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January 31 Venus and JupiterThis morning at 5:45 I got up to walk the Monster and was greeted by a spectacular sight, in the constellation of Sagittarius, in the South Eastern sky, just above the horizon, were Venus and Jupiter, as bright as they ever are in the sky, less than a degree apart. They were barely above the horizon, bright, and very, very close to each other. Now it's rare to see two planets so close and so bright, so this morning was a treat indeed! When I got back inside I brought up my ephemeris program and they will be even closer tomorrow morning and perhaps brighter. It will be the closest they will be in a long time. In any event, they will be a treat all week as Venus moves away from Jupiter. And you can get up a little later and see them at their closest point at about 6:15 to 6:30. Don't wait too late as the sun will obliterate the sight. Enjoy waking up to the two titans! "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" January 22 Arlo GuthrieI had a chance yesterday to hear an interview on XM radio with Arlo Guthrie. Now I haven't exactly been a fan of his in the past. I've been a great fan of his dad's, Woodie Guthrie, who I think is one of the greatest American singers and songwriters. But Arlo has just kind of left me bland. But on the radio yesterday he sang one of his new songs, off of a new album of the same name, "In Times Like These." It's an incredible song, an anthem for our times, at the same time both hopeful and full of despair at the way things have been in the last twenty years. I immediately went to iTunes and bought the album and have been blown away by the songs, some new, some old, and some standards. Arlo's voice has the melancholy of things remembered. He reminds us that looking back on our lives, even good lives filled with joy, always engenders an element of melancholy for things lost and a past lived the best we could.
Now I'm sure he's pissed off some of his long time fans, who'd be very upset with his doing such standards as "Can't Help Falling in Love." In fact, I loved his version. He can barely hit the high notes any more, but he's singing to the love of his life, his wife who he's been married to now thirty years. There's something really sweet about it. And there is his one and only top twenty hit, "City of New Orleans." But all the songs are done in this wistful, looking back kind of style, with a full symphony orchestra backup!
Like I said, not everyone's cup of tea, but it blew me away and made me cry several times. What more can an old banjo picker ask for, but to listen to a folksinger who sings real!
January 18 Winter IntersessionHectic time of year. Working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from noon to 10 pm. Long days. And last weekend I was in Berkeley for a M&O subcommittee meeting. I miss the days when I could stay at Jaemon and Tana's house in Santa Clara. Slept at Elaine's, which is wonderful since it's right in the heart of Berkeley. Today I get to go help mediate a labor dispute. I've told them I'm not sure I can help at all, but I'm willing to come and work with them today. The rest of the weekend will be taken up with grading our first intersession exams. |
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