The Joys of Microscope Photography

..."Wretched beasties moving about very nimbly"

This is what Anton van Leeuwenhoek said about the creatures he saw in his 1670s microscope. The "Father of Microbiology" made over 400 different types of microscopes and discovered bacteria and spermatozoa, among other things.... among many, many other things. All these "beasties" live in enchanting world and can sometimes look very cute (witness waterbears) - and photographers keep discovering new angles and frontiers of their microcosm....

2008 International Photography Contest

View winners from the 2008 International Photography Contest, plus honorable mentions from each category.

A few tips to picture-perfect vacation memories

....Travel and photography have gone hand in hand since the days of the first Eastman Kodak folding cameras in the 1890s. Today's digital revolution has propelled photography, still called the world's most popular hobby, to even greater levels....

Art For health's sake

...Can art be used as an alternative practice to traditional methods of healing? Consider this: An abstract or landscape can, in effect, transport a person to a different location other than, say, a doctor's office. And some believe that color has a direct effect on certain "energy lines" of the body to heal specific ailments. But when it comes to art, is it really healing in nature or does it simply just provide a calming and soothing environment for the mind? Can art really heal your illnesses? Some say yes. But whether it's the teachings of ancient healing practices or the soothing effects of color and techniques, art can provide a healing of the mind. And with all the unwanted side effects of traditional medications, why not turn to art as a healing power?...

Comments: I do not think art can heal, it won't stop a bacterium from doing what it does....but it can reduce stress, increase neuroplasticity (create new neurons and synapses [see my article this January in the Review of Optometry on neuroplasticity]) and give one a feeling of well being. DM

Blind Artist on YouTube

Take at look at this interesting YouTube post. Obviously "art" is visualized in the brain....is photography? DM

Things Italian

If You Eat, You Never Die: Chicago Tales" by Tony Romano

By Lynna Williams

December 20, 2008

See the full review in HTML at http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/booksmags/chi-1220-if-you-eat-you-never-didec20,0,2740019.story

When Michelino Comingo comes to the United States as a small child, his mother, Lucia, changes the family name to the more "prosperous"—read American—Cummings.

Years later, he takes his father to City Hall to reclaim Comingo as his name. Although he has urged his father to make the change, he still debates how to choose for himself: Will he be Michael Peter Cummings or Michelino Pietro Comingo? As he looks at the other immigrants at City Hall, imagining them Americanizing their names by "lopping off endings, discarding unnecessary vowels" as his mother had done, the choice turns out to be simple. He goes with extending his legacy, "throwing out tug lines across the Atlantic," believing that Comingo is a "passport" to his personal history as an Italian. His younger brother, Giacomo, or Jimmy, will stick with Cummings, a choice that links him to the mother Jimmy faults for so many things over the years.

Family history, collective and personal—and the fault lines that distance people united by blood—is at the heart of Chicago writer Tony Romano's "If You Eat, You Never Die: Chicago Tales." In a series of atmospheric stories, he explores three generations' points of view, constructing a layered portrait of Comingo/Cummings' memories and experience. The structure of the book supports a kind of kaleidoscope: parts that, put together, influence the whole. The result is an evocation of time, place and immigrant experience that comes alive with strong detail.

"He wanted to name me Perla, which means pearl in Italian," says Michelino's daughter, Justine. "He said pearls were lustrous, that no two were alike. But Mother complained that Perla wasn't even a name. Besides, she said, pearls are nothing more than the innards of smelly shellfish. Justine, on the other hand, meant 'upright, just.' Just what? My father always wanted to know."

.............. whom Lucia dispatches to the barber shop for that purpose. There is love between them, which their sons don't always see.

The strongest parts of the collection are the boys' childhood experiences, especially in Giacomo/Jimmy's point of view. In "Milkboy," for example, Jimmy is humiliated by his mother chasing him at the end of a neighborhood game of ring-a-levio, and momentarily turns against the milk man he's helping with deliveries.

The choices we make, and the consequences of them, are everywhere in "If You Eat, You Never Die."

If You Eat, You Never Die: Chicago Tales

By Tony Romano

Harper Perennial 257 pages, $13.95

Epiphany Concert @ St. Bartholomew

From Cyndee Zbylut, St. Bartholomew Music Director:

On Sunday January 4th 2009 at 4PM the choirs of St. Bartholomew will present our Christmas Concert. We will be joined by a fabulous oboe player, Tina Nicholson....This liturgical concert will include hymns and carols for all to sing, music for the season sung by the choirs of St. Bart's and readings to reflect on this holy time of year. A free will donation to help support piano/organ repairs and maintenance. For St. Bartholomew Church information click here.

Comments: This is the first time in more than a decade that I will not be signing with this fine group....I plan to be there...won't you? DM

Music as Therapy

The Meaning of the Music: The Role of Music in Palliative Care Music Therapy as Perceived by Bereaved Caregivers of Advanced Cancer Patients.Magill L.Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2008 Dec 1.

Treating addiction with tunes: a systematic review of music therapy for the treatment of patients with addictions.Mays KL, Clark DL, Gordon AJ.Subst Abus. 2008;29(4):51-9.

The effect of music therapy on mood and anxiety-depression: An observational study in institutionalised patients with traumatic brain injury.Guétin S, Soua B, Voiriot G, Picot MC, Hérisson C.Ann Readapt Med Phys. 2008 Nov 6.

Treatment of sexually compulsive adolescents.Gerber J.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;31(

Effects of live music therapy sessions on quality of life indicators, medications administered and hospital length of stay for patients undergoing elective surgical procedures for brain.Walworth D, Rumana CS, Nguyen J, Jarred J.J Music Ther. 2008 Fall;45(3):349-59.

Bereaved parents' experiences of music therapy with their terminally ill child.Lindenfelser KJ, Grocke D, McFerran K.J Music Ther. 2008 Fall;45(3):330-48.

Group Music Intervention Reduces Aggression and Improves Self-esteem in Children with Highly Aggressive Behavior: A Pilot Controlled Trial.Choi AN, Lee MS, Lee JS.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Jul 17.

Saying it in song: music therapy as a carer support intervention.O'Kelly J.Int J Palliat Nurs. 2008 Jun;14(6):281-6.

Effects of a 12-week rehabilitation program with music & exercise groups on range of motion in young children with severe burns.Neugebauer CT, Serghiou M, Herndon DN, Suman OE.J Burn Care Res. 2008 Nov-Dec;29(6):939-48

[The effectiveness of music therapy in reducing physiological and psychological anxiety in mechanically ventilated patients]Wu SJ, Chou FH.Hu Li Za Zhi. 2008 Oct;55(5):35-44. Chinese.

The impact of music on hypermetabolism in critical illness.Nelson A, Hartl W, Jauch KW, Fricchione GL, Benson H, Warshaw AL, Conrad C.Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Nov;11(6):790-4.

Randomised controlled trial of music on state anxiety and physiological indices in patients undergoing root canal treatment.Lai HL, Hwang MJ, Chen CJ, Chang KF, Peng TC, Chang FM.J Clin Nurs. 2008 Oct;17(19):2654-60.

Images in cardiovascular medicine. Over rehearsed: a cellist with Paget-Schroëtter.Yan BP, Kiernan TJ, Gupta V, Schainfeld RM, Garasic JM.Circulation. 2008 Sep 16;118(12):e160-1. No abstract available.

Wright Camera Club at CACCA

Members of the Wright Camera Club went to the Chicago Area Camera Club Association. See the video and pics by clicking here!

Are you interested in photography? Come join us the 1st Monday of the month to learn how to use that digital camera you will get/got for Christmas.

Al Primo Canto

I just ate at Al Primo Canto (I've been here twice now and each time is a real treat) on Chicago's NW side and it was fantastic. If you get a chance...go to this "Galeteria" as soon as you can. Watch for them on PBS "Check Please" in January 2009. (I have no $$$ interest in this establishment ....but I do count George and Maria Elbekai (the owners, chefs, and dynamos that run this fine eatery as my friends.) See info about New Years party to right...DM

Come celebrate the New Year with the Kevin Cline Orchestra

Come celebrate the New Year with the Kevin Cline Orchestra
featuring:

Isha Molinea: vocals
Dale Prasco: guitar
Bob Gloppen: bass
Scott Garrigan: drums
Kevin Cline: piano & vocals

Hotel Orrington
Indigo Lounge1710 Orrington Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201847-866-8700

New Year's Eve
Wed, Dec. 31st

9pm to 1am

Make your last night of the year a special one by coming out to enjoy a wide range of music including Kevin's original compositions, Isha's soulful voice, Dale's rockin' guitar, Bob's funky bass, and Scott's tight groove. Join us in our countdown to 2009, and after midnight, yes, "we're gonna let it all hang down"!

This is NOT a package deal, so no need to spend big money! Simply pay for what you drink. Rooms are still available. Dinner available. And if you survive until next year, and still have it in you, come join Kevin for a drink after the show. Hope to see you there, thanks for listening, and Happy New Year!

For more information, visit: http://www.hotelorrington.com

Lecture on Puccini's Madama Butterfly

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to invite you to a special lecture presented on the occasion of the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Giacomo Puccini and the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Madama Butterfly .

The lecture will be given by Sir Andrew Davis and Nicholas Ivor Martin on Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" and will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute on Tuesday, December 16 at 6 pm

Music Director and Principal Conductor of Lyric Opera since 2000, Sir Andrew Davis previously held distinguished tenures as music director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Davis studied at London's Royal College of Music, King's College Cambridge, and with the renowned Franco Ferrara in Rome. Sir Andrew's repertoire encompasses four centuries of music, from the Baroque to the contemporary, with a particular dedication to 20^th- and 21^st-century British composers. He debuted in 1987 at Lyric Opera, where he has led more than 30 works to date. Sir Andrew is a regular guest conductor of major orchestras and opera houses throughout the world (the latter include Milan's La Scala, where he returns this season to lead Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream). He has conducted for Queen Elizabeth II, who bestowed upon him the title Command of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992. He was knighted by Prince Charles in 1999.

Nicholas Ivor Martin is Director of Operations/Artistic and Production at Lyric Opera of Chicago and author of one of the most valued reference books in the operatic field, The Da Capo Opera Manual (Da Capo Press, 1997). Martin has also published numerous articles and reviews for leading newspapers and journals. Since 1990 he has served as a panelist and on-site opera reviewer for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1925) decided to devote his life to opera after seeing a production of Verdi's Aida while still in his teens. He began his studied in Pisa before moving to the Conservatorio di Milano. In addition to Madama Butterfly, the greatest of his 12 operas include Manon Lescaut, La bohème, Tosca, and Turandot.

Thank you for calling (312) 822-9545 x 198 to R.S.V.P. or for replying to this email.

I hope you will be able to join us for this very special event.

Best regards,

Tina Cervone

Director

Italian Cultural Institute

Istituto Italiano di Cultura

500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450

Chicago, IL 60611

Through children's eyes

Sad-eyed children from the third world are a familiar image in western media but a photo exhibition shows completely different viewpoint...click on title to learn more...
Dominick

A new camera....

A shout out to all photograpers out there....I just purchased my Christmas present today. I will soon be the proud owner of a Canon 50D!!

I need all the help I can get when it comes to taking pics....so I hope this helps alot!!

If any of you are shooting a 50D let me know how you like it. If you a considering purchasing a 50D...click on the link above for a review....

You can see some of my pics at http://dmphotoart.blogspot.com/,

http://www.wrightcameraclub.com/Wright_Camera_Club/Image_Gallery/Pages/Dominick_Maino.html ,

and at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmphotoart/

Merry Christmas...

Dominick