| DECEMBER 2007 | © brianmay.com | |
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As
always, the opinions expressed in these pages are purely
and personally those of myself, Brian; they are not the
official views of Queen, or of any other organisation or
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Welcome
to BRI'S SOAPBOX |
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| **Fri 13 Dec 07**
Hi folks ? Christmas ? Good Cheer ? Stressed ? Well, I am ... I find the Christmas season hard going ... Right now we are back in the studio, myself, Roger, Paul Rodgers, and a highly trained team of crack boffins ! (sorry, that probably means something totally different these days ... ) In one way, it's focussing us and keeping the Christmas frenzy outside, but on the other hand, we all know it's going to hit us soon - and hiding isn't going to help ! ha ha! I managed to take a few moments off to revisit our old friend, the Fuzzball Comet ... now I have finally got my equipment together in some measure ... an equatorial mount for the camera that actually WORKS .... but I fear it may soon be time to let this chap go. It's only just a naked-eye object now ... in fact, if you didn't know where to look, I don't think anyone would notice it now. It's got very big ... much bigger than the angular size of the Sun or the Moon in the sky, but is now fading quite fast, as the envelope of ejecta spreads out. It's also speeding away from us, out towards the edge of the Solar System, where it will spend most of the next 8 years or so. It's a short-period comet - like Arnie, it will be back, but who knows if it will give us a show like this this next time. This is what I got last Friday night ... was quite pleased with this, and it is now my desk-top - looking at it relieves my stress somewhat .... I remember how small our Earth is (a tiny fraction of the size of this comet, with its coma) and how insignificant our problems really are. Enjoy ! Cheers © brianmay.com |
[See question HERE - about how far Quasars are from us?] Well, you know ... this is pretty much over my head too. But I DO have a strong feeling that we are blithely assuming that the Doppler shift effect is independent of distance from us, ie. independent of how far in the past we are looking . And I think there is plenty of room for doubt about this. I think Chris Lintott is you man! Lets ask him! Cheers © brianmay.com |
**Thu 13 Dec 07** See TiME article about a clam that scientists had to kill to ascertain it's age.... !!!! and letter HERE] This is unfortunately entirely typical. I think one of the reasons I returned to Science was to try to bring a little common sense and sensitivity to it. To remind people that being a scientist does not necessarily mean becoming blind to humanitarian issues. A hard task. C.S. Lewis's book "That Hideous Strength" is always in my mind. Perhaps, even more than '1984', it has come true ... Cheers © brianmay.com |
**Wed 12 Dec 07** [Brian's reaction on attending Led Zeppelin/Ahmet Concert which took place 10 December.] For me? Pure Joy. I was deliriously happy for them. And for me. A triumph even beyond expectations. Bri © brianmay.com |
**Sun 09 Dec 07** My Head, my Heart and my Soul are with you, all you good people who are campaigning for decent treatment of all animals. It is time. With love © brianmay.com |
**Thu 06 Dec 07** I am fully supporting the march on Sunday 9 December in London (Candlelit Procession, 2.30pm, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn) to bring the day closer when animals will no longer be 'used' in research of any kind. It is time. It is time for a full re-evaluation of our role on this planet. Nothing less will be enough. And it cannot be too soon. The time to start is now. I say this as a Scientist and a Human Being. As a scientist, there is no proof available that we are more important than the rest of the sentient creatures on this planet. As a human being ... in my heart, I know that the terrible indignities and pain suffered by these pitiful animals are unjustifiable in humanitarian terms. And do not tell me that the lives of our children depend on torturing these creatures. They have lied to you. They do not. I have all the evidence. End the suffering. We do not have the right. Love © brianmay.com |
**Sun 02 Dec 07** [In reply to a reader asking for retrospectively asking permission for his posting of Say It's Not True on youtube.... SEE LETTERS] Well, you know, Tom ... I have always had mixed feelings about things like this. But in this case, I personally think you have done us a service. This track is a FREE gift from us, so it seems to me the video should be also. So, as long as the quality is good, I think it's fine for it to be up on Youtube. Actually, since you have been so honest, I will too. It's fairly shocking in itself. I was so exhausted after finishing the work on the song, that I slept for about 14 hours, and then set about doing some promised stuff with my kids. And then I discovered that Roger had been on the TV, playing clips from this video, and I had not only not seen the piece, but had had no communications about it from our organisation whatsoever. So you can gather that this is one video I will never be claiming any credit for ! (although the idea of doing it in the first place was probably mine) ... Well, if you get any objections, they will not be from me ... and thank you for giving me the chance to see the video at last - I am actually gobsmacked to be saying this. And, since Brianmay.com is a completely independent website ... I am going to put up your link !!! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VYl-_uZcu64 [Say It's Not True]
all the very best © brianmay.com |
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Thanks folks, for the wonderful flood of messages about our download track. I'm quite overcome. After the intensity of the last 72 hours of 'polishing' of the track, I slept for most of the next day (or tried to, through the awful noise of builders which surrounds my house every day...), so I missed most of the 'launch' moments (this is tale very familiar to me, from way back in the days of "A Night at the Opera" - and further ...) so I got a shock, a very good shock, opening my E-mail box. I'm really glad that folks have been enjoying the song and the performance and the production - and some of you are very eloquent, to the point where I got pretty moved reading the messages. I wish I could write directly back to everyone, but will you please accept our sincere thanks for the support ... it will be a real boost for our morale, when we go back in to shape what we hope will be a worthy new studio album. Meanwhile ... enjoy ! Cheers P.S. Mind you ... after seeing Jeff Beck last night in terrifying form heading up a sensational band at Ronnie Scott's ... I might just have to give up Guitar Playing! Jeff is utterly, brilliantly innovative and dangerous, still ahead of us all after all these years ... I had to give myself a good talking-to on the way out, to remind myself that we all have our roads to follow, etc., etc ... In Jeff's hands, the guitar becomes almost an entirely new instrument ... he is quite unlike anyone or anything else we have ever seen ... the guitarist's guitarist ... the Guv'nor ! (I wrote a song to commemorate this fact ... remember?) It reminds me of seeing Jimi Hendrix, all those years ago. As a privileged spectator, having being thrilled, shocked, stunned, and nearly obliterated, you have to one of two things. Give up, or go home and practice a LOT!!! One of the best things about my life has been enjoying a relationship with many of the best guitarists in the world. I'm incredibly fortunate ... they're all inspiring, and great people too ... but I don't think I am out of line - I don't think there are many players out there anywhere who would quarrel with my next sentence. In the dark art of weaving magic from 6 metal strings .... respects to probably the greatest living exponent ... BECK. Bri © brianmay.com |
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