This was on the news today, but it's been making its way around social media for a while. Here are some stunning photos of Lake Erie's formidable water mountains: It's obvious in a couple of them, but I like spotting faces in the water. Voldemort marks all over the place. Is this the most aptly named lake or what?! Photos by the very brave and slightly mad Dave Sandford. See the rest here: http://cottagelife.com/environment/striking-images-reveal-lake-eries-violent-and-unpredictable-side

Duurker duurrr!

^Ghosts in the machine, Sath. Had a weird one myself yesterday. Seems like some wrinkles are getting ironed out. On to some blues news, there's a GoFundMe campaign to help remodel the Robert Johnson Blues Museum: http://www.robertjohnsonbluesfoundation.org/news/robert-johnson-blues-museum-remodel-gofundme

Finland is so beautiful. My pleasure, Kiwi Thank you, glad you like them. Autumn makes it easy. Everywhere you look is replete with intensely hued beauty. I can't stop staring at jb126's winter photos now with all the undulating blue and grey shades and the sharpness that freezing and snow bring. Of course, it's all the more pleasant without having to feel it! I hope you post some winter shots when it comes. My only NZ winter reference is LOTR lol

That sounds so weird! Robert's taken shots at other musicians though he seems to have toned it down. I don't know about the merits of his mordant jabs in other situations, but C/P always struck me as a substitute collaboration (though I liked some songs, in idea if not always in execution - loathe that tinny Ovation sound and the cheesy lyrics), primed to goad Robert, who does it better. Coverdale's front man ways were awfully familiar. But as with all things related to Zep - it was done right the first time.

Well it's about bloody time! I was so disgusted with Harper's turning a deaf ear - What? Who? No, there's no problem - to the disproportionately high death toll among Aboriginal women: 'Sacred obligation': Trudeau, Liberals launch new era with aboriginal communitiesBy Kristy Kirkup, The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – 4 hours agoOTTAWA - The leaders of Canada's First Nations swaddled Justin Trudeau in a ceremonial blanket Tuesday as they embraced the newly elected prime minister's commitment to what he called a "sacred obligation" to the country's Aboriginal Peoples. Trudeau didn't show up empty-handed, either. The Liberal government will lift a long-standing two per cent cap on federal funding for First Nations communities, he told the Assembly of First Nations gathering — that, despite mounting economic and political pressure on the federal pocketbook. He said the Liberals would also provide additional money for long-awaited education reforms to be led by First Nations communities themselves, another long-standing sticking point with the previous Conservative government. And he repeated one of the most anticipated promises of the 2015 campaign: to investigate the tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Three of his cabinet lieutenants kicked off the first consultative phase of what will be a federal inquiry next year. "I promise you that I will be your partner in the years to come, and hope that you will be mine," Trudeau said. The removal of the funding cap, which was imposed originally to keep transfer payments in line with inflation, has been at the top of the First Nations wish list for years. Critics say it has long since fallen out of step with a growing aboriginal population across the country. "As you know, that limit has been in place for nearly 20 years," Trudeau said of the cap, which he said would disappear in the government's first budget. "It hasn't kept up with the demographic realities of your communities, nor the actual costs of program delivery." At one point during Trudeau's appearance, he was wrapped in a ceremonial blanket, to the delight of the crowd. An AFN spokesman described the blanket as a gift meant to convey respect and protect the prime minister from harm. Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who has spent the government's first days in the hot seat during question period, was asked Tuesday how much the removal of the cap would cost. He would only say that the details would be in next spring's federal budget. But the most anticipated news came later in the day, when Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu detailed the first phase of the forthcoming missing and murdered inquiry. Wilson-Raybould, one of two cabinet ministers with indigenous roots, said the government will consult the families of victims over the next two months for their input on the inquiry's shape and its goals. "We will listen clearly to their voices," Wilson-Raybould said. "No inquiry, as we know, can undo what happened nor can it restore what we have lost. But it can help us find ways forward because we know, as a country, we can and must do better." A website will also allow Canadians to provide input online and learn more about the process, helping to determine the inquiry's terms of reference, Bennett added. She also hinted that the inquiry could last longer — and cost more — than the two-year, $40-million envelope that was originally projected. "We are going to go out and listen to what people say this needs to look like, and we will then have to apply what budget that will take," she said. "First the facts, and then we will see." Some family members said they felt compelled to head to Parliament Hill to hear first-hand how the initial steps of the inquiry will take shape. Christine Simard-Chicago, who lost a cousin to the hardscrabble street life of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, said she believes the inquiry will prove to be a "hard road" for many. "There's a lot of stories that need to be told and the circumstances are unique because they're from different territories and from different tribes," said Simard-Chicago. "It is really important that the government hear that." Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, told the gathering he's confident that Trudeau is listening to the different needs of First Nations. "In his mandate letter to each and every cabinet minister, Prime Minister Trudeau wrote it is time for a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples," Bellegarde said. "Very powerful words." Please see the video in the link, thanks: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/liberals-expected-shed-light-plan-missing-murdered-women-090015354.html I may cry any moment. Hopefully the new government does this in the right way. Seems like the right spirit is there in this big first step.

Saw this on NPR Music recently, and was drawn in by this enigmatic song, "Before the Ending of the Day". Apparently they've been around for 20 years(!), though it's the first I'm hearing of them. The Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus (I know... just rolls off the tongue, right?) is in the 'sacred music' category, and also 'apocalyptic folk', which I didn't realize was even a category. But if you give it a listen, you can quickly hear that they defy simple genre placement. I tend to be guarded if it looks like proselytizing is kicking up some dust in the distance, but found this interview, like their music, very refreshing and thoughtful and probing. To whatever extent they incorporate Eastern and Western Christian traditions, they engage with their listeners solely on a level of musical and mystical exploration. http://www.npr.org/2015/12/07/458485196/songs-we-love-the-revolutionary-army-of-the-infant-jesus?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nprmusic&utm_term=music&utm_content=202707 Truthfully, some of their other songs I've now heard are downright creepy. However, what I like about this song are the soft meditative bell, the rippling heartbeat, and the blending of all the various sounds, sort of like a sonic palimpsest. And, as always, there are blessedly no annoying sounds - equally as important. http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=458485196&m=458502353

^ Nice photos, Kiwi! It's cool seeing photos from different places I've never been to Beautiful sunrise, zepscoda! Thank you, jb126! Fall is my favourite season but here it's usually so short, nature breathes in, exhales, and it's over, so when it lasted six weeks I tried to take it all in. Winter has its beauty, too, and your photos show it off beautifully! We still have green grass - warmest December in decades - so keep them coming! Thanks, Strider Looking forward to seeing your photos.

Debussy, first, the gorgeous "Reflets Dans L'eau" by Marc-André Hamelin. You can hear the second piece below peaking through. Very unusual composition. It really does sound like water moving around, flowing freely but with a central idea directing its path: Next, Debussy's most famous composition. It's very difficult to find just the right interpretation (many are too slow or self-consciously affected with emotional embellishment), but after hearing several, on balance I like this one:

4-12-1980 "... we could not continue as we were."

Some Liszt tonight courtesy of Vladimir Horowitz:

Two things don't surprise me: that a wedding would be recorded, and that this footage has never been released. It's a private event, one of the most special in one's life. Why would people expect to see footage of it? Yes they're famous, but this wasn't a 'gig'. These are part of their personal memories and as such, have rightfully remained for their eyes only.

^ Cool. A series of the most unusually warm and colourful month and a half until the inevitable cold grey sets in. Mid-October: Mid-November: Today:

Just to clarify, Neal, when I said 'gone' I meant pass away not leave the band; U2 could well continue with another bass player, unlike Zep. So I agree that they function best as a group, but the individual parts (most easily the bass) can be played by other musicians. I like some of U2's songs, but I'm out of the loop with their more recent output. Their shows still draw huge crowds, but I agree with your point about any of them doing solo work (not including side projects with other famous artists ie/ It Might Get Loud ).

Wait, it gets better -- #1 in the box office. Not sure if it's a frightening sign given the content or an encouraging sign given the genre. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/27/hitler-comedy-look-whos-back-germany-movie-box-office

annie I'm not sure you realize how funny your posts are sometimes. Your poor little four year old self... The bit about Carmen was funny too, but the mental picture of Elton and the ball just stuck. She was probably all traumatized, poor kid; triggers for life, there's no escaping it lol As for Elton playing soccer pics,whether with Robert or anyone else, well, he probably had them all burned (he really ought to have, don't you think?) I'd pay to see a video, though...

^^ Mmm hmm some super fine photos! Thank you

Look it's not like, say, U2 can't continue if what's his face on bass goes. No offense to him as a person, and they maybe would decide not to go on without him on that account, but it's just not exactly irreplaceable bass playing there. But If there's ever been a band that not only had equally great parts but an even greater sum of them it is Led Zeppelin. It's patently clear that when it comes to Zep, no matter who passed on, the band could not and would not continue. It is as it should be.

Two of my favourite musicians playing some of my favourite compositions. First, Itzhak Perlman, who this past Tuesday was one of the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and shortly before it, he did an interview with NPR. One of the things he talked about was how to stave off boredom, because at 70 and having recorded pretty much everything there is for a violinist (a recent 77 CD compilation still does not include everything he's done), well, what's next? You can read or better yet listen to the interview which fleshes out more details than the write up has (plus he has a wonderfully rich, deep voice that is very pleasant to hear): http://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2015/11/23/456781573/my-goal-is-to-not-be-bored-by-what-i-do-itzhak-perlman-at-70?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nprmusic&utm_term=music&utm_content=2049 ^ To that end, here's a snippet (seriously, it's not even two minutes and he seems like such a sweet man) of Itzhak discussing his approach to the Beethoven violin concerto: "Every time I play it, there's something new to discover in this piece." So, very finally, here is the 3rd movement of Beethoven's violin concerto. He's got everything on a razor's edge perfection: technical proficiency, searing emotion, power, gentleness. In the flourish towards the end, he moves his hand to his bow nonchalantly like oh excuse me, just a little adjustment and continues the mastery like it's no big deal. This is an older performance, but I've seen him a couple of years ago and his playing is at least as good and even more moving live today. Next, here's Vladimir Horowitz playing Chopin's Polonaise op. 44. This is from 1968, and he's around 65 here. He'd returned to public performing in 1965 after a 12 year hiatus (one of several breaks he took in his career). I'm still obsessed with his beautiful hands and how he's able to play with such flat positioning, but more importantly how expressive his playing is: These came to mind after discussions in another thread of the age and playing hiatus of a certain Mr. Page. I used to say that if I was very good, in the next life I'd come back as Jimmy's guitar (well, and Robert's harmonica, but for entirely different reasons :D), but I'd like to add Itzhak's violin and Vladimir's piano to the list.

Congratulations! Blessings to little Elsa and your family, how wonderful. Welcome to the world, Elsa!

Oh my God that Elton John bit with the ball was hilarious! Total tears...

I, too, agree completely even though your response seems to have fallen on a deaf heart. You know what's weird, though? In one of the Live Zep threads, I think it was pluribus who provided a link to the bootlegger trial that Jimmy testified at and in it he referred to P&P as another manifestation of Zep. This was not verbatim, although that word was in quotes, but it's very telling about his perspective. (Once again, poor Jonesy, though there was some consolation that it took an entire orchestra to do his parts). All of this is a round about way of supporting your last sentence. Thank God, indeed, especially what must have been tremendous pressure on Robert after the O2 show. Seems like with P&P he got a reminder of what route this gilded carriage would take and he managed to get out of it one last time. If the P&P tour refreshed an insight and strengthened his resolve to keep forging his own path, then it's a good thing it happened. 'Reunion' has always been a misnomer - you can't reunite what isn't there. No Bonzo, no Zep. It frankly strains the bounds of courtesy and a sort of decency that surrounds the decision to keep second guessing it with requests to play together again. Things are as they should be for the sake of Zep's legacy and for the right ways and reasons for making music.

Earlier tonight I watched the 'Adele in London' special which I enjoyed. She's down to earth and sings beautifully and I loved her short tales, especially with her accent. Maybe it's the full moon, but there's something about moments in her delivery that were so touching they made me a bit misty eyed. Later tonight I watched an interview with Eagles of Death Metal about their experiences during and after the Paris terrorist attacks. This full out made me cry: https://ca.celebrity.yahoo.com/post/133962033423/eagles-of-death-metal-speak-out-on-horrific-attack At the end of the video, they list this site which may be of interest: https://www.thesweetstufffoundation.org/ Check it out. Thanks.

This should be interesting. Looking forward to watching it! (poster via Heart FB)

Loved hearing about how Peter went all on guts for what was best for the band, how he believed in them, and the stories with Ahmet Ertegun, when you could talk with the top guy in those days, and when deals were solid based on a handshake. Kudos to him for being forthright about his addictions and how he kicked them. The last bit about how he thought the Who shouldn't have gone on without Moon as they weren't the Who without him and they just did it for the money says it all. That clip should be included in the 'should Zep have gone on' thread. I remember listening to Q107 when they said something to the effect of sad news from the Zep camp... and then they went to commercial. They. Went. To. Commercial. All the while my heart was in my throat. Assholes. Then they announced that Peter Grant had passed away. Sad news indeed. It was nice to see Jonesy acknowledging him at the R&R HOF induction. Haven't listened to Q107 since.