Thursday, April 20, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
I Love Hamlet
I really do love Hamlet. I think it is one of the best plays ever written. I am currently in the process of watching Kenneth Branaugh's 1996 film version. I think that it is important to tell you that I am watching it as it is a freaking mammoth of a film at over 4 hours. While I like the movie, I must note that Hamlet, and most Shakespeare, for that matter, is almost never performed in it's entirety for a reason. It's too long. Many Shakespearean scholars explain this away with the patience level of Elizabethan audiences, and the fact that the theatre was a completely different experience back then. Supposedly, the actors spoke faster and the audience was able to mill around and come multiple times. Further, the audience expected to stay for awhile and make an afternoon of it. My personal theory is that the plays weren't actually performed in their entirety, even back then. It is well known that audience members would react with the players, and even sit on the stage and throw things at the villans. I don't care how fast you are speaking this is going to make it even more difficult to get through a play and therefore a four hour play that with fast talking actors might be 3 and a half is going to be 5 or six hours long with the groundlings throwing mutton at you.
For this reason I say to Mr. Branaugh. I appreciate your dedication to the Bard and that you wanted to be bold and make a full-text version of this masterpiece. But, not even diamond-sitters in 1600 London could handle speaches that take ten minutes to say that which could be said in one. I love the imagery as much as anyone, but we get the drift, man.
For this reason I say to Mr. Branaugh. I appreciate your dedication to the Bard and that you wanted to be bold and make a full-text version of this masterpiece. But, not even diamond-sitters in 1600 London could handle speaches that take ten minutes to say that which could be said in one. I love the imagery as much as anyone, but we get the drift, man.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Jr. High Was Tough
Sticking with the theme of violent aggression I want to tell a couple of stories.
The Kickball Incident
When I was a kid my brothers and I would hold a lot of kickball games at our house. We had a big back yard, but for some reason we played kick ball in our front yard. I guess because that way we could kick the ball down the street instead of over fences. I normally would have preferred baseball, but it took more athleticism of which many in my neighborhood had little.
So, one day some people were in my front yard playing kickball. At least I assume that there were other peole there. For some reason I only remember this guy Nick from down the street and no one else being there. I don't know why it would just be the two of us unless we weren't playing kickball, like I think. Anyway, somehow Nicka and I get into an arguement. As you could imagine the fight resorted to name calling and onward to insulting my mom. I never really cared that much about stuff like that but I guess I was being particularly sensative this day. And he wasn't just saying things like "Your momma is so..." to be funny, he was actually being offensive. After telling him to stop a number of times and advancing on him threatening his safety he would not stop the taunting and so I hit him in the face. At this he fell to the ground and started crying. I immediately felt horrible. I had never hurt anyone so deliberatly before and suddenly I felt like I had just entered into a new stage in life where I was to be held responsible for my stregth and use of force. I felt a huge sense of power and knew right away that one could either abuse or control this power. I decided that I had done the wrong thing. On top of this I had been told all my life not to hid a guy with glasses and this guy had glasses. I helped him up and handed him his glasses. I reminded him that he had been warned but I appologized. I wasn't exactly the fighting type. Nick went home and I don't remember ever hanging out with him again. That is the only time I've ever hit a guy in the face.
The Football Incident
It's no wonder to me that both of these stories take place surrounding sports competitions. Not only can competition arouse anger and selfishness, it is physical and it is naturally penciant upon solving problems physically.
This story takes place when I was in 7th grade. I played football for my Jr. High and was on the B team. This means that I wasn't as good as the kids on the A team, but I was a starter for our team, so I wasn't horrible, either. That was the story of my sports career. Always quite middle of the road. While I wasn't a bad player and there were infact many good players on the team (we came in first place while the A team came in 4th) there was still an air of prestige associated with being on the A team. Being popular in jr. high was way too important and being on the A team was important to being popular. Those who were on the A team, even if they were the nicest guy in the world the year before, had a huge chip on their shoulder. They were inherently better and more important than the B. (The next year we switched to Orange and White with the idea that both teams were equal, but in practice the coaches cheated a little and it wasn't quite equal.)
When we practiced both teams wore plain white football jerseys and if you lost yours you had to wear a large white t-shirt. Not surprisingly I lost mine, but had no clue where it was. I was possitive that it had actually been stolen. My jersey had a tag on it that hung down from one corner and I was sure I would recognize it if I saw. Sure enough one day I noticed that Chris, who was on the A team was wearing a jersey with the tag hanging down in the corner. I'd known Chris since 4th grade where we were on the same Pee-Wee football team for two years in a row. I knew Chris had a major temper. In fact, later on he was convicted of murder, cutting short the high school football career of a very talented athelete.
I was never one to bow to pressure or be cowered by bigger kids. That's usually how I got into trouble, in fact. So I approached Chris, determined to get my jersey back. I first told him that I knew that he had my shirt and demanded it back. He denied taking my jersey and so I tried taking it. Chris was stronger than I even imagined him being. Before I knew it I had pushed him back to try and get the shirt and he decked me in jaw. I jumped back, stunned. Chris was bobbing up and down, fist up, in typical boxing stance.
"That's right, I hit you. Come on! You want some more?"
I couldn't believe he had hit me in the face. It was a really good hit, too. Solid, with perfect form and accuracy. I imagine that it looked like every round house punch that you see in the movies. Except I didn't fight back. I wasn't crying or yelling or anything. I just stood there and stared. I couldn't believe I'd just been hit! I asked him, "Why'd you hit me?"
"You pushed me, and I don't take that!" he told me.
