Once again, not much new news, but I have been working on new links. Using my bro's example, I added an IM link. And I've pointed to some of my favorite online reading (Slate, the Volokh Conspiracy, and Tuesday Morning Quarterback).

My 'six degrees of separation' with respect to Eugene Volokh is that, when I was working as an HP system manager for a large school district, I met Eugene's esteemed father (and co-founder of VESoft), Vladimir Volokh.

The elder Mr. Volokh, similar to James Brown, is 'the hardest working man' in the world of HP and the MPE OS. He travels tirelessly back and forth across the US, meeting with HP system administrators and various 'super-users' who use his (and Eugene's) wonderful MPEX system software product, and whacking said sysadmins upside the head for not using his software to its fullest extent, not keeping their systems sufficiently secure, not cleaning and maintaining their directories properly, etc.

Every visit (I usually saw him once a year) was an opportunity for me to practice my (really) lame Russian with him, and to receive a trove of useful MPE shortcuts and tips. Realistically of course, as I was the caretaker of several machines (HP3000, HP9000, a couple of web servers...), I had hardly the time to enact half of Vladimir's recommendations, but every one was gold.

And he always took the opportunity to brag (and rightfully so) about his genius son. Which prompted me to check out the Center-Right newsletter that Eugene edits, then further to check out the Volokh Conspiracy. Very worthwhile reading...

Til next time!

Not much new to report in my day life (info systems) or other life (music). 'Mad About the Movies' successfully closed this past weekend. Onward to Mozart (rehearsals for the Requiem every Monday), Bach (B Minor Mass every Wednesday) and G&S The Mikado (rehearsing once or twice a week starting in October).

Find out more about the Mozart Requiem performances, or about the Bach B Minor Mass performances.

The Santa Rosa Players are still looking for a lyric tenor to play Nanki-Poo in The Mikado. See post below for details.

Til next time...

I don't know if anyone in the blogging community lives in the Santa Rosa, CA area and knows any lyric tenors, but if so...

Santa Rosa Players is presenting Gilbert & Sullivan's THE MIKADO. General auditions have been held, but the company is still seeking a lyric tenor to fill the lead role of Nanki-Poo. (Technical details: the role requires a few high A's, and the tessitura hangs around middle C to high G).

Rehearsals begin the week of September 15 and are negotiable. Performance dates are November 21-23, 28-30 (over Thanksgiving weekend), and December 5-7.

If you know anyone who is (or are yourself) available and interested in this role (or others, see below), please contact me, or the company president, Pam Zainer, with your name and contact info.

We're also looking for more candidates for the roles of Pooh-Bah (an imperiously comic low baritone), and Pish-Tush (a supporting baritone with lots of ensemble singing and one big solo).

If you live in the North Bay, and are interested in performing any of these roles, please contact me.

I hope I can get around to blogging once a week.

I'm playing for a show opening this weekend. It's a revue-style show called 'Mad About the Movies', featuring music from the movies between (roughly) 1914 and the 1940's. Clips and stills from the movies will be interspersed with explanations about the making of the movies, the movie music composers, and performances of music from the movies.

The show runs Friday and Saturday evenings for the next 3 weekends at the Main Street Theater in Sebastopol. There is more information on the show here.