A little less of Ross Island visible…
Category: Random Thoughts
What doesn’t fit elsewhere
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.
(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.
Why the Ashes?
You may see people on the streets, or maybe co-workers, displaying black smudges on their foreheads today. If you’re wondering what’s going on, if it’s an after effect of too much Mardi Gras partying – by you or by them – well, it’s mostly a Catholic thing. One of the benefits of Catholicism is the aura of mysteriousness it conveys to others. The smudge is actually supposed to be a cross, applied by a priest during mass.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection. Ashes are a reminder of humankind’s humble place in the great cosmos: “Remember, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
Click here for a primer on Ash Wednesday’s meaning and symbolism.