How do you spell a "u"?

I am currently reading Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities. I suppose I was destined to read this book, as it haunted me for two years while I worked at Ben & Jerry's. Someone had once left a copy and it sat on our shelf waiting to be claimed. For all I know, it could still be there. I don't believe I ever really read more of the book than the author's name and the title, but later when people began to mention the work of Kozol, I had a vague sense of familiarity - 'oh right! Savage Inequalities!' Some time later, in a discussion with my friend Ian about the repercussions about names like Tanajaiqua and Queenasia versus names like Madison and Francis, he recommended (what else), as it deals with inequalities (clearly). I read this to fend off the bourgeois intruder persona that could creep up on a person who grew up in Saratoga and now would like to do community-based work (art projects) in three small cities. The book looks at equity from an education standpoint, seeing this as the seedling to society. As a teacher, this resonates with me.

I substitute teach nearly every day, in districts both urban and suburban. I usually do not consider the race of the students unless the majority is overwhelming (for being practically in Troy, the school in Green Island is awash in white). Kozol talks a lot about how poverty and race lines often break at the same point. He talks about urban schools a short distance from suburban schools, and about what a difference money makes. What a school in disrepair with not enough supplies speaks to children. About using rooms for purposes they were never designed for - such as a classroom in a urinal.

As a sub, I mostly notice the behavior differences within schools. More often than not, the suburban kids are more quick to bow to authority, and kids in the city schools will press this a little more. I never really considered the facilities unless it made my job more difficult; ie, a classroom without walls, in a 'cluster' with two or three other classrooms of this type, or perhaps subbing for the art teacher who did not have a room or even a cart. She was art in a milk crate.

Things like this make my job as a glorified babysitter (some days) a little more difficult. I never really considered the effect on the students.

I began to think. I felt a little weird reading this book in Schenectady High while fighting with students who I shouldn't even bother fighting with. I think - your facilities are beautiful! You have a DANCE STUDIO in your art WING for crying out loud. I shall feel no pity for you.

Then I think back to some schools in Troy. The things Kozol was talking about, I found there.

Some elementary schools have converted bathrooms and locker rooms into offices and remedial reading / math classrooms.

There are not enough supplies for the students. I know that the art teachers depend on the supplies each year, they do not have enough to last from the year before, and it might be October before they begin receiving anything.

For a few years I have done a lot of equating children's success with the involvement of the parents. While I still think this is important, I am beginning to understand what Kozol is talking about. We trap people into self-reproducing societies. We usher our middle class tax payers into the suburbs where their children will go to school in well maintained buildings with well funded programs. Many of the people still living in cities with the money to afford it will send their kids to private schools. The people who understand how to push for better conditions are pushing for those improvements in areas where the current standard is something that many in city schools only dream of.

There are many people who are fans of the notion of pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps. How is one to do this when one's old bootstraps have disintegrated and there isn't money for a new pair?

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Now give me 50 cents.

It is a beautiful day. I got out of work an hour early today, which was superb. I'm not really wearing green, though that is the requirement for getting your free cone at Stewart's. At least, that is what it always was for as long as I can remember, and I've lived in the Capital Region since I was little. When I asked for a cone, the cashier sort of looked at me funny, and then eyed me up and down, seeing if he could spot my green. I held out to him the translucent green circles hanging from long chains dangling from my ears. We had a brief discussion about how they were just barely green when he cuts me off--"you know that'll be fifty cents, right?"

"You're joking" I say.

This is not the first time today where someone asked me for a small portion of money for something that shouldn't cost anything. The security guard at the door of the school I subbed in told me he would let me back in (I had to go to my car), but for a dollar.

However, unlike the security guard, the man at Stewart's was not joking.

"Everywhere?" I ask.

He explains that because college students had exploited the free cone day last year, going from shop to shop, they now have to charge.

"But that's what you do." I replied, as I reluctantly handed him two quarters.

As he argued the value of this purchase I tried to explain to him that I don't really like ice cream, and that now I might not be able to afford beans. At this point he was no longer listening. Perhaps he thought I was joking.

Schenectady Gazette Article featuring Duto.

Pre-Duto Lark Street Free Cone Day:

Renegade Craft Fair

I would really like to apply to the Renegade Craft Fair, Which is taking place in Brooklyn On June 6 and 7 from 11am - 7pm. I went last year and it was bustling and awesome. It is free to get in (which means one wants to spend more money) but to get a booth the fee is $300. The space is 10'x10' and I've got a craft fair tent and some tables. I'm looking for 1-3 people who would like to split the fee and the space with me. Of the craft fairs I did in Troy this past winter, I made $100 a day. And that's in TROY. (Think of the money to be made in Brooklyn!)
Who's with me?

Indie Bands for Ads for Brands

Though I'm unable to find it, a few years ago, in a hostel in Madrid a TV broadcasted, mostly unwatched, from the kitchen. At one point I looked up because I noticed music from a song I was particularly fond of - Tiny Paintings from Architecture in Helsinki, if my memory serves me. The music was accompanying the ad for a TV Channel self-promo spot. Maybe Canal Cuatro?

Not long after, my friend Allie told us all that she had heard Of Montreal in an Outback Steakhouse ad. We all told her she was crazy until 15 minutes later when Jesse burst in the door claiming the same thing.

Later I heard an American TV ad Featuring another Architecture in Helsinki song.

Mates of State got into the act, making an appearance in theirs.

And my mom, who loves Regina Spektor, is always telling me about how she's heard her in commercials.

I know it isn't TV, but in a Wal-Mart in Mexico last summer, the ambient music being played included Peter Bjorn and John (In addition to James Taylor's Ohhh Mexico)

This is hardly related.

So none of this really upsets me. What does upset me, however, is when companies blatently rip off the style of a popular underground musician for their own benefit.

Case in Point?

Watch all of these Comcast ads.

Not familiar with Kimya? Start by listening to Tree Hugger by Antsy Pants (Kimya & Friends)

Eleventeen.
Some MP3s via her site: The Beer
I like Giants

And read this blog post by Kimya.

Heartless leeches.

Hobo Banned Breakin' Out?

Albany's Sgt. Dunbar & the Hobo Banned was featured on the most recent NPR podcast hilighting some bands playing SXSW. Check it out.

"These are bands we've never heard of...and wanna go see"

The Armory Show - Christine Hill & Volksboutique

Woman after my own heart. I did not quite need to mention this other thing I am drawn to to my friend, who had heard me yak about hand painted signs for at least a year. This is one of the things I hope to learn to do within the next few years, and perhaps there are a few old timers around willing to have me on as an apprentice.

I'm not sure if apprenticeship is still looked upon fondly by people with such a business, but I'm always scheming ways to become someone's apprentice to learn a skill or trade.

The hand-painted signs of Volksboutique's Armory Apothecary screamed to me from across the fair. While I never quite fully digested what it was Hill was doing and selling, I was inspired by the kinship.

Perhaps Hill was selling inspiration in the form of prescriptions and peppermint candies.

I like that she describes her work as projects. This is most likely the label I will adopt for what I'm beginning to do.

The Armory Show - Julian Opie

This is for Beth to see.

At some point, I had to add to my friend that there was another thing that constantly draws my attention - stylization.

Watching Suzanne is a very sexy collection of lines, positive and negative space.
After encountering more of his work at another booth, I recognized him at the artist who did that one Blur cover. Why hadn't I known his name before?