§  ||  ¶THIS IS THE OLD BLOG

We've moved.  The new blog starts here.

You may need to resubscribe to the RSS feed, which is now http://www.rchrd.com/blog/atom.xml

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§  ||  ¶Making Slow Progress - Status Report

I'm making slow progress moving this blog over to Movable Type. Now I'm confronted with the unnerving thought of why am I doing this at all. Pivot seems to be working just fine for me, so why change?

There is no answer. At least, I have no answer. Gee, seemed like a good idea.

At least I'm not going to move all the entries that already exist here over to the new blog. I'm just going to freeze this one and start over using the new one.

And, this has meant rewriting the templates from Pivot-speak to MT-speak, as well as the CSS files. And, when handling CSS files you come to realize the infinite possibilites, so I'm limiting myself to starting out with something that still looks like this blog, with 3 columns, and the same sort of colors. But all that may change as it develops.

MT does seem a bit easier to deal with at the template/CSS level.

If you're interested, you watch my progress as I grow the new blog. It's here for the time being. But don't be surprised by what you see. It's in a state of chaotic flux. I will say I'm learning a lot, which may be the answer to the question posed above. Learning new things.

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§  ||  ¶Ok, I Lied

So this blog isn't entirely dormant. As soon as I decided to take a break, I thought of many things I should be blogging about. Go figure. It always seems to work out that way.

But I am working on a redesign. This blog used Pivot for plumbing. My photo blog uses Movable Type. So I've decided to move this one under Movable Type as well. But first I have to customize the templates and CSS files. Which is taking longer than I thought.

And it looks like I might have more time to play with it this week than last. So do stay tuned. All I Know will be reborn soon, with a new look and feel, facelift, and new plumbing.

In the meantime, try this:  New Music reBlog

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§  ||  ¶Please Stand By

I don't know how these bloggers do it, but I've run out of steam. This blog has gone stale. So I'm going to take a little break. Regroup. And maybe come back with a Second Edition. In the meantime, keep up with my PHOTO BLOG, and the MUSIC FROM OTHER MINDS website. And, if you're interested, my blog at Sun Microsystems.

So if you've come here and haven't seen anything new in awhile, stay tuned. We'll be back.

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§  ||  ¶Remembering Jim Tenney (1934-2006)

There is more to read...

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§  ||  ¶Nora's Palestine Photo Book

My daughter, Nora, has published a book of her photos of Palestine, from the West Bank and Gaza. The images are from her recent trips to Palestine, working with children at a youth center near Bethlehem.

(The book was published on Blurb.com, which lets you create hardbound books from your photos and text. iPhoto, Kodak Gallery, and MyPublisher.com do the same thing, but the great thing about Blurb.com is that they give you many more page templates to play with. And, they print two-sided. I've done a 60-page Blurb.com book with 80 photos from my photoblog  and the result was quite amazing.)

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§  ||  ¶Fog Returns!

Finally! It's been REALLY hot here lately. Frighteningly hot.  But it looks like it's over, and here's the fog. I find I can't do much when it gets over 80F. It was closer to 95F for days. The summers were the reason why I left New York City for the Bay Area almost 40 years ago. My hands swell, I can't move a finger without sweating. I become catatonic. My optimal operating temperature is around 71F. So no wonder there hasn't been much activity here on the blog for days. But just wait... the fog inspires.

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§  ||  ¶Cody's Telegraph Ave Store Closes!

Cody's Books celebrated 50 years in Berkeley while at the same time closing its flagship store on Telegraph Avenue. (Two other stores, one on 4th Street in Berkeley, the other in San Francisco).

Needless to say, it was a bittersweet moment.

Fred and Pat Cody (seen on the left) started Cody's Books on Telegraph Avenue in 1956.

In the late 70's Andy Ross (seen on the right) bought the store from the retiring Codys. (Fred Cody died in 1983).

Later, Andy opened a branch on flourishing 4th Street in West Berkeley, and recently another store in San Francisco.

But since the '90's the Telegraph store was losing money. Telegraph Avenue was the problem.

So today they threw a party at the Telegraph store -- first to celebrate 50 years as a bookstore in Berkeley, and to say farewell to the Telegraph store.

Tomorrow, Monday, the store will be closed, everything carted away. Big FOR LEASE signs are already up on the windows.

Independent bookstores like Cody's are closing and few new stores are taking their place.

There are lots of reasons for this. You could say the economy, high rents, high book prices, have made the traditional stores unprofitable.

You could blame the internet for providing instant access to online catalogs and discounted prices.

Or, you could blame the community and local politicians for letting places like Telegraph Avenue, the driveway into the University of California campus, decay and drive away business.

Or, you could just say that bookstores and a reading public are now a thing of the past. Maybe only niche stores that specialize, take up less floor space, employ fewer booksellers, can survive these times.

No one had an answer today. This was a hard and cold business decision. Still, everyone in the crowd had stories and memories of times well spent at Cody's Telegraph, even if you had to fight the panhandlers outside on the street.

