- WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY
- ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON, WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NO LONGER IN EFFECT
- WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING
Technorati tags: birds
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Birds
Temperature 24°F
Technorati tags: birds
Technorati tags: birds
Just because you can doesn't mean you should
Robot plays Coltrane
Here we have a creepo, many-fingered Japanese robot playing John Coltrane's solo from "Giant Steps." Sure, he's got the chops, but just doesn't seem to capture the emotion of the piece. After the robots dominate the human race will they torture us with such lifeless renditions of all our once-sacred tunes?
Technorati tags: Coltrane, robots
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Playlist, February 11, 2007
Set One
Grateful Dead; Weather Report Suite; Dick's Picks 14 (1999 Grateful Dead Productions)
Renaissance; Things I Don't Understand; Turn of the Cards (1974 Sire)
Dar Williams; Comfortably Numb; My Better Self (2005 Razor & Tie)
Bethany & Rufus; Samson and Delilah; 900 Miles (2006 Hyena)
Coinrag Herwig; Seven Steps to Heaven; Sketches of Spain y Mas (2006 Half Note)
[mic break 10:57 a.m.]
Set Two
Dave Holland Big Band; Happy Jammy; Overtime (2005 Dare2)
Eliane Elias; Nostalgia in Times Square; Everything I Love (2000 Blue Note)
The Persuasions; Ain't No Sunshine; A Cappella Dreams (2003 Chesky)
Ellas Fitzgerald; Night and Day; The Cole Porter Songbook vol. 2 (1984 Polygram)
Bob Dylan; Rainy Day Women #12 & 35; The Best of (2005 Columbia)
Dr. John; It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Tonty DeSare; Kiss; Last First Kiss (2007 Telarc)
Lou Lanza; Break On Through; Opening Doors (2004)
[mic break 11:44 a.m.]
Set Three
West Montgomery; Twisted Blues; Impressions of Paris (2000 Recall)
Jackie McLean; I Can't Get Started With You; Nature Boy (2000 Blue Note)
Coleman Hawkins; April in Paris;
Chick Corea; Tones for Joan's Bones; The Best Of (1993 Blue Note)
Hendrick Meurkens; I Can't Get Started With You; New York Samba Jazz Quintet (2007 Zoho)
[mic break 12:26 p.m.]
Set Four
Vic Juris; Dancing Shadows; Blue Horizon (2004 Zoho)
David Hazeltine; Somewhere; Modern Standards (2005 Sharp Nine)
Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle; The Blame Game; Battery Milk (2007 Hyena Records)
Dr. John; Caravan; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Mike LeDonne; Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?; Mike LeDonne
Sonny Stitt; You Are The Sunshine of My Life; Work Done (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 1:23 p.m.]
Set Five
JC and the Jazz Hoppers; Our Delight; Chillin' at Home (2007Jazz-Hop)
Easy Star All-Stars; The Great Gig in the Sky; Dub Side of the Moon (2003 Easy Star)
Mothers of Invention; What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?; We're Only In It for the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Stravinsky; The Augurs of Spring: Dance of the Young Girls (Le Sacre du Printemps); Michael Tilson Thomas/Sanfrancisco Symphony
Frank Zappa; Reagan at Bitburg; Civilization Phaze III (1993 Barking Pumpkin)
Grateful Dead; Stella Blue; Dick's Picks 14 (1999 Grateful Dead Productions)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Grateful Dead; Weather Report Suite; Dick's Picks 14 (1999 Grateful Dead Productions)
Renaissance; Things I Don't Understand; Turn of the Cards (1974 Sire)
Dar Williams; Comfortably Numb; My Better Self (2005 Razor & Tie)
Bethany & Rufus; Samson and Delilah; 900 Miles (2006 Hyena)
Coinrag Herwig; Seven Steps to Heaven; Sketches of Spain y Mas (2006 Half Note)
[mic break 10:57 a.m.]
Set Two
Dave Holland Big Band; Happy Jammy; Overtime (2005 Dare2)
Eliane Elias; Nostalgia in Times Square; Everything I Love (2000 Blue Note)
The Persuasions; Ain't No Sunshine; A Cappella Dreams (2003 Chesky)
Ellas Fitzgerald; Night and Day; The Cole Porter Songbook vol. 2 (1984 Polygram)
Bob Dylan; Rainy Day Women #12 & 35; The Best of (2005 Columbia)
Dr. John; It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Tonty DeSare; Kiss; Last First Kiss (2007 Telarc)
Lou Lanza; Break On Through; Opening Doors (2004)
[mic break 11:44 a.m.]
