On my morning reading rounds today, I was shocked, shocked to discover that the recent internet phenom Chatroulette (don’t worry, that link goes to the Wikipedia entry, not the site itself) was on the wane. (Nerd note: the url for that article contains a much better title than what you’ll see at the top of the page itself: “Requiem for Chatroulette” is poetry, while “R.I.P. Chatroulette, 2009-2010” is mere prose!) I mean, what could possibly go wrong with a site where you click the “next” button to be visually connected with a random stranger via webcam? Uh, yeah, exactly what you imagine could go wrong, that’s what. Jon Stewart explains it better than I can, if you’re still curious. 😛

And now, these messages!

Three more voting days left for my “Your OWN Show” audition video! Voting is open until July 3 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time, and you can vote as often as you wish! 😀 (Note: it takes time for the vote count to update, so don’t worry if the total doesn’t change immediately when you click the button. Thanks for your support!)

Tonight in Jamaica Plain, Boston: a classical music double feature, presented by JP Concerts! At 7:30 pm, the Arcturus Chamber Ensemble performs music by Mozart, Beethoven, Ginastera, and Prokofiev. Then at 9:30, classical guitarist John Muratore and accordionist/composer Roberto Cassan play Piazzolla, Debussy, Galliano, Leo Brouwer, Cassan and others. The first show is free (though donations are gratefully accepted), and the second is $10. Click here for more info.

Anyhoo, why am I dragging you into this slightly unsavory corner of the web? Well, believe it or not, there’s a nugget of music nerd gold to be found here, in the form of Merton, the Piano Improv Guy. Sitting at his charmingly out-of-tune spinet piano, wearing his trademark hoodie and glasses, he spontaneously serenades his chat partners in a way that brings a smile to everyone’s face. Behold!

I am most impressed by his quick wit and his on-the-fly songwriting skills. And of course, the glasses and hoodie put him firmly on the high end of the music nerdometer. Tip o’ the nerd glasses to you, Merton!