Rooster

An old farmer decided it was time to get a new rooster for his hens. The current rooster was still doing an okay job, but he was getting on in years. And the farmer figured getting a new rooster couldn't hurt anything. So he buys a young cock from the local rooster emporium, and turns him loose in the barnyard.

Well, the old rooster sees the young one strutting around and he gets a little worried. 'So, they're trying to replace me, thinks the old rooster. I've got to do something about this.' He walks up to the new bird and says, "So you're the new stud in town? I bet you really think you're hot stuff, don't you? Well, I'm not ready for the chopping block yet. I'll bet I'm still the better bird. And to prove it, I challenge you to a race around that hen house over there. We'll run around it ten times and whoever finish's first gets to have all the hens for himself."

Well, the young rooster was a proud sort, and he definitely thought he was more than a match for the old guy. "You're on," said the young rooster. "And since I know I'm so great, I'll even give you a head start of half a lap. I'll still win easy," said the young rooster.

So the two roosters go over to the hen house to start the race with all the hens gathering around to watch. The race begins and all the hens start cheering the roosters on. After the first lap, the old rooster is still maintaining his lead. After the second lap, the old guy's lead has slipped a little but he's still hanging in there. Unfortunately the old rooster's lead continues to slip each time around, and by the fifth lap he's just barely in front of the young rooster.

By now the farmer has heard all the commotion. He runs into the house, gets his shotgun, and runs out to the barnyard figuring a fox or something is after his chickens. When he gets there, he sees the two roosters running around the hen house, with the old rooster still slightly in the lead. He immediately takes his shotgun, aims, fires, and blows the young rooster away.

As he walks away slowly, he says to himself . . . "Damn, that's the third gay rooster I've bought this month."

(Image from The American Rag)

In The Presence Of Magic

For various reasons I didn't think I was going to Nattjazz this year, but surprisingly enough I ended up there last night anyway. And I could sure use a break from the writing. (To be honest I had a break on Friday as well, and that was kind of magic too...) Anyway, attending NattJazz one have to be a bit careful, as there are several shows starting at the same time. And making decisions isn't what I'm best at. But we settled for Karl Seglem, and only seconds into the concert we know we'd made the right choice.

It was absolutely magical; five vary talented musicians playing in perfect disharmony. And it was easy to see that they truly enjoyed what they were doing, laughing and smiling as they were. (So was I, by the way.)

Karl himself plays the tenor sax, but also the Norwegian ram's horn! On his website you can read that "His music ranges across the entire spectrum from folk to free form, and is inspired by everything from the world beat to the Nordic landscape." But to my belief, his music is beyond that. I have listened to my share of music, and very often I can detect certain phrases and sections, and sort of pinpoint them geographically. Like "there was a Balkan influence" and "there I could hear an African beat". What Karl accomplishes is a unique expression of effortlessness, despite it's extreme complexity. The sound is so natural, that I have a feeling that this is not jazz nor world music nor contemporary folk, it's universal, it's just music. And those percussionist, what can I say? There were beats that made me leave the planet for a while...

Some people are stuck to the chair, while others, well...

This is what Stefan Holm is doing for warming up! And I read that he yesterday broke his personal best using the scissors technique. He jumped 2.11 m!!! Really can't picture him having any trouble getting out of bed in the morning...

Otherwise this talented Swede (people like him make me proud I'm Swedish) holds a personal best of 2.40 m! That's not bad, and I won't be surprised if he one day snitches Sotomayor's world record from 1993.

Slightly Optimistisc

I feel it would be downright stupid, to jinx this by saying I'm confident my assignment will be finished in time and to my satisfactory. But I do feel a little bit more optimistic today, having written nearly half of the acquired amount. Almost there then, aren't I? I might even have time for a little break; I'm planning a little date on Friday after my meeting with my tutor. Just what I need, someone telling me I'll be fine, and maybe a little kissing...

But no, I didn't mean I'd kiss my tutor. That too would be downright stupid.

Today's Quote

A scientist knows more & more about less & less till he knows everything about nothing while a philosopher knows less & less about more & more till he knows nothing about everything.

If this is true, what about a philosophical scientist then?