Thr Learning Process Rerun #73

Hawaii Free Press is coming up with some tremendous truths. The Waianae Coast may not be doomed but they are in bad way. Farrington Highway will not be fixed. They need the money fo the Rail Fiasco. Prices going up because it takes twice as long to deliver goods to the Waianae Coast and everyone know it is going get worse.

“It is the absence of facts that frightens people: it is the gap that you open,

into which they pour their fears, fantasies, desires.” 

Price of 18 count eggs have now gone up over $7.00. Milk will not be far behind.and the rest will follow. Housing is going down, people want less of this rat trap. Kapolei has a good chance for Second City if they have more Business Parks. But the Present Rail Party stops all that and our representatives are helpless.

The beautiful Waipio Business Park. The Present Rail Party couldn't

stop it. Hundreds of cars missing to and from Honolulu.

And "I coulda been home in 20 minutes."

They have Salsa dancing on the North Shore but nothing at all on the Waianae Coast and we cannot blame them. The Rail Crisis is up on us and it will be worse when they get it finished. Our only hope is Kapolei. Perhaps their reps can get some Business Parks in the area..

Dancing in the Philippines Rerun #72

Philippine jailhouse rocks to Thriller
The most popular video clip is a version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." The unusual physical fitness regime at a jail in the Philippines has attracted worldwide attention on the video sharing website, You Tube. A clip of hundreds of prisoners in orange uniforms dancing to Michael Jackson's song Thriller has been watched more than 1.3 million times.

"Seeing a murder on television can help work off one's antagonisms. And if you

haven't any antagonisms, the commercials will give you some."

The routine is the brainchild of Byron Garcia, a security consultant for the Cebu provincial government. He said it had helped "drastically" improve inmate behaviour. And two former inmates have since become dancers.

Discipline in action: The dancing is compulsory for all 1,600 inmates at the prison in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Centre, except the elderly and infirm. Prisoners have also performed to songs by local artists, Queen and from the film Sister Act, clips of which have been watched on You Tube tens of thousands of times.

 

"Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley

"Using music, you can involve the body and the mind. The inmates have to count, memorise steps and follow the music," Mr Garcia told the BBC news website. "Inmates say to me: 'You have put my mind off revenge, foolishness, or thinking how to escape from jail, or joining a gang'," he said.

The routines developed last year after Mr Garcia started making inmates march to music, such as Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall, in a bid to increase participation in exercise The inmates are very happy at the interest, they are always talking about it.

Other early choices included In the Navy and YMCA by the Village People, which were chosen so that macho inmates "wouldn't be offended by being asked to dance". Mr Garcia has been taken back by the worldwide popularity of the clips, which he originally posted in order to share his work with other members of the penal community.

 

"Prisoner Of Love" - Perry Como

"I wanted to show them that I am doing something here that has been a success, to show discipline in action," he said. And the videos have now become a source of great pride for the prisoners. "The inmates are very happy at the interest, they are always talking about it, and they ask how many people have watched it on YouTube," Mr Garcia.

Pub's Side Note: Ordinary Communication Media is to whom it may concern, one way, newsletters, email flyers, web sites. They do their job but nuttin' like a blog.

Shall We Dance? Rerun #70

We all agree that social dancing is just for fun, recreation, exercise and socializing. We all learn our steps and patterns and yet the overall enjoyment of experience does not lessen the fact that our dance floors, at best, may be a difficult place to dance.

"Gossip is usually based on lies. Someone wanting to feel better

about themselves by hurting someone else." 

The smaller the dance floor, as in Night Clubs, the more difficult it becomes. To enjoy dancing better we must learn more than just steps and patterns. Actually it is easier for a beginner competitor to negotiate the competitive dance floor than it is for the same dancer to negotiate the social dance floor. In dance clubs, studios, night clubs and wherever, partner dancers must learn about floor craft and line of dance.

Key to floor craft is "Finesse" by both the leader and follower. Finesse by the leader and the follower is being skillful, nimble, practiced, adept and competent both in a physical and intellectual way. And that is acquired by "practice" and for social dancers "practice" means by getting out there on the dance floor dancing.

