Incident at a Church

A physician had agreed to speak to a new club in Ridgewood, Health Matters. His subject: prostate problems.

When he came to our meeting place, he was disappointed to find that we didn’t have a projector. We hadn’t been told he needed one. So the physician asked if we could photocopy his slides.

We meet at the First Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood – we rent space.

Church workers were helpful. Let let us print out one copy. But our organization had stopped paying to use the church’s copying machine.

We asked: Could we print out 6 x 10 or 20 copies, on the church’s own machine?

Too many, said the church’s minister.

So the physician had to give his talk without slides. To a group of men on the subject of prostate problems.

I should have offered to pay. I should have taken a $20 bill out of my wallet and offered it to someone.

But I’m surprised at the unfriendly behavior of the church’s minister,

Satyagraha: Finally, a negative review

Won't anyone dare criticize this opera?
Shown at movie theaters all over the world on Saturday.
Dumb idea, having it sung in Sanscrit. Composer said he wanted to emphasize the music. I wanted to know what the hell the singers were singing.
Music was occasionally--very occasionally--pleasant. Mostly repetitive. Boring. Especially at the end. A relief when the opera ended.
Static, too.
And quotes from old Indian literature were soporific.
A friend who attended the opera told me that he had slept through half of it. Together, I told him, we had seen one entire opera.
Act II was exceptional. Imitation of cruel laughter. Colorful clothing of men early in the 20th century. Puppets were imaginative and interesting. Some action at last.
Did I mention that the opera was very, very long? Could have easily been cut.
Audience loved it. Pretentious people.
Give me Verdi and Puccini. Or even Wagner.
In fact, rather than Satyagraha, I'd even see Lulu or Wozzeck again.