“You can’t always write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say, so sometimes you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream.”
Frank Zappa
linkDavid Manqué • RSS • archive
Andre Kasongo Ilunga
via maxistentialist • linkHere is an interesting fact about the Congolese minister of foreign trade: he doesn’t exist.
When the prime minister asked for two nominees for the post, UNACEF party leader Kisimba Ngoy nominated himself and “Kasongo Ilunga,” apparently thinking he was bound to win against a phantom.
The plan backfired when the prime minister chose Ilunga. The enigmatic 36-year-old failed to appear at the opening of the new government, and he hasn’t claimed his office. Ngoy says that the invisible bureaucrat has resigned, but the prime minister insists that he must do so in person.
That leaves Congo without a trade minister - and Kisimba helplessly offering that dubious resignation letter. “He wrote it himself,” he insists. “He signed it. Could an imaginary man do that?”
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Goodbye - Mary Hopkin
Written by Paul McCartney for her; never performed by the Beatles. Went to #2 UK in 1969 (#1 was “Get Back”).
link“Mr Obama had told his audience that he was a “big supporter of non-censorship”, and that unrestricted internet access was a “source of strength” that should be encouraged.”
“Summit Talks for Obama in Beijing,” BBC News
Remember this one the next time someone tells you that liberals have no spine.
(via grayandgreen)
Maybe Obama should put his liberal spine to use and reverse his decision to withhold detainee abuse photos from the public.
via grayandgreen • linkFor you, Max.
link[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource
Love the album cover, love the album.
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Ana Vidovic played at TEDx - she is amazing. You’ve got to hear this.
This is the piece Asturias composed by Isaac Albeniz, if you happened to be curious.
Also, at the risk of coming across as a snob (oh who am I kidding, I always come across that way), in my opinion, she’s taking this craaaaazy fast. It’s admittedly pretty amazing - her technique is impeccable - but she’s zipping through the music at such a frantic pace that she ends up losing a lot of dramatic tension. Listen to John Williams play this song to see what I mean. In particular, compare how each performer plays the ending - it’s like two different compositions.
via maxistentialist • link[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Bear in Heaven - Beast in Peace
What. A. Song. One of my favorites of the year.
linkvia spiels • linkAnother YouTube night at the Ryan and Bobby’s. This week’s theme: old-time Disney. Mathmagic!
(via thelostdisney) (via Robert and Ryan)
