the frig blig

Biologists reported to their amazement that birds can dance, according to Rebecca Morelle in BBC news today. (I will suppress the easy jokes about musical taste here.)

Several years ago I was a member of a band called Minnow. We had weekly practice sessions at the piano players house. The piano player had an African grey parrot named Picard. When we musicians would arrive, the bird was very excited to see us. When we started playing Picard would join in (although he didn’t know the tunes). It appeared to me that band practice was one of the high points of Picard’s week.

So I’m guessing that other bird owners may have had similar experiences, and would not be super shocked at reading this research paper.

Regardless, wider human acknowledgement of birds’ appreciation of music cannot be a bad thing.

I have posted a select few photos of my Vietnam adventures on my facebook site. The facebook-free can see them by clicking this link. This will have to suffice until I get time to post a more comprehensive blig gallery.

Not only does Vietnam have insane traffic, tropical heat, bustling river commerce, two-dong scam artists, and fruits from another galaxy, but it also has go players!

Ogura Koen graciously agreed to meet me at his house and did me the honor of asking for a second game after winning our first.

Upon my arrival he asked “What dan are you?” — I replied “Zero dan” which cracked up Sensei and his wife. He gave me a five-stone handicap and let me establish a small lead before killing one of my groups, prompting my resignation.

Sensei offered good-natured analysis of my mistakes after both games — an invaluable lesson. I recorded our first game for future study.

OK, time for a siesta and then dinner.

President Barack Obama was elected to office on a platform of ‘hope’. So it comes as no surprise that he is extending hope to CIA torturers. As he is offering hope to bankers (as long as they’re big enough) and Zionists.

Halong Bay, known for it’s distinctive & fantastic karst formations, can get hot. Very hot. These boat vendors cater to tourists in need of refreshment.

Sheesh…while I’ve been off galivanting around the globe the industrious folks at the Camel Reproduction Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (sic) have been busy cloning a camel. Of all creatures! Life and tech on earth is indeed speeding up.

All I know is, Injaz is a good name for an avatar.

S & I spent a long weekend in Chicago where we joined the B fam to celebrate M’s 85th birthday in style. A fab time was had by all (AFAIK) including, most importantly, the guest of honor.

We love the town but hate the weather.

Among other things we caught Travis Haddix at Rosa’s, attended a matinee performance at the 2nd City Improv comedy club, saw cool art at the Art Institute of Chicago, craned our necks at greystones on Logan Blvd, and ate lots of great food. And possibly the coolest thing, gawked and walked underneath the amazing mirror sculpture at Millennium Park.