Thelonious Monk

When I was a kid my dad played jazz on the HiFi. He was member of what he and his friends called the Modern Jazz Club in D.C. They'd get together every couple of weeks and play all the new jazz albums. The cigarettes and booze flowed freely. One of his good buddies, "Smash" was the hot man, so the albums were in ready supply.

My dad and his friends would scream and holler when some live or difficult passage was played. They were "hip." Jazz was their god and their worship.

I think the meanings came like sunlight to me, as to many other recipients of "the music" and the culture. Jazz is second nature. Our giants composing on the fly, responding to one another in tones and phrases rehearsed and practiced late into the night.

Monk's role was that of the jester god. Strange associations flowed from the improvisational crossroads. Dichordant notes, rhythms ebbing and flowing, he made me laugh. His music literally tickled my funny-bone and the feeling is still there. Not only did he make me laugh but the meaning of melancholy, of "Blue", is "Round Midnight." Eternal Peace to Monk.
(note: there are 20 clips, 2nd button reveals pic-buttons. 11-20 are "Straight No Chaser"- a great doc. Click 11 and it will play through.)

The Pentagon showed this fim to the troops...

...too bad the administration didn't listen to the generals on the ground.See Saadi Yacef, former FLN leader, in recent interview. Click menu button and scroll to "Battle..." Revisited; after trailer end.

Prostates and Prejudices

COMMENTARY

By PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES, Op Ed
Published: November 2, 2007
Rudy Giuliani has a habit of saying things that are demonstrably untrue. And the American people have a right to know that.
(full NYTimes column)

note: Krugman also takes on the habit of misstatement of fact of other politicians. After the mistakes and misstatements of the Iraq War and the "War on terror" America and the west should be more critical in it's examination of the political discourse. Our collective authority and resources may be directed to some purpose we do not intend. ch

Verisimilitude

verisimilitude |ˌverəsəˈmiliˌt(y)oōd| noun the appearance of being true or real : the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude. DERIVATIVES verisimilar |-ˈsimələr| adjective ORIGIN early 17th cent.: from Latin verisimilitudo, from verisimilis ‘probable,’ from veri (genitive of verus ‘true’ ) + similis ‘like.’

Thesaurus
verisimilitude- noun the verisimilitude of her performance is gripping realism, believability, plausibility, authenticity, credibility, lifelikeness.

Nobel Winner Issues Apology For Comments About Blacks

by Cornelia Dean

published: The New York Times, October 19, 2007

James D. Watson, who shared the 1962 Nobel prize for deciphering the double-helix of DNA, apologized unreservedly yesterday for comments reported this week suggesting that black people, over all, are not as intelligent as whites. In an interview published Sunday in The Times of London, Dr. Watson is quoted as saying that while there are many people of color who are very talented, he is inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa.
(full NYTimes article)

Ten Thousand Idiots

by Hafiz, Sufi Poet, Persia 14th century

It is always a danger
To aspirants
On the
Path

When they begin
To believe and
Act

As if the ten thousand idiots
Who so long ruled
And lived
Inside

Have all packed their bags
And skipped town
Or
Died.

signified, signifier, signify, signifyin'

signified |ˈsignəˌfīd| noun Linguistics- the meaning or idea expressed by a sign, as distinct from the physical form in which it is expressed. Compare with signifier .

signifier |ˈsignəˌfīər| noun Linguistics- a sign's physical form (such as a sound, printed word, or image) as distinct from its meaning. Compare with signified .

signify |ˈsignəˌfī| verb ( -fies, -fied) 1) [ trans. ] be an indication of : this decision signified a fundamental change in their priorities. • be a symbol of; have as meaning : the church used this image to signify the Holy Trinity. • (of a person) indicate or declare (a feeling or intention) : signify your agreement by signing the letter below. • [ intrans. ] [with negative ] be of importance : the locked door doesn't necessarily signify. 2) [ intrans. ] informal (among Black Americans) exchange boasts or insults as a game or ritual.

signifyin' is Amiri Baraka doin' UGLY.

bell hooks: Cultural Criticism, Transformation

8 video clips, will run in order or use menu to navigate.

STUART HALL, RACE: THE FLOATING SIGNIFIER

This is a one hour piece that is downloadable. Hall argues that race is like language, and that visible differences are employed to explain socio- cultural differences.

Oscar Brown, Jr- "The Beach"

..a call to arms for Baby Boomer Soldiers

Poets Riff on Communication

...from Def Comedy Jam

Blind Men and the Elephant

An ancient Tale...


...In various versions of the tale, a group of blind men (or men in the dark) touch an elephant to learn what it is like. Each one touches a different part, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then compare notes on what they felt, and learn they are in complete disagreement. The story is used to indicate that reality may be viewed differently depending upon one's perspective, showing how absolute truths may be relative; the deceptive world of half-truths...
Wikipedia entry

SONNY ROLLINS PODCAST

Juke Joint

A mixed bag...

...of solid infotainment.

translumination

An experimental documentary in three acts...

c2005 by Craig Herndon

IT DON'T MEAN A THING...

BLACK STEREOTYPES

Che Dies 1967 NYTimes

CONTEST

HONEY CHILD

Separate But Equal...

c2004 Craig Herndon