#dtphx musings: a tumblelog

This has got to be one of the most beautiful movements of any...

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:24:17 -0700

This has got to be one of the most beautiful movements of any setting of the Mass. I think it’s the ‘cello solo.

addieis: One stupid thing and I melt so damn easily.

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:39:29 -0700

addieis:

One stupid thing and I melt so damn easily.

beingblog: “Organ playing is the manifestation of a will filled...

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:59:29 -0700

beingblog:

“Organ playing is the manifestation of a will filled with the vision of eternity.”

—Charles Marie Widor from an interview with Albert Schweitzer.

Photo by Ben Cooper. (Taken with instagram)

Trout is delicious.

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:28:29 -0700

Trout is delicious.

Tonight’s playlist: the @ChicagoSymphony’s...

Sun, 13 May 2012 20:44:50 -0700

Tonight’s playlist: the @ChicagoSymphony’s GRAMMY-winning album from 2011.

Whilst the Mozart might have been the earworm du jour, this...

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:07:11 -0700

Whilst the Mozart might have been the earworm du jour, this rarely-performed work of Claude Debussy is today’s playlist.

This tune has been an earworm today! I should note that I have...

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:15:54 -0700

This tune has been an earworm today! I should note that I have this recording as an LP.

coppasu: Earth Without Art is Just ‘Eh”

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:59:17 -0700

coppasu:

Earth Without Art is Just ‘Eh”

Partisan Psychology: Why Are People Partial To Political Loyalties Over Facts?

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:33:50 -0700

Partisan Psychology: Why Are People Partial To Political Loyalties Over Facts?:

npr.org

Two-thirds of Republicans say the president can do something about high gas prices; about two-thirds of Democrats say he can’t. But six years ago, with a Republican president in the White House, those numbers were reversed. Researchers…

Whoops…

theatlantic: Americans Trust Local Government More Than...

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:30:42 -0700

theatlantic:

Americans Trust Local Government More Than Washington

With partisan gridlock and congressional dysfunction, Americans may have lost faith in their federal government, but an overwhelming majority view state and local government favorably. More than 6 in 10 Americans hold favorable views of state and local government, while just 33 percent view the federal government favorably – down from 64 percent a decade ago.

Read more at The Atlantic Cities. [Image: Pew Research Center]

For what it’s worth…

Final thoughts on the Urban Grocery's closing

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:01:20 -0700

Final thoughts on the Urban Grocery's closing:

I believe that we need to move on from lamenting that the indoor Urban Grocery is closing to finding ways to write the next chapter in the life of the Downtown Phoenix Public Market. If there’s one thing that we in downtown Phoenix are good at, it’s rallying around a common cause. Let’s do that again and show our community our determination and our resolve.

The Downtown Phoenix Public Market is closing.

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:48:28 -0700

The Downtown Phoenix Public Market is closing.

Federal funding for bike routes pays off in Twin Cities Richard...

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:01:13 -0700

Federal funding for bike routes pays off in Twin Cities
Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune, startribune.com

If you build it, they will bike. A lot.
That, in essence, is the conclusion of a four-year, $100 million pilot project in four communities, including the Twin Cities, on whether investing in bike and pedestrian infrastructure pays…

Time for Phoenix to pay attention.

newshour: May the fourth be with you. And also with you.

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:54:48 -0700

newshour:

May the fourth be with you.

And also with you.

A perfect example of why we need design review in Phoenix: here...

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:18:11 -0700

A perfect example of why we need design review in Phoenix: here is a typical suburban Chase branch bank right next to one of the busiest METRO light rail stations (Christown). I have nothing against Chase Bank here but I have something against those who allowed this to be here.

This is antithetical to smart urban design. Plus, there’s a midcentury Chase branch just north of this location. Sometimes, I think that Phoenix doesn’t want to be a urban city.

Grr.

If Your Child Listens to Classical Music

Tue, 01 May 2012 23:01:05 -0700

The Haydn Effect: Child is witty and quick on his feet, quite often bringing a grin to the faces of those around him. Despite this he exhibits remarkable humility.

The Bach Effect: Child memorizes Scripture and says his prayers every day; may overwhelm listeners with his speech.

The Handel Effect: Much like the Bach Effect; in addition, the child may exhibit dramatic behavior.

The Beethoven Effect: Child develops a superiority complex and is prone to violent tantrums; is a perfectionist.

The Liszt Effect: Child speaks rapidly and extravagantly, but never really says anything important

The Bruckner Effect: Child speaks very slowly and repeats himself frequently. Gains a reputation for profundity.

The Grieg Effect: This child is quirky yet cheery. May be prone toward Norwegian folklore.

The Wagner Effect: Child becomes a megalomaniac. Speaks for six hours at a stretch.

The Schoenberg Effect: Child never repeats a word until he has used all the other words in his vocabulary. Sometimes talk backwards or upside-down. Eventually people stop listening to him. Child blames them for their inability to understand him.

The Ives Effect: Child develops a remarkable ability to carry on several separate conversations at once.

The Stravinsky Effect: Child is prone to savage, guttural and profane outbursts that lead to fighting and pandemonium in preschool.

The Shostakovich Effect: Child only expresses themselves in parent-approved ways.

The Cage Effect: Child says exactly nothing for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Preferred by 9 out of 10 classroom teachers.

The Glass Effect: Child repeats one word over, and over, and over, and over….

"Here’s one to ponder….. So in the last 7 months or so, I’ve had more than a few..."

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:34:47 -0700

“

Here’s one to ponder…..

So in the last 7 months or so, I’ve had more than a few opportunities to hear classical music via infant toys. Most of it is either Haydn or Mozart it seems. Nothing wrong with that. But would it kill the people at Fisher Price, Playskool, or wherever to throw in a little Mahler or Shostakovich maybe on some of their toys? Now that would be kinda’ cool…….

Okay, then…..talk to you all in awhile.

- Ward

”

- From the Music Through The Night Facebook page, 1 May 2012

Wondering why I stay on the leading edge of historic...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:53:00 -0700

Wondering why I stay on the leading edge of historic preservation? One week ago, there was a house on this dirt lot. Now…nothing. (Taken with picplz.)

"Jimmy [Kimmel] got his start years ago on ‘The Man Show.’ In Washington, that’s..."

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:49:37 -0700

““Jimmy [Kimmel] got his start years ago on ‘The Man Show.’ In Washington, that’s what we call a Congressional hearing on contraception.””

- President Barack Obama at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, 28 April 2012

Cute cats WITH NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!? Where...

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:49:02 -0700

Cute cats WITH NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!? Where do I donate?

nprfreshair:

Best Pledge Drive video I’ve seen this Pledge Drive. (via WBEZ) [Any others you’ve seen that are funny?]