electric_blue68
electric_blue68's JournalI'm going to go and find out via FB whether an acquaintance made it through the night. They are good friends w another..
(needed to put my experience somewhere)
... long time friend of mine w whom we are far fling across the (mostly) USA sharing a set of interests through some decades. So now a lot of us are late '60's into early '70+.
Was up very late as her partner was letting us know now what was happening via FB. Very top surgeon said he could put in stents where others said no. Her heart stopped during surgery, restarted. Pacemaker had to be adjusted. Put in an induced coma. She shared a photo.
Finally a steady beat, but too low blood pressure. They didn't think she'd make it. Team asked her to decide ?DNR. She was in a quandry!
I guess they hadn't re gone over it.
I'm pretty darn sure they were Not expecting this.
We all told her to hold her hand, and about their life together. One person said they had been in one, and it was like a very heavy fog, but although she couldn't respond - she heard people talking to her.
I had to go to sleep - but then I hardly slept.
Since they were as I am on the East Coast, US they have a bunch of other friends in later times that could stay with her.
Afraid it'll be bad news, but Hoping for a miracle.
Now I'll go find out.
Who's excited about The Summer Olympics in Paris, France?
I love The Olympics! Both Summer, and Winter. Been wanting them maybe since Lake Placid.
Now I absolutely love the Opening & Closing Ceremonies! As a visual artist it's a feast: what will they come up with? Do they build a special stadium. That "bird's nest" one in China was beautiful. I'm always fascinated by the designs for the Torch holding the Eternal Flame, and how it will be lit.
Love seeing the countries' marching, and competition outfits.
As far as the Sports go...
Love just about all The Gymnastics! My favorites are the uneven parallel bars, the balance beam, the floor exercises, and the pommel horse.
Track and Field
The pole vault! The race with the little hurdles. The relay race. The long jump.
Equestrian!
The high dive! A bit of the swimming.
Might be something I've forgotten.
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But what makes these Games so extra exciting for me is The Location! That might seem obvious, and it is; on one level.
See, my aunt & uncle who (originally born, lived in the US) moved to Geneva for his work, and when he retired they moved to a picture postcard little village in western Switzerland by the Jura Mountains. He continued to write papers, and she continued her fabulous art in the big studio that was part their house. In early 2016 she invited me, and paid for the trip: a three week stay to make art! I went in Sept. Absolutely overjoyed!!! I did things I knew, tried new techniques, and new materials.
Then on top of that she took me and one of her teen granddaughters (my cousin) to Paris for 4 days/3 nights!
My sister reminded me that was because I asked if I could take a train to and from Paris in day. (I guess not 😄 So she did this. And she got to see her beloved, very long canvases of Monet's Waterlillies again. First time for me bc I didn't know he had done those particular ones)
How much more besides myself could I get. We got to 3 Art museums!
So I go off to see (but not go up) The Eiffel Tower. After I got off the near by subway stop; and while I occasionally have heard about it over the decades there was an Advertisement for Paris: The Competition for The Summer Olympics 2024! Oh...wow! I didn't know which cities were competing this time! It was just soooo cool to see that.
I've heard they're adding done new sports, too.
Now, there they'll be! I will recognize some of the places I visited in Paris. 😄🥰 So exciting!
NASA has a Eclipse page that will show you what your area's partial, or full eclipse will look like: start, middle...
end sequence with times.
Either put in your city or zip code.
https://eclipse-explorer.smce.nasa.gov/
Looking at my NY, NY result I guessed pretty well as to what the 89.xx % arc like sliver is going to look like.
It'll be the most coverage of the sun I'll have seen. 👍
A R&R story. Or how I had a chance to "Artistically Audition" to create U2's Rattle & Hum Album cover b4 it went blooey
Longer than I expected bc additional thoughts at the end.
Sooo...I'd been a professional Commercial Artist from about sometime '76 onward. Paste-ups and Mechanicals, certain Graphic Design projects, an illustration here, and there for companies, and non-profits.
One day out of the blue my sis calls me up. She tells me a friend, or a very good friend's friend was married to a very high up Executive in Island Records. U2 is on that label, and they're making a concert movie. My sis says - I told her you were a professional commercial artist, a Rock fan, and a very big U2 fan. Would you ask the husband whether I could show him ideas for this upcoming movie/album soundtrack?
He said, "Yes" to her.
😲😲😲😲😲
I was besides myself with *amazement*!!!!!
So at my board I started working on something. I basically had one idea (at that point) and titled it (as it was yet unnamed) "U2 Live in America".
I'd drawn it small in a dark pencil. Xeroxed it, then colored in the xerox. Not sure I would have gone to a bigger sketch at that point.
I don't know whether besides my utter astonishment, and excitement, I was also a bit intimidated!
Still, at least creativity, and physically previously I'd had the experience when I created on my own for the sheer love of the project - "album art" for Lifehouse; the story outlined back then '70 in the interview Pete Townshend gave to Nick Cohen in The NY Times article "From Tommy to Bobby": Bobby being the tech hero of the tale. This -Townshend's, and The Who's ill-fated project would collaspe down into "Who's Next".
I made a full size double album front/back cover art w a separate interior opening up where besides a simplefied sillouetted image of part of the front cover ran fake type for the "story, song listing, credits", etc. Graphic designers either draw lines, or use fake type to indicate text.
Anyway, one day in ?Feb '87 I'm riding on the bus. I would buy the NYT for very major news. So I was separating the sections, and I happen to glance below the fold of the Business section.
The headline goes something like
"Major Executive ______ _______ of Island Records (?NY office) collapses, and dies".
...Oh.
I don't remember whether my sister called me, or I called her that night.
And that was the end of my chance.
( 😭 ) Devastated.
Because I do my best to be a considerate person I felt guilty about feeling sooo bad at my lost chance.
I talked to my sister's, and our mutual friend, maybe another friend, and that was it.
Never a peep of disappointment until around ?2004 when Atomic Bomb was released. I finally tell my story to my fellow U2 fans on a U2 fan site I've been at for a year. I get lots of sympathy.
So why am telling this now. Not sure.
It might be connected to a couple of things.
A couple of years ago ?'21 - '22 my sister tells me she's no longer going to big arena, or stadium rock concerts. Part of it of course is covid. I mean i wouldn't go either. But her knee is bad, and with some jerks around she can't afford to be injured even if the probabilities are low. One time in MSG some guy leaps over the barrier I'm seating in front of...very close. 😳 So, yeah.
If I felt eventually more confident re covid I don't think she'd lend me the money since my limited income has further decreased for descreshionary income (basics are in general all fine 👍
.
This is something we've done together usually with other friends since '71 - possibly first seeing The Who's WN Tour. Maybe over 175+ shows of various size venues small to the biggest from rare sitting/standing out of a venue to being usually inside. The last show we saw together was The Who in Sept 2019. She's the one who floated me the $ for the biggest shows till i'd pay her back when my income decreased (but not to the current level).
So U2 reccently finished at The Sphere. The Who reccently toured. And Bruce is touring now. I don't know what Patti's up to though we caught an on line gig during covid. 👍 Midnight Oil did a reunion tour I didn't hear about. So almost everyone has been recently, or currently out playing.
These bands the ones that have meant the most to me are now either doing their last, or second to last tours. Bc of Covid, and little money I'll probably not see them again. Maybe a stadium show I could outside if the weather is decent enough.
It's while not devastating, it's sad.
I need to listen to my near by University radio station again. Listened for quite a few years but past several years listening more to WNYC, and being here.
I should catch what younger performers are around. Some who I know of, or are new to me, or new to nearly everyone. Maybe they'll eventually be appearing at outdoor shows I can sit outside of. 👍
I've seen shows for 54 years since '65. It's been part of my lifeblood. I'm not ready to give it all up if I can.
Any funny/strange memories re: getting tixs for, getting to, or incidents before a *concert* started?
The most over all important thing before ATM's became standard was my 🧡 mom's 🧡
ongoing 🎶"Concert 50"🎶! 😄
She saved some of the money my dad gave her so I could (often) run to our pharmacy on a Sunday to get a money order to pop in the mailbox the night before!
Usually 4 to 5, a rare 6th tickets for me, my sis, and friends. I'm sure we either got better seats, or seats at all because of this!
(On very rare occasions a lottery happened - which we we're lucky to always get tixs)
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My sis, and I (?76) were heading out to see Television at My Father's Place in Long Island. We were doing that bc they'd cancelled their latest CBGB's gig to go tour Europe; which would have been the first time we'd see them. This was their first NYC area show on returning.
Well, we took the subway fairly far out in Queens, then a bus that seemed to leave us "nowhere" under an open structure. Wth?! Now what! Rather unnerving.
Finally a cab came by. Seemed out there you often would share a taxi. So I'm guessing cabs would come around since they knew people would be getting off of that bus. So we did arrive on time for a fabulous show!
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There was the time in the mid-late '70s my friend, and I got it in our heads working up to a fevered lather of anticipation - that tickets were going on sale for a Who concert that day. Our other two concert buddies (a general friend, and my sis - I can't remember whether they agreed with us or not 😀 ) would have been our show buddies as almost always.
Now, that particular day WNEW- FM was doing blocks of live concert recordings with the same instrumental "opening track" like a pre concert song with performers walking to the stage. With recorded audience cheering at the start as well. I had a transistor radio with me.
So we went to Ticketmaster at Grand Central Station first, and hung out. We went to several other TMs of which I don't remember where - but we went all over Midtown Manhattan! 😄 Everytime they'd end one musical "concert" segment; we were sure that this was it! for the ticket announcement!!! 🎟️🎸🎤🔊🎼🎵🎶
Finally around 4 or 5 PM - this was late Spring, Summer; so it was still quite light out here; we finally concluded this was not happening. I remember we were standing under a structure. Maybe a road overpass? I don't think it was an elevated subway train bc of where we were.
Sigh. Home we went, disappointed.
But it still makes me really laugh on hindsight!
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The last one I can currently remember was small but some thing that hadn't experienced before.
I had a seat for U2's Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary Tour at Met Life. About middle tier.
To get to it I had to go through a ? club box. Nothing fancy compared to what I looked up on line now - but along with regular chairs, and tables it was enclosed. Somethhing I'd glanced at other times from the regular stands.
Hope some of you will share fun/interesting stuff. 👍
A question about digital scanning, and printing plus why I didn't become a Rock photographer...
Story first (and applicable)
So, I love making art, and taking photos! 🎨 📷 I also love live concerts (various styles). One of my favorites is Rock.
I've taken occasional photos of bands I really like, to seriously following, and photographing my favorites through decades ; depending on how far away my seats were. I used to sneak my SLR w reg, and telephoto lens into arenas! 😄 This was when they were serious about limiting photography. I was very, very good. (rare now since 10's bc $ issues, then still concerned w Covid). I think I would have done well.
One of my photos even won a contest from a modest (not the most well known) Rock Magazine (not like RS, or Creem, etc).
But 1) I originally have so-so hearing, and permanent tintinitus in one ear from a show when I was 16. (not the worst kind that drives 😔 some folks round the bend!) So that wouldn't have been too good to excessively expose them even more even w protection. 2) l didn't want to sit through bands I really didn't like 😄 bc at least to my thinking - that's what It'd take quantity wise to make a partial living at least.
So to my questions. 🙂
While somewhat grainy (Tri-X 400 pushed to ?1200) depending on blowing up a section - I have some wonderful B&W photos of The Who from their 🧡 Who's Next Tour 1971.
My Art College let any student use their Photography Lab, even in the summer time! I got film professionally processed with contact sheets bc I hadn't yet learned how to process a film roll. And w something that precious to me; even if I had learned I'd let very experienced people take care of it !
Some time over that summer I lost 3 of my 4 rolls of negatives! 😫😭😭😭 The 4th one I still had was the further away one.
The only 2 lucky things were 1) I'd already printed a bunch of my favorites, 2) I don't think anyone found them, and made prints, and sold them bc I never saw any in all the rock mags back then, nor local newspapers. (I could be wrong, but I once saw on FB a photographer like 4-7+ yrs back mentioning they hardly saw photos from the WN Tour, and he had taken some if anyone was interested.)
Besides from the obvious action of taking them to a professional - I could have these contact sheets digitally scanned, right? Then what? They're on a SD Card? I upload them to a computer: pick out, zoom in a bit if I want, compose, and print - right?
