Merry Christmas!!

"I'm of a fearsome mind to throw my arms around every living librarian who crosses my path, on behalf of the souls they never knew they saved."

The above quote is by novelist Barbara Kingsolver, but as Ms. Kingsolver was not at Maureen's graduation on Sunday December 7, 2008, we all threw our arms around Maureen instead.

Maureen is now the proud recipient of a Masters of Science Degree from SUNY Albany in Library Science from the College of Computing and Information. Simply put, that means that she is brilliant and sick and tired of school.

Kathleen can be seen awarding the Graduate the Nichols Family Pomegranate Award. Maureen's persistence has been remarkable, as have been her marks and her attitude throughout the program. Her achievement was hard fought and well deserved. It is a remarkable achievement when you think of the number of years of discipline and patience and hard work it took to achieve. If it sounds that I am proud, well... WHAT'S NOT TO BE PROUD OF!

Maureen's tremendous accomplishment of being the first of the Sauvageau/Nichols grandchildren to earn a Master's Degree is something that we can all take pride in and strive toward.

"Though the law of every man's conscience be but a private court, yet it is the highest and supreme court for judgment or justice."-Henry VIII

This semester I am enrolled in the course "Lives of the Saints". I've thoroughly enjoyed the class. This afternoon I hand in a paper about a saint that a.) clashed with society, and b.) effected and changed culture and society by their presence in the world. I chose St. Thomas More. His life is pretty incredible...here's a little taste of why:

The Roman Catholic Church prides itself in the beautiful tradition of venerating its saints, that is honoring the deceased men and women who sincerely lived out the Catholic faith to the fullest and are now living their reward in heaven. These virtuous departed changed and shaped their culture, society, and history in a profound, unique way. The veneration of saints invites the faithful to pay respect and homage to those men and women who helped minister in the sanctification of humanity by their life and example and continue to do so by their intercession. By living out the Beatitudes, which always culminate in love of God and neighbor, the saints reflect the glory of God and aspects of His supernatural perfection. Often times, these men and women were perceived as a sign of contradiction to their societies and cultures. Yet these men and women genuinely changed the world by their beautiful presence. Saint Thomas More is an ideal example of such a person.
Thomas More, saint and martyr, was born in the year 1478 to Sir John More a barrister and judge, and his wife Agnes Graunger More in London, England. Thomas More received an education at Canterbury College in Oxford and later acquired a law degree at Lincoln’s Inn. Starting with entrance into the English Parliament in 1504, More began a series of promotions in the legal hierarchies that eventually led him to becoming the Chancellor of England, a position never before attained by a layman (Huddleston). More married his first wife Jane in 1505, whom he fathered four children with, his most beloved being his eldest daughter Margaret. More remarried in 1510 after the death of Jane (Walsh, ed. 189). More’s household was always one of charity, learning, warmth, and happiness. It was during this time that More embarked on fashioning his famous writings and letters, including his most eminent work Utopia (Ackroyd 184). More performed his duties as Chancellor faithfully, which included the laborious responsibility of enforcing laws against heretics, the most notorious being Henry VIII who had succeeded the English throne in 1509. Henry VIII sought to divorce Catherine of Aragon and establish himself as the “Protector and Supreme Head of the Church of England”. After refusing to recognize the King’s title because of its attack not only on the dignity of marriage but also on the Catholic faith, More was imprisoned in the Tower of London and was tried and found guilty of treason. More was beheaded on July 6, 1535 (Walsh, ed. 190). Thomas More, from the moment of his death, was honored by the faithful and was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935 (Huddleston).
“The two cities, therefore, were created by two loves: the earthly by love of oneself, even to the point of contempt for God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the point of contempt for oneself. The first glories in itself, the second in the Lord. The first seeks glory from human beings. God, who is the witness of the conscience, is the greatest glory of the other” (De Silva, ed. 1).These words written by St. Augustine reveal the essence of St. Thomas More’s life, namely his message of the supremacy of truth over human authority. More lived out the Gospel in such a way that he clashed with society, yet in the end that same society remained changed because of his presence. More’s message was ostracized by the secular world in which he lived. He believed in the weight of the “inalienable dignity of the human conscience” that, as the Church tells us is “the most intimate centre and sanctuary of a person, in which he or she is alone with God, whose voice echoes within them” (Pope John Paul II). Surrounded by political and moral corruption, More remained faithful to his ethical and religious values by promoting justice and peace, serving both country and God.
St. Thomas was a man revered by his contemporaries for his remarkable brilliance in the cultural, philosophical, theological, and classical arenas. Despite his broad intellectual knowledge and because of his earnest attitude towards Catholicism, More never compromised his moral and religious beliefs, even to the point of death. Under relentless psychological pressure during his imprisonment, More refused to take the oath of Henry VIII. The reason for his pious refusal is best explained in a prayer written by More, “Good Lord, give me the grace so to spend my life, that when the day of my death shall come, though I feel pain in my body, I may feel comfort in soul, and with faithful hope of thy mercy, in due love towards thee and charity towards the world, I may, through thy grace, part hence into thy glory” (More 80).
As a layman, More not only incorporated his faith into his household, but also deeply into his occupation as a politician. It would be impossible for More to separate the two, his faith life and occupation, because his faith was his life. He lived out his devotion to God daily, in every act and decision that he performed (Roper 30-31). The harmony between the natural and supernatural that More achieved helps define this great saint. His simplicity, humility, and good natured wit in the midst of an extreme public life is beyond laudable. More truly lived out the words of Pope John Paul II that were written centuries after the great martyr’s death, “The unity of life of the lay faithful is of the greatest importance: indeed they must be sanctified in everyday professional and social life. Therefore, to respond to their vocation, the lay faithful must see their daily activities as an occasion to join themselves to God, fulfill his will, serve other people and lead them to communion with God in Christ” (Pope John Paul II).
The ways in which Thomas More fundamentally changed his society and culture continue to resonate in our world today. More dealt with issues that humanity, and in particular every civil order, continues to contest at present, namely the rights and values of the moral conscience. In the world today, just as in the time of St. Thomas More, there is a desirous need for credible politicians who lead others on the path of truth. Today, more than ever, in an era that continually infringes upon the dignity of the human person, we need politicians who advocate the marginalized just as More so passionately did. More never wavered in his moral stance. By his actions, he demonstrated that government is above all an exercise of virtue, at the service to every human person, and should never be severed from morality (Pope John Paul II).
Just as with most great saints, Thomas More’s life changed society and culture. His presence in the world not only effected his own society, but ours today. This remarkable man, who is the patron saint of politicians and statesmen, proved that when following the call to truth, one’s conscience will steer his or her actions towards integrity. More is an example of a layman who lived out his vocation with passionate love for God and neighbor. He is a model for all of us here on earth to never negotiate truth, but rather live in it and for it.

Hope you are all getting excited for Thanksgiving, I know I am!!!-C

malone new york makes npr

here is the link for the npr story on malone new york
november 17, 2008

www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97105427

This is me with my medal. Most likely my favorite pic of me of all time.

Here I am shaking hands with one of my many rivals. This one is also my friend and I trained with him over the summer today he beat me, but earlier in the season I beat him. As you can see friendly rivalry.

In this image I prepare to break the speed of sound.

Here my team watches as I receive my metal. I have come in 20 place in my district.

As you can see my coach is a classy irishman. He enjoys to golf, play cards, and of course coach cross country. His name is Scotty Watt. When he takes us to the track to do a work out, on the way home he drives his car next to us and plays bagpipe music while blocking cars. This has earned him the name Coach Scotland. He is a god amidst mere mortals and is as old as the hills.

In this picture I have just told him that I have made it to the Pennsylvania state meet for xc. He is deeply proud. That he can once again go to the state meet and actually see one of his runners in it.

Another Blog....

http://dusup.blogspot.com/




Enjoy!

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." -- Winston Churchill

A very active and busy past week, to say the least. Bernie and Joan decided to come to Malone to visit. What they did not expect was the unexpected snowstorm that hit New York north of Syracuse throughout Malone IN OCTOBER! That's the earliest storm that I've seen in my 27 years up here. Perhaps after these many years it could have brought some fond memories for Bernie. One of those fond memories is sleeping in a van with Joan in the Walmart parking lot in Watertown, waiting for the storm to blow over. Thankfully, it did, and they arrived in Malone.

The girls and Bernie decided to put the snow to a much better purpose. Literally for hours upon end, the girls showed Bernie that snow can be a fun thing, too. In Riverside, CA, I am sure it was not the 30 degree weather that we experienced in Malone. I can reassure you that the weather in Malone tomorrow and for the rest of the week will be in the 60's and perhaps a balmy 70. The snow is going for now but obviously we have not seen the last of it this season!

