In Memory of Julian Baird

In Memory of Julian Baird

Some part of me kept me from editing this (the second part of the film "A Portrait of Julian Baird" from 2 1/2 hours down to 90 minutes for the past two years. It's physically possible to do it, I just didn't want to do it. Part of me didn't want Julian to pass away either, and so maybe that's what stopped me from editing him. Apologies for the length. I remember his lectures took about two hours, so think of this as an extended lecture. In honor of his passing I've put this second part of his interview together and just let it be what it is. For those who loved Julian it will be a bit like getting a chance to sit with him once again, and for that reason I'm leaving it long. But hearing of his passing this week, I realized I no longer had to worry about whether he might like this particular part, or if he felt another part was too long.

I wouldn't be robbing him of two more hours of his life to watch my edit of his life. It is what it is. Thanks to Elaine for giving me access to him and your lovely home, and putting up with my questions. I think you'll enjoy this. I offer this portrait out of love for a man who certainly influenced my path and journey, and although Julian was a firm advocate of consciousness ending at death's door - as he put it "Why would I care if I lived before or if I'm going to live again? I'm having too much fun enjoying this lifetime" - I'm of the mind that I'll get a chance to see him again. 

We spent some hours talking about it - and I admire how his mind worked in refuting what he considered wishful thinking. To me, he embodied wishful thinking, as he taught me that what I thought mattered. He taught me to ask questions that I didn't know the answer to. And I've been doing that my whole life. So here it is - part two - the story of the young boy growing up on Texas, a million miles from Oxford and Harvard - and yet somehow he earns scholarships to both places. He lived many lives in this one lifetime - I'm only sorry I didn't get to spend more time hearing his insights - his teachings if you will, which are within this piece. So think of it as attending a lecture of Julian's, and the subject is himself - and he gives it to us in an unvarnished fashion, filled with great laughter and insight. Enjoy.

As promised:  A Portrait of Julian Baird Part 2.



My thoughts when I heard he'd passed:

What a prince! Greatest teacher I've ever known, quickest mind i ever met, his mind like a lightning bolt, to earn a laugh from him was an achievement, quite thrilling. So glad i got the chance to reconnect with him, hear his laugh once more, and am looking forward to hearing it on the flipside. Bon voyage Julian, and thank you for your friendship.

Here's the obit from the Cape Cod paper: - he talks about this in part 2 - Imagine him - a poor boy living in a small town in Texas, a million miles from Harvard and Oxford - and yet he won scholarships to both schools.  And another scholarship to get his doctorate at Harvard - the man was the most amazing mind I've ever met... well, see for yourself.

 The Cape Cod Times Obituaries
Julian Baird

Posted Aug. 26, 2015 at 2:01 AM

Julian Baird
ORLEANS - Julian T. Baird of Orleans, MA, died peacefully at home of leukemia on August 22, 2015.

Born in Harlingen, TX in 1938, Julian received his Bachelor of Arts Degree Magna cum Laude from Harvard College in 1960, his Master’s Degree from Oxford University (Wadham College), and his PhD from Harvard University in 1968.

Julian was Chairman of the Department of General Education at Boston University until 1980 when he left the academic community to pursue his growing interest in art. He purchased Tree’s Place in Orleans in 1981 and transformed it into one of the nation’s leading galleries of representational art.
After his retirement, Julian served on the Board of Trustees of the Cape Cod Symphony, and of the Cape Cod Art Association. He was a member of the St. Botolph Club in Boston and served on its Art Committee. He was a member of Artists for Humanity/Boston and served on their Advisory Board.
Julian is survived by his loving wife of thirty years, Elaine, his brother, Stephen, of New Braunfels, TX; his nephews Timothy Baird, of Richmond, VA; and Christopher Teitleman of Newton, MA; his nieces Lisa Gilbert, of Southlake, TX; and Beth Maly of San Francisco; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cape Cod Symphony or to the Animal Rescue League of Brewster.

 For his 75th birthday, Julian Baird sent out an unusual invitation. 

