Disqus - Latest Comments for Swit

Re: Snow and the Beauty of Siblings..

Swit — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:28:54 -0000

glad to provide the hypothetical perspective of the voice-less one. Has she said any words yet? Not to push.

I know you don't groove on the paper Wash. Post, but you should know, if you already don't, that 3 happiness books got reviewed in one Outlook section review yesterday. Gretchen's wasn't totally slammed, but...

Re: Snow and the Beauty of Siblings..

Swit — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:33:30 -0000

Beautiful sentiments indeed. As a 51-yr. old youngest sibling of 3, I can predict how Gianna's story may emerge. Since there's an extra year of space between me and the middle child in my family of origin, compared to the closeness of the older two in age, it's pretty similar to the spacing of your 3 kids, Jeremy. Gianna will probably grow up hearing the narrative of Tonka and Paco as they continually share their tales with others. Sometimes when I hear these "older sibling stories", I'm not sure if I lived through experiencing them as a toddler or if I am just remembering HEARING about them as a toddler. Either way, it's part of my family memories and heritage, too.

Re: Why blog about your personal life?

Swit — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:27:38 -0000

I made my 15 minutes of fame last week. It should help propel The Georgetown Quintet on to more performances. Here's the url:
http://tinyurl.com/ybaawty

You are exactly right that artists look to affect people they don't even know. Yesterday, The Georgetown Quintet played a grant-funded concert to a public audience, 70% of whom were mentally challenged residents from the Jewish Federation of Group Homes. It was AFTER I made arrangements for their organization to bring residents to the concert that I learned that a distant cousin of my father's started the Federation after 4 of his 5 sons (incl. twins) were born with various levels of retardation. I met one of these unknown cousins post-concert. It was very sweet to meet a new relative.

Here are some observations from a composer in the audience who plays piano/viola and is a neurologist by day.

(I am paraphrasing Lt. Col. Jonathan Newmark:)
"...The music was a VERY therapeutic experience for many of the people in the audience with neurological issues. One autistic woman was rocking backward and forward, but when the music began, she sat still, fully involved...For the cerebral palsy patients, the music gets processed more directly than for us because their frontal lobe is missing. So there's no filtering mechanism for (intellectually) receiving the music. It reaches their brain without the filter of social skills interfering, so the experience is more direct or immediate for them, more visceral. That's why they sometimes clap along or sing out...One woman was laughing during the Francaix 1st movement, then quiet during the un-funny slow movement. She "got" Francaix's humor."

For me as bassoonist and ensemble leader, this grant changed my approach to audience-building. I will be calling the Federation for every public concert where we accept donations, i.e. free, to see if they want to transport 40-70 residents once again. They were a very well-behaved audience (with a brief talk on concert etiquette at the start) and their presence made our classical music customs less stuffy. The "normal" (less challenged?) folk in the audience were more relaxed and everyone seemed a little more humble and human for the presence of these very appreciative people. We elevated them and did nothing to "dumb down" what we do. They got a full-strength chamber music concert full of joyful listening. As musicians, we were as gratified as bloggers. Tonight we perform the concert again, in Gaithersburg. We'll see if we can move people there. Keep writing...please.

Re: Cover Art for the Blook…

Swit — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:52:08 -0000

The cover idea is very good and well done. However, I'd work on the graphic of the guy who looks one-legged. And I think his face could be improved too, still keeping some simple lines. And the pieces of trash sort of look like little Easter chicks. Trash is usually mostly or all white. Hope this helps.

Re: How the Times Have Changed…

Swit — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:37:07 -0000

That's just how I felt playing the bassoon/babysitting for your children, Jer. The cycle of life is a beautiful thing. On another matter, the act of reading your 2 new year's diet tips really did something for me, especially the one about waiting 10 minutes before taking seconds. I've already lost 2 lbs! Thanks for the blog.

Re: Why America Should Be Doomed…

Swit — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:26:32 -0000

I'm with you on the marshmellow shooter. Turning sustenance (I know that's a stretch for the marshmellow food group) into a violent game is dimented design. On food, I like what Mike Huckabee said. Paraphrased, if it wasn't a food 100 years ago, we're better off not eating it. However, I find his blending of Religion and State very misguided.

