WTF! How can this possibly be for real??

This You Tube clip is going viral.  You will see why.  Is this trick photography, or what!?  If you have a theory, please let me know.

 

Special weapons and tactics (SWAT)

The “occupy” movement has been the proverbial “pebble in the pond,” causing ripples across the political and civic ponds.  I have followed it with considerable interest, but as time has passed I have begun to feel a worrying unease.  The movement defines the “one-percent” and has done a great service in pointing out the utter, unforgivable immorality of allowing such a disparity.  But, in the back of my mind (cynicism at full volume) I worry a lot about what will happen if the one-percent ever really feel threatened.  At present, they are “annoyed,” but what happens if they truly feel threatened?  I know for a fact that they will react with oppression and violence that will mask as being “justified.”  And, when that happens I predict that one of two things will happen:  1)the movement will shrivel as citizens fear loss of their current station in life  (average as it might be), or even injury and loss of life, or 2) a true violent revolution will ensue.  

This belief of mine was brought into frightening focus when I read this article a few moments ago.  I usually don’t ever share a link to an article over a page long, but this three-pager is a required, and very scary, read. 

I hope I’m wrong, but I fear that I am not.

Geek treasure

Here is a great Lifehacker page listing some terrific single-purpose web sites.  Some nice stuff with links to get you there.  I was happy to learn that it would take a desktop PC 169 days to hack my password.

~ Tom

Paul Motian–R.I.P.

I just got the news that Paul Motian died yesterday in Manhattan.  In my mind he was one of the greatest jazz drummers ever.  I first became aware of him when I was still in high school and getting into jazz.  My favorite album at that time was the Bill Evans Trio’s “Waltz for Debby.”  Paul was a founding member of that spectacular amalgam, with Bill on piano and an amazing young Scott LaFaro on bass.  I literally wore that album out, having to buy a replacement copy somewhere down the line.  As I write this I am listening to that group, just honor Paul.  I’m blessed to have the exquisite boxed set of the complete Riverside recordings by Bill. (12 discs!)

I saw Paul a few times over the years with different groups.  He was always so clean and precise, yet swinging the whole time.  To this day I can’t think of any drummer who is better on the brushes than Paul was.  His brush work was especially wonderful on the work he did with the Bill Evans Trio. 

Dang, I’m really sad to see him go.

~ Tom

Some thought-provoking art

Check out this art work.

It’s all excellent, but I particularly liked the Washington Monument as Pinocchio’s lying nose – took me a few seconds to figure that one out.

Jazz on the Tube

Check out this site for one of the coolest things I have run across lately.  This will keep you fulfilled for a lifetime.  BTW, it is possible that some of the links will have been removed, e.g. “Song For My Father” by Horace, but most of the stuff is there waiting for your hungry eyes and ears.

On the subject of Horace, check out “Cool Eyes” on the “Jazz on the Tube” site.  This was Horace’s quintet in 1958.  What it brought to mind was how when I first was getting into jazz, literally all the cats dressed in suits and ties and looked very sharp.  Not too many do any more.   I kind of miss that.

Ciao,

~ Tom

Toles’ weighty observations

As those of you who read this blog know, one of my biggest political fears is voter suppression.  I wrote about it here, and my friend Michael added a timely comment to that post.  Believe me folks it’s real, and worse, it’s very effective.

Toles summed it up oh so effectively today:

Click to enlarge