Happy New Year and goodbye

I've been updating this blog for a year now, and I've decided to take a break. I found that I was struggling to find a voice, and in an effort to update on at least a weekly basis, this blog turned mostly into a weekly oldies music show. That's not what I intended when I started; I wanted this to be more of a commentary on issues and things going on here. I wrote ten or twelve things on politics, but they mostly ended up as angry rants and since I'm not an angry person by nature, I didn't post them.

I've also decided that blogging requires a certain amount of arrogance - one has to think that what they're saying is of sufficient importance to broadcast it to the (virtual) world. And I'm not sure I have anything all that important to say, to be honest.

I've read a bunch of other blogs, and they all seem to be more witty, erudite, profound, newsworthy, educational, or artistic. I find most of 'em to be much more interesting (i.e., better) that mine, and I've concluded that continuing this blog the way it's been going is a waste of my time - and yours.

So I'm going to put down the pen (or the keyboard), stop talking for a while, and just listen. Hopefully I'll find that voice I've been looking for.

Anyhow, I hope those of you who've read this blog have found some enjoyment in it. Drop me a line (click on the comment link) and let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas for where this blog should go next, even if you think "where it should go" is away.

Thanks for reading. Peace.

Merry Christmas

This piece of music has always given me goosebumps. Merry Christmas!

My favorite Christmas Carols

This time of year, I always think about all the thousands of Christmas carols around, and which ones I like best. This year, these are my favorites:

"Carol of the Bells". This is the George Winston version.


"Some Children See Him." I recall hearing this for the first time at a George Winston concert.


"Stop the Cavalry" peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in December 1980. The song was never intended as a Christmas hit, but the line 'Wish I was at home for Christmas' as well as the brass band arrangements made it an appropriately styled song to play around Christmas time. This version is by The Cory Band (a Welsh mine brass band) with The Gwalia Singers. 



Happy Christmas (War is Over). I get tears in my eyes every time I hear this.

Saturday matinee - Stan Freberg's "Green Christmas"

The video is weird, but the audio is (as is typical for Freberg) hilarious and very pointed!

Satuday Matinee - The Muppets sing "Bohemian Rhapsody"

I loved The Muppet Show. I miss those characters!

Happy Birthday, Zach

I miss you.

Write or call me, please.

Sand art

If you don't believe that art can move people to tears, watch this:

Kseniya Simonova - Sand Animation (Україна має талант / Ukraine's Got Talent) from Norm on Vimeo.

Huskies crush Cougs 30-0

Woo Hoo!!!!

Saturday matinee - Bobby McFerrin at the World Science Festival

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Bobby McFerrin, Yo Yo Ma, and Mark O'Connor:

Yo Yo Ma Y Bobby McFerrin - Hush Little Baby - Watch more funny videos here

Saturday matinee - "All Along the Watchtower"

This may be the most covered song ever.

Bob Dylan (who wrote it):


Jimi Hendrix (who made the most famous version):


U2:


Dave Matthews:


Dave Mason:

All Along the Watchtower-Dave Mason

Dave Mason | MySpace Music Videos

Brian Ferry:


Michael Hedges:


Bruce Springsteen:


Neil Young:


Grateful Dead:


Pearl Jam:


Eric Clapton & Lennie Kravitz:


Richie Havens: