John A. (Jay) Cross
@johnacross.bsky.social
Working on historical Commedia dell'Arte plays. Interested in: Astronomy/Cosmology, Movie-making, Photography, Shakespeare, Other theater, Medieval Science, SCA, and other things that amuse me.
#CdAHistory Last night, we looked again at a play we've been tinkering with, and Mike started a discussion that lead to something obvious we'd been missing. There is a huge tension built up about people owing money, and the whole plot is trying to fix that (and love). Only the love was resolved ...
November 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
#CdAHistory Last night, we looked again at a play we've been tinkering with, and Mike started a discussion that lead to something obvious we'd been missing. There is a huge tension built up about people owing money, and the whole plot is trying to fix that (and love). Only the love was resolved ...
I continue to watch "The Curse of Oak Island". The archeology & history of the 1600s in NS is interesting. They haven't said this, but I am suspecting that someone (William Phips & co.) came and took the treasure back in 1689-90 to fund a military expedition to Quebec.
November 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I continue to watch "The Curse of Oak Island". The archeology & history of the 1600s in NS is interesting. They haven't said this, but I am suspecting that someone (William Phips & co.) came and took the treasure back in 1689-90 to fund a military expedition to Quebec.
Space weather going on.
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Space weather going on.
I have some things to do, but they seem like loose amorphous things, so I guess the FIRST thing is trying to more clearly define what the other things are. Maybe shopping at a hardware store will help.
November 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I have some things to do, but they seem like loose amorphous things, so I guess the FIRST thing is trying to more clearly define what the other things are. Maybe shopping at a hardware store will help.
Peanuts question: What do you think happened to Peppermint Patty when she became an adult?
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Peanuts question: What do you think happened to Peppermint Patty when she became an adult?
Earthworm on a non permeable surface.
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Earthworm on a non permeable surface.
Is the branch of Hulu that streams in Connecticut called CTHULU?
November 9, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Is the branch of Hulu that streams in Connecticut called CTHULU?
A popular current network TV show is "High Potential" about a very smart ADHD woman who's life is a mess, but she starts helping the police solve crimes. It is based on a French show called "HIP". I have just finished watching the first 4 seasons of the French show. It is amusing. ... more ...
November 8, 2025 at 12:53 PM
A popular current network TV show is "High Potential" about a very smart ADHD woman who's life is a mess, but she starts helping the police solve crimes. It is based on a French show called "HIP". I have just finished watching the first 4 seasons of the French show. It is amusing. ... more ...
I got a bill from the anesthesiologist from back in September. The only way they offer to pay is by paper check, and the bill came in the paper mail. I tried to look them up to talk to someone on the phone, but they barely exist online, and have no publicly posted phone number. Seems kinda dodgy.
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I got a bill from the anesthesiologist from back in September. The only way they offer to pay is by paper check, and the bill came in the paper mail. I tried to look them up to talk to someone on the phone, but they barely exist online, and have no publicly posted phone number. Seems kinda dodgy.
I've been going a bit slower than usual for the last three months, but I'm getting back up to my productive pace. There's a lot of little things that have been going well, and a few not good things that withering and going away.
November 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I've been going a bit slower than usual for the last three months, but I'm getting back up to my productive pace. There's a lot of little things that have been going well, and a few not good things that withering and going away.
I did some work about a year ago sorting out the plays by the number of actors required to play them. I lost the file somewhere, and so I'm doing the same work again - BUT this time I'm putting the file somewhere obvious (I thought I did that last time too).
November 5, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I did some work about a year ago sorting out the plays by the number of actors required to play them. I lost the file somewhere, and so I'm doing the same work again - BUT this time I'm putting the file somewhere obvious (I thought I did that last time too).
Great Blue Heron on walk today. It was less shy than usual.
November 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Great Blue Heron on walk today. It was less shy than usual.
OK, I'm a day late. Here's a Hallowe'en themed cover of a James Taylor song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVSP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVSP...
Muppets - Vincent Price - You've got a friend
YouTube video by JayB7869
www.youtube.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:16 PM
OK, I'm a day late. Here's a Hallowe'en themed cover of a James Taylor song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVSP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVSP...
Hallowe'en is behind us. Time to put up all the Guy Fawkes decorations.
