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Messages - Avi

#1
Quote from: SciFiAuthor on June 21, 2015, 03:36:14 PM
Sad. But I don't like either approach. One teacher wants to get rid of Shakespeare entirely (and apparently focus on minority writers as though white people don't exist) and the counterpoint wants to "modernize" it. The truth is that both are the wrong answer. Leave it alone and if no one understands it, then leave it for higher classes. Part of Shakespeare is the language, when modernized all the puns and plays on words and the iambic pentameter and all that go away. The intent of the story will come through better, but that's only part of the point. It's putting Shakespeare on life support.

In light of that, I think they should simply stop teaching it altogether in high school. We've moved too far past him in time linguistically and even modern productions of his stories use received pronunciation instead of his original accent which means we've misunderstood Shakespeare for the last two hundred years anyway. If you see the rare one using his reconstructed 16th century London accent, everything changes. The whole tone and character becomes something very different and the haughty play people get all pissy because Richard III suddenly sounds like a pirate. But if you want to catch his puns and plays on words, it's the only way.

It's funny, but I hear quite clearly how American accents derived from this template - much more than with later dialects.

Anyhoo, Shakespeare was also a brilliant poet whose sonnets could be studied on that basis alone. Of course, with the triumph of narcissism, we acknowledge no masters. Everything is about tireless self-expression in that meandering, punctuated blank verse of entirely egocentric view - as boring as it is meaningless. There is no striving to attain deeper meaning or broader humanitarian import in the tempests, nae, slings and arrows of life. No sacrifice, no milk of human kindness, no forgiveness. Expression is now, "Look at my bling and my bitches and watch as I smear my poop on a wall. Yeah, baby, that's Art!"
#2
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 21, 2015, 12:02:25 AM
Quote from: pate on June 20, 2015, 05:15:36 AM
You humble me. 

As one of the former prime ministers of my nation once said, "Don't be so humble. You're not that great."
#3
Quote from: Bad Grandma on June 16, 2015, 04:09:40 AM


I think there's a grainy tranny in this photo, too!
#4
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 15, 2015, 11:27:32 PM
Quote from: Mind Flayer Monk on June 15, 2015, 09:15:15 PM
Very beautiful. Luckily both Lemmer (It Is Shabbos) and MacKenzie are in my streaming music service.

It's the rare person interested in both cantillach and cantors.  :o
#5
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 15, 2015, 11:16:03 PM
Quote from: Treading Water on June 15, 2015, 04:58:05 PM
Avi, Avi, Avi....How mournful and moving. So beautiful it hurts.
Wow, just wow.

It's a beautiful song about the Mystery of Oneness  ;). I am glad you liked it.
#6
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 15, 2015, 11:54:01 AM
Quote from: Mind Flayer Monk on June 15, 2015, 05:21:47 AM
That is interesting. An original song of irony (parodying the romantic hero's recognition of self and role);  Miller-Heidke placed the song in a pastoral setting as an intended work of irony-but in reality moving irony back into that which is romance (by elimination of many key ironic lyrics).

Not sure about the guitarist...he started playing "Back in Black" for the last minute.

I believe Back in Black is an ironic reference to another Aussie band. Here is an amazing, irony-free performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mTOk5hhfbs
#7
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 15, 2015, 11:43:15 AM
Quote from: onan on June 15, 2015, 07:52:53 AM
And I just thought it sucked.

I thought it the only appropriate response to Pate's making us revisit the glories of disco. Actually, Kate Miller Heidke is a lovely performer and songwriter from down Jazmunda's way. Here is her song about the night flight from Australia to London:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuWKJTd_MPA
#9
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 15, 2015, 01:25:11 AM
#10
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 11, 2015, 12:52:14 PM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on June 11, 2015, 12:47:01 AM
I actually disagree with this.  If someone is going to teach science, it should only be based on what is generally accepted science and not on pseudo science that people may happen to believe largely because it fits into their religious views.

The democratic 'rights' of the parents should in no way trump their children's right to get a proper education.

Oh, I don't really think this is much of an issue, but then, I am in the process of educating seven children and one Canadian son-in-law. If something is taught with which we disagree, we talk about it. There are only a few, minimal areas in which "religious" issues have any bearing on science matters. I'm sure that curricula are designed to quickly brush over it all, i.e., "Some people believe blah, blah, blah, but in this biology class we will focus on evolution as it is understood scientifically." There are instances in which individual teachers may have dwelt improperly on the subject, or so I've heard, and there may be instances in which curricula have been perverted to base ends, but it doesn't take long for people to light their hair on fire and slug it out (some people enjoy that sort of thing more than the actual issue at hand). I think the problems facing most public schools have more to do with controlling the environment and the behavioral issues so that any learning can take place at all. For the gifted, there are "magnet" schools which feature the sciences or performing arts, etc., and many of the classes offered in these schools award college credits. There's Teach for America (is there a Canadian counterpart?) for those who want to back up their principles with action. My choice has been to remove my children from public schools, not because they might be exposed to some passing pseudo-science, but because of the improper environment that most schools offer.

