley helped elucidate the principles and procedures of Brechts epic theater so that theatergoers would be able to judge the plays for what they were attempting to do rather than condemning them for not following a sentimental rule book.

Bentleys translation of Mother Courage and Her Children was performed on Broadway in a Jerome Robbins production starring Anne Bancroft, and he staged his own adaptation of The Good Woman of Setzuan in a New York production with Uta Hagen and Zero Mostel. But Bentleys advocacy wasnt uncritical. He was dubious of the cultish celebrity that grew around Brecht and dismayed by the way Marxist ideology came to eclipse the poetry and the stagecraft.

Bandwagons werent Bentleys preferred means of transportation. He thought Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman resorted to rhetoric when it needed poetry and he complained that Eugene ONeills characters were blown up with psychological gas.

In the essay Trying to Like ONeill, Bentley uses his experience of directing a production in Zurich of The Iceman Cometh to see if he could at last embrace what critics as great as Stark Young and George Jean Nathan admired in ONeills work. He didnt quite succeed, though he gained a more acute awareness of the playwrights strengths and weaknesses. In later years, he questioned some of his more polemical positions, but his fearlessness in bucking trends seems especially valiant in these days when social media has the critical world too often marching in lockstep.

Criticism was never Bentleys sole focus, and he came to feel that his reception as a playwright was hindered by his reputation as a critic even though he had long stopped wearing that hat. He insisted on being identified as a dramatist, and in the early 1990s when I was guest-editing a special issue of Yales Theater magazine, he stipulated that he would only consent to an interview with me if our conversation would focus on his plays.

I regret passing up that opportunity, if only for the chance to have better understood why a writer utterly opposed to facile binaries was convinced that his critical and creative sides had to be kept apart. Bentleys rich variety of theatrical interests is what made him invaluable. He may not have become a dramatist of significant stature, but his critical writing was immeasurably enriched by his work as a teacher, translator, author, director and playwright.

His unparalleled career as a critic is a reminder that popularity is not the same thing as influence. He wasnt an entertainer, one of the ingredients he thought went into being a good reviewer, but the lucidity of his writing gives pleasure all the same. His reviews at the New Republic didnt have the power to make or break a show but they widened and elevated sensibility.

Would a modern-day Eric Bentley (the idea is almost oxymoronic) find a niche in todays numbers-obsessed media landscape? One has to have faith that, despite the insidious way publicity has infected our critical discourse, rigorous intelligence of such an uncompromising order will not be turned away even if the readership for such writing would have to be rebooted.

Whats clear is that we still need Bentley to clear up the murkiness in our thinking. To remind us, for example, that the task of the theater is to find its own public, not grovel before a general public, an abstraction he found as meaningless as the common man.

In contrast to the unheroic failure of the commercial theater, which abandons the ideal for pecuniary gain, Bentley championed the heroic failure of keeping standards up as long as possible, come what may.

See the article here:
Death of theater critic Eric Bentley marks the end of an era - Los Angeles Times

In conversation with Firstpost, Naseeruddin Shah opens up about the bane of plagiarism in Hindi cinema, the joy of rediscovering Shakespeare and reciting Faiz in lockdown, and his fear of becoming a liability on his family.

In director Anand Tiwari's newest web-showBandish Banditsstreaming on Amazon Prime Video, Naseeruddin Shah's central character of Pandit Radhemohan Rathore, a Hindustani classical virtuoso, cuts a formidable figure. He is a patriarch with a conspicuously inflated ego that urges him to establish a gharana named after him, thereby setting the backdrop for the story that traverses the musical terrain of the country. Co-starring Sheeba Chaddha, Atul Kulkarni, Rajesh Tailang, Amit Mistry and Kunaal Roy Kapur in supporting acts, with newcomers Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry in the lead,Bandish Banditssees Naseeruddin Shah assume centre-stage after a rather underwhelming response to his 2019 venture,The Tashkent Files.

In a Zoom call withFirstpost, theveteran actor opens up about landing a meaty role after years, the plague of plagiarism in Hindi cinema, and his fear of becoming a liability on his family.

What really struck me about your character of Pandit Ji inBandish Bandits is how, despite being an elderly character, it is well-written with nuances a rarity when it comes to how aged characters in Hindi entertainment are written. What about Pandit Jistood out for you the most, and how difficult was it to play him physically? Considering he was a classical singer, and it involved certain mannerisms and idiosyncrasies specific to his profession...

First of all, I found the whole story very interesting; I will come to the character in a bit. But I thought the way the story was unfolding, and the theme of the conflict between the different styles of singing and also the conflict between the variousgharanas themselves, along with the politics that goes on was extremely interesting. The fact that PanditJi wasn't a 'goody-goody' guy, and that he had grey shades negative shades also reminded me of a lot of some people and teachers I've known, my father being one of them. I drew upon him to give this benevolent, but stern attitude to my character.

The challenge itself was to be able to sing those numbers, at least to be able to lip-sync to them. Lip-syncing to songs has not really been my strong point I think the only time I have done it successfully was inGhalib, where Jagjitbhai sang so beautifully, and also in a song forMasoom. Otherwise, I've always failed to bring off those sizzling numbers, which sometimes I have been asked to do, and which I was completely ill-suited for.

But here were some very complex compositions, which I first had to get my head around. Luckily, I had this wonderful young man named Akshat as a teacher, who explained theaalaaps to me. When he [his character of Pandit Ji] goes 'aaa aaa aaa', it's not just 'aaa aaa aaa'. There's a differentsur in each of those 'aa's. So Akshat would work out whether it was asa, or apa, or aga, or are, or whichever of the seven notes it was, and would say that this is what Pandit Ji would have to sing. So, he first made me practise singing the notes, and then do theaakaar, as they call it, where one goes'aaa aaa'with each of the notes. I had to work really hard, but I must say I enjoyed it because it has been a long time since I had a part which extended me, and for which I had to do actual physical work. I really enjoyed that because I haven't done too many film roles in the last few years, and nothing very exciting has come my way. What I have done have been cameos mostly. So, after a long time, I had something that I could really sink my teeth into.

Naseeruddin Shah as Pandit Radhemohan Rathore in Bandish Bandits. YouTube screenshot.

Incidentally, another one of your projects,Mee Raqsam, is slated to release on another OTT platform soon. As someone who has been vocal about the mediocrity celebrated in Indian cinema, do you think the entry of digital platforms has made a significant difference to the quality of work being done inthe country?

It's too early to say. But one has to admit that all the work that's happened during the lockdown on the OTT platforms has been commendable. Some of it has been absolutely brilliant; none of it has been worthless, I'd say. Without any of the trappings, big budgets, and the unnecessary ornamentation, filmmakers have been trying to tell their stories stories they believe, stories that have affected them. So it certainly has garnered an audience, I think. I don't deny that there are still millions who want to see the blood-drenched revenge dramas. But an audience even wants to see content-driven drama at least they've suddenly realised that they like to see content-driven drama. I think it's the same dormant audience, which was watching Pakistani serials some years ago when they were being telecast, because those had tremendous content. The writing was incredibly good; the presentation also. And a lot of the acting also was excellent. Their films are very shoddy, but their television work is very good. I think it's that same audience which was craving to watch this. I believe they've had enough of watching blood gushing from people's wounds while they're having their dinner, you know. I don't think it's the most palatable thing to watch.

But it remains to be seen whether this will have a lasting effect. As soon as things return to normal if they ever do will we just go back to the '300-crore' monsters? Or will we finally learn our lesson? That's the question hanging in the air.

Naseeruddin Shah in Mee Raqsam. Facebook/SrishtiShreyam

During the lockdown, a lot of art forms have migrated to online spaces, including theatre that is currently witnessing numerous experiments. Youhaveclaimed to enjoy performing live the most, and you've also said in an interview that the prospect of your films being watched a 100 years from now terrifies you. What about it terrifies you? How are you coping in a world that isincreasingly attaining a dubious permanence through its digital footprints?

[Laughs] Actually, I have no reason to be terrified. I think it's something I like to say it's a clever line. But the fact is that no one remembers the crap, you know. They remember the good things. And luckily, I have done a few good things. The crap far outnumbers the good, of course, but it's the good ones that'll be remembered. When I name some movie I am thoroughly ashamed of, I am much relieved to know that no one has heard of it. So, it shouldn't really terrify me.

But, as I have said before,we stand poised at the moment to take a creative leap, as far as the writing, the presentation of movies, and as far as the presentation of theatre are concerned. I really wish that will happen, and we leap in the right direction and it certainly seems to be happening. It's very heartening to note that the majority of people putting things out during the lockdown are youngsters, and not the older generation. Andthat is great. In any case, I have tremendous faith in the younger generation because they've proved that the future is safe in their hands. I think they're far more aware, they're far savvier, they're much better informed, and I hope that their judgement will remain unimpaired. I have great faith in them.

Even Bandish Banditsfeatures actors from various generations, including the one after yours to which Atul Kulkarni, Sheeba Chaddha, and Rajesh Tailang belong. Then there are the newcomers like Shreya Chaudhry and Ritwik Bhowmik. Do you see significant differences in the ethics, sensibilities, and approaches of these different generations of artistes, or have they remained largely the same?

Atul is from a tradition where discipline is a way of life. Marathi theatre has always been very vibrant, very creative, very alive. Atul's introduction to acting has been through that, where you perform maybe three shows a day, that too in three different theatres. So you just got to have your wits about you all the time. Though Atul has been one of my students at the National School of Drama, I have been deeply inspired by some of his performances. I don't take any of the credit for his abilities. In fact watching him as Gandhi, and watching him in the filmNatarang,was truly mind-boggling.

