tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32600568306864045502024-03-05T07:56:39.622-06:00Horse BitsFull Frontal NerdityJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.comBlogger749125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-71013106105891912042022-12-28T14:36:00.005-06:002022-12-28T14:36:49.916-06:00My Favorite Music of 2022<p>After spending a couple hours writing my annual year-end blog post about my favorite music, I decided to throw in the towel and just point you at the page with all the "new to me" music this year with my favorites shown in bold font.</p><p>If you're curious, it's pretty easy to Google the band and album and find their Bandcamp page or a YouTube video for some streaming samples (as opposed to steaming samples which is an entirely different thing). And you should, because some of these albums are really really good.</p><p>Here is <a href="http://horsebits-jrc.blogspot.com/p/my-listening-2022.html">my music of 2022</a> including <b>favorites</b>.</p><p>So you can infer from my attitude about blogging that it's time for this one to end.</p><p>And so it will.</p><p><br /></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-78486707582526063322022-12-24T14:58:00.003-06:002022-12-24T14:58:30.442-06:00My Favorite Books of 2022<p>Just like 2021, work from home and lack of business travel has decimated my leisure reading this year. Before the pandemic, I had 90 minutes during my daily commute for audio books and plenty of business travel to read dead-tree books on flights. On top of that, my brain is so scrambled from work that I can barely remember what I did read let alone which ones were my favorites.</p><p>While that sounds rather sad, there weren't any stinkers or DNFs (did not finish). So at least there's that.</p><p>Why am I bothering to write this post? I don't know.</p><p>Here's my <a href="http://horsebits-jrc.blogspot.com/p/my-reading-2022.html">full 2022 reading list</a> for the morbidly curious.</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-56718918649344793592022-11-14T17:01:00.002-06:002022-11-14T17:01:50.341-06:00The End of Gibberish<p>This will be my last post of gibberish on this blog. It used to be a weekly thing but the frequency has really fallen off in the past year or two. I'll probably do my usual posts at year's end about favorite books and music and that will be that.</p><p>And now onward with the gibberish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33zJ8SW6dUzuHRK0f6NlmipP98_hkL1qcEwBrZEA5OQTOgPUOAey9Lb9-O9H_xfm1gN0G30sg8v8nxYfenGrF0gf2Gd3-wX7ZGSjexb81FqgM0EC66xRA3wqkZfn7K7_R9H9v8FCbNWCydk9O3cz0iQ_3iAhw4uH_0CEhfx_Fc_YHhWKE7ygylC4B/s1920/hillman-3-960x960@2x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33zJ8SW6dUzuHRK0f6NlmipP98_hkL1qcEwBrZEA5OQTOgPUOAey9Lb9-O9H_xfm1gN0G30sg8v8nxYfenGrF0gf2Gd3-wX7ZGSjexb81FqgM0EC66xRA3wqkZfn7K7_R9H9v8FCbNWCydk9O3cz0iQ_3iAhw4uH_0CEhfx_Fc_YHhWKE7ygylC4B/w400-h400/hillman-3-960x960@2x.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2022/10/adam-hillman-colorful-arrangements/">Adam Hillman</a>'s arrangements of everyday objects remind me why I loved my kids' I Spy books.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>"What is Zen? Simple, simple, so simple. Infinite gratitude toward all things past; infinite service to all things present; infinite responsibility to all things future." ~Huston Smith</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidedIo_idT54nQlOJdtO4vGS4tkXE_RKgQjwheH_MpWcrjPT1kPIkKiksSKcl0EdpvswIumpeTzQrttjSajogtzfdihVI4p3tL4FlBpzr2IWqYkcr3PhiYpLepzXbAqSeaOwYYDBbHsrSl2RRmxsEc36yRJhEzFh_Vkvq5R3F6jDK9gwTDy6gQJT8i/s1080/aglio-e-olio-w-peas.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1080" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidedIo_idT54nQlOJdtO4vGS4tkXE_RKgQjwheH_MpWcrjPT1kPIkKiksSKcl0EdpvswIumpeTzQrttjSajogtzfdihVI4p3tL4FlBpzr2IWqYkcr3PhiYpLepzXbAqSeaOwYYDBbHsrSl2RRmxsEc36yRJhEzFh_Vkvq5R3F6jDK9gwTDy6gQJT8i/w400-h268/aglio-e-olio-w-peas.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I just love the look of this <a href="https://giadzy.com/blogs/recipes/aglio-e-olio-with-peas-and-prosciutto-giada">Aglio E Olio with Peas and Prosciutto</a> from everyone's favorite sexy chef, Giada.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>If you are a Spotify user (I am not) and love the feeling of frisson then this <a href="https://www.openculture.com/2022/06/hear-a-neuroscientist-curated-712-track-playlist-of-music-that-causes-frisson-or-musical-chills.html">playlist created by a neuroscientist</a> is for you.</p><p>I'm getting ahead of myself, but the release earlier this year of the 2018 <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-animals-reissue-1376578/">remix of Pink Floyd's seminal album Animals</a> will be on my list of favorite music of 2022. Here's a <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-animals-reissue-1376578/">teaser</a>. I hear the remix as being a bit brighter and more spacious than the original, kinda how I hear Steely Dan's Aja.</p><p>Here's the trailer for <a href="https://youtu.be/k98Afd7Nf3Y">Marcel The Shell With Shoes On</a>. It makes me want to see the film.</p><p><a href="https://www.foodandwine.com/news/hot-dog-hard-seltzer">Hard seltzer</a> made with hot dog water.</p><p>Let's get caught up with Zefrank: <a href="https://youtu.be/pBjlmsW31n0">Damselfly and Beetle</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/P9FRxokO2so">The Platypus Conspiracy,</a> <a href="https://youtu.be/Hz_DslzN2IA">True Facts: The Mosquito</a>, True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/Biagyb7AcK8">The Hummingbird Warrior</a>, True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/Hzk1bM2vVFU">Carnivorous Plants</a>, True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/vlANF-v9lb0">The Self-Sacrificing Amoeba</a>, True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/9TZQDA2yabg">Parasitic Birds</a>. True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/QAm1HHnPj8Q">Sea Cucumbers</a>.</p><p>You ever wonder where the James Webb Space Telescope is? Just ask "<a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html">Where is Webb?</a>"</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNoFUYIFKrXpQukBJfL8JQgMqUnmRFPW3XzrQp2KNxEnAzrXw6NI621ohxyBq5S4XDaoq62up1mLDQ39nqXdeIp8J-Evsw7fCpK2us29qB-saMF2PxccVYps6znGBTjn022qthz0sinARYFXNJOtq9fGZOFHErmCSKC9rSHTGJyf-m4gm6X2OK2Fi/s727/mentality.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="727" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNoFUYIFKrXpQukBJfL8JQgMqUnmRFPW3XzrQp2KNxEnAzrXw6NI621ohxyBq5S4XDaoq62up1mLDQ39nqXdeIp8J-Evsw7fCpK2us29qB-saMF2PxccVYps6znGBTjn022qthz0sinARYFXNJOtq9fGZOFHErmCSKC9rSHTGJyf-m4gm6X2OK2Fi/w400-h263/mentality.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When approaching a task, <a href="https://alearningaday.blog/2022/07/11/mentality/">just get started.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>"A clock is a <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-new-science-of-clocks-prompts-questions-about-the-nature-of-time-20210831/">flow meter for entropy.</a>" Thanks, physics.<br /><p>A fan of Miles Davis and vintage video games should enjoy <a href="https://kindofbloop.com/">Kind of Bloop</a>, an 8-bit tribute to Davis' Kind of Blue.</p><p>CBS Sunday Morning did a segment on <a href="https://youtu.be/4ECfpr88XYA">The Geometric Art of Sean Scully</a>.</p><p>I suppose weird is subjective which explains this list of the <a href="https://ultimateclassicrock.com/weirdest-genesis-songs/">10 weirdest Genesis songs</a>. But I know the list is flawed because it omits More Fool Me.</p><p>Here's a teaser for the album a <a href="https://youtu.be/hpLVrvVoXoI">Sense of Destiny</a> by David Kollar & Arve Henriksen.</p><p>In what I consider to be a net loss for the DFW area, the Univ. of North Texas radio station <a href="https://www.kntu.com/2022/07/29/881-indie-debuts-on-kntu/">KNTU changed formats</a> from jazz to "indie." The jazz programming has been relegated to streaming. Given that KNTU's jazz studies program is a state if not national treasure, loss of jazz on the airwaves is dismaying. I hope to continue my annual purchase of the One O'clock Lab Band's CD.</p><p>This list of the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34302023/greatest-nfl-players-ever-every-offensive-position-picking-goat-quarterback-running-back-receiver-offensive-tackle">NFL's GOATS at each position</a> - like all "top" list articles - is designed to spark debate. But I am OK with all their selections. Jim Brown as running back isn't even debatable.</p><p>Some <a href="https://youtu.be/UmEzw-cru_0">F-15 aviation pr0n</a>.</p><p>ICYMI, the <a href="https://twitter.com/theairrace/status/1558015936153546753?s=27&t=nVDoToJkizy3dcXeoc15bg">Air Race World Championship</a> (successor to the Red Bull Air Race) has delayed its return to the skies until 2023.</p><p><a href="https://eyvindearle.com/">Eyvind Earle</a> is one of my favorite Disney artists.</p><p>Here's a teaser for O.R.k.'s new album <a href="https://youtu.be/ce4GznIA4LM">Screamnasium</a>.</p><p>I purchased the exhibit catalog but maybe you can visit the Walt Disney Family Museum and see <a href="https://www.waltdisney.org/jungle-book">The Jungle Book: Making of a Masterpiece</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW-f5AaE24wsroeLXwTiZ4udbxYAvWP6iwHo2h_ZFD-NrDLxcHUZevrQ-Xxkl3kIkygIAoNpnosyR_iw02yekSrxjYW4ZdnsnAsLkc5otbsDZgvZOr5rxrEmoJm-k9-OGXd8i3kvr1Dk8JxUJKPCt9EZZfVijkbhE3X4KD6_e1H5OjoTs1h9Hv6Bc/s1600/mary-obering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW-f5AaE24wsroeLXwTiZ4udbxYAvWP6iwHo2h_ZFD-NrDLxcHUZevrQ-Xxkl3kIkygIAoNpnosyR_iw02yekSrxjYW4ZdnsnAsLkc5otbsDZgvZOr5rxrEmoJm-k9-OGXd8i3kvr1Dk8JxUJKPCt9EZZfVijkbhE3X4KD6_e1H5OjoTs1h9Hv6Bc/w400-h300/mary-obering.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Obering, Winter, 1992. <a href="https://bortolamigallery.com/artist/mary-obering/works/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Here's a version of Philip Glass' phenomenal <a href="https://youtu.be/KC0FroHjB94">soundtrack to Koyaanisqatsi </a>performed on organ. Or how about a <a href="https://youtu.be/9MY6uTB1Hx8">metal version</a>?</div><div><br /></div><div>As a former beer drinker, there are times when I miss the taste of a good IPA. When I saw this article in the WSJ about <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/best-hop-waters-non-alcoholic-beer-alternative-11661439474">non-alcoholic hop waters,</a> I had to give one a try. And the Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher is tasty.</div><div><br /></div><div>One man's list of the <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/rossyoder/best-pickle-brands-ranked?origin=web-hf">best store-bought pickles</a>. I actually like Vlasic pickles (his #8). Boar's Head is his #2 and I didn't even know they made pickles. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-_0pHLGHqC5dkkF4wFsfkC7TLRWYlyOkw0lSpDDgdU7M3HkHSU6q4l5xL9NDVPN0cmpezOMoQ7OCyVPq8b_YD-Xy5eocZdHpLC3gkuNJeDcdRPbzh3lsLDH_hBrTyK9d_cMm4WnJRavSYg5r02XQkR4HMlrlGnJ8a3ANQ53Ue0qh0tHVatBCMHe_/s2000/michael_olearys_first_flight.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="2000" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-_0pHLGHqC5dkkF4wFsfkC7TLRWYlyOkw0lSpDDgdU7M3HkHSU6q4l5xL9NDVPN0cmpezOMoQ7OCyVPq8b_YD-Xy5eocZdHpLC3gkuNJeDcdRPbzh3lsLDH_hBrTyK9d_cMm4WnJRavSYg5r02XQkR4HMlrlGnJ8a3ANQ53Ue0qh0tHVatBCMHe_/w400-h250/michael_olearys_first_flight.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Travis: a restored <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/glenn/2022/history/the-nacas-xf-82-twin-mustang-returns-to-flight-after-70-years">XF-82 Twin Mustang</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/philosophy_call/status/1558743277205180416?s=12&t=NxhqRaU1on9ZA1Y_P_pnTw">Rumi</a> is quoted as having said or written many wonderful things but this may be one of my favorites. "Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because those who love with their heart and soul there is no such thing as separation."<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa3D6IFKKKylFjbqY7J7TRVoeSH4iAoYeT0nr36PCu6GiQ5rnCd0aXBFxbKe6Gg-7tP5YWsWanAMRBzX9JfPuqla1IWGzWT76HJe_XatbfraB1GWQ1Nal90wNptWB-9sLXDjNMts5p4NYBsGtMtQLBQjuydaFcGI99onnYkCgPaxgQBJs5fpEFtwN/s1280/agnes-martin-untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa3D6IFKKKylFjbqY7J7TRVoeSH4iAoYeT0nr36PCu6GiQ5rnCd0aXBFxbKe6Gg-7tP5YWsWanAMRBzX9JfPuqla1IWGzWT76HJe_XatbfraB1GWQ1Nal90wNptWB-9sLXDjNMts5p4NYBsGtMtQLBQjuydaFcGI99onnYkCgPaxgQBJs5fpEFtwN/w400-h400/agnes-martin-untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agnes Martin, Untitled, 1977. Her works "are light, lightness, about merging, about formlessness, breaking down forms.” <a href="https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/2806">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Science predicts the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02083-2">shape of nearly every protein</a> - using AI.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another good quote, this one from the Tao Te Ching. "When the Tao is lost, there is goodness. When goodness is lost, there is morality. When morality is lost, there is ritual. <i>Ritual is the husk of true faith</i>, the beginning of chaos." [emphasis mine]</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.juiceanalytics.com/writing/the-power-of-story-6-lessons-from-a-master-storyteller">The Power of Story </a>shares 6 storytelling tips from the former chief creative at Dreamworks. They are worth reading. #3 Stories are about enabling change. The latter resonates because it's similar to another writing tip (for fiction) that says each character must want something.</div><div><br /></div><div>Move over Top Gun, the <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/anime/patlabor-2-most-accurate-air-combat-221108.html">most realistic portrayal of air combat in film</a> is...</div><div><br /></div><div>I grew up in Cleveland and never heard of a <a href="https://www.thisiscleveland.com/blog/where-to-eat-cleveland%E2%80%99s-polish-boy-sandwich">Polish Boy</a> before. But now that I have, I really want to eat "This mouth-watering mashup of juicy kielbasa, mounds of coleslaw and fries, slathered with barbecue sauce — all in a bun!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Gary Husband share his deep thoughts <a href="https://youtu.be/cxQfeOoMJow">about Allan Holdsworth</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>You know me and <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-brew-pick/glimpses-is-an-abstract-postcard-of-places-both-real-and-imagined-221944.html">black & white animation</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>"We have art in order to not die of the truth." ~Nietzsche </div><div><br /></div><div>Daniel Green teaches physics at U.C. San Diego but on his list of resources the <a href="https://youtu.be/QAm1HHnPj8Q">advice for applying for a job</a> you might find most useful.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you like to see things rot, watch the trailer for <a href="https://youtu.be/VixLkQEtDKw">Wrought</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading.</div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-13981670798956306532022-07-05T07:44:00.000-05:002022-07-05T07:44:14.952-05:00On Politics and Tweets<p>In this post I will rant about myself.</p><p>During this 5-day holiday weekend (thank you, Cadence) I looked at my recent tweets and was disappointed to say the least. The vast majority were political. This distressed me because for most of my life I had claimed to be apolitical. </p><p>To be clear:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I think Donald Trump is a compulsive habitual liar (easily proven, not debatable), a narcissist of the most extreme variety, and dumb as a bag of rocks.</li><li>The Big Lie is just that: a lie.</li><li>A lot of republicans in office or running for office (e.g. Marge, Lauren) also demonstrate stupidity, tell blatant lies, and spend more time claiming to believe the "right" things rather than acting upon them.</li><li>The so-called "religious right" represents the gristle of Christian faith and are rapidly heading to a form of christofacism.</li><li>Abortion is a medical procedure that shouldn't be demonized. Anyone who spends an hour reading and understanding medical ethics will realize that the concept of gradualism should be applied.</li><li>Guns have been turned into a fetish object and need to be controlled. Other constitutional rights are limited (e.g. libel and slander laws).</li></ul><div>Now that I've written this post I'll do my best to return my tweeting and facebooking to the things I really enjoy like music, art, literature, food, Disney, running, gardening, family, friends, mesh generation, computational fluid dynamics, and all things engineering software.</div><div><br /></div><div>That doesn't mean I won't still share political stuff but that will be a smaller percentage of everything. </div><p></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-78172611875906835372022-05-27T17:12:00.000-05:002022-05-27T17:12:28.953-05:00This is the very perfection of a man...<p>The music...</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Documentary on the making of Genesis' landmark album <a href="https://youtu.be/Os-F3DgjYis">The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway</a></li><li>A Pink Floyd / Art of Noise mashup - <a href="https://youtu.be/T6WMFTGz10Y">Another Brick In the Wall + Legs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/mar/10/reunited-prog-rockers-porcupine-tree-on-surviving-their-rift-you-cant-help-but-feel-bitter">Porcupine Tree </a>on the break-up and reconciliation</li><li>If you can get this in-browser <a href="https://io808.com/">Rhythm Controller iO-808</a> to work, you're better than me.</li><li>Same for this <a href="https://roland50.studio/">Roland 50</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.dgmlive.com/news/rf-interview-with-the-guardian">Robert Fripp interviewed</a> about the King Crimson documentary</li><li>The TCU Percussion Ensemble playing Bill Bruford's <a href="https://youtu.be/X0lprlN0PGQ">Beelzebub</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/mmnUaMocySc">The Aristocrats</a> get the orchestral treatment courtesy of the Primuz Chamber Orchestra</li><li>Listen to <a href="http://radio.garden/">radio stations</a> around the globe</li><li><a href="https://n5md.bandcamp.com/album/the-light-inside-the-dark-outside">The Light Inside, the Dark Outside</a> by ILUITEQ</li><li><a href="https://glacialmovements.bandcamp.com/album/vanishing-lands">Vanishing Lands</a> by Netherworld</li></ul><div>Not music but sounds - in particular, <a href="http://savethesounds.info/">endangered sounds</a>.</div><p></p><p>This list is a couple of month's past peak but, Wordle variants.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/">Worldle</a> (geography)</li><li><a href="https://nerdlegame.com/">Nerdle</a> (numbers)</li><li><a href="https://www.heardle.app/">Heardle</a> (music)</li><li><a href="https://semantle.com/">Semantle</a> (semantics)</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl1h0eC41J5jIyRYkwk4G7Q8xQF1DK9A3cmI4dQ7CndJyqKud-SQy3UM5Te30tX8gSYfS97Hmb88l2QP0OU85S3pF824I_bnMgCYub1SHzr5MSY-_SbnAiCOzMZWzMRFEZj4Z7a8A8MVuAGw6I_eof-tp3EWbjxgG36FnoLEY43y8dKbxCWXUtHl0/s1800/rothkos.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1800" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl1h0eC41J5jIyRYkwk4G7Q8xQF1DK9A3cmI4dQ7CndJyqKud-SQy3UM5Te30tX8gSYfS97Hmb88l2QP0OU85S3pF824I_bnMgCYub1SHzr5MSY-_SbnAiCOzMZWzMRFEZj4Z7a8A8MVuAGw6I_eof-tp3EWbjxgG36FnoLEY43y8dKbxCWXUtHl0/w400-h244/rothkos.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of Mark Rothko's from an overview of <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/artists/what-is-abstract-expressionism-art-movement-1234629658/">Ab Ex</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Given that work now takes me to the Bay area often, I might be able to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum to see the current exhibit on <a href="https://www.waltdisney.org/jungle-book">The Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece.</a></div><p></p><p>A bibliography for a <a href="https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/the-animation-history-bibliography/">history of animation</a>.</p><p>How about a game that's <a href="https://www.lessmilk.com/almost-pong/">Almost Pong</a>?</p><p>On creativity:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How <a href="https://www.lessmilk.com/almost-pong/">Pixar</a> does it.</li><li>How pianist <a href="https://animationresources.org/theory-bill-evans-on-the-creative-process-and-self-teaching/">Bill Evans</a> does it.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhve5I2N1n20hsWH9jv81YKiIb_SiTwK5G_31t7HAkcmGY7D_aqueXFYIcuSDiBBGb5K5VaM0hjclZ-TAbeTkvC4fDFvgZUSinfT4JQrUovj4_J1fxNL3Ruems_-7PDi1KjELWSngRqz7ziqe3fOTsUTbMs63abtdntb3gP-R0HzmZvL6uTYG9Arym6/s1512/Joan-Mitchell-Hemlock-SR-scaled.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhve5I2N1n20hsWH9jv81YKiIb_SiTwK5G_31t7HAkcmGY7D_aqueXFYIcuSDiBBGb5K5VaM0hjclZ-TAbeTkvC4fDFvgZUSinfT4JQrUovj4_J1fxNL3Ruems_-7PDi1KjELWSngRqz7ziqe3fOTsUTbMs63abtdntb3gP-R0HzmZvL6uTYG9Arym6/w318-h400/Joan-Mitchell-Hemlock-SR-scaled.webp" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan Mitchell, Hemlock, 1956. <a href="https://hyperallergic.com/718905/why-joan-mitchell-paintings-can-never-die/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>And the art.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://hyperallergic.com/718905/why-joan-mitchell-paintings-can-never-die/">Joan Mitchell</a>, Hyperallergic's review of her retrospective. </li><li><a href="https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/fields-abstraction">Fields of Abstraction </a>at the Israel Museum.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUcz3NFeb3zOuJSwV8W_CPnCEpG_A_W-aPUbuJDP-ru802RO2W_f8Uqr_Ve-1UtSXCcCSjYySh277YTx2NTfSGLqtsCVlDyWm3hia7lsv0Y6BJe8QNA7J6riV8VMypQ64QI7x0IoRv6DrxxCvycoMk1v-LhUigjeXKOQDllBvfniOsQj91ix13XIQ/s1920/Energetic_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1920" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUcz3NFeb3zOuJSwV8W_CPnCEpG_A_W-aPUbuJDP-ru802RO2W_f8Uqr_Ve-1UtSXCcCSjYySh277YTx2NTfSGLqtsCVlDyWm3hia7lsv0Y6BJe8QNA7J6riV8VMypQ64QI7x0IoRv6DrxxCvycoMk1v-LhUigjeXKOQDllBvfniOsQj91ix13XIQ/w400-h275/Energetic_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gallery view of Fields of Abstraction. See link above.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>And now for some science.