Wikipedia Editing

Playing with this Microsoft Excel to Wikipedia table convertor:

http://excel2wiki.net/wikipedia.php

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Convert_tables_and_charts_to_wiki_code

Mall Art

Really like this artwork:

Source: Westfield Downtown Plaza Mall, outside store Getta Clue

An Open Letter to KXPR 88.9 Sacramento

Dear Capital Public Radio Classical KXPR:

Please, please, please: select a new on-air tagline to replace "the classical station."

Reasons to select a new on-air tagline

1. It states the obvious
2. It buries "classical" between two dead-weight words
3. It says nothing about what makes KXPR a great classical music station

Compare to San Francisco-based KDFC's "Classical. And then some."

• "Classical" becomes a first-class citizen, out front and center
• "And then some" telegraphs a vitality and positive energy to match the on-air talent
• Listeners hear the tagline in a professionally-produced and packaged sound clip (please also package-up ads)
• Packaging KXPR's sound clips and ads frees on-air talent to talk about the music and connect with listeners

I suggest holding a contest, inviting submissions, and allowing people to vote on your web site.

Thank you.

Ambrose Bierce

Listened to this discussion about Ambrose Bierce on KQED 89.3 FM's "Forum with Michael Krasny"; pointed me to his memoir, "What I Saw of Shiloh."

Still digesting the imagery and new words (for example, "mien"). Powerful.

Revolution Foods

A Revolution Foods truck passed me on the way to work several weeks ago.

I know nothing else about this company.

Mary Oliver

Listened to Mary Oliver read poetry on San Francisco-based non-profit City Arts & Lectures . Loved it.

Sadly, no podcast.

She differentiated between "turning into" a writer versus "becoming" a writer; the former, she said, reminded her of people who lock themselves in rooms and sharpen their pencils, while the latter go out and live their lives and integrate poetry into it.

Bonus random connection event: Linda Hunt, the host, played the character of Shadout Mapes in Dune (1984).

Radio Songs

Heard on a random Sacramento station:

Galveston, Texas-born Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," from his 1974 album "Can't Get Enough," on the 20th Century Records label. Video. The original had cowbell. Look at that blaze orange suit!

Heard on KDVS 90.3 FM out of Davis, CA:

Los Angeles-based Army Navy's "The Long Goodbye," from their 2008 album "The Last Place" on the The Fever Zone label. Audio. Eminently sing-alongable. Sort of reminded me of Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Tokyo-based Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Simoon (シムーン)," from their  1978 eponymous album on the Alfa Records label. Audio. Lovely. 

Heard on KXPR 88.9 FM out of Sacramento, CA:

Somerville, Massachusetts-native Alan Hovhaness's "Prelude and Quadruple Fugue Opus 128", 1936. Audio. A fantastic early morning accompaniment to crossing the flooded causeway into the rising sun.