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What makes Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” painting one of his most celebrated works? Created in 1942, Nighthawks is considered the incarnation of existential art, capturing the alienation and loneliness symptomatic of modern urban life. The following story is inspired by the painting. I mount the time machine and dial the year nineteen-forty-two. I have a keen interest in the war years. Activities like storming the beaches of Normandy are not high on my priorities list. I stay far behind the front lines. I find the study of American culture during the war years fascinating. I stay away from heavily populated cities to remain inconspicuous. You might say I’m not truly adventurous, excluding, of course, time travel and my voracious appetite for knowledge. I’m a scientist, first and foremost. As soon as I’ve perfected my time-traveling technology, I intend to unveil it in a white paper report and work with a team to use my discoveries for the betterment of mankind. I finish entering all of the pertinent data into the onboard computer and push the launch button. Seconds later, the machine deposits me in the small town of Independence, Ohio. On this trip, I find myself on a corner across the street from an all-night diner. My trans-spacial watch tells me it’s two-thirty in the morning. Materializing in small towns on deserted streets in the middle of the night is a proven method for avoiding stampeding crowds. I’m a bit freaked out by the feeling of emptiness the town exudes. I console myself with the thought that I’ve arrived in the middle of the night and everything is closed except, it seems, the diner across the street. Through the panoramic window, I see four people sitting at the counter inside. My curiosity peaks as I begin, once again, to study life in the past, this time eighty years ago. This morning will be different than the others in one important respect. It marks the first time I will interact with people and environments of the past. I feel that I’ve learned enough from my previous trips to take this momentous step. And, I can no longer resist the urge to relate to people instead of simply observing them. As I cross the street, I check my reflection in the large window. I’m dressed appropriately for the era in a blue business suit and matching tie with black wingtip shoes and neatly barbered hair. I’ll blend right in. Swinging open the glass and chrome door, I enter the cafe and take a seat at the counter a measured two seats away from a man sitting by himself. The small diner smells of stale cigarette smoke, fresh coffee, and the faint scent of body odor from the man two seats away. To my right, half the wall is fitted with small bins containing tempting muffins, cakes, and breads. Across the counter, a nice-looking middle-aged couple sit demurely drinking coffee. The man is wearing a gray suit with a matching hat, blue tie, and he’s smoking a chesterfield unfiltered cigarette. The pack lying by his hand on the counter tells me the cigarette brand. The man looks like a lawyer or a doctor. The woman is wearing a green silken cocktail dress. It sets off her blazing red hair nicely. By the looks of the two-carat diamond ring on her hand, I figure the couple is well-off and married. I suppose the couple is drinking coffee to sober up for the drive home after a festive dinner party. The man behind the counter approaches me. He is undoubtedly either the owner, or someone related to him. This is an independent operation as so many of these places were before chain automats and eventually Starbucks put most of them out of business. “Coffee?” the man behind the counter offers. Wearing a blazing white uniform, he’s a smallish man with wire-rimmed glasses who is going prematurely bald. “Black,” I say. “You must be new around here,” the man says. “You could say that,” I reply. Lifting his eyes from his coffee cup, the man across the counter stares at me. He tips his hat revealing bright blonde hair. Combined with his deep blue-grey eyes, he’s a dead ringer for Peter O’Toole in his signature role as Lawrence of Arabia. “My name’s Kendall,” he says in a friendly tone.” I wonder if it’s his first or last name. I happen to hate my first name. Who names their kid Saul forty years after the war? It would be a good name for my grandfather. Not for me. “And I’m Allison,” the woman next to him says. I’m surprised by the couple’s friendliness. Maybe it’s the late hour and the intimate setting. Maybe people here are friendlier to strangers than they usually are in the other the small towns I’ve visited. Maybe–just maybe–this will be easier than I thought it would be. “My name’s Saul,” I say to the couple. “Nice to meet you.” I turn to the man next to me, half-expecting him to introduce himself. It suddenly occurs to me that the guy hasn’t moved a muscle since I came through the door. “Ignore him,” Kendall says. “He’s just part of the scenery.” “I’m sorry for that unkind remark,” I say to the motionless man. He’s heavy set, dressed in a brownish green-striped suit, and looks like another traveling salesman cut from the same batch of cookie dough. I turn back to the man named Kendall. “If that was a joke, I don’t think it’s funny. People have feelings. Didn’t your mother teach you that?” The last thing I want to do is get into an argument with these people, but I can’t help saying something. “You don’t have to worry about his feelings,” Kendall says. “And what do you think about it?” I ask Allison. On closer examination, she looks uncannily like Julianne Moore in her role as Clarice Starling in the sequel to “The Silence of the Lambs.” “Allison is new,” Kendall replies. “She’s still in training. She’s not supposed to talk much.” “Wait a minute,” I say. “Who are you people?” Kendall leans down and pulls a strapped leather briefcase from below the counter. He extracts a file, opens it, and begins reading. “Let’s see. Saul Grossman, age thirty-two, engineer/designer employed by Raytheon Technologies, assigned to jet engine development, invented and now operates a time machine in his spare time. Does that about cover it, Saul?” I am beyond shocked. Fear and anger compete to control me. Somehow, I manage not to panic. I don’t want to hear the answer to my next question, but I have to ask it anyway. “How do you know so much about me?” “You’ve been on our radar,” Kendall says. “Now that you’ve decided to interact with the past, it’s time for us to step in.” I’m still in shock, but a ray of hope may be peaking through the gathering storm clouds. “Are you time lords, or some sort of benevolent time control agency from the future?” “Sorry to disappoint, Saul. We’re your local branch office of the NSA. We made some adjustments to your time machine after reading your time journal in which you wrote, ‘I’m now confident that I can interact with the past to make the present better.'” “So, you broke into my house without my knowledge or consent.” “That’s about the size of it,” Kendall confirms. I feel my intestines start to melt. “What sort of ‘adjustments’ are we talking about?” “For starters, we’re not in the past. We’re in a computer simulation where the only thing that’s real is you.” I try to imagine how this can be happening. Am I talking to naked human bodies floating in an electrochemical solution inside giant Pyrex glass tubs? Are they fitted with electrodes attached to their heads to facilitate thought-transference-voice-activation to their virtual avatars? Or is it a cutting-edge holographic computer program capable of interacting with a real-live me? I reach into my pocket to push the button on my remote control extractor. I’m not going to stand still for this. Literally. I’ll be out of here and back in good old 2021 in no time–or a few seconds. Nothing happens. I try again. Still nothing. “I forgot to mention we disabled your extractor,” Kendall says with a cheeky wink. “So now what?” “Now you stay here for the rest of your natural born existence, my friend.” “You’re kidding. Right? “Afraid not, Saul.” “You can’t do this.” “Would you rather be thrown in jail?” “On what grounds?” Kendall takes the last sip of his coffee. “We’ll think of something. It won’t be pretty.” “I can’t believe this.” “It’s an unfortunate situation, Saul. You’ve become a danger to yourself and the rest of us. You played with fire, and now you’re burned. The good news is we know how to use your technology better than you would have used it.” Kendall grabs the briefcase and guides Allison to the front door. Before they leave, Kendall and Allison wave goodbye. “Have some fun,” Kendall says. “You’re an inventive guy.” “Don’t leave. Please.” “We’ll check back with you in another thirty years, if you’re still around,” Allison says with a cheerful smile. Outside the door, I watch Kendall and Allison dissolve into ghostly vapors, then disperse into thin air. Copyright 2021 by David Gittlin. All rights reserved. #warera #timemachine #governmentagencies #research #stories #virtualreality #allnightcafe #timetravel #cafe #ComputerSimulation #timetraveler #science #technology #government #simulation #story #AmericanCulture #NSA #imagination #SciFi #intervention #paintings #famouspaintings #American #thepast #worldwartwo #EdwardHopper

