: Shocking News
According to wikipedia,
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire.
You’re noticing that I emphasized that last section. Like many of you, we were without electricity for three days after the recent meteorological, umm, “event”. It was actually not too bad. We ate out at a diner, got home, put on strap on forehead flashlights that we bought at Home Depot (watch out coal miners), got under the covers, read until 10 or so, and went to sleep. I wouldn’t want to make a habit out of it, but for three days it was an interesting break in the old routine.
Interesting historical fact. In the early 1900s, there was a fierce competition between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over what technology would be used for distributing electricity to households Edison was in favor of DC current (the kind that comes out of your AA batteries), while Westinghouse was pushing AC (the kind that comes out of your wall). Westinghouse won the day. However, in an attempt to prove how dangerous AC current was, in 1903 Edison electrocuted an elephant using AC electricity. As bizarre as this sounds, it actually happened. I’m not going to link it here so as not to offend the easily offended, but they filmed the occasion – and a quick web search will bring it up for your viewing pleasure.
Meanwhile, our street looked like a disaster area what with all the trees and branches that fell down. The sound of chain saws has been echoing throughout our neighborhood over the last week like a bunch of drunken yodelers. I’m old fashioned and prefer to use a hand saw, but I have to confess to borrowing my neighbor’s chain saw to dispose of some large limbs that fell down in our back yard. Dang, those things are really loud close up. Sort of like like rock & roll…
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November 13 Sunday, 9ish to 11ish PM – Big City Blues Show, Kenny’s Castaways, 157 Bleecker Street NYC, NY 10012 (917) 475.1323
This is sort of a combination mini blues festival & award ceremony being sponsored by the Big City Blues Magazine and hosted by Dave Fields. I ran out of fingers but I’m counting 14 acts starting at 3:00 and each act gets roughly 30 minutes. I am scheduled to play with Arthur Neilson at 10:00 and Nikki Armstrong at 10:35, but things could start a little earlier or later. But no matter when you show up you will hear some great music.
http://www.bigcitybluesmag.com/
http://www.fieldsmusic.com
November 19, Saturday, 7:00-9:00ish PM – The Two Erics, Ruthie’s BBQ, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair (973) 509-1134
Your host and head chef Eric Kaplan has acquired a new National Steel guitar – we’re gonna see how well it blends with my piano. Eric picks an eclectic mix of blues & folk. BTW – Ruthie’s got a nice review on our local Montclair blog: http://www.baristanet.com/2011/11/pizza-for-brunch-live-jazz-and-a-ruthies-giveaway/ Unlike the summer shows, this one is indoors, so unless we have another unusual weather event, I’m expecting you.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
November 26, Saturday, 9:00 PM -1:00 AM – Arthur Neilson at Robin’s Nest Rhythm and Blues, 3103 Tremley Point Road, Linden, NJ, 07036 (908) 290-3090
I get to play twice with Arthur in one month. Yes! For those of you have not been there, Robin’s Nest is this neat little club tucked away in an unpretentious neighborhood in Linden.
http://www.arthurneilson.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linden-NJ/Robins-Nest-Rhythm-and-Blues-RNRB/178750518562
http://www.robinsnestrhythmandblues.com/