Set Three
West Montgomery; Twisted Blues; Impressions of Paris (2000 Recall)
Jackie McLean; I Can't Get Started With You; Nature Boy (2000 Blue Note)
Coleman Hawkins; April in Paris;
Chick Corea; Tones for Joan's Bones; The Best Of (1993 Blue Note)
Hendrick Meurkens; I Can't Get Started With You; New York Samba Jazz Quintet (2007 Zoho)
[mic break 12:26 p.m.]
Set Four
Vic Juris; Dancing Shadows; Blue Horizon (2004 Zoho)
David Hazeltine; Somewhere; Modern Standards (2005 Sharp Nine)
Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle; The Blame Game; Battery Milk (2007 Hyena Records)
Dr. John; Caravan; Duke Elegant (2000 Blue Note)
Mike LeDonne; Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?; Mike LeDonne
Sonny Stitt; You Are The Sunshine of My Life; Work Done (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 1:23 p.m.]
Set Five
JC and the Jazz Hoppers; Our Delight; Chillin' at Home (2007Jazz-Hop)
Easy Star All-Stars; The Great Gig in the Sky; Dub Side of the Moon (2003 Easy Star)
Mothers of Invention; What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?; We're Only In It for the Money (1995 Rykodisc)
Stravinsky; The Augurs of Spring: Dance of the Young Girls (Le Sacre du Printemps); Michael Tilson Thomas/Sanfrancisco Symphony
Frank Zappa; Reagan at Bitburg; Civilization Phaze III (1993 Barking Pumpkin)
Grateful Dead; Stella Blue; Dick's Picks 14 (1999 Grateful Dead Productions)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Birds
Temperature: 16°F
I have one starling picking relentlessly at the suet today. These guys can make short work of a suet cake when they get together. He has a bright yellow bill, but some spotting on his plumage. It's hard to tell if he's breeding or not.
It's not quite 55°F in my basement office, and I am going to have to abandon it for upstairs where it's warmer. It's just too hard to type down here.
Technorati tags: birds, starling
I have one starling picking relentlessly at the suet today. These guys can make short work of a suet cake when they get together. He has a bright yellow bill, but some spotting on his plumage. It's hard to tell if he's breeding or not.
It's not quite 55°F in my basement office, and I am going to have to abandon it for upstairs where it's warmer. It's just too hard to type down here.
Technorati tags: birds, starling
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Playlist, February 4, 2007
Set One
Sonny Stitt; How High the Moon; It's Magic (2006 Delmark)
Daniel Smith; Sister Sadie; Bebop Bassoon (2006 Guild)
Michael Rabinowitz; Star Eyes; Bassoon on Fire (1995 Cats Paw)
Woody Shaw; Bye Bye Blackbird; Live Volume Four (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 10:34 a.m.]
Set Two
Cedar Walton; Skylark; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
Cedar Walton; Every Time We Say Goodbye; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
Cedar Walton; On Green Dolphin Street; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 10:57 a.m.]
Set Three
Paquito D'Rivera; A Night in Tunisia; The Jazz Chamber Trio (2005 Chesky)
Clarinet Summit; Perdido; Southern Bells (1987 Black Saint)
Eric Dolphy; Densities; Vintage (1994 GM Recordings)
Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray; One World Family; We Is (2004 Delmark)
Benny Goodman; I Got Rhythm; Live at Carnegie Hall (1938/1988 Columbia)
Benny Goodman; I Got Rhythm; Live at Carnegie Hall (1938/1988 Columbia)
Duke Ellington; Red Shoes; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
Duke Ellington; Red Carpet Part 1; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
David Murray Latin Big Band; Blue Muse; Now Is Another Time (2003 Justin Time)
[mic break 11:51 a.m.]