That's right! I had pushed him. I didn't mean to push him, but I did. I don't remember if I said anything after that but I made a deliberate decision. I wouldn't try to continue this fight I turned my back on Chris. I was scared to death that he would pounce on me from behind and really beat me up, but I decided that I wanted to make sure he knew that I didn't respect him. When I reached the exit door, my old friend Joel was standing there picking up towels. I told him what happened and without any further prodding, I began to cry. Not out of pain, or even embarassment. I still am not quite sure why I cried but I want to think it was because of a realization that people were mean and I was going to have to deal with people just like this the rest of my life. At this point I was still quite sure that Chris had stolen my jersey. He may have even said something to the effect that even if it was my jersey I wasn't getting back. So far, I've been right. I know how to deal with people like this a little better now, but they're still around. Mean people. I remember seeing about 4 or 5 jerseys like the one I thought Chris had stolen from me over the next week and I felt like a jerk. I think I might have even tried to appologize to Chris. Who knows if Chris remembers this as he's sitting in his prison cell today.
I'm often curious about who might think of me and the good and bad experiences. Who did I hurt? Who is sorry they hurt me? Does anyone remember hurting me and are glad they did it? Or, who did I hurt in my life and thinks of me and what they would say to me if they had the chance?
The Kickball Incident
When I was a kid my brothers and I would hold a lot of kickball games at our house. We had a big back yard, but for some reason we played kick ball in our front yard. I guess because that way we could kick the ball down the street instead of over fences. I normally would have preferred baseball, but it took more athleticism of which many in my neighborhood had little.
So, one day some people were in my front yard playing kickball. At least I assume that there were other peole there. For some reason I only remember this guy Nick from down the street and no one else being there. I don't know why it would just be the two of us unless we weren't playing kickball, like I think. Anyway, somehow Nicka and I get into an arguement. As you could imagine the fight resorted to name calling and onward to insulting my mom. I never really cared that much about stuff like that but I guess I was being particularly sensative this day. And he wasn't just saying things like "Your momma is so..." to be funny, he was actually being offensive. After telling him to stop a number of times and advancing on him threatening his safety he would not stop the taunting and so I hit him in the face. At this he fell to the ground and started crying. I immediately felt horrible. I had never hurt anyone so deliberatly before and suddenly I felt like I had just entered into a new stage in life where I was to be held responsible for my stregth and use of force. I felt a huge sense of power and knew right away that one could either abuse or control this power. I decided that I had done the wrong thing. On top of this I had been told all my life not to hid a guy with glasses and this guy had glasses. I helped him up and handed him his glasses. I reminded him that he had been warned but I appologized. I wasn't exactly the fighting type. Nick went home and I don't remember ever hanging out with him again. That is the only time I've ever hit a guy in the face.
The Football Incident
It's no wonder to me that both of these stories take place surrounding sports competitions. Not only can competition arouse anger and selfishness, it is physical and it is naturally penciant upon solving problems physically.
This story takes place when I was in 7th grade. I played football for my Jr. High and was on the B team. This means that I wasn't as good as the kids on the A team, but I was a starter for our team, so I wasn't horrible, either. That was the story of my sports career. Always quite middle of the road. While I wasn't a bad player and there were infact many good players on the team (we came in first place while the A team came in 4th) there was still an air of prestige associated with being on the A team. Being popular in jr. high was way too important and being on the A team was important to being popular. Those who were on the A team, even if they were the nicest guy in the world the year before, had a huge chip on their shoulder. They were inherently better and more important than the B. (The next year we switched to Orange and White with the idea that both teams were equal, but in practice the coaches cheated a little and it wasn't quite equal.)
When we practiced both teams wore plain white football jerseys and if you lost yours you had to wear a large white t-shirt. Not surprisingly I lost mine, but had no clue where it was. I was possitive that it had actually been stolen. My jersey had a tag on it that hung down from one corner and I was sure I would recognize it if I saw. Sure enough one day I noticed that Chris, who was on the A team was wearing a jersey with the tag hanging down in the corner. I'd known Chris since 4th grade where we were on the same Pee-Wee football team for two years in a row. I knew Chris had a major temper. In fact, later on he was convicted of murder, cutting short the high school football career of a very talented athelete.
I was never one to bow to pressure or be cowered by bigger kids. That's usually how I got into trouble, in fact. So I approached Chris, determined to get my jersey back. I first told him that I knew that he had my shirt and demanded it back. He denied taking my jersey and so I tried taking it. Chris was stronger than I even imagined him being. Before I knew it I had pushed him back to try and get the shirt and he decked me in jaw. I jumped back, stunned. Chris was bobbing up and down, fist up, in typical boxing stance.
"That's right, I hit you. Come on! You want some more?"
I couldn't believe he had hit me in the face. It was a really good hit, too. Solid, with perfect form and accuracy. I imagine that it looked like every round house punch that you see in the movies. Except I didn't fight back. I wasn't crying or yelling or anything. I just stood there and stared. I couldn't believe I'd just been hit! I asked him, "Why'd you hit me?"
"You pushed me, and I don't take that!" he told me.
That's right! I had pushed him. I didn't mean to push him, but I did. I don't remember if I said anything after that but I made a deliberate decision. I wouldn't try to continue this fight I turned my back on Chris. I was scared to death that he would pounce on me from behind and really beat me up, but I decided that I wanted to make sure he knew that I didn't respect him. When I reached the exit door, my old friend Joel was standing there picking up towels. I told him what happened and without any further prodding, I began to cry. Not out of pain, or even embarassment. I still am not quite sure why I cried but I want to think it was because of a realization that people were mean and I was going to have to deal with people just like this the rest of my life. At this point I was still quite sure that Chris had stolen my jersey. He may have even said something to the effect that even if it was my jersey I wasn't getting back. So far, I've been right. I know how to deal with people like this a little better now, but they're still around. Mean people. I remember seeing about 4 or 5 jerseys like the one I thought Chris had stolen from me over the next week and I felt like a jerk. I think I might have even tried to appologize to Chris. Who knows if Chris remembers this as he's sitting in his prison cell today.
I'm often curious about who might think of me and the good and bad experiences. Who did I hurt? Who is sorry they hurt me? Does anyone remember hurting me and are glad they did it? Or, who did I hurt in my life and thinks of me and what they would say to me if they had the chance?
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
When Do I Punch a Guy?
