Hawaii's "Mahavishnu of the ukulele", Jake Shimabukuro, is back from his tour of the Pacific and is getting into his North American tour. Here's a nice profile from Texas.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/5684832.html
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Jake Hits the Mainland
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Visit Midway
It was announced this past week that after six years of no possibility of landing on Midway Atoll, the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service is reportedly reopening the Atoll for visits.
For complete details:
http://www.fws.gov/midway/MidwayOSnr011508.pdf
Volcanoes National Park Closed
Hawaii Volanoes National Park on the Big Island has been closed until further notice because of high sulfur dioxide levels.
Sulfur dioxide, an invisible gas that is being emitted from Kilauea volcano, can aggravate pre-existing heart and breathing problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, according to the Hawaii Department of Health.
The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency issued an emergency health advisory for Mauna Loa Estates, Ohia Estates, Volcano Village, Keauhou Ranch area and Volcano Golf Course Subdivision as well as Royal Hawaiian Estates and Hawaiian Orchid Isle Estates.
details-
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/04/07/daily19.html
NH Concert Gets Cancelled...by a Scorpion?
From Pollstar:
"Singer/songwriter Richard Thompson has been forced to postpone his April shows after he was stung by a scorpion while on vacation in Mexico, incapacitating his right hand for 2-3 weeks, according to his web site.
Affected dates include April 10 at Anderson Hall in Wolfeboro, N.H.; April 12 at Nock Auditorium in Newburyport, Mass.; April 15 at German House in Rochester, N.H.; April 19 at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, N.J.; and April 20 at Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro, Vt.
New dates for postponed shows will be announced in the coming weeks.
Thompson expects to be "back up to speed" in time for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2. "
http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=9851
Music Digest for Tuesday
Update on 70s punk club CBGB
http://www.fmqb.com/goout.asp?u=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584897/20080404/id_0.jhtml
Interview with Rod Argent of the Zombies-I saw him and the band last August and they were still great.
http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/leisure/highlights/display.var.2181551.0.interview_rod_argent_of_the_zombies.php
Lindsey Buckingham goes his own way
http://www.kansascity.com/415/story/566181.html
Peter Gabriel's WOMAD Festival will stay in Spain this year
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_15966.shtml
Jackie Chan Sings!
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/jackie-chan-to-sing-for-olympic-film_10035790.html
And Emmylou Harris hits the road
http://www.livedaily.com/news/13981.html
King Crimson Turns 40
Legendary progressive rock band King Crimson is celebrating their 40th anniversary with a US tour. This year's model features the core of the great 1980s-90s KC ensemble, namely founder Robert Fripp on guitar, along with fellow guitar god Adrian Belew and bassist extraordinaire Tony Levin.
More details at the KC website:
http://www.king-crimson.com/news.htm?entry=1500
You Can Go Home Again
Former Boston Red Sox 1st baseman Bill Buckner wipes a tear from his eye after receiving a 4 minute long standing ovation after his introduction today at Boston's Fenway Park, where he threw out the first pitch at the Sox' 2008 home opener, which also included the team receiving their 2007 World Series rings. He then threw a perfect strike to his catcher for the day, his former team-mate Dwight Evans.
More here, including video and photos
http://cbs4.com/sports/bill.buckner.boston.2.695128.html
Oh, in the game itself, the Red Sox shut out the Detroit Tigers, 5-0.
"They're Back..."
A few days back I mentioned 60s rock madman Mitch Ryder. In the early 1980s, Mitch participated in a weird recording project concocted by soon-to-be crack studio whiz/producer Don Was and his sibling David.
The band they created was called Was (Not Was) and their second album, called "Born to Laugh at Tornadoes" featured Mitch belting his way thru a tune called "Bow Wow Wow Wow". There was also a song done by Ozzy Osbourne, but perhaps the "highlight" of the project was a bizarre tune about teenage strangulation due to a choke hold. That song was called "Zaz Turned Blue", and was sung by the Velvet Fog, Mel Torme.
After a 16 year hiatus, the boys are back in action with a new album called "Boo!". Original vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson from Detroit (who is also a member of Lyle Lovett's Large Band) is back, and a guest vocalist is Kris Kristofferson.
More details here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/z4mq/
official label PR piece:
http://www.rykodisc.com/wasnotwas/bio/
The story of Mel Torme and "Zaz Turned Blue", with a link so you can hear it:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5062814
And a youtube video of the Was people live, which includes "Bow Wow Wow Wow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FDXZ3frJjw&feature=related
Fly This!
New nonstop service to Mau'i by Alaska Airlines from Seattle and Anchorage...
http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/473960.html
Monday, April 7, 2008
Randall Hall Demolition Update
I talked story for about 30 minutes today with Bud Moore, former Headmaster of New Hampton School, who fleshed in a few obscure details about the "new" Randall Hall.
They're saving as many bricks as they can, and some of these will go into the brick walkways surrounding the new building as pavers.
All of the granite windowsills have been saved and will be incorporated into the new building.
As for what the new building will be named. Bud had no idea. Probably whoever donates a ton of money will get the honors?
Los!
Here's a youtube video of Los Lobos at Boarding House Park in Lowell, September 1, 2006.
Some friends and I were in the audience at this show, a few rows back. The camera work is shaky, and there are a lot of people walking back and forth in the pathway across BHP during the song, but the audio is tasty! No, I didn't film this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXYOACUMnuc&feature=related
Country and Eastern Music
When John McLaughlin fired the other 4 members of Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974, they picked up and moved on. They had already been doing their own songs live in the last few months of the MO, and these tunes later found their way onto the early solo albums.
Perhaps one of the best efforts was "Like Children", by Mahavishnu fiddler Jerry Goodman, previously with The Flock, and keyboardist Jan Hammer. On this album, the two of them played every single instrument. Jerry turned out to be a very good guitarist, and Jan turned out to be a not too shabby drummer.
