Jon Henley in Paris reports in the Guardian UK (full story click above) today that UNESCO is doing someting to protect culture! This is exciting news!
" A commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation late on Monday voted overwhelmingly in favour of the text and the body's general assembly, meeting in Paris, is expected to follow suit tomorrow.
The US, supported only by Israel, filed 27 amendments in an unsuccessful bid to water down the resolution, criticising it as "flawed", "ambiguous" and "protectionist". France, which has long defended its right to a "cultural exception", could barely conceal its delight. "We are no longer the black sheep on this issue," said the culture minister, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, adding that the text was "a clear recognition" that cultural goods such as film, TV programmes and music are not "merchandise like any other" and should be treated separately in world trade talks.
Even Britain has abandoned its traditional allies in Washington by backing the majority line on the 40-page convention. This states that cultural goods and services have a "distinctive nature" and that states have a right "to maintain, adopt, and implement policies and measures they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory"."
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
The Passenger (Professione: Reporter)
The best of Michelangelo Antonioni's English-language films is finally seeing the light of day. Apparently a new distributor has rights to the film. The first time I saw this masterpiece was in the mid-1990s in Brussels, Belgium, under its original title "Profession: Reporter". Marxist Film Theorist, Peter Wollen, wrote the screenplay, based on Mark Peploe's story. Searing stuff about loss of identity, the media and gun running. It is a somber tale of a man who's life falls apart. The film starts in Northern Africa, with flash backs to Germany and London, then its second-half filled with beautiful landscapes of Northern Spain, and Gaudi's park in Barcelona.
This film has been next to impossible to see and/or acquire in North America as distribution here was embroiled in some kind of legal hold up. (If anyone knows the inside story on this, I'm all ears. Perhaps it had to do with the sex scenes between Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider?)
The film is an utterly sublime statement on the decay of modern life.
It is one of my favorite films period.
++++++++++
The copy from the link above reads:
The last, and in many people's opinion the best, of the three English language films made by Antonioni for MGM release, The Passenger has been out of circulation for many years and was not available for the National Film Theatre's recent Antonioni season. This newly-restored print, however - from new owners Sony - is well worth the extra wait, not least because it is Antonioni's original cut, previously unseen. The script offers up a story which is almost Hitchcockian, but of a kind adaptable to Antonioni's very different metaphysic. David Locke, a journalist, impulsively decides to take over the identity (or at least the passport and diary) of a stranger called Robertson who has mysteriously died in a shared hotel room somewhere in Saharan Africa. Following Robertson's itinerary, he meets up with a girl (the 'passenger' of the English title) and the pair are pursued across Europe by the police and some shadowy Africans for whom Robertson had been a gun runner. Characteristic Antonioni themes, such as the instability of identity and the fragility of relationships, are explored with unparalleled subtlety, and the film's finale is simply sublime - spectacular as in Zabriskie Point and emotionally intense as in L'avventura or The Eclipse.
Geoffrey Nowell-Smith
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Written by Mark Peploe, Peter Wollen
With Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider, Jenny Runacre
Country Italy-France-Spain
Year of Production 1975
Running Time 125 minutes
Sponsored by TCM
Friday, October 14, 2005
The Durutti Column - "Keep Breathing"
My favorite band has a new album in the works...and many other goodies!
**********************************************************************
Press Release From The Durutti Column
Durutti's new LP " Keep Breathing"
`A musician of unassailable daring and integrity.' The Independent
'The best guitarist in the world.' City Life, Manchester
'Vini Reilly is just a great guitarist full stop.' John Frusciante,
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Next Saturday, 22nd October The Durutti Column, featuring guitarist
Vini Reilly, drummer Bruce Mitchell and multi-instrumentalist Kier
Stewart, will be playing their first gig including material form the
soon to be released album "Keep Breathing".
The gig is a "near home" performance at Bury Met Arts Centre. More
tour dates are listed below.
The album features 12 brand new tracks, recorded and written by Vini
Reilly and arranged by Ben Roberts.
Reilly famously, has criticised his previous recordings, claiming, "
It's all rubbish". This album though has received his own critical
acclaim.
"It's a great album", he says " For the first time in 25 years, I'm
pleased with my own album, I want it to succeed, and feel its good
enough to do that".
Whilst " Keep Breathing" will be released on a major label, The
Durutti Column also release their own material on Kooky Discs. Most
recently the classic Amigos Em Portugal Live album, was re released on
CD for the first time. The 2004 album Tempus Fugit has sold out its
initial pressing of 2,500, Both albums and more Durutti Column
rarities are available through the bands own website
(click above)
In total The Durutti Column have released over 20 albums, numerous
singles and are currently editing their first DVD which will be
available next year.
LIVE DATES for 2005 so far are:
22- Oct The Met Bury 0161 7617107 tickets £10 advance
26-Nov Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh 0131 220 6176 tickets £12 advance
27-Nov The Arches Glasgow 0870 2407528 tickets £12 advance
28-Nov The Lemon Tree Aberdeen 01224 642230 tickets £10 advance
02-Dec The Cluny Newcastle 0191 2304474 tickets £10 advance
04-Dec Ronnie Scott's London 08700 600100 tickets £16 advance
05-Dec Komedia Brighton 01273 647100 tickets £10/12 advance
Thursday, October 13, 2005
2005 Nobel Prize for Literature goes to Harold Pinter
The gritty playwright finally did it.
