Positively Puzzled

And Peace on Earth, for Heaven's Sake forgotten portrait , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . We're all three years older now, but still a tight bunch. Here's to many more blog posts in the coming year. Here's some of the stuff I've been listening to: Arafa─Hamza El Din─ A Song of the Nile Pallavi Ragamalika─Dr. N. Ramani, flute─ Music in the Ragas: Kannada, Kalyanvasanta, Natakuranji, Ranjani, Des Ten Sleepy Sheep─Jessica Harper François Couperin: Les Baricades Mistérieuses─Angela Hewitt, piano─ François Couperin: Keyboard Music 1 Candy Man ─Mississippi John Hurt You Can't Lose a Broken Heart─Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong Graceland─Willie Nelson Alessandro Scarlatti: Son tutta duolo─Cecilia Bartolik soprano; György Fischer, piano─ If You Love Me (Se Tu M'ami) Hold Me, I'm Falling─Michael Dycha- Monsoon Wedding (soundtrack) Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?─Bing Crosby The last ten movies I watched: Help! (1965) Comedian (2002) Flight of the Ph...

shadows on a puddle , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . We're getting some rain finally! The earth rejoices.

Bavarian landscape on Flickr, the work of *sido* . a beautiful photograph to inject a little life into this sleepy blog I've been cogitating heavily about my next blog post, but I haven't been able to get it out in writing.

In a blog entry back in June, titled the tao of plainchant , I set out to relate, while it was still fresh in my mind, the encounter I had with a group of men in the community who gather on Sundays to sing Gregorian Chant. In that post, however, I all too quickly used up my meager personal blogging resources to fill in the background and describe the history of my interest in the arcane art form, only to cap it off by promising to describe in a future post my experience with the chant group. Voila, a scant five months later, I’m delivering on my promise! (Sorry it took so long, O’Donovan .). It was the end of May when I was invited to sit in with the group. I’d known about them for at least 20 years, and had always been intrigued by the improbable idea of a non-monastic (no cowls required) chant gathering in California, and was delighted that it was still going on. Since Meera was attending Sunday services at a nearby church at roughly the same time, it was perfectly convenient for ...

A brief glimpse at these marvelous and mesmerizing creatures. We visited the aquarium on Sunday, November 11, 2007, celebrating my son Julian's 8th birthday. Click the photo below to see the jellyfish in motion (and hear the family color commentary).

I thought Ted Kennedy's dissenting comments on the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation of Mukasey were very eloquent: SEN. TED KENNEDY: The Department of Justice is in dire need of new leadership to guide our nation back to its constitutional moorings. Under Attorney General Gonzales, the Department lost its way as a genuine force for justice, too often served as a rubber stamp for the White House and as a facilitator and enforcer of political objectives, rather than the rule of law. After a period of such tarnished leadership in the department, we need a clear, decisive, straightforward attorney general who’s not afraid to stand up for the Constitution and the rule of law, even if it means disagreeing with the President of the United States. I had hoped that Judge Mukasey could be that person. He is certainly intelligent and has demonstrated an admirable dedication to public service. As a federal judge for almost nineteen years, he was, by all accounts, fair and conscien...

I told myself that my next blog post would be about Maher Arar. You know, that Canadian guy who was changing planes at JFK airport on his way home to Canada , when he was seized by U.S. Officials, and sent to Syria to be tortured and confined for nearly a year. I watched an excerpt of his testimony before Congress last month, courtesy of Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! (quoted below) . So chilling is his story, I felt compelled to talk about it. However, it has been difficult for me to compose my thoughts. Part of it is lazy procrastination, an inability to allocate and manage my time well, sustain focused concentration; an age-old problem for me, and of far too many people in today's society. I also find that every single day there is something new reported in the news that I feel compelled to speak out about. So many astonishing things going on all at once. With my compulsion to respond to each and every thing firing in every direction, I ultimately write about nothing...

Last Thursday on Democracy Now! , Amy Goodman was talking with Michael Ratner from the Center for Constitutional Rights , an organization that is suing Blackwater for the September 16 killings in Baghdad . They also represent Guantanamo prisoners, and Maher Arar, the Canadian citizen that our government, if you hadn't heard, abducted, interrogated, tortured, and imprisoned for nearly a year…by mistake…perhaps because they thought they had Bill Maher? About 31 minutes into the podcast, Goodman presented a clip of George W. Bush from April 2006 that particularly caught my attention (bracket comments are mine): AMY GOODMAN: In April of last year, President Bush spoke at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopk ins University . After his talk, he took questions from students at the school. STUDENT: My question is in regards to private military contractors. The Uniform Code of Military Justice does not apply to these contractors in Iraq . I asked your Sec...

A while ago I promised someone I would post some of my limericks. I'm occasionally true to my word, so here's a few: A martini, ice cold, held aloft Is a sight that I've never scoffed, But the shape of the glass Makes it easy to splash So I've spilled much more than I've quaffed. A young lass from Kansas named Dorothy, Said she wanted a mate who was swarthy; Yet the burlap‑faced strawman, The tin‑colored woodsman, And the auburn‑maned lion weren't worthy. Al Gore stands for me as a mentor; Unflustered by any dissenter, He may not have won, But, son of a gun, He'll always succeed as inventor. An Indian Sikh named Arjuna Had trouble flensing a tuna, Its viscera burst, Beheading a tour’st, And the flesh sank in the laguna. There's a term on a ship when you're sailing For the part that is sort of a railing The word used is "gunwale"; And that rhymes with funnel, Which leaves this son-of-a-gun wailing...

There has been so much going on in the news lately to utterly exasperate me. Politics. The past several weeks I've been paying more than the usual attention to the news. I feel it is my citizen duty. I worry about the detrimental effects of complacency, but I have to admit, it has taken a serious toll on my peace of mine. The price of vigilance is high anxiety. I am so grateful to alternative news sources like Democracy Now! , a program I wasn't able to listen to in the past because it seemed so dour and radical and mean-spirited and downright impolite and Amy Goodman seemed like the modern Cassandra. But what she was talking about months ago is now mainstream news. The big networks have caught up with her. So have I. And, lest we forget, Cassandra was right. Unfortunately, by the time it becomes mainstream news, we are comfortable sipping our tea and discussing the nuances of U.S.-sanctioned torture without it causing any too much personal distress. There are so man...

From an antediluvian playlist: Lua Nha Testemunha─Cesaria Evora─ The Very Best of Césaria Évora Papa pique, Mama coud─Charles Trenet─ Trenet: Boum! Quilombo, O El Dorado Negro─Gilberto Gil─ Beleza Tropical: Brazil Classics 1 Raga Lali─Brij Narayan, sarod; Zakir Hussain, tabla Sylvius Leopold Weiss: Suite No. 17 in F Minor: Gigue─Konrad Junghänel, lute J. S. Bach: Praeludium No. 11 in F Major (BWV 880)─The Swingle Singers─ Jazz Sebastian Bach, Volume 1 J.S. Bach: Concerto for Oboe and Strings in F Major, BWV 1053─ Neil Black, oboe; The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor─ J.S. Bach: Four Concerti Transcribed Schumann: Die Rose, Die Lilie, Die Taube─Theo Adam, bass─ Schubert-Wolf-Schumann: Lieder Chopin: Etudes Op.25, No.1 in A-Flat Major: Allegro Sostenuto─Maurizio Pollini, piano The Blues Are Still Blue─Belle & Sebastian

A time to slack, and a time to post. Evidently I have not been posting in my blog lately. There has certainly been plenty on mind to warrant posting, but I've lacked the discipline to put my thoughts to screen. Yesterday I was discharged from jury duty, a month long murder trial . I was a superfluous alternate, which means I was not obliged to cast a verdict. I didn't miss much, though, because deliberations were very brief. The unanimous verdict was first degree murder, with special circumstances. In our county, that will doubtless mean a life sentence without possibility of parole. They don't go for the death penalty around here. My verdict would have been the same. The evidence was, as they say, overwhelming. After it was over, I was relieved of a burden I had become inured to, so the relief was kind of a surprise. I and several other jurors had a chance to talk about the case with the judge afterwards, something I also didn't expect. It was an interesting...