Finally available on CD...
http://www.woundedbird.com/
Coastie Hall of Fame
Here's a list of some of the more notable celebrities who served their country by joining my Dad's branch of the service, the US Coast Guard. Lots of interesting names here, including "Jed Clampett" and the "Skipper" from "Gilligan's Island". Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler was also in the Guard, as were Humphrey Bogart, golfer Arnie Palmer, and (gasp!) singer Tom Waits.
As it turns out, my old Governors Island friend Don Davison's dad actually served with Buddy Ebsen in the CG in World War 2. Hooooo doggies!
http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/celeb.html
Got Snow?
Major reduction in the snowpack here over the past 24 hours, but the infamous 12 foot snowbank just up the road from my house is only down to 6 feet tall. At this rate, most of the snow should be gone by the end of this week, except for the piled-up stuff. The snowpack is now "only" 2 feet deep in most places, and my walkway in places is actually (gasp) down to bare ground.
The problem now is what we hikers call "postholes", which is a term used to describe sinking thru the deep snow when trying to walk along a certain pathway. During April daylight hours, these aren't that bad, but after dark when the temp gets below freezing, they freeze up and getting tripped up by one can result in broken leg bones! Nasty stuff.
"I'm 82, but I'm not dead."
Nice review of the King of the Blues, BB King, who played the other night at Billy Bob's in Texas. He'll be playing up here in Concord, NH soon, where he always puts on a good show, as his biographer is a Concord resident.
"There's a wholly appropriate air of reverence before King takes the stage, an air of reverence that is subsequently and completely dissipated by the man himself. He's a certifiable legend, closing in on six decades of making music, but he's far from ready for mothballs.
Backed by the sparkling octet known as The B.B. King Blues Band (which included some punchy horns and a couple of native Texans), King ambled through a 100-minute set featuring the staples -- show opener Let the Good Times Roll, When Love Comes to Town and the timeless finale, The Thrill Is Gone -- and plenty of crowd-pleasing banter."
http://www.star-telegram.com/live/story/566528.html
"Diggy Diggy Lo" Goes Symphonic
Cajun music legend Doug Kershaw is still alive and well
"Classical Cajun Gumbo" unfolded Saturday night in Colorado.
"Combining the University of Northern Colorado Symphony Orchestra with the diverse talents of "The Ragin' Cajun" Doug Kershaw, this historic concert, played before a full house at the Union Colony Civic Center, was the most enjoyable concert in recent memory"
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080406/NEWS/449071852/0/FRONTPAGE
Today's Musical Birthday Boy
Indian sitar legend Ravi Shankar turned 88 today.
Here he is on the "Dick Cavett Show" and also giving George Harrison a lesson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gWCiLexilY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erLZ-zW9Ti4&feature=related
Chuck Heston Tribute
Stranger than truth department-I went to the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) website Sunday night to see what Heston movies they had in their library. One of them was one I hadn't seen in ages, a really obscure 1970 flick based on James Michener's epic novel "Hawaii", called "The Hawaiians", in which Moses plays the guy who introduced the pineapple industry to the islands. I clicked on TCM's "Request a Film" link and asked them to show it.
Ask and ye shall receive!
" Turner Classic Movies slated a 15-hour marathon April 11-12 (2:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m. April 12) to salute the late Charlton Heston.Heston, who died over the weekend at age 84, was an Oscar-winning actor whose imposing frame and voice made him the film industry's choice for a number of classic roles.
TCM's lineup includes an interview and lesser-known films -- The Buccaneer, Major Dundee, The Hawaiians (such tributes are circumscribed by the films to which a channel has rights) -- bracketing his Oscar-winning role in the title role of Ben Hur, slated for 9 p.m."
Feed The Birds? Caveat Emptor
"Millions of people tend bird feeders in their backyards each year, often out of a desire to help the animals. But a new survey of research on the topic finds that feeding may not always bring a positive outcome for the birds.
In many cases, bird feeding was shown to have immediate positive outcomes. A number of studies indicated, for example, that chicks which were given supplemental food were far more likely to fledge than those that were not given extra food.
But feeding is a complex business and can lead birds to make poor decisions later in life. Attractive feeders can become ecological traps, encouraging birds to settle in an area that cannot support them once supplemental feeding has stopped. In those cases, feeders create a population level that cannot be sustained by natural levels of food."
More here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403104353.htm
Music Digest For Monday
Guitarist Larry Coryell reworks McLaughlin's take on "Good-Bye Pork Pie Hat"
http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/4/1/larry-coryell-variations-on-good-bye-pork-pie-hat
Interview with super drummer Billy Cobham
http://www.mercurynews.com/eyeheadlines/ci_8793339
2008 Lollapalooza Fest lineup announced
http://www.wbbm780.com/2008-Lollapalooza-Line-Up-Announced/1959385
Beloved Brit ska band The Specials are back together!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7335284.stm
Guitar Hero III is dissed by Charlie Daniels
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/82989-Charlie-Daniels-Is-Not-Happy-With-Guitar-Hero-III
Researchers create an automated backup band for singers
http://tech.slashdot.org/tech/08/04/07/1550226.shtml
More Tasty Jazz Music
Happened to catch a great PBS "American Masters" show about Ella Fitzgerald this afternoon, and later in the program she did a great duet with jazz guitar legend Joe Pass. These aren't the song in question, but are still quite tasty! nonethless...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhfbK2MHbtk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQg_J5kqNFg&feature=related
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Grab Your Snorkel
Best places to snorkel in Hawaii...3 spots on Oahu, 2 on the Big Isle, 2 on Maui, and 3 on Kaua'i. Sad to say, when we were on Oahu in 2003, Hanauma Bay was closed, and high surf warnings prohibited us from checking out the snorkeling on the Garden Isle.
http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/10_best/snorkeling.html
"Holy Epidemic, Batman!"
