HornTeacher
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Posts posted by HornTeacher
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He was physically assaulted, so no surprise.
Very, very true, Lance. And yet...not always a practice followed across the board. I think we've all seen cases of that.
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Given that many on a corps staff are performing their duties on a remunerative basis not anywhere near commensurate with the amount of time and energy which they give, I would tend to think that, out of fairness, they should be receiving word of any prospective changes to their corps from their corps itself...not as fodder for speculation on an internet site. I would guess that is the very least that any one of us would not only hope for, but expect if we were to be the ones in their shoes.
(Climbing back into my hole of naivete, and re-erecting my "Pollyanna" mailbox.)
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If, as has been reported, the police did in fact offer Mr. Snyder the option of pressing charges against the attendant, I find that to be rather telling
I am going to assume that the attendant is a resident of Indiana...or Indianapolis itself. Mr. Snyder (as well as the entire Trooper organization) can be thought of as being "outsiders" -- there for a short duration of time, then returning back home. I would think that it is simply common human nature to show, even subconsciously, a bias toward a fellow individual of common residence to one's self. Though I would (and almost always DO) attempt to extend a feeling that a law enforcement official would be of a "justice first" philosophy, I also think that he (or she) might have that subconscious bias toward one of his own. To almost immediately take the side of an outsider against a "local" speaks volumes to me, especially when it would have been just as easy to give the individuals their space and allow time to hopefully heal the wounds.
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I will take issue with those who maintained, and I quote: "a (weak) elbow." Having watched this a number of times, I would hardly classify the initial contact...the elbow...as being of a "weak" variety. If one watches the video carefully, it is quite evident that the stadium official put a pretty good amount of bodily impetus behind the elbow...which, by the way, appears to have been thrown (and connected) at the jaw, and not at the neck. (Also notice that the stadium official steps forward with his right foot just as he delivers the elbow. This indicates a clear intent to deliver the blow with impetus.) Not only that, but it is not like throwing an elbow behind you -- an action which one might follow with an "oops...excuse me." This was delivered in FRONT of the official...in a forward manner. Stand up where you currently are and try it yourself. Trying throwing your elbow ahead of you...with the softest of intent, even. The subsequent chokehold was not delivered out of any reaction by Mr. Snyder, but was, in fact, done while Mr. Snyder was reaching up toward his own chin with his right hand, and while facing away from the stadium official.
As for how Mr. Snyder should or should not have reacted. It is one thing to see someone react and judge whether or not that person reacted to a physical attack upon his body with a proper amount of propriety. It is quite another to decide how YOU, yourself, would have responded. None of us knows until which time it should actually happen.
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If I recall correctly, last year the Bluecoats went directly to the Devils in congratulations as soon as the corps were dismissed. Devils just returning the honor immediately. From my end, very nice to see.
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Hunting for flak jacket...
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Food would have its own budget category with a mandatory minimum per member per meal.
Are crumbs pro-rated?
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Should DCI pass a rule limiting the amount of money corps can spend each year?
Based on figures from guidestar, it seems that the typical top-12 corps currently spends about $1.2M per season. There is wide variability, but it seems that there is a rough correlation between budget and placement. Very few corps with < 1M budgets make it into finals, so it looks like this is an effective barrier.
I would suggest a limit of about 1.2M per year, with a variance based on miles traveled. Each corps would submit a detailed budget and be subject to random audits. There would be minimums and maximums for certain categories. Multi-corps organizations would have to budget each competitive unit separately. The budget would include the estimated value of sponsorships or in-kind contributions, including unpaid staff.
I think a spending cap would not only level things competitively, but would improve the long-term financial stability of many corps.
Most competitive sports leagues have spending caps and I think it is time for DCI to adopt this practice.
One must be careful. When I was taking Research courses in college, the very first rule that my professors stated over and over was this...
Correlation does not equate Causality.
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I have just resigned myself to the fact that the Scouts are a "has been". It sucks, but it is what it is. Maybe they can turn things around, but I'm not expecting it. I love Scott Stewart as a person, but I think he hung on too long and did irrevocable damage to the future of the corps at a critical turning point in the direction of the activity. There's not a single other year-in-year-out Top 6 corps from the last couple of decades that is in the position the Scouts continually find themselves in. Last season was the first time they've really sniffed the Top 6 since 2005 and one year later they're out of Finals altogether.
I doubt there is any other corps that has had the same wild swings in placement that the Scouts have had over the past decade either, save maybe Blue Stars.
Keep your chin up, and head held high for your group, MadMan. It'll happen. Just don't let "has been" ever enter your mind. There's something about self-fulfilling prophecies that sometimes come back and....
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That said, congrats to Boston. I helped those guys out a couple of years ago and I have nothing but good to say about their organization and their Alumni. Good group of people.
Classy, BigBadMadMan. Classy. And I'm not even a Boston "homer."
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They brought their best to the semifinals field, that's for sure. This was a hungry corps on the field on Friday, and that's what you want your program to produce, so congratulations to the Troopers for sending the kids home from the summer knowing they gave their best on the day it counted most.
And thank you, Troopers, for not taking the easy way out. You challenged yourselves with a demanding, exposed visual program and never backed away from it; it took you all season but you nailed your 0-to-0 front on Friday, and it was glorious. When you watch the 2016 DVDs years from now (perhaps DCI will actually make one containing the Troopers
), you won't see any other corps trying it. With a program that reached for new ground, you touched a lot of fans who know, personally, what it is to struggle against disease, hardship and discrimination. You took a chance on Corigliano and by season's end, sold the heck out of that portion of the show, which was so unlike the Troopers of popular nostalgia. In short, you pushed your boundaries and raised your bar.Here's hoping you do the same in 2017.
Signed,
A fan
To which, I can only say...
This.
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Thanks for the detailed explanation, cfIrwin (and, through extension, Jeff). And thanks cf, for taking the time to assist me. I was not speaking of/against/for any individual corps. Just a totally general question. I think you understood that and granted me the respect for such through your kind explanation. I've learned...which makes you a pretty ###### good teacher.
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Well I'm done for the night. High School narration for the win I guess?
You're disappointed. We get it. I'm sorry for you. Some of us are a little down too, based on our group's results. However we, at least, choose to retain some level of class and dignity over the whole deal, and despite our disappointment. I, personally, find your final sentence to be snide, out of line, and totally and underservably disrespectful to a group of individuals who have striven hard to achieve what they have ultimately achieved. That being said...
Congratulations, BAC. Your hard work and failure to say "die" are rewarded. My hat is off to you!!!
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The product that Academy is offering is entirely different than anything else this season. A fun, easy to follow show with well-known music... clean, classy... I believe they are defining their identity!
And therein lies the charm. A totally clear and understandable show -- yet written and performed in a way which isn't condescending to the viewer through hitting one over the head again and again with the message. Never a feeling of "get it, yet? Then maybe this will help...". Just a simple and effective FLOW to the message.
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"A percussion judge walks into a bar...."
"...and 6 hours later, jumped into his car with the rest of the DCP'ers there, and sped off to the competition."
(NOT an indictment of percussion judges everywhere...just providing a punch line. I'd say the same thing about a brass, visual...heck, any judge. DCP'ers? We'll leave that unsaid.
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That's not what slotting means.
Slotting has to do with the judges managing their numbers given their perception of placement.
It's not a conspiracy, or some sort of nefarious practice. It's just how subjective judging works.
I've posted about this so many times over the years.
When you look at the performance figures, at this point in the season and at this point spread, it is easily possible to see the positions change. One group may play or march better on a given night... changing the outcome.
BUT... the composition elements (including the entirety of GE) are relatively static. The closeness of scores do not indicate a possible change in placement. The closeness merely indicates closeness, but the written show is in stone, and afforded its comparative 'slot'. The best way to change the outcome is to change the show (and that's a gamble).
It doesn't mean that placements can't change... but it's highly unlikely that the composition and GE figures will move positions at this point... they haven't really moved in a meaningful way in a couple weeks.
Thank you, cfIrwin3. One of the more accessible explanations which I have seen for the unenlightened (Read: clueless, in my case I guess) on the matter. That being given, may I ask a question or two regarding the emboldened portion of the above? It is has been a topic of great confusion on my part over the years, especially more so as shows have become increasingly intricate/esoteric through those years.
It appears, though I may be wrong, that you are implying that no matter the level of execution on a given night, whether it be of an extremely adept or of a totally missed-the-boat (relatively, of course...not literally) nature, a portion of the score is not going to change. Am I reading your words correctly? The tiny "enlightened" portion of my mind (if such indeed exists) can understand that in terms of the compositional aspect -- but I have a problem understanding it in terms of GE. By that I mean -- if I saw a specific corps on two successive nights, and there is a great difference in that corps' performance, it would follow that I would have two different responses in terms of my GE response to those two performances. And to carry it further...any difference in performance may affect how I interpret the composition of the program, even minutely. Sorry, I'm rambling...to the crux...does the "in stone" portion of the show mean that a corps assessment (score) will not change, either up or down, in terms of compostion -- no matter the given level of performance? To be honest, that seems odd to me. It seems odd that a corps could go onto the field, having not yet performed a single note or move, yet know that a portion of their score, no matter how large or small, will not change from the night before...or even the night before that. To me, that totally goes against the "any given night" philosophy of the performer,whether it be in music or adjudicated athletics.
I've taken a risk here, and indicated my true level of stupidity as applies to D&BC. But that's ok with me...I am far more interested in increasing my knowledge and understanding than of pulling wool over collective eyes. Thanks again for your explanation, and please know that I ask these things out of respect to you, not out of any snarkiness (new word for Webster?
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Late to keyboard for this...sorry.
Great job, Troopers. So very proud to be your fan.
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Yeah, they just have no idea. Maybe I don't either, though. But I think the very best high school marching bands--which I doubt these kids are in, anyway--would be scoring about 70 in DCI (if they weren't penalized for having woodwinds or being under time--although the best bands often exceed 10 minutes).
When I encounter such ignorance in a situation where I feel comfortable responding, I just try to ask some friendly questions to gently guide people to a little more understanding.
Ahhhh....the best laid plans of mice and men...
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i want a recap. i've heard rumors of goofiness
Such as? (Understanding that you did say "rumors," of course.)
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Wow, those soloists in Phantom.
Seconded. And in particular, the young lady's (trumpet) sound had me totally and audibly sighing. SUCH beautiful tone and control. And judgng by the post-show interview, a sweet and well-grounded young lady, to boot.
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Let's NOT have another Ga Dome incident.
That's a good point, Dad. I had totally forgotten about it...
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...try being there live..... this is why my voice is gone.
You think that's bad?? I'm so overwhelmed that I can't even see you...much less hear you.
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The wink from the Bluecoats soloist was awesome! Totally trumpet cocky!
Ain't it great??
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By finals I could easily see the following:
Madison lights the place on fire performing first
Academy over Crossmen
BS, PR, & BK are a toss up...depends who has the best run
Cavies over Cadets
SCV holds 4th, opens the spread, wins percussion
3. BD - best visual performance
2. Crown - best guard
1. Bluecoats - best brass and GE
As I said Sunday night after seeing them in Rome NY...I wouldn't be surprised if they're not done moving upwards.
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Troopers 2016
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Ahhhhh...are we speaking of the notorious Madame Simpson??