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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Motomynd unmasked (mostly)

When I first published Motomynd, I identified him as a "mystery friend." Since then, by dint of diligent detection, I've learned a few things:
    By googling back in November, I came across a website named "Motomynd" (and I actually announced the find that month).
    Then, just this morning, I happened to be fooling around with the Contacts in my new cell phone, and I noticed that the phone number I'd put there for Paul's Eclectic World (one of the Daniel Boone Traders in Hillsborough) is the number given on the Motomynd site (919-370-0413).

My wife and I had visited Paul's Eclectic World a month or so ago, and I even bought some wonderful decorative stones made in Africa—tiny rounds that could serve as coasters if only they were wider and absorbent. The proprietor, who said he was the very Paul, gave me a discount. I had mentioned my blog to him, so did he recognize me as Moristotle, but coyly decline to acknowledge that he was Motomynd? Mystery Man indeed—with an interesting sense of humor. (Or is he perhaps some sort of borderline recluse? That's yet another mystery....)

Having discovered that connection, and with Sherlock Holmes juices now flowing, I did some googling this morning and found the same telephone number for a photographer's website, "Photo Active Inc," and an obviously related website called "Model Mayhem."
    I say obviously. The proprietor of Model Mahem identifies himself at the top as "Photo Active Inc," which is indicated as doing business in North Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The lead paragraph cinches it:
Thank you for stopping by. I am a career editorial/event photographer and writer with credits in more than 400 publications around the world. In 2012 I am launching a motorcycle website [emphasis mine] devoted to touring and road-course racing, and am looking for models—male and female—who actually ride or who are at least comfortable handling a bike. I am also expanding my fashion niche in lifestyle, fitness fashion and swimwear photography.
    No recluse here, so scratch that conjecture. But "interesting sense of humor" is still in the running.
    Elementary, Watson?

But who is this "editorial/event photographer" (and what is an "editorial photographer")? His first name, we will assume, is Paul. But what is his last name? Judging from what he has written so far (on Moristotle and on his presumably own websites), I am unlikely to be successful if I return to Paul's Eclectic World with the intention of beating it out of him. I'd be more likely to have my ass handed back to me.
    But maybe not. He was, after all, willing to donate the biker photo when I called to ask him for one this morning. (He's very prompt; add that to the mix of evidence.)
    And whoever answered the phone did sound like Paul of Eclectic World....

40 comments:

  1. Move over Robert Downey Jr., there's a new sleuth in town. Good on you.

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  2. Gosh, I don't think I could ever ask Robert Downey, Jr. to move over, I revere his acting so. But then, he's following a script, so who knows whether he himself is a better sleuth than I!

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  3. So you found me out eh? Yes, I actually do put in two days a week at the Daniel Boone Traders shop (believe me that is more than enough time in retail) and the rest of the time I"m using a motorcycle or some much less interesting form of transportation to chase a writing or photography project.

    In case you might be interested, or amused, or very possibly aghast, 2012 is all about preparing for my first big trip on a bike - in 2013 I plan to ride a 30-year-old Honda Shadow from the East Coast to Alaska and back. I did that trip years ago in an Chevy Astro van and am hoping for a more adventurous trip this time. Anyone who is interested can follow progress in the Travels section of our website at www.Motomynd.com

    Yes, Moristotle, I think you can at least elbow Downey a bit to the site.

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  4. Motomynd, most gracious of you to confirm my conjectures! I appreciate it.
        Are you saying that motomynd.com's Travels section is already giving status reports on your preparations for the 2013 trek to Alaska? I need to go look more closely.
        This reminds me of Johnny Horton's hit song, "North to Alaska." Might you be planning to use it (possibly with lyrics altered appropriately) as a theme song?
        And, related to that, do you ever sing when you're biking. To yourself, maybe?

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  5. You have me on this one, never heard of Johnny Horton or the song. Will have to check that out. I do like the idea of a theme song: Any other suggestions?

    If I were to play lyrics in my brain it would most likely be something like Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" which is sort of the grandfather of alternative rock. Although that would actually be a better song for the Iceland trip I plan to also redo on a bike. Assuming of course, I survive the Alaska trek. Maybe anything by Jewel, who would be wonderful to think about while on the road and who, I think, actually lives in Homer, Alaska. Or maybe "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers - wouldn't that be a fitting song for any bike on any trip?

    No, I don't sing to myself or anyone else. No one should have to suffer such abuse - not even someone crazy enough to drive a van to Alaska and back and then be obviously even more crazy a decade later and attempt it on a motorcycle.

    Motomynd.com is just now becoming a serious part-time project so I have not yet started posting details about the trip. That will begin to take shape over the next few months.

    I have however bought a bike I think may handle the trip, and it is enjoyably offbeat enough it will make others ask "why on earth would you choose that bike?" I will post the results of test voyages as we set it up for that very long ride.

    On paper the bike has potential, at least to my sightly skewed perspective, but so far I am skeptical of omens from the first few rides: Can a motorcycle have a negative karma? I was less than 10 minutes into my first ride on the bike when I was almost run over by a woman driving a Chevy Suburban while yacking on her cell phone. Then it popped a fork seal and leaked fluid all over the front brake and tire, which almost caused me to slide into the middle of a fairly busy intersection. If it gets some positive energy going, and if the modifications we are attempting actually work, then it will be making the trip. If not, I guess I can always buy a modern tour bike like everyone else, but I shudder at the thought of making such a practical choice.

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  6. Motomynd, thank you much for providing so many details here, on my blog. I say that especially because I'm about to ask another question, and its answer (as well as much of the material you have already generously provided) may "belong" on motomynd.com.
        The question is, who is the "we" who are attempting to modify the bike you bought for the trip? Do you have a crew?

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  7. Motomynd, I found the lyrics for Johnny Horton's song here. Seems as though I must have heard it a million times, me and others of my generation. The tune (and Horton's voice) stuck in my mind, but the words (like the words of so many songs whose tunes have stuck with me) made little impression.

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  8. Thanks for the earworm. As the song rolls around in my mind, I can see John Wayn and Stewart Granger and the cast of the movie.

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  9. Steve, there was a movie? I may not have seen it. At any rate, I have no recollection of it. Indeed there was: IMDb, where I see that Ernie Kovacs, Fabian, & Capucine were in it also, not to mention Mickey Shaughnessy.

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  10. Thank you for the Horton song link. Not bad for country, a genre I generally can't stand except for Patsy Cline and Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road." Unfortunately I don't think "North to Alaska" will quite make my playlist, unless I find a version by the Beastie Boys or similar.

    However, thank you VERY much for motivating me to start researching music for the trip because I just found a song by Don Bern that will make the playlist because it is so bizarre - and it rocks!. Here is a link to the lyrics http://danbern.redacorn.net/lyrics/alaska.html, here is a link to Bern performing the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO7Lr30tpPE, and here is a link to Bern's website http://danbern.redacorn.net/index.html - which you may enjoy just for the intro paragraph about God.

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  11. About the definition of "we" and that crew question...Right now "we" means my wife, my Virginia jack-of-all-trades garage guy Greg, and my North Carolina bike mechanic, Dennis.

    My wife is an important and effective counter balance to any overt enthusiasm and resulting bad planning because she does not like me being on a bike in general, and she despises the Alaska trip idea in particular. She has however begrudgingly agreed to fly out and spend a week with me in Denali National Park - if I make it that far.

    Greg has ridden a motorcycle coast to coast and thinks I am "beyond hope" in my plan to ride one to Alaska and back. Having also survived his own near-death experiences he does however support my belief in doing what you want while you can.

    Dennis runs a successful home-based, two-decades old motorcycle repair business. He not only has a knack for repairing or tuning a bike to perfection, but for anticipating what is likely to break or fail next, so it gets fixed before it puts me in a ditch rather than after.

    I do not have a crew but would LOVE to have one: Any volunteers?

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  12. Motomynd, thank you for favoring Moristotle with this information, which Moristotle is proud to display. I am personally very glad to know of your cast of practical supporters (or, in the case of your wife, detractors).
        You of course can count on me to be among your crew in the sense of "celebrity's posse" or those who follow your exploits and derive satisfaction therefrom.
        But in what sense did you mean crew, as in you "would LOVE to have one"?

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  13. Motomynd, I agree about the Horton song (however insistent the tune is in my head). The cast for the movie suggests much. Fabian?
        As a member of your putative posse-crew, I'll follow every move you make in the compilation of your Alaska playlist. Uh, well, I should say that I'm willing too, but I don't think I'm up to researching songs you mention (or groups) with which (or whom) I'm almost totally familiar. For example, your mentions of Led Zeppelin and Beastie Boys draw blanks. I saw Steve Earle on "Austin City Limits" one time (and liked him), and I may have heard another song or two of his, but I couldn't tell you what they were.

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  14. I think I have all of the original Led Zeppelin Albums. Great group.

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  15. Steve, they are certainly iconic. We probably have five collectors come in our shop every week who would buy your entire collection if they had a chance at it.

    It is somewhat ironic, since I was a teen in the late 60s and early 70s, but I never developed an affinity for traditional rock and roll. However, I can still remember the first time I heard "Immigrant Song" and how it made the hair on my neck do the proverbial stand up. Some 30 years later I learned my Scottish clan was one of four descended from the Vikings, and ever since I have wondered if that was so deeply rooted in my DNA that the song somehow tapped it.

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  16. Moristotle, so can we pencil you in as our Chief of Communications?

    As I have done with trips to Africa and other far-flung places, it is my intent to make the East Coast to Alaska and back ride as cause oriented as possible. I plan to route the trip so it takes me out and back through a number of places that would benefit from whatever publicity I can help create for them. Friends and I wound up with several newspaper and magazine articles from our previous Alaska trip. On this ride I plan to accomplish that plus video and photo exposure on our website, YouTube, etc.

    Most of my involvements tend to be with animal and environmental rescue and awareness but I am open to suggestions. If you or anyone in your readership know of worthy causes based roughly along a line drawn from Wilmington, NC to Glacier National Park, please send info to motomynd@gmail.com. As of right now my planned route from Glacier is northward up the spine of the Canadian Rockies through Banff and Jasper Parks, then through the Yukon to Alaska. The route is of course open to any and all detours for causes, so we will gladly consider rerouting to help any people, places or creatures at risk.

    If anyone wants to be involved in the trip by following along on two wheels or four, please do get in touch. On my previous trip several people did various stages and one actually did the whole route. The pay is awful and the hours are long but the adventure is spectacular. Sorry, that is the best sales pitch I have.

    One very important need is having places to drop ship supplies, since trunk space on a bike is extremely limited. If anyone has contacts I could trust not to eat the scrumptious vegan food I will need to ship ahead, again, please get in touch. Yes, I am kidding about the scrumptious part, but it is a diet that has kept me absurdly healthy the past 20some years.

    Moristotle, thank you very much for your interest and assistance!

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  17. Moristotle, yes I would greatly appreciate your help with a music playlist. Hopefully you won't take offense that I suggest we want music of a somewhat modern era that will make our videos exciting rather than putting younger viewers to sleep. If you are drawing blanks on Led Zeppelin and Beastie Boys may I safely assume you probably also don't have The Clash or Rage Against the Machine in your collection?

    On the other hand, even though I don't listen to music while motorcycling, I do like some to fall asleep by. Something soft by Berlin, Garbage, White Stripes, Katie Perry or Lady Gaga would be great for that. Do you have those?

    Austin City Limits? That is maybe a game show? Or reality show? It is hard to imagine Steve Earle on such but I will take your word for it. I can't tell you any other song he has recorded but to me "Copperhead Road" is one of the greatest pieces of writing ever done. With three decades brilliantly condensed into three minutes, it is an amazing bit of audio Americana.

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  18. Motomynd, the albums are all original, but probably not in very good shape. I was into collecting vinyl for some time, but I concentrated on the Rolling Stones. I have quite a few Stones CDs also, but have not added to the collection in some years.

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  19. Motomynd, on music first. First, your very high praise for particular songs requires that I, in good conscience, must listen to them, which I plan to do in the coming days.
        Second, "Austin City Limits" was a PBS music program, always set in Austin. I think you would approve. In fact, it's still on, although it has been years (I think) since I last saw a broadcast. http://video.pbs.org/program/austin-city-limits/
        Third, perhaps my musician son (Geoffrey Dean, violoncellist: http://www.vivacellissimo.com/) could help you with your playlist. He's basically a "classical cellist," but he's also very much into what's happening now, into jazz, and other types of music. I'll send him a link to this post.

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  20. Motomynd, I am highly honored to be nominated for your Chief of Communications, but do you really think I deserve the honor and might be able to fulfill the post's mission statement? Judging by your description of the causes your trip would be designed to help, I can of course say with confidence that my heart would certainly be in the job.

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  21. Steve, at the considerable risk of being branded a heretic and a traitor to the music of my time, I have to ask a question. Unless you were wonderfully distracted by a wild party or a great date, have you ever been able to sit through the playing of an entire album by the Stones or Led Zeppelin? Or the Beatles, for that matter?

    If so I admire your resolve. I have never been able to do it.

    As I mentioned previously, my interest in Led Zeppelin more or less begins and ends at "Immigrant Song." For the Beatles it wanes quickly other than "Back in the USSR" and for the Stones it is "Paint it Black" with a mild nod to "Satisfaction." Many people worry about where they may wind up in the hereafter but I remember the year a college roommate played "The White Album" nearly nonstop and I doubt the most trying eternity could be much worse than hearing "Rocky Raccoon" over and over and over....

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  22. Motomynd,

    Yes, probably more than once. Not saying I found every song to my liking, but I've heard them all. Lots of other groups from the British Invasion also. Animals, Dave Clark Five, etc.. The nice thing is everyone doesn't have the same taste or some might say lack of it. That is what makes life interesting.

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  23. Motomynd, I have to agree on "Rocky Raccoon," but I could continuously listen to each of several unique sequences of Beatles songs each of which would have enough songs to fill an album (they, mostly Paul McCartney, with a little help from his friends, produced so many great songs).

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  24. Steve and Moristotle, both of you made such good points it made me stop and think about who would be on my personal "Top 10" list of favorite British artists. Following is my list, not necessarily in order. All would have at least one song on the Alaska playlist. May I ask how yours would compare?

    1- Elton John
    2- Dire Straits
    3- The Clash
    4- Duran Duran
    5- Billy Idol
    6- Pet Shop Boys
    7- David Bowie
    8- Eurythmics
    9- Radiohead
    10- Coldplay

    If Barbados had still been a British colony when she was born there, Rhianna would have bumped someone, but I'm not quite sure who. If I were allowed a baker's dozen I would squeeze in Sinead O'Connor, Robert Palmer and Petula Clark. Surprised you with that last one, didn't I?

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  25. I like your list, but there are way too many, both alive and dead that I like, to be able too come up with a top 10 list. As a pre teen I listened to my Mother's Country & Western and my older brother's Rock & Roll. I'm not fond of C&W, but do like the old ones. Hank Williams, Jimmy Rogers, Hank Snow and of course Patsy Cline. I don't care for the new C&W. Rock & Roll, I love most of it. I'm also a big fan of the blues. Janis Joplin is super. The Doors are nice. Just too much that I enjoy at various times. Sorry I wasn't specific.

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  26. Steve, Yes, I agree, way too many great artists to choose a top 10 overall. That is why I was keying on your mention of the "British invasion" and selecting a top 10 of British artists only. Looking at my list, however, and considering the relatively small number of Brits compared to the rest of the world, it is surprising how many British artists would be on my overall top 10 list if I was forced to choose one.

