I came upon this wonderful Finnish tune, Juokse sin humma. The video is Dan Palmquist and the Arvika Blues Band. Tuta plays a Gambian xylophone. I have no idea what any of it means, but it has gotten into my head and won't go away. I hope I can inflict this on some of the rest of you.
The original is also online, sung by Tapio Rautavaara.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Easter Opens
Tonight is opening night for Easter, our 2009 Messiah Festival Theatre Offering.
This is the largest play we've done for Messiah festival since I've been here at Bethany. Naturally, I'm a little anxious that we drum up an audience.
So come. It is a wonderful show that is entirely life affirming - and even - in places - funny. Yes, it is Swedish and Yes, it is Strindberg.
And yes, it is 7:30 pm Friday April 3, Saturday April 4 and Saturday April 11.
It's FREE!!!!!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Earth Hour
Following notes in several places - most crucially a promo on television - Kris and I joined "Earth Hour" last night.
From 8:30 - 9:30 we turned off the lights. We lit all kinds of candles in the living room. I got out my uke and plunked. We talked, we sang (sort of), I played in the candlelight. It was a pleasant hour and a good way to remind us of how much electricity we do use.
I noticed that the town wasn't dark for that hour - I wonder if any towns in Kansas went dark for "Earth Hour" or if it's too Al Gore.
We liked it. We talked about doing it on a regular basis. If we do, we'll have to schedule it and make sure we live up to our schedule. Regardless, it was a pleasant way to put earth first, even if just for an hour.
From 8:30 - 9:30 we turned off the lights. We lit all kinds of candles in the living room. I got out my uke and plunked. We talked, we sang (sort of), I played in the candlelight. It was a pleasant hour and a good way to remind us of how much electricity we do use.
I noticed that the town wasn't dark for that hour - I wonder if any towns in Kansas went dark for "Earth Hour" or if it's too Al Gore.
We liked it. We talked about doing it on a regular basis. If we do, we'll have to schedule it and make sure we live up to our schedule. Regardless, it was a pleasant way to put earth first, even if just for an hour.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Surviving the Day
We all seemed to have survived the day, and what a strange day it was.
Around 1 I went out to get to Scott's and to check on snow removal at Bethany Church. This is what the video looked like:
I'm actually pretty proud of this, considering I couldn't see what was on my screen when I was recording the video.
From the church yard I walked east to Scott's. Someone headed west on his bicycle. Lan Nelson was heading west, said that the home's pickup had gotten stuck in the street and he decided walking would be easier. A few hardy souls were out at store, but overall Scott's was kind of empty.
After getting fresh water and Cheerios for an ailing wife (strange flu like symptoms), I headed home. Then north to the campus to see what was going on there. The Sandzen was open - that was unexpected. Ron Michaels had come to work. I was the only visitor.
To the office. I broke virgin ground when I entered the lower level of Presser Hall. Home again.
What was strange was how quickly the uncovered sidewalk was drying out. The remaining bits of slush and snow melted quickly and where ever pavement was exposed, it dried. Unfortunately, no one was clearing things at the college. We'll have to see how it is tomorrow when Messiah has dress rehearsal.
The other thing that amused me about our response to the snow: the vast numbers of homeowners who had to have their drive cleared. Patty Karstad, for example, had a fellow with a plow attached to the front of his Grasshopper come and clear her drive. Later, her garage was open and the car might have been taken out.
But it seems as if this is the most important thing for many people: to get the drive cleared so that you can get the car out if you want to get the car out.
Here's some before and after pictures from the day before the snowstorm and the afternoon after.
Around 1 I went out to get to Scott's and to check on snow removal at Bethany Church. This is what the video looked like:
I'm actually pretty proud of this, considering I couldn't see what was on my screen when I was recording the video.
From the church yard I walked east to Scott's. Someone headed west on his bicycle. Lan Nelson was heading west, said that the home's pickup had gotten stuck in the street and he decided walking would be easier. A few hardy souls were out at store, but overall Scott's was kind of empty.
After getting fresh water and Cheerios for an ailing wife (strange flu like symptoms), I headed home. Then north to the campus to see what was going on there. The Sandzen was open - that was unexpected. Ron Michaels had come to work. I was the only visitor.
To the office. I broke virgin ground when I entered the lower level of Presser Hall. Home again.
What was strange was how quickly the uncovered sidewalk was drying out. The remaining bits of slush and snow melted quickly and where ever pavement was exposed, it dried. Unfortunately, no one was clearing things at the college. We'll have to see how it is tomorrow when Messiah has dress rehearsal.
The other thing that amused me about our response to the snow: the vast numbers of homeowners who had to have their drive cleared. Patty Karstad, for example, had a fellow with a plow attached to the front of his Grasshopper come and clear her drive. Later, her garage was open and the car might have been taken out.
But it seems as if this is the most important thing for many people: to get the drive cleared so that you can get the car out if you want to get the car out.
Here's some before and after pictures from the day before the snowstorm and the afternoon after.
Video Experiment Continues
This short piece is part of my experiementation with the new video equipment the college purchased for the Pearson scholar visits.
Here the experiment centers on the shotgun microphone we bought to go along with the camera. You can tell how sensitive the mic is by the way it picks up the cat squeaks. Unfortunately, it also picks up lots of ambient noise.
On Thursday we'll have our first test of this microphone under actual performance conditions. I'll set up and someone else will run the new video camera when Jimmy Sjöblom presents his first public presentation on sustainability.
Here the experiment centers on the shotgun microphone we bought to go along with the camera. You can tell how sensitive the mic is by the way it picks up the cat squeaks. Unfortunately, it also picks up lots of ambient noise.
