A blog of six teacher/author/developers of music materials for use online.noreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:32:56 -0700Blogger http://www.blogger.com136125http://emegill.blogspot.com/en-usnoCreative CommonsMusic,online,interactiveEducational and Political IssuesEducational and Political Issuesnoreply@blogger.comhttp://emegill.blogspot.com/2013/09/in-moment-of-sleep.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:43:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-3349568966588857412In the moment of sleep our mind, seeking efficiency, pushes memories tectonically against one another seeking meaningful overlap. Sequence gives way to a surface of clustered thoughts but deeper a bedrock of personal connectedness.0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2013/07/white-uguy-being-profiled.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Sat, 20 Jul 2013 21:30:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-7218270540853530592Ok, like Obama here is my story. I was riding in my van (read as drug mobile from a cop perspective) in Tiburon, one of the whitest cities in Marin county. I was with my wife to go see a movie. Driving into town with my long hair I was pulled over by a Tiburon cop who said I was driving too close. We saw no cars ahead of us or behind us since we left the freeway on our way into Tiburon 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/09/focal-length.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Sun, 2 Sep 2012 21:14:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-6213839914821240680I am a fan of the Chris Hayes "Up" show on MSNBC. I've realized that what I like is that I have actually seen panelists change their minds on the show and one of the reasons, I think, is that the show constantly changes focal length on issues. The panelists offer input that does not allow the participants to set one focal length (immediate myopic issues vs. more gestalt perspectives) that tends0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/08/poll-on-polls.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Thu, 2 Aug 2012 20:22:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-6069058969245386239 Your browser doesn't support iFrames :( Vote for this poll here.0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/08/discovering-home.htmlBuddhismdancehomeinsightmeditationMindfulnessself reflectionTravelnoreply@blogger.com (Beth Megill)Wed, 1 Aug 2012 07:01:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-5541441562144113564Home is the sensation of relief. I have had a truly incredible summer of travel and escapades.  Starting with a road trip with the Razor Babes to San Francisco, then a solo return trip to the bay area for a visit and a wedding, then off to Chicago for the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project week long work shop, followed shortly by a fantastic honeymoon in the Northern Pacific (Oregon and Washington 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/07/arm-occupy-movement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:00:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-1413848475622230533I remember in the 60s how frightened folks were when they saw armed blacks walking the streets to police the police. I think it would be provocative to have all the occupy folk buy guns and wear them visibly when they next occupy Wall Street. Guns scare me. I would like to scare those who think guns are the solution to violence but don't think I could follow my own advice here. Guns in public1http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/04/soldier-dogs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:55:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-7224958121979755924I just read Soldier Dogs and wish our American educators would approach student learning the same way. They clearly admit that dogs are diverse. They don't even try to train dogs not disposed to their needs. How would that map into student diversity in our schools? Also even dogs apparently predisposed to training do not always succeed. So... we need students ready to learn with natural 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/02/ok-where-did-you-hear-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Donald Megill)Fri, 3 Feb 2012 22:40:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-6675337571139580189I hear so many blatant statements that are far from truth when researched, I'm not talking heavy research -- I mean a couple of web searches.The problem is knowing what is true and reliable on the web. Believe it or not, there are standards to judge a site as reliable and worth having trust. Following is a link "Standard Practices for Evaluating Websites"http://www.coastonline.org/mml/lecture/0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/02/unionize-robots.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:22:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-1561302542459227357You may remember a previous post that suggests we export unions as well as jobs to help the working conditions in other countries to which we send our jobs. But I now think that is not enough. We now need to unionize the robots that replace workers in our own manufacturing plants. How can we be sure the line between intelligent life forms does not include robots? Just think of trying to cross 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/02/american-taliban.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Thu, 2 Feb 2012 22:51:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-984404442631607465This most recent move by Komen to defund Planned Parenthood is disturbing. How is it different from the Taliban who show no respect for women. To me this is just a symbolic burka for American women. Those old white men in congress who think they know best are no better than those Afghan butchers killing women in a stadium for entertainment. I'm getting rid of all my pink tennis balls!0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2012/01/confused.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:31:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-5074457681544577572I found myself in a Unitarian Universalist service this morning as a result of my new granddaughter's dedication. The minister's offering was on the value of a religious left. It was actually wonderful to hear someone in public pronounce unapologetically liberal ideas. It became obvious over time that these Unitarians must be ever vigilant to not allow any creed to slip into their covenant. It1http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-solutions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:11:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-4822944923303704653I wrote earlier that I think the best way to stop outsourcing is to unionize the Chinese. So now we need a pushback on the voter restriction efforts of the retropublicans. My solution there is equally simple. Start by making the reception of any government subsidy due in November only available after they vote in November at the voting booth. In its full implementation, any receipt of any0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/12/get-in-front-of-inevitable.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Donald Megill)Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:33:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-6626661274748660169I have now rationed my TV time. The political cable shows just regurgitate the same fodder hour by hour, show by show. It is of no value. The reason to support a candidate is reduced to the smallest and ugliest of sound bites. Who would vote for the "most conservative" candidate? I mean, really? Isn't the conservative mission to preserve what was and resist change? How can that be of any 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/12/response-of-political-junkie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Fri, 9 Dec 2011 20:26:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-2501517804306760270Grrrrrrr...... I find I am now paying too much attention to all of this. Whenever a life or death event passes it so often proves to be of little consequence in the long run. When I was young and busy like most of Americans and only casually aware of the traumas going on in politics I might have been in a healthier relationship to all of this. But for some reason now it seems that it is 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/11/ethics-and-music-education.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:32:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-4402768054280313634I am taking a course right now through Boston University for my Masters in Music Education. The course I'm taking is Foundations of Music Education: History and Philosophy. For some reason, I preferred the Foundations of Music Education: Psychology and Sociology course I previously took. Oh well, that's besides the point.For my course, this week we're addressing ethics in music education. 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/11/confounded-spelling.htmlhand writingspellingtypingwordswritingwrittennoreply@blogger.com (Beth Megill)Wed, 9 Nov 2011 22:47:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-4895641995858892756I have an admission.  I am forgetting how to spell. Seriously. I think it is a real problem.  I write (pen to paper) so seldom that I have lost my ability to correct my own spelling.   I am dependent on spell check and that wonderfully informative dotted red line that appears to alert me of my spelling foibles. Interesting also that i know how to spell foible but just yesterday 0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/10/some-videos-that-you-might-find.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:53:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-5530843719471870645A random list of videos from youtube that might strike your fancy.0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/10/remedies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:19:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-4795708015842598090Just a couple of recommendations: To bring jobs back home why don't we work to unionize the Chinese and Indian workers (eastern) An investment opportunity -- buy into guillotines (The French might have survived if they could have just keep secret how rich they really were)--Occupy the World It just isn't that difficult. Dave0http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/10/artificially-intelligent-music-world.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Wed, 5 Oct 2011 21:48:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-6398999289092169906I'm just completing the book Swarm and have had a major deja vu. In the 1990s I had many lunches with a visual artist/programmer/friend designing an artificially intelligent evolving world that would generate art of any medium. I didn't realize I was designing my own swarm. This will be the first installment of a description of this art world in hopes that I might trigger an interest in others1http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/09/hire-friend-grass-roots-employment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:13:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-1303428817614222185So here is the link: Hire a friend for a day Let me know if you would participate in a day to hire. If it were big enough we could put millions of folk to work for at least one day. Who needs congress?? Dave2http://emegill.blogspot.com/2011/09/this-is-test-to-see-if-i-can-post-poll.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (David Megill)Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:31:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14493315.post-4154368907438784448I am thinking about polling for those who might like to create a "hire your friend for a day" as a small contribution to the employment problem. I need a poll to sense the interest. Here is a link to a poll as a trial: Are polls good? Dave0