CyberMinions.net

New York Music & Arts

113-25 Queens Blvd Suite 107-110 Forest Hills, New York 11375 (718) 362-9887

Life With Wee People: Saturdays Are For Bagels, Sam Ash and NYMA Music Classes

This is a great block to have fun with your kids on. We started our morning having bagels, oat meal cookies, carrot cake, orange juice and snapples at Bagels For You. Above it is New York Music & Arts (NYMA). To get there, you have to go to the entrance right next to Sam Ash.

My kids love getting their munchies and snackage together when we go on our little musical excursions. Saturday mornings are definitely bagel time because it's a quick, easy painless tasty treat when you are about to oogle instruments, sample the drums, finger the keyboards and drool at guitars (LOL).

We purchased the Korg and Yamaha here (as well as all of the percussion instruments that Shephen, the Minion Blur destroyed) and a couple of really nice student guitars that the shorties manhandle with glee (LOL). Our last guitar purchase for Noah is doing relatively well because Stephen keeps forgetting we are hiding it in the bedroom closet. Dude becomes El KaBong when he gets mad. We're working on that trait (LOL).

While shopping in Sam Ash I asked around for a music teacher or therapist and Carl suggested the music school above the store would be a good spot for my son since he is a beginner. I liked what I heard about them so off we went to enroll the shorties in their first semester of music school.

I spoke to them over the phone about my kids taking classes before we came and was delighted to discover they have a family plan where two children in the same family on the same learning level (beginner, etc) can enroll in their "Family Combo" plan if they are learning the same instrument.

I decided to select the piano for them both because I can give them headphones and let them have at it on the keyboards when they are home (LOL). Plus, they can play together if they want to (and I can make them turn the volume down if I have to - LOL).

I've been letting Noah use the Korg while Stephen has been killing the Yahama. I am hoping he doesn't decide to engage in the ritualistic destruction of those two particular bits of musical electronics because I enjoy programming with them. Touring keyboards are not cheap and I could have brought a motorcycle if I add up all the hardware that went to the grave with the help of my wee people (LMAO). Their attitudes are changing and school has a lot to do with that. Stephen is always asking "Can I try?" now, regardless of what someone is doing. That's pretty cool. They are learning to channel their curiosity so I'm learning not to get mad at them when mistakes are made. I do get upset but get over stuff pretty quickly after spoofing with my friends on how their minds appear to work. You have to roll with the flow as a parent or you will loose your ever loving mind. Curious, quirky kids... ya gotta love 'em (LOL).

I figure those tiny little fingers need something positive to do and those easily distracted minds could use something fun and educational to keep them occupied beyond their usual school routines so Saturdays are for music lessons. I may even toss in some art classes because a semester at NYMA is for 20 weeks and they have an introductory art class that includes all of the materials. Since they teach piano every day I figure that's the best bet for them. However, I don't know if I want to do the 2PM to 8PM slots available for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday or just stick to the 9AM to 5PM slots for Saturdays and Sundays with Saturday being THE day.

The shorties were pretty excited to be there. Stephen kept insisting I needed to take his shoes off. He only does that when he's really comfortable somewhere so I was instantly impressed with the people who run the place because that's what we do as soon as we get home. We dump our bags, toss out jackets and kick our shoes off (LOL).

We determined that keeping them in the same classroom for their private lessons were best. The 45 minutes are going to be split up with Noah learning for 30 minutes and Stephen for the remaining 15 because 3 year olds usually don't take piano lessons. Most people start them around 5. I figure since Noah is going to be in class with Stephen watching Step might as well learn something new too. That's another reason why I am thrilled with NYMA. Having a family plan so both kids can learn and being flexible because my kids have issues means I shall periodically be bragging abot this place while I update you all on how the little minions are progressing.

Make no mistake about it: taking turns may become an issue because my boys love musical instruments (LOL). I was prepared. Step can easily be distracted with toys and two oat meal cookies while Noah works (LMAO).