It's not as if all actors from my generation were very professional and very dutiful, and so on. I was a pretty indisciplined actor myself when I was younger, and I am not proud of it. But I have to admit that I was, and there were many others too who were indisciplined. But by and large, I think the quality of discipline improved with Atul's generation, because somewhere, acting no longer remained an indulgence. Acting started to be taken seriously, and actors began to be taken seriously because they were not only just clowning around, they were voicing opinions, and this was around the '70s. These were valid opinions written by intellectual people, who knew what they were talking about, and actors were the mouthpieces for these opinions. So Atul comes from a generation like that. I come from a generation that was somewhat self-indulgent. And the less said the better about the generation before mine.

Naseeruddin Shah and Atul Kulkarni in a still from Bandish Bandits. Via Amazon Prime Video.

But I have seen that the quality of discipline getting greater and greater, the value of discipline getting greater and greater, and not just with the 'serious' actors, but with some of our younger stars as well. I have seen a great amount of discipline. I have noticed that they are punctual, hard working, they don't have too many bad habits, and that they've been exposed to so much more, so they are savvier as actors. As stars, they know exactly what to do.

And as far as actors like Ritwik and Shreya are concerned, they are of the generation, which has finally understood that it is a great deal of hard work that goes into the making of an actor. Luck has very little to do with it; I won't say it has nothing to do with it but luck means being at the right place at the right time, and that is a matter of calculations to a certain extent. So, I do think that the quality of acting is growing, and it is getting better and better. We have several absolutely outstanding actors, both male and female. I wonder how long it'll be before the film industry begins to recognise the abilities of a Gulshan Devaiah, or a Geetanjali Kulkarni...I wonder how long it'll be. But these people are quite sensational at their jobs, and they're not just flashes in the pan theyknow their job. There are so many, and I can enumerate several names of utterly outstanding young actors whom I envy. I wish I was as good as they are when I was that age.

So, I think it's getting better. But again, as I said, the quality of acting depends on the quality of the writing, and writing has been the bane of our Hindi movies. We have been just too happy to plagiarise all the time. I mean, plagiarism became legitimate in the '70s totally shameless and legitimate. Some of our so called 'masterpieces' are totally plagiarised movies. Hopefully, that is behind us.

I recently asked this question to both Nandita Das and Javed Akhtar, and would also like to ask you as someone who is fiercely political on screen and off it, what do you think of the apolitical artist, and their apolitical art? We see this term being used generously by people working in Hindi films. Do we have the space and luxury to appreciate apolitical artists today?

Art for art's sake? I don't think so. And FaizSaab said this almost a century ago, that he does not believe in art for art's sake. Art has got to have a motive and a purpose, which does not mean that you compromise on its aesthetics, at all. A painter would still be required to paint with as much excellence as if he was painting a beautiful woman, while he is painting a meaningful picture. Those who shy away from expressing their opinions are either genuinely apathetic, or they fear they have too much to lose. How much can a person who has been financially secure for seven generations lose? I don't understand.

At the moment, what are your biggest concerns as an artiste above the age of 60, whose mobility and consequently, access to work, has beenheavilyimpacted due to the pandemic perhaps far more than the younger generations have been affected and is likely to be this way for a while?

What are my anxieties? None, really, because I think while doing any work, which requires solitaryriyaaz, you can never be lonely. A lot of actors are confused about what kind ofriyaaz they should do. They know what musicians do, they know what dancers do, but actors are confused and askke hum kya riyaaz kar sakte hain. What do people do to stay in practice? And I say, just keep acting but not with your family [laughs]. Though that is also necessary sometimes.

How I have been staying in touch is by reciting things, by memorising things. I have always had this nagging curiosity about Shakespeare's plays. I've read some of them like everybody has in school and college, but those are the plays everyone knows. So I resolved to go back to the ones I did not know about.Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, As You Like It everyone has read them.But there are 36 of them, and I have managed to plow through about 30. There are six still remaining, and I don't know if I will complete the record.

Naseeruddin Shah on stage in and as Einstein. Facebook/IndiaIFA

But my concern is not so much about being left out in the cold, or not getting employment. They'll always need an old man even in youthful stories, they'll need an old man or an old woman. But if it happens, it happens, which means I won't be of any use. What bothers me, if anything, is to become a liability on the family, and that is why I consider it my responsibility to look after my health.

There is this very heartbreaking line in one of the plays we do, calledDear Liar,where the lady who George Bernard Shaw was in love with and kept writing letters to her career has faded, and she has had to go away to America to earn crusts of bread by acting in small parts in Hollywood movies. She says that 'I thought the battle of life was fought in our youth' not a bit of it. It is when you're old and your work is not wanted that the battle rages and goes on and on.

After Irrfan Khan's passing, you gave an interview toTheIndian Express, where you recalled a scene rehearsal forMaqbool, in which you thought Irrfan had actually passed out, while he was just acting. You mentioned that you had never experienced something like that before. From such anecdotes and accounts, one can gauge just how invested the man was in his craft. In his presence, and in fact also in his absence, one realises how he challenged the 'star' system Indian cinema is obsessed with. In this context, how does one comprehend the loss of an artiste of Irrfan Khan's stature? Doesit subtract a kind of idiom from the craft of acting or filmmaking?

You cannot attribute such a cosmic significance to it there's no doubt that it is a massive loss. But the fact is that he had done enough to establish himself in all our hearts and minds. And living and dying is a big joke anyway. I have always believed that the way you die, or when you die is of no importance...it's how much you've done with your life that is of any importance. I think Irrfan did a massive amount with his life in the brief time that he was given, and he has left behind an example for all of us who will have to face the grim reaper sooner or later. [He has shown us] how to confront this eventuality with courage and fortitude. And people say that, you know, they only pretend, they only pretend. Well, the hell! Bravery is all pretence anyway. Bravery is nothing but the ability to hide your fears. Everybody feels scared, it's how well you can disguise your fears that qualifies you to be brave or not. And Irrfan was one of the bravest men I have ever come across. I miss him.

You say you are someone who isn't particularly comfortable striking a conversation with a stranger, which is why you try and reach out to people through your act while on stage. For Irrfan, interestingly, you had said that the audience reaches out to him every time. Have you ever aspired to achieve that through your craft, where you wish your audience reached out to you, and not the other way round?

I can't take that chance [laughs].

But why not?

I am quite okay reaching out to the audience. I like reaching out to them, provided I don't have to reach out to them in real life [laughs].

Naseeruddin Shah and Irrfan Khan in a still from Maqbool (2004). Via Disney+Hotstar.

Now that we are amidst such extraordinary times, which has allowed us to perhaps pause and introspect, what are the kinds of conversations you hope will emergefrom the Hindi film industry after this ordeal has passed?

In Hindi cinema, the only conversations one can expect is gossip and anecdotes, and I don't expect it to change. People can't change that quickly. And I am not a great fan of either gossip or anecdotage.

Finally, what are you doing to seek comfort during the lockdown?

As I said, I have read quite a bit of Shakespeare; I haven't watched as many movies as I thought I would. I've been more involved in reading. I have been reading Evelyn Waugh, who also is one of my favourite writers. And I have been reading Anthony Burgess I am finishing theEnderby Series. So yes, quite a lot of material has gone in during this period.

You have also been reading quite a bit of Faiz, if I am not wrong?

Yes, not a lot, but a bit, yes. I love reciting him.

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The Naseeruddin Shah interview | Writing has been th..Hindi movies. We were happy to plagiarise all the time - Firstpost

By Dr. David Hanscom, PNN Columnist

Self-awareness is the essence of healing. You cannot stimulate your brain to develop in a given direction unless you become aware of who you are and where you are starting from. Awareness is a meditative tool that can be used to calm the nervous system, reduce chronic pain and anxiety, and move forward with your life.

There are four patterns of awareness that Ive written about in previous columns that work for me:

Environmental awareness is placing your attention on a single sensation taste, touch, sound, temperature, etc. What you are doing is switching sensory input from racing thoughts about pain to another sensation. This is the basis of mindfulness fully experiencing what you are doing in the moment.

I use an abbreviated version that I call active meditation, which is placing my attention on a specific sensory input for 5 to 10 seconds. It is simple and can be done multiple times per day.

Emotional awareness is more challenging. It often works for a while, but then it doesnt. When you are suppressing feelings of anxiety, your bodys chemistry is still off and full of stress hormones. This translates into pain and other physical symptoms.

Allowing yourself to feel all of your emotions is the first step in healing because you cant change what you cant feel. Everyone that is alive has anxiety. It is how we survive.

Judgment awareness is a major contributor to the mental chaos in our lives. You create a story or a judgment about yourself, another person or situation that tends to critical and inflexible.

Dr. David Burns in his book Feeling Good outlines 10 cognitive distortions that are a core part of our upbringing. They include:

These ingrained thoughts are the fourth and most problematic to be aware of. You cannot see or correct them without actively seeking them out.

Our family interactions in childhood are at the root of how we act as adults. They stem from our upbringing and the fact that our brains are hard-wired during our formative years. We know from recent neuroscience research that concepts and attitudes from childhood are embedded in our brains as concretely as our perception of a chair or table.

I used to say that thoughts are real because they cause neurochemical responses in your body. But they are not reality. I was wrong.

It turns out that your thoughts and ideals are your version of reality. Your current life outlook continues to evolve along the lines of your early programming or filter. It is why we become so attached to our politics, religion, belief systems, etc. It is also the reason that humans treat each other so badly based on labels.

One example, amongst an endless list, was how we locked up communists during the McCarthy era of the 1950s and 1960s. It is also why so many minority groups are persecuted and often treat each other badly.

It is critical to understand that these are attitudes and behaviors that you cannot see because they are inherent to who you are. It is also maybe the greatest obstacle to people getting along. We are hard-wired enough that we dont recognize or feel these patterns -- its just what we do. Its behavior that sits under many layers of defenses and has to be dug out by each person.

Our family-influenced habits and actions are much more obvious to our spouses and immediate family than they are to us. We can only get in touch with them through counseling, seminars, psychotherapy, self-reflection, spousal feedback, etc. What you are not aware of can and will control you.

Here is an example of awareness I learned at work. A few years ago, before I retired as a spine surgeon, I became aware that I consistently started to speed up towards the end of each surgery. I also realized that over the years, probably 80% of my dural tears (the envelope of spinal tissue containing the nerves and cerebrospinal fluid) occurred in the last 30 minutes of a long surgery.

The fatigue factor was part of the problem, but speed was more critical. I still didnt notice that I was speeding up. I needed feedback from my partners or assistants, so I asked them to act as my coaches. Id stop for a few seconds and say, The difficult part of this case is done. It would be easy for me to relax and hurry to finish. Please speak up if you see me starting to rush.

Every move in spine surgery is critical, so I had to make the choice to consciously slow down. The end of each surgery is just as important as the beginning and middle. My complication rate dropped dramatically when I became more aware of what I was doing.

This is a brief overview of how awareness plays a role in successfully navigating daily life. Its something of a paradox, because when we are truly immersed in the moment there are no levels of awareness. Its just complete engagement-in-the-present-moment awareness.

There are many layers to this discussion, but I hope this is a good starting point for you to understand the importance of mindful awareness.

Dr. David Hanscom is a retired spinal surgeon. He recently launched a new website The DOC Journey to share his own experience with chronic pain and to offer a pathway out of mental and physical pain through mindful awareness and meditation.

See the original post here:
Becoming Aware of Ingrained Thoughts Can Reduce Pain and Anxiety - Pain News Network

Part of Kathy Caprinos series Supporting Todays Workforce

It's time to build more unity and trust in our workplaces and beyond

As almost everyone has read, seen or experienced directly, our country has grown more divisive, angry and ununified in recent months. Hate-crime violence has hit a 16-year high, political polarization has increased, and a majority (55%) of adult social media users are worn out by political posts and discussions. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated long-standing racial inequalities that have been rooted in systemic racism in our nation. Were facing extreme challenges in our organizations and institutions where increased trust and unity are critical if were to make progress to address and solve these pressing dilemmas.

To learn more about how we all can reduce divisiveness today and work to build that needed trust and unity, I caught up this month with Dr. Laura Gallaher who has worked in the field of professional and personal development since 2005. Laura is an organizational psychologist, speaker, facilitator and executive coach and she is the founder and CEO of Gallaher Edge, which she started in 2013 and rebranded in 2018.

Her noteworthy career began after the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry in 2003, killing everybody aboard. Following the tragedy, NASA hired Gallaher and a team of organizational psychologists to change the cultural influences that were deemed to play a role in the accident. She worked for eight years to positively influence culture, develop leadership capacity, and improve organizational performance at Kennedy Space Center. Gallaher was also hired to help manage the change associated with radical changes in the performance management process and philosophy at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

At Gallaher Edge, Gallaher helps leaders across a variety of industries navigate changes and improve their organizational culture through workshops that build trust, grow self-awareness, and align strategically from the inside out.

Heres what Dr. Gallaher shares:

Kathy Caprino: So, Laura, from your work and research perspective, why do humans struggle so much with change?

Laura Gallaher: We often hear that people resist changebut if I gave you $10 million, youd probably agree that would change your life so would you resist it? Assuming theres no catchno! You wouldnt resist that. So it isnt really that humans resist or struggle with change, it is that change tends to bring loss, and loss is painful. We call those losses the costs of change. When we hear that change is coming, we attune to the costs associated with that change. People only respond to their own perceived costs to changes in their lives. Evolutionarily speaking, we are programmed to avoid loss.

An endowment effect study by Knetsch showcases how we humans can be irrational in our own decision making. When participants in the study completed a task, they were rewarded with their choice of either a mug or a chocolate bar. About half chose the chocolate bar and half chose the mug. However, a different group was only given mugs as a reward after completing a task. When given the option to switch for a chocolate bar, only 10% of people took up that offer because most people had formed an ownership bond with their mugs.

When change is coming, it is valuable to remember that we are the ones putting the value on both the gains and the losses associated with the change, and we have control and choice over our own perceptions. Use that power of choice to shift focuseven change that initially feels unwelcomed will always bring both gains and losses.

The best way to deal with change is to focus on what will be gained. For example, unemployment is unfortunately skyrocketing due to the impact of Covid-19. If someone lost their job, the gain could be finding a different job that is better for their skills or lifestyle, or potentially the push they needed to start a business.

On the other hand, it could also be an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with their families or even themselves, helping them be the best version of themselves possible.

Caprino: During these times that are so difficult to handle, what tips and strategies can help us?

Gallaher: The environment today can make us feel that were in survival modeconstantly stressed, feeling like we cant do enough and that were falling behind. While the news today is almost on a constant loop of negativity, we need to remember that we can still thrive in this environment. Its all relativeits hard to believe, but there were days even pre-pandemic that were tough to get through, too.

