I recently watched Icons Among Us: Jazz In The Present Tense on DVD and can’t wait to see it again. Discovered some new musicians, and new music by people I haven’t listened to in awhile. I love the ongoing “what is jazz” debate and appreciated the film showing different perspectives without choosing sides. It’s a really cool film with excellent performances by a diverse group of current day musicians. Highly recommended!
Thirty-eight years ago tonight, my family gathered to celebrate my brother’s tenth birthday. The party never happened. Martin Luther King was killed in Memphis earlier that day. Instead of celebrating, we sat quietly watching the news of his death and riots in some cities around the country.
I’ve spent the last couple of days thinking about change and change agents. Why change is so hard to achieve and what happens to change agents. In that context, these words of MLK have such great meaning:
Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land! So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord! (MP3)
He spoke those words, without notes, less than 24 hours earlier in a speech he was not intending to give. He wasn’t feeling well, but his friend, Dr. Ralph Abernathy, asked him to speak just a few words to the crowd. I’m so glad he did!
MLK was a change agent. He took on a great struggle, gave his life in that struggle.
January 12th 2010 Conan O’Brien Says He Won’t Do ‘Tonight Show’ Following Leno on twitter, conan is god. everyone loves this statement. everyone except, that is, me. conan seems high-minded, resolute, principled. except he's sticking the shiv into leno. twisting it. drawing blood. hitting bone.simply publishing this ("people of the world") is a power play. he steals the ground from leno, casting him as the villain. casts his team against leno's. blames leno more than nbc.leno is in an untenable position. he can't win the p.r. game against conan at this point. or if he can, i'm not sure how he does it. nbc if frakked. otoh this is all their doing. they had choices to make and they tried to avoid them. choices have consequences. by not choosing, they've damaged leno, conan, fallon, and the tonight show franchise. which, was, of course, a choice, albeit a demonstrably bad one.
January 2nd 2010 The Health Care System Should Give People Good Advice About Health after watching half of food, inc., it's clear frum doesn't go far enough. and as a committed conservative, it's pretty clear he wouldn't want to go far enough. feed that guy some high fructose corn syrup, will ya?
I recently watched Icons Among Us: Jazz In The Present Tense on DVD and can’t wait to see it again. Discovered some new musicians, and new music by people I haven’t listened to in awhile. I love the ongoing “what is jazz” debate and appreciated the film showing different perspectives without choosing sides. It’s a really cool film with excellent performances by a diverse group of current day musicians. Highly recommended!