When Spring Break is over we are going to have a lot to talk about with their public school teachers. Gotta run. The shorties and I have to go on our next educational play date. I have to hit the park, hit the museum and hit studio to arrange some music. My gal pal Alicia is coming back to New York so I have to get my tracks down so we can edit and record more songs. :-)

Will get back to the Roman column story shortly. I figured since I threw so many of you off about posting I had to get them to school on a Saturday I'd show you which school I was talking about (LOL). If you are looking for something interesting to do with your kids now that the weather is warm, go take a class the whole family can enjoy together. Music? Art? Cooking? Swimming? It's up to you... I'm looking forward to all the new families we are about to make friends with at NYMA.

Might even youTube a few lessons. I'm sure there'll be something to spoof about. After all, it's the little minions. They are always up to something (LOL).  :-)

When Pissed, Get Desert... Preferably Italian Gelato. Trust Me...

The cool thing about running around with the shorties is the fact that my boys always make me feel better. They are funny when shopping and right now I could use some fun. I am a wee bit pissed off about a closing dragging on and on and on... The dragging and dragging part kinda ticks me off and the irony is it isn't even my closing. It belongs to a loved one and sometimes you just have to butt out and let things take their course no matter what happens.

Sometimes that can be very hard to do when other things are hanging in the balance... Even harder when you keep telling your friggin' relative that (a) you are not their representative in the transaction and (b) that they should speak with their broker. Turns out they are speaking with the broker but since I am handy why not drive me crazy as well (LOL).

Know what? I am not going to be annoyed about this anymore. My solution? Turn off my cell phone and treat my kids to ice cream (LOL). In this case Italian Gelato at Piu Bello Hopefully Stephen will stop speed dialing people long enough for me to enjoy nibbling with the kids (I swipe the cones and spoon a taste from each cup then let them have at it - LOL). :-)

Have you ever been to Piu Bello in Forest Hills? No? Sweetie pies you guys need to take yourselves over to 70-09 Austin Street (on the corner across from Barnes and Noble and the NY Sports Club). I love this place. They have public internet computers you can rent there right next to the ATM. That means if I don't have my laptop I can still read your posts and enjoy a treat while lurking on your blogs (LOL). BTW, you can park at B&N and if you validate your ticket you pay $3. ;-)

Wanna meet the shorties? You're gonna have to be quick because our next stop is Barnes and Nobles. Noah has to learn how to read ten books by himself. This should be a very interesting year. Dude can type. YouTube and Google are his friends.

Hmm... I wonder if I can get him blogging next year. We already fight over the digital cameras (LOL). Wanna see his latest snapshot? Check this out... ;-)

Noah E Starr 2010

My camera is full of posed toys (among other things - ROTFLMAO). Kids... ya gotta love them... :-)

How To Get Your Blog On Ambassador Style... It's easier than you think. Start with the idea that you never want to miss your moment. If you are addicted to the Rain like I am then sharing your thoughts and day becomes second nature. Anything at even given moment may inspire you to write a blog post. 

Take the lovely Lizette Fitzpatrick for example. She was wondering how her crazy girlfriend from New York (me) could find the time to crank out so much social media. Here's the secret:

1- Buy a plug adapter for your car so you can power your cell phone and laptop no matter where you are.

2- Buy an Air Card so when your friends are not home to high-jack their Internet accounts and WiFi hot spots are not available (e.g. Starbucks ATT Wifi - two hours free every day if you buy a Starbucks gift card - LMAO) you can upload anything anywhere in the USA and PR. :-)

3- Buy a pillow for your laptop because your legs will get mad hot if you leave that thing sitting in your lap for a long time (LOL). Burning skin when in shorts is not conducive to getting your social media groove on. Trust me. Been there. Done that. Am soooo not doing it again (LOL).

Why waste time between appointments or when your clients are running late? Do e-mail. Play Mafia Wars. Make Facebook comments. Visit Victoria's Secret. Serial comment in ActiveRain. Spy on your children with that encrypted web cam you set up (LMAO).

