This is real cool! Using simple, illuminative paper-cut puppetry, this enchanting video imagines the moment of witness that inspired Gwendolyn Brooks to write her landmark poem, “We Real Cool.” It was created by Manual Cinema in association with Crescendo Literary, with story by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, and music by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Poetry Foundation posted We Real Cool on June 6, 2017 as part of the upcoming centennial celebration of her birth that year.
Everything about this video is excellent—the background story, Brooks’ dialogue, the poem read by her and sung by the chorus, the lifelike facial expressions, outlines and movements of the paper-cut puppetry, the jazzy driving music—all make for a lively and enjoyable realization.
The 6-minute video is a companion to a live staged production of No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. It premiered November 2017 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Brooks’s birth. See the trailer for that show when it played in Vancouver at the Chan Centre. “We Real Cool” starts at 26 minutes into the 68-minute performance.
Gwendolyn Brooks (June 7, 1917-December 3, 2000) won the Pulitzer Prize at 32, and at 68, was the first black woman to become a consultant in poetry for the Library of Congress, aka the 29th Poet Laureate, 1985–86. A prolific poet, author, and teacher, she received a lifetime achievement award in 1989 from the National Endowment for the Arts.
It’s interesting how some poets are only remembered for one special poem. In this 1986 HoCoPoLitSo interview with Gwendolyn Brooks for The Writing Life series (remastered in 2005), she was asked how she felt about being remembered for only this one poem (18:38). She said that the poem was published in many anthologies and that children always ask her to read “We Real Cool” and respond enthusiastically.
But instead of asking myself, “Why aren’t they in school?” I asked myself, “I wonder how they feel about themselves?”
Gwendolyn Brooks’ thoughts on seeing The Pool Players, Seven at the Golden Shovel, which became her poem, “We Real Cool.”
Instead of judging the students, her curiosity and compassion cause her to look deeper. She shares her thoughts about the boys’ situation, and is then asked to recite the poem, which she does at 21:05.
This figure shows the within-group effect sizes (mean change divided by pooled standard deviation) for the Transcendental Meditation group and the treatment-as-usual control group on burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and depression symptoms, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-2. Between-group statistics comparing TM to the control group yielded significant differences between groups on both burnout and depression symptoms (p values <.02). CREDIT: Maharishi International University Research Institute. (Image posted on EurekAlert!)
According to a randomized controlled study, published in Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, physicians who practiced the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique showed significant reductions in both burnout and depression symptoms. Research conducted at Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago found that practice of Transcendental Meditation produced large effect sizes in decreasing burnout and depression symptoms in academic physicians; controls exhibited smaller effect sizes. The research was done pre-covid.
Marie Loiselle, PhD, lead author and senior researcher at the Center for Social-Emotional Health at Maharishi International University, stated: “Prior to treatment, the physicians were discouraged by the impact that burnout was having on their work and personal lives. To see both burnout and depression reduced significantly across 1- and 4-month posttests for the Transcendental Meditation group indicates a real possibility for alleviating these symptoms throughout the health profession.”
Sanford Nidich, EdD, co-author and director of the Center for Social-Emotional Health, explained that “these findings are consistent with research on Transcendental Meditation recently published in JAMA Network Open and the Journal of the American College of Emergency Physiciansshowing large within-group effect sizes due to TM on burnout and depression symptoms in healthcare provider groups. The findings are also consistent with research on other populations.”
Forty academic physicians were enrolled in the four-month study, comparing the TM technique to treatment-as-usual controls. TM is described as a simple, effortless technique, practiced for 20 minutes twice a day, sitting with eyes closed. TM allows ordinary thinking processes to become more quiescent, resulting in a unique state of restful alertness. Controls continued with their usual care throughout the duration of the study. The primary outcome was total burnout, using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2) was also used to determine effectiveness of TM on depression symptoms over the same time-period.
Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to assess adjusted mean change scores. Significant improvements were found for the TM group compared to controls in total burnout (P=.020) including the MBI dimensions of emotional exhaustion (P=.042) and personal accomplishment (P=.018), and depression (P=.016).
The following is a sample of responses from semi-structured interviews with TM participants about their experiences:
“I’m more relaxed about things overall, more accepting, calmer, not as revved up by things. I think that is the biggest change.”
“If I am feeling really bothered by the day, I’m able to get over it easier and shift over to focusing on home.”
According to Gregory Gruener, MD, study co-author and Vice Dean for Education, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago: “Longevity in a career that will last 40 to 50 years requires a physician to embrace the ‘long-view’. While knowledge, skills and attitude are fundamental, Transcendental Meditation provides the clarity of mind and calmness that makes this journey as enjoyable and fulfilling as the destination.”
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Funding support: This study was supported by grants from Loyola University and other private foundations and individual donors.
News Coverage: This study was published Jan 26, 2023 and publicized with an embargoed press release via EurekAlert! It was reported in the medical press. Helio requested a copy of the study and published their review Feb 3, 2023. But you have to register to read it.
When lead author Marie Loiselle read this news she shared her wish that this will motivate more health professionals to start TM and more programs like the one Carla and Duncan Brown teach at Stritch School of Medicine to be implemented.