Set Four
Dave Valentin; Easy Street; Come Fly With Me (2006 Highnote)
Hubert Laws; Windows/Fire and Rain; At Carnegie Hall (1973 CTI)
Yusef Lateef; Love Theme from The Robe; Eastern Sounds (1961 Prestige)
Yusef Lateef; The Three Faced of Balal; Eastern Sounds (1961 Prestige)
The Jazz Crusaders; Latin Bit; The Young Rabbits (1975 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:31 a.m.]
Set Five
Steve Turre; My Funny Valentine; Keep Searchin' (2006 Highnote)
The Jazz Crusaders; Congolese Sermon; The Best Of (1993 Capitol)
New Yorkestra Big Band; One Finger Snap; Urban Soundscapes (2002 Sea Breeze)
The Brecker Brothers; Dream Theme; Collection Volume One (1990 BMG)
Flat Earth Society; Anthem 2004; Psycho Scout (2006 Rykodisc)
Michael Murray; Prelude in C major ("Fanfare"), BWV 531 (J.S. Bach); Bach Organ Blaster (1995 Telarc)
Radam Schwartz; Serenade In Blue; Conspiracy for Positivity (2004 Blue Ark)
University of Kentucky Mega-Sax; It's Lovely Once You're In; Full English Mower (2004 Sea Breeze)
McNeely/Sill/Spencer; Ernie Banks; Boneyard (2007 Origin)
[mic break 1:23 p.m.]
Set Six
Groove Holmes; Minor Inconvenience; Blues All Day Long (1989 Muse)
Duke Ellington; Tymperturbably Blue; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
Brian Melvin Trio; Tokyo Blues; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
Pat Metheny; Sirabhorn; Bright Size Life (1976 ECM)
Frank Zappa; RDNZL; You Can't Do That On Stage Any More, vol. 2 (1988 Rykodisc)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Sonny Stitt; How High the Moon; It's Magic (2006 Delmark)
Daniel Smith; Sister Sadie; Bebop Bassoon (2006 Guild)
Michael Rabinowitz; Star Eyes; Bassoon on Fire (1995 Cats Paw)
Woody Shaw; Bye Bye Blackbird; Live Volume Four (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 10:34 a.m.]
Set Two
Cedar Walton; Skylark; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
Cedar Walton; Every Time We Say Goodbye; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
Cedar Walton; On Green Dolphin Street; Underground Memoirs (2005 Highnote)
[mic break 10:57 a.m.]
Set Three
Paquito D'Rivera; A Night in Tunisia; The Jazz Chamber Trio (2005 Chesky)
Clarinet Summit; Perdido; Southern Bells (1987 Black Saint)
Eric Dolphy; Densities; Vintage (1994 GM Recordings)
Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray; One World Family; We Is (2004 Delmark)
Benny Goodman; I Got Rhythm; Live at Carnegie Hall (1938/1988 Columbia)
Benny Goodman; I Got Rhythm; Live at Carnegie Hall (1938/1988 Columbia)
Duke Ellington; Red Shoes; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
Duke Ellington; Red Carpet Part 1; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
David Murray Latin Big Band; Blue Muse; Now Is Another Time (2003 Justin Time)
[mic break 11:51 a.m.]
Set Four
Dave Valentin; Easy Street; Come Fly With Me (2006 Highnote)
Hubert Laws; Windows/Fire and Rain; At Carnegie Hall (1973 CTI)
Yusef Lateef; Love Theme from The Robe; Eastern Sounds (1961 Prestige)
Yusef Lateef; The Three Faced of Balal; Eastern Sounds (1961 Prestige)
The Jazz Crusaders; Latin Bit; The Young Rabbits (1975 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:31 a.m.]
Set Five
Steve Turre; My Funny Valentine; Keep Searchin' (2006 Highnote)
The Jazz Crusaders; Congolese Sermon; The Best Of (1993 Capitol)
New Yorkestra Big Band; One Finger Snap; Urban Soundscapes (2002 Sea Breeze)
The Brecker Brothers; Dream Theme; Collection Volume One (1990 BMG)
Flat Earth Society; Anthem 2004; Psycho Scout (2006 Rykodisc)
Michael Murray; Prelude in C major ("Fanfare"), BWV 531 (J.S. Bach); Bach Organ Blaster (1995 Telarc)
Radam Schwartz; Serenade In Blue; Conspiracy for Positivity (2004 Blue Ark)
University of Kentucky Mega-Sax; It's Lovely Once You're In; Full English Mower (2004 Sea Breeze)
McNeely/Sill/Spencer; Ernie Banks; Boneyard (2007 Origin)
[mic break 1:23 p.m.]
Set Six
Groove Holmes; Minor Inconvenience; Blues All Day Long (1989 Muse)
Duke Ellington; Tymperturbably Blue; Jazz Party (1959/1988 Columbia)
Brian Melvin Trio; Tokyo Blues; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
Pat Metheny; Sirabhorn; Bright Size Life (1976 ECM)
Frank Zappa; RDNZL; You Can't Do That On Stage Any More, vol. 2 (1988 Rykodisc)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Friday, February 02, 2007
Yum-o!
I'm concerned about what my children eat for snacks.
Exhibit A: Oreo Snack Packs. Exhibit B: Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo.
Separated at birth? You decide.
Technorati tags: Mr. Hankey, Oreos
Exhibit A: Oreo Snack Packs. Exhibit B: Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo.
Separated at birth? You decide.
Technorati tags: Mr. Hankey, Oreos
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Upstairs, Downstairs
They're all rattus norvegicus, but there is a world of difference between the two.
Upstairs, they are pets. We call them fancy rats; hooded, masked, Berkshire, with or without "dumbo" ears. They come in white with dark hoods, beige, fawn, silver and brown. We hold them and walk around with them on our shoulders.
Downstairs, they are pests. Their color is agouti brown. It's a hard-knock life, but they are infinitely skilled and resourceful. They tunnel into crawlspaces and push through hardware cloth. Block one hole and they emerge from three more. They are especially fond of ramen noodles.
I have company in my basement. As I type in my office, I hear a critter happily rustling among cartons that should be cleared out. I have considered poisoning it, but I did that in November--with predictably unhappy results. (When you have a cluttered basement, you really don't want a dead rat.) Eventually I will have to call in the Neutocrete guys to seal the crawlspace--probably the only thing that will keep the downstairs critters out.
Meanwhile, I have my respectable upstairs rats to play with.
Technorati tags: rats
Upstairs, they are pets. We call them fancy rats; hooded, masked, Berkshire, with or without "dumbo" ears. They come in white with dark hoods, beige, fawn, silver and brown. We hold them and walk around with them on our shoulders.
Downstairs, they are pests. Their color is agouti brown. It's a hard-knock life, but they are infinitely skilled and resourceful. They tunnel into crawlspaces and push through hardware cloth. Block one hole and they emerge from three more. They are especially fond of ramen noodles.
I have company in my basement. As I type in my office, I hear a critter happily rustling among cartons that should be cleared out. I have considered poisoning it, but I did that in November--with predictably unhappy results. (When you have a cluttered basement, you really don't want a dead rat.) Eventually I will have to call in the Neutocrete guys to seal the crawlspace--probably the only thing that will keep the downstairs critters out.
Meanwhile, I have my respectable upstairs rats to play with.
Technorati tags: rats
Birds
Temperature: 30°F
I broke the plastic hook for my window feeder trying to move it from inside the house. I was able to replace it with the hook from one of the thistle feeders, which hasn't seen any action lately. There is still one thistle feeder up outside the kitchen in case we get little yellow visitors.
I had a dentist appointment on Monday with Dr. Richard Epstein (Sometimes Classical, 2nd, 4th & 5th Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.). His office looks out over a large garden with plenty of feeders, including a window feeder in the room where I was. It was better than television, except maybe 24.
I broke the plastic hook for my window feeder trying to move it from inside the house. I was able to replace it with the hook from one of the thistle feeders, which hasn't seen any action lately. There is still one thistle feeder up outside the kitchen in case we get little yellow visitors.
I had a dentist appointment on Monday with Dr. Richard Epstein (Sometimes Classical, 2nd, 4th & 5th Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.). His office looks out over a large garden with plenty of feeders, including a window feeder in the room where I was. It was better than television, except maybe 24.
Technorati tags: WPKN, birds
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Playlist, January 28, 2007
Set One
Pat Metheny; It's For You; Works (1994 ECM)
Weather Report; A Remark You Made; Heavy Weather (1977 Columbia)
Steely Dan; Reelin' in the Years; Alive in America (1995 Giant)
Eyal Maoz; Chita; Edom (2006 Tzadik)
Reuben Wilson; Slick Willie; Movin' On (2006 Savant)
[mic break 10:36 a.m.]
