China’s Gunpowder Finally Does the Trick
What follows is a first-person transcription of trash-talk directed at China. It was spoken snarkily by someone at the head office. Don’t worry, it’s not like anyone in China is ever going to read it. Also, everyone at the front office knows that most of things in the front office were Made In China.
“So, the Chinese spacemen just returned to earth. It’s amazing. In the late sixties, the United States got astronauts to The Moon using calculations done on slide-rules. Forty years later, China went for their own space-jaunt with their own technological handicaps: the rocket they used to escape earth’s gravity was apparently dipped in lead paint, and the astronaut’s energy drinks were spiked with melamine. Maybe later they can get an under-age gymnast to break her record without any gravity at all?”
October 7th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
mmmmm….Melanine….
What’s the deal with you? Tennessee? Minneapolis? Huh? I play trombone. Stuck doing Jury Duty this week (and next) in Columbus Ohio. AARGH. Discovered your blog. I’ve been enjoying it and the fab MP3s.
I lived in Minneapolis for 14 years (St. Paul, actually). Was director of IT for PRI. Moved to Columbus about four years ago. (It blows)
While in Minneapolis, I did a good bit of playing around town, but never ran in to you. When did you move there? Do you do classical, too? I suck at jazz, even though it’s my first love. I put together a full orchestra to play in homeless shelters. we did three shows before we decided that it was too much work to keep doing.
Love the mp3 of “Yes_You!” with Dick Lieb. I went to high school in NY, and my HS band director (back in the 70s) knew Dick. He convinced Dick to let my HS group do Urbie Green’s “A Very Precious Love” from his “Big Beautiful Band” album. The kick was that I had to copy out all the parts.
I’m thinking of buying a Shires, eventually. How’s yours working out? How’s did the lead pipe hell end? I play a Getzen Eterna from 1974 (my first decent horn), and a Conn88H. Played a 42B for years (1976 vintage). Didn’t know how awful it was until I played the Conn 88H for a week. Love the Bach sound, but jeeze it gives NOTHING back.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Thanks for the comment. You, like the Chinese astronauts, have boldly gone where (few) have gone before. I can definitely recommend Shires trombones. Of course, it’s best if you can go to Hopedale and try out the various component combinations that are available. Then, you can mull it over while they hand you another trombone… I’ve had my Shires for nearly a year, and it’s great! The lead-pipe problem, I think, was mostly an aberration.