“Stay Asleep,” a GIF by illustrator TAO-B, based in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Category Archives: Media & Entertainment
I wanna be a DJ or a cowboy
You know how when you cut down the rain forest you destroy the natural habitat of some exotic wild animals and they become extinct? Say goodbye the Spotted American DJ. It’s all there in an excellent (and depressing) story by Clay Barbour in The Virginian-Pilot:
10 companies control two-thirds of the country’s listeners and ad revenue; two of them – Clear Channel and Infinity Broadcasting – own more than 40 percent of all stations.
Edison Research found that as many as 75 percent of 12- to 24-year-olds were listening to online radio, with nearly half of them using their phones to do so while in the car. Essentially, if you are younger than a certain age, you don’t listen to terrestrial radio anymore.
Many of you have ready my nostalgic ramblings about my dozen years as a small town radio DJ in the 70s. (sigh) Really glad I got to ride the range before all the media sod busters arrived.
Till There Was You
In 1966 I got the part of Professor Harold Hill in our high school spring musical. This song was supposed to be sung in two-part harmony with Marion the Librarian (who also happened to be my girl friend). I couldn’t do the harmony so they cut my part and I stood on the little foot bridge while she did a solo. I still can’t sing harmony.
Wikipedia: “Till There Was You” is a song written by Meredith Willson for his 1957 musical play The Music Man, and which also appeared in the 1962 movie version. The song is sung by librarian Marian Paroo (Barbara Cook on Broadway, Shirley Jones in the film) to Professor Harold Hill (portrayed by Robert Preston) toward the end of Act Two.
It’s Hard to Sing the Blues
It occurred to us recently that we might not get any better on the ukelele. No matter how many hours we practice. And who really wants to hear Five Feet Two one more time? Or the first time? So, with the encouragement of my friends Viretta and Natasia, I decided to write something myself and put it up on YouTube for the world to hear. Like a gay man coming out, just more awkward.
I dedicate this first effort to Professor Peter who’s been coaching me, as well as J-Walk, Bisbo and the Hobbit who encouraged me. Okay, they didn’t discourage me which is sort of the same thing.
How to cross a street in Ho Chi Minh City
My brother introduced us to this technique during our visit to Penang, Malaysia. Took a high degree of trust but it works.
We Were Never Born
WE WERE NEVER BORN from Dosnoventa on Vimeo.
I’m not a big fan of the 30 second commercial (I’m referring to TV spots here since I don’t remember the last time I heard a radio spot). I find most advertising mindless and insulting. Not all, but most. But I love it when a company finds a way to touch me that leaves me feeling good about myself (and the company/product).
The video above (4 minutes) –produced for Dosnoventa Bikes– includes “a haunting, Johnny-Cashlike voiceover by James Phillips and beautifully curated music by Pink Floyd and Cash himself.”
Slayer – War Ensemble (Ukulele cover)
New York Video Diary
I posted these clips as I recorded them (on the iPhone) but it’s fun to run ’em through iMovie and get ’em all together. Runs under 3 minutes.
Dark Universe
“With astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as your guide, go beyond the night sky and into deep space to find out how discoveries over the past 100 years have led us to two great cosmic mysteries: dark matter and dark energy. You’ll hurtle through Jupiter’s atmosphere, peer at the web of dark matter holding galaxies together, and watch the colorful remains of the universe’s beginnings unfold.”
I was fortunate to experience this at the Hayden Planetarium (part of the American Museum of Natural History in New York). The most amazing and wonderful thing I have every seen.
Ammi Simon: Tour Guide
Next week I’ll be in New York for a few days. I don’t have much planned. Just walking around, soaking up the atmosphere. I’ve hired a guide for my first day. Ammiel has lived in New York City since 1960. He attended The High School of Music and Art and has performed as an actor and musician at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall. I found him on ToursbyLocals.com. Ammi has promised to show me the New York that only New Yorkers see.