Areas of Unrest

16 July 2006 - Scanners

Busy at work, busy at home - so nothing exactly unusual. I went out Friday night to see The Bobs perform at Jammin' Java. They were quite entertaining, even though there was a bit of performer's nightmare when Matthew forgot the lyrics of "Slow Down, Krishna." He handled it well and ended up with a standing ovation for his efforts. I should also note that their cover of "White Room" was particularly brilliant. I was somewhat surprised to see them playing such a small venue, especially as they've been at Wolf Trap several times. My overall experience was, however, marred by a guy sitting near me who had never grasped the concept that you can clap and sing along only when the performers invite you to do so. Someone attempting to clap harmony against a mix of vocal percussion is intensely annoying. And the same jerk sang along loudly even to verses of songs that did not have audience participation. Public space is not your own living room, folks.

I spent Saturday at a Smithsonian event. Barbara Sher was doing her "Refuse to Choose" seminar. I'd seen her on PBS (doing a different program) and found her entertaining. And my brother had mentioned this new book to me fairly recently. Her basic concept is that some people are what she calls "scanners," who are interested in everything and can, therefore, have a hard time doing anything. Certainly something I relate to, as a charter member of the obsession of the month club. I suppose it's asking a lot out of a 4 hour seminar, but I was hoping she would present more practical advice. And I wish she had been better organized. There were several points when she would say something like, "There are three things you have to know," talk about the first and then go off into so many tangents that I never figured out what (if anything) the other two were. It was still worth going, for the entertainment value and validation, as well as a few useful tidbits.

I took advantage of being in the building already to look at a couple of exhibits at the National Museum of American History, which is going to be closing for renovation in September. I was a bit disappointed in their exhibit on The Muppets, mostly because it was divided between two areas and didn't seem as comprehensive as it might have been. Not a single glimpse of Miss Piggy, for example. The "Whatever Happened to Polio?" exhibit was more satisfying - and somewhat chilling. Those iron lungs look truly frightening and it sounds like almost everything done in the treatments was painful. I've got to be grateful to Jonas Salk.