Hey guys - you too can play along with me in Brisbane tonight, call one of our access numbers and leave a message, Nora will mix it in live to the mass collaboration in the final concert.

Click here to find out how:
http://www.iorpheus.com/?q=node/124
No computer neccessary, just call the number and follow the directions. You have 3 minutes.

EUROPE
London: 0207 100 3663 (use access code 11517)
UK (non-geo): 0845 868 4608 (use access code 11517)
NORTH AMERICA
New York: 212 660 0161 (use access code 11517)
Toronto: 647 722 8447 (use access code 11517)

(The PIN code is on the site, see above link.)

(This is a story about the beauty of love, the power of music and the pain of loss. Advertisements, personal messages and profanity will be deleted. Duh.)

The band performance, which includes me, the Chronicler and the PitchWeb, along with local, regional and international musicians, will be webcast live on http://www.iOrpheus.com.

Lunar Eclipse #2

Originally uploaded by David de Groot.

We were treated to a full lunar eclipse my second night in Brisbane… this local “amateur” (psh) photographer captured this fantastic progression from nearby Mt. Coot-tha!

See David De Groot’s flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dadegroot/

Ooh look! I found my tour blog from our last trip to Australia, for the Cathedral Band’s residency at the Brisbane Powerhouse for the Mini:Max Festival in 2002.

http://djtamara.diaryland.com/020728_7.html

I found it while looking for the name of the center for youth I visited in Fortitude Valley last time I was here; during an on-air interview at Triple Zed, a lovely lady named Zoe Spalding from Brisbane Youth Service called in and asked if I would like to get involved with that they were doing down there. I ended up going there and having an amazing visit with some of the kids hanging out there, and remember one aboriginal kid in particular that I wanted to check up on. Zoe’s no longer there, but they’re still going, and have a website now: http://www.brisyouth.org/. They’re doing good things, and I hope they can continue. Apparently they’re having to look for a new space for the same reason Josh and I just had to move.

Here are pictures from last time around as well:
http://www.djtamara.com/australia.htm

A few things:

1. I love flying Quantas.
2. I can’t decide which is my new favourite: the incredibly musical and foreign sounds of the birds in the trees at the home of my lovely hosts, or the transfixing melange of notes and runs and squawks and melodies that are the very air of a music conservatory’s hallways.
3. Couldn’t have asked for more gorgeous weather. No surprise from Duckworth - he acknowledges Apollo with a chuckle.
4. BIG mistake not renting my favorite lens from Glazer’s. Caught between two worlds and I can’t quite reach either of them. Little time between delights to worry or fix, though…
5. Time flies. Only 3 more days until the event: (iOrpheus.com for those of you just joining us) are you kidding me?
more later….

Last night someone broke into Jenny J’s house and made off with more than $20,000 worth of camera equipment including her cameras / lenses, computers, the only copies of wedding pictures from two recent events, and her mothers wedding ring.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
Don’t steal. If you must steal, don’t steal tools from artists. Or transportation from working mothers. Or tip jars. Or money from charities. It’s extra-level-of-hell offensive, and as so many people don’t believe in hell, it’s probably going to get you early. Come on. You DON’T need it more than they do.

Anyway, let’s help get the bastards, or at least get some of the gear back.

http://www.photojj.com/news/?p=31 < -- watch for this stuff (serial #s included)
http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/local_photographer_robbed
http://www.flickr.com/groups/seattlemeetups/discuss/72157601588079730/#comment72157601605078319

A moment of silence, preceding as much loud and lively musical tribute as possible, please!

Max Roach made it to 83

Filipino inmates remake Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.

(thanks to Monica over at the Big Blog for the link)