Never Mind Bono at the World Economic Forum in New York, Here's the Edge
at "The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology" in Cambridge (Jan. 11)
Real Life Rock science correspondent Steve Weinstein: "The Edge was seen chatting with astrophysicist Sir Martin Rees following Rees's talk at the recent 60th birthday party for Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University. Hawking is known as the Keith Richards of theoretical physicists, and indeed remarked to one bystander that despite his recent brush with death while speeding in his new wheelchair, he 'wasn't lookin too good but [he] was feelin' real well.'
"The Edge has recently been collaborating with Hawking on a bold new idea intended to make sense of the ill-defined Euclidean path integral that plays a central role in Hawking's 'no-boundary' proposal for the initial state of the universe. Later in the evening, the U2 guitarist was spotted with cosmologist Neil Turok in the VIP 'behind Hawking' area, with a rare view of the screen on which Hawking's communications appear. The Edge reportedly needled Turok for stealing U2's 'Unforgettable Fire'' title for his recent paper with Khoury, Ovurt and Steinhardt on what they call 'The Ekpyrotic ("out of fire") Universe.'
"The evening concluded with a song to Hawking written by general relativity expert Bernard Carr, and performed by Hawking's students and The Edge (vocals, not guitar). This was the high point of the evening to that moment, but it was eclipsed by the appearance of a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and then the Can-Can Dancers, six women in 'Moulin Rouge' costumes displaying what some characterized as 'a lot of leg.'"
from guest Brian T
Real Life Rock science correspondent Steve Weinstein: "The Edge was seen chatting with astrophysicist Sir Martin Rees following Rees's talk at the recent 60th birthday party for Stephen Hawking at Cambridge University. Hawking is known as the Keith Richards of theoretical physicists, and indeed remarked to one bystander that despite his recent brush with death while speeding in his new wheelchair, he 'wasn't lookin too good but [he] was feelin' real well.'
"The Edge has recently been collaborating with Hawking on a bold new idea intended to make sense of the ill-defined Euclidean path integral that plays a central role in Hawking's 'no-boundary' proposal for the initial state of the universe. Later in the evening, the U2 guitarist was spotted with cosmologist Neil Turok in the VIP 'behind Hawking' area, with a rare view of the screen on which Hawking's communications appear. The Edge reportedly needled Turok for stealing U2's 'Unforgettable Fire'' title for his recent paper with Khoury, Ovurt and Steinhardt on what they call 'The Ekpyrotic ("out of fire") Universe.'
"The evening concluded with a song to Hawking written by general relativity expert Bernard Carr, and performed by Hawking's students and The Edge (vocals, not guitar). This was the high point of the evening to that moment, but it was eclipsed by the appearance of a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and then the Can-Can Dancers, six women in 'Moulin Rouge' costumes displaying what some characterized as 'a lot of leg.'"
from guest Brian T
Folklore has it that Valentine's Day is when birds start pairing up, so I though I'd mention that I saw Kestrel Falcons mating on an aerial in LIC on my way to work today.
Beats porno.
Beats porno.
RIP dave van ronk
van ronk was not known as a songwriter but he could cover the hell out of some one elses material + always with great gusto. I was always amazed by his version of "teddy bears picnic" from his songs for ageing children album.
van ronk was not known as a songwriter but he could cover the hell out of some one elses material + always with great gusto. I was always amazed by his version of "teddy bears picnic" from his songs for ageing children album.
back from the Loire and Paris and and one of the most fun and yum meals ever in France was at L'Astrance , some other places get high points some the wine lists are so good the ok food could be overlooked and a fab time was had....
but over all it was
#1 L'Astrance (Paris)
#2 Les Tonnelles (Behuard-Loire)
#3 Willi's Wine Bar (Paris)
but over all it was
#1 L'Astrance (Paris)
#2 Les Tonnelles (Behuard-Loire)
#3 Willi's Wine Bar (Paris)
*"WINE PROTECTS AGAINST DEMENTIA!" - NY TIMES
"Raising a Toast to the Brain's Health", Tuesday, Jan 5th. - By John O'Neil
According to a 6 year Dutch study,
"People who had consumed one to three drinks a day were half as likely to have developed dementia"
"The gap was even bigger when the researchers focused on vascular dementia, the deterioration of brain function linked to damage of the arteries that supply the brain with oxygen. Whatever it is about alcohol that reduces risk of stroke and heart disease is also helping the brain by improving the functioning of the circulatory system, the researchers speculated."
"Raising a Toast to the Brain's Health", Tuesday, Jan 5th. - By John O'Neil
According to a 6 year Dutch study,
"People who had consumed one to three drinks a day were half as likely to have developed dementia"
"The gap was even bigger when the researchers focused on vascular dementia, the deterioration of brain function linked to damage of the arteries that supply the brain with oxygen. Whatever it is about alcohol that reduces risk of stroke and heart disease is also helping the brain by improving the functioning of the circulatory system, the researchers speculated."
The Asian Long-horned Beetle has been found in Central Park. This is real bad news, and could lead to the cutting of many trees. The beetles have been on Long Island for a few years; McCarron Park in Greenpoint lost all it’s Maples about four years ago. Last year they finally made it to Manhattan, and now the Park. The Conservancy has been pretty vigilant, and one hopes the damage can be limited, but once the insect has dug in there’s nothing to do but cut and burn the tree, to keep it from spreading. This has the potential to be the worst thing to happen to the Park since they let cars in.
first of all, my advice is don't even bother to _try_ getting vegetarian food in Madrid; I swear I am telling the truth when I say that at La Gallette, the cute, chic, "best vegetarian" place in town, they have _bacon_ in the so-called macrobiotic special...having said which, man, they have some good bacon in spain...in Madrid we did much better with incredible tapas at La Trutta: octopus, artichokes, squid, etc providing great vehicles for mass quantities of garlic ...Spanish roses -- both Garanacha and Cabernet -- _rule_, even better than the bandols and c.d. provences in southern france... best meal of the whole trip: a perfect, fresh charcoal-grilled whole daurade at a tourist trap opposite the casino in Cannes... in Barcelona, try the Boterofumero, which is a kind of seafood peter luger, with amazing stuffed crab, grilled langostinos, endless raw bar, etc etc...the big barcelona dish is a kind of paella with noodles (i forget the name), which I do NOT recommend, it's a little smelly and boring...i didn't have a single anchovy in spain that wasn't fantastic, and not from lack of experimentation...great white bean soup and fried artichokes at Nino's on the Via Bourguinoni near the spanish steps in Rome, next to which there is a building under construction which is a perfect place for enjoying a preprandial Smoke...oh, and some other important advice: after you've had a shitload of red wine? DO NOT drink a half-bottle or more of grappa. believe me. please. oh yeah, and that debate about where's the best food? italy. in case anyone still has doubts.
Fast 'N Bulbous: the CAPTAIN BEEFHEART PROJECT
I'm going crazy trying to remember who recorded, wrote etc. the psychedelic song "Time" You know, the one that slows down and speeds up, with the cow bell....I was unable to make a google search work. Alex? Bill? anyone?
Entertainment Industry Goober of the Month: John Wells
From an article in Slate about the use of letterboxing by mainstream TV shows:
ER producer John Wells, looking for ways to bring buzz back to his medical drama, [adopted a] 16:9 [screen ratio] at the start of the 2000-2001 season. As Wells explained it to the Akron Beacon Journal: "We noticed that a large number of commercials were being broadcast in letterbox form. We called the advertising department and asked why ... and they said, 'Well, because it looks classier.' Well, we've got a classy project. And I think that, increasingly, you want to be able to distinguish your show in an ever more cluttered marketplace as something that stands out."
The Towers of Light proposal is back. Apparently the new mayor likes it. It has some aesthetic appeal, but many people living nearby don't want it. Neither do birders, since the skyward lighting is apt to confuse night-migrants. According to Rebekah Creshkoff, the technology is the old ceilometer system, once used for measuring cloud ceilings around airports. There is evidence that such lights have affected flocks in the past, and placing them near a lot of tall buildings on a major flyway is a bad idea, at least during migration season, which will be underway (though not at peak) before this proposal runs its course.
Roger McGuinn's album Treasures from the Folk Den has been growing on me. It's even more of a nostalgia trip than is usual with folk music. McGuinn (best known as the leader of the Byrds) cut his teeth in the folk/protest era of the late 50s and early 60s. He's been putting out new versions of the era's songs online for some years. Now he's done a compilation album, re-recording these songs in the company of the artist associated with them back when. These include some real old-timers, like Pete Seeger and Jean Ritchie, as well as 60s staples like Judy Collins and Odetta. They no longer have the great voices of their youth, but most have gained an easy virtuosity over the years. Their art belies the simplicity of the performances, which seem more than ever modeled on the "authentic", unschooled style of rural singers, as exemplified by the Harry Smith Anthology. Thirty years ago these folks were showy singers, trying too hard; today they've almost become the real thing.
Most of the songs are chestnuts, but they are durable, and a few may have escaped your ear. I particularly like Dink's Song, which I've never owned a recording of. As told by Lomax, the story of the song and its singer is sad, and the achy duet by McGuinn and Josh White Jr. does them justice (even in a bowdlerized version). I wondered whether the reference to "Norah's dove" was a corruption of Noah's dove, but haven't found a clear statement on the point. Such "obvious" assumptions about traditional material often turn out to be wrong. Dylan sang it as "Noah's", which doesn't prove much, but this over-worshipful account does present a funny picture of the young singer working on his own myth.
Most of the songs are chestnuts, but they are durable, and a few may have escaped your ear. I particularly like Dink's Song, which I've never owned a recording of. As told by Lomax, the story of the song and its singer is sad, and the achy duet by McGuinn and Josh White Jr. does them justice (even in a bowdlerized version). I wondered whether the reference to "Norah's dove" was a corruption of Noah's dove, but haven't found a clear statement on the point. Such "obvious" assumptions about traditional material often turn out to be wrong. Dylan sang it as "Noah's", which doesn't prove much, but this over-worshipful account does present a funny picture of the young singer working on his own myth.
mike was asking about photographic images of the pranksters. Gene Anthony was clicking away in sf in 67
alex you KNOW??
How to Explain Enronomics to Kids
Feudalism - You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
Fascism - You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
Communism - You have two cows. Your neighbors help take care of them and you share the milk.
Totalitarianism - You have two cows. The government takes them both and denies they ever existed and drafts you into the army. Milk is banned.
Capitalism - You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.
Enron - You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to
a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.
Feudalism - You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
Fascism - You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.
Communism - You have two cows. Your neighbors help take care of them and you share the milk.
Totalitarianism - You have two cows. The government takes them both and denies they ever existed and drafts you into the army. Milk is banned.
Capitalism - You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.
Enron - You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to
a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.
the follow book will become part of the LB (Lovevibe-Brown) Library some time next month....i have been searching for years for an old alchemy print w/o any luck, Linda bought Alex this great book a couple weeks ago (sorry good Doctor) and I have engrossed in it, it seems to get the prints you gotta get the books....as you can imagine its rare, the 3rd book to change hands in the last 25 years....
ABRAHAM ELEAZAR. URALTES CHYMISCHES WERCK, Welches Ehedessen von dem Autore Theils in Lateinischer und Arabischer, theils auch in Chalaeischer und Syrischer Sprache Geschrieben...
Erfurt: Augustinus Crusius, 1735. 2 parts in one vol, 8vo, frontis. & 15 full-page engravings by J.E. Boeck, full-page woodcut, and woodcut diagrams throughout. [Bound with:] Zoraster. Clavis Artis des Beruehmten Juden und Rabbi Zoroasters. Jen: Joh. Gebast. Rudolph, 1738. Full vellum, lightly rubbed. A fine copy.
¶ First Edition of one of the major 18th century works on alchemy, by an author who wrote under the name of Abraham Eleaszar, the supposed author of the ancient alchemical ms found by the famous 13th century alchemist Nicolas Flamel. The engravings are said to be after illustrations in the manuscript found by Flamel. Ferguson devotes much space in trying to determine if it is authentic or note.Duveen pp.1-2: “The curious engravings are interesting examples of symbolic illustration.” Ferguson I, pp.2-3 (the Young Collection had only the second edition of 1760 but states the plates are far better int he first). Caillet pp.31-32. Ritman Library, The Silent Language, 49. Verginelli 1. Ouvaroff had only the second edition. Not in Dorbon or Jouin & Descreux; not in de Guatita or Manly Hall collections.
Just added to my post on Dave Kehr's New York Times article on Rintaro's Metropolis (currently playing in area movie theatres):
"Kehr finds the attempt in Metropolis to integrate hand-drawn figures with artificial-looking, Tron-like computer graphics to be awkward--and he's right, it looks terrible--but then says more conventional anime has the same clumsy disconnect between foreground and background, which just isn't true. Hand-drawn figures and hand-painted backgrounds work well together, it's only when the animators cut into the frame to show off all the cool wireframe stuff they can do that problems crop up. Computers may be useful for generating continuity drawings in conventional-looking animation, but whenever the programming calls attention to itself, as it does in Metropolis or even a smaller-scale project like Richard Linklater's insufferable Waking Life, it's distracting."
"For Whom the Bells Toll is a national initiative to have religious organizations throughout the country toll their bells whenever there is an execution."
hope everybody had a grand day yesterday, light on the posting and heavy on the getting outside, linda and i did
we walked all over red hook, all along the waterside and some of the side streets near the water, i fell in love, for so long i thought i wanted to live on sugar mountain but now its 173 beard st red hook brooklyn, whomever owns this home is extreemly lucky, hard to get arround yes but, thier backyard must smell of salt air all the time, on thier roof looking out at the water cant be a bummer either!!, couple other nice spots on beard and van brunt!!
Greg O'Connell from what i hear bought the whole waterfront inc lots of cival war era buildings buildings in the 70's for 500K, a friend rents a building from him and we saw some other renovated spaces AWESOME!!! he donated some of the space too including this and he has plans for a trolley museum, a fishing pier, etc....
he owns a lot of red hook and cobble hill near the water, he built for the same friend a restaurant/bar that will open soon.
first floor bar, 2nd floor restaurant (one of the partners cames from march restaurant), 3rd floor is the roof with more table, all 3 floors look out at unloading container ships and lower manhattan--NICE
i love brooklyn and wish i could buy in red hook today (or ever)
i had better get to work!!!
we walked all over red hook, all along the waterside and some of the side streets near the water, i fell in love, for so long i thought i wanted to live on sugar mountain but now its 173 beard st red hook brooklyn, whomever owns this home is extreemly lucky, hard to get arround yes but, thier backyard must smell of salt air all the time, on thier roof looking out at the water cant be a bummer either!!, couple other nice spots on beard and van brunt!!
Greg O'Connell from what i hear bought the whole waterfront inc lots of cival war era buildings buildings in the 70's for 500K, a friend rents a building from him and we saw some other renovated spaces AWESOME!!! he donated some of the space too including this and he has plans for a trolley museum, a fishing pier, etc....
he owns a lot of red hook and cobble hill near the water, he built for the same friend a restaurant/bar that will open soon.
first floor bar, 2nd floor restaurant (one of the partners cames from march restaurant), 3rd floor is the roof with more table, all 3 floors look out at unloading container ships and lower manhattan--NICE
i love brooklyn and wish i could buy in red hook today (or ever)
i had better get to work!!!
