Microsoft Jazz Band does Zoot Suit Riot

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Gandalfe

imageThe MJB performed their first gig (of five per year) on Seattle’s Eastside at the Third Place Commons. Did I mention how much I love working at Microsoft? We usually have two practices before a gig and the roster rotates amongst a core of over 30 players for the 18 slots.

Last year we did the mostly Basie thing. This year it’s all about providing much needed support for swing dancers. The Eastside Swing Cats are some of our fav people and they will often show up with a cadre of dancers to jazz up the dance floor.

Soloist Bruce Gallagher and Director Ray Guyll

Our next gig will be at the North Bellevue Community Center where Alison and the Eastside Swing Cats will be hosting the annual Valentine Day’s Dance. Be there or be square.

Posted in MJB, Music, romantic, Swing Dancers, teachers, Video, Vocalist, Work Related, YouTube | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day ~ Lingerie or Chocolate?

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Gandalfe

Chocolate, jewelry and sex! Oh my!

I ran across this Bing banner to Valentine gifts today and realized it would be February this week. WTH? At the risk of sounding like an old man, really, it’s that time again?

ValentineBanner

Retailers and flower shops have worked themselves into a pink lather as they do every year around this time. I love the romance and excitement of Valentine’s Day, but navigating the gift-giving stuff is a terrifying prospect. Some years, it was just too easy. Other years, I am not always ready or up to finding that special, perfect gift. And with 35 years, gulp, of marriage to my soul mate Suzy, there have been a lot of gifts.

JaAGhardEvery woman is different and in so many ways, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt. You will know if one of these suggestions sounds promising for you and yours. But even if you don’t look like me (to the left ;O) you can have a great time with the one you love.

Chocolate

imageAlmost everyone luvs chocolate and with so many fine chocolatiers around, finding a nice box should be easy. In Seattle we look to Theo’s Chocolate. Why not take a tour of their chocolate factory.

The 3400 PHINNEY CHOCOLATE FACTORY offers public tours 7 days a week. There you will be entertained with the story of cacao, including the extraordinary transformation of the cacao fruit into what we know and love as chocolate and the social and environmental issues relating to cocoa and cocoa farmers. Best of all, you will try their amazing products during your tour experience!

PUBLIC TOURS ARE HELD DAILY
MONDAY – THURSDAY: noon, 2pm, 4pm & 5pm.
FRIDAY: 10am, noon, 2pm & 4pm.
SATURDAY – SUNDAY: 10am, 10:30am, noon, 2pm & 4pm.
Tours are $6 per person, ages 1 and older.

The tours are very popular, and are reserved on a first come, first served basis. Tours often fill up over a week ahead of time, so it is strongly recommended that you reserve in advance.

Music

If music sooths the savage beast, consider taking the love of your life to a music show on that special day. Here in Seattle examples include:

Tula’s to hear the always sultry and sexy Greta Matassa.

image

For Valentine’s Day Jazz Alley has Mindi Abair and a world-class restaurant.

image

AgentProvocateurAnd don’t forget the smaller more intimate coffee shops and restaurants that host local bands. Seattle enjoys an embarrassment of riches, but only if you plan ahead.

Lingerie

If that special someone is up for it, there is always sexy lingerie. Agent Provocateur is the premium place to go for the ultimate lingerie. Risqué, outrageous, and always sexy, this is the ultimate place to go for an unbelievable selection of lingerie. You can go cheaper, but you would be hard-pressed to do better.

I don’t remember lingerie looking like this when I was a younger man. But then, maybe I have lived a sheltered life. Live a little; take a walk on the wild side. Adding a role-playing scenario could make this the Valentine’s Day to remember.

Spontaneous Trip

Finally, if you’re up for a super-romantic trip this Valentine’s Day, consider taking a trip to Lovelock, Nevada (about 100 miles east of Reno). Couples come from all over to “lock in” their love forever by placing a lock on the never-ending chain of more than 900 locks at Lovers Lock Plaza.

The custom, according to city officials, is based on an ancient Chinese tradition — as long as the lock remains on the chain, love will endure. In addition to Lovers Lock Plaza, Lovelock boasts dozens of après-locking activities as well.

Posted in Guides, Holiday, Lingerie, Music, My World, romantic, Too Spicy for some | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Woodwind Forum: You want answers, you can’t handle answers…

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Gandalfe

imageApologies to the creators of that great line Jack Nicolson delivers in “A Few Good Men”. Where do you go to get answers for almost anything. Internet forums can be a valuable piece of your solution set. When it comes to music, I now go to the Woodwind Forum where I am an administrator. It isn’t as large a place as say the Sax on the Web (where I used to be the chief admin), but I know the people on the Woodwind Forum and I get very good response to my various music-based questions. I also try to provide support to the group so that this forum is a friendly and useful place.

