Saturday, September 03, 2011

The Keystone XL Pipeline

Hundreds of people continue their nonviolent protest outside the White House, urging President Obama to not approve the potentially environmentally disastrous Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline, which if approved would run from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and carry some 900,000 barrels per day of crude oil refined from bitumen in the Canadian soil, has been denounced by environmentalist Bill McKibben and NASA scientist James Hansen and many other experts. But last week the State Department issued an assessment of the project that concluded that there would be "no significant impact" on natural resources near the pipeline route, while also downplaying the potential for increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The Nation's George Zornick captured the scene at the White House this week, and documented the arrests of protesters.

For more video, visit TheNation.com




My sister Fran was arrested this morning. I'm proud of her - and everyone who went to Washington

Saturday, August 27, 2011

History of Chapbooks




From xylography to xerography, chapbooks tell the history of literacy and disseminate the expression of thought, from musings to manifestos. To enlighten us on this subject Rain Taxi Review of Books editor Eric Lorberer will give an overview of the chapbook, paying special attention to its fascinating history, its variable design elements and formats, and its vibrant role in contemporary literature and publishing. Rain Taxi, a nationally acclaimed journal, includes regular critical commentary on chapbooks and will be launching a Chapbook Finder feature on its website soon. The chapbook is generally a pocket-sized, paper-covered publication, noteworthy for being accessible to create and circulate. Its pages may contain edicts issued by the establishment or criticisms articulated by a counter-culture voice.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Text/Messages: Books by Artists and Multiples Mall: A Bookish Fair.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Two favorite poems and a memory.









Last week I was talking to a friend about her recent trip to Ireland - and walking along the flaggy shore that Heaney writes so beautifully about. My mind immediately went back to this evening when the sun was setting and the light was gold and spilling a golden glow over everything - water, land, dog, man. Part of my heart is there.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Onyx Ashanti: This is beatjazz



Onyx Ashanti is a musician, geek, open-source advocate, Maker, collaborator ... and we come back around again to musician. The intrumentation he has created fuses technique and technology into a full-body musical system, playable with hands, arms, mouth and body.

As he says:
I am what can only be described as a cyborg musician. in other words, the music i create live, can not be replicated without technology. My music is called "Beatjazz." It is a mix of sound design, live looping and jazz improvisation. My instrument of choice over the years has been a Yamaha Wind MIDI controller, but now the limitations have started to stunt the growth of this new form, so i designed an instrument that can take it into future.

He is now working on the next iteration of his instrument, codenamed Tron, and built around a helmet-mounted controller.

Onyx Ashanti on the Web

Twitter: @onyxashanti
Blog: beatjazz.blogspot.com

Friday, July 08, 2011

STEPHEN FRY



I first became aware of Stephen Fry from a British friend who told me I should follow him on twitter. I did - and occasionally I would be amused by something he said - but I never really looked deeply into his life/work. Then another friend from Sweden posted this on FB (all these connected ways of learning from like minded people) and I had to post this here. I love his ideas about music - and especially this idea of a concerto being a conversation between the individual and the state. It made me immediately go to itunes and create a "concerto playlist" and start listening.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

James Baldwin





Absolutely one of the most brilliant and prophetic writers ever...witness...survivor. I've been about him for the past few years....and I just can't get enough of his wisdom, his wit and his unflagging love.

(Broadside by Patrick Sharrow)

Lake Michigan is a Dangerous Body of Water

At least the southern half is...such a pity.

Each one teach one....

I have been teaching long enough now that when I see former students giving the same advice that I give in the classroom....well - big internal smiles. Not that I take any credit for their wonderfulness - but love that I have had the honor of working with them for part of their / our journey.


wants to remind the young people of facebook not to post anything you wouldn't want a current/future employer to read/see, or to change your privacy settings to "friends only".
35 minutes ago · ·
  • 2 people like this.
    • Kimberly Weiss ‎(sounding like a representative from reputations.com)
      34 minutes ago ·
    • Amy Soczka I second that! Don't post anything you wouldn't want your grandma or future employer to see...
      32 minutes ago · · 1 person
    • Leslie Fedorchuk love that you say this....because you sound like me. I always try to impress it in every class I teach..it really can be detrimental to future possibilities. (might have to post this on my blog) ♥
      about a minute ago ·