Keywords by David Yonke

I interviewed David Rabinovitch today, producer and director of a four-part series about the Inquisition that will be broadcast in the USA for the first time May 9 and 16 on PBS stations nationwide.
The series is amazing in how it details one of the darkest moments in religious history, when Catholic clergy for 600 years hunted down people considered to be heretics and, in order to prevent them leading other people astray, often sentenced them to death. Many victims were burned at the stake.
Rabinovitch used the actual transcripts from the trials that had been locked up by the Vatican until 1998, when Pope John Paul II ordered them opened on a limited basis. Although actors were used in this "docu-drama" to tell the story, the words are all genuine. "We made nothing up," Rabinovitch said in the interview.
After a lengthy discussion of his movie, I told him about my book. I don't usually make that leap, taking off my reporter/interviewer hat and talking about "Sin, Shame & Secrets," but in this case it just seemed natural. Rabinovitch is a journalist and a movie producer who has done extensive research on the Catholic church and reported his findings to the public. His Inquisition series has been seen by tens of millions of people around the world, although it's not been shown in the United States yet.
Anyway, I gave him a brief synopsis of the book and he said he was interested already, and added, "Let's make a movie." I'm going to have my publicist send him a copy.
* * *
I know it's been a tough time for the Catholic Church in general, and the Toledo diocese has also been struggling. I've wrestled with the responsbility of reporting about many of these cases, from pedophile priests to the church covering up for a murderer to the lockout of parishioners at St. James in Kansas, Ohio, to an attempt to intimidate a priest who spoke out to the media.
So after all this, what do I get today but an email from someone saying that "some people think the Toledo diocese has a ring in my nose." In other words, the diocese pushes me around, with the implication that I don't write the tough stories.
My integrity and objectivity are essential to me as a person and a journalist. I don't particularly enjoy writing the bad news, but I feel it is my duty and mission as a religion editor to help clean up when churches abuse their power, and shine some light when there are coverups.
I prefer writing the good-news story, profiling good people and recording notable achievements. But the bad news is necessary and I am not afraid to write the truth.
I would be insulted if the "ring in my nose" comment came from someone I respected. Obviously whoever said it has not read the Blade nor has he or she read my book.
I've learned that such cheap shots come with the territory -- when you're in the public eye, you get arrows from all directions, including slings from ignorant people who are quick to speak even when they don't know what they are talking about. With that in mind, I just shrug it off and wonder where these people's heads are at. Actually, I don't really want to know...
Sylvania, Ohio, May 2, 2007

I once read a book titled "Jesus, Elvis & Coca-Cola," by Kinky Friedman (more about him in a moment) and the title was based on the premise of some pop-culture pundits who said that everybody on the planet recognizes those three names. An alien could land a spaceship in the remote jungles of Borneo and a native in loin cloth who hunts wild boar for dinner would know that trio.
Last night, I was sitting around playing guitar when Daniel Gemmett, a 21-year-old skateboarder from Te Awamutu, New Zealand, wandered in. He mentioned Bob Dylan, I played a few Dylan songs, and Daniel knew every single word -- and Dylan songs have a lot of lyrics. It turns out Daniel and his father have 45 Dylan albums (including bootlegs) and listen to his music all the time. I had a blast playing guitar and singing "Tangled Up in Blue," "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and "If You See Her Say Hello" with a young man from the other side of the planet.
Dylan's coming to Toledo in July but, alas, Daniel won't be here then. I'm hoping he can see Dylan perform at another U.S. location before he flies back to New Zealand.
As for Mr. Friedman, he was a famous -- or infamous, really -- country singer (one of his tunes is "They Don't Make Jews Like Jesus Anymore") who never really appealed to me.
I saw him perform once in Austin, Texas, and he was a miserable failure that night. He almost got booed off the stage, except he only sang one song. If he had tried to start another, I think the cowboy-hats-and-boots crowd would have lassoed him and dragged him right out of the hall.
Kinky once ran for governor of Texas and lost, but one thing he can do pretty well is write humorous crime novels.
I discovered his books after reading an interview with President Bill Clinton while he was in office, naming Kinky as one of his favorite authors. Surprised by that comment from a Rhodes Scholar and the nation's Commander in Chief, I checked out one of Friedman's books. Sure enough, it was highly entertaining. The main character is ... Kinky Friedman. In the literary world, he is sort of a private eye who lives in Greenwich Village, directly below a lesbian dance studio, smokes cigars, drinks too much, surrounds himself with a colorful cast of characters, solves unlikely crimes, but mostly gets to share his unique insights into people and society.
I get a kick out of Kinky, maybe because life can get so serious, it helps to enjoy a little escapist entertainment and maybe a few chuckles -- perhaps a guffaw -- once in a while.
Friedman never made it big as a singer-songwriter, but he's hit the big time as a best-selling author. It just goes to show you that the creative spark is a strong one, and an artist who fails in one area can succeed in a different medium if they are gifted, stubborn, and ambitious enough. It helps if they refuse to ever hold a "real" job.

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Kudos to Jon Stainbrook, who earned his master's degree from the University of Toledo today. Way to go Stain!!!

Toledo, Ohio, May 6, 2007 .

I interviewed a most amazing individual named Carl James Joseph over the last few weeks, and wrote about him in Sunday's Blade (click here to read it).
James grew up Toledo but left in 1991 and has been walking around the world ever since -- through 47 states and 13 countries. He has no possessions except for a Bible, a rosary, and a toothbrush (good hygiene is important).
He wears a robe like Jesus wore. He has long brown hair, parted in the middle, and a beard. And he never wears shoes, even in the winter. He said he's not wearing a costume or pretending to be Jesus, he's just living as simply as possible and following in Jesus' footsteps.

Everywhere he goes, he preaches the Gospel. He relies on the largesse of strangers for food and shelter. And so far, after 16 years, God has provided for him. He has, however, developed knee problems from all that walking -- he can't even guess how many miles he's traveled.
I helped my oldest daughter move this weekend and to physically carry all that stuff, well, you realize anew the disparity between the normal American lifestyle and that of an ascetic evangelist and people in Third World nations. We accumulate so much ... and it's good and bad. I enjoy the luxuries and technologies of 21st century life. But I don't want them to interfere with the real meaning of life. Material things should complement our lives and not control them.
I am grateful for Tivo and surround sound and air conditioning and microwaves and wireless networking. They make things easy and provide a lot of comfort and pleasure. But I am more grateful for the gift of life. As Kurt Vonnegut once said, it's no surprise when somebody dies. It's more surprising that we continue to live. Our bodies are "fearfully and wondrously made," the Bible says. Every day is a miracle. An offbeat, cross-current preacher like James Joseph can help us to refocus our priorities.
* * *
ROTARY TALK: I am looking forward to speaking at a luncheon this morning for the Toledo Rotary Club, at the Park Inn downtown. I've got my PowerPoint presentation and my outline all set to go.
I was warned that at least one Rotarian complained about having me as a speaker, saying it was "inappropriate" for the luncheon lecture. I sort of expected that and had planned to be careful in how I phrase things, as always.
* * *
POSITIVE FEEDBACK: Most writers are artists -- sensitive souls who agonize over words and aspire to perfection. We are never quite satisfied and always want to push ourselves to the next level. But after 30 years, I have learned that rather than sweat blood in futile pursuit of perfection, you just have to let it go and move on. Do the absolute best you can do, of course, then don't fret and don't sweat the small stuff.
Negative comments can be learning experiences, and I've had my share, but it's always nice to hear positive feedback. I got one this weekend when my daughter, Dana, told me that a friend of hers was reading my book when someone, an avid reader, asked her what the book was about. She told him and then loaned it to him. Five days later, he returned with a note saying it was "the most mesmerizing book he's ever read," and that he was buying copies for friends and family. This from someone who had never heard of Father Robinson, never heard of the book, and knows nothing about Toledo. It proves again that my book can appeal to a broad, even global, audience.
That unknown reader's comments came at a perfect time -- when I was starting to feel a bit discouraged. It seems that God sends someone my way when I most need a pat on the back.
Toledo, Ohio, May 7, 2007

I heard a great quote this morning on the radio: "Joy is the serious business of heaven." Evangelist Luis Palau was quoting C.S. Lewis, adding that God wants us to enjoy life on earth. I don't think there's a more beautiful sound than laughter, especially a child's laughter. So I would agree with Lewis & Palau that we should not get so bogged down with life's obligations that we forget to take time out for fun.
(Which reminds me, when I was in Edinburgh in March, I met a Scottish artist named Max who said he specialized in portraits of a "laughing Jesus." I loved the concept. Unfortunately, when I looked up laughingjesus.com it is kind of a pseudo-site that triggers pop-up ads and sales pitches (don't go there!). I must have had the wrong URL. But the idea of a Laughing Jesus is a reassuring one, isn't it?
* * *
My talk to the Toledo Rotary Club went very well yesterday, as good or better than I had hoped. It was packed -- the biggest crowd they've had since the club moved to its new location at the Park Inn. And the front tables were filled with a dozen local judges from various courts. The club had a very efficient and knowledgeable staffer who set up my PowerPoint presentation and gave me a remote control clicker to advance the slides.
Tom Walton was his usual charming and entertaining self in introducing me. The hardest part was watching my time limit -- 20 minutes. So I had to avoid getting bogged down in details as I showed the slides and skimmed over the complex topic.
During a Q&A, one guy asked me what happened that the cold-case squad got involved in the case. I was not intending to be funny when I answered that it was a long and convoluted story and I didn't have time to explain, but added, "The best thing to do is read the book."
That got the biggest laugh of the day.
I sold one copy of the book even though I didn't bring any with me: One Rotarian gave me the cash for a copy and asked me to sign it and mail it to him. I should have made arrangements with Borders to set up a table.
Toledo, Ohio May 8, 2007.

As a journalist, we get hit with a lot of requests to support worthy causes. It's rare that we can actually write about them, simply because there are so many. It would be unfair to write about one or two and ignore the rest.
It's tough sometimes to say no, but it's necessary.
My article on the front page of Sunday's Blade about Carl James Joseph, the barefoot apostle aka "The Jesus Guy" (see May 8 blog below, "On a Mission from God") actually came about when James' father, Louis Joseph, walked into the Blade unannounced asking for some help. He's 71 years old and wants to work but says no one will hire him because of his age. He lives in a condemned rental house and his wife left him 6 years ago when he lost his job (they're separated). He said he decided to move to Alabama to be near his son and to help build cabins that would house pilgrims to the shrine at EWTN, the global Catholic cable network.
What Mr. Joseph really wanted from me in the first place was an article saying he is looking to buy a 40-foot trailer for $2,500 to haul all his tools (for construction) and his vast collection of textbooks and manuals (to set up a library) to Alabama.
Louis Joseph added that he was not looking for a handout but only a low-priced, decent trailer.
He seems genuine, and although it may be a legitimate need, it's not something I could write about in The Blade.
Although it's not newsworthy, in the traditional sense, that topic is blog-worthy, in this new world of personalized online communications. And to be honest, I feel a bit obligated since Louis was the one who gave me not only a Page 1 article but the most talked about story in Toledo last weekend.
If anyone out there has a 40-foot trailer they are willing to part with for around $2,500 or less, please drop me a line and I'll connect you with Mr. Louis Joseph, who will be so thrilled that he can work again, even if it's for no pay, building cabins and setting up a place where people can use the 6,000-or-so textbooks he has collected on such topics as urgent medical care and small-engine repairs.
Below is a wonderful photo of James, the Jesus Guy, taken by Bob Farley for The Blade. It didn't make the print edition but it was included in a slide show on the Blade's website, www.toledoblade.com.

* * *
Two families who mean a lot to me are going through crises and could use your prayers.
Scott and Judy Potter's 23-year-old son Ryan was in a head-on car crash and is hospitalized in intensive care at St. Vincent's Medical Center. He broke all his ribs but one on his right side, crushed his lung, and suffered some bleeding in the brain. Doctors are not sure about the long-term diagnosis but at least Ryan has survived the initial ordeal. Scott and Judy have been in the hospital almost around the clock. The Potters have a long road ahead of them.
Scott is a jazz trumpeter who plays with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and has become a good friend of mine since I met him about 15 years ago.
Ryan's friends have set up a website that Scott & Judy update daily. Click here to read it.
Mike and Lynette Fisher's 12-year-old daughter Jocelyne is in Mott's Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor with a severe case of leukemia and then apparently had a heart attack and is in a coma. I cannot imagine the emotions of the parents but I know Mike and Lynette have tremendous faith.
Mike is a great musician and a church worship leader who has worked tirelessly to help bring Impact World Tour to the area. (Members of Team Xtreme, the musclemen who bend steel bars and break stacks of concrete blocks, went to Ann Arbor to pray for Jocelyne.)
You can read about her online here.
Please keep these two very special families in your thoughts and prayers.

Toledo, Ohio, May 8, 2007

Today my schedule was jam-packed, and it was quite interesting. But there was an overriding sadness because the Blade management notified some workers that they were being laid off.
It really hurts to see good people lose their jobs because of problems beyond their control, and mostly because of poor management decisions through the years. I only know of a few people who were notified but I'll probably find out tomorrow about the rest. I am hoping that the layoffs will be avoided by the company and workers reaching a settlement. At the same time, I'm kind of thinking that maybe the people who are laid off may ultimately land better jobs for better companies than the Blade. At least, that is my hope.
* * *
I started out today interviewing Sister Nancy Murray. She is an Adrian Dominican Sister from Chicago, living in Adrian, Mich., and her name won't mean anything to most people until you hear who her younger brother is: Bill Murray, actor and comedian. Sister Nancy is an actress herself, portraying Saint Catherine of Siena, a 14th century Catholic saint, in a one-woman play that she will present next week at a symposium at Siena Heights College in Adrian. I'm writing about her and the play for Saturday's religion page.
* * *
I also interviewed Devin Hermanson, who put together a catalog of Mother's Day gifts for World Vision... rather than buy mom some perfume, you can make a donation to teach job skills or set up a small business for a woman in a Third World country. Interesting spin on the proverbial materialism of American holidays -- we'll spend $15.7 billion on Mother's Day gifts and cards this year.
I went home and took a break and then headed over to the Congregation B'nai Israel, a Conservative Jewish synagogue in the Toledo suburb of Sylvania, where clergy from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths discussed their religion's views on holy Scripture.
Rabbi Barry Leff, Father Michael Billian, and Imam Farooq Abo-Elzahab gave very good explanations of the origins and beliefs about the Torah, Bible and Qur'an.
Most interesting was the conversations afterward. I finally met Philip Markowicz, whom I have interviewed by phone several times. He is a Holocaust survivor who had been at Auschwitz and is an incredible human being. He's written a book titled "My Three Lives," which refers to his life growing up, his life in WWII, and his life afterward. He still doesn't have a publisher but he has given copies to his children and grandchildren, and that's probably the most important thing for a book like that although I do hope it gets published.
I also talked with Father Billian for the first time since my book was published in October. I was glad to have the opportunity to talk with him, although we discussed the topic at hand -- religious scripture -- and not my book or anything scandalous.
* * *
I'm reading a book by Bishop John Shelby Spong, called "Jesus for the Non-Religious." This is the kind of topic that makes many Christians squirm, or worse. I interviewed Bishop Spong last week but am just now reading the book. To me, it's astonishing that an Episcopal bishop could say that Jesus is the center of his life but that he doesn't believe Jesus was God. The retired bishop said he believes God moved through Jesus and that's what made him so special. But he rejects most of the Bible as either sloppy or slanted reporting --he rejects the virgin birth, the resurrection, and miracles as contrived to fit prevailing Jewish cultural belliefs of the first century.
Bishop Spong sees his book as a breakthrough to liberate Christianity from false traditions and convoluted thinking that has developed through the centuries.
I personally am not convinced, but I will report his point of view and find someone to provide balance and perspective, thoughtfully, without resorting to jargon, knee-jerk reaction or name-calling.
* * *
A sharp-eyed reader emailed me to ask why the "Jesus Guy's" rosary had an upside down cross. I hadn't noticed but upon closer examination, the reader is right. I don't know if the crucifix was just in a bad position or if it was intentional. I doubt very much that James Joseph is a satanist, but I can't explain that cross. I'll have to give him a call soon and ask.
* * *
Busy day tomorrow, too. Lots of writing to do. And tomorrow night I get to see Chris Botti and his band in concert at the Stranahan Theater. I really like this jazz trumpeter and his is one of the few concerts I have been looking forward to seeing. After 10 years of going to 3 or 4 concerts a week, I don't have as much enthusiasm for live music as I should. I'm a bit jaded. It seems jazz and blues still satisfy, however. I've seen Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Hubert Sumlin, Frank Morgan, and the Murphys Trio in the last few weeks.
And I've been playing more guitar than usual. I put new strings on my magnificent Washburn acoustic guitar and it is a joy to play. Next I have to restring my Strat.
That's enough blogging for now, don't you think?
Peace out...
Sylvania, Ohio, May 9, 2007.

I've been wanting to blog for a few days but just haven't had time. I do keep a busy schedule, which probably is a good thing because it helps keep me out of trouble.
One thing I want to mention is that Friday, May 11, was the one-year anniversary of Father Gerald Robinson's conviction. I wasn't planning to write anything for The Blade, although one editor suggested it would be a good idea. But there really was no new developments to pin a story on and I'm not one for "datebook journalism" without some other overriding concern. An "anniversary of" story has to have some significance other than a mere reminder of what happened in the past.
Then the local SNAP chapter called and announced a protest Friday outside Fifth Third Field, asking for the city to remove honorary signs designating the street as "Monsignor Jerome Schmit Way."
Msgr. Schmit was a powerful cleric in Toledo who helped bring the Mud Hens to town and brought life to the diocese's CYO program. But during Robinson's murder trial, he was named by two police detectives as interfering with the investigation in 1980. It was Msgr. Schmit who, along with Deputy Police Chief Ray Vetter, knocked on the door and interrupted the second interrogation of Robinson, and then walked out with the priest. That ended the investigation until more than 23 years later when the cold-case squad reopened it.
So the one-year anniversary of the priest's conviction did have a news peg. Also, with dark irony, I found out that the honorary street signs were dedicated on April 5, 2002, the 22nd anniversary of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl's murder. What sad timing that was!
Well, I covered the press conference and wrote about it for Saturday's paper. You can read the story here. I have gotten strong responses from readers, including many loyal Catholics who feel that SNAP, especially Claudia Vercellotti, has gone too when it criticizes the legendary Msgr. Schmit, who died in 1997. One anonymous caller left a voice mail saying I was "sick sick sick" and she was sick and tired of my "anti-Catholicism" and said Claudia Vercellotti must have a lot of money to pay the Blade to write those stories. As someone once said, an anonymous letter is not worth the ink it's written with. How can you have any respect for callers who won't discuss their views civilly or even leave their name and contact info.
I wrote another article Saturday about Father Thomas Leyland appealing to the Vatican to overturn Bishop Leonard Blair's treatment of him, allegedly giving him the choice of retiring or moving from St. Rose Parish in Perrysburg to St. Caspar in Wauseon.
That case continues to draw strong responses, mostly from people who side with Father Leyland. The 69-year-old priest has had an unblemished record and only reluctantly has spoken out against his bishop, due to his strong feeling that an injustice has been done. I am like Fr. Leyland in the fact that I am a quiet and polite person and don't like to make a fuss but I simply cannot stand idly by in the face of injustice. That's one reason I am in journalism, to right wrongs and help defend those who don't have a voice or power. I think those reasons also motivate Father Leyland as a priest.
One thing I did not mention in The Blade is that I had two callers, one from the Toledo area and one from outside Toledo, who told me while I was researching that article that they belive Bishop Leonard Blair is a "mean" person. Both of these people have personal knowledge of the bishop's personality and his decisions. He seems to me to be a gentle person, quite reverent and highly educated, but I don't really know him. I have seen quite a few questionable decisions from his office since he took over as Bishop of the 19-county Toledo diocese in 2003, but I never know if he personally made the decision or if it was one of his subordinates. For example, sending a maintenance man to Kansas, Ohio, to kick out an elderly woman who was praying in St. James Church, part of a 24/7 prayer vigil seeking divine intervention to persuade Bishop Blair to reverse his decision to close the parish. The maintenance man was brusque, even threatening, to the woman and ran her out of the little rural church, crying. It was such a harsh way to handle things, especially after the diocese told me -- and parishioners -- that they could continue their prayer vigil indefinitely.
And poor Father Leyland deserves a better fate than to be forced into retirement, after 42 years in ministry, against his will, and in the midst of a priest shortage. It would not have hurt anyone to let him stay on awhile at St. Rose.
Bishop Blair certainly does have the right to appoint pastors and transfer them as he sees fit, and he will win out in the end, I'm sure, despite Father Leyland's appeal to Rome. But as a bishop, you would think he could have met with Father Leyland and discussed the situation from a pastoral perspective, with love and concern for one of his brother priests. Instead of showing genuine compassion and hearing his priest out, he made Father Leyland feel like an unwanted orphan. That's not a good way to handle people anywhere, especially in the church.
* * *
I've got a lot more to write about, but no time now. I hope to get to it tonight sometime.
Toledo, Ohio May 14, 2007

As a former music critic, I've been to so many concerts that it's rare for me to get pumped up about a show these days. But I am excited that tonight I will finally get to see one of my favorite bands, Porcupine Tree, in concert.
No, I'm not joking. The British group is performing at the House of Blues in Cleveland, the closest they'll be to Toledo on the current tour. I missed them when they were in Detroit about a year and a half ago. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me and it was a bitter cold and snowy night, so I stayed home and regretted it ever since.
Sure, the group has a quirky name and is not well known around here, but that's no way to judge the quality of its music. The group is simply phenomenal, led by Steven Wilson, who does all of the songwriting and most of the arrangements, and plays guitars, bass, and even hammered dulcimer in the studio. On tour, he travels with a live band that I am anticipating will be all sensational musicians.
When I mention how much I love Porcupine Tree, the first reaction I usually get from people is a quizzical look. Then, when I am asked to describe the band's music, I give people a quizzical look in return.
It's not easy to define or describe -- it's ornate, heavily orchestrated, thematic, atmospheric rock. Kind of like Pink Floyd, the Moody Blues, Rush, and Metallica rolled into one. If there is one band they sound like more than others, it's probably Pink Floyd, although with the grandiose attitude.
It's sad, really, that such a tremendously talented rock band that plays vibrant and fresh and challenging music is virtually unknown. And yet the Pink Floyd Laser Light Spectacular will draw thousands of people to the Toledo Zoo Amphitheater every year, paying big bucks to listen to awesome but now-dusty recordings made 30 years ago.
And I don't even want to get started what music gets on the radio. The only radio worth listening to these days is satellite.
I will report back to you soon on my night out with Porcupine Tree. I might even buy a T-shirt.
* * *
Speaking of satellite radio, I interviewed Eric Burdon this week -- sort of. I sent him questions by email and he sent back his replies, all in caps. I think they were legit, but it's hard to tell under those conditions. Anyway, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of the Animals said he listens to World Music these days on satellite radio. He's playing at the Valentine Theatre on Saturday but I'm working that night, or I'd go.
* * *
I've been playing my guitars a lot lately and enjoying it immensely. I got together with a few people on Monday and we're planning to try it again next Monday. Don't know where it will lead, if anywhere. The thing is, it's fun to play guitar at home by myself but the real treat is when you interact with other musicians. I'm hoping to find my niche, and I'm not talking about public performance but just a group of people to jam with.
* * *
If you want to know whether the guys in Sanctus Real are for real, check out my story in tomorrow's Blade about their gig this Saturday night.
18-year-old Whitmer High School senior Katie Woodward decided to put on a Christian rock concert at her public school in order to try to minister to her fellow students (the show's on the weekend, so although it's at a public school it is not a school function and therefore no church-state conflict).
At the last minute, a band canceled on her. But Sanctus was here for the weekend, just back from a concert tour and getting ready to go into the studio for a recording session. They agreed to play an acoustic concert and help Katie out.
I've known the band since they started more than 10 years ago and I assure you they are all good guys with big hearts and they love the Lord. Their decision to help out a young girl they don't even know is just another example of their authenticity...
Toledo, Ohio May 18, 2007

I've been getting a lot of calls from people who are mad at SNAP for "smearing" the name of Msgr. Jerome Schmit.
For those who missed the original story, two retired police detectives who led the 1980 murder investigation of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl testified in court that Msgr. Schmit was one of the three men who interrputed their interrogation of Fr. Gerald Robinson on April 17, 1980, escorted him out of the Safety Building, and effectively ended the investigation. Twenty four years later, Robinson was arrested and charged with the murder and then convicted.
Now Claudia Vercellotti and other SNAP members are asking the city of Toledo to remove honorary street signs naming a stretch of St. Clair Street near the Mud Hens' ball park in honor of Msgr. Schmit. Their reason is that the city should not be honoring a man who obstructed police in their investigation of Sister Margaret Ann's murder.
Msgr. Schmit, who died in 1997 at age 86, was a power broker in the city. He could make a few phone calls and get things done, from raising money to, I've been told, having parking tickets disappear for friends.
He was instrumental in bringing the Mud Hens back to Toledo after they had left for a few years.
There's no doubt he was a hard-working mover-and-shaker in this city, but what about the obstruction allegations? If he did interfere with police on one of the most high-profile murder cases Toledo's ever seen, how does that affect his many worthwhile accomplishments?
I've interviewed Sgt. Art Marx about the case and I heard Lt. William Kina testify about Msgr. Schmit and I believe they are telling the truth. Why would they lie?
William Jefferson Clinton was almost impeached for having an affair with a White House intern. That did not mean he didn't achieve great things, but his indiscretion almost cost him his presidency.
When a person is found to have done a misdeed of great consequence, it does not mean everything in his or her life is meaningless. But it does mean there are consequences to his or her actions.
I don't think SNAP is being unreasonable to request that the street signs, paid for with tax dollars, be taken down. Msgr. Schmit will still be remembered, and often revered, for his contributions to the city by his many friends and supporters. The local CYO field, for example, is named after him. And that's paid for by church dollars, unlike the downtown signs.
Toledo, Ohio, May 18, 2007

