#Grant Wiggins

[educationmundo]

How Assessment for Learning has transformed International Education

School Leaders in the modern era need to be conscious of implementing AfL in a way that is faithful to the original research and the work of subsequent researchers, as well as drawing on the best practices that have been developed over the past two decade

Paul Black and Dylan William’s work on assessment for learning has had a significant impact on transforming international education. Their research, which focused on the use of formative assessment, has highlighted the importance of ongoing feedback, questioning, and self-assessment in promoting student learning and achievement. Their approach to assessment for learning involves creating a…

[sapphicantics]

Two Sides of the Same Coin | Chapter Two

Pairing: Regina George x fem!reader

Summary: After a nobody destroys the Jocks and insults the Queen Bee without a care or an apology, you get catapulted to the top of the social food chain next to aforementioned Queen Bee, Regina George, who now has to learn to share the spotlight with North Shore’s new bad girl. | Or alternatively, your ‘don’t give a fuck’ attitude sucks you and Regina into each other’s worlds sending you down a path you never expected.

Word count: 1.5k

Contents: mentions of violence, reader might be coming off a bit toxic but she’s meant to be cocky, angry!Regina, sexual tension???, explicit language, a little stalking, more shitty comebacks, think that’s all let me know if I missed any

Note: Well, this chapter took a different turn than I was expecting but honestly I think this is better than what was originally planned. Certain parts of this chapter made me cackle while writing and I hope it makes you cackle too so enjoy my shitty sense of humor

Intro - Chapter One

— — — —

Assuming it’d be a hell of a day might have been a little dramatic.

It’s been a day so far, sure, but nothing different than what you’re used to.

You’ve got a busted lip and your knuckles are sore from, for lack of a better term, bashing Christian Wiggins face in this morning and sending him to the nurse’s office. Perhaps, you’d feel guilty if it wasn’t for the fact that he busted your lip open first.

As often as you have been getting into fights, you thought someone would have noticed by now that you don’t ever throw the first punch - thus granting you the excuse of self-defense.

Though, even if they did know the jocks have far less self control than you and would never be able to refrain from reacting to the things you say.

Speaking of refraining from reacting, Regina has been watching you all day. She still is, right now. Well, technically Gretchen is watching you, but you know she’s doing it because Regina told her to and you know she’s gonna report back to Regina immediately because Regina told her to.

Seems a little obsessive of her, really.

Which is funny considering.

Whatever, you don’t have anything to do with that. If Regina wants to have her little minions following you around then that’s her business.

Also you’re pretty sure Regina intended for Gretchen to be discreet and not make it obvious that she’s watching you, but maybe you’re wrong. Maybe Regina wants you to know she’s watching.

That sounds like something she’d do as an act of intimidation, or even just for fun so you wouldn’t put it past her.

Either way, you know Gretchen is there.

You wouldn’t find this weird because you two do share this class. Normally, you guys sit on opposite sides of the room from each other, but Gretchen is now sitting three seats behind you - not too far away where she can’t see you clearly, but not close enough to where it’s obvious.

( Or maybe it wouldn’t have been obvious if you showed up to class on time, but since you didn’t it was immediately apparent that she switched seats. )

You ignore it because one: you don’t care, and two: what exactly are you gonna do about it? Gretchen’s already anxious enough having to deal with Regina’s bitchiness daily, you’re not about to worsen it by confronting her over something so trivial.

You catch her taking pictures of you and typing rapidly on her phone moments after you have this thought, and now you just have to confront her.

You catch her after the bell before she can escape the classroom, throwing your arm over her shoulder and steering her away from the door. She squeaks as you do so, tightening her grip on her belongings. “So Gretchen, mind telling me why you were taking photos of me when you thought I wasn’t looking?”

She stammers, her eyes widening. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t taking pictures of you.”

“Right. So if I took your phone and went to your messages with Regina I wouldn’t find pictures with live updates you’ve been sending her during class?”

Gretchen’s hand tightens even more on her phone if that’s possible, her knuckles turning white with how hard her grip is.

That’s answer enough for you.

“Yeah that’s what I thought. Do me a favor,” you hum, leaning closer to Gretchen. “Tell Regina, and I want you to tell her word for word what I’m about to say, to stop acting like a little bitch and sending her minions to spy on me instead of coming to see me face-to-face.”

Gretchen’s mouth drops open. “I can’t say that to her! She’ll kill me!”

“You’ll be fine as long as you mention my name immediately,” you wave off her concerns which is kind of a rude thing to do, but the whole school already thinks you’re a rude person so may as well uphold the reputation. “Word for word, Gretchen. I’ll know if you don’t.”

That sounds vaguely like a threat that implies you’re gonna come after her if she doesn’t say it word for word. You’re not, but she doesn’t need to know that.

“Go on, Gretchen, you’ve only got a minute and a half before the next class starts, and I’m sure you know how Regina feels about being kept waiting.”

You take your arm off her shoulders and after a moment, she peels out of the classroom, rushing off to Regina.

You sigh and shake your head, you feel bad for that because Gretchen did not deserve your threats and she doesn’t deserve the ire she’s about to get from Regina.

You’d apologize, but you’re sure you’ll never be able to get close to Gretchen again after this.

It’s too late to take it back now so you exit the room and head off to your next class on the opposite side of the school.

— — — —

North shore doesn’t allow students to leave the school early without prior consent from a parent or guardian, or under special circumstances, which you have neither of right now. They don’t really have a way to stop you from leaving, but they will call home and Principal Duvall will pull you into his office in the morning for a lecture, and those are headaches waiting to happen that you’d rather avoid. So even though you’d rather be anywhere else, you’re spending your free period — your last class of the day — lounging around in the cafeteria.

You’re sitting criss-cross atop a table, elbow resting bent upon your knee while your chin rests in the palm of your hand. You’re staring out the window, a single earbud in while Hayley Kiyoko plays in your ear.

You hum along under your breath, a faint clicking noise drawing your eyes to the cafeteria entrance. The doors burst open and in walks Regina, her eyes honing in on you like a target. Her fury is palpable even from here and it makes you smirk knowing you’re able to get under her skin — knowing you’re the only one able to get under her skin like this.

Does this say a lot about you? That you find joy in making Regina angry?

Yes, probably, but why shouldn’t you find joy in calling a bully out on their shit.

Regina slams her hands on the table in front of you interrupting your thoughts. Her glare is intense, and if you were anyone else you’d be cowering under her gaze. Instead, you cock an eyebrow, completely un-phased by the blonde in front of you.

“Something I can do for you, George?”

“You think you’re such hot shit, don’t you? You think you can call me a bitch and get away with it; with no consequences?”

“Oh, no, does the big bad Queen Bee not like being called what she knows she is?” You pout mockingly at her. “Is that all it takes for you to lose your cool, being called a bitch?”

You laugh loudly at that.

It stokes the flames of Regina’s anger and she yanks you up by your collar, your shoes scraping the edge of the table before landing harshly on the floor as Regina slams you against the wall.

Huh, look at that. Prissy pink princess Regina George has the muscles to throw you around.

This is quite the development.

“Congratulations George, you’ve made it about two steps further than anyone else ever has. Think carefully about your next move, lest I let my instincts take over and I fuck up that pretty little face of yours.”

“You have no idea who you’re messing with. I will ruin your life.” She growls at you, ignoring your words.

“Threatening to ruin my life,” you tilt your head in amusement, leaning your face closer to hers. “Seems rather obsessive of you, George. Perhaps you wanna kiss me first. That’s quite on brand for you.”

Regina’s jaw clenches and her grip on you tightens. She goes to speak, but the bell ringing to signal the end of the day cuts her off and you smirk. “You might wanna let me go. If anyone walks by they’ll think you’re making out with me and then everyone will be calling you Sissy Liz, and we can’t have that, now can we?”

Wow, threatening to fight Regina and bringing up her old friendship with Janis — twice, in two different ways — all in a span of like forty-five seconds is absolutely insane.

Regina scowls at you, her eyes practically alight with malice. She doesn’t want to let you go because if she does that means you win, that means you get away with disrespecting her for the third time with no consequences, and no one wins against her, no one is supposed to win against her ever, but you’ve done it twice now and you’re about to do it again.

She shoves you harshly against the wall one last time at the realization and, wow, you’re really priding yourself at the moment because the fact that she’s still standing when anyone else would be on the ground right now speaks volumes to your self-control, but then anyone else would’ve hit you by now so maybe it speaks more to Regina’s intelligence that she’s not.

“This is not over.” With that she turns on her heel and storms away, leaving you with a smirk as you watch her retreating figure.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

“This is the last turn and the end of the fourth hill of life, when Bad River, as a spirit, transforms into something other, something extraordinary,” Mike Wiggins said as he rounded a final bend in one of the largest and most pristine wetlands on the shores of Lake Superior, one of the biggest freshwater lakes in the world.

It’s “similar to our spiritual journey off this planet into something other and extraordinary.”

From the driver’s seat of his small fishing boat, Wiggins, the former chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, contemplated his surroundings with awe as a bald eagle soared overhead.

Beds of wild rice, a key food source and cultural pillar of the Bad River tribe, danced in his wake, glinting under the afternoon sun and nearly ready for harvest. 

“This is a power place,” he said as he blasted Unbound, a recently released album by musicians including fellow Bad River tribal member Dylan Jennings. “It’s just no place for an oil pipeline.”

It has one, though. Seventy-one years ago, Lakehead Pipeline, a predecessor to Canadian pipeline company Enbridge, commissioned the construction of Line 5, a 30-inch diameter crude oil pipeline that transports up to 540,000 barrels of hydrocarbons per day from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. The 645-mile line is part of a network that originates more than a thousand miles to the northwest in the oil fields of Alberta and, in the case of Line 5, ends back in Canada. It includes a 12-mile stretch that bisects the Bad River reservation, which is heavily forested with river crossings and large swaths of wetlands.

Any spill from the pipeline would drain into the Bad River and Kakagon Sloughs, where Wiggins fished. Known as the “Everglades of the North,” the area is protected under an international environmental agreement as well as multiple treaties between the U.S. and the Chippewa people, also known as the Ojibwe.

The path through the reservation was originally approved by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. However, more than a dozen easements granted to the pipeline, which was completed in 1953, have since expired.

In 2017, the Bad River tribal council voted unanimously not to renew them. Two years later, the tribe sued to have the pipeline removed from the reservation. The ongoing “David vs. Goliath” legal battle was chronicled in Bad River, a recent documentary.

In 2023, Judge William Conley of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruled in favor of the tribe and gave Enbridge three years to stop pumping oil through the reservation. The pipeline company has appealed the ruling.  

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Christopher Wiggins at The Advocate:

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a ruling that many critics argue elevates the presidency to near-monarchical status by granting absolute immunity from prosecution for official acts. The 6-3 decision, seen as a significant win for former President Donald Trump, has prompted widespread debate and concern among legal experts, politicians, and media commentators. In a special segment on MSNBC, anchor Rachel Maddow joined Chris Hayes and other colleagues to express her alarm over the decision. Maddow described the ruling as “shocking” and “dire,” emphasizing its far-reaching implications. “I did not expect that they would do this,” Maddow began. “Donald Trump and his counsel asked for this 100 percent absolute immunity thing, which was insane. I would say they got 105 percent of what they were asking for.” Maddow pointed out that the practical effect was far more sweeping despite Chief Justice John Roberts’ attempt to temper the ruling with language suggesting some measure of restraint. “The practical impact of what they have done is to give Trump immunity that even he and his counsel did not ask for,” she said.

“Given that the hypotheticals over the course of these arguments included things like, can the president assassinate a rival? I think we have to look at the Supreme Court’s affirmative answer to that. Yes, you can. With as much seriousness as it deserves,” Maddow asserted. “I mean, this is a death squad ruling.”

She warned that the decision effectively allows a president to carry out any action, as long as it can be framed as an official or quasi-official act, without facing accountability, both during and after their term in office. Maddow also highlighted the implications for Trump specifically.

On MSNBC Monday night, host Rachel Maddow rightly called the Trump v. United States immunity ruling issued by SCOTUS the abomination it is by stating that it is "a death squad ruling."

See Also:

Daily Kos: Thanks to Supreme Court, nation's future now hinges on candidates' morality

From the 07.01.2024 edition of MSNBC's All In With Chris Hayes:

[militarymenrbomb]

Hi guys, most of you who follow my blog know who ricky wiggins is. He was almost killed last year by an attempted carjacking. He is a retired marine. He does much to help our veterans. I'm going attach a correspondence I've had with him. Please visit his blog and show him your support. @rickywiggins

(Following per Ricky) I'm not certain if you're aware, but I have made it mandatory to Volunteer my weekends helping veterans in the V.A & other local veteran charity's, so they stop feeling neglected by the very government that promised so much, yet failed miserably to deliver when we returned home. Being there & making a difference is more rewarding than words can express. I also stay on my Congressmen to do everything in their power, to ensure ALL Service Personnel are treated fairly and afforded every opportunity they have earned through selfless actions & Honorable service to a Country that routinely makes excuses rather than granting veterans their due diligence. It's been a struggle over the years but doing nothing is worse than capitulation to the enemy.

I didn't fight, see my friends die or be permanently disabled & forgotten so others can throw away their hard won & earned freedoms in a second. It's infuriating that the country is eager to enjoy everything afforded to them by our sacrifices, yet turn a blind eye to our suffering to make their lives more comfortable.

I could go on but it's pointless at this moment to beat a dead horse, for simply not caring or having the drive to change things for the betterment of others.

@rickywiggins

[autistpride]

BIPOC autistic people, content creators, blogs, and pages!

Okay...

This post was one that I was unsure how to write. I'm white and I am very aware of my privilege.

I wanted today's post to highlight and center the voices of autistic BIPOC individuals and honestly, I couldn't just talk about a few. I wanted to put as many names out here for people to follow.

For those who want to follow and learn and for those who need to find these wonderful people in their community.

When researching and working on my list, I came across a post made by Autistic, Typing in 2019 as they had made a list of Autistic Black/ Indigenous/ People of Color & Latinx Advocates to follow.

So today's post is a link to this amazing individual's link, https://www.faceook.com/share/p/VMWG2wURiVWuTP2r/

This link contains all their hard work and emotional labour, a comments section FILLED with people adding others or themselves to the list, as well as a google doc form to add/ edit/ remove autistic creators. So please, if you are one, go fill it out and have yourself added to the list!

Below are some people/ creators/ pages that I thought should be mentioned. I tried to just add the ones I didn’t see listed, but I know there is overlap and tried to point those ones out.

And PLEASE send me any others! I want to follow as many as I can.

