There has been an interesting thing cropping up lately . There is this controversy about people having to work holidays. The idea is not to shop on Thanksgiving in response .
Of course it is aimed at the large box stores. And while Walmart for instance , ( this is not a research paper) certainly engages in nasty strong arm anti- union behavior, the argument is very problematic.
People in agricultural jobs have to work these holidays. It isn't always because its all they know or it's a family thing, its because thats the job, and the boss may be a good one or a miserable one. When you do it year after year, you adjust. It also doesn't mean you are at subsistence level - but maybe that an extra income is not optional.
Who should we boycott here? The scale doesn't make Walmart more evil than the local horse facility owner . The intent from the owners point of view is EXACTLY the same. Horses, like profits, dont care about tradition.
And if a Jewish family has a tradition of eating out Chinese Food on Xmas eve, who should get boycotted?
Ive worked every New Years since 1973. I don't truly have a choice. Some retail folks do, and some don't. Ill venture a guess that some folks alone on the holiday who have a job at Walmart would rather be there.
Various traditions in play. Who's to say which one gets to be the sacred cow?
I (foolishly) chimed in on a Facebook post-with a large logo and was absolutely crucified by a number of people. One choose to belittle what I wrote by saying "Oy Vey" and then paraphrasing me ( and getting it completely wrong). EVERY one said "I just think its wrong"
Is that an argument?
This was a very liberal group.
None took any time to actually consider my arguments which were respectfully and cogently stated.
I found that to be the most interesting point of all.
This group, including one former teacher at least, didnt read carefully.
I have been a lifelong Dem/Independant. I am not at all right leaning.
I have never been comfortable with the utra-left either though,
and since watching a lot of "agitations" in the 70s, have felt that ultra left and ultra right would eventully meet up behind the barn and kick the shit out of each other. Or start making out.
I have always felt that no one would define me for me, and I certainly dont want to hand any freebies to the Tea Party. But Im getting closer to ditching the Liberal label , not because Ive changed my views, but because much like the Tea Party has absconded with anything approaching reason in the Republican Party, a certain group is destroying the usefulness of the Liberal label through sheer ick factor, and a lack of detached reasoning .
I am aware that the danger there is of opening up oneself to being viewed as disingenuous, which of course doesnt help if you are trying to make political arguments.
Which I will no longer be doing on Facebook.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Construction ,Worship, and Loathing of Models Part 1
As a college student , I took some astronomy courses . Mostly I did this out of curiosity past the first semester, and seeing as I never did take physics, required some pretty good mental gymnastics to keep up. It was also a good balance to spending hours each day underground in a practice room.
One of the things the professor would often remind us is that we are dealing with models. Our eyes, our brains, our perceptions, our explanations for what we observe, scientifically ( or not). We create models to explain our observations. If we have been good scientists we ought to have good models. We can then based on the weight of evidence and data form postulates, theories, and even laws
to explain and predict behaviors of natural or social systems.
We've as a species evidently been doing this awhile. We have understood the importance of keeping historical records from times predating written language acquisition .
Which runs us into the first long standing Wall of Dumb-ass that persists in existence very nicely into modern times thank you.
Patriarchal organized religion. Models? we don't need models. "We" know the TRUTH!!! "We " know what God wants, and if you don't follow you may be-
Disrespected
Pitied
Laughed at
Shamed
Hated
Lynched
Burned
Blown to smithereens......
Because God loves you. And because we have the Bible/Koran/Torah etc etc etc to prove it.
Plus we have thousands of years of beautiful traditions and revered heroes to point to. Not to mention brutal , sociopathic mass murder from wide and varied sources. Good persuaders, both.
Theres the perception thing again. PROOF. Of course where good science attempts objectivity, no proselytizing religion would accept objectivity at the bottom line. Off with their heads.
Some are crazier than others. There isn't , for instance, any Reform Mormon Church. You are in or not. End Days and afterlife all together as a family. Even Black people can be in the club now!!
Objective science? According to large swaths of The Very American Church of Enormous Church Building selling billions of books by preachers with Big Teeth, thats Secular Humanism and its a sin.
These are the people that brought us Intelligent Design. Am I mocking faith? Not if it allows for a live and let live bottom line. Otherwise, yes , I am mocking faith ." My Gods better than YOOOOURE God..." . Mocking, yes.
But honestly, Im digressing- not without purpose, but my philosophy is not the point. What is the point is that I - or any other human that has one- can have one.
Ill finish part one by pointing out that the best we can hope for is that people update their models that they base their philosophies on as they age, as good scientists do. Unfortunately it takes some ability to "detach" to do this, and to face things about oneself that may not be pretty. It cant work in the case of prejudicial minds. Ill leave it to the reader to decipher the differences and similarities between philosophy ,and the outcomes of scientific endeavor.
One of the things the professor would often remind us is that we are dealing with models. Our eyes, our brains, our perceptions, our explanations for what we observe, scientifically ( or not). We create models to explain our observations. If we have been good scientists we ought to have good models. We can then based on the weight of evidence and data form postulates, theories, and even laws
to explain and predict behaviors of natural or social systems.
We've as a species evidently been doing this awhile. We have understood the importance of keeping historical records from times predating written language acquisition .
Which runs us into the first long standing Wall of Dumb-ass that persists in existence very nicely into modern times thank you.
Patriarchal organized religion. Models? we don't need models. "We" know the TRUTH!!! "We " know what God wants, and if you don't follow you may be-
Disrespected
Pitied
Laughed at
Shamed
Hated
Lynched
Burned
Blown to smithereens......
Because God loves you. And because we have the Bible/Koran/Torah etc etc etc to prove it.
Plus we have thousands of years of beautiful traditions and revered heroes to point to. Not to mention brutal , sociopathic mass murder from wide and varied sources. Good persuaders, both.
Theres the perception thing again. PROOF. Of course where good science attempts objectivity, no proselytizing religion would accept objectivity at the bottom line. Off with their heads.
Some are crazier than others. There isn't , for instance, any Reform Mormon Church. You are in or not. End Days and afterlife all together as a family. Even Black people can be in the club now!!
Objective science? According to large swaths of The Very American Church of Enormous Church Building selling billions of books by preachers with Big Teeth, thats Secular Humanism and its a sin.
These are the people that brought us Intelligent Design. Am I mocking faith? Not if it allows for a live and let live bottom line. Otherwise, yes , I am mocking faith ." My Gods better than YOOOOURE God..." . Mocking, yes.
But honestly, Im digressing- not without purpose, but my philosophy is not the point. What is the point is that I - or any other human that has one- can have one.
Ill finish part one by pointing out that the best we can hope for is that people update their models that they base their philosophies on as they age, as good scientists do. Unfortunately it takes some ability to "detach" to do this, and to face things about oneself that may not be pretty. It cant work in the case of prejudicial minds. Ill leave it to the reader to decipher the differences and similarities between philosophy ,and the outcomes of scientific endeavor.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Axe in its many forms
Getting cut back sucks. If you are heavily involved at the state and regional level in music education , it sucks even more, as you hate to cut back on the volunteerism that makes things run ultimately.
I really wish that I could say the cut was inevitable, with good faith all around.
One piece of information changed my view. I was informed , from a totally credible source, that there had been a $300,000.00 surplus at the end of the year for our school.
You can look at that lots of different ways,
But my being cut back by $13,000.00+ , a lot of money to me, certainly seems less necessary in retrospect.
So obviously, and from all reactions I get, this belongs in the "Are you kidding me?" blog.
I do hope to be back to 100% next year. In the meantime, its-
Saturday piano lessons. 930-230. Once wedding season ends its not as bad, as that makes for a 14-15 hour day typically with a nasty 2 hour drive at 2 AM. And if there was Nectars the night before till 2am, well then.
I've filled up the gig calendar such that between school and gigs, I may not have a day off for 2 or 3 weeks. Add in the Irene flood benefits played, sleep has been more at a premium than in years past. If I do happen to have a Sunday off, Im pretty useless past chauffeuring.
Im thankful to be in a position to have gigs, but exhaustion has a price. With me its usually a dip in attitude. Sometimes I think, "well, I did fine with this at 27 but after all Im 55 " but I was never this busy at 27.
This state of affairs IS a direct result of being cut back . I dont have a choice.
So what to do to stay positive ?
I've embarked on a Masters degree in composition , studying with exactly the person Ive wanted to study with for years - Andy Jaffe, who's head of the Jazz program at Williams. The Masters is through the VT College of Fine Arts.I've already written/arranged/transcribed lot of new stuff. Its VERY rejuvenating.
I will in fact have the CD "3 days in August " up to CD Baby soon. Thanks to Gerry Beaudoin and Sam Krotinger for moral support.
Bruce Sklar.com is up, though need more functionality.
Reading a Thelonious Monk biography (excellent)
Practicng a bit.
