Lighting & Sound America

Remember the post David Writes a Cranky Letter? Well, LSA ran the more politically correct version last month. This is the expurgated text. Hit the link if you want to see the original rant.

I think probably the correct version is the published version.

What Is So Complicated?

I ask you...

door ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dôr, dr)
n.

1. 1. A movable structure used to close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates.
   2. A similar part on a piece of furniture or a vehicle.
2. A doorway.
3. The room or building to which a door belongs: They live three doors down the hall.
4. A means of approach or access: looking for the door to success.

mail·box ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mlbks)
n.

1. A public container for deposit of outgoing mail. Also called postbox.
2. A private box for incoming mail. Also called letterbox.
3. A computer file or set of files for the collection and storage of e-mail.

Really, this is something I will just never understand.

Ellipses...

I should write something, if only to distract from yesterday's comments... I would like this cat delivered: Oreo... Given a choice between curricular depth or breadth, recent graduates choose depth, or breadth... Sometimes it seems that a good compromise is simply a way to change from a time when some people were unhappy to a time when everyone is unhappy... I am over having a cat with a hole in it... Its just the start of the second week and I am clearly behind... The "not" theatre people are in fact such theatre people... Today, like Christmas morning, when I can into B-1 someone had filled out the scheduling board... Although it seems like a good idea organizationally, the second week of school is too early for an organizational meeting... I think I may like PowerPoint, this may make me hate myself... Every time I press my foot down on the gas now I watch the tach and try to keep it under 2000 rpm, probably a wasted effort but the gas is so expensive... All work and no play makes... The point of the exercise is to challenge the existing assumptions, not to ask what they are and recreate them, just had to say that... Recent graduates are busy people, I suppose that's a good thing... If you cover the bed with a plastic tarp to stop the cat from peeing on it you will develop a habit of napping on the couch, true story... I don't want to be responsible enough to spread winterizing, end of summer, fertilizer on my lawn... One week later and the crazy scheme hasn't eaten itself, although I believe I am seeing some tooth marks... Katrina coverage is taking the focus away from Iraq, therefore just like Michael Jackson, Lacy Peterson, Natalie Holloway, and everything else that serves as media prestidigitation (yes I had to look it up - although I was close) it was clearly initiated by the neo-cons... The new Galactica better take a lesson from the old and make sure they never find Earth... I fell asleep during RockstarINXS again, without Ty it just isn't the same... Weeds is a real good show, check it out... I want a dollar, ok several... That is all.

It's not 9/11

(actually it is only 9/5 - but that's not really the point)

Much of the din on the radio and TV has been comparing the response to the devastation in New Orleans to the response on 9/11. Many people have spent the last little bit lauding Rudy and stepping on the neck of whatever politician they happen to have handy. I have to say that I have come to the opinion that although tragic, the poor response to the disaster last week really shouldn't be laid at the feet of anyone specific for a decision they did or did not make in the moment as it was happening. Could they (we) have been better prepared? Certainly. Were poor decisions made? Of course. Did we have a right to expect any better? I don't know.

I do know that it is not comparable to 9/11.

What was 9/11? Something like 100 square blocks of Manhattan? Was it even that much? I haven't checked, but I would not be surprised to find out that the Katrina devastation covers over 10,000 square miles. Maybe something on the order of 100 times the size of the earlier events.

For the most part 9/11 didn't really cross jurisdictions. Yes, the Port Authority is a joint jurisdictional group, but all things being equal the events at the World Trade Center fell squarely to the jurisdiction of New York City - hence its take charge mayor. The problems on the gulf coast involve the governments of three states, countless counties and cities, oh, and the federal government. That's a few conversations that had to happen that never had to happen to get things rolling 9/11.

Speaking of conversations. Although overloaded phones were the norm. On 9/11 the phones weren't lost, neither was power which means cell phones and cellular radio stayed up as well. Communications all over the southeast are still out today. Those annoying news reporters are all broadcasting direct to satellite. Your average fire department and police department do not have that capability. So many of the conversation and coordination things that had to happen were reduced to courier.

