][<,
You are too thoughtful and optimistic to punish. In my second year coaching
lacrosse, the kids were in 6th grade, after reading many books on youth
sports and speaking with various coaches, going to clinics, in general,
preparing intellectually for a walk in the woods, I decided, that during my
one on one meetings with each player at the beginning of the year, I would
pose the question: "If you (fill in the blank with something for which the
individual might need discipline), what do you think would be a good
punishment, or how do you think I could get your attention?" There were
many standard requests to run laps and do push-ups, but believe me, there
were lots of very creative answers. One fellow, the second son of two
prominent members of the Yale Psychology Department answered: "Well coach,
you know, I never really liked isolation and since I am very chatty, maybe
the best thing would be to make me go stand in a corner." My guess, is he
had been made to stand in a corner more than once. On the lacrosse field
this is not as effective, however, we came up with a modification which I
still use. At the beginning of practice, if the atmostphere is right, we
tip a goal over so it becomes a netted triangle; it is called the Dunce
Cap. It is hauled off to the corner of the field and used as an isolation
teepee of sorts. The kids really would rather play than stand in the Dunce
Cap, and they do look a little silly there. But ][< I can imagine you
looking through those squares like little paintings of life's matrix.
^
:)
By the way, I just saw Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). Had read the
book, but not seen the movie. I bet Hunter Thompson got a few punishments
as a child. Where did all the Samoan's go?
Best,
Leland
Leland R. S. Torrence
Leland Torrence Enterprises and the Guild
17 Vernon Court, Woodbridge, CT 06525
Office: 203-397-8505
Fax: 203-389-7516
Pager: 860-340-2174
Mobile: 203-981-4004
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
www.LelandTorrenceEnterprises.com
-----Original Message-----
From: The listserv that doubts.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gabriel
Orgrease
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 8:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [BP] Dimensional Variations and Field Errors
Leland Torrence wrote:
> "relatively perfect"
> Yo Gabby! Please explain how I might use this term in the future. Is
this
> like the two meter rule?
Leland,
As I see it perfect is a state of mind, not an objective reality, and as
such like any other non-absolute subjective quality it is relative to
other criteria. In the case of the stone floor to hold grout joints of
even width and parallel lines as perfection would result in an
installation that did not meet the perfection that would please the
aesthetic eye of the particular judge, the owner and future primary
occupant of the bathroom. The grout will make a considerable difference
in going from dark lines now to alabaster lines that will reduce their
visual register. The variations in grout line, along with the vein color
variations and existing stains in the stone reinforce the most important
story for the owner that the installation is twice salvaged.... as that
is their business of architectural salvage not so much the authenticity
of salvage as it is the illusion and the story. As in a cast metal table
they picked up for $25 then gussied up in the back corner of the lot
sells for $800 not so much as it by itself is valuable as much as it is
sold by the overall context of the showroom/garden area that pulls on
one's imagination -- the surrounding objects and the conscious subtle
and intended imperfections of the built environment reinforce the story.
So if you can find anyone that will believe you when you say relatively
perfect then have a go at it!
As a child as punishment for a modest joke in the school cafeteria I was
told to stand and face a painted concrete block wall. It actually had
more to do that a few years earlier I had given the cafeteria attendant
woman's son a good and smart bloody nose when he said something
particularly crude about my mother and after he had hurled at me and hit
with a snowball with a rock in it. So the woman was predisposed to have
it out for me (her husband was the local well driller -- I spent many
hours watching him work -- such a curiously kool profession).
Regardless, one can stand at close proximity to a concrete block wall
and be bored and feel tortured, or one can find it entertaining. I found
it entertaining to study the imperfections, the spider lines, the bumps
of mortar, to map out the wall. For the most part none of us looks at
the world in this manner, we would not ever be able to stand it and some
of us would go mad in the process, if we have not already... but I think
it is interesting that if we know to do it that we can go to that place
of small details and focus. Attendant on this was that the cafeteria
attendant was frustrated when she approached me to release me from
torture I was very happy to describe to her how sincerely interesting
the wall was. I got more pleasure from that.
Two young women approached us as we were standing in the garden the
other evening and asked if they could do a photo shoot the next day of
John Giorno. He is to be their guest of honor at a spoken work festival
in Montreal. They were given permission as long as nobody saw them do
it... the owner (away on the left coast) of the site charges a hefty fee
for photo shoots at the site. I did not get to meet John Giorno. Nor did
I hear him in the garden.
][<en
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