Here is a quote about "Messiah" from last night's program notes for the performance downtown. In my view, it is an example of how not to write, of putting ones self above the ordinary reader.
"What is obvious, among other things, about Messiah... It's biblical message is not delivered in theatrical manner by dramatic personae ( it must mean actors?), but rather is an anonymous metaphysical discourse by a type of utopian, universal and humanistic church, one that really unites all religions, confessions and weltanschauungen (world views)." by Alexander Weimann
What is he talking about? Couldn't he have just said that Messiah is beautiful and uniting?
grandpathegrump
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Snow Returns!
Althought it can be exciting the snow has returned again and sometimes it can get really boring because we cannot go many places. sometimes we will be sitting in the house looking for something to do because we have no school (3rd day off). The snow is now back and now we might have a 3 week break from school because christmas Break starts next week and the snow keeps coming and coming. Here are some pictures from right when the snow started falling today.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuba Christmas & crass Christmas list
Beautiful job on the web page, Mad dog. You are a genius.
Hope the kids are enjoying the snow and time out of school. Hope the parents are survivng.
I went downtown Saturday for the annual Tuba Christmas at Pioneer square. It was the worst weather I've seen for the concert (very cold and a litttle snow) yet the apprciative crowd was the largest I've seen. How nice to get off the MAX to the sound of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Wonder how those muscisians play in the cold weather?
"Dr. John", aka John Richards still conducting at 91 years old. Someone said that almost all the horn players were at one time his students or students of his students. Thursday nite I'm going downtown to a short version of the Messiah. It can't be Christmas without hearing the Messiah.
Ignoring the self-serving crassness of listing my Christmas wish list, here it is: An "Il Divo" music CD, a small bottle of tea tree oil, Applets and Cotlets, an issue of "Outside" magazine, socks (ankle length argyle), a good looking bottle of olive oil ("good looking" means, old Europoean looking or great graphics on the label. Try New Seasons or Haggens, etc.) paperback books about interesting people, emerging ideas, mystery, but NO economics nor politics; tired of both, an electric screwdriver, gift cards appropriate for a "geezer", a 20 guage double barreled or over/under shotgun made only of blue steel and wood; no plastic nor camoflage (sp?); cost $300-$25,000, and/or a mini Cooper; used is OK, and a "zero gravity" flight; cost $3-4,000 and that's about it. (Just kiddong about the expensive stuff). Oh, yes; I also wish for Comrade Justinski to come home, for Courtney to have a "not too bad" pregnancy, and for the continued physical, emotional, and spirtual safety of the beautiful g'children and thier parents.
grandpa the grump
Hope the kids are enjoying the snow and time out of school. Hope the parents are survivng.
I went downtown Saturday for the annual Tuba Christmas at Pioneer square. It was the worst weather I've seen for the concert (very cold and a litttle snow) yet the apprciative crowd was the largest I've seen. How nice to get off the MAX to the sound of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". Wonder how those muscisians play in the cold weather?
"Dr. John", aka John Richards still conducting at 91 years old. Someone said that almost all the horn players were at one time his students or students of his students. Thursday nite I'm going downtown to a short version of the Messiah. It can't be Christmas without hearing the Messiah.
Ignoring the self-serving crassness of listing my Christmas wish list, here it is: An "Il Divo" music CD, a small bottle of tea tree oil, Applets and Cotlets, an issue of "Outside" magazine, socks (ankle length argyle), a good looking bottle of olive oil ("good looking" means, old Europoean looking or great graphics on the label. Try New Seasons or Haggens, etc.) paperback books about interesting people, emerging ideas, mystery, but NO economics nor politics; tired of both, an electric screwdriver, gift cards appropriate for a "geezer", a 20 guage double barreled or over/under shotgun made only of blue steel and wood; no plastic nor camoflage (sp?); cost $300-$25,000, and/or a mini Cooper; used is OK, and a "zero gravity" flight; cost $3-4,000 and that's about it. (Just kiddong about the expensive stuff). Oh, yes; I also wish for Comrade Justinski to come home, for Courtney to have a "not too bad" pregnancy, and for the continued physical, emotional, and spirtual safety of the beautiful g'children and thier parents.
grandpa the grump
The Comrade Returns!
Justin's official release date is Jan. 21st! He does not have a flight plan yet, but says he should probably be returning to Portland late in the afternoon or evening....so save the time if you want to go to the airport.
I will also host an Open House for him the following Sunday evening, the 25th from 6-9 at my home. YOu're invited!
I will also host an Open House for him the following Sunday evening, the 25th from 6-9 at my home. YOu're invited!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Blog redesign
Whoever redesigned this blog sure did a great job. Must thave been a kid. Grandpathegrump
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Who you gonna believe?
Both of these observations/articles come from the "Economist" Newpaper, world's best in my opinion:
"Most published research is wrong". Dr. John Ioanndis and his colleaques found that within a few years of publication in the most prestigious(sp?) journals (those that claim to publish only the best scientific work), one third of the papers had been refuted by other studies usually found in less prestigious journals. This was not true of findings published is less prestigious journals. (Economist 11 October, 2008 page 109)
"Placebos work better than morphine". In 1572 Michel de Montaigne, a
French philospher, observed that "there are men on whom the mere sight of medicine is operative". ... Both Dr. Benedetti and Dr. Diederich point to a techinique called hidden dosing that demonstrates the power of the placebo effect. In one study that used this, post-operative patients were given morphine secretly, given morphine with fanfare or given a placebo that was falsely declared to be a powerful pain releiver. ... made the striking observation that telling the patient a painkiller is being injected into him, when the injection is actually a saline solution, is as potent as covertly giving him a 6mg-8mg done of morphine. ... but the covert dose had to be increased to the full 12mg to surpass the effect of the placebo. (There are of course ethics questions) (Economist 1 November 2008 page 93)
Here is some creative wording: When the Church sends used computers out to Family History Centers, they call it "cascading". Not bad, but not as good as "plausible deniability", a term coined by the government to deny the existence of Area 51, the top secret flight test center in the desert NE of Las Vegas. They are reputed to have an alien spaceship and the body of an alien there. The best aerial photos of Area 51 are by the Russians.
Just heard on the TV , "he will be charged with unlawful use of a weapon". This is a contradiction, a catch-22. Isn't a weapon meant to hurt or kill people? How can it be "unlawful".
Grandpathegrump
"Most published research is wrong". Dr. John Ioanndis and his colleaques found that within a few years of publication in the most prestigious(sp?) journals (those that claim to publish only the best scientific work), one third of the papers had been refuted by other studies usually found in less prestigious journals. This was not true of findings published is less prestigious journals. (Economist 11 October, 2008 page 109)
"Placebos work better than morphine". In 1572 Michel de Montaigne, a
French philospher, observed that "there are men on whom the mere sight of medicine is operative". ... Both Dr. Benedetti and Dr. Diederich point to a techinique called hidden dosing that demonstrates the power of the placebo effect. In one study that used this, post-operative patients were given morphine secretly, given morphine with fanfare or given a placebo that was falsely declared to be a powerful pain releiver. ... made the striking observation that telling the patient a painkiller is being injected into him, when the injection is actually a saline solution, is as potent as covertly giving him a 6mg-8mg done of morphine. ... but the covert dose had to be increased to the full 12mg to surpass the effect of the placebo. (There are of course ethics questions) (Economist 1 November 2008 page 93)
Here is some creative wording: When the Church sends used computers out to Family History Centers, they call it "cascading". Not bad, but not as good as "plausible deniability", a term coined by the government to deny the existence of Area 51, the top secret flight test center in the desert NE of Las Vegas. They are reputed to have an alien spaceship and the body of an alien there. The best aerial photos of Area 51 are by the Russians.
Just heard on the TV , "he will be charged with unlawful use of a weapon". This is a contradiction, a catch-22. Isn't a weapon meant to hurt or kill people? How can it be "unlawful".
Grandpathegrump
Saturday, October 18, 2008
OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) Quote
Saturday I attended OPBs open house down on Macadam Ave. Got to see a taping of a segment for "Art Beat"; a vocal/instrumental group who does 20s & 30s music. Loved 'em. Will air in the Spring sometime. And got to look around a bit. Saw Jeff Douglas and K.C. Cowen and had a few words with the producer of Oregon Field Guide. Art Beat & Field Guide are my favorite programs. Here is a quote from OBP; "You are not an Oregonian because of where you live. You are an Oregonian because of how you think".
grandpthegrump
grandpthegrump
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