Friday, November 16, 2007

Clockwise or counter?
An interesting "are you right brained or left brained" test.

Check out this dancer. Which way is she spinning? I saw her first going counter-clockwise and then she switched and went clockwise. Proving, once again, I'm just messed up.

Thursday, November 15, 2007


CD Pick of the Week" Youssou N'Dour
A new release from this man is always cause for joy in the world music community. Rokku mi Rokka (Give and Take) is yet another delicious gift. Joyous, Senegalese mbalaz-inflused rhythms w/hints of the desert and touches of blues, reggae, even Cuba. Joined by his longtime band Super Etoile, it’s a total lovefest featuring his warm, engaging voice. Every track is a delight.

This week also check out Bamisphere by Gino Sitson:
Wonderfully versatile vocals from a Cameroon-born jazz singer. African rhythms pervade with touches of everything from bop to straight-up Afro-jazz. Fabulous musicians include bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Vocal gymnastics reminiscent of Bobby McFerrin but with a stronger African flavor. The tracks that are just layers of his voice(s) are gorgeous.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

I love eggs!
Actually I'm sort of ambivalent about the danged things. But this video is too good to resist. Crank up the sound and watch until the end. Oh those wacky Japanese cartoons!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Sure it's ugly, but hey...it leaks too!
OK, I admit it. I hate most contemporary architecture. I'm a classicist. I like beauty, not "statements." I'll take "asthetically pleasing" over "significant" any time. And I love beautiful details and materials -- why have concrete boxes when you can have Corinthian capitals?

So I was more than amused to find this story about how MIT is suing architect Frank Gehry "charging that flaws in his design of the $300 million Stata Center in Cambridge, one of the most celebrated works of architecture unveiled in years, caused leaks to spring, masonry to crack, mold to grow, and drainage to back up."