Sunday Music

~ 63mago ~ 1 Comment

What a lazy weekend. I spent most time in bed, either subdued comatose from too much bolognese, plainly sleeping, or reading SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860) (Ger., Eng.) : Time flies by when you follow ol’ Atze’s meanderings through the jungle of thought.
I avoided to look into the news ; anything regarding Trumpistan is simply revolting, one may hope that the worst of this clown show is over after next Tuesday, preferably without violence – but hey, what’s an icy goon squad for if you do not use them ?
Europe sees revolts of the youth, as far as I understand many of the points of the French are right. But as usual, it went out of control. And all of a sudden some internet thingy pops up called “Gen Z regelt” – a slogan so dumb, it must be aimed at fourteen years old digital zombies. Besides, it reminds me strongly of “Jim’ll fix it” (Eng.), but let’s not go there.
I find it remarkable that behind this internet “platform” not one tangible person stands. I read an interview with a guy, who had organised some protests – he could not name someone, who is behind this tool for organisation, he never had met other people, who, like him, organised something. Thousands of people use this thing for “application”, give in their personal information, receive professional advice regarding tactics against police, and how to clear your eyes from tear gas. Since when do I need an application to join a demo ?
All that is a bit too pro for my liking, this is not just a guy & his friends in 10th class. Anyway, I may become paranoid. But it fits a tad too good into the handbook “How to Destabilise Societies From Within”.
Now let’s turn away from all this nonsense, and listen to a piece of Sunday Music : Mr DVORAK (1841-1904) (Ger., Eng.) composed Four Romantic Pieces ; it is his op. 75, we hear no. 1 allegro moderato performed by violinist Joo-Mee LEE (about), and Jayoung KIM on piano. (If you have the possibility, use the best quality for playback.)

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Now the same piece of music performed by Itzhak PERLMAN (v.) & Samuel SANDERS (p.) (1937-1999) (Eng.). Both performances are flawless, very different in character, deeply enjoyable, and comforting. I hope you enjoy the music.
I am curious about next week !

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Sunday Music, Monday Edition

~ 63mago ~ 8 Comments

A beautiful, sunny late autumn day. With 7°C the morning was not really cold, is not yet freezing. Strong winds over the last few days, some rain, once could speak of the first autumn storm.
Tonight I found sleep, despite the full moon’s best efforts to keep it away from me, Morpheus won, as usual. Yesterday I was handed another vehicle, today a drive in the opposite area of the county, but hassle-free & deeply-relaxed.
Without further blah – here is today’s Sunday Music : Mr Glenn MILLER and his Orchestra played on 7th of December 1940 in a NewYork caffe a melody titled Falling Leaves. It’s a gentle foxtrot, just right for an easy Monday morning.
I hope you like the music. May the week stay as easy as it started.

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A Little Larmoyance

~ 63mago ~ 4 Comments

A called me in, measured out the circumference of my left upper arm, and searched for a fitting cuff (“Manschette”). All was put in place, the apparatus (a small white box) was switched on, and went pffffööörph. Error 5. A remarked that it would be the energy – two rechargeable batteries had been placed into the box, just from the recharge device plugged into the socket next to the door. Another pair of batteries produced the same nasty sound.
B was called in. The recharge device was put under suspicion, but B asked what error 5 actually means, so a look into the manual was necessary. Error 5 means that the air does not come into the cuff, something must be faulty. They looked for another cuff.
Everything was installed anew, the apparatus went bööörgh : Error 4. Error 4 means not enough electricity, hence lousy batteries. They searched for other accumulators, and found some dusty ones that were absolutely flat.
B looked at the display, and decided that the first pair was half-loaded, that should work for a couple of hours. I received a second half-loaded pair, and was instructed to change the batteries when error 4 would occur, later, some time.
I am scheduled to wear the machine for twenty four hours.
In the middle of a more or less stressful drive in the afternoon, I was standing some cars down in front of a traffic light. The apparatus was in the process of squeezing the bejesus out of my left arm, when it suddenly stopped. I managed to look at the display, and was greeted with error 4. No chance to switch batteries, so there is a break in the measurements between maybe 17:00 and 19:00. When I finally came home, I first of all put the new used batteries in, and was greeted with a squeeze for the ages. The results were over the top.
One half loaded pack of batteries worked for approximately six hours, so I expect the other half load pair to do the same. The apparatus should give in around 01:00, half of the expected stretch of measurements should be covered (12 hours).
I think that is enough. After all, whenever I peeked at the results on the display, the numbers were not nice. In tomorrow’s late morning I will hand the devilish device back, the values will be read out, and my GP will discuss it with me. I certainly hope that the medications will be altered.
It was just a day of normal Monday madness on the road & on the job. I just want to sleep, undisturbed, dreamless, possibly refreshing, even.
… pffffööörph …

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Sunday Music

~ 63mago ~ 5 Comments

General greyness greets my eye, the sky’s colour varies between a light grey, with more white in it, up to darker grey with various grades of blue. Now and then rain drips down, gently ; no real wind, still not really cold ; autumnal.
The wine gardens over there start to change colour, a lot of yellow, but they are already empty ; grapes were harvested in record time this year – within three weeks, usually this took six – and they had ripened much faster than usual. The farmers say that quantity is noticeably smaller, but they expect a (very) good quality. There is a possibility that they will have to use other sorts that are better equipped for warmer (hotter) temperatures, also managing water is a rising problem.
Tomorrow I will do a tour I never have done before, just for this one day. Even seemingly simple, linear routes have their peculiarities ; at least I am not under time pressure, if I arrive ten minutes later at my destination, so be it. Later in the morning I will be wired for a 24 hour monitoring of blood pressure. I am curious how driving in the afternoon will affect these numbers. Then Suebia for some days.
It is a lazy Sunday afternoon, so time to pick up a book ; I always wanted to read SCHOPENHAUERs (1788-1860) (Ger., Eng.) (SEP) Parerga & Paralipomena (just a sophisticated way to name it ; he could have called it “This ‘n That”, or “Jetsam & Flotsam”). He is absolutely clear in developing his thoughts, great use of language, and has a strong dislike for HEGEL (“Hegelei”) (SEP), SCHELLING (SEP), and FICHTE (SEP) – especially in the latter’s case absolutely justified, at least imho.
Today’s Sunday Music is a well crafted bagatelle of guitar work titled Hey Purple Mary, composed and performed by Geoff WHITEHORN (born 1951) (Eng.) from the 2000 CD Classic Rock. SCHOPENHAUER said “Musica est exercitium metaphysices occultum nescientis se philosophari animi.” I think he would have embraced the electric guitar. Hope you like the music, may the coming week deeply relaxed.

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