News from the Mudd

We Like the Rolling Stone

rolling stoneOn this day 40 years ago Rolling Stone published its first issue. The title comes from the Bob Dylan song “Like a rolling stone“. It looked a little different back then – no shiny glossy cover. But its founder Jann Wenner is still the editor and publisher.

The obvious choice for the first cover was John Lennon, a popular entertainer at that time who composed, sang and played guitar, and who’d just finished filming the Richard Lester film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061789/"How I Won the War.

The Mudd subscribes to Rolling Stone and keeps the paper copies for a year. We also have R.S. on microfilm from January, 1978 to June, 2002 for all your fogey rock needs.

Did You Hear the One About…?

common taterToday you can’t escape “Abet and Aid Punsters Day.” Be a groan-up and paste a smile on your face when you hear one of these (and you will):

Walter Cronkite and Virginia Potato (yes, a real potato) were in love. But her father objected: “I’m not going let any daughter of mine marry a commentator.”

Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I’ll show you A-flat minor.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

Did you hear about the fire at the circus? The heat was in tents.

A toothless termite walked into a tavern and said, “Is the bar tender here?”

The orchestra was performing Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, a piece in which the bass section doesn’t play for a long stretch toward the end. The section decided to leave the stage and grab a few beers across the street. Two players passed out and rest got back late. The conductor was furious. It was the bottom of the ninth, there were two men out and the basses were loaded.

Yakkity Sax

sax boomIt’s Saxophone Day! It’s a woodwind made of metal! It’s named after a real guy whose birthday is today! It comes in all different sizes! And what could be cooler than a saxophone, or for that matter, a saxophone player? Once you get past the shades and the slouching demeanor, you’ll find a hug-able human being. So go hug one.

The Mudd has a boat load of recordings, scores and videos featuring the saxophone. Of course there’s Coltrane. But we also feature a composer who writes for saxophone(s) and ghettoblaster. For the less adventurous, how about some saxophone quartets?

They Got Blowed Up Real Good

bucket fireThe Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in which a bunch of conspirators in England tried to blow stuff up, occurred on this day. It’s celebrated as Guy Fawkes Night, Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, Cracker Night or Plot Night. In any case, explosions and fire are the order the day.

Today’s New York Times has a pretty sad photo of a rugby club viewing a film of a bonfire last year on Guy Fawkes Night. It’s a sorry state of affairs when the mayhem-loving British must discard their customs. But one rogue town will not be moved: “…the Slough Borough Council…decided not to have a bonfire this year. (It will have fireworks, though, along with an Asian Elvis impersonator.)”

Read all about him (Guy Fawkes, not Elvis) in the Mudd.

Fup, We Hardly Knew Ye

cat booksLibraries are all about the books (well, sort of) and librarians are all about the cats (except for the dog people.) In that spirit, we are sad to report the passing of Fup, resident cat at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon. Fup, whose name may come from a backwards “Puff,” also has a web site you may want to visit.

The Mudd needs a mascot, but it would probably end up being named “Ddum.”

Mmmmm. Donus.

pope trowel

On Nov. 2, 676 Donus, Son of a Roman called Mauricius was consecrated Bishop of Rome or “Pope,” if you will. He was quite the builder. Even though he only lasted two years, “he paved the enclosed forecourt of St. Peter’s Basilica [and] paved the atrium or quadrangle in front of St. Peter’s with great blocks of white marble” according to Wikipedia. In spite of his gift as a general contractor, he was unable to fix the schism between Constantinople and Rome. That was left to Archbishop Reparatus, if that was his REAL name.

Paul Hawken Visits LU

Paul Hawkin

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

11:10 a.m.

Lawrence Memorial Chapel

Since the age of 20, Paul Hawken has dedicated his life to sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. He has written extensively about the impact of commerce on living systems, served as a consultant to governments and corporations on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy, and has founded and run several ecological businesses.

The library has several books by Mr. Hawken as well as access to many of his journal articles.

Why [Not] a Duck?

man mealIt’s World Communication Week. It’s National Men Make Dinner Day. It’s National Fig Week. Communicate to a man in your life that you want him to make dinner. Here’s a fantastic, not-as-sweet-as-you-might-think recipe for duck with dried fruit (toss in some dried figs) pilfered from epicurious.com:

Peppercorn-Crusted Muscovy Duck with Blueberries

Bon Appétit | January 1998

Serves 4

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth

1 cup mixed dried fruit, cut into matchstick-size pieces

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

2 12- to 16-ounce boneless Muscovy duck breast halves with skin

4 teaspoons crushed mixed peppercorns

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled butter, cut into small pieces

3/4 cup frozen blueberries, thawed

Stir sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until mixture is deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes. Stir in vinegar (mixture will bubble). Add broth. Simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in dried fruit and ginger. Let stand 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, using fork, pierce duck skin (not meat) all over. Sprinkle with salt. Rub pepper over skin side of duck. Heat a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add duck, skin side down, and cook until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Turn over; cook to desired doneness, about 8 minutes for medium. Let rest 10 minutes.

Rewarm sauce over low heat. Whisk in butter a few pieces at a time. Stir in blueberries. Season with salt and pepper.

Slice duck breasts; serve with sauce.