Music and the holidays

It's been a rough month but I was fortunate enough to meet The Vessels, a British Prog/Pop/Rock, on their way to record their first album in the States. I didn't hear their music until after I had met them and now that I have, geezus, they rock!

Check them out here.

Do yourself and your ears a favor and find them near you and go see them. They'll be in Oxford on 10 January. And so will I.

Belfast - Never again

Recently I went to Belfast to visit with a good colleague and friend from graduate school. He is an accomplished political scientist on his second Fulbright studying ethnic conflict. His studies took him to Belfast.

The city looks as though it has and continues to be a 'conflict area'. There were dangerous places to go - even during the day - and suspicious glances and a generally gruff style of interaction with the locals. We surveyed the most active parts of Belfast, visiting Shankill and New Lodge. The murals depicting the costs of continued conflict between the Republicans and the Loyalists are not hard to miss.

Dr. Brent Never was an excellent guide, filling in the seemingly innocuous walks with terrifying information about the places we were. Of course, we also had a lot to catch up on which made the visit more than worth it.

Anyway, the 'edge' that this city had was easily dispelled by authentic Guinness and Bushmills.

The show

There is a fool born every minute. The one I am referring to is the one that gave Ryan and me a venue for what we call music. The Oxford music scene will, like the city itself after the floods, take some time to recover.

On a recent Thursday night, we played at the St. Aldates Tavern -acoustic rock covers with a few original ditties thrown in. We repeated this nuttiness on Saturday at the Kite. Both nights were (by some obscure metric) successes. We made our way through approximately 35 songs including the Eagles, van Morrison, U2, Coldplay, STP, Skynyrd, and some lesser known American and British artists.

Despite our best efforts, it was a good time for all. Hopefully we can pull off one more...

Guy Fawkes Night - November 5th

Guy Fawkes Night is the "celebration" of Guy Fawkes attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605 with most of England's and Europe's dignified inside. He was stopped at the last minute, tortured, and killed.

So, tonight there are more fireworks (to accompany this weekend's continuing explosions) and a bonfire at which traditional songs and food are sung are served, respectively.

This was the basis for the movie V for Vendetta.

Oxford: Latitude: 51°45'00"N

I will be reporting the results of a new experiment that I will be conducting as soon as the sun comes out again. Given that we are so far up the globe (relatively), the sun is at a strikingly low angle and I want to find out what that angle is.

So, taking a page from any secondary education geometry book (see page 143, exercise 12 a and b - be sure to show your work), I am going to stick a pole in the ground, measure its height and the length of the shadow it casts (at 9am, noon, and 3pm - the only times that I think the shadow will be dark enough). Then, using the tangent calculations (opposite over adjacent), figure the closest angle (and of course via several assumptions of perpendicularity).

Neato.

Second, it is the warmer trade winds that keep Britain from getting as cold as Canada.

For comparison:
Juneau (capital of Alaska): Latitude: 58º 18' N
Olympia (capital of Washington): Latitude: 47º 02' N
Nashville (capital of Tennessee): Latitude: 36.1589

Avebury

In Avebury there is the largest circle of stones in England. Stonehenge fails to compare. The stones are set in concentric circles that extend a mile in each direction. An ariel view makes it look like the fertility rite it is. Amazing in that it has been around and remains around after all this time.

Heimat

The Germans have a concept called Heimat. The idea is essentially the notion of connection in the present including the people and place where this happens. This is not an excusive German idea although it originated there.



One can have Heimat in a new country with new acquaintences or more likely where you are from. The connection that is shared with others in an environment in which you develop is Heimat. But the catch is that you can also not have Heimat in this situations. It depends.



On occasion, and you often feel it, there are relationships and places that seem to generate a synergistic effect on yourself. You are more productive, optimistic, and welcome. That is Heimat.



The Germans - and others - still cannot define Heimat. It has to be experienced

Country Afternoons

Eager to redeem myself from the poorly chosen walk 2 weeks ago, I decided to plan and better enjoy another walking trip.

