Teen Repellant

Aah the endless possibilities of disturbing air molecules:

The device, called the Mosquito (“It’s small and annoying,” Mr. Stapleton said), emits a high-frequency pulsing sound that, he says, can be heard by most people younger than 20 and almost no one older than 30. The sound is designed to so irritate young people that after several minutes, they cannot stand it and go away.

Pandora

Pandora is a fun little project that creates a radiostation for you based on the artist/song you initially gave it. I typed in Frank Zappa upon which it started to play what it thinks is Zappa-related music and informed me that:

Based on what you’ve told us so far, we’re playing this track because it features a subtle use of vocal harmony, mild rhythmic syncopation, demanding instrumental part writing, mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation and a vocal-centric aesthetic.

Mild rhythmic syncopation, eh?

Begging The Question

Paul Sempschi says:

“Begs the question” is a logical phallacy whereby someone has created an argument based on his thesis (Eg. God has created the universe because the universe was created by God). “Begs the question” is not to cause one to ask further question. Sorry but it really, really bugs me when people abuse this phrase.

And look, he is entirely correct!

Stuttgart ’88 (1)

So we went to see the insanely talented Rufus Wainwright at the AB yesterday and a mighty grand time was had. Since I’m seriously lacking in caffeine at this time of the morning, I won’t go into the details — besides I have a sneaking suspicion you’re more interested in certain other things

Update: with thanks to Bert, here’s a photogallery of the FZ venue.

Help Michael Brecker: Get Tested

Back in August KUR reported how Michael Brecker had been diagnosed with MDS. Now it seems the initial search for a donor, including Michael’s siblings and children, has not resulted in a suitable match. In a remarkable effort, M-Audio is offering to pay for the testing of as many people as possible at any National Marrow Donor Program center. Let’s hope this gets a big response.

Engrish Yes

Plastic models of Rick Wakeman’s keyboards, accompanied by some mysterious commentary:

Mini-Moog Synthsizer is a favorite of Rick. Rick uses this Synthsizer very much as musical instruments. It has had the modulation lamp that favor has it from the lamp of a plastic model of the tank. The photograph that I took is suitable and the focus is not suitable. Excuse me.

RIP Link Wray

Link Wray has died earlier this month in Denmark at age 76. Wray (homepage, currently unavailable), hailed as the inventor of the power chord and the “fuzz” guitar sound, was a big influence to the likes of Pete Townsend, David Bowie and Bob Dylan. In the liner notes of one of Wray’s albums Townsend wrote: “He’s the king. If Link Wray and Rumble hadn’t been there I would never have picked up a guitar.” Some of Wray’s music can be downloaded here.