The new Abney Park album...AEther Chanty.
And the remastered "The Emperor's Wives". Lots of solid bass line...love it nearly as much as Airship Pirates!
The Good Ship Venus by the Poxy Boggards... (ahh, they wonder why I miss the Ren Faire!)
I dare you to watch that one without bursting out in laughter!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Back in September of 2004
The Renaissance Festival was in its last year, but none of us knew it at the time. Below is a view along the north side of my booth, with Dave's purple and salmon music booth beside. One of the arches is clearly visible in this picture...it was crushed along with the rest of the mead hall last week in the last snow storm.
This was Dudley's last year as well. He looks pretty perky in this picture, but he passed away only a few weeks after this picture was taken. He looks surprised in the picture...at the time, he was so afflicted by doggie alzheimers that EVERYTHING was a surprise!
From the back of my booth, you can see "stag house". This is where we lived.
I was always happy with this view of the booth. It was quite flashy. This is the back, the part that looked out over the fighting ring in back.
There were always little surprises...this fellow is supposed to be a fountain head, but it made a really pretty decoration on the beam end. It didn't survive the winter.
Below is the building all closed up, and all that was necessary was to fold the umbrellas and lock the upper story shutters.
Below is a very nice view of the big beams of my booth (with virtues of chivalry stenciled on the top) Looking past the building, you can just see the front of the music booth, and one of the ren faire booths. Such a pretty site.
More of the big beams, and one of my gargoyles.
Another one of my gargoyles. We still have both of them.
And I think that nice tile roof looked pretty good as it overlooked the pub.
Ah, those were the days....
This was Dudley's last year as well. He looks pretty perky in this picture, but he passed away only a few weeks after this picture was taken. He looks surprised in the picture...at the time, he was so afflicted by doggie alzheimers that EVERYTHING was a surprise!
From the back of my booth, you can see "stag house". This is where we lived.
I was always happy with this view of the booth. It was quite flashy. This is the back, the part that looked out over the fighting ring in back.
There were always little surprises...this fellow is supposed to be a fountain head, but it made a really pretty decoration on the beam end. It didn't survive the winter.
Below is the building all closed up, and all that was necessary was to fold the umbrellas and lock the upper story shutters.
Below is a very nice view of the big beams of my booth (with virtues of chivalry stenciled on the top) Looking past the building, you can just see the front of the music booth, and one of the ren faire booths. Such a pretty site.
More of the big beams, and one of my gargoyles.
Another one of my gargoyles. We still have both of them.
And I think that nice tile roof looked pretty good as it overlooked the pub.
Ah, those were the days....
Monday, January 14, 2013
Series of Descending Fifths
So many riffs are based on a series of descending fifths. Fly me to the Moon, Hotel California, almost anything by Handel....
The idea of ANY music being new is patently absurd. Some things never work (anything with a B sharp in it for instance....ta dum dum) (Yes I know....) And then of course there is the Descending Fifths.
Case in point.
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain plays "Fly me of the Handel"
You can thank me later....grin! After you check out my favorite song.."Orange Blossom Special" played on Ukes!!!!
The idea of ANY music being new is patently absurd. Some things never work (anything with a B sharp in it for instance....ta dum dum) (Yes I know....) And then of course there is the Descending Fifths.
Case in point.
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain plays "Fly me of the Handel"
You can thank me later....grin! After you check out my favorite song.."Orange Blossom Special" played on Ukes!!!!
Friday, December 07, 2012
QuickTime Harch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z6eTTaY1a6M
For the ladies, from Mel Brooks History of the World Part 1. Don't watch it at work...grin!
"I Love Quick Time Harch".
I wonder how I can get this guy's job. Just what IS his job anyway? And why is he devil horning?
Mathematics.
Hmmm. Well, he HAS got all the chicks, so he must do doing SOMETHING right...
The edited scenes...
For the ladies, from Mel Brooks History of the World Part 1. Don't watch it at work...grin!
"I Love Quick Time Harch".
I wonder how I can get this guy's job. Just what IS his job anyway? And why is he devil horning?
Mathematics.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
In Flanders Fields
No, I am not getting mopey and depressing. Its just that I found this song you see and wanted to share it with you all. Judy will like it...it has a nice C and W lilt to it.
(Love your pics of the snow BTW....we got a couple of centimeters here, just in time for my visitor from New Zealand to play in it.
Anyway....this is written by a school teacher who wanted to sing the famous old poem instead of the kind of out of synch chant we usually get. That teacher's name is James MacMurray, and he is an elementary school teacher in Toronto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD19k6EvBNo&feature=related
Not to be out done, Roland Majeau has pointed out WHY we signed on. No glory. Well, maybe a little flag waving. . .... The Soldier Cries Oh Canada, we'll gladly go and fight for thee...And the young men cry Oh Canada, we'll fight to keep you free.
The Canadian attitude has always been that its a job. A good, worthwhile job, and somebody has to do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ7z_eANAP4&feature=related
(Love your pics of the snow BTW....we got a couple of centimeters here, just in time for my visitor from New Zealand to play in it.
Anyway....this is written by a school teacher who wanted to sing the famous old poem instead of the kind of out of synch chant we usually get. That teacher's name is James MacMurray, and he is an elementary school teacher in Toronto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD19k6EvBNo&feature=related
Not to be out done, Roland Majeau has pointed out WHY we signed on. No glory. Well, maybe a little flag waving. . .... The Soldier Cries Oh Canada, we'll gladly go and fight for thee...And the young men cry Oh Canada, we'll fight to keep you free.
The Canadian attitude has always been that its a job. A good, worthwhile job, and somebody has to do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ7z_eANAP4&feature=related
Friday, November 16, 2012
Marco Tempest
http://www.ted.com/talks/marco_tempest_a_cyber_magic_card_trick_like_no_other.html
Marco Tempest is a card illlusionist and a computer guy. Here, in this video, he puts the two passions together. It is worth copying the link above and watching his talk. He is such a "gee whiz, isn't this kuul" sort of guy.
Did you know that if you add up all the spots on a deck of playing cards, you get 365 spots? That the four suits correspond with the four seasons, and that the 26 cards of each colour equal a lunar month?
Ah well, now you know.
And some of the monthly scenes from the Duc Du Berry's book of hours. This is, from the top November, December and October. Seemed to go with the TED talk.
Marco Tempest is a card illlusionist and a computer guy. Here, in this video, he puts the two passions together. It is worth copying the link above and watching his talk. He is such a "gee whiz, isn't this kuul" sort of guy.
Did you know that if you add up all the spots on a deck of playing cards, you get 365 spots? That the four suits correspond with the four seasons, and that the 26 cards of each colour equal a lunar month?
Ah well, now you know.
And some of the monthly scenes from the Duc Du Berry's book of hours. This is, from the top November, December and October. Seemed to go with the TED talk.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
German Green Fields
During this time of rememberance, one tends to forget that there were TWO sides to this conflict, and both sides lost far too much.
After the kick in the heart I received when I toured TyneCot Cemetary and the Menin Gate, the idea of touring a cemetary five times as large was more than I could take.
Please listen to the German version of Eric Bogle's Classic "green fields of france", and remember, they were there too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taqKhnv-0ko
(and if you want to hear the DropKick Murpheys version, click here...)
Saturday, November 03, 2012
Saint Stephen's Day
Good King Wally, he looked out,On the Feast of Stephen,When the snow lay round about,Deep and crisp and even;Brightly shone the moon that night,Tho' the frost was cruel,When a poor dog came in sight,Gath'ring winter fuel"
Hither, Ethel, stand by me,If thou know'st it, telling,Yonder canine, who is he?Where and what his dwelling?""Sire, he lives a good league hence,And his name is Oscar;Right against the forest fence,By Saint Agnes' fountain.""Bring me flesh, and bring me bones,Bring me pine logs hither:Thou and I will see him dine,When we bear them thither.
Walls and Ethel forth they went,Forth they went together;Thro' the rude wind's wild lamentAnd the bitter weather."Wally it is getting dark,And the wind blows stronger;Fails my heart, I fear to bark,I can go no longer."
Hither, Ethel, stand by me,If thou know'st it, telling,Yonder canine, who is he?Where and what his dwelling?""Sire, he lives a good league hence,And his name is Oscar;Right against the forest fence,By Saint Agnes' fountain.""Bring me flesh, and bring me bones,Bring me pine logs hither:Thou and I will see him dine,When we bear them thither.
Walls and Ethel forth they went,Forth they went together;Thro' the rude wind's wild lamentAnd the bitter weather."Wally it is getting dark,And the wind blows stronger;Fails my heart, I fear to bark,I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, good my page;Tread thou in them boldly:Thou shalt find the winter's rageFreeze thy blood less coldly."
In her master's steps she trod,Where the snow lay dinted
In her master's steps she trod,Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, all ye dogs, be sure,Wealth or rank possessing,Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.
Just in time....
Awwww....poor dog. (this post was in the drafts....I had made it back a couple of years ago when I was visiting England during the "big storm". Lots of flooding. Don't quite know "why" it didn't publish at the time, but hey, the new blogger seems to be very forgiving, and so I figured I would publish it now!)
horses brought to higher ground.
nice little high street.
Just in case you cant see the water, maybe you can read the sign...
The 'Swan" at Upton.The Marina I was on just before Christmas is apparently flooded. Any part of the Midlands not frozen solid in minus 15 degree temperatures is under water.
Working at Valve
Cerelian Bill wished he was smart enough to work at Valve.
Yeah, the guys who created "half life" and "portal". (and if you don't know what they are, well....google is your friend!)
Modest son of a gun! I think anyone "could" work at Valve, but it would take a VERY difficult fusion of flakey artist and hard headed business man. Because the nature of the company is that everybody does it all....and there is NO top down direction. Basically the business model of the VERY successful game design corporation throws it all on the guys in the trenches.
Go ahead and waste fifteen minutes reading the book you get when you join Valve. Makes me seriously think about changing the business model on MY business....um....on second thought the only thing which would make sense would be to immediately fire ME.
http://media.steampowered.com/apps/valve/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf
Yeah, the guys who created "half life" and "portal". (and if you don't know what they are, well....google is your friend!)
Modest son of a gun! I think anyone "could" work at Valve, but it would take a VERY difficult fusion of flakey artist and hard headed business man. Because the nature of the company is that everybody does it all....and there is NO top down direction. Basically the business model of the VERY successful game design corporation throws it all on the guys in the trenches.
Go ahead and waste fifteen minutes reading the book you get when you join Valve. Makes me seriously think about changing the business model on MY business....um....on second thought the only thing which would make sense would be to immediately fire ME.
http://media.steampowered.com/apps/valve/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The eyes have it
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