"That whooshing sound from the piano!" written by Tinypliny on estrip.org

12/11/09 04:08 - 20ºF - ID#50540

That whooshing sound from the piano!

I listen to a lot of classical piano, and I have always been bothered by that whooshing sound between keystrokes that I can always hear (but some of my friends and my brother can never hear!)

In a distracted moment today, I learned that it is the sound of the open strings vibrating against the soundboard of an acoustic piano. So, THAT'S where it comes from!

In some recordings, they specifically place the recording equipment close to the soundboard because it gives the richest sound output - however the drawback is the whooshing sound... which apparently, not many people can hear.

The frequency of this "whooshing" is very low - hovering around 20-25 Hz. Some human ears can't pick up sounds in this frequency and auditory scientists speculate that the range of frequency hearing is genetically determined.

Fascinating, huh?!

tinypliny writes at 08:17:25 12/12/09 - Comment #53607: hehehe ;-)

paul writes at 07:30:09 12/12/09 - Comment #53606: freak! just kidding. I will have to check it out and see.

tinypliny writes at 09:40:00 12/11/09 - Comment #53596: I didn't know that! How interesting. So I guess I prefer the audience version of the recording!

And about Gould - I KNOW!!! I think its adorable that you can hear him in a sort of low croon when he is tuning the pieces internally!

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:07:08 12/11/09 - Comment #53595: (e:tinypliny) - During my time spent in recording studios, I learned that many sound engineers seek out the sound that you refer to as "whoosh". They consider it part of the natural sound of the piano box and think that it adds richness to the sound. If memory serves correctly, the idea to reproduce the sound of the piano that pianist experiences. On other hand, some sound engineers feel that a piano should be recorded so that it sounds it does from the audience in a concert hall - so no sound of the box and no whooshing.

My "problem" with classical piano is Glenn Gould. In some of his recordings you can hear him humming (for lack of a better word) as he plays.

jenks writes at 05:24:23 12/11/09 - Comment #53587: Oh, OK, so you're saying I'm more evolved (i.e. more advanced)? Ok, I can handle that.

;)

tinypliny writes at 05:14:28 12/11/09 - Comment #53586: Maybe this undercuts my evil intent, but its interesting to analyze what this really means. As you probably know, lower frequencies are travel farther than high frequencies.

And there is that popular science observation that Elephants can actually hear the lower frequencies rather than feel them - and they use this fact to communicate across the wilderness of Africa.

As humans, we live closer to each other, we don't hunt anymore, our societies have little to do with predation and danger awareness as probably mammals in the wild do.

It is possible that through evolution, we have progressively lost the gene-expression needed to hear the low frequencies - or maybe the allele controlling the trait is recessive. So hearing or not hearing these kind of sounds is merely an indication of what kind of population we share our genetics with, and where in the evolutionary tree we diverged from the parent population in Africa - and of course, which alleles we received from our parents and whether they are homozygous or heterozygous for the trait. :)

tinypliny writes at 04:50:28 12/11/09 - Comment #53583: Yes, that was my total evil intent.

jenks writes at 04:37:48 12/11/09 - Comment #53580: Gee thanks Tiny.
Now I feel insecure about my inferior ears that can't hear that sound.

GREAT.

Permalink: That_whooshing_sound_from_the_piano_.html
Words: 141
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: science

12/09/09 07:05 - 38ºF - ID#50517

SoyMilk Vs Fat-Free Milk: Nutrition Data

I keep thinking about getting another delicious carton of Soymilk ((e:tinypliny,50430)) but it is really just a very impractical and unwise obsession. The comparative nutrition charts show just why soymilk is not the rational choice.

Sunrich Soymilk 1 Serving.

It has added sugar (cane juice), vanilla flavour and carrageenan (a plant-based gum). I have never added these to my regular milk - why would I want to drink them now? Especially sugar?

Upstate Farms Fat-Free Milk 1 Serving.

Fat-free milk wins hands down in terms of higher quality of nutrients, clear-cut essential ingredients and no added sugar.

Take that, lizard brain.

