Bird News

The Unfathomable

I have been trying to wrap my head around the massive force of nature that swept Asia yesterday:

• An earthqauke so powerful that it "disturbed the Earth's rotation"
  
• Waves at 500mph from Thailand to Somalia- some as high as 33 feet
  
• Survivor accounts of the tide receding 200 meters before the wave hit
  
• Tens of thousands killed in an instant

Pipe Organs, Sushi & Hippie Porn?

On Thursday, Steve, my Mom, Tony, and I attended a free organ concert at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. According to their site, they have one of the largest church organs in the world. It really is spectacular-- 5 sets of pipes controlled by one person. Every Thursday from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m., the church hosts a free recital. Steve, with his never-ending pipe organ obsession, discovered this fact and has made the trek from Topanga to Mid-Wilshire four times in the last two months. This was my second excursion. David Goode, the organist in residence, is amazing. In addition to standard church organ repertoire, he plays some crazy 20th century pieces and uses the organ to its full capacity. Five sets of pipes create a true surround sound experience. To me, the best (and most educational) part lies in the fact that concert goers sit in the pews and get to look directly at Goode's back as he plays the organ from the altar. It is quite entertaining to watch him as he plays intricate bass lines with his feet, switches from manual to manual with his hands, and activates different stop configurations.(That last link is a .pdf)

After the concert, Tony treated us to lunch at Noshi Sushi. When I was a kid, we made weekly pilgrimages there. I learned how to order everything in Japanese because at the time, English was seldom heard on the premises. Twenty years later, they speak more English now, and the sushi is just as delicious. It was fun to say hello to Noshi and various staff members who always remember when I was substantially shorter.

Finally, Guillermo instant messaged me tonight because he noticed an unusual incoming referral link to LocalHarvest from a socially-conscious hippie porn site. From their own description, "Hippie Goddess features all original images of Natural, Hairy, Beautiful Hippie girls." At first glance, it seems like an oxymoron to have hippie porn. Doesn't it sort of defeat the purpose of hippie nakedness? On the other hand, it's somewhat refreshing to see a celebration of all that is non plastic. I guess every sub culture needs its porn!

A New Game for Birds

Matt & Julia introduced us to Robo Rally last night- a robot race-to-the-finish-obstacle course-puzzle-board game. It is hilarious. Apparently, it is out of print but will be coming out again in 2005.