response 201 of 222:

Dec 15 15:30 UTC 2000

And some of us are both!  <cackles evilly>  

response 203 of 222:

Dec 16 02:38 UTC 2000

Re #192:  Congratulations & best wishes, Marla!

response 205 of 222:

Dec 17 15:02 UTC 2000

As you can imagine, at this time of the year it gets difficult
to get musicians to show for all rehearsals, especially since
many are involved with finals and holiday travel plans.  So
the conductor of the LSO us this email yesterday, which 
I thought was clever enough to be entered here.

   *****************************************************


Dear ladies and gentlemen of the orchestra,

    In yesterday's mail, I received some enlightening news while perusing
the latest research from I.M.P.A.C.T.  I must say it amazes me what can be
had from careful, thoughtful research, and, in this case, that somebody
pays for it.



    A team of scientists from Iceland, outer Georgia (Siberia),
Switzerland, and Ice Pit, Alaska, released the results of a five-year
study this past week in Zhurizkold, Poland, at the Ninth Conference of
International Scientists Studying the Effects of Playing an Instrument in
Colder Climates (I.S.S.E.P.I.C.C.).  They rocked the conference with their
findings, and while these results have neither been reproduced in any
other facility nor weighed against the possible impact of a warmer climate
on the same set of variables, they are startling nonetheless.

    In one case of an Inuit male from Shiddiscold, Alaska, who was quite
an accomplished trumpet player, researchers found that his orbicularis
oris was not only stronger from playing the trumpet but more capable of
assisting when tongue would get stuck to a piece of frozen metal, which
was, of course the most expensive part of the project-convincing people
who know better to lick a flagpole. 

    In a case from Wiyddiimoovhier, Norway, researchers working with a
female Laplander violinist/reindeer farmer found that the strengthening of
her bow arm enabled her to better deal with the cold while herding the
reindeer (a seldom revealed Laplander technique for herding involves
coating a bare arm with molasses and waving it about--don't ask).  The
development of fine motor cells in the forearm (not to mention a thick
coating of molasses) was believed to enhance resistance to frostbite. 

    It's important here t differentiate between "scientist" and
"researcher;" in most cases, "scientist" denotes "professor" and
"researcher" denotes "graduate student."  Most attendees at the
I.S.S.E.P.I.C.C. conference questioned the results of the study, given
that most "researcher's" accommodations were with livestock, thereby
creating the impression that the "researchers" may have reached their
findings a little more quickly than normal due to their desire to get out
of there.  Nonetheless, the conclusion after studying over 212 cases was
the scientists' belief that playing an instrument in colder climates
results not only in the individual's ability to cope with colder
conditions but his/her ability to imagine what it would be like to live
elsewhere.  In other words, playing an instrument greatly enhances
intellect. 



    Whoa.  Heavy stuff, huh?  Maybe we could put together a discussion
 group at the break.
 
 See you Sunday, 7, that's 7 SHARP, in the rehearsal hall.

 Mitch

response 207 of 222:

Dec 18 05:48 UTC 2000

 So..  #205 raises a question I'd never previously considered..

 For a musician, is "7 sharp" slightly after 7 (and "7 flat" slightly before?)

response 209 of 222:

Dec 18 12:11 UTC 2000

        So when a musican says they will be there at 7 sharp, it really
meanss sometime before 8 flat; or about 7:20.

response 211 of 222:

Dec 18 23:10 UTC 2000

Iomega ZipCD 650 CD-RW 4X4X6X, USB drive - "new".
Item 1027 in classified cf.

response 213 of 222:

Dec 20 17:26 UTC 2000

        I'm going to be on internet radio tonight.
        Join me, Tim Ryan, along with my buddy "Blasted"Bill, for four
 hours of fun and funny, weird and wonderful holiday music tonight at
 8pm.  Web into www.thelandofdementia.com:8000 for the audio stream.
 This is a special edition of Bill and Frank's Toad Elevating Moment.
        Check it out, as I will be bring a lot of tunes you may not
 have heard, or have not heard in a long time.

response 215 of 222:

Dec 21 18:08 UTC 2000

        When does winter start today?

response 217 of 222:

Dec 22 00:25 UTC 2000

Winter solstice was at 8:37 this morning.

response 219 of 222:

Mar 20 22:08 UTC 2001

        Just thought I'd make one comment in oldgen before it's not 
on my conflist anymore.

response 221 of 222:

Mar 21 06:25 UTC 2001

I just keep agora and oldagora in my .cflist. That way the changeover
for seasons always keeps me current, and the previous agora active,
without any editing on my part. It is certainly not a burden to watch
oldagora.