Memetic Syns

Playing the Pennywhistle

Charles Krause — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:27:08 +0000

In a previous article I described why I personally chose to learn the pennywhistle, and listed a number of resources that I used to select my whistle and that I am currently using to guide my initial study of the instrument. At the end of that article, I mentioned that the process of learning to play had revealed a number of surprises both about Pennywhistles themselves, and about the experience of learning to play an instrument.

This time around, I’ll cover the surprising technical aspects of the pennywhistle, and in an upcoming article, I’ll explain those experiential aspects of learning to play that have been (mostly pleasant) surprises.

If you’re an experienced whistler this will all be “old hat”, but if — like me — you’re just starting out, or you’re contemplating picking up the pennywhistle (a choice I’d highly recommend - it’s a whole lot of fun), perhaps you can avoid some of the problems described below, or find a better understanding as to why your whistle does what it does.

Why Tattoos?

Charles Krause — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:30:18 +0000

A quick disclaimer for family who are reading this: I haven’t gone out and gotten a tattoo — yet. But I have been giving tattoos a lot of thought recently, mulling over their appeal, and why the designs that appeal to me do so. A quick warning for anyone considering getting a tattoo: remember that they’re [...]

Picking up the Pennywhistle

Charles Krause — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 17:44:18 +0000

I've always regretted not having an "artistic" outlet, but as I don't paint, draw, sculpt, compose, and I've been told I shouldn't sing in public, what's left? Playing an instrument seems a natural choice, but could I? A hand injury has ensured I'll never be a violinist, and I have somewhat limited patience, so what's left? After some online research, some deliberation, and an examination of my musical tastes, I've finally settled on the pennywhistle.

It came from outer space! – New year’s meteor in NJ

Charles Krause — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:45:17 +0000

If you think you’ve had a hectic holiday season, consider the plight of one family in Freehold Township New Jersey [map], 50 miles south of New York, whose home was punctured by a meteorite on January 2nd! A golf ball sized object crashed through the roof of the family’s home, ricocheted off the bathroom tiles and [...]

Calendar Technology

Charles Krause — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 20:52:59 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I don’t normally think of Calendars as a technological innovation; they’re just things to hang on walls and write appointments into. However, this is the time of year to replace our calendars, and a time of year that is replete with holidays, many of them determined by calendars that [...]

Struggling with structure

Charles Krause — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 21:10:12 +0000

The struggle to find a “voice” – a balance between content/topics and form – continues, but I may have found a workable solution. The Problem OK, to review the facts: I blog primarily to work out ideas for myself. However, having people read and comments on what I’m writing is something I’d like as well. External viewpoints act [...]

Appropriate technology

Charles Krause — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 10:26:01 +0000

It’s the Christmas season, with shopping centers crammed with consumers, and corporations touting the latest releases just in time for the holidays: new books, new fashions, and new gadgets. While I love new gizmos and doohickeys, and I’m always happy to see what the latest technological developments can do (and to devise all sorts of [...]

Transforming our senses

Charles Krause — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:01:10 +0000

Did you read comic books as a kid, or do you read comic books now? Do you remember those ads in the back which advertised all sorts of amazing sounding junk: sea monkeys, Charles Atlas body building books, pepper gum, and x-ray specs? I do, and although I never did send in my hard-earned money [...]

Struggling with style

Charles Krause — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:55:02 +0000

I’ve noticed a real problem with writing in this blog. It isn’t that I don’t have any topics to write about; my “drafts” collection in this blog’s control panel has half-a-dozen articles on the go. It isn’t that I don’t know exactly what I want to say about those topics; I have the articles perfectly pictured [...]

What’s in a name?

Charles Krause — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:49:03 +0000

When I explained why I blog, I said I’d also explain the “weird name” and why it changed from Memetic Selection to Memetic Syns — although blog names tend to be quirky and often admit no explanation other than writer whim. I explained that that this blog is a forum for me to structure and articulate [...]