Thursday, June 18, 2009

This Blog Now Available on Kindle


Amazon's now features Faces of War on Kindle. For a monthly subscription fee of $1.99, you can take this blog with you and peruse it at your leisure.

A bit of a skeptic when the Kindle first launched, I wondered why folks would use it instead of other mobile devices.

Recently, I had an opportunity to take one out for a test drive. It's simple interface, comfortable screen size, light weight and portability impressed me. I would definitely use it as an alternative to other mobile devices. And now I can appreciate the hype associated with it.

The interface, while easy to use, is a bit primitive mechanically. The button action is not as smooth as modern keypads and there is a bit of a delay once the key is pressed. I assume that will be tweaked in future releases.

I don't think Kindle replaces books, for the experience of clicking through an e-reader is completely different from holding a hardbound volume and flipping through pages. Also, the clarity of text and images on a printed page is superior to the Kindle monitor. However, it is certainly an excellent tool for distributing content, and this simple fact caused me to offer this blog for subscription.

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Monday, August 04, 2008

Weekend in Windham


Last night, I returned home after spending the weekend at the Civil War Heritage Music Gathering & Encampment in Windham, New York. Historic Centre Church (pictured here) served as the focal point for the activities, including presentations by fine artists, a maker of quilts, and, of course, the musicians.

I was quite impressed with the range of groups that assembled, from the thirteen-member Providence Brigade Band, nattily attired in red and blue and playing period arrangements of Abraham Lincoln's favorite tunes and other music, to The Chanteymen, a dynamic duo dressed in period naval uniforms who belted bawdy tunes originally sung by working sailors. I was especially impressed with the unique and unexpected sound of the latter group, particularly their rendition of Cape Cod Girls, a crowd favorite.

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night's Grand Concert. The Centre Church was packed, and in the audience sat Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. The finale, which featured all of the bands on stage, received a standing ovation at the conclusion of the performance.

I played a small part in the Grand Concert: I slowly flipped through a Powerpoint presentation of soldier photographs while Helen Beedle played the piano in her inimitable style.

On Saturday morning and again on Sunday, I conducted a half-hour presentation, "Thirty Soldiers in Thirty Minutes." It featured photographs and stories of Union and Confederate men with connections to New York.

I very much enjoyed the event, and thank John Quinn for inviting me to participate. This is an event I recommend for anyone who has an interest in Civil War music!

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