Comments on: The courage to make the move http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2007/07/25/the-courage-to-make-the-move/ Roger Bourland writes about music and life Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:46:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.10 by: Brad Wood http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2007/07/25/the-courage-to-make-the-move/#comment-39055 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:42:06 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2007/07/25/the-courage-to-make-the-move/#comment-39055 I had the occasion recently to spend hours in a car with my brother, who had brought along two books to read and read from. And read he did, until I would cry uncle. One was some quite pedantic text about Buddhism, trying (as best I could tell) to express what was fundamentally paradoxical and inexpressible. As my bro read it his voice got louder and louder, and when I finally commented on the stentorian aspects of the recital he explained that, when he had trouble understanding something himself, he was prone to this. I pointed out that it was excruciating after a while. The other text was some pablum of Osho's, possibly of some use to larval metaphysicians but very very old hat and frankly insulting to the more experienced. If you recall, Osho, before the name change, was the guru figure Bhagwan Shree Rashneesh, who convinced his followers that various inland neighborhoods of Calif. were soon to be all beachfront property, and to sell any of said real estate they had, give him the money, and move to the ashram in Oregon. I have decided that future trips to see the mater in Paradise (the suburb of Chico, not a heavenly abode) will be done as a solitary driver. Roger, the restaurant scene is a familiar one. Once I was treating my mother and late father to a meal at the now lamentably defunct Westside Cafe in Brentwood (or thereabouts). Fine food, a waiter who looked like he was answering a casting call for Hans Brinker lookalikes (David Morton once said he thought the boy should be conveying the food on skates), but another one of those rooms desperately needing some acoustical damping. My father's hearing was getting worse and the clamor and clang got him quite indignant. As his own voice rose threateningly, suddenly the entire room went almost dead silent. He said What the hell happened!? and I replied They are all waiting to hear you make a scene. I had the occasion recently to spend hours in a car with my brother, who had brought along two books to read and read from. And read he did, until I would cry uncle. One was some quite pedantic text about Buddhism, trying (as best I could tell) to express what was fundamentally paradoxical and inexpressible. As my bro read it his voice got louder and louder, and when I finally commented on the stentorian aspects of the recital he explained that, when he had trouble understanding something himself, he was prone to this. I pointed out that it was excruciating after a while.

The other text was some pablum of Osho’s, possibly of some use to larval metaphysicians but very very old hat and frankly insulting to the more experienced. If you recall, Osho, before the name change, was the guru figure Bhagwan Shree Rashneesh, who convinced his followers that various inland neighborhoods of Calif. were soon to be all beachfront property, and to sell any of said real estate they had, give him the money, and move to the ashram in Oregon.

I have decided that future trips to see the mater in Paradise (the suburb of Chico, not a heavenly abode) will be done as a solitary driver.

Roger, the restaurant scene is a familiar one. Once I was treating my mother and late father to a meal at the now lamentably defunct Westside Cafe in Brentwood (or thereabouts). Fine food, a waiter who looked like he was answering a casting call for Hans Brinker lookalikes (David Morton once said he thought the boy should be conveying the food on skates), but another one of those rooms desperately needing some acoustical damping. My father’s hearing was getting worse and the clamor and clang got him quite indignant. As his own voice rose threateningly, suddenly the entire room went almost dead silent. He said What the hell happened!? and I replied They are all waiting to hear you make a scene.

]]> by: ComposerBastard http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2007/07/25/the-courage-to-make-the-move/#comment-38996 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:33:14 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/2007/07/25/the-courage-to-make-the-move/#comment-38996 Wonderfully great post. timely. Im reading your cordelia fine recommendation. In short, the prefrontal cortex - too little and we become a raving maniac; a little too much and we can't make decisions; and way too much we believe we are dead. So, I guess we should be grateful for whatever level of cortex we have. Next time someone mentions a 55 page reading, remember this simple formuae: 1 minute per page. Its a bit tricky, both with film and plays but its approx. Plays may be a little more. The emporer's clothes would make a great opera. Wonderfully great post. timely. Im reading your cordelia fine recommendation. In short, the prefrontal cortex - too little and we become a raving maniac; a little too much and we can’t make decisions; and way too much we believe we are dead. So, I guess we should be grateful for whatever level of cortex we have.

Next time someone mentions a 55 page reading, remember this simple formuae: 1 minute per page. Its a bit tricky, both with film and plays but its approx. Plays may be a little more.

The emporer’s clothes would make a great opera.

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