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February 23, 2007
Friday Cat Blogging - Tonkpile
Personal space doesn't seem to be a problem with these guys. (Photo taken 021807)
Posted by hgroteva at 01:48 AM | Comments (0)
February 21, 2007
Musical Cats
I was sent this link to an amazing You Tube clip about Nora, the musical cat - it's worth a watch. If it's possible, I'll post the actual clip here so you can just click and go. It's a fun one, I promise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM
Posted by hgroteva at 08:44 PM | Comments (1)
February 17, 2007
I Am Ready for Summer!
WHERE IN THE WORLD WAS THIS PICTURE TAKEN??
Posted by hgroteva at 10:40 PM | Comments (2)
February 14, 2007
Conspirare - A Group to be Watching
Thanks to Paul for introducing me to a wonderful new chorus - Conspirare - based in Austin, but a national / professional group. For Christmas, he and Carolyn gave me a recording of "Requiem" - a 2-CD set that begins with the Howells Requiem (one of my all-time favorites) and includes the Frank Martin Mass (another favorite) plus some new pieces that I really love --- especially Three Songs of Faith by Eric Whitacre and We Remember Them, by my friend Don Grantham. (Don directed a choir I sang in when we lived in Austin -- small world.) The CD was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards - congratulations!
I dragged out my trusty Cassell's Latin Dictionary (from 8th grade - what a packrat), and found that conspirare means "to breathe together." They're doing a lot more than breathing together. They are creating incredible sounds that echo in my mind for hours and days on end.
Here is a recent story about the group, and here is another.
Apropos Valentines Day (today), Paul also mentioned a recent PBS special called "The Mystery of Love" that used Conspirare as the focus of a section on "Community." Betty Sue Flowers (Prof. and Director of the LBJ Library) was one of the commentators in the story. Here and here are relevant stories.
I eagerly await their next CD!
Posted by hgroteva at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2007
Give Me My Radio Back!
I'm a big NPR / MPR fan, EXCEPT during those infernal times of the year when they have their pledge drives -- like now. The latest one started last Thursday. I just can't bear to listen during it - it's so irritating and distressing. (I know they need the money, and I guess they keep being reinforced for doing the pledge drives, because people do respond. I make sure to send in my membership fee at OTHER times during the year.)
In the Twin Cities, we had a good thing going when WCAL, a classical music station not owned by MPR, conducted its pledge drive at times when MPR stations weren't. So when MPR was doing its drive, I could listen all the time to WCAL, and vice versa. Now that MPR bought out WCAL, all 3 of the MPR stations do their fund drives simultaneously. There's no escaping. To top it off, the pledge drives seem to extend longer each year.
I feel sorry for the announcers who have to go on and on begging for money. I suspect they're muttering "This is not what I signed up for!" But they seem to weather it with relatively good humor.
I've been tuning in to some "commercial" stations - but AACK! This morning, one of the stations was telling the story of Anna Nicole Smith meeting St. Peter at the pearly gates. I can't tell you how many different ways that was revolting!
Well, that's enough of a rant for this Monday morning. It felt good to get it off my chest. But give me my radio stations back!
Posted by hgroteva at 09:22 AM | Comments (2)