Arts Connections Advice #3

 

Q: I enjoy watching television shows from the past and the present. Now that there are so many options, how do I decide which shows to watch?

A: You should start by finding other shows by the same creator of some of the shows you already like. Same goes for performers that you like. You can also ask family and friends what they are watching, especially if they have similar taste or you respect their opinion. Streaming services like Netflix will actually evaluate your likes and dislikes and recommend shows based on your watching history. Reviews can be very useful, so find a publication that consistently recommends the kind of shows that you like and try an episode or two to see if you agree. 

Q: I have trouble keeping track of time. How can I keep to my schedule?

A: If you have a smart phone or tablet, it is easier than ever to remember appointments. They often come preloaded with a calendar app. You can create events in you calendar that will send you customized alerts. It's best to try it out and see what works best for you. For some, one alert 5 minutes ahead of time is enough. Others may need multiple alerts. Make sure that the settings allow for a sound to let you know when it's time for your scheduled event. Also make sure the volume is up so that you can hear the alert sound from another room if you happen to leave your device in a different place.  

An Interview With Our New Yoga Teacher: Fernanda "Nanda" Savedra

 

Do you have a nickname that you like to be called? 

Most people call me Nanda, and I love it. It's short, easy to say, and, I hope, easy to remember!

What will you be teaching with Arts Connections?

I will be teaching Yoga. Together, we will practice movement, mindfulness, and breath work.

Do you like to dance? What kind?

I love to dance and will find a groove to almost any type of music! You can even find me with an imaginary guitar or drums moving to rock n' roll!

What kind of music do you like? Do you have a favorite musician or band? 

My taste in music is very broad and it varies with my mood, so I can't say I have a favorite. Nat King Cole, Paramore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Ben Howard showcase the variety of musicians and bands I listen to. 

Where are you from? Where do you live? Have you lived in other places?

I was born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. I have lived in New Mexico for almost 16 years. Los Lunas has been my home for about 8 of those years. I have also lived in Chile for three and a half years when I was 9 years old. A lot of moving!

Do you like to travel? What's your favorite place that you've ever been? 

I love to travel, but haven't traveled much in years. Of all the places that I have been to, I miss Itajubá in Brazil. It is a beautiful town with lots of green trees and plants all around. It rains for several weeks at a time there, but the weather will remain warm and pleasant. It's a beautiful place. 

What do you like about yoga? Do you follow a certain yoga philosophy? How long have you been practicing yoga?

I love how yoga brings you inward and helps you to not only get to know yourself, but to become friends with yourself. This helps you to achieve an internal balance and peace that is otherwise lost in such a busy and often chaotic world. I have been practicing yoga for about nine years. When I first came to yoga, I was in a deep state of need. I can't emphasize how much it has helped me. I really wish that I had known yoga all of my life! Aside from the asana practice, I hold the eight limbs of yoga close to my heart and my life. Self-discipline (Tapas) and self-study (Svadhyaya) are essential to me. All the limbs are interwoven within each other and some of them are already embedded in our beings innately! 

What do you like about teaching?

Teaching allows me to share precious treasures with others. Guiding others towards a healthier and happier life brings me great joy. I have had to learn so much in my personal life, and I am still learning. But the freedom that I have found so far not only motivates me to keep going, but also inspires me to assist others into finding the same peace and freedom in their lives. Teaching is also a perfect way to self-study and a perfect way to keep learning. 

Do you have a favorite actor or actress? TV show? Movie?

I really admire Liam Neeson. He's a great actor and I have loved every movie that I watched with him in it. I also LOVE the show Frasier. I have seriously watched the entire show over 20 times. 

Do you like to cook? What are some of your favorite foods?

I love to cook and cook every single day! Rice, lentil salad, roti bread, pasta, fried tempeh, and salads are on the top of my list of favorite foods. 

What's your favorite color? 

For the past couple of months I have been drawn to the color yellow. Light yellow and mustard yellow specifically. I love the color so much that I even bought a yellow sleeve for my favorite reusable water bottle!

What do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?

I love knitting and reading. In the rare moments that I have free and quiet time, you will find me knitting or reading something. I also love to go camping!

Can you tell us about your family? Do you have any pets? What are their names?

My husband Aaron and I have been married for almost 13 years. Together we have a 12 year old daughter, Emma-Jayde. We also have an 8 year old maltese dog named Richie. We love him so much, we call him our son! We call ourselves the Three Musketeers plus One.