We all evolved to be survivors, so our default mode is to surviveto shift into thrive mode, youll want to override your brains auto-pilot and retake control of our thoughts, your attitude and your chosen environment.

To do this, set aside some time for self-investment. Choose to practice gratitude multiple times a day and feel the meaning of it. In addition, choose to focus on some tangible action items. Limit how much news is watched if it limits your overall happiness. We have far more choices in life than we tend to realize. Everyone has a choice with what to do with their time, so determine where attention is given.

Caprino: What is the importance of the culture we're in and how does that impact our resilience?

Gallaher: Culture has a huge impact on human behavior. It is where we learn what is OK and how we pick up on how things are done. The United States has a somewhat fragmented culture at this period in time, which means that different segments of the country have different ideas of what is OK and not OK. The pandemic and its impact on the economy is creating a scarcity mentality, which can lead people to start focusing more on themselves and less on others, which inhibits a societys ability to collaborate and grow to reach new heights.

The flip side is that this pandemic is significantly increasing the generosity and desire to come together in other groups of people. Some are using this as a time to give to others when they see them struggling. Our healthcare workers, for example, are fighting every day for the lives of others.

Awareness of systemic racism has also elevated, and while it creates division and can trigger insecurity in white people, the murder of George Floyd has served as a catalyst to correct previous injustices. Now, the majority of adult Americans believe in the fight for what is right.

Many times it is darkest before the dawn, and when we can connect to a purpose (like fighting racism) and connect with each other (through generosity and caring for those who are ill), resilience abounds. Additionally, these experiences are creating deep wells of resilience that we will all be able to pull from in future life challenges. We are all more resilient than we think.

Caprino: Talking culture, so many of us are fighting with each other politically and ideologically, and in hateful ways that are devoid of compassion and understanding. How does that situation impact people and what can we do differently to thrive through this?

Gallaher: Underneath all of this is vulnerability. When we feel vulnerable and afraid, especially subconsciously, we tend to rely on defense mechanisms to cope. I believe that as humans, our most natural way of being is kind and compassionate, but as we are all raised imperfectly by imperfect humans to become imperfect adults ourselves, we each develop ways to defend ourselves against unpleasant feelings internally.

So in the face of human suffering, especially if there is a subconscious feeling of helplessness (i.e. I cant do anything to fix this), people may respond in ways to reduce their negative internal feelings. This can look like blaming the victim (i.e. if I can convince myself that they somehow deserve it, then I dont have to cope with the painful discomfort of injustice).

On top of that, our desire to feel good about ourselves means that our egos often keep us in a place of wanting to feel right, instead of wanting to learn. So, we often tend to dig in our heels in the face of opposition, preserving the good feeling about ourselves as being right and also a good person.

Thriving in these times stems first and foremost from our ability to practice self-acceptance and courage. Lean into the vulnerability that underlies the anger, accept that you are wrong sometimes (we all are), and focus yourself on learning and listening.

Societally, from the top, it would look like politicians learning how to communicate in a way that is less polarizing. We are all far more alike than we are different, and we all tend to agree on way more than we realizewe just dont highlight the similarities and the agreements, especially when there is vulnerability and discomfort.

For each of us as humans, what we can do is listen. Listening is one of the most powerful tools to facilitate connection, change and growth. Listen like its not about you. Listen to your friend share their personal experience with racism. Listen to your employee talk about their fear of falling ill. Listen to your co-worker talk about the fear of the decision of what is best for their children.

It is harder to hate people up close, so move communication to phone or video call and away from text-based communicationlike emailas often as you can. Remember our common humanity.

Caprino: Should business leaders encourage and tackle head-on the difficult and sensitive conversations that todays times are demanding?

Gallaher: While business leaders regularly face the potential for difficult conversations, 2020 has brought this to a whole new level. From navigating racial conversations to deciding how to keep employees safe amid the global pandemic, people are experiencing difficulty separating their personal lives from the workplace. This may make leaders nervous, wondering how can I help employees feel heard, understood and safe during these times of uncertainty?

As a leader, this is the time to actively listen to what employees need and not shy away from topics that seem difficult to address on the surface. Do your employees have kids and now have to decide between working full-time or home schooling their children? Does an employee have Covid-19 or is close to someone with the virus? Is an employee passionate about bringing more awareness to the systemic racism in the United States?

Hear what employees are saying, but also note what isnt being said. If what employees are relaying isnt perfectly clear, follow up by saying Tell me more; I want to understand, or try paraphrasing what you think theyre trying to say.

If employees concerns havent been addressed yet, these are all conversations that business leaders need to be having now. Having an effective conversation means its time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. These uncomfortable conversations create room for growth in the workplace. No one needs to know all the answers, but being willing to facilitate these conversations fosters a more inclusive organization.

More importantly, dont let the conversations die out once the world regains a bit of normalcy. Create the space for conversations to take place within the workplace and mediate as appropriate to ensure these conversations remain respectful. Having an ongoing, open dialogue in the workplace leads to a culture of learning and understanding and can help eliminate issues, like systemic racism, nationwide.