"As you now know, I have been diagnosed with Leukemia with an indeterminate life expectancy. HOWEVER, I shall certainly live to see my 75th Birthday and perhaps another beyond that. But I have decided that 75 is a big deal. It is a very respectable age to have lived the very full life that I have had to date. I have decided that I do not wish to be toasted after I am gone, but rather be roasted at a wonderful party that I can personally enjoy and attend while I am still with us all. So you are invited to a helluva big event on the Sunday when you and many others that I am inviting can come. Chamber music by members of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra (piano and musical programming by our Cape Cod Conservatory Director Stephanie Weaver.) Jazz group by CCSO members. And for a special treat, some music by James Montgomery and his lead guitarist of the James Montgomery Blues Band (Jimmy is a much beloved former student of mine in my old B.U. teaching days.) A delicious New England themed buffet dinner, and after everyone is seated with this and has been suitably satiated, a little roasting of Julian (hopefully reasonably benign) by persons representing important times and favored activities of my life so far. There is a dance floor, and music, dancing and libations will be available until the Cape Codder Resort will close us down. I suspect that none of us will last that long, but it will be there for anyone who wishes. I am expecting well over 100 friends at this, so you never know. So I am delighted that you can join me for my 75th Birthday Bash!!! No gifts -- just your presence. Julian"

I met the one and only Julian Baird my freshman year at Boston University. He was teaching Humanities at DGE. Coming from a small town in Texas, Julian had gone to Harvard on a scholarship, then to Oxford and finally returned to Harvard for his graduate work - all on scholarships. To say he was bright, a genius, is to not really encompass the concept. Then after the politics of John Silber, the new BU President, Julian left academia and decided to buy an art gallery/knickknack store in Orleans MA. Based on his gift for understanding art, and understanding how to communicate it - he became one of the most successful dealers on the Cape, and as you'll hear in this loving testament, changed the lives of those who came into his orbit.

When I got the invite, I asked if he had anyone recording the event for posterity. Apologies for sound and lighting, this was done on the fly, and is labeled "Part One" because I got an extended interview with him the following day that covers everything, from Greek History to Beowulf, from his journey from Texas to the hallowed halls of Harvard, from his coin flip to decide whether to go to Yale or Harvard to becoming one of the most beloved people on Cape Cod. So this is just a taste of Julian Baird...

And in case you missed it:  Part One


One final note.  And it's a personal one.  

After he was my teacher, I used to write Julian postcards from various places I went. I went to school in Rome, traveled Europe, and I'd always send him a funny postcard. This kept on until the mid-1980's, until one day I got a postcard from his ex-wife, who wrote "Sorry. Julian died of brain cancer. Please stop writing."

I was devastated.  I called some friends who knew him and told them - Julian had died.  We all mourned him, the greatest professor we ever had.  But he wasn't dead.  It was just that NASTY SOB EX WIFE OF HIS who shall remain nameless, who had the insane idea to WRITE ME THAT TRAGIC POSTCARD.  

Honestly if I could do something to let her know how cruel and stupid and inhuman that was - I would.  But about four years ago, I was still thinking of Julian - some 30 years after I'd been told he was dead - and I wondered if anyone had made a memorial page for him on Facebook.  And there he was, smiling, playing with his dog.  And I wrote whoever had created this page - and asked - who are you?  And he said "Hi Richard, how are you, it's Julian!"

I could not get over it - this ex wife robbed me of 30 years of his wit and knowledge and humor.  For no reason other than cruel spite - she was in the midst of a nasty divorce with him - but allowed her cruelty to spill over and onto me.  

Like a cesspool overflowing, and dumping some of its detritus onto an innocent person who happened to be walking by. I bite my thumb at her, I flick my thumb at her from the bottom of my tooth, I give her a fisted salute, and as many middle fingers as I can muster. (Last time I looked, I only have two.)

My travels to Tibet and India - I learned how people stew in their own juices - and as the Dalai Lama said "Anger would be useful if it made the other person sick that you're angry at.  It only serves to make you sick."  And "You can't control how other people behave but you can control how you react to them."

So, I'll react by saying, if I hadn't been so royally dissed by this anonymous woman, I never would have made these two portraits of Julian.  Combined, they're four hours of his wit and wisdom - either folks talking about him, or Julian talking about his life.  He's candid, funny, and completely open. I'm only sorry I lost 30 years of this lifetime of learning from him. Like losing the greatest Lama in the world, only to find out he went into a cave for 30 years.

The other night, after hearing of his death, about 3 in the morning, I was awoken by a dog's squeaky toy.  I don't own a squeaky toy. (It's a unique sound, and if you've heard it before, you know what I'm talking about.) We don't have a dog, and we have no dogs in our building.  I'm up on the top floor of a building with 7 floors, so the likelihood of having a dog's squeaky toy chirp in the middle of the night to wake me up is... well pretty remote.  I then thought "Hmm, I wonder if Julian had a dog and this is his sense of humor from the Flipside..." and then remembered that he did have one, and has a number of pictures alongside that dog.

I can't say that the squeaky toy was Julian waking me up with a laugh, but I wouldn't put it past him.  As he used to say "I'd agree with you, but then both of us would be wrong."

