Please see **** below. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad McCormick, Ed.D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Darryl & Natalia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "Ed Weick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 2:26 AM Subject: Re: [Futurework] Natalia has sent you an article from npr.org
> Darryl & Natalia wrote: > > I agree that there are many pseudo-elite schools laying claims to the > > inspiration of young minds. I agree that the tone and emphasis in many > > courses will be guided by politics. But you still don't get much more > > than the three R's in most publicly funded US schools. > > > > I'm sorry you found Yale lacking in the sixties. I'm sure you would be > > doubly appalled today. Nonetheless, I believe it was Yale that was the > > recipient of an anonymous $100 million dollar donation to cover all > > tuition fees for music students. Provided they don't merely pump out > > marching band music, the money isn't entirely wasted. > > I'm glad you picked this example. The article I read about is said that > the shift > from the students paying to the students getting free tuition would > eliminate the students' sense of entitlement to good grades in return > for all the money they [the students] spent. Now the school > could be more selective/rigorous/... **** Did you pick cite this article because what it says doen't make sense? I'm just happy that Raytheon didn't get the money, and some pooor students don't have to be refused entry to their nearest or most preferred school. The money could have been utterly wasted, in fact badly invested, for defense research. **** > > Do you know the word from architecture education: Charette? ***** Please give a little and enlighten me--I can't find this one in my limited architectural reference books, and I would like to know.**** It's > not an all nite booze and sex and drug and rock-n-roll > party which the students engage > in because they want [however wrongheadedly...] to! > > I stand by my thesis: Leisure is the basis of culture. And the fact that > some succeed/accomplish *despite* living in an artists' garret and > waiting on tables and so forth only proves the same thing as that > not all mine workers get black lung disease (I think that's true?) -- > oh, yes, it's also a bit like some alcoholics are able to make a life > for themselves as alcoholism councellors. As the man who spent his > last decade(s?) of life in madness said: "What doesn't > kill me makes me stronger." *****All this reaction to my statement that the Rio favelas are experiencing tourism because of their vibrant culture is curious. Would you prefer only to hear reports of their misery? If there were any other good news, I would pass it along, but I believe that anything in the order of fundamental change will be a long time coming. Rebellion, international pressure, or regime change, I don't know, but I suspect that because the people still exibit a sense of self, can still enjoy their culture in spite of the poverty, it is possible that they might arrive, if only in part, at their own solutions. **** > > If you want to suffer, please, give me the opportunity to have > what I thrive on, too: Lux, calme et volupte (Sp?). Not everyone, > apparently, has the same needs.... > > \brad mccormick > > > > > > Private schools are the ones that by far offer the most art programs, > > as well as diverse recreational ones. I cannot argue that most will be > > graduating little Dubya's, and interpretation of subject matter by > > those teaching is everything. > > > > I have been mostly disappointed with modern art, architecture, music, > > and literature. When one examines the rest of society, from the lack > > of respect for our planet, to the lack of respect for our fellow > > humans, one can easily argue the case for the lack of guidance and > > leadership because of the elected's poor quality of > > education/upbringing/environment. > > > > As to favelas being unlikely to produce the next Shakespeare or > > 'massive erudition', for the most part you will be right. Most of the > > best of the arts has been produced by rather more secure individuals > > benefiting at least from Maslow's "most basic". It has also typically > > been promoted by established agents. Yet, there are the > > exceptions. Excellent song, music and literature came out of the > > holocaust, and two world wars. In fact, the experience > > of overwhelming emotional loss or anger has been the author of many > > incredible works, and many inspirational leaders. We all grow from our > > most painful moments, in one way or another. My preference would be > > for happy upbringings, but this doesn't necessarily result in a > > guarantee of sanity. Sensitivity develops out of many different factors. > > > > What was interesting to me about the favelas was that there is > > something there culturally for which tourists would risk the gang > > violence. > > I think those tourists are sick -- unless they are really > anthropologists, who, > like the MDs in public health, risk their lives for humanity. ******Would this also ring true for tourists visiting the ghettos of New York and pre-Katrina New Orleans? I visited both for the culture, not to visit poverty. Why shouldn't these people enjoy some entrepreneurial economy, learn from the tourists what's hot or not? They can't sit around waiting for the feds to change, can they? Must this place be forever condemned in our minds to its original shame? Should it remain shunned and isolated until the nation does something for them? Must it only be a place of study for professionals? All that I find far more unsettling and unhealthy.