News.com has a fun little set of graphics showing the new international symbol used for radiation warnings.
It seems the old symbol wasn't frightening enough; they tested the new one on 1,600 people of different nationalities and ethnicities to see if it would make them feel uncomfortable enough to run away from the danger.
The new symbol, however, reminds me of some 1980's album cover or a stencil you might see painted on a subway car.
article at news.com
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Grindhouse
I'm not a big fan of Quentin Tarrentino or Robert Rodriguez (though I think Rodriguez shows a bit more taste and talent). Their new movie is a kind of anthology that pays homage to the sleezy horror films of years gone by.
In between the "features" is an intermission with some trailers for fake horror movies made by some other directors especially for the project. The LA Times has an article about the trailers - I may just have to go see this just to check out Rod Zombie's trailer for "Werewolf Women of the SS".
article at LA Times
In between the "features" is an intermission with some trailers for fake horror movies made by some other directors especially for the project. The LA Times has an article about the trailers - I may just have to go see this just to check out Rod Zombie's trailer for "Werewolf Women of the SS".
article at LA Times
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
What the heck is a mellophonium?
Well, I had never heard of a "mellophonium" until I chanced upon this interesting article about the Stan Kenton Orchestra's "Melloponium Period".
http://www.middlehornleader.com/Kenton%20Mellophoniums.htm
http://www.middlehornleader.com/Kenton%20Mellophoniums.htm
Monday, March 26, 2007
Canned music on Broadway
The New York Times has an article today about the use of virtual orchestra software in live theater productions; the piece mentions Notion, a software package produced by a small start-up in Greensboro. (I have a good friend who works for the company.)
article at NY Times
article at NY Times
Friday, March 23, 2007
Letter from Vietnam
Continuing with excerpts from my uncle's tapes, here's a short two minute excerpt from one of his voice letters. He would send them on 3" reels of tape while he was stationed in Vietnam; on this one, recorded in August 1967, he couldn't think of much to say. So, he turned the microphone over to two of his fellow soldiers. I can't identify their names, but the first is Allen from Mocksville, North Carolina; the other soldier is from Youngstown, Ohio.
This tape was one of the few in the collection that had serious issues. It was improperly spooled and had suffered some deterioration over the years; the tape had buckled and wouldn't stay flat on side two. I gently held the tip of a cotton swap on the head of the deck as the tape played to flatten it out so it could be transferred. The sound still fades in and out a bit.
Voiceletter excerpt (2 mins, MP3 format)
This tape was one of the few in the collection that had serious issues. It was improperly spooled and had suffered some deterioration over the years; the tape had buckled and wouldn't stay flat on side two. I gently held the tip of a cotton swap on the head of the deck as the tape played to flatten it out so it could be transferred. The sound still fades in and out a bit.
Voiceletter excerpt (2 mins, MP3 format)
Sounds of Vietnam
My uncle William "Burl" Flannery served in Vietnam from 1965 through 1967 with the 121st Helicopter Assault Company stationed in Soctrang. While there, he made many short "voice letters" on 3" reel to reel tapes that he would mail to the family (our family, in turn, would record voice letters for him).
Recently, I borrowed the tapes to transfer them to CD since my uncle hasn't had a reel to reel deck in many years. Included in the collection were tapes of music and other material he recorded while in Vietnam and in the early 1970's. In the blog, I'll be highlighting a few more interesting excerpts of the tapes.
One 5" reel contained a compilation of other tapes with some introductions by Burl. Titled "Songs of Vietnam", it included the following material. Each MP3 is a selection of highlights from that section of the tape and runs two or three minutes.
Pop music from Vietnam - A selection of pop records played on the Vietnamese radio stations.
Amateur singers - Recorded at a party in Saigon, highlights of some young girls singing for the microphone. One wonders what happened to them.
Sounds of war - Material recorded during a company patrol.
Vietnamese rock musicians - Recorded at the Whiskey a Go Go in Saigon just before my uncle left the country, the recording is a group of Vietnamese soldiers who performed rock music at the club.
Recently, I borrowed the tapes to transfer them to CD since my uncle hasn't had a reel to reel deck in many years. Included in the collection were tapes of music and other material he recorded while in Vietnam and in the early 1970's. In the blog, I'll be highlighting a few more interesting excerpts of the tapes.
One 5" reel contained a compilation of other tapes with some introductions by Burl. Titled "Songs of Vietnam", it included the following material. Each MP3 is a selection of highlights from that section of the tape and runs two or three minutes.
Pop music from Vietnam - A selection of pop records played on the Vietnamese radio stations.
Amateur singers - Recorded at a party in Saigon, highlights of some young girls singing for the microphone. One wonders what happened to them.
Sounds of war - Material recorded during a company patrol.
Vietnamese rock musicians - Recorded at the Whiskey a Go Go in Saigon just before my uncle left the country, the recording is a group of Vietnamese soldiers who performed rock music at the club.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Goodwill finds, March 17th
Went to the Alamance Antique Mall in Burlington and to a couple of Goodwills in town over the weekend. Here's a few of the more unusual things we saw.
First up ... a Jesus plate. Did you realize that He was so blonde?
Next, a frightening whatiz to put on your wall. Are these some kind of pirates on crystal meth or something?
A psychodelic cow at Goodwill...
Two cookie jars sure to discourage children from sneaking a snack...
First up ... a Jesus plate. Did you realize that He was so blonde?
Next, a frightening whatiz to put on your wall. Are these some kind of pirates on crystal meth or something?
A psychodelic cow at Goodwill...
Two cookie jars sure to discourage children from sneaking a snack...
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