07:55 – Work on the forensics book continues. I think we’re going to end up having two kits for this book, one kit that includes the special equipment and chemicals to do all of the lab sessions in that book, and a second kit that includes a subset, with the materials for doing only a selected group of the lab sessions.
Speaking of science kits, we shipped two chemistry kits yesterday, which took our inventory down below a half dozen. We’ll assemble another batch of those this weekend.
16:06 – Sad news. Levon Helm has died. Although younger people may not recognize his name, to my generation he was well-known as the drummer of The Band, and the voice of many classic tracks like The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to do two kits, each with half. That way people could “upgrade” later if they decide.
I may do it that way, depending on packaging issues. That is, I don’t want to have to ship two boxes. If I can package it so that the subset kit can be boxed separately and fit inside the shipping box for the full kit, I’ll do it that way and just make the subset kit both a product in itself and a subassembly for the full kit.
What a shame about Levon Helm. An amazing musician…
Levon also rocked on the mandolin and was a great singer, folklorist and songwriter. Only 71 and he went fast, too.
Levon Helm. Never heard of him, I’m afraid to say. I assumed The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down was a Baez work.
Joan Baez sang it and got most of the air play for it over the years, but it was a Band song. There had also been some controversy over the lyrics a couple of times. The Band did a lot of great stuff and had been Bob Dylan’s band for a while.
http://theband.hiof.no/
As far as I know, Baez’s version is the only example of a track published by a major record company that contains multiple Mondegreens.
I’ve mentioned before that she butchered the lyrics in several places because she recorded her version without having printed lyrics available. She sang what she thought she heard when she listened to The Band’s original version.
The Band was Bob Dylan’s band when he went electric, and was booed off the stage. When a reporter stuck a mic in Levon’s face and asked him who they were he replied “We’re just the band” not wanting any trouble. Of course, even bad publicity is publicity, and The Band was born.
Previously, they were Ronnie Hawken’s backup The Hawkettes. Levon is the only American in the group.
Levon is going to see his Bessie again.
Bill , it’s Ronnie Hawkins and his backup group was The Hawks. The story is that when Hawkins moved to Toronto, his existing band quit, except for Levon who stayed on. Hawkins then assembled a new band with Levon and some local talent. What a band!
I never really did understand what possessed Hawkins to move to Toronto, or for that matter, why Levon stayed when all the rest quit. But whatever the reason, it has worked out well for all. Hawkins is still going strong.
Check out “The Last Waltz” flick for some good footage of Ronnie and the boyz rockin the house. Also for some painful footage of Dylan smilin, stylin and profilin as some kind of super rock guitar god, but he sucked.
Rolf Grunsky says:
I never really did understand what possessed Hawkins to move to Toronto, . . .
Ever been to Arkansas?
Glen Campbell left, too, as did Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Conway Twitty, Junior Walker, Al Green, and virtually every other musician ever born in Arkansas. Reminder to Arkansas young people yearning to be a musician: 1) learn an instrument; 2) get out of Arkansas.
Now Chuck. I am surprised at you, sir. You done forgot one of the most famous musicians ever to rise from Arkansas soil.
He played saxophone.
And got out of Arkansas.
Eventually.
Yeah, he had to go to the White House to get out.
Rolf pointed out: “Bill , it’s Ronnie Hawkins and his backup group was The Hawks. The story is that when Hawkins moved to Toronto, his existing band quit, except for Levon who stayed on. Hawkins then assembled a new band with Levon and some local talent. What a band!”
Yeah, that’s the guy. I didn’t mean to emasculate the guys! Can I plead age?
Ronnie fired another band (including Canadian harmonica legend King Biscuit Boy) by telling them “you guy could fuck up a crowbar in three seconds”. They went on to record their greatest hit as Crowbar.
I heard that it was Conway Twitty who told Hawkins to tour Canada, and he liked it so much he stayed.
Chuck wrote:
“Yeah, he had to go to the White House to get out.”
And he took his lovely wife with him… 🙂
Ah yes, Lady MacBeth of Little Rock, The Heroine of Tripoli. I would give a lot if only those two would simply STFU and go away.
If Bill became a Moslem or Mormon he could marry Monica. That might keep is libido under control… 🙂
My favorite Ronnie Hawkins record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWkSP8s12iM
Greg, if I’m going to convert to Islam, I want the 72 virgins, and Monica needn’t bother applying…
I’d want a higher signing bonus.
What’s wrong with Monica? Apart from the big hair, being a complete bimbo, and having appalling taste in guys?
Um, perhaps “taste” wasn’t a good word in the context.
(I’m not sure how many virgins they get, whether it’s 40, 70 or 72. Some Moslem scholars say there’s no sex in their paradise.)