Tuesday, February 24, 2009

May 25 concert

New York City Master Chorale
Invited to Perform at Lincoln Center

Distinguished Concerts International in New York City (DCINY) announced today that Dr. Thea Kano and the New York City Master Chorale have been invited to participate in a performance on May 25, 2009 in historic Lincoln Center.

Members of the choir will join with other outstanding choruses selected from throughout North America to form a festival chorus of 150-175 singers, accompanied by the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International.

Русский ковчег

1. Grateful to God and all that gets me through a day
2. Grateful that Barb won the Dove muffin mix at Rainforest event
3. Grateful that I saw Russian Ark (Русский ковчег)

Arrive at Rainforest, register, and go to drinks area

Wait about 10 minutes before doors open for buffet dinner

Go to dining area which is amidst rainforest displays

Find a table that is not reserved

Save the spots at our table which has cheese balls and Doritos

Get more drinks including Merlot that is complimentary

Get in line for buffet table that is near bat exhibit that is impressive

Fill plates with food that includes salad, nice green beans (Barb likes these), pasta pesto, pasta marinara, chicken, meat balls (Alex likes these)

Participate in raffle events that include bingo, door prizes, etc. but all four of us are in a word CONFUSED about the events - more to come on this - also walk through the really beautiful and well-maintained Rainforest exhibits several times as we have the place to ourselves which is a very, very good thing

Barb's name is called as she wins a truly wonderful Dove chocolate muffin kit and adorable stuffed camel

Evening was pleasant. May repeat again next year. This is the 14th year this fund raiser was held. Main prize is $2000. About 200 people participate.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Rain forest directions

S on Bishop - L on Wilson Mills - s on 271 - exit 27A-B to I480 - merge onto 422
Merge 480 w
exit 16 for state hwy 94
r on oh 92 state rd
r at w 2 5 OH3 pearl rd us 42
left on Memphis
r on Fulton Parkway

Monday, February 16, 2009

Three things

1. Grateful to God for all that helps me get through a day
2. Grateful for our daily bread
3. Grateful for another day and good health for my family

World talking

So, what was it like when I went to hear what the world is talking about?

The Cleveland Orchestra
Pinchas Steinberg, conductor
Nikolaj Znaider, violin
Barber: Overture to The School for Scandal
Brahms: Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

The program notes I thought did a wonderful of explaining the program.

Dignity, Despair, and Delight - that is what the headline in the program called the evening.

However, despair was in italic print. That is how author of the program notes Hugh Macdonald, Professor of Music at Washington University in St. Louis sees it. He also provided the preconcert lecture. He also wrote something like -

Russians may express gloomy pessimism more powerfully than any other peoples. But Tschakovsky's music does not stay eternally in this posture of resignation. His limitless
invention led him to express a world of feeling in a variety of colors, as the best orchestral always should.

Now there is something to think about.

He also wrote something like -

The Brahms concerto comes between two works of a more extrovert nature. Barber's Overture evokes comedy and intrigue and lingers for a moment in pastoral idyll. Tschakovsky's Fourth ranges from misery and despair to playful humor and relentless ebullience.

What else is there but misery, despair, humor, and ebullience.

Magnificent

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
22.50 list price

ISBN: 1592403956

ISBN-13: 9781592403950
Format: Hardcover, 256pp
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: October 2008
Sales Rank: 11,332

Called a survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, this book provides a focus on English grammar and its history. This is in contrast to Alphabet Juice, the Roy Blount book that has a focus more on usage. Both books are an interesting read.

Author John McWhorter is an American linguist and political commentator. He is the author of numerous books on language including The Power of Babel. A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor to The New Republic, he has taught linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.

Honestly, I expected that this book would be similar to Baugh and A History of the English Language. Surprisingly, this book, while it covered a similar subject, included a voice totally different from Baugh. Baugh's voice is text-book like and almost stuffy - but not necessarily in a bad way. McWhorter's voice comes more from a study of creole languages and anthropology, as well as linguistics. His voice is most enjoyable.

The book covers the Celtic and Welsh influence on English as well as the impact of the Viking raids, Normal Conquest, and Germanic invastions. He also describes the simplicity of English - with it lack of declensions - as became a type of universal vehicle of expression during the early formation of Britain.

When I checked on amazon.com, 10 reviewers gave it an average of 4. Five reviewers gave a 5. Four reviewers gave a 4. One reviewer gave a 1. I give it a 4 as the topic is fascinating and the treatment original However, I can understand that reviewer who gave the 1. The author does tend to dwell on the particular idea that English grammar was influenced by Welsh and Gaelic. His argument is convincing but at times tedious.

A relatively short book at 197 pages, it is in a small and very readable format.

John McWhorter

Espoma

http://www.espoma.com

There appear to be four major projects - organic weed preventer, 7-2-2 lawn food, 18-8-6 lawn food, turf-tone.

