belle and i are up in san luis obispo at a little music festival. im here to see/hear two pieces of music; stravinsky's rite of spring and messiaen's quartet for the end of time. heard 'the rite' on saturday night. it is still just one of the most exciting pieces of music ever written. first performed in 1913, as in 1913, and still full of all the best elements of music. it is dark, surprising, challenging and exotic. it pulses throughout with the promise of violent energy and intermittently erupts with complex stabs of giant chords and creative orchestration. it is, to me, perfect music. just fucking great to witness.
tonights piece is the "quartet for the end of time". a piece first written and performed in a nazi stalag during world war 2. for anyone interested, the fascinating story is covered far better here by alex ross of the new yorker magazine. its being performed in a church tonight. im stoked.
About Me
- -ea.
- after an inauspicious stint as an unremarkable young man, a cursory tour of four high schools in three years with an early departure, perry farrell and i started janes addiction. ______________________________________________________________ i am admittedly, under the best of circumstances, an erratic email returner but if you want to speak directly to me give it a try at: crashintothesea@gmail.com
101 comments:
EA -
you're a good man , living the way a man should...inspired, inspired to create, inspired to witness, inspired to guide. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the inspiration, its only now that remains real. enjoy
SMAC
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NSdXitBkFb0
r&k
m
This gives me an opportunity to bring up something I've wanted to mention here. Eric, you've got a little link to Brahms, so I wonder if he remains one of your favorites, and if so, what works of his you find especially attractive.
I'll share a couple of mine, all chamber pieces. First, Brahms' Sonatas for Cello and Piano. I particularly love the Ma/Ax version of this. Secondly, there is the Clarinet Trio and the Clarinet Quintet. I've been listening to the Naxos version of this...it's Jozsef Balogh on clarinet. I've heard there are a couple versions that are even better than this, but this one is quite excellent (and inexpensive). These have real emotional resonance for me. They are often described as being autumnal, which I think is quite fitting. They are unapologetically romantic, yearning, nostalgic, and emotional.
Hey Eric,
Sounds like an awesome time. I concur with the SMAC, you truly sound like you live your life to the fullest, exploring art and music for joy and education and inspiration, all the great parts that make great musicians and artists. Have a wonderful time there. I am into Vladimir Ashkenazy these days, per my wife who is a classically trained pianist, his Chopin: Nocturnes, 4 Ballades [Disc 1] is off the charts and mesmerizing. I am off to San Diego this morning for a trip to Comic Con (via my job at Sci Fi Channel). Look for ward to it never been to SD, won;t see music of it I think, I'll be in the convention center like 14 hours a day. I will miss lil Avery and my wife Gina horribly, never been away from them for a week. I'll also miss playing bass, I play everyday, that'll be tough. Oh, well, I'll get through it though, I am sure being busy will help. Anyways, great to hear from you on the blog, all the best to you and Belle up there at the music fest.
take care, Matt
meant to say I won't see "much" of SD ; music is on the brain this morning.
Fantastic...rite of spring is an unbelievable piece.
Last month I was lucky enough to witness Vangelis’s Blade Runner soundtrack performed live by the Heritage Orchestra and mixed by Massive Attack.(a little low brow, in comparison I agree)But, amazing...so inspiring.
Best
Rich
Have you ever listened to Pablo Cassals' work? I highly recommend his work. I sometimes like to listen to Cassals in the evening before bed. It helps to relax me and prepare me for slumber.
EA, got to see Rite of Spring performed live here in philly last year. Fantastic. It's got the roots of rock, metal, goth all wrapped in there.
I must look into Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, not sure I am familiar with it?
Hope to see you on 'tour' soon for your album!
ea,
Killer Ross post. Beauty and creativity in the cauldron. Reminds me of Viktor Frank's Man's Search for Meaning.
Hope you enjoy San Luis Obispo. Leisurely drive on the 101, ocean views, and stops @ wineries if you and your wife are the imbibing type.
On the way home, there's a cool little restaurant in Carpinteria called Zooker's. A dinner place.
And if you brought your board, there's always Rincon.
Jalama -
brinkman and his ranch
Stop by Cayucos and visit us!
OK, gonna take a shot from half court. Maybe more like full court. Going to pretend to be Marcel Dionne, Wilt Chamberlain y Larry Holmes for a moment.
Been studying symphonic composition with a new mentor. An amazing passionate and deeply clever lady. My assignment for the next month is to write 4 or 5 string quartets (lead violin, 2nd violin, viola y cello) that are 1 – 1.5 minutes long. After which, we’ll expand to bigger ensembles of string orchestrated tone poems or other sections of quartets y quintets (brass, woodwinds, etc).