The democratic rights of people to force others to their way of thinking is problematic, certainly. I happen to be of a highly skeptical nature and I find many pseudo-scientific beliefs comical in the extreme (as anyone knows who has read my writings on this site). However, I also recognize that I don't know everything and that scientific understanding can be hidebound and foolish. It is not a pure pursuit, no more than any other human endeavor. The scientific method is merely a tool, albeit a very good one, for its purpose. Yet, the broad application of the supposed "Findings of Science," is wrong. I'll give you an example.

My people perform the rite of circumcision. In Europe, attempts have been made to ban circumcision on "scientific" grounds, dragging in ridiculous psuedo-scientific psychological arguments that even the highly, horrifically pseudo-scientific Freud would have found baseless (circumcision is not 'holistic,' don'cha know). Although the overwhelming number of Europeans are not even affected by circumcision, and have perfectly free choice to ignore it, they wish to impose their beliefs on a very small minority population. I sincerely doubt that their motive is Science. Of course, we should not forget that there is also "science" which indicates that circumcision is beneficial. So, which is it? Who decides? May I offer you a glass of fluoridated water?

#11
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 11, 2015, 12:02:38 AM
Quote from: albrecht on June 10, 2015, 04:02:15 PM
Why haven't at least universities gone "e" for their books (maybe they have?)

It's not the universities per se that have gone "e," but giant retailers, like Amazon, who decided to grab a cut (leading to eventual dominance) of lucrative textbook sales. Not only do they sell the hardcover versions for less (sometimes pennies on the dollar for 'foreign' printings), but they offer e-versions and rentals in both formats.
#12
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 10, 2015, 11:47:04 PM
Quote from: onan on June 10, 2015, 12:00:58 PM
The fact that it happened makes it true. The fact that pseudo-science was and is being taught does make it effectual. And I get the distinct impression that you are minimizing, perhaps I am wrong.

I don't follow this topic with any amount of consistency, but I do know that the money spent on text books in Texas has a dramatic effect on the publishing of text books in other states due primarily to the number and monies that are spent in Texas.

Minimizing? No, I just realize that there are people in the world with whom I disagree, who have equal rights to seek to impose their views through the political system (which weirdly governs the educational system in the USA). I also know that I am the parent of my numerous children, and their learning is up to me. I cannot expect the public schools to accommodate our peculiarities, so my children attend private schools, suitable to our beliefs and backgrounds. The public schools attempt to make everyone happy and only succeed in making no one happy, and you are the first person I have ever heard describe them as "effectual."  ;D

It may be true that Texas has an inordinate influence on textbook publishing due to the size of the market, but that is to be expected. I have never read one of these textbooks, so I cannot judge its quality or lack thereof. For my area of expertise, public schools are actually very good. You would be surprised how effectual that hour of practice every school day is for future musicians, even more if they attend band practice or orchestra or choir.
#13
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 10, 2015, 11:49:35 AM
Quote from: onan on June 10, 2015, 02:35:56 AM
Really? Text books + Texas.

Yes, even textbooks + Texas. Apparently, there was some conservative Christian company, headed by some people named Gamble (?), who had undue influence over the textbook selection in Texas. Of course, once Texas Monthly and the Austin Chronicle ran articles on the way in which this was handled, the process was aired out, with the creation of all due outrage (a large part of the fun, after all), and it came to an inglorious end.

That isn't to say that various constituencies do not want to seize upon textbook selection for their pet agendas in all states. Of course they do, whether it is stories about Ron and Steve and their new friend in the neighborhood, Caitlynn, or creationism or _________(fill in your own pet issue that would surely benefit all of our children). I know that various Christian constituencies have wanted to give creationism equal time with evolution in biology classes and/or re-institute school prayer or cancel sex education, but that has happened all over the country, and has not produced the expected pay-off.
#14
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 10, 2015, 01:07:06 AM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on June 09, 2015, 12:53:03 PM
The show had nothing to do with university but was about the, according to them, increasing degree to which the public is listening to pseudo-science or falling for dishonest attacks on science.  Given that, as far as I know, nonsense like astrology has always maintained roughly the same far too high level of popularity, I'm not sure that I agree with that.

