The use of electronics to psychologically ameliorate some of the grave burdens of old age has a considerable heritage by now. A bit of its history, starting circa 1995, is described in the mini-blog
Low-intensity multimedia entertainment (for nervous distress). Surely any youngsters who take the time to read it will be astounded how very far and fast the technology they take for granted has advanced in less than a generation!
By the middle years of this decade, both turn-key hardware and media for the ends described was available, and very cheap as well. The particular DVD titles described on the cited Web page, in the final (2004 September 28) posting at page bottom, may still be available and appropriate.
As for Dr. Alizée herself, among people here, more than one broken heart was mended upon discovery of her upbeat early work. I will not betray confidences by providing more details. But let's just say that life has many opportunities for heartbreak, some inevitable, others tragic, all unwelcome and potentially fatal
Knowing of Dr. Alizée's therapeutic potential, it was with
enormous regret that I anticipated the album based on the somber theme of the
Götterdämmerung of Edie Sedgwick. That such a work was scheduled for release during the greatest global economic upheaval of a lifetime only amplified the shocking contrast to so much of Alizée's joyous early work! For goodness sake, what in the world was she
thinking?
The only thing missing from
UEdS to make it a "Halloween" favorite for years to come was a closing performance of
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (shown below) from Monty Python's
Life of Brian! Sigh.
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