" It was not mystery or the divine touch that got them where they were, but labor, discussion, thinking, study, trying, failing, trying again."
Great article on why we never hear from modern composers anymore. It's hard to imagine members of the general public running out to music stores to buy batons.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Deliciousness abounds
This'll be short and sweet - see the recipe below for how to make a creamy fiddlehead soup. I am not really enthusiastic about fiddleheads, actually, but I figure I can learn to like almost anything at this point. Hence the recipe. Also, fiddleheads are local and in season and I am trying to eat locally more often.
Creamy Fiddlehead Soup
Two large potatoes,peeled and diced
A half cup celery,finely diced
One medium onion,chopped
One small clove garlic,minced
One cup water
One tsp. salt
Pepper to taste
Two cups fiddleheads, fresh or frozen
1-2 cups cream (heavy or half and half)*
1cup chicken or vegetable stock
Bring potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, water, stock and salt and pepper to a boil. Cover and simmer about 20 min or until vegetables are tender. Add fiddleheads and simmer until tender. Cool slightly. Puree in blender or food processor in batches. Return to pot and stir in enough cream to desired consistency. Heat just until boiling point. Season to taste.
* I used 1/2 cup heavy cream (whipping cream left over from Mother's Day dinner) and 1c water, plus 1/2 cup milk. I also wanted some texture, so after I pureed the soup I added 3/4 cup diced mushrooms.
Tasted like cream of broccoli, but fresher and not as 'mealy' in the mouth. Yum yum.
Creamy Fiddlehead Soup
Two large potatoes,peeled and diced
A half cup celery,finely diced
One medium onion,chopped
One small clove garlic,minced
One cup water
One tsp. salt
Pepper to taste
Two cups fiddleheads, fresh or frozen
1-2 cups cream (heavy or half and half)*
1cup chicken or vegetable stock
Bring potatoes, celery, onion, garlic, water, stock and salt and pepper to a boil. Cover and simmer about 20 min or until vegetables are tender. Add fiddleheads and simmer until tender. Cool slightly. Puree in blender or food processor in batches. Return to pot and stir in enough cream to desired consistency. Heat just until boiling point. Season to taste.
* I used 1/2 cup heavy cream (whipping cream left over from Mother's Day dinner) and 1c water, plus 1/2 cup milk. I also wanted some texture, so after I pureed the soup I added 3/4 cup diced mushrooms.
Tasted like cream of broccoli, but fresher and not as 'mealy' in the mouth. Yum yum.
Monday, May 09, 2011
This one's for you, Dr. Evil
A tremendous debate is taking place south of the border right now because the USA is approaching its "debt ceiling." In other words, the US government can't owe more than $14.294 trillion dollars. For a handy reference on what a trillion is, click here. Currently, the government owes $14.243 trillion dollars. When did that happen?
Well, it started at the end of Eisenhower, grew during Nixon and the Vietnam Wars, and has been growing like a bad weed ever since.
However, this is where is gets really interesting: because of the old-school series of checks and balances in US democracy, politicians have to vote to raise the debt ceiling. If they don't, the USA will be in default - the world's largest economy will be unable to pay the bills that are due. Which means that conceivably, creditors like the Chinese government, the Saudis or the Japanese could come knocking.
So where has Uncle Sam been spending other people's money? Have a look!
Mostly on wars, preparing for wars, and intimidating other countries not to start wars. Somebody tell Edwin Starr that war is good for something - escalating a nation's debt beyond its capacity to produce wealth.
The craziest part of all this is that the Republicans are saying the only way they will vote in favour of raising the debt ceiling - remember, this money pays for veterans, what little Medicare they have, and for Social Security - is if Obama agrees to massive spending cuts.
The crazy part is, nobody is talking about the giant Kevlar elephant in the room. Nobody is talking about cuts to military spending, or closing bases in foreign countries (they have dozens). They are talking about cutting Medicare. Without getting too apocalyptic, I can't even imagine what a US default would do to the Canadian economy. I can't imagine what would happen if the US government runs out of money, especially when that same government has been printing money in an attempt to maintain the dominance of the US dollar abroad and spend its way out of a recession.