Set Two
Miles Davis; Four; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Miles Davis; Seven Steps to Heaven; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Woody Shaw; Rashaan's Run; Live Volume Two (2001 Highnote)
Steve Turre; Sanyas; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
Al Grey; Lester Leaps In; Bewitched (1995 Telarc)
Al Grey; Centerpiece; Centerpiece (1995 Telarc)
[mic break 11:30 a.m.]
Set Three
Sai Ghose Quartet; Little B's Poem; New Blood (2006 Summit)
Matt Wilson; Little B's Poem; The Scenie Route (2007 Palmetto)
Larry Coryell; Little B's Poem; Tributaries (1989 Novus)
Various; Little B's Poem; One Night With Blue Note Preserved (Volume 1) (1985 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:02 p.m.]
Set Four
Mathias Lupri Group; Wondering & Wandering; Metalix (2006 Summit)
Mathias Lupri Group; (another) Lost Creek; Metalix (2006 Summit)
Gong; Shadows Of; Expresso (1976 Virgin)
Ed Mann; One of Us; Perfect World (1990 CMP)
Andy Summers; Passion of the Shadow; Charming Snakes (1990 Private)
Frank Zappa; Sinister Footwear 2nd Movement; Make A Jazz Noise Here (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; Echindna's Arf>Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?: You Can't Do That On Stage Any More Vol. 2 (1988 Rykodisc)
M'Boom; Caravanserai; Live at S.O.B.'s-New York (1992 Max Roach Productions)
Red Norvo Quintet; When You're Smiling; The Forward Look (1991 Reference)
[mic break 1:05 p.m.]
Set Five
Jim McNeely; Speak Low; Boneyard (2007 Origin)
The Bill Melvin Trio; Morning Star; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
The Bill Melvin Trio; So What; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
Miles Davis; So What; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio; Pennies From Heaven; Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio (1959 Verve)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Pat Metheny; It's For You; Works (1994 ECM)
Weather Report; A Remark You Made; Heavy Weather (1977 Columbia)
Steely Dan; Reelin' in the Years; Alive in America (1995 Giant)
Eyal Maoz; Chita; Edom (2006 Tzadik)
Reuben Wilson; Slick Willie; Movin' On (2006 Savant)
[mic break 10:36 a.m.]
Set Two
Miles Davis; Four; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Miles Davis; Seven Steps to Heaven; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Woody Shaw; Rashaan's Run; Live Volume Two (2001 Highnote)
Steve Turre; Sanyas; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
Al Grey; Lester Leaps In; Bewitched (1995 Telarc)
Al Grey; Centerpiece; Centerpiece (1995 Telarc)
[mic break 11:30 a.m.]
Set Three
Sai Ghose Quartet; Little B's Poem; New Blood (2006 Summit)
Matt Wilson; Little B's Poem; The Scenie Route (2007 Palmetto)
Larry Coryell; Little B's Poem; Tributaries (1989 Novus)
Various; Little B's Poem; One Night With Blue Note Preserved (Volume 1) (1985 Blue Note)
[mic break 12:02 p.m.]
Set Four
Mathias Lupri Group; Wondering & Wandering; Metalix (2006 Summit)
Mathias Lupri Group; (another) Lost Creek; Metalix (2006 Summit)
Gong; Shadows Of; Expresso (1976 Virgin)
Ed Mann; One of Us; Perfect World (1990 CMP)
Andy Summers; Passion of the Shadow; Charming Snakes (1990 Private)
Frank Zappa; Sinister Footwear 2nd Movement; Make A Jazz Noise Here (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
Frank Zappa; Echindna's Arf>Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?: You Can't Do That On Stage Any More Vol. 2 (1988 Rykodisc)
M'Boom; Caravanserai; Live at S.O.B.'s-New York (1992 Max Roach Productions)
Red Norvo Quintet; When You're Smiling; The Forward Look (1991 Reference)
[mic break 1:05 p.m.]
Set Five
Jim McNeely; Speak Low; Boneyard (2007 Origin)
The Bill Melvin Trio; Morning Star; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
The Bill Melvin Trio; So What; Standards Zone (1990 Global Pacific)
Miles Davis; So What; Four and More (1966/2005 Columbia)
Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio; Pennies From Heaven; Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio (1959 Verve)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Friday, January 26, 2007
Birds
Temperature: 8°F
Blackbirds are large and in charge again today. I noticed several cowbirds mixed in with the grackles. These hangers-on don't perch on the feeder, but wait for seeds to drop to the ground. The grackles aren't aggressive, but they are visually intimidating with their huge wings and tails. The smaller songbirds have been staying away, except for a few enterprising birds who use the window feeder along the southwest wall.
I put out a suet cake yesterday and the downy woodpeckers were very happy, except they too are intimidated by the grackles. Starlings have started coming aroound, which is a bad thing. They can wipe out an entire suet cake in a day or two.
UPDATE: He's happy.
Technorati tags: birds, woodpecker
Blackbirds are large and in charge again today. I noticed several cowbirds mixed in with the grackles. These hangers-on don't perch on the feeder, but wait for seeds to drop to the ground. The grackles aren't aggressive, but they are visually intimidating with their huge wings and tails. The smaller songbirds have been staying away, except for a few enterprising birds who use the window feeder along the southwest wall.
I put out a suet cake yesterday and the downy woodpeckers were very happy, except they too are intimidated by the grackles. Starlings have started coming aroound, which is a bad thing. They can wipe out an entire suet cake in a day or two.
UPDATE: He's happy.
Technorati tags: birds, woodpecker
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Birds
Temperature: 26°F.
There has been a lot of activity this morning as the cold front approaches. Sparrows have dominated the feeder today, with just a flash of blue-gray from one titmouse. The noise level has been higher than usual. I was surprised to see a large flock of grackles in the yard. They swarmed the feeder and circled the yard before moving on.
UPDATE: I just spotted a hawk perched in the back yard. He was over the compost and brush piles, no doubt looking for a nice, juicy rat for lunch.
Technorati tags: birds
There has been a lot of activity this morning as the cold front approaches. Sparrows have dominated the feeder today, with just a flash of blue-gray from one titmouse. The noise level has been higher than usual. I was surprised to see a large flock of grackles in the yard. They swarmed the feeder and circled the yard before moving on.
UPDATE: I just spotted a hawk perched in the back yard. He was over the compost and brush piles, no doubt looking for a nice, juicy rat for lunch.
Technorati tags: birds
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Guilty Pleasures Department
Yes, I've been watching the American Idol auditions. It's equal parts for the goof and for the hope of seeing a good singer in the rough. There have been some pleasant surprises and good laughs and unfortunate people, but nothing particularly outstanding.
First off, it's very difficult to sing anything unaccompanied and make it sound good outside the tiled cloister of the shower. Try listening to the contestants sing while tapping the beat and humming a bass line. Many of the contestants pick songs that are dependent on the arrangement to make them happen; one person's rendition of Disco Inferno just didn't have the context to make it happen.
Second, I have never been a fan of the currently in vogue style of flogging the hell out of every melodic line with grace note and labrynthine runs. A large number of contestants try to emulate this style, with the results being that everybody sounds the same and the melodies are beaten to an unrecognizable pulp.
Finally, just once, I would like somebody to get up there and sing a jazz standard. Out of the tens of thousands who enter, some contestants must do this, but if they have they never make it past the editors. It would make my night to hear somebody attempt "Night and Day" or "All of Me."
UPDATE: They did it. One of the last contestants sang "Fly Me to the Moon" and moved on to the next round. I didn't care for his singing but it was nice to hear a standard.
Technorati tags: American Idol
First off, it's very difficult to sing anything unaccompanied and make it sound good outside the tiled cloister of the shower. Try listening to the contestants sing while tapping the beat and humming a bass line. Many of the contestants pick songs that are dependent on the arrangement to make them happen; one person's rendition of Disco Inferno just didn't have the context to make it happen.
Second, I have never been a fan of the currently in vogue style of flogging the hell out of every melodic line with grace note and labrynthine runs. A large number of contestants try to emulate this style, with the results being that everybody sounds the same and the melodies are beaten to an unrecognizable pulp.
Finally, just once, I would like somebody to get up there and sing a jazz standard. Out of the tens of thousands who enter, some contestants must do this, but if they have they never make it past the editors. It would make my night to hear somebody attempt "Night and Day" or "All of Me."
UPDATE: They did it. One of the last contestants sang "Fly Me to the Moon" and moved on to the next round. I didn't care for his singing but it was nice to hear a standard.
Technorati tags: American Idol
Monday, January 22, 2007
Busy day at the feeding station
I'm not sure what caused the rush on my feeder this morning, but there were lots of visitors. Several white-breasted nuthatches and tufted titmice were at it, battling the woodpeckers. My son's favorite was the cardinal on the ground. He'd never seen a redbird before, and was captivated. When spring comes, I will have to explain that the feathered kind is good, but the bat-wielding kind is bad.
Technorati tags: birds
Technorati tags: birds
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Playlist, January 21, 2007
Set One
Bill Heid; Tsun Hun; Wet Streets (1999 Savant)
John Scofield Trio; Alfie; EnRoute (2004 Verve)
Steve Turre; Reconciliation; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
DePaul University Big Band; Juniflip; Clark Terry Express (1996 Reference)
[mic break 10:24 a.m.]
Set Two
Clark Terry/Frank Wess; Shiny Stockings; Big Band Basie (1995 Reference)
Clark Terry/Frank Wess; Jumpin' at the Woodside; Big Band Basie (1995 Reference)
The Taylor/Fidyk Big Band; Full Count; Live at Blues Alley (2006 OA2)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; G-Spot Tornado; NPR Studio 4A
McCoy Tyner Big Band; Fly With the Wind; The Turning Point (1992 Verve)
[mic break 11:00 a.m.]
Set Three
James Spaulding; Judy; Songs of Courage (1993 Muse)
Miles Davis; Frelon Brun; Filles de Kilimanjaro (1969/2002 Columbia)
Chick Corea; Concierto de Aranjuez/Span; Rendezvous in New York (2003 Stretch)
[mic break 11:31 a.m.]
Set Four (the Michael Brecker side man set)
Chick Corea; Quartet No. 2, Part 1; Rendezvous in New York (2003 Stretch)
Diana Krall; Just the Way You Are; Live in Paris (2002 Verve)
John Abercrombie; 3 East; Night (1984 ECM)
Charles Mingus; Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting; Me Myself an Eye (1979 Atlantic)
Eddie Gomez; Puccini's Walk; Discovery (1987 Columbia)
Charlie Haden; Travels; American Dreams (2002 Verve)
Pat Metheny; Every Day (I Thank You); Works (1994 ECM)
[mic break 12:38 p.m.]
Set Five
Jaco Pastorius; Liberty City; Word of Mouth (1981 Warner Bros.)
Jaco Pastorius; I Shot the Sheriff; Live in Italy (1986/1999 Jazzpoint)
Monty Alexander; Exodus; Goin' Yard (2001 Telarc)
[mic break 1:19 p.m.]
Set Six
Groove Holmes; Satin Doll; Somethin' Special (1997 Capitol)
Charles Earland; Unforgettable; Unforgettable (1992 Muse)
Shirley Scott; Sonnymoon for Two; Memorial Album (2003 Prestige)
Geoffrey Keezer; Navigating by Starlight; Falling Up (2003 MaxJazz)
Coleman Hawkins; Moonglow; The Hawk Relaxes (2006 Concord)
Ella Fitzgerald; It's Only a Paper Moon; The Best of the Concert Years (2003 Fantasy)
Frank Zappa; Sofa; The Best Band You Never Heard in Your LIfe (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Bill Heid; Tsun Hun; Wet Streets (1999 Savant)
John Scofield Trio; Alfie; EnRoute (2004 Verve)
Steve Turre; Reconciliation; Keep Searchin' (2006 HighNote)
DePaul University Big Band; Juniflip; Clark Terry Express (1996 Reference)
[mic break 10:24 a.m.]
Set Two
Clark Terry/Frank Wess; Shiny Stockings; Big Band Basie (1995 Reference)
Clark Terry/Frank Wess; Jumpin' at the Woodside; Big Band Basie (1995 Reference)
The Taylor/Fidyk Big Band; Full Count; Live at Blues Alley (2006 OA2)
The Ed Palermo Big Band; G-Spot Tornado; NPR Studio 4A
McCoy Tyner Big Band; Fly With the Wind; The Turning Point (1992 Verve)
[mic break 11:00 a.m.]
