The NY Times reports today on Vauban, a German suburb that is acting against the use of cars.
It is, largely, environmental activism. But it also embraces issues of safety, health, and quality of life.
Vauban is a new planned community near Freiburg, in the Black Mountain region of Germany, near the Swiss and French borders.
Freiburg - I've visited - is a lovely, historic town where fountains run water along street curbs for aesthetics and cleanliness.
The streets of Vauban are free of cars, except the main thoroughfare, where a tram also runs. Stores and other amenities are on the streets of the town, rather than in malls.
70 percent of Vauban's families do not own cars.
" 'When I had a car, I was always tense. I'm much happier this way,' " says a Vauban resident quoted in the Times, "as she walked verdant streets where the swish of bicycles and the chatter of wandering children drown out the occasional distant motor."
City planning in the past 50 years has revolved around car use. As a result, as much as 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in cities comes from cars. Vauban hopes to show that, as we created the pollution, we can reverse it with planning.
Until then, we can still change car use from rampant to rare. Or, at least, rarer.
We use our cars so much, partly, because they cost so much. If we're paying $2500 a year for insurance, maintenance, repair, registration, inspection, and depreciation, we're damn sure going to use them.
This is where efforts like Carshare of Ithaca come in, offering partial rather than sole car ownership.
We also use cars to save time. But what does that saved time turn into? Going to the gym to make up for the exercise one doesn't get while driving?
The other main component of car use is, let's admit it, laziness. The desire to get somewhere while sitting down.
Compare that to the idea of walking streets like Vauban's, with children and bikes, birds and trees, and no specters of crashes and death.
Joe McMahon of Ithaca recently posted a comment online about hoping for a day when people are as shocked and upset about a death from a car as from a strain of flu.
Information about Ithaca Carshare is at http://www.ithacacarshare.org/. Also, see the comment linked to this article from a message from Carshare.
Information about public transportation in Ithaca is at http://www.tcatbus.com/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Money, the Cayuga Trail, Eminent Domain, and Money
It is curious, in all the hubbub about some property owners in the West End blocking the development of the Cayuga Trail, and the threats against them of eminent domain, that nobody is mentioning actual money.
We imagine that if a business were offered $500 for a right-of-way through 5 of its parking spots, it might fight. To use another extreme example, in order to make the point, we imagine that if it were offered $5 million, it would offer to help shovel.
Has the city made firm offers to these property owners for the various rights-of-way? Have the property owners made counter-offers?
Are the money matters confidential? If so, it's hard to know who is being reasonable and who isn't. It seems about time to clear the air.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
We imagine that if a business were offered $500 for a right-of-way through 5 of its parking spots, it might fight. To use another extreme example, in order to make the point, we imagine that if it were offered $5 million, it would offer to help shovel.
Has the city made firm offers to these property owners for the various rights-of-way? Have the property owners made counter-offers?
Are the money matters confidential? If so, it's hard to know who is being reasonable and who isn't. It seems about time to clear the air.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
ABC Cafe To Close?
Expatriates of Ithaca might not have gotten the news, reported on the front page of the Ithaca Journal yesterday, that the ABC Cafe, the venerable vegetarian place on Stewart Avenue, may be closing in June.
The ABC opened in 1980. It undertook a major expansion in 1999, and took on two new partners in the past year. Despite these developments, and a longstanding, gritty determination to survive, it seems the end is near.
It's a shame, of course, when any beloved business closes, but this one particularly hurts. The Moosewood is better known, but the ABC is probably the most resolutely Ithacan of eateries, with its Orthodox vegetarianism, international menu, and sense of easy anarchy, from the mismatched tables and chairs to the varied entertainment.
We think it was Hemingway who described the process of going broke as one that happens slowly, then all at once. President Obama has said that things are going to get worse before they get better. The possible - or likely - closing of the ABC seems an example of both.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The ABC opened in 1980. It undertook a major expansion in 1999, and took on two new partners in the past year. Despite these developments, and a longstanding, gritty determination to survive, it seems the end is near.