I have two memories of my own.

First was in the mid '70's.  A guy named John Gage was working part-time at Cody's, managing the math and science sections. I would stop by at lunch and we'd talk about math books. John was getting his graduate degree in econometrics at UC Berkeley, down the street. He eventually went on to become one of the earliest employees at Sun Microsystems.

The other was the time Bill Clinton came to the Telegraph store in June, 2004. I've blogged about that elsewhere.

Still, Cody's Books is alive. The 4th Street and San Francisco stores are ok. No one said running a large bookstore was easy these days. But stores like Cody's, and Moe's, and all the other independent stores in your neighborhood need your support.

Support your local independents!

Here's the coverage in the SF Chronicle.

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§  ||  ¶See This Movie!

Everyone must see this movie that Al Gore made. We did last night. Finally Al Gore has found where and how he can be effective. See the trailer. There's not much time left. 

I found the most interesting "take away" from this film is the fact that surveys of the scientific literature show that the number of reports refuting global warming in ZERO. Yet 53% of the articles in the press covering global warming treat it as just a theory (like evolution). Again, we the public are being led to believe and to have faith that our leaders know what they're doing.

Science says otherwise. And the images in this film do not lie.

Gore says again and again that this is a moral issue. So where are our religious leaders on this issue? Why aren't the churches all bothered about how we're doing protecting the planet?  It's just not a convenient truth for them.

Earlier, I mentioned a PBS Nova program on the dimming of the sun.

It's a strange situation to be in... air pollution is actually slowing global warming. And the more we do to reduce air pollution, the faster global warming occurs.

The only solution is to deal with both, altho scientists interviewed in the program indicate that unless we do something significant real soon (10 years?) we're screwed.

See the PBS program:  The Dimming of the Sun at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun/

See AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.  Find a movie theater near you.

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§  ||  ¶Han Reiziger 1934-2006

I learned today that an old friend I haven't seen in many years passed away early in May. Han Reiziger was, for many years, one of the major personalities on Dutch TV and radio, presenting programs on music and musicians for station VPRO. Back in the 1970's, VPRO and KPFA in Berkeley were very close, and we often traded programs. And, for a few months, even traded music producers. When KPFA's music director Charles Amirkhanian went to VPRO in Hilversum for a few months, Han came with his family to Berkeley and produced programs at KPFA. And that's how I met Han.

And so I was greatly saddened to hear that Han passed away in Hilversum on May 6 at age 72. Han was one of the liveliest and most wonderful people I've ever met. And while it seems incredible that the last time I spent with them in Hilversum was 31 years ago (1975), those memories are still very important to me.

Han was an accomplished jazz musician, and his musical interests ranged from serious classical music to Pink Floyd and the avant garde. His Sunday TV programs Reiziger In Muziek were very popular in Holland, altho I never got to see them.

One of those people I'll never forget.

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§  ||  ¶Walking Thru Paris With Leonard

My friend Leonard Pitt's book on Paris has finally come out in English. When it came out in France a few years ago it caused quite a stir. How could an American, especially an American living in Berkeley California, write about Paris!

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§  ||  ¶Composers with Del Sol

The Del Sol Quartet will be playing in and around the Bay Area next weekend. This is not to be missed. Del Sol is a wonderful group of young players that like to tackle some very challenging music by living composers. This current series, May 24-26, and May 28, features music by two Canadians, an American, and a Spanish composer: José Evangelista, Linda Catlin Smith, Ronald Bruce Smith, and R. Murray Schafer.

Program
Linda Catlin Smith: "As you pass a reflective surface" (1991)
Ronald Bruce Smith: String Quartet #2 "Nostalgia" (2006) - World Premiere
R. Murray Schafer: String Quartet #3 (1981)
José Evangelista: Spanish Garland (1993)

This is a great opportunity to hear this wonderful quartet. The Murray Schafer quartet #3 is very rarely performed. Schafer, born in 1933, is quite an intriguing composer, and probably Canada's most well known. His music always has some surprises, yet is rarely performed. Ronald Bruce Smith is from Toronto by studied at UC Berkeley, Stanford, and IRCAM in Paris. His Second Quartet was written for the Del Sol.

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§  ||  ¶Kinky Makes The Ballot in Texas

Looks like Kinky has made it to the Texas ballot with more than enough signatures!

This could be a new day for Texas, and a new day for the rest of the country.

Ever since Texas took over the country, we've all be headed down hill at an alarming rate. Now, maybe something will change.

More power to my namesake, the Kinkster

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§  ||  ¶That Horse

Last weekend Victoria gave Suede a long overdue bath. It was finally warm enough to do it. Its been a long winter up at the stables. He really needed it.

Suede's been with us now over a year and a half. And he's starting to come around. We inherited Suede - he belonged to Victoria's brother John.  Suede came up north to live at Grizzly Peak stables in the Berkeley Hills after John passed away.

