Blogging
Against Disablism Day 2016 (#BADD2016) is this coming Sunday, on 1st May. I shall be
hosting a gallery of artworks, "And now: the Gallery", which I hope may speak to folk with disabilities &/or chronic illnesses as
well as a blog-post on "Art for All".
And of course the event will be as ever live-tweeted on Twitter attwitter.com/BADDtweets.
The main archive will be hosted by Goldfish on Diary of a Goldfish. There you can also search through the archives for previous years, where there are lots of stimulating, interesting and still relevent blog-posts.
I hope you'll join in on Sunday, either as a contributer or as a reader or maybe both.
At the beginning of April I reported a bout of insomnia on my facebook feed. However, despite the lack of sleep, I was extremely happy to relate that over a period of four hours, I read in Spanish volumes 9 and 10 of Y: the last man / Y: el último hombre (images below). The none-native-tongue is not what is so remarkable; the fact I read for an extended period is. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis can severely effect the cognitive abilities of sufferers. In my case I periodically lose the ability to read anything other than short passages of text. Some days any kind of reading is beyond me. Added to this is intermittent dyslexia. However, I may be slowly regaining my ability to read.
This past weekend over a two-day period I read Three Men in the Snow / Drei Männer im Schnee (images below) by Erich Kästner. Admittedly I am familiar with this work. Nonetheless I had not read it in well over a decade. To boot I read it in the original German.
Well, here's hoping my ability to read has returned. I may even be able to rejoin my book-club!
I have considered myself since the mid-1980s as an extroverted introvert (after Dorothy Rowe's The Successful Self), as - more than my need to be social - I HAVE to have alone-time; I start to get very tetchy if I cannot grab time to myself. Don't get me wrong, I love being with friends; but being alone on a desert-island does not fill me with horror whereas being in the Big Brother house with nowhere to go away from others really does mortify me. When alone for my sojourns in Spain, I am more than content - as long as I get to go somewhere familiar and have a brief chat with someone I know at least once per day.
Myers-Briggs Personality Types
About three weeks ago a questionnaire appeared on my Facebook timeline from the i newspaper. I took a short Myers-Briggstest and came out as an INTJ, Introverted INtuitive Thinking Judging, personality:
[Image Description: the results of my test plotted on a W8 web-graph]
"Expert - Unique and pursuing excellence.
You have many creative thoughts. You always try to turn your ideas into fact tirelessly reaching your goal that you set for yourself. You can understand the connotative model of the outer world and think with a long term perspective. Once you make a commitment, you make a plan and accomplish it. You are very independent and skeptical. You always have a high standard no matter if its for yourself or other people." {all sic}
This past week, I did a different, more complex and much longer Myers-Briggs test and came out ENFJ, an Extraverted (sic) INtuitive Feeling Judging personality.
It seems it depends how the questions are framed alters whether I am introverted or extroverted. I think the issue is that I am very close to the border between introversion/extroversion (recall I consider myself an extroverted introvert) and thinking/feeling, both of which I consider important and use in decision-making.
Ambiversion
This past couple of days I discovered a term I have never previously encountered "ambivert", which originated in the 1920s - a person who is neither an extrovert nor an introvert, but rather someone who is in between, or, as my computer's dictionary states:
"a person who has a balance of extrovert and introvert features in their personality."
I suppose that is the top of the curve on the standard bell-curve.
"Ambiverts fall somewhere in the middle of the extrovert-introvert spectrum. Ambiverts gain energy from both time spent with others and time spent alone. Socialising and meeting new people may be important to an ambivert, but they also value time for themselves. Typically, ambiverts are good socialisers, as they keen to talk as well as listen to others. In the work place, ambiverts make efficient and adaptable workers as they are able to work well alone and within a team."
Which Label?
Now I have discovered ambiversion, I am unsure what to label myself. Is it more correct to aver I am an extroverted introvert or to say I am an ambivert? Maybe, I need to put both terms out there and let others decide. After all, I am still me on the inside, whatever label is affixed me. And I am certainly not going to attempt to alter aspects of my personality to conform to someone else's labelling system. Still, something to ponder. %)
[Image description: Matt Alber singing whilst playing his keyboard]
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Regular readers will recall that I have been moving out of Facebook almost since my blog began. A few months back I deleted the vast majority of my music tastes therefrom: with the exception of Snatnam Kaur and Matt Alber (pictured above), so that I may continue to receive news on their tours, releases, etc. It has taken since then to complete this post - partly due to my on-going ill-health and disabilities.
