Sheldon Brown's Journal
May-June 2005
Current
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
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May-June 2005
| Books | Films | Music | Plays | Travels |
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Cirque de Cyclisme Continued
There was a ride scheduled for 8:30, so I set my alarm for 7:30, but when I woke and looked out the window, a rainstorm had just ended and the streets were soaking wet. I went back to bed.I arose again at a more civilized hour, and went over to the rec center for the flea market and bike exposition. I didn't buy anything (no room in my suitcase, and the prices were too high for me anyway.)
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eBook: The Dante Club Matthew Pearl, 2002
A historical whodunit, set in 1865 Boston, featuring the literary and academic élite: Longfellow, Holmes, Lowell. Longfellow is engaged in translating Dante's Devina Commedia, with the assistance of Holmes, Lowell and others. The administration of Harvard University is very opposed to this endeavor, partly because of nativist opposition to any emphasis on living foreign languages at the expense fo Greek and Latin, and partly because of the books Papist theology.There is also a serial killer at work, knocking off prominent Bostonians in especially gruesome ways, which turn out to be an attempt to impose the various punishments that Dante describes as the tortures of the damned. Much of this gets extremely icky, and if it weren't for the Boston Brahmin connection, I would not have enjoyed this book at all.
Film: (DVD) Hell's Angels Howard Hughes 1930
Howard Hughes's WWI avaition film, hugely expensive to make in its time. The print was tinted to give an approximation of color. Doesn't really hold up too well.
Revels Pub Sing: Doyles in Jamaica Plain
Took George to the Revels Pub Sing, and this time he brought his trombone. It was the only instrument present, and he did a fantastic job of creating bass lines to a number of the songs. Everybody was very impressed with his performance, and I'm still glowing with pride.
Film: (DVD) How the Irish Saved Civilization Thomas Cahill, 1996
Fairly interesting book, mainly about St. Patrick. Somewhat marred by "trendy" pop-culture analogies.
eBook: Roundabout to Boston William Dean Howells
A short piece, probably more an essay than a book, describing Howells's early days as consul in Venice during the Slavery War , and the chain of events that eventually led him to move to Boston and to editorship of the Atlantic Monthly.
Concert: Ye Mariners All Watertown, Massachusetts
I've had the pleasure of performing with two of the members of this wonderful nautical trio. They gave a very nice performance, sponsored by the FSSGB.
Lilac Sunday
No Morris Dance groupie can stay away from Lilac Sunday!Doyles
After the Morris Dancing, many of the folks repaired to Doyles for beer and song. There was a sizable Canadian contingent present, who seemed to appreciate my rendition of "Barrett's Privateers."
eBook Imperium Keith Laumer 1962
A classic.
George Graduates from Brandeis
With honors in Mathematics and Music
Film: (DVD) Men With Brooms
Sort of a knockoff of "Breaking Away" only the sport is curling instead of cycling. As silly as the sport itself.
Film: (DVD) The Aviator Martin Scorsese 2004
Wonderful film bio of Howard Hughes. Not to be missed!
eBook The Rivers of War Eric Flint, 2005
An alternate history of the War of 1812. It is to be hoped that this will be the start of another series, one in which the Cherokees get a better deal than they did in our timeline, as they make themselves useful allies against the British. The central character is a young lieutenant named Sam Houston...
Film: (DVD) Slaughterhouse 5 George Roy Hill, 1972
Based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel, one of the best science fiction films ever.
Went to Harriet's M.I.T. reunion at the Kennedy Library. Had a good time, first time I've been to the library.
Took a ride on the Brown out to Hopkinton, 46 miles, which is a long one for me these days. Very nice ride, listening to Rimsky-Korsakov's Sadko on the iPod.eBook: Candide Voltaire, 1759
I used to believe this was the funniest book ever written, but that was before Douglas Adams. I first read it in translation when I was in high school, but this is the first time I've read it in the original French. Still a hoot!Tova arrived from California in the evening.
Off to Ithaca
Tova's doing a summer math program at Cornell, so we drove out to visit her. 354 miles, 5 hours 44 minutes.
Film: (DVD) Kinsey
Excellent film about Dr. Kinsey and his first scientific studies of sexuality, at a time when the world wasn't ready to learn the facts...
Hot muggy day, but I didn't ride yesterday (even hotter then) so I headed out on the IRO to Dover. I was eager to try out my new MUSA shorts to see how well they'd serve as a bathing suit, so I stopped along Claybrook Road for a dip in the Charles.
