Coffee and wine culture are powerful enough that some center their personality around them. Spunky adages like “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” and “I’m like wine, I just get better with age” are around for a reason.” The fact that a “coffeelover” archetype exists illustrates just how zealous real-life coffee fans can be. Picture a sweater-wearing java sipper in an exposed-brick cafe – one hand wrapped around a steaming mug, the other holding a Rimbaud anthology. The same cartoonish ideation is true of wine fans: Imagine a high-cheekboned fop limply swirling a long-stemmed glass of Lambrusco, and you begin to get the picture. To devoted fans, coffee and wine are more than just beverages.
The sommelier’s world stretches far beyond just red wine and white wine; there are rosés, orange wines, sparkling wines, natural wines, and more. According to the International Organization of Vine & Wine via Decanter, U.S. wine fans collectively
enjoyed 3.31 billion liters in 2021.
In the same way, light and dark roasts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to coffee. This year, the New York Post reported that most American coffee fans savor two cups every day. There are Arabicas, Brazils, Ethiopias, Colombias, and more – and just like wine, each different coffee features idiosyncratic differences, from nuanced to distinct. It’s perhaps fitting, then, that the process of tasting coffee is similar to how you taste wine.
The same basic structure and lexicon.
The coffee-tasting lexicon is nearly indistinguishable from a sommelier’s. Per Wine Enthusiast, descriptors like “fruit,” “floral,” “herbal,” and “spice” are all common wine descriptors. Similarly, Prima Coffee encourages java sippers to taste for fruitiness, sweetness, acidity and bitterness.
Both coffee-tasting and wine-tasting start with the nose. When tasting coffee, Bean Box says to smell the beans before and after grinding, again after the grounds are bloomed with water, and once more before taking the first sip. (It’s a lot of sniffing.) For tasting wine, The Spruce Eats says to swirl your glass for 10-12 seconds and gently inhale twice – first sharply, then deeply, nose nearly entering the mouth of the glass. Swirling coats the inside of the glass and introduces oxygen into the wine, which Food & Wine explains makes it easier to inhale its aromas.
“ To devoted fans, coffee and wine are more than just beverages.”
“Both coffee-tasting and wine-tasting start with the nose.”
47 years. Five Final Four spots. A national title in 2002-03. Hall of Fame. All of those Big East regular season and tournament championships. 30,000+ against the biggest of rivals. National relevance. A basketball phenomenon built from the ground up.
Jim Boeheim, ya done well.
Earlier last month, the 78-year-old retired or got fired or retired before being fired or resigned before getting fired or both sides just decided this was it. Confused? Join the club. But don’t waste your time speculating or guessing. We have arrived at this point. Athletic Director John Wildhack and Boeheim consistently mentioned “the plan in place” at the press conference moving Syracuse basketball into the next era. We had probably even less clarity of the situation after the presser. Onward. His name is on the court for a reason. Jim Boeheim made Syracuse basketball. Love him or hate him or meet in the middle, he is a legend, no doubt about that.
His 2-3 Zone has been used by many others, including his buddy Coach K. He has had global success and impact with Team USA. He, along with so many amazing coaching personalities and players formed arguably the best basketball conference ever, the Big East. You read the first paragraph. You know the history of it all. But what about the future?
The future is here in the name of Adrian “Red” Autry. A former point guard under Boeheim who played under the white roof the exact way an SU guard should. Versatile and tempo-setting with a great dribble and passing ability to go along with a scoring touch. A five-tool point man. The man can also coach. He’s great with the media and he’s a nice guy. That smile doesn’t hurt one bit.
Was Autry named rather quickly? Were you expecting a full coaching search to last months as we wait for Rick Pitino or Matt Langel or whoever else to be available for interviews? Again, don’t speculate or guess for two reasons. One, Autry was always the guy. Two, Name, Image and Likeness and the Transfer Portal have thrown college basketball and sports for the ultimate loop. Who will be on the roster year to year? Autry being named head coach right away allows him to go to the current Orange roster and add to his existing relationships with the players, just in a new title only, head coach.
Some wanted Gerry McNamara. And we know why. G-Mac is arguably the most beloved player in school history. But, again, Autry was the guy all along. People tell me his style and communication skills are off the charts. G-Mac has that also, but could you imagine the PR nightmare if Syracuse stays mediocre or drops even more with McNamara as head coach? Would you be forced to fire him? No one wants to decide that.
At the end of the day, Autry deserves a chance just like everyone else. As this article is being written, Autry has landed CNY native and Notre Dame transfer JJ Starling. Pretty good start. Also, his mention of doing whatever it takes to win a game sounds like a guy who could mix things up a little, come out of certain habits more and see how it goes. The 2-3 Zone is an amazing defense when it works, but when you give up 61 3-pointers in four games, maybe trying something new makes sense. After all,
“Love him or hate him or meet in the middle, he is a legend, no doubt about that.”
Jim Boeheim
Michael Jordan missed free throws, too.
So here we are. An end of an era for Syracuse basketball and the start of another. The crowds will come and the bars will be packed on Game Day. Syracuse basketball will live on.
But it never would have started living without Jim Boeheim. It started with the recruitment of Louis and Bouie and into Pearl and eventually Carmelo and the rest and the success speaks for itself. 47 years is beyond a great ride. It’s an unthinkable ride of loyalty and commitment and will to win that we will never see around these parts again. Congrats, Jim Boeheim, and thank you for all the memories.
And with that, the Syracuse Orange basketball program is very much “Red.”
As in Adrian “Red” Autry. It’s his time now. It’s his opportunity. Just give him a chance.
PUB li SHE r: Shawn Fresina
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Jim Bastian
GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Lauren Brown, Jamie wallace
Mike Lindsley has been in sports media for 25 years. He is the host of the ML Sports Platter Podcast available on Apple-Spotify-anywhere you get your podcasts. Follow him on YouTube and Twitter @MikeLSports. AD
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Business oF interest by Nancy Roberts Syracuse Wine Festival
PreVentatiVe mediCine by Dr. Barry Seeing is Believing
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dining out by Keri Micale Phoenix Sports Restaurant
word on tHe street by Bill McClellan Blackmail
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“A five-tool point man. The man can also coach. He’s great with the media and he’s a nice guy. That smile doesn’t hurt one bit.”
by nanCy roBerts
What do you need to know about the Syracuse Wine Festival, other than, of course, the dates, times, and location?
That it is truly a “festival,” and all that that implies.
It’s wine, spirits, food, music, and most of all – fun. It’s a celebration. A time to get together with friends and family and enjoy the bounty of our state, its farms, wineries, distilleries, specialty items, and foods.
There’s no need to explain the “why” of a festival, the fun, anticipation and memories say it all. But I was curious about the “how” – as in, how did this festival get started?
I spoke with Tim and Jenny Cianciola about the genesis of the Festival, and it seems that they’ve been in the business of putting on events, festivals, and juried expos through their Vermont-based Craftproducers organization for quite a while. Tim was also working on a yearly balloon fest at the Saratoga County Fair, and there
with a man looking for a partner to produce New York wine festivals. When his partner decided to dedicate himself to another business, Tim and Jenny folded Empire State Wine Events into Craftproducers, and one of the benefits to us here, in Syracuse and Central New York, is the Syracuse Wine Festival.
Back to that idea of “festival,” it’s worth noting that while wine is certainly the focus, and you’ll be enjoying unlimited samples of wines and spirits from across the state (and purchasing take-home bottles which will be conveniently stored for you in the holding area til you’re ready to head home), you’re also going to experience a whole world of other fun activities that pair well with your favorite New York State wines, spirits, and cider. And an array of specialty food and novelty items will be available for you to try
– confectionaries, beauty items, sauces, soaps, candles, jerkies, cheeses, and so much more.
Music is a given – and while dedicated DJ Tom Soccocio, Jr. spins your favorites, you can step onto the dance floor or into the photo booth – complete with a suite of fun and funny props – to record your good times with friends. You’ll go home with a printed photo strip, and you can text or email your images to let your out of town friends know what they’re missing!
Maybe you enjoy getting creative while you sip? This year the “Artzy Nana,” Diana Myers, will be offering a free guided 20 minute Paint ‘n Sip lesson to get your artistic juices flowing.
Or perhaps you had a long week (and maybe we’re still shoveling snow as April draws near)? Well fear not, the festival has booked Hand in Health chair massages – just $1 a minute for anywhere from 5-15 minutes. Queue up quickly, as I will bet this venue will be popular! You just sit down in a speciallydesigned chair and relax.
For some, relaxing means game time – and once again, you’re in for a treat with games like chess, checkers, or Connect 4 to entertain you and your friends.
And three fabulous
continued on pg 8
“A time to get together with friends and family and enjoy the bounty of our state, its farms, wineries, distilleries, specialty items, and foods.”
CNY Regional Market, Bldg F
2100 Park Street. Syracuse NY
Admission includes:
Unlimited sampling of Wines, Spirits, and Specialty Foods
DJ • Paint-n-Sip • Photo Booth •••
There will also be full meals and beverages for sale (not included with the ticket price) from select food trucks, and other artisan vendors selling their items. •••
Session 1: 1-4pm, $25
Session 2: 6-9pm, $30
VIP: 5-9pm, $35
Details, tickets, and more online at Tickets are limited so don’t wait!
EMPIRESTATEWINEEVENTS.COM/SYRACUSE-WINE-FESTIVAL
empirestatewineevents.com/syracuse-wine-festival/ www.facebook.com/syracusewinefest
“You’ll be enjoying unlimited samples of wines and spirits from across the state (and purchasing take-home bottles which will be conveniently stored for you in the holding area til you’re ready to head home).”
Spring street styles are already starting to surface around the globe – giving a solid preview of what styles to expect when the weather begins to really warm up. Spring 2023 appears to be a playful combination of textures, sparkle, and skin. Don’t be surprised to see even more bra tops, as well as short skirts, sheer blouses, and plenty of denim. From head-to-toe denim looks to wide-leg jeans, light washes, and maxi jean skirts, there’s no shortage of ways to experiment. For Spring 2023, fashion is a mix of retro and futuristic looks. Here are the top street style trends to try.
Bra tops fit the less is more mentality. More skin and less fabric do the trick. Feeling modest? Layer with a jean jacket or blazer to complete the look and opt for high-waist pants. Or, wear the bra over the t-shirt to show a little less skin. And, for those really feeling like making a statement, head-to-toe denim is on-trend.
Short skirts aren’t new to 2023. In fact, mini skirts have been trending for awhile. Nonetheless, expect to see plenty of them in 2023. Pair with utilitarian combat boots for a look that’s both punk and modern. And, a more modest look on top helps to create balance.
Channel your inner school girl by wearing ankle socks with your loafers or Mary Janes. Bonus points if you can work in some ruffles. The vibe is preppy and perfect for spring when temperatures haven’t risen to summer levels yet. Add in pigtails or braids if you’re feeling extra playful.
Sheer blouses and texture are on-trend for 2023. Layer under a blazer or wear over a bra top if you’re feeling more modest than some of the other fashionistas out there. Spring is also the perfect time to bring in a feminine floral aesthetic.
A maxi jean skirt is a statement piece. Pair with stilettos for added grace and femininity. Shop a long jean skirt with a slit if you’re feeling the need to add a little skin.
Light wash denim is totally ‘80s, which makes sense because ‘80s fashion is a big influence for 2023. Tuck your denim into some futuristic white boots to complete the look. Combine the Blazer With a Crop Top
Blazers have been big for the last few years. Make the look more fashion forward by finding a blazer crop top. Extra credit for a preppy pattern like gingham or plaid.
Create a showstopping look by bringing in glitter or sparkle. 2023 is all about texture and making a playful statement.
Jumpsuits will be a popular option for spring and summer 2023. Stand out by picking a bold pattern or adding some shine. A one-shoulder jumpsuit is also a fun twist on the popular look.
“Spring 2023 appears to be a playful combination of textures, sparkle, and skin. Don’t be surprised to see even more bra tops, as well as short skirts, sheer blouses, and plenty of denim.”Short skirt and boots Socks with dress shoes Maxi jean skirt Sequined Bra Top by oLiVia o’Bryon
by nanCy roBerts
As I often do, I’m reading more than one book at the same time. Typically, I’ll read one book of fiction, one history, one subject of inquiry (an anthology of British literature, or an investigation of the cosmos, for example), and maybe a book on gardening or Shakespeare’s London.
I’m reading two works of fiction right now, one written about 10 years ago by a male author, and one written within the last two by a female. Lately, per requests, I’ve read quite a few contemporary works of fiction by women.
I’ll start by acknowledging the obvious as regards these two books: the male writer’s subject is speculative fiction/horror, and the female’s is a blend of historical and contemporary romance. So, there are obvious differences in subject matter right from the start.
But since I’m reading roughly 2 chapters per book per day of each of these books, and usually back-to-back, I began to focus on some of the differences in style, word choice, POV, and plot movement – and couldn’t help wondering about the somewhat obvious differences.
That got me thinking about male vs. female fiction writers, what they write about, long-lasting characters created by each, and even stylistic trends.
First, it’s important to note that both men and women have been writing works of fiction for a long, long time. While novels really came into their own in the 19th and 20th centuries, you can travel back to ancient Greece for mythic tales from Homer and Aesop, and look to the early 1700’s at Miguel de Cervantes and “Don Quixote” for an early typical novel structure. While many credit Cervantes with being the first “modern” novelist, I’ve also heard Dumas, Flaubert, and Richardson with “Pamela.”
And it is also true that while women found it difficult to get published as women in the early days of The Novel (and the Bronte sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily famously published as Acton, Currer, and Ellis Bell) women have been writing, and being widely read, since at least the Renaissance. Laura Cereta (1469-1499) and Cassandra Fedele
(1465-1558) are just two names that have lived on.
Modern “fiction” however, is largely the result of the advance in printing and wider availability of books, and the wider literacy rates, allowing the average person to consume books as entertainment as well as information. Thus, by the 1800s the idea of reading just “for fun” became popular – especially among young women who consumed romances and Gothic novels as avidly as today’s reader will enjoy historical or speculative fiction.
For a time, especially when magazines were popular, the short story also enjoyed its day in the sun – though the “short story” goes all the way back to pre-literate days when bards would recite epic poems, fairy tales, and quasi-historic tales of adventure like the Vedas or the Norse sagas. Early modern literature was full of short story or “novella” writers, like Poe, Hawthorne, Melville and Washington Irving, and by the 20th century, having a short story as part of weekly and monthly magazines was expected – and of course, there were the “pulps,” or story anthologies, often richly illustrated, and full of tales often of a dedicated genre, like cowboy stories, mysteries, or Sci-fi.
While I can’t say enough about 18th and 19th century male writers – the Poes, Dickens, Twains, Faulkners and Fitzgeralds of the literary fiction canon (and for simplicity’s sake I’m ignoring the wider WORLD of stories, because there were brilliant works from early history on forward from all over the globe), I was equally delighted to discover the Brontes, Jane Austen, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mary Shelley as novelists of the 18th century, continuing on to Agatha Christie, Ayn Rand, and Harper Lee.
My inquiry into male vs. female in the world of modern literature certainly didn’t come about as a result of having read ONLY men, or ONLY women. It wasn’t because there weren’t plenty of both in both fiction and non-fiction – and plenty of excellent and acclaimed writers, both male and female, to read. My curiosity was provoked mainly by reading, side by side and simultaneously, modern “pulp” (which is to say not necessarily prize-winning) fiction by a male writer, and a female writer. And this on the heels of having done so for the past few months.
Fiction, we’re told by our literature classes, is comprised of four main characteristics: character, plot, setting, and theme. Who’s in it, what happens to them, where does it take place, and what are the underlying themes (is it a love
story, is there a Big Point, is it a war story, etc.). And to that I would add “voice.” Who’s talking, and importantly, HOW are they talking.
And here’s where I found the biggest difference, and why I say – guardedly – that I find most of the ordinary fiction I read that is written by men to be less (and here I am searching for the right word) intrusive? Breathy? Wordy?
There is a trend in newer fiction for the multi-POV book. While the “I” voice is common, it’s become quite popular to devote a chapter to one character (who might live centuries divided from the next), and one character speaking first person, followed by another character who is observed third person by a semi-omniscient narrator, and possibly even a third voice which is just a news story or report that somehow plays into the narrative. And as it happens, both the female writer and male writer in my current set of books are following this pattern and spinning their yards through multiple voices and setting these characters in differing times and/or places.
Subject matter, oddly, isn’t what draws the biggest comparison between my male writers and female writers.
Horror, sci-fi, literary fiction, historic, romance or adventure might easily come from either the men or the women.
There is a marked tendency for women to write by or for women, and vice versa, though it’s not universal, especially when writing in the third person (“he” did this and that, rather than “I” did).
No, the two biggest differences, and they really stood out, were how many words it took to get to the point, and how “feelings” vs. “action” were emphasized.
In one book, the character “glances her eyes upward to the sky,” and “folding my arms, I glanced down and studied the river.” My internal editor drew a red mark through “her eyes” and “upward,” then wondered why a glance needed folded arms and a “study,” and immediately wanted my 5 seconds back for having to read those un-necessary words, and was even more pestered that neither glances resulted in anything that moved the plot. Six chapters in, and two things have happened: a woman has left her husband and a man has been poisoned (in different times historically, so they aren’t directly connected – yet). There is a great deal of suffering, and much interior mental musing. There is very little conversation or action, a lot of clutching of cool sheets and warm mugs of tea.
In the other, a character jumps from a cliff, abandons his team, breaks a bone, and hides in a disgusting hut in a single paragraph, and of the four characters involved in various ways in this sci-fi world deep under the Earth’s crust, each one tells us repeatedly that all the many things they are doing and places they are venturing are dedicated to rescuing The Children. So we understand that their fell purpose, and violent deed, are noble. But trying to keep track of who is where and get a fix on quickly shifting purpose and means involves a bit of work, as things move rapidly forward. We are occasionally treated to a character’s interior musing, but usually it’s conveyed by the hard set of the mouth or intent stare, or a sudden movement. The plot tends to be relentlessly rapid. Some of this is simply the result of the speed with which novels now go from pen (or computer) to print, often with little editorial input, and often attempting to conform to reader preferences and expectations. After Diana Gabaldon premiered her “Outlander” series, it wasn’t six months before another time traveling heroine encountered a lusty historic Scot who chased her through time and peril. Spot a trend, and writers will be happy to oblige with more of what we seem to want. The “Harry Potter” series kicked off many a “magical children” set of adventures, and going back some, Jean Auel’s “Clan of the Cave Bear” books even made pre-history habitable by a wide array of characters. But as to my observation of the male versus the female writers, at least in my own recent adventures in books, where the women will tell us the color and fabric of the clothing the heroine wears, whether her eyes feel gritty or full of tears and where they are focused, in the same situation, the men will have ripped the non-descript clothing jumping into a river to save the boat that has slipped its mooring and he’ll be blinded by the blood dripping down his face as he has wrestled his way onto the boat and is now confronted with how to control it. All in the same number of words.
“No, the two biggest differences, and they really stood out, were how many words it took to get to the point, and how “feelings” vs. “action” were emphasized.”By sam weinman
I probably don’t need to tell you this, but this is not a Sunday morning at 8 a.m. activity. Or at least not if you plan to go to a golf course that includes other humans. (If you happen to have your own private golf course at your disposal, I encourage you to do what you want. I also have reason to believe you and I can become best friends. I’ll follow up). Restricting family golf time to evening hours is not only advised out of consideration for your fellow golfers, but also for your own sanity. Trust me, there’s nothing fun about watching your kid hit eight consecutive shots in the bunker while some crankasaurus stands with his hands on his hips in the fairway. I’m a firm believer that kids need to have a general respect for pace of play even at a young age, but you’re setting yourself up for disaster if you don’t allow for the occasional delay.
Look, I spend as much time as any parent trying to push against my kids’ fixation with material possessions. It’s a problem, particularly on an editor’s salary. But face it, part of the fun of golf for kids is all the stuff that comes with
it. I’m not advocating you buy them a brand new set of Callaways. But even the littlest things make a difference – ball markers, tees, the occasional sleeve of balls. This should get you through the first month or so of their golf careers. Then they’ll see their first Nike commercial and you’re screwed.
This is another one of those philosophical compromises you need to make when it comes to golf with kids. As a golfer, you may be a devout walker because you feel like that’s the way the game should be played and because you welcome the exercise. But a golf cart to kids is like an amusement ride. It’s fun, it’s conducive for some meaningful exchanges every now and then, and it cuts into the fatigue factor that is inevitable when you’re hoofing it carrying your own bag. I’m not saying you should take a cart every time you play with your kids. But this is one area where your inner golf snob needs to keep his trap shut.
