Martin Bird’s Blog

The UK is under the grips of severe winter and snow, during this cold climate it is easy to forget the beauty of snowflakes. Wilson Alwyn “Snowflake” Bentley didn’t, he is the  is the first known photographer of snowflakes. He perfected a process of catching flakes on black velvet in such a way that their images could be captured before they melted or sublimated.

“Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.”

image: snowflakebentley.com

Every day I have to deal with spam comments to my blogs!

Here are a few ‘prime cut’ examples:

‘I consider, that you are mistaken. Let’s discuss it. Write to me in PM’

‘I need an real working automated forex robots’

‘It is a pity, that now I can not express - it is very occupied. I will be released’

‘In my opinion you commit an error’

‘What magazine do cats like to read? Good Mousekeeping’

‘It agree, very useful idea’

Hmnnn, So it goes on day in and day out, indecently can anyone inform me what a ‘forex robot’ is?

So for all you spammers here is a real spam recipe for you from the official ‘SPAM®’ website, careful you don’t over do the ‘Marmite’

Spam Curry

Or how about this spam guitar rig from Cigar Box Nation?

A friend of mine received the book ‘1000 Films To Change Your Life’ book for Christmas,

Whilst reading the horror section I was interested to learn of the Frankenstein (1910 film) version.

A quick look on Wikipedia gave me this information:

Made by Edison Studios that was written and directed by J. Searle Dawley. It was the first motion picture adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The unbilled cast included Augustus Phillips as Dr. Frankenstein, Charles Ogle as the Monster, and Mary Fuller as the doctor’s fiancée.

Shot in three days, it was filmed at the Edison Studios in the Bronx, New York City. Although some sources credit Thomas Edison as the producer, he in fact played no direct part in the activities of the motion picture company that bore his name.

You can download it at ‘The Internet Archive’

Frankenstein 1910

I’m off to see Avatar later with all its massive expense and CGI quite a contrast!

I have been listening and really enjoying the album ‘Peace Machine’ by Phillip Sayce, some great guitar tracks featuring a great rendition of Niel Young’s ‘Cinnamon Girl’  with brilliant playing throughout and soaring Strat tones. If you like Hendrix, Cream, Lenny Kravitz and psychedelic guitar in general check it out. A particular favourite is track 11  the slightly more laid back ‘Alchemy’ which I do a version of in my solo set.

Unfortunately my trusty old Line 6 DL4 broke down and after over 3 months and numerous numerous excuses at a local music shop (where I put it in for repair) I have given up of ever seeing it again.

www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

So forced into looking elsewhere I have come across the fantastic T-Rex Replica.  A great pedal made in Denmark very analogue sounding with among others Carlos Santana, Gary Moore, John Mayer, Greg Lake, Steve Morse using this pedal it certainly does live up to its reputation of being ‘probably the best delay pedal in the world’

Pedal-board latest…. Left to right: Boss Dimension C (circa 1985), T-Rex Delay, Electro-Harmonix Micro Pog, Blackstar HT-Dual distortion, Schaller Tremolo, Ibanez Keeley modified TS-9 and Planet Waves tuner.

Coming soon volume pedal that goes to 11!

I’d like to wish everyone a very happy New Year and thank all the people who have written to me for their support over 2009.

Good luck and thanks for listening.

Myself and master stratocaster blaster Goeff Webb are back cooking in the the kitchen with our Dangerous Kitchen project, expect some new recipes of sonic sounds and flavours. Mind you looking at our first meal on the season maybe we should have shot something (ref: blog ‘Recent Meal In Sweden’)

My return to the UK  was soon meet by this very fine roast lamb meal by Jill Payne, who in this case thanks to Waitrose did not need to shoot any animals (ref; blog ‘Recent Meal In Sweden’), a special mention must go to the spinach, it was heavenly.

Whilst on my recent trip to Sweden I was luck to meet up and see playing in the wonderful improvisation band Wonka Live my friend Anders Berg a very fine bass player and Pimms drinker extraordinaire. 

I managed to hold that smile for a further 37 minutes, actually the wind changed direction shortly after this picture was taken and I still have that smile to this day.

This fine meal of home grown potatoes, wild Lingonberries and Elk was prepared, grown, picked and shot by Gunner Eriksson and very fine it was too!