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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Cathexis




 
My third pottery class with the Saint Paul Community education program wrapped up this week - I've enjoyed the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of throwing, shaping, trimming, glazing and finishing.  The skill that seems to elude me, and is predominantly important to these others, is the ability to properly center a piece of clay, even before it sits on the wheel.  Of the sixty or so pieces I've finished, I'd say less than a handful demonstrate a well centered, well balanced consistency. 

I guess it's notable because of how often it gets taken for granted, without really understanding the amount of dedication it must take to establish the ability to do so unerringly - likely why at least two different instructors have mentioned the 10,000 vessel theory, (that being true mastery only begins after the first ten thousand pieces of clay have been properly centered, thrown, trimmed, glazed and finished). 

A book I just finished reading, Bounce, mentioned 10,000 hours of directed or deep practice as essential to mastery of a skill:  10,000 hours of service and volley for tennis, 10,000 hours of piano lessons for piano, 10,000 hours of gymnastics routines, the author's premise relied on the 10,000 hours being done with the correct direction from an appropriate source. 

An interesting side note, the author also mentioned a variety of psychological experiments based on encouraging children to participate rather than rewarding them directly for their results - most interesting to me was an experiment wherein a control group was given the same unsolvable math problem as a group of students of the same age who had been told they shared a birthday with a famous mathematician.  The group who had been lied to, the ones working under the premise of sharing a birthday with a fictional character, persevered on the impossible problem for a longer period of time.  Whether or not this demonstrates a propensity for being stubborn or dedication, and whether or not this is a good thing, is up for debate. 


Turned vessel, photo by Michael McKinney
Finished vessel, photo by Michael McKinney


Finished, green and wet vessels, photo by Michael McKinney

Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of SuccessBounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success by Matthew Syed

My rating: 3 of 5 stars






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Monday, November 12, 2012

Swing state

Seventy degrees on Saturday. Below freezing with a nasty wind chill on Monday. From 115 PSI in 700 x 25 tires on 27 inch wheels with 27 gears, to 45 PSI in 29 x 55 tires on 29 inch wheels with one gear.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

November tenth bike ride



I got out for three hours on a nice Saturday afternoon, seeking out some elevation in South Saint Paul, West Saint Paul and the Mendota Heighs area.  Kaposia Park hill was definitely the highlight of the ride - today I spent some time getting my front wheel in true, as the friction of having it rubbing on the front brake for three hours detracted from the overall enjoyment of the day. I also listened to some music along the way, here's a playlist -

Porcelain - Moby
My Mind is Rambling - The Black Keys
12 Etudes - Christopher Parkening
Windfall - Son Volt
House Mop - Medeski Martin and Wood
Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones
Bus to Beelzebub - Soul Coughing
Once I had a Woman - Jimi Hendrix
Hear my Train a Coming - Jimi Hendrix
Stop - Jane's Addiction
We're So - Medeski Martin and Wood
Let's Go Crazy - Prince
Shake Your Money Maker - Paul Butterfield
Drown - Son Volt
Statesboro Blues - The Allman Brothers
The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix
Synchronicity - The Police
Black Limousine - The Rolling Stones
Outta Mind (Outta Sight) - Wilco
The Lover - Medeski Martin and Wood
Sometimes Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Bad Religion
Walking a Cow - Firehose
Wait Until Tomorrow - Jimi Hendrix
Whatever Happened to Gus - Medeski Martin and Wood
Photo by Michael McKinney
Voulare - The Gypsy Kings
Cult of Personality - Living Colour
I Can't Stand up For Falling Down - Elvis Costello
Estudio Brilliante - Christopher Parkening
I Guess I Planted - Billy Bragg and Wilco
True Dreams of Witchita - Soul Coughing
Flying Saucer - The Wedding Present
Sunspots - Bob Mould
Recuerdos De La Alhambia - The Gypsy Kings
Belleville - Borelli Legrene
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
No Use in Crying - The Rolling Stones
Moral Kiosk - REM
Nocturne - Medeski Martin and Wood
Prodigal Son - the Rolling Stones
Waiting on a Friend - the Rolling Stones
Let me Take You Home Tonight - Boston
Rock Music - The Pixies
Tree House - Buffalo Tom
St. Charles Shuffle - Peter Lang
Bombs Away - The Police
Catfish Blues - Jimi Hendrix