On Thursday we'll have our first test of this microphone under actual performance conditions. I'll set up and someone else will run the new video camera when Jimmy Sjöblom presents his first public presentation on sustainability.
Stuck in the Snow
It's Saturday morning, the week we make our final push to Easter performances, and we're stuck in the snow.
The cast can't get back, the set isn't done, and the director is feeling a bit blue. It feels as if he should call off all other activities and focus only on getting this thing done. But that may just be snow talking.
Oh yeah, and on Wednesday the Rotary club is supposed to go clean the highway. But the weather isn't going to let that happen without a fight - and the club President isn't happy with the constant slide from one meeting day to the next. It doesn't work for recruitment.
Oh well, maybe it's just the snow talking, right. A feeling of depression at long grey days followed by a life disrupting snow.
The cast can't get back, the set isn't done, and the director is feeling a bit blue. It feels as if he should call off all other activities and focus only on getting this thing done. But that may just be snow talking.
Oh yeah, and on Wednesday the Rotary club is supposed to go clean the highway. But the weather isn't going to let that happen without a fight - and the club President isn't happy with the constant slide from one meeting day to the next. It doesn't work for recruitment.
Oh well, maybe it's just the snow talking, right. A feeling of depression at long grey days followed by a life disrupting snow.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
In the Evening
By the evening the weather had come round, much less wind, beautiful cloud formations, a gorgeous sunset.
I've been so busy today that I haven't kept up with anything. I know the composting conference is on the campus, but I haven't had any contact. I'm still working at getting the final props, costumes, and set pieces for Easter. Did well today, and think I have a line on a suit coat that's big enough for our big guy.
One of the things I saw today as I was antique shopping was that men's suit styles haven't changed much from 1899 to today. Except for that unfortunate period of the 1970s when we thought that double knit was suitable and something called leisure suits would qualify as a suit.
"Easter" is coming along, just as Easter is coming along. Hope we'll see broad support in the community, since this play is just the opposite of the kind of play complained about in the News Record.
Updates on the Composting Conference if I have any tomorrow.
I've been so busy today that I haven't kept up with anything. I know the composting conference is on the campus, but I haven't had any contact. I'm still working at getting the final props, costumes, and set pieces for Easter. Did well today, and think I have a line on a suit coat that's big enough for our big guy.
One of the things I saw today as I was antique shopping was that men's suit styles haven't changed much from 1899 to today. Except for that unfortunate period of the 1970s when we thought that double knit was suitable and something called leisure suits would qualify as a suit.
"Easter" is coming along, just as Easter is coming along. Hope we'll see broad support in the community, since this play is just the opposite of the kind of play complained about in the News Record.
Updates on the Composting Conference if I have any tomorrow.
Monday, March 23, 2009
An Incredible Wind
I was out with the college's new video camera this morning, trying to manipulate the switches and settings in order to get the image to look as it ought. I did OK, but the white balance wasn't quite right.
The video below, now posted on Youtube, shows the new flag. I've covered over the wind noise.
I'm still learning the controls and a I need a "warm balance" card to get the white balance right - however - even with that, the thing about this video is how unstable it is. I had a difficult time standing still.
I don't remember a day when the gusts were quite as strong as they were today. Still, I didn't see major damage - but I haven't gotten out much. I'll see what's up during my evening promenade.
The video below, now posted on Youtube, shows the new flag. I've covered over the wind noise.
I'm still learning the controls and a I need a "warm balance" card to get the white balance right - however - even with that, the thing about this video is how unstable it is. I had a difficult time standing still.
I don't remember a day when the gusts were quite as strong as they were today. Still, I didn't see major damage - but I haven't gotten out much. I'll see what's up during my evening promenade.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
New Post on Old Issues
I got a comment yesterday on a blog post from June of 2007. That is old, stuff that's way dead.
I wouldn't bring it up - and maybe this post belongs in the Interpersonal Communication blog I'm posting to - but I think there is something here to discuss.
Frankly, I was offended by the post. What offended me was a kind of condescending tone that assumed I knew nothing about the newspaper business, and certainly nothing about the newspaper business in a small town/rural newspaper.
Trouble is, I do know some. I may not know enough to run one profitably, but I do some thing about newspapers.
The point is, we often tend to assume that all others are neophytes who know nothing about our situation. Therefore, when we respond to others we tend to respond to them as if they were in need of schooling - rather than as adults responding to adults and differing in opinion.
The post in question - and the comment - can be found here. The dispute is the News Record's absence from Leonard's introduction - and their blaming the college for their lack of coverage.
I wouldn't bring it up - and maybe this post belongs in the Interpersonal Communication blog I'm posting to - but I think there is something here to discuss.
Frankly, I was offended by the post. What offended me was a kind of condescending tone that assumed I knew nothing about the newspaper business, and certainly nothing about the newspaper business in a small town/rural newspaper.
Trouble is, I do know some. I may not know enough to run one profitably, but I do some thing about newspapers.
The point is, we often tend to assume that all others are neophytes who know nothing about our situation. Therefore, when we respond to others we tend to respond to them as if they were in need of schooling - rather than as adults responding to adults and differing in opinion.
The post in question - and the comment - can be found here. The dispute is the News Record's absence from Leonard's introduction - and their blaming the college for their lack of coverage.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Apartment?
Union Street, west of Chestnut, down at the edge of Peterson Estates, there's a big square boxie building going up. As soon as I get the photo out of the phone I'll post a photo.
I'm not sure what's going on. It looks like a barrack, but I suspect it is a four unit apartment.
What are we building around here? I wonder if we've give good thought to the existing housing stock that isn't selling. Maybe there is a big demand for cheap apartments in town, but I haven't heard much that leads me to believe we do
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