John's Other Blog

Ride 'em Cowboy

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:49:00 +0000

From a 1975 Lawrence Welk Show

The song was written by Paul Davis. The performers are Clay Hart, Sandy Griffiths and Gail Ferrell. I think I remember hearing this a long time ago on a Poco LP.

Gol-e Goldoon-e Man #2

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:31:00 +0000

A version without the computer accompaniment

Gol-e Goldoon-e Man #1

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:28:00 +0000

A song that was a hit in Iran in the 1970s by Simin Ghanem

Midnight in Moscows as my Guitar Knows It

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:40:00 +0000

I first heard this on a record by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen

Windin' Boy

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:09:00 +0000

A different version of this Ian Buchanan arrangement of a classic Jelly Roll Morton tune.

Kicked off YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:48:00 +0000

For some reason my YouTube account was permanently cancelled. I just found out about it yesterday and am not exactly sure when it happened. There is no appeal when something like this happens, or even a way to find out why it happened. Google/YouTube has no phone support or customer service, and their terms of service say they can and will do whatever they want to do.

I'm fortunate I didn't have too many embedded videos and it won't be too much work to reload the videos that I care about onto another video site and then reembed them in the places where I had the YouTube ones posted, such as this blog. When this happened I did some checking to see what other people have done. Some people have invested enormous amounts of time and money for years in YouTube videos, only to have everything suddenly wiped out with no warning and no recourse. I didn't find any solutions, just tales of woe.

The lesson I draw from this is that the Internet is a very big place and there is no reason to put all your eggs in any one of its many baskets. Attachment to any one site or user account is unwise. Keep everything backed up in multiple places and have transfer and repositioning mechanisms ready to go at all times, no matter what you are doing. The Internet is wonderful but it can also be cold and treacherous when we are trying to use resources that someone else owns and controls.

We must compete for attention on the net and we must also be prepared always, like good guerrilla fighters, to melt into the digital swamp then pop out cheerfully somewhere else when competitors or bad luck ruin some little place in the sun we've momentarily found for ourselves. This is another version of backing up your data.

I'm a very small and insignificant entity with no defenses when a giant corporation lies to me or double-crosses me, and this happens a lot. I have to stay fit, flexible, mobile and thick-skinned. I sometimes wonder, is anyone really big enough to be immune to these things? If they were would that be good? I'm not sure. There are certain advantages to being obscure and minuscule--that is to say, to KNOWING that you are obscure and minuscule, which is the human condition.

New Year, Every Day

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:50:00 +0000

Start by letting it go. Then reconnect to the stillness.

Music and Poetry Medly

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:20:00 +0000

Perez Prado, Farokhzad, Fahey Medley @ Yahoo! Video

Perez Prado, Forukh Farrokhzad, John Fahey

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White, Bad Mara Khahad Bord, In Christ There Is Neither East nor West.

The Nearness of You

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:15:00 +0000

Nearness of You @ Yahoo! Video

by Hoagy Carmichael

Dedicated to the late Robert Gold

The Outing of the Zahed by Hafez

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:14:00 +0000

Outing fo the Zahed @ Yahoo! Video

Lyrics by Hafez of Shiraz (14th century) music by me

A recluse went to a tavern yesterday and abandoned his vows

The one whose youth had gone to sleep fell crazy in love again in his old age

The fire in the face of the flower burned the nightingale

The laughing face of the candle destroyed the moth

My Travel Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:54:00 +0000

This is a Yamaha silent steel-string guitar; you listen with earphones while playing and it sounds wonderful. It is my hotel room companion when I'm in Egypt.

Gibson Girl

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Gibson Girl @ Yahoo! Video

Written by Billy Byrd (1920-2001) famous as guitarist with Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadors

Chattanoogie Bound

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:13:00 +0000

Chattanoogie Bound @ Yahoo! Video

A tune composed by Jimmy Capps, a long-time Nashville session guitarist and Grand Ole Opry staff musician

HanK Garland Sugarfoot Rag

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:11:00 +0000

My 15 Guitars

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Epiphone Texan FT79N SN 34586 (1961)

I bought this one in second-hand in 1969 in Norman Oklahoma. It is one of my oldest possessions and still my favorite guitar. I replaced the original tuners and bridge very early on and the bracing on the top has been modified twice by a couple of different luthiers to give it a livelier sound. It has been through a lot with me and has plenty of wear and tear to show for it. It has a beautiful tone, but it is not loud enough to be heard unamplified over a lot of other instruments.

Suzuki SST-20CS SN YO801002507

I bought this one in Egypt in April 2008. I got it so I would have a guitar while there. I used it to make this unamplified YouTube video in my hotel room:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTny0WQgIqE

It was very cheap, but made by a company that has many years experience building guitars. It was made to look and sound like a Fender Stratocaster but at a small fraction of the cost. The action, tuning and setup with the rosewood fingerboard are perfect and it is a joy to play. This model is not sold in the US.

Yamaha Silent Guitar

I bought this one in Cairo too in 2009. It is a better travel guitar than the Suzuki because it breaks down better and weighs less. You listen with earphones while playing. I tried to make a midi pickup work with it but did not succeed.