Caprino: Why do people become more divisive and critical of each other in crisis like this pandemic?

Gallaher: Theres a saying that the best way to assess an organization is to try to change it. In your work culture or organization in this time of crisis, are people pulling together or are they dividing? Are people leaning into the change to identify how they can adapt, or are they digging their heels in to avoid the pain associated with change?

Fear can be dominating. People start to look out for themselves, so fear of losing money or power creates an us versus them mentality.

Most fundamentally, whether someone reacts in fear or unity comes down to trust. When people trust one another to act not only in their own best interest but also prioritize the interests of others, then people will unite even more in difficult times.

When trust has been damaged, or is lacking, people move into a state of assessing and evaluating the environment and people around them to gauge if they can proceed with trust, or if it is dangerous to trust others.

The best way to get through the us versus them mentality is to state collaborative intent and actively listen.

Caprino: What are the best strategies you can offer to help us thrive through dramatic change and uncertainty?

Gallaher: Leading through dramatic change and uncertainty is no easy feat, but the reward is monumental. Not only does it build trust, but it also increases productivity and efficiency.

First, as a human, it is valuable to remind yourself that even though your brain often triggers your body to react as though survival is genuinely at risk, most of the time, you really are OKyou can breathe, you are alive and you are going to be fine. Use your brain to overcome the fear-based visceral reaction that comes in times of stress and uncertainty.

Second, as a leader, its important to remember to take care of yourself. A crisis is a crucial time for a business that demands true leadership and the willingness to be decisive. Handle the pressing tasks first and practice self-compassion. When you take care of yourself, you are your best self for others; trying to put others before you means that they end up getting whats left of you instead of the best of you.

When communicating with employees on these tough matters, project confidence and optimism while staying grounded in reality. Being authentic as a leader is powerful. Also provide the context people need for current events and what the business is going through.

These conversations need to happen on a consistent basis rather than just reacting as the environment shifts; employees want to hear from you more than you realize. Be intentional about each change put in place and recognize the impact that it has on the emotional state of employees.

Consider gains and losses in the face of change once again: a significant gain we can all take away from this time of uncertainty is that weve now been encouraged to speak with others and self-reflect in a way many of us hadnt done previously.

Now that those doors are open, we can continue allowing ourselves to find comfort in the uncomfortable and have these conversations on a long-term, ongoing basis.

For more information, visit:

To build a more positive and impactful career and more effective leadership approach, read Kathy Caprinos new book The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss, and work with Kathy in her Career Breakthrough Programs.

Original post:
How To Reduce Divisiveness And Build Trust And Unity In Our Workplaces - Forbes

You cant be anybody but you. You can try, but eventually, over time, the real version of you will emerge, in all its glory and in all its imperfections.

Thats the lesson of Thom Brennaman and Mark Grace. You are what your words say you are. When youre paid for the words that roll off your tongue, it can be a dangerous existence.

Brennaman, the Reds TV play-by-play announcer, was about to come out of a commercial break during a game Wednesday when a hot microphone caught him referring to an undisclosed place as one of the f-- capitals of the world. The Reds suspended him for the anti-gay slur, and Fox yanked him from this seasons NFL broadcasts.

Grace, who appears periodically on Cubs TV broadcasts, referred to his ex-wife as a dingbat on air during a game a week ago. He hasnt been seen on a telecast since, and there has been no word on when hell return.

Im not equating the words the two men used. Brennamans was clearly more deplorable. Im noting the way that true colors inevitably come out.

If that hot mic had caught Brennaman saying one of the gay capitals of the world, Im guessing there wouldnt have been as much of an uproar. But he didnt. He used an epithet for a homosexual. That doesnt come out by accident. It comes out by habit. It reminds me of something somebody would say in high school. But Brennaman is a 56-year-old man, not a 14-year-old freshman.

As for Grace, his use of the word dingbat to describe his ex-wife tells us that hes stuck in 1975. But it also tells us that he has absolutely no self-awareness. Who thinks dingbat is something that can be said on a broadcast? Someone who is clueless.

Whenever I was around Grace in the Cubs clubhouse, I always felt like I was listening to a guy who had watched Bull Durham about 100 times too many. I couldnt tell where he started and where Kevin Costners sage, folksy Crash Davis character ended. People often laughed at the things Grace said when he was a player. Maybe a guy starts to think that everything he says is funny. That doesnt explain why Grace thinks dingbat is a good word to describe a woman, but it might explain why he would utter it publicly. Im not just the life of the party. I am the party.

Both men apologized, but public apologies mean almost nothing. Few people trust them. In Brennamans case, what was he apologizing for? That something he very clearly meant to say was caught by a busybody mic?

In a later apology, he tried to say that his subsequent research into the history of the homophobic word he used opened his eyes to the ugliness of it. He said he had no idea it was so rooted in hate. Really? What did you think it was rooted in? Whimsy? This is a very good example of making a bad thing worse. Of words revealing what you are.