November 1, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Hallowe'en is behind us. Time to put up all the Guy Fawkes decorations.
#CdAHistory The UK group just went through the play "The Big Mule" and we had some good insights as to how certain scenes needed to be played. This play is a little more farcical (less romantic) than are most of the plays in this collection.
October 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
#CdAHistory The UK group just went through the play "The Big Mule" and we had some good insights as to how certain scenes needed to be played. This play is a little more farcical (less romantic) than are most of the plays in this collection.
#CdATroupes The group in Carlisle MA has decided that their troupe name is "i Zanzare", in part because mosquitoes are something the town is known for, and names things after.
October 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
#CdATroupes The group in Carlisle MA has decided that their troupe name is "i Zanzare", in part because mosquitoes are something the town is known for, and names things after.
"Phase One, in which Doris gets her oats."
October 30, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"Phase One, in which Doris gets her oats."
I have, sometime since mid-August, misplaced several hundred dollars worth of sound and video recording equipment. It's possibly in the house somewhere, but I'm not finding it, and wondering about it us using too much brainpower.
October 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I have, sometime since mid-August, misplaced several hundred dollars worth of sound and video recording equipment. It's possibly in the house somewhere, but I'm not finding it, and wondering about it us using too much brainpower.
Tired. Had a tough day. Need to rework a commedia scenario for Wednesday. Need to do some video editing. Need more exercise to wipe away the fog of tedium. I predict a busy but productive day tomorrow.
October 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Tired. Had a tough day. Need to rework a commedia scenario for Wednesday. Need to do some video editing. Need more exercise to wipe away the fog of tedium. I predict a busy but productive day tomorrow.
RockTheBoroughs - I recorded a public performance for Rock-The-Boroughs, a group of 30 to 40 Senior Citizens mostly living in the towns in MA that end in 'borough', such as Marl- North-, West-, etc. They are pretty good, and they have a lot of fun. Editing tonight!
October 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
RockTheBoroughs - I recorded a public performance for Rock-The-Boroughs, a group of 30 to 40 Senior Citizens mostly living in the towns in MA that end in 'borough', such as Marl- North-, West-, etc. They are pretty good, and they have a lot of fun. Editing tonight!
#CdAHistory - The UK group went through Acts 1&2 of the play "The Hermaphrodite". It was a fun play. We found a few places that needed clarification, but no major surprises yet. We'll finish the play in three weeks, with a couple other plays in between.
October 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
#CdAHistory - The UK group went through Acts 1&2 of the play "The Hermaphrodite". It was a fun play. We found a few places that needed clarification, but no major surprises yet. We'll finish the play in three weeks, with a couple other plays in between.
#CdAHistory In "All's Well the Ends Well" the character Parolles seems to be an unusually self-aware commedia dell'arte Capitano. Thoughts?
October 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
#CdAHistory In "All's Well the Ends Well" the character Parolles seems to be an unusually self-aware commedia dell'arte Capitano. Thoughts?
Talking to grandkid this morning. Decided to calculate something odd. Kid asked: what would happen if the microwave were suddenly filled with some of the Sun's photosphere. We worked it out. Spoiler: not much: a microwave oven volume of the photosphere has a mass of about 4.4 milligrams.
October 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Talking to grandkid this morning. Decided to calculate something odd. Kid asked: what would happen if the microwave were suddenly filled with some of the Sun's photosphere. We worked it out. Spoiler: not much: a microwave oven volume of the photosphere has a mass of about 4.4 milligrams.
Watching "Only Murders in the Building" S5E4. Christopher Walz appears and says something entertaining about Dorothy Parker.
October 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Watching "Only Murders in the Building" S5E4. Christopher Walz appears and says something entertaining about Dorothy Parker.
Aside from asserting that the USA should not have a king, my big mission for today is to work through a Commedia scenario to be used by the group I'm teaching in Carlisle. They have some special skillsets that I want to employ in great ways. I think I found the right play to start with.
October 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Aside from asserting that the USA should not have a king, my big mission for today is to work through a Commedia scenario to be used by the group I'm teaching in Carlisle. They have some special skillsets that I want to employ in great ways. I think I found the right play to start with.