Re: Eco-Friendly Business…

Swit — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:58:14 -0000

How about a "congrats" from me and the noble feeling you got from avoiding the car for 2 days? It amazes and disturbs me how few musicians take Metro when I play an orchestra gig at a site at or within 2 blocks of a Metro station. I'm not picking on my profession, but few Americans seem to realize how easy it is, w/a bit of planning and commitment depending on one's situation of course, to buck the car for public transit sometimes. Even taking one car off the road for a day is a positive, helpful move toward keeping us less dependent on foreign oil. If I was head of Homeland Security...they'd put Public Service Announcements on radio/TV to teach people that we can do our part in specific ways. Good move, Jeremy!

Re: Of Bassoons and Babysitters…

Swit — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:56:20 -0000

Jer, I might just come back if you buy the kids the book, "I Know A Shy Fellow Who Swallowed A Cello." I thoroughly enjoyed being a 2nd-generation babysitter. Your and NFO's 3 are as fun-loving and bright as you and your 4 siblings were in 1974. And if I live to see Calanit's children, I'd be happy to sit for her children, too! Now I'm going to settle into the Wash. Post Outlook section and enjoy the crackle of the pages turning...

Re: Should be an interesting morning...

Swit — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:42:15 -0000

Adam, I think knowing the "enemy" or whatever you want to label them via education/enlightenment trumps any perceived "support" Jeremy offers by his presence at the breakfast. It's the same reason for opposing censorship. I want to know what others are thinking, partly out of self-preservation.

Re: How to react to sexism?

Swit — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:36:10 -0000

excellent idea. Then they'll see w/their own eyes, the power of social networking working against Fitzgerald in this case.

Re: How to react to sexism?

Swit — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:27 -0000

Approach the men employees and tell them that as a customer, you are bothered by their less than professional, antagonistic, sexist words spoken to you about their fellow-employee (in your own wording of course). If their reply bothers you, ask them if you feel it's fair to take the complaint to their boss's level. Interesting that the video shot of the woman's shirt, could truly have been of a man's shirt--it was that baggy, but they chose to characterize her by her gender, in an objectified way. Jer, thank you for sharing this experience.

Re: Homeownership…a pain in the ?

Swit — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:36:59 -0000

Cool, Jeremy (no pun intended).

Re: Homeownership…a pain in the ?

Swit — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:56:16 -0000

Hubby & I will be getting a break from Pepco's Energy Rewards Program for letting them install cycling devices on our thermostats. During the city's peak-usage hours of the hottest months, we're volunteering to let the govt. turn off our AC for 15 min. during an hour that FOLLOWS a peak hour. For a 2-degree shift in temperature when we may not even be home, we'll get a monthly savings of about $16 and an $80 credit (40 per unit), to have the stuff installed. Finally, a way that Obam's stimulus helps us on Main St. and helps the USA use energy more efficiently. Any comments or Qs?

Re: The Unprepared Jewish Generation…

Swit — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:18:41 -0000

Alan Derschowitz wrote (in the 1990s) in "The Vanishing American Jew" that this is the 1st era where there is no state-sponsored anti-Semitism. Maybe Ahmadinejad will bring that back. I can't add much to Shmuel's comment except that the tech age of video will help your children and others forgive, but not forget recent Jewish history. When your 3 darling children are older, I am very willing to share the Nazi memorabilia that my late father brought home from the war--postcard propaganda of Hitler posing w/the pope, posing with German scenery...Polaroids of 22-year old common Nazi soldiers posing proudly with their buddies and toddlers, anti-Semitic political cartoons depicting Jews as large-nosed greedy men... It's chilling stuff to hold and makes remembering the past much easier.

Re: Very thoughtful bathroom stall…

Swit — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:31:56 -0000

And all these years, I thought the "Baby-Changing Station" was where you took your S.O. if you wanted them to alter their behavior...as in the opposite of "Baby, Don't Go Changin'..." Wouldn't that make a good New Yorker cartoon?

Re: “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Swit — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:16:04 -0000

Thanks. I enjoy reading about your parenting. It's generally excellent and wonderfully thoughtful and involved...from what I can tell. But then you had excellent role models!

