From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2008 #209 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Saturday, September 13 2008 Volume 2008 : Number 209 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Worst song ["Mark Angelo" ] RE: Defenders of Wildlife NJC ["Kate Bennett" ] Re: Joni in The Genius Sidebar [Mark-Leon Thorne ] Re: Joni in The Genius Sidebar NJC ["Mark Angelo" Subject: Re: Worst song Regarding BSN - my first recollection of hearing BSN was flying back from Amsterdam to JFK on a KLM 747 and it was the Judy Collins version that was a big hit apparently stateside at the time. Yes jingly jangly come to think of it, but I liked it at the time, I still do. This seems to me about the time when Bread was in their heyday. It was years before I even heard of Joni. Anyhow, I kind of prefer that version to this day slightly over the original acoustic version from "Clouds" I would later discover by Joni - the melody actually differs quite a bit - ...perhaps because I associate it with what seemed like a simpler world that actually made some sense in those youthful years. Yes the Joni version is slower-paced, far less fluffier and quite a bit deeper, but I still like Judy's version. I love Joni's BSN performance with the orchestra (it sounds so epic - like it belongs in movies, I'm certain it has been featured in some by now) and again the melody of the song changes considerably from the original. And speaking of simpler times, I think I will pass for now on the other 589 covers!! On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 3:52 AM, Anita Tedder wrote in part: > > I always really hated the first version I heard of BSN which was the jingly > jangly oh so pretty version sung by Judy Collins. The song meant nothing to > me as a consequence, till I heard Joni do it on Clouds. Then I began to > really get the song. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:51:15 -0700 From: "Kate Bennett" Subject: RE: Defenders of Wildlife NJC Thanks Terra & Cindy for your comments. High five to ya'll. How the @#$% can someone say they are pro life when they are pro animal slaughter & pro bush doctrine (& speaking of that, how is it that a potential vp doesn't even know what the bush doctrine is?) Kate ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:03:23 +1000 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Joni in The Genius Sidebar Hi Mark. My brother despises Apple and all of their products. Mainly because of their corporate practices and marketing strategies. I was a victim of those marketing strategies and now I wouldn't use anything else. I don't have an iPod yet because I've been waiting for the 3G iPhone. I'm not sure if this was true in other countries or still true here for that matter but Apple's biggest strategy was to do deals with schools and universities to get first time computer users used to the Macintosh platform and get them hooked. Of course, all my papers and lab reports were typed on ClarisWorks. I could always switch to Windows (Windoze) but I despise Microsoft even more. Apple was always an "underdog" to me and that was good enough reason to prop them up. Of course, now I'm into graphic design, I know I made the right choice. When Apple's products work, they are unbeatable. They are all so sexy looking too. I a a very visual person. That brings me to my graphic design style. Without having thought about it, consciously, I realise that my style tends to be on the stark side. I like solid colours. As I'm writing this, I look around my house and realise that my house is the same. I don't have anything with patterns on. All of my furniture (apart from the woodgrain) are in solid colours. In my living room, I have deep maroon curtains, two plain blue couches, even the rug is a plain green. I like continuity too. A theme. The photos I choose for my Joni covers (DVD and CD) must be connected to the content somehow. The same goes for my wallpapers. All the elements in my wallpapers have something to do with the song they are based on. Take a look at my wallpaper for Shades of Scarlet Conquering. The photograph itself will often set the general style of the design. I actually like that photo of Joni on the Opera House CD. I think it looks sophisticated and I like the colours. Also, that photo was taken in 1983 - the year of that performance. The colours are very 1980s to me. They often throw different coloured lights on the Sydney Opera House for special events (Olympic Games, etc) and this photo suited perfectly. As a matter of interest, the photographs on the Carnegie Hall CD cover are actually all from that concert. If I don't have photos from the actual performance, I will try to get as close as possible and use photos from the same time period. That's my obsession with continuity. I fantasise that I am designing these for an official release and try to make it look like a retail release. I get inspired by the information that I learn from this list about Joni's songs too. Since I learned that, I Had a King was written about Joni's ex husband, Chuck, I got excited that I actually had a wedding photo of the two of them and based my wallpaper around that. I Had a King is, to me, Joni taking mental notes on how to not make the same mistakes as in the past - "Beware of the power of moons" so, I tried to make it look like she had handwritten that line on her wedding photo as reminder to herself. I will be uploading more in the near future and you can be assured that the cover art will be completely relevant to the recording. Thanks to Bob M and everyone else who has sent me these recordings over the years. Now you know what I'm doing with them. Mark in Sydney (on a 30: day - a taste of things to come) NP Lazy Moon - Groove Armada Now I have to go and vote in the local elections. On 13/09/2008, at 12:16 PM, Mark Angelo wrote: > Mark, yes it sounds overall like a "neat" - how that dates me - > thing. I'm sure I'll click on "Update" getting tired of clicking > "Ignore" one of these days. Interesting how Apple has taken the > "Genius" moniker from it's Apple Stores and is using in it's > applications. Somehow I don't think it will