******** > > > > They all have paid guides to walk them through the appropriate > > behavior; what to wear in a place where donning the wrong color can > > inspire the wrath of the wrong groups, and where sudden movements like > > unbuckling a seatbelt can be fatal. But there seems to be enough there > > today for a new tourist industry--and if a lot of it is for the > > tourist mentality, then at least it's providing some income where you > > would expect most to come from drugs, stolen goods or prostitution or > > slavery. If drugs were the only game in town, everyone would be dead. > > The slavery occurs primarily when the favela dweller gets a job on the > > outside. Entrepreneurs are beating the odds, and women are the ones > > who weave, prepare cloth, sew, bake and cook, along with countless > > other tasks from which men have traditionally distanced themselves. > > Word has it the street parties are happening most days and nights, and > > some can't resist the allure of a good party. > > > > We have a different type of security structure, with security systems > > and police that may protect us. You could say that that defensiveness, > > much like that of the Bush government, has been the direct cause of > > aggression and subsequent guilt. Rio's favelas have a system in which > > they don't tend to worry so much about their property being stolen > > because their neighbors are extremely close, watching and ready to > > protect, but they are all in the same boat. Religion has been central > > to the culture, and Ed's point of this aspect affecting behavior has > > validity. They also have little to lose--which puts a different value > > onto property, putting it into a clearer perspective if one is to > > value that which has no price. > > > > The people and their unfortunate circumstances were there before the > > gangs. The gangs did not bring the people, though it can be argued > > that the gangs have led the people into worse predicaments. The people > > didn't just come up with a whole new culture, though their experiences > > there would add or subtract to something already vibrant. Quite a > > sophisticated self-policing and scouting system has arisen which does > > a fairly good job of warning people of imminent gang activity > > and police retaliation. Most will stay indoors, or abandon activities > > in certain areas when word gets out, or if gun shots are heard. They > > have learned to cope, and given this, without the myriad restrictions > > we have in our society, many will, I think, emerge as very powerful > > and even very sensitive people. I think it unwise to underestimate > > what may come from this new frontier. Europe, Asia, and America all > > went through extremely violent pasts to arrive at where-ever they are > > at today. Some is unwholesome, some is good, some is great. > > > > Should you wish to review the findings of the Spring trip by Avril > > Benoit, check out May 05/06 of CBC Radio One. This was an excerpt from > > a series, done after the book Ed has recommended. I realize Planet of > > Slums is an important work, and was discussed on the series, but it is > > possible that the author is overlooking the cultural history the > > people had to have brought with them to these slums. I wasn't > > suggesting that anyone was well off, apart from the drug lords, but > > that in Rio, at any rate, something is stirring, refusing to succumb > > to despair. > > > > I bow to your personal experience, Ed, but you were there some years > > ago, and in a different location. Is Sao Paulo on the coast? It > > doesn't appear to be on my ancient maps. But more to the point, > > people never remain inert for long. Things had to have progressed, > > apart from the violence. As an outsider, you lived in fear to begin > > with, but I marvel that you lasted that long. Was protection was > > provided for you as a special consultant/researcher? Did you sleep > > behind cardboard? The people in Rio are used to it, you were not. The > > kids laugh and play, but you would have been constantly comparing what > > your kids have to what these kids haven't. Perhaps Sao Paulo was more > > oppressed than in today's Rio favela. > > > > Certainly, it's a crime to humanity that these places exist, but I for > > one will be watching how they are going to change the world > > in surprising ways for the better. > I think we can only hope the best for all, including such as the Soviet > sailor who went into > the reactor room of his stricken nuclear submarine > to stop a boiler leak that other wise would have > blown up the vessel -- and when he was finished his comrades could not > get the > hatch open again to let him back out. The ship did not explode; the > crew survived, > except for this hero. > > Damn (and a pox on) all those who put persons unnecessarily in harm's way. > > May we all have a good, safe, healthy and even enjoyable day! (At least > I personally am hoping for one!) > > \brad mccormick > > > > > > Natalia > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > *From:* Brad McCormick <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > *To:* Darryl & Natalia <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > *Cc:* [email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]> > > *Sent:* Sunday, May 21, 2006 3:49 AM > > *Subject:* Re: [Futurework] Natalia has sent you an article from > > npr.org > > > > Quoting Darryl & Natalia <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>: > > > > > American socialization has been shaped by the market place, by > > the cold > > > demands of corporate agendas--which at the last count