To thine own self be true

Perhaps, along with Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, one of the most important inspirational black leaders who ever lived, and the most important black hero to ever live in the U.S. Truly a great man and on my top 10 list of real-life inspiring heroes.

The following resources are highly recommended.

The 15 CD boxset of speeches and sermons is very uplifting and spiritually inspiring. Is there anyone, who’s heard it, who is not elevated and impressed by his mountaintop speech delivered before he was assassinated?

For a truly inspired, uplifting response to his life and works, Google James Taylor’s song “Shed a Little Light” from the his Squibnocket live video.

which he used to describe tv news pretty much covers all that is broadcast on e-media everywhere. We are all under siege from news outlets, social media, governments, Madison Avenue, corporations, companies, websites, and innumerable individuals and groups with agendas.

is to be there for your kids and grandkids in the case of emergency.

To hear one’s name softy/gently/kindly spoken.
To be hugged, kissed, and touched appropriately.
To be listened to. To converse with others.
To be part of a group.
To be understood and appreciated.
Simple stuff always in any situation.
Guaranteed to work.

The total opposite of:
Being ignored or misunderstood.
Being instantly criticized and trolled.
Being rejected on the basis of appearance.
Being irrationally hated or excluded without being known.

When we take time to listen to someone else, care for them and what their lives are like, and actually help them to get better, improve, or move ahead.
Some of the best teaching I did involved one-on-one advice, counselling and mentoring.
It if foolproof stuff, occasionally with a hug when appropriate.
What the world needs now is more one-on-one mentoring.

do to one another aside, the unnecessary, gratuitous, dumb things are often those that we do to ourselves.
Too often I have had to say “We do it to ourselves.”

(Jeff center, Jimmy Page–the 3rd guitarist to his right; taken during the brief months in 1966 when the band had two lead guitarists!)

Obit: Jeff Beck, 78, meningitis.
The lead guitarist who gave and immortalized The Yardbirds’ legendary sound on songs like “Heart Full of Soul”, “Mr. You’re a Better Man Than I”, “Shapes of Things”, “Over Under Sideways Down”, “Jeff’s Boogie”, “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago”.

In 1963-64, I was in grade 9. What was played on CBC Radio during a Saturday program fall ’63, in rapidly unfolding order were the singles for:

Love Me Do
Please Please Me
From Me to You/Thank You Girl
She Loves You.

At the same time the Beatlemania with the Beatles album was released that November 25.

(In passing, JFK’s assassination occurred on Nov. 22. The album came out the same day as his burial.)

On February 3, 1964, they released Twist and Shout, which had actually been their first UK album in March ’63.                                                                                                                           

On Feb. 9, ’64, they appeared for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show.