Firemen and Policemen on 9/11 were doing their job, and their job was pretty clear from the start: rescue the people. Many firemen and policemen in New Orleans were doing that same job, rescuing the people. The fact that many of the people that didn't need rescuing took the opportunity to do some discount shopping really can't be blamed on the guys trying to pull 98 year old grandmothers up to their neck in water in their attics into a boat to safety. The more coordinated and tighter access to lower Manhattan helps prevent any wide spread looting. Down south they didn't have that going for them. Another dimension to this same issue is that in all likelihood the first responders in NYC did not live in the damage area. Many first responders in LA broke ranks and looked to their own before attempting to do their job. This is unfortunate, but I think somewhat understandable, and again, not something Rudy had to contend with.

The exigency of 9/11 lasted only a few hours. After that it moved very quickly to a very tightly controlled excavation. Almost a week later the event is still happening in New Orleans. The water (the sewage) is still there. It is still flooded and peoples lives are still in jeopardy as I write this. Although 9/11 was scary, and a literal domino effect did continue in lower Manhattan for a day or two, things did dissipate of their own accord comparatively quickly.

If on the order of 10,000 people were directly effected by 9/11, and we can up that to include everyone that needed to travel for days later, and everyone at the Pentagon, and everyone in Shanksville, and some commuting public that used the PATH and the Subway - so what maybe 150,000 people. We're looking at a disturbance to millions of people in one 24 hour period here. Its just not comparable.

A closer comparison would have been the day of the NE blackout. If all the bridges and tunnels had crimped such that only one car could use them at a time, and if the entire island of Manhattan below say 98th street were 4 feet under water. How many good samaritans do you think would have been directing traffic at 56th and Broadway had they needed to be treading water?

How many Duane Reeds do you think would have been pillaged for diapers if nobody could get out of the city and they had been without power or plumbing for more than 48 hours?

The aftermath of Katrina has been terrible, and the response questionable, and the behavior of many citizens and politicians alike just dismal. But there have been amazing achievements as well, and I am sure the good samaritan stories are there, they just haven't spread because they don't compete. But all of that aside, when people analyze and criticize the effort, it doesn't do anyone any good to talk about it in terms of what happened on 9/11 (even though that response was great) because it really is kiwis and watermelons.

A Kindred Squirrel

Sometimes I wonder about the people covering unfolding tragedy. Like, "isn't there something more useful you could be doing?" This foulmouthed squirrel apparently has the same kind of thoughts.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Work continues on the Crazy Scheme. I'm about 2/3 though the planning board - Crazy Scheme Air Traffic Control:

We have the Mother of All Calendars - you've already met. Now we also have the Mother of all Crazy Scheme printouts (it turns out I am the Wizard of Output, I should get a printing job), academic calendar, School of Drama Activity dates, Conservatory Hour Schedule, Crew Head Assignments, and Crew Assignments. I still need schedules for the Arts Histories lectures that are in the Chosky and the dates for The Academy of Lifelong Learning. Once I get those my contributions will be complete and all we will need then are the project checklists from each show.

Oops. I nearly forgot today's contribution. That enormous grid under the mother of all calendars. That's a 3-week rotating scheduling grid. There are three panels, one for each of the next three weeks. Each lists the Crazy Schemers, the projects, and the crew available. We'll be able to indicate what is happening on each project and who is doing it in a three week cycle. As weeks elapse, the panels slide over and the first becomes the last, is erased (they are dry marker boards), and is filled out for the next week. Not bad for an afternoon's work and a little over $30.

Now I just have to find a way to make sure the stuff gets used.

Graduation Music Meme

Go to musicoutfitters, enter year of high school graduation for song list, bold songs you like, underline favorite, strike out the ones you hate, & leave untouched the ones you don't remember or don't care about.

1. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
2. Say You, Say Me, Lionel Richie
3. I Miss You, Klymaxx
4. On My Own , Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald
5. Broken Wings, Mr. Mister
6. How Will I Know, Whitney Houston
7. Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy
8. Burning Heart, Survivor
9. Kyrie, Mr. Mister
10. Addicted To Love, Robert Palmer
11. Greatest Love Of All, Whitney Houston
12. Secret Lovers, Atlantic Starr
13. Friends And Lovers, Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring
14. Glory Of Love, Peter Cetera
15. West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys
16. There'll Be Sad Songs, Billy Ocean
17. Alive And Kicking, Simple Minds
18. Never, Heart
19. Kiss, Prince and The Revolution
20. Higher Love, Steve Winwood
21. Stuck With You, Huey Lewis and The News
22. Holding Back The Years, Simply Red
23. Sledgehammer, Peter Gabriel
24. Sara, Starship
25. Human, Human League
26. I Can't Wait, Nu Shooz
27. Take My Breath Away, Berlin
28. Rock Me Amadeus, Falco
29. Papa Don't Preach, Madonna
30. You Give Love A Bad Name, Bon Jovi
31. When The Going Gets Tough, Billy Ocean
32. When I Think Of You, Janet Jackson
33. These Dreams, Heart
34. Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone), Glass Tiger
35. Live To Tell, Madonna
36. Mad About You, Belinda Carlisle
37. Something About You, Level 42
38. Venus, Bananarama
39. Dancing On The Ceiling, Lionel Richie
40. Conga, Miami Sound Machine
41. True Colors, Cyndi Lauper
42. Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins
43. What Have You Done For Me Lately, Janet Jackson
44. No One Is To Blame, Howard Jones
45. Let's Go All The Way, Sly Fox
46. I Didn't Mean To Turn You On, Robert Palmer
47. Words Get In The Way, Miami Sound Machine
48. Manic Monday, Bangles
49. Walk Of Life, Dire Straits
50. Amanda, Boston
51. Two Of Hearts, Stacey Q
52. Crush On You, Jets
53. If You Leave, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
54. Invisible Touch, Genesis
55. The Sweetest Taboo, Sade
56. What You Need, INXS
57. Talk To Me, Stevie Nicks
58. Nasty, Janet Jackson
59. Take Me Home Tonight, Eddie Money
60. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off, Jermaine Stewart
61. All Cried Out, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam With Full Force
62. Your Love, Outfield
63. I'm Your Man, Wham!
64. Perfect Way, Scritti Politti
65. Living In America, James Brown
66. R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A., John Cougar Mellencamp
67. Who's Johnny, El Debarge
68. Word Up, Cameo
69. Why Can't This Be Love, Van Halen
70. Silent Running, Mike and The Mechanics
71. Typical Male, Tina Turner
72. Small Town, John Cougar Mellencamp
73. Tarzan Boy, Baltimora
74. All I Need Is A Miracle, Mike and The Mechanics
75. Sweet Freedom, Michael McDonald
76. True Blue, Madonna
77. Rumors, Timex Social Club
78. Life In A Northern Town, Dream Academy
79. Bad Boy, Miami Sound Machine
80. Sleeping Bag, ZZ Top
81. Tonight She Comes, Cars
82. Love Touch, Rod Stewart
83. A Love Bizarre, Sheila E.
84. Throwing It All Away, Genesis
85. Baby Love, Regina
86. Election Day, Arcadia
87. Nikita, Elton John
88. Take Me Home, Phil Collins
89. Walk This Way, Run-D.M.C.
90. Sweet Love, Anita Baker
91. Your Wildest Dreams, Moody Blues
92. Spies Like Us, Paul McCartney
93. Object Of My Desire, Starpoint
94. Dreamtime, Daryl Hall
95. Tender Love, Force M.D.'s
96. King For A Day, Thompson Twins
97. Love Will Conquer All, Lionel Richie
98. A Different Corner, George Michael
99. I'll Be Over You, Toto
100. Go Home, Stevie Wonder

Anti-Katrina Post

Here is a link of the day to not have to be thinking about hurricanes, floods, looters, gangs, and whatever.

