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“Deconstruct this”
Marc Cooper on anti-Obamism among the academic left: With all due respect to the skepticism of such revolutionaries as Judith Butler and others who disdain the corporate tool known as Barack Obama, there’s an entire new generation who went out and actually did the grinding work of defeating the Bush administration (and of at least cracking the door open to
A new blog
My dear friend Yigal Schleifer has launched the blog Istanbul Calling, presenting news and views from Turkey and the region. This part of the world will be crucial to any understanding of geopolitics in the Obama era. And no one is more qualified than Yigal to provide the straight dope. Bookmark him.
The week on disc (32)
In case you missed the last one… Dominique Di Piazza, Princess Sita (Sunnyside) Townhouse Orchestra, Belle Ville (Clean Feed) Ben Schachter, Omnibus (ind.) Thoth Trio, Thoth Speaks (ind.) Taylor Ho Bynum, Asphalt Flowers Forking Paths (Hatology) Joe Morris & Barre Phillips, Elm City Duets 2006 (Clean Feed)
A comment
This response to my YouTube video “Dancing in Iraqi Kurdistan” just came in: hallah hallaaa 333333iiiiiiiiiiiiiww esh esh esh yallaah yallah!!! Anyone?
Obama and the arts
This editor’s statement will appear in the Winter 2009 issue of Jazz Notes, the quarterly journal of the Jazz Journalists Association. — Barack Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression. Barack Obama believes that the arts should be a central part of effective teaching and learning. Barack Obama supports increased funding for the National Endowment for the
A profile in courage
Gregory Good, Sr., my wife’s grandfather, 92 years old, recalls nearly getting shot down by Nazi fighters in this moving profile. Grandpa Goodie still suffers from post-traumatic stress and is attending therapy sessions with Iraq and Afghanistan vets.
A not-so-subtle contrast
As we bask in Obamaphoria, having exercised our inalienable right to choose our own political leadership, please take a moment to consider the plight of 28-year-old blogger Nay Phone Latt, who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Burmese regime. News has also come of 14 Burmese pro-democracy activists who have received sentences of 65 years each.
On Enrico Pieranunzi
My review of pianist Enrico Pieranunzi at Birdland, now online at Jazz Times.