quote:

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I've decided I like trying to understand Mr. Hankey's posts much better than reading about Jazz...

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I remember as a teenager, the complete lack of topical instructional material. While I was looking to learn 'Crazy Arms' or the like, all that existed were outdated manuals from Mel Bay, Nick Manloff, etc. Some things may never change ....

[This message was edited by Barry Blackwood on 20 October 2006 at 06:47 AM.]

"Omit unecessary words.

"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."

College professors teaching proper English, have been blazing the trail of conciseness since day one. A large class could easily overwhelm the efforts of a named professor to satisfactorily review written material. The imaginary bugbear created by additional work responsibilities, on the part of the teaching staff, accounts for the taylor-made to fit expression, "much too flowery." Should those who profess the precarious belief, that short and to the point is better, try reading ZANE GREY'S, "The Thundering Herd." Draw from his use of the English language. Impeccable, to say the least, including his "flowery" prose. Pessimism can be found to run rampant, unless it is recognized for what it stands for. Attitude adjustments, are monumental gifts, if efforts made to restore positive thinking, produces the desired changes. Energy, temperment, and foresight fit perfectly into a progressive plan, to succeed in steel guitar advancement.

quote:

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A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.

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And invention requires creativity...

And there is creativity in Bill's choice of words...

Therefore...Bill's choice of words are NECESSARY!

Terry

Always remember to consider your audience, subject matter, and venue. Flowery prose is wonderful for a novel or a memoir, but for an internet board or an owners' manual, to-the-point creates less confusion, and fewer responses such as we've seen on this thread:

"whatever that means!"
"UH...........OK."
"Are you living downwind from Squirmin' Herman's old house?"
"Does anyone have an extra copy of "Vocabulary for Dummies" ? I would be willing to pay for it."

quote:

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"Omit unecessary words.

"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell."

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too wordy. I prefer:

And what does it matter if the professor is 'Named' or not??

I just can't understand why Bill's pontifications are so cryptic, it serves no purpose.

However, some of us would be disappointed if Mr. Hankey took such a sterile approach to his writtings. His hallmark is stepping out of the mud-trodden rut of conventionalism that many of us plod.

Formite Emeritus Hankey has carved out his own stylist niche on the Forum. My we continue to enjoy pondering his sage conundrums.

[This message was edited by Colm Chomicky on 20 October 2006 at 04:03 PM.]

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
;)

But ya gotta take the long hike to get there.

Some people say;

I can't walk that far.
I don't need to go over there, I'm fine here.

It'll take too long to get there.

So what!

I am not strong enough to make it.

--------------------------

Some people say :

Cool! Lead on McDuff, show me the way!

I AM curious, so better check it out.

If I don't who will.

No path, well I'll hack one outa the jungle.

Dang I GOTTA find out about this!

No problem, I can do it.

I am running outta interests here,
better search them out,
lets try over there.

Hey I never been there, let's take a look.
Oh you not coming too? Oh well. Off I go.

Pessimism;
The glass is half empty

I can NEVER play like Buddy or Hal, or Doug.
So I will just stick to a few tabbed ideas from standards.

Optimism:
The glass is half full

I can learn a bunch of stuff,
play better and have a good time.

I can figure out something 'out of the box' that Buddy never did,
Then it's Myself that has done something new. Cool!

So I can't catch up to him at his game,
I'll start my own game.
-----------------------------------------

It is easy to get 'down' about a difficult
to learn instrument
or anything time consumming and hard to pursue.
But you got the time most likely to make a good dent,
if you have the will to just work at it.

If you worry about not having time enough,
or never getting far enough,
or not having the ability inherent in yourself;

For some others it might seem obscuranté,
but not everyone has had access to all the
myriad wonders of english prose available.

Hankey comprehension study aids;
www.dictionary.com
www.thesaurus.com

If one of Bill's asseverations compels a lone spirit
to peruse or scrutinize his singular phraseology,
then that in of itself rests a 'beau ideal'.

Regard Bill ipsissimis verbis,
and you can but only benifit.

Light one candle
in the gloaming,
or forever curse,
in the vernacular!

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 20 October 2006 at 09:43 PM.]

quote:

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"You are what you eat."

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I believe the same thing applies to anything that passes through the mouth. With a steady diet of pessimism, one becomes that.

I was developing such an attitude concerning pedal steel, due to the many that posted that I shouldn't waste my time on copedant alterations when these experiments have been done, and that I should stick with what's 'tried and true.'
I continued to suffer through the nay-sayers, trying to believe what I was told.
Then I got a guitar that I really felt was mine, not everybody's, nor everybody else's.

I am now a happy camper, happily and busily changing things. I have Reece's LKL, Tommy White's LKR, Paul F.'s RKL, and Buddy's RKR; Jimmy Day's 'B' and 'C' pedals, and am working on one of Bobby Lee's 'A' pedals.

Not theirs by design, but by experimentation with how I play.

The road not taken is its own reward.
My time is mine to waste.

We "steel players" have been accused of playing only old material, (the last song I learned was over 280 years old!)
My response to those who accuse? When they start putting out music that is worthwhile I'll consider it.

quote:

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When they start putting out music that is worthwhile I'll consider it.

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touché Randy!

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My Site - Instruction

Edited due to omission of a letter.

[This message was edited by Bill Hankey on 21 October 2006 at 01:40 PM.]

Re-insertion into the common coloquial vernacular,
of words with well thought out,
specifically narrow, meanings
can't be a bad thing.

Like ya know, mebe, hip kinda.
Dat's bad man, word up!

Use it or lose it.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 21 October 2006 at 11:15 AM.]

It's nearly impossible to satisfy the special interests of discriminating personages, who wallow in successes, and have tasted little misfortune. First impressions are of great value in this life, and a modest reserve of proper English will enable a listener to make determinations based upon what is aforementioned. Attempting to parry the thrusts of sardonic verbiage is a tricky maneuver. I'd guess that it would be a simplistic world if no one complained. When pedals and knee levers enter through the door, simplicity flies out the window.