Using a cart adds a level of fun
This should probably be first on the list because it plays such an integral role in your child’s enjoyment of the game. There is nothing noble about forcing your kid to play the same yardage as you. My boys are 10 and 7, and they love teeing off from the 150-yard marker with the outside chance they might drive the green. It makes the course manageable and allows
introduced a new system that is relevant to their respective levels. While the objective may be to get the ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible, I’ve told my boys to grade each shot on a three-point scale: If it’s a good shot or better for them, give it a plus-1. If it’s OK or pretty typical, it’s a 0. And if it’s a horrible shot, it’s a -1. Regardless of what you score the traditional way, any round with a positive score is a victory.
This is another reason you’re better served playing when the course is virtually empty. You want to be able to teach your kids some basic decorum on the course –waiting for their turn to hit, not making snow angels in the bunkers – without turning the game into some sort of charm school on grass. If your kids are young, you want to give them a basic sense of respect for the course and other players, but you don’t want them to think of golf as merely a collection of things they’re not allowed to do. In other words, pick your spots.
them to experience at least some positive reinforcement before they discover how miserable this game can be. Speaking of which…
My boys are such insane, competitive little animals that they insist on keeping score the traditional way. But I’ve also
Even when playing with only adults, golf is a game of managing expectations. When I’m playing with my boys, I still want to hit good shots, but I also have to expect someone to be, at best, fidgeting during my backswing or, at worst, trying to bludgeon his brother with a driver (OK, it was just that one time). Paradoxically, it is because I expect so little out of my game during these outings that I tend to play some of my best golf. In other words, as long as no one ends up in the Emergency Room, you should consider the outing a success.
“Trust me, there’s nothing fun about watching your kid hit eight consecutive shots in the bunker while some crankasaurus stands with his hands on his hips in the fairway.”
I have been working a lot on the cholesterol and statin issue and my Nurse Practitioners have asked where I get all my material from. It’s certainly not what they are reading in the institutions that trained them. If I still trained medical residents I would ask them about their curriculum as well but I doubt they are focusing on the metabolic state and the microbiome. Excess insulin from excess carbohydrates creates inflammation that affects everything from diabetes, cancer, heart disease and even dementia. Just like the Omega 3/6 oils that also have a major impact on your health at the cellular level, your insulin level is easily measured. According to Drs.
Gundry and Attia, insulin is probably the best marker of both your current health and a predictor of your future health. Yet, the vast majority of healthcare providers are still practicing under guidelines that were outdated years ago.
However, once you start down the rabbit hole on Youtube you encounter credible source after credible source that reviews the science and the studies and paints a very different picture than the status quo. I have already given you links to the great Dr. Nadir Ali...a cardiologist who has many videos like, “Do statins prevent or cause heart disease.”
https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=o_
QdNX9etCg
Of course Dr. Aseem Malhotra, again a cardiologist and public health expert, has weighed in on this issue with his video, “Too much medicine and the
great statin con”...https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=mAoTwfx1Sic&t=1303s, but he also addresses the issue with big pharma in this video entitled “Evidence based medicine has been hijacked.” https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=qwovXFzUvfg
Ivor Cummins the engineer and systems analyst, covers the major determinants of your health including insulin resistance in this great video, “Avoiding and Resolving Modern Chronic Disease” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IU-33EucMc
“According to Drs. Gundry and Attia, insulin is probably the best marker of both your current health and a predictor of your future health. Yet, the vast majority of healthcare providers are still practicing under guidelines that were outdated years ago.”Excess insulin from excess carbohydrates creates inflammation
No one does a better job talking about the dangers of the seed oils in our diet than Dr. Chris Knobbe, “Omega 6 Apocalypse: Do Seed Oils Cause Obesity & Chronic Disease”...they are everywhere and they are poisoning you and you can easily get the levels
blood work. https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=H0bRGsev4fI
However, Dr. Paul Mason really shines in his videos that combine the sordid history of statin drugs with the dangers of the seed oils that are really clogging your arteries even as they are given the Heart Association’s seal of approval because they lower cholesterol. He reviews the articles that show that 70% of people admitted to the hospital did not have elevated LDL (the so-called bad cholesterol). He also focused on the triglyceride/HDL ratio as being the really important measure of your lipid profile...NOT your cholesterol or your LDL! He reviews the multiple studies that show that plant sterol which looks like cholesterol are probably the real cause of hardening of the arteries. Plant sterols which are proinflammatory and cause generalized oxidation are concentrated in the seed oils you love to use in cooking, frying and salad dressings. If it’s not Olive oil or Avocado oil or MCT oil it’s not good for you. Okay there is one processed oil that is actually good for you from Zero Acre Farms.
The reason this oil is healthy is because it’s fermented and that’s about as natural a process as you could ask for.
Part 1: The truth about high cholesterol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdgS3PuSuyg&t=833s
Part 2: The shady truth about statins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7r4j1u42V8&t=840s
Part 3: Hard science on the cause of heart disease
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xCr3mvFCHM
If you watch any of the three videos just listed it will change forevermore your thoughts on saturated fats, cholesterol, statins and heart disease. If we could get your primary caregiver or your cardiologist to watch these videos it just might get them to question everything they have been saying for years. It’s difficult to look at information that challenges your beliefs but that’s how science works. I am always looking for any health care professional who is willing to discuss this on the radio show...cardiologist or otherwise. Likewise I am open to any infectious disease expert to discuss the vaccine, masking etc. Let the public hear both sides of the argument and come to their own conclusion. I’m not holding my breath.
Until next month...get well and stay well JT BARRY MD
“Dr. Paul Mason really shines in his videos that combine the sordid history of statin drugs with the dangers of the seed oils that are really clogging your arteries even as they are given the Heart Association’s seal of approval.”
Let’s make a bet – here goes. I bet that you will have an excellent meal eaten every time you go to the Phoenix Sports Restaurant. You may recognize this restaurant from driving by on 481 where you noticed the OTB sign. The Phoenix Sports Restaurant at the OTB is anything but your typical gaming parlor. Of course there are plenty of TVs (150!)
The Phoenix Sports Restaurant is conveniently located at 228 Huntley Rd. in Phoenix, right off of 481 and they are open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. You can check out their menu at http://www. phoenixsportsrestaurant.com/
Phoenix Sports Restaurant is a cozy and inviting establishment that caters to sports fans, horse racing enthusiasts and foodies alike. This restaurant boasts a great menu, friendly service, and a lively atmosphere that makes it a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. One thing that stands out about Phoenix Sports Restaurant is its menu. Their huge, fresh and made from scratch menu offers a wide range of appetizers, munchies, sandwiches, burgers and full (gigantic) entrees that cater to a variety of tastes and dietary needs. Whether you’re in the mood for classic American fare like burgers and wings, or something a little more adventurous like their delicious frog legs, Phoenix Sports Restaurant has got you covered.
to watch games and the ponies and bets to be placed but this restaurant is absolutely family friendly. When I say it’s family friendly, I’m trying to tell you two things: first that your kids are welcome and second that you’ll love the prices when feeding an entire family!
In addition to their great menu, the service at Phoenix Sports Restaurant is also worth noting. The staff is friendly, attentive, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure their customers are satisfied. They are also very knowledgeable about the menu and can make recommendations based on your preferences and give you suggestions based on their favorites.
Kyle, the kids and I went to the Phoenix Sports Restaurant on a lovely Thursday evening. We were excited as always because we absolutely love this restaurant!
“It is a huge helping of deep fried heaven including huge chicken wings, tempur vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms) and we also asked to try the deep fried dill pickles.”Garlic Pizza Strips Garden Salad
The seafood is unbearably fresh, the portions are gigantic, the prices are astonishingly low, and everyone there is just so darn friendly! We sat at a big table so we could spread out with the kids and all of their luggage! Maggie really loved looking at all of the horses (neighs as she calls them). We began our meal with probably the best fried sampler platter around! It is a huge helping of deep fried heaven including huge chicken wings, tempur vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms) and we also asked to try the deep fried dill pickles. We asked our awesome server, Lisa, what her suggestions are and she highly recommended the garlic pizza strips because these are her fav! She was absolutely right and this dish was so so so yummy! This mountain of scrumptious is served with a bunch of dipping sauces and will be a crowd pleaser. For our entrees I knew what I was going to order when I made the reservation – Scallops! The best scallops! The seafood is
It’s no gamble that you will be getting a fresh and delicious meal every single time at Phoenix Sports Restaurant. Every dish is cooked to order and everything is homemade. They never cut corners at Phoenix Sports Restaurant where they use only the best fresh ingredients; even the fish has been hand selected by a seafood expert and is delivered through the week! They take pride in knowing that every customer leaves happy and full! All in all, Phoenix Sports Restaurant is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a great meal in a fun and welcoming atmosphere for the whole family. With its extensive menu, AMAZING food, excellent service, and lively atmosphere, it’s easy to see why this restaurant has become a local favorite! Do your tastebuds a favor and head to the Phoenix Sports Restaurant today.
always super fresh and they sure know how to broil a scallop! This meal, served with your choice of two sides (I had a gorgeous garden salad that was big enough to be a meal on its own and a mountain of french fries.) I really thought Kyle was going to order a steak because they can also cook a great steak but he surprised me with his chicken parm order. This super generous heaping helping of spaghetti, red sauce, and chicken parm was cooked to perfection. He gave it his best shot but still couldn’t finish his plate!
Phoenix Sports Restaurant
228 Huntley Rd., Phoenix 315-695-2245 or 315-278-6170
Open: 7 days a week, 11:30am – at least 9pm
“For our entrees I knew what I was going to order when I made the reservation – Scallops! The best scallops! The seafood is always super fresh and they sure know how to broil a scallop!”
According to the old adage, you are never supposed to judge a book by its cover. Keeping within that line of thinking, you’re probably not supposed to judge a movie based on its title, either. But, when I see a major motion picture called COCAINE BEAR, it’s difficult not to let curiosity take over. In an era when sequels, reboots, and franchises dominate the cinematic landscape, it’s refreshing when something a little different finds a way to carve a space of its own.
rATED: R
rUN TiME: 1h 35min
GENrE: Comedy, Thriller
STArriNG: Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr.
DirEcTOrS: Elizabeth Banks
WriTErS: Jimmy Warden
GRADE: B-
Directed by Elizabeth Banks, COCAINE BEAR is set in the mid-80’s and is the wild tale of a black bear who ingests a ton of cocaine, develops a hankering for the drug, and goes on a violent rampage against anyone who stands in the way of his buzz. Credit should be bestowed to Banks (whose starring vehicle SLITHER was equally audacious back in 2006) for taking on a project as absurd as this one, and she does a fantastic job of capturing the tone needed to make this work. It has all the hallmarks of an 80’s creature-feature, including a phenomenal soundtrack, characters who make terrible decisions, and a boatload of blood and gore.
Sari (Keri Russell) is a nurse and a single-mom a middle schooler named Dee Dee (Brooklynn Prince.) While Dee Dee wants to go paint a waterfall at the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest on the weekend, Sari wants them to spend the weekend in Nashville with her new boyfriend. Bummed that she can’t paint the falls with her mom, Dee Dee ditches school with her pal Henry (Christian Convery) in order to head out into the wilderness. When they arrive at the park, they find a couple of bricks of cocaine strewn in the bushes, and after trying a big ol’ spoonful, are accosted by the titular character who already had one solid mauling under his pelt. Meanwhile, drug dealer Syd (Ray Liotta) is on the hook with the cartel for the missing coke. It was supposed to be delivered on his behalf, but instead, it ended up falling out of an airplane (along with the courier who was transporting it) and is now missing in action. He sends his son Peter (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and associate Daveed (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) to track it down and retrieve it.
If this sounds like a lot of plotlines for a movie called COCAINE BEAR, you should probably know that I haven’t even gotten to the part about the love-struck park ranger (an amazing-as-always Margo Martindale), and a dog-adoring detective (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) Like most of the 80’s flicks that served as the inspiration here, characters are introduced and plots are thinly devised so there will be an excuse for the creature to have plenty of people to devour along the way. That is certainly what is happening here, but the cast has enough tongue-in-cheek fun with the content that COCAINE BEAR treads that fine line between hilarious and hokey. Liotta, who tragically passed away during the course of filming, is particularly good as the gruff, seething, no-nonsense heavy. It’s the type of roll that he had perfected over the past couple of decades and he puts it to great use here. His was perhaps the one straight-faced performance in the whole production, but in his capable hands, it didn’t seem out of place.
Like most of its kind, COCAINE BEAR is not for the squeamish, but the gore is much more humorous than horrifying. Given the soundtrack, performances, and script, it is obvious from the beginning (and, let’s be honest, the title) that the film is aiming for gross-out comedy over full-blown terror, and this is likely what makes it work. It has generated a great deal of word-of-mouth success and shows that even though established entities are what is currently driving the market in Hollywood, there is still an audience for original material. Sure, sometimes people want to see Spidey sling his way across the screen, but quite obviously, they are also eager to watch a wild
animal ingest a ton of drugs and hilariously rage her way through the forest while the body count continuously rises.
COCAINE BEAR- B-
Now playing in theaters and available at home on video-on-demand.
“It has all the hallmarks of an 80’s creature-feature, including a phenomenal soundtrack, characters who make terrible decisions, and a boatload of blood and gore.”Drug dealer Syd, played by Ray Liotta Keri Russell Brooklynn Prince
Probably somewhere along the way, you tried a beer, it tasted like crap to you and you opted to never try another one again. Or perhaps you became fond of light beers like Michelob Ultra, Coors Light and Keystone in college, and never branched out beyond those. (Are we feeling triggered yet?) I’ve heard it all and then some. The truth of the matter is that you do like craft beer, you just haven’t found the one that tastes good to you...yet.
Truly there is an art to beer brewing and tasting. There are classes dedicated to finding “off” flavors in beer, and there are sommeliers of beer, known as cicerones. However, from a layman’s standpoint, and for the purpose of this article, we’re going to stick to basics.
The definition of palate per the Oxford English Dictionary is: “a person’s appreciation of taste and flavor.” Everyone’s palate is different; thus, why one person might perceive that beets taste sweet and slightly earthy, while to another person, beets taste like a mouthful of dirt. Our unique and individual palates play heavily into what beers we will actually enjoy. We have 5 basic tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. Most of us lean one way or another when it comes to our favorite flavors – ie. “I have a sweet tooth” or “I prefer snacks of pretzels and chips.” Regardless, it is possible to expand or develop our individual palates, but one must be willing to try new foods, experiment with different spices, and mix-and-match foods, liquids and spices in new and different ways. It also involves savoring the meal or drink in front of you and really taking the time to consciously examine the bites and sips you put into your mouth.
So where do I start?
The main idea to figuring out what type of beer you might like starts with the flavors and beverages you already enjoy – both alcoholic and not.
You like: Coffee, espresso, Kahlúa, White Russians – Whether you’re someone who
enjoys one cup of coffee in the morning with breakfast, or several throughout the day, the best place for you to start in the word of beer is with dark beers – Porters and Stouts in particular. These beers are going to not only have coffee flavors, but they will have complexity, much in the same way that there are complexities in different varieties of coffees and on the spectrum of light roasts to dark roasts. If you’re someone who tends to drink their coffee black, Dry Stouts are going to be your best bet.
Suggestions: Brunch by Willow Rock Brewery (Syracuse, NY) – an excellent oatmeal coffee stout made with Recess Coffee & Cedarvale Maple Syrup – even with the syrup, it’s not terribly sweet. Éirinn Go Brunch by Willow Rock Brewery is the aforementioned beer but with added Irish Cream, making this version slightly sweeter and creamier. Morning Timber by Beer Tree Brew (Port Crane, NY) is a coffee stout with just a smidge of vanilla, not being overly sweet, but still plenty tasty and Guinness Draught by Guinness (Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish Dry Stout and a true classic to say the least.
You like: Hot chocolate, chocolate milk, desserts – If you enjoy desserts and sweets, dark beers of Porters and Stouts are again going to be the way to go. Milk Stouts lend both a sweetness and creamy (or “milkshake”) mouthfeel to the brew itself; this is due to the lactose that is added to the beer. Other stout varieties that one would enjoy will be labeled as Pastry Stouts or Dessert Stouts. Many of these beers have notes of chocolate, vanilla, toffee, caramel, coffee, and sometimes even fruit added to the mix. You can even find beers with peanut butter – I know there are A LOT of Reese’s fans out there!
Suggestions: Hood Muff by ONCO Fermentations is a perfectly balanced Imperial Milk Stout bursting with flavors of dark chocolate and raspberry. Clawfoot Bathtub: Pumpkin Spice by Fifth Frame Brewing Company (Rochester, NY) is a Pastry Stout with a rich, walloping of pumpkin, sweetness and pumpkin pie spices, straight to your tastebuds! (Tip: Fifth Frame’s Clawfoot Bathtub series will meet ALL of your dessert beer needs!) Black Boar Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter by Full Boar Craft Brewery (North Syracuse, NY) is chock-full of peanut-buttery goodness and another lighter, semi-sweet version that still boasts all the PB flavor is Peanut Butter Porter by Seneca Street Brew Pub in Manlius NY. You like: Fruit juices, tropical cocktails, cosmopolitans, margaritas, hard ciders, wine – Fruit beers, Gose, and Sours are a prime choice. There are plenty of different fruited beers being brewed from blueberry ales to cherry wheat ales. If you’re a fan of banana or bubblegum, a Hefeweizen is a good option too. Gose (pronounced “Goes-AH”) beers are salty-sour, usually fruited, and sometimes also have a bit of coriander. Sours tend to be slightly tart to totally mouth-puckering, most often also created with fruits of all sorts.
Suggestions: Godcilla: Strawberries and Peaches by Willow Rock Brewing Company – this fruited sour is not super sour at all but has delectably equal flavors of both fruits. Aesthesis Limoncello by ONCO Fermentations is a tart sour with loads of lemon and a hint of vanilla, not unlike the Italian liqueur. Trippy Tree – Berries & Cream by Beer Tree Brew – you could even almost tag this sour as a dessert beer with its layers of berries, vanilla, marshmallow and cake flavors! Prismatic Spray by Bullfinch Brewing (Syracuse, NY) – This fruited sour is reminiscent of rainbow sherbet with its flavors of raspberry, lime, and
“The main idea to figuring out what type of beer you might like starts with the flavors and beverages you already enjoy – both alcoholic and not.”
“Dark beers are too heavy.”
“i don’t like craft beer.”
“iPAs are gross.”
orange all swirled together into one tasty beverage! Vincent by Buried Acorn Brewing Company (Syracuse, NY) is a dark sour, beer/wine hybrid and totally worth trying if you’re a wine drinker.
You like: Mezcal, smoked meats – Rauchbier is German in origin and is a smokeyflavored beer created with malted barley that has been dried over an open flame – ie. A smoked malt. Different smoked beers impart different characteristics ranging from bacon and ham to campfires and ash. Lagers, Märzen, or Porters are some of the typical base beers utilized in creating a Rauchbier.
Suggestions: Smoke & Dagger by Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers (Framingham, MA) – this is a dark lager that is both smooth and smokey – bonus is that this craft beer is sold year-round at Wegmans, and is thus easy to find. Rauchbier by ONCO Fermentations (Tully, NY) – this smoked Märzen is a good example of how beers can vary a bit year to year; 2022’s version was very smokey, while this year’s version is less so, but still tasty! (Hint: Best way to keep track of your beers? Download the Untappd app! And while you’re at it, come follow my beer adventures! Merritka12 is my username.)
You like: Herbal teas, gin –Saisons and Farmhouse Ales are a great option to subject your tastebuds to as these tend to be dry, refreshing, and typically herbaceous, lemony, and/or peppery, with a bit of earthy funk. And while I do not typically recommend starting out any new-comer to beer on IPAs, if you are a fan of earthy, dank, herbaceous, citrus and pine flavors, an IPA could very much be right up-your-alley. East Coast or New England IPAs are going to have more grassy, citrus hopped notes, while West Coast IPAs will be more bitter and have earthy, pine notes. Also, consider that with IPAs, don’t just give up if you don’t like it – IPAs tend to be an acquired taste. (Remember – we’re expanding that palate!)
Suggestions: Head yourself right over to either of the two Buried Acorn Brewing Company locations in Syracuse to check out their current list of Farmhouse Ales and Saisons. They typically have at least one to two available for consumption and the brews are consistently excellent and flavorful – one of my favorites being their Bière De Flore, a Farmhouse Ale. As far as IPAs go – a popular (and for good reason) New England IPA is Sloop Brewing Company’s (Hopewell Junction, NY) Juice Bomb. This aptly named beer scores low on the bitterness scale (but still with plenty of hops-flavor to be had), and scores very highly when it comes to being both citrusy and juicy. Wild Shape is Bullfinch Brewing’s version of a West Coast meets East Coast IPA – it is tough to find locally produced West Coast IPAs altogether – but this brew does a satisfyingly damn good job, with hoppy notes of citrus, pine, grass, and earth with a touch of bitterness.
You like: Manhattans, whiskey – Try an American Barleywine – a malt-forward strong ale, originating in England, this is not anything close to a wine – this type of beer is rich,
dark, complex, very boozy, slightly sweet and made for sipping!
Suggestions: There are two great local choices – Sticky Lips by Buried Acorn Brewing Company and Spill the Wine by Talking Cursive Brewing Company (Syracuse, NY); TCBC also makes a Bourbon-Barreled version of their American Barleywine called Kisses Sweeter Than Barleywine, which is also incredibly impressive.
You like: Bourbon – Bourbon-barreled beers are typically dark beers and ales that have been aged in a barrel that used to house bourbon. The bourbon notes and flavors settle into the beer directly from the wood of the re-used barrels, creating something both boozy and altogether otherworldly! Additionally, once-in-a-while, you’ll also find beer that has been aged in rum, gin, or wine barrels!
Suggestions: Bourbon Barrel Aged Mind Flayer by Bullfinch Brewing. I just had this Stout a few weeks ago and it was astoundingly delicious – I described it as “an adult boozy chocolate milk with roasty coconut notes.” *insert chef’s kiss here.* Bourbon Barrel Aged Dragonslayer by Middle Ages Brewing Company (Syracuse, NY) is a stout brewed and barrel-aged every year, and every year it turns out a bit different, but always oh-so-good.
You like: Mass-produced light beers (Michelob Ultra, Coors Light and Keystone) – just because you prefer light beers, doesn’t mean that you won’t find something you’ll enjoy at a craft beer bar or brewery. When you’re out, look for Pilsners, Kölsch, and Lagers on the menu.
Suggestions: Yard Boss Kölsch by Freight Yard Brewing (Clay, NY) – made with 100% New York Ingredients, this light straw-colored beer is crisp with a very subtle sweetness. If you’ve never tried a Kölsch (originating from Cologne, Germany), I implore you to do so, because if you love light beers, this might be a new favorite. Pompey Born Lager by Heritage Hill Brewery (Pompey, NY) is a clean and fresh lager brewed with barley, hops and corn – which gives this easy-drinking beer a slight sweetness on the finish. Congress by Willow Rock Brewing Company is another laid-back, approachable lager to check out, with recipe roots right here in the CNY area that date all the way back to the 1890s!
Another tip to follow in your search for finding a beer you’re fond of begins with how you order a beer. Opt for flights/small pours at a brewery or brew pub and/or ask your bartender for a sample first. This allows you to sample and taste several different types of beer in small quantities, creating less waste if you dislike one and don’t finish it while allowing for more varieties to test and thus opens up more possibilities to finding a beer that you love.
Craft beer comes in so very many different varieties that there surely is at least one brew out there that will challenge your expectations and expand your palate – there’s a whole vast world of beer out there, go enjoy it!
Cheers!
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE was the big winner at the most recent Academy Awards, taking home an impressive seven statues, including awards for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director. And, while the surreal adventure deserved every award it received, there was another film that had great showing in its own right. The savage adaptation of the classic novel ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT ended up taking home the prize for Best Score, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best International Feature.
Standing as a crowning achievement for its distributor Netflix, ALL QUIET may very well be the most brutal film I have ever seen. I’m sure there will be others who could toss out innumerable examples to prove me wrong, most of which I have probably seen and no doubt have their fair share of stomach-churning moments. When you take in the entire viewing experience, however, I can’t recall ever feeling quite like I did by the time ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT reached its devastating conclusion.
The film, directed by Edward Berger opens with an immersive and intense battle sequence on the front lines. We follow a young soldier in World War I as he makes his way through the blood soaked trenches and mud, with bullets flying and carnage unfolding all around him.
rATED: R
rUN TiME: 2h 28min
GENrE: Action, Drama, War STArriNG: Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer
DirEcTOrS: Edward Berger
WriTErS: Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell GRADE: A
He will, no doubt, be our protagonist for the rest of our journey. That’s how movies like this work. Only, he doesn’t make it through at all. He is another causality amongst millions, and his uniform is the only thing that survives. It will soon be given to the naïve Paul Baumer (Felix Kammerer) who faked his mother’s signature on his intake form in order to enlist. He, along with his eager friends, can’t wait to help win the war. The number of war movies produced since the dawn of cinema is staggering
“In his film debut, he was given the monumental task of capturing the innocence of a young man sold on the dream of saving his country, only to slowly dissolve into a shattered, numb, broken shell of a man.”
All qUiET
and there is no shortage of tales to tell. As time goes on, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide audiences with something they have never seen before. Most recently, Sam Mendes did so with 1917, an intense, technical marvel that was presented as if it were one continuous shot. With ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, Berger adapted Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel into a visually stunning exercise in filmmaking, showcasing the point of view of German soldiers. At the forefront of the battalion is Paul played with a haunting realism by newcomer Kammerer. In his film debut, he was given the monumental task of capturing the innocence of a young man sold on the dream of saving his country, only to slowly dissolve into a shattered, numb, broken shell of a man; one who has committed countless atrocities with little hope for redemption or inner peace. Kammerer shoulders this burden with the skill of a seasoned veteran, capturing the essence of a man whose entire way of life crumbles with each second spent in his crumbling boots. Violence will always be an essential component to any war story, but ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT is shocking and grotesque in ways that have rarely been seen. Much was made about Spielberg’s hyper-realistic take on the D-Day invasion in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, but the unflinching authenticity of the
sequences that unfold through ALL QUIET is utterly jarring. Whether it be on the open battlefield or down in the muck of the trenches, guns, knives, flames, and tanks bring about savage and sudden ends to some, and torturous, agony-filled suffering to others. Rarely have the horrors of war been so visceral, and when paired with the jarring, ingenious, Academy Award winning score by Volker Betelmann it is an assault on the senses that transports the viewer from their couch to the frontlines before you even realize what is happening.
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT- A (Now Streaming on Netflix)
A couple of months ago, I wrote an article about A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) generated art.
It’s possible to be glib about it and its repercussions because –well, because I’m not an artist.
But as one who does voice-over work, the idea that a voice, once sampled, could be used over and over without the initial “artist’s” involvement, ever again, has been lurking around the voice talent’s bad dreams for quite a while, but before that, technology created a challenge for the entire industry since it’s now possible for anyone, anywhere, with a computer, a reasonably cheap mic and some software to sit in a closet and record voice-overs. Of course, a good voice or a convincing pattern could still mean the difference between a job and none, but the initial investment and time in a very expensive studio were no longer requirements for most work. What was once a day-long commitment was whittled down to an hour or two.
Now add to it and possibility of using the
tone of any famous voice or voice type and simply generating it using A.I. Actors have rightly looked at what can be done with CGI – computer generated imagery – with some concern. We all know the fame of Andy Serkis, the actor who created the Gollum, the character in The Lord of the Rings cycle. He famously did all his acting in a green suit with tags at particular locations on his body so that his movements could be “skinned” with the body of the Gollum as created by artists. His performance was nevertheless riveting as he crept and leapt and snuck and slunk his way behind a computer-generated mask. But what if you work things the other way around – as some conspiracy theorists speculate – and take a famous face and simply “make” it do or say things he or she never has? There’s a nice little app called “Reface,” and using it plus a clip from a movie of your choosing, you simply tie your face (or a friend’s – or perhaps enemy’s?) and merge it with the movie clip’s main figure for very amusing results. But aside from the fun factor, it works so well and so quickly you have to wonder whether all that you see is “the real thing?”
By now you’ve no doubt seen the clips of actors or political figures merged with someone else speaking for them, again mostly used for entertainment purposes – but with such highly successful results you could easily be tricked.
“That is to say, since its inception, the sophistication and skill of A.I. writing has improved markedly, and will no doubt one day soon be able to emulate the style of say, Dickens, or Poe.”Voice-over artist
Not long ago, I went to a writers’ group session, and one of the offerings was an A.I. generated playlet. It was short, and to be honest, not knowing what it was I found it a little boring, though there was an amusing payoff at the end. But to be honest, it never crossed my mind that writing might become an endangered art. The person who brought it to us didn’t tell us that the project had been written by A.I., and though, as I noted, I found it a little ho-hum except for a clever ending, I would never have suspected it to be computergenerated.
At the time of its writing (2022), McKinsey Digital predicted that in the near future, “70 percent of companies will employ hybrid or multicloud management technologies, tools, and processes...5G will deliver network speeds that are about ten times faster than current speeds on 4G LTE networks, with expectations of speeds that are up to 100 times faster with 40 times faster latency.” (What that means is, no noticeable lag in your input and the A.I.’s output.) By 2024, more than 50 percent of user touches will be augmented by AI-driven speech, written word, or computer-vision algorithms, while global data creation is projected to grow to more than 180 zettabytes by 2025.” To put that into some sort of context, my first computer “really fast” computer had 4 megabytes of RAM. One zettabyte is 1 trillion gigabytes. Backing way up, a “byte” is typically a unit of data, the equivalent of 8 binary digits; a megabyte is one million bytes. So you get the picture.
The prediction is simply that computers will get more and more powerful and fast, and more and more of what is said, seen, and written will be generated by Artificial Intelligence.
Take predictive algorithms, like, that spellchecker we all hated so much. Over time, it has become more and more sophisticated and better at
correcting, or better put, predicting, the word you’re about to type into your computer or onto your smart phone. The phone lags your computer’s email app by quite a bit, and I find I can often go into just hitting “enter” as the application guesses how to finish my sentences with suggested words or phrases – embarrassingly sometimes doing a better job of finishing my routine email communications more professionally than I might have. That is to say, since its inception, the sophistication and skill of A.I. writing has improved markedly, and will no doubt one day soon be able to emulate the style of say, Dickens, or Poe. Much text has been fed to computers so that they “learn” a writer’s average sentence length, word choices, and other hallmarks of writing that let us quickly determine if a poem is Byron or Yeats as we read it. With that onboard, A.I. will undoubtedly be able to at the very least take a stab at Shakespeare someday.
To play with AI-generated writing, you can check out such apps as Ai Article Writer, Wordtune, or Ai Autowriter, among many others. The apps will either take your copy and “fix it,” or using a few prompts from you, create an entire article or paper or story, and you simply go in and fine tune it, if you wish.
And finally, no, this article is not written by A.I.
Just me.
“By now you’ve no doubt seen the clips of actors or political figures merged with someone else speaking for them, again mostly used for entertainment purposes – but with such highly successful results you could easily be tricked.”Gollum from Lord of the Rings
by JenniFer nastasi guzeLak
It can be very hard to stay on the path that will lead you to better health, especially when the chaos of life pulls us in every direction but the gym. Hiring a personal trainer might not seem like a necessity, but if you are inexperienced, want to get the most out of your workouts or are just looking to take things to the next level, a trainer is a great investment.
Why should you pay for a personal trainer? I want you to forget about the dollar signs for a moment, and just think about your life. If you could accomplish anything in the world, what would it be? What’s stopping you from doing it?
How much would you pay to feel good in your own skin? To build your confidence? To increase your energy and improve your mood? There are so many great reasons to invest in yourself and spending a onehour session with a fitness professional is by far one of the most important ones. If you’re still on the fence, here are a few reasons why personal training is the best investment you’ll ever make!
Typically, during your initial evaluation, your personal trainer will take some time to get to know you, and find out what you want to achieve from your sessions. If you simply say you want to lose weight, he or she will most likely dig deeper. When it comes down to it, there’s always something more that fuels our desire to transform our bodies. When you can recognize your “why,” you will build the confidence to push harder and think bigger, both inside and outside of the gym.
There’s nothing more frustrating than not seeing results, especially when you’re putting in the time and effort at the gym. This is where a personal trainer’s health and fitness expertise comes into play.
Your personal trainer understands exactly what it takes to lose weight, gain muscle, relieve chronic back pain or increase
athletic performance. They understand nutrition - healthy fats to include in your diet, good carbs vs. bad carbs, and how to determine the right macronutrients for your body. They also understand why your mindset is just as important as the physical work you put in. Your trainer will create a custom program tailored to your desired results, and check in weekly to make sure you have the support you need to meet your goals. They will also educate you so that when you stop working together, you will have the knowledge to craft workouts and make informed nutritional decisions on your own. Now, wouldn’t that be something?
“When you invest in a personal trainer, they become your cheerleader and the biggest advocate for your health.”
It can be very hard to stay motivated and hold yourself accountable. Especially after you’ve spent so much time on the couch this winter!
When you invest in a personal trainer, they become your cheerleader and the biggest advocate for your health. They will check in with you regularly to see how things are going. Depending on how often you meet, he or she may also provide you with a diet and workout routine for you to follow outside of your sessions.
When the commitment you made to reach your health and fitness goals dwindles, your accountability buddy or personal trainer is there to ensure you do more than talk the talk. He or she will help you stay accountable for your actions throughout your fitness journey. You are responsible for showing up to the gym, following your personal trainers’ advice and completing your workouts. Holding you responsible for following your training plan will enable you to stay the course long enough to reach your fitness goals.
If you’re new to the whole “lifestyle change” movement, it’s understandable that paying for personal training sessions can be a big decision. However, when you invest in yourself and your health, the benefits far outweigh the cost. The truth is, that if you continue to neglect your health, you could end up spending much more in medical bills as you age!
Fifty percent of personal trainer’s clients have health related disorders due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, diabetes or obesity. Others suffer from chronic low-back pain, need rehabilitation from an injury or are seeking pre/postnatal training. A fitness professional will not only choose a fitness routine that is most effective for you; they will also monitor you for any negative effects to exercise that are common to your conditions.
If your personal trainer checks off all the boxes, they will adjust your diet to help reduce or even get you off some of the medications you are taking. He or she can also work closely with your physician, physical therapist or other health care providers to plan a safe, efficient program that will speed your recovery without risking re-injury.
Working with a personal trainer is one of the fastest, easiest and most successful ways to reach your fitness goals. They are not just do-this-and-do-that people. They are your personal confidant when it comes to your fitness and general health. They will motivate you when you need it the most, inspire you when you forget “why” you started and encourage you to lead a healthier lifestyle. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to turn your
vision into a reality! Make the commitment to change your life today. With the right personal trainer, you can find the exercise program that works best for you and enjoy the experience of developing a lifestyle that places a high priority on your health and wellness.
If you’re ready to invest in a better you, I encourage you to reach out. There are many fitness facilities in your community that can help! Working with a qualified fitness professional is one of the best investments you’ll ever make. Good luck to you.
I have been a personal trainer for over eighteen years and I absolutely love what I do. I honestly feel that I have one of the best jobs out there! The most rewarding part of my profession is helping one of my clients succeed at reaching their personal fitness goals. Making a difference in someone’s life makes it all worthwhile. I am currently certified by the National Sports Conditioning Association, Apex Fitness Group, and the International Sports Science Association.
April 1
The Dirty Doves • 7-10pm
Brian’s Landing, Jamesville
April 1
Rock Steady Round TWO
Event with M3 • 5-7pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 1
Shawn Halloran • 8pm
Asil’s Pub, Syracuse
April 1
DJ Jordan • 6-9pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 1
Stryper • 7pm
del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo
April 1
Earth Crisis “Firestorm”
30th Anniversary • 6pm
The Lost Horizon, Syracuse
April 1
The Moxie Stings • 7-9pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse
April 1
JT Horne • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 2
Bones East Concert
Dewitt Community Church, Dewitt
April 2
Ella Drotar & Sammi Bollack • 6-8pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
April 6
Patrick Young • 5-8pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 6
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus • 6pm
The Lost Horizon, Syracuse
April 6
The Lizards: A Tribute to Phish • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
April 7
Lisa Lee Duo • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 7
Joe & Terry • 7-10pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse
April 7
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse
April 7
Ben Blujus • 7-10pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 7
Chico Freeman Quartet
Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn
April 7
Paega • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
April 8
Vynyl Nife • 6-10pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse
April 8
The Dirty Doves Trio • 8-11pm
The Village Tavern, Marcellus
April 8
Bockfest with John Liuzzo Band • 4-7pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 8
The Road Less Traveled • 6-9pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 8
Aaron Lewis • 8pm
del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo
April 8
Papadosio with Space Bacon • 8pm
The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse
April 8
Mark Zane • 12-2pm
Aurora’s Cafe & Gifts, North Syracuse
April 8
Mark Zane • 8-11pm
Harvey’s Garden, Syracuse
April 8
Fish Creek Rodeo • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 8
Chico Freeman • 7:30-10pm
Jazz Central Theatre, Syracuse
April 9
Raedwald Howland-Bolten • 6-8pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
April 10
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Oncenter Carrier Theatre, Syracuse
April 13
Shawn Halloran • 8pm
Limerick Pub, Syracuse
April 13
Bryan Syrell • 5-8pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 13
Mark Zane • 7-10pm
Dominick’s Sports Tavern, Oswego
April 14
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse
April 14
Jess Novak • 7-9pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 14
Marcella/Marcello • 7:30pm
First Unitarian Universalist, Syracuse
April 14
Shawn Halloran • 9pm
Angry Garlic, Baldwinsville
April 14
Josh Jay • 7-10pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 14
Red Hot Chili Peppers • 5pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 14
The Strokes • 6pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 14
Caleb Liber • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 14
Alice Howe & Freebo
May Memorial Unitarian
Universalist Church, Syracuse
April 15
Mystic • 7-10pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse
April 15
The Dirty Doves • 7-10pm
Brian’s Landing, Jamesville
April 15
Shawn Halloran • 2pm
Beak and Skiff, Lafayette
April 15
ScareKrow • 6-9pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 15
Brandon Santini
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse
April 15
Symphoria Masterworks VIII: Onward Symphoria • 7:30-9:30pm
Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse
April 15
CSN Songs: Celebrating the Music of Crosby Stills Nash and Young Cortland Repertory Theatre, Cortland
April 15
Butternut Creek Revival • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 16
The Dirty Doves • 6:30-7:30pm
Center for the Arts of Homer, Homer
April 16
Peyton & Fried • 3-6pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 16
Mark Zane • 1-3pm
Lunkenheimer Brewing, Weedsport
April 16
Women’s Voices Music Series:
Jess Novak
Liverpool Public Library, Liverpool
April 17
Dead Night w/Grateful
Upstate Toodeloo • 7:30-10:30pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
April 18
Anna Tivel & Jeffrey Martin
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse
April 18
Mark Valenti
Panasci Chapel @ Le Moyne College, Syracuse
April 19
Shawn Halloran w/TJ Sacco Black and Brew Pub, Syracuse
April 19
Brit Floyd
Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse
April 20
Jamie Cunningham • 8-11m
Limerick Pub, Syracuse
April 20
Natural Medicine • 5-8pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 21
13 Curves • 7-10pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse
April 21
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse
April 21
The Dirty Doves • 6-9pm DeMatteo’s, Rome
April 21
The Shylocks • 7-9pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 21
Paul Davie • 7-10pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 21
Mark Zane • 5-8pm Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Syracuse
April 21
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, Syracuse
April 21
Chris LeFever • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 22
The Dirty Doves • 8-11pm
Gibby’s Irish Pub, Oswego
April 22
Chris Taylor Trio • 6-9pm Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 22
Symphoria Kids III: Good Vibrations • 10:30-11:30am Inspirational Hall, Syracuse
April 22
Roll Over Festival • 5:30-10pm Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool
April 22
Tyler Sorrell • 6:30-9pm Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 23
German Beer Day with Fritz’s Polka Band • 2-5pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 23
John Spillett Jazz/ Pop Duo • 11am-2pm Blue Water Grill, Skaneateles
April 23
Irv Lyons Jr. & Loren Barringer Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles
April 27
Tiger • 5-8pm Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 28
Back Rhodes • 6:30-9:30pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse
April 28
The Dirty Doves • 7-10pm
The Irish Inn, Oswego
April 28
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse
April 28
Terry and Joe • 7-10pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 28
Old Deer String Band • 6:30-9pm
Middle Ages Brewing, Syracuse
April 29
Mike Farrar & House Rockers • 7-10pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse
April 29
The Vectors • 6-9pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 29
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Trio • 3-6pm
Anyelas Vineyards, Skaneateles
April 29
Domicolo and Barlow • 6-9pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton
April 29
Pacifica Quartet with Anthony McGill
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Syracuse
April 30
Spring Bizaar with Chad Bradshaw • 1-4pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 30
Syracuse Opera: The Marriage of Figaro
The Oncenter Crouse
Hinds Theatre, Syracuse
April 30
Professor Louie’s & The Crowmatrix in Concert • 6-8pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse
May 5
The Menzingers • 6-10pm
Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool
May 13
Carl Thomas • 7:30-10pm
Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool
May 19
Marc Caselle and the Regulars Band
Maplewood Events Center, Liverpool
June 21-25
National Grid Jazz Fest
Syracuse, NY
April 4-16
Our Town
Syracuse Stage Complex, Syracuse
April 14-23
Amadeus
Rome Community Theatre, Rome
April 27-29
MacBeth in Concert
Coyne Center for the Performing Arts
@ LeMoyne College, Syracuse
May 3-21
Tender Rain
Syracuse Stage Complex, Syracuse
May 9-14
Dear Evan Hansen
Landmark Theatre, Syracuse
May 12-21
The Bridges of Madison County, In Search of Love
The Red House, Syracuse
May 12-24
Cooking with the Calamari Sisters
Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn
May 26
Disney Juniors Dino Ranch • 6pm
Landmark Theatre, Syracuse
May 31-June 20
Evita
The REV Theatre Co., Syracuse
July 5-25
Into The Woods, The Musical
The REV Theatre Co., Syracuse A RT
April 6
Acrylic Pour & Pour
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
Thru April 9
Common Ground
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
Thru April 14
Back to the Toon Age
Edgewood Gallery, Syracuse
April 15 & 16
CNY Art Guild Spring Fine
Art Show and Sale
Aspen House, Baldwinsville
April 22
Push/Pull, Together/Apart
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
April 22
Slip Casting: Pattern & Colored Porcelain
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
Thru April 28
An Abundance of Birds
Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Marcellus
Thru May 7
Chromania
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
Thru May 14
Take Me To The Palace of Love
Syracuse University Art Museum, Syracuse
Thru May 14
50th Anniversary: Selections from Light Work Collection
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
Thru May 14
Take Me to the Palace of Love
Syracuse University Art Museum, Syracuse
Thru May 15
Stephanie H. Shih: My Sweetie Has No Pockmarks
Syracuse University Art Museum, Syracuse
Thru May 21
Hoop Dreams: Basketball and Contemporary Art
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
Thru May 21
Hoop Dreams: Basketball and Contemporary Art
Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
April 1
International Taste Festival
NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
April 1
Celebrunch • 9am-5pm
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, Cayuga Lake
April 1
Maker Faire Syracuse • 10am-4pm
LeMoyne College, Syracuse
April 2
The Peking Acrobats • 7pm
The Showroom at Turning Stone, Verona
April 2
Animal Egg-Stravaganza
Rosemond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse
April 2
Champions of Magic
Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse
April 4
Book Launch-Sanctuaries by Vince Sgambati
ArtRage Gallery, Syracuse
April 8
Syracuse Wine Festival
CNY Regional Market, Syracuse
April 8
Midget Wrestling Warriors • 7:30pm
Onondaga Nation Arena, Nedrow
April 8
Monster Jam • 7pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 8
Glow Up
Wunderbar, Syracuse
April 13
Spring Champagne Tour
Landmark Theatre, Syracuse
April 13
Comedy Night • 8-10pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
April 14
The Golden Gala
Marriott Syracuse Downtown, Syracuse
April 14 & 15
Stomp
The Landmark Theatre, Syracuse
April 14-16
Stickmakers Tournament
Onondaga Nation Arena, Nedrow
April 15
Comedian, Raanan Hershberg • 8pm
Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn
April 15
Chaos, A Night of Kickboxing • 5-10pm
Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool
April 15
Adult Zoo Camp
Rosemond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse
April 15 & 16
Maple Festival
Marathon, New York
April 17
Little Feat: Boogie Your Spring Away Tour
Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse
April 22
Mother Earth Music & Art Market • 6-10pm
Middle Ages Brewing Co., Syracuse
April 22
Comedy Night • 7pm
ONCO Fermentations, Inc., Tully
April 22
The Pinwheel Ball • 6-10pm
April 22
Novelis Party for the Planet
Rosemond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse
Dea D line is april 22n D for the may issue
April 22
Syracuse City Ballet presents “Panacea” The Film & Full Length Ballet
The Oncenter Carrier Theatre, Syracuse
April 22 & 23
Syracuse Gun Show
NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse
April 29
Spring Sip & Shop • 2-7pm
Thunder Island, Fulton
April 29
Macreme & Mimosas
Golden Bee Bookshop, Liverpool
April 29
Earth Fest 2023
Fayetteville Canal Landing Park, Fayetteville
April 1
Syracuse University Men’s Lacrosse vs. Notre Dame • 2pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 1
Syracuse University Women’s Lacrosse vs. Virginia • 6pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 7
Syracuse Crunch vs. Rochester Americans • 7pm
The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse
April 6
Syracuse University Softball vs. NC State • 6pm
Skytop Softball Stadium, Syracuse
April 8
Syracuse Crunch vs. Laval Rocket • 7pm
The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse
April 15
Syracuse Crunch vs. Utica Comets • 7pm
The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse
April 15
Syracuse University Men’s Lacrosse vs. North Carolina • 4pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 20
Syracuse University Women’s Lacrosse vs. Boston College • 6pm
JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse
April 28
Syracuse University Softball vs. Virginia • 1pm
Skytop Softball Stadium, Syracuse
by BiLL mCCLeLLan
There are three forms of very deadly blackmail underway in America. This will show the price we pay for a system that draws the worst of us, to lead us. For God’s Sake. What in the hell is wrong with us?
BLACKMAIL #1: What makes this so important is that to end our wretched leadership, this is the critical step. The best of humanity is being held hostage to money in Politics. How boring is that? Yet in that sentence is the answer to saving mankind. Money in politics has caused a bribed and blackmailed society hell bent on enriching and protecting wealthy leadership and their crony political followers. Which is nearly every leader in the land. This at the expense of addressing Common Good, Climate, Population and Nuclear threats, and the direction of decent human pursuit. From the People, to Polar bears to phone and cable regulation and a million corporate written rules in between, lies the price we pay for ignoring glaring massive systemic bribery at the expense the quality of our land.
Blackmail #2 : This is the current and ongoing threat most likely to do us in rendering all
else moot. Nuclear Blackmail. The current direction posed by Russia/Ukraine and China/Taiwan are eminently threatening. Nuclear Blackmail is why we lightly arm Ukraine. Our behavior is dictated based on what we perceive is the degree of Nuclear threat. In our infinite lack of wisdom our species decided that once we created a weapon that can destroy the planet, we should use it to keep each other in check. Trusting that our kind, that has warred since our beginning will be deterred from eventually destroying ourselves. A very poor gamble. Climate change, nuclear realities and population density (we surpassed what earth can sustain July 29th last year) mean little to those that are not affected by it. That means that the land and the sea and our air are wasting away faster than earth can replenish. They are not perceiving that eventually, each in its own way, will knock on their personal door.
A third of us support Donald Trump who praises Vladimir Putin who is Hitlers emotional doppelganger. Trump played
buy Hitler’s and Putin’s playbook and tried to rid the government of all disagreement. Absent his scummy serf-serving personality which fostered a coup attempt he may have succeeded. His threat in this nuclear world was glaring and recognized. Trump’s Generals saw his instability and wisely had a secret plan to stop him if he gave the order. Putin survived 20 years longer than Trump. Allowing him to surround himself with an ilk possessed with the same evil. Opposition has been removed. He has no General’s, thus far willing to stop him. And even if he did, in the wings is the likes of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is on par with or even worse than Putin. He is the head of Wagner group that specializes in merciless slaughter. He has Political ambitions. Today, under the blackmail threat of nuclear destruction from this inhuman maniac, Putin, we allow Ukraine to be destroyed. I understand the process thus far and the reasons why. We are doing what we can, in a “time table” compatible with minimum risk of nuclear usage. As things stand nuclear blackmail is the only reason, thus far, we allow Putin to destroy and slaughter in Ukraine. It is the only reason we fear arming Ukraine with other than paper tiger weaponry. The gradual escalation of better weaponry carries great risk yet we are on that path. The question is clear. When Russia losing the war becomes a certainty, what will this maniac do? The danger is real. Putin’s deadly cruel capacity alongside his massive ego and narcissism may well spell doom.
Blackmail #3: The media thrives on Blackmail. No one has ever told you who really rules this land and has the unique power to fix it all. These are the primary keepers of the first amendment that fail us beyond all others. You may well never see these names in one place again. These are media moguls who set the course for what influences our behavior. Herewith the rulers of the world: Michal Bloomberg, Rupert Murdoch (FOX), Rashida Adkins (MSNBC), and Chris Licht (CNN) are the most influential leaders that design our course on earth. The following run a close second, collectively controlling and designing news for nearly all other media of any kind in the country. Donald and Samuel Newhouse, Jim Kennedy of the Cox family, Jeff Bezos, John Henry, Sheldon Adelson, Joe Mansueto, Mortimer Zuckerman, Peter Barbey, Stanley Hubbard, Carlos Slim Helu, Warren Buffet, Brian Roberts, John Malone, Viktor Vekselberg. Doesn’t seem too exciting. Interesting how the power that is destroying mankind (bribery) is controlled by the cruel greed of those with the power to save mankind. (The media). Rather than pursue influence seeking healthy leadership and reset our course towards greatness, the media chooses to stir our souls against each other to enrich themselves.
It is money in politics that makes this an endless path. This system of bribery is necessary for wealth and the media to enrich themselves beyond all reason. There is no longer a media where “Truth” is the goal. Much of that truth being the “absence” of what is really happening: The goal is ratings to stay rich and enrich others with sales. Pervasive Bribery. “EACH” forces us to hear lies, distortion, and exaggeration of truth, and absence of facts on a daily basis at a saturating level. Thus, our minds form based on perpetually stirred and guided emotions based on fear and lies. It is magnified fear and lies in lieu of money that blackmail us into actions’ that serve the media and their wealthy cronies. That
keeps them among the rich that destroy us. At the expense of our once great pursuit. Algorithms are a carefully deigned system that are used as an excuse. (A deception of the highest order) Algorithms are a tool that ignore all that is good. It is a process designed to be compatible with greed/media owner/CEO belief systems to keep them all filthy rich with no regard for our well-being. To do this they steal the integrity of your individuality and redesign your thinking to fit their cruel greed. By feeding you only what holds your attention regardless of its’ evil. You are Blackmailed for profit to learn, believe and act upon what protects wealth. Right, wrong, good, or evil do not play a part. Wealth and the media share your thoughts, desires and convictions through numerous subsidiaries unknown to you for profit. They seek our base strongest individual interests and perceptions and regardless of morality they feed us more and more and excite us. Whether we are right wrong, racist, homophobic, belittling, cruel etc. matters not. They play the first amendment to the hilt. And they give us more and more of just what we want to hear. They prey on our hearts, our courage and our desires as this creates followers and money. There is absolutely no balance. Unfortunately, this kind of news delivery, molding a citizenry for profit at any cost to your land, literally ruins a country. We are guided by single minded thinking drained of facts and fair review. There is no balance.