RIP Julian!


Portrait of Julian Baird RIP

Sorry to hear of the passing of my pal Julian Baird.


Our good friend Julian Baird passed on August 22nd. Julian was a remarkable man that touched a lot of lives. Below are a couple of links that I have posted with Elaine's blessing. One a tribute to Julian on his 75th birthday filmed by former student now filmmaker Rich Martini. It's worth taking a look at to see the kind of special person Julian was. Also I have put a link to the Cape Cod Times obit. He'll be missed.
 — with Julian Baird.

Photo James Demeterion

My professor at BU Julian Baird decided to have a roast instead of a wake on his 75th birthday after being told he had not many months left on the planet. 160 of his friends gathered to praise him, and I was lucky enough to bring a camera. It's 90 minutes, and includes a blues performance by his old student James Montgomery. This is Part One of this portrait - he'd disagree, but as he's fond of saying "I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong."

End of the World Rumors and the Elaborate Hoax

Our daughter asked if I'd heard these "rumors the world was going to end next month."

Before... and after we blow up.

I had not - so I had to look them up.

Are we all going to die next Wednesday?

Two nightmare scenarios, two ends of the world. In the first, there is little warning. For maybe a month there would be no sign that life was about to come to an abrupt and nasty end for all living things on Earth. Then, earthquakes would start unexpectedly, alerting geologists that something terrible, unimaginable, was amiss. After a few days, these seismic disturbances would reach catastrophic proportions. Cities would be levelled, the oceans would rise and wash in a series of mega-tsunamis that would attack the world's coasts, killing millions.

I have some good news and I have some bad news with regard to this research.

You want the bad news first? Okay.  

"We don't die."

What I mean by that is literally, we don't die.  So even if the planet blew up tomorrow, we don't die.  So we would go and populate some other planet in the Universe. (and perhaps screw that up too) I've had at least one person speak of an apocalypse on "another planet" during a lifetime she remembered prior to this one on Earth. (In "Flipside").

She said that the citizens of the planet had allowed science to get out of control, (no, it wasn't called "Krypton") and in their search to design some kind of energy mechanism, had caused the destruction of their planet.

Just like in the movies.

I'd hate to see it go. So much work involved!!

So is it possible for us to destroy the Earth by doing an experiment on it?

Well, according to these eyewitness accounts, it's happened before, just not on this planet.  So technically, sure.

And, the good news?

There are reports of people out there who keep an eye on us so we don't screw up the planet.

Wondering why we haven't been hit by an asteroid in the past million or so years?  I have too.

I've interviewed more than one person who under deep hypnosis has spoken of how the Earth came into being - how there are "entities" or "energies" that oversaw the process, that planned these events "in the future" and that "continue to guide it."

There is a universal law of "no interference" according to these folks.  So we are free to destroy it if we want to.  However, when it comes to helping the Earth move along, these folks act like guardians, or sheep herders perhaps is more accurate - helping seed life, and creating an environment so that we could inhabit this planet.  I'd say they've done a heck of a job.

Space fotos NASA. Guardians watching over us? Cool!

I know how weird this sounds.  But I'm just repeating what they've said.  That the "reason an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs" was so that human life could come to fruition.

As if they protected the Earth in some fashion from other asteroids, but allowed one through to help with the "intelligent design" of the planet.  (And I'm not referring to the religious version of that phrase, obviously, as the only thing that atheists and evangelicals agree on, is that I must be crazy.)

It's hard to put our minds around planning "that far" into the future - but when you consider that once we're outside of this realm, we're outside the normal constructs of time and space.  

Meaning, planning on creating a habitable planet so humans could inhabit it is exactly what happened.  So - is it possible that's what occurred? I don't know.  All I can tell you is that I've talked to more than one person who described these folks who "oversee" or "keep an eye" on our planet during its journey. My job is to report whatever it is I hear (but I try to limit these reports to two or more folks who've said relatively the same things.)  

So what does that have to do with Cern starting up?  All I can say is either the doomsday folks are right - and if they are, then some event will occur so that the accelerator does not work properly or doesn't do it's desired functions. (Thank you folks who oversee our planet!) Or, it's time for us to move on to another planet.  Or the doomsdayers are wrong, and there's never been a reason to worry.

All I can tell you for a fact (from the research) is this: no matter what happens, we don't die.

A rose is a rose... unless it's a photograph.

So sorry to hear of the latest shooting of a reporter on camera. 

I'd offer that the odds are, the fired employee was on SSRI drugs given him by a shrink. (Every "mass shooting" since Columbine was someone who had easy access to guns, and had been on prescription anti depressants.) So I would lay even money that it's the case here.

Why does this happen? 

Because the anti depressants alter the behavior of the amygdala (they supress seratonin release in the brain, which has unforseen consequences).  So in people severely depressed the switch is screwed up - and (a doctor friends says up to) 15% of the people on SSRI drugs it has a deleterious effect - shuts off the "morality" switch, and something they would never have thought of outside a video game (or torrid fantasy) seems like the most logical thing in the world to do. 

I'm sorry to hear of these tragic events that caused the death of three people.  However; to sound like a broken record - we don't die.  

This dude looks like me in a past life. (Rodin) Or I look like him in this life.
The reporter is not here, but she's not gone. The cameraman is not here, but he's not gone. The shooter is not here, but he's not gone either.  No one involved is "gone" or "dead" or whatever term we have to signify "the end." 

All three stepped thru the doorway marked "afterlife" and all three are experiencing that now.  

The reporter, who is likely hanging around this realm to spread love to her father and her fiancee, family and friends - the cameraman, hanging around his family and friends to see how things play out, the shooter, who is watching all the chaos he created and lives he's wrecked. (And watching the usual nutballs claiming "it didn't happen, it's a false flag Obama trick to take away my guns.") 

When you realize we don't die, we can't die, people can't kill us it alters our prespective. If we aren't killable, then people don't have to fear death, or their guns being taken away. The hard part is to enjoy their lives and still have compassion for those that might take it away. 

We all move into the next realm - whatever that represents based on our journey here - and then if and when we feel like it we come back with the help and advice of our loved ones.  

We can argue all we want about taking away guns - it only makes logical sense to treat guns the way we treat cars - licensed, accompanied by tests and earning the privelege to own a license.  For me it's not a Constitutional issue - but one of common sense.

My pal in Darchen.  Long way from here, but always connected.

I have not watched the shooter's video of his actions because frankly, I'm not interested in indulging his view of the planet. I understand that he thought it was a good idea to use social media to focus on himself, and I understand the "tipping point" result of his choice, but I'm not interested in being forced to step into his shoes.

And the reason it's hard to judge this guy's actions is because I'm not in his shoes.  I don't know what soul contract he made before he came here - it may have been to show that people who are given SSRI drugs are dangerous to society - it may be to convince congress to change gun laws - but that was his journey, and I can't judge it because I'm not part of his soul group. (At least I hope I'm not.)  But if we knew someone in his soul group - perhaps we could ask them. And perhaps it's possible to ask him too - because he didn't die either.  (Sorry to say, but it is what it is.)

He's caused a mountain of grief to be sure. There's a mountain of pain and suffering that he participated in, and I haven't the faintest idea how or why he signed up for a lifetime what would include that. My heart goes out to this reporter's parents, her dad and fiancee, family and friends, and those of the cameraman as well.

I've been in those same shoes - when I worked for CNBC on the Charles Grodin show, I did countless "stand ups" or "man in the street" interviews all over Manhattan.  I know that world, I've had fun doing it. I know others in that world, and my heart goes out to them as well, as it will surely engender copycat incidents.  We live in a crazy world.

I worked on The Charles Grodin show for CNBC for 6 months.

On a Flipside level, the research shows we come here knowing basically what role we're going to play.  And only about a third of our energy comes here to each lifetime.  And it's that other two thirds that is always back there, always watching whats happening here, always amused, always behind the scenes - always adjusting to whatever other people do.  

So we can argue - the nature of reality is a "false flag" event.  

It's in the research, that is, it's in the actual sessions talking to people who remember past lives and the between lives realms - and their testimony is corroborated by people who've had near death experiences and are scientists and generally are considered experts in their field.  There is an architecture to the afterlife if we look for it.

Events play out the way they play out - and part of the reason is seems scripted is because on some level - it was scripted. Once you can embrace the concept that we don't die - on some etheric energetic level - we can see that everything that happens is part of the school of learning.  The question is, are we strong enough students to learn from these lessons?  Can we still have compassion in the face on tragedy?  Can we honor a person's memory by coming to the conclusion they're still here?

It reminds me of Roger Ebert's last words.  Prior to his passing - he wrote a note to his wife Chaz that said "It's all an elaborate hoax."

Roger Ebert experience the hoax paradox with Mr. De Niro

She was confused. "What's an elaborate hoax?"  I think he was referring to reality, to the nature of existence.  It's all an elaborate hoax because we don't die.  Life continues on.  Not just here, but over there as well.  I offer this by way of solace to those who can't bring themselves to go on after such tragic events. But don't shoot the reporter.  I mean that literally.