And here is a link that although it is about hurricanes, floods, looters, gangs, and whatever, is so in a nice, antiseptic, meta kind of way.

In case you needed a break.

I know I did.

Bummed

I am bummed.
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Ty Taylor got cut from RockstarINXS last night. I guess it was a good thing I fell asleep. Really I wasn't rooting for him because I thought he should win. It was a school solidarity thing. He was at CMU when I was there for undergrad. The last week they really did cut down to some very good artists. I am beginning to suspect that there's really nobody left in the competition who is from the self taught plays for tips in a bar background anymore. Seems like everyone left has a professional background that the show is trying to quietly supress for entertainment value. The Tuesday night show this week was staggering, and it looked like everyone was a little flat on Wednesday - hence my drifting attention. So, well done Ty, too bad. I have no idea who to root for now, Mig maybe. My heart just isn't in it.
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bummed
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I think I have to stop watching the news. The footage out of New Orleans is too depressing. I really don't even know what to say. It is just shattering. They keep showing the street outside the Superdome and I keep thinking about rolling our exhibit down that sidewalk after USITT a couple of years ago. I just can't wrap my head around it. Last night I blew open Amazon's site knowing that they would have a red cross donation thing on their homepage, but then I stopped short because this is the worst cashflow month of the year for me - and I am scared to death that next week gas will be $5/gallon. That'll be $100 to fill my tank. I'm sure I will go back and get the donation done, but at that moment I was thinking that I'm going to take the tiniest little hit from this too (by comparison anyway). In some ways the radio has been worse than the TV. Both the right wing guys on KDKA and the Left wing people on AirAmerica are finding people to blame - interestingly some of them are even blaming the same people. But its not time for blame. Plenty of time for that later. Now is the time to get help to the people in need. There'll be time enough for counting when the deal is done.
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really, quite bummed
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I don't know what to make of the looting. One the one hand it is disgusting and embarrassing as a nation. On the other hand the people are desperate. In some cases I think that really the store owners, or the corporate owners of the stores, were they there at the doors to their facilities would be standing there saying "take whatever you need." And I think honestly that were it less frenzied that there are people doing the taking that would be fine with paying if there were anyone there to take money. People taking food, shoes, clothes, batteries, camping gear, whatever, I think maybe they get a pass. For a while it looked like people were hoarding too, but I have settled myself by thinking that the people running out with 10 boxes of diapers or a dozen pairs of shoes were going to spread that stuff around rather than keep it for themselves. Maybe that's naive, but it made me feel a little better. People taking from other people in need, or jamming up relief efforts, or behaving outside the realm of human decency (I heard there were children raped in one of the shelters, people shooting at relief workers), I think there's a zero tolerance under these circumstances. Them and anyone carting out a plasma TV, bust a cap in their ass. Nobody needs a big screen there right now.
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I hope I am not bumming you out
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I fear this will get much worse before it gets any better, and that the ramifications of the whole thing will hit the country as a whole. Its not going to be something we can just watch on TV. What with the impact to gas, the refugee situation, the impending insurance industry hit. Its going to be an ugly fall financially for many many people. I think this weekend I may go buy a Honda scooter. Something that gets 80 mpg. Just for till it gets cold. The way things are going it could pay for itself in a couple weeks. Why is it that everyone in a position to do something in this crisis seems to be thinking too small? Bussing 12,000 people to Houston, how much time does that buy you? You're really only moving the problem. Need some really big, out of the box thinking here, and soon. I hope that occurs to more people than me.
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and yet, as bummed about all the big things, I still have something left to be bummed for Ty. Do you think there's anyone laying in the dark in the New Orleans convention center bummed that Ty got cut from RockstarINXS?

Sigh.

the message underneath that defeated my camera is "Thank Katrina."