The evidence continues to mount, which makes it a wise, health-conscious decision, and, since the pandemic, an almost necessary one. Some physicians have also been prescribing TM for their patients. It is a viable alternative and should be covered by health insurance.
It seems to be a matter of time, which reminds me of this famous quote attributed to German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
Burnout is pervasive among physicians and has widespread implications for individuals and institutions. This research study examines, for the first time, the effects of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique on academic physician burnout and depression. Mixed methods findings suggest the TM technique is a viable and effective intervention to decrease burnout and depression for academic physicians.
The only person I was familiar with was the brilliant guitarist Orianthi. I had not heard of Vanessa Amorosi before. She can really sing the blues! What a perfect pairing!!
After hearing their awesome performance I searched for the original and discovered Gary Moore, another amazing musician! Impressed with both, I had to create this post.
Still Got the Blues (For You) by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore was originally released in 1990 as the title track for what would become his multi-million-selling eponymous album. It was a return to the Blues music of his youth. He died at 58. (April 04, 1952 – February 06, 2011)
Speaking of getting the blues from unrequited love, one song I remember from my youth was Since I Fell for You sung by Lenny Welch. He really expressed that kind of emotional pain, something most teenagers could identify with at the time.
The biggest hit version, arranged and conducted by Archie Bleyer, was the Lenny Welch recording of it in 1963, reaching No 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and No 3 on the Easy Listening chart.
Gary Moore’s friendship with George Harrison
While doing research for this post I discovered two interesting videos that revealed Gary Moore’s friendship with George Harrison. George said they were neighbors, and that he was impressed with Gary’s playing.
In this 1990 Countedown interview, George mentioned when he and Jeff Lynn were producing a recording in his home studio it needed a particular style guitar solo. It would take them a while to do it. So George called up Gary who came over and nailed it in 5 minutes. It turned out to be the lead guitar riff for The Traveling Wilburys playing She’s My Baby!
Guitarist Jeff Beck’s unexpected passing earlier this year took the rock world by surprise. He died suddenly of bacterial meningitis. He was 78. R.I.P. (June 24, 1944–January 11, 2023)
A guitar player’s guitar player, Jeff Beck was considered one of the top five of all time. An eight-time Grammy winner, he was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—as a member of the Yardbirds, and for his own Jeff Beck Group.
Once news of his sudden passing came out, many searched his music online. I was impressed by his amazing virtuosity and versatility. Equally at home in different musical genres, he had his own unique style of playing that defied categorization. Jeff never sang; his guitar did for him.
Part of Gene’s comment (5th from top) explains: “He is a fusion of blues, soul & progressive rock. He could manipulate the strings, whammy bar, volume & tone knobs simultaneously, with technical mastery, to seamless & absolutely dazzling effect. He had voice on the guitar that was exceedingly rare and distinct.”
Enjoy Jeff Beck – Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s. Accompanying Jeff Beck are Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass guitar, and Jason Rebello on keyboards. Amazing musicians in their own right, together they produce an exciting cohesive sound. The show’s twenty-one performances include a few surprise star guest appearances. And the camera catches a few famous musicians smiling in the audience. Jeff concludes the evening with the hauntingly beautiful Where Were You. Jeff was interviewed on the success of the 5-night run at Ronnie Scott’s and talked about the musicians and each of the songs on the set list.
Jeff Beck beautifully played all of Women of Ireland, Live in Moscow at Crocus City 2010, and with violinist Lizzie Ball Live at Madison Square Garden 2013. “Mná na hÉireann” (Women of Ireland), a poem written by Ulster poet Peadar Ó Doirnín (1704–1796), became famous as a song.
It seems appropriate to conclude with Jeff Beck playing Elegy for Dunkirk featuring classical singer Olivia Safe, the 10th and final number on his album Emotion & Commotion (2010). The album was nominated for 5 Grammy awards and won two.
Elegy for Dunkirk is part of the OST composed by Dario Marianelli for the film Atonement (2007). It was performed by the English Chamber Orchestra featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and cellist Caroline Dale. In 2008, it won the Academy Award for Original Music Score and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. Marianelli also received three awards for Film Score of the Year, Best Original Score, and Film Music Composition of the Year for “Elegy for Dunkirk” in the International Film Music Critics Association Awards.
This is a very funny cartoon with a Jewish New Yorker sense of humor! Emily Carey posted it on her Instagram as Confrontation therapy — imagined by Bob Mankoff. To learn more about this celebrated cartoonist and humorist, visit bobmankoff.com.
In response, Selena Palmer posted a joke, but with this self-deprecating ethnic twist: How many Jewish mothers needed to change a lightbulb?…None…I’ll suffer here, in the dark.
Coming back to Bob Mankoff, his most famous cartoon still makes me laugh. Drawn in 1993, a business executive on the phone looks at his appointment calendar and asks the caller a question.
He would later use that as the title of his memoir. See his March 27, 2014 New Yorker article: The Story of “How About Never”. He concluded the article with a P.S. mentioning his appearance on a CBS show. New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff lets 60 Minutes cameras into the weekly process of picking the magazine’s famous cartoons. The segment in S46 E26 aired the previous Sunday, March 23, 2014.
The Uncarved Blog 