You can also access the MLS while running around in the field and maybe sell that buyer a house down the block and around the corner from your original appointment. Hmm... finally said something useful and real estate related, eh? (LOL)

Here's a little car seat eye candy for your entertainment. Laptop $635, Air Card from Sprint $0 ($50 rebates are beautiful), Adapter $4.95, Pillow $6.95. For less than $700 you can maximize your Google Juice by never missing your moment. Think about it... You can tweet from the toilet or the tub if you go wireless. Just sayin (LOL). ;-)

If you do start making better use of your downtime while working in your car don't forget great music and to crank back your seat so you can lounge in your mobile office while typing. I love my outside blogs. I have three. Populating them is mad fun. I write on the fly off and on all day. You can draft what ever you want and post later people. No pressure. Take you time and edit it or let her rip and hit the send button (LOL).

Need an Outside Blog? Wanna join the Club Chaos SEO Bootcamp? Need to set up and get menionized? Shoot me an e-mail or e-mail the Ambassador of your choice. Don't know who is down with the high-jinx and Google Domination program? Ever hear of TLW? Paddy Pizappi? Jo Soss? Lizette Fitzpatrick? ActiveRain has a lot of resources and Ambassadors if you wanna get your social media groove on. Nothing beats a Rainmaker account. 

Seriously. :-)

Sweetie, if you haven't been Raindexed you have no idea what you are truly missing. I have investors flying in from Taiwan right now because of my blogging on AR. Think you can't blog from the car or afford a mobile office? Think again. I even have a cooler with snack-age and everything (LOL). Get with the program people! Get mobile. Go global! Show me the eye candy! :-)

My Cow Pie Is Bigger Than Your Cow Pie! Is Not! Is Too! Nope-nah! Uuh-huh... Yeah, it is. No it aint. Bite me... 

Today's Cow Pie Talking Point is ANTITHESIS. Antithesis is simply an opposing argument. Had I titled it that you wouldn't be curious to see where this is going (LOL). We are going somewhere a few of you may not want to step so get real comfy because Wordy C is in the house and Cow Pie is about to be served... ;-)

Ever watch a social media spat across cyberspace? It can be mad fun watching your sociology class come to life. If you are really careful you can map a time line of theories by collecting and rearranging the comments to reflect who is pro and con on the subject being debated. Can't collect this stuff willy-nilly. You really have to pay attention to who is talking to who (parallel, primary conversations) and who is reacting to who (secondary, spin offs who don't follow the entire thread, just pick a line of reasoning and/or a person to support or attack). You can't have fun while learning something if you don't pay attention to the players spinning the game. All players have a strategy. It doesn't matter what line of business you are in or what the product is that you are selling. When writers start writing it is because they have something that they want to share with you. Period. From the absurd (arguing about cow pies while trying not to step in other people ____ ) to the sublime (proving string theory and the existence of God).

Social media is a game. Don't let anyone fool you. It's a tool to advance your agenda and agendas can encompass anything you like. Doesn't have to be serious. Doesn't have to be fluff. It just has to be you looking to dialog with another person in a way that they can relate to what you are advancing. Weapons of mass destruction? Staplers and restraining orders? The subject isn't the game. The presentation of the subject is the game. If strategy, diction, professionalism and prose make you feel better, feel free to substitute those words or the words of your choice but don't ever forget interpersonal communication skills are personal choices we make to convey what we intend to convey.

I like thinking of blogging as a "game" because gaming requires fluid thinking and multiple levels of skill and strategy. It's dynamic. It's organic. It never stays the same. The military plays war games to prepare the troops for the reality of battle. Bloggers play writing games to stimulate dialog while showcasing their points of order they wish to present to the reader while taking the reader on a journey down a path of thoughts we'd like them to explore. The best writers are the ones who are transparent. They are the ones who can find a way to make their cat's litter box a relevant analogy to the state of the economy with such a natural flow you don't blink an eye when you get to the end of their prose. 

Blogging is a bloodsport. Heart, sweat and tears go into being transparent because we take a huge risk in exposing our inner selves in the context of another person's perception of reality. Writers are attempting to create a meeting of the minds. If we do our jobs well you may laugh or cry. You may agree or disagree. You may rant or rave. If we do our jobs well you will respond by initiating dialog with your friends, family, share the link, leave a comment, subscribe, etc... If we do our jobs right you will return again and again although you may never leave a comment... 

Writers expose themselves by what they do and don't say. Can't fake truth. Can't teach funny. Can't hide mean. Can't duck the consequences of your actions (and on occasion non-action when a response is required). 

