Mathematical Pi on the Halloween Freakout

Now sure I could post some of the usual suspects for the start of the consumption season. But I'm not one to always go down the well worn path. So today, in honor of the moon, moon pies, cherry pies, and especially chocolate coconut cream pies I thought a little appreciation should be shown to the smallest pi of them all 3.14 and a bunch of digits.



After all, you can't have much of anything without a circle, no matter what the square boys say. For those of you who are traditionalists, I don't want to leave you hanging so...



Now I know number and math phobias are not what Halloween is about but go with the bit and enjoy a bit of cultural mash-up that ain't natural but it is enlightening.

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Search Engine Tips - How To Use Intitle Operator

This was an experiment I did to see if I could make a short video explaining a topic. I want to get better at creating informational videos and screencast.

At some point you have to take a chance. The first steps are the hardest.



I looked at Ask.com, Bing and Google and made this short video screencast on using the Intitle search operator.

Feedback welcomed.

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Star Trek Exhibit At Hollywood and Highland Center

I was raised on it. I can't help it and don't want too. TOS, The Animated Series, Next Generation, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise...ok I only watched the first season or so but I ain't hating on it. I just had other things to do.


Anyway, there is a traveling exhibit of Star Trek stuff over at Hollywood and Highland. Yes, I know, you are too old for that kind thing. You want to jump off the franchise grid. The Great Bird has left the galaxy.

I understand. I do. It is just that I never made it to the Vegas Star Trek Museum or an actual convention. I meant to but life happened or it was not financial possible at the time.

And talk about your cultural values. You can drag, er, encourage the young ones to come along and soak up some infinite diversity in infinite combination as they work their way through the educational guides.

No fooling. Start them young. Think about you old age and the two of you don't have much in common. This could help. Common ground or a sedative. Your choice.

So if you have the time and between $10 and $16 bucks you can hop on the Red Line because those that know Hollywood understand traffic is a blip.

For more info or other stuff that is happening at Hollywood and Highland check out the website. I hear the joint will temporarily be taken over by the vampire crowd but a few phaser blasts will clear those suckers out in a hurry.

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The Santa Ana Winds

The Santa Ana wind is kicking up something fierce. All afternoon I've heard leaves, soft whistles and metal expanding and contracting. The birds gave up and called it a day. The crickets are telling folks to lay low.

These winds are nothing new but when they blow this hard they force you to pay attention to nature, the will of the seasons and just how much you nose can twitch to keep from sneezing.

I happen to like the wind when it is warm but we had enough of that fire thing so we are experiencing cool Santa Ana winds. Unusual but, you know change is good.

So they say.

So sleep will be a challenge tonight because I'll hear everything I don't want or need to hear.

The sound of the wind, I don't mind.

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Soupy Sales and Pookie - A Rememberance

Yep, the pie man has gone to meet the owner of the bakery. Just found out that Soupy Sales passed on October 23, 2009. I was just a wee kid when this show aired. I'm not sure if I saw the NY version or the one that went national.

I didn't catch all of the jokes but I was grooving on White Fang and those pies.



Soupy didn't break the fourth wall of television; at times Soupy demolished it. It was fun, silly, corny and who could ask for anything more. There isn't much more I can say but "Hey, Do the Mouse."

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These Are The Days of Our Lives on the Finally Friday Freakout

I was reading Dave Pollard's blog "How to Save the World." I check into it every now and again to see if he has figured it out. Because, you know we live here and perhaps there is a better way to live.

Dave wasn't feeling the positive vibe this week in his post "Nobody Knows Anything."

No one is in control. Obama isn't getting anything done, despite being the most powerful person on the planet, because he can't. The 'leaders' aren't going to deal with climate change or peak oil or pandemic disease or unsustainable debts, because no one has the power or authority to do anything, and because it would be political suicide to admit that the only solutions that might work will be radical, painful, and require a lot of sacrifice from everyone. So all you get is posturing, and it's just going to get worse. This is what unsustainable means.

I think Dave is having a form of burn out or something. It is hard. Waiting for people to have a clue that the gimme-gimmies are not working as well as they have in the past.

That how we continue in the future is dependent on how we act today.

There are times I feel the same way. Smoke it down and then start a new. And that kinda defeats the purpose of "How to Save the World." This next sentence is unavoidable. We are the world. Ok, a part of it.



I picked this video for a couple of reasons. Freddie Mercury was no angel but he was true to himself. He lived his life. Freddie certainly loved. This video was recorded toward the end of his time on the planet.

You don't mess around when you know you are about to croak. You do what you have to do. You speak your peace and prepare. In black and white the video still has a spark. I think Freddie wanted to let those close to him know that he did love. His gift was performing. Freddie wasn't finished yet. Not quiet ready to lay it down.

Maybe Dave Pollard is right; change cannot come from pundits and so-called leaders. It will have to come from the bottom up. It can't be legislated. The change has to be enacted by real people in action. Not sound bits or slogans.

