The National Midnight Star #222

Errors-To: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu Reply-To: rush@syrinx.umd.edu Sender: rush-request@syrinx.umd.edu Precedence: bulk From: rush@syrinx.umd.edu To: rush_mailing_list Subject: 04/23/91 - The National Midnight Star #222
** ____ __ ___ ____ ___ ___ ** ** / /_/ /_ /\ / /__/ / / / / /\ / /__/ / ** ** / / / /__ / \/ / / / / /__/ / \/ / / /___ ** ** ** ** __ ___ ____ ** ** /\ /\ / / \ /\ / / / _ /__/ / ** ** / \/ \ / /___/ / \/ / /___/ / / / ** ** ** ** ____ ____ ___ ___ ** ** /__ / /__/ /__/ ** ** ____/ / / / / \ ** The National Midnight Star, Number 222 Tuesday, 23 April 1991 Today's Topics: Administrivia Unsubscribe MST3000 Re: Guitar Synths + other stuff Mystery Science Theater 3000 Neil on his 'Witch Hunt' Ayn Rand's _Anthem_ Still conserts & stuff beginning of Time Stand Still Alex Interview Atlas Shrugged and TV Screens Music of the Spheres ---------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Administrivia Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 11:41:51 EDT From: RUSH Fans Digest Manager <rush-mgr> There was some problem encountered when mailing out the NMS yesterday (Monday, 4/22/91). Apparently there was a problem with the routing tables, and anyone with an address that ended with "nasa.gov" or "nih.gov" got bounced back with "host unknown". Today I got this from our network group: >In case anyone has been having problems getting to Internet sites >in the GOV domain since Saturday morning... > >It appears that the Network Information Center (NIC) for the Internet >put out a bogus root update for the GOV domain that did not include either >NASA.GOV or NIH.GOV (and probably some others as well). As a result, >name servers around campus (and the rest of the internet) have been >denying the existence of these machines causing mail, telnet, etc... >not to work to those sites. > >We have notified the NIC of their errors and things should be getting >back to normal real soon now. Hopefully this will take care of things. To get the missed issue, you can either ftp or mail for it (see any digest tail for info). [ After posting this, I've been informed that not all name servers will be updated when this is mailed - it depends upon which ones are queried at mailing time whether those sites will be recognized. ] rush-mgr ---------------------------------------------------------- From: Longshot <randy@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu> Subject: Unsubscribe Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 17:03:28 CDT Please remove me from this mailing list. Randy ---------------------------------------------------------- From: cygnus@wpi.WPI.EDU (Marshall Robin) Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 18:52:21 EST Subject: MST3000 >Date: Fri, 19 Apr 91 15:53:05 EST >From: DT7RSANU%MIAMIU.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU >Subject: Mystery Science Theater 3000 > Speaking of Mystery Science Theater 3000... There is an allusion to Rush >in every show. The gumball machine robot is named Tom Servo. (For those >robot illiterates, a 'servo' is a type of feedback device used in closed loop >robotic systems.) 'Servo' was substituted, quite obviously, to disguise a very >clever allusion to Rush: Tom Sawyer. It fits the context exceptionally well... Yeah, and even the name is an allusion to Rush. Look: Mystery (refers to Xanadu - "....immortality, the deepest MYSTERY...") Science (obviously Natural Science) Theatre (Theatre = Concert Hall : Spirit of Radio) 3000 (Obviously a clever reference to 2112 disguised by adding 888 to it) (Insert copious amounts of smileys and other sarcastic symbols here! :-) ) -marsh ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marshall Robin | When they turn the pages of history | When these days have passed long ago Internet Address: | Will they read of us with sadness cygnus@wpi.wpi.edu | For the seeds that we let grow? -Rush ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1991 19:02:05 EDT From: Mark "Crimson" Friedman <friedman@cis.ohio-state.edu> Subject: Re: Guitar Synths + other stuff ]Hey Dudes, ] About the Guitar synth subject- ]To Quote Edward Van Halen A synth is a synth, a guitar is something ]else - Why bast***ise the guitar ( Well .. something like that ) So that you can expand your creative potential. Then again, Mr. Van Halen has been stuck in a rut for, oh, 10 years or so now... ]I have played a Guitar synth in the past and have found them awkward Not the fault of the synth! You must treat it as a different instrument in order to use it to it's full potential. Technique is called for: "chucka-chucka" power chords aren't in it's vocabulary. ]to play well due to the fact that the synth will convert any sound ]into a synthy noise.~S[] Heh! Errr, pardon my ignorance, but isn't that the whole *POINT*?!?!?! Cryminee... - Crimson Oh, and I believe my brother will be posting a similar message! Take it away Bob... ORQ: "Crimson misty memory, hazy glimpse of me..." +----====>>>))) Mark Friedman is friedman@cis.ohio-state.edu (((<<<====----+ | "There is nothing former | (Disclaimer : the opposite of Datclaimer) | | about King Crimson." | "I used to have a photgraphic memory | | - Robert Fripp, 5/11/90 | but it was never developed..." | > -.---.----..-.---.----..-.---.----..-.---.----..-.---.----..-.---.----.. < ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 19:12:20 EST From: DT7RSANU%MIAMIU.