I really like the mix of professionals, teachers, and amateurs on the Woodwind forum. There are also a number of music instrument historians and collectors who frequent the discussions. Because we are not the big dawg on the street (size-wise), we get fewer of the really annoying questions like:

1.What is the best sax for me to buy?

2. How can I sound like Kenny G?

3. Is there a way that I can learn music without taking lessons?

4. I just found an old, POC instrument; how much is it worth?

Arriving at any new forum can be very intimidating as you stare into the huge collection of information. So here are four quick and dirty guidelines to get you started in any forum. My examples will be drawn from the Woodwind Forum.

image

Tips and Tricks

1. Find and read the rules before you join. If you get a bad vibe, look for another forum. Here is an example of our rules:

The end-all, be-all of our rules is “be nice to each other.” There are some specific things that we want to mention, though:

  • Be respectful of each other. Remember, one has to “take offense”. If you take offense to something, ask politely for clarification. Someone might have “misspoken”. If you have a real problem and can’t settle it via PM, talk to a staff member.
  • Post in English. This isn’t because we’re English snobs, it’s because we can’t read anything else. (Well, mostly.)
  • Make an effort to use good spelling and grammar (see the above note). If you can’t read English and you’re using Google Translate or something similar, the translation will be hideous if the spelling and/or grammar is bad.
  • We recommend that you use Firefox, IE7 Pro (or better), Google Chrome or the Iron browser. All these have built in spell-checkers. You could also type your message in your favorite text processor, check it and then copy and paste it into the forum.
  • Please limit your use of slang. I’ve worked with people from all over the world and it is sometimes amusing to see the looks on their faces when I use slang, but you can’t see people here, so there’s no amusement value.

2. If you join fill out enough of your profile so that people on that forum can answer your questions and great you appropriately. Suggesting you check out a store in the US may not be especially helpful to someone in France. Here is my profile as an example:

image

3. View this humorous but enlightening video:

4. Find the Welcome topic and introduce yourself. Start slow and try to be a person who does more than just ask for help and questions.

Good luck and practice safe foruming. (Is that a word?)

Posted in Blogosphere, Community, Education, Forum, Health and wellness, Hobbies, Reference | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Seinfeld: "Jerry the Great" re-cut trailer

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Gandalfe

TRMusic sez of his video, “My fourth Seinfeld video: Jerry hatches a plot to take over the world with his side kick George. But in the end, Jerry wants to take all the spoils for himself while leaving George out to dry.

Music: “Beggars” by Thrice from the Beggars album. “Dream is Collapsing” by Hans Zimmer from the Inception OST. Thanks for watching, tell your friends! Twitter: @TRMUS1C”

See more of TRMusic…

Posted in Culture, Humor, Television, Video, YouTube | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rich Americans ask for Social Security to be cut… again.

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Gandalfe

image

I will admit to using sensationalism in my title to get you to read this post. But I suspect that IF you read it, you might be better informed for those many political conversations that you have, usually with your family and closest friends. Like the topic of sex, politics is usually off the table for discussion amongst polite people.

Just hours after President Obama said that Social Security cuts and privatization are off the table, Cantor said that Social Security had to be cut to balance the budget. But here’s the thing: Social Security does not and never has added a single dime to the federal deficit.

imageLet me try to explain this to Mr. Cantor. Social Security is paid for through the payroll tax.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? They add to the deficit. Tax breaks for billionaires? They add to the deficit. Subsidies for big oil? They add to the deficit. Bailing out Mr. Cantor’s friends on Wall Street when they make a bunch of shady deals, cause a financial crisis and almost ruin the world economy? That adds a lot to the deficit.

Simply put, Social Security will run on it’s curent balance for decades. (See report below.) The rest of the budget runs a deficit. So, why are we even talking about Social Security?

Here’s why: Eric Cantor and his right-wing friends want to destroy the program. That’s the only reason we’re having this conversation. Eric Cantor’s comments aren’t anything new. Right-wing Republicans have been trying to tear down Social Security for generations. It’s the holy grail of the right-wing.

Now Republicans are playing with fire — they’re threatening to shut down the government. They’re holding the debt ceiling hostage. They’ll do whatever it takes to put cutting Social Security on the table. But America is a community. We stand up for one another — including our seniors.

Update: My sissie sez, “Go to http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/index.html for the official report”

Posted in Community, Education, Family, Government, In the news..., Politics | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Funky, exotic sax lady

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Gandalfe

The Bassic Sax blog sez, “Today’s post is a comedic one. Marcellina, the Hungarian musician known for playing white, and more recently black saxophones, posted a video on her YouTube channel in December titled Andrea.” A tip o’ the cap to Helen for finding and sharing this.

I just find it to be exotic and very naughty. That’s okay, we like naughty here.

