The final piece of Duke Ellington’s jazz profile:
Throughout the entire five decades of its existence, the quality of the signature Ellington sound was a constant. The Duke Ellington Orchestra remained an ensemble of consummate musicians, with extraordinary individual talents, right up until its great pianist and leader died in 1974.
Listen to the program here.
Greg Tate praises Alicia Keys:
No crime there when you ask to be compared to giants. Most especially since she’s got a plan, you see: Learning this soul-craft thing from the ground up, by experimentation, impersonation, and collaboration. This generation has to work that way: no chitterling-circuit bus tours with geniuses, no Philly International studio workshops.
One day, and that day may not be soon, the thoughtful, imperfect projects I shoulder from dawn until dreary rest are going to fall to earth with a satisfying thump. Maybe even a graceful thump. Their designs will be beautiful, meaningful, rooted in reason.
I have always enjoy the thoughtful thinking behind your projects. Every element you placed on the page has a reason. Get some sleep and “craft will come.”
NPR interviews Ma XiaoHui, a virtuoso of the erhu:
The erhu is an instrument with two long strings, played using a bamboo bow strung with horsehair. Sound projects out of the small windows on the back of the instrument’s body, which is made of old redwood and snakeskin.
In “No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!” Nick Vujicic shares three main keys—perspective, vision and choices—in his life that got him from “A life without limbs to a life without limits.” Like Billie Holiday said, “God bless the child that got his own.”
Ward Sutton’s illustration of campaign logos
Just roll over the blue cup and enjoy the interaction
Vonnegut Dollhouse (Quite a cutting-edge CD packaging design)
Learning English in a protesting style
The date and place have been finalized: Sunday, May 25, 2008 at Golden City restaurant in Colmar, PA. Both families sampled the food yesterday. The dishes taste like any Chinese places, but we picked it because they have the date we want and the location is convenience for both parties. My thanks go to Thu Hoai for helping us out with the restaurants. Of course, Thu Hoai and the Magic Night band will be performing at the reception. Now that the day, location and music are in place, it’s time to get rolling.
After the sampling at the restaurant, our family went to my aunt’s house for two more turkeys. We ate and we chat until two thirty in the morning. I laughed so hard at some of the peculiar behaviors of our family members. They all have characters. What can you say? They’re your family. It’s nice to see everyone supporting each other in different ways.
Thursday evening was spent at my lady’s family. We had turkey and spring roll (goi cuon) at her mother’s sister place. Had a few hours of sleep at her parents’ house before heading out to Black Friday. She dragged my ass out to Staples at five thirty in the cold morning. Bought a 500GB external hard drive to archive my digital music and an electronic GPS. I have a human GPS too but she keeps falling asleep on me and in order for her to work properly she has to have her pho. We met up with her brother and sister and wasted the whole morning walking around the malls. I didn’t mind though because I was with her. It felt great to be part of her family and it felt greater to see her smile.
After a bowl of bun rieu my lady prepared for lunch at the parents’ place, I took off to my sister’s house. Had some bo kho and bread mom made and went to the bookstore to get some light reading. Spotted a new book titled Other People’s Love Letter: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See. Bill Shapiro, the editor, came up with the concept after he read a love letter while waiting for his date to get dress. I only skim through the book, yet I could feel the embarrassment just thinking about the first love letter I wrote to my lady. In this day and age, I am not sure if people still hand-writing their letters anymore, but here is a good one:
I love that you
sent me an actual
letter.
I can feel your
hand on the pen,
pressing firmly
on the paper.
Did you moisten the
envelope with your
lips?
That was my Thursday and Friday. Saturday is even going to be more exciting.
The office of College Relations is almost empty. I am having a hard time concentrating on getting anything done although I am not rushing to get out of work. So I am just kicking back, sipping some tea, and listening to Dave Brubeck’s Time Signatures right out of my speakers. I requested a pair of decent JBL speakers last year but only uses it when my colleagues aren’t around. So I am trying to take advantage of it while people are away for Thanksgiving.
I don’t have any plan for Thanksgiving other than to spend time with the love ones. I am, however, looking forward to a turkey dinner with all that delicious stuffing and savory gravy. Speaking of food making me hungry already. So even if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, enjoy the days off with your family and try some deep-fried turkey.
Although I don’t have a Thanksgiving theme for Visualgui.com, Kevin has given Vassar a bursting-red design. Check it out!
Pixelsurgeon pulled the plug. Thanks for a great seven years.