The Sonikcycle Syndicate

Although I don’t have much to show for it, I have a passion for wind (aeolian) harps and sound installations. Ever since the other day, when I got on this subject with Steve, I’ve been waiting for some gusty weather so that I could dust off my Standard SoundFarm Issue wind harp, and publish a picture and audio clip to supplement the story I told. We had some wind this evening.

My method of recording was rather crude and resulted in much wind noise. By the same token, that’s what it sounded like ;-> Here’s the audio clip. Someday, when I get the pickup working again, I’ll make some good amplified recordings, God willing. If you listen closely, you’ll hear some creaks then a change in pitch, that’s when I’m “tuning” the harp ;->

Regarding the construction of the SSFI harp, the body is a pine board with a pine block underneath to help stabilize the long neck, which was yanked from a damaged erhu. The short neck was lopped off an old broom, and ornamented with a grinder in the crude fashion characteristic of SoundFarm products. The tuning pegs were from the same disassembled erhu + 1. Down on the Farm, I used to hang the harp from a nail on an outside corner of the house–a great wind-catching spot.

Here’s what a finely crafted (clearly non-SSFI) “window” harp sounds like. Here’s a link to a cool wind site.

Technorati Tags: aeolian, wind, wind harp, piezoelectric pickup, sound installation, art, harp

I just saw Akeelah & the Bee on the big screen. Keke Palmer gave a wonderful performance. Despite the cliches and stereotypes, I (constantly) got the knot, and that’s all that matters for me. Also noteworthy is the remarkable quote that fuels Akeelah’s drive:

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of god. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of god within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
–Marianne Williamson

Technorati Tags: spelling bee, akeelah, keke palmer

I knew it would happen someday, but I truly thought I would cling to the last vestige of my anachronismatical way of life with more vim and tenacity! Long after the most stalwart of hold-outs against cellular telephonic communication had succumbed to the convenience, I held strong. I refused to to wear a wristwatch, and I refused to tote a telephone, that is, until my parents gave me a Motorola cellular telephone for my birthday!

Ironically, I, the Man-without-cellphone-in-2006, didn’t even miss a beat: I flipped it open — pushed some buttons — connected to the Internet — went to SSFI — downloaded a “Ringer” — saved it as my ringtone — and I haven’t looked back ;->

I still have a hard time remembering to turn the thing on, but I’m learning — and I still don’t wear a wristwatch ;->

Technorati Tags: cellular telephone, cell phone

Upon the recommendation of a friend, I tried an old fashioned British soft drink known as Vimto. My friend had heard about this beverage from a Sudanese woman with whom he works. She said it was a classic beverage in The Sudan, and that drinking it filled her with nostalgia. I thought it tasted like cheap, noticeably artificial soda pop. Not being particular about such things, I didn’t really give it any thought. By the time I had returned home, about half a can was left and it had become warm, and I was full, so I poured the remaining contents out onto the driveway, whereupon I was SHOCKED to see a sickening red foamy liquid pooling along the edge of the grass. My thought was, “My God, that looks TOXIC, no wonder it tasted like something I won’t be likely to try again!” The next day, I noticed the stain in the driveway. My father saw it and thought I had spilled some oil. 6 days and a rainfall later, the stain is still there.

The blurb on the can reads: Vimto was first produced in Manchester, England in 1908 and its secret formula has not changed significantly since then. Vimto is UNIQUE and unlike any other soft drink. Yeah, it sure is…how many other soft drinks stain asphalt like motor oil???

Technorati Tags: vimto, rot-gut