Scribbles and Bits

Take Isaac Asimov’s Super Quiz on 20th century, popular music.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/12692535.htm

Brian Whitman and Tristan Jehan of MIT’s Media Laboratory have written a computer application that listens to and analyzes songs, assigning them the equivalent of a thumbs up or thumbs down. The technology is sufficiently sophisticated to predict how well a tune will perform on the charts and rate it from ”sexy to romantic to loud and upbeat,” according to Mr. Whitman.

www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051110.gthits10/BNStory/Technology/
alumni.media.mit.edu/~bwhitman/
variogr.am/writings.html

The New York Daily News reports that more than year after suffering the stroke that precluded him from hosting last year’s New Year’s Eve celebration on ABC, Dick Clark is back. Larry Klein, producer of the show said, ”I’m not going to tell you that he’s 100%.” 76 year old Clark will be there however for at least the countdown.

The New York Daily News reports that more than year after suffering the stroke that precluded him from hosting last year’s New Year’s Eve celebration on ABC, Dick Clark is back. Larry Klein, producer of the show said, ”I’m not going to tell you that he’s 100%.” 76 year old Clark will be there however for at least the countdown.

So what’s the most expensive guitar on record?

Stratcollector.com reported in 2004 that ”Eric Clapton’s prized Stratocaster, ”Blackie”, brought $959,500 in the Christie’s Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction, becoming the most expensive guitar ever to have been sold at an auction.”

Jeffbeck.com reports that the Fender model pictured below brought 1.6 million recently. Though it had no ”royal” pedigree it was signed by Jeff Beck and a host of other guitar greats including, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Brian May, Tony Iommi, Paul McCartney, Sting, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, Mark Knopfler, Angus & Malcolm Young, Ritchie Blackmore, Ray Davies, Noel & Liam Gallagher, Def Leppard, as well as Bryan Adams. The special signing was organized by Adams as a fundraiser for Asian tsunami relief.

So what’s the most expensive guitar on record?

Stratcollector.com reported in 2004 that ”Eric Clapton’s prized Stratocaster, ”Blackie”, brought $959,500 in the Christie’s Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Auction, becoming the most expensive guitar ever to have been sold at an auction.”

Jeffbeck.com reports that the Fender model pictured below brought 1.6 million recently. Though it had no ”royal” pedigree it was signed by Jeff Beck and a host of other guitar greats including, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Brian May, Tony Iommi, Paul McCartney, Sting, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, Mark Knopfler, Angus & Malcolm Young, Ritchie Blackmore, Ray Davies, Noel & Liam Gallagher, Def Leppard, as well as Bryan Adams. The special signing was organized by Adams as a fundraiser for Asian tsunami relief.