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  27. Motomynd, I'm so far behind the times (or out of it?) that I don't think I've even heard anything by eight of the artists on your list. My "top ten" might include the following:
        The Beatles,
        Paul McCartney & Wings,
        Elton John,
        Rod Stewart,
        Paul Simon,
        Billy Joel,
        James Taylor,
        Bob Dylan,
        Janis Joplin,
        The Band,
        Neil Young,
        Tina Turner,
        Roy Orbison,
        Johnny Cash,
        Cat Stevens,
        Neil Diamond,
        Eagles,
        Chicago,
        Jefferson Airplane,
        Doors,
        John Denver.
    Of course, as is true for all of us, I don't like everything by any of these groups (and might even dislike more of it than I like, but with there being at least a few that I really, really like).
        By the way, the length of my "might include" list (especially considering that I'm sure there are others whom I'm just not thinking of at the moment--must be a few more women) makes me think that I couldn't even participate seriously in a "top ten" list; the idea has become suspect to me (as a good use of one's time).

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    1. Having discovered the "Reply" option (which may just have been added to the repertoire—I don't think that even I am so dense as to have been missing it for very long), I'd like to add here a comment on my inclusion of John Denver on my possible list of "top ten" artists (and not because Neophyte has reminded us not to neglect the "heavy-hitters"):
          Our local PBS TV station (UNC-TV) had a sort of biographical special on John Denver for I think it's Winterfest. He is so listenable (and greatly to be admired for his easy-going, utterly-relaxed-looking showmanship) that I sat mostly rapt through a good many of the songs the program included of his performances. And yet, after a while, the saccharine quality (unmistakable) of most of these songs began to cloy. To be stuck on the road to Alaska with nothing but John Denver to listen to would be hell.

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  28. Right (about Brit groups), I'm sure that there could be a few of those also on my "might include" list.

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  29. Moristotle, as you are compiling the Alaska playlist in your role as Chief of Communications feel free to include "Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles, "This Song Has No Title" and "60 Years On" by Elton John, "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Goodnight Saigon" by Billy Joel, and "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane. I of course assume any worthy road playlist would include something by Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffet, but hopefully none of their top 40 mainstream work.

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  30. Whoa, Motomynd. Did you just say "as you are compiling the Alaska playlist in your role as Chief of Communications"? I don't believe I signed up for that, and wouldn't think of doing so, given that (1) YOU are much better able to compile the list (for your use, after all) and (2) if you want someone to write it all down as you dictate it, you need a secretary, not a "chief of communications." No exclamation point required to communicate the emphasis of that.

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  31. Moristotle, Well, it was worth a try. Okay, I will compile my own playlist. Or do we perhaps need a Chief of Multimedia Communications? Creating press releases, setting up interviews, and handling routing from one stop to the next...will those fall in your bailiwick or do we also need a Chief of Media and Route Strategy? Or should I just revert to my original lack of plan and simply ride and write and film and photograph and hope for the best?

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  32. Paul [I think I should use your "Christian name" for this], do we need to talk about what you would really like from me in the way of support/assistance for your travel project?
        By "talk" I of course mean off-line from a public commentary interchange. <smile>

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  33. Interesting discussion. Now I'm not saying that the playlist suggestions above aren't worthwhile, but I think you need to give the heavy-hitters a chance. Let them into your heart, as it were. I've got my list, somewhere in the back of my mind, except it's stuck there at the moment, so try this one instead: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/arts/music/23composers.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all These are some of the people who's music I'd recommend. Narrowing it down to a few essential tunes could be the subject of another comment, should this path of inquiry interest any or all of you.

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    1. Hmm, after leaving my "all achuckle" reply (perhaps it will fall below this?), I noticed that there's a literal "Reply" option with your comment, which I of course must try to see where this comment will appear....

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  34. Neophyte, I am all achuckle at your brief for the "heavy-hitters" (thumbnailed and identified conveniently in this image). I can now see Motomynd tooling down the road listening to the Ride of the Valkyries!
        Bravo, bravissimo!

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  35. Neophyte, Thank you for the link to that great read about a Top 10 list of classical composers. Since my previous back and forth with Steve was about top contemporary British bands, when you mentioned "heavy hitters" I feared you were going to weigh in on his side and take me to task for dismissing all but one song each by The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Thank goodness for the lesson in real classics instead!

    You and Moristotle have displayed some sort of eerie sixth-sense because "Ride of the Valkyries" sits atop many of my playlists. Having somehow gotten that far inside my thinking, btw, best wishes on the therapy you both may need to get back out. I don't think much of Wagner the man, mind you, but his music is sensational, and especially that one song. For me there is no better get up and get moving song, or stay awake on a long drive song, than "Ride of the Valkyries."

    As an aside, I own and drive a Volvo set up for road-course racing at places like Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta, and we call her Valkyrie. Since she was built in Scandinavia and I am of Viking ancestry (diluted by Norman and Scottish bloodlines but still Viking at heart) my crew and I thought the name an obvious choice. As you are probably familiar, in Norse mythology the Valkyries are the choosers of who wins and loses on the field of battle. On the track my Valkyrie chooses. When I am all too soon too old to enjoy motorcycles I will return to the relative safety of racing on four wheels instead of two, and hopefully Valkyrie will choose to win a few.

    As for your mention of narrowing down the classics playlist, I would greatly appreciate any and all help with that, both in regard to songs by composers that might mesh with "Valkyries" on such a list, and your preferred performers of those compositions.

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    1. Ha, to think that "Ride of the Valkyries" was a complete shot in the dark! (Or was it?, I am far enough into your mind to hear you asking.)

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  36. For its appropriateness here, I've collected a short interchange between Geoff Dean and Motomynd on the subject of playlists.

    Hi Dad and Motomynd, I did comment on that blog post, but I think my comment got deleted along with all the rest, which is fine—it wasn't very helpful. I can tell you what I would listen to if I had a lot of hours before me—I would take all of the Beethoven, Bartok, and Shostakovich string quartets and the symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, and Shostakovich. Plus the "Well-Tempered Clavier" and "Goldberg Variations" of Bach.
        But it seems more likely that you would mix classical stuff in with non-classical, so in that case I would recommend a CD called "Bach Transcriptions" with conductor Leonard Slatkin and the BBC Philharmonic. It's like a Bach greatest hits album except that each piece (mostly were originally organ fugues) has been orchestrated by a different famous composer who lived after Bach. Everyone but Stokowski, but some are in that vein.
        I generally stick to Baroque music for "light" classical listening—a lot of Vivaldi concertos, but not "The "Four Seasons" unless someone clues me into a new version on say koto or accordion (not so much for the sound but for the virtuosity of the performance).
        Hope this helps.
                    –Geoff

    Hi Geoff, Thank you for the suggestions. Sorry your original post was deleted. I have learned the hard way to do a copy just before I try to post, so when it gets deleted, which happens about 20% of the time, I can just paste and re-post.
        What I am starting to get into in somewhat serious fashion is combining still images from my past careers, and video from my future career, with compatible music from different eras. My family is descended from the Vikings via the Normans and the Scots and I am working on a family "old World" generational DVD with images from Iceland, France and Scotland. My music choices to date are "Ride of the Valkyries" and "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin to connect with Iceland, "Danny Boy" (of course) for Scotland, "This Song has No Title" by Elton John for the transition to the New World, and so on.
        Do you by any chance have a particular recommendation for music related to Normandy and to the Loch Lomond region of Scotland (that is where my clan is from)?
        Every now and then NPR surprises me with a recommendation that is somewhat quiet yet strongly rhythmic that is sure to fit somewhere on a playlist.
        Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIrEcxvOzYI.
        PS: You might turn the speakers down....
                    –Motomynd

    Motomynd, Thanks for sharing this. I'm sorry I don't have ready recommendations for you for Normandy and Scotland, though it's said that Bulgarian and Scottish bagpipes have common ancestry, so you might go with a tune for the Bulgarian "gaida."
        Quiet, yet strongly rhythmic—you would probably enjoy some of Steve Reich's music, especially the "Sextet for Six Marimbas" and "2x5."
                    –Geoff

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