Something tells me that if those chickens ever come home to roost, we're going to see the ugly shadow of globalization, all over the world. Instead of the 'rising tide' the big spenders keep promising us, it's going to be a debt tsunami that wipes away most of the material progress of the post-industrial age.
Makes 100 million dollars seem quaint, doesn't it?
However, this is where is gets really interesting: because of the old-school series of checks and balances in US democracy, politicians have to vote to raise the debt ceiling. If they don't, the USA will be in default - the world's largest economy will be unable to pay the bills that are due. Which means that conceivably, creditors like the Chinese government, the Saudis or the Japanese could come knocking.
So where has Uncle Sam been spending other people's money? Have a look!
Mostly on wars, preparing for wars, and intimidating other countries not to start wars. Somebody tell Edwin Starr that war is good for something - escalating a nation's debt beyond its capacity to produce wealth.
The craziest part of all this is that the Republicans are saying the only way they will vote in favour of raising the debt ceiling - remember, this money pays for veterans, what little Medicare they have, and for Social Security - is if Obama agrees to massive spending cuts.
The crazy part is, nobody is talking about the giant Kevlar elephant in the room. Nobody is talking about cuts to military spending, or closing bases in foreign countries (they have dozens). They are talking about cutting Medicare. Without getting too apocalyptic, I can't even imagine what a US default would do to the Canadian economy. I can't imagine what would happen if the US government runs out of money, especially when that same government has been printing money in an attempt to maintain the dominance of the US dollar abroad and spend its way out of a recession.
Something tells me that if those chickens ever come home to roost, we're going to see the ugly shadow of globalization, all over the world. Instead of the 'rising tide' the big spenders keep promising us, it's going to be a debt tsunami that wipes away most of the material progress of the post-industrial age.
Makes 100 million dollars seem quaint, doesn't it?
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Sabbatical: Month 2
The backstory is here for people not up to date on how the Old Testament can help decrease your stress level. I am now minus two fairly large time committments, with several others tapering off in the months to come. It's getting interesting. So, what have I noticed so far?
1. Less crises. I don't inadvertantly double book myself as much now. I am getting my short-term memory back a bit. When something important comes up, I usually have enough flexibility to deal with it. As a result:
2. More time and patience for people. Now I'm not in such a hurry all the time, I can take time to chat and listen to a person's reply. I have time to remember family occasions and I actually stop in and visit my parents/friends/relatives to say hello. I'm able to cook better food and have lost a small but of weight.
3. Practicing! I spent a lot of time learning piano accompaniments for the Music Festival so now my fingers are in semi-decent shape again. And I'm working on some Beethoven and some Schumann. Plus I've got a good start on my accordion playing - Hey, Good Looking, Red River Valley, and of course, Olive's Ghost.
Don't get me wrong, life isn't suddenly perfect - I also now have more time to obsess over stupid stuff that probably shouldn't matter. But I do have time to reflect on my life a bit too, which is nice.
One thought that has me pre-occupied is what the "pre-facebook" me was like. I think I was happier. I think I worried less about other people and what they were up to, since it was just idle speculation, and I think I felt that my friends were friends, not "friends." So I'm trying to cut back on that too, in the hopes of spending time where it counts.
Looking forward to summer and getting to food production underway. Just a friendly reminder to buy local this summer - our economy needs the support and everything tastes so gosh darn good when it arrives fresh!
1. Less crises. I don't inadvertantly double book myself as much now. I am getting my short-term memory back a bit. When something important comes up, I usually have enough flexibility to deal with it. As a result:
2. More time and patience for people. Now I'm not in such a hurry all the time, I can take time to chat and listen to a person's reply. I have time to remember family occasions and I actually stop in and visit my parents/friends/relatives to say hello. I'm able to cook better food and have lost a small but of weight.