Mexican Midi Stratocaster

My reason for buying this one was to use midi technology for making guitar tablature and sheet music. I haven't learned how to do that yet, but it is fun playing it with midi patches and making unlikely sounds with a guitar.

Nicholas Mushkin Classical Guitar 1973

This one came from a classified ad found in the early 80s after I moved to Michigan. I paid too much for it and have never played it that much although it has a beautiful rich tone.

Taylor 810 1986 SN 4475

I got this one at Elderly Instruments. I needed a louder guitar because I was playing at weekly public jam sessions in a bar where amplification was not allowed and all the fiddles, banjos and other guitars were drowning out the sound of my old Epiphone. This was in 1986, and the other guitarists had never heard of Taylor at that time, so a lot of people were curious about it. I have played it a lot and it has gotten pretty battered. It has a crack in the top caused by changes in humidity, which I have had closed and sealed.

Taylor Dan Crary 1997

I got this one at Elderly Instruments too. It is has a great sound with lots of volume. I have mainly used it at the same public jam session. The cutaway was my main reason for buying it and after I got this one I pretty much stopped using the 810. It also has a crack in the top caused by changes in the humidity, which I have also had closed and sealed.

Peerless Cremona 2008 SN0807649

I got this one because I wanted to have a guitar designed to play jazz. I am not good at playing jazz, but I wanted to have the right sound for it. The Cremona has a carved maple top and maple back and sides, with ebony fingerboard, tailpiece, tuner handles and pickguard. I played it in this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvok2FZ0ST0

Peerless Tonemaster 2008 SN PE0603522

I got this one because it looks like a Gretsch, and in fact has most of the characteristics of a Gretsch 6120. Peerless makes guitars for Gretsch and uses the same build quality for its own guitars. This one has beautiful tone and plays very smoothly.

Peerless Renaissance 2007 SN PE0711445

Epiphone Casino VS 2004 R04H0577

The Peerless Renaissance and the Epiphone Casino are both made by Peerless and are essentially the same guitar with a few minor differences of detail, most noticeably the binding on the Peerless, which is more elaborate. They both have the same jack location on the top of the guitar, the same type of inlay on the neck and the same body shape and size. This guitar is made in the same shape and configuration as the old Gibson ES 330. An earlier Kalamazoo version of the Casino was made famous by the Beatles who used it on stage and in the studio.

Peerless Imperial 2009 PE0903240

The Peerless Imperial has a solid carved spruce top with maple back and sides, ebony fingerboard, tuner knobs, tailpiece and pickguard. It has a warmer sound than the Cremona and is also a little bit louder. The headstock on both the Imperial and the Cremona resembles the headstock design used by the late great American luthier Jimmy D'Aquisto, who worked for a time with Fender Guitars. I believe Peerless is still partly owned by Fender.

Eastman Oval Hole Archtop AR904 2008 SN2868

This guitar was made by the Eastman String Company in Beijing China. It has a warm sound that projects nicely. It has an arched solid carved spruce top, maple back and sides, ebony tuner handles, pickguard, fingerboard and tailpiece. I used it for this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c7g2YB27fU

Eastman AR910CE 2008 SN 3847

This is the loudest of my archtop guitars and one that I really love to play. Like the AR904 it is made with a carved spruce top, maple back and sides, ebony tuner handles, pickguard, fingerboard and tailpiece.

Khayyam Quatrain with Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Khayyam Quatrain with Music @ Yahoo! Video

12th Century Poetry from Iran

Drinking wine and being happy is my custom

Being far away from religion and unbelief is my religion

I asked the bride of time "what is your dowry?"

She said "my dowry is your happy heart."

Masti and Rye Whiskey (Hayedeh and Tex Ritter)

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:21:00 +0000

Masti And Rye Whiskey Hayedeh and Tex Ritter @ Yahoo! Video

Two songs by two wonderful singers, both no longer with us

Just Another Broken Heart (Carter Family)

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Just another Broken Heart Carter Family @ Yahoo! Video

Written by A.P. Carter, recorded by the Carter Family

Windin Boy

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Windin't Boy @ Yahoo! Video

Arranged by Iran Buchanan from Jelly Roll Morton

Chords Gol-e Goldoon-e Man

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Em B7 Em
gole goldoone man shekaste dar baad
Em B7 Em
to bia ta delam nakarde faryad
Em B7 Em
gole shabboo dige shabboo nemide
Em B7 Em
ki goole shabboo ro az shaakhe chide
Em Am D G C
goosheye asemoon, pore ranginkamoon
C B7 Em
man mese tariki, to mesle mahtab
Em Am D G C
age baad az sare, zolfe to nagzare
C B7 Em
man miram gom misham too jangale khaab
Em Am D G C
gole goldoone man, maahe eyvoone man
C B7 Em
az to tanha shodam, cho maahi az aab
Em Am D G C
gole har arezoo, rafte az rango boo
C B7 Em
man shodam roodkhoone, delam ye mordab
Em D
asemoon abi mishe, amma gole khorshid
D C B7
roo shaakhehaye bid, delesh migire
Em D
darre mahtabi mishe, amma gole mahtab
D C B7
az berkehaye khaab, bala nemire
Am Em
to ke das takoon midi, be setare joon midi
B7 Em
mishkofe gol az gole baagh
Am Em
vaghti cheshmaat ham miad, do setare kam miad
B7 Em B7
misooze shaghayegh az daagh
Em Am D G C
gole goldoone man, maahe eyvoone man
C B7 Em
az to tanha shodam, cho maahi az aab
Em Am D G C
gole har arezoo, rafte az rango boo
C B7 Em
man shodam roodkhoone, delam ye mordab

Gol-e Yakh

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:49:00 +0000

Gol-e Yakh (Ice Flower) @ Yahoo! Video

A song made famous by Kourosh Yaghmaee; the title means "Ice Flower" which according to the lyrics is sprouting in a heart filled with sadness

An Opossum

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:58:00 +0000

Last night near dark I was sitting on my front porch after a long walk, enjoying the still, warm air filled with fireflies and mosquitoes. I saw a huge white opossum, its grayish white hair contrasting pleasantly with the deep emerald of my neighbor's lawn. It moved slowly, showing no sign it was aware of my presence. It waddled to the curb, then saw the headlights of an approaching automobile and ran back from the curb to hide under a bush. Then it ran out of that bush to go back into the shrubs around my neighbor's house, where it disappeared.

We see squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, mallard ducks and even deer on my street. I don't see opossums very often, but this one was obviously well fed and not feeling threatened by anything. Dog's don't run loose here, and as far as I know people around here aren't in the habit of killing and eating the opossums.

Myth of Ann Arbor Property Ownership

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:16:00 +0000

According to conventional understanding, I "own" the house I live in. In other words, I do not owe anyone for it and there are no mortgage payments. In truth, my house is owned by the city of Ann Arbor, not me. The city of Ann Arbor collects rent from me on its property. This rent is called property tax. If I do not pay the rent, my landlord, the city of Ann Arbor, will seize the house in which I live and evict me from it. This city ownership of my house is further demonstrated by its control over what I can do with this property that I supposedly "own." If I were the real owner, I could build a covered porch over the front door. Since Ann Arbor is the real owner, and since Ann Arbor doesn't want me to build that porch, there is something called a "zoning law" that makes it illegal for me to build that covered porch. There are other restrictions on the kind of building modifications I can do to this place, also covered in the zoning laws. The city of Ann Arbor prevents its tenants ("property owners") from doing things it does not want them to do the to the properties they rent from it through the payment of property taxes.

Another myth is that the city "owns" the public sidewalk in front of my house. That is not a complete myth. The city does own the sidewalk and I have no say about the sidewalk's design or maintenance. However the city does not take responsibility for sidewalk maintenance, the way any other owner normally would do. The city decides how the sidewalk should be repaired, it decides when that must be done, but the cost of doing that work is paid by me, the nearest available property "owner." I have just received a notice from the city that it wants its sidewalk in front of my house repaired. It has marked the sections of its sidewalk that it wants replaced or repaired, it has established detailed requirements for exactly how these replacements and repairs must be done, and it has set a deadline for me to complete that work. I estimate this is going to cost me about $1000.

I wish there were someone I could send instructions to about repairs on my car. I would tell them exactly what needs to be replaced or fixed and tell them when they have to get it done. Unfortunately, I don't have the same kind of leverage over anybody else that the city of Ann Arbor has over me. The city of Ann Arbor can make me homeless. Therefore, it can also make me pay to repair its sidewalks, because it knows that if I'm not willing to do that, it can simply evict me and find someone else who will do it.

If I don't go along and fix the city's sidewalks for it, I'll be pushed a step further out on the world's long plank of dispossessed people to join the hordes of renters who can't even delude themselves that they "own" something. I happen to have in my possession a little piece of paper called a "deed." That gives me the option of selling someone else the right to pay the property taxes on this parcel and pay for fixing its sidewalk. It doesn't mean I "own" anything.

*****************

Some people will tell me to count my blessings and remind me how much worse things could be--either in the USA under different circumstances or in some other country. I've spent too much time in renter purgatory longing for my own place not to be aware of those considerations, and I've done enough traveling to understand that things are worse in other countries for most people. What I'm talking about now is something else. I'm saying, let's be honest. If we don't own. let's not say we own. I would be more comforatble with something like "taxpayer of first resort."

The Computer "Experience"

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:07:00 +0000

I'm wary of computer products that are marketed as "experiences." If I buy a ticket to see a movie in a theater, I'm buying an "experience." If I buy a computer or some computer software, I'm buying a tool, not an "experience." An "experience" is something the vendor controls. A tool is something I control. If buy a a computer product, I want control over it. The use of the marketing term "experience" is a device to cause users to accept reduced control.

Turk of Shiraz as Maneater

noreply@blogger.com (johncgreen@gmail.com) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Turk of Shiraz as Maneater @ Yahoo! Video