Positively Puzzled

Recently something has changed and the data for our playlists is not being updated to appear in Google Search. I noticed this because it's handy for me to check to see whether or not Meera or me have played a piece recently.  I don't know what has changed.  The link to our playlist has been kind of buried several levels downs in the (fairly) new KUSP blog pages as part of the web presence remodel.  Maybe if I put the link here, the search crawler won't miss it, so here is the main playlist page for Musica della sera: Voila!  This year's playlists for Musica della sera Thursday evening classical radio show on KUSP Radio : http://www.kusp.org/playlists/mds/index.html Come and get it, web crawler!  We're here, we're here! The Musica della sera blog page is here: http://blogs.kusp.org/musicadellasera/

Announcement to Musica Della Sera listeners! Meera Collier-Mitchell and I host Musica della sera, a classical music radio show heard Thursday nights 7-9:30 Pacific on KUSP , Santa Cruz.  I'm pleased to announce that the show now has a regular blog presence on the KUSP Blog Page . Please bookmark the link to the new location: Musica della sera Music Blog .  You'll find a link there to our playlists, as well as posts with information about the music we play, and also music video clips related to the programs. See you there! ─Nicholas Mitchell Nota Bene Comments, requests, suggestions, and feedback are encouraged and appreciated, especially during this launch period.  You can comment on individual blog posts, or tweet me at @puxxled or Meera at @MeeraHyphenated , or "friend" us on Facebook at Nicholas Mitchell and Meera Collier-Mitchell . (With the advent of the Musica della sera blog on KUSP , I will no longer post program notes for ...

A genius with his extraordinarily imaginative and creative costume designs and affable accordion playing, a Santa Cruz Busker Treasure. His face is always concealed. (short clip)

The latest Musica della sera show is now up on the Internet to listen to on demand; see below for locating the link. This program will be available on demand until Thursday, February 26, 2009 Devoted to the music of George Frideric Händel (1685-1759), it includes violin sonatas, a harpsichord suite, concerti grossi, an organ concerto, and the Dixit Dominus (1707), a youthful choral work that shows off Handel's dazzling genius and mastery of musical forms. You can see exactly what was played and who performed it by referring to the playlist (originally broadcast 2/19/2009). George Frideric Handel, by Mercier, ca. 1720 My wife, Meera Collier-Mitchell , and I take turns hosting the classical radio program Musica della sera on Thursday evenings, 7-9:30 (PT). This week Nicholas hosted. KUSP Radio is now offering On Demand downloads of its music programs. Peruse the calendar listing, with audio links, of The Shows Available . Click the one for Musica della sera Thursday night ...

As someone who appreciates the joys of alcohol, but also recognizes its sundry deleterious effects, I have found it useful to take a break from consuming it. Santa Cruz columnist Bruce Bratton proposed this idea of a booze-free January decades ago, and most Januarys I like to observe it. It gives me a chance to reflect on whether the joys of imbibing outweigh the negatives. The jury always seems to be perpetually out on this. If you're a moderate to immoderate drinker, I hope you will consider this proposal. It's always nice to know others are doing this with me. I should have posted this earlier...if you start a few days late, just finish a few day's later. Those of you who have quit alcohol for good, I very much honor your success.

A catchy number from Julian's 3rd Grade Class's performance piece called "A Dance Through the History of Santa Cruz County" yesterday. There are more snippets from this performance on my Flickr set: A Dance Through Santa Cruz County History

lemmings , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled .

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

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...

fantasy land mural , originally uploaded by I, Puzzled . Julian, October 2002 A mural in downtown Santa Cruz. From the day's playlist... Eve of Destruction─Barry McGuire, vocals; Phil Sloan, harmonica─ Eve of Destruction Ruby Tuesday─The Rolling Stones Blues Harmonica─John Mayall Tupelo Honey─Van Morrison─ Tupelo Honey F. Couperin: Leçon de Ténébres à 2 voix─Le Concert des Nations; Jordi Savall, conducting─ Tous les Matins du Monde (soundtrack) California Dreaming─Mamas & Papas Bad Moon Rising─Credence Clearwater Revival Schumann: Variations on Chopin’s Nocturne in G Minor, Op.15, No.2─Wojcich Kocyan, piano─ Reflets dans Chopin: Wojcich Kocyan Plays Liszt Mompou, Schumann, Saya