Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Sofia's Band Concert

I'm woefully behind in posting Sofia's various performances on here, but today I thought I'd finally get something up. Sofia had her Spring band concert last night at Arizona School for the Arts. They played three songs. Here's my personal favorite: their version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody...



I like to occasionally zoom in on Sofia's section, but not long after the song started, my "low battery" light started flashing. So I stopped zooming to conserve battery. Luckily, the battery lasted through the whole song. I had a fresh one in my pocket, but I didn't want to switch mid-song, because then I'd miss a little bit.

Oh, one more thing. The sheet music did not include the "head-banging" bit. Mr. Roberts, the band director, being a cool guy, knew you couldn't do Bohemian Rhapsody without that part, so he arranged the part himself. The head-banging bit (those familiar with the movie Wayne's World will know what part I mean) starts at 3:52 in the video. Kudos, Mr. Roberts!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Support Organic Farming

You know I don't often circulate petitions or ask my friends to jump on bandwagons, but this one seemed worth commenting on. I encourage everyone to read it and do as you seem fit.

Subject: Tell Pesticide Peddlers: We support Michelle Obama's organic garden.

The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a bone to pick with Michelle Obama. MACA represents chemical companies that produce pesticides, and they are angry that - wait for it - Michelle Obama isn't using chemicals in her organic garden at the White House.

I am not making this up.

In an email they forwarded to their supporters, a MACA spokesman wrote, "While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder." MACA went on to publish a letter it had sent to the First Lady asking her to consider using chemicals -- or what they call "crop protection products" -- in her garden.

I just signed a petition telling MACA's board members to stop using Michelle Obama's garden to spread propaganda about produce needing to be sprayed with chemicals. I hope you will, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/?r_by=-1995088-2phghGx&rc=paste

Thanks!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Vintage Big Bird

My parents just cut their sheepdog's hair, and the before and after pictures reminded me of the difference between current Big Bird and early Big Bird:




















Big Bird had a hick accent in those early years too!




The second video is the very first time Big Bird appeared on Sesame Street. YouTube is amazing.

Want to see what I mean about the dog haircut? Click here.