Sad news-an epidemic is killing off bats throughout New England and New York State. It's called "white nose syndrome" and has been spotted in NY, Massachusetts, Vermont, and most recently Connecticut. No word as to whether NH has any cases.
Interesting sidelight-this story is by Hartford Courant Staff Writer Rinker Buck. Rink wrote a great book about 10 years ago called "Flight of Passage", which chronicled the coast to coast flight he and his brother Kern took as teenagers in 1966 in a Piper Cub. It's a great read! You can find it for sale from the usual suspects.
Story:
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-bats0329.artmar29,0,6261568.story
Firesign! Firesign! Firesign!
The 4 or 5 Crazy Guys, AKA Firesign Theatre, have a ton of podcast material available for free on iTunes. These date all the way back to their early days in Southern California radio, and include their classic ads for Jack Poet Volkswagen, and even the ads they did for other sponsirs like Carnation Instant Breakfast.
I've been bugging FST webmaster "Mervyn LeRoy" to add a podcast of the great live radio broadcast from November 2004 by David "Catherwood" Ossman and wife Judith Walcutt, when they hosted the entire 2004 Kaua'i Slack Key Guitar Fest. He said that he's been trying to get the audio from Judith, but since they just lost one of their sons on Mt. Rainier it's not the best time to ask again.
Get started here:
http://www.firesigntheatre.com/podcasting/indexx.html
Good Eating
"An heirloom tomato is to the grocery-store variety what a homemade cupcake is to the pre-packaged Hostess cake that expires in 2010"
http://www.tomatobob.com/
http://www.heirloomtomatoesbizland.com/
More Jazz-Wayne Shorter Turns 75
"Sax legend and NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter celebrates his 75th Birthday Year with a very special evening: a singular performance with Shorter’s new classic quartet, and the U.S. Premiere of a unique collaboration with next-wave wind ensemble, Imani Winds.
Wayne Shorter Quartet: Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade w/special guests Imani Winds will appear on Friday, April 11, 8PM at the Nob Hill Masonic Center, 1111 California Street (at Taylor), in San Francisco. Imani Winds includes Valerie Coleman on flute, Toyin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Marian Adam on clarinet, Jeff Scott on French horn, and Monica Ellis on bassoon"
http://www.jazzpolice.com/content/view/7658/119/
After this show, Wayne takes off for a tour of Europe, returns for a one night stand in San Francisco in Mid-May, then goes to Iceland and Prague for a couple of gigs before a show in Chicago in June.
A Musical Diplomat
Travels with 87 year young jazz legend Dave Brubeck...
http://www.miamiherald.com/234/story/483330.html
Firefall Rises From the Ashes
1970s group Firefall is reuniting with all but one original member for a show this Wednesday in Colorado. They will be missing original singer and former Flying Burrito member Rick Roberts, who is in poor health.
Strangely enough, I saw Rick Roberts solo in concert in early 1973 at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston; he was OK but nothing spectacular. Unfortunately, he had the thankless task of opening for Mahavishnu Orchestra, who had just released their second album "Birds of Fire" and were at their peak. Their performance that night was SO good it got a writeup in Rolling Stone.
That night, when poor Rick got to the end of his set, he said "This is my last song".
He immediately received a standing ovation...
Here's the story of the reunited Firefall band:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/06/firefall-rises-from-the-ashes/
Now That's Fusion Music!
Debashish Bhattacharya plays a mean slide guitar, but also a self-designed 24-string guitar, and an Indian version of the ukulele!
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/04/05/sliding_between_cultures_instruments/
Journey to Kalalau Valley
Adventurers with 10 days to spare and $1,450 burning a hole in their pocket can take a unique journey next week along the Na Pali Coast on Kaua'i into the mythical Kalalau Valley.
The retreat includes 4 nights at the Anini Beach House, located next to one of the island's best beaches, then 5 nights camping. And you can hike in bare feet if you wish!
Details here
http://www.freedomdances.com/events
2008 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival Concludes
"HILO » At last evening's 45th annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the wahine of Hula Halau 'O Kamuela repeated as winners in the kahiko and 'auana divisions as they did from last year, and the halau scored just a single point more to take overall winner honors.
Kumu hula Kau'ionalani Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook's wahine from Oahu performed their winning hula last in the Saturday night competition with a beautifully choreographed "Na Ale O Ni'ihau," honoring the women of that island for the way they fashion the prized Kahelelani shell lei.
In Friday's kahiko contest, they also won with "Aia I Ni'ihau Ku'u Pawehe," once again focusing on the women of Ni'ihau for their skill in making mats of makaloa, a sage plant."
wrapup here:
http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/06/news/story02.html
Sunday Morning Music Digest
Great guitar riffs
http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2008/4/4/what-are-your-favourite-local-and-international-guitar-riffs/?l_id=121
Ben Vereen channels Sammy Davis, Jr.
http://www.sandiego.com/index.php?option=com_sdca&target=fb610630-a888-4e01-b2b3-ebefce035056
Bird song music on hold
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/06/nbirds106.xml
More on the James Brown estate:
http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Feud-rages-on--over.3952504.jp
Loud music at baseball games
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/05/AR2008040502026.html
Vince Gill sighting!
http://blog.cmt.com/2008-04-05/vince-gill-sings-a-classic-at-tin-pan-south/
In praise of Ann Hampton Calloway
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/04/020223.php
Metallica gets their big payday- $1.6 million for a single show in...Bulgaria!
http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=35538
NRBQ pal Carla Bley update
http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/4/6/carla-bley-paul-haines-rawalpindi-blues
The Glenn Miller Big Band is still alive and well
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=812452534
34 years later, a clueless fan discovers "Timeless" by John Abercrombie
http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/4/6/john-abercrombie-red-and-orange/comments/5461#comment-5461
The NY Times reviews "Mr. Billy Bragg"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/arts/music/06play.html?ref=arts
"Moses" Leaves the Building
For some reason, I always got Chuck and Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas confused...
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Legendary actor, civil-rights leader and political activist Charlton Heston passed away today, at 84. He died at his home with Lydia, his wife of 64 years, at his side.
Heston is survived by his two children, Fraser Clarke Heston and Holly Heston Rochell, and his three grandchildren, Jack Alexander Heston, Ridley Rochell and Charlie Rochell. A private memorial service will be held
Here's Chuck's epic scene where he parts the Red Sea...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mmEs0BhCNpA&feature=related
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Music Digest For a Saturday Night
As usual, this morning I found a ton of stuff, and all in less than 10 minutes!
James Brown's assets to be auctioned off:
http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/4/20493/1/
Certified bad guy Charles Manson has a new album-
http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/charles-manson.html
With the release of the new Scorsese Rolling Stones movie, Stones videos are all over youtube
http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=4&article=40936
Breaking the "myth" about John Lennon:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0405phx-rockstar0405.html
Guitar fest! A Stanley Jordan sighting...
http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004299.html
The B-52s take flight after 16 years
http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=973120
Review of the new album by the always-entertaining Daniel Lanois:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=972552
Harmonica fest with WAR's Lee Oskar
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=973705
Music magazines fall on hard times
http://ca.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idCAN0548260520080405
New Orleans belter Marva Wright loses her weekly gig-for singing too loudly!
http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2008/04/marva_wright_let_go_by_ritz_ke.html
Author revisits the death of Kurt Cobain in his new time travel novel
http://www.pr.com/press-release/79399
And the recently announced Beatles Star Club recordings are on hold
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080405/UPDATES01/804050358/-1/NEWS0101
"Oh No, It's DIP!!!"
Not the stuff Jessica Rabbit was afraid of, it's a tribute to the 100th anniversary of Phillipe's French Dip Sandwich Shop in Los Angeles. They originated what is now a sammie staple-even Quizno's now has a "Steakhouse Beef Dip" on their menu.
http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/la-tm-phillipes6apr06,0,7366828.story
http://www.philippes.com/menu/
Fusion Music Video Fest
A ways back I posted links to a couple of great videos of Mahavishnu Orchestra at their peak. Here are a couple of other fusion bands that were active at the same time...
Return to Forever, who are as noted reuniting this summer:
Medieval Overture
http://pop.youtube.com/watch?v=XCg_EGPb1QA
Vulcan Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxg1AoEz9p4&cad=rhs
And the always great Weather Report, who will never play again now that Zawinul has left the building...
Black Market (19 minutes!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5c3H6LpLZI&cad=rhs
And their greatest "hit", Birdland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o&cad=rhs
Kailua's Last Picture Show
From Pacific Business News:
"Kailua will lose its last movie theater at the end of the month when the Keolu Center Cinemas close down.
Hollywood Theaters made the decision last year that it would close the four-screen theater at the Keolu Shopping Center when the lease expired on April 30.
It will be the company's third theater in Kailua to close. Portland, Ore.-based Hollywood Theaters closed the three-screen Enchanted Lake Cinemas in the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center in 2003, and the two-screen Kailua Theatres on Hahani Street two years later."
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/04/07/story12.html
Back when we lived in Kailua in the 1960s, there was one, and only one, movie theatre in town, the massive old Kailua Theatre, at the junction of Kailua Road and Oneawa Street. My brother and I saw "A Hard Day's Night" there in 1964, and "Help!" the following year. This was built at least 20 years before we moved there (probably more) but not much info about the place is available on the web. It's now a car lot.
However, Kailua resident Robert "Rabbett" Abbett, who runs a great website about Kailua and vicinity called "H4", kindly directed me to this vintage picture Grady Morgan took of the place in 1942.
http://hotspotshawaii.com/irhimagery4/grady_morgan/kailuatheater1942.jpg
On May 1, 1965, the massive Kailua Drive-In opened. This was located just off the Pali Highway just before Castle Junction, and could hold 1750 cars! This later closed, and for a time was used as the site for weekly flea markets. It is now the home of the sprawling multi-million dollar campus of the private Le Jardin School which my brother Steve attended when it was in the basement of a church on Kailua Road...
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Feb/23/ln/FP702230364.html
Another Musical Reunion?
Ron Wood is ready for a break from his gig with Mick and Keef, and wants to get back together with his old mates The Faces.
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=25&ContentID=66344
Here's the story of Happiness Stan, whose escapades were chronicled in the Faces album shown above:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogdens'_Nut_Gone_Flake
And a fascinating profile of British comedian Stanley Unwin, who narrated the Happiness Stan saga on the record:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Unwin_%28comedian%29
Looks Tasty!
Here's the April 2008 menu from my alma mater, Kailua's Maunawili School. Some of the entrees haven't changed in 45 years!
April 4
Kalua Pork & Cabbage
Steamed Rice
Pineapple Chunks
Raisin Roll
http://www.k12.hi.us/%7Emaunawil/basicinfo/menu.html
The Night James Brown Saved Boston
Tonight at 9 PM EDT, cable channels VH1 and VH1 Classic will simulcast a live show James Brown did in Boston in 1968, right after MLK was shot. At the time, this was shown on Boston's public tv channel, WGBH. Strangely enough, none of the Boston commercial TV stations wanted to carry it.
"BOSTON, Mass. - April 04, 2008 - On the night of April 5, 1968, white Bostonians were huddled in their houses, fearful that race riots were about to engulf the city the day after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. As it turned out, black Bostonians were huddled in their houses too, because Channel 2 was about to air a James Brown concert from Boston Garden.
The story of that time is at the heart of a new documentary, which airs on VH1 Saturday night, the 40th anniversary of that concert. "The Night James Brown Saved Boston" isn't really a documentary about the 1960s or Boston per se, but it's as riveting a record of that time and place as you could hope to see. "
More info here:
http://www.wbur.org/news/2008/76343_20080404.asp
Don't Fly This!