</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A fossilized dinosaur hypothesized to have been killed by the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61013740">Chicxulub asteroid</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/fermilab-says-particle-is-heavy-enough-to-break-the-standard-model-20220407/">W Bosons </a>need to go on a diet or they'll break the standard model of particle physics.</li><li>Funny science in the form of True Facts about <a href="https://youtu.be/dZ20KsgVeu0">Sea Stars</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/Biagyb7AcK8">The Hummingbird Warrior</a>.</li><li>Engineering the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/commodore-64">Commodore 64</a>.</li><li>Tonga <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/04/14/upshot/tonga-pressure-wave.html">volcano shock wave</a> animation</li><li><a href="https://phys.org/news/2022-04-physicists-philosophers.html">Time</a> might not actually exist.</li></ul><div><a href="https://www.medievalmemes.org/">Medieval Meme</a> (Memieval?) generator.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>In this list of <a href="https://kk.org/thetechnium/103-bits-of-advice-i-wish-i-had-known/">103 bits of advice </a>is this gem. "You can be whatever you want, so be the person who ends meetings early."</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's dial back the "definitive guide" bit but here's advice for <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-eating-50s-60s">healthy eating</a> when you're over 50. For ex, minimize processed foods, veggies with each meal, drink water.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>...to find out his own imperfections.</b> ~St. Augustine</div><p></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-86625514182972182932022-03-26T18:39:00.000-06:002022-03-26T18:39:24.003-06:00Circumstances do not make the man...<p>Is this really my first blog post of 2022? </p><p>Just a reminder that the <a href="https://www.wcairrace.com/">Air Race World Championship</a> is coming back this year. Smoke on.</p><p>The website of musician <a href="https://garyhusband.com/">Gary Husband</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi_FR_l2aDXXQISM4K24RQinC4VG3TzNnAUOejsMPW7uH-gzMt2x6Ds5IJdsuKsYTucGvFbRXqXpOpSgk8X-uzjOGxG4CRKnae4Apaet5TerlDgdt0hWX5rlXuS2hCXFIcWSKeg6B6Uo2fAUBr6AsOAAul1Am7rWAew3c5MdXp6tBRILZfr_e-SULx=s1710" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi_FR_l2aDXXQISM4K24RQinC4VG3TzNnAUOejsMPW7uH-gzMt2x6Ds5IJdsuKsYTucGvFbRXqXpOpSgk8X-uzjOGxG4CRKnae4Apaet5TerlDgdt0hWX5rlXuS2hCXFIcWSKeg6B6Uo2fAUBr6AsOAAul1Am7rWAew3c5MdXp6tBRILZfr_e-SULx=w290-h400" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Rothko, Untitled, 1969. This work on paper is one of several featured in the exhibition <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/04/living-colour-how-mark-rothko-found-light-in-his-dark-final-years">Mark Rothko 1968: Clearing Away</a>. "It also shows the power of white and its tremendous impact in his painting.”</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>What can your <a href="https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/what-can-your-farts-tell-you-about-your-health">farts tell you about your health</a>? "Scientists have recently found a connection between mental health and gas production." Then I must be a psychopath.</p><p>Why is <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-my-poop-brown-171346">poo</a> brown?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmuBiQxPOLBW2ez7SoxdmQyuLOXPPgh5vsBHBOAocnQL-7KWvSlMtrvCLD0jro-xW1IxYQQOLw-z_FcvfxvwZWoRsfHf-0znTEDjjipLQVUAufqSR3YiFELuqbP1hKZZl92VthN2qQ9RbXss8worLBmRwf9XAupfh1esIA8TKnB60fDlQeGk9r16Bj=s378" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="241" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmuBiQxPOLBW2ez7SoxdmQyuLOXPPgh5vsBHBOAocnQL-7KWvSlMtrvCLD0jro-xW1IxYQQOLw-z_FcvfxvwZWoRsfHf-0znTEDjjipLQVUAufqSR3YiFELuqbP1hKZZl92VthN2qQ9RbXss8worLBmRwf9XAupfh1esIA8TKnB60fDlQeGk9r16Bj=w255-h400" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept art of the Navy's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter, the <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2021/11/01/the-u-s-navy-has-released-new-details-about-the-f-a-xx-next-generation-strike-fighter/">F/A-XX</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The music:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://fourthdimensionrecords.bigcartel.com/product/gary-mundy-eraldo-bernocchi-broken-masses-cd">Broken Masses</a> by Gary Mundy and Eraldo Bernocchi</li><li>Deconstructing Brian Eno's <a href="https://reverbmachine.com/blog/deconstructing-brian-eno-music-for-airports/">Music for Airports</a></li><li><a href="https://www.impexrecords.com/saturday-night-in-san-francisco-preorder-page/">Saturday Night in San Francisco</a> by Di Meola, McLaughlin, and De Lucia.</li><li><a href="https://www.rogereno.com/">The Turning Year</a> by Roger Eno</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/s1HxkL1sqqY">Charged</a> by Kondo, Bernocchi, and Laswell</li><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/575291448">Brilliant Trees</a> by David Sylvian, filming inside the studio during recording</li><li><a href="https://din7d.bandcamp.com/album/outland">Outland</a> by Ian Boddy and Markus Reuter</li><li>The <a href="https://youtu.be/W-oI8C8O8qo">Allan Holdsworth Quartet</a> in Montreal in 1993</li><li><a href="https://www.loudersound.com/news/mike-rutherfords-smallcreeps-day-to-get-cd-reissue-in-march">Smallcreep's Day</a> by Mike Rutherford (reissue)</li><li><a href="https://www.claudioscolari.com/styled/All%20Albums.html">Claudio Scolari</a> </li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/gqSpGmb56aw">Violet Light </a>by Eraldo Bernocchi</li><li>A memorial concert for <a href="https://youtu.be/ccREbTWbhXw">Jon Hassell</a>.</li></ul><p></p><p>Did you know you can <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/sustainability/environment/replay/">donate your old LEGOs</a> and they'll be cleaned-up and gifted to another child?</p><p>What is the <a href="https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/the-coolest-museum-in-each-state/XvHyVpKgiwAG5an7">coolest museum in each state</a>? I first validated by ensuring that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was the coolest in Ohio. Then I checked Texas to find the Bullock Texas State Museum.</p><p>Generate some <a href="https://aliendscapes.3d2k.com/">alien planet landscapes</a>.</p><p>The Pantone color of the year for 2022 is <a href="https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2022">Very Peri</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7DGXXqf2XVkrE1upCpeBdkNv6Y-_xaEFaEJ-u-QkMweBUKuy5NFhpGXVet-cyPogFRJLdS00UAD3HJbBiuc-qFKXWkc8aU0vKUYD6Mgw234Q8AO0Ifb5PiJ7nV3t53knwt08ytPXPRln7e6YK1b1dLIEt7y2Vk8luLnrIMSZ9UrxD2UaXjyjBahXC=s851" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7DGXXqf2XVkrE1upCpeBdkNv6Y-_xaEFaEJ-u-QkMweBUKuy5NFhpGXVet-cyPogFRJLdS00UAD3HJbBiuc-qFKXWkc8aU0vKUYD6Mgw234Q8AO0Ifb5PiJ7nV3t53knwt08ytPXPRln7e6YK1b1dLIEt7y2Vk8luLnrIMSZ9UrxD2UaXjyjBahXC=w301-h400" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://hyperallergic.com/101544/why-does-wayne-thiebaud-love-goop-so-much/">Wayne Thiebaud,</a> Boulder Ridge, 2013. Not a cake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Dali + Disney = <a href="https://www.openculture.com/2018/08/salvador-dali-walt-disneys-short-animated-film-destino-set-music-pink-floyd.html">Destino</a>, set to the music of Pink Floyd. I feel like a little wacky weed would allow me to fully enjoy this.</p><p>Best website this week: <a href="http://crouton.net">crouton.net</a>.</p><p>Followed closely by <a href="http://doughnutkitten.com/">Doughnut Kitten</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMmuja1WdvPWpYc60b6zLqzfu-uWUKTVq4lqyw2IMJDbvOvjYskxq2CueZik-xyScrke60Cpk9a6GCnVaFAerHt2qXQOs8ilxZMLMLPa7fQtbEyXnvxBEh3XCTe96OXIRmB9kKJLUHHAUoOnT3VBdExR1Oxi-Ee-P_brh7xL0uCPcveTnU4vffm1aa=s830" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMmuja1WdvPWpYc60b6zLqzfu-uWUKTVq4lqyw2IMJDbvOvjYskxq2CueZik-xyScrke60Cpk9a6GCnVaFAerHt2qXQOs8ilxZMLMLPa7fQtbEyXnvxBEh3XCTe96OXIRmB9kKJLUHHAUoOnT3VBdExR1Oxi-Ee-P_brh7xL0uCPcveTnU4vffm1aa=w246-h400" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it has been a long time since I posted. <a href="https://www.bitsandpieces.us/2021/12/14/art-of-the-christmas-tree/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>If you have kids, you can <a href="https://sketch.metademolab.com/">animate their drawings</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lights at Sea is a really cool interactive map of the <a href="https://geodienst.github.io/lighthousemap/">world's lighthouses</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXnmf-lQUiGb0LHWxRQ029DQPOpoTeExWRayx0TOzXo5ydf7bk-UYT1J00d8XOldNgFHuyn3oR9ECCMG5v4pd_UyEa3e4Y7v_qFHh6HiXEzjsPjIPogZdnzEsW5qXl0A2ysRWnezKNHySVi1tUkU1z7ElrgnLEBH8zSYH_2ZwJpIbww5yx9qGsHOP6=s1200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1200" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXnmf-lQUiGb0LHWxRQ029DQPOpoTeExWRayx0TOzXo5ydf7bk-UYT1J00d8XOldNgFHuyn3oR9ECCMG5v4pd_UyEa3e4Y7v_qFHh6HiXEzjsPjIPogZdnzEsW5qXl0A2ysRWnezKNHySVi1tUkU1z7ElrgnLEBH8zSYH_2ZwJpIbww5yx9qGsHOP6=w400-h325" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman Lewis, Exodus, 1972. From <a href="https://hyperallergic.com/704199/the-transcendent-power-of-black-in-norman-lewis-abstractions/">The Transcendent Power of Black</a> in Norman Lewis' Paintings. I'm fairly certain this is one of Lewis' paintings I saw a few years back in a retrospective of his work and my friends and I were happily stunned by his work that none of us prior to that time had been familiar with. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tom Peters is never at a loss for words, or in this case quotes. In particular, <a href="https://tompeters.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/43-Quotes.pdf">one quote for each of the 43 years that have passed since In Search of Excellence was published.</a> "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."</p><p>In case you haven't been keeping track, in 2020 the <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-the-accumulation-of-human-made-mass-on-earth/">mass of all man-made stuff exceeded the planet's total biomass</a> for the first time.</p><p>Most good management concepts can be illustrated in a 4-quadrant chart and Seth Godin's <a href="https://seths.blog/2022/01/the-control-responsibility-matrix/">control/responsibility matrix</a> is no different. Are you a victim, martyr, whiner, or leader?</p><p>Another quad chart: the <a href="https://sashadichter.com/2022/02/01/terror-freedom-calm-structure/">productivity matrix</a>. (I'm definitely most productive on the "calm" left side of that chart.)</p><p>Five of the <a href="https://piggsboson.medium.com/5-greatest-physics-lectures-of-all-time-8588e8a34267">greatest physics lectures</a> of all time.</p><p>Always funny - Ze Frank's True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/qDZS1KO1SgA">Proboscis Monkey</a>.</p><p>You don't even have to read the article, but the <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/02/lifestyle/these-are-best-worst-sugar-cereals/">best sugar cereal</a> is Lucky Charms.</p><p>The TV show <a href="https://ghosts-bbc.fandom.com/wiki/Plague_ghosts">Ghosts</a> has a fan wiki.</p><p>Of these 25 <a href="https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/best-sci-fi-movies-last-15-years/">best sci-fi movies</a> of the last 15 years I've seen... eight.</p><p>The story of <a href="https://www.loudersound.com/news/yes-the-journey-from-the-yes-album-to-fragile">The Yes Album and Fragile</a>.</p><p><b>...they reveal him.</b> ~James Allen</p></div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-6795885859234432352021-12-31T18:53:00.001-06:002022-01-01T13:22:00.800-06:00My Favorite Music of 2021<p>It's time for the annual blog post no one asks for: my favorites of all the new (to me) music I bought this year.</p><p>But I'm exhausted and lack the energy to spend a lot of time on this - despite the fact that I really enjoy and appreciate virtually <a href="http://horsebits-jrc.blogspot.com/p/my-listening-2021.html">all of the sixty-six albums</a> I got.</p><p>In no particular order...</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://stephanthelen-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/fractal-guitar-2">Fractal Guitar 2</a> and <a href="https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/album/fractal-guitar-2-remixes">Fractal Guitar 2 Remixes </a>by Stephan Thelen.</h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mahoganyfrog-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-electric-universe">In the Electric Universe</a> by Mahogany Frog.</h3>
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</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://dewabudjana-moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/album/naurora">Naurora</a> by Dewa Budjana.</h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://jondurant.bandcamp.com/album/mutual-isolation">Mutual Isolation</a> by Burnt Belief</h3>
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</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://thisisredkite.bandcamp.com/album/apophenian-bliss">Apophenian Bliss </a>by Red Kite</h3>
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</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://burningshed.com/king-crimson_music-is-our-friend_2cd">Music is Our Friend</a> by King Crimson</h3>
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</div><div>But this list omits a lot of really enjoyable music.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fish's farewell album <a href="https://fishmusic.scot/discography/weltschmerz/">Weltschmerz</a></li><li><a href="https://the-aristocrats-band.bandcamp.com/album/freeze-live-in-europe-2020">FREEZE! Live in Europe 2020</a> by The Aristocrats</li><li>Adam Holzman's live album <a href="https://adamholzmanofficial.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-gig">Brave New World</a></li><li><a href="https://markusreuter.bandcamp.com/album/anchor-and-burden">Anchor and Burden</a>, the lead-in to a five album arc by Markus Reuter</li><li><a href="https://www.impexrecords.com/saturday-night-in-san-francisco-preorder-page/">Saturday Night in San Francisco</a> (pre-order)</li></ul><div>And of course I need to credit the two record labels that create and share some of my favorite music.</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/">RareNoise Records</a></li><li><a href="https://moonjune.com/">Moonjune Records</a></li></ul><div>Looking forward to 2022.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. In hindsight, this blog post is horribly written. I blame fatigue.</div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-47821440928702252862021-11-25T15:00:00.000-06:002021-11-25T15:00:27.349-06:00Music in the soul...<p>Alan Watts on finding <a href="https://www.themarginalian.org/2015/03/25/sense-of-nonsense-alan-watts-tao-of-philosophy/">meaning in meaninglessness</a>. </p><p>Victor Frankl wrote "<a href="https://thriveglobal.com/stories/between-stimulus-and-response-there-is-a-space/">between stimulus and response there a space</a>." That space is where we find freedom and growth.</p><p>Still trying to find time to drive to Dallas and see <a href="https://dma.org/art/exhibitions/slip-zone-new-look-postwar-abstraction-americas-and-east-asia">Slip Zone: A New Look at Postwar Abstraction in the Americas and East Asia</a> at the DMA. We have until 10 Jul 2022. Here's a <a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/the-scene/global-encounters-with-the-abstract-at-the-dallas-museum-of-arts-slip-zone/2751019/">write-up of the exhibit </a>from the local NBC affiliate.</p><p>Miles Davis' iconic Kind of Blue covered in Seinfeld style: <a href="https://youtu.be/lApmdT2PllU">Sein of Blue</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb5j1aexrIciIVe7qJrZacH_86Qz9btrDS3Iwcep5IayVEUNEcbQZLMOdubEFzOTDho69eZy4a8BpURxhfKvw4qCNq7Kk8FPNENtmFIPKDJuc9W6jk1qENuwMYH2bE_iMPWBqGARlz-s/s899/Screenshot+2021-11-25+10.19.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="899" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJb5j1aexrIciIVe7qJrZacH_86Qz9btrDS3Iwcep5IayVEUNEcbQZLMOdubEFzOTDho69eZy4a8BpURxhfKvw4qCNq7Kk8FPNENtmFIPKDJuc9W6jk1qENuwMYH2bE_iMPWBqGARlz-s/w400-h122/Screenshot+2021-11-25+10.19.14+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/124111459/Impossible-Type">impossible typeface</a>, inspired by Escher.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's not a spoiler that Rolling Stones' list of the 50 <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-prog-rock-albums-of-all-time-78793/happy-the-man-happy-the-man-1977-41843/">greatest progressive rock albums</a> is topped by Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. I have 20 of them, including 9 of the top 10.</p><p>I don't recall why I bookmarked this page of free, open-source <a href="https://healthicons.org/">healthcare icons </a>but here they are in case you need to use one.</p><p>Along those same lines, here's a page with <a href="https://web.badges.world/">4000 web badges</a>, those little rectangles that proclaim some affilition.</p><p>Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain novel and the 1971 film by Robert Wise are both absolute favorites of mine. Meaning I could reread or rewatch at any time with full enjoyment. Here's a look at <a href="https://ascmag.com/articles/the-andromeda-strain-may-1971">production of the film</a>. If nothing else, click through and watch the original movie trailer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWAq6IOrW9PZGM-ZSL9vfvZ8VQjTSKob7iJQzjuoxbkC8oMsz9fWJVgR2nLz1qBJR2eLcS51S5RN4DObSCXH3vRXy7XNHVJ84aAIGzL5ZBJP6x9Ui8f7dG2rxQAmxZeplJXiMup3hSLk/s2048/world-of-languages-large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1282" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWAq6IOrW9PZGM-ZSL9vfvZ8VQjTSKob7iJQzjuoxbkC8oMsz9fWJVgR2nLz1qBJR2eLcS51S5RN4DObSCXH3vRXy7XNHVJ84aAIGzL5ZBJP6x9Ui8f7dG2rxQAmxZeplJXiMup3hSLk/w250-h400/world-of-languages-large.png" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visualizing <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-world-of-languages/">all the world's languages.</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Science has found some of t<a href="https://phys.org/news/2021-09-universe.html">he universe's missing matter</a>, "confirming that 80–90% of normal matter is located outside of galaxies."</p><p>Yes, the Crystal Bridges Museum is off the beaten path. And yet it's architecturally beautiful (soon to be 50% larger) and the collection is top-notch. <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/alice-walton-interview-crystal-bridges-11631104447">Read Alice Walton's thoughts</a> (of Walmart fame) about what she created in Bentonville.</p><p>Like most lists, the compulsion is to see where you fit. In the list of <a href="https://wallethub.com/edu/e/most-and-least-educated-cities/6656">most educated cities</a> in the U.S., the Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington metroplex comes in at a disappointing 73rd place. Madison, WI comes in 5th place which is ahead of 6th place Boston, Cambridge, Newton. </p><p>Austin has been named the #1 place for <a href="https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/10-26-21-austin-hooks-ranking-as-top-place-in-the-us-for-life-after-college/">post-college life</a> in the U.S. Fort Worth is #5.</p><p><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prehistoric-giant-swimming-head-creature/">Prehistoric. Giant. Swimming. Head.</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflIllyjby8xe5FKliOHWnDKkmrrklom2bbKLNQnLOCUwEaElBIpNmy1IUP8sEnZ8u43M5icsQjzuFCDfox2bhyTm5ef5rJRwo5cSewFdIW_gpW4Cpnxt8TqfbWRDcCkJWidEEPQzzBEk/s1024/SampleOfFossilDinosaurSkin_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="1024" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflIllyjby8xe5FKliOHWnDKkmrrklom2bbKLNQnLOCUwEaElBIpNmy1IUP8sEnZ8u43M5icsQjzuFCDfox2bhyTm5ef5rJRwo5cSewFdIW_gpW4Cpnxt8TqfbWRDcCkJWidEEPQzzBEk/w400-h163/SampleOfFossilDinosaurSkin_1024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Things I Didn't Know Could Be Fossilized, here's some <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/check-out-the-scaly-skin-of-south-america-s-most-iconic-meat-eating-dinosaur">dino skin</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />An exhibit of <a href="https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2021/may/helen-frankenthaler-radical-beauty/">Helen Frankenthaler's</a> work promises to "reveal just how accomplished Frankenthaler was in modulating control and spontaneity in her art.<div><br /></div><div>Often in the discussion of Fort Worth's art museums, one gets left out. There's The Modern and The Kimbell, but don't forgot about the <a href="https://www.cartermuseum.org/blog/60-years-collecting">Amon Carter</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>You've heard about NUKEMAP, the online tool for computing the effects of a nuclear blast. Here's <a href="https://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEarth/ImpactEffects/">Earth Impact Effects Program</a> (not nearly as snappy of a name) for computing the effects of a meteor impact.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of meteor impacts, the legend of <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-giant-space-rock-demolished-an-ancient-middle-eastern-city-and-everyone-in-it-possibly-inspiring-the-biblical-story-of-sodom-167678">Sodom may be based in fact</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Early today I tweeted that Mutual Isolation, the new album from the duo of Colin Edwin and Jon Durant, is probably my favorite of all their albums (under the name Burnt Belief). Here's a <a href="https://youtu.be/yEC5qvzK84A">preview</a>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWplIH5eVHhyxIAGzGQ2pJfsVhJZE97QRUmyijsnkezaOYvrGouipHbkun2sKZ0ys8LEOlQAg_cdK5cyLvdKLItia-rAGwEuMp8gwzy6e-fkQR0VfLxT1obQI5bJ8Dts9pE_IT647kAg/s1080/2021-09-29-eye-music+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="827" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWplIH5eVHhyxIAGzGQ2pJfsVhJZE97QRUmyijsnkezaOYvrGouipHbkun2sKZ0ys8LEOlQAg_cdK5cyLvdKLItia-rAGwEuMp8gwzy6e-fkQR0VfLxT1obQI5bJ8Dts9pE_IT647kAg/w306-h400/2021-09-29-eye-music+%25281%2529.