Catfish Memories and More

Totalism to Nothing

Some 20 years ago I had a collision with instructions from my music theory professor, Paul Des Marais, (mind you a hard elbows distance from fellow student and young newlywed name Jake Heggie who recently just married the highly esteemed piano virtuoso and teacher Johana Harris) on what was an assignment in altered chromaticism involving 12 tone rows and retrograde inversions.   My “misunderstanding” evolved into my theoretical conception that “no pattern” or motif sequence was in any regards to be repeated in any context, therefore leaving the motif subject to no repetition in any regard whatsoever during the course of the entire piece, as far as it’s original form or  statement was  concerned, but  with the exception of designation in a displaced homophonic manner but then, and only then, for the purpose of designating a cadence or otherwise, but never in original color or serial origin. 

The outcome was such as reflected in this recording, listen here.  I’d like to suggest this theoretical form as a an alternative to the highly publicized school Kyle Gann, Mikel Rouse and the like have come to coin as “Totalism” and perhaps a bit of “Nothingism,” nonetheless! And therefore a nod to the king of "nothingisms!"

South Park on Facebook Fun

To all my friends, or lack thereof on Facebook.



See show here

Concert Promotions Dark Days Ahead

A few weeks ago in "A New Darkness on the Edge of Town" and discussing the Bruce show at Giant's stadium, I alluded to a change on the horizon for big concerts and stadium shows, as we once knew them.. The below On the Media interview with Concert promoter John Scher directly addresses this "phenomenon" and characterizes such as the "dark ages" for concert promotion in years ahead. And I couldn't agree more. (although i don't agree with his theory as to why ticket prices are so high these days. It's my impression if promoters saw people scalping 35.00 tix for 150.00, promoters got savvy and simply cut out another middleman. Did staging acts really see "that" much of an increase in their take home ?

A New Darkness On The Edge Of Town

Last night I saw my first, and probably last, Bruce Springsteen concert at the Meadowlands. Why ? Because it just couldn’t be beat. Just couldn’t. A perfect night! Temperature. And as if staged, the falling rain started to “lightly” sputter before Bruce could pull his guitar cord after finishing the last song.

They band played the album “Darkness On The Edge Of Town,” start to finish, to mark the series of album shows performed over the last week in the Wetlands. “Promise Land” lit the night with the diehard NJ audience articulating every chorus like a well-oiled machine. Bruce was among “his” people. And they gladly sang along with all their hearts. It was his hometown, the Meadowlands, Friday night. I’ll never forget it.

The HD video screens brought profound realism and intimacy for the distant viewers less fortunate to make it down to the floor. I’d be very surprised if the show(s) isn’t going to be coming out on DVD, because it was a historical performance in many a context. The cameras and real time cuts clearly suggested something worth owning in the future.

It’s hard to imagine the boss turned 60 just a few short weeks ago. But if there were anyone that could exemplify 60 as the new 40, Bruce is it. But what amazed me more than the great show last night, was the NJ audience and fans. Those fans, I believe, are truly a class of their own. From the early tailgater goers to the SRO elbow to elbow folks on the floor and stage center. They are a unique bunch. But what one ought to question, I’m afraid, is whether in times ahead, will subsequent generations ever come to know an act that could command an audience as I witnessed last night? And my sense is that this, what I saw last night, the performance and all, is the waning crescent of a distancing star.

As AOR, album oriented rock, and the era of how artists were developed since the time of the Beatles, and how major labels populated the majority of the airwaves, it’s my impression eventually this sort of “phenomenon” I witnessed Friday night will eventually be a thing of the past. Just a memory. And Bruce may well be among the last to command an audience that size, as such, again.

With CBS and other major labels no longer tooling the minds of pop culture, and what “pop culture” once was, it would seem their mastery in how greats like Bruce came to be will eventually lessen in time. And the stardom like I saw last night, will similarly diminish due to how the advent of the Internet, mp3s and social registries like Myspace and Facebook compartmentalized how major record labels operated for over a century.

Oct 3, 2009

Old hangs, friends, lovers and nites of all the rest. Thanks CM and NP. - it took some time.

What were they putting in the water down there.

Coming to a town near you soon.

Julia Haltigan

Niagra Bar Tribute In Real Time

A note from our President mom deserved.

Today I received the below email from our President, via the DNC.
What a page in history we've turned with this administration and that any one of us, at our so choosing, may be addressed so personally and timely. My mom would have been so touched, you can be sure, had she survived, - she'd be reading "Dear Georgia."
Our family's history with the democratic party is profound, from all of us having chanced to meet JFK*, in the early 60's, to present, there couldn't be stronger ties. And more so now than ever, especially given the current fiscal disaster out west and Arnold's necessity to panhandle his way out of a corrupt housing crisis, all can be quite humble and thankful this administration is on the page of "America."
Thank you for the note Mr. President.

JMP


Subject: A day to celebrate and aspire
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009 2:02 PM
From: President Barack Obama
Reply-To: democraticparty@democrats.org
To: John Pendley

John --

This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.

Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.

Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.

As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.

So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.

With very best wishes,

President Barack Obama

July 4th, 2009


P.S. -- Our nation's birthday is also an ideal time to consider serving in your local community. You can find many great ideas for service opportunities near you at http://www.serve.gov .


paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org .
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

*In 1960 James Gavin (cousin) was a personal pilot for JFK, and entourage (and RFK?), during various primary stops in southern California. Gavin later went on to become a highly successful 2nd Unit Director in Hollywood starting with movies as early as Disney's "Monkeys Uncle," "Love Bug," to "Bridges of Madison County" to "Pearl Harbor" (2001).  Gavin was pivotal in my father, an aspiring pilot himself, having secured a civilian contractor's position ferrying aircraft, helicopters, between Palomar Airport in San Deigo to Pt. Mugu, California where they were boarded military vessels reroute to Vietnam for the war.  My father’s untimely death at 38, September 12, 1968 due to a helicopter crash in Bakersfield, found Gavin personally responsible to the family and remained close and supportive countless years thereafter.

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Delano

Joomla or Bust !

Today I attempted to install Joomla for the second time. I spent some time with it months ago - but couldn't determine fully the pros or cons on either or why I should bother. But now faced with a big job, member-side features, bulletin boards and anticipated user-interface file exchange(s), I had to weigh in between Drupal or Joomla..

For starters, Xampp will not work on Mac OS for recognizing Joomla, and suspect the same for Drupal. So that meant a Mamp install, MySQL config (pre-installing/sourcing CMS in htdocs folder!!!) and then Joomla launch. All of which was a headache since I couldn't remember whether I created "master" admin vs regular admin, and which pertained to either the database vs the backend admin privileges of J. Stay organized as you admin your install.. Easy if everything installs correctly, and you have no previous MySQL databases/privileges or username discrepancies.

Having finally got the admin sign-in working, I sought out some templates, tutes to follow on template installs, and then some to get up to speed on navigating the system configuration and how it works. It was a headache at times, but i was able to finally get a banner logo installed and fumbled around the file hierarchy, folder locals, et.

The membership feature and modular aspect of how I envision to integrate files exchanges should, I hope, make this production easier, especially if membership should take off. So there's bound to be a little frontend learning curve on design, formatting and installing needed plugins. Just more WIP and remaining patient. It's my impression the PHP integration of the system is probably one of the louder bells, than whistles when it comes to SEO objectives. So, we'll see. In due time.

Nevertheless, I'm optimistic with getting the CFM community concept "on-line" soon, and tugging on favors/ears/code from developers far and wide. This is a project I started 5 years ago, however untimely, pre-broadband (50%) across most cultural and socio-economic lines. But with that changed now, and prices on related software/hardware more accessible, perhaps things will line up more readily..

Stay tuned !

"Back to me"

KE - tearing it up. "How long have I been sleeping."