I have listed my eclectic tastes alphabetically. All bar two acts have a Wikipedia listing, so I have included such after their name. This is followed by any official, or in some cases quasi-official, website. Finally I have listed styles. In this regard I have attempted to be consistent and used as few labels as seemed necessary. I realise music can be labelled in multiple ways and my categorisation in no way should be deemed some kind of attempt at taxonomy. The labels are there simply to give a broad overview.
For some artists, they were what is quaintly known as one-hit-wonders. In these instances, I have posted a Youtube link to their unique success. The four stimulate potent and happy memories in me, each connected to someone I love/have loved very dearly.
I have not listed "classical" composers here, as I intend to draw up a further list at some point.
My selections are not particularly avant-garde or even trendy; they are, however, my choices. I am more than happy to engage in discussion over favourite tracks and so on with regards the artists listed, if anyone wishes to do so.
As a young child, my vision was deteriorating extremely rapidly and I had to obtain new, stronger prescription spectacles every six months. I was advised that I should probably be blind by age twenty-one. Thankfully, that did not come to pass. However, apart from trying to teach myself Braille, I decided that listening to music (or oral books) was far more important to me than seeing with my eyes.
Music speaks to one's inner-being, to one's soul or spirit, to one's psyche. Music brings to mind past loves, happy memories and places where one initially heard a piece. Music resonates with one's whole being. I give you, My Music…
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A
A-haWikipedia, Official, styles:alternative, new wave,pop, rock, synthpop AbbaWikipedia, Official, styles:disco, pop, rock Acker BilkWikipedia, Official, styles: trad jazz Alejandro SanzWikipedia, Official, styles: Latino, pop Alison MoyetWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop Amy GrantWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, gospel, pop, rock AnastaciaWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, funk, pop, rock, R&B, soul Annie LennoxWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, pop, rock, R&B, soul, synthpop Antony and the JohnsonsWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop Armand Van HeldenWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, electronica, garage, house Arturo Benedetti MichelangeliWikipedia, Official, styles: classical B Babylon ZooWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock *
BaccaraWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop Barry ManilowWikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock Barry WhiteWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, funk, R&B, soul Basement JaxxWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, garage, house Bette MidlerWikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock Beverley KnightWikipedia, Official, styles: R&B, soul Billie HolidayWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, jazz, R&B, swing, torch song BlackWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock Black Eyed PeasWikipedia, Official, styles: hip hop, R&B BlondieWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, punk BlurWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, Britpop, Indie Brandy (Norwood)Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, R&B Bruce SpringsteenWikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock Bryan FerryWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock C ChicWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, funk, soul ChicaneWikipedia, Official, styles: chill-out, electronica, house, trance China CrisisWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, synthpop Chris de BurghWikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock Chris ReaWikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock ClannadWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, Irish, new age, rock Cocteau TwinsWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock ColdplayWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock D D:ReamWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, pop, rock, R&B, soul Dan HartmanWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, new wave, R&B, rock, soul Daniel BarenboimWikipedia, Official, styles: classical Daniel BedingfieldWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, electronica, garage, gospel, pop, rock Deep ForestWikipedia, Official, styles:ambient, electronica, new age, world Don FranciscoWikipedia, Official, styles: gospel Donna SummerWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, funk, gospel, pop, R&B, rock, soul E Édith PiafWikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, torch song Elisabeth SchwarzkopfWikipedia, Official, styles: Lieder, opera, operetta Ely GuerraWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, chill-out, jazz, pop, rock EnigmaWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new age, world EurythmicsWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock, synthpop Eva CassidyWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, gospel, jazz, pop, soul F FaithlessWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, house, trance Fatboy SlimWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, house, rave Frankie Goes to HollywoodWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop G Gary NumanWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, rock, synthpop George MichaelWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, pop, soul Glenn MillerWikipedia, Official, styles: big band, swing Gloria EstefanWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, Latino, pop GoldfrappWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, synthpop GorillazWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, electronica, hip hop Grace JonesWikipedia, Official, styles: chanson, dance, disco, electronica, funk, new wave, R&B, reggae, rock Groove ArmadaWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, chill-out, electronica, house GuillemotsWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, indie, rock H Heather NovaWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, rock I Isha DWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, house *
J Jace EverettWikipedia, Official, styles: country, rock James BluntWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop, rock JamiroquaiWikipedia, Official, styles: acid jazz, dance, disco, electronica, funk, pop, R&B, rock, soul Jean Michel JarreWikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, electronica, new age, trance Joan ArmatradingWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, pop, rock John DenverWikipedia, Official, styles: country, folk, pop, western John Michael TalbotWikipedia, Official, styles: country, folk, gospel, liturgical Joy DivisionWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave K KalimbaWikipedia, Official, styles: Latino, pop, rock Keith GreenWikipedia, Official, styles: gospel, rock Kiri Te KanawaWikipedia, Official, styles: musical, opera, popera KraftwerkWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, electronica, synthpop Kylie (Minogue)Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, electronica, pop, synthpop L Lady GagaWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, electronica, pop Liza MinnelliWikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, jazz, musical, pop Lotte LenyaWikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, musical Louis ArmstrongWikipedia, Official, styles: jazz, pop, swing M M PeopleWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, soul MadonnaWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, electronica, folk, jazz, pop, swing Malena ErnmanWikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, jazz, opera, popera Mama Cass ElliotWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop Maria CallasWikipedia, Official, styles: opera Marlene DietrichWikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson Maroon 5Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, pop, rock Matt AlberWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, disco, easy listening, folk, torch song Meat LoafWikipedia, Official, styles: rock Michael CardWikipedia, Official, styles: gospel, liturgical Mieczyslaw HorszowskiWikipedia, Official, styles: classical MikaWikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock MobyWikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, dance, electronica, house, techno MonoWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, trip hop *
N New OrderWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, dance, new wave, synthpop NightcrawlersWikipedia, Official, styles: acid jazz, house, soul Nina SimoneWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, gospel, jazz, R&B Noël CowardWikipedia, Official, styles: musical, operetta, pop O OasisWikipedia, Official, styles: Britpop, rock OdysseyWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, soul OliveWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, trip hop *
Orchestral Manœuvres (in the Dark)Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, synthpop Orquesta sinfónica de RTVEWikipedia, Official, styles: classical P P!nkWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop, rock, R&B Pat BenetarWikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock Pet Shop BoysWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, dance, pop, synthpop Peter SkellernWikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, musical, pop Phil and JohnWikipedia, Official, styles: gospel Phillip GlassWikipedia, Official, styles: classical, opera PortisheadWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, trip hop, rock PulpWikipedia, Official, styles: alternatice, Britpop, indie, rock R R.E.M.Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock Rodrigo y GabrielaWikipedia, Official, styles: flamenca, pop, Latino, rock Roxy MusicWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock Roy OrbisonWikipedia, Official, styles: country, pop, rock RöyksoppWikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, chill-out, electronica, house, synthpop S SadeWikipedia, Official, styles: R&B, soul Scissors SistersWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, rock Sebastien TellierWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, pop, synthpop Sigur RósWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, ambient, electronica, pop Simon and GarfunkelWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop Simply RedWikipedia, Official, styles: pop, soul Sister SledgeWikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, R&B, soul Snatam KaurWikipedia, Official, styles: liturgical, new age, world Snow PatrolWikipedia, Official, styles: indie, pop, rock T TexasWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, Britpop, pop, rock The Blues BrothersWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, R&B, soul, rock The CureWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, rock The Divine ComedyWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop The Gipsy KingsWikipedia, Official, styles: flamenca, Latino, pop The Human LeagueWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new romantic, synthpop The Ink SpotsWikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, R&B The Mamas and the PapasWikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop The Monks and Choirboys of Downside AbbeyWikipedia, Official, styles: Gregorian, liturgical The TouristsWikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock Todd TerryWikipedia, Official, styles: house Tracey ChapmanWikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, pop, rock, soul Transglobal UndergroundWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, fusion, world TrickyWikipedia, Official, styles: trip hop U U2Wikipedia, Official, styles: rock UltravoxWikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, synthpop UnderworldWikipedia, Official, styles: dance, house, trance Urban SpeciesWikipedia, Official, styles: dub, funk, hip hop, jazz Ute LemperWikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, musical, opera V VangelisWikipedia, Official, styles: classical, electronica, new age, rock Vienna BloodWikipedia, Official, styles: country, rock W WilfriedWikipedia, Official, styles: punk, new wave, rock Y YazooWikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, synthpop