3. Practicing! I spent a lot of time learning piano accompaniments for the Music Festival so now my fingers are in semi-decent shape again. And I'm working on some Beethoven and some Schumann. Plus I've got a good start on my accordion playing - Hey, Good Looking, Red River Valley, and of course, Olive's Ghost.
Don't get me wrong, life isn't suddenly perfect - I also now have more time to obsess over stupid stuff that probably shouldn't matter. But I do have time to reflect on my life a bit too, which is nice.
One thought that has me pre-occupied is what the "pre-facebook" me was like. I think I was happier. I think I worried less about other people and what they were up to, since it was just idle speculation, and I think I felt that my friends were friends, not "friends." So I'm trying to cut back on that too, in the hopes of spending time where it counts.
Looking forward to summer and getting to food production underway. Just a friendly reminder to buy local this summer - our economy needs the support and everything tastes so gosh darn good when it arrives fresh!
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Failing to pass, passing to fail.
Not going to blog about the new majority conservative government, except to say that I found the result very disappointing. I really cannot believe that so many people hit the snooze button and returned a PM to Parliament who was twice voted in contempt. I digress . . . although I am not a stickler for rules, certain principles of respect and decency are incredibly important to me, Parliament being one.
Below is a letter I wrote after witnessing the final concert of the Carleton County Music Festival. The Premier was there, opera singer Sally Dibblee presented the inaugural Roberta White memorial award (good work, Bragdon!), and the choirs really blew 'em away. WHS choir currently has 70+ kids and they know a thing or two about the 'big sound' and Jen Muir's Corner Studio Choir was also right on the money.
So then I got to thinking about why our kids aren't allowed to do the Music Festival. That's right, not allowed. And then it made me indignant, which resulted in this letter. I would encourage you to write, call or email the Superintendant and challenge her decision to take music away from kids. They need the music. Much more so than the tests.
Letter to the Editor
Below is a letter I wrote after witnessing the final concert of the Carleton County Music Festival. The Premier was there, opera singer Sally Dibblee presented the inaugural Roberta White memorial award (good work, Bragdon!), and the choirs really blew 'em away. WHS choir currently has 70+ kids and they know a thing or two about the 'big sound' and Jen Muir's Corner Studio Choir was also right on the money.
So then I got to thinking about why our kids aren't allowed to do the Music Festival. That's right, not allowed. And then it made me indignant, which resulted in this letter. I would encourage you to write, call or email the Superintendant and challenge her decision to take music away from kids. They need the music. Much more so than the tests.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Last night the Woodstock High School theatre came alive with the sounds of guitar, trumpet, piano and singers of all ages. One past performer remarked, “it just melts my heart.” Rightly so. Music is the birthright of every human being – our brains are wired for music and our hearts long for it.
What does a student learn in preparing for the Music Festival? They learn the self-discipline of practice, they learn to face the fear of performing in public, they learn to accept constructive criticism, and they learn the technical skills necessary for their particular piece of music.
But most importantly, the student attempts to give an emotionally expressive performance, one that moves us to joy, sorrow, laughter or celebration. What better experience could children have in today's world?
Today, schools in District 14 are occupied with the sounds of students preparing for year-end assessments – standardized tests. Our Superintendent will not allow students in Carleton County to participate in the Music Festival, unless they are in Grade 1 or Grade 3.
Why? The tests are more important to the School District than what the child learns from the process of preparing for and performing in the Music Festival. What a short-sighted position for our educational leaders to take.
There is a mountain of scientific educational research that proves that a quality music education makes kids smarter. Parents should challenge the District's decision not to allow all K-5 students to sing in the festival.
We need to stand up for kids – they love music, and they value the lessons it teaches. Our world needs more music, not less. Our kids deserve an education that teaches the brain, the hands, the voice and the heart to work together.
Amy Anderson
Tracy Anderson
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