From: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org (alloy-digest) To: alloy-digest@smoe.org Subject: alloy-digest V2 #121 Reply-To: alloy@smoe.org Sender: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alloy-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "alloy-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. alloy-digest Sunday, June 22 1997 Volume 02 : Number 121 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Alloy: Leaving Moscow [Melissa Jordan ] Alloy: New Kid on the Block [Frank Wheeler ] Alloy: Am I In or Out [Frank Wheeler ] Alloy: Fwd for Frank [Paul Baily ] Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank [Frank Wheeler ] Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out [the copse ] Alloy: Welcome home, Frank [cekemp@netcom.com (Charles E. Kemp)] Alloy: Welcome home, Frank [cekemp@netcom.com (Charles E. Kemp)] Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank [Frank Wheeler ] Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out [the copse ] Alloy: TD in EQ magazine (1997 Issue #6) [Brian Clayton ] Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out [Paul Baily ] Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank [Elaine Linstruth ] Re: Alloy: Welcome home, Frank [Frank Wheeler ] Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out [Frank Wheeler ] Re: Alloy: Welcome home, Frank [Frank Wheeler ] Re: Alloy: Welcome Frank, and other Dolby topics [Frank Wheeler Subject: Alloy: Leaving Moscow Hi, all. I don't know when I'll be able to send this message out. I haven't been able to connect to the computer at Goodwill since early Thursday morning. The line quality from the hotel has become so poor that I can hear other conversations in loud Russian coming through the speakers on the computer while the modem struggles to connect. (That happens a lot when you're on the phone - sometimes, the other parties can hear you and vice versa - I've had some hilarious conversations with total strangers!) It's now very late Sunday night - well, early Monday morning, really. It's 3:30, and I haven't slept in two days. In their infinite wisdom, the managers of the Radisson have decided to make an all-out effort to fix everything in the hotel prior to the start of the International Conference of Mayors of the World's Largest Cities. This means repairs to pipes, vents, and such 'round the clock. The workmen are yelling back and forth at each other all night, in coarse street Russian peppered with colorful obscenities that are filtering through the vent above my bed. I've given up on sleep tonight, as I leave for the airport in an hour, bound for a brief respite in Germany (five hours at my brother's apartment in Frankfurt) and onward to Tashkent. The weekend here was remarkably calm and relatively uneventful. I didn't get to sing with the folk group again on Saturday - their choice spot on the Arbat had been taken over by a really great swing band, playing all sorts of big band standards. During a break, one of the men in the ensemble told me that they were all professional musicians in a Moscow orchestra, and that they loved coming out to play something "more relaxed" on the weekends. Though the Russian government wouldn't want to admit that this is possible, these musicians are paid less than minimum wage for their skills, and the orchestra members have not been paid for two months. I left a good tip in their jar. I visited Izmailovskiy Park on Sunday - it's an abandoned soccer stadium that was gradually taken over by local artisans as a place to gather on weekends and sell their handicrafts, junk, and antiques. In 1990 or 1991, it was discovered that the nearby park (the largest in Moscow), where the artists originally gathered, was a clandestine dumping ground for nuclear waste. Lovely, eh? (I assume that, eventually, I will develop a third eye from all the irradiated Izmailovo art cluttering my apartment.) I've been going to the park since 1989, and I've become fairly well acquainted with a handful of artists there. Some of my friends were there this week, but one person whom I especially like, Marina the Egg Lady, was not there. She is a tiny, sweet-faced woman who comes in from the country almost every weekend to sell the painted wooden eggs crafted by her husband, an architect, who has given up his profession to hang out at their dacha and pursue the more lucrative field of knick-knack production. I have several of the eggs designed by Marina's husband, and I can't tell you how wonderful, delicate, and exacting the work is. I was disappointed that she was not there - especially as she also wasn't there when a friend of mine passed through the park a month ago. Marina once told me that an American who liked the eggs a great deal had offered to sponsor her and her husband for a visit to the United States at some point. I hope her absence means that she made it there and is currently selling dozens of eggs to Midwestern housewives. After visiting the