September 22, 2022–Arts Etc.

Tips For Stacking And Drying Firewood, The Norwegian Way

Wood cutting and stacking is almost a cult in the North Country. Photo: Todd Moe

May 24, 2023 — While many of us are focussing on gardening and spring cleaning, a Potsdam man is on a crusade, of sorts, to make sure people are splitting and stacking firewood properly. It's not about the aesthetics, but about helping those who heat with wood make the process safer and more economical.

Todd MoeTips for stacking and drying firewood, the Norwegian way

Miles Manchester has cut wood and heated his St. Lawrence County home for decades.    His focus recently has been the book. Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way, and its extended essay on the art and science of turning forests into firewood.

Wood cutting is almost a cult in Scandinavia, and here in the North Country, too.  Todd Moe spoke with Miles Manchester and Mark Bomyea, president of the St. Lawrence County Fire Chiefs Association. 

Wood stove chimney fires are always a concern.  Manchester is hoping to curb the problem by teaching more people the proper way of cutting, splitting and stacking firewood...With a little help from the Norwegians.

You can contact Miles Manchester at: dryfirewood23@gmail.Com

Some of the books recommended by Miles Manchester, and a wood moisture meter. Photo: Todd Moe

Miles Manchester's recommended reading:    

"Norwegian Wood" by Lars Mytting.  (The best - very detailed information based on scientific research about seasoning and burning firewood.  Pages 46/47 explain what begins to happen as soon as the tree is cut/felled and how that affects seasoning and burning.)           

"The Wood Fire Handbook" by Vincent Thurkettle.  (Good information from a retired forester. This author also has several useful on-line youtube videos.)

"Wood Heat" by Andrew Jones.   (Good information but shows photo of an electronic moisture meter being used improperly. Pg.37)

Isn't It Good? Buddy Rich And Orchestra Play The Beatles' 'Norwegian Wood' On 'Sullivan'

A scintillating performance by Buddy Rich and his Orchestra of The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown)" has been newly-remastered from the archives of The Ed Sullivan Show.

The clip comes from the edition of the long-running variety series that was broadcast on New Year's Eve, 1967. The great jazz drummer and his musicians were on that episode alongside Pennsylvania pop hitmakers Jay and the Techniques and South African star Miriam Makeba.

The video shows Rich at stage front and in energetic form, with the orchestra around him in a semi-circle. They had released their version of the much-loved track from The Beatles' Rubber Soul album of almost exactly two years earlier on the live album Big Swing Face. The LP had been recorded by the Buddy Rich Big Band in February and March of 1967 at the Chez Club, Los Angeles. Other tracks on that set included Young-Holt Unlimited's "Wack Wack," Cole Porter's "Love For Sale," and Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On."

Buy or stream the Buddy Rich Big Band's Big Swing Face on Apple Music or Spotify.

Rich, born in Brooklyn in 1917, was already widely acknowledged in the pantheon of jazz, having broken through at the turn of his 20s in Joe Marsala's band, and then with Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and countless others. His first record in his own name, in 1946, was The Lester Young Buddy Rich Trio, and he went on to be a major inspiration not only for jazz drummers but for those in the rock fraternity such as John Bonham and Bill Ward.

"Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown)," principally written by John Lennon, already had many covers to its name by the time Rich took it on, crossing genres as The Beatles' music always did. Among those to tackle it in 1966 were Waylon Jennings, Brian Hyland, Nina & Frederick, and Jan & Dean. It has gone on to attract more than 500 renditions.

Watch all the latest archival videos from The Ed Sullivan Show on the program's official YouTube channel.

Norwegian Wood OK, And Pretty

New Emissary

Despite a tepid critical reception so far, people will go see the film adaptation of one of Japan's most revered books.

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The film adaptation of one of Japan's most revered modern books was released in Japanese cinemas over the weekend. Norwegian Wood, or Noruwei No Mori, is based on the 1987 novel of the same name by 61-year-old novelist Haruki Murakami, the country's superstar of postmodern literature and a 2010 Nobel literature nominee.

Unsurprisingly, expectations for the movie were high and media coverage plentiful. The film's cast members have been making the rounds through the Japanese variety show circuit over the past few weeks as well, helping to add to the hype. A consequential resurgence of national pride and interest in Murakami's book isn't surprising either—in the two decades-plus it's been out, Norwegian Wood has already had widespread appeal: It's sold over 10 million copies in Japan alone, and has also been read by millions of people around the world in over 30 languages.

One thing that is surprising is that so far, despite it being a labour of love for Vietnamese-French Director Tran Anh Hung, (who reportedly spent four years 'of dedicated persuasion and patient discussion with Murakami' to get permission to make the film, and then took on the feat of filming it in Japanese despite the fact that he doesn't speak the language), reviews for the film have been fairly lukewarm. The Daily Yomiuri gives it 3.5 out of 5 stars, with the critic admitting that 'no matter what I write about Norwegian Wood, people will want to see it,' because of the book's popularity. Meanwhile, The Japan Times'  veteran critic Mark Shilling gives it only 2.5 out of 5 stars, saying 'the drama of the characters' intertwined and tangled lives feels curiously inert.'

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However, one thing people all seem to be agreeing on is that the film's visual appeal is its core strength, and the cinematographer of Norwegian Wood deserves more than just a hearty pat on the back. Marvels the Asahi Shimbun: 'scenes of hilly grasslands and snow-covered mountains make the film visually breath-taking, allowing viewers to become immersed in beauty and tranquillity.' The Hollywood Reporter meanwhile raves: 'Superb cinematography by Mark Lee Ping Bin creates a web of visual sensitivity that accompanies the characters on their emotional journey. From the magic ancient world of nature in Kyoto to the majestic violence of the storming sea, there is much to feast the eyes on.'

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Another strong point has been the performance of Academy Award nominee Rinko Kikuchi, who plays the emotionally troubled character, Naoko. It's a performance Shilling calls 'the film's strongest,' that convincingly takes you through 'the line from ordinary grief to full-blown depression, which sex cannot heal and tears cannot ease.' The Nation also hails Kikuchi's performance as a 'real scene-stealer' and one that involves an 'intense portrayal of the emotionally fragile Naoko,' by the 29-year-old actress.

It'll be interesting still to see how the rest of the world receives the film, set in Japan in the 1960s, as it's released internationally over the coming months.

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