What’s on your mind?

[mtbdudex]

Who here enjoys a fun car with manual transmission?

Well my company Nissan offered employees a special lease rate for 2025 Z car, I just got mine yesterday.
Oh, it’s a manual transmission also, yep just cause. First manual I’ve had & driven since mid 1990’s, got into her, still second nature to shift with a clutch.

Upon placing my lease order on the Nissan employee portal, I had initially picked a pretty blue exterior color, was all set to select it, when there were a few white ones.

Instantly it hit me “my very first new car” bought upon working in 1985 at GM tech center 12 mile and Van Dyke Warren MI was this 1986 Chevy IROC-Z Camaro, white.
That’s me September 1985 with it in my parents driveway, 40 years ago.

Full circle, started and ending my 40 year auto engineering career with a white sports car.

 

[scubachap]

Nice car! And great pics. Have fun with it - When I see pics of them I think those sort of Nissan's really suit US landscapes if that makes sense?

Manual transmission? Is there any other sort of car (sorry an across the pond joke ). Fun cars - my partner has a bit of a thing for smallish soft tops. We never spend too much on them (budget is generally 1 to 2 fully loaded MacBook Pros) but have had an MG TF - brilliant little thing, tremendous fun but could be hard work on a long drive. Went the way of most of those with a head gasket failure on the motorway. Really recommend them but haven't been produced for 15 years so turning into classics and getting pricey. She replaced it with an MX5 Mk III (Miata, I think in the States) - you probably know them well, but a generally easier thing to deal with and a great little tourer. Really recommend those and plenty about secondhand. Personally prefer the MKIII and before shape but YMMV with that.

 

[4sallypat]

48 hours till my first ever FAA AME (Aviation Medical Exam).

Getting very nervous as it all hinges on passing the exam to continue my private pilot license (PPL).

At my age (retirement), long term meds I take, and my decreased eyesight worries me....

UPDATE: After 5 months of back and forth medical documentation, the FAA has finally issued my 3rd class medical cert which allows me to get my private pilot's license!

Very stressful these past months because I thought my age and medications would disqualify me.

Was seriously considering getting a lower class pilot license (Sport Pilot) which would allow me to fly with just a driver's license in lieu of an FAA medical cert.

So now I am going to be monitored by my FAA medical doctor every 2 years in order to renew my certificate.

Now my retirement bucket list is back on track - now starting flight school for my PPL.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Shakespears Sister. That takes me back. Saw them very early nineties at the Methodist central hall, I remember there being a near riot when everyone realised no alcohol was going to be available. Mind I can now hear that song in my head too.

You're welcome!

 

[Apple fanboy]

Who here enjoys a fun car with manual transmission?

Well my company Nissan offered employees a special lease rate for 2025 Z car, I just got mine yesterday.
Oh, it’s a manual transmission also, yep just cause. First manual I’ve had & driven since mid 1990’s, got into her, still second nature to shift with a clutch.

Upon placing my lease order on the Nissan employee portal, I had initially picked a pretty blue exterior color, was all set to select it, when there were a few white ones.

Instantly it hit me “my very first new car” bought upon working in 1985 at GM tech center 12 mile and Van Dyke Warren MI was this 1986 Chevy IROC-Z Camaro, white.
That’s me September 1985 with it in my parents driveway, 40 years ago.

Full circle, started and ending my 40 year auto engineering career with a white sports car.

Ive been driving manual transmission (as in a stick on the floor between the two seats!) all my life. But my last car, a BMW i3s EV is automatic (well technically it's not even that as it doesn't have a gearbox). Took some getting used to, but feels weird when I drive the wife's now. EV is also fun to drive. Especially 0-60 mph if you so wish. Mostly I'm a good boy now though. If I had this car when I was 17 I'd have killed myself for sure.

 

[Clix Pix]

Been years now since I've driven a stick shift car, as eventually the traffic around here just became so heavy and so congested that it just wasn't fun any more. I'll bet, though, that if I were to get back into a car with stick shift, that after maybe an error or two that it would once again become second nature! There's something really special about driving a stick shift; the driver really has a sense of control and of being "one" with the vehicle.....

 

[KaliYoni]

Who here enjoys a fun car with manual transmission?

Well my company Nissan offered employees a special lease rate for 2025 Z car,

Nissan manuals have been a big part of my automotive life! I learned "stick" on a Nissan pickup truck. During my undergraduate years, I drove an old 240Z. That was one helluva car. Sadly, I had to sell it when I needed a reliable car for commuting after graduating.

So as you can imagine, whenever I see a 350 it catches my eye. Hope you post here after you take it out for a few shakedown cruises...

 

[goldmac2006]

Been getting better with my cold.

The coughs are getting better and everything else has subsided.

Btw it totally sucks to get sick because I have so many things overdue, but I can use the spring break to get it sorted ✔️

 

[rm5]

In Musicology (second term of it), we're spending two weeks working with Glenda Goodman's article that deals with Joseph Johnson's "lost gamuts." He was an Indigenous Christian man in the 18th century who published a series of music books to be taught to both Native Americans and colonials. These "gamuts" no longer exist though, and Goodman relied on Johnson's diaries as evidence for her article. She then explains the "colonialist archive," and how scholarly research and discovery is a form of "archival orientalism." In other words, the process of "discovering" new historical evidence is reminiscent of colonialism, because the sources have existed for centuries, and are only being discovered by one person. And the person who makes that discovery takes certain societal, political, moral, etc. views toward the source.

Anyway, this is fascinating to me, and this article is so deep that we are spending six class sessions working with it. I am trying to connect it to broader issues of classical music institutions and power structures - not sure if there is a connection to be made there, but I've been thinking about this all day.

(Hopefully this doesn't classify as a disallowed political post.)

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

In Musicology (second term of it), we're spending two weeks working with Glenda Goodman's article that deals with Joseph Johnson's "lost gamuts." He was an Indigenous Christian man in the 18th century who published a series of music books to be taught to both Native Americans and colonials. These "gamuts" no longer exist though, and Goodman relied on Johnson's diaries as evidence for her article. She then explains the "colonialist archive," and how scholarly research and discovery is a form of "archival orientalism." In other words, the process of "discovering" new historical evidence is reminiscent of colonialism, because the sources have existed for centuries, and are only being discovered by one person. And the person who makes that discovery takes certain societal, political, moral, etc. views toward the source.

Anyway, this is fascinating to me, and this article is so deep that we are spending six class sessions working with it. I am trying to connect it to broader issues of classical music institutions and power structures - not sure if there is a connection to be made there, but I've been thinking about this all day.

(Hopefully this doesn't classify as a disallowed political post.)

Interesting. We were meeting with some friends in the city, and another friend walked past. He had a new job, researching Cultural and Indigenous Music at the Sydney Conservatorium.

Colonial Aquisitionism is still going on, particularly in the area of EthnoBotany.
Western researchers will visit an indigenous people somewhere, and ask about medicinal plants and what they are used for. They then take samples back (without permission) and try to patent them, with no returns going back to the people whose knowledge about those plants is their Intellectual Property.

PS. I forgot to mention the Anthropologist who patented a tribe of Papua New Guineans (the Hagahai (look it up)) in the early 1990s.

 

[KaliYoni]

She then explains the "colonialist archive," and how scholarly research and discovery is a form of "archival orientalism." In other words, the process of "discovering" new historical evidence is reminiscent of colonialism, because the sources have existed for centuries, and are only being discovered by one person. And the person who makes that discovery takes certain societal, political, moral, etc. views toward the source.

Anyway, this is fascinating to me...

If your interest remains after your classwork on the article, this is a (or it can be easily argued the) seminal text on Orientalism and Eurocentric academic work:

Orientalism by Edward W. Said | Open Library

Orientalism by Edward W. Said, 1978, Pantheon Books edition, in English - 1st ed.

openlibrary.org

...and if you want to think critically about art:

The use and abuse of art : Barzun, Jacques, 1907-2012 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Why art must be challenged. -- The rise of art as religion. -- Art the destroyer. -- Art the redeemer. -- Art and its tempter, science. -- Art in the vacuum of...

archive.org

 

[decafjava]

Wow, interesting stuff indeed, speaking of politics I am happy to report I got my first thumbs down reactions on the political news items sub-forum. I got way more likes and a couple of loves as well - just this was amusing to me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If your interest remains after your classwork on the article, this is a (or it can be easily argued the) seminal text on Orientalism and Eurocentric academic work:

Orientalism by Edward W. Said | Open Library

Orientalism by Edward W. Said, 1978, Pantheon Books edition, in English - 1st ed.

openlibrary.org

...and if you want to think critically about art:

The use and abuse of art : Barzun, Jacques, 1907-2012 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Why art must be challenged. -- The rise of art as religion. -- Art the destroyer. -- Art the redeemer. -- Art and its tempter, science. -- Art in the vacuum of...

archive.org

@rm5 & @KaliYoni:

Orientalism is an excellent work - indeed, it is considered a seminal text - (though I would argue that it is a little dated in some ways).

I would also recommend Edward Said's (in the mid 1990s, I had the pleasure of having been invited to attend an extraordinary talk he gave, where I met him, and where he kindly signed a couple of his books for me) "Culture and Imperialism" - a sort of intellectual sequel to Orientalism - which I thought excellent.

 

[decafjava]

@rm5 & @KaliYoni:

Orientalism is an excellent work - indeed, it is considered a seminal text - (though I would argue that it is a little dated in some ways).

I would also recommend Edward Said's (in the mid 1990s, I had the pleasure of having been invited to attend an extraordinary talk he gave, where I met him, and where he kindly signed a couple of his books for me) "Culture and Imperialism" - a sort of intellectual sequel to Orientalism - which I thought excellent.

Edward Said was one of the most interesting academics and historians of the Middle East and helped spark the Post-Colonialist domain of studies. Lucky you got to meet him.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Edward Said was one of the most interesting academics and historians of the Middle East and helped spark the Post-Colonialist domain of studies. Lucky you got to meet him.

Yes, it was; I was very fortunate.

It was one of those private, prestigious functions - he was the keynote speaker - and my former supervisor had very kindly invited me (it was invitation only, and far, far above and beyond my (academic) pay grade) to attend, and also, to attend the subsequent reception.

Edward Said himself was physically commanding, cool, composed, multilingual (he spoke in at least three languages, effortlessly switching between them) and casually sauntered over to play some sonatas by Beethoven at the grand piano in the hall - during his talk - to reinforce some of the points he was making.

Physically, (he was a tall, attractive individual), intellectually, academically, culturally, he soared above his audience, and many of them would have regarded themselves as the academic/intellectual elite of the country at the time.

 

[it wasnt me]

Instantly it hit me “my very first new car” bought upon working in 1985 at GM tech center 12 mile and Van Dyke Warren MI was this 1986 Chevy IROC-Z Camaro, white.

That reminds me...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1595778251506475008

 

[it wasnt me]

speaking of politics I am happy to report I got my first thumbs down reactions on the political news items sub-forum.

I will be leaving local politics (and politics as a whole) at the end of next year. It's a can of worms and I'm unwilling to poke around in it. Life is too short and too beautiful for politics.

Already busy thinking about what comes next.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Just spoken with my Dad. He’s had knee replacement surgery this morning. Seems to be okay. But of course the medication hasn’t worn off yet.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

@rm5 & @KaliYoni:

Orientalism is an excellent work - indeed, it is considered a seminal text - (though I would argue that it is a little dated in some ways).

I would also recommend Edward Said's (in the mid 1990s, I had the pleasure of having been invited to attend an extraordinary talk he gave, where I met him, and where he kindly signed a couple of his books for me) "Culture and Imperialism" - a sort of intellectual sequel to Orientalism - which I thought excellent.

You reminded me that I once attended a lecture by Margaret Mead in the great lecture hall at the University of Papua New Guinea. She was, at the time, considered one of the two great Pacific anthropologists, the other being Bronislaw Malinowski.
It was curious at the time, that some students at UPNG thought she was God's gift to anthropology, while others viewed her as demon spawn.
It turned out that she had stayed in two villages in the Sepik area, who hated each other. She took on the views of one village, wrote nice things about that village and bad things about the neighbouring village. This is totally against the ethics of anthropology and academia in general.
She also wrote a book "Coming of Age in Samoa", describing adolescent promiscuity in Samoa, which was based on a series of tall tales told to her by a small group of teenage girls. In recent years these girls, now elderly ladies, have admitted to leading Mead on.