park, I raced to Red Square to beg one of the resident photographers to snap some quick pictures of me in my jacket. I couldn't bear the thought of tossing on my handmade winter coat even for a few moments, though. A heavy evening rain on Saturday night had left Moscow feeling like the Everglades - you could see the nasty steam rising out of the Metro grates (that's why I took a car to Izmailovskiy Park and Red Square - there's nothing quite like being pressed into a Metro car with forty people who shun deodorant and seem to carry a clinging scent of cabbage and cheap tobacco - and are sweating profusely...) I got my pictures taken, but not by a professional photographer - the ones I approached thought I was trying to steal their business with my cheap Vivitar (!) and kept telling me to go away. I finally begged the services of a small group of British tourists, who snapped my photos in exchange for my slightly twisted narrative tour of Red Square (made quite entertaining by the small group of Communists demonstrating in front of Lenin's tomb, razzing tourists and poking people in the rump as they entered the tomb of poor old Vladimir Il'yich. I opted out on visiting him one last time, not being particularly eager to get poked in the backside and get sent tumbling down the stairs to end up with my chin lodged against the glass sarcophagus.) Instead, I chose to say goodbye to Red Square for, quite possibly, the last time in a very long time, and returned to my hotel. Near the Radisson, I saw a small kiosk selling cheap icons and crosses, and I decided to check it out. I found it strange that it was open on the Feast of the Holy Trinity (one of the higher holidays celebrated by the Orthodox Church here,) but the gaunt, pale gentleman in the kiosk explained to me that they had to keep all their kiosks open every day from 8 'til 8 to try to bring in enough money to keep the churches of Moscow operating. I commented to him that I thought the choice of location for the kiosk was odd - next to a train station, crowded with homeless transients from all parts of the crumbled Soviet empire and drunks harrassing passersby. (In fact, the kiosk backed out onto a small park that reeked of urine and stale beer - police armed with automatic weapons wandered the park in twos, checking documents and rousting drunks.) The man in the kiosk smiled at me, his thin face unpinching and his eyes crinkling. (It was only then that I realized that he must have been only in his 40's despite looking much, much older.) Very sweetly he said, "But, sister, *these* are the people who need our church." I was skeptical as to the truth of that - I've not seen much outreach from the Moscow church to these fringe citizens - but he seemed very much at peace with that rationale. I noticed that his kiosk was selling lovely, unusual sterling silver chains. (Once in the past, I bought two sterling rings from an Orthodox priest in a Moscow metro station - they had prayers carved into them, written in the nearly dead religious language of Old Church Slavonic. The priest blessed the rings for me when I bought them - I'm sure that was a pretty odd scene in the middle of the metro station!) I picked out two chains that I found particularly interesting and told him that I would buy them. But, to my surprise, I was short 20,000 rubles (about $4) of the price of the two. I apologized, and told him that I would just take one. The gentleman shook his greying head and smiled again. "No, sister. I believe you have a clean heart. Take the two chains, and, when you next visit Moscow, drop the money in any church collection box. God knows that you are a trustworthy soul." I was touched, but I felt bad. 20,000 rubles may not sound like very much to you or me, but it is amount that many pensioners get to live on for a whole month - it doesn't buy 1/4 kilo of meat any more. It barely covers a liter of milk, two loaves of bread, and a bottle of mineral water now. (A Quarter Pounder at Mickey D's runs 14,000 rubles, just to give you an idea.) I continued to politely refuse, but Russian custom requires you to take something that is being gifted to you after three refusals. Somewhat embarrassed, I took the silver chains and promised to leave the money for the church. I wished him a good holiday and then, drawn to have some kind contact with this man, I reached in and patted his hand. The gentleman just smiled again. Tonight, I called my friend Anna at the embassy - she's going to leave the money for me on Monday. Well, it's almost time for my wake-up call. I guess I'll sign off and hope that I can send this message from Tashkent. Hope all is well with you - wondering what the buzz is on the t-shirt and the Flat Earth Society and the Tap Room, but all I've got at 4 a.m. is a fuzzy tv featuring a bad Bosnian soap opera about transvestite hookers... subtitled in French... ...But we do have News at 10 *and* CNN... Cheers, Melissa Melissa R. Jordan Special Projects Manager International Programs Office Goodwill Industries International, Inc. (301) 881-6858 (301) 881-9435 (fax) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 09:43:37 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Alloy: New Kid on the Block Hello. TD says that i ought to join. So here I am. Alloy deals with Thomas Dolby. I see in the Beatnik WEB Site that he is also called Thomas Dolby Robertson. Just curiosity. Headspace is a group? Where is Home Base? San mateo, California? This guy really has talent. I am just discovering him. I am glad he took the time to suggest this avenue of approach. I am of the Big Band era. In other words, I am older than most of the subscribers to alloy. Please tell me more about TD and this fan club. Thanks. Frank Wheeler ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 10:50:53 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Alloy: Am I In or Out I will give it one last try. Who is Paul? I want to be a member of the TD Fan Club but I seem to get only replies from computers, not individuals. What am I doing wrong? Somebody please help me. Thanks. Frank Wheeler ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 97 20:24:43 +1000 From: Paul Baily Subject: Alloy: Fwd for Frank Approve: euro!452 To: alloy@smoe.org From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Have I Arrived? Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 16:53:55 -0700 [Welcome aboard Frank! On a recommendation from Thomas Dolby, no less. I'm chuffed! -PB] I am now joining the circle of admirers of Thomas Dolby. I am 73 and have always stuck to my era of Big Bands. I did progress through the Beatles but I never was a fan of Elvis, and that has been my musical life. And of course there is Sinatra. But through my downloading of Beatnik I have found a composer of melodic masterpieces. They really move me. And that man is Thomas Dolby. Headspace. At his Beatnik Web Site he takes visitors on a walkthrough and I am totally taken by the little samplings provided. I cannot identify the mood piece in which is shown the on and off mode of Beatnik (step # 2); in step # 4 the background music is haunting, mesmerizing, soothing. It is called Algarve (Mr. Dolby is the composer) and Mr. Dolby has told me that that is a part of Portugal. I had projected Spain in line with the mood and so I wasn't far off. And on the Test Page (the first intro) there is a lively tune which I use as background while I in my word processor or Eudora. Very catchy. He suggested this email address as he added:- I'm sure they'd also welcome you with open arms at a mailing list called Alloy (alloy@smoe.org) which is devoted to fans of my work. TD And so here I am. At Alloy. And I'd like to hear from anyone who can tell me more about the man and his career. Thanks. Frank Wheeler ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 12:14:11 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank At 08:24 PM 6/21/97 +1000, you wrote: >Approve: euro!452 >To: alloy@smoe.org >From: Frank Wheeler >Subject: Have I Arrived? >Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 16:53:55 -0700 > >[Welcome aboard Frank! On a recommendation from Thomas Dolby, no less. >I'm chuffed! -PB] > >I am now joining the circle of admirers of Thomas Dolby. I am 73 and have >always stuck to my era of Big Bands. I did progress through the Beatles >but I never was a fan of Elvis, and that has been my musical life. > >And of course there is Sinatra. > >But through my downloading of Beatnik I have found a composer of melodic >masterpieces. They really move me. And that man is Thomas Dolby. >Headspace. > >At his Beatnik Web Site he takes visitors on a walkthrough and I am >totally taken by the little samplings provided. I cannot identify the >mood piece in which is shown the on and off mode of Beatnik (step # 2); >in step # 4 the background music is haunting, mesmerizing, soothing. It >is called Algarve (Mr. Dolby is the composer) and Mr. Dolby has told me >that that is a part of Portugal. I had projected Spain in line with the >mood and so I wasn't far off. > >And on the Test Page (the first intro) there is a lively tune which I use >as background while I in my word processor or Eudora. Very catchy. > >He suggested this email address as he added:- > >I'm sure they'd also welcome you with open arms at a mailing list called >Alloy (alloy@smoe.org) which is devoted to fans of my work. > >TD > >And so here I am. At Alloy. And I'd like to hear from anyone who can tell >me more about the man and his career. > >Thanks. Frank Wheeler > Hello Paul: I meet the human. Praise be . . . You are Paul Baily. I don't know what the word 'chuffed' means. Will I find it in Webster's? I am glad to be aboard. And I know this, I like your sense of humor. And tell me, Paul, is the name Thomas Dolby or Thomas Dolby Robertson? At the Beatnik site he is referred to as both. Thanks. If you were to go out and buy his CD's, where would you go? I have never purchased a Music CD in my life. In fact, I have never purchased a CD. But I did get some when I bought this computer (paying for it through the year 2010!). It is a kick being connected to email and the Web. YNF Frank ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 22:09:50 BST From: the copse Subject: Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out Hi Frank, You are in, so don't worry. At least, we're reading you, and you should start receiving messages from anyone who posts to the list from now on. If not, I suggest you contact the list operator, or send out an SOS to the list and we'll do it for you! We're a very friendly bunch - I've been involved with the FES for about a year so I should know. By the way, I'm a music student who took several units in Big Band Swing, so I share your interest. Hope you enjoy the list, and welcome! the_copse ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 14:25:06 -0700 (PDT) From: cekemp@netcom.com (Charles E. Kemp) Subject: Alloy: Welcome home, Frank Welcome to our world, Frank. It may take a bit of time for you to understand everything that goes on here, so I'll try to fill you in on a few things. Yes, this mailing list is devoted to the discussion of the works of Mr. Dolby, but it is much more than that. It's a family. At the current time, one of our own is in Uzbekistan on behalf of Goodwill, so don't be confused by seeing tales of street life in a former Soviet Republic. We are also in the midst of picking a T-shirt design for our little secret society. If you want one, just speak up. Probably the best way to think of the list is Christmas dinner with the relatives. If something pops into your head, tell us about it. Whether or not it really has anything to do with the conversation going on doesn't matter. Some of your new relatives you will like more than others, but you're stuck with them, I'm afraid. :) Some of us are witty, some are daft, and some are just plain weird...but we like it that way. If you've not yet started, it will of course help to start collecting the works of Mr. Dolby. My suggestion would be to purchase his best of collection entitled "Retrospectacle". It will give you a very good sampling of the amazing range of styles that his body of work encompasses. I've got this feeling you will love "I Scare Myself" immediately, and other pieces to varying degrees, until you've warmed to everything on the album. Thomas himself is on the list, so I'm sure he will keep an eye on your progress. And now, my friends, A toast to our newest Alloid, Frank. Cheers. ****** Charles E. Kemp ****** cekemp@netcom.com ****** (812) 597-5950 ****** Just for the sake of it make sure you're always frowning, it shows the world that you've got substance and depth. - Neil Tennant ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 14:25:06 -0700 (PDT) From: cekemp@netcom.com (Charles E. Kemp) Subject: Alloy: Welcome home, Frank Welcome to our world, Frank. It may take a bit of time for you to understand everything that goes on here, so I'll try to fill you in on a few things. Yes, this mailing list is devoted to the discussion of the works of Mr. Dolby, but it is much more than that. It's a family. At the current time, one of our own is in Uzbekistan on behalf of Goodwill, so don't be confused by seeing tales of street life in a former Soviet Republic. We are also in the midst of picking a T-shirt design for our little secret society. If you want one, just speak up. Probably the best way to think of the list is Christmas dinner with the relatives. If something pops into your head, tell us about it. Whether or not it really has anything to do with the conversation going on doesn't matter. Some of your new relatives you will like more than others, but you're stuck with them, I'm afraid. :) Some of us are witty, some are daft, and some are just plain weird...but we like it that way. If you've not yet started, it will of course help to start collecting the works of Mr. Dolby. My suggestion would be to purchase his best of collection entitled "Retrospectacle". It will give you a very good sampling of the amazing range of styles that his body of work encompasses. I've got this feeling you will love "I Scare Myself" immediately, and other pieces to varying degrees, until you've warmed to everything on the album. Thomas himself is on the list, so I'm sure he will keep an eye on your progress. And now, my friends, A toast to our newest Alloid, Frank. Cheers. ****** Charles E. Kemp ****** cekemp@netcom.com ****** (812) 597-5950 ****** Just for the sake of it make sure you're always frowning, it shows the world that you've got substance and depth. - Neil Tennant ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 12:14:11 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank At 08:24 PM 6/21/97 +1000, you wrote: >Approve: euro!452 >To: alloy@smoe.org >From: Frank Wheeler >Subject: Have I Arrived? >Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 16:53:55 -0700 > >[Welcome aboard Frank! On a recommendation from Thomas Dolby, no less. >I'm chuffed! -PB] > >I am now joining the circle of admirers of Thomas Dolby. I am 73 and have >always stuck to my era of Big Bands. I did progress through the Beatles >but I never was a fan of Elvis, and that has been my musical life. > >And of course there is Sinatra. > >But through my downloading of Beatnik I have found a composer of melodic >masterpieces. They really move me. And that man is Thomas Dolby. >Headspace. > >At his Beatnik Web Site he takes visitors on a walkthrough and I am >totally taken by the little samplings provided. I cannot identify the >mood piece in which is shown the on and off mode of Beatnik (step # 2); >in step # 4 the background music is haunting, mesmerizing, soothing. It >is called Algarve (Mr. Dolby is the composer) and Mr. Dolby has told me >that that is a part of Portugal. I had projected Spain in line with the >mood and so I wasn't far off. > >And on the Test Page (the first intro) there is a lively tune which I use >as background while I in my word processor or Eudora. Very catchy. > >He suggested this email address as he added:- > >I'm sure they'd also welcome you with open arms at a mailing list called >Alloy (alloy@smoe.org) which is devoted to fans of my work. > >TD > >And so here I am. At Alloy. And I'd like to hear from anyone who can tell >me more about the man and his career. > >Thanks. Frank Wheeler > Hello Paul: I meet the human. Praise be . . . You are Paul Baily. I don't know what the word 'chuffed' means. Will I find it in Webster's? I am glad to be aboard. And I know this, I like your sense of humor. And tell me, Paul, is the name Thomas Dolby or Thomas Dolby Robertson? At the Beatnik site he is referred to as both. Thanks. If you were to go out and buy his CD's, where would you go? I have never purchased a Music CD in my life. In fact, I have never purchased a CD. But I did get some when I bought this computer (paying for it through the year 2010!). It is a kick being connected to email and the Web. YNF Frank ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 22:09:50 BST From: the copse Subject: Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out Hi Frank, You are in, so don't worry. At least, we're reading you, and you should start receiving messages from anyone who posts to the list from now on. If not, I suggest you contact the list operator, or send out an SOS to the list and we'll do it for you! We're a very friendly bunch - I've been involved with the FES for about a year so I should know. By the way, I'm a music student who took several units in Big Band Swing, so I share your interest. Hope you enjoy the list, and welcome! the_copse ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 16:22:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Brian Clayton Subject: Alloy: TD in EQ magazine (1997 Issue #6) Well, the subject says it all, eh? Cover story about Thomas and Headspace, and everything you want to know about Beatnik and how Thomas likes his espresso. Also, a possible mention of this very mailing list (not refered to by name), and his thoughts on his web site (Headspace's, I think, not the FES.) Check it out... BC - --- Brian Clayton "...he's taking mumbling lessons from David Duchovny." stemish@kumr.lns.com -- Crow T. Robot ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 16:07:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Brian Clayton Subject: Alloy: Welcome Frank, and other Dolby topics Hello, sir! Happy to have a fresh face join us here in our mailing list. You have, indeed, come across the music of a unique and talented fellow, and we are Those Who Stand In Awe of his accomplishments. Allow me to clarify a few details for you. First of all, his name. To the world-at-large, he is know as Thomas Dolby, the "Dolby" being a moniker attached to him by his friends during his youth. This is also called a "stage name," with which he established his musical career in the 1980s. His true name is Thomas M. Robertson, and these days he's in the habit of calling himself Thomas Dolby Robertson--possibly as a prelude to dropping the Dolby name altogether, though this is sheer speculation on my part. He has had legal problems with the use of "Dolby" in the past with the sound Laboratory of the same name. These days, Thomas is the President of Headspace, a cutting-edge music software company that composes audio packages for computer games as well as authoring new tools for musicians to use for composing and playing music for the new medium of our day, the Internet. From your message, I gather you have downloaded their new product, Beatnik, and have listened to some of Thomas' (and others) music on the Headspace website. By the way, I'm not sure if many of our fellow Alloy readers have done the same, and would like to take the opportunity to encourage them to do so--pieces such as "Algarve" and "Sun Walk" are only known to folks here in cyberspace, and I'm sure most Dolby