DCIHasBeen

This thread has been Godwined. Game over.

Brilliant. Really.

And, totally irrelevant but ... Since they're using a superscript (Cadets2)in the name, is the name of the new group Cadets-squared?

There is a reason why DCI and DCA have always been separate entities. Both serve their own charter in their own ways and, in some cases, their needs are mutually exclusive. If the overall agenda is to use DCA as an alternative to Open Class to create a farm team for the Cadets, this could lead down a slippery slope, the end result of which is not at all (IMNSHO) desirable for DCA.

I suspect it's for a couple of reasons ... They may well have incorporated "youth activity" and defined age ranges for membership in their by-laws and 50( c )3 application ... If they wanted to start serving adults, they'd likely have to amend their by-laws and go through some process with the IRS. Marketing can also be an issue ... They may feel that not being able to market YEA as well ... Youth Entertainment in the Arts, might present an image/fundraising issue. Likely real reason: Dealing with adults is a lot harder than dealing with "kids", who will generally put up with a lot more and will do what they are told without argument. Anyone who's marched in a senior corps knows how different that challenge can be. Besides, they're making no bones about providing a training opportunity for kids who want to move up to the Cadets. I agree with some of the other folks ... Before unleashing something on DCA that could potentially force a cultural change in the competitive makeup of the organizations, the Cadets should have their "B" corps compete in Open Class with corps like BDB and SCV Cadets.

No ####. I have two drug-eluting stents in my coronary arteries, the insertion of which last year prevented a heart attack that would have been inevitable. Were it not for the work that Bill did with Dr. Charlie Dotter of OHSU, at a time when interventional radiology was held in slightly higher regard in the medical community than voodoo, that technology might not have evolved as quickly, or to the efficacy that it has. The hell with drum corps ... The man made technology possible that has saved, most likely, a few million lives at this point. The drum corps thing looks frivolous in comparison. P.S.: If there is a Heaven, in the Judeo-Christian sense, I hope god realizes that Bill will be busting his stones about a management re-org before the week is out.

RIP, Bill. You were definitely one of a kind, and our endless exchanges of lengthy emails taught me more about business than I've learned before or since ... And you only let me pay for breakfast once!

This has been a long time coming and, as others have pointed out, print media is on its last legs. More and more newspapers are folding every year. So, on that, I say good for Steve. As for assuming that he could just keep the remaining subscription fees without offering a pro-rata refund ... That was just a bad decision. That aside, I hope he can make it work for him.

Yeah, but they've always got a few seconds to spare.

I like their uniforms. That said, I find it amusing that people like John Hannigan, the author of the Facebook post, who have supported Hopkins for years...and the corps to, the tune of thousands and thousands of their own dollars, are outraged about this situation. Not the uniform change, but the response they are getting from the corps management Through think and thin, through all of Hopkins' controversial antics and maneuvers, they have stood behind the man who has, by sheer force of will, keep the Cadets alive for the last 30 years. Now they are being shut out, shut down, and told they either they toe the line or they are shut out of the conversation and defriended from Facebook (which, I guess is today's version of telling someone that they are dead to you in a very passive-aggressive way.) The only think I find surprising is that Hannigan and company are suprised. It's been Hopkins' attitude towards the World since the start of his regime. He's going to lose this one though. If he doesn't relent, and loses his hard core financial supporters and key volunteers, the organization is done for.

Define electronics. I think there was once a rule allowing you to put a battery-powered vibrato on marching vibes. That's electronic, isn't it?

This is always one of the hottest shows of the NorCal season. No, seriously, it's usually like 118 in the shade there.

1975 Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. A Friday night show, back in the days when we all had day jobs during the season. It wasn't a good year for us to begin with. This show was the lowlight. Score somewhere in the 50s.

You really can't go wrong with the Lumix GH series (about $1K), or if you're on a budget and don't mind a fixed zoom, the Lumix LX5 (about $399.) The Canon EOS Rebel T2i is a very nice camera ... With kit lens about a grand. I'd skip the kit lens, just buy the body and buy the fastest compact zoom you can afford. The T2i also shoots video. Somebody mentioned a Nikon 300 ... It's a very nice camera, if you're shooting at advanced amateur or pro level, but very, very expensive. If you want to get a great prosumer Nikon, go for the D90 for about a grand (I've been shooting one for about a year ... Example photos on my blog), or, if you want to shoot video as well, wait for the D7000 to become available (about $1300) In general, the digital camera with the biggest, fastest (High ISO) sensor, and a fast telephoto lens is what you'd want to shoot from the stands. There's a lot of ways to get there, depending on your price point and experience.

Be sure to try your waitress and tip the veal ...

The answer is yes, corps marched cleaner in 1980. Today's movement isn't marching in the traditional sense...It's a different animal. Not saying better or worse, it's just evolved into something different.

Feel free ... I didn't pick the repertoire.

Add some latex and leather and it might be interesting ...

Never fails to make me wonder why drum corps people automatically seek to bastardize any well-conceived entertainment into a drum corps show. It was a cool movie, and it's okay for it to just be a cool movie.

Genius. Fran for President!

Most likely because everyone can get a direct flight to Chicago, cheap.

Yeah ... I remember a girl in the corps asking a Kiltie about that. He showed her. I did not know a human being could turn that color of red ... Sort of Pomegranate colored I think.

Not for decades ...

Or as we say around the Lodge: "Freemasons: Clandestinely controlling the World, so you don't have to ..." Ordo ab chao.

I don't know what you've been partaking of, but I'll have what you're having. Drum Corps was never anything more than a fringe activity, made totally irrelevant by costs and ROI. Believing anything else is denial.