Saturday, November 23, 2024

#AnipalHB Winter Sports Coloring Pages

Snowglobe for the Anipal Holiday Bazaar
Scavenger Hunt

 

Winter sports have been around for a long time, starting in places with lots of snow and ice. People in cold regions like Europe, North America, and the mountains of Asia came up with fun ways to enjoy winter, from skiing down hills to skating on frozen lakes. Over time, these sports became competitions, like the Winter Olympics, where athletes from all over the world show their amazing skills.

I’ve shared pictures of cute animals enjoying winter sports as a fun quiz on Twitter/X. Check them out and see how many sports you can name!

Thank you for playing the #AnipalHB #Nipclub Winter Sports Quiz. Stay warm and have fun!

 

First Shift, 11 AM EST

Bobsleigh is a winter sport where teams race down an icy track in a sled, going super fast
Stoats in a Bobsleigh
Curling is a winter sport where players slide heavy stones on ice toward a target, using brooms to guide them.
Cats Curling
Tobogganing is sliding down a snowy hill on a long, flat sled for fun.
Anipals Joyfully Riding a Toboggan
Downhill skiing is zooming down a snowy hill on long, thin skis, using poles to help balance.
Bunny Enjoying Downhill Skiing

 

Figure skating is a sport where skaters perform jumps, spins, and dances on ice.
Graceful Cat Figure Skating
Ice hockey is a fast-paced game where players skate on ice and use sticks to hit a puck into the other team’s goal.
Polar Bears Playing Ice Hockey
Ice skating is gliding across ice using special shoes with metal blades on the bottom.
Cats Ice Skating on a Lake
Snowboarding is sliding down a snowy hill while standing on a big board.
Snowboarding in the Mountains
Speed skating is a sport where skaters race each other on ice, going as fast as they can.
Lithe Cats Speed Skating

 

Second Shift, 5 PM EST

Ice climbing is a sport where people use special tools to climb up frozen waterfalls, icy cliffs, or glaciers.
Monkeys Ice Climbing
Ice fishing is catching fish through a hole drilled in frozen water, usually while sitting in a warm shelter.
 Seals Ice Fishing By Their Cozy Ice Shack
Luge is a sport where you lie on your back on a small sled and race feet-first down an icy track.
An Otter Riding a Luge
Ski jumping is a sport where skiers go down a big ramp, take off, and fly through the air to see how far they can jump.
A Kangaroo Ski Jumping
A Lion Gracefully Slaloming
A Lion Gracefully Slaloming
The biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and target shooting, testing speed and accuracy.
A Dog Competing in a Biathlon

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Renaissance Music for #NipclubExtra #RenFaire

  • Medieval Music (500-1450) was mostly written for churches and royal courts. It was simple, yet beautiful.
    1. Guillaume Dufay - "Missa L'homme armé" (The Hilliard Ensemble, ECM Records)
      Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474) was a French composer and poet. He worked in Italy and France, blending French and Italian styles. Dufay's music showcased elegance, harmony, and expressive melodies.
      "Missa L'homme armé" exemplifies Renaissance music's key features:
      - Polyphony (interweaving melodies)
      - Complex harmonies
      - Use of popular tunes (L'homme armé)
      - Balanced structure and proportions
      - Showcase of vocal virtuosity
    2. Johannes Ockeghem - "Requiem Mass" (Tallis Scholars, Gimell Records)
      Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1410-1497) was a Flemish composer and singer. He worked in France, influencing Renaissance music. Ockeghem's innovative use of counterpoint and expressive melodies set him apart.
      Ockeghem's "Requiem Mass" bridges Medieval and Renaissance styles:
      - Blends chant and polyphony
      - Simple harmonies with emerging complexity
      - Foreshadows Renaissance innovations
      - Demonstrates transitional era's musical evolution
      - Sets stage for future choral masterpieces
  • Renaissance Music (1450-1600) revived ancient Greek and Roman styles. It became more complex and expressive.
    1. Palestrina - "Missa Papae Marcelli" (The Sixteen, CORO Records)
      Beautiful choice!
      Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c. 1525-1594) was an Italian composer and master of Renaissance polyphony. He worked in Rome, creating sacred music that epitomized elegance, balance, and harmony.
      "Missa Papae Marcelli" exemplifies Renaissance music's peak:
      - Masterful polyphony (interweaving melodies)
      - Perfect balance of voices and harmony
      - Imitation and counterpoint techniques
      - Classical proportions and structure
      - Showcase of Palestrina's signature clarity and serenity

