Here's a blog with many's a fantastic shot of the six-legged side of things: Bug Safari.

Excuses, Videos, and Suchlike

Well no, I didn't give up blogging for Lent. Life has just been in a bit of a comparative upheaval, the main culprit being the virtual shingle which I hung (or had hung for me) in February, launching me to the high estate of fiddle-teacher-with-a-rented-studio. This is my excuse for spending the time that used to be spare tracking down and transcribing tunes and, as a matter of fact, I am enjoying it immensely. But it does keep me busy, or so I like to believe.

And, of course, I get the benefit of all that tracking down (yes, more accurately known as surfing-the-web-and-getting-distracted-from-whatever-important-thing-it-was-I-was-looking-for-in-the-first-place). F'r instance, here is the delightful "Don Messer's Breakdown," as played in a style that does it justice by 1999 National Fiddle Champion Shane Cook. . .and as if that wasn't enough, he goes and follows it with an impeccable "St. Anne's Reel."

Niche Market

I saw this sign hanging over the door of a shop yesterday:

Smoke Shop, Gifts, and Cash Register Supplies

Do you suppose there is a story behind that, or is it just the logical conclusion that most smoke shops come to when customer after customer stoically settles for cigarettes when, all the while there is a longing for reciept tape languishing in his eyes?