My colleague Professor Larry Bernard once told me that he didn’t believe in midlife crises, rather he looked at them as midlife exuberances. I liked that. It put the old “is that all there is?” existential blues into a positive spin. I began to think that we go through these things much more than once. [...]
It has been interesting, and somewhat unfair, to see what pop musicians from the 60s have withstood the test of time, or at least forty years worth. Many were one hit wonders, but many were in there in the charts, respected and loved by many, but faded once the 70s began. [Speaking of which, for [...]
TV Cello
Autograph owned by RB
Cab Calloway was one of the great 20th century American popular entertainers. I had never seen young Cab in action until I saw this video. The energy in this song is superhuman. My heart rate accelerates from the opening frenetic bass solo through the dizzying clarinet and sax licks, and if you [...]
Here is one of the photos that won the 2006 Biomedical Image Awards. It is a thrilling manifestation of life’s desire to reach out, expand, and know the universe.
Nerve cells
A cluster of special nerve cells called cerebellar granule cells, growing in culture. These cells naturally gather together, and when placed in a culture dish covered [...]
I’m unclear on who is behind this website, but if any of you PI enthusiasts, you will be in pi heaven. Click on the image above to hear the pi song.
[Thanks Ursi.]
Why is time lapse photography so interesting? In the case of plants, it’s just they look so ALIVE when they move quickly. Check out the good work at Plants in Motion. Here is one of their small video clips.
[Thanks Ursi]
Today, in memory of those who have lost their lives in Java (Indonesia) in yesterday’s 7.7 earthquake and tsunami, I present music from that area that I love and has been long out of print. I’ll post individual songs over the next few months.
SANGKALA: performed by E. Koestyara and Group Gapura
I’ve owned this music on [...]
This blog called Red Black Window is now over 6 months old. As a ‘dear diary’ exercise I feel compelled, for some strange reason, to look back to see what this project has been for me and where it seems to be going, if anywhere.
The blog started as a sketch pad for my book on [...]
I don’t hear people talk about Son House, but then maybe I don’t hang out enough in blues circles. I grew up with an album by Son House that had this song on it (”Death Letter Blues”). The rhythmic language of the guitar and his voice is amazingly slippery. There are places in the song [...]
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