The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
This category is for posts related to various forms of entertainment.
I suppose of all the classical music out there, perhaps my favorite is the Pachelbel Canon in D. It’s beautiful melody has soothed me many times, and it seems there’s almost no treatment of music that doesn’t turn out beautiful. Guitar, organ, symphony orchestra, hammered dulcimer…it doesn’t seem to matter, it almost always sounds amazing.
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In the tiny, rural town of Carthage, TX, assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede was one of the town’s most beloved residents. He taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Everyone loved and appreciated Bernie, so it came as no surprise when he befriended Marjorie Nugent, an affluent widow who was as well known for her sour attitude as her fortune. Bernie frequently traveled with Marjorie and even managed her banking affairs.
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There was report this morning of a cow at a California rendering plant testing positive for Mad Cow Disease. Now that’s pretty scary in and of itself. However, at the end of the report, the reporter noted that “cow futures” had dropped on the news. I had to admit, my twisted mind found some humor in the whole idea of “cow futures.” Cow futures…really? If I were a cow, I don’t think I would ever have invested heavily in cow futures. When you think about it, they really don’t have much of one.
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It seems the Minnesota Republican Party is broke…or at least decided they no longer have to pay bills. So what is their solution? The don’t pay the rent on their office space a few blocks from the Minnesota Capital Building for eight months, get an eviction notice, and then try to negotiate a “cram-down” of their rent. You know, something like what they wouldn’t ever support giving to the rest of under-class people. CNN has the story.
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I admit I have not been good at posting lately. I’ve had a lot on my mind, we went through a very busy time at work. I was writing a lot, so just couldn’t get up to write. So now we have a political campaign nationally. The homophobes are ramping up their attacks, especially in North Carolina, and I’ve some interesting things happen at work which I may decide to discuss. Here in Florida we’ve had the Trayvon Martin shooting, and lots is changing at church, and the General Conference for the Methodist Church is being held here in Tampa. I’ve got plenty to write, so I’m going to work to get back to it.
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Sunday afternoon we attended the annual holiday concert for Una Voce The Florida Men’s Chorale. This was their 10th annual holiday concert, and Lay and me have been to each of them. This might have been the best concert yet, and I had a great time. The theater was very near, if not, sold out, and I believe straight couples might have outweighed gay couples.
Read moreI had occasion to hear the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus several times when I lived in Dayton. In fact, it seemed their Christmas Concert and that of the Cincinnati Gay Men’s Chorus were often the same weekend, so I’d do Cincinnati Saturday evening, and then go to Columbus for their Sunday afternoon concert. Both were excellent choruses, and they both had very different styles, so it was a great fun. Here the Columbus Chorus provides a youtube for the “It Gets Better Project” with the Columbus Youth Choir. I’ll just let the music speak for itself.
Read moreHere’s a little something/s to blow your mind. From the “how’d they do that” category comes a compilation of optical illusions. If you’re interested, a little research, and you can find how to replicate most of these either on Youtube or with our usual friend Google.
Read moreOK, so here’s how to avoid all the headaches of the TSA checkpoints. Just get one of these. I loved the takeoff procedure, but I can see where landing could get a little complicated depending on your speed. Kind of reminded of Fred Flintstone, but it could be a lot of fun.
Read moreAaron Green gets things done. The ambitious 24-year-old has been given a career-making assignment. His mission: Fly to London and escort a rock god to L.A.’s world famous Greek Theatre for the first-stop on a huge comeback tour. His record mogul boss, Sergio Roma, gives him one warning: “The artist is the worst person on Earth. Turn your back on him at your own peril.” British rocker Aldous Snow is a brilliant musician, but due to a bad break up and nose-diving career, has fallen off the wagon and is now a drunken disaster. This was better than expected.
Read moreMany people prefer Spring, but I prefer Autumn. As said by Albert Camus, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf’s a flower.” Here are two of my most favorite things…beautiful Autumn scenes set to Pachelbel’s Canon in D. We did have a cool night last Thursday night, but not many other signs of Autumn here in Florida. As an Appalachian State University Alum, I know a thing or two about a beautiful Fall. Even down the mountain in Kings Mountain, it’s still a beautiful time of the year.
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