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music for the <a href="https://www.futilitycloset.com/2021/09/29/eye-music-2/">eyes</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>"all marks on a flat surface are abstractions" writes David Hockney in <a href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/09/30/why-abstraction-in-art-has-run-its-course">Abstraction In Art Has Run Its Course</a> which is interesting but I didn't reach the same conclusion he has.</div><div><br /></div><div>I won't make it to the San Francisco MoMA before 17 January, so hopefully someone else will checkout the <a href="https://www.sfmoma.org/exhibition/joan-mitchell/">Joan Mitchell retrospective</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The richest man in Jerusalem probably sat on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-jerusalem-middle-east-israel-555ddebe8076d1c7c99c384dae08fc78">this throne.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>What would a nuclear weapon with a <a href="http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2021/10/29/the-possibility-of-bigger-bangs/">yield of 1,000 Mt</a> be like?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgNEqctjLFbIMxbbyK0nVbiA9WiTajIvcG-AU320iBm7l2bQJpszVs6PhKxxEPYwpV9pEKCwRF_OplmRWi5TTaQ3nkQ9_ub2nnj0x2DZoKAjr9XPx81vsa92e7cOcVeOmynnz1-N8Sug/s1920/bulgaria-su25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1920" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgNEqctjLFbIMxbbyK0nVbiA9WiTajIvcG-AU320iBm7l2bQJpszVs6PhKxxEPYwpV9pEKCwRF_OplmRWi5TTaQ3nkQ9_ub2nnj0x2DZoKAjr9XPx81vsa92e7cOcVeOmynnz1-N8Sug/w400-h239/bulgaria-su25.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Bulgarian Air Force <a href="https://twitter.com/krasi_grozev/status/1445359880060252169">SU-25 </a>and accessories in a Tetris Challenge. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A Tardigrade has been found <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/05/world/tardigrade-fossil-amber-scn/index.html">fossilized in amber.</a> Cue theme music for a tiny Jurassic Park.</div><div><br /></div><div>Get your groove on with <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tycho/red-rocks-dj-set-2021">Tycho's Red Rocks DJ set</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Long story - <a href="https://quillette.com/2021/10/04/pistol-shot-rocker-crocked/">Phil Collins and Johnny Rotten</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Never miss an episode of Ze Frank's True Facts. Here are two: <a href="https://youtu.be/Hz_DslzN2IA">The Mosquito</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/giqtGYLQ_xM">Lurking in the Deep</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tom Peters reminds us that <a href="https://tompeters.com/2021/10/hard-is-soft-soft-is-hard/">hard is soft and soft is hard</a>. I had this conversion with our interns over the summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Only a poor artist blames their instrument. So enjoy art made from <a href="https://www.bryanbraun.com/2021/09/21/i-keep-making-things-out-of-checkboxes/">checkboxes</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just became aware of (and ordered) John Coltrane's <a href="https://jazz.centerstagestore.com/pages/john-coltrane">A Love Supreme - Live in Seattle.</a> There's a preview at the site worth listening to.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of live music, here's Steve Reich's <a href="https://youtu.be/R36S3Kldj80">Music for 18 Musicians performed live in Paris</a> in 1976.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgccRbQPK7dkDg41YDCnPrNhTFC9olo6mW6F5rHFv2xQ4szXdItJ0PLV6zo8eZmF2m9q8_-baqwxSfvd4kTpfzokGPLtKU8tyctDFINvARqSlKQCYI5_3Q9r1R2NjGI0YjDY_bbgkxZ8/s678/F-22-Raptor-slow-motion-video.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="678" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgccRbQPK7dkDg41YDCnPrNhTFC9olo6mW6F5rHFv2xQ4szXdItJ0PLV6zo8eZmF2m9q8_-baqwxSfvd4kTpfzokGPLtKU8tyctDFINvARqSlKQCYI5_3Q9r1R2NjGI0YjDY_bbgkxZ8/w400-h225/F-22-Raptor-slow-motion-video.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are many reasons why The Aviationist is on my list of must-read blogs when it comes up in my RSS feed. Here's one of those reasons - a <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2021/10/28/f-22-raptor-slow-mo-video-2021/">fabulous slo-mo video of the F-22</a>. I could watch this for hours.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><a href="https://bronnieware.com/blog/regrets-of-the-dying/">Regrets of the dying</a> might seem a little morbid but they do offer life lessons. #3 I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.</div><div><br /></div><div>CTO Pradeep Dass calls his hypersonic aircraft "<a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/hypersonic-space-plane-sexbomb">Sexbomb</a>." Send bombs and vagene?</div><div><br /></div><div>There are many candidates for the <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/oscars-2022-best-animated-short-film-at-least-84-films-qualify-exclusive-210217.html">best animated short film Oscar</a>. The one that stands out to me for its wonderful geometric animation is Any Instant Whatever by Michelle Brand. </div><div><br /></div><div>What do you need to know about <a href="https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/basics-quantum-mechanics/">quantum physics</a>? #3 Many things will be discrete versus continuous.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxz10EF48IXMxFUgL8uiygtgo93ZX-Oyy5zec2sy2u8zZ09A_oQnvdhQiFbvpYCREXi2QucuePONdolJ9ud8hlfVub7yW_Y0oGMignCv5t6JXZvpcM338DbJkrUZG4Ln5Vfdv06ACBeo/s559/agness-martin-untitled-44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="559" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxz10EF48IXMxFUgL8uiygtgo93ZX-Oyy5zec2sy2u8zZ09A_oQnvdhQiFbvpYCREXi2QucuePONdolJ9ud8hlfVub7yW_Y0oGMignCv5t6JXZvpcM338DbJkrUZG4Ln5Vfdv06ACBeo/w400-h396/agness-martin-untitled-44.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe the $17 million paid for <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the-macklowe-collection/untitled-44">Agnes Martin's Untitled #44 </a>is a record for the artist.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b>...can be heard in the universe.</b> ~Lao Tzu (incorrectly attributed)</div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-6367477384266787502021-09-05T19:44:00.000-05:002021-09-05T19:44:14.674-05:00Where can I find a man who has forgotten words...<p>This guy <a href="https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/10/unter/">doesn't like Uber</a>.</p><p>And here are the tunes.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Weigh Anchor will be the first album from a new band formed by Markus Reuter. Here's video of the track <a href="https://youtu.be/9q3rxaKeZV4">Knot 1</a>. (Will buy this as soon as it becomes available.)</li><li><a href="https://eivindaarset.bandcamp.com/album/phantasmagoria-or-a-different-kind-of-journey">Phantasmagoria</a>, Or A Different Kind of Journey by the Eivind Aarset 4-tet. (Ordered.) Some <a href="https://youtu.be/1onVgft1J88">excerpts</a>.</li><li>California Guitar Trio opened for King Crimson when we saw them on tour recently (see below) so it was a no-brainer to get <a href="https://californiaguitartrio.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-scottsdale-on-tour-with-king-crimson-ep">Live in Scottsdale on Tour With King Crimson</a>. For a video version of some of what's on the album, see <a href="https://youtu.be/cQxD8uVpdAM">this</a>.</li><li><a href="https://sandroivobartoli.bandcamp.com/album/giacomo-puccini-complete-piano-works-and-selected-opera-transcriptions">Giacomo Puccini: The Complete Piano Works and Selected Opera Transcriptions</a> </li><li><a href="https://marconiunion.bandcamp.com/album/signals">Signals</a>, the latest from Marconi Union coming this November.</li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWj9wuktoGIs5eMjhP-Bd8FnZNmnChwdZAnQXSOGlJH8c7i00qlkrYEFqUXgM_0PsXj7hLCA92kS4KRT5avX7K9COKrCb5u_DP9kIodulW2qTek9pjO0Z3aqcGC84cVfLy-rmSNwa188/s872/shock-waves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWj9wuktoGIs5eMjhP-Bd8FnZNmnChwdZAnQXSOGlJH8c7i00qlkrYEFqUXgM_0PsXj7hLCA92kS4KRT5avX7K9COKrCb5u_DP9kIodulW2qTek9pjO0Z3aqcGC84cVfLy-rmSNwa188/w321-h400/shock-waves.png" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a beautiful photo of aerodynamics at work. But it doesn't necessarily mean that the aircraft was travelling supersonically. <a href="https://9gag.com/gag/a3EgjDv">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>If you don't recognize the name <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41892/new-light-shed-on-the-once-top-secret-tacit-blue-aircraft-by-veteran-program-manager">Tacit Blue</a>, you won't want to watch this video interview with a former program manager. </div><p></p><p>A <a href="https://thenextweb.com/news/google-may-have-achieved-breakthrough-time-crystals">time crystal</a> can provide coherence within a quantum computer which can make them much more practical. Google may have create them.</p><p>Not to be outdone, physicists discovered a new particle, the <a href="https://phys.org/news/2021-07-exotic-particle-tetraquark.html">tetraquark</a>, which is an exotic exotic hadron because it has two charm quarks and and up and a down antiquark. And if those explanations mean anything to you, let me know.</p><p>We saw King Crimson perform in Fort Worth recently. Here's what <a href="https://tonylevin.com/road-diaries/king-crimson-2021-us-tour/ft-worth-show">Tony Levin had to say about that show</a>. Here's a more i<a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/03/king-crimson-concert-tour-tony-levin-interview/5438564001/">n-depth interview</a> with Tony.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2-WCwRSacll_4S-tFu9UrFQtiuHpQ9gorQywcQJRbslwbcjJqmW5ydxDKbvAC3Domr28nMpHJZt59llKGHGFKwjfS2hyphenhyphenh3dxWnfIIUcvmYxjDBE83d6Qsug9JHNZadfAOpF-FB_61go/s800/sponge-fossil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2-WCwRSacll_4S-tFu9UrFQtiuHpQ9gorQywcQJRbslwbcjJqmW5ydxDKbvAC3Domr28nMpHJZt59llKGHGFKwjfS2hyphenhyphenh3dxWnfIIUcvmYxjDBE83d6Qsug9JHNZadfAOpF-FB_61go/w400-h200/sponge-fossil.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02066-9">world's oldest animal </a>look like in fossil form? Those wiggles on the left.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of fossils, when a <a href="https://www.livescience.com/rare-turtle-embryo-from-dinosaur-age.html">human-sized turtle lays an egg that never hatches</a>, you can learn a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Can a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/science/brain-fossil-horseshoe-crab.html">brain become fossilized</a>? And I'm not referring to Republicans. Seems so.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWx5shOeiv6eKnpigVENo7msjQ6vjvBagwNqq7CnHVsnOSYV-wZ6LNeI2LNEWTGTo0cfZxpzyxcQ4DKs2zeHr5Rv89tsRQfDcKXd9DwNOR23E1ItPDYIIil7LAIaN8-rdxSyuD2YuZY4A/s2048/relative_abundance_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2048" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWx5shOeiv6eKnpigVENo7msjQ6vjvBagwNqq7CnHVsnOSYV-wZ6LNeI2LNEWTGTo0cfZxpzyxcQ4DKs2zeHr5Rv89tsRQfDcKXd9DwNOR23E1ItPDYIIil7LAIaN8-rdxSyuD2YuZY4A/w400-h319/relative_abundance_2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A periodic table of the elements sized by relative abundance. <a href="https://www.meta-synthesis.com/webbook/35_pt/pt_database.php?PT_id=321">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>How about a <a href="https://periodic.donghwi.dev/">3D periodic table</a>?<br /><p>If you can figure out exactly what to do with <a href="https://lab.hakim.se/trassel/">Trassel</a>, let me know.</p><p>And there's nothing to do with <a href="https://www.bryanbraun.com/after-dark-css/all/flying-toasters.html">Flying Toasters</a>.</p><p><b>...so I can talk with him?</b> ~Chuang Tzu</p></div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-68790059949493384972021-08-14T20:59:00.000-05:002021-08-14T20:59:02.843-05:00Only fools...<p>If you've got 17 minutes, this is a nice video showing how the Tate museum <a href="https://youtu.be/AGqAggmwyMU">restored a vandalized Rothko</a>.</p><p>runDisney is back. And by that I mean they're selling <a href="https://www.rundisney.com/events/">registrations for in-person runs</a>. And we're hoping that Covid-19 Delta doesn't mess that up. (Thanks, unvaccinated.)</p><p>I'm a <a href="https://www.gimp.org/">GIMP</a> man when it comes to image editing (and my skill set is very lean). But I'm interested in <a href="https://www.photopea.com/">Photopea</a>, an online photo editor.</p><p>Even more interesting is <a href="https://ojoy.zaps.dev/">Ojoy</a> for scaling up images while improving its quality. (Because usually when you scale up an image the quality goes in the toilet.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOnikdlHUGmWs1v2kZaMOq3rzQIOK8mkDwIlmvGGT7oZSx0i41UQPlLk_TJRLhFkWlVM3LxDR8sqvDOkMTCrdPdA1e9ZlVgVxcUMIyyVsratlKqii8Sh7EqdIvibJoxTmz-iC0bfTcSg/s480/Untitled_in_honor_of_Harold_Joachim_by_Dan_Flavin_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="480" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOnikdlHUGmWs1v2kZaMOq3rzQIOK8mkDwIlmvGGT7oZSx0i41UQPlLk_TJRLhFkWlVM3LxDR8sqvDOkMTCrdPdA1e9ZlVgVxcUMIyyVsratlKqii8Sh7EqdIvibJoxTmz-iC0bfTcSg/w400-h376/Untitled_in_honor_of_Harold_Joachim_by_Dan_Flavin_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Flavin, Untitled (in honor of Harold Joachim). Sometimes you just want minimalism. <a href="https://www.atxfinearts.com/blogs/news/famous-minimalist-art">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Brian Eno launched a radio station, <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/sonos/program-1-introducing-the-lighthouse-from-brian-eno/">Lighthouse</a>, on Sonos Radio. I really like Eno's music but I can't generate enough interest to listen to online radio.</p><p>But I will paraphrase one of Eno's quotes. "The great benefit of computers is that they remove the issue of skill, and replace it with the issue of judgement."</p><p>Music I'm thinking about.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://glacialmovements.bandcamp.com/album/observer-effect">Observer Effect </a>by John Sellekaers on Glacial Movements</li><li><a href="https://asafsirkis.bandcamp.com/album/solar-flash">Solar Flash</a> by Asaf Sirkis (purchased)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/Xtg-3gsqLaA">Aufbruch</a> by J. Peter Schwalm and Markus Reuter (official video)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/GiGZMsnu_ME">Shasta Road,</a> a track from NOWNESS by Jerry Granelli & Jamie Saft</li><li><a href="https://ultimae.bandcamp.com/album/a-period-24bit">(a) period</a> by AES Dana</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/PbGEa7ju8bg">The Ice Bridge </a>by Yes from their new album The Quest</li><li><a href="https://morphsound.bandcamp.com/album/m-orph-artist-series">(m)OPRH</a> Artist Series remix</li></ul><div>And in case you've ever wondered about how influential the Blade Runner score was on electronic music, here's <a href="https://www.factmag.com/2017/10/04/blade-runner-documentary/">Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats</a>.</div><p></p><p>A brief interview with the artist about <a href="https://www.papercitymag.com/arts/fort-worth-dallas-sean-scully-the-modern-museum/">Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas</a>.</p><p>It might not seem like much, but <a href="https://msalt.com/">M SALT</a>'s mix of salt, pepper, and garlic salt is pretty good and versatile. </p><p>The <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2021/07/16/xb-70-close-up-images/">XB-70</a>'s cockpit.</p><p><a href="https://www.openculture.com/2015/01/akira-kurosawas-list-of-his-100-favorite-movies.html">Kurasowa's 100 favorite movies</a> is probably worth taking a look at. Those that I've seen include It's a Wonderful Life, A Streetcar Named Desire, Gojira, Lawrence of Arabia, The Birds, The Day of the Jackal, The Godfather Part II, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Killing Fields. Which is probably more than either you or I thought.</p><p>Need <a href="https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/">sound effects</a>? The BBC has 'em.</p><p><b>...don't contradict themselves.</b> ~Andre Gide</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-80609757311526612702021-08-02T16:44:00.000-05:002021-08-02T16:44:25.884-05:00When you realize nothing is lacking...<p>Just a reminder that the <a href="https://www.wcairrace.com/about">World Championship Air Race</a> is set to return in 2022.</p><p>This is 100% true and if you're a fan of abstract painting I urge you to seek out <a href="https://www.ideelart.com/magazine/norman-lewis-artist">Norman Lewis, a Neglected Gem of Abstract Expressionism</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/four-bacterial-strains-discovered-on-the-iss-may-help-grow-better-space-plants">Bacteria unknown to science</a> were found on the International Space Station. (Cue sci-fi movie intro music.)</p><p>Continuing on the theme of things new to science, a study of <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/2-000-year-old-feces-fossils-reveal-mass-extinction-in-the-human-gut">2,000 year old fossilized human feces</a> indicates a) we have a much less diverse gut biome these days and b) we used to have things in our gut that are totally new to modern humans.</p><p>Continuing with the butt theme, <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/05/15/japanese-scientists-say-breathing-through-rectums-saved-mice/">breathing through their rectums </a>saved oxygen-deprived mice.</p><p>And back to poop: new species of beetle discovered in <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/02/world/new-beetle-species-fossil-dinosaur-feces-scn/index.html">230 million year old fossilized poop</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIhGq_6U2hFD3AYHJodgNN_IWqVE3kpLoyegOZd6qnm4OlY1j5TkkzwG8VYPEgx9ECjlPcnRa5Dt2pcI1KP57ymRwSiku51ISAqXHpA_Y3oBhDOYBksujOuDAQudaXS72puy3O7j4GkM/s546/ellsworth-kelly-colors-for-a-large-wall-1951.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="545" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIhGq_6U2hFD3AYHJodgNN_IWqVE3kpLoyegOZd6qnm4OlY1j5TkkzwG8VYPEgx9ECjlPcnRa5Dt2pcI1KP57ymRwSiku51ISAqXHpA_Y3oBhDOYBksujOuDAQudaXS72puy3O7j4GkM/w399-h400/ellsworth-kelly-colors-for-a-large-wall-1951.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ellsworth Kelly, Colors for a Large Wall, 1951. <a href="https://www.wikiart.org/en/ellsworth-kelly/colors-for-a-large-wall-1951">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>You can now create a <a href="https://www.vestigebrand.com/collections/vestige-x-albers">custom t-shirt featuring Josef Albers' Homage to the Square</a>.</p><p>The one immediate problem I have with the article <a href="https://mymodernmet.com/abstract-expressionism/">6 Famous Abstract Expressionists Who Boldly Defined the Movement</a> is use of the word "famous." </p><p>Markus Reuter's "Living the Dream" podcast continues with an interview with <a href="https://youtu.be/IwapfJalPqw">Leonardo "MoonJune" Pavkovic</a>, owner of MoonJune Records of which I am a happy subscriber.</p><p>Markus Reuter also interviews <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvAToW00UB2GbSGAMktW5_1DPE924Gj6r">Trey Gunn</a>, currently on part 4 of 10.</p><p>From a list of <a href="https://kk.org/thetechnium/99-additional-bits-of-unsolicited-advice/">99 bits of unsolicited advice</a>, "If you meet a jerk, overlook them. If you meet jerks everywhere everyday, look deeper into yourself."</p><p>More maps: <a href="https://anvaka.github.io/city-roads/?q=fort%20worth&areaId=3600115274">draw all the roads in a city</a>.</p><p>A map of the U.S. <a href="https://www.vox.com/2015/8/19/9178979/united-states-population">scaled by the states' populations</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYJA11aUw1G5MZqI6WSm4TriF4vpZoqBLb2iYjVy3aQ0iLYOJNcnaKJuQ4yJVta5DqTWpyOp1896Wt3cY_DPWL_AEio1l33EEnlzJG65Lxg_bW8LL6-AXPJf4QrzsyF4jZHqX2844fGQ/s960/pantone-pee.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYJA11aUw1G5MZqI6WSm4TriF4vpZoqBLb2iYjVy3aQ0iLYOJNcnaKJuQ4yJVta5DqTWpyOp1896Wt3cY_DPWL_AEio1l33EEnlzJG65Lxg_bW8LL6-AXPJf4QrzsyF4jZHqX2844fGQ/w400-h225/pantone-pee.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Leave it to the folks at Pantone to come up with a color chart letting you know <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14764653/scale-different-shades-yellow-show-drink-water/">whether you're peeing frequently enough</a>. (Just like mom used to say, have two pale urinations a day.)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Just a nice <a href="https://ptable.com/#Properties">interactive period table</a>.</p><p>Music that's on my mind.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Debut album from <a href="https://kscopemusic.com/artists/trifecta/">Trifecta </a>(Nick Beggs, Adam Holzman, Craig Blundell). </li><li><a href="https://burningshed.com/the-grid-fripp_leviathan_cd-dvda">Leviathan </a>by The Grid/Fripp - purchased</li><li>Don't forget that Robert Fripp released on YouTube over the course of a year a 52-part <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnpw-XH5DOFvCUsuoNNbUlRDns-sfxpp">Music for Quiet Moments</a> series.</li><li><a href="https://subsoundrecords.bandcamp.com/album/doom-jazz">Doom Jazz</a> by Swami Lateplate (aka Bobby Previte and Jamie Saft) - ordered </li><li><a href="https://markusreuter.bandcamp.com/album/gratitude-vol-2">Gratitude, Vol. 2</a> by Markus Reuter - purchased</li><li><a href="https://subsoundrecords.bandcamp.com/album/blues-and-doped-flowers-from-twenty-three-years-after-eschaton-2">Blues and Doped Flowers from Twenty Three Years After Eschaton</a> by Sigillum S | Macelleria Mobile di Mezzanotte - purchased</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/id1nBI-dpak">Sound Visions</a>, a video mini-documentary of Michael Manring's recording of last year's album Small Moments, one of my favorites of 2020.</li><li><a href="https://stephanthelen.bandcamp.com/album/crossings">Crossings</a> by Jon Durant and Stephan Thelen - purchased</li><li><a href="https://txtrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/tensegrity-vol-3">Tensegrity Vol. 3</a> by TXT Recordings - waiting for CD release</li><li><a href="https://garyhusband.bandcamp.com/album/the-things-i-see-interpretations-of-the-music-of-allan-holdsworth">The Things I See</a>: Interpretations of the Music of Allan Holdsworth by Gary Husband - purchased</li><li>Eraldo Bernocchi's rework of <a href="https://youtu.be/V23iPZxtTQ4">All Around You</a></li><li><a href="https://claudioscolariproject.bandcamp.com/">Cosmology</a> by Claudio Scolari Project</li><li><a href="https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/the-art-of-noise-noise-in-the-city-live-in-tokyo-1986/">Noise in the City</a>: Live in Tokyo, 1986 by Art of Noise - ordered</li><li><a href="https://n5md.bandcamp.com/album/the-loss-of-wilderness">The Loss of Wilderness</a> by ILUITEQ - ordered</li><li>J<a href="https://jamiesaft.bandcamp.com/album/jamie-saft-plays-joe-morris">amie Saft Plays Joe Morris</a> by Jamie Saft - purchased</li><li><a href="https://mahavishnujohnmclaughlin.bandcamp.com/album/liberation-time">Liberation Time</a> by John McLaughlin</li></ul><p></p><p>ICYMI, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-9fb2ebcc70b1787c65628412412b2851">Jason Matthews</a>, author of the Red Sparrow trilogy, has died. That trilogy got me more excited about espionage thrillers than anything since Clancy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3U6tcCDsXSF0s1Wb_JZ6oW4qJD0wQchy4-XgmEGNaoF79dhqJpLIQUjVbSNVUiu_OpCL9iZXvpj9lK_JFuWa4uZHMG9wFiABuC5Mw7Ux9qLqUxu7SClel3XZDNNsJZSR_WhuPmYfl30/s1024/scully.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3U6tcCDsXSF0s1Wb_JZ6oW4qJD0wQchy4-XgmEGNaoF79dhqJpLIQUjVbSNVUiu_OpCL9iZXvpj9lK_JFuWa4uZHMG9wFiABuC5Mw7Ux9qLqUxu7SClel3XZDNNsJZSR_WhuPmYfl30/w400-h300/scully.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This set of paintings "Black Windows" emerged from <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/sean-scully-12-black-windows-lisson-gallery-1971997">Sean Scully's time in Covid lockdown</a>. One of them is currently in the exhibition at The Modern in Fort Worth.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Another map that lets you follow a raindrop along all the rivers in America: <a href="https://river-runner.samlearner.com/">River Runner.</a></p><p>An interactive map of <a href="https://geodienst.github.io/lighthousemap/">lighthouses</a>.</p><p>The A-10 is basically a flying 30mm cannon. <a href="https://youtu.be/UH07uffv26M">This video shows how it works</a>.</p><p>Couldn't visit <a href="https://www.waltdisney.org/store/new/walt-disney-studios-and-wwii-exhibition-booklet">The Walt Disney Studios and World War II</a> at the Walt Disney Family Museum but I could get the exhibition catalog (which I enjoyed reading).</p><p>Food and art. I know <a href="https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/dining/alison-cook-cafe-leonelli-does-best-casual-16201741">where I'll be eating</a> next time I visit MFAH.</p><p>For you historians, a trove of <a href="https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/documents/">Apollo-era documents</a>.</p><p><a href="https://kimbellart.org/exhibition/turners-modern-world">JMW Turner</a> coming to the Kimbell this fall.</p><p>Need some <a href="https://mynoise.net/noiseMachines.php">background noise and/or ambience</a>? </p><p>True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/eb6ja96y6Ps">Wild Pigs</a>.</p><p>How to <a href="https://youtu.be/AGqAggmwyMU">restore a vandalized Rothko</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJWozRW_fFEGo_npLLEheltbTMWidUWku9Oh-6bQE14XkAXOW8zIHvdm2ZqqvxYP0hdDRs0L6z8ohDWSdxBGIUgst7mULGUr2BDbpchn8LpN3GxrsK-bOQw_3FezzpzdUt5wCWhBeTH8/s1280/helen-frankenthaler-barometer-painting+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1280" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJWozRW_fFEGo_npLLEheltbTMWidUWku9Oh-6bQE14XkAXOW8zIHvdm2ZqqvxYP0hdDRs0L6z8ohDWSdxBGIUgst7mULGUr2BDbpchn8LpN3GxrsK-bOQw_3FezzpzdUt5wCWhBeTH8/w400-h314/helen-frankenthaler-barometer-painting+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would never have guessed this painting was by Helen Frankenthaler (Barometer, 1992). Which is a reminder (to me) to not pigeonhole artists. <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/helen-frankenthaler-color-field-landscape-american-abstraction/">source</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Hours of pleasure. And cookies. <a href="https://oreoreo.glitch.me/oreo">Oreoreo</a>.</p><p><a href="https://popcat.click/">Popcat</a>. Because.</p><p>OK then, <a href="https://remoji.com/">REMOJI</a>. </p><p><b>...the whole world belongs to you.</b> ~Lao Tzu</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-44890280455541804562021-07-30T16:39:00.001-05:002021-07-31T05:28:01.557-05:00Precision, Machinery, War, Destruction, Beauty, and Art<p>A couple years ago I saw the exhibit <a href="https://dma.org/art/exhibitions/cult-machine-precisionism-and-american-art">Cult of the Machine: Precisionism in American Art</a> at the Dallas Museum of Art. In addition to seeing a startlingly beautiful and unique Georgia O'Keeffe, the exhibit left me with such a positive impression that I used a quote from the curator in a presentation I gave at a CFD conference shortly thereafter. After all, precisionism was a movement that depicted in art the glory and power of technological and architectural development and in America in the 1920s and 1930s. And CFD is nothing if not precision.</p><p>Through a recent article in the WSJ on the exhibit <a href="https://www.brandywine.org/museum/exhibitions/ralston-crawford-air-space-war">Ralston Crawford: Air + Space + War</a>, I found a fork in the Precisionist road. Crawford's work matured during WWII when he had access to a variety of aircraft settings (flights, factories) and post-war nuclear testing - including being in the U.S. Army. That exposure to death and destruction greatly influenced his work, retaining the flatness and precision of Precisionism while introducing an element of chaos that heightens the work's emotional appeal. </p><p>Certainly my initial attraction was the usual juxtaposition of several of my interests (painting, aircraft, nuclear weapons development). But upon reading the exhibition catalog and learning about the development of Crawford's work and how it fits with his contemporaries (the chapter on aviation art was really interesting) I found myself loving his painting solely on its own merits - the shift of perspective, the rough edges, the colors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeiLWND_n5vBoZNsD04pZo3yUeGAeYXtzzktZivqfFmcxPhCh5lVFvMdkTQxx26Dpvuj4r1kRl23dGgs7JH6fTLuCZ9MSXw3IDalv3wzu2YX_vHjkgKgcCD1zZTAUYvri8QuAxxt_hQs/s983/Screenshot+2021-07-30+4.29.25+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="983" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjeiLWND_n5vBoZNsD04pZo3yUeGAeYXtzzktZivqfFmcxPhCh5lVFvMdkTQxx26Dpvuj4r1kRl23dGgs7JH6fTLuCZ9MSXw3IDalv3wzu2YX_vHjkgKgcCD1zZTAUYvri8QuAxxt_hQs/w400-h329/Screenshot+2021-07-30+4.29.25+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>So if you're in Pennsylvania, I recommend heading over to the <a href="https://www.brandywine.org/museum">Brandywine River Museum of Art</a> before the exhibition closes on 19 Sept. For everyone else, here's a <a href="https://youtu.be/bbhE_qZvsFg">video walkthrough </a>that deserves more than 72 views. </p><p><br /></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-7253815889920656632021-07-11T08:59:00.000-05:002021-07-11T08:59:20.730-05:00On Vaccination <p>At what point do we just throw our hands up and say to the anti-vax (or the white-washed "vaccine-hesitant") people, "Fine. Don't get vaccinated. Get sick and die."</p><p>Because I've gotten to feeling that way more and more often.</p><p>Well, the simple answer is you don't. You go back to protecting the public health.</p><p>Because C-19 vaccination is at best only half about personal health.</p><p>Remember that COVID-19 (which should've been called SARS-2) is a pandemic and a national emergency. Which is why the other half of vaccination's importance is public health.</p><p>Each unvaccinated person is a walking petri dish for the virus and an enabler of its transmission and mutation. As long as the virus transmits, the unvaccinated will get sick and die. If that isn't bad enough, these walking virus hosts will give SARS-CoV-2 the opportunity to mutate. Mutations happen all the time and most are benign but there's always the possibility of something worse than the delta variant, worse in the sense of it being immune to the current vaccines. Which would put us all back at square one.</p><p>Not feeling compassion for your fellow citizens? How about the sheer economic cost of closed businesses, the strain on hospitals, the federal expense? Can you be motivated by your wallet?</p><p>Sadly, everything about preventing SARS-2 applies to the flu. Get vaccinated, stay home when you're sick, wash your hands. If we all followed those guidelines for the flu, the annual gains in productivity (or decrease in lost productivity) would be enormous. Nothing about remediating SARS-2 is new. It just highlights so many shortcomings in society. (One of which is the abject failure of public education to impart a basic understanding of virology and statistics with which we probably would be in an entirely different situation today.)</p><p>Do you have the right to refuse to be vaccinated? Sure. But that doesn't mean society has to accommodate your personal choice. Kids gotta be vaccinated (and prove as much) to attend school. Why should you not have to do the same to return to work or public events? You have freedom of choice but all choices come with consequences.</p><p>It's as though half the country is waiting to see World War Z outside their front door before they'll even consider driving over to CVS for a jab. FOR FREE.</p><p>To say that I'm disappointed would be an understatement. Surprised? Not so much.</p><p>Get vaccinated.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-89106815752657847582021-07-10T15:34:00.000-05:002021-07-10T15:34:55.649-05:00There is no way to happiness.<p>Drumming but visualized as <a href="https://youtu.be/vw9vjEB1S2Y">bouncing balls</a>.</p><p>Free pictures of <a href="https://www.cleanpng.com/free/monkey.html">monkeys</a>.</p><p>Here's a Houston Chronicle article about the renovated <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-At-50-Rothko-Chapel-still-mystifies-15990372.php">Rothko Chapel</a>. If the real thing is even close to the photo at the top of the article with the improved natural lighting, it'll be like a whole new experience - in a great way.</p><p>If you like the Vim text editor, you may like browsing the web with <a href="https://vimium.github.io/">vimium</a>, a Chrome extension.</p><p>In the beginning, there was a<a href="https://www.livescience.com/first-matter-perfect-liquid.htm"> perfect fluid</a> (aka quark-gluon plasma).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ8l2sZJQkmSKl9_cep9_jkKn2nhk3qKyQDWIcUsgQOty2Kry5XXFys-smyUJVTD4kzxzGu6wN2SKYhlBXm-dopXwbSyy5SGSgxGouLFMUHTtKV3cB0oM-PTen1eEA3wm_QX3JqXVmVQ/s1536/still.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1536" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJ8l2sZJQkmSKl9_cep9_jkKn2nhk3qKyQDWIcUsgQOty2Kry5XXFys-smyUJVTD4kzxzGu6wN2SKYhlBXm-dopXwbSyy5SGSgxGouLFMUHTtKV3cB0oM-PTen1eEA3wm_QX3JqXVmVQ/w400-h270/still.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clyfford Still, <a href="https://collection.clyffordstillmuseum.org/object/pp-1394">PH-1394</a>, 1979.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A couple of years ago, I got to see fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls that were on tour as a museum exhibit. Just recently, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/dead-sea-scrolls-discoveries-are-first-ancient-bible-texts-be-n1261182">new fragments have been discovered</a>.</p><p>Speaking of discoveries, a secret Cold War project in Greenland drilled some ice cores and then forgot about them in storage. When rediscovered, they were found to contain <a href="https://www.livescience.com/plants-under-greenland-ice.html">fossilized plants</a>.</p><p>To celebrate Tony Levin's 70th birthday, Unquiet Music compile and released <a href="https://unquietmusicltd.bandcamp.com/album/prog-noir-unquiet-remix-with-tlev-collage-free-download">Prog Noir (Unquiet Remix with TLEV Collage) </a>which is available for free (or name your price).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg842sslLLt5ESCFRj3OajGVD6PeGrVCXzCKm5P7Xb5onx9JMvRPdzDFTfa2MSZz3X0ZEpg9bM2LHttJaKFX1yYaRYH57d78-ZuJ3PzVVfBu8Izw0iphytBaRtbW0AAVYAQehXh8iquMks/s1500/ab18_in_js_sam_gilliam_installation_05_lo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg842sslLLt5ESCFRj3OajGVD6PeGrVCXzCKm5P7Xb5onx9JMvRPdzDFTfa2MSZz3X0ZEpg9bM2LHttJaKFX1yYaRYH57d78-ZuJ3PzVVfBu8Izw0iphytBaRtbW0AAVYAQehXh8iquMks/w400-h266/ab18_in_js_sam_gilliam_installation_05_lo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Gilliam, The Color of Music, 1967-1973 (<a href="https://www.galeriemagazine.com/sam-gilliam-career-milestones-pace/">source</a>). Lush, rippling with understated energy, with a nearly hidden lyrical line. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>How about a wee bit of King Crimson in the form of a "remnant" from the recording of THRAK: <a href="https://youtu.be/vKHyhBpqou4">Did We Make the Album?</a></p><p>Yet another reminder that the <a href="https://www.wcairrace.com/">World Championship Air Race</a> (nee Red Bull Air Race) is coming back in 2022.</p><p>If you're a fan of the band <a href="https://youtu.be/vnaLCHcg3lY">Stick Men</a> (Markus Reuter, Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin) you can enjoy recorded web event with the band and fans talking about the history.</p><p>ICYMI, Kansas (yes, the band) has a new live album, <a href="https://youtu.be/6s0kt7BfadM">Point of Know Return</a>.</p><p>Excellent 4-part series of articles on <a href="https://blog.datawrapper.de/which-color-scale-to-use-in-data-vis/">which color scale to use when visualizing data</a>. </p><p>Gluons glue together quarks to form protons and neutrons. The odd thing (pun intended) about gluons is that odd numbers of them don't like to be together; only even numbers of gluons are typically found. Well, science has proven the existence of <a href="https://gizmodo.com/physicists-discover-the-elusive-odderon-first-predicte-1846513075">odderons</a> (a clump of an odd number of gluons) by smashing together protons at high speed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9mgN0Ne14G724dBgXvx3O2tP5jFmbMYIhLqvtgGsVnJiJ2qh1tXzYecUa_5AO15ozvaivKRhB4rgeSCA2ntf9QrBLHWINJYKUrM8peMg17Oc6rLx0gMx9xvl1AebjEln0Lw4fdlxR04/s800/2021-03-26-apt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="800" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9mgN0Ne14G724dBgXvx3O2tP5jFmbMYIhLqvtgGsVnJiJ2qh1tXzYecUa_5AO15ozvaivKRhB4rgeSCA2ntf9QrBLHWINJYKUrM8peMg17Oc6rLx0gMx9xvl1AebjEln0Lw4fdlxR04/w400-h141/2021-03-26-apt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Futility Closet: "Walt Disney World <a href="https://www.futilitycloset.com/2021/03/26/apt-4/">draws its power </a>from a pylon surmounted by a circular steel tube and two elliptical rings."</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The taste of chocolate comes, in part, from <a href="https://theconversation.com/chocolates-secret-ingredient-is-the-fermenting-microbes-that-make-it-taste-so-good-155552">fermentation</a>. I did not know that.</p><p>The notional <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/f-36-kingsnake-fighter-us-air-forces-nissan-300zx-180597">F-36 Kingsnake</a> is a fighter aircraft to replace the F-16. It is compared to a Nissan 300ZX and because I'm not a car guy I have no idea what that means.</p><p>Yes. It's time for True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/7z36Hk92Lfc">The Bats!</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/MdExxcRrC9g">Trap Jaw Ants</a>.</p><p>A long article on how <a href="https://prospect.org/power/islands-in-the-stream-spotify-youtube-music-monopoly/">the music industry is strangling economically the musicians </a>from whom they make their money.</p><p>Enjoy <a href="https://youtu.be/OSNVo6bZGUs">Hypersonic</a> from the new Liquid Tension Experiment album.</p><p>Baby born with <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/04/02/baby-boy-born-with-three-penises-makes-history/">3 penises </a>makes history. Because 2 penises was a snoozer, apparently.</p><p>A beginner's guide to <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-foggy-wilderness-of-ambient-music-91742">ambient music</a>.</p><p>Based on imagery from the JAXA Kaguya Orbiter, enjoy <a href="https://youtu.be/9-bSG1q5MJg">Earthrise in 4k UHD</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutx5-wgcvQRqb0_AEZNPBmeiWEfNQ_8_s-fjafquKs5GzQVHl6LJM7LEazelI1bsHQnhn_ClvL5OPeIYma4CcoY_OG9Ja7oIifa5qcojtn1079EtLpiMv-CphnYZJ85ZxQq27LdA8ZoY/s706/Concept-NGAD.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="706" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutx5-wgcvQRqb0_AEZNPBmeiWEfNQ_8_s-fjafquKs5GzQVHl6LJM7LEazelI1bsHQnhn_ClvL5OPeIYma4CcoY_OG9Ja7oIifa5qcojtn1079EtLpiMv-CphnYZJ85ZxQq27LdA8ZoY/w400-h224/Concept-NGAD.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It'll be interesting to see how closely this bit of concept art matches the actual configuration of the <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/12/new-concept-art-of-the-next-generation-air-dominance-ngad-featured-in-air-force-report/">Next Generation Air Dominance</a> fighter (i.e. the F-22 replacement).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Give a listen to a preview track called <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/12/new-concept-art-of-the-next-generation-air-dominance-ngad-featured-in-air-force-report/">The Giant Nothing</a> from Supervoid.</p><p>What happens when <a href="https://theamericanscholar.org/poetry-in-the-abstract/">scientists write haiku</a>?</p><p><a href="https://ny.eater.com/2021/4/22/22394614/a-tribute-to-great-nyc-sandwiches">Yummy sandwiches</a>.</p><p>Opening 20 June at The Modern is <a href="https://www.themodern.org/exhibition/sean-scully-shape-ideas">Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas</a>.</p><p><a href="https://gamesforcrows.itch.io/feels">Feels</a>. It's like Where's Waldo but with emojis.</p><p>Said to be a classic and a very approachable introduction to the subject, Thompson's Calculus Made Easy (1910) is now available in an online <a href="http://calculusmadeeasy.org/">HTML version</a> and a <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33283/33283-pdf.pdf">PDF version</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.fatherly.com/news/classic-n64-game-goldeneye-price/">Goldeneye 007 for N64</a> is worth a lot of money today.</p><p>This could be very handy: <a href="https://ojoy.zaps.dev/">Ojoy</a>, upscale an image while improving its quality.</p><p>Do you like <a href="http://www.slightlyinteresting.com/lavalamp/lava.asp">Lava Lamps</a>?</p><p>Ze Frank's True Facts is at it again: <a href="https://youtu.be/chT3sbLvlt4">Deception in the Rainforest</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/RVca0LuEDaQ">Dangerous Little Ticks</a>.</p><p>Science discovered that <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/pigs-and-rodents-can-breathe-through-their-butts-apparently">pigs can breathe through their butts</a>. Doctors wondered whether this gave them an option when treating human patients with lung problems. I think you see where this is going.</p><p>Speaking of butts, ever wonder how they <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/05/evolution-butts/618915/">evolved</a>?</p><p><b>Happiness is the way.</b> ~Buddha</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-32943054098770838972021-04-21T15:47:00.003-05:002021-04-21T15:47:38.477-05:00The Tao is near and...<p>A recording of <a href="https://youtu.be/f5uT_1moFyA">Harold Budd speaking</a> at USC in 1985.</p><p>I'm afraid to use <a href="https://readable.com/">Readable </a>on one of my blog posts. I'm afraid because one of the statements on their home page is "+83% The increase in the number of people who will finish reading your content if its readability is <b>improved </b>[emphasis mine] from grade 12 to grade 5." Maybe we can improve the average reader from grade 5 to grade 12."</p><p>What is the first <a href="https://blackboxofpm.com/the-first-principles-of-product-management-ea0e2f2a018c">principle of product management</a>? Maximize impact to the mission. You'll have to click through to read the second.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fgWolMe9rpTHFeK69gueMMQVVOeswkQufvDMtGXiQ9FF92QiAn_uLiC2_jKy1LQPzZFDkbKWCuYzA5Ew2dh6_Qb_wXtct-7I9fQ0z5JWE8wIQ8GWPIltozN4cfRNAV9ON9cZ7NsXkVg/s1000/Emily-Mason-Ancient-Incense-1981+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="996" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fgWolMe9rpTHFeK69gueMMQVVOeswkQufvDMtGXiQ9FF92QiAn_uLiC2_jKy1LQPzZFDkbKWCuYzA5Ew2dh6_Qb_wXtct-7I9fQ0z5JWE8wIQ8GWPIltozN4cfRNAV9ON9cZ7NsXkVg/w399-h400/Emily-Mason-Ancient-Incense-1981+%25281%2529.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily Mason, Ancient Incense, 1981. <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/aia-reviews/emily-mason-chelsea-paintings-miles-mcenery-1234583588/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />"Music and sleep are the two most natural ways to escape from everything and when they combine it truly becomes a dream. Let us take you there with our artists’ sublime music curated especially for you by The Ambient Zone." That's the introduction to the digital album <a href="https://theambientzone.bandcamp.com/album/sleep-001-the-ambient-zone">Sleep 001</a>.</p><p>A four-hour, real-time <a href="https://youtu.be/ctqXSOJuaRE">video of the moon</a> from the Kaguya Orbiter.</p><p>Restored 16mm film of <a href="https://youtu.be/25-yV3l9AYI">Magic Kingdom</a> from 1970.</p><p>A live performance from 2008 by the <a href="https://youtu.be/Culg50fKK8E">Five Peace Band</a> (Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett, and Vinnie Colaiuta). </p><p>Amazon has 14 <a href="https://www.amazon.jobs/en/principles">leadership principles </a>(aka core values) which is a lot and I'm curious how many employees can remember them all. There are so many I'm having a hard time choosing one to show here. "Leaders are right a lot." </p><p>On this list of <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-are-the-best-low-maintenance-house-plantsthat-arent-everywhere-11612287913">low maintenance house plants</a>, I'd like to try the sansevieria starfish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9oE01hcOemfameKxdwjcvZE_-4Tb0NamS5BSt1zb8zk8zIvy2yIDi3gqH7ol8_ivX6rXOIbV_kZKrG8_Hazr3U9QCVP3dnj9AcdLUHNRtvX4rpIldIj35cBTmaUq7l8ipHUCM2MQyFw/s2048/New_Supernova_2880x1620_Lede.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9oE01hcOemfameKxdwjcvZE_-4Tb0NamS5BSt1zb8zk8zIvy2yIDi3gqH7ol8_ivX6rXOIbV_kZKrG8_Hazr3U9QCVP3dnj9AcdLUHNRtvX4rpIldIj35cBTmaUq7l8ipHUCM2MQyFw/w400-h225/New_Supernova_2880x1620_Lede.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's kinda pretty - <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-camel-supernova-reveals-the-birth-of-a-black-hole-20210310/">a black hole eating a star </a>from the inside out.