All this with the successful purchase of all three branches of government through bribery has fostered and maintained the cruel unchecked pursuit of wealth. Political leaders in this land are chosen by, allowed to be and supported by the supreme rulers mentioned by name above. It is media failure that keeps the deeds of wealth off of the public radar. Allowing free reign and the destruction by greed of all that is good for the people. We have one hope left. That is to survive long enough to remove money from politics thus creating a path for the best that we can be. And then perhaps a course for humanity can be restored. This is a vague hope. But we owe it to our young. We are taking their lives away.
Meteorological Spring starts on March 1 and includes March, April, and May. In 2023, Astronomical Spring started on March 20, the day I wrote this column. March 20 is the Vernal Equinox which is the spring day on which the hours of daylight and dark are approximately the same and I might have been required to know this stuff for a school science test. Now, facts like these seem to be the stuff of trivia games. Trivia’s Latin definition translates to commonplace, found everywhere, unimportant, and “of the crossroads.” We lose touch with once commonplace information as we move through life’s crossroads. People’s brainpower and attention has limits so people focus on what they need to do right now.
Physical damage, mistranslation, and misunderstanding cause misinformation to flow from point A to B within individual minds, from person to person and from yesterday to today. Speaking for myself, regardless of what memories my brain connects or doesn’t connect to, I still wake up each day to routines, work, and study,
and with the need and desire to connect with other people in a way that seems healthy, good, and informed.
These days, particularly among us “Boomers,” there is a lot of pressure to remember the old days as respect-filled yet carefree, mature yet innocent, and better than today. Many remember things differently. It is true that back in the day, shootings were rare, and yet, there were times when some children were afraid to walk to their neighborhood schools.
Back in the day, many girls magazines discussed how to try to look good and be attentive to boys, not how to be healthy, informed, or even smart, and smart doesn’t necessarily mean informed. Girls were encouraged to not say what they really meant. I don’t know what boys were taught.
Catcalls, shaming slurs, shoves in the school hallway and “getting jumped” in the neighborhood were not uncommon, and trying to talk or reason one’s way through such encounters didn’t usually work. Then, like now, bullies didn’t engage in patient interpersonal problem solving; bullies might appear to befriend a weaker kid so they could ‘borrow’ the kid’s spare pen or copy his homework. Naively friendly kids might
be led into dangerous situations they never imagined because they trusted people.
In parochial grammar school, we read about
own collective brainpower and communication skills. In terms of group dynamics or civics, a trivia team seeks consensus based on group confidence in an individual’s or the group’s knowledge. If group members offer conflicting answers, group members vote on which answer to submit. Sometimes, the members of the group who are most confident in a certain topic category sway consensus toward betting more points. No one can know for sure what one’s fellow group members know for sure because no one knows what the final question will be. You win some. You lose some.
young Jesus preaching in the Temple, and how God and his angels watched over everything.
In high school we read “Lord of the Flies.”
For me, books were both schoolwork and escape. Books are the part of the good old days that worked for me. Information from books, “Soul on Ice” for instance, still connect to neural coordinates in my brain, available to trickle down into my consciousness for 1960’s trivia. The term Vernal Equinox, defined earlier in this piece of work, was the correct response to a trivia question that our trivia team recently answered correctly. We didn’t all know the answer. While we don’t all remember or recall the same information in the same way, we might all contribute to a shared consciousness.
In trivia games, teams work together to answer multiple choice questions, to decide to answer or not answer fill in the blank bonus questions, and to self-assess their likely collective knowledge of the final question category and bet. Team members decide on answers and wagers amid time constraints and with music playing in the background. Team members seek to communicate with each other without revealing answers to competitors sitting nearby. Teams use their
I didn’t intend to write about trivia, trivia groups, or our trivia group. I wanted to write about group dynamics in social groups who discuss current events, especially, the current events that trouble us. My trivia group dynamics analogy maybe didn’t work as well as I hoped. Trivia teams are about competition and sometimes, the competition starts within the group. Some individuals might have competing voices within themselves saying, “speak;” “don’t speak; what if you’re wrong?”
“Why didn’t I, we, or they speak up when they knew the answer?”
That’s commonplace in many groups.
That’s not trivial.
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“Back in the day, many girls magazines discussed how to try to look good and be attentive to boys, not how to be healthy, informed, or even smart.”
June 21st. The longest day of the year. Leave it to Frank Malfitano to fill that day with the start of a Jazz Festival. That’s right folks: summer’s on the way and so is the 2023 National Grid Jazz Fest. Thanks to the masterminding effort and incredible tenacity of Malfitano, the precious gift of jazz returns to the city. Admission is free to the public with 5 days of jazz adventure; including some of the world’s most influential jazz artists, right along with the abundance of Central New York’s finest.
Legendary keyboardist and NEA Jazz Master and 14-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock will join legendary songstress, 7-time Grammy winner and 2022 Kennedy Center Honoree, Gladys Knight to co-headline the 37th edition of the National Grid Jazz Fest in Syracuse, NY from June 21 to 25.
In addition, 10 other national and international touring and recording artists will appear at the 2023 festival, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at Hanover
and Clinton Squares, and on Wednesday evening in clubs throughout the downtown entertainment district. Groups include Spyro Gyra, Tower of Power, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Tuba Skinny, Jofce DiCamillo, Nancy Kelly and Marissa Mulder.
Support for the Syracuse Jazziest is provided by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/ New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. According to festival organizers and NY State Assemblyman Al Stirpe, funding will be used to engage in the largest major statewide marketing campaign in Jazz Fest history, with the goal of boosting attendance and regional tourism. Stirpe said I LOVE NY’s support is a game changer that will help provide longterm sustainability for the festival.
Wednesday evening, June 21st, on Price Chopper/Market 32
Opening Night, the festival will feature 24 indoor and outdoor club performances at two dozen downtown clubs, bars and restaurants featuring the Syracuse region’s top jazz artists from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The Late Night New York Band featuring bassist Tom Brigandi, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and saxophonist Eric Alexander heads the list of the Syracuse area’s top jazz groups, along with Hall of Fame vocalist, Ronnie Leigh.
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Thursday evening, June 22nd, on the Visit Syracuse Stage at Hanover Square, will feature two performances from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm beginning with Harri Stojka & Acoustic Drive from Vienna, Austria. They will be followed by an All-Star Soul Jazz ensemble called Something Else!, featuring jazz legends Vincent Herring, James Carter, Randy Brecker, Paul Bolleback, Dave Kikoski, Jeff Tain Watts and Essiet Essiet.
The 2023 festival will close out on Sunday, June 25th on the campus of Syracuse
our Lucky WINNER for the Night on the Town Contest!
“Thanks to the masterminding effort and incredible tenacity of Malfitano, the precious gift of jazz returns to the city.”Herbie Hancock Gladys Knight
University at Hendricks Chapel with a Jazz Fest-Ending Gospel Concert and Celebration. In addition, The Syracuse University Faculty Jazz Ensemble and The Syracuse University Student Jazz Ensemble will also be performing during this year’s Jazz Fest. Admission to all 2023 National Grid Jazz Fest events, concerts and performances is free and open to the public. The festival’s free admission policy is made possible through the generosity of area Corporations providing major corporate underwriting, and public sector grants from New York State and Onondaga County. The complete list of 2023 Jazz Fest stakeholders includes National Grid, Onondaga County, Amazon, I LOVE NY, Syracuse University, NYS Empire State Development, Price Chopper/Market 32 Supermarkets, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, CNY Family Care, and Visit Syracuse. Price Chopper/Market 32
opening Night
Wednesday, June 21
More than two dozen performances by Syracusearea jazz artists and national artists with ties to Syracuse will take place throughout Downtown Syracuse’s Downtown Entertainment District between 4:00 pm and 11:00 pm in staggered two-hour blocks at each participating venue. Shows at each venue will either run from 4-6 pm, or 5-7 pm, or 6-8 pm, or 7-9 pm, or 8-10 pm, or 9-11 pm. Which venues specific artists, bands and groups will perform at is TBD at this time and will be announced at a later date.
2023 Artists Scheduled to Appear:
Late Night New York Band featuring Eric Alexander, Joe Magnarelli, Tom Brigandi, Marissa Mulder Duo, Ronnie Leigh Quintet, Michael Houston / Sam Wynn Project, Vibe Check featuring Melissa Gardiner, Dayquan Bowens & Kenyatta King, Longwood Jazz Project, Bob Holz and A Vision Forward, Nancy Kelly, Joyce DiCamillo Trio, E.S.P. Jazz Group, Funky Jazz Band featuring Dave Hanlon, Ron France, Brian Scherer, Jim O’Mahoney & Ed Vivenzio, The Jazz Mafia, The Instigators, Mark Doyle & Guitar Noir, Julie Howard Quartet, Tamaralee Shutt & The Matthew Rockwell Band, The Hot Club of Syracuse, The Frank Grosso Quartet, Julie & Rick Montalbano Trio, John Rode Trio, Mark Hoffmann & Swing This!, Monk Rowe and The Five Families Ensemble, Quatro, The Jeff Martin Trio, Tom Witkowski & The JT Hall Jazz Consort.
2023 Participating Downtown venues: Mulrooney’s • Benjamin’s On Franklin • Oh My Darling • The Fitz Board & Bar Charcuterie • Funk & Waffles • Tasting Room at Epicuse
Kitty Hoyne’s • The Weighlock Lounge • Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge
Pastabilities • The Gilded Club • Kasai • Taphouse on Walton
Salt City Market • Eleven Waters • PRIME Steak House • 210 Teas
Maxwells • Jamaica Cuse • Orbis Lounge • Saltine Warrior Modern Malt • National Grid Auditorium
For full details, visit http://www.syracusejazzfest.com/
PREP TIME 10 min.
TOTAL TIME 15 min.
SERVINGS
12 APRIL from Allrecipes
This is a delicious variation of the popular tomato based appetizer. The strawberries are warm and sweet and the sugar is caramelized and crunchy! Your guests will love it!
INGREDIENTS
24 slices French baguette 1 tbsp. butter, softened
2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped 1/4 cup white sugar
Step 1 • Preheat your oven’s broiler. Spread a thin layer of butter on each slice of bread. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
Step 2 • Place bread under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, just until lightly toasted. Spoon some chopped strawberries onto each piece of toast, then sprinkle sugar over the strawberries.
Step 3 • Place under the broiler again until sugar is caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.