What is in a person is going to come out one way or the other. Stick around cyberspace long enough and you will soon realize when someone is being serious, teasing, trying to make a point, share an idea or is just determined to spend their days pushing a button. These things are not mutually exclusive. You can have it all in one blog post or a series of missives (LOL).

If you are lucky you will subscribe to writers that hone their craft and grow. If you are unlucky, you will find yourself wondering why you keep coming back for more of the same crap you thought this person was over and done with. After all, they said they were done with it... yet some people don't know when to let a subject go. I see that in a lot of people who digitally foam at the mouth when responding to religious and/or political posts (LOL). It's like they go trolling for trouble because they have to have an argument to prove they are better or right rather than the other person.

My kids are learning disabled and they are monitored for milestones. Sometimes, they age out of a program when they reach a certain point in their young lives and/or development and we, as parents, have to enroll them in something more appropriate in relation to their level of functioning. When I wander around cyberspace I find myself routinely comparing grown people to my wee people because I respect the process that allows me to manage them.

Applied Behavioral Analysis is a beautiful thing. Everyone human fits the profile because we all have points of leverage that can be triggered to influence us (LOL). Hang around a bunch of therapists long enough and you will start incorporating their way of thinking into your blog posts. ;-)

You'd think experienced bloggers would be "aging out" as their craft matures. For the uninitiated: aging out is the theoretical process delineating when and how individuals reduce the frequency of their "offending behavior" as they age. ABA is all about self corrections and rewarding socially acceptable behavior. Socially acceptable behavior has a pretty wide spectrum and no one has cornered the market on it's predominate culture or intercultural ramifications.

Social media fascinates me in this respect... So does spoofing about Cow Pies because we all know it's just a politically correct euphemism for "Bullshit" so why pretend one word is more correct or socially palatable than the other? If you are conveying what you intend then all else is an illusion, a fallacy, a bit of sophistry from someone else who wants to change the meaning of your work and dilute your words from being a pithy, relevant remark to bland milk toast imagery.

You don't have to be evil to say what you mean, you just have to be honest enough to mean what you say. It has been my experience that most people recognize and know the difference even if they don't like or agree with you every single day. At least we respect each other enough to come back and try to have new conversations. That is the fun of blogging. Never knowing what you're going to get and never knowing what you are going to share until you have the nerve to go there...  

One should always blog like a child seeking to age out and experience a new adventure. One should also be careful not to step in other people's cow pies while fertilizing the blogosphere with their own organic material (LOL).

This concludes our Cow Pie lesson for the day. Until our next organic adventure, play nice in the electronic sandbox people. ;-)

Club Chaos SEO Bootcamp

Writing 101: The Water Writer versus The Glass Writer

What is an objective comment? The concept seems pretty subjective to me... Fact: the glass is half empty. Fact: the glass is half full. Fact: the glass is full of air and water... Hmm... Are we all right based upon our view of what we observe and how we describe it? Is one more right than another? Facts are always relative to what we are presenting or comparing them to. Facts change as more information is known... Whether a fact is objective or subjective remains to be seen. The facts of the matter have to be discovered and facts change with each new piece of information revealed.

If the glass is the subject, it is full of air and water. If the liquid is the subject, it can either be half full or half empty. If one writer focuses on the glass and another focuses on the water, third parties visiting writers who write upon the same subject should not take it upon themselves to hastily call either the water writer or the glass writer a liar, incompetent, unobservant, negligent or any emotionally charged thing simply because he or she (the writer) is the sole person who gets to decide the point of view or angle of relativity to narrate their blog post story from.

Sharing a view or voicing a complaint should always start from a point of honesty. Be honest about what you like and dislike and people will be able to connect to you simply because they can relate emotionally and intellectually to what you are saying. Blogging is a social sport of bantering words because it is the blog posts that start the conversations.

Without dialog your blog is worthless. Original content is king so write with the idea that people will be Googling what interests them. If something is a common term to your profession, religion, community, hobby then use that term and don't worry about the grammar issue if the phrase is the key to finding your blog post subject. Stop trolling the net for a list of hot key words. They don't exist. Your readers exist. Your readers are looking for interesting writers to opine upon stuff they like. If you don't write about what is important to you then that's a waste of time and you wont develop your talent. Create works of literature based upon what you are trying to convey from your heart, mind and imagination. The rest will follow as you share more of your thoughts regarding what you like and dislike.