"Hanohano Molokai" by Melveen Leed

We start off learning any dancing with a degree of exaggeration and clumsiness. Fortunately, with time and the actual dancing for fun, enjoying the same dances over and over again in sheer joy, most dancers will develop the right moves to the music and will feel comfortable on the dance floor. Eventually everyone gets to the point where they are ready to phase into the intermediate division which may be just a little bit more complicated. We are fortunate that on Oahu we have some of the best to help us.

The Manly Art of Dance Strategy Rerun #70

From Dancing USA, 2000
By the Seagulls

Whether by nature or by nurture even in social situations, we men tend to think in terms of military-like strategies. In social dancing, we often feel that we must perform superlatively, which keeps many men away from dancing. We who have taken dance lessons, however, have joined the fray and willingly put ourselves in the line of fire, so to speak.

 "Yes, you can't take it with you, but that's the only place you can go without it."

Now that we are ready  to dance, there are some “rules of engagement,” which may help us carry out our mission in a social dance. So first we cover the general rules, then discuss specific stratagies for dancing partners of different skill levels.

The object of social dancing is to have a few enjoyable moments together (and sometimes to chat after.) It takes away from the magic to hear, “Oh, I am a terrible dancer,” or “Are you sure you want to dance with me? I’m just a beginner.” Such statements over-focus on the skill issue, ignoring the social compliment that we pay the lady by offering to dance with her - we want to spend time in her company and perhaps get to know her better.

"Are You Lonesome Tonight"   ...   Elvis Presley

Smile, look the lady in the eye and speak clearly when you ask her to dance. If you are very worried, follow the same instructions. It is diagnostic to see how the lady treats you. Is she kind? Does she look like she is having fun? Do not misinterpret advice to look confident as meaning you should be a “show off.” Our job is to make the lady look good, not to use her to make ourselves the center of attention.

Regardless of the lady’s level of skill, she will enjoy being complimented even if her training in modesty, makes her protest. If she is a good dancer we can compliment her dancing. “I’ve admired your skill on the floor,” “It’s a pleasure to watch you,” “You follow so easily,” “You feel so light,” If we can not sincerely compliment her dancing, we can surely compliment her appearance. “That color is lovely on you,” “What a wonderful smile you have,”or her manner, “You have such an infectious laugh,” “I really enjoy your conversation.”  *  *  *  *

"Hey Good Lookin'"   ...   Hank Williams

Pub's Side Note: John White is from Arkansas, Peter Carlisle is from New Jersey and Caldwell was born in Waipahu. Can you guess which one said, "We gotta send these Flips back to the Philippines." Would you say all of them, only two, just one or none of the above? For our ongoing Poll. Hey, we are learning their methods.

Waltz Rerun #68

By Jeremy Tsu, Aiea

The defense of American waltz is not just as a money maker. By making you close your feet you learn to lower on beat 3. Later you can learn the much harder skill of lowering in open footwork. And to beat it all, American, Country and Latin Styles are much more social fun and do not require an acre of ground to enjoy.

"Every lie is two lies — the lie we tell others and
the lie we tell ourselves to justify it."

In truth Waltz had already evolved into something much different by lower class people in Europe, from the original Viennese Waltz by the end of the 19th century. And Country in the US was beginning to develop its own at about that time too. It is quite useful on dance floors where it's too crowded to travel. Later it was danced by older couples to big band music. It has further evolved into the perfect social type dance for homes, small community centers, and night clubs.

Country and American silver Waltz are very compatible in terms of floorcraft. American bronze dancers clog up the works unless they stick to the center of the floor. International Standard Waltz dancing seems to confuse or annoy the Country dancers, who are not used to maneuvering around couples which zig-zag across LOD. And to further complicate matters, there are even more different waltzes throughout the world.

"The Tennessee Waltz" By Patti Page

Country Waltz in also more of a progressive dance that very rarely moves diagonally across LOD (aside from partners crossing tracks), and includes lots of two-handed and cross-handed side-by-side and semi-open patterns where the lady spins or turns more than the man. The only syncopated steps commonly seen are ladies spins and hesitations.

Silver American style is more of a progressive dance, and it becomes more disciplined. It is mostly moving straight down LOD, and including more outside partner floor work than International style. Nevertheless, Waltz remains among some of the most beautiful music produced by humans in the world today and even more wonderful to move to it in dance.

Second City, where? Rerun #66

People are waking up nicely on the Waianae Coast in spite of our legislators that are paid by the Present Rail Party. They are beginning to recognize the items that make a Second City and it cannot be decided by Honolulu. Honolulu is after the Big Bucks only and the hell with the people.

"Truth is like the sun, you can shut it out for a while

but it ain't going away."

First we know that our legislators will never fix Farrington Highway. Gotta pay for the Rail Disaster. So at present we have very heavy traffic going to Honolulu and in the evening we have very heavy traffic come back from Honolulu. Even the Big Bucks people and our Legislators cannot deny that.'

So the Industrial Park is the obvious answer and unfortunately there are Big Bucks willing to stop that nonsense. Can you imagine an small Industrial Park in Mahaha? People going to work from down the coast, maybe as far as Kapolei, on a clear road and everybody else is going the other way. In the evening when Pau work, you are going home on a clear road and the dumb dodos are all going the other way. Anybody picking up on this action?

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

Do Gooders complain about Minimum Wage jobs. Well let me inform everyone. Minimum wage in Waianae for Waianae residents is worth ten times what it is worth in Honolulu. And I coulda been home in 20 minutes. I am sure that there are people out there that understand that.

I can get the #93 bus at six in the morning in Makaha and be in downtown Honolulu by 7:30, right today. Look it up, when the Rail Calamity is built it will take 2 1/2 to 3 hours to get to downtown. Rapid Transit? Biggest con job ever perpetrated on the people of this island. Estimated cost going up to Ten Billion dollars. Easy Money. And the Present Rail Party will be making millions and millions of dollars in profits. It's the dollars, Scholars. It's the bread, Fred. And the people be damned.

People on the North Shore and Windward are going to pay through the nose too. Someone has been rooked? Waianae People are not dumb, they can think and it is coming to pass.

70th Anniversary Rerun #65

"There was a time when the world asked ordinary men
to do extraordinary things."

Seventy Years Ago, From the book, "Paratrooper's Odyssey"

It was a sight that had rarely been seen before and which may never be seen again, the last large-scale night parachute jump of World War II. An hour after midnight on the 15th of August 1944, scattered over 150 miles at ten airfields in West Central Italy, 396 C-47 airplanes began turning over their engines.

At ten-second intervals planes taxied down dirt runways, lifted off and circled into formation. The dust compounded by darkness was so thick that many pilots had to use compass bearings to find their way down the runways.

Take off times were from 0136 to 0151 for the first ten serials, depending on the first check point at the Isle of Elba. Each serial required over an hour to get into formation, a column of "V of Vs" nine planes wide.

The entire formation, from the head of the first serial to the tail of the last, was over one hundred miles long. This was the Albatross Mission, to drop five thousand thirty paratroopers in Southern France.

These men were scheduled to be on the ground several hours before the invasion started. By 0330, the first men were "hitting the silk," out into a darkness that was almost pitch black.

The Beginning

THE RULE OF LGOPs: Little Groups of Paratroopers
written by an Army man who did not like Paratroopers.

After the end of the best Airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs behind the lines on the battlefield. This effect is known as the rule of the LGOPs. This is, in its purest form, small groups of pissed-off 19-year-old American Paratroopers. They are well-trained, armed-to-the-teeth and lack serious adult supervision. They collectively remember the Commander's intent as "March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who is not dressed like you..."...or something like that. Happily they go about the day's work.

Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club Rerun #64

Just receive from the famous Aunty Maile:

Reminding You This Week And Next Week!

April 26, 2014

And for May 2nd, 2014 

First News of Cinco De Mayo. This club is really rolling along just fine. Many people from Wahiawa, naturally. Also from Mililani, Waipio, Waikele and Pearl City. A club for social dancers. Blogging Hawaii the blog now firmly in second place behind Town Dancer but Oahu West staying within striking range due to Wahiawa Ballroom Dance information Contributions. Big difference when we get one more Two Center and if we get the Guest Author, second place for sure.

Still looking around Rerun #63

Haven't been to Ka'ena Point, but I am told that it is where you will find huge waves in the winter and great swimming and snorkeling in the summer. According to Hawaiian legend. Ka’ena point is the spot where Kanaka Maoli (the Hawaiian people) believe that the spirit of the dead person jumps of into the next world. Anyway it is way out and long forgotten by downtown Honolulu.

