Topic: THE RAIN IN SPAIN (Read 28148 times)

bk · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2005, 12:44:57 AM »

Jose, we'll await a full pizza report, if you get my drift.

I cannot wait till I have my pizza. I just have to decide from whence it is coming.

NINCOMPOOP!

bk · « **Reply #31 on:** February 12, 2005, 12:45:46 AM »

Holy moley on rye - page two!

I had me some gator once. It does not hold fond memories for me for various reasons.

Rodzinski · « **Reply #32 on:** February 12, 2005, 12:52:57 AM »

As far as radio, and music in general, I am a rather extreme eclecticist. I like standards stations, but I get a little frustrated if the standards adhere to just basic Sinatra, Nat Cole, Dina Washington, etc. I don't mind those folks, you understand, but I don't like that limiting the formats neglects a lot of artists who were just massive and are now forgotten. Say, Eddy Howard or Vaughn Monroe or folks like that.
I really would like an eclectic format that cuts across all time periods up to say, 1986, but how can you package that for "the kids"? We have a freeform station called WFMU from New Jersey that will play just about anything, which is good, but the signal is weak. You know what else isn't bad? These channels on the digital cable which just have music on them. No talk or anything, just showtunes, or disco or whatever one is in the mood for.

bk · « **Reply #33 on:** February 12, 2005, 12:53:48 AM »

I'm at the point of no return aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand for me there'll be no turnin' back.

S. Woody White · « **Reply #34 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:02:11 AM »

Strange things I've eaten...

(Where oh where is TCB when we need him?)

...How does bear sound?

It was rather good, as a matter of fact. Not nearly as gamey as I thought it would be.

And there was the time der B and I were in Munich, and I had what my non-English speaking waiter and I (working from a German/English pocket dictionary) was hart, or deer. Well, it was hart. It was heart of the hart. Rather intereting, but the valves were on the chewey side.

bk · « **Reply #35 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:03:27 AM »

I suspect we'll get some good exotic foods tomorrow. And might I just add - NINCOMPOOP!

Well, I shall toddle off to the bedroom environment shortly.

Rodzinski · « **Reply #36 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:04:06 AM »

Heart of the Hart? I love that melody.
Heart of the Hart? Brings back old memories...

S. Woody White · « **Reply #37 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:04:12 AM »

Does anyone remember that word game, where you try to make as many other words using the letters of a long word?

Nincompoop sure sounds like a good starter word for that game.

Charles Pogue · « **Reply #38 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:09:13 AM »

Rodzinski, I agree with the limiting format of standard stations...we get too many big names or current names (more Linda Ronstadt or Rod Stewart essaying the Great American Songbook than I want to hear) and guys like Vaughn or Vic Damone or Johnny Hartman, etc are neglected.

You really should give WMKV a shot...they are all over the map with some of this stuff...lots of lesser known or obscure Big Bands and their vocalists...They even do a show once a week that features British Big Bands and vocalists from the thirties and forties. Tonight was "Latin Satin" night which features latin music. They have a show which is just a guy doing cocktail piano kind of music and one which features theatre organs. It's some good stuff.

We had two standard stations out here for a while. One went oldies rock a couple of months ago. The other one is holding its own though it just moved up the dial to different call letters and it still does basketball games which is a bore.

The station that went oldies had tried an all-show-music format once that didn't last very long. The reason it didn't was because it did not live up to its mandate...which was to do not only Broadway show tunes from original cast albums but also great songs from movie musicals and show music that transcended into standards sung by all the great vocalists. We never got the movie music or the standard covers by mainstream vocalists. And while I heard a lot of good show music, we got far too much from the eighties and nineties, Lloyd Webber and the like. So it went under. Their standard incarnation was much the thing you talked of...just mainstream singers...maybe twenty/twenty-five and too many old rock stars switching over to standards... and not enough of the unusual, the obscure, or the infrequently heard artists from bygone days...

bk · « **Reply #39 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:10:52 AM »

I'm beyond tired. I'm beyond Rangoon. AOL is beyond help.

bk · « **Reply #40 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:12:18 AM »

All righty then - I am now toddling off to the bedroom environment. I do love when we have late-night discourse, and thank all who partook. We are the world.

Charles Pogue · « **Reply #41 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:14:26 AM »

What???!!! BK answered the cry of the wild, wooly Wussburger! He couldn't hang in there? He had to toddle off to the land of nod? The Sandman was bitch-slapping him? Get in his pjs with the trapdoor and the feet. All tucked in under the blankies? What a wuss!

And Guy Haines had better be doing POINT OF NO RETURN on his new album. Eat your heart out, Gene McDaniels!

Rodzinski · « **Reply #42 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:26:00 AM »

I shall have to check this station out. I have not actually done too much with internet radio listening. I can't understand the self-limiting concepts all these stations adhere to. I'm sure their focus marketing tells them it's the best way, though, so really it's not so much the stations' limited thinking, but people's willingness to be limited in their listening choices that allows it to happen.

In any case, I am an organ music afficianado, so that sounds good. Also, I recently found at the New York Public Library, all these LPs of British big bands that I had never heard of, so I've been enjoying those of late too. Percival Mackey's Band, The London Accordeon (sic) Orchestra, Jay Whidden and his band, Denny Dennis, Les Allen, Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Carr, Leslie Sarony...

That station sounds up my alley.

Rodzinski · « **Reply #43 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:30:56 AM »

The latest development is WCBS, NY's longtime oldies station has "phased out" 50's doo-wop music. So, that's how it goes. Lop off another decade.

Now, I shall lop off to Wusstown. For where I live, it is much late.

Sigerson Holmes · « **Reply #44 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:40:47 AM »

The title of todays' column, "The Rain in Spain," and BK's mention of the two different scores for the English and American versions of "Night and the City" reminded me . . .

A few years ago I bought a cheap videotape of the Leslie Howard/Wendy Hiller "Pygmalion" and discovered it had a mostly-different musical score from the Arthur Honegger one I remembered. There were other subtle differences in the film, such as obscure Cockney slang terms redubbed with easier-to-understand (more American-sounding) words, Howard's use of the word "damn" replaced with other words, etc.

I assumed I had stumbled on the American (public domain?) print of the film, and that the less-quirky/more romantic-sounding music which IMDB credits to William Axt was added to make the story seem more like a romance and less like a satire (less like Shaw) . . . and therefore more palatable to American audiences.

But it's an interesting topic: alternative scores of different released versions of films. There are many stories of great scores that were rejected/replaced before a film was released. But how many films have been released twice, with two different scores?

Hisaka · « **Reply #45 on:** February 12, 2005, 04:22:27 AM »

Quote from: Iris212 on February 12, 2005, 12:36:29 AM

Let's see, exotic foods.....

I've sampled alligator and rattlesnake meat. I know, I know, sounds disgusting, but ya know what? They both tasted like chicken.

I also tried chocolate covered ants on a dare, and heaven only knows what was inside the dim sum that I consumed in Hong Kong.

The chocolate covered ants tasted just like Raisinets.

Makes you want to vomit on the ground, doesn't it?

You had the courage to eat them, DR IRIS!

Hisaka · « **Reply #46 on:** February 12, 2005, 04:26:24 AM »

"HAURU’S MOVING CASTLE” is still running.

elmore3003 · « **Reply #47 on:** February 12, 2005, 04:30:17 AM »

Good morning, all! Today's the day of the bitch at Barnes & Noble. It seems everyone on the first floor I saw yesterday agrees that the lady in question is meaner than usual these days. Perhaps there will be a fuller report on this phenomenon later.

DRJay will return; he's totally occupied with career at the moment. He mentioned a trip to Detroit and a job offer he turned down, but things seem to be looking good fom him and he sends regards to all. I hope that all the others E&T's will come back as well. And on this subject I will post a few thoughts:
1. HHW, to me, is like going to a bash my Dear Friend BK is throwing for as many of his most intimate friends (a Cole Porter reference) who can make it.
2. If a conflict of opinion between guests becomes more, and the party turns into a brawl, people who don't want to be around the conflict have the option of leaving the party or joining the fray. I've done both, but I prefer to leave the party. Because I find this party full of genuinely kind and tolerant folk, I like knowing that I'm welcome back, even if I got into a Huff and drove away in it.

I'm hoping that some of our missing guests, one of whom I know left in a Huff, will return to the partay.

DRJane, DRPennyO and I shared a generous portion of cheesecake after dinner; it was quite yummilicious. And I won't have pizza today, since I had it twice in the past week. Had I but known!

DRMattH, I didn't get a chance to speak to Mr Meloni, since several employees rushed him for autographs and to slip him their phone numbers. I believe he was shopping for himself.

DRPogue, your package should arrive on Monday (I hope)!

I picked up three of the Jane Austen mysteries in which Miss Jane is the Nancy Drew of Regency England, and I find the author's style much better than that of the author of PRIDE & PRESCIENCE. The books appear to me a sly mixture of faux scholarship and Agatha Christie. This is, I regret to say, an assessment from reading the first two chapters. I hope the good will continues.

Hisaka · « **Reply #48 on:** February 12, 2005, 05:20:53 AM »

Last night, I, too, watched Richard Widmark’s film. Pickup On South Street was so moody and Richard Widmark was remarkable in the role of hard-boiled pickpocket and also Jean Peters was attractive in it.

Ben · « **Reply #49 on:** February 12, 2005, 05:25:56 AM »

Well, I will try to eat Pizza sometime today. It won't be for lunch. I'm not sure what I'm doing for lunch. Mr. Baxter/Anthony is on LI today for a clown show at Smithaven Mall and I am meeting two friends from work. We will have lunch somewhere on Ninth Avenue and then go see the re-mounting of The Musical of Musicals-The Musical at Dodger Stages. I've seen the show and one of my friends has also seen it. We loved it and want to draw other people into our cult so we've talked Kathye into seeing it with us. Should be a wonderful afternoon. I will stay in midtown after the show because I'm seeing a Playwrights Horizon show this evening. In the interim between Musical of Musicals and On the Mountain I will most likely partake of my pizza. On the Mountain is a new piece by Christopher Shinn. I've seen some of his work and I say, with regret, I'm not looking forward to this. It's part of my PH subscription. The play is about a woman obsessed by the death of Kurt Cobain. We shall see. I will report later in the evening when I return.

Next Thursday I'm seeing Shockheaded Peter at the Little Shubert Theatre on 42nd Street. It won an Olivier award a few years ago. It's based on "a gruesome 19th Century children's story". I know it played at the New Victory here a few years ago and it's returned with the original cast. Don't know what to expect so I'm going with an open mind but hoping for fun.

I'm also going to get a discount ticket to All Shook Up, the next of the JukeBox musicals to hit the scene. It begins performances Febrary 20th and opens about a month later. It got decent reviews in Chicago. It was playing at the same time as Spamalot, which got raves. It's playing at the Palace and I shall most likely see it from the last rows of the balcony. The Palace is a wonderful theatre but the upper reaches are truly upper reaches. Well, I have my binoculars and will report after I see it.

I will also bite the bullet and see what I can get for Spamalot. As much as I want to see it, the hype factor is already becoming something of a warning. Please don't tell me it's the next Producers or one of the funniest things in all Christendom. I think that kind of praise only raises expectations to the point that people see the show because the feel they must see it, not because they want to see it. Theatre should be something you want to do/see, not some social obligation. Go because you love it, not so that you can talk with your friends about how you saw the next great hit and aren't you lucky!

Oh, my, a mini-rant. That's all for now. I need some breakfast. Bye.

Ben · « **Reply #50 on:** February 12, 2005, 05:27:53 AM »

Hi, Larry. Hi, Hisaka. I'm not sure if you're here or not. Your computer icon is not lit indicating you're not on-line but up top your name is listed along with Mr. Moore and me.

Danise · « **Reply #51 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:20:50 AM »

Good Morning all!

It is 47 degrees F here in the land of Sunshine. But what care I? In a scant month, I shall go
[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]
ICE SKATING! [/move]

I shall glide across the ice more graceful than a gazelle in underpants, doing a triple lutz and a death spiral at the same time! People will stop and point and Eww and Ahhh and I shall be the height of modesty and say it was nothing. It was only my first time on the ice!

Note to self: Remember to check with the AFLAC rep--Is Ice Skating covered under the policy?

Errr, not to cast doubt on what I just said but DR Elmore, DR Ben or DR Jose--how far is the nearest emergency clinic from Rockefeller Center? People will be so dazzled by what I'm doing on the ice, I think I should know that. Yeah, that sounds good.

DR Ginny, I am looking forward to seeing if I shall be A MUSED by my hotel. I did discover that they do not have a hair drier. I found that out by reading some of the reviews people wrote about it. That's one point in the Milfords favor--they did have hair driers. Not that it's a big deal to pack one. For my last trip, I had everything. Travel iron, travel hair drier, etc so it's not like I have to run out and get one.

You shall have to come over and see my room and maybe I can see yours so we can compare them for future trips.

DR Jose, your treats sound so yummy. I would have liked to try a slice of your white cheesecake.

DR Elmore, I've been pouring over my map of NYC and found a B&N down by the Farmers Market. Is that your B&N? Or is it the one off of the Ave. of the Americias? I LOVE this little folding map I bought. I can't believe how close I was to things the last time around and missed them.

Did they ever finish that mural on the side of the building down by Madison Square Garden? I remember the guys on the side of the building painting it when I was there in May.

Well, I'm off. I'm going to see Hairspray today. Bless my Mom, I told her that and she said for them not to get my head wet because it's so cold today.

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #52 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:29:30 AM »

It is raining here, too. It began on Thursday and should continue through tomorrow. Drat. I was going to go for a walk, but I dislike walking in the rain and getting wet. I like to watch rain from inside a nice warm house; I don't like to be in it.

Michael · « **Reply #53 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:38:50 AM »

DR MATT

I recalibrated the tv and finally saw a program that I believe was actually shot on high def and it was amazing!!! A documentary on penguins in the Antartic and it wasn't boring! The stunning colors and music made it a joy to watch. Just zoomed in and got rid of he bars on top and bottom.

There needs to be more programming like that to show off HD

Michael · « **Reply #54 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:41:03 AM »

I noticed that TCM and FOX-M amoung others show films in widescreen. Isn't it possible to enhance them for 16 x 9 tvs? Also do they show the films unedited?

Michael · « **Reply #55 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:41:56 AM »

If I am up to it, I will get with my actors today and work on act two of the play.

Matt H. · « **Reply #56 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:47:35 AM »

Last night DR George asked:

"I haven't watched LAST week's Enterprise, yet. A woman that I work with taped it and is going to make me a copy. Should I (do I need to) wait to see it or is tonight's episode the start of a new 3-episode story??"

Well, actually, last night's episode was the conclusion of the three episode arc detailing a potential war and Archer's attempts to play mediator. Of course, there is a brief recap at the start of the episode in case you want to go ahead and watch this week's story, but I did enjoy last week's episode very much so it's your call. Last night's episode wasn't quite as exciting as the two previous weeks' episodes, but it was still entertaining, and, as I said last night, had a very surprising development in the last scene.

Matt H. · « **Reply #57 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:53:57 AM »

Quote from: Michael Shayne on February 12, 2005, 06:41:03 AM

I noticed that TCM and FOX-M amoung others show films in widescreen. Isn't it possible to enhance them for 16 x 9 tvs? Also do they show the films unedited?

Some HDTVs have built in line doublers (mine does) and some have video scalers that do an even better job, and these can also be bought in separate devices to upconvert all standard definition video pictures to make the pictures near high definition quality, but I won't spend the money (they aren't cheap).

Matt H. · « **Reply #58 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:55:51 AM »

Forgot to answer the edited question, DR Michael Shayne. I believe TCM and Fox Movie Channel do show their films unedited. I noticed that they showed RAGING BULL at 4 a.m. last week. I guess due to the violence and profanity.

Matt H. · « **Reply #59 on:** February 12, 2005, 06:58:15 AM »

DR Rodzinski, there was quite a bit of discussion of WHAT A WAY TO GO! several weeks ago after bk watched his DVD and gave us his opinion. That must have happened just before you joined us, but there was definitely a split vote among viewers of the film here with some liking it very much and some disliking it pretty intensely.

News:

Author Topic: THE RAIN IN SPAIN (Read 28148 times)

Ben

Ben