Sometimes the planets align in such a way that in the space of a couple of short weeks National Pie Day and the release of an online pirate role-playing game come together in perfect fusion:
Used with the kind permission of the artist, Dan Piraro
Presenting Walter Busterkeys!
On this day in 1987 Liberace went to that great diamond-studded, fur lined Cadillac in the sky. You young folk may not hear the word “flamboyant” much these days, but this gentleman was the textbook definition. Wisconsin claims him as its own since he was born in West Allis and, as you can see, he also did a few years in Sheboygan
On January 16, 1940 the Milwaukee Journal reported on his debut with the Chicago Symphony at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theater. It appears that it took a while to develop his signature style:
“Walter Liberace, a member of the excellent group of young Milwaukee pianists … was heard Monday night at the Pabst as soloist with the Chicago Symphony orchestra. . . .
“Mr. Liberace, a strikingly good looking young man with a most engaging personality, had won the honor of an appearance with the orchestra in a local competition . . . The young artist was at no time in difficulty, but it was apparent that he was proceeding with infinite care, and the swaggering approach that goes so well with Liszt (Liberace had chosen to play Liszt’s Second Concerto in A) was somewhat missed.”
Liberace on LP at the Mudd. And, as you would expect, there is a Liberace Museum in Las Vegas.
If That Includes the End Zones, We’re Impressed
Ordinarily we wouldn’t mention the S-Bowl, since we are still very sad about the outcome of last week’s NFC Championship game. But the Hass Avocado Board has come out with a stupefying statistic: they predict a record 53.5 million pounds of avocado will be consumed this Sunday. That’s enough avocados to cover a football field waist-deep. We have to say it: Holy guacamole!
Avast, Ye Lily-Livered Geek
Here at the Mudd we’re all about pirates. Today’s New York Times has an article of great interest to all Mudd swabbies: an online pirate role-playing game. Pirates of the Burning Sea takes you back to those thrilling days of yesteryear, namely 1720 in the Caribbean. It’s just like being there, except without the slavery and disease. The website promises “blistering naval combat” and “savage swashbuckling.” You can choose your own “hair, faces, footwear, hands, coats, hats, belts, jewelry…eyepatches, hook hands, and peg legs…” You can be English, French or Spanish. This game was six years in development and, according to the Times, it’s just right. If you’ve a hankering to pillage and plunder, but aren’t crazy about the real-life consequences, figuratively weigh anchor for the virtual briny deep.
More CDs
Among today’s new CDs we have the largest multi-disc CD set in existence: Jacqueline Du Pré and everything she ever recorded on EMI. And, to cleanse your palate after all that cello music, an opera that’s really not and a little live jazz.
Global What?
This just in: In a cruel ironic twist, today is the day for a world-wide webcast on global warming solutions. At 8 p.m. Eastern time, Focus the Nation will stream this discussion on Earth Day TV. And tomorrow is “Focus the Nation” day here at LU and elsewhere. Thaw yourselves out and attend your local event.
Our new Wisconsin state motto: “We’ve Got Your Solution to Global Warming Right Here.”
Be Happy It’s Only Snowing
Sure, it’s -15 with 30 mph winds, but it could be worse. Visit the U. S. Geological Survey’s web site, Today in Earthquake History and see if your area experienced an earthquake on this date.
The USGS also has information on Wisconsin earthquake history. It’s a one-pager.
Boy, Was He Strict
Dateline, Appleton, Wis., January 28, 1908.
A “daily news special” reported out of Milwaukee stated that “at the close of the present semester this week” Lawrence University students “will have to sign an agreement not to frequent billiard or pool rooms or they will not be allowed to re-enter.”
President Plantz got the names of a number of boys “who for some time have visited local billiard rooms.” These boys received letters “advising them to desist from the practice or take expulsion from the college as a penalty.” He then went on to say any student who refused to abide by this rule and wished to attend a college with less stringent rules would receive a letter of recommendation from him. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
You can find out a lot more about LU and Samuel Plantz in the University Archives.
New CDs
Silver discs, silver discs. It’s CD time in the city. Today we have recorder chamber music, some Dylan, some Flying Pizzarellis, more jazz, music for strings, plus a lot more.
Here’s Pie in Your Eye
Today is National Pie Day, not to be confused with National Pi Day which is celebrated in March. Or January 25 which is the day “National Velvet” was released in 1945.
The American Pie Council counsels us to use pies only for the most wholesome purposes today. Give your sweetie or your co-workers a pie. Make a pie with your kids. Buy a pie and give it to the person behind you in the grocery check-out line. Hand out slices to strangers and encourage them to do the same, sort of “pie it forward.”
While we’re at it, don’t even think of using any other pie crust recipe than this one:
1 1/3 c. sifted all purpose flour (sift before measuring)
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 t. salt
Put all ingredients into a metal bowl. Put the bowl and your pastry blender into the freezer for about 10 minutes.
Cut shortening into flour until the mixture is uniformly crumbly looking. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of very cold water (unflavored, unsweetened sparkling water works best) over the dough and lightly toss with a fork. Add another tablespoon, toss. Add one more tablespoon and toss. If the dough still looks very dry, add small amounts of water and toss until the dough slightly clumps together as you toss it.
Use you hands to very gently form the dough into a loose ball. Pat it so it just holds together. Place on a floured surface and roll out to the desired size and thickness. Makes a single pie crust.
Here are more fine pastry-related activities: number 1, number 2, and number 3.