Coach Bill / Dad, Entrepreneur Special Educator, American Political Scientist, Writer, Musician.

The therapy of rhythmic movement to music moves oneself to connect with the harmony of self to the external world. In fact, it paves the way    for an internal/ external ‘bandwith’ to happen, bringing even communicative self-expression to the experience, much like a poem, or story spoken with muscle, bone, and conscious/ unconscious movement. Often times, the dancing practitioner finds that their flow of movement has a correlation with their emotional state of being and that this status can be affected through the cyclical consistency of the dancing.  Herein, exists the beginning of the therapeutic understandings of ‘movement therapy.’ The actual benefits are complex, profound, and so intricately layered-that without the allowance of the experiential wherewithal of a teacher in the matter, the deeper matters of verbalizing how this rhythmic movement to music heals from the inside out, is lost on the everyday practitioner in word, though not in the intuitive awaren...

“Well, I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I haven’t been a rogue most of my life.” -Jack Nicholson The professor had as view various classic films spanning the twentieth century. I was thrilled that we could watch movies in class, much more, great movies like ‘Easy Rider,’ starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. Great work by the director and actors, but Nicholson took the prize. He portrayed his character as an outsider who seemed out of sorts with the time and culture he lived in, yet remarkably secure in his own skin. Such has been a part of the legacy of legendary American actor, Jack Nicholson. His work across sixty decades are a tremendous tour de force for the American culture and the world itself.  I honor Mr. Nicholson today in this essay for his contribution to our culture and collective sense of self. To those who have appreciated his work, he holds a place within us that can be easily reached. Mr. Nicholson did not go into...

Charlie Chaplin, filming the 1925 classic, 'The Gold Rush' From the beginning, it was meant to be a form of ‘release’ for the people. Charlie Chaplin’s 1925 film, ‘The Gold Rush,’ became a timeless film etching itself into the American conscious as it weaved a well-known story of an impoverished ‘underdog’ who is without guile, yet valiant and clever. Chaplin’s Little Tramp goes out to seek gold in the time of the Alaskan gold rush and finds himself in a far-flung cabin between a gold prospector and a fugitive from the law. Throughout the story in the silent film Chaplin’s character faces starvation as he deals, evades and one-ups the prospector and fugitive with their own agendas who will stop at nothing, even if it means possibly eating Chaplin’s character. In the end, Chaplin’s Little Tramp wins through default almost without trying, and as usual, without losing his composure. The film delivers a classic storyline that puts forth the championing of the ‘un...

"...each moment requires a sensitive mind that is constantly changing and constantly adapting..." -Bruce Lee Water takes the shape of whatever is immediately around it. It is adaptable. Water also allows itself to be transformed into a new substance and is essential to life. Humans consist almost entirely of water also. It is a part of us, it is around us and we breathe it in from the air as well. Matter soon dries up in its absence and becomes hard and solid. Can we be fluid in adapting, shifting and transitioning like water does and take on some of its most essential characteristics? Can we be fluid like water and grow in greater alignment with changing circumstances and relationships?  Can we be fluid, yet still retain our integrity?  Having a rock, solid foundation in life is important. A great tree anchor itself by spreading its roots and clasping great rocks as its outermost extensions search for sources of water. The tree is immovable, yet f...

After Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill toured the bombed-out quarters in which Adolf Hitler was finally stopped he found a chair to sit down and catch his breath. Something nagged him. As if the battle was just beginning again. At the time, Stalin and his troops had raced to finish off Berlin ahead of the allied forces. Churchill had put all he had into the war and after that was spent had gone into overdrive to bring about victory. London had come within inches of obliteration by Hitler's forces and now the Prime Minister anticipated an 'iron curtain' falling across all Soviet captured European countries. He focused on reaching a peace deal in Potsdam with Stalin and Truman cogitating day and night how he would leverage the Soviets to a peaceful accord. This was before he knew the full extent of the nuclear bomb test in New Mexico which the Americans were keeping 'under wraps.'  Churchill and Stalin were both 'night owls' and would dine together lo...

The idea of creating your own home storytelling theater can serve as a way for young children, especially those with special needs to appreciate different points of view and to even act out those differing outlooks in a safe setting. This metacognitive activity helps one rethink how they approach their thought and the world. Each character acted out has the potential to have a storyline that the puppeteer assumes during the story time. Repetition of an activity like this stays within certain established parameters, yet retains a novelty each time a story is performed in the theater.   My first storytelling theater was fashioned out of plywood. I had painted it over to look like a castle and added a knight to stand guard by the castle draw bridge. Ivy crawled up the castle walls. In my second theater, I may end up doing it out of tempered hardboard and using cloth string as ‘latches,’ to tie the different hardboard sections of the mini theater together. This makes it ...

I just met Ricardo (that's not him in the photo:), my elderly neighbor, an American who was born and raised in Argentina.  Ricardo’s story is a very American story filled with hope, vision and tremendous optimism. I know the story well. It is one shared by many immigrants who come to our shores for a chance at a better life in the ‘land of opportunity.’ The guy left with one dollar from his home country in his early twenties. On the way over, in the airplane, three quarters of his money fell out from his pocket leaving him with only 25% of the dollar he started with. It was enough. Upon reaching JFK airport with one suitcase in hand he found out that he could take the bus for a quarter all the way into Manhattan. He didn’t need to go all the way though. The guy was happy just to be in America and got off in Queens with his suit on and began to walk the sidewalk. Before he knew it, an old man patted him on the back and eventually took him to a bar where he found out that 1...

Much can be said about David Bowie's music, fashion and entrance into popular culture. The 'Thin White Duke' was a game changer in Western culture. His appearance gave license to millions to literally change music, artistic perspective and fashion over night which, alongside other forces of his time, led to a new day in how we express ourselves. His rise in stardom at a time in history that was plagued with civil right growing pains also helped cement a new pattern for youth and music allowing for a 'breakaway' from old social norms and societal balances. Mr. Bowie was very different from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. It is as if he had no handlers and his metamorphosis as an artist sped past the ability of the 'old establishment' to make sense of it. In essence, David Bowie achieved 'breakaway velocity.' It was hard to categorize him or his music at the time. Personally, my first introduction to Mr. David Bowie was through the children...