I again followed the Thames River Path - although this time from the south. Saturday I took a bus from Oxford to Shillingford. I jumped off the bus and immediately started walking in the direction we had just come from and quickly found the entrance to the path. Well, I had to jump a fence and cut across a field, but the Thames Path is essentially a worn path on fields next to the river so it was an appropriate way to start the trip.

There were a few differences from the first walk marathon. One, it was colder so I packed a variety of layering clothes including a very good rain jacket as it had been threatening to rain for the past 3 days. Sandwich, water, phone, £15, although no safety whistle.

As I always do, I wore shorts which proved to be a bit trickier as several times the path was covered by the famous English stinging nettles. These feel like a small bite but then the burning starts... and often lasts for 4 hours. But, in one moment of luck many days before, someone had mentioned that next to and often in these nettles another plant grew that could be rubbed on the affected part and the stinging would stop immediately. I am pleased to report that this is in fact the case! I of course looked a little silly running through these patches screaming only to stop and seemingly rub the same plant on my legs as I got through.

Also unlike the Banbury walk, there were several (albeit unused) pillboxes from WWII. Pillboxes are a low-roofed concrete emplacement for one or a few machine guns or even an antitank gun. The windows are shaped so that the person inside has a wide range of motion while only exposing a sliver of themselves to attackers' guns. I must admit, when you aren't expecting them, they can make you jump when you come around a corner to find one at the other side of the field.

I also had the good fortune to find a field mouse. Now, these aren't the longish ones seen around the house, but are round, like little puffs of brown cotton. This one was not inclined to leave the path so I squatted down and watched him for a bit. Soon after it realized that the path might not be the best spot for longevity and moved on.


I was also confronted with an unwelcoming bull. There had been a sign several fields back, "Beware of bull and cows with calves" (I was impressed that the plural of calf was spelled correctly). I tried to figure who would put a bull on a public path but about 4 fields later, there he was. Unfortunately, I had gotten about half way across the field when we discovered each other. The bull quickly lined up on me, head (and horns) first. I started backing up toward the fence - about 50 yards away. When I managed to get what I considered a head start, I turned and ran. The bull didn't make a concerted effort but was moving in my direction. To avoid another confrontation, I walked the long fence into the woods and followed the next fence headed toward the river at a perpendicular angle from the first one. Near the end of this fence, the bull noticed me again but I'm sure felt outwitted and let me go.

Update I:

Little did I know but I did discover that this stretch of the Thames was also the setting for Jerome K. Jerome's famous Three Men in a Boat (book version, movie version - with Michael Palin and Tim Curry, no less).

Walk-a-thon

This past weekend, I decided to take a long walk Taking advice from a local colleague, he suggested going up to Banbury and walking back on the towpath along the canal. Having walked this in Oxford and enjoyed it, I thought this would be a good idea. In fact, it is a good idea however not expertly excuted by me.

Banbury, according to Google maps, is roughly 24 miles. I can walk 24 miles. So, looking at the train schedule (at which I also noted that the trip was only 15 minutes), I arrived noon-ish with a backpack, a sandwich, a banana, one liter of water, and a jacket.

At the end of 4 hours, I stopped and wondered around which next bend would I find Oxford. Asking in the local pub (which hadn't opened yet but the proprietor took pity on me and gave me a pint of Guinness - For Strength!), he said that I was almost half way.

Almost half way?!?

Turns out that the towpath winds across the plains north of Oxford to make the trip not 24 miles but a bit more than 32.

I did eventually make it and I can say that it was rather beautiful if long. A better planned day with more breaks and less hustle would have made it quite a pleasant trek.

Remiss-ness

It has been a surprisingly long time since I have written anything. The central element to that situation is that not much has happened. The groove is beginning to take shape and familiar speed.

I've also lost the capacity to take pictures as my camera is kaput. However, it is in the repair shop and I hope to soon add some new pictures. One will certainly be of my basil plant that I call, "Hulk".

When you see the picture, you will, too.

I am No. 2

Of all the things I did not expect to happen to me in Britain, it was being unseated as the reigning Rush air guitarist.