OK, all right, I know everyone is waiting with bated breath to hear my comments on last night's Porcupine Tree concert at the House of Blues in Cleveland.
So, without further adieu, let me give you a quick synopsis, followed by a more detailed review.
In brief:
First of all, the music was simply awesome as well as awe-inspiring.
Second, the band's stage presence and entertainment factor were minimal to middling.
Third, the quality of the concert sound was phenomenal from where I stood.
Fourth, the HoB venue was mediocre.
Fifth, Porcupine Tree's lyrical content and its multimedia presentations were dark, ostensibly foreboding and mystical, but unfortunately coming across as cheesy nonsequiturs with a few notable exceptions.
* * *
More detail:
Steven Wilson played guitar and keyboards and sang most of the lead vocals.
Some artists are chit-chatters who try to make you feel like you're sitting in their living room. Others prefer to just play their music and offer as little smalltalk as possible. Since I've never seen Porcupine Tree in concert before, I didn't know what to expect. I interviewed Wilson once before, by phone, and he was articulate and thoughtful and refreshing, but he is definitely quiet in the spotlight, focusing on his music, and that is fine with me. He said in the interview, printed below, that he was not an entertainer, and now I can vouch for that.
I think the only chatter from the stage was to greet the crowd, say farewell, and offer a few thank you's. He made a joke by saying that "he used to introduce it as a twisted love song, but then I realized that describes all of my songs."
Slim, with wire-rim glasses, his long, thin brown hair parted in the middle, Wilson wore jeans and a bright red Coca-Cola-style T-shirt with the wavy line and logo letters in an exotic alphabet, maybe cyrillic or arabic. (Note: thanks to an anonymous reader, I've since been informed it was Hebrew lettering.)
I believe he was playing Paul Reed Smith guitars the whole night, although some had Gibson Les Paul-style bodies. I assume they were custom made, but am not sure.
Porcupine Tree's music is not easy to describe. Although it is labeled "alternative rock," that doesn't really do it any justice. Prog rock or art rock may be a little better.
It has explosive force at times, with thundering metallic guitars and Metallica-style head-banging riffs, and then it will segue dreamily into a drifting atmospheric sci-fi mood. The shifts and changes and the varied textures and tones are always compelling, relying more on the arrangements and the musical mood-setting sonic sculptures, rather than on displays of virtuosity or instrumental prowess just for the sake of itself, as many great musicians do. Since they can, they do show off. But the individual musical skills should not overpower the musical concepts, and that's where PT is so strong. The music shows a maturity and genuine artistic vision. PT's musical presentation was mesmerizing, and I was felt swept up in it from the first note and then floated along on a river of dreams for 2 hours.
* * *
Unfortunately, Wilson never introduced his band members, and although I'm sure the well-versed fans will know who they are but I don't. (Come to think of it, Wilson never introduced himself, either.)
Although I don't know the musicians' names, each of the four besides Wilson -- on keyboards, bass, drums, and guitar -- were superbly talented, very precise on PT's super-g-force twists and turns.
I was especially impressed with the second guitarist, who alternated between smooth and sinewy leads and fiery chunky chords or ethereal drifts. He perfectly complemented Wilson's playing, at times when Wilson was playing a minor-key lead the 2nd guitarist would create sustained chord patterns that rippled in cool waves around the lead. Then Wilson would play the accompaniment while the 2nd guitarist cut the air with pure-toned, swift lead riffs. He also sang with a very high and clear tenor voice that added an unexpected and sweet dimension to the music.
The drummer also was mighty impressive, with his huge drum kit miked to perfection. When he hit the kick drums or the toms, it had a percussive impact in the air. You could feel as well as hear the drums, which created sonic ripples that pelted your chest. The drummer played with a full, fast Billy Cobham/Neil Pert attack, showing blistering speed and precision control, and always dead-center on the beat.
The sound in the House of Blues was perfect, loud but not painfully so, clear and bright, nicely balanced, every instrument easily discerned. As a former sound man, I love and appreciate a good sound mix. I was sort of expecting this kind of attnetion to detail from Wilson, judging by the high quality and complexity of the studio mixes on his CDs. I heard later that the sound under the balcony was not so clear, but from where I was standing it was magnificent.
The House of Blues in Cleveland is fairly small, I would say maybe 400 or 500 people were there, and it was all standing room only. I don't particularly like standing for a two-hour show, and it always seemed that some 6-foot-4 guy with big hair would find a way to block my view.
Adding to the annoyance, I could see virtually empty balconies on the sides of the second floor, offering a perfect and unobstructed view of the stage, but only 3 or 4 people using it. I assume it was for VIPs, and my wife said she tried but was barred from going up there.
Another annoyance: I tried to bring a camera into the show but PT strictly forbid them. The HoB security were polite but firm. I ended up taking some pics with my camera phone but although it's good for that medium, the quality leaves a lot to be desired.
Finally, I was disappointed by some of the videos shown during the first half of the concert, which featured the band's entire new album, Fear of a Blank Planet. The first video featured kids, probably 13 to 16 years old, taking pills and smashing things and setting things on fire. Another video showed some forlorn looking teen girl in a bleak, washed-out environment walking along train tracks, looking lost and hopeless.
There were two videos that I liked, one with sky and stars, in which video-circles were superimposed showing people frolicking or flying kites and such, a nice eye-candy edit. Another video showed some small robot-like ant-faced metallic being in a sitting position inside a bubble, hammering its two little hands in time with the music on a rectangular box that could have been a keyboard... A very quirky and catchy vid.
The two-hour concert ended with the earthshaking, mythical rocker "Halo," with the words of the chorus flashing on the screen: God is power, God is fame, God is fashion, God gives pain... I've got a halo around me... God is in my cell phone...
I don't know what he means by those phrases, but I think it's about how people make gods out of certain things, from their cell phones to their clothing styles. It's a powerful song and a great show stopping closer.
* * *
In sum, I would say it was one amazing display of musical genius and Porcupine Tree is one of the most dynamic and talented rock bands on the planet.
I am SO glad I made it, even though it was a long and late drive home. I got to bed about 3 a.m. with dreams of Porcupine Tree running through my head.
* * *
Anyone interested in finding out more about this band, click here. You won't regret it -- unless your musical tastes lean toward Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears.\
* * *
I am reprinting below an article I wrote for The Blade on Porcupine Tree, published May, 8 2005:

British band may be ready for its stateside breakthrough

By David Yonke, Blade Staff Writer

(Steven Wilson is at right)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2005.

Is America finally ready for Porcupine Tree?

The enigmatic British quartet, led by multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson, has been working diligently over the years to perfect its atmospheric mix of metal, progressive, and pop rock - with a dash of disco (yes, that's right, disco) - but receiving little notice or fanfare this side of the Pond.

Across the Atlantic, however, savvy European fans have been aware of Porcupine Tree for years, buying more than 350,000 copies of the group's albums since it made its recording debut in 1993.

But the band's just-released disc, "Deadwing," appears to have all the ingredients for a stateside breakthrough.

The riff-laden tunes are meticulously crafted by Wilson, who produced the disc, featuring surgical rock-and-roll precision that echoes such legendary groups as Rush, Metallica, and Pink Floyd. The shifting tempos and multiple layers of sonic textures drift smoothly through melancholia, erupt in heavy-metal fury, then circle back to waves of electronics.

Guitar phenomenon Adrian Belew added his touch as a guest artist on the disc, joining Wilson and regular bandmates Richard Barbieri on keyboards, Colin Edwin on bass, and Gavin Harrison on drums.

Porcupine Tree recently concluded a successful European headlining tour, selling out larger venues than it has ever played, Wilson said in a recent interview, and is now embarking on a relatively rare U.S. tour.

Two Ohio stops, in Cleveland and Cincinnati, are already scheduled, and more dates are being added. Opening the U.S. tour is Robert Fripp, the vaunted guitarist of King Crimson fame.

"It's hard for us to understand the American market," Wilson said in an interview from his tour bus heading to Barcelona, Spain. "I'm not sure anyone understands the American market. We hear reports about how a song was added to this station's modern-rock playlist or that station's power rotation. Which is good. But whether it has an effect on record sales, or whether people will go to the shows, I don't know."

"Deadwing" is Porcupine Tree's eighth studio album and its second on Atlantic subsidiary Lava Records, following its major-label debut, "In Absentia," released in 2002.

Most of the band's earlier, independently released discs are no longer in print and with demand outpacing supply, the discs often sell on Internet auction sites for $100 or more.

"Up until we signed with Lava, we were selling 2,000 or 3,000 records in America. Then we sold 50,000 of the last record. I would be very happy to continue that trend with another 2,000 percent increase," Wilson said wryly.

In its first week of release, "Deadwing" posted the strongest sales ever for Porcupine Tree, opening at No. 132 on the Billboard 200 album chart of May 4.

"In Absentia," the group's previous disc, not only benefited from Atlantic Records' marketing clout but also marked an artistic turning point for the band, according to Wilson.

"Up until the last few albums, the final piece never quite matched up to the ambition that you had for it," he said. "That comes down to production and having the skills to create the sound in reality that you have in your head. But I think the last two albums sound as good as anything. I can finally say, 'Yeah, they live up to the imagination.' "

The seeds for Porcupine Tree were planted in 1988 as Wilson and a friend, Malcolm Stocks, decided to create a fictional psychedelic rock band with the bizarre moniker. ("You're not supposed to ask about the name, didn't they tell you?" Wilson said, half-jokingly, in the interview).

The fictional music group became reality in 1991, when Porcupine Tree released an independent album titled "On the Sunday of Life." That intricately produced disc created a buzz in London and, with audiences clamoring to see Porcupine Tree in action, Wilson assembled a band that could bring the studio recordings to the concert stage.

Although he plays multiple instruments, Wilson does not consider his instrumental skills to be the primary asset of Porcupine Tree.

"I don't play anything particularly well," he said with an extreme modesty that belies his high standards. "I play a bit of guitar, a bit of bass, a bit of keyboards. In the early days, I used drum machines and drum samples. And singing came by default, because I was the only one there. "

The key to Porcupine Tree's appeal, he said, is the way the instruments mix with studio techniques to create music capable of generating moods and feelings. He also insists on high-quality sonic reproduction, earning him a following among audiophiles.

"I've always tended toward music that is simplistic but with interesting and quirky production," Wilson said. "Not the symphonic rock bands, but bands that were very simple and cool and had something unique about their sound. A lot of the German bands - 'kraut rock' - appealed to me from that perspective."

Even before that, however, Wilson enjoyed the adrenaline-pumping sound of heavy metal.

"When I was a very young kid, the first music that really turned me on was a new wave of British heavy metal - big dumb rock music," he said. "There was a band called Diamond Head - they were basically the band that inspired Metallica. ... But I also liked bands like Saxon and Iron Maiden."

Later, he said, he gravitated toward progressive rock groups such as King Crimson and Pink Floyd, along with many "kraut rock" groups, and for a time was also a fan of disco music, especially the big dance beats and soaring vocals of Donna Summer.

"I loved disco music and I still count Donna Summer as one of my favorites of all time," Wilson said. "You can always hear those kind of paradoxes in my music. There is a lot of repetitive disco grooves, at the same time as the more complex rock elements."

For "Deadwing," Wilson and colleagues wrote 25 songs, recorded 15, and trimmed it down to 10 selections for the finished product (nine are listed on the disc, with one "hidden track" at the end).

"We always write more than we end up using," he said. "I am a great believer that you should record more than you need, and then use the absolute best. I don't believe that everything we do should be used on the album. But there are some really good songs that didn't make the cut. A couple came out in England, and some will be used as bonus tracks on the DVD surround-sound version of the album, so ultimately a lot of them do come out."

Although Wilson hopes "Deadwing" will open new doors in America and bring his music to more people, he is not compromising his art or revamping the songs to fit U.S. radio formats. Three of the disc's 10 tracks, in fact, are more than 9 1/2 minutes long, virtually ruling out mainstream airplay.

"Some musicians feel they have to provide what their audiences expect," Wilson said. "They lose the distinction between an artist and an entertainer. I am not an entertainer."

More information on Porcupine Tree, its tour, and its new album is available online at www.porcupinetree.com or www.deadwing.com.

Toledo, Ohio, May 19, 2007

I'm not sure what readers will think of my Q&A with Dr. Amjad Hussain, a local surgeon and Muslim, headlined "Bridging the Divide." The interview was published today in The Blade's Behind the News section (read it here).
I know that covering religion for a mainstream newspaper is fraught with peril -- certain topics generate negative responses no matter how carefully one approaches the subject. Islam is one such topic. Whenever I write an article that I feel is "right down the middle," trying to be objective and factual without bashing mercilessly or overlooking the obvious, I get hate mail.
The fact is, people have strong feelings about Islam, and understandably so in the wake of 9/11 and the beheadings of captured Westerners.
But readers should realize that the vast majority of Muslims, especially those who immigrated to the United States, are good people who came here because of our freedoms and opportunities. Many of them have sons and daughters fighting on the front lines in Iraq. They are solid citizens who are as appalled as anyone by the actions of a handful of extremists-terrorists, and probably even more appalled because it is their faith that has been mangled and abused to justify the horrors.

So if I write something about Muslims that an Islamophobe considers too kind, I get blasted. And if I write something too harsh, the good citizen Muslims are offended.
Sigh. I'm used to it, but that doesn't mean I like it.
However, as of this minute I've received only one email response, and it was extremely positive -- written by a Christian chaplain, he said he appreciates and agrees with Amjad's efforts to promote peaceful coexistence without feeling compelled to convert non-Muslims.
But normally the negative responses do not come immediately, but only after the article is passed along by people who take issue with it.
I think Dr. Hussain is a good spokesman for reason and cooperation. He loves his religion but does not consider himself superior to non-Muslims. He wants to live in peace and harmony. He personally goes out of his way to promote good will and peace. If only more Americans, of all faiths, would work that hard.
I'm glad I had the chance to spend an afternoon with Amjad and I hope you find the interview and subsequent Q&A article to be as informative and encouraging as I do.
Toledo, Ohio, May 20, 2007

Reflections on a few diverse topics...
Yesterday was the funeral for the Rev. Jerry Falwell. I met him once, in November, 2002, when he was speaking at Toledo Baptist Temple on a Sunday morning. The church announced there would be a press conference before the service, so I got there bright and early and was directed to a brightly painted room in the basement with a shiny white tile floor, rows of folding chairs, and a podium with microphone.
As it turned out, I was the only media person there. Rev. Falwell came in and was introduced by the pastor, the Rev. Billy Bartlett, as "God's flak jacket for fundamentalism." Falwell, a large man who described himself as a "loudmouth" preacher, stood behind the podium, gave a brief introduction, and said he would take questions from the press. It was slightly odd, since I was the only one there from the media.
I asked him questions and he responded, as if we were in a room full of reporters, when in fact it was a one-on-one interview. At some point in his career, I'm sure there would have been a room full of reporters and cameras at the news conference. But he had quit the Moral Majority by then and was focusing on his roles as church pastor and university president. His name was not as big news as it had been. But he was sharp minded and did not dodge the tough questions, including followups on something he had said about Muslims and terrorism. I don't remember exactly what the fuss was but I know he had just been on 60 Minutes the week before and said something linking Islam and terrorism, and was dealing with the fallout. He told me: "I'm very friendly with law-abiding Muslims, and I'm very unfriendly with terrorists."
He died May 15 at age 73, and whatever one thinks of Mr. Falwell's political views there is no doubt that he was a charismatic minister and a brave spokesman for what he believed in, and what he said did represent the views of many conservative Christian Americans.
He had a sense of humor, too. In my article for The Blade at the time, I quoted Mr. Falwell saying: "I'm 69. I have a 30-year plan. If you read that I dided, you can be sure that I was greatly surprised."
* * *
A new survey by the Pew Research Center said 78 percent of American Muslims say suicide bombings of civilian targets in defense of Islam are never justified.
That is not a high-enough percentage. I think 99.9 percent would be more acceptable. How many Christians or Jews would say suicide bombing is OK in the name of God? Certainly not 22 percent -- that's an alarming and disturbing figure. And this survey was of American Muslims -- generally more liberal and well-educated than those in places like Indonesia and Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
Overall, 13 percent of 1,050 American Muslims interviewed said that suicide bombing is justified under some circumstances. Among American Muslims 30 years of age or younger, the percentage saying it was acceptable was 26 percent.
It only takes a handful of extremists to cause havoc for multitudes, and to cause damage and take innocent lives. This survey is harrowing, indeed.
* * *
I have been a fan of novelist Dean Koontz's writing for a couple years now and consider him one of the finest writers of any genre. Yesterday, I took home a copy of his new book, The Good Guy, to be published Tuesday. Once again, Koontz drew me into the story and kept me hanging. I read until 1:30 a.m., turning the pages and thinking, "one more chapter..." and then when I got the end of that chapter, it was once again, "one more chapter..."
The guy is amazing -- it's not just the story, but the use of words, the pacing, the descriptions... he is a true master. I'm inspired by his works... I don't know of another writer today who can match Koontz for both literary ability and plot-spinning talent.
It was hard to put The Good Guy down but the clock was glaring at me... I can't wait to get to the next chapter... and the next.
* * *
I watched a little American Idol last night. I don't watch it all the time but I do enjoy the opening rounds with all the goofiness and the search for diamonds in a sea of cut glass. I have to say that the first time I heard Jordin Sparks sing, I told my wife that she was going to win. She had a natural vocal talent and presence that stood out from the rest. I am no longer a music critic but I still have a pretty good ear for talent... I like Blake Lewis' personality but I would love to see Jordin win tonight and confirm my abilities as a talent scout.
Toledo, Ohio, May 23, 2007

Yesterday, I spent the day at the Creation Museum near Cincinnati, which opens to the public tomorrow, May 28. It is a most remarkable museum for two basic reasons: first, it promotes the view that the biblical account of the origin of the universe, as written in Genesis, is literally true, and second, that it presents this view thoughtfully, articulately, and with a high level of 21st century, quality entertainment.
I believe there is nothing wrong with examining both evolution and creationism, weighing the arguments pro and con, and making your own conclusions.
This museum was paid for with $27 million in private donations, and as Ken Ham, the founder and a major driving force in creating the Creation Museum told me yesterday, this is a free country. They built the museum and people can go if they want, or not go if they don't want. That's free enterprise, that's freedom of speech, that's freedom of religion, that's America.
People who disagree with Creation have plenty of museums they can go to that promote evolutionary views.
One thing Ham said that I think is true is that our educational system for the last half century or so has taught that evolution is a fact and not a theory. People who believe in evolution like to believe that Creationists are ignorant, naive and dangerous. I give Ken Ham and his colleagues, especially Mark Looy, Patrick Marsh, and Mike Zovath, tremendous credit for presenting their Creation beliefs with intelligence, graciousness, and thoroughness.
This is a topic that I have not made up my mind on yet. I am a product of the educational system that taught evolution as fact. I am also a Bible-believing Christian. I can't reconcile the two divergent views and need to do more personal research on this hot-button topic.
I find it hard to believe that dinosaurs and humans co-existed within the last few thousand years. Maybe my faith isn't strong enough or my scientific training is too ingrained. I have some issues to resolve, but I'm not ruling anything out.
In the meantime, more power to the Creation Museum for representing a much-maligned point of view and doing it with class and dignity and responsibility.
Here's a photo of Adam and Eve from the museum, and below that a link to my article that ran in The Blade today about the museum, published at the top right corner of A-1, the front news page.

Here is the link to my article in The Blade.
Sylvania, Ohio, May 27, 2007