Double Glazing in Falkirk
Wednesday, 27th May 2009
Insulated Glazed Units (or IGU)
The Central Scotland Joinery, upon further exploration, is a door and window company that specializes in double glazing.
The term “double glazing” momentarily through me for a loop, but it basically refers to (in America, anyway) double-paned windows.
Double glazed windows, or “insulated glazed units” (if you look at Wikipedia.org’s definition) are simply two sheets of glass panes with a space in-between to be filled with sealed air or gas. Thermal insulation is the main goal of these types of windows, and nowadays they are quite common.
Double Glazed Windows and Thermal Insulation
If you’re a homeowner, and don’t have double glazed (or double panel) glass windows and doors, then it might benefit you to invest in them since they dramatically help to insulate the home, especially during the winter months.
Now most double glazed windows are guaranteed with a 10 year warrantee, and they typically last anywhere from 10 to 25 years, depending on the qualty and workmanship of the units. Central Scotland Joinery has a 10 year warrantee on their products, which isn’t surprising.
Central Scotland Joinery
And Double Glazing Falkirk is Central Scotland Joinery’s mission, providing “insulated glazed units” to the greater area of Grangemouth and Falkirk, located just northwest of Glascow, Scotland.
Their specialty includes the following installations:
- 1. Double glazed windows
- 2. Doors with doubled glazed windows
- 3. Conservatories (similar to sun rooms and glass-covered patios)
For more information, check out their site at: http://www.centralscotlandjoinery.co.uk
. . . .
Exploring the World of Tibetan Singing Bowls
Tuesday, 26th May 2009
Silver Sky Imports is a company specializing in the import of various handicrafts from the countries of Tibet and Nepal in the Himalayas.
Some of the things they feature on their site are:
- Tibetan Singing Bowls
- Tibetan Prayer Flags
- Gongs of various sizes
- Prayer Wheels and other religious items
- Bells, Incense, Wooden Masks
I am particularly interested, being the musician that I am, in the Tibetan Singing Bowls. And I’m finding out that they aren’t really exclusive to Tibet, as other countires like Nepal, Burma, Bhutan, India and even China have used singing bowls.
How Are Singing Bowls Played?
Singing bowls are played by the friction of rubbing a wooden, plastic, or leather wrapped mallet around the rim of the bowl to produce overtones and a continuous ’singing’ sound.
Here is a sample of what these singing bowls can produce.
There are a vew good uses for Tibetan Singing Bowls:
- For Meditation
- For various forms of Healing through sound waves.
- Spiritual Traditions
- For invoking peace and well-being
- For relaxation
Many people are aware of what a Tibetan Singing Bowl is, but perhaps in Western culture, it’s somewhat alien to most. But I do know that they are becoming more popular here in the West because of their healing, meditative benefits. And, their sound is quite amazing. I was at a local Buddhist store when I was first given a demonstration as to their sonic capabilities. And their sound is pretty heavenly. On a deeper, more subtle level, I can see how these sounds can be quite healing to the psyche.
One thing I’m not too familiar with is the Crystal Singing Bowl. But I’m sure it has the same “sonic” benefits that Tibetan Singing Bowls would have. Only, Crystal Singing Bowls are “specifically” made from quartz crystal.
Benefits of Quartz Crystal
In Indian and other Eastern Philosophical modalities, quartz crystal has been associated with healing.
Crystal healing is an alternative medicine technique that employs stones and crystals as healing tools.
The practitioner places crystals on different parts of the body, often corresponding to the chakras, or places crystals around the body in an attempt to construct an energy grid, which is believed to surround the client with healing energy. The healing is supposed to remove blockages in the aura or the body’s electromagnetic field.
I find it all fascinating. But especially from a musical point of view, I know that certain types of Music have a very healing effect on people. Music, in general, has a healing effect on people. So, I’m very interested in the tonal qualities of both Crystal and Tibetan Singing Bowls.
Most of the Tibetan Singing Bowls I’ve seen at Silver Sky Imports average around $50 and up, depending on the size, and the Crystal Singing Bowls average around $150 each. I have seen a 24K gold Crystal Singing Bowl that was priced at over $1,000.
I think it would be nice to get a few of these Singing Bowls and incorporate them into my musical recordings, along with acoustic piano. I think that would be a nice combination of musical, healing sounds!