I bet her shows are packed. Her YouTube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/marcellina1073 where they say this about this performer:

This singer was hardly 14 years old, when she went on stage for the first time. Born a Hungarian she has certainly made a name for herself in Hungary. Eight succesful records, resp. MCs and CDs and a video cassette with the best hits and clips are convincing proof of that. She herself produced, managed and distributed two of them. Although she has only been naturalized Swiss and she can already boast plenty of international experience

Posted in Female vocalists, Music, Saxophone, Too Spicy for some, Video, Vocalist, YouTube | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

LinkedIn’s Map Dashboard

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Gandalfe

The Journal Record’s Dave Rhea sez: The new social mapping feature by LinkedIn, if nothing else, looks fascinating. I have not had a lot of time to mess with it – YET, but I will. I have signed up for it though, and I will get back to it.

I saw this story about it in the USA Today today. (Actually, yesterday’s USA Today):

“Visually stunning, InMaps may be a shiny new object to draw consumers and keep them on LinkedIn, which has about 90 million members.”

Yes! Shiny new object! I love those! Read more…

LinkedInmap2011

My list of connections is probably larger than I’d ever use. The key wasn’t included in my mapping above. Although not perfect, it is roughly:

image

Posted in In the news..., LinkedIn, Statistics | 1 Comment

Security Notice

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Gandalfe

WarningThinkingInvolved

Posted in Humor, Signage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Queen

Posted on January 22, 2011 by Gandalfe

bentleyAs Air Force One arrives at Heathrow Airport , President Obama strides to a warm and dignified reception from the Queen.

They are driven in a 1934 Bentley to the edge of central London , where they change to a magnificent 17th century carriage hitched to six white horses. They continue on towards Buckingham Palace , waving to the thousands of cheering Britons; all is going well.

imageSuddenly the right rear horse lets fly with the most horrendous earth shattering fart ever heard in London . The smell is atrocious and both passengers in the carriage must use handkerchiefs over their noses. The fart shakes the coach, but the two dignitaries of State do their best to ignore the incident.

The Queen turns to President Obama, ” Mr. President, please accept my regrets… I am sure you understand there are some things that even a Queen cannot control.”

Obama, always trying to be “Presidential,” replied, “Your Majesty, do not give the matter another thought… Until you mentioned it, I thought it was one of the horses.”

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Pan American “Violin Finish” aka Propeller Wood Clarinet

Posted on January 22, 2011 by Gandalfe

I purchased this striking Pan American “Violin Finish” clarinet (made by Conn) that was mistakenly described on eBay as made from pear wood. It is more commonly known as the propeller wood clarinets. It was dirt cheap and at this point unplayable without an overhaul. Turns out this instrument was an ingenious solution by Conn to the scarcity of Granadilla wood during the Second World War. Unsubstantiated sources say the same wood was used in the manufacture of WWII B24 Liberator Bomber Propellers’, hence the nick name; “Propeller wood clarinet”. That has since be debunked. They came in plastic or Cocobolo plywood.

PanAm

Bill Hausmann sez this about the instrument in the Klarinet Archive:

“I believe, Conn began manufacturing clarinets out of laminated wood (essentially thick plywood, similar to what is used to manufacture wooden aircraft propellers) to be sold under their cheaper Pan-American brand. The main idea was to create a clarinet which would not crack. When the laminated billets were turned on the lathes to produce clarinet bodies, a very beautiful false grain pattern was revealed. Since the laminated wood did not take stain well, the clarinets were left unstained and this, coupled with the very bold and symmetrical grain pattern, made these strikingly beautiful instruments.

While they do resist cracking very well, a bad batch of wood caused some of these clarinets to de-laminate, which ruined their reputation and production ended after just a few years. Officially called “violin finish,” these clarinets are not particularly good players, but are in high demand on eBay, etc., just for their looks.

I think the tone hole inserts were pretty much necessary on these models because the laminated wood would likely chip apart if they attempted to do the fine cutting necessary to make integral tone holes.”

My instrument is indeed a student quality instrument. The original mouthpiece was done in white acrylic.

PearwoodBabyInCase 

 Bell2   Lhand

The Pan American “Violin Finish” Clarinet according to the brochures, flyers and price lists was a light-colored violin finish for wood clarinets. They first popped up in the Spring of 1950 and the last mention of it was in January 18, 1954. The National Music Museum in South Dakota list these references for the clarinet model:

  • Pan American “The Baton” Newsletter in Spring 1950 lists the “Violin Finish” Clarinet Model 68N for $120.00. 
  • It was listed as a new item in the C. G. Conn, Ltd. Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ending April 30, 1950.
  • It was mentioned in the December 1951, June 8, 1953 and January 18, 1954 Conn price lists.

MP   Thumb

Rhand  Lhand

Posted in Clarinet, Music Instruments, Oddities, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments