Author Archives: Gandalfe

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About Gandalfe

Just an itinerant saxophonist trying to find life between the changes. I have retired from the Corps of Engineers and Microsoft. I am an admin on the Woodwind Forum, run the Pacifica Big Band (formerly the Microsoft Jumpin' Jive Orchestra) and participate in other ensembles. Mostly enjoy time with family and friends.

A night out with the Woodinville Community Band

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Gandalfe

Suzy and I have been members of the Woodinville Community Band for over seven years now. I have been the sax section leader and joined the board six years ago as the Event Coordinator. Suzy has been in the clarinet … Continue reading →

Posted in Band, Clarinet, Community, Saxophone, WCB | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ben Law: The House of Straw

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Gandalfe

Eolake points to this video this week, one of his favorite Woodman videos. Ben Law lives and works at Prickly Nut Woods in West Sussex, where apart from making a living from coppicing he trains apprentices and runs courses on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Community, Politics, romantic, Video, YouTube | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Goodnight Sweet Shelby

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Gandalfe

Today our German Shepherd of 15 years passed on to dawgly heaven. She was the sweetest dog, our constant companion, friend and security guard. She lived a full and happy life, spending the last three years helping us train Amelia … Continue reading →

Posted in Dog, Health and wellness, Hobbies, Pets | Tagged | 2 Comments

Alltop’s Holy Kaw! The Hidden Costs of College

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Gandalfe

Taken from Holy Kaw! on the Alltop site: I found this very interesting because the costs they attribute are also pulled from costs that you accrue no matter what you are doing. So why is coffee added to the cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertisement, Blogosphere, Education, Everyday Science, Twitter | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Newsflash: You are not owed a Retirement

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Gandalfe

From Eolake’s blog, Who pays for the Pensions?: Many people believe that what they pay in taxes now is being saved up to pay for their pension when they grow old. S’not so,  what’s being paid now is paying for … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, In the news..., News and politics, retirement | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Saxo Beer, the Sax Man’s choice

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Gandalfe

My bass sax playing friend Helen muses: What Does A REAL Sax Player Drink? Molly, our lead sax in the Professor Gadget Sax Quartet, shoots back this link to thIs: SAXO from Brasserie Caracole is a very complex artisanal Wallonian … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertisement, Hobbies, Saxophone | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Seattle, aka the Emerald City ~ a visual postcard

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Gandalfe

Seattle… my home, picked with love from all the travels Suzy and I had while in the military. This visual postcard kinda speaks to the hidden gem that the Emerald City really is. Pssst, don’t tell anyone as there are … Continue reading →

Posted in My World, Seattle, Travel, Video, Vocalist | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spam Killer: Microsoft and Feds take down the largest Botnet in the World!

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Gandalfe

Just Tweeted: Largest Spam Network Shut Down by Microsoft and Feds! http://tinyurl.com/SpamBlowStruck Now for the rest of the story from the Official Microsoft Blog: Just over a year ago, we announced that the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), in cooperation … Continue reading →

Posted in Blog, In the news..., Microsoft, Spam | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

LA Times OpEd: Saved by the (sax’s) bell

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Gandalfe

by Daniel J. Levitin “What is it?” I asked. “Open it,” he said, “and you’ll see.” The case was like nothing I had ever seen. The outside had strong, masculine black leather all around, and brass buckles held it closed. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Your Neighborhood: Where Americans Are Moving?

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Gandalfe

Forbes provides a fascinating snapshot of what the status of movement is for anywhere in the United States in the Map: Where Americans Are Moving article. As I look at this map (more black than red) I infer that more … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, In the news..., My World, Nerds, News and politics, retirement, Statistics, United States | Tagged , , | 3 Comments