This is all self-initiated, independent study. Plan on using some of these exercises in other tunes I have composed. In order to kill as many birds with a single stone. The goal is to gain fluidity in symphonic music, applying it to other genres and non-genres.
So, sacred precious maestro, you want to spar with some of this? You write some pieces along the same lines and we can share the experience? I know, I know, I am relentless.
If you would like my teachers help, I am sure she would be glad to take you on. I will explain more if you are interested.
I am hyper-aware that if you let them, your fans will peck the flesh off your bones, out of love, like they did Hendrix. Hopefully my positive, music obsessed energy will replenish as opposed to deplete.
It is about composing music. Working with the best of the best. Which is you. Mr. Eric.
R&K
M
PS Hope the dream thing didn’t weird you out. Used to weird me out a little when it happened in the past. Though I have learned enough about that stuff now to both trust it and also keep a grain of salt handy. Dreams are both the Blue and the Red Pill all rolled into one.
PSS
I guess in no small part I have to thank Belle. About a month ago, I decided to leave my gig as owner of a computer headhunting business. Now I am a professional musician. Ultimately it was my wife, Julie, to push me into action. The gravity of the love of music became too heavy to carry. A 40 year old with a new child, mortgage, blah, blah.
I say Belle because she got you off your ass. In no small way did your story inspire me get off my ass. Your blog is nothing like any other. It is not like I am hanging out at Jane’s sites or any other band sites. Besides some political stuff, this blog is pretty much it for me. Did the trick big time.
Never been more excited in my life. Now I feed the family with music. Imagine that. Really makes the long hours interesting, to grow by.
Entranced. Feels like I just handed back Mr. Wonka his gobstopper.
So thanks to your family. From ours.
This is FYI.
With complete abandon y no fear,
Mike
i love san luis obispo. i traveled the whole coast of CA extensively and really enjoyed that area.
yeah, i did the east coast surfer traveling the west coast in a vw camper. san luis, big sur, san francisco were all great. stayed in san francisco for a few years. loved the surf there.
in terms of the music, stravinsky's rite of spring is obviously one of the greatest pieces of musci ever written. I am a huge ravel fan, and i rate rite of spring rite(sp) up with bolero.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4J5j74VPw
bliss.
i love the wikpedia description of the rite of spring:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rite_of_Spring
sorry for the three short posts, but i also need to comment on the quartet for the end of time.
what an incredible story, and i love the incredible definitions of "There shall be time no longer" achieved by Messiaen. artists think differently not because they try to, they just do.
sam
well, im having my yearly Jane's addiction relapse, where i am consumed by everything you guys ever played...and all i have to say is....next summer, 2 month tour, hit all the major cities and call it a career....or atleast get out and solo tour for the love of god. Its a sin to not share your talents with your fans.
Eric, some of your more...um...enthusiastic admirers frighten the ever-loving shit out of me.
Thanks for your support Jasper. It is hard enough to get up the guts in the first place.
Found some great mentors and peers this way.
"If you never try, then you'll never know."
Hope Mr. Jasper is following his bliss. Life is short.
respect & kindness
mike
Jasper don't worry. You seem a little confused so here's the low down... there's a lot of excitement right now about the possible reunion of a band that Eric used to be in back in the day called Jane's Addiction.
The thing is, they were not just any band, many people consider them to be the BEST live rock n roll band EVER in the history of music. It's sort of a "you had to be there" thing but to any one who lives for music, seeing them live is something that they never forget.
When you consider the shallowness of today's musical climate, the idea of this band reforming seems all the more impossible yet necessary.
But I get the feeling that their heyday was probably way before your time which is why you simply don't understand why people are getting so, um, enthusiastic.
But if you were there, trust me, you'd get it and then you wouldn't be so frightened.
JAsper here's to hoping with all that fright you get a good nights rests tonight.. maybe try listening to some Air Supply to help you get to sleep?
Eric's here blogging about his interests and that's not enough for you? Why waste all this space, especially trying (and failing) to dis me? I was very fortunate to see Jane's a couple of times back in the day, and was even so fortunate as to have Eric autograph my ticket stub at that time. He was very gracious just to do that. Thanks Eric.
The topic of the post was classical music, in the broad sense, and I have to sincerely apologize for being part of any temporary derailment.
well done jasper -
you and I share a common insight, there is no room for separation, and anyone knowing Eric or the true essence of janes would understands. Janes was founded (i'll bet a dime to a dollar most of you dont know who the "original members" were) with the philosphy of "you dont like us...well too fucking bad here were are" in all of our disfunctuional glory - you self righteous pigs (in Zen). It wasnt a plea for acceptance...it was a demand for respect..a basic human decency
It is umimpressive to expound on intellectual exclusion, rather it is way more impressive to understand and relate to "all men/women are created equal" and therefore your artistic expression, no matter how trite, or brilliant, similiarly reflects the beauty of creativity.
While it's true that some may be a bit overzealous in their efforts to court favor with the author of this blog, and still others will blantantly disregard my own self righteous rant, it doest strengthen or lessen the importance of expression...perhaps the trusist interpretation can be ..take inspiration from the source, create something worthy of your talent, and give something back towoards eternity, I mean "how many chocolate sundaes and hours of masturbation do you really need?"
Smac
"Rite Of Spring" really is an incredible piece of music. Do you happen to like Schoenberg by any chance? His work is amazing.
Hey SMAC,
"While it's true that some may be a bit overzealous in their efforts to court favor with the author of this blog,"
Hey SMAC thanks for putting it politely. Last time I tried to court Eric I wrote to him something like; you want me to chill out just say so.
He can always block me if I was too scary or whatever.
I really don't think Eric is going to be afraid of a guy wanting to write string quartets. Maybe annoyed.
But yea, my whole life has changed for the blisser and Eric's strentgh of charactor, musical abilities and taking on his new musical life had an impact.
I think he would be kind of happy that his blog has served as a catalyst.One less headhunter, one more musician in the world. Pretty fucking cool when you cherish things like, um, music.
Thanks again SMAC, for being polite. What you say is true. Definitely overzealous and a bit too revealing.
Jasper was sort of correct as well, My friends know me for having an unusually large capacity for enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is sacred in some cultures. In our culture it makes a lot of people sick and judgemental. Boo hoo. Mostly enthiusiasm is contagious and inspirational (even in our culure, go figure). Depends on how you feel in your skin. No hard feelings Jasper.
And Eric, thanks for being patient. Give the word and I will lay off.
r&k
M
PS Started writing the pieces. Fun as can be.
ea, et al,
redirecting (attempting to) posts and thread back to music; a coworker sent this video, which splices together YouTube footage and sound of individual notes from myriad musicians and diverse genres to create a Bach composition.
Cool vid, Chris. I love J.S. Bach, especially the Mass in B minor, which is kind of the ultimate musical statement on divine matters, in my mind. It's the only convincing argument I've heard for a deity. Whether or not this is simply a statement of what the human mind is capable of conceiving/feeling/communicating is up to the listener. Whatever the interpretation, the piece is not diminished. I'm suggesting the Robert Shaw version.
Obama lost without a teleprompter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S47sO1TCVmE
Don't worry I don't think Eric reads all these comments anyways. Probably does a quick glance and then goes surfing for the rest of the day.
Even if J.A. gets together it will, at the very minimum be a three year wait for new music. Probably longer. They love waiting periods, just like our gov't.
I saw "Quartet for the End of Time" performed in a church a couple of months ago - the lights were dimmed to almost total darkness, it was accompanied by subtle, tasteful 'light show' (you could hardly call it a "show") and it was a sublime moment. I haven't had a chance to see "The Rite of Spring" 'live' (ha) but I will jump at that chance when it appears, it's one of my all time favorites as well.
This is a bit of a tangent Eric, but what do you think of the band Battles (if you know them)? I have recently gotten ridiculously into their music and think they're probably one of the most original bands around right now. I mention them because this is a band that actually takes the time to study things like color in the music of Stravinsky (and others), which I always find intrigueing in a rock band. They come at what a rock band can do from a really exciting, fresh angle. This is a good interview: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/features/story/0,,2081826,00.html
I have one more question, with your obviously big interest in, um, "contemporary classical" music, have you ever had a desire to compose music in that kind of vein? Do you ever get musical ideas that don't quite fit into a sort of rock band/song environment?
Anyway, thanks for an inspiring blog Eric, not to mention your music of course.
Eric, whats your earthquake story?
it woke me up and my pup looked at me like he was going crazy...then my blue and gold macaw flew off her cage and my pup said...."shits going crazy it's my chance to get the bird!"
i went from dead asleep to a couple seconds later running after my dog and bird during it.....laughed so damn hard after
chris,
i just bought battles latest album on your suggestion. great music, thanks!
sam
EA--if you like "Rite", check out "The Miraculous Mandarin" by Bartok.
Hope all is well,
KV
" its being performed in a church tonight. im stoked. "
never thought you were the religious type. robert smith used to meditate in gothic cathedrals in england after smoking the peace pipe
Spent a lot of time in cathedrals did he? Well if you listen to old Cure records you can hear the gregorian chant vocal influence on songs like All Cats are Grey.
Got your solo record a few weeks ago and have finally had time to give it a 'proper' listen Eric. It's growing on me with every listen. Great stuff! Very Atmospheric. Was wondering what the recurring 'man who could fly' theme referred to?
All the Best!
Barry.
I did a little brainstorming to make a list of bands/music that Jane's Addiction likes the most. My guess is
Jimi Hendrix, Bauhaus, Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Joy Division, Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, Tyrannosaurus Rex, James Brown, David Bowie, Fela Kuti, Prince, Indian (Hindustani) Classical.
Anonymous, I don't know about Prince. You should add Bad Brains and The Doors to your list, along with X and The Germs. Also Brahms and Butthole Surfers, if E's bass is anything to go by. I'll also suggest dub in general and heavy metal (Dave & Perk) in general . Come to think of it, also add New Order and The Cure.
Perry Farrell is a wanna-be Prince, just look at his stage costumes, feathery hats and feminine personality.
In which Jane's songs make you think of Bad Brains, X, The Germs and the Butthole Surfers?
Jane's is not really punk or hardcore.
Jane's foundation is that of post-punk('79-82) and classic rock ('67-70). An unbeatable combination if you ask me.
Stuff like early live versions of "Trip Away," make me think very much of Bad Brains, as do some of the more hypnotic, dubby moments, and touches of tropical musics. I know Perk loves Bad Brains. Perry described Jane's as "a mix between Bad Brains and Duke Ellingtion" in Soul Kiss. Jane's playing songs by X and The Germs in a full-on punk rock style makes me think of those bands, obviously. Further punk evidence was heard when they played The Stooges' "1970," and in tunes such as Ain't No Right. I mentioned the Butthole Surfers because, as I said, Eric had their sticker on his bass. I've also seen Jane's watching the Butthole Surfers with my own eyes, and seen Jane's jamming with them onstage, so...
The influences are more diverse than you are giving them credit for. There's a psychedelic influence, a metal influence, a FUNK influence, a prog influence and more. That's one thing that made them great; they all came from different areas and had eclectic tastes.
Whenever I go vacationing in the mountains I always make a point to stop at various local Hippyish music shops. There amoungst the limited rock & roll selection I've found the typical Stones, Marley, Doors, Beatles and low and behold Jane's Addiction "Ritual de lo Habitual" is there next to the other greats. Seems we here aren't the only ones who know the classics.
If Barry H. Obama would pledge and sign a legal document stating he would decriminalize cannabis in his first term I will vote for him.
Should Barack Obama and Cindy McCain be in Jail?
On January 20th 2009, either the president of the United States will be a man who used to snort coke to ease his blues, or the First Lady will be a former drug addict who stole from charity to get her next fix. In this presidential campaign, there are dozens of issues that have failed to flicker into the debate, but the most striking is the failing, flailing 'War on Drugs.' Isn't it a sign of how unwinnable this 'war' is that, if it was actually enforced evenly, either Barack Obama or Cindy McCain would have to skip the inauguration -- because they'd be in jail?
article continued....
http://www.alternet.org/rights/94758/should_barack_obama_and_cindy_mccain_be_in_jail/?page=entire
I read the blabbermouth news today and I'm sad. Eric, can you confirm its true, that a new Jane's Addiction album/reunion was just a pipe dream? I don't want to keep agonizing over this...
http://perryfarrellsparty.blogspot.com/
We await your word, oh great one.
1. Will there be a rendezvous with the other 3?
2. Will there be a rendezvous with the other 2, leaving Berstein and Yoko behind to dance karaoke?
3. Will there be a new solo cd?
3. Will there be extended hibernation?
You see, it is not easy to rouse Polar Bears once they are in slumber.
~Den Keeper
Ozmic announced Jane's Addiction is in fact, in the works.
Oz is not exactly the Associated Press.
When will Oz come out of the closet?
He's waiting for you to go first. Be brave and take flight, little butterfly.
Dr. Know of the Bad Brains will always have my utmost respect. When they reunited for the Quickness tour after a long hiatus, they played a sold out show at the country club in Reseda, ca. I snuck into sound check and hid in the bathroom when everybody was kicked out. Dr. Know came to pee. I asked him if I could open up for them, just me and my acoustic along with my rag doll, Cindy. Dr. Know was beyond cool and said yes. Later when it was gig time, he stood by his promise when he was confronted by a hostile bunch of crew who were not told. The way Dr. Know faced these guys took a lot of balls. The crew put Dr. Know on the spot something fierce. Could not believe the energy when the BB took the stage. Beyond. Was a thrill. True Rock n Roll spirit. Long live the Bad Brains!