Another airline bites the dust-Skybus, which as I noted here a few weeks back flies out of Portsmouth NH's Pease, shut down late Friday night. With the recent demise of Pan Am, PSM is now totally without scheduled airline service...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120740095037892591.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Pass Out and Lose Weight
"PARIS (AFP) - An extra hour between the sheets at night might be the key to shedding excess weight and fighting obesity, according to recent research.
"More sleep could be the ideal way of stabilising weight or slimming," said neuro-scientist Karine Spiegel, of France's INSERM, a public organisation dedicated to biological, medical and public health research.
While poor eating habits and lack of exercise clearly play a role in the global rise of obesity, recent data indicates that lack of sleep may also be a factor, and one that is often under-estimated.
Around 30 surveys carried out on wide population samples in seven countries have underlined a link between lack of sleep and excess weight or obesity in both children and adults, Spiegel said."
(yawn)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080404/hl_afp/lifestylehealthsleep
Happy B-Day, Muddy
On this date in 1915, Muddy Waters was born.
Here's a long but great clip of Muddy performing with a disciple of his named Johnny Winter...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFJuGGS_AWk
Breaking news from the Beeb
Melton Mowbray pork pies have been given Protected Geographical Status (PGI) by officials in Europe, following a 10-year fight.
The move means that only producers making pork pies using a traditional recipe and in the vicinity of Melton Mowbray can use the town's name.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/7331238.stm
More Bad Travel News for Hawai'i?
"The loss of nearly 15 percent of the airline capacity to Hawaii this week with the abrupt closure of ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines is sending shock waves through the state's visitor industry.
State tourism officials said other carriers' existing flights could have filled the void left by Aloha.
But the loss of ATA's seats could cause state visitor counts to fall by more than a half-million in the next nine months if new flights are not added, said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert.
"It could be devastating to our market," Wienert said. "My guess is that the other carriers don't have the capacity to absorb those passengers unless additional seats are put into the market -- and that depends on the availability of planes, crews and what kind of yield the airlines think that they can get."
more:
http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/04/news/story04.html
Another Hawaiian Music Stream
Mahalo to the folks at Hawaii Magazine
http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/4/4/Hawaiian_music_Sunday_afternoons
Friday, April 4, 2008
"I Feel The Earth Move"
Saddle Hill is about 6 miles north, as the crow flies, from the tiny "village" of Gaza, New Hampshire, which is part of the town of Sanbornton. This is perhaps the most geologically active place in the entire state as far as earthquakes go. They recorded a 4.2 in 1982.
http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/geo/geo-3.htm
More Global Warming
Several more inches of white gold fell here on Saddle Hill today, and the NH state capitol of Concord has now moved to within 5 inches of setting an alltime record for snowfall. The old record was set in the 1870s.
I have added a snow tally to the "View From Saddle Hill" sidebar.
I am now regretting not taking more pictures out the side and rear windows-several 6 foot tall back yard landmarks I hadn't seen for 4 months have become visible which show just how deep the snow pack actually was here.
Fishin' Blues
Here's the 2008 New Hampshire fishing season preview-fishing season here technically starts when the ice melts, which has already happened in many ponds, lakes and streams.
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fishing_forecast.htm
A Well Respected Man
Good friend Gumby Gilmore will be in the balcony Sunday night to see the great Ray Davies at Boston's Orpheum Theatre.
Here's a look at what Ray has been up to on this tour, along with some tasty photos.
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1084328&srvc=rss
Mmmm, Noodles...
Hawaii Magazine's Sherie Shar checks out a tasty! saimin eatery in Lihue on the Garden Isle.
http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/4/2/Kauai_mom-and-pop_saimin_restaurant
Friday Music Digest
Tons of stuff
Rolling Stones keyboard player Chuck Leavell goes gardening:
http://www.660news.com/news/entertainment/article.jsp?content=e040419A
Jammy Awards upcoming
http://www.ticketnews.com/Jammy-Awards-set-for-May4845617
A live DVD from the Sex Pistols?
http://angryape.com/news/2008/04/04/the-sex-pistols-to-release-live-dvd
Be true to your school-Mike Love's 6' 10" nephew stars in basketball at UCLA
http://www.eagletribune.com/pusports/local_story_095123742.html
Ringo Starr goes "Off the Record" for a new special on HBO. Asking the questions, Dave Stewart, who collaborated with Dick Starkey on his new album.
http://www.whatgoeson.com/news/ringo-starr/200804040906/ringo-shares-secrets-with-dave-stewart-on-new-hbo-special.html
South Pacific is revived
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/116512.html
The continuing saga of Matthew Fisher, who claimed he co- wrote the haunting organ intro to "Whiter Shade of Pale"-guess what? His lawsuit (which he won) was too little too late
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/should-have-thought-of-that-in-1967/?hp
More on the reunion of the band X
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23955994/
Dog Hill
"When it comes to naming dogs, Americans are opting for names that are downright human. A survey using data from the computers of Veterinary Pet Insurance says the top four male dog names are Max, Buddy, Rocky, and Bailey. For female canines, it's Bella, Molly, Lucy, and Maggie."
http://www.kare11.com/news/ts_article.aspx?storyid=503028
Black Gold
Apologies to Maine's Joe Perham.
"Oley Ollson got his new car, and picked up one of them smart-aleck Conan boys on High Street.
"How do you like this new manure spreader, Oley?"
"I don't know, you're the first load I've hauled in it."
CALGARY -- It may come out the wrong end of a farm animal, but you won't catch Scott Dick calling it waste.
"It's nutrients," corrects Mr. Dick, an agronomist with Agra-Gold Consulting Ltd., based outside Winnipeg. "To me, it's a valuable resource."
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=420183
2 Concert Reviews From the 1970s
Here are a couple of fascinating reviews from the Boston Phoenix from a story they did a couple of years ago, "40 Greatest Boston Concerts".
