Obey!

I find the film itself quite compelling. It owes a lot in its format to the films Woodstock (split screen) and Koyaanisqatsi (split screen, minimalist-esque score, slowed motion and hypnotic images). I don’t agree with some of the inferences the director takes from Hayes’ writing, but the film is well worth viewing, in spite or its pessimism. After all, I’m far more pessimistic myself.

JFK's American University "Peace Speech" - June 10th, 1963

Elegy for JFK

The Anchorage Civic Orchestra will be giving our 2013 Fall Concert on November 22nd.  Back in late August, when we began our once-per-week rehearsals, a member observed that our concert will occur on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The theme of our concert is Four Centuries of American Music, with works written in the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries being programmed.  After mulling over the idea for four days, I wrote this simple, direct elegy over Labor Day weekend.

The music doesn’t take a point of view in a sense of reflecting my opinions on why or how President Kennedy was killed.  It is merely a civic tribute to the man, and what he gave that day.  The sound track of the Youtube is a MIDI version, created with Finale notation software and Garritan orchestral sound samples.


I will conduct its premiere on Friday, November 22nd, in Anchorage.

Robert Reich to Address Bartlett Club Thursday

I would be there if I could.  Glad to see this event happening.

Anchorage Civic Orchestra on November 22 - Four Centuries of American Music

'Fukushima beyond tragic, it's a crime'

Paul Jay's Real World News Interviews with Max Blumenthal

Saturday I hosted a two-hour on-line firedoglake Book Salon with Max Blumenthal, author of Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel.  I've known Max since 2008, when he came to Alaska to perform research on Sarah Palin's religious background, and religious followers.

The Real World News' Paul Jay interviewed Max recently, in five parts.  Here they are:

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Part Four:

Part Five: