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Musings Report #52 12-26-15 Christ Stopped At Eboli
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For those who are new to the Musings reports: they are basically a glimpse into my notebook, the unfiltered swamp where I organize future themes, sort through the dozens of stories and links submitted by readers, refine my own research and start connecting dots which appear later in the blog or in my books. As always, I hope the Musings spark new appraisals and insights. Thank you for supporting the site and for inviting me into your circle of correspondents.
Margins of the Unfiltered Swamp #5
Welcome to our fifth Musings from the Margins of the Unfiltered Swamp--affectionately known by its acronym, MUS.
The last Musings of each month focuses solely on one topic or idea that is on the very margins of the unfiltered swamp, i.e. everything that goes into the Musings, the blog and my books.
The MUS is an opportunity to let my hair down, so to speak, and explore ideas that don't necessarily have a practical purpose or tidy conclusion. Readers missed From Left Field, so MUS Musings include From Left Field.
Special Health-Risk Note
In composing the Musings Reports, I have a simple goal: if you, my loyal subscribers, get value from just one item in one of the 52 Musings that's potentially worth more than the $60 annual cost, the Musings have paid for themselves with that one item. This one item could be a Market Musings call, a link in From Left Field or a health tip.
Today I want to share an email from correspondent John F. (MD) that contains information that could literally be priceless, because it could save your life or the life of a loved one:
"We know that about 1/2 of folks who die from heart attacks do so without ever accessing the health care system - we call this "sudden cardiac arrest". I've talked with a LOT of new widows (a lot more widows than widowers, since heart attacks are primarily a guy thing), and a lot of them have told me their husband had chest pain or "indigestion" for quite some time, she urged him to go to the ER, but he kept saying it was nothing, and taking Tums.
It was felt that most folks who died suddenly out of the hospital had no antecedent symptoms, but now a study out of Oregon, published in the December 22 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine" has found that about half these folks DO have symptoms, often for a month prior to dying - but don't see a doctor.
We are talking at least a hundred thousand Americans a year - heart disease is our #1 cause of death. In other words, far, far more lives could be saved by getting folks to go to the ER when they have chest pains, than our whole military/industrial/security complex could possibly save by preventing terrorism.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of going to the ER if people our age (over 55) have chest pain, or unexplained shortness of breath. The care options we have for serious heart disease now are terrific, and most folks will not need heart surgery. If a person who is about to have - or even having - a heart attack gets to a hospital, today we can prevent a heart attack from happening over 90% of the time if it hasn't happened yet, or stop, or even reverse the heart damage over 50% of the time if it is already happening. Even if a person has a cardiac arrest - if it happens in the hospital - the chance of GOOD survival (no brain damage from lack of oxygen - patient walks out of the hospital and goes back to work/exercising) is about 70% - if it happens at home - even if someone is there and starts CPR - 5% or less."
Cardiac Arrest Victims May Be Ignoring Life-Saving Warning Signs.
Thank you, John F., for sharing this critically important information.
Special Year-End Note
I want to thank each of you for supporting my work via your subscription/contribution. I could not have spent 18 months writing my latest book--my most important work--without your steadfast support.
As you know, Of Two Minds is a one-person shop, and so I only send out renewal notices once a year. By sending your annual contribution in January, you save me a lot of time--something that I greatly appreciate. So a big thank-you in advance to all of you who are able to send in your annual Musings subscription/contribution in January.
If you prefer renewing with a check, my mailing address is: charles smith P.O. Box 4727 Berkeley CA 94704
I want to thank those who already renewed their support in December: William H., Daniel E., DMT, Robert B., Stephen J., John B., Troy T., Stephen J., Richard O. and Christi N.
I am also grateful for the support of new subscribers Mitchell D. and J.L.
Christ Stopped At Eboli
I recently watched the 1979 Italian film Christ Stopped at Eboli again, and was struck anew by its powerful themes and messages.
"Christ Stopped at Eboli" is the local residents' way of saying that the blessings of Christ never reached their poverty-stricken landscape and village, as Christ stopped at the distant town of Eboli, which is served by rail.
But the title also refers to the Christ-like nature of the doctor-artist (Dr. Levi, a northern Italian) who has been exiled to the poor village in the Basilicata region of southern Italy for opposing the Fascist regime.
Set in the years of the mid-1930s, just before the onset of World War II, the village is very much a place that time forgot: there is one automobile, operated as an informal taxi service, and no markets or marketplace. The residents are peasants who work the parched, inhospitable landscape for a barebones living.
The mayor is the town's self-important big-shot, and his wife is the power behind his meager throne. The village has a Catholic church, of course, but the priest is a drunken scalawag who hectors the villagers for not gifting him a sheep at Christmas.
The town's two doctors are incompetent and uncaring.
The representatives of the state, church and medicine, institutions that are supposed to serve the people, do nothing for the people. Rather, they are self-serving and greedy, parasites that sap the impoverished community for their own benefit.
The mayor loudly proclaims the glory of the fascist regime and Italy's conquest of Ethiopia, a land-grab designed to catapult Italy into the ranks of imperial nations.
The priest claims to represent Christ and bestow His blessings on the populace, but does nothing for the people and disdainfully considers them little more than livestock.
In contrast, Dr. Levi responds to the residents' needs for medical care, all the while disclaiming his ability since he has never actively practiced medicine. Though he listens politely to the corrupt mayor and priest, he spends his time teaching the village children painting. He is humble, reserved, generous--everything the representatives of political and spiritual powers are not.
The film pointedly shows the people ignoring the pro-war propaganda; young peasant men with few prospects go off to die in wars that have no meaning to residents of the village.
The capital of Rome has nothing to offer the people; instead, they look to New York as the place where poor immigrants from their region can "make it" and escape poverty.
The film starts with Dr. Levi disembarking from the train in Eboli, on his way to exile in the remote village. Yes, Christ stopped at Eboli, but in this story, his disciple proceeds on to the village to serve the people whom the predatory state and church failed to serve.
There is much more to recommend this visually striking and emotionally/intellectually complex neo-realist film.
From Left Field
what your zipcode says about you -- Census data
Alexander von Humboldt: The man who made nature modern -- interesting, I did not know of his significance...
Is This How The Dollar Gets Replaced? -- with non-state competing currencies...
What Just Happened in Solar Is a Bigger Deal Than Oil Exports -- tax credits at work...
top 20 biggest companies in the world by market capitalization -- fascinating to see the ebb and flow of industries by market cap...
Why Bitcoin May Solve This Age-Old Economic Paradox -- Triffin's Paradox...
Can You Work Out Less, Get More Results? -- restricting blood flow doesn't sound like a good idea ...
Unbundling the nation state: Countries have started to outsource public services to each other; Is this the dawn of the government-to-government era? -- or is it the last gasp of a failing model?
Digital Transformation of Business and Society -- tech-hype to be sure, but a few nuggets in here...
The end of capitalism has begun -- worthy essay on what happens as information becomes nearly free and un-ownable...
Economists Confirm Financial Aid Is Inflating Student Loan Bubble -- the truth finally leaks out...
Did The Romans Beat Columbus To It? Scientists Make Extraordinary New Claim About Discovery Of America (via Mark G.)
"The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend." Marcus Cicero
Thanks for reading--
charles |
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