Lately I've been contemplating this question. Some instances where I've been met with this delima:
1. Guy hitting on my wife.
I'll be the first to admit that my wife is gorgeous on a completely different level of good-looking than I am. I don't have a self-esteem problem, but lets face the truth, I'm not gracing the cover of any magazines for Men's Health. Not just yet, anyway. Somehow, though, my charm won out.
This causes a problem, however, when you are out together. I have, since Amanda and I've been married, diverted more than a few gentlemen's intentions elsewhere, either by, again, my charm, or in one instance, a verbal...I wouldn't say threat, but more like harsh words. It is my nature to not be offended or jealous, because essentially these guys are saying,"your wife is hot." I agree, but can't these idiots see they are making her uncomfortable? So, when do I punch a guy? I've never felt like it got that far, because I usually buddy up with the guy and make Amanda and my relationship obvious. The guy either goes away or warms up to me. One time I did physically push a guy back, but it was in a somewhat friendly manner if it's possible, and he backed off.
But, when, if ever, does the guy deserve to be decked?
2. Guy is a racist/bigot and offending you on many levels
Occasionally, I get roped into a situation where I am engaged in conversation with someone who is intolerant of other races and or types of people. I'm not just talking about the occasional white guy saying to another white guy that he does, in fact, get nervous when he's in an all-black neighborhood at night, or that he hates rap music, or those who might subconsciously quip that blacks are "looting" while whites are "surviving." To me these things are subconscious and need to be dealt with, but I don't want to punch those people. I want to punch the people who said these things to me: "My daughter can't wait to move to [insert white-flight community here] where it's all white people" "What was wrong with the Nazis?" "Black's skulls are thicker and therefore have smaller brains." "Now, I don't think that we should go back to slavery, but..." Oh, aren't you benevolent!
The guy who commented on the brains of blacks haunted me for a long time. He was a nice looking older man that I struck up a conversation with in an airport one time while waiting for a flight. I can't remember how the conversation steered toward race, but this guy scared me. He said he was a college professor in upstate New York and knew all of these facts about blacks because of scientific evidence. I kept coming back to all the really intelligent black people that I know and he would find a way to refute it. I eventually just got disgusted and walked away.
The guy who mentioned his daughter also offended me, personally, when he told of an instance in New York when he was arrested for killing a wild deer. (To be fair the deer was already dying because of an accidental car encounter, he claims.) He claimed that he couldn't stand "liberal c**ks**kers" that lived up there. I just laughed at that, but his daughter's comment stuck with me. As an educator who deals with igorant students on a daily basis (note the "Nazi" statement), who break everything down into "white people do this, and Mexicans are this way" mentality I really wanted to punch the guy. Or, at least, strike up a debate. Based on the way that all of this guy's stories ended with "...then I beat his ass!" I assumed that he wouldn't really be up for a scholarly debate and it would soon resort to the physical.
I decided with both instances that the best thing to do is to not punch the person in question but deal with the situation diplomatically. I have more success with that anyway.
I decided that the guys hitting on my wife need to be punched out of principle, but was never really angry enough and it wouldn't do any good, anyway. As far as the bigots/racists/idiots of the world, they like to fight and use their fists instead of their brains and that's what makes them a good candidate for an interview with my fist to begin with. Violence perpetuates violence and an eye for an eye just leaves a room full of blind men.
Or at least men with black eyes.
1. Guy hitting on my wife.
I'll be the first to admit that my wife is gorgeous on a completely different level of good-looking than I am. I don't have a self-esteem problem, but lets face the truth, I'm not gracing the cover of any magazines for Men's Health. Not just yet, anyway. Somehow, though, my charm won out.
This causes a problem, however, when you are out together. I have, since Amanda and I've been married, diverted more than a few gentlemen's intentions elsewhere, either by, again, my charm, or in one instance, a verbal...I wouldn't say threat, but more like harsh words. It is my nature to not be offended or jealous, because essentially these guys are saying,"your wife is hot." I agree, but can't these idiots see they are making her uncomfortable? So, when do I punch a guy? I've never felt like it got that far, because I usually buddy up with the guy and make Amanda and my relationship obvious. The guy either goes away or warms up to me. One time I did physically push a guy back, but it was in a somewhat friendly manner if it's possible, and he backed off.
But, when, if ever, does the guy deserve to be decked?
2. Guy is a racist/bigot and offending you on many levels
Occasionally, I get roped into a situation where I am engaged in conversation with someone who is intolerant of other races and or types of people. I'm not just talking about the occasional white guy saying to another white guy that he does, in fact, get nervous when he's in an all-black neighborhood at night, or that he hates rap music, or those who might subconsciously quip that blacks are "looting" while whites are "surviving." To me these things are subconscious and need to be dealt with, but I don't want to punch those people. I want to punch the people who said these things to me: "My daughter can't wait to move to [insert white-flight community here] where it's all white people" "What was wrong with the Nazis?" "Black's skulls are thicker and therefore have smaller brains." "Now, I don't think that we should go back to slavery, but..." Oh, aren't you benevolent!
The guy who commented on the brains of blacks haunted me for a long time. He was a nice looking older man that I struck up a conversation with in an airport one time while waiting for a flight. I can't remember how the conversation steered toward race, but this guy scared me. He said he was a college professor in upstate New York and knew all of these facts about blacks because of scientific evidence. I kept coming back to all the really intelligent black people that I know and he would find a way to refute it. I eventually just got disgusted and walked away.
The guy who mentioned his daughter also offended me, personally, when he told of an instance in New York when he was arrested for killing a wild deer. (To be fair the deer was already dying because of an accidental car encounter, he claims.) He claimed that he couldn't stand "liberal c**ks**kers" that lived up there. I just laughed at that, but his daughter's comment stuck with me. As an educator who deals with igorant students on a daily basis (note the "Nazi" statement), who break everything down into "white people do this, and Mexicans are this way" mentality I really wanted to punch the guy. Or, at least, strike up a debate. Based on the way that all of this guy's stories ended with "...then I beat his ass!" I assumed that he wouldn't really be up for a scholarly debate and it would soon resort to the physical.