For years I have embarrassed friends and family (but not myself, of course) by gesturing some approximation of Alex Lifeson's guitar heroism, with appropriate 'guitar face', in public and private places alike. On driving wheels, on broom handles, on people's arms. In grocery stores, restaurants, on public streets. No matter. Upon hearing Rush, one is required to raise your eyebrows, point at the source of the audio nectar, and say, "no, wait..." and then squeeze up your face, and fake your best guitar moves to one (if it is a key note), several (if it is a riff or solo), or the entirety (if you catch it at the beginning).



That being said, this past week, I was invited by a group of Brazilians to their cookout. One of the guys simply outdid my best efforts. It was just an intangible force of presence that could not be beat. That and he carried the broom handle around with him all night and would take any opportunity to play one, several, or all of the notes.



There are pictures. I will get one up as soon as possible.



Until then....

Sut rydych chi?

Wales is full of sheep. In fact, there are more sheep than people.

Annie and I went to Wales for a long weekend and ended up in Bala (in Snowdonia) and Aberaeron (on the coast) for no better reason than we could pronounce them. Imagine either of us trying to tell you about our pleasant weekend in Blaen-cil-ileach or an afternoon hike around Llyn Trawsfynnd.

It is a remarkably beautiful part of England, with lush greenery, hearty abbeys and castles (thanks to a close - albeit unbalanced - relationship with both the Romans and the English), tasty food, and very narrow roads. We did not however partake in any Welsh rarebit as there are rumored nightmares associated with eating too much of it!

To and from, I was able to practice driving on the left side of the road, navigate several roundabouts (many in quick succession), and generally make myself less of a road hazard.

Did I mention the sheep?

PS - The headline is Welsh for "how are you?"

Engineering Feats

The front door (which is of course on the back of the flat in the same way my 'backyard' is in the front) with sandbags (taken at 2am). I know it doesn't look like much but just a few feet of water can make a mess of things outright.



These bags has since been moved to a spot along the wall close by in case I might need them again. If, however, you feel the need to own one of these, I will sign it and send it C.O.D. airmail from Europe.

Blackberry Jam

Let's be clear....and this has been going on for some time, the annual rituals that are so ingrained in the culture that pass unnoticed, unmentioned and even, unconsidered to the locals never fail to amaze me.

This morning I heard what I thought were - and most certainly sounded like - rats trying to burrow their way into my flat. (By the way, if you are keeping count, this is the third time that I have shot straight up in bed in a "what is going on!?!" manner. This, in my estimation, is getting to be a bit tired.) Upon inspection, I discovered instead scavengers of the blackberry bush outside my window.

I didn't know to prepare myself for this, particularly the mad picking I saw on my walk to work that everyone was taking part in - on cue from some cultural dogwhistle that only Brits can hear, I suppose.

Good news, however, is that Annie is quick to the rescue with:

Blackberry Jelly

- 3 1/2 cups blackberry juice (takes about 3 quart boxes berries)
- One package powdered pectin
- 4 1/2 cups sugar

To prepare juice. Sort and wash fully ripe berries; remove any stems or caps. Crush the berries and extract juice.

To make jelly. Measure juice into kettle. Add the pectin and stir well. Place on high heat and, stirring constantly, bring quickly to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add the sugar, continue stirring, and heat again to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.

Having a blackberry bush outside your window is not as bucolic as it might sound but yes, it is nice.

More news on water

Last night at 2am the Fire Brigade woke everyone one in my neighborhood up to alert them to a wall water, 2-3 feet high, coming down the Thames. we quickly went into the street to queue up for the sandbag lorry. For about two hours we carried 30lbs. bags of sand (not bags with £30 in them) and placed them around both my doors. Others in the area were evacuated.

Was very pleased not only to wake up to a dry flat but also that - after looking outside - noted a distinct dryness. Disaster averted.

Aunt Sally

For some sporting groups of guys, this past Saturday morning's rain was enough of a deterent to forgo playing cricket. I know this as I ran into this same group at about 4 in the afternoon in the local pub, The Kite.

They were playing - in the rain no less - "Aunt Sally". My curiosity got the best of me and went to investigate. Turns out, it is a game that consists of taking wooden batons - that weigh about half of a baseball bat - and throwing them at a wooden 'head' painted all white about 25 feet away. The object is to knock it off its stand cleanly (i.e. not hitting the pole it is on or bouncing it off a friend or nearby wall).

Seemed easy enough and as soon as I opened my mouth was invited to learn this new sport. As Nick handed me the batons, he announced to everyone, "We'll stay here til he gets one!" and under his breath to me he said, "I got to be home at 11". It took me about 15 batons but I finally got a clean hit.

For the truly interested: http://www.tradgames.org.uk/games/Aunt-Sally.htm

Kites, by the way, are birds of prey - raptors - with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. I say this as The Kite has a big bird on its Arms and I am often misheard when mentioning this pub.

Spurious Correlations

Brian May, the guitarist for Queen, is set to get his Ph.D.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6912307.stm

Good for him!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

It seems that this past Friday (20 July 2007), Oxfordshire received two month's worth of rain in about 24 hours. This resulted in what you would expect, a flood. Look at the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/) and you will find pictures of the towns and neighborhoods right around my new flat. Fortunately, my flat is dry and the waters seem to be receding although I did sleep with one foot on the floor for about 3 nights!

Here are a few photos I took myself.

As close to pop culture as I can...

This morning I took a long walk to the north Wolvercote cemetery. In an inauspicious spot lies the author of 'The Hobbit' and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The cemetery itself is beautiful if somewhat poorly placed on the cusp of the Ring Road around Oxford. Regardless, I spent the morning taking pictures of it and finding it the easiest subject so far to shoot (see http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/m2loveless).

On the way back along the canal, I found a family of ducks and ducklings swimming around an enormous swan. The swan let it be known that it was not pleased with my presence but I was simply amazed at how big it was.

Moving tomorrow...pictures to follow.

It is unavoidable at this point. On Monday, the 16th of July, I take brief possession of a hired automobile. In order to make my new apartment feel like home, I am making a run to the nearest IKEA in Milton-Keynes. And to avoid having to wear the pots on my feet and drag a sack of wine glasses behind me on the train (or bus), I decided to rent a car for the day.

That being said, to account for the unavoidable, I am as well taking 3 monkeys to set loose in the cabin of the car in order to have a valid excuse when pulled over by the police.

My advice is to watch BBC on Tuesday and look for this car, 3 monkeys, and me.

Oh Seven, Oh Seven, Oh Seven

It occurred to me as I went out for a long walk along the canal and back through the cattle, that having seen the bicycling Britons, having seen the rabbits in the fields, having seen the little old ladies in the shops, Monty Python makes not only more sense but is also funnier in my estimation.

This is obvious cause for alarm.

Tomorrow, the project is to get up at the crack of the sun coming up (roughly 4am) and go 'round Oxford taking pictures. The results of this adventure will - with any luck - be posted here or there (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/m2loveless) in the next few days. My idea is to take so many pictures that pure statistical happenstance would results in roughly 5 ultimately displayable pieces to catalogue my time in Oxford (as well as provide clear evidence of my photographic acumen).

This seems to be the appropriate venue for the series of (mis)adventures I constantly seem to find myself in. So, given that I find myself both in Oxford and constantly trying to update everyone, I think that I will try this as a means to communicate - not less personally - but more efficiently. That is in no means a comment on how much I enjoy communicating but rather that this new job is kicking my butt! Don't expect to find great wisdom or answers to anything but you are welcome to search for humor (of course, those may, on many occasions, be easily interchangeable).

I am following in the 'foots' of greater bloggers than myself and I make no pretense of knowing what I am doing so please, if you do have a comment, keep it to yourself. You can expect that I will make an effort to update this regularly and misspell at random. You must admit, this is better than getting a handwritten letter and having to pay for someone to decipher it for you.

Please be sure to visit my web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/m2loveless/ I, of course, will figure out soon that I can post pictures here as well and will give that a go soon enough. Settle down.