Month: September 2014

Rubber Duck still remains hostage

Posted on by God's Morning

mug up rd ransom continues

It was a lovely but tense Mug Up this morning at YUPO Gallery. Paul Morrison arrived promptly with a bag filled with ransom demand fulfillment. Joey arrived late with Rubber Duck, but refused to release her to Paul, only allowing him a brief viewing of her to prove that she was unharmed (it was not Paul’s RD that had been crushed in the GE press after all). Joey told Paul that he needed to return to Mug Up next Saturday at 9:30am with more ranson, and he would come back again with Rubber Duck and the two “Kind” ducknappers, who would decide then if his ransom was sufficient to warrant RD’s release. This is dragging out much longer than any of us anticipated, and Paul was showing pronounced signs of tension and anxiety. We all pray he can hold out until next Saturday and that this ordeal will reach a satisfactory conclusion. Joey does seem to be enjoying making Paul squirm after all the times Paul has attempted to have RD usurp Homie’s rightful place as mascot of GMG. Karma can be tough.

Been There, Done That.

Posted on by capeannpainter

Cute video of a man and his dog rocking out on the couch in his underwear.

Blaze and I have been there done that.

Me and blaze rocked out Commando style to Psy’s “Gentleman” on the couch a few times. If she wasn’t so camera shy our video could’ve gone viral too.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, John Sebastian, Plays Gloucester Tonight — has a rock star this big ever played Gloucester before?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

When’s the last time a rock star this big played in Gloucester?  In fact, other than Billy Joel, who jumped on the piano a few times at the Studio many years ago, has any Rock & Roll Hall of Famer ever played Gloucester?  Has anyone else who played at Woodstock ever played Gloucester?  If you know these answers, please comment.

You can still get tickets (here) to tonight’s show at Gloucester’s UU Meetinghouse featuring Lovin’ Spoonful founder and writer of some of our generation’s most enduring #1 hits, like “Do You Believe In Magic?” “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice.” “Daydream.” “Younger Girl.” “Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?” “Summer In The City.” “Rain On The Roof.” “Nashville Cats.” “Six O’Clock.” “Darling Be Home Soon.” “Younger Generation.”

After the show, John will hold a meet & greet and sign records, CDs, posters, Woodstock tickets … what ever memorabilia you bring — and you can get his new CD with David Grisman.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience music that defined a generation up close and personal!

Dinner and Dessert

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin

SharonChuck4796wm

Last night was my first dinner out at a person’s home. Sharon and Chuck King served Southern chicken with rice, and dessert was the view of Gloucester from their deck. Delicious!

Stage Fort Coastsweep Today!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joe and the GMG Crew

I am doing a Coastsweep cleaning of Cressys Beach at Stage Fort Park, and would appreciate your help in spreading the word. I have attached a copy of a poster I have, it has information about the time and date of the event. It is in .pdf format if this is a problem let me know. It is this Saturday, I know last minute, but life is busy I just got around to it now. Can you just post the .pdf and maybe a link to the website. http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/czm/program-areas/communications/coastsweep/

Thank you for any help,

George Davis

20140911151342668.pdf

Cape Ann TV Wins Big

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“The Results are in!”

The highly anticipated results of the Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region video awards have been posted!

Cape Ann TV is proud to announce that we placed in several categories.

1st Place

All Things Victorian: John Thomas Grant and Victoriana Lady Lisa

Profile Talk Show – Professional category

http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01896&video=190527

2nd Place

The Portrait Series: Erich Archer and Rebecca Tober

Arts and Theater – Professional category

http://youtu.be/BNeniSHNWBg

2nd Place

Beeman Ballroom Experience: Lisa Smith

Children and Youth – Professional Category

http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01896&video=194341

3rd Place

Local Music Scene with Allen Estes: Allen Estes and Peter Van Ness

General Talk Show – Non Professional category

http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01896&video=163113

Cape Ann TV would like to thank all of its members and volunteers for all of their hard work.

Congratulations to all our winners!

Breaking News! There goes the Duck Dynasty

Posted on by capeannpainter

I got an anonymous email with this video attachment. We’re trying to verify this video to see if it is authentic.

Cross your fingers that this is a bad idea for a joke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzbY3m32vFE

Look Up! Keep Your Eyes Towards the Sky Tonight

Posted on by Nichole S.

Will we or won’t we?   The word around campus is that we may have a chance of seeing Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, TONIGHT!

Be on the look out.  It is a sight not to be missed.  Fingers crossed.

And…by the way….what was up with tonight’s sunset.

Unreal….sadly, this photo doesn’t even come close to doing it justice!IMG_7264

Bait Those Bait Bags Renee!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Endangered Pied-billed Grebe Encounter

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

In the dim light of daybreak at first glance I thought the diminutive duck was somehow related to the female mallard. Both were inconspicuous and camouflaged amongst the cattails. Mrs. Mallard was preening and standing on one leg, a thing birds do to regulate their body temperature, and Mystery Duck was actively diving all around her. As the light grew brighter with the rising sun it was easy to see that they weren’t at all akin; Mystery Duck’s bill was shorter and chunkier when compared to the Mallard’s bill, Mystery was half her size, and its perky cotton white tail feathers were unmissable. The Mallard flew off eventually and our Mystery then traveled away, deeply diving and then reemerging some distance further, staying close to the shoreline and always well hidden.

Pied-billed Grebe Massachusetts mallard ©kim Smith 2014

Side-by-side comparison: Pied-billed Grebe, left, female Mallard, right.

The Pied-billed Grebe is rarely seen breeding in Massachusetts any longer and is listed as endangered in nearly every New England state. Rhode Island considers the Pied-billed extirpated (locally extinct). The reason for their decline is low breeding numbers and wetland degradation. Their feathers are thick and soft and were used to make hats and earmuffs during the 19th century. Wantonly hunted to near extinction, Pied-billed Grebes never fully recovered in our region. As wetlands have given way to development, the Pied-billed Grebe’s numbers continue to decline dramatically. They are extremely sensitive to human disturbances, and, too, are less likely to be seen as it is a nocturnal bird, traveling mostly during the night.

Pied-billed Grebe Massachusetts -2 ©kim Smith 2014Fluffy Cottontail

A fun fact about the marsh-nesting Pie-billed is that both male and female contribute to building what at first appears to be a floating nest in vegetation, near open water. The nest is actually a platform anchored to plant stalks.

I wonder if this Pied-billed is a fall migrant or if on Niles Pond, Pied-billed Grebes were nesting this season. Has anyone else documented or seen a Pied-billed Grebe at Niles Pond during the past few months?

Niles Pond Gloucester ©Kim Smith 2014

Niles Pond is Ideal Pied-billed Grebe Habitat

See previous GMG post for more information about why birds stand on one leg.

See more photos and audio links here ~
Continue reading “Endangered Pied-billed Grebe Encounter” →

Guess who I caught sneaking into work?

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

Yeppers, It’s Mr. Fred Bodin!

He would like to thank Peter, the CATA driver, who was so kind to him!

Now get downtown to Bodin’s and give him a visit!

Rubber Duck Tech Tip: The New Watch

Posted on by paultmorrison
watch
I kept this hidden for two years …

So Apple has come out with a smart watch. The question is, are you going to buy one and will Apple sell these like hot cakes? My verdict to those two questions, maybe and yes.

Do I need to know all the time a new text has come in, a new email? Me? No. That is a short leash. I can go the whole day not turning my iPhone on. But others might have a different take. The maps, the photos, the all sorts of stuff this smart watch does is very cool. It does do one thing, make that two. 1) It just destroyed all the other smart watches out there. They are toast. This watch has also sucked all the oxygen out of the room for the fitness dongles, Fitbit etc.. Dead dongles walking.

So you come home, take your phone out and put it on a charger. Now you have a watch that needs charging too, maybe every night. It has a slick easy charge interface. It would be nice if Apple did the same thing to the phone and their laptops. A string of silver medallions to link all the things need charging. Might have to wait until version 2.0 before I dive in. Battery life is going to be a problem.

But what else did Apple announce? Big new iPhones. Gonna get me one of those, maybe even the aircraft carrier to make Joey happy. Apple also is boosting the iOS (phone operating system) to 8. I have been beta testing Apple’s Yosemite (new MacBook OS) and it is going to be kick ass linked to an iOS 8 phone.

Anything else? Oh yeah, maybe the biggest thing. The mobile payment system. OK, Android had NFC but Apple will make it work. Imagine not dealing with cashiers ever again. That seems ridiculous. But remember before ATMs when you had to wait for a bank teller at least once a week? When they first came out some people thought ATMs were silly and unsafe. You might have been one of them. Same with this.

[edit] Here is the best article I have found that explains the details of Pay. I had to read it through twice to get the simple reasons why it is going to kick butt. No more money, no more credit cards, no more wallet. Just your iPhone or your Watch, a fingerprint ID and you bought it.

Cape Ann Symphony 63rd Season Opens on Saturday September 27

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Cape Ann Symphony proudly announces the launch of the orchestra’s 63rd Concert Season on Saturday, September 27 at 8 pm with A Night At The Opera! featuring an exciting program of opera favorites performed by rising young stars of the opera world.. The orchestra’s new season features the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus in the annual Holiday Pops Concert in November, world renown pianist Cape Ann’s own David Deveau in March 2015 and  father daughter duo of Richard and Erin Svoboda in double concerto for clarinet and bassoon in May 2015. Music Director and Conductor Yoichi Udagawa is eager to open the CAS’s new concert season, “The incredible musicians of the Cape Ann Symphony and I are very excited about the musically thrilling and challenging 63rd season of the orchestra. We have everything from fantastic singers who will be joining us for A Night At The Opera, an amazing chorus who will be singing along at the Holiday Pops concerts, magnificent pianist David Deveau returning to play Beethoven to our final with a dynamic father/daughter pair playing a gorgeous concerto written by Boston based composer Michael Gandolfi for Mother’s Day. The support of our ever growing audiences inspires us, and we are looking forward to presenting concerts that will move and excite the heart and lift the spirit. Thank you for your support and see you soon!” All Cape Ann Symphony Concerts are held at the Manchester-Essex High School auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea. The Cape Ann Symphony opens the 63rd season with A Night At The Opera! On Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 8:00 pm at the Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium is handicapped accessible. Ticket prices are $35 for adults, $30 for senior citizens, $20 for Young Adults and Free for children 18 years old and under.  For information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA!
Performance:                Saturday, September 27, 2014                  8:00 P.M.

Cape Ann Symphony kicks off their 63rd season with A Night At The Opera! featuring BIZET, MOZART, PUCCINI, ROSSINI, VERDI and more thrilling opera favorites sung by Mara Bonde, soprano; Krista River, mezzo; Ethan Bremner, tenor; and Thomas Jones, baritone .

THE HOLIDAY POPS
Performance: Saturday, November 29, 2014               8:00 P.M.
Performance: Sunday, November 30, 2014                 2:00 P.M.

The Cape Ann Symphony’s annual Holiday Pops Concert is an exciting celebration of holiday music favorites to kick off the holiday season on Saturday, November 29 at 8 pm & Sunday, November 30 at 2 pm. The concert features Cape Ann Symphony Chorus under the direction of Rockport’s Wendy Betts. as well as the orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Anderson’s Christmas Festival/Sleigh Ride plus an updated audience sing-along.

DEVEAU PLAYS BEETHOVEN
Performance:                Sunday, March 22, 2015        2:00 P.M.

Pianist David Deveau returns to Cape Ann Symphony to play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 pm. He most recently performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Cape Ann Symphony in March 2013. Having appeared as a soloist with numerous symphony orchestras in many of the world’s leading concert venues, pianist David Deveau has been acclaimed internationally for his expressive and poetic interpretations of repertoire.. Mr. Deveau serves as the Artistic Director of Rockport Music as well.. The March 2015 concert program also features the orchestra performing Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and Weber’s Overture to Euryanthe.

PAST AND PRESENT
Performance:                Saturday, May 9, 2015                    8:00 P.M.

Cape Ann Symphony welcomes the father and daughter team of Richard and Erin Svoboda to perform Michael Gandolfi’s Double Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon. Melrose resident Richard Svoboda has been the principal bassoonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players since 1989. He is currently on the faculties of the New England Conservatory of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center. The Past and Present Concert features the orchestra playing Rossini’s Overture to Italian Lady in Algiers and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. 

PLACE

Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium: 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium is handicapped accessible

TICKET PRICES FOR CONCERTS
Adult/$35.00
Senior Citizens/$30.00
Young Adults/$20.00
Children Age 18 and Under/FREE
Season Subscriptions are Available.

For Information call 978-281-0543 or Visit www.capeannsymphony.org

Breaking: Holy Cow Plumbing Issue To Push Opening To Next Week via @HolyCowTweets

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro