The New Parker Pen

 ...And To Never Count The Cost! I was triggered by James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner. Popular psychology (or pseudo-psychology, I’m not knowledgeable enough to assert either with certainty) refers to being “triggered” as that strong emotional reaction – usually distinctly negative but always uncomfortable – in response to some external stimulus. With that context, I state again: I was triggered by The Amen Corner. Shakespeare In Paradise presented The Amen Corner at The Dundas' PAB Black Box on Saturday, October 11, 2025. I was there. And as I have said and will repeat, boy, was I triggered. There are characters in the play, there is dialogue in the play, there are situations in the play that might have been lifted wholesale directly from my life. I will not define any of them more specifically because, of course, we live in a fishbowl and even what I have said has doubtless caused people with whom I grew up and who are familiar with the play to start the excavating of our sha...

Showing Up & Showing Out A Reflection on Soundscapes II. Showing Up & Showing Out A Reflection on Soundscapes II.   I gave it a day or two to settle. I’m still buzzing. On Sunday, October 5, at 7PM, the University of The Bahamas music faculty presented a fascinating concert under the banner of the Frederick W. Fleisher Memorial Concert Series at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nassau. I was present, and before I really became aware of what I was doing, I was taking notes. It was the kind of evening I had to respond to in writing. It was that good. I shall share some of my reflections on highlights of the evening. The evening began with flute professor Dr. Christine Gangelhoff performing the Concertino for Flute (Op. 107) by Cécile Chaminade, accompanied by Dr. Paul Jones. I consider Christine a friend, and have heard her perform any number of times, but at Soundscapes II, she was a revelation. I struggle with deciding whether to respond to these things on a techni...