Respect and kindness,
Mike
PS Whoever bagged on Dave for being a “media whore“, please get real. Do you bag on an electrician for taking too many electrical jobs? Do you get upset when a dentist fixes too many teeth? Give Perry and Dave a break. Think about what they have given you.
PSS Obama kicked ass last night!
Oz is bisexual, he doesn't deny this. It's a beautful thing.
It wouldn't hurt if Dave Navarro decided to remove himself from the glitz and glam of Los Angeles for a few years and devoted his time and talent to making heartfelt music again. That scene is a ruiner.
The word is he's working on a solo (80's hard rock) album. Watch for it.
ERIC LETS GO!
hi eric,
for whatever reason I am going to cc you on the email I sent my unc. Hopefully to inspire/ influence you to collaberate. I can use the work. here it goes. Now I become hedwig. you can be tenille.
PS Jared, you may not want to read this. It might scare you. respectfully.
Hey unc,
Waz up?! You tak to john r? talk to todd?
Really want to hear the tune you wrote after you found out you are dying. Burn it and mail it or get it up online my brotherly uncle.
Played a gig last night. Fuckin unreal. Played with a master dub dj and a drummer freak (the guy from cirque de soleil). Twas bliss. Played music that made the place (including the jaded staff) say sincere, doe eyed thank you. Music that has no genre. When the sound waves stopped I was frightened of what we just accomplished. In shock. Was literally shaking from the love y sound waves. People blowing kisses as they left. Twas bumpy at the start. Thank goodness, I loathe existing solely in my comfort zone. We had never played together before. Exhale. Unreal.
I kiss the gods of placement who allowed this. I will never again do anything for a buck but create music.
You light up my life,
Miguelito
Aka Mr.E
I saw Perry & Dave deep kissing
"Jane's foundation is that of post-punk('79-82) and classic rock ('67-70)"
The late 60's sounds was all Farrell.
The heavy metal head-banging stuff was all Navarro.
The early 80's sophisticated moves was pure Avery.
Hi Eric,
Positive thoughts.
Have you heard the music of Taraf De Haidouks?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnNCidccbG8
Amazing!
R&K y bliss,
Mike
Also check out this Sitar guy who now lives in Portland.
Josh Feinberg
http://www.myspace.com/joshfeinberg
r&k,
Mike
Eric, there's a rumor going around.
You know what it is.
Do I really have to SAY it?
OK, fine, here it is:
If you don't update your blog within five days, Sarah Palin will become the Empress of the United States, from now until the year 2068.
You know what to do...
Let him be. He might be writing new songs *hopes*
who's to say obama won't be sending our troops off to war?
not like we have a choice
they say here you have it liar number one or liar number 2
and thats all you can choose from good luck.. cuz they both work for the int'l bankers!!!
The Democrats used to criticize the Republicans for fear mongering. That was until they started using it themselves.
"We simply can't afford four more years," etc...
they are starting to sound like doomsayers...
only problem with that is...
if we can't afford four more years why have they allowed us to endure these last few years?
Why are the majority of democrats not supportive of impeachment?
things that make you say...hummm
You know what we really cant afford...any more
Good cop/ bad cop republicrats.
McCain/Palin: if they win...the democrats really need to wrap it up this time. The Democrats have been enablers thus far anyway.
They like to claim that they didn't fight to stop the war because they couldn't win their argument anyway. Same excuse with the patriot acts.
Well...I wouldn't feel slighted if they fought and lost, but to simply not even fight?!
What are we voting for you to do again? Where's the representation of the people here? Obviously they all had their political futures in mind at all times...and not rocking the boat...not the best interest of their constituents.
They are not fighters.
This election has been a joke...and they have helped it to be so.
What I love about the Palin addition is that...
All of the people blindly supporting Obama for all these months...simply referencing a vague "change"...as the reason are now feeling really confused and ashamed to admit, that they have helped foster an environment where all the election is going to be trivialize into is...votes for the black man vs. votes for the woman.
All of you democratic supporters had to give up on the issues or just ignore them along time ago.
It's all been about "winning the race" electability...who can win?
From here on out all were going to hear about is "how close the race is".
It's all bull. You've been manipulated.
Hey...you all had no problem dodge the issues this past year. Never having the courage to admit that your casting your vote based on the premise that the color of your skin must inherently make you different. Bush and all of those behind the infinitely evil white male oppression must be stopped, and thats the most important thing.
It's the most simple answer...it's like a movie...the guy looks different, talks different, has an "ethnic" name...he must be different. And that's not racist? He could be a republican.
Just like Dean before him:
He was against the war...
when he didn't have a vote for or against it at the time anyway.
Racism
Who cares about a social illness that's not going to be corrected in an election...lets try to concentrate on the issues that are more important right now:
Obamas issues are weak. Biden is weak.
Obama:
No to impeachment/ yes to fisa
no to single payer universal health care/ yes to more insurance
no to repealing the patriot acts/
yes to pandering to aipac and having a hawkish stance on the middle east
...Biden
considers nuclear power...
is a republicrat...
participates in political bigotry..
promises to increase military spending.
the democrats did nothing against the Patriot acts.
The democratic party has avoided impeachment.
If you "beleive" the democrats are the savior...it's time you stop trying to beleive, and start learning and understanding the facts and the truth.
How ever unattractive it is. How ever un-movie like the plot line is.
the Democrats are just soft republicans.
Let Ralph Nader debate!!
peace-
LHR
yo,
you've kinda missed the boat, but it still ain't too late
drop the fear and play a show
the music is amazing
stop being afraid
My opinion
The powers that be know that Obama will likely not be elected. They allowed him to rise to his present position not for him necessarily to win but to help destabilize American society. They know the ramifications of throwing an African American candidate into the mix. The powers that be have already succeeded in destabilizing the economy. They lured us into two wars to heep on the mountain of debt and further debase our currency.
The 2008 vote may be as close as the 2000 election. When Obama loses the outcry will be deafening. There could be protests and riots in the streets. People will say the system is rigged and racist. Outcry for a new system. Outcry from Californians who want suceed from the Union(not a bad idea actually).
This is all part of the great design. More and more destabilization and crashing. More and more transfer of wealth to other countries. More fanning the flames of division and hatred. This may give way to more government control, surveillance, laws and restrictions due to the dangers of destabilized society.
Our "elected" leaders are merely puppets of the global finacers and elite. The ultimate goal is to replace our monetary system and constitution with a world currency and world government. It may or may not occur in our lifetime, but it is coming.
^Dude whatever it is you're smokin, I want some of it. Hehe
Dearest My opinion,
Any thoughts on solutions or at least resistance? barter system?
seems that good people all over the world are bamboozled. so many choices, though most are empty choices. distractions to service immediate needs.
r&k
m
Otters are amphibious (or in one case aquatic) fish-eating mammals. The otter subfamily Lutrinae forms part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, polecats, badgers, as well as others. With thirteen species in seven genera, otters have an almost worldwide distribution.They eat mainly fish, clams, lobsters, shrimp, and mice if they have to.
The word otter derives from the Old English word otr, otor or oter. This and cognate words in other Indo-European languages ultimately stem from a root which also gave rise to the English words water, wet and winter.
An otter's den is called a holt. Male otters are dog-otters, females are queens and babies are cubs or pups. The collective noun pack or "romp" is sometimes used for a group of otters, being descriptive of their often playful nature.
Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs, with webbed paws. Most have sharp claws on their feet, and all have long muscular tails.
They have a very soft underfur which is protected by their outer layer of long guard hair. This traps a layer of air, and keeps them dry and warm under water.
Otters do not depend on their specialized fur alone for survival in the cold waters where many live: they also have very high metabolic rates. For example Eurasian otters must eat 15% of their body-weight a day, and sea otters, 20 to 25%, depending on the temperature. In water as warm as 10°C (50°F) an otter needs to catch 100 grams (3 oz) of fish per hour to survive. Most species hunt for 3 to 5 hours a day, and nursing mothers up to 8 hours a day.
Most otters have fish as the primary item in their diet, supplemented by frogs, crayfish and crabs. Some are expert at opening shellfish, and others will take any available small mammals or birds. This prey-dependence leaves otters very vulnerable to prey depletion.
Otters are very active, chasing prey in the water or searching the beds of rivers, lakes or the sea. Most species live beside water, entering it mainly to hunt or travel, otherwise spending much of their time on land to avoid their fur becoming waterlogged. The sea otter actually lives in the sea.
Otters are playful animals, for example sliding repeatedly down
Scientists have deciphered the genetic blueprint of the duck-billed platypus, one of the oddest creatures on Earth.
The animal comes from an early branch of the mammal family, and like mammals it is covered in fur and produces milk. However, it lays eggs like a reptile.
Researchers say this unique mixture of features is reflected in its DNA.
The genome sequence, which is published in the journal Nature, holds clues to how humans and other mammals first evolved, they add.
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is the latest in a string of mammals, including the mouse, rat, sheep, horse and dog, to have its genome decoded.
But it is the only member of the monotremes (egg laying mammals) for which we have a genetic blueprint.
Dr Chris Ponting, of the MRC Functional Genetics Unit at the University of Oxford, UK, is one of more than 100 researchers from the US, UK and Australia, who took part in the study. He said the platypus was chosen because of its unusual features.