From the Canadian perspective however, the show was about the Harper government's attack on science and scientists which is both real and a problem.

Yes, I wished to broaden the topic a bit because I can't speak to Harper's War on Science. Nonetheless, various groups/individuals are always accused of conducting a war on science that is a) largely ineffectual or b) not true. Subjects that are politicized tend to take on a level of black hole density from which no light is emitted. But since we're on the topic, pseudo-science is much of the meat-and-potatoes of Art Bell's programs, past, present and future. You must know that you are on a site where the preponderance of the participants have an interest in these subjects, yes? I realize that Art also featured astronomers, such as Michio Kaku, but Kaku simply can't compete with the likes of Ghost to Ghost, Madman Markham or Malachi Martin, et al. I don't happen to think it is because people are gullible and credulous, but rather, that people are attracted by a good story (or a good story-teller) - which may be true on other levels, like all good fiction. BTW, I'm a Leo with a Cancer rising (yes, that's a joke, all you serious, literal folk). 
#15
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 09, 2015, 12:39:25 PM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on June 09, 2015, 12:32:11 AM
Hoser I believe originated from the Bob and Doug McKenzie on SCTV.  I actually haven't heard anybody from Canada or outside of Canada use that term in years.

I did find the aboot bit funny,  though the only person I've heard who actually said it was that guest on Coast a couple weeks ago who came from the Appalachians.... Yes, that's why Americans use it when referring to Canadians. Thanks to Bob and Doug, that's what Americans find quintessentially Canadian. As it happens (a program to which I have spent many hours listening), I say "aboot," because it is part of my native dialect of English. I will be charging royalties for any future infringement in light of what you say.

The rest of us drink water or iced tea....The American influence, no doubt.

In general, I can assure you I'm Easy....And how did you feel about your mother? Hmm?

Don't care for the film though.  If you want a genuinely hate filled person, I'd suggest Robert Altman...Robert Altman, the director? Why was he hate-filled? Sorry, I don't know anything about him. I read the Wikipedia article, because it was, uh, easy, but it does not mention hate-filled episodes. Unless you have a different Robert Altman in mind?

As for the actual topic of the thread, I don't believe science is under siege. I think people like to increase their sense of self-importance and value by claiming to be under attack. Run for cover, boys! The creationists are out in force! Of course, many people believe in "science" as an ideology with very little grasp of what "science" can and cannot tell us, and with little grasp of how it works and or how it is funded (the bugaboo of all glorious revolutions). At my university (and all I have ever visited, save strictly liberal arts institutions), the sciences make up the largest departments with the largest funding and pay their professors the highest salaries. Government grants in STEM fields often fully service the ride of the grad students working on them (my wife's doctorate was paid for by this method - she worked on a government grant dealing with fracture mechanics in return for tuition, books and a stipend - sweet!). I do realize that there are nut-balls in the world, but they seem to be having little effect and their attempt to influence public school boards in the USA has largely gone down to defeat. I think one of the biggest problems facing "science," especially in the educational sense, is damn shitty instruction - the emphasis, after all, is on bringing in grants, not on teaching. I could go on, but I must go to work, so I have to cut myself off here.
#16
Random Topics / Re: Things that bring me joy....
June 09, 2015, 11:55:15 AM
Quote from: Camazotz Automat on June 09, 2015, 06:22:56 AM
Currently, I have no "Q word that ends in S" in the house, so I'd appreciate you not even saying that word. It hurts. Thank you.

Let there be a quietus on, well, you know what.
#17
Random Topics / Re: Things that bring me joy....
June 09, 2015, 12:27:20 AM
Quote from: Camazotz Automat on June 08, 2015, 07:07:04 PM


Well, whatever it takes to keep your mind off the q-tips. I see some trouble with the rather contradictory directions to "Keep Frozen, Cook Thoroughly," though.
#18
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 09, 2015, 12:22:27 AM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on June 08, 2015, 11:55:17 PM
I can assure you FTF's attempt at humor did not annoy me in any way because I'm a Canadian or because I take my pronouncements so seriously I don't want them to be made fun of.  It 'annoyed' me because, as I had thoroughly explained that it was from a Canadian perspective, the joke made no sense.

As to Molson's, I don't drink that or any other beer.

Oy, gevalt, laddie. It's why when people hear me speak, no matter what I say or upon which subject I am so winsomely opining, they make jokes about men in kilts. When Canadians speak or write, there is an obligatory 'aboot.' I'm only surprised he didn't mention 'hoser,' although the precise definition of hoser is perhaps something upon which you could enlighten us.

A Canadian who doesn't drink beer? Wow. What do all 3 of you do during the hockey games?
#19
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 08, 2015, 12:38:32 PM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on June 07, 2015, 11:09:18 PM
I realized he was in part making a joke, but I don't agree that his comment was entirely tongue in cheek.  I personally think he was genuinely pissed about the program being Canadian based.  Even if I'm wrong about that, given that I said from the outset that the show was largely focused on Canada, his joke was misplaced.

Are you sure you're Canadian? If so, you seem to be suffering from a cultur-o-linguistical misinterpretation and a surplus of anger rare to your species, though I've heard that Canadians are supposedly tastier. Even my son-in-law gets over himself rather quickly (Newfie intervention is a rare necessity, thankfully) and, even better, he doesn't take himself and his pronouncements so seriously that he can't even laugh (otherwise he would not be married to my daughter, you understand). There was absolutely nothing in FtF's one-liner that expressed "genuine piss" - only taking the piss. He was teasing you, dude. Have a Molson's on me (somebody has to drink that awful stuff - a joke, a joke! Hold your fire).
#20
Politics / Re: Science under siege
June 07, 2015, 05:46:44 PM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on June 05, 2015, 01:33:49 PM
Being Canadian, I would apologize to you for this. But, seriously, what part of "it's mostly from a Canadian perspective" went over your brilliant American head?

The first 15-20 minutes of the first episode are entirely Canadian and I don't think they discuss the situation in the U.S at all, but some of the show is more generic including their theories as to why scientists have so much trouble communicating with the general public (their discussions are far too technical which is necessary given how advanced science is) and an examination of the history of science and public reaction to it.

My biggest complaint is that it's somewhat repetitive and probably should either have been cut to one episode or more topics should have been brought up.

Dearest Canadian,

I hate to break this to you, but FightTheFuture's comment was entirely tongue-in-cheek. The give-away was the obligatory "aboot." Yes, he was just joking. Did I tell you I have a new-ish Canadian son-in-law? Once, as we were walking to a restaurant inside one of those massive, stuccoed, multi-use strip-center affairs, my son-in-law chanced to step into a pharmacy drive-through lane. At that very moment, an Ancient Mariner, in coke bottle glasses and with hearing aids on both ears, was re-living a moment of youthful Roadster-glory, and tore up the lane like a bat outta hell (sorry, I seem to be stuck on Meatloaf this week). Now, a Canadian in high dudgeon is most entertaining to the average American, especially when playing the school-marm. My son-in-law proceeded to inform the old duffer that his behavior was simply "not proper (you have to be Canadian to say "proper," properly)!" He then attempted to enlist by-standers to agree with his Proclamation of Universal Pedestrian Rights! Naturally, this prompted the Americans to respond with, "Go, Grampy, go Grampy, go Grampy, go!" I thought that this truly was the time my son-in-law would implode, but lo, another Canadian, albeit a Newfie, was present in the crowd and began to opine that drivers' licences were a privilege that ought rightfully to be revoked at a certain point in life, and here was a clear example. Clearly, Newfies are good for something! And, oh yes, I find Americans equally entertaining, so I married one.

A Friendly Foreigner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez-znJzqLsc
#21
Random Topics / Re: First World Problems
June 03, 2015, 11:25:36 PM
Quote from: BobGrau on June 03, 2015, 06:21:43 PM
I wish that I was black, homosexual and disabled, so I could be allowed full access to the dictionary.

Well, two out of three ain't bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5hWWe-ts2s
#22
Quote from: Unscreened Caller on June 01, 2015, 05:20:13 PM
Well, I'll be listening in since it'll air around 5 here. It's ironic, but Ashokan Farewell, the piece that everyone remembers from Ken Burns Civil War series is actually a modern fiddle piece by Jay Ungar that he calls a piece in the style of a Scottish lament written by a Jewish guy from the Bronx.

Jay used to offer classes at a Fiddle Camp in the summer, and he wrote this song as a "farewell" at the end of the class. I used to marvel at how his fat, little fingers could produce such precise sounds.

http://ashokan.org/
#23
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 01, 2015, 12:07:37 PM
Quote from: PathoJen on June 01, 2015, 11:58:28 AM
Everyone know the weird story of Jeff Buckleys untimely death? Pretty weird. He was a huge talent.

No, what was weird about it? Was he 27, the age of rock star doom, according to Gary Patterson?
#24
Random Topics / Re: Music
June 01, 2015, 11:44:39 AM
Quote from: Yorkshire pud on May 31, 2015, 12:56:56 PM
And; if you don't like this, you don't like music..

This was composed to be played with the orchestra split into three by Vaughan Williams.. The BBC Concert orchestra reproduced it in this documentary and video.. It is quintessentially English..Beautiful. It will be played at my funeral.

