Saturday, February 28, 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Piano/organ


This is a rare Gulbransen with a built-in extra keyboard controlling a Wurlitzer electronic (not tonewheel) organ. It also has built-in accompaniment rhythms, including "Teen Beat."

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Friday, February 20, 2009

Art hero


While in prison, the artist did this drawing on newspaper and sold it for a pittance in order to buy drugs. 

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Peace Corps at the Rubicon


We had a Peace Corps mixer at the Rubicon. It was much more lively than our usual monthly dinners. Most of the people were in their twenties, and most of them were trying to get into the Peace Corps, rather than former Volunteers.
I hadn't been to the Rubicon in something like twenty years. It was packed with noisy people and of course the beer was superb.
In this picture is Nicole Voorhees, the Northern California recruiter, and Mary Taylor, a fellow board member. Coincidentally, all three of us served in the Caribbean. (Car-ri-BE-an)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Kimball at the Columbian Exposition


Some Kimball pianos have this decal which celebrates their winning a medal at the Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893. I have a great fondness for this Exposition, which is celebrated in the book The Devil and the White City. 

You can see some great photos of the Columbian Exposition here.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Secret pouch


I tuned an old piano today that has a little felt pouch tacked to the inside. What was it for? It's too small for the usual things. I put a bridle strap in it, just so it would hold something.
It would be perfect for a golf pencil. But I didn't have one.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Our daughter the Hitler-lover


Rachel was working on a short film about an alternate history where someone actually assassinates Hitler. The woman playing Eva Braun never showed up on set, and the only woman around who could fit into the costume was Rachel.  So she played Eva as a half-Jewish, somewhat Asian brunette. 

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Stuff you should know about Shriners


I played with Buddy Harpham at a Shriners affair tonight. I learned these things:
  1. A Shriner's fez tells you what his job is.
  2. Some fezzes say WRECKING CREW.
  3. The Wrecking Crew is in charge of hazing initiates.
  4. Hazing includes immersion in a vat of tomato sauce with anchovies.
  5. Hazing used to include electric shocks, but not any more.

The eyes seem to follow you everywhere

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Bricka Bracka


This building used to be an antique store (still has the historic marquee). But now it's Bricka Bracka, which reminds me of Andy Warhol's Factory: they make their money doing high-end web and database work, but it also has art, live music, Flash classes, Nintendo, and couches where you can just hang and use the free Wi-Fi. Read more here

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

New York Bagel Boys is (are?) no more


The last place in Sacramento that made real bagels (i.e., boiled the dough) went out of business. It think it's partly the economy and partly because most people here prefer their bagels soft*. Read the Bee article here.
(*As Lenny Bruce said,“If you live in New York or any other big city, you are Jewish. It doesn’t matter even if you’re Catholic; if you live in New York, you’re Jewish. If you live in Butte, Montana, you’re going to be goyish even if you’re Jewish.” )

Sunday, February 01, 2009