The platypus is so strange that it was considered a hoax when sent from Australia to European researchers in the 19th Century.
"It has a very weird appearance because it's a mishmash of the bill of a duck, the eyes of a mole, the eggs of a lizard and the tail of a beaver," Dr Ponting told BBC News.
"It was one of several (mammals) we could have chosen, but it was certainly the one that everyone seemed to wish to sequence because of its unusual features."
Dr Ponting said the genome sequence enabled scientists to look back in time to see what an early mammal would have been like.
He said: "It's wonderful to see all of the different mishmash of features that the platypus exhibits; to see those features reflected in the DNA, in the genes of this creature, which has held mysteries for the scientists and the general population ever since it was discovered 200 years ago."
'16 year old arrested for holding a "F*ck Bush" sign'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EgKiYXESp0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a82arE0JSQ
r&k
M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC7uhMY9s
r&k
M
LETS GET TO THE POINT!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aHjvogkjHQ
Eric, I saw a great episode of "Keeping The Score" on PBS last night. They went through the score of "Rite of Spring," describing how the parts are played, the meaning, how it was received on opening night (mayhem), the dancing, and so on. It was spellbinding.
"This mini-series, Revolutions In Music, focuses on the meaning of music, with episodes devoted to Beethoven, Stravinsky, and Copland, highlighting what made their music so revolutionary, and why it is still so powerful today."
http://www.pbs.org/keepingscore/
"Can we bring the urgency to the songs that made them so dynamic in the first place"
I was pondering your statement about urgency and how so much of what passes for music lacks the sense of urgency you speak of. Its almost become a lost art. The children of the 80's & 90's have not done anything with what they've inherited musically. They squandered what they had and chosen the low road and given us souless, boring music. There is a diminishing pool of truely great songwriters out there.
We just lost one of them.
Rick Wright, RIP
You're right as far as rock,pop,electronica goes. No standards. It blows. But thankfully there is a lot of amazing new talent to be found in other areas like neoclassical, neofolk, and eastern musics. You just have to look harder to find it. Its not on top 40 corporate radio.
I used to think of Eric Avery as the star bass player in Jane's Addiction but not anymore. He's come into his own with his first solo effort. His bass playing is still wonderful but he shown us what a magnificent songsmith he is. And the songs themselves, the vocal melodies are what matters most, at least to these well trained ears. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the and first verse to Chicken Bone. "You might have forgotten what it feels like..." I laid back listening, so emotionally moved, wishing it could on forever sounding like that. Begs one question, Eric why were you hiding this from us all these years?
three of my favorite lines on the album are on the song Revolution.
"I tell you you're pretty as if it was something you did"
y
"I am happy as I am small"
y
"With one big bomb all the war on earth went away"
Or something like that.
Willow, I totally agree with what you wrote.
R&K
Mike
Thanks Mike ;)
Those lines are good too. Eric writes thought provoking poetry doesn't he
E-
I see your boy Alex Ross just won $5ook.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/arts/23fell.html?partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
"Sun's Gone" Sublime lyrics
Avery's blogging silence speaks volumes
please Eric break the silence!!!!!
I heard that Help Wanted has now reached the milestone of 20 copies sold thanks to relentless promotion and touring.
anynonymous,
I assume the goal was to make and release a work of art. He did promote it thru radio interviews. The record company had a responsibility to get the word out and get it in the hands of radio stations. Eric never promised to tour and admits he doesn't like singing live. We should be thankful he gave us this treasure. We might not ever hear another one from him.
Dearest Anonymous,
Positive thoughts.
When an oil painter makes a painting, they sell only one. Does that make the painting any less a work of art? It has been said that Vincent Van Gogh only sold one of his many paintings during his lifetime, does that make his work unworthy?
If you have one of those 20 copies sold, count yourself as one amongst the fortunate.
My apologies if you are someone who has a financial stake in Eric’s album. Hard to tell with a common name such as anonymous.
Respect and kindness,
Mike
Anonymous of the "20 copies sold" what a stupid remark...piss off mate!
JMP
Bush’s speech last night was a throwback to his March 2003 stump before the invasion of Iraq - replace words like “weapons of mass destruction” with “financial panic” and the tone of the two is not dissimilar.
Bush rammed home the fear by appealing to people’s personal anxieties.
The financial terrorism being perpetrated by Bush, McCain, Bernanke, Paulson and the rest of these criminals in threatening Americans with unbridled chaos unless they acquiesce to political demands, and the coordinated ferocity with which it is being delivered, is necessary for the crooks because they are desperate to get the bailout passed before Congress really has a chance to digest exactly what it stands for.
This is what’s called the “shock doctrine,” the accelerated passage of what is essentially dictatorial legislation without proper scrutiny by means of exploiting a temporary state of fear.
This is not just about $700 billion of taxpayers’ money and the continued sacking of the dollar, it’s about the imposition of a giant new infrastructure of control and regulation on behalf of the private, run for profit, Federal Reserve.
Bush even alluded to it last night, stating that Paulson’s bailout would mean the “Federal Reserve would be authorized to take a closer look at the operations of companies across the financial spectrum.”
The plan was drawn up months ago, lying in wait for the right crisis to see it enacted, just as the Patriot Act was prepared well in advance of 9/11.
The Treasury’s fact sheet about the bailout states, “The Secretary will have the discretion, in consultation with the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, to purchase other assets, as deemed necessary to effectively stabilize financial markets.”
This gives the government and the Federal Reserve carte blanche to do whatever they want to long as it is done in the name of stabilizing financial markets, they can nationalize any company or industry and use taxpayer money, above and beyond the initial $700 billion, for whatever purpose is deemed necessary, without any oversight. Paulson’s bailout plan is also unreviewable by any court, it will remain in perpetuity.
As Chris Martenson writes, “This means that $700 billion is NOT the cost of this dangerous legislation, it is only the amount that can be outstanding at any one time. After, say, $100 billion of bad mortgages are disposed of, another $100 billion can be bought. In short, these four little words assure that there is NO LIMIT to the potential size of this bailout. This means that $700 billion is a rolling amount, not a ceiling.”
Reporter Larisa Alexandrovna calls it “the final stages of the coup,” noting, “This manufactured crisis is now to be remedied, if the fiscal fascists get their way, with the total transfer of Congressional powers (the few that still remain) to the Executive Branch and the total transfer of public funds into corporate (via government as intermediary) hands.”
The legislation would provide billions to foreign central banks in addition to private foreign banks.
The proposed move represents a total shift of U.S. taxpayers’ funds into the hands of powerful private interests, some of which do not even represent American companies.
The bailout bill represents the most fascist centralization of power in America since 9/11 and the Patriot Act - and many would argue that it even trumps that. The fiscal terrorists hope to ram through their agenda by appealing to people’s fears about the economy, their jobs, their houses and their pensions. But the temporary pain brought on by a Wall Street crash and a severe recession would be nothing compared to the long term death knell that the bailout bill would mean to economic liberty in America.
The very people who with somber faces tell us of their deep concern for the spread of democracy around the world are the ones most insistent on forcing a bill through Congress that the American people overwhelmingly oppose. The very fact that some of you seem to think you’re supposed to have a voice in all this actually seems to annoy them.
I believe Obama WILL NOT WIN..(hope I´m Wrong) but I don´t have faith anymore... inside this country the "republicans red neck racists I like war are more"...
Bush is responsable for:
9-11 plot to make...the oil-weapons industry war on Irak and Afganistan...that forced the goverment to spend millions overheating the economy and helping furthermore the finance crisis....Also theres the Katrina issue........and still people are serious on voting the republicans again for 4 more years...OH S%**..ITS SERIOUS MAN!
Even Hitler had stadiums full of people who cheered him on.
This horrifying human trait does not just melt away.
Still, blacks are no longer swinging from trees. Woman are a little more free. It is a long hard fight, and takes many generations.
Never stop fighting.
r&k
M
PS Keep in mind the Ted Nugent factor. Ted is an official spokesman for a group of conservatives that would of linched him a mere 2-3 generations ago. The greater good is winning.
The banker bailout sucks. Who do our senators/representatives and president work for the people, or wall street?
Help Wanted!
Some links to Download Jane´s live concerts... ENJOY!
Live at the Paladium 12-19-1990
http://www.torrentreactor.net/torrents/997042/Janes-Addiction-Live-amp%3B-Insane-L-A-Paladium-1990
Live at King County,WA 1991
Lolapalooza tour date.
http://hard-rock-cafe.blogspot.com/2007/06/janes-addiction-live-at-king-county.html
Some more
Live September 1987
http://elultimoze.blogspot.com/2008/08/janes-addiction-en-vivo-xxx-septiembre.html
I'm surprised Eric A. hasn't weighed in on the Paulson-Bernanke Plan or any of the current events in the political>economic spectrum....
I´m watching the debate on TV and McCain cannot look to Obama´s eyes when he answers to him...pathetic!
I thought the debate was boring. I do not like Mccain's ties to NWO mastermind Kissinger or Obama's ties to imperial elitist Zbigniew Brzezinski. I will not be voting for either of these two stooges, they both work for the same special interests.
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