Chiff & Fipple's opponent is lying about Chiff & Fipple's record!  What else could Chiff & Fipple's opponent be lying about?  Our opponent will do or say anything to get elected! Our opponent has even gone so far as to not agree to refuse to decline to raise taxes! And our opponent has been seen standing next to a known possible liberal while Chiff & Fipple stands for what is right with America! Chiff & Fipple's opponent has taken filthy money from organizations which Chiff & Fipple doesn't approve of--while Chiff & Fipple has taken clean campaign contributions from organizations we don't hate! Soon, you will be seeing campaign commercials from our opponent which will say that Chiff & Fipple is lying about our opponent.  Our opponent is lying about Chiff & Fipple lying!! Our opponent is known to have associated with a person who has a known relative who has a former employee that has been in prison! This criminal has enjoyed the good life in prison while our elderly parents have had to choose between paying the rent, paying for prescription medications or supporting our Constitutional right to bear arms!  Who do you want as your Internet Tinwhistle Media Resource?  Chiff & Fipple, or our opponent, or Osama bin Ladenor the Ayatollah Khomeini?  Or perhaps someone that would be endorsed by Hollywood types ? (By the way, Barbara Streisand is often impersonated by "drag queens"!   Chiff & Fipple is NEVER impersonated by drag queens!  However, we have been endorsed by drag racers and several Queens .  And, finally, are you going to settle for more lies or are you going to vote for someone who will tell you the truth about how Republicans have managed to take over all branches of the federal gov////////BRK////////////[.}INTERRPTPROTOCOLHANGINGCHADv2.2.//////BRK/END

//DELETE//RESUMING

The big Fred Rose whistle give-away is now closed.  I'll be in touch with the winner.  The drawing will occur on Tuesday of this coming week.

Last year, I had the opportunity to visit the Chieftains backstage at a concert as part of my interview with Paddy Moloney.  In the middle of the interview, Derek Bell sort of wandered in to the room.  In spite of the fact that I was sitting there with Paddy asking him questions with a tape recorder on the desk, it still took several attempts for Paddy to explain to Derek that an interview was in progress.  When he left, Paddy just sort of rolled his eyes.  I hated to see Derek Bell go.  He was a gifted musician.  Thank God for his long and splendid career.

I commissioned Eddie Finn, psychiatrist-biker-bluegrass/old time musician to do the following review of The Chieftains' Down the Old Plank Road - The Nashville Sessions

Let's dispense with the obvious first: The Chieftains are an
incredibly talented bunch of guys; they couldn't hit a sour note if they tried, and they'd have great difficulty making a "bad" CD. In Bluegrass/Old Time music, the closest anyone comes to such golden status is probably Doc Watson, who is also supremely gifted, never hits a bad note, and who isn't on this CD but should be. Following Doc's example would have been a smart move - He has occasionally strayed from his primary repertoire to play various styles of music, but on each occasion, it's readily evident that you're listening to a Doc Watson record.

Here, the scope is so wide, the styles are so varied, and artists are so very different, that the genre is busted. Is this a Chieftains recording? If so, where are the Chieftains? One little intro here, and an instrumental break there, plus a little vocal, just doesn't get it for me. But wait - maybe this is a bluegrass/country roots record. If so, why the snare drum on a fiddle tune, overriding Earl Scruggs' banjo (this is blatant sacrilege in bluegrass circles) - and what's that crazy piano doing on the classic "Give the Fiddler a Dram"???

That said, there are, as one would expect from the Chieftains, moments of brilliance here. Bluegrass diva Alison Krauss lends her voice to a sublime "Molly Ban" - sheer ecstasy. Likewise Patty Griffin's lullaby "Whole Heap of Little Horses". And there are times when it all comes together quite nicely - as in Buddy & Julie Miller's "Country Blues" and Del McCoury's "Rain and Snow". On these tracks, one can discern both the Celtic roots as well as the Country/Bluegrass branches as a seamless whole, which, I think, was the idea behind this project to start with. Contrast these with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder playing "Cindy" - first it's bluegrass, then it's Celtic, then it's (abruptly) back to bluegrass. Or Lyle Lovett crooning "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" - umm, excuse me, but one doesn't "croon" in Celtic, Bluegrass, or Country, does one?

I'm afraid that this recording won't satisfy die-hard fans of either Celtic, Bluegrass, or Country music. A little more focus, one way or the other, would have helped. Casual listeners will probably appreciate the variety (like casual viewers appreciated variety shows in the 70's). As for me, I'm going to learn how to program my CD player and skip the objectionable stuff.

Eddie Finn

I regret to say that I have similar feelings about this CD even--Dale

V.  Whistle Jewelry by Jessie Kislin

We're happy to endorse this project by Jessie Kislin:

I am writing to offer you some sterling silver tinwhistle jewelry that I have designed. One third of the profits for these sales will go to a charity of Dale Wisely's choosing. (I choose The Crisis Center--DW).

More pictures can be seen at the following URLs:

http://home.hvc.rr.com/kislin/whistle%20pendant/whistlependant.jpg

http://home.hvc.rr.com/kislin/whistle%20pendant/whistlekeyring.jpg

http://home.hvc.rr.com/kislin/whistle%20pendant/side.jpg

All materials (except, obviously, the black cord) are solid sterling silver. The piece is about two inches long including the ring at the top. Insured shipping will be $4, plus $1 for every $100 worth of insurance above $50.  Prices are as follows:

Pendant on your choice of 16" or 18" snake chain, $24

Pendant on black cord, $19

Keyring, $24

Earrings, $38

Please contact me at jessie@jessiekislin.com to order. You can pay by credit card (I can get the number over the phone or in a couple of separate e-mails, for safety).

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

:) Jessie

VI.  LIMERICK from the DARK CONTINENT

I met a young boy named Kevin,
who asked "Do they play whistles in heaven?"
I said, "There's no doubt,"
its the place to hang out,
sure I'll be there twenty-four, seven..."

Irish Terry

(Subscriber Irish Terry is a missionary in Africa).

VII. AT LAST:  Clearer Definition of Chiff

Hello Dale,

On the C&F FAQ page, you have a definition of "chiff". I stumbled across a couple of definitions of "chiff", as it applies to pipe organs, and thought I'd pass them along. (I don't know if this will clarify, or muddy it even more.)

Chiff

Pipes that have a clear edge to the sound are often described as having "chiff." Any kind of pipe can have chiff but principals almost always have this clear attack point.

Attack Point: The moment at which the pipe begins to speak, when the key is pressed, is the attack point. Different kinds of pipes have a variety of attack points ranging from soft to strong and clear.

----

We all know about "Chiff". It is the little incise or transient that an  organ pipe gives out naturally when it begins its tone. The chiff sounds like "KAA. . . " and sometimes "CHAA. . ." or even "SHAA."  With too little wind it takes on a tubercular quality, a kind of cough. In E. Power Biggs's words, the chiff is the consonant that precedes the vowel. Using his metaphor it is easy to show that the chiff, or something like it, is essential to articulateness--for: Who ever heard of articulation without consonants? Some form of chiff was present in all the early organs.

Regards,

Paul Petty

VIII. Clarke USA

Excerpts from a letter from our dear friend, Norman Dannatt of the Clarke company.

Hi Dale,

I hope you are well and flourishing....

The big news is that there is a new company. It is called CLARKE U.S.A. ... We have gone into partnership with Jim Rementer and Michael Copeland in the States. Jim has taken over my email activities in his own company there.  It is all very exciting. I am hoping that I might be able to go to Philadelphia sometime in the future to see how things are there. Jim Weedon pops over there regularly..

I have seen the latest Megs today. The mouthpiece has been improved - a different material with (to my ear) a better sound, and they are now being painted in a beautiful metallic lacquer.

....

I hope you and your family are well and happy. Give my regards to them.

Your friend

Norman

X.  DON'T FORGET TO WINTERIZE YOUR WHISTLES

...before the first hard freeze.

Godspeed, Warren Zevon!

Enjoy every sandwich.

They say love conquers all,

you can't start it like a car,

you can't stop it with a gun.