I decided with both instances that the best thing to do is to not punch the person in question but deal with the situation diplomatically. I have more success with that anyway.
I decided that the guys hitting on my wife need to be punched out of principle, but was never really angry enough and it wouldn't do any good, anyway. As far as the bigots/racists/idiots of the world, they like to fight and use their fists instead of their brains and that's what makes them a good candidate for an interview with my fist to begin with. Violence perpetuates violence and an eye for an eye just leaves a room full of blind men.
Or at least men with black eyes.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Sordid Lives is Over
It's been memorable and a great run, everybody. Thanks to all who attended and all who participated.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Martins across the U.S.
This is very interesting. This map shows how any particular surname is distributed throughout the country between 1850 and 1990. I found this site courtesy of David Smith. It doesn't surprise me that Martins were very prevailent in Alabama in the mid 19th Century, but it surprises me, somewhat that we were big in New Mexico. Of course, pretty soon we moved out of the state completely. As you can see as the years progress Martins moved west and by the end of the 20th century we've pretty much taken over the country. You can call me Supreme Emperor Martin, now.
My Evaluation
Yesterday I was evaluated. To say that it went well would be a little bit presumptuous since I didn't feel like it went well, but then again, my previous evaluations have always been done in my best behaved classes. Unfortunately, this year all three of my theatre 1 classes have a penchant for mischief. I didn't want him to come evaluate my tech classes since I don't really teach them lessons, per se. We pretty much just do stuff in there. So, while I can't claim to have had a "great" evaluation, I think things went fairly well with all things considered. Plus, I've always been surprised at the understanding and flexability of our administration. As my evaluator was leaving he told me that I did a good job and that things went well, but of course he could have just been b.s.ing me until the official time of horse-whipping. But, I actually think it went alright. I just wish that some kids didn't feel it necessary to act worse when an evaluator is there. Just bad enough to get on my nerves without actually doing anything to get in trouble for. The truth is I might have dealt with the misbehaving kids quite differently if I wasn't being evaluated.
I'm just glad it's over. I'm tired. Recovering from weeks of doing too much at one time. But, that's my way. I'm like a cheetah. I can run really fast for short distances. I'm working on my long game. This must be why I'm always so much better on the front 9.
I'm just glad it's over. I'm tired. Recovering from weeks of doing too much at one time. But, that's my way. I'm like a cheetah. I can run really fast for short distances. I'm working on my long game. This must be why I'm always so much better on the front 9.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Seven (7) Truths
1. Larry the Cable Guy is not funny
2. A student protest is not effective unless the student are in college and actually have a clue what they are protesting.
3. A UIL OAP show has to be a tightly choreographed unit and cannot rely on the acting chops of the cast in order to advance.
4. Next week I get evaluated and so I have to stop showing my classes movies.
5. My one student, Michael, who walked out on Wednesday, knew what was going on and has my respect because he truly believed in what he was walking out for. He, too, was frustrated because no one else seemed to really care.
6. Sordid Lives opens tonight. I think it's good. It took an audience for me to come to that conclusion.
7. I've completely neglected my running and it's time to get serious.
2. A student protest is not effective unless the student are in college and actually have a clue what they are protesting.
3. A UIL OAP show has to be a tightly choreographed unit and cannot rely on the acting chops of the cast in order to advance.
4. Next week I get evaluated and so I have to stop showing my classes movies.
5. My one student, Michael, who walked out on Wednesday, knew what was going on and has my respect because he truly believed in what he was walking out for. He, too, was frustrated because no one else seemed to really care.
6. Sordid Lives opens tonight. I think it's good. It took an audience for me to come to that conclusion.
7. I've completely neglected my running and it's time to get serious.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The students at the school I teach at are all buzzing about the student walkout protesting the immigration bill that passed in Congress last fall. The funny thing is that the walkout has been going on for three days now and they are only now starting to catch wind of it.
Now I'm all for civil disobedience and peaceful protest, but I'm really discouraged at how little these students really know about what they're actually protesting. When I asked what the bill was about most of them weren't sure and some had only rumor to report.
In fact, if you don't know, the bill will make it easier for illeagal immigrants to be sent back to Mexico, expanding the powers of state and local police in handling the issue.
The students here only think that the bill will allow police to raid the homes of illegal aliens in the night and send them packing without notice to Mexico. I don't pretend to know all the details, but the ways that the students expound ridiculous rumors as being excuses for civil unrest. There was a fight this morning in the commons. All in the name of protest over this bill.
I guess we will see if it's all been talk or if they are actually going to walk.
Now I'm all for civil disobedience and peaceful protest, but I'm really discouraged at how little these students really know about what they're actually protesting. When I asked what the bill was about most of them weren't sure and some had only rumor to report.
In fact, if you don't know, the bill will make it easier for illeagal immigrants to be sent back to Mexico, expanding the powers of state and local police in handling the issue.
The students here only think that the bill will allow police to raid the homes of illegal aliens in the night and send them packing without notice to Mexico. I don't pretend to know all the details, but the ways that the students expound ridiculous rumors as being excuses for civil unrest. There was a fight this morning in the commons. All in the name of protest over this bill.
I guess we will see if it's all been talk or if they are actually going to walk.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Clustr
Go check out my ClustrMap now. It's looking a little better. I'm interested to know who the people are from Russia and Thailand.
There is a permenant link to in the sidebar underneath the counter, so you can always check there in the future. Click on the little map below to view a big map.
There is a permenant link to in the sidebar underneath the counter, so you can always check there in the future. Click on the little map below to view a big map.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
The Show is Almost on the Road or Picnic to the Rescue!
Don't forget about the openning of Sordid Lives. Anyone who can make it please come it is sure to be a wonderful time. Free champagne on openning night, too. It's the cheap stuff and you barely get any, but, still, free.
Well, the UIL OAP of which I ranted earlier had it's competition on Friday. The kids did a great job and the show (Picnic by William Inge) advanced. The contest was Zone, and now we go on to District. When I was in school there was no Zone, only district, but I guess they created zone to allow for...Well, I'm not sure what Zone is all about. They only do it when Districts contain 8 schools or more. This Thursday we will go to Kingwood to perform at the district level. I was very happy for the kids and for Mrs. Parker. I didn't exactly feel that I had much to do with it, since I just built some set pieces and helped organize set and strike. Anyone could have done that. But, nevertheless, I realized that out of 5 years being involved with the UIL competition this is the first time I've been involved with a school that advanced.
Like I said in my previous post I've never directed a show that won or lost, and that stands true, still. But, I have had a hand in 5 different UIL shows.
1995 The Crucible John Hale, Alternate at District
1996 What I Did Last Summer Charlie, Alternate at District
2004 The Eumenides Assistant Director, did not advance
2005 By the Bog of Cats Technical Director/Set Design, Alternate at Zone (Possible conspiracy/cover-up/disqualification, we're not sure)
2006 Picnic Technical Director, Advanced from Zone to District.
Picnic is the only show that advanced from it's first competition. While it feels good and I'm glad we won I still maintain that the whole system needs some revamping to make it more about learning and sharing with other school than about winning. The more I think about it the more I don't think that this will happen seeing as how the problem is just as much with the directors' additudes toward the competion as the system itself. But the UIL could certainly help things by loosening up a bit. There is a rule for everything. Somethings I understand. Capitals (decor that is placed on top of a pylon) cannot extend more than a foot from the edge of the pylon. I understand that this is to set a limit on adding bulky additions that could become cumbersome and possibly hazzardous. But, there are some rules that just don't make sense. All the rules I can think of right now seem to make sense, so I'm not really helping my case, but, trust me. Some of the rules are put in place for simple job of making things difficult and pointless. I was coming up with all kinds of rules that didn't make sense on the bus coming home Friday night, but I can't think of anything, right now.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
The Effects of Old Spice on the Human Condition
I detest the smell of Old Spice. It makes me sick. For years I've worn Old Spice High Endurance Fresh Scent deoderant, but my wife, bless her, accidentally bought the Original Scent awhile back. For about 6 or 7 months time it would sit in my cabinet, only seeing the light if I had run out of the good stuff. The days that I smelled like an old prospector were often wrought with headaches and nausea.
This went on for a while until recently I ran out of deoderant again and had to wear the original scent. I decided that this had gone on too long. I was so sick of my backup being the Old Spice smell that I decided it was time to get rid of this stick of deoderant. But, my OCD kicked in and I became incapable of throwing something away that is bought and paid for and perfectly good (if it's your bag). I decided that I had to use the stick completely up and then, and only then could I really go back to my beloved "Fresh" scent.
I've been thinking of this experiement as a sort of Lent. I'm giving up the smell of a young strapping young man for that of a 75 year old. Don't underestimate the significance of this sacrifice. While under the influence of Old Spice Smell (OSS)I have experience the above mentioned symptoms along with fatigue, confusion, diaharia, sorness, and liver spots. OSS is wrecking havoc on my immune system. Last week I wrote my congressman. I mean, this is getting serious. But I am determined to rid my cabinet of this tumor without resorting to wastefullness.
The mid morning sickness has stopped, but I've been tired and cranky and complain about the post office a lot. I kind of think I can feel my blatter shrinking and my libido is disapearing. I feel like Morgan Spurlock. Damn. I should have cashed in on this experiment.
Almost to 10,000
Let's evaluate our progress, shall we?
This is a cool map showing where each of my nearly 10,000 visitors are located. As I type this I've never actually seen the map, I just copied the HTML code. So, this will be interesting for us both.
Okay, this doesn't tell me anything. I hope it's not counting from here on out. Can someone tell me how to phenagle this thing so that it will count past hits to the site as well? Me gotsta know.
REMINDER!!!! Sordid Lives is just a week away. Please come and support your local artsy fartsy people.
This is a cool map showing where each of my nearly 10,000 visitors are located. As I type this I've never actually seen the map, I just copied the HTML code. So, this will be interesting for us both.
Okay, this doesn't tell me anything. I hope it's not counting from here on out. Can someone tell me how to phenagle this thing so that it will count past hits to the site as well? Me gotsta know.
REMINDER!!!! Sordid Lives is just a week away. Please come and support your local artsy fartsy people.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
One Act Play
...since my last post which was only self promotion anyway. It's also been over a week since I ran. I really don't like just rambling on about nothing, so I have gotten out of the habit of just sitting down to write about my day or my random thoughts which were the original purpose of this blogspace, afterall.
I've just been very busy with a number of things. We are deep into the middle of UIL OAP season among other things in my life. If you don't know what this is, OAP stands for One Act Play. We take a shortened play to a contest where a single judge decides which play he/she thinks is the best and sends it on to the next level of competition. It's like football or any other sport in that you go from District level to Area, Region, and eventually State. Usually, two schools advance from each level. It requires a much less involved set (a unit set that everyone shares, and a limited amount of furniture and decoration) and a shorter play (it must come in under 40 minutes) and yet high school theatre teachers spend more time and energy on UIL OAP than any other show in the year. If you asked them how they felt about the nature of putting art in direct competition with other works of art they would tell you the same thing that actors or directors who are up for Oscars tell the press. "Oh, you can't judge different peices of great art together using the same criteria and say one is better than another." Or something along those lines. But the truth is the directors and actors and theatre teachers are out for blood.
The problem with OAP competion is multileveled. Aside from the inherit problems of competition among things that are not competitive in nature, I believe the OAP competition is harmful to our schools theatre programs and to the perception of he arts being spread to the world. It spreads the notion of competition and sport to areas that they don't belong. I believe competition is healthy, don't get me wrong. But why can't somethings be good and meaningful just for the sake of being?
If you aren't buying the idea that art and theatre shouldn't be made competitive, I completely understand. It's ingrained in our being. We want to pit everything against everything else. It's human nature. Let's spend some time thinking of how this relates to educational theatre, then.
