BigBoom

Colts: http://colts.org/news/news.cfm?news_id=864

Doug was a good man and as good of a friend as anyone could wish. I'll miss him but I'm willing to bet he's already endeared himself to the Big Guy Upstairs. I first met him when he was a little kid who rode his bicycle several miles to come watch the Colt .45s practice. He'd hang out on the equipment truck and help out any way he could. Back then, he'd often start a conversation with something like, "I love that part where you guys go, 'Dush da dush da...WOP!'" A year later he was marching. Though never a drummer, his knack for recalling and singing drum parts from corps spanning 4 decades never ebbed, and it was something I enjoyed immensely over the last 40 years. Rest in Peace my friend.

Wes, If you haven't already done so, read Sharon Nichols' and David Berliner's Collateral Damage: How High Stakes Testing Corrupts America's Schools. It was published two years ago and provides a framework for arguing against the current national trend of focusing so intently on raising test scores a few percentage points, at any cost. One point I disagree with in your introduction is that it's not the AP and Honors kids who are getting excluded from the arts, athletics, and other courses and activities that are interest driven. These kids tend to have all kinds of choices. It's the kid who "Falls Far Below" or "Approaches" or earns whatever label a state chooses as "Unsatisfactory" who finds himself losing most or all elective choices by being forced to undergo some sort of remedial test preparation class or classes until he either passes the test or drops out. I think you're on the right trail with your book. Best wishes for making it a success. Boom

Or......"feel" and "groove." These are perhaps the most overlooked aspects of the drum corps musical experience. Boom

Having endured the Colts' JC Penny's white jeans, white western shirt, and BLACK VINYL VEST uni of '73, '74 and '75, I can tell you that slipping into that snazzy orange jacket in '77 made me feel like a king. The "vinyl years" were hard on the self-esteem. I considered them then and until seeing the Jolly Jesters' uniforms 5 minutes ago, to be the worst uniforms ever. I feel better though after seeing the JJs. Boom

Phil Graham was right: We have become a nation of whiners. Geez. Boom

Greg wrote a new letter a couple of days ago and it is posted on the Colts' website. In it he mentions the corps was putting in a new closer. They have given it their all this year and I for one am very proud of the members, the staff, and the organization. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, I love this corps! Boom

I still have the love for the A-Team! I hope the last two weeks of the season are characterized by streaks of red, with both the Academy and Colts furiously removing the dirt piled upon their graves, surprising all of those who have already administered last rites. Boom

Fresh fruit, fresh fruit, and more fresh fruit! Also, powdered Gatorade is usually very appreciated. Boom

I only saw the Scouts at the Madison show but what surprised me was a couple guys had on wifebeaters (sorry...don't know another name for them), some had sleeveless t-s, some had Under Armor, some had on basic Fruit of the Looms like I wear under my dress shirts. I'm a pretty tolerant live and let live kind of guy but I was thinking MAYBE they should give a go at picking some sort of uniform white shirt to wear. I don't know if that's changed but if not, it might still be a good idea. Boom

I was told by a member today that they're done changing...at least for a while...and are working on cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Boom

I'm glad the Colts apparently have not accepted the numerous prognostications of their season being effectively over. Perseverance indeed! Boom

Agreed. The bright side of the day for the Colts is they're back on an upward trajectory score-wise and as you pointed out, the gap between them and X-Men has narrowed. Reading what people wrote on this thread today about their show, I thought it could have turned out a lot worse for the Colts. It's going to go all the way to Friday 8-8-08 to know who's in that 12th spot....maybe 11 and 12. Boom

Colts weren't in Madison this year. Boom

Thanks! Boom