DJ Hope

Blogs in the classroom

2008-10-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

Today I am in a workshop called "Wikis, Blogs & Podcasting for You and Your Students". As a result, this blog will take on a different "flavor" as I use it for things related to my work at Chico State. Also, you will see me updating this blog a lot more frequently!

New job

2008-05-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

Last week, Mike and I went to Chico, California, where I will be teaching at CSU Chico starting this fall. Here's a photo of me on one of the lovely bridges that span the creek that runs through the center of campus. There are more photos on my flickr page.

Chico is in Northern California, an hour north of the state capital, Sacramento. It's home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, which makes my husband Mike very happy. We are about 2 hours from the Napa Valley, and 3 hours from San Francisco.

Papelbon's victory dance

2007-10-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

Victory dance? Pap hops to it

By Jessica Van Sack
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - Updated 18m ago

He used an array of thunderbolts to knock out various Angels and Indians and Rockies as he helped the Red Sox [team stats] record their second World Series triumph in four seasons. And yesterday, Jonathan Papelbon [stats] knocked the crowd’s socks off with a manic Irish victory jig that’s become a signature of this year’s championship team.

Flanked by the Boston-born Dropkick Murphys band on a flatbed truck, Papelbon, sporting shades, jeans and a red World Series T-shirt, broke into his boogie as the Red Sox love train neared Copley Plaza.

“He’s got beat, he’s got rhythm and he’s right on time,” said Joan Forbes-Dunn of the Quincy-based Forbes School of Irish Step Dancing. “He just needs to learn to put his arms by his side.”

Papelbon’s punk jig drew the loudest roars from the revelers along the parade route yesterday, and it’s also triggered a trend, boosting the business of the Forbes school, according to Forbes-Dunn, and prompting one Boston pol to try to mimic his moves.

City Councilor Sal LaMattina took a lesson last week and performed at a forum Friday in Hyde Park. “He’s really very good,” said LaMattina, who was still recovering from soreness two days after his performance last week. “He must’ve taken lessons.”

Before reaching the end of the parade route at City Hall Plaza yesterday, Papelbon donned a kilt, keeping his jeans on underneath to the dismay of several swooning coeds who were hoping for some leg).

But at City Hall, some fans were disappointed that Papelbon abandoned the jig in favor of an old-fashioned square dance as he creatively added a prop to his routine: a broom that he used as both paddling oar and a guitar.

“He’s tired at this point,” said fan Heather McDonald, 24, of Gloucester. “But he has the moves.”

Get your free taco today only!

2007-10-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Red Sox win ALCS, we're going to the World Series!!

2007-10-22T07:50:00.001-07:00

Bob Dylan messaging

2007-09-28T11:41:00.001-07:00

Squirrel's version of corn on the cob

2007-07-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

I knew that squirrels eat the seeds out of pinecones, but I thought they waited until they were open. Today we saw "our" squirrel harvesting green pine cones and then digging into them like they were corn on the cob. During the half hour or so we watched he polished off five cones worth of nuts.

Lake Tahoe Travelogue

2007-07-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is to give you all some more information about the photos on my flickr page from our trip last weekend to Lake Tahoe. On Friday we stopped by the Donner Monument before we reached the cabin of my cousin Sue and her husband Ted, located in Carnelian Bay. We had a pleasant time with them and their children, Olivia and Jack and the two dogs, Sophie and Woody. The next day we went to Meeks Bay to try out their new sea kayak. The sun is hot in strong at that elevation! Everyone got a turn in the boat. The next day Mike and I hiked at Emerald Bay State Park and then drove up to Inspiration Point before heading back to the cabin.

Michael Gulezian's visit

2007-07-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Photos by Bob Lambert from last Wednesday.

Save Net Radio

2007-07-12T11:17:00.001-07:00

2007-07-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

Today's show will feature an interview and live performance by guitarist Michael Gulezian, who is currently on his west coast tour. He'll be promoting his Fresno concert scheduled for this Friday at 8pm at the Big Red Church (if you live in Fresno you know what I'm taking about).

"Boundary-free, horizon-expanding, genre-bending, transcendent, soulful, kickass, mind-opening, exquisitely gorgeous instrumental solo acoustic guitar music. Michael Gulezian (gu-LAY-ze-in) continues to amaze fellow musicians as well as audiences new to the art of instrumental solo acoustic guitar. If you've never heard of Michael, you're in for a very pleasant surprise. He is one of the most highly regarded instrumental acoustic artists of our time. While it is visually breathtaking to watch him perform, a Michael Gulezian concert is more than a display of cutting-edge virtuosity – it is the blissful communion of master musician engaged with his audience in the mystery of self-revelation, creating music of atmospheric power, ecstatic joy, and haunting beauty. "

777

2007-07-07T22:24:00.001-07:00

Three sevens clash!! Rastafarians believed the apocalypse would begin when the two sevens clashed, with July 7th, 1977, when the four sevens clashed, the most fearsome date of concern. However, like that date, today came and went without a ripple. We went to the usual Saturday wine tasting at Bentley's Market, and once again got an invite to dinner at the Ernest house. This time Joe's wife Patti was in town, and cooked up some of her Cajun specialities. The photo shows their front porch still decorated for the Fourth of July. Yes, that flag does say Lynyrd Skynyrd, but it's all for a laugh.

Which Doctor Are You?

2007-07-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Your closest match is the Tenth Doctor

Alright mate! You’re the Tenth Doctor, that cheeky chappie in the geek chic gear, played so lightly by David Tennant.

Not quite as eccentric as the other Doctors (but just as clever, thanks very much), you’re a down-to-earth bloke who likes to have a laugh. Work hard, play hard, if you know what we mean. Wicked. Sorted. Nice.

Take the quiz :

Show time

2007-06-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

As some of you already know, my show time changed last fall to Wednesdays from 4-6pm PST. If not, then you all know now and can check it out sometime. This time slot should make it easier for those of you back east to listen in. Go to www.kfsr.org and click on the "Live Audio" button. There's lots of other terrific shows, so check out the program schedule as well.

Wine, beer, curry, more wine

2007-06-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to not one but two wine tastings. The first was a free event at Eau de Vie. The second was the usual Saturday gathering at Bentley's, though this week they featured Sequoia's Moto Brew beers instead of wine. While at Bentley's we ran into another one of the regulars, who invited us over to try several Sri Lankan curries he had made earlier in the day. Also invited were students from Fresno State's wine making program. We had a wonderful evening of delicious food and many types of wine: we even got to try grappa for the first time (and the last, it's too strong for me).

Weaver Lake

2007-06-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday afternoon Mike and I hiked with our friends Teresa and Dave, along with their dog Sugar Ray, to Weaver Lake in Sequoia National Park. As the guide says "this enjoyable hike takes you by a pretty meadow, past superior views, and on to a striking lake—warm enough for swimming—at the base of Shell Mountain. " The trail was not as crowded as we expected, probably because we started so late. This is an enticement to get friends to visit us (hint hint).

Yoshimi's garden

2007-06-19T11:04:00.001-07:00

It's just a deck, but Yoshimi finds this a garden paradise. She can watch the birds fly from tree to tree, as well as the occasional squirrel. This planter makes a handy chaise lounge for her. The plant she is nesting in is purple oxalis, which can fortunately survive the abuse.

Silver Oak Wine Tasting

2007-06-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here Mike and I are last Saturday at Bentley's market for a wine tasting. Ok, we do this nearly every Saturday, but they started taking photos of attendees as they enter the wine department. We're finding it's a great way to experience the more costly varieties of wine without the financial investment.

Jake Shimabukuro

2007-02-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro stopped by the KFSR studios and gave us a wonderful Valentine's Day performance. Unfortunately I am not to the level where I could duet with Jake. Here we are afterwards, posing for the KFSR photographer!

Aunty Genoa Keawe

2006-12-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

Last night we got to see a performance of Hawaiian falsetto singing, featuring Aunty Genoa Keawe, a 2000 Heritage Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts. From her bio:

"A mainstay on the Hawaiian music scene for almost 50 years, Aunty Genoa Keawe is an icon in Hawaiian music. With her tremendous voice she has captivated audiences, kama 'aina and malihini alike. With a tremendous repertoire of traditional Hawaiian standards and Hapa Haole tunes alike, she is without equal. "

Afterwards I bought one of her CDs and received an 8x10 photo that I had Aunty Genoa sign for me.

My ukulele

2006-12-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

Here I am with my new ukulele getting a lesson from Larry Heu. He is the current music teacher at Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School in Honolulu, HI, from which Mr. Shimada retired several years ago. I am excited to have my first "real" ukulele. As much as I wanted a Kamaka, it is beyond my budget. This still a nice koa wood uke, made by Kala, and assembled overseas. When it's in its case it looks like I am carrying around a violin... and that's what people thought it was when I boarded my plane at the end of my trip!

Loving My Lei

2006-11-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I got lei-d last night!

Sorry, I couldn't help it, that's the running joke among my male colleagues at this conference.

Contrary to popular conceptions about Hawaii, you do NOT receive a lei upon arrival in the Honolulu airport, unless you are being picked by a limosine service or some other expensive mode of ground transport. This lei was presented to me during the performance of Kalo's South Seas Review, which the Shimadas took me to this evening. Mr. Shimada's cousin now runs the restaurant, so as his honored guest I was singled out for presentation with this welcome lei.

Kalo's South Seas Review is a Waikiki institution, choreographed by Kalolaine "Kalo" Mataele Soukop, who is also on the board of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Honolulu. Interestingly, this is run by the Church of Latter Day Saints, though I can not verify that all the dancers onstage are Mormons. However, Donny and Marie's "Going Coconuts" movie contains a scene filmed onstage at Kalo's, so there is obviously a strong LDS connection here.

Day two in Honolulu

2006-11-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

Here I am having lunch on the strip in Waikiki. This is about an hour before I gave my paper, don't I look relaxed?! As a result, it's probably the best paper I have ever given at SEM! Well, maybe not, but everyone was in a more receptive mood.

DJ Hope in Hawaii

2006-11-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of my blog for my journey to Honolulu for the 2006 International Conference of the Society for Ethnomusicology. Although the trip is over, I will be adding a little about the trip each day.

Today's installment describes my first experience of traditional Hawaiian cuisine. This came about because one of my colleagues at CSU Fresno grew up in Honolulu, and still has family in the area. His godfather picked me up at the airport, and our first stop before the hotel was Leonard's, the best maker of malassadas on Oahu. These puffy pieces of fried dough, essentially donuts but much lighter and tastier, are the chief contribution by the Portuguese, after the ukulele of course. Mr. Shimada bought two bags for his family and one for me. They lasted me from the evening and through the next two days for breakfast. Delicious!!

Soca Warriors

2006-06-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, Trinidad and Tobago's national team, the Soca Warriors made their first appearance in World Cup play this year. Although they did not advance to the next round, they were warmly greeted with a Carnival-style jam upon their return to Port-of-Spain.

This has inspired many soca artistes to release tribute songs, which thanks to the efforts of DJ Chewtoy I have been able to play on my radio show. My favorite is "Fighter" by Maximus Dan.