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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Latest

I don't hang around the same circles as before so it has taken me a while to become aware from the few people I still consult with occasionally. So I just realized the existence of a new clique in town, mainly women. Ladies International Association Repeating Stories. (better known for the acronym.) They are believed to be a Spin Off from the Creative Researchers And Producers. They have tried to keep it secret but it gets around like anything else. Not much truth to what they repeat but they just make sure it tears somebody down. And that is their raison d'etre.

"The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to get out of than bad ones."

Our dancing world is going through a nice reappraisal from within. No outsiders coming in with their rules and regulations. With so many terrific people in our entire dance environment, it's a wonder. The dance studios, the different dancing styles, American, Country, International, Social, Night Clubs, Universal and Line dancing. The good new clubs, the expanding horizons in the West.

"Young At Heart" by Frank Sinatra
 

Our only Mini - Blog and not doing so good.
Let it ride another month.

Too many of us old timers are still too much into the old ways and these younger people in the fifties, sixties can see the dance scene in a different light. They are the greatest and fortunately we are gradually recognizing who they are. And what is more, they are willing to share their opinions and help each other, - talk about good people, this is it. And the West is getting more of them. Somewhere along the way the eastern part of the Island will get going too. The old cliques are shrinking.

"Live To Tell" By Madonna
 
 
One of these two in the East will make it.
But other people will be the deciders.

We thank our readers for their understanding of our typos. Before they had spell checkers they had to rely on proofreaders and of course, they were not perfect. One good example; local newspaper carried the notice. "That John Doe was the "defective" on the police force. They were promptly notified and it was changed.

John Doe as a "Detective" on the police farce.

----------------------------------------------------------

"Of the dancers, by the dancers and for the dancers"
All the dancers? Of course not, they do not all want to be involved and we must respect.
 
 

Latest

I don't hang around the same circles as before so it has taken me a while to become aware from the few people I still consult with occasionally. So I just realized the existence of a new clique in town, mainly women. Ladies International Association Repeating Stories. (better known for the acronym.) They are believed to be a Spin Off from the Creative Researchers And Producers. They have tried to keep it secret but it gets around like anything else. Not much truth to what they repeat but they just make sure it tears somebody down. And that is their raison d'etre.

"The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to get out of than bad ones."

Our dancing world is going through a nice reappraisal from within. No outsiders coming in with their rules and regulations. With so many terrific people in our entire dance environment, it's a wonder. The dance studios, the different dancing styles, American, Country, International, Social, Night Clubs, Universal and Line dancing. The good new clubs, the expanding horizons in the West.

"Young At Heart" by Frank Sinatra
 

Our only Mini - Blog and not doing so good.
Let it ride another month.

Too many of us old timers are still too much into the old ways and these younger people in the fifties, sixties can see the dance scene in a different light. They are the greatest and fortunately we are gradually recognizing who they are. And what is more, they are willing to share their opinions and help each other, - talk about good people, this is it. And the West is getting more of them. Somewhere along the way the eastern part of the Island will get going too. The old cliques are shrinking.

"Live To Tell" By Madonna
 
 
One of these two in the East will make it.
But other people will be the deciders.

We thank our readers for their understanding of our typos. Before they had spell checkers they had to rely on proofreaders and of course, they were not perfect. One good example; local newspaper carried the notice. "That John Doe was the "defective" on the police force. They were promptly notified and it was changed.

John Doe as a "Detective" on the police farce.

----------------------------------------------------------

"Of the dancers, by the dancers and for the dancers"
All the dancers? Of course not, they do not all want to be involved and we must respect.
 
 

Falling Into Place

Nearing the end of the month the evidence is unfolding very nicely. We don't have enough varied opinions so we are limited. But it helps that Calvin is for the Internationals and Richie is for the Night Clubbers. I have tried to invite anyone without any requirements in my efforts to get honest opinions.

"Please be kind, for everyone you meet may be fighting a hard battle."

However, the overwhelming information in all the other blogs is from me and that is not so good. So in Town Dancer another Night Clubber and another International would balance things out a little better. They have their good points and someone should bring them out to our reader/dancers. And with honest opinions, no one can match Town Dancer very easily in hits.

So far we are certain that the old ballroom crowd has been divided into three main groups. And each group dances the basic dances. Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Swing and Tango. And they vary in their preferences. International has seized the term Ballroom and they probably are right. They, more than any other group dance in Ballrooms.

The Night Clubbers have seized the term Social for themselves and we do not have to argue with them if that is what want. They seem to prefer live Music and they have their own rules for what they consider dancing, perhaps more artiste.

"The Tennessee Waltz" by Patti Page

Meanwhile we are shaping up our own kuleana which is larger than both of the others put together and we have less rules. We move using the most basic of moves and try to enjoy the movement to our favorite music which is getting hard to come by. Primary, for us, is the music not the dancing, There is a reason why we are having all these functions for 50s and 60s music. But many DJs gotta give us LAGS, (latest and greatest syndrome) which is not so good for dancers.


Or one of you may prefer this blog which is in solid second place and moving.

Most of our dancers take lessons in the American Style of Dance. That is basic. Ninety Nine percent are over 40. And what is important in our style of dance is that even our instructors may differ in their dance preferences and they are perfectly in order. It is important to hear from each and every one of them, - they know something.

'Mr Sandman" by the Chordettes

Our group dances mainly in Malls, Gas Stations, School Cafeterias, Social Halls, District Parks and Community Centers. We will even dance in Night Clubs when we find the right ones that are not snooty. At this moment, Cupola seems to be number one. We have to look around carefully. As soon as you hear, "He's a ballroom dancer," git outta theah!


Sunday, July 28, 2013

A little here.

From Rudyard Kipling poem. You all know it.
 
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
 
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
 
So we are missing a few people from this blog and all we can do is accept it. They should do as they please. I have gone through this in many places. Where I try to include all the dancers possible but then some (they) make the negative decision (I may be making big bucks, some way,) and then I abide by it and they are become excluded.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones

And yet we are getting more readers in the blogs. So what are they interested in? The news of what they did not see and none of us can be everywhere. But some of our reader/dancers are just beginning and willing to share information with their fellow dancers.
 
"Remember, if you're headed in the wrong direction,
God allows U-turns!"
 
Those that wish to keep to themselves will see that it is just fine with others too. And there will be another club for public dancers in a short while. And only because they couldn't get what they wanted in the private club in the first place. We are getting there and some people are beginning to see where they went wrong.
 
Then there is the possibility of a Latin Club in the West, catering to Latin Music and Dance. Latin Waltz, Rumba and Cha Cha Cha as the base and definitely for the over 40 crowd. Of course, the music is the important part and a few of our DJs still use the "You can dance Cha Cha Cha to it." and it never enters their minds that what the "dancers" feel is much different. You gotta dance Cha Cha Cha to it is in a far different plain.

Pub's Side Note; "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

 
 
 

A little here.

From Rudyard Kipling poem. You all know it.
 
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
 
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
 
So we are missing a few people from this blog and all we can do is accept it. They should do as they please. I have gone through this in many places. Where I try to include all the dancers possible but then some (they) make the negative decision (I may be making big bucks, some way,) and then I abide by it and they are become excluded.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones

And yet we are getting more readers in the blogs. So what are they interested in? The news of what they did not see and none of us can be everywhere. But some of our reader/dancers are just beginning and willing to share information with their fellow dancers.
 
"Remember, if you're headed in the wrong direction,
God allows U-turns!"
 
Those that wish to keep to themselves will see that it is just fine with others too. And there will be another club for public dancers in a short while. And only because they couldn't get what they wanted in the private club in the first place. We are getting there and some people are beginning to see where they went wrong.
 
Then there is the possibility of a Latin Club in the West, catering to Latin Music and Dance. Latin Waltz, Rumba and Cha Cha Cha as the base and definitely for the over 40 crowd. Of course, the music is the important part and a few of our DJs still use the "You can dance Cha Cha Cha to it." and it never enters their minds that what the "dancers" feel is much different. You gotta dance Cha Cha Cha to it is in a far different plain.

Pub's Side Note; "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

 
 
 

Friday, July 26, 2013

No Dancers in Rail Disaster

And one of the braggarts of the Rail was telling me of the capabilities of the Rail getting from Kapolei to Honolulu in 5 minutes. Hey Hey Hey. Forget the people, we are talking big bucks and visions of grandeur.

"Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains
taken to bring it to light."

Paris Rail crash

At least six people have died and over a hundred were injured when a packed French intercity train derailed and crashed at high speed into a station outside Paris on July 6. The French railway company SNCF said the train travelling from Paris to Limoges was carrying 385 passengers when it derailed at 5.15 pm on Friday at Brétigny-sur-Orge in Essonne, 20km south of Paris.Four of the trains seven carriages ploughed into a crowded platform at rush hour on one of the busiest days of the year for holiday getaways.



