Michael Phelps trumped the Olympics
Okay who had actually heard of Michael Phelps before the Olympics? No one - that's who. Carly Patterson. Yes. Marion Jones. Of Course. But Michael Phelps? I mean it's not as if NBC shows swimming competitions. And no one remembers him from Sydney. But oh well, I refuse to make some gratuitous remark about the media sensation surrounding him. In fact, I think he deserved it. He did great at Athens. And I must admit, I do know there are some swimmers out there who were asking him for autographs and taking pictures with him ages ago. No, the only beef I have about Michael Phelps is his visa commercial. You know the one where he swims from Athens to New York City? It just seemed stupid to me. The entire concept. I mean Athens is not even on the Atlantic.
Sound Bites
I would like to share this sound bite with you. You must laugh because this is funny. Be prepared to laugh at this funny sound bite. Brian Regan.
Cherio!
http://www.brian-regan.com/audio/ClipBrianRegan-Hospital.wma
http://www.brian-regan.com/Regan/ClipBrianReganLive-YouToo.mp3
What do you do on nights of insomnia?
Really, I want to know. I used to go down to the basement of my house and play the piano and sing. But now I live in an apartment. Playing late at night isn't greatly appreciated. But tonight I couldn't resist. I just spent over an hour with my favorite Chopin and Debussy pieces.
On most sleepless nights these days I daydream about my adventures in Europe last summer. I saw some amazing places. Lake Lugano in Switzerland topped them all I think. The water was blue blue blue. I'll share a picture here and say goodnight.
More European train stories to come... you've got to hear about my Amsterdam blackmarket drug story and late night escape to Paris.
Cherio!
Mariposa
Would you vote for me if I ran for president?
Okay, how could I call myself a true blogger if I didn't make at least a couple of political postings during a presidential election year? I discovered this political cartoonist over the summer - hilarious. This, I have found, is a quality that most liberal writers and speakers have. I find myself reading and listening almost exclusively to liberal media - it's just so much more entertaining. It's typically whitty slander and satire.
Consider the following cartoon strip. It prompted a 1 hr long discussion between me and my program director at the government research lab I'm at. (Yes, I did drop the word government in on purpose - it was an interesting tenant of our conversation.) I'm including the cartoon strip here because... well it's exactly the type of thing that induces a long debate. This guy dispises Bush, and I'm so amused by the ingenious ways he (and so many other liberal writers) finds to throw mud. Totally amusing. Check out his site.
www.idrewthis.org
music and love
Josh Groban: His voice is like falling in love - beautiful. It's hard to believe. Listening to him sing is definitely an experience.
I went through weeks of contemplating whether I wanted to see him in concert. There's risk involved. I've been studying voice at the Peabody Conservatory, and I'm an engineer. I can't help but be analytical. But, after capitulating to peer pressure from a fellow fan who would be accompanying me to the concert, I finally plunked down the $100 and bought a ticket.
Well, I've officially joined the ranks of the crazed, screaming Grobanites. The concert was supremely exciting. I've never been so nervous anticipating something. Josh is an excellent performer - very funny and personable on stage. His interaction with the audience is something that I rarely see at concerts. His solo violinist was lovely. She danced around the stage like a ballerina. Really. That may sound silly, but it's true. And she was a great musician. Sometimes her bow looked like it would fly out of her hands.
Actually the instruments reigned supreme that night. At one point Josh put down the microphone and ran over to the drum set. He's awesome. It was excellent. For a full play by play see his website. The "Oh my Josh" fans are very obliging. It's hilarious. Side Note: As an native english singer, naturally, his italian wasn't always convincing. But what can you do? Also hearing Josh through an onslaught of amplifiers and at the end of a busy tour is totally unfair. This doesn't do him justice. In the end, if you love the voice, it's best enjoyed at an intimate coffee shop, cds are brilliant inventions. If you love the guy, go to the concert nearest you. However, there are those that are fortunate enough to have their cake and eat it! I'm grateful to be one of them.
Cherio!
Mariposa
