Music's Golden Frontier


Book Description

“Smitty is a creative talent who brings a very unique interpretation, that is both informative and anecdotal. He had spent most of his life studying and working with the graphic / visual arts. Although he still loves the visual arts.......he finally realized.....later in life......... what he had actually known all along...... that everything comes back to a song. It is not unusual for anyone to conjure up vivid memories whenever a certain song is mentioned, or played. However, Smitty does it in a way that puts the reader into the actual environment.....very magical. Most folks would probably not have experienced some of the events and circumstances that he mentions within this book, but I think that everyone can relate to them. Another factor that sets this book apart from other music retrospectives are the constant reminders of those unheralded performers, writers, producers who seldom would get top billing, but who made outstanding creations just the same. One of his strongest talents is being able to link a specific historic event with a song, which, of course, comes from a very deep memory. This, along with the sometimes humorous observations contained throughout, make for very enjoyable and informative reading. Could actually be considered as a general reference book for the music and events of the “baby-boomer” generation. The best thing is, not only is this book a story about a specific era, but it is his story.




The Vinyl Frontier


Book Description

'Bursts with gloriously geeky detail.' The Telegraph Have you ever made someone you love a mix-tape? Forty years ago, a group of scientists, artists and writers gathered in a house in Ithaca, New York to work on the most important compilation ever conceived. It wasn't from one person to another, it was from Earth to the Cosmos. In 1977 NASA sent Voyager 1 and 2 on a Grand Tour of the outer planets. During the design phase of the Voyager mission, it was realised that this pair of plucky probes would eventually leave our solar system to drift forever in the unimaginable void of interstellar space. With this gloomy-sounding outcome in mind, NASA decided to do something optimistic. They commissioned astronomer Carl Sagan to create a message to be fixed to the side of Voyager 1 and 2 – a plaque, a calling card, a handshake to any passing alien that might one day chance upon them. The result was the Voyager Golden Record, a genre-hopping multi-media metal LP. A 90-minute playlist of music from across the globe, a sound essay of life on Earth, spoken greetings in multiple languages and more than 100 photographs and diagrams, all painstakingly chosen by Sagan and his team to create an aliens' guide to Earthlings. The record included music by J.S. Bach and Chuck Berry, a message of peace from US president Jimmy Carter, facts, figures and dimensions, all encased in a golden box. The Vinyl Frontier tells the story of NASA's interstellar mix-tape, from first phone call to final launch, when Voyager 1 and 2 left our planet bearing their hopeful message from the Summer of '77 to a distant future.




Golden Number in Quantum


Book Description

"Golden Harmony: Quantum Numbers" delves into the intricate world of quantum mechanics, exploring the concept of quantum numbers with a focus on their profound significance and application in understanding the behavior of subatomic particles. Through accessible explanations and engaging examples, the book navigates readers through the fascinating realm of quantum physics, shedding light on the fundamental principles that govern the quantum world and highlighting the beauty and harmony inherent in its mathematical framework.







A Golden State


Book Description

A collection of essays on mining and economic development in California from the Gold Rush through the end of the 19th century. This is the second in a series of four volumes comemmorating the state's sesquicentennial.







Burmese Looking Glass


Book Description

“Burmese Looking Glass is a contribution to the literature of human rights and to the literature of high adventure.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review As captivating as the most thrilling novel, Burmese Looking Glass tells the story of tribal peoples who, though ravaged by malaria and weakened by poverty, are unforgettably brave. Author Edith T. Mirante first crossed illegally from Thailand into Burma in 1983. There she discovered the hidden conflict that has despoiled the country since the close of World War II. She met commandos and refugees and learned firsthand the machinations of Golden Triangle narcotics trafficking. Mirante was the first Westerner to march with the rebels from the fabled Three Pagodas Pass to the Andaman Sea. She taught karate to women soldiers, was ritually tattooed by a Shan sayah “spirit doctor,” lobbied successfully against US government donation of Agent Orange chemicals to the dictatorship, and was deported from Thailand in 1988. “A dramatic but caring book in which Mirante’s blithe tone doesn’t disguise her earnest concern for the worsening conditions faced by the Burmese hill tribes.” —Kirkus Reviews







The Music of the Alamo


Book Description

Interpreting the famous siege and battle that has inspired art for more than 170 years, this unique resource traces the musical history of the Alamo and offers the only complete discography and list of songs about the legendary battle. Chapters cover the many and varied musical interpretations of the Alamo and its heroes, illuminating various periods of American musical history throughout. From nineteenth-century folk ballads, minstrel show tunes, and orchestral marches, to recent pop chart hits, children's songs, theatrical productions, and big-screen film scores, all are gathered in this complete compendium, helping to remember the Alamo. Also included is a thirty-minute audio CD of music representative of the Alamo.




A Book of Golden Deeds


Book Description