WOW a great mix of opinion and intelligence in today's PTTH....let us not get in the habit. I have an old G I friend who loves the Fart jokes I steal from your pages. Mustn't let an old Vet/comedian down. I like Chopin since I bought one of those suitcase-sized samplers of Back, Haadyn, and their varied ilk. Bless you, for accomplishing all that writing from the top floor of whatevertheheck building.
Anent Prof. Mandel's comments on Luther's antisemitism: Her observations are correct, as was your response. I think the number of German Lutherans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII is a clear indicator that most of us forgive Martin for that sinful error.
A German Lutheran happily married (44 yrs and counting) to a Gallitzianer!
Garrison, I agree with you on museums. I'm not a collector of any one thing in particular, but I consider myself to be a Professional Accumulator, and I call my little study The Museum of the Completely Unrelated, Mostly Forgotten, and Largely Useless.
Today's Post is an absolute dream for the wannabe comedy commentator! I don't know where to begin, so I won't. Just this advice: Never ask a bagpiper to play Back, Haadyn or Ilk, for that matter. Roger Krenkler
You recently wrote there should be a book about Haines, Alaska. I know of one, IF YOU LIVED HERE I'D KNOW YOUR NAME by Heather Lende who writes obits for Haines' weekly newspaper., The Chilkut Valley News. She and her husband honeymooned in Alaska, liked it so well they stayed. Her writing is delightful, you'd enjoy.
One thing about bagpipes is that they're an open air instrument. In Toronto, once, I had a chance to attend the Anglican service at The Cathedral Church of Saint James. A military bagpipe unit would be giving a parade right after services concluded. Just to encourage us to join the throng outside, a piper came in to play for us. (For some reason, my memory says that might have been "Amazing Grace", but that was decades ago, so I can't confirm it.) Oh, My Lord! You can't imagine the sounds that echoed off those steep cathedral ceiling walls! It could almost tempt someone to jump off the balcony, just to escape the reverberations! Sometimes, oft-used phrases do have their resonance. "In the Proper Place, at the Proper Time" comes to mind when I think of that morning!
Actually, as fan who has heard you perform in many different sorts of venues, sometimes I've been aware of that "Size of the hall" effect, too! A front row seat in an indoor hall can be Heavenly! I've been close enough, that sometimes, for example when Fred Newman needs to make a gargling noise and he spits, free-style above the microphone, it's quite a treat to watch the waterfall that ensues. On the other hand, in huge outdoor sheds such as the one in Tanglewood, Massachusetts, a "front seat" means having your outstretched feet a foot or two from the LOUDspeakers! Those are the times when I've torn up some Kleenex and stuffed my ears, just to ensure that I'll still have eardrums afterwards!
Once I got a chance to sit next to the soundboard at the back of an auditorium. It was quite an adventure in itself! I was enthralled to watch the soundman play that "keyboard" of sliding green lights. It had a slot that was attached to each of the microphones on stage. I think that many of us who have attended APHC performances, or even listened to the show on the radio, don't realize how complicated it is, just to get things to "Sound Right!"
WOW a great mix of opinion and intelligence in today's PTTH....let us not get in the habit. I have an old G I friend who loves the Fart jokes I steal from your pages. Mustn't let an old Vet/comedian down. I like Chopin since I bought one of those suitcase-sized samplers of Back, Haadyn, and their varied ilk. Bless you, for accomplishing all that writing from the top floor of whatevertheheck building.
Anent Prof. Mandel's comments on Luther's antisemitism: Her observations are correct, as was your response. I think the number of German Lutherans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII is a clear indicator that most of us forgive Martin for that sinful error.
A German Lutheran happily married (44 yrs and counting) to a Gallitzianer!
Garrison, I agree with you on museums. I'm not a collector of any one thing in particular, but I consider myself to be a Professional Accumulator, and I call my little study The Museum of the Completely Unrelated, Mostly Forgotten, and Largely Useless.
Dear Mr. Keillor,
Today's Post is an absolute dream for the wannabe comedy commentator! I don't know where to begin, so I won't. Just this advice: Never ask a bagpiper to play Back, Haadyn or Ilk, for that matter. Roger Krenkler
You recently wrote there should be a book about Haines, Alaska. I know of one, IF YOU LIVED HERE I'D KNOW YOUR NAME by Heather Lende who writes obits for Haines' weekly newspaper., The Chilkut Valley News. She and her husband honeymooned in Alaska, liked it so well they stayed. Her writing is delightful, you'd enjoy.
Thanks for the tip, it probably explains why I am frequently found to be too solemn. (Everyone please smile when you read this, I thank you.)
One thing about bagpipes is that they're an open air instrument. In Toronto, once, I had a chance to attend the Anglican service at The Cathedral Church of Saint James. A military bagpipe unit would be giving a parade right after services concluded. Just to encourage us to join the throng outside, a piper came in to play for us. (For some reason, my memory says that might have been "Amazing Grace", but that was decades ago, so I can't confirm it.) Oh, My Lord! You can't imagine the sounds that echoed off those steep cathedral ceiling walls! It could almost tempt someone to jump off the balcony, just to escape the reverberations! Sometimes, oft-used phrases do have their resonance. "In the Proper Place, at the Proper Time" comes to mind when I think of that morning!
Actually, as fan who has heard you perform in many different sorts of venues, sometimes I've been aware of that "Size of the hall" effect, too! A front row seat in an indoor hall can be Heavenly! I've been close enough, that sometimes, for example when Fred Newman needs to make a gargling noise and he spits, free-style above the microphone, it's quite a treat to watch the waterfall that ensues. On the other hand, in huge outdoor sheds such as the one in Tanglewood, Massachusetts, a "front seat" means having your outstretched feet a foot or two from the LOUDspeakers! Those are the times when I've torn up some Kleenex and stuffed my ears, just to ensure that I'll still have eardrums afterwards!
Once I got a chance to sit next to the soundboard at the back of an auditorium. It was quite an adventure in itself! I was enthralled to watch the soundman play that "keyboard" of sliding green lights. It had a slot that was attached to each of the microphones on stage. I think that many of us who have attended APHC performances, or even listened to the show on the radio, don't realize how complicated it is, just to get things to "Sound Right!"