Altruism

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Velvet

HI Vaxman/Brian

This is Lynnette from The Red Masque. Thanks for setting up this topic and taking these greetings here and on ProgressiveEars.com to Brian. He really appreciates it.

I have faith that Brian will recover eventually but it is a long process and, unfortunately, he is mired in red tape at the moment, which is keeping him from getting out of the hospital and into the rehab clinic. I know he talked to his lawyer andthey are trying to move things along so hopefully this will speed things up.

In the meantime, if anybody is in the area, Brian loves visitors. I've been visiting whenever I can on the weekends (I'm about an hour and half to two hours away from his hospital (during normal traffic -- much longer if there is bad traffic), so it makes it difficult to visit him during the week when I am at work).

HOPEFULLY he won't be in the hospital much longer though.
Anyway, thanks again.
Lynnette

Hi Lynnette,

We are about 35 miles south which by proNJ driving standards means it will take us between 1 hour and eternity to get there.

We would love to drop in and visit him more often but, as Brian can attest, we're having some issues with one of our offspring making our free time a real premium these days.

I spent a week in the hospital back in '99 and I couldn't stand it. I can't believe he's still sane -- albeit, I wonder sometimes if he ever was -- after 2 months.

I let Brian borrow my Powerbook and EVDO card one afternoon when I was there visiting with my wife. He was so happy to be able to have some interent access to touch the outside world. He also started on his Overture for his latest creation using my GarageBand that day. If I would have met up with Brian earlier on in his stay, I would have worked on getting him a Powerbook and EVDO internet access for the time he was in the hospital.

Everyone is pulling for his recovery and I hope to see him and the rest of The Red Masque at the NJ Prog House. Fingers crossed!

Let me know when/if you're going to visit him this weekend. Maybe we can drop in when you're there.

[Velvet]

Hello again
I wont' be down this weekend because it's my father's birthday and my family is having a get together so I have to drive all the way to my parent's house in the complete opposite direction from brian's hospital (which would put me about 4 hours away from Brian). But I plan on going up the following weekend - either sat or sun - not sure yet. but I'll let you know.

yeah, brian told me about you letting him use his powerbook. He was quite happy with that. He told me yesterday he is thinking of buying a lap top with his credit card.

and no, you are correct, he never WAS sane But in a good way.
actually, this might be kind of weird to say, but he's actually been more focused since he's been in hospital. I guess in times like these you really understand what's important. anyway, he's a unique guy and we're all pulling for him. I told him he was getting out of the band that easy so expect to see us in November (or sooner if I see you at the hospital). I really hope they figure out this SSI stuff though. THAT is driving him mad and me too.

Lynnette

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Hello again
I wont' be down this weekend because it's my father's birthday and my family is having a get together so I have to drive all the way to my parent's house in the complete opposite direction from brian's hospital (which would put me about 4 hours away from Brian). But I plan on going up the following weekend - either sat or sun - not sure yet. but I'll let you know.

yeah, brian told me about you letting him use his powerbook. He was quite happy with that. He told me yesterday he is thinking of buying a lap top with his credit card.

and no, you are correct, he never WAS sane But in a good way.
actually, this might be kind of weird to say, but he's actually been more focused since he's been in hospital. I guess in times like these you really understand what's important. anyway, he's a unique guy and we're all pulling for him. I told him he was getting out of the band that easy so expect to see us in November (or sooner if I see you at the hospital). I really hope they figure out this SSI stuff though. THAT is driving him mad and me too.

Lynnette

The SSI issue pisses me off too. There's so much waste in the medical/hospital community and then, when somebody really needing a hand up has the need, there's nothing left to go around. It's one of the reasons I hate governments too. Not that I believe they should be in the business of giving out handouts; however, since they do, they should be seeking to give out where it's due.

If we do meet up in his hospital room, do you mind if we call you Brian too? It will help alleviate the confusion in a monty phythonesque way.

VAX (Brian)

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

I've worked in health care in an admin capacity for 23 years. The problem lies in inadequate insurance for those who cannot find steady employment. It's ok to hate the government, but you have to have a solution. Privatization of health care also breeds waste. It's very complicated. And very expensive. Most of my early days in health care concentrated on the uninsured.

You're not going to hijack this thread as a soapbox for socialism. I worked for the government (DoD) for 10+ years and NASA for 1 before I had enough. Waste, waste, waste abounds everywhere and everywhere you find waste it's augmented by graft and sheer utter management stupidity.

In light of your other comments, I have my share of medical issues. In insurance terminology: I have one foot in the grave and the other firmly seated upon a banana peel (ie. I'm uninsurable! I might be insurable but I can't afford the outlay of money equivalent to the GDP of some countries to pay for it.). Through no fault of my own (as is with Brian's "Vonorn" as this thread relates), I have medical needs that the government won't address. It pisses me off to no extent that I have to outlay $100 a month for syringes alone but drug addicts are being provided them free of charge. I know the 'gummint's' intent is to stop the spread of HIV, which is all fine and good, but they're promoting the use of illicit drugs in the process. What happened to the "equal protection under the law" of our US Constitution? It's been distorted by the government pigs-- "all animals are equal; some animals are more equal than others".

My mom always asks, "What to you do with all the money you make?" Well mom, I spend more than $25K/year on medicine alone. This last year has been exceptionally tough with the crap my daughter has pulled and with Martha being out of work for her medical issues and mine getting worse.

Here's just a short narrative about hospital waste as it relates to Brian's situation.

Martha was tiring of the food in the hospital so I brought her a meal from outside. The hospital dietician's office called and asked her why she didn't order dinner. She told them she had eaten and that I brought in food for her. Brian, on the otherhand, had not eaten because his meal was delivered and then taken away as "garbage" because he was asleep when they brought his meal. Later that same evening, just before I was to head home, the hospital brought Martha a meal -- even though she said she had not wanted a meal. We were on the phone with Brian at the time who said he wanted the meal as his was discarded. The hospital staff would not oblige him and the food was trashed. Two meals in the garbage. I can bet that the price tag on that hospital swill was higher than a fine dinner at a top rate establishment.

In 1999, I was presented with a bill for $20K for a week long hospital stay. All I did was lay upon a bed whilst the hospital filled me up with rat poison to get my prothrombin time to a "theraputic" level. There was no need to be tortured and fed swill for a week. My Dr. routinely changes my rat poison dosage and I get prothrombin time/INR blood tests as an out-patient at a local lab for 1/1000th the cost of that hospital stay. You cannot convince me that hospitalization is not grossly over-valued and over-priced and wasteful... as is most doctoring. If I am called in to fix a problem and I don't do it right the first time, I'm expected back on my time to finish the job. Not so with doctoring. You keep paying and paying and paying while they practice and practice and practice. It's the only job I know where the government provides documentation on your ability to be incompetent... it's called the licence to practice medicine. I suppose it takes a beaurocracy of incompetents to recognize incompetence.

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Those of you that are not covered by a health plan...DO IT.

Sounds like Rick's buying... sign me up.

[Thor]

Brian,

Here's to renewal.... an instant karma has moved, sent your way. Positive waves and thoughts to you for renewed strength of body and balance of mind and inner spirit.

[Velvet]

i am leaving now to go visit Vonorn at the hospital and i'll be there with the rest of the TRM crew so if anybody feels like coming by, please do so. we'll be there in a couple of hours.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Martha had an appointment with the neurologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center on Monday. We dropped in to see Brian. He was sitting in his room playing his guitar when we arrived. He was very happy to see us again. This time, Brian had obtained a set of "Wheels", so we took him downstairs to the children's wing of the hospital where a digital piano is located. We spent about an hour down there while Brian tinkered away on the keys. He's a good piano player, BTW.

Martha used her cell phone to get some pix. Next trip to visit, we will take along a "proper" camera and get some better quality pix. In the interim, if you are interested, there are 6 JPGs and 2 QT movie files here: http://www.gigsofpixofgigs.com/Vonorn

I'm finally doing something with my new domain name.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by VAXman

Martha had an appointment with the neurologist at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center on Monday. We dropped in to see Brian. He was sitting in his room playing his guitar when we arrived. He was very happy to see us again. This time, Brian had obtained a set of "Wheels", so we took him downstairs to the children's wing of the hospital where a digital piano is located. We spent about an hour down there while Brian tinkered away on the keys. He's a good piano player, BTW.

Martha used her cell phone to get some pix. Next trip to visit, we will take along a "proper" camera and get some better quality pix. In the interim, if you are interested, there are 6 JPGs and 2 QT movie files here: http://www.gigsofpixofgigs.com/Vonorn

I'm finally doing something with my new domain name.

Hey thanks for posting these pics.
the ones I took got screwed up for some reason. my camera ate them, for lack of a technical term

[VAXman(Admin)]

Lynnette emailed me these pix. I've uploaded them here for you to view.

[AngelSings4u2]

Originally Posted by VAXman

Lynnette emailed me these pix. I've uploaded them here for you to view.

Hey VAX,

These are awesome pics...Lynnette did a great job of putting the face with the name...

Much love, Angel

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by LGTSings4u2

Hey VAX,

These are awesome pics...Lynnette did a great job of putting the face with the name...

Much love, Angel

What face? What name?

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by VAXman

What face? What name?

What gun? You're a policeman!

[Camel]

I know I'm coming late to this wonderful thread, but I'd really like to add my voice to the well wishes - and a hearty note of 'stick in there'. For the past six years I've been in permanent chronic pain thanks to failed lower spinal surgery; they say I'm lucky to be walking again - and I do believe them. But some days it's really hard - particualrly with all the tests and the continual having to find energy to fight it all the time.

Hang in there. You meet the most wonderful people who can challenge and enrich your life in so many ways. Keep the music close to your heart; it's the best therapy you can ever have! I wish you all the very best for a gradual recovery. It'll come: slowly, slowly, but surely.....

Warmly,

Rob

[VAXman(Admin)]

Lynnette (Velvet) sent some pix of Brian "Vonorn" Van Korn... on his feet and looking much much better than when I first saw him in his room at RWJUC.

[edpampani]

hi brian this ed pampani aka a pleasant symmetry you gave me a few drum lessons way back and you did sound for a band called the rock band ill never forget that

also i saw you at the rail playing an african drum with nasty ned

its been a long time im praying for you bro get better soon i want to see the red masque perform !

i heard some of the stuff you did with simon lake very cool indeed see you soon

[Velvet]

Here is the latest update with the band and with Vonorn.....



October Newsletter
Breaking Announcement:
Paul Sears of the Muffins to play with The Red Masque on November 4
Plus The Red Masque’s Vonorn has major breakthrough in his recovery!

For those of you following the news about The Red Masque’s drummer/keys/multi-instrumentalist Brian “Vonorn” Van Korn’s illness, we have some very good news to report. He has started walking again last week, aided by a walker, and continues to improve in his strength and abilities. We expect to see him back to his old self in the weeks to come. Click http://www.theredmasque.com/images/092406.gif to see a picture of Vonorn standing up with TRM’s Brandon Ross (bassist) and Kiarash Emami (former TRM guitarist). Brian Schenkenberger (aka "VAXman") from the Aural Moon (www.auralmoon.com) website took a few pictures and a couple of videos of Vonorn playing the piano in the children's section of the hospital and posted them online here: http://www.gigsofpixofgigs.com/Vonorn/. Vonorn was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (see http://www.myelitis.org/tm.htm) this past June and has been hospitalized since at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. For those of you who missed the newsletter announcing this, please visit www.theredmasque.com/news.html to see the full report.

The Red Masque has an upcoming gig on November 4 as part of the New Jersey Proghouse series. Vonorn is working on a hospital release by this date (he should have been release weeks ago, but has been mired down in hospital red tape), but in the meantime, we are bringing in drummer Paul Sears (of The Muffins and Thee Maximalists fame) to play with the band for this performance.

Paul, who is also a producer as well as a drummer, has played with a really wide variety of folks ranging from Fred Frith, John Greaves, Peter Blegvad, The Muffins, Daevid Allen, Pepe Gonzalez with Magick Theatre, Thee Maximalists (with Keith Macksoud (of Present), Mark Stanley (of Farquar), Yanni Papadopoulus (of Stinking Lizaveta), Werbinox, Jim Rezek , Cyndee Lee Rule, Henry Kaiser, Bill Laswell - way before he was a producer) several ex MAGMA members, PRESENT, Clearlight, Marshall Allen from the Sun RA Arkestra, to festival jams with guitarists Mike Keneally and Glenn Phillips in 2005, and, in ancient history Bob E Rock & Steve Stills long ago in nightclubs in Washington DC and a zillion others.

Most recently, Paul with The Muffins played a spellbinding performance at the sold-out 2005 Northeast Art Rock Festival (NEARFest) in Bethlehem, PA, as well as appearing at various Prog Day festivals in North Carolina (read about the Muffins at http://www.paulsears.net/muffins/), and is currently gigging with Thee Maximalists. The Muffins are also working on a new CD. Read more about Paul here: http://www.paulsears.net. If Vonorn is released he’ll be joining us for the show as well.

For information on the November 4, including advance ticket information, please go to www.njproghouse.com or http://www.njproghouse.com/upcoming.html. The show will take place at the Old Franklin Schoolhouse in Metuchen, NJ. See http://www.njproghouse.com/venue/oldfranklin.html. The Red Masque plans on performing songs off their forthcoming album, as well as some improvisations, and older material. Tickets are $20 for online orders (via Paypal) and $25 at the door, and the venue has a limited seating capacity so advance ticket sales are recommended.

Opening for The Red Masque will be the New York band Skeleton Breath. According to the band’s bio: “Not just your average Middle Eastern-disco-prog-metal-meets-noise-surf-Klezmer-bass-drum-violin-trio, skeletonbreath also has a modest repertoire of Patsy Cline covers.” See their website at http://www.skeletonbreath.com for more info.

The Red Masque will finish up their latest CD “Fossil Eyes” as soon as Vonorn is released from the hospital. In the meantime, you can hear a three minute clip of the song “Carbon 14” on the band’s Myspace page at www.myspace.com/myredmasque.

We hope to see you soon,
Lynnette Shelley, Brandon Lord Ross, Vonorn, Andrew Kowal
The Red Masque
www.theredmasque.com
www.myspace.com/myredmasque
theredmasque@theredmasque.com

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Paul Sears of the Muffins to play with The Red Masque on November 4
Plus The Red Masque’s Vonorn has major breakthrough in his recovery!

Excellent news! And Paul's a good egg, albeit a bit demented

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Excellent news! And Paul's a good egg, albeit a bit demented

A bit like you then Rick........

But seriously it IS good news and thank you for keeping us informed...even those of us the other side of the swamp.

[Velvet]

great news.... knock on wood.... Vonorn just had some major red tape baggage get fixed and he might be getting released in enough time for the show!!!

[roger]

glad to hear that Von is doing better! now if you could only get his financial predicament boing-boinged...