The Iceman Cometh “is a life-size platinum skull set with 8,601 high-quality diamonds. If, as expected, it sells for around $100 million this month, it will become the single most expensive piece of contemporary art ever created. Or the most outrageous piece of bling.” I wouldn’t be surprised to see a rapper sports this skull on their chest.
Charles Mungus’ “The Clown” is a mesmerizing storytelling improvisation narrated by Jean Shepherd. Here is Mingus’ own word on the piece:
I felt happy one day. I was playing a little tune on the piano that sounded happy. Then I hit a dissonance that sounded sad, and I realized that the song had to have two parts. The story as I told it to Jean Shepherd, is about a clown who tried to please people – like most jazz musicians do – but whom nobody liked until he was dead. My version of the story ended with the clown blowing his brains out, with the people laughing and finally being pleased because they thought it was part of the act. I liked the way Jean changed the ending; it leaves more up to the listener.
Matt Taibbi slaughters Rudy Giuliani:
Now Giuliani is running for president — as the hero of 9/11. George Bush has balls, too, but even he has to bow to this motherfucker.
Dalena sings Vietnamese pretty damn good for white girl. Her other talent is English translation, in which she tends to stay faithful to the original context as much as she could without losing the natural flow. Oh My Sweet Love, a fantastic collaboration with Don Ho, showcases some of her finest takes on Christophe’s and Art Sullivan’s ballads. The opening “Hand In Hand” (“Main Dans La Main”) and title track, “Oh! Mon Amour,” once again proved Don Ho’s ability to connect with his female counterpart. They merged together like one and one still one. But then again Dalena’s nostalgia rendition of “Day of Winter” (“Tombe La Neige”) shows that even sweet love turns cold, and the only thing that is still fresh is memory:
I watch the snowfalls
It brings memories of you.
Our days of winter
Were the happiest we knew
Days we spent together
I thought we have forever
Fireside kisses linger
Sparkling promise on my finger
Now I sit and watch the snow
I have nowhere else to go
While cold and lonely seeming
I found happiness in dreaming.
The 2007 Senior Class President only had 395 days to write his speech, but he wrote it at 1:00am on the day he delivered it.
Little People photography by Gary Parker. Great work!
Winehouse’s rep is as famous as her album. From Lynn Yaeger’s “Winehouse Rules“:
Last February, when a presenter at the BRIT Awards, England’s version of the Grammys, joked that “Winehouse” is the new name for Amy’s liver, it was further proof that the singer’s louche proclivities are now as famous as her extraordinary talent—she was named best British female singer that night. Now Rod Stewart says he’d like to record an album with her (a mixed blessing) and her name is being bounced around as, believe it or not, the next Bond girl. Whatever the future holds, Winehouse, 23, has already secured a place in the great tradition of women who get high and tear your heart out, from Billie to Judy, Mama Cass to Janis.
Enjoying this delicious dish complemented with Classic Manhattan while watching Pistons and Cavaliers go toe to toe. Can’t get any better than this, baby!
Thelonious Monk’s masterful solo. Isn’t it just beautiful?
With two over time, both Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers gave an outstanding performance last night, and LeBron James was unstoppable:
James had already used every ounce of energy to put together one of the most spectacular performances in playoff history, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to the verge of their greatest season.