In my book, his work on the films "The Servant" (1963), "Langrishe, Go Down" (1970), and, especially "The Homecoming" (1969) is excellent.
In my book, his work on the films "The Servant" (1963), "Langrishe, Go Down" (1970), and, especially "The Homecoming" (1969) is excellent.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Maisonneuve - Media Scout --- Taster
Below is a sample of MEDIA SCOUT, the daily news briefing of Canada's Big Six, provided as a service from Maisonneuve. Maisonneuve, Canada's Eclectic Curiosity magazine, is a publication defies description but is always full of excellent and thought-provoking articles.
Click above for the Maisonneuve Media Scout FAQ.
----------------
LOBBYISTS' PARTY TO GET POOPED?
by Philippe Gohier
October 11, 2005
In an exclusive interview in today’s Ottawa Citizen, Industry Minister David Emerson concedes that there have been serious problems in the enforcement of the rules that govern lobbyists at the Federal level. Lobbyists are supposed to register and to publicly disclose their business dealings with the government. Despite steep punishments, from up to a $25,000 fine to jail time, what’s apparently missing, at least according to Emerson, is an independent agency to actually enforce these rules. The seriousness of the problem was highlighted when it was discovered that former Royal Canadian Mint president, and former Chrétien cabinet minister David Dingwall had worked as an unregistered lobbyist five years ago. This revelation, along with allegations of luxurious spending on the taxpayers’ dime, forced Dingwall to resign from the Mint recently. Of course, neither revelation was enough to prompt the government to withdraw its commitment to seeing Dingwall off, generous severance package in hand.
In Emerson’s comments is the tacit acknowledgement that the culture of entitlement that seems to be commonplace in Ottawa is threatening to undermine the government’s legitimacy. After all, Dingwall was just one example. Along with the Dingwall incidents (it really was two separate breaches of ethics, despite the Liberals’ attempt at blending them into one), there is, of course, the well-publicized sponsorship scandal, and the less publicized misuse of government Challenger jets by MPs, as revealed last week by CPAC and Le Devoir. Should the government want to peer into the future, and witness the rot that results from cozy lobbyist-legislator relationships, they need not look any further than Texas. The Tom DeLay/Jack Abramoff scandal that is rocking the Republicans on their home turf should be proof enough that enforcement of strict lobbying guidelines is smart long-term policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE LEADS:
THE NATIONAL: No broadcast due to the lockout of employees.
CTV NEWS: “International aid is now pouring into the earthquake disaster zone along the border of India and Pakistan”
GLOBE AND MAIL: “Quake aid balloons”
NATIONAL POST: “'Kashmir is a graveyard'” (not available online)
LA PRESSE: Kashmir desperately waits for aid (not available online)
OTTAWA CITIZEN: Canada sends $20M for quake relief
THE STRAIGHT GOODS:
Ottawa ups its aid to the earthquake-devastated Kashmiri region. Canada threatens to shirk the US by expanding Chinese energy exports. Hundreds, maybe thousands, are buried by mudslides in Guatemala following Hurricane Stan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HECKLED INTO HELPING
Fallout from the devastating earthquake in the Kashmir region dominates the Big Five’s leads. The Globe, The Post (not available online), and the Citizen all front news of a dramatic increase in Canada’s aid to the region. As estimates of the death toll surpassed 30,000, and news of 2.5 million people left homeless by the quake spread around the world, members of Montreal’s South Asian community responded to Ottawa’s initial offer of $300,000 by heckling Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew when he said the feds would wait before sending any more help. Ottawa has since reworked its aid package, and increased it to $20 million.
Sikander Hayat Khan, prime minister of Pakistani Kashmir, has called the devastated region “a graveyard” after the quake that measured a whopping 7.6 on the Richter scale. “We have been either digging ground to recover bodies or digging to bury them,” he said. According the Globe, UNICEF estimates that one in five people affected by the quake is a child under the age of five. For comparison’s sake, the US has donated US$50 million and has diverted military equipment and supplies from the war in Afghanistan to help with the recovery. The oil-rich nation of Kuwait so far leads the pack with a pledge of US$100 million in aid. News of India’s pledge to help the more severely affected Pakistani side of the Kahmiri border has fuelled speculation that the disaster may help to ease border tensions in the region. The Globe reports that there is “hope that the various factions can put aside differences to deliver aid to stricken survivors.” Although, so far, “the ones winning hearts and minds are Kashmiri separatist militants.” Within hours of the quake Kashmiri separatists had begun the most visible and ongoing aid operation in Indian Kashmir.
NAFTA SPAT SPILLS EAST
The Globe, The Post, and the Citizen go inside with news that Canada is looking to shore up its trade relationship with China to put more pressure on the US in the fight over softwood lumber. Revenue Minister John McCallum, who stepped into the natural resources portfolio last week when John Efford went on sick leave, is in Beijing to discuss possible energy exports with Chinese officials. Although McCallum initially denied any linkage to the ongoing trade dispute with the US, he later relented, saying that “it shouldn't be lost on anyone that if the US doesn't respect NAFTA, it does lend urgency for all Canadians to diversify our exports.'' The Globe’s John Ibbitson says that, despite it being popular public policy to expand trade with China at the US’s detriment, such a move would be motivated by “sheer mendacity.” Ibbitson claims that for Canada to follow through on its veiled threat to offer China preferential treatment in energy exports, it would have to withdraw from NAFTA, prompting a reaction that could range from a complaint at the WTO to, Ibbitson suggests somewhat facetiously, outright invasion. A National Post editorial today supports the Federal government’s apparent willingness to “to diversify our customer base if the Americans show they can't be trusted to abide by their trade obligations” but nonetheless laments the damage that’s been done to the NAFTA agreement. Claiming that “there is still time for this breach of faith to be fixed,” the Post hopes the Bush administration will pay attention to Paul Martin’s warnings last week in New York.
_______________________________
ADVERTISEMENT
THIS WEEK AT MAISONNEUVE ONLINE
ARE CANADIAN BLOGGERS PUSSIES?
BY SIRI AGRELL
WHY CANADIAN BLOGGERS HAVE YET TO BREAK A MAJOR POLITICAL SCANDAL
_______________________________
STAN TOUCHED GROUND, GROUND MOVED
CTV News, The Post, and La Presse (not available online) go inside with coverage of deadly mudslides in Guatemala in the wake of Hurricane Stan. There are reports of up to 1400 missing, and up to 2000 are feared dead after ten days of torrential rains turned the towns of Panabaj and Tzanchaj into “mass graves.” Rescue workers have been forced to abandon their efforts, and had little hope of finding any more survivors five days after the towns were buried under several metres of mud. The UN has pledged $22-million in aid to help the recovery effort, and Japan, Mexico, Spain, Cuba and Canada have also promised help to repair damages expected to be in the range of US$800 million. An estimated 3.5 million people were affected by the storm, more than a quarter of Guatemala’s total population. The Globe, meanwhile, publishes a piece about the effects the recent spate of natural disasters, from the tsunami to Katrina to Stan and the earthquake in South Asia, is having on aid agency workers. The aid agencies are “worried that their staffers are burning out and that less publicized crises are being overlooked.”
Philippe Gohier is a Montreal-based MediaScout writer for Maisonneuve Magazine.
Sign up now to receive MediaScout, Canada’s definitive morning news briefing, e-mailed to your inbox every morning at 10 AM.
What is MediaScout? Read our MediaScout FAQ.
Click above for the Maisonneuve Media Scout FAQ.
----------------
LOBBYISTS' PARTY TO GET POOPED?
by Philippe Gohier
October 11, 2005
In an exclusive interview in today’s Ottawa Citizen, Industry Minister David Emerson concedes that there have been serious problems in the enforcement of the rules that govern lobbyists at the Federal level. Lobbyists are supposed to register and to publicly disclose their business dealings with the government. Despite steep punishments, from up to a $25,000 fine to jail time, what’s apparently missing, at least according to Emerson, is an independent agency to actually enforce these rules. The seriousness of the problem was highlighted when it was discovered that former Royal Canadian Mint president, and former Chrétien cabinet minister David Dingwall had worked as an unregistered lobbyist five years ago. This revelation, along with allegations of luxurious spending on the taxpayers’ dime, forced Dingwall to resign from the Mint recently. Of course, neither revelation was enough to prompt the government to withdraw its commitment to seeing Dingwall off, generous severance package in hand.
In Emerson’s comments is the tacit acknowledgement that the culture of entitlement that seems to be commonplace in Ottawa is threatening to undermine the government’s legitimacy. After all, Dingwall was just one example. Along with the Dingwall incidents (it really was two separate breaches of ethics, despite the Liberals’ attempt at blending them into one), there is, of course, the well-publicized sponsorship scandal, and the less publicized misuse of government Challenger jets by MPs, as revealed last week by CPAC and Le Devoir. Should the government want to peer into the future, and witness the rot that results from cozy lobbyist-legislator relationships, they need not look any further than Texas. The Tom DeLay/Jack Abramoff scandal that is rocking the Republicans on their home turf should be proof enough that enforcement of strict lobbying guidelines is smart long-term policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE LEADS:
THE NATIONAL: No broadcast due to the lockout of employees.
CTV NEWS: “International aid is now pouring into the earthquake disaster zone along the border of India and Pakistan”
GLOBE AND MAIL: “Quake aid balloons”
NATIONAL POST: “'Kashmir is a graveyard'” (not available online)
LA PRESSE: Kashmir desperately waits for aid (not available online)
OTTAWA CITIZEN: Canada sends $20M for quake relief
THE STRAIGHT GOODS:
Ottawa ups its aid to the earthquake-devastated Kashmiri region. Canada threatens to shirk the US by expanding Chinese energy exports. Hundreds, maybe thousands, are buried by mudslides in Guatemala following Hurricane Stan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HECKLED INTO HELPING
Fallout from the devastating earthquake in the Kashmir region dominates the Big Five’s leads. The Globe, The Post (not available online), and the Citizen all front news of a dramatic increase in Canada’s aid to the region. As estimates of the death toll surpassed 30,000, and news of 2.5 million people left homeless by the quake spread around the world, members of Montreal’s South Asian community responded to Ottawa’s initial offer of $300,000 by heckling Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew when he said the feds would wait before sending any more help. Ottawa has since reworked its aid package, and increased it to $20 million.
Sikander Hayat Khan, prime minister of Pakistani Kashmir, has called the devastated region “a graveyard” after the quake that measured a whopping 7.6 on the Richter scale. “We have been either digging ground to recover bodies or digging to bury them,” he said. According the Globe, UNICEF estimates that one in five people affected by the quake is a child under the age of five. For comparison’s sake, the US has donated US$50 million and has diverted military equipment and supplies from the war in Afghanistan to help with the recovery. The oil-rich nation of Kuwait so far leads the pack with a pledge of US$100 million in aid. News of India’s pledge to help the more severely affected Pakistani side of the Kahmiri border has fuelled speculation that the disaster may help to ease border tensions in the region. The Globe reports that there is “hope that the various factions can put aside differences to deliver aid to stricken survivors.” Although, so far, “the ones winning hearts and minds are Kashmiri separatist militants.” Within hours of the quake Kashmiri separatists had begun the most visible and ongoing aid operation in Indian Kashmir.
NAFTA SPAT SPILLS EAST
The Globe, The Post, and the Citizen go inside with news that Canada is looking to shore up its trade relationship with China to put more pressure on the US in the fight over softwood lumber. Revenue Minister John McCallum, who stepped into the natural resources portfolio last week when John Efford went on sick leave, is in Beijing to discuss possible energy exports with Chinese officials. Although McCallum initially denied any linkage to the ongoing trade dispute with the US, he later relented, saying that “it shouldn't be lost on anyone that if the US doesn't respect NAFTA, it does lend urgency for all Canadians to diversify our exports.'' The Globe’s John Ibbitson says that, despite it being popular public policy to expand trade with China at the US’s detriment, such a move would be motivated by “sheer mendacity.” Ibbitson claims that for Canada to follow through on its veiled threat to offer China preferential treatment in energy exports, it would have to withdraw from NAFTA, prompting a reaction that could range from a complaint at the WTO to, Ibbitson suggests somewhat facetiously, outright invasion. A National Post editorial today supports the Federal government’s apparent willingness to “to diversify our customer base if the Americans show they can't be trusted to abide by their trade obligations” but nonetheless laments the damage that’s been done to the NAFTA agreement. Claiming that “there is still time for this breach of faith to be fixed,” the Post hopes the Bush administration will pay attention to Paul Martin’s warnings last week in New York.
_______________________________
ADVERTISEMENT
THIS WEEK AT MAISONNEUVE ONLINE
ARE CANADIAN BLOGGERS PUSSIES?
BY SIRI AGRELL
WHY CANADIAN BLOGGERS HAVE YET TO BREAK A MAJOR POLITICAL SCANDAL
_______________________________
STAN TOUCHED GROUND, GROUND MOVED
CTV News, The Post, and La Presse (not available online) go inside with coverage of deadly mudslides in Guatemala in the wake of Hurricane Stan. There are reports of up to 1400 missing, and up to 2000 are feared dead after ten days of torrential rains turned the towns of Panabaj and Tzanchaj into “mass graves.” Rescue workers have been forced to abandon their efforts, and had little hope of finding any more survivors five days after the towns were buried under several metres of mud. The UN has pledged $22-million in aid to help the recovery effort, and Japan, Mexico, Spain, Cuba and Canada have also promised help to repair damages expected to be in the range of US$800 million. An estimated 3.5 million people were affected by the storm, more than a quarter of Guatemala’s total population. The Globe, meanwhile, publishes a piece about the effects the recent spate of natural disasters, from the tsunami to Katrina to Stan and the earthquake in South Asia, is having on aid agency workers. The aid agencies are “worried that their staffers are burning out and that less publicized crises are being overlooked.”
Philippe Gohier is a Montreal-based MediaScout writer for Maisonneuve Magazine.
Sign up now to receive MediaScout, Canada’s definitive morning news briefing, e-mailed to your inbox every morning at 10 AM.
What is MediaScout? Read our MediaScout FAQ.
Friday, October 07, 2005
Playlist from September 30, 2005
7:05PM
Dead Hollywood Stars “dreamland's burning (fnga mix)” from masonic: hymen records (Hymen Records 2002)
Desormais “Broken Images and Packets of Light” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... CD
Peter Principle “scissors cut paper” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM
The Durutti Column “Red Square” from Vini Reilly CD ALBUM (Factory Once 1996)
Jay-jay Johanson “Rush” CD SINGLE (EMI Sweden 2005)
Pascal Comelade “valse de la demoiselle aux yeux verts” from el primitivismo SINGLE
Francois De Roubaix “Le Saut de l'ange” from Anthologie Vol. 1 (Play-Time 1999)
Ultramarine “geezer (remix by sweet exorcist)” from Companion
David Kristian “Owl Howl With Hoots” from Sweet Bits CD ALBUM (2004)
Twine “Strobe” from S/T CD ALBUM (Ghostly International www.ghostly.com 2004)
Steven Brown “Modern Times” from composes pour le theatre et le cinema LP ALBUM
Eric Random “Dow Chemical Co.” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Legowelt “Chokolectrik” from Deep Tics
Martial Canterel “Ascent” from confusing outsides LP ALBUM (genetic music 2005)
The Passage “drugface” from seedy (Cherry Red www.cherryred.co.uk 1997)
John Foxx & Louis Gordon “concrete, bulletproof, invisible” from Shifting City (Metamatic 1995)
Tuxedomoon “In the name of talent (Italian Western II)” from Ten Years in One Night (live) LP ALBUM (Materali Sonori www.matson.it 1989)
Peter Principle “Desolate Idyll” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM
Steven Brown “Chinatown” from composes pour le theatre et le cinema LP ALBUM (Les Disques Du Crepuscule 1989)
Coti “sine shadows” from [metamoria\> (vibrant music 2001)
Skipsapiens “compresion infinitesimal” from eco (Mutek www.mutek.ca 2005)
Vitamins for You “Luxury and Hope” from Saturday Morning Empires CD COMP
Hans Appelqvist “gumman” from Starving But Happier! CD COMP (2003)
Koji Asano “Spring Estuary II” from Spring Estuary CD ALBUM (Solstice www.kojiasano.com 2005)
Pascal Comelade “your labios as tulips” from el primitivismo
Opto “11.45 p.m.” from 2nd CD ALBUM (hobby industries www.hobbyind.com 2004)
Susuma Yokota “The Plateau Which the Zephyr of Flora Occupies” from Symbol (2005)
Arbol “Summer and You” from Acuarela Songs 3 CD COMP
David Sylvian “a fire in the forest remixed by readymade FC” from the good son vs THE ONLY DAUGHTER CD ALBUM (samadhisound)
Yann Tiersen “Quimper 84” from la valse des monstres
Jay-jay Johanson “time won't heal” from Rush CD SINGLE (EMI Sweden 2005)
Harold Budd “Children on the Hill” from From Brussels with Love (Les Disques Du Crepuscule 1981)
Eric Random “sense so lightly” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Dead Hollywood Stars “dreamland's burning (fnga mix)” from masonic: hymen records (Hymen Records 2002)
Desormais “Broken Images and Packets of Light” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... CD
Peter Principle “scissors cut paper” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM
The Durutti Column “Red Square” from Vini Reilly CD ALBUM (Factory Once 1996)
Jay-jay Johanson “Rush” CD SINGLE (EMI Sweden 2005)
Pascal Comelade “valse de la demoiselle aux yeux verts” from el primitivismo SINGLE
Francois De Roubaix “Le Saut de l'ange” from Anthologie Vol. 1 (Play-Time 1999)
Ultramarine “geezer (remix by sweet exorcist)” from Companion
David Kristian “Owl Howl With Hoots” from Sweet Bits CD ALBUM (2004)
Twine “Strobe” from S/T CD ALBUM (Ghostly International www.ghostly.com 2004)
Steven Brown “Modern Times” from composes pour le theatre et le cinema LP ALBUM
Eric Random “Dow Chemical Co.” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Legowelt “Chokolectrik” from Deep Tics
Martial Canterel “Ascent” from confusing outsides LP ALBUM (genetic music 2005)
The Passage “drugface” from seedy (Cherry Red www.cherryred.co.uk 1997)
John Foxx & Louis Gordon “concrete, bulletproof, invisible” from Shifting City (Metamatic 1995)
Tuxedomoon “In the name of talent (Italian Western II)” from Ten Years in One Night (live) LP ALBUM (Materali Sonori www.matson.it 1989)
Peter Principle “Desolate Idyll” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM
Steven Brown “Chinatown” from composes pour le theatre et le cinema LP ALBUM (Les Disques Du Crepuscule 1989)
Coti “sine shadows” from [metamoria\> (vibrant music 2001)
Skipsapiens “compresion infinitesimal” from eco (Mutek www.mutek.ca 2005)
Vitamins for You “Luxury and Hope” from Saturday Morning Empires CD COMP
Hans Appelqvist “gumman” from Starving But Happier! CD COMP (2003)
Koji Asano “Spring Estuary II” from Spring Estuary CD ALBUM (Solstice www.kojiasano.com 2005)
Pascal Comelade “your labios as tulips” from el primitivismo
Opto “11.45 p.m.” from 2nd CD ALBUM (hobby industries www.hobbyind.com 2004)
Susuma Yokota “The Plateau Which the Zephyr of Flora Occupies” from Symbol (2005)
Arbol “Summer and You” from Acuarela Songs 3 CD COMP
David Sylvian “a fire in the forest remixed by readymade FC” from the good son vs THE ONLY DAUGHTER CD ALBUM (samadhisound)
Yann Tiersen “Quimper 84” from la valse des monstres
Jay-jay Johanson “time won't heal” from Rush CD SINGLE (EMI Sweden 2005)
Harold Budd “Children on the Hill” from From Brussels with Love (Les Disques Du Crepuscule 1981)
Eric Random “sense so lightly” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Alena Akhmadullina - printemps - ete 2006
Fashion designer Alena Akhmadullina's latest comprises a unique runway show with animal masks and outfits inspired by Russian folktales.
dignity with a sense of humor.
Haruki Murakami at MIT - TONIGHT
This should be interesting. I've never seen him speak in person. I have read a majority of his texts. I also own Jay Rubin's metatext "Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words" that Harvill Press put out a few years ago in the UK. He is a fascinating author of contemporary fiction that tells odd stories of investigations into modern life in Japan.
I'd recommend arriving at least an hour early.
I'd recommend arriving at least an hour early.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Amateur d'art - lunettes rouges
The above blog gives an interesting perspective on contemporary art.
en francais!
en francais!
Friday, September 30, 2005
New Material for Tonight
My radio show is from 7-10p.m. EST.