Similarly, Malinowski fell victim to tall tales told to him.

It seems both anthropologists, and indeed, many others up until the 1980s, held the belief that 'primitive' peoples could not lie,* and would only tell the truth to Great White Strangers.
However, these people had no electricity, the lights (the sun) went out at about 6pm, and they spent a couple of hours before going to sleep telling stories. Some histories, some myths and legends and the like. They got very good at telling stories. When the Great White Stranger comes around asking about things they had no right to ask, they were polite and didn't want to disappoint the GWS. So they told them stories, which the GWS promptly wrote down, and published and got accolades from the Western press and academia.

* Apparently only Westerners were advanced enough to be able to tell falsehoods...

 

[goldmac2006]

Wow, interesting stuff indeed, speaking of politics I am happy to report I got my first thumbs down reactions on the political news items sub-forum. I got way more likes and a couple of loves as well - just this was amusing to me.

I stay off of PRSI. It’s a mod’s worst nightmare.

Most controversial area of the forum.

The only time I talk about presidents and politics, and the polls is my online politics class.

That’s it.

 

[someoldguy]

Who here enjoys a fun car with manual transmission?

Well my company Nissan offered employees a special lease rate for 2025 Z car, I just got mine yesterday.
Oh, it’s a manual transmission also, yep just cause. First manual I’ve had & driven since mid 1990’s, got into her, still second nature to shift with a clutch.

Upon placing my lease order on the Nissan employee portal, I had initially picked a pretty blue exterior color, was all set to select it, when there were a few white ones.

Instantly it hit me “my very first new car” bought upon working in 1985 at GM tech center 12 mile and Van Dyke Warren MI was this 1986 Chevy IROC-Z Camaro, white.
That’s me September 1985 with it in my parents driveway, 40 years ago.

Full circle, started and ending my 40 year auto engineering career with a white sports car.

Have Fun ! Drive it like ya stole it !!

 

[Apple fanboy]

Been outside working all day. I’m roasting. Wish I’d brought more to drink with me. Trying to make the rest of my water last until 5:30 when we finish.
Then the 3+ hour journey home. Nice restful Saturday!

 

[rm5]

I attended a series of very interesting presentations on conducting this morning, both given by prominent professors at two Michigan universities. How to incorporate a human element to your conducting (interaction with students), what to listen for when leading a large ensemble, and they touched a little bit on how to rehearse different sizes of large ensemble.

The topics themselves are very interesting. However, I had some issues with the executions of their talks. First, they assumed that everyone attending was a Music Ed major (which I am not). When they asked what all of our majors were, I had to give a somewhat lengthy explanation of my very non-traditional program. Secondly, both speakers put their presentations in the context of orchestras. I understand how this is helpful, because orchestras are ubiquitous at all levels of schooling, and many Music Ed majors are string players. While I got everything they were saying, I felt it was put too much in the context of orchestras - and not to mention Western classical music - that I did not understand how to apply these concepts.

I don't mean to be overly critical of their presentations, because they were excellent on the whole, but that just really bugged me. I think it's my responsibility at this point to figure out how I might apply these concepts outside orchestras and classical music.

 

[mtbdudex]

Have Fun ! Drive it like ya stole it !!

Well here in Michigan was happy to find regular gas at $3.19/gallon, swiped credit card, opened the fuel door .. and saw the “premium only” sticker ..
Oh well, $1 more per gallon for premium
Totally having fun still.

 

[goldmac2006]

Well here in Michigan was happy to find gas at $3.19/gallon, swiped credit card, opened the fuel door .. and saw the “premium only” sticker ..
Oh well, $1 more per gallon for premium
Totally having fun still.

Y’all got Sam’s Club?

Some locations are $3.19 a gallon of gas. ⛽️