Theatre teachers are, by-and-large, not competitive people. In fact, most of your theatre teachers were, in their youth, the anti-jock. Even when compared with other artistic disciplines theatre attracts the athleticly challenged. Band members, with the attraction of the marching aspect, are often more competitive people. At least in the South, choir kids are often athletes, as well. I think this has to do with church and singing and it being seen as a good, clean pastime. Kind of American. Just a theory. But fine arts like theatre and art often attract a different type of individual. Students who excell in art are often introverted and therefore express themselves better through non-performing means. Generally, your typical theatre student is the kid who didn't find acceptance in the more competitive area of sports and popularity and therefore found theatre as non-judgemental alternative to the other arts or extra-curricular activities. There are always exceptions, myself being one, but this is a generality.
When we force competition on these people they don't really know what to do with it. They know that they want to win, as any warm blooded creature would, and so they devise strategies to win. This is okay in sports, as winning is the goal. A play that stands alone does not have this goal. The goal is convey a message and tell a story in a creative way. These strategies will often be counter to at least one of these goals, most often the creativity. These are some talented people who sacrifice true ingenuity because their reputation, program, and sometimes their jobs are connected to winning. Afterall, we live in the state that judges the worth of a teacher on the TAKS test.
ONe of the main reasons that they involve themselves in theatre in the first place is because they want to be accepted for themselves, warts and all. But, instead these kids get dragged into a show where their teacher becomes an obsessive maniac, their friends are suddenly, driven to win at any cost and this subjective artform is reduced to letters and numbers.
I know that UIL OAP isn't going to go away, and there are many positive aspects of the competition that might make it worthwhile. The kids get to mingle with other school's kids and see their work. At the state level of competition there is the opportunity to gain scholarships. I would propose a new approach to the competition, however. One which focused on the quality and creativity of the show instead of the adherence to a set of prescribed rules.
I have never had the opportunity to direct a one act play, so I don't think that this come from bitterness at having never won. I've never lost either. It is coming from the point of view of outsider, really, having never been all that invested in a particular show. I am a part of a program where the other teacher directs the OAP and I'm usually ready for it to come to an end, to be honest. I hope, if I ever get to direct the play, that I will take a different approach to the contest. My hope is that I will have the sense to realize that, in this case, winning or losing really doesn't matter. If we lose because the play wasn't good enough then we should be disappointed, but because it wasn't our best work. If we, as a theatre troupe performed the play as well as we knew how then what have we to be ashamed or angry about? It was one guy or woman's opinion in most cases that our play wasn't superior to another, and most of the time they are right. Most of the time the play is superior. Maybe our school doesn't have the talent, maybe the director doesn't have the talent, maybe the director attempted something new that just didn't work, or perhaps the judge simply didn't agree with the director as to what makes good theatre. All of these things are possible and valid reasons to give a higher ranking to one play over another if, in fact, we must have a winner. It should not, however pressure the teachers or the students into changing their approach to directing as they already know how.
In summary: The UIL OAP make theatres teachers like a monkey with a laptop. They don't know what to do with competition and so they end up screwing up what they are supposed to be good at. We shouldn't care so much. More focus should be put on the positive aspects of the contest, which are now downplayed.
UPDATE: A typo in the 8th paragraph created a double negative and made it sound like I am bitter about losing. I am not. I've corrected the problem. You probably knew what I meant, anyway.
I've just been very busy with a number of things. We are deep into the middle of UIL OAP season among other things in my life. If you don't know what this is, OAP stands for One Act Play. We take a shortened play to a contest where a single judge decides which play he/she thinks is the best and sends it on to the next level of competition. It's like football or any other sport in that you go from District level to Area, Region, and eventually State. Usually, two schools advance from each level. It requires a much less involved set (a unit set that everyone shares, and a limited amount of furniture and decoration) and a shorter play (it must come in under 40 minutes) and yet high school theatre teachers spend more time and energy on UIL OAP than any other show in the year. If you asked them how they felt about the nature of putting art in direct competition with other works of art they would tell you the same thing that actors or directors who are up for Oscars tell the press. "Oh, you can't judge different peices of great art together using the same criteria and say one is better than another." Or something along those lines. But the truth is the directors and actors and theatre teachers are out for blood.
The problem with OAP competion is multileveled. Aside from the inherit problems of competition among things that are not competitive in nature, I believe the OAP competition is harmful to our schools theatre programs and to the perception of he arts being spread to the world. It spreads the notion of competition and sport to areas that they don't belong. I believe competition is healthy, don't get me wrong. But why can't somethings be good and meaningful just for the sake of being?
If you aren't buying the idea that art and theatre shouldn't be made competitive, I completely understand. It's ingrained in our being. We want to pit everything against everything else. It's human nature. Let's spend some time thinking of how this relates to educational theatre, then.
Theatre teachers are, by-and-large, not competitive people. In fact, most of your theatre teachers were, in their youth, the anti-jock. Even when compared with other artistic disciplines theatre attracts the athleticly challenged. Band members, with the attraction of the marching aspect, are often more competitive people. At least in the South, choir kids are often athletes, as well. I think this has to do with church and singing and it being seen as a good, clean pastime. Kind of American. Just a theory. But fine arts like theatre and art often attract a different type of individual. Students who excell in art are often introverted and therefore express themselves better through non-performing means. Generally, your typical theatre student is the kid who didn't find acceptance in the more competitive area of sports and popularity and therefore found theatre as non-judgemental alternative to the other arts or extra-curricular activities. There are always exceptions, myself being one, but this is a generality.
When we force competition on these people they don't really know what to do with it. They know that they want to win, as any warm blooded creature would, and so they devise strategies to win. This is okay in sports, as winning is the goal. A play that stands alone does not have this goal. The goal is convey a message and tell a story in a creative way. These strategies will often be counter to at least one of these goals, most often the creativity. These are some talented people who sacrifice true ingenuity because their reputation, program, and sometimes their jobs are connected to winning. Afterall, we live in the state that judges the worth of a teacher on the TAKS test.