Famous People

Anita Cameron- one of the original disability rights activists of the US.

Angela Weddle- artist (mentioned on the post)

Dr. Sarai Pahla- MD and medical translator

Dr. Angel Durr- CEO of DataReady DFW

Burnett Grant- senior lab tech at ZoomEssence Inc

Bernard Grant- Phd in English

Stephan Wiltshire- architectural artist

Lauraen-Rocelle Fernandez- Founder of Mask Off

Michael Buckholtz- music producer for acts such as MC Hammer

Jade Logan- comic artist

Elise Nicole Bowen- music composer who can be found on spotify

Avery Ahmer- tik tok influencer who talks about autism

Kayla Smith- Black Autistic Disability Rights Advocate and creator of #AutisticBlackPride

Kris Young- writer and blogger at Black Neuroqueer Punk (mentioned on the post)

Jackie Pilgrim- Board of NAMI

Armani Williams- professional Nascar driver

Morenike Giwa Onaiwu- advocate and public speaker co-edited All The Weight of Our Dreams and Sincerely Your Autistic Child (mentioned on the post)

Michael Fuller- music prodigy

Melissa Simmons- founder of MisTaught and the creator of Black History Month for Dummies & White Teachers (mentioned on the post)

Lamar Hardwick- the Autism Pastor. Writer and advocate (mentioned on the post)

Kambel Smith- artist known for complex architecture sculptures

Ronaldo Bryd- artist

Ikea “Syance” Wilson- artist and musician

Kris McElroy- writer, artist, and advocate

Talia Grant- first female actress who is autistic to land a mainstream role on British television

Kalin Bennett- first autistic person to receive a division 1 scholarship to play basketball

Tom Wiggins- former enslaved person who was an amazing musician

John Howard- martial arts competitor/ MMA fighter

Morgan Harper Nichols- storyteller and influencer

Questlove- musician and songwriter and collaborator for Disney Jr “Rise Up, Sing Out”

Lois Curtis- artist and plaintiff in the 1999 Olmsted Supreme Court Decision

Tyla Grant- found of Black and Neurodivergent (BAND) and host of the one percent podcast

Nik Sanchez- actor

Benjamin Banneker- naturalist and mathmetician

Talisha Johnson- writer and director of Too Autistic for Black

Joshua Beckford- child prodigy and youngest person to be admitted to Oxford at 6

Breanna Cook- Paralympic athlete

Creators

Marcela Collier @highimpactclub

Black Neurodiversity @blackneurodiversity

Autistic Black Woman @autisticblackwoman

Ryse @teachingwithmxt

Caro @disrupt_yuh_feed

Jessie @momma_lips

Nadia @autisticblackgirl

Kayla Smith @BeingKaylaSmith

Tiffany Joseph @nigh.functioning.autism (mentioned on the post)

Tiffany Hammond @fidgets.and.fries (mentioned on the post)

Lauren Melissa Ellzey @autienelle

La Fille Dani @myneurotype

Tim Boy @blackinfinityking (mentioned on the post under previous tag name @BlackAutisticKing)

Raven Derose @confidencewithrae

Danielle @zelue

Ahylaysia @ahlaysia

Rosalie Babette @theautisticgiraffe

Dr. Kofi @autisticallykofi

Jonteugbeye @jonteugbeye

Nia Patterson @thefriendineverwanted

Anansi @dreadfulrebel4x

Gianna Rose @usagi_rose_universe

M’Nda @melaninmaven97

Lina’s brain @ndwellness

Pages

The Activistic Autistic

The Art of Autism

Fidgets and Fries (mentioned on the post)

Not Your Mama’s Autism

The Kisha Project

Autism in Black

Neurodivergent Rebel

Black Neuroqueer Punk (mentioned on the post)

The Color of Autism

Sincerely Your Autistic Child

NeuroClastic- PLEASE pass along their post A Letter to Black and Indigenous Autistic Teens

Autistic, Typing- They have the amazing list of Autistic BIPOC Advocates here!!

Morenike GO

Black Autistic Lives Matter

Autistic People of Color Fund

Autistic People Of Color, Indigenous People, and Mixed-Race People - this is a private FB group highly recommended I can not comment on it

Neurodiverent Black Women- another private FB group recommended but I can not comment on it

Other Amazing Neurodiverse People

Simone Biles- olympic gymnast ad most decorated gymnast with 32 metals

Amada Gorman- youngest inaugural poet in US History

Clary Chambers- founder and CEO of SparkClarity

Solange Knowles- singer and actress

Harry Belafonte- singer, songwriter, actor. First Black person to win an Emmy.

Maya Angelou- poet and activist. Write “I know why the caged bird sings” and the poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” that was read at the 1993 presidential inauguration

Danny Glover- actor, director, activist. Prominent roles in Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple, and Angels in the Outfield

Octavia Spencer- actress, author, producer. Worked on The Help.

Brandon Marshall- former NFL player

Kelly Rowland- singer, songwriter, actress and member of Destiny’s Child

Jumaane Williams- politician and activist in New York City

Magic Johnson- former professional basketball player and one of the greatest 50 players of NBA

Clarence Page- journalist who has won a Pulitzer Prize

Mohammed Ali- professional boxer and activist

Black Girl, Lost Keys

Tumi Sotire @TheBlackDyspraxic

[marmiteprinter]

Now that they were actually doing relatively well in life thanks to Evan's business grant, Kenya decided to hire someone to come in and repair their laptop, which had been broken for a while now. Picking up the phone, she called Mayor Jennifer Hansen-Wiggins to ask if she knew of any handy repairpersons.

Soon, new arrival to Wildflats Peninsula Jada Merrick was arriving at Kenya's doorstep ready to get to work. She quickly used her skills to repair the computer and unclog the toilets!

Kenya also decided to hire the team of super-builders to make slight improvements to their house. They were a family of six now, and 1.5 bathrooms would no longer cut it...

[brokehorrorfan]

Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 11 via RLJE Films. The 2022 horror-comedy anthology sequel is streaming exclusively on Shudder.

It features segments directed by Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package), Alexandra Barreto, Anthony Cousins (Scare Package), Jed Shepherd (Host), and Rachele Wiggins.

The cast includes Zoe Graham, Jeremy King, Rich Sommer, Shakira Ja'nai Paye, Kelli Maroney, Graham Skipper, Maria Olsen, Steph Barkley, Barbara Bingham, Chelsea Grant, Byron Brown, Jemma Moore, and Caroline Ward.

Special features are listed below, along with the trailer.

Special features:

Director audio commentary

Making-of featurette

Bloopers and outtakes

Spot the Reference with the Help of Horror Icons

Rad Chad's Rad Ad, Hijacked

Most of the Best Parts in 90 Seconds

When horror guru Rad Chad Buckley’s funeral turns into an elaborate series of death traps centered around Chad's favorite films, the guests must band together and use the rules of horror to survive the bloody game.

Pre-order Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge.

[bewilderingbog]

I have a theory about the lorax

Ted is The Onceler’s Father (Theory)

     Ted? The Onceler’s father? Ridiculous! But perhaps this theory isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. I’ve analyzed The Lorax (2012) for evidence to support this theory, and I think once you’ve seen the evidence for yourself, you’ll agree that this is actually a possibility.

     Now, of course one hole in this theory would be that Ted is a twelve year old boy, while The Onceler is an elderly man, at this point in the movie. However, this isn’t a problem, if you consider time travel as a possibility. Which I do. Keep this in mind as you read on. Let’s get into actual evidence.

     Let’s start with The Onceler’s physical appearance.

          You can see some similarities between Ted, and The Onceler. The dark hair, for one thing. The Onceler’s nose is round, similar to Ted’s, though slightly upturned like his mother, Isabella. The Onceler’s face is distinctly round than Ted’s, as well as Isabella’s. But not unlike Ted’s mother.

     The Onceler’s eye color however, is blue, unlike Ted’s. Unfortunately, it was unclear to me what Isabella’s eye color was.

There’s also some vaguely similar personality traits between the two.

     But that aside for now, let’s move on to other, more concrete evidence.

     We never hear The Onceler’s last name, as he’s only ever referred to as “The Onceler” or, by his mother, “Oncie”, meaning there’s nothing saying it couldn’t be “Wiggins” which is Ted’s last name.

     We also never see The Onceler’s father. His mother, Isabella? Yes. His elder brother’s, Bret, and Chet? Yes. His Uncle Ubb? Yes. His Aunt Grizelda? Yes. But his father? No. Unless, we have.

     Now, a few bits that first into this theory only work if you assume that The Onceler knows some of what happened in his father’s past, but not all of it. I doubt that knowing how not having the truffula trees affected the world, The Onceler would go out, and chop them all down.

     But if he only knew a portion of the story, knew that Ted did something important, did something that changed the world for the better, he doesn’t even have to know that it had to do with the truffula trees, this could make sense.

     There are things he knows that, I assume, he wouldn’t know. Not unless he’s heard it from somewhere.

     Correctly assuming why Ted is looking to learn about trees - To impress Audrey, by granting her greatest desire - perhaps because he’s heard about Ted’s former crush on/relationship with her. He also seems to instantly recognize, and know what the truffula trees are called, something that doesn't make complete sense - at least in my opinion - unless, again, he was told of them at some point in his life.

      Another thing to consider is The Onceler’s brief speech directed at Ted near the climax of the film “I know it may seem small, and insignificant but it’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become. That’s not just a seed, anymore than you’re just a boy.” Again, implying that The Onceler knows Ted has changed the world for the better.

     Shortly after that, “I won’t let you down.” Ted says, “I know.” Says The Onceler. And he does know.

     At an earlier point in the movie, when The Onceler returns to his home after failing several times to sell his first thneed, he states that it “Turns out it’s ahead of its time” And this is a very literally true statement, given that the Onceler traveled far in the past in an attempt to change the world like his father.

     These are my main supporting points for this theory, however I have a handful of points that could make sense with or strengthen this theory while not necessarily being indicative of this.

     Those points being:

• Both Ted, and The Onceler changed the world. One for the better, the other for the worse respectively. An interesting parallel

• They also both wear striped pieces of clothing, and top hats at some point during the film, implying The Onceler possibly takes inspiration from his father when it comes to fashion.

• Admittedly less compelling than most other points, is that The Onceler carries with him an electric guitar, which seems like an unfitting instrument to have considering his previously rural lifestyle.

• And of course, what started it all, while it’s more likely that The Onceler is indeed saying “Thank you, Ted.” near the end of the song Let it Grow, it doesn’t sound entirely unlike “Thank you, Dad.”

     Given the overwhelming evidence, I think you will agree with me that it is more than likely, that The Onceler is actually Ted’s son from the future, who time traveled far into the past, likely in an attempt to make a name for himself, though the reasons he chose to make a name for himself in the past, and live out the rest of his days there, rather than in his present, is unclear.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“'INTEREST SLAVERY',” Vancouver Sun. March 2, 1933. Page 1. ---- FINANCIAL DRAMA BEHIND GERMAN ELECTION ---- BERLIN, March 2. - Behind the political front of the Reichstag elections Sunday is a great financial drama which is built on: 

Chancellor Hitler's war on what he calls "interest slavery." 

Germany's repayment in 932 of 4 per cent of her short term credits abroad, which are "frozen" under the "standstill agreement." 

Hitler is declared to be determined to bring interest rates on Germany's loans, from 5 per cent down to 3 per cent. 

The standstill agreement was granted by British, United States, French, Italian, Swiss and Dutch bankers, and was originally for six months. This was extended for another 12 months in February, 1932. Now it has been extended another year, until Feb. 28, 1934. 

Greater financial ease hi Germany was reported by the Wiggin committee, headed by Albert Henry Wiggin, New York, which acted for the International bankers. 

"Standstill" credits in Germany totalled $1,025,304,000 one year ago, and on Tuesday of this week, at the end of another year, they had been cut down to $880,600,000.

Significant of the easier financial situation was the fact that the Reichsbank closed the year 1932 with a discount rate of only 4 per cent compared with 8 per cent at the close of 1931.

[alexisazria]

A Visual Exploration Of Why Play Is Necessary For Learning

A Visual Exploration Of Why Play Is Necessary For Learning https://www.teachthought.com/learning/a-visual-exploration-of-why-play-is-necessary-for-learning/ We make lasting connections through play, but the role of play in learning is an idea that continues to meet resistance. Part of the reason could be tone. We like our learning serious, intentional, and academic. This is reflected through a parallel insistence on an outcomes-based learning system where learning objectives are determined and assessments are written before hand, and subsequent instruction is revised based only on data taken from said assessments. (See “10 Ways Data Can Sabotage Your Teaching.”) And the entire process itself is based on a pile of industrialized and de-personalized “learning standards” that, while well-intentioned and designed to ensure a “common body of knowledge,” dictate the terms of learning from the outside looking in. Image the hubris the must exist to determine ahead of time what a student will understand as the result of a learning experience! (I only pray Grant Wiggins isn’t reading this.) Like video games, “play” suffers from a juvenile connotation that is unfortunate. Even though the most “professional” adults continue to play, such efforts are often disguised, or apologized for with ridiculous conditions and explanations. Why apologize for creating your own goals and terms for interaction? 3 Factors That Make Play Exhilarating  Ultimately, play offers three critical components for an engaged mind: independence, volition, and curiosity. None of this is to suggest that students should be given iPads, a box of legos, and every app they care to download and frolic about with. But it does suggest some marked shifts on how learning happens. Charles Darwin’s teacher said he wouldn’t amount to much because he spent too much time “playing” with insects. But as the video explains, it’s never just play. Image attribution flickr user bobbyjames; A Visual Exploration Of Why Play Is Necessary For Learning The post A Visual Exploration Of Why Play Is Necessary For Learning appeared first on TeachThought.

[wankerwatch]

Commons Vote

On: Finance (No. 2) Bill: Third Reading

Ayes: 215 (98.6% Con, 0.9% Ind, 0.5% DUP) Noes: 19 (94.7% SNP, 5.3% PC) Absent: ~416

Likely Referenced Bill: Finance (No. 2) Act 2010

Description: A Bill to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with finance.

Originating house: Commons Current house: Unassigned Bill Stage: Royal Assent

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (211 votes)

Aaron Bell Alan Mak Alberto Costa Alec Shelbrooke Alex Burghart Alex Chalk Alicia Kearns Alok Sharma Amanda Milling Andrew Griffith Andrew Jones Andrew Lewer Andrew Murrison Andrew Percy Andrew Selous Andy Carter Angela Richardson Anna Firth Anne Marie Morris Anne-Marie Trevelyan Anthony Browne Antony Higginbotham Ben Everitt Ben Spencer Ben Wallace Bernard Jenkin Bill Wiggin Bim Afolami Bob Blackman Bob Seely Brandon Lewis Caroline Ansell Caroline Nokes Charles Walker Cherilyn Mackrory Chris Clarkson Chris Grayling Chris Green Chris Philp Conor Burns Craig Tracey Craig Williams Damian Hinds Daniel Kawczynski Danny Kruger David Davis David Duguid David Jones David Rutley David Simmonds Dean Russell Dehenna Davison Derek Thomas Desmond Swayne Duncan Baker Edward Argar Edward Leigh Elizabeth Truss Elliot Colburn Esther McVey Felicity Buchan Fiona Bruce Gagan Mohindra Gareth Bacon Gareth Davies Gareth Johnson Gary Sambrook Gavin Williamson Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Gillian Keegan Graham Brady Graham Stuart Greg Hands Greg Smith Guy Opperman Harriett Baldwin Heather Wheeler Helen Whately Holly Mumby-Croft Huw Merriman Iain Duncan Smith Iain Stewart Jack Brereton Jack Lopresti Jackie Doyle-Price Jacob Rees-Mogg Jacob Young James Cartlidge James Cleverly James Davies James Duddridge James Sunderland James Wild Jane Hunt Jane Stevenson Jeremy Quin Jerome Mayhew Jo Churchill John Glen John Howell John Lamont Jonathan Djanogly Jonathan Gullis Julia Lopez Julian Lewis Julian Smith Julian Sturdy Justin Tomlinson Katherine Fletcher Kelly Tolhurst Kemi Badenoch Kevin Hollinrake Kieran Mullan Kit Malthouse Laura Farris Laura Trott Lee Rowley Leo Docherty Lia Nici Liam Fox Lisa Cameron Louie French Lucy Frazer Luke Hall Marcus Jones Mark Fletcher Mark Francois Mark Garnier Mark Logan Martin Vickers Matt Hancock Matt Warman Matthew Offord Mel Stride Michael Ellis Michael Fabricant Michael Gove Michael Tomlinson Mike Freer Mike Wood Mims Davies Neil O'Brien Nick Fletcher Nick Gibb Nicola Richards Nigel Huddleston Paul Beresford Paul Holmes Paul Howell Pauline Latham Penny Mordaunt Peter Aldous Peter Bottomley Philip Dunne Philip Hollobone Priti Patel Ranil Jayawardena Rebecca Harris Rebecca Pow Rehman Chishti Richard Bacon Richard Drax Richard Fuller Rob Butler Robbie Moore Robert Buckland Robert Courts Robert Goodwill Robert Halfon Robert Largan Robert Syms Robin Millar Robin Walker Royston Smith Sajid Javid Sally-Ann Hart Saqib Bhatti Sara Britcliffe Sarah Dines Scott Mann Selaine Saxby Shailesh Vara Sheryll Murray Simon Baynes Simon Clarke Simon Fell Simon Hart Simon Hoare Simon Jupp Stephen Metcalfe Steve Baker Steve Brine Steve Tuckwell Stuart Andrew Suzanne Webb Theo Clarke Theresa May Theresa Villiers Thérèse Coffey Tobias Ellwood Tom Hunt Tom Pursglove Tom Randall Tom Tugendhat Tracey Crouch Vicky Ford Victoria Atkins Victoria Prentis Wendy Morton Will Quince William Cash

Independent (2 votes)

Mark Menzies William Wragg

Democratic Unionist Party (1 vote)

Jim Shannon

Noes

Scottish National Party (18 votes)

Allan Dorans Amy Callaghan Angela Crawley Anne McLaughlin Brendan O'Hara Chris Law Chris Stephens David Linden Deidre Brock Joanna Cherry John Nicolson Kirsty Blackman Marion Fellows Owen Thompson Peter Grant Philippa Whitford Richard Thomson Stewart Malcolm McDonald

Plaid Cymru (1 vote)

Hywel Williams

[mariasmemo]

Seminar Room – Final Update!

Well, we are just moving into the Seminar Room at the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory.  As with all projects, there are still a few minor things to wrap up but it is complete!

A big thank you to: Wise Construction – particularly John, Pat, Chip and Vasco, Brian Connor Electric, W.B. Marden Plumbing, Wayne Morris, Elizabeth Georgantas, Mac Davis Flooring, Greenwood Alarm, Nantucket Networks, Kevin Wiggin HVAC, Your Friend With A Truck, and Seed to Stone Landscaping for all of the efforts on the Seminar Room renovation. 

And, to Richard Wolfe, whose gift made this renovation possible.

Next up – the conservation of the interior of the historic portion of the Maria Mitchell Vestal Observatory thanks to a generous grant from the Community Preservation Act.  So, more to come!

JNLF

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Christopher Wiggins at The Advocate:

A public library in Virginia that successfully pushed back against book bans last year has been taken over by Republican elected officials despite objections from the local community. In a contentious move, the all-Republican Warren County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 early Wednesday morning to assert greater control over Samuels Public Library, the institution lauded as Virginia’s 2024 Library of the Year and beneficiary of a substantial $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. The Washington Post reports that on Tuesday evening, nearly 100 residents from diverse backgrounds—including grandparents, home-schoolers, veterans, teachers, farmers, and students—attended a six-hour public hearing in Front Royal, about 50 miles from Washington, D.C. Their unified stance was to defend Samuels Public Library from what they believed was government overreach by the Warren County Board of Supervisors. Despite overwhelming public support for the library’s existing governance, the Republican supervisors advanced their plan to establish a new county-appointed library board with direct oversight over Samuels’ policies and budget.

Supervisor Richard Jamieson, who led the initiative with a comprehensive 58-page “2023 Library Debrief and Research” report, contended that the current 15-member nonprofit trustee structure of Samuels Public Library no longer aligns with taxpayer interests and lacks sufficient oversight. Joined by Supervisor Vicky Cook, who had previously supported the library’s inclusive stance on LGBTQ+ titles, Jamieson argued that a shift in governance was necessary to ensure fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency. The takeover threatens to displace Samuels as the primary library service provider by June, the end of the fiscal year. In response, the Post reports that Melody Hotek, president of Samuels’ board of trustees, announced that the library is exploring all possible options, including seeking private funding to achieve complete independence from county oversight.

The Advocate previously reported on the fierce 2023 showdown when the conservative group Clean Up Samuels launched a campaign to remove LGBTQ-themed books from the library’s youth collections. The initiative sparked heated public debates, led to the resignation of the library director, and imposed significant financial strain as the library sought legal and public relations support to navigate the crisis. Despite these formidable challenges, Samuels Public Library survived and thrived, earning accolades for its unwavering commitment to inclusive and diverse literature. Despite the supervisors’ assertions of fiscal prudence and enhanced oversight, the community’s support for Samuels Public Library remains unshaken. Chip Stewart, a resident and fervent supporter of the library’s independence, launched a Change.org petition to thwart the Board of Supervisors’ actions. “Things were looking good for the Library’s future,” Stewart told The Advocate in an email. “But now, the trouble is returning.”

The Warren County Board of Supervisors in Virginia voted 4-1 to take over the Samuels Public Library in Front Royal, VA. The library in the past had successfully fended off right-wing extremist requests to remove LGBTQ+-themed books from its library.

[roscoebarnes3]

Wiggins will discuss his new book at April 23 meeting of Natchez Historical Society

James Wiggins

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Historian and retired educator James Wiggins will discuss his new book, "Outliving the White Lie: A Southerner's Historical, Genealogical and Personal Journey" (University Press of Mississippi, 2024), at the Tuesday, April 23 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. 

