smokerblog

Falcon Watch

The Kodak Birdcam is up and running and Rochester's celebrity peregrine falcons, Kaver and Mariah, have laid their first egg of the season.

Learn a Totally Useless Language

Even more internet time wasting:

After about eight rounds of this language game, I decided my time would be better spent digging around in the attic for my old Latin 101 textbook.

Jazz Concerts Sprouting Up

Ahhh, the weather today conjures up thoughts of spring, which conjure up thoughts of summer, which conjure up thoughts of summer festivals, which conjure up thoughts of the Rochester International Jazz Festival (June 10-18).

The official site hasn't announced the lineup yet, but it appears that they are starting to fill in some of the dates. Thanks to the City Newspaper and others, a few of the bookings (including some headliners) have leaked out:

• Paula West - June 10
• Juana Molina - June 11
• The Bad Plus - June 13
• Strunz & Farah - June 14
• Madeleine Peyroux - June 17
• John Scofield - June 18
• Derek Trucks Band - June 18

So but already I'm making plans and checking out the more unfamiliar of the artists listed. With more than 100 shows to choose from, I'd better start doing the research now. The Bad Plus and John Scofield are must sees, the only problem with the latter being that I may miss out on the Derek Trucks Band.

Transparent Monitor

More internet time wasting. Here's my quick take on the transparent monitor phenomena:

(via kottke)

What the Internet is Good For

Time wasting, mainly. Check out these new primo time wasters:

First there is one of those hideously simple, entirely mesmerizing, thinking-type games.

Then, there is something to get your old-skool, arcade-style, hand-eye coordination back into shape. For fans of Homestar Runner, here's a Mario-Bros-like game featuring Stink-o-man.

Plus also, Ted's floating balloon game.

Remember to blink.

Applause Sign

Ted's comments to my previous post about applauding between movements of a live classical performance deserve a new post for my response:

...there are definitely times when it seems right to applaud between movements. The problem is the rest of the time. A lot of movements are intended to transition smoothly to the next movement with just a breath of a pause between. Kinda like the way the Panther desktop spins around when switching user accounts. shuffle in your seat, glance at your watch, lets move on.

True, but it seems that the audience should be able to distinguish between the two. Between the movements of Elgar's Suite from "The Wand of Youth," it was all I could do to sit on my hand and resist the temptation. I felt like Roger Rabbit listening to someone tap out the rhythm of "shave and a haircut..."

I'll have to admit, I've often wondered what would happen if there was no applause during an entire performance. Just let the music be the music and the experience be experienced. A Walt Whitmanesque cleansing of the soul. Sometimes, the most breathtaking part of a performance is the 3 or 4 heartbeats after a beautiful decrescendo, and the musicians, audience, ushers, etc.. are as one, unwilling to break the silence engulfing the concert-hall. mmm... Shostakovich

Yup, agree with a slight addendum. At the finish of the past weekend's performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17, conductor Christopher Seaman held his arms in the air for those 3 or 4 heartbeats, and slowly, as his hands fell, the applause welled up from the audience. That welling up of appreciation can be just as thrilling as the silence itself, IMHO.

When considering the heirarchy of people in charge of a performance - conductor, musicians union, musicians, and oh yeah the composer - the last person those people want determining the pacing of a concert is the audience member.

Here, I disagree. A live performance (of any kind) assumes the presence of the audience and each form of live performance has its own conventions for audience etiquette. Some sports, such as tennis or golf, ask for silence from the audience during play, but expect applause after an outstanding shot. In the theater, applauding the first appearance of the star actors/actresses is appreciated. Each form of live music has its own expectation, from slam-dancing to polite clapping after a solo.

The key consideration is that the artists are there to entertain. Of course, a certain amount of respect from the audience is a good thing (no heckling the conductor), but it shouldn't be forgotten that the audience is paying the bills. Plus, much of the thrill of live music lies in the interaction between performer and audience. I think a polite show of appreciation by the audience (when appropriate) only strengthens the bond between the performers and the audience; otherwise, the musicians might as well be cutting a record.

I haven't done much research on the subject, but I conjecture that it is a relatively recent trend for the audience to be under tight restraint lest the music be spoiled. According to the highly critical and scholarly "Amadeus" movie, this was apparently not the case. Perhaps it is a reaction against the trend of the earlier half of the twentieth century in which a concert wasn't really worth going to if there wasn't a riot during and immediately proceeding the performance. George Antheil once subdued his unruly audience by barring the doors and placing a pistol on the piano.

This gives me a chance to fix the broken link in my last post that was supposed to have pointed to Alex Ross's history of applause between movements, where he does indeed discuss Mozart's craving for applause. As far as determining why people stopped applauding, it turns out that (as so often is the case) Wagner is to blame. And Leopold Stokowski.

So but anyway, it's true that ill-timed applause can indeed be oppressive or embarrassing. As i said before, it seems like the audience should be able to discern when applause is appropriate and when it is not, especially an audience as well musically educated as most philharmonic audiences generally are. Also, a less stodgy atmosphere would also be more welcoming to the casual concertgoer. I'm not suggesting that we start handing out free tickets to Limp Bizkit fans, but classical music performances are generally in desperate need of attracting a younger, more diverse audience.

Please (Don't) Hold Your Applause

Last night we went with friends Gary and Lori to see the RPO perform a program titled "Grace and Triumph." The program consisted of Elgar's Suite from "The Wand of Youth," Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17, and Walton's Symphony No. 1.

I really enjoyed the Elgar and the Walton, neither of which I had heard before. The Walton was particularly interesting. It could probably be described as overblown or bombastic by its detractors (let's just say the performers earned their money last night), but I found it envigorating. It's hard not to have an opinion one way or the other about a piece in which one movement is marked for a presto, con malizia¹ tempo.

In fact, the only problem I had with the concert was the grumpy-pants couple sitting two rows in front of us. Kari and Lori whispered excitedly to each other at a couple points during the performance and drew glaring disapproval from the couple. They seemed more interested in turning around to stare down any rustling of programs, cleared throats, or whispered voices than in actually enjoying the concert.

But maybe I was just especially attuned to the stuffy atmosphere of the concert hall. I've recently read some of Alex Ross's comments on lack of applause between movements of live classical performances. The tense, restrained silence that washes over the audience when the music stops was particularly noticable during the Elgar piece where each movement seemed specifically constructed to end in a ta-da! The music practically begged for applause.

This attitude is bothersome to me (but of course I didn't want to stand out by applauding). Many jazz fans are just as serious about their music as the most devoted classical music fans, but the audience is a much more willing to share their appreciation. So what gives?

I'm not convinced that this insular attitude of classical music audiences is entirely responsible for the decline of popular interest in the music--jazz clubs aren't exactly overflowing these days. On the other hand, a more enthusiastic attitude could go a long way to helping convert the casual concertgoer into a regular concertgoer.

Orange Crushed

The wise Syracuse fans were right to be afraid of Vermont. But man, that was an ugly game for a while: 41 total turnovers, both teams shot below 40%, McNamara was held to two points in the first half and four points with less than six minutes to play before hitting his only 3-pointer.

Give credit to Vermont for making the shots when they counted, especially Germain Mopa Njila, who would have iced the game in regular time if he were only a couple of shoe sizes smaller, having twice (three times?) stepped on the baseline while driving for a layup.

Oh, and why, as soon as they had built up a two point lead, did Boeheim wave his players off of the the highly effective full court press at the end of regulation? This is just further evidence for my vaguely substanstiated claim that Boeheim is the worst coach ever to have won an NCAA tournament.

What has to be the worst call of the tournament so far: the technical foul called on Terrence Roberts for hanging on the rim. Turns out those two points could have won the game for Syracuse. It almost make you want to feel sorry for the Orange.

But not quite.

We're Gonna Pump (*Clap*) You Up

So politicians expressed moral outrage, Frank Thomas demonstrated the wonders of technology, Mark McGwire cried then pleaded the Fifth, Jose Canseco plugged his book, and League officials got all huffily defensive. Everyone was very careful to express sympathy for the parents of the teenage victims of steroid use, but whether anything will be accomplished that will actually prevent future tragedies remains to be seen.

There will be an outcry for Federal standards on drug testing across all sports and at all levels of competition, professional and amateur. BALCO-like dealers will continue to create alternatives to the illegal drugs, and billions of dollars will be spent arguing over where to draw the line between legal "supplements" and illegal "enhancements." More kids will die, coaches and parents will be left unaccountable, and sales of Barry Bonds memoribilia will continue. There will be plenty of opportunity for further grandstanding debate.

But in the meantime, enjoy the March Madness.

Now Testifying: Hans und Franz

Next in my series of ABC shows that had me yelling at the tv screen:

George Stephanopolous¹ seems to be bringing Sam Donaldson back to This Week's roundtable for the sole purpose of flapping the unflappable George Will. Donaldson's self-righteous puffery over the steroid hearings had me squirming in my seat. And you could almost see the steam coming out of George Will's ears.

So today the House Government Reform Comittee has been holding hearings that have nothing to do with Government Reform.

Will, in his curmudgeonly sarcastic way, sums it all up pretty well:

The committee has discovered that its duties include informing all Americans, and especially children, that dangerous and illegal behavior is dangerous and illegal. So the committee has subpoenaed some baseball and players association officials and some current and retired players, including Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Committee staffers say it has not subpoenaed Barry Bonds because his presence might make the hearing a media circus. Heaven forfend.

Now, I do not endorse the use of steroids. Steroids are just as damaging in their effects as are many other illegal drugs. So then why aren't they treated like other drugs? Well, because home run record holder Barry Bonds takes them,² that's why.

If the league, law enforcement, and the fans would treat these guys the same way they treat crack dealers, we wouldn't need the Congressional grandstanding hearings.

I'll Give You a Break...

Totally on board with Hillary on this one.

This past weekend's "Give Me A Break" segment on modern art really got under my skin (as per usual). In it, John Stossel is right to criticize art collectors and critics who seek to insulate their world from the unwashed masses. He lines up reproductions of work made by established artists next to finger-paintings by four-yr-olds and thrift store leftovers. Then he puts the black-turtleneck crowd on camera and, predictably, they proceed to make fools of themselves.

So but it was so obvious that his choices were set up to produce this result. The modern art pieces were the typical post-modern pieces, shown here outside of the context in which they were created. The thrift store piece evoked the well-known pop art of Andy Warhol. Plus, I have to say, the finger-painting they selected was really cool.

So why not just call it all art? Instead of denigrating modern art as a thing that mere four-yr-olds can produce, why not celebrate art when you see it? Why not spend two minutes of broadcast time actually listening to an artist explain what is so cool about the finger-painting instead of simply making an idiot out of him after the fact? Why not try to convince the art history drone that maybe she should rethink her assumptions about the inaccessibility of art?

This is just further evidence that I'm turning into my dad. I have clear childhood memories of seeing my dad get all flustered-grumpy while watching Sunday-football-delayed 60 Minutes. For my dad, it was Mike Wallace. For me, John Stossel is the man who makes me want to throw things at the tv.

Oo! oo!

On the way home from work tonight, I saw two billboards for this.

Brian Travolta? (Brian?) Horshack?! What the...?

Squinting at the fine print, I learn that it's a charity event. Oh. Well that's okay then.

UPDATE:

I got a picture of the billboard on the way home from work tonight.

Good Vibrations

Through brother Ted¹, I've been learning a little about early electronic music. And no, that doesn't mean Kraftwerk. I'm talking about those who pioneered the science of making sound using electronics, including Leon Theremin, who invented the first fully electronic instrument (named after its creator).

Here are some examples:
le Cygne - Camille St Saens, via thereminvox.com,
Fragile Wings - Sting, performed by Carolina Eyck
Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair, performed by Bud Averill
and all kinds of good stuff here: Peter Pringles' samples

It seems that the art of the theremin is still alive and well. And now, according to marginalia.org, you can get your own gorgeous theremin for a very cool $1,500. Or if you aren't turned on by the wooden case and buttons, there is a basic version for $400.

Buy one and make your own Star Trek sounds effects.

Overheard on Flight 855

She: dressed in black, with her black hair pulled back tightly against her skull, and wearing round, oversized, black-frame designer glasses, lenses tinted a frosty blue. He: tallish, white hair cropped in a way that is usually described as distinguished, and wearing tailored, gray slacks with a cashmere navy blue sweater over a checked button-down shirt. Both: late fifties or early sixties, a whiff of early retirement is detectable.

They must have been returning home from a wedding or reunion of some kind. Three separate mini-conversations are recorded here in full.

She: Did you meet Bill's wife?
He: Who?
She: Bill's wife, did she stop by to say hi?
He: Oh, yes. She offered me a warm greeting.
She: Yes, I know. A very warm greeting.
--
She: I've led a very interesting life, don't you think?
He: Why, yes.
She: If you think of all the things I was able to do at a young age...
[long pause]
She: Rhonda, you know, what has she done that she can point to? What does her life amount to?
He: Not much, I guess.
She: That's what I thought.
He: [mumbles something condescending]
--
(The captain has announced our imminent arrival.)
She: So when he turns off the seatbelt light, you hold these two things while I put on my coat.
He: Okay.
She: Because, I need to put my coat on and I can't hold these at the same time.
He: Yes.
She: If you want to put this on the seat, instead of holding it, you could help me with my coat.
He: Okay.
She: But you're going to have to take care of these two things while I put my coat on.
He: Okay.
She: If you help me with my coat, make sure to help me. You never sweep the coat around so I can put my arm in it, you always just hold it there, maybe you could help me with the coat this time.
He: Okay.
She: We're landing now, get ready.
He: Yes.

Visualizing Music

I'm not sure what I "picture" in my mind when I'm listening to music (actively listening, not just hearing it in the background). But thanks to this animation by Michal Levy, I do know that I won't be able to listen to John Coltrane's Giant Steps in quite the same way.

For additional insight, Iain Houston has this neat little visual explanation of the same piece.

The Secret Life of Cows

According to research done at Cambridge and Bristol University, cows are smarter than we thought. Also, they're gay.

Webster and his colleagues have documented how cows within a herd form smaller friendship groups of between two and four animals with whom they spend most of their time, often grooming and licking each other. They will also dislike other cows and can bear grudges for months or years.

Having grown up on a dairy farm, I have witnessed this kind of behavior. Individual cows can have distinctive personalities (bovialities?). Some are docile, some skittish, some belligerent, etc. They do tend to "hang out" together in small groups and I have seen individual cows who don't seem to like each other.

I can buy the use of terms like "friendship groups" or the idea of cows who hold "grudges," so but here we go:

Dairy cow herds can also be intensely sexual. Webster describes how the cows become excited when one of the herd comes into heat and start trying to mount her. “Cows look calm, but really they are gay nymphomaniacs,” he said.

Oh my. That's taking it too far. In the fifteen years that I've spent working with cows, I've never witnessed any behavior that was "intensely sexual." Yes, cows will mount each other when in heat, but nymphomaniancs? Gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that...