Re: “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Swit — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:58:33 -0000

Another perspective: While some people do interrupt knowingly, some people are impulsive in conversing and jump in when a thought occurs. Mid-sentence or so, they REALIZE they have just committed a rude behavior and will then genuinely say, "I didn't mean to interrupt." It's difficult to put oneself in others' shoes sometimes. Calanit is a little too immature at 6 to know just how very hard the promise she was making would be to keep. A wise young rabbi taught me to not judge even the guy cutting me off in traffic--perhaps he was rushing to see his wife give birth in the hospital...

Re: Internet Porn and Parenting in a Networked World

Swit — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:11:38 -0000

Parents can sit down with their child and teach them judgment for navigating the Internet, just as they would teach them how to cross a dangerous street. You "empower" the child, saying "when you see such-and-such on the screen, you know that THAT's a site that's dangerous and you would not go there...If one successfully INSTILLS a sense of caution, good judgment and safety, the parent does not need to be there every moment, looking at the chlid's navigation path. Disclosure: As a childless person (though an ace babysitter), I admit this is easier said than done. I don't envy parents their job today, but I think it is doable if the trust between child and parent is very strong.

Re: Selling Kidneys...Conservatives/Liberals United!

Swit — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:20:18 -0000

Good point. I hadn't thought of the teshuvah angle.

Keep writing--I feel like I know your kids quite well!

Re: Selling Kidneys...Conservatives/Liberals United!

Swit — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:50:38 -0000

Let's take organs-for-cash a step further. Here's a gov't program that my friend (not me) fantasized: In order to save society a boatload of expense and misery, offer crack heads or anyone of child-bearing age $200 if they will agree to permanent sterilization. The premise: If someone is so desperate for a bit of cash that they would give up the blessing/privilege of bearing children, they are in no position to responsibly raise a child. What do you think of this?

Re: You think your consultant is tough under fire?

Swit — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:08:40 -0000

Jer, when you present in Anacostia , I'll give you street cred. In 1979 on my last trip to Jerusalem, the armed soldiers on every street encouraged a feeling of safety. More importantly, I was among a population that was tough, pragmatic and great under pressure. Israelis learn as chlidren to report unattended gym bags and packages to whomever is in charge, while Palestinians learn as children that Israel is not on the map. Many New Yorkers are especially tough, too. But most Americans are "soft" and clueless. If some disaster hit in Gaithersburg or Silver Spring I don't think I'd feel confident that passersby could help instead of panicking. Our fire and police workers are another story, but the mentality of most lay people here does not inspire fortitude, awareness and sacrifice. One thing the Dept. of Homeland Security could do is run public radio announcements to make the public a stronger link in our security chain, explaining what scenarios constitute "suspicious behavior" or how to describe a suspect to a cop. Please disagree with me.

Re: 3rd Child QT

Swit — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:52:02 -0000

This is a Test msg. Having trouble posting comments. Ignore.

Re: Learning Sarcasm...

Swit — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:17:44 -0000

Yeah, the delivery is critical to get the laugh and understanding. However, having some level of relationship with the receipient of the sarcastic line is also key. For a REALLY sarcastic, biting line to work, there needs to be trust and history between the 2 parties. In that case you've shared something great. I would not be sarcastic with a new student, at any age, until we have some history together. Kathy...welcome to it...I'm pretty new, too.

Re: Obama, Social Networks, and Legislative Power...

Swit — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:12:06 -0000

Anybody here listening to Glenn Beck for conservative, thoughtful, faith-tinged talk radio in the afternoons? I love his sarcasm. I'd love to know what anyone thinks of his simple-man-connecting-the-dots modus operandi.

Re: We'll Be Liked Again...

Swit — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:10:42 -0000

I've actually heard that the Hamas supporters and their ilk were hoping for a McCain win so that their western enemy would be easier to demonize to their prospective converts and youthful members. In other words, angry old, white leader is easier to hold up in contempt than young, cool-tempered, man of color who will listen to the other side. BTW, listening with open ears is not a sin or a slippery slope to capitulation. I always considered listening to be a rather Judaic quality, as our peeps value discussion and consideration of all things. I'm open to "listening" to your take.