I’m writing an article about musicians who are embracing alternative copyright (Creative Commons, or anything else) in their work. This is not limited to the licensing of their work. I’m also interested in artists who work with Public Domain/CC licensed materials, or who push the limits of fair use. If you ARE these artists, or know any of them, please get in touch with me, on or off list (fred@metalab.unc.edu). I’m putting this piece to print next Friday, so the sooner I can interview you, the better.
Category: Amusements (Page 27 of 31)
Things that are amusing
Lego-palooza is over. But it was brought back to us today with the mail. Tucker was honorable mention in the Lego-palooza creator contest. There was only one winner. The sister of Tucker’s classmate Anders. Anders was also an honorable mention. The white tower, our favorite, is just behind Tucker’s crocodile in the image above. The winner is.
Most digital libraries are about digitalized artifacts. Books, images, music, film. Some are about born digital artifacts. Mailing lists, digital documents, annimations, etc.
Monica McCormick notices that the California Digital Library’s Counting California project goes back to what computers used to do — munch and crunch and rearrange numbers. Counting California gives you access to all kinds of databases and spreadsheets that you can download and work with using a variety of applications.
From several time zones away and from a different season, Andie Miller points us back in time to the year 1999 in which an article was published distantly north from her home in South Africa about the politics of time in the Guardian (UK).
Among the many delights detailed:
[T]hough GMT was declared the universal time measurement in 1884, the French, until 1978, continued in law to call GMT “Paris Mean Time retarded by nine minutes and twenty one seconds”.
Much there about the colonializing use of time as the fabled 2000 was approaching as the article was being published.
The picture explains it all.
Bonus: It’s from Java creator, James Gosling’s blog.
The temperature is in the 70s. The sky is clear. The cablepullers have taken my office over completely. Soon I will have fast wires, but no connectors in my office. In the meantime, I have ladders and dust and drills. I am forced to go work at the Daily Grind outside.
The Grind has new chairs and tables!
Dr. Cece Conway has had a fascination with banjos that goes a long ways back. In particular, she has been interested in the travels of the banjo from Africa to America to Europe to America to Appalachia. Amongst other things, Cee Cee produced the Smithsonian Folkways compilation “Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina & Virginia” and the book “African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia: A Study of Folk Traditions”.
Now Cece is putting together a conference and gathering called “Black Banjo Then and Now Gathering at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, April 7th through 10th, 2005. It will feature lectures, jams, workshops, down home frolics, and performances–four days to meet, mix, and mingle.”
Found in the North Carolina Miscellany [1962] whilst at the CuppaJoe Coffee Shop.
The Seven [sic] Wonders of North Carolina
[as reported in the Greensboro Daily News 1956]
- Cow Palace in Raleigh [Dorton Arena]
- Old Fort–Ridgecrest Southern Railway [Andrews Geyser/Loops.]
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Any mammoth textile mill especially those such as Cone Mills (thanks for the reference, Ed)
- Duke Tower [on Duke Chapel]
- [Old] Playmakers Theater at UNC-Chapel Hill
- [Old] State Capitol Building
- Wright Memorial at Kill Devil Hills
What are our newer Wonders? Generic retro-downtowns in Planned Urban Communities? Fake 30s bungalows? MacMansions? Chiller plants? Airport terminals?
Submit your favorites for this half century.
The multi-talented Creighton Irons and his musical “Soul Notes” have had great write ups in the Chapel Hill News and in the News and Observer. Sally has the stories and more on her blog.
Not like Wm. Burroughs, but like a film fanatic. Not a cinema snob, but a maniac about films made in NC and about films that say that they are made in NC but in fact aren’t. Floyd’s book, “Film Junkie’s Guide to North Carolina,” was just featured on CNN and in AP articles — all amusing. Love that Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simons did at least one bad film together in Willywood in 1986.
What would have happened if they had been up the road a bit for the filming of “Blue Velvet” also a 1986 film?
Sally describes Crieghton Irons’ musical “Soul Notes” which will be produced this coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at the Kenan Theater in the Center for Dramatic Arts on the UNC campus.
“Soul Notes” is “the musical result of scores of personal interviews that [Creighton] conducted in Jamaica, South Africa, and the American South. These interviews, most of them with black and white musicians, explore the big issues surrounding race in intimate and vulnerable ways. Backed by a full rock band, a talented cast of 20 from all corners of UNC’s campus brings these interviews to life with the sounds of reggae, blues, rock, gospel, and bluegrass. “
UPDATE: Chapel Hill News did a nice long feature on “Soul Notes” today.
Louis St Lewis is a self-confessed trouble-maker of the delightfully artistic sort. Each Louis art opening is a little event of its own, but today’s opening at Tyndall Galleries was more special than most. For one thing, there was more of Louis’ work and the work is quite different from his collages and his early bone assemblies. But Louis, who was dressed in a sort of old Europe suit with thick pinned tie overdraped by a silk kimono, was in no way subdued. He relishes his status of bad boy in his bio and in his art. This work seems more pleasant to live with than his self-portrait in blood that inspired the Archbishop of Charleston to denounce Louis and to help him garner some serious attention both Good and Evil.
He is still a scavenger and an innovator. Several pieces in this show were drawn on linoleum tile that was pulled up from his studio floor. The textures and colors are so lovely and so appropriate that you do not think floor for even one second.
For more images of Louis’ work at Tyndall’s, go here, but better drop by the Gallery to appreciate the scale of the work.
UPDATE: Sylvia and Jane sent some pictures of the opening for is to enjoy.
Following the Lego-palooza, we went over to Culbreth Middle School to see Tucker’s classmates perform the Lapine/Sondheim musical “Into the Woods, Junior.” This is a version of the award winning “Into the Woods” which has been “specially adapted for young performers-abridged to 60-80 minutes, with music transposed into keys appropiate for young voices.”
It was a delightful show, well sung and well played. I was left wondering what was abridged from the adult version. With a little research, I found out. The whole second act. The controversial darker and more imagined section. The first act is a confluence of fairy tales which come to a “happy ever after” ending.
We are, now that I think about it, prepared for a post-happy ending act. We have a dead giant in the backyard. We have to impossibly pompous princes newly married. We have a witch who has become young and beautiful, but she has also lost her powers and become estranged from her daughter. And new family beginning. We have the makings of further drama for sure.
The song titles of the second act give you some idea of what’s up (from Sondheim Guide):
# “Prologue: So Happy” – Narrator and Company
# “Agony” (reprise) – Cinderella’s Prince and Rapunzel’s Prince
# “Lament” – Witch
# “Any Moment” – Cinderella’s Prince and Baker’s Wife
# “Moments in the Woods” – Baker’s Wife
# “Your Fault” – Baker, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Witch, Cinderella
# “Last Midnight” – Witch
# “No More” – Baker and Mysterious Man
# “No One Is Alone” – Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Baker, Jack
# “Finale: Children Will Listen” – Witch and Company
If you read the synoposis of Act Two, you’ll agree it’s pretty Grimm.
Tucker and I just got back from the first local Lego-palooza at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Pictures later. One thing is certain; the creations of Star Wars craft are better done by local designers than by the kits that come straight from Lego. [sorry the lighting and the camera phone were not a great combination. Most of the images are pretty blurry.]
One way to keep your neighbors in the dark about your misdeeds even when the police have caught on to you is to buy every newspaper in town. That’s exactly what Jack William Pacheco of Chowchilla, CA did to hide his methamphetamine arrest. Pacheco, who claims he is innocent, bought all available copies of the Chowchilla News. He plans to use the papers “to clean his windows and train his new puppy.” Despite his enterprise, over 550 were delivered to homes in Chowchilla. He bought all store and machine offerings.
Pacheco failed on another front as well; his story is now wide spread thanks to AP.
Just now getting the finalists and the winners of the Words of the Year 2004 from the American Dialect Society (Thanks Connie). The votes were taken on January 7, 2005 in Oakland, CA.
Word of the Year
- red state, blue state, purple state, n., together, a representation of the American political map. 36
Nominated:
- flip-flopper, n, a politician who changes political stances; a waffler. 11
- mash-up, n., a blend of two songs or albums into a single cohesive musical work. 2
- meet-up, n., a local special interest meeting organized through a national web site. 2
- wardrobe malfunction, n., an unanticipated exposure of bodily parts. 19
Most Useful
- WINNER: phish, v., to acquire passwords or other private information (of an individual, an account, a web site, etc.) via a digital ruse. Noun form: phishing. 47
- backdoor draft, n., the filling of military jobs through reactivation of former troops or through forced enlistment extensions known as stop-loss orders. 16
- blog- as a prefix or combinging form in making other words: blogosphere, blognoscenti, blogarrhea. 1
- fetch, adj., cool or stylish, from the movie Mean Girls. 11
Most Creative
- WINNER: pajamahadeen, n., bloggers who challenge and fact-check traditional media. 36/52
- hillbilly armor, n., scavenged materials used by soldiers for improvised bullet-proofing and vehicle hardening, esp. in Iraq. 11
- lawn mullet, n., a yard neatly mowed in front but unmowed in the back. 29/27
- nerdvana, n., geeks really geeking out; collaborative geekiness. 6.5
Most Unnecessary
- WINNER: carb-friendly, adj., low in carbohydrates. 38/50
- -based as in reality-based, faith-based. 14
- erototoxin, n., a (nonexistent) chemical released in the brain of a person looking at pornography. 17/26
- stalkette, n., a female stalker. 10
Most Outrageous
- WINNER: santorum, n., the frothy residue of lube and fecal matter which sometimes is the result of anal sex. 3
- clone and kill, n., raising a crop of humans for parts. 6
- douche chill, n., interjection used to break a sudden silence after a verbal faux pas. 9
- Jesusland, n., the country which will be the rump US after the blue states have seceded and joined Canada. 13
Most Euphemistic
- WINNER: badly sourced, adj., false. 50
- angel, n., a soldier killed in action. 7
- partner reduction, n., divorce or severing of a romantic relationship. 2
- wardrobe malfunction, n., unanticipated exposure of bodily parts. 15
Most Likely To Succeed
- WINNER: red, blue, and purple states, n., the American political map. 21/46
- krunked, n., cool, crazy. 2
- mash-up, n., a blend of two songs or albums into a single cohesive musical work. 23/22
- meet-up, n., a local special interest meeting organized through a national web site. 16
- orange revolution, n., the recent Ukrainian political crisis. 5
Least Likely To Succeed
- WINNER: FLOHPA, n., collectively, the states of Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, said to have been important in the 2004 American presidential election. From the postal codes for the three states: FL, OH, and PA. 41
- holy toast, n., a grilled cheese with the image of the Virgin Mary, sold on eBay. 23
- luanqibaozhao, n., Chinese for a complicated mess. 8
- security mom, n., a female voter said to vote according to the protection of her family. 2
Not Bill Gates but more the Gates of Christo done on the cheap. The effort, struggle really, to rewire Manning Hall to conform to some standard which I do not completely understand has finally reached our office here at ibiblio. As a result, we are mostly working from home, the library or at secret places where I’d rather not be aware of (being the boss).
The aesthetic effect on the office is not to be ignored. It can’t be ignored. Here are a few quick shots for your viewing pleasure. If only the plastic were orange. But then the grey translucent goes better with our office color scheme.
Dave Barry is on leave. Fans must enjoy reprints of his old columns or read his Peter Pan prequel, “Peter and the Starcatchers” (written with Ridley Pearson) or wait for his movie, Guide to Guys (aka G2G) which premiered on February 2.
But for those of us who love the near predictability of a Dave Barry column, there is AutoDave. It’s been around for a while (since 1999) but while we’re awash in multi-media Barry assault, it’s good to know that the essence of Barry has been captured and preserved for us. The automated Dave Barry column generator will save your soul or at least your funny bone.
Roger McGuinn writes to say that all of the over 100 songs in his Folk Den are now converted to mp3 format. When he started in November 1995, we had to use .wav and .ra. This really limited the places you could play the songs. But with mp3 you have a lot of flexibility.
Roger began putting up one folk song every month almost 10 years ago and hasn’t stopped yet. There are a lot of nice surprises along the way including a trio of Roger, Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry playing and singing “Sloop John B” November 2004, Frank Hamilton (once of the Weavers) singing with Roger on “Brazos River” January 1999, and a vintage tape of Roger (then Jim) at age 16 playing “John Henry” August 1998.
All the songs are under Creative Commons licenses.
As I was walking down the street after having visited with my ole poet buddy, Ann Deagon, I passed the Number One Chapel Hill Downtown Eyesore. The Wicked Burrito was not a great place when it opened. The outside paint job was ugly, tacky and unappealing. But then the place was abandoned by the chain that owns it. It sat idle and fading and breaking with rusting iron rails for years.
The owners, Lone Star Steak House and Salon [STAR], refused to relet the building prefering to let it sit and decay.
Finally the Town took notice and various threats were made.
But today the owners took action. The building (a former gas station in better times) was surrounded by painters.
I struck up a conversation and learned that the poor painters had spent the morning matching the old tacky multi-color paint job. This afternoon they start stripping and painting. Soon instead of fading decaying tackiness, we will have bright and shiny tackiness.
I am trying to decide which is worse. I guess it won’t just be conjecture soon. I’ll be able to compare the two choices.
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