This is a test

I'm linking my other site to this blog to see what it does to my ratings. Silly, but just an experiment.

We call this domestic violence and it is a crime

The Fish is White and Nerdy

Well, I'm gold, actually, but my plucustomos friend fits the bill!

Have fun watching this!  It's not classical music, but it will make you 
Smile! 

The Fish Says Intimidation is for Bullies

So Norway's TV 2 is going to air the dreaded Mohammed cartoons!
The Fish applauds the choice of that country to stand up to bullying by various
groups that don't understand free speech and liberty.  

Will this cause some rioting, ululating and seething?  Perhaps.
And perhaps the extreme members of various groups will choose to return
to their country of origin if they find such a display  of freedom disturbing.

As for this Fish - I rejoice that I may speak my mind without fear of retaliation.
May God bless the countries where freedom reigns. 

The Fish Says Enough is Enough

The Pope makes a comment about medieval muslim thought, 
and all hell breaks loose in Muslim countries.

Why do some of those who call themselves Muslim prove the worst 
about themselves?  They say they are a Religion of Peace, and I know
personally some very peaceful Muslims, but the collective behavior is violent, 
and it frustrates me that many who call themselves Muslims are not willing 
to sit down and reason, rather than take offense at every little 
perceived jab at Mohammed or their faith.

Christianity, in this sense, is proving itself to be much more 
reasonable and peaceful than Islam.

This fish is just a bit more frustrated than usual.  
Time to listen to some of Beethoven's more
Stormy works!

 

The Fish Seeks Blog Visibility

The Fish, vain Fish that I am, wish to attract more visitors to this lowly blog.
Hence, I am now releasing Technorati Spiders into my tank zone.

Technorati Profile 

The Fish Ponders the Ethical Dilemma of Racial Profiling

If you are a sea or tank dweller like I am, you have to 
think about your basic needs. There is food to find,
appropriate sleep to catch, and the ever present problem of boredom.

You also have to consider your safety.  Suppose your owner decides to create a diverse, almost multicultural collection of fish.....fish of every size and color.....fish of every temperament...you know what I mean.   Some fish are able to live in community with others.  These are tolerant and even friendly, but there are some fish you do best to avoid.  

Because of my goldfish persuasion and strongly held fish beliefs, I have noticed that some fish consider me to be less of a fish.  The Grouper, for example.  If I come near a Grouper, it would be the last think I would ever do!  There are few fish that are able to live under the oppressive  dominion of the Grouper peacefully. And these are cowardly fish indeed.  
They even give their own hatchlings to the 
Grouper for their feed The rest are considered mere fish food.   

We fish carefully note the physical characteristics of the Grouper....and avoid them like the plague!  If our owner is wise, he will also racially profile the Grouper and keep him in his own tank where he can cause little to no damage to the rest of the fish.

Humans would be wise to note the Groupers among them and take special caution so they do not become part of the food chain.  The will do irreperable damage!

There is no need to be afraid of the gentle angel fish, the diligent snails, even my phlegmatic plucustomus buddy is no danger.  But the Grouper will try to kill me and anything larger and smaller than itself 100% of the time and I will be certain to watch for them.

The Fish Thinks About Music Education

It is time again for all the guppies to swim in their schools.  Parents concern 
themselves with the academic needs of their children, but are they attending to 
their musical needs as well?

The little fry need music for so many reason!

1. Music causes people to be more civilized (I exclude the expletive laden and 
oversexed hip hop and rap music from this category) 

2. Music participation makes kids smarter.   They use both sides of the brain at once.

3. Music brings people and communities together.

4.  Music participation is a healthy release from daily stress.

5.  Practicing music brings discipline into the lives of kids.

6.  Music participation, whether in a band or a choir, teaches teamwork and cooperation.

There are so many good reasons to get those small fry into a music class.
Whether yours participate in a school program, or you enroll them in lessons or community programs,  your children will benefit greatly.

Here are some links about the arts and academic achievement:

Arts Education Partnership
Music Education: The Cornerstone to Developing a Well-Rounded Individual

The Fish is Writing a Paper

When one gravels on topics as much as I do, the need arises to present 
information that will be useful to others and that will be satisfactory in 
the eyes of one's professor. 

This is what the Fish is doing today and will be doing tomorrow as well - delving 
deeper into the depths of Wagnerian symbolism.  And discovering in the process that, despite his amazing creativity, fascinating music and artistic output, the Fish would probably not have liked Wagner that well as a person.

Back to gravelling.  My unfortunate plucustomus partner is annoyed at my incessant studies, but, as some say - "It is all for art!" - and I am a musician at heart.