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The <a href="https://youtu.be/ajYLHvFL0sU">Super Mario game's soundtrack</a> has been restored.</p><p>In the mid 1960s an experiment was run to see whether three physics PhDs could b<a href="https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/nth-country-experiment">uild a nuclear bomb</a>. Their final report is classified so it's uncertain whether they succeeded or not.</p><p>"The record is a triumph of atmosphere..." is part of this brief article about one of my absolute favorite albums of all time, <a href="https://www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/arts-culture/music/2021/02/13/my-life-in-the-bush-of-ghosts-and-the-history-of-sampling/">My Life in the Bush of Ghosts</a> by Brian Eno and David Byrne.</p><p>"<a href="https://youtu.be/OuLNR4mD7vM">Lockdown Throwdown"</a> is an unfinished performance by Gary Husband and the late Chick Corea. Enjoy and marvel at what is and what might have been.</p><p>"Poop" and "knife" are two words not usually found together but here you go: you can buy a <a href="https://www.sadanduseless.com/poop-knife/">poop knife</a> for dicing dooky (slicing scat, carving crap) so it fits down the flush.</p><p>You may have heard that the Rothko Chapel has been remodeled. If you can't get to Houston soon for a visit, this new book is a pretty good substitute - <a href="https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847867516/">Rothko Chapel: An Oasis for Reflection</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_-oOVLKJIi-QAWDxDgEcCdYE5jYPYSVqdZ-FbfP-qthQugpJec-xQ9J_YOuuAFEDN_wVAMCLsQAtHlFBvRaOpbSCB7DbIC1Xv8TG9QOYOuILM-JW9qgZ3oMKks6viaMVe1ruk4JUNbI/s1500/antipasti-caprese-salad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_-oOVLKJIi-QAWDxDgEcCdYE5jYPYSVqdZ-FbfP-qthQugpJec-xQ9J_YOuuAFEDN_wVAMCLsQAtHlFBvRaOpbSCB7DbIC1Xv8TG9QOYOuILM-JW9qgZ3oMKks6viaMVe1ruk4JUNbI/w266-h400/antipasti-caprese-salad.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks yummy. Recipe <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-camel-supernova-reveals-the-birth-of-a-black-hole-20210310/">here</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When you gotta cut loose but you're around genteel folks try these <a href="https://www.bitsandpieces.us/2021/02/21/alternative-cuss-words-2/">alternative (alternate?) swear words</a>. For example, nerts, for the love of pete, and gee willikers.</p><p>Just another reminder that the <a href="https://www.wcairrace.com/">World Championship Air Race</a> is coming back in 2022.</p><p>If you've lost your shark, you can track it in real time online with the <a href="https://www.ocearch.org/tracker/">Shark Tracker</a>.</p><p><a href="http://unsuck-it.com/">Unsuck It </a>is a way to deprogram business jargon.</p><p>This nice lady from Fort Worth who recently passed away collected a lot of art that's now up for auction at Sotheby's. Check out the collection of <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/american-visionary-the-collection-of-mrs-john-l-marion?locale=en">Mrs. John L. Marion</a>. </p><p>Stephan Thelen's <a href="https://stephanthelen-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/fractal-guitar-2">Fractal Guitar 2</a> is definitely on my list of favorite albums of 2021.</p><p>Blobmixer. Just try it.</p><p>Here's a track from the <a href="https://youtu.be/RJWTT35GhQc">new Liquid Tension Experiment album</a>. You've ordered it, haven't you?</p><p>Ze Frank, the man, the legend, the True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/chT3sbLvlt4">Deception in the Rainforest</a>.</p><p>Mahogany Frog's new album is In <a href="https://mahoganyfrog-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-electric-universe">The Electric Universe</a>. </p><p>Several people have recommended the Netflix documentary <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81406333">Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMoWW3jivZhyuTbDvIIdlLPdqkvf9adn0_beAiIPGQBUGQN-JsA30oLARVYzSxsPII0nfnvZbMyAaFikb-yzCIhHYWZrXVZWsvBBYWf-KCt2EXQAU2PtC_7An2i5wQB5OEascWCGQgak/s586/Gray-Tree-1911-Gray-Tree-cubism.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="586" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMoWW3jivZhyuTbDvIIdlLPdqkvf9adn0_beAiIPGQBUGQN-JsA30oLARVYzSxsPII0nfnvZbMyAaFikb-yzCIhHYWZrXVZWsvBBYWf-KCt2EXQAU2PtC_7An2i5wQB5OEascWCGQgak/w400-h290/Gray-Tree-1911-Gray-Tree-cubism.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piet Mondrian, Gray Tree, 1911. From an article about how Mondrian's abstractions became <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81406333">a new way to see the world</a>. Gray Tree is stunning and in it I see all his mature works. They're all there.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Where on Mars is <a href="https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/where-is-the-rover/">Perseverance</a>?</p><p>Fancy a BBC recording of <a href="https://youtu.be/57YBtFcoWFg">Pink Floyd performing live in 1971</a>?</p><p>Wonderful animated film: <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-brew-pick/exclusive-short-film-premiere-cupcake-quarantine-is-an-independent-film-made-by-four-disney-animators-under-lockdown-202990.html">Cupcake Quarantine</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjBERYQu7WhDoVZA_ns6pz_ypT7ArODiPDwNYZWL7DNebMuKK9o9hnwTWuk-abtHiYiZjQZor6az-gscjDuiULfz40BUdZORbdHvwZR8ZylWX287dL5Gc7aXRzX5HVbkRDu-6Iaf8RXg/s1201/ARB17_MeatMountain_silo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1201" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjBERYQu7WhDoVZA_ns6pz_ypT7ArODiPDwNYZWL7DNebMuKK9o9hnwTWuk-abtHiYiZjQZor6az-gscjDuiULfz40BUdZORbdHvwZR8ZylWX287dL5Gc7aXRzX5HVbkRDu-6Iaf8RXg/w400-h393/ARB17_MeatMountain_silo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This had better not be a joke before I drive around trying to find it. Arby's <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-brew-pick/exclusive-short-film-premiere-cupcake-quarantine-is-an-independent-film-made-by-four-disney-animators-under-lockdown-202990.html">Meat Mountain</a> sandwich.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Coming later this year to the Dallas Museum of Art is <a href="https://dma.org/art/exhibitions/expressive-abstractions-new-look-postwar-art-americas-and-east-asia">Expressive Abstractions: A New Look at Postwar Art</a>.</p><p>Roger Waters recorded a new version of <a href="https://youtu.be/aC9rY4HeN6A">The Gunner's Dream</a> from The Final Cut and its everything you'd want in such a remake. Hearing it motivated to pull the CD off the shelf for this weekend's listening.</p><p>You can watch several <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/watch-at-least-15-oscar-qualified-animation-shorts-for-free-online-201173.html">Oscar-qualified animated short films</a> online. Minor Accident of War has some fantastic texture to it. And more films are <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/awards/a-highly-subjective-look-at-some-of-this-years-lesser-known-oscar-contenders-201244.html">here</a>.</p><p>Here's a concert video of <a href="https://vimeo.com/244758056">The Beatles from 1964</a>.</p><p>I love this hand-drawn animated film - <a href="https://vimeo.com/473042135">THE STROKE</a>.</p><p>Spend an hour getting a <a href="https://youtu.be/-w7oc0LczBE">FA-18 walkaround</a> from a former Blue Angel pilot.</p><p><b>...people seek it far away.</b> ~Mencius</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-85843281388349515032021-02-18T06:55:00.001-06:002021-02-18T06:58:00.747-06:00Thoughts on the Great Texas Winter Blackout of 2021<p>The kindness of friends.</p><p>That's what's on my mind as I sit in the morning stillness, warm in a friend's home, listening to a bird chirp outside on this 21 degree winter morning.</p><p>Why am I here?</p><p>My home has been without power for going on 56 hours, two days with temperatures that never got close to the freezing mark and in fact hit -2 degree one night. Waking up in a house at 42 degrees with smartphone batteries dwindling was enough.</p><p>A friend took us in. A friend whose home had power and heat and wifi. A friend who probably would've driven over and dragged us out of our house had we not decided to bail when we did.</p><p>We got a hot meal, eight hours of warm sleep, and recharged batteries, both literally and figuratively.</p><p>It would be easy to talk about the material things we take for granted: a good night's sleep, a warm shower, decent food. True, I do feel like a fully charged battery this morning relative to last night when my power meter was in the single digits. (Coincidentally, a tweet in my feed this morning said something to the effect that no one needs to be told that they look like they're tired which is exactly what my friend said to me last night. I didn't mind and in fact took it as a reason to go to bed at 8pm.)</p><p>What we too often taken for granted are friends and simple human kindness and resilience.</p><p>I am inspired by our team at work, all of whom are dealing with some variation of my story. Their energy, positivity, initiative are the warm glow of our shared vision and mission. Not only are they taking care of their family and friends, they are squeezing in work as they can whenever the office has slice of power and the computers come back online. They are going to the office to assess its status and ensure its safety. They are taking initiative and doing what they can when they can.</p><p>I am warmed by friends who, while only connected by the tenuous thread of online media, reach out to check on and inspire each other. Friends who take the time to let you know that you're not alone and they are thinking about you. Friends who understand the unifying power of shared experience.</p><p>All people are talking about is power, power, power. Why did it go out? When is it coming back? The power that never left us and which remains undiminished is the power of the human spirit.</p><p>We've spent several days focusing on the bottom levels of Maslow's hierarchy. The kindness of friends raises us all to its heights.</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-20506800443120291492021-02-17T17:31:00.001-06:002021-02-18T06:01:47.817-06:00The intellect is a beautiful servant...<p>Start with an aircraft and then right into abstract painting.</p><p>There's a website dedicate to the <a href="http://bellx2.com/">Bell X-2</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCOU3RSwHXojYlJgUYL6EYFgkRXuZSbEcx3MTTpyV9yIEhjvhwoVy3woemVAeckcUTnwhyphenhyphenyoLYUvcKoXVwOcjG2qwIacQdNcWkMPWidHB8b8mIh0EyQlqPUJNQVlrmK4JZhZoUOoh3k8/s1000/Emily-Mason-Ancient-Incense-1981.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="996" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCOU3RSwHXojYlJgUYL6EYFgkRXuZSbEcx3MTTpyV9yIEhjvhwoVy3woemVAeckcUTnwhyphenhyphenyoLYUvcKoXVwOcjG2qwIacQdNcWkMPWidHB8b8mIh0EyQlqPUJNQVlrmK4JZhZoUOoh3k8/w399-h400/Emily-Mason-Ancient-Incense-1981.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily Mason, Ancient Incense, 1981. <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/aia-reviews/emily-mason-chelsea-paintings-miles-mcenery-1234583588/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>My first music purchase from Unquiet Music is <a href="https://unquietmusicltd.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-name-of-a-prayer-for-our-times">In The Name Of... (A Prayer For Our Times)</a>. From the label: "Please consider being in a rested state, wide awake in order to maintain concentration whichever duration you may define for listening to this music, at the risk of being annoyed."</p><div>Every year I share the same thing. If you only listen to one mashup per year, make it DJ Eaworm's <a href="https://youtu.be/PvWC7V3gGts">United State of Pop for 2020</a>. As a bonus, here's <a href="https://youtu.be/9zQXAAGhZVQ">Time of Our Lives: Songs from Every Year (1970-2020)</a>.</div><p>From Vistage, the trends facing businesses in 2021.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20201116-ecological-trends-facing-business-in-2021-and-beyond/">ecological</a> (decreasing energy consumption and CO2 generation)</li><li><a href="https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20201123-social-trends-facing-business-in-2021-and-beyond/">social</a> (healthcare, esp. in light of an aging population, income inequality, housing, education and the future of universities)</li><li><a href="https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20201130-technology-trends-facing-business-in-2021-and-beyond/">technology</a> (AI, cloud, mobile, robotics, VR/AR, 5G, and the tech made more important by all of the above - cybersecurity)</li><li><a href="https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20201130-technology-trends-facing-business-in-2021-and-beyond/">economic</a> (pandemic stimulus, housing (new home starts up at the same time as evictions are up), effect of digitization on retail sales)</li></ul><p></p><p>ICYM, the new Tulips live music venue in the location formerly occupied by Collective Brewing, is also a <a href="https://www.tulipsftw.com/deli">"Texas kosher" deli</a>. </p><p>Are you hungry enough to eat a <a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/food/20-pound-burger-salsa-joes-arlington/287-93acd10c-9e40-4839-b47d-b51371b3c705">20 pound cheeseburger</a>?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvo0BpDbna-BAL-_NZmRYgWHKCPg7IvXqcj47by1W9aMv-9_ooaotUozZeFrsasmQ6bu1cv5-9HhR85OZU2cW-46-g2vJCZ_-11CbLKJlle1G72ubIwE9wRlpbW5yXQVOaM-P9CjUb40/s1000/Kelly_OConnor_2_art.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvo0BpDbna-BAL-_NZmRYgWHKCPg7IvXqcj47by1W9aMv-9_ooaotUozZeFrsasmQ6bu1cv5-9HhR85OZU2cW-46-g2vJCZ_-11CbLKJlle1G72ubIwE9wRlpbW5yXQVOaM-P9CjUb40/w400-h300/Kelly_OConnor_2_art.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly O'Connor's work explores our preoccupation with <a href="https://www.mcnayart.org/exhibition/kelly-oconnor-multifaceted-woman/">temporary, artificial happiness</a> and uses many theme park motifs. In this case, it's Mary Blair's "it's a small world" at Disneyland. I love Blair's work across a variety of Disney projects and "it's a small world" is a zenith of her brand of minimalist design and eye for color. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Attention Star Wars geeks: <a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0126-new-star-wars-stamps-coming-this-spring.htm">droid stamps </a>are coming from the USPS this year. I'm quite partial to all gonk droids.</p><p>Pantone's color of the year for 2021 (actually colors) are <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/pantone-2021-colors-of-the-year-1234578829/">ultimate gray and illuminating</a> (yellow) for a sense of resilience and hope.</p><p>For those of you interested in such things (historians?), <a href="https://www.thetrumparchive.com/">Trump's Twitter archive</a>.</p><p>It's a real conundrum. Why is the <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/astronomers-get-their-wish-and-the-hubble-crisis-gets-worse-20201217/">universe expanding so much faster</a> than we think it should be?</p><p>Learn from these Emergency Room reports: <a href="https://defector.com/what-did-we-get-stuck-in-our-rectums-last-year/">don't stick things in your butt</a>.</p><p>Tony Levin has a new book of photography from his life on the road. Check out this <a href="https://youtu.be/UzZ4iJPHbwY">teaser video</a>.</p><p><a href="http://disneyatwork.com/disneys-four-keys-to-a-great-guest-experience/">Disney's four keys </a>to a great guest experience. It's a worthwhile read to see how these keys have evolved.</p><p>And the music...</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From Fish's farewell album, <a href="https://youtu.be/-RwwU8Nvs1g">Garden of Rememberance</a>. (bought)</li><li>An archive of <a href="http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/index.php">cylinder recordings</a>.</li><li><a href="https://sigillum-s.bandcamp.com/track/konton-no-35-nen">Konton No 34 Nen</a> by Sigillum S</li><li><a href="https://davidkollar.bandcamp.com/album/dedicated-to-p-ep">Dedicated to P,</a> an EP by David Kollar ft. Pat Mastelotto and Paolo Raineri. (bought)</li><li><a href="https://kronosquartet.bandcamp.com/album/terry-riley-sun-rings">Terry Riley: Sun Rings</a> by Kronos Quartet (bought)</li><li><a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/originsmusic/gaudi-psychedelic-future-dub-vol-7/">Psychedelic Future Dub Vol. 7</a> by GAUDI</li><li><a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/pentagon-papers">Harmonic Hospitality</a> by centrozoom</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/qbkkcxFIMFg">Power</a> by Daniel Lanois</li><li><a href="https://davidkollar.bandcamp.com/album/sonic-pulses">Sonic Pulses</a> by David Kollar (bought)</li><li><a href="https://theambientzone.bandcamp.com/album/sleep-001-the-ambient-zone">Sleep 001 </a>by The Ambient Zone (probably gonna buy)</li><li><a href="https://www.loudersound.com/news/liquid-tension-experiment-release-video-for-new-single-the-passage-of-time">LTE3</a> by Liquid Tension Experiment (pre-ordered)</li><li><a href="https://sigillum-s.bandcamp.com/album/coalescence-of-time-other-conjectures-on-future-2">Coalescence of Time: Other Conjectures on Future</a> by Sigilum S</li><li><a href="https://modreloaded.bandcamp.com/album/mode-for-titan">Mode for Titan</a> by Josh Werner (bought)</li></ul><div>King Crimson performed on Conan in 1995 and here's the <a href="https://youtu.be/jKcUi3CEBvE">video to prove it.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Mark you calendar - a Sean Scully retrospective, <a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780876332955/sean-scully#:~:text=Sean%20Scully%3A%20The%20Shape%20of,that%20are%20rarely%20considered%20together.">The Shape of Ideas,</a> is coming to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in June 2021.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meet <a href="https://youtu.be/NHpTXv8VYUg">Mark Waki,</a> an aviation artist for Northrop Grumman.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoQWdkGUgBAhG7hA6MTa1XyLQbJ5B-8W5VeMbwIamzJrA5cvY6ctR4kNBfVI2uGlxrLBgbiqoUwXaspVdg3yvjeDgTK2nkCEtLS5dhQ51lE09gQiWXFLsrKIumr9FeAYHJF0_rvmJhsg/s1920/FB-111H-concept-Art.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoQWdkGUgBAhG7hA6MTa1XyLQbJ5B-8W5VeMbwIamzJrA5cvY6ctR4kNBfVI2uGlxrLBgbiqoUwXaspVdg3yvjeDgTK2nkCEtLS5dhQ51lE09gQiWXFLsrKIumr9FeAYHJF0_rvmJhsg/w400-h225/FB-111H-concept-Art.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38621/this-stretched-super-fb-111-was-a-low-cost-challenger-to-the-b-1-bomber">F-111H</a> was designed as a competitor for the B-1. I had no idea. The F-111 holds a special place in my heart due to two close encounters with it early in my career.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Speaking of General Dynamics, here's video <a href="https://youtu.be/ABdiP3TGeSA">History of Air Force Plant 4</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Staying on the Lockheed Martin topic, here are Kelly Johnson's <a href="https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/aeronautics/skunkworks/kelly-14-rules.html">14 rules and practices</a>. It would take time and thought to adapt these to work other than designing and building aircraft but one stands out: 5. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now you can watch <a href="https://www.kcet.org/shows/blackbird-legacy-of-innovation/episodes/blackbird-legacy-of-innovation">Blackbird: Legacy of Innovation</a> about the SR-71.</div><div><br /></div><div>Testing the radar cross section of an <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/01/check-out-these-fascinating-declassified-photos-of-the-a-12-oxcart-rcs-tests-inside-area-51/">A-12</a>, the SR-71's precursor.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb3iCmpyDpO35ghCJEJWYrdJql564PZNDV5eekfc2PO4b5POO0jWVaEVCnJfUJ5OWvkcqrkr28TFRpoTpadpynRioeA3Cie2PhNWhxuJKsujamWatbd7HTHQGsEGTiFEpF1UWrgsVM8E/s1920/B-2-Underside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb3iCmpyDpO35ghCJEJWYrdJql564PZNDV5eekfc2PO4b5POO0jWVaEVCnJfUJ5OWvkcqrkr28TFRpoTpadpynRioeA3Cie2PhNWhxuJKsujamWatbd7HTHQGsEGTiFEpF1UWrgsVM8E/w400-h266/B-2-Underside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you tell whether a B-2 is male or female? Turn it over and <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39129/this-rising-b-2-stealth-bombers-intricate-belly-is-positively-otherworldly-looking">look at it's belly.</a> Not really, but what you'll see is cool despite lack of genitalia.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/pentagon-papers">Pentagon Papers</a> are available online for you to read in all their glory.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk3VWNs0JoeyDk_AbGL6JqcF6Y6LjlI_7K1GDxuAJROdNnRoI67SUCOLSX82TCGU1L7ekwuLL525Mu44HrvxpLJmUDo1Wq6m1kX8Kvs4hGbv2C67F7fWjlUC1hum0u1XPGDjCm_kruIQ/s1280/FWChamber_Primary_logo_Red-1280x640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk3VWNs0JoeyDk_AbGL6JqcF6Y6LjlI_7K1GDxuAJROdNnRoI67SUCOLSX82TCGU1L7ekwuLL525Mu44HrvxpLJmUDo1Wq6m1kX8Kvs4hGbv2C67F7fWjlUC1hum0u1XPGDjCm_kruIQ/w400-h200/FWChamber_Primary_logo_Red-1280x640.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://www.fortworthchamber.com/chamberupdate/fort-worth-chamber-launches-new-brand-representing-future-of-fort-worth-business-community/">Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce </a>rebranded themselves and I like it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Scientists are giddy over finding a perfectly preserved <a href="https://www.livescience.com/first-dinosaur-butthole-found.html">dinosaur asshole</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the topic of buttholes, insect poop is called <a href="https://twitter.com/planetdr/status/1353897309336178690?s=27">frass</a> (as in "FRom the ASS"?).</div><div><br /></div><div>OK, one more on poo. Science now thinks it knows why <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/australia/wombat-poop-cubes-intl-scli-scn/index.html">wombats poop cubes</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Farts aren't poo so here's a quickie on how animals use <a href="https://laughingsquid.com/animals-use-farts-as-deadly-weapons/">farts as a defense mechanism</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Think the moon is lifeless? <a href="https://www.inverse.com/science/astronomers-discover-six-planets-orbiting-in-a-unique-cosmic-rhythm">Think again</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of the above, check out <a href="https://youtu.be/HsStKuWHI_c">True Facts: The Incredible Tardigrade</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy 120 years of <a href="http://120years.net/">electronic music</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.openculture.com/2017/01/watch-geometry-of-circles-the-abstract-sesame-street-animation-scored-by-philip-glass-1979.html">Geometry of Circles</a>, Sesame Street, and Philip Glass. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://feld.com/archives/2021/01/the-hill-we-climb-by-amanda-gorman.html">"For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it."</a></div><p></p><p><b>...but a terrible master.</b> ~Ram Dass</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-75934578103346332452021-01-24T08:02:00.002-06:002021-01-24T08:02:52.573-06:00Random Pandemic Thoughts<p>Lacking the motivation to weave a coherent theme through all these thoughts (i.e. opinions), they are presented here as nothing more than mental dandruff.</p><p>Like it or not, agree with it or not, anti-vax or not, everyone needs to realize that normalcy returns only after a significant majority of the populations gets vaccinated. Every business in this country should be vocally advocating that federal, state, and local governments get their collective act together and make this happen as soon as possible.</p><p>Regardless of what political party was or might have been in power at the beginning of 2020 when the pandemic got underway, the weak, ragged, uneven rollout of vaccinations was predictable. The logistical challenges here are huge and are complicated by how the feds and states interact.</p><p>Notwithstanding the previous, the administration in power during the first year of the pandemic severely underperformed. They either overachieved or underachieved depending on how you interpret "One day - it's like a miracle - it will disappear."</p><p>At lot of musing about "the end of X" where X is movie theaters or fitness centers or dining out is misplaced. Once "everyone" is vaccinated, all this stuff will come roaring back. The flip side is that all the positive behaviors we've adopted like handwashing and not shaking hands and staying away from other people when sick are already disappearing.</p><p>It's quite dismaying that the behaviors we've all be asked to adopt (stay home when sick, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands) are exactly the same things we should be doing regarding the flu. And sadly, many don't. If only one of these behaviors stick, I hope it's staying home from work when you're sick.</p><p>If everyone got the flu vaccine each year, the savings in terms of lost productivity at work would dwarf the cost of the shots.</p><p>Having an anti-vax opinion is your right. It's my right to say you're wrong. </p><p>The human animal is quite weak and I'm not speaking about susceptibility to viruses. Who knew how strong was the desire to dine in public at TGI Friday's and drink in public at the neighborhood pub? On TV the other day I heard a "man on the street" interview with someone who just had to travel somewhere, anywhere, right now. Who knew 9 months was the limit of human willpower?</p><p>If the pandemic was a TV show called "National Emergency," it would rank lower than Joanie Loves Chachi.</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-50507556575458533742021-01-10T14:30:00.000-06:002021-01-10T14:30:51.468-06:00My Favorite Music of 2020<p>During the pandemic year of 2020 with its lockdowns and working from home, some people compensated by baking bread, others with home fitness, still others binged all their favorite shows on streaming services.</p><p>I listened to a lot of music. By "a lot" I mean 107 new (to me) albums. So many that over the course of the year I lost track of what I had ordered, in what format (digital or CD), and whether I had received it or not. It was only after cleaning up the backlog of tunes over the past couple of weeks that I settled on 107 as an accurate count.</p><p>It's hard to identify just a handful of favorites from a list that long. So you'll have to indulge me for being lengthy in terms of the list and brief in terms of the descriptions.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>PANAMERICA by Stick Men with David Cross</b></h2><p>The first new album I bought in 2020 made the list: the 5-CD PANAMERICA by <a href="https://stickmen.bandcamp.com/">Stick Men</a> featuring <a href="https://www.davidcrossband.com/">David Cross</a> (violin). Recorded throughout a South American tour, the 5 CDs of PANAMERICA are themed as Improvs (Disc 1), Suites (Disc 2), one full live show (Discs 3 and 4), and Soundscapes (Disc 5). </p><p>If you're not familiar with Stick Men they are Tony Levin (bass), Markus Reuter (guitar), and Pat Mastelotto (drums). To become familiar with the band, PANAMERICA is a great place to start because it gives you a taste of everything they do: the subtle application of power, sweeping melody, expressive rigor. </p>
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<p>PANAMERICA and other Stick Men albums are available on <a href="https://stickmen.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp </a>where you can preview even more of their work.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Music from the Early 21st Century by Previte, Saft, and Cline</b></h2><p>Bobby Previte (drums), Jamie Saft (Hammond organ), and Nels Cline (guitar) recorded this classic, improvisational organ trio live on tour in late 2019. The results are a spectacular springboard of classic forms into future possibilities. </p>
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2312777219/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://bobbyprevite.bandcamp.com/album/music-from-the-early-21st-century">Music From The Early 21st Century by Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft, Nels Cline</a></iframe>
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<br />Music from the Early 21st Century is available from <a href="https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/releases/music-from-the-early-21st-century/">RareNoise Records</a>.
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<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>RUMBLE by Lorenzo Feliciati</b></h2>
<div>This four-track EP is a stylistic standout from Feliciati's other albums. It's more of an orchestral take on jazz built upon Feliciati's rich, burbling bass lines that are more vocal than foundational. </div>
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2541845219/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://lorenzofeliciati.bandcamp.com/album/rumble">RUMBLE by Lorenzo Feliciati</a></iframe>
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<br /><a href="https://lorenzofeliciati.bandcamp.com/album/rumble">RUMBLE</a> is available on Bandcamp.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Mixing Colours by Roger Eno & Brian Eno</b></h2><div>The culmination of years of the two Eno brothers sharing keyboard pieces (Roger) and treatments (Brian) is the album Mixing Colours. The result is a series of shimmering soundscapes that deceive with their minimalism and entrance with their depth.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Mixing Colours is available from <a href="https://www.enoshop.co.uk/product/mixingcolourscd.html">Eno's website</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Stillness Soundtracks II by Machinefabriek</b></h2><div>Keeping with ambience for a bit, I was totally blown away by the gravity of the sound achieved in Machinefabriek's (Rutger Zuydervelt) Stillness Soundtracks II, five deep tracks scored to accompany Esther Kokmeijer's film of icebergs at the North and South Poles. I can't recall music that more accurately conveys a visual representation of icebergs: solid/liquid, massive/fragile, still/moving, visible/hidden, white/spectral. Amazing.</div><div><br /></div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Stillness Soundtracks II was released by Glacial Movements Records and is available on <a href="https://machinefabriek.bandcamp.com/album/stillness-soundtracks-ii">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Music of Our Times by Gary Husband and Markus Reuter</b></h2><div>When stranded in Tokyo during a pandemic after your tour is cancelled, what do musicians do? They book time in a studio and make music. In this case, Gary Husband (piano), who was touring with Stick Men, and Markus Reuter (guitar) were able to exquisitely capture a moment in time, their take on a world at inflection between live interaction and lockdown. Elegance.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Music of Our Times was released by MoonJune Records and is available on <a href="https://markus-reuter-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/music-of-our-times">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Punkt and Firma (96k) by Trey Gunn</b></h2><div>I was unable to choose between Trey Gunn's (10-string Warr guitar) albums Punkt and Firma so we get both. All you need to know is their description: "These pieces will reward detailed and repeated listening. Likewise, they will punish casual listening."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1371818511/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://music.treygunn.com/album/punkt-1">Punkt 1 by Trey Gunn</a></iframe>
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Both <a href="https://music.treygunn.com/album/punkt-1">Punkt</a> and <a href="https://music.treygunn.com/album/firma-96k">Firma (96k)</a> are available on Bandcamp.<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Tranceportation Vol. 2 by Sonar with David Torn</b></h2><div>My love affair with the combination of <a href="https://www.sonar-band.ch/">Sonar</a> (a "progressive groove band") and guitarist David Torn goes back to 2018's Vortex in which Torn's playing was the salt to Sonar's polyrhythmic stew. Fortunately their collaboration continues on Tranceportation Vol. 2, described as "pointillistic, metrical complexity with deep subterranean grooves."</div><div><br /></div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Tranceportation Vol. 2 was released by <a href="https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/releases/tranceportation-vol-2/">RareNoise Records</a> and is available on <a href="https://sonar-band.bandcamp.com/album/tranceportation-vol-2">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince and Mose by The Jerry Granelli Trio</b></h2><div>Speaking of love affairs, I don't recall when I first heard the piano playing of Jamie Saft but it's been a romance for me ever since. Here Saft joins Jerry Granelli (drums) and Bradley Christopher Jones (bass) as they perform their take on the work of Vince Guaraldi and Mose Allison. Fresh and lively without being anchored to the past, the album ends with what's now my favorite version of Christmas is Here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1848942074/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 470px; width: 350px;"><a href="https://jerrygranelli.bandcamp.com/album/the-jerry-granelli-trio-plays-vince-guaraldi-and-mose-allison">The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi and Mose Allison by The Jerry Granelli Trio</a></iframe>
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The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince and Mose was released on <a href="https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/releases/the-jerry-granelli-trio-plays-vince-and-mose/">RareNoise Records</a> and is available on <a href="https://jerrygranelli.bandcamp.com/album/the-jerry-granelli-trio-plays-vince-guaraldi-and-mose-allison">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Behind Closed Doors by Thorsten Quaeschning and Markus Reuter</b></h2><div>When the pandemic made it virtually impossible for musicians to tour and perform live, some got creative. Markus Reuter, for example, held several live, online sessions with other musicians to demonstrate technique, record tracks for an album, or perform brief concerts. In this later category falls his 50-minute performance with Thorsten Quaeschning (Tangerine Dream). The combination of Quaeschning's synthesizers and Reuter's Touch Guitar is mesmerizing as they cover the gamut of tone and texture.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Behind Closed Doors is available on <a href="https://markusreuter.bandcamp.com/album/behind-closed-doors-1">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Bonus: <a href="https://markusreuter.bandcamp.com/album/behind-closed-doors-2">Behind Closed Doors 2</a> came later in the year when the duo added percussionist Shawn Crowder.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Small Moments by Michael Manring</b></h2><div>Perhaps not a household name, but when you think bass guitar Michael Manring's name should be at the forefront of your mind. Similar to Trey Gunn's albums cited above, Small Moments features Manring and his basses and that's about it. Pure and expansive, these pieces (written to be performed live), reveal mastery of one's instrument combined with artistic expression.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Small Moments is available on <a href="https://michaelmanring1.bandcamp.com/album/small-moments">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Listening to Pictures and Seeing Through Sound by Jon Hassell</b></h2><div>Being a fan of <a href="https://jonhassell.com/">Jon Hassell</a> (trumpet) doesn't necessarily mean I've done a good job of keeping track of his work. I was thrilled to hear about his new album Seeing Through Sound and disappointed in myself for finding out it's the second in his Pentimento series, the first being Listening to Pictures. So I got both. And was not disappointed. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Both of these albums by Jon Hassell are available on <a href="https://jonhassell.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Spectral by Robin Schlochtermeier</b></h2><div>I first heard about <a href="http://robinschlochtermeier.com/">Schlochtermeier</a> in an online post by Eraldo Bernocchi whose opinions are usually enough to get me to take action. Spectral is the first solo album by the composer of film soundtracks and "captures some of this mysterious, nebulous spirit of bafflement and wonderment" he witnessed in his baby daughter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Spectral was released on Denovali Records and is available on <a href="https://robinschlochtermeier.bandcamp.com/album/spectral">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Selling England by the Pound and Spectral Mornings Live by Steve Hackett</b></h2><div>It's not surprising that a Steve Hackett album should land on the favorite list of a person for whom Genesis was the genesis of his musical interests. Yet it may be surprising to know that of all the Hackett albums I own (which are many) this is my favorite. These performances feature Hackett and his band in fine form and the version of Spectral Mornings is fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div>
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This 2-CD live album is available on <a href="http://www.hackettsongs.com/news/newsAlbum30.html">Hackett's website</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Cuts Open by Merzbow, Gustafsson, Pandi</b></h2><div>I'll be honest. I didn't expect to like this album knowing that previous work by the parties was heavy, raging improv. On Cuts Open, they didn't take their foot off the gas but maybe turned down the volume from 11 to 10. </div><div><br /></div><div>From a description of the album: "When the occasional bursts of brutality arrive – and they do arrive, in all their eviscerating glory – they’re almost cathartic in their relief from the teeth-gnashing tension of the album’s more subdued moments, where menace hangs in the air like a thinly veiled threat."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Cuts Open was released on <a href="https://www.rarenoiserecords.com/releases/cuts-open/">RareNoise Records</a> and is available on <a href="https://matsgustafsson.bandcamp.com/album/cuts-open">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>OWARI by Stick Men with Gary Husband</b></h2><div>Fittingly named OWARI meaning "the end," this live album was recorded on the last date of the group's truncated tour of Japan thanks to the pandemic. Perhaps because of this, the performances are majestic with Husband's keyboards playing a central role. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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OWARI was released on MoonJune Records and is available on <a href="https://stickmen-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/owari">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Bumerang by Hallebeek, Feliciati, and Voskuil</b></h2><div>Bassist Lorenzo Feliciati joins guitarist Richard Hallebeek and drummer Niels Voskuil on this self-titled album by this new trio. To my ear there's a definite Allan Holdsworth influence that's paired with Feliciati's triumphant bass playing. Can't wait to hear what Bumerang does next.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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</div><div><br /></div>Bumerang is available from <a href="https://www.richardhallebeek.com/release/bumerang/">Hallebeek's website</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Another Flower by Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd</b></h2><div>Even if this album wasn't good (which it is) I would've put it on the list. It was the last album released by Harold Budd before his death due to complications from Covid-19. Unlike their other pairings, this album to my ear emphasizes Budd's piano work over Guthrie's lush washes of guitar. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Another Flower is available from <a href="https://darla.com/products/robin-guthrie-harold-budd-another-flower">Darla Records</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Mujo by Eraldo Bernocchi and Hoshiko Yamane</b></h2><div>In yet another example of a favored artist of mine (Bernocchi, see above) paired with a Tangerine Dream alum, the result is - let's say - "classical electronica."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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Mujo is available from <a href="https://denovali.com/store/eraldo-bernocchi-hoshiko-yamane-mujo-cd">Denovali Records</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Jamie Saft Plays Mr. Dorgon</b></h2><div>I do not know Mr. Dorgon but I do love Saft's piano work. If you listened to any of the samples of Trey Gunn's albums above, those are a good analogy for this album of "intuitive, counter-intuitive, and non-intuitive" compositions. </div><div><br /></div><div>"One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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This album was released by Veal Records and is available on <a href="https://jamiesaft.bandcamp.com/album/jamie-saft-plays-mr-dorgon">Bandcamp</a>.<div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>PORTAL by Feliciati and Mastelotto</b></h2><div>I hadn't realized how much of Lorenzo Feliciati's work was on this list until now but we'll end with his PORTAL album with drummer Pat Mastelotto. Maybe the most melodic rhythm section you'll hear today.</div><div><br /></div>