The person who focused on the glass did not give a more precise description of events than the water writer, he or she just described a different aspect of the same scene from their point of view relative to the known facts at hand. You need to understand this because if you are not privy to all of the facts, did not observe first hand the event, then you only know what people choose to reveal to you. They only know what you describe in your attempt to make them understand what you are seeing and feeling.

It is up to the reader to decide to accept or reject the information at hand. They will make judgments about you based upon what is read so you might want to start by stop calling yourself number one in anything. We can't all have that slot so why bothers screaming you are THE expert when you are not? Being AN expert in a class of many is not the same as being THE expert. There is always something you don't know, so it is best for a reader to decide you are one on their own by experiencing you than discovering your claim to fame is bogus.

As a reader you should always feel free to verify the veracity of a statement you feel is important, however, you may not be in a position to receive the information you seek. If you are going to be a blogger you first have to be a reader. Put yourself in the shoes of the people who will be reading you because as a writer your job is to paint a picture for your readers so that they can experience a sense of what it is you are trying to convey. Your love or your outrage - it doesn't make a difference. What ever you write about I expect you to take someone you don't know on a journey. If your writing doesn't do that then why are you here?

You need to know why you are here and you need for your reader to discover what makes being here with you special. If they like what you write they will return for more. If they don't like what you write they may still return for more simply because you pushed a button and people have a way of foaming at the virtual mouth when they gear up to argue their points (LOL). They will lurk and monitor a conversation, waiting to dive into the fray when the right comment triggers a need to write a pithy response (LMAO).

We all argue our points, marketing our ideas and beliefs in the process. Objective comment? Subjective comment? Rant? Rave? Kudos? Cease and Desist Warnings? Don't for one minute think that bloggers are not marketing themselves or what they want to advocate and advance. Don't for one moment fail to believe that people for or against your post(s) champion and debate ideas for no reason(s). We write because we seek to engage in dialog regarding the things that interest us and people read for the same reason. We write because we want to share our business and personal beliefs and people comment for the same reason.

Commenting is the same as writing. Think of your comments as a micro-blog. They reveal a lot about you. More than you may ever realize if someone were to cut and paste them all into a book about you. Imagine the havoc it would cause if I did a cut and paste biography of every opinion you, the writer, have placed in cyberspace. Would you be proud of your cyber-biography? Would you stand by every idle word that flowed from your fingertips? In my case my Mom would have to smack me at least twice (LOL). Possibly a third time (ROTFLMAO). Bet you didn't see that one coming did ya? But I caught your attention and made you wonder what the heck I was talking about... that's my point...  ;-)

Your personal bias will begin the theoretical arguments to state your case when you have something to say regarding your position or opinions concerning a blog post. Contrary to popular (or minor) beliefs all comments have the predisposition of a judge, arbitrator, prospective juror, friend, foe, etc. We are talking personal opinion people. 

Defamation is the act of making untrue statements about another which damage them so watch your dictum (n. Latin for "remark"). Evidence may be necessary if you cross the line and have to answer for something that you wrote so keep track of your source notes. Fair comments are allowed so don't think you can not make a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous) based on fact about another person (so long as you don't damage them). Free speech is not free, it comes with a price and bloggers are not the press so don't think posting to a website has protections. You blog, you publish, you deal with the ramifications behind what you say about businesses and people.

Innuendo (n. from Latin innuere, "to nod toward.") can be fun but be careful. I'm always joking around with people about taking things different ways. The fact of the matter is it is very true. You can "take that two ways" simply by having two people in a room (or chat room or blog post) with two opinions. What you intend to say may not be what you intend to convey. If you have to leave it in draft for a day or two, then sleep on it and don't rush a post for points. It wont be worth it if you get sued because you were not careful to remove all personal identifiers while illustrating a point. Some people don't mind you chatting about them. Some people do. Make sure you know who you can and can not talk about.

Stay tuned for lesson two and Wiki your defs if you need clarification. :-)