fans would enjoy listening to anything new from his keyboard. You have discovered Mr. Dolby in a new way, Frank: via the Internet, rather than the radio or MTV. This is largely the reason Thomas is in this industry now--to give musicians a new way to reach the public without jumping through the hoops of the record companies. Headspace (again, a company, not a group!) and the Beatnik software are his attempts to make that a reality. But Thomas does have several albums to his credit, most of which can still be found in the record stores if you look around a bit. I suggest you find "Retrospectacle: The Best of Thomas Dolby" and give it a spin in your new CD-ROM drive. I'm sure you'll be amazed. For more information, you may try heading over to the Thomas Dolby fan website, http://www.tdolby.com, also known as The Flat Earth Society (his second album is titled "The Flat Earth.") Or, of course, post your questions here. Have fun! BC - --- Brian Clayton "...he's taking mumbling lessons from David Duchovny." stemish@kumr.lns.com -- Crow T. Robot ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Jun 97 11:34:44 +1000 From: Paul Baily Subject: Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank >I meet the human. Praise be . . . You are Paul Baily. Yes, guilty as charged. :-) Pleased to meet you Frank. >I don't know what the word 'chuffed' means. Will I find it in Webster's? Oh, sorry, it's an English term, it means, um, what's a good equivalent. Thrilled? Pleased? Sorry, not articulating well here, hope you get the meaning anyway. >And I know this, I like your sense of humor. And tell me, Paul, is the name >Thomas Dolby or Thomas Dolby Robertson? At the Beatnik site he is referred >to as both. Thomas' full name is Thomas Morgan Dolby Robertson. I believe the "Dolby" was added along the way. We often shorten it to TMDR or TD. All his CD's were released with his name being Thomas Dolby, but I think he calls himself Thomas Dolby Robertson these days. >Thanks. If you were to go out and buy his CD's, where would you go? I have >never purchased a Music CD in my life. In fact, I have never purchased a CD. >But I did get some when I bought this computer (paying for it through the >year 2010!). Well I think you're in for a treat! Music CDs are a much higher quality reproduction of the original work than say records or audio cassettes. You may be surprised if say you go and listen to the CD version of something you already have on record. It adds a whole new level of clarity to the music. I'm guessing by your email address that you live in the US so I'm not too sure about what CD stores are prevalent over there (I'm in Australia myself) I do know that Tower Records is a good one, maybe the other Alloy folk will be able to chime in here with recommendations. I'd also like to second Charles' recommendation on "Retrospectacle" as it's a really good overview of many of the gentleman's musical styles. >It is a kick being connected to email and the Web. YNF Frank It is indeed! cheers, Paul. ________________________________________________________________________ Paul Baily paulb@thehub.com.au Consulting SE/IT contractor http://www.thehub.com.au/~paulb Brisbane, Australia There is a spirit here that won't be broken. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Jun 97 11:34:41 +1000 From: Paul Baily Subject: Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out Hi there Frank, >I will give it one last try. Who is Paul? I want to be a member of the TD >Fan Club but I seem to get only replies from computers, not individuals. > >What am I doing wrong? Somebody please help me. Thanks. Frank Wheeler Nono, you're doing just fine sir. I think it was just a case of coincidental timing in that when I added you to the list it looked like the server Alloy is on was getting snowed under by some traffic on the other lists on the same machine. As a result, it took a few hours for the messages to get through (it normally takes about 2 minutes.) Apologies for the confusion. When you joined up you'll have got an automated welcome message from Alloy but rest assured, we're all very human here! :-) When you send a message to alloy@smoe.org, it gets forwarded to everyone on the list (you'll see a copy of your own messages too.) The same thing happens when you reply to an alloy message too. In case you're wondering, we currently have a total of 87 people with us including Thomas and a few of his closest collaborators. They may not reply very often since their work commitments at Headspace are taking a lion's share of their time, but they're certainly listening. cheers, Paul. ________________________________________________________________________ Paul Baily paulb@thehub.com.au Consulting SE/IT contractor http://www.thehub.com.au/~paulb Brisbane, Australia There is a spirit here that won't be broken. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 21 Jun 1997 19:57:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Elaine Linstruth Subject: Re: Alloy: Fwd for Frank Howdy, Frank. Other people will probably answer these questions for you as well, but I'll go ahead and start the ball rolling. I had to ask, too - -- chuffed means something like "happy" combined with "impressed." Paul is Australian, so maybe it's an Aussie thing. :) Thomas was Mr. Robertson at birth and became Mr. Dolby later, so I'd imagine your seeing "Thomas Dolby Robertson" would make more sense if it were punctuated "Thomas 'Dolby' Robertson." Like "Sugar" Ray Leonard or something? There must be some people somewhere who think the man's first given name is Sugar. Hehe. Anyway, Thomas' middle name isn't Dolby. When you look for his albums, ask for the name "Thomas Dolby." Any CD/record store with a "rock" section should have Thomas' albums. If you need a list, let us know.. but I second the suggestion that you buy the "Retrospectacle" first. If you went in, gave the clerk his name and that album title, I'm sure they could help you. But if you don't own any CD's, do you have a player? Audio CD's are different than the ones your CD-ROM drive on your computer uses. (The ones for your computer are software, the audio ones are digital-output versions of what used to be sold as albums and cassettes.) On Sat, 21 Jun 1997, Frank Wheeler wrote: > I don't know what the word 'chuffed' means. Will I find it in Webster's? > > And I know this, I like your sense of humor. And tell me, Paul, is the name > Thomas Dolby or Thomas Dolby Robertson? At the Beatnik site he is referred > to as both. > > Thanks. If you were to go out and buy his CD's, where would you go? I have > never purchased a Music CD in my life. In fact, I have never purchased a CD. > But I did get some when I bought this computer (paying for it through the > year 2010!). > > It is a kick being connected to email and the Web. YNF Frank It's nice to have you here. See you around! - --- Elaine Linstruth ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 00:57:08 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Re: Alloy: Welcome home, Frank At 02:25 PM 6/21/97 -0700, you wrote: >Welcome to our world, Frank. > >It may take a bit of time for you to understand everything that goes on >here, so I'll try to fill you in on a few things. > >Yes, this mailing list is devoted to the discussion of the works of Mr. >Dolby, but it is much more than that. It's a family. At the current >time, one of our own is in Uzbekistan on behalf of Goodwill, so don't be >confused by seeing tales of street life in a former Soviet Republic. We >are also in the midst of picking a T-shirt design for our little secret >society. If you want one, just speak up. > >Probably the best way to think of the list is Christmas dinner with the >relatives. If something pops into your head, tell us about it. Whether >or not it really has anything to do with the conversation going on >doesn't matter. Some of your new relatives you will like more than >others, but you're stuck with them, I'm afraid. :) Some of us are >witty, some are daft, and some are just plain weird...but we like it that >way. > >If you've not yet started, it will of course help to start collecting the >works of Mr. Dolby. My suggestion would be to purchase his best of >collection entitled "Retrospectacle". It will give you a very good >sampling of the amazing range of styles that his body of work >encompasses. I've got this feeling you will love "I Scare Myself" >immediately, and other pieces to varying degrees, until you've warmed to >everything on the album. > >Thomas himself is on the list, so I'm sure he will keep an eye on your >progress. > >And now, my friends, A toast to our newest Alloid, Frank. Cheers. > >****** Charles E. Kemp ****** cekemp@netcom.com ****** (812) 597-5950 ****** >Just for the sake of it make sure you're always frowning, it shows the >world that you've got substance and depth. - Neil Tennant > > Hi Mr. Kemp: What a welcome! I feel like one of the gang. Thanks for all of your suggestions. I will have to go slow since I am retired and am on a limited budget. Thomas Dolby is a very friendly genius. He sure has given a lot of attention to me. I hope I have the opportunity to meet him someday. On the Beatnik Web Site there is a picture of him in a baseball cap and he looks like a person happy just to be alive. He has a winning smile and grin. He looks and acts very much to the point. I like his directness. Here's to more conversations. This is fun. Sincerly, Frank ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 01:16:21 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Re: Alloy: Am I In or Out At 10:09 PM 6/21/97 BST, you wrote: >Hi Frank, You are in, so don't worry. At least, >we're reading you, and you should start >receiving messages from anyone who posts to >the list from now on. > >If not, I suggest you contact the list operator, or >send out an SOS to the list and we'll do it for >you! We're a very friendly bunch - I've been >involved with the FES for