Excerpts from VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1

This past winter, Geoff Shelly, the present-day custodian of the Shakleton Endurance Lecture, appeared in front of a joint meeting of the Antarctic Society, the Explorers Club and the Society of Women Geographers at the Cosmos Club in Washington D.C. Using the original "magic-lantern" slides taken by Frank Hurley over 80 years ago, Mr. Shelly presented the epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1916 Endurance Expedition to Antarctica. During that expedition the Endurance was trapped and then crushed by the ice, leaving Shackleton and his crew stranded on the frozen continent for several months. It was during this time that crew member Leonard Hussey became the first man ever, and probably the only one since, to present a banjo concert to an all-penguin audience. As Hussey picked and grinned it was reported that his enthusiastic audience performed the original Adelie Shuffle as well as the Widdle Waddle Penguin Polka. Hussey also gained notoriety for eating most of his audience along with his fellow stranded shipmates in the weeks and months to come. After his rescue from the frozen continent, Leonard returned to England a changed man, and began giving this lecture to various scientific and adventurer groups. Now, 80 years later, Leonard Hussey's "Endurance Lecture" baton has been passed on to Geoff Shelly, a London Policeman with a keen interest in preserving history, tradition and penguin lore. Although many of the attendees wore black tie and tails, there were unfortunately no penguins or banjo players present.

In the U.S. on Virgin Records, we find a new album from our old friends The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, titled 'Preludes, Airs & Yodels.' Just out from Warner is Don Byron's brilliant historic jazz repertory titled "Bug Music," featuring the music of Duke Ellington and Raymond Scott (who incidentally wrote "The Penguin," track 9). Not only is this a great sounding CD, but you will not find a more handsomely designed penguin themed CD jacket and case.

For the kiddies, Warner has also put out the silly but fun "Penguin Parade" by the Banana Slug Band. Just released this May is the curiously titled Magnet album "Don't be a Penguin" featuring the drumming of ex-Velvet Underground member Moe Tucker. Northsounds, a company that produces ambient-themed albums, has released a real snoozer called "Antarctica." It does have an attractive sleeve, but musically this is music for comatose brain dead amoebas. For anyone still interested, The Monkees new album has a song called "Antarctica" on it.

In Germany, a tuxedo clad acappella men's singing ensemble called Die Penguin Singers have released a self-produced CD featuring some old-time German classics such as "Mein Kleiner, Gruner Kaktus" and some American standards like "Only You." (By the way, "die" means "the" in German). In New Zealand, on Flying Nun Records, is a beautiful pop album by Majick Head titled "Before We Go." This CD cover has one of the most touching penguin photos I've ever come across. The inner sleeve also tells of the plight of the endangered yellow-eyed penguin of New Zealand, and gives the address for the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust (Box 5409, Dunedin, New Zealand).