There is beauty within us. There is beauty everywhere in the world. All we have to do is to want to feel it and see it. Even in the midst of darkness, this is the dawn of a new age. It may be difficult to believe it or see it, but it’s happening. Nothing can deny us our destiny in love. Not doubt. Not ignorance. Not fear. Some of us are on the cutting edge of this new world. Kate Wolf was one of these visionaries. I’m a great admirer of her work and her music. “At this time when the earth is waking. To the dawn of another age. I tell you now. There is no reason to be afraid.” Excerpt from “Brother Warrior” by Kate Wolf ©1985 #harmony #song #Vocal #acousticguitar #darkness #folkmusic #consciousness #dawning #lyrics #visionary #radiance #beauty #popmusic #peace #spiritwarrior #love #spirit #sing #guitar #truth #spirithealer #light #bliss

Fifty years have flown by at supersonic speed. I can flash back on memories of my childhood and adolescence and remember them clearly as if they happened yesterday. I try to be present for each remaining moment. I forget. I get lost in my head. Again and again. A week slips by in a day. Does time go slower when we are young? I think it does. How is time going by for you? I thought Joni Mitchell wrote and popularized “Who knows Where The Time Goes.” It turns out a British folk rocker named Sandy Denny wrote the song and Judy Collins made it famous. A little research can go a long way. Here’s my version of the song based on the way the late great Eva Cassidy played it. Science Fiction Writing Tip For Today : “You have to be out of your mind while knowing what you’re doing most of the time.” Jacob Casell Best-Selling Author The Silver Sphere Trilogy #harmony #relativity #seventiesmusic #acousticguitar #folkrock #folkmusic #Joy #popmusic #Judycollins #guitarsolo #reflections #peace #love #SandyDenny #aging

A photographic interpretation of the Kate Wolf song “Muddy Roads.” Visit http://www.davidgittlin.net  for the full post titled “Through Her Music.” Lately, I’ve been posting on Facebook images of late 18th century impressionist paintings and 1930-40’s Art Deco cars and architecture. I’ve also been listening to and playing a lot of Kate Wolf’s music. I believe the unifying theme of these adventures is BEAUTY . What I’m about to say may seem odd, self-inflated, or downright delusional, but what the hell. I’m going to say it anyway. It seems that I’m undergoing a dramatic shift in consciousness. I’m focusing on, feeling, and sensing the beauty and light within me and around me. I’m choosing to focus on this beauty, not as some kind of self-improvement practice. It’s something I want to do. I don’t have to impose it on myself. You might say “the sun in my heart is rising,” finally, after all these years of struggling to arise out of the negativity in and around me. It’s not that the negativity has gone away. It’s just easier and more desirable to focus on something better. It’s something that comes from inside and outside of me. It’s something that is beautiful, peaceful, and fulfilling. It’s something that beats the hell out of the over-controlled grind of daily life. I started with the intention of sharing a selection of the beautiful images and music I mentioned earlier. I may have gotten a bit side-tracked along the way. So, without further delay: Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1935 Falling Water House shown here at twilight. This is a truly beautiful painting. “Daisies and Peonies in Blue Vase” by Paul Gauguin. Painting by Claude Monet from his famous water-lilies series. Monet painted about 250 water-lily studies from his garden during the last thirty years of his life. #art #happiness #arcitecture #consciousness #shift #Joy #selfrealization #beauty #impressionists #fulfillment #famouspainters #peace #love #oneness #ArtNoveau #emotions #flowers #truth #light #awakening #bliss

“I live for a sense of a feeling of purposefulness in this world, you know, that I could stop my life at any point and feel that my life has been worthwhile; that the people I’ve loved and my children have all reached a point where their lives are now going to come to fruition. And as far as something I live by, it’s to try to be as alive as possible and feel free to make my mistakes and try to be as honest as I can with myself.” Kate Wolf–Singer Songwriter–1942-1986 Perhaps Kate Wolf had these thoughts in mind when she wrote the song “Unfinished Life.” It’s a haunting ballade filled with hard-won wisdom, exquisite beauty, grace, and focused determination. The song is also ironically prophetic. Kate Wolf died tragically of Leukemia at the age of forty-four. Despite her abbreviated lifespan, she wrote over two hundred songs and performed them at venues in her native state of California and around the world. Kate’s life was, indeed, unfinished, but she left behind a treasure trove of beautiful music. I first recorded “Unfinished Life” using a free-form guitar strumming method. Recently, while driving in my car, I listened to the song with a different pair of ears. I noticed the unique and highly effective guitar-picking technique Kate used to express the words and melody of the song. After some trial and error, I’ve come up with a version that approximates Kate’s recording. “The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found but made. And the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination.” JOHN SCHAAR #femalesingers #songwriters #folksongs #guitarstyle #acousticguitar #podcasts #KateWolf #purpose #beauty #spirituality #vocalswithguitar #reflections #songs #vocals #Spotify #guitar #guitartechniques #inspiration

I had never heard of Carrie Newcomer before a friend played one of her songs in an online gazing/meditation class. “The Gathering of Spirits” bounced around in my head until I finally had to learn it. I bought Newcomer’s album of the same name, and I have to say the other songs on it are, for me, an acquired taste. However, I’m glad I was introduced to Carrie’s music and to this song in particular. She’s a unique individual and an unusually talented artist, as you’ll see by clicking on the link above. Here’s my version of “ The Gathering of Spirits .” * In case this blog is too short, here’s my version of another song by Kate Wolf titled “An Unfinished Life.” *On the album, Alison Krause sings harmony on the song. #spiritual #harmony #Vocal #friendships #acousticguitar #memories #vocalists #Joy #relationships #friends #newage #peace #love #folkguitar #spirit #heaven #solo #guitar #light #appreciation #sologuitar

Who doesn’t remember Simon and Garfunkle singing Kathy’s song? The answer is probably tons of people under the age of thirty, but who’s counting? The remarkable Paul Simon wrote Kathy’s Song. It was released in 1966 on the album Sounds of Silence. Along with the title tune, Kathy’s Song remains one of the duo’s most popular tracks. It is poetic, lyrical, and deeply moving. Nearly thirty years later, along comes Eva Cassidy with her celestial voice and consummate guitar playing. Her version of Kathy’s song is characteristically unique and beautiful beyond words. If you like this kind of music, I urge you to listen to Eva’s version on YouTube. Eva doesn’t need an orchestra or a band to back her up. She plays and sings Kathy’s Song solo, and steals your heart away. #solosinging #folksongs #lyrical #acousticguitar #poetic #sixtiesmusic #rain #poeticlyrics #songs #PaulSimon #vocals #SimonampGarfunkle #solovocal #rainfall #ArtGarfunkle #SoundsofSilence #sologuitar

Now Available on Amazon Worldwide When Jacob Cassel and his telepathic AI companion discover a dead body on a lonely Florida beach, it is only the beginning of an adventure that holds the fate of our world and the destiny of other worlds in the balance. Each book in The Silver Sphere series is “free-standing.” You can read these books in any order. The author provides enough background information in each novella to orient readers to the characters and other relevant details. Here’s an excerpt from one of first editorial reviews to come in: “ What I liked most in the novella was the flippant, often tongue-in-cheek humor that made it a light-hearted read, with witty dialogues and evocative descriptions. The characters are vividly drawn and the three-way relationship is realistically established early on. It’s not hard for the reader to suspend his disbelief and join the trio as they careen toward their ultimate goal of saving the planet. The writing is clear, literate, the vocabulary is perfectly attuned to the genre, and it is a real page-turner. I read it in one day and I am looking forward to reading Book 3 when it is available. Anyone looking for an enjoyable day curling up with a fun book will not be disappointed.” Francis Mont for Reader’s Favorite Book Review Five Out of Five Star Review #aliens #AlienShip #Aliendestroyer #writer #artificialintelligence #alienencounters #fastreading #consciousness #illustratedbooks #fastpaced #ScienceFiction #outerspace #Hubbletelescope #creativewriting #novelist #illustratedebooks #spacetelescope #resurrection #alieninvasion #GoddardSpaceFlightCenter #evolvingconsciousness #imagination #illustrations #evolution #RobertGoddard #alienvisitation #fiction #ebooks #murdermystery #fantasy

I’m reposting a blog previously titled “Vincent: A True Lover.” I’ve decided to re-learn the song closer to the original. “Starry, starry night/ Paint your palette blue and grey/ Look upon a summer’s day/ With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.” Those words came to Don McLean as he gazed at Vincent Van Gogh’s 1889 painting “The Starry Night.” Soon, he had a masterpiece of his own: “Vincent,” a 1972 hit that he released right on the heels of his defining epic “American Pie.” Like Van Gogh’s painting, Mclean’s “Vincent” has touched a broad array of hearts and minds over the last 50 years. The song, the painting, and the book “Dear Theo,” written by Van Gogh’s brother, have certainly touched my heart again and again. I’ve always thought that Vincent’s style was at least in part inspired by his mental illness. To me, the brush strokes reflect an altered state of perception similar to the hallucinogenic patterns seen under the influence of Mescaline or LSD. Van Gogh labored in obscurity until his self-inflicted death at the age of thirty-seven. He sold only a few of his paintings during his lifetime. Today, Van Gogh is a household word, and his paintings each sell for fifty million dollars or more. “The Starry Night” is one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. Here’s the updated version of “Vincent” played closer to the original recording by Don Mclean. Thought for the Day When your world shrinks, your issues amplify. Keep your world and your perspective broad, for your own happiness, and the happiness of others. #painting #impressionistpainting #DonMclean #acousticguitar #darkness #mentalhealth #guitartechnique #StarryStarryNight #soul #masterpiece #beauty #guitarpicking #reflections #impressionism #TheStarryNight #folkguitar #LSDhallucinations #70039smusic #hallucinations #emotions #light #VincentVanGogh #LSD

