ALL THE REST —  August 29
  

MUSIC
The Violin part 1

The oldest violin existing today was made in 1564. It was crafted by Andrea Amati of Cremona, Italy. The violin was pictured in Italian art as early as 1508. This instrument combined the characeristics of several earlier bowed instruments, among them the: Moorish rebec, medieval fiddle, and lira da braccio The softer viol family of bowed strings was played while held on the performer's lap or between the legs. This instrument continued to survive for about a century after the development of the violin, but it could not compete with the brilliance and flexibility of the newer instrument.

The exact inventor of the violin is unknown. He likely was a resident of Northern Italy. In Cremona, Andrea Amati established a lasting blueprint for the design and construction of the violin. His sons and grandsons continued this tradition. In the same area of Italy, Stradivari (1644-1737) also built violins. Stradivari's design innovations resulted in a more powerful sound. Some 300 years later, his instruments are rivaled only by those of Giuseppe Guarneri "del Gesů" (1698-1744). Today these Cremonese violins are the most highly prized in the world.

The violin of today is remarkably similar to its Baroque counterparts. The only major change of design occurred towards the end of the 18th century. The growing size of the concert halls demanded a higher volume of sound. The violin's neck was lengthened and angled downward resulting in an increase of string tension which created a higher volume of sound., necessitated by the growing size of concert halls. The chin rest was also added at this time freeing the left hand from having to support the instrument thereby allowing greater dexterity of movement. Finally, pure gut strings were replaced by stronger gut-metal hybrids. These changes were a response to the technical difficulties and thicker orchestrations of late Classical and early Romantic music.

Sources: Encyclopedia Britanica   
 

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Joseph Addison

 

The Trains

Andy wants a job as a signalman on the railways. He is told to meet the inspector at the signal box. The inspector puts this question to him: "What would you do if you realised that 2 trains were heading for each other on the same track?"

Andy says, "I would switch the points for one of the trains."

"What if the lever broke?" asked the inspector.

"Then I'd dash down out of the signal box," said Andy, "and I'd use the manual lever over there."

"What if that had been struck by lightning?"

"Then," Andy continues, "I'd run back into the signal box and phone the next signal box."

"What if the phone was engaged?"

"Well in that case," persevered Andy, "I'd rush down out of the box and use the public emergency phone at the level crossing up there."

"What if that was vandalised?"

"Oh well then I'd run into the village and get my uncle Silas."

This puzzles the inspector, so he asks, "Why would you do that?"

Came the answer, "Because he's never seen a train crash."

potoole@maths.tcd.ie (Peter O'Toole) Trinity College Dublin.

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Two young blonde women are sitting at a bar in such an obviously celebratory mood that the bartender drifts over intending to offer them a drink on the house. When he gets close he hears one say to the other "Here's to 17 days!"

Smiling, the bartender says, "Congratulations! What's so special about 17 days?"

Eyes twinkling, one of the women explains, "Well, we've been spending our evenings working on a jigsaw puzzle! And it said 3-5 years on the box, but we finished it in only 17 days!"

Gag-O-Mactic Joke Server jokes@gag-o-matic.lowcomdom.com 

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There was a married couple sleeping and an intruder entered into their house. The intruder put a knife to the neck of the woman and said, "I like to know the names of my victims before I kill them, what is your name?"

"My name is Elizabeth," the woman replied.

The intruder said, "You remind me of my mother who was also named Elizabeth, so I can't kill you."

The intruder then turned to the husband and asked, "What is your name?"

"My name's Phillip, but my friends call me Elizabeth."

From Kasha Linka

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I found this years ago on the local BBS, I was using my C64 and a 300 Baud Modem. I placed it here on the DM a while back and was asked to put it on line again. Here, by special request, is NOT RAISING HOGS .

    
Honorable Secretary of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
    
Dear Sir;
    
My friend, Ed Peterson, over at Wells Iowa, received a check  for $1,000 from the government for not raising hogs.  So, I   want to go into the "not raising hogs" business next year.
    
What I want to know is, in your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to raise hogs on, and what is the best breed of hogs not to raise?  I want to be sure that I approach this endeavor in keeping with all governmental policies.  I would prefer not to raise razorbacks, but if that is not a good breed not to raise, then I will just as gladly not raise Yorkshires or Durocs.
    
As I see it, the hardest part of this program will be in keeping an accurate inventory of how many hogs I haven't
raised.
    
My friend, Peterson, is very joyful about the future of the business.  He has been raising hogs for twenty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was $422 in 1968, until this year when he got your check for $1000 for not raising
hogs.
    
If I get $1000 for not raising 50 hogs, will I get $2000 for not raising 100 hogs?  I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4000 hogs not raised, which will mean about $80,000 the first year.  Then I can
afford an airplane.
    
Now another thing, these hogs I will not raise will not eat 100,000 bushels of corn.   I understand that you also pay farmers for not raising corn and wheat.  Will I qualify for payments for not raising wheat and corn not to feed the 4000
hogs I am not going to raise?
    
Also, I am considering the "not milking cows" business, so send me any information you have on that too.
    
In view of these circumstances, you understand that I will be totally unemployed and plan to file for unemployment and
food stamps.
    
Be assured you will have my vote in the coming election.
    
Patriotically Yours,

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TRUE FACT ...

Humans begin laughing at two to three months of age. Six year olds laugh about 300 times per day, while adults laugh from 15 to 100 times per day.

SOURCE: NYT, Dr. William F. Fry, Stanford University

Play the home version of the lottery.
Take a dollar bill and flush it down the toilet.

Daily Miscellany Comics

Have A Great Day !

Phillip Bower

Soul Food for August 29

History for August 29