Sorry, Maestro Barenboim. Music is for Idiots and Neanderthals
Over at The Times, Terence Kealey begs to differ, not just with Barenboim's (and Plato's) premise that music uses sound to educate the soul in virtue, but also that "making music and playing it in an orchestra is the best way to understand democracy."
Sounds Cardboardy?
http://www.youtube.com/v/CegjnVq8LN8&hl=en"> name="wmode" value="transparent">http://www.youtube.com/v/CegjnVq8LN8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355">
Sounds Like Teen Repellant
If this report can be believed (and, frankly, I has me doubts), teens are turning that "teen-repellant" HF tone to their own advantage. It's probably too good to be true, but wouldn't it be loverly?
Southside Johnny Still Has it
Over at Living In Stereo, Steve Messick argues that Southside Johnny has been making the records of his career over the last six years. Forced to tour without his legendary Southside Jukes largish band, Johnny and guitarist Bobby Bandiera have stripped down his R&B sound to its blues skeleton, Messick says.
Soviet Poster a Day
Alexander Zakharov posts, well, a Soviet poster every day. Best of all, he provides a lot of useful historical and artistic context for them. I've always been fascinated by the visual bravura of these posters, now I get to discover the "hidden" meaning to them, which, of course, weren't hidden to the proletariat .
Space Invaders—Live
Someday I'll grow up, but until then I find this hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/v/_JTbJdLwqMo"> name="wmode" value="transparent">http://www.youtube.com/v/_JTbJdLwqMo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">
http://www.youtube.com/v/_JTbJdLwqMo"> name="wmode" value="transparent">http://www.youtube.com/v/_JTbJdLwqMo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350">
Spammer Grammar
A reliable spam filter may serve the interests of the spammer as well as those of the recipient.
Speaking of Beer
Cliff Clavin 'splains it all.
Speaking of Rights
Jeff Wong alerted me to the furor among artists over what is known as "The Blue Girl Infringement," which involves a piece of proposed bad law called the Orphan Works Act.
Speed the Day!
I was walking down Fifth Ave. a few days ago, when a woman striding down the sidewalk behind me gave off such antagonistic vibes that I scurried out of her path. As she passed by, I thought There's someone just waiting to explode.