|
Apologies that some of this is old. I'm still catching up post-viewbook.
I was struck by this article in the NYT is about the cost insurance companies stalling when it comes to paying heath care providers.
Tardiness or refusal to pay what doctors consider legitimate medical claims may add as much as 15 to 20 percent in overhead costs for physicians, forcing them to pursue those claims or pass along the costs to other patients, according to Jack Lewin, a family doctor who is chief executive of the California Medical Association, a professional group of 35,000 physicians.
While I think this questionaire was probably a bit too edgy for high school, it would seem the people kicking up a fuss SOooo missed the point.
So now Jeb Bush wants ninth graders declare majors. Oy! I was barely prepared to declare one at twenty.
Move over lava lamp. Now there's a laser pod. Pretty cool! Even more cool is the puzzle floor.
How is it news that the Sci-Fi channel did a black hole movie. Aren't cheesy, outrageous TV movies part of Sci-Fi's raison d'être?
By now you may have heard about the lawsuit against MySpace over a girl that was sexually assaulted by a guy she met on the site. Since when do parents let their 14-year-olds go out with guys they don't know? While the assault was terrible, there was a lot of communication taking place between the girl and the perp outside MySpace, lots of opportunities for the parents to be asking their daughter questions.
Apparently, MySpace related crime swings both ways. Witness this story about a man who was misled by two girls and then robbed at gun point.
Comments
Catching up
Last Monday, Jon Erik and I celebrated our second anniversary. The cotton anniversary. Jon Erik likes the tradition of the traditional gifts.
I feel like I did a very guy thing. I got him clothes that he'll have to exchange. I wasn't exactly mailing it in-he's been talking about needing to get some new clothes. But it wasn't the perfect thing either, because nothing was the right size. He lost some weight not too long ago, so HE doesn't even know what the right size is anymore.
He, on the otherhand, got me a just-right, thoughtful thing: 1,000 thread count sheets. Yes, they exist. And they feel fabulous!
And then we had a yummy champagne dinner at Sawyer House, topped off with a chocolate raspberry souffle.
Ah, the joy of camera phones!
In feline news, our boy kitty is working out with weights. A while back, he started to crawling in the space behind the drawers under the bed. He'd work a drawer open with his paws, get in the drawer and then squeeze over the back of the drawer into the space behind it. There were two problems with this. One, it left the drawer open for us to trip over and two, he often dug out the contents of the drawer. Clothing and claws really aren't a good combination.
So in an attempt to keep him out of the drawers, we tried using free weight plates, first in front of the drawers (more tripping ensued), and then in them. The weights in the drawers worked for a week or two, but now he's occassionally working them open again. My boy is getting so strong.
Even more disturbing is that I once interrupted him AND Electra playing with a drawer. It's just bad when your cats start teaming up on projects of destruction together.
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8573Comments
The Gong Show Reincarnated
So because Jon Erik can't live without background noise, we've got America's Got Talent on here. It reminds me of the Gong Show from the 70s. And for the record, I never could stand Regis Philbin.
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8491Comments
Nothing
So I'm off this week doing nothing, just recouperating after shoving the viewbook off to press. In honor of doing nothing, I give you this:
Dave Barry's review of the book Doing Nothing.
Of course, even when one does nothing, one is doing something, however basic... sleeping, eating, etc. So to be specific, I've been sleeping, doing laundry, cooing at the kitties, playing Civ IV, and breaking in my new computer.
Yay! I got a new computer. A Toshiba Core Duo, 14.1 wide screen, 1 GB RAM, DVD burner, dedicated graphical memory. Woo hoo.
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8346Comments
I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen, but I don't care. Basically nothing seems worth thinking about. I can't be bothered with anything recently.
My mind is like a bunch of nothing, but I guess it doesn't bother me. I haven't been up to anything recently. I've pretty much been doing nothing to speak of.
I haven't been up to much lately. I've basically been doing nothing , but it's not important. I can't be bothered with anything recently. I've just been letting everything happen without me lately.
I've just been staying at home not getting anything done. I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning. My life's been pretty unremarkable these days. Eh.
"The Fantasticks" is Fantastic
Last night I went to see the preview of The Fantasticks at Willoughby Fine Arts Association and it was really great. And I'm not just saying that because Jon Erik is in it.
It was very funny, a little bitter sweet. The two young men in the production (tenors) were obviously scraping the bottom of their ranges in their baritone-ish roles, but their diction was crisp enough to carry the lyrics. Otherwise the singing was great -- clear, perfectly tuned. I was particularly impressed with the female lead. The part calls for a very agile soprano -- someone with classical training as oppossed to a Broadway belt -- and she definitely had it.
The cast was mostly local veteran actors, who were able to add depth to their characters. The players were particularly funny, with stage personas on top of well developed actor-characters. Of course the one not-so-veteran is Jon Erik. (Love you honey!) He's in no danger of overplaying his part with grandios gestures, but it's a solid performance, he moves well, and it shows a great deal of growth in his acting abilities.
I've always thought that The Fantasticks is self-conciously theatric as written, but this production played that up. Improvised bumbling in the dark before and after each act reminded the audience that the ensemble was creating a scene. The musicians, visibly positioned behind the main platform on the set instead of in the pit, were a reminder of artifice of music theatre. The Mute sprinked glitter rain and paper snow. The spare set consisted of a multilevel platform, a few boxes, a stool, two leafless trees and a big steamer trunk from which props and people were produced.
A kid in the audience was overheard saying, "I think there are stairs inside that box." Yeah, you know it's Brechtian when a grade-schooler is pointing out the mechanics of the show.
P.S. For any of you planning on seeing it, I will be attending the performances on Sunday 6/11, Saturday 6/17, and Saturday 6/24.
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8260Comments
Hi Trish,
I got directions, so we'll meet there. Enjoyed your review!
Whew!
The viewbook. The project that seems to have eaten the last few months of my life. Light at the end of the tunnel.
Yes, I have lost the ability to complete sentences and edit out cliches. It's been one hell of a project. I think my inner cat lost one of its lives on this project.
It has been a huge undertaking...
1000+ emails
70+ students interviewed
6+ days of photography
45 students featured (last time I counted)
50% longer
Tons richer
It really is an awesome piece.
When I think about what we started with last year and where we are now... I'm proud. And tired. And just a little bit sad.
Sad that it was such an effort, an effort to stay positive through the last few months difficulties (budgets, layoffs).
And above all [it's finally official and I can say it], sad that my immediate manager is leaving and this is the last thing he'll have a hand in.
Or maybe its just a post-project slump. This project has possessed my mind, that now I don't know what to think about. I know there are a ton of things I back-burnered. If only I could remember what they are.
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8174Comments
Apostrophes
This about says it all. Stolen from Lisa.
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8214Comments
Performance News
For those of you that don't know, Jon Erik is in a production of The Fantastics at Willoughby Fine Arts throughout most of June. He's playing one of the fathers.
The Fantasticks
Book by Tom Jones
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Based on Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand
Directed by Jacqi Loewy
June 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24, 2006 at 8:00 p.m.
June 11, 18, & 25, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.
Sign Interpreted/Audio Described Performance June 25
Corning Auditorium, reserved seating
Matt and Louisa think they understand love, but it is only through experiencing the obstacles of the outside world that they learn how true their love can be. Sword fights, silliness, song and magic make up this timeless story of youthful romance. The world's longest running musical, The Fantasticks' unforgettable score includes "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain." (Rated G)
For tickets:
http://www.fineartsassociation.org/performance.html
Trackbacks
Trackback URL for this entry is: http://blog.case.edu/pls9/mt-tb.cgi/8168Comments
LinkBlog (Powered by del.icio.us)