They’re the ships of the desert. They make lovely suit coats. They entice children to smoke. They’re camels! And today and tomorrow they have their own festival in Bikaner, India. The Bikaner Camel Festival is a tribute paid to these animals upon whom the people of Bikaner depend for their existence. This region even formed an “elite camel corps,” active during the first and second World Wars.
The Mudd has a book about, you guessed it, camels in the U.S. army.
Got some travel funds left over? How about suggesting a little trip for your boss/supervisor/overlord? The World Congress on Neck Pain is going on today and tomorrow in Los Angeles. For light entertainment read some of the program topics and substitute “a pain in the neck” for “neck pain.” Example: “The Burden and Determinants of Neck Pain in the General Population.”
We are stunned to report that we have books on neck pain in the Mudd.
On January 18, 1944 the “All American Jazz Band” played the first jazz concert ever presented at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. The players were chosen as a result of a poll conducted by Esquire Magazine. This jam session was held in conjunction with the awarding of $10,000 in war bonds to these poll winners:
trumpet: Louis Armstrong (first), Cootie William (second)
clarinet: Benny Goodman, Barney Bigard
trombone: Jack Teagarden, Lawrence Brown
saxophone: Coleman Hawkins, Johnny Hodges
bass: Oscar Pettiford, Milton Hinton and Al Morgan (tied for second)
guitar: Al Casey, Oscar Moore
drums: Sidney Catlett, Cozy Cole
piano: Art Tatum, Earl Hines
odd instruments: Red Norvo and Lionel Hampton, tied
Armed Forces favorites: Artie Shaw, Willie Smith and Dave Tough (tied for second)
female vocalists: Billie Holiday, Mildred Bailey
male vocalists: Louis Armstrong, Leo Watson
The Mudd has Esquire Magazine’s Jazz Book from 1944, 1945 and 1946 containing information on the All-American Jazz Band plus articles on jazz, jazz players and jazz records.
This item appeared in the New York Times on January 14, 1908.
Because turnabout is fair play, we give you “Bei mir bist du schön” with a Latin beat.
It was only a matter of time before someone thought of this: Carmen Miranda’s saucy tropical hit, “Mama Yo Quiero” sung in Yiddish and Portuguese.
If you are itching for some more, the Mudd does have one Carmen Miranda recording.
On this day in 1964, Vee Jay Records released the first version of “Introducing the Beatles,” considered to be the most widely counterfeited Beatles’ album. There are scores of web sites detailing the features of the genuine and fake albums. If Granny has the real McCoy stashed in her basement, you’re looking at 5 figures, depending on condition, of course.
But it’s all about the music. The Mudd has the CD re-release of most of the tunes. The Fab Four were still evolving, so a lot of the songs were penned by other people, but enjoy the raw energy.
On January 9, 1793, the first manned flight in America took place in Philadelphia, with President George Washington in attendance. Here is a first-person account written the day after, as recorded in The Principles, History & Use of Air-Balloons, which the Mudd has access to.
Mr. Blanchard, the bold aeronaut, agreeably to his advertisement, at five minutes past ten o’clock yesterday morning, rose with a balloon from the Prison Court in this city, in presence of an immense concourse of spectators there assembled on the occasion. The process of inflating the balloon commenced about nine o’clock. Several cannon were fired from the dawn of day until the moment of elevation. A band of music played during the time of inflating; and, when it began to rise, the majestical sight was truly awful and interesting. The slow movement of the band added solemnity to the scene. Indeed the attention of the multitude was so absorbed, that it was a considerable time ere silence was broke by the acclamations which succeeded.
As soon as the clock had struck ten, every thing being practically ready, Mr. Blanchard took a respectful leave of all the spectators, and received from the hands of the President a paper; at the same time the President spoke a few words to this bold adventurer, who was immediately leaped into his boat, which was painted blue and spangled. The balloon was of a yellowish colored silk, highly varnished, over which there was a strong net-work. Mr. Blanchard was dressed in a plain blue suit, a cocked hat, and white feathers. As soon as he was in the boat, he threw out some ballast, and the balloon began to ascend slowly and perpendicularly. After a few minutes, the wind blowing from the northward and westward, the balloon rose to an immense height, and then shaped its course towards the southward and eastward. Several gentlemen galloped down the point road, but soon left sight of it, for it moved at the rate of 20 miles an hour.
Great numbers, who had neglected to purchase tickets, were afflicted with considerable regret at not having been immediately present in the Prison Court to see the preparations, and to witness the undaunted countenance of the man who thus sublimely dared to soar through the regions of the air. Anxiety for the safety of the aeronaut was painted on every face from the time citizens lost sight of him, and various were the conjectures as to the place where he would descend.
About half after six o’clock last evening we were happy to meet Mr. Blanchard again in this city, going to pay his respects to the President of the United States. He informed us that his aerial voyage lasted 46 minutes, in which time he ran over a space of more than 15 miles. And the descended a little to the eastward of Woodbury in the states of New Jersey, where he took a carriage and returned to Cooper’s Ferry, and was at the President’s at half past six o’clock last evening.
We get gifts. Most of the time they’re a welcome addition to the collection. Today’s CDs come from the library of a fine gentleman who passed away recently. As you can see, he enjoyed music – all kinds of music. And spooky Halloween sounds.
Oi, it seemed like the winter break would never end. Now back to business.
Today begins the IARP/EURON Workshop on Robotics for Risky Interventions and Environmental Surveillance. On this site you will find terms like “suitable modularised mechanised structure” (possibly the right size robot?,) “suspected or real disaster” and “swarm of robots.” This site was last modified “on 06/01/2008” so there’s some time travel involved, too.
The Mudd has much on robotics. Robots. Is there anything can’t they do?