First up, their review of the Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Review, the original show of which I saw a couple of weeks before this show they review. That's followed by a review of the Talking Heads circa 1977, when they played for an audience of 3 people.
http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid25531.aspx
http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid25506.aspx
Don't Fly This!
More on the Go! airlines pilots who fell asleep at the wheel on a routine flight from Honolulu to the Big Island.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/236b722b23b3ea9c0a798cc6e35b486f.htm
Take a Ride!
Last August I finally got to see the great Mitch Ryder live in concert at Meadowbrook (Meadowbrook courtesy photo above by Mark Johnson).
Mitch had a truckload of hits with the Detroit Wheels in the 1960s, and his voice now is as great as ever, especially his screams.
Here's a well-done interview with Mitch, who's still on the road.
http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7525
Housekeeping!
I just added a website hit counter, and also more adverts at the bottom. FYI, the "top" ad box actually has four different pages of ads, but you have to click on the right or left arrows to see them all.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
"Laugh, Sing, Dance, Love, Learn & Teach"
Friday is South African trumpeter par excellence Hugh Masekela's 69th birthday. I've gotten Hugh's autographs many times over the years, but the last one I got is my favorite, when he signed my copy of his book in 2004. Obviously he got an "A" in penmanship in school! Happy birthday, Hughie!
Hugh at work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpcDyjn3a0&cad=rhs
Maine Guitar Fest
Machine heads and Ernie Ball guitar strings?
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) - Police are searching for a man accused of shoving an electric guitar in his pants and walking out of a store in Lewiston, Maine.
Police say the theft occurred last week and they're looking for three men. One of the men shoved a Fender Stratocaster in his pants and pulled a sweatshirt over the top. The other two acted as lookouts.
All three can be seen on footage from video surveillance.
Strangely enough, the music shop has seen the method before. A man did the same thing in 2006 but was caught as he tried to walk out.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8VQLP901&show_article=1&catnum=9
"Somewhere, Beyond the Sea..."
HONOLULU (AP) — Japanese sailor Kenichi Horie, who has sailed nonstop around the world and crossed the Pacific in a solar-powered boat made of recycled aluminum beer cans, continues his latest solo adventure at sea — the world’s longest voyage in a wave-powered boat.
http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=6194
While reading the story, listen to Bobby Darin singing the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEIDep_UMmk&cad=rhs
Wireless News
Finally some news from Mongolia, about one of my favorite shortwave stations. This is only audible here in New Hampshire two times a year, in Mid-March and then again 6 months later. This is due to the fact that they only transmit in this direction in the early morning, and the "grey line" sunrise-sunset line is only favorable for reception twice a year. They have great music, including the famous throat-singers. Now they're putting their broadcasts online, which should make reception slightly easier.
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/plans-for-voice-of-mongolia-to-broadcast-via-internet
Another exotic Asian station, Laos, is also going online. No doubt this one will also have some nice local music.
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/lao-national-radio-external-service-available-online
And Radio Netherlands itself is launching a new web-only radio station:
http://www.rnw.nl/rnw24/
Thursday Music Digest
Hot off the presses!
MySpace and Sony join forces to launch new music on the web
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/myspace-sony-bmg-music-entertainment,338703.shtml
Digital music just got 1000 times smaller
http://www.geek.com/digital-music-just-got-1000x-smaller/
Music in commercials
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=4581666&page=1
Tibet Exile Radio being jammed by...music?
http://www.mediachannel.org/out.php?url=http://www.mediachannel.org/wordpress/2008/04/03/tibet-exile-radio-says-china-jamming-it/
Get Organized-a new Canadian trio brings back the heyday of the B-3 jazz trios
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/edmonton/story.html?id=ee117089-63b0-448d-bbfd-33c4850f901a&k=89435
New musical instrument-the digital harp!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/apr/03/digitalmusic.musicnews
Whatever happened to Leon Redbone?
http://www.dowagiacnews.com/articles/2008/04/03/news/dnnews1.txt
New biographical movie about the tragic life of jazz singer Anita O'Day
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ie0a3689a2b356c4ad6b32d4f1955d66e
Restoring Woody Guthrie music
http://www.musicbox-online.com/interviews/restoring-woody-guthrie-0403200802.html
Music to calm down your dog
http://redding.com/news/2008/apr/03/soothing-sounds-and-music-calm-your-stressed-out-h/
Computers New and Old
Dell has announced it will no longer make computers to order
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/03/BUI6VURNO.DTL
Remember the Commodore 64? I still have one in my bedroom closet. The disc drive actually cost more than the computer did.
"The Remix64 series returns to its roots with its third volume, Syntax Era. Channelling top Commodore 64 tracks through the sounds of 1980s chart toppers, leading remixers in the C64 music scene have joined forces to create an inventive, vibrant album that showcases a huge range of talent and styles during its 70-minute two-pronged trip down memory lane."
http://www.myth-games.com/news3307.htm
Battling Ukuleles in California
"On a mild Monday evening, a woman holding a baby peers into a window at the San Luis Obispo Art Center and smiles.
Because inside the building, 14 people are sitting in a lopsided circle, strumming “Sweet Georgia Brown” on their ukuleles.
The woman walks in the open door and bobs, baby in arms, to the music.
But the uke players don’t even seem to notice her presence. Instead, they’re all zeroed in on their binders, each containing music for up to 130 songs.
The group — called The SLO Strummers, the Ukulele Society of the Central Coast—meets twice a month. They don’t have any grand goals of performing before a crowd; they just get together and strum their ukes."
rest of the story:
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/ticket/story/322087.html
HAL Part 6
The second generation of HAL DC-9 was the "31" model. Mel Lawrence took this shot in July 1968. Once again, I want to say "mahalo nui loa" to Mel for kindly consenting to let me share these with you. Be sure to check out some of his other vintage photos on the Airliners.net site; he has quite a few there, including many taken in Tokyo in the 1960s. Just click on the link that says "more Mel Lawrence" and you'll be enroute!
Link
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hawaiian-Air/McDonnell-Douglas-DC-9-31/0122288/L/
HAL Part 5
HAL's first true jets were a pair of DC-9-15's, which they got in 1966, about the same time Aloha took delivery of their smaller BAC 1-11s. Hawaiian was able to fly more people than Aloha, and soon ordered even more of a later model. Mel Lawrence snapped this pic in July of 1968.
Link
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hawaiian-Air/Douglas-DC-9-15/0122289/L/
HAL Part 4
The final Hawaiian Airlines "prop plane" was the jet-prop Convair 640. Mel Lawrence took this shot in July of 1968. By this time, HAL was already flying its first pair of DC-9 jets.
Link to this photo
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hawaiian-Air/Convair-640/0122297/L/
HAL Part 3
Mel Lawrence spotted this "next generation" Convair, sometimes called the "Super" (as it says on the tail) at HNL in November of 1963.
Link to Mel's photo:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hawaiian-Air/Convair-340-51A/0122299/L/
HAL, Part 2
Once again, thanks to Mel Lawrence for kind permission to use these vintage airplane photos from old-tyme Hawaii. Here Mel shows us the other Hawaiian Airlines prop workhorse, the Convair 340-36, shown here during the daily rainstorm at HNL in August 1958.
Link to Mel's photo here:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hawaiian-Air/Convair-340-36/0122300/L/
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
When It Rains, It Pours.
Snow Ranger sez:
"Tuckerman Ravine and Huntington Ravine have LOW avalanche danger today. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.
After a day off yesterday, winter has returned to the mountains, rested and full of energy. Summit temperatures have dropped 36 degrees F from yesterday's high temperature of 40 F (5 C) and are expected to hover around 0 F (-18 C) for the rest of today. Winds will add to the excitement with forecasted speeds of 90 to 110 mph (144 to 177 kph) out of the west."
http://www.tuckerman.org/avalanche/
HAL, Part 1
Mel Lawrence (mahalo for the photo permissions) saw this Hawaiian Airlines plane at HNL in November 1959. This is the classic cargo model.
Here's the link to Mel's original of this
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Hawaiian-Air/Douglas-C-47B-Skytrain/0122302/L/
Kaiser Dome Returns to Life
"The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa's increased commitment to island music continues through the month of April with acclaimed music groups Beach 5, Piranha Brothers, Wasabi, Typical Hawaiians and Na Kama joining the incomparable Olomana. Each evening, there are at least three different venues with live music at the Village, making it a location that features the most live music in Waikiki.
Olomana, featuring the legendary Jerry Santos, enters its second month at the Tapa Bar on Friday evenings at 8 p.m. Olomana's timeless music is a weekend staple at the Village. The group takes the stage just as the hotel?s popular fireworks extravaganza begins over Waikiki Beach."
ono info
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/GETPUBLISHED/804010382/-1/SPORTSFRONT
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Do humans hear better than animals?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401095216.htm
Fly This?
First there was Microsoft Flight Simulator, then came the updated versions of same, then came all the add-on software, then came other sims like Ship Simulator.
Here's the latest one, Tower Simulator, which lets the geek at the keyboard take over in an airport control tower and play air traffic controller. This will be used for sure as a training tool for ATC's everywhere.
http://www.towersimulator.com/
More From JazzFest
Looks tasty! Here's this year's New Orleans JazzFest "How Are Yah" Hawaiian-style rayon shirt. This year's design is inspired by the plumage worn by the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians.
Available for order here, along with this year's posters.
http://www.art4now.com/store/default.asp
April 2 Music Digest
RIP Klaus Dinger, ex Kraftwerk drummer:
http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=9803
Elvis Costello readies a new TV show, with help from Sir Elton.
http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=30688
An interview with drummer Jimmy Cobb, the only surviving musician member of Miles' "Kind of Blue" recording sessions:
http://www.jazz.com/jazz-blog/2008/4/2/was-kind-of-blue-kinda-fun
The hype is over, here's an early review of Scorsese's new Rolling Stones movie:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/04/02/entertainment/movies/1c583a7d1b24b47c8825741d007ef336.txt
Record label BMG found using pirated software
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23473048-5014239,00.html
And finally, a new Hendrix exhibit is set to open in Seattle
http://www.local10.com/entertainment/15774679/detail.html
We Travel the Spaceways
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Astronomers using robotic cameras said on Wednesday they had found 10 new planets outside our solar system, while a second team said they had found the youngest planet yet.
The findings add to a growing list of more than 270 so-called extrasolar planets, they told a meeting of astronomers in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The robot team is called "SuperWASP," for Wide Area Search for Planets, and the cameras look for planets transiting, or crossing in front of, their stars. The light from the sun fades just slightly when this happens, and astronomers can extrapolate the size and location of the planet.
Most planets around other stars have been found using a different method, measuring the tiny tugs that a planet makes on its sun's gravitational field.
more here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080402/sc_nm/space_planets_dc
Beam Me Up
"Time travel? Teleportation? No problem, says renowned physicist Michio Kaku.
Kaku, a professor at the City University of New York, is creating quite a stir in Britain with the release of his new book, "The Physics of the Impossible."
On this side of the pond, outlandish claims in books are recognized as, well, a good way to sell books.
But in Blighty, Kaku's being treated as if he's Doctor Who informing dim-witted humans about the wonders of the Universe, with front-page treatment Wednesday in both the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian.
Even the normally staid Economist is chiming in."
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,345234,00.html
New JazzFest Exhibit in N.O.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is proud to present the first-ever showing of materials from the Jazz & Heritage Archive. "Jazz Fest 1970 & 1971: Beauregard Square"
Featuring photographs, posters, art works, memorabilia and artifacts from the first two years of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Exhibit closes June 6...
http://www.jazzandheritage.org/
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
"I'd Like to Be, Under the Sea..."
Wild octopuses are far from the shy, unromantic loners their captive brethren appear to be, a new study finds. Marine biologists from the University of California, Berkeley, who journeyed off the coast of Indonesia to study octopus love lives found a kinky and violent society of jealous murders, gender subterfuge and once-in-a-lifetime sex.
Tuesday Night Music Digest
Having major Earthlink e-mail problems today, due to the All-Fool's Day nonsense. Anyhoo, here is the latest from music-land. That's Hawkshaw above.
Another old timer from the Crescent City enjoys a revival
Review of the new George Strait album
Looks like the brouhaha over the official Bob Marley biography movie is settled:
Wow, someone still remembers Hawkshaw Hawkins???
Daniel Lanois' great song "The Maker" (with guest vocals by Aaron Neville) gets rediscovered-
Radiohead invites their fans to re-mix their new single:
Paul Simon and friends (including Hugh Masekela) do a series of benefits in Brooklyn starting tonight
And last but not least, Lionel Hampton had fans in unlikely places:
Aloha's Ghost Airliner
As it left the Boeing factory in 1969, Mel Lawrence took the top picture of the Aloha 737-200 that on April 28, 1988 would experience a sudden cabin decompression after takeoff from the Big Isle enroute to HNL. No passengers lost their lives but a longtime Aloha Airlines flight attendant got sucked out a window to her death-the investigators found the hole she went out which had been damaged by her hitting her head on the way out, hence the "ghost plane" designation. They had to make an emergency landing at Kahului on Mau'i (aka OGG). To make matters even worse, they had to use the standard wind tunnel-land-over-the-sugar-mill-smokestack final landing approach.
A couple of years later, this incident was made into a TV-movie that changed the airline name, although they actually used one of the Aloha planes in the filming. This had Connie Sellecca and Wayne "Trapper John" Rogers as the "Paradise Air" pilots, and Jay Thomas, AKA Bruins hockey player Eddie LaBecque from "Cheers" as the Mau'i tower supervisor who talked them down. Available on DVD, as I recall.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aloha-Airlines/Boeing-737-297/0122306/L/
Aloha's Finest Prop Plane
Here are probably the best shots Mel Lawrence took-the classic Aloha Airlines plane. This is the Fairchild F-27, and Aloha got this one in 1958, as shown in Mel's first picture. Mel shot the same plane 5 years later, with a nice Qantas plane in the background getting ready to fly to Australia.
An interesting sidelight to this plane was that Aloha asked for special modifications as they were being built, namely a thicker lower fuselage hull and stregthened wings. Both were considered prudent in case the plane had to ditch in the ocean between islands.
Links to the photos above:
Aloha Airlines Hall of Fame Part 2
Thanks once again for his kind permission to Mel Lawrence, who also took the next two photos of one of the other "prop" planes Aloha used, the Vickers Viscount from Britain.
First up is this shot from November of 1963
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aloha-Airlines/Vickers-745D-Viscount/0122308/L/
And Mel took this second shot in 1968. At this time, Aloha had already been using the BAC-1-11 jets for 2 years and was just getting their first Boeing 737-200s, some of which they were still using when they shut down less than 24 hours ago.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aloha-Airlines/Vickers-745D-Viscount/0122307/L/
Aloha Airlines Vintage Aircraft (Part 1)
I found some wonderful photographs of some of the earliest planes used in the Aloha Airlines fleet on www.Airliners.net, which is the definitive resource for pictures of old airliners. These particular Aloha Airlines pictures were taken a half a century ago by Mel Lawrence, who has very kindly given me permission to reproduce them here. Mahalo nui, Mel!
First up, an early Aloha DC-3. Mel took this picture at HNL in November of 1958.
Here's the link for the photo, and there is a clickable link if you want to talk story with Mel directly.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aloha-Airlines/Douglas-C-47A-Skytrain/0122311/L/
"There's a Penguin on the Telly"
The BBC will today screen remarkable footage of penguins flying as part of its new natural history series, Miracles of Evolution.
Camera crews discovered a colony of Adélie penguins while filming on King George Island, some 750 miles south of the Falkland Islands.
The programme is being presented by ex-Monty Python star Terry Jones, who said: "We'd been watching the penguins and filming them for days, without a hint of what was to come."
More details:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/01/npenguin101.xml
Happy April 1st
Best hoax ever:
In its April 1985 edition, Sport Illustrated reported the story of Sidd Finch, a rookie baseball player training at the Mets camp.
Finch could pitch a baseball at 168 mph, the article said. The previous record was 103 mph. And the kicker? Finch had never played baseball before this. He reportedly learned the teaching of the “great poet-saint Lama Milaraspa” and mastered the “yogic art of mind-body,” which helped him in his pitching.
Mets fans were really excited until they learned Finch was just a slice of writer George Plimpton’s imagination.
Additional tomfoolery:
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/03/31/living/402/doc47f1414ec7079677705978.txt
$81 Hamburger
Yum, yum!
If you're not a fan of the cheap dollar-menu burgers at your local chain burger joints, Old Homestead Steakhouse in Manhattan has the beef for you.
The west side restaurant Tuesday turned the favorite American classic into a Japanese luxury when it unveiled its 18-ounce $81 burger, made from the highest grade of Japanese Kobe Wagyu.
Each burger is made with 14 ounces of the high-end Japanese beef and 4 ounces of barely-seared sirloin Wagyu medallion tucked inside. It comes with Executive Chef Oscar Martinez's own sake onion ketchup, miso and ginger aioli, and a side of tater tots.
Tasty details (but sadly, no picture)
http://wcbstv.com/food/81.dollar.burger.2.689522.html
The Final Flight
The last Aloha Airlines interisland flight left Mau'i just about 10 PM Monday night, and arrived at HNL a little past 10:30.
Such a shame...
http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/01/news/story01.html
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS01/804010375
Complete Aloha Air roundup here:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
Piano 101
I mentioned Jools Holland's British tour, but here he is with the good Doctor...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fs_oTzIPgM
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