Security services have been working on the wreckage where passengers are believed to be trapped in mangled carriages, which were lying on their side.The French president François Hollande, visiting the scene, said six people were killed and 22 were seriously injured, including one who was in a critical condition. The prefect's office in Essonne said a total of 180 people were injured. Hollande said three inquiries had been launched into what caused the derailment.

Michael Lesaunier, the owner of a cafe beside the busy suburban station told iTele: "The train approached very, very fast, knocking out everything in its path. It was rush hour, the platform was full."

When it happens in Honolulu, and they cannot avoid it, there will be many more deaths and injuries for it is going to fall on a lot of people. And it is going to cost us Billions and Billions of dollars to tear it down again.


"And I coulda got it right around the corner where I always did."



No Dancers in Rail Disaster

And one of the braggarts of the Rail was telling me of the capabilities of the Rail getting from Kapolei to Honolulu in 5 minutes. Hey Hey Hey. Forget the people, we are talking big bucks and visions of grandeur.

"Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains
taken to bring it to light."

Paris Rail crash

At least six people have died and over a hundred were injured when a packed French intercity train derailed and crashed at high speed into a station outside Paris on July 6. The French railway company SNCF said the train travelling from Paris to Limoges was carrying 385 passengers when it derailed at 5.15 pm on Friday at Brétigny-sur-Orge in Essonne, 20km south of Paris.Four of the trains seven carriages ploughed into a crowded platform at rush hour on one of the busiest days of the year for holiday getaways.



Security services have been working on the wreckage where passengers are believed to be trapped in mangled carriages, which were lying on their side.The French president François Hollande, visiting the scene, said six people were killed and 22 were seriously injured, including one who was in a critical condition. The prefect's office in Essonne said a total of 180 people were injured. Hollande said three inquiries had been launched into what caused the derailment.

Michael Lesaunier, the owner of a cafe beside the busy suburban station told iTele: "The train approached very, very fast, knocking out everything in its path. It was rush hour, the platform was full."

When it happens in Honolulu, and they cannot avoid it, there will be many more deaths and injuries for it is going to fall on a lot of people. And it is going to cost us Billions and Billions of dollars to tear it down again.


"And I coulda got it right around the corner where I always did."



Thursday, July 25, 2013

What do we dance?

by Daniel Correia, Salt Lake

Ballroom dancing has always been a set of partner dances that have for several centuries been enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. And much performance dancing has been done for ages before that.

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains,
however improbable, must be the truth."

Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, in the 20th century, ballroom dance has also been widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. In Hawaii Ballrooms, it has always been a must. And we have been fortunate to have so many good exhibition dancers on our dance floors.

Ballroom dance has always referred, at its widest, to almost any type of social dancing as recreation. And had included, Social Street dancers, Night Club dancers, Swing, Tango, and many other specialties. However, with the emergence of dancesport in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope.

 "Al Di La" by Connie Francis

Ballroom dancing now usually refers to the International Standard and International Latin style dances. The Internationals honestly and truly believe that they should have the sole right to the terminology because they have developed the "correct" way to dance 'Ballroom."

And it stands to reason, for they must be judged. These styles were developed in England, and are now regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC). An interesting aside is that in the United States, two additional variations of recreational dancing are popular: American Smooth and American Rhythm.

But the Internationals have not considered it Ballroom Dancing. There are also a number of historical dances, and local or national dances, which may be danced in ballrooms or salons, but no one calls them ballroom dancing.


It's our first Mini - Blog.  -*-  What is a Mini - Blog?

In the last twenty years in Hawaii, the night club circuit has developed a distinct dislike for Ballroom Dancing. One reason is that our social dancers have never developed a taste for hard drinking. And many night clubbers have never attempted to seek the difference in "Ballroom Dancing" and the recreational social dance that is danced by most dancers in Hawaii.

Some attempt has been made to include their dancing as the American Style but they still regard those that are dancing the American Style as Ballroom Dancers. So we are in the process of settling into our own spaces, and will in time, have a some respect for the others. ****

From the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam about 1000 years ago.
“The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on. Nor all your piety or wit,
shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears wash out a word of it.”



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

A Smile

From the Zine, 1997

A smile costs nothing but gives much, it enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give it. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or so mighty that they can get along without it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business and is the countersign of friendship throughout the world.

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and it is nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet, it cannot be bought, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give a smile. Give them one of yours as none needs a smile as the one who has none to give. ****

"April Showers" by Al Jolson
 
Days of Whine and Noises
 
Do you care enough to be apathetic? ... Yes, there are people that do not want you to be well informed on Dancing ... Is it true? There is no such thing as a gratis noon time meal? ...You can tell more by what a person says about others, than what others say of them ... Was there really more prime time than before the invention of TV ...The pessimist is worried because he's afraid the optimist will be right ...What ever happened to the Creative Researchers And
Producers?

Dance Agenda: A lady is not obligated to dance with anyone. She may refuse for any reason. By the same token, a man has the same rights. Fortunately many of our people are meeting each other on happy common grounds and everyone is having fun.


The First Mini Dance Blog. Short and Sweet.

Pub's Side Note: Fortunately, I am meeting more people that have good speakers on their computers. With some good speakers you can play music that may sound better than your high class stereos. Or a good set of Earphones. I can give them some of my music.


 

A Smile

From the Zine, 1997

A smile costs nothing but gives much, it enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give it. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or so mighty that they can get along without it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business and is the countersign of friendship throughout the world.

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and it is nature's best antidote for trouble. Yet, it cannot be bought, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give a smile. Give them one of yours as none needs a smile as the one who has none to give. ****

"April Showers" by Al Jolson
 
Days of Whine and Noises
 
Do you care enough to be apathetic? ... Yes, there are people that do not want you to be well informed on Dancing ... Is it true? There is no such thing as a gratis noon time meal? ...You can tell more by what a person says about others, than what others say of them ... Was there really more prime time than before the invention of TV ...The pessimist is worried because he's afraid the optimist will be right ...What ever happened to the Creative Researchers And
Producers?

Dance Agenda: A lady is not obligated to dance with anyone. She may refuse for any reason. By the same token, a man has the same rights. Fortunately many of our people are meeting each other on happy common grounds and everyone is having fun.


The First Mini Dance Blog. Short and Sweet.

Pub's Side Note: Fortunately, I am meeting more people that have good speakers on their computers. With some good speakers you can play music that may sound better than your high class stereos. Or a good set of Earphones. I can give them some of my music.


 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Reappraisal Time

Right about this time of the month, after twenty days, the stats are pretty stable and I begin to make small changes in my plans according to the results. Google Stats changed their algorithms a while back and all our hits went down. Hard on people with only one Web or Blog site. "What did I do wrong?"

A blog is what most "websites would want to be" updated on a regular basis, contains content that is of interest to a select or target audience and is easy to update and change.

Fortunately, I had many blogs and they were all going down. The blogs had many hits from people that were using the blog for their own purposes and I complained along with many others to Blogger.

They have brought the number down quite a bit and naturally, our hits too. Then they had to do something about "bounce." The person that gets on the blog by mistake and gets right out again. They reduced the time that it becomes a hit. Ten seconds or less and "what hit?"

So all of sudden I cannot carry a blog all by myself and I use to have more than 34 average hits per day (1000/month.)  Town Dancer is down to 80 and I will pull the lever back one notch (my effort) and let it slide. I had been grooming it for independence but not much interest there, it will have to wait. And the next in line is Blogging Hawaii.

"Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" by Perry Como

Blogging Hawaii, lost Da Spin Doctor, Calvin and Richie and went down to below 40 average hits per day. So I pushed the lever up one notch (my effort) and it is moving. Perhaps, that is the blog that will be independent first. Anybody want in, let me know, and I am even willing to help you blog, should not take long.


The others are way down and the two that seem to be emerging are Oahu West and Ewa Bus Stop. Either one could pass Blogging Hawaii with just one Guest Author. With two Guest Authors they would be ready for independence. The entire enchilada is just too much work for me. I gotta retire one of these days. The junk blogs shall remain mine.

Blogger's Law #55A: If we cannot find a solution, lets just enjoy the problem for a while.
 

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Al Franken

It's about time we get this in Hawaii. People all over the country are becoming aware of the corporate power in our human politics. The disaster occurring all over is becoming evident. In Honolulu, the most glaring example has been and still is the Rail Party. And who runs it? Ah, Ha! Nobody knows, but we are beginning to suspect it's the Big Bucks.  And they are mainly interested in making more.


Our Mayor elected by the Rail Party, was raised in Waipahu. He can look anyone in the eye and tell them that if the flips don't like the bus situation they can go back to the Philippines. These people work at minimum wage jobs in Waikiki, get off work tired and find that they have to stand all the way to Waipahu. the bus driver gets up, in Aiea somewhere and says, "Please folks, step back, I have to get seven more people in here." Auwe.

