Ratings-Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die!

[Arthur Greenberg <AHGberg @AOL.COM>]

Hi Listeros:

Almost everyone wants "ratings".  That's what this world is all about!  When
we saw that lovely Bo Derek, the picture was simply called 10.  Bo surely was
a ten
and if you saw her in Tarzan enough of her was displayed so that you could
undoubtedly confirm that she certainly was a 10.  She set some high standards!

When someone in the Olympics performs in Gymnastics 10 is the aspired to
score.  A skinny little girl named Nadia reached that level of 10 on a
regular basis.  She was sensational.  No one could dispute that she was a 10.
 She met certain standards and could be acclaimed as performing at a level of
10!  That level is considered "perfection".  Can you do anything that someone
would rate you as a 10 for?  What a marvelous standard.  Imagine being rated
a perfect 10!  Wow!

When one is employed and a raise in pay is desired people require rating
scales so that the raise in pay is commensurate with the "rating scale".  An
evaluation is performed.  Has the employee attained the level of skill that
the employer wants so that an increase of pay is warranted.  Merit raises!
Longevity raises!  Popularity raises!   These  criteria all have to be set
down accurately so that you can treat all your employees with equality.  The
same standards must apply!  They can be set!  You simply need some meeting of
the minds within the company to arrive at standards. Have you ever used the
expression, "It isn't fair!"  Everything must be done "fairly".  Equality for
all!  Sometimes it seems elusive!

In order to "get into Heaven", I am told I must first live a good life and
"die"!  Then I must pass that "review"  that "judgement" of whether I have
met the standards that will qualify me for "entrance to Heaven"!  There are
still some who believe (just ask them) that one can enter Heaven without
dying!  Some say that the standards were set down on  stone tablets and
provided to Moses on Mt Sinai.  There have been several writings of scripture
both in the Western World as well as the Eastern World (the Middle East the
Far East).  Religious  standards have been set pretty high by prophets who
wrote it all down.  It is  all there for you to read, understand and adhere
to.  Do not at this late date try to set up your own standards for getting
into Heaven. It might not work!!!  Then what! The criteria  have already been
established for a long long time already. There seems to exist some
passionate differences of opinions in what these standards are as all the
countless  people who died during  the thousands of years of religious wars!
It seems that there are still heated debates taking place as to who is right
and who is wrong.  Can everybody be "right"?  I wish I knew! The standards
some have set down as self evident truths  are not readily acceptable to many
people who give their lives to prove that they are faithful to their
religious cause.  And it conflicts with yours.  And they want to actually
kill you because you do not believe as they do!  Wow!  Talk about "passion"!


When the men take a lady to bed the ultimate question is often!  How do I
rate?
Was I good?  (Who asks the question?  The lady or the man or whoever?)

If I am competing in a Tango Contest and I place 2nd or third, what is it
that the first place winner did that I didn't do? What are the "standards"
that I have been judged by?  Who will write these down.  When will these
tablets with the laws on it arrive from the Holy Mountain of Tango?  Who will
reconcile all the differences that exist between the "conflicting factions".
Are we actually ready to sit down or meet on the dance floor and get it all
recorded on Video Tape for the benefit of all the pupils now learning and for
posterity.....for our grand children?

In order to compare so that the comparisons are meaningful one must use
certain standards.  Those standards are the natural results of "tastes" as
well as an abundance of ""matching" against the best possible performance
level!   Please be kind when you start rating couples' dancing.  If I am
compared with the standards of Miguel and Milena......I would be pleased to
be given a 2.  I would then aspire to improve to eventually perhaps a 3.   If
I am competing in a contest that has Osvaldo & Lorena, and Carlos and
Marcela,  I would not object to coming in Third.
There seems to me that there already exists some significant "standards" that
have already been set!

Can you do Ocho's as well as Marcela?  Can you move as well as Melena? Can
you show the skill of Osvaldo or Miguel?  Can you display your Tango with the
same passion as Carlos?   How close can you come to dancing as good as
Fernanda & Guillermo?  Can you really develope the agility and timing  of a
Pablo.  Can you deliver like Gustavo? Could anyone  in the world match
Graciela dancing with Claudio on a good night?  Can anyone express the same
partner passion as Daniela when she dances with Armando?  Can you have as
precise footwork as Lorena?  Take the names of all the top dancers in the
world!  There must be at least 50 to 75 couples.   Compare your local heroes
with the world class dancers. (Please be kind and ccharitable when you do!)
The world class dancers set the standards whenever they step onto the dance
floor. They are the 10's of the world.   Can anyone milonga like Kely?  The
Tango Gods are setting up the certification requirements for teachers as we
speak!  (Watch for the Tablets to arrive in your locale!)
There are probably 20 or 30 names I have omitted from the above since I am
simply writing from "improvisationally mental notes"!

Accreditation  is being offered!  If that "certification" is worth anything
then the best in the world must agree on some standardization or form and
they must also give the standards names.  Nomenclature has been discussed
unsuccessfully and inconclusively at least 5 years ago.  I have my booklet
of "definitions" of nomenclature.  It is like some ancient document that I
cling to, keep it in the safe,  and consult whenever I want to know what
someone is discussing..  I would venture to say that "it comes close to the
standard nomenclature"  currently being discussed and reduced to writing.

There are many things that can be identified and documented for future
reference simply so that we do not have to have the same old repetitious
arguments about what "Tango Terms" mean.  Terminology is important when one
wants to discuss among afficianados what moves Tango Couples are making.
Standardised terminology enables one to refer to a Boleo (sometimes called a
Voleo) and everyone can picture what that person is doing!  Most everyone
also knows what a reverse Boleo is.

 Someone expressed their worry that they  won't be "certified" by the
Argentine Board of Tango.  Relax!  We will not report you to the Tango Police!

More to come!  Time permitting!
Sincerely,
Arturo
AHGberg @aol.com
West Palm Beach, Florida, USA