Ripley's Believe It or Not by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for November 23, 2021

Here’s an old joke with a new twist:

A man from Texas, a man from California, and a man from Oregon are all sitting around a campfire. The Texan takes a flask from his pocket, uncorks it, takes one swig, and then hurls the flask high into the air. He takes his six-shooter out, aims, and BLAM! glass shards and whiskey are coming down.

“Why’d you do that?” the other men want to know.

“We have a LOT of whiskey in Texas,” he explains.

Not to be outdone, the Californian removes a wine bottle from his pocket, uncorks it, takes a sip, and then hurls the rest of the bottle into the air. He takes his six-shooter out, and BLAM! glass shards and wine are coming down.

“We have a LOT of wine in California,” he says.

Without saying a word, the Oregonian takes out his gun and shoots the Californian.

There’s been a few cases of spontaneous creative talent following major brain injuries, but music is particularly interesting, since it has such a unique relationship to brain function.

If anyone here is familiar with the stories of the frozen post-encephalitis patients (recorded in Oliver Sack’s book Awakenings and the 1990 film of the same name) patients who were considered catatonic would still respond to music, and even specifically to music they preferred before their condition reached that state.

Can one find that Welsh wonder pianist on iTunes?

Well. I’ll be busy for the next 8 days. (“Why are you wearing ear buds during our nice Thanksgiving meal?”)

It would take longer to listen to Bach’s complete works than those of ol’ Wolf — due partly to the fact that Mozart died at age 35, while Bach was still dictating music on his deathbed at age 65. Still far too young, but he was very prolific.

The RBION topic today is music, so eager to follow the topic of the day, I offer the following.

Three musicians and their wives are all killed in a terrible accident on their way to a music conference.

They are music teachers — a band director, orchestra director, and choir director. They arrive at the pearly gates and, after a bit of a wait, St. Peter appears and asks them what they want. The one steps forward and says, “I’m a band director, and my wife and I just died and would like to get into heaven.”.

St. Peter laughs, “Oh, that’s a good one! We don’t allow band directors into heaven. All you do is drink, drink, drink, especially when you go to conferences! And, to top it off, your wife’s name is ‘Brandy’!”.

Heads hanging, the band director and his wife depart for the other place, and the second musician steps forward. “I am an orchestra director, and my wife and I were killed in the same accident. We’d like to get into heaven.”

“Ha!” says St. Peter. “Orchestra directors are not allowed in heaven! All you think about is money, money, money! You’re always wanting to get paid! And see, even your wife’s name is ‘Penny’!”

As the orchestra director and his wife head off in the other direction, the choir director looks at his wife and says, “C’mon, Fanny, we’re never gonna get into this place!”.

Until next time.

Three men are on a desert island for over a year, and are surprised to find a lamp while they’re scouting around. “Let’s try it out,” one of them says, and starts rubbing it. Sure enough, a genie pops out, to their delight. “Thanks for freeing me,” he says. “I’ll grant each one of you a single wish as a token of my gratitude.” “I’d like to be home with my family again,” one says. “Your wish is granted.” Poof! The guy’s gone, transported home. “Well, I miss my life back home as well. I’m very rich, you see; I want to be home to continue my life of luxury,” says one of remaining men. “Your wish is granted.” Poof! He’s gone as well. “And what do you desire?” the genie asks the last man. “I want to be back with my friends!” he says. “Your wish is granted,” the genie says, as he disappears. Poof! The other two men are back on the island.

No wonder Best Buy became popular. Free keyboard w/ purchase of every Mozart (something).

I don’t understand… Best buy what ?

Roy Calloway then went on to form a group with others who suddenly found they could play a musical instrument called “The Strokes.”

A friend of mine injured his back and spent many years in severe pain. Then he had a stroke and no longer had any back pain.

Roy later admitted he could always play the accordion and the church organ.

Take care, may forgotten story teller Judy “Look Them In The Eye And They’ll Believe Anything” Reaganord be with you, and gesundheit.

and you left out an extremely important fact—- Mozart died when he was just 35

Mozart wrote over 600 pieces of music, died when he was 35, so that means he wrote over 20 pieces a year. Impressive! Some say he wrote his first pieces in the womb.

Roy Calloway can suddenly play the piano after a stroke at 78!? There’s hope for me yet!

Considering how much of Mozart’s music I’ve listened to so far in my life, it looks like I am going to need a lot more than eight days.

I had two strokes and still can not play a damn insrustmlnt or carry a tune.

Does it really take 8 days to listen to all of Mozarts music? Or does it just seem that long?

I hate best buy

Re :Mozart— I don’t understand why anyone would want to listen to Mozart for 8 days non-stop, or even 1 day, in the first place. I listen almost exclusively to Classical music, but do not care for Mozart. There may be one or two pieces, but that’s it.

Wow that’s the old joke, “Doc will I be able to play the piano when you’ve cured me?”

“Of course.”

“You’re a GREAT doctor! I NEVER could play piano before!”

And it would probably take a year non-stop to listen to all of Buckethead’s output. :p (I’m a fan, but it’s pretty ridiculous…)

I never knew that about Best Buy.