# 75 – An American singer-songwriter

Neil Leslie Diamond- is an American singer-songwriter, born in 1941, he is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

For his 16th birthday, he got as a gift, his first guitar and started to take lessons, and almost immediately began to write songs.

He said that his attraction to songwriting was the "first real interest" he had growing up, while also helped him release his youthful frustrations.

Neil Diamond also used his newly developing skill to write poetry, by writing poems for girls he was attracted to in school, he soon learned it often won their hearts. His male classmates took note and began asking him to write poems for them, which they would sing and use it with equal success.

In January 2018, Neil Diamond announced that he would stop touring because he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Tour dates on the final leg of the Diamond's "50 Year Anniversary World Tour" in Australia and New Zealand were cancelled.

"Forever in Blue Jeans", co-written and jointly composed with his guitarist, Richard Bennett.

Money talks

Honey's sweet

Maybe tonight

Nothing around

Money talks

And honey's sweet

Maybe tonight

Money talks

And if you pardon me

I'd like to say  ( I would like)

We do okay

Forever in blue jeans babe

long as I can have you

As long as I can have you

Marcus Tullius Cicero was born in 106 BC in a small municipality of Arpinum, 100 kilometers from Rome – He was assassinated in 43 BC, in Rome, at the age of 63. His mother was a housewife, and his father was a well-to-do member of the equestrian order, a wealthy landowner who possessed good connections in Rome.

Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and philosopher. His extensive writings include treatises on rhetoric, philosophy, and politics. He is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.

During his time in Roman history, "cultured" meant being able to speak both Latin and Greek. Cicero was therefore educated in the teachings of the ancient Greek philosophers, poets, and historians, he obtained much of his understanding of the theory and practice of rhetoric from the Greek poet Licinius Archias, and from the Greek rhetorician Apollonius Molon.

Cicero used his knowledge of Greek to translate many of the theoretical concepts of Greek philosophy into Latin, thus translating Greek philosophical works for a larger audience. It was precisely his broad education that tied him to the traditional Roman elite.

Cicero introduced into Latin, the arguments of the chief schools of Hellenistic philosophy, and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary with neologisms such as:  evidentia, humanitas, qualitas, quantitas, and essentia, distinguishing himself as a translator and philosopher.

Cicero has been traditionally considered the master of Latin prose.

Quintilian, a well know Roman educator declared, that Cicero was "not the name of a man, but of eloquence itself. The English word Ciceronian (means "eloquent") derive from his name. He is credited with transforming Latin from a modest utilitarian language into a versatile literary medium, capable of expressing abstract and complicated thoughts with clarity.

Though, he was an accomplished orator and successful lawyer, Cicero believed his political career was his most important achievement. Following Gaius Julius Caesar's death, Cicero became an enemy of Mark Antony, who view Cicero as an enemy of the state, consequently, Cicero was executed.

Today Cicero is appreciated primarily for his humanism and philosophical and political writings. His voluminous correspondence, much of it addressed to his friend Atticus, this correspondence has been especially influential, for introducing the art of refined letter writing, to the European culture.

According to John William Mackail, the reformer of the British education system "Cicero's unique and imperishable glory is that he created the language of the civilized world and used that language to create a style, which nineteen centuries have not replaced, and in some respects have hardly altered.

PARKISONS  DISEASE

Parkinson’s is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects nervous system function, according to the Mayo Clinic. The nerve cells in the brain, called neurons, progressively malfunction, or die off. This, in turn, prevents the brain from producing enough dopamine, a chemical that acts as a messenger for brain signal that control movement, coordination and other key functions.

Parkinson’s is most seen in adults older than 50 and is more frequent in men than women.

Doctors aren’t totally sure why people get Parkinson’s, there is evidence, that genetics may play a role in some cases, other risk factors, may include repeated head trauma and exposure to certain chemicals or heavy metals.

Parkinson’s has four main symptoms: Tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head.

Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time.

Slowness of movement.

Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls.

People with Parkinson's disease often develop a parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward; take small quick steps; and reduce swinging of their arms. They also may have trouble initiating or continuing movement.

Several disorders can cause symptoms similar to those of Parkinson’s disease. People with Parkinson’s-like symptoms that result from other causes, such as multiple system atrophy and dementia, are sometimes said to have parkinsonism.

While these disorders initially may be misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s, certain medical tests, as well as response to drug treatment, may help to better evaluate the cause.

Many other diseases have similar features but require different treatments, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, although medications that mimic or enhance the effects of dopamine, in conjunction with physical therapy, diet and exercise intervention, may help reduce symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.

In advanced cases, doctors may also implant signal-carrying electrical sensors into the brain in hopes of mitigating some symptoms.

Though it can’t be cured, Parkinson’s itself is not fatal, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. That said, complications from the disease — including decreased motor function and impaired swallowing — can shorten a person’s lifespan.

Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.

It is believed that Hinduism started between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C., but many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed.

Hinduism accepts many different religious ideas, most of the people that follow Hinduism believe that there are many paths to reach their god; even though, they worship a single deity known as Brahman, and have many sects, they still respect other gods and goddesses.

The Hindus code of living emphasizes good conduct and morality. They believe in the continuous cycle of life, death, (reincarnation) and in the universal law of cause and effect (karma), and that all living creatures have a soul, and all these souls, are all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to end the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.

Food is an important part of life for Hindus. they consider the cow to be a sacred animal, most of them do not eat beef or pork, many are vegetarians.

The Hindu ancient texts and Vedas are full of amazing stories about different gods, their extraordinary powers, and battles that took place a millennia ago.

It describes gods who fight against evil forces on flying crafts called VIMANAS.

These Vimanas are consistently described as weapons of war. They are flying machines, some Vimanas were made to travel locally from one place to the other, to different countries, some flying machines were used to travel to various planets. The text Describes that, there were four types of Vimanas some were saucer-shaped, others were cylinder-shaped and had the ability to maneuver both under water and in outer space.

These Vimanas were non-combustible, unbreakable, very effective on the offensive and were also invisible to the enemies. They were, able to render enemies, into a suspended animation state, and cause widespread destruction.

The Mahabharata, a Hindu epic, provides even more detail on Vimanas. It says, “The ancient Indian king Salva acquired the flying machine from Maya Danava, who was a resident of a planetary system named Taltala”. The Vimana flew in the sky, rested on the hill, and floated on the water.

There are drawing instructions and detail as to the metal construction of Vimanas, their use of mirrors, and lenses, and the defenses offered by several Vimanas types.

The existence of this text was revealed by G.R. Josyer the founder of the International Academy of Sanskrit Research who said that Pandit Subbaraya Shastry had dictated it to him from 1918 to 1923.

The epic Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana is written in Sanskrit, one of the oldest survived languages in the world. It also known to contain scientific information about embryology

A long, long time ago

I can still remember how that music used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance

And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver

With every paper I'd deliver

Bad news on the doorstep

I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried

When I read about his widowed bride

But something touched me deep inside

The day the music died

So bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry

And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singin' "This'll be the day that I die

This'll be the day that I die"

Did you write the book of love, and do you have faith in God above

If the Bible tells you so?

Have  you believe in rock and roll, can music save your mortal soul

And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him

'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym

You both kicked off your shoes

Man, I dig those rhythm and blues

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck (a wild horse that is vicious and difficult or impossible to break in)

With a pink carnation and a pickup truck

But I knew I was out of luck

The day the music died

I started singin'

Now for ten years we've been on our own, and moss grows fat on a rollin' stone

But that's not how it used to be

When the jester sang for the king and queen in a coat HE borrowed from James Dean

 (The Jesters were an early 1960s rock & roll band and James Dean was a famous actor )

And a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the king was looking down

The jester stole his thorny crown

The courtroom was adjourned

No verdict was returned

And while Lenin read a book on Marx

A quartet practiced in the park

And we sang dirges in the dark

The day the music died We were singin' 

Helter skelter in a summer swelter, the birds flew off with a fallout shelter

Eight miles high and falling fast

It landed foul on the grass, the players tried for a forward pass

With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Now the halftime air was sweet perfume

While the sergeants played a marching tune

We all got up to dance

Oh, but we never got the chance

'Cause the players tried to take the field

The marching band refused to yield

Do you recall what was revealed

The day the music died?

We started singin'

Oh, and there we were all in one place, a generation lost in space

With no time left to start again

So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick

'Cause fire is the devil's only friend

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage

My hands were clenched in fists of rage

No angel born in Hell

Could break that Satan's spell

And as the flames climbed high into the night

To light the sacrificial rite

I saw Satan laughing with delight

The day the music died

He was  singin'

I met a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news

But she just smiled and turned away

I went down to the sacred store where I'd heard the music years before

But the man there said the music wouldn't play

And in the streets, the children screamed

The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed

But not a word was spoken

The church bells all were broken

And the three men I admire most

The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost

They caught the last train for the coast

The day the music died and

They were singin' bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry

Don McLean was Born October 2, 1945. He is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie"

McLean's original recording was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."

To mark the 50th anniversary of the song, McLean is scheduled to perform a 35-date tour through Europe, starting in Wales and ending in Austria, in 2022.

Don McLean said that he wrote the refrain, of American Pie and 3 months later, he wrote the rest of the song in1 hour.

"The day the music died" refers to the plane crash in 1959 in Iowa during a snowstorm, that killed early rock and roll star Buddy Holly, who was McLean’s childhood music hero.

The song American Pie - reflects the deep cultural changes and profound disillusionment and loss of innocence of his entire generation.

“So bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry”

(Chevy refers to a car Chevrolet popular at the time - a levee is a quay or a dike an embankment along a river to control floods, in any case, a place where you'd expect to find water.)

In 1971 Don McLean released "Vincent” which is a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is often erroneously titled after its opening refrain, "Starry, Starry Night", a reference to Van Gogh's 1889 painting.

McLean said the following about the genesis of the song:

"In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms. I was sitting on the veranda one morning, reading a biography of Van Gogh, and suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he wasn't crazy. He had an illness and so did his brother Theo. This makes it different, in my mind, to the garden variety of 'crazy' – because he was rejected by a woman [as was commonly thought]. So, I sat down with a print of Starry Night and wrote the lyrics out on a paper bag."

When she got back to the town, she came to her mother-in-law, who asked, “How is it you my daughter ?” She told her all that the man had done for her; and she added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying to me, “Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty handed.” And Naomi said stay here, daughter, till you learn how the matter turns out. For the men will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Meanwhile, Boaz  had gone to the gate and sat down there. And now the redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned passed by. He called, “Come over and sit down here, so-and-so!” And he came over and sat down. Then Boaz took 10 elders of the town and said,” Be seated here”: and they sat down.

He said to the redeemer, “Naomi , now  return from the country of Moab, must sell the piece of land which belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. I thought I should disclose the matter to you and say: Acquire it in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you are willing to redeem it, redeem! But if you will not redeem, tell me, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem but you, and I come after you.” “ I am willing to redeem it,” He replied. Boaz continued, “When you acquired the property from Naomi and from Ruth  the Moabite, you must also acquire the wife of the deceased ,so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his state.” The redeemer reply, “Then I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own estate. You take over my right of redemption for I am unable to exercise it.”

Now this was formally done in Israel in cases of redemption for exchange: to validate any transaction, one man would take off his sandals and hand it to the other. Such as the practice in Israel. So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Acquire for yourself, he drew off his sandal. And Boaz said to the elders and to the rest of the people, you are you witness today that I am acquiring from Naomi  all that belong to Elimelech and all that belong to Chilion and Mahlon and I am also Acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate, that the name of the deceased may not disappear from among his kinsmen and from the gate of his hometown.  you are witness today.”

All the people at the gate and the elders answered, “We are. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the House of Israel !prosper in Bethlehem and perpetuate your name in Bethlehem! And may your house be like the House of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah- through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

So Boaz married Ruth; she became his wife, and he cohabitate with her the Lord let her.  The Lord let her conceive, and she bore a son .And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not withheld a redeemer from you today ! May his name be perpetuated in Israel! He will renew your life and sustain your old age; for his born of your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons.”

Naomi took the child and held it to her bosom. She became its foster mother, and the women neighbors gave him a name, saying, “A son is born to Naomi!” they named him Obed; he was the father of Jesse, father of David.

This is the line of Perez: Perez begot Hezron,  Hezron bigot Ram, Ram bigot Amminadab, Amminadab bigot Nahshon, Nahshon bigot Salmon, Salmon begot Boaz, Boaz Begot Obed, Obed begot Jesse, Jesse begot David

Ruth is the great grandmother of the king David of Israel.

She gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned and carry it back with her to the town. When her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and when she also took out and gave her what she had left over after eating her fill, her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? where did you work? blessed be he who took such generous notice of you!” So, she told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with, saying, “The name of the man with whom I work today is Boaz.”

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not failed in His kindness to the living or to the dead! “ For,  Naomi explain to her daughter-in-law, “ the man is related to us; he is one of our redeeming kinsman.(responsible for the well-being of the family) Ruth the Moabite said, he even told me, “stay close by my workers until all my harvest is finished.” And Naomi answered her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It is best, daughter, that you go out with his girls, and not be annoyed in some other field.” So she stayed close to the maidservants of Boaz, and Gleaned until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were finished. Then she stayed at home with her mother-in-law.

Naomi her mother-in-law, said to her, “Daughter, I must seek a home for you, where you may be happy. Now there is our kinsman Boaz, whose girls you were close to. He will be winnowing barley (blowing air through grain to remove the husk) on the threshing floor ( it is a flat surface or floor where the farmer separated the grain) tonight. So bathe anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he lies down, and go over and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what you are to do. She replied, “I will do everything you tell me.”

She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in- law had instructed her. Boaz ate, drank, and in a cheerful mood went to lie down besides the grain pile. Then she went over stealthily and uncovered his feet and laid down. In the middle of the night, the man gave a start and put back - there was a woman line on his feet!

Who are you? he asked. and she replied, “I am your handmaid Ruth” Spread your robe over your handmade, for your redeeming kinsman.”

He exclaimed, “Be blessed of the Lord, daughter! Your latest deed of loyalty is greater than the first, in that you have not turned to younger men, whether poor or rich. And now, daughter, have no fear. I will do in your behalf whatever you ask, for all the elders off my town.

Know what a fine woman you are. but while it is true, I am a redeeming kinsman, there is another redeemer closer than I. Stay for the night then in the morning, if he will act as a redeemer, good! let him redeem. but if he does not want to act as redeemer for you, I will do myself, as the Lord lives! lie down until morning.”

So, she lay at his feet until dawn. She rose before one person could distinguish another from the thought, “Let it not be known that the woman come to the threshing floor.” And he said, “Hold out the shawl you are wearing.” she held it while he measured out six measures of barley and he put it on her back.

When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city buzzed with excitement over them. The women said, “can this be Naomi?” “Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. call me Mara, (Mara means bitter) for GOD made my life very bitter. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. How can you call me Naomi, when the Lord has dealt harshly with me, when God has brought misfortune upon me!” Thus, Naomi returns from the country of Moab; she returned with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabite. they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a man of substance, of the family of Elimelech, His name was Boaz.

Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “I would like to go to the fields and Glean(gather leftover grain after harvest) among the ears of grain, behind someone who may show me kindness.” “Yes, daughter, go,” she replied, and off she went. she came and gleaned in a field, behind the reapers;( are people who harvest a crop) and, as luck would have it, it was the piece of land belong to Boaz, who was of Elimelech’s family.

Presently Boaz arrived from Bethlehem. He greeted the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they responded “The Lord bless you!” Boaz said to the servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose girl is that?” The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is a Moabite girl who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, “please let me glean and gather among the sheaves ( are a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping)  behind the reapers.” she has been on her feet since she came this morning “she has rested but little in the hut.”

Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen to me, daughter. Don't go to Glean in another field. Don't go elsewhere but stay here close to my girls. keep your eyes on the field they are ripping and follow them. I have ordered the men not to molest you. And when you are thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of the water that the men have drawn.”

She prostrated herself with her face to the ground, and said to him, “why are you so kind as to single me out, when I am a foreigner?”

Boaz said in reply, “I have been told of all that you did for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and came to a people you had to know before. May the Lord reward your deeds, may you have a full recompense from the Lord the God of Israel, under whose wings you have sought refuge!”

She answered, “You are most kind, my Lord, to comfort me and to speak gently to your maidservant -though I am not so much as one of your maidservants.”

At mealtime, Boaz said to her, “Come over here and partake of the meal, and dip your morsel (small piece of food) in the vinegar. “So, she sat down beside the reapers. He handed her roasted grain, and she ate her fill and had some leftover.

When she got up again to glean, Boaz gave order to his workers, “You are not only to let her glean among the sheaves, without interference, but you must also pull some stalks out of the heaps end leave then for her to glean, and not scold her.”

# 66- The story of Ruth part 1 (Old Testament)

Ruth is a story from the Old Testament

In the days when the Chieftains ruled . Chieftains ( were the heads of the tribes of an area  in Bethlehem - called Judah – Judah is the 4TH son of the patriarch Jacob and his wife Leah)

There was a famine in the land and a man of Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons went to reside in the country of Moab. (Moab was an ancient city in Jordan near by the dead sea; the Moabites believed in many different Gods) the man's name was Elimelech his wife's name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion.

They came to the country of Moab and remain there.

Elimelech Naomi’s husband died, and she was left with her two sons. Her sons married Moabite women, one name Orpah and the other Ruth, and they lived there for about 10 years.

Then Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband.

she started out with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab; for in the country of Moab she had heard that the Lord had taken note of his people and given them food. Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law she left the place

where she had been living; and they set out on the road back to the land of Judah.

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “turn back, each of you to her mother ‘s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you, have dealt with the dead and me! May the Lord grant that each of you find security in the House of a husband!” And she kissed them farewell. They broke into weeping and said to her, “No we will return with you to your people”

But Naomi replied, “Turn back, my daughters! Why should you go with me? Have I any more sons in my body who might be husbands for you? Turn back, my daughters, for I am too old to be married. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I married tonight and I also was bore sons, should you wait for them to grow up? Should you on their account debar yourselves from marriages? Oh no, my daughters! my Lot is far more bitter than yours, for the hand of the Lord has struck out against me.”

They broke into weeping again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law farewell. But Ruth clung to her. So Naomi said,” See, your sister- in-law has returned do her people and her gods. Go follow your sister-in-law”. But Ruth replied, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus, end more may the Lord to do me if anything but death parts me from you”. when Naomi saw how the determined she was to go with her, she ceased to argue with her; and the two went on until they reach Bethlehem.