haines his way

10/27/2002:
"WEEDING OUT THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF"

Well, dear readers, I got nine count them nine hours of sleep in only eight hours. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, go nine count them nine hours of sleep in only eight hours, thanks to the wonders of Daylight Savings Time. I do hope you all set your clocks back one hour when you arose this morning (or before you retired last evening). Two of my handy-dandy clocks, the one on my handy-dandy laptop and the one on my handy-dandy VCR, reset themselves automatically, which I’ve always appreciated. It is such a thoughtful gesture that I gave them both a Klondike bar. The other clocks I must do manually, including the clock on the microwave, the clock on the oven, my Benjamin Kritzer and Nudie Musical clocks and the clock in my automobile. I do not yet know if I must reset the clock in my handy-dandy cell phone.
And so, even though I slept until ten, I only slept until nine. I feel that is worthy of Samuel Beckett, don’t you? So, given that we all have an extra hour today, those of you who haven’t read the Buddy Bregman interview yet, really ought to – it’s quite a charmer and has lovely stories about fairly amazing people.
I had a relaxing day yesterday – did some errands, did a spot of writing, ate some Eileen and Chet Atkins food, and watched bits and pieces of a few movies. I was in a bits and pieces mood last night – I watched some Tony Award show musical numbers (always the early shows – Cabaret, Turkey Lurkey Time – can’t get enough of them), I watched a few musical numbers from Swing Time, including the brilliant Pick Yourself Up and Never Gonna Dance. I took a nice walk and actually ended up buying the Eileen and Chet Atkins Diet Book (I bought the latest – there were at least eight of these things).
Well, dear readers, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because even though it is nine my body is telling me it’s ten. What that has to do with the price of mangos I have no idea.

Has anyone noticed that it is an hour earlier? Does anyone know the price of mangos? Today I shall do very little – pay some bills, do a spot of writing (well, hopefully more than a spot), watch a DVD or two (today I am not in a bits and pieces mood) and, of course, reset clocks that need resetting. Why, I may even take a drive since it is so pretty outside. I may traverse the streets of Los Angeles, California, enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of this fair city. Then again, I might just sit on my couch like so much fish and do nothing but piddle, twiddle and resolve.
I am also going to go through the morass of papers and magazines that have been building up over the last month, and try to weed out the wheat from the chaff. Have you ever weeded out the wheat from the chaff? I don’t even know what the fershluganah chaff is. Is chaff on the Eileen and Chet Atkins diet? In any case, I shall be weeding out the wheat from the chaff, and then I shall keep only the wheat and get rid of the chaff. Or, if I’m feeling contrary, maybe I’ll keep the chaff and get rid of the wheat. What the hell am I talking about?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must take advantage of the extra hour in the day, for certainly the extra hour in the day took advantage of me. Today’s topic of discussion: Why, it’s free-for-all day, the day in which you get to talk about any old things your collective hearts and minds wish to discuss. I will be checking in often, so let’s get some interesting posts going and show these other Internet upstarts just where the action is, just where the in crowd is, just where it is happening, where it’s at, where the hip meet the with it, where the trendsetters gather to set trends – if we can only do that then I shall be jiggy with it, dear readers, oh, yes, I shall be jiggy. Post away, my pretties.

Replies: 36 Unseemly Comments

Really off topic.....
Tom from OZ:
I upgraded from ME to XP and in doing so all the email that I saved and email address in Outlook express are now gone. Please email your address again so I can send those cds.
Thanks
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 10:11 AM PST

BK: I watched one of them there "informercials" this morning for Coral Calcium. Why? You may ask. You probably did ask. You are permitted to ask, as well.
I was waiting for coffee to brew and it was there like so much fish, offering to stink up the room, and then there was a reference to the Atkins Diet and how this supplement actually makes the Atkins Diet work more efficiently, more quickly and eliminates the carbohydrate cravings that cause many folks to cheat or stop the Atkins Diet altogether.
I thought that was fascinating, I thought it was phenomenal, I thought it was a modern miracle of supplements.
That's what they told me anyway.
I looked it up on the internet. Hundreds of pages of places where you can buy these miracle supplements.
Only Lycos had a non-commercial piece on the Coral Calcium and enlightened me to why modern science hasn't refuted any of the claims made by the folks selling the supplements. According to Lycos, the medical profession seems to be unaware that Coral Calcium exists as a supplement, and unaware of any of the testimonials on its behalf, and there also seems to be a dearth -- Oh! Yes! A "Dearth" -- of tests and test results that would validate or negate the claims made about it.
Since it is a "nutritional supplement," the manufacturers need not submit for tests, etc., etc., etc.
I know BK isn't the only one on the Atkins, but is anyone willing to speak up for Coral Calcium.
Some of the folks offering testimonials on the "infomercial" said it eased chronic back pain, gave them more energy, eliminated their high blood pressure, increased their bone density, etc., etc.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/27/2002 10:27 AM PST

I can only say that testamonials are anecdotal by nature and not to be taken seriously. How do I know this, you might ask, and I might answer you - because the very piece I've been slaving over is about exactly that - quackery and anecdotal evidence not being scientific. Therefore, you must take what you read with a grain of salt which is, by the way (BTW, in Internet lingo) allowed on the Eileen and Chet Atkins diet.
Brent Barrett just called and told me he still doesn't have his album in hand. One of our dear readers contacted the label I created weeks ago, and inquired about reserving a signed copy, and was told that all signed copies were sold and had been shipped out. Our dear reader thought that strange, since on the other hand he was being told that the discs weren't in stock. He was then given a date when it would be released, that date being October 8th. Brent wanted me to know (and I merely pass this information along) that he has never signed any booklets, and in fact hasn't even seen the booklet. I have been asked repeatedly by several dear readers to keep them apprised of the status - and I pass along Brent's latest update so you know the latest. I, of course, have no way of knowing what's going on or not going on.
Posted by bk @ 10/27/2002 11:01 AM PST

Coral Calcium? Haven't heard or seen that one yet - and I tend to be a late-night TV/infomercial junkie if the moon is right. Even if the moon is left. Now when it's in the middle, that's a totally different story.
Going from my more than basic knowledge of nutrition and supplements - my mom is a registered dietitian - it would make sense to me that any calcium supplement would help improve one's health. As for claims that it reduces high blood pressure, etc., I just have to wonder if that's just a case of the people who are taking the supplement are also just plain eating better. I know that is what is mainly working for me in regard to the Atkins diet. Sure, the book says you can have liberal amounts of meats, fats, etc., but it also says that if you too much protein, your body will convert that to sugar - which makes me always question the use of the term "liberal". In any case, since I've started on the diet, I'm actually eating more vegetables, and making a conscious effort to eat more vegetables daily. Of course, it's mainly salad vegetables, but as I've progressed from the initial stage, the vegetable choices have broadened. I'm also taking a daily multi-vitamin, and I'm exercising three times a week, and walking whenever I can. So, I'm just living a healthier lifestyle than before I was on the diet. I'm not sure about my bone density increasing, but I can definitely tell my sciatica is improving since my frame is now carrying less weight.
Boy that was a rambling paragraph. Mea culpa. (A Sweeney Todd reference.)
I made good use of the extra hour this morning by heading out last night and having a great time with some friends. I had a wonderful time, and getting an eyeful of some of the Halloween costumes that were being donned provided some great laughs throughout the evening. Then I allowed myself to sleep in until 11:00 - I mean 10:00 - and after making a nice Chet and Eileen Atkins brunch, I found myself wanting to clean house. I get in these cleaning modes every once a while, and actually find it kind of therapeutic. So, the dishes are clean, the floors have been mopped and/or vacuumed, the recyclables have been sorted, and the apartment smells Spring Fresh! -Even though it's Fall.
Well, I'm off to a piano room up at my alma mater to continue learning the Carmen Jones score. It's amazing what R&H sends out for this piece. It's basically a copy of the Schirmer piano/vocal score with the new Rodgers' lyrics written in. And I mean "written in" - it's all in a semi-readable cursive. Of course, since we're dealing with who knows what generation of copies, a lot of my time has been spent deciphering the scribbles. -And you should see how some of the musical sections have been cut and pasted together.
OK. Those are my free-for-all thoughts for today, although after the past couple days of topics, I thought of a possible topic:
What topic would you like to see as a daily topic?
Could be fun. Could be dangerous. Could be fun AND dangerous.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/27/2002 11:15 AM PST

Back from the Cardiff Festival of Musicals where I saw 'Ragtime' - it was semi-staged (ie costumes and movement, but no scenery) and it was absolutely wonderful. I've always been a fan of the music since the first CD came out, but seeing it enacted is just magical. The performances were uniformly excellent, but particularly Graham Bickley as an utterly charming Tateh and Lawrence Hamilton as Coalhouse. But the best performance of the evening was a lady called Kenita R Miller playing Sarah - what a voice! The programme says she's a native New Yorker - has anyone ever seen her in anything?
And I discovered that the BBC were filming the concert and they're broadcasting it this very evening on BBC4 - a digital station. I don't have digital, but I'm getting one of my friends to tape it. The acoustics in the hall weren't brilliant and I had difficulty catching all the dialogue, so the TV version will give me the chance to hear everything.
Posted by Allan @ 10/27/2002 11:32 AM PST

Well, it was a lovely birthday for
me yesterday. Had a grand
time at our university's football
game (which we won, now 9-0
on the year), an excellent
prime rib dinner, and then
went out with friends who
seemed to always have
another glass to set in front of
me. We were all pleased to
discover that the bars stay
open until the second 2am on
Daylight Savings day. And
now for a restful day of football
before work tonight.
Posted by Jed @ 10/27/2002 12:28 PM PST

Oh, and Kerry, yes, there was
cake. Chocolate, chocolate,
and more chocolate.
Posted by Jed @ 10/27/2002 12:59 PM PST

Personal ads page today I think.
Could not cotact your email address Michael. Has that changed too?
Allan. "Ragtime" I may be falling in love with you. I hope the tape is copiable. Glad you enjoy the Cardiff performance.
the closest I will ever get to Ragtime is reviewing the Tony Awards piece..
Diets. I need to be on one for a while. Maybe I should check out the Atkins. I guess it will be availabe here. Is the "bad breath" syndrome a reality?
A restful day of Football Jed. Has age adled your mind? What a strange world.
Should I worry about big business destroying Australia's Great Barrier Reef to make diet supplements?
And where is Jason? I watched the documentary on "The Real Moby Dick" story last night. The history of the "Essex" is good novel and film material - fascinating and horrible. I thought Nantucket was only a name used in limericks. I did not know of its whaling history nor of the Quaker involvement in the industry.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/27/2002 01:01 PM PST

Michael. I think the emails have found you after all!
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/27/2002 01:03 PM PST

Hello to all from cold and damp Chicago. They are predicting snow this week. Oy. This desert person doesn't know from snow.
Message to Dear Reader Sandra: get off the computer and do your homework!
Posted by Laura @ 10/27/2002 01:46 PM PST

Yes, Tom, a restful day of
football. Watching, that is, and
American football, naturally.
My favorite way to spend a lazy
Sunday.
Posted by Jed @ 10/27/2002 01:56 PM PST

Watching is OK. I was worried that you were really involved. Enjoy your Sunday Jed. I am just off to visit a friend in a Dementia home (she is only 53). I think I am bewildered at times but life has certainly struck my friend Denise a cruel blow. She spent most of life in the service of others and has now lost most of her past.
Posted by Tom Guest @ 10/27/2002 02:35 PM PST

I would like to propose an idea how we all can perhaps chat live.
AOL has instant messanger and it is available to all even if you don't subscribe to AOL.
So if we sign up and then post what are AOL IM names are we can chat with one another live when we happen to be online.
What do you guys and gals and hainseys and Kimlets think?
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 02:50 PM PST

Michael, and all you others with AOL IM:
My IM screen name is DaleTonyDale
I like Michael's idea, so I thought that I would post mine first.
Posted by td @ 10/27/2002 04:17 PM PST

I'm on there as tevyehiggins
Posted by Jed @ 10/27/2002 04:19 PM PST

I've always liked the idea of live chat, but was dissuaded by the errant and truant Mr. Mark Bakalor. The AOL thing seems like a fine idea IF it does not detract from our posts. I must never detract from our posts - and really, aren't the post ALMOST like a live chat anyway? In any case, if I'm on I'll be happy to partake of live AOL. But it must never detract from our posts, because otherwise we will not be the most popular site on all the internet and wouldn't that be a fine kettle of what is it fish.
Posted by bk @ 10/27/2002 04:25 PM PST

I hate AOL and would never use it. My cable company has a great internet service which makes AOL unnecessary.
Jose--- The York in NYC did CARMEN JONES as one of their Musicals in Mufti a couple of years ago. Maybe they have some of the material you need in better shape than the Ted Chapin organization can provide.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 10/27/2002 04:50 PM PST

William - We checked every possible avenue for better Carmen Jones' materials. What we have is what we have - and it's what the York had. And just like the York, we've had to prepare and/or re-prepare some of the materials for our own use. Luckily, since the Washington Opera is in-house at the Kennedy Center, they're using those parts for the orchestra, AND the orchestra librarians for both the Washington Opera and the National Symphony Orchestra are assisting with the cuts, pastes, edits, etc., as well as assembling a conductor's score for Mr. Domingo.
For my own benefit, I copied some of the more unruly pages out of my own Schirmer piano score, and very clearly wrote in the Rodgers' lyrics.
Tom from OZ: "Atkins breath" is a reality. The funny thing for me is that the only person to notice a change in my breath was my four year old nephew. He very "discreetly" ;-) covered his nose with his hand when I was holding him once. I asked him if my breath smelled bad, and he very shyly nodded. It was very cute - he's very cute.
But one man's "Atkins breath" is just regular breath to someone else. Even the book says that some people describe it as "sweet". Other people don't notice. I liken it to some Indian friends of mine who are stict vegetarians. They can literally smell people who eat meat. And it's just from their natural odor, and not their breath. They don't think it's bad, but they can tell that their diet is different from theirs.
Or take the classic "why does my pillow case smell like garlic" situation that can arise after a night a particularly garlic-filled meal.
To take care of "Atkins breath", parsley works. Coffee beans work - although you're supposed to avoid caffeine if possible on Atkins, but I have the feeling that the caffeine in one or two coffee beans should not be too bad. And, as I pointed out once before, there are some breath pills on the market - mainly composed of parsley oil. One brand here in the states is Breath Assure - maybe spelled Breath A-Sure - ???. There's bound to be some sort of quasi-homeopathic remedy somewhere on your grocer's shelf. And sometimes it just a matter of what herbs and spices you are using to season your food.
-After my cleaning jag this morning, I, too, ended up having a perfectly lazy afternoon. Just watched a lot of BBC TV and let myself drift off now and then without any worries. And I'll finish up the evening with "The Sopranos" and whatever else happens to catch my interest on cable.
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 10/27/2002 05:22 PM PST

I promise I won't mention this more than once a week until Thanksgiving -- I'm going to see Barbara Cook live on Saturday, Nov. 23!!!!
I'm so excited...I just can't hide it...
Sigh.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 10/27/2002 05:29 PM PST

my aol IM is mshayne356
And you don't have to be a member of AOL have IM. I for one us adelphia cable service
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 07:02 PM PST

Just received your email Michael. Thanks so much.
Can't see myself chatting in real time but hope you all have an amazing time.
Thnaks Jose for the information.
BK. No way will I desert HHW (unless it is dessert or cake that is offered as a temporary incentive - even then not for long - no not even for ice-cream)
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/27/2002 07:46 PM PST

Is Ron joining the Pointer Sisters?
Barbara Cook is indeed wonderful and I can not see any "Let Down" from all the pre-concert excitement.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 10/27/2002 07:51 PM PST

Can blame you being excited! I'm seeing Miss Cook again for three nights running in February, starting with Valentine's Day.
Posted by td @ 10/27/2002 08:25 PM PST

TD, Susan and I are having a great time chatting live and posting her too!
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 08:29 PM PST

That should posting here too! We are not posting Susan!!!
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 08:42 PM PST

...and the MAN himself dropped in on the chat, so we're all post-happy, which is quite different than being post-mortem.
Posted by Quincy @ 10/27/2002 08:54 PM PST

We have just decided (in our little chat-room) that WEST SIDE STORY's The Jets were The Village People of their day :)
Posted by Glenn "LeatherMan" Hughes @ 10/27/2002 09:01 PM PST

I feel pretty or so pretty. So Chino where is that big pistol of yours?
Posted by Riff @ 10/27/2002 09:05 PM PST

That isn't a gun, Riff; I'm just happy to see you.
Posted by Chino @ 10/27/2002 09:06 PM PST

Ah, I have been errant and truant and truant and errant. It's been a combination of work and dinners with various friends. But I 've kept my eye on all of you just to keep track. I can't believe I didn't get to post in yesterday's notes---notes whose title contian the word, "CAKE" yet.
First of all, Happy Birthday to Jed. I'm glad to hear you had a good time. AND had cake. Cake makes everyday better.
Since I missed listing Frank Loesser songs, I'll do it now.
"I Believe in You"
"Two Sleepy People"
"Joey, Joey, Joey" ( I alwys liked Peggy Lee's version with all the echo chambers)
"Murder, He Says"
"I wish I Didn't Love you So"
"They're Either Too Young or Too Old"
Among so many others.
From yesterday:
CD player in my car: "The Show Goes On" (OCR) A Portfolio of Theatre Songs by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (Have we ever done favorite Schmidt and Jones songs?)
CD at work "Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers at RKO" (all the great soundtracks)
CD at home "A Christmas Survival Guide"
I wrenched my shoulder or something and sitting at the computer is not the most comfortable position, so I think I'll be off (I'm always off-- just ask anyone who knows me). But I'll endure any amount of pain for my fellow hainsies/kimmlets.
Posted by Kerry @ 10/27/2002 09:07 PM PST

Kerry: You know you're getting older when your back )or shoulder) goes out more than you do!
Posted by td @ 10/27/2002 09:11 PM PST

We had a great time chatting. We put on our pointy hats. Brought out ham and cheese chunks. (all on the Chet and EIllen atkins diet) In between postings we danced the Hora. and threw darts at the fysnworth alley logo.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 10/27/2002 09:24 PM PST

It was great! Riff and me, we, uh, hit it off with a Promenade and a Mambo, before we rumbled F.A. right...
Posted by Chino @ 10/27/2002 09:46 PM PST

You do like being in American?
Posted by Riff @ 10/27/2002 09:49 PM PST

Just read the article on our own (our very own) Miss Susan Gordon in the latest issue of Fangoria (charmingly titled "Desperately Shrieking Susan"). She was nice enough to phone me and inform me that I am mentioned not once, but twice in said article and that our beloved BK is also mentioned (along with the url of this website).
Posted by Robert Armin @ 10/27/2002 09:52 PM PST

>
...or so Riff asked.
I take the feefth.
American boys are all such straight shooters (Mucho gracias, Senors Styen and Merrill).
Posted by Chino @ 10/28/2002 06:11 AM PST

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