Paul, John and I (along with Claire and her roommate Meagan and friend Sarah travelled to Niagara Falls as Kathleen, Veronica and Magdalene travelled to Lake Placid and Tupper Lake and as Joan and Bernie travelled to Littlestown, PA. One of the things I love about travelling with the boys is along the trip we take the time to get to know each other and talk and talk and talk. I must admit it must be my engaging way of talking to Paul and John that engenders such interest at my every word. Here, Paul is enraptured my my discourse on how tough it was growing up in the North End in Niagara Falls while his mother's family basked in a privileged life while living in DeVeaux, home of the rich and famous. (By the way, I get a similar reaction when I talk to any Sauvageau about the tough life I had living in the 'Hood in Niagara Falls.

Of course, no trip to Niagara Falls would be complete without stopping off and staying with Phil and Sandy. However, with Medicaid reimbursements at an all-time low, Phil and Sandy have had to cut back on extras, like clothing for their children. Actually, Andrew and Rachel are doing their Johnny Weissenmuller/Maureen O'Sullivan imitation.

Natalie partied it up all weekend with trick or treating and a sleepover at a birthday party. It was reported to me that she and her middle school friends stayed up until 3:00 a.m. In other words, Natalie stayed up later than Claire, Meghan and Sarah, who went to Canada to party it up the same night.

From left to right, Magdalene, I and Veronica enjoy some time together on the farm. I have an itch on my forehead that Veronica is helping out with.

Actually, Kathleen took the girls apple picking in Canada and got the cafe a lot of home made apple pies from the place. I had to stay behind the fence so that I would not eat all the pies that they bought.

Congratulations to Christopher on his State standings in running.

An apology is in order to Colyn. I misspelled his name when I made a comment on his excellent blog. One of my donkey moments...

/Users/christophersauvageau/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/2006/2006_04_08/IMG_1668.JPG

Together at last!

/Users/christophersauvageau/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2008/Papa's Mad/Photo 3.jpg ME And PAPA

WICKED

I'm a grandma when I get to school. There's no question about it. I love to go to the the library, I love knitting, I love having my morning cup of coffee with my low cholesterol breakfast (no egg yolks for me!), I love my workout routine before I have breakfast. In fact, I love listening to Tchaikovsky while I study, his Violin Concerto in D, in particular. Where most fellow students are out partying each weekend, I spend quality time with my closest friends. Well, every grandma needs some spice in her life and this weekend I got it.
It was a great weekend. Last semester my two closest friends here at school, Nicole and Megan- who I had a blast traveling around in Europe with last year, bought tickets to see the show "Wicked" in Pittsburgh. Though we ended up being in the last row...in the balcony, it was superb.
Pittsburgh is about a half hour drive from our school, and sadly I have not been taking advantage of it. It truly is a great city. After a delicious meal at the Cheesecake Factory (do yourself a favor and try the Apple Strudel Walnut Cheesecake!) we headed over to the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. The Stanley Theater inside the Center is absolutely stunning, the 90 crystal chandeliers majestically grace the space, which compliment the original marble floors and pillars beautifully. It was built in the late 1920's and quickly became Pittsburgh's "Palace of Amusement" for the wealthy and poor alike, especially during the Great Depression when the Theater offered shows at a discount price if you bought your ticket before noon. I found out afterward that in 1936 on St. Patrick's Day, the Theater was flooded within two feet of the balcony and several people were trapped for three days until they were rescued.
After surveying out surroundings, we took our seats and the show began almost immediately with the electrifying opening song "No One Mourns the Wicked". Within minutes I knew I was going to love the show. The costumes, colors, voices, movements- it all flowed together perfectly.



"Wicked" takes the familiar characters of the "Wizard of Oz", in particular the Witches of the East and West and portrays them in a very entertaining way, exploring their pasts and how the "Wicked Witch" aka "Elphaba", became so "wicked". The performers were magnificent, I got chills as the performer who played Elphaba powerfully grabbed the highest note in the song "Defying Gravity". It was highly comical and I recommend it for all ages- children and yes, grandmas alike. It was a wonderful break from studying- great, wholesome fun.
I think of you all often and I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful fall weather...I know I am!
More stories to come when the two Nichols sisters unite at the end of this month!