 

Mark's Movie of the Week #3: Titanic

 

Titanic (Lightstorm Entertainment; Paramount Pictures/20th Century Fox; December 19, 1997; 195 minutes)

Produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau 

Written and Directed by James Cameron 

Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film, based on accounts of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ship during its ill-fated maiden voyage.  In 1996, aboard the research vessel Akademik Mstislay Keldysh, Brock Lovett and his team searched the wreck of RMS Titanic.  They recovered a safe they hoped contained a necklace with a large diamond known as the Heart of the Ocean.  Instead, they only found a drawing of a young nude woman wearing the necklace.  The sketch was dated April 14, 1912, the same day the Titanic struck the iceberg that caused it to sink.  Rose Dawson Calvert, the woman in the drawing, was brought aboard Keldysh.  She recounted her experience aboard the Titanic.  In 1912 Southampton, 17 -year old Rose DeWitt Bukster, her wealthy fiancé Caledon "Cal" Hockley, and Rose's widowed mother, Ruth, boarded the Titanic.  Meanwhile, Jack Dawson, a poor young artist, won a third-class Titanic ticket in a poker game.  After setting sail, Rose, distraught over her loveless engagement, climbed over the stern railing, intending to jump overboard.  Jack appeared and coaxed her back onto the deck.  The two developed a tentative friendship, but when Cal and Ruth strongly objected, Rose acquiesced and discouraged Jack's attentions.  She soon realized she had feelings for Jack.  On the forward deck, they witnessed the ship's collision with an iceberg and overheard its officers and builder discussing the serious situation.  With the ship sinking, Rose fled Cal and her mother, who boarded a lifeboat.  Jack and Rose returned to the boat deck.  The lifeboats departed and the ship's stern rose as its flooded bow sank.  As passengers fell to their deaths, Jack and Rose desperately clung to the stern rail.  The upended ship broke and the bow section dove downward.

The remaining stern slammed back on to the ocean, then upended again before it, too, sank.  In the freezing water, Jack helped Rose onto a wooden panel buoyant enough for only one person and made her promise to survive.  Rose was saved by a returning lifeboat, keeping her promise, and Jack died of hypothermia.  The RMS Carpathia rescued the survivors; Rose avoided Cal by hiding among the steerage passengers and gave her name as Rose Dawson.  In the present, Rose says she later heard that Cal committed suicide after losing his fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929.  Lovett abandons his search after hearing Rose's story.  Alone on the stern of Keldysh, Rose takes out the Heart of the Ocean, which has been in her possession all along, and drops it into the sea over the wreck site.  While she is seemingly asleep in her bed, her photos on the dresser depict a life of  freedom and adventure inspired by her early conversations with Jack.  A young Rose reunites with Jack at Titanic's Grand Staircase, applauded by those who died on the ship.  Titanic also stars Billy Zane, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton, Suzy Amis, Danny Nucci, David Warner, Jason Berry, Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Eric Braeden, Charlotte Chatton, Bernard Fox, Michael Ensign, Jonathan Evans-Jones, Mark Lindsey Chapman, Ewan Stewart, Jonathan Phillips, Simon Crane, Ioan Gruffudd, Edward Fletcher, James Lancaster, Lew Palter, Elsa Raven, Martin East, Gregory Cooke, Craig Kelly, Liam Tuohy and Terry Forrestal, and known for his famous line: "I'm the king of the world!"  Titanic was nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won a record 11 Oscars including Best Picture (James Cameron and Jon Landau), Best Director (James Cameron), Best Art Direction (Peter Lamont and Michael D. Ford), Cinematography (Russell Carpenter), Best Costume Design (Debroah L. Scott), Best Film Editing (Conrad Buff, James Cameron and Richard A. Harris), Best Original Dramatic Score (James Horner), Best Original Song (James Horner and Will Jennings for "My Heart Will Go On "), Best Sound (Gary Rydstorm, Tom Johnson, Gary Summers and Mark Ulana), Best Sound Effects Editing (Tom Bellfort and Christopher Boyes), and Best Visual Effects (Robert Legato, Mark A. Lasoff, Thomas L. Fisher and Michael Kanfer). With over $2.202 billion dollars worldwide at the box office Titanic was king of the world.

 

Gardening with Lora: Why I Like to Garden

 

In my garden, I grow corn, spinach, green chile and flowers. I like to make watering my garden part of my every day routine. I like how pretty the flowers are. I like to watch the progress over time and see how my garden grows. And, in the end, I like to eat the vegetables. Especially the chile!

Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)

 

You have probably heard the news that Queen Elizabeth II, England's longest reigning monarch, has died at the age of 96. This set off a week long media campaign leading up to the grand funeral. Like any head of state, there was the good and the bad, especially for one who ruled for so long. We can honor her legacy, while also discussing the harm caused by British colonialism. But in the end, it's important to acknowledge her huge presence and affect on western culture.

Mark's Movie of the Week #2: Jailhouse Rock

 

Jailhouse Rock (Avon Productions; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; November 8, 1957; 96 minutes)
Screenplay by Guy Trosper
Story by Nedrick Young
Produced by Pandro S. Berman
Directed by Richard Thorpe

Jailhouse Rock was released in 1957 and stars Elvis Presley as Vince Everett, a construction worker who accidentally kills a drunken, belligerent man in a barroom brawl and is sentenced to 10-14 months in the state penitentiary for manslaughter.  Vince's cellmate, a washed-up country singer named Hunk Houghton, in jail for bank robbery, teaches Vince a few guitar chords.  Upon Vince's release 14 months later, he would make an appearance on a TV variety show. The warden gives him withheld fan mail from the TV show.  Hunk promises Vince a singing job at a nightclub owned by a friend, where Vince meets Peggy Van Alden, a promoter for pop singer Mickey Alba.  Vince takes the stage to sing when the house band takes a break, and Vince gets angry, smashes his guitar and leaves the club.  Peggy then persuades Vince to record a demo, and Peggy takes the tape to Geneva Records.  Later, Vince makes arrangements for another television show.  Vince soon becomes a major star.  However, Peggy no longer speaks to Vince, as his success has made him arrogant.  Vince signs a movie deal, and the studio head asks him to spend the day with his conceited co-star, Sherry Wilson for publicity purposes.  Sherry then falls in love with Vince after shooting a kissing scene.  Hunk starts a fight with Vince and strikes him in the throat, endangering Vince's voice and singing ability.  At the hospital, Vince forgives Hunk and realizes that he loves Peggy and that she loves him.  The film also stars Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy, Vaughn Taylor, Jennifer Holden and Dean Jones.  The film also features songs like "One More Day", "Young and Beautiful ", "I Want to Be Free", "Don't Leave Me Now","Treat Me Nice","(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care", and the film's title song.  Who says Elvis has left the building.

Arts Connections Advice #2

 

Q. I have a new job. How can I make sure I keep it for a long time?

A. First off, to keep a job, you will want to make yourself appear professional and helpful. You should maintain a good relationship with your boss and coworkers by avoiding drama, like gossip and workplace conflicts. Make sure to be a good self advocate, while also stepping up to help and take on additional responsibilities as appropriate. For example, it would not be appropriate for your boss to ask you to run a personal errand for them while you're on the clock. But if they were to ask you to take on an extra work related task that is an extra responsibility, it can be a good idea to make yourself a useful and trusted employee. The other side of things is to make sure that you remain happy and satisfied at your job so that you don't get burned out. This means maintaining a good work/life balance and addressing any issues that come up, so that you don't feel resentful. If you keep those things in mind, you can stick with your job for a long time.

Q. I've been done with school for a long time, but I still love to learn. How can I continue my education?

A. Many people have a life long love of learning, and learning doesn't stop once you leave school. There are also many reasons for continued learning, including job and skill development, hobbies and interest or if you plan on making a big life or career change. One way to learn new skills is to hire a tutor or take a professional development class. There are also many opportunities at local colleges and universities to take adult continuing education classes that are a little less formal than regular university classes. Community centers are also a great resource for classes in gardening, art and media classes and exercise programs.

Mark's Movie of the Week #1: Gone with the Wind

 Gone with the Wind 

(Selznick International Pictures; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; December 15, 1939; 221 minutes; 234-238 minutes)

Screenplay by Sidney Howard 

Based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell 

Produced by David O. Selznick

Directed by Victor Fleming

Gone with the Wind, based on the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell, was the greatest film of all time.  Set in the American South against the backdrop of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era, the film stars Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes and Olivia de Havilland as Melanie Hamilton.  The film begins in 1861 at Tara, the cotton plantation in Georgia on the eve of the American Civil War, the place where the O'Haras and their many slaves lived.  At Twelve Oaks, Scarlett O'Hara meets Rhett Butter, when Melanie's brother, Charles dies in battle; Scarlett was in trouble.  At the charity bazaar, Dr. Meade tells that Rhett is now a blockade runner for the Confederacy.  This film has such moments as the Battle of Gettysburg, the Atlanta Campaign, Reconstruction, the birth of Rhett and Scarlett's daughter, Bonnie Blue and a miscarriage. 

Gone with the Wind has a list of supporting players including Thomas Mitchell, Barbara O'Neil. Evelyn Keyes, Ann Rutherford, George Reeves, Fred Crane, Hattie McDaniel, Oscar Polk, Butterfly McQueen, Victor Jory, Everett Brown, Howard Hickman, Alicia Rhett, Rand Brooks, Carroll Nye, Laura Hope Crews, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Harry Davenport, Leona Roberts, Jane Darwell, Ona Munson, Irving Bacon, Ward Bond and Cliff Edwards.  The film was known for its quotes:  "Fiddle-dee-dee.", "I don't know nothin' bout birthin' babies.", "As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.",  "After all, tomorrow is another day!" and "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Gone with the Wind was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture (David O.Selznick), Best Director (Victor Fleming), Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Best Screenplay (Sidney Howard), Best Cinematography-Color (Ernest Haller and Ray Rennaham), Best Art Direction (Lyle Wheeler), Best Film Editing (Hal C. Kern and James E. Newcom), a Special Award to William Cameron Menzies and a Technical Achievement Award to Don Musgrave.  The film was rereleased in 1942,1947,1954,1961,1967,1971,1989, and 1998.  This film was received by U.S. television premiere on HBO on June 11, 1976, it made its network television debut in November, 1976 on NBC and on CBS in 1978 and it was launched by two cable channels- Turner Network Television (TNT) in 1988 and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in 1994.  There never has been a film like Gone with the Wind.