"Act as if what you do makes a difference - because it does."

Can you imagine a road around Ka'ena Point to Mokuleia, a distance of about three miles. No, Makaha has to deal with Honolulu and Mokuleia has to deal with Honolulu and never the twain shall meet. It's in the rules. How about "Keep the country, country?" Another good one to keep the people down. You gotta pay your dues to Honolulu first.

Going down the rest of the Coast there is quite a bit of Island dancing. Hawaiian, Samoan and Tongan. Very little Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese or Filipino. Some line dancing but hidden and apparently Ballroom Dancing is not even mentioned in polite society. And they have at present, at the Waianae District Park, the best dance floor in the West. Just beautiful, but there is no record of it ever being used for dancing.

"Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Bruddah Iz

The time will come, as we find that we need Honolulu less and less in spite of the Present Rail Party. We shall live, work and play in our own kuleana and what a Paradise that could be. Meanwhile an introduction to dancing in the Central Valley. Wahiawa Ballroom Dance Club.

It is closer than downtown Honolulu and a lot easier on traffic. Nice friendly people over there, more socially inclined than monetarily. The West is getting closer together now that the Rail Catastrophe looms. People along the corridor are in terrible troubles. In San Francisco, the Rail Fiasco was built and when they saw the results, it was torn down again. We shall see it come to pass here too. The money is so important to so many.

Exhibition Dancers in the West, Rerun #62

Throughout the years the extremely good dancers in the West have recognized that instead of easily recognizable steps, variations with high level of technical difficulties are created in dance choreography to surprise and hopefully to please the audiences.

Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you,
following you right on up until the day you die. ~Paul Simon

 

A typical example is the use of syncopated timing in variations. Dancers must know how to dance in regular timing before they can dance in syncopated timing. So it should be all right for everyone to just wait a little while longer. Of course, folk dancing is just fine for everyone.

The Functions Of A Ballroom Latin Outfit

The female Ballroom Latin costume is always the center of attraction on the dance floor to the audiences especially when the dancer is twisting and turning with speed. Of course there is difference is spirit too.

More importantly, the reason for dancing variations is to demonstrate the skill level of the dancers. That is why in competitions and demonstrations, most amateur and professional dancers tend to dance more variations than just basic syllabus figures.

"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver

This also proves that without a solid foundation and understanding of the basic techniques, it is rather difficult for beginners or hobbyists to imitate these moves although they may look easy on the surface. Take your time and enjoy the process along the way.

Yes, social media and transparency will be crucial in our new blogs. And all the blogs are reflecting what a blog can do and give us the precedent of what the other blogs can do for the readers. Somewhat different than the Social Media. And of course, each blog will eventually develop their own idiosyncrasies. Of special impact will be the Two-Centers and the Guest Authors.

 

Pub's Side Note:

The Golden Rule, according to The Present Rail Party.

"He who has the gold, makes the rules."

 

 

Update Rerun #61

Not so good. It is tottering around the mid teens in average hits per day. The Rail Disaster has had a devastating effect on the entire Corridor. But some people are making millions and millions of dollars in profits. So what's wrong with a little profit here and there? Does anyone know how much it costs for those "rubber stamps" on the HART board? Would be funny if it weren't so serious.

From the Creative Researchers And Producers in Honolulu:

“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it,

and eventually everyone will believe it”

West Honolulu led by Kalihi is shaping up to be a good place if you can find a place at least 3 blocks from the Rail Noise. Steel wheels on steel rail, is one of the most horrible sounds in the world. And that is why the Fat Cats are already thinking of some very low cost housing in that section. It will be the new slum area of Honolulu. There are many places in Kalihi that are developing into nice neighborhoods. Those with money want to get as far away from the Rail Catastrophe as possible.

There are still many residents in the non lessons mode, street or club dancing without formal teaching. But these people go to town for that. Specially since some of the Night Clubs are leaving this section. Now Kapolei and the Waianae Coast is looking better all the time. With 100 thousand residents, there are close to 5000 potential social dancers in the area. Another dance club is certain and of course the increase in Night Clubs with a dance floor.

"I'll Be Seeing You" by Jo Stafford

Anyway the West and Second City are going to be coming out of it in spite of the Rail Crisis. More people are getting on the band wagon. Da Rail Mess has got to go.