Had a superb weekend down by the bay soaking up the great music of Summerfolk in mostly perfect weather. This felt like a vacation for me. I saw a few people I knew and Bob came by for a bit on Saturday evening, but it was just great doing my own thing with nobody else to worry about. Managed to support the vendors a bit, too, when I found the perfect case for my new iPod.
I was prepared to be totally disappointed with the new new Doctor Who (David Tennant) because I was thoroughly infatuated with the old new Doctor Who (Christopher Eccleston), but I'm not. He's every bit as convincingly original as he needs to be and the episodes I have seen so far have given me the retro escapist thrill I am looking for on a Friday night.
We're trying to ration them, but we watched two this evening. I had to fill in the blanks for Bob on who Sarah Jane Smith was in Episode 3, but he had to point out for me the homage to The Matrix in Episode 2. I guess my pop culture knowledge is pretty selective. By decade, I mean.
Enough, already! Apparently there are readers of this blog (at least two) who are disappointed with the frequency of my posts. You'll be sorry you complained, I warn you.
Where I'd like to be this weekend: the Maker Faire. Whale blimps, spud guns, Lego robots and all kinds of "things that go BOOM!" Woohoo!
My favourite podcast these days turns out to be a Canadian. Soap Detectives delivers to me more or less weekly a delightful slice of vintage radio, usually some flavour of detective mystery. Just the thing to relax me before I fall asleep.
Nifty online find of the day: Vitamin, a web design magazine that is a very tempting distraction, but comes with its own scold message. The first feature is "How to Shut Up and Get to Work!"
We've had the blog upgrade and the body refurb, so now it's back to business. The bathroom reno (x 2) is still in progress, but that's no excuse. I can't even legitimately complain about the winter weather, as it's been more like spring, today at least. Tonight I'm working on the workspace, as prep for writing my new website (yeah, is know, it's akin to "knitting a cover for my typewriter") and marvelling at the meaning of what iTunes comes up with when you hit Party Shuffle. Is there hidden meaning to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, followed by Perlman's version of Vivaldi's "Winter" and then didgeridoo remixed? Perhaps only after a lot of wine. And I really have to skip over the Trevor Pinnock to get to the FYC. Not too far gone to dance -- yay!
The always original Jane Siberry now offers "self-determined transactions" at her online store, meaning you can pay nothing or something to download her songs. She explains, "Like many, I'm restless and impatient with living in a world where people are made to feel like shoplifters rather than intelligent peoples with a good sense of balance."
She describes four choices:
1/ free (gift from Jane)
2/ self-determined (pay now)
3/ self-determined (pay later so you are truly educated in your decision)
4/ standard (today's going rate is about .99)
As part of the buying process, in case peer behaviour matters to you, you are shown an average payment for the song you select. But Jane doesn't want anyone to feel pressured. She says, "I am making a choice to work this way and take full responsibility for whatever it may bring to me. You make your own decision and stand by it, too." Good advice any time.
I just tried a "gift" from Jane and now I'm going back for more, this time making an informed payment to this civilized artist. (The store page takes some time to load, but the wait is worth it.)
Tonight's entertainment was old-fashioned musical theatre at a local college, a very polished presentation of Sondheim's "Company" by theatre program students. This is a vintage piece of what was in 1970 a radical idea -- concept theatre, not a narrative play. The form is not such a shock these days, but the context of the time speaks volumes. Does anyone born later than 1965 really get the rich evocation that a mini-dress and Twiggy eyelashes deliver for me? I guess not. The lead was effectively indecisive and the spotlight players exceptionally good, including a latter-day Minelli-esque Joanne delivering "Ladies Who Lunch" with confidence and style. The genre was old-fashioned and even the venue was retro with cabaret tables and drinks and snacks on offer, but new-fashioned technology shone in the tiny microphones subtly protruding from each player's ear. I will always prefer live performance over digital delivery, but I can appreciate the enhancement I can get when I'm there. Thanks, Janine!