It was a global phenomenon. There was cross grafting of genre across national boundaries. The world was on move, driven by rhythms and beats of time. But what was driving rhythms and beats and people behind them? - The turmoil of time.

The sixties were a period of great upheavals. Freedom movements in Africa, liberation struggles in South America, civil rights marches in North America, labor movements in Europe, political emancipation struggles in Caribbean, - all provided impetus for rhythm change and performers were in vanguard. Using their creativity and artistry and circumstances of their time they created classics that elevated spirit. Whether it was about war or politics or love, there was an element of subtlety that gave listeners opportunity to dream. They were limited only by their imagination.

The sonorous sixties were an era redolent of a great musical renaissance. And regardless of culture or geographical location of songs, there seemed to be a common thread running through them, -- lyrics were not throwaway words. They were words that aroused your humanity and agitated your conscience. They were evergreens, destined to stand tests and rigors of time.

But that was as it should be. Good music must, regardless of culture or era, stand test of time. It should elevate mouth that sings and ear that hears. It should be a vehicle for positive change and above all appeal to higher self. Anchored on that premise, what shall we then say of nineties and present? With due respect, with exception of a few, not much except that it was an era that ushered in a gang of hollow and lackluster musicians. It was an era when clean lyrics of sixties were smeared with obscenity. There seemed to be a preoccupation among musicians on lewdness and vulgarity. This is self-evident in some of their lyrics and videos.

How did this happen? The answer is simple. Although issues-- poverty, inequality, injustice, war, death, love, etc-- that inspired and impelled revolutions of sixties are still very much alive, modern musicians took easy way, assaulting undiscriminating ears and eyes with baseness.

How have they done this? Through music videos. Whereas artists of sixties had no medium other than sound, today’s artists have added advantage of visual images. Hiding behind seductive graphics, they pass off trash and mediocre songs as hits. The artists of sixties did not have that privilege. They understood that distance between success and failure was as far as distance between ears and brain and they worked hard to reduce it. Today’s artists do not have to work that hard. There is always video for a cheap bail out.

While today’s artists may win Oscars and Grammies, it is doubtful whether many of those award winners can stand tests and rigors of time. When it comes to performing arts, time is best judge. One thing though is certain: that this truly is an era of throwaway lyrics.

Between January and May 2003, all my repeated requests to treat my steadily falling red blood cell levels were refused. All my pleas to be sent to an outside specialist were refused. The required medical diet was repeatedly refused, along with any type of effective medical treatments or required diagnostic testing for my continued serious intestinal infection.

On May 4, 2003, nurses refused to deliver my morning dose of Rebetol and Nurse Viscum later refused to let me go to HCU to receive my scheduled dose. She falsified Medication Log by saying I refused my medications. On May 5, 2003, Nurse Viscum again "forgot" to reorder my PEG Interferon from previous week. My prescribed dosage of 60 mcg. was not available. Dr. Smith, over phone, had Nurse Viscum order me to take another prisoner's vial of 80 mcg. of PEG-Interferon under continued threat to stop my medical treatments. This overdosed me again. My treatments were working at eradicating virus. I gritted my teeth and took deliberate overdose.

On May 12, 2003, my prescribed dosage of 60 mcg. of PEG Interferon still had not been reordered by ADDUS Healthcare staff and I was ordered to take another prisoner's vial containing 120 mcg.. While I tried to only take half, it was still too much and overdosed me for third time.

On May 25, 2003, nurses (Heather & Sheri) again refused to deliver my morning dose of Rebetol. They refused to let me go to HCU later to get it and lied by telling Correctional Staff I had refused my medications. This again interfered with my medication schedule. No Medical Refusal Form exists with my signature. I filed a grievance over this too.

Superintendent Nancy Pounovich called me into her office on May 29, 2003 and asked me to drop my grievance over refusal to deliver my meds. I refused to drop my grievance. She retaliated next day on May 30, 2003 by firing me from my cellhouse help job for no reason. She had me locked up in my cell 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was given no opportunity to protest this unjust firing, or given a misconduct report.

Between May and June 29, 2003, all needed medical treatments to reverse my rapidly falling blood levels were refused, and all of my requests to be sent to an outside specialist were refused. Then we got a new Medical Director. Dr. P. Ghosh, in response to my grievances and letters, agreed to send me to see an outside specialist, since he said that only a specialist could prescribe medications Procrit and Neuprogen. I was seen by Dr. Wiley at U.I.C. Liver/Hematology Clinic on June 30, 2003. The ADDUS Healthcare Staff deliberately failed to send my lab work with me so specialist could make a medical recommendation. Fortunately, she was able to get results by telephone, after being refused several times by Medical Records Supervisor, Karen Reed.

Treatment with medication Procrit was too late, since medication takes from 4 8 weeks to stimulate bone marrow into producing more red blood cells. My current blood levels were so dangerously low I did not have 4 8 weeks to wait for medication to work. The only option left was for her to recommend temporary suspension of my medications for 3 6 weeks to allow my blood levels time to rise back into safe levels. Then restart my PEG Interferon/Rebetol HCV treatments. (Continued as Part 3)