A nightly pause from the news to give the reader/viewer a bit of classic entertainment.
An evening pause: Holst dubbed Jupiter the bringer of Jollity. To me, the central epic theme from this movement has always evoked vastness and epic planet-sized storms, even before we really knew how epic and vast the storms on Jupiter really were.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: While a little long for an evening pause, this half-hour documentary does a nice job of telling the surprisingly normal story of actor Robert Mitchum. What struck me most about it was how ordinary Mitchum’s life was. I’ve also seen the same thing with almost every Apollo astronaut that I have interviewed. Like most very famous people from the mid-twentieth century, they do not see themselves as particularly special. In fact, they led life with a certain humbleness, something that is hard to find today, especially among modern actors.
Hat tip Willi Kusche.
An evening pause: Performed live by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in Terminal 2, Dublin Airport.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: As I head out for a week of caving in Belize, how about a little Latin American culture? (I know Belize is actually a former British colony, but it is in the middle of Central America, so that’s close enough.)
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: This television news report about a 1965 near disaster where a Pan American passenger jet’s engine and wing fall off and the captain brings everything down safely is fascinating to watch, partly because of the live action footage taken by one passenger, but also at how television news has evolved since then, for the worse. This 1965 report has no shots a newsperson standing in front of the camera telling us what happened, as is typical today. Instead, the filming focuses on the events and the witnesses themselves, and lets them tell the story in as straight-forward a manner as possible.
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
An evening pause: This cover of the Cyndi Lauper is fascinating and mesmerizing, all because of the singer’s face.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: Hat tip Jim Mallamace, who wrote, “Classic country music had loss, booze and infidelity as three main themes. This selection from 1974 is by George Jones, whose real-life often mirrored these classic country themes.”
An evening pause: I like the simplicity, as it forces you to listen to the words.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
An evening pause: This Metallica cover was performed by Daniela on guitar (14 years old), Paulina on drums (12 years old), and Alejandra on bass guitar (9 yrs old).
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
An evening pause: Though the first 1:50 of this very well done 1930s industrial is somewhat irrelevant and can be skipped, I think it is worth watching anyway. And the rest does a great job of explaining this mysterious piece of automobile equipment.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: I especially like the worm’s imitation of Mae West.
On a more serious note, these old animated films provide a very real window into the culture that existed in America in the 1930s. If you want to know where we are going, compare this to today’s art.
Hat tip James Mallamace.
An evening pause: On this, the birthday of Ronald Reagan, I think it appropriate to get a taste of the man’s humility and humor in the face of the pressures of politics. If you are too young to remember him, you might want to get this short taste.
A evening pause: Performed live June 13, 1987. I think of these words whenever I am in a truly glorious place underground:
My life goes on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it’s music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness ’round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
An evening pause: Make sure you watch for at least 20 seconds. You will watch the rest. As the website notes, it’s “the only thing that works every time.”
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
An evening pause: A very nice overview of the SR-71, the fastest plane ever built.
Hat tip Mike Nelson.
An evening pause: This performance is especially interesting in its unusual use of instruments.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: I’m not sure if his concept for a different way to interact with the computer is really the best way to do it, but his willingness to try something new makes it all worthwhile. There will — and have been — payoffs.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: From the 1949 musical comedy Neptune’s Daughter, with Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalbán, Red Skelton, and Betty Garrett.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: Recorded live October 20, 2012 at Christians Church, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hat tip Danae.
