rDay Eight-Hundred-Ninety: At The Library

Today, another library day.

The local public library has to be just about my favorite (and arguably the most-effective and best-managed) of our local government services. I discover that Josh Tillman (aka Father John Misty), for me a current favorite on the music scene, makes the cover of Revenant magazine, which I find to be a Christian publication for twenty and thirtysomethings. Then I settle down with the current issue of T Magazine — the New York Times Style Magazine, always an eye-opener, not just for the quality of its photography, including its advertising (the first 92 pages were ads, but mostly with stunning photography), but for the visual sense of everything that pervades its coverage. As I looked up from my reading, I saw an unexpected and striking sense of style displayed by a nearby patron. And I wandered throughout the Library, always finding something new. Finally, I happened into the men’s room and, being mindful of the literary, I thought of Don DeLillo and his remarkable 1971 short story “In the Men’s Room of the Sixteenth Century” *, so I did a commemorative selfie.

RELATED:

https://relevantmagazine.com/magazines/septoct-2017/

* “In the Men’s Room of the Sixteenth Century”

First published in Esquire, Dec. 1971, pp. 174-177, 243, 246.

A very baroque tale of a police officer who dresses in women’s clothing and is on the streets of Times Square from midnight to six am, on the anniversary of St. Thomas More’s beheading. While on his rounds, he is known as Lady Madonna, and he runs into such characters as “Burgo Swinney, the eunuchoid pornographer,” and “Longjaw Ed Jolly, a man who claimed to be the last living member of the Castrated Priests of Cybele, a self-mutilation cult.”

The Great 78 Project

The other day I learned of the Great 78 Project, a collaboration between the Internet Archive (which EONI and I have been relying on for some time for dredging up what we thought might have been lost in the internet past) and the Archive of Contemporary Music.

I understand that some 50,000 recordings have been digitized from over 200,000 candidates accumulated so far. A daunting task, indeed, to try to pick out some gems from this lot. But I find that some people have taken it upon themselves to create special curated collections that make it a bit easier to approach. One such collection I have been listening to is that designated as “78rpm Records Digitized by George Blood, L.P.”. Among the jewels in this bunch are “A Jam Session at Victor” (a 1947 recording by the legendary Jack Teagarden and other jazz musicians …

… the 1939 “Echoes of Harlem” (Charlie Barnet and his orchestra) …

and a 1958 Ralph Stanley bluegrass/country take of “If That’s The Way You Feel”:

Almost left out another example, this one is a 1943 performance by Gino Bechi of an aria from the famous Catalani opera, “La Wally”:

It appears that most of these recordings are also downloadable in various formats from MP3 to 24-bit (!) FLAC.

Yep, I guess I’m hooked.  I just started following the Great 78 Project’s Twitter feed.  Try it!

 

rDay Eight-Hundred-Eighty-Eight

While on a visit to EONI to check on the status of Janet’s internet/phone service move, I found the street blocked off for a special sale/event by a neighboring auto parts store.  As they had a “funny car” simulator on display, I had to try it out.  And at about that moment, EONI ex-colleague Maurie appeared.  So I tried out the simulator and its almost deafening noises.  I survived.

 

rDay Eight-Hundred-Eighty-Six

Today, we visit JuDY, Kevin’s almost-vintage 320i BMW.  Preparing it for possible sale, following last month’s sale of his 951 Porsche.  And now the question is: what will be his next Porsche?  We are scouring eBay, Craigslist, and the auction sites like BaT for candidates, probably a 996 or 997!

[Oh, fer cryin’ out loud.  This was supposed to be posted to the car blog.  So it goes …]

Houston, We Have A Problem

Herman, who has a second home in Houston where his daughter and family also live, sends along this link to an article on the flood status there, as well as to this video:

Herman also adds these comments:

The second bridge, as you watch this video is the one which Patty and I take to and from Amy’s. Although they are not flooded, and neither are we, this is the bridge that crosses Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. What is in between is Buffalo Bayou, normally dry, with just a bit of water. The view is looking north, toward our home, and the very tall building as the camera pans right toward town is the AIG building, just a mile from Amy and Franklins.  As you can see, Allen Parkway, which is about 30 ft below the bridge is completely covered as is Memorial. This crossing is about seven minutes from city center.

Another LA Family Reunion, Missed

Today Dennis sends along this documentation of the entourage on the Venice Boardwalk.  From left to right (hope I can get this right, or at least close, as I haven’t seen Gabe’s three daughters since they were really, really young):  brother Dennis, sister Jan, Kat, Tess, niece Gabrielle, Joey, SIL Laura, dog of unknown name.  Taken near where I used to live.  Unidentified photographer.