A Greeting for the New Year

A Greeting for the New Year, originally uploaded by lake.sider.

A lot has happened since my last post. I'll try to be less neglectful of my blog! 2008 is going to be great. Happy New Year, everybody!

Freshwater stingrays

People have these as pets in their aquarium. They are the cutest things ever.

Scientists Find Oldest Living Animal, Then Kill It

From www.foxnews.com:

British marine biologists have found what may be the oldest living animal — that is, until they killed it.

The team from Bangor University in Wales was dredging the waters north of Iceland as part of routine research when the unfortunate specimen, belonging to the clam species Arctica islandica, commonly known as the ocean quahog, was hauled up from waters 250 feet deep.

Only after researchers cut through its shell, which made it more of an ex-clam, and counted its growth rings did they realize how old it had been — between 405 and 410 years old.

Another clam of the same species had been verified at 220 years old, and a third may have lived 374 years. But this most recent clam was the oldest yet.

"Its death is an unfortunate aspect of this work, but we hope to derive lots of information from it," postdoctoral scientist Al Wanamaker told London's Guardian newspaper. "For our work, it's a bonus, but it wasn't good for this particular animal."

Age

This angelic, Botticellian person turned into someone who looks 110. This is a flattering photo of him. But so what - Bob Dylan is the greatest.

Bottom photo is AP, Bob Dylan at Jazz Fest 2006 in New Orleans.

That's Church

I don't know if you've ever been to a black church. It's pretty exciting and emotional. I used to go to one all the time, when I lived near Richmond, CA. If you go to about the middle of the video, people are shouting and getting the holy ghost.

Photo by Peter Helms Feresten, Altar Call, Truth Tabernacle, Fort Worth, TX, 1978.

http://www.afterimagegallery.com/ferestenaltarcall.htm

Franz Liszt

Portrait of Franz Liszt painted by Henri Lehmann in 1839.

Franz Liszt had an incredible life, spanning much of the 19th century. He was the equivalent of a rock star in his youth, when he traveled through Europe giving piano recitals. Liszt had a brilliant, charismatic personality, and yet he was a charming and nice man: a true romantic. There is too much to say about him, so I highly recommend the biography by Alan Walker. It is three volumes, but they are page-turners.

Memory, 1870 by Elihu Vedder

Memory, 1870, originally uploaded by vidalia_11.

This is a small painting at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I have seen it a few times, and it's quite mesmerizing.

New sea life discovered

These cuties were discovered in the Southern Philippines. The fish and the squid are only about 1 centimeter long.

Halloween is coming

Witch, originally uploaded by yerffej9.

The Snow White ride at Disneyland. Photo from flickr.

Footlight Parade

A Busby Berkeley extravaganza from the entertaining movie, Footlight Parade, with James Cagney.

Tintype

Why do people from this era look so creepy?

Speaking of hotness

The late Peter Tosh.

Marvin Gaye

God he was sexy!

Annie Oakley

Annie Oakley, originally uploaded by vidalia_11.

From Wikipedia:
(August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) b. Phoebe Ann Mosey was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and luck led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar. Using a .22 caliber rifle at 90 feet (27 m), Oakley could split a playing card edge-on and put five or six more holes in it before it touched the ground.
...
She also engaged in extensive, albeit quiet, philanthropy for women's rights and other causes, including the support of specific young women that she knew...After her death on Nov. 3, 1926 at age 66, it was discovered that her entire fortune had been spent on her charities.

And now for something completely different

He actually wasn't that great a dancer. And the way he prances around...lol. But I love his Italian male look, the skin-tight clothes, the platform shoes. This is a lot of fun.

Horne, Sutherland, and Pavarotti sing trio from Norma

Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, and Luciano Pavarotti perform the trio from "Norma"
New York City Opera Orchestra
Conducted by Richard Bonynge
Lincoln Center 1981.

Cecilia Bartoli sings Bel Raggio lusinghier

From Rossini's opera Semiramide. I love how triumphant and pleased she is at the end.

Ciao Pavarotti

This article lists some great recordings (click on this post's title):

"I Puritani," Bellini; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Caminada, Luccardi, Ghiaurov, London Symphony Orchestra (Decca)

"La Fille du Regiment," Donizetti; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Malas, Sinclair, Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (Decca)

"L'Elisir d'Amor," Donizetti; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Cossa, Malas, Casula, English Chamber Orchestra (Decca)

"Lucia di Lammermoor," Donizetti; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, Ghiaurov, Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden (Decca)

"La Boheme," Puccini; Karajan; Pavarotti, Freni, Harwood, Panieri, Berlin Philharmonic (Decca)

"Tosca," Puccini; Rescigno; Freni, Pavarotti, Milnes, National Philharmonic Orchestra (Decca)

"Guglielmo Tell," Rossini; Chailly; Pavarotti, Freni, Milnes, Ghiaurov, National Philharmonic Orchestra (Decca)

"Rigoletto," Verdi; Bonynge; Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, London Symphony Orchestra (Decca)

The Library's personal favorite: Bellini - La Sonnambula / Sutherland · Pavarotti · Ghiaurov · NPO · Bonynge.

Chabad Telethon

Chabad Telethon, originally uploaded by vidalia_11.

It's that time of year again!