iPod Essentials #54: "Nights in White Satin"--The Moody Blues

Ahhhhh, strings and and soulful questioning...

A rock classic, this song combines Justin Hayward's longing to understand himself ("Just what you want to be, you will be in the end") with the lush music of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Simple yet profound.

Silenced

As a CSUN alumnus, I am following the story of Esha Momeni, a graduate student, who was abducted in Tehran, while interviewing Iranian women for her thesis. Momeni was asking these women about their lives. The Iranian government objected, and has let Momeni know it. Currently, she is being held in solitary confinement.

Only for asking questions.

Momeni has no political motives. Although seemingly naive, she just wants to create an excellent graduate thesis, as most grad students do.

What does the Iranian government hope to gain by Momeni's inprisonment? Are they trying to send a message that they are a country of no questions, no answers, or else? Are they hoping that the U.S. will attempt to break her out of prison by force, so they can launch WWIII?

No, I think they're hoping Momeni go away quietly, like so many other women in Iran.

iPod Essentials #53: "Reach Out (I'll Be There)"--Four Tops

Levi Stubbs, the great singer of this group, passed away yesterday, so it's only fitting that he and the rest of the members get this spot on the list. Smokey Robinson said it best when he mentioned that no one could sing like Levi.

"Reach Out" is my favorite song of the Tops because of the intensity of Mr. Stubbs' vocals. You can feel his heart breaking as he sings to his lost love, all with a great danceable beat.

Sing away, Tops, wherever you are.

The Great Recession

It used to annoy me when my grandmother would occasionally mention the hardship she and her large family endured during The Great Depression: skipping meals, walking everywhere, going without. "It's over, Grandma," I'd say. "It won't happen again."

I was wrong.

Granted, this economic crisis that the U.S. and other countries are facing isn't considered a depression (not yet, anyway). It's left so many families fearful for the future. Who can afford to buy a home nowadays, or get good health insurance? So much for the new TV I wanted to buy around Christmas. Money is an endangered species.

It enfuriates me that corporate greed and lax governmental policies opened the door for this Great Recession. Those execs who are off partying or buying sportscars with money they never should have earned is wrong. Hopefully, they will pay the piper very soon. They should learn what the rest of us are going through: worrying when the mail arrives in the afternoon, seeing big bills, fearing for the future.

Overwhelmed

I feel overwhelmed in working on the last draft (what I hope to be the Submission Draft) of my newest novel. I need to cut and take out meaningless things. It doesn't help that my first-person narrator/protagonist is also a chatterbox.

What does an already overworked and stressed-out writer to do?

One thing at a time. As Anne Lamott says in her great guide on writing, BIRD BY BIRD, "One thing at a time, son. One thing at a time."

iPod Essentials #52: "Music to Watch Girls Go by"--Al Hirt

In light of the sky falling economically, I long for a simpler time, don't you? This short but catchy trumpet tune does just that.

Even though I was a tyke in the late 60's, this song reminds me of two things: THE DATING GAME and Wrigley's T-Berry gum.

What I would give for both right now...