The Grand Pizzexperiment Part 1: The Preparation
Pizza is so simple and it can be so good or so crappy. This week began Kate’s and my quest to find the best pizza in Middletown, CT.
Continue ReadingThe Ethics of “Doing Your Best”
One fascinating element of the scandal at Penn State is how people are having to grapple with the moral question of whether they did the best they could to deal with the situation. I’m realizing that evaluating whether people have done the best they could requires a deeper philosophical look at what that actually means.
Continue ReadingLessons Learned from Kenny Barron
Pretty much every time I play the piano is an opportunity, however indirect, to appreciate all that I learned from 6 years of study with Kenny Barron. This year has been a particularly fertile year for that sort of reflection, as he played two concerts in CT this summer. Beyond that, I’m currently gearing up…
Continue ReadingPesto (with variations)
The recipe below represents an approximation of what we typically do. It’s interesting to note, however, that there is a lot of variation possible with not only amounts (you’ll learn how you like it best) but also actual ingredients, and there are satisfying variations for people who have allergies and sensitivities.
Continue ReadingTop 10 Soul Jazz Tracks
Because I wasn’t sure whether to focus on the swinging end of soul jazz or the more backbeat-driven form, I decided (it’s my blog, after all) to do 10 of each, with brief commentary.
Continue ReadingLucky 13
I initially thought about presenting this as advice, even a set of “guidelines” for a successful marriage, but what the heck do I know? What I am pretty sure that I know is that marriage takes commitment to a code of ethics and behaviors that is conducive to the well-being of the partnership.
Continue ReadingEDS Awareness Month 2011: Accommodations
Welcome to this year’s installment of EDS Awareness on the blog, this time on the topic of accommodations for an “invisible” disability.
Continue ReadingTop 10 Gil Scott-Heron Tracks
I just discovered the news of Gil Scott-Heron’s passing and want to put this list together for all those like me who in this moment are compelled to reflect on his legacy.
Continue ReadingRon Carter Baker’s Dozen: Top 12 + 1 Ron Carter Top 10 Lists
In honor of Ron’s birthday I wanted to come up with a Top 10 list, but narrowing down and leaving things out proved to be too hard. So I came up with 12 Top 10 lists, with an extra one to make a baker’s dozen and accommodate some of my favorite tracks that didn’t fit easily into these categories.
Continue ReadingAdvice to a College Graduate
This is a particularly “transitional” spring, with many of my students preparing to graduate from college, while one of my daughters graduated in December and another is months from wrapping up high school. Amidst this climate, I was asked by a student (well, technically, by his mom on his behalf) for advice relating to this…
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