I’m On a Boat

From the moment I step foot on board it is clear there will be no impartiality. We are berthed so the bow of the ship just clears the pedestrian bridge. At 7:00 pm, the bridge is covered in people, shoulder to shoulder, blowing soap bubbles in our direction. The mayor of Frankfurt has called for …


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Palace Skies

Austria, where the skies are like the painted ceilings of a baroque palace.

No Big Deal

In case you’re curious… 1. I said something effusive and emotional on Twitter after Commander Hadfield released Is Somebody Singing. (Yes, I spend too much time on Twitter. Or do I?) 2. Jim Benning, my editor from World Hum — who also edits for Skye — caught it and said, “Hey, I have this idea… …


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And, in Ukulele Related News…

Ed, Me, Pete, Mark, and Jim on the set at New Day Northwest My band, The Castaways, played Crazy Train for a live studio audience on King 5’s New Day Northwest.  And yes, it’s ukulele, not ukelele. Yes. This instrument is on the rise and the uke can also be used to rock out. Our …


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Writings, Elsewhere

The series I’ve been writing for Skye – letters to Commander Hadfield on the ISS — is here. “Nothing magical there.” I disagree. Without gravity, everything seems magical to the earthbound. Just for grins, I went into the bathroom and picked up my own toothbrush. When I let go of it, it fell into the …


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Lessons from Rock Stars

I enjoyed Dave Grohl’s keynote from this year’s SxSW Music conference in Austin. I loved last year’s from Bruce Springsteen even more — he’s The Boss for a reason. But Dave Grohl’s talk is chock full of practical wisdom on making music, and by extension, any kind of art. Over the last year-and-change I have …


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