Can we do it in love and respect? That is up to us. Not looking too good at the moment.

Dave is getting pissed that after 40 years from high school he now realizes that people don't know squat? Dude, I hear you. Except that many of us do know. There is action.

Slowly, so slowly we are moving toward the change that will exist long after we are dust.

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Shake It Like Brunhilde – The Opera Bloggers

Opera music is a lot like okra to me. it If I know it is heading my way I run in the opposite direction. I don’t like Opera music. Well, most of it anyway. If it is not wrapped in a Warner Brothers cartoon or some form of animation I suffer. Classical music, yes, rack up some Glenn Gould and I will be happy; that dude could rock the 88’s, classically speaking.

Honestly, I gave Opera a fair shot. I watched a performance of Madame Butterfly. Came away thinking she was a Class-A fool. I watched Fosca, not to be confused with Tosca, and again was shaking my head about women who choose to die for love. Can’t count the times I have tried to listen to the Wagner Ring Cycle on the radio and woke up the next morning with the lights still on.

I’m not proud about it but I did get a good night sleep.

So why am I doing a post about Opera music? Because all forms of music need to be supported, encouraged and exposed to a broader audience. I got it figured this way. Some talented person who likes Opera but doesn’t like all the women killing themselves will someday write an opera with no dame off’ing herself in the name of love.

But even if I liked the stuff it would be a challenge to find public access to the music. The popular music industry crowds out anything different or performers that are fully clothed. In America, the Public Broadcasting Service has cut way back on airing theatrical productions. The prices for Opera performances? Yowser! Even the bum rush tickets need a co-signer.

Ok, I exaggerate but not by much.

The fact is Opera music doesn’t lend easily to visual exposure. The few classical radio stations are, well, radio. I rarely turn mine on unless it is time for L.A. Theater Works. Spoken word theater, not Opera. So I’m going to take myself up on a personal challenge and find Opera bloggers.

The Performers

Jessica at A Soprano Steps Out writes about balancing her auditions, the day job and her life in and outside of Opera music. In one of her posts Jessica reflects on an audition:

Saturday, the audition was fine. It really was. I mostly loved it, which is why the couple of questionable notes among dozens of other good ones really piss me off. I felt like I was really present in what I was doing, except that for some odd reason, I could feel my poor little knees shaking, and it seemed impossible that the panel didn't see it.

DivaVixen is a Mezo Soprano at Viva La Diva. There is the day job at the gym, interactions with three-year olds and having to sing “art songs” as opposed to arias.

And a lot of the time, you only get to sing art songs if you are performing for a specific art song competition or are famous enough to be asked to sing a recital for the paying public. I am a LOOOONG way off from holding recitals and have managed to dodge, thus far, the art song competitions.

There are fees for auditions, having to listen to contrary advice and a nerve racking experience of The Mikado that will not be forgotten. I liked reading their stories about the challenges on pursuing their careers in Opera. I have questions about the exercising that is done, I think it is for endurance on stage and not necessarily for shape.

Joyce DiDonato has a performance website and a blog at YankeeDiva.



Hey Opera people, take a hint from Joyce and post video of yourself and a bit of performance on your site. I could see who she is, a bit of her personality and yeah, a bit of music. No seriously, she has a great voice.

Appreciators of Opera Music

Intermezzo is another soprano this time from London who writes about Opera from a devoted fan/critic perspective. There is love but she isn’t afraid to say if a performance was less than stellar.

Garanča is more problematical. Carmen needs a bit of dirt under her fingernails, and no, an elegant smudge of brown greasepaint is not the same thing. Her agile, honeyed voice is elegance personified; there's little to suggest an earthy gypsy heart beating beneath.

The Opera Tattler is similar in style but also writes about Opera news, gossip and what happens on and off the stage. I do think it is a good idea to report the behavior and make up of the audience. Also check out An Unamplified Voice and OperaChic.

So Where Does This Leave Me?

Perhaps I need to be willing to watch short-form Opera videos and performances. Classic Arts Showcase does air those kind of video excerpts but I can’t stay up until 1 a.m., which is when my PBS channel airs the program.

I can continue to check on YouTube for Opera music. This is where I have problems with the current draconian content lockdown. I do believe in right livelihood and, as some of the performers would attest, they need to get paid. Once again the recording industry is busy punishing individuals and not recognizing the need to develop new audiences.

For Opera music that means making a few of artists work available so that we can see what you have. Engagement. A little introduction that could lead to a chic chat?

I’m not asking the Industry to have an open buffet. Tell me why Callas is the bomb diggity of Opera and show the woman in performance. If you don’t want this to be a dying art form then a little more adaptation on your part is required. There should be a better effort to help newbies discover why an artist is important and help me locate new performers.

I am a Contributing Editor at Blogher where this post first appeared.

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