FOUND
I had forgotten about this blog I started some time ago. 2012 was an unusual and upsetting time in my life. That must be how this blog got lost in the shuffle. Now I'm planning to take a new look at my interests, spend a little less time at Pinterest, and see if I do or do not have anything to say.
For now I'm just "hmmmmm."
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Monday, January 23, 2012
Lack of Playlist Variety & Sound Volume Disappoint at Record Bar's Early Show
Reader Maid and hubby went to what was billed at the 7 p.m. (early) show at the Record Bar on Saturday Night (Jan. 21, 2012), which is usually acts trying to break into the prime time K. C. bar circuit or acts aimed at older crowds. Here's their take on the show:
Katlyn Conroy did a solo opening set for the main early-show act, Kirsten Paluden and the Key Party. Katlyn's voice suited her playlist, which consisted of haunting melodies and twenty-something confessional lyrics that were pretty much all alike. Although pleasant, Katlyn clearly needs to change it up a bit if she plans to be the main act. However, Katlyn's set proved to be the better experience as, sadly, like most live performers in small spaces, Kirsten Paluden let the band overpower her vocals so that her voice and lyrics were pretty much drowned out by the instruments. This phenomena pervades the live music scene; so much so that my husband and I have concluded that it must be because so many vocal artists have damaged their hearing and so are not really able to judge the proper sound levels for their instruments and vocals. It's too bad as, had we been able to hear Kirsten over the music, we think we might have enjoyed her performance. As it is, we left about 20 minutes into the first set rather than damage our hearing.
Katlyn Conroy did a solo opening set for the main early-show act, Kirsten Paluden and the Key Party. Katlyn's voice suited her playlist, which consisted of haunting melodies and twenty-something confessional lyrics that were pretty much all alike. Although pleasant, Katlyn clearly needs to change it up a bit if she plans to be the main act. However, Katlyn's set proved to be the better experience as, sadly, like most live performers in small spaces, Kirsten Paluden let the band overpower her vocals so that her voice and lyrics were pretty much drowned out by the instruments. This phenomena pervades the live music scene; so much so that my husband and I have concluded that it must be because so many vocal artists have damaged their hearing and so are not really able to judge the proper sound levels for their instruments and vocals. It's too bad as, had we been able to hear Kirsten over the music, we think we might have enjoyed her performance. As it is, we left about 20 minutes into the first set rather than damage our hearing.
Friday, April 8, 2011
What's a "dendroid" ? It's an arborescent form.
Or, in Roxy Paine's case, it's Ferment, a 46-foot tall stainless-steel tree-shaped sculpture being installed in the Kansas City sculpture park.
WHERE: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64111
WHEN:
Noon till dark Saturday, April 9 - Three lanes of Cleaver Blvd. will be closed for crane set-up and trucks delivering pieces of the sculpture. The main trunk assembly will be the first item off-loaded.
7 a.m. till dark Sunday, April 10 - Roxy Paine and his crew begin installation of the main trunk assembly. All trucks will be completely off-loaded by the end of the day.
Monday April 11, through Saturday April 16
Installation of Ferment continues throughout the week, with Roxy Paine and his crew welding the sculpture together.
WHY: Ferment was commissioned by The Hall Family Foundation in honor of Martin Friedman, who retired after 20 years as the art consultant to the Foundation and the Museum.
SEE:
"Ferment" Coming to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in April
http://artsadlib.blogspot.com/2011/02/ferment-coming-to-nelson-atkins-museum.html
Read more about "Ferment" at
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/45857/
Roxy Paine talks about his art at
http://www.jamescohan.com/artists/roxy-paine/video/
WHERE: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64111
WHEN:
Noon till dark Saturday, April 9 - Three lanes of Cleaver Blvd. will be closed for crane set-up and trucks delivering pieces of the sculpture. The main trunk assembly will be the first item off-loaded.
7 a.m. till dark Sunday, April 10 - Roxy Paine and his crew begin installation of the main trunk assembly. All trucks will be completely off-loaded by the end of the day.
Monday April 11, through Saturday April 16
Installation of Ferment continues throughout the week, with Roxy Paine and his crew welding the sculpture together.
WHY: Ferment was commissioned by The Hall Family Foundation in honor of Martin Friedman, who retired after 20 years as the art consultant to the Foundation and the Museum.
SEE:
"Ferment" Coming to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in April
http://artsadlib.blogspot.com/2011/02/ferment-coming-to-nelson-atkins-museum.html
Read more about "Ferment" at
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/45857/
Roxy Paine talks about his art at
http://www.jamescohan.com/artists/roxy-paine/video/
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Ray K. Metzker, Photographer
Thursday, April 7 - Hear a lecture by photographer Ray K. Metzker and Photography Curator Keith F. Davis at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Time: 6 to 7 p.m. Where: Atkins Auditorium
This is a rare opportunity to meet and hear one of the most important and influential figures of modern photography, Ray K. Metzker. He and Curator Keith Davis will discuss Metzker’s career and its evolution, where his ideas come from and the appeal and challenge of particular subjects.
Works by Ray K. Metzker, one of the most original and influential photographers of the last half century, will be on view until June 5, 2011, at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. They reveal Metzker’s ability to turn ordinary subjects, including the urban experience and nature, into the visual poetry of the finely crafted black-and-white print.
Metzker, a septuagenarian, is greatly admired for his passionate engagement with both photography and the world. He has explored the use of high contrast and selective focus, the potentials of multiple and composite images, and the infinite gradations of daylight, from dazzling white to inky shadow.
“This is great and lasting work – the very best of a classic form of American modernism,” said Keith F. Davis, senior curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins. “Metzker has led a life of deep devotion to understanding the potential, challenge and pleasure of photographic seeing.
“In so doing, he has transcended any simple notion of technical experimentation or formalism to illuminate a vastly larger human realm—one of uncertainty, isolation and vulnerability, as well as of unexpected beauty, grace and transcendence.”
Thanks to a major gift from the Hall Family Foundation, the Nelson-Atkins now has the largest holding of Metzker’s work (92 prints) in the United States.
 |
| Photo by Ray K. Metzker from his Atlantic City Series |
This is a rare opportunity to meet and hear one of the most important and influential figures of modern photography, Ray K. Metzker. He and Curator Keith Davis will discuss Metzker’s career and its evolution, where his ideas come from and the appeal and challenge of particular subjects.
Works by Ray K. Metzker, one of the most original and influential photographers of the last half century, will be on view until June 5, 2011, at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. They reveal Metzker’s ability to turn ordinary subjects, including the urban experience and nature, into the visual poetry of the finely crafted black-and-white print.
Metzker, a septuagenarian, is greatly admired for his passionate engagement with both photography and the world. He has explored the use of high contrast and selective focus, the potentials of multiple and composite images, and the infinite gradations of daylight, from dazzling white to inky shadow.
“This is great and lasting work – the very best of a classic form of American modernism,” said Keith F. Davis, senior curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins. “Metzker has led a life of deep devotion to understanding the potential, challenge and pleasure of photographic seeing.
“In so doing, he has transcended any simple notion of technical experimentation or formalism to illuminate a vastly larger human realm—one of uncertainty, isolation and vulnerability, as well as of unexpected beauty, grace and transcendence.”
Thanks to a major gift from the Hall Family Foundation, the Nelson-Atkins now has the largest holding of Metzker’s work (92 prints) in the United States.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A Tale of Two Emails
Concerned about Public Broadcasting losing funding, I wrote email messages to the two Senators from Kansas, the state in which I live. Besides a little demographic information about myself, I sent a plea for continued funding for public broadcasting.
Besides my email address, my messages which were not the same but were similar, included my home address and my full name.
One message went to SENATOR JERRY MORAN. Here's the message I got back, with my email attached.
I didn't read this message promptly, but when I did, I copied my message and pasted it into the form.
And what came back? The very same message as before. Apparently that webform isn't safe from lobbyists either. What's a tax payer to do? It's pretty clear Senator Jerry Moran has no interest in what I have to say.
My other message went to SENATOR PAT ROBERTS.
Here's the message that came back to me:
I say: Thanks, Senator Roberts.
If you support PBS and NPR, send a note to your senators and see what they have to say.
Besides my email address, my messages which were not the same but were similar, included my home address and my full name.
One message went to SENATOR JERRY MORAN. Here's the message I got back, with my email attached.
You are receiving this email in response to a message delivered to Senator Jerry Moran using your email address. Due to the frequency of email addresses being used by lobbying organizations without the knowledge of Kansans, Senator Moran only accepts emails that are sent through his Web site. This helps to verify that you intended for this message to be sent. If you would like Senator Moran to hear your thoughts, please use this link to copy and paste your message into the email webform to ensure its authenticity.
http://www.moran.senate.gov
If you did not send Senator Jerry Moran this email, please ignore this message. It is because Senator Moran values the opinions of Kansans that he would like to make certain that it is their thoughts he is taking into consideration, not Washington D.C. lobbyists.