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PORTAL is available on <a href="https://patmastelotto.bandcamp.com/album/portal">Bandcamp</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Bonus: A remix version: <a href="https://patmastelotto.bandcamp.com/album/portal-the-late-night-dj">PORTAL: The Late Night DJ</a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Full List</h2><div>The morbidly curious can see the <a href="http://horsebits-jrc.blogspot.com/p/my-listening-2020.html">full list here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. Sorry about all the extra white space but I didn't feel like fiddling with Blogger's editor.</div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-65443410430361442482021-01-01T13:34:00.001-06:002021-01-01T13:36:39.338-06:00My Favorite Books of 20202020 was not a good year for reading for me. Working from home since mid-March eliminated one of my primary reading opportunities: listening to audiobooks during my daily commute to and from work. During Q1, I read 18 books. None in Q2. None in Q3. Then the holiday season in the last two months of the year allowed me to read another 6 for a grand total of 24 for the year. To put that in perspective, I read 50 in 2019 and 37 in 2018. A side-effect of no audiobooks was that fiction reading was way down (only 6 of the 24). That's simply because I'm unable to listen to non-fiction in the car because I get bored.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, enough about reading and more about what was read. Here are my favorites from 2020. Or more accurately, my favorite because there's only one standout. And honestly, 2020 scrambled my memories of what I read early in the year.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy7zdUBUEHWlgGT0ayc-oPcY8gEG_PHVjp_RRCYTam87R57SvcJqjwOY-zhAAFOHiIR7P2Q7dpXWifBuFo_jPfMcqH321UjpdzIT-I1eN_ef7lC7LTtM2WV9L4OB6EQywQ2vYbQaye1Y/s500/latered-carbon.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy7zdUBUEHWlgGT0ayc-oPcY8gEG_PHVjp_RRCYTam87R57SvcJqjwOY-zhAAFOHiIR7P2Q7dpXWifBuFo_jPfMcqH321UjpdzIT-I1eN_ef7lC7LTtM2WV9L4OB6EQywQ2vYbQaye1Y/s320/latered-carbon.jpg" /></a></div>Richard K. Morgan's <i>Altered Carbon </i>is another reason why I say "I should read more science fiction." And maybe they made it into a (short-lived) TV series for a reason. In the far future, your mind, memories, and personality can be downloaded to something like a hard drive and installed in another body. Awakening in a new body, Takeshi Kovacs (an elite soldier) finds himself in the role of private detective. His super-rich client wants Takeshi to solve the client's murder - yes, the murder of the client. </div><div><br /></div><div>Morgan creates vivid characters in a fantastic setting and weaves an attention-keeping tale. Highly recommend.</div><div><br /></div><div>In case you've watch the TV series, there are many differences between the book and the show. But that just a warning - it won't prevent you from enjoying the book.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're new to this, hang on to your stack. It's a wonderful ride. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's my <a href="http://horsebits-jrc.blogspot.com/p/my-reading-2020.html">full 2020 reading list</a>.</div><div><br /></div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-30135518448918816562020-12-19T14:04:00.000-06:002020-12-19T14:04:08.405-06:00Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than...<p>Put this on as your background music while reading. It's a one hour loop of <a href="https://youtu.be/RgN4p62qzmA">holiday music from Magic Kingdom</a>'s Main Street USA.</p><p>I look forward to my next opportunity to visit Houston and go see the <a href="https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/art-exhibits/here-s-everything-you-need-to-know-about-15737084">MFAH's new Kinder Building</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXC0ToB4LC2KfkFgs_1u6YxvPpIn134bek-aNaxUSM9Go7i8V6I8MYVuVyA3JmmfhIw4AZPCG0K0GcjZWoF2HBDOUYHc6kAHQsv6TBLS1EmpuaD4I6HMUGVihi2W4fOyiNVDlnInmIN8/s461/neusun1_superk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="461" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXC0ToB4LC2KfkFgs_1u6YxvPpIn134bek-aNaxUSM9Go7i8V6I8MYVuVyA3JmmfhIw4AZPCG0K0GcjZWoF2HBDOUYHc6kAHQsv6TBLS1EmpuaD4I6HMUGVihi2W4fOyiNVDlnInmIN8/w400-h393/neusun1_superk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This <a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap980605.html">photograph of the sun</a> isn't really all that great until you realize it was taken using neutrinos passing through the earth's surface.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Like most lists, the <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/635678/best-comedy-movies-all-time">30 best comedy movies of all time</a> make me a) aware of ones I haven't seen like Blazing Saddles and b) curious about the ones they omitted like Spinal Tap (or my personal favorite, <a href="https://youtu.be/941z56i7QJE">Kung Pow</a>). </p><p>Another case - <a href="https://www.mashed.com/224224/popular-fast-food-breakfast-sandwiches-ranked-worst-to-best/">the ranking of breakfast sandwiches</a> - disappoints because the Egg McMuffin landed at #4. </p><p>And again: Goodreads' 200 <a href="https://www.listchallenges.com/goodreads-200-most-difficult-novels">most difficult novels</a>. I can't for the life of my understand why Crime and Punishment is on this list. It's excellent but I wouldn't call it difficult. I first read it when I was 18. And Lolita? It might make some readers uncomfortable if they can't get past the sexual bit but IMO it doesn't come close to being difficult. My tally of the 200? 35.</p><p>I should probably not mention all the things I'm keeping on the list of 54 <a href="https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/things-to-declutter-from-storage-31034503">things nobody should be keeping</a>.</p><p>Given my fixation with the Disney animated WWII film Victory Through Airpower, I'd love to be able to see the exhibition <a href="https://www.waltdisney.org/wwii">The Walt Disney Studios and World War II</a> at the Disney Family Museum but I don't think that's gonna happen.</p><p>You can watch clips from the highly-praised documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi beginning <a href="https://youtu.be/En3JBEKvxr4">here</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1_3TebmDVuLLMbOucfwirJC27mQ2zq4ppV0ZzTlD2m07myy705XEGU_O2wJ5Urp2QZpnKgrcLn0d-nFY1G0KsssSvfvqaHEfIyyDCSxd6QNmNWwQkUTPZMQKPjpJH75QItgN58gXG1I/s718/1000-mph-baseball.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="687" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1_3TebmDVuLLMbOucfwirJC27mQ2zq4ppV0ZzTlD2m07myy705XEGU_O2wJ5Urp2QZpnKgrcLn0d-nFY1G0KsssSvfvqaHEfIyyDCSxd6QNmNWwQkUTPZMQKPjpJH75QItgN58gXG1I/w383-h400/1000-mph-baseball.png" width="383" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For my baseball friends is this video exploration of what it takes to <a href="https://youtu.be/4I-p8vjQ95s">catch a 1,000 mph fastball</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Musicality:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://youtu.be/VRvCuDIMIzo">Liquid Tension Experiment 3</a> coming in 2021</li><li><a href="https://www.denovali.com/store/eraldo-bernocchi-hoshiko-yamane-mujo-cd">Mujo </a>by Eraldo Bernocchi and Hoshiko Yamane</li><li><a href="https://sonar-band.bandcamp.com/album/tranceportation-remixes">Tranceportation Remixes</a> by Sonar</li><li><a href="https://music.colinedwin.co.uk/album/hopium">Hopium </a>by Colin Edwin</li><li><a href="https://patmastelotto.bandcamp.com/album/portal">PORTAL </a>by Lorenzo Feliciati and Pat Mastelotto </li><li><a href="https://stores.portmerch.com/patmetheny/road-to-the-sun.html">Road to the Sun</a> by Pat Metheny</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/XjrY7PfPMJc">Piano recital</a> at St. Mary's by Gary Husband</li><li><a href="https://alexhaas.bandcamp.com/album/landings">Landings </a>by Alex Haas</li></ul><p></p><p>Google's plan for avoiding employee burnout? <a href="https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/googles-3-word-plan-to-help-employees-avoid-burnout-is-so-simple-you-should-steal-it.html">No meetings weeks</a>.</p><p>A proposed new formulation for a <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-propose-a-brand-new-periodic-table-and-it-s-a-trip">periodic table of the elements</a>.</p><p>Here's an article that briefly explores the possibility for <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2020/11/right-of-launch-command-and-control-vulnerabilities-after-a-limited-nuclear-strike/">unauthorized use of nuclear weapons</a> after an authorized, limited strike. Clearly I am not an expert in this field but I find the scenarios a bit on the fringe give what I do know about military command and control structures.</p><p>Here are some of the things envisioned for <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2020/11/29/lets-talk-about-all-the-b-70-valkyrie-variants-envisioned-for-the-mach-3-superbomber-prior-to-cancellation/">future versions of the XB-70</a> before it was cancelled. </p><p>"What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?" One of 36 questions developed by a psychology student that are intended to <a href="https://www.futilitycloset.com/2020/11/19/the-love-list/">develop closeness</a> within a peer group.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWbYl0QURNaq6ecvVZMV7egHKC7B4ml8UHkrJPl2SJewNBYBeQ-IXXnBVw_VnTgnr6sfLrPvx6YHZxG4kV_mn6f0ycv6VAUdBYnjKSWVqxAtghiC7INf5-RpfaYyZUhsUnXEmi_HDgnQ/s768/Christies-Lot-11-Rothko-Untitled-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="682" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWbYl0QURNaq6ecvVZMV7egHKC7B4ml8UHkrJPl2SJewNBYBeQ-IXXnBVw_VnTgnr6sfLrPvx6YHZxG4kV_mn6f0ycv6VAUdBYnjKSWVqxAtghiC7INf5-RpfaYyZUhsUnXEmi_HDgnQ/w355-h400/Christies-Lot-11-Rothko-Untitled-copy.jpg" width="355" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Rothko, Untitled, 1967 sold at auction for $31.3 million yet it was only the 9th <a href="https://www.artnews.com/list/art-news/artists/most-expensive-works-sold-at-auction-1234579250/mark-rothko-untitled-1967/">highest price paid for art during 2020</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ze Frank does it again with True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/p16g5IVCdeE">Army Ant Riders</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nine-weirdest-penises-animal-kingdom-180976274/">Nine of the weirdest penises</a> (how many weird ones are there total) in the animal kingdom reveals - in addition to the obvious - that animal penises are much more studied than animal vaginas. </p><p>Bees protect themselves against murder hornets using <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/12/10/vietnamese-honeybees-using-own-poop-against-murder-hornets/">poop</a>.</p><p><b>...to excel among the fools.</b> ~Dogen</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-77217004058810421942020-11-29T16:00:00.000-06:002020-11-29T16:00:45.807-06:00He who has the most...<p><a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/interviews/mark-bradford-paper-paintings-modern-art-museum-of-fort-worth-1234570583/">Mark Bradford is interviewed</a> for Art in America about his exhibition, End Papers, currently on display at the <a href="https://www.themodern.org/">Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth</a>. (See image below.)</p><p>For your listening pleasure, <a href="https://markusreuter.bandcamp.com/album/behind-closed-doors-2">Behind Closed Doors 2</a> by Thorsten Quaeschning (Tangerine Dream), Markus Reuter, and Shawn Crowder.</p><p>Saxophone. <a href="https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/jess-gillam-saxophonist-age-recordings/">Classical saxophone</a>.</p><p>The Hood Internet <a href="https://youtu.be/MwDRyW43T6Y">summarizes 1990 with 60 songs</a> in 3.5 minutes.</p><p>Music in various stages of evaluation.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://youtu.be/f9lacQLVs9U">Gary Husband and Chick Corea</a> in conversation (not music)</li><li><a href="https://www.richardhallebeek.com/release/bumerang/">Bumerang </a>by Richard Hallebeek, Lorenzo Feliciati, & Niels Voskuil (ordered, waiting for CD to arrive in the mail)</li><li><a href="https://longformeditions.bandcamp.com/track/canoe">Canoe </a>by Taylor Deupree (still deciding whether to buy this single, 20-minute track)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/Mc5vgo33Vn8">Genesis performs a medley of "old" songs</a> live in 1992 (on YouTube, just gotta find the time)</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lvxmOI4o31uHgfvBJohmRUH08LphsEYhU&fbclid=IwAR3DRD3QnE8pd4UBw2AoPIGMiuHM2krsjOaFAUXTpbfQWVWp16PoAr8ZYoY">Lab 2020</a>, the annual album of UNT's One O'Clock Lab Band (a YouTube playlist, but I'm waiting for my CD to arrive in the mail)</li><li><a href="https://jpeterschwalm.bandcamp.com/album/neuzeit">Neuzeit </a>by J. Peter Schwalm and Arve Henriksen (have it, playing it, enjoying it)</li><li><a href="https://darla.com/products/robin-guthrie-harold-budd-another-flower">Another Flower</a> by Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd (waiting for the CD to arrive)</li><li><a href="https://music.colinedwin.co.uk/album/another-world-colin-edwin-and-robert-jurjendal">Another World</a> by Colin Edwin & Robert Jurjendal (previewing, trying to decide)</li><li><a href="https://denovali.com/digitalstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=999&products_id=13262">Mujo </a>by Eraldo Bernocchi & Hoshiko Yamane (ordered, waiting on CD to arrive)</li></ul><div>In case you're wondering, I did just order an additional CD shelf with capacity for nearly 300 discs.</div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wmnovj3wpDoe-piP0LSew77q5t6c5FZoXLE30_EvBrBkDWgTeCv2ulHdRSHtTeKg5fhe0yYOtg7NAMxKXQpvmuMC3VnWICoTU5QLZXA_UWjseSpAMF7OvX6oUq6C48AeBwnKwz2mBBU/s1200/bradford-Q1-2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wmnovj3wpDoe-piP0LSew77q5t6c5FZoXLE30_EvBrBkDWgTeCv2ulHdRSHtTeKg5fhe0yYOtg7NAMxKXQpvmuMC3VnWICoTU5QLZXA_UWjseSpAMF7OvX6oUq6C48AeBwnKwz2mBBU/w400-h300/bradford-Q1-2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Bradford, Q1, 2020. See link above.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>An article in the WSJ presents the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-the-holy-restoration-of-houstons-rothko-chapel-11599568084">renovated Rothko Chapel</a> in Houston. Along with the updated Museum of Fine Arts and renovated Menil Collection, it's time for a trip south. I'd love to see the chapel's paintings with the enhanced natural lighting.</div><div><br /></div><div>WSJ also writes about <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/arts/music/brian-eno-film-music.html">Brian Eno</a> and his new album, a compilation of film music.</div><div><br /></div><div>But before heading to Houston, I need to go to the Blanton in Austin. <a href="https://www.phillips.com/article/62892664/whats-next-for-blanton-museum-2020-programming">Here's what they're up to</a>.<br /><p>Take 8 minutes to watch this video about the <a href="https://youtu.be/3jNiNctcQ4c">12 principles of animation</a>.</p><p>If this freely available, 164 page ebook on <a href="https://figshare.com/articles/book/Elementary_Quantum_Mechanics/12928595/1">Elementary Quantum Mechanics</a> for 3rd year university students is truly elementary, I'd hate to see the advanced version.</p><p>Brownian motion of graphene has been shown to be <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-10-physicists-circuit-limitless-power-graphene.html">capable of generating electric current</a>. </p><p>Explore <a href="http://stars.chromeexperiments.com/">100,000 stars</a>.</p><p>Do something similar with <a href="https://orion2020v5b.spaceforeverybody.com/">Project Orion</a>.</p><p>Take some time to review the <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/most-influential-best-scenes-animation-history.html">100 most influential bits of animation</a>. And no, it doesn't start with Gertie the Dinosaur.</p><p>The song that's sweeping the nation:<a href="https://youtu.be/e1iGEM9NMFM"> Library Takeout</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Gf4UQg5-aADe4pTavAcLvgjDNQeIfPJjOWYC4kMf9p5AtdPc1Zp6zM1EUTcgWqtGsdjp2t6Z0eX_b2zdIRjXbN0BqwXr6HnOlR_3uQWGNrMyMNenhfIhchfJcBLjIton9BXsZGREzg/s1920/kazetachinu016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1920" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_Gf4UQg5-aADe4pTavAcLvgjDNQeIfPJjOWYC4kMf9p5AtdPc1Zp6zM1EUTcgWqtGsdjp2t6Z0eX_b2zdIRjXbN0BqwXr6HnOlR_3uQWGNrMyMNenhfIhchfJcBLjIton9BXsZGREzg/w400-h216/kazetachinu016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ghibli.jp/info/013344/">Studio Ghibli</a> has made available images from most (all?) of their films. Here's one from The Wind Rises, a film I've yet to have the chance to see.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>While we're talking about planes, here's a summary of the <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/25/here-is-the-status-of-the-u-s-bomber-force-outlined-by-the-vasc2020-conference/">state of U.S. bomber forces</a>.</p><p>Marconi Union's 2015 album <a href="https://theambientzone.bandcamp.com/album/departures">Departures</a> has been rereleased in digital format. </p><p>What does a <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-high-quality-camera-takes-photos-through-thousands-of-straws/">Raspberry Pi and hundreds of drinking straws</a> make? You'll be surprised.</p><p>What can you do with a tool that's the size of a penny? Seems quite a bit. Introducing the <a href="https://www.malborokane.com/">Claw</a>.</p><p>So you like tiny things? How about <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/607867/sock-gift-ideas?utm_content=infinitescroll1">a Rubik's Cube that's less than 1/2 inch per side</a>. But it's price isn't tiny.</p><p>Sixty Minutes talked about<a href="https://youtu.be/msN1mPdGonI"> Walt Disney World in 1972</a>.</p><p>An over 2-hour interview with <a href="https://youtu.be/vbPy4I1BUyQ">Trey Gunn</a>.</p><p>When you retire an F-117 stealth fighter and send it to a museum you first have to remove the outer coating of <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2020/10/13/this-interesting-new-video-shows-the-removal-of-the-ram-radar-absorbent-material-from-f-117a-black-devil/">radar absorbent material</a>.</p><p>If any video has ever qualified as aviation porn, it's this one: <a href="https://youtu.be/Fq2cTx-uGgA">F-22 Raptor Hype</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi6QpzSvU0ceC2lh6ykvPoPZN0wT_o-vZWe_xFZ_zlVD5iLc4Xkkv0nymSBK5ayvOuST3fKomxmYh26XjPVnNJsBgov0SJwYZ9m9B995ZY3FdgsdRKe97diDNcKb9dhBDiQ7tCxcIImI/s621/virginia-jaramillo-Genesis-1969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="621" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi6QpzSvU0ceC2lh6ykvPoPZN0wT_o-vZWe_xFZ_zlVD5iLc4Xkkv0nymSBK5ayvOuST3fKomxmYh26XjPVnNJsBgov0SJwYZ9m9B995ZY3FdgsdRKe97diDNcKb9dhBDiQ7tCxcIImI/w400-h399/virginia-jaramillo-Genesis-1969.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Jaramillo, Genesis, 1969, from the artist's <a href="https://www.menil.org/exhibitions/346-virginia-jaramillo-the-curvilinear-paintings-1969-1974">curvilinear series</a>. Some day, hopefully soon, I'll be able to visit the Menil Collection.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Baltimore Museum of Art is hosting a <a href="https://artbma.org/exhibitions/2020_joan-mitchell">retrospective of Joan Mitchell</a> beginning in March 2021 and I would love to see it too.<br /><p>Also want to get down to Austin soon to see <a href="https://blantonmuseum.org/exhibition/expanding-abstraction/">Expanding Abstraction</a> at the Blanton.</p><p>It may sound dull, but this video about <a href="https://youtu.be/ZyXUzhTn0kI">how traditional French butter is made</a> is quite interesting.</p><p>The good news: <a href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/physicists-discover-first-room-temperature-superconductor-20201014/">room-temp superconductivity</a>. The bad news: requires pressures approaching those at the earth's core.</p><p>Robert Harris has a new novel set in WWII called <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607955/v2-by-robert-harris/">V2</a>. </p><p>I have a mild case of <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-tinnitus-treatment-alleviates-annoying-ringing-in-the-ears1/">tinnitus</a> so this non-invasive treatment that zaps your tongue looks promising.</p><p>How brief is a <a href="https://www.livescience.com/zeptosecond-shortest-time-unit-measured.html">zeptosecond</a>?</p><p>All <a href="https://vangoghworldwide.org/">Van Gogh</a>.</p><p>Why does a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mannkitchen/mannkitchen-pepper-cannon-the-pepper-mill-for-pepper-lovers">pepper grinder</a> on Kickstarter get nearly $1 million in pledges? Maybe it's because the video is pretty funny. Or maybe people really like pepper. </p><p>Penguin <a href="http://nowiknow.com/why-penguins-are-a-laughing-matter/">poop</a> and nitrous oxide.</p><p>When was BOGO first used in print? Use Merriam-Webster's <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-traveler/1983">Time Traveler</a> to find out or choose a year and see all the words.</p><p>I'm a fan of black licorice. But like most things, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-spooky-and-dangerous-side-of-black-licorice-147001">moderation is important</a>.</p><p>A new edit of <a href="https://youtu.be/nWxDwvLhkDw">Godfather 3</a>. But it's only on BluRay and I don't got that.</p><p>More of Ze Frank's funny True Facts: <a href="https://youtu.be/wjuVq9BRNAI">Snake and Lizard Tongues</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/zfBJmytIegs">Cat's Killer Senses</a>.</p><p><b>...is content with the least.</b> ~Diogenes</p></div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-68780088076599668752020-09-30T07:51:00.001-05:002021-02-04T13:10:30.321-06:00Trump Promotes Sedition<p>In an evening full of disturbing comments, the most egregious was Donald Trump's nod toward sedition during the debate of presidential candidates on 29 Sep 2020.</p><p>It began when moderator Chris Wallace gave Trump a direct and explicit opportunity to condemn white supremacists and militia groups.</p><p>Trump refused to do so and instead asked "Give me a name, give me a name, go ahead, who do you want me to condemn?" Wallace's reply repeated his previous request to condemn "white supremacist and right-wing militia."</p><p>Trump's reply was astonishing. "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by."</p><p>When pushed to come up with a white supremacist militia, the first and only group he addressed was the Proud Boys. Therefore, it's clear that Trump knows that the Proud Boys are a white nationalist militia. Trump should also know that the Dept. of Homeland Security has reported that white supremacists present the gravest terror threat to the U.S.</p><p>But Trump doesn't condemn them as asked. Instead he issues them orders as their de facto leader, "Stand back and stand by." </p><p>Why is the President of the United States, with all the powers afforded to that office for upholding and enforcing the law, ordering a white nationalist militia to "stand by"? Stand by for what? Presumably to stand by and prepare to take violent action against citizens of this country when called upon by him (in other words, to commit crimes).</p><p>Sedition is defined as "conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state."</p><p>I would say that ordering a white nationalist militia to "stand by" to take violent action borders on "speech inciting people to rebel against authority."</p><p>Members of all three branches of the federal government and members of all branches of the military have a constitutional duty to protect this country from all enemies, including domestic seditionists.</p><p>Also, by failing to condemn white supremacists Trump has made it clear that he at at least condones them, condones the gravest terror threat to this country.</p><p>Update, 06 Jan 2021: I told you so.</p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-76830869976811836062020-09-19T16:03:00.001-05:002020-09-19T16:03:57.104-05:00A fool sees himself as another...<p>The <a href="https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-air-show/">Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show</a> was named best in the country.</p><p>Do rocks get your rocks off? Then you'll love this huge, early 19th century <a href="https://www.c82.net/mineralogy/#">drawing of minerals</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUDdcVHERTBk1tIMme5xyp1hkmyYOgPq5spZR78WjIJndt5D36cuX8ov0YmsAeAk8jh_Nexd6A8mAuOd1O90b1xHX2R7B8hyiD_GlcqeNfov7GUEcZjUySKiukwgJlF_sBwRlMz3tRI4/s2048/Mark-Bradford-Q2-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="2048" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUDdcVHERTBk1tIMme5xyp1hkmyYOgPq5spZR78WjIJndt5D36cuX8ov0YmsAeAk8jh_Nexd6A8mAuOd1O90b1xHX2R7B8hyiD_GlcqeNfov7GUEcZjUySKiukwgJlF_sBwRlMz3tRI4/w320-h261/Mark-Bradford-Q2-2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Bradford, Q2, 2020. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/arts/design/mark-bradford-new-paintings-quarantine.html">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Not too surprising, but a study has confirmed that people <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/abstraction-emotional-response-unversality-study-1202696555/">don't react uniformly to abstract paintings</a>. Like is black about death or life?</p><p><a href="http://verticaltimeyoga.com/CSMW%20-%20Write%20About2/writeaboutsimpli.html">Wabi, sabi</a>, awari, and furiu. Learning about these Zen aesthetics was eye-opening.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>sabi - The necessity and pleasure of solitude. </li><li>wabi - An appreciation of the commonplace.</li></ul><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyFlg1ypCCRBKexs4OqcQoj6u75NVdHLQfwm5LCbXxXhx73PKi6OUnPv0iTuoK1g7fxiW1OuN1or6JX2tmciYzgJ9NwwT6eOnSET_TfWqjhZMw7TMnicDhP0ENmymaj-1thphPRlbY4c/s2560/Hot-Dog-Style-Guide-scaled.