Tonight I've got the new Peter Principle CD "Idyllatry", the new Eric Random compilation on LTM and the new Jay-Jay Johanson single RUSH ...
be sure to listen in.
www.wzbc.org
Tonight I've got the new Peter Principle CD "Idyllatry", the new Eric Random compilation on LTM and the new Jay-Jay Johanson single RUSH ...
be sure to listen in.
www.wzbc.org
OTC playlist from last week
7:06PM
Luke Haines “Oliver Twist” from The Oliver Twist Manifesto
Coti “P. Circolare” from Lido/Lato CD ALBUM (Poeta Negra www.poetanegra.com 2004)
Eric Random “Dow Chemical Co.” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Karl Biscuit “La Morte” from Secret Love CD ALBUM (Crammed Discs www.crammed.be 1984)
David Kristian “sound absorber” from music from the mermaid room CD ALBUM (Wikkid www.wikkidrecords.com 2003)
Steven Brown “The Lorelei / Overture” from Decade
Howard Shore “Crash” from Cannes Film Festival 50th Anniversary Album CD
Eric Random “6.55” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Mark Van Hoen “you and me inside” from playing with time CD ALBUM (Apollo 1998)
Peter Principle “The Cloisters” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM (LTM www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/ltmhome.html 2005)
Encre “Hassan” from Flux CD ALBUM (Clapping Music 2004)
Anorak “Ambyam” from Starving But Happier! CD COMP (2003)
The Durutti Column “lips that would kiss madeleine” from Lips That Would Kiss Madeleine (form prayers to broken stone) (Factory Benelux)
Jacques Derrida “Destruction and Necessity” from The Night Watch COMP
Wim Mertens “Maximizing the Audience” CD ALBUM (Les Disques Du Crepuscule 1984)
Howard Shore “Welcome to Annexia” from naked lunch CD ALBUM
Opto “5.10 a.m.” from 2nd CD ALBUM (hobby industries www.hobbyind.com 2004)
Mitchell Akiyama “Mort Aux Vaches” CD SINGLE (Staalplaat www.staalplaat.com 2005)
David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto “WORLD CITIZEN - i won't be disappointed (Long Version)” from WORLD CITIZEN - i won't be disappointed CD SINGLE
Tuxedomoon “The Laboratory (parts 1 & 2)” from The Ghost Sonata
Deadly Weapons “King Cobra” from Deadly Weapons LP ALBUM (NATO)
Francoiz Breut “la chanson d'Helene” from vingt a trente mille jours CD ALBUM (Virgin France 2001)
Susumu Yokota “l close the door upon myself” from Symbol CD ALBUM (Leaf posteverything.com/leaf 2005
Ian McCulloch “September Song” 10-INCH SINGLE (Korova 1984)
Desormais “Broken Images and Packets of Light” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... CD ALBUM (intr_version www.intr-version.com 2003)
Piano Magic “Artists' Rifles” CD ALBUM
Peter Principle “Emotions” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM
Eric Random “Regret and Despair” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Young Marble Giants “Final Day” from Colossal Youth (Les Disques Du Crepuscule)
Luke Haines “Oliver Twist” from The Oliver Twist Manifesto
Coti “P. Circolare” from Lido/Lato CD ALBUM (Poeta Negra www.poetanegra.com 2004)
Eric Random “Dow Chemical Co.” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Karl Biscuit “La Morte” from Secret Love CD ALBUM (Crammed Discs www.crammed.be 1984)
David Kristian “sound absorber” from music from the mermaid room CD ALBUM (Wikkid www.wikkidrecords.com 2003)
Steven Brown “The Lorelei / Overture” from Decade
Howard Shore “Crash” from Cannes Film Festival 50th Anniversary Album CD
Eric Random “6.55” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Mark Van Hoen “you and me inside” from playing with time CD ALBUM (Apollo 1998)
Peter Principle “The Cloisters” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM (LTM www.ltmpub.freeserve.co.uk/ltmhome.html 2005)
Encre “Hassan” from Flux CD ALBUM (Clapping Music 2004)
Anorak “Ambyam” from Starving But Happier! CD COMP (2003)
The Durutti Column “lips that would kiss madeleine” from Lips That Would Kiss Madeleine (form prayers to broken stone) (Factory Benelux)
Jacques Derrida “Destruction and Necessity” from The Night Watch COMP
Wim Mertens “Maximizing the Audience” CD ALBUM (Les Disques Du Crepuscule 1984)
Howard Shore “Welcome to Annexia” from naked lunch CD ALBUM
Opto “5.10 a.m.” from 2nd CD ALBUM (hobby industries www.hobbyind.com 2004)
Mitchell Akiyama “Mort Aux Vaches” CD SINGLE (Staalplaat www.staalplaat.com 2005)
David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto “WORLD CITIZEN - i won't be disappointed (Long Version)” from WORLD CITIZEN - i won't be disappointed CD SINGLE
Tuxedomoon “The Laboratory (parts 1 & 2)” from The Ghost Sonata
Deadly Weapons “King Cobra” from Deadly Weapons LP ALBUM (NATO)
Francoiz Breut “la chanson d'Helene” from vingt a trente mille jours CD ALBUM (Virgin France 2001)
Susumu Yokota “l close the door upon myself” from Symbol CD ALBUM (Leaf posteverything.com/leaf 2005
Ian McCulloch “September Song” 10-INCH SINGLE (Korova 1984)
Desormais “Broken Images and Packets of Light” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... CD ALBUM (intr_version www.intr-version.com 2003)
Piano Magic “Artists' Rifles” CD ALBUM
Peter Principle “Emotions” from Idyllatry CD ALBUM
Eric Random “Regret and Despair” from Subliminal 1980-1982
Young Marble Giants “Final Day” from Colossal Youth (Les Disques Du Crepuscule)
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
the Baltimore City Paper Comics Contest
The entries are up for this year's Baltimore City Paper Comics contest, click the heading and check out all the new comics!
A prior winner was The Perry Bible Fellowship by Nicholas Gurewitch.
A prior winner was The Perry Bible Fellowship by Nicholas Gurewitch.
Renoir / Renoir at La Cinémathèque française
Martin Scorsese, Wong Kar-wai and Souleymane Cissé were among the guests Monday at the opening of the new exhibit "Renoir/Renoir" at 51, rue de Bercy, the new location of la Cinémathèque française.
The building is open to the public today.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Crammed Discs Blog
For up to the minute information about one of the best Belgian independent labels out there. Check here for info about the Congotronics series, Konono No. 1, Bebel Gilberto, Cibelle, DJ Dolores, Celso Fonesca, and more.
As well as older artists like: Honeymoon Killers, Tuxedomoon, Aksak Maboul, Ben Lew, Sonoko, Hector Zazou and so many others.
As well as older artists like: Honeymoon Killers, Tuxedomoon, Aksak Maboul, Ben Lew, Sonoko, Hector Zazou and so many others.
Cronenberg, Morentsen, Bello, Harris, Hurt...A History of Violence
Briefly: David Cronenberg's latest film "A History of Violence" is one of the best pieces of filmmaking I've seen in a while. It works well on so many levels as it deals with a social problem. The film itself is lean, there is no excess fat, everthing included is necessary to the story. Questions less of identity and more about social justice, and by extension commerce come into play. Also of note, the film was shot entirely in Canada. It is primarily set in a small town in Indiana, but it could be any middle class small town, not precisely in the U.S.A. either. Having said that, it still seems that the film is critiqing certain American ideals. Also of note is the violent inserts, during the cafe scene a man's jaw is shot off, this is to indicate the consequences of that violence, not to revel in it. The only antecedent to something of this type I can immediately think of is photographs of soliders in military hospitals during World War I (yes, its that graphic). The other point that a number of reviewers have made are the two sex scenes, one very gentle and the other quite rough, contrasting two sides of the same characters. The entire cast was very strong and the pacing just right for a film that addresses some tough social issues.
The team behind this film have been doing a number of press interviews, one with the director was recently printed in the Boston Globe, Maria Bello in the Montreal Mirror, and Viggo Morentsen was recently on Charlie Rose giving an excellent diagnosis of the current state of affairs in the U.S.A.
The team behind this film have been doing a number of press interviews, one with the director was recently printed in the Boston Globe, Maria Bello in the Montreal Mirror, and Viggo Morentsen was recently on Charlie Rose giving an excellent diagnosis of the current state of affairs in the U.S.A.
Friday, September 23, 2005
OkCupid! Politics Test results
| You are a Social Liberal (71% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (10% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid |
Last week's playlist
Playlist from last week: September 16, 2005
7:06PM
Hans Edler “langt bort” from Elektron Kukeso CD ALBUM (boy wonder 2004)
Coldcut “Peter in Space” from Warp Back to Earth 66/99 (Bungalow 1998)
Desormais “Broken Images and Packets of Light” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... CD ALBUM (intr_version www.intr-version.com 2003)
Arthur Russell “This is How”
Zazou/Bikaye “Bingawe” from Guilty! (Crammed Discs www.crammed.be)
David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto “Bamboo Houses” from Various: I Like It CD
Tuxedomoon “In a manner of speaking” from Holy Wars CD
De Portables “Valentine” from Rosegarden CD ALBUM ((kr-aa-k)3 www.kraak.net 2001)
Mark Tranmer “scoop of ice cream moon”
KG “S.P.E.C.T.R.E. 2 (musique pour mangas erotiques)” from Gooom Tracks Vol. 2
The Associates “Message Oblique Speech” from Fourth Drawer Down
David Coulter “Shinju (Pot Etude #3)” from INterVENTION CD
John Cale “Paris 1919” from Fragments of A Rainy Season (Hannibal 1992)
Penguin Cafe Orchestra “the sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter” from music from the penguin cafe CD ALBUM
Dream Makers “Helen's Song” from From Brussels with Love CD
Pascal Comelade & Richard Pinhas “here come the warm jets”
Calexico “Sequoia” from Aerocalexico CD
The Wake “uniform” from Assembly CD
AER “As You Wander Round” from Touch 00 CD
Herman Dune & Julie Doiron “Have you seen the moon?” from Performance #1 CD
Yann Tiersen “Secret Place” from Les Retrouvailles CD
Coti “Beben G.” from Lido/Lato CD
Martial Canterel “ascent” from confusing outsides LP
The Durutti Column “Jaqueline” from LC
Thomas Brinkmann “Olga A1” from Touch 00 CD
Locust “Folie” from Morning Light CD ALBUM (R&S Records 1997)
Kohn “bruce willis is my hero; he keeps on saving the world” from Bruce Willis
Goldfrapp “Number 1” from Supernature CD
Ryuichi Sakamoto “Bathroom (Love is the Devil)” from US CD
Colin Newman “Better Later Than Never” from It Seems
Mark Stewart “Liberty City” from Kiss The Future CD
Konono No. 1 “Kule Kule” from congotronics CD
YeEmebetatchen Selamta “about the futility of life” from ethiopiques 11
7:06PM
Hans Edler “langt bort” from Elektron Kukeso CD ALBUM (boy wonder 2004)
Coldcut “Peter in Space” from Warp Back to Earth 66/99 (Bungalow 1998)
Desormais “Broken Images and Packets of Light” from Iambrokenandremadeiambroken... CD ALBUM (intr_version www.intr-version.com 2003)
Arthur Russell “This is How”
Zazou/Bikaye “Bingawe” from Guilty! (Crammed Discs www.crammed.be)
David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto “Bamboo Houses” from Various: I Like It CD
Tuxedomoon “In a manner of speaking” from Holy Wars CD
De Portables “Valentine” from Rosegarden CD ALBUM ((kr-aa-k)3 www.kraak.net 2001)
Mark Tranmer “scoop of ice cream moon”
KG “S.P.E.C.T.R.E. 2 (musique pour mangas erotiques)” from Gooom Tracks Vol. 2
The Associates “Message Oblique Speech” from Fourth Drawer Down
David Coulter “Shinju (Pot Etude #3)” from INterVENTION CD
John Cale “Paris 1919” from Fragments of A Rainy Season (Hannibal 1992)
Penguin Cafe Orchestra “the sound of someone you love who's going away and it doesn't matter” from music from the penguin cafe CD ALBUM
Dream Makers “Helen's Song” from From Brussels with Love CD
Pascal Comelade & Richard Pinhas “here come the warm jets”
Calexico “Sequoia” from Aerocalexico CD
The Wake “uniform” from Assembly CD
AER “As You Wander Round” from Touch 00 CD
Herman Dune & Julie Doiron “Have you seen the moon?” from Performance #1 CD
Yann Tiersen “Secret Place” from Les Retrouvailles CD
Coti “Beben G.” from Lido/Lato CD
Martial Canterel “ascent” from confusing outsides LP
The Durutti Column “Jaqueline” from LC
Thomas Brinkmann “Olga A1” from Touch 00 CD
Locust “Folie” from Morning Light CD ALBUM (R&S Records 1997)
Kohn “bruce willis is my hero; he keeps on saving the world” from Bruce Willis
Goldfrapp “Number 1” from Supernature CD
Ryuichi Sakamoto “Bathroom (Love is the Devil)” from US CD
Colin Newman “Better Later Than Never” from It Seems
Mark Stewart “Liberty City” from Kiss The Future CD
Konono No. 1 “Kule Kule” from congotronics CD
YeEmebetatchen Selamta “about the futility of life” from ethiopiques 11
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Brazil - TONIGHT at the Brattle 8pm
This evening my most favorite film of all time is playing at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square. The theme music for my radio show comes from this film. I love the references to Orson Welles' "The Trial" and Eisenstein's 'Odessa Steps' sequence. Again, this film is-- while ostensibly a critique of life under Regan and Thatcher and the bureaucratic nightmare (and having social commentary, science fiction, romance, adventure, drama, comedy, and a Christmas film)-- staggeringly prescient in so many ways. The scene in the restaurant, for instance, when Sam's mother's friend, asks him "Why don't you do something about these Terrorists?" and Sam Lowry repiles: "Its my lunch hour. Besides, Its not my department."
This screening is brought to us in conjunction with the Huntington Theater's performance of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing".
**********************************
Thursday, September 22
Special Engagements
The Huntington Theatre Company and the Brattle Film Foundation Present
Brazil at 8:00
(1985) dir Terry Gilliam w/Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin [142 min]
This screening is brought to us in conjunction with the Huntington Theater's performance of Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing".
**********************************
Thursday, September 22
Special Engagements
The Huntington Theatre Company and the Brattle Film Foundation Present
Brazil at 8:00
(1985) dir Terry Gilliam w/Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin [142 min]
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Greg Pak work at Inkwell Auctions for aid to Hurricane Katrina Victims
Reposting from a Greg Pak e-mail:
"Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada and a slew of other comics professionals including Robot Stories director Greg Pak are auctioning of art and comics at InkWellRelief.com as a fundraiser for the Red Cross to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. Please consider bidding -- all net proceeds will go to the Red Cross.
Link indicated above.
"Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada and a slew of other comics professionals including Robot Stories director Greg Pak are auctioning of art and comics at InkWellRelief.com as a fundraiser for the Red Cross to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. Please consider bidding -- all net proceeds will go to the Red Cross.
Link indicated above.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Joann Sfar discusses the Rabbi's Cat - TONIGHT
Pantheon Books again leads the way in breaking contemporary comic book artists into the mainstream. Joann Sfar's book tour finds its way to Cambridge tonight. This should be fun!
The copy reads:
JOANN SFAR discusses The Rabbi’s Cat
Harvard Book Store is pleased to announce that on Monday, September 19th Joann Sfar will discuss his new graphic novel The Rabbi’s Cat.
Produced by one of France’s most celebrated young comic artists, The Rabbi’s Cat tells the wholly unique story of a rabbi, his daughter, and their talking cat, who is a philosopher brimming with scathing humor and surprising tenderness. Rich with the colors and textures, of Algeria’s Jewish community, The Rabbi’s Cat brings a lost world vibrantly to life—a time and place where Jews and Arabs coexisted—and peoples it with endearing characters, and one unforgettable cat.
Tonight at 6:30pm
The copy reads:
JOANN SFAR discusses The Rabbi’s Cat
Harvard Book Store is pleased to announce that on Monday, September 19th Joann Sfar will discuss his new graphic novel The Rabbi’s Cat.
Produced by one of France’s most celebrated young comic artists, The Rabbi’s Cat tells the wholly unique story of a rabbi, his daughter, and their talking cat, who is a philosopher brimming with scathing humor and surprising tenderness. Rich with the colors and textures, of Algeria’s Jewish community, The Rabbi’s Cat brings a lost world vibrantly to life—a time and place where Jews and Arabs coexisted—and peoples it with endearing characters, and one unforgettable cat.
Tonight at 6:30pm
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