A "Relatively" Great Outing...

Image from the PHENIX experiment

This weekend I stayed in New York and did some work on Saturday. This morning, I decided to check out a newspaper and just see what looked interesting to occupy the day. The resulting outing took me to the Summer Open House Series at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The event featured a tour of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The people at the lab actually pronounce the acronym as if it were "Rick." This national research treasure is described on their Website as "a world-class scientific research facility that began operation in 2000, following 10 years of development and construction. Hundreds of physicists from around the world use RHIC to study what the universe may have looked like in the first few moments after its creation. RHIC drives two intersecting beams of gold ions head-on, in a subatomic collision. What physicists learn from these collisions may help us understand more about why the physical world works the way it does, from the smallest subatomic particles, to the largest stars."
The tour took us to the 2.6-mile main particle accelerator, as well as to the sites of two major experiments -- PHENIX (Pioneering High Energy Nuclear Interaction eXperiment) and STAR (Solenoidal Tracker At RHIC). The scale and complexity of these facilities are overwhelming.


We went underground into the tunnel that houses the accelerator. A staff physicist described the equipment, its origins, function, and purpose. He answered several questions ranging from "Is this tunnel radioactive?" to "How do you make sure no one is left in the tunnel before you activate the equipment?" We also saw a static display of a section of the "tube" that carries the ionic stream and the magnets that guide the beam. It must have been a challenging construction project, and we were informed that it was the only project in recent DOE history that was completed on time and within budget.

The experiments were both undergoing maintenance, so we were able to see their "innards." These are gigantic structures that normally surround a segment of the collider.


The facility is used to study high-energy subatomic particles. In a typical experiment, clusters of ionized gold atoms are accelerated in opposite directions to speeds of 99.995% the speed of light. They are then allowed to collide and disintegrate into thousands of subatomic fragments. The experimental equipment attempts to record the identity and paths of the constituent pieces. These are then studied by the experimenters to try to gain insight into what goes on at these energy levels and conditions. The results have surprised the researchers. The Website describes much more than I can describe here.

Needless to say, I was impressed. Almost exactly fifty years ago, I was a semi-finalist in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search as a result of my interest in the nature of subatomic particles. My project was the design of a liquid freon bubble chamber. That would have been the state-of-the-art way of observing subatomic particle tracks in 1958. Today, bubble chambers only exist in museums and memories. How times change!

In Memory of David Schnaufer...

Several years ago I was taking a music class at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops in Elkins, West Virginia. One day at lunch in the cafeteria, my friend Keith Young, a well known mountain dulcimer builder, introduced me to David Schnaufer, a brilliant dulcimer player. At one point, David had lived with Keith and his wife Mary in their home in Falls Church, VA.

I learned later that David was THE significant dulcimer player in Nashville. To quote his Web site, "Schnaufer won the first National Mountain Dulcimer Competition in 1976 as well as winning seven additional local, state and regional contests. He was a member of N.A.R.A.S. (Nashville Chapter), and was the first dulcimer player to ever accumulate enough major label master sessions to qualify for membership.

Schnaufer's Nashville projects included award-winning videos of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Fisher's Hornpipe" and special musical projects with Emmylou Harris and Johnny Cash. His session credits included work with The Judds, Kathy Mattea, Holly Dunn, Dan Seals, and Hank Williams, Jr. He toured as opening act with the Everly Brothers and appeared on Mark O'Connor's "New Nashville Cats."

Schnaufer's solo recordings included collaborations with several of the world's most respected pickers including Chet Atkins, Mark O'Connor, Mark Knopfler, and Albert Lee. He also developed learning materials including "Swing Nine Yards of Calico," a book and tape set, and "Learning Mountain Dulcimer," an instructional video.

A dulcimer program at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music began in 1995 under Schnaufer's guidance as Adjunct Associate Professor of Dulcimer. This program grew to include over 50 community and university students. A Master Class in the summer of 1996 brought 14 students representing 9 states to Blair for dulcimer study. Schnaufer also taught numerous workshops throughout the United States including Appalachian State University, Boone, NC; Kentucky Music Week, Louisville, KY; Augusta Heritage Center, Davis & Elkins College, WV; and the Denver Folklore Center."

He was a very influential musician. I saw him in concert a couple of times and was amazed at the music he could produce from such a humble instrument.

David playing for our anniversary, July 2005

In July 2005, Mary Ann and I celebrated our first anniversary by spending a weekend in Nashville. I learned that David was going to be presenting a dulcimer workshop on Sunday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and suggested to Mary Ann that we attend. While she was in the CMHOF Gift Shop, I sneaked into the venue where David was setting up and asked if he would play his rendition of "Southwind" as an anniversary gift to Mary Ann. We sat in the front row, and halfway through David's performance he turned to Mary Ann and announced to the audience that he was dedicating his next song as an anniversary gift to both of us. We both cried at the beautiful rendition of this haunting melody.

Sadly, David died a few months later. It was a huge loss to those of us who treasure traditional and old time music. I invite you to enjoy this video:

YouTube Video of David Playing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"

In Humble Gratitude...

Today, through the grace of God, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the love and support of my loved ones and friends, I celebrate 25 years of sober living. Mary Ann gave me a beautiful sterling silver commemorative medallion to carry. I trust that I'll never forget where I've been.

A Guided Tour...

Igor, Fire Up the Theremin...

This week I've been working with my former leader, Paul Bolinger. We also welcomed a new worker, Barbara Minke, to our team. Last night, Paul and his lovely bride Camille, Barbara, and I all went out to dinner. On the way, we drove by 112 Ocean Avenue, the site of The Amityville Horror.

Camille had researched the location where, in November 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. killed his mother, father, two sisters, and two brothers. In 1977, the book The Amityville Horror was published, describing alleged paranormal events that had beset George and Kathy Lutz and their three children. The Lutz family had purchased the house and moved in in December 1975. The book became the basis for a series of movies.

So now I feel that I really have been to Amityville...

We went to dinner at Bellissimo Ristorante Italiano, a marvelous place indeed. I had Tortellini del Nonno, a cheese filled pasta with shrimp and sundried tomatoes in alfredo sauce. Very dietetic!

An Erection Lasting More than Four Hours...

Last week, as I indicated recently, I went home and erected a new gazebo. It was a great experience! My friend Monty Love gave generously of his time. He came up from Huntsville both Saturday and Monday evening.

On Saturday we completed putting the floor in place and getting the posts and rails put in place.

Monday evening we put up the roof panels. Later in the week, I got the rest of the roof decking finished and ready for the roofers to come.
When they have finished, I'll add a picture of the final product.

Thanks Monty and Dinah! And thanks to Mary Ann for overseeing the setting of the foundation slab and patience!

And as promised, here's a picture of the finished gazebo!

A Life Well Spent...

Today I attended the beautiful memorial service for Joan Mead, my sister-in-law. In many ways, Joni was more like a sister than an in-law. We were very close to contemporaries and she lived with my parents for the better part of a year in the 1960's while my brother Willy was deployed with his Marine Corps fighter squadron. For many years I was the bachelor brother and Bill and Joni hosted me on many holiday weekends. Joni was very much a part of my life.

Mark and David, her sons and my nephews, both spoke eloquently of her life, her love, and her influence. I was proud of them both, along with Laura, David's wife. Laura was a major caretaker in Joni's last months.

Joan died peacefully last week. Her obituary is so beautifully written, I want to share it:

Joan English Mead entered peacefully into God’s arms July 2, 2008. Born in Baton Rouge, LA, May 28, 1940 as Joan Marie English, she enjoyed her early childhood in Bay St. Louis, MS, returning to the MS Gulf Coast during her marriage. Joni as she was known, graduated from Christ the King girls school in Atlanta, GA, and counted those years as some of her best. During her years on the Gulf Coast, she was a librarian for the city of Pass Christian, MS. For many years, she enjoyed a career with the NOAA library at the Stennis Space Center. She was also a friend of Bill W. and was active in helping many women through that friendship. Joni loved art and creative writing; she spent her early retirement years taking classes at the local college in those subjects. Recently relocated to Orlando, FL to be near her son, daughter-in-law and grandsons, Joni was a resident of The Bridge. There she was a popular resident during her stay, as she volunteered her writing services to other residents and took notes on their life stories on her laptop computer. Joni will best be remembered as Grandma Joni to her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Emmett and Marie English, her brother John and husband William H. Mead. She is survived by her sons, David Richard Mead of Orlando, and Mark William Mead of Costa Rica, her daughter-in-law, Laura Mead and her grandsons, Canon Harrison Mead and Forrest William Mead, son-in-law, Michael Brown, her brothers Richard English, Robert English, Michael English and sister Mary Kludac along with numerous nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all. The family asks that remembrances be made by donating to your local Hospice office or to the cancer research organization of your choice. Joni’s memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, Winter Park, FL on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 11:00 am.

Rest in peace, Joni...