Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Tango links

The Tango Eternal podcast mentioned some places on the web that are worth a visit.

Hybrid Tango Blog has worthwhile commentary and YouTube videos. Their masthead says, "The secret of tango is in this moment of improvisation that happens between step and step. It is to make the impossible thing possible: to dance silence. This is essential to learn in tango dance, the real dance, that of the silence, of following the melody." Carlos Gavito

There is a website with a large selection of instructional videos, www.argentine-tango.com.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

White Sister's Three Shirt Deal

Just finished two Stephen J. Cannell books back to back; White Sister (2006) and Three Shirt Deal (2007). These are part of the Shane Scully's Tour of Duty series of novels.

Cannell starts an intense subplot in White Sister that get resolved in Three Shirt Deal. I recommend they be read together. The other Scully books are pretty much stand alone although it will flow better in order.

With the exception of #4 they have all been a good read, melting the miles away during my commute.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Taiko at Band Camp

Here is Sharon performing after a week of Taiko drumming class. I went to the first class on Saturday evening but the Zen Kutsu Dachi (warrior pose) doesn't work with the arthritis and it stressed my knee so bad for a short time I didn't think I would be able to walk back to the dining hall. Seems that I got so into playing that I wasn't aware of the pain in my hip and stress on my right knee until we started lifting the drums to put them away for the night :). Add Taiko to my post surgery things to do.

Margaret Goddard, playing the taped tire in front, brought Taiko to Lark Camp for the first time last year. Rick and Jan Babington are the instructors.

Taiko must be experienced live, in person. Our sound systems just do not move air anywhere close to what a bunch of big loud drums can move.

Run Lola Run

Picked up copy of Run Lola Run the other day. Loved it when it came out in 1998 and saw it a couple of times in the theater. Note, this preview's music is very relaxed compared to the film's soundtrack which is driven!

The new HD version is beautiful and has an informative 10 years later feature. We watched it without subtitles, the film is in German, focusing on the details.

Recommend you see this film at some point (if you watch more then 30 movies a year).