My two cents.


EECP versus Memory Loss or Alzheimer's

First things first.  I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV. I am about to state that there's a treatment I'm aware of that is helping people with diabetes, memory loss, and other issues, and I'm only posting this because I've run into a number of doctors who claim it's "for heart patients only."

Great documentary about a topic not taught to doctors. Diet and nutrition.

In my research into the Flipside, I've met people who remember previous lifetimes where they had memory loss, or a dementia.  During the memories of those lifetimes, they claim that they were fully conscious and aware of everything around them - but not able to communicate it because of the inability of the brain to function properly.

I've heard the expression "They may not remember you, but you remember who they were."

I remember who they were. And still are on the Flipside.

But it's deeper than that.  They may not seem to know who you are, but inside, in their conscious world, they know who you are and appreciate everything you do for them.  So don't neglect those who don't seem to remember you.  They do.

Beyond that, I want to make a bone to pick; a complaint.  It's against professionals who are convinced that "if they weren't taught it in school, it doesn't exist."  I've had a number of friends speak to me about their loved ones who are showing signs of dementia, or are having some kind of heart/health issue and I steer them to EECP.

The doctor will see you now.

What's EECP? "EECP is a non-surgical, mechanical procedure that can reduce the symptoms of angina pectoris, by increasing coronary blood flow in areas of the heart that lack blood flow."

How does it work?  From WebMD:




What Happens During EECP Treatment?

Patients lie down on a padded table in a treatment room.


How Often Are EECP Treatments?

Who Is a Candidate for EECP?
You may be a candidate for EECP if you:

Have chronic stable angina

Less need for anti-anginal medication, Decrease in symptoms of angina, Increased ability to do activities without onset of symptoms, Ability to return to enjoyable activities,



Here's why I'm posting it.  I tried it for something completely different - I tore my miniscus in my knee, and while I was getting prolotherapy (an athletic procedure) for the knee, the doctor suggested I try it out.  I did about 25 sessions, and a whole number of ailments or problems seemed to disappear. I was suprised that this non invasive, relatively inexpensive treatment (mostly used for diabetes people who can't exercise, post operative people with heart ailments and others) was helping so many people and absolutely no one is covering it.

I did some research.  It turns out the procedure is effective to treat anything with regard to getting blood to flow through the veins properly - including treating Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, basically anything that is related to plaque in the blood vessels preventing the body from working properly.  It doesn't cure or claim to cure these issues, but there are studies that show it helps with them.  And doesn't it make sense to try the very thing that works?

Why does it work?

Because one hour session is equivalent to running 5 miles while lying down.  
This foto has nothing to do with this piece, I just like it. Pere LaChaise, Paris.

It's the reason professional athletes have purchased these machines.

Full disclosure - I was so impressed by the results, I bought a few stocks in the company that makes the equipment.  The stock hasn't gone anywhere, up or down, I don't pay attention to it - but I'm not going to say what the company I invested in, because it doesn't matter.  I'm posting this because if you have a heart problem, diabetes, sleep issues, a loved one with memory loss, ischemia, etc, a whole variety of other issues - it may be the best thing you look into.

I can tell you that it's not a common procedure - (although I believe it one day will be, when they can figure out how to monetize it) you need to "convince" a doctor to try it. Most EECP machines are used for heart patients, or back surgery - when the machine functions as a blood pumping machine during the procedure. I've had a number of friends bring it up with their doctor, who said it wasn't worth looking into, or it was "just for heart patients." Well, turns out these doctors are wrong.

Here are some of the benefits for the brain alone:

1. Benefits for Alzheimer's patients:
2. Benefits for anyone with memory loss:
4. 2010 study showing EECP helps memory loss:

So, why spend time arguing about a procedure no one cares about? 

Why spend time talking to people about the afterlife, when nobody cares about that either?  

It's because if we step back and take a look at what we're doing, who we are as people - as humans - can see how we've altered the focus of the planet to be about income and money, and monetization of everything, including health.

It's going to require a quiet revolution of like minded people to focus on the things that actually help people.  It might be talking about a little known procedure that is non invasive and can help with a number of ailments, it might be talking about a ghost story that a friend imparted to you, because it has some resonance with them - and that story might influence someone else on the planet. This quiet revolution will allow others to seek truth in ways that are outside the mainstream media, outside the miasma that we appear to be swimming in.  

And in my book, that's a good thing.  My two cents.

My book. A good thing too.

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