year1buick

Man, I can't believe you remember that. I haven't a clue what mine was. Besides, we had Tony Hall writing in 94--I'm not sure we even had them that year. Or, if we did, they didn't last through the winter season. I don't recall any of the summer changes--and there were about a billion of 'em-- ever coming in the form of printed charts. (Brazale was a different story, though...)

Yeah, I forgot to stress the sociological factors--you're exactly right. (I'm the biology major, wife's the sociology major... :) ) It's a combination of factors. She's always stress that parents shouldn't be afraid to take an active role with their children's school and teachers, and that they should act (if they feel something may not be right) early on, because change can be so difficult once someone reaches adulthood.

My wife has a background in psychology and sociology (she's got a degree in the latter) and is finishing up her MED in Special Education, with an emphasis on emotional and behavioral disorders. We've talked about these issues quite a lot, and she mentioned to me once that, from what she knows, personality disorders (not borderline) can be very difficult to deal with. I’m not saying that's what this guy had (thought it kinda sounds like it), but if he did-- no one may have been able to reach him. It's a very scary thing. I think that what's so disturbing and frustrating about issues like this, and mental illness in general, is that there's no MRI or blood test to show whether someone has a malfunctioning brain that’s resulting in something like psychosis or personality disorder, yet--like every other organ in the body-- the brain can obviously have a break down in functioning too. The only problem is, personality, emotion, etc. are all subject to the whims of biochemical processes within the brain. (They’re just so #### complex, we’ll probably never understand the true mechanics behind them--don't hold your breath for an equilibrium equation for jealosy or anger) It would be ludicrous to expect someone with Type I diabetes to start producing insulin again, yet we expect everyone (illness or not) to not act crazy. Obviously, diabetes doesn't result in the horrible kinds of consequences sometimes associated chronic mental illness. In a similar vein, we wouldn't expect someone high on LSD to be able to control their behavior--we'd expect "craziness." Instead, taking the drug itself would be considered the deviant behavior. Yet, when the imbalance isn’t from some exogenous source…different rules apply. [Please note: In no way, shape or form am I defending this guy's actions. They’re horrifying. Nor am I "feeling sorry" for him or stating it’s society’s fault. I'm just trying to point out that this is more complicated than often given credit for. Had my family been affected by something like this, I can only imagine how angry I would feel—despite everything I’ve just written.] I supposed the best that can be done, and what I think people tried to do in this case, is be as careful as possible in watching for the signs, and be ready to take immediate action if they look as if they're about to cause harm. Not an easy thing to do; probably impossible in many cases. Again, that's what so scary about it...

Hmm, tough call. Favorite B.J. songs... So many to choose from... "Wheels on the Bus" "Boom, Boom Ain't it great to Be Crazy?" "Imagine"

I'm an alumnus (94-97, R-TV-F) and returned 2 1/2 years ago (as a post-bac) to study biology, towards a pre-dentistry track.

I saw him play earlier this year, in a free lunchtime concert they gave at the One O'Clock lounge.

Yeah, I've had a few, off and on, since I aged out. (Less now than I used to...) They've all been variations on just a few themes: trying to catch up with the corps as they march towards the field to perform a show (usually due a missing horn, uniform pieces, etc.), coming in mid-season and not being able to keep up with the music and drill during a show (or not having any idea what's going on) or starting the season, only to realize that I should have aged out (and, somehow, no one caught it) and then freaking out that I've got to tell someone and drop out, or the corps will be disqualified.

That tradition was carried on during my marching days as well...

Scott played the solo in 91 Sky Ryders as well. From what I heard, it was his brother who started (or at least played a role in) the "I'm wet" saga yelled during BD shows. (Whom I also heard played an integral role in a missed release in 93 Regiment's Estancia )

Star of Indiana ('90, in particular. )

I think I remember Garrett being at sky in 91 as well. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned yet, but Cindi Baumgartner also taught at Regiment for some time. (She was there in 92--not sure for how long prior...)

Doesn't sound logical or over-thought (under, if anything...)

That move was insane-- we were so close that we brushed up against people in the other two blocks. Plus, the guard did work as well. It was a battle, all season long, for the brass staff to keep us playing that portion of the music up to snuff (we were so preoccupied with staying alive). It's kinda deceptive on TV--from that high angle, it doesn't look overly scary, but on the field...

Heh ... My grandfather (still living) was a captain in Patton's Third Army. Not long after I read the February camp report from Regiment--detailing the -25 degree temps-- I asked him how cold it was when they marched (three days straight) into Bastogne, and he said -10.

Or, in a similar vein, I could advise members of this forum to read any other posts but your's-- same idea, really. B) Not exactly fair, huh? (BTW, I wouldn't actually do that...) Would you honestly like me to draw conclusions about you, as a person, based solely on the few posts you've made on this forum? Probably not. I've seen rudeness, in one form or another, from individuals in just about every corps out there. (Some even mentioned in your list...) It happens to the best of them. Talk is cheap. (Uninformed talk, even cheaper...) If you really do want to sack up and get to know the corps, then go ahead and volunteer a little time. Learn a few names--get a few of them to know your name. Otherwise, this is just so much hot air...

Agreed. :)

Then, why, should people opposed to amplification sugar coat theirs?

I think your post is both pretentious and condescending. I've heard many well-reasoned, opposing opinions that were just as "plain and honest." Really. What exactly constitutes "the drum corps community?" Who are "they?" People still marching? I wouldn't think so--I see plenty on here who still do. Or, is it just those who post on DCP? Considering your comment, "they aren't posting here," I would have to assume this is correct. However, by your own "nerdy" posting, you've now equally disqualified youself from the community.

That's the aspect ratio that the original material was shot in, 2.35:1--it's wider (or narrower) than the 1.85:1, so they would have to crop the sides to get it to fit on your 1.85:1 HDTV, fullscreen. (Just as 1.85:1 would have to be cropped to fit on an older standard TV).

In a similar vein, my DirecTv HD sometimes suffers from macro blocking during fast transitions or scenes with a lot of movement--with drum corps, this could be even more of a problem, detracting from the otherwise improved viewing.

In 94, one of the shows in MA, just before Finals (Pittsfield, maybe?). It was on a mud-soaked baseball field, with the marching grid layed out at a severe angle to the stands (which, by the way, felt like they were about a mile away-- our staff had the best view... from the pitcher's mound.) By the time we went on, you couldn't make out any lines in the middle portion of the field. Just mud. Needless to say, our show was completely FUBAR. Have you ever played with one of those magnetized football board games, where you flip a switch, and all the players scatter in every direction? For those eleven minutes, it felt like we were on one... By this point in the season, we all knew our sets points (if there ever are such things in a Tony Hall show...) and form relationships pretty well, but you still need some sort of visual cues as to where the hell you are, or at least if you're facing the sideline--we just couldn't tell. (Those lines were gone too...) Best part was the 360 turnaround/wedge at the end. With no decent markings and an off-angle sideline, everyone started their crab step at slightly different angles, and the wedge became an amorphous blob, with all of us just trying to make it out alive. The whole thing was surreal. Afterwards, we were all like, "what the hell...?"

I get a couple of HD ESPN channels with DirecTv--it would be cool to be able to record an HD broadcast of Finals on my DVR. (I haven't actually had the chance to view any of the newer DVDs-- it would my first chance to hear it in DD 5.1)

Beyer Stadium, Rockford IL. R.I.P. (Along with a couple of unlucky gophers...)

Death Hunt was actually from On Dangerous Ground. In 94, our closer was a mix of music from it and North By Northwest. (White Witch Doctor was also from a movie, of the same name)

Your argument, based on original "intent" of music, would pretty much rule out anyting that wasn't written specifically for drum corps. I don't think it makes much sense-- I highly doubt that Dvorak imagined future tie ins with The Wedge as he wrote New World, but that doesn't mean it could never be used to make a totally bad*** drum corps show (which, in my opinion, it was).