Set Three
James Spaulding; Judy; Songs of Courage (1993 Muse)
Miles Davis; Frelon Brun; Filles de Kilimanjaro (1969/2002 Columbia)
Chick Corea; Concierto de Aranjuez/Span; Rendezvous in New York (2003 Stretch)
[mic break 11:31 a.m.]
Set Four (the Michael Brecker side man set)
Chick Corea; Quartet No. 2, Part 1; Rendezvous in New York (2003 Stretch)
Diana Krall; Just the Way You Are; Live in Paris (2002 Verve)
John Abercrombie; 3 East; Night (1984 ECM)
Charles Mingus; Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting; Me Myself an Eye (1979 Atlantic)
Eddie Gomez; Puccini's Walk; Discovery (1987 Columbia)
Charlie Haden; Travels; American Dreams (2002 Verve)
Pat Metheny; Every Day (I Thank You); Works (1994 ECM)
[mic break 12:38 p.m.]
Set Five
Jaco Pastorius; Liberty City; Word of Mouth (1981 Warner Bros.)
Jaco Pastorius; I Shot the Sheriff; Live in Italy (1986/1999 Jazzpoint)
Monty Alexander; Exodus; Goin' Yard (2001 Telarc)
[mic break 1:19 p.m.]
Set Six
Groove Holmes; Satin Doll; Somethin' Special (1997 Capitol)
Charles Earland; Unforgettable; Unforgettable (1992 Muse)
Shirley Scott; Sonnymoon for Two; Memorial Album (2003 Prestige)
Geoffrey Keezer; Navigating by Starlight; Falling Up (2003 MaxJazz)
Coleman Hawkins; Moonglow; The Hawk Relaxes (2006 Concord)
Ella Fitzgerald; It's Only a Paper Moon; The Best of the Concert Years (2003 Fantasy)
Frank Zappa; Sofa; The Best Band You Never Heard in Your LIfe (1991 Barking Pumpkin)
[2:00 p.m.]
Technorati tags: WPKN, playlist, Morning Maniac Music, radio
Friday, January 19, 2007
Israel unfreezes $100M before summit
Israel said Friday it had paid $100 million in frozen tax funds to the Palestinians and rescinded a contentious decision for a new West Bank settlement, strengthening the hand of moderate President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of crucial weekend talks in Damascus with his Hamas rivals.In other news, Olmert announced that Israel will spend $70 million to build bomb shelters near the Gaza border.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said the payment, the first such transfer since the militant Islamic Hamas won control of the Palestinian government in March 2006, was made Thursday night.
Olmert told a group of municipal leaders he made the decision after determining six years of rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza was threatening the "inner balance" of the communities, YNetNews reported.That should come in handy with $100 million worth of rockets and mortars headed their way.
New Haven Coliseum, 1972-2007
It was a small-city arena that never hosted a major-league team. In fact, it was never completed. The New Haven Coliseum was to have had an exhibition hall and street-level stores, but ended up as a rectangular seating bowl topped by a bare-bones parking garage.
Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley performed there. Pat Benatar and Van Halen released concert DVDs from there. The Grateful Dead performed there 11 times between 1977 and 1984, and the Dick's Picks Volume 25 contains most of their 5/10/78 concert. My first Dead show was there (17-minute Uncle John's Band), as was my last Yes concert (the 90125 tour) and the second of two Zappa shows I saw in 1984 (the first Apostrophe of the tour and a nice encore including WPLJ and Sharleena).
What's left of the Coliseum--the parking structure and a small stepped hint of the seating bowl--will be imploded tomorrow morning.
UPDATE:
Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley performed there. Pat Benatar and Van Halen released concert DVDs from there. The Grateful Dead performed there 11 times between 1977 and 1984, and the Dick's Picks Volume 25 contains most of their 5/10/78 concert. My first Dead show was there (17-minute Uncle John's Band), as was my last Yes concert (the 90125 tour) and the second of two Zappa shows I saw in 1984 (the first Apostrophe of the tour and a nice encore including WPLJ and Sharleena).
What's left of the Coliseum--the parking structure and a small stepped hint of the seating bowl--will be imploded tomorrow morning.
UPDATE:
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