Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy the images of Christmases long ago scattered within this post. If you keep reading, you’ll learn more about them! Part I A friend of mine recently asked me what traditions my family followed for Christmas. Read More
A Review of Jerry Leake’s latest album, Crafty Hands (2016) Stan Pelkey December 13, 2016 Boston-based world-rock-fusion percussionist Jerry Leake is a special kind of musician. He deftly moves in and through numerous traditions from around the world – with Read More
The recent Thanksgiving Break provided some time for much need rest and relaxation, but it also allowed me to catch up on some film viewing. Here are some brief reflections on current and recent films. The family and I went Read More
Cameron Pyke, Benjamin Britten and Russia (Boydell Press, 2016). This exceptionally well-written and well-researched study by Cameron Pyke (Dulwich College and University of London) explores many of the ways Benjamin Britten engaged with Russian composers, musicians, and literature against the Read More
Paul S. Boyer’s American History: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2012). I have read a number of books from Oxford’s “Very Short Introduction” series, including Kathryn Kalinak’s on Film Music, John Polkinghorne’s on Quantum Theory, and several on Read More
It’s September, and the Emmy Awards were given out this past weekend. I am very pleased that three of my favorite current show — Mr. Robot (currently in season two), Game of Thrones, and VEEP did so well. (I am Read More
Hello, Readers! This is a slightly edited version of a post that I published in May 2016. I hope you find it useful. Stan ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I was recently talking with several graduate music students about threats Read More
Happy Fiftieth Anniversary, Star Trek! I’ve been a Star Trek fan for a long time — not quite 50 years (I’m not yet 45 myself), but since the late 1970s, when the original series was being shown in syndication (probably Read More
Literature and Leadership: Watership Down Stan Pelkey “My Chief Rabbit has told me to defend this run and until he says otherwise I shall stay here.” (Bigwig to General Woundwort) “The Sky Suspended,” Watership Down (First Avon Edition, 1975; Read More
By Stan Pelkey It’s not difficult to find reflections on leaders and leadership. Northouse (2010) notes, “Bookstore shelves are filled with popular books about leaders and advice on how to be a leader” (p. 1). Besides those popular books, Read More