It was a very welcome respite from the heat, and the MUSA shorts worked great as a bathing suit, drying in a very reasonable time despite the high humidity.
This is the first time I've gone swimming at this spot. I had feared it might be too shallow, but it turns out to be quite deep, with only the gentlest of currents. I greatly prefer swimming at unofficial swimming places, and I'll be back to this one. It has large rocks reinforcing the bank, making access easy enough.
Instead of music, I was listening to an audiobook reading of Sense and Sensibility for most of this ride.
Considering the oppressive weather, it was a pretty nice ride.<
Film: (DVD) 50 First Dates Peter Segal, 2004
I may have to revise my very low opinion of Adam Sandler. He was so bad on SNL, but he's pretty good in this film about a guy who falls in love with a woman who suffers from a memory disfunction, and forgets everything when she goes to sleep each night.
The following entries are written in June 2006, after I noticed that there was just an outline of the later entries for this page.Film: (DVD) Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith George Lucas, 2005
I'm getting tired of these, and fell asleep for a while in this one...
Summer Revels-All Day Rehearsal
eBook: The Way to Glory David Drake, 2005
I'm afraid I don't recall this one, writing a year later after noticing a "stub" reference to it. It's one of the "Lt. Leary" series, military science fiction.
Summer Revels-Rehearsal
I fell going down the stairs, got a nasty cut on my forehead and busted my glasses. David Coffin was great administering first aid. In retrospect, a year later, this was an early sign of my health issues.Cycling home afterwards, I was stopped by a police blockade at the corner of Linwood and Crafts...but then the officer recognized me and sent me on my way. There have been some recent housebreaks in our usually quite safe neighborhood, and they had established a temporary cordon. Don't know that they actually caught anybody though.
Summer Revels Performance
Boffo performance, well received despit brutal heat. I did have a fall on stage, but I was in the back and I don't think anybody in the audience noticed.
Summer Revels Performance
Not as hot as yesterday, but this time we had a rain delay.George is also in the show, operating a huge puppet. During a break, he got to try Penpa's Tibetan horn, a wild and crazy instrument.
Film: (DVD) Shogun Jerry London, 1980
I really enjoyed the book when I read it back in the '70s, and this 1980 TV miniseries was excellent by the standards of the time. It still holds up pretty well.
| Books reviewed on this page: | ||
|---|---|---|
| How the Irish Saved Civilization | Thomas Cahill | 5/7/05 |
| The Way to Glory | David Drake | 6/18/05 |
| The Rivers of War | Eric Flint | 5/29/05 |
| Roundabout to Boston | William Dean Howells | 5/8/05 |
| Imperium | Keith Laumer | 5/21/05 |
| The Dante Club | Matthew Pearl | 5/1/05 |
| Candide | Voltaire | 6/4/05 |
| Films reviewed on this page: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 50 First Dates | June 12, 2005 | |
| The Aviator | May 26, 2005 | |
| Hell's Angels | May 3, 2005 | |
| Men With Brooms | May 23, 2005 | |
| Shogun | June 28, 2005 | |
| Slaughterhouse 5 | May 31, 2005 | |
Music: Date Performers Works
February 4, 2005 B.S.O., Rafæl Frühbeck de Burgos.
Brahms
January 22, 2005 B.S.O., James Conlon, Garrick Ohlsson Ullmann, Shostakovich
January 8, 2005 B.S.O., Hans Graf, James Galway
Hindemith, Bolcom, Mozart
October 23, 2004 B.S.O., James Levine
Mahler: Symphony #8
May 2, 2004 Aiofe O'Donovan, Seamus Connoly, Halali "Rapper, Reels & Revelry"
May 1, 2004 B.S.O., Gianluca Cascioli,
Jahja Ling Mozart, Mahler
April 10, 2004 M.I.T.G.A.S.P Gilbert & Sullivan: Thespis
April 3, 2004 B.S.O., Grant Llewellen Vaughan Williams, Musgrave, Walton
January 17, 2004 B.S.O., James Levine Mozart, Carter, Dvorak
December 10, 2003 Australian Opera (DVD) La Bohème
November 13, 2003 Kirov Ballet, St. Petersburg Chopin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky
October 4, 2003 B.S.O., Hans Graf, Claudio Bohóquez Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich
October 4, 2003 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink, Dubravka Tomsic Beethoven
March 8, 2003 M.I.T.G.A.S.P Bizet: Carmen
March 8, 2003 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Beethoven, Harbison
March 7, 2003 Arlo Guthrie Northeastern University
February 21-March 1, 2003 Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience Sudbury Savoyards
January 18, 2003 B.S.O., Ton Koopman, Andreas Scholl Bach, Haydn
December 7, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
November 29, 2002 New York Philharmonic, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Pierre Laurent-Aimard Janacek: Cappriccio; R.Strauss: Burleske; Brahms: Sym. #2
November 2, 2002 B.S.O., Marek Janowski Bartok, Strauss
September 22, 2002 Boston Folk Festival Barachois, Bill Staines, Cheryl Wheeler, Richard Thompson
July 21, 2002 London Philharmonic, Rostropovich Shostakovich, Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk
July 3, 2002 Stan Rogers Folk Festival Oysterband, Fairport Convention, others.
May 3, 2002 The Australian Opera Wagner, Die Meistersinger
April 18, 2002 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Mahler, Sym. # 9
April 13, 2002 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Gondoliers
March 7, 2002 B.S.O., Hans Graf, M. Piccinini, A.Häfliger Colgrass, Schubert
February 21, 2002 B.S.O., James Levine Dvorak, Wuoronen, Mozart, Ligeti,Schumann
January 10, 2002 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Bruckner: Symphony #7
December 9, 2001 Brandeis University Symphony Orchestra Beethoven: Piano Concerto #3; Dvorak: Symphony #6
December 8, 2001 Brandeis University Early Music Society Various works
November 17, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, H.M.S. Pinafore
November 3, 2001 B.S.O., Federico Cortese Ives: Ragtime Dances, Mozart Pf Conc #9 k271, Kurtäg: Grabstein für Stephan; Schubert, Sym. #4
Novembr 2, 2001 Blue Man Group, Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
October 6, 2001 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa Brahms: Symphony #1
May 3-6, 2001 M.I.Tl G & S Players Gilbert & Sullivan: The Grand Duke
April 13, 2001 Harvard-Radcliffe G & S Gilbert & Sullivan: Utopia, Limited
March 4, 2001 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Haydn: Missa in Tempore Belli; Symphony #49 "La Pasione"
March 3, 2001 B.S.O., David Robertson Janácek Sinfonietta,
February 18, 2001 Theatre de Chatelet (DVD) Janácek, The Cunning Little Vixen
February 4, 2001 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Rowe
& Sullivan, The Zoo
February 3, 2001 B.S.O., James Levine Mahler Symphony #3
February 3, 2001 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
December 27, 2000 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Appalchian/African-American Revels
December 23, 2000 San Carlo Opera
(DVD) Wagner, Tannhäuser
November 18,
2000 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, The Sorceror
November 16, 2000 Harvestfest, Newton North High
School
November 2, 2000 B.S.O., Christoph Eschenbach Mozart: Piano
Concerto #23; Mahler Symphony #5
October 24, 2000 Leon
Rosselson Johnny D's
October 7, 2000 The
Savoy-Aires Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado
June 18, 2000 George and his band at Harvey Finstein School of Music
May 21, 2000 Small Ensemble
Concert--Newton North
April 29, 2000 Spring Revels
April 22, 2000 B.S.O., André Previn, Pamela
Frank Previn: Diversions; Barber: Violin Concerto; Mozart: Symphony
#39
March 10, 2000 Revels, Inc/Shakespeare & Co. The Mysteries
February 26, 2000 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa, Christine Goerke, Ian
Bostridge, Thomas Quasthoff Britten: War Requiem
February 19, 2000 B.S.O., Bernard Haitink Mahler: Symphony
#7
February 12, 2000 George and his band at
Harvey Finstein School of Music
January 29, 2000 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle
Peter Donohoe,
PianoDvorák: The Golden Spinning Wheel,
Bartók:
Piano Concerto #1, Brahms: Symphony #2
January 8, 2000 George on
Trombone N.E. Regional Senior District Festival
December 19, 1999 The Christmas Revels,
Cambridge Italian Renaissance Revels
December 12, 1999 Pierre Boulez, Met
Opera (video) Wagner: Siegfried
November 19, 1999 Matapat, Lexington
November 18, 1999 Harvestfest, Newton
North High School St. Sæns Danse Macabre
November 7, 1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, Iolanthe
November 4, 1999 George and his band at
Ryles, Cambridge
October 2, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa
Florence Quivar, Mezzo;
Paula Delligatti, Sop.Mahler, Symphony #2
September 29, 1999 B.S.O., Seiji Ozawa,
Hildegarde Behrens,
SopranoWagner: Tannhäuser, Götterdämmerung
excerpts;
Strauss: Electra excerpt.
August 14,
1999 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert & Sullivan, Crichton
July 24, 1999 David Mallett
June 19, 1999 The
Publick Theatre Gilbert & Sullivan The Yeomen of the Guard
April 13, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music
student groups George and Tova at Watch City
Brewery
March 7, 1999 Newton North High School Chorus
and Orchestra Mozart: Requiem, Symphony #38 ("Prague").
March 5, 1999 Harvey Finstein School of Music student
groups George and Tova in Jazz recital at Newton Congregational Church.
March 4, 1999 Newton North High School various
groups.
February 6, 1999 B.S.O.,Seiji Ozawa,
Jacques Zoon
(flute)Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande "Symphony"
Mozart: Flute
Concerto #1 in G, K.313
Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps.
January 30, 1999 B.S.O., Robert Spano,
Andreas Haefliger
(piano)Lindberg: Arena
Beethoven: Piano Concerto #2
Sibelius: The Swan of
Tuonela, Symphony #3
January 16, 1999 B.S.O., Sir Simon Rattle,
Dawn Upshaw
(sop.)Knussen Flourish with Fireworks
Weir Natural History
Mahler Symphony
#4
Schumann Piano Concerto
December 23,
1998 The
Christmas Revels, Sanders Theatre, Cambridge
December 12, 1998 Caroling with Nym
Cooke, Hardwick, Mass.
November 28,
1998 B.S.O., Roberto Abbado,
Lief
Ove Andsnes (piano)Mahler Symphony #1
Schumann Piano Concerto
November 8, 1998 M.I.T.G.a.S.P. Gilbert &
Sullivan, The Mikado
Plays:
November 29, 2002 Lorraine Bracco The Graduate
November 23, 2001 Helen Mirren, Ian McKelln The Dance of Death-August Strindberg
September 30, 2000 Tova/Black Box Theatre, Cornell
University The Maids-Jean Genet
May 30,
2000 Kelsey Grammer/Colonial Theatre Macbeth
May 26, 2000 The Huntington Theatre Co. King
Hedley II
September 3, 1999 The Publick
Theatre Nine
August 21, 1999 Orange
Tree Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sonata
August 13,
1999 Firehouse Theatre, Ithaca, N.Y. Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All For
You
May 22-29 Newton South/North High
Schools Richard III
December 18,
1998 Newton North High School The Bone Violin, May Flies
November 12, 1998 Newton North High School To
Kill a Mockingbird
052999
Travels:
April 29, 2005 Cirque de Cyclisme, Greensboro, N.C.
February 16, 2005 Indianapolis
November 24, 2004 Plantation, Florida
October 8, 2004 Santa Cruz, California
October 4, 2004 Las Vegas, Nevada
June 8, 2004 France, England
December 22, 2003 Halifax, Nova Scotia
November 27, 2003 Florida
October 31, 2003 Potomac, Maryland
October 10, 2003 Las Vegas, Nevada
September 21, 2003 New York, N.Y.
November 27-30, 2002 New York, N.Y.
October 8-13, 2002 Evanston, Illinois
October 4-8, 2002 Las Vegas, Nevada
July 3-9, 2002 Canso, Nova Scotia
May 24-27, 2002 Long Island, New York
November 21-24, 2001 New York City
October 16-19, 2001 Cape Cod, Massachusetts
September 29-October 3, 2001 Las Vegas, Nevada (Interbike Show)
June 16-23, 2001 Nags Head, North Carolina
October 5-14, 2000 Evanston, Illinois
September 30-October 2, 2000 Ithaca, New York
June 22-25, 2000 Urbanna, Virginia
October 7-13, 1999 Chicago/Evanston,
Illinois
August 19-28, 1999 Ithaca, New
York
August 12-13, 1999 Ithaca, New York
July 23-25, 1999 Bridgeton, Maine
November 25-28, 1998 Fort Lauderdale,
Florida
1988-89 France, England
1980 Yucatan, Mexico
1975 England,
Belgium, Yugoslavia, Turkey
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