Cancel-culture watchdogs immediately complained that Brennamans punishments were a prime example of political correctness gone haywire. But nobody canceled him. He canceled himself, and he seemed to know it almost immediately.

I dont know if Im going to be putting on this headset again, he said during his on-air apology.

I dont know Brennaman, a former Cubs broadcaster. Ive met him a few times. He might be a great person. But if you know a word that can get you into deep trouble professionally, it makes sense that youd do everything in your power not to say it in a work environment. Yet he said it anyway. That suggests it wasnt a one-off thing with him.

Hes human. So is Grace. So are we all. Weve all said things we wish we hadnt. But when you say something publicly, its a pretty good indication of who and what you are. And when you say it with a microphone near your mouth, its an indictment. NBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury praised the NHLs bubble on the air Thursday night, saying there were no women to distract the players. Viewers criticized him for being sexist. What else would they have to go on?

Its up to Brennaman and Grace to decide if theyre happy with themselves, regardless of what happens to them professionally.

You cant be anybody but you. That sounds fatalistic, I know. It sounds like everything in life has been predetermined, that none of us can change, that were not in charge. Thats not true.

You are who you are. Youre what you say. But youre also what you do after that stupid thing you just said. Gentlemen, your move.

More:
Thom Brennaman, Mark Grace and the problem with being yourself on TV - Chicago Sun-Times

Social-emotional learning (SEL) companies Aperture Education and Move This World have partnered to provide Apertures customers with additional resources to support the development of students social-emotional skills. Aperture customers can now access a sampling of short videos created by Move This World that help develop and strengthen students social-emotional skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making. The videos will be added to the hundreds of social and emotional learning Growth Strategies Aperture already offers through its DESSA Comprehensive SEL System.

Move This Worlds resources to help students identify, manage, and express their emotions completely align with our work so a partnership made perfect sense, said Jessica Adamson, CEO of Aperture Education. Were now able to offer additional strategies to our customers and get Move This Worlds amazing videos in front of even more teachers and students.

Aperture Educations DESSA Comprehensive SEL System provides assessments to measure the social-emotional competence of students in grades K-12. Its Growth Strategies are research-informed social emotional learning interventions, lesson plans and activities created for teachers, by teachers for grades K-8. Once they administer the DESSA, teachers, counselors, and out-of-school-time providers can use the applicable strategies to help bolster SEL skills of students in areas in which they need additional support. The strategies can be administered at school or at home.

Move This World is a foundational social emotional learning program designed for PreK-12 educators and students. Its curriculum is delivered through short videos, allowing teachers to prioritize social emotional learning with consistency. The videos guide students and educators through creative exercises designed to develop and strengthen social-emotional skills and provide an opportunity for teachers to quickly check in and proactively identify students who may need additional support.

Aperture Educations DESSA System helps schools identify how students are developing core social emotional learning skills, which will help them thoughtfully think about how they plan for SEL instruction, said Jennifer Money, Marketing Director of Move This World. As a tier 1, foundational SEL support, were excited to help communities of students build these essential life skills together and know that schools are looking for a way to measure impact. Were excited to share this sampling of content with Aperture to help support their students SEL development.

Aperture Education also partnered with Move This World to create a free webinar for schools as they prepare to start the 2020-21 school year. The webinar includes advice from educators and discussions about how to incorporate SEL into different learning environments to help schools plan for various re-opening models. The webinar is available on Zoom.

About Aperture Education

Aperture Education specializes in social and emotional learning (SEL) solutions. Our flagship product, the DESSA Comprehensive SEL System, allows educators to measure, strengthen, and support social-emotional competence in youth in grades K-12. The DESSA System includes a suite of strength-based assessments, a universal screener that can be administered in less than a minute, and growth strategies and foundational practices to strengthen social and emotional competence. The DESSA System is lauded by researchers because it meets high standards for reliability and validity and is appreciated by educators for its ability to easily and quickly identify each students personal SEL strengths and provide practical supports that result in improved student outcomes. Because strengthening social-emotional skills is as important for educators as it is for students, we also offer the Educator Social Emotional Reflection and Training (EdSERT) tool. EdSERT is a professional development program to support the social-emotional competency and well-being of educators. For more information, go to http://www.ApertureEd.com.

About Move This World

Move This World cultivates the development of social and emotional learning (SEL) skills to empower students to navigate the complex and rapidly-changing realities of our world. An SEL program that has impacted the lives of over one million students across 35 states, Move This World provides educators and students with a robust, daily curriculum designed to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing in order to create and maintain healthy environments where effective teaching and learning can thrive. Move This Worlds extensive online library of PreK-12 videos and resources are rooted in creative expression and designed to help students develop a common language to improve communication, build trust, and create stronger communities. For more information:www.movethisworld.com.

Link:
Aperture Education Partners with Move This World to Provide Additional Social-Emotional Learning Strategies - eSchool News