Suede and Victoria have been in training. Arabian's are usually a bit difficult. Suede even more so when he first arrived. He was a bit out of shape. And probably in mourning. Lots of bad attitude for a 14-year old.

Victoria's having a blast. She hadn't been on a horse since grade school. It's been quite an adventure for both of them. Seems both horse and rider are having a great time.      More pix.

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§  ||  ¶As If Earthquakes Weren't Enough To Worry About

A recent PBS/Nova program reveals that the amount of sunlight reaching the earth has diminished over the recent past, mainly caused by air pollution making the clouds more reflective. The net result is that it has slowed the development of global warming. Without this dimming of the Sun, we would by now be experiencing the beginnings of the worst disasters caused by global warming.

That's a strange situation to be in... air pollution slowing global warming. And the more we do to reduce air pollution, the faster global warming occurs.

The only solution is to deal with both, altho scientists interviewed in the program indicate that unless we do something significant real soon (10 years?) we're screwed.

See it for yourself:  The Dimming of the Sun at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun/

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§  ||  ¶A Sunny Day, Finally!

After days and days of rain, which caused mud slides and awful green algae growing on the sides and porches of houses, we finally have a sunny day.  Needless to say, these days of rain have had an effect on everyone. Many people, myself included, have colds, allergies from mold, and lowered expectations. The constant rain puts everything on hold, especially when we are all expecting a glorious Spring by now.

I haven't felt like doing much. So this blog has been on hold for some time. Not much to report. I could go on about how the weather has left me with a case of bronchitis, stuffed head, ringing ears. The world sounds very much like I'm in some tight damp basement. But I'll refrain.

April should be sunny and warm in these parts, with everything in bloom. We've kept close to home. A traditional springtime trip to Pt Reyes last weekend got rained out.

I've been listening a lot to Olivier Messiaen's piano music. Let's hope this "sunny spell" stays.

Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the Great SF Quake of 1906. More to worry about.

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§  ||  ¶Outrageous

Jordi Savall and Hesperion XXI are performing next weekend in Berkeley. This is a must-see event. But even if I could afford to attend either of the two concerts, at $52/seat, I couldn't because they're already sold out.
Last week they performed in NYC. I wonder what the ticket prices were there. Problem is that these performances are taking place at the First Congretational Church in Berkeley,  a much smaller hall than the normal venues on the UC Berkeley Campus. So I guess the economics force the ridiculous ticket price. I'm glad for them that they sold out both performances.
But how do you break thru the image that classical music is only for snobs and the upper classes with ticket prices that match dinner at Chez Panisse? Even new music concerts are reaching $30-$40. No wonder there are so many empty seats, and a greying audience.
I'm sorry, but at these prices live music is a luxury. It really shouldn't be that way.
Added note: I just checked the NYTimes from last week, and ticket prices for Hesperion XXI's concert in NYC were $40, and the concert also was in a church. I guess prices ARE higher west of the Mississippi.

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§  ||  ¶Where Did All The Sunspots Go?

This proves we're at the bottom of the 11-year sunspot cycle. Another day with NO sunspots. This is a real problem for low-power ham radio communication. Radio wave propagation depends on the solar wind generated by sunspots on the sun's surface to create an ionized layer in the atmosphere to bounce signals off of. As a result, high-frequency communication (3-30MHz) has been quite difficult over the past couple of days. All I can hear from my modest radio shack in Oakland is noise.  It may take another year before I can hope to make regular contacts in Europe and South America. Read today's report from K7RA.

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§  ||  ¶150 Images

There are now 150 images on my photo blog. I've been adding images almost daily since September. These pictures come from under my desk, where I've stashed some of the 8000+ slides I've taken since somewhere around 1964. Uploading these pictures has been my nightly practice. A ritual. Very strange to be looking back some 30-40 years. Each picture does have a story, sort of. Maybe I'll start adding those stories. Right now it's just the images.

Still more to do. I figure 5% is about right. I start worrying I'm going to run out of images, so I should take some more. So far I've always been able to find something worth showing.

It's always a surprise, even to me.

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§  ||  ¶Overload

Just too much going on all at once to keep up. For one thing, the radio program starts back up again this Friday after a month and a half of re-runs. So this weekend I was occupied with producing two programs, Feb 3rd and 10th. And they came out pretty well. Should be quite interesting.

The other part of my mind has been preoccupied with trying to install three operating systems in a multi-boot configuration on a new laptop. And none of these OS's are MacOSX. It hasn't been an all-too-satisfying experience. Like being sent adrift in unfamiliar territory. I've been blogging about this experience elsewhere.

And, on top of all this, I've been trying to get a start on music for what could be a new dance piece. All I can say is that it will have something to do with alchemy and transformations. But no breakthroughs yet. January is always a hard time for creative work. Something about January that teases with the need for hibernation. My biological clock was set on the east coast, in the depths of winter, and during a world war. That must be the reason.

February comes in a few days. Our springtime.

The big thaw.

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