I am brand new to blogging. (Actually, I only began reading blogs a few months ago. I’m not a Luddite, but my technological inertia level has been rising exponentially over the decades since I bought my first Mac 512–that was 512kb for the youngsters reading this.) Nevertheless, I do know that my job is to make posts worth your while. There is way too much clutter as well as much of real merit in the infosphere. The competition for attention is daunting.
To prepare you for the journey, here are some logistical (and other) matters that will guide this blog:
- I will cheerfully steal good ideas from almost anywhere and happily give credit as due. (If I stumble on the credit part, let me know. I have no interest in claiming credit for work that is not my own.)
- I will ask friends brighter than I (a distressingly long list of people) to serve as guest posters. Some of them may even agree to do so.
- If you have a good idea, suggest it. And become a “brighter than I” friend.
- Some posts will touch on sensitive issues. Give me and certainly my colleagues posting here the benefit of the doubt that we are not blithering idiots. Consider that perhaps our definitions of words and our arts experiences make the ideas more reasonable in our contexts than might appear to you on first read. (For instance, the quantity and depth of community engagement work has considerable variation across arts genres and regions.)
. . . . I will try to do the same for any commenters.
July 30, 2011

Recent Comments
richard kooyman on The Arts Benefit from Engagement
Doug, I think you might have it exactly backwards. A good case could be made that the respect...Stephen Pritchard on More on Artists and Engagement
Good debate. Quick response. Are Lion King sequels, popularist propaganda and American Idol REALLY what 'people' WANT? Is art in any...Larry Murray on More on Artists and Engagement
One size does not fit all. There is no one art that fits both Joe and Jody Sixpack and Mr....richard Kooyman on More on Artists and Engagement
Doug, Thank you for allowing me to have a conversation with you regarding artists, their role in society, and the...Sally Whitwell on I Blame Beethoven
I like your "hyperbolic" heading! But yes, the word 'blame' carries with it the potential for much controversy, so...Craig Fleming on Shifting the Center
A Venn diagram is crucial.Doug Borwick on I Blame Beethoven
These are terribly complex issues, admittedly not well suited to this form of discourse. I've got two more posts coming...richard kooyman on I Blame Beethoven
In the 1950's governmental officials and policy makers were concerned about the United State's standing in the world and our...John "Moe" Moore on Equity/Diversity/Change
Haven't heard back from you in a few weeks Carl. Are you around? JMrichard kooyman on Engagement Vocabulary
Doug, My comments were in no way meant as a personal attack. If they read as such I apologize. As...