The Taj Mahal, a world on its own , originally uploaded by Manυ . Manu writes: Stereographic projection of an equirectangular panorama . If you liked this picture you probably will like my planetoïds and equirectangular 10 films I've seen recently: The Bourne Identity (2002) The Bourne Supremacy (2004) Lost in La Mancha (2002) Petrified Forest (1936) Crash (2004) The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) Excalibur (1981) Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) The Hours (2002) The FBI Story (1959)

IMG_2319 , originally uploaded by dan_singer . Haven't posted in my blog in a while. I liked this photo, so I thought I'd share it. There's something Marc Chagallesque about the background figures. Last 10 movies I watched: Marathon Man (1976) Night at the Museum (2006) How to Make an American Quilt (1995) City of Joy (1992) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) Over the Hedge (2006) Lolita (1997) The Simpson Movie (2007) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) L.A. Confidential (1997)

Gregorian Day of Wrath , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . A couple of weeks ago an old friend of mine, Andy, whom I hadn't seen in years, was in town visiting family and friends. He now lives in West Java with his Indonesian wife and their two young girls. While we were figuring out a time, during his short stay, when we might be able to get together, he mentioned a group of men in the community who gather on Sunday mornings to sing Gregorian chant. Andy was planning to attend, and he invited me to come along. I learned of this group more than 20 years ago, and had been intrigued ever since. I was delighted that they were still chanting, and still more delighted that I had been invited to participate, and penetrate this inner sanctum of sorts. As far back as I can remember I have admired the sublime ability of Gregorian chant to invoke calm serenity. When I was in high school I procured a 4-LP Murray Hill* box set of Gregorian chant by mail order. What pure heaven, how sooth...

Winners of Theme of the Week: Book , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . 1st Place:. Herbal Remedy 2nd Place: hotel register from another era 3rd Place: [Untitled] Created with fd's Flickr Toys . From the day's playlist... Händel: Air (Bass): the People That Walked in Darkness─The English Concert & Choir; Trevor Pinnock, conductor─ Händel: Messiah Jagged Little Pill─Alanis Morisette No Count Blues─Sarah Vaughan─ The Essential Sarah Vaughan Morten Lauridsen: Ubi Caritas et Amor─Donald Brinegar Singers; Donald Brinegar, conductor─ Northwest Journey Johannes Brahms: Die Schöne Magelone, Op. 33─Paul Mow, Tenor; Eric Malson, Piano Killing Me Softly─Fugees Not a Second Time─The Beatles─ With the Beatles Birthday─Sugarcubes Palm Grease─Herbie Hancock─ Thrust Call and Answer─Barkenaked Ladies

Early evening in Langdale , originally uploaded by WhiteGoldWielder . "Captured fortuitously, whilst out on my bike...." From the weekend playlist... Rachmaninoff : All-Night Vigil, Op.37: Vespers & Matins─Estonian Philharmonica Chamber Choir; Paul Hillier, conductor Thank You Girl─The Beatles Colonel Panic─Jing Chi I Wish─Fantasia, Patti and Yolanda─ Happy Feet , Music From The Motion Picture Dixit Dominus Domino meo─Tiburtio Massaino/Niederaltaicher Scholaren; Konrad Ruhland, conductor─ Psalmi et Cantica 1400-1600 Gregorian Hymn: "Veni, creator spiritus" and Thomas Tallis: "Spem in Alium"─Rundfunkchor, Berlin; Simon Halsey, conductor─ XL: Rundfunkchor Berlin

hotel register from another era , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . Yo, photographic bibliophile types! The Theme of the Week this week is: book , and this Flickr group could really use your contributions: 1 or 2 photos, taken this week, representing that scintillating concept: book . Please consider making an image donation...you will not regret it. (Check the guidelines for the group, to find out what it's all about. Theme ends on Sunday.) Thanks! [Edit Update: this plea expired yesterday...now we want your huddled food pictures for the week!] From the day's playlist... J.S. Bach: Allegro - Sonate No.4 c-moll BWV 1017─Reinhard Goebel, violin; Robert Hill, harpsichord; Musica Antiqua Köln─ J.S. Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord I Don't Want to Spoil the Party─The Beatles─ Beatles for Sale The History of Utah─Camper Van Beethoven Crying─Roy Orbison