create the craze that > the "i" in front of *everything* did ..."iMac, iTunes, iPod, > etc...). As far as the privacy, again I suppose at some point you > just realize that the government/corporate complex already has > boatloads of information regarding everyone thanks to the digital > age, and you eventually just acquiesce. If the MICC - military- > industrial-congressional complex - yes I have been reading too much > I suppose on the intertubes - considers you "subversive" > somehow...for instance even the word "biosphere" is slightly > subversive as it speaks to a concern greater than and beyond > nationalism (tks Dorion Sagan), as are most certainly artists that > have any real substance to their work (and the admirers thereof > subscribing to mailing lists like this). So in short, I'm not > exactly worried at this point what lists I am on to a large degree, > with all sorts of proponents of free speech (Naomi Wolf, etc...) > already on the ever-growing 'No-Fly List" as well as others. > > The visualizer sounds pretty cool. I already downloaded Firefox 3, > I don't see as of yet much difference, however, the "platinum" > style native interface was a real shocker!! So much so, I've had to > download a skin that looks more like the old one as I just can't > quite get used to the new interface - even if it now resembles the > interfaces of other Apple applications. I'll come around eventually > I'm sure. BTW I'm just getting around to playing the Joni > performances at the Sydney Opera House - thanks they are > fantastic!! Also I had no idea you did the graphic designs for the > covers of the DVD's until yesterday, they are truly wonderful!! > "And here I sit the critic"...I've only viewed four images so far > via Preview, I like them all, only...well...the one photo of Joni > where she is kind of frowning and looking quite the sophisticate > with the "cigarillito" in hand, well, I think that maybe one of the > worst photos of her ever...I mean this is a woman who cannot help > but look beautiful in every single photograph, but this one ... is > different...maybe that's why you picked it...perhaps it will grow > on me as does all of her music. Sometimes - in addition to the > music of course - I think FTR is some people's favorite as that > picture of her in shades of green in the seclusion of the woods in > Canada, is IMHO one of her very best photos for some reason. She > simply radiates beauty in that peaceful, natural surrounding, as if > that is where she finds G-d, which I believe is pretty close to the > mark - open for criticism here - but her references through the > years, and especially lately with "spirit of the water" which is > what life is - animated water essentially - also being nature or by > extension reality - I think that may come close to Joni's G-d. It > is my definition now - oh and I know I'm opening myself up to all > kinds of private emails with quotes from Mohamed and the Koran, > etc... - but who cares?? To each his (or her) (or it's) own. The > other image that stands out of course is that from Hejira - which I > suppose the one you've used comes close to approximating in a way - > with the cigarette and a kind of sophisticated look as well...but > the way the cigarette bends her lips downwards to the left...ok I > guess I'm getting obsessed with details...I guess I want to say a > good choice now as it is quite a provocative image of Joni if not > her most flattering...and that is what art is about huh?? > > Terra, I always enjoy reading your posts. I agree with so much of > what you have to say. I also don't have nor do I want an iPod...I > actually got one free (well it was supposed to be free, Apple was a > bit deceptive in it's advertising) with this first version of the > 17" iMac "Core Duo"....WHOA what a name!!). Actually the iMac boots > so fast (in under 30 seconds) and is so ....um .... awesome??....in > the over two years that I've had it I have absolutely no desire for > another computer for a change. I even prefer the original white > plastic enclosure to the aluminum they're using now (though the 100 > percent recyclable thingy is admirable). Anyhow I gave it to my > Mom, who walks all over the place with it listening to ABBA of all > bands. The thing I don't like about the iPod and many other "must > have" devices, is that apparently there is a unique metal in it, I > forget what it is, Indium??, and essentially only comes from one > place in Africa where it is mined. Also the batteries are not user- > replaceable, so one must return the iPod to get an expensive > battery replacement, and I believe most are simply tossed in favor > of "newer, improved, better" ones. Whatever this metal is, and the > exploitation of one or two African nations, is talked about in The > Story of Stuff, which blows your mind when it is revealed I believe > that 99 percent of what we buy is thrown away in the first 6 months. > > Also I tend to exhibit the old-fashioned way of doing things as you > do, I think that is fairly normal, never using the shuffle/random > feature either. I also think that it is a bit bewildering, the > technology and the uber abundance of data and choices and micro > niche markets. Of course, futurist Alvin Toffler wrote about this > in the 70's in his book, Future Shock, and the human psyche can > only keep up with so change, the rate of which has been > accelerating because of (formerly) cheap fossil fuels. As Energy > Wars break out over the planet, with the realization finally taking > place by the public that peak conventional oil production peaked in > May of 2005 (which corresponds not so coincidentally with the > beginning of the bursting of the housing bubble) I think a return > to simpler ways will be de rigour. Of course, the USA when backed > in a corner, as it is now as the largest debtor nation on Earth, > will continue with it's "might is right" mindset and who knows what > will be the consequence? This will happen under either McCain or > Obama, as neither could reach their present positions of power > without being staunch supporters of American Hegemony. Of course, > I'd prefer it be Obama, as all of these visuals of gun-totin' > Frances McDormand Fargo-accented Beauty Queen wrapped up in an > American Flag Sarah Palin and her lack of respect or regard for the > dignity of other creatures that share her very same DNA (does she > even know what that is??) is beyond appalling to me. Also Frances > McDormand of Fargo fame was a respectable, genuine, intelligent, > insightful woman. Mrs. Palin is none of those. > > OK I've just probably earned my way onto sundry lists kept by the > government/corporate complex now. I'll probably regret it. But the > laws she passed in Canada regarding the incentives of shooting of > wildlife by air and otherwise, as well as her pictures with all of > her hunting "trophies" seemingly omnipresent on the Internet, make > me angry enough to (*drum roll* with expectations of CIA knocking > at the door)...well...say that she is not a very nice woman!!! > > Peace > -- > -Mark in Florida > > On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 7:18 AM, T Peckham > wrote in part: > Interesting discussion. I don't have an iPod (and have no need or > desire for one), so I had no idea of all the features, old or new. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:27:51 -0400 From: "Mark Angelo" Subject: Re: Joni in The Genius Sidebar NJC Hey Mark, Lord you must be the fastest writer on the continent of Australia!! I kind of have a similar - but opposite - relationship with Apples and my younger brother as well ...who was offered a job...in Los Angeles of all places - *sigh* - I'd love to see Joni's hacienda style house in BelAir one day - maybe I can fly out there next Summer. Oh yeah he interned there this Summer, they offered him the job, he's back here in Florida to finish his 2 remaining semesters of a 3 year curriculum - and off to LA - City of Concrete Angels. Yeah my brother has from the very start preferred Apples, I think owing to the fact that also here in the US Apple has been very involved with all levels of schooling in supplying computers. He has always had Apples, owning a PowerMac similar to yours at this time as I recall, and since he was the computer "whiz" in the family, influenced my parents and myself and we have had nothing but Apples. He worked in the computer field for years, and was made to use Microsoft by virtue of the popularity of the product in the workplace, and he has always detested MS. I know Apple has been heavily vested in schools at least since the Apple II. And the eMac, of which I've owned two (one was stolen by drug lord neighbors in Tucson), was originally intended for schools only, hence the "e -education" but so many people sought it that Apple unleashed it on the public, it was a great computer, kinda reminded me of a really, really, bloated iPod. I also have invariably always had the habit of going for the "underdog"...which hasn't worked out so well at times but that is another story. I too am a very visual person, as is Joni obviously, and will let minor details upset me if they don't form part of a coherent theme, though I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be in that regard as far as furnishings, etc... You tend to become a bit more ecclectic when your budget dictates that. I think your idea of using photos as close to the time of the performance as you can obtain is a great idea, and indeed it fits into your need for consistency, an overall theme, and attention to details such as timeframe. I really like the picture of the Sydney Opera House bathed in the rose colored lights at night. I only had the four images to work with when I wrote the post, I see I now have 7 from the two performances. I did remark that the photograph, when I reflected on it, had a sophisticated look about it - similar to Hejira in a way - very provacative, it definitely caught my attention and I see now that the use of the colors is consistently maintained throughout. I can't find the Shades of Scarlet Conquering wallpaper - I must not have it. I too learn more about Joni from the list bit by bit, including also only realizing that "I Had A King" was written about her former husband, Chuck, only after viewing a video that Bob had posted a link to. Also in that - well I think the sequel to that video - I saw a picture of her parents for the first time. It seemed apparent from that picture that Joni largely takes after her father, at least in stature, and perhaps this is a factor in her father's being depicted as consistently validating in her songs, with her mother largely invalidating, though I suspect it has more to do with each of their inherent temperaments. I always assumed Sydney had a subtropical climate...I know here in Florida (north) the rainy season is coming to an end and without the cloud cover it was an extremely hot today...my apartment a/c even set at 78 degree F ran all day long. Of course it's not coming on as often at night - reflected in the electric bill hopefull - while the "bottom half" of the planet (just kidding) will have increasingly longer and hotter days after September 21. It's odd but the Earth (my inner geologist speaking) is actually at it's closest to the Sun during our Northern Hemispshere Winters and farther from the Sun during your Southern Hemisphere Winters. If that wasn't the case, the Winters in the Northern Hemisphere would be slightly more cold than they are. And they're too cold as it is!!! Or some are complaining too warm now due to man-made CO2 levels !!! It's the human condition I think...the only constant other than Northern Stars (in the back of bars) and the Moon at our Windows is ch-ch-ch-change. - -- - -Mark en Florida al Norte NP: Laura Pausini: No Me Lo Puedo Explicar On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 11:03 PM, Mark-Leon Thorne wrote: > Hi Mark. > My brother despises Apple and all of their products. Mainly because of > their corporate practices and marketing strategies. I was a victim of those > marketing strategies and now I wouldn't use anything else. I don't have an > iPod yet because I've been waiting for the 3G iPhone. I'm not sure if this > was true in other countries or still true here for that matter but Apple's > biggest strategy was to