I. NEW PlayStation 3: SWEET!
The reason I've not done a newsletter since early August is that I've been preparing to camp out to be able to buy a PlayStation 3 in time for Christmas. Turns out--get this--it wasn't necessary. There are a million stories in the Naked City. Here's mine.
I'm walking up with my tent and camping gear to get in line at my local Best Buy last Tueday. I figured three nights would be enough and, as it turns out, when I got there, there were only 43 guys ahead of me. That's about the same number as when I stood in line to see Star Wars Episode 2. In fact, most of those were the same guys. But, anyway, I'm walking up and this guy named "Scooter" pulls me to the side and we go over to his 1995 Plymouth Acclaim and he opens the trunk and--you won't believe this--he's got an extra PS3 he's willing to sell. I kid you not, people. He wants $2500 for it but I talk him down to $2100. Hee! What a moron. So, anyway, SCORE! I got my PS3.
It doesn't look exactly like I expected and I haven't had a chance to try out any games yet. Turns out there weren't any games included which is kind of a rip off. But, check it out! The wireless controllers (I got the guy to sell those to me for $90 each) look almost exactly like staplers. Cool. And there's the convection feature which--check it out--SONY has not even advertised!! Anyway, I'll keep you guys posted. And, I'm making this exclusive offer to Chiff & Fipple readers. As much as I'm digging this thing, I'll let it go for $2800. That's not that much more than I paid for it. (Wireless Staple Controllers sold separately. Make an offer.) By the way, it smells good, too. Kinda like bacon!
II. HUDSON WHISTLES
There's a good bit of buzz over on the forums about this new entry into the high-end whistle world. This news is so breaking that we don't even know of anyone who has played one yet, but based on the photographs on the maker's website, everybody's pretty interested in it. Good quality high-end conical whistles are hard to come by. You've got your Shaws and, of course, the Copelands, but that's about it. $165. Available now only in high D.
We've got one on the way. Check this page where I'll post some comments when I get the instrument.
III. WHAT? ARE THESE GUYS KIDDING?
This is ought to scare the pants off of you. Nothing induces a seizure faster than the sound of these little abominations. About a month ago, I caught the Eric Clapton tour when it came through Birmingham and not even the sight and sound of Eric Clapton playing the kazoo, which did happen, was enough to make me step down from my plan to collect and destroy every one of these darn things. Anyway. The irritating thing about Clapton was that he used it to do the piano part in "Layla." It's not like the guy can't afford a piano. (Thanks to Paul Busman, C&F's legal counsel and podiatrist, for bringing this kazoo thing to our attention.)
Update: This item prompted a scholarly defense of the kazoo by my dear friend Norman Dannatt. Click here to read it.
III. AND SPEAKING OF MUSICAL HORRORS
At my new job my office is temporarily located at an elementary school. It's great to be in the school because it reminds me of what the work is all about. My office is located near the music room. So, I get to listen to about 20 seven-year olds playing these:
I'm making friends with the music teacher. One of my strategic goals is to convince her to get rid of these things (actually, melting them down would be the way to go) and replace them with whistles. We all know that the whistle is a better choice early musical education anyway.
IV. WHISTLE THIS
Very nice new whistle website with lots of stuff going on that we don't do on Chiff & Fipple:
VII. GREG MAHAN GOES INTO THE BIZ
Greg Mahan is one of the, uh, one persons that has been doing Internet stuff on the whistle about as long, as long, or longer than I have. Sorry about the imprecision but there are no Internet records from 1971. Greg's whistle reviews have appeared in these and other Internet locations for years. Now, he's making whistles.
Check out Greg's new website.
VIII. NEW MORRIS OPEN CD
The Beatles, The Doors, The Stones, Morris Open--All the great bands. We all eagerly anticipated the release of new albums. All of these bands are gone (or should be gone) except for the mighty Morris Open. Here's a CHIFF & FIPPLE FLASHBACK (registered trademark) from 2003
_____________________________________________________________
North Central Alabama Morris Open Fan
Club Parade & Gathering
Birmingham, Alabama
Turn out for the parade was rather low, but full of enthusiasm! You people don't know what you're missing.
President and Treasurer, Dale Wisely
Photos by Claire Wisely
Morris Open is my favorite band, not counting Bananarama!
______________________________________________________________
So, now comes Morris Open with their new live CD:
Lots of free Morris Open music, including "The Undisputed Jig," at http://www.morris-open.de/ehoerproben.htm
Visit the Morris Open website to purchase: German English (Click on NEWS!)
IX. YouTUBE
As you may know, 3Fish Productions, parent company of Chiff & Fipple, recently purchased YouTube. (We paid $4000 for it. Sent a check to an address in Arizona and we now have a bill of sale to show for it. The paper says YouTOOB, but I think that's just a typo. )
So, you'll be seeing a lot more whistling on YouTube. Like Ryan Duns.
Ryan Duns may be the champion YouTube whistler.
X. EVERYBODY GET FOKY!
Dear Mr Wisely,
on your website I happened to read the following in the "expensive whistle department":
Silberton whistles by Foky Gruber, D,C,Bb. "Silvered Brass." Tunable. I received e-mail from Marcus Hans Metz, from Germany, I gather, telling us of the Folkie Gruber whistle. "Hungarian flute maker Folkie Gruber," writes Marcus, "makes a superb tin whistle (ca. US$ 180) ....
I haven't heard anything about these in six or seven years. They're veering off into Loch Ness territory. I'm not sure they are still being made. I'm wondering if they ever existed.
So may I Introduce Mr Gyula Foky-Gruber, ungarian composer, maker & player of recorders, ungarian shepherd flutes and tin whistles?
If you take a look at http://www.windkanal.de/PDF
you'll find a three page portrait of him and his instruments (in german of course) as well as his current address ,which is
Wiesbaden is about 30 km south of the International Airport Frankfurt ( not exactly anywhere near Loch Ness, though.)
Mr Foky-Gruber is almost 80 years of age (born in 1927) so I'd rather hurry up ordering a whistle from him.
If this solves one little mystery for you, I was glad to help.
Joachim Hofmann, Germany
XI. TWEAK!
I got one of these.
http://vargaswhistles.com/webshop/htdocs/shop.html
I got the Feadog D. I love it. It's a fabulous tweak. Incidentally, I regard the proliferation of tweaked inexpensive whistles as one of the most significant development in whistle world since I've been around.
Official Chiff & Fipple Time
XII. A BETTER WAY TO SPEND
HOLIDAY MONEY THAN ON I-POD
ACCESSORIES
Amnesty International Darfur action
http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes
http://www.genocideintervention.net/index.php
http://www.gng.org/pulse/genocide.html
http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/?gclid=CIeY5peC0YgCFSF5SAodeGzHRA
XIII. FOR OUR AMERICAN READERS
Have a great Thanksgiving. And, thanks for voting!
Check you guys later. I'm about to load a game disk into the "heating element" on the new PS3. I'll let you know how it works out.
Dale
Lord, help us see how near is your kingdom.