Nora, The Piano-Playing Cat (www.ravenswingstudio.com)
This is the latest rage on YouTube – A cat that plays piano.
How the SEINFELD Theme was written
We all know the sound. It’s that quirky slapped bass that opens while Jerry Seinfeld does his comedic monologue, and then hilarity ensues. The little ditty was written by Jonathan Wolf. When hired for the job he listened to Jerry’s stand-up and found a sort of melody and rhythm to his delivery. Knowing that he couldn’t actually write a melodic theme over the monologue, he sort of timed it instead. The tempo, about 110, became the basis for a simple slapped bass line. With Jerry in studio, he recorded the line while Jerry did his thing. And that has become the popular and recognizable Seinfeld theme.
From the bass guitar forum at BassDogs.com
Admiral Ackbar in Text Format
I received this today with the moniker “In Honor of Admin”. It makes me very happy.
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Here I Stand, I Can Do No Other
Cheepburger Comedy by Dave James
Cheepburger is finally hitting the stage!!!!! Written and directed by Dave James, produced by Carrie James. My home boy don’t put out nothing but the best, so go see it.
This is the WORLD PREMIERE of a new original comedy.
CHEEPBURGER SHOW TIMES 2007:
Stanwood High School Performing Arts Center
April 27th at 7:00 pm
April 28th at 2:00 and 7:00 pm
$5 admission.
Carrie writes (you are too funny):
So… Dave wrote a play. It’s awesome. It’s based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. It takes place in a fast food restaurant called Cheepburger. Hence, it is called Cheepburger. It is a load of fun. You should come. Or else you will regret it. Forever.
ABOUT CHEEPBURGER
Lone Rooster Productions is made up of students from both Port Susan Middle School and Stanwood Middle School. After having great success in past years with well-known shows such as Bye Bye Birdie, Anne of Green Gables, Into The Woods, Guys and Dolls, and Annie, the kids of Lone Rooster are proud to be producing their first brand-new original comedy.
Cheepburger takes place in a chicken-based fast food restaurant, and is based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. It was written by local teacher and Lone Rooster director Dave James, although the actors, actresses, and tech crew have contributed greatly to the flow and humor of the script during the rehearsal process. The play follows the stories of two young couples. One of the couples has just met, and they seem perfect for each other. But an acquaintance of theirs who doesn’t like to see others end up happy conspires with her trouble-making friends to break them up. The other couple consists of a boy and girl who have dedicated their lives to insulting and ridiculing each other, to the point where their friends conclude that only two people completely in love could possibly spend so much time trying to offend each other. Having realized this, their friends concoct a plot to make them fall in love once and for all.
Many of the characters in the play are employees of the Cheepburger fast food restaurant, but there are also many customers who visit Cheepburger, including a well-to-do lady who thinks she’s in a five-star restaurant, a man who desperately wants roast beef when all they have is chicken, and an entire soccer team who’s trip to Cheepburger ends in an all-out food fight.
In all, about 40 students will make Cheepburger run smoothly both on stage and behind the scenes. Cheepburger will run April 27th at 7:00 pm, and April 28th at 2:00 and 7:00 pm. All shows will be at the Stanwood High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are only five dollars, and are available at Snow Goose Books in Stanwood or at the door.
Martin Luther on Farts
“But I resist the devil, and often it is with a fart that I chase him away”. This is a quote from Martin Luther in the early 16th century. Superstitions abounded during this time, including the widespread belief that the devil caused gastro-intestinal disorders. It’s a very funny quote – if you don’t think it’s funny then I would question whether you are still above ground.
I am a proud Martin Luther geek, and a friend bought me “The Wit of Martin Luther” by Eric Gritsch. It is full of the most unabashed writings of Martin Luther. He had a sharp tongue with a sharp sense of humour that might be compared to a mix between Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin.
But in all fairness, here is the complete excerpt that the quote comes from:
“I am of a different mind ten times in the course of a day. But I resist the devil, and often it is with a fart that I chase him away. When he tempts me with silly sins I say, “Devil, yesterday I broke wind too. Have you written it down on your list?” …I remind myself of the forgiveness of sin and of Christ and I remind Satan of the abomination of the pope. This abomination is so great that I am of good cheer and rejoice, and I confess that the abomination of the papacy after the time of Christ is a great consolation in me.”
– Martin Luther
Seussical Bass Guitar
Question received:
I am doing a production of Seussical the Musical this summer and had a few questions… does the
score call for upright AND electric bass, or just electric? Also, would you
happen to know if the bass part is “written out” (notes on the staff) or
just chord changes? Any info would be helpful. Thanks so much.
Laura
**************
Hi Laura,
The Seussical score is written out for bass. You could do it with upright bass, but would recommend electric bass. There’s so many rock grooves in this musical that I think you’ll want that punch. Also nice to have a consistent sound for your audio technician to work with (mixing the kick and bass guitar to complement each other).
For me the best description for doing the music in Seussical is “whirlwind” – The music has very few breaks and switches up feels a lot. It was one of my favorite musicals to work on. I think you’ll have a blast!
Let me know if you have any other questions – it makes me feel smart when I can actually answer them.
Conrad
Movers Drop $88,000 Bosendorfer Piano
“Hold on kiddies, this is going to be a bumpy ride!” Movers dropped an $88,000 concert grand piano from a truck in England, and the whole thing was caught on camera. Here are pictures of the unfortunate event. I’m sure glad I wasn’t the one that dropped Bosendorfer on the ground, but at least I can giggle a little at the photos here.
Moving a piano is all about leverage and balance. I’ve seen a single expert dismantle and move a baby grand piano by themselves. I remember many moons ago having to deliver pianos when I worked sales in a piano showroom. It sure isn’t easy if you don’t have it down to a perfected system.
My favorite picture is the fourth one where the guy has his hands over his head as the shock of what just happened hits him.
The half-ton instrument was dropped as it was being brought into the home of the organizers of an annual music festival in Devon, England.
The famed Bosendorfers piano was purchased at an auction for 45,000 British pounds, or just over $88,000.
A couple had spent two years raising the money for the piano, which was to be the highlight of this year’s music festival.
It was insured for $50,000. It was sent to London, where experts were assessing the damage.
The owner of the piano, who never got to play a note, said it’s unlikely it will ever be the same.
The Bosendorfer is considered to be the Stradivarius of the piano world.
In this last photo it looks like the piano movers who dropped the piano got confused and are trying to plant the Bosendorfer in the ground. Which begs the question: What kind of fertilizer would you use to grow a piano?
WoW Flight Paths – Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor Maps
Flight paths for WoW (World of Warcraft) – Includes windrider flight routes for Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. Click each graphic for full size image.
Azeroth Map – WoW Flight Paths
Kalimdor Map – WoW Flight Paths
The Apple Tree – Diary of Adam and Eve Based on Mark Twain
Mount Vernon, WA – THE APPLE TREE opens April 13th. The diary of Adam and Eve “The Apple Tree” is a quirky, touching musical spin on the tale of the world’s first couple, adapted from Mark Twains “Extracts from Adam’s Diary”.
This is a three-person show with myself at the piano. Features Adam, Eve and the Snake – all performed hilariously by seasoned actors. It’s a very cute one hour show that highlights some of the historical and stereotypical differences between men and women – who better to explore this with than Adam and Eve. It’s very funny. I’ve never met anyone who did not like the work of Mark Twain – and his dry wit and sense of humour runs throughout this script. I’ve worked with these actors on other productions and they are VERY fun to work with and to watch.
This is a musical – lots of great interchanges between Adam and Eve with songs sprinkled throughout.
SHOWTIMES:
Friday, April 13 2007 – Stanwood High School Theater Performing Arts Center, Stanwood, WA. Dinner and show $20.00 – Show only $10. Dinner at 6pm – show to follow. Catered by Olive Garden of Burlington, WA.
Saturday, April 14th 2007 – The Phillip Tarro Theater at Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon, WA. 6pm dessert and coffee – show to follow.
Tickets are available at the door, at Snow Goose Bookstore or online at eventbrite.com
PROCEED BENEFITS
The April 13th performance to benefit the Twin City Idlers Scholarship Fund. The April 14th show to benefit the Drama Department Scholarships of Skagit Valley College.