Listen Here -- the IBM Glass Engine

Philip Glass. At first I didn't apreciate his work very much. I felt his compositions didn't compare well to those by Steve Reich. Then I stopped comparing the two of them and now I like Glass as much as I do Reich. They are very different composers and both brilliant.

Today I wanted to listen to a favorite passage, an aria from the 1976 Philip Glass and Robert Wilson opera, Einstein on the Beach, and the disk was in another room. Being too lazy to get up, what was I to do? This is what I did. I surfed over to the IBM Glass Engine, navigated to 1976 and played the cut I wanted to hear. Online, for free.

The IBM Glass Engine is a strange and wonderful site. Here's a quote from the opening page -- "The IBM Glass Engine enables deep navigation of the music of Philip Glass. Personal interests, associations, and impulses guide the listener through an expanding selection of over sixty Glass works."

I find it works best for me, a PC user, if I load it from the link on the Philip Glass homepage using Internet Explorer. I can't always get it to load if I use Netscape or Firefox. I am sure it works fine for Apple users. Every composer I know is an Apple person.

The Engine is big and takes a while to load even with a fast connection. Just chill for a few minutes. It's worth it.

A New Blog from the Editor of GrayGay.com

Check out Gray Gay Blog. It is from Pewit, the editor of GrayGay.com -- "the place for mature gay men and admirers." The original site, Graygay.com, includes the GrayGay Guide with in-depth reviews of over 2000 bars, clubs, restaurants, saunas, hotels and beaches that welcome them world-wide. Plus extensive resources and links such as personal ads, bulletin boards, organizations, books, videos and websites.

As for the blog Pewit says, "I'd particularly like to hear from bloggers who are older couples or intergenerational couples who can share their life experience." Topics include gay seniors, mature men, events, cruises, opinions, blogs, retirement, homosexuality, porn, older men.

Listen Here All You Bloggers

Wow, it has been quite a while since my last post. And I guess that's because it has been a busy time. Thank you all for checking in now and then. Here's a little present for you as a thank you. Something to listen to.

I love online radio stations and they are often playing as I surf around the 'net. Right now I am listening to 104.2 Nile FM, Cairo's Number 1 Hit Music Station. If your system is set up like mine (a PC using Windows XP and Firefox) you can probably listen directly by clicking here. Otherwise go to the station's website and follow the directions there to get to the audio feed.

Other favorites right now --
HFM 94.2, San Antonio, Ibiza -- listen or go to the website
Mix 103.0 FM, Lisboa, Portugal -- listen or go to the website