Love and prayers,Claire

The Final Stretch

December 8th marks the end of the of my final semester in Albany. I'll be getting my masters degree in library science, and it was just last week that I bought a new pair of glasses and the bun is mastered. All are welcomed to a graduation ceremony in December... although I don't know how enticing Northern New York can be in December. As school is coming to a close, I am getting ready for the next step... finding a job! So, if anyone hears about any libraries that have an opening... let me know.

In the meantime this semester I am looking forward to a little trip to Ohio in October. I'll be visiting Claire and we'll be going to a Coldplay concert together. I know I am looking forward to it!

In the more near future, I'll be going to "An Evening with David Sedaris." I have been looking forward to this since the beginning of this summer. He is by far one of my favorite authors, an absolute riot. Here is a little preview of what I am in store for...
SEDARIS


~Maureen

Dental Hygeine

I've never known a Sauvageau who neglected their dental hygiene.

Each Sauvageau has a set of perfect teeth.

So, remember everyone, brush at least twice a day!

I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more Blogging!!

Savvy Joes,

If you've noticed, I have added a couple links at the top left of the page.  These are links to Maureen and Claire's blog, as well as my own.  If you would like to join the party, start you own blog and we can add it to the list.  If you want to know how to start a blog, call me at 708.275.6591 or email at colynbsf@gmail.com.  Or, even better call Joe.  Rock on!

-Colyn

"This is my cat Delilah" -- Magdalene Nichols

Now that school has started for Maureen, Claire, Paul, John, Veronica and Magdalene it is time to put this past summer behind us. Though it was full of some broken bones up here in Malone, we had some great times. Theresa started us off by coming up and helping care for an old man; Cindy came with Andrea and Anna and Luis, too; Maureen came up unexpectedly from Albany many times; and a lot of other things, too.

And, of course, Meacham Lake. Our two intrepid explorers...

Meacham Lake has been our favorite spot for a very, very long time. Longer than the time that Maureen and Claire were as little as Veronica and Magdalene

Then, there are those things that you just don't want to think about happening... But they will.

Kathleen has always had a penchant for taking the kids out and letting them drive. Her Aunt Anita allowed Kathleen the same favor when she was but a little girl. Now she returns the favor. I am not sure that we are ready for the insurance rates, however.

I am not quite ready to unleash this dynamic duo onto the roadways. But they sure did have fun.

Then, in our house there are the ever present Webkinz. These cute and cuddly animals have become standards in our house. Magdalene has more than a passing acquaintance with each and every one...

"One experiments and has to choose always the best results." Karlheinz Stockhausen

When listening to the BBC Proms, (on the Internet just go to BBC Radio 3 and you can listen to this summer long festival of concert music), I came along a name of a composer I had not heard about since the hazy memories of the '70's -- Karlheinz Stockhausen. Stockhausen, a German Composer was born in 1928 and died this past December. He was always weird and cool to a young guy in the 70's. Listening to Stockhausen could be compared to looking at a Picasso -- your listening to something, but you're just not sure what it is. And like Picasso, depending upon your own mood, it could annoy the heck out of you or it could interest you or it could actually engage you. Some of it is so bad and insane sounding that you want to throw a brick at the radio.

If you are like me, there is a tendency to think of this type of music as music that is nothing more than an annoyance -- almost childlike and not worthwhile. However, one composition, in listening to this year's Proms broadcasts of concerts of Stockhausen's work struck me: Gesang der Jünglinge (literally "Song of the Youths"). The text of Gesang der Jünglinge is from a Biblical story in The Book of Daniel where Nebuchadnezzar throws Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into a fiery furnace but miraculously they are unharmed and begin to sing praises to God. There are three basic types of material used: (1) the recorded voice of a boy soprano, (2) electronically generated sine tones, (3) electronically generated pulses (clicks).

The boy soprano sings these beautiful verses with a background that is generously described as cacophonous: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RkdO_qBGvM

It makes no sense to us until this is placed in a historical context. This work is based upon the historical experience that Stockhausen endured in his youth. In 1941 or 1942, he learned that his mother had died, ostensibly from leukemia, though everyone at the same hospital had supposedly died of the same disease. It was generally understood that she had been a victim of the Nazi policy of euthanasia for what the Nazis called "useless eaters". In February 1945, he met his father, Simon, for the last time in Altenberg. Simon, who was on leave from the front, told his son "I'm not coming back. Look after things." Young Karlheinz, not yet twenty, was then conscripted in the German Army to be a stretcher bearer in Germany during the closing months of the war. The young Stockhausen, walking through the murderous cacophony, just like Daniel into the furnace...

So, if you ever get a chance to listen to Stockhausen, you will need an open mind and a bit of empathy.

SUMMERTIME!
SIMON: 1. Summer means no more soccer. 2. Summer means no more school. 3. Summer means vacations. 4. Summer means hot wether. 5. Summer means swet. 6. Summer lots of fun. 7. Summer means fire flies. 8. Summer means more short hair. 9. Summer means more camp fires.
ISAIAH: Summer is my favorite season because I can stay up late, sleep in, swim, and read more. I also like the heat except when I'm trying to sleep. This year I got to watch the Olympics. Unusually, we didn't visit the Nichols. I hope next summer won't go by as fast.
CHRISTOPHER: Summer is supposed to be about long walks on the beach, writing poetry, or sleeping in. For me it's getting up at 5:00 AM biking to work ten miles away then ten more back, then eating, running 5-10 miles, getting in bed by 7:00 and repeat. It's a sick cycle. However, I'm rich and have a highly fit body. I feel stoned all day if I'm not in bed by 7:00. So whoever reads this, appreciate your tan and your relaxation. That's how summer's been for me.
PAPA: Is a time for....... First days of paid work, Family and friends meeting at Fort Niagara, 10-Ks, Fireside chats, Smores!, Skiddin', The Delaware! Massage Trains, Popsicles, Piano playing with cousins, Pattycakes, Hugs, Funny Faces, Family Visits, and Mosquitoes!!!!!!
We hope all of you had a terrific summer! We did :) We wish to thank all of you for being such a big part of our family. Our friends and family bring us so many blessings! May God bless you all!!!!!!

You said it Joe!!

Last week I just wrapped up a six week program where myself (Colyn), Matt, and two of our friends set out to teach fifty or so inner city kids health, fitness, and nutrition through to medium of our favorite sport, Ultimate Frisbee.  The grant proposal for this program was written by my roomate, Edward, and another friend of ours, David.  They submitted to proposal to an organization started by the mayor's wife, Maggie Daley, called "After School Matters,"  (afterschoolmatters.org).  I have been teaching in their environmental science programs for about a year, and when Edward and Dave asked me to be the health and nutrition guy at one of their two sites, I decided to switch gears and try to remember enough of what I went to college for to teach the basics to some kids.  Something to note with programs sponsored by ASM is that they actually PAY the kids to show up.  No matter what the program is, and they range from all forms of art to computer science to sports, the teens get a non taxable stipend.  Yes I was paying kids to play Ultimate all summer, pretty sweet huh?  Anyway, long story short the last six weeks have been exhausting, inspiring, terrifying, eye-opening, and most of all a lot of fun.  Another friend of ours posted a few pictures of our end of the season tournament on his Flikr page  (DSC_0144 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

All, well, most of the kids played exceptionally well.  The truly amazing thing is that I have worked with rookie players at the college level who could not play at the level that some of these high schoolers were able to achieve in just six weeks.  However, it isn't the outstanding level of play that amazed me most, I knew that these kids had the raw talent.  It was their stories of how they live.  I had a very bright, funny and laid back young man who had to miss almost a week because of court.  He had also been stabbed about a year ago, and claimed that he gets into a lot of fights due to his "bad temper."  I had another girl who could easily compete with Natalie for sweetest person ever, who told me that she would have to miss a day because she was testifying in a court hearing regarding her grandmother's murder, (she also showed me the perfectly round scar on her right shin where a nine millimeter bullet hit her last year).  Last summer I met kids on the far south side who were not allowed to leave their homes except for school and these programs because there was a gang war going on.  I have even had a kid, who we knew was in a gang, threaten to "bring his G's and bust a cap!!!" because we fired him for pulling a knife on another kid.  

All these stories were things I had heard before, in the news, in books, etc., but when you are starring at someone who you have gotten to know as a sweet and bright young man or woman and they drop a story on you like that, well I can say that I was not prepared to comprehend it.  The point I guess that I am trying to get at, is that, though I think that The Flava of Love is an atrocity and it glorifies ideas and principles that I find awful and disgusting, principles that are glorified all over pop culture, Flava Flav is nothing but what we have allowed him to be.  TV has become a medium of shock value.  Whoever can do the most disgusting, crazy, terrifying, or depraved thing, whoever can be the biggest, fastest, or best looking gets to stay, all the rest must rejoin the ranks of the normal, unexceptional, those who may only watch.  The worst part about this is the idea that it is very, very uncool to be smart.  I mean it isn't that outstanding to make a lot of money and do well in life if you are smart, but if you are ignorant, like Flava Flav is on his show, and you make a bunch of money, well that is something to see.  

When I would do a quick review lesson on say, nutrition, the kids would actually make fun of the people who knew the answers.  I literally heard the sentence "I ain't trying to be smart!!" said with pride.  But every time I would pry an answer out of them, they would hide their smiling face by looking down and mumbling.  These kids DO want to be smart, but they also want to be cool.  It just so happens that there are more situations in their lives where they need to be cool than they need to be smart.  If you're not picking on someone, you're being picked on.  If you can't come back with something funny when someone makes fun of you, you're done.  It took, I would say four weeks to get the kids to complement each other for making a good play without me prompting them, they look at everything as a battle.  

So to address you're question, Joe, as to why your master violinist is not a role model is simple, he isn't trying to get teenage fans.  His record label isn't pushing MTV to put him on the lineup for halftime at the superbowl.  He doesn't have his own saggy pants tuxedo line.  He's not out on the block pushing his mixtape for five bucks till he makes it big.  He's working on his craft, not his image.  But the kids who really need a role model like him aren't going to admit that they need a role model like him, and they most certainly aren't going to go out and find him, he's got to come to them.

Whew!!!  Now that was a rant!!!  More to come from Espana!!!

-Colyn

"Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life." ~Ludwig van Beethoven

Conductor David Robertson, who conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London, along with several other orchestras as a guest conductor, recently spoke on the relevance of classical music. “In a society where more and more things are mass produced and the rule of business is to make it as streamlined as possible, so people have to put in as little effort as can be, a classical music event is one of the few remaining bastions where you come in and largely have an unedited experience,” Robertson says. “There are pieces that are pre-programmed and pre-rehearsed, but then it stops. Nobody picks the camera angles. Nobody sits behind a mixing desk. All of this is done by you. … This is why I think what we’re doing, although it has an entertaining aspect, is the difference between art and entertainment: in entertainment you pay your money and you expect to come out of the experience essentially the same way as you went in. Something that professes to art is subtly working at changing you, and there’s no way to predict what the change will be … Entertainment is not threatening. Art sometimes is.”

Last night, Paul and I went to Montreal to see the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Kent Nagano. The program included Prokofiev's 1st symphony, Hayden's 94th Symphony and Mozart's Piano Concerto 24 in C minor. Many of you will recognize the Concerto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqQPVDW7bkI

Teh pianist that Paul and I saw was Stephen Kovacevich who has a way with the piano and a way with Mozart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqQPVDW7bkI

Stephen Kovacevich was born in Los Angeles and at 11 had his concert debut. He moved to England for training. He has been named as one of the top pianist ever by Phillips Record Company which has issued his works in a retrospective album. If anyone would like to hear it, just let me know.

Another treat was Hayden's "Surprise Symphony". Now, I know that you have all heard it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLjwkamp3lI&feature=related

We had a great time.

"Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?" ~Michael Torke

Mr. Torke was referring to Bach's Mass in B Minor. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful pieces in the repertoire of what we commonly refer to as "classical music". Like what we have done to good literature, pop culture has all but abandoned listening to concert and classical music in favor of tuning in to see what Flavor Flav is up to on VH1. Yes, this posting is a rant... Fairly recently, I was on the phone with my brother Dan, a school teacher in Manhattan. While we were on the phone he was appalled, (not too strong a word), to find out that I had no idea who Flavor Flav was. Those of you who have spent any time at our house fully realize that I rarely watch television, that Kathleen rarely watches television and that our children's viewing is strictly limited as to time. My brother admonished me for not being up on "pop-culture". My "ignorance about culture" would interfere with my ability to know a bit more about my children. After this alarming phone conversation, (alarming not because I did not know who Flavor Flav was, but because my brother Dan actually dressed up like Flavor Flav for his students on Halloween), I asked all of my children from Maureen right down through Magdalene just who Flavor Flav was. I can happily report to you that they did not know who Flavor Flav was.

I believe that Mr. Flav has a television show thta is not only one of the most misogynist television shows that our sons and daughters have been assaulted with, but by far one of the most inane. In the show, "Flavor of Love", each contestant is given a nickname by Flav and is referred to by that nickname for as long as she remains in the competition. Flavor of Love features a clock ceremony where contestants who are not eliminated receive gold clocks to wear around their necks with their picture behind the hands of the clock. When a contestant is eliminated, her real name is then revealed, followed by a champagne toast.
There are a few basic elements of the show's format that have been consistent through each season of production. Throughout the season the contestants compete for intimate dates with Flav, (what a treat that must be!), by competing in various challenges. Another typical component of the show is the involvement of the women's ex-boyfriends. This usually occurs when there are 6 or less contestants left. Also, Flav brings the few remaining women's parents, (who must be part of the Brittany Spears/Lindsey Lohan Parent Support Group), on in the third or second to last episode. After all, what parent would not love to have their child go on an intimate date with Mr. Flav. Finally, the season finale takes place in a tropical destination. The two finalists and Flav spend the last two days at a luxurious resort proceeding his final decision.
The week following the finale an all-cast reunion is typically aired. A host spends this time reviewing the most memorable moments and interviewing the contestants after they have seen the season. This is also when you find out if Flav is still with the woman he chose and what they have been up to since the season wrapped.
VH1 has also introduced an Internet component into the show. Viewers can create profiles, interact with contestants and other fans, and stay current with news at flavorofloveworld.com. In season 3, fans even got to vote online to elect five of the contestants. Ironically, Flav sent 4/5 of them home in the premiere episode.

Sadly, Flavor Flav is one raindrop in a storm misogyny. Moreover, all of us, (yours truly is guilty as charged as well), happily or at least ignorantly let our children watch media that is base, foolish and without any redeeming intellectual quality. And then, quite often, we are angry and upset at those same children when they make bad choices or, at least, questionable choices.

I don't know if you have had a conversation with a young person who are not your children lately. Most of the time they don't talk. They play games on their hand held. Mostly they don't write, but might punch out a few words on AIM, (and then with syntax and grammar so breathtakingly bad). If they talk they talk about movies, movies, movies, t.v., t.v., t.v.

Rarely, are children called upon to be interesting and inspiring. Often they are called upon to get a job.

Last night, in Montreal, I went to the OSM, Orchestra Symphonique de Montreal. Playing that evening was Andrew Wan.

Mr. Wan is a violinist. He has toured world wide, is an orchestral leader, concertmaster of the Julliard Orchestra and has recorded with several orchestras. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees from the Julliard School of Music in NYC. He also teaches at the Julliard School He plays a 1743 Guarneri del Jesu violin. He is a master in what he does and has such a confident intelligence about music performance that it shows with his demeanor and articulation on his instrument. The fact that he and other famous violinist, (pianist, oboists, etc.) are not known is one of the many scandals of our time.

Last night in Montreal he gave a great performance of Mozart's 5th Concerto for Violin. It was done so well that even the orchestra applauded him. He is not well known because he treats his mothers and sisters decently, he has not spread details of his private life and sexuality all over television and the internet and he unashamedly has faith in God. He is far from being a person that our youth today would look to for inspiration. On the other hand, Brittany, Linsday, Pamela, Christine, well... you get the idea, are icons and "inspiration" for those who enthuse about the "tragic" circumstances these empty-headed, but fully bankrolled nuts subject us to.

I'm ranting because I deal with kids a lot each day. Most of the girls I deal with are in trouble, pregnant too early, beaten up by their boyfriend/husband/or whoever. All of them are poor. It is a part of my practice that I do not like talking about too much because it is upsetting and frustrates me. It is also why I have been very demanding with my daughters -- some of you think too strict -- but I am exceedingly proud of them for the effort and demands they place on themselves and the high expectations they have of others. Most of the boys I deal with care neither for the girl they are living with and getting free and easy sexual benefits from, and are, like the girls they have assisted in condemning to poverty, ignorant. Due to their parents, an uncaring society, and a willingness on all our parts to look the other way their disaffected kids are having other children who are more than likely headed for a lifetime of poverty and frustration.

If you don't think that our pop culture has made things worse then, simply put, you are wrong.