The Music of Drew Blackard…
Tuesday, 26th May 2009
Artist: Drew Blackard
Album: Right About Now I’d Like to Move to Austin and Buy a Purple House
Released: April 2008
Label: Without a Knife Records
With its epic title (also the album’s title track), “Right About Now I’d Like to Move to Austin and Buy a Purple House” is musician/artist Drew Blackard’s latest release to date.
The songs on this one-of-a-kind EP (available at iTunes and Amazon.com) remind me of the stories told by wandering vagabonds and musicians, perpetually dreaming and forever searching, as they make their way through this vast land of Americana.
And Drew Blackard himself, the quintessential musical vagabond, seems to have lived up to his musical wanderings, performing in various musical groups from Nashville to Dallas, from Houston to Austin.
The Songs:
- 1. Right About Now I’d Like to Move to Austin and Buy a Purple House
- 2. Fallen Mockingbird
- 3. Swallow My Pride
- 4. I Don’t Know
- 5. I Have an Island
Assembling a personal and informal collection of acoustic songs that explores the rhythmic and harmonic sensibilities of folk, bluegrass and country music, Drew Blackard performs his songs with guitar or piano accompaniment and a little harmonica , reminiscent of Neil Young.
A mandolin here, a fiddle there, some organ and other keyboard textures, the accompaniment never overwhelms the quiet power of Drew Blackard’s vocals, the songs never losing their seemingly “wandering vagabond” touch.
It seems to be there’s a piece of me,
that yearns to travel overseas,
I think I’ll head to Paris in the Fall,
And find myself a pretty girl,
who’s traveled all around the world,
and I’ll be sure to send a postcard from the road.
—Drew Blackard, from “I Don’t Know”
His songs, filled with catchy melodies and gentle profound lyricism, can tell stories and tales of traveling, wanderlust, of losing love, of contemplating many of life’s journeys. I really like the way the music is not over-produced, or pretentious… achieving various moods and feels that are subtlely stated.
. . . .
Sunday at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Tuesday, 26th May 2009
I must confess that I’ve had a love for trains since my childhood, but I was truly blown away when, as a young kid in the boy scouts, I took a field trip to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. And after that I’d been fascinated with the whole model train hobby ever since.
At one point in my earlier adulthood, I’d set up my own model train setup, and I have all the trains and items somewhere in the garage, including a big 10 x 12 wood base where the railroad track was nailed to it with a bridge and trees and some houses, etc… not to mention miniature people.
I should set it all up again in the garage just for fun. But I would have to sort through the many boxes in the garage to look for everything.
Anyway, it had been maybe 10 years ago when I first took my two boys to see the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, and back then it was impressive. And this past Sunday we went again, and they obviously had expanded their exhibits.
I’m just amazed at all the details put into these exhibits.
On the San Diego Model Railroad Museum’s website they mention that the 1st Tuesday of each month is FREE admission. But if you do pay it’s $6 for adults and $2 for students. Pretty reasonable for spending an afternoon with what I counted to be at least 5 large train exhibits or themes.
I totally recommend going here. It’s definitely a fascinating “train” experience. And it makes one feel like a kid again….
Memorial Day Weekend: Hodge Podge
Friday, 22nd May 2009
Going for Baroque
I know the above title sounds so cliche, but I’ve been hooked on Baroque music lately and practicing a LOT of Baroque on the piano. It’s been my latest obsession.
But, I’ve been doing my research and in the days of Baroque the great musical masters were improvising this stuff daily. So, that is my goal… to be able to improvise my own Baroque pieces at will. And I’ve been performing it pretty poorly so far, but am getting a hang for the common chord progessions and theory behind Baroque, so I’m beginning to get a better understanding (in theory) about the concepts.
My current favorite composer isn’t J.S. Bach. It’s actually Georg Philipp Telemann who was a contemporary of Bach. And I learned he was actually the more popular and widely renowned composer/performer during that era. George Frederic Handel and Telemann were good friends.
Double Header
Tomorrow I have a double header. Two gigs. The Smooth Jazz Festival in downtown San Diego (in the Gaslamp Quarter) from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. And, a trio gig playing some latin-jazz up north in San Marcos from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. The first will be a combination of latin, jazz and funk. So it’ll be a long day tomorrow.
Cougars vs. Sophista Cats
I was watching the news earlier this afternoon and there was a story about middle-aged femmes who go for younger men… Cougars! And they shown photos of Demi Moore and Mariah Carey. And a new show is coming out called “Cougar Town” starring Courtney Cox.
Some ladies are turned off by the whole label of classifying “women in their 40s who drink and smoke and chase after younger men” as Cougars… well, that’s what they said and I didn’t know part of that label included smoking and drinking, though I’m sure many of these so-called Cougars hang out at bars, drinking, smoking and partying it up anyway, and of course, chasing after these younger guys.
Someone mentioned that they really should be called Sophisticats, and another said (I suppose, based on the stereotype) “No, I don’t think so…”
Anyway, I wonder what all the real Cougars (the animals) think of all this?
Online Homeschooling?
Anyone out there know much about online homeschooling? Or just homeschooling in general? I have a nephew who’s interested in doing this, and so I’ve been doing all the research online.
I’m just amazed how this whole homeschooling thing is gaining in popularity and that top universities like Harvard are accepting homeschoolers. Plus, the fact that it’s possible for homeschoolers to actually graduate with a high school diploma earlier than students doing the traditional education.
And now there’s online homeschooling? Most of the educational institutions are going online more and more each year. I wonder what kind of impact this will have on people in general.
Remembering Traditional High School Days
Me, I went through the standard, traditional education and school kind of dragged on at times. Sometimes I wish I would’ve going through a more accelerated homeschool, self-study thing and finished much earlier.
I could’ve graduated from high school as a Junior, but I just needed a couple of classes in Fall of my Senior year in order to graduate. And for my final semester I took all music classes and really finished strong. I won the John Philips Sousa award which was the school’s top music honor. I remember I didn’t attend the Music Awards banquet, and the next day at school they awarded me with the trophy. I don’t remember why… I mean, I must’ve forgotten there was an awards banquet and didn’t expect to get any kind of award. But, I WAS in the marching band, symphonic band, jazz band, and I played percussion, piano, tuba and sousaphone. Plus, I also performed in my Music Director’s family combo at Elk’s Lodges, VFW Halls and such, including my R&B/funk band, so I was immersed in music back then.
Memorial Day Weekend
Anyway, for those of you who get the three day Memorial Day weekend, and are observing the holiday… have a great weekend. I just got back from UC Riverside after picking up my son there. I rest tonight because I’ll be busy all day tomorrow, and on Sunday I’ll be at Balboa Park checking out the art exhibits, museums, see the organ concert and check out the botanical gardens. Then Monday I’m going to just rest and relax and try to not do much of anything…. hope yours is a good one.
Plans to Remodel the Bathroom…
Thursday, 21st May 2009
My wife and I are planning to remodel one of the bathrooms in our house. Actually, we need to either repaint, or wallpaper the bathroom walls.
That’s the main priority.
But, the bathroom suite (which includes the sink, toilet, and combination bath tub/shower) probably needs to be replace too… well, eventually. We lived in this house since we bought it brand new in 1990, so it’s high time we replaced the bathroom fixtures, etc.
We’ll see, being we are in an economic recession, we are searching online for the best deals for the homeowner.
I came upon a site called BetterBathrooms.com, although based in the UK, is a great site to explore the possibilities when remodeling your bathroom. And, sites like this can offer more selections to choose from online.
Whirlpool, Jacuzzi-style Bath Tubs
Okay, now don’t hate me, but I’m quite open to the possibility of having a whirlpool or jacuzzi-style tub installed.
Sometimes, after a long day, one simply wants to soak in a bath tub with multiple-jets massaging tired, aching muscles.
I’ve thought about installing a jacuzzi out back, but a whirlpool bathtub is more affordable and something you can easily jump into in the privacy of your own home.
I’m finding out there are basically three types of whirlpool baths:
- 1. Standard Whirlpool System – this consists of 6 to 11 jets that include side, bottom and foot jets that blow water into the tub, creating a massaging sensation.
- 2. Air Spa System – this basically involves blowing hot air through chrome jets at the bottom of the tub, and includes a heating system that maintains even water temperature.
- 3. Hydrotherapy System – includes both air and water jets (air coming from the bottom, water jets on the sides. A combination of the first two, which gives a complete body massage.
Delivery of Online Purchases
Online companies like BetterBathrooms.com specialize in wide distribution of bathroom products at discounted prices.
Keep in mind that, if you are seriously planning to remodel your bathroom (and in my case I have an upstairs bathroom that needs remodeling), make sure you coordinate the delivery date with the contractors you hire. Bathroom products will typically be delivered via truck and have been shrink-wrapped onto pallets. If you plan to do your own installations you’ll need help lifting and delivery will be up to your doorstep or driveway only. You have to take it from there.
But, online sources are the way to go to get discounts and wholesale prices, with a wide selection of bathroom fixtures and suites.
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