22 September 2007
20 September 2007
18 September 2007
Iraq and Colonial Legacy
I came across this letter in today's Times.
"To the Editor:
Roger Cohen (column, Sept. 13) considers an Iraq breakup “unthinkable.” Why? What is so sacred about the artificial colonial borders? Why is “democracy” in conflict with self-determination?
Why should the Sunnis and Kurds be ruled by the Shiites? Or in Kosovo, what is so wrong with a referendum, which might result in the Serb-populated areas voting to return to Serbia?
Who are we to set the borders of other nations? How would we feel if they did it to us?"
I think this about sums it up. I would add that all these borders within the former Ottoman Empire were drawn by the British following the defeat of the Turks in the Great War, and that the fallout is still with us.
"To the Editor:
Roger Cohen (column, Sept. 13) considers an Iraq breakup “unthinkable.” Why? What is so sacred about the artificial colonial borders? Why is “democracy” in conflict with self-determination?
Why should the Sunnis and Kurds be ruled by the Shiites? Or in Kosovo, what is so wrong with a referendum, which might result in the Serb-populated areas voting to return to Serbia?
Who are we to set the borders of other nations? How would we feel if they did it to us?"
I think this about sums it up. I would add that all these borders within the former Ottoman Empire were drawn by the British following the defeat of the Turks in the Great War, and that the fallout is still with us.
16 September 2007
The Dream Is Over
I have thus far eschewed the blog-as-confessional-diary and I plan to keep it that way in the future. But.
It was a strange day yesterday. We played the biggest show we'd ever played, and then it was over, and now it is done. I went to work. In an odd twist, the trailer hitch broke off three blocks from Big Orange on the way home. Spooky and perfect.
I don't feel sad. It's just so incredibly strange to now look back on all this in hindsight.
We really had a great run, though I'm not sure if outsiders realize this. I got to do so many amazing things.
I saw this beautiful fucked up country of ours more completely than I had ever thought to. I swam in every river between San Francisco and Minneapolis. I saw the Rosetta Stone, and the Elgin Marbles, and climbed up the cliffs of Edinburgh Castle. I had a moment with David Bowie (he smelled like freshly baked cookies) whilst watching Arcade Fire destroy Central Park from the side of the stage. I listened to the masters of the original Smile (which nobody will ever hear) and toured the Reverb Chambers underneath the Capitol building. I was introduced by David Bailey to Julian Schnabel, who was wearing a bathrobe on the corner of 8th Avenue and 23rd st, and I stood on top of a hidden missile silo in North Dakota at sunset.
I made many beautiful talented friends, and we had a lot of laughs.
I grew up and learned who I really was and to believe in that.
I became a real musician, for which I will always be grateful.
I joined a most amazing group of friends and we chased our dreams and wrestled them down out of the ether and were in turn chased and wrestled by them. Some of those wrestling matches are still going on.
I was incredibly lucky, and I am very grateful for all the lovely and even some of the not-so-lovely people that helped to make it happen. Thanks to all.
It was a strange day yesterday. We played the biggest show we'd ever played, and then it was over, and now it is done. I went to work. In an odd twist, the trailer hitch broke off three blocks from Big Orange on the way home. Spooky and perfect.
I don't feel sad. It's just so incredibly strange to now look back on all this in hindsight.
We really had a great run, though I'm not sure if outsiders realize this. I got to do so many amazing things.
I saw this beautiful fucked up country of ours more completely than I had ever thought to. I swam in every river between San Francisco and Minneapolis. I saw the Rosetta Stone, and the Elgin Marbles, and climbed up the cliffs of Edinburgh Castle. I had a moment with David Bowie (he smelled like freshly baked cookies) whilst watching Arcade Fire destroy Central Park from the side of the stage. I listened to the masters of the original Smile (which nobody will ever hear) and toured the Reverb Chambers underneath the Capitol building. I was introduced by David Bailey to Julian Schnabel, who was wearing a bathrobe on the corner of 8th Avenue and 23rd st, and I stood on top of a hidden missile silo in North Dakota at sunset.
I made many beautiful talented friends, and we had a lot of laughs.
I grew up and learned who I really was and to believe in that.
I became a real musician, for which I will always be grateful.
I joined a most amazing group of friends and we chased our dreams and wrestled them down out of the ether and were in turn chased and wrestled by them. Some of those wrestling matches are still going on.
I was incredibly lucky, and I am very grateful for all the lovely and even some of the not-so-lovely people that helped to make it happen. Thanks to all.
13 September 2007
Old vs. Young
Yet another gem culled from excessive attention to boing boing: man on the street interviews (it's got to be NY) regarding young people's attitude towards old people, vice versa, with lots of fun topics like the N word, rap music, and B.O. Sample city.
11 September 2007
Mario Zen
It seems that Mario has finally learned to just stop trying so hard and be himself. Look at how many benefits spring from his newfound equanimity and detached calm!
10 September 2007
08 September 2007
Music of the Spheres
Apparently Toshio Iwai was able to convince Yamaha to pay him to make this. As you can see, it is a kind of live, totally improvisational sequencer with a purely visual interface. I'm not sure how totally awesome this particular device might be, but it bodes well for the future. I am guessing different sounds/samples may be selected.
07 September 2007
Regime Change
Alrighty dear reader/s (whosoever few/nil thou art)
I promise to begin with more and better posts shortly. Yes. Fine then.
Let's get small, yes?
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