Thriller

My interest in Michael Jackson's music has always been on par with my interest in the Salt Creek tiger beetle and the middle name of the youngest person to sign the American Declaration of Independence. In the last day or two it has been nearly impossible to look online or in the news without finding a reference to the "King of Pop." This video of one of Jackson's songs was made nearly a year ago and is interesting to me since it is one person, a cappella, on 64 different tracks.



The artist, François, writes: Here is a remake of the "Thriller" song that I've entirely recorded with my own voice, using 64 A'cappella tracks. There is therefore no instrument, synthetizer, beatbox, or even to sampler, but only the sound of my voice livened up with Reverb, Equalization and slight Chorus. Regarding looping parts, I've simply used the "looping" technique. I've accomplished this non-commercial project at home, only with a laptop , microphone, headphones and webcam. It's just an artistic challenge, accomplished during my hours of free time, whose purpose is to surprise my close circle and net surfers.

The Wordy Shipmates

Sarah Vowell's latest title, The Wordy Shipmates, is entertaining but more educational than some of her previous books (e.g., The Partly Cloudy Patriot, Assassination Vacation). Sarah Vowell's distinctive voice may be recognized as Violet in The Incredibles. Coincidently, but appropriately, I was reading Shipmates at the time of my trip to Boston. The book tells of the English Puritans that were part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Review experted from Publishers Weekly (posted on amazon.com): Essayist and public radio regular Vowell revisits America's Puritan roots in this witty exploration of the ways in which our country's present predicaments are inextricably tied to its past. In a style less colloquial than her previous books, Vowell traces the 1630 journey of several key English colonists and members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Foremost among these men was John Winthrop, who would become governor of Massachusetts. While the Puritans who had earlier sailed to Plymouth on the Mayflower were separatists, Winthrop's followers remained loyal to England, spurred on by Puritan Reverend John Cotton's proclamation that they were God's chosen people. Gracefully interspersing her history lesson with personal anecdotes, Vowell offers reflections that are both amusing (colonial history lesson via The Brady Bunch) and tender (watching New Yorkers patiently waiting in line to donate blood after 9/11).

Provincetown Portuguese Bakery - Provincetown, MA

Portuguese immigrants came to Provincetown in the 19th century to work in the fishing and whaling industries. Today, nearly one-fourth of Provincetown residents claim Portuguese ancestries. Portuguese pastries can be obtained at the Provincetown Portuguese Bakery (299 Commercial St).

(left to right)

Malassada - Portuguese sweet fried dough.

Trutas - Sweet potato filled pastry with whiskey, lemon, sugar, and cinnamon.

Patinhas de Veado - Rum flavored sponge cake with Bavarian cream, cinnamon, and coconut.

Note to self: These weren't as tasty as I had hoped.

Provincetown, Massachusetts

Provincetown is located at the tip of Cape Cod. The town is known for its beaches, harbor, artists, and tourist destinations. There are fewer than 3500 year-round residents but the summer population can swell to over 60,000.

The pilgrims first landed at the location of present-day Provincetown. The Pilgrim Monument is the "symbol of Provincetown." Approximately 100 years old, this 252-foot tall campanile is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States.

Commerical Street is the main busines district of the town. Small shops are crowded side-by-side along the narrow street.

The houses in Provincetown are crowded together on narrow streets. Noted residents have included several artists or authors including Tennessee Williams, Jackson Pollock, John Waters, and Michael Cunningham.

There is an active fishing industry with many fishing boats docked near the town.

Four Burgers - Cambridge, MA

Four Burgers (704 Massachusetts Ave.) serves - you guessed it - four burgers! (Actually, they have a fifth and sometimes a sixth!) They are:

1. “Brandt Farm” Hamburger: lettuce, tomato, pickles (above right, with modifications including smoked Gouda cheese)
2. Organic Vegan Black Bean Burger: salsa & guacamole or mango BBQ sauce
3. Turkey Burger: apple & cranberry chutney, lettuce, tomato
4. Atlantic Salmon Burger: asian slaw, soy mayo, green leaf lettuce (above left)

You can choose either a Toasted Sesame Seeded or Whole Wheat roll for your burger. Sides include sweet potato fries, salad, or a couple other items that I have forgotten. The burgers are made to order and served with only a short wait. The small eating area is friendly and brightly lit. A mirrored wall on one side makes it feel larger than it is. I was disappointed by the sweet potato fries (the skins were still on them and, since they were cut thin, seemed tough) but the burger was excellent. Can you guess what the fifth burger is? (I think it was Bison.)

Boston Common & Public Garden

The oldest public park in the country (bought in 1634, set aside in 1640), Boston Common is a welcome splash of green in red-brick Boston. As a boy, philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson herded his mother's cows here on the way to school. Adjacent to the Common, Boston's "back yard" is the Public Garden, Boston's "front yard". (Frommer's: Boston Day by Day)

The 3-acre lagoon in the Public Garden is small but appears larger when standing on the edge due to the curving shore. It is home to pedal-powered Swan Boats, two pairs of live swans, and numerous ducks, who nest on the islands.

Boston's first equestrian statue guards the most dramatic entrance to the Public Garden. The 38-foot tall statue of George Washington is considered an excellent likeness of the first president, who was known as an outstanding horseman. The artist, Thomas Ball, was a Charlestown native who worked in Italy.

Freedom Trail

The 2.5 mile "Freedom Trail" through Boston guides visitors past the historic sites of the city. More than 1.5 million people walk the trail every year, discovering the Revolutionary past imbedded in a major modern urban environment. The Boston National Historical Park coordinates the activities along the trail including costumed interpreters and guides. The information below each photo comes from a pamphlet available from the Historical park (and other sources).

Massachusetts State House

The Massachusetts capitol is one of the signature works of the great Federal-era architect Charles Bulfinch. Samuel Adams and Paul Revere laid the cornerstone in 1795.
Granary Burying Ground
John Hancock, Paul Revere, James Otis, Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Benjamin Franklin's parents, and the victims of the Boston Massacre, as well as whole families of settlers ravaged by fire and plague, are interred in this old cemetery.

Established in 1660 yet not even close to being the oldest cemetery in Boston. It got its name from the granary that once stood on the site. In this era, life in the New World was daunting, and the skulls, bones, and scary animals that dominate its headstone decorations reflect that. It is interesting to note that many of the people died quite young by today's standards.

Old South Meeting House

Built in 1729 as a Puritan house of worship, the Old South Meeting House was the largest building in colonial Boston. in the days leading to the American Revoluation, citizens gathered here to challenge British rule, protesting the Boston Massacre and the tax on tea. It was here at an overflow meeting on December 16, 1773, that Samuel Adams launched the Boston Tea Party.

Old State House

Built in 1713, this historic landmark served as the seat of colonial and state governments as well as a merchants' exchange. The 1770 Boston Massacre occured near this bulding when British soldiers fired into a crowd of Bostonians.

Other sites along the trail include Faneuil Hall (old market building), Paul Revere's House, the Old North Church (of Paul Revere fame), Bunker Hill (Revolution's first major battle), and the USS Constitution houses in Charlestown Navy Yard.

Boston, Massachusetts

The "oldest major city in the United States," Boston is an interesting mix of old and new. The downtown area of the capital and largest city in Massachusetts is quite compact and has the historic elements of Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Benjamin Franklin beside modern hotels, shopping, and countless tourist sites. While Boston itself is fairly small (population about 600,000), it is the hub of a metropolitan area of of 4.5 million people.

Some tidbits about the Boston area:

• The Boston area is home to several universities including: Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis, and UMass-Boston.
• Boston has been home to: John F. Kennedy (and the rest of the Kennedy clan), Louisa May Alcott, Matt Damon, Benjamin Franklin, Edgar Allen Poe, and countless other recognizable names.
• Some of Boston's nicknames are: The City on a Hill, The Athens of America, The Puritan City, The Cradle of Liberty, and Bean Town.
• Several TV shows have been set in Boston: Cheers, Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Dawson's Creek, St. Elsewhere.

Kenny & Zuke's Deli - Portland, OR

Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen (1038 SW Stark St.) is a relatively new restaurant on the edge of the Pearl District in downtown Portland. This has a bright and cheery deli corner location in what was a dark, seedy bar (no, I hadn't been there - just walked by). A nice improvement to the neighborhood in my opinion! The pastrami on rye (above) should not be missed. The sandwich is enormous (less than half is shown above). The menu describes the pastrami: Cured 5 days, Smoked 10 hours, Steamed for 3 & Hand-sliced Just for You. Served with Pickle & Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, or Fries. Other menu options include a variety of sandwiches and breakfast options. Don't forget it is a deli so you also get Latkes, Challah French Toast, Cheese Blintzes, Lox, Bagels, Bialy, Reubens, Matzoh Ball Soup, Hamantashen, and other Jewish favorites.

Pittock Mansion - Portland, OR

The Pittock Mansion is perched in the West Hills about 1000 ft. above downtown Portland, OR. (Their website has more impressive pictures of both the house and grounds.) The 22 room French Renaissance château was originally built as a private home for The Oregonian newpaper publisher Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana. It is currently preserved by the city parks department. Visitors can enjoy a tour of the home or stroll the lawns and, on a clear day, have views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Jefferson.

Pizzicato Pizza - Portland, OR

SQUISITA lamb sausage, artichoke hearts, feta, and fontina on a homemade pesto base

Pizzicato Pizza (multiple locations in the Portland area and beyond) is one of my places for "gourmet" pizza. The pizzas are tasty but come with choices of interesting ingredients such as rosemary red potatoes, lamb sausage, artichoke hearts, spinach, walnuts, peanut sauce, garlic marinated shrimp, and more. (Not all on the same pie!) The Squisita (pictured above) is one of my favorites.

Names

Do you know the names of these popular icons? The one of the left turned 50 earlier this year! Her companion is two years her junior. And who is the 8-year old on the right? I bet you knew the first names of these fictional characters. Now the hard part....

What is the last names of these three?? (For bonus points, do you know the fictional Wisconsin town where the parents of the 50-year-old live?)

Here are some more... Do you know the last names of these real people?

• Cher (singer)
• Fabio (model)
• Jewel (singer)
• Liberace (entertainer; this is his last, what's his first?)
• Madonna (singer, actress)
• Prince (singer)
• Yanni (musician)

Little Red Bike Cafe - Portland, OR

(click on picture to enlarge)

Little Red Bike Cafe (4823 N Lombard) is the type of place I really want to like. It has a neat name, cheerful interior, and makes an attempt to serve creative food. Yet, I wasn't all that inspired after my first visit. My grilled sandwich with bacon, cheese, and grapes was certainly edible but it didn't have the pizazz I was hoping for. The chips and pickle were nothing to write home about. (But I dislike both and seldom eat either so that's no surprise.) If you've been to the LRBC, let me know what you think! Maybe I will have to give it a second chance if I'm in that neighborhood sometime in the future.

Spelling Test

Let's go to the lake! Which lake you ask? Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in Webster, Massachusetts. Did I spell it right? Maybe not!

The longest officially recognized place name in an English-speaking country is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahul (85 letters) which is a hill in New Zealand.

The 58-character name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the famous name of a town on Anglesey, an island of Wales. This town is referenced in a song by Stephen Sondheim, "The Boy From..." (a parody of "The Girl from Ipanema").

Flavour Spot - Portland, OR

Sweet or savory waffles are conveniently available at Flavour Spot (2310 N Lombard St.). Located in a parking lot on the corner of Lombard and North Omaha, this one-man show produces treats to satisfy any appetite. Shown above are two Sausage and Maple waffles. As others have written: "The Sausage and Maple waffle is dangerous stuff: a slight crunch from the outside of the waffle, then the slight saltiness of the sausage patties, then the sweetness of maple syrup combined into some kind of new food of the gods." Food for the gods? Well, it is tasty!