There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.
— John Gregory Brown, author.

Aspen Music Fest 101

A front-row seat to watch violinist Gil Shaham perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major, opus 61, with David Zinman conducting the chamber symphony - the final piece on that evening's program - was there for the taking for anyone willing to plunk down a 10 spot.

Reasoning I'd catch the evening performance later, I headed to adjacent Harris Concert Hall for a 10 a.m. Piano Master Class led by instructor Ann Schein. It was $22 - the most money I spent all day.

I had no idea what to expect, but I was handed a program as I descended into the auditorium - three pieces by Franz Liszt and contemporary work by Ligeti that I planned to hate, but didn't.

The plethora of master classes and student recitals over a nine-week festival season are, I gather, a chance to catch the rising stars of the classical world in their "I remember when" moments - akin to seeing the Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1961.

HOUND DOG BILL IS BACK - AND HE'S BARKING LOUD

Despite reports, it's probably easier to pen in press than it is to subdue and shut up the testosterone-fueled bad boy as he travels from state to state stumping and pressing the flesh (OK, bad choice of words) with the thousands of adoring fans who crowd him unrestrained after his speeches.

But clearly Team Clinton was in damage-control mode during the week, trying to make up for his untoward, racially insensitive remarks. (The jury is still out about whether or not they were really off the cuff or not.) He was introduced at each of his last-minute-arranged, hectic venues by prominent African-Americans and Hispanics.

There was former Mayor Wellington Webb in Denver, Mayor Martin Chavez in Albuquerque, and Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks in Phoenix and Albuquerque.

It's clear that Hound Dog Bill wants to be in the White House again, even if that takes getting America to elect his wife.

Sports Columnists

Supporters say it gives players and potential ones for these teams a sense of stability. Well, such only is the case if those players actually like that successor-in-waiting. And what if you're Florida State, and you're locked into Jimbo Fisher to follow Bobby Bowden, which is the case, and then Mark Richt decides a few years from now that he really would bolt Georgia for Florida State?

Instead, the Braves are among the shrinking majority when it comes to that trend.

If you knew...

If you miss the live broadcast, the show will be made available in This is Hell's Archives.

If you knew is posted as an article on Fridays. There is an archive of over 400 blogs that were posted over the last two years. Any comments, suggestions, critiques or leads to articles, are welcomed.

Dad - Working Years

Dad usually arrived home at the end of each work day completely covered with Blue Virtol or soaked to the skin with other noxious chemicals like DDT or Malathion. Once the potato plant has reached a state of maturity, around 60 days after planting and depending on other factors like warmth of the season, rainfall, etc, tiny clusters of blue and purple flowers appear. This flowering generally indicates that the plant is growing tiny new potatoes on its roots. Once the potatoes have been in the ground for a certain period of time, usually around two and a half months or about the middle of September in northern Maine, again depending on the weather, the long, green tops of the potato plant are sprayed with a weed killer. Once the tops have died and dried up, it is easier to harvest the mature potatoes.