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="569" height="1906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyFlg1ypCCRBKexs4OqcQoj6u75NVdHLQfwm5LCbXxXhx73PKi6OUnPv0iTuoK1g7fxiW1OuN1or6JX2tmciYzgJ9NwwT6eOnSET_TfWqjhZMw7TMnicDhP0ENmymaj-1thphPRlbY4c/w426-h1906/Hot-Dog-Style-Guide-scaled.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bitsandpieces.us/2020/08/19/hot-dogs-around-the-world/">Hungry</a>?</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Someone <a href="https://www.classicfm.com/composers/stravinsky/rite-of-spring-teletubbies/">mashed up Stravinsky's Rite of Spring with Teletubbies</a> and while that's interesting I prefer several others. Just go to YouTube and search for Teletubbies mashup and enjoy.</p><p>The lucky 13 <a href="https://scopevision.com.au/blog/13-behaviours-of-high-trust-leaders">behaviors of high trust leaders</a>. #7 Get better.</p><p>Working from home <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/10/career-costs-working-from-home/615472/">hurts young people</a>?</p><p>The case for the <a href="https://hbr.org/2018/12/the-case-for-the-6-hour-workday">6-hour workday</a>.</p><p>The history of vinyl records -<a href="https://youtu.be/fjC094yTEj4"> the LP.</a></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwCk-jC5b0lxkmPPi7EPFtw_TQgpU7LewBKB1nXEgbjgzbhtpxl25QxltSS5tHRy1o_tJFrXRttnfWGUx6NPwg4fdEN5BFYbi6Uv0GnCu4AxxcWV078SVnABMPSgS1HXTOmzqjoAByJc/s1200/periodic-table-subway-map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1200" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwCk-jC5b0lxkmPPi7EPFtw_TQgpU7LewBKB1nXEgbjgzbhtpxl25QxltSS5tHRy1o_tJFrXRttnfWGUx6NPwg4fdEN5BFYbi6Uv0GnCu4AxxcWV078SVnABMPSgS1HXTOmzqjoAByJc/w500-h269/periodic-table-subway-map.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A subway map version of the <a href="https://www.futilitycloset.com/2020/08/02/all-aboard-7/">periodic table of elements</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Music in various stages of contemplation.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://alexhaas.bandcamp.com/album/lithium">LITHIUM</a> by Alex Haas</li><li><a href="https://www.richardhallebeek.com/release/bumerang/">Bumerang</a> by Hallebeek, Feliciati, and Voskull</li><li><a href="https://txtrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/ambient-forms">Ambient Forms</a> by Sleepy Town Manufacture</li><li><a href="https://davidkollar.bandcamp.com/album/10-poems-for-ronroco">10 Poems for Ronroco</a> by David Kollar</li><li><a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/originsmusic/gaudi-psychedelic-future-dub-vol6/">Psychedelic Future Dub (Vol. 6)</a> by GAUDI</li><li><a href="https://burningshed.com/eddie-jobson_eddie-jobson-live_2cd">Live</a> by Eddie Jobson (I ordered this one)</li><li><a href="https://eraldobernocchi.bandcamp.com/album/superradiance">Superradiance</a> by Eraldo Bernocchi and KK NULL (I bought this one)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/1LUb-zCM5io">World Dialog</a> by Stephan Thelen</li><li><a href="https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/anthony-phillips-missing-links-i-iv-5cd-remastered-box-set/">Missing Links I-IV</a>, 5 CD remastered box set by Anthony Phillips </li><li><a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brian-eno-film-music-1976--2020-301132814.html">Film Music 1976-2020</a> by Brian Eno</li></ul><p></p><p>And then there's <a href="https://youtu.be/qlicWUDf5MM">Predator, The Musical</a>.</p><p>Bad news: <a href="https://cacm.acm.org/news/246744-picking-locks-with-audio-technology/fulltext">lock picking by sound</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKTLjAiHgBI8M06mc6PiWxh5uSLQPRp-F9H3ry1QGIPnFDsMz_bPDbbZr0tzf3fTyYUV3OkhdXZudljNpaH8vyKXKeTY2o2f5fEa-tCuScHJz8ms5R6d6OJzIU8csc5b94gkf9gvErZQ/s2048/160th-SOAR-poster.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1485" data-original-width="2048" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKTLjAiHgBI8M06mc6PiWxh5uSLQPRp-F9H3ry1QGIPnFDsMz_bPDbbZr0tzf3fTyYUV3OkhdXZudljNpaH8vyKXKeTY2o2f5fEa-tCuScHJz8ms5R6d6OJzIU8csc5b94gkf9gvErZQ/w500-h363/160th-SOAR-poster.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the <a href="https://theaviationist.com/2020/08/15/this-poster-shows-for-the-first-time-all-the-aircraft-flown-by-the-160th-soar-a-night-stalkers-from-its-origins-to-the-present/">Night Stalkers' aircraft</a> in poster form.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Background radiation is now <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-08-cosmic-rays-stymie-quantum.html">limiting the performance of quantum computers</a>.</p><p>Science has computed <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-08-physicists-supernova.html">how long before the universe suffers "heat death" </a>and every star is burned out. Before you click through, guess how many year. 10 to the power what?</p><p>Too hard? Try to guess the <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-08-cold-ice-age.html">temperature of the last ice age</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcEjO_TwOhswNQYxbKZ0Vb8Zv8bnL05Z9emLt2u9VSGnsHI5ZdSSlVuTIXMcoYI15dSBq1zj6qPGt2JfV54hHGqDkNOkAj2mUmaOKN_0l8_lWDIuUEoBS7IX7Rxkt3A69ZGoyPBM63UQ/s1007/map-fall-foliage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1007" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcEjO_TwOhswNQYxbKZ0Vb8Zv8bnL05Z9emLt2u9VSGnsHI5ZdSSlVuTIXMcoYI15dSBq1zj6qPGt2JfV54hHGqDkNOkAj2mUmaOKN_0l8_lWDIuUEoBS7IX7Rxkt3A69ZGoyPBM63UQ/w400-h252/map-fall-foliage.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's <a href="https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/">fall foliage</a> map.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>More pandemic resources:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.syracuse.edu/covid-dashboard/">Syracuse University's dashboard</a></li></ul><div>More funny True Facts from Ze Frank: <a href="https://youtu.be/Biagyb7AcK8">The Hummingbird Warrior.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ever wondered how your butt got to look that way? Time for some <a href="https://massivesci.com/articles/butts-shape-big-anthropologist-evolution-how-why-explainer/">butt evolution</a>.</div><p></p><p><b>...but a wise man sees others as himself. ~Dogen</b></p>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260056830686404550.post-79141388158457941232020-08-08T15:18:00.000-05:002020-08-08T15:18:23.950-05:00Man suffers only because he takes seriously...This is the world's worst blog post. It's a cleaning-out of a backlog of bookmarks that was making it difficult for me to find the ones for work. And with that guilt out of the way...<br />
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Who else watched the 1973 TV series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5x7rYQNb4drZnQLfoJMiF3MDEaVYO67B" target="_blank">The World At War</a>? It's now on YouTube. The theme music brings back memories. Narrated by Laurence Olivier. This series was instrumental in developing my young understanding of conflict.<br />
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I'm told the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes sense if you watch this <a href="https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-official-scene-by-scene-mcu-chronological-watching-order/" target="_blank">chronological viewing guide</a>.<div><br /></div><div>Someone should make <a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58419/miles-davis-chili-recipe">Miles Davis' chili</a> and tell me how good it is.<br />
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A live webcam from <a href="https://sightlinesmag.org/a-webcam-now-offers-24-hour-views-from-inside-ellsworth-kellys-austin" target="_blank">Ellsworth Kelly's Austin</a>.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xjLvOU1sOYFX1Th8eoKa5ly_nUPueYDPCFf1CkeR1sUTcwWaGfsgE5qW6cWvpYJEdNUH92jbbWoNDzEAjMwTaSSLIwE-VhaQ5IotU6sp080XLzsOEi0ErE-Y4q2Fu8DFtyWXVVAoHW4/s699/i-rice-pereira.png" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="635" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xjLvOU1sOYFX1Th8eoKa5ly_nUPueYDPCFf1CkeR1sUTcwWaGfsgE5qW6cWvpYJEdNUH92jbbWoNDzEAjMwTaSSLIwE-VhaQ5IotU6sp080XLzsOEi0ErE-Y4q2Fu8DFtyWXVVAoHW4/w465-h512/i-rice-pereira.png" width="465" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irene Rice Pereira, The One, 1960. <a href="http://collection.blantonmuseum.org/objects-1/info?query=mfs%20all%20%22rice%20pereira%22">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />
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Another teaser for the upcoming film about <a href="https://youtu.be/0YUdWwUsijs" target="_blank">Harold Budd's and Brian Eno's collaborations</a>.<br />
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Someone created a website for <a href="https://johnwettonlegacy.co.uk/" target="_blank">John Wetton</a>'s legacy.<div><br /></div><div>An interview with Markus Reuter about <a href="https://youtu.be/XgwgyrWsqBM">music and psychology</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The 50 <a href="https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9948-the-50-best-ambient-albums-of-all-time/">best ambient albums</a> of all time. And I have precisely two.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can buy an autographed pair of <a href="https://burningshed.com/store/billbruford/signed-exclusives/bill-bruford_maple-wood-promark-drumsticks_signed-merchandise">Bill Bruford's drumsticks</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Gary Larson has a website: <a href="https://www.thefarside.com/">The Far Side</a>. (Honestly, I still prefer <a href="https://www.gocomics.com/kliban/2012/03/19">B. Kliban</a>.)<br />
<br />
Your tune menu:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://din.org.uk/album/blast-din6" target="_blank">Blast (DiN6)</a> by centrozoon</li>
<li>A performance by <a href="https://youtu.be/BiCIQChvt2Q" target="_blank">Twinscapes</a> from 2017</li>
<li>A teaser for Sonar and David Torn's <a href="https://youtu.be/c3uE3EfnOVo" target="_blank">Transceportation Vol. 2</a>.</li>
<li>Philip Glass' <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/philip-glass-music-in-eight-parts-ep/1512850027" target="_blank">Music in Eight Parts</a> has been "rediscovered."</li>
<li><a href="https://bernhardwoestheinrich.bandcamp.com/album/leftovers" target="_blank">Leftovers</a> by Subsonic Experience</li><li>Pat Mastelotto was interviewed for Forbes on his <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2020/06/16/drummer-pat-mastelotto-on-25-years-with-king-crimson-recording-mr-misters-hit-album-and-life-in-quarantine/#286f14385764">25 years with King Crimson</a> and more.</li><li>All About Jazz reviews <a href="https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sonar-with-david-torn-tranceportation-volume-1-2">Tranceportation Vols. 1 and 2</a> by Sonar with David Torn.</li><li>A previously unknown <a href="https://www.jazzwise.com/news/article/palo-alto-previously-unknown-thelonious-monk-recording-to-be-released-on-impulse">Thelonius Monk album</a>, Palo Alto, is due to be released any day now.</li><li><a href="https://porcupinetreeofficial.bandcamp.com/album/warszawa-2020-remaster">Warszawa</a> by Porcupine Tree, a 2020 remaster of a 2001 live performance</li><li><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/brian-eno-roger-eno-deluxe-edition-mixing-colours-1022825/">Brian and Roger Eno</a> are releasing a "sequel" to their Mixing Colours album</li><li>Travis Orbin's <a href="https://travisorbin.bandcamp.com/album/finite-complete">Finite: Complete</a></li><li><a href="https://tear-reuter-and-wingfield.bandcamp.com/">All five albums from TEAR</a>, the duo of Markus Reuter and Mark Wingfield, are "name your price"</li><li><a href="https://dewabudjana-moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/album/zentuary-hd">Dewa Budjana's Zentuary</a> (with Tony Levin, Gary Husband, and Jack DeJohnette) </li><li>The track <a href="https://soundcloud.com/denovali/robin-schlochtermeier-woodlouse-1">Woodlouse</a> from Robin Schlochtermeier's upcoming album, Spectral.</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ImmediateFamily/videos">Immediate Family</a></li><li>Jana Irmert's <a href="https://janairmert.bandcamp.com/album/everything-minus-all">Everything Minus All</a></li><li>Colin Edwin's <a href="https://colinedwin.bandcamp.com/track/first-point-of-origin">First Point of Origin</a></li><li>The single <a href="https://theambientzone.bandcamp.com/album/departure">Departure</a> from Marconi Union's upcoming new album<br /></li><li>Mark Wingfield's <a href="https://youtu.be/DjGsqDkrLDw">Aravalli</a></li><li><a href="https://progreport.com/steve-howe-love-is-album-review/">Love Is</a> by Steve Howe</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGXpwboRwt5btyaNKbXUuVwGlbQ44oCshp0R45V3Jwk2kPbsRS_RdCeaTi3cJ4_rT0JyQsl1ocvaorPAILM-Vj1kEfTYYRRtAXMdtu_zTRD2xefxE3RTCiBef_BarwihFNbdxZtVGw1k/s1600/Mitchell-Noel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGXpwboRwt5btyaNKbXUuVwGlbQ44oCshp0R45V3Jwk2kPbsRS_RdCeaTi3cJ4_rT0JyQsl1ocvaorPAILM-Vj1kEfTYYRRtAXMdtu_zTRD2xefxE3RTCiBef_BarwihFNbdxZtVGw1k/s400/Mitchell-Noel.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan MItchell, <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/joan-mitchell-noel-phillips-1202688200/" target="_blank">Noel</a>, 1961-62. Expected to go for up to $12.5 million at auction in July.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div><br /></div><div>
A 110 million year old fossilized dinosaur has given up the contents of its <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/dinosaur-s-last-meal-found-inside-its-mummified-stomach-110-million-years-later" target="_blank">stomach</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://fortworthtexas.gov/news/2020/06/Population-Estimates/" target="_blank">Fort Worth</a> is now the 13th largest city in the U.S.<br />
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Here's one of those animated bar charts showing the <a href="https://youtu.be/JXfIOsWhWnM" target="_blank">most popular TV shows 1951-2019</a>.<br />
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A cool image slider that blends <a href="https://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/2014/apr/image-opacity-slider-master/index.html?ww2-dday" target="_blank">photos from D-Day and today</a>.<br />
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A periodic table comprised of books with <a href="https://www.getnickt.org/pt-books" target="_blank">elements in their title</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Watch this video that details all the <a href="https://youtu.be/zikI2fazPLo">cockpit controls of an F-15</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some exoplanets may be covered in <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/exoplanets-supercritical-water-liquid-gas">oceans of supercritical water</a>. Which sounds dull until you realize supercritical water can be used to break down toxic waste here on earth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't like wet planets? How about the <a href="https://scitechdaily.com/planetary-researchers-surprised-to-find-a-ring-of-fire-on-venus/">ring of fire on Venus</a>?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://vegalleries.com/releases/disneyland-the-first-65-years">Disneyland: The First 65 Years</a> is an auction coming up next weekend.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2l0s0k7UvW0Ic0myvLWOVJvchlsBvSrFvBw0SlBjuPm4elBczFRGqUm3CgGDEmgcljFjZYdbIb1SyihVBDRpNN_begQirum4XlpWoO8Y70Ckwt_iv6ChgL-PokF0grKRfwXP_4ckF5w/s1600/ciccoricco-6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2l0s0k7UvW0Ic0myvLWOVJvchlsBvSrFvBw0SlBjuPm4elBczFRGqUm3CgGDEmgcljFjZYdbIb1SyihVBDRpNN_begQirum4XlpWoO8Y70Ckwt_iv6ChgL-PokF0grKRfwXP_4ckF5w/s400/ciccoricco-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angular embroidery plus twigs by <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/05/natalie-ciccoricco-nesting-embroideries/" target="_blank">Natalie Ciccoricco</a>.</td></tr>
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Ze Frank's True Facts. Still funny. <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/zfBJmytIegs" target="_blank">Cat's killer senses</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/wZ4cadzCZUI">Macaques</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/XVWQCd5j_ec">Killer surfing snails</a></li></ul>
Pandemic resources:</div>
<ul>
<li>A map of <a href="https://txdshs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ed483ecd702b4298ab01e8b9cafc8b83" target="_blank">Texas COVID-19</a> case counts.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.aiha.org/public-resources/consumer-resources/coronavirus_outbreak_resources" target="_blank">AIHA coronavirus resource</a> pages.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.vistage.com/research-center/business-financials/economic-trends/20200511-covid-19-trends/" target="_blank">COVID-19 trends</a> as reported by Vistage.</li><li><a href="https://coronavirus-disasterresponse.hub.arcgis.com/">COVID-19 GIS Hub</a></li><li>from <a href="https://www.tarrantcounty.com/en/public-health/disease-control---prevention/coronaviruas.html">Tarrant County</a></li><li>Timeline, map-based video of <a href="https://youtu.be/qpRMLR7VkO8">every COVID-19 death</a>.</li>
</ul>
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You can stop looking. That <a href="https://apnews.com/1ecd8a37bd1e4dc68ebed3c4568fcf72?mod=djem10point" target="_blank">treasure hidden in the Rockies</a> has been found.</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking at <a href="https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/abstract-art-mindset-study">abstract art is good for you</a>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpzXtsyfVLfyWlMoYwA4c3eRMc1Ox3a_usaVfD76qoHJRXgO_pRcyiLZMkcCnPjrYSmFXwqxDnnh-TuwpOK6Bk1vWrJyuAb2l2h3p4saUUV2xUI05jzuMsgIedi1Ik7zfy5wGBSBgN1U/s739/world-pop-by-long-lat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="550" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpzXtsyfVLfyWlMoYwA4c3eRMc1Ox3a_usaVfD76qoHJRXgO_pRcyiLZMkcCnPjrYSmFXwqxDnnh-TuwpOK6Bk1vWrJyuAb2l2h3p4saUUV2xUI05jzuMsgIedi1Ik7zfy5wGBSBgN1U/s640/world-pop-by-long-lat.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/3elvm6/world_population_in_2000_by_latitude_and_by/">source</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Every self-help book can be reduced to <a href="https://mashable.com/article/best-self-help-book-advice/">11 simple rules</a>. #6 Be playful.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stonehenge gets the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jun/22/vast-neolithic-circle-of-deep-shafts-found-near-stonehenge">shafts</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and they found where all those <a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/stonehenge-sarsen-stones-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html">Stonehenge stones</a> came from.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take a 3D virtual tour of the <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/07/ramesses-vi-tomb-virtual-tour/">tomb of Ramsesses VI</a>. Stuff like this is why in high school I wanted to be an archaeologist specializing in ancient Egypt.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ultra-high resolution photo of <a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-last-supper-attributed-to-giampietrino-and-giovanni-antonio-boltraffio/gAEISwj5Pus85w">The Last Supper</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Watch the earth's <a href="https://youtu.be/PUwmA3Q0_OE">human population</a> grow over time.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://vimeo.com/430690235">A Mind Sang</a>. Animation, music. Just watch it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://fwtx.com/culture/guess-which-zoo-was-just-named-no-1-in-the-u-s/">Fort Worth Zoo</a> was named #1 in the U.S.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ_5U6DyjNeiNjULnQwpLDY7EbWCaIfETBo17zzNPe0Ru9MxpWr4XS9Twt6wAnjNE0XkvH3p6gDx-R86MJwC1glkRItz7xX7u_VUaCM4z6Id4RDw6zULnM2TCGKRTbradslYRlqkr2us/s1600/felipe-pantone-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1200" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ_5U6DyjNeiNjULnQwpLDY7EbWCaIfETBo17zzNPe0Ru9MxpWr4XS9Twt6wAnjNE0XkvH3p6gDx-R86MJwC1glkRItz7xX7u_VUaCM4z6Id4RDw6zULnM2TCGKRTbradslYRlqkr2us/s400/felipe-pantone-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felipe Pantone, <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/05/kinetic-sculpture-felipe-pantone/" target="_blank">Subtractive Variability Manipulable 3</a>. This is a kinetic work so go watch the video.</td></tr>
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The 5th state of matter, a <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-06-quantum-state-space.html" target="_blank">Bose-Einstein Condensate</a>, has been observed in space for the first time.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can observe <a href="https://youtu.be/l3QQQu7QLoM">a decade of the sun</a> in only an hour.<br />
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Science discovered <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-06-scientists-unexpected-widespread-earth-core.html" target="_blank">rocks in the center of the earth</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did your uni make the list of the <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/college/g32926196/most-beautiful-college-campuses/">50 most beautiful campuses</a>? </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://window-swap.com/">WindowSwap</a> lets you look out someone else's window.<br />
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Science solves the top problems of our age. Is it better to <a href="https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/fold-or-wad-toilet-paper-physics" target="_blank">fold or wad your TP</a> before use?</div><div><br /></div><div>Water beetles can be slurped up by a frog only to be <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-beetle-frog-eaten-alive-escape-death-butt-excretion">pooped out alive</a>. Proving why mother said to chew your food.<br /><div><br /></div><div>And for your enjoyment, do some <a href="https://neal.fun/macaroni-draw/">macaroni drawing</a>.<br />
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<b>...what the gods made for fun.</b> ~Alan Watts</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06038956427789115440noreply@blogger.com0