Supply and Demand

On Friday many of my students may have noticed I was a little distracted around 10:00am. I was online trying to buy tickets to the Elton John concert in February. Maybe not the most professional thing to do during class but the students were busy working and I have been listening to Elton John for 30 years and need to see this concert. His music represents some iconic melodies from the last three to four decades. This concert is a "Bucket List" experience for many people. This is why I was extremely disappointed to sit and watch my browser spin and spin for an hour during repeated attempts to squeeze through the crammed bandwidth into the selectyourtickets.com server. The Q was reporting that both shows were sold out in seven minutes! How is it possible to process tickets online, over the phone, and in person for two shows in seven minutes? I really can not see how that could physically be possible.
I can understand that many, many people in the Victoria area were wanting to see this show. What really makes my blood boil is that very day there were several ads placed on usedvictoria and craigslist offering tickets for sale anywhere from $200 to $1000. Some of the sellers had six tickets available, which is the maximum number of tickets allowed to purchase by a single seller. These are the people that were clogging up the internet; people with no desire or intention to see the show, wanting only to make a profit. Something is just not right about this when scalpers can take advantage of people who are true fans. I was so ticked that I placed my own ad on usedvictoria they took the add off, but not before I got a couple responses that read:
"...we will not satisfied the scalpers that are greedey we will wait the day of and see if some one can't go and buy the tickets at cost thanks for being our voice here.

"Hi, I totally agree with you! I tried to get some but was unsuccessful... and to see them up on used victoria already makes me sick...."


I placed another ad that reads:
I have 2 floor tickets in the third row that I bought for myself and my wife . I have wanted to see this concert for years. Oh wait...no I don't because so many people bought them with no desire to actually see the show. They are illegally making a profit off of the popularity of this artist at the expense of the rest of us. For every scalped ticket for sale there is a disappointed true fan! What I am "giving away" is anger, frustration, and disappointment.

Here are some responses:

"I couldn't agree more.

Unfortunately, too many people are willing to pay the ridiculous prices. If everybody stopped paying the $800ea the scalpers might get burned enough times to make a difference."

"amen"

"Thank you,

For expressing what so many feel. Legalized crime by any other name is this ticket racket!

Bill."

"ain't it true!!!"

I am sure it will be removed soon, but it feels good to voice my opinion in a venue that may be seen by the scalpers!

Heros

What constitutes heroism? Does a hero require bravery or can a hero be defined as someone who sacrifices for others? Is part of heroism standing up for your own beliefs in the face of oppression or retribution? The definition of hero is as illusive as there are individuals. What is your definition of "Hero" and who are the heros in your life?

A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted.
Andrew Bernstein

I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.
Bob Dylan

A Violinist's Tribute to a Nobel Laureate

An empty chair...and music.

"Finish in music where words are left off."

Lynn Chang will play at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The recipient will not be there; he is in jail for 11 years for apposing the Chinese Government

Hint Fiction

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Hint Fiction: A story of 25 words or less that hints at a larger, more complex narrative.

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Ernest Hemingway

HOUSE HUNTING by Gary A. Braunbeck
The fence is tall. Good. The mother is typical white-trash, too loud. But the kids … they seem frightened and quiet. Good. Easier that way.

DEPARTURE by Donora Hillard
The terminal is unkind. You watch me go through security. In six months, you’ll say “Tell me about the nightmare,” and I promise I will.

PROGRESS by Joe Schreiber
After seventeen days she finally broke down and called him “daddy.”

PEANUT BUTTER by Camille Esses
He was allergic. She pretended not to know.

Is this really fiction? Does it satisfy the criteria of a story? Try your hand at a "tweet length" story.

Which one are you?

One of the speakers (Dr Carol Dweck)at the National Association for Gifted Children Conference I listened to had an interesting theory on "Mindsets". Her assertion is that gifted students can be categorized into two different mindsets: Fixed and Growth. A student with a fixed mindset has been able to get along on talent and ability but is resistant to actual learning. The speaker asserts that talent is merely a starting point in an educational journey and that ability, gifts, and talent are malleable and can be trained. A student with a fixed mindset must LOOK smart at all times and is resistant to put themselves in a position that might challenge themselves academically. They hide mistakes and conceal difficulties and find that effort makes them feel dumb simply giving up on a difficult project while trying to blame others. A student with a growth mindset is all about the learning and will study to gain knowledge, not just to do well on a test. They believe in working hard and systematically addressing their weaknesses and will capitalize on their mistakes taking steps to fix the problem. A student with a growth mindset will link success to effort. Students with fixed mindsets will encounter difficulty as they advance through the system when they encounter difficulties which they are not able to conquer with talent alone.

It is possible to develop intelligence through hard work and by taking risks.

Watch Will SMith talk about effort and its rewards.

The bond of a common experience.

Ok, so on this highly educational conference I did take the opportunity to do something I have wanted to do for many years; I went to an NFL football game. The Atlanta Falcons beat the Baltimore Ravens in a very close game. I was a little nervous to go to a huge stadium filled with people and sit by myself. I quickly realized those fears were unfounded. I was surrounded by groups of complete strangers whose only connection was this game. We all sat quietly exchanging small talk until the kickoff and then it was as if we had known each other for years and had come to the game together. Together we hung off the result of every play, cheering wildly and exchanging arm breaking high fives and suffering the angst at the loss of yardage. The man next to me spoke with a deep southern drawl which I happily listened to and nodded in agreement, understanding about 40% of everything he said. There were two Baltimore fans sitting in front of my new posse and to my surprise these hard core Atlanta fans dished out some good natured ribbing but where respectful of their alliance to their team. We understand the emotional allegiance to a team; we understand what it is like to be a fan. Three hours later we exchanged a final boisterous congratulations on a big win (as if we had anything to do with it) and dispersed. From this day forward I will always be a Falcons fan but I am left pondering the experience of human connection and how strangers can be brought together at an emotional level by a common experience.

Keeping in touch.

Cell phones and laptops. The airport landscape is littered with lonely individuals keeping in touch. What could be on that luminescent screen that could alter our perception of reality? Are we really that insecure that we crave contact to verify our importance? How did people communicate, organize, produce, and entertain 15 years ago? Frankly, I don't remember and it makes me a little sad.
An Interesting article on cell phone dependency.

Oh and by the way here is a picture of the view outside my window in Atlanta. (Taken with my cell phone)