Slide Terror , originally uploaded by ambrosialove . "Rj stuck him in head first. He wasn't too excited about it. I was laughing too hard to actually ensure all of Drake was in the frame." (Cf., Gabriel's slide trepidation .) From the last couple days of listening... Pictures Of Matchstick Men─Camper Van Beethoven─ Key Lime Pie Golden Slumbers/The End ─k.d. lang─ Happy Feet, Music From The Motion Picture Yer Blues─The Beatles─ The White Album Desolation Row─Bob Dylan─ Highway 61 Revisited Franz Joseph Haydn─Piano Sonata No.33 in C Minor, Hob. XVI:20─Emanuel Ax, piano─ Haydn: Sonatas 33 38 58 60 Schubert: Impromptu D935 No 4 In F Minor - Allegro Scherzando─Albert Ferber, piano Last ten films I watched: Shrek the Third (2007) Lost in Translation (2003) Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) The Blues Brothers (1980) Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Cinderella Man (2005) The Great Race (1965) Fighting Caravans (1931) The Big Night (1996) The Constant Gardener (2005)

alignment , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . From the day's playlist... J.S. Bach: Fantasie & Fuge in A Minor, BWV 561─Gabor Lehotka, organ─Bach: Great Organ Works Astor Piazzolla: Las cuatro estaciones porteñas─Trio Chromos: Ismael Betancor, Trumpet; José Luis Castillo, Piano; Carlos Rivero, Cello─Trumpet Colors Anonymous: Carmina Burana #63: Olim Sudor Herculis─Philip Picket & New London Consort─ Carmina Burana, Volume 1 Flying─The Beatles─ Magical Mystery Tour Johann Joachim Quantz: Trio in C Major─Members of Kamerata Köln: Michael Schneider, recorder; Karl Kaiser, transverse flute; Harald Hoeren, harpsichord─ Florilegium Musicale We Love You─Camper Van Beethoven The King of Spain─Moxy Fruvous Do a Thing─Herbie Hancock─ Death Wish (soundtrack)

treading water is harder than it looks , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . From the day's playlist... Bagatelles: Allegro─Alfred Brendel, piano─ Beethoven Fur Elise Eroica-Variationen If I Could Talk, I’d Tell You─Lemonheads Like A Rolling Stone─Bob Dylan Goodnight And Go─Imogen Heap We Love You─Camper Van Beethoven Mr. Moonlight─The Beatles─ B eatles for Sale New York Town─Cisco Houston & Woody Guthrie─ Pastures of Plenty Deadbeat Club─B-52s

Winners of Theme of the Week: Wheel , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . 1st Place: Spinning Wheel 2nd Place: Native American Medicine Wheel 3rd Place: Doggles This week's winners at Flickr's Theme of the Week Group . Created with fd's Flickr Toys . From the weekend's playlist... End of the Line─Travelling Wilburys Where Have the Actors Gone─Sunny Wilkinson, vocal; Shelly Berg, piano─ Morten Lauridsen: Northwest Journey In The Summertime─Mungo Jerry Jitterboogie─Michael Hedges Changes─Phil Ochs (live) Borderline─Camper Van Beethoven─ Key Lime Pie Rachmaninov: Concerto #2 In C Minor - Mov't 1. Moderato─Vladimir Ashkenazy, André Previn; London Symphony Orchestra Hard Travelin’─Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (w/Jerry Jeff Walker)─ Friends of Mine America─Simon & Garfunkel─ Almost Famous (soundtrack)

Curiosity , originally uploaded by Troy B Thompson . From the day's playlist... I Like it Like That─Sweet Honey in the Rock─ On the Air: KUSP’s Live Music Sessions Just The Two Of Us─Will Smith─ Radio Disney: Jams Vol. 2 The Sweetest Embrace─Barry Adamson Lady (great bass riffs)─John Mayall & Jeff Beck Day Tripper─The Beatles─ Past Masters Sylvius Leopold Weiss: Lute Suite Nr.17 in F Minor: Sarabande─Konrad Junghänel, lute

the glass cage , originally uploaded by lorrainemd . her pain is exposed for the world to see... and she can see all that she can never have. From the day's playlist... Chameleon─Herbie Hancock─ Head Hunters Händel: Sonata for 2 Violins in A Major, Op.5─London Baroque Don't Bother Me─The Beatles─ With the Beatles You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)─The Beatles─ Past Masters Godchild─Miles Davis─Birth of the Cool Victor Herbert: Cello Concerto No.1 in D Major, Op.8─Lynn Harrell, cello; Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor