Strombotne.com » social

1861: The Civil War Awakening

cs — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:30:22 +0000

1861: The Civil War Awakening by Adam Goodheart offers good perspective of public thinking and attitudes during this era. Lacking are the nut and bolt front line battle tactics of the war years but still a good historical refresher. The book has a focus on political and sociological influences during the wars crucial early stages. Many of the thoughts and notions presented are missing from any official textbook teachings to which one may have been exposed, so there is some excellent awareness here.

The Black Power Mixtape

cs — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:05:50 +0000

Either I wasn’t paying attention or it didn’t seem relevant (to me) at the time but it sure is interesting stuff now. The Black Power Mixtape 1967 – 1975 is a documentary that gives introduction to a cause and a taste for learning history. Having switched off certain current events back in the day; it’s not too late to catch up. [ Netflix ]

NYC

cs — Sun, 08 May 2011 20:39:35 +0000

I wandered into the subway station with only the general notion to travel North from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. To be unsure of this system is to appear vulnerable (prey) and everyone ELSE seemed to know exactly what they were about. A helpful NYPD Officer pointed out the C Train Uptown / Queens and off I went with new direction to exit at 59 St. — Central Park.

Saturday: I joined the carousel for a counter clockwise loop around. Even without the automobile traffic, banned from the park on weekends, there are walkers, runners, bicyclists, baby carriages, horse drawn carriages, bicycle propelled carriages and foot traffic from crosswalks at intervals left and right, it’s heads up to avoid collision or getting flattened. Getting used to the scheme it is still possible to glance about and enjoy the greenery and city skyline. The full route is exactly 6 miles of asphalt drive.

Sunday: There are sporadic soft paths adjacent which allow relief from the busier lanes. Also, I tried the famed reservoir track for an optional mile and change of venue. I was a non-conformist running the main route clockwise today and was rewarded with an onslaught of opposite direction participants from the Japan Day Race. Once the event cleared out it was easier going. Hugging the inside curb kept the bikes at berth and to my surprise nearly all traffic stepped wide making room. [ GPX ]

For a cool down (and to avoid dreaded subway puzzles) I stayed topside the 17 city blocks back to the PABT. The city streets are a spectacle. It’s the ultimate for people watching. A walking pace is too fast to take it all in.

Addendum

cs — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:39:24 +0000

Responding to well wishes of friends and family I conveyed a feeling of relief that our community had been spared the wrath of local tornado spawns. However, strewn about the neighborhood on lawns and in gutters are deposit fragments – shredded pink or yellow attic fiber insulation carried aloft in fury from homes unlucky. Sobering evidence.

Élégie

cs — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:32:22 +0000

An oldtime 78 rpm record was recently uncovered and saved to digital format (Thanks MLS). It is an heirloom preserved. The voice in the recording belongs to Grandmother Strombotne as she sings — Élégie. It was produced in 1948. The vocals are in French so if one wishes to follow along; there is an English translation.

The Élégie by Jules Massenet was a popular melodie in Europe in the last decade of the nineteenth century. At some point it was adapted to lyrics by Louis Gallet

Ô, doux printemps d’autre fois, vertes saisons,
Vous avez fui pour toujours!
Je ne vois plus le ciel bleu;
Je n’entends plus les chants joyeux des oiseaux!
En emportant mon bonheur, mon bonheur…
Ô bien-amé, tu t’en es allé!
Et c’est en vain que [le printemps revient!]1
Oui, sans retour,
avec toi, le gai soleil,
Les jours riants sont partis!
Comme en mon coeur tout est sombre et glacé!
Tout est flétri
pour toujours!

Élégie by Elsa Strombotne

0:01:46 MP3 128kbps 1.62MB

Such a beautiful voice. Grandmother Strom was active in her community and taught voice to her music pupils.