RDRL Update (was: A wonderful Life) pt 2 of 3
Scott Herron
***Emerson, Lake And Palmer ***
70s British techno-rock band, consisting of keyboardist and
vocalist Keith Emerson (1944- ), bass guitarist Greg Lake
(1948- ) and drummer Carl Palmer (1941- ).
Two small corrections here. Greg Lake was the vocalist, and Carl Palmer
was born in 1950. Also, I note that much of the famously inscrutable
lyrics were written by one Pete Sinfield.
***Death March in Saul ***
Funeral music from the "Saul" opera (1738) by the German composer
George Frideric Handel.
I'm still pretty sure we're talking about Chopin's Funeral March from
Piano Sonata #2, though in a book it's harder to tell.
***Hendrix, Jimi ***
(1942-1970) American singer and master guitar wizard.
Songs include "Hey Joe", "All Along The Watchtower" and
"The Star-Spangled Banner" (at Woodstock, 1969).
Curiously, none of the songs cited here are Hendrix compositions.
***Kiloships launched by Helen ***
It wasn't a face that could launch a thousand ships: A reference to
Helen of Troy, said to be the most beautiful woman ever, and who
*did* have a face that could launch a thousand ships.
The specific quote is from Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) English
playwright and poet, in "The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus," [1604]
act 5, scene 1:
"Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?
"And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
"Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss!"
***Cubism ***
Art movement founded by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in the
early 20th century, pioneering the concepts of abstract art in that
art need not reflect reality.
All hail Brak! Oops. . . Sorry, wrong show.
***Needles in the Camel's Eye ***
For it is harder for a droid who disbelieveth to pass through the
gates of Silicon Heaven, than it is for a DIN-DIN coaxial cable to
connect up to a standard European SCART socket:
The electronics of this totally escapes me, but the theological
parallel is with the Bible phrase along the lines of "And I say
again to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of
a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God",
variations of which can be found in Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25 and
Luke 18:25.
SCART is a standard audio-video connector on most modern European TVs,
VCRs, video cameras, etc. It is a monster with 21 pins [actually, 20
plus the shell]. Also called Penitel. I have utterly failed to determine
what, if anything SCART stands for. DIN is a small round [usually] 5-pin
connector used for audio and MIDI [musical instrument digital
interface]. It stands for Deutsches Institut fur Normung [German
Institute for Standards]. It would be difficult to think of two
'standards' that differ more while occupying the same universe.
Is it worth pointing out that the oft-quoted Bible passage is a mis-
translation and that the original Aramaic called for a _rope_ not a
camel, to pass through the eye of a needle [they are homonymns in
Aramaic], hence something difficult, not something absurd or impossible?
Nah, probably not.
***Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ***
(1968) British children's film about adventures with an inventor's
magical old car.
We must note that this crappy Disney film was based loosely on the
children's novel by Ian Flemming of 007 fame. In the book, the family
_find_ the car rather than create it, and the car reveals its magical
properties to them gradually[PRESS RED BUTTON NOW!].
It's license #: GEN-11 [genie].
***Edward II ***
(1284-1327) King of England 1307-1327. Incompetent king and
reputed homosexual, Edward was deposed by his wife Isabella and
her lover Roger Mortimer in 1327.
Another possible reference to Christopher Marlowe, which I'll leave as
an exercise for the student.
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