Open Letter to the Gilbert School Board: On Music Education

by Jay Thompson on January 19, 2012 13 Comments

Dear Gilbert School Board Members - Long time no chat! Somehow my annual pilgrimage to one of your meetings to beg, plead and grovel for funding for music and fine arts programs never materialized this year. This is good. I do want to share a little story with you, one that I hope you will read, and remember, when the inevitable discussions around music programs occur -- now or in the … [Read more...]

Gratitude…

by Jay Thompson on January 2, 2012 10 Comments

There have been roughly half a bazillion articles posted across the internet over the last few days about New Year's resolutions, goals for 2012, accomplishments in 2011, blah blah blah. I've never been a big fan of making resolutions. It seems if you want to resolve to do something, you should just do it. Why wait for some arbitrary point on the calendar? All that being said, the dawning of … [Read more...]

Everyone Can Use Karma Points. RIP Clint Miller

by Jay Thompson on December 17, 2011 8 Comments

Hey you! Yes, you, standing there in the Starbucks line, waiting to get your venti quad-shot mocha frappachino with-whip latte. What say you turn around and give that five bucks to a family that can use it a lot more than your hips and ass needs that calorie-laden coffee concoction? How about you skip that new release at the picture show, long with its giant tub of buttered popcorn, and put … [Read more...]

What Clint Miller Taught Me About Life

by Jay Thompson on December 12, 2011 73 Comments

Clint Aaron Miller March 8, 1971 - December 11, 2011 It is not often that I sit and stare at a computer screen, and have no idea what to write... Last night, Clint Miller passed away after an incredibly courageous battle with testicular cancer. Cancer that spread to his brain and elsewhere. It ravaged his body, but it could not touch that man's huge heart. Clint was 40 years old, and left … [Read more...]