When I first began using online resources like Wikipedia that are “crowd sourced” and hence questionable in some eyes, it didn’t take me long to realize that many published reference works are as likely to contain errors as online ones. This came home to me once again as I was reading Peter Jeffry’s long article on the origin of the Gregorian chant modes. In footnote after footnote, he points out the errors in articles and books he is citing. Errors like mislabeled charts and unreliable musical transcriptions.

I find typos and errors often in published books and articles as well as online. I guess it’s just part of the deal. One has to keep one’s brain engaged if possible.

I gave up on the new New York Times web app yesterday.

I realized that I wasn’t getting a good overview of topical news from browsing through the silly app. Combined with the fact that quoting and bookmarking was cumbersome and their silly email-this-article button didn’t work for me, I thought I would try it later.  It probably works great on Ipads. However I returned to primarily reading the “Today’s Paper” version of the online newspaper.

I did get Herrick’s new Hoopla online streaming service working. But only with Eileen’s assistance. You go to Herrick’s eresource page and click on Hoopla and register. Then one is prompted to download a plug in. Did this and tried to install it. Didn’t work.

Eileen said that they had been told at work that there was a glitch. I can’t understand why they sent out emails to patrons urging us to use the service without making the instructions more clear. Anyway, I went back to the page and clicked on the tips (which is a pdf link). Buried in the middle of the doc is this;

“Widevine Plugin must be installed. Patrons will be prompted to install it when they attemptto  play a movie, or they may download it from https://tools.google.com/dlpage/widevine. If they are unable to download the plugin, they may have to close the browser, right click on their browser icon and “run as administrator” then try again.”

The usual pain in the ass I guess. I had to close numerous tabs to close my browser. But this did work. Unfortunately I didn’t find anything I wanted to watch on Hoopla. This is my problem with visual entertainment in general. My tastes in movies and TV shows and such are very narrow.

I do like the Coen Brothers. Here’s a news conference they gave recently about their new movie (which I think looks great!).

I had a nice chat with daughter Elizabeth yesterday. She recommended that I install Instagram on my phone. Which I did. I then took the obligatory cat and snow pictures.

Today I have a full Sunday planned. The music for church will keep me alert. I’m playing a sort of goofy but technically demanding (for me anyway) postlude. The choral anthem, “Hills of the north rejoice” by Cassler, is as hard as anything we’ve ever done. I had to cut some measures due to the fact that several men will not be there (in one case will be there but will be the guest preacher instead of a baritone in the choir). I have been practicing playing the choral parts to help the choir get through this one.

Then this afternoon I have the honor of playing on a recital with my friend Rhonda Edgington. This is the organ duet I have mentioned here. I think it’s in pretty good shape. I’m more anxious about turning pages for her on other stuff. Page turning is always nerve wracking i think. But again I like being asked to do things once in a while. Thank you Rhonda….

Eileen seems to be more reconciled to how our life will shape up without her full income. I do think it’s going to work out okay.

1. 100 Notable Books of 2013 – NYTimes.com

I finally went through these. I was surprised at how few I recognized. I don’t think I read any of them which is unusual. But I did get a couple of ideas including this book of poetry: ‘Metaphysical Dog,’ Poems by Frank Bidart – NYTimes.com

2. A Lesson Before Dying – NYTimes.com

Charles Blow very wisely sums up Mandela’s wisdom.

3. Martin Sharp, 71, an Artist Who Shaped Imagery of Rock, Dies – NYTimes.com

This guy designed and executed album covers I remember. Interesting that he had so much influence.

4. Michael Kammen, Historian of U.S. Psyche, Dies at 77 – NYTimes.com

This guy wrote some books that look interesting to me. Maybe I’ll have to check them out if I ever get off my Gregorian chant kick.

5. Streaming vs The Niche, episode #6891 | Zoë Keating

My nephew Ben tagged me with this link on Facebooger. Keating has some interesting observations about striking out ground as popular musician who is making enough money to live comfortably. I don’t think she sees the whole picture or least she doesn’t see people like me who are silly enough to buy music online even when they can get it relatively dirt cheap on Spotify.