“Fields of Gold” is one of Sting’s most famous songs. It is a stunning and thoughtful track about the journey of commitment. The song first appeared on Sting’s 1993 solo album “Ten Summoner’s Tales.” Sting wrote the track after he bought a house near a barley field. The sunsets and the colors of the field helped inspire the lyrics, along with Sting’s love for Trudie Styler, who he married in 1992. “Fields of Gold” can be seen as a fulfilling romance from beginning to end. It is about courtship, marriage, and finally, death. The romance of the couple in the song is so strong that even the sky and “its jealous sun” are envious of the relationship. Before the male narrator dies, he tells his lover that she will never forget him and the time they shared. They will always walk and lie together in golden fields of sun drenched barley. Here is my version of the song played with Eva Cassidy ‘s guitar technique. “The heart is always the place to go. Go home into your heart, where there is warmth, appreciation, gratitude and contentment.” AYYA KHEMA #mood #outdoors #sentimentality #memories #happiness #sun #separation #barley #sky #Joy #companionship #marriage #commitment #innerbeauty #beautyinlyrics #poetry #peace #love #imagination #simplicity #barleyfield #afterlife #golden

Time After Time is a Cyndi Lauper song. I’ve never been a big fan of her music, but that only means it doesn’t resonate with me in general. She has a big enough audience without me. This song caught my attention when I heard Eva Cassidy sing it in her beautiful, unique style. It has taken me a few weeks to learn because the fingering is complicated. Eva Cassidy is known for her divine vocals, but trust me, she can play the damn guitar. The meaning behind a lyric can create a strong connection to a song. It can help you to form a bond with a singer-songwriter. It lets you know the artist has gone through some of the same things you have. Cyndi Lauper’s hit Time After Time is one of those songs for many people. The song was the second single for her debut album, She’s So Unusual . It was actually the last song written for the album, but it made a lasting impact on the album and Lauper’s career. A TV Guide advertisement for a science fiction movie sparked the idea for the song. Using a simple set of piano chords, Lauper co-wrote the song with Rob Hyman. As the piece evolved, for Lauper it became a response to an ex-lover who was lost and in need of help. She can’t move forward without him by her side. Over a two-week period, Time After Time was written, recorded, and mastered straight to the album. There wasn’t time for a demo. The song went on to become a number-one hit in the United States. Here’s my version of Time After Time “Eva Style.” Breaking a big project down into little steps makes it possible to achieve the final result. #guitarstyle #acousticguitar #happiness #popularmusic #fingerpicking #recordlabel #recordingstudio #CyndiLauper #popmusic #songwriter #guitarpicking #guitarsolo #songs #songwriting #vocals #love #guitarmethod #singer #learnguitar #EvaCassidy #hitsong #singing #lostlove

“True Colors” is a song with legs. It started out as a song written for a mother in a traditional ballad format. Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly wrote the song in 1986 and offered it to Anne Murray, a popular singer at the time. Murray passed on the song. Cyndi Lauper took it and creatively revamped the format into a stark and breathtaking version. The song became a hit worldwide because of its universal appeal. The songwriters acknowledge that Lauper was the perfect artist to adapt the song partly because of her bold style. Released as the title song on Lauper’s 1986 album, “True Colors,” is the only original song on the album that the artist did not help to write. In 1998, Phil Collins covered the song on his “Greatest Hits” album. Australian country music star Kasey Chambers covered the song as the theme for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. In 2007, Cindy Lauper launched “The True Colors Tour” to support gay rights and fight hate crimes. In 2016, Justin Timberlake and actress Anna Kendrick used the song in the soundtrack for the movie “Trolls.” Kodak also used the song to advertise their film stock. Like I said: The song has legs. Here’s my version. When someone shows you their true colors, don’t try to repaint them. #happiness #recordingstidio #Joy #fingerpicking #recordlabel #guitatstyle #CyndiLauper #popmusic #guitarpicking #reflections #songs #vocals #love #guitarmethod #singer #gay #learnguitar #solovocal #songwriter #recording #hitsong #sologuitar