There’s probably no musician alive today, whose music I’ve followed as closely, as Bob Dylan’s.
Not only have I bought and listened to most of his albums, read articles and books about him, including his memoir Chronicles: Volume One, watched numerous music videos of him playing, but I’ve also seen him perform live.
That being said, I would not consider myself to be a Dylanologist.
Needless to say, over his long career Dylan has written and performed numerous memorable songs, ones that have appealed to and in some cases defined different generations. Some of my favorites include, “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Lay, Lady, Lay, ” “Hurricane,” “Mississippi,” or “Gotta Serve Somebody,” but I keep on coming back to “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight.”
Written in 1982 and appearing on his album Infidels, this melancholic song has been covered by other famous musicians like Aaron Neville, Bettye LaVette, and Chrissie Hynde.
It’s hard for me to put into words why I like “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight,” so much. For those unfamiliar with the song, the lyrics depict a boyfriend or husband pleading with his girlfriend or wife to not abandon him and their relationship. He asks her to stay strong and give their love another chance during a difficult time. The lyrics capture a deep sense of vulnerability, desperation, and the fear of losing love. The argument that the boyfriend/husband presents appears logical for the context, and the words are chosen with both economy and precision.
There are a handful of things about this song that appeal to me.
To begin with I’m sure that watching the music video of Dylan playing “Don’t Fall Apart on me tonight,” live with well-known talented musicians in a studio helped.
The song also capably combines blues, rock, folk rock, reggae and country music sounds.
“‘Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight’ clearly benefits from the talented guitar performances of Mark Knopfler, formerly of Dire Straits, and Mick Taylor, formerly of the Rolling Stones. The track also features accomplished reggae musicians Robbie Shakespeare on bass guitar and Sly Dunbar on percussion.
But what makes the song memorable to me is Dylan’s ability to capture the universal nature of this scenario, highlighting both the importance of tenacity and the value of second chances in relationships. In a world, where personal connections are often fleeting, sustaining meaningful relationships during times of emotional stress can feel like it requires superhuman powers. Sometimes, this means temporarily letting down your guard and hearing out the other person, even if, in the end, it’s best to abandon the relationship.
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-09-01-at-8.23.55 AM.png6481042Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-09-01 12:46:372024-09-22 12:16:55What’s my favorite Dylan song?
For more than a decade a number of scholars and activists have expressed difficultly with the terms convict, inmate, offender, prisoner and felon. This problem has extended to using these labels preceded by the word “ex.” Recently this criticism has extended to difficulty with calling former President Trump a felon.
People opposed to using these terms argue that they are stigmatizing and prevent men and women who are labeled or referred to as such from gaining employment, progressing in their careers, finding suitable housing, etc.
A frequently recommended alternative is to use people centered language (PCL). It’s argued that using PCL is less stigmatizing and more humanizing. Thus, instead of referring to someone as a convict or felon, they should be called “A person with a conviction,” or in lieu of inmate or prisoner using “Incarcerated person” or “Person who is incarcerated,” etc.
But this strategy is no panacea for assisting people who are incarcerated or have been released from custody. And there are numerous criticisms of this approach that PCL advocates seem to be either unaware of or chose to ignore.
And here’s the main reason why PCL is problematic. Using PCL is cumbersome and it introduces unnecessary ambiguity Unless they have drank the Kool-Aid, themajority of people you talk with are going to look at you and wonder what the hell you are talking about. I don’t mind the strange looks, but if you value effective communication using PCL is not going to help.
It’s time for prison scholars and activists to invest their energy into more impactful kinds of prison reform activities, like fixing sentencing and prison conditions instead of getting caught up with and going down the rabbit hole of language politics.
Photo credit:
Photographer: Doctored
Title: Beef_angus_chart_butcher
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_6078-e1724294695495.jpg363600Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-08-25 01:34:472024-08-25 12:48:51My beef with Person Centered Language (PCL)
As another summer draws to a close, many who were fortunate enough to take a vacation find themselves reflecting on their experiences. If you’re looking for something different next time, consider the idea of immersive or ‘slow’ vacationing
What is Immersive Travel?
Immersive travel involves spending a significant period of time—usually two or more weeks—in a single location. This contrasts sharply with the typical “hit and run” style of traveling, where you rush from one destination or attraction to another. Instead of ticking off tourist sites, immersive travel encourages deeper engagement with the destination, enabling you to better appreciate and understand the local culture and lifestyle.
Who is Immersive Vacations Best For?
Immersive travel is ideal for individuals, couples, and families with flexible jobs, such as academics, public school teachers, remote workers, and digital nomads. It provides a break to the rigid schedules of traditional vacations. Additionally, if you’re able to give up or rent out your residence while you’re away, it can help offset the costs, making this form of travel more affordable.
Why Choose Immersive Travel?
There are numerous reasons why immersive vacationing may be a good alternative. These include the following:
Leisurely Exploration: Rather than cramming multiple well-known places to visit into a short period, immersive travel lets you explore a city or region at a relaxed pace. This slower approach offers the luxury of time to uncover lesser-known attractions (and spontaneous opportunities) that are often missed in a typical world wind travel itinerary.
Local Experiences: Staying longer in one place gives you more opportunities to shop at local markets, try new foods, and interact with locals. Visiting public markets, for example, opens up opportunities to select fresh and different ingredients, and attempting to prepare selected dishes from the local cuisine at your temporary digs allows you to engage with the culture in a deeper manner. Instead of the “hit and run vacation,” where dining is confined to restaurants, another benefit of this approach may lead to a healthier diet as you include a greater variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, and wholesome ingredients.
Avoiding Crowds: With more time on your hands, you can visit popular attractions during quieter times, avoiding the rush of peak tourist hours. This not only makes the experience more enjoyable but also allows for deeper, more meaningful engagement with the places you visit.
Authentic Connections: By spending extended time in a location, you’re more likely to form connections with locals. This can lead to a better understanding of the place’s culture and language, fostering richer, more memorable experiences.
Potential Drawbacks
Although immersive travel offers many benefits, it’s not without potential drawbacks:
Accommodation Issues: Staying in a place for more than a few days often means opting for accommodations like an Airbnb, apartment hotel, or home exchange. With these arrangements, there’s a risk of encountering less-than-ideal living conditions. For instance, you might end up in a noisy environment—imagine neighbors renovating their apartment next door, roosters crowing at 5 a.m., or dogs barking through the night. These inconveniences can be frustrating, especially during a long stay.
Predictability vs. Adventure: Some travelers prefer the predictability of resorts and cruises, where most aspects of the trip are managed for them. Immersive travel, on the other hand, involves a level of unpredictability and requires a willingness to adapt to new environments and situations.
Solutions to possible challenges
To mitigate potential downsides, it’s important to spend more resources (esp. time) engaging in strategic planning. Start by thoroughly researching online reviews of your possiblr accommodations. If there are only a few reviews, it might be wise to pass and find a place with a more established reputation. Additionally, consider reaching out to the owner or landlord and asking detailed questions about the space, amenities, noise levels, and any other concerns you might have. In some cases, doing a short trial stay before committing to a longer period can also help you assess whether the accommodation meets your needs. These steps offer more control over your trip, helping you avoid unpleasant surprises.
Wrapping up
Immersive travel can transform your next vacation into a richer, more meaningful experience. By slowing down and spending more time in a single location, you’ll have the opportunity to engage deeply with the culture, form authentic connections, and enjoy a more leisurely exploration of your destination. Although there are potential challenges, careful planning and a bit of flexibility can help you make the most of this approach to travel and vacationing.
Image credit:
Painter Alex Colville
Title: To Prince Edward Island, 1965
https://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot-2024-08-17-at-11.19.30 AM.png10101532Jeffrey Ian Rosshttps://jeffreyianross.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-ian-ross-logo-04.pngJeffrey Ian Ross2024-08-17 22:29:492024-08-17 22:30:08Time to Consider Immersive Vacations
What’s my favorite Dylan song?
/by Jeffrey Ian RossThere’s probably no musician alive today, whose music I’ve followed as closely, as Bob Dylan’s.
Not only have I bought and listened to most of his albums, read articles and books about him, including his memoir Chronicles: Volume One, watched numerous music videos of him playing, but I’ve also seen him perform live.
That being said, I would not consider myself to be a Dylanologist.
Needless to say, over his long career Dylan has written and performed numerous memorable songs, ones that have appealed to and in some cases defined different generations. Some of my favorites include, “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Lay, Lady, Lay, ” “Hurricane,” “Mississippi,” or “Gotta Serve Somebody,” but I keep on coming back to “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight.”
Written in 1982 and appearing on his album Infidels, this melancholic song has been covered by other famous musicians like Aaron Neville, Bettye LaVette, and Chrissie Hynde.
It’s hard for me to put into words why I like “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight,” so much. For those unfamiliar with the song, the lyrics depict a boyfriend or husband pleading with his girlfriend or wife to not abandon him and their relationship. He asks her to stay strong and give their love another chance during a difficult time. The lyrics capture a deep sense of vulnerability, desperation, and the fear of losing love. The argument that the boyfriend/husband presents appears logical for the context, and the words are chosen with both economy and precision.
There are a handful of things about this song that appeal to me.
To begin with I’m sure that watching the music video of Dylan playing “Don’t Fall Apart on me tonight,” live with well-known talented musicians in a studio helped.
The song also capably combines blues, rock, folk rock, reggae and country music sounds.
“‘Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight’ clearly benefits from the talented guitar performances of Mark Knopfler, formerly of Dire Straits, and Mick Taylor, formerly of the Rolling Stones. The track also features accomplished reggae musicians Robbie Shakespeare on bass guitar and Sly Dunbar on percussion.
But what makes the song memorable to me is Dylan’s ability to capture the universal nature of this scenario, highlighting both the importance of tenacity and the value of second chances in relationships. In a world, where personal connections are often fleeting, sustaining meaningful relationships during times of emotional stress can feel like it requires superhuman powers. Sometimes, this means temporarily letting down your guard and hearing out the other person, even if, in the end, it’s best to abandon the relationship.
My beef with Person Centered Language (PCL)
/by Jeffrey Ian RossFor more than a decade a number of scholars and activists have expressed difficultly with the terms convict, inmate, offender, prisoner and felon. This problem has extended to using these labels preceded by the word “ex.” Recently this criticism has extended to difficulty with calling former President Trump a felon.
People opposed to using these terms argue that they are stigmatizing and prevent men and women who are labeled or referred to as such from gaining employment, progressing in their careers, finding suitable housing, etc.
A frequently recommended alternative is to use people centered language (PCL). It’s argued that using PCL is less stigmatizing and more humanizing. Thus, instead of referring to someone as a convict or felon, they should be called “A person with a conviction,” or in lieu of inmate or prisoner using “Incarcerated person” or “Person who is incarcerated,” etc.
But this strategy is no panacea for assisting people who are incarcerated or have been released from custody. And there are numerous criticisms of this approach that PCL advocates seem to be either unaware of or chose to ignore.
And here’s the main reason why PCL is problematic. Using PCL is cumbersome and it introduces unnecessary ambiguity Unless they have drank the Kool-Aid, the majority of people you talk with are going to look at you and wonder what the hell you are talking about. I don’t mind the strange looks, but if you value effective communication using PCL is not going to help.
As a response, a handful of individuals in the Convict Criminology network have courageously and eloquently argued why the term convict, etc. is an appropriate term and advocated the reclaiming of the convict label.
It’s time for prison scholars and activists to invest their energy into more impactful kinds of prison reform activities, like fixing sentencing and prison conditions instead of getting caught up with and going down the rabbit hole of language politics.
Photo credit:
Photographer: Doctored
Title: Beef_angus_chart_butcher
Time to Consider Immersive Vacations
/by Jeffrey Ian RossAs another summer draws to a close, many who were fortunate enough to take a vacation find themselves reflecting on their experiences. If you’re looking for something different next time, consider the idea of immersive or ‘slow’ vacationing
What is Immersive Travel?
Immersive travel involves spending a significant period of time—usually two or more weeks—in a single location. This contrasts sharply with the typical “hit and run” style of traveling, where you rush from one destination or attraction to another. Instead of ticking off tourist sites, immersive travel encourages deeper engagement with the destination, enabling you to better appreciate and understand the local culture and lifestyle.
Who is Immersive Vacations Best For?
Immersive travel is ideal for individuals, couples, and families with flexible jobs, such as academics, public school teachers, remote workers, and digital nomads. It provides a break to the rigid schedules of traditional vacations. Additionally, if you’re able to give up or rent out your residence while you’re away, it can help offset the costs, making this form of travel more affordable.
Why Choose Immersive Travel?
There are numerous reasons why immersive vacationing may be a good alternative. These include the following:
Leisurely Exploration: Rather than cramming multiple well-known places to visit into a short period, immersive travel lets you explore a city or region at a relaxed pace. This slower approach offers the luxury of time to uncover lesser-known attractions (and spontaneous opportunities) that are often missed in a typical world wind travel itinerary.
Local Experiences: Staying longer in one place gives you more opportunities to shop at local markets, try new foods, and interact with locals. Visiting public markets, for example, opens up opportunities to select fresh and different ingredients, and attempting to prepare selected dishes from the local cuisine at your temporary digs allows you to engage with the culture in a deeper manner. Instead of the “hit and run vacation,” where dining is confined to restaurants, another benefit of this approach may lead to a healthier diet as you include a greater variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, and wholesome ingredients.
Avoiding Crowds: With more time on your hands, you can visit popular attractions during quieter times, avoiding the rush of peak tourist hours. This not only makes the experience more enjoyable but also allows for deeper, more meaningful engagement with the places you visit.
Authentic Connections: By spending extended time in a location, you’re more likely to form connections with locals. This can lead to a better understanding of the place’s culture and language, fostering richer, more memorable experiences.
Potential Drawbacks
Although immersive travel offers many benefits, it’s not without potential drawbacks:
Accommodation Issues: Staying in a place for more than a few days often means opting for accommodations like an Airbnb, apartment hotel, or home exchange. With these arrangements, there’s a risk of encountering less-than-ideal living conditions. For instance, you might end up in a noisy environment—imagine neighbors renovating their apartment next door, roosters crowing at 5 a.m., or dogs barking through the night. These inconveniences can be frustrating, especially during a long stay.
Predictability vs. Adventure: Some travelers prefer the predictability of resorts and cruises, where most aspects of the trip are managed for them. Immersive travel, on the other hand, involves a level of unpredictability and requires a willingness to adapt to new environments and situations.
Solutions to possible challenges
To mitigate potential downsides, it’s important to spend more resources (esp. time) engaging in strategic planning. Start by thoroughly researching online reviews of your possiblr accommodations. If there are only a few reviews, it might be wise to pass and find a place with a more established reputation. Additionally, consider reaching out to the owner or landlord and asking detailed questions about the space, amenities, noise levels, and any other concerns you might have. In some cases, doing a short trial stay before committing to a longer period can also help you assess whether the accommodation meets your needs. These steps offer more control over your trip, helping you avoid unpleasant surprises.
Wrapping up
Immersive travel can transform your next vacation into a richer, more meaningful experience. By slowing down and spending more time in a single location, you’ll have the opportunity to engage deeply with the culture, form authentic connections, and enjoy a more leisurely exploration of your destination. Although there are potential challenges, careful planning and a bit of flexibility can help you make the most of this approach to travel and vacationing.
Image credit:
Painter Alex Colville
Title: To Prince Edward Island, 1965