Random Thoughts – Page 26

Goodyear Retires Its Blimp!

Goodyear deflated its last blimp the other day. It took about two minutes for the Spirit of Innovation’s helium-filled bag, called its envelope, to crumple to the ground after a hole was ripped in its topside. After ninety years, the blimp era has ended. Not to worry, though. The familiar shape will continue to be seen hovering above sporting events. Goodyear has replaced all its soft-sided “gas bag” blimps with semi-rigid dirigibles.

The new aircraft are the same shape. They have a frame, so maintain their shape after being drained of helium. They are also faster, quieter, larger, easier to fly and more maneuverable. The new dirigibles can cruise at seventy miles per hour. They are quiet enough to not cause disturbances at golf tournaments, where a whirring sound makes it impossible for a champion athlete to accurately hit a motionless ball. The new floating billboards are fifty feet longer than the old blimps, and can take off and land like a helicopter, making life easier for ground crews.

The thing that is not changing is the popular reference: they will continue to be known as Goodyear Blimps, because, “Goodyear Semi-rigid Dirigible doesn’t roll off the tongue.”

Willamette River Update

A little less of Ross Island visible…

The Other Elaine’s

“They were all impressed with your Halston dress

And the people that you knew at Elaine’s”

– Billy Joel, “Big Shot“

They’re pretty good, but the best hamburgers actually are at the Nob Hill Bar & Grill in Portland Oregon. Really. But no Chinese food at Nob Hill.

The World We Know Has Ended

Auto-Tune is ubiquitous in recorded music. If the vocalist is off-key, or the guitar is out of tune, not a problem, Auto-Tune electronically fixes it. It was first used in 1998 to enhance recordings by Kid Rock and Cher. (It became known as the “Cher effect.”) Although singer Michael Bublé is critical of the practice because it makes everyone sound the same – “like robots” – he admits he uses it when recording “pop-oriented” music. Christina Aguilera made a public appearance wearing a T-shirt bearing the legend, “Auto-Tune is for Pussies.” She later admitted she has used it, too. Country stars Faith Hill, Shania Twain and Tim McGraw reportedly use it in live performances.

“I’m not a perfect note hitter either but I’m not going to cover it up with Auto-Tune. Everybody uses it, too. I once asked a studio guy in Toronto, ‘How many people don’t use Auto-Tune?’ and he said, ‘You and Nelly Furtado are the only two people who’ve never used it in here.’” – singer/songwriter Neko Case

Guess what? Robots are starting to take over the composing process as well. A company named Amper has raised money from investors to develop artificial intelligence for making music.

Click here to read more about it. Or just kill yourself. Better yet, spend your music money at local clubs and hear and dance to real live music.

Today’s Travel Tip

If you’re heading out for some relaxation near the L.A. beaches, or to start your Route 66 trip – backwards – you may want to book yourself one of those sought-after middle seats on your flight out there. The Shore Hotel in Santa Monica has a special deal through May 26. If you have reserved a room and upon arrival show them your boarding pass confirming you rode into LAX wedged between two other passengers, they’ll upgrade your room, maybe to an ocean view.

Check it out here.

(Eating tip: it’s only a mile to the Huckleberry Café.)

Good News For Corn Syrup

Changing climate is affecting maple syrup producers in the Northeast. Cold winters with frigid nights are essential for trees to generate the precious syrup. Warmer weather causes sap to rise up in the trees instead of descending to the taps. One producer reports that 75 gallons produced in 2000 is now down to 15 gallons. Some growers report lower sugar content.

New England produces most of this country’s maple syrup. Tiny Vermont by itself accounts for 47% of it. (A famous Illinois maple “sirup” producer is a must-stop for Route 66 travelers.)

Log Cabin brand long ago contained maple syrup. Now it advertises “authentic maple-tasting syrup.”

Climate change is also good news for Oregon wine growers – short term – but maybe not so good for California. Major producers in the Golden State are hedging bets by purchasing vineyards in Oregon and Washington.

Our new president has taken up the challenge by proposing a 25% cut in the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget.