Heap's Been Busy. New Album in August.

Imogene Heap is a personal favorite. The edgy and brilliant Brit has been under the radar for a spell, and now we know why. She's been working on a serious new album, Ellipse, due out in August of this year. Can't wait. When Heap says she's working on an album, she really means it. She crafts her soundscapes with intricate design; plays practically every instrument, mixes, adds electronica magic and serves up totally mesmerizing, unique tunes. Way creative. Way good. Here's her recently uploaded trailer for the new release.



Technorati Tags: music, Heap, new release

Ethiopian Man Feeding Hyena Pack

Another Google Blogger Play find, this blog is in an Eastern European language that I don't read or understand. I'm guessing Polish or some Balkan tongue. Doesn't matter. This blogger's pictures of Africa are stunning. This one particular set, of a man feeding meat to wild Hyenas, really caught my eye. So I included it below with credit to the blog and blogger cited.

Dude, Hyena's are known for their bone-crushing jaws. And just look at the size of them. Uh-huh. They're more Tiger than Wolf, however, being part of the feline-like carnivore family. Not canines as many believe. And I thought the Cobra snake charmers outside the Souks at the Medina in Marrakech were impressive. Check this guy out. He sure looks casual and chilled-out for being surrounded by a pack of hungry, wild animals. Must know them well. Maybe talk their language.















Technorati Tags: Africa, Hyena, Photo

Feed Me!

Gypsy Festivals in NYC - Preview Video

Got this from Link TV's new World Music Blog. So the network I love the most now has an awesome music blog. Yeah. I'm aware that Pop Impulse has been a little video-intensive recently. I blame Twitter for taking so much of my time. But I'm addicted, truth be told. So though some long, insightful posts for readers are in the works, I had to share this video of the premier NYC Gypsy Festival. Hope you enjoy it.



Related posts
Gypsy Music - Origins of Improvisation?
Gypsy Art & Music
Balkan Gypsy Tango
Movie Madness (featuring Gypsy movies)


Technorati Tags: Gypsy, music, NYC

Credit Card Company Comeuppance

New Credit Card Laws - watch more funny videos

Technorati Tags: Credit, Banks, Finance

Former Interrogator Rebukes Cheney

Thanks to the crew at Brave New Films for this professional and responsive bit of journalism. And let this serve as a warning to those who would re-write history. It's not going to happen. Not this time. Not ever again. This kind of instant "truth squad" will make sure of it. And you've got to admire the quick turn-around. This is what the Internet is all about. Cross-posted from World Impulse.

cheney
torture

Ten Things You Didn't Know About Orgasm

Mary Roach, author of "Bonk," delivered this almost 20 minute presentation for the TED conference. TED videos never cease to wonder and amaze. Just when The Author figured orgasm was already well understood and documented, this comes along. There's some new information here, guaranteed. And it is so funny and engaging - if you're a bit of a brainiac and unencumbered by primitive moral taboos. Watch and enjoy. Or don't. That's the thing about choice.



Technorati Tags: Orgasm, TED, Video

Tingeling Goes Russia

Uh-huh. Scandinavian-Russo sounds from Sweden's Tingeling. European music madness.

Off to Da Big Island

The Author is taking a brief hiatus, vacationing with partner and resident friends on the big island of Hawaii. Ten days of Aloha. Taking "The Divine Husband" as reading material, the laptop, iPhone & iPod. Our friends in Na'alehu have graciously offered their guest room, and we're flying thanks to frequent flier miles. Our final four days will be at a beachfront condo in Kona, so we're going low stress, low budget. Sweet.


Thanks again to the Favara family for their hospitality. As you can see, their home is a suitable destination in paradise. Tastefully decorated with vintage Chinese and Balinese touches inside, and a to-die-for view from the Lanai. So if the VOG will stay away for a few days, all will be perfect. Plans call for a dinner at Hilo's Seaside restaurant and the usual visit to the fabulous Hawaiian Botanical Garden. I'll post a note from the south Pacific if I'm able, or inclined.

Moralism Sucks - Authority Abused Again

Thanks to Mark at Boing Boing for bringing this disturbing video to our attention, via "The Agitator." The piety of fundie moralists is sickening, and it seems, potentially lethal. But we all knew that. Problem is: religious fundamentalism has slowly infiltrated virtually all aspects of American life and infrastructure. No where is this more the case than in local police departments. Sure, this girl has a bad mouth. But really!



Policing
9-1-1

Not All Teenage Divas Sing Pop

Montreal's Nikki Yanofsky, at 15 years old, aspires to a more sublime sound. Wow. Confident and composed, this Diva-in-training has the energy, technique and style to be around for a while. A good thing. Regular readers know that Canada has some fine musical talent and fantastic annual festivals. This is an artist we'll be looking for on our next trip north. Enjoy.



Jazz
Nikki Yanofsky

End Addiction to Plastic Water Bottles

It just doesn't make sense. On so many levels. Not the least of which is the phenomena is a clear prelude to corporate ownership of potable water. Now that's a horrifying prospect. Today's Daily Kos features a wonderful and comprehensive piece by MCJoan, one of the Internet's clearest voices. Her piece, which starts out with a thorough review of Sam Bozzo's new film: Blue Gold: World Water Wars, is point-on as usual. So read it. You won't be disappointed.

In this space I'm focusing on just one aspect of her piece, which I'm reproducing below. It addresses a particular, personal irritation: Plastic water bottles. I confess to drinking my share of San Pelagrino, from glass. What is so inscrutable is the willingness of the masses to fork-out hard-earned cash for "processed" city water. Consider:

The energy used each year making the bottles needed to meet the demand for bottled water in the United States is equivalent to more than 17 million barrels of oil. That's enough to fuel over 1 million cars for a year.

• If water and soft drink bottlers had used 10% recycled materials in their plastic bottles in 2004, they would have saved the equivalent of 72 million gallons of gasoline. If they had used 25%, they would have saved enough energy to electrify more than 680,000 homes for a year.

• In 2003, the California Department of Conservation estimated that roughly three million water bottles are trashed every day in that state. At this rate, by 2013 the amount of unrecycled bottles will be enough to create a two-lane highway that stretches the state's entire coast.

• In 2004 the recycling rate for all beverage containers was 33.5 percent. If it reached 80 percent, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions would be the equivalent of removing 2.4 million cars from the road for a year.

• That bottle that takes just three minutes to drink can take up to a thousand years to biodegrade.

Sources: Earth Policy Institute, As You Sow, Container Recycling Institute.

Water Portal: Wikipedia

water

Music Machine - Fantastico

Seven views and no comments? How could that be possible? Doesn't anybody else like this video?

Technorati Tags: Music, Machine

Chai Masala - Hot or Cold

The Author is very fond of tea. Black, green Oolong, and Chai. Masala Chai is best prepared with fresh spices at home. The following recipe, culled from countless hours of undocumented internet surfing, is the basic and a personal favorite. One adjusts the ingredients to taste. Vanilla Bean may be added for denizens of the Pacific Northwest who are used to it in their Chai.

Make and use your Chai spice mix by weight. For best results, use whole or broken spices, not ground! To make 3 ½ ounces, start with about an ounce of shelled green or black cardamon and a half ounce of cinnamon bark. Then be sure you use some clove and ginger, and make up the weight from your favorites from this list:

• Allspice, cracked
• Black pepper, cracked HOT!
• Cardamon, hulled
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Coriander seed
• Ginger HOT!
• Mace and Nutmeg
• Star anise
• Fennel
• Bay leaf

Crack, hull and otherwise prepare your spices. Once blended, the spices can be placed in a cheese cloth bag or large, easy-fill tea filters. Brew a traditional pot of strong, black tea. The Author prefers single-estate Assam or an East Freisen blend. To the tea, add an equal part of milk and the bag of spices. Slowly bring to an easy boil then reduce immediately to a simmer and steep until the aroma is just right. Add sugar or Honey to taste. Remove spice bag and serve.

Technorati Tags: Chai, Tea, Recipe

50 Cars to make One Bus

So take the bus already. Or at least, share a taxi. Part with the car to reduce carbon emissions and your footprint on the planet. Check out this Swedish news cast covering one creative communications campaign.



transportation
green vehicles

Mexico Reeling after Combination Punch

Cross posted from World Impulse.

Mexico is the populous, next-door neighbor to the United States. “El Norte,” the Mexicans say when referring to the US. The United States of Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), as the country is properly labeled, is the fifth largest state in the Americas and the 14th largest independent nation in the world, according to Wikipedia.

With a population of over 109 million, Mexico is now reeling from three hard blows in succession. First, Mexico is losing the drug war against well-armed, internal narco-gangs. They seem to have co-opted all levels of authority and operate with considerable impunity around the country. Not surprising. Even when The Author was originally learning El Espanol, living and traveling in Mexico, the central government was largely seen as the authority on the borders and the Plateau – and not much else. The Mexican plateau, with a majority of the country’s population and three of its most important cities: the Federal District (DF, Mexico City); Guadalajara; and, Pueblo, (with the addition of Monterrey in the north) has long been the focus of the central government’s attention and funding. The same appears to be true for the administration of president Calderon. Rural areas, especially those in the south, have gone without similar attention or funding and are abjectly poor and feudal. Crime remains a serious and growing problem throughout the country, especially kidnapping and murder.

Second: The economic crisis in the US, coupled with punitive and restrictive immigration laws, has resulted in a significant decrease in remittances by Mexican workers to their home villages. Adding to this blow, Mexican laborers are being forced by rising unemployment in the US to return to Mexico at an inopportune moment for both the families of the workers and the government of the state.

Third: The new Swine flu, A: H1N1, appears to have originated in Mexico and is now on its way to being the first major global pandemic in years. So tourism, Mexico’s trustworthy source of foreign currency, has dried up and commerce is slowing dramatically as the country shutters to avoid spreading contagion. Evidence is mounting that the contagion is not only viral, it is economic as well. And Mexico's economy will continue to suffer.

Technorati Tags: Mexico, Economy, Flu

CALPERS to Vote Against Lewis at BofA

Today, the powerful California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS) announced that it would vote against the re-election of all 18 members of the Bank of America board of directors and would actively oppose the reappointment of Ken Lewis as the bank's CEO. Since CALPERS owns some 22 million shares, this is a big deal. Lewis, as The Author's previous post indicates, is under fire from all sides. With this last volley, his survival at the institution is in question to say the least. As it should be. Pop Impulse is impressed.

news
banking

Fire Ken Lewis

The Bank of America should fire its CEO, Ken Lewis. He is an enemy of the people, in the simplest of terms. The predatory practices of his bank, both before and after the economic crisis, require nothing less. If you're feeling the effects of this depression, or if you or someone you know has lost a job, this man is in some way responsible. At the very least, he's a good place to start pointing the finger of blame. Then, the middle finger of anger.

B of A used to be a great bank. A really great bank. The company rebuilt San Francisco after the devastating earthquake at the beginning of the last century. It made loans to working-class Americans when other institutions wouldn't. It was the bank for the common fellow. No more. Now it raises rates on its best customers, pushes credit cards on the unqualified, and exacts fees for just about any imaginable event - while handing out bonuses to its crew of clueless executives. Just take a look at the video below (after taking your blood pressure or anti-anxiety meds).



Related Posts
Don't Blame Consumers for Bad Loans
Predatory Business Practices
Classism & Corporate Greed Devalue America
Is the US Becoming a Third World Nation?

news
economy
banks

Happy Earth Day

Let "The Guide Girls" show you how easy it is to be green. Thanks to Parneet, a fellow tweeter, for the link. How is your garden growing? Leave me a note.



Earth Day
Guide Girls

Who Are These People?

My, my. We do these silly thing, it seems, because we can. Makes me celebrate the cynical skepticism of the Vienna Circle and the Linguistic Analysts.

religion

Le fumeur de cigare

I love the music of Richard Galliano. It provides the perfect audio track for this delightful, French animation celebrating the joys of a fine cigar.

more about "Le fumeur de cigare", posted with vodpod

Imogen Heap - Diva with a Difference

The Author is fond of female vocalists, as any regular reader knows. A favorite playlist of late features the tunes of Imogen Heap and Frou Frou. Heap has definite nerd appeal, as she taught herself sequencing and audio engineering at a very young age on an Atari system. Very impressive, in a geekilicious way. Her musical compositions are unique, textured treasures - often multi-layered with just the right amount of electronica. Her voice is mesmerizing. Check out her personal site. Or, you can follow her on Twitter.

A comment on a review site summed it up for me. "She may not be good looking, in a traditional sense, but when this girl sings I just want to lay my head in her lap and disappear into the music." Yeah. That's got it. Another reason that reading (and leaving) comments is a good thing.

Heap has had a varied career: a notable album with the short-lived Frou Frou, a full discography of solo work; and, a number of tracks composed for TV and movies including tunes developed for Heros and the Chronicles of Narnia. The video below is The Author's personal favorite Heap tune.



Music
Imogen Heap

Sticky. Liquid. Art.

Technorati Tags: Art, Coke, Mentos

Mayra Andrade - Cape Verde's New Diva

The music of the Cape Verde islands, located off the coast of Angola on the west coast of Africa, is distinct. Cape Verde, like many shipping stops, was a Portuguese colony for a spell and the sons of Portugal left behind their language and musical sensibilities. This post is all about Mayra Andrade, a new Cape Verdian voice and an undeniable Diva in training. Wow.


Something magic happens when you mix old Portuguese tunes with mainland African rhythms. Cape Verdian singers are also of note. Rich, throaty songs full of tonal nuance and ethnic variation require much from would-be singers. Great, historic names like Cesaria Evora come to mind. The Author was lucky enough to see the Diva herself, at a stop in rural Medford at the Craterian Theatre some time ago.

Mayra Andrade, fresh and young, is the heir apparent to the legendary Evoria. (official web site) She captures the somtimes mellow, sometimes humorous, but always seductive rhythms of the genre with perfection. It's no wonder, she's been singing forever. Born in Havana, Cuba, Andrade moved to the Island at an early age and immediately took up singing and musical instruction. Well, the results are spectacular.



music
Mayra Andrade
Cape Verde

Dato's Award-Winning Music Video

Georgian pop singer Dato Khujadze has won prizes and awards in his native Southwest Asian country as well as at international festivals and competitions. Described as a "transcontinental" country, Georgia is kind of like Central Europe's "South Central" neighborhood.

So Dato has performed duets with Coolio, mastered hip-hop, and produced an award-winning music video since his debut in 2000 and his first album in 2002. (official site). The video speaks for itself. Some of the most artistic free-hand sand painting The Author has ever seen. A treat.

Makhinji Var


Dato Music Georgia

Breaking News: Captain Phillips Freed

The BBC and other newswires are reporting the rescue of American Captain Phillips who had been held hostage by Somali pirates for several days following the abortive boarding of his vessel last week. His crew rallied and re-took the vessel from the heavily armed Somali privateers, but the Captain was taken hostage in the process.

News is that he jumped from his captors lifeboat, flinging himself overboard so that Navy Seals could do the rest. Reports indicate he is safe and sound. Hoo-Yah! Dudes, don't tread on us. Ever.

news

Cabas - Cumbia Animado

I liked this Cumbia, catchy tune, and I loved the animation. Check it out.

Technorati Tags: Cumbia, Cabas, Colombia

Faces in the World

What could be more intriguing than wonderfully composed photographic images of faces from around the world? For the terminal people watcher, faces are like eye candy and today thanks to the wonder of "Blogger Play" from Google I discovered the blog of one Oberdan P. from Salerno, Italy. A fine photographer and accomplished world traveler, this 41 year old Italian has captured some remarkable images - a couple of which I've lifted to adorn this post.

So please, cruise by his blog and drive-up his traffic numbers in appreciation. Thanks Oberdan, for some memorable work. And thanks to Google for the engaging Blogger Play widget.

Photography
eye candy