ONe of the main reasons that they involve themselves in theatre in the first place is because they want to be accepted for themselves, warts and all. But, instead these kids get dragged into a show where their teacher becomes an obsessive maniac, their friends are suddenly, driven to win at any cost and this subjective artform is reduced to letters and numbers.
I know that UIL OAP isn't going to go away, and there are many positive aspects of the competition that might make it worthwhile. The kids get to mingle with other school's kids and see their work. At the state level of competition there is the opportunity to gain scholarships. I would propose a new approach to the competition, however. One which focused on the quality and creativity of the show instead of the adherence to a set of prescribed rules.
I have never had the opportunity to direct a one act play, so I don't think that this come from bitterness at having never won. I've never lost either. It is coming from the point of view of outsider, really, having never been all that invested in a particular show. I am a part of a program where the other teacher directs the OAP and I'm usually ready for it to come to an end, to be honest. I hope, if I ever get to direct the play, that I will take a different approach to the contest. My hope is that I will have the sense to realize that, in this case, winning or losing really doesn't matter. If we lose because the play wasn't good enough then we should be disappointed, but because it wasn't our best work. If we, as a theatre troupe performed the play as well as we knew how then what have we to be ashamed or angry about? It was one guy or woman's opinion in most cases that our play wasn't superior to another, and most of the time they are right. Most of the time the play is superior. Maybe our school doesn't have the talent, maybe the director doesn't have the talent, maybe the director attempted something new that just didn't work, or perhaps the judge simply didn't agree with the director as to what makes good theatre. All of these things are possible and valid reasons to give a higher ranking to one play over another if, in fact, we must have a winner. It should not, however pressure the teachers or the students into changing their approach to directing as they already know how.
In summary: The UIL OAP make theatres teachers like a monkey with a laptop. They don't know what to do with competition and so they end up screwing up what they are supposed to be good at. We shouldn't care so much. More focus should be put on the positive aspects of the contest, which are now downplayed.
UPDATE: A typo in the 8th paragraph created a double negative and made it sound like I am bitter about losing. I am not. I've corrected the problem. You probably knew what I meant, anyway.
Monday, March 13, 2006
"Sordid!"
"Edgy!" "Touching!" "Hilarious!" "Side-splitting comedy!"
These are some things that I'm saying about the new Baytown Little Theater production of.....
The provacative dark comedy by Texas playwright Del Shores, author of Daddy's Dyin', Who's Got the Will.
Directed by Kyle Martin, this play will run March 31-April 2, April 7-9
Call 281-424-7617 for tickets and directions. Or, visit the BLT website.
I would love for everyone I know to come see this play if you are able to. It's kind of a stretch for this little community theatre, and the board is concerned about attendance, but I pushed for it and now I'm trying to get as many people to show as possible.
This is not a show for the young 'uns, but if you appreciate dark humor and rednecks in drag, please COME! You can contact me throught comments here, or emailing me at bullmartin@mindspring.com if you have questions.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Happy Blogaversary!
It looks like the winner is The Date of March 11. I think that I didn't really give the Counter a good shot at hitting 10,000 first because I haven't been blogging as consistently as I should. Also, I'm not reading other people's blogs. I've found there is no better way to promote one's own blog than by visiting other's blogs, and commenting. You don't even have to say "please come read what I'm writing!" If you comment then they will come. When I am heaviest into blogging and reading blogs is when I tend to get the most traffic myself.
Well, in honor of having blogged exactly one year today I will re-post my first blog. Afterall, that is the traditionally lazy way of commemorating this occasion. Here we have...
What the heck
I got 4 comments on that one. Two were from a random person who just happened to drop by my blog. I figured that was typical. It's never happened again. He posted to let me know that I spelled "ridiculous" wrong.
Well, in honor of having blogged exactly one year today I will re-post my first blog. Afterall, that is the traditionally lazy way of commemorating this occasion. Here we have...
What the heck
I first heard about blogging when I saw the word sprawled across a sample webpage design on the website that I use to build my website. I thought it was a funny word, but had no clue what it was. Later I found out that it was a kind of online journal. At first I thought that I surely had to have something important to say in order to have a blog, but after surveying the multitudes of friends and family's blogs I realized that I was being closed minded. I don't have to be important or have any thing relevant to say in order to have a blog. I just have to like writing and saying stuff. "That's me!" I exclaimed as I jumped out of my chair. I can blog! And so, here I am. Blogging. My mom tells me that blog is short for Weblog, which somehow brings me more comfort in using the word so much. As if somehow, such stately sounding origins justify such a rediculous sounding word.
So this is my first blog. Let's hope I can keep this up.
I got 4 comments on that one. Two were from a random person who just happened to drop by my blog. I figured that was typical. It's never happened again. He posted to let me know that I spelled "ridiculous" wrong.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Why Brokeback Mountain Should Have Won
It's been awhile since I posted and I won't lie and say that MySpace isn't a culprit but it isn't alone. I've also been quite busy outside of computer use. What with plays I'm directing, and whatnot. I don't spend nearly as much time on MySpace as I do on this blog when I'm into it heavily, but I will admit that sometimes after I've been on MySpace for a few minutes I don't have the desire to write here as much. It takes less time to check over there and it gets out the urge to comunicate, even if it is superficially. I realize that my post of late have heavily favored a MySpace subject, and this will hopefully be the last one since the subject is tiresome.
On the subject of the Oscars I'd like to chime in a bit. I watched with everyone else as Crash won the Oscar over Brokeback Mountain and I can only say that it further indicates the insignificance of the award. Best picture is supposed to be the pinicle of excellence in the film industry for the year and above all other awards, it is the one you want to win. Personally, I don't think that it matters near as much as the individual awards, for director, cinematography, and acting. The selfless, humble thing to do is to play the "no 'I' in team" card and root for the play to win above all. Of course this is preposterous when you see one movie win every award except best picture. The message there is that the movie had all of the elements but couldn't put it together well enough to beat out the other movie that had inferior acting, directing, etc. I find this ridiculous in the case of Brokeback Mountain, where directing, acting, cinematography, and the script all came together to create a great movie. I don't think that anyone would deny that. So it should have won best picture, hands down. I didn't see Capote or Munich but Good Night and Good Luck was one of the most original, creative movies I've seen in a long time, and is really in a class of it's own. I would have gladly accepted it as the Best Picture winner, but I knew that was highly unlikely, given it's narrow appeal. As for Crash, I liked it. But I also liked The 40 Year Old Virgin and Fun With Dick and Jane. Crash was about much more serious subject matters, granted, but like other decent flicks that shouldn't be winning Academy Awards it was one layered. It tried to teach you one lesson and then teach it over and over again using different people and multiple interlocking situations. I'm not saying, like other would that this is an unforgivalble sin that completely ruins the movie. I still enjoyed the movie. It shouldn't have won the Best Picture Oscar, though. It wasn't that good.
With that said, The Academy is not a single entity that gets together as a committee to discuss these things. Votes are left to individuals with individual opinions and these opinions are collected to form a final conclusion, without a debate ever taking place on the matter. Let's face it, the decision simply isn't that important. I've been disappointed in the choice of the Academy before and it won't be the last time. i've also thought that the award went to actors or directors who didn't win it based on one film, but on a body of work. Was Denzel Washington's performance in Training Day better than Russel Crow's in A Beautiful Mind. Please! But, I was glad they gave it to him. He deserved it. Crow had stolen the statue from Tom Hanks the previous year, so I wasn't too heart broken.
It's these little neuances and politicies that make the Oscars kind of a faux awards show. In many instances the Academy's decision is based on the awards that precede it in the year. The Oscars, being the final award handed out, is more redundant, most years than this. But, then again, like I said. It's not that important.
On the subject of the Oscars I'd like to chime in a bit. I watched with everyone else as Crash won the Oscar over Brokeback Mountain and I can only say that it further indicates the insignificance of the award. Best picture is supposed to be the pinicle of excellence in the film industry for the year and above all other awards, it is the one you want to win. Personally, I don't think that it matters near as much as the individual awards, for director, cinematography, and acting. The selfless, humble thing to do is to play the "no 'I' in team" card and root for the play to win above all. Of course this is preposterous when you see one movie win every award except best picture. The message there is that the movie had all of the elements but couldn't put it together well enough to beat out the other movie that had inferior acting, directing, etc. I find this ridiculous in the case of Brokeback Mountain, where directing, acting, cinematography, and the script all came together to create a great movie. I don't think that anyone would deny that. So it should have won best picture, hands down. I didn't see Capote or Munich but Good Night and Good Luck was one of the most original, creative movies I've seen in a long time, and is really in a class of it's own. I would have gladly accepted it as the Best Picture winner, but I knew that was highly unlikely, given it's narrow appeal. As for Crash, I liked it. But I also liked The 40 Year Old Virgin and Fun With Dick and Jane. Crash was about much more serious subject matters, granted, but like other decent flicks that shouldn't be winning Academy Awards it was one layered. It tried to teach you one lesson and then teach it over and over again using different people and multiple interlocking situations. I'm not saying, like other would that this is an unforgivalble sin that completely ruins the movie. I still enjoyed the movie. It shouldn't have won the Best Picture Oscar, though. It wasn't that good.
With that said, The Academy is not a single entity that gets together as a committee to discuss these things. Votes are left to individuals with individual opinions and these opinions are collected to form a final conclusion, without a debate ever taking place on the matter. Let's face it, the decision simply isn't that important. I've been disappointed in the choice of the Academy before and it won't be the last time. i've also thought that the award went to actors or directors who didn't win it based on one film, but on a body of work. Was Denzel Washington's performance in Training Day better than Russel Crow's in A Beautiful Mind. Please! But, I was glad they gave it to him. He deserved it. Crow had stolen the statue from Tom Hanks the previous year, so I wasn't too heart broken.
It's these little neuances and politicies that make the Oscars kind of a faux awards show. In many instances the Academy's decision is based on the awards that precede it in the year. The Oscars, being the final award handed out, is more redundant, most years than this. But, then again, like I said. It's not that important.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
New Blog
I decided to create a brand new blog to cronicle my running apirations. I call it:Run, Fat Man! Run!
Please visit and help me keep it up. I thrive on encouragement.
Thank you
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
The Race is On
The title isn't related to my previous post, but it is somewhat of a coinscidence, no?
What it is referring to is the fact that two blogging milestones are approaching. On March 11 I will have been blogging for one year AND I am currently at 9,515 hits and project to soon hit the big 10K. When you factor in the fact that I didn't add the counter until about May of last year and the fact that probably a good quarter of the hits are of my own I think we are roughly correct in assuming that I've had around 10,000 hits.
The race refers to the big question of which will make it first: the one year mark or the 10K mark?
Personally, I'm going for the 10K because I'm going to do my best to write some really great inciteful, thought provoking stuff in this next week. Oh, the stuff I have lined up! It will singe the hair on your face, I'm telling you.
I want your predictions. Will it be the One Year Mark or 10K Hits in the winners circle?
Winning predictions will win a special prize. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but I'll leave you with these words: "$240 worth of pudding. Aww yeah..."
What it is referring to is the fact that two blogging milestones are approaching. On March 11 I will have been blogging for one year AND I am currently at 9,515 hits and project to soon hit the big 10K. When you factor in the fact that I didn't add the counter until about May of last year and the fact that probably a good quarter of the hits are of my own I think we are roughly correct in assuming that I've had around 10,000 hits.
The race refers to the big question of which will make it first: the one year mark or the 10K mark?
Personally, I'm going for the 10K because I'm going to do my best to write some really great inciteful, thought provoking stuff in this next week. Oh, the stuff I have lined up! It will singe the hair on your face, I'm telling you.
I want your predictions. Will it be the One Year Mark or 10K Hits in the winners circle?
Winning predictions will win a special prize. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but I'll leave you with these words: "$240 worth of pudding. Aww yeah..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)