Organic weed preventer - every 4-6 weeks starting in March
7-2-2 lawn food - when grass actively growing - 3-4 times a year
18-8-6 lawn food - apply when grass is dry - March, May 4 times a year
Turf-tone - apply when grass is dry - March, May, Sept., Oct 4 times a year

March 1 - Weed preventer
March 15 - 18-8-6 - Food
March 20 - Turf-tone

April 1 - Weed preventer
April 15 -

May - Weed preventer
May 20 -

June - Weed preventer
7 2 2

July - Weed preventer
7 2 2

Aug - Weed prevent
7 2 2

Sept Turf Tone

Oct Turf Tone

Friday, February 13, 2009

customcraftedcounters

http://customcraftedcounters.com/
440 428 6505
Tabitha, Angel, John
Came out today to do the fitting.
customcraftedcounters@windstream.net

Monday, February 9, 2009

Gilda Design

Gilda Design and Taylor
216 360 0306
Near Mirabella

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Псалом

Господь мой пастырь,
Я не хочу;
Он делает мне лечь в зеленые пастбища.
Он подводит меня еще кроме воды;
Он восстанавливает моей души.
Он ведет меня в пути правды
Его имя.

Даже если я пешком через ущелье
в тень смерти,
Боюсь, не зло;
для Вас со мной;
Ваш род и Ваши сотрудники, они мне комфорт.

Несомненно, доброта и милосердие должны следовать за Мной
во все дни моей жизни;
и Я буду обитать в доме
Господь навсегда.

Псалом 23

Three things

Grateful for these things.

1. Lots of interesting things are helping to get me through a day, like Code of the Woosters.

2. Alphabet Juice was interesting to read and write about.

3. Get Smart was enjoyable.

Really liked that Get Smart spoofed the Cold War. Steve Carrell did a very good job. He played it more straight than did Don Adams. Don Adams was always a little over the top for me. Ann Hathaway was also very good. I liked Barbara Feldon. But you didn't need to have seen the old Get Smart to like this one.

Alphabet Juice

Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, ... With Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory (Hardcover), by Roy Blount Jr. List price $25 (available new from amazon.com from $14.77).370 pages. Published by Sarah Crichton Books, New York. Copyright 2008.

Author Roy Blount is a regular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell me! He is also a member of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel. In addition, he was a staff writer for Sports Illustrated and contributed to publications such as The New Yorker. He is also author of many previous books.

With 13 customer reviews when I last checked on Amazon, 7 reviewers gave the book the highest 5-star rating. The 6 remaining reviewers gave the book equal numbers of 4-, 3-, and 2-star ratings. I would give it a 4. It is probably not going to be one of my all-time favorite books on language. But, it is a fun and interesting read.

The book is arranged in alphabetical order with Blount giving comments on words that he finds worthy of thought. It is a book I would like to have written in many ways as words sometimes strike me as interesting, worthy of commentary, and funny.

As an example, Blount includes in the book the word e-mail. By the way, part of what I like about Blount is that in many cases he observes and does not pass judgement on what is right and wrong. He says he does not feel qualified to pass judgement.
I can identify with that. I don't feel qualified to even write this review. But, if I don't do it, I'm afraid that no one will. And, that would be wrong.

In the entry for e-mail, Blount discusses placing a hyphen in words like A-bomb or C-section, but not email. Advocates of email without the hyphen, argue that it conserves space. This according to Blount, is the kind of topic and word worthy of commentary that is often humorous, light, and thoughtful.

Blount also comments on letters. He has a lot to say about letters as well as words. About the letter Q, Blount considers the capital letter to be "an upside-down apple, but much depends on type-face." He compares the q in Braggadocio, Goudy Old Style, American Typewriter, and Onyx, among others, and has often hilarious commentary.

Do we really need or want another book about language and usage? I suppose that since language is endlessly changing, there will always be something new to write about, especially when it comes to English, which you could argue is a huge collection point for words, constantly assimilating words and ideas from various cultures, fueled by the immigrant history of America and America's constant acceptance of new words and I think at its best America's openness to new ideas and reinvention. Now that was a rambling thought and rambling sentence. The book is making me think these kinds of thoughts and ideas.

Cпасибо

1. Grateful to all that gets me through a day

2. Grateful for Alphabet Juice book.

3. Grateful that read that new Russian Orthodox patriarch was installed. Patriarch Kirill according to the PD is a cautious advocate of change. He also is a prominent figure in trying to reconcile with the Roman Catholic Church.

Большое вам спасибо. Мы отправились в Ботанический сад. Мы были в саду. Люблю быть испорчен. Мандарины были вкусные. Они были очень, очень вкусно.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Cyrrillic keyboard

Cyrrillic keyboard is a great find.

Grateful, NY

1. Grateful to God for all that helps me get through a day
2. Grateful that trip to NY went ok
3. Grateful for publishing in Intercom of Seven Steps to Successful Online Help with Reuse
4. Grateful that enjoyed Wodehouse's Code of the Woosters

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Join Botanical Gardens

Costa Rica, Madagascar, Barbie, and Rick

1. Went to Botanical Gardens.
2. Especially enjoyed warm 80 deg(?) Madagascar biodome.
3. Did not especially enjoy the flower that smells like rotting meat.

4. Really liked the ferns and warmth.
5. Loved the Costa Rica biodome, especially the second floor.

6. Kaobob tree was especially interesting mixing an exhibit with real tree.
7. Could not get over how these exhibits were gifts, one from Weatherhead family.

8. Second floor of Costa Rica exhibit surprised me. Wow. Was it warm up there and the view - how spectacular.

9. Love ferns more than ever - same is true of Barbie.

10. Went to vinyl-record shop and Tommy's.

11. Enjoyed hot tea, salad, chili, fries, some of Rick's Not Dog, and best company ever!