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU Subject: Mystery Science Theater 3000 Date: 22 April 1991, 19:02:56 EST From: DT7RSANU at MIAMIU To: rush@syrinx.umd.edu > Speaking of Mystery Science Theater 3000... There is an allusion to Rush >in every show. The gumball machine robot is named Tom Servo. (For those >robot illiterates, a 'servo' is a type of feedback device used in closed loop >robotic systems.) 'Servo' was substituted, quite obviously, to disguise a very >clever allusion to Rush: Tom Sawyer. It fits the context exceptionally well... >[ Umm, not to say I don't believe you, but what sort of proof/evidence do > you have to back this up? I've seen many (~15) MST3K shows, and only > one Rush reference in them all. :rush-mgr ] By an allusion in every show, I simply meant that Tom Servo's name is mentioned every time. I certainly didn't mean that the show contained a different mention each time... [ Ok, my fault for not being more clear. My question is "How do you come by the theory that Tom Servo is an analogy for Tom Sawyer?" Where did you read/see this? I ask this because the comment "I'll bet you listen to Rush" is the only Rush-related thing I've heard (in response to a viewer's letter). :rush-mgr ] [ Unabashed plug: If you like watching bad "B" movies and trashing them, then this is the show for you! They turn talking during movies into an art form. (Quote stolen, source forgotten.) The Comedy Network on Friday and Saturday. :rush-mgr ] ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 21:33:16 EST From: UK04243@ukpr.uky.edu Subject: Neil on his 'Witch Hunt' In NMS#219, Mark@dusk.b23b.ingr.com writes; >what is said at the very beginning of "Witch Hunt"? >there is some murmuring, and it sounds kinda like: >"[can't figure it out].... Rush in Ft. Lauderdale" >am i close? > > The part that you think is 'Ft. Lauderdale' is the main part I couldn't >figure out. If I stick 'Ft. Lauderdale' into what I think is said, here's >what I get: > > "It's time for us to stand up to Ft. Lauderdale. > We've got to protect our children!" > > After that, I can't figure anything out. I know no one can be sure what >is said here, but I can't help but laugh thinking of a drunken Neil late at >night in a studio ranting and raving about college students on spring break >etc... Listen to the part yourself and see if you don't think that's what >is said here. The part starts about 24 seconds into the song. Last night I listen to this part on my Sony Diskman. The Sony DT-4 is great because it has a repeat mode that will keep playing one portion of the song over and over. Also I have found out that if I use the head phone jack and carefully insert the headphones, I can block out some of the tracks. For example, on 'Show, don't tell' I can block out Geddys vocals and plainly hear neil say 'give the jury direction....'. I know this sounds crazy, but it works if you use the right touch when placing the Headphones into the jack. Ok, getting back to my topic, after neil says "We've got to protect our children!" I can hear him saying' "The war must be just!" A few seconds after that, you can hear some chanting. Well, I still have not figured out what the chant is, but i'm working on it. Oh... Before anyone goes home tonight and tries this with their own CD player, I found that this only works on a certin size of headphones. I think the shaft of the jack has to be a certin size and length. However, listening to albums like this is a great experience. On 'Time stands still' You can listen to just Neils drum part and some of the accompining guitar work, but geddys voice is recorded on another track so it's blocked out (this makes a great way to sing along). Oh well, sorry for any spelling problems (English is not my major). Just wanted to make my small contribution to the NMS! OH, Would anyone like to guess what the new album is titled? My guess is "Never The Less". Just poped into my head and thought it sounded like a Rush album title ;) Mark Anders University of Kentucky UK04243@UKPR.UKY.EDU ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 22:33:12 EDT From: t47822@ursa.Calvin.EDU (Mark C. Turner) Subject: Ayn Rand's _Anthem_ In reference to the posting yesterday by (I'm sorry...I'm too lazy to go back through and read who it was) a gentleman claiming that the song Anthem is "obviously" taken from Ayn Rand's book by the same title - I must disagree. Alas, it is _2112_ , NOT _Anthem_ that more closely parallels the book. Have you read it? I know it's confusing but ... trust me. Mark C. Turner t47822@ursa.calvin.edu "We will call you Cygnus - the god of balance you shall be." - ORQ ---------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Still Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 20:59:57 PDT From: Dan Dickerman GSY 1-447-4425 <dickermn@hpcugsya.cup.hp.com> > At the very beginning of > "Time Stand Still," with the first guitar notes, there appears to be a nasty > droning sound underneath, like a bad taping or mixing job. Anybody else notice > it? Any comments? Just took a listen: to me, it sounds less like a "nasty droning" and more like a Taurus pedal (or other low synthesizer) augmenting the bass which doesn't appear until a measure later. It lasts pretty steadily through the intro on the album, but does not seem to be on the live version on ASOH. My guess is that if was unintentional, it would be very unlikely to be so well in tune. --Dan ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 00:00 EDT From: WHLEE@vms.cis.pitt.edu Subject: conserts & stuff Just a few things about conserts. I'm not sure, but I think the Steve Morse Band opened up for Rush in Dec '85 in Pittsburgh on PoW tour and they did not get a good response, but I don't believed they actually got booed off stage. I can't say as I have ever seen a band get booed and I have been to about 30 shows of different bands. [ Only 30? You need to get out more! :-) :rush-mgr ] I have skipped a few opening acts because I didn't like the opening band, but any band that I had never even heard before, I could not boo for one show. I even saw Winger open up for Bad Co. and I did not boo them, I sure as hell didn't like them and didn't come to see them, but I didn't boo them either. I skipped Mr. Big on the latest tour, which in my opinion is no big loss, but I don't remember their guitarist coming out to jam with Lifeson here in Pittsburgh. P.S. To the guy that drinks the Beast, I'm a poor college student so I love this beer, along with Busch and most other cheap beers. Have you tried Beast Light? I know, it's a light beer and light beer sucks, but with this spare tire that I got, anything helps. Besides, it's got the same shitty taste as the regular stuff, but it comes in a neat blue can(shield) instead of the regular red. P.P.S. Any other beer drinkers out there got any recommendations? [ Sure, that's easy. Brew your own. Hey, great beer for $10/case - you can't beat it. Which reminds me, I need to get that next batch of ale started... :rush-mgr ] ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 91 23:54:15 EDT From: pmw3y@calico.cs.Virginia.EDU Subject: beginning of Time Stand Still I had always assumed that the "droning" at the very beginning of TSS was an underlying bass synth of some sort, not a poor mixing job or anything like that. At least, that's what it sounds like to this non-musician's ear. I seem to remember the same thing just before TSS on both the HYF and Presto tours, accompanied by a "tick tock" clock sound. As has been mentioned in this space before, this month's issue of Guitar for the Practicing Musician has an interview with Alex Lifeson. Go check it out; it's pretty decent (at least the part that I read while standing in B. Dalton :) ob. Yes Quote "...and then they invented Rick Wakeman" ob. Rush Quote "yeah, I remember you...you were wearing jeans and a coat." ---------- Patrick Widener Internet: pmw3y@virginia.edu Department of Computer Science patrick@dirac.physics.jmu.edu University of Virginia ICBM_Net: 38.02 N, 78.30 W "Run DMC first said a DJ could be a band Stand on its own feet - Get you out your seat" ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 10:25:40 EDT From: jhs4h@uva.pcmail.Virginia.EDU Subject: Alex Interview In case you didn't know, the May issue of Guitar-For the Practicing Muscian went on sale at the news stands today, and has an interview with King Lerxst himself! This is not the usual 'well we started as a bar band . . . I play this and that with these quitars, etc' interview. Alex talks about what goes on before a show, how the boyz prepare, what they do at soundcheck, and also alot about recording the various live albums that they have done. There are also interesting stories about problems that they have had during the shows, etc. It's definately worth reading, even if you don't buy the magazine. james ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 07:25:48 -0700 From: wbarry@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Bill Barry) Subject: Atlas Shrugged and TV Screens Good day all! Yesterday somebody urged us all to read Ayn Rand's Anthem. I must admit, I have already read the book twice (it only takes about three hours) and it seems that the song Anthem off of Fly By Night is not really so much inspired by the book Anthem but is inspired by Rand's Atlas Shrugged. After reading that book (it only took me three months!) I listened to Anthem the song and found that the lyrics really emphasised the philosophy that is so inherent in Atlas Shrugged, but is not so directly pointed at in Anthem the book. So does anybody else see it this way? Off on another note- I saw Rush last June at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountainview,CA. This was the 5th Presto show I went to and was the second to last show on the tour for the band. That show was surprisingly different than the other four because of the three giant TV screens that showed the band playing live on the stage. My question is did they do this at any other of their shows? Also, as a long shot, did anybody get a copy of the video that hopefully was made during this show? Well I must be off! I'm on a cycling tour you know! Bill Barry (wbarry@cory.berkeley.edu) "Never turn your back on a monster!" ---------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Apr 91 14:03:02 EST From: bigal@wpi.WPI.EDU (Nathan Charles Crowell) Subject: Music of the Spheres I think the Music of the Spheres reference comes from the book Copernicus wrote. His book was the one the refuted the notion that the Earth was the center of the Universe (it isn't? :)) and showed that the Sun was really the center. He was only a little more clue-full! I believe "Music of the Spheres" is the title of the book. If I'm wrong, just call me a sped publicly. Nate ----------------------------------------------------------
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