Pops; The wonderful world of Louis Armstrong

Among the most recent biographies gracing my over-crowded nightstand is Pops; The wonderful world of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachout. From the dust jacket; In POPS Terry Teachout has drawn on a cache of rich new sources unavailable to previous biographers. Offstage Armstrong was witty, introspective and unexpectedly complex, a beloved colleague, whose larger-than-life personality was tougher and sharper edged than his ardent fans ever realized.

Not being Jewish and knowing very little about that culture, I found if intriguing to learn that Armstrong used to wear the Star of David around his neck. He never 'got' people hating the Jews, who were White! A Jewish family took him under their wing when he was a boy and helped buy his first cornet. HE gave "the Jewish people" credit for having taught him "how to live-real life and determination."

This book is fascinating on so many different levels. Worthwhile even if the history of Jazz or the life of a truly inimitable musician and human being has no 'grip' on you.

Refreshingly honest opinions about life and getting along with others by demonstrating a genuine love for humanity and simply being alive.

Duke Ellington said at Satchmo's death; 'He was born poor, died rich, and never hurt anyone on the way'.

With his ability to make heart connections around his love of music, and on being labeled a 'White folks nigger' Satchmo's retort was, "Believe it the White Folks did everything that's decent for me, I wish I could boast the same words for, (racial reference)". "They hold too much Malice-Jealousy deep down in their hearts for the few Negroes who tries".

When I purchased this thick as a brick memoir I never thought this book would hold my interest, but night after night with it's references to the time period, uplifting raw perspectives, and delightful insights, it did! 

Eli Broad - The Art of Being Unreasonable

Accomplished men usually have something worthwhile to share, sometimes in the form of simple word phrases, triggers ‘game changing’ in personal values.

This article in Fast Company on Eli Broad and his Time Management tips was sent to me by my wife. http://www.fastcompany.com/1836821/how-eli-broad-works-24-7-and-still-gets-8-hours-sleep-every-night

Most of us have read numerous ‘windy’ books on time management, keeping logs, strategies etc.

Eli’s advise is the simple phrase, ‘now let’s move on’ sounds too simple but the way he explains it in terms of moving meetings along that are dragging out, is brilliant!

In addition, the reminder that eight good hours sleep help ensure the other sixteen are well spent is refreshing if, like me, you have the tendency to keep at a thing until it is done. My wife has successfully been getting me in bed in the PM rather the early AM. Life is good, better, obviously simple stuff again, energizing all the same!

It would seem Eli Broad makes time for lighthearted fun, taking off his dress shoes and celebrating in the renovated Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain on Thursday to cap off an opening ceremony for downtown's new Grand Park.

Looking forward to reading and commenting on more of this book as time permits and as an artist, I love the title. The ART of being unreasonable.

Emeritus Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen's New Book, Giving 2.0

How can we transform our random, occasional acts of giving into consistent generosity that leverages our resources of time and talent? How can we bring deeper meaning to our lives and create enduring impact for the issues we care most about? How can we move from “giving 1.0” to “giving 2.0”? Written for all readers of all income levels, ages, and backgrounds, GIVING 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen (October 25, 2011; Jossey Bass) is a guide to living a life of generosity that is socially impactful, emotionally rewarding, and rich with learning. Arrillaga-Andreessen, who is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of SV2, shares her own experiences as a prominent young philanthropist, academic, and social innovator, and also tells the inspiring stories of how ordinary, generous donors of all backgrounds found their passions, made their giving decisions, measured their impact, cultivated a strong emotional connection to their philanthropy, and tapped into the amazing reach of the Web and social media to collaborate with others who share their interests. And most importantly, by engaging in their giving in more proactive, strategic, and collaborative ways, they were each able to have mega impact without mega dollars.

Both intensely practical and personal, GIVING 2.0 shows how even seemingly small individual contributions can go further if we bring not only our hearts but also our minds to philanthropy. It’s an indispensable tool for anyone aspiring to create significant social change, transmit giving values to their children, and find long-lasting meaning from generosity. For more on the book, visit: www.giving2.com

Katie Couric on Kathryn Stockett and The Help

Every American Summer I find my way to the basement book shop, Between The Covers in Main St Harbor Springs Michigan. There are always unique children’s books that my girls adore to receive ‘special-delivery’ back to New Zealand while I’m away. This years acquisitions include a few newer fabulous Skippy John Jones titles, our daughters love Skippy John Jones especially when my wife reads the first one with a Spanish accent.  For my wife I purchased Katie Couric’s book, The Best Advice I Ever Got.  Couric's book doesn't seem to be making it into the care packages back to New Zealand, because I find that I can't put it down myself.

The book fell open at the Kathryn Stockett’s section ‘Don’t Give Up, Just Lie…which seemed like an intriguing challenging title… I had not connected the dots at that point that it was this Kathryn that had written the book ‘The Help’ which was the subject of many of the movie billboards all around the USA this summer.

So here I am reading what turns out to be Kathryn Stockett’s rejection story…. Rejection letter number forty, after many years of writing and re-writing her story; “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing.” She writes, ‘That was a hard weekend. I spent it in pajamas, slothing around that racetrack of self-pity…’ By number fifty five, she was due to give birth to her daughter but wouldn’t go to the hospital until she’d typed The End! She was still poring over her research, when the nurse looked at her and said, “put the book down you nut job, you’re crowning!”In the end she received sixty rejection letters and after five years of writing and three and a half years of rejections an agent took pity on her!

So now I’ve been ‘got’ by ‘The Help’. I find myself with a free evening in Harbor Springs so I drove across to Petosky to watch the Movie ‘The Help’. And what an interesting, poignant story it is…there was many in the packed house rubbing the tears from their cheeks…. But here’s why I’m writing this piece. Petosky is a 99.99% white town. The help is a story about ‘Black’ maids. At he end of the movie the totally white audience clapped long and loud! And yet there’s another story. Kathryn Stockett is… you guessed it White… so many in America evidently are boycotting the movie! I don’t have an answer for that line of ‘critical thought’, only that the movie is very very good and now I want to read the book. That said, anytime someone presents me with a piece or two of pie in America… I think I’ll always be drifting off in my mind and smiling about the wonderfully well told story; ‘The Help’! Oh and Katie Couric’s book is fabulous too!

A Hole In One

Both of our daughters are in love with reading although one is more fluent and the other still more interested in the pictures.  Anything creative she's sort of 'genius level'. They are beautiful people ...supporting them and encouraging them without spoiling them continues to be a challenge! But one we love!

A week ago with friends (thankfully) I shot a hole in one over two small lakes (180m) at Remuera golf course....my game has sunk completely into levels of sham since...however I get a trophy at some point...but allas no car!

That Friday night I did 'seem' to shake about 200-300 strangers hands...thanks to the club 'shout' 'one me'! I did ask a Scotsman ...how many holes in one had he done...'5'! ...since 1952!....Keep aiming for the pin and you'll do another one...he told me!

Children Are Amazing!

Our girls are 21 months and last night Sienna started to read...... I'm still blown away....it was at true memory, because she can read many more words today.

She gave me her Humpback Whale story one of 100's of their books...and gave me a giggle...instead of me reading the first few pages, she did!!