The Lark Ascending

Another of my most favorite classical pieces was written by Vaughan Williams in 1914. It is entitled, “The Lark Ascending”.

“The Lark Ascending” takes its title from a poem by George Meredith. This work was written for Violin and Orchestra. This “You Tube” video is divided into two parts. Barry Wordsworth conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra with Janine Jansen on Violin. This recording is available on iTunes and you can buy it by clicking here. Or go here to view the You Tube videos.

You may also like Symphony No. 6 in E Minor by Vaughan Williams. I consider this to be among the best of (Ralph) Vaughan Williams Symphonies. Go here to view Part One of Three “You Tube” videos. Be sure to watch the video’s in HQ version so you’ll hear them in stereo.

398 Countdown

By this time next Saturday, Paul and Michael will have spent their first night in Pelham and it’ll be up to me to think of some way of making their stay here interesting. The pressure is on. Outro music: “Martha My Dear” by the Beatles. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 55 minutes 02 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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397 Smile (not so much)

I talk about my dental issues. I’d really appreciate a little feedback on this one. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 27 minutes 06 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to down load this podcast.

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It hurts

Every time I go to my dental hygienist I’m asked if my gold filled back tooth (which is chipped) is hurting me. Such was the case on Thursday afternoon when I had my most recent cleaning. My hygienist is a nice lady and we have an ongoing joke about my hatred of flossing. She once asked, “Do you floss?” To which I responded: “Do you want me to tell you the truth or lie to you?” I told her that’s why I come to see her since I’m so inept at taking care of my teeth. So every time she sees me she laughs. She’s a cut up. I like her a lot. She’s never one to ask to many probing questions, but she’s got to wonder about me. I think she’d be cool with whatever I told her. She once told me her 16 year old boy just wants to smoke pot. I told her I’d smoked pot before to which she exclaimed: “So did I, but it wasn’t the only thing I wanted to do,” as she pointed to a picture of her son on her cubicle wall. But I digress. So Thursday when I went in once again I was asked about my tooth. It wasn’t hurting then, but when I woke on Sunday morning it was. And I don’t know whither the toothache led to a fever that developed later that day. Suffice to say. I went to bed at 5:30 P.M. yesterday evening and woke around 3 A.M. on Monday morning to a lingering fever. I decided it wasn’t worth risking a 2 hour drive south in my condition. So I opted to stay home, nurse myself as best I could and hope the fever would break before the end of the day. As of this writing I am okay in regards my fever, but I opted to call my dentist about the toothache. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at 3:15 P.M. I’m resigned to loosing the tooth tomorrow. I don’t like knowing this, but its probably the only thing to do. I wonder about that gold filling. Should I just give it up? It it really worth anything? Should I really be concerned about something this trivial?

In other news, I’ve noticed the bickering between Paul and Zac concerning whether or not Adolph Hitler was a meat eater or a vegetarian. I think the argument was more a misunderstanding and has of their last posts been resolved. If you’re wondering? Hitler was a meat eater! Does that make all us meat eaters bad? I don’t think so. And I think Zac would agree. Stay tuned boys. Paul and Michael from London will arrive in Pelham Alabama in time for my 400th podcast! How cool is that?

396 Eating berries

Being a meat eater v. vegetarianism. Outro music: “Green Tamborine” by the Lemon Pipers. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 49 minutes 34 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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395 Feel Me From The Inside

I try to be a bit more explicit in this one. JayCee wanted to know. So here is the answer. I start by answering JayCee’s questions about Jeremy and conclude talking about a very fat lady. If you weigh over 300# you may want to skip the last section. I’m not nice. Outro music: “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails. Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Zoom H2. Total running time: 52 minutes 21 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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Tropical Storm Claudette Heading Our Way

Tropical Storm Claudette is on a path that will take it just west of Birmingham which means we’ll be in the path of the heaviest rainfall during the day tomorrow. So this means I’ll be driving in the rain tomorrow as I head down Hwy 280E to Opelika. Gee, I’m so looking forward to that! Go here to see the Birmingham Radar and watch as the rain moves into the Birmingham area. FYI. I didn’t go out last night. I guess my thirst was quenched the night before.

I called Jeremy’s Aunt Joyce yesterday afternoon. She told me that Jeremy is bloated all over this body including his face as a reaction to medication he is taking. The doctors are trying to find the proper medication and the proper dosages. I know Jeremy must be disappointed with all this as he’d planned on returning here this August. I worry so much about him that he’ll give up hope. I don’t think Jeremy is the type guy who’d survive in a cage. Sometimes I think his parents just want to keep him there for their own self interests. I know they love their son. But his mom also has a love for money. And I’m suspicious of her motives. I recognize my inability to exercise my wishes on any of this. I just want Jeremy to be happy. And I don’t think he’ll ever be happy living with his mom. She’s not going to be there for him forever. I worry what will happen to him when she and his father are no longer alive to look out for him. All I can hope for is that one day he will be well and able to live on his own again. Independent of his parents and of me.

One of the first songs I ever bought

“My baby loves lovin” by the White Plains was one of the first 45 RPM records I ever bought. The song was written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, recorded on 26 October 1969, and was released on 9 January 1970 on the Decca Records imprint, Deram Records.

Go here to listen to the song.

394 Guilty

Things that make me feel guilty. I record a little audio with the Zoom H2 in the townhouse and the 280 trail last evening. Also, audio clips of a town hall meeting about health care and another about gay marriage. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording devices: Zoom H2 and Garageband. Total recording time: 45 minutes 31 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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Republican Hypocrisy on end-of-life counseling

WASHINGTON – Until last week, Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson was among the most enthusiastic backers of end-of-life counseling in government health care programs like Medicare.

That was before conservatives called it a step toward euthanasia and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin likened the idea to a bureaucratic “death panel” that would decide whether sick people get to live. And even though those claims have been widely discredited, the issue remains a political weapon in the increasingly bitter health care debate.

Now, Isakson and other Republicans who eagerly backed the idea are distancing themselves from it or lying low in the face of a backlash from the right.

“Until last week this was basically a nonpartisan issue,” said John Rother, executive vice president for policy at AARP, the seniors lobbying group. “People across the political spectrum recognize that far too often people’s wishes aren’t respected at the end of life and there is a lot of unnecessary suffering.”

Go here to read the story

393 Turning into Aunt Jean

I hate even bringing this up for fear I’m turning into my Aunt Jean. You never wanted to ask her how she was doing. It would mean endless hours on the phone while she explained her every illness. Was she really sick or was it all in her head? Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 38 minutes 34 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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392 Split apart

Sis wants me to come home for the annual family pool party today. This is the sister that is married to the asshole who threatened me. It amazes me that my sister thinks I should merely forget all of this; that she should expect me to go on like nothing ever happened. I can’t do that. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 46 minutes 53 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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American Psychological Assoc., repudiates reparative therapy

NEW YORK – The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.

Instead, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple options — that could range from celibacy to switching churches — for helping clients whose sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.

In a resolution adopted on a 125-to-4 vote by the APA’s governing council, and in a comprehensive report based on two years of research, the 150,000-member association put itself firmly on record in opposition of so-called “reparative therapy” which seeks to change sexual orientation.

Go here to read the full story

391 She-Males

The topic is “She-Males”. This topic truly facinates me and I’d be interested in knowing what you think. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 49 minutes 38 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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Young gays killed in Israel

August 1, 2009. The black-clad gunman unloaded an automatic weapon on the young group of gays and lesbians at the entrance to the club in the heart of Israel’s beachside commercial capital late Saturday, and then ran away, witnesses said.

A young man and a young woman were killed on the spot and three people suffered serious wounds, emergency services said.

Thousands of people gathered in the city centre overnight to denounce the attack.

“Our (gay) community won’t let itself be frightened, it will stand up to those who threaten it with heads held high and with pride, we will respond to war with war,” left-wing opposition Meretz party MP Nitzan Horowitz said.

390 Lost

I talk about being lost. It’s not what you think. Mic: Shure SM7B; Mixer: Mackie DFX6; Recording device: Garageband. Total running time: 55 minutes 46 seconds. Click here to listen or right click to download this podcast.

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