The meeting is free to the public and will be held at Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. Wiggins book will be available for purchase at the meeting. 

"I am very much looking forward to my talk at the Natchez Historical Society," said Wiggins. "I certainly want to promote the book, but more, this is a vitally important topic that cries out for more discussion and greater understanding. I hope we can advance those goals on April 23rd."

Wiggins said his talk will focus on the lies often told about slavery and race in the nation's history, from colonial times to the present. 

Wiggins will discuss the "lies of commission, omission, and willful ignorance," while acknowledging his own "ancestors' participation in that process over time, as well as his own."

Wiggins is a retired instructor of History at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He has published columns in The Natchez Democrat. Wiggins has spoken for the society in the past. 

The April 23 program is funded in part by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through funding by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, visit natchezhistoricalsociety.org or call 601-492-3004. Emails may be sent to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org

[jpbjazz]

LÉGENDES DU JAZZ

BILLY TAYLOR, PIANISTE, ANIMATEUR ET PÉDAGOGUE

‘’There's no question that being an advocate eclipsed my reputation as a musician. It was my doing. I wanted to prove to people that jazz has an audience. I had to do that for me."

- Billy Taylor

Né le 24 juillet 1921, à Greenville, en Caroline du Nord, Billy Taylor était un des deux enfants du dentiste William Taylor et de l’institutrice Antoinette Taylor. Taylor était issu d’une famille de musiciens où à peu près tout le monde jouait du piano et chantait.

Taylor était âgé de cinq ans lorsqu’il s’était installé avec sa famille à Washington, D.C., où son grand-père avait co-fondé la Florida Avenue Baptist Church située près du Howard Theatre, une salle de concert où se produisaient plusieurs artistes de couleur. C’est d’ailleurs durant son séjour à Washington que Taylor avait suivi ses premiers cours de piano avec Henry Grant (un ancien professeur de Duke Ellington) à l’âge de sept ans. Taylor s’était tourné vers le jazz sous l’influence de son oncle qui lui avait fait connaître la musique de Fats Waller et Teddy Wilson.

Peu impressionné par sa propre voix, Taylor avait décidé très jeune de combiner le piano et le chant. Après avoir suivi des cours de piano classique avec Henry Grant, Taylor avait fait ses débuts en se produisant sur scène à l’âge de seulement treize ans, dans le cadre d’une prestation qui lui avait mérité la somme mirobolante d’un dollar.

À l’adolescence, Taylor avait été particulièrement influencé par la musique des big bands. Durant sa jeunesse, Taylor avait expérimenté plusieurs instruments, dont la batterie, la guitare et le saxophone avant de fixer son choix sur le piano classique. Taylor avait fait ses études secondaires au Dunbar High School, la première école secondaire destinée aux étudiants de couleur.

Taylor étudiait en sociologie au Virginia State College (aujourd’hui la Virginia State University) lorsque la compositrice et pianiste Undine Smith Moore lui avait conseillé d’étudier plutôt en musique et en piano. Taylor avait finalement décroché un baccalauréat en musique en 1942. C’est au cours de ses études à Virginia State que Taylor était devenu membre de la Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, une organisation humanitaire qui était impliquée dans plusieurs causes sociales à travers le monde.

Après avoir obtenu son diplôme, Taylor était retourné à Washington où il avait poursuivi sa carrière.

Par la suite, Taylor avait poursuivi des études de maîtrise et de doctorat en éducation musicale à l’Université du Massachusetts à Amherst. Taylor, qui avait étudié sous la direction de Roland Wiggins, avait obtenu un doctorat en musique en 1975 avec une thèse intitulée The History and Development of Jazz Piano: A New Perspective for Educators.

DÉBUTS DE CARRIÈRE

Initialement reconnu comme pianiste de swing un peu dans le style de Teddy Wilson, Taylor s’était progressivement tourné vers le bebop après avoir été mis en contact avec les clubs de la 52e rue de New York.

Le lendemain de son arrivée à New York en 1944, Taylor avait assisté à une jam session du saxophoniste Ben Webster au célèbre Minton’s Playhouse. Deux jours plus tard, Taylor était invité à se joindre au groupe de Webster. Le lendemain, Taylor avait rencontré le pianiste Art Tatum qui était bientôt devenu son mentor. Taylor s’était ensuite joint au quintet de Cozy Cole avec qui il avait collaboré dans le cadre de la revue de Billy Rose “Les sept arts vivants », avant d’accompagner Kevin Spencer au Cafe Society Uptown et de devenir membre du trio du contrebassiste Slam Stewart. Dans les années 1940, Taylor s’était produit avec des sommités du jazz comme Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Machito, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie South, Don Redman, Stuff Smith et Slam Stewart.

En 1946, Taylor avait participé à une tournée de huit mois en Europe avec le saxophoniste et arrangeur Don Redman, dont le groupe était devenu la première formation de jazz des États-Unis à se rendre sur le continent après la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Rentré à New York en 1948 après avoir séjourné à Paris et aux Pays-Bas, Taylor avait joué avec l'organiste Bob Wyatt et la chanteuse Sylvia Syms et avait accompagné la chanteuse Billie Holiday à Broadway.

En 1949, Taylor avait entrepris un contrat de deux ans comme pianiste-maison du légendaire club Birdland, où il avait partagé la scène avec des sommités du jazz comme Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, le  percussionniste cubain Machito, Max Roach, Roy Eldridge, Oscar Pettiford, Lee Konitz, Don Byas, Charles Mingus, Artie Shaw, Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis,  Ed Thigpen, Earl May, Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Victor Gaskin, Freddie Waits, Stan Getz, Chip Jackson et Winard Harper. Taylor était d’ailleurs devenu le pianiste qui s’était produit le plus longtemps au club Birdland au cours de son histoire.

En 1952, Taylor avait formé son propre trio basse-batterie avec qui il avait enregistré des albums comme ‘’Billy Taylor Trio’’ (1953), ‘’Billy Taylor Trio at Town Hall’’ (1954) et ‘’The New Billy Taylor Trio’’ (1957).

Taylor avait enregistré un premier album solo en 1945 intitulé ‘’Billy Taylor Piano’’ sur étiquette Savoy. Parmi les autres albums enregistrés par Taylor dans les années 1950, on remarquait un enregistrement avec le légendaire percussionniste cubain Candido intitulé ‘’The Billy Taylor Trio with Candido’’ (1954), une collaboration avec le multi-instrumentiste Ira Sullivan (1957) ainsi que ‘’My Fair Lady Love Jazz’’ (1957). Toujours en 1957, Taylor avait enregistré un album avec les membres de l’orchestre de Duke Ellington intitulé ‘’The Billy Taylor Touch.’’

Dans les années 1950, Taylor avait enregistré des albums comme ‘’Uptown’’ et ‘’Warming Up’’ (tous deux publiés en 1960), ‘’Interlude’’ et ‘’Kwamina’’ (tous deux publiés en 1961), ‘’Impromptu’’ (1962), ‘’Right Here, Right Now !’’ (1963), ‘’Midnight Piano’’ (1965), ‘’I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free’’ (1968), dont la chanson-titre avait été son plus grand succès en arrière, et ‘’Sleeping Bee’’ (1969).

Dans les années 1960, le trio de Taylor était d’ailleurs devenu un incontournable du club Hickory House situé sur la 55e rue ouest à Manhattan.

En 1958, Taylor avait entrepris une longue carrière à la télévision comme directeur musical de la première émission jamais consacrée à l’histoire du jazz, The Subject Is Jazz, diffusée sur le réseau NBC. Produite par la nouvelle National Educational Television Network, la série en treize parties comprenait des interventions de grands noms du jazz comme Duke Ellington, Aaron Copland, Doc Severinson, Tony Scott, Jimmy Cleveland, Mundell Lowe, Earl May, Eddie Safranski, Ed Thigpen, Ossie Johnson, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Rushing et Langston Hughes

Dans les années 1960, Taylor avait également animé d’autres émissions de radio sur des stations comme WLIB et WNEW à New York.

En 1964, Taylor avait co-fondé avec Daphne Arnstein l’entreprise Jazzmobile, une scène extérieure montée sur un char allégorique qui présentait des concerts en plein air mettant en vedette les plus grandes vedettes du jazz à l’intention de la clientèle des écoles pauvres de New York. En plus de présenter des concerts, l’organisme animait également des ateliers et des cliniques, tenait des périodes de résidence dans les écoles publiques et développait des programmes spéciaux destinés aux jeunes défavorisés. En 1981, Jazzmobile avait produit un spécial de jazz pour la National Public Radio qui avait mérité à l’organisme un Peabody Award pour l’excellence de sa programmation.

En 1966, Taylor avait également animé sa propre émission de télévision à New York. Véritable touche-à-tout, Taylor avait aussi été disc-jockey à New York de 1959 à 1969.

Taylor avait continué de faire des apparitions à la télévision au début des années 1970, lorsqu’il était devenu directeur musical du David Frost Show, qui était diffusé sur le réseau de la Westinghouse Corporation, devenant ainsi le premier Afro-américain à diriger le groupe d’un talk show aux États-Unis. Parmi les musiciens de jazz qui s’étaient produits sur l’émission, on remarquait notamment Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Benny Goodman et Buddy Rich.

Parallèlement à sa participation à l’émission de Frost, Taylor avait également été directeur musical du Black Journal Tonight de Tony Brown, une émission hebdomadaire diffusée sur le réseau PBS. De 1977 à 1983, Taylor avait aussi animé l’émission Jazz Alive diffusée sur le réseau de radio NPR. L’émission avait éventuellement remporté un Peabody Award.

Plus tard, Taylor avait animé sa propre émission de piano sur le réseau Bravo intitulée ‘’Jazz Counterpoint.’’ Taylor avait également animé plusieurs émissions de radio à New York qui avaient été retransmises au niveau national. Taylor était devenu particulièrement populaire comme correspondant artistique de l’émission CBS Sunday Morning au début des années 1980. Durant deux décennies à partir de 1981, Taylor avait interviewé  plus de 250 musiciens dans le cadre de l’émission. Taylor avait d’ailleurs reçu un prix Emmy pour son reportage sur Quincy Jones présenté en 1983. En 1987-88, Taylor avait également agi comme ambassadeur de bonne volonté du Département d’État dans le cadre d’une tournée en URSS, en Hongrie, au Moyen-Orient et en Amérique latine.

DERNIÈRES ANNÉES

En 1989, Taylor avait fondé sa propre maison de disques, Taylor Made.

De 1994 jusqu’à sa mort, Taylor avait occupé le poste de directeur artistique de la section jazz du Kennedy Center de New York. En 1994, la carrière de Taylor avait été commémorée dans le cadre d’un concert à Carnegie Hall intitulé ‘’Carnegie Hall, New York, in Billy Taylor: My First 50 Years in Jazz.’’ Dans le cadre de la célébration de son 75e anniversaire de naissance en 1996, Taylor s’était produit en solo dans le cadre du concert ‘’Ten Fingers – One Voice.’’

Dans le cadre de ses fonctions de conseiller artistique du Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Taylor avait développé plusieurs séries acclamées, dont la Louis Armstrong Legacy Vocalist, l’Art Tatum Piano Panorama et le Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Devenu un événement annuel, le festival a célébré son 15e anniversaire de fondation en 2010.

En 2002, Taylor avait créé le KC Jazz Club qui permettait aux artistes de se produire dans l’atmosphère intime d’un club de jazz. Des projets plein la tête, Taylor avait aussi développé la série Discovery Artists afin d’encourager le développement de la relève dans le domaine du jazz. De 1995 à 2001, Taylor avait également animé sa propre série intitulée "Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center", qui permettait à des vétérans du jazz et à des artistes émergents de se produire sur scène avec son trio et de discuter avec l’assistance. Produites et enregistrées par le Kennedy Center et la National Public Radio, les émissions avaient diffusées pendant huit ans à l’antenne des stations du réseau NPR.  La série était d’ailleurs inspirée d’une autre série créée par Taylor au Metropolitan Museum of Art de New York plus de vingt-cinq ans auparavant. Intitulée "Jazz Models and Mentors’’, la série permettait à Taylor de se produire brièvement sur scène et de discuter avec différents musiciens de jazz. Le 1er mars 1997, Taylor avait également inauguré le Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, une série de six émissions destinées aux touristes et aux résidents de la région de Washington, D.C. En 2007, le Kennedy Center a également décerné à Taylor un Living Jazz Legend Award.

Observateur éclairé du milieu du jazz, Taylor avait publié plusieurs livres, manuels d’instruction et articles sur des sujets connexes au jazz. En 1949, Taylor avait d’ailleurs publié le premier livre jamais écrit sur l’histoire du piano bop. Par la suite, Taylor avait publié une douzaine d’autres livres, dont Jazz Piano: A Jazz History (1982).

En plus d’avoir remporté de nombreux prix, Taylor était devenu un des quatre musiciens de jazz à avoir été nommé au National Council of the Arts après Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald et Dizzy Gillespie.

Parallèlement à son travail à la télévision, Taylor avait recommencé à enregistrer dans les années 1980, notamment dans le cadre des albums ‘’Where’ve You Been’’ (avec Joe Kennedy en 1981), ‘’White Nights and Jazz in Leningrad’’ (1988), ‘’Solo’’ (1988) et ‘’Billy Taylor and the Jazzmobile All Stars’’ (1989). Poursuivant ses enregistrements dans les années 1990, Taylor avait publié des albums comme ‘’White Nights and Jazz in Leningrad’’ (1991), ‘’Dr. T.’’ (avec Gerry Mulligan, 1992), ‘’Live at MCG with Gerry Mulligan’’ et ‘’It’s a Matter of Pride’’ (tous deux publiés en 1993), ‘’Homage’’ (1995), ‘’You Tempted Me’’ (1996), qui comprenait une version de ‘’Take the ‘A’’ Train’’ de Duke Ellington et Billy Strayhorn, ‘’The Music Keeps Us Young’’ (enregistré avec son trio en 1997), l’album solo ‘’Ten Fingers - One Voice’’ et ‘’Taylor Made at the Kennedy Center’’ (avec Dee Dee Bridgewater en 1999). En 1992, Taylor avait également enregistré un album avec les Jazzmobile Allstars.

Très respecté sur la scène internationale, Taylor avait poursuivi une fructueuse carrière d’enseignant à l'Université de Long Island, à l’Université Yale, à l’Université Howard, à l’Université de Californie, à la Fredonia State University au C.W. Post College, au North Carolina Central College, à l’Université Shaw et à la Manhattan School of Music. Détenteur d’un doctorat en éducation musicale de l’Université du Massachusetts à Amherst, Taylor avait dirigé plus tard la Wilber D. Barrett Chair of Music de la même université. Taylor avait aussi enseigné dans le cadre du programme intensif de jazz de la même institution,  Jazz in July. Élu compagnon de Duke Ellington à l’Université Yale, Taylor s’est également mérité vingt-trois doctorats honorifiques au cours de sa carrière, dont un du Berklee College of Music en 1981. Comme professeur, Taylor avait également été intronisé au sein de International Association of Jazz Educators. Quand même pas mal pour un pianiste qui avait amorcé sa carrière d’enseignant dans le cadre d’une conférence à l’Université Yale à la fin des années 1950 !

Particulièrement prolifique, Taylor avait plus de 300 compositions à son actif et avait enregistré une cinquantaine d’albums comme leader. Comme accompagnateur, Taylor avait également fait des apparitions sur des centaines d’albums en compagnie d’autres musiciens.

En plus d’avoir été utilisée dans le générique du film ‘’Ghosts of Mississippi’’ (1996) portant sur l’assassinat du leader des droits civiques Medgar Evers, la chanson de Taylor "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free", qui était devenue l’hymne non officiel du mouvement des droits civiques, avait été sélectionnée parmi les meilleures chansons des années 1960 par le New York Times. La chanson avait également été reprise par plusieurs artistes, dont la chanteuse Nina Simone, qui l’avait enregistrée sur son album ‘’Silk & Soul’’ en 1967. C’est le parolier Dick Dallas qui avait écrit les paroles de la chanson qui était également connue en Grande-Bretagne en version instrumentale, le réseau de la BBC l’ayant utilisée comme thème de son cinéma de fin de soirée.

En plus de ses compositions typiquement ‘’jazz’’, Taylor avait également écrit des compositions plus élaborées comme sa ‘’Suite for Jazz Piano and Orchestra’’ (1973).

Dans le cadre de ses compositions, Taylor avait souvent combiné le jazz et la musique classique, notamment dans le cadre d’oeuvres commanditées par de grandes institutions comme le Kennedy Center, le Krannert Center for Performing Arts de l’University of Illinois et par Robert Shaw (pour l’Atlanta Symphony). Taylor a également écrit de la musique pour la danse, notamment pour la chorégraphe Trisha Brown en 2000.

Taylor, qui avait travaillé toute sa vie pour faire du jazz un genre musical aussi reconnu que la musique classique, était cependant beaucoup plus connu comme vedette de la télévision que comme pianiste de jazz. Comme Taylor l’avait déclaré en 2007 au cours d’une entrevue qu’il avait accordée au Post Magazine: "there's no question that being an advocate eclipsed my reputation as a musician. It was my doing. I wanted to prove to people that jazz has an audience. I had to do that for me."

Taylor a remporté de nombreux prix au cours de sa longue carrière, dont deux Peabody Awards pour ses émissions de télévision, un prix Emmy (1983), un Tiffany Award (1991) et un prix Grammy (en 2004, pour sa composition ‘’Homage’’ écrite pour le Julliard String Quartet ). Le magazine Down Beat a aussi décerné à Taylor un Down Beat Lifetime Achievement Award pour couronner l’ensemble de sa carrière en 1984.

En 1988, Taylor a été nommé ‘’Jazz Master’’ par la National Endowment for the Arts. En 1992, le président George H.W. Bush avait remis à Taylor la médaille nationale des Arts, la plus importante décoration décernée par le gouvernement américain. Taylor était également un des six lauréats du Doris Duke Millennium Award for Modern Dance and Jazz Music. La composition de Taylor "Homage", écrite pour le 100e anniversaire de fondation de la ville de Madison, au Wisconsin, avait été mise en nomination pour un prix Grammy. Le Center for Research in Black Culture avait également inclus Taylor sur sa liste des 100 plus grands New-yorkais de couleur du 20e siècle. Les autres lauréats comprenaient des célébrités comme Colin Powell, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Quincy Jones, Maya Angelou et Duke Ellington. En 1997, Taylor avait également remporté le New York State Governor's Art Award. En 2001, l’American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) avait aussi décerné à Taylor un Jazz Living Legend Award. Taylor a été intronisé au sein du North Carolina Music Hall of Fame en 2010.

En février 2005, le gala des prix Grammy avait décerné à Taylor un Grammy Trustees Award afin de reconnaître ses réalisations en dehors des arts de la scène. En janvier 2006, Taylor était également devenu le premier musicien de jazz à recevoir le Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award décerné par la Chamber Music America. Le 3 mars 2007, dans le cadre du gala d’ouverture de l’événement ‘’Jazz in Our Time’’ parrainé par le Kennedy Center, Taylor avait été un des nombreux récipiendaires du "Living Jazz Legend" Award.

En 1990, l’organisme Jazzmobile avait rendu hommage à Taylor dans le cadre d’un concert présenté au Avery Fisher Hall dans le cadre du JVC Jazz Festival. Le concert mettait en vedette des artistes comme Nancy Wilson, le Ahmad Jamal Trio et le Terence Blanchard Quintet.

En octobre 2001, la Bibliothèque nationale du Congrès avait également honoré Taylor dans le cadre d’un concert spécial de son trio avec le Juilliard String Quartet. L’événement visait à commémorer le don par Taylor de ses archives de jazz à la Bibliothèque nationale. La collection, qui avait été amassée sur une période de plus de soixante-cinq ans, constitue la collection d’archives de jazz la plus importante jamais acquise par la Bibliothèque nationale du Congrès. Le 20 janvier 2002, le Kennedy Center avait célébré le 80e anniversaire de naissance de Taylor dans le cadre d’un concert tout-étoile présenté au Eisenhower Theater.

Victime d’une première attaque en 2002, qui l’avait privé en partie de sa main droite, Billy Taylor est mort d’une crise cardiaque à Manhattan le 28 décembre 2010. Il était âgé de quatre-vingt-neuf ans. Ont survécu à Taylor son épouse de soixante-cinq ans Theodora (Teddy), sa fille Kim Taylor-Thompson, une professeure de droit à l’Université de New York, son gendre Anthony Thompson et son frère Rudy. Taylor avait également eu un fils, Duane, mais ce dernier l’avait précédé dans la mort en 1988.

On avait rendu hommage à Taylor dans le cadre d’un service mémorial tenu à la Riverside Church de Harlem le 11 janvier 2011. La cérémonie comprenait des performances des membres du dernier trio de Taylor, le contrebassiste Chip Taylor et le batteur Winard Harper. Le duo était accompagné de collaborateurs de longue date de Taylor comme le trompettiste Jimmy Owens, le saxophoniste Frank Wess, les pianiste  et Christian Sands et la chanteuse Cassandra Wilson.

Taylor avait publié deux derniers albums avant de mourir: ‘’Urbam Griot’’ en 2001 et ‘’Live at AJE New York’’ en 2002. Le 31 mars 2005, le Kennedy Center a publié une compilation sur CD intitulée ‘’Taylor Made at the Kennedy Center’’. Se concentrant plus particulièrement sur les compositions de Taylor, le CD mettait en vedette le trio de Taylor ainsi que d’autres artistes du Kennedy Center dont Dee Dee Bridgewater, Arturo Sandoval, Stefon Harris et plusieurs autres.

©-2024, tous droits r��servés, les Productions de l’Imaginaire histor