(I've made digital art on a computer, and composed, and printed my later in life: various kinds of subjects using digital photography, Including Rock- like U2).
Tia!
No rush on answers; gonna to take a good while to save up anyway if this ( I hope) is a viable option.
A Beautiful Visual Puzzle Adventure Game for (I think) Non Gamers! ...
(Gamers play it, too 👍 )
I'd barely call myself a gamer. I've never used like...Play Station? But I've played some digital on line games for I guess around 9 years now off & on.
Anyway this game Monument Valley (having nothing to do with
The Monument Valley in the Navajo Nation (Northern AZ, Southern Utah) ) is a gorgeously designed visual puzzle following the character Ida through all kinds of architectural structures - many not being able to exist in the real world.
But they're so cleverly put together!
She's also harassed by these funny crow people. Other interesting stuff happens, too.
I just love it, and play it a bunch of times each year. I might have gotten it for free the first time. However at one point I deleted from my tablet. A year, or two later I wanted it back.
I paid for it this time, and it's follow up. There's a second one (Monument Valley 2 ) w two new characters that I plan to rebuy as well.
I just wanted those who love beautiful digital art to see it. Not be intimidated by it being a Game. The creator of it had the idea of making every visual like a piece of art you could hang on the wall. And you could, per se.
I've taken a lot of screen grabs. I could get some printed up some day. Maybe somehow downloaded a few images into a color xerox machine.
Does anyone play (has played) "Mines of Mars"...
Idk if it's glitching, or not. I've played a bunch of times over the years. Then stopped playing it for several years.
I think I finished it twice with completing the last dugeon all the waaay down years back.
But it turns out from reading replies to someone's how-to, and tips site I never quite totally finished! A poster said if you mine all the rocks something cool happens. I've never done that. Never thought to do it.
I'm irl a (not recently) occasional rock hound - so mining even digital fake gems, and precious metals gives me a bit of a thrill. 😄😄😄 ⚒️ 💎
My problem.
I'm trying to finish the second to last dungeon. I can't seem to kill the big monster this time. 😑
I have all the weapons - things you'd think would kill it - sniper, both rocket launchers. Had the miner in above in front, from behind, even shooting upwards from on the floor; and nothing. Just "blast" dust against it's body. The only thing I don't have is the alien weapon you might get in the trading pit.
I really want to finish the final two so I can see if mining all the rocks will activate what ever cool thing that might happen.
They originally planned to do a Mines of Mars 2 - but it seems it never happened. I think there was a preview vid, but that's all. Think I read you could acess it after you totally finished the game.
But this poster was not clear that that was the cool surprise.
Any thoughts? 🙂
Tia.
I was today year's old; finding out that TV programs like "Leave it to Beaver, "Donna Reed", one other I missed..
the name of -
were deliberatly made to show women as "the Happy ("contented" ) Housewife" to "help" push all the women who'd gone out to work in WWII at the factories, and farms back into the home, and be happy there.
I watched those among other varied programs as a kid. Geeeebz. Yeah, it "makes sense" in their efforts, but blargh!
My mom who'd graduated as a dress
maker/designer went on to be the
Head Draftswoman at Hughes Aircraft in California! She oversaw at least 25, but might have been closer to 50 - 100 men, and "checked off" their draftsmen's work.
Back in NYC she worked at another firm doing drafting.
My dad didn't want her to work; 1950. She was a 1-2 pk/day smoker, had some allergies, and by the time she had my sister after a few months she got severe asthma. My sis and I wonder if she got frustrated, and bored at times and that's what triggered her illness w the smoking etc as the foundation.
Mysteries.
Ooops. I forgot how to use postimage...
I don't use it often.
I went to the site, and couldn't seem to access it.
Duh. Help and Tia!
(an aside:
many of DU's emojis appear on a site that I've frequented for almost as long as DU has been around. 😄
Where as I'm heading to year 3 or 4 here.
Occasionally I forget if one is here, or not. You don't have the :help: one. )
Profile Information
Name: CatherineGender: Female
Hometown: NYC
Home country: USA
Current location: same
Member since: Sat Jun 6, 2020, 09:10 PM
Number of posts: 14,862