Thursday, December 18, 2008

Paper boy (or girl)

Recently, I've been picking up overnight shifts (NOTE: I work for health and human services now, not a pimp)and discovered an online Nintendo classics game site. I've spent the week playing Paperboy, which was just as exciting as I remembered -- look out for the grim reaper, lady wielding a knife, jackhammer dude, small tornado and break dancer guy while trying to deliver the daily news. I was never able to make it through the week as a youngster. However, only moments ago I beat the game, which was rather anti-climatic. Only a headline reading, "Paperboy retires!"

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Upon Googling Myself . . .

Karen Parks’ “Nobody Knows” – A Tribute to Harry T. Burleigh (transcript)
Friday, February 08th, 2008

By Craig Havighurst

Soprano Karen Parks has released a new CD whose title, Nobody Knows, is intended as a double entendre. Half of the album consists of vital and well-known Negro spirituals. But Parks is also calling attention to the unknown composer and singer who brought those spirituals into the American mainstream more than 100 years ago. WPLN’s Craig Havighurst reports.

Audio for this feature is available here.

It’s likely that only students of American classical music and African-American culture will have heard of Harry T. Burleigh, even though the songs that Burleigh first arranged for concert performance are woven into our national DNA.

(SOUND: Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen)

Karen Parks sings Burleigh’s songs and his praises on her new album Nobody Knows, released this month through Nashville’s Thirty Tigers. She says Burleigh has been important to her since the very first time she was tapped for serious vocal training. She was growing up in Greenville South Carolina, a precocious freshman in high school intent on a career in corporate law. Then a teacher heard her voice and arranged to enroll her in a regional fine arts academy. Parks was 13.

PARKS: “And I am so fortunate for that. I was the only African American female at the fine arts center. I wanted to sing spirituals. They knew that, and they wanted me to of course, and my first book was The Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh”.

Burleigh, who was born the year after the end of the Civil War, wanted to be a recital singer, and his home community of Erie, Pennsylvania raised funds to send him to New York’s National Conservatory of Music. There, he became a protégé of the conservatory’s new director, the era-shaping composer Antonin Dvorak.

SNYDER: “And the unusual thing for an African American musician at that time was that he did not forsake his heritage in the spirituals.”

Jean Snyder, assistant professor of music at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is writing a biography of Burleigh.

SNYDER: “And it’s probable that Dvorak helped him fully understand that this repertoire was a repertoire that was universal. And in Dvorak’s own words, he said give those melodies to the world.”

(SOUND: My Lord What A Morning)

Burliegh did just that, embracing Dvorak’s radical view that folk songs were important art that should be integrated into classical music. Karen Parks says his arrangements brought subtle and uplifting instrumental accompaniment to what had been an entirely a capella form of singing.

PARKS: “The spiritual must be simple yet on the classical concert stage it must be interesting and intricate enough to have that title, and that shows the real genius of Burleigh.”

Burleigh’s race kept him from the recital career he longed for, but he did teach at the National Conservatory and became an editor at an important music publishing house. Parks recalls another long-term position that regularly put him on a stage in front of New York’s wealthiest elites.

PARKS: “I believe it was in 1894 that he applied to be the baritone soloist at St. George’s Episcopal Church. There were 60 applicants. And he was only African American, and there was only one position, and he was chosen. Of course there was some uproar but it didn’t matter. He had the talent and they could see beyond his color.”

Parks brings remarkable credentials of her own to the Burleigh recording project. After her post-graduate training at UC Santa Barbara, she earned a Fulbright scholarship which allowed her a year of private study at La Scala Opera House in Milan, perhaps the most prestigious such academy in the world. She trained to sing in 12 different languages, but on Nobody Knows, she sings a uniquely American strain of English, one that — like Dvorak’s work — is both vernacular and rarified.

(SOUND: Lovely Dark And Lonely One)

In “Lovely Dark and Lonely One,” Burleigh sets music to a poem by Langston Hughes.

PARKS: “There are some powerful words there, and you want to express that. The text determines they way that a song, any song, is sung in my opinion. The words must be expressed to their fullest extent.”

Karen Parks brings her interpretation of those words and Burleigh’s music to Vanderbilt’s Turner Hall this Saturday night at 8.

For Nashville Public Radio, I’m Craig Havighurst.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Commission Office E-mail String

On Apr 23, 2008, at 2:40 PM, Janet Owens wrote:

Please ask me if you would like to change the thermostats so that Heather M. or I are aware of a change and can make adjustments as needed.

The thermostat in Scott's office was turned "off," so several offices on this side of the building have temperature readings of 78 degrees. We want to stay comfortable, not warm!

I appreciate your help!

Janet
Associate Director of Operations
NSCA Certification Commission


On Apr 23, 2008, at 2:59 PM, Scott Bonertz wrote:

My sincerest apologies to everyone. I picked up 17 hermit crabs at a flea market in Chicago over the weekend, and I read in my Crabs Household Journal that pet hermit crabs must be kept between 75 and 80 degrees. I promise it won't happen again, and I'll move my buddies to a temperature controlled chamber. By the way, I just counted and I only have 16, so if anyone finds one let me know (I think it is Paco).

Should I not have done that?

Scott


From: Karen Parks
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:04 PM
To: Scott Bonertz
Cc: Janet Owens; NSCACertificationCommission
Subject: Re: Warmer Weather

Scott,

Please review the Employee Handbook, pages 28-29: Commission Property/Premises, Workstation Guidelines.

Thanks.
Your Commission Coworkers




From: Bob Raatz
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:11 PM
To: Scott Bonertz
Cc: NSCACertificationCommission
Subject: FW: Warmer Weather

I found Paco, the news is not good.

From: HETA
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:04 PM
To: Scott Bonertz
Cc: Janet Owens; NSCACertificationCommission
Subject: Re: Warmer Weather


Do you want me to bring you some melted butter?

Heather Ahrens

Exam Assistant
examasst@nsca-cc.org




From: Karen Parks
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 3:04 PM
To: Scott Bonertz
Cc: Janet Owens; NSCACertificationCommission
Subject: Re: Warmer Weather


Or do you need paper towels and a good disinfectant?

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Cincinnati Rocks!

I was visiting my family and BFF, Rick LaVenture Jr., this weekend in Ohio. With just a few days for my trip, I had to prioritize my outings. On Friday, Mom, brother Jerry and I went to the Cincinnati Zoo (pictures are pending as family and community photographer, Jerry, forgot his digital memory card and ended up shooting with film. They will be posted at a later date once they are developed from the Beavercreek Wal-Mart and shipped to Lincoln, NE). Highlights of the zoo include the polar bears (they enjoyed a large enclosure with mutliple swimming pools with underwater views for visitors. It was a warm 78 degrees and they back-paddled around the lake; I found them to be a delight), some kind of monkey I can't remember (these solid white and solid black monkeys zipped around their enclosure steeling bits of lettuce and carrots from each other), and the white lions. 


On Saturday, Rick and I decided to skip church and instead spend the morning and afternoon at Trader's World.  I had been to Trader's World as a youngster, but they've since expanded, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to find the requested "Ohio Kitsch" souvenir for the New Media Coordinator at my office.  It was a success as I bagged a $4 Marshmallow Gun in Cincinnati Bengals colors, complete with a sandwich-sized bag of ammunition.  The only thing Rick picked up was a few of the local "honeys" (see below).  Other Trader's World attractions included the petting zoo with porcupine and magic carpet cleaning demonstration (below).
Photobucket

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Additionally, I was able to catch a glimpse of a new landmark in the Cincinnati area.  If you're trying to find Trader's World, just take the exit directly after "Touchdown Jesus".  This is a ginormous, and some may say "tacky", likeness of our Lord and Savior accompanied by a reflection pool.  Rick points out the landmark at Solid Rock Church on the video.



Thursday, March 06, 2008

Friday, February 22, 2008

Kudos to the Sinclair on 40th and "A"

There's several reason's why I love this gas station.

1. Full-service, no exceptions, no extra charge. This comes in handy especailly when it is freezing. But no matter the season, it's always nice NOT to have to dirty your hands at the pumps.

2. Complimentary dog treats offered at all times. The coonhounds appreciate this one more than me, but it still makes the list.

3. Touchless Carwash, more gentle on the Acura.

But mainly I go there because of number one. Although, here in the U.S. the full-service gas station attendents are rare. In South Korea, full-service stations are standard. The difference--South Korean Gas Station Attendents are the younger female types that wear mini skirts instead of the coveralls of the Sinclair men. They still wear mini skirts in the winter, but they are accompanied with leg warmers, of course. Come to think of it, the South Koreans market a lot of products with the mini skirt, cereal and cell phones come to mind. But I digress, the point of this post is that a fill-up and wash is now a pleasure with the Sinclair Station on 40th and "A" street.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

The Chicken

Why did the chicken cross the road?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR. PHIL:
The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.
---------------------------------------------------------------

OPRAH :
Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GEORGE W.. BUSH:
We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLIN POWELL:
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOHN KERRY:
Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
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NANCY GRACE:
That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
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PAT BUCHANAN :
To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MARTHA STEWART :
No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
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ERNEST HEMINGWAY :
To die in the rain. Alone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JERRY FALWELL :
Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth?' That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GRANDPA :
In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BARBARA WALTERS :
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOHN LENNON:
Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARISTOTLE :
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C%........ reboot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ALBERT EINSTEIN :
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BILL CLINTON :
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AL GORE:
I invented the chicken!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLONEL SANDERS :
Did I miss one?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DICK CHENEY :
Where's my gun?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AL SHARPTON :
Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

ok, well I've thought of something

Is anyone up for a Saturday (Sabbath) afternoon get-together? Blue Orchid? Greatful Bread? That should secure Angela unless she's already booked. . .

Also, Daniel mentioned seeing Juno again, and I thought maybe this weekend? Anyone? Anyone?
I'm just not in a bloggy place right now. . .

Check back soon,though.