Tuesday, October 31, 2006

give peace a chance?

An interesting article dealing with two letters Gandhi wrote to Adolph Hitler in 1939 and 1940.

Gandhi: "It is quite clear that you are today the one person in the world who can prevent a war which may reduce humanity to the savage state. Must you pay that price for an object however worthy it may appear to you to be? Will you listen to the appeal of one who has deliberately shunned the method of war not without considerable success?"

His critics: "In other words, Gandhi was a naïve fool who tried in vain to sell his non-violence as a panacea to the Führer."

Sunday, October 29, 2006

the le duo rubbing shoulders with politicians.















This is a photo of my family with Senator Patrick Leahy, taken circa 1988 after my Dad won this big award after inventing a little gadget that saved the Federal government millions of dollars. Sweet mullets and matching sweaters!

Friday, October 27, 2006

Faust!



Come see Mephisto get his tonight & tomorrow 8pm 294 N. Winooski Ave Burlington.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Friday, October 20, 2006

"we were a very unique band"

I just read this excellent in-depth interview with Babatunde Olatunji, the Nigerian drummer who was almost single handedly responsible for introducing African music and dance to the United States in the late 1950's. He has a lot of interesting things to say about music and dance and the healing power of song and race relations etc. A little weekend reading for ya...

tld

Thursday, October 19, 2006

we's smart

For the second year in a row, Vermont was declared the Nations smartest State by Morgan Quitno Press, an independent private research and publishing company located in Lawrence, Kansas. Read the press release here. My favorite quote:

“Any encyclopedia will tell you that Vermont produces more maple syrup, marble and monument granite than any other state,” said Scott Morgan, President of Morgan Quitno Press. “But the state also produces stellar students, thanks to its commitment to high quality elementary and secondary education.”

New England kicked ass, with Massachusetts and Connecticut also in the top 5. Arizona was ranked last. Thanks to all my friends who are teachers and educators and parents and loving supporters of children everywhere!

t)l)d


Monday, October 16, 2006

cbgb

Its only recently that I’ve really been digging on Punk music- it reminds me a lot of Free Jazz, which I’ve really been into since Tanner got me a cassette of Coltranes ‘Ascension’ a couple of years ago for xmas- they both have the same kinda raw expressions of emotion and angst, pain, alienation- they both have a sense of ‘this is our music, like it or don’t, we don’t give a fuck so fuck you anyway’ I used to totally disregard punk and other forms of music that didn’t have high the levels of musicianship I was into. But now I see that the messages sometimes make up for the lack of chops. Bands I’ve been listening to a lot include the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith Group, the Ramones, Television, the Clash, and the Minutemen.

So it seems kind of sad that CBGB’s closed down- I’d always wanted to go there and see some music- although I’m sure I would have been let down- all those famed music clubs are so past there prime- like Birdland or Mintons Playhouse – but it still would have been cool.

Oh well…

Thursday, October 12, 2006

today/tomorrow/saturday

Tonight: Ryan Power and the Cripples at ½ Lounge. Aaron tells me this may be Ryans last local show for a long while, so everyone should go! It’s a little late in the pm for my liking- so I may go to Radio Bean and see the Calder String Quartet- read more here.

Tomorrow: Greg Davis is throwing another show at the Green Door studio at 8pm- read more here. At 10pm, “Party Star” and the Cripples are playing at the Monkey Bar in the Onion City.

Saturday: After almost 5 ½ years of marriage, my good friends Luke & Regina LeClair are finally having a wedding. I’m taking the lovely Marnie Long from Nest Material as my date. Should be a great time!

JB

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

lindsay & outward bound

I got a surprise call from my old friend Lindsay Saturday night- a rarity-lets just say shes not the best at keeping in touch- although she says she reads the le duo & highgate but I need proof-post a freakin comment! Anyway, she lives in Asheville, NC, and studies at Warren Wilson College. Lindsay sounded happier and more content then I've heard her sound in years and at first, because it was 1 in the morning, I thought maybe she was drunk- but then I realized its true- she's really happy- finishing school, new love, and new career-working for Outward Bound.

Outward Bound was first conceived in 1941 in Great Britain and has since become the premier adventure-based education program in the world. During World War II, renowned educator Kurt Hahn developed programs to instill greater self-reliance and spiritual tenacity in young British seamen being torpedoed by German U-boats. The Outward Bound philosophy is based around six core values:

Adventure and Challenge
Challenge is an action that requires special effort. Adventure is an exciting and remarkable experience that involves uncertain outcomes and acceptable risks.

Inclusion and Diversity
Welcoming and respecting differences strengthens the richness of ideas and perspectives brought to bear on challenge and learning. The transformational experience of Outward Bound is more powerful when it takes place in the company of others as diverse as the society in which we live.

Social and Environmental Responsibility
Social and environmental responsibility instills in students a sense of integrity, which results in choices and actions that have a positive effect on society and the environment.

Learning Through Experience
Learning through experience is a lifelong process based on action and reflection. Experiences are intentionally designed, presented and reflected upon to instill values and promote skill mastery for people at all stages in their life-span.

Character Development
Character development means developing capacities of mind, body, and spirit to better understand one's responsibilities to self, others, and the community.

Compassion and Service
Compassion is a heartfelt, caring connection to each other and the world around us. Service is an active expression of valuing our common humanity and the natural world.

Lindsay, I am so proud & happy that you found something you love and can truly believe in. That's what we're all searching for I think.

t/l/d