      Interesting fact: "Missa Papae Marcelli" was composed to prove polyphonic music could be intelligible and beautiful, addressing concerns of Church reformers.
    2. William Byrd - "Mass for Four Voices" (The Tallis Scholars, Gimell Records)
      William Byrd's "Mass for Four Voices" is a masterpiece.
      1. Structural significance: Kyrie is the opening movement, setting the tone for the Mass.
      2. Musical beauty: Byrd's Kyrie showcases his signature contrapuntal style.
      3. Emotional depth: The Kyrie eloquently conveys a sense of reverence and supplication.
    3. John Dowland - "Flow My Tears" (Julian Bream, RCA Records)
      Beautiful choice!
      John Dowland (1563-1626) was an English composer and lutenist. A master of melancholic melodies, Dowland's music reflected his travels and Catholic sympathies. His songs and lute pieces remain iconic.
      "Flow My Tears" exemplifies English Renaissance music:
      - Expressive, melancholic melody
      - Innovative lute accompaniment
      - Poignant lyrics exploring sorrow and longing
      - Use of chromaticism and dissonance for emotional depth
      - Emblematic of Dowland's signature introspective style
      Interesting fact: "Flow My Tears" is part of Dowland's "Lachrimae" collection, inspired by his own tears and sorrow.
  • Baroque Music (1600-1750) was dramatic and ornate.
    1. Monteverdi - "L'Orfeo" (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Teldec Records)
      Milestone opera!
      Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was an Italian composer, singer, and instrumentalist. A pioneer of Baroque opera, Monteverdi's innovative use of harmony, rhythm, and expressive text-setting revolutionized music.
      - Interweaves recitative, aria, and chorus
      - Emphasis on dramatic expression and storytelling
      - Innovative harmonies and dissonance
      - Orchestral accompaniment with diverse instruments
      - Establishes opera as a prominent musical genre
      Interesting fact: "L'Orfeo" was commissioned by the Gonzaga family and premiered in Mantua, Italy. It merged mythology, music, and theater, redefining entertainment.
    2. Vivaldi - "The Four Seasons" (Itzhak Perlman, London Philharmonic, EMI Records)
      Iconic choice!
      Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian composer, violinist, and priest. He revolutionized concerto writing, creating programmatic music that evoked scenes and emotions.
      "Spring" from "The Four Seasons" exemplifies Baroque program music:
      - Vivid violin solos depicting natural scenes
      - Innovative use of instrumental imitations (birdsong, thunder)
      - Sonata da chiesa structure with virtuosic passages
      - Representational music, linking notes to narrative
      - Showcase of Vivaldi's mastery of concerto form
      Interesting fact: "The Four Seasons" was part of Vivaldi's "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione" (The Contest Between Harmony and Invention), Op. 8.
    3. Handel - "Messiah" (George Frideric Handel, Academy of Ancient Music, Decca Records)
      George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): German-born British composer, renowned for operas, oratorios, and instrumental works.
      "Messiah" exemplifies Baroque music with its grandeur, complex harmonies, and ornate ornamentation, showcasing Handel's mastery of counterpoint and choruses.
      Interesting fact: Handel wrote "Messiah" in just 24 days.
    4. Bach - "Cello Suites" (Yo-Yo Ma, Sony Classical)
      Timeless masterpiece!
      Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer and organist. A master of Baroque counterpoint, Bach's music encompasses orchestral suites, passions, and sacred works.
      "Cello Suites" (BWV 1007-1012) exemplify Baroque instrumental music:
      - Unaccompanied cello showcasing technical virtuosity
      - Six suites with allemande, courante, sarabande, and gigue
      - Innovative use of counterpoint and harmony
      - Exploration of cello's expressive capabilities
      - Emblematic of Bach's mastery of instrumental composition
      Interesting fact: The "Cello Suites" were likely composed during Bach's Köthen period (1717-1723) for Prince Leopold.
  • Classical Music (1750-1820) emphasized balance, clarity, and emotion.
    1. Haydn - "Symphonies Nos. 94-104" (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly, Decca Records)
      Legendary symphonies!
      Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer and master of Classical symphonic form. His innovative and prolific output paved the way for Mozart and Beethoven. "Symphonies Nos. 94-104" (London Symphonies) exemplify Classical symphonic music:
      - Balanced structure, harmony, and melody
      - Expanded orchestration and dynamic range - Programmatic elements (e.g., "Surprise" Symphony No. 94)
      - Virtuosic violin and orchestral writing
      - Haydn's signature wit, humor, and emotional depth
      Interesting fact: These symphonies were composed for Haydn's London tours (1791-1795), showcasing his international appeal.
    2. Mozart - "Requiem Mass" (Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon)
      Mozart's majestic swan song.
      Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was a child prodigy and Austrian composer. His innovative, melodic, and harmonically rich music spanned symphonies, operas, and chamber works. "Requiem Mass in D minor" (K. 626) exemplifies Classical choral music:
      - Soaring vocals and intricate choruses
      - Dramatic contrasts and expressive dynamics
      - Innovative use of chromaticism and counterpoint
      - Autobiographical elements, reflecting Mozart's final days
      - Unfinished, completed by Franz Süssmayr after Mozart's passing
      Interesting fact: Commissioned anonymously by Count Franz von Walsegg, Mozart believed he was writing his own requiem.
    3. Beethoven - "Symphonies Nos. 1-3" (Vienna Philharmonic, Simon Rattle, EMI Records)
      Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer and pianist. He expanded classical music's emotional depth, harmonic complexity, and expressive range.
      - Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" (1803-1804): Revolutionary, expressive, and expansive
      Interesting fact: Beethoven initially dedicated "Eroica" to Napoleon, but renounced it upon his imperial coronation.
  • Short Songs/Samples
    1. Palestrina - "Sicut cervus" (The Sixteen, CORO Records)
    2. Dowland - "Come Again" (Julian Bream, RCA Records)
    3. Monteverdi - "Tu se' morta" (from L'Orfeo, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Teldec Records)
    4. Vivaldi - "Spring" (from The Four Seasons, Itzhak Perlman, London Philharmonic, EMI Records)
    5. Bach - "Air on the G String" (Yo-Yo Ma, Sony Classical)

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Here There Be Pirates!

Sail Wi' #OwensBlackPaw

'Tis me birfday! And Talk Like A Pirate Day! Come to #nipclub on X for Here there be PIRATES! #NipClub September 19th, 2024.

More info on the Owens black Paw blog, or follow the #OwensBlackPaw hashtag on X.

OTRB Pals Updates

Purrrrr The #nipclub theme this week is A Visit with our Pals at Rainbow Bridge at #NipClub Oct.13th, 2022. We OGs have seen many pals go OTRB. Many of the OGs have also gone OTRB, and some of them still pawty wif us.

I just thought it would be a nice thing to gather photos of a few of my favorite OTRB pals.

Have I missed anybody? Let me know! Tweet their twitter handle, dates, and a clear photo - please, complete ears! - at me!

Thanks to CYMI Technology for the excellent Tweet Intent Generator.
Thanks to Tiptricks.com: How to Create a Photo Gallery in Blogger Blog Pages or Posts.


Furends

@sanjeethecat
@myjaffa
@petiethecat
@tinypearlcat
@danapixie TSK
@indulgedfurries Raven
@nocrybabydogs Daffy
@dogstoyevsky
@isagold
@leopussman
@puppynumber7 Tom
@slinky_the_cat
@toughteddybear
@dylcat1
@pandafur
tiggybean
@3phibotticelli Phi
@boriskitty
@cobalttash
@furrrrguson
@maggietkat
@maggietkat Rudy
@MariodaCat
@nancycakeface
@samethewatcher
@SeattleP Jeego
@sisfurcats Bugs and Chilipepper
@Skeeterthetabby
@terenceterrier
@cinnimini2
@mariapulk Cassie and Spider
@theNascarkitty and @_Bill_the_cat
@whskr Dash
@duchesscrabtree
@jazzmancat
@jessiejaney Jessie
@puzthecat
@tildatoo
@Toddyfur
@3phibotticelli Sadie
@arliejo
@chazzthedog
@cybercat919
@DCKitty
@deaf_lottie
@doggymolly
@frankencat1
@hollycatrocks
@indulgedfurries Tilly
@jos_orpin Felix and Jasper
@kingtuttifruiti
@lilyluwhot
@lilyluwhot Luna
@4catsstrapski Bode
@madlabm
@mattiedog
@meowgirls2 Penny
@pepperpom
@AngelSaylor0517
@AngelSaylor0517 and Menifee
@ladygreyfox Obi
@CathyKeisha
@OutwoodsCat Cilla

Humans

@petiethecat Mama Louise
@nocrybabydogs Ingrid
@scubafee (@dogstoyevsky)
@toddyfur Kevin
@mariodacat Mary
@jessiejaney Jane
@CathyKeisha Pattie Kleinke

Note to self:
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Added for later, 95% 2 column <section id="tr-photogallery2">

Pet Clothing