Ugh…
I have a yucky flu that makes me want to crawl under a boulder and die. But not writing makes me feel limbless. So I’ll do what I can…
Thought for Today: Letting Go
“The world is won by those who let it go! But when you try and try, The world is then beyond winning.” –Lao Tzu
Painting Journalism:
While at the Idea Festival last week, I met Ashley Cecil who is doing a neat thing she calls “painting journalism” which she characterizes as such…
Welcome to the marriage of painting and social activism. I’ve been creating art ever since discovering that my mom’s Chanel lipstick made a great oil pastel. Through formal art education and years of professional experience, the adult version of this vocation has evolved into my own job title, “painting journalist.” I’m addressing philanthropic issues utilizing painting as my medium of communication. Much like a photojournalist, I travel to locations/events of cultural interest and capture them, only with my brush.
She then sells her paintings and donates a portion of the proceeds to non-profit and progressive causes.
The left needs more creative approaches to media activism like this one. I agree with linguist Geoffrey Nunberg who argues in his new book Talking Right that the “perpetually aggrieved style of Pacifica Radio” not only turns potential activists off but it makes every issue seem like a hopeless David v. Goliath struggle. My hat is off to Ms. Cecil for lending her creativity to a movement that often lacks it.
Week in Review: October 15-22, 2006
- I had an awesome time at the Idea Festival and wrote about it for the Huffington Post
- The Departed was a great movie
- Beating up bands and tasering their fans is not cool.
- An article I did on independent bookstores and a few follow up notes
- A quick solution to catching up on magazine reading
And While We’re Talking Radio…
Does anybody get what KCRW is trying to accomplish with its new website design? I actually find it harder to find program notes than before.
Oh and my local public radio station 91.7 KALW has a new website. In the words of Station Manager Matt Martin, it’s a giant leap forward from the previous design. I agree.
A Few Podcasting (not mine) Notes:
A couple of weeks ago, Sound Opinions did a fantastic show honoring the 30th anniversary of Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life album. I bought this record years ago and hadn’t listened much to it but this dense, smart hour of radio made me want to dive right back in.
If you haven’t been listening to The Treatment, in September, they did a 4 part series on men’s fashion that made me want to wear a suit. In the daytime. Guests included photographer Timothy Greenfield-Saunders and designers Thom Browne, Scott Sternberg and Oswald Boateng.
Last week I was elated that This American Life had begun offering podcasts of new shows. Now I find out that Marketplace, which I never remember to tune in to has started podcasting 5 days a week.
I think this is the dam starting to give way. Fresh Air, you’re next. Hurry up.
Update on Josh Wolf:
The SF Chronicle reports that Josh Wolf is on his way to being the longest jailed journalist in US History.
I’ve given my opinion on Josh’s case and will continue to correspond with him. If you’d like to write to…
Joshua Wolf 98005-111
Federal Correctional Institution – Dublin
5701 8th St. Camp-Parks, Unit J2
Dublin, CA 94568
(via New Media Musings)
Band Names:
I love stuff like this list of where band names came from:
COUNTING CROWS – Comes from old English nursery rhyme which had to do with predicting the future from the numbers of birds seen. Originally the rhyme was about magpies, but as people came over to America, crows were used instead. From the song “A Murder of One” one of the versions of the rhyme goes “one for sorrow, two for joy, three for girls, four for boys, five for
silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told…” Adam Duritz liked the rhyme…
Sure to impress at parties (via BoingBoing).
Wikipedia on your iPod:
Has anybody tried putting Wikipedia on their iPod? How does it look (via Micropersusion)?
Frank and the Fraggles:
I’m sorry to have to be the one to record this but Fraggle Rock, one of the greats of 80s children’s television is being developed for the big screen by, eh, Ahmet Zappa.
Third child of Frank Zappa, ex-husband of Selma Blair, author of children’s book. Sure, I see it.
(via Fishbowl LA)