I thought you were going for Devil in a Blue Dress? It does contain the quintessentially English 'Fee-Fie-Foe-Fum.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WXhbixla0c
#25
Archive of Old Threads / Re: What's in an avatar?
June 01, 2015, 11:32:44 AM
Quote from: nbirnes on May 22, 2015, 10:53:13 PM
This is a very old thread that I just found because I was interested in people's avatars and the thinking that goes into them. So, I'm asking two things in this thread:

1. what's the story behind your avatar and username, and are you telling mostly the truth?

2. Can you believe this Avi? I have two versions of Messiah -- good vinyl and newer Apple store item. I love this piece so much ... I will have to see which one you're in.

So, now that this thread already exists, it would be so helpful to all the new folks coming in. Maybe MV will start the ball rolling?

1. I always tell mostly the truth  ;D! But yes, this did happen as described. The producers of the event attacked me with a "Whiter Shade of Pale," so to speak, before they put our photos in the program.

2. My Messiah performance was a local production, not recorded for posterity. Indeed, I took the part as a dare, given to me by my students, that I could not perform convincingly in a role with which I profoundly disagreed. That said, I do think Handel really conveys the spirit of the voice in a way that his contemporary, Bach, could never attain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdNHvvQhHgk

I don't look like any of these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA
#26
Politics / Re: Politics
May 05, 2015, 12:21:41 PM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on April 29, 2015, 03:20:09 PM
I got 11 out of 12 and I'm Canadian.

Gentle Canadian, my rather unpalatable point was that, regardless of one's knowledge of basic information (or lack thereof), one tends to be blind-sided by one's own bullshit. Even if one learns the proposed route of the Keystone pipeline, or to recognize the photos of various political necromancers, one has already assigned the information to the approved ideological/philosophical category. Facts, no matter how basic they may seem, do not make any discernible difference, nor is their interpretation amenable to reason. Rare is the person who can admit when he or she doesn't know enough to comment. People seem to believe that their over-arching ideology explains, well, everything and is righteously applied to all questions, whether they know anything about the subject or not.

Of course, the Israeli scored 13 of 13, and that's why you're just going to have to put a sock in it and pay your kosher tax  ::).
#27
Politics / Re: Politics
April 29, 2015, 11:32:28 AM
Quote from: 136 or 142 on April 28, 2015, 08:05:29 PM
How Well Do You Know the News?

April 28, 2015By Taegan Goddard27 Comments
Pew Research has a 12 question news quiz which compares your answers to those of the general public. Questions about politics proved particularly challenging.

The Fix: “The takeaway from all of this? Assuming â€" as lots and lots of people who either live in D.C. or follow politics closely do â€" that the average person is a deeply-informed consumer of political news is not even close to right. For most people, politics is something that almost never intersects with their daily lives and which they spend zero mind space on day in and day out.”

http://www.pewresearch.org/quiz/the-news-iq-quiz/

Yes, well, many studies show that the media and online experience is a self-referential circle. People simply watch/read what they already agree with and even, especially in Western culture, cut off 'friendships' with those whom they disagree. It's not a system which promotes growth in thinking or change. People may evaluate themselves as deeply informed, but again, this is true only in circular terms. The response of most to being told they are wrong is not, "Indeed? Show me," but "You're a dick!" There is a great deal of contempt heaped upon those outside the circle, because within, bias is accepted and reinforced.
#28
Quote from: pate on April 29, 2015, 05:14:48 AM
I am struggling through somesuck:  ""Power, Faith and Fantasy:  America in the Middle East 1776 to present"

Can anyone suggest some historical fiction?

The Journeyer by Gary Jennings

Or were you looking to leave the East?
#29
I don't like ereaders simply because the formatting is so crappy, it breaks the flow of reading. You just can't enter into alternate universes the way you can with a real book, nor can you easily loan or give your book to an appreciative friend. It's useless to keep reference material on an ereader, because most texts do not feature interactive tables of contents. To use the "go to" function on the ereader means you know exactly where you want to go already. Over-hyped.
#30
Random Topics / Re: Explosions at Boston Marathon
April 26, 2015, 10:20:10 PM
Quote from: Eddie Coyle on April 23, 2015, 11:51:50 AM
    How the daughter of Bonesman ends up marrying an unemployed Chechen boxer/jihadist can only be answered by one thing: Reptilians playing with their global chess board.

     There's a local boxer whose claim to fame is that he flattened Tamerlan in less than 40 seconds during one of the Chechen Speed Bump's "semi-pro" matches circa 2009.

I hear the false flags flapping in the breeze.
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