I didn't read this message promptly, but when I did, I copied my message and pasted it into the form.
And what came back? The very same message as before. Apparently that webform isn't safe from lobbyists either. What's a tax payer to do? It's pretty clear Senator Jerry Moran has no interest in what I have to say.
My other message went to SENATOR PAT ROBERTS.
Here's the message that came back to me:
Dear (My Name):
Thank you for writing regarding federal funding for public broadcasting. I appreciate your taking the time to get in touch.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is a non-profit agency created by Congress to promote educational and cultural programming through the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR). Although CPB receives virtually all of its funding from the federal government, only about 15 percent of PBS and 2 percent of NPR funding comes from the federal disbursements administered by CPB. The vast majority of funding for public broadcasting comes from private individuals, businesses, foundations, and local organizations.
CPB is funded two years in advance, so appropriations for 2011 and 2012 have already been approved. For 2011 CPB will receive $430 million, and for 2012 it will receive $445 million. Please be assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind as I take a hard look at funding for CPB as the appropriations process moves forward.
Again thank you for taking the time to contact me. If you would like more information on issues before the Senate, please visit my website at http://roberts.senate.gov. You may also sign up on my home page for a monthly electronic newsletter that will provide additional updates on my work for Kansas.
With every best wish,
Sincerely,
gif signature
Pat Roberts
PR:sf
I say: Thanks, Senator Roberts.
If you support PBS and NPR, send a note to your senators and see what they have to say.
Sizzlin’ Summer Used Book Sale
The Johnson County Kansas Library will hold the 2011 Annual Sizzlin’ Summer Used Book Sale in cooperation with Friends of the Library from June 8-11, 2011 at Metcalf South Shopping Center, 9635 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS.
In addition to materials retired from the library’s collection, donated items from the public will also be offered for sale. The Friends of the Library are accepting the following donated items in good condition for the sale.
· Hardback and paperback books for adults and children
· Fiction and nonfiction books
· Coffee table type books on any subject
· Movies and Video on VHS and DVD’s and instructional videos
· Music CDs, audiobooks
· Textbooks, business and computer books
· Cookbooks, craft books, repair manuals
The following items are not accepted:
• Books that are damaged, moldy, discolored, smelly or have missing pages
• Magazines and newspapers
• LP records and music cassettes
• Encyclopedias over 10 years old
For larger donations (more than one bag or box) please bring to the Antioch Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please bring items in a box and ring bell near the staff entrance on the west side for assistance.
Individual items or a single sack/box of items may also be donated at the following library locations during regular hours:
Antioch Neighborhood Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Merriam
Blue Valley Neighborhood Library, 9000 W. 151st St., Overland Park
Cedar Roe Neighborhood Library, 5120 Cedar, Roeland Park
Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park
Corinth Library, 8100 Mission Road, Prairie Village
Gardner Neighborhood Library, 137 E. Shawnee St., Gardner
Lackman Neighborhood Library, 15345 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa
Oak Park Neighborhood Library, 9500 Bluejacket, Overland Park
Shawnee Neighborhood Library, 13811 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
In addition to book sales, the Johnson County Library and Friends of the Library operate two used book stores which are open year round, one at the Antioch Library and one at the Blue Valley Library. Proceeds from the sale of used books and other materials help to the support the Library.
Founded in 1956, the Friends of the Johnson County Library has provided more than 50 years of support to the Johnson County Library. For more information on booksales, donations or to join the Friends, visit www.jocolibrary.org/friends, call (913) 826-4337 or pick up membership information at any Johnson County Library location
In addition to materials retired from the library’s collection, donated items from the public will also be offered for sale. The Friends of the Library are accepting the following donated items in good condition for the sale.
· Hardback and paperback books for adults and children
· Fiction and nonfiction books
· Coffee table type books on any subject
· Movies and Video on VHS and DVD’s and instructional videos
· Music CDs, audiobooks
· Textbooks, business and computer books
· Cookbooks, craft books, repair manuals
The following items are not accepted:
• Books that are damaged, moldy, discolored, smelly or have missing pages
• Magazines and newspapers
• LP records and music cassettes
• Encyclopedias over 10 years old
For larger donations (more than one bag or box) please bring to the Antioch Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please bring items in a box and ring bell near the staff entrance on the west side for assistance.
Individual items or a single sack/box of items may also be donated at the following library locations during regular hours:
Antioch Neighborhood Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Merriam
Blue Valley Neighborhood Library, 9000 W. 151st St., Overland Park
Cedar Roe Neighborhood Library, 5120 Cedar, Roeland Park
Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park
Corinth Library, 8100 Mission Road, Prairie Village
Gardner Neighborhood Library, 137 E. Shawnee St., Gardner
Lackman Neighborhood Library, 15345 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa
Oak Park Neighborhood Library, 9500 Bluejacket, Overland Park
Shawnee Neighborhood Library, 13811 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
In addition to book sales, the Johnson County Library and Friends of the Library operate two used book stores which are open year round, one at the Antioch Library and one at the Blue Valley Library. Proceeds from the sale of used books and other materials help to the support the Library.
Founded in 1956, the Friends of the Johnson County Library has provided more than 50 years of support to the Johnson County Library. For more information on booksales, donations or to join the Friends, visit www.jocolibrary.org/friends, call (913) 826-4337 or pick up membership information at any Johnson County Library location
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Stonecutter
Book Review by Reader Maid
My friend Reader Maid likes to read international crime fiction, and I like to read her reviews.
Reader Maid feels international crime authors provide insights and perspectives into their countries yielding societal, cultural, and artistic information that you don't find in a travelogue.
The Stonecutter - Camilla Lackberg
"The Stonecutter" begins when a fisherman pulls young red-haired Sara's lifeless body out of the water along the coast of Fjallbacka, Sweden. At first, it appears the headstrong daughter of Charlotte and Niclas, who have just recently moved to Fjallbacka, has accidentally drowned. But the autopsy reveals that the water in Sara's lungs is not seawater, but bath water.
Now Detective Patrik Hedstrom must conduct a murder investigation among warring neighbors and less-than-happy couples, as well as navigate the political backwaters of the Tanemshede Police Department, a substation of Goteberg, where his incompetent boss, Chief Mellberg, longs to return. In addition, Patrik is the new father of a baby girl and his wife is close friends with the victim's mother, Charlotte. It's all a bit overwhelming for the exhausted detective who finds the investigation has become far more personal than his previous cases.
This third title, an English translation from Swedish author Camilla Lackberg's Fjallbacka mystery series, presents a far more dense narrative landscape than the previous two novels, "The Ice Princess" and "The Preacher." The structure consists of alternating time periods that shift between a story in the past and the present-day account of the murder investigation, but the tie between the two narratives is not revealed until the end.
There are also multiple side stories dealing with the lives and relationships of the various characters. Collectively, it all makes for a somewhat cluttered plot. But Lackberg knits it all together in the end. Although the killer's motivation may seem a bit preposterous, "The Stonecutter" is still a good whodunit police procedural with interesting characters, both new and familiar, in a cozy setting with more than enough mystery to go around.
This review is based on the HarperCollins digital edition.
My friend Reader Maid likes to read international crime fiction, and I like to read her reviews.
Reader Maid feels international crime authors provide insights and perspectives into their countries yielding societal, cultural, and artistic information that you don't find in a travelogue.
The Stonecutter - Camilla Lackberg
"The Stonecutter" begins when a fisherman pulls young red-haired Sara's lifeless body out of the water along the coast of Fjallbacka, Sweden. At first, it appears the headstrong daughter of Charlotte and Niclas, who have just recently moved to Fjallbacka, has accidentally drowned. But the autopsy reveals that the water in Sara's lungs is not seawater, but bath water.
Now Detective Patrik Hedstrom must conduct a murder investigation among warring neighbors and less-than-happy couples, as well as navigate the political backwaters of the Tanemshede Police Department, a substation of Goteberg, where his incompetent boss, Chief Mellberg, longs to return. In addition, Patrik is the new father of a baby girl and his wife is close friends with the victim's mother, Charlotte. It's all a bit overwhelming for the exhausted detective who finds the investigation has become far more personal than his previous cases.
This third title, an English translation from Swedish author Camilla Lackberg's Fjallbacka mystery series, presents a far more dense narrative landscape than the previous two novels, "The Ice Princess" and "The Preacher." The structure consists of alternating time periods that shift between a story in the past and the present-day account of the murder investigation, but the tie between the two narratives is not revealed until the end.
There are also multiple side stories dealing with the lives and relationships of the various characters. Collectively, it all makes for a somewhat cluttered plot. But Lackberg knits it all together in the end. Although the killer's motivation may seem a bit preposterous, "The Stonecutter" is still a good whodunit police procedural with interesting characters, both new and familiar, in a cozy setting with more than enough mystery to go around.
This review is based on the HarperCollins digital edition.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)