Word count- 253
Guitars- The word conjures up emotions- relaxation, excitation, anticipation, exaltation, and meditation. Guitar music is calming while taking me for a ride on my emotions. Some of the greatest guitarists have lived during the past 50 years. We know them by their first names- Jimi, Eric, Ted, Keith, Pete, David, Snowy, Roger, Lindsey, Neil, Bob, Carlos, Jon, BB, and Stevie.
Watching a great guitarist play his instrument is a gift. I watched Jimi Hendrix play along with lightning, Eric Clapton do what no one else can do, and Ted Nugent laugh and take me on a "Journey to the Center of the Mind". Keith Richards gave me "Satisfaction". Pete Townsend’s windmill move is his alone! David Gilmore and Snowy White performed for my wife and I on our 25th anniversary at RFK along with 40,000 of our closest friends. Snowy played here two more times with Roger Waters and made me cry during "Comfortably Numb". Lindsey Buckingham led Fleetwood Mac’s tour last summer and hasn’t lost anything. Neil Young’s picking still relaxes me. Bob Dylan can’t sing well anymore, but his guitar work is still perfect. Carlos Santana is in a class by himself. I hope to see Jon Mayer and BB King play. One of my few regrets is that I never got to see Stevie Ray Vaughan hit his perfect chords. His brother Jimmy is pretty good. I saw him in Quebec City.
More great guitar players will stretch the bounds of this instrument. I can’t wait to ride my emotions with them!
Point- The guitar and the guitar players bring out strong emotions to the listeners.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Guitars- Instruments of Emotion
Word count- 264
Guitars- The word conjures up emotions- relaxation, excitation, anticipation, exaltation, and meditation, among others. Guitar music is at once calming while taking me for a ride on my emotions. Some of the greatest guitarists have lived during the past 50 years. We know them by their first names- Jimi, Eric, Ted, Keith, Pete, David, Snowy, Roger, Lindsey, Neil, Bob, Carlos, Jon, BB, and Stevie.
Watching a great guitarist play his instrument is a gift. I watched Jimi Hendrix play along with lightning, Eric Clapton do what no one else can do, and Ted Nugent laugh and hit another note. Keith Richards gave me satisfaction. Pete Townsend’s windmill move has yet to be copied! David Gilmore and Snowy White performed for my wife and I on our 25th anniversary at RFK along with 40,000 of our closest friends. Snowy came around here two more times with Roger Waters and made me cry during Comfortably Numb. Lindsey Buckingham led Fleetwood Mac’s tour last summer and hasn’t lost anything. Neil Young’s picking still relaxes me. Bob Dylan can’t sing well anymore, but his guitar work is still perfect. Carlos Santana is in a class by himself. I still hope to see Jon Mayer and BB King play. One of my few regrets is that I never got to see Stevie Ray Vaughan hit his perfect chords. His brother Jimmy is pretty good. I saw him in Quebec City.
More great guitar players will stretch the bounds of this instrument. I can’t wait to hear them!
Point- The guitar and the guitar players bring out strong emotions to the listeners.
Guitars- The word conjures up emotions- relaxation, excitation, anticipation, exaltation, and meditation, among others. Guitar music is at once calming while taking me for a ride on my emotions. Some of the greatest guitarists have lived during the past 50 years. We know them by their first names- Jimi, Eric, Ted, Keith, Pete, David, Snowy, Roger, Lindsey, Neil, Bob, Carlos, Jon, BB, and Stevie.
Watching a great guitarist play his instrument is a gift. I watched Jimi Hendrix play along with lightning, Eric Clapton do what no one else can do, and Ted Nugent laugh and hit another note. Keith Richards gave me satisfaction. Pete Townsend’s windmill move has yet to be copied! David Gilmore and Snowy White performed for my wife and I on our 25th anniversary at RFK along with 40,000 of our closest friends. Snowy came around here two more times with Roger Waters and made me cry during Comfortably Numb. Lindsey Buckingham led Fleetwood Mac’s tour last summer and hasn’t lost anything. Neil Young’s picking still relaxes me. Bob Dylan can’t sing well anymore, but his guitar work is still perfect. Carlos Santana is in a class by himself. I still hope to see Jon Mayer and BB King play. One of my few regrets is that I never got to see Stevie Ray Vaughan hit his perfect chords. His brother Jimmy is pretty good. I saw him in Quebec City.
More great guitar players will stretch the bounds of this instrument. I can’t wait to hear them!
Point- The guitar and the guitar players bring out strong emotions to the listeners.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Great Education from a Bad Deal/ Bad Education from a Great Deal
Sometimes one finds a great educational experience when he is trying to avoid it. Mine came from a MIT educated Mechanical Engineer who was facing an unpublicized life ending illness. I thought he was just lazy and was pushing all of his work onto me. I tried to find a way to avoid doing both his and my work and even complained to Officers in the Corporation. They counseled me to just do it and use the extra work as a learning experience. I did and I learned how to run his department and eventually my own construction business. (WC-100)
Other times one finds an awful educational experience when he is seeking knowledge. Unprepared or otherwise poor lecturers are a disgrace to their profession, even if it is not their primary vocation. Everyone is shortchanged. The students fail to learn and waste their time, the parents waste their money. The institution fails all involved and the missed opportunity cannot be recaptured. We are well served here at UMBC to have a strong administration and an active faculty peer review process to maintain the high standards that our learning community deserves. (WC-90)
Other times one finds an awful educational experience when he is seeking knowledge. Unprepared or otherwise poor lecturers are a disgrace to their profession, even if it is not their primary vocation. Everyone is shortchanged. The students fail to learn and waste their time, the parents waste their money. The institution fails all involved and the missed opportunity cannot be recaptured. We are well served here at UMBC to have a strong administration and an active faculty peer review process to maintain the high standards that our learning community deserves. (WC-90)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Life is a Continuum
The first time I held my newly born grandson in 2001, I felt connected to the future in ways that I had not experienced before. This child may be alive in the next century. What will he face? How can I help prepare him for his future? The enormity of my responsibility overwhelmed me.
Some have said that one hundred years from now, no one will remember the how big my house was or the type of car I drove. No one will remember what number my fortune reached, or how many things I acquired. They probably will not even remember my name. The measure of my true success will be in how I affected my grandchildren. If I teach them to know what justice is, then my success can be measured. If I help instill in him love of his fellow man, I will have done my job. If I help teach him to do unto others, then I will have met my obligations to him and his fellow travelers.
We are here for only a short time. Our future may be eternal, there may be a heaven, there may be another way of being. We will find out when we die. One certain thing is that our children and grandchildren need us to help them prepare to live life here. We learned from our parents, grandparents, and those that came before them. It is the continuum that has prepared us.
I believe that it is our solemn responsibility to prepare those who come after us to be ready for whatever comes their way.
Word count 262
Some have said that one hundred years from now, no one will remember the how big my house was or the type of car I drove. No one will remember what number my fortune reached, or how many things I acquired. They probably will not even remember my name. The measure of my true success will be in how I affected my grandchildren. If I teach them to know what justice is, then my success can be measured. If I help instill in him love of his fellow man, I will have done my job. If I help teach him to do unto others, then I will have met my obligations to him and his fellow travelers.
We are here for only a short time. Our future may be eternal, there may be a heaven, there may be another way of being. We will find out when we die. One certain thing is that our children and grandchildren need us to help them prepare to live life here. We learned from our parents, grandparents, and those that came before them. It is the continuum that has prepared us.
I believe that it is our solemn responsibility to prepare those who come after us to be ready for whatever comes their way.
Word count 262
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Peace Craving Generation
Our wars have many names: Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Baltic War, War on Terrorism. The adjective changes, but the common term is WAR.
More than one person has died every minute we have breathed as a direct result of war or genocide. Is peace attainable?
Probably not, but we can hope our children figure it out.
Word count- 100
Sunday, October 10, 2010
One of Catonsville's Special Places- Encore
Lurman Theater is one of Catonsville's hidden gems where diverse people become a community. Young, old, white, black, rich, and poor gather together to enjoy free music concerts every Saturday and Sunday in the summer. Children romp, dance, and play in the sandbox. Young lovers sprawl out on their blankets and share a picnic. Parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents sit in their beach chairs nodding their heads and tapping their feet. People connect and reconnect. The community is strengthened. All is good. This is a special place where the woods come alive with a oneness of spirit and celebration of the way of life found here.
This place has always been special. In the 19th century, it was part of Gustav Lurman's 2,000 acre farm. The farm has been divided and now is home to a mental hospital, UMBC, Catonsville High School, a country club, and neighborhoods.
A group of forward thinkers financed and built a woodland amphitheater in a natural bowl on the high school property during the 1960's. Music enthusiasts began to present free concerts in 1992. The music genre is different every night. Governor Martin O'Malley has performed here. Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash tribute bands entertain us. Blues, rock, country, and big band sounds emanate from the stage.The music is secondary. The feeling of belonging makes everything okay.
Lurman Theatre is one of the places that make Catonsville special. Let's keep it that way!
(Word count- 240)
This place has always been special. In the 19th century, it was part of Gustav Lurman's 2,000 acre farm. The farm has been divided and now is home to a mental hospital, UMBC, Catonsville High School, a country club, and neighborhoods.
A group of forward thinkers financed and built a woodland amphitheater in a natural bowl on the high school property during the 1960's. Music enthusiasts began to present free concerts in 1992. The music genre is different every night. Governor Martin O'Malley has performed here. Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash tribute bands entertain us. Blues, rock, country, and big band sounds emanate from the stage.The music is secondary. The feeling of belonging makes everything okay.
Lurman Theatre is one of the places that make Catonsville special. Let's keep it that way!
(Word count- 240)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
One of Catonsville's Special Places
Lurman Theater is one of Catonsville's hidden gems where diverse people become a community. Young, old, white, black, rich, and poor gather together to enjoy free music concerts every Saturday and Sunday in the summer. Children romp, dance, and play in the sandbox. Young lovers sprawl out on their blankets and share a picnic. Parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents sit in their beach chairs nodding their heads and tapping their feet. People connect and reconnect. The community is strengthened. All is good. This is a special place where the woods come alive with a oneness of spirit and celebration of the way of life found here.
Gustav Lurman was a farmer who owned over 2,000 acres on Wilkins Avenue in the 19th century. This property was special then and provided many benefits to the community as a farm. Now it has been divided and is part mental hospital, university, high school, country club, and neighborhoods.
A group of forward thinkers financed and built a woodland amphitheater in a natural bowl on the high school property during the 1960's. Music enthusiasts began to present free concerts in 1992. The music genre is different every night. Martin O'Malley, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash entertain us. Blues, rock, country, and big band sounds emanate from the stage.The music is secondary. The feeling of belonging makes everything okay.
Lurman Theatre is one of the places that make Catonsville special. Let's keep it that way!
(Word count- 238)
Gustav Lurman was a farmer who owned over 2,000 acres on Wilkins Avenue in the 19th century. This property was special then and provided many benefits to the community as a farm. Now it has been divided and is part mental hospital, university, high school, country club, and neighborhoods.
A group of forward thinkers financed and built a woodland amphitheater in a natural bowl on the high school property during the 1960's. Music enthusiasts began to present free concerts in 1992. The music genre is different every night. Martin O'Malley, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash entertain us. Blues, rock, country, and big band sounds emanate from the stage.The music is secondary. The feeling of belonging makes everything okay.
Lurman Theatre is one of the places that make Catonsville special. Let's keep it that way!
(Word count- 238)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Who is Really Cool? Redux
Young adults need to show their coolness to the world. The modern youth culture has largely accepted the practice of applying permanent tattoos as a statement of independence and coolness. Some consider body piercings as a way of wearing jewelry. The students at UMBC choose to temper this type of outward demonstration of their individuality because they truly are "cool".
A stroll on the Boardwalk in Ocean City presents the opportunity to observe a bevy of tattoos, body piercings, and other outrageous styles that are sold as signs of coolness in today's generation. Casual observation of UMBC students along the paths, sidewalks, and other gathering places will lead one to determine that there are other ways to be cool. A discrete piercing or a fragment of a tattoo may be observed, but one rarely sees a student with a display of multiple tattoos or piercings. Visible are other subtle statements of personal differences: clothing, shoes, hats, backpacks, hairdos.
This dichotomy causes one to wonder: why the difference? Could it be the demographics? Does it make a difference if one is White, Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latino? Could it be that the students here have already solved questions about their identity and their place in the world? Are they more mature and comfortable with who they are? Could they realize that the outward permanent displays including tattoos and piercings do not separate them from the masses, but instead places them in a group of followers instead of leaders? Are these students so focused on their career paths where such displays are not readily accepted and may hinder employment chances?
The students here are more self aware, focused, and more confident than the typical young adult on the Boardwalk. They choose not to wear the "uniform" that the "purveyors of cool" are pushing. This makes the students here "cooler" than the Boardwalk crowd.
Word count- 303
A stroll on the Boardwalk in Ocean City presents the opportunity to observe a bevy of tattoos, body piercings, and other outrageous styles that are sold as signs of coolness in today's generation. Casual observation of UMBC students along the paths, sidewalks, and other gathering places will lead one to determine that there are other ways to be cool. A discrete piercing or a fragment of a tattoo may be observed, but one rarely sees a student with a display of multiple tattoos or piercings. Visible are other subtle statements of personal differences: clothing, shoes, hats, backpacks, hairdos.
This dichotomy causes one to wonder: why the difference? Could it be the demographics? Does it make a difference if one is White, Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latino? Could it be that the students here have already solved questions about their identity and their place in the world? Are they more mature and comfortable with who they are? Could they realize that the outward permanent displays including tattoos and piercings do not separate them from the masses, but instead places them in a group of followers instead of leaders? Are these students so focused on their career paths where such displays are not readily accepted and may hinder employment chances?
The students here are more self aware, focused, and more confident than the typical young adult on the Boardwalk. They choose not to wear the "uniform" that the "purveyors of cool" are pushing. This makes the students here "cooler" than the Boardwalk crowd.
Word count- 303
Friday, September 24, 2010
Who is Really Cool?
UMBC students, like typical young adults, need to show their independence, or coolness, to the rest of the world.The modern youth culture has largely accepted the practice of applying permanent tattoos and many consider body piercings a way of wearing jewelry. The students at UMBC choose, however, to temper enthusiastic outward demonstration of their individuality.
A stroll on the Boardwalk in Ocean City presents a bevy of tattoos, piercings, and outrageous hairdos and clothing styles as signs of coolness in today's generation. As one negotiates the sidewalks, paths, and other gathering places on campus, few obvious statements of individuality are seen. A discrete piercing or a fragment of a tattoo may be observed, but one rarely sees a student with a display of multiple tattoos, piercings, or other statements of personal differences.
But this is just one old man's opinion.
Word count- 344
A stroll on the Boardwalk in Ocean City presents a bevy of tattoos, piercings, and outrageous hairdos and clothing styles as signs of coolness in today's generation. As one negotiates the sidewalks, paths, and other gathering places on campus, few obvious statements of individuality are seen. A discrete piercing or a fragment of a tattoo may be observed, but one rarely sees a student with a display of multiple tattoos, piercings, or other statements of personal differences.
 |
| Andy Warhol Tattoo |
This dichotomy causes one to wonder: Why the difference? Could it be the demographics of the student body? Does it make a difference if one is White, Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latino? Could it be that the students here have already solved some of the important questions about their personal maturity and are comfortable with themselves? Could it be that the UMBC population realizes that the overt display of personal choices is really not a demonstration of revolt against the establishment, but instead is a statement that represents something different? Are the students here focused on career paths where such displays are not readily accepted and do not want to hinder their chances of landing their first post- graduate job?
One could answer that it may be part of one or many of the above reasons. The students here are more focused, more self aware, and more confident than the typical young person on the Boardwalk. You do find many individual differences here in dress, hairdo, and other personal outward statements. The students here do not wear the "uniform" that the purveyors of cool are pushing. I believe that this makes the students here "cooler" than the Boardwalk crowd. But this is just one old man's opinion.
Word count- 344
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
My Voyage Through The Sun
Beetle Bailey! Blondie! Al Capp! These people helped me begin my voyage through the Baltimore Sun at age ten. My first stop was the comics section- two whole pages daily and two whole sections on Sunday! What a way to start my day- hanging out with my new friends! My second stop was the sports section. My twelve year old mind couldn't get enough stats about my favorite Orioles or Colts.
Where else to look for my first car but in the classified section? As young marrieds, my wife and I looked there for an apartment and then our first home. Children need all types of equipment, so the used furniture section was my next stop. Young fathers are always looking for a way to provide better for their families, so a trip to the help wanted section was made weekly.
Where else to look for my first car but in the classified section? As young marrieds, my wife and I looked there for an apartment and then our first home. Children need all types of equipment, so the used furniture section was my next stop. Young fathers are always looking for a way to provide better for their families, so a trip to the help wanted section was made weekly.
My first adventure into investing led me to another station along the way- the financial pages. Wow! How could I ever navigate my way through here? I turned around and left my investments to the professionals.
Free time after retiring gave me time to visit the puzzle pages.Now I leisurely get my coffee and test wits with the puzzle makers. Mondays and Tuesdays are the easiest. My current stop on this voyage, sad to say, is the obituary page. Occasionally I recognize a name from my journey. I reflect to remember something special about them and where our paths crossed. Some day my voyage will end on this page. 
Word count- 250
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Who am I?
I am not your typical college Junior. I have already lived a majority of my life. As I have traveled through my "American experience" I have seen many wondrous things and felt many emotions. I have experienced love (my wife and family), awe (Alaska ,Yellowstone), sadness (death of loved ones), anger (Vietnam War, 9-11), pride (Apollo 11), satisfaction (business success), fear (health scares), and joy (looking into my children's and grandchildren's eyes).
All of my experiences have shaped what I believe is important. Love, commitment, and volunteering adds to happiness. Worrying about superfluous short term gratifications detracts from one's satisfaction with life.
My hobbies include learning, traveling, and tending to my 1962 Corvette. I currently volunteer at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington as a Visitor Services Information Specialist. I greet visitors from all over the world and I try to make their "American experience" more enjoyable.
(word count- 150)
All of my experiences have shaped what I believe is important. Love, commitment, and volunteering adds to happiness. Worrying about superfluous short term gratifications detracts from one's satisfaction with life.
My hobbies include learning, traveling, and tending to my 1962 Corvette. I currently volunteer at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington as a Visitor Services Information Specialist. I greet visitors from all over the world and I try to make their "American experience" more enjoyable.
(word count- 150)
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