PS: AAAAAAAargh. I still want it. This is getting so ridiculous! Anyone want to talk me out of this madness?!
PPS: Worse, I now want to get Biscoff Speculoos to dunk in them! Nice going. :/

tinypliny writes at 08:47:48 12/10/09 - Comment #53523: Soy has isoflavones that have a structure similar to the hormone, Estrogen. However, some animal studies have shown that the actions of these phytoestrogens (estrogens from plants) are not exactly the same as estrogens from animal sources.

But the jury is out on this one because
a) Whatever epidemiological studies have been done are all inconclusive if taken together (some indicate decreased risk and others indicate increased risk).
b) Some later cell-culture studies have seen that phytoestrogens act on the same signaling receptors and pathways as estrogens do.

There is an ecological argument that soy is protective against breast cancer because it is common in the diets of women from South-East Asia and these women have low breast cancer incidence/prevalence rates. However, it would be a stretch to say that these low rates are because of soy consumption because their diets and environment are also completely different when compared with Caucasian women or African-American women.

libertad writes at 07:00:28 12/10/09 - Comment #53520: Can too much soy lead to breast cancer?

tinypliny writes at 10:13:25 12/09/09 - Comment #53516: What is this - like a tit-for-tat evil thought induction??! You actually made me search stores that retail this light brand and I just found out the Tops, Niagara Street sells an unsweetened version!!

I want to go to there....

And just you wait, I am going to get you for this.

Jim, you are my sole friend in the morass of temptation!

theecarey writes at 08:44:23 12/09/09 - Comment #53514: when I drink cow milk it is always skim; I like the watery taste :) Hated milk as a kid (parents always bought "2%", most friends had "whole") and didn't know there were differences in milk until I had, in my 8 year old opinion, a "good" cup of milk at a friends house. I was so blown away that I made sure to remember what was different about it. Happened to be that it was Skim. 1% is the max I will go before it gets thick and gross feeling in my mouth.

Now, for soy milk, for much of the same reason, I prefer the Silk brand light plain
or light vanilla. :::link:::

check them out, and you might find that you can continue with your soy milk obsession.

Now I feel like a drug pusher. hehe

jim writes at 08:09:15 12/09/09 - Comment #53511: SOY MILK: THE DEVIL'S JUICE

tinypliny writes at 07:43:11 12/09/09 - Comment #53510: Um yeah... how is that supposed to talk me out of buying soymilk?

heidi writes at 07:33:22 12/09/09 - Comment #53509: What's the difference between fat free milk and water besides calories? Ew ew ew. Milk is supposed to be white, not blue or clear.

Permalink: SoyMilk_Vs_Fat_Free_Milk_Nutrition_Data.html
Words: 139
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: art

12/09/09 04:17 - 43ºF - ID#50514

The Pink Glove Dance

The Pink Glove dance was choreographed in St. Vincent Medical Centre, Portland, Oregon for the Medline glove division as a fundraiser for cancer awareness.

I love the sheer energy of everyone in the dance.

As a bonus for promoting their pink gloves, when this video gathers one million hits, apparently the glove company will be making a contribution to the St. Vincent hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community around the hospital.

Its good to hear about companies finding creative ways of using social media for donating to healthcare. A month back it was the #beatcancer experiment on Twitter - for every tweet, 1c was donated to 3 cancer research/care institutions. It didn't amount to much in the end (~$6K) but it was a nice gesture and good way to get people involved.

Permalink: The_Pink_Glove_Dance.html
Words: 138
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/20/12 02:21

Category: grocery

12/06/09 06:58 - 33ºF - ID#50484

Question for e:JBeatty: Pandan

(e:JBeatty), have you seen Pandan at any store in Buffalo city?

From this

I really want to make Pandan-flavoured milk but I don't know where to find it... Any ideas?

PS: Pandan smells like a rustic wonderful variant of natural vanilla. Vanilla essence just doesn't reach the subtlety that is Pandan.

Permalink: Question_for_e_JBeatty_Pandan.html
Words: 61
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: grocery

12/06/09 04:05 - 34ºF - ID#50480

Wegmans on Prospect Avenue?

Really? Is there a Wegmans on Prospect Avenue as Google Maps seems to think?

Why have I never seen it? This is the parking lot at the back of the Tops Building. Maybe Weggies has a storage unit there? Does anyone know?

Permalink: Wegmans_on_Prospect_Avenue_.html
Words: 44
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: art

12/03/09 04:44 - 45ºF - ID#50449

Dances of the world... served on ice.

Transicelated by Meryl Davis and Charlie White...

Eastern European Waltz
Tchaikovsky

Bollywood Medley
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Gulzar
Ismail Darbar, Nusrat Badr

Western European Waltz
Strauss

East European Opera
Alexander Borodin

Western European Opera
Camille Saint-Saens, Ferdinand Lemaire

Broadway
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Permalink: Dances_of_the_world_served_on_ice_.html
Words: 58
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: art

12/02/09 07:21 - 45ºF - ID#50441

Back in Baroque.

In love with the costumes, the dances and the music! :)

Permalink: Back_in_Baroque_.html
Words: 26
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: eating in

12/01/09 08:28 - 42ºF - ID#50430

Hook, Line and Sinker.

Went shopping with a friend recently (you know who you are and I know you are reading, heheh) and somehow this ended up in both of our groceries...

All I can say is. OH. MY. This thing is DELICIOUS! Gulped it down in two days flat. Needless to say, I won't be buying it any more because if I did I won't fit through my flat door in approximately a week or maybe less, who knows...

tinypliny writes at 09:46:31 12/01/09 - Comment #53275

Soy milk + Cinnamony oatmealish stuff* = Heaven

I think some Kashi stuff meets the criteria. Pity, I hate the sugar in cereal enough to avoid all cereal. But really, if you eat cinnamony cereal, you need to try the combo. I think they would go smashingly well together!

I drink close to 2 gallons of milk every week to get the requisite amount of calcium, protein and fat-soluble vitamins in my diet. I am not lactose-intolerant or overly convinced about the apparent ill-effects of milk - so however much I like this soymilk, getting hooked to a non-dairy product like this is a bit of a concern.

This particular brand of soymilk is equivalent to 3% milk. However, the calcium in it is supplemented calcium carbonate - not the best bioavailable form of calcium. The protein in it is a complete protein but I am not sure how it stacks up in comparison to the animal-sourced protein from milk - I am guessing not very well.

joshua writes at 09:07:42 12/01/09 - Comment #53271: I've been making soy chais. F Spot and their $5 pricetag! I really don't think I'd ever pour this stuff over cereal, however. I'm not so much of a non-dairy nut that I can't enjoy a little lowfat milk.

tinypliny writes at 08:52:34 12/01/09 - Comment #53264: But it already has sugar - organic cane sugar and vanilla... Maybe you haven't tried this brand? I can almost swear they put some addictive drug in it because it made me walk all the way to the grocery store directly from work in the horrible muddly slush - before I could shake its influence off and double back home.

If you saw someone bundled up in a snowcoat swearing at all the puddles running about in circles around Delaware and Elmwood today evening, it was me. And trying to avoid buying another box of the above was the primary reason for the craziness.

janelle writes at 08:47:09 12/01/09 - Comment #53263: I WANT to like soymilk, but the only way I've been able to enjoy it is with thoroughly unhealthy amounts of sugar added to it.

Permalink: Hook_Line_and_Sinker_.html
Words: 78
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: eating in

11/26/09 10:01 - 41ºF - ID#50389

Best Brussel Sprouts Evah!

This is probably the fastest easiest recipe I have ever made and it was right there on top in terms of how mouth-wateringly tasty it was!

Total cooking time is around 6-7 minutes.

1. Heat some peanut oil in a pan. Meanwhile wash and chop a good amount of garlic into fine pieces.
2. Saute chopped garlic till it is light brown. Meanwhile wash and chop Brussel Sprouts into lengthwise quarters.
3. Add chopped Brussel Sprouts, a dash of salt and pepper powder.
4. Saute on medium-high heat till Brussel Sprouts are lightly caramelized (~3 min).
5. Eat immediately and float away into gastronomical heaven!

~

Permalink: Best_Brussel_Sprouts_Evah_.html
Words: 103
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: office

11/26/09 04:10 - 44ºF - ID#50387

Formal Button-Down Silk/Satin Shirt

Where can I buy one of these??

Have you seen this kind of a formal satin/silk button-down no-crazy-ruffle-frill-attachments shirt anywhere? If yes, please rack your brains - and post a clue! All the satin/silk shirts I have seen seem to have some crazy tailoring quirk. I am looking for a plain button-down one in a preferably non-candy muted colour.