very much > > included the > > > military agenda. If culture was still encouraged at school, which is > > > > > unlikely at all but the elite private institutions today, > > > > My experience at Yale in the mid 60's and elsewhere leads > > > > me to think you are too optimistic here. If culture is > > > > encouraged at "elite" schools, it is mostly, from my experience, > > > > in the hypocritical way that honesty is also encouraged: > > > > Don't cheat but if you get a low grade you may suffer > > > > badly for the rest of your by-your-poor-performance-likely- > > > > shortened life. The most important thing about the Iliad > > > > is remembering who did what to who to answer questions > > > > on the final exam. In this regard, the only reason the Iliad > > > > is "higher" than a MacDonalds menu is that people generally > > > > find it harder to memorize the facts in it and therefore can be > > > > tested more "rigorously". Dickens is surely one of the > > > > greatest authors because his books contain lots of difficult > > > > to remember facts unlike, e.g., Sophocles' _Oedipus at > > > > Colonus_, which clearly states: "Best of all not to have > > > > been born; second best to have seen the light and go back > > > > swiftly whence on came. The feathery follies of > > > > his youth once past, what trouble is beyong the range of man?..." > > > > [Sophocles didn't know about the SAT's....] > > > > Shame on those who use high culture to hurt persons > > > > [No, I am not talking about the Nazi leaders here but > > > > about "our" teachers who are proud of being "tough"] > > > > and thereby teach by example if not by their bocal (I believe the > > > > Spanish word for mouth is "boca") effluents that > > > > culture is truly anti-life. > > > > \brad mccormick > > > > then a revival of > > > > > > > appreciation could occur. A steady diet of math and computers > > leaves the > > > soul rather empty, and the misguided concept of having > > possessions to fill > > > the emptiness inside results. > > > > > > Culture, much like sports and outdoor recreation, seem to have > > their very > > > specific place, not to mention their price. It's become rather cost > > > prohibitive, unfortunately especially for the young. Street > > musicians are > > > now licensed, theatre and opera are a costly occasion, and pro > > sports is > > > costlier than the arts. Enjoying the parks can cost a pretty > > penny too. It > > > seems that the only things the feds fund freely these days are > > corporate > > > concerns. > > > > > > Interesting how the Favelas in Rio are actually doing well > > culturally. So > > > much so that their main source of income has become tourism. The > > CBC Radio > > > One toured a few of the major world cities' illegal communities, and > > > discovered a vibrant community in Rio. People there live in > > relative safety > > > because neighbors watch out for each other. Most people abide by > > a code of > > > behavior that, once understood, inspires a general sense of > > trust, and apart > > > from gang violence, most people make the time for song and > > music, art and > > > even architectural accomplishments out of low cost/no cost > > material. Women > > > > > particularly have been thriving because of demand for arts and > > crafts. > > > > This, surely is very good. But it is not Bach or Josquin, > > > > or Kant or Husserl, or Palladio or Louis Kahn.... > > > > and never likely will be. > > > > The rough and tumble of the streets cannot produce "massive > > erudition" and > > > > connoisseurship. Callouses help one to survive at the price > > > > of desensitizing, etc. > > > > Perhaps high culture does not deserve to exist? > > > > \brad mccormick > > > > It's > > > > > > > as if we have been provided assurance in this new dark age, as a > > result of > > > their budding successes, that arts and culture once again prove > > to be the > > > foundation of society and economy. I'm sure that Ray has been > > following > > > closely. > > > > > > Natalia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Not that I would suggest that America must fall to its knees and > > be deprived > > > of all things material so that it could at last appreciate the > > life that > > > still pulses deep within... > > > > > > Natalia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Brad McCormick, Ed.D." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Cc: <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2006 2:41 PM > > > Subject: Re: [Futurework] Natalia has sent you an article from > > npr.org > > > > > > > > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >> > Natalia thought you would be interested in this story: NPR : > > Tiny Houses > > > Find a Friend on the Gulf Coast > > >> > > > >> > > >> I heard this one. Some of the houses are 70 sq/ft -- but also in > > > "daddy's" > > >> back yard so that the tenant can use the facilities in the big > > traditional > > >> house. > > >> > > >> The Unabomber certainly was a proponent of small houses -- but with > > >> self-sufficiency. > > >> Today's NYT has a fine article: "Bigger Housese, Longer Commutes" > > >> > > >> > > http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/realestate/21cov.html?_r=1&oref=slogin > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyti mes.com%2F2006%2F05%2F21%2Frealestate%2F21cov.html%3F_r%3D1%26oref%3Dslogin> > > >> > > >> I think the problem is largely that Americans' socialization -- > > even > > >> many with > > >> PhDs -- does not cultivate in them a love for high culture but > > rather a > > >> lust for more square feet. > > >> > > >> I knew the son of the person I consider one of the important > > writers of > > >> all times -- not comparatively, but irrespective of comparison: > > Hermann > > >> Broch. > > >> "Broch's son" lived in a one bedroom apartment with his wife on the > > >> upper east > > >> side of manhattan. It was a small apartment: the kitchen was > > especially > > >> small, > > >> perhaps 5 by 6 feet??? But it was a place filled with the > > culture of > > >> pre-WWII "Vienna" (and also a few chotchkies(sp?)). I am sure > > there > > >> are MacMansions in Westchester that are furnished to a higher > > level of > > >> culture than Broch's little apartment -- I am sure of this > > because I > > >> believe there exist persons in our society who have both a lot > > of money > > >> and also a > > >> lot of cultivation -- but I suspect these are few. Broch's little > > > apartment > > >> was tight on square feet, but rich in "the life of the mind". > > I loved > > >> visiting > > >> him and his wife -- I would always get a glass of fine cognac > > (well that > > >> would > > >> probably be available in many of the MacMansions...), but I would > > >> savor to look at the details in the apartment: the lovely japanese > > >> screen on the > > >> libing room wall, the cigarette holder on the table (not that I > > smoked), > > > the > > >> bookcase, the poster of his father from Surkamp Verlag (sp?). > > >> Aristocracy reduced to having to count its pennies, probably, but > > >> a graciousness that generates a world of meaningful symbols, > > not just > > >> "space". Of course, the symbols were meaningful *to me*, and > > >> another might have found it all not really serious compared to > > >> acquiring another company or exceeding wall street's > > >> expectations by a quarter percent.... > > >> > > >> Was man made for the Sabbath, or was the Sabbath made for man? > > >> > > >> Was man made for space, or was space made for man? > > >> > > >> Of course, given my druthers, I'd like to live some place > > >> like Katsura, or even just an apartment in one of Trump's towers > > >> (there was once a piece in the NYT about an apartment in > > >> Tudor City across from the UN, a "triplex", where the owners, > > >> went away each weekend -- no, not to the Hamptons, no, not to > > >> the Berkshires -- but to their *third floor* for the weekend --> > > >> now *that's* where I'd like to live. But if I can't live there, > > >> I'd rather live in a small place where I had the leisure to savor > > >> my Glenkinchie in my Kakumi Seiho sake cup, than be > > >> putting in sweat equity to earn square feet on the road. > > >> > > >> Why is it better to be a kamikaze pilot than to have > > >> a long commute? Because the kamikaze pilot only > > >> has to make the trip once. > > >> > > >> \brad mccormick > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5366823 > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr. org%2Ftemplates%2Fstory%2Fstory.php%3FstoryId%3D5366823>> > > >> > > > >> > This message was included: > > >> > > > >> > Anti-FEMA Trailer plans > > >> > > > >> > *Listen to this story* > > >> > Please click on the headline to the story using a RealAudio or > > > WindowsMedia player. > > >> > For players or technical support, please visit NPR's Audio > > Help page. > > >> > <http://www.npr.org/help/index.html?showdiv=100 > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr. org%2Fhelp%2Findex.html%3Fshowdiv%3D100>>. > > >> > > > >> > *Order a text transcript of this story* > > >> > <http://www.npr.org/transcripts/ > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr. org%2Ftranscripts%2F>> > > >> > > > >> > Support for NPR comes from UPS > > >> > ******************************************** > > >> > UPS. Providing small businesses with everything from package > > delivery > > > solutions to capital financing. Learn more at > > <http://UPS.com/smallbiz > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2FUPS.com% 2Fsmallbiz>>. > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > _______________________________________________ > > >> > Futurework mailing list > > >> > [email protected] > > >> > http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffes.uwat erloo.ca%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ffuturework> > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Let your light so shine before men, > > >> that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16) > > >> > > >> Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21) > > >> > > >> <![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/ > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.user s.cloud9.net%2F%7Ebradmcc%2F> > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Futurework mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffes.uwat erloo.ca%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ffuturework> > > > > > > > > > -- > > Let your light so shine before men, > > that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16) > > > > Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21) > > > > <![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/ > > <https://www.mail.cloud9.net/horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.user s.cloud9.net%2F%7Ebradmcc%2F> > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Futurework mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > > > > -- > Let your light so shine before men, > that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16) > > Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21) > > <![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit my website ==> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/ > > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