 
The Czar of the Rail Party, imported from the Mainland, gets more in salary than the Governor and the Mayor combined. So how do you like them potatoes? They cannot spend an extra ten thousand for maintenance on the buses, but he just get the $35,000.00 bonus. For What? Yeah, man, it's the bread, Fred. So residential property taxes will double in five years. You lucky people.
 
 

Al Franken

It's about time we get this in Hawaii. People all over the country are becoming aware of the corporate power in our human politics. The disaster occurring all over is becoming evident. In Honolulu, the most glaring example has been and still is the Rail Party. And who runs it? Ah, Ha! Nobody knows, but we are beginning to suspect it's the Big Bucks.  And they are mainly interested in making more.


Our Mayor elected by the Rail Party, was raised in Waipahu. He can look anyone in the eye and tell them that if the flips don't like the bus situation they can go back to the Philippines. These people work at minimum wage jobs in Waikiki, get off work tired and find that they have to stand all the way to Waipahu. the bus driver gets up, in Aiea somewhere and says, "Please folks, step back, I have to get seven more people in here." Auwe.

 
The Czar of the Rail Party, imported from the Mainland, gets more in salary than the Governor and the Mayor combined. So how do you like them potatoes? They cannot spend an extra ten thousand for maintenance on the buses, but he just get the $35,000.00 bonus. For What? Yeah, man, it's the bread, Fred. So residential property taxes will double in five years. You lucky people.
 
 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Pot Pourri

While we have not been able to get enough "local" news and "local" photos this blog is still holding up pretty good. Just one good steady Two-Center would make a big world of difference. But who knows about blogging?


Follow up on Paul's introduction to the Ohana Night in the Blogging Hawaii blog. That is a very nice dance night, plenty room, nice people and for me they kokua very nicely so that I can get information and photos easily. For non-members, $5 is a good price for an evening of fun. I am willing to help get it going.

"A blog is a type of website that is usually arranged in chronological order from the most recent ‘post’ (or entry) at the top of the main page to the older entries towards the bottom."

I get a few snippets now and then, and sometimes I can make them into something but hard to do. The upcoming Jargon in the Dancing in the Dark should give some of our reader/dancers some ideas of what the rest of us don't know and would like to know.


Most of us are well aware of what has happened with our two most important newspapers and it may get worse. When the Star Advertiser was bought by the Rail Party that was the end of them and now they are fully aware of it. The Mid-Week is holding on pretty good because of the free home delivery.

Honolulu Weekly gone for now. and hopefully others will try to revive it or create their own new one. There is some on-line alternative press but people are not that aware yet. We need more local news that is not purchased by the Rail Party or any of those rich enterprises.
 
Q: What do ghosts dance to? A: Soul music, of course.


Formal Attire: definitely not for Cultural dancing. This requires a tuxedo or tails for men. We are in it for fun, not for show.
 
Dance as if no one is watching,
Love as if you have never been hurt,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though it were heaven on earth.

 

Pot Pourri

While we have not been able to get enough "local" news and "local" photos this blog is still holding up pretty good. Just one good steady Two-Center would make a big world of difference. But who knows about blogging?


Follow up on Paul's introduction to the Ohana Night in the Blogging Hawaii blog. That is a very nice dance night, plenty room, nice people and for me they kokua very nicely so that I can get information and photos easily. For non-members, $5 is a good price for an evening of fun. I am willing to help get it going.

"A blog is a type of website that is usually arranged in chronological order from the most recent ‘post’ (or entry) at the top of the main page to the older entries towards the bottom."

I get a few snippets now and then, and sometimes I can make them into something but hard to do. The upcoming Jargon in the Dancing in the Dark should give some of our reader/dancers some ideas of what the rest of us don't know and would like to know.


Most of us are well aware of what has happened with our two most important newspapers and it may get worse. When the Star Advertiser was bought by the Rail Party that was the end of them and now they are fully aware of it. The Mid-Week is holding on pretty good because of the free home delivery.

Honolulu Weekly gone for now. and hopefully others will try to revive it or create their own new one. There is some on-line alternative press but people are not that aware yet. We need more local news that is not purchased by the Rail Party or any of those rich enterprises.
 
Q: What do ghosts dance to? A: Soul music, of course.


Formal Attire: definitely not for Cultural dancing. This requires a tuxedo or tails for men. We are in it for fun, not for show.
 
Dance as if no one is watching,
Love as if you have never been hurt,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Live as though it were heaven on earth.