It's a shame, of course, when any beloved business closes, but this one particularly hurts. The Moosewood is better known, but the ABC is probably the most resolutely Ithacan of eateries, with its Orthodox vegetarianism, international menu, and sense of easy anarchy, from the mismatched tables and chairs to the varied entertainment.
We think it was Hemingway who described the process of going broke as one that happens slowly, then all at once. President Obama has said that things are going to get worse before they get better. The possible - or likely - closing of the ABC seems an example of both.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, April 30, 2009
GrassRoots Performers For 2009
GrassRoots has announced its performers list for the 2009 festival.
Among the new headliners are Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Bela Fleck, Oumou Sangare, Pine Leaf Boys, and Toots and the Maytals.
The full, current list can be seen at www.grassrootsfest.org. The actual schedule is not yet done.
Tomorrow, Friday 1 May, is the final day for the "Early Bird" ticket price of $75 for the four day event. Afterwards, the Advance price is $95.
Tickets are available here at Small World Music, 614 W. State St., down the driveway. We're here 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Please bring cash or check for ticket purchases.
Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca Blog
Among the new headliners are Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Bela Fleck, Oumou Sangare, Pine Leaf Boys, and Toots and the Maytals.
The full, current list can be seen at www.grassrootsfest.org. The actual schedule is not yet done.
Tomorrow, Friday 1 May, is the final day for the "Early Bird" ticket price of $75 for the four day event. Afterwards, the Advance price is $95.
Tickets are available here at Small World Music, 614 W. State St., down the driveway. We're here 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Please bring cash or check for ticket purchases.
Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Pete Seeger Birthday Bash in Ithaca, Sunday 3 May
Music lovers in Ithaca are staging a party to celebrate Pete Seeger's 90th birthday this weekend.
The event is at the Small Pavilion in Stewart Park, from 12 to 6 pm. It is sponsored by the Cornell Folk Song Society, the Bound For Glory radio program, and others.
Pete will not be there in person. We are happy to say he also will not be there in spirit, in the expression that people use about someone dead. Pete is live and kicking, and he will be feted that night by a group of stellar musicians at Madison Square Garden.
Here at Small World Music, we have Pete's autograph on an Ithaca Hour note on our wall. We got it when we traveled to Beacon a few years ago at Pete's request to talk to a community group there about starting their own local currency.
The note is not for sale, but Pete's CDs are, including his release from earlier this year. We also have a number of collectible Seeger LPs at very reasonable prices.
Happy birthday to a great musician, American, and world citizen.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The event is at the Small Pavilion in Stewart Park, from 12 to 6 pm. It is sponsored by the Cornell Folk Song Society, the Bound For Glory radio program, and others.
Pete will not be there in person. We are happy to say he also will not be there in spirit, in the expression that people use about someone dead. Pete is live and kicking, and he will be feted that night by a group of stellar musicians at Madison Square Garden.
Here at Small World Music, we have Pete's autograph on an Ithaca Hour note on our wall. We got it when we traveled to Beacon a few years ago at Pete's request to talk to a community group there about starting their own local currency.
The note is not for sale, but Pete's CDs are, including his release from earlier this year. We also have a number of collectible Seeger LPs at very reasonable prices.
Happy birthday to a great musician, American, and world citizen.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Last Week For GrassRoots "Early Bird" Tickets
This is the final week for discount "Early Bird" tickets to the GrassRoots Festival.
On May 1, the Early Bird price of $75 for the 4-day festival ends, and the cost goes up to $95, until the day of the show, when it again rises.
Tickets are available at Small World Music. We're here from 11 a.m - 6 p.m.
GrassRoots does not give us credit card capacity, so please bring cash or check for payment.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music
On May 1, the Early Bird price of $75 for the 4-day festival ends, and the cost goes up to $95, until the day of the show, when it again rises.
Tickets are available at Small World Music. We're here from 11 a.m - 6 p.m.
GrassRoots does not give us credit card capacity, so please bring cash or check for payment.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog and Small World Music
Friday, April 24, 2009
Plenty of Music, April 24 - 26
It's practically supernatural that, on a weekend when temperate spring emerges, there are so many places to go to hear music and socialize.
Fri. 4/24: Bayou Road Krewe brings the sounds of the southern swamp to the swinging State Street scene of Felicia's happy hour. 5:30 pm.
Andy Culpepper palys flamenco guitar at the Smart Monkey Cafe, 6:30.
John Brown's Body at Castaway's. SOJA is a pretty respectable opening act. 8 pm.
A GrassRoots preview with reggae from the Overtakers, and fiddle tunes from John Specker. At the Rongo, 9 pm.
A big quadruple bill at the Lost Dog: Urban Horse Thieves, Hee Haw Nightmare, ZipWire, and Steve Gollnick. 9 pm.
* * *
Sat. 4/25: Emma's Revolution in a Cornell Folk Song Club show at 165 McGraw Hall, 8 pm. Discount advance tickets available at Small World Music.
Boy With A Fish at the Chapter House, 10 pm.
* * *
Sun. 4/26: "Healthy Food For All" benefit at Castaways, 3 pm, with Hee Haw Nightmare, Evil City String Band, The Talktomes, and Thousands of One.
have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Fri. 4/24: Bayou Road Krewe brings the sounds of the southern swamp to the swinging State Street scene of Felicia's happy hour. 5:30 pm.
Andy Culpepper palys flamenco guitar at the Smart Monkey Cafe, 6:30.
John Brown's Body at Castaway's. SOJA is a pretty respectable opening act. 8 pm.
A GrassRoots preview with reggae from the Overtakers, and fiddle tunes from John Specker. At the Rongo, 9 pm.
A big quadruple bill at the Lost Dog: Urban Horse Thieves, Hee Haw Nightmare, ZipWire, and Steve Gollnick. 9 pm.
* * *
Sat. 4/25: Emma's Revolution in a Cornell Folk Song Club show at 165 McGraw Hall, 8 pm. Discount advance tickets available at Small World Music.
Boy With A Fish at the Chapter House, 10 pm.
* * *
Sun. 4/26: "Healthy Food For All" benefit at Castaways, 3 pm, with Hee Haw Nightmare, Evil City String Band, The Talktomes, and Thousands of One.
have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Of Course, Obama Wants To Prosecute Cheney
As a partisan, patriot, decent person and, especially, as the one who has to clean up the horrific messes of the Bush administration around the world, there is probably no one who would like Dick Cheney prosecuted more than Barack Obama.
But, as a politician, he knows the last thing he should do is even hint at that.
In baseball, they call it tipping your pitch. In boxing, telegraphing your punch.
President Obama's job is to build the case, quietly. No doubt his able and energetic inner circle is at work on it.
Obama went to the CIA to publicly absolve the underlings who carried out the Bush/Cheney orders for torture.
This does not relax Cheney and his cohorts. Just the opposite. If the new administration were concerned with expediency rather than justice, it would go after a few little guys, and wrap it up.
That isn't happening.
Obama's adminstration will spring when the time is right. The time is right when the public makes it right.
Keep up the pressure. Obama will strike when he can say he has no choice.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
But, as a politician, he knows the last thing he should do is even hint at that.
In baseball, they call it tipping your pitch. In boxing, telegraphing your punch.
President Obama's job is to build the case, quietly. No doubt his able and energetic inner circle is at work on it.
Obama went to the CIA to publicly absolve the underlings who carried out the Bush/Cheney orders for torture.
This does not relax Cheney and his cohorts. Just the opposite. If the new administration were concerned with expediency rather than justice, it would go after a few little guys, and wrap it up.
That isn't happening.
Obama's adminstration will spring when the time is right. The time is right when the public makes it right.
Keep up the pressure. Obama will strike when he can say he has no choice.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Record Store Day at Small World Music
This Saturday is National Record Store Day. At Small World Music (physical home of Ithaca Blog), we don't have any events per se, but we do have a sale.
All new items are 10% off. All used items are 20% off.
For all you vinyl people (many have been writing us about this Day), the 20% level includes all our vinyl. We have hundreds of LPs at $1 each. We also have collectibles and hard-to-finds, from rock and roll to blues, reggae,, folk, bluegrass, jazz, international, etc.
Small World Music is down the driveway at 614 W. State Street. Hours are 11 - 6, Tuesday through Saturday. Phone is 256-0428.
Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca Blog
All new items are 10% off. All used items are 20% off.
For all you vinyl people (many have been writing us about this Day), the 20% level includes all our vinyl. We have hundreds of LPs at $1 each. We also have collectibles and hard-to-finds, from rock and roll to blues, reggae,, folk, bluegrass, jazz, international, etc.
Small World Music is down the driveway at 614 W. State Street. Hours are 11 - 6, Tuesday through Saturday. Phone is 256-0428.
Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca Blog
Saturday, April 11, 2009
NY Times Poll: Grateful Dead Show At Cornell Best Ever
The erstwhile Grateful Dead are touring again - now known simply as the Dead, with the death of Jerry Garcia (though logically, perhaps they should be the Grateful).
It might not be a big deal to a lot of people, but it apparently is to NY Times readers, who have made the Dead story the paper's #1 e-mailed feature.
If you go to the story, you can vote for the Grateful Dead's #1 show of all time. Even if you don't know or care, you can do a civic act by voting for their show at Cornell on 8 May 1977. Currently, in fact, that show is polling #1 by a comfortable margin.
Here on Ithaca Blog, you can also read the fascinating story (a first-hand account) of how one could gain admittance to that show with a sandwich from Tennessee. Just go to the "Search Blog" space at the top of this page, and search for "Tennessee sandwich." You'll see the posting, from the 30th anniversary of the show, May 2007. (You'll also see this posting again, as we just used the phrase "Tennessee sandwich" here. Twice.)
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
It might not be a big deal to a lot of people, but it apparently is to NY Times readers, who have made the Dead story the paper's #1 e-mailed feature.
If you go to the story, you can vote for the Grateful Dead's #1 show of all time. Even if you don't know or care, you can do a civic act by voting for their show at Cornell on 8 May 1977. Currently, in fact, that show is polling #1 by a comfortable margin.
Here on Ithaca Blog, you can also read the fascinating story (a first-hand account) of how one could gain admittance to that show with a sandwich from Tennessee. Just go to the "Search Blog" space at the top of this page, and search for "Tennessee sandwich." You'll see the posting, from the 30th anniversary of the show, May 2007. (You'll also see this posting again, as we just used the phrase "Tennessee sandwich" here. Twice.)
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Easter Joke
This is one of our favorite theological anecdotes. (Ellen Grady's, too. )
It actually takes place on a Holy Thursday, which is today.
It's 5 o'clock and St. Peter is wrapping it up for the day at the gates in Heaven. He checks in with God.
"Well, busy day," St. Peter says. "We were hoping to get out of here on time, with the holiday and all. Then, a minute ago, three guys show up from Brooklyn.
"They're wiseguys. Professional hitmen. Hundreds of murders. They're here because they were setting a bomb on a guy's car and it blew up on them.
"I think we can knock this one right out. Open-and-shut, straight consignment to Hell." He looks at his clipboard. "Any problem?"
God says, "Well, I understand you wanting to get home, with the big weekend, but I'm feeling especially merciful today, with Easter here.
"So, I tell you what let's do. Not to keep you too long, just ask these guys one question: 'What Is Easter?' If even one of them can I.D. it, he has an inkling of redemption, and we'll save their souls."
"You're the boss," says St. Peter.
St. Peter heads back to the gate, where the three guys are waiting. "Alright," he says, "you guys are getting a break like you wouldn't believe. If one of you can explain what the holiday of Easter is, you're all saved."
The first guy, Tony, steps forward. "Hey, I know what Easter is. It's a big holiday every winter. This big fat guy flies around the world in a cart with reindeers and gives out presents to the good little girls and boys."
"Wrong," says St. Peter.
The next guy, Fat Tony, steps up. "Hey, hold up, I know Easter. It's a holiday every summer, and everybody has hots dogs and hamburgers and lights off firecrackers."
"Sorry," says St. Peter.
"What are yous, nuts?," says the last guy, Big Fat Tony. "You're getting us killed here. I know what Easter is. They take a guy and nail him up on a big cross. Am I right?," he says.
"Keep going," says St. Peter.
"Yeah," says Big Fat Tony. "So the guy dies and they bury him in a cave. He stays in there three days. Then, on the third day, it turns out he's okay, and he comes out."
"Good," says St. Peter.
"Yeah," says Big Fat Tony. "He comes out of the cave, and he looks around. And then, if he don't see his shadow," ...
#
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
It actually takes place on a Holy Thursday, which is today.
It's 5 o'clock and St. Peter is wrapping it up for the day at the gates in Heaven. He checks in with God.
"Well, busy day," St. Peter says. "We were hoping to get out of here on time, with the holiday and all. Then, a minute ago, three guys show up from Brooklyn.
"They're wiseguys. Professional hitmen. Hundreds of murders. They're here because they were setting a bomb on a guy's car and it blew up on them.
"I think we can knock this one right out. Open-and-shut, straight consignment to Hell." He looks at his clipboard. "Any problem?"
God says, "Well, I understand you wanting to get home, with the big weekend, but I'm feeling especially merciful today, with Easter here.
"So, I tell you what let's do. Not to keep you too long, just ask these guys one question: 'What Is Easter?' If even one of them can I.D. it, he has an inkling of redemption, and we'll save their souls."
"You're the boss," says St. Peter.
St. Peter heads back to the gate, where the three guys are waiting. "Alright," he says, "you guys are getting a break like you wouldn't believe. If one of you can explain what the holiday of Easter is, you're all saved."
The first guy, Tony, steps forward. "Hey, I know what Easter is. It's a big holiday every winter. This big fat guy flies around the world in a cart with reindeers and gives out presents to the good little girls and boys."
"Wrong," says St. Peter.
The next guy, Fat Tony, steps up. "Hey, hold up, I know Easter. It's a holiday every summer, and everybody has hots dogs and hamburgers and lights off firecrackers."
"Sorry," says St. Peter.
"What are yous, nuts?," says the last guy, Big Fat Tony. "You're getting us killed here. I know what Easter is. They take a guy and nail him up on a big cross. Am I right?," he says.
"Keep going," says St. Peter.
"Yeah," says Big Fat Tony. "So the guy dies and they bury him in a cave. He stays in there three days. Then, on the third day, it turns out he's okay, and he comes out."
"Good," says St. Peter.
"Yeah," says Big Fat Tony. "He comes out of the cave, and he looks around. And then, if he don't see his shadow," ...
#
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Binghamton Shootings: Easy Guns
With the shooting deaths yesterday in Binghamton, there has been much media speculation about the mental state of the killer, but little to how he got the guns.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence rates New York State only 51 on a scale of 100 for safe gun policies.
Except for New York City, with its stringent controls, handgun registrations are permanent, not renewed - unlike, for instance, car registrations and driver's licences.
Records are kept on handgun sales, but there is no state system to automatically identify a gun owner who has committed a crime or otherwise become ineligible to possess a gun.
New York City leads the way in controlling access to murder weapons, with its re-registrations, and its policy of needs assessment for handguns. The rest of the state is overdue in following.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence rates New York State only 51 on a scale of 100 for safe gun policies.
Except for New York City, with its stringent controls, handgun registrations are permanent, not renewed - unlike, for instance, car registrations and driver's licences.
Records are kept on handgun sales, but there is no state system to automatically identify a gun owner who has committed a crime or otherwise become ineligible to possess a gun.
New York City leads the way in controlling access to murder weapons, with its re-registrations, and its policy of needs assessment for handguns. The rest of the state is overdue in following.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Call State Theater For Free Amy Goodman Tix
The State Theater will save people a trip to their box office and, with a phone call, reserve free tickets for tonight's appearance by Amy Goodman - "if you're sure you're coming," we were told.
We are, and they did.
Call the theater at 27-STATE to reserve tickets for the 7 pm event.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
We are, and they did.
Call the theater at 27-STATE to reserve tickets for the 7 pm event.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Amy Goodman and Glenn Greenwald Speak At State Theater, Tues. 31 March
Amy Goodman of the "Democracy Now" news broadcast and blogger Glenn Greenwald will appear at the State Theater this Tuesday, 31 March, at 7 pm, to receive the first annual "Izzy" Award from Ithaca College for pioneering journalists.
The award is named for the late independent journalist I.F. "Izzy" Stone.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. The free tickets are available at the State Theater box office.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
The award is named for the late independent journalist I.F. "Izzy" Stone.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. The free tickets are available at the State Theater box office.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Ithaca in DC Protest Online
Local views, including text and video, of the recent DC rally against war in the Middle East are now available at http://www.tompkinsagainstwar.org/.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ein Klein Beruhmtheit For Ithaca in Germany, Through Ithaca Hours
Joerg Pfeiffer, a video journalist from Germany's "Der Spiegel" magazine, came to Ithaca this week on a cross-country trip he is documenting about notable places in the U.S.
His main focus was Ithaca's local currency, Ithaca Hours.
The video, viewable at http://km42.spiegel.de/, features interviews at Alternatives Federal Credit Union, Silk Oak Clothing, and Small World Music. There is also footage of Ithaca Bakery, GreenStar, Autumn Leaves Books, and Cayuga Medical Center - all Hours participants - as well as the Commons, Stewart Park, Cascadilla Creek, and area neighborhoods.
The Ithaca Hours website usually averages about 100 hits a day. Today it is about one per minute.
Danke and gut Arbeit, Joerg -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog & Hours
His main focus was Ithaca's local currency, Ithaca Hours.
The video, viewable at http://km42.spiegel.de/, features interviews at Alternatives Federal Credit Union, Silk Oak Clothing, and Small World Music. There is also footage of Ithaca Bakery, GreenStar, Autumn Leaves Books, and Cayuga Medical Center - all Hours participants - as well as the Commons, Stewart Park, Cascadilla Creek, and area neighborhoods.
The Ithaca Hours website usually averages about 100 hits a day. Today it is about one per minute.
Danke and gut Arbeit, Joerg -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog & Hours
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Is Your Facebook Information Being Marketed?
You know those fun little quizzes you take on Facebook about your real biological age, or who you were in another life?
With permission you give in order to take these quizzes, the information you provide becomes legal for sale to marketers, drug companies and, presumably, anyone willing to pay for it.
You might consider it personal that you take antidepressants, have two drinks a day, are sexually active, or consider your marriage unhappy. But you lose your right to privacy about such information when you provide it to these online quizzes, and companies such as Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and others are buying it.
Has your own personal information been compiled for marketing? Thirty-seven guesses, as an old teacher of mine used to say about simple questions.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
With permission you give in order to take these quizzes, the information you provide becomes legal for sale to marketers, drug companies and, presumably, anyone willing to pay for it.
You might consider it personal that you take antidepressants, have two drinks a day, are sexually active, or consider your marriage unhappy. But you lose your right to privacy about such information when you provide it to these online quizzes, and companies such as Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and others are buying it.
Has your own personal information been compiled for marketing? Thirty-seven guesses, as an old teacher of mine used to say about simple questions.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Alash Meets the Evil City String Band at the Lost Dog Lounge
It sounds like a wrestling card or a grade-B movie. But it is actually a fine and unique amalgam of world music, presented in Ithaca this Friday, 27 March .
It is a bill that spans the globe. Alash is a group of cowboys from Mongolia who sing in an eerie but captivating style called throat singing. From the diaphragm and throat, the singers create multiple notes simultaneously. The sound, once assimilated by the listener, reveals sounds of nature as its ultimate inspiration. Like traditional American cowboys, these men spend a lot of time in remote country, and their art reflects that.
Rounding out the worldly tableau is Ithaca's own Evil City String Band. To Alash, maybe this music sounds exotic. But it has similar strains of remote, country lonesomeness, tempered by jubilation that comes because it has to.
The double bill is presented at the Lost Dog Lounge at 8 pm. Tickets are $15 and will probably sell out for the small venue, so get yours soon. They are available at Small World Music.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
It is a bill that spans the globe. Alash is a group of cowboys from Mongolia who sing in an eerie but captivating style called throat singing. From the diaphragm and throat, the singers create multiple notes simultaneously. The sound, once assimilated by the listener, reveals sounds of nature as its ultimate inspiration. Like traditional American cowboys, these men spend a lot of time in remote country, and their art reflects that.
Rounding out the worldly tableau is Ithaca's own Evil City String Band. To Alash, maybe this music sounds exotic. But it has similar strains of remote, country lonesomeness, tempered by jubilation that comes because it has to.
The double bill is presented at the Lost Dog Lounge at 8 pm. Tickets are $15 and will probably sell out for the small venue, so get yours soon. They are available at Small World Music.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Distracted From Our Lives
Today brings news that four major cities in Michigan are losing daily newspapers to insolvency, as Denver and Seattle have recently.
Many papers in the Gannett chain are said to be in trouble, including the Ithaca Journal.
Buying a newspaper is now old-fashioned as a system of communication. On-line is quicker and cheaper.
It is not necessarily better. The New York Times is a worthy site. So is the website of the "Democracy Now" broadcast by Amy Goodman.
There are not many others, especially considering the amount of time people spend on line. Much of what is offered is distraction - attractive, but empty.
Much media is also largely repetitive, with the 24/7 news cycle. The stories one hears on NPR are much the same in content and tone from one day to the next. Similarly, the guests and topics on even such commendable efforts as the Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann shows repeat from night to night.
Old-fashioned newspapers - the type that are fading away - dealt with local issues, of interest to a defined audience. Today, websites and other media have essentially limitless audiences, so the content is less specific - and so, ultimately, less useful to any particular place, or any community other than "virtual."
Maybe that's all we'll be left with soon, as we get less news about the real world, and more about created ones.
Sandra Day O'Connor made the point in the New York Times recently that most Americans cannot name the three branches of the American government, much less what they do. Probably a greater percentage has discussed, in the past week, the new format changes on Facebook.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Many papers in the Gannett chain are said to be in trouble, including the Ithaca Journal.
Buying a newspaper is now old-fashioned as a system of communication. On-line is quicker and cheaper.
It is not necessarily better. The New York Times is a worthy site. So is the website of the "Democracy Now" broadcast by Amy Goodman.
There are not many others, especially considering the amount of time people spend on line. Much of what is offered is distraction - attractive, but empty.
Much media is also largely repetitive, with the 24/7 news cycle. The stories one hears on NPR are much the same in content and tone from one day to the next. Similarly, the guests and topics on even such commendable efforts as the Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann shows repeat from night to night.
Old-fashioned newspapers - the type that are fading away - dealt with local issues, of interest to a defined audience. Today, websites and other media have essentially limitless audiences, so the content is less specific - and so, ultimately, less useful to any particular place, or any community other than "virtual."
Maybe that's all we'll be left with soon, as we get less news about the real world, and more about created ones.
Sandra Day O'Connor made the point in the New York Times recently that most Americans cannot name the three branches of the American government, much less what they do. Probably a greater percentage has discussed, in the past week, the new format changes on Facebook.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Learn About Ithaca Hours, and Some Italian, on YouTube
An hour-plus video about Ithaca Hours, the local money, by Italian filmmakers
has been edited down to a digestible ten minutes on YouTube.
You can find the interview with Hours board president Stephen Burke (yes, the same) by searching on YouTube for Qui New York Libera Monete.
The interview is presented in English, with Italian subtitles. So you can learn a little lingo at the same time. Italian reads well, although of course spoken it is among the loveliest of languages. Maybe the next version will be dubbed.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Hours and Blog
has been edited down to a digestible ten minutes on YouTube.
You can find the interview with Hours board president Stephen Burke (yes, the same) by searching on YouTube for Qui New York Libera Monete.
The interview is presented in English, with Italian subtitles. So you can learn a little lingo at the same time. Italian reads well, although of course spoken it is among the loveliest of languages. Maybe the next version will be dubbed.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca Hours and Blog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)