BTW, John Rivers, Dave Grippo and myself at the Marriott in Burlington tomorrow Friday 14 at 830.
I really wish that I could say the cut was inevitable, with good faith all around.
One piece of information changed my view. I was informed , from a totally credible source, that there had been a $300,000.00 surplus at the end of the year for our school.
You can look at that lots of different ways,
But my being cut back by $13,000.00+ , a lot of money to me, certainly seems less necessary in retrospect.
So obviously, and from all reactions I get, this belongs in the "Are you kidding me?" blog.
I do hope to be back to 100% next year. In the meantime, its-
Saturday piano lessons. 930-230. Once wedding season ends its not as bad, as that makes for a 14-15 hour day typically with a nasty 2 hour drive at 2 AM. And if there was Nectars the night before till 2am, well then.
I've filled up the gig calendar such that between school and gigs, I may not have a day off for 2 or 3 weeks. Add in the Irene flood benefits played, sleep has been more at a premium than in years past. If I do happen to have a Sunday off, Im pretty useless past chauffeuring.
Im thankful to be in a position to have gigs, but exhaustion has a price. With me its usually a dip in attitude. Sometimes I think, "well, I did fine with this at 27 but after all Im 55 " but I was never this busy at 27.
This state of affairs IS a direct result of being cut back . I dont have a choice.
So what to do to stay positive ?
I've embarked on a Masters degree in composition , studying with exactly the person Ive wanted to study with for years - Andy Jaffe, who's head of the Jazz program at Williams. The Masters is through the VT College of Fine Arts.I've already written/arranged/transcribed lot of new stuff. Its VERY rejuvenating.
I will in fact have the CD "3 days in August " up to CD Baby soon. Thanks to Gerry Beaudoin and Sam Krotinger for moral support.
Bruce Sklar.com is up, though need more functionality.
Reading a Thelonious Monk biography (excellent)
Practicng a bit.
BTW, John Rivers, Dave Grippo and myself at the Marriott in Burlington tomorrow Friday 14 at 830.
Friday, October 7, 2011
iRene
This may turn into more of a rant than a blog entry, being the first time out, but we shall see.
Being a musician living in the Mad River Valley, it was just proper that I would seek out opportunities to help out in the wake of Hurricane Irene, which hit our Valley, Waitsfield and Moretown in particular, very very hard.These events turned out to be,easily, some of the most satisfying moments of my professional career.I didn't expect anything to come of it past providing, musically, the hours of release the folks in the towns were craving. My closest bandmates who live here feel and did the same. There is no need to talk about the individual experiences for my own edification,I was deeply moved just being there, done deal.
I must say I am deeply disturbed by the flagrant use of this disaster, and of one benefit in particular, by some local musicians to promote themselves, and to sell themselves as being something beyond what they are. I saw the posts on Facebook - self serving , opportunistic drivel complete with video..
I believe absolutely in the following.
Benefits are, for those who do them as they are intended to be, their own reward. Period. It doesn't, and shouldn't need to be bragged about after the fact.
This should go for those who make their living from music, for those who a doing it as a side because life in one way or another affords them this amazing gift to do, and for all of the wide spectrum of musicians in between.
In other words , Shut up and play. Have a good business plan, but in this case, SHUT UP, and play.
THAT is sustainability.
" all you've got to do is play your ass off'"
Art Blakey
Being a musician living in the Mad River Valley, it was just proper that I would seek out opportunities to help out in the wake of Hurricane Irene, which hit our Valley, Waitsfield and Moretown in particular, very very hard.These events turned out to be,easily, some of the most satisfying moments of my professional career.I didn't expect anything to come of it past providing, musically, the hours of release the folks in the towns were craving. My closest bandmates who live here feel and did the same. There is no need to talk about the individual experiences for my own edification,I was deeply moved just being there, done deal.
I must say I am deeply disturbed by the flagrant use of this disaster, and of one benefit in particular, by some local musicians to promote themselves, and to sell themselves as being something beyond what they are. I saw the posts on Facebook - self serving , opportunistic drivel complete with video..
I believe absolutely in the following.
Benefits are, for those who do them as they are intended to be, their own reward. Period. It doesn't, and shouldn't need to be bragged about after the fact.
This should go for those who make their living from music, for those who a doing it as a side because life in one way or another affords them this amazing gift to do, and for all of the wide spectrum of musicians in between.
In other words , Shut up and play. Have a good business plan, but in this case, SHUT UP, and play.
THAT is sustainability.
" all you've got to do is play your ass off'"
Art Blakey
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