Text 17206, 100 rader
Skriven 2007-06-26 19:33:16 av Barbara McNay (1:382/48)
     Kommentar till en text av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: BIRD NEST 707 70625
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 >  -=> Quoting Barbara Mcnay to Michael Loo <=-

 >  BM> Explains why my brother, on his last trip abroad, took only one
 >  BM> carryon with a careful selection of clothes.

 > Wise.  I always pack my carry-on with the assumption
 > that my checked
 > luggage may not turn up for a couple of days, if ever.
 >  That has become
 > considerably more difficult since tightening of
 > regulations.

I take it you mean that you must now check some of your luggage if you want to
bring items allowed only in checked baggage.  A trial, indeed.

 >> The last time our luggage got lost it included two
 >> precious
 >> and fragile didgeridoos - United got them to me within

 >  BM> Speaking of the didges, way back then I tried Googling to try to find
 >  BM> out what they sound like.  I was unable to discover whether they can
 >  BM> produce anything other than a monotone.  Can one actually play melodies
 >  BM> on one?

 > There have been orchestral pieces written (by Peter
 > Sculthorpe and
 > others), which include didges.  The soloist has
 > several, which he plays
 > at different times during the work.  As a didgeridoo
 > is basically a
 > hollow wooden tube with beeswax forming a sort of
 > mouthpiece, it has a
 > natural note, dependent on the length.  By careful
 > mouthing, a couple
 > of octaves above this can be played.  Minor variations
 > around these
 > prime notes can be forced.  Also squeaks and clonks
 > from striking the
 > instrument. Aboriginal music and song are
 > characterised by an almost
 > complete lack of melody, but a very strong rhythm,
 > maintained by sticks
 > (often boomerangs) tapped together, hand clapping,
 > foot stamping,

I assume that's largely true of the music of the native North American Indians,
too.

 > combined with the more or less continuous sound of the
 > didgeridoo
 > and/or bull-roarer (a flat piece of wood on a string,
 > which is whirled
 > around rapidly so that it spins and buzzes).
 > "Circular breathing",
 > using air stored in the cheeks while breathing through
 > the nose, allows
 > the player to maintain the continuous didgeridoo note
 > indefinitely.

Now, that's interesting.  I wonder if that method is ever used in playing any
of the more well-known wind instruments?  I assume bagpipes do this
mechanically.

 >> fact a ladies' one (buttoned up the wrong side or
 >> something),

 >  BM> This is the biggest PITA.  Why they can't have women's shirts overlap
 >  BM> the same way as men's shirts I'll never understand.  Many shirts could
 >  BM> be worn by either sex without attracting notice.  OTOH, I have worn
 >  BM> men's shirts, but perhaps some women's shirts might not fit well on a
 >  BM> man.

 > They tend to have a smaller collar size...

Oops, yes.  Often, though, you can buy unisex sweatshirts with no problem ...
or, perhaps I should say, I can buy sweatshirts labeled for men and sized
medium, and they fit me just as if they were for women sized medium.

 > I can understand why men's coats, shirts, etc button
 > the way they do,
 > so that a sword worn on the left hip can be readily
 > accessed quickly,
 > but I can't work out why the ladies' shirts should be
 > the other way.

Sheep's clothing, perhaps.

 >> said, "Sure I love you, now get me a beer," which
 >> seemed
 >> appropriate for our relationship but not funny enough
 >> to buy.

 >  BM> Wise choice!

 > It enabled him to survive.

Evidently.

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