Michael Blowhard writes:

Dear Blowhards --

I notice that Charlton Griffin's recent audio production of "The Lady of the Camellias" (the source for "Camille") got a rave ("flawless") in the Boston Globe from the excellent Rochelle O'Gorman.

Charlton, an enthusiastic websurfer, has sent in some terrific linkage:

* Here's how to sell an unpromising movie with some creative trailer-editing.

* Have you ever watched a musical-waterglass virtuoso at work?

* Amanda Coggin lists the ten movies that get her hottest. "Chocolat"? Oh, right: It's a chick's list.

* Many fascinating facts about lightning, as well as lots of fantastic photos.

* This certainly puts it all in perspective.

* Screw alphabetical order; the hell with the Dewey Decimal System. The design-savvy person lines up his books according to color.

* Charlton has been getting fascinated by the late Henry Darger, a Chicago janitor whose creepy visuals of an imaginative world populated by sexy young girls has made him a star of the "outsider art" world. A novel that Darger wrote appears to be one of the longest ever written. Has anyone ever read the whole thing?

* In 2009, Beijing will complete a 682-foot high Ferris wheel.

* Reasonably-priced pocketcams are now showing up that can also take HD videoclips.

* Charlton offers this a propos election-year joke:

Electile Dysfunction. Def: The inability to become aroused over any of the leading choices for president put forth by either party in the 2008 election year.

* Here are some great visuals that allow us to compare the tallest buildings as of the 19th century with the tallest buildings of today:

Best,

Michael

Regarding book organization - one you probably know about, however I can't resist tossing it in: Sorted Books.

Posted by: dr.hypercube on February 14, 2008 8:23 PM

Ages ago, when I first found out about the glass harmonica (or "glass harp," as it's also known), Bruno Hoffmann was considered its most facile performer. And he was great, to be sure, but I'd put the musical-waterglass guy in a whole other category. (Hoffmann played the water-glasses, too, not the Benjamin Franklin-invented revolving water-bowl instrument.) Amazing.

Posted by: Flutist on February 15, 2008 12:02 AM

In 2004, as an art project entitled "There is nothing wrong in this whole wide world," "Adobe Bookshop in San Francisco . . . agreed to allow its estimated 20,000 books to be reclassified by color" by Chris Cobb, who explained his idea in an interview.

NPR reported on project, and included a gallery of photos on its website.

The project also inspired others to create a Rainbow of Books.

Posted by: Dave Lull on February 15, 2008 10:31 AM

I've never played the water glasses, but I am often tempted to be gauche at the dinner table and play the wine glasses.

I will play wine glasses when washing them. It's an irresistable temptation.

Posted by: B. Durbin on February 23, 2008 10:02 PM






Post a comment

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember your info?