do deals with schools and universities to get first > time computer users used to the Macintosh platform and get them hooked. Of > course, all my papers and lab reports were typed on ClarisWorks. I could > always switch to Windows (Windoze) but I despise Microsoft even more. Apple > was always an "underdog" to me and that was good enough reason to prop them > up. Of course, now I'm into graphic design, I know I made the right choice. > When Apple's products work, they are unbeatable. They are all so sexy > looking too. I a a very visual person. > > That brings me to my graphic design style. Without having thought about it, > consciously, I realise that my style tends to be on the stark side. I like > solid colours. As I'm writing this, I look around my house and realise that > my house is the same. I don't have anything with patterns on. All of my > furniture (apart from the woodgrain) are in solid colours. In my living > room, I have deep maroon curtains, two plain blue couches, even the rug is a > plain green. I like continuity too. A theme. The photos I choose for my Joni > covers (DVD and CD) must be connected to the content somehow. The same goes > for my wallpapers. All the elements in my wallpapers have something to do > with the song they are based on. Take a look at my wallpaper for Shades of > Scarlet Conquering. The photograph itself will often set the general style > of the design. I actually like that photo of Joni on the Opera House CD. I > think it looks sophisticated and I like the colours. Also, that photo was > taken in 1983 - the year of that performance. The colours are very 1980s to > me. They often throw different coloured lights on the Sydney Opera House for > special events (Olympic Games, etc) and this photo suited perfectly. > > As a matter of interest, the photographs on the Carnegie Hall CD cover are > actually all from that concert. If I don't have photos from the actual > performance, I will try to get as close as possible and use photos from the > same time period. That's my obsession with continuity. I fantasise that I am > designing these for an official release and try to make it look like a > retail release. I get inspired by the information that I learn from this > list about Joni's songs too. Since I learned that, I Had a King was written > about Joni's ex husband, Chuck, I got excited that I actually had a wedding > photo of the two of them and based my wallpaper around that. I Had a King > is, to me, Joni taking mental notes on how to not make the same mistakes as > in the past - "Beware of the power of moons" so, I tried to make it look > like she had handwritten that line on her wedding photo as reminder to > herself. > > I will be uploading more in the near future and you can be assured that the > cover art will be completely relevant to the recording. Thanks to Bob M and > everyone else who has sent me these recordings over the years. Now you know > what I'm doing with them. > > Mark in Sydney > (on a 30: day - a taste of things to come) > > NP Lazy Moon - Groove Armada > > Now I have to go and vote in the local elections. > > On 13/09/2008, at 12:16 PM, Mark Angelo wrote: > > Mark, yes it sounds overall like a "neat" - how that dates me - thing. I'm > sure I'll click on "Update" getting tired of clicking "Ignore" one of these > days. Interesting how Apple has taken the "Genius" moniker from it's Apple > Stores and is using in it's applications. Somehow I don't think it will > create the craze that the "i" in front of *everything* did ..."iMac, iTunes, > iPod, etc...). As far as the privacy, again I suppose at some point you > just realize that the government/corporate complex already has boatloads of > information regarding everyone thanks to the digital age, and you eventually > just acquiesce. If the MICC - military-industrial-congressional complex - > yes I have been reading too much I suppose on the intertubes - considers you > "subversive" somehow...for instance even the word "biosphere" is slightly > subversive as it speaks to a concern greater than and beyond nationalism > (tks Dorion Sagan), as are most certainly artists that have any real > substance to their work (and the admirers thereof subscribing to mailing > lists like this). So in short, I'm not exactly worried at this point what > lists I am on to a large degree, with all sorts of proponents of free speech > (Naomi Wolf, etc...) already on the ever-growing 'No-Fly List" as well as > others. > > The visualizer sounds pretty cool. I already downloaded Firefox 3, I don't > see as of yet much difference, however, the "platinum" style native > interface was a real shocker!! So much so, I've had to download a skin that > looks more like the old one as I just can't quite get used to the new > interface - even if it now resembles the interfaces of other Apple > applications. I'll come around eventually I'm sure. BTW I'm just getting > around to playing the Joni performances at the Sydney Opera House - thanks > they are fantastic!! Also I had no idea you did the graphic designs for the > covers of the DVD's until yesterday, they are truly wonderful!! "And here I > sit the critic"...I've only viewed four images so far via Preview, I like > them all, only...well...the one photo of Joni where she is kind of frowning > and looking quite the sophisticate with the "cigarillito" in hand, well, I > think that maybe one of the worst photos of her ever...I mean this is a > woman who cannot help but look beautiful in every single photograph, but > this one ... is different...maybe that's why you picked it...perhaps it will > grow on me as does all of her music. Sometimes - in addition to the music of > course - I think FTR is some people's favorite as that picture of her in > shades of green in the seclusion of the woods in Canada, is IMHO one of her > very best photos for some reason. She simply radiates beauty in that > peaceful, natural surrounding, as if that is where she finds G-d, which I > believe is pretty close to the mark - open for criticism here - but her > references through the years, and especially lately with "spirit of the > water" which is what life is - animated water essentially - also being > nature or by extension reality - I think that may come close to Joni's G-d. > It is my definition now - oh and I know I'm opening myself up to all kinds > of private emails with quotes from Mohamed and the Koran, etc... - but who > cares?? To each his (or her) (or it's) own. The other image that stands out > of course is that from Hejira - which I suppose the one you've used comes > close to approximating in a way - with the cigarette and a kind of > sophisticated look as well...but the way the cigarette bends her lips > downwards to the left...ok I guess I'm getting obsessed with details...I > guess I want to say a good choice now as it is quite a provocative image of > Joni if not her most flattering...and that is what art is about huh?? > > Terra, I always enjoy reading your posts. I agree with so much of what you > have to say. I also don't have nor do I want an iPod...I actually got one > free (well it was supposed to be free, Apple was a bit deceptive in it's > advertising) with this first version of the 17" iMac "Core Duo"....WHOA what > a name!!). Actually the iMac boots so fast (in under 30 seconds) and is so > ....um .... awesome??....in the over two years that I've had it I have > absolutely no desire for another computer for a change. I even prefer the > original white plastic enclosure to the aluminum they're using now (though > the 100 percent recyclable thingy is admirable). Anyhow I gave it to my Mom, > who walks all over the place with it listening to ABBA of all bands. The > thing I don't like about the iPod and many other "must have" devices, is > that apparently there is a unique metal in it, I forget what it is, > Indium??, and essentially only comes from one place in Africa where it is > mined. Also the batteries are not user-replaceable, so one must return the > iPod to get an expensive battery replacement, and I believe most are simply > tossed in favor of "newer, improved, better" ones. Whatever this metal is, > and the exploitation of one or two African nations, is talked about in The > Story of Stuff , which blows your mind when > it is revealed I believe that 99 percent of what we buy is thrown away in > the first 6 months. > > Also I tend to exhibit the old-fashioned way of doing things as you do, I > think that is fairly normal, never using the shuffle/random feature either. > I also think that it is a bit bewildering, the technology and the uber > abundance of data and choices and micro niche markets. Of course, futurist > Alvin Toffler wrote about this in the 70's in his book, Future Shock, and > the human psyche can only keep up with so change, the rate of which has been > accelerating because of (formerly) cheap fossil fuels. As Energy Wars break > out over the planet, with the realization finally taking place by the public > that peak conventional oil production peaked in May of 2005 (which > corresponds not so coincidentally with the beginning of the bursting of the > housing bubble) I think a return to simpler ways will be de rigour. Of > course, the USA when backed in a corner, as it is now as the largest debtor > nation on Earth, will continue with it's "might is right" mindset and who > knows what will be the consequence? This will happen under either McCain or > Obama, as neither could reach their present positions of power without being > staunch supporters of American Hegemony. Of course, I'd prefer it be Obama, > as all of these visuals of gun-totin' Frances McDormand Fargo-accented > Beauty Queen wrapped up in an American Flag Sarah Palin and her lack of > respect or regard for the dignity of other creatures that share her very > same DNA (does she even know what that is??) is beyond appalling to me. Also > Frances McDormand of Fargo fame was a respectable, genuine, intelligent, > insightful woman. Mrs. Palin is none of those. > > OK I've just probably earned my way onto sundry lists kept by the > government/corporate complex now. I'll probably regret it. But the laws she > passed in Canada regarding the incentives of shooting of wildlife by air and > otherwise, as well as her pictures with all of her hunting "trophies" > seemingly omnipresent on the Internet, make me angry enough to (*drum roll* > with expectations of CIA knocking at the door)...well...say that she is not > a very nice woman!!! > > Peace > -- > -Mark in Florida > > On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 7:18 AM, T Peckham wrote > in part: > >> Interesting discussion. I don't have an iPod (and have no need or desire >> for one), so I had no idea of all the features, old or new. >> > > > - -- - -Mark in Florida ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:17:30 -0700 From: "Randy Remote" Subject: Re: One of the tightest rock-n-roll songs of all time njc Funny, I had that song going through my head all day, then I read your post. It certainly is incredible in a very unassuming way. And no one could ever do a better version than the Stones did. You can put me out/On the street Put me out/With no shoes on my feet But put me out/Put me out/Put me out of misery RR From: "Jeannie" > Beast Of Burden by the Rolling Stones. > Damn, I love the whole musical interaction of the whole song. > The guitar and bass make my heart melt, melt, melt... > j ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:31:05 +1000 From: Mark-Leon Thorne Subject: Re: Joni in The Genius Sidebar NJC You're so insightful, Mark. You recognised that Australia is a continent. Politically, though, the continent is Oceania which includes New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, etc. Sydney is actually a long way from the tropics although Summers here are very hot. The Tropic of Capricorn runs through far northern Queensland. That would be about 2-3 days drive from here. I did not know that the earth is further away from the sun during our Winter. It seems odd that Winter in Australia seems a lot warmer than most northern hemisphere countries. Maybe we are just closer to the equator. There are a lot of misconceptions about Australia it seems. One is that it's hot all the time here. We do have mountain ranges where you can ski and several inland towns and cities get snow. Just none of the major cities because they are mostly on the coast. The other big misconception I've noticed is about the ethnic mix. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world. The majority of Australians have one or both parents born outside of Australia. We were only fully British during the penal colony days. Since the end of that, many races shaped this country. First came the southern Europeans - Italians and Greeks mostly. Then the Chinese and southeast Asians. The Germans started the wine industry and others came for gold. Sydney has a large Italian population along with Chinese, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Greek, Indian, Syrian, Hungarian, Croatian, Serbian and many others, probably in that order. Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, Ba Ha'i, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Moonies. You name it, we got it. As far as I understand, Sydney and San Francisco were the first two cities in the "Sister Cities" program. In those days, it was because the two cities shared a lot of similarities. Not having been to San Francisco, I believe the two cities look a lot alike. Sydney is quite hilly in parts and is on a harbour with a famous bridge. I noticed when I was in Los Angeles that the weather seemed very similar. I think Florida would be a lot warmer than Sydney. I guess September 21 is the Spring Solstice? We tend to do things much more by the calendar. The academic year runs by the calendar (final exams at the end of the year, etc) so, we consider Spring is September 1 to November 30. I only wish there were more Aussies on this list. I feel like I am the loan voice for the entire nation. The only others that I know of is Melissa in Sydney but she writes very infrequently, Don Whiteman in Sydney who is the only JMDL member I've actually met who hardly writes any more too because his job takes him out of the country a lot and a guy on the Central Coast north of Sydney who never writes. You can see the wallpaper for Shades of Scarlet Conquering here http://jmdl.com/wallpaper/wall_download.cfm? id=139&file=shadesofscarletconquering.jpg I included the two actors mentioned in the song (one of them is an Aussie) and the woman people suggested the song was about. Have a great Autumn day. Mark in Sydney On 13/09/2008, at 2:27 PM, Mark Angelo wrote: > Hey Mark, > > Lord you must be the fastest writer on the continent of Australia!! > I kind of have a similar - but opposite - relationship with Apples > and my younger brother as well ...who was offered a job...in Los > Angeles of all places - *sigh* - I'd love to see Joni's hacienda > style house in BelAir one day - maybe I can fly out there next > Summer. Oh yeah he interned there this Summer, they offered him the > job, he's back here in Florida to finish his 2 remaining semesters > of a 3 year curriculum - and off to LA - City of Concrete Angels. > Yeah my brother has from the very start preferred Apples, I think > owing to the fact that also here in the US Apple has been very > involved with all levels of schooling in supplying computers. He > has always had Apples, owning a PowerMac similar to yours at this > time as I recall, and since he was the computer "whiz" in the > family, influenced my parents and myself and we have had nothing > but Apples. He worked in the computer field for years, and was made > to use Microsoft by virtue of the popularity of the product in the > workplace, and he has always detested MS. I know Apple has been > heavily vested in schools at least since the Apple II. And the > eMac, of which I've owned two (one was stolen by drug lord > neighbors in Tucson), was originally intended for schools only, > hence the "e -education" but so many people sought it that Apple > unleashed it on the public, it was a great computer, kinda reminded > me of a really, really, bloated iPod. I also have invariably always > had the habit of going for the "underdog"...which hasn't worked out > so well at times but that is another story. I too am a very visual > person, as is Joni obviously, and will let minor details upset me > if they don't form part of a coherent theme, though I'm not nearly > as bad as I used to be in that regard as far as furnishings, etc... > You tend to become a bit more ecclectic when your budget dictates > that. > > I think your idea of using photos as close to the time of the > performance as you can obtain is a great idea, and indeed it fits > into your need for consistency, an overall theme, and attention to > details such as timeframe. I really like the picture of the Sydney > Opera House bathed in the rose colored lights at night. I only had > the four images to work with when I wrote the post, I see I now > have 7 from the two performances. I did remark that the photograph, > when I reflected on it, had a sophisticated look about it - similar > to Hejira in a way - very provacative, it definitely caught my > attention and I see now that the use of the colors is consistently > maintained throughout. I can't find the Shades of Scarlet > Conquering wallpaper - I must not have it. > > I too learn more about Joni from the list bit by bit, including > also only realizing that "I Had A King" was written about her > former husband, Chuck, only after viewing a video that Bob had > posted a link to. Also in that - well I think the sequel to that > video - I saw a picture of her parents for the first time. It > seemed apparent from that picture that Joni largely takes after her > father, at least in stature, and perhaps this is a factor in her > father's being depicted as consistently validating in her songs, > with her mother largely invalidating, though I suspect it has more > to do with each of their inherent temperaments. > > I always assumed Sydney had a subtropical climate...I know here in > Florida (north) the rainy season is coming to an end and without > the cloud cover it was an extremely hot today...my apartment a/c > even set at 78 degree F ran all day long. Of course it's not coming > on as often at night - reflected in the electric bill hopefull - > while the "bottom half" of the planet (just kidding) will have > increasingly longer and hotter days after September 21. It's odd > but the Earth (my inner geologist speaking) is actually at it's > closest to the Sun during our Northern Hemispshere Winters and > farther from the Sun during your Southern Hemisphere Winters. If > that wasn't the case, the Winters in the Northern Hemisphere would > be slightly more cold than they are. And they're too cold as it > is!!! Or some are complaining too warm now due to man-made CO2 > levels !!! It's the human condition I think...the only constant > other than Northern Stars (in the back of bars) and the Moon at our > Windows is ch-ch-ch-change. > > -- > -Mark en Florida al Norte > > NP: Laura Pausini: No Me Lo Puedo Explicar > > On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 11:03 PM, Mark-Leon Thorne leon@iinet.net.au> wrote: > Hi Mark. > > My brother despises Apple and all of their products. Mainly because > of their corporate practices and marketing strategies. I was a > victim of those marketing strategies and now I wouldn't use > anything else. I don't have an iPod yet because I've been waiting > for the 3G iPhone. I'm not sure if this was true in other countries > or still true here for that matter but Apple's biggest strategy was > to do deals with schools and universities to get first time > computer users used to the Macintosh platform and get them hooked. > Of course, all my papers and lab reports were typed on ClarisWorks. > I could always switch to Windows (Windoze) but I despise Microsoft > even more. Apple was always an "underdog" to me and that was good > enough reason to prop them up. Of course, now I'm into graphic > design, I know I made the right choice. When Apple's products work, > they are unbeatable. They are all so sexy looking too. I a a very > visual person. > > That brings me to my graphic design style. Without having thought > about it, consciously, I realise that my style tends to be on the > stark side. I like solid colours. As I'm writing this, I look > around my house and realise that my house is the same. I don't have > anything with patterns on. All of my furniture (apart from the > woodgrain) are in solid colours. In my living room, I have deep > maroon curtains, two plain blue couches, even the rug is a plain > green. I like continuity too. A theme. The photos I choose for my > Joni covers (DVD and CD) must be connected to the content somehow. > The same goes for my wallpapers. All the elements in my wallpapers > have something to do with the song they are based on. Take a look > at my wallpaper for Shades of Scarlet Conquering. The photograph > itself will often set the general style of the design. I actually > like that photo of Joni on the Opera House CD. I think it looks > sophisticated and I like the colours. Also, that photo was taken in > 1983 - the year of that performance. The colours are very 1980s to > me. They often throw different coloured lights on the Sydney Opera > House for special events (Olympic Games, etc) and this photo suited > perfectly. > > As a matter of interest, the photographs on the Carnegie Hall CD > cover are actually all from that concert. If I don't have photos > from the actual performance, I will try to get as close as possible > and use photos from the same time period. That's my obsession with > continuity. I fantasise that I am designing these for an official > release and try to make it look like a retail release. I get > inspired by the information that I learn from this list about > Joni's songs too. Since I learned that, I Had a King was written > about Joni's ex husband, Chuck, I got excited that I actually had a > wedding photo of the two of them and based my wallpaper around > that. I Had a King is, to me, Joni taking mental notes on how to > not make the same mistakes as in the past - "Beware of the power of > moons" so, I tried to make it look like she had handwritten that > line on her wedding photo as reminder to herself. > > I will be uploading more in the near future and you can be assured > that the cover art will be completely relevant to the recording. > Thanks to Bob M and everyone else who has sent me these recordings > over the years. Now you know what I'm doing with them. > > Mark in Sydney > (on a 30: day - a taste of things to come) > > NP Lazy Moon - Groove Armada > > Now I have to go and vote in the local elections. > > On 13/09/2008, at 12:16 PM, Mark Angelo wrote: > >> Mark, yes it sounds overall like a "neat" - how that dates me - >> thing. I'm sure I'll click on "Update" getting tired of clicking >> "Ignore" one of these days. Interesting how Apple has taken the >> "Genius" moniker from it's Apple Stores and is using in it's >> applications. Somehow I don't think it will create the craze that >> the "i" in front of *everything* did ..."iMac, iTunes, iPod, >> etc...). As far as the privacy, again I suppose at some point you >> just realize that the government/corporate complex already has >> boatloads of information regarding everyone thanks to the digital >> age, and you eventually just acquiesce. If the MICC - military- >> industrial-congressional complex - yes I have been reading too >> much I suppose on the intertubes - considers you "subversive" >> somehow...for instance even the word "biosphere" is slightly >> subversive as it speaks to a concern greater than and beyond >> nationalism (tks Dorion Sagan), as are most certainly artists that >> have any real substance to their work (and the admirers thereof >> subscribing to mailing lists like this). So in short, I'm not >> exactly worried at this point what lists I am on to a large >> degree, with all sorts of proponents of free speech (Naomi Wolf, >> etc...) already on the ever-growing 'No-Fly List" as well as others. >> >> The visualizer sounds pretty cool. I already downloaded Firefox 3, >> I don't see as of yet much difference, however, the "platinum" >> style native interface was a real shocker!! So much so, I've had >> to download a skin that looks more like the old one as I just >> can't quite get used to the new interface - even if it now >> resembles the interfaces of other Apple applications. I'll come >> around eventually I'm sure. BTW I'm just getting around to playing >> the Joni performances at the Sydney Opera House - thanks they are >> fantastic!! Also I had no idea you did the graphic designs for the >> covers of the DVD's until yesterday, they are truly wonderful!! >> "And here I sit the critic"...I've only viewed four images so far >> via Preview, I like them all, only...well...the one photo of Joni >> where she is kind of frowning and looking quite the sophisticate >> with the "cigarillito" in hand, well, I think that maybe one of >> the worst photos of her ever...I mean this is a woman who cannot >> help but look beautiful in every single photograph, but this >> one ... is different...maybe that's why you picked it...perhaps it >> will grow on me as does all of her music. Sometimes - in addition >> to the music of course - I think FTR is some people's favorite as >> that picture of her in shades of green in the seclusion of the >> woods in Canada, is IMHO one of her very best photos for some >> reason. She simply radiates beauty in that peaceful, natural >> surrounding, as if that is where she finds G-d, which I believe is >> pretty close to the mark - open for criticism here - but her >> references through the years, and especially lately with "spirit >> of the water" which is what life is - animated water essentially - >> also being nature or by extension reality - I think that may come >> close to Joni's G-d. It is my definition now - oh and I know I'm >> opening myself up to all kinds of private emails with quotes from >> Mohamed and the Koran, etc... - but who cares?? To each his (or >> her) (or it's) own. The other image that stands out of course is >> that from Hejira - which I suppose the one you've used comes close >> to approximating in a way - with the cigarette and a kind of >> sophisticated look as well...but the way the cigarette bends her >> lips downwards to the left...ok I guess I'm getting obsessed with >> details...I guess I want to say a good choice now as it is quite a >> provocative image of Joni if not her most flattering...and that is >> what art is about huh?? >> >> Terra, I always enjoy reading your posts. I agree with so much of >> what you have to say. I also don't have nor do I want an iPod...I >> actually got one free (well it was supposed to be free, Apple was >> a bit deceptive in it's advertising) with this first version of >> the 17" iMac "Core Duo"....WHOA what a name!!). Actually the iMac >> boots so fast (in under 30 seconds) and is so ....um .... >> awesome??....in the over two years that I've had it I have >> absolutely no desire for another computer for a change. I even >> prefer the original white plastic enclosure to the aluminum >> they're using now (though the 100 percent recyclable thingy is >> admirable). Anyhow I gave it to my Mom, who walks all over the >> place with it listening to ABBA of all bands. The thing I don't >> like about the iPod and many other "must have" devices, is that >> apparently there is a unique metal in it, I forget what it is, >> Indium??, and essentially only comes from one place in Africa >> where it is mined. Also the batteries are not user-replaceable, so >> one must return the iPod to get an expensive battery replacement, >> and I believe most are simply tossed in favor of "newer, improved, >> better" ones. Whatever this metal is, and the exploitation of one >> or two African nations, is talked about in The Story of Stuff, >> which blows your mind when it is revealed I believe that 99 >> percent of what we buy is thrown away in the first 6 months. >> >> Also I tend to exhibit the old-fashioned way of doing things as >> you do, I think that is fairly normal, never using the shuffle/ >> random feature either. I also think that it is a bit bewildering, >> the technology and the uber abundance of data and choices and >> micro niche markets. Of course, futurist Alvin Toffler wrote about >> this in the 70's in his book, Future Shock, and the human psyche >> can only keep up with so change, the rate of which has been >> accelerating because of (formerly) cheap fossil fuels. As Energy >> Wars break out over the planet, with the realization finally >> taking place by the public that peak conventional oil production >> peaked in May of 2005 (which corresponds not so coincidentally >> with the beginning of the bursting of the housing bubble) I think >> a return to simpler ways will be de rigour. Of course, the USA >> when backed in a corner, as it is now as the largest debtor nation >> on Earth, will continue with it's "might is right" mindset and who >> knows what will be the consequence? This will happen under either >> McCain or Obama, as neither could reach their present positions of >> power without being staunch supporters of American Hegemony. Of >> course, I'd prefer it be Obama, as all of these visuals of gun- >> totin' Frances McDormand Fargo-accented Beauty Queen wrapped up in >> an American Flag Sarah Palin and her lack of respect or regard for >> the dignity of other creatures that share her very same DNA (does >> she even know what that is??) is beyond appalling to me. Also >> Frances McDormand of Fargo fame was a respectable, genuine, >> intelligent, insightful woman. Mrs. Palin is none of those. >> >> OK I've just probably earned my way onto sundry lists kept by the >> government/corporate complex now. I'll probably regret it. But the >> laws she passed in Canada regarding the incentives of shooting of >> wildlife by air and otherwise, as well as her pictures with all of >> her hunting "trophies" seemingly omnipresent on the Internet, make >> me angry enough to (*drum roll* with expectations of CIA knocking >> at the door)...well...say that she is not a very nice woman!!! >> >> Peace >> -- >> -Mark in Florida >> >> On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 7:18 AM, T Peckham >> wrote in part: >> Interesting discussion. I don't have an iPod (and have no need or >> desire for one), so I had no idea of all the features, old or new. >> > > > > > -- > -Mark in Florida ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2008 #209 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------