about a year so I >should know. By the way, I'm a music student >who took several units in Big Band Swing, so I >share your interest. > >Hope you enjoy the list, and welcome! > >the_copse > > > Hi "the_copse" Thanks for getting me tuned into the group. You all do sound like a friendly bunch. I remember going up to Jimmy Dorsey at the Hollywood Palladium and congratulating him on a certain composition only to be told that that composition was written by another!!! Egg on my face. Probably around 1949. Where are you a Music student? I am here in San Diego. I am bushed so I am going to say goodnight. YNF Frank ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 01:11:05 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Re: Alloy: Welcome home, Frank At 02:25 PM 6/21/97 -0700, you wrote: >Welcome to our world, Frank. Hi again Mr. Kemp: I believe I've already answered this. So I am on my way. Thanks again. Frank > And I have already read the comments of that lady traveling through Russia. She was the first to write me. > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 01:33:02 -0700 From: Frank Wheeler Subject: Re: Alloy: Welcome Frank, and other Dolby topics At 04:07 PM 6/21/97 -0700, you wrote: > >Hello, sir! Happy to have a fresh face join us here in our >mailing list. You have, indeed, come across the music of >a unique and talented fellow, and we are Those Who Stand In >Awe of his accomplishments. Hi to Brian Clayton: I sure do, too. Stand in Awe of his accomplishments. > >Allow me to clarify a few details for you. First of all, >his name. To the world-at-large, he is know as Thomas Dolby, >the "Dolby" being a moniker attached to him by his friends >during his youth. This is also called a "stage name," with >which he established his musical career in the 1980s. His >true name is Thomas M. Robertson, and these days he's in the >habit of calling himself Thomas Dolby Robertson--possibly as >a prelude to dropping the Dolby name altogether, though this >is sheer speculation on my part. He has had legal problems >with the use of "Dolby" in the past with the sound Laboratory >of the same name. I asked that question once before through an email to the site. He signs off 'TD'. So I guess that answers it. He sure is friendly. > >These days, Thomas is the President of Headspace, a cutting-edge >music software company that composes audio packages for computer >games as well as authoring new tools for musicians to use for >composing and playing music for the new medium of our day, the >Internet. From your message, I gather you have downloaded their >new product, Beatnik, and have listened to some of Thomas' (and >others) music on the Headspace website. By the way, I'm not sure >if many of our fellow Alloy readers have done the same, and would >like to take the opportunity to encourage them to do so--pieces >such as "Algarve" and "Sun Walk" are only known to folks here >in cyberspace, and I'm sure most Dolby fans would enjoy listening >to anything new from his keyboard. Algarve is haunting. It is soothing. I play it when I need a spiritual uplift. Sun Walk I don't know. I don't remember seeing the title. Please clue me in. Thanks. > >You have discovered Mr. Dolby in a new way, Frank: via the Internet, >rather than the radio or MTV. This is largely the reason Thomas is >in this industry now--to give musicians a new way to reach the public >without jumping through the hoops of the record companies. Headspace >(again, a company, not a group!) and the Beatnik software are his >attempts to make that a reality. Just by chance I downloaded Beatnik since I already had Crescendo, and the differemce, unimaginable. Beatnik wins hand down. More robust, more delineation, more subtleties. I think of him as the Genius, the friendly genius. > >But Thomas does have several albums to his credit, most of which >can still be found in the record stores if you look around a bit. >I suggest you find "Retrospectacle: The Best of Thomas Dolby" and >give it a spin in your new CD-ROM drive. I'm sure you'll be amazed. That is my promise, that I will do just that. I get a charge out of the titles he uses. Retrospectacle. A kick! > >For more information, you may try heading over to the Thomas Dolby >fan website, http://www.tdolby.com, also known as The Flat Earth >Society (his second album is titled "The Flat Earth.") Or, of >course, post your questions here. I did that but found that I didn't have enough colors and the screen was washed out and I barely could read the text. I don't know how to change the color thing, you know, more or less palettes (sp?). I am just to damn lazy to look it up. > >Have fun! >BC > > >--- > Brian Clayton "...he's taking mumbling lessons from David Duchovny." > stemish@kumr.lns.com -- Crow T. Robot > > > I am bushed. It's off to bed. Thanks again for your help and interest. You have given me some great ideas. Sincerely, YNF Frank ------------------------------ End of alloy-digest V2 #121 ***************************